Bus bar assembly including temperature sensor mechanism and battery pack including same

Abstract

Disclosed are: a bus bar assembly including a temperature sensor mechanism which detects a fire of a battery pack of an electric vehicle in advance and then informs the fire; and a battery pack including same. A bus bar assembly including a temperature sensor mechanism according to an embodiment includes: a housing which has an upper surface the entire of which is open, a lower surface both ends of which are open, and seat plates respectively provided at both sides therein; a bus bar accommodated between the lower surface of the housing and the seat plates; a circuit board which has both ends respectively seated on the seat plates and is provided with a temperature sensor mechanism; a connector connected to the circuit board so as to transmit the temperature detected by the temperature sensor mechanism to the outside; and a cover covering the upper surface of the housing.

Description

Busbar assembly including temperature sensor mechanism and battery pack including same

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a busbar assembly including a temperature sensor device and a battery pack including the same.

[0002] Busbars are commonly used in electric vehicle battery packs due to their ability to carry more current than cables. However, busbars have the potential to cause fire due to the high temperatures generated by the high current.

[0003] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2023-0082968 discloses a temperature sensing member, a battery module including the same, and a battery pack.

[0004] The temperature sensing member disclosed in the public notice is a temperature sensing member positioned between two adjacent battery cells, comprising a main body portion arranged parallel to one surface of the battery cells, and a temperature measuring unit mounted on the main body portion and configured to measure the temperature of the battery cells, wherein the main body portion has a plate-like shape, and the temperature measuring unit is inserted into one side of the main body portion.

[0005] However, the temperature sensing member described above only measures the temperature of the battery cell and does not measure the temperature of the busbar, so it has a disadvantage in that it is difficult to identify problems occurring in the busbar due to high temperature of the busbar.

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present disclosure is to provide a busbar assembly including a temperature sensor device that detects and notifies a fire in a battery pack of an electric vehicle in advance, and a battery pack including the same.

[0007] A busbar assembly including a temperature sensor device according to an embodiment comprises: a housing having an entire upper surface and both lower ends open and having mounting plates provided on each of the inner sides; a busbar accommodated between the lower surface of the housing and the mounting plates; a circuit board having both ends mounted on the mounting plates and having a temperature sensor device provided thereon; a connector connected to the circuit board and transmitting a temperature detected by the temperature sensor device to the outside; and a cover covering the upper surface of the housing.

[0008] In addition, the busbar of the busbar assembly including the temperature sensor device according to the embodiment is characterized in that one lower side is positioned at one end of the open lower side of the housing, and the other lower side is positioned at the other end of the open lower side of the housing.

[0009] Additionally, the cover of the busbar assembly including the temperature sensor mechanism according to the embodiment is characterized in that one side is hingedly connected to the housing.

[0010] In addition, each of the mounting plates of the busbar assembly including the temperature sensor device according to the embodiment is provided with a fusion boss on the upper surface, and the circuit board is characterized in that holes for receiving the fusion boss are provided on both ends.

[0011] In addition, the circuit board of the busbar assembly including the temperature sensor device according to the embodiment is characterized in that it is provided with a reinforcing plate supported on each of the lower ends by a mounting plate.

[0012] In addition, a battery pack according to an embodiment includes a pair of battery modules arranged in parallel; and a busbar assembly including a temperature sensor mechanism electrically connecting the battery modules.

[0013] A busbar assembly including a temperature sensor device according to an embodiment can detect problems occurring in the busbar in advance by measuring the busbar's temperature. This allows for the early detection of a fire in an electric vehicle's battery pack, allowing for prompt notification to passengers.

[0014] In addition, a busbar assembly including a temperature sensor device according to an embodiment can detect whether the busbar is overcurrent using the measured temperature of the busbar and the resistance of the busbar.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a busbar assembly including a temperature sensor mechanism according to an embodiment.

[0016] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a busbar assembly including a temperature sensor mechanism according to an embodiment.

[0017] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the housing and bus bar of Fig. 2 taken along line A-A'.

[0018] Fig. 4 illustrates a method for manufacturing a busbar assembly including a temperature sensor mechanism according to an embodiment.

[0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a battery pack including a busbar assembly including a temperature sensor mechanism according to an embodiment.

[0020] The advantages and features of the present disclosure, and methods for achieving them, will become clearer with reference to the embodiments described below in detail with the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below and may be implemented in various different forms. These embodiments are provided solely to ensure that the present disclosure is complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the invention, and the present disclosure is defined solely by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.

[0021]

[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, which is a perspective view of a busbar assembly (100) including a temperature sensor device according to an embodiment [hereinafter referred to as “busbar assembly (100)”), and FIG. 2, which is an exploded view of the busbar assembly (100), the busbar assembly (100) includes a housing (110), a busbar (120), a circuit board (130), a connector (140), and a cover (150).

[0023] The housing (110) has a box shape with the entire upper surface and both lower ends open, and a mounting plate (111) is provided on each of the inner sides.

[0024] A fusion boss (111a) is formed protrudingly on the upper surface of each mounting plate (111).

[0025] One end of the open lower surface of the housing (110) forms a positive connection portion (112), the other end of the open lower surface of the housing (110) forms a negative connection portion (113), and the non-open lower surface of the housing (110) is configured as a support plate (114) that supports a bus bar (120) to be described later.

[0026] Additionally, the housing (110) can be formed by injection molding, and can be injection molded with a bus bar (120) inserted therein, which will be described later.

[0027] The bus bar (120) is accommodated between the lower surface of the housing (110) and the mounting plate (111) of the housing, and has holes (121) formed at both ends for fixing to a battery module (B). The bus bar (120) functions to electrically connect the battery modules (B) located on one side and the other side of the bus bar (120), respectively. In addition, one side of the lower surface of the bus bar (120) is located at one end of the open lower surface of the housing (110), and the other side of the lower surface of the bus bar (120) is located at the other end of the open lower surface of the housing (110).

[0028] As an example, referring to FIG. 3, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of the housing (110) and bus bar (120) of FIG. 2, the bus bar (120) is accommodated between the mounting plate (111) and the support plate (114) of the housing (110), and one side of the lower surface of the bus bar (120) is positioned and exposed at the positive connection portion (113) of the housing (110), and the other side of the lower surface of the bus bar (120) is positioned and exposed at the negative connection portion (113) of the housing (110).

[0029] The circuit board (130) is mounted on a mounting plate (111) of the housing (110) at both ends and is equipped with a temperature sensor device (131). As an example of the temperature sensor device (131), a thermistor may be provided. The circuit board (130) may be configured as a general PCB, but may also be configured as an FPCB.

[0030] The temperature sensor device (131) has the function of measuring the temperature of the bus bar (120).

[0031] Additionally, the circuit board (130) may be provided with a hole (132) and a reinforcing plate (133).

[0032] Holes (132) are formed at each end of the circuit board (130) to accommodate the fusion bosses (111a) of the mounting plate (111).

[0033] The reinforcing plate (133) is provided on each end of the lower surface of the circuit board (130) and has the function of supporting the circuit board (130) when the circuit board (130) is mounted on the mounting plate (111) of the housing (110).

[0034] The connector (140) is connected to the circuit board (130) and functions to transmit the temperature detected by the temperature sensor device (131) to the outside. As an example, the connector (140) is connected to a wire (141) for transmitting the temperature detected by the temperature sensor device (131) to the BMU (Battery Management Unit).

[0035] The cover (150) functions to cover the open upper surface of the housing (110). As an example, the cover (150) may be formed as a plate having an area corresponding to the open upper surface of the housing (110), and one side may be hingedly connected to the housing (110).

[0036]

[0037] Referring to FIG. 4, which shows a method for manufacturing a busbar assembly (100), a method for manufacturing a busbar assembly (100) is described.

[0038] Referring to Fig. 4 (a), a bus bar (120) is injection-molded while being inserted into the housing (110). At this time, the bus bar (120) is positioned between the mounting plate (111) and the support plate (114) of the housing (110).

[0039] Referring to Fig. 4 (b), the circuit board (130) is mounted on the mounting plate (111) of the housing (110). At this time, the fusion boss (111a) of the mounting plate (111) is inserted into the hole (132) of the circuit board (130), thereby fixing the position of the circuit board (130).

[0040] Referring to Fig. 4 (c), the circuit board (130) is fixed to the mounting plate (111) by heat-fusing the fusion boss (111a) of the mounting plate (111).

[0041]

[0042] Referring to Fig. 5, which shows a busbar assembly (100) mounted on a battery module (B), the busbar assembly (100) is positioned between two battery modules (B) to electrically connect them.

[0043] After two battery modules (B) are positioned side by side, the positive connection part (112) of the housing (110) is positioned on the battery module (B) located on one side, and the negative connection part (113) of the housing (110) is positioned on the battery module (B) located on the other side.

[0044] Next, bolts are assembled into the holes (121) of the busbar (120) to secure the busbar assembly (100) to the battery module (B). The wire (141) is connected to the connector (140) and the cover (150) is covered to complete the assembly.

[0045]

[0046] The expressions (terms, visualized images, etc.) used in describing the embodiments of the present disclosure have been selected solely for the instrumental purpose of enhancing understanding of the technology.

[0047] In addition, due to circumstances, the present disclosure has been described with a limited number of embodiments, and a person skilled in the art will be able to create new embodiments within a scope that does not depart from the technical spirit of the present disclosure based on the described embodiments.

[0048] Accordingly, the scope of the claims of the present disclosure should not be limited by some expressions appearing in the 'Description of the Invention' and the 'Drawings', but should be broadly interpreted based on the original technical ideas inherent in the entire specification.

[0049] A busbar assembly including a temperature sensor device according to an embodiment can detect problems occurring in the busbar in advance by measuring the busbar's temperature. This allows for the early detection of a fire in an electric vehicle's battery pack, allowing for prompt notification to passengers.

[0050] In addition, a busbar assembly including a temperature sensor device according to an embodiment can detect whether the busbar is overcurrent using the measured temperature of the busbar and the resistance of the busbar.

Claims

1. A housing having an open upper surface and two open lower ends, and a mounting plate provided on each of the two inner sides; A bus bar accommodated between the lower surface of the housing and the mounting plate; A circuit board having both ends mounted on the mounting plate and having a temperature sensor mechanism; A connector connected to the circuit board and transmitting the temperature detected by the temperature sensor device to the outside; and A busbar assembly including a temperature sensor mechanism, comprising a cover covering the upper surface of the housing.

2. In paragraph 1, The above bus bar, A busbar assembly including a temperature sensor mechanism, characterized in that one side is positioned at one end of the open lower surface of the housing, and the other side is positioned at the other end of the open lower surface of the housing.

3. In paragraph 2, The above cover, A busbar assembly including a temperature sensor mechanism, characterized in that one side is hingedly connected to the housing.

4. In paragraph 1, On each of the above mounting plates, Equipped with a fusion boss on the upper surface, The above circuit board, A busbar assembly including a temperature sensor mechanism, characterized in that a hole for accommodating the fusion boss is provided at each end.

5. In paragraph 1, The above circuit board, A busbar assembly including a temperature sensor mechanism, characterized in that a reinforcing plate is provided at each end thereof to be supported by the mounting plate.

6. A pair of battery modules arranged in parallel; and A battery pack, comprising a busbar assembly including a temperature sensor device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 for electrically connecting the battery modules.

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