JP7601704B2 - Voltage Detection Unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a voltage detection unit configured so that a voltage detection terminal that is electrically connected to the object to be detected is housed in a plate-shaped housing.

Conventionally, stacked-type energy storage devices have been proposed, which are configured by repeatedly stacking thin, chargeable and dischargeable energy storage modules and conductive plates in an alternating arrangement, so that multiple energy storage modules are connected in series via the conductive plates. The energy storage modules used in this type of energy storage device generally have a structure in which multiple battery cells are built in, and function as a single chargeable and dischargeable battery. In one conventional energy storage device, in order to monitor the output state of each energy storage module (i.e., the potential of the output surface of each energy storage module relative to a reference zero potential; hereinafter, also simply referred to as the "voltage of the energy storage module"), a detection terminal such as a bus bar is connected to the conductive plate in contact with the output surface of each energy storage module, and the voltage of each energy storage module is measured via this detection terminal (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2020-161340 A

However, when actually connecting a bus bar or the like to a conductive plate in an energy storage device having the above-mentioned structure, it is difficult to secure space for installing other connection parts (e.g., bolts for bolt fastening) because the energy storage module and conductive plate have a thin plate-like shape. Therefore, in the above-mentioned conventional energy storage device, an insertion hole for inserting a detection terminal is provided on the side edge of the conductive plate, and the detection terminal is connected to the conductive plate by inserting the detection terminal into the insertion hole of each conductive plate from the side of the stack in which the energy storage module and conductive plate are stacked. However, with this conventional connection method, it is difficult to improve the workability of the connection work because it is complicated to align the insertion hole of the conductive plate and the detection terminal when inserting the detection terminal.

One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a voltage detection unit that is easy to use when making a conductive connection with the object to be detected.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a voltage detection unit according to the present invention is characterized by the following features [1] to [3].
[1]
A voltage detection terminal that is conductively connected to the detection target;
An electric wire conductively connected to the voltage detection terminal;
a plate-shaped housing having a terminal accommodating recess for accommodating the voltage detection terminal, an electric wire accommodating recess for accommodating the electric wire and guiding the electric wire to be drawn out to the outside, and a communication portion for communicating between the inside and the outside of the electric wire accommodating recess;
a cover attached to the housing so as to cover the voltage detection terminal accommodated in the terminal accommodating recess and the electric wire accommodated in the electric wire accommodating recess, the cover having a protrusion protruding in a direction in which the cover is attached to the housing;
Equipped with
The cover is
When the connector is attached to the housing, the protrusion is inserted into the electric wire accommodating recess through the communication portion, and the electric wire is sandwiched and held between the protrusion and an inner wall of a groove of the electric wire accommodating recess.
It is a voltage detection unit.
[2]
In the voltage detection unit according to the above [1],
The wire accommodating recess is
a straight portion that guides the electric wire along a drawing direction that linearly connects the voltage detection terminal and an electric wire drawing port of the housing, and a bent portion that guides the electric wire while bending it into a convex shape with respect to the drawing direction,
The communication portion is
a bending apex of the bending portion communicates with the outside of the housing along the mounting direction;
It is a voltage detection unit.
[3]
In the voltage detection unit according to the above [2],
The wire accommodating recess is
a plurality of press-fitting portions arranged to sandwich the bent apex of the bent portion in the drawing direction and pressingly holding the electric wire in the groove of the electric wire accommodating recess;
It is a voltage detection unit.

According to the voltage detection unit of the configuration of [1] above, the voltage detection terminal connected to the electric wire is accommodated in the terminal accommodation recess of the plate-shaped housing, and the voltage detection terminal and the electric wire are covered with a cover, and the electric wire extending from the voltage detection terminal can be drawn to the outside of the housing through the electric wire accommodation recess. This allows the voltage detection unit to be thinned (i.e., to have a plate-shaped outer shape) while storing the voltage detection terminal and the electric wire inside. Furthermore, when electrically connecting the voltage detection unit to a detection object (for example, a conductive plate used in a stacked-type storage device), for example, by assembling the voltage detection unit to the detection object and appropriately adjusting the position of the cover so that the voltage detection terminal is exposed, the exposed voltage detection terminal and the detection object can be fixed using a method such as ultrasonic bonding or welding. This does not require other parts for connection compared to typical bolt fastening, and compared to the conventional connection method described above, it is easy to align the two and the contact resistance at the contact point can be reduced. Therefore, the voltage detection unit of this configuration has excellent workability in conductive connection with the detection object.

Furthermore, according to the voltage detection unit of the above configuration, the electric wire is sandwiched and held between the protrusion of the cover and the inner wall of the groove of the electric wire accommodating recess, so that even if the housing is made thin (i.e., plate-shaped), the electric wire is prevented from coming out of the electric wire accommodating recess. Therefore, for example, even if an unintended external force is applied to the electric wire pulled out of the housing, the electric wire (and thus the voltage detection terminal connected to the electric wire) is maintained in a state where it is properly arranged inside the housing. In addition, since this holding is achieved by attaching the cover to the housing, no separate work process is required to hold the electric wire. In this way, the voltage detection unit of this configuration can achieve both a thin external shape and easy and proper holding of the voltage detection terminal and electric wire housed inside.

According to the voltage detection unit of the configuration [2] above, the electric wire accommodating recess of the housing has a straight portion and a bent portion. Therefore, compared to when the electric wire accommodating recess has only a straight portion, when an unintended external force is applied to the electric wire pulled out of the housing, the external force is resisted by friction between the inner wall of the groove of the bent portion and the electric wire, so that the external force is less likely to be applied directly to the contact point between the voltage detection terminal and the electric wire. Furthermore, by providing a communication portion at a location corresponding to the bend apex of the bend, the protrusion of the cover inserted through the communication portion holds the electric wire between the inner wall of the groove at the bend apex. This makes it possible to increase the frictional force generated between the inner wall of the groove of the bent portion and the electric wire. Therefore, it is possible to further firmly suppress the application of external forces to the contact point between the voltage detection terminal and the electric wire.

According to the voltage detection unit having the configuration of [3] above, multiple (e.g., two) press-in portions are arranged to sandwich the apex of the bent portion of the wire accommodating recess, and hold the wire accommodated in the wire accommodating recess while pressing it. This effectively prevents the wire from slipping out of the wire accommodating recess and being routed so as to straddle the bent portion (i.e., to shortcut the bent portion), thereby impairing the original function of the bent portion described above. This reduces the possibility of a particular defect occurring due to the wire slipping out of the bent portion of the wire accommodating recess.

The present invention provides a voltage detection unit that is easy to use when making a conductive connection with the object to be detected.

The present invention has been briefly described above. The details of the present invention will become clearer by reading the following description of the embodiment of the invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiment") with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a stacked-type electricity storage device including a voltage detection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, with a part thereof exploded. 2(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2(b) is an enlarged view of part B of FIG. 2(a). FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the conductive module shown in FIG. 1 in an exploded view. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the voltage detection unit according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a top view showing the housing in which the voltage detection terminal and the electric wires are housed, and the cover. FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing the housing in which the voltage detection terminal and the electric wires are accommodated, and the cover. 7(a) is a top view showing the state in which the cover is engaged with the housing in the provisional engagement position, FIG. 7(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along CC in FIG. 7(a), and FIG. 7(c) is a cross-sectional view taken along DD in FIG. 7(b). Figure 8(a) is a top view showing the state in which the cover is engaged with the housing in the main engagement position, Figure 8(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E of Figure 8(a), and Figure 8(c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line F-F of Figure 8(b). FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a voltage detection unit according to a modified example, which corresponds to FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a voltage detection unit according to another modified example, which corresponds to FIG.

<Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a voltage detection unit 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. For ease of explanation, the following terms are defined as shown in Fig. 1, etc.: "front-rear direction", "left-right direction", "up-down direction", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "up", and "down". The "front-rear direction", "left-right direction", and "up-down direction" are mutually perpendicular.

The voltage detection unit 5 is typically used in a stacked-type energy storage device 1 shown in FIG. 1. The energy storage device 1 is configured by stacking rectangular thin-plate-shaped chargeable and dischargeable energy storage modules 2 and rectangular thin-plate-shaped conductive modules 3 that can electrically connect adjacent energy storage modules 2 alternately in the vertical direction. In the energy storage device 1, the multiple energy storage modules 2 are electrically connected in series via the conductive modules 3. The energy storage module 2 has a structure in which multiple battery cells (not shown) are built in, and the energy storage module 2 as a whole functions as a single battery that can be charged and discharged.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conductive module 3 is configured to have an overall rectangular thin plate shape, with a rectangular thin plate-shaped conductive plate 4 (the conductive plate 4 also functions as a heat sink, as described later), a rectangular thin plate-shaped voltage detection unit 5 connected to the right side of the conductive plate 4, and a rectangular thin plate-shaped opposing unit 6 connected to the left side of the conductive plate 4. As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 (particularly FIG. 2(a)), the conductive plate 4 and the voltage detection unit 5 are connected to each other by fitting a flange portion 4a extending in the front-rear direction provided on the right end surface of the conductive plate 4 with a recessed portion 5a extending in the front-rear direction provided on the left end surface of the voltage detection unit 5. The conductive plate 4 and the opposing unit 6 are connected to each other by fitting a flange portion 4b extending in the front-rear direction provided on the left end surface of the conductive plate 4 with a recessed portion 6a extending in the front-rear direction provided on the right end surface of the opposing unit 6.

In each conductive module 3 located between vertically adjacent storage modules 2, the conductive plate 4 is in direct contact with the upper and lower storage modules 2 as shown in FIG. 2(a). Therefore, the conductive plate 4 functions to provide electrical continuity between the lower surface of the upper storage module 2 and the upper surface of the lower storage module 2, as well as to function as a heat sink that dissipates heat generated from the upper and lower storage modules 2 to the outside.

In each conductive module 3 located between vertically adjacent storage modules 2, the voltage detection unit 5 has a voltage detection terminal 10 (see FIG. 2, etc.) that contacts the conductive plate 4, which will be described later. The voltage detection unit 5 functions to output a signal indicating the voltage between the upper and lower storage modules 2 (specifically, the potential of the upper surface (output surface) of the lower storage module 2 relative to the reference zero potential) via an electric wire 20 (see FIG. 1, etc.) connected to this voltage detection terminal 10. Note that although the voltage detection unit 5 is arranged on the right side of the conductive plate 4 in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a voltage detection unit having the same function as the voltage detection unit 5 may be arranged on the left side of the conductive plate 4. In this case, a voltage detection unit obtained by inverting the overall configuration of the voltage detection unit 5 (i.e., a mirror product of the voltage detection unit 5) is used as a voltage detection unit having the same function as the voltage detection unit 5.

In each conductive module 3 located between vertically adjacent energy storage modules 2, the opposing unit 6 is one of a voltage detection unit, a dummy unit, and a temperature detection unit, depending on the specifications of the energy storage device 1.

When the opposing unit 6 is a voltage detection unit, a voltage detection unit obtained by inverting the overall configuration of the voltage detection unit 5 (i.e., a mirror product of the voltage detection unit 5 described above) is used as the opposing unit 6. In this case, the voltage detection unit 5 is disposed on the right side of the conductive plate 4, and the mirror product of the voltage detection unit 5 is disposed on the left side of the conductive plate 4. The opposing unit 6 (mirror product of the voltage detection unit 5) performs the same function as the voltage detection unit 5.

When the opposing unit 6 is a dummy unit, a simple resin plate having a recess 6a extending in the front-rear direction is used as the opposing unit 6, as shown in FIG. 3. In this case, the opposing unit 6 only serves to fill the gap between the upper and lower storage modules 2.

When the opposing unit 6 is a temperature detection unit, the opposing unit 6 has a structure in which a temperature sensor 7 (thermistor) is embedded in a resin plate used as a dummy unit, as shown in FIG. 1. In this case, the opposing unit 6 functions to output a signal indicating the temperature of the upper and lower storage modules 2 via an electric wire 7a (see FIG. 1) connected to the temperature sensor 7.

The specific configuration of the voltage detection unit 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs. 4 to 8. As shown in Fig. 4, the voltage detection unit 5 includes a housing 40, a voltage detection terminal 10 housed in the housing 40, an electric wire 20 connected to the voltage detection terminal 10 and housed in the housing 40, and a cover 30 attached to the housing 40.

The voltage detection terminal 10 is accommodated in a terminal accommodating recess 42 (see FIG. 4) formed in the housing 40, which will be described later, the electric wire 20 is accommodated in an electric wire accommodating recess 46 (see FIG. 4) formed in the housing 40, which will be described later, and the cover 30 is attached to a cover attachment recess 41 (see FIG. 4) formed in the housing 40, which will be described later. Each of the components constituting the voltage detection unit 5 will be described below in order.

First, the voltage detection terminal 10 will be described. The metallic voltage detection terminal 10 is formed by performing processing such as pressing on a single metal plate. The voltage detection terminal 10 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating recess 42 of the housing 40 from above. As shown in FIG. 4, the voltage detection terminal 10 has a rectangular flat first portion 11 extending in the front-to-rear direction, and a rectangular flat second portion 12 extending leftward from the front end of the first portion 11, and has an overall flat shape that is approximately L-shaped when viewed from the top-to-bottom direction.

One end of the electric wire 20 is fixed to the underside of the tip 11a (i.e., the end on the rear end side) of the first portion 11 so as to be electrically connected (see also FIG. 6). The other end of the electric wire 20 is connected to a voltage measuring device (not shown) outside the energy storage device 1. A part of the flange portion 4a of the conductive plate 4 is fixed to the underside of the tip 12a (i.e., the end on the left end side) of the second portion 12 by a method such as ultrasonic bonding or welding (see FIG. 2(b)).

A protrusion 13 that protrudes forward is formed on the front edge of the second portion 12. When the voltage detection terminal 10 is accommodated in the housing 40, the protrusion 13 is engaged with an engagement groove 45 (see FIG. 4) formed in the housing 40.

Next, the cover 30 will be described. The cover 30 is a resin molded product, and is attached to the cover attachment recess 41 of the housing 40 from the right side. The cover 30 is composed of a facing portion 31 and an extension portion 32 that extends rearward from the facing portion 31. The facing portion 31 mainly functions to cover and protect the voltage detection terminal 10, and the extension portion 32 mainly functions to cover and protect the electric wire 20.

The facing portion 31 is composed of a pair of identical flat plate portions 33 facing each other with a gap in the vertical direction, and a connecting portion 34 that connects the right end edges of the pair of flat plate portions 33 extending in the front-rear direction in the vertical direction over the entire front-rear direction. When viewed from the front-rear direction, the facing portion 31 has a substantially U-shaped shape that opens to the left. Each flat plate portion 33 is composed of a substantially square flat base portion 33a connected to the connecting portion 34 and a rectangular flat extension portion 33b extending leftward from the front end portion of the base portion 33a, and has a substantially L-shaped shape as a whole when viewed from the vertical direction. The extension portion 32 extends flush and continuously rearward from the rear end edge of the upper flat plate portion 33 (more specifically, the upper base portion 33a) of the pair of flat plate portions 33 that constitute the facing portion 31, and has a substantially rectangular flat plate shape.

A pair of electric wire holding pieces 35 extending in the left-right direction are integrally formed on the extension portion 32 so as to be spaced apart in the front-rear direction. As can be seen from FIG. 6, each electric wire holding piece 35 protrudes downward from the underside of the extension portion 32, extends in the left-right direction, and protrudes further leftward from the left edge of the extension portion 32. When the cover 30 is attached to the housing 40, the electric wire holding piece 35 functions to hold the electric wires 20 housed in the housing 40.

A locking portion (not shown) that protrudes upward toward the upper flat plate portion 33 is formed at a predetermined location on the lower flat plate portion 33 (more specifically, the lower base portion 33a) of the pair of flat plate portions 33 that make up the facing portion 31. This locking portion works in cooperation with a temporary locking portion 55 and a permanent locking portion 56 (described later) provided on the housing 40 to lock the cover 30 in a temporary locking position (see FIG. 7) and a permanent locking position (see FIG. 8).

A protrusion 37 is integrally formed on the extension 32. As can be seen from FIG. 6, the protrusion 37 protrudes downward from the underside of the extension 32 at a front-rear position between the pair of wire holding pieces 35 and extends in the left-right direction. The protrusion 37 protrudes higher than the pair of wire holding pieces 35. The left end 37a of the protrusion 37 is located on the underside of the extension 32 (right of the left edge of the extension 32). The end 37a of the protrusion 37 has a convex shape that protrudes leftward when viewed from the top-bottom direction. When the cover 30 is attached to the housing 40, the protrusion 37 clamps the wire 20 between its end 37a and a groove inner wall 48b (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 8, etc.) of the housing 40 while pressing the wire 20 in the left-right direction, thereby holding the wire 20 housed in the housing 40.

Next, the housing 40 will be described. The housing 40 is a resin molded product, and as shown in Figures 1 and 3, etc., has a generally rectangular thin plate shape extending in the front-to-rear direction. A recess 5a is formed on the left end face of the housing 40, which is recessed to the right and extends in the front-to-rear direction. The flange portion 4a of the conductive plate 4 is fitted into the recess 5a (see Figure 2, etc.).

At the locations on the top and bottom surfaces of the housing 40 where the cover 30 is attached, cover attachment recesses 41 are formed that are recessed and have a shape that corresponds to the overall shape of the cover 30 (see Figure 4). The recess depth (vertical depth) of the cover attachment recess 41 is equal to the plate thickness of the resin material that constitutes the cover 30 (opposing portion 31 + extending portion 32). Therefore, when the cover 30 is attached to the housing 40, the surface of the housing 40 and the surface of the cover 30 are flush with each other (see Figures 1 and 8).

At the location on the bottom surface 41a of the cover mounting recess 41 on the upper side of the housing 40 where the voltage detection terminal 10 is accommodated, a terminal accommodating recess 42 is formed that is further recessed and has a shape that corresponds to the overall shape of the voltage detection terminal 10 (see FIG. 4). The recess depth (depth in the vertical direction) of the terminal accommodating recess 42 is equal to the plate thickness of the voltage detection terminal 10. Therefore, when the voltage detection terminal 10 is attached to the housing 40, the upper surface of the voltage detection terminal 10 and the bottom surface 41a of the cover mounting recess 41 are flush with each other.

At the left edge of the housing 40, at the front-to-rear position where the tip 12a of the voltage detection terminal 10 is located, a notch 43 is formed that is recessed to the right in a generally rectangular shape when viewed from the top-to-bottom direction. The recess 5a extending in the front-to-rear direction on the left end face of the housing 40 is divided by the notch 43. When the voltage detection terminal 10 is accommodated in the housing 40, the top and bottom surfaces of the tip 12a of the voltage detection terminal 10 are exposed by the notch 43 (see FIG. 7(b)).

A through hole 44 that extends in the front-rear direction and penetrates in the up-down direction is formed in the terminal accommodating recess 42 at the location where the tip 11a of the voltage detection terminal 10 is disposed. When the voltage detection terminal 10 is accommodated in the housing 40, one end (contact point) of the electric wire 20 connected to the voltage detection terminal 10 enters the through hole 44 (see FIG. 6). In other words, the through hole 44 functions as an escape portion to avoid interference between the bottom surface 42a of the terminal accommodating recess 42 and one end of the electric wire 20.

A locking groove 45 is formed on the inner wall surface of the terminal accommodating recess 42 at the location where the protrusion 13 (see Figure 4) of the voltage detection terminal 10 is located. The locking groove 45 is recessed forward and communicates with the recess 5a, corresponding to the protrusion 13 (see Figure 4).

At the location on the top surface of the housing 40 where the electric wire 20 is accommodated, an electric wire accommodation recess 46 is formed, which is recessed with a shape corresponding to the arrangement form of the electric wire 20 when the electric wire 20 is accommodated (see FIG. 4). The electric wire accommodation recess 46 is a series of grooves composed of a pair of straight parts 47 that extend in a straight line in the front-rear direction and are spaced apart in the front-rear direction, and a bent part 48 that connects the pair of straight parts 47 and extends while bending so as to protrude to the right. The front end of the front straight part 47 of the pair of straight parts 47 communicates with the terminal accommodation recess 42, and the rear end of the rear straight part 47 of the pair of straight parts 47 forms an electric wire outlet 49 from which the electric wire 20 extends from the rear end edge of the housing 40. In this way, by having the bent portion 48, even if an unintended external force is applied to the electric wire 20 pulled out of the housing 40, the electric wire 20 can resist the external force due to the friction between the bent portion 48 and the electric wire 20, compared to when the electric wire accommodating recess 46 is composed of only the straight portion 47. Therefore, a large external force is unlikely to be applied to the contact point between the voltage detection terminal 10 and the electric wire 20.

In the vicinity of the boundary between the pair of straight portions 47 and the bent portion 48, narrow recesses 51 are provided, which are recesses having a narrower width (left-right spacing) than the straight portions 47. The width of the narrow recesses 51 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the electric wire 20. Therefore, it functions to clamp the electric wire 20 while pressing it in the left-right direction. By clamping the electric wire 20 between the pair of narrow recesses 51, even if an unintended external force is applied to the electric wire 20 pulled out from the housing 40, the external force can be resisted by the friction between the narrow recesses 51 and the electric wire 20. Therefore, a large external force is unlikely to be applied to the contact point between the voltage detection terminal 10 and the electric wire 20. Furthermore, it is possible to strongly suppress the electric wire 20 from being routed so that the electric wire 20 comes out of the bent portion 48 and straddles the bent portion 48 (i.e., shortcuts the bent portion 48).

At the location on the bottom surface 41a of the cover mounting recess 41 on the upper side of the housing 40 where the pair of electric wire holding pieces 35 of the cover 30 are arranged, as shown in FIG. 4, a pair of electric wire holding piece recesses 52 extending in the left-right direction are formed so as to be aligned at a distance in the front-rear direction in correspondence with the pair of electric wire holding pieces 35. The pair of electric wire holding piece recesses 52 are arranged so as to sandwich the bent apex 48a (see FIG. 4) of the bent portion 48 of the electric wire accommodating recess 46 in the front-rear direction. The bottom surfaces of the pair of electric wire holding piece recesses 52 are located above the bottom surface of the electric wire accommodating recess 46.

Each electric wire holding piece recess 52 extends in the left-right direction from the right edge of the upper surface of the housing 40, across the electric wire accommodating recess 46, to the left end inner wall 41b of the cover mounting recess 41 (see FIG. 4). A storage hole 53 recessed toward the left is formed at the location where the pair of electric wire holding piece recesses 52 connect to the left end inner wall 41b of the cover mounting recess 41 (see FIG. 4). When the cover 30 is mounted to the housing 40, the extending ends (i.e., the left ends) of the pair of electric wire holding pieces 35 of the cover 30 are inserted into the pair of storage holes 53 and stored.

At the bottom surface 41a of the cover mounting recess 41 on the underside of the housing 40, at the same front-to-rear position as the above-mentioned locking portion of the cover 30 is located, as shown in FIG. 6, the abutment portion 54, the temporary locking portion 55, and the permanent locking portion 56, which are recesses recessed toward the top, are formed in this order from right to left with a gap between them. As shown in FIG. 6, the abutment portion 54 is a recess that continues from the right edge of the housing 40.

At the location on the bottom surface 41a of the cover mounting recess 41 on the upper side of the housing 40 where the protrusion 37 of the cover 30 (see FIG. 6) is located, a communication recess 57 is formed corresponding to the protrusion 37, as shown in FIG. 4. The communication recess 57 extends in the left-right direction from the right edge of the upper surface of the housing 40 to the bent apex 48a of the electric wire accommodating recess 46. In other words, the communication recess 57 communicates in the left-right direction between the bent apex 48a of the electric wire accommodating recess 46 and the outside of the housing 40. The bottom surface of the communication recess 57 and the bottom surface of the bent apex 48a (electric wire accommodating recess 46) are flush with each other. The components that make up the voltage detection unit 5 have been described above.

Next, the procedure for assembling the voltage detection terminal 10 and the cover 30 to the housing 40 will be described. First, the voltage detection terminal 10, to which the electric wire 20 has been previously connected by a method such as ultrasonic bonding or welding, is accommodated in the terminal accommodation recess 42 of the housing 40. To this end, the voltage detection terminal 10 is fitted from above into the terminal accommodation recess 42 of the housing 40 so that the protrusion 13 enters the locking groove 45 and one end (contact point) of the electric wire 20 enters the through hole 44. When the accommodation of the voltage detection terminal 10 in the housing 40 is complete, the upper and lower surfaces of the tip 12a of the voltage detection terminal 10 are exposed by the notch 43.

Next, the electric wire 20 extending from the voltage detection terminal 10 accommodated in the housing 40 is accommodated in the electric wire accommodation recess 46 of the housing 40. For this purpose, the electric wire 20 is fitted from above along the electric wire accommodation recess 46 consisting of a pair of straight portions 47 and a bent portion 48. At this time, the pair of portions of the electric wire 20 located at the top of the pair of narrow recesses 51 are pushed downward, so that the pair of portions of the electric wire 20 are accommodated inside the pair of narrow recesses 51. When the accommodation of the electric wire 20 in the housing 40 is completed, the electric wire 20 extends rearward from the electric wire outlet 49 to the outside of the housing 40.

Next, the cover 30 is attached to the housing 40. For this purpose, the cover 30 is attached from the right side to the cover mounting recess 41 of the housing 40 so that the opposing portions 31 of the cover 30 sandwich the cover mounting recesses 41 on the upper and lower surfaces of the housing 40 from above and below, the extension portion 32 of the cover 30 covers the cover mounting recess 41 on the upper surface side of the housing 40, the pair of electric wire holding pieces 35 of the cover 30 is accommodated in the pair of electric wire holding piece recesses 52 of the housing 40, and the protrusions 37 of the cover 30 are accommodated in the communication recesses 57 of the housing 40.

In the process of mounting the cover 30 to the housing 40, the above-mentioned locking portion of the cover 30 first contacts the side of the abutment portion 54 of the housing 40, slides over the side, and then enters the interior of the temporary locking portion 55 to engage with the temporary locking portion 55 and is pressed against the left side of the temporary locking portion 55. As a result, the cover 30 is locked to the housing 40 at the temporary locking position, and the mounting of the cover 30 to the housing 40 is completed (see FIG. 7), and the voltage detection unit 5 (see FIG. 3) is obtained. As will be described later, the voltage detection unit 5 obtained after the mounting of the cover 30 to the housing 40 is completed (with the cover 30 locked in the temporary locking position) is used for the assembly of the conductive module 3 (see FIG. 1).

When the cover 30 is locked in the provisional locking position, as shown in Figures 3 and 7, the opposing portion 31 of the cover 30 (more specifically, the pair of upper and lower extensions 33b) does not cover the tip 12a of the voltage detection terminal 10. Therefore, the upper and lower surfaces of the tip 12a of the voltage detection terminal 10 are still exposed by the notch 43.

Furthermore, the pair of wire holding pieces 35 of the cover 30 are arranged on the straight portion 47 and the opening of a part of the bent portion 48 of the wire accommodating recess 46. This prevents the wire 20 from slipping out of the wire accommodating recess 46. Furthermore, the extending ends of the pair of wire holding pieces 35 are received in the pair of storage holes 53. This prevents the pair of wire holding pieces 35 from shifting out of position and from unintentionally deforming the pair of wire holding pieces 35 away from the wire accommodating recess 46. Furthermore, the extending portion 32 of the cover 30 is arranged on the opening of the bent apex 48a of the bent portion 48 of the wire accommodating recess 46. This strongly prevents the wire 20 from slipping out of the wire accommodating recess 46 and being routed so as to straddle the bent portion 48 (i.e., to shortcut the bent portion 48). In this way, the possibility of a specific defect occurring due to the wire 20 slipping out of the bent portion 48 of the wire accommodating recess 46 can be reduced.

Furthermore, when the cover 30 is locked in the provisional locking position, the tip 37a of the protrusion 37 of the cover 30 located in the communication recess 57 is arranged to face the groove inner wall 48b on the left side of the bent apex 48a of the wire accommodating recess 46 in the left-right direction via the wire 20, as shown in Figures 7(b) and 7(c). However, at this stage, although the tip 37a of the protrusion 37 is located inside the communication recess 57, it has not entered the inside of the bent apex 48a, and does not press the wire 20 in the left-right direction together with the groove inner wall 48b. The groove inner wall 48b extends parallel to the up-down direction (see Figure 7(b)).

When the cover 30 is pushed further to the left relative to the housing 40 while it is locked in the temporary locking position, the extended ends of the pair of wire retaining pieces 35 of the cover 30 enter further into the pair of storage holes 53 and are stored therein, and the locking portion of the cover 30 climbs over the temporary locking portion 55 and then enters inside the permanent locking portion 56 and engages with it (see Figure 8). This causes the cover 30 to be locked to the housing 40 in the permanent locking position.

When the cover 30 is locked in the main locking position, as shown in FIG. 8, the entire cover mounting recess 41 is covered by the cover 30, and the entire wire accommodating recess 46 is covered by the extension 32 of the cover 30. This prevents the wire 20 from slipping out of the wire accommodating recess 46. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8(a), the facing portion 31 of the cover 30 (more specifically, the pair of upper and lower extensions 33b) covers the upper and lower surfaces of the tip 12a of the voltage detection terminal 10. As a result, the entire voltage detection terminal 10 is covered by the facing portion 31 of the cover 30, so that the voltage detection terminal 10 can be reliably protected.

Furthermore, as shown in Figures 8(b) and 8(c), the tip 37a of the protrusion 37 of the cover 30 enters the inside of the bent apex 48a and clamps the electric wire 20 between the bent apex 48a and the groove inner wall 48b of the bent apex 48a while pressing the electric wire 20 in the left-right direction. This also prevents the electric wire 20 from slipping out of the electric wire accommodating recess 46, and keeps the electric wire 20 (and thus the voltage detection terminal 10 connected to the electric wire 20) properly positioned within the housing 40 even if an unintended external force is applied to the electric wire 20 pulled out of the housing 40.

As described above, the voltage detection unit 5 obtained after the cover 30 has been attached to the housing 40 (with the cover 30 locked in the provisional locking position) is used to assemble the conductive module 3 (see FIG. 1). Specifically, first, as shown in FIG. 3, the flange portion 4a of the conductive plate 4 is fitted into the recessed portion 5a of the voltage detection unit 5, thereby connecting the voltage detection unit 5 to the right side of the conductive plate 4.

In this state, as can be seen from FIG. 3, a portion of the flange portion 4a of the conductive plate 4 is positioned so as to overlap the underside of the tip portion 12a of the voltage detection terminal 10 (see also FIG. 2(b)), and due to the presence of the notch 43 in the housing 40, the upper surface of the tip portion 12a of the voltage detection terminal 10 is exposed upward, and the lower surface of a portion of the flange portion 4a of the conductive plate 4 is exposed downward.

Then, the tip 12a of the voltage detection terminal 10 and a part of the flange 4a of the conductive plate 4 are fixed to each other by ultrasonic bonding, welding, or other methods using the upper surface of the tip 12a of the voltage detection terminal 10 exposed upward and the lower surface of a part of the flange 4a of the conductive plate 4 exposed downward. After that, the cover 30 is moved from the provisional locking position to the full locking position, and the assembly of the voltage detection unit 5 and the conductive plate 4 is completed.

Next, the flange portion 4b of the conductive plate 4 is fitted into the recessed portion 6a of the opposing unit 6, so that the opposing unit 6 is connected to the left side of the conductive plate 4 to which the voltage detection unit 5 is attached (see FIG. 2, etc.). This completes the assembly of the conductive module 3.

The conductive module 3 thus obtained is used to assemble the energy storage device 1 shown in FIG. 1. Specifically, the energy storage modules 2 and the conductive modules 3 are stacked alternately in the vertical direction, and the stack is fixed with a predetermined metal fitting or the like to obtain the energy storage device 1.

<Action and Effects>
As described above, according to the voltage detection unit 5 of this embodiment, the voltage detection terminal 10 to which the electric wire 20 is connected is accommodated in the terminal accommodation recess 42 of the plate-shaped housing 40, and the voltage detection terminal 10 and the electric wire 20 are covered with the cover 30, and the electric wire 20 extending from the voltage detection terminal 10 can be drawn to the outside of the housing 40 through the electric wire accommodation recess 46. This allows the voltage detection unit 5 to be thinned (i.e., to have a plate-shaped outer shape) while storing the voltage detection terminal 10 and the electric wire 20 inside. Furthermore, when electrically connecting the voltage detection unit 5 to the conductive plate 4 used in the stacked type storage device 1, if the voltage detection unit 5 is assembled to the conductive plate 4 and the position of the cover 30 is appropriately adjusted so that the voltage detection terminal 10 is exposed, the exposed voltage detection terminal 10 and the conductive plate 4 can be fixed using a method such as ultrasonic bonding or welding. This does not require any other parts for connection compared to typical bolt fastening, and compared to the above-mentioned conventional connection method, it is easy to align the two and the contact resistance at the contact point can be reduced.

Furthermore, by holding the electric wire 20 between the protrusion of the cover 30 and the groove inner wall 48b of the electric wire accommodating recess 46, the electric wire 20 is prevented from slipping out of the electric wire accommodating recess 42 even if the housing 40 is made thin (i.e., plate-shaped). Therefore, for example, even if an unintended external force is applied to the electric wire 20 pulled out of the housing 40, the electric wire 20 (and thus the voltage detection terminal 10 connected to the electric wire) is maintained in a properly arranged state within the housing 40. In addition, since this holding is achieved by attaching the cover 30 to the housing 40, a separate work process for holding the electric wire is not required. In this way, it is possible to achieve both a thin external shape and easy and proper holding of the voltage detection terminal 10 and the electric wire 20 housed inside.

Furthermore, the wire accommodating recess 46 of the housing 40 has a straight portion 47 and a bent portion 48. Therefore, compared to when the wire accommodating recess 46 has only the straight portion 47, when an unintended external force is applied to the wire 20 drawn out from the housing 40, the friction between the groove inner wall 48b of the bent portion 48 and the wire 20 resists the external force, making it difficult for the external force to directly affect the contact point between the voltage detection terminal 10 and the wire 20. Furthermore, by providing a communication recess 57 at a location corresponding to the bent apex 48a of the bent portion 48, the protrusion 37 of the cover 30 inserted through the communication recess 57 holds the wire 20 between the groove inner wall 48b of the bent apex 48a. Therefore, it is possible to further firmly suppress the application of external forces to the contact point between the voltage detection terminal 10 and the wire 20.

Furthermore, the two narrow recesses 51 are arranged to sandwich the bent apex 48a of the bent portion 48 of the electric wire accommodating recess 46, and press and hold the electric wire 20 accommodated in the electric wire accommodating recess 46. This strongly prevents the electric wire 20 from slipping out of the electric wire accommodating recess 46 and being routed so as to straddle the bent portion 48 (i.e., to shortcut the bent portion 48), thereby impairing the original function of the bent portion 48 described above (i.e., preventing the external force applied to the electric wire 20 from directly reaching the contact point between the voltage detection terminal 10 and the electric wire 20). This reduces the possibility of a specific defect occurring due to the electric wire 20 slipping out of the bent portion 48 of the electric wire accommodating recess 46.

<Other forms>
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and appropriate modifications, improvements, etc. are possible. In addition, the material, shape, size, number, arrangement location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary as long as the present invention can be achieved, and are not limited.

In the above embodiment, the cover 30 is provided with a pair of electric wire holding pieces 35. In contrast, the cover 30 may be provided with one electric wire holding piece 35, three or more electric wire holding pieces 35, or no electric wire holding pieces 35.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, two narrow recesses 51 are provided in the electric wire accommodating recess 46 of the housing 40. In contrast, the electric wire accommodating recess 46 of the housing 40 may be provided with one narrow recess 51, three or more narrow recesses 51, or no narrow recess 51.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a communication recess 57 is provided at a location corresponding to the bend apex 48a of the bend 48, and the protrusion 37 of the cover 30 inserted through the communication recess 57 holds the electric wire 20 between the bend apex 48a and the groove inner wall 48b of the bend apex 48a. In contrast, the communication recess 57 may be provided at a location other than the bend apex 48a in the electric wire accommodating recess 46, and the protrusion 37 of the cover 30 inserted through the communication recess 57 may hold the electric wire 20 between the groove inner wall of the corresponding location of the electric wire accommodating recess 46. Furthermore, multiple protrusions 37 may be provided on the cover 30, and the electric wire 20 may be held between each protrusion 37 and the groove inner wall of the electric wire accommodating recess 46 to suppress the electric wire 20 from slipping out at multiple locations in the electric wire accommodating recess 46.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the groove inner wall 48b on the left side of the bent apex 48a of the electric wire accommodating recess 46 extends parallel to the vertical direction (thickness direction) (see FIG. 7(b)). In contrast, as shown in FIG. 9, the groove inner wall 48b may be inclined with respect to the vertical direction in a direction approaching the tip 37a of the protrusion 37 as it approaches the opening of the bent apex 48a (in a direction moving rightward as it moves upward). This can further prevent the electric wire 20 from slipping out of the electric wire accommodating recess 46 when the electric wire 20 is clamped while being pressed between the tip 37a of the protrusion 37 and the groove inner wall 48b.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the tip 37a of the protrusion 37 has a convex shape that protrudes to the left when viewed from the top-bottom direction (see Figures 6 and 7(c)). In contrast, as shown in Figure 10, the tip 37a of the protrusion 37 may have a concave shape that recesses to the right when viewed from the top-bottom direction. This makes the end face shape of the tip 37a of the protrusion 37 a shape that imitates the bent shape of the electric wire 20 located at the bent apex 48a (a shape that protrudes to the right when viewed from the top-bottom direction). As a result, when the electric wire 20 is pressed and clamped between the tip 37a of the protrusion 37 and the groove inner wall 48b, the degree of local concentration of stress acting on the pressed part of the electric wire 20 can be reduced, and damage to the electric wire 20 due to local concentration of stress can be reduced. Furthermore, the tip 37a of the protrusion 37 may have a flat shape that is neither convex nor concave.

Here, the features of the embodiment of the voltage detection unit 5 according to the present invention described above will be briefly summarized and listed in the following [1] to [3].
[1]
A voltage detection terminal (10) to be conductively connected to the detection target (4);
An electric wire (20) electrically connected to the voltage detection terminal (10);
a plate-shaped housing (40) having a terminal accommodating recess (42) for accommodating the voltage detection terminal (10), an electric wire accommodating recess (46) for accommodating the electric wire (20) and guiding it to be drawn out to the outside, and a communication portion (57) for communicating between the inside and the outside of the electric wire accommodating recess (46);
a cover (30) that is attached to the housing (40) so as to cover the voltage detection terminal (10) accommodated in the terminal accommodating recess (42) and the electric wire (20) accommodated in the electric wire accommodating recess (46), and that has a protrusion (37) that protrudes in a direction in which the cover is attached to the housing (40);
Equipped with
The cover (30) is
When the electric wire accommodating recess (46) is attached to the housing (40), the protrusion (37) is inserted into the electric wire accommodating recess (46) through the communication portion (57), and the electric wire (20) is sandwiched and held between the protrusion (37) and a groove inner wall (48b) of the electric wire accommodating recess (46).
Voltage sensing unit (5).
[2]
In the voltage detection unit (5) described in the above [1],
The wire receiving recess (46) is
a straight portion (47) that guides the electric wire (20) along a drawing direction that linearly connects the voltage detection terminal (10) and an electric wire drawing outlet (49) of the housing (40), and a bent portion (48) that guides the electric wire (20) while bending it into a convex shape with respect to the drawing direction,
The communication portion (57) is
A bending apex (48a) of the bending portion (48) communicates with the outside of the housing (40) along the mounting direction.
Voltage sensing unit (5).
[3]
In the voltage detection unit (5) described in the above [2],
The wire receiving recess (46) is
a plurality of press-fitting portions (51) arranged to sandwich the bent apex (48a) of the bent portion (48) in the drawing direction and holding the electric wire (20) in the groove of the electric wire accommodating recess (46) while pressing the electric wire;
Voltage sensing unit (5).

4 Conductive plate (detection target)
5 Voltage detection unit 10 Voltage detection terminal 20 Electric wire 30 Cover 37 Projection 40 Housing 42 Terminal accommodating recess 46 Electric wire accommodating recess 47 Straight portion 48 Bent portion 48a Bent apex 48b Groove inner wall 49 Electric wire outlet 51 Narrow recess (press-fit portion)
57 Communication recess (communication portion)

Claims (3)

A voltage detection terminal that is conductively connected to the detection target;
An electric wire conductively connected to the voltage detection terminal;
a plate-shaped housing having a terminal accommodating recess for accommodating the voltage detection terminal, an electric wire accommodating recess for accommodating the electric wire and guiding the electric wire to be drawn out to the outside, and a communication portion for communicating between the inside and the outside of the electric wire accommodating recess;
a cover attached to the housing so as to cover the voltage detection terminal accommodated in the terminal accommodating recess and the electric wire accommodated in the electric wire accommodating recess, the cover having a protrusion protruding in a direction in which the cover is attached to the housing;
Equipped with
The cover is
When the connector is attached to the housing, the protrusion is inserted into the electric wire accommodating recess through the communication portion, and the electric wire is sandwiched and held between the protrusion and an inner wall of a groove of the electric wire accommodating recess.
Voltage sensing unit. 2. The voltage detection unit according to claim 1,
The wire accommodating recess is
a straight portion that guides the electric wire along a drawing direction that linearly connects the voltage detection terminal and an electric wire drawing port of the housing, and a bent portion that guides the electric wire while bending it into a convex shape with respect to the drawing direction,
The communication portion is
a bending apex of the bending portion communicates with the outside of the housing along the mounting direction;
Voltage sensing unit. 3. The voltage detection unit according to claim 2,
The wire accommodating recess is
a plurality of press-fitting portions arranged to sandwich the bent apex of the bent portion in the drawing direction and pressingly holding the electric wire in the groove of the electric wire accommodating recess;
Voltage sensing unit.

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