JP2011023181A - Battery module, and vehicle having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery module in which electrode terminals of batteries are stably and surely electrically connected in a simple structure and can attain considerable cost reduction and can raise productivity. <P>SOLUTION: The battery module 30 includes: square batteries 10 each having positive and negative electrode terminals 15, 16; a battery block 22 constituted by laminating a plurality of square batteries 10 while electrically connecting the positive and negative electrode terminals 15, 16 in series; end plates 23 arranged on both ends of the battery block 22 respectively; and a connection tool 28 connected these end plates 23 for restraining the plurality of square batteries 10. Here, contact sections 15B, 15C, 16B are formed on the each positive and negative electrode terminals 15, 16, and the electrode terminals 15, 16 are electrically connected by making them in contact with the contact sections 15B, 15C, 16B of the adjacent square batteries 10 by binding force for fastening by screwing the connection tool 28 with a screw. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery module in which a plurality of square batteries are arranged in a stacked state and electrode terminals of adjacent square batteries are connected.

  A battery module used for a power source of a vehicle such as a hybrid car or an electric car has a plurality of rectangular batteries stacked and connected in series in order to increase the output. In this battery module, the electrode terminals of adjacent rectangular batteries are directly connected to each other or connected via a bus bar. As these connection structures, for example, a structure described in Patent Document 1 has been developed.

  Specifically, first, as a structure for direct connection, an insertion part is provided in the first electrode terminal of the prismatic battery, and an outlet part is provided in the second electrode terminal, and the outlet of the adjacent prismatic battery is provided with this insertion part. A structure has been developed in which the insertion portion protruding from the outlet portion is connected by pressing with an elastic pressing piece.

  Next, as a structure for connecting adjacent electrode terminals via a bus bar, a bent surface parallel to the electrode end surface is provided on each of the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal of the rectangular battery, and adjacent to the bent surface. A structure in which a bent portion obtained by directly stacking a folded surface of a rectangular battery is connected with a bus bar provided with an elastic narrowing portion from both sides, or an insertion tube provided on the bus bar is connected to a corner. A structure has been developed in which the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal of the battery are inserted and connected.

JP 2008-300083 A

  The battery module described in Patent Document 1 has an insertion part in the first electrode terminal of the square electric ground, and an outlet part in the second electrode terminal, and the connection part in which the insertion part is inserted into the outlet part is The connection portion is strongly pressed by an elastic pressing piece provided in the outlet portion to be electrically connected. This connection can be made by directly connecting the insertion part and the outlet part without using the bus bar, but the processing of the electrode terminal and elastic pressing part that becomes the outlet part is complicated and difficult, and it is bent many times. The material is specified as an easily deformable material that can be elastically deformed. In addition, this material may be deformed by vibration or heat, and it is difficult to always connect the electrode terminal connection portion stably. . In addition, this connection has a large number of bending and assembly processes, and in order to ensure a stable and stable electrical connection, a lot of processing is applied to the insertion part and outlet part so that the connection part does not come off. Yes. Therefore, there is a problem that quality and productivity are deteriorated and manufacturing cost is increased.

  In addition, the bent portion in which the bent surfaces of the electrode terminals are stacked is electrically connected to both sides of the bent portion by a bus bar, or the insertion tube provided on the bus bar is connected to the first of the square battery. In the structure in which the electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal are inserted and electrically connected, the bus bar is provided with an elastic structure or a loop portion for strongly sandwiching the electrode terminal in order to ensure stable and stable connection. Processing to be provided and processing to provide a guide groove in the insertion portion are required. As described above, when the number of processing steps increases, the quality and productivity deteriorate, and the manufacturing cost increases. Furthermore, it is difficult to process the electrode terminal so that the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal are in contact with each other. Further, since the bus bar is tightly attached, the bus bar has a structure protruding from the end face of the battery, and there is a problem that the battery module itself becomes large.

  An object of this invention is to provide the battery module which can connect the electrode terminals with a simple structure stably and reliably.

  In order to solve the above problem, a battery module according to claim 1 of the present application is a battery in which a rectangular battery having positive and negative electrode terminals and a positive and negative electrode terminal are electrically connected in series, and a plurality of the rectangular batteries are stacked. A battery module comprising a block, end plates disposed at both ends of the battery block, and a connector connected to the pair of end plates and restraining the plurality of rectangular batteries, the positive and negative electrode terminals An abutting portion is provided, and the abutting portions of the adjacent rectangular batteries are brought into contact with each other by the binding force of the coupling tool to electrically connect the electrode terminals.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the electrode terminal is disposed on the upper surface of the rectangular battery, and the connector is disposed on both side surfaces of the battery block.

  According to the invention of claim 3 of the present application, the contact portion has a planar shape, and the electrode terminal is mounted so that the planar contact portion is perpendicular to the stacking direction of the rectangular batteries. ing.

  According to the invention of claim 4 of the present application, the connector is an elongated plate-shaped metal material, and both ends of the connector are bent, and the bent portion is connected to the end plate.

  According to the invention of claim 5 of the present application, one of the electrode terminals is formed in a U-shape and is mounted so as to be sandwiched from the upper surface of the rectangular battery, and either one of both sides excluding the U-shaped bottom surface. One surface is used as the abutting portion, and the other electrode terminal is formed in an L shape. The first folding surface is on the upper surface of the prismatic battery, and the second folding surface is one surface in the stacking direction of the prismatic battery. The second folding surface is used as the contact portion.

  According to the invention of claim 6 of the present application, one of the electrode terminals is formed in a U-shape and is mounted so as to be sandwiched from the side surface of the rectangular battery, and either one of both sides excluding the U-shaped bottom surface. One surface is used as the abutting portion, and the other electrode terminal is formed in an L shape so that the first folding surface is on the side surface of the rectangular battery, and the second folding surface is one surface in the stacking direction of the rectangular battery. The second folding surface is used as the contact portion.

  According to the invention of claim 7, the positive and negative electrode terminals are mounted in a U-shape so as to be sandwiched from the upper surface of the prismatic battery, and either one of the two sides excluding the U-shaped bottom surface. One surface is used as the contact portion, and a separator made of an insulating material is interposed between the rectangular batteries. The separator includes the contact portion of the rectangular battery adjacent to the contact portion of the electrode terminal. A notch is formed so that can contact.

  According to the invention of claim 8 of the present application, the positive and negative electrode terminals are formed in a U-shape and mounted so as to be sandwiched from the side surface of the rectangular battery, and either one of both sides excluding the U-shaped bottom surface. One surface is used as the contact portion, and a separator made of an insulating material is interposed between the rectangular batteries. The separator includes the contact portion of the rectangular battery adjacent to the contact portion of the electrode terminal. A notch is formed so that can contact.

  According to the invention of claim 9 of the present application, the separator includes an air flow path for cooling the prismatic battery.

  According to the invention of claim 10 of the present application, the connecting portion between the end plate and the connector is connected by welding.

  According to the invention of claim 11 of the present application, the connecting portion between the end plate and the connector is connected by screwing.

  According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the vehicle includes the battery module according to the first to eleventh aspects.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the abutting portions are provided on the positive and negative electrode terminals, and the electrode terminals are electrically connected by abutting the abutting portions of the adjacent rectangular batteries by the binding force of the connecting portion. In addition, it is possible to secure the connection of the electrode terminals of a plurality of prismatic batteries that are easily and easily stacked with a binding force without using a bus bar and without complicated processing of the battery terminals.

  In particular, the restriction by the coupling tool strongly restricts the stacking direction of the stacked rectangular batteries, so that the contact portions of the electrode terminals can be electrically connected in a low resistance state. Further, there is no need to connect the electrode terminals to the adjacent electrode terminals one by one, and all the electrode terminals can be electrically connected in one process due to the restraint of the coupler. Furthermore, since this battery module is electrically connected without using the bus bar, it is possible to significantly reduce the parts and processing costs and the cost for attaching the bus bar to the electrode terminals.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the electrode terminal and the connector are not located on the same surface by arranging the electrode terminal on the upper surface of the prismatic battery and the connecting device on both side surfaces of the battery block, Since the contact between the electrode terminal and the connector when there is vibration is prevented, and the battery block is strongly restrained from both side surfaces, a stable electrical connection can be reliably performed.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the contact portion has a planar shape perpendicular to the stacking direction of the prismatic battery, the contact portion can be brought into contact with each other instead of a point. The electrode terminal can be electrically connected stably and reliably in a resistance state. In addition, since the flat portion is not inclined with respect to the stacking direction of the prismatic battery but in a vertical state, the contact portions can be brought into smooth surface contact with each other, and the electrode terminals can be more stably and reliably attached. Electrical connection is possible.

  According to the invention of claim 4, by making the shape of the connector into a plate shape, the connector becomes a flat shape that does not protrude from the side surface of the battery module, and is easy to arrange in the battery box that houses the battery module, The overall battery box can be made compact. Furthermore, since both ends of the coupling tool are bent at a right angle, the contact portions can be brought into contact with each other with a stronger restraining force, and the electrical connection of the electrode terminals is reliably stabilized.

  According to the invention of claim 5, for example, if the positive electrode terminal is formed in a U-shape and the negative electrode terminal is formed in an L-shape, when the square batteries are stacked and connected in series, the adjacent square shape The positive and negative electrodes of the batteries can be prevented from contacting each other, and a plurality of prismatic batteries can be reliably connected in series. In addition, in order to facilitate the series connection of the batteries, it is necessary to stack the square batteries by alternately rotating them 180 degrees laterally. However, since the shapes of the positive and negative electrodes are different, Can be easily identified, and square batteries can be reliably connected in series. Furthermore, since the volume of the L-shaped electrode terminal is smaller than that of the U-shaped, the material cost of the electrode terminal can be reduced.

  According to the invention of claim 6, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 5, since the electrode terminal is mounted on the side surface of the prismatic battery, the protrusion on the upper surface of the battery module is eliminated and the electrode has a flat shape. The terminal can be structured so as not to receive an impact from the upper surface.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since all the positive and negative electrode terminals are formed in a U-shape, the parts are shared, and the processing and connection are performed by simply changing the material of the electrode terminals. It can be used and mounted on a prismatic battery, improving the production efficiency. In addition, the separator is formed with a notch necessary for connecting the electrodes, so that when the square batteries are stacked, the contact part of either the positive or negative electrode of the adjacent square battery becomes the notch. A plurality of prismatic batteries can be reliably connected in series via the notch.

  According to the invention of claim 8, since all the positive and negative electrode terminals are formed in a U-shape, the parts are shared, and the processing and connection can be performed by simply changing the material of the electrode terminals. It can be used and mounted on a prismatic battery, improving the production efficiency. In addition, the separator is formed with a notch necessary for connecting the electrodes, so that when the square batteries are stacked, the contact part of either the positive or negative electrode of the adjacent square battery becomes the notch. A plurality of prismatic batteries can be reliably connected in series via the notch. Furthermore, since the electrode terminal is mounted on the side surface of the square battery, the protruding portion on the upper surface of the battery module is eliminated and a flat shape is obtained, so that the electrode terminal can be made less susceptible to impact from the upper surface.

  According to the ninth aspect of the invention, since the separator includes the air flow path for cooling the stacked batteries, the rectangular batteries stacked with the cooling air are efficiently cooled, and the deterioration of the rectangular batteries is prevented. be able to.

  According to invention of Claim 10, it can be set as the module structure of a battery without protrusion parts, such as a screw, by connecting the connection part of an end plate and a connection tool by welding.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, when a problem occurs in the battery module by connecting the connecting portion between the end plate and the connector by screwing, the battery module can be easily disassembled for investigation and repair, and then It can be returned to the state. Furthermore, the adjustment of the force that restrains the stacked rectangular batteries can be adjusted with screws.

  According to invention of Claim 12, since it can utilize for the vehicle provided with said battery module, the cost reduction of a vehicle main body can be aimed at.

1 is an external perspective view of a battery box according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a layout view of a battery module when the upper case of FIG. 1 is removed and viewed from above. It is an external appearance perspective view of the battery module of 1st Example of this invention. It is an external appearance side view of FIG. FIG. 4 is an external exploded perspective view of FIG. 3 disassembled. 1 is an external perspective view of a prismatic battery according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the separator of 1st Example of this invention. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a part of a battery block according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is side surface sectional drawing to which a part of FIG. 4 was expanded. It is an external appearance perspective view of the square battery of 2nd Example of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the square battery of 3rd Example of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the square battery of 4th Example of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the separator of 4th Example of this invention. It is a partial external appearance perspective view of the battery block of 4th Example of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the square battery of 5th Example of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view of the battery module of 6th Example of this invention. It is an external appearance side view of FIG. It is a figure which mounts a battery module in a hybrid car. It is a figure which mounts a battery module in an electric vehicle.

  Hereinafter, the form of 1st Example of this invention is demonstrated in detail based on FIG. 1 thru | or FIG. The battery module of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle to be described later, and is used as a power source that supplies power to a motor that drives the vehicle.

  First, an external perspective view of a battery box 31 mounted on a vehicle is shown in FIG. The battery box 31 has a housing structure composed of an upper case 31A, a lower case 31B, and side cases 31C on both sides, and these cases are formed of a metal material such as aluminum. A battery module 30 is housed in the battery box 31, and the battery box 31 protects the battery module 30 from external impacts and pressures. Further, one side 31C of the battery box 31 is provided with one cooling air inlet 32A in the center, and the cooling air outlet 32B is provided at both ends of the side 31A with the inlet 31A interposed therebetween. Cooling air circulates in the battery box 31 to cool the battery that generates heat.

  Next, FIG. 2 shows an arrangement plan view of the battery module when the upper case 31A of the battery box 31 is removed and the battery box 31 is viewed from above. In the battery box 31, four battery modules 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D are arranged in two rows and two columns with the direction in which the prismatic battery 10 faces, and the four battery modules 30A, 30B, 30C, All 30D batteries are connected in series. First, the battery module 30A and the battery module 30B are connected in series with the battery module 30C and the battery module 30D positioned in the same row, and then the battery module 30B and the battery module 30D are connected in series.

  Between the battery modules 30A and 30B and the battery modules 30C and 30D, an inflow passage 33 through which the cooling air flowing in from the inlet portion 32A flows is provided. The cooling air flowing into the inflow passage 33 passes through the gaps between the square cells 10 to efficiently cool each of the square cells 10 and then flows into the outflow passages 34 provided on both sides in the battery box 31. The battery is discharged from the outlet 32B to the outside of the battery box 31.

  The external view regarding one battery module 30 among this battery box 31 is shown in FIG.3, FIG.4, FIG.5. 3 is an external perspective view of one battery module 30, FIG. 4 is an external side view of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an external perspective exploded view of FIG. In one battery module 30, 18 rectangular batteries 10 are stacked and connected in series. Furthermore, a battery in which all 72 square batteries 10 of the four battery modules 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D in FIG. 2 are connected in series becomes a high-power battery and serves as a power source for supplying power to the vehicle. .

  The battery module 30 is arranged in a rectangular battery 10 having positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 16, a battery block 22 in which a plurality of rectangular batteries 10 are stacked via a separator 19, and both ends of the battery block 22. An end plate 23 and a connector 28 connected to the pair of end plates 23 and restraining the battery block 22 are provided.

  The battery used for this battery module 30 is a flat rectangular battery 10 as shown in the external perspective view of FIG. 6, and the end of each surface is chamfered. The prismatic battery 10 can be made higher in energy density per unit volume than a cylindrical battery, and thus is preferable in a vehicle that requires space saving and miniaturization. Further, the square battery 10 has a square outer shape in which the side surface 11 is thin so as to be convenient for stacking a plurality of square batteries 10. Furthermore, the prismatic battery 10 is a lithium ion secondary battery that has a large capacity with respect to weight and volume, and is suitable for a power source that drives a motor that drives a vehicle. However, the prismatic battery 10 may be a nickel metal hydride battery, a nickel cadmium battery, a fuel cell, or the like.

  The prismatic battery 10 has electrode end surfaces slightly inside from both ends of the upper surface 14, positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 16 are attached to the electrode end surfaces, and a gas exhaust valve 17 is provided at the center of the upper surface 14. The electrode terminal 16 and the gas discharge valve 17 are provided with an electrolyte inlet 18 between them.

  The positive electrode terminal 15 is formed of an aluminum plate in a U shape, and has a bottom surface 15A, a first folding surface 15B, and a second folding surface 15C. The electrode end surface is sandwiched from the top surface of the prismatic battery 10. It is attached to. The bottom surface 15A of the positive electrode terminal 15 is on the top surface 14 of the prismatic battery 10, the first folding surface 15B is on the side 12 facing the stacking direction of the prismatic battery 10, and the second folding surface 15C is a prismatic battery. 10 is mounted so as to be located on the other surface 13 side facing the stacking direction. Further, the first folded curved surface 15B and the second folded curved surface 15C are formed in a planar shape that is perpendicular to the stacking direction of the prismatic battery 10 in the mounted state.

  The negative electrode terminal 16 is formed by forming a copper plate in an L shape, and has a first folding surface 16A and a second folding surface 16B. The first folding surface 16A is formed on the upper surface 14 of the prismatic battery 10, and the second The folding surface 16B is mounted so as to be positioned on the one surface 12 side facing the stacking direction of the prismatic battery 10. Further, the second folded curved surface 16B is formed in a planar shape that is perpendicular to the stacking direction of the prismatic batteries 10 in the mounted state.

  The first folding surface 15B, the second folding surface 15C of the positive electrode terminal 15 and the second folding surface 16B of the negative electrode terminal 16 are perpendicular to the stacking direction of the prismatic battery 10 and are flat. By forming it into a shape, when the rectangular battery 10 is stacked and restrained, the folded surfaces of the positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 16 can be brought into smooth surface contact.

  In addition, since the positive electrode terminal 15 has a U-shape and the negative electrode terminal 16 has an L-shape, the shapes of the positive and negative electrodes are different, and the prismatic battery 10 is inverted alternately (180 degree lateral rotation). In the stacking operation, the directionality can be easily identified, so that the square batteries 10 can be reliably connected in series. Furthermore, since the material volume of the L-shaped electrode terminal is smaller than that of the U-shaped, the material cost of the electrode terminal can be reduced.

  In this embodiment, the positive electrode terminal 15 has a U-shape and the negative electrode terminal 16 has an L-shape. However, the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal can have opposite shapes.

  The plurality of prismatic batteries 10 are insulated and stacked via a separator 19 to form a battery block 22. FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of the separator 19, FIG. 8 is a partial external exploded perspective view of the battery block 22, and FIG. 9 is an enlarged side sectional view of a part of the battery block 22. As shown in FIG. 8, the battery block 22 is formed by stacking the positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 16 of the stacked rectangular battery 10 at positions that are point-symmetric on the upper surface 14 of the rectangular battery 10. The prismatic battery 10 to be stacked is mounted by reversing the left and right sides, that is, turning the front and back, and rearranging the second folded curved surface 16B mounted on the one surface 12 side of the negative electrode terminal 16 on the other surface 13 side. By doing so, the first folding surface 15B or the second folding surface 15C of the positive electrode terminal 15 comes into contact with the second folding surface 16B of the adjacent negative electrode terminal 16 and approaches without using a bus bar. The positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 16 can be easily connected in series. By connecting the square batteries 10 in series, the battery module 30 can increase the output voltage. However, although not shown, the battery module 30 can also connect a plurality of prismatic batteries 10 in parallel or in parallel and in series.

  The separator 19 shown in FIG. 7 is made of an insulating material, and the facing surface 20 facing the prismatic battery has an outer shape that is substantially equal to the one surface 12 and the other surface 13 of the prismatic battery 10, but the side surface width is It is thinner than the prismatic battery 10. The separator 19 is provided with notches 21A and 21B on the upper right end and upper left end of the surface 20 facing the adjacent prismatic battery 10, respectively, and the positive and negative electrode terminals of the adjacent prismatic battery 10 as shown in FIG. 15 and 16 are not prevented from being connected in series. Specifically, referring to FIG. 8, the second folded surface 15C of the positive electrode terminal 15 of the square battery 10 (front side) and the negative electrode terminal 16 of the adjacent square battery 10 (center) are described. Since the second folded curved surface 16B faces the cutout portion 21A of the separator 20, the second folded curved surface 15C of the positive electrode terminal 15 and the negative electrode terminal 16 are stacked in a state where the rectangular batteries 10 are stacked. The second folded curved surface 16B of the negative electrode terminal 16 of the rear square battery 10 is a positive electrode terminal of the central square battery 10. 15 is in direct contact with the second folded curved surface 15B).

  On the other hand, in the notch 21B of the opposing surface 20 of the separator 19, the second folded curved surface 16B of the negative electrode terminal 16 of the square battery 10 (front side) does not face the notch 21B. It is made not to contact | abut to the 1st folding surface 15C of the positive electrode terminal 15 of the type | mold battery 10 (center).

  Further, in the separator 19, the air flow path portion 19 </ b> A provided on the facing surface 20 is processed with eight unevennesses on the side. Cooling air blown from the inlet portion 32A of the battery box 31 circulates in the air flow path portion 19A through the inflow passage 33, thereby efficiently cooling the battery that generates heat. This cooling prevents deterioration of the stacked rectangular batteries 10. The separator 19 is preferably heat-resistant and heat-insulating, lightweight and inexpensive. The separator 19 insulates and insulates the adjacent rectangular batteries 10 from each other. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, it plays the role which maintains the distance between batteries of the square battery 10 to laminate | stack. In addition, the separator 19 can be provided with only one notch 21A on the facing surface 20 having the same size as the one surface 12 and the other surface 13 of the square battery 10, but the two notches 21A and 21B are provided. By providing all the separators 19 in the same shape and eliminating the distinction between the front and back of the facing surface 20, material costs and processing costs can be reduced, processing steps can be shortened, and assembly is easy. Can be.

  The stacked battery blocks 22 are constrained by connecting the connecting tool 28 from both side surfaces to end plates 23 provided at both ends of the battery block 22 and strongly fastening the stacking direction of the batteries with connecting screws 28B. The end plate 23 is made of a resin material or an aluminum material, and is slightly larger than the shape of the prismatic battery 10. The end plate 23 is provided with groove portions 23 </ b> A slightly inside the both ends of the upper surface 24. The non-contact surface 26 that is not adjacent to the battery has a recess 26A that connects the connecting tool 28 to the four corners of the non-contact surface 26, and a screw hole 26a is provided at the center of the recess 26A. Furthermore, the contact surface 27 adjacent to the battery is processed into irregularities, and a plurality of air flow path portions 27A are provided. The air flow path portion 27A is a passage through which cooling air for cooling the battery circulates, similarly to the air flow path 19A of the separator 19.

  The connector 28 is made of an elongated plate-like metal material, and has bent portions 28A that are bent at right angles at both ends. By forming the connector 28 in the shape of an elongated plate, the side surface of the battery block 22 can be made flat, facilitating placement in the battery box 31 that houses the battery module 30, and the battery box 31 as a whole. Can be made compact. In addition, since the bent portion 28A is bent at a right angle, it can be restrained with a stronger restraining force in the stacking direction of the prismatic battery 10, so that the bent surfaces of the electrode terminals 15 and 16 are strongly connected to each other. It can be made to contact. A screw hole 28a is provided in the bent portion 28A. The battery block 22 and the end plate 23 are connected and arranged so that the two connecting tools 28 are positioned in parallel above and below the first side surface 11A of the rectangular battery 10 to be stacked. The connecting screw 28B is screwed into the screw holes 28a, 26a of the connecting portion 29 connecting the 28A and the recessed portion 26A of the end plate 23, and is restrained by screwing. Similarly, the second side surface 11B of the prismatic battery 10 is also arranged so that the two coupling tools 28 are positioned in parallel on the second side surface 11B, and the bent portion 28A of the coupling tool 28 and the end plate 23 are arranged. The connecting screw 28B is screwed into the screw holes 28a, 26a of the connecting portion 29 to which the indented portion 26A is connected, and is restrained by screwing. The binding force of the stacked rectangular batteries 10 can be freely adjusted by the strength of the screwing force.

  Furthermore, when any problem occurs in the battery module, it can be easily disassembled for investigation and repair, and then returned to its original state. Also, by arranging the electrode terminal on the upper surface of the square battery and the connector on both sides of the battery block, the electrode terminal and the connector are not located on the same surface, so the electrode when there is vibration such as impact Contact between the terminal and the connector can be prevented, and the battery block is strongly restrained from both side surfaces, so that stable electrical connection can be reliably performed. However, the connection tool that restrains the battery block can be changed in the number of arrangement places and the connection tool.

  Since the restraint by the connector 28 strongly restrains the stacking direction of the stacked prismatic batteries 10, the first folding surface 15C of the positive electrode terminal 15 and the second folding surface 16B of the negative electrode terminal 16 are face to face. They can be brought into contact with each other and can be electrically connected in a low resistance state. Further, there is no need to connect the electrode terminals to the adjacent electrode terminals one by one, and all the positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 16 can be electrically connected in one process due to the restraint of the coupler 28. Furthermore, since the battery modules 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D are electrically connected without using the bus bar, the cost of work can be greatly reduced because the bus bar is attached to the parts and processing costs and the electrode terminals. it can. Furthermore, in the battery module that can be strongly restrained by the coupling tool, the voltage detection lead wire can be sandwiched between the bent surfaces of the positive and negative electrode terminals that contact each other.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on FIG. In addition, about the same component as 1st Embodiment, the same number is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the second embodiment, the mounting positions of the positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 16 of the prismatic battery 10 described in the first embodiment are changed. In the prismatic battery 10 in the second embodiment, the electrode end face is provided on the side face 11. An external perspective view of this square battery is shown in FIG.

  The positive electrode terminal 15 is attached to the electrode end surface so as to be sandwiched from the side surface 11A of the prismatic battery 10. The bottom surface 15A of the positive electrode terminal 15 is on the side surface 11A of the prismatic battery 10, the first folding surface 15B is on the side 12 facing the stacking direction of the prismatic battery 10, and the second folding surface 15C is on the prismatic battery. 10 is mounted so as to be located on the other surface 13 side facing the stacking direction.

  The negative electrode terminal 16 is mounted so that the first folding surface 16A is positioned on the side surface 11B of the prismatic battery 10 and the second folding surface 16B is positioned on the one surface 12 side facing the stacking direction of the prismatic battery 10.

  The first folding surface 15B, the second folding surface 15C of the positive electrode terminal 15 and the second folding surface 16B of the negative electrode terminal 16 are perpendicular to the stacking direction of the prismatic battery 10 and are flat. By forming it into a shape, when the rectangular battery 10 is stacked and restrained, the folded surfaces of the positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 16 can be brought into smooth surface contact. Further, since the positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 16 are attached to the side surface 11 of the prismatic battery 10, there is no protrusion on the upper surface of the battery module 30, and the flat shape is obtained. It is possible to make the structure difficult to receive.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on FIG. In addition, about the same component as 1st Embodiment, the same number is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the third embodiment, the mounting positions of the positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 16 of the prismatic battery 10 described in the first embodiment are changed. FIG. 11 shows an external perspective view of this square battery.

  The positive electrode terminal 15 is mounted upside down on the electrode end surface of the upper surface 14 of the prismatic battery 10 with the upper and lower sides reversed from that in the first embodiment.

  Similarly, the negative electrode terminal 16 is mounted upside down on the electrode end surface of the upper surface 14 of the prismatic battery 10, with the first folded curved surface 16 </ b> A turned upside down when mounted in the first embodiment.

  The first folding surface 15B, the second folding surface 15C of the positive electrode terminal 15 and the second folding surface 16B of the negative electrode terminal 16 are perpendicular to the stacking direction of the prismatic battery 10 and are flat. By forming it into a shape, when the rectangular battery 10 is stacked and restrained, the folded surfaces of the positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 16 can be brought into smooth surface contact. As described above, if the contact portion is planar, strong restraint by the coupling tool 28 can be performed, so that the arrangement of the mounting portion of the electrode terminal serving as the contact portion can be changed.

  However, although not shown, the separator used in the battery module 30 may be the same size as the one surface 12 and the other surface 13 of the prismatic battery 10 and the side surface 11 of the prismatic battery 10 may be thin. By doing so, since all the separators have the same shape as in the first embodiment, it is possible to eliminate the distinction between the front and back surfaces of the facing surface 20, and to reduce material costs and processing costs. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to provide a notch in the separator, the processing steps can be shortened compared to the first embodiment, and assembly can be facilitated.

  Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The battery module 30 includes a prismatic battery 10 having positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 35, a battery block 39 in which a plurality of prismatic batteries 10 are stacked via separators 36, and both ends of the battery block 39. An end plate 23 and a connector 28 connected to the pair of end plates 23 and restraining the battery block 39 are provided.

  In the fourth embodiment, the shape of the negative electrode terminal 16 of the prismatic battery 10 described in the first embodiment is changed, and the shape of the separator 19 is changed accordingly. FIG. 12 is an external perspective view of this rectangular battery, FIG. 13 is an external perspective view of the separator, and FIG. 14 is a partial external exploded perspective view of the battery block.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the negative electrode terminal 35 is formed by forming a copper plate in a U shape, and has a bottom surface 35 </ b> A, a first folding surface 35 </ b> B, and a second folding surface 35 </ b> C. It is attached to the end face of the electrode so as to be sandwiched between. The bottom surface 35A of the negative electrode terminal 35 is on the top surface 14 of the prismatic battery 10, the first folding surface 35B is on the side 12 facing the stacking direction of the prismatic battery 10, and the second folding surface 35C is a prismatic battery. 10 is mounted so as to be located on the other surface 13 side facing the stacking direction. Further, the first folding surface 35B and the second folding surface 35C are formed in a planar shape that is perpendicular to the stacking direction of the prismatic battery 10 in the mounted state. Moreover, in this battery module 30, since all the positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 35 are formed in a U-shape, the parts are shared, and the processing and connection are the same only by changing the material of the electrode terminals. The process can be used to attach the prismatic battery 10 to improve manufacturing efficiency.

  Since all the positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 35 are formed in a U shape, the separator 19 of the first embodiment is changed to the shape of the separator 36 shown in FIG. The separator 36 is made of an insulating material, and the surface 37 facing the square battery has an outer shape that is almost equal to the one surface 12 and the other surface 13 of the square battery 10, but the side width is square battery. It is thinner than 10. The separator 36 is provided with a notch 38 at the upper right end of the surface 37 facing the adjacent prismatic battery 10, and the positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 35 of the adjacent prismatic battery 10 are connected in series as shown in FIG. I try to connect.

  In the battery block 39 of FIG. 14, the positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 35 of the prismatic battery 10 to be stacked are provided on the upper surface 14 of the prismatic battery 10 at positions that are point-symmetric. Further, the separator 36 is reversed left and right, that is, the front and back are turned over so that the separator 36 interposed in the stacked rectangular batteries 10 is also point-symmetric. By doing so, the second folded curved surface 15C of the positive electrode terminal 15 abuts on the second folded curved surface 35C of the adjacent negative electrode terminal 35, and the positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 35 approaching without using a bus bar. Can be easily connected in series.

  Specifically, referring to FIG. 14, the second folding surface 15C of the positive electrode terminal 15 of the square battery 10 (front side) and the negative electrode terminal 35 of the adjacent square battery 10 (center) are described. Since the second folded curved surface 35C faces the notch 38 of the separator 36, the second folded curved surface 15C of the positive electrode terminal 15 and the negative electrode terminal 35 are stacked in the state where the rectangular batteries 10 are stacked. (The second folded curved surface 35B of the negative electrode terminal 35 of the back side square battery 10 is the positive electrode terminal of the central square battery 10). 15 directly contacts the first folding surface 15B).

  On the other hand, on the facing surface 37 of the separator 36, the second folded surface 35C of the negative electrode terminal 35 of the square battery 10 (front side) and the second of the positive electrode terminal 15 of the adjacent square battery 10 (center). Since the separator 36 is interposed between the folding surface 15C, the separator 36 prevents the second folding surface 35C and the second folding surface 15C from being connected and does not come into contact with each other. Further, in the separator 36, the air flow path portion 36 </ b> A provided on the facing surface 37 is subjected to a plurality of uneven processes on the side. Cooling air blown from the inlet portion 32A of the battery box 31 circulates in the air flow path portion 36A through the inflow passage 33, thereby efficiently cooling the battery that generates heat. This cooling prevents deterioration of the stacked rectangular batteries 10. Further, the separator 36 is preferably heat-resistant and heat-insulating, lightweight and inexpensive. The separator 36 insulates and insulates adjacent rectangular batteries 10 from each other.

  Thus, the battery module 30 can make output voltage high by connecting the square battery 10 in series. However, although not shown, the battery module 30 can also connect a plurality of prismatic batteries 10 in parallel or in parallel and in series.

  Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described below based on FIG. The same parts as those in the first embodiment and the fourth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the fifth embodiment, the mounting positions of the positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 35 of the prismatic battery 10 described in the fourth embodiment are changed. The prismatic battery 10 in the fifth embodiment has electrode end surfaces provided on the side surface 11. An external perspective view of this square battery is shown in FIG.

  The positive electrode terminal 15 is attached to the electrode end surface so as to be sandwiched from the side surface 11A of the prismatic battery 10. The bottom surface 15A of the positive electrode terminal 15 is on the side surface 11A of the prismatic battery 10, the first folding surface 15B is on the side 12 facing the stacking direction of the prismatic battery 10, and the second folding surface 15C is on the prismatic battery. 10 is mounted so as to be located on the other surface 13 side facing the stacking direction.

  Similarly, the negative electrode terminal 35 is attached to the electrode end surface so as to be sandwiched from the side surface 11B of the prismatic battery 10. The bottom surface 35A of the negative electrode terminal 35 is on the side surface 11B of the prismatic battery 10, the first folding surface 35B is on the side 12 facing the stacking direction of the prismatic battery 10, and the second folding surface 35C is square battery. 10 is mounted so as to be located on the other surface 13 side facing the stacking direction.

  The shapes of the first folding surface 15B and the second folding surface 15C of the positive electrode terminal 15 and the first folding surface 35B and the second folding surface 35C of the negative electrode terminal 35 are defined with respect to the stacking direction of the prismatic battery 10. By forming the prismatic battery 10 in a vertical and planar shape, the folded surfaces of the positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 35 can be brought into smooth surface contact when the rectangular battery 10 is stacked and restrained. Further, since the positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 35 are attached to the side surface 11 of the prismatic battery 10, there is no protrusion on the upper surface of the battery module 30, and the flat shape is obtained. It is possible to make the structure difficult to receive.

  Further, in the battery module using this square battery 10, since the positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 35 are all formed in a U-shape, the parts are shared and only the material of the electrode terminals is changed. Thus, processing and connection can be mounted on the prismatic battery 10 using the same process, and the manufacturing efficiency is improved.

  Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In 6th Embodiment, the connection method of the connection part 29 of the connection tool 28 of 1st Embodiment is changed from the screwing by the screw 28B to welding. 16 is an external perspective view of the battery module 30 of the sixth embodiment, and FIG. 17 is an external side view of FIG.

  The battery module 30 of the sixth embodiment includes a prismatic battery 10 having positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 16, a battery block 22 in which a plurality of prismatic batteries 10 are stacked via separators 19, and both ends of the battery block 22. Are provided with an end plate 40, a connector 45 connected to the pair of end plates 40 and restraining the battery block 22, and a connecting bar 46.

  The battery blocks 22 that are stacked are constrained by connecting the connection bars 46 to the end portions 40 provided at both ends of the battery block 22 from both sides, and further connecting the connection bars 46 by welding. This is done by strongly fastening the stacking direction.

  The end plate 40 is made of a resin material or an aluminum material, and is slightly larger than the shape of the prismatic battery 10. The end plate 40 is provided with grooves 40 </ b> A slightly inside the both ends of the upper surface 41. In addition, the non-contact surface 43 that is not adjacent to the battery is provided with a dent portion 43 </ b> A that connects the connector 45 to the four corners of the non-contact surface 43. Furthermore, the contact surface 44 adjacent to the battery is processed into irregularities, and a plurality of air flow path portions 44A are provided. Similar to the air flow path 19A of the separator 19, the air flow path portion 44A serves as a passage through which cooling air for cooling the battery circulates.

  The connector 45 is made of an elongated plate-like metal material, and has bent portions 45A that are bent at right angles at both ends. By forming the connector 45 in the shape of a long and narrow plate, the side surface of the battery block 22 can be made flat, and the battery module 31 can be easily placed in the battery box 31 that houses the battery module 30. Can be made compact. In addition, since the bent portion 45A is bent at a right angle, it can be restrained with a stronger restraining force in the stacking direction of the prismatic battery 10, so that the bent surfaces of the electrode terminals 15 and 16 are strongly connected to each other. It can be made to contact. The connecting bar 46 is made of an elongated plate-like metal material, and its length is equal to the length of the upper surface of the end plate 40.

  The battery block 22 and the end plate 40 are connected and arranged so that the two connecting tools 45 are positioned in parallel above and below the first side surface 11A of the rectangular battery 10 to be stacked. 45A and the recessed part 43A of the end plate 40 are connected. On the other hand, the second side surface 11B of the stacked prismatic battery 10 is similarly arranged so that the two coupling tools 45 are positioned in parallel above and below the side surface 11B, and the bent portion 45A of the coupling tool 45, The dent 43A of the end plate 40 is connected. Further, the connecting portion 47 is connected to the connecting portion 47 where the bent portion 45A and the indented portion 43A are connected, and the connecting bar 46 is arranged above and below the end plate 40 so that the two connecting bars 46 are positioned in parallel. 47 is welded and restrained. By connecting the connecting portion 47 between the end plate 40 and the connecting tool 45 by welding, a battery module structure without a protruding portion such as a screw can be obtained. Further, the material cost of the screw can be reduced, and further, since it is not necessary to provide a screw hole in the end plate or the connecting tool, the number of steps can be reduced and the productivity is improved.

  In addition, by arranging the electrode terminal on the upper surface of the square battery and the connecting tool and connecting bar on the side surface of the battery block, the electrode terminal and the connecting tool and connecting bar are not located on the same surface, so that vibration such as impact is not generated. The contact between the electrode terminal and the connecting tool or connecting bar can be prevented, and the battery block is strongly restrained from both sides by the connecting tool, so that stable electrical connection can be reliably performed.

  Since the restraint by the connector 45 strongly restrains the stacking direction of the stacked rectangular batteries 10, the first folding surface 15 B or the second folding surface 15 C of the positive electrode terminal 15 is replaced with the second folding surface 15 C of the negative electrode terminal 16. The folding surface 16B can be brought into contact with each other, and electrical connection can be made in a low resistance state. Further, there is no need to connect the electrode terminals to the adjacent electrode terminals one by one, and all the positive and negative electrode terminals 15 and 16 can be electrically connected in one process due to the restraint of the connector 45. Furthermore, since the battery modules 30A, 30B, 30C, and 30D are electrically connected without using a bus bar, the cost of parts and processing, and the work cost for attaching the bus bar to the electrode terminal can be greatly reduced. it can.

  The battery module described above can be used as an in-vehicle battery system. As a vehicle equipped with a power supply device, an electric vehicle such as a hybrid car or a plug-in hybrid car that runs with both an engine and a motor, or an electric car that runs only with a motor can be used, and it is used as a power source for these vehicles. .

  FIG. 18 shows an example in which a power supply device is mounted on a hybrid car that runs with both an engine and a motor. A vehicle HV equipped with the power supply device shown in this figure includes an engine 51 for traveling the vehicle HV, a motor 48 for traveling, a battery system 52A including a battery module 30 for supplying electric power to the motor 48, and a battery system 52A. And a generator 49 for charging the battery. The battery system 52 </ b> A is connected to the motor 48 and the generator 49 via the DC / AC inverter 50. The vehicle HV travels by both the motor 48 and the engine 51 while charging / discharging the battery module 30 of the battery system 52A. The motor 48 is driven to drive the vehicle when the engine efficiency is low, for example, during acceleration or low-speed driving. The motor 46 is driven by power supplied from the battery system 52A. The generator 49 is driven by the engine 51 or is driven by regenerative braking when the vehicle is braked to charge the battery of the battery system 52A.

  FIG. 19 shows an example in which a power supply device is mounted on an electric vehicle that runs only with a motor. A vehicle EV equipped with the battery module shown in this figure includes a traveling motor 48 for traveling the vehicle EV, a battery system 52B for supplying electric power to the motor 48, and a generator 49 for charging a battery of the battery system 52B. And. The motor 48 is driven by power supplied from the battery system 52B. The generator 49 is driven by energy when regeneratively braking the vehicle EV, and charges the battery of the battery system 52B.

  The present invention is a battery module that can be suitably used as a power supply device for a vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle. Moreover, it can utilize suitably also as power supply devices other than vehicle-mounted.

10 ... Square battery 11 ... Side
11A ... 1st side
11B ... Second side 12 ... One side 13 ... Other side 14 ... Upper side 15 ... Positive electrode terminal
15A ... Bottom
15B ... 1st folding surface (contact part)
15C ... 2nd folding surface (contact part)
16 ... Negative electrode terminal
16A ... 1st folding surface
16B ... 2nd folding surface (contact part)
17 ... Gas discharge valve 18 ... Inlet 19 ... Separator
19A ... Air channel part 20 ... Opposing surface 21 ... Notch
21A ... 1st notch
21B ... 2nd notch 22 ... Battery block 23 ... End plate
23A ... groove 24 ... upper surface 25 ... side surface 26 ... non-contact surface
26A ... dent
26a ... Screw hole 27 ... Contact surface
27A ... air flow path 28 ... connector
28A ... Bent part
28a ... Screw hole
28B ... Connection screw 29 ... Connection part 30 ... Battery module
30A ... first battery module
30B ... Second battery module
30C ... Third battery module
30D ... Fourth battery module 31 ... Battery box
31A ... Upper case
31B ... Lower case
31C ... Side 32 ... Cooling air circulation port
32A ... Entrance
32B ... Outlet part 33 ... Inflow passage 34 ... Outflow passage 35 ... Negative electrode terminal
35A ... Bottom
35B ... 1st fold curved surface
35C ... 2nd folding surface 36 ... Separator
36A ... Air channel part 37 ... Opposing surface 38 ... Notch part 39 ... Battery block 40 ... End plate
40A ... groove 41 ... upper surface 42 ... side surface 43 ... non-contact surface
43A ... dent part 44 ... contact surface
44A ... air flow path 45 ... coupling tool
45A ... bent portion 46 ... connecting bar 47 ... connecting portion 48 ... motor 49 ... generator 50 ... DC / AC inverter 51 ... engine 52 ... battery system
52A ... Battery system
52B ... Battery system

Claims (12)

A square battery having positive and negative electrode terminals, a battery block in which the positive and negative electrode terminals are electrically connected in series, and a plurality of the square batteries are stacked, an end plate disposed at both ends of the battery block, and the pair A battery module that is connected to an end plate and includes a connector that restrains the plurality of prismatic batteries,
A battery module in which an abutting portion is provided on the positive and negative electrode terminals, and the abutting portions of the adjacent rectangular batteries are brought into contact with each other by the restraining force of the coupling tool to electrically connect the electrode terminals.     The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the electrode terminal is disposed on an upper surface of the rectangular battery, and the connector is disposed on both side surfaces of the battery block.     2. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion has a planar shape, and the electrode terminal is mounted so that the planar contact portion is perpendicular to a stacking direction of the rectangular batteries. module.     The connector is made of a long and thin plate-shaped metal material, further formed with bent portions at both ends, and the bent portions are connected to the end plate. Item 6. The battery module according to Item 1. One of the electrode terminals is formed in a U shape and is mounted so as to be sandwiched from the upper surface of the prismatic battery, and either one of the two surfaces excluding the U shape is used as the contact portion,
Further, the other electrode terminal is mounted in an L shape so that the first folding surface is positioned on the upper surface of the rectangular battery and the second folding surface is positioned on one surface side in the stacking direction of the rectangular battery, The battery module according to claim 1, wherein a second folded curved surface is used as the contact portion. One of the electrode terminals is formed in a U shape and is mounted so as to be sandwiched from the side surface of the prismatic battery, and either one of the two surfaces excluding the U shape is used as the contact portion,
Furthermore, the other electrode terminal is mounted in an L shape so that the first folding surface is located on the side surface of the rectangular battery, and the second folding surface is located on one surface side in the stacking direction of the rectangular battery, The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the second folding surface is the contact portion.     The positive and negative electrode terminals are formed in a U shape and are mounted so as to be sandwiched from the upper surface of the rectangular battery, and either one of both surfaces excluding the U-shaped bottom surface is used as the contact portion, A separator made of an insulating material is interposed between the square batteries, and a notch is formed in the separator so that the contact part of the electrode terminal and the contact part of the adjacent square battery can contact each other. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein:     The positive and negative electrode terminals are formed in a U shape and are mounted so as to be sandwiched from the side surface of the rectangular battery, and either one of the two surfaces excluding the U-shaped bottom surface is used as the contact portion, A separator made of an insulating material is interposed between the rectangular batteries, and a notch is formed in the separator so that the abutting part of the electrode terminal and the abutting part of the adjacent rectangular battery can abut. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein:     The battery module according to claim 7, wherein the separator includes an air flow path for cooling the rectangular battery.     The battery module according to claim 1, wherein a connection portion between the end plate and the connector is connected by welding.     The battery module according to claim 1, wherein a connecting portion between the end plate and the connector is connected by screwing.     A vehicle comprising the battery module according to claim 1.