Inter-terminal connection structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12355108-B2
Application number	US-202418440257-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2024
Priority date	May 24, 2019
Publication date	Jul 8, 2025
Grant date	Jul 8, 2025

Abstract

An inter-terminal connection structure including a plurality of terminal portions and a conductive component electrically connecting the plurality of terminal portions. The conductive component includes a conductive member having a plurality of connection portions fastened to the respective terminal portions in a connected state. The connection structure also includes a case having insulation properties while accommodating the conductive member, an insulating terminal portion cover covering at least one of the terminal portions, a terminal portion opening window provided to the terminal portion cover to partially expose the terminal portion, and a connection-portion-side relay portion provided to the connection portion fastened to the terminal portion covered by the terminal portion cover, and projecting to an outside of the case and inserted through the terminal portion opening window to be connected to the terminal portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An inter-terminal connection structure comprising:
a plurality of terminal portions;
a conductive component via which the plurality of terminal portions are electrically connected, the conductive component including:
a conductive member including a plurality of connection portions being fastened to the respective terminal portions in a connected state, and
a case having insulation properties while accommodating the conductive member;
an insulating terminal portion cover covering at least one of the terminal portions;
a terminal portion opening window provided to the terminal portion cover to partially expose the terminal portion; and
a connection-portion-side relay portion provided to the connection portion fastened to the terminal portion covered by the terminal portion cover, and projecting to an outside of the case and inserted through the terminal portion opening window to be connected to the terminal portion.

2. The inter-terminal connection structure according to claim 1 , wherein with regard to the connection portion provided with the connection-portion-side relay portion, the connection portion is accommodated in the case and surrounded by the case.

3. The inter-terminal connection structure according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive member comprises a bus bar, the plurality of connection portions comprise two connection portions that are provided to opposite end portions in a longitudinal direction of the bus bar, and the bus bar includes a crank-shaped bent portion bent in a plate thickness direction of the bus bar.

4. The inter-terminal connection structure according to claim 1 , further comprising a bolt, wherein
the terminal portion and the connection portion are configured to be fastened by using the bolt,
a bolt insertion hole provided to the connection portion and the connection-portion side relay portion includes a first space permitting displacement of the bolt in a predetermined direction, and
the case of the conductive component includes a second space permitting displacement of the bolt and the connection-portion-side relay portion in the predetermined direction.

5. The inter-terminal connection structure according to claim 4 ,
wherein the bolt is accommodated in the case of the conductive component, an upper surface opening portion is provided to an upper surface of the case, the upper surface opening portion exposing a head portion of the bolt having an insulating covering thereon, and a lower surface opening portion is provided to a lower surface of the case, the lower surface opening portion exposing a screw portion of the bolt and the connection-portion-side relay portion.

6. The inter-terminal connection structure according to claim 4 , wherein
the bolt is accommodated in the case of the conductive component, and an upper surface opening portion is provided to an upper surface of the case, the upper surface opening portion exposing a head portion of the bolt,
a tool fitting hole opens onto an upper surface of the head portion of the bolt, the tool fitting hole being configured to be fitted with a tip part of a fastening tool, and
in plan view, the tool fitting hole is exposed to an outside via the upper surface opening portion, and an outer peripheral portion of the head portion is covered by the upper surface of the case.

7. The inter-terminal connection structure according to claim 6 , wherein in the upper surface of the case, a part covering the outer peripheral portion of the head portion of the bolt is remote upward from the head portion.

8. The inter-terminal connection structure according to claim 1 , further comprising a bolt, wherein
the terminal portion and the connection portion are configured to be fastened by using the bolt, and
the case of the conductive component includes a guide wall provided around the connection-portion-side relay portion and a screw portion of the bolt, and the guide wall is a wall higher than the connection-portion-side relay portion.

9. The inter-terminal connection structure according to claim 8 , wherein the guide wall is provided near the connection portion, and displacement of the conductive component is limited by the guide wall being in contact with a member provided on a side of the terminal portion.

10. The inter-terminal connection structure according to claim 1 , wherein the connection-portion-side relay portion and the conductive member are integrally formed.

11. The inter-terminal connection structure according to claim 1 , wherein the connection-portion-side relay portion and the conductive member are separately formed, and the connection-portion-side relay portion is held by the case.

12. The inter-terminal connection structure according to claim 11 , wherein
the connection-portion-side relay portion includes a tube portion projecting to the outside of the case and a flange portion projecting to an outer peripheral side from one end portion of the tube portion, and
the connection-portion-side relay portion is held by the case by the tube portion of the connection-portion-side relay portion being inserted through an opening hole penetrating the case and by the flange portion being engaged with a peripheral edge of the opening hole from an inside of the case.

13. The inter-terminal connection structure according to claim 11 , wherein the connection-portion-side relay portion is held by the case by being press-fitted into an opening hole penetrating the case.

14. The inter-terminal connection structure according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one connection-portion-side relay portion comprises a plurality of connection-portion-side relay portions that project from the connection portion and are remote from each other.

15. The inter-terminal connection structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the terminal portion and the connection portion are configured to be fastened by using a bolt, and
the terminal portion cover includes an inner peripheral portion covering an inner peripheral surface of a bolt insertion hole provided to the terminal portion.

16. The inter-terminal connection structure according to claim 15 , wherein the inner peripheral portion of the terminal portion cover is integrated with another part of the terminal portion cover.

17. The inter-terminal connection structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the terminal portion and the connection portion are configured to be fastened by using a bolt,
the terminal portion opening window is formed in an annular shape around a bolt insertion hole of the terminal portion, and
the connection-portion-side relay portion has an annular shape and is arranged around the bolt insertion hole of the connection portion.

18. The inter-terminal connection structure according to claim 17 , wherein
the terminal portion opening window of annular shape is defined between an inner peripheral portion of the terminal portion cover and an outer peripheral portion of the terminal portion cover that is remote radially outward from the inner peripheral portion, and
the inner peripheral portion covers an inner peripheral surface of the bolt insertion hole of the terminal portion, while the outer peripheral portion covers a surface of the terminal portion around the bolt insertion hole.

19. The inter-terminal connection structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the terminal portion and the connection portion are configured to be fastened by using a bolt, and
the terminal portion opening window opens with such a size as to expose a bolt insertion hole of the terminal p

Assignees

• Autonetworks Technologies Ltd
• Sumitomo Wiring Systems
• Sumitomo Electric Industries

Inventors

• Yanagida Taiji
• Shimoda Hiroki
• Matsumura Nobuyuki
• Ikai Yoshinori
• Kudou Yasuhiro

Classifications

• H01R11/09

  the connecting locations being identical · CPC title

• H01R4/308

  Conductive members located parallel to axis of screw · CPC title

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title

• H01M50/503 Primary

  characterised by the shape of the interconnectors · CPC title

• H01M50/258

  Modular batteries; Casings provided with means for assembling · CPC title