JP2013120675A - Battery connection body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery connection body capable of preventing moisture content condensed inside a case from reaching a connection portion between a terminal and an electric wire.SOLUTION: A battery connection body 1 has: plural bus bars 3 connecting electrodes of batteries adjacent to each other; terminals 4 overlaid on the respective bus bars 3; electric wires 5 connected to the respective terminal 4; and a case 6 housing them. The terminal 4 is provided with: a plate-like bus bar connection section 41 on which a through hole 40 for inserting the electrode of the battery is formed; an electric wire connection section 42 spaced from the bus bar connection section 41 and connected to the electric wire 5; and a coupling plate section 43. The coupling plate section 43 is communicated with the bus bar connection section 41 on one end, and communicated with a bottom plate arranged on a plane of the electric wire connection section 42 same as that of the bus bar connection section 41 on the other end, and vertically stands from an end of the bus bar connection section 41 and an end of the bottom plate. Also, a water stop material 7 is applied to the coupling plate section 43.

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery connector constituting a power supply device used for a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, and the like.

  An electric vehicle that travels using an electric motor, a hybrid vehicle that travels using both an engine and an electric motor, and the like are equipped with the power supply device as a drive source of the electric motor. In this power supply device, for example, a plurality of batteries each provided with a positive electrode (hereinafter referred to as a positive electrode) on one side and a negative electrode (hereinafter referred to as a negative electrode) on the other side are alternately reversed. The battery assembly is configured by being stacked in the direction, and a pair of battery connectors attached to both side surfaces of the battery assembly (see Patent Document 1). FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a part of the battery connector for which the applicant of the present application has applied for a patent (see Patent Document 2).

  A battery connector 201 shown in FIG. 6 includes a plurality of bus bars 203 for connecting a plurality of batteries in series by connecting the positive electrode 12 and the negative electrode 13 of the batteries adjacent to each other in the battery assembly, and overlapping each bus bar 203. And a terminal 204 for detecting the voltage of each battery, an electric wire 205 connected to each terminal 204, and a case 206 made of a synthetic resin accommodating these. The battery has a configuration in which a cylindrical positive electrode 12 protrudes from one side surface of a box-shaped housing, and a cylindrical negative electrode 13 protrudes from the other side surface of the housing. Moreover, the arrow X in FIG. 6 has shown the overlap direction of several batteries, and the longitudinal direction of a battery assembly.

  The bus bar 203 is formed in a plate shape by a metal plate, and a pair of through holes are formed through which the positive electrode 12 and the negative electrode 13 of adjacent batteries are passed.

  The terminal 204 is obtained by pressing a metal plate. As shown in FIG. 7, the terminal 204 is arranged with a space between the plate-like bus bar connection part 241 in which the through hole 240 through which the positive electrode 12 or the negative electrode 13 of the battery is passed, and the bus bar connection part 241. , An electric wire connecting part 242 to which the electric wire 205 is connected, a connecting plate part 243 connecting the bus bar connecting part 241 and the electric wire connecting part 242, and a detent formed between the bus bar connecting part 241 and the electric wire connecting part 242. Opening 245 for use.

  The electric wire connecting portion 242 is connected to the connecting plate portion 243, has an electric wire placing portion 242a for positioning the electric wire 205 on the surface, a pair of side walls 242c for positioning the electric wire 205 between them, and an inward direction from the pair of side walls 242c. Two pairs of press contact blades 242d that project through the insulation coating of the electric wire 205 and come into contact with the core wire of the electric wire 205, and a pair of caulking pieces 242b that caulk one end of the electric wire 205 are provided. The other end of the electric wire 205 is connected to a voltage detection circuit (not shown).

  Further, the bus bar connecting portion 241, the connecting plate portion 243, and the electric wire placing portion 242a described above are arranged on the same plane.

  The case 206 includes a bus bar accommodating portion 261 that accommodates one bus bar 203 and one terminal 204 superimposed on the bus bar 203, and an electric wire that guides the electric wire 205 connected to each terminal 204 to the end of the battery connector 201. A housing portion 262 and a wire lead-out portion 263 that guides the electric wire 205 connected to each terminal 204 from each bus bar housing portion 261 to the wire housing portion 262 are provided. Each bus bar accommodating portion 261 is formed in a box shape by a bottom wall 261a for positioning the bus bar 203 on the surface and a peripheral wall 261b erected from the outer edge of the bottom wall 261a. Further, the bottom wall 261a is formed with a pair of through holes through which the positive electrode 12 and the negative electrode 13 of the battery are passed, and is provided with a convex portion 265 positioned inside the anti-rotation opening 245 of the terminal 204. ing.

  Then, the assembly procedure of the battery connection body 201 of the said structure is demonstrated. First, the bus bar 203, the terminal 204, the case 206, etc. are manufactured separately. Then, each bus bar 3 and each terminal 204 are fitted into each bus bar accommodating portion 261 of the case 206. Next, each electric wire 205 is routed in the electric wire housing portion 262 and each electric wire outlet portion 263, and one end of the electric wire 205 is connected to the electric wire connection portion 242 of each terminal 204. Thus, the assembly of the battery connector 201 is completed.

  In addition, the pair of battery connectors 201 assembled in the above-described procedure are stacked on both side surfaces of the battery assembly, and the positive electrode is passed through the through hole of the case 206, the through hole of the bus bar 203, and the through hole 240 of the terminal 204. 12 and the negative electrode 13 are screwed into the nut 8 and attached to the battery assembly.

JP 2006-269104 A International Publication No. 2011/043261

  However, in the power supply device having the battery assembly and the battery connector 201 described above, moisture condensed inside the bus bar housing portion 261 causes the surface of the bus bar connection portion 241 and the surface of the connecting plate portion 243 to be arrows in FIG. There existed a problem that it reached | attained the electric wire connection part 242 along the V and W directions, and may adhere to the electric wire connection part 242 and the electric wire 205.

  In response to this problem, the inventor of the present application applies the water-stopping material in the vicinity of the connecting plate portion 243 positioned between the electrodes 12 and 13 and the wire connection portion 242 so that the moisture reaches the wire connection portion 242. An experiment was conducted to prevent this. However, as a result of the experiment, it was found that the battery connector 201 has a shape that does not provide a sufficient water-stopping effect even if a water-stopping material is applied in the vicinity of the connecting plate portion 243. The reason will be described below with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line TT in FIG. 6 when the water blocking material 7 is applied to the connecting plate portion 243 of the terminal 204 shown in FIG. Moreover, when applying the water stop material 7 in the vicinity of the connecting plate portion 243, as shown by a dotted line in FIG. 8, the uncured liquid water stopping material 7 was dropped from above the connecting plate portion 243 with the dropper 9. And the said water stop material 7 was hardened for predetermined time.

  As is clear from FIG. 8, when the water stop material 7 is applied to the connection plate portion 243 in the battery connector 201, the water stop material 7 is difficult to turn to the back side of the connection plate portion 243, and thus the connection plate portion 243 and the case 206. A gap S is generated between the bottom wall 261a of the first and second walls 261a. When the gap S is generated between the connecting plate portion 243 and the bottom wall 261a as described above, the moisture easily reaches the electric wire connecting portion 242 from the portions of the electrodes 12 and 13 through the gap S due to capillary action. . Moreover, since the back side of the connection plate part 243 is not covered with the water blocking material 7, the moisture reaches the electric wire connection part 242 through the back side of the connection plate part 243. For this reason, in the shape of the battery connector 201, even if a water stop material is applied in the vicinity of the connecting plate portion 243, a sufficient water stop effect cannot be obtained.

  In addition, it is thought that the reason why the water blocking material 7 is difficult to turn to the back side of the connecting plate portion 243 is that the connecting plate portion 243 and the bottom wall 261a of the case 206 are arranged so that the surfaces overlap each other.

  Therefore, the present invention focuses on the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a battery connection body that can prevent moisture condensed inside the case from reaching a connection portion between a terminal and an electric wire.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of batteries are connected by connecting electrodes of adjacent batteries among a plurality of batteries arranged so that each electrode is arranged in a straight line. A plurality of bus bars connected in series, terminals overlaid on the bus bars, electric wires connected to the terminals, a case containing the bus bars, the terminals, and the electric wires; In the battery connection body having the above, the terminal is formed in a plate shape, a bus bar connection portion formed with a through-hole through which the electrode of the battery is passed, and the bus bar connection portion is arranged at an interval, An electric wire connecting portion to which an electric wire is connected, and a connecting plate portion connecting the bus bar connecting portion and the electric wire connecting portion are provided, and the connecting plate portion has one end connected to the bus bar connecting portion and the other end connected to the bus bar connecting portion. The bar at the wire connection part. Contiguous to a bottom plate disposed on the bus connection and the same plane, and it is a battery connector, characterized in that erected vertically from the ends and edges of the bottom plate of the busbar connection.

  The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1, a water stop material is applied to the connecting plate portion.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the wire connecting portion is connected to the bottom plate, and the electric wire placing portion for positioning the electric wire on the surface, between each other. And at least a pair of press contact blades that break through the insulation coating of the electric wire and come into contact with the core wire of the electric wire, and a caulking piece for caulking the electric wire. It is.

  According to the invention described in claims 1 and 3, the connecting plate portion has one end connected to the bus bar connecting portion and the other end disposed on the same plane as the bus bar connecting portion in the wire connecting portion. And the bus bar connecting portion, the connecting plate portion, and the bottom plate are flush with each other because the bus bar connecting portion, the end portion of the bottom plate, and the end portion of the bottom plate are erected vertically. Compared with the case, the liquid is less likely to travel on the surface of the terminal because the connecting plate portion is erected vertically. In addition, when applying a water-stopping material to the connecting plate portion, the connecting plate portion is erected vertically, so that the water-stopping material easily turns to the back side of the connecting plate portion, and the water-stopping material is placed in the vicinity of the connecting plate portion. It can be filled without any problems. Therefore, the battery connection body which can prevent the water | moisture content condensed inside the case from reaching the connection part of a terminal and an electric wire can be provided.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, since the water stop material is applied to the connecting plate portion, it is possible to further prevent moisture condensed inside the case from reaching the connection portion between the terminal and the electric wire. A battery connector can be provided.

It is a perspective view which shows the battery connection body concerning one embodiment of this invention, and the battery assembly to which this battery connection body is attached. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a part of the battery connector shown in FIG. 1. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that a water stop material is apply | coated to the connection board part of the terminal shown by FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a terminal shown in FIG. 2. It is sectional drawing along the AA line in FIG. It is a top view which shows a part of battery connection body described in prior art literature. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the terminal shown in FIG. 6. It is sectional drawing along the TT line | wire in FIG. 6 at the time of applying a water stop material to the connection board part of the terminal shown by FIG.

  A battery connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the battery connector 1 of the present invention is attached to the side surface of the battery assembly 2 shown in FIG. 1 to constitute a power supply device. That is, the power supply device includes a battery assembly 2 and a pair of battery connectors 1 attached to both side surfaces of the battery assembly 2. The power supply device is mounted on an electric vehicle that travels using an electric motor, a hybrid vehicle that travels using both an engine and an electric motor, and supplies power to the electric motor.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the battery assembly 2 includes a plurality of batteries 10 and a fixing member that fixes the plurality of batteries 10 so as to overlap each other. Each battery 10 includes a battery main body 11 filled with an electrolyte in a box-shaped housing, and positive electrodes protruding from one side surface and the other side surface of the battery main body 11 (“electrode” in the claims). And a negative electrode (corresponding to “electrode” in the claims) 13. Each of the positive electrode 12 and the negative electrode 13 is formed in a cylindrical shape from a conductive metal, and a screw groove for screwing with the nut 8 is provided on the outer peripheral surface thereof.

  Further, the plurality of batteries 10 are arranged so that the positive electrodes 12 and the negative electrodes 13 are alternately arranged in a straight line along the overlapping direction of the batteries 10. 1 indicates the overlapping direction of the plurality of batteries 10 and the longitudinal direction of the battery assembly 2, and the arrow Z indicates the width direction of each battery 10, that is, the width direction of the battery assembly 2. The arrow Y indicates the height direction of each battery 10, that is, the height direction of the battery assembly 2.

  The battery connector 1 mainly connects the plurality of batteries 10 described above in series, and connects the plurality of batteries 10 in series by connecting the positive electrode 12 and the negative electrode 13 of the batteries 10 adjacent to each other. Bus bar 3, terminals 4 superimposed on each bus bar 3 and connected to each bus bar 3 to detect the voltage of each battery 10, electric wires 5 connected to each terminal 4, and the plurality of bus bars 3 It has a synthetic resin case 6 in which a plurality of terminals 4 and a plurality of electric wires 5 are accommodated.

  The bus bar 3 is obtained by pressing a metal plate or the like. As shown in FIG. 2, the positive electrode 12 and the negative electrode 13 of the battery 10 adjacent to each other are passed through the plate-like metal plate. In this configuration, a pair of through holes 3a are provided. The bus bar 3 is fixed and electrically connected to the positive electrode 12 and the negative electrode 13 by screwing the nut 8 into the positive electrode 12 and the negative electrode 13 that are passed through the pair of through holes 3a.

  The terminal 4 is obtained by pressing a metal plate. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the terminal 4 is formed in a plate shape, and a bus bar in which a through hole 40 through which the positive electrode 12 or the negative electrode 13 of the battery 10 passes and an anti-rotation opening 44 is formed. A connecting portion 41, a bus bar connecting portion 41 and an electric wire connecting portion 42 which is arranged with a space therebetween and to which the electric wire 5 is connected; a pair of connecting plate portions 43 which connect the bus bar connecting portion 41 and the electric wire connecting portion 42; An anti-rotation opening 45 formed between the bus bar connection portion 41 and the wire connection portion 42 is provided.

  The bus bar connecting portion 41 is overlapped with the bus bar 3 in a state where the positive electrode 12 or the negative electrode 13 is passed through the through hole 40 and is electrically connected to the bus bar 3.

  The wire connecting portion 42 is provided with a rectangular plate-like wire placing portion 42a for positioning the wire 5 on the surface, and both ends of the wire placing portion 42a in the width direction, and the wire 5 is located between them. A pair of side walls 42c and two pairs of press contact blades that project inwardly from the pair of side walls 42c and break through the insulation coating of the electric wire 5 and contact the core wire of the electric wire 5 when the electric wire 5 is press-fitted between them 42d, a pair of caulking pieces 42b that are erected from both ends in the width direction of the electric wire placing portion 42a, caulking one end of the electric wire 5 and fixing the electric wire 5, and a bus bar from both end portions of the electric wire placing portion 42a. A pair of bottom plates 42e extended to the connection portion 41 side is provided. Moreover, the electric wire placing part 42a and the pair of bottom plates 42e are arranged flush with each other on the same plane. Further, the pair of bottom plates 42e and the bus bar connecting portion 41 are arranged on the same plane with a space therebetween.

  The pair of connecting plate portions 43 are formed in a rectangular plate shape. Each connecting plate portion 43 has one end connected to the bus bar connecting portion 41 and the other end connected to each bottom plate 42 e of the wire connecting portion 42. Further, each connecting plate portion 43 is erected vertically from the end portion of the bus bar connecting portion 41 and the end portion of each bottom plate 42e.

  The anti-rotation openings 44 and 45 prevent the terminal 4 from rotating around the through hole 40 when the nut 8 is screwed into the positive electrode 12 or the negative electrode 13 passed through the through hole 40 of the terminal 4. It is the opening part formed in order to do. Protrusions 64 and 65 of the case 6, which will be described later, are positioned inside the rotation-preventing openings 44 and 45.

  The electric wire 5 is a well-known covered electric wire in which a conductive core wire is covered with an insulating coating. One end of the electric wire 5 is connected to the electric wire connecting portion 42 of the terminal 4 and the other end is connected to a voltage detection circuit (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the case 6 includes a bus bar housing portion 61 that houses one bus bar 3 and one terminal 4 stacked on the bus bar 3, and an electric wire 5 connected to each terminal 4. And a wire lead-out portion 63 for guiding the wire 5 connected to each terminal 4 from each bus bar housing portion 61 to the wire housing portion 62. Further, the same number of bus bar accommodating portions 61 and electric wire outlet portions 63 as the bus bars 3 are provided, and one electric wire accommodating portion 62 is provided in common. The plurality of bus bar accommodating portions 61 are arranged at intervals from each other along the overlapping direction of the plurality of batteries 10, that is, the arrow X.

  Each of the bus bar accommodating portions 61 is formed in a box shape by a bottom wall 61a for positioning the bus bar 3 on the surface and a peripheral wall 61b erected from the outer edge of the bottom wall 61a. The bottom wall 61a is formed with a pair of through holes 60 through which the positive electrode 12 and the negative electrode 13 of the battery 10 are passed. Further, the bottom wall 61 a is provided with convex portions 64 and 65 positioned inside the rotation preventing openings 44 and 45 formed in the terminal 4.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the wire accommodating portion 62 is spaced apart from the plurality of bus bar accommodating portions 61 and extends in a bowl shape along the direction in which the plurality of bus bar accommodating portions 61 are arranged, that is, the arrow X. A housing portion main body 62a that houses the electric wire 5 connected to the terminal 4 and a lid body 62b that covers the opening of the housing portion main body 62a are provided.

  Each electric wire lead-out portion 63 is formed in a bowl shape, and connects each bus bar accommodating portion 61 and the electric wire accommodating portion 62 that are arranged at intervals.

  Then, the assembly procedure of the battery connection body 1 of the said structure is demonstrated. First, the bus bar 3, the terminal 4, the case 6 and the like are manufactured separately. Then, each bus bar 3 is fitted into each bus bar accommodating portion 61 of the case 6. When the bus bar 3 is fitted into the bus bar accommodating portion 61, the through hole 60 provided in the bus bar accommodating portion 61 and the through hole 3 a provided in the bus bar 3 overlap. Next, each terminal 4 is overlapped on each bus bar 3 so that the convex portions 64 and 65 provided in the bus bar accommodating portion 61 are positioned inside the rotation preventing openings 44 and 45 provided in the terminal 4. Next, each electric wire 5 is routed in the electric wire housing portion 62 and the electric wire outlet portion 63, and one end of the electric wire 5 is press-fitted between the pair of side walls 42c. Thereby, the press contact blade 42d breaks through the insulation coating of the electric wire 5 and contacts the core wire of the electric wire 5. Thereafter, the pair of caulking pieces 42b are caulked to fix the electric wires 5, and the assembly of the battery connector 1 is completed.

  In addition, the pair of battery connectors 1 assembled in the above-described procedure are stacked on both side surfaces of the battery assembly 2 and pass through the through hole 60 of the case 6, the through hole 3 a of the bus bar 3, and the through hole 40 of the terminal 4. The nut 8 is screwed to the positive electrode 12 and the negative electrode 13 thus attached to the battery assembly 2.

  Thus, according to the battery connector 1 of the present invention, since the connecting plate portion 43 is erected vertically from the end portion of the bus bar connecting portion 41 and the end portion of the bottom plate 42e, the bus bar connecting portion 41 and the connecting plate are provided. Compared with the case where the portion 43 and the bottom plate 42e are formed flush with each other on the same plane (see FIGS. 6 and 7), since the connecting plate portion 43 is erected vertically, the liquid It becomes difficult to travel through the surface of the terminal 4. Therefore, it is possible to prevent moisture condensed inside the bus bar housing portion 61 from reaching the connection portion between the terminal 4 and the electric wire 5, that is, the electric wire connection portion 42.

  Moreover, according to the battery connector 1 of the present invention, since the connecting plate portion 43 is erected vertically from the end portion of the bus bar connecting portion 41 and the end portion of the bottom plate 42e, the connecting portion 43 is connected when the electric wire 5 is pulled. By bending the plate portion 43, that is, by pulling the wire connecting portion 42 together with the wire 5, it is possible to prevent the electric wire 5 and the press contact blade 42 d from being displaced, and for this reason, the wire 5 and the wire connecting portion 42 The connection reliability can be improved.

  In the present invention, by applying a water stop material or the like in the vicinity of the pair of connecting plate portions 43, it is possible to more reliably prevent moisture condensed inside the bus bar housing portion 61 from reaching the electric wire connection portion 42. Can do. When applying a water-stopping material in the vicinity of the pair of connecting plate portions 43 of the battery connector 1 described above, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, an uncured liquid water-stopping material 7 is dropped from above the connecting plate portion 43. It drops by 9 grade | etc., And the said water stop material 7 is hardened for a predetermined time.

  As described above, when the water blocking material 7 is applied to the connecting plate portion 43, the connecting plate portion 43 is arranged perpendicular to the bottom wall 61a of the case 6 in the present invention. The water blocking material 7 is easy to turn to the back side of the connecting plate portion 43 (between the connecting plate portion 43 and the bottom wall 61a), and the water blocking material 7 can be filled in the vicinity of the connecting plate portion 43 without a gap. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent moisture condensed inside the bus bar accommodating portion 61 from reaching the wire connecting portion 42.

  In addition, embodiment mentioned above only showed the typical form of this invention, and this invention is not limited to embodiment. Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Battery connection body 3 Bus bar 4 Terminal 5 Electric wire 6 Case 10 Battery 12 Positive electrode (electrode)
13 Negative electrode (electrode)
41 Busbar connection part 42 Electric wire connection part 42e Bottom plate 43 Connecting plate part

Claims (3)

A plurality of bus bars connecting the plurality of batteries in series by connecting the electrodes of the batteries adjacent to each other among the plurality of batteries arranged so that each electrode is arranged in a straight line, and superimposed on each bus bar In a battery connector having a terminal, a wire connected to each of the terminals, and a case housing the plurality of bus bars, the plurality of terminals, and the plurality of wires,
A bus bar connection portion formed in a plate shape and having a through-hole through which the electrode of the battery passes is formed in the terminal, and an electric wire connection portion arranged at a distance from the bus bar connection portion and connected to the electric wire. And a connecting plate part that connects the bus bar connecting part and the wire connecting part,
The connecting plate portion has one end connected to the bus bar connecting portion, the other end connected to the bottom plate arranged on the same plane as the bus bar connecting portion in the wire connecting portion, and the end of the bus bar connecting portion and the A battery connector, wherein the battery connector is erected vertically from an end of the bottom plate. The battery connector according to claim 1, wherein a water stop material is applied to the connecting plate portion. The electric wire connecting portion is connected to the bottom plate, and the electric wire placing portion for positioning the electric wire on the surface thereof, and when the electric wire is press-fitted between each other, breaks through the insulating coating of the electric wire and contacts at least the core wire of the electric wire The battery connector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a pair of press contact blades and a caulking piece for caulking the electric wire are provided.

Images