Bolted bus bar with finger-proofing
AssigneeAptiv Technologies AG
InventorsNicholas A. Durse, Adam Wolfgang, Patrick J. Reedy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bus bar assembly includes a nonconductive terminal cap that is configured to secure to an electrically conductive terminal via an attachment feature. The terminal cap has a slot that is configured to expose a terminal portion of the terminal in an assembled condition. A bus bar has an end that is configured to be received in the slot in the assembled condition in which the end is in electrical contact with the terminal portion of the terminal. A nonconductive shroud encloses the bus bar. The end extends through shroud.
Claims21
A bus bar assembly comprising:
- a nonconductive terminal cap configured to secure to an electrically conductive terminal via an attachment feature, the terminal cap has a slot configured to expose a terminal portion of the terminal in an assembled condition;
- a bus bar having an end configured to be received in the slot in the assembled condition in which the end is in electrical contact with the terminal portion of the terminal;
- a nonconductive shroud enclosing the bus bar, with the end extending through shroud.
A battery module comprising:
- a battery cell having a terminal provided by a terminal pad with a threaded member;
- a nonconductive terminal cap secured to the terminal via an attachment feature, the terminal cap has a slot exposing a terminal portion of the terminal pad in an assembled condition;
- a bus bar having an end received in the slot in the assembled condition in which the end is in electrical contact with the terminal pad;
- a nonconductive shroud enclosing the bus bar, with the end extending through shroud;
- and
- a bolt having first and second bolt portions, the first bolt portion contained within the shroud, and the second bolt portion secured to the threaded member to clamp the end of the bus bar into engagement with the terminal pad.
A method of electrically connecting cells of a battery module, comprising the steps of:
- securing a nonconductive terminal cap over a conductive battery cell terminal, wherein the terminal cap includes a hole and a slot exposing a terminal portion of the terminal;
- a) providing a bus bar assembly with a bus bar having an end, a nonconductive shroud enclosing the bus bar with the end extending through a shroud, and a bolt is captured in the end by the shroud;
- b) locating the end in the slot;
- and
- c) securing the bolt to the terminal through the hole to clamp the end into engagement with the terminal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.