Patent Publication Number: US-2018034115-A1

Title: Temperature measuring assembly, electrical device assembly, battery pack connecting assembly and battery pack

Description:
TECHNICAL FILED 
     The present invention relates generally to a structure for measuring temperature, and particularly to a temperature measuring assembly, an electrical device assembly, a battery pack connecting assembly and a battery pack used in an electric vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     With wide application of new energy, electric vehicles are increasingly popular among consumers. As a power source of an electric vehicle, it is the key of vehicle safety performance that a vehicle battery pack works stably. The vehicle battery pack outputs relatively high current in work, easily causing a temperature rise. Generally, to guarantee safety running of the vehicle, the operating parameters of the vehicle battery pack need to be monitored. The temperature of a vehicle battery is a key monitoring parameter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a temperature measuring assembly, an electrical device assembly, a battery pack connecting assembly and a vehicle battery pack with a stable connection and high response speed in temperature measurement to overcome the defects of the prior art. 
     To fulfill the above objective, the present invention is achieved by the following technical solutions. 
     The present invention provides a temperature measuring assembly. The temperature measuring assembly includes a temperature measuring element, an output connector and a heat transfer component. The temperature measuring element is used for measuring the temperature of an object to be measured and outputting a temperature signal, and is spaced apart from the object to be measured. The output connector is electrically connected with the temperature measuring element to receive the temperature signal. The heat transfer component is configured to be in contact with the temperature measuring element and used for contacting with the object to be measured. 
     Preferably, the heat transfer component covers and encircles the temperature measuring element. 
     Preferably, the heat transfer component is thermo-sensitive adhesives. 
     Preferably, the heat transfer component is an integrated component made by curing melt silicone. 
     Preferably, the temperature measuring element is a thermistor. 
     Preferably, the temperature measuring element is a chip resistor. 
     Preferably, the temperature measuring element is a negative temperature coefficient thermistor. 
     Preferably, the output connector is a circuit board or a flexible flat cable. 
     Preferably, the circuit board is a flexible circuit board. 
     Preferably, the output connector includes an insulating layer and an electrically conductive layer. The electrically conductive layer is arranged in the insulating layer. The temperature measuring element is electrically connected with the electrically conductive layer. 
     Preferably, the output connector is provided with a first surface and a second surface. The output connector is provided with a connecting through hole along the through-thickness direction. The connecting through hole communicates one side of the first surface with one side of the second surface of the output connector. The temperature measuring element is arranged on the first surface or the second surface of the output connector. The heat transfer component is configured to extend and protrude from the first surface of the output connector out of the second surface of the output connector via the connecting through hole. 
     Preferably, two connecting through holes are provided. The heat transfer component extends and protrudes from the first surface of the output connector out of the second surface of the output connector via the two connecting through holes, and is connected with the output connector into a whole on one side of the second surface. 
     Preferably, the output connector includes an insulating layer and an electrically conductive layer. The insulating layer is arranged to wrap around the electrically conductive layer. A notch or a recess is formed on the upper surface of the insulating layer. The electrically conductive layer extends to the recess or the notch. The temperature measuring element is arranged at the recess or the notch, and is electrically connected with the electrically conductive layer. 
     Preferably, the heat transfer component covers the temperature measuring element, and at least partially fills in the notch or the recess. 
     Preferably, the output connector is provided with a first surface and a second surface. The output connector is provided with a connecting through hole along the through-thickness direction. The connecting through hole communicates one side of the first surface of the output connector with one side of the second surface. The recess or the notch is communicated with the connecting through hole. The temperature measuring element is arranged on the first surface or the second surface of the output connector. The heat transfer component extends and protrudes from the first surface of the output connector out of the second surface of the output connector via the connecting through hole. 
     The present invention further provides an electrical device assembly. The electrical device assembly includes an object to be measured and the temperature measuring assembly as described in any of the above items. The object to be measured is arranged to be in contact with the heat transfer component, and is spaced apart from the temperature measuring element. 
     Preferably, the object to be measured is provided with a temperature measuring end protruding along the width direction of the output connector. The output connector is arranged to be directly opposite to the temperature measuring end. 
     Preferably, the output connector is provided with a connecting through hole along the through-thickness direction. The output connector is arranged between the temperature measuring element and the object to be measured. The heat transfer component achieves a heat transfer connection between the temperature measuring element and the object to be measured via the connecting through hole. 
     Preferably, the output connector is provided with a first surface and a second surface. The output connector is provided with a connecting through hole along the through-thickness direction. The connecting through hole communicates one side of the first surface of the output connector with one side of the second surface. The temperature measuring element is arranged on the first surface or the second surface of the output connector. The heat transfer component extends and protrudes from the first surface of the output connector out of the second surface of the output connector via the connecting through hole. 
     Preferably, the output connector includes an insulating layer and an electrically conductive layer; and the insulating layer is arranged to wrap around the electrically conductive layer. A recess or a notch is formed in the first surface or the second surface of the insulating layer. The electrically conductive layer extends to the recess or the notch. The temperature measuring element is arranged at the recess or the notch, and is electrically connected with the electrically conductive layer. 
     Preferably, two electrically conductive layers are provided; and the temperature measuring element is simultaneously electrically connected with the two electrically conductive layers. 
     Preferably, the heat transfer component is provided with a limiting top. The limiting top is configured to cover the temperature measuring element, and at least partially fill in the recess or the notch. The limiting top has a radial size greater than that of the connecting through hole. 
     Preferably, the object to be measured is provided with a holding through hole or a holding groove along the through-thickness direction. The holding through hole or the holding groove is arranged to communicate with the connecting through hole. The heat transfer component extends to fill in the holding through hole or the holding groove. 
     Preferably, the heat transfer component is provided with a limiting bottom. The limiting bottom extends and protrudes out of the holding through hole, and has a radial size greater than that of the holding through hole. 
     The present invention further provides a battery pack connecting assembly. The battery pack connecting assembly includes a support and the electrical device assembly as described in any of the above items. The object to be measured is arranged on the support. The object to be measured includes one or more bus-bars. The temperature measuring assembly includes one or more temperature measuring elements, and the temperature measuring elements are spaced apart from the bus-bars in a one-to-one correspondence manner. The output connector is electrically connected with the one or more temperature measuring elements. The heat transfer component is in contact with the bus-bars, so that the bus-bars are in heat transfer connection with the corresponding temperature measuring elements. 
     Preferably, the output connector includes a pair of electrically conductive layers. All the temperature measuring elements are electrically connected with the pair of electrically conductive layers. 
     As another embodiment, the output connector includes one or multiple pairs of electrically conductive layers. Each of the temperature measuring element is electrically connected with the pair of electrically conductive layers in a one-to-one correspondence manner. 
     The present invention further provides a vehicle battery pack. The vehicle battery pack includes a battery, a support and the electrical device assembly as described in any of the above items. The electrical device assembly is arranged on the support. The object to be measured is a bus-bar, and is electrically connected with an electrode of the battery. 
     Compared with the prior art, the temperature measuring assembly of the present invention can improve the precision of measuring temperature through the fit between the temperature measuring element and the heat transfer component. The output connector can conveniently output temperature signals. Preferably, the heat transfer component is a silicone integrated component formed by filling adhesive, thereby reduces the thermal resistance to shorten the heat conduction time, has good insulating performance, and can enable the temperature measuring element to be stably assembled into a whole. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a structural schematic diagram of a temperature measuring assembly provided by the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a structural schematic diagram of the temperature measuring assembly shown in  FIG. 1  without a heat transfer component. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic perspective exploded view of the temperature measuring assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the temperature measuring assembly shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the temperature measuring assembly shown in  FIG. 4  along an A-A line. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the temperature measuring assembly shown in  FIG. 4  along a B-B line. 
         FIG. 7  is a structural schematic diagram of an electrical device assembly provided by the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic perspective exploded view of the electrical device assembly shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the electrical device assembly shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical device assembly shown in  FIG. 7  along a C-C line. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the electrical device assembly shown in  FIG. 7  along a D-D line. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Embodiment 1 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the present invention provides a temperature measuring assembly  101 . The temperature measuring assembly  101  includes a temperature measuring element  10 , an output connector  20  and a heat transfer component  30 . The temperature measuring element  10  is insulated from an object to be measured  50  described below via the heat transfer component  30 . The output connector  20  is electrically connected with the temperature measuring element  10 . The heat transfer component  30  is insulated from the temperature measuring element  10  and the object to be measured  50  respectively. 
     Further referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the temperature measuring element  10  is used for directly measuring the temperature of the heat transfer component  30 , to indirectly obtain the temperature of the object to be measured  50 . The temperature measuring element  10  is electrically connected with the output connector  20 , and outputs a temperature signal to the output connector  20 . The temperature measuring element  10  may be a thermo-sensitive element, which can convert the detected temperature into a corresponding temperature signal to output. In this embodiment, to facilitate transmission of the temperature signal, the temperature measuring element  10  is a thermistor, which in turn converts the measured temperature into an electrical signal. To efficiently achieve a stable connection between the temperature measuring element  10  and the output connector  20 , the temperature measuring element  10  is a chip resistor. The temperature measuring element  10  is electrically connected with the output connector  20  by wave soldering. To improve the measurement precision, the temperature measuring element  10  is a negative temperature coefficient (abbreviated as NTC) thermistor. The specific parameters and specification of the temperature measuring element  10  are selected as needed. In this embodiment, to more stably connect with the heat transfer component  30  and shorten the duration for measuring temperature, the temperature measuring element  10  is arranged in the following recess  27  of the output connector  20 . 
     To form a stable connection, the temperature measuring element  10  is configured to span over the following two separately arranged electrically conductive layers  23 . The specific position of the temperature measuring element  10  on the output connector  20  may be suitable as long as the temperature measuring element  10  can be spaced apart from the object to be measured  50  described below via the heat transfer component  30  and achieve a heat transfer connection via the heat transfer component  30 . In this embodiment, the temperature measuring element  10  is arranged in the recess  27  disposed on the following upper surface  28  of the output connector  20  to be located on a different side of the output connector  20  from the object to be measured  50  described below. For example, the temperature measuring element  10  may also be arranged on the lower surface of the output connector  20 , and even extend into a holding hole  53  of the following object to be measured  50  to be directly opposite to the object to be measured. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6 , the output connector  20  is electrically connected with the temperature measuring element  10  to receive the temperature signal. According to different connecting requirements, the output connector  20  may adopt different conductor materials, specifications and shapes. The shape of the output connector  20  is selected according to needs. In this embodiment, the output connector  20  is roughly strip-shaped or lath-shaped. To facilitate convenient and stable transmission of electrical signals and current, the output connector  20  may be a circuit board. The circuit board is also called a printed circuited board (abbreviated as PCB). The circuit board is used for transmitting the temperature signal and electrical signals or current in other forms. To conveniently obtain bending performance beneficial to a narrow installation space, the circuit board  40  may be an FBC (Flexible Printed Circuited Board). In this embodiment, the output connector  20  is a flexible flat cable (abbreviated as FFC) to achieve better bending performance for universal installation and cost reduction. 
     To achieve stable and safe connecting performance, the output connector  20  includes an insulating layer  21  and an electrically conductive layer  23 . The output connector  20  is provided with a first surface  28  and a second surface (not shown in the figures). The first surface  28  and the second surface are arranged back to back. A connecting through hole  25  described below is formed along the thickness direction of the output connector  20 , and correspondingly, the connecting through hole  25  communicates one side of the first surface  28  of the output connector  20  with one side of the second surface. The insulating layer  21  may be in the shape of a lath made of any insulating material. In this embodiment, the insulating layer  21  is made of PET (Polyethylene glycol Terephthalate) materials. To further improve the insulating performance between the object to be measured  50 , the insulating layer  21  is arranged to be directly opposite to the object to be measured  50 . Specifically, the lower surface of the insulating layer  21  is arranged to be directly opposite to the object to be measured  50 , and the upper surface of the insulating layer  21  is configured to support the electrically conductive layer  23 . The electrically conductive layer  23  is spread on the insulating layer  21  to achieve electrical conduction. 
     The electrically conductive layer may be made of any electrically conductive material. In this embodiment, the insulating layer  21  is a tinned flat copper wire. The number of the electrically conductive layer  23  is selected according to needs. In this embodiment, two electrically conductive layers  23  are provided. The two electrically conductive layers  23  are arranged separately and parallelly. It should be noted that the insulating layer  21  wraps around the electrically conductive layers  23 , and consequently the upper surface of the output connector  20  is also the upper surface of the insulating layer  21 . Moreover, to facilitate understanding, the first surface  28  shown in the figures is the upper surface of the output connector  20  (or the insulating layer  21 ), the second surface is the lower surface of the output connector  20  (or the insulating layer  21 ). The terms of “upper”, “lower” and the like in the present invention are relative concepts, and are merely used for describing the relative positions of components with reference to the accompanying drawings, rather than limiting the specific protection scopes thereof. 
     To enlarge the area of contact with the heat transfer component  30 , the output connector  20  is provided with a connecting through hole  25  along the through-thickness direction. That is, the connecting through hole  25  runs through the upper surface of the output connector  20  to the lower surface. The connecting through hole  25  is provided for the heat transfer component  30  to extend from the temperature measuring element  10  located on the upper surface of the output connector  20  to the lower surface of the output connector  20 , up to the holding hole  53  of the object to be measured  50  described below. The number, diameter and position of the connecting through hole  25  are selected according to needs. In this embodiment, two connecting through holes  25  are provided to achieve the stable holding performance of the heat transfer component  30 . The two connecting through holes  25  are arranged in sequence in the length direction of the output connector  20 , and are respectively located on two sides of the temperature measuring element  10 . In this embodiment, the connecting through holes  25  run through the insulating layer  21 , and partially through the two electrically conductive layers  23  in an equal area manner. 
     To strengthen the holding performance of the heat transfer component  30 , the upper surface of the output connector  20  is provided with a recess  27 . The recess  27  is configured to accommodate the temperature measuring element  10 . After accommodating the temperature measuring element  10 , the recess  27  is configured to accommodate part of the heat transfer component  30 . Preferably, the recess  27  is connected with the connecting through holes  25  to enable the heat transfer component  30  to stably fill in. The recess  27  has a cross-sectional area greater than that of the temperature measuring element  10 , thus having a space for accommodating part of the heat transfer component  30 . The specific shape and size of the recess  27  are suitable as long as it can meet the requirement for accommodating part of the heat transfer component  30 . In this embodiment, the recess  27  is a cubic groove roughly the same as the temperature measuring element  10 . In this embodiment, the recess  27  is respectively formed on the upper surfaces of the two electrically conductive layers  23 . As an alternative embodiment, the recess  27  may be replaced by a groove or notch. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3-6 , the heat transfer component  30  is used for heat transfer contact with the object to be measured  50 . It is conceivable that when thermal equilibrium is achieved, the heat transfer component  30  has the same temperature as the object to be measured  50  so that the temperature measuring element  10  indirectly measures the temperature of the object to be measured  50  by directly measuring the temperature of the heat transfer component  30 . The shape and structure of the heat transfer component  30  are suitable, as long as heat transfer can be achieved and the temperature measuring element  10  is spaced apart from the object to be measured  50 . To improve the measurement precision, the heat transfer component  30  is made of an insulating material. The heat transfer component  30  is respectively insulated from and in heat transfer contact with the temperature measuring element  10  and the object to be measured  50 . The heat transfer component  30  may be made of any insulating and heat-conductive material. In this embodiment, the heat transfer component  30  is made of thermo-sensitive adhesives to achieve better heat conductivity. Further, the heat transfer component  30  is a silicone integrated component. Specifically, the heat transfer component  30  is an integrated component by curing melt silicone. In this embodiment, the heat transfer component  30  wraps around the temperature measuring element  10  in sequence via the melt silicone, fills the recess  27  on the upper surface of the output connector  20  and the connecting through holes  25  of the output connector  20 , extends to fill a gap between the lower surface of the output connector  20  and the object to be measured  50 , enters the following holding through hole  53  of the object to be measured  50 , and finally extends to the bottom having a radial size greater than that of the holding through hole  53 . 
     It is conceivable that the heat transfer component  30  can achieve a holding effect by filling the above spaces. In this embodiment, the heat transfer component  30  is provided with a limiting top  31  and a limiting bottom  33  to improve the holding performance. The limiting top  31  is in block fitting with the upper surface of the output connector  20 . Specifically, the limiting top  31  has a radial size greater than those of the connecting through holes  25  and/or the recess  27 , and thus is in block fitting with the upper surface of the output connector  20 . That is, the limiting top  31  is suitable as long as it does not simultaneously drop from the connecting through holes  25  and the recess  27 . To achieve more stable limiting performance, in this embodiment, the heat transfer component  30  extends in the radial direction and simultaneously covers the connecting through holes  25  and the recess  27 . That is, in the manufacturing process, the melt silicone flows also to the upper surface of the output connector  20  and additionally to the connecting through holes  25  and the recess  27 . Preferably, to strengthen the stability of the temperature measuring element  10  held on the output connector  20  by the heat transfer component  30 , the heat transfer component  30  extends and protrudes from the first surface of the output connector  20  out of the second surface of the output connector  20  via the two connecting through holes  25 , and is connected with the output connector into a whole on one side of the second surface. 
     Embodiment 2 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7-11 , the present invention provides an electrical device assembly  102 . The electrical device assembly  102  includes an object to be measured  50  and the temperature measuring assembly  101  described in Embodiment 1. The object to be measured  50  is in heat transfer contact with the heat transfer component  30 . 
     The object to be measured  50  is selected according to application needs. The object to be measured  50  may be an electronic product. In this embodiment, the object to be measured  50  is a bus-bar. The bus-bar can transmit relatively high current, and thus generate a relatively large amount of heat. In this embodiment, the bus-bar is used for connecting a battery of a battery pack in a vehicle. The specific specification and parameters of the bus-bar are selected according to application needs. To sufficiently save the installation space and reduce the thermal resistance to improve the temperature measurement precision and speed, the upper surface of the object to be measured  50  is arranged to be in contact with the lower surface of the output connector  20 . 
     To facilitate integrated assembly, in this embodiment, the object to be measured  50  is provided with a temperature measuring end  51  protruding along the width direction of the output connector  20 . The upper surface of the temperature measuring end  51  is arranged to be directly opposite to the lower surface of the output connector  20 . The shape and size of the temperature measuring end  51  are selected according to needs. In this embodiment, the temperature measuring end  51  is roughly in the shape of a rectangular flat plate. 
     To further strengthen the holding assembly performance with the heat transfer component  30 , the output connector  20  is provided with a holding hole  53  on the temperature measuring end  51 . The holding hole  53  is provided so that the heat transfer component  30  extends to the lower surface of the object to be measured  50 . The specific diameter and specific position of the holding hole  53  are suitable as long as it can communicate with the connecting through holes  25  on the output connector  20  to facilitate circulation of the melt silicone. To facilitate quick circulation, the holding hole  53  is arranged to be directly opposite to the connecting through holes  25  of the output connector  20 . In this embodiment, the holding hole  53  is roughly an elliptical hole, and is thus directly opposite to both of the two connecting through holes  25 . The holding hole  53  may be a blind hole formed from the upper surface of the temperature measuring end  51 , namely groove-shaped. In this embodiment, the holding hole  53  is a through hole from the upper surface of the temperature measuring end  51  through to the lower surface to further strengthen the holding performance of the heat transfer component  30 . 
     In this embodiment, the object to be measured  50  is used for connecting a battery described below. To improve the speed of measuring temperature, the object to be measured  50  is connected with an electrode of the battery. 
     Embodiment 3 
     The present invention further provides a vehicle battery pack (not shown in the figures). The vehicle battery pack is configured to provide power for an electric vehicle. The vehicle battery pack includes a battery (not shown in the figures) and the electrical device assembly  102  described in Embodiment 2. 
     The battery is electrically connected with the object to be measured  50 . The signal and category of the battery are selected according to application requirements. In this embodiment, the electrode of the battery is connected with the object to be measured  50  by welding. Specifically, the electrode of the battery extends into a welding through hole of the object to be measured  50 , and then the battery is connected with the object to be measured  50  by welding. 
     It should be noted that the terms of “upper” and “lower” in the present invention are relative concepts, and are merely used for facilitating description and understanding, rather than limiting the protection scope. Specifically, the vehicle battery pack includes the limiting top  31  of the heat transfer component  30 , the electrically conductive layer  23  of the output connector  20 , the insulating layer  21 , the temperature measuring end  51 , the limiting bottom  33  of the heat transfer component  30  and the battery main body except the battery electrode in sequence from top to bottom. 
     Embodiment 4 
     The present invention further provides a battery pack connecting assembly (not shown in the figures). The battery pack connecting assembly includes a support (not shown in the figures) and the electrical device assembly  102  as described in any of the preceding items. The object to be measured  50  is arranged on the support. The object to be measured  50  includes one or more bus-bars. The temperature measuring assembly  101  includes one or more temperature measuring elements  10 , and the temperature measuring elements  10  are spaced apart from the bus-bars in a one-to-one correspondence manner. The output connector  20  is electrically connected with the one or more temperature measuring elements  10 . The heat transfer component  30  is arranged to be in contact with the bus-bars, so that the bus-bars are in heat transfer connection with the corresponding temperature measuring elements  10 . 
     It can be understood that the shape and structure of the support are selected according to application needs, and are suitable as long as it can bear the object to be measured  50 . 
     Preferably, the output connector  20  includes a pair of electrically conductive layers  23 . All the temperature measuring elements  10  are electrically connected with the pair of electrically conductive layers  23 . It can be understood that “a pair” means two, used herein only for the purpose of illustration. 
     As another specific connection manner, the output connector  20  includes one or multiple pairs of electrically conductive layers  23 . Each of the temperature measuring element  10  is electrically connected with a pair of electrically conductive layers  23  in a one-to-one correspondence manner. That is, the number of the electrically conductive layers  23  is selected according to that of the temperature measuring elements  10 , so that each of the temperature measuring element  10  is connected with a pair of electrically conductive layers  23  in a one-to-one correspondence manner. 
     Embodiment 5 
     The present invention further provides a vehicle battery pack (not shown in the figures). The vehicle battery pack includes a battery (not shown in the figures), a support and the electrical device assembly  102  as described in any of the preceding items. The electrical device assembly  102  is arranged on the support. The object to be measured  50  is a bus-bar, and is electrically connected with an electrode of the battery. 
     It can be understood that the battery is configured to provide power for a vehicle. The specific specification and parameters of the battery are selected according to needs. 
     The above descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalents or improvements or the like fallen within the spirit of the present invention shall be encompassed within the scope of the claims of the present invention.