JP2003249207A - Connecting structure and connecting method of battery - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connecting structure and a connecting method of a battery wherein a manufacturing cost can be reduced by reducing the number of parts and wherein a sure connection of batteries can be retained. <P>SOLUTION: Notched parts 6 formed with a prescribed slit width are installed at respective terminals 3, 4, and respective engaging pieces 5a of connecting members 5 in which the engaging pieces 5a engageable with the notched parts 6 are arranged and installed at both ends via connecting part 5b are made engaged with respective notched parts 6 of the respective terminals 3, 4 by elastically deforming the connecting part 5b between the terminals 3, 4 so as to be twisted. With this arrangement, nuts and bolts connecting the respective terminals 3, 4 are abolished, the manufacturing cost is reduced by reducing the number of parts, and a contact face pressure of the notched parts 6 with the engaging pieces 5a is enhanced by twisting force of the connecting part 5b, and the sure connection of the batteries can be retained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a battery connecting structure and a connecting method, and more particularly to a battery connecting structure and a connecting method for electrically connecting terminals between adjacent batteries.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a lithium ion battery has a terminal voltage of 3.6 to 3.8 V, and therefore, a plurality of lithium ion batteries are connected in series to obtain a desired voltage. In this case, as shown in FIG.
4 is provided with an external thread, and a busbar 12 made of a conductive material is fastened to each of the terminals 3 and 4 by a nut 11 screwed to the external thread so that the busbar 12 is connected between the connected terminals 3 and 4. It has been traditionally erected. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the terminals 3 and 4 are connected to the terminals 3 and 4 in advance.
A female screw coaxial with the female screw is provided, and the bus bar 12 made of a conductive material is fastened to the terminals 3 and 4 with a bolt 13 screwed to the female screw, and the bus bar 12 is installed between the connected terminals 3 and 4. It has been done conventionally. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a pair of bosses 14 each having an internal thread on the end face are erected on the battery holder 15, and the terminals 3 and 4 to be connected are arranged on the axial plane of the boss pair, and The end plate 16 to which the bus bar 12 is attached is erected on each boss 14 by the bolt 13 screwed to the end surface of the. This allows
The bus bar 12 is pressed against the terminals 3 and 4,
It has been a conventional practice to electrically connect the.

In the former conventional example, each terminal is provided with a male screw or a female screw and a nut 11 or a bolt 13 is used.
In the case where the bus bar 12 is installed between the four terminals to connect the terminals 3 and 4, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps increase,
Manufacturing costs increase. Further, when the nut 11 or the bolt 13 is tightened, a tightening torque around the axis acts on the terminals 3 and 4, and the terminals 3 and 4 rotate to damage the joint with the internal electrode (not shown). There is a risk of Also,
Bus bar 1 provided on the end plate 16 of the latter conventional example
2 is pressed against each of the terminals 3 and 4 to be connected,
In the case of electrically connecting 4 terminals, since the tightening torque unlike the former does not act on the terminals 3 and 4, the joints between the terminals 3 and 4 and the internal electrode are not twisted and damaged. .
However, if there are large variations in the dimensions of the terminals 3, 4, etc., the contact state between the terminals 3, 4 and the bus bar 12 may become unstable, and the internal resistance may increase.

In view of this, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-15568 discloses a U-shaped plate-shaped terminal in which a moving body for connecting the plate-shaped terminals is pressed and clamped by the elastic repulsive force between the terminals to electrically connect the terminals. A rechargeable lead acid battery is disclosed. In this lead acid battery, it is possible to suppress an increase in manufacturing cost because a nut or bolt for connecting the terminals is not needed and the number of parts does not increase, and the assembly is easy. Become. Also, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-174966
In the publication, a cross section integrally formed by sheet metal working is approximately U.
Disclosed are an inter-battery terminal connection body and a battery assembly in which U-shaped grooves of a battery-shaped inter-battery terminal connection body are fitted to both terminals to be connected to connect the inter-battery terminals. In this inter-battery terminal connection body and battery assembly, the terminals are clamped by the spring force of the U-shaped inter-battery terminal connection body, and the electrical conductivity between the terminals is reliably maintained.

However, both (actual exploitation Sho 63-155
No. 68 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-174966), since the terminal and the connection body make contact with each other by the spring force of a plate-shaped member formed in a U-shape, connection and disconnection are repeated or the surrounding environment is reduced. When the spring force is reduced due to the influence, the contact state between the terminal and the connection body becomes uneven, and the internal resistance, that is, the voltage between the terminals varies.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has a battery connection structure capable of reducing the number of parts, reducing the manufacturing cost, and maintaining a reliable battery connection. The first purpose is to provide. A second object is to provide a battery connecting method capable of reducing the number of parts to reduce the manufacturing cost and maintaining a reliable battery connection.

[0007]

In order to achieve the first object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a battery connecting structure for connecting terminals of adjacent batteries. And a connecting member in which a notch formed in each terminal and having a predetermined slit width and an engaging piece engageable with each notch are disposed at both ends via a connecting portion. And each of the engaging pieces arranged at both ends of the connecting member is engaged with each notch of each terminal.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the notches are provided substantially parallel to the battery array direction, and the notches provided at the terminals are the terminals. It is characterized in that it is provided obliquely from the end portion toward the terminal base portion and in the same direction, and the connecting portion is elastically deformable by being twisted between the terminals.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, each notch is provided substantially parallel to the battery array direction, and each notch provided in each terminal is a terminal. It is characterized in that it is provided obliquely from the side portion toward the terminal base portion and in the same direction, and the connecting portion is elastically deformable by being twisted between the terminals.

The invention according to a fourth aspect is the first to the third aspects.
In any one of the inventions described above, the engaging pieces arranged at both ends of the connecting member are arranged at a twist angle with respect to each other about an axis in the battery array direction, and each of the terminals between the terminals connected by the connecting member. The angle around the axis of the battery array direction formed by the notches,
It is characterized in that it is set to be larger than the twist angle.

The invention described in claim 5 is the same as in claim 1,
In the invention according to any one of 4 above, each slit of each notch formed on each terminal end face is offset by a predetermined amount from the axis of each terminal, and the axis of each terminal and each notch of each terminal are Characterized by internal interactions.

The invention according to claim 6 is the same as claims 1, 2 and
In the invention according to any one of 4 and 5, the offset amount of the slit is set to be 2 times or more and 3 times or less the plate thickness of the engaging piece, and the connecting portion is connected to each axis of each terminal to be connected. It is characterized in that an angle formed with the orthogonal straight line is set to 5 degrees or more and 15 degrees or less.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, each notch portion is provided on one side of each terminal side portion substantially in parallel with each terminal end surface, and each engaging portion. It is characterized in that the piece is formed of a curved surface that is elastically deformable.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned second object, the invention according to claim 8 is a battery connecting direction for connecting terminals of adjacently arranged batteries, and a predetermined slit is provided at each terminal. A notch formed by the width is provided, and engaging pieces engageable with the notch are provided at the both ends of the connecting member via the connecting part, and the connecting part is provided between the terminals. It is characterized in that it is elastically deformed so as to be twisted and is engaged with each notch between the terminals to be connected.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the invention, the engaging pieces at both ends of the connecting member are engaged with the notch portions of the terminals to be connected to electrically connect the terminals. be able to.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the engaging pieces of the connecting member are engaged with the notches between the terminals,
The connecting portion of the connecting member is elastically deformed so as to be twisted, and it becomes possible to generate a required contact surface pressure between the engaging piece and the terminal, and it is possible to suppress variations in internal resistance.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, by engaging the respective notch portions between the terminals for connecting the respective engaging pieces of the connecting member, the connecting portion of the connecting member is elastically deformed so as to be twisted, It is possible to generate a required contact surface pressure between the engagement piece and the terminal, and suppress variations in internal resistance. Further, as compared with the case where the cutout portion is provided from the terminal end face toward the terminal base portion, the connection member can be attached at a lower position, and the height of the entire battery can be suppressed to be low.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a required contact surface pressure is generated between the cutout portion and the engaging portion, the contact resistance between the terminal and the connecting member is reduced, and the internal resistance of the battery is increased. Can be suppressed. Further, when the connecting member is attached between the terminals, the engaging piece of the connecting member can be easily inserted into the cutout portion of the terminal, and the attached connecting member can be prevented from falling off.

In the invention according to claim 5, it is possible to minimize the decrease in the rigidity of the terminal due to the formation of the notch.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the reduction in rigidity of the terminal due to the formation of the cutout portion is minimized and the damage of the connection member is prevented, while the required distance between the connection member and the terminal is maintained. The contact surface pressure can be obtained.

In the invention according to claim 7, the engaging pieces formed by the curved surface are elastically deformed by engaging the respective notch portions between the terminals which connect the respective engaging pieces of the connecting member, and the engaging pieces are engaged. It is possible to generate a required contact surface pressure between the joint piece and the terminal, and suppress variations in internal resistance.
Further, as compared with the case where the cutout portion is provided from the terminal end face toward the terminal base portion, the connection member can be attached at a lower position, and the height of the entire battery can be suppressed to be low.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, by engaging each engaging piece of the connecting member with each notch between the terminals, the connecting portion of the connecting member is elastically deformed so as to be twisted, and the engaging piece. It is possible to generate a required contact surface pressure between the terminal and the terminal, and suppress variations in internal resistance.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A battery connecting structure and a connecting method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following, the same or corresponding parts will be denoted by the same reference signs. As shown in FIG. 1, the connection structure of the present battery 1 connects the positive electrode side terminal 3 and the negative electrode side terminal 4 of the battery 1 arranged adjacent to each other with a connecting member 5 made of a conductive material. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a battery 1 has a main body 2 formed in a box shape, and an upper surface of the main body 2 has a
A pair of the positive electrode side terminal 3 and the negative electrode side terminal 4 are arranged symmetrically in the left-right direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 3) substantially at the center of the battery array direction (the up-down direction in the drawing in FIG. 2) on the upper surface.

Each of the terminals 3 and 4 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and each of the terminal end faces 3a and 4a has a corresponding one of the terminal end faces 3a and 4a.
A notch 6 is formed obliquely from 4a toward the terminal base. The notch 6 is formed on each terminal end face 3a,
The slit 6a formed in 4a is formed so as to be substantially parallel to the battery arrangement direction, and is provided at the same angle (θ1 shown in FIG. 3) from each terminal end face 3a, 4a toward the terminal base and in the same direction. Has been. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, the battery 1 is connected to the terminals 3 having different polarities in the battery arrangement direction.
By arranging 4 so as to face each other, the notch 6 between the terminals 3 and 4 connected to each other forms an angle θ2 (θ2 = 2θ1, not shown) around the axis of the battery arrangement direction. It is configured. As shown in FIG. 5, the notch 6 has a slit 6a offset from the axial position (C shown in FIG. 5) of each terminal 3, 4 by L, so that the inside of the axial line and each of the terminals 3, 4 can be reduced. It is formed to intersect.

Further, the connecting member 5 is formed of a plate-shaped member having a required elastic force, and as shown in FIG. 4, an engaging piece 5a engageable with the notch 6 is formed. Connecting part 5
It has a structure connected by b. The engagement pieces 5a at both ends are
The thickness (T shown in FIG. 4) is set so that the cutout portions 6 of the terminals 3 and 4 are fitted in a predetermined fit. Also,
In the connecting member 5, the engaging pieces 5a at both ends are twisted by a twist angle θ3 (see FIG. 4) around the axis in the battery arrangement direction in a free state (a state in which the engaging pieces 5a are removed from between the terminals 3 and 4). The formed connecting portion 5b forms an angle of θ4 (see FIG. 5) in a plan view with respect to a straight line (C shown in FIG. 5) orthogonal to each axis of the connected terminals 3 and 4.

In the connection structure of the present battery 1, the connecting portion 5
The angle θ3 around the axis in the battery arrangement direction formed by the engaging pieces 5a connected by b is determined by the notches 6 between the terminals 3 and 4.
Is set to an angle smaller than the angle θ2 formed around the axis of the battery arrangement direction (θ2> θ3). Further, the offset amount L of the slit 6a of the notch portion 6 shown in FIG. 5 from the axial position of each of the terminals 3 and 4 is set to 2 to 3 times the plate thickness T of the engaging piece 5a, and The angle θ3 formed by the two engaging pieces connected by the connecting portion 5b and the straight line C orthogonal to the axes of the connected terminals 3 and 4 is set to 5 to 15 degrees.

Next, the operation of the battery connecting structure and connecting method will be described. When connecting the batteries 1 and 1 in series, first, as shown in FIG. 1, the batteries 1 and 1 are arranged so that the terminals 3 and 4 of different polarities are arranged to face each other. As a result, the notch 6 between the terminals 3 and 4 to be connected forms an angle of θ2 around the axis of the battery arrangement direction, and the slits 6a of the terminal end faces 3a and 4a are 2L in the direction orthogonal to the battery arrangement direction. Only the positional relationship is offset. Next, the engaging pieces 5a at both ends of the connecting member 5 are inserted into the notches 6 from the slits 6a of the terminal end faces 3a, 4a between the terminals 3, 4 to insert the engaging pieces 5a and the respective engaging pieces 5a. The notch 6 is engaged with the required fit. At this time, the connecting member 5
The terminals 3 and 4 are inserted so as to rotate clockwise in a plan view around the center position between the axes of the terminals 3 and 4.

The connecting member 5 mounted between the terminals 3 and 4 is elastically deformed so that the connecting portion 5b is twisted between the terminals 3 and 4, and the engaging pieces 5a at both ends are arranged in the battery arrangement direction. The angle formed around the axis extends from θ3 to θ2. As a result, each engagement piece 5a is in a state of being pressed against the lower surface of each side of the slits 6a of each notch portion 6, and each notch portion 6a.
It becomes possible to generate a required contact surface pressure between each of the engaging pieces 5a and each of the engaging pieces 5a, and the coupling force between each of the terminals 3 and 4 and the connecting member 5 can be increased. In addition, the connecting portion 5b forms an angle of θ4 (see FIG. 5) in a plan view with respect to the straight line C orthogonal to the axes of the terminals 3 and 4 to be connected, so that the terminals 3 and
The torsional force of the connecting portion between the four becomes large. As a result, the coupling force between the terminals 3 and 4 and the connecting member 5 is further improved, the contact resistance between the terminals 3 and 4 and the connecting member 5 is reduced, and the internal resistance of the batteries 1 and 1 is increased. It is possible to suppress and prevent the variation in the internal resistance.

This embodiment has the following effects.
In the connection structure of the present battery 1, the conventional battery connection structure (see FIG.
(See FIG. 10), the nut 11 and the bolt 13 for mounting the bus bar 12 for terminal connection used in FIG. You can Also,
Since the connecting portion 5b is elastically deformed so as to be twisted between the terminals 3 and 4, and the engaging pieces 5a at both ends are engaged with the cutout portions 6 of the terminals 3 and 4, respectively. It becomes possible to generate a required contact surface pressure between the joint piece 5a and each terminal 3,
4 reduces the contact resistance between the connection member 5 and each battery 1, 1
It is possible to suppress an increase in the internal resistance and prevent variations in the internal resistance.

Further, the engaging pieces 5a arranged at both ends of the connecting member 5 are arranged at a twist angle θ3 around the axis of the battery arrangement direction, and the notches between the terminals 3 and 4 are cut out from each other. The angle θ2 formed by 6 around the axis in the battery arrangement direction is set to be larger than the twist angle θ3. Therefore, a required contact surface pressure is generated between the cutout portion 6 and the engagement piece 5a, and each terminal 3,
The contact resistance between the battery 4 and the connecting member 5 is reduced, and the increase in the internal resistance of each battery 1, 1 can be suppressed. Further, when the connecting member 5 is attached between the terminals 3 and 4, it is easy to insert the engaging pieces 5a of the connecting member 5 into the notches 6 of the terminals 3 and 4, and the connecting member 5 is attached. It is possible to prevent the connecting member 5 from falling off.

Further, the slit 6a of the notch 6 formed on each terminal end face 3a, 4a is offset from the axis of each terminal 3, 4 by a predetermined amount L, and the offset amount L of the slit 6a is engaged. It is set to 2 to 3 times the plate thickness T of the piece 5a, and the angle formed by the connecting portion 5b and the straight line C orthogonal to the axes of the terminals 3 and 4 to be connected is 5 to 15 degrees. Is set. Therefore, the decrease in the rigidity of each of the terminals 3 and 4 due to the formation of the notch 6 is minimized, the damage of the connecting member 5 is prevented, and the gap between the connecting member 5 and each of the terminals 3 and 4 is prevented. Therefore, it is possible to generate a required contact surface pressure, and it is possible to balance the rigidity between the terminals 3 and 4 and the joining member and the coupling force between the terminals 3 and 4 and the connecting member 5 at a high level. it can.

The embodiment is not limited to the above, but may be configured as follows, for example. As shown in FIG. 6, the cutout portion 6 may be provided obliquely from the terminal side portion toward the terminal base portion. In this case, as compared with the case where the notch portion 6 is provided from the terminal end face toward the terminal base portion, the connecting member 5 is attached at a lower position, and it is possible to suppress the height of the entire battery to be low. The storage space of can be saved. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the notch portion 6 is provided on one side of the terminal side portion, and each terminal end surface 3 is formed.
The engaging pieces 5a may be formed substantially parallel to a and 4a, and the engaging pieces 5a may be formed into a curved surface that is elastically deformable in the slit width direction. in this case,
The engaging pieces 5a formed by the curved surface are elastically deformed so as to be compressed by the cutout portions 6 and are engaged with the cutout portions 6 between the terminals 3 and 4, respectively. It is possible to generate the required contact surface pressure between the terminals 3 and 4,
It is possible to suppress variations in the internal resistance of the battery 1.
Further, as compared with the case where the notch portion 6 is provided from each terminal end surface 3a, 4a toward the terminal base portion, the connecting member 5 is attached at a lower position, and the height of the entire battery can be suppressed to a low level. The storage space of the battery 1 can be saved.

[0033]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a battery connection structure capable of reducing the number of parts to reduce the manufacturing cost and maintaining a reliable battery connection. Further, it is possible to provide a battery connecting method capable of reducing the number of parts to reduce the manufacturing cost and maintaining a reliable battery connection.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a battery connection structure of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a single battery.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a single battery.

FIG. 4 is a plan view and a front view of a connecting member.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which terminals are connected by a connecting member.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a battery connection structure according to another embodiment,
In particular, it is a view showing a terminal in which the cutout portion is provided from the terminal side portion toward the terminal base portion.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a battery connection structure according to another embodiment,
In particular, it is a diagram showing a terminal in which a notch portion is provided on one side of a terminal side portion substantially in parallel with a terminal end surface, and a connecting member in which an engaging piece is formed in a curved surface.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional battery connection structure, and particularly shows a state in which a terminal is connected by screwing a nut onto a male screw provided on a terminal to attach a bus bar.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional battery connection structure, and in particular, is a diagram showing a state in which terminals are connected by mounting a bus bar by screwing a bolt into a female screw provided in the terminal.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of a conventional battery connection structure, and particularly a view showing a state in which bus bars are installed on bosses arranged on both sides in the battery arrangement direction and terminals are connected to each other.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 battery 3 Positive terminal 3a, 4a Terminal end face 4 Negative electrode side terminal 5 connection members 5a engagement piece 5b connection part 6 Notch 6a slit

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A battery connecting structure for connecting terminals of batteries arranged adjacently to each other, wherein a notch portion provided in each terminal and formed with a predetermined slit width, and each notch portion. And a connecting member in which engaging pieces that can be engaged with the connecting member are provided at both ends via a connecting portion, and the engaging pieces arranged at both ends of the connecting member have respective cutout portions of the terminals. A connection structure for a battery, characterized in that it is engaged with. 2. The cutouts are provided substantially parallel to the battery array direction, and the cutouts provided on each terminal are oblique from the terminal end to the terminal base and in the same direction. 2. The battery connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the connection portion is provided in the terminal, and the connection portion is twistable between the terminals and elastically deformable. 3. The cutouts are provided substantially parallel to the battery array direction, and the cutouts provided on each terminal are oblique from the terminal side to the terminal base and in the same direction. 2. The battery connection structure according to claim 1, wherein the connection portion is provided on the base plate and is elastically deformable by being twisted between terminals. 4. The engagement pieces arranged at both ends of the connection member are arranged at a twist angle with respect to each other about an axis line in a battery array direction, and each disconnection between terminals connected by the connection member. The battery connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an angle formed by the notches around the axis in the battery arrangement direction is set to be larger than the twist angle. 5. The slits of the notches formed on the end faces of the terminals are offset from the axis of the terminals by a predetermined amount, and the axes of the terminals and the notches are the terminals. Claim 1 characterized in that they intersect inside.
The battery connection structure according to any one of 2 and 4. 6. The offset amount of the slit is set to be not less than 2 times and not more than 3 times the plate thickness of the engaging piece, and the connecting portion is a straight line orthogonal to each axis of each terminal to be connected. The battery connection structure according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4, and 5, wherein the angle formed is set to 5 degrees or more and 15 degrees or less. 7. The notches are provided on one side of the terminal side portions substantially in parallel with the terminal end faces, and the engaging pieces are formed of elastically deformable curved surfaces. The battery connection structure according to claim 1, which is characterized in that. 8. A notch formed with a predetermined slit width is provided in each terminal in a battery connecting direction for connecting terminals of batteries arranged adjacent to each other, and the notch is engaged with each notch. Notch between the terminals to be connected by elastically deforming each engaging piece of the connecting member in which possible engaging pieces are arranged at both ends via the connecting portion so as to twist the connecting portion between the terminals. A method for connecting a battery, characterized in that the battery is engaged with the portion.