Current sensor and mounting structure thereof

• US 20060057899A1
• Filed: 08/23/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Tokunaga, Masatoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,344,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/754
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/0092 measuring current only all subgroups of G01R19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/36 Arrangements for testing, measuring or monitoring the electrical condition of accumulators or electric batteries, e.g. capacity or state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/287 Intermediate parts between battery post and cable end piece
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A linking member formed of a conductive material is integrated with a current sensor. An end of the linking member is linked and fixed to a battery terminal connected with a battery post of a battery and the other end is linked and fixed to a connecting terminal of a harness. At least a part of the current sensor having the linking member, the harness having the connecting terminal, and a fixing member that links and fixes the linking member and the connecting terminal is fixed to the battery to contact the battery in a state in which the linking member is linked and fixed to the battery terminal and the connecting terminal. Thus, vibration resistance and connection reliability of the current sensor can be improved.

Claims

1. A mounting structure of a current sensor for disposing a current sensor between a battery and a harness, wherein:

the current sensor is integrated with a linking member that is formed of a conductive material so that an end of the linking member is linked and fixed to a battery terminal connected with a battery post of the battery and the other end is linked and fixed to a connecting terminal of the harness; and

at least a part of the current sensor having the linking member, the harness having the connecting terminal, and a fixing member that links and fixes the linking member and the connecting terminal is fixed to the battery in a state in which the linking member is linked and fixed to the battery terminal and the connecting terminal.

2. The mounting structure of the current sensor as in claim 1, wherein the battery has a holding portion protruding from a top surface thereof, on which the battery post is formed, the holding portion contacting at least a part of the current sensor, the harness, and the fixing member.

3. The mounting structure of the current sensor as in claim 2, wherein the holding portion is formed so that a height thereof from the top surface substantially coincides with a distance between the top surface and a point, at which the holding portion contacts at least the part of the current sensor, the harness, and the fixing member.

4. The mounting structure of the current sensor as in claim 1, wherein:

the linking member and the connecting terminal are formed with through holes respectively, the through holes being aligned in a state in which the linking member and the connecting terminal are overlapped; and

the fixing member is inserted into the through holes to link and fix the linking member and the connecting terminal and is fixed to the battery.

5. The mounting structure of the current sensor as in claim 4, wherein:

the fixing member is a bolt, a head portion of which is fixed to the battery; and

the bolt is threadably engaged with a nut in a state in which a screw portion of the bolt extends through the linking member and the connecting terminal.

6. The mounting structure of the current sensor as in claim 5, wherein:

the bolt is inserted into a housing of the battery so that the screw portion is exposed; and

the linking member and the connecting terminal are held between the battery and the nut.

7. The mounting structure of the current sensor as in claim 5, wherein:

the battery is formed with a groove on a housing thereof;

the bolt is bonded and fixed to the housing in a state in which the head portion of the bolt is disposed in the groove; and

the linking member and the connecting terminal are held between the battery and the nut.

8. The mounting structure of the current sensor as in claim 4, wherein:

the battery is formed with a threaded bore in a housing thereof;

the fixing member is a male screw screwed into the threaded bore in a state in which the male screw extends through the through holes of the linking member and the connecting terminal; and

the linking member and the connecting terminal are held between a head portion of the male screw and the battery.

9. The mounting structure of the current sensor as in claim 4, wherein:

the fixing member is an extending portion that is made of a resin and that extends upwardly from the top surface;

the extending portion is heat-crimped in a state in which the extending portion penetrates the through holes of the linking member and the connecting terminal; and

the linking member and the connecting terminal are held between the battery and an end of the extending portion that is heat-crimped.

10. The mounting structure of the current sensor as in claim 1, wherein the linking member is bent and fixed to the battery.

11. The mounting structure of the current sensor as in claim 1, wherein:

the battery is formed with a groove on a housing thereof; and

at least a part of the current sensor, the harness, and the fixing member is fit or press-fit into the groove.

12. The mounting structure of the current sensor as in claim 1, wherein the linking member is integrated with the current sensor through an insert molding process.

13. A mounting structure for mounting a current sensor between a load harness and a terminal of a battery, comprising:

a conductive linking member integrated with the current sensor and having first and second ends thereof, the first end being linked with and fixed to the terminal of the battery at a first sensor mounting location, the second end being linked with the load harness and fixed with the load harness to the battery at a second sensor mounting location.

14. The mounting structure as in claim 13, further comprising:

a holding portion extending from the battery; and

a fixing member extending upwardly from the holding portion to link the load harness and the second end of the linking member and to fix the load harness and the linking member to the holding portion.

15. The mounting structure as in claim 14, wherein

the linking member includes a through hole formed at the second end thereof, and

the fixing member extends through the through hole and the load harness to fix the load harness and the linking member to the holding portion.