The invention relates to a battery connector for electrically contact-connecting a first pole pin of a first battery module to a second pole pin of a second battery module. The invention also relates, to a battery module and to a system having at least two battery modules and one battery connector. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle having a system comprising at least two battery modules and one battery connector.
High-voltage batteries of electric vehicles often are installed as underfloor batteries. This means that the batteries are arranged in the floor of the vehicle, and this location creates considerable limitations with respect to the possible structural height of the batteries. High-voltage batteries are generally of modular construction. This means that individual cells or battery modules have to be connected to one another in order to reach the required voltage and capacitance. At present, the trend is for ever larger battery modules, and this leads to the voltage of an individual battery module being above the legally permissible electric-shock-protected voltage. As a result, high-voltage terminals, that is to say connecting points for module connection of the battery modules, have to be of electric-shock-protected design. Electric-shock-protected high voltage terminals of this kind usually protrude far beyond the battery cells and therefore increase the required installation space for the battery modules.
Against this background, the object is to provide a battery connector, battery modules, a system comprising battery modules and battery connectors and also a motor vehicle that do not exhibit the disadvantages of the prior art but rather provide electric-shock protection with low requirements with respect to installation space height.
The invention relates to a battery connector for electrically contact-connecting a first pole pin of a first battery module to a second pole pin of a second battery module. The battery connector has a busbar with a first contact region, a second contact region and a connecting region arranged between the first contact region and the second contact region in a main direction of extent of the busbar. The connecting region has an electrically insulating coating. The first contact region and the second contact region each have a cutout. The cutouts are open in an insertion direction that is parallel to a main plane of extent of the busbar and orthogonal to the main direction of extent.
The battery connector advantageously allows the first battery module and the second battery module to be electrically contact-connected in an electric-shock-protected manner and, in the process, the required installation space height is reduced in comparison to the prior art.
The busbar can have rail-like external dimensions. For example, the busbar can have dimensions in its main plane of extent that are considerably greater than the dimension in the dimension orthogonal to the main plane of extent. Therefore, the busbar can be substantially flat and can have an only low height in comparison to its length and width, which are arranged parallel to the main plane of extent. The busbar is manufactured from an electrically conductive material, such as copper, aluminum or soft iron. In some embodiments, the busbar will not bend about an axis that is normal to the main plane of extent. The connecting region may be coated with an electrically insulating lacquer or surrounded by an electrically insulating plastic casing. It is conceivable for the width of the cutouts parallel to the main direction of extent to be selected such that the pole pins can be readily inserted into the cutouts and fixed in the cutouts.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first contact region and the second contact region can each have a further cutout open in the insertion direction. Thus, the battery connector can be mounted onto more than one pole pin per contact region. As a result, a larger contact area between the battery connector and the battery module is realized so that higher electric current can be conducted. Within the meaning of the present invention, open in the insertion direction means that a pole pin can be inserted into the cutout in the insertion direction. The further cutouts may be dimensioned in the same way as the cutouts.
The cutouts and the further cutouts may be U-shaped. This advantageously ensures that pole pins can be inserted securely and conveniently into the cutouts and into the further cutouts so that secure contact can be made with the pole pins in the cutouts and further cutouts. However, the cutouts and the further cutouts can be C-shaped to provide a design that is shortened in the insertion direction.
The first contact region and the second contact region of certain embodiments have recessed regions that are offset relative to the connecting region in a z-direction that is orthogonal to the main plane of extent. The cutouts and the further cutouts may be in the recessed regions. This design enables a secure fit of the battery connector on the battery modules and a further reduction in the installation space required.
The connecting region may have a thickened portion orthogonal to the main plane of extent. The thickened portion enables a secure grip when inserting and mounting the battery connector in and on the battery modules and also enables centering the battery connector during insertion into the battery modules by a correspondingly configured thinned portion of the battery modules.
The connecting region may have a lug that extends along the insertion direction. Additionally, the lug may extend over the entire extent of the busbar in the insertion direction. The lug is preferably electrically insulating and is suitable for spacing apart the first battery module from the second battery module. The lug further improves guidance during insertion of the battery connector and also ensures an electrically insulating spacing-apart of the first battery module and the second battery module. During operation of the battery modules, it is advantageously possible for heat produced between the battery modules to escape through the space that is created by the spacing-apart operation and for a build-up of heat to be avoided.
The invention also relates to a battery module having an electrically insulating cover arranged along a top side of the battery module. The cover has a first opening and a second opening. The first opening and the second opening are arranged on an end edge of the cover. A first pole pin covering is arranged over the first opening and a second pole pin covering is arranged over the second opening. The first pole pin covering is arranged such that a first gap with an insertion height is created between the cover and the first pole pin covering on an end of the pole pin covering that is averted from the end edge of the cover and between the cover and the first pole pin covering on a side of the first covering that is averted from the second pole pin covering. Thus, the first gap extends continuously and without support or other interruption along two adjacent edge regions of the first pole pin covering. The second pole pin covering is arranged such that a second gap with the insertion height is created between the cover and the second pole pin covering on an end of the second pole pin covering that is averted from the end edge of the cover and between the cover and the second pole pin covering on a side of the second pole pin covering that is averted from the first pole pin covering. Thus, the second gap extends continuously and without support or other interruption along two adjacent edge regions of the second pole pin covering. A first pole pin of the battery module is arranged in the first opening and a second pole pin of the battery module is arranged in the second opening.
The battery module of the invention enables an electrical contact connection to be established between the battery module and a further battery module according to the invention by means of a battery connector, without additional electric-shock protection having to be provided and therefore without an increased installation space requirement being created in a direction orthogonal to the top side of the battery module. To this end, it is possible to insert a flat battery connector that has a thickness of not more than the insertion height in contact areas, into the first opening or into the second opening such that electrical contact can be made with the first pole pin or the second pole pin. In this case, the first pole pin covering and the second pole pin covering already form electric-shock protection for protecting against the contact areas being touched. The cover may be manufactured from a plastic. Furthermore, the first pole pin and the second pole pin may have a thread for screwing on a nut.
Openings may be provided for receiving a battery connector, such as the battery connector described above, for connection to a pole pin of the battery module. Additionally, the first pole pin covering and the second pole pin covering may be configured for completely covering the first contact region or the second contact region in a projection onto the top side of the battery module. This feature enables electrical connection of plural battery modules in a manner that saves a large amount of installation space.
The insertion height may correspond to a thickness that is orthogonal to a main plane of extent of the first contact region and/or of the second contact region of the battery connector, thereby further reducing the required installation space height. As an alternative, provision is made for the insertion height to correspond at most to twice the thickness of the first contact region and/or of the second contact region. More particularly, the insertion height may correspond at most to 1.5 times the thickness of the first contact region and/or of the second contact region, and particularly preferably the insertion height corresponds at most to 1.2 times the thickness of the first contact region and/or of the second contact region. This aspect achieves a flat design and convenient insertion of the battery connector.
The first pole pin covering may be connected to the cover in the region between the cover and the first pole pin covering on that end of the first covering that faces the end edge of the cover and also may be connected to the cover along that side of the first pole pin covering that faces the second pole pin covering. Additionally, the second pole pin covering may be connected to the cover in the region between the cover and the second pole pin covering on that end of the second pole pin covering that faces the end edge of the cover and also may be connected to the cover along that side of the second pole pin covering that faces the first covering. This has the effect that the pole pin coverings are connected to the cover in a very stable manner. Mechanical loads that act on the coverings therefore can be diverted advantageously to the cover to avoid damage in the region of the pole pin coverings and to assure the safety-related electric-shock protection. Furthermore, the connection between the first pole pin covering and the cover along the side of the first pole pin covering that is closest to the second pole pin covering prevents the battery connector from connecting two pole pins on the same battery module, thereby preventing a short.
The pole pins may be configured not protrude beyond the cover in a z-direction, which is orthogonal to the top side. Thus, the pole pins are arranged at a distance from the first pole pin covering and the second pole pin covering in the z-direction, preferably by more than the insertion height. More particularly, the pole pins may be arranged at a distance from the first pole pin covering and the second pole pin covering in the z-direction by more than 1.5 times the insertion height. A further first pole pin of the battery module may be arranged in the first opening and a further second pole pin of the battery module may be arranged in the second opening. The further pole pins do not protrude beyond the cover in a z-direction, which is orthogonal to the top side. Additionally, the further pole pins may be arranged at a distance from the first covering and the second covering in the z-direction by more than the insertion height. More particularly, the further pole pins may be arranged at a distance from the first pole pin covering and the second pole pin covering in the z-direction by more than 1.5 times the insertion height. This renders a further simplified and even more convenient insertion of the battery connector. At the same time, the pole pins and the further pole pins are protected against mechanical effects due to the greater distance from the coverings.
A first captive nut may be arranged on the first pole pin covering for being screwed onto the first pole pin, and a second captive nut may be arranged on the second pole pin covering for being screwed onto the second pole pin. The screwing of the first captive nut onto the first pole pin may be suitable for fixing the first contact region of the battery connector in the first opening. Similarly, the screwing of the second captive nut on the second pole pin may be suitable for fixing the second contact region of the battery connector in the second opening. In this way, the pole pins can be contact connected to the contact regions while at the same time securing the fit and retention of the battery connector. Within the meaning of the present invention, captive nut means that the nut has an internal thread for being screwed onto an external thread and also has an additional securing means against becoming lost in the non-screwed-on state. The additional securing means can be, for example, a securing ring that is attached to the nut. The captive nuts can be arranged below a screw opening of the coverings so that direct access to the covering is ensured for screwing-on the captive nuts. The captive nuts may have a cap in which the internal thread ends in the form of a blind hole thread. More particularly, the captive nuts may be cap nuts in accordance with DIN 1587 or DIN 917. In addition, it is conceivable for the cap to have a slot or a driving profile for a crosshead tool or a driving profile for a Torx tool or a driving profile for another screw head drive. It is furthermore conceivable for the captive nuts to have a washer on their end face that is averted from the cap. This allows for a larger contact area between the captive nut and the contact region. Therefore, it is conceivable for the captive nuts to have features of cap nuts in accordance with DIN 1587 and DIN 917 and collar nuts in accordance with DIN 6331. The captive nuts may not have a hexagonal profile on their outer side. The captive nuts may be produced from copper, aluminum, soft iron or another conductive material. Since the captive nuts can be screwed onto the profile pins, a person skilled in the art could also refer to them as captive screws. Within the meaning of the present invention, captive nut and captive screw have the same meaning, configuration and function outlined above.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, provision is made for a further first captive nut for being screwed onto the further first pole pin to be arranged on the first pole pin covering, and a further second captive nut for being screwed onto the further second pole pin is arranged on the second pole pin covering. The further first captive nut is suitable for fixing the first contact region in the first pole pin opening, and the further second captive nut is suitable for fixing the second contact region in the second pole pin opening. This renders possible an even larger contact area for conducting electric current and therefore reducing undesired ohmic resistances. It is conceivable for the further captive nuts to have the same features as the captive nuts.
The cover may have a first thinned portion or recess in a direction orthogonal to the surface at a first corner between the edge and a first side edge that is adjacent to the first pole pin covering. The cover also may have a second thinned portion or recess in a direction orthogonal to the surface at a second corner between the edge and a second side edge that is adjacent to the second pole pin covering. This configuration enables securely guided insertion of the battery connector. The thinned portions may be shaped in a complementary manner to at least a part of the thickened portion of the battery connector. The thinned portions may be shaped in a complementary manner to a part of the thickened portion between the lug and the first contact region or the second contact region of the battery connector.
The invention also relates to a system having a first battery module as described above, a second battery module as described above and a battery connector as described above. The battery connector, by way of the first contact region, is inserted into the first opening of the first battery module, and the battery connector, by way of the second contact region, is inserted into the second opening of the second battery module. The system enables a securely modularly interconnected battery composed of individual battery modules so that the battery exhibits electric-shock protection in spite of having a low structural height.
The first contact region may be electrically contact-connected to the first pole pin of the first battery module at the cutout of the first contact region by means of the first captive nut. Similarly, the second contact region may be electrically contact-connected to the second pole pin of the second battery module at the cutout of the second contact region by means of the second captive nut. The first contact region may be electrically contact-connected to the further first pole pin of the first battery module at the further cutout of the first contact region by means of the further first captive nut. Additionally, the second contact region may be electrically contact-connected to the further second pole pin of the second battery module at the further cutout of the second contact region by means of the further second captive nut. This ensures a secure electrical contact-connection and a secure fit of the battery connector.
The invention also relates to a motor vehicle having the above-described system.
All of the statements made above equally apply to the battery connector, the battery module, the system and the motor vehicle according to the invention.
Further details, features and advantages of the invention can also be found in the drawings and in the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments of the invention and do not restrict the scope of the invention defined by the claims.
To electrically connect the first battery module 10 to the second battery module 10′, a battery connector 1 is inserted into the first opening 17 of the second battery module 10′ and the second opening 18 of the first battery module 10, centrally in
Owing to the flat shape of the busbar 1′ arranged along the main plane of extent HE and the low structural height of the first covering 12 and of the second covering 13, a very flat construction of the system 200 is possible.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2019 109 725.8 | Apr 2019 | DE | national |
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/846,740, which claims priority under 35 USC 119 to German Patent Appl. No. 10 2019 109 725.8 filed on Apr. 12, 2019, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16846740 | Apr 2020 | US |
Child | 18240458 | US |