Terminal structure assembly integrally including bus bar

Abstract

The disclosed invention relates to a terminal structure assembly, and in an embodiment, the terminal structure assembly comprises: a plurality of terminal structures, each of the plurality of terminal structures includes a terminal body provided with an upper surface portion and a side surface portion connected to the upper surface portion in a bent shape, and an extension terminal provided to be exposed at the side surface portion of the terminal body; and a bus bar made of a conductive material and coupled to all the extension terminals provided in the plurality of terminal structures.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal structure assembly integrally provided with a bus bar, which can convert the arrangement structure of a positive terminal and / or a negative terminal from unidirectional to bidirectional and simultaneously complete the electrical connection between a plurality of secondary batteries.

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0140666, filed on October 27, 2022, and the entire contents of this Korean Patent Application are incorporated herein by reference. Background Art

[0003] Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries can be recharged and have been studied and developed in recent years due to their potential for miniaturization and large capacity. Due to technological development and increased demand for mobile devices, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems that have emerged in response to the need for environmental protection, the demand for secondary batteries as an energy source is rapidly increasing.

[0004] Based on the shape of the battery case, secondary batteries are classified into coin batteries, cylindrical batteries, prismatic batteries, and pouch batteries. In the secondary battery, an electrode assembly installed inside the battery case is a charging and discharging power generation element composed of a stacked structure of electrodes and separators.

[0005] Electrode assemblies can be roughly divided into: a wound electrode assembly, which is wound with a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of a sheet coated with an active material; a stacked electrode assembly, in which a plurality of positive electrodes and a plurality of negative electrodes are stacked in sequence with a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and a stacked and folded electrode assembly, in which the stacked unit cells are wound with a long length of separator film.

[0006] Among various types of secondary batteries, prismatic secondary batteries are mainly composed of a positive terminal and a negative terminal, wherein the positive terminal and the negative terminal are arranged together on one side, or one is arranged on each of two opposite sides. The arrangement of the positive terminal and the negative terminal is determined by the design specifications of various devices containing the prismatic secondary battery, and according to these design specifications, it is difficult to design the arrangement structure of the positive terminal and the negative terminal separately in the case of the same form factor.

[0007] In addition, in a battery module or a battery pack unit including a plurality of secondary batteries, connecting the individual unidirectional secondary batteries to a bus bar through the side requires various components, which are costly and laborious to install and connect to the bus bar. Summary of the invention

[0008] Technical issues

[0009] The present invention aims to provide a terminal structure assembly that can easily change the arrangement structure of positive terminals and negative terminals arranged in a plurality of prismatic secondary batteries into a bidirectional arrangement structure without any design change, and simultaneously complete the electrical connection therebetween at one time.

[0010] However, the technical problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the above problems, and those skilled in the art can clearly understand other problems not mentioned from the description of the present invention described below.

[0011] Technical Solution

[0012] The present invention relates to a terminal structure assembly. In one example, the terminal structure assembly includes: a terminal body, which provides an upper surface and a side surface connected in a bent form relative to the upper surface; a plurality of terminal structures, which provide extended terminals exposed on the side surfaces of the terminal body; and a bus bar of conductive material, which is connected to all extended terminals arranged on the plurality of terminal structures.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of terminal structures are aligned in a row, and the bus bars are coupled to the aligned extension terminals at one time.

[0014] In one example, the bus bars may be welded to the extension terminals.

[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, a side end portion of the terminal structure is provided with a fastening portion into which the bus bar is inserted.

[0016] Here, the fastening portion may be provided with a connection socket, wherein the extending terminal is formed with a bent portion.

[0017] In addition, the connection socket may form a spring structure that elastically fixes the bus bar, and a free end portion of the connection socket may form a rolled curved surface.

[0018] Furthermore, the bus bar inserted into the connection socket may be welded to the extension terminal.

[0019] At the same time, the present invention provides a secondary battery, which includes: a plurality of secondary batteries, each of which has a positive terminal and a negative terminal spaced apart on the upper surface of a battery box having a hexahedral shape; and a terminal structure assembly having the above-mentioned configuration, wherein the terminal structure assembly is connected to a plurality of secondary batteries arranged in a row, and a bus bar electrically connects the plurality of secondary batteries.

[0020] In one example, the terminal structure assembly provides two terminal structures, wherein multiple secondary batteries are aligned along the thickness direction so that electrode terminals of different polarities face electrode terminals of other adjacent secondary batteries, and multiple secondary batteries can be connected in series by alternately connecting to both sides of the multiple secondary batteries.

[0021] In another example, a terminal structure assembly provides a number of terminal structures corresponding to the number of multiple secondary batteries, wherein the multiple secondary batteries are aligned along the thickness direction so that electrode terminals of the multiple secondary batteries face electrode terminals having the same polarity as electrode terminals of other adjacent secondary batteries, and the multiple secondary batteries can be connected in parallel by connecting each of the two sides of the multiple secondary batteries.

[0022] Beneficial Effects

[0023] The present invention has a terminal structure assembly with the above-mentioned configuration, in which multiple terminal structures use a bus bar as a medium to form a single assembly, and by applying the terminal structure assembly to multiple secondary batteries, electrical connection of multiple secondary batteries with a common terminal structure assembly is completed, and each secondary battery can be converted into a secondary battery with a bidirectional terminal at one time.

[0024] Therefore, by applying the terminal structure assembly of the present invention to a battery module or battery pack including multiple secondary batteries, the terminal arrangement switching and bus bar connection work of all secondary batteries can be performed at the battery module / battery pack unit at one time instead of at each battery cell, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost and labor of the battery module or battery pack.

[0025] However, technical effects that can be obtained by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects that are not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the present invention described below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Since the following drawings attached to the present specification illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and are used to help understand the technical concept of the present invention together with the following detailed description of the present invention, the present invention should not be restrictively interpreted based on the drawings.

[0027] Figure 1 It is a diagram showing a structure in which the terminal structure is applied to a prismatic secondary battery.

[0028] Figure 2 is a diagram of a plurality of terminal structures coupled to a bus bar.

[0029] Figure 3 is a diagram of one embodiment of a terminal structure assembly.

[0030] Figure 4 and Figure 5Other embodiments of the terminal structure assembly are illustrated.

[0031] Figure 6 and Figure 7 An exemplary embodiment in which a terminal structure assembly is applied to a plurality of secondary batteries is illustrated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The present invention can have various modifications and various embodiments, and therefore specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below.

[0033] However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, but includes all modifications, equivalents or substitutes within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

[0034] The terms "include", "comprising" and "having" used herein indicate the presence of features, numbers, steps, actions, parts or components, or a combination thereof, described in the specification, and it should be understood that the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, parts, components, or a combination thereof is not precluded.

[0035] In addition, in the present invention, when a part of a layer, film, region, plate, etc. is disposed "on" another part, this includes not only a case where a part is "directly disposed on another part", but also a case where another part is interposed therebetween. Conversely, when a part of a layer, film, region, plate, etc. is disposed "below" another part, this includes not only a case where a part is "directly disposed below another part", but also a case where another part is interposed therebetween. In addition, in the present application, "on" may include not only a case where it is disposed on an upper part, but also a case where it is disposed on a lower part.

[0036] The present invention relates to a terminal structure assembly. In one example, the terminal structure assembly includes: a terminal body, which provides an upper surface and a side surface connected in a bent form relative to the upper surface; a plurality of terminal structures, which provide extended terminals exposed on the side surfaces of the terminal body; and a bus bar, which is made of a conductive material and is connected to all extended terminals arranged on the plurality of terminal structures.

[0037] The terminal structure assembly of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration has multiple terminal structures that form a single assembly with a bus bar as the medium, and by applying the terminal structure assembly to multiple secondary batteries, each secondary battery can be converted into a secondary battery with a bidirectional terminal at one time, and the electrical connection with multiple secondary batteries sharing the common terminal structure assembly is completed.

[0038] Therefore, by applying the terminal structure assembly of the present invention to a battery module or battery pack including multiple secondary batteries, the terminal arrangement switching and bus bar connection operations for all secondary batteries can be performed at the battery module / battery pack unit at one time instead of at each battery cell, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost and labor of the battery module or battery pack.

[0039] Invention method

[0040] Hereinafter, the specific embodiment of the terminal structure assembly 200 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. For reference, unless otherwise specified, the front, rear, upper, lower, left and right directions of the designated relative positions used in the following description are for the purpose of understanding the present invention and refer to the directions shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0041] [First embodiment]

[0042] Figure 1 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration for converting a secondary battery 10 that has been manufactured with a unidirectional terminal arrangement into a bidirectional terminal arrangement using a terminal structure 210 included in a terminal structure assembly 200 of the present invention.

[0043] Reference Figure 1 , relates to a secondary battery 10, in particular, to a unidirectional prismatic secondary battery 10 having a pair of electrode terminals 120, namely a positive terminal 122 and a negative terminal 124, which are spaced apart on a cover plate 110 forming an upper face of a battery case 100 having a hexahedral shape. Here, the prismatic secondary battery 10 illustrated in the accompanying drawings is an example, and the ratio of width to length and height may vary, and for ease of explanation, the directions of front and rear, upper and lower, and left and right will be indicated with reference to the accompanying drawings. For example, a side of the battery case 100 on which the positive terminal 122 and the negative terminal 124 are provided is referred to as an upper face, and the side opposite to the upper face is referred to as a lower face.

[0044] The illustrated secondary battery 10 includes a terminal structure 210 . The terminal structure 210 is a right-angle bending structure coupled to at least one upper edge of the battery case 100 , and includes a terminal body 212 and an extended terminal 220 .

[0045] The terminal body 212 refers to the body of the terminal structure 210, and the terminal body 212 includes an upper face 213, and a side face 214, the upper face 213 encloses the positive terminal 122 or the negative terminal 124 to prevent it from being exposed to the outside, and the side face 214 is connected to the side extending from the upper face of the battery case 100. Although the drawings show an example in which the terminal structure 210 is respectively connected to both the positive terminal 122 and the negative terminal 124, according to an embodiment, the terminal structure 210 may be optionally connected to only one of the positive terminal 122 and the negative terminal 124.

[0046] The extension terminal 220 corresponds to a connection terminal that is electrically connected to the positive terminal 122 or the negative terminal 124 and extends to the side surface of the terminal body 212. In other words, the positive terminal 122 or the negative terminal 124 is enclosed by the terminal body 212 and is not exposed to the outside, so the extension terminal 220 serves as a new positive terminal 122 or negative terminal 124 that moves to the side surface of the battery case 100 instead of the upper surface.

[0047] In addition, the terminal body 212 is made of an insulating material, such as an electrically insulating resin or a rubber material, so that the positive terminal 122 or the negative terminal 124 covered on the upper surface 213 of the terminal body is in an inactive state electrically insulated from the outside. In other words, in the secondary battery 10 having the terminal structure 210, the existing positive terminal 122 or the negative terminal 124 is no longer used as a connection terminal, and the extended terminal 220 on the terminal structure 210 is used as a new positive terminal or negative terminal that has been moved.

[0048] Therefore, the positions of the positive terminal 122 and the negative terminal 124 disposed together on the upper surface of the battery case 100 can be freely changed without a separate design change by simply applying the terminal structure 210 to change the arrangement structure of the electrode terminal 120. Therefore, for secondary batteries having the same form factor, the present invention including the terminal structure 210 enables the positions of the positive terminal 122 and / or the negative terminal 124 to be freely and easily changed, thereby reducing the production cost of various types of prismatic secondary batteries.

[0049] In the illustrated embodiment, the positive terminal 122 and / or the negative terminal 124 are electrically connected to the extension terminal 220 through the extension wire 230, wherein the extension wire 230 leading to the extension terminal 220 forms a joint portion 232 relative to the positive terminal 122 and / or the negative terminal 124, wherein the joint portion 232 provides a mechanically and electrically stable connection between the extension wire 230 and the electrode terminal 120. For example, the joint portion 232 may be formed by welding.

[0050] The extension wire 230 is not exposed to the outside of the terminal body 212. For example, the extension wire 230 can be embedded in the terminal body 212 made of an electrically insulating resin material, such as by insert molding. In addition, the joint portion 232 is also insulated from the outside. The external insulation of the joint portion 232 can be provided by at least one of an insulating cover, an insulating tape, and a curable insulating layer.

[0051] Here, the curable insulating layer refers to an insulating layer formed by curing a flowable insulating resin after applying it to the bonding portion 232, and Figure 1 , a configuration is shown in which an insulating tape 234 in the form of a film having an adhesive layer insulates a joining portion 232 .

[0052] Based on such a basic configuration of the terminal structure 210 , the terminal structure assembly 200 according to the present invention will be described. Figure 2 and Figure 3 A terminal structure assembly 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention is illustrated.

[0053] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 The terminal structure assembly 200 of the present invention includes a plurality of terminal structures 210, and also includes a bus bar 240 made of a conductive material, the bus bar 240 being connected to all the extended terminals 220 provided on the plurality of terminal structures 210. With the bus bar 240 as a medium, the plurality of terminal structures 210 form a single assembly, and by applying the terminal structure assembly 200 to a plurality of secondary batteries 10, the plurality of secondary batteries 10 sharing the terminal structure assembly 200 are electrically connected, and each secondary battery 10 can be converted into a secondary battery 10 of a bidirectional terminal at a time. This will be described in more detail in the corresponding section below.

[0054] As shown, a plurality of terminal structures 210 are aligned in a row so that the terminal bodies 212 face the same direction, and the busbars 240 are coupled to the aligned extension terminals 220 at one time. The busbars 240 are made of a conductive material so that the extension terminals 220 of each terminal structure 210 connected by the busbars 240 are electrically connected to each other. In one example, the busbars 240 may be welded to the extension terminals 220.

[0055] Figure 4 and Figure 5 Various connection structures of the extension terminal 220 and the bus bar 240 are shown. Figure 4In the embodiment shown in , the side end of the terminal structure 210 is provided with a fastening portion 216 into which the bus bar 240 is inserted and coupled. The fastening portion 216 forms a gap corresponding to the thickness of the bus bar 240 with respect to the extension terminal 220, so that the bus bar 240 can be inserted and fixed in the gap between the fastening portion 216 and the extension terminal 220. The fastening portion 216 may be manufactured separately and mounted to the end of the extension terminal 220, or the fastening portion 216 may be formed by bending the extension terminal 220 made of a metal material.

[0056] Figure 5 The figure shows an embodiment in which an extension terminal 220 made of a metal material is bent to form a fastening portion 216, wherein the fastening portion 216 has a connection socket 222 into which the extension terminal 220 is bent. The connection socket 222 is a connection groove deep enough to insert substantially all of the bus bar 240 therein, and can form a spring structure that elastically fixes the bus bar 240. In other words, Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 2 , the connecting socket 222 can form a curved, deformable cross section, which is elastic relative to the bus bar 240. The support structure of the bus bar 240 is improved by the connecting socket 222 forming a spring structure.

[0057] In addition, the free end of the connection socket 222 may form a curved surface to prevent the bus bar 240 from being scratched by the entrance edge of the connection socket 222 when the bus bar is inserted into the connection socket 222 and to prevent the bus bar 240 with a damaged surface from being easily corroded.

[0058] Here, even with Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the case of the terminal structure 210 with the fastening portion 216 , the bus bar 240 inserted into the connection socket 222 may also be welded to the extension terminal 220 for more rigidly supporting the bus bar 240 .

[0059] [Second embodiment]

[0060] Figure 6 and Figure 7 is an exemplary diagram in which the terminal structure assembly 200 described in detail in the first embodiment is applied to a plurality of secondary batteries 10, and refers to Figure 6 and Figure 7 The advantages of the terminal structure assembly 200 of the present invention will be more clearly understood.

[0061] The depicted secondary battery 10 refers to a unidirectional secondary battery 10 having a positive terminal 122 and a negative terminal 124 spaced apart on an upper face of a battery case 100 forming a hexahedral shape. A plurality of such secondary batteries 10 are arranged in a row along the thickness direction.

[0062] The terminal structure assembly 200 according to the first embodiment is coupled to a plurality of secondary batteries 10 arranged in a row. Figure 1 As described, the terminal body 212 of each terminal structure 210 is connected to wrap the positive terminal 122 or the negative terminal 124 of the upper surface of the secondary battery 10 corresponding to itself, and therefore, the multiple secondary batteries 10 connected to the terminal structure assembly 200 are collectively switched into bidirectional secondary batteries 10 in the terminal arrangement.

[0063] Furthermore, through the bus bar 240 coupled to the extension terminal 220 of each terminal structure 210 , all the terminal structures 210 of the terminal structure assembly 200 are in an electrically connected state, thereby automatically electrically connecting the plurality of secondary batteries 10 through the terminal structure assembly 200 .

[0064] Figure 6 An example of three secondary batteries 10 connected in series through the terminal structure assembly 200 is illustrated. Although three secondary batteries 10 are illustrated in the drawings, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that such a series connection structure can be extended to four or more secondary batteries 10. Figure 2 and Figure 3 The terminal structure assembly 200 is shown in the drawings, but it will be apparent that it can be applied Figure 4 and Figure 5 Terminal structure component 200.

[0065] Reference Figure 6 , the terminal structure assembly 200 provides two terminal structures 210. In addition, the plurality of secondary batteries 10 are aligned along the thickness direction so that the electrode terminals 120 of different polarities face the electrode terminals 120 of other adjacent secondary batteries 10, and the terminal structure assembly 200 having two terminal structures 210 is alternately connected to both sides of the plurality of secondary batteries 10 (alternately connected to each side while skipping one secondary battery), thereby the plurality of secondary batteries 10 are connected in series.

[0066] Figure 7 The figure shows a case where three secondary batteries 10 are connected in parallel. Figure 7 In the example of FIG. 1 , the terminal structure assembly 200 has a number of terminal structures 210 ( Figure 7 In addition, the plurality of secondary batteries 10 are aligned along the thickness direction so that the electrode terminals 120 having the same polarity as the electrode terminals 120 of other adjacent secondary batteries 10 face each other, and the plurality of secondary batteries 10 are connected in parallel through the terminal structure assembly 200 coupled to each of both sides of the plurality of secondary batteries 10.

[0067] Therefore, by applying the terminal structure assembly 200 of the present invention, each secondary battery 10 is converted from a unidirectional secondary battery 10 to a bidirectional secondary battery 10 at a time, and the electrical connection with the plurality of secondary batteries 10 to which the terminal structure assembly 200 is applied is completed. Therefore, when the terminal structure assembly 200 of the present invention is applied to a battery module or a battery pack having a plurality of unidirectional secondary batteries 10, the battery module / battery pack can reduce manufacturing costs and time, etc.

[0068] For reference, although not shown, by combining Figure 6 and Figure 7 The connection structure can easily realize various series and parallel connections other than series connection and parallel connection.

[0069] As described above, the present invention has been described in more detail through the drawings and embodiments. However, since the configuration described in the drawings or embodiments described herein is only one embodiment of the present invention and does not represent the overall technical spirit of the present invention, it should be understood that when submitting this application, the present invention covers various equivalent solutions, modifications and alternatives.

[0070] Description of Reference Numerals

[0071] 10: Secondary battery 100: Battery case

[0072] 110: Cover plate 120: Electrode terminal

[0073] 122: Positive terminal 124: Negative terminal

[0074] 200: Terminal structure assembly 210: Terminal structure

[0075] 212: Terminal body 213: Upper surface

[0076] 214: Side surface 216: Fastening part

[0077] 220: Extension terminal 222: Connection socket

[0078] 230: Extended wire 232: Joint part

[0079] 234: Insulation tape 240: Bus bar

Claims

1. A terminal structure assembly, comprising: a terminal body, the terminal body providing an upper surface and a side surface connected to the upper surface in a bent form, a plurality of terminal structures providing extended terminals exposed on the side surfaces of the terminal body, and A bus bar of conductive material is coupled to all of the extension terminals disposed on the plurality of terminal structures.

2. The terminal structure assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of terminal structures are aligned in a row, and the bus bars are coupled to the aligned extension terminals at one time.

3. The terminal structure assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The bus bar is welded to the extension terminal.

4. The terminal structure assembly according to claim 1, wherein: A side end portion of the terminal structure is provided with a fastening portion into which the bus bar is inserted.

5. The terminal structure assembly according to claim 4, wherein: The fastening portion is provided with a connection socket, and the extending terminal is formed with a bending portion.

6. The terminal structure assembly according to claim 5, wherein: The connection socket forms a spring structure that elastically fixes the bus bar.

7. The terminal structure assembly according to claim 6, wherein: The free end of the connecting socket can form a rolled, curved surface.

8. The terminal structure assembly according to claim 5, wherein: The bus bar inserted into the connection socket is welded to the extension terminal.

9. A secondary battery comprising: a plurality of secondary batteries having positive and negative terminals spaced apart on an upper face of a battery case having a hexahedral shape, and The terminal structure assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, The terminal structure assembly is coupled to the plurality of secondary batteries arranged in a row, and the bus bar electrically connects the plurality of secondary batteries.

10. The secondary battery according to claim 9, wherein The terminal structure assembly provides two terminal structures, and The plurality of secondary batteries are aligned in a thickness direction such that electrode terminals of different polarities face electrode terminals of adjacent other secondary batteries, and the plurality of secondary batteries can be connected in series by alternately coupling to both sides of the plurality of secondary batteries.

11. The secondary battery according to claim 9, wherein The terminal structure assembly provides a number of terminal structures corresponding to the number of the plurality of secondary batteries, and the plurality of secondary batteries are aligned along a thickness direction so that electrode terminals of the plurality of secondary batteries face electrode terminals having the same polarity as electrode terminals of other adjacent secondary batteries, and The plurality of secondary batteries can be connected in parallel by coupling each of both sides of the plurality of secondary batteries.

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