JP5881207B2 - Battery connector - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a component attached to a power supply device mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, for example, and more particularly to a battery connector provided with a countermeasure against leakage of electrolyte from a storage battery such as a battery.

  In recent years, so-called hybrid vehicles (HV), which combine an internal combustion engine such as a gasoline engine and a non-internal combustion engine such as an electric motor as power for driving a vehicle, have attracted attention. In addition, electric vehicles (EV) powered only by electric motors such as electric motors are gradually being supplied to the market. These hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles require a power supply device as a power source for supplying electric power to an electric motor for driving the vehicle. In this vehicle drive power supply device, a secondary battery that can be repeatedly charged and discharged is employed in the same manner as the power supply device for supplying power to the cell motor for starting the engine. This secondary battery is a storage battery such as a so-called battery, for example, a nickel hydride storage battery (Ni-MH battery) using nickel (Ni) as an electrode material.

  A vehicle drive power supply device is usually configured as a power storage device in which a plurality of storage batteries as a single cell are connected in series using a conductor called a battery connector. That is, the vehicle drive power supply device is a storage battery pack as a battery assembly. By the way, in the conventional storage battery pack, the electrolytic solution easily leaked from the inside of the battery to the outside through the electrode pole portion of each of the cells constituting the battery pack. The leaked electrolyte is transmitted to the electrical connection portion that electrically connects the storage battery pack and the external electric wire via the battery connector, and the voltage at which the electrolyte is connected to the electrical connection portion. Various adverse effects were exerted on peripheral devices via detection lines.

  Therefore, for example, an invention according to Patent Document 1 below has been proposed as a countermeasure against such a leakage of the electrolyte. Patent Document 1 discloses an invention relating to a bus bar module (BBM) or a battery connection module which is a battery connection body for connecting a plurality of storage batteries. In the invention according to Patent Document 1, for example, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the crimping surface of the crimping portion of the voltage detection terminal of the bus bar module is placed on the opposite side of the electrode of the unit cell. It is arranged toward. Thereby, the electrolyte solution leaking from the unit cell is prevented from entering the inside of the core wire through the electric wire connected to the crimping portion.

  However, in the bus bar module described in Patent Document 1, the crimp portion of the voltage detection terminal is integrally provided continuously from the electrical contact portion between the bus bar and the voltage detection terminal. More specifically, the crimping part to which the electric wire is electrically connected is provided in the vicinity immediately below the electrical contact part that is in direct electrical contact with the electrode of the unit cell. At the same time, a part of the core wire is exposed and connected to the crimping portion. For this reason, the electrolyte solution leaking from the electrode of the unit cell is likely to hang down along the electrical contact portion and wrap around the crimping surface of the crimping portion. There is a high possibility that the electrolyte solution that has entered the crimping surface will enter the core of the external electric wire. When the electrolytic solution enters the inside of the core wire, the inside of the core wire is easily corroded by the electrolytic solution. When the inside of the core wire is corroded, various negative effects are exerted on the peripheral devices of the storage battery in the same manner as the general vehicle driving power storage device described above.

JP 2010-257686A

  As described above, in the power storage device using the battery connection body so far, there is a high possibility that an external electric wire or the like is corroded by the electrolyte leaking from the inside of the storage battery and adversely affects peripheral devices. The problem caused by the liquid leakage from the storage battery is not limited to the above-described power supply device for driving the vehicle, and can occur similarly if the power supply device has the same structure or configuration.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a battery connection body in which liquid leaking from the inside of the battery is difficult to be transmitted to an external conductor. .

  In order to achieve the object by solving the above-mentioned problem, a battery connector according to claim 1 of the present application is provided by connecting electrodes having different polarities between two adjacent batteries among a plurality of batteries having liquid inside. An electrically connected bus bar, a bus bar connecting portion that is in direct contact with and electrically connected to the bus bar, and an electric wire connecting portion that is electrically connected and electrically connected to the bus bar connecting portion. A terminal having a terminal, a bus bar connecting portion of the terminal, a first housing portion for housing the bus bar, a second housing portion provided to be separated from the first housing portion and housing a wire connecting portion of the terminal, And a housing having a third housing portion provided by connecting the first housing portion and the second housing portion along a direction of connecting the bus bar connecting portion and the wire connecting portion of the terminal, The inside and outside of the housing Is formed in at least one of the first housing portion and the third housing portion, and the liquid leaked from the inside of the battery to the inside of the housing through the bus bar It is configured to be able to be discharged to the outside of the housing through the communication hole.

  According to the battery connector of the present invention having such a configuration, the liquid leaking from the inside of the battery to the inside of the housing via the bus bar housed in the first housing portion is supplied to the first and the second. 3 can be discharged to the outside of the housing through a communication hole formed in at least one of the accommodating portions. Thereby, it is possible to make it difficult for the liquid leaking from the inside of the battery to the inside of the casing to enter the inside of the second housing portion that houses the wire connecting portion of the terminal to which the wire is connected.

  Further, in the battery connection body according to claim 2 of the present application, in the battery connection body according to claim 1, the communication hole is formed by communicating the inside and the outside of the third housing portion, A bus bar side communication hole formed at an end of the third housing portion on the first housing portion side, and an electric wire side formed at an end of the third housing portion on the second housing portion side And a communication hole.

  According to the battery connector of the present invention having such a configuration, the battery leaks from the inside of the battery to the first housing portion of the housing, and further flows from the first housing portion to the inside of the third housing portion. The liquid can be discharged out of the housing through the bus bar side communication hole and the electric wire side communication hole. That is, the liquid leaking from the inside of the battery to the inside of the housing can be discharged to the outside of the housing in two stages. Accordingly, the remaining liquid in the third housing portion that could not be completely discharged from the bus bar side communication hole can be discharged to the outside of the housing through the wire side communication hole, and the liquid leaked from the inside of the battery to the inside of the housing. Can be exhausted thoroughly outside the housing.

  Moreover, the battery connector according to claim 3 of the present application is the battery connector according to claim 2, wherein the first housing portion is provided at a boundary portion between the first housing portion and the third housing portion. A housing portion communication hole that communicates the portion and the third housing portion is formed, and the bus bar side communication hole is formed adjacent to a lower portion of the housing portion communication hole. It is.

  According to the battery connector of the present invention having such a configuration, the liquid leaking from the inside of the battery to the first housing part of the housing is passed through the housing part communication hole. It can guide toward the bus-bar side communication hole formed in the upper end part.

  The battery connector according to claim 4 of the present application is the battery connector according to claim 3, wherein the liquid leaking from the inside of the battery to the inside of the first accommodating portion is the accommodating portion communication hole. A liquid collecting part that collects toward the surface is formed at the boundary part.

  According to the battery connector of the present invention having such a configuration, the liquid leaking from the inside of the battery to the first housing portion of the housing is directed to the housing portion communication hole via the liquid collecting portion. Can be actively guided. As a result, it can guide actively toward the bus-bar side communication hole arrange | positioned under the accommodating part communication hole.

  Furthermore, the battery connection body which concerns on Claim 5 of this application is the battery connection body of any one of Claims 1-4. WHEREIN: The electrode connection part of the said bus bar connected to each said electrode, and the said bus bar. The bus bar connection portions of the terminals to be connected are each formed in a flat plate shape, and the bus bar connection portions are superimposed on the electrode connection portions and are in surface contact with each other and are electrically connected to the electrodes via the electrode connection portions. The bus bar connecting portion of the terminal and the electric wire connecting portion are electrically connected to the terminal, and the contact surface of the bus bar and the inner surface of the housing that the bus bar connecting portion is in contact with And a guide part that holds and guides the liquid in the gap, and projects outward from the bus bar connection part so as to be in surface contact with the electrode connection part of the bus bar. The bus bar connecting portion and the guide portion are connected, and the guide portion is provided above the electrode connecting portion of the bus bar and the liquid that has entered between the bus bar and the bus bar connecting portion is caused by capillary action. And a guide connecting portion led out toward the head.

  According to the battery connector of the present invention having such a configuration, the bus bar and the bus bar connecting portion of the terminal out of the liquid leaking from the inside of the battery through the bus bar into the first accommodating portion. The liquid that has entered the space can be actively guided toward the outside by utilizing the capillary phenomenon of the guide connection portion. Then, the liquid led out from between the bus bar and the bus bar connecting portion of the terminal can be guided while being held by the guide portion. Thereby, the bus bar and the terminal can be made difficult to be corroded by the liquid leaked from the battery, and the derived liquid can be made difficult to be scattered inside the housing. Further, by providing the guide connection portion above the electrode connection portion of the bus bar, the liquid that has entered between the bus bar and the bus bar connection portion of the terminal can be guided toward the upper side of the battery connection body. This makes it difficult for the liquid that has entered between the bus bar and the bus bar connection portion of the terminal to flow down toward the second storage portion located below the first storage portion that stores the bus bar connection portion of the bus bar and the terminal. be able to. As a result, the liquid that has leaked from the inside of the battery to the inside of the first housing portion of the housing can be further prevented from entering the inside of the second housing portion that houses the wire connecting portion of the terminal to which the electric wire is connected. it can.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the liquid leaking from the inside of the battery to the inside of the housing is inside the second housing portion that houses the wire connecting portion of the terminal to which the wire is connected. It can be difficult to get into. Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a battery connector in which liquid leaking from the inside of the battery is not easily transmitted to an external conductor.

  Further, according to the inventions according to claims 2 to 4 of the present application, the liquid leaking from the inside of the battery to the inside of the housing is efficiently discharged to the outside of the housing, and the electric wire connecting portion of the terminal to which the electric wire is connected is accommodated. It is possible to make it difficult to enter the inside of the second accommodating portion. Therefore, it is possible to provide a battery connection body in which the liquid leaking from the inside of the battery is not easily transmitted by the external conductor.

  Furthermore, according to the invention according to claim 5 of the present application, the bus bar and the terminal can be made difficult to be corroded by the liquid leaked from the battery, and the liquid led out between the bus bar and the bus bar connecting portion of the terminal can be removed. Difficult to scatter inside. Further, the liquid leaking from the inside of the battery to the inside of the first housing portion of the housing can be further prevented from entering the inside of the second housing portion that houses the wire connecting portion of the terminal to which the electric wire is connected. . Therefore, according to the invention according to claim 7 of the present application, it is possible to provide a battery connector in which the liquid leaking from the inside of the battery is not easily transmitted to the external conductor, and the bus bars and terminals in the housing are not easily corroded. Can do.

It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows simply the power supply device comprised by the battery connection body which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and the aggregate | assembly of the battery to which this battery connection body is attached. It is a side view which expands and shows a part of battery connection body attached to the battery assembly shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which expands and shows a part of battery connecting body shown in FIG. It is a top view which shows the bus bar with which the battery connection body shown in FIG. 1 is provided. It is a top view which shows the terminal with which the battery connection body shown in FIG. 1 is provided. It is a perspective view which shows the terminal with which the battery connection body shown in FIG. 1 is provided. It is a side view which shows the periphery of the guide part of the terminal with which the battery connection body shown in FIG. 1 is provided from the side. The main flow path of the electrolyte leaked into the inside of the case of the battery connector shown in FIG. 1 is shown, (a) is a plan view showing the flow path of the electrolyte in the first housing portion of the housing, (B) is a top view which shows the flow path of the electrolyte solution in the boundary part vicinity of the 1st accommodating part and 3rd accommodating part of a housing, (c) is a boundary part with the 3rd accommodating part of a housing It is a top view which shows the flow path of the electrolyte solution in. It is a top view which shows the main flow paths of the electrolyte solution which leaked between the bus-bar connection part of a bus bar and a terminal among the electrolyte solutions which leaked inside the housing | casing of the battery connection body shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, 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 according to this embodiment is combined with a battery pack 3 as an assembly of a plurality of unit cells 2 to constitute a part of a power supply device 4 for driving a vehicle. Although this power supply device 4 is not specifically described in detail with reference to the drawings, it is mounted on a vehicle that uses an electric motor such as an electric motor for at least part or all of the motive power, and a power source that supplies electric power to the electric motor. Become. As such a vehicle, for example, a so-called hybrid vehicle (HV) that travels using an engine and an electric motor together, an electric vehicle (EV) that travels using only an electric motor, and the like can be cited. It is done.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the battery pack 3 is configured by electrically integrating a plurality of unit cells 2. Each single cell 2 functions as one independent battery. Specifically, each single battery 2 is a secondary battery or a storage battery having a liquid such as an electrolytic solution therein. In this embodiment, a nickel-metal hydride storage battery (Ni-MH battery) using nickel (Ni) as an electrode material is adopted as the unit cell 2. Therefore, the battery pack 3 of the present embodiment is specifically an assembly of a plurality of nickel metal hydride storage batteries 2. As a result, the vehicle drive power supply device 4 of the present embodiment is specifically a nickel-metal hydride power storage device as a battery assembly in which a plurality of nickel-metal hydride storage batteries 2 are electrically integrated. Each nickel metal hydride storage battery 2 is connected in series using a battery connector 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, each nickel metal hydride storage battery 2 has an outer shape of each main body 2 a formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. Each storage battery 2 is provided with a battery pole column 6 protruding from the pair of end faces in the width direction. Each of the battery poles 6 is provided so as to be brought close to the end on the same side on one side and the other side which are both end faces in the width direction of each storage battery 2.

  Specifically, each battery pole column 6 is provided at the same position on both sides of each storage battery 2 and is brought to one side along the height direction orthogonal to the width direction of each storage battery 2. . One of the two battery poles 6 included in each storage battery 2 is a positive electrode or a positive (+) electrode 6a, and the other is a negative electrode or a negative (-) electrode 6b. The positive electrode 6a and the negative electrode 6b are each formed in a cylindrical shape using a conductive metal, and thread grooves and screw threads are formed on the outer peripheral surfaces thereof. Thereby, both the positive electrode 6a and the negative electrode 6b function not only as the electrode 6 but also as a bolt for attaching the battery connector 1 described later.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the nickel metal hydride storage batteries 2 are arranged in contact with each other without a gap along a thickness direction orthogonal to both the width direction and the height direction. At this time, each storage battery 2 is arranged in a posture in which each electrode 6 is positioned at the upper end in the height direction of both side surfaces of each storage battery 2. At the same time, the storage batteries 2 are arranged in such a posture that the polarities of the electrodes 6 on the one and other side surfaces thereof are alternately changed along the direction in which the storage batteries 2 are arranged. And each storage battery 2 arranged along the thickness direction is integrally fixed using fixing members 5, such as a fixed frame. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, a nickel metal hydride storage battery pack 3 as a battery assembly including a plurality of packs of nickel metal hydride storage batteries 2 is formed.

  1 indicates one of the thickness direction of each nickel-metal hydride storage battery 2, the arrangement direction of each nickel-metal hydride storage battery 2, and the longitudinal direction of the nickel-metal hydride storage battery pack 3. Further, a double arrow Y perpendicular to the double arrow X in FIG. 1 indicates the width direction of each nickel metal hydride storage battery 2, that is, the width direction of the nickel metal hydride storage battery pack 3. Further, a double arrow Z orthogonal to the double arrows X and Y in FIG. 1 indicates the height direction of each nickel metal hydride storage battery 2, that is, the height direction of the nickel metal hydride storage battery pack 3.

  Usually, the nickel metal hydride storage battery pack 3 is mounted on an automobile (not shown) or the like in a posture along the height direction of the vehicle, which is the vertical direction. At this time, it is assumed that the storage battery pack 3 is mounted on an automobile or the like in a posture along the left-right direction of the vehicle whose longitudinal direction is one direction in the horizontal direction, for example. In this case, the double arrow Z in FIG. 1 indicates the height direction of the vehicle. Further, the double-headed arrow X in FIG. 1 indicates the left-right direction of the vehicle. Furthermore, the double-headed arrow Y in FIG. 1 indicates the front-rear direction of the vehicle, which is the other direction in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the one direction in the horizontal direction described above. In addition, when the storage battery pack 3 is mounted on an automobile or the like in a posture in which the longitudinal direction thereof is along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the direction indicated by the arrow X and the direction indicated by the arrow Y are interchanged. That is, the arrow X indicates the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the arrow Y indicates the left-right direction of the vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 1, one battery connector 1 is attached to each of the front and rear side surfaces of the nickel metal hydride storage battery pack 3. Each battery connector 1 is attached to the storage battery pack 3 with its longitudinal direction aligned with the positive and negative electrodes 6 a and 6 b of the storage battery pack 3. Each battery connection body 1 is electrically connected to each nickel-metal hydride storage battery 2 and fixed to the storage battery pack 3 by screwing a nut 7 to the positive and negative electrodes 6a and 6b serving as bolts and fastening them. In FIG. 1, the configuration and structure of the battery connector 1 are simplified to facilitate understanding of the configuration and structure of the entire nickel-metal hydride power storage device 4. Further, the directions indicated by the bidirectional arrows X and Z in FIG. 2 are the same as the directions indicated by the bidirectional arrows X and Z previously defined in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the battery connector 1 connects the positive electrode 6 a and the negative electrode 6 b of the adjacent nickel hydrogen storage batteries 2 in series on the front and rear sides of the nickel hydrogen storage battery pack 3. Thereby, all the some storage batteries 2 which comprise the storage battery pack 3 are connected in series. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each battery connector 1 includes at least one bus bar 8, terminal 9, housing 10, and the like. For this reason, the battery connector 1 is also referred to as a bus bar module (BBM) or a battery connection module.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the bus bar 8 is formed into a thin flat plate shape by, for example, pressing a metal plate or the like as a conductor using a predetermined die. Further, the bus bar 8 is formed in an oval shape or an oval shape in the plan view or the front view. A pair of through-holes 11 are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the bus bar 8 by stamping. The pair of through holes 11 serve as electrode insertion holes through which the battery pole 6 included in the nickel metal hydride storage battery 2 is inserted. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, two electrodes 6 a and 6 b having different polarities are inserted into each electrode insertion hole 11 formed in one bus bar 8, one by one. As a result, the two nickel-metal hydride storage batteries 2 adjacent to each other via one bus bar 8 are electrically connected in series. In this way, the portion around each electrode insertion hole 11 of the bus bar 8 connected to the battery pole 6 becomes the electrode connection portion 12 of the bus bar 8.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the terminal 9 is formed in a long shape extending along one direction, and the inner half in the longitudinal direction is formed in a hollow shape. With such a structure, the amount of raw materials required for manufacturing the terminal 9 is greatly reduced. Similarly to the bus bar 8 described above, the terminal 9 having such a shape is formed by, for example, pressing a metal plate or the like as a conductor using a predetermined die. Further, the terminal 9 has a substantially half portion 13 in the longitudinal direction left on the inner side thereof formed in a substantially flat plate shape and a substantially square shape. The remaining portion 13 becomes one end portion 13 in the longitudinal direction of the terminal 9.

  One end 13 of the terminal 9 is overlapped on the surface 8 a which is one main surface of the bus bar 8 and directly contacts the bus bar 8. Thereby, the terminal 9 is electrically connected to the bus bar 8. One end portion 13 of the terminal 9 is referred to as a bus bar connection portion or a bus bar contact portion. The bus bar connecting portion 13 covers the surface of one of the two electrode connecting portions 12 of the bus bar 8 and is overlapped on the surface 8 a of the bus bar 8. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the bus bar connecting portion 13 is disposed on the surface 8 a of the bus bar 8 so as to cover the surface of the electrode connecting portion 12 on the side where the positive electrode 6 a of the nickel hydride storage battery 2 is inserted. Thereby, in the longitudinal direction of the bus bar 8, approximately half of the side where the positive electrode 6 a of the storage battery 2 is inserted from the center thereof is covered by the bus bar connecting portion 13 of the terminal 9. The bus bar connecting portion 13 is formed in a thin shape similar to that of the bus bar 8 described above.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the terminal 9 is overlapped on the surface 8 a of the bus bar 8 with its longitudinal direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the bus bar 8. That is, the terminal 9 and the bus bar 8 are arranged in a substantially L shape in a front view or a plan view. For this reason, the electrode connection part 12 by which the negative electrode 6b of the nickel hydride storage battery 2 of the bus bar 8 is inserted, and the other end part 14 in the longitudinal direction of the terminal 9 are not in contact with each other. Therefore, in the longitudinal direction of the bus bar 8, approximately half of the side where the positive electrode 6 a of the nickel metal hydride storage battery 2 is inserted from the center is exposed without overlapping with the terminal 9.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, one through hole 15 is formed in the center portion of the bus bar connection portion 13 of the terminal 9 by stamping. This through hole 15 becomes an electrode insertion hole through which the battery pole 6 of the nickel metal hydride storage battery 2 is inserted, similarly to the electrode insertion hole 11 formed in the bus bar 8 described above. The electrode 6 of one of the two storage batteries 2 out of the two storage batteries 2 electrically connected to one bus bar 8 is inserted through the electrode insertion hole 15 of the terminal 9. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the positive electrode 6 a of the positive and negative electrodes 6 a and 6 b inserted through the electrode insertion holes 11 of the bus bar 8 is inserted into the electrode insertion hole 15 of the terminal 9. Thereby, the storage battery 2 to which the positive electrode 6 a is connected out of the two storage batteries 2 electrically connected to the bus bar 8 is directly electrically connected to the terminal 9. However, the terminal 9 is substantially electrically connected to both of the two storage batteries 2 adjacent to each other via the bus bar 8.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, an electric wire 16 is electrically connected to the other end portion 14 in the longitudinal direction of the terminal 9. That is, the other end portion 14 in the longitudinal direction of the terminal 9 is a wire connecting portion. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6, the wire connection portion 14 is provided to be separated from the bus bar connection portion 13 that is one end portion of the terminal 9 in the longitudinal direction. However, the wire connection portion 14 and the bus bar connection portion 13 are formed in an integrated structure via two guide portions 19 described later, and are electrically connected to each other.

  The electric wire connection portion 14 is formed in an elongated shape that can hold and accommodate a single electric wire 16 along its longitudinal direction. As shown in FIG. 5, the wire connecting portion 14 is provided along the width direction of the entire terminal 9 whose longitudinal direction is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the entire terminal 9. Therefore, the electric wire 16 is held by the electric wire connecting portion 14 in a posture in which the longitudinal direction is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the entire terminal 9. Moreover, the electric wire connection part 14 and the electric wire 16 will be arrange | positioned along the longitudinal direction of the bus-bar 8 in which those longitudinal directions are orthogonally arranged with the longitudinal direction of the terminal 9 whole.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the wire connecting portion 14 is mainly composed of first, second, and third three side plates 17 a, 17 b, and 17 c. Each of the first to third side plates 17a to 17c is formed in a structure that surrounds and holds the outer peripheral portion of the electric wire 16 from the three outer directions along the longitudinal direction of the electric wire 16. Specifically, the first side plate 17 a is formed in a posture that is parallel to the surface 13 a that is one main surface of the bus bar connection portion 13 of the terminal 9. On the other hand, the second side plate 17 b and the third side plate 17 c are formed in a posture orthogonal to the surface 13 a of the bus bar connection portion 13. The second and third side plates 17b and 17c are both bent at substantially right angles in the same direction from both sides in the width direction of the first side plate 17a orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the first side plate 17a. Accordingly, the second and third side plates 17 b and 17 c are opposed to each other in a posture parallel to each other in the width direction of the wire connecting portion 14 orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the wire connecting portion 14. Thus, the electric wire connection part 14 has the structure where the side part on the opposite side to the side opposite to the nickel hydride storage battery 2 of the longitudinal direction and the terminal 9 was open | released.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal 9 is arranged in a posture in which the longitudinal direction thereof is along the vertical direction indicated by the double-headed arrow Z in FIG. For this reason, the electric wire 16 is connected and held by the electric wire connection part 14 with the attitude | position along the horizontal direction which the longitudinal direction shows in FIG. At this time, the position of the electric wire 16 in the horizontal direction is defined by the first side plate 17a. At the same time, the position of the electric wire 16 in the vertical direction is defined from both outer sides by the pair of second and third side plates 17b and 17c. And the electric wire 16 is covered with the 1st-3rd side plates 17a-17c from the three directions except the side on the opposite side to the side which opposes the nickel hydride storage battery 2 of the terminal 9.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6, the second and third side plates 17b and 17c protrude inward of the two pairs of press contact blades 18a and 18b. Is provided. The two pairs of press contact blades 18a and 18b are formed by partially cutting and raising the second and third side plates 17b and 17c, respectively. Further, the press contact blades 18 a and 18 b are formed at positions close to one end in the longitudinal direction of the wire connecting portion 14. Specifically, each press contact blade 18a, 18b is formed at a position brought close to the right end of the wire connecting portion 14 in the left-right direction indicated by the double-headed arrow X in FIG. At the same time, the press contact blades 18 a and 18 b are arranged at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the wire connection portion 14. Further, the respective press contact blades 18a and 18b are arranged at positions facing each other with a predetermined distance from the mating counterpart in the width direction of the wire connecting portion 14. The distance between each pair of the press contact blades 18a and 18b is set to an appropriate size according to the thickness and structure of the electric wire 16 connected to the electric wire connecting portion 14.

  In the present embodiment, a so-called round covered electric wire is used as the electric wire 16. Although not shown in the figure, the round covered electric wire 16 has a structure in which a conductive core wire is covered with an insulating film and a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction has a round shape. . The round covered electric wire 16 having such a structure is pushed into the inner side of the electric wire connecting portion 14 and press-fitted into the inner sides of the press contact blades 18a and 18b. Then, each press contact blade 18a, 18b breaks through the insulating coating on the outer side of the round covered electric wire 16 and reaches the core wire. Thereby, the round covered electric wire 16 is electrically connected to the electric wire connecting portion 14. At the same time, the round-shaped covered electric wire 16 is appropriately held by suppressing the displacement in the longitudinal direction of the electric wire connecting portion 14 by the press contact blades 18a and 18b biting into the outer coating.

  In addition, although the concrete and detailed description accompanying illustration is abbreviate | omitted, the round-shaped covered electric wire 16 connected to the electric wire connection part 14 has the edge part connected to the voltage detection circuit. Specifically, this voltage detection circuit is a device for detecting the voltage of the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 2 that is electrically connected to the bus bar 8 with which the terminal 9 is in electrical contact. For this reason, the terminal 9 is also referred to as a voltage detection terminal.

  2, 3, 5, and 6, the voltage detection terminal 9 includes two wires across the bus bar connection portion 13 and the wire connection portion 14 on both sides in the width direction. A guide portion 19 is provided. Each of these guide portions 19 is formed in an elongated shape and a thin shape that extend along the longitudinal direction of the voltage detection terminal 9. Each guide portion 19 is formed in a posture orthogonal to the surface 13 a of the bus bar connection portion 13, as with the second and third side plates 17 b and 17 c of the wire connection portion 14 described above. That is, each guide portion 19 is formed by being bent substantially at a right angle with respect to the bus bar connecting portion 13 along the direction from the back surface 13b to the front surface 13a. As a result, the guide portions 19 face each other in parallel postures in the width direction of the voltage detection terminal 9 orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the voltage detection terminal 9.

  Each guide portion 19 is formed to have a predetermined thickness T, as shown in FIG. Further, each guide portion 19 is formed to be spaced outward from the both sides in the width direction of the bus bar connection portion 13 of the voltage detection terminal 9 by a predetermined distance D1, D2. Further, each guide portion 19 is formed with a gap capable of holding and guiding the liquid with respect to the surface 8a of the bus bar 8 and the inner surface 30a of the casing 10 described later. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, each guide portion 19 is formed in an arch shape that bridges the bus bar connecting portion 13 and the wire connecting portion 14 in the side view.

  More specifically, each guide portion 19 is formed such that both ends 19a and 19b in the longitudinal direction are extended along a direction perpendicular to the bus bar connecting portion 13 from the back surface 13b to the front surface 13a. Yes. At the same time, each guide portion 19 is formed by extending a longitudinal intermediate portion 19c connecting the longitudinal end portions 19a and 19b along a direction parallel to the surface 13a of the bus bar connecting portion 13. Has been. And as shown in FIG. 7, the longitudinal direction intermediate part 19c of each guide part 19 is formed with the predetermined height H along the direction orthogonal to the surface 13a of the bus-bar connection part 13. As shown in FIG. That is, in the longitudinal direction intermediate portion 19c of each guide portion 19, the distance from the side portion 19d on the side close to the bus bar connecting portion 13 to the back surface 13b of the bus bar connecting portion 13 of the both side portions 19d and 19e in the width direction is H. Is set.

  In the following description, the end portion 19a on the side close to the bus bar connecting portion 13 among the longitudinal end portions 19a and 19b of each guide portion 19 is simply referred to as the bus bar connecting portion side end portion. On the other hand, among the longitudinal ends 19a and 19b of each guide portion 19, the end 19b on the side close to the wire connecting portion 14 is simply referred to as a wire connecting portion side end. In addition, of the side portions 19d and 19e in the width direction of the longitudinal direction intermediate portion 19c of each guide portion 19, the side portion 19d closer to the bus bar connecting portion 13 is simply referred to as a guide inner portion.

  As described above, the back surface 13 b of the bus bar connecting portion 13 of the voltage detection terminal 9 is in surface contact with the front surface 8 a of the bus bar 8. For this reason, in the longitudinal direction intermediate portion 19c of each guide portion 19, the distance from the guide inner portion 19d to the surface 8a of the bus bar 8 is also set to H. Further, as described above, the bus bar 8 is formed in a thin shape. And the bus-bar connection part 13 of the bus-bar 8 and the voltage detection terminal 9 is accommodated in the 1st accommodating part 41 of the housing 10 so that it may mention later. Therefore, the height H of the longitudinal intermediate portion 19c of each guide portion 19 can be regarded as being substantially equal to the distance from the guide inner portion 19d to the inner surface 30a of the first accommodating portion 41.

  In addition, each dimension T, D1, D2, H demonstrated above is set to the magnitude | size which each guide part 19 can hold | maintain and guide a liquid. For this reason, the size of each of the dimensions T, D1, D2, and H can be determined in consideration of various factors that determine the characteristics and properties of the liquid, such as the component, density, specific gravity, and viscosity of the liquid. preferable.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, each guide portion 19 is electrically connected to the bus bar connection portion 13 of the voltage detection terminal 9 via the bus bar side guide connection portions 20a and 20b, respectively. ing. Each of these bus bar side guide connection portions 20a and 20b protrudes from the bus bar connection portion 13 to both outer sides in the width direction and is in direct surface contact with the electrode connection portion 12 of the bus bar 8. The bus bar side guide connection portions 20a and 20b are provided above the connection portion between the voltage detection terminal 9 and the electrode 6b. As described above, in the present embodiment, the connection portion between the voltage detection terminal 9 and the electrode 6 b is the central portion of the bus bar connection portion 13 of the voltage detection terminal 9. And each bus bar side guide connection part 20a, 20b can guide | lead-out the liquid which entered between the bus bar 8 and the bus bar connection part 13 of the voltage detection terminal 9 toward each guide part 19 by capillary action. It is formed in a size that can be done.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, each guide portion 19 is electrically connected to the wire connection portion 14 of the voltage detection terminal 9 via the wire side guide connection portions 21a and 21b, respectively. ing. Each of the electric wire side guide connecting portions 21a and 21b is formed to protrude from the electric wire connecting portion 14 to both outer sides in the width direction. Further, each of the electric wire side guide connecting portions 21a and 21b is refracted at one point in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the voltage detecting terminal 9 so as not to connect each of the guide portions 19 and the electric wire connecting portion 14 in a straight line. Is formed.

  Note that the voltage detection terminal 9 of the present embodiment is provided with a locking portion 22 at the end of the bus bar connection portion 13 opposite to the wire connection portion 14 side. A rectangular locking hole 22 a is formed at the center of the locking portion 22. The voltage detection terminal 9 is temporarily fixed to the first housing portion by inserting a locking protrusion formed in a first housing portion of the housing 10 to be described later into the locking hole 22a. Can be made easier.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the housing 10 is erected on the bottom wall 30 located along the side surface of the nickel-metal hydride storage battery pack 3 and on the side opposite to the nickel-metal hydride storage battery pack 3 from the bottom wall 30. The bus bar 8 and the terminal 9 are held along the inner surface 30a of the bottom wall 30 surrounded by the peripheral wall 31. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the peripheral wall 31 includes an upper surface portion 31a, a first side surface portion 31b that falls from one end of the upper surface portion 31a (left side in the drawing), and the other of the upper surface portion 31a (right side in the drawing). ), A first bottom surface portion 31d extending from the lower end portion of the first side surface portion 31b toward the second side surface portion 31c, and the other of the first bottom surface portion 31d (right side in the figure). ), A second bottom surface portion 31f continuous with the second side surface portion 31c and the lower end portion of the third side surface portion 31e, and a third bottom surface extending parallel to the second bottom surface portion 31f. Part 31g. Such a casing 10 has the same configuration along the longitudinal direction of the nickel-metal hydride storage battery pack 3 (the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. 1) by connecting the bottom wall 30, the second bottom surface portion 31 f and the third bottom surface portion 31 g. Are repeatedly provided in parallel.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the bottom wall 30 is inserted through an insertion hole 32 through which each of the positive and negative electrodes 6a and 6b is inserted one by one, and as shown in FIGS. A locking projection 33 is provided. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the housing 10 is provided with a rectangular wall 34 that is positioned between the second side surface portion 31 c and the third side surface portion 31 e and is erected from the bottom wall 30. . The rectangular wall 34 includes an upper side portion 34a extending left and right at substantially the same height as the first bottom surface portion 31d, a pair of side side portions 34b extending downward from the left and right end portions of the upper side portion 34a, and the side side portion 34b. A lower side part 34c that connects the lower end part and extends to the left and right at substantially the same height as the second bottom part 31f is formed in a rectangular frame shape when viewed from the front. The upper side portion 34 a has a positioning portion 35 a that contacts the lower end edge of the bus bar connecting portion 13 of the terminal 9 and positions the bus bar connecting portion 13 in a vertical direction, and the terminal 9 and the bus bar 8 are directed toward the bottom wall 30. A locking projection 35b for positioning and a through hole 35c that penetrates the upper side portion 34a around the locking projection 35b are provided. Immediately below the through hole 35c along the lower surface of the upper side portion 34a, a communication hole 36 that penetrates the bottom wall 30 and communicates the inside and the outside of the housing 10 is formed, and the height along the upper surface of the lower side portion 34c. A communication hole 37 that penetrates the bottom wall 30 and communicates the inside and the outside of the housing 10 is formed at the position.

  Inside the housing 10 described above, a first accommodating portion (see FIG. 1) surrounded by the upper surface portion 31a, the first side surface portion 31b, the second side surface portion 31c, the first bottom surface portion 31d, and the upper side portion 34a of the rectangular wall 34 ( A first housing portion 41, a second bottom surface portion 31f, a third bottom surface portion 31g, and a lower side portion 34c of the rectangular wall 34. And a third housing portion (third housing portion) 43 that connects the first housing portion 41 and the second housing portion 42 with the second side surface portion 31c and the third side surface portion 31e sandwiched between the left and right sides. Is formed. The first accommodating portion 41 accommodates the bus bar 8 and the bus bar connecting portion 13 of the terminal 9, the second accommodating portion 42 accommodates the wire connecting portion 14 of the terminal 9, and the third accommodating portion 43 includes The guide portion 19 of the terminal 9 is accommodated along the second side surface portion 31c and the third side surface portion 31e.

  That is, the communication hole 36 is formed at the end of the third housing portion 43 on the first housing portion 41 side, and the communication hole 36 constitutes a bus bar side communication hole, and the communication hole 37 is formed in the third housing portion 43. An electric wire side communication hole is formed by the communication hole 37 formed at the end portion on the second housing portion 42 side. The through hole 35 c passes through the upper side 34 a of the rectangular wall 34, which is a boundary between the first housing portion 41 and the third housing portion 43, and allows the first housing portion 41 and the third housing portion 43 to communicate with each other. The housing portion communication hole is constituted by the through hole 35c. Further, the upper surface of the upper side 34a of the rectangular wall 34 has a downward slope toward the through hole 35c, and the upper side 34a collects the liquid on the upper surface of the upper side 34a toward the through hole 35c. The part is composed.

  The housing 10 described above is attached to the side surface of the battery assembly 1 of the battery pack 3, and the first housing portion 41 as shown in FIG. 1 with the positive electrode 6 a and the negative electrode 6 b being passed through the pair of insertion holes 32. Is disposed above the second housing portion 42 in the gravity direction. The bus bar 8 is disposed inside the housing 10, and the positive electrode 6 a and the negative electrode 6 b are inserted into the through hole 11 of the bus bar 8, and then the terminal 9 is disposed inside the housing 10 so as to overlap the bus bar 8. The bus bar 8 and the terminal 9 are electrically connected to each nickel-metal hydride storage battery 2 by inserting the positive electrode 6a through the electrode insertion hole 15 and then screwing and tightening the nut 7 to each of the positive and negative electrodes 6a and 6b. The battery connector 1 is fixed to the storage battery pack 3.

  According to the battery connector 1 of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the electrolyte solution (liquid) leaks from the inside of the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 2 into the housing 10 through the bus bar 8 accommodated in the first accommodating portion 41. However, the electrolyte solution can be discharged from the communication holes 36 and 37 to the outside of the housing 10. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8A, when the electrolyte leaks between the bus bar 8 in surface contact with the bus bar connecting portion 13 of the terminal 9, the electrolyte is supplied to the bus bar connecting portion 13. The outer surface 13b and the front surface 8a of the bus bar 8 are led to the outside by capillary action. As shown in FIG. 8B, the electrolytic solution led to the outside of the bus bar connecting portion 13 moves downward along the peripheral edge of the bus bar connecting portion 13 and is placed on the upper surface of the upper side portion 34a of the rectangular wall 34 as shown in FIG. While falling, it collects toward the through-hole 35c, and is guide | induced to the inside of the rectangular wall 34, ie, the 3rd accommodating part 43, from the through-hole 35c. The electrolytic solution led to the third housing portion 43 from the through hole 35c is discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the communication hole (bus bar side communication hole) 36.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8C, the remaining electrolytic solution in the third housing portion 43 that has not been completely discharged by the communication hole 36 moves downward along the rectangular wall 34, and on the upper surface of the lower side portion 34c. While falling, it collects toward the communication hole 37, and is discharged from the communication hole 37 to the outside of the housing 10. In addition, if the communication hole is provided also in the bottom wall 30 of the housing 10 located behind the bus bar 8 and the bus bar connection part 13, that is, the first housing part 41, the electrolyte solution led to the outside of the bus bar connection part 13 is communicated. It can be discharged out of the housing 10 through the hole. Further, as shown in FIG. 8A, a part of the electrolytic solution led to the outside of the bus bar connecting portion 13 is guided through the bus bar side guide connecting portions 20a and 20b as shown in FIG. Led to. Here, since the bus bar side guide connection portions 20a and 20b and the surface 8a of the bus bar 8 or the inner surface 30a of the housing 10 are provided close to each other, the electrolyte solution is directed toward the guide portion 19 by utilizing the capillary phenomenon. Can be actively derived. Thus, the electrolytic solution guided to the guide portion 19 is held in a gap (a gap having a height H shown in FIG. 7) between the both side portions 19 d in the width direction of the guide portion 19 and the inner surface 30 a of the housing 10, and downward. Move towards. The electrolytic solution thus moved is guided to the back surface (the inner surface 30a side of the housing 10) of the wire connection portion 14 via the wire side guide connection portions 21a and 21b, and then formed on the third bottom surface portion 31g. It is discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the communication hole that is not.

  As described above, the bus bar side guide connection portions 20a and 20b for guiding the electrolyte to the guide portion 19 of the terminal 9 are provided above the connection position with the electrode 6, so that the bus bar connection portion of the bus bar 8 and the terminal 9 ( The electrolytic solution that has entered between the bus bar contact portion 13) needs to move to the bus bar side guide connection portions 20a and 20b against gravity. That is, the electrolyte must consume the energy necessary to reach the bus bar side guide connection portions 20a and 20b from the electrode connection portion 12. As a result, the energy that can be used to move the electrolytic solution remaining inside the housing 10 is reduced, so that the electrolytic solution can be made difficult to move, and the electrolytic solution is less likely to be scattered in the housing 10. be able to. In addition, since the wire side guide connection portions 21a and 21b are refracted, even if the electrolytic solution flows down along the guide portion 19, the electrolytic solution directly enters the inside of the wire connection portion 14. It can be difficult. Furthermore, since the electric wire connecting portion 14 is formed to open on the opposite side to the inner surface 30a of the housing 10, the electric wire 16 can be easily attached, and even if the electrolytic solution falls off the guide portion 19 and falls, It is difficult to enter the inside of the electric wire connecting portion 14, and it can be discharged to the outside of the housing 10 through the communication hole of the third bottom surface portion 31 g.

  As described above, according to the battery connection body 1 of the present embodiment, the electrolytic solution leaking from the inside of the battery 2 to the inside of the housing 10 is accommodated in the wire connection portion 14 of the terminal 9 to which the electric wire 16 is connected. 2 It is possible to make it difficult to enter the inside of the accommodating portion 42. Furthermore, the bus bar 8 and the terminal 9 can be made difficult to be corroded by the electrolytic solution, and the electrolytic solution derived from between the bus bar 8 and the bus bar connecting portion 13 of the terminal 9 can be made difficult to be scattered inside the housing 10. it can. Accordingly, it is possible to provide the battery connector 1 in which the electrolytic solution leaking from the inside of the battery 2 can hardly be transmitted to the external conductor, and the bus bar 8 and the terminal 9 in the housing 10 are hardly corroded.

  The battery connector according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. As long as it does not deviate from the gist of the present invention, the configuration, shape, setting, process, or the like may be variously changed or combined.

  For example, the vehicle on which the power supply device is mounted is not limited to a four-wheeled vehicle. Of course, it can also be applied to motorcycles such as electric scooters and motor tricycles. Furthermore, it can be applied not only to railway vehicles that use electric motors, but also to ships that use electric motors as well as vehicles. Further, the storage battery is not limited to a nickel metal hydride battery. Further, the communication hole for communicating the inside and the outside of the housing is not limited to the communication hole (bus bar side communication hole) 36 and the communication hole (wire side communication hole) 37 provided in the third housing part 43, but the first housing. The part 41 may be provided with a communication hole, or the second accommodation part 42 may be provided with a communication hole.

1 battery connector 2 nickel metal hydride storage battery (battery, secondary battery, single cell)
6 Electrode (battery pole)
8 Bus bar 9 Voltage detection terminal (terminal)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Housing body 12 Bus bar electrode connection part 13 Bus bar connection part 14 Electric wire connection part 16 Electric wire 19 Guide part 20a, 20b Bus bar side guide connection part 31a Upper surface part (a boundary part and a liquid collection part)
35c Through hole (container communication hole)
36 Communication hole (Bus bar side communication hole)
37 communication hole (wire side communication hole)
41 1st accommodating part (1st accommodating part)
42 2nd accommodating part (2nd accommodating part)
43 3rd accommodating part (3rd accommodating part)

Claims (5)

A bus bar for electrically connecting electrodes having different polarities of two adjacent batteries among a plurality of batteries having a liquid inside;
A bus bar connecting portion that is in direct contact with and electrically connected to the bus bar, and a terminal having an electric wire connecting portion that is electrically connected to the bus bar connecting portion and electrically connected to the bus bar;
A bus bar connecting portion of the terminal, a first receiving portion for receiving the bus bar, a second receiving portion provided to be separated from the first receiving portion and receiving the electric wire connecting portion of the terminal, and the terminal A housing having a third housing portion provided by connecting the first housing portion and the second housing portion along the direction of connecting the bus bar connecting portion and the wire connecting portion,
A communication hole that communicates the inside and the outside of the housing is formed in at least one of the first housing portion and the third housing portion, and from the inside of the battery to the inside of the housing via the bus bar. A battery connector, wherein the leaked liquid can be discharged to the outside of the housing through the communication hole.   The communication hole is formed by communicating the inside and the outside of the third housing part, and is formed on the bus bar side communication hole formed at the end of the third housing part on the first housing part side. The battery connector according to claim 1, further comprising: a wire-side communication hole formed at an end of the third housing portion on the second housing portion side. .   An accommodating portion communication hole that communicates the first accommodating portion and the third accommodating portion is formed at a boundary portion between the first accommodating portion and the third accommodating portion, and the accommodating portion The battery connector according to claim 2, wherein the bus bar side communication hole is formed adjacent to a lower part of the part communication hole.   The liquid collection part which collects the said liquid leaking from the inside of the said battery into the inside of the said 1st accommodating part toward the said accommodating part communicating hole is formed in the said boundary part. The battery connector as described. The electrode connection portion of the bus bar connected to each electrode and the bus bar connection portion of the terminal connected to the bus bar are each formed in a flat plate shape,
The bus bar connection portion is overlapped with the electrode connection portion and is in surface contact and is electrically connected to the electrode through the electrode connection portion,
In the terminal,
The bus bar connecting portion of the terminal and the electric wire connecting portion are electrically connected, and a clearance is provided with respect to the contact surface of the bus bar and the inner surface of the housing that the bus bar connecting portion contacts, A guide portion for holding and guiding the liquid in the gap;
The bus bar connecting portion and the guide portion are connected to the bus bar connecting portion while being in surface contact with the electrode connecting portion of the bus bar, and are provided above the electrode connecting portion of the bus bar. A guide connection part that guides the liquid that has entered between the bus bar and the bus bar connection part toward the guide part by capillary action;
The battery connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the battery connector is provided.

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