Bus bar arrangement structure

Abstract

A bus bar arrangement structure (1) comprises a plurality of bus bars (3) that are arranged such that end portions thereof are grouped at a connector portion (13), the bus bars being formed in rectangular shapes having the same cross-sectional shape and being such that the cross-sectional areas thereof are set to be the same, wherein each bus bar (3) has large-width end surfaces (9) that are positioned at the thickness-direction ends and small-width end surfaces (11) that are positioned at the width-direction ends, the plurality of bus bars (3) are disposed apart from each other, and the large-width end surfaces (9) of adjacent bus bars (3) are disposed at positions that do not overlap in a vertical direction V.

Description

Busbar arrangement structure

[0001] The present invention relates to a bus bar arrangement structure.

[0002] A conventional bus bar arrangement structure includes a plurality of bus bars whose ends are arranged in a concentrated manner in a device as a connector, and whose cross-sectional shapes are formed in the same rectangular shape and whose cross-sectional areas are set to be the same (see Patent Document 1). In this bus bar arrangement structure, the plurality of bus bars are stacked in a thickness direction, and the ends of the plurality of bus bars are arranged in a concentrated manner in the device.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-199862

[0004] Bus bars can carry larger currents than electric wires with thin cores, but the larger currents also generate more heat. When multiple bus bars are stacked on top of each other, as in the bus bar arrangement structure of Patent Document 1, the heat generated in one bus bar is directly transferred to the adjacent bus bar. Thermal interference between the multiple bus bars can reduce the reliability of the electrical connection.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the problems inherent in the conventional technology, and an object of the present invention is to provide a bus bar arrangement structure that can suppress the effects of heat generation from multiple bus bars and maintain the reliability of electrical connections.

[0006] The bus bar arrangement structure according to this embodiment includes a plurality of bus bars whose ends are arranged together in a connector portion, whose cross-sectional shapes are formed in the same rectangular shape, and whose cross-sectional areas are set to be the same. Each bus bar has a large-width end face located at the end in the thickness direction and a small-width end face located at the end in the width direction. The plurality of bus bars are arranged at a distance from each other, and the large-width end faces of adjacent bus bars are arranged in positions that do not overlap in the vertical direction.

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a bus bar arrangement structure that can suppress the influence of heat generation from a plurality of bus bars and maintain the reliability of electrical connections.

[0008] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a busbar arrangement structure according to the present embodiment, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a first arrangement portion of the busbar arrangement structure according to the present embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a second arrangement portion of the busbar arrangement structure according to the present embodiment.

[0009] The bus bar arrangement structure according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional proportions in the drawings are exaggerated for the sake of convenience and may differ from the actual proportions.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1 , the busbar arrangement structure 1 according to this embodiment is applied to a portion requiring a large current, such as a charging connector of a charging facility or a vehicle-side charging portion to which a charging connector of an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle is fitted.

[0011] 1 to 3, the bus bar arrangement structure 1 includes a plurality of (here, two) bus bars 3. The bus bar 3 includes a conductor portion 5 and an insulating portion 7.

[0012] The conductor portion 5 is made of a conductive material such as copper or aluminum. The conductor portion 5 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape. In the plurality of busbars 3, the plurality of conductor portions 5 have the same rectangular cross-sectional shape and the same cross-sectional area.

[0013] The insulating portion 7 is made of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin, and is molded integrally with the conductor portion 5 so as to cover the outer periphery of the conductor portion 5. In the bus bars 3, the insulating portions 7 are formed to have the same rectangular cross-sectional shape and the same cross-sectional area.

[0014] Each of the bus bars 3, each having a conductor portion 5 and an insulating portion 7, has the same rectangular cross-sectional shape and the same cross-sectional area. Therefore, the maximum amount of heat generated by each of the bus bars 3 is the same. The two end faces of the bus bars 3 located at the ends in the thickness direction are large-width end faces 9, which are wide and have a large surface area. The two end faces of the bus bars 3 located at the ends in the width direction are small-width end faces 11, which are narrower than the large-width end faces 9 and have a smaller surface area.

[0015] At least one end of each of the bus bars 3 is arranged together in the connector portion 13. The other ends of the bus bars 3 may be arranged together in one connector portion 13 or may branch off and be arranged in multiple connector portions 13. The connector portion 13 is, for example, a connector provided on an electrical component (not shown) as an electrical connection portion into which a mating connector can be mated, or a connector that can be mated with a mating connector electrically connected to an electrical component. The ends of the bus bars 3 arranged inside the connector portion 13 are arranged with the conductor portions 5 exposed from the insulating portions 7 and can be electrically connected to mating terminals of the mating connector by mating or fastening with bolts and nuts. The ends of the bus bars 3 may be electrically connected to each other inside the connector portion 13 by, for example, fastening with bolts and nuts.

[0016] The multiple bus bars 3 are arranged spaced apart from one another outside the connector portion 13. In the spaced apart portions of the multiple bus bars 3, the large width end faces 9 of adjacent bus bars 3 are arranged in positions that do not overlap with each other in the vertical direction V. Since the large width end faces 9 of adjacent bus bars 3 do not overlap with each other in the vertical direction V, it is possible to prevent the large width end faces 9 of the upper bus bars 3 from receiving heat released from the large width end faces 9 of the lower bus bars 3. This makes it possible to reduce the effects of heat generated by the multiple bus bars 3 and maintain the reliability of the electrical connection.

[0017] The spaced apart portions of the plurality of bus bars 3 include a first arrangement portion 15 and a second arrangement portion 17. In this embodiment, a change portion 19 that changes the orientation of the large-width end face 9 of the bus bar 3 is provided at an end of the first arrangement portion 15. A bend portion 21 that changes the orientation of the bus bar 3 in the longitudinal direction is provided between the change portion 19 and the second arrangement portion 17. In this embodiment, the first arrangement portion 15 and the second arrangement portion 17 are provided continuously via the change portion 19 and the bend portion 21, but the plurality of bus bars 3 may be provided with only the first arrangement portion 15 or only the second arrangement portion 17.

[0018] In the first arrangement section 15, the planar direction P of the large width end faces 9 of the multiple bus bars 3 is arranged in a direction intersecting (here, perpendicular to) the vertical direction V. In the first arrangement section 15, adjacent small width end faces 11 are arranged spaced apart on both sides in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V. In the first arrangement section 15, the distance C1 between adjacent small width end faces 11 in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V is set to be equal to or greater than the thickness T of the bus bar 3. In the first arrangement section 15, the large width end faces 9 of adjacent bus bars 3 are not arranged opposite each other, which significantly reduces the influence of heat released from the large width end faces 9 of the bus bars 3 on other bus bars 3. In the first arrangement section 15, although adjacent small width end faces 11 are arranged opposite each other, the amount of heat released from the small width end faces 11 is small. Therefore, by setting the distance C1 between adjacent small width end faces 11 in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V to be equal to or greater than the thickness T of the bus bar 3, the influence of heat generated by the multiple bus bars 3 can be reduced.

[0019] In the first arrangement section 15, the small end faces 11 of adjacent bus bars 3 are arranged to face each other in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V, but this is not limiting. For example, adjacent bus bars 3 may be arranged so that their arrangement positions with respect to the vertical direction V are different. In this case, the adjacent small end faces 11 may not be arranged to face each other in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V, but may be arranged spaced apart on both sides of the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V. In addition, in the first arrangement section 15, the planar direction of the small end faces 11 of the bus bars 3 is parallel to the vertical direction V, but this is not limiting. For example, the bus bars 3 are arranged so that the planar direction P of the large end faces 9 of the bus bars 3 intersects the vertical direction V at an angle. In this case, the planar direction of the small end faces 11 is not parallel to the vertical direction V but is inclined. In this case, if C1 is set between the adjacent narrow end faces 11 facing each other, there is a possibility that the adjacent wide end faces 9 will be disposed close to each other in the vertical direction V. For this reason, C1 is set between the adjacent narrow end faces 11 in the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V.

[0020] In the second arrangement section 17, the planar direction P of the large width end faces 9 of the multiple bus bars 3 is arranged parallel to the vertical direction V. In the second arrangement section 17, the bus bars 3 are arranged spaced apart on both sides in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V. In the second arrangement section 17, the distance C2 between adjacent large width end faces 9 in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V is set to at least twice the thickness T of the bus bar 3. In the second arrangement section 17, the large width end faces 9 are arranged parallel to the vertical direction V, so even if adjacent large width end faces 9 are arranged opposite each other, the effects of heat radiated from the large width end faces 9 can be suppressed. In the second arrangement section 17, a large amount of heat is radiated from the large width end faces 9, and adjacent large width end faces 9 are arranged opposite each other. Therefore, by setting the distance C2 between adjacent large width end faces 9 in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V to at least twice the thickness T of the bus bar 3, the effects of heat generation from the multiple bus bars 3 can be suppressed.

[0021] In the second arrangement portion 17, the large width end faces 9 of adjacent bus bars 3 are arranged opposite each other in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V, but this is not limiting. For example, adjacent bus bars 3 may be arranged so that their arrangement positions with respect to the vertical direction V are different. In this case, adjacent large width end faces 9 may not be arranged opposite each other in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V, but may be arranged spaced apart on both sides in the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V. In this case, there is a possibility that adjacent large width end faces 9 may be arranged close to each other in the vertical direction V. Therefore, by setting the distance C2 between adjacent large width end faces 9 in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V to at least twice the thickness T of the bus bars 3, the effects of heat generation from multiple bus bars 3 can be suppressed.

[0022] This busbar arrangement structure 1 includes a plurality of busbars 3 whose ends are arranged together at a connector portion 13, whose cross-sectional shapes are identically rectangular, and whose cross-sectional areas are set to be the same. Each busbar 3 has a large-width end face 9 located at an end in the thickness direction and a small-width end face 11 located at an end in the width direction. The plurality of busbars 3 are arranged at a distance from each other. The large-width end faces 9 of adjacent busbars 3 are arranged in positions that do not overlap with each other in the vertical direction V.

[0023] Since the adjacent large width end faces 9 in the vertical direction V do not overlap, it is possible to prevent the heat radiated from the large width end face 9 of the lower bus bar 3 from being received by the large width end face 9 of the upper bus bar 3. This makes it possible to reduce the influence of heat generated by the multiple bus bars 3 and maintain the reliability of the electrical connection.

[0024] Therefore, in such a bus bar arrangement structure 1, the influence of heat generation from the plurality of bus bars 3 can be suppressed, and the reliability of the electrical connection can be maintained.

[0025] The busbars 3 have a first arrangement portion 15 in which the planar direction P of the large-width end faces 9 is arranged in a direction intersecting the vertical direction V, and adjacent small-width end faces 11 are arranged spaced apart on both sides in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V. In the first arrangement portion 15, a distance C1 between adjacent small-width end faces 11 in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V is set to be equal to or greater than the thickness T of the busbar 3.

[0026] In the first arrangement portion 15, the large width end faces 9 of adjacent bus bars 3 are not arranged opposite each other, which significantly reduces the influence of heat emitted from the large width end faces 9 of the bus bars 3 on other bus bars 3. In the first arrangement portion 15, there is a possibility that adjacent small width end faces 11 are arranged opposite each other, but the amount of heat emitted from the small width end faces 11 is small. Therefore, by setting the distance C1 between adjacent small width end faces 11 in the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V to be equal to or greater than the thickness T of the bus bar 3, the influence of heat generated by multiple bus bars 3 can be reduced.

[0027] The busbars 3 also have second arrangement portions 17 in which the planar direction P of the large width end faces 9 is arranged parallel to the vertical direction V, and adjacent large width end faces 9 are arranged spaced apart on both sides in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V. In the second arrangement portions 17, a distance C2 between adjacent large width end faces 9 in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V is set to be at least twice the thickness T of the busbar 3.

[0028] In the second arrangement portion 17, the large width end faces 9 are arranged parallel to the vertical direction V, so even if adjacent large width end faces 9 are arranged opposite each other, the effects of heat radiated from the large width end faces 9 can be suppressed. In the second arrangement portion 17, a large amount of heat is radiated from the large width end faces 9, and there is a possibility that adjacent large width end faces 9 will be arranged opposite each other. Therefore, by setting the distance C2 between adjacent large width end faces 9 in the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction V to at least twice the thickness T of the busbar 3, the effects of heat generation from the multiple busbars 3 can be suppressed.

[0029] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims.

[0030] For example, although two bus bars are used, the number is not limited to this, and three or more bus bars may be used.

[0031] Furthermore, in the bus bar, the outer periphery of the conductor portion is covered with an insulating portion, but this is not limiting, and the bus bar may be made up of only the conductor portion.

[0032] The entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-049592 (filing date: March 26, 2024) are incorporated herein by reference.

[0033] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 busbar arrangement structure 3 busbar 9 large-width end face 11 small-width end face 13 connector portion 15 first arrangement portion 17 second arrangement portion C1 space (first arrangement portion) C2 space (second arrangement portion) P planar direction T thickness V vertical direction

Claims

1. A busbar arrangement structure comprising a plurality of busbars whose ends are arranged together at a connector section, whose cross-sectional shapes are formed in the same rectangular shape, and whose cross-sectional areas are set to be the same, wherein the busbars have a large-width end face located at the end in the thickness direction and a small-width end face located at the end in the width direction, wherein the plurality of busbars are arranged at a distance from each other, and the large-width end faces of adjacent busbars are arranged in positions that do not overlap in the vertical direction.

2. The busbar arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of busbars have a first arrangement section in which the planar direction of the larger width end faces is arranged in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, and adjacent smaller width end faces are arranged spaced apart on both sides in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, and in the first arrangement section, the distance between adjacent smaller width end faces in the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction is set to be equal to or greater than the thickness of the busbar.

3. A busbar arrangement structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the planar direction of the large width end faces of the plurality of busbars is arranged parallel to the vertical direction, and adjacent large width end faces have second arrangement sections arranged spaced apart on both sides in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, and in the second arrangement sections, the distance between adjacent large width end faces in the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction is set to at least twice the thickness of the busbar.

Images