Bus bar arrangement structure

Abstract

Provided is a bus bar arrangement structure (1) comprising a bus bar (3) that is disposed on an arrangement member (9), a holding member (5) that holds the bus bar (3), and a fixing member (7) that fixes the holding member (5) to the arrangement member (9), wherein the fixing member (7) is assembled to the holding member (5) so as to be movable in a plane direction parallel to the length direction of the bus bar (3) and is fixed to the arrangement member (9) so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the length direction of the bus bar (3).

Description

Busbar arrangement structure

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

[0002] A conventional bus bar arrangement structure includes a bus bar arranged in a housing as an arrangement member and a resin mold as a holding member that holds the bus bar. Also known is a bus bar arrangement structure that includes a fastening boss and a bus bar fixing bolt as fixing members that fix the resin mold to the housing (see Patent Document 1). In this bus bar arrangement structure, the fastening boss protrudes from the housing toward the resin mold. The resin mold has a through hole through which the fastening boss is inserted. The bus bar fixing bolt is fastened to the tip side of the fastening boss that has passed through the through hole. In this bus bar arrangement structure, the resin mold that holds the bus bar is movable in a direction parallel to the protruding direction of the fastening boss. By making the resin mold movable, it is possible to accommodate fluctuations in the arrangement position of the bus bar due to assembly tolerances, thermal deformation of the bus bar, etc.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-169719

[0004] However, in the bus bar arrangement structure described in Patent Document 1, the holding member moves in only one direction, so that if the position of the bus bar changes in a plane perpendicular to the movement direction of the holding member, the holding member cannot move in that direction and cannot absorb the change in the position of the bus bar.

[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 absorb variations in the arrangement position of the bus bars in various directions.

[0006] The bus bar arrangement structure of this embodiment comprises a bus bar arranged on an arrangement member, a holding member that holds the bus bar, and a fixing member that fixes the holding member to the arrangement member, wherein the fixing member is assembled to the holding member so as to be movable in a planar direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bus bar, and is fixed to the arrangement member so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bus bar.

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a bus bar arrangement structure that can absorb fluctuations in the arrangement position of the bus bars in various directions.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a busbar arrangement structure according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view of the busbar arrangement structure according to this embodiment with a cover opened. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the busbar arrangement structure according to this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a holding member body of the busbar arrangement structure according to this embodiment when a fixing member is being assembled to the holding member body. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a busbar arrangement structure according to this embodiment when a busbar is held by the holding member body. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a busbar arrangement structure according to this embodiment when a cover is assembled to the holding member body. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a busbar arrangement structure according to this embodiment when the holding member is being assembled to the arrangement member.

[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 bus bar arrangement structure 1 according to this embodiment is applied between a vehicle-side charging section to which a charging connector of a charging facility for an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle is fitted and a power source such as a rechargeable battery or battery. In recent years, the number of power sources mounted on vehicles has increased to improve driving range. High-capacity power sources require a long charging time, and to shorten the charging time, it has been considered to use a bus bar 3 to pass a large current. The bus bar 3 has high rigidity, and it is difficult to absorb fluctuations in the arrangement position of the bus bar 3 due to assembly tolerances, manufacturing tolerances, thermal deformation of the bus bar 3, and the like, due to elastic deformation of the bus bar 3. Therefore, the bus bar arrangement structure 1 according to this embodiment is able to absorb fluctuations in the arrangement position of the bus bar 3 without elastic deformation of the bus bar 3.

[0011] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the bus bar arrangement structure 1 includes a bus bar 3, a holding member 5, and a fixing member 7.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 , the bus bar 3 is made of a conductive material such as copper or aluminum and is formed into a plate shape with a rectangular cross section. A plurality of bus bars 3 (two in this example) are used. One longitudinal end of the bus bar 3 is electrically connected, for example, to a power source mounted on the vehicle. The other longitudinal end of the bus bar 3 is electrically connected, for example, to a vehicle-side charging unit provided on the vehicle. The bus bar 3 is disposed on a mounting member 9, such as the vehicle body, between the power source and the vehicle-side charging unit. The bus bar 3 is held by a holding member 5, and the holding member 5 is fixed to the mounting member 9, thereby maintaining the mounting position of the bus bar 3 relative to the mounting member 9.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the holding member 5 includes a main body 11 and a cover 13 .

[0014] The main body 11 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The main body 11 is formed in a housing shape with a housing portion 15 capable of housing the fixing member 7 therein. The housing portion 15 is open on one side in the longitudinal direction of the busbar 3 so that the fixing member 7 can be inserted therein. The opening of the housing portion 15 is closed by closing a lid portion 17 provided on the main body 11 to open and close the opening. The closed state of the opening of the lid portion 17 is maintained by multiple (two in this example) engaging portions 19 provided on the lid portion 17 engaging with engaged portions (not shown) provided on the main body 11. The lower surface portion of the housing portion 15 facing the arrangement member 9 is open so that the fixing member 7 is exposed to the outside of the main body 11. Body holding portions 21 for holding the busbar 3 are provided on both exterior side surfaces of the main body 11. The body holding portions 21 extend in the longitudinal direction of the busbar 3 and are formed in grooves capable of housing the busbar 3. The upper surface of the main body 11 is provided with a plurality of (here, two) locking holes 23 formed through the wall.

[0015] The cover 13 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin. The cover 13 is formed in a frame shape so that it can be placed on the outer surface of the main body 11 across the two main body holding portions 21. The cover 13 is provided with cover holding portions 25 that hold the busbars 3 at positions corresponding to the two main body holding portions 21 of the main body 11. The cover holding portions 25 extend in the length direction of the busbars 3 and are formed into grooves that can accommodate the busbars 3. The cover 13 is provided with a plurality of locking protrusions 27 (two in this example) that are inserted into and engaged with the locking holes 23 of the main body 11. The locking protrusions 27 engage with the locking holes 23, thereby maintaining the cover 13 attached to the main body 11. By attaching the cover 13 to the main body 11, the busbars 3 are sandwiched and held between the main body holding portions 21 and the cover holding portions 25, allowing the holding member 5 to stably hold the busbars 3. By configuring the holding member 5 with the main body 11 and the cover 13, the holding member 5 can be freely attached to any position in the longitudinal direction of the bus bar 3, thereby improving the ease of assembly.

[0016] 2 to 7, the fixing member 7 is made of an insulating material such as synthetic resin, etc. The fixing member 7 includes an accommodated portion 29 and a fixing portion 31.

[0017] The accommodated portion 29 is formed in a plate shape extending in a planar direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the busbar 3. The accommodated portion 29 is a portion to be accommodated in the accommodation portion 15 of the holding member 5. By accommodating the accommodated portion 29 in the accommodation portion 15 of the holding member 5, the fixing member 7 is assembled to the holding member 5. A gap is provided between the accommodated portion 29 and the accommodation portion 15 in a planar direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the busbar 3. Therefore, when the fixing member 7 is assembled to the holding member 5, the fixing member 7 and the holding member 5 are relatively movable in a planar direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the busbar 3. By providing a gap between the fixing member 7 and the holding member 5, the fixing member 7 and the holding member 5 can be moved in a planar direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the busbar 3, thereby reducing costs without using a complex structure.

[0018] The fixing portion 31 is formed of a single member continuous with the accommodated portion 29. The fixing portion 31 is a portion that is exposed from the holding member 5 toward the arrangement member 9 when the accommodated portion 29 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 15. The fixing portion 31 extends downward from the accommodated portion 29 so as to be exposed outside the accommodation portion 15, and has a pair of locking pieces 33 whose tip ends in the extending direction are folded back toward the accommodated portion 29. The fixing portion 31 includes the pair of locking pieces 33 and is provided to be elastically deformable as a whole. The tips of the pair of locking pieces 33 are formed into multiple sharp protrusions so as to be able to bite into and engage with the outer surface of the fixed portion 35 that protrudes from the arrangement member 9. Note that instead of forming the tips of the pair of locking pieces 33 into multiple sharp protrusions, for example, the fixed portion 35 of the arrangement member 9 may be provided with stepped locking portions that can engage with the tips of the pair of locking pieces 33. The fixing portion 31 is elastically deformed by inserting the fixed portion 35 of the arrangement member 9 between the pair of locking pieces 33, and is fixed to the fixed portion 35 so as to sandwich the fixed portion 35 due to the restoring force from the elastic deformation. At this time, the tips of the pair of locking pieces 33 bite into the outer surface of the fixed portion 35, strengthening the fixation between the fixing portion 31 and the fixed portion 35. When an external force is applied to the fixing member 7 that moves it away from the arrangement member 9 while the fixing portion 31 is fixed to the fixed portion 35, the fixing portion 31 is elastically deformed with the tips of the pair of locking pieces 33 as a fulcrum. Therefore, while fixed to the arrangement member 9, the fixing member 7 and the holding member 5 are movable in a direction perpendicular to the length direction of the busbar 3. By allowing the fixing portion 31 to move in a direction perpendicular to the length direction of the busbar 3 due to the elastic deformation, the fixing member 7 can be moved while maintaining the fixation of the fixing portion 31 to the fixed portion 35.

[0019] In this busbar arrangement structure 1, the busbar 3 is held by a holding member 5. A fixing member 7 is attached to the holding member 5. The fixing member 7 is fixed to the arrangement member 9, fixing the busbar 3 and the holding member 5 to the arrangement member 9. The holding member 5 and the fixing member 7 are relatively movable in a planar direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the busbar 3. Therefore, when the busbar 3 is arranged on the arrangement member 9, it is movable in a planar direction parallel to the longitudinal direction. Therefore, even if the arrangement position of the busbar 3 varies in a planar direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the busbar 3 due to, for example, assembly tolerances or thermal deformation of the busbar 3, the variation can be absorbed. The fixing member 7 is elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the busbar 3. Therefore, when the busbar 3 is arranged on the arrangement member 9, it is movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Therefore, even if the arrangement position of the bus bar 3 varies in a direction perpendicular to the length direction of the bus bar 3 due to, for example, an assembly tolerance or thermal deformation of the bus bar 3, the variation can be absorbed. In this way, the bus bar arrangement structure 1 can absorb variations in the arrangement position of the bus bar 3 in various directions.

[0020] 4 to 7 , the assembly of the bus bar arrangement structure 1 to the arrangement member 9 is performed by first inserting the fixing member 7 into the main body 11 of the holding member 5, closing the lid portion 17, and assembling the fixing member 7 to the holding member 5. Next, the bus bar 3 is held in the main body 11 of the holding member 5, and the cover 13 of the holding member 5 is attached. Then, the fixing member 7 is fixed to the fixed portion 35 of the arrangement member 9, completing the assembly.

[0021] Such a bus bar arrangement structure 1 includes a bus bar 3 arranged on an arrangement member 9, a holding member 5 that holds the bus bar 3, and a fixing member 7 that fixes the holding member 5 to the arrangement member 9. The fixing member 7 is assembled to the holding member 5 so as to be movable in a planar direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bus bar 3, and is fixed to the arrangement member 9 so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bus bar 3.

[0022] The fixing member 7 is attached to the holding member 5 so as to be movable in a planar direction parallel to the length direction of the busbar 3. Therefore, when the busbar 3 is arranged on the arrangement member 9, the fixing member 7 is movable in a planar direction parallel to the length direction. Therefore, even if the arrangement position of the busbar 3 varies in a planar direction parallel to the length direction of the busbar 3 due to, for example, an assembly tolerance or thermal deformation of the busbar 3, the fixing member 7 can absorb the variation. Furthermore, since the fixing member 7 is fixed to the arrangement member 9 so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the length direction of the busbar 3, the busbar 3 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the length direction of the busbar 3 when arranged on the arrangement member 9. Therefore, even if the arrangement position of the busbar 3 varies in a direction perpendicular to the length direction of the busbar 3 due to, for example, an assembly tolerance or thermal deformation of the busbar 3, the fixing member 7 can absorb the variation.

[0023] Therefore, such a bus bar arrangement structure 1 can absorb variations in the arrangement position of the bus bars 3 in various directions.

[0024] The fixing member 7 is provided with a fixing portion 31 that is fixed to the fixed portion 35 of the arrangement member 9. The fixing portion 31 is provided so as to be elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bus bar 3.

[0025] Therefore, the fixing member 7 can be moved while the fixing of the fixing portion 31 to the fixed portion 35 is maintained.

[0026] A gap is provided between the holding member 5 and the fixing member 7 to allow the holding member 5 to move in a plane direction parallel to the length direction of the bus bar 3 .

[0027] Therefore, the bus bar 3 can be made movable in a planar direction parallel to the length direction without using a complex structure, thereby reducing costs.

[0028] 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.

[0029] For example, although the bus bar arrangement structure according to the present embodiment includes two bus bars, the number of bus bars may be one, or three or more. In addition, although the bus bars are held in a state in which their length directions are arranged parallel to the holding member, the number of bus bars may be different from one another in the longitudinal direction relative to the holding member.

[0030] Furthermore, the fixing part has a pair of locking pieces and is formed so as to be elastically deformable as a whole, but is not limited to this. For example, the fixing part may be formed of a base part formed integrally with the accommodated part, an engaging part that engages with the fixed part, and a connecting part that connects the base part and the engaging part and is elastically deformable, or any other elastically deformable configuration of the fixing part may be used.

[0031] The entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-066872 (filing date: April 17, 2024) are incorporated herein by reference.

[0032] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 bus bar arrangement structure 3 bus bar 5 holding member 7 fixing member 9 arrangement member 31 fixing portion 35 fixed portion

Claims

1. A bus bar arrangement structure comprising: a bus bar arranged on an arrangement member; a holding member that holds the bus bar; and a fixing member that fixes the holding member to the arrangement member, wherein the fixing member is assembled to the holding member so as to be movable in a plane direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bus bar, and is fixed to the arrangement member so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bus bar.

2. The bus bar arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member has a fixing portion that is fixed to the fixed portion of the arrangement member, and the fixing portion is arranged to be elastically deformable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bus bar.

3. A busbar arrangement structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a gap is provided between the holding member and the fixing member, allowing the holding member to move in a plane parallel to the longitudinal direction of the busbar.

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