JP5429066B2 - Battery connection assembly - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery connection assembly.

  In battery modules for electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, single cells having positive and negative electrode terminals are arranged side by side. A plurality of unit cells are connected in series or in parallel by connecting the electrode terminals of these adjacent unit 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 electrode terminals with a connection member, the complicated operation | work of attaching a connection member for every electrode terminal is needed.
Therefore, it is conceivable that a plurality of connection members are attached at a time by forming a battery connection plate in which a plurality of connection members are integrally formed in a resin, and attaching the battery connection plate to the cells arranged side by side.

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. Since the cost of forming the film becomes large, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost correspondingly increases.
Therefore, the inventors of the present application provide a resin unit corresponding to the number of connection members, not a battery connection plate integrally formed with a plurality of connection members, and connects these units to each other to provide a plurality of single cells. It came to consider the battery connection assembly which can be attached.

By the way, the battery module requires a configuration for detecting the voltage of the unit cell. If this configuration is provided in the battery connection assembly, the voltage detection terminal is also integrated with the battery connection assembly. It is efficient because it can be attached.
Therefore, the inventors of the present application also consider a configuration in which a voltage detection terminal attached to the terminal of the voltage detection line can be attached to a plurality of single cells integrally with the wire connection assembly by overlapping the connection member. It came.

By the way, the unit unit in this electric wire connection assembly is provided with a partition wall so as to surround the connection member in order to insulate the connection member from the outside. Therefore, it is necessary to assemble the voltage detection terminals sequentially for each unit unit from above the partition wall.
Although it is desirable that the assembly of the voltage detection terminals can be automated by the apparatus, it is expensive to produce a new terminal assembly apparatus. Therefore, for example, it is desirable from the viewpoint of cost that an existing terminal fitting assembling apparatus that is widely used for automobiles can be used when assembling the terminal fitting to the connector.

  However, the terminal fitting assembly apparatus widely used for automobiles is configured to insert the terminal fitting from the side (horizontal direction) into the terminal insertion hole formed to extend sideward (horizontal direction). . Therefore, since it is impossible to perform a complicated operation such as overlapping the voltage detection terminal on the connection member from above the partition wall of the unit unit, the voltage detection terminal can be assembled to the unit unit in the wire connection assembly at a low cost. It was an obstacle to automation.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a battery connection assembly capable of automating the assembly of voltage detection terminals at low cost.

A metal connection member for connecting adjacent electrode terminals and a voltage detection terminal in a unit cell group in which a plurality of unit cells having positive and negative electrode terminals according to the present invention are arranged are accommodated inside the partition wall. A battery connection assembly configured by connecting a plurality of unit units, wherein the partition wall has a terminal insertion hole through which the voltage detection terminal can be inserted (means) 1).
According to the configuration of the means 1, when attaching the voltage detection terminal, it is possible to assemble the voltage detection terminal by inserting the terminal insertion hole. For example, the voltage detection terminal is used for assembling the terminal fitting to the connector. It is possible to assemble a voltage detection terminal to each unit using an assembling apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to automate the assembly of the voltage detection terminals at low cost.

In addition to the configuration of the means 1, the voltage detection terminal may be provided with an elastic locking piece for locking the voltage detection terminal to the inner wall of the partition wall (means 2). ).
With the configuration of the means 2, it is possible to prevent the voltage detection terminal from coming off with a simple configuration.

In addition to the configuration of the means 1 or 2, the unit unit includes an accommodating portion that accommodates the connection member inside the partition wall, a groove portion that is provided along the accommodating portion and through which the voltage detection line is inserted, You may make it provide the connection part which connects the said accommodating part and the said groove part (means 3).
According to the structure of the means 3, a voltage detection line can be wired using a groove part.

In addition to the configuration of the means 3, a locking recess is formed in the voltage detection terminal, and a locking projection for locking to the locking recess is formed in the connection portion. (Means 4).
According to the structure of the means 4, the terminal for voltage detection can be positioned using the structure of a connection part.

In addition to the configuration of the means 3 or 4, the groove portion is inserted through the voltage detection line from the side, and a voltage detection terminal is inserted into the bottom portion of the groove portion facing the partition wall. A hole may be provided so as to communicate with the terminal insertion hole (means 5).
According to the configuration of the means 5, it is possible to facilitate the insertion of the voltage detection line into the groove after the voltage detection terminal is assembled.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the battery connection assembly which can automate the assembly | attachment of a voltage detection terminal at low cost can be provided.

The top view showing the battery module which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. The perspective view showing the unit unit in the state where the connecting member and the voltage detection terminal are assembled. The top view showing the unit unit in the state where the connecting member and the voltage detection terminal are assembled. Rear view showing the unit unit in which the connecting member and the voltage detection terminal are assembled. AA sectional view of FIG. Left side view showing the unit unit in which the connection member and the voltage detection terminal are assembled. BB sectional view of FIG. A right side view showing the unit unit in a state where the connection member and the voltage detection terminal are assembled. The perspective view showing the unit unit before a connection member and the voltage detection terminal are assembled | attached. The top view showing the unit unit before a connection member and the voltage detection terminal are assembled | attached. Rear view showing the unit unit before the connection member and the voltage detection terminal are assembled. Front view showing the unit unit before the connection member and the voltage detection terminal are assembled. Left side view showing the unit unit before the connection member and the voltage detection terminal are assembled. Right side view showing the unit unit before the connection member and the voltage detection terminal are assembled. The figure showing the state before the voltage detection terminal is assembled for a plurality of unit units The figure showing the state where the terminal for voltage detection was assembled about a plurality of unit units A diagram showing a state in which multiple unit units are connected to the left and right The figure showing the state which accommodated the electric wire for voltage detection in the slot

<Embodiment 1>
Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the battery connection assembly 20 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of single cells 10 in a battery module M having a single cell group in which a plurality of single cells 10 having positive and negative electrode terminals 12A and 12B are arranged. It is what connects between. The battery module M to which the battery connection assembly 20 is attached is used as a drive source for a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. In the following, the left-right direction (width direction) will be described with reference to FIG. 1, with the upper side of FIG. 1 being the front, the lower side being the rear, the front side of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the battery module M includes, for example, 12 (plural) unit cells 10 and 6 (plural) connection members that connect the electrode terminals 12A and 12B of the 12 unit cells 10 to each other. And a battery connection assembly 20 in which 13 is accommodated.
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 upper and lower ends (only the upper end side is shown in FIG. 1) of the main body 11, and the polarities of the upper and lower electrode terminals 12A and 12B are reversed.
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 is configured by connecting six (plural) unit units 21 side by side.
Each unit unit 21 is made of synthetic resin and has the same shape. As shown in FIG. 2, the unit unit 21 accommodates the connecting member 13, the groove 30 in which the voltage detection wire W is routed, and the unit unit 21. A connecting portion 35 for connecting the portion 22 and the groove portion 30, and one unit unit 21 is provided on the upper surface of the plurality of unit cells 10 for two (or a predetermined number) of adjacent unit cells 10. Placed.
The connection member 13 is made of metal such as copper, copper alloy, stainless steel (SUS), has a substantially rectangular shape, and has through holes 14 and 14 through which the electrode terminals 12A and 12B are inserted.

A voltage detection terminal 15 (corresponding to a “voltage detection terminal” which is a configuration of the present invention) is overlaid in a substantially left half region of the connection member 13.
The voltage detection terminal 15 is for detecting the voltage of the unit cell 10, and as shown in FIG. 15, the flat plate portion 16A and the voltage detection line W are connected to the back of the flat plate portion 16A. And a crimping portion 16B.
The flat plate portion 16A has a rectangular shape, and a circular through hole 17 into which the electrode terminal 12A can be inserted is formed at the center. A pair of left and right elastic locking pieces 18, 18 is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the elastic locking pieces 18 and 18 are formed in a cantilever shape from the flat surface of the flat plate portion 16 </ b> A toward the rear, and the voltage detection terminal 15 is in a normal position (FIG. 7). ), Even if a backward force (force in the pulling direction) of the voltage detection terminal 15 is generated, the ends of the elastic locking pieces 18 and 18 are connected to the terminal insertion hole 26 in the opposing wall 25B. The voltage detection terminal 15 is prevented from coming off by being engaged with the hole edge portion 26A.

The elastic locking pieces 18 and 18 can be formed by punching and bending the metal plate material when the voltage detection terminal 15 is formed.
As shown in FIG. 15, a locking hole 19 (an example of a “locking recess” in the claims) is formed behind the pair of elastic locking pieces 18 and in front of the crimping portion 16B. Yes.
The locking hole 19 has a rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction, and penetrates the flat plate portion 16A.
The crimping part 16B has a wire barrel part that crimps the core part of the voltage detection electric wire W and an insulation barrel part that crimps and holds the voltage detection electric wire W from above the insulating coating.
The voltage detection electric wire W is a covered electric wire in which a core wire (conductor) is covered with an insulating layer. At the terminal, the insulating layer is peeled off and the core wire is exposed.

As shown in FIG. 9, the accommodating portion 22 includes a bottom surface portion 23 on which the connection member 13 is placed, and a partition wall 24 formed so as to rise from the outer edge portion of the bottom surface portion 23 and surround the connection member 13. .
The bottom surface portion 23 has an opening through which the electrode terminals 12 </ b> A and 12 </ b> B are inserted substantially entirely in the bottom surface portion 23, and a support for connecting the front and rear partition walls 24 to an intermediate portion in the width direction of the bottom surface portion 23. A portion 23A is formed.

  The partition wall 24 is for preventing the tool or the like from coming into contact with the electrode terminals 12A and 12B and the connecting member 13 and short-circuiting, and is set to a height at which contact of the tool or the like is prevented, A pair of opposing walls 25A, 25B extending in the left-right direction (the arrangement direction of the unit units 21) and a pair of side wall portions 28, 28 connecting the opposing walls 25A, 25B are formed in an annular shape. Yes.

  Of the pair of opposing walls 25A and 25B, a pair of locking projections 27A and 27B projecting inward are formed above the support portion 23A as shown in FIG. The locking projections 27A and 27B are tapered surfaces whose lower side is increased in an inclined manner. Of these pair of locking projections 27A, 27B, the rear locking projection 27A is formed at the tip (lower end) of a bending piece 27C (see FIG. 9) formed between the pair of left and right slits. ing. The connection member 13 is locked between the bottom surface portion 23 and the locking projections 27A and 27B.

As shown in FIG. 5, a terminal insertion hole 26 for inserting the voltage detection terminal 15 is formed through the rear facing wall 25 </ b> B (partition wall 24 facing the groove wall portion 32).
The terminal insertion hole 26 is a rectangular hole that is long in the left-right direction, and penetrates the opposing wall 25B in the front-rear direction.

The lower end 26 </ b> B of the terminal insertion hole 26 has a height that continues to the upper surface of the bottom surface portion 23.
As shown in FIG. 12, a through hole 29 that penetrates the opposing wall 25A is formed in the front facing wall 25A.
The through hole 29 is a rectangular hole and is provided at the position of the flat plate portion 16A of the voltage detection terminal 15, and communicates with the internal space by cutting out the lower end portion of the opposing wall 25A from the outer side. The shape is

  As shown in FIG. 11, the groove portion 30 includes a bottom plate 31 (an example of a “bottom portion” in the claims) disposed opposite to the facing wall 25 </ b> B, and a pair of upper and lower portions that stand from both side edges of the bottom plate 31 and are disposed to face each other When the unit units 21 are connected to the left and right, formed by the groove wall portions 32, 32, a wire insertion groove that opens to the side is formed by connecting the groove portions 30 of the adjacent unit units 21 to each other, A voltage detection electric wire W extending to the battery ECU or the like can be inserted into the electric wire insertion groove from the side.

A rectangular insertion hole 31 </ b> A is formed through the bottom plate 31. The insertion hole 31 </ b> A is a through hole that communicates with the terminal insertion hole 26 in order to insert the voltage detection terminal 15 into the terminal insertion hole 26 that is blocked by the bottom plate 31, and its lower surface is flush with the lower groove wall 32. Thus, the upper portion of the groove wall portion 32 protrudes rearward in a U-shape from the surface of the bottom plate 31 so that the insertion hole 31A has a generally rectangular tube shape.
A pair of holding claws 32 </ b> A and 32 </ b> B for holding the voltage detection line W in the groove portion 30 are formed to protrude inward at the front ends (rear ends) of the groove wall portions 32 and 32. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the upper groove wall 32 is provided with a notch 32C.

  The connection part 35 is provided with a pair of left and right connection pieces 36, 36, and can be slightly bent and deformed as a whole.

An erection portion 37 is formed under the front end portion of the connection pieces 36 and 36 (connection piece in the vicinity of the terminal insertion hole) so as to connect the pair of connection pieces 36 and 36.
On the lower surface of the erection part 37, as shown in FIG. 7, a locking convex part 38 protrudes downward.
The locking projection 38 has a first stepped portion 38A whose front end cuts downward in a stepped shape, and has a projecting dimension that decreases in an inclined manner toward the rear from there, and a second stepped up in a stepped shape at the rear end. A stepped portion 38B is provided.

When the voltage detection terminal 15 is inserted into the normal position from the terminal insertion hole 26, the first step portion 38A is locked to the front edge of the locking hole 19 of the voltage detection terminal 15, and the second step portion 38B. Is locked to the rear edge of the locking hole 19 so that the voltage detection terminal 15 is positioned.
Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a reinforcing portion 39 is bridged between the accommodating portion 22 and the groove portion 30 along the connecting portion 35.

A connection engaging portion 41 is provided at one end of the unit units 21 in the arrangement direction, while the other end is connected to the connection engaging portion 41 in the adjacent unit unit 21. A coupled engaged portion 42 is provided.
The coupling engagement portion 41 includes a rod-like protrusion 41A that protrudes in a rod shape (columnar shape) from the outer side surface of the connection portion 35, and a disk-like tension that projects in the circumferential direction at the tip of the rod-like projection 41A. It consists of an exit 41B.

  On the other hand, the connected engaged portion 42 protrudes from a corner portion of the surface of the partition wall 24 on the groove portion 30 side, and the rod-like protrusion 41A of the connecting engaging portion 41 can be inserted therein as shown in FIG. An insertion recess 43 having an inner diameter smaller than the diameter of the overhanging portion 41B (a diameter in the left-right direction that is a shorter diameter than the up-down direction) is formed.

  At the lower end of the insertion recess 43, a pair of locking claws protrudes inward. The dimension between the pair of locking claws is slightly smaller than the diameter of the rod-shaped protrusion 41A. When the bar-like protrusions 41A of the unit units 21 are inserted into the insertion recesses 43 while bending the connected engaged parts 42 and the unit units 21 are connected, the bar-like protrusions 41A are paired in the vertical direction. While disengagement is controlled by being locked by the locking claw, in the left-right direction, the connected engaged portion 42 is locked by the overhanging portion 41B and movement in the left-right direction is restricted.

The voltage detection electric wire W is arranged in the electric wire insertion groove from the crimping portion 16B of the voltage detection terminal 15 through the insertion hole 31A and the groove portion 30 of the bottom plate 31, and is 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.
In the present embodiment, since the battery module M is formed by connecting the cells 10 in series, the electrode terminals 12A and 12B having different polarities adjacent to each other on the lower surface side of the battery module M are not shown. A battery connection assembly 20 is attached to connect.

Next, attachment of the battery connection assembly 20 will be described. In the following, a case where there are three unit units 21 will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 15, the connection members 13 are accommodated in the accommodating portions 22 of all the unit units 21, and the voltage detection terminals 15 in which the terminal portions of the voltage detection wires W are crimped are inserted into the insertion holes 31 </ b> A and the terminal insertion holes 26. Through.

  As the voltage detection terminal 15 is inserted, the elastic locking pieces 18 and 18 come into contact with the edge of the terminal insertion hole 26 and elastically deform, and when passing through the terminal insertion hole 26, the elastic deformation pieces 18 and 18 are restored. Further, both step portions 38A and 38B of the locking projection 38 are locked in the locking hole 19 (FIG. 7), and the voltage detection terminal 15 is positioned at the normal position (FIG. 16).

Next, as shown in FIG. 17, the connecting and engaging portions 41 of the three unit units 21 are engaged with the connected engaged portions 42 and connected in order.
And while passing each voltage detection electric wire W through the groove part 30, it passes along the other groove part 30 (voltage detection groove) toward the battery ECU side (FIG. 18).
Next, all the through holes 14 and 14 of the connection member 13 accommodated in the battery connection assembly 20 and the through holes 17 of the voltage detection terminal 15 are arranged side by side of the plurality of single cells 10 (single cell group 10). All the electrode terminals 12A and 12B are integrally inserted.
Then, a nut is screwed onto the electrode terminals 12A and 12B using a socket wrench and tightened to the electrode terminals 12A and 12B protruding from the through hole 14 (17). When everything is tightened, the battery module M is completed (FIG. 1).

According to the structure of the said embodiment, there exist the following effects.
(1) Since the partition wall 24 of the unit unit 21 is formed with a terminal insertion hole 26 through which the voltage detection terminal 15 (voltage detection terminal) can be inserted, voltage detection is performed when the voltage detection terminal 15 is attached. The terminal 15 can be assembled by inserting the terminal insertion hole 26 from the side of the partition wall 24 instead of from above the partition wall 24. For example, an assembling apparatus used for assembling the terminal fitting to the connector is provided. The voltage detection terminal 15 can be assembled to each unit unit 21 by using. Therefore, the assembly of the voltage detection terminal 15 can be automated at a low cost.

(2) Since the voltage detection terminal 15 is provided with elastic locking pieces 18 and 18 for locking the voltage detection terminal 15 to the inner wall of the partition wall 24, the voltage detection terminal 15 can be prevented from coming off with a simple configuration. Can be achieved.
(3) The unit unit 21 includes an accommodating portion 22 that accommodates the connection member 13 inside the partition wall 24, a groove portion 30 that is provided along the accommodating portion 22 and through which the voltage detection line W is inserted, and the accommodating portion 22 and the groove portion. Since the connection part 35 which connects 30 is provided, the voltage detection line W can be routed using the groove part 30.

(4) Since the voltage detection terminal 15 is formed with a locking hole 19 (locking recess), and the connecting portion 35 is formed with a locking projection 38 that locks into the locking hole 19, The voltage detection terminal 15 can be positioned by using the configuration of the connecting portion 35.
(5) The groove portion 30 is inserted through the voltage detection line W from the side, and the insertion hole 31A of the voltage detection terminal 15 is a terminal on the bottom plate 31 (bottom portion) facing the partition wall 24 in the groove portion 30. Since it is provided so as to communicate with the insertion hole 26, it is possible to facilitate the insertion of the voltage detection line W into the groove portion 30 after the voltage detection terminal 15 is assembled.

<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 connection member 13 connects the electrode terminals 12A and 12B having different polarities (unit cells 10 are connected in series). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the electrode terminals 12A and 12B having the same polarity are connected. May be connected (unit cells 10 are connected in parallel). For example, another unit cell 10 is connected in parallel to the battery module M of the above embodiment, and the electrode terminals 12A and 12B having the same polarity in this parallel connection are connected by a plurality of connection members 13 (battery connection assemblies 20). You may have done.

(2) Although the number of the single cells 10 constituting the battery module M is twelve, the number is not limited to this, and may be 13 or more, or 11 or less, and the unit unit 21 attached to the single cell group according to this. The number is not limited to six in the above embodiment, but may be seven or more or five or less.
(3) Although the through hole is provided as the locking hole 19 in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a recess (locking recess) that can be locked by the locking projection 38 may be provided.

10 ... Cell 12A ... Positive electrode terminal (electrode terminal)
12B ... Negative electrode terminal (electrode terminal)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 ... Connection member 14, 17 ... Through-hole 15 ... Voltage detection terminal (terminal for voltage detection)
16A ... Flat plate portion 18 ... Elastic locking piece 19 ... Locking hole (locking recess)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Battery connection assembly 21 ... Unit unit 22 ... Accommodating part 24 ... Partition wall 25A, 25B ... Opposite wall 26 ... Terminal insertion hole 28 ... Side wall part 30 ... Groove part 31 ... Bottom plate (bottom part)
31A ... Insertion hole 35 ... Connection part 37 ... Installation part 38 ... Locking convex part 41 ... Connection engaging part 42 ... Connection engaged part M ... Potential module W ... Voltage detection electric wire

Claims (5)

A plurality of unit units that house metal connection members for connecting adjacent electrode terminals in a unit cell group in which a plurality of unit cells having positive and negative electrode terminals are arranged and a voltage detection terminal inside the partition wall A battery connection assembly configured by connecting the pieces,
The battery connection assembly, wherein a terminal insertion hole through which the voltage detection terminal can be inserted is formed in the partition wall. The battery connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein the voltage detection terminal is provided with an elastic locking piece for locking the voltage detection terminal to the inner wall of the partition wall. The unit unit includes an accommodating portion that accommodates the connection member inside the partition wall, a groove portion that is provided along the accommodating portion and through which a voltage detection line is inserted, and a connection that connects the accommodating portion and the groove portion. The battery connection assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a portion. 4. A locking recess is formed in the voltage detection terminal, and a locking projection for locking to the locking recess is formed in the connection portion. Battery connection assembly. The groove part is inserted through the voltage detection line from the side,
The bottom of the said groove part facing the said partition wall is provided so that the insertion hole of the terminal for voltage detection may be connected to the said terminal insertion hole. Battery connection assembly.

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