Flexible bus bar provided with a cover member capable of preventing corrosion and a battery module including the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flexible busbar with a cover member that can prevent corrosion, and a battery module including the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a flexible busbar including a busbar body having a structure in which metal plates having a predetermined width, thickness, and length are stacked, and having first through holes for accommodating fastening members formed at both longitudinal ends, a first cover member that surrounds a middle portion of the busbar body, and a second cover member that surrounds both ends of the busbar body, and a battery module including the same.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 2022-0061326 filed on May 19, 2022, and all contents disclosed in the literature of the Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates to a flexible bus bar provided with a cover member capable of preventing corrosion and a battery module including the same. Specifically, the present invention relates to a flexible bus bar provided with a cover member for preventing corrosion that may occur when a bus bar body made of a metal material constituting the flexible bus bar is exposed to a chloride environment, and a battery module including the same.

Background Art

[0003] Recently, due to air pollution caused by the use of fossil fuels and the development of alternative energy due to energy depletion, the demand for secondary batteries capable of storing electrical energy produced has been increasing. Rechargeable secondary batteries are closely used in daily life, such as being used in mobile devices, electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, etc.

[0004] Secondary batteries used as an energy source for various electronic devices that are indispensable in modern society are increasing in required capacity due to the increasing use and complexity of mobile devices and the development of electric vehicles, etc.

[0005] For example, automobiles and energy storage devices, etc., connect a number of battery modules or battery packs in series or parallel to improve capacity and output. Here, these battery modules or battery packs are generally electrically connected via a bus bar.

[0006] Such busbars can be classified into rigid busbars and flexible busbars. Among them, flexible busbars are widely used for connecting various electronic devices in addition to the series or parallel connection of battery modules or battery packs, and are particularly applicable to complex paths with limited space or bends.

[0007] On the other hand, in energy storage devices, wind power plants, or tidal power plants installed near the sea, secondary batteries are used for the purpose of storing or supplying the generated electricity. However, due to their proximity to the sea, the air contains a large amount of salt. When the busbar is exposed to such air, it may lead to corrosion and cause major accidents.

[0008] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a flexible busbar according to the prior art. As shown in Figure 1, the flexible busbar according to the prior art is composed of laminated plate-shaped conductors and includes a conductor portion 10, a first terminal portion 20 located on one side of the conductor portion 10, a second terminal portion 30 located on the other side of the conductor portion 10, and a tube member 40 surrounding the conductor portion 10.

[0009] The flexible busbar according to the prior art can be bent or curved, so cable connection is easy in a narrow space.

[0010] However, since the first terminal portion 20 and the second terminal portion 30 are exposed to the air, there is a problem that corrosion occurs when they come into contact with sea breeze or salt water.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0011]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0012] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized by providing a flexible bus bar that does not corrode even in a saline environment and a battery module including the same.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, a flexible bus bar provided with a cover member capable of preventing corrosion according to the present invention has a structure in which metal plate materials having a predetermined width, thickness, and length are laminated, and a first through hole (110) for accommodating a fastening member (B) is formed at both longitudinal ends, a bus bar body (100), a first cover member (200) surrounding an intermediate portion of the bus bar body (100), and a second cover member (300) surrounding both ends of the bus bar body (100).

[0014] Further, in the flexible bus bar according to the present invention, the metal plate material includes a copper plate material and an aluminum plate material.

[0015] Further, in the flexible bus bar according to the present invention, the first cover member (200) is made of an insulating material.

[0016] Further, in the flexible bus bar according to the present invention, the insulating material is at least one thermosetting resin selected from epoxy resin and polyester resin.

[0017] Further, in the flexible bus bar according to the present invention, the second cover member (300) is made of rubber or silicon material.

[0018] Further, in the flexible bus bar according to the present invention, the second cover member (300) is provided with a second through hole (310) so that the fastening member (B) can pass therethrough.

[0019] Further, in the flexible bus bar according to the present invention, the second cover member (300) is positioned so as to be in close contact with the upper surface, side surfaces, front surface, and rear surface of the bus bar body (100).

[0020] Further, in the flexible bus bar according to the present invention, the inner diameter of the second through hole (310) is not less than the outer diameter of the head of the fastening member (B).

[0021] Further, in the flexible bus bar according to the present invention, the first cover member (200) and the second cover member (300) are positioned such that a part of them overlaps.

[0022] Further, in the flexible bus bar according to the present invention, the second cover member (300) is a metal coating layer.

[0023] Further, in the flexible bus bar according to the present invention, the metal coating layer is any one or more of silver, tin, and nickel.

[0024] Further, the present invention can be a battery module including the flexible bus bar having the above-described features.

Advantages of the Invention

[0025] As described above, in the flexible bus bar according to the present invention, the first cover member is attached to the center of the bus bar body made of a metal plate material, and the second cover members are provided at both ends. Therefore, there is an advantage that the occurrence of corrosion can be prevented even in a chloride environment.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0027] Hereinafter, based on the accompanying drawings, embodiments that enable a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains to easily implement the present invention will be described in detail. However, when explaining in detail the operating principle of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known functions or configurations may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0028] Also, the same reference numerals are used for parts having similar functions and actions throughout the drawings. Throughout the specification, when a part is said to be connected to another part, this includes not only the case where they are directly connected but also the case where they are indirectly connected with other elements interposed therebetween. Also, including a certain component means, unless otherwise specified to the contrary, not excluding other components but further being able to include other components.

[0029] Hereinafter, a flexible bus bar provided with a cover member capable of preventing corrosion according to the present invention and a battery module including the same will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a flexible bus bar according to a preferred first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the flexible bus bar according to the preferred first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of the flexible bus bar of FIG. 2 in a state where a fastening member is coupled.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the flexible bus bar according to the present invention includes a bus bar body 100, a first cover member 200, and a second cover member 300.

[0032] First, the bus bar body 100 has a structure in which metal plates having a predetermined width, thickness, and length are laminated, and first through holes 110 are formed adjacent to both end edges in the longitudinal direction.

[0033] Here, the metal plates having a predetermined width, thickness, and length are laminated with copper plates and aluminum plates alternatingly, with copper plates positioned at the uppermost and lowermost portions and aluminum plates laminated in the middle.

[0034] Of course, a plurality of single stacks laminated in the order of copper plate, aluminum plate, and copper plate from above can be laminated, and they can also be laminated in the order of copper plate, aluminum plate, copper plate, aluminum plate, and copper plate.

[0035] The first through holes 110 can be formed adjacent to both end edges in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) of the bus bar body 100. After the fastening member B passes through such first through holes 110, the bus bar body 100 is fixed to an object to be connected.

[0036] Here, the fastening member B can be a bolt including a columnar screw portion having a screw groove and a head having a diameter larger than that of the screw portion.

[0037] The first cover member 200 is located in the middle portion excluding both end edges where the first through hole 110 is formed, to prevent energization with adjacent metallic substances and further to block foreign matter from the outside from adhering to the bus bar body 100.

[0038] Such a first cover member 200 can be in the form of a hollow tube and can be mounted by a fitting method or the like, and can also be formed by a coating method.

[0039] Here, the material of the first cover member 200 is not particularly limited as long as it can perform the above functions. As an example, it can be one or more thermosetting resins selected from epoxy resin and polyester resin.

[0040] Next, the second cover member 300 is located at both end edges of the bus bar body 100 where the first through hole 110 is formed, and can be a metal coating layer formed by a plating method or the like.

[0041] Such a second cover member 300 is a configuration for preventing corrosion that may occur at both end edges of the bus bar body 100. Specifically, the flexible bus bar may be exposed to air containing salt or the like depending on the use environment. Here, the aluminum constituting the bus bar body 100 is corroded, but the second cover member 300 prevents the aluminum from being exposed to the outside and suppresses corrosion.

[0042] Here, the metal coating layer can be one or more of silver, tin, and nickel, but is not limited thereto as long as it can cover both end edges of the bus bar body 100, prevent exposure to the external environment, and allow current to flow.

[0043] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the manufacturing process of the flexible bus bar according to a preferred first embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 5, the manufacturing process of the flexible bus bar includes the steps of preparing a plurality of metal plates composed of copper plates and aluminum plates (FIG. 5(a)), laminating the plurality of metal plates to form a single stack (FIG. 5(b)), forming first through holes 110 adjacent to both edge portions of the prepared stack to prepare a bus bar body 100 (FIG. 5(c)), dipping both ends of the bus bar body 100 into a plating solution to form a second cover member 300 which is a metal coating layer (FIG. 5(d)), and coupling an insulating first cover member 200 to the middle portion of the bus bar body 100 (FIG. 5(e)). FIG. 5(f) is the flexible bus bar obtained by the above-described process.

[0045] On the other hand, in order to reliably block the exposure of the aluminum metal plate of the bus bar body to the outside, it is preferable that a partial region of the first cover member 200 and the second cover member 300 overlap.

[0046] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a flexible bus bar according to a preferred second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a plan view of the flexible bus bar according to the preferred second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the flexible bus bar in FIG. 6 taken along line A-A' with a fastening member coupled thereto.

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 6 to 8, the flexible bus bar according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as the flexible bus bar according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 except for the second cover member 300. Therefore, the description of the same configuration is omitted.

[0048] In the flexible bus bar according to a preferred second embodiment of the present invention, the second cover member 300 is made of an insulating material and is positioned to surround both ends of the bus bar body 100.

[0049] Here, the insulating material is preferably a rubber or silicon material, so there is an advantage that the manufacturing cost is relatively low compared to the first embodiment in which the second cover member is formed of a metal substance such as tin or nickel.

[0050] The second cover member 300 is located at both ends of the bus bar body 100, and one side end of the second cover member 300 extends to a part of one side edge of the first cover member 200, so that a part of these first cover member 200 and the second cover member 300 preferably overlaps.

[0051] Here, the second cover member 300 can be fixed to both ends of the bus bar body 100 in a fitting manner, but it is also possible to firmly fix the second cover member 300 to both ends of the bus bar body 100 using a known adhesive with a high flash point.

[0052] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the second cover member according to a preferred second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 9 together, the second cover member 300 according to the second embodiment can have a shape surrounding the upper surface (Z-axis direction), side surface (Y-axis direction), front surface (X-axis direction), and rear surface (X-axis direction) of both ends of the bus bar body 100. That is, the lower surface (Z-axis direction) of the tip of the bus bar body 100 is in an open state.

[0053] That is, the lower surface (Z-axis direction) where the object that must be electrically connected to the flexible bus bar is located is in an open state.

[0054] On the other hand, a second through hole 310 through which the fastening member B can penetrate is also formed in the second cover member 300. Here, the inner diameter of the second through hole 310 can be equal to or larger than the outer diameter of the head of the fastening member B.

[0055] Of course, the second through hole 310 formed in the second cover member 300 is preferably located on the same vertical line so that the fastening member B can pass through the first through hole 110 of the bus bar body 100.

[0056] Further, the present invention can provide a battery module including the flexible bus bar described above.

[0057] Those having ordinary knowledge in the field to which the present invention pertains would be able to make various applications and modifications within the scope of the present invention based on the above content.

Explanation of Reference Signs

[0058] 100 bus bar body 110 first through hole 200 first cover member 300 second cover member 310 second through hole B fastening member

Claims

1. A bus bar body having a structure in which metal plates having a predetermined width, thickness, and length are laminated, and having first through holes for accommodating fastening members formed at both longitudinal ends, a first cover member surrounding an intermediate portion of the bus bar body, a second cover member surrounding both ends of the bus bar body, and includes, the second cover member is made of a rubber or silicon material, the second cover member is positioned so as to be in close contact with the upper surface, side surfaces, front surface, and rear surface of the bus bar body, a flexible bus bar.

2. The flexible bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the metal plates include copper plates and aluminum plates.

3. The flexible bus bar according to claim 2, wherein the first cover member is made of an insulating material.

4. The flexible bus bar according to claim 3, wherein the insulating material is one or more thermosetting resins selected from epoxy resin and polyester resin.

5. The flexible bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the second cover member is provided with a second through hole so that the fastening member can pass therethrough.

6. The flexible bus bar according to claim 5, wherein the inner diameter of the second through hole is not less than the outer diameter of the head of the fastening member.

7. The flexible bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the first cover member and the second cover member are positioned so that a part thereof overlaps.

8. A battery module including the flexible bus bar according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

Images