JP2008098012A - Battery and manufacturing method of battery, vehicle with the battery - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery equipped with terminal members properly selecting directions of flat terminal parts, a manufacturing method of such a battery, and a vehicle with the battery, in the battery equipped with terminal members connected to one of the electrodes of a power generating element housed in the case member and extended outside of the case member. <P>SOLUTION: The battery 100 is provided with a power generating element 120, a case member 110 housing the same inside, and a cathode terminal member 160 connected to a cathode of the power generating element 120 inside the case member 110 and extended outside the case member 110. In the cathode terminal member 160, a cathode terminal exposed part 61 exposed outside the case member 110 contains a cathode flat terminal part 163 made by flattening a cross section crossing the terminal part axis line P by compression deforming a cathode first preset compression part 162 of a cylindrical shape in a first specific direction DP1 crossing its own terminal part axis line P. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery, a battery manufacturing method, and a vehicle equipped with the battery.

  In recent years, various secondary batteries have been proposed as power sources for portable devices and portable devices, and as power sources for electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles.

For example, the thin battery disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes an electrode body (power generation element), a flat plate-like current collecting terminal (terminal member), and a laminate exterior body (case member). In this thin battery, the laminate outer package is integrally formed with a sheet material composed of an outer resin layer having electrical insulation, an aluminum layer having moisture resistance, and an inner resin layer having electrical insulation and heat-weldability. Do it. This laminated outer package wraps the electrode body so that the inner resin layers are brought into contact with each other, and a sheet material is folded in half, and the edges of the inner resin layer are thermally welded to form a liquid-tight Is sealed.
The current collecting terminal is made of a conductive material such as aluminum or copper, and is made by pressing a columnar member to crush it into a flat shape with curved corners. One end of the current collector terminal is connected to the electrode body, and the current collector terminal heat-welded resin coated on a part of the current collector terminal is sandwiched between the edges of the inner resin layer of the laminate outer body and heat-welded as it is. In this state, the exposed portion (terminal exposed portion) on the other end side is exposed to the outside of the laminate outer package. This exposed portion can be connected to an external connection terminal.
JP 2000-285903 A

By the way, when using such a battery as a power source for an electric vehicle or a hybrid car, for example, by connecting a plurality of batteries, the terminal exposed portions of the terminal members of adjacent batteries are connected, In order to connect to the outside, an external connection terminal such as a bus bar is used. Some batteries have a flat terminal member protruding outside the battery. In this device, an external terminal member is fastened here and connected to another battery or the like. In such a battery, the direction of the terminal exposed portion of its own terminal member is fixed.
However, depending on the positional relationship with other batteries to be connected, the shape of the external connection terminals to be connected, and the like, there are cases in which it is desirable to use batteries having the same shape but changing only the direction of the terminal exposed portions. However, when connecting batteries, the direction of the terminal exposed part of the terminal member cannot be changed freely, so the position and orientation of the external connection terminal can be adjusted according to the direction of the terminal exposed part, or suitable for connection. The external connection terminal having a different shape is separately formed to connect the terminal exposed portion and the external connection terminal. For this reason, the connection between the terminal exposed portion and the external connection terminal is troublesome, and it is necessary to prepare an external connection terminal having a different shape.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and includes a terminal member that is connected to one electrode of a power generation element housed in a case member and extends to the outside of the case member. An object of the present invention is to provide a battery including a terminal member in which the orientation of the flat terminal portion is appropriately selected, a method for manufacturing such a battery, and a vehicle equipped with this battery.

  The solution includes a power generation element, a case member containing the power generation element therein, and a metal, and the case member is connected to one electrode of the power generation element in the case member. A terminal member that extends to the outside of the terminal member, and of the terminal member, the terminal exposed portion that is exposed to the outside of the case member has a cylindrical first compression planned portion as its terminal portion. The battery includes a flat terminal portion that is compressed and deformed in a first specific direction orthogonal to the axis and has a flat cross section orthogonal to the terminal portion axis.

In the battery of the present invention, the cylindrical first compression planned portion is compressed and deformed in the first specific direction to form a flat terminal portion. Therefore, the compression direction (first specific direction) is the terminal axis of the first compression planned portion. By changing around, the orientation of the flat terminal portion can be selected.
For this reason, the structure of another part is the same and the battery which selected only the direction of the flat terminal part appropriately can be made easily. Therefore, when connecting the external connection terminal to the terminal member of the battery of the present invention, a battery having a flat terminal portion in an appropriate direction can be easily provided.

Further, in this battery, the flat terminal portion can be formed by being easily deformed during compression.
Furthermore, the width direction dimension orthogonal to a terminal part axis line among flat terminal parts can be expanded about 1.5 times at the maximum with respect to the diameter of a cylindrical 1st compression plan part. For this reason, in this flat terminal part, since it is made to contact with a bus bar and other external connection terminals in a wider area than it is with a cylindrical shape, a low resistance connection is possible.

  The battery of the present invention is a battery in which a power generation element is accommodated inside a case member, a terminal member is connected to one electrode of the power generation element, and extends to the outside of the case member. Specifically, for example, a power generation element is accommodated in a case member made of metal or resin, such as a rectangular parallelepiped or a cylindrical shape, and the terminal exposed portion of the terminal member extends through the case member to be exposed. Type of battery. In addition, for example, a sheet material such as a resin sheet or a laminate sheet in which a resin sheet and a metal sheet are stacked is used as a case member, and a power generation element is housed inside such a case member, A battery of a type in which the terminal exposed portion of the terminal member extends to the outside and is exposed through the gap is also mentioned.

  Further, examples of the case member made of metal or resin include a case member including a case main body member that houses the power generation element and a sealing member that closes the case main body member. When such a case member is used, it is possible to use either the case body member or the sealing member that the terminal member extends through.

  Further, as the flat terminal portion, the cylindrical compression target portion may be compressed and deformed in a direction orthogonal to the terminal portion axis, and the cross section orthogonal to the axis may be flattened. In addition to compressing the flattened plate-like portions obtained by deforming the planned compression portion until they overlap each other, they may be deformed leaving a space inside.

  Furthermore, in the above-described battery, the flat terminal portion has two flat surfaces on the front and back surfaces, and the flat surfaces of the two surfaces have a cross section orthogonal to the terminal portion axis, both of which protrude outward. The two flat surfaces are close to each other at both ends in the width direction and spaced apart from each other at the central portion in the width direction, and the central portions of the two flat surfaces are respectively It is preferable to use a battery that includes a through hole that penetrates and is inserted with a bolt for connection to an external connection terminal.

  In the battery of the present invention, the flat surfaces of the two front and back surfaces are in a form separated from each other in the center portion in the width direction, and since it has a through hole, a bolt is inserted into this through hole and tightened with a nut or the like, When the external connection terminal is brought into contact with the flat terminal portion and fastened, an elastic force is generated so that the two flat surfaces are separated from each other, and the flat surface serves as a spring washer. For this reason, the bolts and the like are effectively prevented from loosening.

  As a fastening method between the flat terminal part and the external connection terminal, the bolt is inserted through the through hole of the flat terminal part and screwed into the female screw hole formed in the external connection terminal to connect the flat terminal part to the external connection terminal. The method of fastening the terminal and the bolt is inserted into the through hole of the flat terminal part and the through hole provided in the external connection terminal, and the flat terminal part and the external connection terminal are screwed into this bolt and nut. And the like.

  Furthermore, in any one of the above-described batteries, the terminal member has a sealing portion that is in direct or indirect contact with the case member and seals between the case member, and the terminal. Among the members, at least from the sealing portion to the flat terminal portion is an integral member, and in a state before the first compression scheduled portion is deformed, at least the sealing member among the terminal members. It is preferable to use a cylindrical member for the battery from the first part to the first compression scheduled part.

In the battery of the present invention, among the terminal members, at least from the sealing portion to the flat terminal portion is an integral member. Moreover, in a state before the first planned compression portion is deformed, at least from the sealing portion to the flat terminal portion is cylindrical, that is, the same shape as the first compression planned portion. That is, in a state before the first compression planned portion is deformed, a portion from the sealing portion to the flat terminal portion has a single cylindrical shape.
Therefore, since the sealing of the terminal member and the case member is performed between the annular sealing portion and the case member, for example, compared with the sealing when there is a corner portion such as a rectangular sealing portion. Thus, there is no uneven distribution of stress generated between the sealing portion of the terminal member and the case member, and the sealing can be performed uniformly.
In addition, since at least the portion from the sealing portion to the flat terminal portion is integral, the battery has a simple structure.

  Further, in the battery described above, the terminal member has an in-case arrangement portion located in the case member, and the in-case arrangement portion has a cylindrical second compression planned portion as its own terminal portion axis. The terminal member includes a flat electrode connecting portion that is compressed and deformed in a second specific direction orthogonal to the cross section, has a flat cross section orthogonal to the terminal portion axis, and is connected to one electrode of the power generation element. Among these, at least the second electrode in the state before the first compression scheduled portion and the second compression scheduled portion are deformed, at least from the flat electrode connecting portion to the flat terminal portion. The battery from the compression scheduled portion to the first compression scheduled portion may be a battery using a cylindrical member.

  In the battery of the present invention, the flat electrode connecting portion obtained by deforming the cylindrical second compression planned portion is connected to one electrode, so that the area for connection with the one electrode is widened by the deformation. Can be taken. Further, since the second specific direction is selected and compressed regardless of the compression deformation direction (first specific direction) of the flat terminal portion, the second specific direction is a direction suitable for connection with one electrode. Thus, a battery in which one electrode is appropriately connected can be obtained.

Of the terminal members, at least from the flat electrode connecting portion to the flat terminal portion is an integral member. Moreover, in a state before the first compression scheduled portion and the second compression scheduled portion are deformed, the portion from the second compression scheduled portion to the first compression scheduled portion is cylindrical.
Accordingly, the terminal member has a single cylindrical shape from the second compression planned portion to the first compression planned portion beyond the sealing portion in a state before the first and second compression planned portions are deformed. ing.
Thus, since the terminal member is integrated at least from the flat electrode connecting portion to the flat terminal portion, the battery has a simpler structure.

  Another solution is a power generation element, a case member that accommodates the power generation element therein, and a terminal member formed by molding a cylindrical metal material, and is located outside the case member, A portion of the terminal member is compressed and deformed in a first specific direction orthogonal to its own terminal portion axis, and a flat terminal portion having a flat cross section orthogonal to the terminal portion axis, and the case member The other part of the terminal member is compressed and deformed in a second specific direction orthogonal to the terminal part axis, and the cross section orthogonal to the terminal part axis is flattened, A terminal member including a flat electrode connecting portion connected to the electrode.

The battery of the present invention includes a power generation element, a case member that accommodates the power generation element, and a terminal member formed by molding a cylindrical metal material. The terminal member is located outside the case member, and a part of itself is compressed and deformed in a first specific direction orthogonal to the terminal portion axis, and the cross section orthogonal to the terminal portion axis is flattened. Includes flat terminals. Further, the terminal member is disposed in the case member, and another part of itself is compressed and deformed in a second specific direction orthogonal to the terminal portion axis, so that a cross section orthogonal to the terminal portion axis is flattened. And includes a flat electrode connecting portion connected to one electrode of the power generation element.
In this battery, since the flat terminal portion is formed by compressing and deforming in the first specific direction while using the terminal member that is originally a cylindrical metal material, the compression direction (first specific direction) is defined as the terminal portion. By changing around the axis, the orientation of the flat terminal portion can be selected. Moreover, since the flat terminal part is formed, a contact area can be taken large in connection with an external connection terminal.
Furthermore, since the flat electrode connection portion is formed by being compressed and deformed in the second specific direction, the orientation of the flat electrode connection portion can be selected by changing the compression direction (second specific direction) around the terminal portion axis. . Moreover, since the flat electrode connection part is formed, the area of connection with one electrode of a power generation element can be taken large in connection with a power generation element.
And since the direction of a flat electrode connection part can be selected irrespective of the direction of a flat terminal part, it can be set as the flat electrode connection part with the direction suitable for the connection with an electric power generation element.

  Furthermore, in the battery described above, the terminal member has an annular shape, and is a battery having a sealing portion formed by sealing directly or indirectly with the case member and sealing between the case member. good.

  In the battery of the present invention, since the sealing of the terminal member and the case member is performed by the annular sealing portion and the case member, for example, compared to a case where a terminal member having corners such as a rectangular shape is used. In addition, there is no uneven distribution of stress generated between the sealing portion of the terminal member and the case member, and the battery can be sealed uniformly and has high airtightness in the battery.

  Still another solution is a vehicle on which the battery according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is mounted.

In the vehicle of the present invention, since the above-described battery is mounted such that the terminal member includes a flat terminal portion, the orientation of the flat terminal portion of the battery is appropriately selected, and connection with other batteries or external connection terminals The vehicle can be made compact, and the vehicle can be made compact or inexpensive.
Examples of vehicles include electric vehicles and hybrid cars, as well as vehicles such as forklifts, electric wheelchairs, electric assist bicycles, and electric scooters.

  Still another solution is a power generation element, a case member that accommodates the power generation element therein, and a metal that is connected to one electrode of the power generation element in the case member, A terminal member extending to the outside of the case member, and of the terminal member, the terminal exposed portion exposed to the outside of the case member has a flat cross section perpendicular to its own terminal portion axis A method for manufacturing a battery including a terminal portion, wherein a first flattening step of forming a flat terminal portion by compressing and deforming a cylindrical first compression planned portion in a first specific direction orthogonal to the terminal portion axis. A method for manufacturing a battery having

In the battery manufacturing method of the present invention, in the first flattening step, the cylindrical first compression planned portion is compressed and deformed into a flat terminal portion, so the compression direction is around the terminal axis of the first compression planned portion. By changing to, the orientation of the flat terminal portion can be selected.
Therefore, the freedom degree regarding the direction of a flat terminal part is high, the structure of another part is the same, and the battery which changed only the direction of the flat terminal part can be made easily. Thereby, the battery with the flat terminal part made into the direction suitable also for the connection with an external connection member according to the use, arrangement | positioning, etc. of each battery can be manufactured easily. Furthermore, in the first flattening step, the cylindrical first compression planned portion is compressed and deformed into a flat terminal portion, so that it is necessary to manufacture the terminal member of each form in advance according to the orientation of the flat terminal portion. Since a terminal member having flat terminal portions with different directions can be manufactured from a common terminal member, the manufacturing cost of the terminal member and the battery can be reduced.

  Further, in the battery manufacturing method described above, in the first flattening step, the flat terminal portion is formed in an arc shape in which a cross section perpendicular to the terminal portion axis of the flat surface on both the front and back surfaces protrudes outward. As described above, the two flat surfaces are formed close to each other at both ends in the width direction and separated from each other at the center portion in the width direction, and after the first flattening step, the two flat surfaces are formed. It is preferable to provide a battery manufacturing method including a through-hole forming step of forming a through-hole through which a bolt for connection to an external connection terminal is inserted in the central portion.

According to the battery manufacturing method of the present invention, the flat surfaces of the two front and back surfaces are formed in a form spaced apart from each other at the central portion in the width direction, and a through hole is formed in the central portion. For this reason, when a bolt is inserted into the through hole, the external connection terminal is brought into contact with the flat terminal portion, and fastened with a nut or the like, an elastic force is generated to separate the two flat surfaces. Thus, a battery in which the flat surface functions as a spring washer and the bolts and the like are effectively prevented from loosening can be obtained.
Moreover, since the through hole forming step is performed after the first flattening step, the positions of the through holes in the two flat surfaces can be easily aligned.

  Furthermore, it is a manufacturing method of the battery of Claim 8 or Claim 9, Comprising: The said terminal member has an in-case arrangement | positioning part located in the said case member, The said in-case arrangement | positioning part is an own terminal. A cross section perpendicular to the axis of the part is flat, includes a flat electrode connecting part connected to one of the electrodes of the power generation element, and a second specified compression part perpendicular to the axis of the terminal part A method of manufacturing a battery having a second flattening step of compressing and deforming in the direction to form the flat electrode connecting portion is preferable.

In the battery manufacturing method of the present invention, in the second flattening step, the cylindrical second compression planned portion is compressed and deformed to form a flat electrode connection portion, so the compression direction is the terminal axis of the second compression planned portion. By changing around, the orientation of the flat electrode connection portion can be selected.
Therefore, it is possible to easily manufacture a flat electrode connection portion having a direction suitable for connection with the power generation element regardless of the first specific direction. Furthermore, in the second flattening step, the cylindrical second compression planned portion is compressed and deformed to form a flat electrode connection portion, so that the area of connection with the electrode of the power generation element can be increased.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The battery 100 according to the present embodiment is a secondary battery such as a nickel hydride secondary storage battery or a lithium ion secondary battery that is used as a drive power source for an electric vehicle or a hybrid car. As shown in FIG. 1, the battery 100 is a square unit battery whose outer shape is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.
The battery 100 includes a case member 110 including a battery container body 111 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape and a sealing lid 115 for closing the battery container body, a power generation element 120 housed in the case member 110, a positive electrode terminal member 160, a negative electrode terminal member 260, and the like. It is composed of The positive electrode terminal member 160 and the negative electrode terminal member 260 are connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the power generation element 120 in the case member 110, respectively, and extend to the outside of the case member 110. In the battery 100, an electrolytic solution (not shown) is injected into the battery container main body 111.

The battery container body 111 of the case member 110 is made of metal, and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a flat and rectangular first side wall 111 a and a second side wall 111 b that is parallel to and has the same shape. Have. The battery case body 111 has a flat and rectangular third side wall 111c and fourth side wall 111d connecting the short side of the first side wall 111a and the short side of the second side wall 111b. The battery case body 111 has a flat and rectangular bottom wall 111e connecting the long side of the first side wall 111a and the long side of the second side wall 111b.
The battery container main body 111 has an opening 112 on the insertion side (upper side in FIG. 2), and the power generation element 120 described later and a part of the positive electrode terminal member 160 and the negative electrode terminal member 260 are formed from the opening 112. The container body 111 can be accommodated inside.

  The sealing lid 115 of the case member 110 is made of metal, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the long side along the first side wall 111a and the second side wall 111b in the battery container body 111, the third side wall 111c, It is a rectangular flat plate having sides along the short side along the fourth side wall 111d. The sealing lid 115 has a positive terminal insertion hole 116H and a negative terminal insertion hole 117H that are spaced apart at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction along the long side of the first side wall 111a, and a valve hole 118H positioned therebetween. is doing.

  The sealing lid 115 liquid-tightly closes the opening 112 of the battery container body 111 after accommodating a power generation element 120 described later in the battery container body 111. Further, the valve hole 118H is sealed from the outside of the battery case 110 by a metal safety valve 190.

In the battery 100, the power generation element 120 has a strip shape, and is formed by winding a positive electrode plate 131 made of aluminum, a negative electrode plate 231 made of copper, and a separator 151 made of a synthetic resin. The power generating element 120 has a positive electrode in which only a part of the positive electrode plate 131 is spirally exposed at one end (right end in FIG. 2) in the direction along the axis O (left and right in FIG. 2). A plate exposed portion 132 is provided. On the other hand, the other end (the left end in FIG. 2) of the power generation element 120 has a negative electrode plate exposed portion 232 in which only a part of the negative electrode plate 231 is spirally overlapped and exposed. Yes.
In the positive electrode plate 131, a positive electrode mixture containing a positive electrode active material is applied to a portion excluding the positive electrode plate exposed portion 132. Similarly, a portion of the negative electrode plate 231 excluding the negative electrode plate exposed portion 232 is coated with a negative electrode mixture containing a negative electrode active material.

A part of the positive electrode plate exposed portion 132 of the power generation element 120 is compressed in the thickness direction of the power generation element 120 (left and right direction in FIG. 3) and overlapped with each other without a gap as shown in FIG. 133. The positive electrode plate fixing portion 133 is welded to a part of the back flat surface 173 b of the flat electrode connecting portion 173 in the positive electrode terminal member 160 described later, and is electrically connected to the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163.
Similarly, a part of the negative electrode plate exposed portion 232 is also a negative electrode plate fixing portion 233 that is compressed in the thickness direction of the power generation element 120 (left and right direction in FIG. 3) and overlaps each other without a gap. The negative electrode plate fixing portion 233 is welded to a part of the back flat surface 273b of the flat electrode connecting portion 273 in the negative electrode terminal member 260 described later, and is electrically connected to the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263.

  In the battery 100, the positive electrode terminal member 160 is made of aluminum and formed by forming a cylindrical member 178 (see FIG. 8), which is a single cylindrical pipe. As shown in FIG. 2, the positive electrode terminal member 160 includes a positive electrode terminal exposed portion 161 that is exposed and disposed outside the battery case 110, a positive electrode-side case placement portion 171 that is disposed inside the battery case 110, and , An integral member having a positive electrode sealing portion 165 positioned between them.

  Of the positive electrode terminal member 160, the positive electrode terminal exposed portion 161 includes a positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 having a flat cross section perpendicular to the terminal portion axis P, as shown in FIGS. The positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 has a positive electrode first compression scheduled portion 162, which will be described in detail later, in a first specific direction perpendicular to the terminal portion axis P (in this embodiment, the first side wall 111a and the second side wall of the battery container body 111). 111b (the direction connecting to 111b, the left-right direction in FIG. 3) and being compressed and deformed to DP1. The positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 has a front flat surface 163a and a back flat surface 163b located on the opposite side thereof. Cross sections orthogonal to the terminal portion axis P of the front flat surface 163a and the back flat surface 163b are both arcuately protruding outward, and the front flat surface 163a and the back flat surface 163b are in the width direction (in FIG. 6, the vertical direction). ) Are close to each other at both ends, and the widthwise central portions 164a and 164b are spaced apart from each other. The positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 penetrates through the central portions 164a and 164b of the oblate flat surface 163a and the reverse flat surface 163b, and through holes 163H (163aH, 163aH, 163bH) is perforated.

Further, the positive electrode flat electrode connecting portion 173 is located on the opposite side to the positive electrode terminal exposed portion 161. This positive electrode flat electrode connecting portion 173 is formed by compressing and deforming a positive electrode second compression scheduled portion 172 described later in detail in a second specific direction DP2 orthogonal to the terminal portion axis P, and a cross section orthogonal to the terminal portion axis P is flat. It has become a shape. In the present embodiment, the second specific direction DP2 for compressing and deforming the positive electrode second compression scheduled portion 172 is selected in the same direction as the first specific direction DP1.
The positive flat electrode connecting portion 173 has a front flat surface 173a and a back flat surface 173b located on the opposite side thereof. Since the front and back flat surfaces 173a and 173b are sufficiently compressed and deformed, of the front and back flat surfaces 173a and 173b, the front and back flat surfaces 173a and 173b are substantially parallel to each other. Central portions 174a and 174b in the width direction (upper left-lower right direction in FIG. 4) are in contact with each other (see FIG. 3).
Further, as described above, the positive electrode flat electrode connecting portion 173 is formed by welding a part of the front and lower flat surface 173a and the positive electrode plate fixing portion 133 of the positive electrode plate exposed portion 132 of the power generation element 120. 120 is electrically connected to the exposed portion 132 of the positive electrode plate (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

Further, a positive electrode terminal sealing portion 175 is provided at an end portion (downward in FIG. 4) of the positive electrode flat electrode connection portion 173 by, for example, welding or the like, and is formed between the front flat surface 173a and the back flat surface 173b. The gap is blocked.
Thereby, it is possible to prevent the electrolytic solution from leaking to the outside of the case member 110 through the inside of the positive electrode terminal member 160 (such as a gap between the front flat surface 173a and the back flat surface 173b).

  Of the positive electrode terminal member 160, the positive electrode sealing portion 165 is an annular portion, and is inserted through the positive electrode terminal insertion hole 116 </ b> H of the sealing lid 115. The positive electrode sealing portion 165 and the positive electrode terminal insertion hole 116H are sealed with a ring-shaped positive electrode seal member 180 made of resin. Thus, the positive terminal member 160 is electrically insulated from the sealing lid 115 and the positive terminal exposed portion 161 is extended toward the outside of the sealing lid 115 in the form of the sealing lid 115 (case The member 110) is held liquid-tight.

  On the other hand, the negative electrode terminal member 260 (see FIG. 4) is made of copper and is formed by forming a cylindrical member 278 (see FIG. 8) which is a cylindrical pipe. As shown in FIG. 2, the negative electrode terminal member 260 includes a negative electrode terminal exposed portion 261 that is exposed and arranged outside the battery case 110, a negative electrode-side case arrangement portion 271 that is arranged inside the battery case 110, and , An integral member having a negative electrode sealing portion 265 positioned between them.

Of the negative electrode terminal member 260, the negative electrode terminal exposed portion 261 includes a negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 having a flat cross section perpendicular to the terminal portion axis N, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. The negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 has a negative electrode first compression scheduled portion 262, which will be described in detail later, in a first specific direction perpendicular to the terminal portion axis N (in this embodiment, the first side wall 111a and the second side wall of the battery case body 111). 111b (the direction connecting to 111b, the left-right direction in FIG. 3) DN1 is compressed and deformed.
The negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 has a front flat surface 263a and a back flat surface 263b located on the opposite side thereof. The cross sections of the front flat surface 263a and the back flat surface 263b perpendicular to the terminal axis N are arc-shaped protruding outward, and the front flat surface 263a and the back flat surface 263b are in the width direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 6). ) Are close to each other at both ends, and are separated from each other by the central portions 264a and 264b in the width direction. In this negative electrode flat terminal portion 263, through holes 263H (263aH, 263aH, 263H) are inserted through the center portions 264a, 264b of the front flat surface 263a and the back flat surface 263b, respectively, and through which bolts 211 for connection to the bus bar 200 described later are inserted. 263bH) is perforated.

Further, the negative electrode flat electrode connection part 273 is located on the side opposite to the negative electrode terminal exposed part 261. The negative electrode flat electrode connecting portion 273 is formed by compressing and deforming a negative electrode second compression planned portion 272, which will be described in detail later, in a second specific direction DN2 orthogonal to the terminal portion axis N, and a cross section orthogonal to the terminal portion axis N is flat. It has become a shape. In the present embodiment, the second specific direction DN2 for compressing and deforming the negative second compression target portion 272 is selected in the same direction as the first specific direction DN1.
The negative electrode flat electrode connecting portion 273 has a front flat surface 273a and a back flat surface 273b located on the opposite side thereof. Since the front and back flat surfaces 273a and the back flat surface 273b are sufficiently compressed and deformed, of the front and back flat surfaces 273a and 273b, the front and back flat surfaces 273a and 273b are substantially parallel to each other. Central portions 274a and 274b in the width direction (upper left-lower right direction in FIG. 4) are in contact with each other (see FIG. 3). Further, as described above, the negative electrode flat electrode connecting portion 273 is welded to a part of the flat surface 273a and the negative electrode plate fixing portion 233 of the negative electrode plate exposed portion 232 of the power generation element 120, thereby generating the power generation element 120. To the negative electrode plate exposed portion 232 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

  In addition, a negative electrode terminal sealing portion 275 is provided by welding or the like at an end portion (downward in FIG. 4) of the negative electrode flat electrode connecting portion 273, and similarly to the positive electrode terminal sealing portion 175, the oblate flat surface 273 a A gap formed between the flat surface 273b and the flat surface 273b is closed. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the electrolyte from leaking to the outside of the case member 110 through the inside of the negative electrode terminal member 260 (such as a gap between the oblate flat surface 273a and the reverse flat surface 273b).

  Of the negative electrode terminal member 260, the negative electrode sealing portion 265 is an annular portion, and is inserted through the negative electrode terminal insertion hole 117H of the sealing lid 115. A space between the negative electrode sealing portion 265 and the negative electrode terminal insertion hole 117H is sealed with a ring-shaped negative electrode seal member 280 made of resin. As a result, the negative electrode terminal member 260 is electrically insulated from the sealing lid 115, and the negative electrode terminal exposed portion 261 is extended toward the outside of the sealing lid 115. The member 110) is held liquid-tight.

  In this embodiment, the cylindrical members 178 and 278 correspond to the metal material of the present invention, the positive terminal member 160 and the negative terminal member 260 correspond to the terminal members, and the positive terminal exposed portion 161 and the negative terminal exposed portion. 261 corresponds to the terminal exposed portion, and the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 and the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 correspond to the flat terminal portion. Further, the positive electrode sealing portion 165 and the negative electrode sealing portion 265 correspond to the sealing portion, the positive electrode side case placement portion 171 and the negative electrode side case placement portion 271 correspond to the case placement portion, and the positive electrode flat electrode connection portion. 173 and the negative electrode flat electrode connection part 273 correspond to a flat electrode connection part.

Next, the bus bar 200 used for connecting the batteries 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The bus bar 200 is made of metal and is a U-shaped member having a first connection part 201, a second connection part 202 parallel to the first connection part 201, and a connection part 203 connecting them, as shown in FIG. The bus bar 200 corresponds to the external connection terminal of the present invention.

In the bus bar 200, the first connection portion 201 is a portion that is fastened to the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 of the positive electrode terminal member 160 of the battery 100 and is electrically connected to the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163. The first connecting portion 201 is provided with a first through hole 201H.
On the other hand, the second connection portion 202 is a portion that is fastened to the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 of the negative electrode terminal member 260 of the battery 100 and is electrically connected to the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263. The second connecting portion 202 has a second through hole 202H.

  In the bus bar 200, the connecting portion 203 has a flat plate shape having a predetermined width, and connects the first connecting portion 201 and the second connecting portion 202. In this bus bar 200, the interval between the first connection portion 201 and the second connection portion 202 is such that when the batteries 100, 100 are arranged adjacent to each other, the positive flat terminal portion 163 of the one battery 100 and the other battery. The distance between the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 and the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 is considered.

Next, the battery module 10 including a plurality of batteries 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
In the present embodiment, the battery module 10 is configured by arranging a plurality of batteries 100 in a row. In FIG. 5, only four batteries 100 are shown. The batteries 100 and 100 included in the battery module 10 are configured such that the positive electrodes (positive electrode flat terminal portions 163) and the negative electrodes (negative electrode flat terminal portions 263) of the batteries 100 and 100 arranged adjacent to each other are alternately positioned on opposite sides. And arranged in parallel to each other.

Specifically, in the battery module 10, the batteries 100 and 100 are arranged so that the first side walls 111a and 111a and the second side walls 111b and 111b of the battery container body 111 are alternately opposed to each other. ing.
And among the batteries 100 and 100 arranged adjacent to each other, the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 of one battery 100 and the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 of another battery 100 are connected by the bus bar 200, whereby each battery 100 ( In FIG. 5, the batteries 100A to 100D) are connected in series with each other.

Specifically, the first connecting portion 201 of the bus bar 200 is fastened to the positive flat terminal portion 163 of one battery 100, and the second connecting portion 202 is fastened to the negative flat terminal portion 263 of another battery 100, respectively. Yes.
This will be described more specifically. The first connecting portion 201 of the buzz bar 200 and the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 of the battery 100 (for example, 100B) are brought into contact with each other, and the bolt 211 inserted through the washer 213 passes through the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 as shown in FIG. The hole 163H and the first through hole 201H of the first connecting portion 201 are inserted. The bolt 211 is screwed into the nut 212, and the first connecting portion 201 and the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 are fastened.
Moreover, the 2nd connection part 202 of the bus bar 200 and the negative electrode flat terminal part 263 of the battery 100 (for example, 100A) are contact | abutted (refer FIG. 6). Then, the bolt 211 inserted through the washer 213 is inserted from the through hole 263H of the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 into the second through hole 202H of the second connection portion 201, and the bolt 211 and the nut 212 are screwed together to form the second connection. The part 202 and the negative electrode flat terminal part 263 are fastened.

As described above, the battery 100 used in the battery module 10 of the present embodiment includes the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 that is flat on the positive electrode terminal exposed portion 161 of the positive electrode terminal member 160. The positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 has a first connecting direction DP1 (see FIG. 1) as a direction connecting the first side wall 111a and the second side wall 111b of the battery case body 111, and the positive electrode of the cylindrical member 178 in this direction. The first compression scheduled portion 162 is compressed and deformed.
The negative electrode terminal exposed portion 261 of the negative electrode terminal member 260 also has a flat negative electrode flat terminal portion 263. Similarly to the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163, the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 is obtained by compressing and deforming the negative electrode first compression scheduled portion 262 of the cylindrical member 278 in the first specific direction DN1. Therefore, using the bus bar 200 of the form shown in FIG. 7, the first connection portion 201 is connected to the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 of each battery 100, and the second connection portion 202 is connected to the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 of each battery 100. By making each contact, the positive flat terminal portion 163 and the negative flat terminal portion 263 of each battery 100 can be easily connected.

In the battery 100, the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 has an arc shape in which the cross section perpendicular to the terminal portion axis P of the front flat surface 163 a and the back flat surface 163 b protrudes outward, and the front flat surface 163 a and the back flat surface 163b is close to each other at both ends in the width direction, and is separated from each other by the center portions 164a and 164b in the width direction. In addition, the central portions 174a and 174b have through holes 163H.
For this reason, the bolt 211 is inserted into the through-hole 163H and tightened with the nut 212, and the first connecting portion 201 of the bus bar 200 is brought into contact with the oblate flat surface 163a (or the back flat surface 163b) of the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 and fastened. In the battery module 10, an elastic force is generated in the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 so as to separate the front flat surface 163 a and the back flat surface 163 b, thereby effectively preventing loosening of the bolt 211 and the nut 212. The

Similarly, in the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263, the cross section perpendicular to the terminal portion axis N of the front flat surface 263a and the back flat surface 263b has an arc shape protruding outward, and the front flat surface 263a and the back flat surface 263b are Both ends of the width direction are close to each other, and the width direction central portions 264a and 264b are separated from each other. In addition, the central portions 274a and 274b have through holes 263H.
For this reason, the bolt 211 is inserted into the through-hole 263H and tightened with the nut 212, and the second connecting portion 201 of the bus bar 200 is brought into contact with the oblate flat surface 263a (or the reverse flat surface 263b) of the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 and fastened. In the battery module 10, an elastic force is generated in the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 so as to separate the front flat surface 263 a and the back flat surface 263 b, thereby effectively preventing loosening of the bolt 211 and the nut 212. Is done.

In the battery 100 of this embodiment, the cylindrical members 178 and 278 which are cylindrical pipes are used in forming the positive terminal member 160 and the negative terminal member 260 (see FIGS. 8 to 11). For this reason, the positive electrode flat terminal part 163 and the negative electrode flat terminal part 263 can be easily formed by deforming the positive electrode first compression planned part 162 and the negative electrode first compression planned part 262 in the first specific directions DP1 and DN1, respectively.
In addition, the flat positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 and the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 are larger in area than the first and second connection portions 201 and 202 of the bus bar 200 than the cylindrical members 178 and 278 of the cylindrical shape before deformation. And can be connected with low resistance.

As described above, in the present embodiment, in the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163, each of the cross sections orthogonal to the terminal portion axis P of the front flat surface 163a and the back flat surface 163b is an arc shape protruding outward, The flat surface 163a and the back flat surface 163b are close to each other at both ends in the width direction, and are separated from each other by the central portions 164a and 164b in the width direction. Further, in the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263, the cross section perpendicular to the terminal portion axis N of the front flat surface 263a and the back flat surface 263b is an arc shape protruding outward, and the front flat surface 263a and the back flat surface 263b are wide. The both ends in the direction are close to each other, and the widthwise central portions 264a and 264b are separated from each other.
However, if the positive electrode first compression planned portion 162 and the negative electrode first compression planned portion 262 are further strongly compressed and the flat surfaces of the two surfaces of the flat terminal portion are deformed until their central portions abut each other, The width direction dimension orthogonal to an axis line among flat terminal parts can be expanded to about 1.5 times at maximum with respect to the diameter of the cylindrical positive electrode 1st compression plan part 162 and the negative electrode 1st compression plan part 262.

Further, in the battery 100 of the present embodiment, the positive electrode terminal member 160 and the sealing lid 115 are sealed by the annular positive electrode sealing portion 165 and the sealing lid 115, and thus there are corners such as a rectangular shape, for example. Compared with the case of sealing using a member, stress is not unevenly distributed between the positive electrode sealing portion 165 and the sealing lid 115, and the sealing can be performed uniformly.
In addition, since the positive electrode terminal member 160 is integrated from the positive electrode sealing portion 165 to the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163, and further from the positive electrode flat electrode connection portion 173 to the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163, the battery 100 having a simple structure is obtained. .

Similarly, since the negative electrode terminal member 260 and the sealing lid 115 are also sealed by the annular negative electrode sealing portion 265 and the sealing lid 115, for example, a rectangular member such as a rectangle is used for sealing. Compared to the case, uneven distribution of stress or the like hardly occurs between the negative electrode sealing portion 265 and the sealing lid 115, and the sealing can be performed uniformly.
In addition, since the negative electrode sealing member 265 to the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263, and further from the negative electrode flat electrode connection portion 273 to the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263, an integrated negative electrode terminal member 260, the battery 100 having a simple structure is obtained. .

Next, a method for manufacturing the battery 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.
However, in this battery 100, any known method other than the method for manufacturing the positive electrode terminal member 160 and the negative electrode terminal member 260 may be used. Therefore, the first flattening process relating to the manufacture of the positive electrode terminal member 160 and the negative electrode terminal member 260, 2 The flattening process and the through hole forming process will be mainly described, and the others will be described briefly.

  First, as shown in FIG. 8, a cylindrical member 178 made of aluminum and a cylindrical member 278 made of copper are prepared. Cylindrical members 178 and 278 are inserted into the ring-shaped seal members 180 and 280, respectively.

  Thereafter, the cylindrical member 178 together with the cylindrical member 178 is inserted into the positive terminal insertion hole 116 </ b> H of the sealing lid 115. Similarly, the cylindrical member 278 and the cylindrical member 278 are inserted into the negative electrode terminal insertion hole 117 </ b> H of the sealing lid 115.

Of the cylindrical member 178, with the sealing lid 115 and the sealing member 180 as a boundary, in the state above the sealing lid 115 in FIG. The corresponding portion is 178U. The opposite side is referred to as an in-case-corresponding portion 178N which becomes the positive electrode case placement / extraction portion 171. Further, the tip (upper end) portion of the outside case equivalent portion 178U is a positive first compression scheduled portion 162, and the tip end (lower end) portion of the case equivalent portion 178N is a positive second compression scheduled portion 172.
Similarly, in the cylindrical member 278, with the sealing lid 115 and the sealing member 280 as a boundary, in the state where the upper side of the sealing lid 115 in FIG. It is assumed that the case equivalent part 278U. The opposite side is referred to as an in-case-corresponding portion 278N which becomes the negative electrode case placement portion 271. Further, the tip (upper end) portion of the outside case equivalent portion 278U is a negative electrode first compression scheduled portion 262, and the tip end (lower end) portion of the case inner equivalent portion 278N is a negative electrode second compression scheduled portion 272.

Next, the second flattening process will be described.
In the battery 100 according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the positive electrode plate fixing portion 133 of the power generation element 120 and the positive flat electrode connecting portion 173 of the positive terminal member 160 are connected to the battery container body 111. Are overlapped and connected in a direction orthogonal to the first side wall 111a (second specific direction DP2). Further, the negative electrode plate fixing portion 233 and the negative electrode flat electrode connecting portion 273 of the negative electrode terminal member 260 are also overlapped and connected in a direction (second specific direction DN2) orthogonal to the first side wall 111a of the battery container body 111.
Therefore, in the second flattening step, as shown in FIG. 9, the positive electrode second compression scheduled portion 172 and the negative electrode second compression scheduled portion 272 shown in FIG. The positive flat electrode connecting portion 173 and the negative flat electrode connecting portion 273 are formed by compressing and deforming in the second specific directions DP2 and DN2 orthogonal to each other.

More specifically, in the positive electrode flat electrode connecting portion 173, the positive electrode second compression scheduled portion 172 is connected to the oblate flat surface 173a so that the two surfaces of the oblate flat surface 173a and the reverse flat surface 173b are substantially parallel to each other. And it is made to deform | transform until it becomes the form which the center part 174 of the width direction of the back flat surfaces 173b touches mutually.
In addition, in the negative electrode flat electrode connecting portion 273, the negative electrode second compression scheduled portion 272 is arranged so that the front and back flat surfaces 273a and the back flat surface 273b are substantially parallel to each other. It is made to deform | transform until it becomes the form which the center part 274 of the width direction of 273b touches mutually.

Next, the first flattening process will be described.
As described above, in the battery module 10 in which a plurality of the batteries 100 according to the first embodiment are connected, the U-shaped bus bar 200 is used to connect the batteries 100 and 100 arranged adjacent to each other (FIG. 5). (See FIG. 7).
Therefore, in the first flattening step, the flat positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 and the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 are configured so that the positive electrode terminal member 160 and the negative electrode terminal member 260 can be appropriately and easily connected using the bus bar 200. Select the orientation. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, a cylindrical positive electrode first compression scheduled portion 162, negative electrode first compression planned portion 262 (see FIG. 8) is connected to its own terminal portion axis P, The positive flat terminal portion 163 and the negative flat terminal portion 263 are formed by compressing and deforming in the first specific directions DP1 and DN1 orthogonal to N (see FIG. 3).

More specifically, in the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163, the cross sections orthogonal to the terminal portion axis P of the front flat surface 163a and the back flat surface 163b are both arcuate protruding outward, and the front flat surface 163a and the back flat surface The positive first compression scheduled portion 162 is deformed until 163b comes close to each other at both ends in the width direction (vertical direction in FIG. 6) and is separated from each other by the central portions 164a and 164b in the width direction.
Moreover, in the negative electrode flat terminal part 273, the cross section orthogonal to the terminal part axis N of the front flat surface 263a and the back flat surface 263b is an arc shape protruding outward, and the front flat surface 263a and the back flat surface 263b are wide. The negative electrode first compression scheduled portion 262 is deformed until it is close to each other at both ends in the direction (vertical direction in FIG. 6) and is separated from each other by the central portions 264a and 264b in the width direction.

In forming the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 and the negative electrode flat terminal portion 163 in the first flattening step, distortion due to compression deformation of the positive electrode first compression scheduled portion 162 and the negative electrode first compression planned portion 262 is positive electrode sealed. In consideration of the positions of the positive electrode first compression scheduled portion 162 and the negative electrode first compression planned portion 262 (positions of the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 and the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263) so as not to reach the portion 165 and the negative electrode sealing portion 265. It is good to keep.
Also, in the second flattening step, in forming the positive electrode flat electrode connection portion 173 and the negative electrode flat electrode connection portion 273, distortion due to the compression deformation of the positive electrode second compression scheduled portion 172 and the negative electrode second compression planned portion 272, In order not to reach the positive electrode sealing portion 165 and the negative electrode sealing portion 265, the positions of the positive electrode second compression scheduled portion 172 and the negative electrode second compression planned portion 272 (the positive electrode flat electrode connection portion 173, the negative electrode flat electrode connection portion 273 (Position) should be taken into account.

Next, a through-hole forming step is performed after the first flattening step.
In this through hole forming step, as shown in FIG. 11, in the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163, through holes 163H (163aH, 163bH) are drilled in the central portions 164a, 164b of the front flat surface 163a and the back flat surface 163b. . Further, in the negative flat electrode connecting portion 263, through holes 263H (263aH, 263bH) are drilled in the central portions 264a, 264b of the front flat surface 263a and the back flat surface 263b.

Next, the positive electrode flat electrode connecting portion 173 is welded at the end (downward in FIG. 11) to form the positive electrode terminal sealing portion 175. In addition, the negative electrode terminal sealing portion 275 is formed by welding the end portion of the negative electrode flat electrode connection portion 273 (downward in FIG. 11).
Further, the positive electrode sealing member 180 is heated to melt the resin, and the space between the positive electrode sealing portion 165 of the positive electrode terminal member 160 and the positive electrode terminal insertion hole 116H of the sealing lid 115 is sealed in a liquid-tight manner. Further, the negative electrode sealing member 280 is heated to melt the resin, and the space between the negative electrode sealing portion 265 of the negative electrode terminal member 260 and the negative electrode terminal insertion hole 117H of the sealing lid 115 is sealed in a liquid-tight manner.

Next, in the power generation element 120, the positive electrode flat electrode connection portion 173 is connected to the positive electrode plate fixing portion 133 of the positive electrode plate winding portion 132, and the negative electrode flat electrode connection portion 273 is connected to the negative electrode plate of the negative electrode plate winding portion 232. It welds to the adhering part 233, respectively. In this state, the power generation element 120 is housed in the battery container body 111 through the opening 112, the opening 112 of the battery container body 111 is closed with the sealing lid 115, and the battery container body 111 and the sealing lid 115 are liquid-tight. Weld to.
Thus, the battery 100 is completed.

In the manufacturing method of the battery 100 according to the first embodiment, in the first flattening step, the cylindrical positive electrode first compression scheduled portion 162 and the negative electrode first compression planned portion 262 are respectively compressed and deformed, and the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163. And a negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 is formed. For this reason, the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 and the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 are obtained by changing the compression directions DP1 and DN1 around the terminal portion axes P and N of the positive electrode first compression planned portion 162 and the negative electrode first compression planned portion 262. You can select the direction.
Therefore, the configuration of other portions is the same, and the battery 100 in which only the orientation of the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 and the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 is changed can be easily made. Thus, the battery 100 having the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 and the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 that are suitable for connection to the bus bar 200 can be easily manufactured according to the use, arrangement, and the like of each battery.
Further, in the first flattening step, the cylindrical positive electrode first compression scheduled portion 162 and the negative electrode first compression planned portion 262 are respectively compressed and deformed to be the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 and the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263. Depending on the orientation of the terminal portion 163 and the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263, it is not necessary to manufacture the positive electrode terminal member 160 and the negative electrode terminal member 260 of each form in advance. Thereby, the positive electrode terminal member 160 and the negative electrode terminal member 260 having the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 and the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 having different directions can be manufactured from the common cylindrical members 178 and 278. Manufacturing costs for the member 260 and the battery 100 can be reduced.

Further, according to the method for manufacturing the battery 100, in the positive flat terminal portion 163 of the positive terminal member 160, the front flat surface 163a and the back flat surface 163b are formed in a form separated from each other by the central portions 164a and 164b in the width direction. In addition, through holes 163H are formed in the central portions 164a and 164b. For this reason, the bolt 211 is inserted into the through-hole 163H and tightened with the nut 212, and the first connecting portion 201 of the bus bar 200 is brought into contact with the oblate flat surface 163a (or the back flat surface 163b) of the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 and fastened. As a result, an elastic force that causes the front flat surface 163a and the back flat surface 163b to separate is generated.
Similarly, in the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263, the front flat surface 263a and the back flat surface 263b are formed to be separated from each other by the central portions 264a, 264b in the width direction, and the through holes 263H are formed in the central portions 264a, 264b. Is forming. For this reason, the bolt 211 is inserted into the through-hole 263H and tightened with the nut 212, and the second connecting portion 202 of the bus bar 200 is brought into contact with the oblate flat surface 263a (or the back flat surface 263b) of the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 and fastened. As a result, an elastic force that causes the front flat surface 263a and the back flat surface 263b to separate is generated.
As a result, the battery 100 is obtained in which the front flat surfaces 163a and 263a and the back flat surfaces 163b and 263b serve as spring washers, and the bolts 211 and the like are effectively prevented from loosening.
Moreover, since the through hole forming step is performed after the first flattening step, the positions of the through holes 163aH and the through holes 163bH in the front flat surface 163a and the back flat surface 163b, and the front flat surface 263a and the back flat surface 263b It is easy to align the positions of the through hole 263aH and the through hole 263bH.

Further, in the method of manufacturing the battery 100, in the second flattening step, when the cylindrical positive electrode second compression planned portion 172 is deformed flat, the second compression direction DP2 is set to the terminal of the positive electrode second compression planned portion 172. By changing around the part axis P, the direction of the positive electrode flat electrode connecting part 173 can be selected.
For this reason, the battery 100 having the positive electrode flat electrode connecting portion 173 in a direction suitable for connection with the positive electrode plate fixing portion 133 of the power generation element 120 can be easily manufactured according to the use, arrangement, etc. of each battery. Furthermore, since the positive electrode flat electrode connecting portion 173 is formed in the second flattening step, the positive electrode terminal member 160 of each form is manufactured in advance according to the connection direction with the positive electrode plate fixing portion 133 of the power generation element 120. There is no need to keep it.
Similarly, in deforming the cylindrical negative electrode second compression scheduled portion 272, the negative electrode flat electrode connecting portion 273 is changed by changing the second compression direction DN2 around the terminal axis A of the negative electrode second compression planned portion 272. You can select the direction.
For this reason, the battery 100 having the negative electrode flat electrode connecting portion 273 that is suitable for connection with the negative electrode plate fixing portion 233 of the power generation element 120 can be easily manufactured according to the use, arrangement, and the like of each battery. Further, since the negative electrode flat electrode connecting portion 273 is formed in the second flattening step, the negative electrode terminal member 260 of each form is manufactured in advance according to the direction of connection with the negative electrode plate fixing portion 233 of the power generation element 120. There is no need to keep it.
Thus, the positive electrode terminal member 160 and the negative electrode terminal member 260 having the positive electrode flat electrode connection portion 173 and the negative electrode flat electrode connection portion 273 having different directions can be manufactured from the common cylindrical members 178 and 278. , The manufacturing cost of the negative electrode terminal member 260 and the battery 100 can be reduced.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
The battery 300 according to this embodiment is different from the battery 100 according to the above-described embodiment only in the direction of the negative electrode flat terminal portion 363 of the negative electrode terminal member 360 used for this, and the other portions are the same. Therefore, description of the same part as 1st Embodiment is abbreviate | omitted or simplified, and suppose that it demonstrates centering on a different part.

Specifically, in the battery 100 according to the first embodiment, the first specific direction DP1 and DN1 (compression direction) of the positive electrode terminal member 160 and the negative electrode terminal member 260 are both the first side wall of the battery container body 111. The direction connecting 111a and the second side wall 111b was used.
On the other hand, in the battery 300 according to the second embodiment, the first specific direction DP1 in the positive electrode terminal member 160 is the same direction as the first embodiment, but the first specific direction DN1 in the negative electrode terminal member 360 is the same. In this case, the third side wall 111c and the fourth side wall 111d of the battery container body 111 are connected in a direction perpendicular to the first specific direction DP1.
Thereby, in this battery 300, the direction of the negative electrode flat terminal portion 363 of the negative electrode terminal member 360 is 90 ° different from the direction of the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163.

  The battery 300 may be manufactured in the same manner as the battery 100 described above. In the first flattening step described with reference to FIG. 10, the first specific direction DN1 that compresses and deforms the negative electrode first compression scheduled portion. Is changed to the above-mentioned direction (see FIG. 12).

Next, a battery module 10T including the battery 300 according to this embodiment and the battery 100 described above will be described with reference to FIGS.
The battery module 10T according to the present embodiment is configured by arranging a plurality of batteries 100 and further arranging batteries 300 at the ends thereof. In FIG. 13, only three batteries 100 and one battery 300 are shown. The batteries 100, 100 included in the battery module 10T are configured such that the positive electrodes (positive electrode flat terminal portions 163) and the negative electrodes (negative electrode flat terminal portions 263) of the batteries 100, 100 arranged adjacent to each other are alternately positioned on opposite sides. Are lined up to do. The battery 300 and the battery 100 adjacent thereto (battery 100G in FIG. 13) are such that the negative electrode (negative electrode flat terminal portion 263) of the battery 100 and the positive electrode (positive electrode flat terminal portion 163) of the battery 300 are located on the same side. Are lined up to do.

  Among the battery modules 10T, the batteries 100, 100 arranged adjacent to each other are connected using the bus bar 200 as in the case of the battery module 10 described above, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted. Similarly, in the battery 100G and the battery 300, the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 of the battery 100G and the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 of the battery 300 are similarly connected by the bus bar 200. Thereby, each battery 100,300 (battery 100E-100G, 300 in FIG. 13) is mutually connected in series.

On the other hand, in the battery 300, the flat negative electrode terminal portion 363 of the negative electrode terminal member 360 functions as a negative electrode terminal (total negative electrode terminal) that extracts the negative potential of the battery module 10T.
The negative electrode flat terminal portion 363 is connected to an external connection terminal 220 (shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 13) extending in the direction in which the batteries 100 and 300 are arranged (the lower left-upper right direction in FIG. 13). The external connection terminal 220 has a flat plate shape extending along the row direction. The negative flat terminal portion 363 is in contact with the external connection terminal 220, and a bolt 211 inserted through the washer 213 is inserted into a through hole (not shown) formed in the external connection terminal 220 and a through hole 363 H of the negative flat terminal portion 363. It is inserted. The bolt 211 is screwed into the nut 212, and the external connection terminal 220 is fastened to the negative flat terminal portion 363.

Thus, in this battery module 10T, in addition to the battery 100, the battery 300 in which the negative electrode flat terminal portion 363 has a different orientation is used, so that the external connection terminal 220 and the negative electrode flat terminal portion 363 are connected. Easy to do. For this reason, in order to facilitate the connection between the external connection terminal 220 and the negative electrode flat terminal portion 363, adjustments such as adjusting the position and shape of the external connection terminal and interposing a bus bar having an appropriate shape between them are unnecessary. It has become.
Moreover, since the battery 300 is different only in the orientation of the battery 100 and the negative electrode flat terminal portion 363, it is not necessary to consider the difference in characteristics between the two. In addition, as described above, the battery 300 is the first specific direction in which the negative electrode first compression scheduled portion is compressed and deformed in the first flattening step described with reference to FIG. 10 among the manufacturing steps of the battery 100 described above. Since it is only necessary to change DN1 in the direction shown in FIG. 12, if one kind of cylindrical member 278 is prepared, it is possible to handle any of the batteries 100 and 300, and it is easy to manufacture.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15.
The vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment is equipped with the battery modules 10 and 10T (batteries 100 and 300) according to the first and second embodiments described above. Therefore, the description regarding the vehicle 1 will be mainly described, and the description of the same parts as those of the first and second embodiments will be omitted or simplified, and different parts will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 14, the vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment is a hybrid car that is driven by the combined use of an engine 3, a front motor 4, and a rear motor 5. The vehicle 1 includes a vehicle body 2, an engine 3, a front motor 4, a rear motor 5, a cable 7, and a battery pack 6 attached thereto. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the battery pack 6 is attached to the vehicle body 2 of the vehicle 1. As shown in FIG. 15, the battery pack 6 includes a plurality of battery modules 10 (see FIG. 5) and battery modules 10T (see FIG. 13) according to the first and second embodiments described above (in FIG. 15, Only one of each is shown). The battery pack 6 is connected to the front motor 4 and the rear motor 5 by a cable 7.
The vehicle 1 can be driven by the engine 3, the front motor 4 and the rear motor 5 by a known means using the battery pack 6 as a driving power source for the front motor 4 and the rear motor 5.

As described above, in the battery module 10 </ b> T included in the battery pack 6, the orientation of the negative electrode flat terminal portion 363 of the negative electrode terminal member 360 in the battery 300 is the same as that of the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 of the batteries 100 and 300 and the negative electrode flatness of the battery 100. The direction of the terminal portion 263 is 90 ° different.
The negative electrode flat terminal portion 363 functions as a total negative electrode terminal for extracting the negative potential of the battery module 10T and further the battery pack 6, and is connected to the external connection terminal 220.

Thus, in the vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment, as the battery 100, the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 and the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 are oriented so that the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 of the other battery 100 and the battery 300 and the bus bar 200. The battery 100 was used in a direction (see FIGS. 5 and 10) that can be easily connected. Furthermore, as the battery 300, the battery 300 was used in which the orientation of the negative electrode flat terminal portion 363 was such that it could be easily connected directly to the external connection terminal 220 (see FIGS. 12 and 13).
Thereby, in addition to the connection between the batteries 100 and 100, the connection between the battery 100 and the battery 300, the connection between the battery 300 and the external connection terminal 220 having the terminal connection portion 220 is facilitated, and the battery pack 6 can be made compact. In addition, the vehicle 1 can be made inexpensive and the connection structure with the battery pack 6 (battery 300) is simple and inexpensive.

In the above, the present invention has been described with reference to the first to third embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the first to third embodiments, and can be appropriately modified and applied without departing from the gist thereof. Needless to say.
For example, in 1st Embodiment, the battery module 10 which connected the battery 100 in series using the bus bar 200 was illustrated. However, the number of batteries connected by the external connection terminal and the connection form of the batteries can be changed as appropriate.

In the first embodiment, the second specific directions DP2 and DN2 and the first specific directions DP1 and DN1 are both directions connecting the first side wall 111a and the second side wall 111b of the battery container body 111. It was. For this reason, the positive electrode flat electrode connecting portion 173, the negative electrode flat electrode connecting portion 273, the positive electrode flat electrode terminal portion 163, and the negative electrode flat electrode terminal portion 163 are all in the same direction.
However, the second specific direction is not limited to the same direction as the first specific direction in the first embodiment, and various directions can be selected in consideration of connection with the power generation element of the battery.

In the first embodiment, a positive electrode terminal sealing portion 175 and a negative electrode terminal sealing portion 275 are provided at the lower end portions (the lower end in FIG. 4) of the positive electrode terminal member 160 and the negative electrode terminal member 260, respectively. The inside of the terminal member 160 and the negative electrode terminal member 260 was sealed.
However, the sealing inside and outside the battery through the inside of the terminal member is not limited to the exemplified method using the positive electrode terminal sealing portion 175 and the negative electrode terminal sealing portion 275, and an appropriate method can be applied.
For example, as shown in FIG. 16, among the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 of the negative electrode terminal member 260, the negative electrode terminal sealing portion 375 is welded or the like to the upper end portion (upward in FIG. 1) along the terminal portion axis N. May be provided. In this case, the gap formed between the through hole 263H of the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263 and the bolt 211 is liquid-tightly sealed with the seal member 380, and the electrolyte leaks to the outside of the case member 110. It is good to prevent.

  In the third embodiment, the vehicle 1 is a hybrid car. However, the type of vehicle may be a vehicle such as an electric vehicle, a forklift, an electric wheelchair, an electric assist bicycle, and an electric scooter.

Moreover, in the manufacturing method of the battery 100 according to the first embodiment, the positive electrode second compression scheduled portion 172 and the negative electrode second compression planned portion 272 are compressed and deformed in the second flattening step, and the positive electrode flat electrode connecting portion 173 and the negative electrode are compressed. A flat electrode connection portion 273 and the like were formed. After that, in the first flattening step, the positive electrode first compression planned portion 162 and the negative electrode first compression planned portion 262 are compressed and deformed to form the positive electrode flat terminal portion 163 and the negative electrode flat terminal portion 263.
However, on the contrary, the order of the first flattening step and the second flattening step may be performed after the first flattening step, and may be changed as appropriate.

1 is a perspective view showing a battery according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 1. It is a perspective view which shows the positive electrode terminal member (negative electrode terminal member) used for the battery which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows a part of battery module comprised by connecting the battery which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is CC sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the bus bar used for the battery module which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the state before implementing a 2nd flattening process among each process until shape | molding the positive electrode terminal member (negative electrode terminal member) of the battery which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating a 2nd flattening process among each process until shape | molding the positive electrode terminal member (negative electrode terminal member) of the battery which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating a 1st flattening process among each process until shape | molding the positive electrode terminal member (negative electrode terminal member) of the battery which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating a through-hole formation process among each process until shape | molding the positive electrode terminal member (negative electrode terminal member) of the battery which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the battery which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows a part of battery module comprised by connecting the battery which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the vehicle which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the battery pack mounted in the vehicle which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the negative electrode terminal member of the battery which concerns on a modification.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 100,300 Battery 110 Case member 111 Battery container main body 115 Sealing lid 120 Power generation element 133 Positive electrode plate adhering portion 233 Negative electrode plate adhering portion 160 Positive electrode terminal member (terminal member)
161 Positive terminal exposed portion (terminal exposed portion)
162 Positive electrode 1st compression plan part (1st compression plan part)
163 Positive terminal flat terminal (flat terminal)
163H Through-hole 163a Front flat surface 163b Back flat surface 164a Central portion of the front flat surface 164b Central portion of the back flat surface 165 Positive electrode sealing portion (sealing portion)
DP1 First specific direction 171 Positive electrode case placement portion (case placement portion)
172 Positive electrode 2nd compression plan part (2nd compression plan part)
173 Positive electrode flat electrode connection (flat electrode connection)
DP2 Second specific direction 178 Cylindrical member (metal material)
260, 360 Negative terminal member (terminal member)
261 Negative terminal exposed part (terminal exposed part)
262 Negative electrode first compression planned portion (first compression planned portion)
263,363 Negative terminal flat terminal part (flat terminal part)
263H Through-hole 263a, 363a Front flat surface 263b Back flat surface 264a (front flat surface) center portion 264b (back flat surface) central portion 271 Negative electrode case placement portion (case placement portion)
272 Negative second compression planned portion (second compression planned portion)
273 Negative electrode flat electrode connection (flat electrode connection)
278 Cylindrical member (metal material)
200 Bus bar (external connection terminal)
211 volts

Claims (10)

Power generation elements,
A case member containing the power generation element therein;
A battery comprising: a terminal member made of metal and connected to one electrode of the power generation element in the case member, and extending to the outside of the case member;
Of the terminal members, the terminal exposed portion exposed to the outside of the case member is
A battery including a flat terminal portion obtained by compressing and deforming a cylindrical first portion to be compressed in a first specific direction orthogonal to its own terminal portion axis and flattening a cross section perpendicular to the terminal portion axis. The battery according to claim 1,
The flat terminal portion is
There are two flat surfaces on the front and back sides, and the flat surfaces of the two surfaces are arc-shaped so that the cross section perpendicular to the terminal portion axis line protrudes outward,
The two flat surfaces are close to each other at both ends in the width direction, and are separated from each other at the center portion in the width direction,
A battery including a through hole that penetrates the central portion of the flat surface of the two surfaces and allows a bolt for connection to an external connection terminal to pass therethrough. The battery according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
The terminal member is
It has a sealing part that is in direct or indirect contact with the case member and seals between the case member,
Among the terminal members, at least from the sealing portion to the flat terminal portion is an integral member,
In the state before the first compression planned portion is deformed, at least from the sealing portion to the first compression planned portion among the terminal members,
A battery using a cylindrical member. The battery according to claim 3,
The terminal member is
An in-case arrangement portion located in the case member;
The placement part in the case is
The cylindrical second scheduled compression portion is compressed and deformed in a second specific direction perpendicular to its own terminal portion axis, and the cross section perpendicular to the terminal portion axis is flattened. Including a flat electrode connecting portion formed by connection,
Among the terminal members, at least from the flat electrode connecting portion to the flat terminal portion is an integral member,
In a state before the first compression scheduled portion and the second compression scheduled portion are deformed, at least from the second compression scheduled portion to the first compression scheduled portion,
A battery using a cylindrical member. Power generation elements,
A case member containing the power generation element therein;
A terminal member formed by molding a cylindrical metal material,
A flat surface that is located outside the case member, and is formed by compressing and deforming a part of the terminal member in a first specific direction orthogonal to its own terminal portion axis so as to flatten the cross section perpendicular to the terminal portion axis. A terminal part, and
The other part of the terminal member disposed in the case member is compressed and deformed in a second specific direction orthogonal to the terminal part axis, and the cross section orthogonal to the terminal part axis is flattened. And a terminal member including a flat electrode connecting portion connected to one electrode of the power generating element. The battery according to claim 5,
The terminal member is
A battery having an annular shape and having a sealing portion that is in direct or indirect contact with the case member and seals between the case member. A vehicle comprising the battery according to any one of claims 1 to 6. Power generation elements,
A case member containing the power generation element therein;
A terminal member made of metal and connected to one electrode of the power generation element in the case member, and extended to the outside of the case member, and
Of the terminal members, the terminal exposed portion exposed to the outside of the case member is
A method for producing a battery including a flat terminal portion having a flat cross section perpendicular to its own terminal portion axis,
A battery manufacturing method including a first flattening step of compressing and deforming a cylindrical first scheduled compression portion in a first specific direction orthogonal to the terminal portion axis to form the flat terminal portion. A method of manufacturing a battery according to claim 8,
In the first flattening step,
The flat terminal portion,
As for the cross section orthogonal to the terminal part axis line of the flat surface of the front and back two surfaces, both arcs projecting outward,
The two flat surfaces are close to each other at both ends in the width direction, and formed into a form that is separated from each other at the center portion in the width direction,
The battery manufacturing method which has the through-hole formation process which forms the through-hole which penetrates the volt | bolt for a connection with an external connection terminal in the said center part of the said 2 flat surfaces after the said 1st flattening process. A method of manufacturing a battery according to claim 8 or claim 9,
The terminal member is
An in-case arrangement portion located in the case member;
The placement part in the case is
The cross section orthogonal to its own terminal portion axis is flat, and includes a flat electrode connecting portion formed by connecting to one electrode of the power generating element,
A battery manufacturing method including a second flattening step of compressing and deforming a cylindrical second compression target portion in a second specific direction orthogonal to the terminal portion axis to form the flat electrode connection portion.

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