Wiring module

• US 9,083,095 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2012
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Takase, Shinichi, Nakayama, Osamu, Okamoto, Ryoya, Morita, Mitsutoshi, Takata, Kensaku, Hirai, Hiroki, Saijo, Katsutoshi, Hiramitsu, Hiroomi, Aizawa, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dzierzynski, Matthew T
• Application Number:
  US13/978,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20130280959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 439/76.2, 439/212, 439/213, 439/871, 439/873, 439625-757
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/503 characterised by the shape of the interconnectors
• 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 50/569 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 11/12 End pieces terminating in an eye, hook, or fork
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/21 Bus-bar arrangements for rack-mounted devices with withdrawable units
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A wiring module attached to a plurality of electric cells having electrode terminals including positive electrodes and negative electrodes has a plurality of bus bars having pairs of through-holes respectively connected to the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes of the electric cells and bus bar insulating members each held by the adjacent bus bars. Of the plurality of bus bar insulating members, a first bus bar insulating member and a second bus bar insulating member are connected with each other by the bus bar.

Claims

1. A wiring module attached to a plurality of electric cells having electrode terminals including positive electrodes and negative electrodes, the wiring module comprising:

a plurality of bus bars having pairs of connection portions respectively connected to the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes of the electric cells; and

bus bar insulating members, each of which is held between side edges of the bus bars that are adjacent to either side of each of the bus bar insulating members, wherein

the bus bar insulating members comprise a first bus bar insulating member and a second bus bar insulating member connected with each other by one of the bus bars, wherein

at least one of the first bus bar insulating member and the second bus bar insulating member has a housing portion that houses at least a first portion of an adjacent one of the bus bars, and wherein

one of the first bus bar insulating member and the second bus bar insulating member is movable relative to the adjacent one of the bus bars in a direction in which the bus bars are arranged.

2. The wiring module according to claim 1, wherein one of the pair of connection portions is connected to a voltage detection terminal detecting a voltage of the electric cell.

3. The wiring module according to claim 1, wherein the first bus bar insulating member is fixed to the adjacent one of the bus bars and and the second bus bar insulating member is movably with respect to the adjacent one of the bus bars.

4. The wiring module according claim 1, wherein the bus bar insulating member is held by the bus bar with a clearance provided between a projection of the bus bar insulating member and a side end of a recess, of the adjacent one of the bus bars, in which the projection is positioned.

5. The wiring module according claim 1, wherein the bus bar insulating member comprises:

a placement portion on which the bus bar is placed; and

an engagement tab holding and locking the bus bar in a thickness direction of the bus bar.

6. The wiring module according to claim 5, wherein a clearance in the thickness direction of the bus bar is provided between the bus bar placed on the placement portion and one of the placement portion and the engagement tab.

7. The wiring module according to claim 5, wherein the bus bar insulating member has a plurality of engagement tabs aligned in a direction in which the bus bar insulating members are connected.

8. The wiring module according to claim 1, wherein either

a recess in a surface of the bus bar is engaged with a projection in the bus bar insulating member;

or

a projection in the surface of the bus bar is engaged with a recess in the bus bar insulating member.

9. The wiring module according to claim 8, wherein the recess and the projection are engaged with a clearance therebetween.

10. The wiring module according to claim 8, wherein either

the recess in the bus bar spans a portion where the first bus bar insulating member and the second bus bar insulating member are connected, and the projection is provided, in a portion opposite to the recess, in the first bus bar insulating member and the second bus bar insulating member;

or

the projection in the bus bar spans a portion where the first bus bar insulating member and the second bus bar insulating member are connected, and the recess is provided, in a portion opposite to the projection, in the first bus bar insulating member and the second bus bar insulating member.

11. The wiring module according to claim 10, wherein engagement between the recess and the projection prevents disengagement of the bus bar and the first bus bar insulating member and disengagement of the bus bar and the second bus bar insulating member.

12. The wiring module according to claim 1, wherein the connection portions are provided passing through the bus bar and are through-holes into which the positive electrode and the negative electrode are respectively inserted.

13. The wiring module according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the pair of connection portions is an elongated hole having a long diameter in the direction in which the bus bar insulating members are connected.

14. The wiring module according to claim 1, wherein the bus bar insulating member has an insulating wall separating the adjacent bus bars.

15. The wiring module according to claim 1, wherein the first bus bar insulating member has a guide extending toward the second bus bar insulating member and the second bus bar insulating member has a guide receiver receiving the guide.

16. The wiring module according to claim 1, wherein one of the bus bars positioned in an end portion has an auxiliary insulating member comprising a synthetic resin on an end portion opposite to an end portion where the bus bar insulating member is held.

17. The wiring module according to claim 2, wherein one of the bus bar and the voltage detection terminal has an engagement portion engaging with the other.

18. The wiring module according to claim 2, wherein the bus bar insulating member has a holder holding the voltage detection terminal.