Battery cell interconnect system

• US 7,578,702 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2008
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• 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: Koetting, William, Tom, Kwok, Kebl, Kelly
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh; Phuong K
• Application Number:
  US12/165,286
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 439/627, 439/99, 439/507, 429/123, 429/158, 429/159, 429/160
• US Class Current: 439/627
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/503 characterised by the shape of the interconnectors
• 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: H01M 50/522 Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A flexible and adaptable battery cell interconnection system is provided for interconnecting a plurality of battery cells. The battery cell interconnect system, includes a conductive interconnect having a first termination end and second termination end, the first termination end offset from the second termination end and separated therefrom by an intermediate portion, a pair of spaced threaded rods disposed on each of the first termination end and the second termination end, and an insulating sleeve disposed on an outer surface of the conductive interconnect over the intermediate portion. The system also includes a pair of V-shaped conductive terminal clamps, operative for disposition on respective ones of the spaced rods through respective ones of the spaced bores and a plurality of threaded nuts operative for disposition on each of the threaded rods, wherein the terminal clamps are operative for clamping a plurality of battery cell electrodes.

Claims

1. A battery cell interconnect system, comprising:

a conductive interconnect having a first termination end and second termination end, the first termination end offset from the second termination end and separated therefrom by an intermediate portion, a pair of spaced threaded rods disposed on each of the first termination end and the second termination end, and an insulating layer disposed on an outer surface of the conductive interconnect over the intermediate portion;

a pair of V-shaped conductive terminal clamps, each terminal clamp having a pair of intersecting legs, each having a contact surface thereon, and a pair of spaced bores disposed at an intersection of the legs, each V-shaped terminal clamp operative for disposition on respective ones of the spaced rods through respective ones of the spaced bores; and

a plurality of threaded nuts operative for disposition on each of the threaded rods, wherein the terminal clamps are operative for clamping a plurality of battery cell electrodes by pressing engagement of the contact surfaces against the outer surface of the conductive interconnect.

2. The interconnect system of claim 1, wherein the conductive interconnect has an s-shape.

3. The interconnect system of claim 1, wherein the conductive interconnect comprises aluminum or copper.

4. The interconnect system of claim 1, wherein the V-shaped terminal clamps comprise aluminum or copper.

5. The interconnect system of claim 1, wherein each of the V-shaped terminal clamps have a flat at an apex of the intersecting legs which encompasses the spaced bores.

6. The interconnect system of claim 1, wherein the conductive interconnect is substantially cylindrical.

7. The interconnect system of claim 1, wherein the first termination end and second termination end each have a flat, wherein the respective pairs of threaded rods are disposed on the flats and extend through the conductive interconnect.

8. The interconnect system of claim 1, wherein the offset separates the first termination end and the second termination end by an offset distance.

9. The interconnect system of claim 8, wherein the conductive interconnect has a length.

10. The interconnect system of claim 9, wherein the length is greater than the offset difference.

11. The interconnect system of claim 9, wherein a ratio of the length to the offset distance is greater than 2.

12. A battery cell interconnect system, comprising:

a conductive interconnect having a first termination end and second termination end, the first termination end offset from the second termination end and separated therefrom by an intermediate portion, a first pair of spaced threaded rods disposed on the first termination end and a second pair of spaced threaded rods disposed on the second termination end, and an insulating layer disposed on an outer surface of the conductive interconnect over the intermediate portion;

a first V-shaped conductive terminal clamp and a second V-shaped conductive terminal clamp, each of the terminal clamps having a pair of intersecting legs, each having a contact surface thereon, and a pair of spaced bores disposed at an intersection of the legs, the first terminal clamp disposed on the first pair of spaced rods at the first termination end through its spaced bore pair, and the second terminal clamp disposed on the second pair of spaced rods at the second termination end through its spaced bore pair;

a plurality of threaded nuts, each disposed on one of the threaded rods, and

a plurality of battery cells, each having a first conductive electrode, a second conductive electrode, and an electrode spacing between them, the battery cells in touching contact with the first electrodes substantially axially aligned with one another and the second electrodes substantially axially aligned with one another, a first half of the plurality of battery cells having their first electrodes clamped between the contact surface of the first terminal clamp and the first terminal end to form a first electrical contact therebetween, and a second half of the plurality of battery cells having their second electrodes clamped between the contact surface of the second terminal clamp and the second terminal end to form a second electrical contact therebetween.

13. The interconnect system of claim 12, wherein the conductive interconnect has an s-shape.

14. The interconnect system of claim 12, wherein the conductive interconnect comprises aluminum or copper.

15. The interconnect system of claim 12, wherein the V-shaped terminal clamps comprise aluminum or copper.

16. The interconnect system of claim 12, wherein each of the V-shaped terminal clamps have a flat at an apex of the intersecting legs which encompasses the spaced bores.

17. The interconnect system of claim 12, wherein the conductive interconnect is substantially cylindrical.

18. The interconnect system of claim 12, wherein the first termination end and second termination end each have a flat, wherein the respective pairs of threaded rods are disposed on the flats and extend through the conductive interconnect.

19. The interconnect system of claim 12, wherein the first conductive electrodes and the second conductive electrodes comprise thin, flexible metal tapes.

20. The interconnect system of claim 19, wherein the first conductive electrodes and the second conductive electrodes comprise aluminum or copper or a combination thereof.