Battery module protection structure

Abstract

To provide a battery module protection structure that prevents a short circuit from occurring when an external force is input.SOLUTION: A battery module protection structure includes: a plurality of battery modules including a battery stack in which a plurality of battery cells is stacked; a first conductive connection member having an inclined part inclined in a first direction intersecting a horizontal direction and electrically connecting the battery modules; and a second conductive connection member that is disposed apart from the battery module than the first conductive connection member, at least partially overlaps the inclined part when projected in the horizontal direction, and is electrically connected to a total positive terminal or a total negative terminal of the battery module.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery module protective structure. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a bus bar that electrically connects a plurality of battery modules. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-205198 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] If the inter-stack bus bar that electrically connects the battery modules and the general + bus bar that is electrically connected to the general positive terminal (or general negative terminal) of the battery module are arranged so that they overlap when projected horizontally, when an external force is input due to a side collision of a vehicle equipped with the battery modules, the inter-stack bus bar and the general + bus bar may interfere with each other, causing a short circuit.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above, and has an object to provide a battery module protection structure that prevents short circuits from occurring when an external force is applied. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The battery module protection structure of the present disclosure comprises a plurality of battery modules including a battery stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, a first conductive connection member having an inclined portion inclined in a first direction intersecting the horizontal direction and electrically connecting the battery modules, and a second conductive connection member that is positioned farther away from the battery modules than the first conductive connection member, at least partially overlaps with the inclined portion when projected in the horizontal direction, and is electrically connected to a general positive terminal or a general negative terminal of the battery modules. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to realize a battery module protection structure that prevents short circuits from occurring when an external force is applied. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a top view of a battery module protective structure according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the battery module protective structure shown in FIG. 1 taken along line AA. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the battery module. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the movement of each part when an external force is input due to a side collision. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A battery module protection structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially identical.

[0010] (Embodiment) [Configuration of battery module protective structure] Fig. 1 is a top view of a battery module protective structure according to an embodiment. In Fig. 1, Fr corresponds to the front of a vehicle in which the battery module protective structure 1 is mounted, and RH corresponds to the right side of the vehicle in which the battery module protective structure 1 is mounted. The battery module protective structure 1 includes a battery case 2, a plurality of battery modules 3, an inter-stack bus bar 4 as a first conductive connecting member, a total + bus bar 5 as a second conductive connecting member, and a voltage detection wire 6.

[0011] The battery module protective structure 1 is a structure for protecting a battery module 3 mounted on, for example, a vehicle.

[0012] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to line AA of the battery module protective structure shown in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, UPR corresponds to the upper side of the vehicle on which the battery module protective structure 1 is mounted, and RH corresponds to the right side of the vehicle on which the battery module protective structure 1 is mounted. The battery module protective structure 1 includes a stack bracket 7 and a reinforcement 8.

[0013] The battery case 2 is made up of a lower case 2a located below and an upper case 2b located above, which are fixed to each other with bolts or the like.

[0014] Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a battery module. As shown in Fig. 3, the battery module 3 has a battery stack 3b in which multiple battery cells 3a are stacked, end plates 3c located at the ends in the stacking direction, and terminals 3d provided at the ends.

[0015] Returning to Fig. 2, the inter-stack bus bar 4 has a conductive member 4a made of a conductive material and a protective member 4b made of an insulating material that covers the conductive member 4a, and electrically connects the battery modules 3. The inter-stack bus bar 4 also has an inclined portion 4c that is inclined in a first direction that intersects with the horizontal direction (the left-right direction in Fig. 2). As shown in Fig. 3, a through-hole 4d into which a terminal 3d is inserted is formed at the end of the conductive member 4a.

[0016] The general + busbar 5 has a conductive member 5a made of a conductive material and a protective member 5b made of an insulating material that covers the conductive member 5a, and is electrically connected to the general positive terminal of the battery module 3. The second conductive connection member may be a general - busbar that is electrically connected to the general negative terminal. The general + busbar 5 is disposed farther away from the battery module 3 than the inter-stack busbar 4, and at least a portion of the general + busbar 5 overlaps with the inclined portion 4c when projected horizontally. The general + busbar 5 may also have an inclined surface 5c that overlaps with the inclined portion 4c when projected horizontally and is inclined in the first direction.

[0017] The voltage detection line 6 detects the voltage of the battery module 3 .

[0018] The stack bracket 7 fixes the battery module 3 to the battery case 2 (lower case 2a) with the reinforcement 8 interposed therebetween.

[0019] The reinforcement 8 is fixed to the stack bracket 7 with bolts, and fixes the stack bracket 7 to the battery case 2 (lower case 2a). The stack bracket 7 is fixed to the reinforcement 8 with bolts or the like.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the movement of each part when an external force is applied due to a side collision. FIG. 4 shows the same cross section as FIG. 2, and assumes that an external force is applied from the left side to a vehicle equipped with a battery module protective structure 1 due to a side collision. When the external force is applied, the battery case 2 deforms inward, and the general + bus bar 5 is pushed toward the battery module 3. Then, the inclined surface 5c of the general + bus bar 5 comes into contact with the inclined portion 4c of the inter-stack bus bar 4, applying a downward force to the general + bus bar 5 and an upward force to the inter-stack bus bar 4. As a result, the inter-stack bus bar 4 bends upward, preventing the inter-stack bus bar 4 from breaking and being damaged, and preventing a short circuit from occurring.

[0021] Furthermore, by making the strength of the protective member 4b greater than the strength of the upper case 2b, it is possible to prevent the upper case 2b from deforming when the protective member 4b comes into contact with the upper case 2b, thereby preventing the protective member 4b from being damaged and causing a short circuit.

[0022] Furthermore, stack bracket 7 may have a protruding portion 7a that protrudes from the battery module 3 side toward the general + busbar 5 side. The inclined surface 5c of general + busbar 5 and the inclined portion 4c of the inter-stack busbar 4 come into contact with each other, and the general + busbar 5 that has slid below the inter-stack busbar 4 comes into contact with the protruding portion 7a, thereby preventing the inter-stack busbar 4 from being bent too much (for example, by 90 degrees or more) and being damaged, and also preventing the voltage detection wire 6 from being pinched by the general + busbar 5 and being damaged.

[0023] The stack bracket 7 may have a protrusion 7b that protrudes upward above the height of the bolt that secures the stack bracket 7 to the reinforcement 8. The protrusion 7b protrudes in a U-shape, for example, as shown in Fig. 3. By having the protrusion 7b on the stack bracket 7, it is possible to prevent the positive bus bar 5 and the voltage detection wire 6 from coming into contact with the bolt and being damaged in the event of a side collision.

[0024] Further advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described above. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0025] 1 Battery module protection structure 2 Battery case 2a Lower case 2b Upper Case 3 Battery Module 3a battery cell 3b Battery stack 3c End Plate 3d terminal 4 Inter-stack busbars 4a, 5a Conductive material 4b, 5b Protective material 4c Slope 4d through hole 5 total + busbars 5c slope 6 Voltage detection wire 7 Stack Bracket 7a Protruding part 7b Convex part 8 Reinforce

Claims

1. a plurality of battery modules including a battery stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked; a first conductive connection member having an inclined portion inclined in a first direction intersecting the horizontal direction, the first conductive connection member electrically connecting the battery modules; a second conductive connection member that is disposed farther away from the battery module than the first conductive connection member, that at least partially overlaps with the inclined portion when projected in the horizontal direction, and that is electrically connected to a general positive terminal or a general negative terminal of the battery module; A battery module protective structure comprising:

2. The battery module protection structure according to claim 1 , wherein the second conductive connection member has an inclined surface that overlaps the inclined portion when projected in the horizontal direction and is inclined in the first direction.

3. a voltage detection line for detecting the voltage of the battery module; a stack bracket that fixes the battery module to a battery case; The battery module protective structure according to claim 1 , comprising:

4. 4. The battery module protective structure according to claim 3, wherein the stack bracket has a protruding portion that protrudes from the battery module side toward the second conductive connecting member side.

5. a reinforcement member that is fixed to the stack bracket with a bolt and that fixes the stack bracket to the battery case; The battery module protection structure according to claim 3 , wherein the stack bracket has a protrusion that protrudes upward to a height greater than or equal to the height of the bolt.

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