JP2018068075A - Harness protector for electric vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a harness protector constituted of multiple protector elements and having a length corresponding to the number of battery modules.SOLUTION: Protector elements 40A, 40B, 40C, 40N having a mutually common shape are connected via removable connection parts 41A, 41B, 41C. Each one of the protector elements has a base member 60. A harness 25 is distributed along the base members 60. A connection piece 80 is formed on one end side of each base member 60. A lock part 82 is formed at a position corresponding to the connection piece 80 on the other end side of the base member 60. The connection piece 80 of the first protector element 40A is connected to the lock part 82 of the second protector element 40B, the connection piece 80 of the second protector element 40B is connected to the lock part 82 of the third protector element 40C, and the connection piece 80 of the third protector element 40C is connected to the lock part 82 of the fourth protector element 40N.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a protector for a harness used for a battery unit of an electric vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.

  A battery unit for driving a motor used in an electric vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle is configured by electrically connecting a plurality of battery modules. Each battery module includes a plurality of battery cells (for example, lithium ion batteries) that are secondary batteries. In order to detect the voltage of each battery module, a sensing harness is connected to each battery module terminal. Each of these sensing harnesses is connected to a control circuit along a resin harness protector.

  For example, the harness protector described in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of block-shaped housing portions and lid portions, and the housing portions adjacent to each other include a connecting portion formed integrally with the housing portion. Connected through. In the battery wiring module described in Patent Document 2, a wiring board and a bus bar are arranged along the resin protector. The resin protector of patent document 2 is comprised by the some holding | maintenance unit arrange | positioned along the row direction of a cell.

JP 09-233642 A JP 2013-105571 A

  The number of battery modules constituting the battery unit is selected according to the vehicle type of the electric vehicle, the capacity of the battery unit, and the like. Generally, as the number of battery modules increases, the battery unit also increases. For this reason, the length of the protector for harness arrange | positioned at a battery unit also differs for every battery unit.

  Conventional harness protectors including Patent Documents 1 and 2 are designed in advance so as to have a length corresponding to the number of battery modules (dimensions of the battery unit), and are molded into a predetermined shape by injection molding or the like. For this reason, when the number of battery modules changes, it is necessary to redesign the harness protector, and it is necessary to change the molding die.

  Accordingly, it has been considered that a protector element for a belt composed of a plurality of protector elements is formed by forming independent protector elements for each battery module and connecting the protector elements in the length direction of the harness. However, in such a protector for harness, in a free state before being attached to the battery module, some protector elements (particularly protector elements located at the end of the harness) are likely to rotate around the harness. For this reason, not only is it difficult to assemble the harness protector to the battery module, but there is also room for improvement, such as the harness being twisted.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric vehicle that can be made to have a desired length by connecting a number of protector elements corresponding to the battery module and that the protector elements can be prevented from rotating around the harness. To provide a harness protector.

  One embodiment of the present invention is a protector for a harness arranged over a plurality of battery modules, the plurality of protectors being arranged separately for each of the plurality of battery modules and regulating the wiring direction of the harness. And a connecting portion that detachably connects the protector elements adjacent to each other in the wiring direction of the harness, and the connecting portion is formed in the protector element and is adjacent to the wiring direction of the harness. A connecting piece extending toward the element; and a locking portion formed on the protector element to which the connecting piece of the adjacent protector element is connected.

  An example of the protector element includes a base member having a routing portion that regulates a routing direction of the harness, and the base in a state where the harness is sandwiched between the base member and the base member that is arranged to overlap the base member. A lid member fixed to the member, the connecting portion is formed on the base member, and the locking portion is provided at a position where the lid member overlaps the base member. According to this configuration, in a state where the lid member overlaps the base member, the connection state between the locking portion and the connection piece can be maintained. In the connection piece, a hole (for example, a long hole) to be inserted into the engaging portion of the adjacent protector element is formed, and the adjacent protector elements are connected to each other by the connection portion. There may be a gap between the inner surface and the locking portion.

  In these embodiments, the plurality of protector elements may have a common shape. Moreover, you may have the recessed part in which the said protector element is inserted in the surface by which the said protector element is arrange | positioned of the said battery module. The battery module may be provided with a convex portion, and the protector element may be provided with a fitting portion into which the convex portion is inserted. One form of the connection part is that the bending rigidity in the thickness direction of the base member is smaller than the bending rigidity in the width direction of the base member, and the bending rigidity in the width direction of the base member is And a second plate portion smaller than the bending rigidity in the thickness direction of the base member.

  According to the present invention, a protector for a harness having a desired length can be obtained by connecting a number of protector elements corresponding to a battery module to each other via a connecting portion, and the protector element rotates around the harness. This can be suppressed by the connecting portion and the harness.

The top view which shows the structure of an electric vehicle typically. The top view of the harness unit provided with the protector for harnesses which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The perspective view of the 1st protector element of the protector for harnesses shown in FIG. 2, and a battery module. The perspective view which shows the state before attaching the protector element shown by FIG. 3 to a battery module. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a base member and a lid member of the protector element shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a base member of the protector element shown in FIG. 3. The top view which shows the state to which the 1st base member and 2nd base member of the protector for harnesses shown by FIG. 2 were connected. The top view which shows the base member and harness of each protector element of the protector for harnesses shown by FIG. The perspective view which shows a part of protector for harnesses concerning 2nd Embodiment. The top view of a part of protector for harnesses shown by FIG.

  Hereinafter, a harness protector for an electric vehicle according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. The electric vehicle may be an electric vehicle that runs only by an electric motor, or may be a hybrid vehicle that uses both an electric motor and an engine (internal combustion engine).

  FIG. 1 shows an example of an electric vehicle and a hybrid electric vehicle 1. A direction indicated by an arrow X <b> 1 in FIG. 1 is the front of the electric vehicle 1. An example of the electric vehicle 1 includes a motor 2 for traveling, a battery unit 3 for driving which is a power source of the motor 2, and a DC current supplied from the battery unit 3 to, for example, three-phase AC power to convert the motor 2 Inverter 4 supplied to the vehicle, a traveling engine (internal combustion engine) 5, a power transmission mechanism 7 for transmitting the rotation of the engine 5 to the drive shaft 6, a generator (generator) 8, and the like.

  The battery unit 3 has a plurality of battery modules 10 housed in a battery case 3a. The battery unit 3 shown in FIG. 1 has a first module group 11 and a second module group 12. Each of the first module group 11 and the second module group 12 includes a plurality of battery modules 10 arranged in a row in the battery case 3a.

  For example, a voltage of several hundred volts is obtained by electrically connecting the battery modules 10. Each battery module 10 is configured by connecting a plurality of battery cells (for example, secondary batteries such as lithium ions and nickel hydride) in series.

  A first harness unit 15 is arranged in the first module group 11. The first harness unit 15 is connected to the control unit 17 via the first connector 16 in order to monitor the state of each battery module 10 constituting the first module group 11. The control unit 17 is provided with electronic components for monitoring the voltage and the like of the battery module 10.

  A second harness unit 20 is arranged in the second module group 12. The second harness unit 20 is connected to the control unit 17 via the second connector 21 in order to monitor the state of each battery module 10 constituting the second module group 12.

  The first harness unit 15 and the second harness unit 20 are symmetrical with each other about a line segment X2 (shown in FIG. 1) in the longitudinal direction of the battery unit 3 as an axis of symmetry. Since the configurations of the first harness unit 15 and the second harness unit 20 are substantially the same, the first harness unit 15 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  An example of the harness unit 15 is shown in FIG. The harness unit 15 includes a harness (sensing harness) 25 including a plurality of electric wires 25 a, 25 b, 25 c, and 25 d, and a belt-shaped harness protector 30 provided along the harness 25. A connector 16 connected to the control unit 17 is provided on one end side of the harness 25. On the other end side of the harness 25, connectors 35a, 35b, 35c connected to the terminals 35 (parts shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) of the battery module 10 corresponding to the electric wires 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, respectively. , 35d are provided.

  The harness protector 30 includes the same number (N) of protector elements 40A, 40B, 40C,... 40N as the number of battery modules 10, and the protector elements 40A, 40B, 40C,. Each of these is divided and arranged. Although four protector elements 40A, 40B, 40C, and 40N are shown in FIG. 2, the number of protector elements may be other than four. As will be described in detail later, the protector elements 40A, 40B, 40C, and 40N are connected in series in the longitudinal direction of the harness 25 by detachable connection portions 41A, 41B, and 41C, thereby a plurality of protector elements 40A and 40B. , 40C, 40N, a belt-like harness protector 30 is configured, and the wiring direction of the harness 25 is regulated.

  Since the configurations of the protector elements 40A, 40B, 40C, and 40N are common to each other, and the configurations of the detachable connecting portions 41A, 41B, and 41C are also common to each other, the first protector element 40A and the connecting portion 41A are thereafter used. This will be described as a representative.

  FIG. 3 shows a state where the protector element 40 </ b> A is attached to the battery module 10. FIG. 4 shows a state before the protector element 40 </ b> A is attached to the battery module 10. A recess 50 into which the protector element 40A is inserted is formed on the upper surface of the battery module 10, that is, the surface on the side where the protector element 40A is disposed. A pair of convex portions 51 and 52 (shown in FIG. 4) are formed at a position corresponding to the electrode terminal of the battery module 10 inside the concave portion 50. Clip insertion holes 53 and 54 are formed in the convex portions 51 and 52.

  FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the protector element 40A. 40 A of protector elements are comprised by the base member 60 formed by shape | molding resin, such as a polypropylene, for example, and the cover member 61 similarly formed integrally by resin, such as a polypropylene. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the base member 60. The base member 60 and the lid member 61 may be integrally formed by injection molding or the like, or may be a combination of a plurality of parts. Moreover, what consists of resin other than a polypropylene may be sufficient.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the base member 60 has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and a first member located on one end side of the base member 60 with respect to the direction in which the harness 25 extends (the direction indicated by the arrow Y <b> 1 in FIG. 6). End 60a, a second end 60b located on the other end side, one edge 60c along the harness 25, and the other edge 60d.

  The electric wires 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d of the harness 25 are arranged along the routing portion 70 on one surface (the side on which the lid member 61 is disposed) of both surfaces in the thickness direction of the base member 60. Yes. In a state where the base member 60 and the lid member 61 overlap each other, the harness 25 is sandwiched between the lid member 61 and the base member 60. The routing direction of the harness 25 is regulated by the routing unit 70.

  The base member 60 has through holes 71 and 72 and clip receiving seats 73 and 74 at positions corresponding to the clip insertion holes 53 and 54 of the battery module 10. On the other surface of the base member 60 (the surface opposite to the lid member 61), the protrusions 51 and 52 can be inserted at positions corresponding to the protrusions 51 and 52 (shown in FIG. 4) of the battery module 10. The fitting parts 75 and 76 which consist of a concave part are formed.

  A connecting portion 41A is formed on the protector element 40A. In the case of this embodiment, a connection piece 80 that forms a part of the connection portion 41 </ b> A is provided at the first end portion 60 a of the base member 60. The connection piece 80 protrudes in the direction in which the harness 25 extends (the direction indicated by Y1 in FIG. 6). That is, the connection piece 80 of the first protector element 40A extends toward the second end 60b of the adjacent second protector element 40B. A hole 81 is formed in the connection piece 80 along the length direction of the connection piece 80.

  FIG. 7 shows a state in which the base member 60 of the first protector element 40A and the base member 60 of the second protector element 40B are connected to each other via the connecting portion 41A. At the second end portion 60 b of the base member 60, a locking portion 82 made of a convex portion is formed at a position corresponding to the hole 81 of the connection piece 80. The locking portion 82 has a shape that can be inserted into the hole 81 of the connecting piece 80 of the protector elements adjacent to each other, and is formed at a position where the base member 60 and the lid member 61 overlap each other. For this reason, in a state where the lid member 61 overlaps the base member 60, the connection state between the connection piece 80 and the locking portion 82 can be maintained.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the state where the adjacent protector elements 40A and 40B are connected to each other by the connecting portion 41A, the connecting piece 80 and the locking portion are provided between the inner surface of the hole 81 and the locking portion 82. The gaps G1 and G2 are formed so that 82 can move relatively to a certain extent like a hinge. Since the gaps G1 and G2 exist between the connecting piece 80 and the locking portion 82, the protector elements 40A and 40B adjacent to each other are allowed to swing within a certain angle range at the connecting portion 41A. Thus, it is possible to deal with variations in relative positions and heights of the battery modules 10.

  The lid member 61 is formed with an attachment portion 90 that can be fixed to the edge portions 60 c and 60 d of the base member 60. The base member 60 and the lid member 61 are fixed to each other by overlapping the lid member 61 on the base member 60 and hooking the mounting portion 90 on the edge portions 60c and 60d of the base member 60. Holes 91 and 92 are formed in the lid member 61 at positions corresponding to the clip receiving seats 73 and 74 of the base member 60.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the base members 60 of the protector elements 40A, 40B, 40C, and 40N having a common shape are connected to each other through connection portions 41A, 41B, and 41C. Specifically, the connecting portion 41A is formed by inserting the locking portion 82 of the second protector element 40B into the hole 81 of the connecting piece 80 of the first protector element 40A. Moreover, the connection part 41B is formed by inserting the latching | locking part 82 of the 3rd protector element 40C in the hole 81 of the connection piece 80 of the 2nd protector element 40B. 41 C of connection parts are formed by inserting the latching | locking part 82 of the 4th protector element 40N in the hole 81 of the connection piece 80 of the 3rd protector element 40C.

  Thus, the protector elements 40A, 40B, 40C, and 40N adjacent to each other are connected to each other via the connecting portions 41A, 41B, and 41C, so that the belt-shaped harness protector 30 that extends in the longitudinal direction of the harness 25 is configured. Is done. After the wires 25a, 25b, 25c, and 25d of the harness 25 are routed along the routing portions 70 of the protector elements 40A, 40B, 40C, and 40N, the lid member 61 is placed on the base member 60 and attached. By fixing the lid member 61 to the base member 60 by the portion 90, the harness protector 30 shown in FIG. 2 can be obtained.

  That is, the harness protector 30 according to the present embodiment has a number of protector elements 40A, 40B, 40C, and 40N having the same number corresponding to the battery module 10 in series in the longitudinal direction of the harness 25 via the connection portions 41A, 41B, and 41C. Is configured by connecting to. For this reason, the protector element according to the number of the battery modules 10 is connected as needed, whereby the harness protector 30 having a length corresponding to the number of the battery modules 10 can be obtained flexibly. Even if the number of battery modules 10 is changed for some reason, it is possible to cope with this by using a protector element having a common shape. Therefore, it is necessary to redesign the harness protector 30 or to manufacture a new mold. There is no.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first protector element 40A and the second protector element 40B are connected to each other via the electric wires 25b, 25c, 25d and the connecting portion 41A. This connecting portion 41A is disposed substantially parallel to the wiring direction of the harness 25 at a position away from the electric wires 25b, 25c, 25d in the width direction W1 of the base member 60 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 7). The protector elements 40A and 40B are prevented from rotating relatively, and the harness 25 is prevented from being twisted.

  In addition, the second protector element 40B and the third protector element 40C are connected to each other via the electric wires 25c and 25d and the connection portion 41B. Since this connection part 41B is also arrange | positioned substantially parallel to the electric wires 25c and 25d in the position away in the width direction W1 of the base member 60 with respect to the electric wires 25c and 25d, the protector elements 40B and 40C rotate relatively. Is prevented, and the harness 25 is prevented from being twisted.

  Further, the third protector element 40C and the fourth protector element 40N are connected to each other via the electric wire 25d and the connecting portion 41C. Since the connecting portion 41C is disposed substantially parallel to the electric wire 25d at a position away from the electric wire 25d in the width direction W1 of the base member 60, the protector elements 40C and 40N are prevented from rotating relatively. The harness 25 is prevented from being twisted.

  In particular, the protector element 40N located at the end of the harness unit 15 is connected to the adjacent protector element 40C by one electric wire 25b. Therefore, if there is no connecting portion 41C, the protector element 40N is centered on the electric wire 25b in FIG. It is easy to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow R1. In this regard, in the present embodiment, the protector elements 40C and 40N are connected to each other by two places (the electric wire 25d and the connecting portion 41C) that are separated from each other in the width direction W1 of the base member 60. It is possible to suppress the rotation to the center.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the protector element 40 </ b> A is inserted into the recess 50 of the battery module 10. At that time, the fitting portions 75 and 76 (shown in FIG. 7) of the protector element 40A are fitted to the convex portions 51 and 52 of the battery module 10, thereby positioning and temporarily fixing the protector element 40A with respect to the battery module 10. be able to.

  Under this state, the protector element 40 </ b> A is fixed to the battery module 10 by the clips 100 and 101. Then, the connector 35 a of the protector element 40 </ b> A is connected to the terminal 35 of the battery module 10. Similarly, the second to fourth protector elements 40B, 40C, and 40N are also fixed to the battery module 10, and the respective connectors 35b, 35c, and 35d are connected to the terminals 35 of the battery module 10.

  9 and 10 show a connection portion 41 ′ of the harness protector 30 ′ according to the second embodiment. The connection portion 41 ′ has a connection piece 110 provided at the first end portion 60 a of the base member 60 and a locking portion 82 provided at the second end portion 60 b of the base member 60. . The connection piece 110 includes a first plate portion 110a in which the bending rigidity in the thickness direction T1 of the base member 60 is smaller than the bending rigidity in the width direction W1, and the bending rigidity in the width direction W1 of the base member 60 in the thickness direction T1. It has the 2nd board part 110b smaller than bending rigidity, and the loop-shaped part 110c.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the first protector element 40A and the second protector element are inserted by inserting the locking portion 82 of the second protector element 40B into the loop-shaped portion 110c of the first protector element 40A. 40B are connected to each other. Gaps G3 and G4 are ensured between the inner surface of the hole 81 of the loop-shaped portion 110c and the engaging portion 82, so that the connecting portion 41 'can function like a hinge.

  Since the protector elements 40A and 40B can swing with each other through the connecting portion 41 ', the relative position variation and height variation between the protector elements 40A and 40B are allowed. For this reason, variations in relative position and height of the battery module can be allowed to some extent. Since the harness protector 30 'according to this embodiment is the same as the harness protector 30 according to the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to both and the description thereof will be omitted.

  In carrying out the present invention, the configuration, shape and arrangement of the harness, the harness protector, etc. constituting the harness unit, as well as the specific configuration and arrangement of the electric vehicle, the battery module, etc. are appropriately changed. Needless to say, this can be done.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electric vehicle, 3 ... Battery unit, 10 ... Battery module, 15, 20 ... Harness unit, 25 ... Harness, 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d ... Electric wire, 30 ... Harness protector, 40A, 40B, 40C, 40N ... Protector element, 41A, 41B, 41C ... connection part, 50 ... concave part, 51, 52 ... convex part, 53, 54 ... clip insertion hole, 60 ... base member, 60a ... first end, 60b ... second end 61, lid member, 70, routing portion, 73, 74 ... clip receiving seat, 75, 76 ... fitting portion, 80 ... connecting piece, 81 ... hole, 82 ... locking portion, 90 ... mounting portion, 91 , 92 ... hole, 100, 101 ... clip, 110 ... connection piece, 110a ... first plate part, 110b ... second plate part, 110c ... loop-like part.

Claims (7)

A harness protector disposed across a plurality of battery modules,
A plurality of protector elements that are arranged separately for each of the plurality of battery modules and that regulate the wiring direction of the harness;
A connection part that removably connects the protector elements adjacent to each other in the wiring direction of the harness,
The connecting portion is
A connecting piece formed on the protector element and extending toward the protector element adjacent to the harness wiring direction;
A locking portion formed on the protector element, to which the connecting piece of the adjacent protector element is connected,
A protector for a harness of an electric vehicle, comprising: The protector element is
A base member having a wiring portion that regulates the wiring direction of the harness;
A lid member that is placed over the base member and fixed to the base member in a state where the harness is sandwiched between the base member and the base member;
The connecting portion is formed on the base member;
The protector for a harness according to claim 1, wherein the locking portion is provided at a position where the lid member overlaps the base member.   In the connection piece, a hole to be inserted into the locking portion of the adjacent protector element is formed, and in a state where the adjacent protector elements are connected by the connecting portion, the inner surface of the hole and the locking The harness protector according to claim 1, wherein a gap exists between the first and second portions.   The harness protector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of protector elements have a common shape.   The harness protector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: a concave portion into which the protector element is inserted on a surface of the battery module on the side where the protector element is disposed. .   The battery module according to claim 1, wherein a convex portion is formed on the battery module, and a fitting portion into which the convex portion is inserted is provided on the protector element. Protector.   The connecting portion includes a first plate portion having a bending stiffness in the thickness direction of the base member smaller than a bending stiffness in the width direction of the base member, and a bending stiffness in the width direction of the base member being the thickness of the base member. The harness protector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a second plate portion smaller than a bending rigidity in a direction.

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