Granted Patent B2

US 12,738,690 · App. 18/346,968 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Inventors: Marcus Wolf (Bensheim, DE); Maik Schaefer (Bensheim, DE); Bjoern Hoffmann (Bensheim, DE); Ron Buchholz (Bensheim, DE); Patrick Distler (Bensheim, DE); Manuel Eheim (Bensheim, DE)

Assignee: TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH

H01R13/6315H01M50/503H01M50/517H01R4/34H01R9/22

Abstract

Claims (45)

1 . A module connector for electrically connecting two electric modules, comprising:

a busbar, including:

at least one flat face defining a busbar plane; and

a through opening extending perpendicularly to the busbar plane and through the busbar;

at least one screw held in the through opening, rotatable relative to the busbar and slidable parallel to the busbar plane;

at least one screw guide rotatable relative to the busbar and held at least sectionally in the through opening, the at least one screw guide having a hole extending parallel to the through opening in which the at least one screw is held at least sectionally; and

at least one contact bridge including a central opening extending parallel to the through opening, the at least one contact bridge is at least sectionally fixed within the through opening of the busbar.

2 . The module connector according to claim 1 , wherein the hole of the at least one screw guide is an oblong hole.

3 . The module connector according to claim 2 , wherein the oblong hole extends in a longitudinal direction parallel to the busbar plane.

4 . The module connector according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one screw guide comprises a flange-shaped section supported on the at least one flat face of the busbar.

5 . The module connector according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one screw guide does not protrude from the through opening on the side of the busbar opposite the flange-shaped section.

6 . The module connector according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one screw guide is disk-shaped.

7 . The module connector according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one screw guide is rotatably held in the central opening at least sectionally.

8 . The module connector according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one contact ring abutting the contact bridge and including a ring opening aligned with the hole of the at least one screw guide.

9 . The module connector according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one contact ring is connected to the at least one screw in a movement-transmitting manner.

10 . The module connector according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one screw comprises a screw shaft having an external thread and a screw head fastened to the screw shaft, the at least one contact ring is placed onto the screw shaft on the side of the busbar opposite the screw head.

11 . The module connector according to claim 1 , further comprising an electrically insulating housing in which the busbar, the at least one screw and the at least one screw guide are received.

12 . The module connector according to claim 11 , wherein the housing comprises a first housing part connected in a movement-transmitting manner to the at least one screw, the first housing part movable relative to the busbar and forming a cover which, in all sliding positions of the at least one screw, covers the busbar together with a remainder of the housing.

13 . The module connector according to claim 12 , wherein the first housing part comprises a protective collar extending around the at least one screw and overlapping at least sectionally with the rest of the housing perpendicular to the busbar plane in all sliding positions of the at least one screw.

14 . The module connector according to claim 12 , wherein the first housing part is a separate component from the at least one screw.

15 . The module connector according to claim 12 , wherein the housing comprises a second housing part connected to the first housing part via the at least one screw in a movement-transmitting manner, the second housing part is movable relative to the busbar and is arranged opposite the first housing part with respect to the busbar.

16 . A connection assembly, comprising:

A module connector, including:

a busbar, having:

at least one flat face defining a busbar plane; and

a through opening extending perpendicularly to the busbar plane and through the busbar;

at least one screw held in the through opening, rotatable relative to the busbar and slidable parallel to the busbar plane;

at least one screw guide rotatable relative to the busbar and held at least sectionally in the through opening, the at least one screw guide having a hole extending parallel to the through opening in which the at least one screw is held at least sectionally; and

at least one contact bridge including a central opening extending parallel to the through opening, the at least one contact bridge is at least sectionally fixed within the through opening of the busbar;

at least one contact element; and

at least one mating piece adapted to threadably receive the at least one screw, the contact element is adapted to make electrically conductive contact with the module connector in a screwed-together state of the at least one screw and the mating piece.

17 . The connection assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the contact element forms part of a battery module.

18 . The connection assembly according to claim 16 , wherein:

the at least one screw includes a first screw arranged through a first end of the busbar, and a second screw arranged through a second end of the busbar opposite the first end;

the at least one screw guide includes a first screw guide arranged through the first end of the busbar, and a second screw guide arranged through the second end of the busbar; and

the at least one contact element includes a first contact element electrically connected to the first screw and associated with a first battery module, and a second contact element electrically connected to the second screw and associated with a second battery module, the busbar electrically connecting the first contact element to the second contact element.

19 . The connection assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the hole of the at least one screw guide is an oblong hole.

20 . The connection assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the at least one screw guide is rotatably held in the central opening at least sectionally.

21 . A module connector for electrically connecting two electric modules, comprising:

a busbar, including:

at least one flat face defining a busbar plane; and

a through opening extending perpendicularly to the busbar plane and through the busbar;

at least one screw held in the through opening, rotatable relative to the busbar and slidable parallel to the busbar plane;

at least one screw guide rotatable relative to the busbar and held at least sectionally in the through opening, the at least one screw guide having a hole extending parallel to the through opening in which the at least one screw is held at least sectionally; and

an electrically insulating housing in which the busbar, the at least one screw and the at least one screw guide are received, the housing comprises a first housing part and a second housing part connected to the first housing part via the at least one screw in a movement-transmitting manner, the second housing part is movable relative to the busbar and is arranged opposite the first housing part with respect to the busbar.

Assignments (3)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (25)