Wiring module

Abstract

Wiring module (10) for use in a vehicle, wherein the wiring module (10) is attachable to a battery module (M1) comprising a single cell group (11) in which a plurality of individual cells (12) having positive and negative electrode terminals (13) are lined up, the wiring module (10) comprising: a connecting element (19) made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, which electrically connects adjacent electrode terminals (13) of the electrode terminals (13) to one another, and a voltage detection wire (45) formed by coating a core wire (46) made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy with an insulation coating (47), wherein the connecting element (19) is provided with a crimping portion (19H) which is crimped onto the voltage detection wire (45), and the connecting element (19) has a terminal connecting portion (19E, 191A) which is connected to the electrode terminals (13), wherein an exposed core wire (46) exposed at an end portion of the voltage detection wire (45) is connected to the connecting element (19) between the crimping portion (19H) and the terminal connecting portion (19E, 191A) of the connecting element (19) by welding, wherein the crimping portion (19H) of the connecting element (19) is crimped onto a coated portion (48) of the voltage detection wire (45) coated with the insulation coating (47).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a cabling module. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Battery modules, which comprise a single cell group in which a plurality of individual cells are arranged in a row, are installed in electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles and the like.

[0003] There are cases where a wiring module is attached to such battery modules, the wiring module comprising bus bars which electrically connect respective electrode terminals of adjacent individual cells, plastic protectors which hold the bus bars, voltage detection terminals which are overlapped and attached to the bus bars and which detect the voltage of the individual cells, and voltage detection wires which are connected to the voltage detection terminals (see JP 2012-199007 A).

[0004] The post-published US 2013 / 0280959A1 discloses a wiring module attached to a plurality of electric cells having electrode terminals including positive electrodes and negative electrodes, and having a plurality of bus bars having pairs of through holes respectively connected to the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes of the electric cells and the bus bar insulating members.

[0005] DE 10 2008 031 588A1 discloses a connecting element for the electrical connection between a light metal line and an electrical contact, in particular for use in motor vehicles, comprising a metal sleeve cold-welded to the light metal line and a contact element electrically conductively connected to the metal sleeve via a hardened liquid, which in turn can be connected to the contact.

[0006] US 2011 / 0117769A1 discloses a terminal comprising a main body intended to be connected to a mating conductor and a crimp contact portion extending rearwardly from the main body. The crimp contact portion is crimped onto one end of a core wire in a covered electrical cable to surround the end.

[0007] The subsequently published US 2013 / 0010449A1 discloses a wire guide device comprising a wire housing part, a terminal housing chamber part, and a plurality of wire exit parts. The terminal housing chamber part comprises a plurality of terminal housing chambers. Each of the wire guide parts couples one of the housing grooves to one of the terminal housing chambers. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0008] In conventional wiring modules, including the above-described wiring module disclosed in JP 2012-199007 A, it is common to use busbars and voltage detection terminals made of copper or a copper alloy. Therefore, there is a problem that the overall weight of the wiring module increases.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a wiring module which has a reduced weight. SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

[0010] A cabling module according to the present invention has the features in claim 1.

[0011] In the present invention, since the end portion of the voltage detection wire is connected by welding to the connecting member that connects adjacent electrode terminals, the need for a voltage detection terminal connected to the electrode terminals is eliminated. Furthermore, the connecting member and the core wire of the voltage detection wire used in the present invention are made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, resulting in a lighter wiring module than in the case where bus bars and the like made of copper or a copper alloy are used. Therefore, according to the present invention, a wiring module can be provided that has a reduced weight.

[0012] Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the connecting member and the core wire of the voltage detection wire are composed of the same metallic material, the occurrence of galvanic corrosion due to, for example, intrusion of water containing salt into a connecting portion where the core wire and the connecting member are brought into contact with each other can be prevented.

[0013] The connecting element has a crimping section which is crimped onto the voltage detection wire.

[0014] In this configuration, the voltage detection wire can be held by the crimping section.

[0015] The connecting member includes a terminal connecting portion connected to the electrode terminals, a wire connecting portion connected to the exposed core wire, and an upwardly extending portion extending upwardly from the terminal connecting portion and provided between the terminal connecting portion and the wire connecting portion.

[0016] Since the voltage detection wire connected to the connector is pulled during wiring to the battery module, the voltage detection wire is likely to be separated from the connector due to stress applied to the connection portion (wire connection portion) between the connector and the voltage detection wire. However, with the above-described configuration, the stress is alleviated by the upwardly extending portion between the wire connection portion and the terminal connection portion of the connector, to which the electrode terminals are connected.

[0017] A configuration may also be adopted in which the wiring module includes a plastic protector that holds the connecting member, the plastic protector being provided with a wire holding portion that holds a portion of the voltage detection wire connected to the connecting member.

[0018] In this configuration, since that portion of the voltage detection wire connected to the connecting member is held by the plastic protector, a state in which the voltage detection wire and the connecting member are connected to each other can be advantageously maintained and the connection reliability can be increased. ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0019] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wiring module which has a reduced weight. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS Fig. 1 is a plan view of a battery module including a wiring module according to Embodiment 1. Fig. Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in the Fig. 1 is taken. Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in the Fig. 1 is taken. Fig. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing how a plastic protector is attached to a single cell group. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing how a temperature sensor is attached to the plastic protector. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a connecting member to which a wire is connected. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the connecting element to which the wire is connected. Fig. Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the connector to which the wire is connected. Fig. 9 is a side view of the connector to which the wire is connected. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1

[0020] Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be explained with reference to the Fig. 1 to 9 described.

[0021] In the present embodiment, a battery module M1 includes a single cell group 11 in which a plurality of single cells 12 are arrayed, and a wiring module 10 of the present embodiment connected to the single cell group 11.

[0022] The battery module M1 is installed in an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or similar and is used as a driving energy source. In the following description, the upper side of the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is considered as the upper side and the lower side of these drawings is considered as the lower side. Single cell group 11

[0023] As in the Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the battery module M1 includes the single-cell group 11 in which a plurality of single cells 12 are arrayed. Insert plates 18 made of an insulating resin are arranged at both end portions of the single-cell group 11, sandwiching the single-cell group 11. Furthermore, a separator 15 made of an insulating resin is attached to an upper surface of the single-cell group 11 (top surfaces 14 of the single cells 12).

[0024] Rectangular terminal arrangement holes 16, into which pairs of electrode terminals 13 of the individual cells 12 are inserted, are formed in the separator 15 in such a way that they are arranged in two rows in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, rectangular sensor arrangement holes 17, in which the temperature sensor 50 is arranged, are formed in the separator 15 between the two rows of terminal arrangement holes 16. Single cell 12

[0025] As in the Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the individual cells 12 constituting the single-cell group 11 each have a generally flat cuboid shape. Each of the individual cells 12 has a cell main body 12A housing a cell element (not shown), and positive and negative electrode terminals 13 formed on the upper surface 14 of the cell main body 12A.

[0026] Each electrode terminal 13 includes a terminal block 13A made of metal and protruding upward from the upper surface of the single cell 12, and a bolt-shaped electrode column 13B protruding upward from the terminal block 13A. Each terminal block 13A has a rectangular shape. A screw thread 13C, onto which a nut (not shown) is screwed, is formed on the outer surface of the electrode column 13B. Wiring module 10

[0027] The wiring module 10 is attached to the single-cell group 11. This wiring module 10 connects the electrode terminals 13 of different polarities of the adjacent single cells 12 to each other and thus connects the majority of the single cells 12 in series.

[0028] The wiring module 10 includes a plurality of bus bars 19 (an example of a connecting member) that connect the electrode terminals 13 of adjacent individual cells 12 to each other, voltage detection wires 45 that are connected to the bus bars 19 and used to detect the voltage of the individual cells 12, the temperature sensor 50 that detects the temperature of the individual cells 12, and a plastic protector 20 that holds the bus bars 19, which is made of a synthetic plastic and that electrically insulates adjacent bus bars 19 from each other. Plastic protector 20

[0029] The plastic protector 20 of the present invention is formed of a plurality of units 21. In each unit 21, a busbar holding portion 22 (an example of a connector holding portion), a coupling portion 27, a sensor holding portion 30, a wire accommodating portion 41, a sensor holding portion 30, a coupling portion 27, and a busbar holding portion 22 are integrally formed in this order from an upper end portion in Fig. 1 are provided, which are arranged substantially parallel to the direction in which the individual cells 12 are arranged. Busbar holding section 22

[0030] As in the Fig. 1, the busbar holding portions 22 of the respective units 21A at both the left and right end portions project outwardly beyond the respective individual cells 12 at the end portions, and external connection busbars 19B are held by means of the projecting busbar holding portions 22.

[0031] Each busbar holding portion 22 includes accommodation walls 23A and 23B conforming to the shape of the corresponding busbar 19. The accommodation wall 23A, located on the outer side of the pair of accommodation walls 23A and 23B arranged substantially parallel to the direction in which the individual cells 12 are arrayed, is provided with a detachment preventing protrusion 24 that prevents detachment of the busbar 19A. On the other hand, the accommodation wall 23B located on the inner side is provided with a pair of locking pieces 25 that lock the busbars 19A. A wire lead-out terminal 26, through which the wire 45 connected to the busbar 19 is led out, is formed between the pair of locking pieces 25. The terminal 26 for leading out the wire is continuous with a wire holding groove 29 formed in the coupling portion 27. Coupling section 27

[0032] Pairs of coupling claws 28A and 28B, which are coupled to adjacent units 21, are formed in the coupling portion 27 and protrude from opposite ends, respectively. The distance between the pair of coupling claws 28A formed on the right end portion (right end portion in Fig. 1) of the unit 21 is set to be greater than the distance between the pair of coupling claws 28B formed at one end portion on the opposite side (left end portion in Fig. 1). The coupling claws 28A and 28B, which are adjacent to each other, are configured to mesh with each other. In a coupled state, the plurality of units 21 can be moved in the direction in which the individual cells 12 are aligned to adjust any deviation in the pitch between the individual cells 12.

[0033] The wire holding groove 29 (an example of a cable holding portion) that holds the wire 45 is formed between each pair of coupling claws 28A and 28B, extending continuously with the wire lead-out terminal 26. The wire holding groove 29 is configured to hold a portion of the wire 45 connected to the bus bar 19. Wire holding portions 29A that prevent the wire 45 from protruding are formed on the inner walls of the wire holding groove 29 at the end portions of the wire holding groove 29 on the sensor holding portion 30 side. Sensor holding section 30

[0034] The sensor holding portion 30 is formed along the coupling portion 27. The sensor holding portion 30 includes an element holding portion 37 in which a main portion 51 of the temperature sensor 50, which includes a temperature detection element, is held, and a lead wire holding portion 31 in which a lead wire 56 connected to the temperature sensor 50 is held and housed.

[0035] Although the end units 21A include a sensor holding section 30 in which the element holding section 37 and the lead wire holding section 31 are integrally provided, the units 21B may also include the lead wire holding section 31 and the element holding section 37 of an adjacent sensor holding section 30 in addition to the end units 21A.

[0036] The sensor holding section 30 includes a pair of side wall sections 32A and 32B arranged substantially parallel to the direction in which the individual cells 12 are lined up, a partition wall 36 separating adjacent sensor holding sections 30 from each other, and a bottom wall 35 connecting the pair of side wall sections 32A and 32B to each other.

[0037] In the side wall portion 32A located on the coupling portion 27 side of the pair of side wall portions 32A and 32B, a first opening 33 is formed in which the wire 45 (wire 45 connected to the bus bar 19) held in the wire holding groove 29 can be arranged. In the side wall portion 32B located on the wire accommodation portion 41 side of the pair of side wall portions 32A and 32B, a second opening 34 is formed in which the wire 45 (wire 45 connected to the bus bar 19) can be arranged. The first opening 33 and the second opening 34 are formed on the element holding portion 37 side.

[0038] In the partition wall 36, which separates the adjacent sensor holding sections 30 from each other, there is formed a lead wire holding groove 36A in which the lead wire 56 connected to the temperature sensor 50 is held.

[0039] The bottom wall 35 is provided to correspond to the lead wire holding portion 31. In the element holding portion 37, no bottom wall 35 is formed, and thus, the temperature sensor 50 held in the element holding portion 37 is allowed to come into direct contact with the single cell 12. The bottom wall 35 is formed continuously with the separation wall 36, and a sloping surface 35A is formed at one end portion of the bottom wall 35. The sloping surface 35A of the bottom wall 35 functions as a guide surface that guides the temperature sensor 50 into the element holding portion 37.

[0040] Formed in the element holding portion 37 are a square locking hole 39A that receives and locks a locking projection 54 of the temperature sensor 50, and a protective wall 38 in which a recess 39B that receives and locks a locking operating portion 55 of the temperature sensor 50 is formed. The protective wall 38 is arranged to cover an upper portion of the main portion 51 of the temperature sensor 50, which includes the temperature detection element, and functions to protect the temperature detection element.

[0041] A sloping surface 38A is formed at an end portion of the protective wall 38 on the rear side (right side in Fig. 2) with respect to the direction (direction of arrow X in Fig. 5) is formed, in which the temperature sensor 50 is mounted. The sloping surface 38A also functions as a guide surface that guides the temperature sensor 50 into the element holding section 37.

[0042] This protective wall 38 is formed continuously with the partition wall 36. The protective wall 38 is formed on the right side of the partition wall 36, while the lower wall 35 is formed on the left side of the partition wall 36 ( Fig. 1). The protective wall 38 is at a higher position than the lower wall 35 (see Fig. 2) formed.

[0043] Furthermore, a boundary wall 40 is provided in the sensor holding section 30, which is connected to a lower side of the protective wall 38 and which allows a forward movement (to the left in Fig. 2) of the temperature sensor 50 with respect to the direction in which the temperature sensor 50 is mounted. Wire accommodation section 41

[0044] The wire accommodating portion 41 is provided between the two rows of the sensor holding portions 30, and the side wall portions 32A of the respective sensor holding portions 30 each also serve as a wire accommodating wall 42A. In the wire accommodating portion 41, a lower accommodating wall 42B is formed, connecting the wire accommodating walls 42A to each other, and the lower wire accommodating wall 42B has a parallelogram shape when viewed from above.

[0045] A pair of wire holding pieces 43 for preventing the wire 45 connected to the bus bar 19 from projecting are provided at respective upper ends of each pair of wire accommodating walls 42A. Temperature sensor 50

[0046] The temperature sensor 50 includes the temperature detection element, which is not shown. The temperature detection element can be implemented, for example, as a thermistor. A PTC thermistor or an NTC thermistor can be selected accordingly. Furthermore, the temperature detection element is not limited to thermistors, and any device capable of detecting temperature can be selected accordingly.

[0047] As in the Fig. 5, the temperature sensor 50 includes the main portion 51 made of a plastic and including the temperature detecting element, an arm-shaped spring portion 53 made of a plastic and projecting upward from an upper surface of the main portion 51, and a pair of lead wires 56 led out from the end portion of the main portion 51.

[0048] The temperature detection element (not shown) is housed in a lower portion (lower end) of the main portion 51. Extended portions 52 extending outward are provided on opposite sides of the main portion 51 of the temperature sensor 50 with respect to a width direction. The front side of an end portion of each extended portion 52 forms a sloping surface with respect to the insertion direction and functions to guide the main portion 51 during insertion thereof below the protective wall 38.

[0049] The spring portion 53 is deformable and can be bent downward, and the locking protrusion 54, which can be locked in the locking hole 39A of the protective wall 38, is formed on an upper surface of the spring portion 53 and protrudes from the upper surface of the spring portion 53. Furthermore, the locking operation portion 55, which can be received and locked in the recess 39B of the protective wall 38 and whose locked state with respect to the protective wall 38 is released by pressing, is formed at one end portion of the spring portion 53, projecting upward therefrom. The spring portion 53 is disposed below the protective wall 38 and is then operated in a direction in which the lower portion (portion in which the temperature detection element is housed) of the main portion 51 is brought into contact with the single cell 12.

[0050] The pair of lead wires 56 are connected to an external circuit (not shown) and configured to transmit signals from the temperature detection element to the external circuit via the lead wires 56. The external circuit is disposed, for example, in a battery ECU (not shown) and configured to detect the temperature of the individual cell 12 based on the signals from the temperature detection element. Busbar 19

[0051] Each busbar 19 is formed from a substantially square plate material made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The busbars 19 include terminal connection busbars 19A that connect the electrode terminals 13 of adjacent individual cells 12 to each other, and external connection busbars 19B that connect the electrode terminals 13 of the respective individual cells 12 to an external device (not shown).

[0052] In the present embodiment, each terminal connection bus bar 19A includes a terminal connection portion 19E arranged to come into contact with the terminal blocks 13A of adjacent electrode terminals 13 of different polarities, an upwardly extending portion 19I extending upward from an end edge of the terminal connection portion 19E, and a wire connection portion 19F connected to the upwardly extending portion 19I and to which the voltage detection wire 45 is connected (see Fig. 6 to 9). That is, the upwardly extending portion 19I extending upwardly from the terminal connecting portion 19E is formed between the terminal connecting portion 19E and the wire connecting portion 19F, and the terminal connecting portion 19E and the wire connecting portion 19F are formed in a step shape.

[0053] The electrode terminals 13 are electrically connected to the terminal connection portion 19E of the respective terminal connection busbar 19A. A pair of terminal through-holes 19D, into which the respective electrode columns 13B are inserted, are formed in the terminal connection busbar 19A, passing through the terminal connection busbar 19A.

[0054] The wire connecting portion 19F is provided with a core wire connecting portion 19G to which an exposed core wire 46 of the wire 45 is connected, and a crimping portion 19H that is crimped onto a portion of the wire 45 coated with an insulation coating 47.

[0055] The external connecting busbars 19B are arranged so that they extend outwards from the single cell group 11 in Fig. 1 and have a stepped shape, as in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 is shown.

[0056] Each external connection bus bar 19B includes an external device connection portion 191B formed at a position higher than the other positions and connected to an external device, a downwardly extending portion 191C extending substantially vertically downward from the external device connection portion, a terminal connection portion 191A connected to the downwardly extending portion 191C and connected to the electrode terminal 13 of the single cell 12 at the end portion, an upwardly extending portion 191, and the wire connection portion 19F.

[0057] A bolt-shaped external connection column 19C, which is connected to the external device, is formed on the external device connection portion 191B of the external connection busbar 19B, while projecting therefrom. A screw thread 19E, onto which a nut (not shown) can be screwed, is formed on an outer surface of this external connection column 19C.

[0058] A single terminal through-hole 19D, into which the electrode columns 13B of the corresponding single cell 12 are inserted at the end portion, is formed in the terminal connecting portion 19I of the external connection busbar 19B. The upwardly extending portion 19I of the external connection busbar 19B is the portion adjoining an end edge of the terminal connecting portion 19E and extending upward from the end edge of the terminal connecting portion 19E, and the wire connecting portion 19F is the portion adjoining the upwardly extending portion 19I and to which the voltage detection wire 45 is connected.The wire connecting portion 19F of the external connection bus bar 19B is also provided with the core wire connecting portion 19G to which the exposed core wire 46 of the wire 45 is connected, and the crimping portion 19H onto which a portion of the wire 45 coated with the insulating coating 47 can be crimped. Voltage detection wire 45

[0059] Each wire 45 is formed by coating the core wire 46, made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, with the insulation coating 47 made of an insulating resin. The core wire 46, exposed by peeling off the insulation coating 47 at one end portion of the wire 45, is placed on the core wire connecting portion 19G of the bus bar and connected to the bus bar 19 by welding. The crimping portion 19H is formed to protrude beyond the wire connecting portion 19F in the width direction and is formed by crimping a pair of crimping pieces 19H onto a coated portion 48 of the wire 45. Procedure for assembling the battery module M1

[0060] Next, a method for attaching the temperature sensor 50 will be described. The insulation coating 47 on the end portion of the voltage detection wire 45 is previously peeled off to expose the core wire 46. The exposed core wire 46 is placed on the wire connection portion 19F (core wire connection portion 19G) of the busbar 19 and welded and connected thereto by ultrasonic welding. The crimping pieces 191H of the busbar 19 are crimped onto the coated portion 48 of the end portion of this wire 45 coated with the insulation coating 47, thus connecting the wire 45 to the busbar 19.

[0061] Next, the bus bar 19 to which the wire 45 is connected is accommodated and held in the bus bar holding portion 22 of the plastic protector 20, which is composed of the plurality of units 21 coupled together (see Fig. 4) is formed.

[0062] At or around the same time as the operation for installing the busbars 19 in the plastic protector 20, eighteen single cells 12 are lined up so that the electrode terminals 13 of adjacent single cells 12 have opposite polarities, the insertion plates 18 are arranged at the respective end portions, and the separator 15 is attached to the top 14 of the single cells 12 on which the electrode terminals 13 are formed. The electrode terminals 13 are inserted into the respective terminal arrangement holes 16 of the separator 15, and thus the single cell group 11 is formed in a state such as that shown in Fig. 4 is shown.

[0063] Next, when the wiring module 10 is placed over and connected to the surface of the single cell group 11 to which the separator 15 is attached so that the bus bars 19 correspond to the corresponding electrode terminals 13, the electrode columns 13B are inserted into the terminal through holes 19D of the bus bars 19, the bus bars 19 are brought into contact with the corresponding terminal blocks 13A, and the top surfaces 14 of the single cells 12 are exposed to the sensor arrangement surfaces 17 of the separator 15.

[0064] Then, as in the Fig. 5, the temperature sensor 50 is attached from above to the sensor holding portion 30 corresponding to the individual cells 12 serving as a detection target. In a state in which the spring portion 53 is deformed and bent by pressing downward the locking operation portion 55 of the spring portion 53, the main portion 51 of the temperature sensor 50 is inserted from above the sensor holding portion 30 and moved in the direction indicated by the arrow X. Then, the spring portion 53 of the temperature sensor 50 is guided by the sloping surface 38A of the protective wall 38, and a lower surface of the main portion 51 is also guided by the sloping surface 35A of the bottom wall 35 of the sensor holding portion 30, so that the main portion 51 is moved to the left in the Fig. 2 is moved.

[0065] When the locking projection 54 formed on the upper surface of the spring portion 53 abuts against the protective wall 38, the spring portion 53 deforms and bends further downward. After the main portion 51 of the temperature sensor 50 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow X and the end portion of the main portion 51 reaches a position where it abuts against the boundary wall 40, the spring portion 53 elastically springs back when the locking operation portion 55 is released from its depressed state, which engages the locking projection 54 in the locking hole 39A of the protective wall 38 and causes the locking operation portion 55 to be received in the recess 39B of the protective wall 38, whereby the forward movement of the main portion 51 of the temperature sensor 50 in the fastening direction is restricted by the boundary wall 40. In this state, as shown in the Fig.2, the main portion 51 of the temperature sensor 50 is disposed below the protective wall 38 and covered by the protective wall 38, and the lower portion of the main portion 51 is locked while being pushed in the direction in which it is brought into contact with the top surface 14 of the single cell 12.

[0066] After the temperature sensor 50 is mounted in the sensor holder portion 30, nuts are screwed onto the respective threads 13C of the electrode columns 13B of the individual cells 12 to connect the electrode terminals 13 to the bus bars 19, and the wires 45 connected to the bus bars 19 are installed in the wire accommodation portions 41. Thus, a battery module M1 of the present embodiment is obtained. Effects

[0067] Next, the effects of the present embodiments will be described.

[0068] In the present embodiment, since the end portion of the voltage detection wire 45 is connected by welding to the bus bar 19 connecting adjacent electrode terminals 13, a voltage detection terminal connected to the electrode terminals 13 is not required. Furthermore, the bus bars 19 and the core wires 46 of the wires 45 used in the present embodiment are made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, thus resulting in a lighter wiring module than in the case where the bus bars 19 and the like are made of copper or a copper alloy. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, a wiring module 10 having a reduced weight can be provided.

[0069] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, since the bus bars 19 and the core wires 46 of the wires 45 are formed of the same metallic material, the occurrence of galvanic corrosion due to, for example, intrusion of water containing salt can also be prevented in the core wire connecting portions 19G where the core wires 46 are brought into contact with the bus bars 19.

[0070] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, since each bus bar 19 is provided with the crimping portion 19H crimped onto the wire 45, the wire 45 can be held by means of the crimping portion 19H.

[0071] Incidentally, the wire 45 connected to the bus bar 19 is pulled during wiring to the battery module, and therefore, there is a fear that the wire 45 may be easily separated from the bus bar 19 due to a stress applied to the connection portion (wire connection portion 19F) between the bus bar 19 and the wire. However, according to the present embodiment, since the bus bar 19 is provided with the upwardly extending portion 19I extending upward from the terminal connection portion 19E between the terminal connection portion 19E connected to the electrode terminals 13 and the wire connection portion 19F connected to the exposed core wire 46, the stress is alleviated by means of the upwardly extending portion 19I, and thus the bus bar can be prevented from being separated from the wire 45.

[0072] Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, since the resin protector 20 holding the busbars 19 is provided, and the resin protector 20 is provided with the wire holding grooves 29 each holding a portion of the wires 45 connected to the corresponding busbar 19, the connecting portions between the wires 45 and the busbars 19 are held in the wire holding grooves 29, so that the state in which the wires 45 are connected to the busbars 19 is preferentially maintained and the connection reliability is therefore increased. Other embodiments

[0073] The present invention is not limited to the foregoing description and the embodiment described using the drawings, and, for example, embodiments as described below are also included within the technical scope of the present invention. (1) In the above embodiment, bus bars 19 have been described, each provided with a crimping portion 19H crimped onto the coated portion 48 of the wire 45. However, the bus bars 19 may also include a core wire crimping portion crimped onto the exposed core wire of the wire, or may not include a crimping portion. (2) In the above embodiment, bus bars 19 have been described in which an upwardly extending portion 19I is provided between the terminal connecting portion 19E and the wire connecting portion 19F. However, a bus bar may also adopt no upwardly extending portion. (3) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which a plastic protector 20 is provided with the wire holding portions 29 that individually hold the portion of the corresponding wire 45 connected to the bus bar 19. However, a plastic protector having no wire holding portion may also be adopted. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS M1 battery module 10 wiring module 11 Single cell group 12 single cells 13 Electrode connection 19 Busbar (connecting element) 19A connection busbar 19B external connection busbar 19D connection through hole 19E, 191A connection section 19F Wire connection section 19G core wire connection section 19H crimp section (crimp piece) 19I upwardly extending section 20 plastic protector 22 Busbar holding section 29 Wire holding groove (wire holding section) 29A Wire limiting section 41 Wire accommodation section 42B lower accommodation wall 42A wire accommodation wall 43 Wire limiter 45 wire 46 (exposed) core wire 47 Insulation coating 48 coated section

Claims

[1] Wiring module (10) for use in a vehicle, wherein the wiring module (10) is attachable to a battery module (M1) comprising a single cell group (11) in which a plurality of individual cells (12) having positive and negative electrode terminals (13) are lined up, the wiring module (10) comprising: a connecting element (19) made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, which electrically connects adjacent electrode terminals (13) of the electrode terminals (13) to one another, and a voltage detection wire (45) formed by coating a core wire (46) made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy with an insulation coating (47), wherein the connecting element (19) is provided with a crimping portion (19H) which is crimped onto the voltage detection wire (45), and the connecting element (19) has a terminal connecting portion (19E, 191A) which is connected to the electrode terminals (13), wherein an exposed core wire (46) exposed at an end portion of the voltage detection wire (45) is connected to the connecting element (19) between the crimping portion (19H) and the terminal connecting portion (19E, 191A) of the connecting element (19) by welding, wherein the crimping portion (19H) of the connecting element (19) is crimped onto a coated portion (48) of the voltage detection wire (45) coated with the insulation coating (47). [2] The wiring module according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member (19) has a terminal connecting portion (19E, 191A) connected to the electrode terminals (13) and a wire connecting portion (19F) connected to the exposed core wire (46), and the connecting member (19) further has, between the terminal connecting portion (19E, 191A) and the wire connecting portion (19F), an upwardly extending portion (19I) extending upwardly from the terminal connecting portion (19E, 191A). [3] Wiring module according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: a plastic protector (20) which holds the connecting element (19), wherein the plastic protector (20) is provided with a wire holding portion (29) that holds a portion of the voltage detection wire (45) connected to the connecting member (19).

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