JP2013187013A - Terminal cover of power storage device, power storage device, secondary battery, and mobile object - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a temperature adjustment function without increasing an opening provided at a cover body or a gap between the cover body and a power storage body and prevent a conductive bar member and a protruding object from intruding into a terminal cover from the opening and the gap during the assembly process and the maintenance inspection etc.SOLUTION: A terminal cover 20 covers a terminal connection member 13 electrically connecting terminals of adjacent electric cells 11 with each other and a terminal with which the terminal connection member 13 is connected. A cover body 21 is formed by an electric insulation material and a coating 23, including a material having a heat transfer coefficient higher than a heat transfer coefficient of the terminal cover 20 and made of an electric insulation material, is applied to the cover body 21. The coating 23 is applied to at least an entire surface of the cover body 21.

Description

  The present invention relates to a terminal cover of a power storage device, a power storage device, a secondary battery, and a moving body.

  Power storage devices such as secondary batteries and capacitors are widely used as power sources because they can be recharged and can be used repeatedly. In addition, when a secondary battery is used as a power source for a traction motor such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, a large current charge, a large current discharge and a large capacity are required. An assembled battery is used. Charging / discharging with a large current is accompanied by a large amount of heat generated inside the battery, and in the assembled battery, a large number of batteries are stored in a limited space, which increases the battery temperature and promotes deterioration of battery performance. There's a problem. Therefore, cooling of the battery is required for preventing and suppressing the deterioration of the battery. In addition, since charging / discharging is not smoothly performed unless the battery is at a predetermined temperature or higher, heating is necessary when the usage environment is low, such as in winter or in a cold region. That is, temperature adjustment is necessary to use the battery properly. The same applies not only to secondary batteries but also to capacitors such as electric double layer capacitors and lithium ion capacitors.

  In a large vehicle-mounted battery, the battery case (battery case) itself is insulated from the active material of the electrode for ease of handling and safety in the vehicle. The assembled battery is provided with a terminal connection member (bus bar) for connecting terminals of battery cells (unit cells) and an insulating terminal cover for covering the terminals of the battery cells. However, insulation (= decrease in electrical conduction) and temperature adjustment (improvement in thermal conduction) are incompatible with each other because of conflicting characteristics. And since insulation is important, heat conduction is bad and the efficiency of temperature adjustment is bad.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a terminal cover has been proposed that can improve heat dissipation from terminals and terminal connecting members that are coated while suppressing a decrease in insulation (see Patent Document 1). The terminal cover includes an upper lid portion having an air circulation opening and a bottom portion in which a gap is formed between the air circulation opening or the engaging terminal or the terminal connecting member. A convex part or a thick part projecting downward is formed in the vicinity of the opening part on the back surface side of the upper cover part, and there is no air between the opening part of the upper cover part and the opening part of the bottom part or the bottom part gap. An air gap is provided between the terminal and the terminal connecting member so that the flow passage is formed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-245768

  In the terminal cover of Patent Document 1, the opening provided on the upper lid or the bottom is used as an air circulation part, and if the opening is enlarged in order to improve the heat dissipation of the terminal or the terminal connecting member, the assembly process or maintenance inspection is performed. For example, a conductive rod-like member or protrusion easily enters the inside of the terminal cover from the opening, and there is a possibility that a short circuit may occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is to enhance the temperature adjustment function without increasing the opening provided in the cover body or the gap between the cover body and the power storage unit. To provide a terminal cover for a power storage device that can prevent a conductive rod-like member or protrusion from entering the inside of the terminal cover through an opening or a gap during an assembly process or maintenance inspection. It is in. Another object is to provide a power storage device and a secondary battery including the terminal cover. Another object is to provide a mobile object equipped with the power storage device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a terminal cover of a power storage device that covers a terminal connection member that electrically connects terminals of adjacent power storage units and a terminal to which the terminal connection member is connected. It is. The cover body is formed of an electrically insulating material, and the cover body includes a material that includes a material having a heat transfer rate higher than that of the terminal cover and is made of an electrically insulating material. The coating is applied to at least the entire surface of the cover body. Here, the “power storage unit” means a single secondary battery or capacitor constituting a power storage device such as an assembled battery or a capacitor module configured by connecting a plurality of secondary batteries or capacitors in series or in parallel. . In addition, the “surface of the cover body” means a surface opposite to a surface that covers the terminal and the terminal connection member in a state where the terminal cover is attached to the power storage device.

  The cover body is not necessarily formed of an electrically insulating material, but when the cover body is formed of a conductive material, the cover body is connected to the terminals of the power storage device and the terminal connection member in a state where the terminal cover is attached to the power storage device. The structure which prevents that it contacts and short-circuits is needed. However, in the present invention, since the cover body is formed of an electrically insulating material, it is not necessary to provide such a configuration.

  The terminal cover is attached to a power storage device such as an assembled battery so as to cover the terminal and the terminal connection member. In general, the power storage device is used in a state where a temperature adjusting fluid flows around the battery during charging or discharging. Then, the fluid flows into the inside of the terminal cover through the gap between the terminal cover and the electric storage body, and the temperature of the terminal and the terminal connecting member is adjusted by the fluid that has flowed in. In the conventional terminal cover, in order to effectively adjust the temperature, it is necessary to increase the amount of fluid flowing into the inside of the terminal cover, but in order to increase the amount of fluid flowing into the inside of the terminal cover, If the area is increased, there is a possibility that a conductive rod-like member or protrusion may enter the inside of the terminal cover from the opening during the assembly process or maintenance inspection. However, in the present invention, the cover body is coated with a material having a heat transfer coefficient higher than that of the terminal cover and an electrically insulating material, and the coating is applied to at least the entire surface of the cover body. Therefore, the temperature adjustment function can be enhanced without increasing the amount of fluid flowing into the inside of the terminal cover from the opening. Then, it is possible to prevent the conductive rod-like member or the protrusion from entering the inside of the terminal cover from the opening during the assembly process or maintenance inspection.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the paint is in contact with at least one of the terminal and the terminal connection member in a state where the cover body is attached to the power storage device. And it is given also to the location which continues with the paint given to the whole surface of the cover main part.

  Since the active material of the electrode accommodated inside the power storage unit generates heat during charging or discharging, each power storage unit generates heat and the power storage device generates heat. Since the case constituting the main body of the power storage unit is made of an electrically insulating material, the temperature adjustment efficiency is poor even if the temperature of the outside of the main body is adjusted. On the other hand, since the terminal and the terminal connection member are conductive and have a high heat transfer coefficient, if the terminal or the terminal connection member is cooled or heated, the heat inside the power storage unit is efficiently transferred to the outside of the power storage unit through the terminal and the terminal connection member. The heat can be radiated well or the heat for heating can be efficiently transmitted to the inside of the power storage unit via the terminal and the terminal connecting member, so that the temperature adjustment efficiency of the power storage unit is improved. In the present invention, the cover body is attached to the power storage device in a state where the coating having a high heat transfer coefficient applied to the entire surface of the cover body is in contact with at least one of the terminal and the terminal connection member. Therefore, heat exchange between the temperature adjusting fluid and the terminal and the terminal connecting member is efficiently performed through the coating having a high heat transfer coefficient applied to the entire surface of the cover body, and the temperature adjusting efficiency is further improved. .

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the coating is performed such that a saturation thermal resistance value of the terminal cover is 0.6 ° C./W or less. Yes. This value is at least 10% smaller than the saturation heat resistance value when the cover body is not coated with a heat transfer coefficient higher than that of the terminal cover and made of an electrically insulating material. If this value is satisfied, heat exchange between the temperature adjusting fluid, the terminal, and the terminal connecting member is efficiently performed through the coating, and the temperature adjusting efficiency is improved.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the coating is a mixture containing at least silicon carbide and a polyester resin. In this invention, the coating material in which the value of the saturation thermal resistance of the terminal cover is 0.6 ° C./W or less can be easily obtained.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, an opening is formed in the cover body. When the terminal cover of the present invention is attached to a power storage device and used in a state where a temperature adjusting fluid flows around, the temperature adjustment is more efficient than when the cover body has no opening. Done.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is a power storage device including the terminal cover of the power storage device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects. In the power storage device of the present invention, heat exchange between the temperature adjusting fluid, the terminal, and the terminal connecting member is efficiently performed via the terminal cover, and the temperature control of the power storage device can be performed satisfactorily. Moreover, the effect of the terminal cover of the electrical storage apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-5 can be acquired.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is the power storage device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, wherein a plurality of power storage units are electrically connected in series by the terminal connecting member, and two adjacent power storage units The terminal cover is provided so as to cover the terminal connecting member connecting the positive terminal and the negative terminal. Here, the “power storage unit” means a single secondary battery or a capacitor.

  The terminal cover is not necessarily configured to cover one positive terminal, negative electrode terminal, and terminal connecting member, but may be configured to cover a plurality of sets of positive terminals, negative terminals, and a plurality of terminal connecting members. However, the configuration in which each of the positive electrode terminal, the negative electrode terminal, and the terminal connection member is covered can be handled by the terminal cover having the same shape regardless of the number of power storage units constituting the power storage device.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the power storage device according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of power storage units are electrically connected in parallel by the terminal connecting member, and the positive terminals of the plurality of power storage units are connected to each other. Or the said terminal cover is provided so that the said terminal connection member which connects negative electrode terminals may be covered. In the present invention, when the number of power storage units is the same, the number of terminal covers can be reduced as compared with a power storage device in which the power storage units are electrically connected in series by the terminal connection member.

  The invention according to claim 9 is a secondary battery including the structure of the power storage device according to any one of claims 6 to 8. Therefore, the secondary battery of this invention has the effect of the invention as described in any one of Claims 6-8.

  A tenth aspect of the present invention is a mobile body on which the power storage device according to any one of the sixth to eighth aspects is mounted. Here, the “moving body” is not limited to a vehicle, but also includes a ship, a robot, or a person that is moved by being pushed or pulled by a person. In the mobile body of the present invention, the installed power storage device has the effect of the power storage device.

  According to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the temperature adjustment function can be enhanced without enlarging the opening provided in the cover body, and the conductive from the opening during the assembly process or maintenance inspection. It is possible to provide a terminal cover for a power storage device that can prevent a stick-like member or protrusion from entering the inside of the terminal cover. According to the invention described in claims 6 to 8, it is possible to provide a power storage device capable of obtaining the effect of the terminal cover. According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a secondary battery that can achieve the same effects as the sixth to eighth aspects of the invention. According to the invention described in claim 10, it is possible to provide a moving body that can obtain the effect of the power storage device.

(A) is a schematic partial plan view of the assembled battery provided with the terminal cover of the first embodiment, (b) is a partial sectional view showing a fixed state of the terminal connection member and a support state of the terminal cover, and (c) the terminal cover. The top view which shows the relationship between a terminal connection member. The graph which shows the difference in the saturation thermal resistance of the case with no painting and the case with painting. (A) is a schematic partial top view of the assembled battery provided with the terminal cover of 2nd Embodiment, (b) is a fragmentary sectional view which shows the fixed state of a terminal connection member, and the support state of a terminal cover. (A) is a schematic partial top view of the assembled battery provided with the terminal cover of 3rd Embodiment, (b) is a fragmentary sectional view which shows the fixed state of a terminal connection member, and the support state of a terminal cover. The schematic partial top view which shows the relationship between the terminal cover of another embodiment, and a terminal connection member.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
As shown to Fig.1 (a), the assembled battery 10 as an electrical storage apparatus and a secondary battery is comprised by the unit cell 11 as a some electrical storage body connected in series. Each unit cell 11 is formed so that a positive electrode terminal 11p and a negative electrode terminal 11n as electrode terminals protrude on the same side of a rectangular parallelepiped battery main body 12. More specifically, the rectangular parallelepiped unit cells 11 are positioned parallel to each other and in a state where the positive electrode terminal 11p and the negative electrode terminal 11n of the adjacent unit cells 11 face each other, and are integrally movable in a case (not shown). Or fixed by a support frame (not shown). In this embodiment, the adjacent unit cells 11 are fixed with their side surfaces in contact with each other. Each unit cell 11 is connected to a negative electrode terminal 11n of a unit cell 11 with a positive electrode terminal 11p connected to a positive electrode terminal 11p of a unit cell 11 with an adjacent negative electrode terminal 11n via a terminal connection member (bus bar) 13, respectively. The connecting members 13 are arranged in a staggered manner. However, among the cells 11 located at both ends of the row of the cells 11 arranged in parallel to each other, the positive electrode terminal 11p of the cell 11 located at one end and the cells 11 located at the other end. The negative electrode terminal 11 n is not connected to the terminal connection member 13. And the terminal cover 20 is provided so that each terminal connection member 13 may be covered as shown by the dashed-two dotted line in Fig.1 (a).

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the positive terminal 11p and the negative terminal 11n are formed so as to have a male screw portion 14a protruding from the pedestal portion 14. The terminal connecting member 13 is formed with a pair of holes 13a through which the male screw portion 14a passes. The terminal connecting member 13 is fastened and fixed to the pedestal portions 14 of the positive electrode terminal 11p and the negative electrode terminal 11n by a nut 15 that is screwed into the male screw portion 14a penetrating the hole 13a.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the cover main body 21 of the terminal cover 20 includes a flat surface portion 21a extending along the terminal connecting member 13 and a battery main body from the periphery of the flat surface portion 21a when attached to the assembled battery 10. And a curved portion 21b extending in a curved state toward the portion 12. That is, the cover main body 21 is formed in a substantially bottomed square box shape, and is used in a state of covering the positive electrode terminal 11p, the negative electrode terminal 11n, and the terminal connection member 13 with the bottom portion thereof facing upward.

As shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, a plurality of openings 22 are formed in the plane portion 21a. The cover main body 21 is made of an electrically insulating material, for example, a resin.
The cover body 21 is coated with a material that includes a material having a heat transfer coefficient higher than that of the terminal cover 20 and that is electrically insulative. As shown in FIG. 1B, the coating 23 includes a first coating 23a applied to the entire surface of the cover body 21, a second coating 23b applied to the inner surface, a first coating 23a and a first coating 23a. In order to make 2 coating 23b continuous, it has the coating 23c for continuation given to the whole surrounding surface of the opening part 22. FIG. The coating 23 is performed so that the saturation thermal resistance value of the terminal cover 20 is 0.6 ° C./W or less. The surface of the cover body 21 is a surface opposite to the surface that covers the terminals (the positive terminal 11p and the negative terminal 11n) and the terminal connection member 13 in a state where the terminal cover 20 is attached to the power storage device (the assembled battery 10). That is, in this embodiment, it means the outer surface.

  The cover main body 21 includes a contact portion 24 that comes into contact with at least one of the terminal and the terminal connection member 13 in the attached state with respect to the power storage device. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1B, the terminal cover 20 is attached to the power storage device with a part of the inner surface of the cover body 21 in contact with the male screw portion 14a. The contact portion becomes the contact portion 24. A part of the second coating 23b on the inner surface constitutes the contact portion 24, and the second coating 23b constituting the contact portion 24 is a continuous coating 23c applied to the entire peripheral surface of the opening portion 22. The first coating 23a applied to the entire surface of the cover main body 21 is continuous. In this embodiment, the second coating 23b is applied to the entire inner surface. That is, the coating 23 applied to the cover body 21 is applied to the entire surface of the cover body 21 while the coating 23 is in contact with at least one of the terminal and the terminal connection member 13 in a state where the cover body 21 is attached to the power storage device. It is also applied to the portion that is continuous with the coating (first coating 23a).

Next, the operation of the terminal cover 20 configured as described above and the assembled battery 10 to which the terminal cover 20 is attached will be described.
The assembled battery 10 is used for various applications. For example, the assembled battery 10 is mounted on a vehicle as a moving body and used as a power source for a traveling motor. When the assembled battery 10 is used, heat generation increases during rapid charging and rapid discharging. Therefore, the assembled battery 10 is mounted in a housing portion through which a fluid (for example, air) flows by driving a blower fan installed in the vehicle, and the temperature of the assembled battery 10 is adjusted by the fluid flowing downward from above the assembled battery 10. Is done.

  Since the active material of the electrode accommodated inside the single battery 11 generates heat during charging or discharging, the assembled battery 10 generates heat. Since the case constituting the battery body 12 of the unit cell 11 is made of an electrically insulating material, the cooling efficiency is poor even if the outside of the battery body 12 is cooled. On the other hand, since the positive electrode terminal 11p, the negative electrode terminal 11n, and the terminal connection member 13 are conductive and have high thermal conductivity, if the heat dissipation of the positive electrode terminal 11p, the negative electrode terminal 11n, and the terminal connection member 13 is improved, the positive electrode terminal 11p and the negative electrode terminal The heat inside the cell 11 is efficiently radiated to the outside of the cell 11 through 11n, and the cooling efficiency inside the cell 11 is improved.

  In order to improve the heat dissipation of the positive electrode terminal 11p, the negative electrode terminal 11n, and the terminal connection member 13, the temperature adjusting fluid is efficiently connected to the positive electrode terminal 11p, the negative electrode terminal 11n, and the terminal connection member 13 located inside the terminal cover 20. It is necessary to exchange heat. For this reason, if the opening 22 is enlarged so that the fluid can easily flow from the opening 22 formed in the terminal cover 20 toward the inside of the terminal cover 20, the assembled battery 10 can be assembled during the assembly process or maintenance inspection. There is a possibility that a conductive rod-like member or protrusion easily enters the inside of the terminal cover 20 from the opening 22 and a short circuit may occur.

  In this embodiment, the cover body 21 is provided with a coating 23 containing a material having a heat transfer coefficient higher than that of the terminal cover 20 and made of an electrically insulating material. A first coating 23a applied to the entire surface, a second coating 23b applied to the inner surface, and a continuous coating 23c for continuing the first coating 23a and the second coating 23b. . Then, heat exchange with the fluid is efficiently performed through the coating 23 made of a material having a heat transfer coefficient higher than that of the terminal cover 20, and the temperature inside the terminal cover 20 is not in the coating 23. As a result, heat exchange is efficiently performed with the positive electrode terminal 11p, the negative electrode terminal 11n, and the terminal connection member 13 that are positioned inside the terminal cover 20. Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the area of the opening 22 in order to increase the amount of fluid flowing into the inside of the terminal cover 20 through the opening 22, and unlike the conventional technique, the opening is not used during the assembly process or maintenance inspection. There is no possibility that a conductive rod-like member or protrusion from 22 enters the inside of the terminal cover 20.

  Further, heat exchange is efficiently performed between the fluid flowing outside the cover body 21 and the first coating 23 a on the outer surface of the cover body 21. Therefore, the second coating 23b on the inner surface side of the cover body 21 that is continuous through the first coating 23a and the continuous coating 23c, the terminals (the positive terminal 11p, the negative terminal 11n), and the terminal connection member 13 Heat exchange is also efficiently performed, and the efficiency of temperature adjustment is further improved.

  Further, when the use environment of the battery pack 10 is low, such as in winter or in a cold region, a heating fluid is supplied from above the battery pack 10, but the fluid does not sufficiently flow into the inside of the cover body 21. In addition, heat exchange between the first coating 23a on the outer surface of the cover body 21 and the fluid is efficiently performed. And heat exchange between the second coating 23b on the inner surface side of the cover main body 21 that is continuous through the first coating 23a and the continuous coating 23c, and the positive electrode terminal 11p, the negative electrode terminal 11n, and the terminal connection member 13 is also performed. The heat is efficiently transmitted to the electrodes inside the unit cell 11, and the active material is in a state of efficiently generating power.

  Saturated thermal resistance (with respect to the case where the cover body 21 is coated with a material including a material having a heat transfer coefficient higher than that of the terminal cover 20 and made of an electrically insulating material) The result of measuring [° C./W] is shown in FIG. As a coating material for coating, a polyester resin having silicon carbide (SiC) particles as a dry solid and a melamine-based crosslinking agent dispersed together with a solvent (for example, an appropriate amount of cyclohexanone) using a ball mill was used. The SiC particles used were a mixture of those having an average particle diameter of about 0.25 μm and those having an average particle diameter of about 0.02 μm. The mixing ratio of the melamine-based crosslinking agent to the polyester resin was 10 with respect to the polyester resin 100.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when there is no coating, the saturation thermal resistance (° C./W) of the terminal cover 20 was 0.69 ° C./W, whereas when the coating was performed, The saturation thermal resistance (° C./W) was 0.5 ° C./W. This value is 27% or more smaller than the value of the saturation thermal resistance when there is no coating. If the saturation thermal resistance value is 10% or more smaller than the saturation thermal resistance value when there is no coating, heat exchange between the temperature-adjusting fluid and the terminal and the terminal connecting member is efficient through coating Since it is considered that the efficiency of temperature adjustment is improved, it is confirmed that the efficiency of temperature adjustment is improved by applying the coating 23.

According to this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The terminal cover 20 includes a terminal connection member 13 and a terminal that electrically connect the positive electrode terminal 11p and the negative electrode terminal 11n, which are terminals of adjacent unit cells 11 (electric storage body) constituting the assembled battery 10 (electric storage device). It is a terminal cover of the assembled battery 10 (power storage device) that covers the terminal to which the connecting member 13 is connected. The cover body 21 is formed of an electrical insulating material. Therefore, unlike the case where the cover main body 21 is formed of a conductive material, the cover main body 21 is prevented from coming into contact with the terminal of the power storage device or the terminal connection member 13 and short-circuiting in a state where the terminal cover 20 is attached to the power storage device. There is no need to provide a configuration.

  (2) The terminal cover 20 is provided with a coating 23 made of an electrically insulating material containing a material having a heat transfer rate higher than that of the terminal cover 20 on the cover body 21. The entire surface of the cover body 21 is applied. Therefore, the gap between the terminal cover 20 and the unit cell 11 and the opening 22 formed in the terminal cover 20 are enlarged to increase the inflow amount of the fluid for adjusting the temperature of the assembled battery 10 entering the inside of the terminal cover 20. The temperature adjustment function can be enhanced without doing so. Then, it is possible to prevent the conductive rod-like member or the protrusion from entering the inside of the terminal cover 20 from the opening 22 at the time of the assembling process or maintenance inspection.

  (3) The coating 23 is in a state where the cover main body 21 is attached to the assembled battery 10 (power storage device), and the second coating 23b is in contact with at least one of the terminal and the terminal connecting member 13 and is applied to the entire surface of the cover main body 21. It is continuous through the applied first coating 23a and continuous coating 23c. That is, the coating 23 is a first coating 23 a that is applied to the entire surface of the cover body 21 while the coating 23 is in contact with at least one of the terminal and the terminal connection member 13 in a state where the cover body 21 is attached to the assembled battery 10. It is also given to places that continue. Therefore, heat exchange between the temperature adjusting fluid and the terminal and the terminal connecting member 13 is efficiently performed through the first coating 23a having a high heat transfer coefficient applied to the entire surface of the cover main body 21, and the temperature adjustment is performed. Efficiency is further improved.

  (4) The coating 23 is performed so that the value of the saturation thermal resistance of the terminal cover 20 is 0.6 ° C./W or less. This value is compared with the value of the saturation heat resistance when the cover body 21 includes a material having a heat transfer coefficient higher than the heat transfer coefficient of the terminal cover 20 and the coating 23 made of an electrically insulating material is not applied. If this value is satisfied, heat exchange between the temperature adjusting fluid and the terminal and the terminal connecting member 13 is efficiently performed through the coating 23, and the temperature adjusting efficiency is improved. .

  (5) The first outer surface, the inner surface, and the peripheral surface of the opening 22 include a material having a heat transfer coefficient higher than that of the terminal cover 20 and made of an electrically insulating material. A coating 23a, a second coating 23b, and a continuous coating 23c are respectively applied. In other words, since the cover body 21 is provided with the coating 23 including a material having a heat transfer coefficient higher than that of the terminal cover 20 and made of an electrically insulating material, the temperature adjusting fluid and the terminal are provided. And the heat exchange with the terminal connection member 13 is efficiently performed, and the efficiency of temperature adjustment is further improved.

  (6) The coating 23 is a mixture containing at least silicon carbide and a polyester resin. Therefore, it is possible to easily obtain a coating material in which the value of the saturation thermal resistance of the terminal cover 20 is 0.6 ° C./W or less.

  (7) The cover body 21 has an opening 22 formed therein. Therefore, when the terminal cover 20 is attached to the assembled battery 10 and is used in a state where a temperature adjusting fluid flows around, the temperature of the terminal cover 20 is adjusted compared to the case where the opening 22 is not formed in the cover main body 21. Is done efficiently.

  (8) The assembled battery 10 (power storage device and secondary battery) includes the terminal cover 20. Therefore, heat exchange between the temperature adjusting fluid and the terminal and terminal connecting member 13 is efficiently performed through the terminal cover 20, and the temperature adjustment of the assembled battery 10 can be performed satisfactorily. Moreover, the effect which the terminal cover 20 to be used has can be acquired.

  (9) In the assembled battery 10, a plurality of single cells 11 are electrically connected in series by a terminal connecting member 13, and the terminal connecting member 13 that connects the positive terminal 11p and the negative terminal 11n of two adjacent single cells 11 is connected. A terminal cover 20 is provided so as to cover. The terminal cover 20 is not necessarily configured to cover the single positive electrode terminal 11p, the negative electrode terminal 11n, and the terminal connection member 13, but may be configured to cover a plurality of sets of the positive electrode terminal 11p, the negative electrode terminal 11n, and the multiple terminal connection members 13. Good. However, each of the configurations covering the single positive electrode terminal 11p, the negative electrode terminal 11n, and the terminal connection member 13 corresponds to the terminal cover 20 having the same shape regardless of the number of the unit cells 11 constituting the assembled battery 10. Can do.

  (10) The assembled battery 10 is mounted on a vehicle as a moving body and is used as a power source for a traveling motor. When the assembled battery 10 is used as a power source for a vehicle running motor, heat generation increases during rapid charge or rapid discharge. However, since the assembled battery 10 includes the terminal cover 20 having the above-described configuration, the temperature adjustment is favorably performed.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a plurality of single cells 11 constituting the assembled battery 10 are connected in parallel, and the configurations of the terminal connecting member and the terminal cover are also different correspondingly. Yes. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown to Fig.3 (a), the assembled battery 10 has the several cell 11 electrically connected in parallel by the two terminal connection members 33p and 33n. Each unit cell 11 is arranged in parallel with each other so that the positive electrode terminals 11p and the negative electrode terminals 11n of the adjacent unit cells 11 face each other. One terminal connecting member 33p is provided so as to connect the positive terminals 11p of each unit cell 11, and the other terminal connecting member 33n is provided so as to connect the negative terminals 11n of each unit cell 11. The terminal connecting members 33p and 33n are formed with a hole 33a through which the male screw portion 14a of the positive electrode terminal 11p or the negative electrode terminal 11n penetrates. 15 is fastened and fixed to the base portion 14 of the positive electrode terminal 11p or the negative electrode terminal 11n.

  Two terminal covers 30 are provided so as to cover the terminal connection members 33p and 33n. The terminal cover 30 has basically the same configuration as the terminal cover 20 in the first embodiment, but is formed in a horizontally long shape in accordance with the length of the terminal connection members 33p and 33n.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the terminal cover 30 is in the assembled battery 10 in a state where the inner surface of one side wall of the cover body 31 is in contact with one surface in the width direction of the terminal connection members 33p and 33n. Attached to. As shown in FIG. 3B, the terminal cover 30 does not come into contact with the male screw portion 14a, and the lower end portion of the side wall of the cover main body 31 contacts the terminal protruding surface of the battery main body portion 12 of the unit cell 11. Supported in contact. The side wall 34 of the cover body 31 does not have its entire lower end surface in contact with the terminal protruding surface, but a notch 34 a is formed at the lower end of the side wall 34.

  The assembled battery 10 of this embodiment is used for industrial vehicles, such as a forklift. Industrial vehicles do not need to travel at high speed like ordinary vehicles, but use a large amount of electric power at a lower voltage than when traveling at high speed when performing work. Therefore, a plurality of battery packs 10 in which unit cells 11 are connected in parallel are used. Connect in series to use as a power source.

  Also in the terminal cover 30 of this embodiment, the cover body 31 is formed of an electrically insulating material, and the cover body 31 includes a material having a heat transfer coefficient higher than that of the terminal cover 30 and is electrically insulated. A coating 23 made of a material is applied, and the coating 23 is applied to the entire inner surface and outer surface of the cover body 31 and the entire peripheral surface of the opening 32. Therefore, in this embodiment as well, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the basically same effects as (2) to (8) of the first embodiment.

  (11) The terminal cover 30 is attached to the assembled battery 10 in a state where the inner surface of one side wall of the cover body 31 is in contact with one surface in the width direction of the terminal connection members 33p and 33n. Therefore, the total contact area between the terminal cover 30 and the terminals or the terminal connection members 33p and 33n becomes wider than in the attachment state in which the male screw portion 14a is in contact, and the temperature adjustment of the assembled battery 10 can be performed more efficiently.

  (12) The battery pack 10 includes two terminal covers 30 so as to cover the two terminal connection members 33p and 33n that connect the positive terminals 11p of the plurality of single cells 11 or the negative terminals 11n. . Therefore, when the number of unit cells 11 is the same, the number of terminal covers 30 can be reduced as compared with the assembled battery 10 in which the unit cells 11 are electrically connected in series by the terminal connection member 13.

  (13) The assembled battery 10 includes a plurality of single cells 11 connected in parallel. Therefore, it is not necessary to travel at a high speed as in a general vehicle, but a plurality of battery packs 10 are connected in series in an industrial vehicle such as a forklift that requires a large amount of power at a lower voltage than when traveling at high speed. By using it as a power source, necessary power can be obtained.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, when temperature control of the assembled battery 10 is performed, the terminal cover 40 is not performed using the fluid supplied to the outside of the assembled battery 10, but the temperature supplied to flow in the terminal cover 40. The point which uses the fluid for adjustment differs greatly from the said both embodiment. That is, the terminal cover 40 also serves as a temperature adjustment duct. The assembled battery 10 is the same as that of the second embodiment in that the unit cells 11 are connected in parallel. The same parts as those in the second embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the opening 22 is not provided in the terminal cover 40 provided corresponding to the terminal connection member 33p and the terminal connection member 33n. The terminal cover 40 is supplied with temperature adjusting fluid supplied from a temperature adjusting fluid supply means (not shown) from one end and discharged from the other end. As shown in FIG. 4B, the cover main body 41 of the terminal cover 40 includes a material having a heat transfer rate higher than that of the terminal cover 40 on the outer side surface and the inner side surface, and is electrically insulative. A first coating 23a and a second coating 23b made of the above materials are respectively applied. A continuous coating 23 c is applied to the surface facing the battery body 12. The terminal cover 40 is attached to the assembled battery 10 in a state where the inner surface of one side wall of the cover main body 41 is in contact with one surface in the width direction of the terminal connection members 33p and 33n.

  In this embodiment, the positive electrode terminal 11p, the negative electrode terminal 11n, and the terminal connection members 33p and 33n are radiated or heated through the fluid flowing in the terminal cover 40. And since the terminal connection members 33p and 33n are in contact with the second coating 23b applied to the terminal cover 40, heat is radiated or heated through the second coating 23b. Therefore, the temperature adjustment of the unit cell 11 and the temperature adjustment of the assembled battery 10 are performed more efficiently.

  Moreover, the assembled battery 10 is mounted and used in a housing portion through which a fluid (for example, air) flows by driving a blower fan installed in the vehicle. When the temperature adjustment of the assembled battery 10 is performed only with the temperature adjusting fluid supplied to the terminal cover 40, the first coating 23a is not necessary, but the presence of the first coating 23a causes the assembled battery 10 to exist. Heat exchange between the fluid supplied to the outside and the first coating 23a is performed. Therefore, the temperature adjustment of the unit cell 11 and the temperature adjustment of the assembled battery 10 are performed more efficiently.

The embodiment is not limited to the above, and may be embodied as follows, for example.
○ The material of the coating 23 applied to the cover bodies 21, 31, 41 may be any material that includes a material having a heat transfer coefficient higher than that of the terminal cover and is made of an electrically insulating material. It is not limited to a mixture containing silicon (SiC) and a polyester resin. For example, a mixture of carbon black and titania may be used. In addition, the coating 23 has a high heat transfer coefficient. Even if the coating 23 includes a conductive material, the coating 23 can be electrically insulated by mixing the conductive material with a resin that is an electrically insulating material. Therefore, SiC or carbon black, which are conductive materials, may be included.

O It is preferable that the mixture of silicon carbide or carbon black and titania constituting the coating material for the coating 23 is a mixture in which the average particle diameter is different from several times to about 10 times.
The coating 23 applied to the cover main bodies 21 and 31 only needs to be applied to at least the entire surface (outer surface) of the cover main bodies 21, 31, and 41, and the inner surface or the outer surface and the inner surface are not necessarily continuous. It does not need to be given to the part to do.

  The second coating 23b applied to the inner side surfaces of the cover main bodies 21 and 31 is not the entire inner side surface but the contact portion 24 that contacts at least one of the terminals or terminal connecting members 13, 33p, and 33n, and the contact portion. The second coating 23b applied to 24 may be applied to a portion of the surface (outer side) of the cover main bodies 21 and 31 that is continuous with the first coating 23a that is continuous with the continuous coating 23c.

  ○ The continuous coating 23c for continuing the first coating 23a and the second coating 23b is applied in a state of filling the slits and holes formed in the cover main bodies 21, 31, 41, not the peripheral surface of the opening 22. Also good. In the case of the cover main bodies 21 and 31, the continuous coating 23 c may be provided also on the peripheral surface of the opening 22.

  The terminal cover 20 is not limited to a configuration that is supported in contact with the positive terminal 11p and the negative terminal 11n. For example, like the terminal cover 30, a configuration in which a part of the lower end portion of the cover main body 21 is supported in a state of being in contact with the terminal protruding surface of the battery main body portion 12 of the unit cell 11 may be adopted. Moreover, the whole lower end part may contact | abut to the terminal protrusion surface of the battery main body part 12 of the cell 11, and the opening part 22 may be formed in a side wall.

The terminal covers 20, 30, 40 may be supported in contact with the positive terminal 11p, the negative terminal 11n, and the terminal connection members 13, 33p, 33n.
In the assembled battery 10 in which the unit cells 11 are connected in series, the terminal cover 40 having a configuration that also serves as a temperature adjusting duct may be provided as in the third embodiment.

  The place where the assembled battery 10 is mounted on the vehicle is not limited to a place where fluid (for example, air) flows downward from above the assembled battery 10 by driving a blower fan mounted on the vehicle. The part which flows toward the other side from one side of may be sufficient.

  A structure that covers a plurality of terminal connection members 13 as a terminal cover 20 used for the assembled battery 10 in which the unit cells 11 are connected in series by the terminal connection members 13, for example, two terminals as shown in FIG. The connection member 13 may be covered, or three or more terminal connection members 13 may be covered. In this case, the number of terminal covers 20 to be used can be reduced.

  A single terminal connection member 33p or one terminal connection member 33n is used as a plurality of terminal covers 30 as the terminal cover 30 used for the assembled battery 10 in which the unit cells 11 are connected in parallel by the terminal connection members 33p and 33n. It is good also as a structure covered with. The number of terminal covers 30 covering one terminal connecting member 33p or one terminal connecting member 33n is appropriately set depending on the number of unit cells 11 constituting the assembled battery 10. The interval between the adjacent terminal covers 30 is narrowed so that a conductive rod-like member or protrusion does not enter the inside of the terminal cover 30 from the gap between them during the assembly process or maintenance inspection.

  When connecting all of the plurality of unit cells 11 constituting the assembled battery 10 in parallel, the positive terminals 11p or the negative terminals 11n of the plurality of unit cells 11 are connected by one terminal connection member 33p, 33n, respectively. Instead, a plurality of terminal connection members 33p and 33n may be used for connection. For example, the end portions of the two terminal connection members 33p and 33n are fixed to the positive electrode terminal 11p and the negative electrode terminal 11n of some of the cells 11 with the nut 15. In this case, even if the number of unit cells 11 constituting the assembled battery 10 is large, all the unit cells 11 can be connected in parallel using the relatively short terminal connection members 33p and 33n.

  ○ As in the first embodiment, the assembled battery 10 includes a configuration in which all the unit cells 11 constituting the assembled battery 10 are electrically connected in series by the terminal connection member 13, the second embodiment, and the second embodiment. Like 3 embodiment, it is not restricted to the structure by which all the cell 11 which comprises the assembled battery 10 was electrically connected in parallel by the terminal connection members 33p and 33n. For example, the structure by which the group of the several cell 11 connected in parallel was connected in series may be sufficient.

  The moving body is not limited to a general vehicle or a forklift provided with a traveling motor, and may be another industrial vehicle such as an excavator loader or a towing tractor. Further, the vehicle is not limited to a vehicle that requires a driver, and may be an automatic guided vehicle.

The moving body is not limited to a vehicle, but may be a moving object such as a robot that moves away from the power supply side equipment except during charging.
The power storage device is not limited to the assembled battery 10 (secondary battery) in which the plurality of single cells 11 are electrically connected in series or in parallel by the terminal connecting members 13, 33p, and 33n. A capacitor such as an ion capacitor may be electrically connected in series or in parallel by the terminal connection members 13, 33p, 33n.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Battery pack as a power storage device and secondary battery, 11 ... Single battery as a power storage unit, 11n ... Negative electrode terminal, 11p ... Positive electrode terminal, 13, 33n, 33p ... Terminal connection member, 20, 30, 40 ... Terminal cover 21, 31, 41 ... cover body, 22, 32 ... opening, 23 ... painting, 23a ... first coating, 23b ... second coating, 23c ... continuous coating.

Claims (10)

A terminal cover of a power storage device that covers a terminal connection member that electrically connects terminals of adjacent power storage units and a terminal to which the terminal connection member is connected,
The cover body is made of an electrically insulating material, and the cover body includes a material having a heat transfer coefficient higher than that of the terminal cover and is coated with an electrically insulating material. The terminal cover for a power storage device, wherein the coating is applied to at least the entire surface of the cover body.   In the state where the cover body is attached to the power storage device, the coating is in contact with at least one of the terminal and the terminal connection member and is continuous with the coating applied to the entire surface of the cover body. The terminal cover of the electrical storage device according to claim 1, which is also provided.   3. The terminal cover for a power storage device according to claim 1, wherein the coating is performed so that a saturation thermal resistance value of the terminal cover is 0.6 ° C./W or less.   The terminal cover for a power storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the coating is a mixture containing at least silicon carbide and a polyester resin.   The terminal cover of the electrical storage apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-4 in which the opening part is formed in the said cover main body.   The electrical storage apparatus provided with the terminal cover of the electrical storage apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-5.   A power storage device in which a plurality of power storage units are electrically connected in series by the terminal connection member, wherein the terminal cover covering the terminal connection member that connects the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal of two adjacent power storage units is provided The power storage device according to claim 6 provided.   A power storage device in which a plurality of power storage units are electrically connected in parallel by the terminal connection member, the terminal cover covering the terminal connection member connecting the positive terminals or the negative terminals of the plurality of power storage units is provided The power storage device according to claim 6.   A secondary battery comprising the structure of the power storage device according to any one of claims 6 to 8.   A mobile body on which the power storage device according to any one of claims 6 to 8 is mounted.