IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,590,222
Granted Patent B2
US 9,590,222 · App. 14/871,730 · Granted Mar 7, 2017

Battery cell connector

Inventors: Zhonglin Zhang (Shenzhen, CN); Xiumei Xie (Shenzhen, CN); Yanfei Zhou (Shenzhen, CN)
Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
H01M2/206H01R4/30H01R13/533H01R2201/26
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,590,222
App. No.
14/871,730
Granted
Mar 7, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A battery cell connector includes a plurality of segments. The plurality of segments includes: a first terminal segment with first connecting elements for a battery pole of a first battery cell; a second terminal segment with second connecting elements for a battery pole of a second battery cell; and one or more additional segments connecting the first terminal segment to the second terminal segment. Each additional segment defines a plane and has a longitudinal axis. The battery cell connector further includes a plurality of bends coupling the plurality of segments together into a 3-D object. Each bend is located between a unique pair of adjacent segments of the plurality of segments. The pair of adjacent segments defines two distinct respective planes. The first terminal segment is not parallel to the second terminal segment. The first connecting elements are electrically coupled with the second connecting elements.

Claims (21)

1. A battery cell connector, comprising:

a plurality of segments, comprising:

a first terminal segment that includes one or more first connecting elements for a battery pole of a first battery cell;

a second terminal segment that includes one or more second connecting elements for a battery pole of a second battery cell;

one or more additional segments connecting the first terminal segment to the second terminal segment, each additional segment defining a respective plane and having a respective longitudinal axis; and

at least three bends coupling the plurality of segments together into a 3-D object, each bend located between a unique pair of adjacent segments of the plurality of segments, wherein the unique pair of adjacent segments define two distinct respective planes and an axis of bending of the bend that is parallel to both of the respective planes of the adjacent segments and wherein the three bends have three distinct axes of bending that are perpendicular to one another,

wherein the first terminal segment is not parallel to the second terminal segment and the one or more first connecting elements are electrically coupled with the one or more second connecting elements.

2. The battery cell connector of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of turns, each turn coupling a second unique pair of adjacent segments in the plurality of segments, wherein the second unique pair of adjacent segments have distinct respective longitudinal axis within the same respective plane.

3. The battery cell connector of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segments comprise an electrical conductor forming the electrical coupling between the one or more first connecting elements and the one or more second connecting elements.

4. The battery cell connector of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segments has an L-shaped opening.

5. The battery cell connector of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bends comprise vibration dampening elements.

6. The battery cell connector of claim 1 , wherein the battery cell connector is for use in a vehicle and the plurality of bends are elastically deformable within a set of operating conditions of the vehicle.

7. The battery cell connector of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segments includes three segments.

8. The battery cell connector of claim 7 , wherein the three segments define three distinct respective planes.

9. The battery cell connector of claim 8 , wherein the three distinct respective planes are substantially perpendicular.

10. The battery cell connector of claim 1 , wherein a respective connecting element of the first connecting elements and the second connecting elements comprises an opening adapted to receive a battery terminal, wherein the battery terminal is mechanically connected at least partially along a circumference of the opening.

11. The battery cell connector of claim 1 , further including at least one vibration-absorbent bump formed in a respective segment of the plurality of segments.

12. The battery cell connector of claim 1 , wherein:

the first terminal segment and the second terminal segment are substantially perpendicular to each other.

13. The battery cell connector of claim 1 , wherein:

the battery cell connector further comprises a single turn that, together with the at least three bends, forms the plurality of segments into the 3-D object, wherein the turn couples a second unique pair of adjacent segments in the plurality of segments, wherein the second unique pair of adjacent segments have two distinct respective longitudinal axes within the same respective plane.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2015
From: ZHANG, ZHONGLIN; XIE, XIUMEI; ZHOU, YANFEI
To: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 037344/0835 →
Priority Claims (2)
CN 2015 1 0233602 · May 8, 2015 · national
CN 2015 1 0234575 · May 8, 2015 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160329544A1 · Nov 10, 2016