阅读说明：本技术 保护器及保护器模块 (Protector and protector module ) 是由 井上重行 东慎辅 小川真由 关根凌 水岛淳 于 2021-03-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供一种能够防止温度传感器的温度检测部破损的保护器和保护器模块。该保护器包括保护器端部和传感器保持部,并且被构造成保持具有温度检测部和被保持部的温度传感器的被保持部。传感器保持部形成为露出温度检测部的侧部的整周及末端的形状,并且具有设置在温度检测部的末端之外且远离温度检测的末端的位置处的保护部。保护部具有形成为连续的L形状的第一柱状部和第二柱状部。(Provided are a protector and a protector module capable of preventing a temperature detection unit of a temperature sensor from being damaged. The protector includes a protector end portion and a sensor holding portion, and is configured to hold a held portion of a temperature sensor having a temperature detecting portion and a held portion. The sensor holding portion is formed in a shape that exposes the entire circumference and the end of the side portion of the temperature detection portion, and has a protection portion provided at a position other than the end of the temperature detection portion and apart from the end of the temperature detection portion. The protective portion has a first columnar portion and a second columnar portion formed in a continuous L-shape.)

1. A protector, comprising:

a protector end portion; and

at least one sensor holding portion provided on the protector end portion and configured to hold a held portion of a temperature sensor having a temperature detection portion extending toward an object to be measured and the held portion provided on a base end side of the temperature detection portion,

wherein the at least one sensor holding portion is formed in a shape in which the entire circumference and the tip of the side portion of the temperature detection portion are exposed, and has a protection portion provided at a position apart from and apart from the tip of the temperature detection portion, and

wherein the protection portion has a first columnar portion extending in a first direction orthogonal to an extension axis of the temperature detection portion and a second columnar portion extending in a second direction orthogonal to both the extension axis and the first direction, and the first columnar portion and the second columnar portion are formed in a continuous L-shape.

2. The protector in accordance with claim 1, wherein,

wherein the first columnar portion and the second columnar portion formed in a continuous L-shape as viewed from the extension axis are provided at positions not overlapping with a tip end of the temperature detection portion.

3. The protector according to claim 2, wherein the protector is,

wherein the at least one protector end is a pair of sensor holding portions provided at both sides of the protector end centered on an axis of the protector end.

4. The protector according to claim 3, wherein the protector is,

wherein the protector end is separate from the wire housing part of the protector and is detachably provided at an end of the wire housing part or at a position distant from the end of the wire housing part.

5. A protector module comprising:

the protector of any one of claims 1-4;

an electric wire housed and protected in the protector; and

a temperature sensor provided at an end of the electric wire and held by a sensor holding portion provided on a protector end of the protector.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a protector, and more particularly to a protector in which a structure for holding a temperature sensor is provided at an end of the protector. The invention also relates to a protector module comprising said protector, an electric wire and a temperature sensor.

Background

Various sensors are used to detect the state of a battery pack mounted on an electric vehicle or the like. JP- ｃA-2019-212531 discloses ｃA protector module which is used as ｃA module including ｃA temperature sensor among these sensors. In fig. 10, a protector module 1 is provided to detect a temperature state of battery cells of a battery pack (not shown). The protector module 1 is connected to a battery monitoring unit (not shown) that monitors the battery state of the battery cell, and is capable of transmitting temperature detection information to the battery monitoring unit. The protector module 1 includes: a plurality of wires (not shown) extending to and connected to the battery monitoring unit; a protector 2 for housing and protecting the electric wire; and a temperature sensor 3 that measures the temperature of a battery cell serving as an object to be measured. The protector 2 includes a wire housing 4 and a protector end 5 provided at an end of the wire housing 4. A portion for holding the temperature sensor 3 (sensor holding portion 6) is formed at the protector end portion 5. In fig. 11, the temperature sensor 3 held by the sensor holding portion 6 provided at the protector end portion 5 includes a temperature detection portion 7 extending toward the battery cell and a holding portion 8 provided on the base end side of the temperature detection portion 7. The temperature sensor 3 is held at the protector end 5 in a state where the temperature detection portion 7 is exposed.

In the related art, since the temperature sensor 3 is held at the protector end 5 in a state in which the temperature detection portion 7 of the temperature sensor 3 is exposed, when the temperature detection portion 7 is damaged for some reason before the protector module 1 is assembled to the battery pack (not shown), it is necessary to replace not only the temperature sensor 3 but also the electric wires. Therefore, the protector module 1 needs to be handled with great care.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a protector and a protector module capable of preventing damage to a temperature detection portion of a temperature sensor.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, there is provided a protector according to an aspect of the present invention, including:

a protector end portion; and

at least one sensor holding portion provided to the protector end portion and configured to hold a held portion of a temperature sensor having a temperature detection portion extending toward an object to be measured and the held portion provided on a base end side of the temperature detection portion,

wherein the at least one sensor holding portion is formed in a shape in which the entire periphery and the tip of the side portion of the temperature detection portion are exposed, has a protection portion provided at a position apart from the tip of the temperature detection portion and distant from the end portion, and

wherein the protection portion has a first columnar portion extending in a first direction orthogonal to an extension axis of the temperature detection portion and a second columnar portion extending in a second direction orthogonal to both the extension axis and the first direction, and the first columnar portion and the second columnar portion are formed in a continuous L-shape.

The invention can prevent the temperature detection part of the temperature sensor from being damaged. According to the present invention, even when the protection portion is provided at the sensor holding portion, the temperature can be detected with high accuracy by the shape of the protection portion.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a protector and a protector module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view seen from the direction of arrow a in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view seen from the direction of arrow B in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view seen from the direction of arrow C in fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view seen from the direction of arrow D in fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view seen from the direction of arrow E in fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the temperature sensor.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the protector end portion.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view showing a main portion in fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a protector and protector module of the prior art.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view showing a portion of the protector end and the temperature sensor in fig. 10.

Detailed Description

The protector has a protector end. The protector end is formed with a sensor holding portion. The sensor holding portion is formed as a portion for holding a held portion of the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor includes: a temperature detection portion extending toward an object to be measured; and a held portion provided on the base end side of the temperature detection portion. The sensor holding portion is formed in a shape in which the entire circumference and the end of the side portion of the temperature detection portion are exposed. The sensor holding portion is formed in a shape having a protection portion at a position distant from the end of the temperature detection portion. The protection portion includes: a first columnar portion extending in a direction orthogonal to an extension axis of the temperature detection portion; and a second columnar portion extending in a direction orthogonal to both the extension axis and the first columnar portion. These columnar portions are formed in a continuous L shape.

Examples

Hereinafter, the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a protector and a protector module according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a view seen from the direction of arrow a in fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view seen from the direction of arrow B in fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view seen from the direction of arrow C in fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view seen from the direction of arrow D in fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a view seen from the direction of arrow E in fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the temperature sensor. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the protector end portion. Fig. 9 is an enlarged view showing a main portion in fig. 8.

In fig. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a protector module. The protector module 11 is not particularly limited, and is provided in a battery pack (not shown) as described in the background section. The protector module 11 is capable of detecting a temperature state of a target object to be measured. The protector module 11 includes: a harness main body 12 extending to a battery monitoring unit (not shown) and connected to a connector of the tip; a temperature sensor 13 provided at a tip (a tip different from the above-described tip) of the wire harness main body 12; and a protector 14 as a characteristic part of the present invention. The protector module 11 has a structure capable of preventing the temperature detection part 16 of the temperature sensor 13 from being broken, which will be described later. Hereinafter, the above-described respective constituent members will be described.

In fig. 1 and 7, the wire harness main body 12 includes a wire bundle 15, and a plurality of wires are bundled in the wire bundle 15. Each of the wires includes a conductor and an insulator covering the conductor. The conductor is a portion formed of a conductive metal such as copper, a copper alloy, aluminum, and an aluminum alloy. The conductor is formed in a state where, for example, strands are twisted. The conductor is formed to have a circular sectional shape. The insulator is an insulating portion formed of a resin such as polyvinyl chloride resin, polyethylene resin, and polypropylene resin. The insulator is extruded around the conductor and has a cylindrical sectional shape. The insulator is a member that covers the conductor and is formed to have a predetermined thickness. The predetermined portion of the above-described wire harness main body 12 is accommodated in the protector 14 and protected from the outside. The wire harness main body 12 has two independent ends, and each end is provided with a temperature sensor 13.

In fig. 1 and 7, the two temperature sensors 13 are identical. Hereinafter, only one temperature sensor 13 will be described. The temperature sensor 13 is substantially the same as the temperature sensor 3 in the related art shown in fig. 11. The temperature sensor 13 includes a temperature detection portion 16 and a held portion 17, and is formed in a shape shown in the drawing. In the present embodiment, the temperature sensor 13 uses a thermistor that detects a temperature change based on a resistance value change. The temperature detection portion 16 is formed by incorporating an element for detecting the temperature of the object to be measured. The temperature detection unit 16 is formed in a shape extending toward the object to be measured. Reference numeral 18 denotes a side portion of the temperature detection portion 16. Reference numeral 19 denotes a tip. Reference character L1 denotes an extension axis. The extension axis L1 is the same as the center axis of the temperature detection unit 16. The side portion 18 is formed in a shape obtained by slightly pressing the cylinder. The tip 19 is continuous with the side 18 and is located at a protruding end of the temperature detection portion 16. The tip 19 is formed in a circular shape as shown in the drawing. As can be seen from the drawing, the temperature detection portion 16 is formed so that a portion other than the base end portion is exposed. The elements of the temperature detection portion 16 are connected to the two electric wires of the wire harness main body 12. The held portion 17 is a resin molded product, covers the connecting portion of the electric wire, and is held by a sensor holding portion 28 (see fig. 8 and 9) of the protector 14, which will be described later. The upper surface 20 of the held portion 17 is formed as a flat surface, and is formed as a face that is pushed by an operator when the held portion 17 is assembled to the sensor holding portion 28. Locking portions 21 are formed at both side portions of the held portion 17, respectively. Each of the lock portions 21 is formed in a cantilever shape. The locking portion 21 extends downward and is formed in such a manner that a claw-like locking protrusion protrudes outward at an end portion.

In fig. 1, the protector 14 is a resin molded article, and is provided for accommodating and protecting the wire harness main body 12 and for restricting a path. The protector 14 includes an electric wire housing 22 and a protector end 23 provided at an end of the electric wire housing 22. The electric wire housing 22 is formed in the same manner as the electric wire housing 4 shown in fig. 10. Specifically, the protector 14 includes: a protector main body having a groove shape for accommodating the wire harness main body 12; and a protector cover covering an opening portion of the recess of the protector body. In the present embodiment, the protector end 23 is separated from the end of the electric wire housing 22. This configuration is merely an example. For example, the protector end 23 may be integrally formed at the end of the electric wire housing 22, or may be detachably formed at the end of the electric wire housing 22. Hereinafter, the protector end portion 23 will be described in detail.

In fig. 1 to 9, the protector end portion 23 includes in the following order from the end of the electric wire housing portion 22: a wire harness fixing portion 24, a branch wire arranging portion 25, a clip portion 26, a pair of stabilizers 27, and a pair of sensor holding portions 28. The protector end portion 23 is formed in the shape shown in the drawings. The harness fixing portion 24 is a portion for fixing the harness main body 12 extending from the end of the electric wire housing portion 22. In the present embodiment, the harness fixing portion 24 is formed in a shape capable of fixing the harness main body 12 using the cable tie 29. The branch line arrangement portion 25 is divided into two parts and formed in a substantially U-shape. The branch wire arrangement portion 25 is a mounting portion for the wire harness main body 12. The frame portion 30 is formed outside the branch line arrangement portion 25. The clip portion 26 is formed as a fixing portion for fixing a part of the battery pack (not shown). The clip portion 26 includes a main body portion 31 projecting downward and a pair of locking portions 32 provided at side portions of the main body portion 31. As can be seen from the shape of the clip portion 26, the clip portion 26 is assembled and fixed to a hole portion of a panel (not shown). The opening portion formed around the chucking portion 26 is a thinning hole or a die-cut hole, and is not particularly denoted by a reference numeral. The clip portion 26 is provided corresponding to a protector axis L2 (the same as the center axis of the protector end portion 23). The pair of stabilizers 27 are disposed on both sides of the chucking portion 26, and are disposed along the protector axis L2. The pair of stabilizers 27 is formed as a portion having elasticity. The pair of stabilizers 27 is formed in a flexible plate shape that bends when pressed against the panel. Reference numerals 33 and 34 denote bases required to form a pair of stabilizers 27.

In fig. 1 to 9, the two sensor holding portions 28 are axisymmetrical with respect to the protector axis L2. Hereinafter, only one sensor holding portion 28 will be described. The sensor holding portion 28 is formed as a portion for holding the temperature sensor 13, and is formed as a portion for protecting the temperature sensor 13. The sensor holding portion 28 is formed in a shape in which the entire circumference and the end 19 of the side portion 18 of the temperature detection portion 16 of the temperature sensor 13 are exposed. The sensor holding portion 28 includes a holding portion main body 35 and a protection portion 36.

The holding portion main body 35 is formed as a portion for holding the held portion 17 of the temperature sensor 13. The holder main body 35 includes a bottom wall portion 37, side wall portions 38 and 39, front side holders 40 and 41, and rear side holders 42 and 43. The bottom wall portion 37 is formed as a portion for housing the held portion 17 of the temperature sensor 13. The bottom wall portion 37 is formed as a flat surface. Side wall portions 38 and 39 are formed in portions facing the sides of the held portion 17. Locking portions 44 having the same shape are formed at the side wall portions 38 and 39, respectively. The locking portions 44 are formed as portions for locking the pair of locking portions 21 of the temperature sensor 13. Each of the locking portions 44 is formed in a rectangular through-hole shape. The front side holding portions 40 and 41 are formed as portions for restricting forward movement of the temperature sensor 13. The front holding portions 40 and 41 have flat surfaces 45 facing each other. A pair of press-fit projections 46 of the temperature sensor 13 are pressed by the flat surface 45. The rear side holding portions 42 and 43 are formed as portions for restricting rearward movement of the temperature sensor 13.

The protection portion 36 is a characteristic portion of the present invention, and is formed in a shape capable of protecting the temperature detection portion 16 of the temperature sensor 13. The protection portion 36 is formed in a shape capable of protecting the temperature detection portion 16 without impairing the function of the temperature detection portion 16. The protection portion 36 is formed in a shape that does not block gas (air or gas) around the object to be measured and does not block gas circulation. The protection portion 36 is provided at a position distant from the tip 19 of the temperature detection portion 16. The guard portion 36 is formed in an L-shape having a first columnar portion 47 and a second columnar portion 48. The first columnar portion 47 is formed as a columnar portion extending in a direction orthogonal to the extension axis L1 of the temperature detection portion 16 (extending in the up-down direction in the case of fig. 1). The second columnar portion 48 is formed as a columnar portion extending in a direction orthogonal to both the extension axis L1 and the first columnar portion 47 (extending to the left and right sides of the protector end portion 23 in the case of fig. 1). The first columnar portion 47 and the second columnar portion 48 can be alternatively referred to as, for example, L-shaped bone (skeleton) portions. Since the first columnar portion 47 and the second columnar portion 48 are formed as L-shaped portions at positions distant from the tip end 19 of the temperature detection portion 16, the first columnar portion 47 and the second columnar portion 48 are portions that can effectively prevent breakage of the temperature detection portion 16 even when the protector module 11 is dropped. As can be seen from fig. 3, the first columnar portion 47 and the second columnar portion 48 are provided at positions not overlapping the tip 19 of the temperature detection section 16, so that the tip 19 of the temperature detection section 16 is visible. In the present embodiment, the first columnar portion 47 and the second columnar portion 48 are provided at positions not overlapping the temperature detection portion 16 so that the temperature detection portion 16 is visible. The first columnar portion 47 and the second columnar portion 48 are formed in a continuous state such that the front surface of the first columnar portion 47 and the front surface of the second columnar portion 48 are flush with each other. When the protector module 1 is dropped, the impacted surface can be increased. In the present embodiment, the front surface is formed such that the front surface of the second columnar portion 48 is larger than the front surface of the first columnar portion 47. That is, the front surface is formed to have a large width.

The end of the first columnar portion 47 is continuous with the connecting portion 49. The connecting portion 49 is formed as an arm portion extending from the front side holding portion 40 and parallel to the extending axis L1. On the other hand, the end of the second columnar portion 48 is continuous with the connecting portion 50. Alternatively, the end of the second cylindrical portion 48 may not be continuous with the connecting portion 50. The connecting portion 50 continuous with the end of the second cylindrical portion 48 is parallel to the base portion 33 provided with the stabilizer 27. In the present embodiment, since the wall 51 connecting the second column portion 48 and the base portion 33 is provided, the base portion 33 required for forming the stabilizer 27 is reinforced. A rib 52 connecting the front holding portion 41 and the wall 51 is provided, and the rib 52 is also effective for reinforcement. In the present embodiment, since the end of the second columnar portion 48 is continuous with the above-described portion, and the end of the first columnar portion 47 is continuous with the connecting portion 49, the function of the protective portion 36 is secured and exerted considerably.

When the temperature sensor 13 is assembled to the sensor holding portion 28 as described above, the temperature detection portion 16 of the temperature sensor 13 is exposed in the state shown in fig. 1 to 6. Since the temperature detection unit 16 is protected by the protection unit 36, the temperature detection unit 16 can be prevented from being damaged.

As described above with reference to fig. 1 to 9, in the protector 14 (protector module 11) according to the embodiment of the invention, since the sensor holding portion 28 formed at the protector end portion 23 includes the protection portion 36 provided at a position distant from the tip 19 of the temperature detection portion 16 of the temperature sensor 13, the protection portion 36 can protect the temperature detection portion 16. In addition, since the protection portion 36 of the sensor holding portion 28 is disposed at a position distant from the tip end 19 of the temperature detection portion 16, and the first columnar portion 47 and the second columnar portion 48 are formed in the L-shape, the protection portion 36 does not obstruct convection of gas (air or gas) around the temperature detection portion 16, and does not obstruct circulation of the gas. Therefore, the temperature can be detected with high accuracy.

Needless to say, various modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Although in the present embodiment, the protector end portion 23 includes the pair of sensor holding portions 28 provided at both sides of the protector end portion 23 centered on the protector axis L2, the protector end portion 23 is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the protector end portion 23 may include only one sensor holding portion 28.

Here, the above embodiments are summarized as follows.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a protector comprising:

a protector end portion; and

at least one sensor holding portion provided to the protector end portion and configured to hold a held portion of a temperature sensor having a temperature detection portion extending toward an object to be measured and a held portion provided on a base end side of the temperature detection portion,

wherein the at least one sensor holding portion is formed in a shape in which the entire circumference and the tip of the side portion of the temperature detection portion are exposed, has a protection portion provided at a position apart from and apart from the tip of the temperature detection portion, and

wherein the protection portion has a first columnar portion extending in a first direction orthogonal to an extension axis of the temperature detection portion and a second columnar portion extending in a second direction orthogonal to both the extension axis and the first direction, and the first columnar portion and the second columnar portion are formed in a continuous L-shape.

According to the invention having the feature of the first aspect, since the sensor holding portion formed at the protector end portion includes the protection portion provided at the position distant from the tip of the temperature detection portion of the temperature sensor, the temperature detection portion can be protected by the protection portion. In addition, since the protection portion of the sensor holding portion is provided at a position distant from the tip of the temperature detection portion, and the first columnar portion and the second columnar portion are formed in the L-shape, the protection portion does not obstruct convection of the gas (air or gas) around the temperature detection portion, and does not obstruct circulation of the gas. Therefore, the temperature can be detected with high accuracy.

The second aspect of the present invention provides that the first columnar portion and the second columnar portion formed in a continuous L-shape are provided at positions that do not overlap with the tip of the temperature detection portion when viewed from the extension axis.

According to the invention having the features of the second aspect, since the protection portion in which the first columnar portion and the second columnar portion are formed in the L-shape is provided at a position not overlapping with the tip of the temperature detection portion so that the tip of the temperature detection portion is visible in the direction of the extension axis, the temperature can be detected with high accuracy in the direction of the extension axis.

A third aspect of the present invention provides that the at least one protector end portion is a pair of sensor holding portions provided on both sides of the protector end portion with an axis of the protector end portion as a center.

According to the invention having the features of the third aspect, since the protector end portion includes the pair of sensor holding portions, the temperature sensor can be held by the two sensor holding portions. Therefore, the temperature can be detected with higher accuracy at the protector end portion.

The fourth aspect of the present invention provides that the protector end portion is separate from the wire housing portion of the protector and is detachably provided at an end portion of the wire housing portion or at a position distant from the end portion of the wire housing portion.

According to the invention having the features of the fourth aspect, a degree of freedom can be provided for the arrangement of the protector end portion.

Further, there is provided a protector module according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, including:

the protector according to any one of the first to fourth aspects;

an electric wire housed and protected in the protector; and

a temperature sensor provided at an end of the electric wire and held by a sensor holding portion provided on a protector end of the protector.

According to the invention having the features of the fifth aspect, since the protector module includes the protector according to the first, second, third, or fourth aspect, the temperature detection portion of the temperature sensor can be protected by the protection portion of the protector end portion of the protector. The present invention can prevent the temperature sensor from being damaged, and therefore can detect the temperature with high accuracy.