Electrical connection device for a flexible terminal battery cell

Abstract

The invention proposes a connection device (18) for at least one terminal (16) of an electrical cell (10), the terminal (16) being in the form of a horizontally oriented sheet of electrically conductive material, characterized in that the connection device (18) comprises: - a housing (20) made of electrically insulating material delimiting at least one primary housing (22) associated with said at least one terminal (16), in which the terminal (16) is intended to be received at least in part, - a contact member (32) which is carried by the housing (20) and which is made of electrically conductive material, the contact member having an end (34) which is movable in the housing (20) between a disconnection position in which it is located vertically at a distance from the terminal (16) and a connection position in which the end (34) of the contact member (32) is in vertical contact with the terminal (16),and - a control tool (38) which is movable relative to the housing (20) between a disconnected position in which the tool (38) is located at a distance from the contact member (32) and a connected position in which the tool (38) cooperates with the contact member (32) and causes the contact member (32) to move from its disconnected position to the connected position. Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 3.

Description

Title of the invention: Electrical connection device for a flexible terminal battery cell technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a device enabling the electrical connection of an electrochemical accumulator cell comprising flexible and flat connection terminals.

[0002] The invention more particularly proposes a reversible connection device that prevents damage to the connection terminals on each connection or disconnection of the battery cell. PREVIOUS STATE OF THE ART

[0003] A soft-packaged electrochemical battery cell, commonly called a "pouch", comprises a main body, which is the active part of the cell, and which is contained in a package making the cell airtight and sealed against the electrolyte inside the cell.

[0004] The packaging is traversed by two electrical connection terminals of the main body which are connected to the anode and cathode of the main body, respectively.

[0005] Each of these connection terminals consists of a flexible strip of electrically conductive material. Preferably, the thickness of each connection terminal is less than 0.5 mm.

[0006] This thinness of the connection terminals makes them fragile, it is therefore necessary to provide a solution for the electrical connection of each terminal to another device, whether to a connection terminal of another battery cell or to another component, which is not destructive to the terminal.

[0007] This solution must in particular allow a connection / disconnection of the connection terminal which is repeatable and has a limited or even zero impact on the integrity of the connection terminal.

[0008] Document KR200465409U describes an association of several accumulator cells by crimping or welding the connection terminals.

[0009] The main aspect of such a solution is that the connection terminals are severely damaged in the event of dismantling, limiting the possibility of a new connection.

[0010] Document EP3985769 describes an association of several accumulator cells in which each cell is received in a frame associated with it and it is the frames which have means for connecting to one or more other frames to connect the cells to each other.

[0011] Such a solution is acceptable in the sense that the cell connection terminals are not damaged during connection and disconnection, but it involves the use of a large number of these frames, which consequently implies an increase in the mass and final volume of the assembly containing these cells.

[0012] Document FR2793963 describes a connection system using connection clips that clamp each connection terminal between two conductive fingers.

[0013] According to this document, the clamping by each clamp is located at the level of the clamping fingers, which results in marking of the connection terminal, consequently limiting the repeatability of cell connections / disconnections.

[0014] The invention aims to provide an electrical connection device for cells which makes electrical contact with each connection terminal without damaging it. Description of the invention

[0015] The invention proposes a connection device for at least one electrical cell terminal, the terminal being in the form of a horizontally oriented sheet of electrically conductive material,

[0016] characterized in that the connection device comprises:

[0017] - a housing made of electrically insulating material delimiting at least one housing primary associated with said at least one terminal, in which the terminal is intended to be received at least in part,

[0018] - a contact member which is carried by the housing and which is made of material electrically conductive, the contact member having an end that is movable within the housing between a disconnected position in which it is intended to be located vertically at a distance from the terminal and a connected position in which the end of the contact member is intended to be in vertical contact with the terminal, and

[0019] - a control tool that is movable relative to the housing between a position of connection in which the tool is located at a distance from the contact element and a connection position in which the tool cooperates with the contact element and causes the contact element to move from its disconnection position to the connection position.

[0020] Preferably, each primary housing is delimited vertically by a horizontal wall which is solid and by a second horizontal part having an opening through which said at least one contact element passes.

[0021] Preferably, the housing includes a secondary housing which is suitable for receiving a portion of the tool and which is separated from said at least one primary housing by the second horizontal part.

[0022] Preferably, the connection device comprises two primary housings and a contact element associated with each primary housing, and the two primary housings and their associated contact elements are arranged vertically on either side of the secondary housing.

[0023] Preferably, the contact member consists of a finger mounted pivoting relative to the housing and which has an end which is able to come into contact with the terminal when the contact member is in the connection position.

[0024] Preferably, the contact member is made of an elastically deformable material which has a rest position corresponding to its disconnection position to which it is elastically returned and which is able to be elastically deformed by the tool to be moved to its connection position.

[0025] Preferably, the contact member is movable relative to the housing through the opening.

[0026] Preferably, the contact member includes an intermediate section which is intended to cooperate with the control tool.

[0027] Preferably, the end of the contact member is curved in a first direction and the intermediate section is curved in a second direction.

[0028] Preferably, the radius of curvature of the end (of the contact member is less than the radius of curvature of the intermediate section.

[0029] Preferably, the connection device comprises a plurality of contact members intended to come into contact with said terminal, in which the contact members are offset from one another in a transverse direction, forming an alignment.

[0030] Preferably, the contact members of said plurality of contact members are made in one piece from a blade of conductive material which is cut and shaped.

[0031] Preferably, the control tool includes a connecting bar made of electrically conductive material which is suitable for being received in the secondary housing and which is suitable for cooperating with the contact member at least to cause a displacement of the contact member towards its connection position when the connecting bar is received in the secondary housing.

[0032] Preferably, the control tool includes a lug for connection to an external electrical conductor.

[0033] The invention also relates to a method of connecting at least one electrical cell comprising a terminal in the form of a horizontally oriented sheet of electrically conductive material to a connection device according to the invention, which includes

[0034] a step of introducing the terminal into the primary housing of the casing;

[0035] a step of moving the control tool to its connection position in which the tool cooperates with the contact member so that the end of the contact member is in contact and pressed against the terminal. Brief description of the drawings

[0036] [Fig. 1] is a schematic perspective representation of a cell intended to cooperate with a connection device according to the invention.

[0037] [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of a battery comprising a plurality of cells 10 connected by connection devices according to the invention.

[0038] [Fig.3] is a schematic exploded perspective representation of the connection of two terminals of two cells by a connection device according to the invention.

[0039] [Fig.4] is a schematic representation of a cell intended to be connected only with an electrical conductor by a connection device according to the invention.

[0040] [Fig.5] is a schematic representation in section along a vertical longitudinal plane of a connection of two terminals of two cells by a connecting device according to the invention, in which the tool is in a retracted position.

[0041] [Fig.6] is a view similar to that of [Fig.6], showing the connection device with the tool in an inserted position.

[0042] [Fig.7] is a view similar to that of [Fig.6], showing a connection device associated with a single terminal of a cell.

[0043] [Fig.8] is a schematic perspective representation of a blade made of conductive material comprising a plurality of contact fingers. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] For the description of the invention, the orientations according to the reference frame V, L, T indicated in the figures will be adopted without limitation, corresponding respectively to a vertical direction V, a longitudinal direction L and a transverse direction T.

[0045] Figure [1] shows a cell 10 intended to be part of an electrochemical accumulator battery 100 (partially shown in Figure [2]).

[0046] The cell 10 comprises a main body 12 of main parallelepiped shape, which constitutes the active part of the cell 10 and which is contained in a package 14 making the cell 10 airtight and sealed against the outside air and the electrolyte present inside the cell 10.

[0047] The cell 10 also includes two connection terminals 16, each of which is connected to an anode or a cathode (not shown) of the main body 12. Each terminal 16 passes through the package 14 to extend outside of it.

[0048] Each terminal 16 consists of a sheet of electrically conductive material approximately 0.5 mm thick. Thus, the terminals are particularly fragile components that can be easily damaged.

[0049] When the accumulator battery 100 is formed, a plurality of cells 10 are provided and are connected to each other, and in parallel and / or in series, by their terminals 16.

[0050] For this purpose, as can be seen in Figures 2 and following, a connection device 18 according to the invention is used to electrically connect two terminals 16 of two cells 10 or one terminal 16 of an end cell 10 to an external connector.

[0051] As can be seen in more detail in figures 3 and 4, the connection device 18 comprises a housing 20 made of electrically insulating material, in which each terminal 16 with which it is intended to cooperate is received.

[0052] In the following description, a horizontal orientation of the terminals 16 will be adopted by convention. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to this orientation and that the terminals 16 can be oriented differently in the battery without departing from the invention.

[0053] Similarly, it is considered here, but in a non-limiting way, that each terminal 16 extends along the longitudinal direction from the main body 12 of the cell 10.

[0054] As can be seen in Figures 5 to 7, the housing 20 delimits a primary housing 22 associated with each terminal 16. Thus, if the connection device 18 is intended to connect two terminals 16 to each other, it has two primary housings 22 and if the connection device 18 is intended to connect a terminal 16 to an external connector, it has only one primary housing 22, as can be seen in [Fig.7].

[0055] Each primary housing 22 is intended to receive a free end section 24 of a terminal 16. The primary housing 22 is of complementary shape to this free end section 24, that is to say, it is substantially flat and horizontal.

[0056] In the case of a housing comprising two primary housings 22, these are parallel to each other and are vertically offset. Preferably, the housing 20 has symmetry with respect to a median horizontal plane, so one part of the housing 20 is derived from the other part by symmetry.

[0057] In the following description, and unless otherwise stated, reference will be made to the connection of a free end section 24 of a terminal 16 in a primary housing 22 located in a vertically upper part of the housing 20.

[0058] In the case of a housing 20 comprising two primary housings 22, and as indicated previously, the primary housing 22 located in the lower part of the housing 20 will be deduced by symmetry with respect to the principal plane of symmetry.

[0059] In the case of a housing 20 having only one primary housing 22, the description The following will apply to this 20 case.

[0060] The primary housing 22 is open at its longitudinal ends, to allow the introduction of the free end section 24 through an opening, the other opening preventing the edge of the terminal 16 from coming into longitudinal contact and being crumpled.

[0061] The primary housing 22 is delimited by two parts of the housing 20 between which the free end section 24 of the terminal 16 associated with the primary housing 22 is positioned when it is inserted into the primary housing 22.

[0062] A first part of the housing 20 consists of a horizontal wall 26 which is solid, the second part 28 of the housing 20 is an internal portion of the housing and it includes an opening 30 through which contact members 32 are arranged, as will be seen in more detail later.

[0063] Preferably, the horizontal wall 26 is located at a vertical end of the housing 20. The second part 28 of the housing 20 is therefore located vertically towards the inside of the housing 20 with respect to the horizontal wall 26.

[0064] In the case where the connection device 18 is intended to connect two terminals 16, the housing 20 has two primary housings 22 which are open towards each other by the openings 30. The housing 20 has for this purpose two second parts 28.

[0065] As previously stated, the connection device 18 includes contact members 32.

[0066] These contact members 32 are intended to come into contact with the free end section 24 of a terminal 16 which is received in the primary housing 22, when the connection device 18 is in a closed position.

[0067] According to the embodiment shown in the figures, each contact member 32 consists of a finger with a main longitudinal orientation which has an end 34 intended to come into contact with the free end section 24 of the terminal 16.

[0068] Each finger 32 is mounted movably in the housing 20 between a connection position shown in Figures 6 and 7, in which the end 34 of the finger 32 is in contact with the associated free end section 24 and a disconnection position shown in [Fig.5] in which the end 34 of the finger is located at a vertical distance from the associated free end section 24.

[0069] Preferably, the finger 32 is located vertically below the primary housing 22 and the movement of the free end 34 of the finger 32 consists of a predominantly vertical movement, upwards when moving towards the connection position and downwards when moving towards the disconnection position.

[0070] When the finger 32 is in the connection position, its end 34 clamps the free end section 24 of the terminal 16 against the horizontal wall 26 of the primary housing 22.

[0071] The intensity of the pressure of the end 34 of the finger 32 against the free end 24 of the terminal 16 is defined to ensure an electrical connection between the finger 32 and the terminal 12, without causing deformation of the terminal 16 by localized crushing.

[0072] In addition, the end 34 of the finger 32 is curved and convex towards the horizontal wall 26 of the associated primary housing 22, that is to say, the convex part of the end 34 of the finger 32 is intended to bear against the free end 24 of the terminal 16 associated with it.

[0073] Each finger 32 moves in the housing 20 through the opening 30 formed in the second part 28 of the housing 20. Thus, when the finger 32 is in the disconnect position, the end 34 of the finger 32 is located outside the primary housing 22, allowing the terminal 16 to move longitudinally in the primary housing 22.

[0074] Preferably, each finger 32 consists of an elastically deformable element, a second end 36 of which is fixed to the housing 20. The movement of the finger 32 in the housing 20 thus consists of pivoting around this second fixed end 36.

[0075] Also, finger 32 has a rest position, that is to say a position to which it elastically returns when it is not under any stress, and this rest position corresponds to the disconnection position of finger 32.

[0076] The movement of the finger 32 from the connection position to the disconnection position therefore consists of an elastic return of the finger 32 to its rest position.

[0077] The movement of the finger 32 from its disconnection position, i.e. rest position, to its connection position is effected by a mechanical action from an additional component.

[0078] The connection device 18 includes for this purpose a tool 38 which is intended to be inserted into a secondary housing 40 made in the housing 20 and which allows the finger 32 to be moved from its disconnection position to the connection position.

[0079] The secondary housing 40 is open longitudinally at one end of the housing 20, which is preferably opposite the longitudinal end of the primary housing 22 through which the free end section 24 of the terminal 16 is inserted. This prevents any direct contact between the tool 38 and the terminal 16.

[0080] The secondary housing 40 is separated from the primary housing 22 by the second part 28 of the housing 20. The secondary housing 40 and the primary housing 22 communicate with each other through the opening 30.

[0081] When the tool 38 is inserted into the secondary housing 40, it cooperates with the finger 32 to cause a displacement of finger 32 from its resting position to its connection position.

[0082] According to a preferred embodiment, the tool 38 includes a connecting bar 42 which consists of a flat, horizontal bar having an upper face 44 and a lower face 46. The upper face 44 is intended to cooperate with the finger 32 to cause a displacement of the finger 32 from its rest position to its connection position.

[0083] For this purpose, the finger 32 has an intermediate section 48 which is curved in such a way that the intermediate section 48 is located inside the secondary housing 40 and is convex towards the inside of the secondary housing 40. The intermediate section 48 of the finger 32 cooperates with the tool 38 by being pushed upwards by the upper face 44 of the connecting bar 42.

[0084] The finger 32 is thus made up of two curved sections, namely the end 34 and the intermediate section 48, whose radii of curvature are different so that each one performs a particular function.

[0085] The intermediate section 48 has a larger radius of curvature because it ensures a greater displacement and a progressive force during the insertion of the tool 38.

[0086] The end 34 has the smallest radius of curvature, which allows for a precise and localized pinching on the terminal 16 without damaging it.

[0087] Also, the orientations of the curvature of the end 34 and the intermediate section 48 are different. Indeed, the end 34 is curved in a direction oriented towards the horizontal wall 26 of the primary housing 22 and the intermediate section 48 is curved in another direction oriented towards the interior of the secondary housing 40.

[0088] The connecting bar 42 is made of an electrically conductive material. Thus, in the case of a housing 20 having two primary housings 22, the connecting bar 42 makes an electrical connection between the fingers associated with the two primary housings 22, which makes it possible to electrically connect the free end sections 24 of the terminals 16 which are inserted into the two primary housings 22.

[0089] Furthermore, the connecting bar 42 can be connected to an external electrical conductor via a lug 54 shown in figures 4 and 7, thus allowing the connection of terminal 16, or terminals 16, which cooperates with the connection device 18.

[0090] According to an alternative embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 7, the free end 56 of the connecting bar 42 is extended by a spacer 58 made of electrically insulating material and which is intended to cooperate with the finger 32 when the connecting device is in a disconnected position. The thickness of the spacer 58, measured in the vertical direction, is less than the thickness of the connecting bar. 42 and it is defined so that when finger 32 is in contact with it, finger 32 is in its disconnection position.

[0091] The spacer 58 also includes a recess in which the intermediate section 48 of the finger 32 is received when the tool 38 is in its retracted position. Preferably, the bottom of the recess is designed so that the finger 32 is elastically deformed to provide vertical support for the intermediate section 48 against the spacer. This interaction between the intermediate section 48 of the finger 32 and the recess creates a locking mechanism against the longitudinal movement of the tool 38.

[0092] Thus, the tool 38 is preferably mobile relative to the housing 20 between a retracted position represented in [Fig.5], in which the spacer 58 cooperates with the finger 32 and in which the finger 32 is in its disconnection position, and an inserted position represented in Figures 6 and 7, in which the connecting bar 42 cooperates with the finger 32 so that the finger 32 is in its connection position.

[0093] The tool 38 finally includes a handle 60 for operation which is made of electrically insulating material and by which an operator is able to manipulate the tool 38 to bring it to its connection position or to its disconnection position, without the operator risking accidentally receiving an electric shock.

[0094] In the preceding description, reference was made to a single finger 32 which is associated with each primary housing 22.

[0095] It will be understood that the invention is not limited to this embodiment and that the connecting device 18 may comprise a plurality of fingers 32 associated with each primary housing 22.

[0096] For this purpose, according to the embodiment shown in [Fig.8], the connecting device 18 comprises a plurality of fingers 32, here six in number, which are offset from each other in the transverse direction, forming an alignment.

[0097] Preferably, the set of fingers 32 associated with a primary housing 22 are made in one piece from a blade 50 of conductive material which is cut and shaped to obtain the fingers 32.

[0098] This blade 50 is fixed to the housing 20 in grooves 52 formed in the walls of the opening 30 to achieve the fixing of the fingers 32 to the housing 20.

[0099] The plurality of fingers 32 associated with each primary housing 22 makes it possible to multiply the contact areas with each free end section 24 of a terminal 16 and with the connecting bar 42, thus ensuring a good electrical connection between the connecting bar 42 and the free end section 24 of a terminal 16.

[0100] As previously stated, a connection device 18 can be associated with the terminal 16 of a single cell 10 or with two terminals 16, each of which is associated with one of two 10 cells to be connected to each other.

[0101] In this second case, for which the connection device 18 is associated with two terminals 16, the box has two primary housings 22 which are separated by a secondary housing 40 receiving the connection bar 42.

[0102] The connecting bar 42 is then intended to cooperate simultaneously with the fingers 32 associated with the two primary housings 22 and more specifically, the connecting bar 42 causes a vertical separation of the fingers 32 from each other, as can be seen in figures 5 and 6.

[0103] The forces thus produced in the housing 20 are then generally symmetrical. Also, since the connecting bar 42 is made of electrically conductive material, it provides an electrical connection between the fingers 32. Consequently, the two terminals 16 received in the two primary housings 22 are connected via the fingers 32 and the connecting bar 42.

[0104] In the case where the connection device 18 is associated with a single terminal 16, the housing comprises a single primary housing 22 and a secondary housing 40 receiving the connection bar 42. In this case, only the upper face 44 of the connection bar 42 cooperates with the fingers 32 to move them vertically upwards. The lower face 46 of the connection bar 42 rests against a lower face 62 of the secondary housing 40.

[0105] In the following description, the steps for constructing a battery 100 from a plurality of cells 10 using connection devices 18 according to the invention will be described.

[0106] First, the plurality of cells 10 is provided by arranging the cells parallel to each other, for example by stacking them. The terminals 16 of the cells 10 protrude longitudinally on each side of the stack thus formed.

[0107] Next, the cells 10 are connected to each other using the connection devices 18 according to the invention, that is to say either by connecting the terminals 6 of two adjacent cells 10 by a connection device 18 having two primary housings, or by connecting a terminal 16 of an end cell 10 to an electrical conductor by a connection device 18 having a single primary housing 22 and by the lug 54 of the associated connection bar 42.

[0108] Regardless of the number of primary dwellings 22 that a connection device 18 comprises, the connection of each terminal 16 to another terminal 16 of an adjacent cell or to an electrical conductor is carried out in the same way.

[0109] First, the connecting device 18 is presented with the tool 38 in its retracted position in which the spacer 58 carried by the connecting bar 42 cooperates with the fingers 32. Thus, the fingers 32 are in their disconnection position.

[0110] Next, each terminal 16 is inserted into the primary housing 22 which is intended. With the fingers 32 in their disconnection position, they are located outside the primary housing 22 and do not interfere with this insertion of terminal 16.

[0111] In this position, the connection device 18 is pre-positioned on the cell 10. The connection device 18 ensures electrical contact insulation between any external element with the cell terminal (presence of insulators), and ensures internal electrical insulation between the cell terminal and the connection bar.

[0112] When each terminal 16 is in position in the primary housing 22 associated with it, the tool 38 is moved to its inserted position in which the connecting bar 42 cooperates with the fingers 32 so that the fingers 32 are in their connection position.

[0113] Each finger 32 is then in vertical contact against the terminal 16 associated with it, thus connecting the terminal 16 to the connecting bar 42 and therefore connecting the terminal 16 to another terminal 16 or to an electrical conductor.

[0114] This operation is repeated identically for each other pair of terminals 16 which must be connected to each other.

[0115] According to an embodiment of the connection device 18, after providing the plurality of cells 10, by arranging the cells parallel to each other, the connection devices 18 are all pre-positioned on the cells 10.

[0116] According to this configuration, the connection devices 18 ensure electrical contact insulation of all cell terminals. The battery 100 thus formed is ready to be connected, without the cell terminals 10 being exposed to external interference.

[0117] When the battery 100 needs to be connected, a user successively moves all the tools 38 to their respective inserted positions.

[0118] This user action is relatively simple to implement and does not require any specific skills.

[0119] In the case of an intervention on a battery 100, which would require disconnecting a cell 10, the two terminals 16 of the latter can be disconnected by intervening only on the two connection devices 18 which are associated with the terminals 16 of this cell.

[0120] This disconnection is carried out by moving the tool 38 of each connection device 18 towards its retracted position, which allows the fingers 32 to move to their disconnection position for which they are no longer in contact with the terminals.

[0121] It is then possible to subsequently extract each terminal 16 of the cell 10 from the connection device 18 associated with it.

[0122]

[0123]

[0124]

[0125]

[0126]

[0127]

[0128]

[0129]

[0130]

[0131]

[0132]

[0133]

[0134]

[0135]

[0136]

[0137]

[0138]

[0139]

[0140]

[0141]

[0142]

[0143]

[0144]

[0145]

[0146]

[0147]

[0148]

[0149]

[0150] These cell connection and disconnection operations 10 are performed manually by an operator without the use of any additional tools. The operator only needs to perform two operations: inserting or removing each terminal into / out of the primary housing 22 and inserting or removing each tool 38 into the secondary housing 40. No additional adjustment operations may be required. Furthermore, the electrical circuit formed by the succession of cells 10 can be easily cut by disconnecting a single cell, that is to say by moving a single tool 38 among the multitude of tools 38 present, towards its retracted position. Finally, and as previously indicated, the connection and disconnection of each cell 10 is carried out in a non-destructive manner since there is no deformation or abrasion of the terminals 16. The cells 10 can therefore be reused several times without any connection fault. NOMENCLATURE: 10: cell 12: main body 14: Packaging 16: terminal 18: connection device 20: case 22: Primary dwelling 24: free end section 26: horizontal wall 28: Second part of the case 30: Opening 32: finger 34: end 36: second end 38: tool 40: Secondary accommodation 42: Connection bar 44: upper face 46: lower face 48: Intermediate section 50: blade 52: Gorges 54: ergot 56: free end

[0151] 58: spacer

[0152] 60: handle

[0153] 62: bottom face

[0154] 100: battery

Claims

Demands

1. Connection device (18) for at least one terminal (16) of an electrical cell (10), the terminal (16) being in the form of a horizontally oriented sheet of electrically conductive material, characterized in that the connection device (18) comprises: - a housing (20) made of electrically insulating material delimiting at least one primary housing (22) associated with said at least one terminal (16), in which the terminal (16) is intended to be received at least in part, - a contact member (32) which is carried by the housing (20) and which is made of electrically conductive material, the contact member having an end (34) which is movable in the housing (20) between a disconnection position in which it is intended to be located vertically at a distance from the terminal (16) and a connection position in which the end (34) of the contact member (32) is intended to be in vertical contact with the terminal (16),and - a control tool (38) which is movable relative to the housing (20) between a disconnection position in which the tool (38) is located at a distance from the contact member (32) and a connection position in which the tool (38) cooperates with the contact member (32) and causes the contact member (32) to move from its disconnection position to the connection position.

2. Connection device (18) according to claim 1, characterized in that each primary housing (22) is delimited vertically by a first horizontal wall (26) which is solid and by a second horizontal part (28) having an opening (30) through which said at least one contact member (32) passes.

3. Connection device (18) according to claim 2, characterized in that the housing (20) has a secondary housing (40) which is suitable for receiving a portion (44) of the tool (38) and which is separated from said at least one primary housing (22) by the second horizontal part (28).

4. Connection device (18) according to claim 3, which comprises two primary housings (22) and a contact member (32) associated with each primary housing (22), characterized in that the two primary housings (22) and their associated contact members (32) are arranged vertically on either side of the secondary housing (40).

5. Connection device (18) according to any one of the claims as indicated above, characterized in that the contact member (32) consists of a finger mounted pivoting relative to the housing (20) and which has an end (34) which is able to come into contact with the terminal (16) when the contact member (32) is in the connection position.

6. Connection device (18) according to claim 5, characterized in that the contact member (32) is made of an elastically deformable material which has a rest position corresponding to its disconnection position to which it is elastically returned and which is capable of being elastically deformed by the tool to be moved to its connection position.

7. Connection device according to claim 5 or 6, in combination with claim 2, characterized in that the contact member (32) is movable relative to the housing (32) through the opening (30).

8. Connection device (18) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the contact member (32) comprises an intermediate section (48) which is intended to cooperate with the control tool (38).

9. Connection device (18) according to claim 8, characterized in that the end (34) of the contact member (32) is curved in a first direction and the intermediate section (48) is curved in a second direction.

10. Connection device (18) according to claim 9, characterized in that the radius of curvature of the end (34) of the contact member (32) is less than the radius of curvature of the intermediate section (48).

11. Connection device (18) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of contact members (32) which are intended to come into contact with said terminal (16), in which the contact members (32) are offset from one another in a transverse direction, forming an alignment.

12. Connection device (18) according to claim 11, characterized in that the contact members of said plurality of contact members (32) are made in one piece from a blade (50) of conductive material which is cut and shaped.

13. 13. A connecting device (18) according to any one of the preceding claims, in combination with claim 3, characterized in that the control tool comprises a bar of connection (42) made of electrically conductive material which is suitable for being received in the secondary housing (40) and which is suitable for cooperating with the contact member (32) at least to cause a displacement of the contact member (32) towards its connection position when the connection bar (42) is received in the secondary housing (40).

14. 14. connecting device (18) according to claim 13, characterized in that the control tool has a lug (54) for connection to an external electrical conductor.

15. A method for connecting at least one electrical cell (10) comprising a terminal (16) in the form of a horizontally oriented sheet of electrically conductive material to a connection device (18) according to any one of the preceding claims, which comprises a step of introducing the terminal (16) into the primary housing (22) of the housing (20); a step of moving the control tool to its connection position in which the tool (38) cooperates with the contact member (32) so that the end (34) of the contact member (32) is in contact and pressed against the terminal.

Images