Connection Module Pitch Adjustment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connection modules for energy storage modules in vehicles lack sufficient pitch adjustment capability between bus bars, limiting the extension and contraction of electrode terminals.
Innovation Solution
A connection module with bus bar holding portions featuring a U-shaped housing with a free side and a hinge that extends and contracts to adjust the pitch between electrode terminals, allowing for increased gap and extension/contraction, and includes movement limiting features to prevent bus bar detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If isolation walls are provided on both sides of each bus bar housing portion, then insulation reliability is improved, but pitch adjustment amount is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The isolation walls are segmented such that only one side of each bus bar housing portion has an isolation wall, while the other side is left open. This segmentation allows the pitch adjustment portion to extend further without compromising insulation, as each bus bar remains isolated from its immediate neighbor while allowing overall expansion/contraction movement.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the housing structure have different insulation characteristics - one side has full isolation walls for reliable insulation, while the other side has a free portion without isolation walls to enable pitch adjustment. This local differentiation optimizes both insulation reliability and adjustability in different spatial directions.
2Device complexity
If pitch adjustment portion is provided at common substrate portion for every predetermined number of connection portions, then structural simplicity is improved, but pitch adjustment amount per bus bar is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The pitch adjustment functionality is segmented to each individual bus bar holding portion rather than being shared across multiple connection portions. Each bus bar can be adjusted independently by its own pitch adjustment portion, maximizing the adjustment amount per bus bar while maintaining overall structural simplicity through modular repetition.
3Length of moving object
If gap between adjacent bus bar housing portions is increased, then pitch adjustment amount is improved, but structural compactness is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure uses asymmetric design where isolation walls are provided on one side but not the other, creating an asymmetric gap pattern. This allows the gap to be enlarged in the direction needed for pitch adjustment while maintaining compactness in other directions, optimizing both adjustability and space utilization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances the pitch adjustment amount for each bus bar, facilitating efficient assembly and operation by maximizing the extension/contraction of the pitch adjustment mechanism and preventing bus bar detachment during transport.
Implementation Method 1
a pitch adjustment portion that is to be provided across adjacent ones of the bus bar holding portions so as to couple the adjacent bus bar holding portions, and that extends and contracts in the line-up direction of the plurality of bus bar holding portions so as to enable adjustment of a pitch
Implementation Method 2
each of the bus bar holding portions includes a bus bar housing portion including an isolation wall that keeps the bus bars apart in an insulated manner
Data Source
AI summary
A connection module includes a plurality of bus bars that connect positive and negative electrode terminals of adjacent energy storage elements, a plurality of bus bar holding portions that hold bus bars in an insulated manner, and a pitch adjustment portion. The pitch adjustment portion is to be provided across the adjacent bus bar holding portions so as to couple the adjacent bus bar holding portions, and extends and contracts in a line-up direction of the plurality of bus bar holding portions so as to enable adjustment of a pitch between the positive and negative electrode terminals of the adjacent energy storage elements. Each of the bus bar holding portion includes a bus bar housing portion including an isolation wall that keeps the corresponding bus bars apart in an insulated manner. The bus bar housing portion includes, on one side in the line-up direction, a free portion where there is no isolation wall.