A busbar and battery module comprising the same

Abstract

A busbar 1 for electrically connecting a plurality of cells of a battery module, the busbar being unitarily formed from a sheet of metal and comprising a first contact portion 2 and a second contact p

Claims

25Claims1. A busbar for electrically connecting a plurality of cells of a battery module, the busbar being unitarily formed from a sheet of metal and comprising a first contact5 portion and a second contact portion that are substantially co-planar with one another and are joined to one another by a thermal expansion portion, which is coplanar with the first and second contact portions and is defined by a plurality of cutouts, wherein the thermal expansion portion comprises a plurality of ribs that extend between the first and second contact portions and have non-linear profiles.io2. A busbar as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the ribs are parallel to one another.

3. A busbar as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the thermal expansion portionextends along a longitudinal axis and one or more or all of the ribs comprises a first 15 end that is joined to the first contact portion and a second end that is joined to the second contact portion, wherein the first and second ends are offset from one another along the longitudinal axis.

4. A busbar as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the thermal expansion portion20 extends along a longitudinal axis and one or more or all of the ribs comprises a first end that is joined to the first contact portion and a second end that is joined to the second contact portion, wherein the first and second ends are aligned with one another along the longitudinal axis.25 5. A busbar as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the non-linear profile isbent, curved, zig-zagged or wavy.

6. A busbar as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a width of each of the ribs varies along its length.

307. A busbar as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each of the ribs has one or more reduced width portions.10 04 258. A busbar as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first and second contact portions each comprise a hole for alignment with the terminal of a cell.

9. A busbar as claimed in any preceding claim, which comprises three, four or5 more of the contact portions and a plurality of the thermal expansion portions, wherein between each adjacent pair of the contact portions there is provided one of the thermal expansion portions.

10. A busbar as claimed in Claim 9, wherein two or more of the thermal io expansion portions extend parallel to one another.

11. A busbar as claimed in Claim 9 or 10, wherein two or more of the thermal expansion portions extend at an angle to one another.15 12. A busbar as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the thermal expansion portions arearranged perpendicular to one another.

13. A busbar as claimed in Claim 11 or 12, wherein the thermal expansion portions meet at an opening provided in the busbar.2014. A busbar as claimed in any preceding claim, which is non-planar.

15. A battery module comprising a plurality of cells and one or more busbars as claimed in any preceding claim.

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