Module connector for electrically connecting to a module pole connection of a battery module, module pole connection, and connecting assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a module connector (10) for electrically connecting to a module pole connection (12) of a battery module by producing a plug connection in a connecting direction (R), wherein the module connector (10) has a busbar (14) with a busbar through-opening (14a), a contact socket (16) with a contact surface (36) and a socket opening (16a) which is coaxial to the busbar through-opening (14a), and a housing (24) with an insulation collar (28a). The module connector (10) comprises an elastic spring element (30, 32) which can be compressed in the connecting direction (R), and the module connector (10) can be converted from a first state (Z1), in which an electrically conductive component (18, 20; 16) of the module connector (10) is kept at a distance from the busbar (14) and electrically insulated therefrom by means of the spring element (30, 32), into a second state (Z2), in which the component (18, 20; 16) is arranged so as to electrically contact the busbar (14) while the spring element (30, 32) is compressed.

Description

[0001] Module connector for electrical connection to a module terminal connection of a battery module, module terminal connection and connection arrangement

[0002] DESCRIPTION:

[0003] The invention relates to a module connector for electrically connecting to a module pole terminal of a battery module by establishing a plug-in connection in a connection direction, wherein the module connector has an electrically conductive busbar with a rail through-opening for passing through a fastening means in the connection direction and an electrically conductive contact socket which has an end face which provides a contact surface for electrically contacting the module pole terminal, wherein the contact socket has a socket opening which is arranged below the busbar with respect to the connection direction and is aligned coaxially with the rail through-opening, such that the fastening means can be passed through the rail through-opening and the socket opening simultaneously in the connection direction.Furthermore, the module connector comprises an electrically insulating housing with an insulating collar that surrounds at least part of the busbar and at least part of the contact socket in a radial direction. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a module terminal connection and a connection arrangement.

[0004] To protect people from electric shock, contact protection is necessary or advantageous at the electrical interface of high-voltage batteries, the module terminal (also referred to here as the module terminal connection), and their electrical connecting elements (the HV connectors), for example, to avoid the need for expensive protective clothing during battery assembly. Contact protection is typically implemented using several special components such as protective pins, contact sleeves, electrically insulating caps or collars, and so on, on both interface partners. This leads to very complex designs of the connection arrangements and also requires a considerable amount of installation space.

[0005] For example, DE 20 2018 100 111 U1 describes a module connector with two connecting parts which can be connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner, to each of which a conductor element can be attached to a conductor point, and which each have a mutually compatible fastening element, wherein each connecting part is provided on its connection side facing the other connecting part with a contact guard which has an outer electrically insulating collar and an electrically insulating protective pin surrounded by the collar, wherein in at least one connecting part between the collar and the protective pin there is a current bridge which electrically connects the two conductor points and is projected over by the collar and the protective pin, wherein the current bridge is designed as a contact sleeve.

[0006] A similar connection arrangement is also described in EP 3 419 119 B1, DE 10 2020 212 760 A1 and DE 10 2020 208 1 9 A1.

[0007] Furthermore, DE 10 2020 100 919 A1 describes a touch-protected rotary contact with a busbar, with a connecting screw which has a threaded portion and a fastening portion and extends through a busbar recess in the busbar from a first side to a second side of the busbar along a connection axis in a connection direction. An insulating element is arranged in the connection direction between the busbar and the connecting screw, whereby the connecting screw is electrically insulated from the busbar. Such insulating elements are typically made of plastic. The disadvantage of plastics, especially when using screw connections, is that they begin to creep over time, causing the screw connection to loosen.Especially when electrically connecting high-voltage connections, this has the major disadvantage that the resulting increased contact resistance leads to large line losses and additional heating of the busbar, which has a detrimental effect on the operation of the battery modules.

[0008] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a module connector, a module pole connection and a connection arrangement which enable the simplest and most efficient design possible.

[0009] This object is achieved by a module connector, a module terminal connection, and a connection arrangement having the features according to the respective independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent patent claims, the description, and the figures.

[0010] A module connector according to the invention for electrically connecting to a module pole connection of a battery module by establishing a plug connection in a connection direction has an electrically conductive busbar with a rail through-opening for passing through a fastening means in the connection direction, and an electrically conductive contact socket which has an end face which provides a contact surface for electrically contacting the module pole connection, wherein the contact socket has a socket opening which is arranged below the busbar with respect to the connection direction and is aligned coaxially with the rail opening, so that the fastening means can be passed through the rail through-opening and the socket opening simultaneously in the connection direction.

[0011] The module connector further comprises an electrically insulating housing with an insulating collar that surrounds at least part of the busbar and at least part of the contact socket in a radial direction. Furthermore, the module connector comprises an elastic spring element that is compressible and / or expandable in the connection direction, wherein the module connector can be converted from a first state to a second state, and wherein, in the first state, at least one electrically conductive component of the module connector is held at a distance from the busbar and electrically insulated from it by means of the spring element, and in the second state, is arranged in electrical contact with the busbar under compression of the spring element.

[0012] The invention is based on the finding that the use or provision of a spring element advantageously makes it possible to realize two different states of such a module connector, such that in a first state, there is no electrical contact between the electrically conductive component of the module connector and the busbar, and in a second state, this electrical contact is established between the electrically conductive component and the busbar. Since no electrical contact is established with the busbar in the first state, there is also no risk of electric shock when touching the electrically conductive component in this first state. This, in turn, simplifies the design options for the module connector and / or the corresponding module pole connection.This, in turn, is based on the realization that this electrically conductive component can, for example, be designed such that it partially protrudes from the housing, at least in the initial state of the module connector. The spring element nevertheless provides contact protection without requiring that the electrically conductive component itself protrude from the housing to be electrically insulated. This advantageously eliminates the need for protective caps or particularly long insulation collars in the axial direction. This allows for savings in components and / or material, and above all, in terms of installation space in the axial direction.Another particularly significant advantage of the invention is that, despite the possibility of electrically isolating the electrically conductive component from the busbar in the initial state, no plastic insulation or similar material needs to be provided between this component and the busbar. This would have the disadvantage that such plastic insulation would then become part of the effective path for the force transmission of the fastening of the module connector to the module terminal connection by means of the fastening means. This would result in high forces acting on the plastic, and the fastening would loosen over time due to the creep behavior of typical plastics. This, in turn, would increase the electrical resistance of the overall arrangement and lead to increased power loss.The resulting additional heat loss could also be introduced into the battery module and lead to accelerated cell aging or other cell defects and limitations. This can now also be advantageously avoided by providing the spring element, since, precisely in the second state, which can be achieved by compressing the spring element, an electrically conductive connection can also be established between the busbar and the electrically conductive component of the module connector. Thus, the effective chain of force transmission for fastening the module connector to the module terminal connection can be realized exclusively via metallic components, thus ensuring permanently stable fastening.

[0013] The module connector is used to electrically connect two module terminals of two battery modules. Each of these module terminals can be equipped with a corresponding module terminal connection. The two module terminals can then be electrically connected via the busbar if the module connector is properly coupled to these module terminal connections. When the module connector is properly operated, current is thus conducted from one battery terminal to another battery terminal of another battery module via the busbar. The module connector is preferably used in the high-voltage range. The module connector can be designed to carry very high currents.Furthermore, the module connector can, for example, have a first connection area that includes a part of the electrically conductive busbar with the busbar through-opening, as well as the electrically conductive contact socket with the socket opening and the insulating collar. In addition, the module connector can have another such connection unit, i.e. an additional second connection unit, which can in principle be designed entirely analogously to that described for the first connection unit. The first connection unit can then, for example, be electrically conductively contacted with a first module pole connection, and the second connection unit can be electrically conductively contacted in a corresponding manner with a second module pole connection. The two connection units are then connected to one another by a central part of the busbar and a part of the housing that encloses the central part of the busbar.The electrically insulating housing can be made of an electrically insulating material, for example a plastic. This also applies to all electrically insulating components described below. The busbar is made of an electrically conductive material, in particular a metallic material, for example copper. The busbar through-opening can be designed as a hole in the busbar. This is preferably circular. The socket opening can also be designed as a hole in the contact socket. The socket opening also preferably has a circular cross-section perpendicular to the connection direction. The contact socket can be designed as a metallic annular component with a central through-opening that provides the socket opening. The contact socket can also be referred to as a contact sleeve, for example. In principle, the contact socket, especially on the outer circumference, can be designed with any geometry, e.g.also angular, be formed.

[0014] The connection direction is defined such that a plug-in connection between the module connector and a corresponding module pole connection is possible by plugging these two components together in this connection direction. The connection direction can also correspond to an axial direction or run parallel to an axial direction that runs through a center of the rail through-opening and the socket opening. The axial direction extends essentially parallel to an axis of the fastening means that can be passed through the corresponding through-openings. A radial direction is correspondingly perpendicular to this axial direction and points away from such a central axis that runs through the corresponding through-openings. The insulation-free end face with the contact surface is preferably flat or planar.The front face lies in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction. This allows for surface contact with the corresponding second contact surface of the module terminal. Using a fastening device (explained in more detail later), this contact can be secured and, most importantly, the corresponding contact surfaces can be pressed together with high contact force.

[0015] The elastic spring element can be designed, for example, as a conventional spring, for example as a spiral spring. The module connector can be designed such that the spring element is in a mechanically tensioned state, at least in the second state, due to the compression of the spring element. In contrast, the spring element can be relaxed in the first state of the module connector or can also be under mechanical tension, which is then less than in the second state of the module connector. In order to compress the spring element and accordingly transfer the module connector from the first to the second state, a corresponding force is required on the module connector, for example on the at least one component, in the connection direction in order to overcome the opposing spring force.Furthermore, the module connector is preferably designed such that the module connector can be converted not only from the first state to the second state by compressing the spring element, but also conversely from the second state to the first state by relaxing or elastically expanding the spring element. The module connector thus provides a particularly advantageous and reversible connection option for connecting to the corresponding module terminal.

[0016] In a very advantageous embodiment of the invention, the component protrudes from the housing in the connection direction when the module connector is in its first state. In this case, in the first state of the module connector, the electrically conductive component protrudes from the housing with at least one insulation-free component section of the component. In other words, there should be no electrical insulation, such as a type of plastic cap or plastic sheath, on this protruding section of the component. This is not necessary because the component is not electrically connected to the busbar in its first state anyway, because the component is de-energized in its first state, even if the busbar itself is not de-energized but is already electrically connected to a module pole connection, for example via the other connection unit of the module connector.This eliminates the need for additional insulation measures, such as insulation caps or similar, for the component. The fact that the component protrudes from the housing allows for easier connection to the module terminal and, in some cases, even a significantly simpler design of this module terminal.

[0017] The fact that the component can protrude safely from the housing also allows the aforementioned insulation collar of the housing to be made shorter in the axial direction. This, in turn, saves space in the axial direction, as well as material and costs.

[0018] In a further very advantageous embodiment of the invention, the module connector has the fastening means and the fastening means represents the at least one component. The fastening means can be a screw, for example. The module connector can be fastened to the corresponding module pole connection via the fastening means. The fastening means is therefore partially passed through the rail through-opening and through the socket opening and protrudes with its lower end from the contact socket in the connection direction. Since the fastening means has no electrical contact with the busbar in the first state, it is now advantageously possible, as already mentioned, for the fastening means to also protrude from the housing in the connection direction.This enables particularly easy screwing into the corresponding module pole connection without, for example, the need for a plastic protective cap or similar on the end of the fastening device facing the module pole connection.

[0019] This design also has the significant advantage that the module connector can be automatically transferred from the first state to the second state by screwing the screw provided by the fastening means into the corresponding module terminal connection. This allows the screw to move in the connection direction while other parts of the module connector, such as the contact socket and / or the housing, are held in position. The spring element can be supported, for example, on the screw head and is thus automatically compressed when screwed in.

[0020] Accordingly, it represents a further advantageous embodiment of the invention if the fastening means is an elongated fastening means in the connection direction, which comprises a head and a neck adjoining the head in the connection direction, wherein the neck is passed through the rail through-opening and the socket opening and the head is held at a distance from the busbar and electrically insulated from the busbar by means of the spring element in the first state of the module connector and is electrically conductively connected to the busbar in the second state. The head of the fastening means can, for example, rest directly on the busbar in the second state. Optionally, a washer, in particular a metallic washer, can also be arranged between the head of the fastening means and the busbar.In this case, in the second state of the module connector, the head of the fastener rests on this metal washer, which in turn rests directly on the busbar. This eliminates any plastic elements between the head of the fastener and the busbar that could compromise a stable connection between the module connector and the corresponding module terminal over time.

[0021] Accordingly, it is also very advantageous if the head of the fastening means rests directly on the busbar, or if the module connector comprises a metallic washer which is arranged between the head and the busbar and via which the head and the busbar are electrically conductively connected to one another in the second state.

[0022] As already mentioned, the fastening means is particularly preferably a screw. This can therefore have a screw head and a screw neck, in particular with an external thread. The corresponding module pole connection can then have a suitable nut with an internal thread into which the screw can be screwed. However, it is also conceivable for the fastening means to have a neck with an internal thread and for the module pole connection to have a corresponding screw that can be screwed into this internal thread of the neck of the fastening means of the module connector. The first variant, however, enables a significantly more space-saving design of the connection arrangement, especially in the axial direction.

[0023] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the contact socket is arranged so as to make permanent electrical contact with the busbar and / or is formed integrally therewith, in particular wherein the insulating collar projects beyond the contact socket in the connection direction. In this case, the contact socket is arranged so as to make permanent contact with the busbar. As soon as the busbar is at a certain battery potential, this potential is also present at the contact socket. Accordingly, in this case, it is advantageous if the insulating collar is designed so that it projects beyond the contact socket in the connection direction. The insulating collar can advantageously provide contact protection for the contact socket.

[0024] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the contact socket represents the at least one component, in particular wherein in the first state both the contact socket and the fastening means are held by means of the spring element at a respective distance from the busbar and electrically insulated therefrom and in the second state are arranged in electrical contact with the busbar under compression of the spring element.

[0025] This advantageously makes it possible to hold the contact socket in a position that is electrically insulated from the busbar in the first state of the module connector, meaning there is no electrically conductive connection to the busbar. Even touching the contact socket would therefore not result in an electric shock when the module connector is in the first state. This, in turn, advantageously allows a part of the contact socket, in particular the socket part, which also includes the front side of the contact socket with the contact surface, to protrude from the housing in the connection direction.This in turn has the great advantage that the module pole connection can be designed to be structurally much simpler, since the protruding contact socket can be brought into contact with a corresponding contact surface of the module pole connection particularly easily, even if this contact surface of the module pole connection is set back from electrically insulating housing components. Furthermore, this in turn makes it possible to design the housing of the module connector, in particular the insulating collar, to be shorter in the axial direction, since the insulating collar does not require any contact protection for the contact socket in the first state of the module connector, and in particular also not for the fastening means. It is therefore particularly preferred that both the contact socket and the fastening means are held electrically insulated from the busbar in the first state of the module connector, in particular via the spring element.Another particularly advantageous feature is that this design can be implemented with just a single spring element. This eliminates the need for separate spring elements for the contact socket and the fastening element. For example, the screw head can be supported on the contact socket via the spring element. If the screw head moves toward the contact socket, the spring element is also compressed, as long as the contact socket and screw head are both in contact with the busbar, either directly or indirectly via the metal washer, as described above.

[0026] Accordingly, a further advantageous embodiment of the invention is provided if the spring element has a first spring end that is supported on the head of the fastening means and / or on the washer, in particular wherein the spring element is compressible by moving the head of the fastening means in the connection direction while the contact socket remains in its position, and the module connector is transferable from the first state to the second state. The fact that the contact socket remains in its position can be defined in particular with reference to a coordinate system that is firmly connected to the corresponding module pole connection. In order to connect the module connector to the module pole connection, the module connector can first be plugged onto a corresponding area of ​​the module pole connection.In this state, the contact surface of the contact socket is already resting on a corresponding second contact surface of the module pole connection. This second contact surface will later also be referred to as the contact area of ​​the module pole connection. In this state, the module connector is therefore still in its first state. Both the contact socket and the screw head are a certain distance from the busbar and are therefore not electrically connected to it. When the screw is now screwed in, the screw head is moved towards the contact socket. The contact socket does not move in the connection direction because it is resting on the corresponding contact area of ​​the module pole connection. Relatively speaking, however, the contact socket also moves towards the busbar.In other words, screwing in the screw compresses the spring, causing the screw head to rest on the top of the busbar and move along with the busbar toward the contact socket until the busbar ultimately makes electrical contact with the top of the contact socket. Depending on the type of support, screwing in the screw and compressing the spring can also initially move the busbar toward the contact socket, even though the screw head has not yet touched the busbar.

[0027] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the module connector comprises an insulating sleeve made of an electrically insulating material, wherein the insulating sleeve is arranged in the rail through-opening, in particular on an opening wall delimiting the rail through-opening in the radial direction, wherein the fastening means, when passed through the rail through-opening, is electrically insulated from the busbar by means of the insulating sleeve. This insulating sleeve can therefore advantageously also ensure that there is no electrically conductive contact between the screw neck and the busbar, since the screw neck is passed through the rail through-opening of the electrically conductive busbar. The insulating sleeve is therefore located between the screw neck and the busbar.

[0028] It is furthermore particularly advantageous if the spring element is designed as a spiral spring which is at least partially inserted or passed through the rail through-opening and is electrically insulated from the busbar by means of the insulating sleeve. If the spring element is designed as a spiral spring, the screw neck can be easily passed through the spiral spring. This stabilizes the spiral spring in the radial direction. This also enables a particularly compact design. The spiral spring, like the screw neck, can therefore be passed through the rail through-opening or at least partially inserted into it, depending on how the end of the spiral spring opposite the screw head is supported. The above-mentioned insulating sleeve thus also electrically insulates the spiral spring, which is also preferably made of a metallic material, from the busbar.In general, the spring element is preferably made of a metallic material. This makes the spring element particularly stable and robust over time.

[0029] The insulating sleeve is fundamentally optional and electrical insulation can be provided in other ways, if at all necessary. The insulating sleeve is advantageous, for example, if the spring element is made of an electrically conductive material. However, the insulating sleeve is not necessary if the spring element and / or the rail through-opening have an electrically insulating coating and / or the spring element is made of a non-electrically conductive material. A design of the spring element from an electrically insulating material, e.g. a plastic, is therefore also conceivable. Alternatively, the spring element can have a metallic core which is coated with an electrically insulating coating in order to provide an electrically insulating surface. The spring element is thus also designed to be electrically insulated from the outside.Additionally or alternatively, the rail through-hole can also be coated with an electrically insulating layer. In this case, the insulating sleeve can also be omitted.

[0030] There are various design options for the insulating sleeve. For example, it can be manufactured as a separate component from the housing. In particular, there does not necessarily have to be a connection between the insulating sleeve and the rest of the module connector housing. The insulating sleeve can, for example, be arranged in the form of a plastic ring in various through-openings, for example, clipped in or pressed in using a friction fit. The height of the insulating sleeve in the axial direction can correspond to the thickness of the busbar in the area of ​​the various through-openings or be greater, but at least not less. The insulating sleeve can also be formed as part of the housing and connected to the insulating collar, for example via an insulating web, for example one plastic web or several plastic webs.This has the advantage that such a web also provides a mounting option for the contact socket. This can be designed with corresponding slots on the underside into which these webs can be inserted. Underside means that the slots are located in the front of the contact socket, through which the contact surface for contacting the module pole connection is provided. Such webs can advantageously prevent the contact socket from falling out downwards in the connection direction through the opening in the housing. In principle, it is also conceivable for the contact socket to be materially connected to the busbar, at least in the design variant in which the position of the contact socket relative to the busbar is not to be shiftable. In this case, no mounting option for the contact socket is required, as it is firmly connected to the busbar.The busbar and the contact socket can also be provided as a single forged component, for example. In particular, the contact socket and the busbar can be made of the same material, for example, copper. However, this applies regardless of whether the contact socket is permanently and materially bonded to the busbar or not.

[0031] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the insulating sleeve is formed with at least one radially inwardly extending contact area, on which the spring element is supported in the connection direction with a second spring end. The contact area provided by the insulating sleeve can therefore be provided, for example, in the form of a radially inwardly projecting contact flange or a type of step or step-like tapered insulating sleeve. This provides an advantageous support option for the second spring end. The spring element can therefore not fall downwards, i.e. in the connection direction, out of the module connector. Furthermore, moving the fastening means with the first spring end supported against the head of the fastening means or the washer automatically causes compression of the spring element.This configuration is particularly advantageous when the contact socket is not designed to be movable relative to the busbar and is arranged in permanent contact with the busbar, i.e. in both the first and second state of the module connector. In this case, a downward support option for the spring cannot be provided by the contact socket, as this would otherwise create an electrically conductive connection between the fastening means via the contact socket and the busbar, even in the first state. Therefore, if the contact socket is fixedly arranged on the busbar or arranged in permanent contact with it, the insulating sleeve can simultaneously provide electrical insulation between the fastening means and the contact socket, and at the same time the insulating sleeve can provide a support option for the spring.

[0032] According to the design variant according to which the contact socket is also electrically insulated from the busbar in the first state of the module connector, a support option for the spring element can also be provided by the contact socket itself, since in this case the contact socket and the fastening means do not have to be designed to be insulated from one another, because both elements are stress-free and electrically insulated from the busbar in the first state of the module connector. Therefore, a further advantageous design, particularly in this example, is for the contact socket to have a radially inwardly projecting contact flange on which the spring element is supported in the connection direction by a second spring end.In this example, the insulating sleeve can be significantly shorter in the axial direction and its axial extension can essentially be limited to the thickness of the busbar. In this case, the insulating sleeve does not have to ensure insulation between the contact socket and the neck of the fastener. Accordingly, the contact socket can now advantageously provide a direct support for the spring. The spring can thus be easily clamped between the contact socket and the screw head.

[0033] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a module pole connection for electrical connection to a module connector according to the invention or one of its embodiments.

[0034] In addition, the module pole connection has a module pole busbar and a contacting area provided by the module pole busbar or electrically connected thereto, which can be electrically contacted with the contact surface of the module connector in the connection direction.In addition, the module pole busbar comprises a housing, in particular a second housing, which is designed to be electrically insulating and in which the module pole busbar is accommodated, wherein the housing has a housing wall which has a recess region with at least one recess for exposing at least part of the contacting region, wherein the housing wall has a recess edge region which surrounds the recess region in a radial direction and wherein the housing wall comprises an electrically insulating insulation ring radially within the recess region, which is connected to the recess edge region via at least one insulation web.

[0035] The special feature of the design of the module terminal connection is primarily that the housing wall of this module terminal connection comprises an inner insulating ring and an outer recess edge area, which are connected by at least one insulating web of the housing wall. The insulating web thus runs through the recess area of ​​the housing wall, which exposes the contact area of ​​the module terminal connection. By providing at least one insulating web, it is now possible not only to provide a single, closed, ring-shaped recess in the recess area to expose the contact area, but also to subdivide or divide this recess into several recess segments, for example. The individual recesses can thus be significantly reduced in size in terms of their dimensions. This, in turn, can provide contact protection, for example.For example, the individual recesses can be made smaller the more connecting webs are provided between the inner insulating ring and the outer recess area. Such insulating webs therefore advantageously make it possible to provide contact protection in a significantly more space-saving manner than, for example, in the form of a continuous insulating collar that protrudes far in the axial direction or a central insulating pin that protrudes far in the axial direction or similar. In order to make contact with this module pole connection, the corresponding module connector can have, for example, a slot or a slot-shaped recess on the front side of the contact socket that corresponds to at least one insulating web.These slots can, for example, correspond to the slots described above, which also accommodate the optional webs connecting the insulating sleeve to the insulating collar of the module connector housing. This eliminates the need for additional slots; instead, the slots can simply be provided correspondingly deeper in the axial direction to simultaneously accommodate the webs as housing components of the module connector and the insulating webs as housing components of the module terminal connection. If such module connectors and a corresponding module connection are then electrically connected to one another, at least one electrically insulating insulating web is located in such a slot of the module connector or contact socket.Twisting between the module connector and the module terminal connection is then no longer possible, or at least not possible up to a certain torque, because the insulation bar counteracts this torque. This also allows the screw connection to be designed with significantly higher torque and thus more stable. This allows for a stronger contact force between the contact surfaces.

[0036] An insulating bar is generally understood to be an elongated component made of an electrically insulating material. The cutout edge region, which surrounds the cutout region, is in particular directly adjacent to the cutout region in the radial direction. The cutout edge region, so to speak, delimits the cutout region in the radial direction. The cutout region represents the region of the housing wall in which the at least one or more cutouts are arranged, in particular in the radial direction, around the insulating ring. The cutout region can be defined by the entire cutout. The cutouts can be separated by the insulating bars. This means that the cutout region does not have to be a continuous area. The cutout region can also be defined such that, in addition to the cutouts, it also comprises the at least one or more insulating bars.In this case, the recess area is a continuous area through which at least one insulation web passes.

[0037] In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the module pole connection comprises a second, in particular annular contact socket with a second socket opening, wherein the contact socket, in particular the contact socket of the module pole connection, which is also referred to below as the second contact socket, provides the contacting area. Furthermore, the module pole busbar has a second busbar through-opening, wherein the second contact socket is arranged in contact with the module pole busbar, so that the second contact socket is arranged coaxially with the second busbar through-opening. The contacting area can be increased by such a contact socket, namely the second contact socket. In the radial direction, the contact socket is surrounded by a corresponding second insulating collar of the second housing of the module pole connection, although there is a distance between this second insulating collar and the second contact socket.The first insulating collar of the module connector housing can be inserted into this gap. This configuration is therefore particularly advantageous when the contact socket of the module connector is set back relative to the insulating collar of the module connector in the connection direction. This is preferably the case when the contact socket is arranged in permanent contact with the busbar of the module connector and is mounted immovably relative to it by means of the spring element.

[0038] A simpler design of the module pole connection, however, is possible if the contact socket of the module connector can also be displaced relative to the busbar via the spring element, because then the contact socket can protrude from the housing, in particular the insulation collar, in the connection direction. In this case, the module pole connection does not need to be provided with such an additional second contact socket to increase the contact area of ​​the module pole connection. In this case, the contact area can also be provided by a region of the module pole busbar itself. In other words, the contact area is then not raised compared to the other regions of the module pole busbar surface that directly adjoin it in the radial direction. In this case, the housing wall of the module pole connection can be essentially flat or level.This may have a slight elevation in the area of ​​the insulation ring, the cutout edge area, and the at least one insulation web. However, the insulation ring, the insulation web, and the cutout edge area do not have to be significantly elevated above a base plane of the housing wall to provide contact protection. The insulation ring, the at least one insulation web, and the cutout edge area can therefore be elevated above the base plane of the housing wall, with this elevation being, for example, of the same order of magnitude as the thickness of the housing wall in a non-raised area. In other words, the housing wall can be approximately twice as thick in the area of ​​the insulation ring, the insulation web, and the cutout edge area as in the areas of the housing wall radially outside the cutout edge area. The elevation is therefore particularly small overall.Rather, the contact protection can be provided by reducing the size of the opening in the housing wall, which must be penetrated in order to make contact with the contacting area, by providing at least one insulating web. The insulating ring of the housing wall surrounds a circular opening, in particular a central circular opening. A fastening means, for example a screw, can be inserted into this opening, namely the fastening means of the corresponding module connector. This allows the module pole connection to be fixed, in particular screwed, to the corresponding module connector. In both cases, no additional insulating pin, which is raised further in the axial direction above the base plane of the housing wall, needs to be provided within the insulating ring. This, in turn, saves considerable installation space in the axial direction.

[0039] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a connection arrangement for a battery module, wherein the connection arrangement comprises a module connector according to the invention or one of its embodiments, as well as a module pole connection according to the invention or one of its embodiments.

[0040] The advantages described above apply equally to the connecting arrangement according to the invention and its embodiments.

[0041] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a battery for a motor vehicle, in particular a high-voltage battery, which has a connection arrangement according to the invention or one of its embodiments. The battery can also have one or more battery modules. The battery modules can in turn comprise one or more battery cells.

[0042] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a motor vehicle with a battery according to the invention or one of its embodiments.

[0043] The invention also includes further developments of the module terminal connection according to the invention and the connection arrangement according to the invention, which have features already described in connection with the further developments of the module connector according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the module terminal connection according to the invention and the connection arrangement according to the invention are not described again here.

[0044] The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car or truck, or as a passenger bus or motorcycle.

[0045] The invention also encompasses combinations of the features of the described embodiments. The invention therefore also encompasses implementations that each comprise a combination of the features of several of the described embodiments, unless the embodiments are described as mutually exclusive.

[0046] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. Shown are:

[0047] Fig. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view and an exploded view of a module connector according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 shows a schematic and perspective view of the module connector from Fig. 1;

[0048] Fig. 3 is a schematic and perspective view of a module pole connection according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0049] Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the module pole connection from Fig. 3 according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0050] Fig. 5 is a schematic and perspective view of a connection arrangement with a module pole connection and a module connector according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0051] Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the connecting arrangement of Fig. 5 according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0052] Fig. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view and a schematic exploded view of a module connector according to a further embodiment of the invention;

[0053] Fig. 8 is a schematic and perspective view of a corresponding module pole connection according to a further embodiment of the invention;

[0054] Fig. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the module terminal connection of Fig. 8 according to an embodiment of the invention; and

[0055] Fig. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a connection arrangement with the module connector from Fig. 7 and the module pole connection from Fig. 8 according to a further embodiment of the invention.

[0056] The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that can be considered independently of one another, each of which also develops the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to encompass combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0057] In the figures, the same reference symbols designate elements with the same function.

[0058] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a module connector 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The module connector 10 is shown in a cross-sectional view on the right-hand side of Fig. 1 and in an exploded view on the left-hand side of Fig. 1. The module connector 10 is designed to establish an electrically conductive plug-in connection with a module pole terminal 12 (cf. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4) in a connection direction R that is aligned parallel to an axis A of the module connector 10. The connection direction R can accordingly also be referred to as the axial direction. A radial direction is defined perpendicular to this axis A.

[0059] The module connector 10 comprises an electrically conductive busbar 14. This, in turn, has a busbar through-opening 14a. The module connector 10 also has an electrically conductive contact socket 16. This also has a socket opening 16a in the form of a through-opening 16a in the connection direction R. The contact socket 16 has an end face 16e which provides a contact surface 36 for electrically contacting the corresponding module pole connection 12. Furthermore, the contact socket 16 is arranged below the busbar 14 in the connection direction R, in such a way that the busbar through-opening 1a and the socket opening 16a are coaxially aligned or flush with one another. Thus, a fastening means 18, in this example a screw 20 with its screw neck 20a, can be passed through both openings 14a, 16a simultaneously. In addition to a screw neck 20a, the screw 20 also comprises a head 20b.This is widened in the radial direction compared to the screw neck 20a. Optionally, a washer, in particular a metallic washer 22 (cf.

[0060] Fig. 7). In this example, the screw head 20b is designed with an integrated support flange 20c, which takes on the function of a separate washer 22. This or the support flange 20c serves to more evenly distribute the contact pressure of the screw head 20b on the busbar 14, in particular in a second state Z2 mounted on the module pole connection 12 (cf. Fig. 6). Furthermore, the module connector 10 comprises a housing 24, which in this example comprises an upper housing part 26 and a lower housing part 28. These can, for example, be clipped together to form the housing 24. The lower housing part 28 can be further divided into individual areas and, for example, comprise an insulating collar 28a, which surrounds at least part of the contact socket 16 and the busbar 14 in the radial direction. In addition, the insulating sleeve 34 described later can be designed as a component of the housing 24, in particular of the housing lower part 28.The remaining parts of the housing 24 serve mainly to electrically insulate the busbar 14. The upper housing part 26 can also have a through opening 26a in the area of ​​the screw head 20b to allow access for a screwing tool.

[0061] The module connector 10 in this example advantageously has a spring element 30 in the form of a spiral spring 32. This spring surrounds the screw neck 20a in the radial direction. Furthermore, this spring 32 is located between the contact socket 16 and the screw head 20b. The spring 32 also extends through the rail through-opening 1a. Optionally, it can also be inserted a short distance into the socket opening 16a or passed through it, although this is not necessarily the case.

[0062] Furthermore, the module connector 10 comprises the aforementioned insulating sleeve 34. This is arranged in the rail through-opening 14a and insulates the rail 14, and in this example also the contact socket 16, which in this example is permanently held or arranged and / or fixed to the busbar 14 in contact therewith, from the screw 20 and the spring 32. The sleeve 34 can be clipped into the through-opening 14a of the busbar 14, for example. The sleeve 34 can be held in the opening 14a with frictional engagement and / or positive engagement. However, the sleeve 34 can also be connected to the insulating collar 28a and thus held in place via electrically insulating housing webs 28d, as in this example. The contact socket 16 can have corresponding slots 56 into which the housing webs 28d and in particular also the insulation webs 48 of the corresponding module pole connection 12 (see Fig. 3 and Fig.4), in particular for assembling the module connector 10 on the one hand and for mounting the module connector 10 on the module terminal connection 12 on the other. To accommodate these insulating webs 48, the insulating collar 28a also has corresponding slots 28c (see Fig. 2).

[0063] In this example, the spring 32 is supported with one end 32b on the screw head 20b. If an additional optional washer 22 is provided, the spring 32 can also be supported on this instead of directly on the screw head 20b. The other end 32a of the spring 32, on the other hand, is supported on a contact area 34a provided by the insulating sleeve 34, in particular on a radially inwardly extending contact area 34a. The insulating sleeve 34 is formed with a step in the connection direction R. As a result, the inner diameter of the sleeve 34 tapers in the connection direction R. The spring 32 is thus clamped between the screw head 20b and the insulating sleeve 34; in the first state Z1 of the module connector 10 shown here, the spring 32 can also be in an at least almost relaxed state. A certain preload can be provided by the weight of the screw 20, which acts on the spring 32.

[0064] By providing this spring 32, it is advantageously possible, in this example, to keep the screw 20 electrically insulated from the busbar 14 in the first state Z1 of the module connector 10. The spring 32 thus holds the screw 20, in particular its screw head 20b, at a certain distance from the busbar 1, so that there is no electrically conductive contact between the screw 20 and the busbar 14. The insulating sleeve 34 also ensures electrical insulation between the spring 32 and the screw neck 20a on the one hand, and the busbar 14 and, in this case, also the contact socket 16 on the other.In this first state Z1 shown here, the screw, for example the screw neck 20a, which protrudes from the surrounding insulation collar 28a in the connection direction R at the end opposite the screw head 20b, can therefore be touched safely, since even if the busbar 14 is live, there is no electrically conductive contact with the screw 20.

[0065] A further major advantage of this design is that the end of the screw 20 opposite the screw head 20b does not need to be provided with electrical insulation, such as an insulating cap or an electrically insulating sheath, for example made of a plastic, or the like. The screw 20 can be designed as a whole without insulation, i.e., including its entire screw neck 20a and, in particular, the end of the screw 20 protruding from the housing 24. The same applies if another elongated fastening means 18 is selected instead of a screw 20 with a corresponding head and a neck adjoining it in the connection direction R. In this example, the contact socket 16, however, is permanently connected to the busbar 14.Accordingly, in this embodiment, it is preferred that the contact socket 16 be projected beyond by the circumferential insulating collar 28a of the housing 24 in the connection direction R. This can provide contact protection for the contact socket 16. Thus, the contact socket does not project beyond the housing 24 in the connection direction R.

[0066] Fig. 2 shows again a schematic and perspective representation of the module connector 10 from Fig. 1.

[0067] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a module terminal connection 12 according to an embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 4 shows the module terminal connection 12 from Fig. 3 in a schematic cross-sectional representation. This module terminal connection 12 is designed to be electrically contacted with a module connector 10 according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, as described above, in particular via a plug connection in the plugging direction R.

[0068] The module pole connection 12 also has a busbar 37, namely a module pole busbar 37. Furthermore, the module pole connection 12 comprises a housing 38 which encloses the busbar 37. The busbar 37 also has a contacting region 37a which can be electrically contacted with the contact surface 36 of the module connector 10 and is contacted when the module pole connection 12 is connected as intended to the module connector 10. The housing 38 advantageously has a housing wall 40 with a recess region 40a which has at least one recess 42 for exposing at least part of the contacting region 37a. Furthermore, the housing wall 40 comprises a recess edge region 44 in the form of an annular, protruding collar which encloses the recess region 40a in the radial direction relative to a central axis A'.In addition, the housing wall 40 comprises, radially within the recess region 40a, an electrically insulating insulation ring 46 which is connected to the recess edge region 44 via at least one insulation web 48, in the present example two insulation webs 48.

[0069] The cutout edge region 44, the insulating ring 46, and the insulating webs 48 can be designed somewhat higher than the surrounding housing wall 40. In this case, the contact protection is primarily provided by the insulating webs 48 and the width of the cutout region 44. This segments the exposed regions 37a into smaller subregions. In principle, additional webs 48 can be provided between the surrounding edge region 44 and the insulating ring 46, and a total of, for example, three or four or more webs 48 can be provided. This makes it particularly easy to provide contact protection. Contacting with the module connector 10 is also particularly easy, and a complex geometry of the module pole connection 12 can be dispensed with.

[0070] As can be clearly seen in Fig. 4, the module pole connection 12 additionally comprises a second contact socket 37b which provides the contact area 37a and is arranged on the busbar 37. This second contact socket 37b is made of metallic material and, for example, is ring-shaped. This additional contact socket 37b can be manufactured as a separate component and joined to the busbar 37, or forged as a single component together with the busbar 37. The contact socket 37b, like the busbar 37, is preferably made of copper in order to provide particularly good electrical conductivity. In general, the busbar 37 and the nut 52 can be made of different materials. As a result, the busbar 37 can be designed to be very conductive, while the nut 52 can provide the necessary stability and holding force for the screw 20.

[0071] The busbar 37 also has a through-opening 54. In this area, below the busbar 37, i.e., on the opposite side of the second contact socket 37b, a nut 52 is provided, into which the screw 20 of the module connector 10 can be screwed. The nut 52 can be designed as a press-in nut that is pressed into the through-opening 54 of the busbar 37, or it can also be welded to the busbar 37 in the area of ​​the opening 54 or joined in some other way. The nut 52 can be made of steel, for example. In other embodiments, the nut 52 can also be another coupling element for coupling to a corresponding fastening means 18 of the module connector 10. In this example, the nut 52 is designed with an internal thread, which, however, is not explicitly shown here.The contact socket 37b is arranged on the busbar 37 such that the through-opening 37c provided by the contact socket 37b is arranged coaxially with the opening 54 in the busbar 37 and the central opening of the nut 52. The inner insulating ring 46 and optionally the recess edge region 44 can also be arranged coaxially aligned with the opening 54. Furthermore, the outer circumference of the contact socket 37b is spaced from the inner wall of the recess edge region 44. This creates a gap between the recess edge region 44 and the second contact socket 37b in the radial direction. The insulating collar 28a of the housing 24 of the module connector 10 can be inserted into this gap, as described for Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. At the same time, contact can be established between the corresponding contact surfaces 36, 37a.

[0072] Fig. 5 shows a schematic and perspective illustration of a connection arrangement 50 with a module connector 10 according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, and with a corresponding module pole connection 12, for example according to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional illustration of the connection arrangement 50 from Fig. 5. The module connector 10 and the module pole connection 12 can therefore be designed as described above. The module connector 10 is now in its second state Z2, in which the spring 32 is now compressed or at least further compressed than in the first state Z1, which is shown in Fig. 1. In this second state Z2, there is now an electrically conductive contact between the screw 20, in particular the screw head 20b, and the busbar. An optional washer 22 can again be located between the screw head 20b and the busbar 14.The transition from the first state Z1 to the second state Z2 is achieved in a simple manner by plugging the module connector 10 onto the module pole connection 12 in the connection direction R as intended and then screwing the screw 20 into the corresponding nut 52 of the module pole connection 12.

[0073] Thus, when the screw 20 is screwed into the nut 52, the screw head 20b moves downward, i.e., in the connection direction R, while, for example, the contact socket 16, which rests on the module terminal 12, is held in position. This reduces the distance between the screw head 20b and the contact socket 16, as well as the insulating sleeve 34. This compresses the spring 32. Consequently, contact is made between the screw 20, the busbar 14, and the contact socket 16.

[0074] As already mentioned, the contact socket 16 can be provided with slots 56 on its end face 16e (see Fig. 1). In addition to the housing webs 28d, the corresponding insulation webs 48 of the module terminal connection 12 can also be accommodated in these slots.

[0075] The touch protection at the module terminal connection 12 can thus be realized through the geometry of the insulating housing 38. The touch protection of the module connector 10 can also be implemented very advantageously as described. This allows for a particularly compact connection arrangement 50, especially in the axial direction R.

[0076] Fig. 7 shows a schematic representation of a module connector 10 according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention. The module connector 10 is shown in a cross-sectional view on the right side of Fig. 1 and in an exploded view on the left side of Fig. 1. The module connector 10 can be designed as described above, except for the differences described below.

[0077] In this example, the contact socket 16 is not permanently arranged on the busbar 14, but is displaceable by means of the spring 32, similar to the screw 20 described above. In this example, the contact socket 16 also has a contact flange 16b that projects radially inward into the socket opening 16a and on which the spring 32 is supported downwards with a spring end 32a, so that the spring 32 cannot fall downwards, i.e., through the contact socket 16 in the connection direction R. The contact between the spring 32 and the contact socket 16 is possible in this example because the contact socket 16 has no electrical contact with the busbar 1 in the first state Z1 of the module connector 10. The opposite second end 32b of the spring 32 is supported in this example by the washer 22, which is additionally provided here and is arranged between the screw head 20b and the busbar 14.As a result, the washer 22 is held on the screw head 20b and does not contact the busbar 14 in the first state Z1. If the washer 22 is not present, the spring 32 can be supported analogously on the screw head 20b.

[0078] Furthermore, in this example, the insulation collar 28a also includes a support flange 28b that projects radially inward slightly, and the contact socket 16 has a support flange 16c that rests on the support flange 28b of the housing 24. This allows the contact socket 16 to be held in the housing 24, particularly on the insulation collar 28a, and prevents it from falling out downward, i.e., in the connection direction R.

[0079] By providing this spring 32, it is now advantageously possible for the contact socket 16, and in this example also the screw 20, to be electrically insulated from the busbar 14 in a first state Z1 of the module connector 10, which is shown in Fig. 7. The spring 32 holds the contact socket 16, on the one hand, at a certain distance from the busbar 1, so that there is no electrically conductive contact between the contact socket 16 and the busbar 14. Correspondingly, the spring 32 also holds the screw 20, in particular the screw head 20b, at a certain distance from the busbar 14, so that there is no electrically conductive contact between the screw 20 and the busbar 14.

[0080] Furthermore, the module connector 10 here also comprises an insulating sleeve 34. This is arranged in the rail through-opening 14a and insulates the rail 14 from the screw 20 and the spring 32. In this example, the sleeve 34 is clipped into the through-opening 14a of the busbar 14 and is not held by webs on the insulating collar 28a or other parts of the housing 24. The sleeve 34 is provided as a separate part, as can be seen in the exploded view. Furthermore, the sleeve 34 does not have to insulate the contact socket 16 from the screw 20 because the contact socket 16 is now also insulated from the busbar 14 in the first state Z1. As a result, the insulating sleeve 34 can be shorter in the axial direction R than in the previous examples and does not have to extend into the socket opening 16a.

[0081] The insulating sleeve 34 also ensures electrical insulation between the spring 32 and the screw neck 20a on the one hand and the busbar 14 on the other. Alternatively or additionally, an electrically insulating coating could be provided, for example, on the busbar through-opening 14a and / or the spring 32, or the spring 32 could be made of electrically insulating material. In this first state Z1 shown here, both the screw 20 and the contact socket 16 can be touched safely, since even when the busbar 14 is live, there is no electrically conductive contact with the screw 20 and the contact socket 16. The contact socket 16 has an insulation-free socket part 16d which encompasses the end face 16e of the contact socket 16, the end face 16e simultaneously providing a contact surface 36.This socket part 16d protrudes beyond the housing 24, in particular the insulation collar 28a, in the connection direction R, at least in the first state Z1 and in particular also in the second state Z2, albeit to a reduced extent. In other words, the insulation-free socket part 16d protrudes from the housing 24. This in turn enables a significantly simpler design of the corresponding module pole connection 12, as explained in more detail below. In this example, contact with the contact socket 16 nevertheless poses no risk of electric shock, since the contact socket 16 is electrically insulated from the busbar 14 in the first state Z1. In this example, the screw 20 could also protrude a little further down from the contact socket 16 without the need for additional contact protection.

[0082] The screw 20 is also electrically insulated from the rail 14 in the first state Z1 of the module connector 10.

[0083] Fig. 8 shows a schematic representation of a module terminal connection 12 corresponding to the module connector of Fig. 7 according to a further embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 9 shows the module terminal connection 12 of Fig. 8 in a schematic cross-sectional representation. This module terminal connection 12 is again designed to be electrically contacted with a module connector 10, as described for Fig. 7, in particular via a plug connection in the plug-in direction R.

[0084] The module pole connection 12 can be designed as described for Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, except for the differences described below: The busbar 37 now has the contacting area 37a, i.e. the contacting area 37a is not provided in the present case by an additional second contact sleeve. The contacting area 37a is not raised compared to the surface areas of the module pole busbar 37 surrounding it in the radial direction. The recess edge area 44 has no distance from the contacting area 37a in the radial direction. This is possible because the insulation collar 28a does not protrude beyond the contact surface 36 of the contact socket 16 of the module connector 10 from Fig. 7. The contacting of the module pole connection 12 to the module connector 10 can be provided particularly easily in that the contact socket 16 protrudes from the housing 24 with its insulation-free socket part 16d.Thus, a complex geometry of the module pole connection 12 can be dispensed with in order to enable contact with the contact socket 16.

[0085] Fig. 10 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a connection arrangement 50 with a module connector 10 according to Fig. 7 and a module pole connection 12 according to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 in a connected state according to an embodiment of the invention. The module connector 10 and the module pole connection 12 can be designed as previously described with reference to Fig. 7, Fig. 8 and Fig. 9. The module connector 10 is in a second state Z2, in which the spring 32 is now compressed or at least further compressed than in the first state Z1, which is shown in Fig. 7. In this second state Z2, there is now an electrically conductive contact between the contact socket 16 and the busbar 14, as well as between the screw 20, in particular the screw head 20b, the washer 22 and the busbar 14.The transition from the first state Z1 to the second state Z2 is again achieved in a simple manner by plugging the module connector 10 onto the module pole connection 12 as intended in the connection direction R and then screwing the screw 20 into the corresponding nut 52, which is provided as part of the module pole connection 12. Thus, when the screw 20 is screwed into the nut 52, the screw head 20b moves downwards, i.e., in the connection direction R, while, for example, the contact socket 16, which rests on the module pole connection 12, is held in position. This reduces the distance between the screw head 20b and the contact socket 16, compressing the spring 32. This results in contact between the screw 20, the busbar 14, and the contact socket 16.

[0086] In addition, the contact socket 16 can be provided with slots 56 on its end face 16e (see Fig. 7). These slots can then accommodate the corresponding webs 48 of the module terminal connection 12.

[0087] The touch protection at the module pole, i.e., at the module pole connection 12, can thus again be implemented through the geometry of the insulated housing 38. With the present design of the high-voltage connector described here according to Fig. 7, i.e., the module connector 10, no additional components are required at the module pole, i.e., at the module pole connection 12, to ensure touch protection. With this implementation of the touch protection at the module connector 10, the touch protection at the module pole 12 of the high-voltage battery can be implemented very easily and with just a few individual parts. The high-voltage connector 10 can also be designed with touch protection. The touch protection at the high-voltage connector 10 is advantageously implemented by the integrated spring element 30.In the first state Z1, a spring element 30 holds the contact socket 16 and the connecting element, i.e., the fastening means 18, 20 and, if present, the disk 22, away from the busbar 14. As a result, the contact socket 16 and the connecting element 18 have no electrical connection to the busbar 14 and are therefore touch-protected, or the module connector 10 as a whole can be regarded as touch-protected. When the high-voltage connector 10 is connected to the electrical interface, i.e., the module pole connection 12, of the battery, the contact socket 16 is connected to the busbar 14 and pressed in. This ensures electrical contact in the assembled state. The electrically insulating housing of both the module connector 10 and the module pole connection 12 also provides touch protection in the assembled state.Although the contact socket 16 on the high-voltage connector 10 protrudes beyond the housing 24 when not installed, the contact protection is provided by the spring element 30. This allows the module terminal 12 to be designed with contact protection simply and with few components. No additional insulation of the connecting elements on the module terminal 12 or on the HV connector 10 is necessary, and the contact protection is provided by the existing housing 24, 38. Standard connecting elements, such as screws, washers, and press-in nuts, can advantageously be used for screwing.

[0088] Overall, the examples show how the invention can provide a touch protection interface for high-voltage connectors and high-voltage batteries according to advantageous embodiments.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS: 1 . Module connector (10) for electrically connecting to a module terminal connection (12) of a battery module by establishing a plug connection in a connection direction (R), the module connector (10) comprising: - an electrically conductive busbar (14) with a rail passage opening (1 a) for the passage of a fastening means (18, 20) in the connection direction (R); - an electrically conductive contact socket (16) having an end face (16e) providing a contact surface (36) for electrically contacting the module pole connection (12), wherein the contact socket (16) has a socket opening (16a) which is arranged below the busbar (14) and coaxially aligned with the rail through-opening (14a) with respect to the connection direction (R), so that the fastening means (18, 20) can be passed through the rail through-opening (14a) and the socket opening (16a) simultaneously in the connection direction (R); - an electrically insulating housing (24) with an insulating collar (28a) which surrounds at least part of the busbar (14) and at least part of the contact socket (16) in a radial direction; characterized in that - the module connector (10) has an elastic spring element (30, 32) which is compressible and / or expandable in the connection direction (R), - wherein the module connector (10) can be transferred from a first state (Z1) to a second state (Z2), - wherein in the first state (Z1 ) at least one electrically conductive component (18, 20; 16) of the module connector (10) is held by means of the spring element (30, 32) at a distance from the busbar (14) and electrically insulated therefrom, and in the second State (Z2) under compression of the spring element (30, 32) is arranged in electrical contact with the busbar (1).

2. Module connector (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the component (18, 20; 16) protrudes from the housing (24) in the connection direction (R) in the first state (Z1) of the module connector (10).

3. Module connector (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the module connector (10) has the fastening means (18, 20), and the fastening means (18, 20) represents the at least one component (18, 20), in particular wherein the fastening means (18, 20) comprises a head (20b) and a neck (20a) adjoining the head (20b) in the connection direction (R), wherein the neck (20a) is passed through the rail through-opening (14a) and the socket opening (16a), and the head (20b) is held at a distance from the busbar (14) and electrically insulated from the busbar (14) by means of the spring element (30, 32) in the first state (Z1) of the module connector (10), and is electrically conductively connected to the busbar (14) in the second state (Z2).

4. Module connector (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact socket (16) is arranged in a permanently electrically contacting manner on the busbar (14) and / or is formed integrally therewith, and in particular wherein the insulation collar (28a) projects beyond the contact socket (16) in the connection direction (R).

5. Module connector (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the contact socket (16) represents the at least one component (18, 20; 16), in particular wherein in the first state (Z1) both the contact socket (16) and the fastening means (18, 20) are Spring element (30, 32) are held at a respective distance from the busbar (1) and electrically insulated from it, and in the second state (Z2) are arranged in electrical contact with the busbar (14) under compression of the spring element (30, 32).

6. Module connector (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring element (30, 32) has a first spring end (32b) which is supported on the head (20b) of the fastening means (18, 20) and / or on the washer (22), in particular wherein the spring element (30, 32) is compressible by moving the head (20b) of the fastening means (18, 20) in the connection direction (R), while the contact socket (16) remains in its position, and the module connector (10) is transferable from the first state (Z1) to the second state (Z2).

7. Module connector (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the module connector (10) comprises an insulating sleeve (34) made of an electrically insulating material, wherein the insulating sleeve (34) is arranged in the rail through-opening (14a), in particular on an opening wall delimiting the rail through-opening (14a) in the radial direction, wherein the fastening means (18, 20) is electrically insulated from the busbar (14) by means of the insulating sleeve (34) when passed through the rail through-opening (14a), in particular wherein the spring element (30, 32) is designed as a spiral spring (32) which is at least partially inserted or passed through the rail through-opening (14a) and is electrically insulated from the busbar (14) by means of the insulating sleeve (34).

8. Module connector (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the insulating sleeve (34) is formed with a radially inwardly extending contact area (34a) on which the spring element (30, 32) is supported in the connection direction (R) with a second spring end (32a); or - the contact socket (16) has a radially inwardly projecting contact flange (16b) on which the spring element (30, 32) is supported in the connection direction (R) with a second spring end (32a).

9. Module pole connection (12) for electrical connection to a module connector (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the module pole connection (12) has a module pole busbar (37) and a contacting area (37a) provided by the module pole busbar (37) or electrically conductively connected thereto, which contacting area can be electrically contacted with the contact surface (36) of the module connector (10) in the connection direction (R), and - a housing (38) which is electrically insulating and in which the module pole busbar (37) is accommodated, - wherein the housing (38) has a housing wall (40) which has a recess region (40a) with at least one recess (42) for exposing at least part of the contacting region (37a), - wherein the housing wall (40) has a recess edge region (44) surrounding the recess region (40a) in a radial direction, and - wherein the housing wall (40) comprises an electrically insulating insulation ring (46) radially within the recess region (44), which is connected to the recess edge region (44) via at least one insulation web (48).

10. A connection arrangement (50) for a battery module, wherein the connection arrangement (50) comprises a module connector (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8 and a module pole terminal (12) according to claim 9.

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