Conduction module

Abstract

To improve the temperature measurement accuracy of a thermistor.SOLUTION: A wiring component 20 has a branch body 22 that is provided with a battery contact surface 22a brought into contact with a heat transfer component 40 in contact with an outer wall surface of a battery cell BC. A bus bar 10 has a circuit connection body 12 that is connected with a first circuit conductor 23 on a mounting surface 22b of the branch body. A thermistor 30 is connected with second circuit conductors 24 on the mounting surface of the branch body. The heat transfer component includes a heat transfer member 41 that has a higher thermal conductivity than air, and is arranged between the battery contact surface of the branch body and the outer wall surface of the battery cell to transfer heat of the outer wall surface of the battery cell to the branch body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a conductive module. [Background technology]

[0002] The conductive module is a wiring module that electrically connects a battery module in which a plurality of battery cells are arranged and a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery state of the battery cells. The conductive module includes a bus bar that is connected to one or a pair of battery cells of the battery module, a wiring component that includes a plurality of circuit conductors that are electrically connected to the battery monitoring unit, and a thermistor that detects the temperature of the battery cell. The bus bar includes a bus bar body that is physically and electrically connected to the electrode terminal of the battery cell, a circuit connector that is physically and electrically connected to a first circuit conductor of the wiring component, and a heat collector that is disposed in a through hole and surrounds the thermistor. The circuit connector and the heat collector are provided in a protruding state relative to the bus bar body. The thermistor is physically and electrically connected to a second circuit conductor of the wiring component. This type of conductive module is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 below. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2021 / 005999 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the conventional conductive module, a part of the wiring component is disposed between the battery cell and the thermistor, but the wiring component does not necessarily contact the outer wall surface of the battery cell. In the conventional conductive module, if the wiring component does not contact the outer wall surface of the battery cell, the thermal resistance between the wiring component and the battery cell increases, and there is a possibility that the thermistor detects a temperature lower than the temperature of the outer wall surface of the battery cell, so there is room for improvement in the accuracy of measuring the temperature of the battery cell.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS An object of the present invention is to provide a conductive module capable of improving the accuracy of temperature measurement. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a battery module having a plurality of battery cells arranged therein, the battery module including a bus bar connected to one or a pair of the battery cells, a wiring component formed flat and flexible, containing a plurality of circuit conductors electrically connected to a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery state of the battery cells, a thermistor that detects the temperature of the battery cells, and a heat transfer component that is interposed between the wiring component and the battery cells, the wiring component having a wiring main body, and branch bodies that branch off from the wiring main body for each of the plurality of bus bars and have battery contact surfaces that come into contact with the heat transfer components that are in contact with the outer wall surfaces of the battery cells, the thermistor is physically and electrically connected to a second circuit conductor of the plurality of circuit conductors on the mounting surface of the branch body, and the heat transfer component includes a heat transfer member having a thermal conductivity higher than that of air and disposed between the battery contact surface of the branch body and the outer wall surface of the battery cell to transfer heat from the outer wall surface of the battery cell to the branch body. Effect of the Invention

[0007] The conductive module according to the present invention has a heat transfer member, which has a higher thermal conductivity than air, between the circuit connector and the branch body and the battery cell, and which transfers heat from the outer wall surface of the battery cell to the branch body. Therefore, this conductive module can improve the temperature measurement accuracy of the thermistor connected to the branch body. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of a conductive module according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a bus bar according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the wiring component according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the thermistor of the embodiment together with a wiring component. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a heat transfer component of the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a heat transfer member of the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a heat collecting member of the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a heat transfer member of the first modified example. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a heat transfer member of the first modification. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a land of the branched body of the first modification. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a heat transfer member of the second modification. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing a heat transfer member of the second modification. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the heat collecting member of the second modification. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a conductive module according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0010] [Embodiment] One embodiment of a conductive module according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0011] Reference numeral 1 in Fig. 1 indicates a conductive module of this embodiment. This conductive module 1 is assembled to a battery module BM in which a plurality of battery cells BC are arranged (for example, arranged in a row), and this battery module BM is electrically connected to, for example, a battery monitoring unit (not shown), which allows the battery monitoring unit to monitor the battery state of the battery cells BC. This conductive module 1 constitutes a battery pack BP together with the battery module BM (Fig. 1). The battery pack BP is mounted, for example, on a vehicle (BEV: Battery Electric Vehicle, HEV: Hybrid Electric Vehicle, etc.) equipped with a rotating machine as a drive source, and is used to supply power to the rotating machine, etc.

[0012] The battery cell BC includes a cell body BC1 and positive and negative electrode terminals BC2 (FIG. 1). The battery cell BC shown here has a cell body BC1 formed in a rectangular shape with six outer wall surfaces, and the positive and negative electrode terminals BC2 are provided on one of the six outer wall surfaces of the cell body BC1. In the battery module BM, the cell bodies BC1 adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction are arranged with one outer wall surface facing each other. Thus, in the battery cell BC shown here, the positive and negative electrode terminals BC2 are provided on one of the four outer wall surfaces along the arrangement direction of the battery cells BC. On one outer wall surface of the cell body BC1, the electrode terminal BC2 serving as a positive electrode is arranged at one end in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the battery cells BC, and the electrode terminal BC2 serving as a negative electrode is arranged at the other end in the perpendicular direction.

[0013] The positive and negative electrode terminals BC2 may be, for example, plate-shaped or rectangular-shaped provided on one of the outer wall surfaces of the cell body BC1, or may be columnar poles protruding from one of the outer wall surfaces of the cell body BC1. In the case of the plate-shaped or rectangular-shaped electrode terminal BC2, a bus bar described later is physically and electrically connected to the electrode terminal BC2 by welding or the like. In the case of the columnar electrode terminal BC2, a male screw portion is provided in the electrode terminal BC2, so that the electrode terminal BC2 is inserted into a through hole of the bus bar described later, and a female screw member (not shown) is screwed into the male screw portion of the electrode terminal BC2, thereby physically and electrically connecting the bus bar described later to the electrode terminal BC2. Here, the columnar electrode terminal BC2 is taken as an example.

[0014] In the battery module BM, one electrode terminal BC2 and the other electrode terminal BC2 of the plurality of battery cells BC are arranged in the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells BC. In this battery module BM, one electrode terminal BC2 of a pair adjacent in the arrangement direction is electrically connected to each other electrode terminal BC2 of the pair by a bus bar described later. In addition, in this battery module BM, the other electrode terminal BC2 of a pair adjacent in the arrangement direction is electrically connected to each other electrode terminal BC2 of the pair by a bus bar described later. One of the pair of electrode terminals BC2 adjacent in the arrangement direction may be a positive electrode and the other may be a negative electrode, or both may be positive electrodes or negative electrodes. Here, the plurality of battery cells BC are arranged such that one of the pair of electrode terminals BC2 adjacent in the arrangement direction is a positive electrode and the other is a negative electrode. In this battery module BM, a bus bar described later is physically and electrically connected to one electrode terminal BC2 that is a total positive electrode, and a bus bar described later is physically and electrically connected to one electrode terminal BC2 that is a total negative electrode.

[0015] The conductive module 1 includes a bus bar that is connected to one or a pair of battery cells BC of the battery module BM. This bus bar is a metal plate-shaped conductive part, and is formed by press forming using a metal plate as a base material, for example.

[0016] When a single battery cell BC is to be connected, the bus bar is formed to physically and electrically connect to the electrode terminal BC2 serving as the total positive electrode or the electrode terminal BC2 serving as the total negative electrode. The pair of battery cells BC to be connected to the bus bar are adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC, and each of the pair includes one electrode terminal BC2 and the other electrode terminal BC2 of the pair adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction. Thus, when a pair of battery cells BC is to be connected, the bus bar is formed to physically and electrically connect to one electrode terminal BC2 of the pair adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction, thereby electrically connecting the one electrode terminal BC2 of the pair. Furthermore, the bus bar in this case is formed to physically and electrically connect to the other electrode terminal BC2 of the pair adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction, thereby electrically connecting the other electrode terminal BC2 of the pair.

[0017] Here, a bus bar 10 for connecting a pair of battery cells BC is taken as a representative example (FIGS. 1 and 2). In the conductive module 1, the bus bar 10 is provided for each combination of a pair of electrode terminals BC2.

[0018] The busbar 10 has a busbar body 11 that is physically and electrically connected to the electrode terminals BC2 of the battery cell BC (FIGS. 1 and 2). The busbar body 11 has through holes 11a for each of the two electrode terminals BC2 (FIG. 2), and the pair of electrode terminals BC2 are inserted into the through holes 11a for each electrode terminal BC2. With the busbar body 11 installed in a predetermined position, the busbar 10 physically and electrically connects the busbar body 11 to each electrode terminal BC2 by screwing a female screw member into the male screw portion of the electrode terminal BC2.

[0019] The conductive module 1 electrically connects the bus bars 10 to a battery monitoring unit, thereby allowing the battery monitoring unit to monitor the battery state of each battery cell BC. Therefore, the conductive module 1 includes a wiring component 20 that is flexible and flat and contains multiple circuit conductors that are electrically connected to the battery monitoring unit (FIGS. 1 and 3).

[0020] The wiring component 20 shown here is a flexible printed circuit board, and the circuit conductors are formed by a conductor pattern. This wiring component 20 is provided with various films formed flat with flexibility as an insulating coating, and a conductor pattern is formed on at least one of the various films. The conductor pattern (circuit conductor) is enclosed by the insulating coating, and, for example, a place that becomes an electrical contact point with other components is exposed.

[0021] The wiring component 20 has a wiring main body 21 and branch bodies 22 branched from the wiring main body 21 for each of the bus bars 10 (FIGS. 1 and 3).

[0022] The wiring main body 21 runs parallel to the multiple battery cells BC aligned in the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC. In the wiring component 20, a first circuit conductor 23 (FIG. 3) of the multiple circuit conductors contained in the wiring main body 21 is electrically connected to the battery monitoring unit.

[0023] In the wiring component 20, a first circuit conductor 23 contained in a branch body 22 is physically and electrically connected to the bus bar 10. The branch body 22 branches off from a wiring main body 21 and protrudes from the wiring main body 21 toward an outer wall surface of one of a pair of battery cells BC electrically connected by the bus bar 10. Here, the branch body 22 protrudes toward the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC on which the electrode terminal BC2 is arranged.

[0024] As described below, the conductive module 1 includes a thermistor 30 that detects the temperature of the battery cell BC, and a heat transfer component 40 that is interposed between the wiring component 20 and the battery cell BC (FIG. 1). In the conductive module 1, the heat transfer component 40 is interposed between the branch body 22 and the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC, and the thermistor 30 is connected to the branch body 22. The branch body 22 is provided with a battery contact surface 22a that is in contact with the heat transfer component 40 that is in contact with the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC, and a mounting surface 22b that is connected to the thermistor 30 on the side opposite to the battery contact surface 22a (FIG. 3).

[0025] The busbar 10 has a circuit connection body 12 that is physically and electrically connected to the first circuit conductor 23 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The circuit connection body 12 is disposed at a position protruding from the busbar body 11, and is physically and electrically connected to the first circuit conductor 23 contained in the branch body 22. The circuit connection body 12 has a circuit connection portion 12a that is physically and electrically connected to the first circuit conductor 23 on the mounting surface 22b opposite to the battery contact surface 22a of the branch body 22 (FIG. 2). For example, in the circuit connection body 12, the circuit connection portion 12a is soldered to the first circuit conductor 23 exposed from the insulating coating on the mounting surface 22b of the branch body 22.

[0026] In the busbar 10 shown here, the busbar body 11 and the circuit connectors 12 are each formed in a flat plate shape, and the busbar body 11 and the circuit connectors 12 are arranged on the same plane. The busbar 10 is molded as a single member with the circuit connectors 12 protruding from the busbar body 11 on the same plane. Note that in the busbar 10, the busbar body 11 and the circuit connectors 12 may not be arranged on the same plane, but the busbar body 11 and the circuit connectors 12 may each be molded as separate members, and the busbar body 11 and the circuit connectors 12 may be fixed together by welding or the like to be integrated.

[0027] The circuit connector 12 shown here has a through hole 12b, and a circuit connector 12a is provided on a hole periphery 12c of this through hole 12b (FIGS. 1 and 2). Here, the circuit connector 12 is formed with a rectangular through hole 12b and a circular hole periphery 12c.

[0028] The conductive module 1 includes a thermistor 30 that detects the temperature of the battery cell BC via the branch body 22. This thermistor 30 is, for example, a chip thermistor, and is physically and electrically connected to a second circuit conductor 24 ( FIG. 3 ) among the multiple circuit conductors on the mounting surface 22b of the branch body 22. The thermistor 30 shown here is physically and electrically connected to the second circuit conductor 24 in a through hole 12b whose bottom surface is the mounting surface 22b of the branch body 22.

[0029] Here, in the wiring component 20, the second circuit conductor 24 contained in the wiring main body 21 is electrically connected to the battery monitoring unit side in the same manner as the first circuit conductor 23. The first circuit conductor 23 and the second circuit conductor 24 are arranged in the branch body 22 from the wiring main body 21 side to the mounting surface 22b of the branch body 22. For example, the first circuit conductor 23 and the second circuit conductor 24 are arranged in a straight line from the wiring main body 21 side to the mounting surface 22b of the branch body 22 in the branch body 22. In the hole peripheral portion 12c, the circuit connection portion 12a is arranged to face the first circuit conductor 23 on the mounting surface 22b, so that the circuit connection portion 12a is physically and electrically connected to the first circuit conductor 23. On the other hand, the second circuit conductor 24 is exposed from the insulating coating at the mounting surface 22b of the branch body 22 and arranged to straddle the hole peripheral portion 12c into the through hole 12b. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a recess (not shown) in the hole periphery 12c to prevent contact with the second circuit conductor 24 of the mounting surface 22b.

[0030] In this conductive module 1, heat loss in the through-hole 12b of the circuit connector 12 can be suppressed by the heat from the hole peripheral portion 12c, so that the accuracy of temperature measurement by the thermistor 30 can be improved.

[0031] The thermistor 30 has electrical connection portions 31, 32 at one end and the other end (FIG. 4). In this thermistor 30, the electrical connection portion 31 at one end and the electrical connection portion 32 at the other end are physically and electrically connected to a first contact on one side and a second contact on the other side of the second circuit conductor 24, which is divided by the branch body 22. In this thermistor 30, the electrical connection portion 31 at one end is soldered to the first contact of the second circuit conductor 24, and the electrical connection portion 31 at the other end is soldered to the second contact of the second circuit conductor 24.

[0032] The thermistor 30 maintains an insulating distance from the hole periphery 12c by an insulating sealing member 50 filled in the through hole 12b (FIG. 1). The sealing member 50 has a higher thermal conductivity than air. Therefore, in the conductive module 1, the sealing member 50 can also suppress heat loss in the through hole 12b of the circuit connector 12, thereby improving the accuracy of temperature measurement by the thermistor 30.

[0033] In this conductive module 1, a heat transfer component 40 is interposed between the branch body 22 of the wiring component 20 and the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC, and heat from the battery cell BC is transferred from the heat transfer component 40 to the branch body 22, and the temperature of the branch body 22 is detected by the thermistor 30.

[0034] The heat transfer component 40 has a heat transfer member 41 that has a higher thermal conductivity than air and is positioned between the battery contact surface 22a of the branch body 22 and the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC to transfer heat from the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC to the branch body 22 (Figures 1, 5 and 6).

[0035] The heat transfer member 41 is brought into contact with the battery contact surface 22a of the branch body 22 to increase the efficiency of heat transfer to the battery contact surface 22a of the branch body 22. The heat transfer member 41 is brought into contact with an intervening member (a heat collecting member 42 described later) that is in contact with the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC to increase the efficiency of heat transfer from the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC. The heat transfer member 41 is formed as an elastic member in order to increase the adhesion with the battery contact surface 22a of the branch body 22 and to increase the adhesion with the intervening member. The heat transfer member 41 generates a resilient force between the circuit connector 12 and the intervening member (the heat collecting member 42 described later), and the resilient force is indirectly applied to the circuit connector 12 via the branch body 22, and the resilient force is directly applied to the intervening member (the heat collecting member 42 described later).

[0036] The heat transfer member 41 shown here is made of a polymeric material such as synthetic rubber or synthetic resin and is molded into a rectangular shape with elasticity that has a higher thermal conductivity than air. This heat transfer member 41 has one of six outer wall surfaces (first outer wall surface 41a) in close contact with the battery contact surface 22a of the branch body 22, and another of the six outer wall surfaces (second outer wall surface 41b) in close contact with an intervening member (a heat collecting member 42 described later) (FIG. 6).

[0037] The heat transfer component 40 contains the heat transfer member 41 to suppress misalignment of the heat transfer member 41 between the branch body 22 and the battery cell BC, and includes a heat collection member 42 that has a higher thermal conductivity than air and collects heat from its surroundings while receiving heat from the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC (FIGS. 1, 5, and 7). The heat collection member 42 is formed by press molding, for example, using a metal plate as the base material.

[0038] The heat collecting member 42 shown here has a bottom 42a that is in direct contact with the heat transfer member 41 between the heat transfer member 41 and the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC and also in direct contact with the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC, and a side wall 42b that rises from the bottom 42a toward the branch body 22 and surrounds the heat transfer member 41 between the branch body 22 and the bottom 42a (FIGS. 5 and 7). In this heat collecting member 42, the bottom 42a is formed in a rectangular plate shape, and rectangular plate-shaped side wall portions 42b are suspended from the four sides of the bottom 42a.

[0039] Furthermore, the heat collecting member 42 shown here has a plurality of locking portions 42c that lock the circuit connector 12 and generate a resilient force in the heat transfer member 41 between the bottom portion 42a and the circuit connector 12 (FIGS. 5 and 7). In this heat collecting member 42, the side of the circuit connector 12 opposite the branch body 22 side is locked by a plurality of locking portions 42c. The locking portions 42c shown here are protruded by two from each of two side wall portions 42b that are arranged opposite to each other with the heat transfer member 41 therebetween. The locking portion 42c shown here is formed as a cantilevered piece bent into a V shape, and its free end locks the hole periphery portion 12c of the circuit connector 12.

[0040] In this heat collecting member 42, the heat transfer member 41 is elastically deformed between the multiple locking portions 42c and the bottom portion 42a, and a resilient force is generated in the heat collecting member 41, which acts on the circuit connector 12 and the bottom portion 42a. The resilient force of the heat collecting member 41 is received by the circuit connector 12 via the branch body 22, and also by the bottom portion 42a of the heat collecting member 42. Thus, in this heat collecting member 42, the bottom portion 42a is brought into contact with the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC, and a resilient force is generated in the heat collecting member 41 between the circuit connector 12, the branch body 22, and the bottom portion 42a, and the locking portions 42c are bent into a V shape and crimped to the circuit connector 12, thereby locking the circuit connector 12 to the locking portions 42c.

[0041] In this heat transfer component 40, heat from the battery cell BC is transferred from the outer wall surface to the bottom 42a of the heat collecting member 42, and the heat can be transferred from the bottom 42a to the branch body 22 via the heat transfer component 41. Furthermore, in the heat collecting member 42, the heat received by the bottom 42a from the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC is transferred to the side wall portion 42b, while the side wall portion 42b collects the surrounding heat, thereby suppressing a drop in temperature of the heat transfer member 41. Therefore, in this conductive module 1, the thermal resistance from the battery cell BC to the branch body 22 in the heat transfer component 40 can be reduced, and the accuracy of temperature measurement by the thermistor 30 can be improved.

[0042] As described above, the conductive module 1 of this embodiment has the heat transfer member 41, which has a higher thermal conductivity than air and is in contact with the battery contact surface 22a of the branch body 22, and the heat collecting member 42, which has a higher thermal conductivity than air, interposed between the circuit connector 12, the branch body 22, and the battery cell BC. The conductive module 1 of this embodiment transfers heat from the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC to the branch body 22 via the heat transfer member 41 and the heat collecting member 42, so that the temperature measurement accuracy of the thermistor 30 connected to the branch body 22 can be improved. For example, this conductive module 1 can increase the accuracy of the temperature measurement result of the battery cell BC, so that the power consumption can be improved by controlling and managing the battery cell BC based on the temperature measurement result.

[0043] [Variation 1] The conductive module 2 of this modification is obtained by replacing the heat transfer part 40 in the conductive module 1 of the above-described embodiment with a heat transfer part 140 described below (FIG. 8).

[0044] The heat transfer part 140 of this modified example, like the heat transfer part 40 of the embodiment, has a heat transfer member 141 that has a thermal conductivity higher than that of air and is positioned between the branch body 22 and the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC to transfer heat from the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC to the battery contact surface 22a of the branch body 22 (Figures 8 and 9).

[0045] The heat transfer member 141 of this modification is brought into contact with the battery contact surface 22a of the branch body 22 and the intermediate member that is brought into contact with the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC, similar to the heat transfer member 41 of the embodiment. The heat transfer member 141 is formed as an elastic member in order to improve adhesion between them, similar to the heat transfer member 41 of the embodiment. The heat transfer member 141 generates a resilient force between the circuit connector 12 and the intermediate member, and the resilient force is indirectly received by the circuit connector 12 via the branch body 22, and the resilient force is directly received by the intermediate member.

[0046] The heat transfer member 141 is made of a metal material and formed into a shape that has spring properties. The heat transfer member 141 shown here is formed into a Z-shape having a rectangular flat first contact portion 141a that is in surface contact with the battery contact surface 22a of the branch body 22, a rectangular flat second contact portion 141b that is in surface contact with the intervening member, and a rectangular flat connecting portion 141c that connects the first contact portion 141a and the second contact portion 141b (FIGS. 8 and 9). The heat transfer member 141 is press-formed using a metal plate as a base material.

[0047] When the heat transfer member 141 is used in the wiring component 20, a land 22c is provided on the battery contact surface 22a of the branch body 22 (FIG. 10). The heat transfer member 141 is fixed to the battery contact surface 22a of the branch body 22 by, for example, soldering the first contact portion 141a to the land 22c.

[0048] The heat transfer member 141 allows elastic deformation between the first contact portion 141a and the second contact portion 141b, and is disposed in an elastically deformed state between the circuit connector 12 and the branch body 22 and the interposed member. The heat transfer component 140 of this modification includes the same heat collecting member 42 as in the embodiment as the interposed member (FIG. 8).

[0049] In the heat collecting member 42 of this modified example, the bottom portion 42a is in surface contact with the second contact portion 141b of the heat transfer member 141 and the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC between the heat transfer member 141 and the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC.

[0050] In the heat collecting member 42 of this modification, the heat transfer member 141 is elastically deformed between the multiple locking portions 42c and the bottom portion 42a, and a resilient force is generated in the heat transfer member 141, which acts on the circuit connector 12 and the bottom portion 42a. The resilient force of the heat transfer member 141 is transmitted from the first contact portion 141a to the branch body 22 and received by the circuit connector 12 via the branch body 22, and is also transmitted from the second contact portion 141b to the bottom portion 42a of the heat collecting member 42 and received by the bottom portion 42a. Therefore, with the bottom 42a of the heat collecting member 42 in contact with the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC and with a resilient force being generated in the heat transfer member 141 between the circuit connector 12 and the branch body 22 and the bottom 42a, the locking portion 42c is bent into a V shape and crimped to the circuit connector 12, thereby locking the circuit connector 12 to the locking portion 42c.

[0051] In the heat transfer component 140, similar to the heat transfer component 40 of the embodiment, heat from the battery cell BC is transferred from the outer wall surface to the bottom 42a of the heat collecting member 42, and the heat can be transferred from the bottom 42a to the branch body 22 via the heat transfer component 141. Furthermore, in the heat collecting member 42, similar to the heat transfer component 40 of the embodiment, the heat received by the bottom 42a from the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC is transferred to the side wall portion 42b, while the side wall portion 42b collects the surrounding heat, thereby suppressing a decrease in temperature of the heat transfer member 141. Therefore, in the conductive module 2, the thermal resistance from the battery cell BC to the branch body 22 in the heat transfer component 140 can be reduced, and the accuracy of temperature measurement by the thermistor 30 can be improved.

[0052] [Variation 2] The conductive module 3 of this modification is obtained by replacing the heat transfer part 40 in the conductive module 1 of the above-described embodiment with a heat transfer part 240 described below (FIGS. 11 and 12).

[0053] The heat transfer part 240 of this modified example, like the heat transfer part 40 of the embodiment, has a heat transfer member 241 that has a thermal conductivity higher than that of air and is positioned between the branch body 22 and the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC to transfer heat from the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC to the battery contact surface 22a of the branch body 22 (Figures 11 and 12).

[0054] The heat transfer member 241 of this modification is brought into contact with the battery contact surface 22a of the branch body 22 and the intermediate member that is brought into contact with the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC, similar to the heat transfer member 41 of the embodiment. The heat transfer member 241 is formed as an elastic member in order to improve adhesion between them, similar to the heat transfer member 41 of the embodiment. The heat transfer member 241 generates a resilient force between the circuit connector 12 and the intermediate member, and the resilient force is indirectly received by the circuit connector 12 via the branch body 22, and the resilient force is directly received by the intermediate member.

[0055] The heat transfer member 241 shown here is a helical spring formed from a metal wire. The heat transfer component 240 of this modification accommodates the heat transfer member 241 to suppress misalignment of the heat transfer member 241 between the branch body 22 and the battery cell BC, and includes a heat collecting member 242 that has a higher thermal conductivity than air and collects heat from its surroundings while receiving heat from the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC (FIGS. 11 and 12). The heat collecting member 242 is, for example, press-formed using a metal plate as the base material.

[0056] The heat collecting member 242 has a rectangular flat bottom 242a that is in indirect contact with the heat transfer member 241 between the heat transfer member 241 and the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC via an intervening member (a holding member 243 described later) that is in contact with the heat transfer member 241 and the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC, and a rectangular flat side wall 242b that rises from the four sides of the bottom 242a toward the branch body 22 and surrounds the heat transfer member 241 between the branch body 22 and the bottom 242a (FIGS. 11 and 12). In this modification, the heat collecting member 242 serves as an intervening member (an intervening member different from the holding member 243 described later) that is interposed between the heat transfer member 241 and the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC.

[0057] The heat transfer component 240 of this modification includes a holding member 243 that is interposed between the heat transfer member 241 and the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC as an intervening member separate from the heat collecting member 242, between the heat transfer member 241 and the bottom 242a of the heat collecting member 242 (FIG. 12). The heat transfer member 241 of this modification is held by the holding member 243 inside the heat collecting member 242, so that the elastic force is indirectly applied to the heat collecting member 242 via the holding member 243.

[0058] The holding member 243 is fitted into the heat collecting member 242 and is in contact with the bottom part 242a. The holding member 243 has a rectangular flat base part 243a that is fitted into the heat collecting member 242 and is in surface contact with the bottom part 242a, and a cylindrical part 243b that protrudes from the base part 243a (FIG. 12). The heat transfer member 241 is fitted into the cylindrical part 243b and is held by the cylindrical part 243b while being in contact with the base part 243a, so that the elastic force is directly received by the base part 243a.

[0059] However, instead of the holding member 243, the heat transfer member 241 may be fitted into a cylindrical portion 242c protruding from the bottom 242a of the heat collecting member 242 (Figure 13), and the elastic force may be directly received by the bottom 242a by holding the heat transfer member 241 on the cylindrical portion 242c and bringing the heat transfer member 241 into contact with the bottom 242a.

[0060] Here, the heat collecting member 242 of this modification is not provided with the locking portion 42c as in the heat collecting member 42 of the embodiment. The heat transfer part 240 of this modification is provided with a locking member 244 fixed to the heat collecting member 242 as a replacement for the locking portion 42c (FIGS. 11 and 12). In this example, the locking members 244 are fixed one by one to the two side wall portions 242b of the heat collecting member 242 arranged opposite each other with the heat transfer member 241 therebetween. For example, the locking members 244 are molded by insert molding in which a synthetic resin material is poured into a mold in which the heat collecting member 242 is arranged.

[0061] The locking member 244 has a locking portion 244a that locks the circuit connector 12 and generates a resilient force on the heat transfer member 241 between the bottom portion 242a of the heat collecting member 242 and the circuit connector 12 (FIGS. 11 and 12). The locking member 244 shown here has two locking portions 244a. In this locking member 244, the locking portion 244a locks the side of the circuit connector 12 opposite to the branch body 22 side. The locking portion 244a shown here locks the hole periphery 12c of the circuit connector 12. For example, here, the locking portion 244a is formed in a flexible claw shape, and the circuit connector 12 is locked by the locking portion 244a by utilizing the bending of the locking portion 244a. Therefore, the locking member 244 is molded, for example, from a synthetic resin material.

[0062] In this heat transfer component 240, heat transfer member 241 is elastically deformed between bottom portion 242a of heat collecting member 242 and locking portion 244a of locking member 244, and a resilient force is generated in heat transfer member 241, which acts on circuit connector 12 and base portion 243a of holding member 243. The resilient force of heat transfer member 241 is received by circuit connector 12 via branch body 22, and also by base portion 243a of holding member 243. Therefore, in this heat transfer component 240, the bottom 242a of the heat collecting member 242 is brought into contact with the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC, and a resilient force is generated in the heat transfer member 241 between the circuit connector 12 and the branch body 22 and the base portion 243a of the holding member 243. With the base portion 243a of the holding member 243 pressed against the bottom portion 242a of the heat collecting member 242 by the resilient force, the circuit connector 12 is engaged with the engaging portion 244a by utilizing the deflection of the engaging portion 244a.

[0063] In this heat transfer component 240, the heat of the battery cell BC is transferred from the outer wall surface to the bottom 242a of the heat collecting member 242, and the heat is transferred from the bottom 242a to the base portion 243a of the holding member 243. In this heat transfer component 240, the heat of the base portion 243a is transferred to the branch body 22 via the heat transfer component 241. Furthermore, in the heat collecting member 242, the heat received by the bottom portion 242a from the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC is transferred to the side wall portion 242b, while the side wall portion 242b collects the surrounding heat, thereby suppressing a decrease in temperature of the heat transfer component 241 and the holding member 243. Therefore, in this conductive module 3, the thermal resistance from the battery cell BC to the branch body 22 in the heat transfer component 240 can be reduced, and the temperature measurement accuracy by the thermistor 30 can be improved.

[0064] Furthermore, in this heat transfer component 240, the circuit connector 12 is engaged with the locking portion 244a by utilizing the flexibility of the locking portion 244a. This eliminates the need for crimping work such as that performed with the locking portion 42c in the embodiment, thereby improving the ease of assembly.

[0065] Incidentally, in the conductive modules 1, 2, and 3 of the embodiment and the first and second modifications described above, an intervening member such as the heat collecting member 42, 242 is interposed between the heat transfer member 41, 141, and 241 and the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC. However, for example, in the conductive modules 1 and 2 of the embodiment and the first modification, such an intervening member may not be interposed between the heat transfer member 41, 141 and the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC, and the heat transfer member 41, 141 may be in direct contact with the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC (not shown). In this case, the heat transfer member 41, 141 generates a resilient force between the circuit connector 12 and the battery cell BC, and the resilient force is indirectly received by the circuit connector 12 via the branch body 22, and the resilient force is directly received by the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC.

[0066] For example, in the busbar 10, the busbar body 11 is fixed to the electrode terminal BC2 of the battery cell BC, making it difficult for the circuit connector 12 to displace relative to the battery cell BC. The distance between the circuit connector 12 and the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC is also difficult to change. Therefore, in the heat transfer component 40, 140, the heat transfer member 41, 141 can be pressed against the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC by its own elastic force.

[0067] In these conductive modules 1, 2, even without providing such an intervening member, the heat transfer members 41, 141 transfer the heat of the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC to the branch body 22, reducing the thermal resistance from the battery cell BC to the branch body 22, thereby improving the accuracy of temperature measurement by the thermistor 30. However, in these conductive modules 1, 2, it is desirable to provide a holding member (not shown) for holding the heat transfer member 41, 141 in place to prevent misalignment of the heat transfer member 41, 141 between the circuit connector 12 and the branch body 22 and the outer wall surface of the battery cell BC. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1,2,3 Conductive Module 10 Bus bar 11 Busbar body 12 Circuit connector 12a Circuit connection 12b Through hole 12c Hole periphery 20 Wiring parts 21 Mainly wiring 22 Branched body 22a Battery contact surface 22b Mounting surface 23 First circuit conductor 24 Second circuit conductor 30 Thermistor 40,140,240 Heat transfer parts 41,141,241 Heat transfer materials 42,242 Heat collecting parts 42a,242a bottom 42b,242b Side wall part 42c Locking part 50 Sealing member 243 Holding member (intervening member) 244 Locking member 244a Locking part BC Battery Cell BC2 electrode terminal BM Battery Module

Claims

1. a bus bar connected to one or a pair of battery cells of a battery module in which a plurality of battery cells are arranged; a wiring component that is formed flat and flexible and that includes a plurality of circuit conductors that are electrically connected to a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery state of the battery cell; a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the battery cell; a heat transfer component interposed between the wiring component and the battery cell; Equipped with the wiring component includes a wiring main body, and branch bodies branched from the wiring main body for each of the bus bars and provided with battery contact surfaces to be brought into contact with the heat transfer component that is in contact with an outer wall surface of the battery cell, the bus bar includes a bus bar main body that is physically and electrically connected to an electrode terminal of the battery cell, and a circuit connection body that is physically and electrically connected to a first circuit conductor of the plurality of circuit conductors on a mounting surface of the branch body that is opposite to the battery contact surface, the thermistor is physically and electrically connected to a second circuit conductor of the plurality of circuit conductors on the mounting surface of the branch body; The heat transfer part has a heat transfer member having a thermal conductivity higher than that of air and is disposed between the battery contact surface of the branch body and the outer wall surface of the battery cell to transfer heat from the outer wall surface of the battery cell to the branch body.

2. 2. The conductive module according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer member generates a resilient force between the circuit connector and the battery cell, and causes the circuit connector to indirectly receive the resilient force via the branch body, and causes the outer wall surface of the battery cell to directly receive the resilient force.

3. the heat transfer component includes a heat collection member that houses the heat transfer member to suppress misalignment between the branch body and the battery cell, has a thermal conductivity higher than that of air, and receives heat from the outer wall surface of the battery cell while collecting heat around itself; The conductive module described in claim 1, characterized in that the heat transfer member generates a resilient force between the circuit connector and the heat collecting member, and causes the circuit connector to indirectly receive the resilient force via the branch body, and also causes the heat collecting member to receive the resilient force directly or indirectly.

4. 4. The conductive module according to claim 3, wherein the heat collecting member has a bottom portion between the heat transfer member and the outer wall surface of the battery cell, the bottom portion being in direct contact with the heat transfer member and in direct contact with the outer wall surface of the battery cell, or indirectly in contact via an intervening member in contact with the heat transfer member and in direct contact with the outer wall surface of the battery cell, and a side wall portion extending from the bottom portion toward the branch body and surrounding the heat transfer member between the branch body and the bottom portion.

5. The conductive module according to claim 4 , characterized in that the heat collecting member has a plurality of engaging portions that engage the circuit connector and generate the elastic force in the heat transfer member between the bottom and the circuit connector.

6. The heat transfer component includes a locking member that is attached to the heat collecting member, 5. The conductive module according to claim 4, wherein the locking member has a locking portion that locks the circuit connector and generates the elastic force in the heat transfer member between the bottom and the circuit connector.

7. the circuit connection body has a through hole and a circuit connection portion provided on a peripheral portion of the through hole and configured to physically and electrically connect to the first circuit conductor on the mounting surface of the branch body, the thermistor is physically and electrically connected to the second circuit conductor in the through hole having a bottom surface on the mounting surface of the branch body, and an insulating sealing material having a thermal conductivity higher than that of air that fills the through hole maintains an insulating distance from the peripheral portion of the through hole; The conductive module according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the locking portion locks the peripheral edge of the hole.

Images