JP2010123391A - Joint terminal and connection structure of battery cell - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a joint terminal and a connection structure of a battery cell, capable of eliminating the labor required for connecting operation with an electrode terminal of a battery cell. <P>SOLUTION: The joint terminal 10 for connecting electrode terminals 21 of battery cells 20 adjoining each other includes a pair of connections 11A and 11B connected to the electrode terminals 21, respectively. The connections 11A and 11B include a pair of counter walls 12 of which at least one of both ends in the direction substantially perpendicular to the connection direction of the electrode terminals 21 is connected each other. The pair of counter walls 12 is set so as to elastically contact the electrode terminals 21 interposed therebetween. With this configuration, a clamping operation with a bolt is not required, so that labor required for collecting operation with the electrode terminals 21 can be saved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a joint terminal that connects electrode terminals of adjacent battery cells, and a battery cell connection structure that connects electrode terminals of adjacent battery cells by the joint terminals.

Conventionally, a battery module formed by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series is known (for example, Patent Document 1). In this battery module, the plurality of battery cells are arranged so that positive and negative electrode terminals provided in each battery cell are adjacent to each other, and the adjacent positive and negative electrode terminals are connected by a bus bar. Bolt insertion holes are provided at positions corresponding to the positive and negative electrode terminals in the bus bar, and the bus bar is fixed by inserting bolts from the bolt insertion holes into the screw holes provided in the electrode terminals and tightening the bolts. ing.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-237617

  Incidentally, as described above, in the structure in which the bus bar is bolted to the electrode terminal of the battery cell, the bolting operation must be performed for each of the electrode terminals. there were.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above situation, and provides a joint terminal and a battery cell connection structure that can save labor for connecting the electrode terminals of the battery cell. Objective.

  The joint terminal of the present invention is a joint terminal for connecting electrode terminals of adjacent battery cells, and has a pair of connection portions respectively connected to the electrode terminals, and the connection portions are connected to the electrode terminals. At least one of both ends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction has a pair of opposed walls connected to each other, and the pair of opposed walls are set to elastically contact the electrode terminals inserted therebetween Yes.

According to such a configuration, when the joint terminal is pushed into the battery cell side so that the electrode terminal is inserted between the pair of opposing walls of each connecting portion, the opposing wall is in a state of elastically sandwiching the electrode terminal. Become. Therefore, since the joint terminal can be connected to the electrode terminal without performing the bolting operation, it is possible to save time and labor for connecting the electrode terminal.
The pair of opposing walls are connected to each other at least one of both ends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the connection direction with respect to the electrode terminal. Therefore, the pair of opposing walls can be set so as to have an elastic force necessary to elastically sandwich the electrode terminal by elongating the pair of opposing walls in a direction substantially orthogonal to the connection direction. That is, in order to make such a setting, it is not necessary to increase the size of the joint terminal in the connection direction.

  At least one of the pair of opposing walls may be provided with a hole into which the electrode terminal can be fitted. According to such a configuration, since the electrode terminal is fitted into the hole portion of the opposing wall, the connection state between the joint terminal connection portion and the electrode terminal can be reliably maintained.

  The hole portion is provided in both of the pair of connection portions, and the hole portion provided in at least one of the connection portions has a width in a direction substantially orthogonal to the connection direction rather than a width dimension in the connection direction. It is good also as what has comprised the horizontally long shape with a big dimension. According to such a configuration, the joint terminals can be connected even if there is some variation in the distance between the electrode terminals of adjacent battery cells.

  In addition, a guide groove for guiding the electrode terminal may be formed in the facing wall from the edge on the front side in the connection direction to the hole. According to such a configuration, when the joint terminal is pushed into the battery cell side, the electrode terminal is guided by the guide groove and fitted into the hole. That is, since the pushing direction of the joint terminal is guided by the guide groove, the joint terminal can be easily connected.

  The width dimension of the guide groove at the front edge in the connection direction may be set larger than the width dimension of the electrode terminal. According to such a configuration, the joint terminal can be connected without precisely aligning the position of the joint terminal with the electrode terminal.

In addition, a leading surface that forms an inclination in a direction away from the opposing wall toward the front side in the connection direction may be formed on an edge of the front wall in the connection direction.
The battery cell connection structure of the present invention is a battery cell connection structure in which the electrode terminals of adjacent battery cells are connected by the joint terminals, and the electrode terminals are inserted between the pair of opposing walls. Sometimes it has a spherical surface that contacts this opposing wall.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the joint terminal which can save the effort concerning the connection operation | work of the electrode terminal of a battery cell, and the connection structure of a battery cell can be provided.

<Embodiment 1>
Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 which actualized this invention is demonstrated in detail, referring FIGS. 1-7.
The joint terminal 10 in this embodiment electrically connects the positive and negative electrode terminals 21 of adjacent battery cells 20 in a battery module mounted on an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or the like.

  The battery cell 20 includes a main body portion 22 formed in a columnar shape as a whole, and positive and negative electrode terminals 21 provided so as to protrude perpendicularly to one end surface and the other end surface in the axial direction of the main body portion 22. Yes. The plurality of battery cells 20 are arranged such that adjacent battery cells 20 are opposite in the axial direction (positive and negative electrode terminals 21 are arranged adjacent to each other), and are held together by a holding member (not shown). Has been.

  The electrode terminal 21 is made of metal (copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, etc.), and is formed by a known method such as cutting, casting, or forging. The positive and negative electrode terminals 21 are formed in substantially the same shape and size, and the protruding ends of the electrode terminals 21 are each provided with a spherical head portion 21A. The outer peripheral surface of the head 21A corresponds to the spherical surface in the present invention.

  The joint terminal 10 is formed by, for example, pressing a metal plate material such as copper, copper alloy, stainless steel (SUS) into a predetermined shape. Hereinafter, in each component, the front side in the connection direction with respect to the electrode terminal 21 (the lower side in FIG. 1) is the lower side, the rear side in the connection direction (the upper side in the same direction) is the upper side, and the right side in FIG. Will be described.

  The joint terminal 10 has a pair of connection portions 11A and 11B that are respectively connected to the positive and negative electrode terminals 21 of the adjacent battery cells 20. 1 is referred to as a first connection portion 11A, and the left connection portion is referred to as a second connection portion 11B.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the first connecting portion 11A and the second connecting portion 11B has a substantially U shape, and can be elastically displaced in the approaching / separating direction (opposing direction) with each other. have. Each facing wall 12 has a substantially rectangular plate shape that is long in the left-right direction (substantially orthogonal to the connection direction with respect to the electrode terminal 21). One end of the pair of opposing walls 12 in the left-right direction is connected to each other, and each opposing wall 12 extends in a cantilevered manner in the same direction from each other's connecting portion (hereinafter referred to as a bent portion 13). It has a form to do. The distance between the pair of opposing walls 12 in the natural state is set to be smaller than the maximum width dimension of the head 21 </ b> A of the electrode terminal 21. Note that the first connection portion 11A and the second connection portion 11B have substantially the same shape and size.

  The end of each connection portion 11A, 11B opposite to the bent portion 13 is a portion where the electrode terminal 21 comes into contact, and in this contact portion, a hole portion into which the head 21A of the electrode terminal 21 can be fitted. 14 is provided. The hole part 14 is provided in both of the pair of opposing walls 12 of each connection part 11A, 11B, and is formed by punching each opposing wall 12 in the wall thickness direction.

  The pair of hole portions 14 provided in each of the connection portions 11A and 11B are disposed at positions facing each other, and have substantially the same shape and size. The hole 14 provided in the first connection portion 11A has a substantially circular shape, and the hole 14 provided in the second connection portion 11B has an oval shape that is long in the left-right direction (see FIG. 1). In the hole edge of the hole portion 14 of the second connection portion 11B, the central portion in the left-right direction has a straight line shape extending in the left-right direction, and both end portions have a symmetrical arc shape. The hole 14 is provided at a substantially central position in the lateral direction (vertical direction) of each facing wall 12.

  Each opposing wall 12 is formed with a guide groove 15 for guiding the electrode terminal 21 from the lower edge (the edge on the front side in the connection direction with respect to the electrode terminal 21) to the hole 14. The guide grooves 15 are provided in all the opposing walls 12 having the hole portions 14 and are formed by punching the opposing walls 12 in the wall thickness direction. The guide grooves 15 provided in the joint terminal 10 are all substantially the same shape and size.

  As a whole, the guide groove 15 becomes narrower from the lower edge of the opposing wall 12 toward the hole portion 14, and the width dimension at the lower edge (entrance) is the maximum width dimension in the left-right direction of the hole portion 14 and the electrode terminal 21. It is set larger than the width dimension. The lower portion of the guide groove 15 is a tapered portion 15A having a tapered shape whose width dimension gradually increases downward, and the upper portion is a constant portion 15B having a substantially constant width dimension. The tapered portion 15A has a symmetrical shape with the hole portion 14 as the center. The fixed portion 15B of the guide groove 15 has a width dimension smaller than the maximum width dimension in the left-right direction of the hole 14 and is connected to a substantially central position of each hole 14 in the left-right direction.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first connecting portion 11 </ b> A and the second connecting portion 11 </ b> B are arranged in the postures opposite to each other in the left-right direction, in other words, the bent portions 13 of both the connecting portions 11 </ b> A and 11 </ b> B are arranged in the central portion of the joint terminal 10. The end portions on the side where the hole portions 14 are provided are connected to each other via the connecting portion 16 in a posture in which the end portions are arranged at the right end or the left end of the joint terminal 10.

  The connecting portion 16 has a substantially rectangular plate shape that is long in the left-right direction, and the longitudinal dimension thereof is substantially the same as the longitudinal dimension of the first connecting portion 11A and the second connecting portion 11B. The first connecting portion 11A is connected to the right end side of the connecting portion 16, the second connecting portion 11B is connected to the left end side, and the first connecting portion 11A and the second connecting portion 11B are the ends opposite to the bent portion 13. The parts protrude to the right and left of the connecting part 16, respectively. The guide groove 15 and the hole portion 14 are located on the right side and the left side of the connecting portion 16.

  One opposing wall 12 of the pair of opposing walls 12 of each connecting portion 11A, 11B is connected to the connecting portion 16. The opposing walls 12 of the connecting portions 11A and 11B are connected to approximately half of the length direction of both edges extending in the longitudinal direction of the connecting portion 16, respectively. In addition, the bending part 13 and the other opposing wall 12 of each connection part 11A, 11B are not connected with the connection part 16, but are in a free state.

  The joint terminal 10 is formed by punching a metal plate into a predetermined shape (see FIG. 6), then bending the connection portions 11A and 11B substantially perpendicularly to the connecting portion 16 and also connecting the connection portions 11A and 11B. Are each bent into a U shape. In FIG. 6, the bending position is indicated by a one-dot chain line.

Next, the operation | work which connects the positive / negative electrode terminal 21 adjacent by the joint terminal 10 is demonstrated.
First, the plurality of battery cells 20 are arranged so that the positive and negative electrode terminals 21 are adjacent to each other.
Next, the joint terminal 10 is oriented so that the connecting portion 16 is on the upper side and the connecting portions 11A and 11B are on the lower side, and the connecting portions 11A and 11B are arranged above the electrode terminals 21. (See FIG. 1).

  Then, the joint terminal 10 is moved to the lower side (battery cell 20 side). Then, the head 21 </ b> A of each electrode terminal 21 enters the entrance of each guide groove 15. Here, when the position of the joint terminal 10 is shifted in the left-right direction (parallel direction of the positive and negative electrode terminals 21) with respect to the electrode terminal 21, the head portion 21 </ b> A of the electrode terminal 21 is tapered from the tapered portion 15 </ b> A of the guide groove 15. Abut. When the joint terminal 10 is pushed down as it is, the head portion 21A of the electrode terminal 21 is guided upward of the guide groove 15 by the inclination of the tapered portion 15A. When the head portion 21A reaches the midway position of the taper portion 15A, the contact force between the head portion 21A and the taper portion 15A increases, whereby the pair of opposing walls 12 starts to be elastically displaced in the separation direction. At this time, the joint terminal 10 is disposed at a normal position with respect to the electrode terminal 21 (a position not displaced in the left-right direction with respect to the electrode terminal 21).

  When the joint terminal 10 is pushed further downward, the elastic displacement amount of the pair of opposing walls 12 gradually increases. When the head portion 21A of the electrode terminal 21 reaches the fixed portion 15B, the elastic displacement amount of the opposing wall 12 is increased. Is the maximum. When the joint terminal 10 is further pushed in, the head portions 21A of the electrode terminals 21 are respectively fitted into the hole portions 14, and at the same time, the pair of opposing walls 12 are elastically restored in the approaching direction, and the hole edges of the hole portions 14 are It will be in the state pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the head 21A. Thus, the joint terminal 10 is connected to the positive and negative electrode terminals 21, and the battery cells 20 are connected in series.

Next, the operation and effect of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.
The joint terminal 10 includes a first connection portion 11A and a second connection portion 11B that are respectively connected to the electrode terminal 21. Each connection portion 11A, 11B is in the left-right direction (substantially orthogonal to the connection direction with respect to the electrode terminal 21). 1 has a pair of opposed walls 12 that are connected to each other, and the pair of opposed walls 12 is set so as to elastically contact the electrode terminal 21 inserted therebetween.

  Accordingly, when the joint terminal 10 is pushed into the battery cell 20 side so that the electrode terminal 21 is inserted between the opposing walls 12 of the connecting portions 11A and 11B, the pair of opposing walls 12 elastically connects the electrode terminals 21 to each other. It will be in a state of being sandwiched. Therefore, since the joint terminal 10 can be connected to the electrode terminal 21 without performing the bolting operation, it is possible to save labor for connecting the electrode terminal 21.

  The pair of opposing walls 12 are connected to each other at both ends in the left-right direction. Thereby, it can set so that the elastic force required in order to pinch | interpose the electrode terminal 21 elastically can be provided by making a pair of opposing wall 12 long in the left-right direction. Here, for example, when the upper ends of a pair of opposing walls are connected to each other, if the same setting is to be made, the opposing walls must be elongated in the vertical direction (connection direction), and the joint terminals There is a risk of increasing the size in the direction. When the joint terminal is increased in size in the vertical direction, the vertical dimension of the battery module (the dimension in the axial direction of the battery cell 20) is increased accordingly, that is, the battery module is increased in size. However, in this embodiment, the pair of opposing walls 12 can be set to have the necessary elastic force by elongating in the left-right direction, so the joint terminal 10 does not have to be enlarged in the vertical direction. This can prevent the battery module from becoming large.

  Further, the pair of opposing walls 12 are provided with holes 14 into which the electrode terminals 21 can be fitted. As a result, the electrode terminal 21 is fitted into the hole 14 of the opposing wall 12 and is not easily detached from between the pair of opposing walls 12, so that the connection state between the joint terminal 10 and the electrode terminal 21 can be reliably maintained. Therefore, connection reliability can be improved.

  The hole 14 is provided in both the first connection part 11A and the second connection part 11B. Of these, the hole 14 provided in the second connection part 11B is formed in the left-right direction (approximately in the connection direction with respect to the electrode terminal 21). The shape is long in the orthogonal direction. As a result, the joint terminal 10 can be connected even if there is some variation in the spacing between the electrode terminals 21 of the adjacent battery cells 20 in the left-right direction.

  The opposing wall 12 is formed with a guide groove 15 that guides the electrode terminal 21 from the lower edge (the edge on the front side in the connection direction with respect to the electrode terminal 21) to the hole portion 14. As a result, when the joint terminal 10 is pushed into the battery cell 20, the electrode terminal 21 is guided by the guide groove 15 and fitted into the hole 14. That is, since the pushing direction of the joint terminal 10 is guided by the guide groove 15, the joint terminal 10 can be easily connected.

  The width of the guide groove 15 at the lower edge of the opposing wall 12 is set to be larger than the width of the head 21 </ b> A of the electrode terminal 21. Therefore, the joint terminal 10 can be connected even if the position of the joint terminal 10 is not strictly aligned with the electrode terminal 21.

<Embodiment 2>
Next, a joint terminal 30 according to a second embodiment embodying the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The joint terminal 30 of the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the hole 31 and the guide groove 32 are formed by denting the opposing wall 12 to the outside (side away from the opposing opposing wall 12). To do. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure similar to Embodiment 1, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The joint terminal 30 according to the present embodiment has a first connection portion 11A and a second connection portion 11B that are respectively connected to the positive and negative electrode terminals 21 as in the first embodiment, and the connection portions 11A and 11B are respectively It has a pair of opposing walls 12 that can be elastically displaced in the approaching and separating directions. As in the first embodiment, the pair of opposing walls 12 are connected to each other at both ends in the left-right direction so that when the electrode terminal 21 is inserted therebetween, the electrode terminal 21 is elastically contacted. It has become.

  And each connection part 11A, 11B forms the hole 31 which can fit the head part 21A of the electrode terminal 21 by denting each opposing wall 12 to the outer side (the side away from the opposing opposing wall 12). Has been. A pair of hole portions 31 provided in each of the connection portions 11A and 11B are arranged at positions facing each other and are substantially the same shape and size as in the first embodiment. Similarly to the first embodiment, the hole 31 provided in the first connection portion 11A has a substantially circular shape, and the hole 31 provided in the second connection portion 11B has a long oval shape in the left-right direction. ing. In addition, the hole edge of all the hole parts 31 is chamfered.

  In addition, each opposing wall 12 is formed with a guide groove 32 that guides the electrode terminal 21 from the lower edge (the front edge in the connection direction with respect to the electrode terminal 21) to the hole 31 by denting the opposing wall 12 outward. ing. The guide groove 32 is provided in all the opposing walls 12 having the hole 31 as in the first embodiment.

  As in the first embodiment, the guide groove 32 has a shape that becomes narrower from the lower edge of the opposing wall 12 toward the hole 31, and the width dimension at the lower edge (entrance) is the left and right of the hole 31. The maximum width dimension in the direction and the width dimension of the electrode terminal 21 are set. Similarly to the first embodiment, the lower portion of the guide groove 32 is a tapered portion 32A having a tapered shape in which the width dimension gradually increases downward, and the upper portion is a constant portion 32B having a substantially constant width dimension. ing. And like Embodiment 1, the fixed part 32B of the guide groove 32 has a width dimension smaller than the maximum width dimension of the left-right direction of the hole part 31, and is connected to the approximate center position of each hole part 31 in the left-right direction.

  In each of the opposing walls 12, a lower edge (an edge on the front side in the connection direction with respect to the electrode terminal 21) is formed with a guiding surface 33 that is inclined downward and away from the opposite opposing wall 12. ing. Specifically, the guiding surface 33 is formed by bending a portion (referred to as a guide recess 34) that forms the tapered portion 32 </ b> A of the recessed portion that forms the guide groove 32 in a direction away from the opposing wall 12. ing. That is, the inner side surface of the guide recess 34 is a guide surface 33. The distance between the pair of guiding surfaces 33 in the natural state of the opposing wall 12 is set slightly larger than the maximum width dimension of the head portion 21A of the electrode terminal 21 at the lower edge. Note that the lower edge of the guide recess 34 is recessed outward from a recessed portion forming the hole 31 (referred to as a hole recess 35) (see FIGS. 11 and 12).

According to the second embodiment configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
When the joint terminal 30 is pushed into the battery cell 20 with the electrode terminals 21 inserted between the opposing walls 12 of the connecting portions 11A and 11B, the pair of opposing walls 12 elastically sandwich the electrode terminals 21. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the labor for connecting the electrode terminals 21 can be saved.
In addition, since one of the pair of opposing walls 12 is connected to each other in the left-right direction, the necessary elastic force is ensured by elongating the pair of opposing walls 12 in the left-right direction as in the first embodiment. The joint terminal 30 does not need to be enlarged in the vertical direction.

  Furthermore, a guiding surface 33 is formed on the lower edge of the opposing wall 12 (the edge on the front side in the connecting direction) that is inclined downward in a direction away from the opposing opposing wall 12. Thereby, when the joint terminal 30 is pushed into the battery cell 20 side, even if the position of the joint terminal 30 is deviated in a direction substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the positive and negative electrode terminals 21 with respect to the battery cell 20, The head 21 </ b> A of 21 comes into contact with the guide surface 33, is guided by the inclination of the guide surface 33, and fits into the hole 31. Therefore, even if the position of the joint terminal 30 is deviated, the joint terminal 30 is guided by the guiding surface 33, so that the joint terminal 30 can be easily connected.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  (1) In the above embodiment, each of the connecting portions 11A and 11B is bent in a U shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, each connecting portion has a ring shape with a substantially oval cross section (left and right). The shape in which both ends in the direction are connected to each other may be used.

  (2) In the above embodiment, each of the connecting portions 11A and 11B is bent in a U shape, so that the pair of opposing walls 12 are integrally formed via the bent portion 13. For example, each connecting portion has a pair of opposing walls and a connecting member that connects them, and is integrally formed by connecting the pair of opposing walls to the connecting member by welding or the like. Also good.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the joint terminal 10 (30) is connected to the positive and negative electrode terminals 21, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the joint terminal is a positive terminal between positive and negative electrode terminals. The negative electrodes may be connected to each other.

  (4) In the above embodiment, the holes 14 (31) are provided in both of the pair of opposing walls 12, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the hole is provided only in one of the pair of opposing walls. Alternatively, both of the pair of opposing walls may have a structure in which the electrode terminal is sandwiched between flat plate surfaces without providing a hole.

  (5) In the above embodiment, the hole 14 (31) provided in the first connection part 11A out of the hole 14 (31) provided in the first connection part 11A and the second connection part 11B has a circular shape. None, the hole 14 (31) provided in the second connection portion 11B has an oval shape that is long in the left-right direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A long oval shape may be used, and the holes of both connection portions may be circular. The shape of the hole is not limited to a circular shape and an oval shape, and may be, for example, a polygonal shape.

(6) In the above embodiment, the opposing wall 12 is provided with the guide groove 15 (32) for guiding the electrode terminal 21, but the guide groove is not necessarily provided.
(7) In the above-described embodiment, the guide groove 15 (32) has a width that changes. However, the guide groove 15 may have a substantially constant width.

  (8) In the above-described embodiment, the pair of opposing walls 12 are elastically displaced from each other in the separating direction by contact with the electrode terminals 21, but not limited to this, one of the pair of opposing walls faces each other. The wall may be very rigid as compared with the other facing wall, and only the other facing wall may be elastically displaced in the separation direction by contact with the electrode terminal.

  (9) In Embodiment 1, both the hole 14 and the guide groove 15 are formed by punching the opposing wall 12, and in Embodiment 2, both the hole 31 and the guide groove 32 are formed by denting the opposing wall 12. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, one of the hole and the guide groove may be formed by punching the opposing wall, and the other may be formed by denting the opposing wall.

The front view showing the joint terminal and electrode terminal concerning Embodiment 1 Appearance perspective view of joint terminal Bottom view Top view Side view Same development Front view showing the connection between the joint terminal and electrode terminal External perspective view of joint terminal according to Embodiment 2 Front view Bottom view Top view Side view

Explanation of symbols

10, 30 ... Joint terminal 11A ... 1st connection part (connection part)
11B ... 2nd connection part (connection part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Opposite wall 14, 31 ... Hole 15, 32 ... Guide groove 20 ... Battery cell 21 ... Electrode terminal 33 ... Leading surface

Claims (7)

A joint terminal for connecting the electrode terminals of adjacent battery cells,
Having a pair of connecting portions connected to the electrode terminals,
Each of the connection portions has a pair of opposed walls in which at least one of both ends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the connection direction with respect to the electrode terminal is connected to each other, and the pair of opposed walls are inserted between the electrode terminals. Joint terminal set to elastically contact with The joint terminal according to claim 1, wherein a hole portion into which the electrode terminal can be fitted is provided in at least one of the pair of opposing walls. The hole portion is provided in both of the pair of connection portions, and the hole portion provided in at least one of the connection portions has a width dimension in a direction substantially orthogonal to the connection direction rather than a width dimension in the connection direction. The joint terminal according to claim 2, wherein the joint terminal has a large horizontally long shape. The joint terminal according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a guide groove for guiding the electrode terminal from the edge on the front side in the connection direction to the hole is formed in the facing wall. 5. The joint terminal according to claim 4, wherein a width dimension at an edge of the guide groove on the front side in the connection direction is set larger than a width dimension of the electrode terminal. 6. The guide wall according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a leading surface is formed at an edge of the opposing wall on the front side in the connecting direction so as to be inclined in a direction away from the opposing opposing wall toward the front side in the connecting direction. The joint terminal according to one item. A battery cell connection structure for connecting electrode terminals of adjacent battery cells by the joint terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
When the electrode terminal is inserted between the pair of opposing walls, the battery cell connection structure has a spherical surface that comes into contact with the opposing walls.

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