Relay unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019318892-A1
Application number	US-201716466486-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 5, 2017
Priority date	Dec 5, 2016
Publication date	Oct 17, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

This relay unit includes: a first bus bar; a relay electrically connected to the first bus bar; and an apparatus cover for covering the first bus bar and the relay. The apparatus cover includes: an upper member in a box shape having a covered upper end, the upper member having an opening formed in a lower end; and a lower member bonded to the upper member such that the opening of the upper member is covered with the lower member. The lower member is formed of a resin having heat conductivity that is higher than that of the upper member. The first bus bar is connected to the lower member via a first inner heat conductive sheet such that heat can be transferred to the lower member, said first inner heat conductive sheet being disposed between the first bus bar and the lower member.

First claim

1 . A relay unit housed in a battery case, the relay unit comprising:
a first bus bar; a relay that is electrically connected to the first bus bar; and a device cover that covers the first bus bar and the relay, wherein the device cover includes an upper member which has a box shape with an upper end closed and with an opening formed at a lower end, and a lower member which is combined with the upper member in a manner to close the opening of the upper member, the lower member is formed from a resin having a higher heat conductive property than the upper member, the first bus bar is connected to the lower member in a manner to allow transfer of heat, via a first inner heat conductive sheet placed between the first bus bar and the lower member, and the first inner heat conductive sheet is an electrically insulating resin sheet having a lower surface hardness than the lower member.

2 . The relay unit according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an outer heat conductive sheet that is placed at a lower side of the lower member, wherein the first bus bar is connected to the outer heat conductive sheet in a manner to allow transfer of heat, via the first inner heat conductive sheet and the lower member.

3 . The relay unit according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a second bus bar that is covered by the device cover, wherein the relay is electrically connected to each of the first bus bar and the second bus bar, between the first bus bar and the second bus bar, a first recess and a second recess which are partitioned by an electrically insulating wall are formed on an upper surface of the lower member, the first inner heat conductive sheet is placed in the first recess and the first bus bar is placed in an overlapping manner at an upper side of the first inner heat conductive sheet in the first recess, a second inner heat conductive sheet is placed in the second recess and the second bus bar is placed in an overlapping manner at an upper side of the second inner heat conductive sheet in the second recess, and the first bus bar is connected to the outer heat conductive sheet in a manner to allow transfer of heat, via the first inner heat conductive sheet and the lower member, and the second bus bar is connected to the outer heat conductive sheet in a manner to allow transfer of heat, via the second inner heat conductive sheet and the lower member.

4 . The relay unit according to claim 2 , wherein
the outer heat conductive sheet is adhered to a lower surface of the lower member, and a sheet protection wall which protrudes to a lower side is formed on a portion, of the lower surface of the lower member, opposing at least a part of an outer circumferential surface of the outer heat conductive sheet.

5 . The relay unit according to claim 4 , wherein
the outer heat conductive sheet has a rectangular or square shape when viewed from one side in a thickness direction, the sheet protection wall is formed in a rectangular or square cross section to surround the outer heat conductive sheet, and a height of the sheet protection wall is larger than a thickness of the outer heat conductive sheet.

6 . The relay unit according to claim 4 , wherein
a notch is formed on the sheet protection wall on an outer circumferential surface including a lower end of the outer heat conductive sheet, to expose a portion in a circumferential direction.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd
• Sumitomo Wiring Systems

Inventors

• Ikejiri Noritaka
• Ejima Takumi
• Kawaguchi Kiyofumi
• ODA Maiko
• Suzuki Toshifumi
• Obara Yoshikazu

Classifications

• H01M10/625

  Vehicles · CPC title

• H01M10/66

  Heat-exchange relationships between the cells and other systems, e.g. central heating systems or fuel cells · CPC title

• H01H45/12 Primary

  Ventilating; Cooling; Heating (for operating electrothermal relays H01H61/013) · CPC title

• B60Y2200/91

  Electric vehicles · CPC title

• H01M10/613 Primary

  Cooling or keeping cold · CPC title