Battery terminal lug equipped with shunt for measuring battery current

• US 8,932,086 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2010
• Issued: 01/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Thimon, Alain, Ryckebusch, Emmanuel, Monteil, Christophe, Gravat, Denis, Perard, Sbastien, Bogaert, Nicolas, Gervais, Hugues
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US13/381,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20120270452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,660 Days
• Field of Search: 439/762, 439/754
• US Class Current: 439/763
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/281 for connections to batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/284 comprising means for preventing corrosion, e.g. covers, enclosures filled with gel
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery terminal lug (1) is disclosed, the lug being equipped with a shunt (7) for measuring the battery current and other battery characteristics. The lug includes a support (8), such as for a printed circuit, of at least one electronic component. The lug is made up of a first part (2), which is configured to be secured to a terminal of the battery, and a second part, which is configured to be secured to the cable of the battery (which is ordinarily directly associated with the terminal of the battery). The two parts (2, 3) of the terminal lug are electrically insulated from one another and are provided with projecting portions (28, 38) to bear the shunt (7), and a casing (5, 6) to accommodate the shunt (7) and the support (8), wherein electrical insulation (4, 17) is positioned so as to intervene between the two parts (2, 3) of the terminal lug (1).

Claims

1. A battery terminal lug (1) equipped with a shunt (7) for measuring a battery current and a support (8) of at least one electronic component, comprising:

a first terminal lug part (2) configured to be secured to a terminal of a battery;

a second terminal lug part (3) configured to be secured to a cable of the battery which is associated with the terminal of the battery;

the first and second terminal lug parts (2, 3) being distinct from one another and are provided with elongated projecting portions (28, 38) to bear the shunt (7) and a casing (5, 6) configured to accommodate the shunt (7) and the support (8), and

an electrical insulation (4, 17) intervening between the projecting portions (28, 38) of the first and second parts (2, 3) of the battery terminal lug (1);

the casing (5, 6) having a lateral opening (55) in which the elongated projecting portions (28, 38) of the first and second parts (2, 3) of the terminal lug penetrate;

the projecting portions (28, 38) of the first and second parts extending next to each other.

2. The battery terminal lug according to claim 1, wherein the casing (5, 6) is provided with means for positioning the support (8) mechanically, and with means for mechanical support for the support (8).

3. The battery terminal lug according to claim 1, wherein the projecting portions (28, 38) of the first and second parts extend generally in the same direction.

4. The battery terminal lug according to claim 3, wherein the casing (5, 6) is filled with resin for securing of the casing (5, 6) to the projecting portions (28, 38) of the first and second parts (2, 3) of the terminal lug (1) and for protection of the at least one electronic component fitted in the casing.

5. The battery terminal lug according to claim 4, wherein the first part (2) has a protuberance (27) with a first assembly lug (26) for assembly of the second part (3) to the first part (2), wherein the second part (3) has a second assembly lug (36) for assembly to the first assembly lug (26), wherein the projecting portion (28) of the first part (2) extends from the first assembly lug (26), and wherein the projecting portion (38) of the second part (3) extends from the second assembly lug (36).

6. The battery terminal lug according to claim 5, wherein the first assembly lug (26) and the second assembly lug (36) are perforated for the passage of assembly means (14) between the first and second assembly lugs (26, 36), and wherein the assembly means (14) comprises the electrical insulation (4, 17).

18. The battery terminal lug according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the projecting portions (28, 38) has on an inner periphery thereof a shoulder (121, 131) abutting an edge (58) of the base (59) of the casing (5).

19. The battery terminal lug according to claim 18, wherein the casing (5,6) comprises a housing (5) which is provided with projections (57) to support the support (8).

20. The battery terminal lug according to claim 19, wherein electrical connection means of the press-fit intervene between the shunt (7) and the support (8).

7. A battery terminal lug (1) equipped with a shunt (7) for measuring a battery current and a support (8) of at least one electronic component, comprising:

a first terminal lug part (2) configured to be secured to a terminal of a battery;

a second terminal lug part (3) configured to be secured to a cable of the battery which is associated with the terminal of the battery;

the first and second terminal lug parts (2, 3) being distinct from one another and are provided with projecting portions (28, 38) to bear the shunt (7) and a casing (5, 6) to accommodate the shunt (7) and the support (8), and

an electrical insulation (4, 17) intervening between the projecting portions (28, 38) of the first and second parts (2, 3) of the battery terminal lug (1);

the casing (5, 6) having a lateral opening (55) into which the projecting portions (28, 38) of the first and second parts (2, 3) of the terminal lug penetrate;

the projecting portions (28, 38) of the first and second parts extending generally next to each other;

the casing (5, 6) filled with resin for securing of the casing (5, 6) to the projecting portions (28, 38) of the first and second parts (2, 3) of the terminal lug (1) and for protection of the at least one electronic component fitted in the casing;

the first part (2) having a protuberance (27) with a first assembly lug (26) for assembly of the second part (3) to the first part (2);

the second part (3) having a second assembly lug (36) for assembly to the first assembly lug (26);

the projecting portion (28) of the first part (2) extending from the first assembly lug (26), and the projecting portion (38) of the second part (3) extending from the second assembly lug (36);

the first assembly lug (26) and the second assembly lug (36) perforated for the passage of assembly means (14) between the first and second assembly lugs (26, 36);

the assembly means (14) comprising the electrical insulation (4, 17);

the electrical insulation (4, 17) comprising an electrically insulating brace (4);

the assembly means (14) secured to the first assembly lug (26);

the assembly means (14) also comprising a bolt (15) passing through a hole (126) in the first assembly lug with interposition of the electrically insulating brace (4) in order to insulate the assembly means (14) relative to the first assembly lug (26).

8. The battery terminal lug according to claim 7, wherein the bolt (15) has two threaded parts which pass respectively through the hole (126) in the first assembly lug (26) and a hole (136) in the second assembly lug (36), wherein the bolt (15) comprises a clamping part (18) between the two threaded parts, wherein the clamping part (18) is interposed between the two assembly lugs (26, 36) and is fitted in a cavity (43) in the brace (4), wherein a height of the clamping part (18) is greater than a height of the brace (4), wherein a base of the cavity (43) is extended by a sleeve (42) which is engaged in the hole (126) in the first assembly lug, and wherein one of the threaded parts of the bolt (15) passes through the sleeve (42).

9. The battery terminal lug according to claim 8, further comprising means for blocking rotation between the brace (4) and at least one of the assembly lugs (26, 36).

10. A battery terminal lug (1) equipped with a shunt (7) for measuring a battery current and a support (8) of at least one electronic component, comprising:

a first terminal lug part (2) configured to be secured to a terminal of a battery;

a second terminal lug part (3) configured to be secured to a cable of the battery which is associated with the terminal of the battery;

the first and second terminal lug parts (2, 3) being distinct from one another and are provided with projecting portions (28, 38) to bear the shunt (7) and a casing (5, 6) to accommodate the shunt (7) and the support (8), and

an electrical insulation (4, 17) intervening between the projecting portions (28, 38) of the first and second parts (2, 3) of the battery terminal lug (1);

the casing (5, 6) having a lateral opening (55) into which the projecting portions (28, 38) of the first and second parts (2, 3) of the terminal lug penetrate;

the projecting portions (28, 38) of the first and second parts extending generally next to each other;

the casing (5, 6) filled with resin for securing of the casing (5, 6) to the projecting portions (28, 38) of the first and second parts (2, 3) of the terminal lug (1) and for protection of the at least one electronic component fitted in the casing;

the first part (2) having a protuberance (27) with a first assembly lug (26) for assembly of the second part (3) to the first part (2);

the second part (3) having a second assembly lug (36) for assembly to the first assembly lug (26);

the projecting portion (28) of the first part (2) extending from the first assembly lug (26), and the projecting portion (38) of the second part (3) extending from the second assembly lug (36);

the first assembly lug (26) and the second assembly lug (36) perforated for the passage of assembly means (14) between the first and second assembly lugs (26, 36);

the assembly means (14) comprising the electrical insulation (4, 17);

the first part (2) of the terminal lug (1) having a sleeve (21); and

the brace (4) having an annular sector with a protective skirt in contact with the sleeve (21) and a second protective skirt which partly shields the projecting portion (38) of the second part (3) of the terminal lug (1).

11. The battery terminal lug according to claim 10, wherein the projecting portions (28, 38) consist of arms (28, 38), wherein the arm (28) of the first part (2) extends from the first assembly lug (26), wherein the arm (38) of the second part (3) extends from the second assembly lug (36) and parallel to the arm (28) of the first assembly lug (26), and wherein the arms (28, 38) each have on an outer periphery thereof a splayed flat part for securing of the shunt (7), extending perpendicularly relative to the protuberance (27).

12. The battery terminal lug according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the arms (28, 38) is connected to the assembly lug (26, 36) thereof by an inclined portion (128, 138), such that the arm (28, 38) is offset relative to the assembly lug (26, 36) thereof.

13. The battery terminal lug according to claim 11, wherein the protuberance (27) comprises a retention support (29) which has on an outer periphery thereof a surface (129) parallel to the arm (28) of the first part (2).

14. The battery terminal lug according to claim 13, wherein the surface (129) of the retention support (29) and an inner periphery of the arm (28) which faces towards the surface (129) of the retention support (29) define a groove (30) for fitting by insertion of the casing (5, 6) by means of a lateral opening (55) in the casing (5, 6).

15. The battery terminal lug according to claim 14, wherein the first part (2) of the terminal lug (1) has a clamping sleeve (21), wherein the protuberance (27) extends perpendicularly to the sleeve (21), and wherein the retention support (29) and the first assembly lug (26) extend on both sides of the sleeve (21).

16. Terminal lug according to claim 14, wherein the casing (5, 6) comprises a housing (5) which is closed by a cover (6), wherein the housing (5) comprises a base (59) which delimits the lateral opening (55), and wherein a width of the groove (30) is generally equal to a thickness of the base (59) of the casing (5).

17. The battery terminal lug according to claim 16, wherein the base (59) of the casing (5) comprises two ribs (56, 56′

) which form two guide rails for the arms (28, 38) the shunt (7).