JP2001236937A - Battery pack - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery pack that can surely prevent swell of each square battery cell composing a compound battery. SOLUTION: Compound batteries 10 laminating each square battery cell 11 that constitutes a flat plate in the thickness direction are horizontally accommodated in a compound battery case 20. Provided on the compound battery 10 are a pair of confining plates 12 each colliding against the square battery cell 11 located at both ends, respectively, in the laminated direction. So as to push all the square battery cells 11 between them, the paired confining plates 12 are mutually connected by means of connecting rods 13 disposed at the upper or lower part of these square battery cells 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a battery pack having a plurality of rectangular battery cells stacked in a thickness direction.
In particular, the present invention relates to a technique for appropriately suppressing expansion of any of the rectangular battery cells.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A battery pack including a battery pack in which a plurality of flat rectangular battery cells are stacked in the thickness direction as a kind of a relatively large-capacity power supply device used for electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and the like. It has been known. Since a battery pack including such an assembled battery is configured to be compact and lightweight, there is an advantage that it can be mounted in a limited space in an automobile. The prismatic battery cell is a thin hollow rectangular parallelepiped box made of synthetic resin, in which a plurality of battery containers for accommodating the electrolyte and the electrode body constituting the secondary battery are arranged. ing.

[0003] Since such a rectangular battery cell having a plurality of battery cases is made of synthetic resin, when the internal pressure of the battery case rises above a predetermined value due to, for example, generation of hydrogen gas or the like in the battery case. A valve provided to release the pressure in the battery case is operated, but if the internal pressure further increases due to some circumstances, the synthetic resin square battery cell may expand particularly in the thickness direction. There is.
Also, in this rectangular battery cell, the internal pressure increases and expands in the thickness direction even during an overdischarge reaction, an overcharge reaction, a decrease in gas absorption performance at low temperatures, and the like.

[0004] For this purpose, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-120809 discloses a battery pack in which a plurality of prismatic battery cells are stacked in the thickness direction, which are sandwiched between a pair of end plates. A configuration is disclosed in which a pair of restraint bands arranged outside the assembled battery along the stacking direction of the rectangular battery cells are connected to each other.

[0005]

According to the above-described conventional configuration, each rectangular battery cell is pressed by being sandwiched between a pair of end plates.
The expansion of each rectangular battery cell can be suppressed to some extent. However, as a larger number of prismatic battery cells are arranged between a pair of end plates, when a given prismatic battery cell expands, the pressure due to the expansion is dispersed by the compression elastic deformation of the other prismatic battery cells. Therefore, there is a possibility that the expansion of the predetermined rectangular battery cell cannot be suppressed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to reliably prevent expansion of rectangular battery cells arranged in a state of being stacked in the thickness direction. Battery pack that can be used. Another object of the present invention is to allow a battery pack in which a large number of prismatic batteries are combined to be securely mounted in a battery pack case, and therefore, the prismatic batteries in the battery pack may be displaced due to vibration or the like. The object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack having no battery. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack that can efficiently and surely cool each square battery in an assembled battery.

[0007]

The gist of the battery pack of the present invention to achieve the above object is to provide an assembled battery in which a plurality of flat battery cells are stacked in the thickness direction. In the battery pack, the battery pack is provided with a pair of restraint plates that respectively abut against rectangular battery cells located at both ends in the stacking direction, and the rectangular battery cells between the restraint plates are provided. The pair of restraining plates are connected to each other by longitudinal connecting members arranged on both sides of the rectangular battery cell so as to be pressed.

[0008]

According to the battery pack of the present invention, the rectangular battery cells are arranged on both sides of the rectangular battery cells so that the rectangular battery cells between the pair of constraint plates are pressed, that is, a preload is generated. Since the pair of constraint plates are connected to each other by the elongated connecting members, a plurality of prismatic battery cells sandwiched between the pair of constraint plates are pressed in the thickness direction thereof. Cell expansion is preferably prevented.
In addition, misalignment between adjacent rectangular battery cells can be reliably prevented.

[0009]

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, preferably, positioning projections for positioning with respect to another rectangular battery cell adjacent in the thickness direction are provided on the mutually facing surfaces of the rectangular battery cells. And a positioning recess are provided respectively, and the positioning projection and the positioning recess are mutually fitted with the positioning recess and the positioning projection provided on the adjacent rectangular battery. With this configuration, it is possible to appropriately prevent a deviation in a direction orthogonal to the thickness direction of each rectangular battery cell.

[0010] Preferably, the connecting member is disposed above and below the prismatic battery cell, and a margin for tightening the pair of restraining plates by the connecting member positioned above the connecting member is: , And a margin for tightening the pair of constraint plates by the connecting member located on the lower side. With this configuration, in the battery pack, pressure is also reliably applied to the upper side of the rectangular battery cells located at the center in the stacking direction of the rectangular battery cells. When expanded, the rectangular battery cell located at the center thereof is preferably prevented from lifting up.

Preferably, the connection member is disposed above and below the rectangular battery cell, and each of the rectangular battery cells has an upper part thicker than a lower part thickness. Is what is being done. With this configuration, when each rectangular battery cell is pressed in the thickness direction by being sandwiched between the pair of constraint plates connected to the connecting member, the upper portion of the rectangular battery cell is more strongly sandwiched than the lower portion. When one of the rectangular battery cells expands in the thickness direction, the rectangular battery cell located at the center in the stacking direction is preferably prevented from lifting up.

Preferably, the pair of restraining plates have a shape in which a central portion in a width direction bulges to a side opposite to the rectangular battery cell side. With this configuration, when each of the rectangular battery cells is pressed in the thickness direction by being sandwiched between the pair of constraint plates connected by the connecting member, the end in the width direction of the rectangular battery cell becomes the central portion. Since it is sandwiched more strongly, the rectangular battery cell is preferably prevented from shifting in the width direction.

Preferably, the battery pack is housed in a battery pack case, and the battery pack case has flange portions protruding in the width direction of the rectangular battery cells on both sides. A lower case and an upper case are provided, and a lower case flange and an upper case flange are fixed to each other so that a sufficient space is formed between the upper surface and the lower surface of the battery pack. They are integrally connected. With this configuration, since the assembled battery including the stacked rectangular battery cells is accommodated in the assembled battery case including the lower case and the upper case, a sufficient space is formed in the assembled battery case. Therefore, each rectangular battery cell can be efficiently cooled as a whole. Incidentally, in the battery pack, when the battery pack is housed in the battery pack case, a sufficient space cannot be formed in the battery pack case. There was a possibility that cooling could not be performed efficiently.

Preferably, a cooling gas flows between the lower case and the lower end surface of the rectangular battery cell and between the upper case and the upper end surface of the rectangular battery cell. Are provided respectively. With this configuration, the rectangular batteries can be efficiently and reliably cooled by effectively using the space in the battery pack case as a passage for the cooling air.

[0015] Preferably, the upper case and the 1
An elastic member capable of elastic deformation is interposed between the pair of constraint plates and the upper surface of any of the rectangular battery cells constrained. With this configuration, since the upper surface of the rectangular battery cell is held by the upper case via the elastic member, rattling of the assembled battery housed in the assembled battery case is suitably prevented. By the way, when the battery pack and the battery pack case are not securely fixed, when the battery pack is mounted on a hybrid vehicle or the like, the battery pack vibrates due to the vibration of the vehicle or the like, and any one of the rectangular battery cells shifts. There is also a risk. In a battery pack, when any of the rectangular battery cells is displaced, the expansion of each of the rectangular battery cells is suppressed by applying a load in the thickness direction to the plurality of rectangular battery cells constituting the battery pack. There was a risk that it would not be possible.

Preferably, the elastic member is formed of a longitudinal cylindrical hollow body made of synthetic rubber or synthetic resin, for example. In this way, the movement of the assembled battery can be reliably absorbed without applying a large load to the assembled battery from the upper case, and the lightweight and low-rigidity upper case made of a thin metal plate is used. Can be.

Preferably, an intermediate restraint plate is interposed between the rectangular battery cells stacked in the thickness direction in the battery pack, and the intermediate restraint plates are above and below the rectangular battery cells. It is positioned by the side connecting member. With this configuration, the intermediate restraint plate is arranged at an appropriate position between the plurality of stacked rectangular battery cells, and the intermediate restraint plate is fixed to the connecting member. It is even more reliably suppressed.

Preferably, at least one pair of rectangular battery cells of the plurality of rectangular battery cells stacked in the thickness direction are provided with engaging projections on both sides thereof. There is provided a longitudinal expansion suppressing plate which has an engaging hole for engaging with the mating projecting portion and makes the rectangular battery cells immovable in the stacking direction. With this configuration, when any one of the rectangular battery cells expands, the expansion suppressing plate prevents the at least one pair of rectangular battery cells from being separated from each other. Expansion of the prismatic battery cells is suitably suppressed.

[0019] Preferably, engagement protrusions projecting from both side surfaces of the rectangular battery cell are provided with engagement for maintaining an engagement state with an engagement hole of the expansion suppressing plate. A detachment prevention device is provided. With this configuration, the engagement between the engagement protrusion of the rectangular battery cell and the engagement hole of the expansion suppressing plate is ensured by the engagement / disengagement prevention device.

Preferably, a preload is applied to at least one of the restraint plates in order to elastically press the plurality of square battery cells stacked in the thickness direction. A pressing device is provided. By doing so, a preload is applied by the pressing device,
Even if the constraint plate is displaced, the plurality of rectangular battery cells are appropriately pressed.

Preferably, one of the plurality of prismatic battery cells is fixed to a lower case or an upper case of the battery pack case by a fixing device. With this configuration, since the rectangular battery cells are fixed to the lower case or the upper case, expansion of the rectangular battery cells is more suitably suppressed.

Preferably, a positioning member for determining a stacking position in a thickness direction is provided at a predetermined position of each of the rectangular battery cells, and a corner member adjacent to the pair of restraining plates is provided. The positioning members attached to the battery cells are pressed against each other. With this configuration, since the rectangular battery cells are constrained in the thickness direction by the positioning members, expansion due to a rise in the internal pressure of the predetermined rectangular battery cells is suppressed.
Further, even when a predetermined rectangular battery cell expands in the thickness direction, an excessive pressure is prevented from being applied to other rectangular battery cells whose internal pressure has not increased.

Preferably, the connecting member is a rod-shaped connecting rod, and each of the rectangular battery cells is provided with a restraining projection through which the connecting rod is inserted. Each of the projecting portions is provided with a cylindrical metal collar having a length similar to the thickness of the rectangular battery cell and fitted to each connecting rod. With this configuration, since the rectangular battery cells are constrained in the thickness direction by the metal collar, expansion due to an increase in internal pressure of the predetermined rectangular battery cells is suppressed. Further, even when a predetermined rectangular battery cell expands in the thickness direction, an excessive pressure is prevented from being applied to other rectangular battery cells whose internal pressure has not increased.

Preferably, a positioning member for positioning and fixing one of the rectangular battery cells stacked between the pair of constraint plates is attached to the connecting member. With this configuration, one of the rectangular battery cells is fixed to the connecting rod, and thus the expansion of the other rectangular battery cells is suppressed by the fixed rectangular battery cells.

Preferably, an expansion suppressing plate fixed by any one of the connecting members is disposed between the adjacent rectangular battery cells, and the expansion suppressing plate is disposed adjacent to any one of the adjacent rectangular battery cells. Are pressed. By disposing such an expansion suppressing plate between the rectangular battery cells, the expansion of each rectangular battery cell is more reliably suppressed.

Preferably, the expansion suppressing plate has a slit for enhancing elastic deformation at a central portion thereof.
For example, slits are provided in parallel in the width direction and the middle portions in the height direction communicate with each other. This has the advantage that when the expansion of the rectangular battery cells stops, the expansion suppressing plate is reliably restored to the original flat plate shape.

Preferably, the battery pack includes an assembled battery in which the plurality of flat rectangular battery cells are stacked in the thickness direction. (A) The rectangular battery stacked in the thickness direction is provided. A first fixing device for fixing a part of the rectangular battery cells including both ends of the cells to a support member supporting the battery pack;
(b) a retainer member parallel to the longitudinal direction of the battery pack,
(c) a second fixing device for fixing the retainer member to the prismatic battery cell fixed to the support member by the first fixing device; and (d) a square battery having the retainer member fixed by the second fixing device. A press member inserted between another rectangular battery cell located between cells and its retainer member to press and fix the other rectangular battery cell to the support member. With this configuration, since a part of the prismatic battery cells including both ends of the prismatic battery cells stacked in the thickness direction is directly fixed to the support member, the prismatic battery can be formed without using a restraining plate. While the expansion of the cell is suppressed,
Since the rectangular battery cells are pressed against the support member by the pressing member provided on the retainer member, the displacement of the rectangular battery cells is prevented. In addition, since no restraint plate is required or the number of fastening bolts for fixing the assembled battery is reduced, assembling workability is enhanced and assembly cost is reduced.

[0028]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an assembly structure of a battery device, that is, a battery pack of the present invention. This battery pack is made of a flat rectangular parallelepiped plastic plate, and has a plurality of battery containers each containing therein an electrolyte and an electrode plate which are separated by an internal partition and constitute a secondary battery. It has a battery module, that is, an assembled battery 10 in which a plurality of battery cells 11 are integrally laminated in the thickness direction, and an assembled battery case 20 in which the assembled battery 10 is housed. The battery pack 10 is disposed, for example, in a space provided in a lower body of a rear seat such that a longitudinal direction thereof is in a width direction of the vehicle.

In the battery pack 10, each square battery cell 11
Each of them is aligned with each other and is abutted and laminated in the thickness direction. As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of positioning projections 11a is provided on one diagonal line on one of the opposing surfaces, ie, the combination surface where each square battery cell 11 is combined with another square battery cell 11 adjacent thereto. And a pair of positioning recesses 1 are provided at appropriate intervals in the directions.
1b are provided at appropriate intervals in the other diagonal direction. A pair of positioning recesses into which the positioning protrusions 11a and the positioning recesses 11b provided on the surface of the other opposing prismatic battery cell 11 are fitted are provided on the other combined surface of each of the square battery cells 11. 11b
And positioning projections 11a are provided at appropriate intervals in the diagonal direction.

Therefore, when the pair of rectangular battery cells 11 abut against each other, the pair of positioning protrusions 11a provided on the surface of one of the rectangular battery cells 11 is moved to the surface of the other rectangular battery cell 11. Are engaged with each other in the positioning recesses 11b provided in the first and second positions. As a result, the pair of rectangular battery cells 11 butted against each other are positioned with respect to each other in the height direction and the width direction, and the arrangement posture is matched.

As shown in FIG. 6, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, both sides of the adjacent rectangular battery cells 11 have a positive terminal and a negative terminal projecting from a pair of upper sides of the adjacent rectangular battery cells 11, respectively. In order to electrically connect the pair of connection terminals T in series, each end of the bus bar 15 fitted to the connection terminal T is fastened by a nut 16. As a result, the rectangular battery cells 11 constituting the battery pack 10 are electrically connected in series.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the battery pack 10 and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the battery pack 10. At the end of each of the rectangular battery cells 11 stacked to form the assembled battery 10, a relatively rigid metal restraining plate 12 is provided.
Are respectively struck. Each restraint plate 12
Has a rectangular portion similar to the rectangular battery cell 11 so as to be completely in contact with the surface of the rectangular battery cell 11 against which the rectangular battery cell 11 is to be abutted. A pair of upper protruding portions 12a are provided at appropriate intervals in the width direction, and a pair of lower protruding portions 12a protruding downward in a semicircular shape is provided on the lower edge of the rectangular portion.
b are provided at appropriate intervals in the width direction. Each constraining plate 12 is provided with a flange portion 12d extending in the opposite direction to the rectangular battery cell 11 against which the constraining plate 12 is abutted.

The pair of restraining plates 12 are formed in a longitudinal shape disposed on both sides of the rectangular battery cell 11 so that the rectangular battery cell 11 therebetween is pressed, that is, a preload is applied. Are connected to each other. In other words, the pair of upper projecting portions 12a of each of the constraint plates 12 arranged at both ends of the battery pack 10 project upward from the upper surface of each of the abutted rectangular battery cells 11, respectively. A constraining rod, that is, a connecting rod 13 that is parallel to the stacking direction of each of the rectangular battery cells 11 is bridged between the opposing upper protruding portions 12 a of the constraining plate 12. The end of each connecting rod 13 is connected to the upper protruding portion 12a of each restraining plate 12.
Are respectively inserted, and nuts 14 are screwed into ends of the connecting rods 13, respectively, whereby the pair of restraining plates 12 are connected by the connecting rods 13,
The rectangular battery cell 11 between the pair of constraint plates 12
Are pressed against each other by a predetermined preload. Also, each restraining plate 1 disposed at both ends of the battery pack 10
The two lower projecting portions 12b are in a state of projecting downward from the lower side surface of each of the rectangular battery cells 11 to which the two lower projecting portions 12b face each other. Also, connecting rods 13 are respectively installed along the stacking direction of the rectangular battery cells 11. The end of each connecting rod 13 is
, Respectively, and nuts 14 are screwed into ends of the connecting rods 13 respectively.

The pair of restraining plates 12 are moved in the direction of approaching each other by tightening nuts 14 on the respective ends of the connecting rods 13, and each of the rectangular battery cells 11 is stacked. Are pressed in the thickness direction so as to be in close contact with each other. Thereby, even if the internal pressure of any of the rectangular battery cells 11 increases, each of the rectangular battery cells 1
1 is prevented from expanding.

FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the battery pack. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, an assembled battery case 20 in which the assembled battery 10 is housed is integrally formed with a lower case 21 press-formed from a single metal plate and joined to the lower case 21. And an upper case 22. The lower case 21 includes a bottom portion 21 mounted on the body of the automobile.
a on each side edge of the bottom surface portion 21a, a side surface portion 21 that extends slightly outward and upward.
b is continuous. A lower flange portion 21c extending substantially horizontally toward the outside is provided on each side surface portion 21b.
Are provided continuously.

The upper case 22 has a horizontal upper surface portion 22 covering a pair of connecting rods 13 arranged above the battery pack 10.
a, and an upper side surface portion 22b extending substantially vertically downward from each side edge of the upper surface portion 22a, and a step portion 22c extending horizontally from the upper side surface portion 22b.
Are provided continuously. Each step portion 22c is continuously provided with a side surface portion 22d extending vertically downward. And each side part 22d
An upper flange portion 22e extending substantially horizontally toward the outside is continuous with the lower side, and each upper flange portion 22e is connected to each lower flange portion 21c of the lower case 21.
Are combined with each other.

Each lower flange portion 2 of the lower case 21
1c, a plurality of bolt through holes 21e are provided at appropriate intervals, and are also aligned with the bolt through holes 21e of each lower flange portion 21c in each upper flange portion 22e of the upper case 22. Each of the bolt through holes 22f is provided. Bolt through holes 2 aligned with each other
Bolts 23 are inserted into 1e and 22f, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lower case 21 is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle body of a hybrid vehicle, for example, a rear floor panel. A recess 30 to be fitted is provided. A support portion 32 is provided on each side of the concave portion 30 with which a lower flange portion 21c provided on the lower case 21 abuts. Each support portion 32 has a lower flange portion. 2
Bolts 23 that have penetrated 1c respectively penetrate, and nuts 25 are respectively screwed to the bolts 23.

The battery pack 10 is placed on each side surface 21 b of the lower case 21, and each lower connecting rod 13 is connected to the bottom surface 21 a of the lower case 21 and each side surface 2 b.
1b. Then, the upper case 22 is arranged so as to cover the battery pack 10 placed on the lower case 21, and the upper flange portion 22 e of the upper case 22 abuts against the lower flange portion 21 c of the lower case 21. Thus, the lower flange portion 21c and the upper flange portion 22e butted against each other are integrally connected together with the support portion 32 of the vehicle body by the bolts 23 and the nuts 25.

A suitable cushioning material such as a rubber pad may be provided between the bottom surface of the concave portion 30 of the vehicle body and the bottom surface 21a of the lower case 21.

Between each step 22c of the upper case 22 and the upper surface of the stacked rectangular battery cells 11, a longitudinal elastic member 24 extending over the entire length of the rectangular battery cells 11 in the stacking direction is provided. Each is provided. Each elastic member 2
Numeral 4 is made of elastic rubber having a rectangular cross section, and each step 22c of the upper case 22 is connected to all of the rectangular battery cells 11 via an elastic member 24.
Is pressed on the upper surface. Therefore, all the square battery cells 1
1 is supported by each side surface 21 b of the lower case 21, and the load of each square battery cell 11 is transmitted to the recess 30 of the vehicle body in a state where each side surface 21 b of the lower case 21 is compressed. Have been.

Each step 22c of the upper case 22, which presses the upper surfaces of all the rectangular battery cells 11, is
d, the upper flange portion 22e is connected to the support portion 32 of the vehicle body.
Is attached to each step portion 22c by a bolt 23, so that a downward pulling force is applied to each side portion 22d to each step portion 22c.
2c presses each rectangular battery cell 11.

As described above, the battery pack 10 includes the lower case 2
1 and the tensile force on the upper case 22 are dispersed in the vehicle body, so that the rigidity of the lower case 21 and the upper case 22 can be reduced. As a result, the lower case 21 and the upper case 22 can be made thinner and lighter. That is, the mutually pressed rectangular battery cells 11 are:
By being securely attached to the assembled battery case 20 having the lower case 21 and the upper case 22, the displacement of the rectangular battery cells 11 due to vibration or the like is prevented, and the weight of the assembled battery case 20 can be reduced. .

The stepped portion 22c of the upper case 22 is pressed against the battery pack 10 supported by the lower case 21 and the upper case 22 via a pair of elastic members 24 each having a rectangular cross section. Therefore, the battery pack 10
Are stably held in the battery pack case 20.
Further, each elastic member 24 has an appropriate length in the up-down direction, and even when a large upward pressure is applied to the lower case 21 due to vibration, impact, or the like applied to the vehicle body, the elastic member 24 has a proper length. Since the pressure is absorbed by each elastic member 24, the upward movement amount of the battery pack 10 is suppressed. Also in this case, the rigidity of the battery pack case 20 can be suppressed low, and the battery pack case 20 itself can be made thinner and lighter. Also, there is no need to strongly reinforce the entire battery pack 10.

The lower case 21 of the battery pack case 20
In the lower part of the battery pack 10, there is a space below the battery pack 10, which is surrounded by the bottom surface 21 a and the side walls 21 b, and this space is used to cool the rectangular battery cells 11 of the battery pack 10. It is a wind passage. Similarly, a space surrounded by an upper surface portion 22a and an upper side surface portion 22b exists above the battery pack 10 above the upper case 22. In order to cool the cell 11, a cooling air passage is provided. Each square battery cell 1
A small gap (not shown) is provided between the two, and cooling air is introduced through one of the pair of spaces and discharged through the other. That is, by effectively utilizing the space in the battery pack case 20 as a passage for the cooling air, each of the rectangular battery cells 11 can be efficiently and reliably cooled.

Each of the elastic members 24 is not limited to a configuration in which rubber having a rectangular cross section is disposed over all the rectangular battery cells 11 so as to be pressed against the upper surfaces of all the rectangular battery cells 11. The assembled battery 1 is pressed into contact with the upper surface of the rectangular battery cell 11 located at the center in the longitudinal direction of the battery 10.
0, or a rectangular battery cell 11 located at a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction.
It is good also as composition etc. which are divided | segmented so that it may respectively contact and are partially arrange | positioned.

Each elastic member 24 may be made of a cylindrical or tubular synthetic rubber having a hollow inside and a circular cross section. When the applied load is small, each elastic member 24 made of such a cylindrical synthetic rubber is deformed so that the amount of compression increases in proportion to the load. Has a load-compression (FS) characteristic that the compression amount hardly changes. Therefore, even when an impact is applied to the battery pack case 20 due to vibration of the vehicle body and the integrated battery pack 10 moves upward due to the impact, the cylindrical elastic member 24 allows the battery pack to be assembled by the cylindrical elastic member 24. The movement of the battery 10 can be reliably absorbed, and there is no possibility that a large load is applied to the battery pack 10 with respect to the upper case 22. This also allows the rigidity and the like of the upper case 22 to be reduced.

Even when the hollow cylindrical elastic member 24 is used as described above, the present invention is not limited to the configuration in which all the rectangular battery cells 11 of the battery pack 10 are pressed into contact with each other. A configuration in which the cell 11 is partially pressed into contact with the cell 11 may be employed.

Each of the rectangular battery cells 11 in the battery pack 10 is relatively strongly pressed by the pair of restraint plates 12 and the pair of upper and lower connecting rods 13 to be integrated. Even when an impact is applied to each square battery cell 11 by applying an impact to the
There is no possibility that each of the rectangular battery cells 11 is shifted from each other. In addition, the rectangular battery cells 1 adjacent to each other in the battery pack 10
1, since the positioning projection 11a and the positioning recess 11b provided on each surface are fitted and positioned with each other, they are more reliably prevented from shifting from each other in the width direction or the height direction. You. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, the bus bar 15 that connects the adjacent rectangular battery cells 11 is deformed, and the nut 16 that connects each end of the bus bar 15 to the side surface of each rectangular battery cell 11 is loosened. There is no fear.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, the same parts as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the battery pack 10, the tightening allowance between the upper portions of the restraining plates 12 by the pair of connecting rods 13 arranged above the rectangular battery cells 11 A pair of connecting rods 13 arranged on the lower side
May be larger than the tightening allowance between the lower portions of the respective constraint plates 12. This ensures that pressure is applied to the upper portion of the square battery cell 11 located at the center of the battery pack 10, thereby preventing the square battery cell 11 located at the center from being lifted upward. In this case, each of the rectangular battery cells 11 is formed such that the thickness of the upper portion thereof is larger than the thickness of the lower portion thereof, and the upper portion of each restraining plate 12 is tightened by a pair of connecting rods 13 disposed above the rectangular battery cells 11. The margin and the amount of tightening between the lower portions of the restraining plates 12 by the pair of connecting rods 13 arranged below the rectangular battery cells 11 may be the same. In this way, the upper portions of the rectangular battery cells 11 may be strongly pressed against each other. Even in this case, pressure is reliably applied to the upper part of the square battery cell 11 located at the center of the battery pack 10, and the square battery cell 11 located at the center of the battery pack 10 is prevented from shifting upward. Is done.

As shown in FIG. 8, the rectangular surfaces of the pair of constraint plates 12 which are brought into pressure contact with the rectangular battery cells 11 are arranged such that the center in the width direction is opposite to the rectangular battery cells 11. In other words, it may be configured to be curved so that the central portion becomes concave in the width direction in other words to bulge. This makes it possible to apply a substantially even pressing force to the stacked rectangular battery cells 11, thereby preventing the rectangular battery cells 11 from shifting in the width direction of the battery pack 10.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the assembled battery 10 includes a plurality (12 in this embodiment) of square battery cells 11 in a stacked state.
) Intermediate constraint plates 17 may be provided. Each of the intermediate restraint plates 17 is formed in the same shape as a pair of restraint plates 12 provided at both ends of the battery pack 10, respectively, and includes a pair of upper projecting portions 17a and a pair of lower projecting portions 17b, respectively. Have. Each of the connecting rods 13 is inserted into the upper protruding portion 17a and the lower protruding portion 17b, so that the connecting rod 13
The upper protruding portions 17a and the lower protruding portions 17b of the intermediate restraint plate 17 are respectively mounted on the intermediate restraining plate 17. FIG.
0 is the upper projecting portion 1 of the intermediate restraint plate 17
It is sectional drawing which shows the attachment state of 7a and the connection rod 13. At the position where the intermediate restraint plate 17 of each connecting rod 13 is attached, a cylindrical screw member 18 is fixed in advance by welding. Screw member 18
Is provided with a flange portion 18a at one end, and a thread groove is formed on a peripheral surface opposite to the flange portion 18a. Then, the nut member 19 is screwed into the screw groove.

Upper projecting portion 17a of intermediate restraint plate 17
Are provided with through holes 17c through which the connecting rods 13 are inserted. The connecting rods 13 are inserted into the through holes 17c, and the screw members 18 attached to the connecting rods 13 are inserted through the through holes 17c. The upper projecting portion 17a is in contact with the flange portion 18a of the screw member 18 attached to the connecting rod 13. In such a state, the nut member 19 is screwed into the screw groove of the screw member 18, and the upper protruding portion 17 a is sandwiched between the flange portion 18 a of the screw member 18 and the nut member 19, so that the insertion rod 13 The upper projecting portions 17a of the intermediate constraint plate 17 are fixed in a state where they are positioned.

Another upper projecting portion 1 of the intermediate restraint plate 17
Similarly, the lower projections 7a and the lower projecting portions 17b are fixed to the respective connecting rods 13 while being positioned.

As a result, a pair of upper and lower connecting rods 13
Then, the pair of upper projecting portions 17a and lower projecting portions 17b of the respective intermediate constraint plates 17 are respectively positioned, and the respective intermediate constraint plates 17 are fixed at predetermined positions. Thereby, the region between each constraint plate 12 located at each end of the battery pack 10 and the intermediate constraint plate 17 adjacent to each constraint plate 12 and the region between the adjacent intermediate constraint plates 17 are A predetermined number of rectangular battery cells 11 are independently restrained while being pressed against each other.

In the battery pack 10 configured as described above, the area between the restraint plate 12 and the intermediate restraint plate 17,
Or when the internal pressure of any one of the rectangular battery cells 11 arranged in the region between the pair of adjacent intermediate restraint plates 17 increases, and the internal pressure of each of the other rectangular battery cells 11 does not increase. The expansion of the rectangular battery cell 11 is suppressed by a relatively small number of the rectangular battery cells 11 in the region where the rectangular battery cell 11 whose internal pressure is increasing is arranged.

In the battery pack 10, since the remaining battery capacity of each square battery cell 11 varies, all the square battery cells 11
The internal pressure does not rise uniformly and expands. Therefore, if any one or a plurality of prismatic battery cells 11 expands in the thickness direction in a state where the intermediate restraint plate 17 is not provided, the other unexpanded prismatic battery cells 11
In all of the above, there is a possibility that the pressure by the expanded rectangular battery cells 11 is evenly applied and dispersed and absorbed, whereby the pressing force for suppressing the amount of expansion of the expanded rectangular battery cells 11 may decrease. There is. However, as described above, by providing the intermediate restraining plate 17 and applying a pressing force independently to each of a relatively small number of appropriate number of square battery cells 11, any one of the square battery Even when the cell 11 expands, the intermediate restraint plate 17
The expansion of the rectangular battery cells 11 is surely suppressed by the relatively small number of rectangular battery cells 11 constrained by the above, and the battery performance is reduced due to the expansion amount exceeding an allowable value, and the battery case is reduced. Can be reliably prevented.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing still another example of the configuration of the battery pack 10, and FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing an essential part thereof. The expansion of each of the rectangular battery cells 11 is suppressed along the respective side surface of each of the rectangular battery cells 11 pressed against each other by the pair of restraint plates 12 connected by the pair of upper and lower connecting rods 13. A pair of expansion suppressing plates 31 are arranged. The expansion suppressing plate 31 is formed of a strip-shaped steel plate,
A plurality of engagement holes 31a each having a vertically long hole shape are punched at a portion facing the side surface of each rectangular battery cell 11 at the same pitch as the rectangular battery cell 11 in which the plurality of engagement holes 31a are stacked in the thickness direction. Is formed. Each of the side surfaces of each of the rectangular battery cells 11 is provided with a cross-sectional shape, that is, a longitudinal engagement protrusion 11c corresponding to the shape in which each engagement hole 31a is punched.

In such an assembled battery 10, all the prismatic battery cells 11 in a stacked state are connected to a pair of restraining plates 12.
And a pair of upper and lower connecting rods 13, and along the side surface of each rectangular battery cell 11, an expansion suppressing plate 31.
Are arranged, and are engaged in a state where the engagement protrusions 11c provided on the side surfaces of the respective rectangular battery cells 11 are fitted into the engagement holes 31a provided in the respective expansion suppressing plates 31. Each of the expansion suppressing plates 31 has an expansion suppressing plate for each of the rectangular battery cells 11 because each of the engaging holes 31a is engaged with the engaging protrusion 11c of each of the rectangular battery cells 11. It is suppressed by the pulling force of 31.

The purpose of the present invention is to maintain the mutual engagement between the engaging projections 11c provided on the rectangular battery cells 11 and the engaging holes 31a provided on the expansion suppressing plate 31. As shown in FIG. 13, an engaging claw 11d for preventing the engaging protrusion 11c from easily coming out of the engaging hole 31a is provided on each side edge along the longitudinal direction of the engaging protrusion 11c. Alternatively, the engagement claws 11 d may be provided so as to engage with the inside of the engagement holes 31 a of the expansion suppressing plate 31. The engagement claw 11d functions as a disengagement prevention device for preventing the engagement protrusion 11c from being disengaged from the engagement hole 31a.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the battery pack 10 showing another example of the expansion suppressing plate 31, and FIG. 15 is a horizontal sectional view of the part. In order to allow cooling air to flow in a state in which a plurality of rectangular battery cells 11 are adjacent to each other and are superimposed on each other in the thickness direction, an appropriate gap or gap S is provided between the side surfaces of each rectangular battery cell 11. A vertical rib 31b is formed on the surface of the expansion suppressing plate 31 facing the side surface of the rectangular battery cell 11 so as to be inserted into each of the gaps S opened on the side surface. , And the rectangular battery cells 11 are arranged at intervals. Such an expansion suppressing plate 31 is manufactured by, for example, extrusion molding of aluminum.

Each expansion suppressing plate 31 is not limited to a structure in which it is integrally engaged with the side surfaces of all the rectangular battery cells 11 in the assembled battery 10; You may make it each engage with the side surface of the type | mold battery cell 11. FIG. In this case, the number, area, and the like of the rectangular battery cells 11 with which the plurality of expansion suppression plates 31 are engaged are:
It is set in consideration of the strength, economy, and the like of the square battery cells 11 and the expansion suppressing plate 31.

FIG. 16 is a schematic plan view showing still another configuration example of the battery pack of the present invention, FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view showing an essential part thereof, and FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing the essential part. In this battery pack, the battery pack 10 includes a pair of restraining plates 12 and a pair of upper and lower connecting rods 1 for connecting them.
3, the respective rectangular battery cells 11 are integrally fixed in a state where pressure is applied to each other.
Each rectangular battery cell 11 is fixed to the lower case 21 by a plurality of pairs of expansion suppressing members 32 provided on the lower flange portion 21c of the lower case 21.
The pair of expansion suppressing members 32 are arranged at appropriate intervals along each side edge of the battery pack 10, and the pair of expansion suppressing members 32 The rectangular battery cells 11 are fixed.

As shown in FIG. 17, each of the expansion suppressing members 32 is a longitudinal member having a U-shaped cross section made of synthetic resin or metal, and one side in the longitudinal direction is formed of the lower case 21. An attachment portion 32a is attached to the lower flange portion 21c by a bolt 33 and a nut 34. Further, a U-shaped cross-section groove 11e that opens outward in the width direction is formed in a lower portion of each side surface of at least a part of the plurality of rectangular battery cells 11 in the assembled battery 10,
The other end of the expansion suppressing member 32 is an engaging portion 32b fitted into the groove 11e. The engagement portion 32b is shaped so as to be located above the lower flange portion 21c of the lower case 21 at an appropriate distance by an amount substantially corresponding to the thickness of the bottom wall of the groove 11e.

The engaging portion 32 of the expansion suppressing member 32 attached to the lower flange portion 21c of the lower case 21
b is engaged in a groove 11 e provided in the rectangular battery cell 11, and each of the expansions is performed in a state where the groove 11 e is pressed against the lower flange portion 21 c of the lower case 21 by the bolt 33 and the nut 34. The restraining member 32 is fixed.

As described above, a plurality of pairs of the respective expansion suppressing members 32 are provided.
Are engaged with grooves 11e provided at the lower part of each side surface of the rectangular battery cell 11 arranged at an appropriate position in the battery pack 10, and the rectangular battery cell 11 is attached to the lower case 21.
The rectangular battery cell 11 is fixed by pressing it against the bottom surface portion 21a. Therefore, one of the rectangular battery cells 11 arranged in the region between the rectangular battery cells 11 fixed by the plurality of pairs of expansion suppressing members 32, or the corner fixed by the pair of expansion suppressing members 32. Even if any of the rectangular battery cells 11 arranged in the region between the type battery cell 11 and the restraint plate 12 expands, the expansion is caused by another expansion in the region where the rectangular battery cell 11 is arranged. All the rectangular battery cells 11 surely suppress the occurrence. The expansion suppressing member 32 is a rectangular battery cell 1
1 functions as a fixing device for fixing the lower case 1 to the lower case 21.

The number, arrangement, and the like of the rectangular battery cells 11 fixed by the plurality of pairs of expansion suppressing members 32 are determined in consideration of the strength, economy, and the like of the rectangular battery cells 11 and the expansion suppressing members 32. Is set.

Further, in order to suppress the expansion of the rectangular battery cell 11, the configuration shown in FIG. 19 may be adopted. In this example,
A pair of restraint plates 12 provided at an end of the battery pack 10
An expansion suppressing plate 35 for elastically pressing the rectangular battery cells 11 is attached to at least one of the rectangular battery cells 11. The expansion suppressing plate 35 has a rectangular bottom surface similar to the combined surface of the rectangular battery cells 11, that is, the overlapping surface, and has a side wall portion 35 on the entire periphery or a part of the periphery.
a is provided. A flange 35b is formed on the entire circumference of the side wall 35a or a part of the side wall 35a.
Is provided. An elastic sealing member 37 is interposed between the flange portion 35b of the expansion suppressing plate 35 and the restraining plate 12 over the entire circumference.

A plurality of stepped bolts 36 are provided on the restraining plate 12 facing the expansion suppressing plate 35 at equal intervals in the left-right direction, that is, in the width direction of the rectangular battery cell 11. Each stepped bolt 36 is attached to the restraint plate 12.
Are supported so as to be slidable in the axial center direction, and the distal ends of the stepped bolts 36 are screwed to the expansion suppressing plates 35, respectively. A plurality of disc springs 38 are fitted between the expansion suppressing plate 35 and the restraining plate 12 of each stepped bolt 36, and the expansion suppressing plate 35 is separated from the restraining plate 12 by each disc spring 38. It is elastically biased in the direction.

The expansion suppressing plate 35 is a rectangular battery cell 1
When the batteries 1 are stacked in a state where they abut against each other, they are abutted against the surface of the rectangular battery cell 11 located at one end. When each of the rectangular battery cells 11 is pressed by the pair of restraint plates 12, each of the disc springs 38 is compressed as shown in FIG. It is pressed against the surface of the battery cell 11. As a result, the expansion suppressing plate 35 and the restraint plate 12 located on the far side of the expansion suppressing plate 35 are formed.
And the respective rectangular battery cells 11 placed between them are pressed against each other. As a result, any of the rectangular battery cells 1
Even if the internal pressure increases, the expansion is prevented by the expansion suppressing plate 3.
5 ensures prevention. In addition, the prismatic battery cell 1
Even when the remaining battery capacity is reduced by use, the expansion suppressing plates 35 urged by the plurality of disc springs 38 maintain the state in which all the rectangular battery cells 11 are pressed, and The expansion of the cell 11 can be stably suppressed over a long period of time. The expansion suppression plate 35, the stepped bolt 36, the disc spring 38, and the like function as a pressing device that constantly presses the rectangular battery cell 11 with a predetermined preload.

FIG. 21 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another configuration example in which the battery pack 10 in which each of the rectangular battery cells 11 is restrained by the pair of restraint plates 12 is attached to the lower case 21 of the battery pack case 20. FIG. 22 is a sectional view showing the main part.
The lower case 21 of this embodiment is provided with substantially vertical side surfaces 21b along left and right side edges of the bottom surface portion 21a, and a substantially horizontal lower flange portion outside each side surface 21b. 21c are provided continuously. The seating surfaces at both ends of the bottom surface of each of the rectangular battery cells 11 are mounted on the horizontal lower flange portion 21c, and thus function as a battery mounting portion.

Each rectangular battery cell 11 of the battery pack 10 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, ears or legs 11f projecting laterally are provided at the lower portion of each side surface, and an embedded nut 11g is provided in each leg 11f by a method such as insert molding or press fitting. Is provided vertically. Embedded nut 11g
Opens downward from the lower surface of the leg 11f. Each leg 11f is placed on each lower flange 21c of the lower case 21.

The horizontal lower flange portion 2 of the lower case 21
1c is provided with a through hole facing each of the embedded nuts 11g provided on each leg 11f of the rectangular battery cell 11, and is provided in each through hole and the embedded nut 11g below the lower flange portion 21c. The bolts 26 are inserted into the nuts 11g, respectively, and screwed to the respective embedded nuts 11g. Thereby, the battery pack 10 is connected to the lower case 21.
It is fixed integrally to.

The battery pack 10 fixed to the lower case 21 is covered by the upper case 22.
The upper flange portion 22e and the lower flange portion 21c are integrally connected by a plurality of bolts 23 and nuts 25 in a state in which the upper flange portion 22e of the lower case 21 is abutted against the lower flange portion 21c of the lower case 21. Thereby, the upper case 22 and the lower case 21 are integrally connected, and the assembled battery 10 is housed in the assembled battery case 20.

An appropriate gap is formed between each side face portion 22d of the upper case 22 and the side face of each square battery cell 11 in the battery pack 10, and the gap is formed in the gap. A terminal T, a bus bar 15, a wire harness (not shown) and the like are arranged. The leg 11f of each square battery cell 11 is disposed below the gap, and the leg 11f is connected to the lower flange 21 of the lower case 21.
The space in the lower case 21 can be used very effectively because it is fixed to the c by the bolt 26.

Moreover, the leg portions 11f of each square battery cell 11
Are fixed to the lower flange portion 21c of the lower case 21 by bolts 26 in the vicinity of each side surface portion 22d of the upper case 22, respectively.
The lower case 21 is reinforced by each side surface 22d of the upper case 22 integrated with the lower case 21 by the nut 3 and the nut 25. In addition, this allows the battery pack 10
The lower flange portion 21 to which the lower case 21 is attached
The rigidity of c is also high.

In this case, the step 2 of the upper case 22
The elastic member 24 provided between the second battery 2c and the upper surface of each square battery cell 11 of the battery pack 10 does not have a possibility that a load from the battery pack 10 is applied, and functions as a seal for forming a cooling air passage. Therefore, a particularly strong elastic force is not required, and for example, a soft sponge or the like can be used.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the configuration in which all the rectangular battery cells 11 constituting the battery pack 10 are fixed to the lower case 21.
Several rectangular battery cells 11 selected in advance may be fixed to the lower case 21 using bolts 26.

Further, as shown in FIG. 23, each end of the lower case 21 and the upper case 22 is opened in a shape adapted to the outer shape of each restraining plate 12, and each restraining plate 12 is placed in the opening. May be fitted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 24, each rectangular battery cell 11 is fixed to the lower flange portion 21c of the lower case 21 with the bolt 26 while being restrained by the pair of restraining plates 12. And a horizontal lower flange portion 2 functioning as a battery mounting portion.
A plurality of attachment portions 21d for attaching the lower case 21 to the vehicle body may be provided continuously outside the outside 1c. Each of the mounting portions 21d is provided at an appropriate position in the longitudinal direction of the lower flange portion 21c, and each of the mounting portions 21d extends outward from the lower flange portion 21c via a portion bent vertically downward. It extends almost horizontally. A through hole 21e is provided at the center of the mounting portion 21d.

FIG. 25 shows the mounting portion 21 of the lower case 21.
FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view showing a mounting state of d, and FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing a main part thereof. The mounting portion 21d of the lower case 21 is provided at a predetermined position of the vehicle body with the connecting bracket 2 shown in detail in FIG.
9. The connection bracket 29 includes a flat plate portion 29a disposed below the bottom surface portion 21a of the lower case 21 and a fitting groove portion 29b provided continuously with the flat plate portion 29a so as to fit the mounting portion 21d.
And The flat plate portion 29a is continuous with the bottom surface of the fitting groove portion 29b, and has a larger width dimension than the fitting groove portion 29b. Each side surface of the fitting groove portion 29b abuts against the side surface portion 21b of the lower case 21 and is bent outward at a right angle along the side surface portion 21b.

The bottom of the fitting groove 29b and the flat plate 2
9a is fixed to the lower surface of the mounting portion 21d and the bottom surface 21a of the lower case 21 by welding, respectively, and is provided with a through hole 29c aligned with the through hole 21e provided in the mounting portion 21d. I have. A bolt 2 for fixing the rectangular battery cell 11 to the lower flange portion 21c of the lower case 21 is provided on the bottom surface of the fitting groove portion 29b located between the mounting portion 21d of the lower case 21 and the bottom surface portion 21a.
A bolt passage hole 29e is provided so that 6 can pass through.

The lower case 21 aligns a through hole 21e provided in the mounting portion 21d and a through hole 29c provided in the connection bracket 29 with a through hole provided at a predetermined position of the vehicle body in an aligned state. The bolt 23 is inserted into each of the through holes 21e and 29c in the
5 is attached to the vehicle body by screwing.

As described above, the mounting portion 21d provided on the lower case 21 is mounted on the vehicle body.
Since the connection bracket 29 is mounted between the mounting portion 21d and the bottom surface 21a of the lower case 21, the side surfaces 21b of the lower case 21 do not vibrate so as to approach and separate from each other. , It is in a fixed state. Therefore, even if a vertical load is applied to each of the rectangular battery cells 11 mounted on the lower flange portion 21c by the bolt 26, the lower case 21 is not likely to be deformed in a wavy manner. The prismatic battery cells 11 are stably held by the lower case 21.

When pressing the rectangular battery cells 11 stacked in the thickness direction between the pair of restraint plates 12, for example, as shown in FIG.
A plurality of U-shaped or U-shaped metal positioning pieces 39 may be fitted to the upper and lower portions, respectively. These positioning pieces 39 function as positioning members for the rectangular battery cells 11, and
It is attached to the upper part and the lower part of the position corresponding to the partition separating the plurality of battery cases provided inside the prismatic battery cell 11, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 29 to 31, the positioning piece 39 is formed in a strip shape extending along the thickness direction of the upper surface and the lower surface of the rectangular battery cell 11. Are bent at substantially right angles in the same direction along the respective surfaces. At the ends along the surfaces of the rectangular battery cells 11, circular engagement holes 39a are provided.

At the lower part and the upper part of each surface of the rectangular battery cell 11 to which each positioning piece 39 is attached, engaging projections 11h which engage with engaging holes 39a provided at the end of the positioning piece 39 are respectively provided. Is provided. Each engagement protrusion 11h provided on the lower surface of the rectangular battery cell 11
Has a cylindrical shape in which the front end surface is inclined so as to sequentially protrude toward the upper side.
Similarly, each of the engaging projections 11h provided on the upper surface has a cylindrical shape that is inclined so that the tip end surface sequentially protrudes toward the lower side.

The positioning pieces 39 are mounted at the same position on the upper and lower sides of the rectangular battery cells 11 adjacent to each other in the thickness direction. At this time, each end of the positioning piece 39 shaped along the upper or lower surface of the rectangular battery cell 11 slides along the inclined distal end surface of the engaging projection 11h, and the positioning piece 3
9 has an engagement projection 1 in an engagement hole 39a provided at each end.
1h is fitted, and each end of the positioning piece 39 is fixed to the upper or lower surface of the rectangular battery cell 11.

The positioning piece 39 is attached to each square battery cell 11.
32, in a state where all the rectangular battery cells 11 are pressed between the pair of restraint plates 12, as shown in FIG. Positioning pieces 39 provided on the upper part of the cell 11 and adjacent rectangular battery cells 1
The positioning pieces 39 provided at the lower part of the first member 1 are brought into contact with each other and pressed against each other.

As a result, all the positioning pieces 39 arranged along the thickness direction of the rectangular battery cells 11 are positioned between the restraining plates 12, and a pair of upper and lower positioning pieces 39 is attached. Each rectangular battery cell 11 is also positioned and fixed. As a result, any of the rectangular battery cells 11
When the internal pressure rises and expands, the rectangular battery cell 11 disposed adjacent to the rectangular battery cell 11 is fixed in a positioning state, so that the rectangular battery cell whose internal pressure is increased 11 is suppressed from expanding. In addition, when the internal pressure of many rectangular battery cells 11 increases, it is also prevented that excessive pressure is applied to the rectangular battery cells 11 in which the internal pressure does not increase.

In the battery packs shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, each of the rectangular battery cells 11 is not provided with the positioning piece 39 as described above, and a pair of restraining members is provided on the upper and lower surfaces of each rectangular battery cell 11. Protruding portions 11x, and connecting rods 13
Is inserted. Each restraining projection 11x is provided with a through hole through which each connecting rod 13 is inserted.
In each through hole, a metal cylindrical collar 11z fitted to each connecting rod 13 is inserted by press fitting or insert molding, respectively. Each color 11z
Have substantially the same length as the thickness of each of the rectangular battery cells 11, and abut against the collars 11 z provided on the adjacent rectangular battery cells 11.

Each of the rectangular battery cells 11 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, each of the collars 11z inserted in the pair of upper and lower restraining projections 11x in a state of being stacked in the thickness direction.
Inside, a pair of upper and lower connecting rods 13 are respectively inserted. Further, similarly to the above-described embodiment, each connecting rod 1
The three ends are fixed by nuts 14 to a pair of restraining plates 12 respectively abutting on the rectangular battery cells 11 located at both ends in the stacking direction.

Thus, each of the metal collars 1 provided on each of the constraining projections 11x of each of the rectangular battery cells 11 is formed.
Since 1z has a length equal to the thickness of the rectangular battery cell 11, it protrudes from other metal collars 11z provided on the constraining protrusions 11x of the adjacent rectangular battery cells 11, respectively. In this state, the rectangular battery cells 11 are fixed between the pair of restraint plates 12 while being positioned. As a result, even when the internal pressure of any of the rectangular battery cells 11 rises and expands, the rectangular battery cells 11 arranged adjacent to the rectangular battery cells 11 are fixed in a positioning state. Thereby, the expansion of the rectangular battery cell 11 whose internal pressure has increased is suppressed. In addition, when the internal pressure of many rectangular battery cells 11 increases, it is also prevented that excessive pressure is applied to the rectangular battery cells 11 in which the internal pressure does not increase.

FIG. 36 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a structure in which a pair of upper connecting rods 13 for restraining a pair of restraining plates 12 is used to restrain a rectangular battery cell 11 at a predetermined position in an arrangement direction. FIG. 37 is an exploded perspective view showing the main part, and FIG. 38 is a sectional view of the main part. Positioning plates 41 are respectively attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the rectangular battery cells 11 located at predetermined positions among the plurality of rectangular battery cells 11 arranged between the pair of constraint plates 12.

The positioning plate 41 has a width similar to the thickness of the prismatic battery cell 11 and is a trapezoidal bent long metal strip. Each is arranged along the lower surface. At both ends of the positioning plate 41, fitting grooves 41 which are parallel to the width direction of the rectangular battery cells 11 and open downward are provided.
a is provided.

On the upper surface of the rectangular battery cell 11, a pair of fitting projections 11k (FIGS. 37 and 3) each projecting in a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape so as to fit in each fitting groove 41a.
8). Each of the fitting protrusions 1 fitted in the fitting groove 41a is provided on both end surfaces of the positioning plate 41.
An engagement piece 41b is provided to be able to abut on the side surface of 1k.

Each fitting groove 41a of the positioning plate 41
A connecting portion 41c located above the fitting groove portions 41a is provided at a central portion except for the fitting grooves 41a. A pair of through holes 41d are arranged in the connecting portion 41c at appropriate intervals in the width direction of the rectangular battery cell 11, and nuts are formed on the lower surface of the connecting portion 41c so as to be concentric with the respective through holes 41d. 41e are each fixedly provided.

The positioning plate 41 has a plurality of (three in this embodiment) rectangular battery cells 11 arranged at predetermined intervals among a plurality of rectangular battery cells 11 stacked in the thickness direction. Attached to the upper surface and the lower surface, respectively.

A pair of upper and lower connecting rods 13 (the lower side is not shown) for restraining the pair of restraining plates 12 face the respective positioning plates 41 attached to the rectangular battery cells 11. As described above, the connection plate 42 is attached between the pair of connection rods 13. The end of each connecting plate 42 is attached to the surface of each connecting rod 13 by arc welding. Each connection plate 42 is provided with a long hole 42a that is long in the width direction of the connection plate 42, that is, in the thickness direction of the square battery cell 11, at a position facing each through hole 41d provided in each positioning plate 41. ing. Then, the bolt 4 is inserted into each long hole 42a.
3 is inserted and screwed to each nut 41 e provided on the positioning plate 41, so that the position of the positioning plate 41 relative to the connection plate 42 with respect to the connection plate 42 In the adjusted state, each is attached and fixed.

As a result, in all the rectangular battery cells 11 pressed by the pair of constraint plates 12, the connection plates 42 attached to the connection rods 13 are provided.
Since the positioning plate 41 attached to the square battery cell 11 is positioned and fixed, the square battery cell 11 to which the positioning plate 41 is attached is
Securely fixed without moving. Therefore, expansion of the other rectangular battery cells 11 can be suppressed by the rectangular battery cells 11.

The perspective view of FIG. 39 and the sectional view of FIG.
Each fitting protrusion 11 provided on the upper surface of prismatic battery cell 11
An example is shown in which the positioning members 44 are attached to k, respectively, and each positioning member 44 is attached to one connecting rod 13. Positioning member 44
Is a fitting protrusion 1 provided on the upper surface of the rectangular battery cell 11.
It has a fitting groove 44a opened downward so as to fit into 1k, and a mounting portion 44b provided on the upper surface of the fitting groove 44a.

The fitting groove 44a is provided along the upper surface of the rectangular battery cell 11. The mounting portion 44b is a member bent from a metal plate by press molding or the like, and is configured to bend into a portion along the upper surface of the fitting groove portion 44a and a portion along the connecting rod 13; Fitting groove 44
The portion along the upper surface of a is attached to the upper surface of the fitting groove portion 44a by arc welding. Each connecting rod 1
In a portion along 3, a pair of long holes 44 c extending along each connecting rod 13 are provided at appropriate intervals in the horizontal direction.

Each connecting rod 13 has a positioning member 44.
At a position corresponding to the rectangular battery cell 11 with
A pair of bolts 45 are respectively attached. The bolts 45 are arranged at appropriate intervals in the axial direction of the connecting rod 13, and are arranged in a horizontal state orthogonal to the connecting rods 13. The pair of bolts 45 are attached to the mounting piece 4 fixed to the peripheral surface of the connecting rod 13 by arc welding.
3 is retained on the peripheral surface of the connecting rod 13.

The pair of bolts 45 fixed to the connecting rod 13 are inserted into the respective elongated holes 44c of the mounting portion 44b of the positioning member 44 mounted on the rectangular battery cell 11, and the positioning member 44 is fixed to a predetermined position. The rectangular battery cell 11 is adjusted so as to be fitted to the fitting protruding portion 11k. The nuts 46 are screwed to the bolts 45 attached to the connecting rods 13, respectively, so that the positioning members 4 attached to the rectangular battery cells 11 are connected.
4 is fixed to a predetermined position of the connecting rod 13. As a result, the rectangular battery cell 11 attached to the positioning member 44 is fixed so as not to move, and expansion of the other rectangular battery cells 11 is suppressed by the rectangular battery cell 11.

FIG. 41 shows a pair of bolts 45 connected to the connecting rod 1.
A support plate 47 which is vertically held on both sides of 3 is attached to the lower peripheral surface of the connecting rod 13 by arc welding,
An embodiment in which the positioning member 48 is fixed by each bolt 45 of the support plate 47 is shown.

As shown in FIGS. 42 and 43, the positioning member 48 is fitted to the upper peripheral surface of the connecting rod 13 so as to abut against portions of the support plate 47 located on both sides of the connecting rod 13. The connecting rod in the positioning member 48 is provided with a slot 48a into which the bolt 45 is inserted in a portion abutting against the support plate 47 along the axial direction of the connecting rod 13. 13, a pair of engagement pieces 48 b that sandwich the rectangular battery cell 11 in the thickness direction are provided above the predetermined rectangular battery cell 11 at portions located on both sides of the battery cell 13.

The positioning members 48 are attached to predetermined positions of the connecting rods 13 in advance, and the elongated holes 48a of the positioning members 48 are inserted into the bolts 45 supported by the support plates 47, respectively. Each of the engagement pieces 48b of the positioning member 48 is
The positioning member 48 is positioned with respect to the support plate 47 so as to be engaged with the upper portion of the support plate 47, and the nut 46 is screwed to each bolt 45, whereby the positioning member 48 is fixed to the support plate 47. Thereby, as shown in FIGS. 44 and 45, the positioning member 48 is fixed to the support plate 47 fixed to the connecting rod 13, and the rectangular battery cell 11 is fixed by the positioning member 48. .

FIG. 46 and FIG. 47 show that a through hole 51a is provided at a predetermined position of a pair of connecting rods 13 in the center of a connecting plate 51 provided in an erected state.
2 shows an embodiment in which 2 is mounted on a connection plate 51. The positioning plate 52 is fitted into the through-hole 51a, and is an engagement cylinder having an elongated cross section that is fitted to the engagement projection 11k having an elongated shape provided on the upper part of the rectangular battery cell 11. A portion 52a is provided.

The connecting plate 51 is provided with a pair of bolts 45 vertically with the heads on the lower side with the through holes 51a interposed therebetween. The positioning plate 52 has a long hole 52 along the connecting rod 13 on both sides of the engagement cylindrical portion 52a.
The bolts 45 provided on the connection plate 51 are respectively inserted into the long holes 52b. Then, each bolt 45 inserted through each long hole 52b
The nuts 46 are respectively screwed together, and the positioning plate 52 is fixed to the connecting plate 51 as shown in FIGS. Then, the rectangular battery cell 11 is fixed by fitting the engagement cylindrical portion 52a of the positioning plate 52 to the engagement protrusion 11k provided on the upper surface of the rectangular battery cell 11.

FIGS. 50 to 52 show an embodiment in which a positioning member 55 is attached to each connecting rod 13 so that one rectangular battery cell 11 is fixed by each positioning member 55. An upper bracket 55a fitted to the upper side of the outer peripheral surface of the connecting rod 13 and integrated with the connecting rod 13 by arc welding;
A lower bracket 55b fitted to the lower side of the outer peripheral surface of the connecting rod 13. The upper bracket 55a
The cross-section of the lower bracket 55b is formed in a downward U-shape extending along the upper bracket 55a. The upper bracket 55a and the lower bracket 55b have their respective sides abutting against each other on each side of the connecting rod 13, respectively.
And a nut 46 respectively.

The lower bracket 55b, which is formed in a U-shaped cross section, has a downwardly projecting central portion fitted to the upper portion of the rectangular battery cell 11, and the upper surface of the rectangular battery cell 11 When the lower bracket 55b is fitted, a pair of positioning ribs 11m (see FIGS. 51 and 52) for positioning the lower bracket 55b are in a state along the thickness direction of the rectangular battery cell 11. And are provided at appropriate intervals.

The positioning member 55 can be easily attached to any one of the connecting rods 13 at an arbitrary position. Then, each positioning member 55
Thereby, the upper portions of the rectangular battery cells 11 are fixed.

FIGS. 53 to 55 show a state in which a pair of restraining plates 12 are restrained by a pair of connecting rods 13 and a plurality of restraining bands 53 made of metal having respective ends attached to the restraining plates 12. An embodiment is shown in which all the rectangular battery cells 11 are fixed. Each of the restraining bands 53 is provided with a fitting cylindrical portion 53a having a circular cross section and protruding downward facing the upper surface of the rectangular battery cell 11 along the longitudinal direction. Each square battery cell 11
Are provided with short cylindrical fitting protrusions 11k to be fitted into fitting cylinder portions 53a of the respective restraining bands 53. The end of each restraining band 53 is a restraining plate 1
2 and are attached by welding or the like.

As described above, all the rectangular battery cells 11 between the restraint plates 12 are fixed by the plurality of restraint bands 53, respectively, and the internal pressure of any one of the rectangular battery cells 11 rises and expands. Even in the case of trying to do so, the expansion of the rectangular battery cells 11 is suppressed by fixing each of the rectangular battery cells 11.

As shown in FIG. 55, the fitting cylindrical portion 53a of each restraining band 53 is fitted to the fitting projecting portion 11 of the rectangular battery cell 11.
In the state fitted to the upper surface of the rectangular battery cell 11, the upper surface of the rectangular battery cell 11 and the restraining band 53 are provided between the adjacent fitting cylindrical portions 53a.
A space is formed between the rectangular battery cells 11 and the upper surfaces of the rectangular battery cells 11, and the cooling air passes through the space, whereby each rectangular battery cell 11 is efficiently cooled.

Each of the restraining bands 53 has a configuration in which a fitting tubular portion 53a is provided facing the upper surface of each of the rectangular battery cells 11 in order to fix all of the rectangular battery cells 11. The configuration is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 56, fitting cylinder portions 53a are arranged at appropriate intervals so as to fix every other square-shaped battery cell 11. Alternatively, the engagement protrusions 11k may be formed only in the rectangular battery cells 11 into which the respective fitting cylinders 53a are fitted.

Each restraining band 53 is not limited to such a configuration. As shown in FIGS. 57 and 58, each restraining band 53 is provided with a pair of long holes 53b at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction. Each formed, with a pair of long holes 53b,
A positioning member 54 for fixing the pair of rectangular battery cells 11 may be attached.

The positioning member 54 has a downward U-shaped cross section sandwiching the upper portions of a pair of rectangular battery cells 11 adjacent to each other, and each of the elongated holes 53b is projected upward from its upper surface. A pair of bolts 45 respectively inserted into the inside are fixed. Each of the bolts 45 is inserted into each of the long holes 53 b forming a pair of the restraining bands 53, and the nuts 46 are screwed into each of the bolts 45 so that the positioning members 54 are fitted to the upper portions of the pair of square battery cells 11. , The two-sided battery cells 11 are integrally fixed.

The positioning members 54 are not limited to the structure of being attached to the restraining band 53 by the bolts 45 and the nuts 46 as shown in FIG.
You may make it attach to the lower surface of the restraint band 53 by spot welding.

Further, as described above, the rectangular battery cells 11
Instead of the upper fixing device for fixing the upper part of the battery pack, the lower part of the rectangular battery cell 11 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
Lower case 21 in battery pack case 20 in which is stored
May be fixed to the bottom surface portion 21a of the base member. Bottom part 2
As shown in FIG. 61, a plurality of support portions 21m are provided on the bottom portion 21a corresponding to the rectangular battery cells 11 to be fixed.
Are formed at the center in the width direction of the bottom surface portion 21a at an appropriate interval in the longitudinal direction (the stacking direction of the rectangular battery cells 11). In each of the support portions 21m, the central portion in the thickness direction of the rectangular battery cell 11 is a flat upper surface mounted on the rectangular battery cell 11, and each side portion in the longitudinal direction is inclined. ing. On the upper surface of the support 21m,
A pair of long holes 21n each extending along the longitudinal direction
(See FIG. 62).

As shown in FIG. 62, a positioning member 56 is attached to each support 21m.
The positioning member 56 has a downward fitting groove 56a fitted into the upper part of the support portion 21m, and a base 56b provided at the center of the fitting groove 56a so as to protrude upward. As shown in FIG. 63, bolts 4 inserted into respective long holes 21n provided on the upper surface of support portion 21m are provided.
5 and a nut 46 screwed to each bolt 45, the fitting groove 56a is attached to the support 21m.

One rectangular battery cell 11 is mounted on the upper surface of the base 56b.
In b, a pair of vertical engaging pieces 56c are formed by cutting and raising a part of the base portion 56b along each surface of the rectangular battery cell 11.

The lower part of one rectangular battery cell 11 is inserted between a pair of engaging pieces 56c and is brought into contact with the upper surface of the base part 56b. Thereby, the rectangular battery cells 11 are fixed.

The fixing of the lower part of the rectangular battery cell 11 is not limited to such a lower fixing device. For example, as shown in FIG. 64, the positioning member 57 is provided on each support portion 21m provided on the lower case 21. May be attached and fixed. On the upper surface of the support portion 21m provided in the lower case 21, an elongated opening portion 21p is provided along the longitudinal direction of the rectangular battery cell 11, and the positioning member 57 is attached to the opening portion 21p. It is installed with it inserted.

FIG. 65 is a perspective view showing the positioning member 57, and FIG. 66 is a plan view of the positioning member 57. The positioning member 57 has an engagement cylindrical portion 57a having an elongated cross section and inserted into the opening 21p of the support portion 21m. The fitting cylinder 57a is inserted from below the lower case 21, and a flange 57b is provided below the positioning member 57 to abut against the lower surface of the support 21m. Further, bolt insertion holes 57c are provided on both sides of the flange portion 57b of the positioning member 57, respectively. Each of the bolt insertion holes 57 is also provided in the support portion 21m.
c is provided with a bolt insertion hole, respectively, and the flange portion 57b of the positioning member 57 is abutted against the lower surface of the support portion 21m.
c, the bolts 45 are inserted into the respective bolts 45.
Is screwed to the nut 46. Thereby, the positioning member 57 is attached to the support 21m.

As shown in FIG. 67, on the lower surface of the prismatic battery cell 11, an engaging projection projecting into a short-cylindrical shape having a long-hole cross section to be fitted into the engaging cylinder 57a of the positioning member 57. 11
k is provided, and the engagement cylindrical portion 57 of the positioning member 57 is provided.
a, the rectangular battery cell 11 is fitted to the bottom surface 2 by fitting the engagement protrusion 11 k of the rectangular battery cell 11 into the bottom surface 2.
1a.

In the battery pack of another embodiment,
All rectangular battery cells 1 are formed by a pair of restraint plates 12.
The upper pair of connecting rods 13 and the upper pair of connecting rods 13 and the assembled battery case 20 are used at appropriate locations in the longitudinal direction of the battery pack 10 as shown in FIG. The expansion suppressing plates 62 attached to the lower case 21 may be arranged. The lower sides of the pair of constraint plates 12 are connected to each other by a lower case 21. In the present embodiment, the lower case 21 also functions as a connecting member that connects the pair of constraint plates 12 to each other.

FIG. 69 is a front view of the expansion suppressing plate 62,
70 is a bottom view of the expansion suppressing plate 62, and FIG. 71 is a side view of the expansion suppressing plate 62. The expansion suppressing plate 62 has a plate body portion 62a having a rectangular shape similar to the surface of the rectangular battery cell 11, and a central portion of an upper edge of the plate body portion 62a has a plate body portion 62a. A pair of mounting pieces 62b extending substantially perpendicularly in the same direction are provided at appropriate intervals.
Each mounting piece 62b is provided with a through hole 62d.

A pair of support pieces 62e extending substantially horizontally are provided on the lower edge of the plate body 62a in a direction opposite to the direction in which the mounting pieces 62b extend. Each support piece 62e is also provided with a through hole 62f.

In the plate main body 62a, three vertical slits and a vertical intermediate part of the vertical slits are mutually connected to a region corresponding to one battery case in the rectangular battery cell 11. Slits 62g, which are connected to the width direction slit portions, are provided at appropriate intervals in the width direction of the rectangular battery cells 11. That is, the slit 62g has a plurality of groups each having an appropriate number, in this embodiment, three vertical slits, and the vertical slits of each of the groups communicate with each other at the center in the vertical direction. It is in a state where it has been done.

The expansion suppressing plate 62 is disposed between a pair of rectangular battery cells 11 disposed at appropriate positions in the battery pack 10, and each mounting piece 62 b is disposed between the pair of upper connecting rods 13. It is adapted to be attached to a connecting plate 63 provided in an erect state. Each end of the connection plate 63 is attached to each of the upper connection rods 13 by arc welding.
Long holes 63a extending along the connecting rod 13 are provided at positions corresponding to 2b, respectively. Then, the long hole 63a of the connection plate 63 and the through hole 6 of each mounting piece 62b are formed.
The nuts 46 are screwed to the bolts 45 inserted into the 2d, respectively, so that the expansion suppressing plate 62 is formed.
Are attached to the connection plate 63, respectively.

Each support piece 62e provided below the expansion suppressing plate 62 is supported on each support 21m provided so as to protrude upward from the bottom surface 21a of the lower case 21 of the battery pack case 20. ing. Each support 21m
Has a flat surface, and a long hole 21s extending along the axial direction of each connecting rod 13 is provided at the center thereof. Each support piece 62 of the expansion suppressing plate 62
e is a long hole 2 of the support portion 21m from below the lower case 21.
1s, each nut 45 is inserted into each bolt 45
Are screw-coupled to each other, so that each support 21
m.

The expansion suppressing plate 62 fixed at a predetermined position in the battery pack case 20 in this manner is
It is arranged between the rectangular battery cells 11 at a predetermined location among the plurality of rectangular battery cells 11 arranged in the area 0 and fixed to the bottom surface 21 a of the lower case 21. In this case, the lower edge of the rectangular battery cell 11 placed on each lower supporting piece 62e is pressed at the lower part of the plate body 62a close to each supporting piece 62e and is adjacent to the lower main body 62a. The upper edge of the other rectangular battery cell 11 is pressed at the upper portion of the plate body 62a adjacent to each mounting piece 62b. In this way, the square battery cells 11 pressed by the expansion suppressing plate 62 press other adjacent square battery cells 11, thereby suppressing the expansion of each square battery cell 11. Is done.

Further, since the expansion suppressing plate 62 is provided with a slit 62g comprising a plurality of vertical slits and a widthwise slit connecting the intermediate portions thereof, the vertical direction of the expansion suppressing plate 62 is reduced. Since the elastic deformation capability of the middle portion of the rectangular battery cell 11 is enhanced, even when the rectangular battery cell 11 expands, it is easily elastically deformed. Will return to. A large number of small columnar projections 11 r are provided on the surface of the rectangular battery cell 11. Each projection 11 r is abutted against the expansion suppressing plate 62, so that the pushing by the expansion suppressing plate 62 is performed. The pressure is reliably transmitted to the rectangular battery cells 11 and expansion of the rectangular battery cells 11 is reliably prevented.

Further, as shown in FIG. 72, the rectangular battery cells 11 may be integrally restrained at appropriate locations by, for example, three sets of metal restraining bands 70. Each restraining band body 70 includes a pair of first restraining bands 71.
And one second restraining band 72, one of the first restraining bands 71 being pressed against the upper surfaces of all the rectangular battery cells 11 to be restrained along the stacking direction, and the other second restraining band 71. Numerals 72 are pressed against the bottom surfaces of all the constrained rectangular battery cells 11 along the stacking direction, and are pressed against the surfaces of the rectangular battery cells 11 located on both sides along the vertical direction. Each end of the second restraining band 72 protrudes above each of the rectangular battery cells 11 located on both sides, and each end of the first restraining band 71 is attached to each end. They are mated in a bent state. Then, as shown in FIG. 73, all the ends of the first restraining band 71 and the respective ends of the second restraining band 72 that are butted against each other are connected and restrained by a pair of rivets R, respectively. The rectangular battery cells 11 are preloaded in the stacking direction. The first joined by each rivet R
At each end of the restraint band 71 and the second restraint band 72, a through hole h for passing the bolt 45 is provided.

As described above, an appropriate number of rectangular battery cells 11 are restrained by the plurality of restraining band members 70 each having the first restraining band 71 and the second restraining band 72, so that each square battery cell 11 is restrained. 11 is suppressed. Then, the square battery cell groups in which the plurality of square battery cells 11 are restrained by the plurality of restraining band members 70 are shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the restraining bands 70 of the respective rectangular battery cell groups abut each other, and are integrally connected by the bolts 45 and the nuts 46.
In the present embodiment, the flat plate-shaped second restraining bands 72 abutting on the ones located at the ends of the plurality of rectangular battery cells 11 arranged in the thickness direction are connected by the flat first restraining bands 71. Therefore, the second restraining band 72 functions as a restraining plate, and the first restraining band 71 functions as a connecting member.

FIGS. 74 to 78 illustrate the connecting rod 13.
Instead of this, an embodiment is shown that includes a connecting rod 73 that also functions as a conduit for guiding gas, for example, hydrogen discharged from each rectangular battery cell 11 to the outside. FIG. 74 and FIG. 75
As shown in the figure, in the battery pack 10 of the present embodiment, in the upper surface of the prismatic battery cell 11 and at a position deviated from the center in the width direction of the prismatic battery cell 11, that is, immediately below the connecting rod 73 in the assembled state. At one of the positions, a gas discharge cylinder 74 is provided for discharging gas generated from a battery case (not shown) during charging or discharging, for example, when the pressure becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure. The rectangular battery cells 11 are arranged between the pair of constraint plates 12 such that the gas discharge tubes 74 are alternately positioned from the center in the width direction of the rectangular battery cells 11. The pair of restraining plates 12 are fastened in a direction to press the rectangular battery cells 11.

As shown in FIG. 76, the connecting rod 73 has a cylindrical shape as a whole, is located in one plane including the axis thereof, is orthogonal to the axis, and is connected to the rectangular battery cell 11. A plurality of connection cylinders 75 are provided in communication with each other, centered on straight lines parallel to each other at intervals of twice the arrangement pitch in the thickness direction. Then, the gas discharge cylinder 74
The connection cylinder 75 is connected to the connection cylinder 75 via a connection hose 76 made of, for example, synthetic rubber having both ends fitted thereto. Thereby, the gas discharged from each of the rectangular battery cells 11 is guided into the connecting rod 73 and discharged to the outside.

FIG. 78 shows a structure for discharging the gas guided to the connecting rod 73 to the outside. The ends of the pair of connecting rods 73 are connected to each other by a communication pipe 77, and the communication pipe 77 is connected to a discharge pipe 78 that communicates with the outside through one of the constraint plates 12. Thereby, the gas guided into the connecting rod 73 is connected to the communication pipe 77.
And discharged through the discharge pipe 78 to the outside. According to the present embodiment, since the connecting rod 73 also serves as a gas pipe for guiding the gas discharged from the rectangular battery cell 11, the battery pack 10
The space in the battery pack case 20 in which is stored is expanded, and the cooling performance is enhanced. Further, since the number of parts is reduced, the mass and cost of the battery pack are reduced.

FIG. 79 is an assembly view showing the structure of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 80 is a sectional view of the battery pack. The assembled battery case 20 of this embodiment has a common basic structure as compared with the above-described one, but has a slightly different shape. Further, the rectangular battery cell 11 of the present embodiment
This is basically the same as the above-mentioned one, except that ears or legs 80 projecting in the width direction are provided at lower portions on both side surfaces.

The lower case 21 constituting the lower side of the battery pack case 20 for accommodating the battery pack 10 is formed by pressing a single metal plate and has a horizontal bottom surface 21a.
A pair of side surfaces 21b rising from both sides of the bottom surface 21a at substantially right angles thereto, and a pair of support surfaces parallel to the bottom surface 21a extending outward from upper ends of the pair of side surfaces 21b. That is, the flange portion 21c and the mounting hole 2
1d, a mounting portion 2 which is inclined from the pair of flange portions 21c toward the bottom surface portion 21a as going outward.
1e. In addition, the battery pack case 2
The upper case 22 that forms the upper side of the upper plate 22 is formed by pressing a single metal plate material and has a horizontal upper surface portion 22.
a from the both sides of the upper surface portion 22a through the upper side surface portion 22b and the step portion 22c having an L-shaped cross section.
a pair of side surface portions 22d falling substantially at right angles to
A mounting portion 22f is provided which has a mounting hole 22e and which is inclined so as to go away from the upper surface portion 22a as it goes outward from the lower ends of the pair of side surface portions 22d. The lower case 21 and the upper case 22 constituting the lower and upper parts of the battery module case 20 are formed by bending a single metal plate material by pressing at a broken line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the battery pack 10. The mounting portions 21e and 22f located at both ends in the width direction have mounting holes 21d.
And are fixed to each other integrally by a fixing screw 23 passing through the mounting hole 22e.

A plurality of prismatic battery cells 11 stacked in a thickness direction between a pair of constraint plates 12 include a plurality of batteries each containing an electrolyte and an electrode for constituting a secondary battery such as a nickel-metal hydride battery. For example, it is a flat box made of resin having six battery containers inside, and a pair of connection terminals T including a positive terminal and a negative terminal is provided at an upper portion of a side surface, and a longitudinal direction (width direction) thereof. That is, they are arranged such that the left-right direction in FIG. 5 is the front-back direction of the vehicle.
In addition, the rectangular battery cell 11 includes an ear portion or a leg portion 80 protruding from a lower portion of a side surface in a width direction (longitudinal direction). As described above, a pair of restraining plates 12 fastened in a direction approaching each other by two pairs of connecting rods 13 provided above and below the rectangular battery cells 11 in a state of being overlapped with each other in the thickness direction. Are pressed so as to be in close contact with each other.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 80 and 81,
A plurality (three in this embodiment) of annular positioning protrusions 81a and a plurality (three in this embodiment) of cylindrical positioning protrusions 81b are provided on the overlapping surface, that is, the opposing surface of the rectangular battery cells 11. Are arranged in a line along a horizontal straight line passing through the center in the height direction. These positioning projections 81a and 81b are positioned corresponding to the center of the battery case in the rectangular battery cell 11. The positioning protrusions 81a and the positioning protrusions 81b are arranged so as to be opposed to each other so as to fit each other when the rectangular battery cells 11 are adjacent to each other. As shown in FIGS. 82 and 83, the inner diameter of the positioning projection 81a is adjusted so that the fitting between the positioning projection 81a and the positioning projection 81b in the fitted state is a so-called loose fit.
b is formed to be larger than the outer diameter of the positioning protrusion 8.
A predetermined play (gap) is formed between the inner peripheral surface of 1a and the outer peripheral surface of the positioning projection 81b. This play absorbs relative movement due to thermal expansion between the rectangular battery cells 11, particularly relative movement in the width direction of the rectangular battery cells 11, and the connection terminal T restrained by the bus bar 15 and the connection terminal T are buried. This is for preventing the connection terminal T from being damaged by generating mechanical unreasonability between the rectangular battery cells 11.

As shown in FIG. 84, the connection terminal T has a disc-shaped terminal fixing member T whose center portion at the base end face is positioned with a synthetic resin wall on the side surface of the rectangular battery cell 11 interposed therebetween.
For example, it is fixed to the side surface of the rectangular battery cell 11 by being fixed to the center portion of the end face by spot welding, for example. If an excessive external force is applied mechanically, the spot welding may be broken. There is. Therefore, even if there is a relative movement due to thermal expansion between the rectangular battery cells 11 as described above, the relative movement is restricted by the fitting between the positioning projections 81a and the positioning projections 81b. Such as inconveniences caused by applying excessive force, for example, between the end surface of the connection terminal T and the side surface of the rectangular battery cell 11 at the connection terminal T portion, and the end surface of the terminal fixing member Ta and the inner wall surface of the square battery cell 11 The deterioration or breakage of the sealing performance maintained by the O-ring 79 sandwiched in between is suitably prevented.

In the state where the pair of seating surfaces 82a located at the lower end face of each square-shaped battery cell 11, ie, both ends in the longitudinal direction of the lower end face 82, are seated on the pair of horizontal flange portions 21c. By fixing each of the rectangular battery cells 11 to the lower case 21, a gas inflow path 8 through which a small gap between the battery cells 11 is passed to introduce air for cooling.
3 is the lower end surface 82 of each square battery cell 11 and the lower case 21
And the bottom portion 21a. As shown in FIG. 85 and FIG. 86, a part of the plurality of rectangular battery cells 11 arranged in the thickness direction, for example, every few legs 80 in the arrangement direction is provided with the seating surface by press fitting or insert molding, for example. A fixing screw 85 and a stepped screw 86 are screwed into a bottomed cylindrical nut 84 embedded in 82 a through a hole 87 provided in the flange portion 21 c, thereby being fixed to the lower case 21.

As shown in FIG. 85, one of the pair of legs 80 of the rectangular battery cell 11 fixed to the lower case 21 is fixed by fixing screws 85, and the other leg 80 is
As shown in FIG. 6, it is fixed by a stepped screw 86. As shown in FIG. 86, the stepped screw 86 includes a cylindrical portion 86c having a larger diameter than the male screw portion 86b between the head portion 86a and the male screw portion 86b.
4 until it abuts. In the tightened state of the stepped screw 86, the head portion 86a does not adhere to the flange portion 21c of the lower case 21, and the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 86c and the inner peripheral surface of the hole 87 in which the cylindrical portion 86c is fitted. For example, 1 or 2
A predetermined gap A of about mm is formed. The gap A is for absorbing the thermal expansion of the rectangular battery cell 11 in order to prevent a problem due to the thermal expansion.

FIG. 87 shows a bus bar 15 for electrically connecting connection terminals T fixedly provided on the upper side of the rectangular battery cell 11.
2 shows another example. The bus bar 15 of the present embodiment is formed by bending a metal plate into a single piece by pressing or the like, and has a pair of flat ends 15 a to be fastened by nuts 16, and both ends thereof. 1
5a, and a U-shaped portion 15b bent in a U-shape. Since the U-shaped portion 15b is easily elastically deformed, relative deformation between the pair of end portions 15a is relatively easily allowed. For this reason, a decrease in the sealing performance of the connection terminal T portion and destruction of the connection terminal T are suitably prevented.

FIGS. 88 and 90 show a case where a plurality of rectangular battery cells 11 stacked in a thickness direction between a pair of constraint plates 12 have a gap between them due to high-temperature creep from an initial pressed state. Is shown. Of the upper part of the combination surface of the prismatic battery cells 11,
A cylindrical elastic member 88 is attached to a position deviated from the center in the width direction of the rectangular battery cell 11. The elastic member 88 has a cylindrical shape and is fitted to a columnar projection 89 shorter than the elastic member 88 protruding from the combination surface, as shown in detail in FIG. 90, for example. Thus, the elastic member 88 can be compressed by a length obtained by subtracting the length (height) of the columnar projection 89 from the length in the axial direction. The elastic member 88
Are provided only at one place so as not to oppose each other on the combination surface of the adjacent rectangular battery cells 11.
When the plurality of rectangular battery cells 11 stacked in the thickness direction are restrained in a pressed state by the pair of restraining plates 12, the elastic member 88 is elastically deformed to the height of the columnar projection 89. Rectangular battery cell 11 due to high temperature creep
Even if a gap is generated between the rectangular battery cells 11 due to plastic deformation, the pressed state is maintained by the elastic return force of the elastic member 88, so that the rattling of the rectangular battery cells 11 is prevented. You.

FIG. 91 shows a structure in which the rectangular battery cells 11 are fixed by using the legs 80 projecting from both side surfaces in the width direction. In the present embodiment, a long rail 90 having the same inner wall shape as the outer shape of the leg portion 80 is prepared by extrusion molding or press molding and cut in advance into the same length as the battery pack 10. The lower case 2 is fitted with the legs 80 of the plurality of rectangular battery cells 11 arranged closely in the thickness direction inside the rail 90.
1 is fixed together with the rectangular battery cell 11 by, for example, a fixing screw 85. According to this embodiment, even when a gap is generated between the rectangular battery cells 11 due to, for example, high-temperature creep, the upper portion of the rectangular battery cells 11 is prevented from swinging in the stacking direction, that is, the vehicle width direction. .

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 92 to 95, a part of each of the rectangular battery cells 11 stacked in the thickness direction to constitute the battery pack 10 is used to fix another battery cell 11. Are used as a part of the fixing member or the structural member. That is, a pair of prismatic battery cells 1 located at both ends of each prismatic battery cell 11 arranged in the thickness direction
In this embodiment, the square battery cells 1 are separated by a predetermined number between the square battery cells 1a and the pair of square battery cells 11a.
Cylindrical nuts 84 and 97 are embedded in the seating surface 82a of 1a and the upper surface 92 of the leg 80, respectively, and fixing bolts 85 are embedded in the seating surface 82a through holes 87 in the lower case 21. The rectangular battery cell 11 a is fixed to the lower case 21 by being screwed into the nut 84. As shown in FIG. 93, a main body 93 having a U-shaped cross section is a longitudinal member press-formed from a metal plate material.
And an elastic sheet 94 made of synthetic rubber or the like adhered to one surface of the main body 93, and mounting holes 95 formed at predetermined intervals in the main body 93 so as to correspond to the positions of the rectangular battery cells 11a. A retainer 96 is used. This retainer 96 is, as shown in FIG.
2 and the fixing bolt 98 is screwed into the nut 97 buried in the upper surface 92 of the leg portion 80 through the mounting hole 95, as shown in FIG.
a is fixed to the upper surface 92 of the leg 80. At the same time, FIG.
As shown in (2), the upper surface 92 of the leg portion 80 of the rectangular battery cell 11 located between the rectangular battery cells 11a is fixed to the lower case 21 by being pressed by the retainer 96. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 95, the pressing force F applied perpendicularly from the retainer 96 to the upper surface 92 of the leg 80 is:
Since it has a component F _{1 in} the width direction of the rectangular battery cell 11, that is, in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and a component F _{2 in} the downward direction, that is, the component F ₂ in the direction toward the lower case 21, these directions are included. The vibration and movement of the components are suppressed.

According to the battery pack 10 of the present embodiment, the battery pack 1
Since the number of fastening bolts 85 for fixing 0 is reduced, assembling workability is enhanced, and assembling cost is reduced. Further, in the present embodiment, a pair of restraining plates 12 for sandwiching the rectangular battery cells 11a and 11 arranged in the thickness direction and a connecting rod 13 for connecting them are not required. However, such a restraint plate 12 and a connecting rod 13 may be provided in the battery pack 10 of the present embodiment.

While the embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings, the present invention can be applied to other embodiments.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the rectangular battery cells 11 are fixed to the lower case 21, but they may be fixed to the upper case 22.

The above is merely an embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit thereof.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a pair of mutually adjacent rectangular battery cells of a rectangular battery cell included in the battery pack used in the battery pack of FIG. 1 separated from each other.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an assembled battery used in the battery pack of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the battery pack of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part of an assembled battery in the battery pack of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing a main part of an assembled battery according to another embodiment of the present invention, and is a view corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a main part of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing an example showing a main part of an assembled battery according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a main part illustrating a connection structure between a connecting rod and an intermediate restraint plate in the battery pack of the embodiment in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing a part of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention for explaining a configuration for restraining a rectangular battery cell.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of the embodiment of FIG. 11 in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a configuration for restraining a rectangular battery cell.

FIG. 14 is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating a main part of a configuration for restraining a rectangular battery cell in an assembled battery according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing a main part of the embodiment of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a plan view schematically showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a main part of the battery pack of the embodiment in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing a main part of the battery pack of the embodiment in FIG.

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing a main part of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

20 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the expansion suppressing plate in the battery pack of the embodiment in FIG.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view showing a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an enlarged main part of the embodiment of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing an end of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing a main part of a lower case in a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is an enlarged sectional view showing a lower case mounting structure in the embodiment of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is an enlarged perspective view showing a mounting structure of the lower case in the embodiment of FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 is a plan view showing a connection bracket used for attaching the lower case in the embodiment of FIG. 24;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing a prismatic battery cell used in a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29 is an enlarged perspective view showing a main part of the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is an exploded view of the rectangular battery cell and the positioning piece of FIG. 28.

FIG. 31 is an enlarged perspective view showing a mounting structure of the rectangular battery cell and the positioning piece of FIG. 28;

32 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of an assembled battery assembled using the rectangular battery cells of FIG. 28.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing a prismatic battery cell used in a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 34 is an enlarged perspective view showing a main part of the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 33.

35 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of an assembled battery assembled using the rectangular battery cells of FIG. 33.

FIG. 36 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery pack for explaining a configuration of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 37 is an enlarged perspective view showing a main part configuration for fixing the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 36;

FIG. 38 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a main part for fixing the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 36;

FIG. 39 is a perspective view showing, in an enlarged and disassembled manner, a main part configuration for fixing a prismatic battery cell in an assembled battery according to another embodiment of the present invention.

40 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a main part for fixing the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 39.

FIG. 41 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery pack for explaining the structure of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 42 is an exploded perspective view showing an essential structure for fixing the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 41.

FIG. 43 is an exploded cross-sectional view showing a main configuration for fixing the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 41.

FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part configuration for fixing the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 41.

FIG. 45 is a side view showing a main configuration for fixing the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 41.

FIG. 46 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery pack for explaining a configuration of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 47 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a main part for fixing the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 46;

FIG. 48 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of a main part for fixing the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 46.

FIG. 49 is a transverse sectional view showing a configuration of a main part for fixing the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 46;

FIG. 50 shows a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.
It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the principal part structure for fixing a prismatic battery cell.

FIG. 51 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing a main part configuration for fixing the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 50;

FIG. 52 is a side view showing a main part configuration for fixing the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 50;

FIG. 53 shows a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an assembled battery.

FIG. 54 is a perspective view showing a main part configuration for fixing the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 53.

FIG. 55 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a main part configuration for fixing the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 53.

FIG. 56 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration of a main part for fixing a rectangular battery cell in another embodiment of the present invention.
It is a figure corresponding to 5.

FIG. 57 shows a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.
It is a perspective view which shows the principal part structure for fixing a prismatic battery cell.

58 is a side view showing a configuration of a main part for fixing the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 57.

59 is a perspective view showing another example of a restraining band used for fixing the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 57.

FIG. 60 shows a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.
It is a longitudinal section showing the important section composition for fixing the lower part of a square battery cell.

FIG. 61 is a perspective view showing a lower case of the battery pack case in the battery pack of FIG. 60;

FIG. 62 is an exploded perspective view showing an essential structure for fixing a lower portion of a rectangular battery cell in the battery pack of FIG. 60.

63 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of a fixing structure for fixing a positioning member used to fix a lower portion of the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 60 to a lower case.

FIG. 64 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of a configuration for fixing a lower portion of a rectangular battery cell in a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 65 is a perspective view showing a positioning member used to fix the rectangular battery cell in the embodiment of FIG. 64.

FIG. 66 is a plan view showing the positioning member of FIG. 64.

FIG. 67 is a perspective view showing a lower surface of a rectangular battery cell fixed by a positioning member in the embodiment of FIG. 64;

FIG. 68 shows a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.
It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the principal part structure which suppresses expansion of the rectangular battery cell laminated | stacked in the thickness direction.

FIG. 69 is a transverse sectional view of the battery pack of FIG. 68.

70 is a bottom view showing the expansion suppressing plate and the rectangular battery pack adjacent thereto in the battery pack of FIG. 68.

FIG. 71 is a diagram showing a side surface of an expansion suppressing plate in the battery pack of FIG. 68.

FIG. 72 shows a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an assembled battery.

73 is a perspective view showing a binding structure of a restraint band in the battery pack of the embodiment shown in FIG. 72.

FIG. 74 shows a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view, partially cut away, showing the structure of the assembled battery.

75 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of prismatic battery cells arranged in the thickness direction in the embodiment of FIG. 74.

76 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a connecting rod that connects a pair of restraining plates that are in contact with both ends of rectangular battery cells arranged in the thickness direction in the embodiment of FIG. 74.

FIG. 77 is a view showing a state where the gas discharge tube of the rectangular battery cell and the connection tube of the connecting rod are connected via the connection hose in the embodiment of FIG. 74.

FIG. 78 is a perspective view showing a communication pipe and a discharge pipe connected to ends of a connecting rod.

FIG. 79 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 80 is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack of FIG. 79.

FIG. 81 is a plan view showing the rectangular battery cells used in the battery pack of FIG. 79 separated from each other.

FIG. 82 is a plane including the axis of the positioning projections in order to enlarge and show the fitted state of the pair of positioning projections provided on the combined surface of the pair of square battery cells in FIG. 79; It is sectional drawing.

FIG. 83 is a view orthogonal to the axis of the positioning projections for showing in an enlarged manner the fitting state of the pair of positioning projections provided on the combined surface of the pair of square battery cells in FIG. 79; FIG.

84 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a structure of a connection terminal provided on an upper side surface of the rectangular battery cell in FIG. 79.

FIG. 85 is a partially cutaway view showing a fixing structure in which one end in the width direction of the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 79 is fixed to a lower case.

86 is a partially cut-away view showing, in an enlarged manner, a fixing structure in which the other end in the width direction of the rectangular battery cell of FIG. 79 is fixed to a lower case.

FIG. 87 shows a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.
It is a perspective view which shows the connection structure of the connection terminal provided in the prismatic battery cell laminated | stacked in the thickness direction.

FIG. 88 is a perspective view showing a prismatic battery cell used in a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 89 is a plan view showing the rectangular battery packs stacked in the thickness direction in the embodiment of FIG. 88 apart from each other.

FIG. 90 is a view showing a mounting structure of an elastic member provided on the upper surface of the combination surface of the rectangular battery pack in the embodiment of FIG. 88;

FIG. 91 shows a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway view illustrating a fixing structure of a rectangular battery cell.

FIG. 92 shows a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.
It is a perspective view explaining the fixing structure which uses some rectangular battery cells laminated | stacked in the thickness direction for fixing another.

FIG. 93 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a retainer used in FIG. 92.

94 is a diagram showing a fixing structure of a square battery cell fixed by a fixing bolt and a fixing structure of a retainer among the square battery cells used in FIG. 92.

FIG. 95 is a view showing a fixing structure of a square battery cell fixed by a retainer among the square battery cells used in FIG. 92.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: assembled battery 11: square battery cell 11c: engagement projection (positioning projection) 11d: engagement claw (disengagement prevention device) 11x: constraint projection 11z: collar 12: constraint plate 13: Connecting rod (connecting member) 17: Intermediate restraint plate 18: Screw member 20: Battery case 21: Lower case (supporting member) 21a: Bottom part 21b: Side surface part 21c: Flange part 21d: Mounting part 22: Upper case 22a: Upper surface portion 22b: Upper side surface portion 22c: Step portion 22d: Side surface portion 22e: Flange portion 24: Elastic member 29: Connection bracket 31: Expansion suppression plate (restraining member) 32: Expansion suppressing member (fixing device) 35: Expansion suppressing plate , 36: stepped bolt, 38: disc spring (pressing device) 37: seal member 39: positioning piece (positioning member) 41: positioning play 42: Connection plate 44: Positioning member 47: Support plate 48: Positioning member 51: Connection plate 52: Positioning plate 53: Restriction band 54: Positioning member 55: Positioning member 56: Positioning member 57: Positioning member 62: Expansion suppressing plate ( 62g: slit 63: connecting plate 71: first restraining band (connecting member) 72: second restraining band (restraining plate) 84: nut, 85: fixing bolt (first fixing device) 94: elastic sheet (pressing) 96): retainer (retainer member) 97: nut, 98: fixing bolt (second fixing device)

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A battery pack provided with an assembled battery in which a plurality of flat rectangular battery cells are stacked in a thickness direction thereof, wherein the assembled battery includes square batteries located at both ends in the stacking direction. A pair of constraining plates are provided, each of which abuts against the battery cell, and a longitudinal connecting member disposed on both sides of the rectangular battery cell so that the rectangular battery cell between the constraining plates is pressed. A battery pack, wherein the pair of restraining plates are connected to each other by means of 2. A positioning projection and a positioning recess for positioning with respect to another rectangular battery cell adjacent in the thickness direction are provided on the mutually facing surfaces of the respective rectangular battery cells. 2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the positioning protrusion and the positioning recess are mutually fitted with positioning recesses and positioning protrusions provided in the adjacent rectangular batteries. 3. 3. The connecting member is disposed on an upper side and a lower side of the rectangular battery cell, and a margin of fastening to the pair of constraint plates by the connecting member located on the upper side is lower. 2. The fastening allowance for fastening the pair of restraining plates by the located connecting member is larger than the fastening allowance.
Or the battery pack according to 2. 4. The rectangular battery cell, wherein the connecting member is disposed above and below the prismatic battery cell, and each of the prismatic battery cells has an upper part thicker than a lower part thickness. Item 3. The battery pack according to item 1 or 2. 5. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the pair of constraint plates has a central portion in the width direction bulging toward a side opposite to the rectangular battery cells. 6. The battery pack is housed in a battery pack case, wherein the battery pack case has a lower case provided on both sides with flange portions protruding in the width direction of the rectangular battery cells. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an upper case, wherein the flange portion of the lower case and the flange portion of the upper case are fixed to each other and integrally connected. 7. A space for flowing a cooling gas is provided between the lower case and the lower end surface of the prismatic battery cell and between the upper case and the upper end surface of the prismatic battery cell. The battery pack according to claim 6, which is provided. 8. The battery according to claim 6, wherein an elastic member is interposed between the upper case and an upper surface of one of the rectangular battery cells restrained by the pair of restraint plates. pack. 9. The battery pack according to claim 8, wherein the elastic member is a hollow body having a long cylindrical shape. 10. An intermediate restraint plate is interposed between a plurality of rectangular battery cells constituting the battery pack,
The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate restraint plate is positioned by the connection member. 11. An engaging protrusion is provided on each of both side surfaces of at least one pair of rectangular battery cells of the plurality of rectangular battery cells stacked in the thickness direction, and the engaging protrusion is engaged with the engaging protrusion. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising: a longitudinal expansion suppressing plate provided with an engaging hole portion that makes the rectangular battery cells immovable in the stacking direction. 12. A disengagement prevention device for maintaining an engagement state with an engagement hole of the expansion suppressing plate is provided on an engagement protrusion protruding from both side surfaces of the rectangular battery cell. The battery pack according to claim 11, which is provided. 13. A press for applying a preload to the rectangular battery cells in order to elastically press the plurality of rectangular battery cells stacked in the thickness direction on at least one of the pair of constraint plates. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a device. 14. A battery according to claim 6, wherein one of the plurality of rectangular battery cells is fixed to a lower case or an upper case of the battery pack case by a fixing device.
The battery pack according to any one of the above. 15. A positioning member for determining a stacking position in the thickness direction is provided at a predetermined position in each of the rectangular battery cells, and the rectangular batteries adjacent to each other between the pair of constraint plates are provided. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the positioning members attached to the cells are pressed against each other. 16. The connecting member is a rod-shaped connecting rod, and each of the rectangular battery cells is provided with a restraining protrusion through which the connecting rod is inserted. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a cylindrical metal collar fitted to each connecting rod. 17. The connection member according to claim 1, wherein a positioning member for positioning and fixing any one of the rectangular battery cells stacked between the constraint plates is attached to the connection member. Battery pack. 18. Between the adjacent rectangular battery cells,
The expansion suppressing plate fixed by any one of the connecting members is disposed, and the expansion suppressing plate presses any one of the adjacent rectangular batteries.
8. The battery pack according to any one of 7. 19. The battery pack according to claim 18, wherein a slit is provided in the expansion suppressing plate. 20. A battery pack provided with an assembled battery in which a plurality of flat rectangular battery cells are stacked in a thickness direction thereof, wherein both ends of the rectangular battery cells stacked in the thickness direction are provided. A first fixing device for fixing a part of the rectangular battery cells including the following to a supporting member supporting the assembled battery; a retainer member parallel to a longitudinal direction of the assembled battery; and fixing to the supporting member by the first fixing device. A second fixing device for fixing the retainer member to the formed rectangular battery cell, another rectangular battery cell positioned between the rectangular battery cells having the retainer member fixed by the second fixing device, and the retainer member And a pressing member interposed between the supporting member and the pressing member to press the other rectangular battery cell against the supporting member.