Battery wiring module including a wire routing space disposed on a lid covering a bus bar

A battery wiring module is configured for attachment to an electric cell group constituted by an array of a plurality of electric cells, each having positive and negative electrode terminals. The battery wiring module includes a bus bar connectable to the electrode terminals, a detection wire for detecting a state of the electric cell group, a resin protector for holding the bus bar, a lid portion that covers the bus bar and is made of an insulating material, and at least one wall portion disposed on a face of the lid portion opposite to the bus bar in a direction intersecting the lid portion. The at least wall portion forms a routing space in which the detection wire is routed.

BACKGROUND

Some disclosed embodiments relate to a battery wiring module for attachment to an electric cell group.

A related art power battery module for mounting in a vehicle, such as in an electric automobile or a hybrid vehicle, includes a number of electric cells that are connected in series via bus bars. In this kind of battery module, detection wires for detecting the state of an electric cell group, such as voltage detection wires for measuring a terminal voltage of each electric cell, need to be connected to electrode terminals of the electric cells.

This type of related art battery module is assembled by attaching a battery wiring module including bus bars and detection wires to an electric cell group constituted by an array of a plurality of electric cells. For example, JP 2011-8955A discloses a plurality of bus bars that are held at predetermined positions on a resin protector, and a plurality of detection wires are provided in accordance with the number of electric cells and collectively accommodated in a wire accommodating groove provided in the resin protector.

SUMMARY

If it is attempted in a battery wiring module to route detection wires in a superposed manner on the side of one face of bus bars, it is conceivable to arrange a lid portion for insulation on the side of this face of the bus bars and route the detection wires on the side of the lid portion opposite to the bus bar. At this time, bundling the detection wires using a bundling band or the like is conceivable as a means for collectively positioning, to some extent, the detection wires disposed along the lid portion.

However, in accordance with such a structure, it is necessary to attach a fixing component (such as the bundling band to the detection wires), resulting in an increase in effort required to assemble the battery wiring module and a possibility of degrading workability.

Some embodiments address the above issue, and thereby provide a battery wiring module capable of routing detection wires in a superposed manner on the side of one face of bus bars, without degrading workability in an assembly work.

Some embodiments are therefore directed to a battery wiring module for attachment to an electric cell group constituted by an array of a plurality of electric cells each having positive and negative electrode terminals. The battery wiring module includes: a bus bar to be connected to the electrode terminals; a detection wire for detecting a state of the electric cell group; a resin protector that holds the bus bar; a lid portion that covers the bus bar and is made of an insulating material; and at least one wall portion disposed on a face of the lid portion opposite to the bus bar in a direction intersecting the lid portion. The at least one wall portion forms a routing space in which the detection wire is routed.

With this configuration, the detection wire can be collectively positioned at the lid portion without attaching a fixing member to the detection wire, and accordingly, the detection wire can be routed on the side of one face of the bus bar in a superposed manner, without degrading workability in an assembly work.

Furthermore, the wall portion may be a pair of wall portions provided on both sides of the detection wire, the pair of wall portions may extend continuously in a routing direction of the detection wire, and a wire covering portion for covering the detection wire routed in the routing space so as to bridge the pair of wall portions may be provided. With this configuration, it is possible to restrict protrusion of the detection wire from the routing space to the outside, and impede or prevent the detection wire from contacting the outside.

Furthermore, the wire covering portion may be integrated with the lid portion, and may be pivotable between a closed state where the wire covering portion closes the routing space and an opened state in which the wire covering portion releases the routing space. With this configuration, it is possible to fix the detection wire to the lid portion and protect the detection wire with an easy work of only routing the detection wire to the routing space with the wire covering portion being in an opened state, and pivoting the wire covering portion into a closed state.

Furthermore, the wire covering portion and the wall portion may be each provided with a locking structure for stopping each other in an engaged manner with pivoting movement of the wire covering portion from the opened state to the closed state. With this configuration, the wire covering portion and the wall portion can be locked with an easy work of only pivoting the wire covering portion from the opened state into the closed state.

Thus, some embodiments provide a battery wiring module capable of routing the detection wire on the side of one face of the bus bar in a superposed manner, without degrading workability in an assembly work.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

One embodiment is described in detail below with reference toFIGS. 1 to 12. A battery wiring module10according to the present embodiment is attached to an electric cell group13constituted by an array of a plurality of (in the present embodiment, eight) electric cells12each having positive and negative electrode terminals11, and electrically connects the positive electrode terminals11and the negative electrode terminals11in different electric cells12to each other. A battery module configured by attaching the battery wiring module10to the electric cell group13is used as a driving source of an electric automobile, a hybrid vehicle, or the like, for example.

The electric cells12are lithium-ion cells, nickel-hydrogen cells, or other kinds of secondary cells, and each have a body portion14in which a cell element (not shown) is accommodated, the positive and negative electrode terminals11, and a terminal15for voltage detection. Each body portion14has a flat and square box shape, and the positive and negative electrode terminals11and the terminal15for voltage detection are provided on the upper face of the body portion14.

The electrode terminals11and the terminal15for voltage detection are made of metal (copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, etc.), formed by a known technique such as machining, casting, or forging, and each have a nut shape having an internal screw hole16formed at a substantially central position (seeFIG. 12). The terminal15for voltage detection is disposed at a substantially intermediate position between the positive and negative electrode terminals11, and a voltage at a substantially intermediate position between the positive and negative electrode terminals11of each electric cell12can be detected using this terminal15for voltage detection. The positive and negative electrode terminals11located at both ends of the electric cell group13with the electric cells connected in series constitute output terminals11A for outputting electricity to the outside.

As shown inFIG. 12, a plurality of (in the present embodiment, four) the electric cells12are arranged in one direction (vertical direction) such that the electrode terminals11of different polarities adjoin each other, and a plurality of one (in the present embodiment, two) electric cell columns17including the electric cells arranged in one direction are adjacently arranged in the other direction (a direction orthogonal to the one direction; horizontal direction). Note that the electric cell group13is held together by a holding member (not shown).

The battery wiring module10includes a plurality of bus bars20connected to the electrode terminals11. The bus bars20are formed by pressing plate materials made of metal, such as copper, copper alloy, stainless steel (SUS), or aluminum, into a predetermined shape. The surface of the bus bars20may be plated by metal such as tin or nickel.

The bus bars20include first bus bars21for connecting the electrode terminals11of different polarities of the electric cells12arranged in the vertical direction, second bus bars22for connecting the electrode terminals11disposed at opposing ends of the electric cell columns17connected in series by the first bus bars21, and output bus bars23for connecting the output terminals11A to external connection terminals26.

The first bus bars21and the second bus bars22each have an overall substantially rectangular shape, the dimension in their longitudinal direction is set to a dimension according to the distance between adjoining electrode terminals11, and the second bus bars22are longer than the first bus bars21. The first bus bars21and the second bus bars22each have a pair of through holes24, into which shaft portions of bolts (not shown) screwed into the internal screw holes16of the electrode terminals11can be inserted. The through holes24are formed in a penetrating manner by piercing the bus bars20in a plate-thickness direction.

The output bus bars23each have an overall substantially L-shaped form, and have, on one end thereof, the through hole24into which a shaft portion of a bolt screwed into the output terminal11A can be inserted, and, on the other end thereof, an external connection portion25connected to the outside. The external connection portion25is bent in a substantially right-angle direction relative to a plate face of the other part of the output bus bar23, and an external connection terminal26is installed so as to protrude substantially vertically at the center of the external connection portion25. The external connection terminal26forms a bolt shape threaded on its outer-circumferential face, and is fixed to the external connection portion25by being driven into a through hole (not shown) formed in the external connection portion25or being welded to the external connection portion25.

The output bus bars23include a first output bus bar23A connected to the output terminal11A disposed at a corner of the electric cell group13, and a second output bus bar23B connected to the output terminal11A arranged so as to adjoin the output terminal11A at the corner on the inside thereof. The first output bus bar23A is longer than the second output bus bar23B. The external connection portion25of the first output bus bar23A and the external connection portion25of the second output bus bar23B are arranged next to each other, with their positions in the vertical direction being aligned with each other.

The battery wiring module10includes voltage detection terminals (detection terminals)30for detecting voltage of the electric cells12. The voltage detection terminals30are formed by pressing plate materials made of metal, such as copper, copper alloy, stainless steel, or aluminum, into a predetermined shape. The voltage detection terminals30each have a terminal body portion32having a through hole31into which a shaft portion of a bolt screwed into the internal screw hole16of the electrode terminal11or the terminal15for voltage detection can be inserted, and a wire crimping portion34at which a terminal portion of a voltage detection wire (detection wire)33is crimped. The surface of the voltage detection terminal30may be plated with metal such as tin or nickel.

The through hole31is formed substantially at the center of the terminal body portion32, and the voltage detection terminal30is connected by bolting, as a result of its through hole31being disposed at a position aligned with the internal screw hole16of the electrode terminal11or the terminal15for voltage detection. The voltage detection terminals30include first voltage detection terminals30A that are fastened to the electrode terminals11together with the bus bars20and second voltage detection terminals30B independently connected to the terminals15for voltage detection. The first voltage detection terminals30A each have a terminal body portion32that is larger than that of the second voltage detection terminals30B.

The battery wiring module10includes a resin protector40made of synthetic resin for holding the bus bars20. The resin protector40is formed by coupling a plurality of coupling units in a state where they are allowed to move relatively to each other to some extent.

The resin protector40has a protector body portion42for holding the bus bars20and the voltage detection terminals30and a stacking arrangement portion60for arranging the voltage detection wires33in a stacked manner on the side of one face (upper side) of the bus bars20. The stacking arrangement portion60is described in detail below.

The protector body portion42has bus bar accommodating portions43for accommodating and holding the bus bars20, and detection terminal accommodating portions44for accommodating and holding the terminal body portions32of the second voltage detection terminals30B. The bus bar accommodating portions43and the detection terminal accommodating portions44each have a substantially rectangular shape enclosed by a circumferential wall45, and are open in a vertical direction. The circumferential walls45of the bus bar accommodating portions43and the detection terminal accommodating portions44stand up to a position higher than the head of bolts screwed to the electrode terminals11or the terminals15for voltage detection, thus preventing a tool or the like from coming in contact with the bolt head and causing a short circuit. The circumferential walls45of the bus bar accommodating portions43and the detection terminal accommodating portion44are each provided with an insertion portion51for causing the wire crimping portion34of the voltage detection terminal30to protrude outward from the bus bar accommodating portion43or the detection terminal accommodating portion44.

The bus bar accommodating portions43and the detection terminal accommodating portions44are each provided with a support portion (not shown) for supporting the lower face side of the bus bar20or the second voltage detection terminal30B, and a pressing portion41for preventing the bus bar20or the second voltage detection terminal30B from detaching upward. The bus bars20and the second voltage detection terminals30B are pressed downward of the pressing portions41and accommodated in the bus bar accommodating portions43or the detection terminal accommodating portions44. The support portion is provided at a position where the electrode terminal11or the terminal15for voltage detection can be avoided when the battery wiring module10is attached to the electric cell group13. Note that the first voltage detection terminals30A are accommodated in the bus bar accommodating portions43in a state where a corner of each terminal body portion32is stopped at the circumferential wall45in an engaged state.

Among the bus bar accommodating portions43, first bus bar accommodating portions46for accommodating the first bus bars21include outer first bus bar accommodating portions46A provided along the two (the two short edges) extending in the vertical direction of the resin protector40, and inner first bus bar accommodating portions46B provided on the inside (center side) of the protector body portion42at a predetermined distance from the outer first bus bar accommodating portions46A, as shown inFIG. 1.

The detection terminal accommodating portions44are arranged at regular intervals in the vertical direction between the outer first bus bar accommodating portions46A.

Among the bus bar accommodating portions43, second bus bar accommodating portions47for accommodating the second bus bars22are provided along the two edges (the two longitudinal edges) extending in the horizontal direction of the resin protector40.

Among the bus bar accommodating portions43, output bus bar accommodating portions48for accommodating the output bus bars23are provided at one end on the output terminal11A side in the horizontal direction of the resin protector40. The output bus bar accommodating portions48include a first output bus bar accommodating portion48A for accommodating the first output bus bar23A and a second output bus bar accommodating portion48B for accommodating the second output bus bar23B.

The output bus bar accommodating portions48extend in the horizontal direction of the resin protector40, are then shaped so as to be bent substantially L-shaped toward the middle in the vertical direction, and each have, at an end, an external terminal accommodating portion49for accommodating the external connection terminal26. The first output bus bar accommodating portion48A is provided at a position outward of the second output bus bar accommodating portion48B.

The resin protector40is provided with a wire accommodating groove52in which the voltage detection wires33connected to the voltage detection terminals30are accommodated, so as to linearly extend in the horizontal direction. The wire accommodating groove52has a pair of groove wall portions53, and the voltage detection wires33are accommodated therebetween. The wire accommodating groove52is provided at a position toward one end in the vertical direction of the resin protector40. The wire accommodating groove52extends along the circumferential wall of the second bus bar accommodating portion47, one end in the extending direction of the wire accommodating groove52passes through between the inner first bus bar accommodating portion46B and the second bus bar accommodating portion47, and the other end passes through between the first output bus bar accommodating portion48A and the second output bus bar accommodating portion48B. The voltage detection wires33withdrawn from the bus bar accommodating portions43and the detection terminal accommodating portions44are guided by the wire accommodating groove52and collectively routed. The ends of the voltage detection wires33are connected to an ECU (not shown) or the like, and the voltage of each electric cell12is thereby measured.

The resin protector40includes the stacking arrangement portion60for arranging the voltage detection wires33in a stacked manner on the upper side of the bus bars20. The stacking arrangement portion60has a lid portion61made of an insulating material for covering the bus bars20, and a wire covering portion62for covering the voltage detection wires33arranged on the upper face of the lid portion61.

The lid portion61has a substantially rectangular plate shape that covers the substantially entire upper face side (opening side) (the substantially entire upper face side, excluding the upper part of the output terminals11A) of the output bus bar accommodating portions48(seeFIG. 4). Note that the upper part of the output terminals11A is covered with a body cover portion54for covering the upper face side of the protector body portion42(seeFIG. 11).

The stacking arrangement portion60is integrally coupled to the protector body portion42via first hinge portions63, which are flexible (seeFIG. 1). The first hinge portions63couple an external wall extending in the horizontal direction, which is part of the circumferential wall45of the first output bus bar accommodating portion48A, to the outer edge of the lid portion61. A pair of first hinge portions63are provided at both ends of the outer edge of the lid portion61.

The stacking arrangement portion60is pivotable between a blocking state (seeFIGS. 4 to 6) in which the lid portion61abuts the circumferential wall45of the output bus bar accommodating portions48and blocks the output bus bar accommodating portions48and a releasing state (seeFIGS. 1 to 3) in which the lid portion61is detached from the circumferential wall45of the output bus bar accommodating portions48and releases the output bus bar accommodating portion48.

The stacking arrangement portion60is provided with a pair of wall portions64that stand on both sides of the voltage detection wires33on a face of the lid portion61opposite to the output bus bars23, and a space between these wall portions64is used as a routing space S through which the voltage detection wires33are passed (seeFIG. 10). The pair of wall portions64are disposed in a direction intersecting a plate face of the lid portion61. In the present embodiment, the pair of wall portions64stand up substantially vertically relative to the plate face of the lid portion61, and the standing dimension (height dimension) thereof is larger than or equal to the height dimension of the circumferential walls45of the bus bar accommodating portions43.

As shown inFIG. 4, the pair of wall portions64are provided continuously from the wire accommodating groove52toward the lid portion61side. The pair of wall portions64extend in a direction in which the wires led out from the wire accommodating groove52are bent in a substantially right-angle direction to be routed, and are continuous in the routing direction of the voltage detection wires33. In other words, the pair of wall portions64are formed so as to extend along the routing direction of the voltage detection wires33. One wall portion (which will be referred to as an “outer wall portion64A”) of the pair of wall portions64is provided along the outer edge of the lid portion61. The outer wall portion64A extends linearly in the right-angle direction relative to the wire accommodating groove52. The other wall portion (which will be referred to as an “inner wall portion64B”) of the pair of wall portions64extends in the same direction as that of the wire accommodating groove52, and thereafter extends so as to be bent in the same direction as the extending direction of the outer wall portion64A. Most of the inner wall portion64B is substantially parallel to the outer wall portion64A, and an intermediate part of the inner wall portion64B is inclined in a direction in which the inner wall portion64B approaches the outer wall portion64A. Thus, the routing space S for the voltage detection wires33is wider in its width on the side on which the routing space S is continuous with the wire accommodating groove52, and is narrower in its width on the opposite side (exit side). A recess portion65, which is a recess of a substantially rectangular shape formed at part of the outer edge of the lid portion61, is provided at a position of the lid portion61corresponding to the bent portion of the voltage detection wires33.

The stacking arrangement portion60is provided with a wire covering portion62for covering the voltage detection wires33routed in the routing space S, the wire covering portion bridging the pair of wall portions64. The outer wall portion64A of the pair of wall portions64is integrated with the wire covering portion62, and the wire covering portion62and the outer wall portion64A form a substantially right angle. As shown inFIG. 7, the entire wire covering portion62forms a plate shape elongated in the extending direction of the voltage detection wires33, and its edge on the side where it abuts the inner wall portion64B is formed in a step-like shape extending along the inner wall portion64B. The inner wall portion64B is integrated with the lid portion61.

One edge in the longitudinal direction of the wire covering portion62is located above the circumferential wall45of the second output bus bar accommodating portion48B, and the other edge protrudes outward of the lid portion61. The wire covering portion62covers the substantially entire routing space S excluding the end thereof on the side where it is continuous with the wire accommodating groove52, that is to say, the substantially entire voltage detection wires33excluding a bent portion thereof arranged above the lid portion61. An end of the wire covering portion62on the side where it protrudes from the lid portion61toward the outside is provided with a wire pressing piece66for pressing the voltage detection wires33(seeFIGS. 2 and 5).

The wire covering portion62is integrally coupled with the lid portion61via second hinge portions67, which are flexible. The wire covering portion62is provided pivotably between a closed state where it closes the routing space S (seeFIGS. 7 to 10) and an opened state (seeFIGS. 4 to 6) where it releases the routing space S. The second hinge portions67couple the outer wall portion64A integrated with the wire covering portion62to the outer edge of the lid portion61(seeFIG. 5). A portion (which will be referred to as a “coupling portion61A”) of the lid portion61in which the second hinge portions67are provided is located on the side opposite to the first hinge portions63with respect to the recess portion65(seeFIG. 1). A pair of second hinge portions67are provided on the coupling portion61A. The coupling portion61A constitutes a bottom wall of the routing space S.

The stacking arrangement portion60and the protector body portion42are provided with first locking structures68for stopping each other in an engaged state with pivoting movement of the lid portion61from the releasing state to the blocking state. The first locking structures68are provided at several portions (in the present embodiment, three portions) and configured to include first locking pieces68A provided on the lid portion61and first locking projections68B provided on the protector body portion42.

The first locking pieces68A each have an opening to which the first locking projection68B is fitted, extend substantially vertically from the lid portion61toward the side of one face (the output bus bar23side in the blocking state), and are able to elastically deform in the plate face direction of the lid portion61. The first locking pieces68A are provided respectively on the both sides of the coupling portion61A and the side opposite to the coupling portion61A. One of the first locking pieces68A on the both sides of the coupling portion61A is provided at the recess portion65.

The first locking projections68B are provided at positions corresponding to the first locking pieces68A on the protector body portion42. Among the first locking projections68B, the first locking projection68B corresponding to the first locking piece68A provided at the recess portion65is provided so as to protrude toward an opening portion55provided between the first output bus bar accommodating portion48A and the second output bus bar accommodating portion48B.

The wire covering portion62and the lid portion61are provided with second locking structures69for stopping each other in an engaged state with pivoting movement of the wire covering portion62from the opened state to the closed state. The second locking structures69are provided at several portions (in the present embodiment, two portions), and are configured to include second locking pieces69A provided on the wire covering portion62and second locking projections69B provided on the lid portion61.

The second locking pieces69A each have an opening to which the second locking projection69B is fitted, extend substantially vertically from the wire covering portion62toward the side of one face (the lid portion61side in the closed state), and are able to elastically deform in the plate face direction of the wire covering portion62. The second locking pieces69A are provided respectively at a wide-width portion and a narrow-width portion of the wire covering portion62.

The second locking projections69B are provided at the positions corresponding to the second locking pieces69A at the inner wall portion64B integrated with the lid portion61. The second locking projections69B are provided so as to protrude toward the outer face of the inner wall portion64B.

A description is provided below directed to arranging the voltage detection wires33in a stacked manner on the upper side of the bus bars20. First, the lid portion61is stacked on, and fixed to, the upper side of the output bus bars23. The output bus bars23are accommodated in the output bus bar accommodating portions48with the lid portion61being in the releasing state (seeFIG. 1), and thereafter, the lid portion61is pivoted in the direction of an arrow inFIG. 3into the blocking state. At this time, the first locking pieces68A go over the first locking projections68B with the pivoting of the lid portion61, the lid portion61assumes the blocking state while the first locking pieces68A go beyond the first locking projections68B and elastically recover, and the first locking structures68assume a locked state (seeFIG. 6).

Next, the voltage detection wires33are routed on the upper face of the lid portion61. The wire covering portion62is brought into the opened state, and a bundle of the voltage detection wires33led out from the wire accommodating groove52is bent at a right angle and arranged in the routing space S of the lid portion61(seeFIG. 4). Then, the voltage detection wires33are pressed toward the inner wall portion64B by their own elastic restoring force, and disposed and positioned along the inner wall portion64B. Thus, the voltage detection wires33extend across the second output bus bar23B in the width direction and are arranged thereabove in a stacked manner.

Next, the wire covering portion62is pivoted in the direction of an arrow inFIG. 5and brought into the closed state. At this time, the second locking pieces69A go over the second locking projections69B with the pivoting of the wire covering portion62, the wire covering portion62assumes the closed state while the second locking pieces69A go beyond the second locking projections69B and elastically recover, and the second locking structures69assume a locked state (seeFIG. 9). Thus, the voltage detection wires33are arranged in a stacked manner on the upper side of the output bus bars23and fixed.

The battery wiring module10in the present embodiment that is thus assembled is attached to the upper face of the electric cell group13whose electrode terminals11are directed upward. In other words, the battery wiring module10is placed on the upper side of the electric cell group13, the shaft portions of the bolts are passed through the through holes24of the bus bars20and the through holes31of the voltage detection terminals30and are screwed into the respective internal screw holes16, thereby connecting the adjoining positive and negative electrode terminals11to each other and connecting the voltage detection terminals30to predetermined electrode terminals11and terminals15for voltage detection, and a battery module is finished.

The present embodiment configured as described above achieves the following effect. The battery wiring module10in the present embodiment is attached to the electric cell group13constituted by an array of the plurality of electric cells12each having the positive and negative electrode terminals11, and has the bus bars20to be connected to the electrode terminals11, the voltage detection wires33for detecting a state of the electric cell group13, and the resin protector40for holding the bus bars20. The resin protector40is provided with the lid portion61made of an insulating material for covering the output bus bars23, and the pair of wall portions64standing on both sides of the voltage detection wires33on a face of the lid portion61opposite to the output bus bars23, and a space between the pair of wall portions64is used as the routing space S through which the voltage detection wires33are passed.

With this configuration, the voltage detection wires33can be collectively positioned at the lid portion61without attaching a fixing member to the voltage detection wires33, for example. Accordingly, the voltage detection wires33can be routed in a superposed manner on the side of one face of the output bus bars23, without degrading workability in an assembly work.

The pair of wall portions64extend continuously in the routing direction of the voltage detection wires33, and the wire covering portion62for covering the voltage detection wires33routed in the routing space S is provided so as to bridge the pair of wall portions64. With this configuration, it is possible to restrict protrusion of the voltage detection wires33from the routing space S to the outside, and prevent the voltage detection wires33from coming in contact with the outside.

The wire covering portion62is integrated with the lid portion61and is pivotable between the closed stated in which the wire covering portion62closes the routing space S and the opened state in which it releases the routing space S. With this configuration, it is possible to fix the voltage detection wires33to the lid portion61and protect the voltage detection wires33with an easy operation of only routing the voltage detection wires33in the routing space S with the wire covering portion62being in the opened state and then pivoting the wire covering portion62into the closed state.

The lid portion61and the wire covering portion62are provided with the second locking structures69for stopping each other in an engaged state with pivoting movement of the wire covering portion62from the opened state to the closed state. With this configuration, the wire covering portion62and the lid portion61can be locked with an easy operation of only pivoting the wire covering portion62from the opened state to the closed state.

Other Embodiments

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described in the above description and the drawings, and numerous other embodiments are also embraced in the technical scope of the present invention. A few such embodiments are provided below for exemplary purposes only.

(1) In the above embodiment, the electrode terminals11and the terminals15for voltage detection each have the internal screw hole16, and the bus bars20and the voltage detection terminals30are pressed and fixed to the electrode terminals11or the terminals15for voltage detection using the bolts that are paired with the internal screw holes16. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and, for example, the electrode terminals and the voltage detection terminals may be formed in a bolt shape, and the bus bars and the voltage detection terminals may be pressed and fixed thereto using nuts that are paired with the electrode terminals or the terminals for voltage detection.

(2) Although the electric cells12are rectangular cells each with the body portion14having a flat and rectangular box shape in the above embodiment, the present invention is applicable to electric cells having any kind of shape. For example, the present invention is also applicable to cylindrical electric cells each having a cylindrical body portion.

(3) Although the resin protector40includes the plurality of coupling units in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the resin protector may be a single resin plate capable of holding all bus bars.

(4) Although the above embodiment described an example of the present invention applied to the case where the voltage detection wires33are arranged in a stacked manner on the output bus bars23arranged at an end of the resin protector40, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention is also applicable to the case where detection wires such as the voltage detection wires are arranged in a stacked manner on bus bars arranged at the center of the resin protector, for example.

(5) Although the inner wall portion64B is integrated with the lid portion61in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the inner wall portion may be integrated with the protector body portion, the lid portion may be provided with a through hole through which this inner wall portion is caused to protrude toward the opposite side, and the inner wall portion may be caused to protrude toward the voltage detection wire side from this through hole.

(6) Although the inner wall portion64B of the pair of wall portions64is integrated with the lid portion61, and the outer wall portion64A is integrated with the wire covering portion62in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. Both wall portions may be integrated with the lid portion.

(7) Although the pair of wall portions64are installed in a standing manner on both sides of the voltage detection wires33in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the wall portion (inner wall portion) may be provided only on the side against which the voltage detection wires are pressed by its own elastic restoring force.

(8) Although the stacking arrangement portion60is coupled to the protector body portion42with the first hinge portions63in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. The stacking arrangement portion may be a separate body that is not coupled to the protector body portion, and may be separately coupled to the protector body portion with a coupling means when necessary.

(9) Although the wire covering portion62covers the substantially entire routing space S in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the wire covering portion may be provided so as to cover only part of the routing space, and such wire covering portions may be provided at multiple portions.

(10) Although the wall portion64extends continuously along the voltage detection wires33in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the wall portion may be divided into multiple portions on the side of the voltage detection wires.