Battery system

• US 8,235,732 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2010
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions, LLC. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls-Saft Advanced Power Solutions, LLC. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Garascia, Michael P., Arena, Anthony P., Wood, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US12/944,506
• Publication Number:
  US 20110111649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 439/76.2, 439/718, 439/500
• US Class Current: 439/76.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/249 specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• 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 50/517 by fixing means, e.g. screws, rivets or bolts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/522 Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/548 on opposite sides of the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/559 Terminals adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round, elliptic or button cells H01M50/553 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/567 by fixing means, e.g. screws, rivets or bolts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/581 in response to temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

A high voltage connector for a battery system includes an upper body having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the upper body is located internal to a battery system housing and configured to receive at least one contact from the battery system. The second portion is located external to the battery system housing and is configured to receive at least one contact from a vehicle. The high voltage connector also includes a lower body coupled to the upper body and at least one connecting member provided between the upper body and the lower body. The connecting member is configured to conductively connect the contact of the battery system to the contact of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A high voltage connector for a battery system comprising:

an upper body having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the upper body located internal to a battery system housing and configured to receive at least one contact from the battery system, the second portion located external to the battery system housing and configured to receive at least one contact from a vehicle;

a lower body coupled to the upper body; and

at least one connecting member provided between the upper body and the lower body, the connecting member configured to conductively connect the contact of the battery system to the contact of the vehicle.

2. The high voltage connector of claim 1, further comprising a first fastener at a first end of the connecting member and a second fastener at a second end of the connecting member.

3. The high voltage connector of claim 2, wherein the lower body comprises a socket configured to receive a first end of the first fastener such that the socket substantially restricts rotational movement of the first fastener.

4. The high voltage connector of claim 3, wherein the socket is at least one of a square shape and a hexagonal shape.

5. The high voltage connector of claim 1, wherein the upper body comprises features configured to partially surround the contact of the battery system and the contact of the vehicle when the contact of the battery system and the contact of the vehicle are coupled to the at least one connecting member.

6. The high voltage connector of claim 1, comprising a first connecting member and a second connecting member, wherein the first connecting member is a positive contact and the second connecting member is a negative contact.

7. The high voltage connector of claim 1, further comprising a cover configured to substantially enclose the second portion of the upper body to reduce the chance of accidental contact with the contact of the vehicle.

8. The high voltage connector of claim 7, wherein the cover comprises an extension to provide additional coverage of the contact of the vehicle.

9. The high voltage connector of claim 7, wherein the upper body comprises a first contact and the cover comprises a second contact such that when the cover is removed from the upper body, the second contact disengages from the first contact.

10. The high voltage connector of claim 7, wherein the cover substantially conceals a fastener used to retain a cover on the battery system.

11. A high voltage connector for a battery system comprising:

a first member comprising an interior portion extending into the battery system and an exterior portion extending out of the battery system;

at least one bus bar configured to conductively connect a contact of the battery system with a contact of a vehicle; and

a second member coupled to the first member to sandwich the at least one bus bar between the first member and the second member.

12. The high voltage connector of claim 11, further comprising a first fastener at a first end of the bus bar and a second fastener at a second end of the bus bar.

13. The high voltage connector of claim 12, wherein the second member comprises a socket configured to receive a first end of the first fastener such that the socket substantially restricts rotational movement of the first fastener.

14. The high voltage connector of claim 13, wherein the socket is at least one of a square shape and a hexagonal shape.

15. The high voltage connector of claim 11, wherein the first member comprises features configured to partially surround the contact of the battery system and the contact of the vehicle when the contact of the battery system and the contact of the vehicle are coupled to the at least one bus bar.

16. The high voltage connector of claim 11, comprising a first bus bar and a second bus bar, wherein the first bus bar is a positive contact and the second bus bar is a negative contact.

17. The high voltage connector of claim 11, further comprising a cover configured to substantially enclose the exterior portion of the first member to reduce the chance of accidental contact with the contact of the vehicle.

18. The high voltage connector of claim 17, wherein the cover comprises an extension to provide additional coverage of the contact of the vehicle.

19. The high voltage connector of claim 17, wherein the first member comprises a first contact and the cover comprises a second contact such that when the cover is removed from the first member, the second contact disengages from the first contact.

20. The high voltage connector of claim 17, wherein the cover substantially conceals a fastener used to retain a cover on the battery system.