JP2012252946A - Battery module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To define a gas discharge part in a case without increasing the number of components.SOLUTION: A battery module 10 includes: a battery 20 having a communication hole; a case 11 housing the battery 20; and a partition plate 30 partitioning the interior of the case 11 into a gas discharge part 31 and a temperature adjustment passage 32 and electrically connecting with a negative electrode 20b of the battery 20. The partition plate 30 is connected with the negative electrode 20b of the battery 20, thereby functioning as an electrode of the battery 20. Since the partition plate 30 is an essential component connecting with the battery 20, the number of components of the battery module 10 is not increased.

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery module in which a battery having a gas vent is housed in a case.

  In a battery module in which a battery is housed in a case, the battery is provided with a degassing part for releasing gas generated in the battery to the outside of the battery, and this gas is released into the case. Usually, a heat medium for adjusting the temperature of the battery (hereinafter simply referred to as “temperature control”) is distributed in the case. For this reason, when the gas is released from the battery, the heat medium and the gas are mixed in the case, and the gas hinders the temperature control of the battery.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 1, the inside of the case is partitioned into a battery chamber and an exhaust chamber by a partition plate, and the gas released from the battery is discharged into the exhaust chamber without flowing into the battery chamber. Thus, by providing a partition plate in the case, it is possible to suppress the gas from interfering with the temperature control.

JP 2007-27011 A

By the way, in patent document 1, the partition plate is provided in order to partition an exhaust chamber in a case, and the number of parts of a battery module has increased.
The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module that can partition a gas discharge portion in a case without increasing the number of components. is there.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is directed to a battery having a gas vent that discharges gas generated in the battery to the outside of the battery, a case for housing the battery, and the gas in the case. And a partition plate that is electrically connected to the electrode of the battery and that is partitioned into a gas discharge portion from which the battery is discharged and a temperature control flow channel through which a heat medium that adjusts the temperature of the battery flows. To do.

  According to the present invention, the partition plate partitions the inside of the case into a temperature control flow path and a gas discharge portion. For this reason, the partition plate prevents the gas released to the gas discharge portion from being mixed with the heat medium flowing through the temperature control flow path, and prevents the gas from interfering with the temperature control of the battery by the heat medium. The partition plate is electrically connected to the electrode of the battery. That is, since the partition plate is an essential part connected to the battery, the number of parts of the battery module does not increase.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the battery module according to the first aspect, the battery is configured such that a side surface standing from a bottom surface that is a surface facing the bottom plate of the case has a polarity, and the partition plate The gist is that an insertion hole is formed through which the battery is inserted, and the partition plate is electrically connected to a side surface of the battery.

  According to the present invention, the side surface of the battery has polarity, and the partition plate is formed with an insertion hole through which the battery is inserted. For this reason, the partition plate functions as an electrode by electrically connecting the side surface of the battery and the partition plate with the battery inserted into the partition plate. Since the partition plate is disposed on the side of the battery, the battery electrode and the partition plate can be easily connected when the side surface of the battery has polarity.

The invention according to claim 3 is summarized in that, in the battery module according to claim 2, the side surface of the battery exposed to the gas discharge portion is covered with an insulating member.
According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent electrical connection between the electrodes at the gas discharge portion, thereby preventing a short circuit.

  The gist of the invention described in claim 4 is that, in the battery module according to claim 2, the hole diameter of the insertion hole formed in the partition plate is formed so that the battery can be press-fitted.

  According to the present invention, when the battery is press-fitted into the insertion hole, the side surface of the battery comes into close contact with the insertion hole. For this reason, it is prevented that a clearance gap arises between a battery and the insertion hole, and it can prevent that a gas discharge part and a temperature control flow path are connected via an insertion hole. Further, since the battery and the partition plate are in close contact, the side surface of the battery and the partition plate are electrically connected.

  The gas discharge part should be partitioned in the case without increasing the number of parts.

The perspective view of the battery module in embodiment. Sectional drawing of the battery module in embodiment. The top view of the partition plate in embodiment. Sectional drawing of the battery module which shows another example.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the battery module of the present invention is embodied will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, a case 11 forming a part of the battery module 10 includes a side wall 13 erected from four sides of a bottom plate 12 having a rectangular shape in plan view, and a top plate 14 positioned in a direction facing the bottom plate 12. And is formed from. The bottom plate 12 and the side wall 13 are made of resin, metal with an insulating coating film, silicon, or the like. The top plate 14 is formed of a highly conductive metal (for example, copper or aluminum), and the top plate 14 is formed with a plurality of elliptical through holes 14a.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an opening 13 a that opens to the outside of the case 11 is formed on the side wall 13 that stands from the short side of the bottom plate 12. In the present embodiment, an area surrounded by the bottom plate 12 and the side wall 13 is an internal area of the case 11. Further, a temperature control device (not shown) is attached to the side wall 13 erected from the short side of the bottom plate 12, and a heat medium is supplied into the case 11 from the opening 13a. A cylindrical battery 20 is accommodated in an inner region of the case 11 in such a state that the axis thereof is orthogonal to the bottom plate 12 and the distance between the batteries 20 adjacent to each other is constant. In addition, a plurality of (in this embodiment, nine) flat fins 21 are arranged in the axial direction of the battery 20 in the inner region of the case 11, and the battery 20 is inserted into each fin 21. Yes. The fins 21 increase the heat conduction area of the battery 20.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a positive electrode 20a is provided at the first axial end of the battery 20 (the end not in contact with the bottom plate 12), and the battery 20 has a case at the second axial end (bottom). 11 is supported by the bottom plate 12. In addition, a negative electrode 20 b is provided on a side surface of the battery 20 erected from the bottom surface facing the bottom plate 12 of the case 11. When the battery 20 is discharged in an abnormal state, gas may be generated in the battery 20. The battery 20 is provided with a safety valve 22 that opens when the pressure in the battery 20 increases with the generation of gas and closes when the pressure in the battery 20 decreases with the release of gas. In addition, a communication hole 23 is formed at the first end in the axial direction of the battery 20 as a degassing part for communicating the outside of the battery 20 and the inside of the battery 20. Therefore, the battery 20 is configured to have a communication hole 23 that discharges gas generated in the battery 20 to the outside of the battery 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a partition plate 30 having a rectangular shape in plan view is accommodated in the internal region of the case 11. The partition plate 30 is made of a highly conductive metal (for example, copper or aluminum). The long side dimension of the partition plate 30 is substantially the same as the long side dimension in the inner region of the case 11 when the case 11 is viewed in plan, and the short side dimension is the case when the case 11 is viewed in plan. 11 is substantially the same as the short side dimension in the inner region.

The partition plate 30 has a plurality of insertion holes 30a through which the battery 20 is inserted.
The diameter (hole diameter) of the insertion hole 30a is set slightly smaller than the diameter of the battery 20, and when the battery 20 is inserted into the insertion hole 30a, the negative electrode 20b of the battery 20 and the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole 30a Are in close contact. That is, the diameter of the insertion hole 30a formed in the partition plate 30 is formed so that the battery 20 can be press-fitted. The battery 20 is press-fitted into the insertion hole 30 a of the partition plate 30.

  The partition plate 30 is attached to the upper part in the case 11 by a conductive member 33 attached to the short side thereof, and the battery 20 is inserted into the insertion hole 30a. The inside of the case 11 is divided into two regions by the partition plate 30 on the bottom plate 12 side and the top plate 14 side of the case 11. A first end side in the axial direction of the battery 20 inserted through the insertion hole 30 a protrudes in a region on the top plate 14 side from the partition plate 30. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the region located on the top plate 14 side (upper side) is used as the gas discharge part 31 from which the gas generated inside the battery 20 is released, and the region located on the bottom plate 12 side is used for temperature adjustment of the battery 20. The temperature control flow path 32 through which the heat medium to be performed is distributed. That is, the partition plate 30 partitions the inside of the case 11 into a gas discharge portion 31 through which gas is discharged and a temperature control flow path 32 through which a heat medium that adjusts the temperature of the battery 20 is circulated.

  The four side edges of the partition plate 30 are attached in the case 11 in close contact with the side wall 13, and each insertion hole 30 a is in close contact with the negative electrode 20 b of the battery 20. For this reason, the partition plate 30 is making the gas discharge part 31 and the temperature control flow path 32 into a non-communication state.

A rubber sheet 34 is attached to the surface of the partition plate 30 on the top plate 14 side. The rubber sheet 34 enhances the sealing performance between the gas discharge part 31 and the temperature control flow path 32.
In the battery 20, the positive electrode 20 a protrudes from the gas discharge portion 31, and the negative electrode 20 b and the partition plate 30 are electrically connected. Moreover, the positive electrode 20a of the battery 20 is electrically connected to the top plate 14 through a conductive member (not shown). Therefore, in the present embodiment, the battery 20 is connected in parallel by the top plate 14 and the partition plate 30, the top plate 14 constitutes a positive electrode, and the partition plate 30 constitutes a negative electrode. The partition plate 30 is configured to be connected to the connection target via the conductive member 33. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the battery module 10 is configured by the battery 20, the case 11 that houses the battery 20, and the partition plate 30.

Next, the effect | action of the battery module 10 in this embodiment is demonstrated.
In the battery module 10, the gas generated in the battery 20 is discharged to the gas discharge portion 31 through the communication hole 23. At this time, since the gas discharge part 31 and the temperature control flow path 32 are not connected by the partition plate 30, the gas released from the battery 20 does not flow into the temperature control flow path 32.

  In addition, the partition plate 30 is electrically connected to the negative electrode 20 b of the battery 20. Therefore, the partition plate 30 not only partitions the inside of the case 11 into the gas discharge part 31 and the temperature control flow path 32 but also constitutes an electrode (negative electrode) of the battery 20.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The partition plate 30 partitions the inside of the case 11 into a gas discharge part 31 and a temperature control flow path 32. For this reason, the gas released from the battery 20 is prevented from flowing into the temperature control flow path 32, and the heat medium flowing through the temperature control flow path 32 and the gas released from the battery 20 are mixed. Is prevented. Therefore, the temperature control of the battery 20 by the heat medium is not hindered by the gas. The partition plate 30 functions as an electrode of the battery 20 by being electrically connected to the negative electrode (electrode) 20 b of the battery 20, and is an essential configuration for the battery module 10. Therefore, the inside of the case 11 can be partitioned into the gas discharge part 31 and the temperature control flow path 32 without increasing the number of parts of the battery module 10.

  (2) The side surface of the battery 20 is the negative electrode 20b. In addition, by forming the insertion hole 30a in the partition plate 30, the battery 20 can be inserted into the insertion hole 30a. For this reason, the partition plate 30 is disposed on the side of the battery 20. Therefore, since the side surface of the battery 20 is the negative electrode 20b, the negative electrode 20b and the partition plate 30 can be easily electrically connected.

  (3) The battery 20 is press-fitted into the insertion hole 30 a of the partition plate 30. This prevents a gap from being generated between the battery 20 and the insertion hole 30a. For this reason, the gas discharge part 31 and the temperature control flow path 32 can be made into a non-communication state, without interposing a sealing member between the insertion hole 30a and the battery 20.

  (4) The insertion hole 30a is formed in the partition plate 30, and the battery 20 is press-fitted into the insertion hole 30a. When the batteries 20 are press-fitted, a plurality of batteries 20 are arranged, and a partition plate 30 is installed from the top thereof, so that even when the plurality of batteries 20 are assembled, the assembly can be performed in one step.

  (5) A rubber sheet 34 is attached to the surface of the partition plate 30 on the top plate 14 side. For this reason, the sealing property of the gas discharge part 31 and the temperature control flow path 32 is ensured. Therefore, even when a gap is formed between the battery 20 and the insertion hole 30a, such as when an impact is applied to the battery module 10, it is possible to maintain the non-communication state of the gas discharge part 31 and the temperature control flow path 32. it can.

In addition, you may change embodiment as follows.
In embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the negative electrode 20b (side surface of the battery 20) of the battery 20 exposed to the gas discharge part 31 is covered with the insulating member 35, and the negative electrode 20b in the gas discharge part 31 and a positive electrode You may make it prevent the electrical connection with 20a. By comprising in this way, the positive electrode 20a and the negative electrode 20b are prevented from being electrically connected. The insulating member may be a coating film that covers the side surface of the battery 20.

In the embodiment, a separate conductive member 33 is attached to and integrated with the partition plate 30, but the conductive member 33 may be integrally formed with the partition plate 30.
In the embodiment, the bottom surface forming the surface formed at the second axial end portion (the end portion in contact with the bottom plate 12) of the battery 20 may form the negative electrode. In this case, what is necessary is just to comprise so that the bottom face of the battery 20 and the division board 30 may be electrically connected, such as connecting the bottom face of the battery 20 and the division board 30 with conductive members, such as conducting wire.

In embodiment, you may provide a sealing member in the inner periphery of the insertion hole 30a formed in the partition plate 30. FIG.
In the embodiment, the side surface of the battery 20 may constitute a positive electrode, and the first axial end of the battery 20 may constitute a negative electrode.

  In embodiment, the partition plate 30 may comprise a negative electrode by electrically connecting the fin 21 and the partition plate 30. In this case, the fin 21 needs to be formed from a conductive material.

  In the embodiment, the partition plate 30 may be formed with a recess, and the partition plate 30 and the negative electrode 20b of the battery 20 may be electrically connected by accommodating the battery 20 in the recess. In this case, a negative electrode may be formed on the bottom surface of the battery 20.

  In the embodiment, the battery 20 may have a shape other than the columnar shape. For example, a square battery or a laminate battery may be used. That is, the battery may have any shape as long as it has a structure for removing gas generated in the battery.

  In the embodiment, the region located on the bottom plate 12 side (lower side) is defined as the gas discharge part 31 from which the gas generated inside the battery 20 is released, and the region located on the top plate 14 side (upper side) is the temperature of the battery 20. It is good also as the temperature control flow path 32 with which the heat medium which adjusts distribute | circulates. In this case, the communication hole 23 is formed in the second axial end portion (bottom surface) of the battery 20.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Battery module, 11 ... Case, 20 ... Battery, 20a ... Positive electrode, 20b ... Negative electrode, 23 ... Communication hole, 30 ... Partition plate, 30a ... Insertion hole, 31 ... Gas discharge part, 32 ... Temperature control flow path, 35 ... insulating members.

Claims (4)

A battery having a degassing part for releasing gas generated in the battery to the outside of the battery;
A case for housing the battery;
A partition plate that is partitioned into a gas discharge portion from which the gas is discharged and a temperature control flow path through which a heat medium that adjusts the temperature of the battery flows and that is electrically connected to the electrode of the battery. A battery module comprising: The battery is configured such that a side surface standing from a bottom surface that is a surface facing the bottom plate of the case has polarity,
The battery module according to claim 1, wherein an insertion hole through which the battery is inserted is formed in the partition plate, and the partition plate is electrically connected to a side surface of the battery.   The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the side surface of the battery exposed to the gas discharge portion is covered with an insulating member.   The battery module according to claim 2, wherein a hole diameter of the insertion hole formed in the partition plate is formed so that the battery can be press-fitted.

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