Connector assembly of battery pack, battery pack and vehicle

Abstract

The invention provides a connector assembly of a battery pack, the battery pack and a vehicle. The connector assembly comprises a first connecting piece and a second connecting piece, wherein the first connecting piece is provided with a wiring terminal; the first connecting piece is provided with a wiring terminal, the second connecting piece is provided with a connecting terminal and is suitable for being attached to the first connecting piece, and the first connecting piece is provided with a first sealing piece at the wiring terminal so as to fill a gap between the wiring terminal and the first connecting piece. According to the connector assembly, the gap between the wiring terminal and the first connecting piece is filled with the first sealing piece, so that potential safety hazards caused by the fact that condensed water generated in the high-temperature using process enters the connector assembly are effectively prevented, and the safety performance of the connector assembly is improved. The connector assembly is low in cost, easy to implement and high in applicability, and the connector assembly can be implemented by simply transforming an existing connector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of vehicles, and more particularly to the field of power battery systems for new energy vehicles. More specifically, it relates to a connector assembly for a battery pack, a battery pack having the connector assembly, and a vehicle having the battery pack. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing popularity of new energy vehicles, higher and higher requirements are being placed on battery pack technology, a key technology for these vehicles. A battery pack mainly consists of battery cells, a battery management system (BMS), a thermal management system, an electrical system (high and low voltage connectors, wiring harnesses, etc.), and structural components (upper cover, lower housing, brackets, etc.). Inside the battery pack, low-voltage connectors typically connect the battery cells, the battery management system, and the cell monitoring unit (CMU) via low-voltage wiring harnesses. These connectors are responsible for transmitting signal commands between the control units to achieve real-time monitoring of the battery cells. Because the battery pack generates a large amount of heat during operation, a significant temperature difference arises between the battery pack and the ambient temperature, causing condensation to form on the surface of the connectors.

[0003] For low-voltage connectors, such as Figures 1A to 1C As shown, the connector includes a male connector 10 (also referred to as a plug) and a female connector 20 (also referred to as a socket) that can be attached to each other. The male connector 10 is attached to a cable or wire harness, and a terminal block 30 is exemplarily shown in the figure. The female connector 20 is attached to a connection terminal 40. When the male connector 10 and the female connector 20 are connected, an electrical connection is established. In existing designs, the male connector 10 typically has a wiring hole 11 for attaching the terminal block 30. If condensation occurs, the wiring hole 11 provides a pathway for water to enter the connector's interior. Furthermore, as... Figure 1C In the conventional design shown, the male connector 10 is fixedly connected to the female connector 20 by engaging with the slot 21 via a hook 12. With this connection method, because space is required inside the female connector 20 to accommodate the displacement of the hook 12, water can still enter the connector through the connection gap 14 between the male and female connectors 10, potentially leading to short circuits or other safety hazards. Furthermore, due to structural design limitations, a seal cannot be designed around the outer periphery of the two connectors, which may also pose a risk of water entry at certain locations on the male connector 10 (e.g., the structural gap 13 shown in the figure). Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide a waterproof connector assembly that improves the safety of connectors and battery packs in a cost-effective and reliable manner.

[0005] Therefore, according to one aspect of this disclosure, a connector assembly for a battery pack is provided, the connector assembly comprising: a first connector having a terminal block; and a second connector having a connection terminal block and adapted to be attached to the first connector, wherein the first connector has a first seal at the terminal block to fill the gap between the terminal block and the first connector.

[0006] Based on the above-described technical concept, this disclosure may further include any one or more of the following alternative forms.

[0007] In some alternative forms, the first connector includes a terminal block with the terminal block and an opposite connecting end, and the second connector includes a connecting groove, the connecting end being adapted to be embedded in the connecting groove, wherein the terminal block is provided with a receiving groove to receive the first seal.

[0008] In some alternative forms, the first connector has a first connecting portion arranged adjacent to the terminal block, and the second connector has a second connecting portion arranged adjacent to the connecting groove, wherein the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are fixedly connected externally to the second connector.

[0009] In some alternative configurations, the first connecting part is constructed as a hook, and the second connecting part is constructed as a slot.

[0010] In some alternative forms, the first connector and the second connector are attached in a sealing manner, and a second seal is provided between the first connector and the second connector, the second seal being configured as a sealing ring surrounding the connection end.

[0011] In some alternative forms, the first connecting portion of the first connector extends substantially perpendicularly from the outer surface of the terminal and forms a transition portion, and the second seal is disposed between the transition portion and the end face of the second connector.

[0012] In some alternative forms, the first seal fills the gap between the terminal and the first connector after the terminal is attached to the first connector.

[0013] In some alternative forms, the first sealant comprises silicone sealant.

[0014] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a battery pack is provided, the battery pack including the connector assembly of the battery pack described above.

[0015] In some alternative configurations, the connector assembly is a low-voltage connector.

[0016] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a vehicle is provided that includes the battery pack described above.

[0017] The connector assembly disclosed herein effectively prevents condensate from entering the connector assembly during high-temperature use and thus avoids safety hazards caused by the condensate filling the gap between the terminal block and the first connector member, thereby improving the safety performance of the connector assembly. The connector assembly of this disclosure is cost-effective, easy to implement, and can be implemented with simple modifications to existing connectors, making it highly applicable. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Other features and advantages of this disclosure will be better understood through the following detailed description of alternative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0019] Figure 1A This is a schematic diagram of a connector for an existing battery pack. Figure 1B yes Figure 1A Top view of the connector. Figure 1C yes Figure 1A A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the connector;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a connector assembly for a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Top view of the connector assembly;

[0022] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the connector assembly;

[0023] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 Exploded view of the connector assembly;

[0024] Figure 6 yes Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the first connector in the connector assembly;

[0025] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Side view of the first connector;

[0026] Figure 8 yes Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the second connector in the connector assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The implementation and use of the embodiments are discussed in detail below. However, it should be understood that the specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative of particular ways of implementing and using this disclosure, and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. The descriptions of the structural positions of various components, such as up, down, top, bottom, etc., are not absolute but relative. These directional descriptions are appropriate when the various components are arranged as shown in the figures, but they change accordingly when the positions of the various components in the figures change.

[0028] In this document, unless otherwise explicitly stated and limited, the terms "installation," "attachment," "connection," and "fixation," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal connection of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this document according to the specific circumstances.

[0029] In this document, terms such as “first” and “second” are not used to specify the order of events or the number of components, unless otherwise stated.

[0030] In this article, "vehicle" refers to a new energy vehicle that uses a battery pack as its operating power and / or driving power, including but not limited to pure electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, or range-extended electric vehicles.

[0031] As mentioned above, it is recognized that condensation and water accumulation can occur during the use of vehicle battery packs. Due to the typical structural design of low-voltage connectors, there are structural gaps that allow water to enter the connector, which may lead to safety accidents such as short circuits and reduce the safety and reliability of the connector.

[0032] Therefore, based on the concept of this disclosure, a connector assembly for a battery pack is provided, which can completely cover or close any structural gaps that may exist, in order to avoid the aforementioned problems.

[0033] In this document, the low-voltage connector of a vehicle battery pack is used as an example of the connector assembly described above. It should be understood that the connector assembly based on the present disclosure can also be applied to other connectors in a vehicle battery pack, and is not limited thereto.

[0034] Combination Figures 2 to 8In one exemplary embodiment, the connector assembly of this disclosure includes a first connector 100 and a second connector 200 that can be attached to each other. The first connector 100 is provided with a terminal block 300, and the second connector 200 is provided with a connection terminal 400. The first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are attached in a sealed manner, enabling electrical connection between the terminal block 300 and the connection terminal 400 under sealed conditions. This ensures no risk of condensation entering the connector's interior and improves the connector's reliability. Particularly advantageously, the first connector 100 of the connector assembly has a first sealing member 510 at the terminal block 300 to fill the gap between the terminal block 300 and the first connector 100. In this way, the first connector 100 itself is configured as a sealed structure with the terminal block 300. After attaching the first connector 100 to the second connector 200, at least the structural seal at the terminal block 300 of the first connector 100 can be ensured.

[0035] In some implementations, combined with Figure 5 As shown, the first connector 100 includes a terminal 110 with a terminal block 300 and a corresponding terminal block 120. The second connector 200 includes a connecting groove 210, in which a connecting terminal block 400 is disposed (e.g., ...). Figure 8 As shown, the connecting end 120 is adapted to be embedded in the connecting groove 210 to achieve an electrical connection between the terminal 300 and the connecting terminal 400. As can be seen in the figure, in the illustrated embodiment, the terminal 110 is advantageously provided with a receiving groove 111 to receive the first seal 510. It should be understood that the location of the receiving groove 111 is related to the location of the terminal 300, and the dimensions of the receiving groove 111 are advantageously configured such that the first seal 510 completely surrounds all the terminals 300.

[0036] Advantageously, the first seal 510 fills the gap between the terminal 300 and the first connector 100 after the terminal 300 is attached to the first connector 100. In other words, the presence of the first seal does not affect the installation of the terminal 300 to the first connector 100, and can achieve a complete and effective seal between the terminal 300 and the first connector 100 after the terminal 300 is installed. Preferably, the first seal 510 is a waterproof sealant with insulating properties, such as silicone sealant. Silicone sealant has a certain fluidity, allowing it to flow and penetrate into the gap, and cures into an elastic silicone rubber at room temperature by reacting with water in the air, exhibiting strong adhesion and weather resistance. It should be understood that, depending on different needs, any other suitable waterproof sealant may be selected as the first sealant.

[0037] The first connector 100 and the second connector 200 can be attached to each other using a known snap-fit ​​method. Preferably, in some embodiments, the first connector 100 has a first connecting portion 130 arranged adjacent to the terminal 110, and the second connector 200 has a second connecting portion 220 arranged adjacent to the connecting groove 210, wherein the first connecting portion 130 and the second connecting portion 220 are fixedly connected to the outside of the second connector 200. Optionally, the first connecting portion 130 is constructed as a hook, and the second connecting portion 220 is constructed as a groove, such as... Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown. Here, "adjacent" means that there is a certain distance between the first connecting part 130 and the terminal 110. Correspondingly, there can also be a certain distance between the second connecting part 220 and the connecting groove 210 of the second connector 200. This allows the first connecting part 130, for example, in the form of a hook, to have a certain range of motion when the first connector 100 is attached to or detached from the second connector 200. It also makes it convenient for the operator to determine the attachment or removal status from the outside of the connector assembly when performing attachment or removal operations. In this way, the risk of water accumulation entering through the gap at the connection position of the male and female connectors in the existing connection method is eliminated, and it is also beneficial to arrange a seal between the first connector 100 and the second connector 200.

[0038] In some embodiments, a second sealing member 520 is provided between the first connector 100 and the second connector 200, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the second seal 520 can be configured as a sealing ring surrounding the connecting end 120 of the first connector 100. Alternatively, the second seal can be a silicone sealing ring.

[0039] As described above, since the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are fixedly connected externally to each other, the arrangement of the second seal 520 is easier to implement. Advantageously, as Figure 4 As shown, the first connecting portion 130 of the first connector 100 extends substantially perpendicularly from the outer surface of the terminal 110 to form a transition portion 140. Correspondingly, the second sealing member 520 can be arranged between the transition portion 140 and the end face 230 of the second connector 200. Thus, after the first connector 100 and the second connector 200 are attached, the first sealing member 510 and the second sealing member 520 achieve an effective and reliable seal for the connector assembly.

[0040] The connector assembly disclosed herein provides effective sealing and reliable fixation of the connector, preventing condensation from entering the connector during battery pack use and thus providing reliable protection and improving the connector's safety performance. The connector assembly of this disclosure has a simple structure, is easy to implement, and has wide applications. In particular, the first seal 510 and the attachable second seal 520 can be pre-configured as a single component with the first connector 100, such as... Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, this facilitates the attachment or removal of the first connector 100 and the second connector 200, simplifying the operation process. Furthermore, the second connector 200 can be implemented by simple modifications to existing connectors (e.g., by providing a second connection portion 220 in the form of a slot), making it cost-effective and highly adaptable.

[0041] It should be understood here that the embodiments shown in the figures only illustrate alternative shapes, sizes and arrangements of connector assemblies according to this disclosure, and are not intended to limit, and other shapes, sizes and arrangements may be adopted without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

[0042] The technical content and features of this disclosure have been disclosed above. However, it is understood that those skilled in the art can make various changes and improvements to the above-disclosed concept under the inventive concept of this disclosure, but all such changes and improvements fall within the protection scope of this disclosure. The description of the above embodiments is illustrative rather than restrictive, and the protection scope of this disclosure is determined by the claims.

Claims

1. A connector assembly for a battery pack, characterized in that, The connector assembly includes: A first connector (100) is provided with a terminal block (300); A second connector (200) is provided with a connector terminal (400) and is adapted to be attached to the first connector (100). The first connector (100) has a first seal (510) at the terminal (300) to fill the gap between the terminal (300) and the first connector (100).

2. The connector assembly of the battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first connector (100) includes a terminal (110) for the terminal (300) and an opposite connecting end (120), and the second connector (200) includes a connecting groove (210), the connecting end (120) being adapted to be embedded in the connecting groove (210), wherein the terminal (110) is provided with a receiving groove (111) to receive the first sealing member (510).

3. The connector assembly of the battery pack according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first connector (100) has a first connecting portion (130) arranged adjacent to the terminal (110), and the second connector (200) has a second connecting portion (220) arranged adjacent to the connecting groove (210), wherein the first connecting portion (130) and the second connecting portion (220) are fixedly connected to the outside of the second connector (200).

4. The connector assembly of the battery pack according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first connecting part (130) is configured as a hook, and the second connecting part (220) is configured as a slot.

5. The connector assembly of the battery pack according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first connector (100) and the second connector (200) are attached in a sealed manner, and a second seal (520) is provided between the first connector (100) and the second connector (200), the second seal (520) being configured as a sealing ring surrounding the connecting end (120).

6. The connector assembly of the battery pack according to claim 5, characterized in that, The first connecting portion (130) of the first connector (100) extends substantially vertically from the outer surface of the terminal (110) and forms a transition portion (140), and the second seal (520) is disposed between the transition portion (140) and the end face (230) of the second connector (200).

7. The connector assembly of the battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The first seal (510) fills the gap between the terminal (300) and the first connector (100) after the terminal (300) is attached to the first connector (100).

8. The connector assembly of the battery pack according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first seal (510) includes silicone sealant.

9. A battery pack, characterized in that, The battery pack includes a connector assembly for the battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The battery pack according to claim 9, characterized in that, The connector assembly is a low-voltage connector.

11. A vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle includes the battery pack according to claim 9 or 10.

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