Busbar Module

Abstract

To be suitable for bypassing a protrusion.SOLUTION: A second bus bar 20 includes: a plate-shaped first electrical connection part 21 that is to be connected to one electrode terminal BC2; a plate-shaped second electrical connection part 22 that is to be connected to the other electrode terminal; and a U-shaped bypass part 23 that connects the electrical connection parts to each other and bypasses a periphery of a protrusion Bpro on a battery module BM. A housing case 40 includes: a first bus bar housing part 41 that houses a first bus bar 10; a second bus bar housing part 42 that houses the first electrical connection part 21; a third bus bar housing part 43 that houses the second electrical connection part 22; and an electric wire housing part 44 that guides an electric wire 32 along a bottom wall 45 which is disposed so as to face the battery module. The electric wire housing part is disposed so as to be adjacent to the first bus bar housing part, the second bus bar housing part, and the third bus bar housing part, and so as to extend in an arrangement direction. The electric wire is routed along one wall surface 45a of the bottom wall in the arrangement direction, and the second bus bar has a bypass part disposed on the other wall surface 45b side of the bottom wall.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a busbar module. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, busbar modules include busbars that physically and electrically connect the electrode terminals of adjacent battery cells. This type of busbar module is disclosed, for example, in Patent Documents 1 to 3 listed below. The busbar modules described in Patent Documents 2 and 3 include terminal-equipped electric wires that are physically and electrically connected to the busbar and electrically connect the busbar to a battery monitoring unit (a monitoring device that monitors the battery states of the battery cells). Patent Document 1 also discloses a technology in which cuts or slits are formed in the busbar to make it easier to bend, thereby accommodating misalignment between the electrode terminals of adjacent battery cells. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-243689 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-133223 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-002524 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, battery modules in which multiple battery cells are arranged are equipped with various structures, such as partition walls and exhaust ducts between adjacent battery cells, and some of these structures or the structures themselves may be exposed as protrusions. For this reason, if a protrusion is present between electrode terminals in a bus bar module, the electrode terminals must be connected to each other using a bus bar that avoids the protrusion. In this case, it is also necessary to avoid interference with terminal-attached electric wires on a detour route for the bus bar.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a busbar module that is suitable for bypassing a protrusion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is a conductive member that physically and electrically connects to electrode terminals of a plurality of battery cells arranged in a row in a battery module, the conductive member comprising: a bus bar that connects a pair of electrode terminals for each combination of adjacent electrode terminals spaced apart in the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells; a terminal-attached electric wire that has a terminal fitting at one end of the electric wire that physically and electrically connects to the bus bar and electrically connects the other end of the electric wire to a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery state of the battery cells; and an insulating housing case that accommodates the bus bar and the terminal-attached electric wire, wherein the plurality of bus bars are broadly divided into first bus bars that extend in the arrangement direction and connect the pair of electrode terminals, and second bus bars that make a U-shaped detour around a protrusion that the battery module has in the space on the battery module and connect the pair of electrode terminals while avoiding the protrusion, and the second bus bar has a flat first electrical connection portion that physically and electrically connects one of the pair of electrode terminals, and a terminal fitting at one end of the electric wire that electrically connects the other end of the electric wire to a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery state of the battery cells. a flat second electrical connection portion for physically and electrically connecting the first electrical connection portion and the second electrical connection portion, and a U-shaped detour portion that connects the first electrical connection portion and the second electrical connection portion and detours around the protrusion on the battery module, and the housing case has a first bus bar accommodating portion that accommodates the first bus bar, a second bus bar accommodating portion that accommodates the first electrical connection portion of the second bus bar, a third bus bar accommodating portion that accommodates the second electrical connection portion of the second bus bar, and a bottom wall that accommodates the electric wires and is disposed opposite the battery module. and a wire accommodating portion that guides the wires toward the battery monitoring unit, wherein the wire accommodating portions are arranged adjacent to the first bus bar accommodating portion, the second bus bar accommodating portion, and the third bus bar accommodating portion in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the first electrical connection portion and the second electrical connection portion and perpendicular to the arrangement direction, and extend in the arrangement direction, the wires are routed in the arrangement direction along one wall surface of the bottom wall, and the second bus bar has the detour portion arranged on the other wall surface side of the bottom wall.

[0007] The present invention also provides a conductive member that physically and electrically connects to electrode terminals of a plurality of battery cells arranged in a row in a battery module, the conductive member comprising: a bus bar that connects a pair of electrode terminals for each combination of adjacent electrode terminals spaced apart in the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells; a terminal-equipped electric wire that has a terminal fitting at one end of the electric wire that physically and electrically connects to the bus bar, the terminal fitting connecting the other end of the electric wire electrically to a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery states of the battery cells; and an insulating housing case that houses the bus bar and the terminal-equipped electric wire. the plurality of bus bars are roughly divided into first bus bars extending in the arrangement direction and connecting the pair of electrode terminals, and second bus bars that detour around a protrusion that the battery module has in the space in a U-shape on the battery module and connect the pair of electrode terminals while avoiding the protrusion, and the second bus bars each include a first flat-plate-shaped electrical connection portion that physically and electrically connects one of the pair of electrode terminals, a second flat-plate-shaped electrical connection portion that physically and electrically connects the other of the pair of electrode terminals, and a second flat-plate-shaped electrical connection portion that connects the first electrical connection portion and the second electrical connection portion and connects the protrusion the housing case has a U-shaped detour portion that detours around the battery module, and is formed asymmetrically between a first direction side on one side and a second direction side on the other side in the arrangement direction, the housing case has a first bus bar accommodating portion that accommodates the first bus bar, a second bus bar accommodating portion that accommodates the first electrical connection portion of the second bus bar, a third bus bar accommodating portion that accommodates the second electrical connection portion of the second bus bar, an electric wire accommodating portion that accommodates the electric wire and guides the electric wire to the battery monitoring unit side along a bottom wall that is arranged opposite the battery module, and a first wire guide path that tilts the wire of the electric wire with terminal, which has the terminal fittings physically and electrically connected to the second electrical connection portions, toward the first direction in the arrangement direction and draws the wire into the wire accommodating portion; and a second wire guide path that tilts the wire of the electric wire with terminal, which has the terminal fittings physically and electrically connected to the second electrical connection portions, toward the first direction in the arrangement direction and draws the wire into the wire accommodating portion, which has the terminal fittings physically and electrically connected to the second electrical connection portions, toward the first direction in the arrangement direction, wherein the wire accommodating portion is disposed adjacent to the first bus bar accommodating portion, the second bus bar accommodating portion, and the third bus bar accommodating portion in a direction orthogonal to a plane of the second bus bar and the arrangement direction,The second bus bar accommodating portion extends in the arrangement direction, the second bus bar accommodating portion connects the first wire guide path to an end on the first direction side and has the detour portion protruding from the end on the second direction side to the outside of the room, and the third bus bar accommodating portion connects the second wire guide path to an end on the first direction side and has the detour portion protruding from the end on the second direction side to the outside of the room. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] Even if a protrusion exists between the electrode terminals of a battery module, the busbar module according to the present invention can be assembled to the battery module by providing a second busbar that avoids the protrusion. In this busbar module, the detour portion of the second busbar is positioned close to the wiring path of the terminal-attached electric cable to avoid the protrusion. However, by routing the electric cable on one side of the bottom wall of the wire accommodating section and locating the detour portion on the other side of the bottom wall, interference between the electric cable and the detour portion can be prevented. Therefore, the busbar module according to the present invention is suitable for detours around protrusions. Furthermore, in the busbar module according to the present invention, the first wire guide path is connected to the end of the second busbar accommodating section on the first direction side, and one end of the detour portion protrudes outside the room from the end of the second busbar accommodating section on the second direction side. In this busbar module, the second wire guide path is connected to the end of the busbar module on the first direction side in the third busbar accommodating portion, and the other end of the detour portion projects outside the room from the end of the busbar module on the second direction side. That is, the terminal-equipped electric wire in the second busbar accommodating portion is passed from the first wire guide path to the wire accommodating portion. The terminal-equipped electric wire in the third busbar accommodating portion is passed from the second wire guide path to the wire accommodating portion. Meanwhile, in the detour portion of the second busbar, one end is positioned offset from the first wire guide path, and the other end is positioned offset from the second wire guide path. This busbar module can prevent interference between the detour portion and the electric wire of the terminal-equipped electric wire. Therefore, the busbar module according to the present invention is suitable for detour- ing around a protrusion. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a bus bar module according to an embodiment assembled to a battery module. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the bus bar module of the embodiment before being assembled to the battery module. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the bus bar module of the embodiment assembled to the battery module, as viewed from the front. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the bus bar module according to the embodiment as viewed from the rear. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the first bus bar. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the second bus bar. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an electric wire with a terminal. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the storage case as seen from the front side. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the storage case as seen from the front. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the storage case as seen from the rear side. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a plan view of the storage case as seen from the rear. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of a busbar module according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0011] [Embodiment] One embodiment of a bus bar module according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11. FIG.

[0012] Reference numeral 1 in Figures 1 to 4 indicates a busbar module of this embodiment. The busbar module 1 is assembled to a battery module BM, which has a plurality of battery cells BC arranged in a row, to form a battery pack BP together with the battery module BM (Figures 1 to 3). The battery pack BP is mounted, for example, on a vehicle (such as an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle) that has a rotating machine as its driving source, and is used to supply power to the rotating machine.

[0013] Each battery cell BC has a cell body BC1 and positive and negative electrode terminals BC2 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The battery cell BC shown here has a cell body BC1 formed in a rectangular shape with six outer wall surfaces, and the positive and negative electrode terminals BC2 are arranged at intervals on one of the six outer wall surfaces of the cell body BC1. The battery module BM has a first electrode terminal group BC3 in which one electrode terminal BC2 of each battery cell BC is arranged in a row in the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC, and a second electrode terminal group BC4 in which the other electrode terminal BC2 of each battery cell BC is arranged in a row in the arrangement direction (FIG. 2).

[0014] The electrode terminal BC2 may be a plate-shaped or rectangular electrode terminal provided on the outer wall surface of the cell body BC1, or a columnar electrode post protruding from the outer wall surface of the cell body BC1. In the case of a plate-shaped or rectangular electrode terminal BC2, a bus bar (described later) is physically and electrically connected to the electrode terminal BC2 by welding or the like. Furthermore, in the case of an electrode terminal BC2 serving as a column, the electrode terminal BC2 has a male thread portion. Therefore, the electrode terminal BC2 is inserted into a through-hole of the bus bar (described later), and a female thread member is screwed into the male thread portion of the electrode terminal BC2, thereby physically and electrically connecting the bus bar to the electrode terminal BC2. Here, an electrode terminal BC2 serving as a column is used as an example.

[0015] The busbar module 1 is a conductive member that physically and electrically connects the electrode terminals BC2 of the battery cells BC. The busbar module 1 includes a busbar that connects a pair of adjacent electrode terminals BC2 with a space between them in the arrangement direction of the battery cells BC. The busbars are broadly divided into first busbars 10 that extend in the arrangement direction of the battery cells BC and connect the pair of electrode terminals BC2, and second busbars 20 that detour in a U-shape around a protrusion Bpro that the battery module BM has in the space between them on the battery module BM and connect the pair of electrode terminals BC2 while avoiding the protrusion Bpro (FIGS. 2 to 4). Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, when a pair of electrode terminals BC2 is referred to, the pair of electrode terminals BC2 refers to two adjacent electrode terminals BC2 with a space between them in the arrangement direction of the battery cells BC.

[0016] The bus bars (first bus bar 10, second bus bar 20) shown here are metal plate-shaped conductive members, and are formed by press molding using a metal plate such as copper or a copper alloy as a base material, for example.

[0017] The first bus bar 10 is formed in a plate shape with a plate width in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC. The first bus bar 10 has a flat first electrical connection portion 11 that is physically and electrically connected to one of a pair of electrode terminals BC2, and a flat second electrical connection portion 12 that is physically and electrically connected to the other of the pair of electrode terminals BC2 (FIGS. 3 to 5). The first electrical connection portion 11 and the second electrical connection portion 12 are formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The first electrical connection portion 11 and the second electrical connection portion 12 have through holes 11a, 12a formed therein, through which electrode terminals BC2 serving as pole posts are inserted (FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0018] The first bus bar 10 has a connecting portion 13 that connects the first electrical connection portion 11 and the second electrical connection portion 12 in the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells BC (FIGS. 3 to 5). The connecting portion 13 is disposed in the space between one and the other of the pair of electrode terminals BC2 in the arrangement direction.

[0019] The first electrical connection portion 11, the second electrical connection portion 12, and the connecting portion 13 are formed as plates with uniform widths and uniform thicknesses. In other words, the cross-sectional area of ​​the first bus bar 10, taken orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC, is uniform for the first electrical connection portion 11, the second electrical connection portion 12, and the connecting portion 13.

[0020] In the battery module BM, for example, when the battery cells BC undergo thermal expansion or contraction due to vehicle travel, the distance between one of the pair of electrode terminals BC2 (hereinafter referred to as the "inter-electrode pitch") changes in the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC. The connecting portion 13 is formed to be able to flexibly deform in the arrangement direction so that the first bus bar 10 can follow the change in the inter-electrode pitch. For example, the connecting portion 13 is formed in a convex mountain shape that allows for this flexural deformation. This example connecting portion 13 has rectangular, flat, upright wall portions that protrude from the respective end edges of the first electrical connection portion 11 and the second electrical connection portion 12 that face each other in the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC, and a rectangular, flat, top portion that connects the end edges of the upright wall portions on the protruding side.

[0021] The second bus bar 20 has a flat first electrical connection portion 21 that is physically and electrically connected to one of the pair of electrode terminals BC2, and a flat second electrical connection portion 22 that is physically and electrically connected to the other of the pair of electrode terminals BC2 (FIGS. 3, 4, and 6). The first electrical connection portion 21 and the second electrical connection portion 22 are formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The first electrical connection portion 21 and the second electrical connection portion 22 are formed with through holes 21a, 22a through which the electrode terminal BC2 serving as a pole is inserted (FIGS. 4 and 6).

[0022] In the battery module BM, a protrusion Bpro may be disposed in the space between one of the pair of electrode terminals BC2. The protrusion Bpro is part of a structure (e.g., a partition wall or an exhaust duct between adjacent battery cells BC) included in the battery module BM, or the structure itself included in the battery module BM. In this example, the head of a male screw member exists as the protrusion Bpro in the space between the two electrode terminals BC2. When such a protrusion Bpro exists, if an attempt is made to connect the pair of electrode terminals BC2 with a first bus bar 10, the connecting portion 13 of the first bus bar 10 will interfere with the protrusion Bpro. For this reason, in this case, the first bus bar 10 cannot be used as a bus bar for electrically connecting the pair of electrode terminals BC2. Therefore, the bus bar module 1 uses a second bus bar 20 that is adapted to the protrusion Bpro.

[0023] The second bus bar 20 has a U-shaped detour portion 23 that connects the first electrical connection portion 21 and the second electrical connection portion 22 and detours around the protrusion Bpro on the battery module BM (FIGS. 4 and 6). For example, when the second bus bar 20 is applied to a pair of electrode terminals BC2 of the first electrode terminal group BC3, the detour portion 23 protrudes from the first electrical connection portion 21 and the second electrical connection portion 22 toward the second electrode terminal group BC4. For example, when the second bus bar 20 is applied to a pair of electrode terminals BC2 of the second electrode terminal group BC4, the detour portion 23 protrudes from the first electrical connection portion 21 and the second electrical connection portion 22 toward the first electrode terminal group BC3.

[0024] In this second bus bar 20, the detour portion 23 is formed to be able to flex and deform in the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC so as to follow the aforementioned change in the inter-electrode pitch. For example, the detour portion 23 is made capable of flexing and deforming by being formed into the shape shown below. First, in the second bus bar 20 shown here, the detour portion 23 is formed on the same plane as the first electrical connection portion 21 and the second electrical connection portion 22. In other words, the second bus bar 20 in this example is formed in the shape of a flat plate with the first electrical connection portion 21, the second electrical connection portion 22, and the detour portion 23 on the same plane. Next, in this second bus bar 20, the plate width of the detour portion 23 (the plate width in a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the detour path connecting the first electrical connection portion 21 and the second electrical connection portion 22) is narrower than the distance between opposite sides of the first electrical connection portion 21 and the second electrical connection portion 22 (opposite sides in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the second bus bar 20 and the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC). As a result, in this second bus bar 20, the force received by the first electrical connection portion 21 and the second electrical connection portion 22 in accordance with a change in the inter-electrode pitch can be absorbed by the flexural deformation of the detour portion 23, and the detour portion 23 can follow the change in the inter-electrode pitch.

[0025] On the other hand, in this second bus bar 20, by making the plate width of the detour portion 23 narrower than the distance between the opposite sides of the first electrical connection portion 21 and the second electrical connection portion 22, there is a possibility that a difference in electrical resistance value will occur between the respective locations of the first electrical connection portion 21, the second electrical connection portion 22, and the detour portion 23. Therefore, in this second bus bar 20, in order to minimize the difference in electrical resistance value between the respective locations of the first electrical connection portion 21, the second electrical connection portion 22, and the detour portion 23, the first electrical connection portion 21, the second electrical connection portion 22, and the detour portion 23 are shaped as shown below (not shown). First, the first electrical connection portion 21 and the second electrical connection portion 22 each have a common spacing between opposite sides in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the second bus bar 20 and perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC, and a common plate thickness, and are formed in the shape of a rectangular flat plate with the same cross-sectional area perpendicular to the arrangement direction (excluding the portion where the through hole is located). Next, the detour portion 23 is formed in a flat plate shape such that its width in a direction perpendicular to the central axis on the detour path connecting the first electrical connection portion 21 and the second electrical connection portion 22 is narrower than the distance between the opposite sides of the first electrical connection portion 21 and the second electrical connection portion 22 (opposite sides in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the second bus bar 20 and the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC), and its thickness is thicker than the thicknesses of the first electrical connection portion 21 and the second electrical connection portion 22, so that the cross-sectional area of ​​the cross-section perpendicular to the central axis is equal to the cross-sectional area of ​​the first electrical connection portion 21 and the second electrical connection portion 22. The width and thickness of the detour portion 23 are set to allow flexural deformation to follow changes in the inter-electrode pitch. This allows the second bus bar 20 to follow changes in the inter-electrode pitch while minimizing deviations in electrical resistance.

[0026] For example, the cross-sectional areas of the first electrical connection portion 21, the second electrical connection portion 22, and the detour portion 23 are adjusted to be equal to the cross-sectional area of ​​a cross section perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the first bus bar 10. This allows the bus bar module 1 to suppress discrepancies in electrical conductivity between the first bus bar 10 and the second bus bar 20.

[0027] The busbar module 1 has a terminal fitting 31 at one end of an electric wire 32 that physically and electrically connects it to the busbar (first busbar 10, second busbar 20), and a terminal-equipped electric wire 30 that electrically connects the other end of the electric wire 32 to a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery status (voltage, current, temperature, etc.) of the battery cell BC (Figures 2, 3 and 7).

[0028] This busbar module 1 includes an electric wire with terminal 30 for each first busbar 10 that is physically and electrically connected to the first busbar 10, an electric wire with terminal 30 that is physically and electrically connected to the first electrical connection portion 21 of the second busbar 20, and an electric wire with terminal 30 that is physically and electrically connected to the second electrical connection portion 22 of the second busbar 20. Each electric wire with terminal 30 may be common to all the first busbars 10 and all the second busbars 20, or may be appropriately used for the first busbars 10 and the second busbars 20 depending on the routing path of the electric wires 32 described below. However, in this example, a common electric wire with terminal 30 is used for the electric wire with terminal 30 that is physically and electrically connected to the first electrical connection portion 21 of the second busbar 20 and the electric wire with terminal 30 that is physically and electrically connected to the second electrical connection portion 22 of the second busbar 20.

[0029] The terminal fitting 31 has a flat terminal connection portion 31a that can be stacked on the first electrical connection portion 11, 21 or the second electrical connection portion 12, 22, and is fastened together with the first electrical connection portion 11, 21 or the second electrical connection portion 12, 22 by a female screw member that is screwed onto an electrode terminal BC2 having a male screw portion (FIG. 7). The terminal connection portion 31a is formed in a rectangular flat plate. The terminal connection portion 31a is stacked on the first electrical connection portion 11, 21 or the second electrical connection portion 12, 22 with one of its two opposite sides aligned with the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC. A through hole 31b is formed in the terminal connection portion 31a, through which the electrode terminal BC2 serving as a pole is inserted.

[0030] The terminal fitting 31 also has a wire connecting portion 31c (FIG. 7) that physically and electrically connects to one end of the electric wire 32. The illustrated wire connecting portion 31c is formed as a crimping portion that crimps a pair of barrel pieces to the exposed core wire at one end of the electric wire 32.

[0031] The wire connection portion 31c protrudes from one of the four corners of the terminal connection portion 31a. For example, when the terminal-equipped wire 30 is applied to the electrode terminal BC2 of the first electrode terminal group BC3, the wire connection portion 31c protrudes from one of the four corners of the terminal connection portion 31a toward the second electrode terminal group BC4. For example, when the terminal-equipped wire 30 is applied to the electrode terminal BC2 of the second electrode terminal group BC4, the wire connection portion 31c protrudes from one of the four corners of the terminal connection portion 31a toward the first electrode terminal group BC3.

[0032] The electric wire connection portion 31c shown here protrudes from one of the four corners of the terminal connection portion 31a on the same plane as the terminal connection portion 31a and at an angle toward the respective opposing sides of the terminal connection portion 31a. When the electric wires 32 drawn out from the electric wire connection portion 31c are routed toward a first direction in the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells BC, the electric wire connection portion 31c protrudes at an angle toward the first direction. When the electric wires 32 drawn out from the electric wire connection portion 31c are routed toward a second direction in the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells BC, the electric wire connection portion 31c protrudes at an angle toward the second direction.

[0033] The busbar module 1 includes an insulating housing case 40 that houses the busbars (first busbar 10, second busbar 20) and the terminal-equipped electric wires 30 (FIGS. 1 to 4 and 8 to 11). The housing case 40 is molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin. In the busbar module 1, a housing case 40 is provided on each of the first electrode terminal group BC3 side and the second electrode terminal group BC4 side.

[0034] This accommodating case 40 has a first busbar accommodating portion 41 that accommodates the first busbar 10, a second busbar accommodating portion 42 that accommodates the first electrical connection portion 21 of the second busbar 20, and a third busbar accommodating portion 43 that accommodates the second electrical connection portion 22 of the second busbar 20 (Figures 2 to 4 and Figures 8 to 11).

[0035] The first bus bar 10 is accommodated in the first bus bar accommodating portion 41 and is assembled to a pair of electrode terminals BC2 in the first bus bar accommodating portion 41. The terminal-attached electric wire 30 is arranged such that the terminal connection portion 31a of the terminal fitting 31 is stacked on the first electrical connection portion 11 or the second electrical connection portion 12 of the first bus bar 10 in the first bus bar accommodating portion 41.

[0036] The first electrical connection portion 21 of the second bus bar 20 is accommodated in the second bus bar accommodating portion 42 and is assembled to one of the pair of electrode terminals BC2 within the second bus bar accommodating portion 42. The terminal-fitted electric wire 30 has the terminal connection portion 31a of the terminal fitting 31 stacked on the first electrical connection portion 21 of the second bus bar 20 within the second bus bar accommodating portion 42. The second electrical connection portion 22 of the second bus bar 20 is accommodated in the third bus bar accommodating portion 43 and is assembled to the other of the pair of electrode terminals BC2 within the third bus bar accommodating portion 43. The terminal-fitted electric wire 30 has the terminal connection portion 31a of the terminal fitting 31 stacked on the second electrical connection portion 22 of the second bus bar 20 within the third bus bar accommodating portion 43.

[0037] Furthermore, the accommodating case 40 has a wire accommodating section 44 that accommodates the wires 32 of the terminal-fitted electric wires 30 (FIGS. 2, 3, 8, and 9). In the case of the accommodating case 40 on the first electrode terminal group BC3 side, the wire accommodating section 44 accommodates the wires 32 of all the terminal-fitted electric wires 30 that are to be physically and electrically connected to the electrode terminals BC2 of the first electrode terminal group BC3. In the case of the accommodating case 40 on the second electrode terminal group BC4 side, the wire accommodating section 44 accommodates the wires 32 of all the terminal-fitted electric wires 30 that are to be physically and electrically connected to the electrode terminals BC2 of the second electrode terminal group BC4.

[0038] In this example, the protrusion Bpro is present only on the first electrode terminal group BC3 side, and therefore the wire accommodating portion 44 of the accommodating case 40 on the first electrode terminal group BC3 side is routed around the protrusion Bpro in a U-shape on the battery module BM.

[0039] The wire accommodating section 44 has a bottom wall 45 disposed opposite the battery module BM, and the wires 32 are guided along the bottom wall 45 toward the battery monitoring unit ( FIGS. 3 , 4 , and 8 to 11 ). The wire accommodating section 44 is disposed adjacent to the first bus bar accommodating section 41, the second bus bar accommodating section 42, and the third bus bar accommodating section 43 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the first electrical connection sections 11, 21 and the second electrical connection sections 12, 22 and perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC, and extends in the arrangement direction. In the case of the housing case 40 on the first electrode terminal group BC3 side, the wire accommodating section 44 is disposed adjacent to the first bus bar accommodating section 41, the second bus bar accommodating section 42, and the third bus bar accommodating section 43 on the second electrode terminal group BC4 side. In addition, in the case of the housing case 40 on the second electrode terminal group BC4 side, the wire housing portion 44 is disposed adjacent to the first bus bar housing portion 41, the second bus bar housing portion 42, and the third bus bar housing portion 43 on the first electrode terminal group BC3 side.

[0040] In the busbar module 1, the detour portion 23 of the second busbar 20 is located at the position of the electric wire accommodating portion 44. Therefore, in order to prevent interference between the detour portion 23 and the electric wire 32 in the electric wire accommodating portion 44, the busbar module 1 is configured as follows.

[0041] First, in the wire accommodating section 44, the wires 32 are routed in the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC along one wall surface 45a of the bottom wall 45 (FIGS. 3, 8, and 9). For example, the terminal-equipped wires 30 connected to a second bus bar 20 and a first bus bar 10 adjacent to the second bus bar 20 are routed toward one first direction in the arrangement direction. Next, the second bus bar 20 has a detour section 23 disposed on the other wall surface 45b of the bottom wall 45 (FIGS. 4, 10, and 11). This enables the bus bar module 1 to prevent interference between the detour section 23 of the second bus bar 20 and the wires 32 in the wire accommodating section 44. In the wire accommodating section 44 shown here, the detour section 23 is disposed along the other wall surface 45b of the bottom wall 45 in the portion where the wires are routed in a U-shape around the protrusion Bpro on the battery module BM. Therefore, in this busbar module 1, it is possible to arrange the electric wires 30 without extending the routing path more than necessary on the side of one wall surface 45a of the bottom wall 45 of the detour portion. The busbar module 1 of this example is assembled to the battery module BM with the other wall surface 45b of the bottom wall 45 facing the battery module BM.

[0042] The storage case 40 has a cover portion 46 that is disposed opposite the other wall surface 45b of the bottom wall 45 with a gap therebetween and that houses the detour portion 23 between the cover portion 46 and the other wall surface 45b of the bottom wall 45 (FIGS. 4, 10, and 11). The cover portion 46 is connected to the wire storage portion 44 via a living hinge 46a that serves as a rotation axis. Therefore, the cover portion 46 can rotate between a closed state in which the cover portion 46 faces the other wall surface 45b of the bottom wall 45, and an open state in which the cover portion 46 does not face the other wall surface 45b.

[0043] Furthermore, this busbar module 1 is configured as follows to prevent interference between the detour portion 23 of the second busbar 20 and the wire connection portion 31c of the terminal fitting 31 of the terminal-equipped wire 30, and to prevent interference between the detour portion 23 and the wire 32 drawn out from the wire connection portion 31c.

[0044] The accommodating case 40 has a first wire guide path 47 that tilts the wires 32 of the terminal-equipped electric wires 30, whose terminal fittings 31 are physically and electrically connected to the first electrical connection portions 21 of the second bus bar 20, toward a first direction in the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells BC, and leads the wires 32 of the terminal-equipped electric wires 30, whose terminal fittings 31 are physically and electrically connected to the second electrical connection portions 22 of the second bus bar 20, toward the ... into the wire accommodating section 44 ( FIGS. 3 , 8 , and 9 ).

[0045] Here, the terminal fitting 31 has the wire connection portion 31c protruding from a corner of the terminal connection portion 31a housed in the second bus bar accommodating portion 42 on the wire accommodating portion 44 side and the distal first direction side at an angle as follows, on the same plane as the terminal connection portion 31a: The wire connection portion 31c protrudes from the corner at an angle toward the wire accommodating portion 44 side and the distal first direction side. The wire connection portion 31c is disposed in the first wire guide path 47, and the wire 32 is drawn through the first wire guide path 47 toward the wire accommodating portion 44 side and the distal first direction side. Therefore, the second bus bar accommodating portion 42 connects the first wire guide path 47 to the first direction side of the center of gravity of the electrode terminal BC2 inside the room in the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC, and protrudes the detour portion 23 of the second bus bar 20 to the outside of the room from the second direction side of the center of gravity of the electrode terminal BC2 inside the room in the arrangement direction. The second bus bar accommodating section 42 shown here has a first wire guide path 47 connected to its end on the first direction side, and has a detour section 23 of the second bus bar 20 protruding from its end on the second direction side to the outside of the room. The detour section 23 is arranged on the other wall surface 45b side of the bottom wall 45 of the wire accommodating section 44 at the end where it is drawn out from the second bus bar accommodating section 42 to the outside of the room.

[0046] Furthermore, the terminal fitting 31 has a wire connection portion 31c that protrudes from a corner of the terminal connection portion 31a housed in the third bus bar accommodating portion 43, on the wire accommodating portion 44 side and toward the first direction, on the same plane as the terminal connection portion 31a, at an angle as follows: The wire connection portion 31c protrudes from the corner, on the wire accommodating portion 44 side and toward the first direction, at an angle. The wire connection portion 31c is disposed in the second wire guide-out path 48, and the wire 32 is drawn through the second wire guide-out path 48 toward the wire accommodating portion 44 side and toward the first direction. Therefore, the third bus bar accommodating portion 43 connects the second wire guide-out path 48 to the first direction side of the center of gravity of the electrode terminal BC2 inside the room in the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC, and protrudes the detour portion 23 of the second bus bar 20 to the outside of the room from the second direction side of the center of gravity of the electrode terminal BC2 inside the room in the arrangement direction. The third bus bar accommodating section 43 shown here has a first-direction end connected to the second wire guide path 48, and has a second bus bar 20 detouring section 23 protruding from the second-direction end to the outside of the room. The detouring section 23 is drawn out from the third bus bar accommodating section 43 to the outside of the room, and is disposed on the other wall surface 45b side of the bottom wall 45 of the wire accommodating section 44.

[0047] The second busbars 20 protrude from the second busbar accommodating portion 42 and the third busbar accommodating portion 43 to the outside of the room from the second direction side of the center of gravity of the electrode terminals BC2 in the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC. Therefore, the second busbars 20 are formed in an asymmetric shape between the first direction side on one side and the second direction side on the other side in the arrangement direction.

[0048] This busbar module 1 can prevent interference between the detour portion 23 of the second busbar 20 and the wire connection portion 31c of the terminal fitting 31 of the terminal-equipped electric wire 30, and can also prevent interference between the detour portion 23 and the electric wire 32 drawn out from the wire connection portion 31c, by virtue of the shape of the second busbar 20, the position of the outlet of the detour portion 23 of the second busbar 20 in the second busbar accommodating portion 42 and the third busbar accommodating portion 43, the shape of the terminal fitting 31 of the terminal-equipped electric wire 30, the arrangement of the first wire guide path 47 relative to the second busbar accommodating portion 42, and the arrangement of the second wire guide path 48 relative to the third busbar accommodating portion 43.

[0049] The housing case 40 has a wire guide path 49 that guides the wires 32 of the terminal-attached wires 30, whose terminal fittings 31 are physically and electrically connected to the first electrical connection portion 11 or the second electrical connection portion 12 of the first busbar 10, into the wire housing portion 44 at an angle toward the first direction or the second direction in the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC (Figures 3, 8, and 9).

[0050] The busbar module 1 in this example is assembled to the battery module BM with the other wall surface 45b of the bottom wall 45 of the electric wire accommodating portion 44 facing the battery module BM. However, the busbar module 1 is not limited to this configuration, and may be assembled to the battery module BM with one wall surface 45a of the bottom wall 45 of the electric wire accommodating portion 44 facing the battery module BM.

[0051] The busbar module 1 comprises busbars (first busbar 10, second busbar 20) that are physically and electrically connected to each electrode terminal BC2 of the first electrode terminal group BC3, terminal-equipped electric wires 30 that are physically and electrically connected to each busbar (first busbar 10, second busbar 20) that corresponds to the first electrode terminal group BC3, and a storage case 40 that accommodates each busbar (first busbar 10, second busbar 20) that corresponds to the first electrode terminal group BC3 and each terminal-equipped electric wire 30. Furthermore, this busbar module 1 includes busbars (first busbars 10) that are physically and electrically connected to the electrode terminals BC2 of the second electrode terminal group BC4, terminal-equipped electric wires 30 that are physically and electrically connected to the busbars (first busbars 10) that correspond to the second electrode terminal group BC4, and accommodating cases 40 that accommodate the busbars (first busbars 10) that correspond to the second electrode terminal group BC4 and the terminal-equipped electric wires 30. In the busbar module 1 shown here, the accommodating case 40 on the first electrode terminal group BC3 side and the accommodating case 40 on the second electrode terminal group BC4 side are connected to each other to form a single accommodating member. Therefore, the busbar module 1 shown here comprises its accommodating member, busbars (first busbar 10, second busbar 20) on the first electrode terminal group BC3 side, terminal-equipped wires 30 on the first electrode terminal group BC3 side, busbars (first busbar 10) on the second electrode terminal group BC4 side, and terminal-equipped wires 30 on the second electrode terminal group BC4 side.

[0052] As described above, even if a protrusion Bpro exists between the electrode terminals BC2 of the battery module BM, the busbar module 1 of this embodiment can be assembled to the battery module BM by setting the second busbar 20 to avoid the protrusion Bpro. Meanwhile, in this busbar module 1, the detour portion 23 of the second busbar 20 is positioned close to the routing path of the electric wire 32 of the terminal-attached electric wire 30 to avoid the protrusion Bpro. However, by routing the electric wire 32 on one wall surface 45a of the bottom wall 45 of the electric wire accommodating portion 44 of the electric wire 32 and locating the detour portion 23 on the other wall surface 45b of the bottom wall 45, interference between the detour portion 23 and the electric wire 32 can be prevented. Therefore, the busbar module 1 of this embodiment is suitable for detour- ing the protrusion Bpro.

[0053] In the bus bar module 1 of this embodiment, the first wire guide path 47 is connected to the end on the first direction side of the second bus bar accommodating portion 42, and one end of the detour portion 23 protrudes from the end on the second direction side to the outside of the room. In the bus bar module 1, the second wire guide path 48 is connected to the end on the first direction side of the third bus bar accommodating portion 43, and the other end of the detour portion 23 protrudes from the end on the second direction side to the outside of the room. That is, in the terminal-attached electric wire 30 in the second bus bar accommodating portion 42, the electric wire connection portion 31c of the terminal fitting 31 and the electric wire 32 drawn out from the electric wire connection portion 31c pass through the first wire guide path 47, and the electric wire 32 is passed from the first wire guide path 47 to the electric wire accommodating portion 44. Furthermore, in the terminal-fitted electric wire 30 in the third bus bar accommodating portion 43, the wire connection portion 31c of the terminal fitting 31 and the electric wire 32 drawn out from the wire connection portion 31c pass through the second wire guide path 48, and the electric wire 32 is passed from the second wire guide path 48 to the wire accommodating portion 44. Meanwhile, in the detour portion 23 of the second bus bar 20, one end side is disposed at a position offset from the first wire guide path 47, and the other end side is disposed at a position offset from the second wire guide path 48. Therefore, the bus bar module 1 can prevent interference between the detour portion 23 and the wire connection portion 31c of the terminal-fitted electric wire 30, and can also prevent interference between the detour portion 23 and the electric wire 32 drawn out from the wire connection portion 31c of the terminal-fitted electric wire 30. Therefore, the bus bar module 1 of this embodiment is suitable for detour- ing around the protrusion Bpro.

[0054] Furthermore, in the busbar module 1 of this embodiment, the wire accommodating section 44 is disposed adjacent to the first busbar accommodating section 41, the second busbar accommodating section 42, and the third busbar accommodating section 43 in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the first electrical connection sections 11, 21 and the second electrical connection sections 12, 22 and perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells BC, and a flat second busbar 20 is used. In this busbar module 1, the wires 32 are routed on one wall surface 45a of the bottom wall 45 of the wire accommodating section 44, and the detour section 23 is disposed on the other wall surface 45b of the bottom wall 45. Therefore, the busbar module 1 of this embodiment can reduce its height in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the first electrical connection sections 11, 21 and the second electrical connection sections 12, 22. Therefore, this busbar module 1 contributes to reducing the height of the battery pack BP. Furthermore, in this busbar module 1, the terminal fittings 31 of the terminal-attached electric wires 30 have flat terminal connection portions 31a, which enables the battery pack BP to be made even lower in height.

[0055] Furthermore, in the busbar module 1 of this embodiment, the detour portion 23 is formed to be capable of flexural deformation, thereby allowing the second busbar 20 to follow changes in the inter-electrode pitch. As described above, the busbar module 1 makes the cross-sectional areas of the first electrical connection portion 21, the second electrical connection portion 22, and the detour portion 23 equal in size to suppress deviations in electrical resistance values ​​at various portions of the second busbar 20, thereby allowing the second busbar 20 to follow changes in the inter-electrode pitch while suppressing a decrease in the electrical performance of the second busbar 20. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1 Busbar module 10 First bus bar 20 2nd bus bar 21 First electrical connection part 22 Second electrical connection part 23 Detour 30 Wires with terminals 31 Terminal fittings 31a Terminal connection part 32 Electric wire 40 Storage Case 41 First bus bar housing 42 Second bus bar housing 43 Third bus bar housing 44 Wire housing 45 bottom wall 45a One wall 45b The other wall 46 Cover part 47 1st wire lead-out path 48 2nd wire lead-out path BC battery cell BC2 electrode terminal BM battery module Bpro protrusion

Claims

1. a bus bar, which is a conductive member that physically and electrically connects electrode terminals of a plurality of battery cells arranged in a row in a battery module, and which connects pairs of electrode terminals for each combination of adjacent electrode terminals spaced apart in the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells; a terminal-equipped electric wire including a terminal fitting at one end of the electric wire for physically and electrically connecting to the bus bar, and electrically connecting the other end of the electric wire to a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery state of the battery cell; an insulating housing case that houses the bus bar and the terminal-equipped electric wire; Equipped with the plurality of bus bars are broadly divided into first bus bars that extend in the arrangement direction and connect the pair of electrode terminals, and second bus bars that detour around a protrusion that the battery module has in the space in a U-shape on the battery module and connect the pair of electrode terminals while avoiding the protrusion, the second bus bar has a flat-plate-shaped first electrical connection portion that is physically and electrically connected to one of the pair of electrode terminals, a flat-plate-shaped second electrical connection portion that is physically and electrically connected to the other of the pair of electrode terminals, and a U-shaped detour portion that connects the first electrical connection portion and the second electrical connection portion and detours around the protrusion on the battery module, the accommodating case includes a first bus bar accommodating portion that accommodates the first bus bar, a second bus bar accommodating portion that accommodates the first electrical connection portion of the second bus bar, a third bus bar accommodating portion that accommodates the second electrical connection portion of the second bus bar, and an electric wire accommodating portion that accommodates the electric wires and guides the electric wires toward the battery monitoring unit along a bottom wall that is disposed opposite the battery module, the wire accommodating portion is disposed adjacent to the first bus bar accommodating portion, the second bus bar accommodating portion, and the third bus bar accommodating portion in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the first electrical connection portion and the second electrical connection portion and perpendicular to the arrangement direction, and extends in the arrangement direction; The electric wires are routed in the arrangement direction along one wall surface of the bottom wall, The second bus bar has the detour portion disposed on the other wall surface side of the bottom wall.

2. 2. The busbar module according to claim 1, wherein the accommodation case has a cover portion disposed opposite the other wall surface of the bottom wall with a gap therebetween, and the cover portion accommodates the detour portion between the other wall surface of the bottom wall and the other wall surface.

3. the second bus bar is formed to have an asymmetric shape between a first direction side and a second direction side in the arrangement direction, the accommodating case includes a first wire guide path that tilts the electric wire of the terminal-attached electric wire, the terminal fittings of which are physically and electrically connected to the first electrical connection portions, toward the first direction in the arrangement direction, and leads the electric wire into the wire accommodating portion, the second wire guide path that tilts the electric wire of the terminal-attached electric wire, the terminal fittings of which are physically and electrically connected to the second electrical connection portions, toward the first direction in the arrangement direction, and leads the electric wire into the wire accommodating portion, the terminal fittings of which are physically and electrically connected to the second electrical connection portions, the the second bus bar accommodating portion has an end portion on the first direction side connected to the first wire guide path, and the detour portion protrudes from an end portion on the second direction side to the outside of the room; 3. The busbar module according to claim 1, wherein the third busbar accommodating portion connects the second wire guide path to an end portion on the first direction side, and the detour portion protrudes from an end portion on the second direction side to an outside of a room.

4. a bus bar, which is a conductive member that physically and electrically connects electrode terminals of a plurality of battery cells arranged in a row in a battery module, and which connects pairs of electrode terminals for each combination of adjacent electrode terminals spaced apart in the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells; a terminal-equipped electric wire including a terminal fitting at one end of the electric wire for physically and electrically connecting to the bus bar, and electrically connecting the other end of the electric wire to a battery monitoring unit that monitors the battery state of the battery cell; an insulating housing case that houses the bus bar and the terminal-equipped electric wire; Equipped with the plurality of bus bars are broadly divided into first bus bars that extend in the arrangement direction and connect the pair of electrode terminals, and second bus bars that detour around a protrusion that the battery module has in the space in a U-shape on the battery module and connect the pair of electrode terminals while avoiding the protrusion, the second bus bar has a flat-plate-shaped first electrical connection portion that is physically and electrically connected to one of the pair of electrode terminals, a flat-plate-shaped second electrical connection portion that is physically and electrically connected to the other of the pair of electrode terminals, and a U-shaped detour portion that connects the first electrical connection portion and the second electrical connection portion and detours around the protrusion on the battery module, and is formed in an asymmetric shape between a first direction side on one side and a second direction side on the other side in the arrangement direction, the accommodating case includes: a first bus bar accommodating portion that accommodates the first bus bar; a second bus bar accommodating portion that accommodates the first electrical connection portion of the second bus bar; a third bus bar accommodating portion that accommodates the second electrical connection portion of the second bus bar; a wire accommodating portion that accommodates the electric wires and guides the electric wires toward the battery monitoring unit along a bottom wall that faces the battery module; a first wire guide path that leads the electric wires of the terminal-attached electric wires, whose terminal fittings are physically and electrically connected to the first electrical connection portions, into the wire accommodating portion at an angle toward the first direction in the arrangement direction; and a second wire guide path that leads the electric wires of the terminal-attached electric wires, whose terminal fittings are physically and electrically connected to the second electrical connection portions, into the wire accommodating portion at an angle toward the first direction in the arrangement direction, the wire accommodating portion is disposed adjacent to the first bus bar accommodating portion, the second bus bar accommodating portion, and the third bus bar accommodating portion in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the second bus bar and perpendicular to the arrangement direction, and extends in the arrangement direction; the second bus bar accommodating portion has an end portion on the first direction side connected to the first wire guide path, and the detour portion protrudes from an end portion on the second direction side to the outside of the room; the third busbar accommodating portion has an end portion on the first direction side connected to the second wire guide path, and the detour portion protrudes from the end portion on the second direction side to an outside of the room.

5. 5. The busbar module according to claim 4, wherein the terminal fitting has a flat terminal connection portion that can be stacked on the first electrical connection portion or the second electrical connection portion and is fastened together with the first electrical connection portion or the second electrical connection portion by a female screw member that is screwed into the electrode terminal having a male screw portion.

6. the second bus bar is formed in a flat plate shape having the first electrical connection portion, the second electrical connection portion, and the detour portion on the same plane; the first electrical connection portion and the second electrical connection portion have a common distance between opposite sides in a direction orthogonal to a plane of the second bus bar and a direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction, and a common plate thickness, and are formed in a rectangular flat plate shape with the same cross-sectional area in a cross section orthogonal to the arrangement direction, 5. The busbar module according to claim 1, wherein the detour portion is formed in a flat plate shape such that a plate width in a direction perpendicular to a central axis on a detour path connecting the first electrical connection portion and the second electrical connection portion is narrower than a distance between the opposite sides of the first electrical connection portion and the second electrical connection portion, and a plate thickness is thicker than the plate thicknesses of the first electrical connection portion and the second electrical connection portion, and a cross-sectional area of ​​a cross section perpendicular to the central axis is equal to the cross-sectional area of ​​the first electrical connection portion and the second electrical connection portion.

7. The first bus bar is formed in a plate shape having a plate width in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction, 7. The busbar module according to claim 6, wherein the cross-sectional areas of the first electrical connection portion, the second electrical connection portion, and the detour portion are set to be equal to a cross-sectional area of ​​a cross section of the first busbar that is perpendicular to the arrangement direction.

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