JP2011008955A - Battery connection assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery connection assembly for simplifying mounting work of a plurality of connection members while reducing manufacturing cost.SOLUTION: A battery module M includes a unit cell group in which a plurality of unit cells 10 each having positive and negative electrode terminals 12A, 12b are arranged. The battery connection assembly 20 for connecting the unit cell group includes interlocking members 50 formed by arranging engagement parts 51 along an arrangement direction of the unit cells 10 for every unit cell 10 of a predetermined number, and a plurality of connection units 20A having engaged parts 36 for engaging with the engagement parts 51 and mounted on the interlocking members 50. The connection unit 20A includes the connection members 21 for connecting the electrode terminals 12A, 12B of the adjacent unit cells 10.

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery connection assembly.

  In battery modules for electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, a plurality of unit cells having positive and negative electrode terminals are arranged side by side. A plurality of single cells are connected in series or in parallel by connecting the electrode terminals of the adjacent single cells with a connecting member (bus bar) (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-067184

  By the way, in the said structure, since it is necessary to connect between several electrode terminals with a connection member, the complicated operation | work of repeating the operation | work which connects a connection member between electrode terminals is needed.

Therefore, it is conceivable to form a battery connection plate in which a plurality of connection members arranged in a mold are integrally molded in a resin by insert molding or the like according to the number of electrode terminals to be connected.
In this way, by simply attaching one battery connection plate to a plurality of electrode terminals protruding from a plurality of unit cells, the electrode terminals of adjacent unit cells can be connected together at a plurality of locations, and work efficiency can be improved. It becomes possible to improve.

  However, in the case of using a battery connection plate in which a plurality of connection members are integrally formed, when the number of single cells increases, a mold for forming the battery connection plate becomes large, and the cost for that increases. In addition, when changing the number of cells, it is necessary to newly prepare another mold having a length corresponding to the number of cells and to form a battery connection plate having a different length. The cost of forming the film will increase. Therefore, reducing the manufacturing cost has been a problem.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a battery connection assembly that can simplify the mounting work of a plurality of connection members while reducing the manufacturing cost.

A battery connection assembly according to the present invention is a battery connection assembly for connecting a single battery group in a battery module having a single battery group in which a plurality of single cells having positive and negative electrode terminals are arranged. Each of the single cells has an engaging portion provided along the arrangement direction of the single cells, and an engaged portion that can be engaged with the engaging portion, and is attached to the connecting member. A plurality of connection units, wherein the connection unit is provided with a connection member for connecting the electrode terminals of the adjacent unit cells (means 1).
According to the configuration of the means 1, since the battery connection assembly may be attached to the unit cell group when connecting the electrode terminals at a plurality of locations, the attachment work when connecting the electrode terminals can be simplified. .

  The battery connection assembly is connected between the electrode terminals by a plurality of connection units. Therefore, if the number of connected single cells changes, the number of connection units may be changed. That is, if one mold for creating one connection unit is prepared, a plurality of connection units can be manufactured. Therefore, as in the case of manufacturing an integrated battery connection plate, the number of connected single cells is increased and the mold is increased in size, or the battery connection plate is formed each time according to the number of connected single cells. This eliminates the need for a separate mold or the like. Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In addition to the configuration of the means 1, the connecting member may have a deflectable portion that can bend and deform between the plurality of engaging portions (means 2).
According to the structure of the means 2, when a dimensional error with respect to the cell group occurs in the battery connection assembly, the error can be absorbed by the bending portion being bent.

In addition to the structure of means 1 or means 2, the connection unit is provided with a unit groove part that forms a continuous electric wire receiving groove when a plurality of connecting members are attached to the connecting member, The groove may accommodate a voltage detection line connected to the connection member (means 3).
According to the configuration of the means 3, the voltage detection line can be easily routed.

In addition to the configuration of the means 3, the unit groove portion is formed with a pair of side walls facing each other, the engaged portion is provided on the outer side surface of one side wall, and the outer side surface of the other side wall is flexible. A holding portion for holding the connecting member may be provided continuously through the sex connecting portion (means 4).
According to the structure of the means 4, even if the unit groove part side is connected with the connecting member, the holding part holding the connecting member can be bent by the flexible connecting part. Attachment to the terminal can be facilitated.

In addition to the configuration of the means 4, the flexible connecting portion may be formed with a wire passage recess, and a voltage detection line may be arranged in the wire passage recess (means 5).
According to the structure of the means 5, the voltage detection line can be protected by arranging the voltage detection line in the wire passage recess.

In addition to the configuration of the means 4 or 5, the one side wall may be provided with a cover that covers the unit groove portion so as to be openable and closable on the other side wall (means 6). .
According to the configuration of the means 6, the voltage detection line can be protected by the cover. Further, since the cover may be opened when the voltage detection line is routed, the voltage detection line can be easily routed.

In addition to any one of the means 1 to 6, the engaging portion of the connecting member is a hole edge of a through hole formed in the connecting member, and the engaged portion of the connecting unit is The front end portion that penetrates the through hole may be an engaging convex portion that is engaged with the hole edge of the through hole (means 7).
According to the configuration of the means 7, the engaged portion can be engaged with the engaging portion with a simple configuration.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the battery connection assembly which can simplify the attachment operation | work of a several connection member can be provided, reducing manufacturing cost.

Illustration of a battery module with a battery connection assembly attached to a cell group Perspective view showing connecting member Perspective view showing the base of the connection unit Top view of FIG. AA sectional view of FIG. Rear view of FIG. Side view of FIG. Side view showing connecting member Top view showing connecting member Figure showing the base The figure showing the state which attached the base to the connecting member Side view of FIG. Top view of FIG. Illustration of connecting member and voltage detection line attached FIG. 14 is a view with the cover closed. Illustration of a battery connection assembly attached to a cell group

<Embodiment 1>
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the battery module M of the present embodiment is a battery that connects a plurality (10 pieces) of single cells 10 (single cell group) arranged side by side and a plurality of single cells 10 (single cell group). And a connection assembly 20, which is used as a drive source of, for example, an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. In the following, the left and right direction (width direction) will be described with reference to FIG. 1, with the upper side of FIG. 1 being the front and the lower side being the rear.

  The unit cell 10 includes a main body 11 in which a power generation element (not shown) is accommodated, and bolt-shaped electrode terminals 12A and 12B (shown as a positive electrode 12A and a negative electrode 12B) protruding vertically from an end surface of the main body 11. Have.

The electrode terminals 12A and 12B are provided at the upper and lower ends (the front side and the rear side in FIG. 1) of the main body 11 (only the upper end side is shown in FIG. 1), and the polarities at the upper and lower ends are reversed. It has become.
Further, the polarities (positive and negative) of the single cells 10 are arranged so that the adjacent single cells 10 are opposite to each other, so that the electrode terminals 12A and 12B having different polarities are adjacent to each other. It is configured. The plurality of single cells 10 are fixed by a holding plate (not shown).

The battery connection assembly 20 includes a plurality (five) of connection units 20A and a connecting member 50 that connects the connection units 20A.
Each connection unit 20A has the same shape, and is connected to a connection member 21 that electrically connects the electrode terminals 12A and 12B adjacent to each other, a voltage detection line 39 for measuring the voltage of the unit cell 10, and a connection. And a base 24 that houses the member 21 and the voltage detection line 39.

The connecting member 21 is made of a metal such as copper, copper alloy, stainless steel (SUS), etc., and as shown in FIG. Are integrally formed (molded).
The conductive connection portion 22 is formed with a pair of terminal insertion holes 22A and 22B through which the electrode terminals 12A and 12B are inserted.

  The pair of sandwiching pieces 23, 23 are provided on one end side (flexible coupling portion 40 side) in the width direction of the front end portion (front edge portion) of the conductive connection portion 22, and both are located above the base end portion. It has a shape curved in an arc shape toward the side. When the core wire of the voltage detection line 39 is passed between the pair of sandwiching pieces 23, 23, the core wire of the voltage detection line 39 is sandwiched between the pair of sandwiching pieces 23, 23 and welded by a laser welding machine or the like. The

  As shown in FIG. 3, the base portion 24 is made of synthetic resin, and is connected to the connection member holding portion 25 (corresponding to the “holding portion” of the present invention) in which the connection member 21 is accommodated, and the connection member holding portion 25. Unit groove portion 30A provided, and flexible connecting portion 40 for connecting (connecting) connecting member holding portion 25 and unit groove portion 30A to two adjacent (predetermined number) unit cells 10. One base 24 is placed on the upper surfaces of the two unit cells 10.

  The connecting member holding portion 25 is a rectangular region surrounded by a wall portion 26 that is large enough to receive the connecting member 21, and its width direction dimension is the width direction of a predetermined number (two) of unit cells 10. Slightly smaller than The connection member 21 is held by accommodating the connection member 21 in the connection member holding portion 25.

At the bottom of the connection member holding portion 25, an opening through which the electrode terminals 12A and 12B are inserted is formed in substantially the entire bottom, and a support for connecting the front and rear wall portions 26 to the intermediate portion in the width direction of the bottom. A portion 27 is formed.
The support portion 27 supports the connection member 21 disposed thereon, and is formed with a certain width dimension.

Of the front and rear wall portions 26, a pair of locking projections 28, 28 protruding inward are formed above the support portion 27 (intermediate portion in the width direction on the inner surface side of the wall portion 26). . The locking projection 28 has a tapered surface whose lower side increases in an inclined manner. Of the pair of front and rear locking projections 28, 28, the rear locking projection 28 is formed at the tip (lower end) of the bending piece 29 formed between the pair of left and right slits 29A, 29A. Yes. When the connecting member 21 is accommodated, the connecting member 21 that is in contact with the tapered surfaces of the locking projections 28 and 28 bends and deforms the bending piece 29 outward, and the connecting member 21 is the bottom surface (the support portion 27). , The bending piece 29 is elastically restored, and the connecting member 21 is locked in a state of being sandwiched between the bottom surface and the locking projections 28 and 28.
Of the rear wall portion 26, a portion connected to the flexible connecting portion 40 has an electric wire passing portion 26 </ b> A formed by dividing the wall portion 26.

  The flexible connecting portion 40 is formed with a U-shaped wire passage recess 41 through which the voltage detection line 39 is passed. The wire passage recess 41 has the same width dimension as the wire passage portion 26A, and includes a flat bottom portion 41A and a pair of side walls 41B and 41B, as shown in FIG. 5, in the longitudinal direction of the pair of side walls 41B and 41B. In the intermediate portion, a pair of wire receiving convex portions 42 and 42 are formed, both projecting inward. The electric wire accommodating convex portions 42 and 42 have a tapered surface in which a gap formed therebetween becomes narrower in an inclined manner toward the lower side. By passing the voltage detection line 39 through the gap between the pair of electric wire receiving projections 42, 42, the voltage detection line 39 is accommodated in the electric wire passage recess 41 so as not to protrude outside.

As shown in FIG. 3, the unit groove portion 30A is defined by a bottom plate 30B and a pair of side walls 31 and 31 that are erected from both side edges of the bottom plate 30B and arranged to face each other. It is the same length as the member holding part 25 (slightly smaller than the width of the predetermined number (two) of unit cells).
As a result, when the connection unit 20A is connected to the left and right, the unit groove portions 30A of the adjacent connection units 20A are connected to each other to form the electric wire accommodation groove 30 (see FIG. 14), and the battery is accommodated in the electric wire accommodation groove 30. A voltage detection line 39 extending to the ECU or the like can be accommodated.

As shown in FIG. 3, of the pair of side walls 31, 31, the side wall 31 on the front side (flexible connecting portion 40 side), and the portion where the flexible connecting portion 40 is connected, has a wire passage recess 41. And a unit groove portion 30A are formed.
The electric wire passage groove 38 is formed so as to divide the side wall 31 to the left and right, and is formed until a gap having a dimension capable of passing the voltage detection line 39 reaches the bottom surface.

  A cover 32 that covers the entire unit groove portion 30A is attached to the rear side (the side opposite to the flexible connecting portion 40 side) of the pair of side walls 31 and 31. The cover 32 has a rectangular shape, and is connected to the rear side wall 31 via a thin flexible portion 33. The flexible portion 33 is bent and deformed so that the cover 32 can be rotated. .

A locking claw 34 protrudes from the tip of the cover 32, while the front side wall 31 has a locking hole 35 in which the locking claw 34 is locked.
The locking claw portion 34 is an inclined surface whose outer side surface is thinner toward the tip side.
The locking hole portion 35 has a through-hole penetrating vertically, and the opening portion of the through-hole has an inclined surface that comes into contact with the inclined surface of the locking claw portion 34. And if the latching claw part 34 is inserted until it penetrates a through-hole, the latching claw part 34 will be latched by the hole edge part, and the cover 32 will be locked.

Of the pair of side walls 31, 31, an engaged portion 36 that engages with the connecting member 50 is formed on the rear surface of the rear side wall 31.
The engaged portion 36 is composed of a pair of engaging convex portions 37, 37. Each engaging convex portion 37 is a reduced diameter portion whose base end portion is a columnar shape (circular shape with a constant diameter), The tip portion is larger in diameter than the reduced diameter portion and is a spherical large diameter portion.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the voltage detection line 39 is a covered electric wire in which a core wire (conductor) is covered with an insulating layer, and the insulating layer is peeled off at the terminal (connection portion with the connecting member 21) to form the core wire. Is exposed.

  The voltage detection line 39 welded to each connection member 21 passes through the wire passage recess 41 of the flexible connection portion 40, and is then collected in the wire passage groove portion 38 and connected to a battery ECU (not shown). This battery ECU is equipped with a microcomputer, elements, etc., and has a function for detecting voltage, current, temperature, etc. of the unit cell 10 and controlling charging / discharging of each unit cell 10. Of the configuration.

  Since the battery module M is formed by connecting the cells 10 in series, although not shown, the battery connection assembly is connected to the lower surface side of the battery module M so as to connect adjacent electrode terminals of different polarities. It is attached.

As shown in FIG. 8, the connecting member 50 is an elongated member having a small thickness, and is the same for each predetermined unit dimension (the width dimension of a predetermined number (two) unit cells 10 in the arrangement direction). The shape is repeated.
The connecting member 50 is provided with an engaging portion 51 that engages with the engaged portion 36 of the base portion 24 for each unit dimension.

  The engagement portion 51 includes a pair of engagement hole portions 52 and 52, and each engagement hole portion 52 has a slit-like through hole that is long in the width direction (left-right direction). A central portion in the width direction of each engagement hole 52 (through hole) is a circular large-diameter through hole.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, the connecting member 50 is formed with a bending portion 53 that can be bent and deformed for each unit dimension.
The bending portion 53 has a U shape. Specifically, after curving sideways with respect to the longitudinal direction, it is folded back into a U shape and again extended in the longitudinal direction for each unit dimension.

Next, a method for assembling and attaching the battery connection assembly 20 will be described.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a case where ten unit cells 10 are connected in series will be described.
Since five connection units 20A are attached to one surface of the ten unit cells 10, five connection members 21 constituting the five connection units 20A and five bases 24 (FIG. 10). And a connecting member 50 having a length corresponding to the number of connection units 20A connected.

  Then, the engaging protrusions 37 of the connection unit 20 </ b> A are sequentially inserted into the engaging hole portions 52 of the connecting member 50. As shown in FIG. 11, with respect to all of the five base portions 24, when the engagement convex portion 37 is inserted into the engagement hole portion 52, the five base portions 24 are connected via the connecting member 50. Become.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 14, the connection members 21 are accommodated in the connection member holding portions 25 for all the base portions 24, the terminal portions of the five voltage detection wires 39 are peeled off, and the tip ends of the core wires are respectively removed. It exposes and the front-end | tip part of five exposed core wires is clamped between a pair of clamping pieces 23 and 23, respectively, and is welded.

Each voltage detection line 39 is passed through the corresponding wire passage recess 41 of the flexible connection portion 40 and the wire passage groove portion 38 of the side wall 31 and is connected to the battery ECU side (the left side where the flexible connection portion 40 is provided). The wires 32 are sequentially passed through the electric wire receiving grooves 30 (unit groove portions 30A) toward the left side according to the close position, and the respective covers 32 are closed (FIG. 15).
Thereby, the battery connection assembly 20 is completed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 16, all the terminal insertion holes 22A and 22B of the battery connection assembly 20 are integrated with all the electrode terminals 12A and 12B of the plurality of unit cells 10 (unit cell group) arranged side by side. To be inserted.

  Next, the nuts are screwed into the electrode terminals 12A and 12B protruding from the terminal insertion holes 22A and 22B and tightened, and when all are tightened, as shown in FIG. 1, the battery module to which the battery connection assembly 20 is attached is attached. M is completed.

According to the structure of the said embodiment, there exist the following effects.
(1) When connecting a plurality of electrode terminals with connecting members, if the battery connecting assembly 20 is attached to ten unit cells 10 (single cell group) arranged side by side, all the electrode terminals are connected to each other. Since the connection is made at 21, it is possible to simplify the mounting work when connecting the electrode terminals 12A and 12B.
The battery connection assembly 20 is connected between the electrode terminals by a plurality of connection units 20A. Therefore, when the number of connected unit cells 10 changes, the number of connection units 20A may be changed. That is, if one mold for preparing one connection unit 20A (base 24) is prepared, a plurality of connection units 20A can be manufactured, and a battery connection is made using the plurality of connection units 20A. The assembly 20 can be manufactured. Therefore, as in the case of manufacturing an integrated battery connection plate, the number of cells 10 to be connected increases, the mold or the like increases in size, or the battery connection plate is changed each time according to the number of cells 10 connected. There is no need to separately prepare a mold or the like for forming. Therefore, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

(2) Since the connecting member 50 includes the bending portions 53 that can be bent and deformed between the plurality of engaging portions 51, the battery connection assembly 20 is bent when a dimensional error from the unit cell group occurs. The error can be absorbed by the bending of the portion 53.

(3) The connecting unit 20 </ b> A is provided with unit groove portions 30 </ b> A that are continuous with each other when a plurality of connecting members 50 are attached to the connecting member 50 to form a continuous wire receiving groove 30. Since the voltage detection line 39 connected to is accommodated, the voltage detection line 39 can be easily routed.

(4) The unit groove portion 30 </ b> A is formed with a pair of side walls 31, 31 facing each other, the engaged portion 36 is provided on the outer side surface of one side wall 31, and the outer side surface of the other side wall 31 is flexible. A connecting member holding portion 25 (holding portion) for holding the connecting member 21 via the sex connecting portion 40 is continuously provided. Therefore, even if the unit groove portion 30 </ b> A side is connected by the connecting member 50, the connecting member holding portion 25 side that holds the connecting member 21 can be bent by the flexible connecting portion 40. Can be easily attached to the electrode terminals 12A and 12B.

(5) The flexible connecting portion 40 is formed with a wire passage recess 41, and the voltage detection line 39 is disposed in the wire passage recess 41. Therefore, the voltage detection wire 39 is disposed in the wire passage recess 41. As a result, the voltage detection line 39 can be protected.

(6) Since the cover 32 that covers the unit groove portion 30 </ b> A so as to be openable and closable is provided on one side wall 31, the voltage detection line 39 can be protected by the cover 32. Further, since the cover 32 may be opened when the voltage detection line 39 is routed, the voltage detection line 39 can be easily routed.

(7) The engaging portion 51 of the connecting member 50 is a hole edge portion of the engaging hole portions 52, 52 (through hole) formed in the connecting member 50, and the engaged portion 36 of the connection unit 20A is Since the front end portion that penetrates the engagement hole portions 52 and 52 (through holes) is the engagement convex portions 37 and 37 that are locked to the hole edge portions of the engagement hole portions 52 and 52, the engagement portion is engaged with a simple configuration. The joining portion 36 can be engaged with the engaging portion 51.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) In the above embodiment, the connecting member 21 connects the electrode terminals 12A and 12B of different polarities (single cell 10 connected in series), but is not limited thereto, and connects the electrode terminals of the same polarity ( The unit cells 10 may be connected in parallel. For example, another unit cell 10 may be connected in parallel to the battery module M of the above embodiment, and the same polarity electrode terminals in this parallel connection may be connected by the connecting member 21.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the connection unit 20A is connected and then attached to the battery module M. However, after the work of attaching each connection unit 20A to the electrode terminals 12A and 12B is repeated in order, the connection member The battery connection assembly 20 may be attached to the battery module M by coupling at 50.

  (3) The number of unit cells 10 (the number to be connected) is not limited to the number in the above embodiment. Accordingly, the number of connection units 20A is not limited to five as described above, and may be, for example, a battery connection assembly including two to four or six or more connection units 20A.

M ... Battery module 10 ... Single battery 12A ... Positive electrode terminal (electrode terminal)
12B ... Negative electrode terminal (electrode terminal)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Battery connection assembly 20A ... Connection unit 21 ... Connection member 24 ... Base 25 ... Connection member holding | maintenance part (holding part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 ... Electric wire accommodating groove 30A ... Unit groove part 31, 31 ... Side wall 32 ... Cover 36 ... Engagement part 37, 37 ... Engagement convex part 39 ... Voltage detection wire 40 ... Flexible connection part 41 ... Electric wire penetration recessed part 50 ... Connecting member 51 ... engaging portion 52, 52 ... engaging hole portion 53 ... bent portion

Claims (7)

A battery connection assembly for connecting the unit cell group in a battery module having a unit cell group in which a plurality of unit cells having positive and negative electrode terminals are arranged,
A connecting member in which an engaging portion is provided for each predetermined number of the cells along the arrangement direction of the cells, and an engaged portion that can be engaged with the engaging portion, and is attached to the connecting member. A plurality of connection units, and the connection unit includes a connection member for connecting the electrode terminals of the adjacent unit cells. The battery connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member has a deformable bending portion between the plurality of engaging portions. The connecting unit is provided with unit groove portions that form a continuous electric wire receiving groove when a plurality of connecting members are attached to the connecting member, and the electric voltage is connected to the connecting member in the electric wire receiving groove. The battery connection assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a detection line is accommodated. The unit groove portion is defined with a pair of side walls facing each other, the engaged portion is provided on the outer side surface of one side wall, and the connection is made on the outer side surface of the other side wall via a flexible connecting portion. The battery connection assembly according to claim 3, wherein a holding portion for holding the member is provided continuously. 5. The battery connection assembly according to claim 4, wherein the flexible connecting portion is formed with a wire passage recess, and a voltage detection line is disposed in the wire passage recess. 6. The battery connection assembly according to claim 4, wherein a cover that covers the unit groove portion so as to be openable and closable is provided on the one side wall so as to be engageable with the other side wall. The engaging portion of the connecting member is a hole edge portion of a through hole formed in the connecting member, and the engaged portion of the connection unit is a tip edge portion that penetrates the through hole. The battery connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the battery connection assembly is an engaging convex portion that is locked to the portion.

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