JP7807293B2 - 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.

Stacked energy storage devices have been proposed in the past. They are configured by repeatedly stacking thin, rechargeable energy storage modules and conductive plates in an alternating arrangement, connecting multiple energy storage modules in series via the conductive plates. The energy storage modules used in these types of energy storage devices generally have multiple battery cells built in, functioning as a single rechargeable battery. In one conventional energy storage device, 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, simply referred to as "energy storage module voltage"), detection terminals such as bus bars are connected to the conductive plates in contact with the output surface of each energy storage module, and the voltage of each energy storage module is detected via these detection terminals (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-161340

However, when actually connecting bus bars or the like to conductive plates within an energy storage device with the above-described structure, it is difficult to secure space for other connection components (such as bolts for bolt fastening) due to the thin plate-like shapes of the energy storage module and conductive plates. Therefore, in the conventional energy storage device described above, insertion holes for inserting detection terminals are provided on the side edges of the conductive plates, and the detection terminals are connected to the conductive plates by inserting them into the insertion holes of each conductive plate from the side of the stack of energy storage modules and conductive plates. However, with this conventional connection method, it is difficult to improve the efficiency of the connection work because it is cumbersome to align the insertion holes of the conductive plates with the detection terminals when inserting them.

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.

To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the voltage detection unit of the present invention has the following features:

a voltage detection terminal that is electrically connected to the detection target;
an electric wire electrically connected to the voltage detection terminal;
a plate-shaped housing having a terminal accommodating recess for accommodating the voltage detection terminal, a sensor accommodating recess capable of accommodating a temperature detection sensor for detecting an external temperature, and an electric wire accommodating recess for accommodating the electric wire and guiding the electric wire toward the outside while avoiding the sensor accommodating recess;
a cover attached to the housing so as to cover the voltage detection terminal accommodated in the terminal accommodating recess,
The housing includes:
a first plate end surface, which is a part of the peripheral plate end surface of the housing, having both a first opening for extending the electric wire connected to the voltage detection terminal toward the outside and a second opening for extending the electric wire connected to the temperature detection sensor toward the outside when the temperature detection sensor is accommodated in the sensor accommodating recess;
It is a voltage detection unit.

With the voltage detection unit of the present invention, a voltage detection terminal connected to a voltage detection wire is housed in a terminal housing recess in a plate-shaped housing. The voltage detection terminal and wire are then covered with a cover, and the wire extending from the voltage detection terminal can be routed to the exterior of the housing through the wire housing recess. This allows the voltage detection unit to be thin (i.e., have a plate-like outer shape) while still storing the voltage detection terminal and wire inside. Furthermore, when electrically connecting the voltage detection unit to a detection target (e.g., a conductive plate used in a stacked energy storage device), for example, the voltage detection unit can be assembled to the detection target, and the cover can be appropriately adjusted to expose the voltage detection terminal. This allows the exposed voltage detection terminal and the detection target to be fixed using techniques such as ultrasonic bonding or welding. This eliminates the need for additional connection components compared to typical bolt fastening, and, compared to the conventional connection methods described above, facilitates alignment and reduces contact resistance at the contact points. Therefore, the voltage detection unit of this configuration offers excellent workability in electrically connecting to the detection target.

Furthermore, with the voltage detection unit configured as described above, a sensor accommodating recess can be provided in the housing in addition to the terminal accommodating recess. By accommodating a temperature detection sensor in the sensor accommodating recess as needed based on the specifications of the voltage detection unit, the voltage detection unit can be given the ability to detect external temperatures (e.g., the temperature of a power storage module used in a stacked power storage device). Additionally, by providing the first opening for extending the voltage detection wire toward the outside and the second opening for extending the temperature detection wire toward the outside on the same plate end surface (i.e., the first plate end surface) of the housing, even when a temperature detection sensor is housed in the housing, the wires can be easily pulled out of the housing in the same direction. This allows the voltage detection function and the temperature detection function to be integrated into the voltage detection unit, and also simplifies the routing of the voltage detection wire and the temperature detection wire. In other words, the voltage detection unit can be made more multifunctional. Furthermore, compared to when the temperature detection sensor is provided separately from the voltage detection unit, no dedicated parts are required to hold the temperature detection sensor, which reduces the manufacturing costs of devices that use the voltage detection unit and temperature detection sensor (e.g., stacked power storage devices). As can be seen from the above explanation, regardless of whether the temperature detection sensor is housed in the sensor housing recess, the voltage detection unit of this configuration offers excellent workability in electrically connecting to the object to be detected.

The present invention has been briefly described above. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will become clearer by reading the detailed description of the invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view showing a stacked-type electricity storage device including a voltage detection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2(a) is a diagram corresponding to the cross section A-A in FIG. 1 in which the storage modules and conductive modules 3 that constitute the storage device shown in FIG. 1 are alternately stacked, and FIG. 2(b) is an enlarged view of part B in FIG. 2(a). FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the conductive module shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 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, the voltage wire, and the temperature detection sensor are housed, and the cover. FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing the housing that accommodates the voltage detection terminal, the voltage wire, and the temperature detection sensor, and the cover. FIG. 7 is a top view showing the cover locked to the housing at the provisionally locked position. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. FIG. 9 is a top view showing the cover locked to the housing at the full locking position. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE in FIG.

<Embodiment>
A voltage detection unit 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. For convenience of explanation, the terms "front,""rear,""left,""right,""upper," and "lower" are defined below as shown in FIG. 1 and other figures. The "front-rear direction,""left-rightdirection," and "up-down direction" are perpendicular to one another.

The voltage detection unit 5 is typically used in the stacked energy storage device 1 shown in Figure 1. The energy storage device 1 is configured by stacking rectangular thin-plate chargeable and dischargeable energy storage modules 2 and rectangular thin-plate conductive modules 3 that can electrically connect adjacent energy storage modules 2 alternately in the vertical direction. In the energy storage device 1, multiple energy storage modules 2 are electrically connected in series via the conductive modules 3. Each 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 chargeable and dischargeable battery.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conductive module 3 is configured to have an overall rectangular thin plate shape, consisting of a rectangular thin plate-shaped conductive plate 4 (which also functions as a heat sink, as described below), 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 FIGS. 1 to 3 (see FIG. 2(a) in particular), 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 on the right end surface of the conductive plate 4 with a recessed portion 5a extending in the front-rear direction 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 on the left end surface of the conductive plate 4 with a recessed portion 6a extending in the front-rear direction on the right end surface of the opposing unit 6. The recessed portion 5a corresponds to the "detection target accommodating recess" in this specification.

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

In each conductive module 3 located between vertically adjacent storage modules 2, the voltage detection unit 5 includes a voltage detection terminal 10 (see FIG. 2, etc.) that contacts the conductive plate 4, as described below. The voltage detection unit 5 outputs a signal indicating the voltage between the upper and lower storage modules 2 (specifically, the potential on the top surface (output surface) of the lower storage module 2 relative to a reference zero potential) via a voltage wire 20 (see FIG. 1, etc.) connected to the voltage detection terminal 10. Furthermore, the voltage detection unit 5 includes a temperature detection sensor 60 (thermistor, see FIG. 1, etc.) that contacts the vertically adjacent storage module 2. The voltage detection unit 5 outputs a signal indicating the temperature of the upper and lower storage modules 2 via a temperature wire 70 (see FIG. 1, etc.) connected to the temperature detection sensor 60. The voltage wire 20 corresponds to the "wire" in this specification.

Note that if the energy storage device 1 has multiple voltage detection units 5, it is not necessary to provide a temperature detection sensor 60 in all of the voltage detection units 5. For example, depending on the specifications of the energy storage device 1, some voltage detection units 5 may be provided with a temperature detection sensor 60 as shown in FIG. 1, while other voltage detection units 5 may not be provided with a temperature detection sensor 60 and the installation location for the temperature detection sensor 60 (the sensor accommodating recess 52 described below) may be left blank. Furthermore, although the voltage detection unit 5 is positioned on the right side of the conductive plate 4 in FIGS. 1 to 3, a voltage detection unit having the same function as the voltage detection unit 5 may be positioned on the left side of the conductive plate 4. In this case, a voltage detection unit obtained by reversing the overall configuration of the voltage detection unit 5 (i.e., a mirror product of the voltage detection unit 5) is used as the 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 either a voltage detection unit, a dummy unit, or 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 reversing 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 placed to the right of the conductive plate 4, and the mirror product of the voltage detection unit 5 is placed to the left 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 with a recess 6a extending in the front-to-rear direction is used as the opposing unit 6, as shown in Figure 3. In this case, the opposing unit 6 only serves to fill the gap between the upper and lower energy storage modules 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the energy storage device 1 may use, in addition to the voltage detection unit 5 described above, a voltage detection unit 7 that has a structure similar to that of the voltage detection unit 5, but without the temperature detection sensor 60. Furthermore, when using such a voltage detection unit 7, the opposing unit 6 may be configured such that the temperature detection sensor 60 (thermistor) is embedded in a resin plate used as a dummy unit. In this case, the opposing unit 6 functions to output a signal indicating the temperature of the upper and lower energy storage modules 2 via a temperature wire 70 (see FIG. 1) connected to the temperature detection sensor 60.

The specific configuration of a voltage detection unit 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 4 to 11. As shown in Figure 4, the voltage detection unit 5 comprises a housing 40, a voltage detection terminal 10 housed in the housing 40, a voltage wire 20 connected to the voltage detection terminal 10 and housed in the housing 40, a cover 30 attached to the housing 40, a temperature detection sensor 60 housed in the housing 40, and a temperature wire 70 connected to the temperature detection sensor 60.

The voltage detection terminal 10 is accommodated in a terminal accommodating recess 42 (see Figure 4) formed in the housing 40, which will be described later; the voltage wire 20 is accommodated in a wire accommodating recess 46 (see Figure 4) formed in the housing 40, which will be described later; the cover 30 is attached to a cover mounting recess 41 (see Figure 4) formed in the housing 40, which will be described later; and the temperature detection sensor 60 is accommodated in a sensor accommodating recess 52 (see Figure 4) formed in the housing 40, which will be described later. Each of the components that make up the voltage detection unit 5 will be described below.

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

One end of the voltage wire 20 is fixed to the underside of the tip 11a (i.e., the end on the rear side) of the first portion 11 so as to be electrically connected (see also Figure 6). The other end of the voltage wire 20 is connected to a voltage measurement device (not shown) outside the energy storage device 1. A portion 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 side) of the second portion 12 by ultrasonic bonding, welding, or other methods (see Figure 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 inserted into the housing 40, the protrusion 13 is engaged with a locking groove 45 (see Figure 4) formed in the housing 40.

Next, the cover 30 will be described. The cover 30 is a molded resin product that 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 primarily functions to cover and protect the voltage detection terminal 10, while the extension portion 32 primarily functions to cover and protect the voltage 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 edges of the pair of flat plate portions 33 extending in the vertical direction along the entire front-to-rear direction. When viewed from the front-to-rear direction, the facing portion 31 has a generally U-shaped configuration that opens to the left. Each flat plate portion 33 is composed of a generally square flat base portion 33a connected to the connecting portion 34 and a rectangular flat extension portion 33b extending leftward from the front end of the base 33a, resulting in a generally L-shaped configuration as a whole when viewed from the vertical direction. The extension portion 32 extends flush and continuously rearward from the rear edge of the upper flat plate portion 33 (more specifically, the upper base portion 33a) of the pair of flat plate portions 33 that make up the facing portion 31, and has a generally rectangular flat plate shape.

A locking portion 36 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 opposing portion 31 (see Figures 8 and 11). The locking portion 36 functions to lock the cover 30 in the temporary locking position (see Figure 7) and the final locking position (see Figure 9) in cooperation with a temporary locking portion 55 and a final locking portion 56 (described below) provided on the housing 40.

Next, the housing 40 will be described. The housing 40 is a molded resin 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 that is recessed to the right and extends in the front-to-rear direction is formed in the left end face 40a of the housing 40 (see Figure 4). The flange portion 4a of the conductive plate 4 is fitted into the recess 5a (see Figure 2, etc.). The left end face 40a corresponds to the "third plate end face" in this invention.

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, each recess having a shape that corresponds to the overall shape of the cover 30 (see Figure 4). The depth (vertical depth) of the cover attachment recess 41 is equal to the thickness of the resin material that makes up the cover 30 (facing portion 31 + extension portion 32). Therefore, when the cover 30 is attached to the housing 40, the surfaces of the housing 40 and the cover 30 are flush with each other (see Figures 1 and 11).

A terminal accommodating recess 42 is formed on the bottom surface 41a of the cover mounting recess 41 on the upper surface of the housing 40, at the location where the voltage detection terminal 10 is accommodated, and has a shape that corresponds to the overall shape of the voltage detection terminal 10 (see Figure 4). The recess depth (vertical depth) 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 top surface of the voltage detection terminal 10 and the bottom surface 41a of the cover mounting recess 41 are flush with each other (see Figures 8 and 11).

A notch 43 is formed on the left end surface 40a of the housing 40 at the front-to-rear position where the tip 12a of the voltage detection terminal 10 is located, 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 surface 40a of the housing 40 is divided by the notch 43. When the voltage detection terminal 10 is inserted into 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 Figure 8).

A through-hole 44 extending in the front-to-rear direction and penetrating 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 located. When the voltage detection terminal 10 is accommodated in the housing 40, one end (contact) of the voltage electric wire 20 connected to the voltage detection terminal 10 enters the through-hole 44 (see Figure 6). In other words, the through-hole 44 functions as a relief to prevent interference between the bottom surface 42a of the terminal accommodating recess 42 and the one end of the voltage electric wire 20.

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

In the locations on the top surface and right end surface 40b (see FIG. 4) of the housing 40 where the voltage electric wires 20 are accommodated, recessed wire accommodating recesses 46 are formed, each recess having a shape corresponding to the routing configuration of the voltage electric wires 20 (see FIG. 4). The wire accommodating recess 46 is a series of grooves comprising: a first recess 47 recessed downward in the bottom surface 41a of the top-side cover mounting recess 41 and extending rearward from the rear edge of the terminal accommodating recess 42; a second recess 48 recessed downward in the bottom surface 41a of the top-side cover mounting recess 41 and extending rightward from the rear end of the first recess 47 to the right end surface 40b of the housing 40; and a third recess 49 recessed leftward in the right end surface 40b, which is part of the peripheral plate end surface of the housing 40, and extending rearward from the right end of the second recess 48 to the other plate end surface of the housing 40, the rear end surface 40c (see FIG. 4). The rear end of the third recess 49 forms a first opening 51 through which the voltage electric wire 20 extends rearward from the rear end face 40c of the housing 40. The recess width (vertical spacing) of the third recess 49 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the voltage electric wire 20 (see Figure 10). Therefore, when the voltage electric wire 20 is accommodated in the third recess 49, the voltage electric wire 20 is press-fit into the third recess 49. The right end face 40b corresponds to the "second plate end face" in this invention, and the rear end face 40c corresponds to the "first plate end face" in this invention.

A sensor accommodating recess 52 is formed in the left-right center of the rear end surface 40c of the housing 40. The sensor accommodating recess 52 is recessed forward in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped extending in the front-to-rear direction, corresponding to the overall shape of the housing of the temperature detection sensor 60 (see Figure 4). The sensor accommodating recess 52 penetrates in the vertical direction. Therefore, the sensor accommodating recess 52 has a second opening 52a that opens rearward and a third opening 52b that opens both vertically (see Figure 4).

A pair of protrusions 53 that protrude inward in the left-right direction (toward each other) and extend in the front-rear direction are formed on a pair of inner wall surfaces of the sensor accommodating recess 52 (see Figures 4 and 10). The pair of protrusions 53 are inserted into a pair of grooves 61 (described below) of the temperature detection sensor 60 (see Figures 4 and 10).

The sensor accommodating recess 52 is located to the left of the right end surface 40b of the housing 40 (i.e., the third recess 49 of the wire accommodating recess 46), and is located rearward of the first recess 47 and the second recess 48 of the wire accommodating recess 46. In other words, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the wire accommodating recess 46 is bent at two locations to avoid and detour around the sensor accommodating recess 52, while extending to guide the voltage electric wire 20 outward. By accommodating the voltage electric wire 20 in the wire accommodating recess 46 having such a bent shape, when an unintended external force acts on the voltage electric wire 20 pulled out of the housing 40, the external force is resisted by friction between the inner wall of the groove of the wire accommodating recess 46 and the voltage electric wire 20, making it difficult for the external force to directly affect the contact point between the voltage detection terminal 10 and the voltage electric wire 20. In other words, by protecting the contact point between the voltage detection terminal 10 and the voltage wire 20 from external forces, the reliability of the electrical connection at that contact point can be improved.

As shown in Figure 6, the bottom surface 41a of the cover mounting recess 41 on the underside of the housing 40 has an upwardly recessed abutment portion 54, temporary locking portion 55, and permanent locking portion 56, which are arranged in this order from right to left at a distance from each other at the same longitudinal position as the locking portion 36 of the cover 30 (see Figure 8, etc.). As shown in Figures 6, 8, and 11 (see Figures 8 and 11 in particular), the abutment portion 54 is a recess that continues from the right edge of the housing 40. As shown in Figures 8 and 11, the side of the abutment portion 54 is configured as an inclined surface, the side of the temporary locking portion 55 is also configured as an inclined surface, and the side of the permanent locking portion 56 is configured as a vertical surface.

Next, the temperature detection sensor 60 will be described. The temperature detection sensor 60 is typically a thermistor. The temperature detection sensor 60 has a rectangular parallelepiped housing extending in the front-to-rear direction, with a temperature wire 70 extending rearward from the rear end of the housing. The temperature detection sensor 60 is housed in the sensor accommodating recess 52 of the housing 40 from the rear. The extending end of the temperature wire 70 is connected to a temperature measuring device (not shown) outside the energy storage device 1. A pair of grooves 61 that penetrate in the front-to-rear direction are formed on a pair of left and right side end faces extending in the front-to-rear direction of the housing of the temperature detection sensor 60, corresponding to a pair of protrusions 53 of the sensor accommodating recess 52 (see Figures 4 and 10).

The vertical thickness of the temperature detection sensor 60's housing is equal to the thickness of the approximately rectangular, thin-plate-shaped housing 40. Therefore, when the temperature detection sensor 60 is attached to the housing 40, the surfaces of the housing 40 and the temperature detection sensor 60 are flush with each other (see Figure 10). The above explains the components that make up the voltage detection unit 5.

Next, the procedure for assembling the voltage detection terminal 10, cover 30, and temperature detection sensor 60 into the housing 40 will be described. First, the voltage detection terminal 10, to which the voltage wire 20 has been previously connected by ultrasonic bonding, welding, or other methods, is accommodated in the terminal accommodating recess 42 of the housing 40. To do this, the voltage detection terminal 10 is fitted into the terminal accommodating recess 42 of the housing 40 from above so that the protrusion 13 enters the locking groove 45 and one end (contact) of the voltage wire 20 enters the through-hole 44 (see Figure 5). Once the voltage detection terminal 10 has been 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 Figure 8).

Next, the voltage electric wire 20 extending from the voltage detection terminal 10 accommodated in the housing 40 is accommodated in the wire accommodating recess 46 of the housing 40. Therefore, the voltage electric wire 20 is accommodated in the first recess 47 and the second recess 48 from above, and is pressed into the third recess 49 by being pushed in from the right (see Figure 5). In this way, by press-fitting the voltage electric wire 20 into the third recess 49 (i.e., the right end surface 40b) of the housing 40, the voltage electric wire 20 can be held within the wire accommodating recess 46 (third recess 49). When the voltage electric wire 20 has been completely accommodated in the housing 40, the voltage electric wire 20 extends rearward from the first opening 51 to the outside of the housing 40.

Next, the cover 30 is attached to the housing 40. To do this, the cover 30 is attached from the right side to the cover attachment recess 41 of the housing 40 so that the opposing portions 31 of the cover 30 sandwich the cover attachment recess 41 on the top and bottom surfaces of the housing 40 from above and below, and so that the extension portion 32 of the cover 30 covers the cover attachment recess 41 on the top surface of the housing 40.

When the cover 30 is attached to the housing 40, the locking portion 36 of the cover 30 first contacts the inclined surface of the abutment portion 54 of the housing 40, slides over the inclined surface, and then enters the interior of the temporary locking portion 55, engages with the temporary locking portion 55, and is pressed against the inclined surface on the left side of the temporary locking portion 55 (see Figure 8). This locks the cover 30 to the housing 40 in the temporary locking position, completing the attachment of the cover 30 to the housing 40 (see Figure 7), and obtaining the voltage detection unit 5 (see Figure 3). As described below, the voltage detection unit 5 obtained after the attachment of the cover 30 to the housing 40 is complete (with the cover 30 locked in the temporary locking position) is then used to assemble the conductive module 3 (see Figure 1).

When the cover 30 is locked in the provisional locking position, as shown in Figure 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 (see Figure 8).

When the cover 30 is locked in the temporary locking position and is then pushed further to the left relative to the housing 40, the locking portion 36 of the cover 30 moves over the temporary locking portion 55 and then enters the interior of the permanent locking portion 56, engaging with it (see Figure 11). This locks the cover 30 to the housing 40 in the permanent locking position (see Figure 9).

When the cover 30 is locked in the full locking position, as shown in FIG. 9, the entire cover mounting recess 41 is covered by the cover 30, and the first recess 47 and second recess 48 of the wire accommodating recess 46 are covered by the extension portion 32 of the cover 30. This prevents the voltage wire 20 from slipping out of the wire accommodating recess 46. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, the facing portion 31 of the cover 30 (more specifically, the pair of upper and lower extension portions 33b) covers the upper and lower surfaces of the tip portion 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, ensuring reliable protection of the voltage detection terminal 10.

Next, the temperature detection sensor 60 is attached to the housing 40. To do this, the temperature detection sensor 60 is attached from the rear to the sensor accommodating recess 52 of the housing 40 so that the pair of protrusions 53 on the sensor accommodating recess 52 are inserted into the pair of grooves 61 on the housing of the temperature detection sensor 60. When the temperature detection sensor 60 is attached to the housing 40, the temperature wire 70 extends rearward from the second opening 52a (see FIG. 4) of the sensor accommodating recess 52, in the same direction as the voltage wire 20, and to the outside of the housing 40 (see FIG. 5). The top and bottom surfaces (flat surfaces) of the housing of the temperature detection sensor 60 are exposed to the outside from the third openings 52b (see FIG. 4) on the top and bottom of the sensor accommodating recess 52 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

As described above, once the voltage detection terminal 10, cover 30, and temperature detection sensor 60 have been attached to the housing 40 (with the cover 30 locked in the provisionally locked position), the resulting voltage detection unit 5 is used to assemble the conductive module 3 (see Figure 1). Specifically, as shown in Figure 3, the flange portion 4a of the conductive plate 4 is first 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 Figure 8, part 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 Figure 2(b)). 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 part of the underside of the flange portion 4a of the conductive plate 4 is exposed downward.

Next, the tip 12a of the voltage detection terminal 10 is fixed to a portion of the flange 4a of the conductive plate 4 using a method such as ultrasonic bonding or welding, utilizing the upper surface of the tip 12a of the voltage detection terminal 10 exposed upward and the underside of a portion of the flange 4a of the conductive plate 4 exposed downward. The cover 30 is then moved from the provisional locking position to the full locking position, completing the assembly of the voltage detection unit 5 and the conductive plate 4.

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

The conductive module 3 obtained in this manner is used to assemble the energy storage device 1 shown in Figure 1. Specifically, the energy storage modules 2 and the conductive modules 3 are stacked alternately in the vertical direction, and the stack is fixed in place with predetermined metal fittings or the like to obtain the energy storage device 1.

<Actions and Effects>
As described above, with the voltage detection unit 5 according to this embodiment, the voltage detection terminal 10 connected to the voltage electric wire 20 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating recess 42 of the plate-shaped housing 40, and the voltage detection terminal 10 and the voltage electric wire 20 are covered with the cover 30. The voltage detection terminal 10 and the voltage electric wire 20 can then be pulled out of the housing 40 through the electric wire accommodating recess 46. This allows the voltage detection unit 5 to be thin (i.e., have a plate-like outer shape) while storing the voltage detection terminal 10 and the voltage electric wire 20 therein. Furthermore, when electrically connecting the voltage detection unit 5 to the conductive plate 4 used in the stacked energy storage device 1, the voltage detection unit 5 can be assembled to the conductive plate 4, and the position of the cover 30 can be appropriately adjusted so that the voltage detection terminal 10 is exposed. This allows the exposed voltage detection terminal 10 and the conductive plate 4 to be fixed using techniques such as ultrasonic bonding or welding. This eliminates the need for additional connection components compared to typical bolt fastening, and, compared to the conventional connection methods described above, facilitates alignment between the two and reduces contact resistance at the contact points. Therefore, the voltage detection unit 5 according to this embodiment has excellent workability in electrically conductive connection with the conductive plate 4 .

Furthermore, by providing a sensor accommodating recess 52 in the housing 40 and accommodating a temperature detection sensor 60 in the sensor accommodating recess 52, the voltage detection unit 5 can be given the ability to detect external temperature. Additionally, by providing a first opening 51 for extending the voltage wire 20 toward the outside and a second opening 52a for extending the temperature wire 70 toward the outside on the rear end surface 40c of the housing 40, the voltage wire 20 and the temperature wire 70 can be easily pulled out of the housing 40 in the same direction. This allows the voltage detection and temperature detection functions to be consolidated into the voltage detection unit 5 and simplifies the routing of the wires for each function, thereby increasing the functionality of the voltage detection unit 5 and enabling the overall energy storage device 1 to be made more compact and less expensive to manufacture than if the temperature detection sensor 60 were provided separately from the voltage detection unit 5.

Furthermore, a third recess 49 of the wire accommodating recess 46 is provided on the right end face 40b of the housing 40, and the sensor accommodating recess 52 is positioned away from this right end face 40b in the plate surface direction. This allows the voltage wire 20 to be guided so that it avoids and detours around the sensor accommodating recess 52. Furthermore, by guiding the voltage wire 20 using the plate end face (right end face 40b), the voltage detection unit 5 can be further reduced in size.

Furthermore, by press-fitting the voltage electric wire 20 into the third recess 49 of the housing 40, the voltage electric wire 20 can be held within the electric wire accommodating recess 46. Therefore, the voltage detection unit 5 can be made smaller than when a separate member or the like is provided to hold the voltage electric wire 20.

Furthermore, a recess 5a is provided on the left end surface 40a of the housing 40, and the tip 12a of the voltage detection terminal 10 is exposed in the recess 5a. Furthermore, the temperature detection sensor 60 housed in the sensor housing recess 52 is exposed to the outside through a third opening 52b that opens in the thickness direction of the housing 40. By using such a voltage detection unit 5, for example, the edge of the conductive plate 4 serving as the detection target can be fitted into the recess 5a to connect the voltage detection terminal 10, and the conductive plate 4 with the voltage detection unit 5 attached can be stacked on a plate-shaped battery (energy storage module 2) with the temperature detection sensor adjacent to the battery (energy storage module 2), thereby realizing a stacked energy storage device 1.

<Other Aspects>
It should be noted that 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 modifications, improvements, etc. are possible as appropriate. Furthermore, the material, shape, dimensions, number, location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary as long as they can achieve the present invention, and are not limited thereto.

In the above embodiment, the wire accommodating recess 46, which is composed of the first to third recesses 47 to 49, extends to guide the voltage wire 20 outward while bending at two locations to avoid the sensor accommodating recess 52 (see FIG. 4, etc.). Alternatively, the voltage detection terminal 10 and the terminal accommodating recess 42 may be extended rightward to the right end face 40b of the housing 40 (see FIG. 4), and the wire accommodating recess 46 may be configured solely as a recess (a linear recess corresponding to the third recess 49 in the above embodiment) that is recessed leftward at the right end face 40b of the housing 40 and extends rearward from the right end of the terminal accommodating recess 42 to the rear end face 40c of the housing 40 (see FIG. 4). This also allows the wire accommodating recess 46 to extend to guide the voltage wire 20 outward while avoiding the sensor accommodating recess 52.

Here, the features of the above-described embodiment of the voltage detection unit 5 according to the present invention are briefly summarized and listed below in [1] to [4].

[1]
a voltage detection terminal (10) to be electrically connected to the detection target (4);
an electric wire (20) electrically connected to the voltage detection terminal (10);
a plate-like housing (40) having a terminal accommodating recess (42) for accommodating the voltage detection terminal (10), a sensor accommodating recess (52) capable of accommodating the temperature detection sensor (60) for detecting an external temperature, and an electric wire accommodating recess (46) for accommodating the electric wire (20) and guiding the electric wire (20) toward the outside while avoiding the sensor accommodating recess (52);
a cover (30) attached to the housing (40) so as to cover the voltage detection terminal (10) accommodated in the terminal accommodating recess (42);
The housing (40)
A first plate end surface (40c), which is a part of the peripheral plate end surface of the housing (40), has both a first opening (51) for extending the electric wire (20) connected to the voltage detection terminal (10) toward the outside, and a second opening (52a) for extending the electric wire (70) connected to the temperature detection sensor (60) toward the outside when the temperature detection sensor (60) is accommodated in the sensor accommodating recess (52).
Voltage sensing unit (5).

With the voltage detection unit of the configuration [1] above, a voltage detection terminal connected to a voltage detection wire is housed in a terminal housing recess in a plate-shaped housing. The voltage detection terminal and wire are then covered with a cover, and the wire extending from the voltage detection terminal can be routed to the exterior of the housing through the wire housing recess. This allows the voltage detection unit to be thin (i.e., have a plate-like outer shape) while still storing the voltage detection terminal and wire inside. Furthermore, when electrically connecting the voltage detection unit to a detection target (e.g., a conductive plate used in a stacked energy storage device), for example, the voltage detection unit can be assembled to the detection target, and the cover can be appropriately adjusted to expose the voltage detection terminal. This allows the exposed voltage detection terminal and the detection target to be fixed using techniques such as ultrasonic bonding or welding. This eliminates the need for additional connection components compared to typical bolt fastening, and, compared to the conventional connection methods described above, facilitates alignment and reduces contact resistance at the contact points. Therefore, the voltage detection unit of this configuration offers excellent workability in electrically connecting to the detection target.

Furthermore, with the voltage detection unit configured as described above, a sensor accommodating recess can be provided in the housing in addition to the terminal accommodating recess. By accommodating a temperature detection sensor in the sensor accommodating recess as needed based on the specifications of the voltage detection unit, the voltage detection unit can be given the ability to detect external temperatures (e.g., the temperature of a power storage module used in a stacked power storage device). Additionally, by providing the first opening for extending the voltage detection wire toward the outside and the second opening for extending the temperature detection wire toward the outside on the same plate end surface (i.e., the first plate end surface) of the housing, even when a temperature detection sensor is housed in the housing, the wires can be easily pulled out of the housing in the same direction. This allows the voltage detection function and the temperature detection function to be integrated into the voltage detection unit, and also simplifies the routing of the voltage detection wire and the temperature detection wire. In other words, the voltage detection unit can be made more multifunctional. Furthermore, compared to when the temperature detection sensor is provided separately from the voltage detection unit, no dedicated parts are required to hold the temperature detection sensor, which reduces the manufacturing costs of devices that use the voltage detection unit and temperature detection sensor (for example, stacked energy storage devices).

[2]
In the voltage detection unit (5) described in [1] above,
The wire receiving recess (46) is
At least a part (49) of the wire accommodating recess (46) is configured to be provided on a second plate end surface (40b) which is another part of the peripheral plate end surface of the housing (40),
The sensor accommodating recess (52) is
The housing (40) is disposed at a position spaced apart from the second plate end surface (40b) in the plate surface direction of the housing (40).
Voltage sensing unit (5).

In the voltage detection unit of the configuration [2] above, at least a portion of the wire accommodating recess is provided on the end surface of the second plate of the housing, and the sensor accommodating recess is positioned away from this end surface in the plate surface direction. This allows the wire to be guided so that it avoids the sensor accommodating recess. Furthermore, by guiding the wire using the end surface (second plate end surface), the voltage detection unit can be further miniaturized. In addition, by accommodating the wire in this bent wire accommodating recess, even if an unintended external force is applied to the wire pulled out of the housing, the friction between the inner wall of the groove of the wire accommodating recess and the wire resists the external force, making it difficult for the external force to directly affect the contact point between the voltage detection terminal and the wire. In other words, by protecting the contact point between the voltage detection terminal and the wire from external force, the reliability of the electrical connection at that contact point can be improved.

[3]
In the voltage detection unit (5) described in [2] above,
The electric wire (20) connected to the voltage detection terminal (10) is
The second plate end surface (40b) is press-fitted into the wire accommodating recess (46).
Voltage sensing unit (5).

With the voltage detection unit configured as described above in [3], the electric wire can be held in the electric wire accommodating recess by press-fitting it into the end face of the second plate of the housing. This allows for a more compact voltage detection unit compared to when a separate member for holding the electric wire is provided.

[4]
In the voltage detection unit (5) according to any one of the above [1] to [3],
The housing (40)
The housing (40) further includes a third plate end surface (40a) which is another part of the peripheral plate end surface, and a groove-shaped detection object accommodating recess (5a) recessed so as to be able to accommodate at least a part of the detection object (4),
At least a portion (12a) of the voltage detection terminal (10) is
exposed to the detection object accommodation recess (5a),
The sensor accommodating recess (52) is
a third opening (52b) opening in the thickness direction of the housing (40);
Voltage sensing unit (5).

In the voltage detection unit of the configuration [4] above, a detection target accommodating recess is provided on the end surface of the third plate of the housing, and at least a portion of the voltage detection terminal is exposed in the detection target accommodating recess. Furthermore, the temperature detection sensor housed in the sensor accommodating recess is exposed to the outside through a third opening that opens in the thickness direction of the housing. By using such a voltage detection unit, for example, a stacked-type energy storage device can be realized by fitting the edge of a conductive plate serving as the detection target into the detection target accommodating recess to connect the voltage detection terminal, stacking the conductive plate with the attached voltage detection unit on a plate-shaped battery or the like, and placing the temperature detection sensor adjacent to the battery or the like.

4 Conductive plate (detection target)
5 Voltage detection unit 5a Recess (detection target accommodating recess)
10 Voltage detection terminal 12a Tip portion (part of voltage detection terminal)
20. High-voltage wire (electric wire)
30 Cover 40 Housing 40a Left end surface (third plate end surface)
40b Right side end face (second plate end face)
40c Rear end surface (first plate end surface)
42 Terminal accommodating recess 46 Electric wire accommodating recess 49 Third recess (part of electric wire accommodating recess)
51 First opening 52 Sensor accommodating recess 52a Second opening 52b Third opening 60 Temperature detection sensor 70 Temperature wire (second wire)

Claims (4)

a voltage detection terminal that is electrically connected to the detection target;
an electric wire electrically connected to the voltage detection terminal;
a plate-shaped housing having a terminal accommodating recess for accommodating the voltage detection terminal, a sensor accommodating recess capable of accommodating a temperature detection sensor for detecting an external temperature, and an electric wire accommodating recess for accommodating the electric wire and guiding the electric wire toward the outside while avoiding the sensor accommodating recess;
a cover attached to the housing so as to cover the voltage detection terminal accommodated in the terminal accommodating recess,
The housing includes:
a first plate end surface, which is a part of the peripheral plate end surface of the housing, having both a first opening for extending the electric wire connected to the voltage detection terminal toward the outside and a second opening for extending the electric wire connected to the temperature detection sensor toward the outside when the temperature detection sensor is accommodated in the sensor accommodating recess;
Voltage detection unit. 2. The voltage detection unit according to claim 1,
The wire accommodating recess is
At least a part of the wire accommodating recess is provided on a second plate end surface that is another part of the peripheral plate end surface of the housing,
The sensor accommodating recess is
The second plate end surface is disposed at a position spaced apart from the second plate end surface in the plate surface direction of the housing.
Voltage detection unit. 3. The voltage detection unit according to claim 2,
The electric wire connected to the voltage detection terminal is
The second plate end surface is press-fitted into the wire accommodating recess.
Voltage detection unit. The voltage detection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The housing includes:
a detection target accommodating recess in the form of a groove recessed in a third plate end surface, which is another part of the peripheral plate end surface of the housing, so that at least a part of the detection target can be accommodated therein;
At least some of the voltage detection terminals are
exposed in the detection target accommodation recess,
The sensor accommodating recess is
a third opening portion that opens in the thickness direction of the housing;
Voltage detection unit.