FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] Present invention relates to an energy storage unit of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
5 [002] In existing vehicle layouts, 12V battery packs present in internal
combustion engine vehicles achieves the functions of supplying power to the
spark plug of the engine for initiating combustion and sustenance of basing
electrical operations such as head lamp, horn, tail lamp, etc. Traditionally, the
battery pack used is of Lead- Acid kind owing to the high-power density of the
10 Lead Acid. Lead acid battery packs are typically pouch cells which do not need
a cell holder or casing, and they are easy to handle. With the usage of lead
acid battery, the disadvantages are heavier weight of the battery pack, and
reduced durability or life cycle of the battery pack. Thus, it is a necessity to
replace the lead acid batteries in 2-wheeler vehicle by a rechargeable 12 V
15 lithium-ion battery to enhance the performance of the vehicle as per
requirements. Furthermore, the limitations of the lead acid battery are no signal
tapping provision was given on the cell holder to carry current/ voltage readings
to the BMS from cells, cell holders do not have groves to hold the
interconnectors. On the other hand, the lithium-ion cells have a high energy
20 density which permits a longer life cycle. To suit the power density
requirements of the lead acid, the lithium ion is used in 4S2P (4 cells in series
and 2 in parallel) configuration.
3
[003] The disadvantages of existing prior arts include, but not limited to, there
is no signal tapping provision given on the cell holder to carry current/ voltage
readings to the BMS from cells. Since tapping provision was not given, the
signal wires were directly soldered on the interconnector and the BMS,
5 therefore increasing the resistance of the pack and thereby decreasing the
performance of the pack significantly.
[004] Existing cell holders do not have grooves to hold the interconnectors.
The cell holders with no grooves to align interconnectors could lead to float of
the interconnectors and therefore leading to short circuit of the cells which is
10 safety critical for the customer. In earlier arrangements of Li-ion cells, there are
floating connectors, where the interconnector typically extrudes over the cell
tapping surfaces are not typically securely seated. A disadvantage of the same
is that during solder/ laser welding there are chances of movement of the
interconnector leading to an incorrect electrical connection.
15 [005] Additionally, in case the movement of the floating interconnector
exposes the cell surface, the laser weld may accidently puncture the cell.
Further, since lead acid batteries are typically pouch cell batteries there was
no requirement of a cell holder. Instead, wires were used to directly connect
the cell modules to an output. The wire connections are subjected to wear and
20 tear and do not have as high a transmission efficiency as metal plates or
interconnectors.
4
[006] Thus, there is a need in the art to overcome the aforesaid problems by
providing an energy storage unit of a vehicle that addresses these problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
5 [007] In one aspect, the present invention is directed to an energy storage
unit. The energy storage unit comprises a plurality of cells. The plurality of cells
comprises a first end and a second end. The energy storage unit comprises at
least one holder member. The at least one holder member is a planar body
with a predetermined thickness. Each holder member comprises a plurality of
10 receptacles. Each of the receptacle is configured to accommodate any one of
the first end and the second end of a cell of the plurality of cells. The holder
member further comprises a pair of mounting provisions disposed on a
peripheral edge of the planar body. The pair of mounting provisions comprises
a first mounting provision which is configured to connect with one or more
15 connecting members and a second mounting provision is configured to connect
with an electronic board of the energy storage unit.
[008] In an embodiment, the first end of the plurality of cells is a positive
terminal of the energy storage unit and the second end of the plurality of cells
is a negative terminal of the energy storage unit.
20 [009] In a further embodiment, the first mounting provision of the holder
member is an embossed region which is configured to connect with the one or
more connecting members to electrically connect the plurality of cells.
5
[010] In a further embodiment, the embossed region being a pre-defined
depth associated with a thickness of the connecting member.
[011] In a further embodiment, the embossed region has a profile matching
with a profile of the connecting member.
5 [012] In a further embodiment, the second mounting provision of the holder
member is a protrusion which is configured to connect with one or more mating
provisions of the electronic board of the energy storage unit.
[013] In a further embodiment, axes of the plurality of receptacles is coaxially
aligned with axes of the plurality of cells, while the peripheral edge is
10 perpendicular to the axes of the plurality of receptacles.
[014] In a further embodiment, the holder member comprises at least one
guiding rail on an outer surface for engagement with a casing of the energy
storage unit.
[015] In a further embodiment, the energy storage unit comprises a support
15 structure at the first mounting provision. The support structure is configured to
insulate electrical connection between the connecting member and the
electronic board.
[016] In a further embodiment, the one or more connecting member is
configured to be disposed at pre-defined areas of the energy storage unit. Each
20 connecting member is made of a conducting material and comprises a first
member. The first member comprises at least one tab configured to establish
an electrical connection with a cell of the plurality of cells. The connecting
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member further comprises a second member. The second member comprises
an extended part and at least one cut-out portion. The second member is
integrated with the first member forming the connecting member. The at least
one tab of the first member is positioned at the cut-out portion of the second
5 member and the extended part of the second member is configured to connect
the first member to the electronic board.
[017] In a further embodiment, the first member is made of a first material, the
first material is nickel, and the second member is made of a second material,
the second material is copper.
10 [018] In a further embodiment, the extended part of the second member is
perpendicular to the cut-out portion of the second portion.
[019] In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a connecting
member for an energy storage unit. The connecting member is configured to
be disposed at pre-defined areas of the energy storage unit. Each connecting
15 member is made of a conducting material and comprises a first member. The
first member comprises at least one tab configured to establish an electrical
connection with a cell of the plurality of cells. The connecting member further
comprises a second member. The second member comprises an extended
part and at least one cut-out portion. The second member is integrated with the
20 first member forming the connecting member. The at least one tab of the first
member is positioned at the cut-out portion of the second member and the
7
extended part of the second member is configured to connect the first member
to the electronic board.

WE CLAIM:
1. An energy storage unit (100), the energy storage unit (100) comprising:
a plurality of cells (102), the plurality of cells (102) comprises a first end
(102A) and a second end (102B); and
5 at least one holder member (104), the at least one holder member (104)
being a planar body with a predetermined thickness (T), each holder
member (104) comprising:
a plurality of receptacles (106), each of the receptacle (106) being
configured to accommodate any one of the first end (102A) and the
10 second end (102B) of a cell of the plurality of cells (102); and
a pair of mounting provisions (108, 110) disposed on a peripheral
edge (E) of the planar body, the pair of mounting provisions (108, 110)
comprising a first mounting provision (108) being configured to connect
with one or more connecting members (112) and a second mounting
15 provision (110) being configured to connect with an electronic board
(114) of the energy storage unit (100).
2. The energy storage unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first end
(102A) of the plurality of cells (102) being a positive terminal of the energy
20 storage unit (100) and the second end (102B) of the plurality of cells (102)
being a negative terminal of the energy storage unit (100).
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3. The energy storage unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first
mounting provision (108) of the holder member (104) is an embossed
region which is configured to connect with the one or more connecting
members (112) to electrically connect the plurality of cells (102).
5
4. The energy storage unit (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the embossed
region being a pre-defined depth associated with a thickness of the
connecting member (112).
10 5. The energy storage unit (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the embossed
region has a profile matching with a profile of the connecting member (112).
6. The energy storage unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second
mounting provision (110) of the holder member (104) is a protrusion which
15 is configured to connect with one or more mating provisions (114A) of the
electronic board (114) of the energy storage unit (100).
7. The energy storage unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein axes (A1) of
the plurality of receptacles (106) being coaxially aligned with axes (A2) of
20 the plurality of cells (102), while the peripheral edge (E) being
perpendicular to the axes (A2) of the plurality of receptacles (106).
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8. The energy storage unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder
member (104) comprises at least one guiding rail (116) on an outer surface
(104A) for engagement with a casing of the energy storage unit (100).
5 9. The energy storage unit (100) as claimed in claim 1 comprising a support
structure (118) at the first mounting provision (108), the support structure
(118) being configured to insulate electrical connection between the
connecting member (112) and the electronic board (114).
10 10. The energy storage unit (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or
more connecting member (112) being configured to be disposed at predefined areas of the energy storage unit (100), each connecting member
(112) being made of a conducting material and comprises:
a first member (112A), the first member (112A) comprising at least one
15 tab (112B) configured to establish an electrical connection with a cell of the
plurality of cells (102); and
a second member (112C), the second member (112C) comprising an
extended part (112D) and at least one cut-out portion (112E), the second
member (112C) being integrated with the first member (112A) forming the
20 connecting member (112), wherein the at least one tab (112B) of the first
member (112A) being positioned at the cut-out portion (112E) of the
second member (112C) and the extended part (112D) of the second
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member (112C) being configured to connect the first member (112A) to the
electronic board (114).
11. The energy storage unit (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first
5 member (112A) is made of a first material, the first material being nickel
and the second member (112C) is made of a second material, the second
material being copper.
12. The energy storage unit (100) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the extended
10 part (112D) of the second member (112C) is perpendicular to the cut-out
portion (112E) of the second portion (112C).
13. A connecting member (112) for an energy storage unit (100), the
connecting member (112) being configured to be disposed at pre-defined
15 areas of the energy storage unit (100), each connecting member (112)
being made of a conducting material and comprises:
a first member (112A), the first member (112A) comprising at least one
tab (112B) configured to establish an electrical connection with a cell of the
plurality of cells (102); and
20 a second member (112C), the second member (112C) comprising an
extended part (112D) and at least one cut-out portion (112E), the second
member (112C) being integrated with the first member (112A) forming the
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connecting member (112), wherein the at least one tab (112B) of the first
member (112A) being positioned at the cut-out portion (112E) of the
second member (112C) and the extended part (112D) of the second
member (112C) being configured to connect the first member (112A) to the
5 electronic board (114).
14. The connecting member (112) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first
member (112A) is made of a first material, the first material being nickel
and the second member (112C) is made of a second material, the second
10 material being copper.
15. The connecting member (112) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the
extended part (112D) of the second member (112C) is perpendicular to the
cut-out portion (112E) of the second portion (112C).