Terminal-linking member of secondary battery module

• US 20060194101A1
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ha, Jin Woong, Lee, HanHo, Kim, Jeeho
• Granted Patent: US 7,638,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/158
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/00 Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/101 Bimetal
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/103 Fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/106 PTC
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/227 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/519 comprising printed circuit boards [PCB]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/522 Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/55 on the same side of the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/553 Terminals adapted for prismatic, pouch or rectangular cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/572 Means for preventing undesired use or discharge
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/46 of flat cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/514 composed as a modular blocks or assembly, i.e. composed of co-operating parts provided with contact members or holding contact members between them
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a terminal-linking member of a high-output, large-capacity secondary battery module or pack having a plurality of unit cells stacked one on another and electrically connected with each other. The terminal-linking member includes an insulating member mounted between electrode terminals of the neighboring unit cells for accomplishing the electrical insulation between the electrode terminals, the insulating member being coupled to the electrode terminals, and a connecting member coupled to the insulating member for electrically connecting the electrode terminals of the unit cells coupled to the insulating member in series or in parallel with each other.

Claims

1. A terminal-linking member of a secondary battery module having unit cells stacked one on another and electrically connected with each other, wherein the terminal-linking member comprises:

an insulating member mounted between electrode terminals of the neighboring unit cells for accomplishing the electrical insulation between the electrode terminals, the insulating member being coupled to the electrode terminals; and

a connecting member coupled to the insulating member for electrically connecting the electrode terminals of the unit cells coupled to the insulating member in series and/or in parallel with each other.

2. The terminal-linking member as set forth in claim 1, wherein the electrode terminals of the unit cells are provided with though-holes, and the insulating member is provided with coupling protrusions, which correspond to the through-holes, such that the coupling protrusions of the insulating member are fitted in the though-holes of the electrode terminals.

3. The terminal-linking member as set forth in claim 2, wherein the coupling protrusions are also provided with through-holes, such that the electrode terminals stacked while the insulating member is disposed between the electrode terminals are coupled with each other by coupling members inserted through the through-holes of the coupling protrusions.

4. The terminal-linking member as set forth in claim 1, wherein the insulating member is constructed in the shape of a rectangular block, which conforms to a gap between the electrode terminals of the stacked unit cells.

5. The terminal-linking member as set forth in claim 1, wherein the insulating member comprises two assembly unit bodies constructed such that the assembly unit bodies can be coupled with or separated from each other, a cathode terminal of the unit cell being coupled to one of the assembly unit bodies while an anode terminal of the unit cell is coupled to the other assembly unit body.

6. The terminal-linking member as set forth in claim 1,

wherein the connecting member comprises:

a first terminal connecting body connected to the electrode terminal (a) of the unit cell (A); and

a second terminal connecting body connected to the electrode terminal (b) of the unit cell (B) adjacent to the unit cell (A), and

wherein the connecting member is coupled to the insulating member in such a manner that the connecting member surrounds the insulating member, or the connecting member is inserted into hollow parts formed at the insulating member.

7. The terminal-linking member as set forth in claim 6, wherein the electrode terminal (a) of the unit cell (A) connected to the connecting member is different from the electrode terminal (b) of the unit cell (B) connected to the connecting member.

8. The terminal-linking member as set forth in claim 6, wherein

the first terminal connecting body and the second terminal connecting body are separated from each other,

the first terminal connecting body and the second terminal connecting body are coupled to the insulating member such that the first and second terminal connecting bodies are connected to the corresponding electrode terminals, and

the first terminal connecting body and the second terminal connecting body are connected with each other by a conductive member for accomplishing the electrical connection between the first terminal connecting body and the second terminal connecting body after the first and second terminal connecting bodies are coupled to the insulating member.

9. The terminal-linking member as set forth in claim 8, wherein the conductive member is a safety element selected from the group consisting of a fuse, a bimetal, and a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) element.

10. The terminal-linking member as set forth in claim 5,

wherein the insulating member comprises:

a first assembly unit body having a female coupling part formed at one side thereof; and

a second assembly unit body having a male coupling part formed at one side thereof, the male coupling part corresponding to the female coupling part, and

wherein the respective assembly unit bodies are provided at the middle parts of the upper ends thereof with protrusions, which are fitted in the though-holes of the electrode terminals of the unit cell, and at least one of the first and second assembly unit bodies is provided at the side thereof with a hollow part, by which the connecting member is coupled to the at least one of the first and second assembly unit bodies.

11. The terminal-linking member as set forth in claim 10, wherein

the first and second assembly unit bodies are provided at the side parts of the upper ends thereof with coupling protrusions, by which the first and second assembly unit bodies are coupled with another insulating member stacked on the first and second assembly unit bodies, and

the first and second assembly unit bodies are provided at the lower end surfaces thereof with coupling grooves, which correspond to the coupling protrusions.

12. The terminal-linking member as set forth in claim 6, wherein the first and second terminal connecting bodies have engaging holes, in which the protrusions of the insulating member are fitted, and engaging parts, which are securely inserted into the hollow part of the insulating member.

13. The terminal-linking member as set forth in claim 12, wherein one of the engaging holes is constructed in a closed type, and the other engaging hole is constructed in an open type.

14. The terminal-linking member as set forth in claim 12, wherein each of the engaging parts includes:

a first bent section formed by bending inwardly a main body, which is made of a plate-shaped material, at a predetermined height; and

a second bent section formed by vertically bending the first bent section.

15. A secondary battery module including a terminal-linking member as set forth in claim 1.