Bus bar assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12355166-B2
Application number	US-202217849800-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2022
Priority date	Jun 24, 2019
Publication date	Jul 8, 2025
Grant date	Jul 8, 2025

Abstract

A bus bar assembly includes a nonconductive terminal cap that is configured to secure to an electrically conductive terminal via an attachment feature. The terminal cap has a slot that is configured to expose a terminal portion of the terminal when in an assembled condition. A bus bar has an end that is configured to be received in and extend through the slot when in the assembled condition in which the end is in electrical contact with the terminal portion of the terminal. A nonconductive shroud encloses the bus bar.

First claim

We claim:

1. A bus bar assembly comprising:
a nonconductive terminal cap having an attachment feature configured to engage a perimeter of an electrically conductive terminal, thereby securing the terminal cap to the terminal and enclosing the terminal, the attachment feature includes at least one snap feature configured to secure the terminal cap to the perimeter of a planar terminal pad of the terminal;
a bus bar having an end configured to be received through a slot in the terminal cap such that the end is in electrical contact with the terminal; and
a nonconductive shroud enclosing the bus bar, wherein the end of the bus bar extends through the shroud.

2. The bus bar assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a bolt extending through a first hole in the end of the bus bar and a second hole in the shroud, wherein the terminal cap includes a third hole configured to be aligned with a threaded member of the terminal and wherein the threaded member is configured to receive the bolt when in the assembled condition.

3. The bus bar assembly of claim 2 , wherein the shroud includes first and second shroud portions secured to one another about the bus bar, wherein the second hole is provided in the second shroud portion, and wherein the first shroud portion includes an access hole that is aligned with the bolt and is configured to receive a tool that cooperates with a head of the bolt.

4. The bus bar assembly of claim 1 , wherein the slot is a first slot and wherein the terminal cap includes a second slot paired with the first slot, wherein the end of the bus bar has a U-shape provided by legs extending from the bus bar, wherein the legs are configured to be received in the first and second slots, and wherein the bus bar assembly further comprises a bolt extending through the end that is configured to secure the bus bar to the terminal.

5. The bus bar assembly of claim 4 , wherein the bolt is arranged between the legs.

6. The bus bar assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first and second slots have a rectangular shape.

7. The bus bar assembly of claim 4 , wherein ends of the legs have a rectangular shape.

8. The bus bar assembly of claim 1 , wherein the slot has a first arcuate hook-shape and the terminal cap includes a post interiorly arranged with respect to the slot and wherein the end of the bus bar has a second arcuate hook-shape configured to be received in the slot and surround the post when in the assembled condition and comprising a bolt extending through the end of the bus bar and configured to secure the bus bar to the terminal.

9. The bus bar assembly of claim 8 , wherein the bolt is configured to be received in the post when in the assembled condition.

10. The bus bar assembly of claim 1 , wherein the slot is sized, shaped, and arranged to prevent a solid object at least 12.5 millimeters in diameter and having a length of at least 80 millimeters from contacting the terminal.

11. The bus bar assembly of claim 10 , wherein the slot is finger-proof per code IP2XB of IEC standard 60529.

Assignees

• Aptiv Technologies AG

Inventors

• Durse Nicholas A
• Wolfgang Adam
• Reedy Patrick J

Classifications

• H01M2220/20

  Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• H01M50/553

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

• H01M50/503 Primary

  characterised by the shape of the interconnectors · CPC title

• H01M50/591

  Covers · CPC title

• H01M50/588

  outside the batteries, e.g. incorrect connections of terminals or busbars · CPC title