WO2018021084A1

WO2018021084A1 - Conductive member with cooling function

Info

Publication number: WO2018021084A1
Application number: PCT/JP2017/025874
Authority: WO
Inventors: 平光　宏臣; 黒豆　友孝; 平井　宏樹; 東小薗　誠; 正人筒木
Original assignee: 株式会社オートネットワーク技術研究所; 住友電装株式会社; 住友電気工業株式会社
Priority date: 2016-07-27
Filing date: 2017-07-18
Publication date: 2018-02-01
Also published as: JP2018018661A

Abstract

This conductive member (1) with a cooling function is provided with: a coolant passage part (16) that is a member configured from a conductive pipe (P) and allows a coolant to pass through the inside thereof; a busbar (10) provided with a pair of terminal parts (12) that are connectable to electrode terminals (31A, 31B); and joint members (21) and liquid feeding tubes (24) that are connected to the coolant passage part (16) and form a supply path through which a coolant is supplied into the coolant passage part (16) and a discharge path through which the coolant is discharged from the coolant passage part (16). The pair of terminal parts (12) are respectively configured from portions of the pipe (P) and have a planar shape that is flattened so that opposing inner surfaces of the pipe (P) are in close contact, and the coolant passage part (16) is configured from the portion of the pipe (P) between the pair of terminal parts (12).

Description

Conductive member with cooling function

The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a conductive member with a cooling function.

Since batteries mounted on electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles have a higher output than ordinary gasoline engine vehicles, a relatively large current flows through power distribution equipment and power distribution materials connected to the battery. In recent years, from the viewpoint of further improvement in fuel consumption, the battery tends to have a higher output, and the power supply circuit is required to cope with a larger current (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2013-161635 A

When the flowing current increases, the heat generation amount of the conductive member used as the power distribution material increases. In order to reduce the amount of heat generation, a countermeasure to increase the cross-sectional area of the conductive member can be considered. However, such countermeasures increase the size of power distribution equipment and increase the power distribution space.

The conductive member with a cooling function disclosed in the present specification is a member constituted by a conductive pipe, and includes a refrigerant circulation part capable of circulating a refrigerant therein, and a pair of terminal parts connectable to an external terminal. An electrically conductive member, a supply part connected to the refrigerant circulation part and constituting a supply path of the refrigerant to the inside of the refrigerant circulation part, and discharge of the refrigerant from the refrigerant circulation part connected to the refrigerant circulation part Each of the pair of terminal portions is constituted by a part of the pipe and has a flat plate shape that is flattened so that the inner surfaces of the opposing pipes are in close contact with each other. And the said refrigerant | coolant distribution | circulation part is comprised by the part between a pair of said terminal parts in the said pipe.

According to the above configuration, the heat dissipation of the conductive member can be promoted by circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation portion. According to such a configuration, it is not necessary to increase the cross-sectional area of the conductive member in order to suppress the temperature rise. For this reason, it is possible to cope with a large current while avoiding an increase in size and an increase in power distribution space.

The conductive member with a cooling function connects a plurality of the conductive members, and one conductive member and the other conductive member among the plurality of conductive members, and the one conductive member and the other conductive member And a connecting part that constitutes a liquid supply path for the refrigerant.
According to such a configuration, a plurality of conductive members can be efficiently cooled at the same time.

The conductive member with a cooling function disclosed in this specification can cope with a large current while avoiding an increase in size and an increase in distribution space.

The perspective view of the electrically-conductive member with a cooling function of embodiment Pipe perspective view Perspective view of a pipe that has been pressed and drilled Busbar perspective view The perspective view which shows a mode before a liquid feeding tube is attached after a joint member is attached to a bus bar. The perspective view of the electrically conductive member with a cooling function of a modification Perspective view of the second bus bar

Embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS. The conductive member 1 with a cooling function of this embodiment is a member connected to a battery constituting a battery such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. Although not shown in detail, the battery is an assembled battery composed of a plurality of single cells.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conductive member 1 with a cooling function includes a bus bar 10, two joint members 21 attached to the bus bar 10, and two transmission members connected to the bus bar 10 through the joint members 21. A liquid tube 24 and an exterior material 25 that is externally mounted on the bus bar 10 are provided.

The bus bar 10 is a member composed of a pipe P made of a metal such as copper, copper alloy, and aluminum. As shown in FIG. 4, both ends are connection portions 11, and the pair of connection portions 11 are connected to each other. The sandwiched portion is a cylindrical refrigerant circulation portion 16 that constitutes the refrigerant flow path.

The end portion of each connection portion 11 (the end portion opposite to the refrigerant flow portion 16) is a terminal portion 12 having a flattened flat shape so that the inner surfaces of the opposing pipes are in close contact with each other. A portion between the portion 12 and the refrigerant circulation portion 16 is a deforming portion 13 that is deformed so as to be gradually crushed from the refrigerant circulation portion 16 toward the terminal portion 12. In the terminal portion 12, the inner surfaces facing each other of the pipes P are in close contact with each other and are not closed (opened). Each connecting portion 11 has an insertion hole 14 penetrating from one surface to the other surface in the central portion. The end surface of the connecting portion 11 (the end surface opposite to the coolant circulation portion 16) and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 14 are each covered with a caulking material 15, and the coolant is exposed to the outside through a gap between the facing inner surfaces. It is designed not to leak.

The refrigerant circulation part 16 has a pair of through holes (an inlet 17 and an outlet 18) that penetrate from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface. The inflow port 17 is disposed near one end portion of the refrigerant circulation portion 16, and the discharge port 18 is disposed near the other end portion.

As shown in FIG. 5, two liquid supply tubes 24 are attached to the refrigerant circulation part 16 via two joint members 21.

Each of the two joint members 21 is formed of an elastic member such as rubber and is a general member for connecting two pipe lines, and is fitted into the inflow port 17 or the discharge port 18 as shown in FIG. A packing part 22 to be attached and a cylindrical joint cylinder part 23 connected to the packing part 22 are provided. One joint member 21 of the two joint members 21 has a packing portion 22 fitted to the inflow port 17 and a joint cylinder portion 23 connected to one liquid feeding tube 24. The joint member 21 and the liquid feeding tube 24 constitute a supply unit that serves as a refrigerant supply path to the inside of the refrigerant circulation unit 16. A liquid feed pump or the like (not shown) is connected. In the other joint member 21, the packing portion 22 is fitted into the discharge port 18, and the joint tube portion 23 is connected to the other liquid feeding tube 24. The joint member 21 and the liquid feeding tube 24 constitute a discharge part that becomes a refrigerant discharge path from the refrigerant circulation part 16. As the liquid feeding tube 24, a general tube made of resin or the like can be used.

As shown in FIG. 1, the exterior member 25 is an insulating member that covers a portion of the bus bar 10 between the inlet 17 and the outlet 18, and for example, a heat shrinkable tube can be used.

An example of a method for manufacturing the conductive member 1 with a cooling function as described above is shown below.

First, both ends of a metal pipe P as shown in FIG. Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the punched pipe P is drilled to form the insertion hole 14, the inlet 17, and the outlet 18. Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the end surface of the connecting portion 11 and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 14 are sealed with a caulking material 15. Finally, the exterior material 25 is externally attached to the coolant circulation part 16, and the joint member 21 and the liquid feeding tube 24 are attached to complete the conductive member 1 with a cooling function.

When attaching the conductive member 1 with a cooling function to the assembled battery, as shown in FIG. 1, one terminal portion 12 is overlapped with the electrode terminal 31 </ b> A of one unit cell 30 </ b> A, and the bolt B is inserted into the insertion hole 14. The electrode terminal 31A is tightened and fixed. Similarly, in the other unit cell 30B, the other terminal portion 12 is overlapped with the electrode terminal 31B having a polarity different from that of the electrode terminal 31A of one unit cell 30A, and the bolt B is inserted into the insertion hole 14 to the electrode terminal 31B. Tighten and fix. Similarly, a plurality of unit cells can be connected in series by sequentially attaching the conductive member 1 with a cooling function to other unit cells.

During the use of the battery, a large current flows through the bus bar 10, so that the bus bar 10 generates heat. However, heat dissipation can be promoted by circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation portion 16. According to such a configuration, it is not necessary to increase the cross-sectional area of the conductive member in order to suppress the temperature rise. For this reason, it is possible to cope with a large current while avoiding an increase in size and an increase in power distribution space.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the conductive member 1 with the cooling function includes the bus bar 10, the joint member 21, and the liquid feeding tube 24. The bus bar 10 is a member constituted by a conductive pipe P, and includes a refrigerant circulation part 16 that can circulate a refrigerant therein and a pair of terminal parts 12 that can be connected to the

electrode terminals

31A and 31B. The joint member 21 and the liquid feeding tube 24 are connected to the refrigerant circulation part 16 and constitute a refrigerant supply path into the refrigerant circulation part 16 and a refrigerant discharge path from the refrigerant circulation part 16. Each of the pair of terminal portions 12 is constituted by a part of the pipe P, and has a flat plate shape that is flattened so that the inner surfaces of the opposing pipes P are in close contact with each other. In FIG. 2, the portion is formed between the pair of terminal portions 12.

According to the above configuration, the heat dissipation of the bus bar 10 can be promoted by circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation portion 16. According to such a configuration, there is no need to increase the cross-sectional area of the bus bar in order to suppress the temperature rise. For this reason, it is possible to cope with a large current while avoiding an increase in size and an increase in power distribution space.

<Modification>
As shown in FIG. 6, the conductive member 40 with a cooling function may include a plurality of

bus bars

41 and 51 that are connected in parallel. In this modification, an example in which two

bus bars

41 and 51 are arranged in parallel will be described. Note that in this modification, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations as those in the embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.

One bus bar (first bus bar 41) of the two

bus bars

41 and 51 has the same configuration as the bus bar 10 of the above embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the other bus bar (second bus bar 51) has the same configuration as the first bus bar 41 except that it includes two

inlets

52A and 52B and two outlets 53A and 53B. is doing. One inflow port (first inflow port 52A) and discharge port (first discharge port 53A) are arranged near one end of the refrigerant circulation portion 16 at positions facing each other, and the other inflow port (second discharge port). The inflow port 52B) and the discharge port (second discharge port 53B) are arranged near the other end of the refrigerant circulation part 16 at positions facing each other.

The joint member 21 is fitted to the

inflow ports

52A and 52B and the

discharge ports

53A and 53B, respectively, as in the above embodiment.

The joint member 21 fitted to the first inflow port 52A and the second discharge port 53B is connected to the liquid supply tube 24 and is connected to the first inflow port 52A, respectively, as in the above embodiment. A liquid feeding device is connected to the tube 24.

Between the joint member 21 fitted to the inlet 17 of the first bus bar 41 and the joint member 21 fitted to the first outlet 53A of the second bus bar 51, and the outlet 18 of the first bus bar 41. The joint member 21 fitted to the second bus bar 51 and the joint member 21 fitted to the second inflow port 52B of the second bus bar 51 are connected by a connecting tube 54, respectively. Thereby, the 1st bus bar 41 and the 2nd bus bar 51 are connected in parallel. The connection tube 54 and the joint member 21 constitute a connection portion that serves as a coolant supply path between the first bus bar 41 and the second bus bar 51. As the connection tube 54, a general tube formed of a resin or the like can be used like the liquid feeding tube 24. In this way, the two

bus bars

41 and 51 are connected in parallel, and the refrigerant can be circulated inside the bus bars 41 and 51.

When the conductive member 40 with the cooling function is attached to the assembled battery, as shown in FIG. 6, the one terminal portion 12 of the first bus bar 41 is overlaid on the one electrode terminal 62 </ b> A of the first unit cell 61, The bolt B is inserted into the insertion hole 14 and fixed to the electrode terminal 62A. Further, one terminal portion 12 of the second bus bar 51 is overlapped with the other electrode terminal 62B, and the bolt B is inserted into the insertion hole 14 and fastened and fixed to the electrode terminal 62B. Similarly, in the second unit cell (not shown), the other terminal portion 12 of the first bus bar 41 is overlaid on the electrode terminal having a polarity different from that of the one electrode terminal 62A of the first unit cell 61, Secure with bolts. Further, in the third unit cell (not shown), the other terminal portion 12 of the second bus bar 51 is overlapped with an electrode terminal having a polarity different from that of the other electrode terminal 62B of the first unit cell, and is fixed by a bolt. . In this way, a plurality of single cells are connected in series.

Also in this modified example, the heat radiation from the bus bars 41 and 51 can be promoted by circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation portion 16 as in the embodiment, and the same effects as in the embodiment are exhibited. . In addition, the plurality of

bus bars

41 and 51 can be efficiently cooled at the same time.

It should be noted that when a plurality of

bus bars

41 and 51 are connected and used as in this modification, it is necessary to use an insulating refrigerant for insulation between adjacent bus bars 41 and 51. Moreover, it is required that at least one of the connecting tube 54 and the joint member 21 that connect the adjacent bus bars 41 and 51 is insulative.

<Other embodiments>
The technology disclosed in the present specification is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings, and includes, for example, the following various aspects.
(1) In the said embodiment, although the example which uses the electrically conductive member 1 with a cooling function for the connection of the single cells which comprise an assembled battery was shown, the use of the electrically conductive member with a cooling function is not restricted to the said embodiment. For example, connection between a battery and a junction box for distributing power from the battery to a plurality of devices, connection between the junction box and devices, connection between a relay provided in the junction box and a service plug, battery and DC Examples include connection with a DC / DC converter, connection between a battery and an inverter, connection between an inverter and a motor, and connection between a motor and a device.

(2) In the above embodiment, the end surface of the connection portion 11 (the end surface opposite to the coolant circulation portion 16) and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 14 are covered with the caulking material 15, respectively. The configuration for preventing leakage to the outside of the bus bar is not limited to the above embodiment, for example, a method of performing laser welding on the end surface of the connection portion and the inner peripheral surface of the terminal insertion hole, and the connection portion in the metal pipe For example, a method of pressing after applying an adhesive such as rubber on the inside of the portion to be used, a method of immersing the connection portion in a solder solution, or the like can be employed.

(3) In the above modification, the example in which the two

bus bars

41 and 51 are connected in parallel is shown, but three bus bars may be connected in parallel. The configuration in which three bus bars are arranged in parallel can be suitably used particularly for wiring for three-phase alternating current. Further, four or more bus bars may be connected in parallel. A plurality of bus bars may be connected in series.

1, 40 ... Conductive member with cooling function 10 ... Bus bar (conductive member)
12 ... Terminal part 16 ... Refrigerant circulation part 21 ... Joint member (supply part, discharge part, connecting part)
24 ... Liquid feeding tube (supplying section, discharging section)
41 ... 1st bus bar (one conductive member)
51. Second bus bar (other conductive member)
54. Connecting tube (connecting part)
P ... pipe

Claims

A conductive member comprising a conductive pipe, a refrigerant circulation part capable of circulating a refrigerant therein, and a pair of terminal parts connectable to external terminals;
A supply unit connected to the refrigerant distribution unit and constituting a refrigerant supply path to the inside of the refrigerant distribution unit;
A discharge part connected to the refrigerant circulation part and constituting a refrigerant discharge path from the refrigerant circulation part,
Each of the pair of terminal portions is constituted by a part of the pipe, and has a flat plate shape crushed flat so that the inner surfaces of the opposing pipes are in close contact with each other.
The conductive member with a cooling function, wherein the refrigerant circulation portion is configured by a portion between the pair of terminal portions in the pipe.
A plurality of the conductive members;
A connecting portion that connects one conductive member and the other conductive member of the plurality of conductive members to form a coolant supply path between the one conductive member and the other conductive member; The electrically conductive member with a cooling function of Claim 1 provided.