Mechanical fastener for coupling to electrical terminals of battery modules and method for coupling to electrical terminals

• US 7,563,137 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Morris, Peter T., Koetting, William, Tom, Kwok
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US12/164,843
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 439/627, 439/500, 439/510, 429/158, 429/160
• US Class Current: 439/627
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/517 by fixing means, e.g. screws, rivets or bolts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/42 Grouping of primary cells into batteries H01M6/40 takes precedence

Abstract

A mechanical fastener for coupling to electrical terminals of battery modules and a method for coupling to the electrical terminals are provided. The mechanical fastener includes a trapezoidal-shaped plate and a cover portion. The cover portion is disposed over the trapezoidal-shaped plate and is urged toward the trapezoidal-shaped plate to couple to electrical terminals from battery modules disposed between the trapezoidal-shaped plate and the cover portion.

Claims

1. A mechanical fastener for coupling to electrical terminals of battery modules, comprising:

a trapezoidal-shaped plate positioned on interconnect members of the battery modules, the trapezoidal-shaped plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, and first and second angled side surfaces, the first and second angled side surfaces extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, the trapezoidal-shaped plate having a first aperture extending from the top surface into the trapezoidal-shaped plate, the first aperture defining a first threaded region;

a cover portion having a first plate and first and second leg portions, the first and second leg portions being disposed on opposite ends of the first plate and integral with the first plate, the first and second leg portions extending outwardly from the first plate, the first plate having a second aperture extending therethrough, a bottom surface of the first plate being received on the top surface of the trapezoidal-shaped plate; and

a first coupling member configured to extend through the first and second apertures and to engage the first threaded region to urge the cover portion toward the trapezoidal-shaped plate such that first and second electrical terminals of the battery modules disposed adjacent to the first and second angled side surfaces, respectively, of the trapezoidal-shaped plate are secured between the first and second angled side surfaces, respectively, and the first and second leg portions, respectively, of the cover portion.

2. The mechanical fastener of claim 1, wherein a first surface of the first leg portion is a serrated surface, the serrated surface configured to contact the first electrical terminal.

3. The mechanical fastener of claim 1, wherein the trapezoidal-shaped plate further has a third aperture extending from the top surface into the trapezoidal-shaped plate, the third aperture defining a second threaded region, and the first plate of the cover portion having a fourth aperture extending therethrough.

4. The mechanical fastener of claim 3, further comprising a second coupling member configured to extend through the third and fourth apertures and to engage the second threaded region to further urge the cover portion toward the trapezoidal-shaped plate.

5. A method for coupling to electrical terminals of battery modules utilizing a mechanical fastener, the mechanical fastener having a trapezoidal-shaped plate and a cover portion, the trapezoidal-shaped plate having a first aperture defining a first threaded region, the cover portion having a second aperture, the method comprising:

disposing the trapezoidal-shaped plate on interconnect members of the battery modules and adjacent first and second electrical terminals of the battery modules, such that the first and second electrical terminals are disposed on opposite angled side surfaces of the trapezoidal-shaped plate;

disposing the cover portion having a plate and first and second leg portions disposed on opposite ends of the plate over a portion of the trapezoidal-shaped plate such that the first and second electrical terminals of the battery modules are disposed between the cover portion and the opposite angled side surfaces of the trapezoidal-shaped plate; and

disposing a coupling member through the first and second apertures to engage the first threaded region to move the trapezoidal-shaped plate toward the cover portion to secure the first and second electrical terminals between the trapezoidal-shaped plate and the cover portion.