Terminal structure assembly with an integrated bus bar

Abstract

The disclosed invention relates to a terminal structure assembly. In one example, it includes a terminal body having an upper surface portion and a side surface portion connected to the upper surface portion in a bent form, and a plurality of terminal structures including extension terminals provided to be exposed on the side surface portion of the terminal body, and a bus bar made of a conductive material that is coupled to all the extension terminals provided in the plurality of terminal structures.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal structure assembly including a bus bar integrally, and more particularly, to a terminal structure assembly capable of converting the arrangement structure of a positive terminal and / or a negative terminal from one direction to two directions and at the same time completing the electrical connection between a plurality of secondary batteries.

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0140666 filed on October 27, 2022, and all contents disclosed in the literature of the Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference.

Background Art

[0003] Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries can be recharged, and in recent years, much research and development has been carried out due to the possibility of miniaturization and large capacity. With the increasing technological development and demand for mobile devices, as well as the emergence of electric vehicles and energy storage systems in line with the contemporary requirements of environmental protection, the demand for secondary batteries as an energy source has increased even more rapidly.

[0004] Secondary batteries are classified into coin-type batteries, cylindrical batteries, prismatic batteries, and pouch-type batteries according to the shape of the battery case. The electrode assembly mounted inside the battery case in a secondary battery is a power generation element capable of charge and discharge, which consists of a laminated structure of electrodes and a separator.

[0005] The electrode assembly can be roughly classified into a jellyroll type in which a separator is interposed between a sheet-shaped positive electrode and a negative electrode coated with an active material and wound, a stack type in which a large number of positive electrodes and negative electrodes are sequentially laminated with a separator interposed therebetween, and a stack and folding type in which unit cells of the stack type are wound with a long separation film.

[0006] Among various types of secondary batteries, looking at the rectangular secondary battery, in most cases, the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal of the rectangular secondary battery are arranged together on one surface, or one is arranged on each of the opposing side surfaces. Such an arrangement of the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal is determined by the design specifications of various devices equipped with the rectangular secondary battery, and it is time-consuming to separately design the arrangement structure of the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal for each case with the same form factor according to such design specifications.

[0007] Also, in order to connect individual unidirectional secondary batteries to a bus bar via the side surface in a battery module or pack unit where a plurality of secondary batteries form a group, various types of accessory parts are required, and the work of attaching these and connecting the bus bar is costly and time-consuming.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a terminal structure assembly that can easily change the arrangement structure of the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal provided in a plurality of rectangular secondary batteries to a two-way arrangement structure without separate design changes, and at the same time, can complete the electrical connection between them in one batch.

[0009] However, the technical problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and other problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention described below.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] The present invention relates to a terminal structure assembly. In one example, it includes a terminal body having an upper surface portion and a side surface portion connected to the upper surface portion in a bent form, and a plurality of terminal structures including extension terminals provided so as to be exposed on the side surface portion of the terminal body, and a bus bar made of a conductive material that is coupled to all the extension terminals provided in the plurality of terminal structures.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of terminal structures are aligned in a row, and the bus bar is collectively coupled to the extension terminals aligned in a row.

[0012] In one example, the bus bar can be coupled to the extension terminal by welding.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, a binding portion into which the bus bar is inserted and coupled is provided at a side end of the terminal structure.

[0014] Here, the binding portion may include an insertion coupling port formed by bending the extension terminal.

[0015] The insertion coupling port can form a spring structure that elastically fixes the bus bar, and the free end of the insertion coupling port can be wound in a form that forms a curved surface.

[0016] The bus bar inserted into the insertion coupling port can be welded to the extension terminal.

[0017] On the other hand, the present invention includes a plurality of secondary batteries in which a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal are spaced apart on the upper surface of a hexahedral battery case, and a terminal structure assembly having the above configuration, and the terminal structure assembly is coupled to the plurality of secondary batteries aligned in a row, whereby the bus bar electrically connects the plurality of secondary batteries, and provides a secondary battery characterized by this.

[0018] In one example, the terminal structure assembly includes two terminal structures, and the plurality of secondary batteries are aligned along the thickness direction such that electrode terminals having polarities different from those of the electrode terminals of other adjacent secondary batteries face each other, and the terminal structure assembly is alternately coupled to both side surfaces of the plurality of secondary batteries, whereby the plurality of secondary batteries can be connected in series.

[0019] In other examples, the terminal structure assembly includes a number of terminal structures corresponding to the number of the plurality of secondary batteries. The plurality of secondary batteries are aligned along the thickness direction such that electrode terminals having the same polarity as those of the electrode terminals of other adjacent secondary batteries face each other. The terminal structure assembly can be coupled to both side surfaces of the plurality of secondary batteries, respectively, such that the plurality of secondary batteries can be connected in parallel.

Advantages of the Invention

[0020] The terminal structure assembly of the present invention having the above-described configuration is such that a plurality of terminal structures form one assembly via a bus bar. By applying such a terminal structure assembly to a plurality of secondary batteries, each secondary battery can be collectively converted into a secondary battery with two-way terminals, and electrical connection to the plurality of secondary batteries sharing the terminal structure assembly is completed.

[0021] Accordingly, by applying the terminal structure assembly of the present invention to a battery module or pack in which a large number of secondary batteries are assembled, the conversion of the terminal arrangement and the connection operation of the bus bar for all secondary batteries can be collectively performed in units of battery modules / packs rather than in units of individual battery cells. As a result, the manufacturing cost and labor of the battery module or pack can be reduced.

[0022] However, the technical effects that can be obtained by the present invention are not limited to the above-described effects, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention described below.

[0023] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and serve to further understand the technical idea of the present invention together with the detailed description of the invention to be described later. Therefore, the present invention should not be construed as being limited only to the matters described in such drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] Since the present invention can be subjected to various modifications and can have various embodiments, specific embodiments will be described in detail below.

[0026] However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, and it can be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, or alternatives included in the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

[0027] In the present invention, terms such as "including" and "having" are intended to specify the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and do not preclude the presence or addition possibility of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0028] In the present invention, when a part such as a layer, film, region, or plate is described as being "above" another part, this includes not only the case where it is directly above the other part but also the case where there is another part in between. Conversely, when a part such as a layer, film, region, or plate is described as being "below" another part, this includes not only the case where it is directly below the other part but also the case where there is another part in between. Also, in the present application, being "disposed above" can include the case of being disposed not only at the upper part but also at the lower part.

[0029] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a terminal structure assembly. In one example, it includes a terminal body having an upper surface portion and a side surface portion connected to the upper surface portion in a bent form, and a plurality of terminal structures each including an extension terminal provided so as to be exposed on the side surface portion of the terminal body, and a bus bar made of a conductive material that is coupled to all the extension terminals provided in the plurality of terminal structures.

[0030] The terminal structure assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration enables a plurality of terminal structures to form a single assembly via the bus bar. By applying such a terminal structure assembly to a plurality of secondary batteries, each secondary battery can be collectively converted into a secondary battery with bidirectional terminals, and electrical connection to the plurality of secondary batteries sharing the terminal structure assembly is completed.

[0031] By applying the terminal structure assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention to a battery module or pack in which a large number of secondary batteries are assembled, the conversion of the terminal arrangement and the connection operation of the bus bar for all secondary batteries can be collectively performed in units of battery modules / packs instead of individual battery cells. As a result, the manufacturing cost and labor of the battery module or pack can be reduced.

[0032] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, specific embodiments of the terminal structure assembly 200 of the present invention will be described in detail. For reference, the front-back, up-down, left-right directions specifying relative positions used in the following description are for assisting in understanding the invention, and are based on the directions shown in the drawings unless otherwise defined specifically.

[0033] (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a drawing attached to explain a configuration for converting a secondary battery 10 already manufactured with a unidirectional terminal arrangement into a bidirectional terminal arrangement using a terminal structure 210 included in a terminal structure assembly 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 1, it relates to a rectangular secondary battery 10 of a unidirectional type in which a pair of electrode terminals 120, that is, a positive electrode terminal 122 and a negative electrode terminal 124, are spaced apart on a cap plate 110 forming the upper surface of a secondary battery 10, particularly a battery case 100 having a hexahedral shape. Here, the rectangular secondary battery 10 shown in the drawing is an example, and the ratios of the lateral width, longitudinal width, and height can be various, and for the sake of convenience of explanation, the front-back, up-down, left-right directions will be referred to based on the attached drawing. For example, one surface of the battery case 100 on which the positive electrode terminal 122 and the negative electrode terminal 124 are arranged is the upper surface, and the opposite surface facing it is called the bottom surface.

[0035] The illustrated secondary battery 10 includes a terminal structure 210. The terminal structure 210 is a structure in a bent form bent at a right angle to be coupled to at least one upper surface corner of the battery case 100, and includes a terminal body 212 and an extension terminal 220.

[0036] The terminal body 212 refers to the main body of the terminal structure 210 including an upper surface portion 213 that wraps so that the positive electrode terminal 122 or the negative electrode terminal 124 is not exposed to the outside, and a side surface portion 214 that is coupled to a side surface continuing from the upper surface of the battery case 100. In the drawing, an example in which the terminal structure 210 is coupled to both the positive electrode terminal 122 and the negative electrode terminal 124 is shown, but depending on the embodiment, the terminal structure 210 can also be selectively coupled to only one of the positive electrode terminal 122 and the negative electrode terminal 124.

[0037] The extension terminal 220 is electrically connected to the positive terminal 122 or the negative terminal 124, and corresponds to a connection terminal extended to the side surface portion 214 of the terminal body 212. That is, since the positive terminal 122 or the negative terminal 124 is wrapped by the terminal body 212 and not exposed to the outside, the extension terminal 220 functions as a new positive terminal 122 or negative terminal 124 whose position has moved to the side surface rather than the upper surface of the battery case 100.

[0038] Also, the terminal body 212 is made of an insulating material, for example, an electrically insulating resin or rubber material. As a result, the positive terminal 122 or the negative terminal 124 covered by the upper surface portion 213 of the terminal body is in a deactivated state electrically isolated from the outside. That is, in the secondary battery 10 to which the terminal structure 210 is coupled, the existing positive terminal 122 and negative terminal 124 will no longer function as connection terminals, and the extension terminal 220 on the terminal structure 210 will function as a new positive terminal 122 or negative terminal 124 whose position has moved.

[0039] In this way, the positions of the positive terminal 122 and the negative terminal 124 arranged together on the upper surface of the battery case 100 can be freely changed in the arrangement structure of the electrode terminal 120 without any separate design changes only by applying the terminal structure 210. Thereby, the embodiment of the present invention including the terminal structure 210 can freely and easily change the positions of the positive terminal 122 and / or the negative terminal 124 for secondary batteries of the same form factor, and thus can reduce the production costs of various rectangular secondary batteries.

[0040] In one illustrated embodiment, the positive terminal 122 and / or the negative terminal 124 is electrically connected to the extension terminal 220 via the extension wiring 230. The extension wiring 230 connected to the extension terminal 220 forms a joint portion 232 with respect to the positive terminal 122 and / or the negative terminal 124, and the extension wiring 230 and the electrode terminal 120 are mechanically and electrically firmly connected by the joint portion 232. For example, the joint portion 232 can be formed by welding.

[0041] The extension wiring 230 is not exposed outside the terminal body 212. For example, the extension wiring 230 can be embedded in the terminal body 212 made of an electrically insulating resin material by a technique such as insert molding. Also, the joint portion 232 is insulated from the outside. The external insulation for the joint portion 232 can be achieved by at least any one of an insulating cover, an insulating tape, and a curable insulating layer.

[0042] Here, the curable insulating layer means an insulating layer formed by curing after an insulating resin having fluidity is applied to the joint portion 232. In FIG. 1, a film-shaped insulating tape 234 provided with an adhesive layer is shown in a configuration for insulating the joint portion 232.

[0043] Based on such a basic configuration of the terminal structure 210, the terminal structure assembly 200 according to the present invention will be described. FIGS. 2 and 3 show a terminal structure assembly 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the terminal structure assembly 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of terminal structures 210, and also includes a bus bar 240 made of a conductive material that couples to all the extension terminals 220 provided in the plurality of terminal structures 210. Through the bus bar 240, the plurality of terminal structures 210 form one assembly. By applying such a terminal structure assembly 200 to a plurality of secondary batteries 10, the individual secondary batteries 10 can be collectively converted into secondary batteries 10 with bidirectional terminals, and the electrical connection to the plurality of secondary batteries 10 sharing the terminal structure assembly 200 is completed. This will be described in detail in the subsequent part.

[0045] As shown in the figure, the plurality of terminal structures 210 are aligned in a row such that the terminal bodies 212 face the same direction, and the bus bar 240 is collectively coupled to the extension terminals 220 aligned in a row. Since the bus bar 240 is made of a conductive material, the extension terminals 220 of each terminal structure 210 connected to the bus bar 240 are electrically connected to each other. In one example, the bus bar 240 can be coupled to the extension terminals 220 by welding.

[0046] Figures 4 and 5 show various coupling structures of the extension terminal 220 and the bus bar 240. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a bundling portion 216 into which the bus bar 240 is inserted and coupled is provided at a side end portion of the terminal structure 210. The bundling portion 216 forms a gap corresponding to the thickness of the bus bar 240 with respect to the extension terminal 220, whereby the bus bar 240 can be inserted and fixed into the gap between the bundling portion 216 and the extension terminal 220. The bundling portion 216 can be separately manufactured and attached to the end portion of the extension terminal 220, or can be formed by bending the extension terminal 220 made of a metal material.

[0047] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing an embodiment in which the extension terminal 220 made of a metal material is bent to form the bundling portion 216, and the bundling portion 216 includes an insertion coupling port 222 formed by bending the extension terminal 220. The insertion coupling port 222 is a coupling groove having a depth such that substantially all of the bus bar 240 can be inserted, and can form a spring structure for elastically fixing the bus bar 240. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the insertion coupling port 222 can have a curved cross-section that is deformable while having elasticity with respect to the bus bar 240. The support structure of the bus bar 240 is improved by the insertion coupling port 222 having a spring structure.

[0048] Also, the free end of the insertion coupling port 222 can be formed in a shape wound so as to form a curved surface. This is to prevent the bus bar 240 from being caught by the entrance angle of the insertion coupling port 222 while being fitted into the insertion coupling port 222, and to prevent the problem that the bus bar 240 with a damaged surface is easily corroded.

[0049] Here, also in the case of the terminal structure 210 including the bundling portion 216 in FIGS. 4 and 5, the bus bar 240 inserted into the insertion coupling port 222 can be welded to the extension terminal 220 in order to support the bus bar 240 more firmly.

[0050] (Second Embodiment) Figs. 6 and 7 exemplarily show a case where the terminal structure assembly 200 described in detail in the first embodiment is applied to a plurality of secondary batteries 10, and through Figs. 6 and 7, the advantages of the terminal structure assembly 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention can be more clearly understood.

[0051] The illustrated secondary battery 10 relates to a single - direction secondary battery 10 in which a positive - electrode terminal 122 and a negative - electrode terminal 124 are spaced apart and arranged on the upper surface of a hexahedral battery case 100. A plurality of such secondary batteries 10 are aligned in a row along the thickness direction.

[0052] The terminal structure assembly 200 according to the first embodiment is coupled to a plurality of secondary batteries 10 aligned in a row. That is, as described with reference to Fig. 1, the terminal body 212 of each terminal structure 210 is coupled so as to wrap the positive - electrode terminal 122 or the negative - electrode terminal 124 on the upper surface of the corresponding secondary battery 10. Thereby, the plurality of secondary batteries 10 coupled to the terminal structure assembly 200 have their terminal arrangements converted to two - direction secondary batteries all at once.

[0053] Also, by the bus bar 240 coupled to the extension terminal 220 of each terminal structure 210, all the terminal structures 210 of the terminal structure assembly 200 are in an electrically connected state, and thereby, the plurality of secondary batteries 10 are automatically electrically connected by the terminal structure assembly 200.

[0054] Fig. 6 shows an example in which three secondary batteries 10 are serially connected by the terminal structure assembly 200. Although three secondary batteries 10 are taken as an example in the drawing, it is self - evidently understood by an ordinary technician that such a series - connection structure can be extended to four or more secondary batteries 10. Also, in the drawing, it is shown that the terminal structure assembly 200 of Figs. 2 and 3 is applied, but it is also self - evident that the terminal structure assembly 200 of Figs. 4 and 5 can be applied.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 6, the terminal structure assembly 200 includes two terminal structures 210. A plurality of secondary batteries 10 are aligned along the thickness direction such that the electrode terminals 120 of adjacent secondary batteries 10 have opposite polarities facing each other. The terminal structure assembly 200 having two terminal structures 210 each is alternately coupled to both side surfaces of a plurality of secondary batteries 10 (skipping one secondary battery at a time and alternately coupling one to each side surface). Thereby, the plurality of secondary batteries 10 are connected in series.

[0056] FIG. 7 shows a case where three secondary batteries 10 are connected in parallel. In the example of FIG. 7, the terminal structure assembly 200 includes the number of terminal structures 210 corresponding to the number of a plurality of secondary batteries 10 (three in FIG. 7). A plurality of secondary batteries 10 are aligned along the thickness direction such that the electrode terminals 120 of adjacent secondary batteries 10 have the same polarities facing each other. The terminal structure assembly 200 is coupled to both side surfaces of a plurality of secondary batteries 10 respectively, whereby the plurality of secondary batteries 10 are connected in parallel.

[0057] Thus, by applying the terminal structure assembly 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention, individual secondary batteries 10 are collectively converted from unidirectional secondary batteries 10 to bidirectional secondary batteries 10, and the electrical connection to the plurality of secondary batteries 10 to which the terminal structure assembly 200 is applied is completed. Therefore, when the terminal structure assembly 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied to a battery module or pack in which a large number of unidirectional secondary batteries 10 are assembled, the manufacturing cost and time of the battery module / pack can be reduced.

[0058] For reference, although not shown in the drawings, by combining the connection structures of FIGS. 6 and 7, in addition to series and parallel connections, more diverse series-parallel connections can be easily implemented.

[0059] The present invention has been described in more detail with reference to the drawings and embodiments above. However, the configurations described in the drawings or embodiments described in this specification are merely one embodiment of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention. Therefore, there may be various equivalents and modifications that can replace them at the time of this application.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0060] 10: Secondary battery 100: Battery case 110: Cap plate 120: Electrode terminal 122: Positive electrode terminal 124: Negative electrode terminal 200: Terminal structure assembly 210: Terminal structure 212: Terminal body 213: Upper surface portion 214: Side surface portion 216: Binding portion 220: Extension terminal 222: Insertion coupling port 230: Extension wiring 232: Joint portion 234: Insulating tape 240: Bus bar

Claims

1. A plurality of terminal structures including a terminal body having an upper surface portion and a side surface portion connected to the upper surface portion in a bent form, and an extension terminal provided to be exposed on the side surface portion of the terminal body; A terminal structure assembly including a bus bar made of a conductive material that is coupled to all the extension terminals provided in the plurality of terminal structures.

2. The plurality of terminal structures are aligned in a row, The bus bar is collectively coupled to the extension terminals aligned in a row. The terminal structure assembly according to Claim 1.

3. The bus bar is coupled to the extension terminal by welding. The terminal structure assembly according to Claim 2.

4. A binding portion into which the bus bar is inserted and coupled is provided at a side end of the terminal structure. The terminal structure assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 3.

5. The binding portion includes an insertion coupling port formed by bending the extension terminal. The terminal structure assembly according to Claim 4.

6. The insertion coupling port forms a spring structure for elastically fixing the bus bar. The terminal structure assembly according to Claim 5.

7. A free end of the insertion coupling port is wound in a form that forms a curved surface. The terminal structure assembly according to Claim 6.

8. The bus bar inserted into the insertion coupling port is welded to the extension terminal. The terminal structure assembly according to Claim 5.

9. A plurality of secondary batteries in which a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal are spaced apart and arranged on an upper surface of a hexahedral battery case; The terminal structure assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, and The terminal structure assembly is coupled to the plurality of secondary batteries aligned in a row, whereby the bus bar electrically connects the plurality of secondary batteries. A secondary battery.

10. The terminal structure assembly includes two terminal structures, The plurality of secondary batteries are aligned along the thickness direction such that electrode terminals having polarities different from those of electrode terminals of other adjacent secondary batteries face each other, The terminal structure assembly is alternately coupled to both side surfaces of the plurality of secondary batteries, whereby the plurality of secondary batteries are connected in series. The secondary battery according to Claim 9.

11. The terminal structure assembly includes a number of terminal structures corresponding to the number of the plurality of secondary batteries. The plurality of secondary batteries are aligned along the thickness direction such that electrode terminals having the same polarity face each other with respect to electrode terminals of other adjacent secondary batteries, The secondary battery according to claim 9, wherein the terminal structure assembly is coupled to both side surfaces of the plurality of secondary batteries, respectively, such that the plurality of secondary batteries are connected in parallel.

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