BUS BAR MODULE AND BATTERY PACK

• US 20180047958A1
• Filed: 08/09/2017
• Published: 02/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: SATO, Katsunori, OKAZAKI, Yutaro, KATAOKA, Ryota
• Granted Patent: US 10,629,873 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/503 characterised by the shape of the interconnectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/507 comprising an arrangement of two or more busbars within a container structure, e.g. busbar modules
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/516 by welding, soldering or brazing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/517 by fixing means, e.g. screws, rivets or bolts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/522 Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 5/00 Installations of bus-bars
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A bus bar module includes a plurality of bus bars, conductive portions for the respective bus bars, and a flexible flat conductor that includes insulating holding members each holding each of the conductive portions and each of the bus bars. The flexible flat conductor includes conductor connection areas for the respective bus bars in which the bus bar and an electric connecting portion are electrically connected to each other, and a connection area that connects the adjacent conductor connection areas in an arranging direction of the bus bars. Each of the conductor connection areas is formed in a mountain fold shape so as to expand and contract in the arranging direction, and is formed so as to reduce a difference in rigidity between the conductor connection areas.

Claims

1. A bus bar module comprising:

a plurality of bus bars that are arranged at intervals from each other in an arranging direction of electrode terminals of each of electrode terminal groups arranged in a row on a battery module formed of a plurality of battery cells, and are physically and electrically connected to the electrode terminals to be connected; and

a flexible flat conductor that includes conductive portions each electrically connected to each of the bus bars, and insulating holding members each holding each of the conductive portions and each of the bus bars, and gives flexibility to the conductive portions and the holding members, the flexible flat conductor being formed in a flat shape, wherein

the conductive portions include respective extension sections that extend in the same direction from each other in the arranging direction and are disposed at intervals from each other, and respective electric connecting portions that are each an end part on an extending direction side of the extension sections and are each electrically connected to the bus bar to be connected in a direct or indirect manner,

the holding members each include a cover that covers each of the conductive portions so as to collectively hold the conductive portions, and a bus bar holder for each of the bus bars, the bus bar holder projecting from the cover and individually holding each of the bus bars,

the flexible flat conductor includes conductor connection areas for respective bus bars, the conductor connection areas each including the bus bar and the electric connecting portion electrically connected to each other, and a connection area that connects the conductor connection areas adjacent in the arranging direction to each other, and

each of the connection areas is formed in a mountain fold shape so as to expand and contract in the arrangement direction, and is formed so as to reduce a difference in rigidity between the connection areas.

2. The bus bar module according to claim 1, wherein

the bus bars and the flexible flat conductor are individually formed and then assembled to each other, and when the holding members include respective notch areas each continued to the connection area between the bus bar holders adjacent in the arranging direction, each of the notch areas has a larger notch size when the notch area is continued to the connection area having a larger number of the conductive portions.

3. The bus bar module according to claim 1, wherein

when a plurality of notch areas are provided by notching one sheet of conductive plate material with the holding members so as to divide the plate material into the bus bars and form the respective bus bar holders and the respective connection areas, each of the notch areas has a larger notch size when the notch area is continued to the connection area having a larger number of the conductive portions.

4. The bus bar module according to claim 1, wherein

the electrode terminals are each a pillared electrode pole that projects from a cell main body of the corresponding battery cell, and

each of the bus bars includes a through-hole in which the electrode terminal is inserted.

5. The bus bar module according to claim 2, wherein

the electrode terminals are each a pillared electrode pole that projects from a cell main body of the corresponding battery cell, and

each of the bus bars includes a through-hole in which the electrode terminal is inserted.

6. The bus bar module according to claim 3, wherein

the electrode terminals are each a pillared electrode pole that projects from a cell main body of the corresponding battery cell, and

each of the bus bars includes a through-hole in which the electrode terminal is inserted.

7. A battery pack comprising:

a battery module that is formed of a plurality of battery cells; and

a bus bar module that electrically connects the battery cells to each other in series or in parallel, wherein

the bus bar module includes a plurality of bus bars that are arranged at intervals from each other in an arranging direction of electrode terminals of each of electrode terminal groups arranged in a row on the battery module, and are physically and electrically connected to the corresponding electrode terminals and a flexible flat conductor that includes a conductive portion physically and electrically connected to each of the bus bars and insulating holding members each holding each of the conductive portions and each of the bus bars, and gives flexibility to the conductive portions and the holding members, the flexible flat conductor being formed in a flat shape,

the conductive portions include respective extension sections that extend in the same direction from each other in the arranging direction and are disposed at intervals from each other, and respective electric connecting portions that are each an end part on an extending direction side of the extension sections and are each physically and electrically connected to the bus bar,

the holding members each include a cover that covers each of the conductive portions so as to collectively hold the conductive portions, and a bus bar holder for each of the bus bars, the bus bar holder projecting from the cover and individually holding each of the bus bars,

the flexible flat conductor includes conductor connection areas for respective bus bars, the conductor connection areas each including the bus bar and the electric connecting portion connected to each other, and a connection area that connects the conductor connection areas adjacent in the arranging direction to each other, and

each of the connection areas is formed in a mountain fold shape so as to expand and contract in the arrangement direction, and is formed so as to reduce a difference in rigidity between the connection areas.