Connection insert for battery pack

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection insert (100) which comprises: - a main body (101); - one or more centering strips (110) and / or one or more compensation strips (120), the centering strip (110) being configured to cooperate with an internal wall of the housing in order to impose a centering position on the main body (101) when it is inserted into the housing, the compensation strip (120) being configured to cooperate with an insertion edge in order to impose a predetermined insertion level on the main body (101); - a connection member (130), said connection member (130) being arranged to allow contact between a contact terminal of the battery pack (10) and an external connector by a fixed connection; - main stops (140) arranged to limit the movements of the main body (101) in the housing. Figure 7

Description

Title of the invention: Connection insert for battery pack FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of batteries, and more particularly to the field of batteries for electric vehicles. In particular, the present invention relates to a connection insert configured to limit the stresses and vibrations exerted on the terminals of a battery pack. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] An example of a battery block known from the state of the art comprises a plurality of elementary cells of generally parallelepiped shape and which comprise on one of their faces, called the contact face, connection terminals. The elementary cells are in particular stacked in a stacking direction and so that all of the contact faces are coplanar and thus form a main face.

[0003] The battery pack also comprises a connector support covering the main face and provided with connection means, in particular connection plates, arranged to connect, for example in series, all of the elementary cells of the battery pack. The connector support also comprises two contact terminals for interconnecting the battery pack.

[0004] Furthermore, the battery pack comprises an end plate disposed against the terminal elementary cell of the stack of elementary cells.

[0005] According to this example, the contact terminals are directly above the terminal plate. Generally, the contact at a contact terminal uses a stud, crimped or glued to said contact terminal, and to which a connection device is connected.

[0006] However, this configuration is not satisfactory.

[0007] Indeed, the battery blocks used in motor vehicles are generally subject to vibrations and / or slight movements. These are likely to be transmitted to the connection devices and / or contact terminals and are consequently a source of degradation, and consequently of failure, of the electrical connection between the elements considered.

[0008] An aim of the present invention is therefore to propose a connection insert making it possible to reduce the stresses likely to be exerted at the contact terminals. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention relates to a connection insert for the electrical connection of a contact terminal of a battery pack, the connection insert comprising:- a main body, single-piece provided with a rear face and a front face opposite the rear face, said main body being intended to be inserted, and in part, into a housing, said housing opening through an insertion face of a contact terminal plate of the battery pack;

[0010] - one or more centering strips and / or one or more catch-up strips, one or more centering strips being configured to cooperate, by spring effect, with an internal wall of the housing in order to impose a centering position on the main body when it is inserted into the housing, one or more compensation strips being configured to cooperate, by spring effect, with an insertion edge delimiting the opening of the housing opening through the insertion face in order to impose a predetermined insertion level on the main body;

[0011] - a connection member, advantageously projecting relative to the front face, said connection member being arranged to allow contact between a contact terminal of the battery pack and an external connector by a fixed connection;

[0012] - main stops arranged to limit movements, according to a plan parallel to the front face, of the main body in the housing.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the main body is intended to be inserted into the housing via its rear face.

[0014] According to one embodiment, one or more centering strips are arranged on one and / or the other of two lateral faces and / or on one and / or the other of two end faces of the main body, the two lateral faces as well as the two end faces connecting the front face with the rear face.

[0015] According to one embodiment, said connection insert comprises two lateral stops arranged in projection, respectively, of one and the other of the two lateral faces, the two lateral stops being arranged in an upstream plane, in a direction going from the front face towards the rear face, to one or more lateral strips and to one or more compensation strips, the two lateral stops being arranged to abut against the insertion edge.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the main body comprises two side walls connected together by two end walls, each of the side walls bearing on the side face, which partly delimits it, at least one centering strip among one or more centering strips, and at least one compensation strip among one or more compensation strips.

[0017] According to one embodiment, each of the end walls carries on the end face, which partly delimits it, at least one centering strip from among one or more centering strips.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the lateral stops comprise cleats.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the main stops comprise ribs terminals and lateral ribs, each terminal rib being projected relative to one of the terminal faces while each lateral rib is projected relative to one of the lateral faces.

[0020] According to one embodiment, said connection insert comprises snap-fastening means configured to allow the main block to be snapped into the housing.

[0021] According to one embodiment, at least one centering strip among one or more centering strips also forms the latching means.

[0022] According to one embodiment, said connection insert comprises snap-on levers projecting relative to the front face and configured to cooperate by snap-on with the flat contact terminal of the battery pack.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the main block also comprises a front stop projecting from the front face.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the connection member comprises a stud overmolded in the main body. Brief description of the drawings

[0025] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description which follows with reference to the appended figures in which:

[0026] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a schematic representation of two electric battery packs strictly connected to each other, each, by one of their contact terminals, each battery block is notably represented in a perspective view;

[0027] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of a stack of elementary cells implemented in each of the battery blocks shown in [Fig.l], the stack is in particular shown in a perspective view;

[0028] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents the stack of elementary cells of [Fig.2] intercalated between the first plate and the second plate;

[0029] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a schematic representation, in perspective view, of an end plate, called the first plate and capable of being implemented within the framework of the present invention;

[0030] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a schematic representation of a connector support by one of its faces and capable of being implemented within the framework of the present invention;

[0031] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a schematic representation, in perspective view, of the arrangement of the secondary section in line with the insertion face;

[0032] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a schematic representation of a connection insert according to a perspective view from the front face;

[0033] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is a schematic representation, in perspective view, of the connection insert of [Fig.7] partially inserted into a housing of the first plate;

[0034] [Fig.9] [Fig.9] is a schematic representation, in perspective view, illustrating the connection, by screwing, of a connection device on the connection member;

[0035] [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] is a representation of the connection insert in a perspective view allowing the side walls and the end walls of the main body to be observed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] The invention relates to a connection insert for the electrical connection of a contact terminal of a battery pack 10 ([Fig.l]).

[0037] In this regard, and as illustrated in [Fig. 2], the battery pack 10 comprises a plurality of elementary cells 11, 12, 13 in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. In particular, each elementary cell comprises two main faces, parallel to each other and connected by four faces, among which there is a face called the contact face 14, and on which are arranged two connection terminals 15, 16, for example a positive terminal and a negative terminal.

[0038] The elementary cells 11, 12, 13, within the battery block, are stacked in a stacking direction perpendicular XX' to the main faces, and so that the contact faces 14 are essentially coplanar and accessible by one face, called the connection face 17.

[0039] The battery pack 10 also comprises two end plates, called respectively, first plate 18 and second plate 19, and between which the stack of elementary cells is arranged. Each end plate 18, 19 comprises two parallel faces called, respectively, internal face and external face.

[0040] Each terminal plate is arranged opposite, by its internal face, a main face of an elementary cell arranged at one of the ends of the stack.

[0041] In particular, the first plate 18 is arranged opposite, by its internal face, a main face of an elementary cell, called first cell 12, at one of the ends of the stack.

[0042] Equivalently, the second plate 19 is arranged opposite, by its internal face, a main face of an elementary cell, called second cell 13, at the other end of the stack.

[0043] The first plate 18 and the second plate 19 can be connected to each other by additional walls so that said first 18 and second 19 plates delimit, with the additional walls, a space housing the stack of elementary cells ([Fig.3]).

[0044] The first plate 18 also comprises a face, called the insertion face 20, in the extension of the connection face 17 of the stack. Furthermore, and as illustrated in [Fig.4], the first plate 18 also comprises a housing 21, or even two housings 21, opening through an opening on the insertion face 20, said opening being delimited by an edge, called the insertion edge 22.

[0045] The battery pack also comprises a connector support 23 covering all of the contact faces 14 and the insertion face 20 ([Fig.l], [Fig.4]). The connector support 23 has in particular the shape of a plate and comprises connection means 25 arranged, on a main section 24 of said connector support ([Fig.5]), to connect, for example in series, the elementary cells 11, 12, 13 of the stack of elementary cells. The connection means 25 can in particular form a conductive track ending in two contact terminals 27 and 28.

[0046] The connector support 23 also comprises a secondary section 26 in the extension of the main section 24 in the stacking direction. More particularly, the secondary section 26 is directly above the insertion face of the first plate 18, and in particular directly above one and the other of the housings 21 of the first plate and opening out via the insertion face 20 ([Fig.6]). In this respect, the secondary section 26 comprises a flat bottom surmounted by a front wall and two side walls, and on which rests one and the other of the two contact terminals 27 and 28.

[0047] More particularly, each contact terminal 27 and 28 corresponds, respectively, to one and the other of the housings 21.

[0048] In particular, the contact terminal 27 corresponds to one of the two housings 21, while the contact terminal 28 corresponds to the other of the two housings 21. It is further understood that the flat bottom of the secondary section is interposed between one and the other of the contact terminals and the insertion face.

[0049] Furthermore, each contact terminal 27 and 28, of generally planar shape, comprises a through passage, called a connection passage, also aligned with a through passage, called a secondary passage, and arranged in the flat bottom of the secondary section 26. It is agreed, in the remainder of the statement, that a connection passage and the secondary passage with which it is aligned form a connection pair.

[0050] A connection pair formed by a connection passage and a secondary passage is in particular intended to cooperate with a connection member of a connection insert as described in the remainder of the statement.

[0051] The secondary section 26 also includes openings, and more particularly- 4 openings intended to cooperate with snap-on levers of two connection inserts, described in the remainder of the statement, and capable of being housed, respectively, in one and the other of the two housings 21.

[0052] [Fig. 7] is a schematic representation, in perspective view, of a connection insert 100, object of the present invention.

[0053] In particular, the connection insert 100 is implemented for the electrical connection of a contact terminal of a battery pack.

[0054] In this regard, and as shown in [Fig.7], the connection insert comprises a main body 101, in one piece. The main body 101 may comprise an insulating material, and in particular a plastic material. Furthermore, said main body 101 may be formed using an injection molding process.

[0055] The main body 101 comprises a rear face 102 and by which said body 101 is intended to be inserted into a housing 21. In this regard, [Fig.8] schematically represents the body of [Fig.7] partially inserted into a housing 21 of the first plate.

[0056] The invention should not be limited to a single insertion via the rear face. In particular, a person skilled in the art, based on his general knowledge and the remainder of the statement of the present invention, may also envisage an insertion of the connection insert via a front face (defined below) opposite the rear face. Obviously, this new architecture will require adapting the first plate.

[0057] The main body 101 also comprises a front face 103 opposite the rear face 102 and connected to the latter by two lateral faces 104 and 105, and two end faces 106 and 107. It is understood, without it being necessary to specify, that the two lateral faces 104 and 105 are opposite each other.

[0058] Equivalently, it is also understood that the two end faces 106 and 107 are also opposite each other.

[0059] The main body 101, according to the present invention, may comprise one or more centering strips 110 and / or one or more compensation strips 120.

[0060] In particular, one or more centering strips 110 is / are configured to cooperate, by spring effect, against the internal wall of the housing 21 in which the connection insert is partially inserted. In other words, one or more centering strips bear by one of their free ends against the internal wall of the housing.

[0061] Thus, it is understood that the section of the main body 101 inserted into the housing is delimited according to a contour, perpendicular to the front face and to the rear face, set back relative to the internal wall of the housing 21. Thus, one or more centering strips allow, by bending of the latter, a slight displacement of the main body in the housing in directions belonging to a plane parallel to the insertion face.

[0062] Advantageously, one or more centering strips are arranged on one and / or the other of the two lateral faces and / or on one and / or the other of the two end faces of the main body.

[0063] By way of example, two centering strips 110 may be projecting from one of the lateral faces 104, 105, and two other centering strips 110 may be projecting from the other of the lateral faces 104, 105.

[0064] Still by way of example, complementary or alternative to the previous example, a centering strip 110 may be projecting from one of the end faces, and another centering strip may be projecting from the other of the end faces.

[0065] One or more compensation strips 120 are configured to cooperate, by spring effect, with the insertion edge 22 in order to impose a predetermined insertion level on the main body 101. In other words, one or more compensation strips 120 are projecting relative to the main body 101 and comprise one end bearing against the insertion edge. 22. According to this configuration, one or more compensation strips 120 allow, by bending the latter, a slight displacement of the main body varying the insertion level of the main body 101.

[0066] The connection insert 100 also comprises a connection member 130, for example projecting relative to the front face 103, and arranged to allow contact between a contact-making terminal 27, 28 and a connection device.

[0067] In particular, the connection member 130 may be configured to pass firstly through the secondary passage of the secondary section and, secondly, through the connection passage of the contact terminal 27, 28.

[0068] By way of example, and without however limiting the invention to this single aspect, the contact-making member 27, 28 may comprise a stud overmolded on the main body 101. Such an architecture makes it possible to consider the screwing, by means of a nut 31, of a connection device (formed by a blade 30) with a view to its connection to the contact-making terminal 27, 28 ([Fig.9]).

[0069] The connection insert 100 also comprises main stops 140 arranged to limit the movements, along a plane parallel to the front face, of the main body in the housing. In particular, the main stops 140 are arranged to abut against the internal wall of the housing 21 partly housing the main body 101.

[0070] The main stops may be arranged on one and / or the other of the lateral faces and / or on one and / or the other of the end faces of the main body.

[0071] In particular, two main stops may be in projection of one of the two side faces, and two main stops can be projecting from the other of the two side faces.

[0072] In a complementary or alternative manner, two main stops may be projecting from one of the two end faces, and two main stops may be projecting from the other of the two end faces.

[0073] Advantageously, the connection insert 100 comprises two lateral stops 150 arranged in projection, respectively, of one and the other of the two lateral faces, the two lateral stops being arranged in an upstream plane, in a direction going from the front face towards the rear face, to one or more lateral strips and to one or more compensation strips.

[0074] In particular, the lateral stops 150 are arranged to abut against the insertion edge 22 when a force is exerted on the connection insert and said force opposing that exerted by one or more compensation strips on the insertion edge.

[0075] As illustrated in [Fig.7] and [Fig.8], the lateral stops 150 may comprise cleats.

[0076] According to a particularly advantageous example, the main body may comprise two side walls 160 connected to each other by two end walls 170 ([Fig. 10]). In particular, each of the side walls 160 may carry on the lateral face, which partly delimits it, at least one centering strip from among one or more centering strips, and at least one compensation strip from among one or more compensation strips.

[0077] Equivalently, each of the end walls may carry on the end face, which partly delimits it, at least one centering strip from among one or more centering strips.

[0078] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the main stops comprise end ribs and lateral ribs, each end rib being projected relative to one of the end faces while each lateral rib is projected relative to one of the lateral faces. In particular, each end rib may be in the extension of a lateral wall.

[0079] Advantageously, the connection insert may comprise snap-fastening means configured to allow the main block to be snapped into the housing.

[0080] In this regard, each centering strip among one or more centering strips and projecting relative to a lateral face also forms one of the snap-fastening means.

[0081] According to this architecture, its centering slats can be terminated by a lug or a stop intended to cooperate with a complementary snap-fastening means formed on the internal wall of the housing in question.

[0082] Still advantageously, the connection insert may comprise snap-on levers 180 projecting relative to the front face and configured to cooperate by snap-on engagement with the openings provided in the secondary section.

[0083] Finally, the main block may also comprise a stop 190 projecting from the front face and intended to bear against a face of the contact terminal.

[0084] The connection insert 100 according to the present invention is thus advantageously implemented for connecting battery pack contact terminals. In this respect, the connection insert, by means of the centering strips and the compensation strips, makes the connection less sensitive to vibrations and / or movements induced by the implementation of the battery pack in a motor vehicle. The aforementioned vibrations and / or movements are in particular absorbed by the centering and / or compensation strips.

[0085] The main stops also make it possible to limit the movements of the connection insert in the housing, and consequently to limit the forces exerted on the contact terminals. In other words, the forces resulting from vibrations and movements within the battery blocks are, ultimately, taken up by the first plate.

[0086] The invention also relates to a kit which comprises a connection insert and an end plate as described herein.

[0087] The invention also relates to a battery pack provided with at least one connection insert according to the terms of the present invention.

[0088] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and variant embodiments can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

Claims

1. Connection insert (100) for the electrical connection of a contact terminal of a battery pack (10), the connection insert (100) comprising: - a main body (101), monobloc provided with a rear face (101) and a front face (103) opposite the rear face (101), said main body (101) being intended to be inserted, and in part, into a housing, said housing opening through an insertion face of a contact terminal plate of the battery pack (10);- one or more centering strips (110) and one or more compensation strips (120), the one or more centering strips (110) being configured to cooperate, by spring effect, with an internal wall of the housing in order to impose a centering position on the main body (101) when it is inserted into the housing, the one or more compensation strips (120) being configured to cooperate, by spring effect, with an insertion edge delimiting the opening of the housing opening through the insertion face in order to impose a predetermined insertion level on the main body (101); - a connection member (130), projecting relative to the front face (103), said connection member (130) being arranged to allow contact between a contact terminal of the battery pack (10) and an external connector by a fixed connection;- main stops (140) arranged to limit the movements, along a plane parallel to the front face (103), of the main body (101) in the housing.;

2. Connection insert (100) according to claim 1, wherein the main body (101) is intended to be inserted into the housing by its rear face (101).

3. Connection insert (100) according to claim 2, wherein one or more centering strips (110) are arranged on one and / or the other of two lateral faces (104, 105) and / or on one and / or the other of two end faces (106, 107) of the main body (101), the two lateral faces (104, 105) as well as the two end faces (106, 107) connecting the front face (103) with the rear face (101).

4. A connection insert (100) according to claim 3, wherein said connection insert (100) comprises two lateral stops (150) arranged in projection, respectively, of one and the other of the two lateral faces (104, 105), the two lateral stops (150) being arranged in an upstream plane, in a direction going from the front face (103) towards the rear face (101), to one or more lateral slats and to one or more catch slats (120), the two lateral stops (150) being arranged to abut against the insertion edge.

5. Connection insert (100) according to claim 4, wherein the main body (101) comprises two side walls (160) linked together by two end walls, each of the side walls (160) bearing on the side face (104, 105), which partly delimits it, at least one centering strip among the one or more centering strips (110), and at least one compensation strip among the one or more compensation strips (120).

6. Connection insert (100) according to claim 5, in which each of the end walls carries on the end face (106, 107), which partly delimits it, at least one centering strip among one or more centering strips (110).

7. Connection insert (100) according to one of claims 4 to 6, in which the lateral stops (150) comprise cleats.

8. A connection insert (100) according to one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the main stops (140) comprise end ribs and side ribs, each end rib projecting relative to one of the end faces (106, 107) while each side rib projects relative to one of the side faces (104, 105).

9. Connection insert (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said connection insert (100) comprises snap-fastening means configured to allow the snap-fastening of the main block into the housing.

10. A connection insert (100) according to claim 9, wherein at least one centering strip among the one or more centering strips (110) also forms the snap-in means.

11. Connection insert (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said connection insert (100) comprises snap-on levers (180) projecting relative to the front face (103) and configured to cooperate by snap-on with the flat contact terminal of the battery pack (10).

12. Connection insert (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11, in which the main block also comprises a front stop projecting from the front face (103).

13. Connection insert (100) according to one of claims 1 to 12, in which the connection member (130) comprises a stud overmolded in the main body (101).

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