Busbar module

Abstract

To provide a busbar module that can properly treat internal water. [Solution] The busbar module 1 comprises a busbar 2 connected to a battery cell 11, a terminal 3 connected to the busbar 2, a busbar housing 41 that houses the busbar 2 and the terminal 3, and a case 4 that is provided below the busbar housing 41 and houses the connection portion between the terminal 3 and the electric wire 5. The connection housing 42 is formed to be open toward the downward side in the vertical direction Z when assembled to the battery cell 11.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a bus bar module.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a bus bar module, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, a bus bar module attached to the side surface of a battery assembly to form a power supply device is known. This bus bar module has a case, and the case includes a plurality of bus bar accommodating portions, voltage detection terminals provided adjacent to each bus bar accommodating portion, a wiring portion for wiring a voltage detection line connected to the voltage detection terminals, and a cover covering a predetermined range of the wiring portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in such a bus bar module, when dew condensation occurs on the bus bar and water droplets are generated, it is required to appropriately perform processes such as discharging water from a bus bar cavity such as a bus bar accommodating portion. And there is room for improvement in the treatment of water accumulated in the bus bar cavity of the bus bar module.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a bus bar module capable of appropriately performing water treatment.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In other words, the busbar module according to the present invention comprises a busbar connected to a battery cell, a terminal connected to the busbar, a busbar housing section that houses the busbar and the terminal, and a case having a connection housing section that communicates with the lower part of the busbar housing section and houses a connection section between the terminal and an electric wire, wherein the connection housing section is formed to be open toward the downward side in the vertical direction when assembled to the battery cell. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the busbar module of the present invention, water treatment can be performed appropriately. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a busbar module according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the busbar module according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the busbar module according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram of water treatment in a busbar module according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram of a busbar module in a comparative example. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. Furthermore, some of the components in the following embodiments may be easily substituted or substantially identical to those that are easily substituted by those skilled in the art.

[0010] [Embodiment] This embodiment relates to a busbar module. In the following description, of the three intersecting directions, the first direction is referred to as the "depth direction X," the second direction as the "width direction Y," and the third direction as the "vertical direction Z." Here, the depth direction X, the width direction Y, and the vertical direction Z are mutually orthogonal. Note that "orthogonal" here includes approximately orthogonal. Unless otherwise specified, the directions used in the following description represent the directions when the parts are assembled together.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the busbar module 1 of this embodiment is used by being assembled to a battery cell 11, for example, the battery cell 11 and the busbar module 1 constitute a battery module 10. Multiple battery cells 11 are provided and arranged, for example, in a line in the width direction Y. That is, multiple battery cells 11 are arranged in a line in the width direction Y and stacked. Multiple battery modules 10 are provided to form a battery pack and are used as a power source for vehicles such as electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles.

[0012] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the battery cell 11 constitutes a so-called single cell, and multiple cells are arranged along the width direction Y to form a battery pack. Electrodes 112 are provided on the electrode arrangement surface 111 of the battery cell 11. The electrode arrangement surface 111 is, for example, the surface of the battery cell 11 that includes the width direction Y and the height direction Z, and consists of two surfaces: the front side and the back side. In Figure 2, only the busbar module 1, the battery module 10, and a part of the battery cell 11 are shown, and only the front electrode arrangement surface 111 is shown, while the back electrode arrangement surface 111 is not shown.

[0013] The busbar module 1 comprises a busbar 2, terminals 3, and a case 4. The busbar 2 is a conductor formed from a conductive metal plate and connects electrodes 112 of adjacent battery cells 11 in the width direction Y. Multiple busbars 2 are provided, for example, depending on the number of battery cells 11 installed. The busbar 2 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate and has two connection holes 21 that penetrate through both sides. Note that the rectangle includes approximately rectangular shapes. The two connection holes 21 are inserted through one electrode 112 and the other electrode 112 of adjacent battery cells 11. The shape of the connection holes 21 is set according to the shape of the electrodes 112, and is, for example, circular. Of the two electrodes 112 of adjacent battery cells 11, one is the positive electrode and the other is the negative electrode. Note that the shape of the busbar 2, the position of the connection holes 21, etc., may be in forms other than those shown in Figures 1 to 3.

[0014] Terminal 3 is connected to busbar 2. Terminal 3 is a conductor made of conductive metal and is used to detect the voltage of the battery cell 11. Terminal 3 detects the voltage of busbar 2 and electrode 112 and is connected to a monitoring device (not shown) via wire 5. This allows the voltage of the battery cell 11 to be detected and monitored.

[0015] Terminal 3 has a conductor connection portion 31 and a wire connection portion 32. The conductor connection portion 31 is the part that connects to the busbar 2 and is formed, for example, in the shape of a rectangular plate. The conductor connection portion 31 is provided so as to overlap the busbar 2 in the depth direction X and is positioned, for example, at the location where one of the two connection holes 21 is formed. The conductor connection portion 31 has a through hole 311 that penetrates through both sides. The through hole 311 is a hole through which the electrode 112 is inserted and is formed, for example, as a circular hole. Terminal 3 is positioned such that the through hole 311 is at the location of the connection hole 21 of the busbar 2.

[0016] The wire connection portion 32 is the part that connects to the electric wire 5, and is, for example, in an open barrel shape, to which the electric wire 5 is crimped and connected. The electric wire 5 is, for example, an insulated electric wire, and is constructed by covering the outer circumference of a conductive core wire with an insulating coating. The wire connection portion 32 is formed downward from the conductor connection portion 31.

[0017] Case 4 is a housing that is assembled to the battery cell 11 and houses and holds the busbars 2 and terminals 3, and is made of an insulating material such as resin. Case 4 has a busbar housing section 41 and a connection housing section 42. The busbar housing section 41 is the part that houses the busbars 2 and terminals 3, and has a box shape with a rectangular cross-section in the direction intersecting the depth direction X, and is formed to a size that can house the busbars 2. For example, the busbar housing section 41 houses the conductor connection section 31 of the busbars 2 and terminals 3. Multiple busbar housing sections 41 are provided according to the number of busbars 2 to be installed, and are connected in the width direction Y when assembled to the battery cell 11.

[0018] The connection housing section 42 is a section that houses the connection between the terminal 3 and the electric wire 5, and is provided in communication with the lower part of the busbar housing section 41. The connection housing section 42 has a box shape with a rectangular cross-section in the direction intersecting the depth direction X, and houses, for example, the electric wire connection part 32 of the terminal 3 and the end of the electric wire 5. The connection housing sections 42 are provided according to the number of busbar housing sections 41 installed, and are located below each busbar housing section 41. The connection housing section 42 is formed to open downward in the vertical direction Z when the case 4 is assembled to the battery cell 11. That is, the connection housing section 42 does not have a floor and communicates with the electric wire housing section 43 with the same cross-sectional shape as in the direction intersecting the vertical direction Z. The electric wire housing section 43 is a housing section formed below the connection housing section 42, formed along the width direction Y, and is a space for routing the electric wires 5 connected to each terminal 3 in the width direction Y. A cover 44 is attached to the wire housing section 43 to prevent the wires 5 from coming out of the wire housing section 43. The busbar module 1 is formed with the connection housing section 42 open toward the downward side in the vertical direction Z when assembled to the battery cell 11, thereby preventing water from accumulating in the connection housing section 42.

[0019] The connection housing portion 42 forms an opening on the back facing the electrode arrangement surface 111 of the battery cell 11 when the case 4 is assembled to the battery cell 11. When an opening is formed in the back of the connection housing portion 42, the bus bar module 1 can allow water to flow downward through the opening in the back of the connection housing portion 42, thereby suppressing water from accumulating in the connection housing portion 42.

[0020] The wire housing portion 43 is provided with a wire locking portion 431. The wire locking portion 431 is a portion that supports the wire 5 from the side. The wire locking portion 431 has, for example, a pair of holding pieces 431A, 431A that hold the wire from the side of the wire 5. Since the wire locking portion 431 is provided in the wire housing portion 43 instead of the connection housing portion 42, it is possible to suppress water such as water droplets from moving to the connection portion between the terminal 3 and the wire 5 through the wire locking portion 431.

[0021] The connection portion between the terminal 3 and the wire 5 is arranged at the central position or a position above the center in the connection housing portion 42. For example, in the connection housing portion 42, the connection portion between the terminal 3 and the wire 5 is arranged at the central position in the vertical direction Z or a position above the center. The central position includes approximately the central position. By arranging the connection portion between the terminal 3 and the wire 5 at the central position or a position above the center in the connection housing portion 42, the connection portion between the terminal 3 and the wire 5 is prevented from being exposed to water such as water droplets.

[0022] Next, the water treatment of the bus bar module 1 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0023] In FIG. 1, when condensation occurs on the bus bar 2 and the terminal 3 of the bus bar module 1, water droplets adhere to the surfaces of the bus bar 2 and the terminal 3, etc., and there is a concern that water will accumulate in the case 4 that houses the bus bar 2 and the terminal 3. In the battery module 10, the bus bar module 1 is attached to the side surface of the battery cell 11 and is provided on the surface along the vertical direction Z, so that the structure is such that the water generated in the case 4 can flow downward.

[0024] As shown in Figure 4, when water droplets adhere to the surfaces of the busbar 2 and terminal 3, multiple water droplets combine to form water W, which flows from the busbar housing 41 into the connection housing 42. The water W enters the connection housing 42, falls, and is discharged into the lower wire housing 43. At this time, the lower part of the connection housing 42 does not have a floor and is open to the downward side in the vertical direction Z. Therefore, the water W does not accumulate in the lower part of the connection housing 42 but flows into the lower wire housing 43. Thus, the accumulation of water W in the connection housing 42 can be suppressed.

[0025] As shown in Figure 5, for example, if a floor portion 421 is formed in the connection housing portion 42, the water W flowing down the connection housing portion 42 may not easily flow out from the connection housing portion 42 to the lower wire housing portion 43 and may accumulate at the bottom of the connection housing portion 42. In contrast, as shown in Figure 4, in the busbar module 1 according to this embodiment, the water W flowing down the connection housing portion 42 flows smoothly out from the connection housing portion 42 to the lower wire housing portion 43. Therefore, in the busbar module 1 according to this embodiment, the accumulation of water W at the bottom of the connection housing portion 42 is suppressed, and water treatment can be performed appropriately.

[0026] As shown in Figure 4, in the busbar module 1, a wire locking section 431 that supports the electric wire 5 is provided in the wire housing section 43 below the connection housing section 42. The flow path of water W narrows at the location of the wire locking section 431, but because this wire locking section 431 is provided in the connection housing section 42 below the wire housing section 43, the water W flows out smoothly from the connection housing section 42. Therefore, in the busbar module 1 according to this embodiment, the accumulation of water W at the bottom of the connection housing section 42 is suppressed, and water treatment can be performed appropriately.

[0027] In the busbar module 1, the connection point between terminal 3 and wire 5 is positioned in the center of the connection housing 42. This allows for a distance between the connection point between terminal 3 and wire 5 and the lower end of the connection housing 42 and the wire locking portion 431. Therefore, even if water W accumulates in the lower part of the connection housing 42, it is possible to prevent the water W from entering the connection point between terminal 3 and wire 5. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent water W that has flowed to the lower part of the connection housing 42 from rising to the connection point between terminal 3 and wire 5 due to surface tension. In particular, it is possible to prevent water W from rising to the part where the core wire is exposed at the end of wire 5, and to prevent water W from entering the insulation coating from the end of wire 5.

[0028] As described above, the busbar module 1 according to this embodiment has a connection housing section 42 that is open at the bottom, which prevents water from accumulating in the connection housing section 42 and allows for proper water treatment in case 4.

[0029] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the busbar module 1 has a wire locking portion 431 located below the connection housing portion 42, which prevents water droplets adhering to the wire locking portion 431 from moving to the connection portion between the terminal 3 and the wire 5 housed in the connection housing portion 42.

[0030] Furthermore, in the busbar module 1 according to this embodiment, the connection between the terminal 3 and the electric wire 5 is positioned at the center of the connection housing 42 or above the center, thereby preventing water W accumulated in the connection housing 42 from entering the connection between the terminal 3 and the electric wire 5.

[0031] It should be noted that the busbar module according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. The busbar module 1 according to this embodiment may be configured by appropriately combining the components of the embodiments described above.

[0032] For example, in the busbar module 1 according to the embodiment described above, the connection between the terminal 3 and the electric wire 5 is located at the center of the connection housing 42, but the connection between the terminal 3 and the electric wire 5 may be located above the center of the connection housing 42. Even in this case, similar to the busbar module 1 described above, it is possible to prevent water W accumulated in the connection housing 42 from entering the connection between the terminal 3 and the electric wire 5.

[0033] Furthermore, although the busbar module 1 according to the above embodiment has been described in the case where it is mounted on a vehicle, it may also be used without being mounted on a vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1: Busbar Module 2: Busba 3: Terminals 4: Case 5:Electric wire 11: Battery cell 41: Bus shed 42: Connection and accommodation section 431: Wire locking section Z: Vertical direction

Claims

1. The busbar connected to the battery cell, The terminal connected to the busbar, The case comprises a busbar housing section for housing the busbar and the terminal, and a connection housing section provided below the busbar housing section for housing the connection section between the terminal and the electric wire. The connection housing portion is formed to be open towards the vertical downward side when assembled to the battery cell. Busbar module.

2. The aforementioned electric wire is supported from the side and includes an electric wire locking section located below the connection housing section. The busbar module according to claim 1.

3. The connecting portion is positioned at the center of the connecting housing portion or above the center. The busbar module according to claim 1 or 2.

Images