Conductive module

Abstract

The present invention satisfies the mounting requirements on a battery module while reducing the height of a battery pack. The present invention is provided with: a bus bar (10) that is physically and electrically connected to electrode terminals (BCb) of a pair of battery cells (BC) in a battery module (BM) in which a plurality of battery cells (BC) are arranged; a circuit conductor element (20) that is formed flat and is provided with a circuit conductor provided for each of the bus bars (10), said circuit conductor electrically connecting the bus bars (10) and the battery monitoring unit; a bus bar holding member (30) that holds the plurality of bus bars (10); and a circuit holding member (40) that holds the circuit conductor element (20) and can be attached to the bus bar holding member (30) in a state of covering the bus bar (10) at a connection completion position at which the circuit holding member (40) is physically and electrically connected to the electrode terminal (BCb).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a conductive module. Background Art

[0002] A conductive module is a wiring module that electrically connects a battery module in which a plurality of battery cells are arranged to a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery state of the battery cells. The conductive module includes: a bus bar that is physically and electrically connected to an electrode terminal of one or a pair of battery cells of the battery module; and a wire provided for each bus bar that electrically connects the bus bar to the battery monitoring unit. Moreover, the conductive module includes a bus bar holding member that holds each bus bar and a wire holding member that holds each wire. The conductive module is assembled to the battery module, thereby constituting a battery pack together with the battery module. Such a conductive module is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 below.

[0003] Prior Art Documents

[0004] Patent Documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2018-200753 Summary of the Invention

[0006] Technical Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] However, in a conventional conductive module, a bus bar held by a bus bar holding member is disposed above an electrode terminal, and the bus bar is physically and electrically connected to the electrode terminal from above the bus bar. Therefore, in this conductive module, a wire holding member is disposed at a position above the bus bar and near the bus bar holding member. However, in a battery module, an exhaust duct and a restraint member may be disposed near the place where the wire holding member is disposed. In order to achieve a low height of the body, measures such as expanding the exhaust duct and the restraint member toward the electrode terminal side and thinning them may be adopted. In this case, in the battery module, the area where the wire holding member can be disposed becomes narrow, so how to ensure the placement location of the wire holding member becomes a problem. In addition, the exhaust duct is a member that communicates with an exhaust valve of each battery cell and is used to discharge the internal gas of the battery cell discharged from the exhaust valve to the atmosphere. Further, the restraint member is a member that restrains each battery cell to maintain the arranged state.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a conductive module that can reduce the height of a battery pack and meet the mounting requirements on a battery module.

[0009] Technical Means for Solving the Problem

[0010] The present invention is characterized by comprising: a bus bar that is physically and electrically connected to electrode terminals of a pair of battery cells in a battery module formed by arranging a plurality of battery cells; a circuit conductor element that is formed flatly and has a circuit conductor provided for each bus bar that electrically connects the bus bar to a battery monitoring unit; a bus bar holding member that holds a plurality of the bus bars; and a circuit holding member that holds the circuit conductor element and can be assembled to the bus bar holding member in a state of covering the bus bar at a connection completion position that is physically and electrically connected to the electrode terminals.

[0011] Advantages of the Invention

[0012] In the case where the circuit holding member cannot be provided near the bus bar holding member on the electrode setting surface due to the requirement of reducing the height of the battery pack in the conductive module of the present invention, by laminating the circuit holding member on the bus bar holding member, the height of the battery pack can be reduced and the mounting requirements on the battery module can be satisfied. Description of the Drawings

[0013] Figure 1 It is a perspective view showing a conductive module of an embodiment.

[0014] Figure 2 It is an explanatory view for explaining the assembling process of the conductive module of the embodiment.

[0015] Figure 3 It is an explanatory view for explaining the conductive module of the embodiment, showing the upper surface setting method of the circuit conductor element and the circuit holding member.

[0016] Figure 4 It is an explanatory view for explaining the conductive module of the embodiment, showing the side surface setting method of the circuit conductor element and the circuit holding member.

[0017] Figure 5 It is a perspective view showing a battery module.

[0018] Figure 6 It is a perspective view showing a conductive module of a modification.

[0019] Figure 7 It is an explanatory view for explaining the assembling process of the conductive module of the modification.

[0020] Figure 8 It is an explanatory view for explaining the conductive module of the modification, showing the upper surface setting method of the circuit conductor element and the circuit holding member.

[0021] Figure 9This is an explanatory diagram for the conductive module of the modified example, showing the side arrangement of the circuit conductor element and the circuit holding member.

[0022] Symbol Explanation

[0023] 1, 2 Conductive module

[0024] 10 Bus bar

[0025] 20 Circuit conductor element

[0026] 30 Bus bar holding member

[0027] 40 Circuit holding member

[0028] 50 Hinge portion

[0029] BC Battery cell

[0030] BCb Electrode terminal

[0031] BM Battery module

[0032] BM1 Electrode setting surface

[0033] BM2 Cross wall surface Detailed Implementation Manner

[0034] Hereinafter, embodiments of the conductive module of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings. In addition, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0035] [Embodiment]

[0036] Based on Figures 1 to 5 One of the embodiments of the conductive module of the present invention will be described.

[0037] Figures 1 to 4 The reference numeral 1 in the attached drawing represents the conductive module of this embodiment. This conductive module 1 is assembled in a battery module BM ( Figures 2 to 5 ) in which a plurality of battery cells BC (for example, arranged in a row) are arranged, and the battery module BM is electrically connected to a battery monitoring unit (not shown), whereby the battery monitoring unit monitors the battery state of the battery cell BC. This conductive module 1 and the battery module BM together constitute a battery pack. The battery pack is, for example, mounted on a vehicle (BEV: Battery Electric Vehicle, HEV: Hybrid Electric Vehicle, etc.) having a rotating machine as a drive source, and is used for supplying power to the rotating machine, etc.

[0038] The battery cell BC includes a cell main body BCa and positive and negative electrode terminals BCb ( Figures 2 to 5)。The battery cell BC shown here is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape in which its cell main body BCa has six outer wall surfaces. Moreover, among the plurality of battery cells BC forming the battery module BM, the cell main bodies BCa adjacent in the arrangement direction are arranged such that one outer wall surface faces each other. The battery module BM includes: one electrode terminal group BCc formed by arranging one electrode terminal BCb of each battery cell BC along the arrangement direction; and another electrode terminal group BCc formed by arranging the other electrode terminal BCb of each battery cell BC along the arrangement direction( Figures 2 to 5 )。

[0039] In this example, each battery cell BC has positive and negative electrode terminals BCb on one of the six outer wall surfaces of the cell main body BCa( Figures 2 to 5 )。Therefore, in the battery module BM, two electrode terminal groups BCc are provided on one plane (hereinafter referred to as "electrode setting surface") BM1( Figures 2 to 5 )。

[0040] In addition, the electrode terminal BCb shown here is formed in a flat plate shape and is physically and electrically connected to a bus bar 10 described later by welding or the like. However, the electrode terminal BCb may also be formed in a stud shape having an external thread portion. In this case, the bus bar 10 is threadedly fixed to the electrode terminal BCb by screwing an internal thread member with the external thread portion of the electrode terminal BCb.

[0041] In addition, regarding the battery cell BC, instead of such a box shape, a pouch-type battery cell or a cylindrical battery cell may be used.

[0042] The conductive module 1 includes a bus bar 10 that is physically and electrically connected to the electrode terminals BCb of a pair of battery cells BC in the battery module BM( Figure 1 )。

[0043] The bus bar 10 is a metal plate-shaped conductive element and is, for example, formed by stamping a metal plate. The bus bar 10 shown here is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape.

[0044] Furthermore, the conductive module 1 includes a circuit conductor element 20 that includes a circuit conductor that electrically connects the bus bar 10 to the battery monitoring unit, and the circuit conductor element 20 is formed flat( Figure 1 )。Moreover, the conductive module 1 includes an electrical connection element (not shown, for example, conductive elements such as terminal fittings and wires) provided for each bus bar 10, which is physically and electrically connected to the paired bus bar 10 and the circuit conductor and electrically connects the bus bar 10 to the circuit conductor.

[0045] As the circuit conductor element 20, for example, a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) having a conductor pattern as a circuit conductor formed for each bus bar 10, a printed circuit board (PCB) having a conductor pattern as a circuit conductor formed for each bus bar 10, etc. may be used. A circuit having a voltage processing function (for example, a circuit that converts the voltage of an SBM (satellite · battery · module) connected to each battery cell BC into signal information) may also be mounted on the printed circuit board. Here, a flexible printed circuit board is used as the circuit conductor element 20.

[0046] The conductive module 1 includes a bus bar holding member 30 that holds a plurality of bus bars 10 ( Figures 1 to 4 ). The bus bar holding member 30 is formed of an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

[0047] The bus bar holding member 30 is flatly formed in such a manner that the welding portion with the electrode terminal BCb in one plane of the bus bar 10 and, for example, the laser irradiation portion during the welding operation with respect to the electrode terminal BCb in the other plane of the bus bar 10 are exposed. The bus bar holding member 30 shown here is formed by, for example, injecting a liquid synthetic resin material into a mold in which the bus bars 10 are arranged and performing insert molding.

[0048] The conductive module 1 includes a circuit holding member 40 that holds the circuit conductor element 20 and can be assembled to the bus bar holding member 30 in a state of covering the bus bar 10 at the connection completion position physically and electrically connected to the electrode terminal BCb ( Figures 1 to 4 ). The circuit holding member 40 is formed of an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

[0049] In the conductive module 1 of the present embodiment, a hinge portion 50 is provided between the bus bar holding member 30 and the circuit holding member 40. The hinge portion 50 connects the bus bar holding member 30 and the circuit holding member 40 to each other and has a rotation axis along the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells BC ( Figures 1 to 4 ). Here, the bus bar holding member 30 and the circuit holding member 40 are formed as one housing element via a living hinge as the hinge portion 50.

[0050] The hinge portion 50 disposes the bus bar 10 held by the bus bar holding member 30 at a boundary portion between the electrode setting surface BM1 of the battery module BM and the cross wall surface BM2 that intersects and connects to the electrode setting surface BM1 in a state of being physically and electrically connected to the electrode terminal BCb ( Figures 2 to 4 ). In addition, in this battery module BM, the electrode setting surface BM1 becomes the upper wall surface and the cross wall surface BM2 becomes the side wall surface during vehicle mounting.

[0051] In the conductive module 1, the circuit holding member 40 can be arranged at a first setting position where it is assembled to the bus bar holding member 30 in a state of being able to rotate about the rotation axis of the hinge portion 50 with respect to the bus bar holding member 30 and covering the bus bar 10 at the connection completion position. Figure 3 ) or can be arranged at a second setting position where it rotates about the rotation axis of the hinge portion 50 with respect to the bus bar holding member 30 and faces the cross wall surface BM2. Figure 4 ) In the conductive module 1, the bus bar 10 and the circuit conductor are electrically connected by an electrical connection element before.

[0052] In the conductive module 1, the bus bar 10 held by the bus bar holding member 30 is placed on the electrode terminal BCb for each bus bar 10, and each bus bar 10 is connected to the electrode terminal BCb by laser welding or the like. Figure 2 )

[0053] In the conductive module 1, the circuit holding member 40 holding the circuit conductor element 20 is rotated about the rotation axis of the hinge portion 50 to the first setting position, and the circuit holding member 40 is assembled to the bus bar holding member 30. Figure 3 ) For example, in this housing element, a locking mechanism (not shown) using claw portions or the like is provided between the bus bar holding member 30 and the circuit holding member 40, and the circuit holding member 40 is held at the first setting position on the bus bar holding member 30 by this locking mechanism.

[0054] The circuit holding member 40 at the first setting position also functions as a cover member for insulating protection that covers the bus bar 10 in the upper space of the bus bar holding member 30. Therefore, in this case, the conductive module 1 does not need to separately prepare such a cover member, and the number of components can be reduced.

[0055] On the other hand, in the conductive module 1, when the upper space of the bus bar holding member 30 cannot be used to arrange the circuit holding member 40, the circuit holding member 40 holding the circuit conductor element 20 is rotated about the rotation axis of the hinge portion 50 to the second setting position, and the circuit holding member 40 is assembled facing the cross wall surface BM2 of the battery module BM. Figure 4 ) For example, here, a locking mechanism (not shown) using claw portions or the like is provided between the circuit holding member 40 and the cross wall surface BM2, and the circuit holding member 40 is held at the second setting position on the cross wall surface BM2 by this locking mechanism.

[0056] In this case, a cover member 60 for insulating protection that covers the bus bar 10 in the upper space of the bus bar holding member 30 is separately prepared, and the cover member 60 is assembled to the bus bar holding member 30. Figure 4)

[0057] As described above, when the conductive module 1 of this embodiment cannot dispose the circuit holding member 40 near the bus bar holding member 30 above the electrode setting surface BM1 due to the requirement of reducing the height of the battery pack, by laminating the circuit holding member 40 at the first setting position above the bus bar holding member 30, it is possible to reduce the height of the battery pack and meet the mounting requirements on the battery module BM. Moreover, as shown before, in this conductive module 1, the circuit holding member 40 can also be used as a cover member for insulating and protecting the bus bar 10 in the space above the bus bar holding member 30, so the number of components can be reduced.

[0058] In addition, even when the space above the bus bar holding member 30 cannot be used to dispose the circuit holding member 40 in the conductive module 1 of this embodiment, the circuit holding member 40 can be disposed on the side wall surface (intersecting wall surface BM2) of the battery module BM only by rotating the circuit holding member 40 around the rotation axis of the hinge portion 50 to the second setting position.

[0059] [Modification Example]

[0060] The conductive module 2 of this modification example is such that in the conductive module 1 of the above embodiment, the hinge portion 50 is not provided, and the bus bar holding member 30 and the circuit holding member 40 are separately prepared as individual components ( Figures 6 to 9 ). Therefore, in the conductive module 2 of this modification example, the same reference numerals as those in the conductive module 1 of the embodiment are assigned to the same parts and the like, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0061] The bus bar holding member 30 of this modification example has a first engaging portion (not shown). Moreover, the battery module BM of this modification example has a first engaging portion (not shown) having the same shape as the first engaging portion of the bus bar holding member 30 on the intersecting wall surface BM2.

[0062] The circuit holding member 40 of this modification example has a second engaging portion (not shown). When the circuit holding member 40 is assembled to the bus bar holding member 30 in a state of covering the bus bar 10 at the connection completion position, the second engaging portion engages with the first engaging portion of the bus bar holding member 30, so that the assembled state with the bus bar holding member 30 can be maintained, and when the circuit holding member 40 is assembled to the battery module BM in a state facing the intersecting wall surface BM2, the second engaging portion engages with the first engaging portion of the intersecting wall surface BM2, so that the assembled state with the battery module BM can be maintained. The first engaging portion and the second engaging portion are, for example, a locking mechanism in which one of them has a claw portion and the claw portion is hooked on the other to engage with each other.

[0063] In the conductive module 2 of this modified example, the bus bar 10 held by the bus bar holding member 30 is placed on the electrode terminal BCb for each bus bar 10, and each bus bar 10 is connected to the electrode terminal BCb by laser welding or the like ( Figure 7 ).

[0064] In this conductive module 2, the circuit holding member 40 that holds the circuit conductor element 20 is assembled on the bus bar holding member 30, and the assembled state is held by the previous locking mechanism (the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion)( Figure 8 ).

[0065] In this conductive module 2, for example, if the electrical connection element (here, the terminal fitting) of the embodiment is used, then in the process of assembling the circuit holding member 40 that holds the circuit conductor element 20 on the bus bar holding member 30, the bus bar 10 is electrically connected to the circuit conductor through the electrical connection element. For example, here, the electrical connection element assembled to the circuit conductor is assembled to the bus bar 10 simultaneously with the assembly of the bus bar holding member 30 and the circuit holding member 40. In this case, a terminal portion that can be fitted and connected to the electrical connection element is provided on the bus bar 10.

[0066] Alternatively, if such an electrical connection element is not used, a conductor connection portion is provided on the circuit conductor. The conductor connection portion is disposed opposite to the bus bar 10 in a state where the bus bar holding member 30 and the circuit holding member 40 are assembled, and is physically and electrically connected to the opposed bus bar 10 (not shown). In this case, for example, the circuit holding member 40 is formed in a shape that exposes two planes of the circuit conductor element 20. And in this conductive module 2, the conductor connection portion of the circuit conductor is connected to the bus bar 10 by laser welding or the like.

[0067] The circuit holding member 40 also functions as a cover member for insulating protection that covers the bus bar 10 in the space above the bus bar holding member 30. Therefore, in this case, the conductive module 2 does not need to separately prepare such a cover member, and the number of components can be reduced. However, in the case of connecting the bus bar 10 to the conductor connection portion of the circuit conductor by laser welding or the like, one plane of the circuit conductor element 20 is exposed, so it is necessary to separately prepare a cover member for insulating protection that covers it.

[0068] On the other hand, in this conductive module 2, when the space above the bus bar holding member 30 cannot be used to provide the circuit holding member 40, the circuit holding member 40 that holds the circuit conductor element 20 is assembled opposite to the intersecting wall surface BM2 of the battery module BM, and the assembled state is held by the previous locking mechanism (the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion)( Figure 9 ).

[0069] In this case, in the same setting manner as that of the circuit holding member 40 in the embodiment, a cover member 60 for insulating protection that covers the bus bar 10 is additionally prepared in the upper space of the bus bar holding member 30, and the cover member 60 is assembled to the bus bar holding member 30( Figure 9 ).

[0070] As described above, in the case where the circuit holding member 40 cannot be provided near the bus bar holding member 30 on the electrode setting surface BM1 due to the requirement of reducing the height of the battery pack, the conductive module 2 of this modified example can reduce the height of the battery pack and meet the mounting requirements on the battery module BM by laminating the circuit holding member 40 on the bus bar holding member 30. Moreover, as described above, in this conductive module 2, when the bus bar 10 is electrically connected to the circuit conductor through the electrical connection element, the circuit holding member 40 can be used as a cover member for insulating protection that covers the bus bar 10 in the upper space of the bus bar holding member 30, so that the number of components can be reduced.

[0071] In addition, even when the upper space of the bus bar holding member 30 cannot be used to provide the circuit holding member 40, the conductive module 2 of this modified example is provided with the first engaging portion that can be engaged with the second engaging portion of the circuit holding member 40 in pairs on both the bus bar holding member 30 and the side wall surface (intersecting wall surface BM2) of the battery module BM. Therefore, even without increasing the number of components, etc., the circuit holding member 40 can be provided on the side wall surface (intersecting wall surface BM2) of the battery module BM.

Claims

1. A conductive module, characterized in that, Comprising: A bus bar physically and electrically connected to electrode terminals of a pair of battery cells in a battery module formed by arranging a plurality of battery cells. A circuit conductor element formed flatly and having circuit conductors provided for each of the bus bars to electrically connect the bus bars to a battery monitoring unit. A bus bar holding member for holding a plurality of the bus bars. And A circuit holding member for holding the circuit conductor element and capable of being assembled to the bus bar holding member in a state of covering the bus bar at a connection completion position physically and electrically connected to the electrode terminal.

2. The conductive module according to claim 1, wherein A hinge portion is provided between the bus bar holding member and the circuit holding member, the hinge portion connecting the bus bar holding member and the circuit holding member to each other and having a rotation axis along the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells. The hinge portion disposes the bus bar held by the bus bar holding member at a boundary portion between an electrode setting surface provided with the electrode terminal in the battery module and an intersecting wall surface intersecting and connected to the electrode setting surface in a state physically and electrically connected to the electrode terminal. The circuit holding member is disposed at a first setting position or a second setting position. At the first setting position, the circuit holding member rotates relative to the bus bar holding member about the rotation axis of the hinge portion and is assembled to the bus bar holding member in a state of covering the bus bar at the connection completion position. At the second setting position, the circuit holding member rotates relative to the bus bar holding member about the rotation axis of the hinge portion and faces the intersecting wall surface.

3. The conductive module according to claim 1, wherein The bus bar holding member has a first engaging portion. The battery module has a first engaging portion having the same shape as the first engaging portion of the bus bar holding member on an intersecting wall surface intersecting and connected to an electrode setting surface provided with the electrode terminal. The circuit holding member has a second engaging portion. When the circuit holding member is assembled to the bus bar holding member in a state of covering the bus bar at the connection completion position, the second engaging portion engages with the first engaging portion of the bus bar holding member, thereby being able to maintain the assembled state with the bus bar holding member. And when the circuit holding member is assembled to the battery module in a state facing the intersecting wall surface, the second engaging portion engages with the first engaging portion of the intersecting wall surface, thereby being able to maintain the assembled state with the battery module.

4. The conductive module according to claim 1, wherein A conductor connection portion is provided on the circuit conductor. The conductor connection portion is disposed opposite to the bus bar in a state where the bus bar holding member and the circuit holding member are assembled, and is physically and electrically connected to the opposite bus bar.

5. The conductive module according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that it is provided with electrical connection elements provided for each of the busbars, and the electrical connection elements are physically and electrically connected to the paired busbars and the circuit conductors and electrically connect the busbars to the circuit conductors.

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