Connection module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10964989-B2
Application number	US-201916248350-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2019
Priority date	Jan 16, 2018
Publication date	Mar 30, 2021
Grant date	Mar 30, 2021

Abstract

A connection module to be assembled to a power storage element stack including power storage element arrays in each of which power storage elements including electrode terminals of a positive electrode and a negative electrode are arranged. The connection module includes: a plurality of bus bars that electrically connects the electrode terminals between the adjacent power storage elements; a plurality of bus bar housing parts each housing each of the bus bars; a plurality of first hinge linking parts that links the bus bar housing parts and expands and contracts in a direction where the power storage elements are arranged; a plurality of inter-array bus bars that electrically connects the electrode terminals of power storage element arrays; a plurality of inter-array bus bar housing parts each housing each of the inter-array bus bars; and angle adjusting part adjusting an inclination angle of each of the inter-array bus bar housing part.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A connection module to be assembled to a power storage element stack including a plurality of power storage element arrays in each of which power storage elements each including positive electrodes and negative electrodes are arranged, the connection module comprising:
a plurality of bus bars that electrically connects the electrode terminals between the power storage elements that are adjacent in each of the power storage element arrays;
a plurality of bus bar housing parts each housing each of the bus bars;
a plurality of first hinge linking parts that links the bus bar housing parts in a direction where the power storage elements are arranged, and expands and contracts in the direction where the power storage elements are arranged;
a plurality of inter-array bus bars that electrically connects an electrode terminal of one power storage element array and an electrode terminal of another power storage element array;
a plurality of inter-array bus bar housing parts each housing each of the inter-array bus bars; and
an angle adjusting part adjusting an inclination angle of each of the inter-array bus bar housing parts from a direction perpendicular to the direction where the power storage elements are arranged in a plan view.

2. The connection module according to claim 1 , wherein the angle adjusting part includes a plurality of flexible ribs coupling the bus bar housing parts and the inter-array bus bar housing parts in the direction perpendicular to the direction where the power storage elements are arranged, or coupling one inter-array bus bar housing part and another inter-array bus bar housing part in the direction perpendicular to the direction where the power storage elements are arranged.

3. The connection module according to claim 2 , wherein each of the flexible ribs is provided at a position corresponding to a virtual line connecting the electrode terminal of the positive electrode and the electrode terminal of the negative electrode in one of the power storage elements.

4. The connection module according to claim 2 , wherein the angle adjusting part further includes a plurality of second hinge linking parts that alternately links one end and another end of two adjacent inter-array bus bar housing parts in the direction perpendicular to the direction where the power storage elements are arranged.

5. The connection module according to claim 1 , further comprising grip parts that are provided at both ends in the direction where the power storage elements are arranged and that grip the connection module to expand and contract the first hinge linking parts and adjust the angle adjusting part.

6. The connection module according to claim 5 , further comprising rigid parts that are provided at both ends in the direction where the power storage elements are arranged, that include the grip parts, and that transmit an expansion and contraction force to the first hinge linking parts.

7. The connection module according to claim 5 , wherein at least a grip part on one end includes:
a wall part that forms a routing groove routing a detection line that detects a state of the power storage elements; and
a lid part that covers the routing groove.

8. The connection module according to claim 2 , further comprising a flexible linking rib that links two adjacent flexible ribs.

9. The connection module according to claim 1 , wherein the angle adjusting part is formed to be integrated with each of the inter-array bus bar housing parts.

Assignees

• Autonetworks Technologies Ltd
• Sumitomo Wiring Systems
• Sumitomo Electric Industries
• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yanagida Taiji
• Takase Shinichi
• KOTERA Yasuhiko
• Kuroyanagi Yoshiaki
• Tanaka Koichi

Classifications

• H01M10/482 Primary

  for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially · CPC title

• H01M50/524

  Organic material · CPC title

• H01M50/553

  Terminals adapted for prismatic, pouch or rectangular cells · CPC title

• H01M50/55

  on the same side of the cell · CPC title

• H01M50/209

  adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells (H01M50/216 takes precedence) · CPC title