Conductive module and battery pack

Abstract

This invention improves productivity. It comprises: a connecting conductor (10) directly electrically connected to the electrode terminals (BCb) of a battery cell (BC) constituting a battery module (BM); a fuse unit (20) indirectly electrically connected to a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery status of the battery cell; and a housing member (80) assembled into the battery module and housing the connecting conductor and the fuse unit. The housing member comprises: a housing member (80A) having a conductor housing chamber (80a) for housing the connecting conductor and a unit housing chamber (80b) for housing the fuse unit; and a cover member (80B) assembled into the housing member, covering the conductor housing chamber and the unit housing chamber at a position where the assembly with the housing member is complete. The housing member also serves as a transport tray for directly transporting at least one of the connected conductor and the fuse unit in their housing state to the next production site.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to conductive modules and battery packs. Background Technology

[0002] A conductive module is assembled into a battery module consisting of multiple battery cells, thereby forming a battery pack together with the battery module. For example, in a battery module consisting of multiple battery cells, the conductive module uses multiple connecting conductors to electrically connect the multiple battery cells. Furthermore, the conductive module uses wiring components such as wires to electrically connect each connecting conductor to a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery status of the battery cells. For example, such a conductive module is disclosed in Patent Document 1 below. In such a conductive module, each connecting conductor is provided with a combination of a pair of connecting conductors and the conductor portion of the wiring component, and sometimes circuit protection components such as fuses are present between the connecting conductors and the conductor portions of the wiring component in each combination. For example, Patent Document 2 below discloses a fuse unit (a fuse unit comprising a chip fuse, a pair of terminal fittings, and wiring components) suitable for such a conductive module. When the conductive module is manufactured, it becomes a final product form in which multiple connecting conductors and multiple fuse units are housed in a housing component.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-119651

[0006] Patent Document 2; Japanese Patent No. 7561318 Summary of the Invention

[0007] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0008] However, conductive modules may also be assembled into a final product by concentrating various components such as connecting conductors and wiring components in one location. Additionally, conductive modules may sometimes contain sub-assemblies (in other words, semi-finished products) assembled from two or more of the various components, housed on transport pallets. Each transport pallet is then sent to a different production plant or work site, where other sub-assemblies or components are assembled onto the sub-assembly. At this point, at another production plant or work site, the delivered sub-assembly is removed from the transport pallet, assembled with components or other sub-assemblies, and then housed in the previous transport pallet or another transport pallet. The conductive module is assembled into the final product form while repeating this process. The conductive module, now in its final product form, is housed on a transport pallet and sent to different production plants along with the transport pallet. Then, after transport, the conductive module is removed from the transport pallet and assembled into a battery module. Thus, the conductive module previously required removal from the transport pallet, and depending on the situation, it may sometimes be repeatedly removed and placed back into the transport pallet. Furthermore, in the past, conductive modules sometimes required the use of various transport pallets during the handling process. Therefore, there was room for improvement in the productivity of conventional conductive modules.

[0009] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide conductive modules and battery packs that can improve productivity.

[0010] Methods for solving problems

[0011] The conductive module of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a connecting conductor, which is directly electrically connected to the electrode terminals of a battery cell constituting a battery module; a fuse unit, which indirectly electrically connects the connecting conductor to a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery status of the battery cell; and a housing component, which is assembled into the battery module and houses the connecting conductor and the fuse unit. The housing component comprises: a housing member, which has a conductor housing chamber for housing the connecting conductor and a unit housing chamber for housing the fuse unit; and a cover member, which is assembled into the housing member and covers the conductor housing chamber and the unit housing chamber at the assembled position with the housing member. The housing member also serves as a transport pallet for directly transporting at least one of the connecting conductor and the fuse unit in the housing state to the next production site.

[0012] The battery pack of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a battery module, the battery module being composed of a plurality of battery cells arranged together; a battery monitoring unit, the battery monitoring unit monitoring the battery status of the battery cells; and a conductive module, the conductive module being assembled to the battery module, the conductive module comprising: a connecting conductor, the connecting conductor being directly electrically connected to the electrode terminals of the battery cells; a fuse unit, the fuse unit indirectly electrically connecting the connecting conductor to the battery monitoring unit; and a receiving component, the receiving component being assembled to the battery module and receiving the connecting conductor and the fuse unit, the receiving component comprising: a receiving member, the receiving member having a conductor receiving chamber for receiving the connecting conductor and a unit receiving chamber for receiving the fuse unit; and a cover member, the cover member being assembled to the receiving member and covering the conductor receiving chamber and the unit receiving chamber at the assembled position with the receiving member, the receiving member also serving as a transport pallet for directly transporting at least one of the connecting conductor and the fuse unit in the receiving state to the next production site.

[0013] Invention Effects

[0014] The conductive component of the present invention utilizes a receiving member that also functions as a transport pallet, thus eliminating the need for transport pallets used solely for transporting goods between work sites. Furthermore, the conductive module of the present invention eliminates the need to store semi-finished or finished products on the transport pallet, or to remove semi-finished products from the transport pallet. In other words, the conductive module of the present invention eliminates the need for removing and placing semi-finished products from the transport pallet. Additionally, the conductive module of the present invention eliminates the need to prepare transport pallets for transporting goods between work sites as specialized items with different shapes, for example, corresponding to each semi-finished product. Therefore, it also eliminates the need to prepare specialized pallet receiving members with different shapes for each transport pallet when storing the transport pallet during transport between work sites. That is, the conductive module of the present invention only needs to prepare one type of pallet receiving member corresponding to one type of receiving member that also functions as a transport pallet. According to the above solutions, the conductive module of the present invention eliminates the need to manage transport pallets as specialized items, and only requires managing one type of pallet receiving member corresponding to the receiving member, thereby improving productivity and consequently reducing costs. Moreover, the battery pack of the present invention includes the conductive module, which can achieve the same effect as that obtained by the conductive module. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a perspective view illustrating the conductive module of an embodiment.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the battery module and connecting conductors together.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional view showing a fuse unit.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a perspective view showing the fuse unit (excluding the resin covering).

[0019] Figure 5 This is a plan view illustrating the conductive module of an embodiment.

[0020] Figure 6 This is a perspective view illustrating an example of the assembly process of the conductive module in an embodiment.

[0021] Figure 7 This is a perspective view illustrating an example of the assembly process of the conductive module in an embodiment.

[0022] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0023] 1. Conductive module

[0024] 10 Connecting conductors

[0025] 20 Fuse Units

[0026] 30 Circuit protection components

[0027] 31 First Electrode

[0028] 32 Second electrode

[0029] 40 First terminal accessories

[0030] 41 First Electrical Connection

[0031] 50 Second terminal accessories

[0032] 51 Second Electrical Connection Part

[0033] 60 Wiring components

[0034] 61 Conductor section

[0035] 65 connector

[0036] 80 Module Housing Components (Housing Components)

[0037] 80a Conductor containment chamber

[0038] Unit 80b containment room

[0039] 80A First Module Retaining Component (Retaining Component)

[0040] 80B Second Module Retaining Component (Cover Component)

[0041] 81 Conductor holding part

[0042] 82 Unit Holding Section

[0043] BC battery cell

[0044] BCb electrode terminals

[0045] BM battery module

[0046] BP battery pack Detailed Implementation

[0047] Hereinafter, embodiments of the conductive module and battery pack of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0048] [Example]

[0049] based on Figures 1 to 7 This describes one embodiment of the conductive module and battery pack of the present invention.

[0050] Figure 1 Reference numeral 1 in the accompanying drawing illustrates the conductive module of this embodiment. This conductive module 1 is assembled into a battery module BM (composed of multiple battery cells BC arranged in a grid). Figure 2 This conductive module 1 electrically connects multiple battery cells BC within the battery module BM. Furthermore, by electrically connecting the battery module BM to a battery monitoring unit (not shown), the battery monitoring unit monitors the battery state of each battery cell BC. The conductive module 1, together with the battery module BM and the battery monitoring unit, constitutes the battery pack BP. The battery pack BP is used, for example, in vehicles equipped with a rotating mechanism as a drive source (BEV: Battery Electric Vehicle, HEV: Hybrid Electric Vehicle, etc.) to supply power to the rotating mechanism.

[0051] The battery cell BC consists of a cell body BCa and positive and negative electrode terminals BCb. Figure 2 In the battery module BM, multiple battery cells BC are arranged in a row along the arrangement direction. The battery module BM includes an electrode terminal group BCc formed by arranging one electrode terminal BCb of the multiple battery cells BC along the arrangement direction, and another electrode terminal group BCc formed by arranging the other electrode terminals BCb of the multiple battery cells BC along the arrangement direction. Figure 2 ).

[0052] Unless otherwise specified, "arrangement direction" refers to the arrangement direction of multiple battery cells BC and the arrangement direction of multiple electrode terminals BCb in the electrode terminal group BCc.

[0053] The battery cell BC shown here is formed as a cuboid with a cell body BCa having six outer wall surfaces. Furthermore, in a plurality of battery cells BC, adjacent cell bodies BCa in the arrangement direction are arranged such that one outer wall surface faces each other. For example, in a battery cell BC, the positive and negative electrode terminals BCb are disposed on one of the six outer wall surfaces of the cell body BCa, or separately disposed on two of the six outer wall surfaces of the cell body BCa. 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 body BCa. Figure 2 Therefore, in the battery module BM, two electrode terminal groups BCc are arranged on a plane. Figure 2 ).

[0054] The electrode terminal BCb shown here is formed into a flat plate shape and is directly electrically connected to the connecting conductor 10 described later by means of laser welding or the like. Figure 2 However, the electrode terminal BCb can also be formed as a post shape with an external thread. In this case, the connecting conductor 10 is threadedly fixed to the electrode terminal BCb by screwing the internal threaded part into the external thread of the electrode terminal BCb.

[0055] The conductive module 1 has a connecting conductor 10 that is directly electrically connected to the electrode terminals BCb of the battery cell BC constituting the battery module BM. Figures 1 to 4 ).

[0056] The connecting conductor 10 is formed from a metallic material. This connecting conductor 10 is a plate-shaped conductive component made of metal, referred to as a busbar, and is formed, for example, by stamping a metal plate as the base material. The connecting conductor 10 shown here is formed into a rectangular plate shape.

[0057] In the conductive module 1, the connecting conductor 10 includes, for example: a connecting conductor that is directly electrically connected to the adjacent electrode terminals BCb of a pair of battery cells BC in the battery module BM; a connecting conductor that is directly electrically connected to the electrode terminal BCb of the battery module BM that serves as the overall negative electrode; and a connecting conductor that is directly electrically connected to the electrode terminal BCb of the battery module BM that serves as the overall positive electrode.

[0058] The conductive module 1 includes a fuse unit 20 that indirectly connects the connecting conductor 10 to the battery monitoring unit. Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 The fuse unit 20 provides an electrical connection between the connecting conductor 10 and the battery monitoring unit, and cuts off the power supply when an overcurrent flows through it. A fuse unit 20 is provided for each connecting conductor 10.

[0059] The fuse unit 20 includes a circuit protection component 30 that melts the fusible part when an overcurrent flows between the connecting conductor 10 and the battery monitoring unit. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The circuit protection component 30 includes a first electrode 31 and a second electrode 32 disposed in the middle, with the fusible part placed in the middle. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The first electrode 31 and the second electrode 32 are respectively arranged in a straight line at one end and the other end of the circuit protection component 30.

[0060] The circuit protection component 30 can be configured as a chip fuse with a fusible portion, or as a patterned fuse with a wiring pattern having a fusible portion on a printed circuit board (e.g., a flexible printed circuit board). The circuit protection component 30 shown here is configured as a cuboid chip fuse. A first electrode 31 is provided covering five outer surfaces at one end of the circuit protection component 30. Furthermore, a second electrode 32 is provided covering five outer surfaces at the other end of the circuit protection component 30.

[0061] The fuse unit 20 has a first terminal accessory 40 and a second terminal accessory 50 that are directly electrically connected to the circuit protection component 30. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The first terminal accessory 40 and the second terminal accessory 50 are formed from conductive materials such as metal. For example, the first terminal accessory 40 and the second terminal accessory 50 are stamped from a metal sheet.

[0062] The first terminal accessory 40 has a first electrical connection portion 41 that is directly electrically connected to the first electrode 31 of the circuit protection component 30. Figure 3 and Figure 4 One of the four circumferentially arranged outer wall surfaces of the first electrode 31 is placed on the first electrical connection portion 41. The first electrode 31 is directly electrically connected to the first electrical connection portion 41 by laser welding, brazing, or the like. Therefore, the first electrical connection portion 41 is formed as a flat plate with a plane for placing the outer wall surface of the first electrode 31. In the first electrical connection portion 41, this flat plane is directly electrically connected to the first electrode 31. Figure 3 and Figure 4 ).

[0063] Furthermore, the first terminal fitting 40 has a conductor connection portion 42 that is directly or indirectly electrically connected to the connecting conductor 10. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The conductor connection portion 42 is formed in a flat plate shape and is mounted relative to the connecting conductor 10 in a manner that the planes overlap each other. Furthermore, the conductor connection portion 42 is directly electrically connected to the connecting conductor 10 by means of laser welding or ultrasonic bonding. The conductor connection portion 42 shown here is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape.

[0064] The first terminal fitting 40 shown here is formed as a flat plate with the first electrical connection portion 41 adjacent to the conductor connection portion 42.

[0065] The second terminal accessory 50 has a second electrical connection portion 51 that is directly electrically connected to the second electrode 32 of the circuit protection component 30. Figure 3 and Figure 4 One of the four circumferentially arranged outer wall surfaces of the second electrode 32 is placed on the second electrical connection portion 51. The second electrode 32 is directly electrically connected to the second electrical connection portion 51 by laser welding, brazing, or the like. Therefore, the second electrical connection portion 51 is formed as a flat plate with a plane for placing the outer wall surface of the second electrode 32. In the second electrical connection portion 51, this flat plane is directly electrically connected to the second electrode 32. Figure 3 and Figure 4 ).

[0066] Furthermore, the second terminal accessory 50 is electrically connected to the battery monitoring unit. The fuse unit 20 includes a wiring component 60 located between the second terminal accessory 50 and the battery monitoring unit. Figure 1 , Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 The second terminal accessory 50 is indirectly electrically connected to the battery monitoring unit via the wiring component 60. The second terminal accessory 50 has a wiring connection portion 52 that is directly electrically connected to the wiring component 60. Figure 3 and Figure 4 ).

[0067] The wiring component 60 includes a conductor portion 61, which allows one end to be directly electrically connected to the second terminal accessory 50 and the other end to be indirectly electrically connected to the battery monitoring unit. Figure 3 and Figure 4 Furthermore, the wiring component 60 has an electrically insulating covering portion 62 at its end, which covers the portion of the conductor portion 61 that is closer to the battery monitoring unit than at least one end. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The wiring component 60 shown here refers to a linear conductor having a conductor portion 61 formed in a linear shape. Specifically, the wiring component 60 is an electrical wire in which the core wire of the conductor portion 61 is covered by an electrically insulating sheath 62, and the wiring connection portion 52 is directly electrically connected to one end of the conductor portion 61 at the end of the wiring component 60.

[0068] For example, in the wiring component 60, the insulation covering 62 is stripped from its end, exposing one end of the conductor 61. In this case, as the wiring connection 52, a riveting crimping structure formed to rivet and crimp against one end of the conductor 61 (i.e., the core wire at the end of the wire) is sufficient. Alternatively, for example, with respect to the wiring component 60, a structure in which the insulation covering 62 covers one end of the conductor 61 at its end can also be used. In this case, as the wiring connection 52, a structure using a pair of crimping blades formed to form a cut in the insulation covering 62 at the end of the wiring component 60 to clamp one end of the conductor 61 (the core wire at the end of the wire). The wiring connection 52 shown here is formed as a riveting crimping part.

[0069] The second terminal fitting 50 shown here places the second electrical connection portion 51 adjacent to the wiring connection portion 52. The wiring connection portion 52 leads the wiring component 60 out in the adjacent direction and along the plane of the second electrical connection portion 51.

[0070] Alternatively, the wiring component 60 may be a flat wiring material such as a flexible printed circuit board (illustration omitted) where the conductor portion 61 is formed into a wiring pattern. In this case, the wiring component 60 has a conductor portion 61 corresponding to each of the second terminal fittings 50 in the plurality of fuse units 20, and one end of the conductor portion 61 is provided at the end of the branch portion that branches from the main body for each second terminal fitting 50. This end of the conductor portion 61 is directly electrically connected to the wiring connection portion 52, for example, by laser welding or brazing.

[0071] The fuse unit 20 includes a connector 65, which is assembled to the wiring component 60 and engages with a counterpart connector on the battery monitoring unit side, thereby electrically connecting the wiring component 60 to the battery monitoring unit. Figure 1 For example, the wiring component 60 (wire) of each fuse unit 20 is wound toward the battery monitoring unit side, and the end of the wire wound toward the battery monitoring unit side is connected to the connector 65. In the connector 65, the conductor portion 61 of the end of each wiring component 60 (wire) is housed in the connector housing 65a.

[0072] The fuse unit 20 includes an electrically insulating covering resin portion 70 that encloses the first electrical connection portion 41, the second electrical connection portion 51, and the circuit protection component 30. Figure 3 as well as Figure 4The resin covering portion 70 suppresses electrical conduction between the first electrical connection portion 41 and the second electrical connection portion 51 by enclosing the first electrical connection portion 41, the second electrical connection portion 51, and the circuit protection component 30. This resin covering portion 70 can, for example, suppress short circuits between the first electrical connection portion 41 and the second electrical connection portion 51 caused by condensation. For example, the resin covering portion 70 is a cured liquid resin material (such as a UV-curable or thermosetting potting material) supplied by dripping or similar means to enclose the first electrical connection portion 41, the second electrical connection portion 51, and the circuit protection component 30.

[0073] The conductive module 1 of this embodiment includes a housing component (hereinafter referred to as the "module housing component") 80, which is assembled into the battery module BM and houses the conductor 10 and the fuse unit 20. Figure 1 ).

[0074] The module housing component 80 is provided with a housing chamber (hereinafter referred to as the "conductor housing chamber") 80a for housing the connecting conductor 10 and a housing chamber (hereinafter referred to as the "unit housing chamber") 80b for housing the fuse unit 20. Figure 1 For example, the module housing component 80 has a conductor housing chamber 80a corresponding to each connecting conductor 10 connected to each electrode terminal BCb of the electrode terminal group BCc. On the other hand, the module housing component 80 has a unit housing chamber 80b that houses the fuse units 20 of each connecting conductor 10.

[0075] When the wiring component 60 is a wire, in the unit housing 80b, the wiring components 60 (wires) of each fuse unit 20 are wound around to the battery monitoring unit side, and a connector 65 is arranged in the direction of this winding. Figure 1 Additionally, when the wiring component 60 is made of flat wiring material, the wiring component 60 (flat wiring material) with the connector 65 assembled is housed at the end on the battery monitoring unit side in the unit housing chamber 80b (illustration omitted).

[0076] For example, the module housing component 80 includes a first housing member (hereinafter referred to as "first module housing member") 80A and a second housing member (hereinafter referred to as "second module housing member") 80B that are assembled and fixed to each other. Figure 1 The first module housing component 80A and the second module housing component 80B are molded from electrically insulating materials such as synthetic resin.

[0077] The first module housing member 80A is provided with conductor housing chamber 80a and unit housing chamber 80b. Therefore, the first module housing member 80A has spaces for forming multiple conductor housing chambers 80a and unit housing chambers 80b at the assembly completion position with the second module housing member 80B. The second module housing member 80B is a cover member that covers the conductor housing chambers 80a and unit housing chambers 80b at the assembly completion position with the first module housing member 80A. Therefore, the second module housing member 80B is formed to close the openings of each space of the first module housing member 80A.

[0078] Here, the first module housing component 80A also serves as a transport pallet for transporting at least one of the housing conductor 10 and the fuse unit 20 to the next production site.

[0079] Therefore, the first module housing member 80A is provided with a conductor holding part 81 for holding the connecting conductor 10 in the conductor housing chamber 80a and a unit holding part 82 for holding the fuse unit 20 in the unit housing chamber 80b. Figure 5 ).

[0080] For example, in the first module housing member 80A, the interior of the square frame portion 83 is used as a conductor housing chamber 80a. Figure 1 and Figure 5 Therefore, in the first module housing member 80A, it is sufficient to allow the conductor holding portion 81 to protrude from multiple locations within the frame portion 83. For example, at least one conductor holding portion 81 may protrude from each of the four wall portions forming the frame portion 83. Figure 5 For example, the connecting conductor 10 clamps the end face of its outer peripheral portion to a rib-shaped conductor holding portion 81 at multiple locations. Alternatively, the conductor holding portion 81 may be provided with a claw at the end of the flexible portion, which hooks onto the outer peripheral portion of the connecting conductor 10 to hold the connecting conductor 10 in the conductor receiving chamber 80a.

[0081] Additionally, the unit housing 80b has a bottom wall 84 between the fuse unit 20 and the battery cell BC. Figure 1 and Figure 5 Therefore, in the first module housing member 80A, it is sufficient to allow the unit holding portion 82 to protrude from the bottom wall 84. The unit holding portions 82 are provided at multiple locations on the bottom wall 84, so that the unit holding portions 82 at these multiple locations hold the wiring components 60 (wires) of each fuse unit 20. For example, the unit holding portion 82 has: a plate portion 82a that covers each wiring component 60 (wire) between itself and the bottom wall 84 side; and a movable hinge 82b that opens and closes the plate portion 82a relative to the bottom wall 84 side, with the plate portion 82a in the closed position covering and holding each wiring component 60 (wire). Figure 5In addition, the closed portion 82a is held to the side of the bottom wall 84 by a locking mechanism (not shown) consisting of claws or the like.

[0082] For example, in this conductive module 1, the connecting conductor 10, circuit protection component 30, first terminal accessory 40, second terminal accessory 50, wiring component 60, connector 65, and first module housing member 80A are concentrated at the first work site. At this first work site, the connecting conductor 10 is housed in the conductor housing chamber 80a of the first module housing member 80A, so that the connecting conductor 10 is held in the conductor holding part 81 (in Figure 6 (Conductor holding part 81 is omitted in the figure). Additionally, at this first work site, the circuit protection component 30, the first terminal accessory 40, the second terminal accessory 50, the wiring component 60, and the connector 65 are assembled, and the fuse unit 20 is manufactured. Furthermore, at this first work site, the fuse unit 20 is housed in the unit housing chamber 80b of the first module housing member 80A, and the fuse unit 20 is held in the unit holding part 82 (in...). Figure 7 (Unit holding part 82 is omitted in the figure). Then, at this first work site, the connecting conductor 10 is connected to the first terminal accessory 40. Figure 1 Since the first module housing member 80A also serves as a transport pallet, the conductive module 1 is directly housed in the pallet housing member (not shown) and transported to the next second work site (which can be another work site within the same production plant or another production plant). Here, the conductive module 1 is transported to the second work site where the conductive module 1 and the battery module BM are assembled, and the conductive module 1 taken from the pallet housing member is assembled into the battery module BM to manufacture the battery pack BP.

[0083] In addition, the second module housing component (cover component) 80B is temporarily held at the first work site by the first module housing component 80A, and is sent to the second work site together with the first module housing component 80A.

[0084] Additionally, for example, in this conductive module 1, at the first work site, the connecting conductor 10 is housed in the conductor housing chamber 80a of the first module housing member 80A, so that the connecting conductor 10 is held in the conductor holding portion 81 (in Figure 6(Conductor holding part 81 is omitted in the figure). The semi-finished product assembled with the connecting conductor 10 and the first module receiving member 80A is directly housed in the pallet receiving member (not shown) and transported to the next second work site (which may be another work site within the same production plant or another production plant) because the first module receiving member 80A also serves as a transport pallet. At the second work site, the circuit protection component 30, the first terminal accessory 40, the second terminal accessory 50, the wiring component 60, and the connector 65 are assembled to manufacture the fuse unit 20. At this second work site, the fuse unit 20 is housed in the unit receiving chamber 80b of the first module receiving member 80A, which is removed from the pallet receiving member, and the fuse unit 20 is held in the unit holding part 82 (in... Figure 7 (Unit holding part 82 is omitted in the figure). Then, at this second work site, the connecting conductor 10 is connected to the first terminal accessory 40. Figure 1 Since the first module receiving member 80A also serves as a transport pallet, the conductive module 1 is directly placed back into the pallet receiving member and transported to the next third work site (which can be another work site within the same production plant or another production plant). Here, the conductive module 1 is transported to the third work site where the conductive module 1 and the battery module BM are assembled, and the conductive module 1 taken from the pallet receiving member is assembled into the battery module BM to manufacture the battery pack BP.

[0085] In addition, the second module housing component (cover component) 80B is temporarily held at the second work site by the first module housing component 80A, and is sent to the third work site together with the first module housing component 80A.

[0086] Thus, in this embodiment, the conductive module 1 allows the first module housing member 80A to also function as a transport pallet, eliminating the need for a transport pallet solely for inter-worksite transport. Furthermore, the conductive module 1 in this embodiment does not require storing semi-finished or finished products in the transport pallet, or removing semi-finished products from the transport pallet. That is, the conductive module 1 in this embodiment does not require removing semi-finished products from the transport pallet and placing them in. Additionally, the conductive module 1 in this embodiment does not require preparing a transport pallet for inter-worksite transport as a specialized item with a different shape for each semi-finished product; therefore, it also does not require preparing a pallet housing member with a different shape for each transport pallet for inter-worksite transport. In other words, the conductive module 1 in this embodiment only needs to prepare one type of pallet housing member corresponding to the one type of first module housing member 80A that also functions as a transport pallet. According to the above solution, the conductive module 1 in this embodiment does not need to manage the transport pallet which is a special product. In addition, it only needs to manage one type of pallet receiving component corresponding to the first module receiving component 80A. Therefore, productivity can be improved and costs can be reduced.

[0087] The battery pack BP in this embodiment includes the conductive module 1, which can achieve the same effect as the conductive module 1.

Claims

1. An electrically conductive module, characterized in that, have: A connecting conductor is directly electrically connected to the electrode terminals of the battery cells constituting the battery module; A fuse unit that electrically connects the connecting conductor to a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery status of the individual battery cells; as well as A housing component, assembled into the battery module, housing the connecting conductor and the fuse unit. The receiving component includes: a receiving member having a conductor receiving chamber for receiving the connecting conductor and a unit receiving chamber for receiving the fuse unit; and a cover member assembled to the receiving member and covering the conductor receiving chamber and the unit receiving chamber at the assembled position with the receiving member. The housing component also serves as a transport pallet for directly transporting at least one of the connecting conductor and the fuse unit in the housing state to the next production site.

2. The conductive module of claim 1, wherein, The receiving member is provided with: a conductor holding part that holds the connecting conductor in the conductor receiving chamber; and a unit holding part that holds the fuse unit in the unit receiving chamber.

3. The conductive module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The fuse unit includes: A circuit protection component that causes the fusible part to melt when an overcurrent flows between the connecting conductor and the battery monitoring unit; The first terminal accessory directly connects the first electrical connection portion to the first electrode of the circuit protection component, and directly or indirectly connects the first terminal accessory to the connecting conductor. The second terminal accessory directly connects the second electrical connection portion to the second electrode of the circuit protection component, and indirectly connects the second terminal accessory to the battery monitoring unit. The wiring component includes a conductor portion that allows one end to be directly electrically connected to the second terminal accessory and the other end to be indirectly electrically connected to the battery monitoring unit. as well as A connector is assembled on the wiring component and is electrically connected to the battery monitoring unit by engaging with a counterpart connector on the battery monitoring unit side.

4. A battery pack, characterized by, have: A battery module, wherein the battery module is composed of multiple battery cells arranged in a row; A battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery status of the individual battery cells; and A conductive module, which is assembled into the battery module. The conductive module includes: A connecting conductor is provided, which is directly electrically connected to the electrode terminals of the battery cell; A fuse unit that electrically connects the connecting conductor to the battery monitoring unit; as well as A housing component, assembled into the battery module, housing the connecting conductor and the fuse unit. The receiving component includes: a receiving member having a conductor receiving chamber for receiving the connecting conductor and a unit receiving chamber for receiving the fuse unit; and a cover member assembled to the receiving member and covering the conductor receiving chamber and the unit receiving chamber at the assembled position with the receiving member. The housing component also serves as a transport pallet, which is used to directly transport at least one of the connecting conductor and the fuse unit in the housing state to the next production site.

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