KR101087054B1 - Electrical Connecting Structure Having Low Contact Resistance - Google Patents

Abstract

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrical connection structure capable of maintaining a low contact resistance, and is a member ('connection member') which is in an electrical connection state by physical contact while being supported on a predetermined member ('support member'). Provide an electrical connection structure consisting of a portion ('pressing portion') capable of pressurizing the physical contact portion so as to maintain a low contact resistance. It is possible to maintain a low contact resistance by applying a large contact pressure with the contact area.

Description

Electrical Connecting Structure Having Low Contact Resistance

1 is a schematic diagram showing an electrical connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a schematic diagram showing an electrical connection structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to an electrical connection structure capable of maintaining a low contact resistance, and more particularly, in a state of being supported on a predetermined member, members which are in an electrical connection state by physical contact maintain a low contact resistance. To provide an electrical connection structure comprising a site capable of pressing the physical contact site.

As the development and demand for mobile devices increases, the demand for this secondary battery as an energy source is increasing rapidly. Among such secondary batteries, a lot of researches have been conducted and commercialized on lithium secondary batteries with high energy density and discharge voltage. It is widely used.

The secondary battery may be used in the form of a single battery, or in the form of a battery pack in which a plurality of unit cells are electrically connected, depending on the type of external device in which the secondary battery is used. For example, a small device such as a mobile phone can operate for a predetermined period of time with the output and capacity of one battery, while a medium or large size such as a notebook computer, a portable DVD, a small PC, an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, or the like. Large devices require the use of battery packs due to power and capacity issues.

In order to configure such a battery pack, it is necessary to electrically connect a plurality of battery cells in a series or parallel manner, and generally weld or connect the electrode terminals and the connection member such as a bus bar in a state in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked and arranged. It is electrically connected through a soldering process.

However, welding and soldering processes require skilled skill and know-how of the operator, which hinders production efficiency due to complicated production process and high cost. In addition, in the process of directly welding or soldering to the battery cell, such as causing an internal short circuit of the battery threatens the stability of the battery and causes a failure rate of the product.

Therefore, various attempts have been made to the electrical connection structure by the physical contact method based on the mechanical fastening structure in order to replace the connection method through such welding and soldering process. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-116457 discloses a connection member having an elastic portion that can be pressed to maintain physical contact with electrode tabs of each unit cell in stacking a plurality of plate-shaped unit cells. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-229107 discloses an electrically conductive buffer component between end faces of the batteries in an assembled battery connected in a straight line to electrically face the end faces of the cells. The technical content to connect is disclosed. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-116459 discloses a technical content of forming an electrode pressing portion for pressing and electrically connecting electrode tabs inside a case accommodating a plurality of unit cells.

The above techniques use a physical contact method for connection with electrode terminals, and despite the advantage that the physical contact method can replace the welding and soldering process, the resistance of the contact region changes according to the external environment change. There is a problem. For example, when an impact or vibration is applied from the outside, the coupling between the electrode terminal, the connecting member, or the adjacent members is loosened, and the electrical contact state changes. In addition, when the temperature of the battery is abnormally increased due to overcharging or the like, deformation of various members is caused, and thus contact resistance tends to increase.

Therefore, there is a need for a technology that can replace the connection method through welding and soldering, which threatens the stability of the battery and requires a complicated work process, and at the same time maintains a low contact resistance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and the technical problems required from the past.

That is, an object of the present invention is to provide a connection structure capable of stably securing an electrical connection state with an electrode terminal without performing a welding and soldering step.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an electrical connection structure in which members making an electrical connection state by physical contact can maintain a low contact resistance despite a change in the external environment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a battery module manufactured using the connection structure.

The electrical connection structure according to the present invention for achieving this object is a member ('connection member'), which is in an electrical connection state by physical contact in a state supported on a predetermined member ('support member'), In order to maintain a low contact resistance, it consists of a part ('pressing part') capable of pressing the physical contact part.

Therefore, a separate welding or soldering process is not required for the electrical connection of the battery cell electrode terminals, and the contact resistance increases due to the change in the external environment caused by the physical contact method. It can provide a stable electrical connection structure.

When the physical contact method is adopted for the electrical connection of the battery cell electrode terminals, the resistance of the contact portion changes due to a change in the external environment, that is, a shock, vibration, or temperature rise. Therefore, in order to maintain a low contact resistance despite the application of such an external force or a change in the external environment, it is necessary to increase the actual contact area of the physical contact site and to impart a high contact pressure.

In the present invention, by adding a predetermined member (the 'pressing portion') to exhibit a low contact resistance, a high contact area and a large contact pressure are provided to the physical contact portion.

The pressing unit may be, for example, a structure inserted between the supporting member and the connecting member as an independent member. In the process of inserting the pressing portion, the support member and the connecting member is pressed to increase the contact area and pressure between each other, not only the contact resistance is reduced but also the effect of strengthening the mechanical binding force can be obtained.

In some cases, in order to simplify the assembly process, the pressing portion may be a structure formed as part of the support member. When the pressing portion is formed as part of the supporting member, even when the connection structure is relaxed due to an external impact or the like, the pressing portion is less likely to be detached and there is no need to install a separate independent member, thereby simplifying the assembly process. .

In one preferred example, the pressing portion may be a wedge-shaped member ('pressure member'). When the wedge-shaped pressing member is used, the process of inserting between the supporting member and the connecting member is facilitated, and an efficient pressing on the physical contact portion is possible. That is, the mounting is easily achieved only by the step of pushing the wedge-shaped narrow portion between the support member and the connecting member by applying a force, and does not require a separate member to taping process.

In another preferred embodiment, the pressing portion is a wedge-shaped member ('pressure member'), when inserted between the connecting member and the support member, the locking jaw on one side of the support member to prevent the release of the pressing member It may be a structure formed. One side of the support member, preferably, by forming a locking jaw on the back of the wide portion of the pressing member, it is possible to effectively prevent the separation of the pressing member.

For example, in the case of a momentary excessive shock from the outside or an abnormal high temperature state, the electrical connection structure may be temporarily remarkably relaxed, in which case, there is a fear that the wedge-shaped pressing member may be out of position or come off. However, when the locking jaw is present on the support member, the pressing member can be physically and firmly fixed, and the separation of the pressing member can be effectively prevented even in a harsh environment such as an excessive impact.

The locking jaw is preferably a structure that can effectively prevent the separation without interrupting the insertion of the pressing member. Therefore, the locking step may have a structure having a tapered surface (inclined surface) in the insertion direction of the pressing member.

The connecting member is not particularly limited as long as it is a member requiring electrical connection. For example, one of the connecting members is a plate-shaped electrode terminal of a secondary battery cell, and the other is a member for electrically connecting a plurality of battery cells. As an example, it may be a bus bar, a wire or a metal plate. The connection members are positioned between the supporting members, and the contact portion can minimize the change in contact resistance between the connection members despite the change in the external environment.

The present invention also provides a battery module including the above electrical connection structure.

If the connection member is a battery module having a structure in which the pressing portion is formed so as to maintain a low contact resistance is not particularly limited, preferably the battery module is connected to a plurality of plate-shaped battery cells in series or series / parallel method high output large capacity It may be a medium-large battery module for providing electricity.

The battery module may be used in various ways for power devices that are supplied with power through a repetitive charging and discharging process. In particular, the battery module may be preferably used as a power source of an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, an electric motorcycle, or an electric bicycle.

Since the structure of such a medium-large battery module and a method of manufacturing the same are well known in the art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.

Hereinafter, the content of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

1 schematically illustrates an electrical connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, referring to FIG. 1, the electrical connection structure according to the present invention includes a wedge-shaped pressure member 100, a pair of connection members 200 and 300, and a support member 400. The pressing member 100 has a narrow wedge-shaped structure of one side cross section, and is inserted between the connecting members 200 and 300 and the supporting member 400. One of the connection members 200 and 300 is a plate-shaped electrode terminal 300 of the secondary battery cell, and the other is a bus bar 200 for electrically connecting the electrode terminals 300 of the plurality of battery cells. The supporting member 400 serves to fix the connection members 200 and 300, and in particular, an inclined surface corresponding to the inclined surface of the wedge-shaped pressing member 100 is formed on the lower supporting member 400. Therefore, the pressing member 100 is inserted between the plate-shaped electrode terminal 300 and the lower support member 400 on which the inclined surface is formed, and the contact resistance is lowered by pressing the connecting members 200 and 300.

2 schematically illustrates an electrical connection structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, in comparison with the electrical connection structure of FIG. 1, it can be seen that a latching jaw 410 is further formed on one side of the support member 400 to prevent separation of the pressing member 100. . Specifically, on the support member 400, the locking jaw 410 is formed on the back of the wide portion of the pressing member 100, the locking jaw 410 is not interrupted the insertion of the pressing member 100 Departure is a structure having a tapered surface (inclined surface) in the insertion direction of the pressing member 100 in order to prevent. Accordingly, the pressing member 100 may be firmly fixed through the locking step 410, and the separation of the pressing member 100 may be effectively prevented even in a harsh environment such as an excessive shock or a high temperature state.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described above, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will be able to perform various applications and modifications within the scope of the present invention based on the above contents.

As described above, according to the present invention, the welding or soldering process is not required for the electrical connection of the battery cell electrode terminals, thereby preventing the possibility of a short circuit of the battery that may occur during the welding or soldering process and greatly reducing the defective rate. In addition, there is an effect that can maintain a low contact resistance by applying a high contact area and a large contact pressure to the physical contact site.

Claims (10)

In a state supported on a predetermined member ('support member'), the members ('connection member') which are in an electrical connection state by physical contact can press the physical contact portion so as to maintain a low contact resistance. And a portion ('pressing portion'), wherein one of the connection members is a plate-shaped electrode terminal of a secondary battery cell, and the other is a bus bar, a wire, or a metal plate. 2. The electrical connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the pressing portion is inserted between the supporting member and the connecting member as an independent member. The electrical connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the pressing portion is formed as part of a supporting member. The electrical connection structure according to claim 2, wherein the pressing portion is a wedge-shaped member. According to claim 2, wherein the pressing portion is a wedge-shaped member ('pressure member'), when inserted between the connecting member and the support member, the locking jaw on one side of the support member to prevent the release of the pressing member The electrical connection structure characterized by the above-mentioned. 6. The electrical connection structure according to claim 5, wherein the locking jaw has a surface (inclined surface) that is tapered in the insertion direction of the pressing member. delete A battery module comprising the electrical connection structure of claim 1. The battery module according to claim 8, wherein the battery module is a medium-large module that provides a high output large capacity battery by connecting a plurality of plate-shaped battery cells in series or in series / parallel manner. The battery module of claim 9, wherein the battery module is used as a power source of an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, an electric motorcycle, or an electric bicycle.

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