# US 10,122,004 B2 · Quick connect assembly for busbars in an electrified vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,004 B2 - Document ID: US10122004B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/461,056 - Filed: 2017-03-16 - Published: 2018-09-20 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-16 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Urban J. De Souza; Stephenson Tyler Mattmuller; Michael Barr; Nondo G. Basoukeas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122004B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/627: Snap or like fastening - B60L 50/64: Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles - H01M 50/50: Current conducting connections for cells or batteries - H01M 50/503: characterised by the shape of the interconnectors - H01M 50/509: characterised by the type of connection, e.g. mixed connections - H01M 50/517: by fixing means, e.g. screws, rivets or bolts - H01R 13/111: {co-operating with pins having a circular transverse section} - H01R 13/20: Pins, blades, or sockets shaped, or provided with separate member, to retain co-operating parts together - H01R 25/162: {Electrical connections between or with rails or bus-bars (rails having primarily a non electrical function H01R4/64)} - H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 90/12: Electric charging stations - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the quick connect assembly includes a first quick connect fitting on the busbar and a second quick connect fitting on the electrical terminal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The battery assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the first quick connect fitting and the second quick connect fitting are push fittings configured to couple the busbar to the electrical terminal by a push force and without a threaded connection. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The battery assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein, when the end of the busbar is in the socket, the leaves maintain the end of the busbar within the socket. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The battery assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein the end of the busbar is one of spherical-shaped and ovular-shaped, and wherein the shape of the socket corresponds to the shape of the end of the busbar. ### Claim 6 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 6, wherein the second end of the busbar is electrically coupled to one of another array of battery cells, a generator, an electric motor, and a converter. ### Claim 8 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 6, wherein the projections are spaced-apart from the tapered ends. ### Claim 10 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electrified vehicle as recited in claim 10, wherein: the cam lever is rotatable about a pin connected to the electrical terminal, the electrical terminal includes jaws moveable relative to one another, the jaws configured to clamp against the end of the busbar, and rotation of the cam lever causes movement of the jaws.