Conductive module

The housing member includes a housing body that houses first and second conductive members, a lid body that closes an opening of a second housing chamber of the second conductive member in the housing body, a hinge body as a living hinge therebetween, and a holding mechanism that holds the lid body in the housing body at a closing position, the holding mechanism includes a first engagement holder having an inserted portion, and a second engagement holder having a claw portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application claims priority to and incorporates by reference the entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-098178 filed in Japan on May 17, 2017.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a conductive module.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, in a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, a battery pack that supplies electric power to a rotating machine as a driving source thereof is mounted. The battery pack is provided with a conductive module which is electrically connected to at least one of a plurality of battery cells constituting a battery module. The conductive module includes: a first conductive member electrically connected to an electrode terminal of a battery cell; a second conductive member electrically connected to each of the first conductive member and an electric connection object side; and a housing member that houses the first and second conductive members. The housing member includes: a housing body having a first housing chamber in which a first conductive member is to be housed and a second housing chamber in which a second conductive member is to be housed; a lid body that closes at least a part of an opening of the second housing chamber so that the second conductive member does not come out from the second housing chamber; a hinge body that makes the lid body pivot with respect to the housing body between an opening position with respect to the opening of the second housing chamber and a closing position with respect to the opening of the second housing chamber; and a holding mechanism that holds the lid body in the housing body at the closing position. This housing member is formed of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin, and a thin, so-called living hinge having flexibility is formed as a hinge body. Furthermore, the holding mechanism includes: a first engagement holder on a lid body side, the first engagement holder having a claw portion; and a second engagement holder on a housing body side, the second engagement holder having an inserted portion into which the claw portion is inserted, the claw portion being hooked on a wall surface of the inserted portion as an insertion of the claw portion into the inserted portion is completed. In this holding mechanism, the claw portion of the first engagement holder is guided to the inserted portion along an introduction portion of the second engagement holder in accordance with a pivoting motion toward the closing position of the lid body with respect to the housing body. This type of conductive module is disclosed, for example, in the following Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2013-4501. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2013-4501 discloses a so-called bus bar module including a bus bar as a first conductive member and an electric wire as a second conductive member, and configured to connect respective battery cells in series or in parallel by a plurality of bus bars while detecting the voltage of the battery cells with the electric wire.

By the way, the hinge body of this conductive module does not necessarily define one pivot axis because of a flexibility of the hinge body, and there is a possibility that the position of the pivot axis is displaced between a housing body side and a lid body side. Therefore, in the housing member, a pivoting locus of the lid body with respect to the housing body changes each time the pivoting motion is performed, and along with this change, a pivoting locus of the claw portion of the first engagement holder with respect to the introduction portion of the second engagement holder also changes. Accordingly, in order to insert the claw portion into the inserted portion, it is necessary for the housing member to make the lid body pivot toward the closing position while being conscious of the positional relationship between the claw portion of the first engagement holder and the introduction portion of the second engagement holder. That is, the conventional conductive module has room for improvement concerning the engaging operation of the holding mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a conductive module capable of improving engagement workability of a holding mechanism when closing an opening of a housing body with a lid body.

A conductive module according to one aspect of the present invention includes a first conductive member electrically connected to one of two electrode terminals of battery cells as a connection target with at least one of an arranged plurality of the battery cells being the connection target; a second conductive member that has a conductor extending in a direction in which the plurality of battery cells are arranged, the second conductive member being configured to electrically connect the first conductive member and an electric connection object with the conductor; and a housing member that houses the first and second conductive members, wherein the housing member includes: a housing body having a first housing chamber in which the first conductive member is housed and a second housing chamber in which the second conductive member is housed; a lid body that closes at least a part of an opening of the second housing chamber so that the second conductive member does not come out from the second housing chamber; a hinge body that connects the housing body and the lid body, and rotates the lid body with respect to the housing body between an opening position of the second housing chamber with respect to the opening and a closing position of the second housing chamber with respect to the opening; and a holding mechanism that holds the lid body in the housing body at the closing position, the hinge body is a thin living hinge having flexibility capable of displacing a position of a pivot axis between a housing body side and a lid body side, the holding mechanism includes a first engagement holder provided in the housing body and a second engagement holder provided in the lid body, and is formed so as to hold the lid body in the housing body at the closing position by inserting a claw portion of one of the first engagement holder and the second engagement holder into an inserted portion of the other of the first engagement holder and the second engagement holder, and by hooking the claw portion and a wall surface of the inserted portion as an insertion of the claw portion into the inserted portion is completed, and the first engagement holder includes a first introduction portion that comes into contact with the second engagement holder when the pivot axis of the hinge body is positioned at a reference pivot axis between the housing body side and the lid body side, and guides the second engagement holder so that the claw portion is inserted into the inserted portion as a pivoting motion of the lid body with respect to the containing body proceeds, and a second introduction portion that comes into contact with the second engagement holder even if the pivot axis of the hinge body is positioned at any position between the housing body side and the lid body side, and guides the second engagement holder to the first introduction portion as the pivoting motion of the lid body with respect to the housing body proceeds.

According to another aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the second introduction portion is a sliding contact surface that guides the contacted second engagement holder while keeping a contact state until the second engagement holder reaches the first introduction portion.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the second introduction portion is an inclined surface inclined with respect to a guiding direction of the second engagement holder by the first introduction portion.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the second housing chamber includes an inner wall portion on a side of the pivoting axis, the hinge body at a wall portion forming the second housing chamber being connected to the inner wall portion, and an outer wall portion that is disposed with a space therebetween across an interior of the second housing chamber with respect to the inner wall portion, the lid body includes an inner end portion on a side of the pivoting axis to which the hinge body is connected, and an outer end portion arranged with a space from the inner end portion, and in the holding mechanism, the first engagement holder is provided on the outer wall portion, and the second engagement holder is provided at the outer end portion.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the second housing chamber includes an inner wall portion on a side of the pivoting axis, the hinge body at a wall portion forming the second housing chamber being connected to the inner wall portion, and an outer wall portion that is disposed with a space therebetween across an interior of the second housing chamber with respect to the inner wall portion, the lid body includes an inner end portion on a side of the pivoting axis to which the hinge body is connected, and an outer end portion arranged with a space from the inner end portion, and the holding mechanism is arranged between the outer wall portion and the outer end portion and is also arranged between the inner wall portion and the inner end portion.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the second conductive member is an electric wire including a core wire as the conductor and a coating covering the core wire.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of a conductive module according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited by this embodiment.

Embodiment

One embodiment of a conductive module according to the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 11.

Reference numeral1inFIG. 1illustrates a conductive module according to the present embodiment. The conductive module1is electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of battery cells120forming the battery module110(FIG. 2), and forms the battery pack100together with the battery module110. The battery pack100is mounted in a vehicle (such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle) having a rotating machine as a drive source, and is used for supplying power to the rotating machine or the like. First, a connection target of the conductive module1will be described. Note that the conductive module1inFIG. 1and the battery module110inFIG. 2are illustrated by extracting parts thereof.

The battery cell120includes the cell body121and two electrode terminals122(FIG. 2). Each of the electrode terminals122is provided at any position of the cell body121in a state of being exposed to the outside, one of the electrode terminals122is a positive electrode, and the other of the electrode terminals122is a negative electrode. Each of the electrode terminals122may be, for example, a plate-like member provided on an outer wall surface of the cell body121, or a columnar pillar column protruding from the outer wall surface of the cell body121. In the battery cell120, when the cell body121has a plurality of outer wall surfaces, each electrode terminal122may be arranged on one outer wall surface, and the outer wall surface on which the electrode terminal122is arranged may be divided for each electrode terminal122. In the battery module110, each of the battery cells120is arranged in a row with one electrode terminal122of each battery cell120arranged in a line and the other electrode terminal122also arranged in a line. Therefore, in this battery module110, electrode terminal groups125including the electrode terminals122arranged in a line are provided at two places.

In this battery module110, two electrode terminals122adjacent to each other in an arrangement direction of the battery cells120are connected to each electrode terminal group125by a conductive bus bar150(FIG. 1). The bus bar150is molded from a conductive material such as metal. By disposing the bus bar150for every combination of the two adjacent electrode terminals122, the two electrode terminals122are physically and electrically connected for each combination. The bus bar150in this embodiment is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape, and the plurality of bus bars150are arranged for each electrode terminal group125along the arrangement direction of the battery cells120. For example, when the electrode terminal122has a plate shape, the bus bar150is physically and electrically connected to the electrode terminal122by welding (laser welding or the like). On the other hand, when the electrode terminal122is a pillar column, a through hole through which each electrode terminal122is inserted is formed in the bus bar150. By fixing the bus bar150to the electrode terminal122with screws or the like, the bus bar150and the electrode terminal122are physically and electrically connected to each other. In this battery module110, two electrode terminals122which are not connected by the bus bar150exist, one of the electrode terminals122is a so-called total positive electrode, and the other of the electrode terminals122is a so-called total negative electrode. In the total positive electrode and the total negative electrode, in the case where the electrode terminal122is a pillar column, one bus bar151is provided with a through hole. The bus bar150and the bus bar151are also housed in a housing member30which will be described later.

For example, in the battery cell120of the present embodiment, the cell body121forms a rectangular parallelepiped. Therefore, the battery module110of the present embodiment virtually forms a rectangular parallelepiped by the respective battery cells120, and has six wall surfaces of an aggregate including the plurality of battery cells120along the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells120. In the battery cell120of the present embodiment, stud bolts are vertically provided from two opposing outer wall surfaces of the cell body121, and each of the stud bolts is used as the electrode terminal122. Therefore, in the battery module110of the present embodiment, the electrode terminal group125is provided in each of the opposing two of the six wall surfaces forming the rectangular parallelepiped. The bus bar150of the present embodiment has a through hole through which two adjacent electrode terminals122are inserted. For example, in the vehicle, the battery module110is mounted such that an axis direction of each electrode terminal122is orthogonal to a vehicle vertical direction.

The conductive module1of the present embodiment is connected to at least one of the respective electrode terminal groups125with respect to the battery module110configured as described above.

The conductive module1includes a first conductive member10, a second conductive member20, and a housing member30that houses the first and second conductive members10and20(FIG. 1). The conductive module1may include at least one first conductive member10and at least one second conductive member20. In this embodiment, the plurality of first conductive members10and the plurality of second conductive members20are provided.

The first conductive member10is formed of a conductive material such as metal. With at least one of the plurality of battery cells120arranged as the battery module110being a connection target, the first conductive member10is electrically connected to one of the two electrode terminals122of the battery cell120as the connection target. In the first conductive member10, an electrical connection with the electrode terminal122may be direct or indirect. In the former case where the first conductive member10is directly (that is, physically) and electrically connected to the electrode terminal122, for example, by forming a through hole in the flat first conductive member10and inserting the electrode terminal122into the through hole, the first conductive member10may be fastened to the electrode terminal122together with the bus bar150. In this case, the bus bar150itself may be used as the first conductive member10. On the other hand, in the latter case where the first conductive member10is indirectly connected to the electrode terminal122, for example, the first conductive member10may be formed so as to be physically and electrically connected to the bus bar150by welding (laser welding or the like) and may be electrically connected to the electrode terminal122via the bus bar150. In this embodiment, the bus bar150itself is used as the first conductive member10.

The second conductive member20is formed of a conductive material such as metal. The second conductive member20has a conductor21extending in the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells120and electrically connects the conductor21to the first conductive member10and the electric connection object200(FIG. 1). The second conductive member20directly or indirectly connects the conductor21to the first conductive member10or the electric connection object200, thereby establishing electric connection between the conductor21and the first conductive member10and between the conductor21and the electric connection object200. For example, in the case of direct connection, by fastening a metal terminal (not illustrated) attached to the conductor21to the electrode terminal122together with the first conductive member10, and by welding (laser welded or the like) the conductor21to the first conductive member10, the conductor21and the first conductive member10may be physically and electrically connected. In the case of indirect connection, a third conductive member (not illustrated) may be interposed between the conductor21and the first conductive member10to electrically connect the conductor21and the first conductive member10. As the third conductive member, for example, application of a circuit protection member (fuse or the like) having a fusible member is conceivable. In this embodiment, an electric wire including the conductor21serving as a core wire and a coating22covering the conductor21is used as the second conductive member20. It should be noted that the core wire may be a rod-like conductor formed into a columnar shape, or may be a bundle of a plurality of strands (for example, a twisted wire formed by twisting a plurality of strands).

Here, the exemplary electric connection object200is a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery state (voltage, current, temperature, and the like) of the battery cell120. For example, an electric wire as the second conductive member20is provided as a voltage detection line that detects the voltage of the battery cell120.

The housing member30is formed of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin. The housing member30has a housing body40in which the first and second conductive members10and20are to be housed (FIGS. 1, 3 to 6). The housing body40has a first housing chamber41in which the first conductive member10is to be housed and a second housing chamber42in which the second conductive member20is to be housed. The first housing chamber41is provided for each first conductive member10. On the other hand, the second housing chamber42is provided as a single room in which the plurality of second conductive members20led from the respective first housing chambers41are to be housed. In this housing member30, the respective first housing chambers41are arranged side by side in the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells120, and the second conductive members20extend along the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells120.

Furthermore, the housing member30includes a lid body50that closes at least a part of an opening42aof the second housing chamber42so that the second conductive member20does not come out from the second housing chamber42, and a hinge body60that connects the housing body40and the lid body50, and makes the lid body50pivot with respect to the housing body40between an opening position (FIGS. 1, 3 and 4) with respect to the opening42aof the second housing chamber42and a closing position (FIGS. 5 and 6) with respect to the opening42aof the second housing chamber42(FIG. 1,FIG. 3toFIG. 6).

In this housing member30, the housing body40, the lid body50, and the hinge body60are integrally molded. Therefore, the hinge body60is formed as a so-called living hinge. A living hinge is a thin portion having flexibility formed between the housing body40and the lid body50, in which the position of the pivot axis can be displaced between the housing body40side and the lid body50side. An exemplified hinge body60has flexibility enough to enable pivoting between the housing body40and the lid body50, and is formed to be a rectangular thin flat plate. In addition, the hinge body60of this embodiment connects the opening42aof the second housing chamber42of the housing body40and the lid body50. The hinge body60is in the form of a flat plate in the initial state, and the lid body50can be made to pivot with respect to the housing body40by bending. In this embodiment, a relative positional relationship between the housing body40and the lid body50in the initial state of the hinge body60is set as an opening position. In addition, in the hinge body60, the pivot axis is displaced between the housing body40side and the lid body50side according to the bending position.

The second housing chamber42and the lid body50have proximity portions that are proximate to each other when the lid body50closes the opening42aof the second housing chamber42. The respective proximity portions of the second housing chamber42and the lid body50may be in contact with each other. The second housing chamber42and the lid body50each have at least two proximity portions, and the proximity portions thereof are opposed to each other via the opening42a.

The proximity portion of the second housing chamber42is provided in a wall portion forming the second housing chamber42. For example, the second housing chamber42includes a pivot axis side (hereinafter referred to as “inner wall portion”)42bto which the hinge body60at the wall part is connected, and a wall portion (hereinafter referred to as “outer wall portion”)42carranged with a space therebetween across an interior of the second housing chamber42with respect to the inner wall portion42b(FIGS. 3 to 6). In the second housing chamber42, the proximity portion is provided to the inner wall portion42band the outer wall portion42c. The proximity portion of the second housing chamber42is provided on, for example, the peripheral edge portion of the opening42aof the second housing chamber42which is a part of the inner wall portion42band the outer wall portion42c, or provided closer to an interior side or the like than the peripheral edge portion of the opening42ain the inner wall portion42band the outer wall portion42c.

The proximity portion of the lid body50is provided at a peripheral end portion proximate to the inner wall portion42band the outer wall portion42cof the second housing chamber42at the closing position. For example, the lid body50includes an end portion (hereinafter referred to as “inner end portion”)51on the side of the pivot axis, the hinge body60at the peripheral end portion thereof being connected to the end portion51, and an end portion (hereinafter referred to as “outer end portion”)52arranged with a space from the inner end portion51(FIGS. 3 to 6). The inner end portion51and the outer end portion52are arranged at a position separated from the interior of the second housing chamber42in the closing position. The lid body50has the inner end portion51and the outer end portion52as a proximity portion (FIGS. 3 to 6). In the closing position, the inner end portion51is proximate to the inner wall portion42bof the second housing chamber42, and the outer end portion52is proximate to the outer wall portion42cof the second housing chamber42.

Still further, the housing member30has a holding mechanism70that holds the lid body50to the housing body40at the closing position (FIGS. 1, 3 to 10). In the housing member30, the holding mechanism70is also integrally formed with the housing body40, the lid body50, and the hinge body60.

The holding mechanism70includes a first engagement holder71provided in the housing body40and a second engagement holder72provided in the lid body50(FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 to 10). The holding mechanism70is formed such that a claw portion73of one of the first engagement holder71and the second engagement holder72is inserted into an inserted portion74of the other of the first engagement holder71and the second engagement holder72, and the lid body50is held by the housing body40at the closing position by hooking the claw portion73and a wall surface74aof the inserted portion74with each other as an insertion of the claw portion73into the inserted portion74is completed (FIGS. 7 to 10). The claw portion73and the wall surface74amay be brought into contact with each other at the closing position, and may be brought into contact with each other with movement of the lid body50toward the opening position side at the closing position. For example, when the hinge body60is returning to the original shape at the closing position, the claw portion73and the wall surface74acome into contact with each other. The claw portion73is formed as a claw-shaped protruding portion on one of the first engagement holder71and the second engagement holder72. The inserted portion74is a groove or a through hole formed in the other of the first engagement holder71and the second engagement holder72, and one of the plurality of wall surfaces forming the groove or the through hole is the wall surface74aon which the claw portion73is hooked. In the holding mechanism70, the second engagement holder72also pivots with respect to the first engagement holder71in accordance with the pivoting motion of the lid body50with respect to the housing body40by the hinge body60, and the claw portion73is inserted into the inserted portion74. In this embodiment, the inserted portion74is provided in the first engagement holder71and the claw portion73is provided in the second engagement holder72.

Here, as described above, the position of the pivot axis65of the hinge body60is displaced between the housing body40side and the lid body50side due to its flexibility. However, in the holding mechanism70, in order to maintain an engagement state between the claw portion73and the inserted portion74, the first engagement holder71and the second engagement holder72are formed so that the claw portion73is inserted into the inserted portion74when the position of the pivot axis65of the hinge body60is at a predetermined position. Here, the pivot axis65of the hinge body60at the predetermined position is referred to as a reference pivot axis65A (FIG. 10).

The first engagement holder71includes an introduction portion (hereinafter referred to as “first introduction portion”)71athat comes into contact with the second engagement holder72when the pivot axis65of the hinge body60is positioned at the reference pivot axis65A between the housing body40side and the lid body50side, and guides the second engagement holder72so that the claw portion73is inserted into the inserted portion74as the pivoting motion of the lid body50with respect to the housing body40proceeds (FIGS. 4, 6 and 7 to 10). The first introduction portion71ais formed as a sliding contact surface that guides the contacted second engagement holder72while keeping the contact state until the claw portion73is inserted into the inserted portion74.

The first introduction portion71ais formed to come into contact with the claw portion73of the second engagement holder72when the hinge body60makes the lid body50pivot with respect to the housing body40with the reference pivot axis65A, and guide the claw portion73to the inserted portion74while keeping the contact state as the pivoting motion of the lid body50proceeds. Therefore, in the first engagement holder71of this embodiment, the first introduction portion71ais provided in continuation with the inserted portion74, and the surface on the first introduction portion71aside among the plurality of wall surfaces forming the inserted portion74becomes the wall surface74aon which the claw portion73is hooked.

In addition, the first introduction portion71ain this embodiment includes a first sliding contact surface71a1that is a main guiding surface of the second engagement holder72, and a second sliding contact surface71a2that facilitates the introduction of the second engagement holder72(FIGS. 7 to 10). In this first introduction portion71a, a guiding direction of the claw portion73along the first sliding contact surface71a1is a main guiding direction of the second engagement holder72. The first sliding contact surface71a1in this example is formed so as to guide the second engagement holder72together with the claw portion73along an axial direction of the electrode terminal122. The second sliding contact surface71a2is a portion with which the second engagement holder72first comes into contact, and is arranged on a side opposite to the inserted portion74with respect to the first sliding contact surface71a1. The second sliding contact surface71a2is desirably formed as an inclined surface which is inclined so as to approach the hinge body60side as the second sliding contact surface71a2moves away from the inserted portion74.

In this holding mechanism70, at least one of the first engagement holder71and the second engagement holder72has flexibility. In this holding mechanism70, at least one of the first engagement holder71and the second engagement holder72is warped when the claw portion73is guided along the first introduction portion71a. The first engagement holder71and the second engagement holder72are formed so that the warp is canceled as the claw portion73is inserted into the inserted portion74.

In the holding mechanism70configured as described above, in order to create an engagement state between the first engagement holder71and the second engagement holder72, it is necessary to displace the position of the pivot axis65of the hinge body60eventually to the position of the reference pivot axis65A as the pivoting motion proceeds, and guide the second engagement holder72by the first introduction portion71aof the first engagement holder71regardless of the position of the pivot axis65of the hinge body60when the pivoting motion toward the closing position of the lid body50with respect to the housing body40is started. In other words, in this holding mechanism70, regardless of the position of the pivot axis65of the hinge body60, it is necessary to guide the second engagement holder72to the first introduction portion71aof the first engagement holder71. The first engagement holder71includes a second introduction portion71bthat comes into contact with the second engagement holder72even if the pivot axis65of the hinge body60is positioned at any position between the housing body40side and the lid body50side, and guides the second engagement holder72to the first introduction portion71aas the pivoting motion of the lid body50with respect to the housing body40proceeds (FIGS. 4, 6 and 7 to 10). The second introduction portion71bis formed as a sliding contact surface that guides the contacted second engagement holder72while keeping the contact state until the second engagement holder72reaches the first introduction portion71a.

The second introduction portion71bin this example is formed so that the second engagement holder72first comes into contact with the second introduction portion71bwhen the lid body50is made to pivot toward the closing position with respect to the housing body40. Therefore, regardless of the position of the pivot axis65of the hinge body60, the second introduction portion71bis formed so as to be arranged on a pivoting locus of the second engagement holder72corresponding to all of the pivot axis65(FIG. 11). In this example, the second introduction portion71bis provided in accordance with the pivoting locus of the tip of the second engagement holder72on the claw portion73side.

Further, the second introduction portion71bis formed as an inclined surface inclined with respect to a guiding direction (a guiding direction along the first sliding contact surface71a1) of the second engagement holder72by the first introduction portion71a. The second introduction portion71bin this example is an inclined surface in a direction opposite to the second sliding contact surface71a2, and is inclined away from the hinge body60as the second introduction portion71bmoves away from the inserted portion74and the first introduction portion71ain the guiding direction of the second engagement holder72.

In this holding mechanism70, regardless of the position of the pivot axis65of the hinge body60when the pivoting motion toward the closing position of the lid body50with respect to the housing body40is started, the second engagement holder72comes into contact with the second introduction portion71bas the pivoting motion proceeds. Therefore, in the holding mechanism70, the second engagement holder72is guided along the second introduction portion71bby further making the pivoting motion proceed, so that the claw portion73of the second engagement holder72can be brought into contact with the first introduction portion71a. Accordingly, in the holding mechanism70, the claw portion73can be guided to the inserted portion74along the first introduction portion71aby further making the pivoting motion proceed. As described above, in the holding mechanism70, even if the pivot axis65of the hinge body60is displaced to any position between the housing body40side and the lid body50side, since the second engagement holder72can be guided to the first introduction portion71aof the first engagement holder71, it is possible to insert the claw portion73into the inserted portion74and create an engagement state between the first engagement holder71and the second engagement holder72. Therefore, this conductive module1of the present embodiment has a configuration in which even if an operator or the like is not aware of the mutual positional relationship between the first introduction portion71aof the first engagement holder71and the second engagement holder72, since the claw portion73can be inserted into the inserted portion74, it is possible to improve the workability of the engagement operation between the first engagement holder71and the second engagement holder72in the holding mechanism70.

Here, in the housing member30, in order to hold the function of the lid body50as the lid by the holding mechanism70, it is desirable to arrange the holding mechanism70at least between the outer wall portion42cof the second housing chamber42and the outer end portion52of the lid body50on the opposite side to the pivot axis65side to which the hinge body60is connected. Upon arrangement, the holding mechanism70determines the arrangement location and the number according to the length of the outer end portion52of the lid body50. For example, if the outer end portion52of the lid body50is short and it is possible to secure holding force in the engaged state only at one position, one holding mechanism70is arranged between the outer wall portion42cand the outer end portion52, and if the outer end portion52of the lid body50is long and it is impossible to secure the holding force in the engaged state only at one position, the plurality of holding mechanisms70may be arranged between the outer wall portion42cand the outer end portion52.

In this exemplary housing member30, the holding mechanism70is arranged between the outer wall portion42cand the outer end portion52, and is also arranged between the inner wall portion42bof the opening42aof the second housing chamber42and the inner end portion51of the lid body50. Here, the holding mechanism70arranged between the outer wall portion42cand the outer end portion52is referred to as a first holding mechanism70A, and the holding mechanism70arranged between the inner wall portion42band the inner end portion51is referred to as a second holding mechanism70B (FIG. 1,FIG. 3toFIG. 6). In the first holding mechanism70A, the first engagement holder71is provided on the outer wall portion42c, and the second engagement holder72is provided on the outer end portion52. On the other hand, in the second holding mechanism70B, the first engagement holder71is provided on the inner wall portion42b, and the second engagement holder72is provided on the inner end portion51.

In the conductive module1of the present embodiment, in one of the first holding mechanism70A and the second holding mechanism70B, the second engagement holder72is guided to the first introduction portion71avia the second introduction portion71b, and in the other of the first holding mechanism70A and the second holding mechanism70B, the second engagement holder72is also guided to the first introduction portion71avia the second introduction portion71b. Therefore, this conductive module1of the present embodiment has a configuration in which even if an operator or the like is not aware of the mutual positional relationship between the first introduction portion71aof the first engagement holder71and the second engagement holder72in each of the first holding mechanism70A and the second holding mechanism70B, since the claw portion73can be inserted into the inserted portion74, it is possible to improve the workability of the engagement operation between the first engagement holder71and the second engagement holder72in each of the first holding mechanism70A and the second holding mechanism70B. In addition, in this conductive module1, even if the first engagement holder71and the second engagement holder72are engaged from either the first holding mechanism70A or the second holding mechanism70B, it is possible to engage the first engagement holder71and the second engagement holder72of each of the first holding mechanism70A and the second holding mechanism70B; therefore, from this viewpoint also, the workability of the engagement work can be improved.

Incidentally, the second introduction portion71bmay be provided on at least one of the first holding mechanism70A and the second holding mechanism70B. In thus configured conductive module1of the present embodiment, in one of the first holding mechanism70A and the second holding mechanism70B, the second engagement holder72is guided to the first introduction portion71avia the second introduction portion71b, so that even if the other of the first holding mechanism70A and the second holding mechanism70B does not have the second introduction portion71b, the second engagement holder72of the other is guided to the first introduction portion71a. Therefore, even if the first holding mechanism70A and the second holding mechanism70B are configured as described above, this conductive module1of the present embodiment has a configuration in which even if an operator or the like is not aware of the mutual positional relationship between the first introduction portion71aof the first engagement holder71and the second engagement holder72in each of the first holding mechanism70A and the second holding mechanism70B, since the claw portion73can be inserted into the inserted portion74, it is possible to improve the workability of the engagement operation between the first engagement holder71and the second engagement holder72in each of the first holding mechanism70A and the second holding mechanism70B. In other words, even if this conductive module1tries to engage with the first engagement holder71and second engagement holder72of the other of the first holding mechanism70A and the second holding mechanism70B, which does not have the second introduction portion71b, the second engagement holders72of the one of the first holding mechanism70A and the second holding mechanism70B is guided to the first introduction portion71avia the second introduction portion71bat that time; therefore, from this viewpoint also, the workability of the engagement work can be improved.

In the conductive module according to the present embodiment, in the pivoting motion toward the closing position of the lid body with respect to the housing body, even if the pivot axis of the hinge body is displaced to any position between the housing body side and the lid body side, since the second engagement holder can be introduced to a first introduction portion of the first engagement holder by a second introduction portion of the first engagement holder, it is possible to insert the claw portion of the holding mechanism into the inserted portion and to create an engagement state between the first engagement holder and the second engagement holder. Therefore, the conductive module has a configuration in which even if an operator or the like is not aware of the mutual positional relationship between the first introduction portion of the first engagement holder and the second engagement holder, since the claw portion can be inserted into the inserted portion, it is possible to improve the workability of the engagement operation between the first engagement holder and the second engagement holder in the holding mechanism.