JP2014123433A - Battery module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery module that is able to restrict erroneous connection and reduce the number of components, by connecting a plurality of batteries in series or parallel by means of a plurality of bus bars.SOLUTION: The positive electrode terminal and negative electrode terminal of a battery are made the same in material and shape. A connection projecting part formed from at least part of each terminal in the axial direction thereof, and exposed outside the battery is given a shape with a cross-section that is not completely round in a radial direction. Each bus bar is provided with a plurality of connection recessed parts in which the corresponding connection projecting parts to be connected thereto can be accommodated, each connection recessed part being given a shape with an open cross-section that is not completely round. The respective short diameter directions of the positive electrode terminal and negative electrode terminal are made intersect each other. During connection, the respective short hole diameter directions of the connection recessed parts and the respective short diameter directions of the connection projecting parts are made the same direction, and the short hole diameters of the connection recessed parts are made shorter than the long diameters of the connection projecting parts.

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery module including a plurality of batteries and a plurality of bus bars connecting the plurality of batteries.

  A technique for forming a battery module by connecting a plurality of batteries in series or in parallel by a bus bar is conventionally known. When the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal of each battery have the same shape, it is difficult to determine a terminal to be connected when manufacturing the battery module, and the series and the parallel are erroneously connected (hereinafter, erroneous connection). Called it). In addition, it is difficult to connect terminals that are difficult to discriminate between positive and negative so as not to be erroneously connected. In this case, it is difficult to improve the connection work efficiency of the battery module.

  Some battery modules have a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal that have different shapes (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). If the positive and negative terminals of the same battery have different shapes, and the corresponding busbar shape also differs between the location connected to the positive terminal and the location connected to the negative terminal, incorrect connection is reduced and connection work is reduced. Efficiency is also expected to improve.

JP 2012-138239 A JP 2007-280831 A

  However, since the battery module described above needs to have different shapes as the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal, the number of parts of the battery module increases, and as a result, it is difficult to reduce the manufacturing cost of the battery module. It was.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said situation, and it aims at providing the battery module which can suppress a misconnection and can reduce a number of parts.

The battery module of the present invention that solves the above problems includes a plurality of batteries having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and a plurality of bus bars that connect the positive terminals and the negative terminals of the plurality of batteries in series or in parallel. ,
The positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal are the same material and have the same shape, and a connection convex portion consisting of at least a part in the axial direction is exposed to the outside of the battery,
The radial cross section of the connecting convex portion is non-circular,
The connection convex portion has a shortest short diameter of a radial length in a radial cross section, and a long diameter extending in a direction orthogonal to the short diameter and having a long length in the radial direction compared to the short diameter,
The positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal are oriented in a direction crossing the minor axis direction,
The bus bar has a plurality of connection recesses each having a hole shape capable of accommodating the plurality of connection projections to be connected,
The opening cross section of the connection recess is non-circular,
The connection recess has a short hole diameter having the shortest hole diameter in the opening cross section, and a long hole diameter extending in a direction orthogonal to the short hole diameter and having a long hole diameter compared to the short hole diameter,
At the time of connection in which the connection concave portion accommodates the connection convex portion, the connection concave portion is directed to the short diameter direction of the corresponding short direction of the connection convex portion,
The short hole diameter in the connection concave portion is shorter than the long diameter in the connection convex portion.

  According to the battery module of the present invention, the same material and the same shape are used as the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal. That is, according to the battery module of the present invention, the positive electrode terminal can be diverted to the negative electrode terminal. Of course, the negative electrode terminal can be diverted to the positive electrode terminal. For this reason, according to the battery module of the present invention, the number of parts is reduced. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the positive terminal and the negative terminal are collectively referred to as terminals.

  The terminal is provided with a connection convex portion connected to the connection concave portion of the bus bar. Since the radial cross section of the connection convex part is a non-circular shape having a major axis and a minor axis, the shape of the connection concave part that can be connected to the connection convex part differs depending on the terminal orientation. The positive terminal and the negative terminal are different in the direction of rotation about the axis of the terminal. More specifically, the direction of the minor axis direction differs between the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal. For this reason, the connection recessed part of the bus bar which can be connected to the connection convex part of a positive electrode terminal cannot be connected to the connection convex part of a negative electrode terminal. That is, according to the battery module of the present invention, the terminal body for the positive electrode terminal and the terminal body for the negative electrode terminal can be used together, and erroneous connection of the battery can be suppressed.

2 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing the battery module of Example 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a top view schematically showing the battery module of Example 1 as viewed from above in FIG. 1. It is a side view which represents typically a mode that the terminal in the battery module of Example 1 was seen from the side. It is explanatory drawing explaining the short diameter direction of a connection convex part, the long diameter direction, a short diameter, and a long diameter of the battery module of this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the short hole diameter direction of a connection recessed part in the battery module of this invention, a long hole diameter direction, a short hole diameter, and a long hole diameter. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part schematically showing a connection convex part and a bus bar in the battery module of Example 2. FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part schematically showing a connection convex part and a bus bar in the battery module of Example 3. It is a top view which represents typically a mode that the battery module of Example 4 was seen from upper direction. It is a top view which represents typically a mode that the battery module of Example 5 was seen from upper direction. It is a top view which represents typically a mode that the battery module of Example 6 was seen from upper direction. It is a top view which represents typically a mode that the battery module of Example 7 was seen from upper direction. It is a top view which represents typically a mode that the battery module of Example 8 was seen from upper direction.

  In the battery module of the present invention, a plurality of batteries are electrically connected by a plurality of bus bars. The plurality of batteries in the battery module may be connected in series by a bus bar, or may be connected in parallel. That is, the bus bar may connect the positive terminals of the batteries, may connect the negative terminals, or may connect the positive terminal and the negative terminal. As will be described later, the plurality of bus bars included in the battery module of the present invention may have a single shape or may have two types having different shapes.

  The battery may be any type of battery as long as it has a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal, and the connection convex part of the positive electrode terminal and the connection convex part of the negative electrode terminal are exposed to the outside of the battery. The connection protrusions of the positive terminal and the negative terminal included in the same battery may be exposed on the same surface of the battery or may be exposed on different surfaces. In view of the connection work efficiency, it is preferable to expose the same surface of the battery. Moreover, it is preferable that the axis line of the connection convex part in a positive electrode terminal and the axis line of the connection convex part in a negative electrode terminal are parallel. The term “parallel” as used herein includes substantially parallel, and specifically refers to a case where the crossing angle of each axis is within 5 °.

  Hereinafter, the battery module of the present invention will be specifically described.

Example 1
The battery module of Example 1 is obtained by connecting two batteries in parallel by two bus bars. An exploded perspective view schematically showing the battery module of Example 1 is shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a top view schematically showing the battery module of Example 1 as viewed from above in FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing the terminal in the battery module of Example 1 as viewed from the side. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the minor axis direction, the major axis direction, the minor axis, and the major axis of the connection convex portion in the battery module of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the short hole diameter direction, the long hole diameter direction, the short hole diameter, and the long hole diameter of the connection recess in the battery module of the present invention. In the following examples, the terms “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, “front”, and “rear” refer to “upper, lower, left, right, front, and rear” shown in FIG.

  The battery module of Example 1 includes two batteries, one bus bar 4, and eight fixing members 6. The two batteries 1 in the battery 1 module each have two terminals 10 having substantially the same shape. The terminal 10 is made of a conductive material, has a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole, and has a longitudinal direction, that is, an axial direction directed upward and downward. The material of the terminal 10 is not particularly limited, and a common material may be used. As shown by a solid line in FIG. 3 and by a broken line in FIG. 1, each terminal 10 has a connection convex portion 11 constituting an upper end portion and a general terminal portion 12 constituting a portion other than the connection convex portion 11. . The connecting projection 11 is exposed upward from the upper surface of the case 13 in the battery 1. The general terminal portion 12 is accommodated in the case 13. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the connection convex portion 11 of each terminal 10 has a vertically-divided cylindrical shape obtained by dividing a cylinder along the axial direction. The general terminal portion 12 has a cylindrical shape with a substantially circular cross section. The terminal 10 is formed by cutting a cylinder. That is, the radial cross section z of the connecting convex portion 11 has a cutout circular shape in which a part of a circle having the same diameter and the same diameter as the general terminal portion 12 is cut out. In addition, the radial direction cross section 11z of the connection convex part 11 in the terminal 10 refers to the cross section of the connection convex part 11 in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction L0 (the vertical direction in the first embodiment). The same applies to the radial cross section of the general terminal portion 12.

  Each connection convex portion 11 has a connection surface 11x having a substantially flat surface shape and a fixed surface 11y having a substantially curved surface shape. More specifically, the fixed surface 11y has a curved surface shape including an arc in the radial cross section of the connection convex portion 11 described above. Furthermore, a screw thread is formed on the fixed surface 11y. That is, the connection convex part 11 functions also as a volt | bolt. In the battery module of Example 1, the circumferential length of the fixing surface 11y (corresponding to the arc in the radial cross section 11z in Example 1) is the circumferential length (circular circle) of the general terminal portion 12 in the radial cross section. Or more). In other words, the fixed surface 11y in the radial cross section 11z is an arc having a central angle of 180 ° or more, and preferably a central angle exceeding 180 °. When the connection convex portion 11 is provided with a function as a bolt, it is preferable to provide the fixing surface 11y with a relatively long circumferential length.

  One terminal 10 in each battery 1 has the connection surface 11x facing forward. This terminal 10 is a positive electrode terminal 20 in each battery 1. The other terminal 10 of each battery 1 has the connection surface 11x facing leftward. This terminal 10 is a negative electrode terminal 30 in each battery 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the radial cross section 11 z of the connection convex portion 11 in the terminal 10 is non-circular. The positive electrode terminal 20 has a short diameter direction (W1 direction shown in FIG. 2) facing forward and backward, and a long diameter direction (W2 direction shown in FIG. 2) facing left and right. The negative electrode terminal 30 has the short diameter direction W1 facing left and right and the long diameter direction W2 facing front and back. The positive electrode terminal 20 and the negative electrode terminal 30 are arranged in the left-right direction, and the batteries 1 are arranged in the front-rear direction.

  The two bus bars 4 in the battery module of Example 1 have different shapes. One of the two bus bars 4 is called a first bus bar 40 and the other is called a second bus bar 50. Each of the two bus bars 4 is made of a conductive material, has a substantially rectangular plate shape, and in a state where it is connected to the terminal 10 (referred to as a connected state), the longitudinal direction is directed in the front-rear direction. The conductive material constituting the bus bar 4 is not particularly limited, and a general material may be used.

  The first bus bar 40 connects the positive terminals 20 of the battery 1 together. The second bus bar 50 connects the negative terminals 30 of the battery 1 together. Each bus bar 4 is provided with two connection recesses 41. The connection recess 41 in the first bus bar 40 has the longitudinal direction, that is, the long hole diameter direction (W4 direction shown in FIG. 2) in the left-right direction and the short hole diameter direction (W3 direction shown in FIG. 2) in the front-rear direction. The connection recess 41 in the second bus bar 50 has the long hole diameter direction W4 in the front-rear direction and the short hole diameter direction W3 in the left-right direction. In other words, the first bus bar 40 is provided with only the connection recess 41 a connected to the connection protrusion 11 a of the positive electrode terminal 20. Further, the second bus bar 50 is provided with only the connection recess 41 b connected to the connection protrusion 11 b of the negative electrode terminal 30.

  More specifically, the two connection recesses 41 a in the first bus bar 40 have a slit shape that penetrates in the vertical direction, that is, in the thickness direction of the bus bar 4 and opens to the right. The connection recesses 41a are arranged along the front-rear direction, that is, the arrangement direction of the batteries 1 and are separated from each other. The short hole radial direction W3 and the long hole radial direction W4 of the connection recess 41a in the first bus bar 40 are orthogonal to each other. Further, the hole wall surface 4x of the connection recess 41a has a substantially flat surface shape. The two connection recesses 41b in the second bus bar 50 are also arranged in the front-rear direction and are separated from each other. The connection recess 41b disposed on the front side has a slit shape opening forward, and the connection recess 41b disposed on the rear side has a slit shape opening rearward. Also in the second bus bar 50, each connection recess 41b is formed to penetrate in the vertical direction, the short hole diameter direction W3 and the long hole diameter direction W4 of the connection recess 41b are orthogonal to each other, and the hole wall surface 4x of the connection recess 41b is a substantially flat surface. Shape. A tab 45 lead portion 45 is provided at the end of each bus bar 4. The lead portion 45 of the bus bar 4 can be connected to an electronic device (not shown) via a lead wire (not shown).

  In the connected state, the connection convex portions 11 of the corresponding terminals 10 are inserted into the connection concave portions 41 of the bus bar 4. The short hole diameter direction W3 of each connection recess 41 coincides with the short diameter direction W1 of the connection protrusion 11 in the terminal 10 to be connected in the connected state. And the short diameter direction W1a in the connection convex part 11a of the positive electrode terminal 20 and the short diameter direction W1b in the connection convex part 11b of the negative electrode terminal 30 are directions intersecting each other (a direction orthogonal in the first embodiment). For this reason, the connection convex part 11b of the negative electrode terminal 30 cannot be inserted in the connection concave part 41a to be connected to the connection convex part 11a of the positive electrode terminal 20. The reverse is also true. Therefore, according to the battery module of Example 1, the erroneous connection of the battery 1 by the bus bar 4 can be suppressed.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the short diameter (short diameter D _min ) in the radial section 11 z of the connection convex portion 11 refers to the shortest radial length in the radial section 11 z of the terminal 10. More specifically, the shortest diameter _Dmin is the minimum value of the distance between L1 and L2 when the radial section 11z of the terminal 10 is sandwiched between two straight lines L1 and L2 that are parallel to each other. Further, the direction perpendicular to L1 and L2 at this time is the minor axis direction W1. The major axis (major axis D _max ) in the radial section 11z of the connecting projection 11 refers to the radial length in the direction orthogonal to the minor axis direction W1. More specifically, the longest distance D between L3 and L4 when the radial cross section 11z of the terminal 10 is sandwiched between two straight lines L3 and L4 that are perpendicular to the straight lines L1 and L2 and parallel to each other. _max . The direction perpendicular to L3 and L4 at this time is the major axis direction W2.

The connection concave portion 41 of the bus bar 4 may have a shape corresponding to the connection convex portion 11 of the terminal 10 to be connected. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the opening cross section 4z of the connection concave portion 41 of the bus bar 4, that is, the cross section in the direction orthogonal to the depth direction of the connection concave portion 41 is non-true that can correspond to the connection convex portion 11. It has a circular shape. The radial length of the shortest in the opening cross section 4z is shorter hole diameter H _min of the connection recess 41. More specifically, the short hole diameter H _min in the opening cross section 4z is the minimum value of the distance between L5 and L6 when the opening cross section 4z is sandwiched between two parallel lines L5 and L6. The direction perpendicular to L5 and L6 at this time is the short hole diameter direction W3. The long hole diameter H _max in the opening section 4z, refer to directions radial length of the perpendicular to the Tan'ana径direction W3. More specifically, perpendicular to the straight line L5 and L6, and, when sandwiching the opening cross-section 4z in two parallel straight lines L7, L8 each other, the distance between L7 and L8, are Nagaana径_{H max} . The direction perpendicular to L7 and L8 at this time is the long hole diameter direction W4.

In addition, regarding the minor axis direction W1 and _Dmin of the connecting convex portion 11, when there are a plurality of directions having the shortest radial length, any one of them may be determined as the minor axis direction W1. And what is necessary is just to determine the major axis direction W2 on the basis of this minor axis direction W1. Similarly, regarding the short hole diameter direction W3 and the short hole diameter H _min of the connection recess 41, similarly, when there are a plurality of directions in which the radial length is the shortest, any one direction is defined as the short hole diameter direction W3. It ’s fine. The longest diameter _Dmax may be the longest radial length in the radial cross section 11z, but it may not be as shown in FIG. Similarly, Nagaana径H _max can be a maximum radial length of the opening cross section 4z, but as shown in FIG. 5, may not. In either case, the minor diameter _{D min} is shorter than the long diameter _{D max,} Tan'ana径_{H min} is shorter than Nagaana径_{H max,} the long diameter _{D max} is greater than Tan'ana径_{H min.} Since the minor axis D _min is shorter than the major axis D _max , directionality occurs in the arrangement of the terminals 10 (more specifically, the connecting projections 11). Similarly, since the short hole diameter H _min is shorter than the long hole diameter H _max , directionality also occurs in the arrangement of the connection recess 41. That is, according to the direction of the terminal 10, the direction of the connection recessed part 41 which should be provided in the bus bar 4 changes.

In the battery module of the present invention, Tan'ana径_{H min} is at least minor _{D min} of the connecting spigot 11, Nagaana径_{H max} is at least longer diameter _{D max} of the connecting spigot 11 and Tan'ana径_{H min} is It is smaller than the major axis _Dmax . Therefore, when the short diameter direction W1 of the connection convex portion 11 in the terminal 10 and the short hole diameter direction W3 of the connection concave portion 41 in the bus bar 4 do not match, for example, the connection convex portion 11 of the terminal 10 connects the long diameter direction W2 to the connection concave portion. When facing the short hole diameter direction W3 of 41, the connection convex portion 11 is not accommodated in the connection concave portion 41, and the connection convex portion 11 and the connection concave portion 41 are not connected. Since the positive electrode terminal 20 and the negative electrode terminal 30 are oriented in the direction in which the minor axis directions W1a and W1b intersect each other, the connection concave portion 41 of the bus bar 4 to be connected to the connection convex portion 11 of the positive electrode terminal 20 It is not possible to connect to the connecting projection 11. For this reason, the operator can easily notice that he is trying to make a connection error. That is, according to the battery module of the present invention, erroneous connection can be suppressed with high reliability. Further, by using the terminal 10 having a directional shape and arranging the positive electrode terminal 20 and the negative electrode terminal 30 in the same battery 1 in different directions, one type of terminal 10 is used for both the positive electrode terminal 20 and the negative electrode terminal 30. Therefore, the number of parts of the battery module can be greatly reduced. For this reason, according to the battery module of this invention, manufacturing cost can be reduced significantly.

  In the battery module of the present invention, the short hole diameter direction W3 of each connection recess 41 and the short diameter direction W1 of the connection protrusion 11 in the terminal 10 to be connected coincide with each other in the connected state. Here, the term “coincidence” is a concept including substantially coincidence, and includes a case where the crossing angle (recession angle) θ between the minor diameter direction W1 and the minor hole diameter direction W3 is 10 ° or less.

For the misconnection prevention, the length of the short diameter _{D min} to major _{D max} is preferably short, for example, the short diameter _{D min} is the better than 0.92 times the diameter _{D max.} The short diameter D _min is more preferably 0.75 times or less of the long diameter D _max , and further preferably 0.5 times or less.

  Further, the crossing angle θ1 between the minor axis direction W1a of the positive electrode terminal 20 and the minor axis direction W1b of the negative electrode terminal 30 is not particularly limited, but is preferably an angle close to a right angle in consideration of prevention of erroneous connection. Specifically, the crossing angle θ1 between the minor axis direction W1a of the positive electrode terminal 20 and the minor axis direction W1b of the negative electrode terminal 30 is preferably 30 ° or more and 150 ° or less, and is 45 ° or more and 135 ° or less. Is more preferably 60 ° or more and 120 ° or less.

  In the battery module of Example 1, the short hole radial direction W3a of the connection concave portion 41 connected to the connection convex portion 11 of the positive electrode terminal 20 and the short hole radial direction of the connection concave portion 41 connected to the connection convex portion 11 of the negative electrode terminal 30. W3b intersects each other. In the battery module of Example 1, the intersection angle θ2 is equal to the intersection angle θ1 between the minor diameter direction W1a of the connection convex portion 11 in the positive electrode terminal 20 and the minor diameter direction W1b of the connection convex portion 11 in the negative electrode terminal 30. I'm doing it. That is, in the battery module of Example 1, the crossing angles θ1 and θ2 are 90 °. Although θ1 and θ2 preferably coincide with each other, an error of about 1 ° can be allowed.

  In the battery module of the first embodiment, each connection protrusion 11 is screwed to the fixing member 6 (specifically, two nuts 60 and 61). By connecting the connection convex portion 11 and the fixing member 6 to each other, the connection convex portion 11 and the bus bar 4 can be easily fixed. In the first embodiment, the connecting convex portion 11 and the bus bar 4 are fixed using the fixing member 6. However, for example, the connecting convex portion 11 and the bus bar 4 may be fixed by engaging or fitting with each other. good. In addition, the connection projection 11 and the bus bar 4 may be fixed by a method such as welding, bonding, or brazing using a conductive material. Of course, depending on how the battery module is used, the connection protrusion 11 and the bus bar 4 may not be fixed. The shape of the terminal 10 may be a shape having a constant radial cross section 11z in the axial direction of the terminal 10. That is, the general terminal portion 12 may have the same shape as the connection convex portion 11. When the general terminal portion 12 has a substantially circular cross section and only the connection convex portion 11 has a non-circular cross section, the terminal 10 is formed by cutting or pressing a commercially available cylinder. There is an advantage that it can be manufactured easily.

  Although the radial cross section 11z of the connection convex portion 11 is not particularly limited, in order to ensure conductivity, the length of the connection convex portion 11 of the terminal 10 and the thickness of the bus bar 4 are required to be a predetermined length or more. Is done. Specifically, the length of the connecting projection 11 and the thickness of the bus bar 4 are preferably 0.7 cm or more. At this time, in order not to impair the assembling property, it is preferable that the end surface in the minor axis direction W1 and / or the end surface in the major axis direction W2 are flat surfaces. In the battery module of Example 1, the connection surface 11x which is an end surface in the minor axis direction W1 has a flat surface shape. In this case, it is preferable that the connection concave portion 41 of the bus bar 4 is also a flat surface of the hole wall surface 4x facing the flat surface of the connection convex portion 11. Further, the hole wall of the connection recess 41 includes at least one of a hole wall surface parallel to the arrangement direction of the positive electrode terminal 20 and the negative electrode terminal 30 included in the same battery 1 and a hole wall surface orthogonal to the arrangement direction. Is preferred. In the battery module of Example 1, as shown in FIG. 2, the hole wall surface 4x of the connection recess 41 has a plane parallel to the arrangement direction (left-right direction) of the positive electrode terminal 20 and the negative electrode terminal and perpendicular to the arrangement direction. And a plane parallel to the direction (front-rear direction). Some variation occurs in the distance between the positive electrode terminal 20 and the negative electrode terminal 30 included in the same battery 1, the distance between adjacent batteries 1, the distance between terminals 10 included in adjacent batteries 1, and the like. It is possible. By forming the connection recess 41 in the shape having the above flat surface, even when such a variation occurs, the hole wall surface 4x faces the terminal 10 to be connected with a relatively large area, and the terminals 10 are connected to each other. It is possible to easily connect with the bus bar 4. Furthermore, in the battery module of Example 1, one end portion of the connection recess 41 in the long-hole diameter direction W4 is open to the end surface of the bus bar 4. Even when the connection recess 41 has such an open slit shape, the hole wall surface 4x of the connection recess 41 is compared with the terminals 10 to be connected while absorbing the variation in the distance between the terminal 10 and the battery 1 described above. Face each other with a large area. In other words, the terminals 10 to be connected can be easily connected by the bus bar 4 also by this.

Further, the shape of the radial cross section 11z of the connection convex portion 11 with the major axis _Dmax as the axis of symmetry may not be line symmetric as in the first embodiment, but in consideration of the versatility of the bus bar 4, it is line symmetric. Preferably there is. On the other hand, in consideration of the workability of the connecting convex portion 11, that is, the manufacturing efficiency of the terminal 10, it is preferably a non-axisymmetric shape as in the first embodiment.

(Example 2)
The battery module of Example 2 is the same as the battery module of Example 1 except for the shape of the bus bar 4. The principal part expansion perspective view which represents typically the connection convex part 11 and the bus-bar 4 in the battery module of Example 2 is shown in FIG.

In the battery module of the second embodiment, the battery 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the connection concave portion 41 of the bus bar 4 has a hole shape complementary to the outer shape of the connection convex portion 11 as shown in FIG. In this case also, a direction and a minor axis W1b intersect the minor axis W1a and the negative electrode terminal 30 of the positive terminal 20 as described in Example 1, and a short hole diameter H _min of the connection recess 41 is connected Since it is smaller than the long diameter _{Dmax of the} convex part 11, the connection convex part 11b of the negative electrode terminal 30 cannot be inserted in the connection concave part 41 of the bus bar 4 to be connected to the connection convex part 11a of the positive electrode terminal 20. That is, the battery module of Example 2 can also suppress erroneous connection.

(Example 3)
The battery module of Example 3 is the same as the battery module of Example 1 except for the shape of the bus bar 4 and the connection protrusions 11 in the terminals 10. An essential part enlarged perspective view schematically showing the bus bar 4 in the battery module of Example 3 is shown in FIG.

  The bus bar 4 in the battery module of the third embodiment is slightly thicker than the bus bar 4 in the battery module of the second embodiment, and the connection concave portion 41 has a dead end and forms a hole shape. Other than this, the bus bar 4 is the same as that of the second embodiment. Although not shown, the connecting projection 11 of the terminal 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment except that no thread is formed. Also in this case, the connection convex portion 11 of the terminal 10 is inserted into the connection concave portion 41 of the bus bar 4, and the negative electrode terminal 30 is connected to the connection concave portion 41 a of the bus bar 4 to be connected to the connection convex portion 11 a of the positive electrode terminal 20. Since the connection convex part 11b cannot be inserted, erroneous connection is suppressed. In this case, the connection convex portion 11 is merely inserted without being inserted into the connection concave portion 41, but the connection convex portion 11 inserted into the connection concave portion 41 is engaged with the connection concave portion 41, so that the bus bar 4 The connection convex part 11 can be fixed. It should be noted that a conductive adhesive or the like may be injected into the connection recess 41 to reinforce the fixed state between the bus bar 4 and the connection projection 11.

Example 4
The battery module of Example 4 is an example in which four batteries 1 are connected in series by a bus bar 4. The battery 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the bus bar 4 is different from that of the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a top view schematically showing the battery module of Example 4 as viewed from above.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the battery module of Example 4, the same battery 1 is arranged so that the positive and negative electrodes are staggered, and the positive and negative electrodes of adjacent batteries 1 are connected by a bus bar 4. Adjacent batteries 1 face each other while being reversed. The battery 1 is the same as that of Example 1. The bus bar 4 is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the shape of the connection recess 41. There is only one type of bus bar 4 used in the battery module of Example 4. In Example 4, since the batteries 1 are connected in series, only one type of bus bar 4 that can connect the positive electrode terminal 20 and the negative electrode terminal 30 is required. Then, by using the one type of bus bar 4 upside down, the connection between the positive terminal 20 and the negative terminal 30 located on the right side in FIG. 4 and the positive terminal 20 and the negative terminal 30 located on the right side in FIG. It is possible to support both.

  In Example 4, the same bus bar 4 is provided with both a connection recess 41a connected to the connection projection 11a of the positive terminal 20 and a connection recess 41b connected to the connection projection 11b of the negative terminal 30. It has been. The connection recess 41 has the same slit shape as that of the first embodiment, and the short hole diameter direction W3a of the connection recess 41a provided in the same bus bar 4 and the short hole diameter direction W3b of the connection recess 41b are orthogonal to each other. In the fourth embodiment, the lead wire 65 is directly connected to the two terminals 10 located at the extreme ends in the connection direction.

  According to the battery module of Example 4, erroneous connection can be suppressed and the number of parts can be reduced as in the battery modules of Examples 1 to 3.

(Example 5)
The battery module of Example 5 is an example in which five batteries 1 are connected in series by a bus bar 4. The battery 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the direction of the terminal 10, and the bus bar 4 is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the shape of the connection recess 41. FIG. 9 is a top view schematically showing the battery module of Example 5 as viewed from above.

  As shown in FIG. 9, in the battery module of Example 5, the positive terminal 20 and the negative terminal 30 included in the same battery 1 are arranged in the left-right direction. The minor axis direction W1a of the positive electrode terminal 20 and the minor axis direction W1b of the negative electrode terminal 30 are orthogonal to each other, and both intersect at 45 ° with respect to the arrangement direction of the positive electrode terminal 20 and the negative electrode terminal 30. That is, the minor axis direction W1 of the positive electrode terminal 20 and the negative electrode terminal 30 intersects both the electrode arrangement direction (left-right direction) and the direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction (front-rear direction). The positive electrode terminal 20 and the negative electrode terminal 30 are arranged in line symmetry with a straight line orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the terminals 10 (a straight line extending in the front-rear direction) as a symmetry axis.

  The connection recess 41 has a slit shape that intersects at 45 ° with respect to the arrangement direction of the terminals 10 and the direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction. The connection recess 41 communicates with a slit-shaped connection recess 43 that extends in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction and opens at the end face of the bus bar 4. Since the connection recess 41 and the communication recess 43 communicate with each other, the recess 45 including the connection recess 41 and the communication recess 43 forms a bent slit as a whole. By providing the connection recess 43 in the bus bar 4, there is an advantage that the connection portion of the adjacent batteries can be confirmed through the connection recess 43, that is, the misconnection can be further suppressed by increasing the visibility. Also in this case, similarly to the battery module of Example 1, the battery 1 can be connected by the bus bar 4 and erroneous connection can be suppressed.

(Example 6)
The battery module of Example 6 is obtained by connecting batteries 1 in parallel. The battery 1 is the same as that of the fifth embodiment, and the bus bar 4 is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the shape of the connection recess 41. FIG. 10 is a top view schematically showing the battery module of Example 6 as viewed from above.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the battery module of Example 6, the positive terminal 20 and the negative terminal 30 included in the same battery 1 are 45 ° with respect to the arrangement direction (left-right direction) of the positive terminal 20 and the negative terminal 30. The minor axis directions W1a and W1b are oriented in the direction intersecting with each other. Further, the minor axis direction W1a of the positive electrode terminal 20 and the minor axis direction W1b of the negative electrode terminal 30 are orthogonal to each other. That is, the positive electrode terminal 20 and the negative electrode terminal 30 are arranged in line symmetry (lateral symmetry) with a straight line orthogonal to the arrangement direction (straight line extending in the front-rear direction) as a symmetry axis. Therefore, the connection recesses 41 included in the same bus bar 4 are also arranged symmetrically with the minor axis direction W1 facing the direction intersecting at 45 ° with respect to the arrangement direction. For this reason, according to the battery module of Example 6, there is an advantage that the bus bar 4 that connects the positive terminals 20 and the bus bar 4 that connects the negative terminals 30 can be used together.

(Example 7)
The battery module of Example 7 is obtained by connecting batteries 1 in parallel. The battery 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the bus bar 4 is the same as that of the first embodiment except for the shape of the connection recess 41. The bus bar 4 is longer than that of the first embodiment, and five connection recesses 41 are provided for each bus bar 4. In the battery module of Example 7, five batteries 1 are connected by two bus bars 4. FIG. 11 is a top view schematically showing the battery module of Example 7 as viewed from above.

  The bus bar 4 in the battery module of Example 7 is formed by connecting a plurality of bus bars 4 in the battery module of Example 1 in the longitudinal direction. According to the battery module of the seventh embodiment, the five batteries 1 can be connected in parallel by one bus bar 4, so that the connection work efficiency between the battery 1 and the bus bar 4 can be further improved. Further, since the five batteries 1 can be connected by the two bus bars 4, the number of parts is greatly reduced.

(Example 8)
The battery module of Example 8 is obtained by connecting batteries 1 in series. The battery 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the bus bar 4 is substantially the same as that of the seventh embodiment except for the shape of the connection concave portion 41, and five connection concave portions 41 are provided for each bus bar 4. Similarly to the battery module of the seventh embodiment, the battery module of the eighth embodiment connects five batteries 1 by two bus bars 4. FIG. 12 is a top view schematically showing the battery module of Example 8 as viewed from above.

  In the battery 1 of the battery module of Example 8, the batteries 1 are arranged so that the positive and negative electrodes are staggered, and the positive and negative electrodes of adjacent batteries 1 are connected by the bus bar 4. The five batteries 1 are referred to as a first battery 101, a second battery 102, a third battery 103, a fourth battery 104, and a fifth battery 105 from the rear side to the front side. Also, the left bus bar 4 in FIG. 12 is referred to as a first bus bar 40, and the right bus bar 4 is referred to as a second bus bar 50. Each bus bar 40, 50 is divided into three parts along the longitudinal direction, that is, the front-rear direction shown in FIG. Each part in the first bus bar 40 is referred to as a first connection part 401, a second connection part 402, and a third connection part 403 from the rear side to the front side. Each part in the second bus bar 50 is referred to as a fourth connection part 504, a fifth connection part 505, and a sixth connection part 506 from the rear side toward the front side. An insulating layer 49 is interposed between the first connection portion 401 and the second connection portion 402 and between the second connection portion 402 and the third connection portion 403. Accordingly, the first connection unit 401, the second connection unit 402, and the third connection unit 403 are each electrically disconnected. The insulating layer 49 is also interposed between the fourth connection portion 504 and the fifth connection portion 505 and between the fifth connection portion 505 and the sixth connection portion 506. Accordingly, the fourth connection portion 504, the fifth connection portion 505, and the sixth connection portion 506 are also electrically disconnected.

  The first bus bar 40 is provided with five connection recesses 41. Each connection recess 41 is arranged in the front-rear direction. The five connection recesses 41 in the first bus bar 40 are referred to as a first connection recess 411, a second connection recess 412, a third connection recess 413, a fourth connection recess 414, and a fifth connection recess 415 from the rear side toward the front side. . Like the first bus bar 40, the second bus bar 50 is provided with five connection recesses 41. The five connection recesses 41 in the second bus bar 50 are referred to as a sixth connection recess 516, a seventh connection recess 517, an eighth connection recess 518, a ninth connection recess 519, and a tenth connection recess 510 from the rear side to the front side. .

  The first connection concave portion 411 is provided in the first connection portion 401 and is connected to the connection convex portion 11 a in the positive electrode terminal 20 of the first battery 101. The second connection recess 412 and the third connection recess 413 are provided in the second connection portion 402, and the connection protrusion 11 b in the negative terminal 30 of the second battery 102 and the connection protrusion 11 a in the positive terminal 20 of the third battery 103. Connect to. The fourth connection recess 414 and the fifth connection recess 415 are provided in the third connection portion 403, and the connection protrusion 11 b in the negative terminal 30 of the fourth battery 104 and the connection protrusion 11 a in the positive terminal 20 of the fifth battery 105. Connect to.

  The sixth connection recess 516 and the seventh connection recess 517 are provided in the fourth connection portion 504 of the second bus bar 50, and the connection protrusion 11 b in the negative electrode terminal 30 of the first battery 101 and the positive electrode terminal 20 of the second battery 102. It connects with the connection convex part 11a. The eighth connection concave portion 518 and the ninth connection concave portion 519 are provided in the fifth connection portion 505, and the connection convex portion 11 b in the negative electrode terminal 30 of the third battery 103 and the connection convex portion 11 a in the positive electrode terminal 20 of the fourth battery 104. Connect to. The tenth connection concave portion 510 is provided in the sixth connection portion 506 and is connected to the connection convex portion 11 b in the negative electrode terminal 30 of the fifth battery 105.

  The first connecting portion 401 and the sixth connecting portion 506 are each provided with a tab-like lead portion 45, and the lead portion 45 can be connected to an unillustrated electronic device via an unillustrated lead wire.

  According to the battery module of the eighth embodiment, each bus bar 4 is divided into a plurality of parts (three in the eighth embodiment), and each part is electrically cut off, so that five batteries 1 can be connected in series by the two bus bars 4. . For this reason, the battery module of Example 8 can further improve the connection work efficiency between the battery 1 and the bus bar 4. And since the five batteries 1 can be connected by the two bus bars 4, the number of parts is also greatly reduced.

  (Others) The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range not departing from the gist.

  The battery module of the present invention can be preferably used as a battery for an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, a battery for various electric devices, or the like.

1: Battery 4: Bus bar 6: Fixing member 10: Terminal 11: Connection convex portion 13: Case 11x: Connection surface 11y: Fixed surface 11z: Radial section 41 of the connection convex portion 4: Connection concave portion 4x: Hole wall surface 4z of the connection concave portion : Opening section 20 of connecting recess: Positive electrode terminal 30: Negative electrode terminal L0: Axial direction W1 of connecting protrusion W1: minor diameter direction W2: major axis direction W3: minor hole diameter direction W4: major hole diameter direction _Dmin : minor diameter _Dmax : major axis H _min : short hole diameter H _max : long hole diameter

Claims (10)

A plurality of batteries having a positive terminal and a negative terminal; and a plurality of bus bars connecting the positive terminals and the negative terminals of the batteries in series or in parallel,
The positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal are the same material and have the same shape, and a connection convex portion consisting of at least a part in the axial direction is exposed to the outside of the battery,
The radial cross section of the connecting convex portion is non-circular,
The connection convex portion has a shortest short diameter of a radial length in a radial cross section, and a long diameter extending in a direction orthogonal to the short diameter and having a long length in the radial direction compared to the short diameter,
The positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal are oriented in a direction crossing the minor axis direction,
The bus bar has a plurality of connection recesses each having a hole shape capable of accommodating the plurality of connection projections to be connected,
The opening cross section of the connection recess is non-circular,
The connection recess has a short hole diameter having the shortest hole diameter in the opening cross section, and a long hole diameter extending in a direction orthogonal to the short hole diameter and having a long hole diameter compared to the short hole diameter,
At the time of connection in which the connection concave portion accommodates the connection convex portion, the connection concave portion is directed to the short diameter direction of the corresponding short direction of the connection convex portion,
The short hole diameter in the connection concave part is a battery module shorter than the long diameter in the connection convex part.   The battery module according to claim 1, wherein an opening shape orthogonal to a depth direction of the connection concave portion forms a slit shape.   In the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal included in the same battery, an intersection angle between the minor axis direction of the positive electrode terminal and the minor axis direction of the negative electrode terminal is in a range of 30 ° to 150 °. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   3. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the minor axis is 0.92 times or less of the major axis in the radial section of the connection protrusion.   The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the short hole diameter is not more than 0.92 times the long hole diameter.   The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the connection recess penetrates the bus bar in a depth direction.   The hole wall of the said connection recessed part in the said bus bar contains the wall surface parallel to the sequence direction of the said positive electrode terminal and the said negative electrode terminal contained in the same said battery, and / or the wall surface orthogonal to the said sequence direction. The battery module according to any one of 6.   The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the minor axis direction of the positive electrode terminal and the minor axis direction of the negative electrode terminal are orthogonal to each other. The positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal have the connection convex portion and a general terminal portion that is a portion other than the connection convex portion,
The general terminal portion has a cylindrical shape,
The radial cross section of the connection convex portion is a cutout circular shape formed by cutting out a part of a circle having the same diameter and the same axis as the cross section of the general terminal portion. Battery module.   The battery module according to claim 9, wherein the connection convex portion has a curved surface including an arc in the radial cross section, and has a bolt shape in which a thread is formed on the curved surface.

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