Bus Bar Terminal Guide Portion Liquid Drainage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In power storage modules for vehicles, condensation on bus bars can lead to liquid accumulation, potentially causing issues with electrical wires connected to voltage detection terminals.

Innovation Solution

A terminal design featuring a guide portion that directs adhered liquids away from the wire connection area, combined with an insulating protector that includes discharge holes to expel the liquid externally.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a wiring module houses multiple bus bars to simplify attachment operation, then ease of operation is improved, but liquid accumulation on bus bars may reach electrical wires causing reliability problems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebus bar attachment operationVSAvoidelectrical wire connection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal is divided into distinct functional regions: a connection portion for electrode terminals, a wire connection portion for electrical wires, and a guide portion that segments the space between them. This segmentation prevents liquid flowing down from the connection portion from reaching the wire connection portion, thus maintaining reliability while preserving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide portion acts as an intermediary element between the connection portion and the wire connection portion. It intercepts and redirects liquid before the liquid can reach the electrical wire connection area, serving as a protective mediator that resolves the contradiction between operational simplicity and connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If condensation forms on bus bars when vehicle temperature decreases, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but liquid may adhere to bus bars and reach electrical wires causing short circuits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebus bar temperature managementVSAvoidliquid adhesion to electrical wire

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide portion converts the potentially harmful liquid flow into a beneficial drainage path. Instead of allowing liquid to randomly flow and potentially short-circuit electrical connections, the guide portion directs liquid along a controlled path to a discharge location away from the wire connection portion, thus converting a harmful effect into a managed, harmless drainage function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If a guide portion is added to direct liquid away from wire connection, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid protection of electrical wireVSAvoidterminal structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide portion is merged with the terminal structure as an integrated component rather than a separate attachment. It is formed as a continuous extension or integration of the terminal body, combining the liquid guidance function with the existing structural elements, thus improving reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide portion serves multiple functions: it structurally connects or defines the boundary between the connection portion and wire connection portion, provides liquid guidance, and may serve as a mounting feature or structural reinforcement. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single structural element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Effectively prevents liquid from reaching electrical wires, thereby mitigating potential problems caused by condensation and ensuring reliable operation.

Implementation Method 1

a guide portion guiding a liquid adhered to the connection portion so as to fall to a position separated from the wire connection portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS10431924B2Terminal and wiring module

Publication Date: 2019.10.01 AUTONETWORKS TECH LTD

AI summary

A bus bar terminal includes an electrode connection portion that connects electrode terminals of power storage elements to each other, and a wire connection portion that is to be connected to an electrical wire, and guide portions are provided between the electrode connection portion and the wire connection portion, the guide portions guiding adhered liquid so as to fall to a position separated from the wire connection portion.