Terminal connection apparatus for battery cells having foil terminals

• US 7,819,700 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2008
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies Ip Limited (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kruger, Duane D., Beer, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHUNG TRANS, XUONG MY
• Application Number:
  US12/316,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20100144214A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 439/500, 439/627, 439/513, 439/507, 429/158, 429/160
• US Class Current: 439/627
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/54 Connection of several leads or tabs of plate-like electrode stacks, e.g. electrode pole straps or bridges
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A pressure connection apparatus includes a conductive spring member having first and second end portions that are curved, and first and second retaining members having curved pockets that are oppositely oriented for receiving the first and second curved ends of the conductive spring member. An aluminum foil terminal of one battery is sandwiched between the conductive spring and the pocket of the first retaining member, while a copper foil terminal of another battery is sandwiched between the conductive spring and the pocket of the second retaining member. The spring member is clad with aluminum on one side and copper on the other, and the end portions are oppositely curved so that the aluminum-clad side contacts the aluminum foil terminal within the pocket of the first retaining member, and the copper-clad side contacts the copper foil terminal within the pocket of the second retaining member.

Claims

1. A pressure connection apparatus for electrically connecting a metal foil anode terminal of a first battery cell to a metal foil cathode terminal of a second battery cell, the apparatus comprising:

a conductive spring member having first and second end portions;

a first retaining member having a first pocket in which the foil anode terminal and the first end portion of the conductive spring member are received, the foil anode terminal being sandwiched between the first end portion of the conductive spring member and an interior periphery of said first pocket; and

a second retaining member having a second pocket in which the foil cathode terminal and the second end portion of the conductive spring member are received, the foil cathode terminal being sandwiched the second end portion of the conductive spring member and an interior periphery of said second pocket.

2. The pressure connection apparatus of claim 1, where:

the first and second end portions of said conductive spring member are curved; and

the interior peripheries of said first and second pockets are curved to engagingly receive the curved end portions of said conductive spring member.

3. The pressure connection apparatus of claim 1, where the foil anode terminal is formed of a first metal and the foil cathode terminal is formed of a second metal that is dissimilar to the first metal, and where:

said conductive spring member has a first surface formed of said first metal that contacts said foil anode terminal, and a second surface formed of said second metal that contacts said foil cathode terminal.

4. The pressure connection apparatus of claim 1, where the foil anode terminal is formed of a first metal and the foil cathode terminal is formed of a second metal that is dissimilar to the first metal, and where:

said conductive spring member has a first major surface clad with said first metal and a second major surface clad with said second metal; and

the first and second end portions of said conductive spring member are oppositely curved such that said first major surface contacts said foil anode terminal within said first pocket, and said second major surface contacts said foil cathode terminal within said second pocket.

5. The pressure connection apparatus of claim 4, where:

the interior peripheries of said first and second pockets are curved to engagingly receive the oppositely curved end portions of said conductive spring member.

6. The pressure connection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a conductive post extending out of said conductive spring member intermediate said first and second end portions in a direction away from said battery cells to provide a voltage tap for detecting a battery cell voltage.

7. The pressure connection apparatus of claim 6, where:

said conductive post and a portion of said spring member intermediate said first and second end portions are over-molded with an insulative material in which an opening is formed to provide probe access to said conductive post.

8. The pressure connection apparatus of claim 1, where:

said first and second retaining members are arranged in opposed orientation so that the first and second pockets face each other.

9. The pressure connection apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

means for mechanically biasing said first and second retaining members toward each other so as to hold the first and second end portions of said conductive spring member within said first and second pockets, and to augment a contacting force between said end portions and respective foil terminals.