Battery-connecting plate

• US 6,261,719 B1
• Filed: 09/08/1999
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation), Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation), Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Ikeda, Tomohiro, Saito, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Brouillette, Gabrielle
• Assistant Examiner(s): YUAN, DAH WEI D
• Application Number:
  US09/391,355
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 429/59, 429/83, 429/89, 429/120, 429/148, 429/156, 429/158, 429/160, 429/175, 429/177, 429/149
• US Class Current: 429/211
• 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 50/51 Connection only in series
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/517 by fixing means, e.g. screws, rivets or bolts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/288 Interconnections between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery-connecting plate for connecting batteries in series. The batteries, each with a positive and a negative electrodes at opposite ends, are assembled in a row with the positive and negative electrodes reversed in an alternating manner. The battery-connecting plate includes a base plate of synthetic resin; connection portions each having a busbar provided on the base plate, the busbar having a predetermined number of holes for passing therethrough of a corresponding number of the electrodes for connection therewith; and a pitch adjusting means provided on the base plate at every predetermined number of the connection portions for adjusting a deviation in position between the electrodes and the holes of the busbars.

Claims

1. A battery-connecting plate for connecting batteries in series, said batteries, each with a positive and a negative electrodes at opposite ends thereof, being assembled in a row arrangement with said positive and negative electrodes reversed in an alternating manner, comprising:

a base plate of synthetic resin;

connection portions each having a busbar provided on said base plate, said busbar having a predetermined number of holes for passing therethrough of a corresponding number of said positive and negative electrodes for connection with said busbar; and

a pitch adjusting means provided on said base plate at every predetermined number of said connection portions for adjusting a deviation in position between said electrodes and said holes of said busbars.

2. The battery-connecting plate according to claim 1, wherein said pitch adjusting means comprises a slit provided in said base plate, said slit opening at one end thereof to one longitudinally-extending edge of said base plate, an escape hole provided in said base plate at the other end of said slit, and a resilient portion formed by that part of said base plate located at a side of said escape hole opposite said slit.

3. The battery-connecting plate according to claim 1, wherein said pitch adjusting means comprises a slit provided in said base plate to separate it into sections and a pair of hinges linking said sections at opposite longitudinally-extending edges of said base plate.

4. The battery-connecting plate according to claim 1, wherein said base plate comprises a row of subdivided base plates, said connection portions are each formed at a respective one of said subdivided base plates, and said pitch adjusting means is provided at every one of said connection portions and comprises a resilient hinge linking neighboring ones of said row of subdivided base plates.

5. The battery-connecting plate according to claim 4, wherein said resilient hinge is located at a side opposite said batteries and apart from said base plate.

6. The battery-connecting plate according to claim 1, wherein said connection portions comprise first connection portions each having as said busbar a first busbar having two said holes and a second connection portion having as said busbar a second busbar having one said hole, said second connection portion being located on one side or opposite sides of said first connection portions.

7. The battery-connecting plate according to claim 1 or 6, wherein said connection portions each further comprises a window provided in said base plate in which said respective busbar is fixedly mounted.

8. The battery-connecting plate according to claim 7, wherein said respective busbar is fixedly mounted in said window by insert molding.

9. The battery-connecting plate according to claim 1 or 6, further comprising a voltage detecting terminal attached with a signal line, connected to one or more desired ones of said busbars.

10. The battery-connecting plate according to claim 9, further comprising a protector trough for said signal line, said protector trough being integrally provided at a side of said base plate where said voltage detecting terminal is connected to said one or more desired ones of said busbars.

11. The battery-connecting plate according to claim 9, further comprising a power line connected to one or more of said busbars and a wiring guide groove for said power line, said wiring guide groove being integrally provided at a side of said base plate where said voltage detecting terminal is connected to said one or more desired ones of said busbars.

12. The battery-connecting plate according to claim 1, further comprising an open/close cover integrally provided via a hinge at each section of said base plate divided by said pitch adjusting means.

13. The battery-connecting plate according to claim 12, further comprising lock means with which said cover is maintained in closed condition at said each section of said base plate.