Bus bar module

Abstract

To provide a bus bar module capable of suppressing an increase in size in a height direction.SOLUTION: The bus bar module 10 includes a bus bar 12 connected to a plurality of batteries 90, a plate 13 covering the bus bar 12 from the outside opposite to the battery 90 side, a terminal 14 connected to the bus bar 12, an electric wire 15 connected to the terminal 14, and a sheet 16 fixing the electric wire 15. The sheet 16 is disposed along the plate surface of the plate 13.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a bus bar module. [Background technology]

[0002] The energy storage module described in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of energy storage elements, bus bars connected to each of the energy storage elements, and a wiring module attached to the energy storage elements. The wiring module includes a sheet, electric wires fixed to the sheet, and terminals connected to the electric wires and the bus bars. The sheet is placed on each of the energy storage elements. The battery module described in Patent Document 2 includes a bus bar plate connected to a plurality of cells, and an end cover that covers the bus bar plate. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2021 / 006052 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-164085 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] According to Patent Document 1, since the electric wires are fixed to the sheet, deformation of the electric wires in the height direction rising from each energy storage element can be suppressed. In Patent Document 2, if terminals with electric wires are connected to a bus bar plate, applying the technique of fixing the electric wires to a sheet as described in Patent Document 1 is thought to be able to suppress deformation of the electric wires in the vertical direction. If deformation of the electric wires in the vertical direction can be suppressed, it is possible to avoid an increase in the size of the battery module in the vertical direction, which has the advantage of allowing for more efficient use of space. However, in the case of Patent Document 2, in addition to a bus bar plate being connected to each cell, the bus bar plate is covered with an end cover. This requires ingenuity in determining the relative positions of the bus bar plate, end cover, electric wires, and sheet, and there are circumstances in which the technique of Patent Document 1 cannot be applied as is.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a bus bar module that can prevent an increase in size in the height direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The busbar module of the present disclosure is a busbar module comprising: a busbar connected to a plurality of batteries; a plate covering the busbar from the outside opposite the battery side; terminals connected to the busbar; electric wires connected to the terminals; and a sheet for fixing the electric wires, the sheet being arranged along the surface of the plate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a busbar module that can prevent an increase in size in the height direction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a battery module including a busbar module according to a first embodiment, showing a battery unit and a wiring unit. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a battery module including the bus bar module according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a holder in the busbar module according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which terminals, electric wires, and sheets are arranged within a clearance between the bus bar and the holder in the bus bar module according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the electric wires are fixed to a sheet in the bus bar module according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which the electric wires are fixed to a sheet in the bus bar module according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the wiring unit in the bus bar module according to the first embodiment, viewed from the electrode side of each battery. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the bus bar module according to the first embodiment, showing a state in which a first opening of a plate is open and a terminal faces the first opening. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view showing the bus bar module according to the first embodiment, in which the connector is disposed on a side surface of the holder and the electric wire is passed through the notch. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The busbar module of the present disclosure includes: (1) A device comprising: a bus bar connected to a plurality of batteries; a plate covering the bus bar from the outside opposite the battery side; terminals connected to the bus bar; electric wires connected to the terminals; and a sheet for fixing the electric wires, the sheet being arranged along the surface of the plate. If the arrangement direction of the batteries, bus bars, and plates is defined as the height direction, the electric wires are fixed to the sheet and the sheet is arranged along the surface of the plate, thereby preventing the bus bar module from becoming large in size in the height direction. In this specification, "connected" means "electrically connected" unless otherwise specified.

[0010] (2) In the bus bar module described above in (1), it is preferable that the sheet is disposed between the bus bar and the plate. According to the above configuration (2), the sheet is protected by the plate, so that it is possible to avoid the sheet being damaged due to interference with external foreign matter or the like.

[0011] (3) In the busbar module described in (2) above, it is preferable that the plate has an opening, and the terminal faces the opening. According to the above configuration (3), the work of connecting the terminal to the bus bar by welding or the like can be performed through the opening.

[0012] (4) In the busbar module described above in (3), it is preferable that the plate has a lid portion that closes the opening portion. According to the above configuration (4), the terminal is protected by the cover, and therefore, the connection portion between the terminal and the bus bar can be prevented from being damaged or the like.

[0013] (5) In the busbar module described in (4) above, it is preferable that the plate has a hinge portion connected to the lid portion and another opening, the lid portion is configured to be rotatable via the hinge portion from an initial position blocking the other opening to a final position blocking the opening, and the sheet faces the other opening. According to the above configuration (5), the lid can be integrated with the plate by the hinge, which prevents an increase in the number of parts. In particular, since the sheet faces other openings, it is possible to prevent the bus bars from being exposed to the outside through other openings.

[0014] (6) In the busbar module described in any one of (1) to (5) above, it is preferable that the busbar module further includes a holder for holding a plurality of the batteries, the terminals being connected to one end of the electric wires and the other end of the electric wires being connected to a connector, the holder having a peripheral edge portion surrounding the outer periphery of the busbar and a side portion continuous with the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral edge portion, the plate being arranged opposite the end surface of the peripheral edge portion, the connector being arranged on the side surface of the holder, and the peripheral edge portion having a notch extending from the end surface to the outer peripheral surface to pass the electric wires extending from the sheet toward the connector. According to the above configuration (6), it is possible to prevent the connector and the electric wires from protruding in the height direction from the plate, and it is possible to further suppress an increase in the size of the bus bar module in the height direction.

[0015] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] Specific examples of embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0016] [Embodiment 1] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the busbar module 10 according to the first embodiment is a component of a battery module 100 (battery pack). The battery module 100 includes a busbar module 10 and a plurality of batteries 90. The battery module 100 is mounted on an electric vehicle (not shown) or the like. The busbar module 10 includes a holder 11, a busbar 12, a plate 13, terminals 14, electric wires 15, a sheet 16, and a connector 17. Two busbar modules 10 are provided in pairs in the battery module 100, with each battery 90 sandwiched between them.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the batteries 90, busbar 12, and holder 11 constitute a battery unit 110, which is a power source for the battery module 100. The plate 13, terminals 14, electric wires 15, sheet 16, and connector 17 constitute a wiring unit 120 that receives power from the battery unit 110. Note that arrows X, Y, and Z shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 indicate the forward, left, and upward directions, respectively. In the first embodiment, the up-down direction corresponds to the height direction, and may hereinafter be referred to as the height direction. The references for each direction are for convenience and do not necessarily coincide with the references for directions when the battery module 100 including the busbar module 10 is mounted on a vehicle or the like.

[0018] (Battery 90) The battery 90 of the first embodiment is a cylindrical cell having a cylindrical outer shape. For example, each battery 90 is formed to have the same shape. The batteries 90 are arranged in a staggered pattern in the front-rear and left-right directions with their axes oriented in the height direction. A positive electrode is formed at one end of each battery 90 in the height direction. A negative electrode is formed at the other end of each battery 90 in the height direction. The positive and negative electrodes 91 (see FIG. 4) are exposed in each battery 90. For example, a lithium ion battery can be used as the battery 90.

[0019] (Holder 11) The holder 11 of the first embodiment is made of resin. The outer shape of the holder 11 is a rectangular parallelepiped that is thick in the vertical direction and longer in the front-to-rear direction than in the left-to-right direction. The holders 11 are arranged in pairs at positions corresponding to one end and the other end of each battery 90 in the height direction. Each battery 90 is held in its own holder 11.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 3, the holder 11 has a plurality of holding holes 18. Each holding hole 18 penetrates the holder 11 in the height direction. As shown in Fig. 4, each battery 90 is inserted into the corresponding holding hole 18.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 3, the outer surfaces of holder 11 in the height direction (the upper side of upper holder 11 and the lower side of lower holder 11) form installation surfaces 19 on which busbars 12 are installed. Holder 11 has a plurality of support pins 21 that protrude outward in the height direction from positions near the four corners of installation surface 19. Each support pin 21 is inserted into a respective support hole 22 (see Fig. 7) of plate 13, which will be described later.

[0022] The holder 11 has a peripheral edge portion 23 that protrudes outward in the height direction from the outer periphery of the installation surface 19. The peripheral edge portion 23 is formed to extend circumferentially around the outer periphery of the installation surface 19. The peripheral edge portion 23 has a square ring shape with rounded corners in a plan view or a bottom view. When the busbar 12 is installed on the installation surface 19, the outer periphery of the busbar 12 is surrounded by the peripheral edge portion 23.

[0023] The peripheral edge portion 23 has a pair of long portions 24 facing each other in the left-right direction and a pair of short portions 25 that are shorter than the long portions 24 and facing each other in the front-rear direction. The peripheral edge portion 23 also has a notch 27 that opens into an end face 26, which is the outer surface in the protruding direction. In the first embodiment, the notch 27 is formed near the front end of the left long portion 24. The notch 27 is concave in a side view and penetrates the peripheral edge portion 23 in the left-right direction. In other words, the notch 27 opens from the end face 26 of the peripheral edge portion 23 to the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , the electric wire 15 is inserted into the notch 27.

[0024] 3, the outer peripheral surface of the holder 11 forms a side surface 28 that is continuous without any steps with the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral edge 23. The holder 11 has an attachment portion 29 for attaching the connector 17 at the front end portion of the side surface 28 corresponding to the left longitudinal portion 24. The attachment portion 29 in the first embodiment has a pair of upper and lower ribs 31 that extend in the front-rear direction.

[0025] (Bus Bar 12) The busbar 12 is made of metal and formed in a flat plate shape. As shown in FIG. 1, the busbar 12 has an outer peripheral shape that can fit into the peripheral edge portion 23 of the holder 11. The busbars 12 are arranged in pairs at positions corresponding to one end and the other end of each battery 90 in the height direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the busbar 12 has multiple bulges 32 that bulge toward the electrodes 91 of each battery 90 at positions corresponding to the electrodes 91. Each bulge 32 has an embossed shape and is formed, for example, by pressing a portion of the busbar 12. Each bulge 32 contacts and is connected to the electrode 91 of each battery 90. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the busbar 12 has multiple insertion holes 33 at positions corresponding to the support pins 21, through which the support pins 21 pass.

[0026] (Plate 13) Plate 13 is made of resin and formed in a flat plate shape. As shown in Fig. 2, plate 13 has outer dimensions corresponding to the outer dimensions of holder 11. Unlike sheet 16, plate 13 has the rigidity to maintain a constant shape. As shown in Fig. 7, the plate 13 has multiple support holes 22 near the four corners. Each support pin 21 is inserted into each support hole 22. As shown in Fig. 2, an enlarged diameter portion 34 formed at the tip of each support pin 21 engages the outer surface (the surface facing outward in the height direction) of the plate 13. Engaging the plate 13 with each support pin 21 prevents the plate 13 from slipping out of the battery unit 110.

[0027] The outer periphery of the inner surface of the plate 13 (the surface facing inward in the height direction, facing the battery unit 110) is arranged along the end surface 26 of the peripheral portion 23 so as to contact the end surface 26. As shown in FIG. 4 , the bus bar 12 is arranged between the plate 13 and the holder 11. The inner surface of the bus bar 12 is arranged along the installation surface 19 of the holder 11 so as to contact the installation surface 19. The outer surface of the bus bar 12 is arranged with a clearance 35 between it and the plate 13. As will be described later, the terminals 14, the electric wires 15, and the sheet 16 are arranged so as to be contained within the range of the clearance 35.

[0028] 7, the plate 13 has a pair of long sides 36 that define both ends in the left-right direction and a pair of short sides 37 that define both ends in the front-rear direction. Each long side 36 extends in the front-rear direction. Each short side 37 is shorter than each long side 36 and extends in the up-down direction.

[0029] 8 and 9, the plate 13 has a lid portion 38, a hinge portion 39, and a first opening 41 (opening) near the left long side portion 36. The lid portion 38 has a rectangular plate shape that is longer in the front-to-rear direction than in the left-to-right direction.

[0030] The lid portion 38 is rotated and inverted about the hinge portion 39 from the initial position shown in Fig. 8 to the final position shown in Fig. 9. As shown in Fig. 8, the lid portion 38 in the initial position is disposed along the surface of the plate 13. The lid portion 38 in the initial position and the first opening 41 are aligned in the left-right direction with the hinge portion 39 in between.

[0031] The lid portion 38 is formed by cutting out a portion of the plate 13. A second opening 42 (another opening) corresponding to the cut-out hole in the lid portion 38 is formed in the plate 13. As shown in FIG. 8, the second opening 42 has a rectangular recess corresponding to the lid portion 38 in a plan view or a bottom view, and opens to the left long side portion 36. In the initial position, the second opening 42 is closed by the lid portion 38 and the hinge portion 39. As shown in FIG. 9, in the final position, the second opening 42 is opened by rotating the lid portion 38 to the final position. Note that, as shown in FIG. 8, the first opening 41 and the second opening 42 are located on opposite sides of a partition wall portion 43 connected to the hinge portion 39.

[0032] The hinge portion 39 is connected to the right end of the lid portion 38 in the initial position and to the left end of the partition portion 43. The hinge portion 39 is thinner in the height direction than the lid portion 38. The hinge portion 39 extends in a strip shape in the front-to-rear direction and has the same front-to-rear width as the lid portion 38. 9, the first opening 41 is entirely closed by the lid portion 38 in the final position. When the lid portion 38 is in the final position, the hinge portion 39 is folded back to form a U-shaped cross section.

[0033] The plate 13 has a pair of locking portions 44 that protrude outward in the height direction on both the front and rear sides of the first opening 41. Each locking portion 44 is plate-shaped and elastically deformable in the front-to-rear direction. Each locking portion 44 has a tip protrusion 45 that locks the lid portion 38 in the final position from the outside in the height direction. As shown in Figures 4 and 9, the lid portion 38 in the final position is locked by the tip protrusions 45 of each locking portion 44, thereby maintaining the first opening 41 closed.

[0034] In the case of this embodiment 1, the opening / closing structure consisting of the first opening 41, the lid portion 38, the hinge portion 39 and the second opening 42 is formed at two locations spaced apart in the front-to-back direction near the left long side portion 36 so as to correspond to each of the busbars 12 divided into two in the front-to-back direction on the installation surface 19 (see Figure 7).

[0035] (Terminal 14, wire 15 and connector 17) As shown in Fig. 6, the electric wire 15 is a coated electric wire in which the outer periphery of a core wire 49 is surrounded by an insulating coating 51. The electric wire 15 is, for example, a voltage detection wire that detects the voltage of a battery 90. As shown in Fig. 1, the electric wires 15 of the first embodiment are provided in pairs in the height direction in the wiring unit 120 so as to correspond to each of the two divided busbars 12. Similarly, the terminals 14 are also provided in pairs in the height direction in the wiring unit 120 so as to correspond to each of the electric wires 15.

[0036] The terminal 14 is made of a conductive metal plate. As shown in Figures 4 and 8, the terminal 14 has a wire barrel portion 46, an insulation barrel portion 47, and a bus bar connection portion 48. The wire barrel portion 46 is crimped and connected to a core wire 49 exposed at one end of the electric wire 15. The insulation barrel portion 47 is crimped and connected to an insulating coating 51 at one end of the electric wire 15.

[0037] The bus bar connection portion 48 has a flat plate shape with its plate surface facing up and down. The bus bar connection portion 48 is disposed further forward of one end of the electric wire 15 than the wire barrel portion 46 and the insulation barrel portion 47. As shown in Fig. 4, the bus bar connection portion 48 contacts the outer surface of the bus bar 12 and is connected to the bus bar 12. There are no particular limitations on the means for connecting the bus bar connection portion 48 and the bus bar 12, and soldering, brazing, laser welding, ultrasonic welding, resistance welding, etc. may be used.

[0038] The connection between the wire barrel portion 46 and the core wire 49 can also be achieved by soldering or the like instead of crimping. Also, if a mechanical connection can be obtained by connecting the wire barrel portion 46 and the core wire 49, the connection between the insulation barrel portion 47 and the insulating coating 51 can be omitted.

[0039] As shown in Figure 7, the other ends of the pair of electric wires 15 are connected to one connector 17 via other terminals (not shown). Connector 17 has a resin housing 52 that houses the other terminals. Housing 52 is attached to mounting portion 29 on side surface portion 28 of holder 11 by an attachment structure (not shown). Voltage information of battery 90 is output via connector 17 to an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) (not shown).

[0040] (Sheet 16) As shown in FIG. 5 , the sheet 16 is disposed with its plate surface facing up and down. The sheet 16 is flexible and can be bent. A pair of electric wires 15 is fixed to the inner surface of the sheet 16 (the surface facing inward in the height direction, hereinafter referred to as the fixing surface 58). The sheet 16 of the first embodiment has a pair of wide portions 53 that are wide in the left-right direction at each of the front and rear ends, and a narrow portion 54 that is narrower than each of the wide portions 53 in the middle portion in the front-rear direction. The narrow portion 54 is formed in a strip shape that extends longer in the front-rear direction than the wide portion 53. Each wide portion 53 has a window portion 55 at a position corresponding to each terminal 14. The window portion 55 has a rectangular opening shape that corresponds to the first opening 41 of the plate 13.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 6, the sheet 16 has, when viewed in the thickness direction, a base material 56 and a welding layer 57 laminated on the base material 56. The base material 56 can be made of a nonwoven fabric. The welding layer 57 can be made of a resin material. The welding layer 57 can be made of a synthetic resin selected from polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, etc. It is preferable that the welding layer 57 be made of a material that can be welded to the insulating coating 51 of the electric wire 15. It is preferable that the welding layer 57 and the insulating coating 51 are made of the same synthetic resin (e.g., polyvinyl chloride) in consideration of the softening and melting phenomenon that will be described later.

[0042] (Routing structure and fixing structure of electric wire 15 to sheet 16) As shown in FIG. 5 , one electric wire 15 of the pair of electric wires 15 (the electric wire that is also fixed on the narrow portion 54 in FIG. 5 ) is connected to the terminal 14 that faces the window portion 55 of the rear wide portion 53 on the fixing surface 58 of the sheet 16. This one electric wire 15 extends in the front-to-rear direction from the rear wide portion 53 through the narrow portion 54 to the front wide portion 53. This one electric wire 15 further extends through the front wide portion 53 while bypassing the window portion 55, and is drawn out from the left edge of the sheet 16 toward the connector 17. The other electric wire 15 is connected to the terminal 14 that faces the window portion 55 of the front wide portion 53 on the fixing surface 58 of the sheet 16. This other electric wire 15 extends in the left-to-right direction through the front wide portion 53 alongside the one electric wire 15, and is drawn out from the left edge of the sheet 16 toward the connector 17.

[0043] Each electric wire 15 can maintain the wiring path described above by being fixed to the fixing surface 58 of the sheet 16. As shown in FIG. 6, the insulating coating 51 of each electric wire 15 is heat-welded to the welding layer 57 of the sheet 16. For example, the insulating coating 51 and the welding layer 57 are joined by softening and melting at the fusion temperature. There are no particular limitations on the means for welding the insulating coating 51 and the welding layer 57, and ultrasonic welding, resistance welding, laser welding, etc. can be used.

[0044] (Assembly of Battery Module 100 and Function of Busbar Module 10) When assembling the wiring unit 120, first, one end of each electric wire 15 is connected to the corresponding terminal 14, and the other end of each electric wire 15 is connected to the connector 17. Then, as shown in FIG. 5 , each electric wire 15 is fixed to the fixing surface 58 of the sheet 16 along the wiring path.

[0045] As shown in Fig. 7, the sheets 16 to which the electric wires 15 are fixed are arranged facing each other along the inner surface of the plate 13 and are attached to the inner surface of the plate 13, for example, with an adhesive. When the sheet 16 is attached to the plate 13, it can be positioned so that the terminals 14 face the first openings 41. When the sheet 16 is attached to the plate 13, the window portions 55 and the first openings 41 communicate with each other. The terminals 14 are arranged so that they face the first openings 41 from the window portions 55.

[0046] Separately from the wiring unit 120, the battery unit 110 is assembled according to a specified procedure. When the assembly of the battery unit 110 is complete, each battery 90 is held in a corresponding holder 11 at one end and the other end in the height direction. As shown in FIG. 1 , the bus bar 12 is surrounded at its outer periphery by a peripheral edge 23 and is exposed on the outer surface of the battery unit 110 (the surface facing outward in the height direction, the surface opposite to the side of each battery 90). Each support pin 21 passes through each insertion hole 33 of each bus bar 12. The enlarged diameter portion 34 of each support pin 21 protrudes outward from the outer surface of the bus bar 12.

[0047] Next, the wiring unit 120 is assembled to the battery unit 110 from the outside in the height direction (the side indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1). Here, the outer periphery of the inner surface of the plate 13 is aligned so that it contacts the end surface 26 of the peripheral edge portion 23. As shown in FIG. 2, the enlarged diameter portions 34 of each support pin 21 are positioned so that they can pass through the respective support holes 22 and engage with the outer surface of the plate 13. This prevents the plate 13 from coming off and holds it in the holder 11. As shown in FIG. 8, the opening of the notch 27 in the end surface 26 of the peripheral edge portion 23 is blocked by the plate 13 and the sheet 16.

[0048] As shown in Fig. 4, the portion of electric wire 15 that is fixed to fixing surface 58 of sheet 16 is arranged so as to be sandwiched between sheet 16 and bus bar 12 within the range of clearance 35. As shown in Fig. 9, the portion of electric wire 15 that extends from sheet 16 is pulled out to the side of side surface portion 28 of holder 11 through cutout portion 27, and connector 17 connected to the other end thereof is positioned so as to be attachable to attachment portion 29.

[0049] The bus bar connection portion 48 of each terminal 14 is arranged so as to contact the outer surface of the bus bar 12. As shown in FIG. 8 , the state in which the bus bar connection portion 48 of the terminal 14 is arranged on the outer surface of the bus bar 12 can be seen from the outside in the height direction through the first opening 41. In this state, a connection operation such as soldering or welding is performed on the bus bar connection portion 48 of the terminal 14 through the first opening 41. Then, the bus bar connection portion 48 of the terminal 14 is connected to the corresponding bus bar 12. In this way, the first opening 41 functions as a work space for performing the connection operation between the terminal 14 and the bus bar 12.

[0050] Once the connection between the bus bar connection portion 48 of the terminal 14 and the bus bar 12 is complete, the cover portion 38, which is in the initial position, is rotated toward the final position around the hinge portion 39. As shown in FIG. 9 , the cover portion 38 reaches the final position and is locked by the locking portions 44, closing the first openings 41. The terminals 14 are covered by the cover portions 38. In contrast, when the cover portions 38 reach the final position, the second openings 42 are exposed to the outside. At this time, the sheet 16 is positioned outside the bus bar 12 in the height direction and faces the second openings 42. The bus bar 12 is covered by the sheet 16 at positions corresponding to the second openings 42.

[0051] As described above, the busbar module 10 according to the first embodiment includes the busbar 12 connected to the plurality of batteries 90, the plate 13 covering the busbar 12 from the outside in the height direction opposite to the battery 90 side, the terminals 14 connected to the busbar 12, the electric wires 15 connected to the terminals 14, and the sheet 16 for fixing the electric wires 15. The sheet 16 is arranged along the inner surface of the plate 13, which is the plate surface.

[0052] The batteries 90, bus bars 12, and plates 13 are arranged side by side in the height direction. The electric wires 15 are fixed to the sheets 16, and the sheets 16 are arranged along the surface of the plates 13, so that the bus bar modules 10 and therefore the battery modules 100 can be prevented from increasing in size in the height direction.

[0053] In the first embodiment, the sheet 16 is disposed between the bus bar 12 and the plate 13. Therefore, the sheet 16 is protected by the plate 13, and damage to the sheet 16 due to interference with external foreign objects or the like can be avoided. Furthermore, the plate 13 has a first opening 41, and the terminal 14 faces the first opening 41. Therefore, the work of connecting the terminal 14 to the bus bar 12 by welding or the like can be performed through the first opening 41, resulting in excellent workability.

[0054] Furthermore, plate 13 has lid 38 that closes the opening. With this, terminal 14 is protected by lid 38, and therefore, damage to the connection portion between terminal 14 and bus bar 12 can be prevented, and connection reliability can be ensured.

[0055] In particular, the plate 13 has a hinge portion 39 connected to the lid portion 38 and a second opening 42, and the lid portion 38 is configured to be rotatable via the hinge portion 39 from an initial position where it covers the second opening 42 to a final position where it covers the first opening 41. The sheet 16 faces the second opening 42. This allows the lid portion 38 to be integrated with the plate 13 by the hinge portion 39, preventing an increase in the number of parts. Moreover, because the sheet 16 faces the second opening 42, the busbar 12 can be prevented from being exposed to the outside through the second opening 42.

[0056] The busbar module 10 according to the first embodiment further includes a holder 11 that holds multiple batteries 90. The terminals 14 are connected to one ends of the electric wires 15, and the connectors 17 are connected to the other ends of the electric wires 15. The holder 11 has a peripheral edge portion 23 that surrounds the outer periphery of the busbar 12 and a side surface portion 28 that is continuous with the outer periphery of the peripheral edge portion 23. The plate 13 is disposed opposite an end face 26 of the peripheral edge portion 23. The connector 17 is disposed on the side surface portion 28 of the holder 11. The peripheral edge portion 23 has a notch 27 extending from the end face 26 to the outer periphery, through which the electric wires 15 extending from the sheet 16 toward the connector 17 pass. This prevents the connector 17 and the electric wires 15 from protruding in the height direction beyond the plate 13, thereby more reliably suppressing an increase in the height of the busbar module 10. The notch 27 also determines the position at which the electric wires 15 are drawn out from the sheet 16.

[0057] [Another embodiment of the present disclosure] The first embodiment disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. In the case of the first embodiment, the sheet has a base material and a welding layer, and the electric wire is fixed to the sheet by thermal welding to the welding layer. However, the fixing structure between the electric wire and the sheet is not particularly limited, and for example, the electric wire may be fixed to the sheet with an adhesive. In the first embodiment, the battery is configured as a cylindrical cell. However, in other embodiments, the battery is not limited to a cylindrical cell, and may be a cell having another structure, such as a rectangular cell. The busbar module of the present disclosure is widely applicable to battery modules in which the battery, busbars, and plates are arranged vertically, regardless of the battery structure. In the first embodiment, the lid is integrated with the plate via a hinge, but in other embodiments, the lid may be provided as a separate body from the main body of the plate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 10...Busbar module 11...Holder 12... Bus bar 13...Plate 14...Terminal 15...Electric wire 16...seat 17...Connector 18...Retaining hole 19…Installation surface 21...Support pin 22...Support hole 23...periphery 24...Longitudinal part 25…Short side 26…End face 27...Notch 28…Side part 29...Mounting part 31...Rib 32...bulge 33...Through hole 34…Expanded diameter part 35...Clearance 36...Long side 37...Short side 38…Lid part 39...hinge part 41...First opening (opening) 42...Second opening (another opening) 43...Partition wall part 44...Latching part 45…Tip protrusion 46...Wire barrel part 47...Insulation barrel part 48...Busbar connection part 49...Core wire 51...Insulating coating 52…Housing 53...Wide section 54...Narrow part 55...Window section 56...Base material 57…welding layer 58…Fixed surface 90...battery 91...Electrode 100...Battery module 110...Battery unit 120...Wiring unit

Claims

1. a bus bar connected to a plurality of batteries; a plate covering the bus bar from the outside opposite to the battery side; a terminal connected to the bus bar; an electric wire connected to the terminal; a sheet for fixing the electric wire, the sheet is disposed along a surface of the plate.

2. The bus bar module according to claim 1 , wherein the sheet is disposed between the bus bar and the plate.

3. the plate has an opening; The busbar module according to claim 2 , wherein the terminals face the opening.

4. The busbar module according to claim 3 , wherein the plate has a lid portion that closes the opening.

5. the plate has a hinge portion connected to the lid portion and another opening; the lid portion is configured to be rotatable via the hinge portion from an initial position where the lid portion closes the other opening to a final position where the lid portion closes the opening, The busbar module according to claim 4 , wherein the sheet faces the other opening.

6. a holder for holding a plurality of the batteries; the terminal is connected to one end of the electric wire; A connector is connected to the other end of the electric wire, the holder has a peripheral edge portion surrounding an outer periphery of the bus bar and a side surface portion continuous with an outer periphery surface of the peripheral edge portion, the plate is disposed opposite an end surface of the peripheral portion, the connector is disposed on the side surface of the holder; 6. The busbar module according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral edge portion has a notch extending from the end face to the outer circumferential surface, through which the electric wire extending from the sheet toward the connector passes.

Images