# US 2019/0318892 A1 · Relay unit

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- Number: US 2019/0318892 A1
- Document ID: US20190318892A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/466,486
- Filed: 2017-12-05
- Published: 2019-10-17
- Earliest claimed: 2016-12-05
- Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha; Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
- Applicants: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha; Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
- Inventors: Noritaka Ikejiri; Takumi Ejima; Kiyofumi Kawaguchi; Maiko Oda; Toshifumi Suzuki; Yoshikazu Obara
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190318892A1

## CPC

- H01H 45/12: Ventilating; Cooling; Heating (for operating electrothermal relays H01H61/013)
- H01H 37/72: Switches in which the opening movement and the closing movement of a contact are effected respectively by heating and cooling or vice versa
- H01H 45/04: Mounting complete relay or separate parts of relay on a base or inside a case
- H01M 10/425: {Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00)}
- H01M 10/613: Cooling or keeping cold
- H01M 10/625: Vehicles
- H01M 10/653: characterised by electrically insulating or thermally conductive materials
- H01M 10/655: Solid structures for heat exchange or heat conduction
- H01M 10/6553: Terminals or leads
- H01M 10/66: Heat-exchange relationships between the cells and other systems, e.g. central heating systems or fuel cells
- B60K 6/22: characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs
- B60Y 2200/91: Electric vehicles
- B60Y 2200/92: Hybrid vehicles
- H01H 2223/044: Protecting cover
- H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## 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.

## Claims

### 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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

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.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

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.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

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.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

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.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

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.