CURRENT COLLECTOR FOR AN ENERGY STORAGE ARRANGEMENT, ENERGY STORAGE ARRANGEMENT, IN PARTICULAR FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A current collector for an energy storage arrangement, includes a busbar having a busbar section and multiple contact sections for electrically conductive connection with a respective end side terminal connection of an energy storage, each of the multiple contact sections having a fastening region and a safety region, wherein the fastening region are configured for fastening the terminal connection of the energy storage on the contact sections, and wherein the safety region is encased by a surface layer and is configured to interrupt the electrically conductive connection when a current flowing through the safety region exceeds a current threshold value.

Claims

1. A current collector for an energy storage arrangement, said current collector comprising: a busbar having a busbar section and multiple contact sections for electrically conductive connection with a respective end side terminal connection of an energy storage, each said multiple contact sections having a fastening region and a safety region, said fastening region being configured for fastening the terminal connection of the energy storage on the contact sections, said safety region being encased by a surface layer and configured to interrupt the electrically conductive connection when a current flowing through the safety region exceeds a current threshold value.

2. The current collector of claim 1, wherein the surface layer partially or completely covers the busbar section.

3. The current collector of claim 1, wherein on a side adjoining the safety regions the surface layer covers sections of a side of the fastening regions.

4. The current collector of claim 1, further comprising a cover element formed on the surface layer for each contact section, said cover element at least partially covering the end side of the energy storage.

5. The current collector of claim 1, further comprising a further busbar provided on a side of the terminal connection and being electrically insulatingly arranged on the busbar, said further busbar having multiple contact elements, with at least one of the contact elements being fastenable on a housing of the energy storage and assigned to the contact sections.

6. The current collector of claim 5, wherein the surface layer extends between the busbar and the further busbar for insulating the and the further busbars against each other.

7. The current collector of claim 5, wherein the surface layer additionally covers sections of the second busbar.

8. The current collector of claim 5, further comprising a shielding element for each contact section, said shield element being formed on the surface layer and separating the contact section from the at least one contact element.

9. The current collector of claim 1 wherein the surface layer is formed by laminating or injection molding.

10. The current collector of claim 1, wherein the surface layer is made of a plastic material.

11. The current collector of claim 1, wherein the contact sections are each configured as a metal tab which protrudes from the busbar section.

12. The current collector of claim 1, wherein the contact sections are deformable for pressing the contact sections on a respective one of the energy storage to be fastened on a respective one of the contact sections.

13. The current collector of claim 1, wherein the contact sections are offset in a direction of the terminal connections when viewed in cross section.

14. The current collector of claim 1, wherein the busbar has a through opening for each of the contact sections for passage therethrough of a fastening tool into proximity of the end side of the energy storage.

15. An energy storage arrangement, comprising: multiple energy storages, each having a terminal connection and a housing, said terminal connection being arranged at a respective end side of the energy storages and lying on an electrostatic potential of a first terminal, said housing lying on an electrostatic potential of a second terminal; a first busbar arranged at the end side of the energy storages, said first busbar having a busbar section and multiple contact sections, each said multiple contact sections having a fastening region and a safety region, said fastening region being electrically conductively fastened on the terminal connection of respective ones of the energy storages to form an electrically conductive connection between the first busbar and the terminal connection, said safety region being encased by a surface layer and configured to interrupt the electrically conductive connection when a current flowing through the safety region exceeds a current threshold value; and a second busbar arranged on the end side of the energy storages and electrically insulatingly arranged on the first busbar, said second busbar having multiple contact elements, with at least one of the contact elements being electrically conductively fastened to a respective one of the energy storages.

16. The energy storage arrangement of claim 15, wherein the energy storages are fastened on the fastening regions and/or on the contact elements by means of a welding connection.

17. The energy storage arrangement of claim 15, wherein the housing of each of the energy storages is configured cup-shaped and has a cylindrical outer shape.

18. A motor vehicle, comprising: at least one energy storage arrangement, said at least one energy storage arrangement comprising multiple energy storages, each having a terminal connection and a housing, said terminal connection being arranged at a respective end side of the energy storages and lying on an electrostatic potential of a first terminal, said housing lying on an electrostatic potential of a second terminal; a first busbar arranged at the end side of the energy storages, said first busbar having a busbar section and multiple contact sections, each said multiple contact sections having a fastening region and a safety region, said fastening region being electrically conductively fastened on the terminal connection of respective ones of the energy storages to form an electrically conductive connection between the first busbar and the terminal connection, said safety region being encased by a surface layer and configured to interrupt the electrically conductive connection when a current flowing through the safety region exceeds a current threshold value; and a second busbar arranged on the end side of the energy storages and electrically insulatingly arranged on the first busbar, said second busbar having multiple contact elements, with at least one of the contact elements being electrically conductively fastened to a respective one of the energy storages.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0029] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description of currently preferred exemplified embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a top view onto a first busbar and a second busbar for explaining the construction of a current collector according to the invention;

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a top view onto an energy storage arrangement according to the invention including the current collector according to the invention; and

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view along the sectional plane III-III of the energy storage arrangement in the end side region of ta n energy storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] Throughout all the Figures, same or corresponding elements may generally be indicated by same reference numerals. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows an arrangement of a first busbar 1 and a further busbar 2 covered by the first busbar for explaining the construction of the current collector shown in FIG. 2.

[0035] The first busbar 1 has a busbar section 3 and three contact sections 4, which are each constructed as metal tabs and protrude from the busbar section 3 into a though opening 5 of the first busbar 1. Each contact section 4 includes a fastening region 6 and a safety region 7, which due to its cross section and the material of which it is made is configured to destruct when a current flowing thought the safety region exceeds a current threshold value. As a result an electrically conductive connection between the busbar section 3 and the fastening section 6 is interrupted.

[0036] The further busbar section 2 is located in top view below the first busbar 1 and has three recesses 8 whose borders partially extend parallel to the border of the though openings 5. In each of the recesses 8 three contact elements protrude from the further busbar 2 and are also configured as metal tabs.

[0037] FIGS. 2 and 3 show an energy storage arrangement 10 including a current collector 11 and three energy storages 12 fastened on the current collector. The current collector 11 includes the first busbar 1 and the further busbar 2 of FIG. 1, wherein in addition a surface layer 13 made of an electrically insulating material which was applied onto the first busbar 1 by molding in an injection molding or hot casting process or by a coating method such as for example laminating.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the energy storage arrangement 10. The energy storages 12 are for example round cells on lithium-ion basis of the type 18650 with a cylindrical outer shape. The energy storages 12 each include a cup-shaped housing 14, which is closed by a cover element 15, which is arranged at the end side. the cover element 15 has a terminal connection 16 and an insulating ring 17, which electrically insulates the terminal connection 16 against the housing 14. The terminal connection 16 hereby lies on the electrostatic potential of the positive terminal of the energy storage 12 and the housing 14 on the negative electrostatic potential of the energy storage 12.

[0039] Each energy storage 12 is respectively connected with the fastening region 6 of a contact section 4, wherein in FIG. 2 only a part of each fastening region 6 is visible because the remaining parts of the contact sections 4 are covered by the surface layer 13. In addition the housing 14 of each energy storage 12 is electrically conductively fastened on the three contact elements 9, which engage around a border region of the housing 14. The fastening of the contact elements 9 on the housing 14 and the fastening region 6 of the contact sections 4 on the terminal connections 16 of the energy storages 12 is generated by welding, in particular by a laser welding process.

[0040] The surface layer 13 covers the entire side of the first busbar 1 that faces away from the energy storages 12 except for a section of the fastening regions 6 of the contact sections 4 that is provided for a welding point. Hereby in particular the safety regions 7 of the contact sections 4 are encased by the surface layer 13. This prevents that upon destruction of the metal tabs in the safety region 7 the particles generated thereby can escape to the outside. The particles may otherwise themselves lead to malfunctions such as short circuits or electric arcs on the energy storages 12, the current collector device 11 or other electrical components located in the vicinity of the energy storage arrangement 10.

[0041] As described above the surface layer 13 covers sections of the fastening regions 6 in order to protect the terminal connections 12 from contact with other objects which may themselves cause malfunctions such a short circuit or an electric arc. In addition a cover element 18 is molded to the surface layer 13 in the region of each through opening 5, which cover element covers the end side cover elements 15 of the energy storages 12 and also serves for touch protection.

[0042] In addition a shield element 19 is provided for each energy storage 12, which is molded to the surface layer 13 in the manner of a web and which separates the contact elements 9 on the housing 14 from the contact section 4 and the terminal connection 16. This ensures that when moving a fastening tool into proximity of the contact elements 9 or the fastening sections 6 no undesired short circuits or electric arcs are generated.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the energy storage arrangement 10 along the sectional plane III-III. Hereby all explanations regarding the exemplary shown one energy storage 12 also apply to the other parts of the energy storage arrangement 10.

[0044] As can be seen the surface layer 13 also extends on the side of the first busbar 1 which faces the further busbar 2 and thus ensures their mutual insulation and at the same time mechanical connection. The current collector 11 thus forms a sandwich like assembled component for fastening on the energy storages 12.

[0045] The cover element 18 is configured lowered relative to the remaining surface layer 13 on the side of the busbar section 3 of the first busbar which side faces away from the of the busbar section 3 of the first busbar 1 in order to leave a greatest possible free space for moving the welding tool into proximity. The cover element 18 also has an additional protrusion 20, which rests with the insulating ring 17 on the cover element 15 in a contact region of the terminal connection 16. In contrast to the cover element 18 the shield element 19 is not configured lowered and ends flush with the surface layer 13 on the side of the busbar section 3 which faces away from the further busbar 2.

[0046] On the side of the terminal connection or the side of the busbar section 3 that faces the further busbar 2 the contact section 4 is arranged on the busbar section 3 of the first current collector device 1, which enables connection of the contact section 4 to the busbar section 3 with significantly less effort than in conventional devices in which a bonding wire first has to be passed through a through opening. In the region of its safety section 7 the contact section 4 also has an offset in the direction of the terminal connection 16. The offset enables a particularly easy pressing of the deformable contact section 4 during the generation of the welding connection. As further illustrated the safety region 7 is encased on both sides by the surface layer 13 and thus no electrically conductive particles can escape to the outside upon exceedance of the current threshold value. Thus a significantly more reliable operation of the energy storage arrangement 10 and the current collector device 11 is made possible.

[0047] In further exemplary embodiments it is also conceivable that the surface layer 13 additionally extends to a side of the further busbar 2 which faces away from the first busbar 1 in order to achieve a more comprehensive insulation of the current collection device 10 toward the outside.

[0048] The energy storage arrangement 10 is preferably used for providing electrical energy in a motor vehicle, in particular of the supply of a partially or fully electrically driven drive aggregate. Such an application is also conceivable in other land vehicles such as rail bound vehicles, but also in air vessels space vessels or water vessels. The energy storage arrangement 10 can also be used in stationary scenarios for example as buffer storage in a building whose low voltage network can be decentrally supplied.

[0049] While the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with currently preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and practical application to thereby enable a person skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

[0050] What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims and includes equivalents of the elements recited therein: