Battery terminal unit provided with a current sensor

• US 6,808,841 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Niwa, Hisao, Suzuki, Naohiko, Wakata, Shigekazu, Wakui, Masanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Gulakowski, Randy
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAUDHRY, SAEED T
• Application Number:
  US09/999,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20020051907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 429/61, 429/90, 429/91
• US Class Current: 429/91
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/287 Intermediate parts between battery post and cable end piece
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6633 with inductive component, e.g. transformer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A terminal unit (TU) includes a battery terminal (2) mounted at the leading end of a wiring harness (4), and a holder (8) mounted on the wiring harness (4) at a position distanced from the battery terminal (2). A current sensor (12) is transported separately from the terminal unit (TU) to a connection site to a battery (B). The battery terminal (2) is introduced through the current sensor (12) and the current sensor (12) then is coupled with the holder (8) at the connection site. This operation is performed at a position distanced from the battery (B), and hence can be performed smoothly without being hindered.

Claims

1. A battery terminal unit to be provided with a current sensor (12), comprising a terminal unit (TU:

TU′

) is formed of a wiring harness (4), a battery terminal (2;

21) at a leading end of the wiring harness (4), the battery terminal (2;

21) having at least one terminal portion (2A;

21A) configured for connection with a battery post (1), a holder (8;

20) mountable on one of the wiring harness (4) and the battery terminal (21) at a position spaced a distance (D) from the terminal portion (2A;

21A), and wherein a current sensor (12) is mountable on the holder (8;

20) of the terminal unit (TU;

TU′

).

2. A battery terminal unit according to claim 1, wherein the holder (8) is substantially ring-shaped and is mountable by introducing the wiring harness (4) therethrough.

3. A battery terminal unit according to claim 1, wherein the battery terminal (21) comprises a holder mount portion (24) extending from the terminal portion (21A) toward and connected with the wiring harness (4), the holder (20) being mountable on the holder mount portion (24) at the position spaced from the terminal portion (21A).

4. A battery terminal unit according to claim 3, wherein the holder (8;

20) is formed by two half-pieces configured for arrangement on at least one of the wiring harness (4) and the battery terminal (21) by being fixed interlocked to each other.

5. A battery terminal unit according to claim 3, wherein the holder (20) is formed by insert molding on the holder mount portion (24).

6. A battery terminal unit according to claim 1, wherein the current sensor (12) is configured for coupling to the holder (8;

20) after introducing the terminal portion (2A;

21A) of the battery terminal (2;

21) therethrough.

7. A battery terminal unit according to claim 1, wherein the current sensor (12) is mounted onto the holder (8;

20) by a sensor portion (12A) having locking means (13) configured for engaging a mating locking means (11;

26) of the holder (8;

20).

8. A battery terminal unit according to claim 1, wherein the distance (D) is sufficient for a tightening means (7;

6;

21) of the battery terminal (2;

21) to be tightened so that the battery terminal (2;

21) can be connected to the external battery post (1).

9. A battery terminal unit according to claim 1, wherein the battery terminal (2;

21) comprises a barrel (5;

25) configured for crimped connection with the wiring harness (4).

10. A battery terminal unit according to claim 1, wherein the holder (8;

21) is in the form of a bottomed ring.

11. A battery terminal unit (TU;

TU′

) for use with a current sensor (12) and for connection with a wiring harness (4) and a battery post (1), the battery terminal unit (TU;

TU′

) comprising;

a battery terminal (2;

21) having a first end defining a barrel (5;

25) configured for connection with a leading end of the wiring harness (4) and a second end defining a terminal portion (2A;

21A) configured for connection with the battery post (1), and a holder (8;

20) mounted on one of the wiring harness (4) and the battery terminal (21) at a position spaced a distance (D) from the terminal portion (2A;

21A), the holder (8;

20) being configured for receiving the current sensor (12).

12. A battery terminal unit according to claim 11, wherein the holder (8) is substantially ring-shaped and is dimensioned introducing the wiring harness (4) therethrough.

13. A battery terminal unit according to claim 11, wherein the battery terminal (21) comprises a holder mount portion (24) extending from the barrel (25) to the terminal portion (21A), the holder (20) being mountable on the holder mount portion (24) at the position spaced from the terminal portion (21A).

14. A battery terminal unit according to claim 13, wherein the holder (20) is formed by insert molding on the holder mount portion (24).

15. A battery terminal unit according to claim 11, wherein the current sensor (12) is configured for coupling to the holder (8;

20) after introducing the terminal portion (2A;

21A) of the battery terminal (2;

21) therethrough.

16. A battery terminal unit according to claim 11, wherein the current sensor (12) is mounted onto the holder (8;

20) by a sensor portion (12A) having a lock (13) configured for engaging a mating lock (11;

26) of the holder (8;

20).

17. A battery terminal unit (TU;

TU′

) for connection with a wiring harness (4) and a battery post (1), the battery terminal unit (TU;

TU′

) comprising;

a battery terminal (2;

21) having a first end defining a barrel (5;

25) configured for connection with a leading end of the wiring harness (4) and a second end defining a terminal portion (2A;

21A) configured for connection with the battery post (1), and a holder (8;

20) mounted on one of the wiring harness (4) and the battery terminal (21) at a position spaced a distance (D) from the terminal portion (2A;

21A), a current sensor (12) mounted to the holder (8;

20).