JP2000182686A - Bus bar connecting structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bus bar connecting structure capable of being embodied small by connecting bus bars with each other in different layers of a layered product and of protecting the insulating layers of the laminate body even if a welding process with laser irradiations is conducted. SOLUTION: A layered product 1 is structured so that insulating layers 2 and bus bars 3 are arranged alternately in the thickness direction of the insulating layers 2, wherein the insulating layer portions 2 between the bus bar connecting parts 3a to be connected with each other are removed, and the connecting parts 3a of these bus bars 3 are positioned opposingly and connected electrically by a connection piece 4 consisting of a conductive material installed between the opposing connecting parts 3a and welded to the parts 3a. Because a support part 4a of this connection piece 4 to function as a weld protection means is located nearer the layered product than the welded part by laser irradiation of the terminal part 4b with the connecting part 3a of the bus bar 3, the insulating layers 2 are protected by the support part 4a against sputters and fumes generated at laser irradiation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bus bar which is incorporated in, for example, a branch junction box used in a vehicle or the like and in which insulating layers and bus bars are alternately arranged in the thickness direction of the insulating layers. The present invention relates to a busbar connection structure for electrically connecting between the busbars.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The above-described branch junction box has a structure in which a laminate 103 composed of an insulating layer and a bus bar is provided between a lower case 101 and an upper case 102, as shown in FIG. I have. As shown in FIG. 4, the stacked body 103 has a configuration in which insulating layers 104 and bus bars 105 are alternately arranged in the thickness direction of the insulating layers.
In FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 3, the terminal 105 a is raised so as to reach the connector 102 a of the upper case 102.

[0003]

In recent years, it has been desired that automobiles be equipped with comfortable equipment such as an air conditioner and a car audio, and that it is also desired to improve comfort. In order to satisfy the conflicting demands of installing comfortable equipment to reduce the living space and improve comfort, the branch junction box used in automobiles is expected to become smaller as the number of circuits to be connected increases. Have been.

However, since there is no way to connect the bus bars of each layer when arranging the bus bars 105 in the laminated body 103, the number of insulating layers and bus bars must be increased when mounting new comfort equipment. And it could not be miniaturized. In addition, the laminate itself is small, and even if a method of electrically connecting the bus bars is found, it is considered necessary to perform welding by laser irradiation, but spatter generated at the time of the welding is considered to be necessary. It is necessary to protect the insulating layer of the laminate from fumes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such problems of the prior art, and it is possible to reduce the size by connecting the bus bars of the respective layers in the laminated body, and to perform the lamination even if welding by laser irradiation is performed. An object of the present invention is to provide a bus bar connection structure capable of protecting an insulating layer of a body.

[0006]

A bus bar connection structure according to the present invention is a bus bar connection structure for electrically connecting bus bars in a laminate in which insulating layers and bus bars are alternately arranged in the thickness direction of the insulating layer. The connecting portions of the bus bars to be connected to each other are formed by projecting the connecting portions of the bus bars to be connected to each other from the side surface of the laminate, or by removing an insulating layer between the bus bar connecting portions to be connected to each other. Are connected to each other, the connection piece made of a conductive material provided between the opposed connection parts and each connection part are welded by laser irradiation, and the connection parts of the bus bars to be connected are electrically connected to each other. It is connected, and has a configuration in which a welding protection means exists on the laminate side from the welded portion by the laser irradiation.

In this configuration, a connecting piece made of a conductive material is disposed between the opposing bus bar connecting sections to be connected to each other, and the connecting piece and the bus bar connecting section are irradiated by laser irradiation. Upon welding, the connection portions of the bus bars to be connected are electrically connected via connection pieces. At this time, the welding protection means protects the insulating layer from spatter and fume generated during laser irradiation.

Further, since the connecting portions of the bus bars to be connected are electrically connected to each other through the connecting pieces, a dead space portion where no bus bar is arranged, that is, the vicinity A of the insulating layer shown in FIG. A bus bar can be provided and used in the bus bar non-forming portion B inside the bus bar, and the space can be used effectively, and one bus bar is originally provided by being divided into a plurality of layers of dead spaces. Since the number of busbars to be used can be omitted, the number of insulating layers and busbars can be reduced, and the size can be reduced. The connection between the connection portion of the bus bar and the connection piece may be welded by laser irradiation or fixed by welding or bonding.

In the bus bar connection structure of the present invention, the connection piece has a U-shape having a support portion along the direction in which the opposing bus bar connection portions face each other, and terminal portions at both ends facing the bus bar connection portion. This U-shaped connection piece is provided with its opening facing outward,
The bus bar connecting portion and the terminal portion of the connecting piece can be welded by laser irradiation with the supporting portion in that state serving as welding protection means.

In this configuration, the U-shaped connecting piece is fixed when the opening is disposed on the outside and is fitted between the opposed bus bar connecting parts, and the terminal of the connecting piece is fixed in the fixed state. The part faces the bus bar connection part. When the terminal portion of the U-shaped connection piece and the bus bar connection portion are welded by laser irradiation, the opposing bus bar connection portions to be connected to each other are electrically connected. In addition, even when welding is performed by laser irradiation, the support portion present on the laminate side of the connection piece functions as a welding protection means, and thus protects the insulating layer from spatter and fume generated during laser irradiation.

In the bus bar connection structure of the present invention, the connection piece is formed in an annular shape including two terminal portions parallel to the bus bar connection portion and two support portions connecting both ends of both terminal portions. On one surface side of the opening in the annular connection piece, welding protection means is provided which protrudes at least to the busbar connection part side of the terminal part, and the connection piece having the welding protection means is an insulating member for protecting the welding protection means. The terminal portion and the bus bar connecting portion may be provided on the layer portion side and welded by laser irradiation.

According to this configuration, when the annular connection piece is fitted with the welding protection means between the opposing bus bar connection portions, the terminal portion of the connection piece faces the bus bar connection portion. Then, when the terminal portion of the annular connection piece and the bus bar connection portion are welded by laser irradiation, the opposing bus bar connection portions to be connected to each other are electrically connected. Also,
Even when welding is performed by laser irradiation, since the welding protection means exists on the laminate side of the welded portion, the welding protection means protects the insulating layer from spatter and fume generated during laser irradiation.

In the bus bar connection structure of the present invention, the connection piece may be formed to have a thickness equal to or smaller than the thickness of the bus bar.

In this configuration, if the thickness of the connection piece is made the same as the thickness of the bus bar, the connection piece can be formed in a punching step in manufacturing the bus bar, and the process can be simplified. Further, when the thickness of the connection piece is made thinner than the thickness of the bus bar, the laser irradiation power can be suppressed, and the welding state can be improved.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described specifically.

(Embodiment 1) FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views showing a bus bar connection structure according to Embodiment 1, wherein FIG. 1A shows a state before connecting pieces are mounted on a laminate, and FIG. Shows a state in which is attached to the laminate.

The laminated body 1 has six insulating layers 2 and six bus bars 3 alternately arranged in the thickness direction of the insulating layers. The bus bars 3 are arranged above each insulating layer 2. ing.
In FIG. 1, only the uppermost bus bar 3 is shown. A U-shaped concave groove 1b is formed on the side surface 1a of the laminate 1, and the uppermost busbar 3 and the lowermost busbar 3
Is provided with a connecting portion 3a protruding in a size to fit into the concave groove 1b. The two connecting portions 3a are disposed to face each other, and a U-shaped connecting piece 4 is attached between them.

The connecting piece 4 is made of a conductive material similar to that of the bus bar 3, and has a supporting portion 4a along the direction in which the opposing bus bar connecting portions 3a face each other.
a and a terminal portion 4b opposed thereto. This connecting piece 4 is, as shown in FIG.
With respect to the U-shaped concave groove 1b formed on the side surface 1a of the laminate 1 in a plan view, the support portion 4a is attached between the two connecting portions 3a of the bus bar 3 with the inner side of the concave groove 1b. . The connection between the connection portion 3a of the bus bar 3 and the terminal portion 4b of the connection piece 4 is welded by laser irradiation and is electrically connected.

Therefore, according to the first embodiment, a U-shaped connecting piece 4 made of a conductive material is disposed between the opposing bus bar connecting portions 3a to be connected,
The connection part 3 of the bus bar 3 to be connected because it is welded
a are electrically connected to each other via the connection piece 4. At this time, since the connecting piece 4 is attached with the supporting portion 4a having the support portion 4a inside the concave groove 1b, the supporting portion 4a is closer to the laminate 1 than the welded portion by laser irradiation. Therefore,
When welding the terminal portion 4b of the connection piece 4 and the connection portion 3a of the bus bar 3 by laser irradiation, it is assumed that spatter and fume generated at that time hit the insulating layer 2 of the laminated body 1.
The support portion 4a of the connecting piece 4 prevents the insulating piece 2 from protecting.
That is, the support portion 4a functions as welding protection means.

Further, the connecting portion 3a of the bus bar 3 to be connected.
Since they are electrically connected to each other via the connection piece 4, the dead space portion where the bus bar 3 has not been arranged before, that is, the vicinity A of the periphery of the insulating layer shown in FIG. In addition, the bus bar 3 can be provided and used, so that the space can be effectively used. Further, by dividing the bus bar, which is supposed to be one layer, into a plurality of layers of dead space, the bus bar which should be provided can be provided. Since this can be omitted, the number of insulating layers and bus bars can be reduced, and the size can be reduced. In addition, since the area ratio of the bus bar in each layer is increased, the yield of the bus bar plate material is improved when the bus bar is formed from the bus bar plate material by punching or the like.

(Embodiment 2) FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing a bus bar connection structure according to Embodiment 2, in which FIG. 2A shows a state before connecting pieces are mounted on a laminate, and FIG. Shows a state in which is attached to the laminate.

In the second embodiment, the laminated body 1 has the same structure as that of the first embodiment,
The shape of the connection piece 5 to be attached to b is different.
The connection piece 5 is formed in an annular shape including two terminal portions 5b parallel to the bus bar connection portion 3a and two support portions 5a connecting both ends of both terminal portions 5b. Further, welding protection means 5c protruding outward is formed at the two terminal portions 5b.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the connecting piece 5 is provided with a welding protection means 5c for a U-shaped concave groove 1b formed on the side surface 1a of the laminate 1 in a plan view. Both connecting portions 3a of the bus bar 3 are located inside the concave groove 1b of the laminate 1
Attached between. And the connection part 3 of the bus bar 3
The connection portion between the terminal a and the terminal portion 5b of the connection piece 5 is welded by laser irradiation and is electrically connected.

Therefore, in the case of the second embodiment, an annular connecting piece 5 made of a conductive material is arranged and welded between the opposing bus bar connecting portions 3a to be connected. The connection portions 3a of the busbars 3 to be connected are electrically connected to each other via the connection pieces 5. In addition, the welding protection means 5 is located closer to the laminate 1 than the welded portion by laser irradiation.
c, the bus bar connecting portion 3a and the terminal portion 5
b and the fumes generated when welding by laser irradiation hit the insulating layer 2 of the laminate 1.
The welding protection means 5c protects and protects the insulating layer 2.

The connecting portion 3a of the bus bar 3 to be connected
Since they are electrically connected to each other via the connection piece 5, the dead space portion where the bus bar 3 is not arranged so far, that is, the vicinity A of the peripheral edge of the insulating layer shown in FIG. The bus bar 3 can be provided and used, so that the space can be effectively used, and the bus bar, which is supposed to be one layer, is divided into a plurality of dead spaces, thereby omitting the bus bar which should be provided. Since the number of layers can be reduced, the number of insulating layers and bus bars can be reduced, and the size can be reduced. In addition, since the area ratio of the bus bar in each layer is increased, the yield of the bus bar plate material is improved when the bus bar is formed from the bus bar plate material by punching or the like.

In each of Embodiments 1 and 2 described above, the place where the connecting piece is attached in the laminate is recessed into the concave groove, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example,
The stacked body may be flattened without forming a concave groove, and the connecting portion of the bus bar may be protruded from the side surface of the stacked body. In short, the connection between the two busbars to be connected is
What is necessary is just to be able to be oppositely disposed in a state where there is no obstacle between them.

In each of the first and second embodiments, a U-shaped or annular connection piece is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Can be used.

Although not explicitly stated in each of the first and second embodiments, when the thickness of the connection piece is made equal to the thickness of the bus bar, the connection piece is formed in a punching step in manufacturing the bus bar. Is possible, and the process can be simplified. Further, when the thickness of the connection piece is made thinner than the thickness of the bus bar, the laser irradiation power can be suppressed, and the welding state can be improved.

Further, in each of the first and second embodiments described above, an example in which the uppermost bus bar and the lowermost bus bar are electrically connected by the connection piece is described. Not limited to For example, of the two bus bars, the upper bus bar may be the second, third, fourth, and fifth from the top, and the lower bus bar may be the second, third, fourth, and fifth from the bottom. Further, the present invention can be applied not only to connecting two bus bars but also to connecting any three or more bus bars.

[0030]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a connecting piece made of a conductive material is disposed between the opposed bus bar connecting portions to be connected to each other and welded. The connecting portions of the busbars to be connected can be electrically connected to each other through the connecting pieces, so that a portion that was not used as a dead space can be used, and effective use of space can be achieved. By dividing one bus bar into a plurality of dead spaces, the number of layers in the stacked body can be reduced, and the size can be reduced. Furthermore,
Since the welding protection means is located closer to the laminate than the welded portion by laser irradiation, the welding protection means can protect the insulating layer from spatter and fumes generated during laser irradiation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a bus bar connection structure according to a first embodiment, wherein (a) shows a state before connecting pieces are mounted on a laminate, and (b) shows a state where connection pieces are mounted on a laminate. Is shown.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views showing a bus bar connection structure according to a second embodiment, wherein FIG. 2A shows a state before connecting pieces are mounted on a laminate, and FIG. Is shown.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a branch junction box which is an example of an object to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a conventional example of a laminate in which insulating layers and bus bars are alternately arranged in the thickness direction of the insulating layer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Laminated body 1a Side surface 1b Depression groove 2 Insulating layer 3 Bus bar 3a Connection part 4, 5 Connection piece 4a, 5a Support part 4b, 5b Terminal part 4c Welding protection means

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Ryuharu Nakanishi 1-7-10 Kikuzumi, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi F-term in Harness Research Institute, Inc. 5G361 BA04 BB02

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A busbar connection structure for electrically connecting busbars in a laminated body in which insulating layers and busbars are alternately arranged in the thickness direction of the insulating layer, the busbar connecting portions to be connected to each other. Are protruded from the side surface of the laminate, or the insulating layer between the bus bar connecting portions to be connected to each other is removed, so that the connecting portions of the bus bars to be connected to each other are arranged to face each other, and the opposing connecting portions A connection piece made of a conductive material and a connection portion provided therebetween are welded by laser irradiation, and the connection portions of the bus bars to be connected are electrically connected to each other, and the welded portion is irradiated by the laser irradiation. A bus bar connection structure, characterized in that a welding protection means is provided on the side of the laminate. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connection piece is formed in a U-shape having a support portion along a direction in which the bus bar connection portions face each other and terminal portions opposed to the bus bar connection portions at both ends. The U-shaped connection piece is provided with the opening thereof facing outward, and the bus bar connection part and the terminal part of the connection piece are welded by laser irradiation using the support part in that state as welding protection means. The bus bar connection structure according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The connection piece is formed in an annular shape including two terminal portions parallel to the bus bar connection portion and two support portions connecting both ends of both terminal portions, and an opening in the annular connection piece. A welding protection means is provided on at least one side of the portion, the welding protection means protruding at least to the busbar connection part side of the terminal part, and the connection piece having the welding protection means is arranged on the side of the insulating layer to protect the welding protection means. The bus bar connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the terminal portion and the bus bar connection portion are welded by laser irradiation. 4. The bus bar connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the connection piece is formed to have a thickness equal to or smaller than a thickness of the bus bar.