Bladed fuse connectors for use in a vehicle battery module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9722231-B2
Application number	US-201414230603-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2014
Priority date	Sep 6, 2013
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

A battery system having a bladed fuse connector and a method of operation of the bladed fuse connector are provided. The system may, in certain embodiments, include a printed circuit board (PCB) and a high current interconnect. The high current interconnect may be mounted to and extending upward from the PCB. The battery system may also include a fuse. The fuse may limit an amount of current flowing through the battery system. Additionally, the battery system may include a bladed fuse connector coupled between the high current interconnect and the fuse. The bladed fuse connector may carry a current between the high current interconnect and the fuse. To that end, the bladed fuse connector may include an S-shaped bend between the high current interconnect and the fuse.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A battery system, comprising:
a printed circuit board (PCB);
an interconnect mounted to and extending upward from the PCB;
a fuse configured to limit an amount of current flowing through the battery system; and
a bladed fuse connector coupled between the interconnect and the fuse and configured to carry a current between the interconnect and the fuse, wherein the bladed fuse connector comprises an S-shaped bend between the interconnect and the fuse.

2. The battery system of claim 1 , wherein the interconnect comprises an opening in an upper portion of the interconnect, and wherein the bladed fuse connector is disposed in the opening at a substantially vertical orientation.

3. The battery system of claim 1 , wherein the bladed fuse connector comprises:
a first end with a substantially vertical orientation and coupled to the interconnect; and
a second end with a substantially horizontal orientation and coupled to the fuse, the second end being opposite the first end;
wherein the S-shaped bend is disposed between the first and second ends.

4. The battery system of claim 3 , wherein an opening of the interconnect configured to receive the first end of the bladed fuse connector is raised above a connecting point where the second end of the bladed fuse connector is coupled to the fuse.

5. The battery system of claim 1 , wherein the bladed fuse connector is coupled to a lower portion of the fuse.

6. The battery system of claim 5 , wherein a lower surface of the fuse is supported at a position relatively lower than an upper surface of the interconnect.

7. The battery system of claim 1 , wherein the fuse is coupled above the PCB via the interconnect.

8. The battery system of claim 1 , comprising an additional interconnect mounted to and extending upward from the PCB, and an additional bladed fuse connector coupled between the fuse and the additional interconnect such that the bladed fuse and the additional bladed fuse extend from opposite ends of the fuse.

9. The battery system of claim 1 , comprising a housing configured to hold the PCB, the fuse, and the bladed fuse connector, wherein the housing comprises a cover disposed over a top opening of the housing.

10. A system, comprising:
a fuse configured to limit an amount of current flowing through a battery system; and
a bladed fuse connector configured to carry a current between the fuse and an interconnect mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) of the battery system, wherein the bladed fuse connector comprises:
a first end coupled to the fuse;
a second end opposite the first end and configured to be coupled to the interconnect; and
an S-shaped bend disposed between the first end and the second end.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first end has a substantially horizontal orientation and the second end has a substantially vertical orientation.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the bladed fuse connector is coupled to a lower portion of the fuse.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the fuse is coupled above the PCB via the interconnect.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein a lower surface of the fuse is supported at a position relatively lower than an upper surface of the interconnect.

15. The system of claim 10 , comprising an additional interconnect mounted to and extending upward from the PCB, and an additional bladed fuse connector coupled between the fuse and the additional interconnect, such that the bladed fuse and the additional bladed fuse extend from opposite ends of the fuse.

Assignees

• Johnson Controls Tech Co

Inventors

• Soleski Edward J
• Dekeuster Richard M

Classifications

• B60L58/24

  for controlling the temperature of batteries · CPC title

• B60L58/15

  Preventing overcharging · CPC title

• H05K1/0298

  Multilayer circuits · CPC title

• H05K2201/0715

  provided by an outer layer of PCB · CPC title

• H05K1/0218

  by printed shielding conductors, ground planes or power plane (H05K1/0236 takes precedence) · CPC title