JP2000040500A - Terminal connector for battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To absorb even impact while having both roles of the electric connection and fixing of a battery by arranging elliptic or oval holes for inserting a columnar fixture for fixing a terminal connector to the terminal of the battery. SOLUTION: Elliptic holes 2 are arranged in a terminal connector 1 so that the major axis overlaps with a line connecting the center of the two holes 2 to effectively absorb impact in the same direction as the direction of the line connecting this center. A columnar fixture such as a bolt is inserted into the holes 2 to be connected to the terminal part of a battery. When fixing the terminal connector by the bolt, bolt fastening strength is adjusted, and when impact is applied to the battery, the fastening part is moved before the terminal part is deformed. That is, in arranging an elliptic hole or an oval hole, when the direction for connecting a first connecting place (one hole 2) and a second connecting place (the other hole 2) and the direction of the major axis are set almost equal to each other, stress in the direction for connecting both connecting places can be absorbed by rotation of the terminal connector.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a battery terminal connector used for electrical connection between cells, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and lithium batteries are widely used as battery power sources for portable equipment. Depending on the application, these batteries are connected or fixed to a power supply circuit in advance. Alternatively, a plurality of batteries are connected in advance and used as an assembled battery.

FIG. 5 is an overall perspective view of an assembled battery composed of two cylindrical batteries, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a mounting portion of the assembled battery to which a terminal connector is attached.

[0004] As shown in these figures, when batteries are connected to each other, as shown in these figures, a battery 4 is connected.
The terminal connection tool 41 for electrical connection and fixing between the batteries is attached to the terminal portion 46 of No. 5. A circular hole 42 is provided in the terminal connection tool 41, and a bolt 47 is passed through the hole 42 via a washer 48 and a spring washer 49, and is connected and fixed to the terminal portion 46 by screwing.

In the case where a terminal connecting member made of a metal plate as shown in FIGS. 5A and 6 is used, when a shock is applied to the battery, the shock is applied to the terminal connecting member 41.
And acts as a stress on the terminal portion 46 through the bolt passed therethrough, which causes the terminal portion 46 to break.

Therefore, as shown in FIG.
A terminal connecting tool in which the transmission of an impact is prevented by using a flexible material (for example, a metal wire made of a conductive material in a mesh shape) at the center thereof has also been considered.

However, in order to prevent the battery from moving unnecessarily, it is preferable that the terminal connecting member has a certain degree of rigidity so as to have both functions of electrical connection and fixing of the battery.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal connecting tool which has both functions of electrical connection and fixing of a battery and can absorb a shock.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a terminal connecting device for a battery according to the present invention, which has a columnar shape for fixing the terminal connecting device to a terminal portion of the battery, particularly an elliptical shape through which a cylindrical fixing device is passed. An oval hole is provided, or a stress absorbing portion for absorbing a stress acting in a direction connecting the connection points is provided between the first connection point and the second connection point. It is characterized by.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a view showing the shape of a terminal connector provided with an elliptical hole through which a cylindrical fixing member for fixing the terminal connector to a terminal portion of a battery is passed. (A) is a plan view and (b) is a side view. In the terminal connector 1 of the present embodiment, an elliptical hole 2 is provided such that its major axis overlaps a line connecting the centers of the two holes 2, and is the same as the direction of the line connecting the centers. Directional shocks are efficiently absorbed. Then, in the same manner as described with reference to FIG. 6, for example, a column-shaped fixing tool such as a bolt is passed through the hole 2 and connected to the terminal of the battery. When fixing with a bolt, the tightening strength of the bolt is preferably adjusted so that when an impact is applied to the battery, the tightening portion moves before the terminal portion is deformed.

As described above, when an elliptical hole or an elliptical hole is provided, a first connection point (one hole 2 in FIG. 1) and a second connection point (the other hole in FIG. 1). Hole 2)
And the direction of the long axis are preferably substantially the same. This is because the stress acting in the direction perpendicular to the direction connecting the two connection points can be absorbed by the rotation of the connection terminal, but the stress acting in the direction parallel to this direction cannot be absorbed by the rotation.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the shape of a terminal connector having a bent portion between a first connection point and a second connection point for absorbing a stress acting in a direction connecting the connection points. It is. The terminal connector 1 of the present embodiment has a circular hole 2 provided at both ends thereof, and a central portion of the terminal connector 1 is bent to provide a mountain-shaped bent portion 3. However, except that the bent portion 3 is provided, it is the same shape and used as that of the above embodiment. The bent portion 3 absorbs the stress acting in the direction connecting the first connection point (one hole 2) and the second connection point (the other hole 2).

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the shape of a terminal connector having a projection between a first connection point and a second connection point for absorbing a stress acting in a direction connecting the connection points. It is. The terminal connector 1 of this embodiment has circular holes 2 and 2 provided at both ends thereof, and an arc-shaped convex portion 3 is provided between the holes 2 and 2. However, except that the bent portion 3 is provided, it is the same shape and used as that of the above embodiment.
The projection 3 absorbs the stress acting in the direction connecting the first connection point (one hole 2) and the second connection point (the other hole 2).

As described above, the stress absorbing portion can be formed as a bent portion or a convex portion, and by using the bent portion or the convex portion, the bending angle, the curvature of the convex portion, and the material of the terminal connector are used. By adjusting the thickness, width, etc., the strength of the stress absorbing portion can be easily adjusted. In addition, the strength of the stress absorbing portion is such that the magnitude of the stress at which the stress absorbing portion starts to be deformed with respect to the stress acting in the direction connecting the connection points is such that the terminal portion of the battery to which the terminal connector is connected starts to deform or break. It is better to make it smaller than the magnitude of the stress.

The material of the terminal connector according to the present invention is not particularly limited. However, when the terminal connector has a connection portion by welding, a welded portion having a single nickel material structure, a nickel material and a copper material or an aluminum material are provided. And a conductive structure having a multi-layered structure.
This is, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 below.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing the structure of the terminal connecting member having the above-mentioned material structure, wherein FIG. 4A is a plan view of the terminal connecting plate 1, FIG. (C) is a BB sectional view of the terminal connection plate 1. The terminal connector 1 of the present embodiment is made of a clad material manufactured by sandwiching an aluminum plate 34 between two nickel plates 33 and 35, and has an oblong hole 2 and a nickel material plate. A welded portion 1a having a single material structure, and a conductive portion 1b having a three-layered multi-layer structure of a nickel material and an aluminum material,
The welding portion 1a has a structure in which a slit is provided.

For example, bolts are passed through the oblong holes 2 and fixed at predetermined positions, and the welded portions 1a are used by being welded to the electrode terminal portions of the battery. A terminal connector having such a material structure is particularly suitable for a case where a welded portion is welded and fixed to a place where a nickel film is formed on the surface.

[0017]

According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a terminal connector which has both functions of electrical connection and fixing of a battery and can absorb shocks. By using the terminal connector, safety and durability can be improved. An excellent battery pack can be manufactured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing the shape of a terminal connector.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the shape of the terminal connector.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the shape of the terminal connector.

FIG. 4 is a view showing the structure of a terminal connector.

FIG. 5 is an overall perspective view of the assembled battery.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a mounting portion of the terminal connector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Terminal connection tool 1a Welded part 2 Hole 3a Bend part 3b Convex part

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A terminal connector for a battery, wherein an elliptical or elliptical hole through which a column-shaped fixing member for fixing the terminal connector is passed is provided in a terminal portion of the battery. A terminal connector for a battery, comprising: 2. A terminal connection for a battery, comprising a stress absorbing portion between a first connection point and a second connection point for absorbing a stress acting in a direction connecting the connection points. Utensils.