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US 10,122,004 B2Granted
Quick connect assembly for busbars in an electrified vehicle
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsUrban J. De Souza, Stephenson Tyler Mattmuller, Michael Barr, Nondo G. Basoukeas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A battery assembly according to a non-limiting aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a busbar, an array of battery cells including an electrical terminal, and a quick connect assembly mechanically and electrically coupling the busbar to the electrical terminal.
Claims11
A battery assembly, comprising:
- a busbar having an end;
- an array of battery cells including an electrical terminal having a socket with a plurality of leaves;
- and
- a quick connect assembly mechanically and electrically coupling the busbar to the electrical terminal, wherein, upon application of a push force, the end of the busbar urges the leaves away from one another such that the end of the busbar can be received in the socket.
1 more element
An electrified vehicle, comprising:
- a busbar;
- an array of battery cells including an electrical terminal;
- a quick connect assembly including a first quick connect fitting on the busbar and a second quick connect fitting on the electrical terminal, wherein the first quick connect fitting and the second quick connect fitting are push fittings and are configured to mechanically and electrically couple a first end of the busbar to the electrical terminal upon application of a push force and without a threaded connection, wherein the busbar is electrically coupled to another component other than the array of battery cells at a second end;
- wherein the busbar includes a plurality of layers, and wherein each layer includes a tapered end, the tapered ends mating with corresponding tapered cavities in the electrical terminal to electrically couple the busbar to the electrical terminal;
- and
- wherein the busbar includes two projections on opposed sides of the busbar, and the second quick connect fitting includes two cantilevered arms configured to engage a respective one of the projections to provide a snap-fit.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- mechanically and electrically coupling a busbar to an electrical terminal using a quick connect fitting, wherein an array of battery cells includes the electrical terminal, and wherein the busbar is electrically coupled to the electrical terminal at one end and to another component other than the array of battery cells at another end, wherein the busbar is coupled to the electrical terminal by applying a push force on the busbar such that an end of the busbar is received in a socket of the electrical terminal, and wherein, upon application of the push force, the end of the busbar urges leaves of the socket away from one another such that the end of the busbar is received in the socket.
An electrified vehicle, comprising:
- a busbar;
- an array of battery cells including an electrical terminal;
- a quick connect assembly including a clamp assembly and configured to mechanically and electrically couple a first end of the busbar to the electrical terminal upon application of a clamping force and without a threaded connection, wherein the busbar is electrically coupled to another component other than the array of battery cells at a second end;
- wherein the clamp assembly includes a cam lever configured to clamp relative to the first end of the busbar.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.