JP2004281099A - Battery pack - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery pack capable of supporting a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 between frame bodies 2, 2 without looseness by forming a projection 2h having a tip part deformed by being caught and fixed by the frame bodies 2, 2 catching the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1. <P>SOLUTION: In this battery pack, the side faces of each nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 is caught by the frame bodies 2, 2 from both front and rear sides, and one or more sets of members composed by bringing end faces 2g facing to each other of the front and rear frame bodies 2, 2 forming the pair into contact with each other are arranged in the longitudinal direction; and all the frame bodies 2 are caught and fixed by piercing bolts 4 from both sides in the longitudinal direction. The battery pack is so structured that the projections 2h projecting toward the side face side of the secondary battery 1 are formed on the inner side faces 2e of each frame body 2 facing to the caught front and rear side faces of the secondary battery 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an assembled battery in which at least one set of batteries sandwiched between frames is held and fixed from both sides.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Many general assembled batteries include a plurality of batteries collectively housed in a single frame. However, in such an assembled battery, frames having different sizes must be manufactured by resin molding or the like for each number of batteries to be combined, and an assembled battery in which an arbitrary number of batteries are combined according to a demand of a consumer. Is not easy to supply.
[0003]
Accordingly, the present applicant has arranged a large number of non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries 1 as shown in FIG. 2 which are sandwiched between front and rear frames 2 as shown in FIG. The assembled and fixed battery was previously proposed (Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-157979, Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-157980, Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-157981).
[0004]
As shown in FIG. 2, the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 used for this battery pack has a corner formed by closing an upper end opening of a stainless steel plate-shaped battery case 1a with a stainless steel plate rectangular cover plate 1b. A positive terminal 1c and a negative terminal 1d protrude from both ends of the cover plate 1b in the left-right direction.
[0005]
As shown in FIG. 3, the frame 2 has a left-right symmetrical shape including an upper cross section 2a and a lower cross section 2b at the upper end extending in the left-right direction, and side pillars 2c, 2c at both left and right ends. Is a resin frame. This frame 2 is a part of the same configuration, and is paired with another frame 2 arranged on the front side by being rotated half a turn so that the front and rear are reversed. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 is sandwiched therebetween. Also, at this time, the front end faces 2g of the left and right side pillars 2c, 2c of the rear frame 2 and the rear end faces 2g of the left and right side pillars 2c, 2c of the front frame 2 contact each other. Accordingly, the periphery of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 is covered with the pair of frames 2 and 2 before and after these.
[0006]
As shown in FIG. 4, the assembled battery includes a plurality of sets (seven sets in FIG. 4) in which the one nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 is sandwiched between the pair of frames 2 and 2 in the front and rear direction. At the same time, side plates 3 and 3 made of stainless steel plate are arranged at both ends in the front-rear direction, and all the frames 2 of a plurality of sets are clamped and fixed from both sides in the front-rear direction using four through bolts 4. is there. Therefore, in this assembled battery, an arbitrary number of non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries 1 can be combined according to a demand of a customer only by changing the length of the through bolt 4.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the pair of front and rear frames 2 and 2 has a long length in the front and rear direction of the entire assembled battery unless the end faces 2g of the side pillars 2c are brought into contact with each other and the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 is sandwiched therebetween. The dimensions are not constant, and furthermore, the support of the entire assembled battery by the frames 2, 2 may be unstable. However, the width of the storage space between the pair of front and rear frame bodies 2 is sufficiently larger than the width of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 in the front-rear direction, so that the end surfaces 2g of the side pillar portions 2c are securely connected to each other. If they are brought into contact with each other, there is a problem that there is a gap between the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 and the storage space for the frames 2 and 2 and rattling occurs.
[0008]
Conventionally, in order to solve this problem, a cushioning material made of a resin tape or the like is stuck inside the storage space of the frame 2, but in this case, a cushioning material is required for assembling the assembled battery. Therefore, there has been a problem that the number of parts increases and the number of assembling steps also increases.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in order to cope with such a situation. By forming a protrusion whose front end portion is crushed by holding and fixing the battery in a frame body, the battery is prevented from rattling between the frame bodies. An object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack that can be supported.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 is such that one side of a battery is sandwiched between the front and rear sides of the frame body, and one or more pairs of the front and rear facing frame end faces are arranged in the front and rear direction. In the assembled battery in which the frame body is sandwiched and fixed from both sides in the front-rear direction, a protrusion protruding toward the side surface side of the battery is formed on a portion of the frame body facing the front and rear side faces of the sandwiched battery. I do.
[0011]
According to the first aspect of the invention, when the pair of front and rear frames is sandwiched from the front and rear directions, the facing end faces of these frames approach each other until they come into contact with each other. Therefore, if the projections are made to protrude so that the front ends contact the front and rear side surfaces of the battery before the facing end faces of these frames still contact each other, when the end faces of the frame approach each other, they approach each other. The tip of this projection is plastically and / or elastically deformed by being pressed against the side surface of the battery. For this reason, even if a dimensional error occurs between the paired frames and the battery therebetween, the error can be absorbed by the deformation of the tip of the projection and the gap can be prevented. become. As a result, when all the frames are sandwiched and fixed from the front and rear, no gap is formed between the facing end faces of the pair of frames, and the battery between these frames does not rattle. In addition, since there is no need to insert a cushioning material when assembling the assembled battery, the number of components and the number of assembling steps do not increase.
[0012]
The protrusions may be provided only on one side of the frame body that is paired in the front and back, but it is preferable to provide the protrusions on both sides in order to make the frame body a common part. When two pairs of frame bodies are used for each battery, when a plurality of these frames are arranged, the frame body behind the front battery is placed between two front and rear adjacent batteries. And the front frame of the rear battery will be placed back to back. However, the term “paired frame body” as used herein means a frame body arranged before and after a specific battery, and therefore, a frame body behind a front battery and a frame body ahead of a rear battery. May be the same frame and shared by both batteries.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0014]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is a perspective view of a frame. Components having the same functions as those of the conventional example shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0015]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, a battery pack in which the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 shown in FIG. 2 is sandwiched from front and rear by a plurality of sets as shown in FIG. Will be described. Therefore, the configuration of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 is the same as that of the conventional example. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 is actually a battery in which two long cylindrical wound-type power generating elements are arranged side by side and stored in a battery container 1a. It is connected to the.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 1, the frame body 2 is a left-right symmetrical shape including an upper cross section 2a and a lower cross section 2b at the upper end extending in the left-right direction, and side pillars 2c, 2c at both left and right ends. And four through-holes 2d that penetrate in the front-rear direction are formed at four positions, that is, at the upper central portion and at the left and right end portions. The frame 2 has a storage space surrounded by an inner side surface 2e of the upper cross section 2a and the lower cross section 2b facing the front of both left and right ends, and an opposing surface 2f in which the left and right side pillars 2c, 2c face each other in the upper and lower portions. The rear half of the battery container 1a of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 shown in FIG. Also, the front half of the battery container 1a of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 is similar to the storage space of the one in which the same parts as the frame 2 shown in FIG. Fit in. The front end face 2g of the side pillars 2c, 2c of the frame 2 into which the rear half of the battery container 1a is fitted, and the side pillars 2c, 2c of the frame 2 into which the front half is fitted. Abuts with the rear end face 2g, thereby covering the entire periphery of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 with the pair of front and rear frames 2, 2.
[0017]
Projections 2h projecting toward the front and rear side surfaces of the battery container 1a of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 sandwiched between the frames 2, 2 are formed on the inner side surfaces 2e of the upper cross section 2a and the lower cross section 2b. Have been. The projection 2h is a pin-shaped projection integrally formed when the frame 2 is molded with resin. Here, assuming that the projection 2h is not formed on the inner side surface 2e as in the conventional example shown in FIG. 3, the frame bodies 2, 2 that are paired in the front and rear are sandwiching the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1. The size of the frame 2 is designed such that when the end faces 2g are brought into contact with each other, a slight gap is formed between the inner side face 2e and the front and rear side faces of the battery case 1a. . That is, even if a dimensional error allowed at the time of manufacturing occurs, twice the distance in the front-rear direction from the inner surface 2e to the end surface 2g of the frame 2 is equal to the length in the front-rear direction of the battery container 1a of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1. The design is made with dimensions and tolerances that are always slightly larger than the width. The amount of projection of the projection 2h from the inner surface 2e is half the length when the gap between the inner surface 2e and the front and rear side surfaces of the battery container 1a is maximized due to a dimensional error allowed during manufacturing. Designed with dimensions and tolerances that will definitely exceed. Therefore, when the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 is sandwiched between the frames 2, 2, first, the tips of the projections 2 h on both inner side surfaces 2 e come into contact with the front and rear side surfaces of the battery container 1 a, and the end surface 2 g There will be a slight gap between them.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries 1 sandwiched between the pair of frames 2 and 2 are arranged in the front-rear direction, and at both ends in the front-rear direction. The assembled battery is obtained by arranging the side plates 3 and 3 made of stainless steel plate and clamping and fixing all the frames 2 of a plurality of sets from both sides in the front-rear direction using four through bolts 4. Since an uneven portion is formed on the surface opposite to the inner side surface 2e of each frame 2, when the pair of frames 2, 2 are arranged in the front-rear direction, these uneven portions are engaged with each other. In this case, it is possible to prevent some of the frames 2 from shifting in the vertical and horizontal directions. The four through bolts 4 are passed through through holes formed in the side plates 3 and 3 and through holes 2 d of each frame body 2, and nuts are screwed and fastened to both ends thereof, whereby all frames of a plurality of sets are formed. The body 2 is clamped and fixed from both sides in the front-rear direction.
[0019]
According to the above configuration, when the through-bolt 4 and the nut are tightened at the time of assembling the assembled battery, the frame bodies 2, which are a pair of each set, are pressed in the front-rear direction and there is no slight gap between the end faces 2 g. Be in touch. At this time, the tip of the projection 2h is pressed against the side surface of the battery container 1a of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 and is plastically deformed (crushed or bent) and / or elastically deformed (bent or compressed). The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 is pressed and held between the frames 2 and 2 without any gap. As a result, according to the present embodiment, the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery sandwiched between the frame bodies 2, 2 is formed without any gap between the end faces 2g of the frame bodies 2, 2 forming the pair. 1 can be prevented from rattling.
[0020]
In the above-described embodiment, the projection 2h projecting in the form of a pin from the inner side surface 2e is shown. However, when the projections 2a and 2b are pressed, the distal end portion is plastically and / or elastically deformed. As long as it is a projection, it may be, for example, a hemispherical, conical, or pyramidal projection. Also, the number of locations where the projections are formed is arbitrary, and it is possible to form a number of elongated brush-like projections or to form wall-plate-like projections. Furthermore, it is sufficient that the projection is formed only on at least one of the pair of front and rear frame bodies 2. Further, in the above-described embodiment, when all the frame bodies 2 are sandwiched and fixed, the tip of the protrusion is plastically deformed and / or elastically deformed. The tip of the protrusion may be plastically and / or elastically deformed by pressing, and then a plurality of these may be arranged and fixed. In addition, the protrusion can be formed not only on the inner side surface 2e but also on the facing surface 2f of the side pillar 2c. In this case, when the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 is fitted into the frame 2, the tip of the protrusion may be plastically and / or elastically deformed, for example, by being pressed.
[0021]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the pair of front and rear frames 2 and 2 abut on the end surface 2g on the same surface has been described, but the end surfaces of complicated shapes on a plurality of surfaces are in contact with each other. It may be. Furthermore, this end face does not need to be a vertical plane along the up-down direction and the left-right direction as in the above embodiment, but may be an inclined plane or a curved plane.
[0022]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where two pairs of frame bodies 2 and 2 are used for each non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 has been described, but two frames between adjacent non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries 1 are used. It is also possible to dispose only one frame body 2 by sharing the frame bodies 2 and 2. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the frame 2 made of polybutylene terephthalate is shown, but another resin or other metal frame, for example, may be used. However, when the tip of the protrusion is plastically deformed by pressing with the side surface of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1, a material having a lower hardness than the material of the side surface of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 is used. In the case of elastic deformation, a material having high elasticity must be used.
[0023]
Further, in the above-described embodiment, a plurality of sets in which one nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 is sandwiched between paired frames 2 and 2 are shown. Can be similarly implemented. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the side plates 3 and 3 are arranged at both ends in the front-rear direction of the battery pack has been described, but it may be one in which only the frame body 2 is sandwiched and fixed. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where all the frame bodies 2 are clamped and fixed by the through bolts 4 has been described. However, the configuration of the fixing member for performing the clamping and fixing is arbitrary. You can also do so. Moreover, instead of using such a fixing member, it is also possible to hold and fix each frame 2 by bonding or heat fusion in a state of being pressed from the front-rear direction.
[0024]
Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the prismatic non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 is used has been described, but a battery such as a long cylinder or the like in which side surfaces formed of planes substantially parallel to each other in the front-rear direction can be arranged. The battery may have a shape such as an elliptic cylindrical shape or a cylindrical shape such that the contact surfaces on both sides in the front-rear direction are substantially parallel to each other. Further, in the above embodiment, the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1 has been described, but the type of this battery is also arbitrary.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, according to the battery pack of the present invention, without generating a gap between the facing end faces of the paired frame bodies, the battery between these frame bodies is prevented from rattling. can do. In addition, since there is no need to insert a cushioning material when assembling the assembled battery, the number of components and the number of assembling steps do not increase.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view of a frame.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery sandwiched between front and rear frames.
FIG. 3 shows a conventional example, and is a perspective view of a frame.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the battery pack.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery 1a Battery container 2 Frame 2e Inner side 2g End 2h Projection 4 Through bolt

Claims (1)

One side of one battery is sandwiched between the front and rear sides of the frame body, and at least one pair of the front and rear facing frame end faces facing each other are arranged in the front and rear direction. In a battery pack clamped and fixed from both sides,
An assembled battery, wherein a protrusion protruding toward the side surface of the battery is formed at a portion of the frame body facing the front and rear side surfaces of the sandwiched battery.

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