Connector Assembly, Battery Pole Terminal and Battery Sensor

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a connector assembly for a battery sensor or a battery pole terminal with a connector segment for making contact with the battery sensor or the battery pole terminal. The connector segment includes a fastening element and a contact bolt. The contact bolt includes a socket for the fastening element and can be mounted at the fastening element. The contact bolt includes a contact surface which, when the contact bolt is in the mounted state at the fastening element, lies at the connector segment, and provides an electrical contact between the contact bolt and the connector segment. The disclosure further relates to a battery pole terminal and to a battery sensor having such a connector assembly.

Claims

1. A connector assembly for a battery sensor or a battery pole terminal, the connector assembly comprising: a connector segment for making contact with the battery sensor or the battery pole terminal, the connector segment comprises: a fastening element, and a contact bolt, wherein the contact bolt includes: a socket for the fastening element and can be mounted at the fastening element, and a contact surface, when the contact bolt is in a mounted state at the fastening element, the contact surface lies at the connector segment and provides an electrical contact between the contact bolt and the connector segment.

2. The connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a contact geometry is provided at the contact surface which comprises regions protruding toward the connector segment.

3. The connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening element is a bolt that protrudes from the connector segment, and the socket has a cylindrical shape.

4. The connector assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bolt protrudes perpendicularly from the connector segment.

5. The connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening element comprises an external thread and a corresponding internal thread is provided in the socket of the contact bolt.

6. The connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact bolt comprises a flange protruding perpendicularly with respect to a longitudinal axis of the contact bolt, at which the contact surface is provided.

7. The connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a torque transfer profile, is provided at the contact bolt.

8. The connector assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the torque transfer profile includes at least one of: a square, hexagonal and multi-edge profile.

9. The connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fastening element extends through the connector segment and is supported with a support surface on a side of the connector segment that is opposite to the contact bolt.

10. A battery pole terminal for making contact with a battery pole of a vehicle battery, the battery pole terminal comprising: a cylindrical or conical accommodating space for the battery pole in a circumferential direction; an annular segment that encloses the cylindrical or conical accommodating space, the annular segment comprises: an interruption with opposing edges in respect of the circumferential direction, a socket for a clamping element is provided at each of the edges, a connector assembly electrically and mechanically connected to the annular segment, the connector assembly comprising: a connector segment for making contact with a battery sensor or a battery pole terminal, the connector segment comprises: a fastening element, and a contact bolt including: a socket for the fastening element and can be mounted at the fastening element, and a contact surface, when the contact bolt is in a mounted state at the fastening element, the contact surface lies at the connector segment and provides an electrical contact between the contact bolt and the connector segment.

11. A battery sensor for detecting at least one battery parameter, with a battery pole terminal for making contact with a battery pole of its vehicle battery, with an annular segment that at least partially encloses a cylindrical or conical accommodating space for the battery pole in a circumferential direction, wherein the annular segment has an interruption in the sense of the circumferential direction with opposing edges, while a socket for a clamping element is provided at each of the edges, with at least one detection apparatus for detecting at least one battery parameter, and with a connector assembly wherein the connector assembly is in electrical contact with the battery pole terminal or the detection apparatus, the connector assembly comprising: a connector segment for making contact with the battery sensor or the battery pole terminal, the connector segment comprises: a fastening element, and a contact bolt including: a socket for the fastening element and can be mounted at the fastening element, and a contact surface, when the contact bolt is in a mounted state at the fastening element, the contact surface lies at the connector segment and provides an electrical contact between the contact bolt and the connector segment.

12. The battery sensor as claimed in claim 11, wherein the battery sensor comprises a current detection apparatus and/or a voltage detection apparatus that connects the annular segment and the connector assembly together electrically.

13. The battery sensor as claimed in claim 11, wherein the battery sensor comprises at least one measuring resistor that connects the annular segment and the connector assembly together electrically.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a perspective illustration of a battery sensor according to the prior art,

[0024] FIGS. 2a and 2b show different perspective views of an exemplary battery sensor;

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an exemplary battery sensor with a fastening element;

[0026] FIGS. 4a and 4b show the exemplary contact bolt of FIGS. 2a and 2b respectively;

[0027] FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of the exemplary battery sensor of FIGS. 2a and 2b in the region of the connector segment and of the contact bolt;

[0028] FIGS. 6a and 6b show different views of the exemplary battery sensor of FIG. 5;

[0029] FIG. 7 shows a sectional view through the exemplary battery sensor of FIG. 4 in the region of the connector segment and of the contact bolt; and

[0030] FIG. 8 shows a second example of a contact bolt.

[0031] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] A battery sensor 10 with a battery pole terminal 12 for making contact with a battery pole of a vehicle battery, a detection apparatus 14 for detecting at least one battery parameter, and a connector assembly 16 for making contact with a cable are shown in FIG. 1.

[0033] The battery pole terminal 12 includes an annular segment 18 with a cylindrical or conical accommodating space 20 for accommodating a battery pole that includes an interruption 22. A clamping element 24 is provided at the interruption 22 to reduce the diameter of the accommodating space 20 and thus to clamp the battery pole terminal onto a battery pole.

[0034] The detection apparatus 14 includes a measuring resistor 26 that connects the battery pole terminal 12 and the connector assembly 16 together electrically. The detection apparatus 14 includes, moreover, a housing 28 in which measurement electronics are provided, for example for the detection of a voltage drop across the measuring resistor 26 in order to determine the battery current from the voltage drop and the known electrical resistance of the measuring resistor 26.

[0035] The connector assembly 16 includes a connector segment 30 that is electrically connected to the measuring resistor 26. The connector assembly 16 includes, moreover, a bolt 32 with a flange 34. The bolt 32 is pressed through a hole 35 of the connector segment 30 until the flange 34 lies against the connector segment 30.

[0036] A cable may be fastened to the bolt 32, for example by a lug. A cable lug is, for example, secured with a nut.

[0037] FIGS. 2a and 2b show a battery sensor 10 that includes a fastening element 36 designed as a bolt instead of the bolt 32 (see FIG. 3). Analogously to the contact bolt 32, the fastening element 36 extends through the connector segment 30 and is supported at it with a flange 38. The fastening element 36 can, however, be fastened at the connector segment 30 in any other way.

[0038] As can be seen, particularly through a comparison between FIGS. 1 and 3, the fastening element 36 is smaller in dimensions than the contact bolt 32, and has a smaller diameter as well as a smaller length. An external thread 39 may be provided on the outer surface of the fastening element 36.

[0039] The connector assembly 16 of the battery sensor 10 includes, moreover, a contact bolt 40 shown in detail in FIGS. 4a and 4b. The contact bolt 40 has an essentially cylindrical main body 42 in which an essentially cylindrical socket 44 is provided that ends in an opening 46. At the opening 46, the contact bolt 40 includes a flange 48 which, in the form of embodiment shown here, is essentially square in form and extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis L of the main body 42. The outer side of the flange 48 forms a torque transfer profile 50 that represents a tool socket. An internal thread 52 corresponding to the external thread 38 is provided in the socket 44.

[0040] The contact bolt 40 is adapted to a shape of a connector element of a cable, or can be individually selected for the particular application of the battery sensor 10.

[0041] To assemble the connector assembly 16, the contact bolt 40 is pushed with the socket 44 onto the fastening element 36, and the internal thread 52 screwed together with the external thread 38. A tool may be applied to the flange 48 or to the torque transmission transfer profile 50 for this purpose. The contact bolt 40 is screwed on until the flange 48 lies flat against the connector segment 30 with a contact surface 54 that is formed on the lower side facing the connector segment 30. By turning the contact bolt 50 further, the contact surface 54 may be pressed against the connector segment 30.

[0042] In addition, the connector segment 30 is thereby clamped between the flange 38 of the fastening element 32 and the flange 48 of the contact bolt 40.

[0043] Through the contact surface 54 that lies against the connector segment 30 or is pressed against it, an electrical contact is established between the contact bolt 40 and the connector segment 30. The mechanical hold of the contact bolt 40 is, on the other hand, established by the fastening element 32 and the socket 44, so that the mechanical hold and the electrical contact are functionally separated from one another.

[0044] The fastening element 32 serves, for example, exclusively or predominantly for the mechanical support of the contact bolt, so that this is dimensioned exclusively from the mechanical point of view. In some examples, the material of the form of the fastening element 32 can be selected depending on the desired mechanical properties.

[0045] The flange 48 allows the contact bolt 40 to make contact with the connector segment 30. The contact surface 54 is accordingly dimensioned in accordance with the currents to be transferred, and is manufactured from an appropriate material with high conductivity. In addition, the flange 48 may have a supporting function in order to ensure better load transfer to the connector segment 30 if tensile forces act on the contact bolt 40.

[0046] The connector segment 30 and the contact bolt 40 may be coated with a corrosion protection layer, for example with tin. Such a corrosion protection layer is relatively soft, so that the contact surface 54, when pressed against the connector segment 30, presses into the soft corrosion layer of the connector segment 30, whereby a very good electrical connection is established. The corrosion protection layer is, in addition, not interrupted, so that a reliable corrosion protection is ensured.

[0047] The contact surface 54 can be designed to be flat. It is, however, also possible that it additionally includes a contact geometry 56 with projections. These projections can, for example, press into the material of the connector segment 30, whereby the electrical contact is improved and/or the mechanical hold is improved. The projections can, for example, prevent twisting and consequent loosening of the contact bolt 40.

[0048] The contact bolt 40 may also be fastened to the fastening element 30 in another way. It is only necessary to ensure that a mechanical hold is established between the fastening element 30 and the contact bolt 40, and that the contact surface 54 is pressed against the connector segment 32. The contact bolt 40 can, in particular, also include a different tool socket, in particular a different torque transfer profile. This can, for example, be provided at the end of the contact bolt 40 opposite to the flange 52.

[0049] A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0050] 10, 10 Battery sensor [0051] 12, 12 Battery pole terminal [0052] 14, 14 Detection apparatus [0053] 16, 16 Connector assembly [0054] 18, 18 Annular segment [0055] 20, 20 Accommodating space [0056] 22, 22 Interruption [0057] 24, 24 Clamping element [0058] 26, 26 Measuring resistor [0059] 28, 28 Housing [0060] 30, 30 Connector segment [0061] 32 Bolt [0062] 34 Flange [0063] 36 Fastening element [0064] 38 Flange [0065] 40 Contact bolt [0066] 42 Main body [0067] 44 Socket [0068] 46 Opening [0069] 48 Flange [0070] 50 Torque transfer profile [0071] 52 Internal thread [0072] 54 Contact surface [0073] 56 Contact geometry [0074] L Longitudinal direction of the main body