JP2014123517A - Battery pack - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery pack which performs proper control over a cell voltage by reducing variance in voltage value of each battery cell.SOLUTION: A battery pack 1 includes: a plurality of parallel units 200 to 215 constituted by connecting a predetermined number of battery cells 2 each having a positive electrode terminal 20a and a negative electrode terminal 20b in parallel; and intermediate conductive plates 5, 6 connecting the parallel units to each other in series by connecting different-polarity electrode terminals of those parallel units to each other. The intermediate conductive plates 5, 6 are plate-like members which extend in a direction in which two series-connected parallel units are arranged. Each of the two series-connected parallel units has a predetermined number of electrode terminals with the same polarity arranged in one array in a direction Y crossing an arrangement direction X of the two parallel units. A pair of electrode terminal groups 20 arranged in an array in the crossing direction Y are arranged in parallel to each other.

Description

  The present invention relates to an assembled battery configured by electrically connecting a plurality of battery cells.

  In Patent Document 1, for a battery pack composed of a plurality of cylindrical batteries, n batteries are connected in parallel with a metal plate to form a parallel unit, and m parallel units are arranged in a straight line in the axial direction. It is disclosed that a series unit is configured by connecting in series with a metal plate.

  The metal plate includes an intermediate metal plate that connects the cylindrical battery in the middle of the series unit, and an end metal plate that connects the cylindrical battery at the end of the series unit. The intermediate metal plate is connected to the electrode terminals of the four cylindrical batteries in the middle of the series unit, connects the two cylindrical batteries in parallel, and connects the two parallel units in series. The end metal plate includes an end connection plate that connects the ends of the adjacent series units, and an end output plate that is connected to the output terminal of the assembled battery. The end connection plate is connected to the electrode terminals of the four adjacent cylindrical batteries at the end of the series unit, and the two serial units are connected in series while connecting the two cylindrical batteries in parallel. doing.

JP 2006-156227 A

  In the assembled battery of Patent Document 1, each of the end connection plates connects two parallel units each composed of two cylindrical batteries in series. That is, the four cylindrical batteries are arranged side by side in a parallel posture and connected by the end connection plate. At this time, the four electrode terminals arranged in a straight line (arrangement order of the negative electrode terminal, the negative electrode terminal, the positive electrode terminal, and the positive electrode terminal) are connected by an end connection plate extending in the arrangement direction of the terminals.

  When the cell voltage is detected based on the electrical signal detected by the voltage detection line connected to the end connection plate, the distance that the current flows through the end connection plate is different for each battery cell, and the energization distance varies. There is. For example, among the electrode terminals connected by the end connection plate, the distance that the current flows through the end connection plate between the negative electrode terminal and the positive electrode terminal that are separated from each other and between the adjacent negative electrode terminal and the positive electrode terminal. Are very different.

  This causes a difference in the magnitude of the resistance caused by the end connection plate depending on the individual battery cells, so that the actual cell voltage applied to each battery cell varies from cell to cell. In addition, since the control of the cell voltage is performed based on the detected cell voltage value, an overdischarged battery cell and an overcharged battery cell occur among a plurality of battery cells connected in parallel. There is.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an assembled battery that can control the appropriate cell voltage by reducing variations in voltage value applied to each battery cell.

The present invention employs the following technical means to achieve the above object. The invention relating to the assembled battery includes a plurality of parallel units (200 to 215) each constituted by connecting in parallel a predetermined number of battery cells (2) having positive and negative electrode terminals (20a, 20b), and a parallel unit. And connecting members (5, 6) for connecting the electrode terminals of different polarities and connecting the parallel units in series,
The connecting member is a plate-like member extending in the direction (X) in which the two parallel units connected in series are arranged,
Each of the two parallel units connected in series by the connecting member has one row in a direction (Y) in which a predetermined number of electrode terminals having the same polarity intersect with the arrangement direction (X) of the two parallel units. Arranged so that
The pair of electrode terminal groups (20) arranged in a line in the direction (Y) intersecting the arrangement direction (X) of the two parallel units is arranged so as to be parallel to each other. .

  According to the present invention, for two parallel units connected in series, a predetermined number of electrode terminals of each unit are arranged in a line so as to intersect the arrangement direction of the parallel units. Furthermore, the predetermined number of positive electrode terminal groups and the predetermined number of negative electrode terminal groups arranged in a row are arranged in parallel to each other. With this arrangement relationship, the energization distance through which the current flows through the connecting member between the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal is substantially constant, and the variation is small between the terminals. For example, with respect to each positive electrode terminal, a current flows from the predetermined number of negative electrode terminals to the closest negative electrode terminal. Since this phenomenon is the same for any positive terminal, a difference in the magnitude of the current resistance received from the connecting member is unlikely to occur for each battery cell. Therefore, it can be configured so that the actual cell voltage applied to each battery cell does not vary. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a battery pack that can control the appropriate cell voltage by reducing variations in the voltage value applied to each battery cell.

  Note that the reference numerals in parentheses described in the claims and the above-described means are examples of a correspondence relationship with the specific means described in the embodiments described later as one aspect, and are technical terms of the present invention. It does not limit the range.

It is the schematic of the assembled battery containing the parallel unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the voltage detection in the assembled battery of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the connection member which connects the electrode terminals of different polarity in series regarding the parallel unit in the assembled battery of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure for demonstrating the connection member which connects different polarity electrode terminals in series regarding the parallel unit in the assembled battery as a comparative example. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the relationship between a detection voltage and an actual cell battery regarding the parallel unit in the assembled battery as a comparative example. It is a figure for demonstrating the connection member which connects the electrode terminals of different polarity in series regarding the parallel unit in the assembled battery of 2nd Embodiment.

  A plurality of modes for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, parts corresponding to the matters described in the preceding embodiment may be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted. When only a part of the configuration is described in each mode, the other modes described above can be applied to the other parts of the configuration. Not only combinations of parts that clearly show that combinations are possible in each embodiment, but also combinations of the embodiments even if they are not explicitly stated unless there is a problem with the combination. Is also possible.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. In each figure, the X direction is the arrangement direction of a plurality of parallel units (hereinafter also simply referred to as the arrangement direction), and the Y direction is the column direction of the same polarity terminals in each parallel unit. The Y direction is also a direction that intersects the arrangement direction X of the parallel units, and may be simply referred to as an intersecting direction in this specification. The assembled battery 1 according to the first embodiment includes, for example, a hybrid vehicle using a traveling drive source by combining an internal combustion engine and a motor driven by electric power charged in the battery, an electric vehicle using a motor as a traveling drive source, a house, It is used as a storage battery used in various facilities. When the battery pack 1 is mounted on a car, the assembled battery 1 is disposed in a space under a car seat, between a rear seat and a trunk room, and between a driver seat and a passenger seat while being housed in a housing. .

  The assembled battery 1 includes at least a battery housing case and a plurality of battery cells 2 housed in the battery housing case. The assembled battery 1 includes a plurality of parallel units 200 to 215 configured by connecting a predetermined number of battery cells 2 in parallel, and electrode terminals of different polarities connected to each other in parallel units, and the parallel units are connected in series. Intermediate conductive plates 5 and 6. The assembled battery 1 disclosed as an example in the first embodiment includes 16 parallel units 200 to 215 and seven battery cells 2 constituting each parallel unit.

  The battery housing case is a deep box shape that can accommodate the entire battery cell 2 therein, and is a member that supports the outer case of each battery cell 2 and holds each battery cell 2. The battery housing case is made of, for example, a synthetic resin such as polypropylene, polypropylene containing a filler or talc. The battery housing case is provided with terminal openings through which the positive terminals 20a and the negative terminals 20b of the battery cells 2 constituting the battery pack 1 project outward on the upper surface 1a and the lower surface 1b. .

  The battery cell 2 is, for example, a nickel hydrogen secondary battery, a lithium ion battery, or an organic radical battery. The battery cell 2 is also a single battery, and has an outer case that forms an outer shell such as an aluminum can, for example, and includes a positive electrode terminal 20a and a negative electrode terminal 20b that protrude from both surfaces in the axial direction of the cylindrical outer case. It has an electrode terminal. The assembled battery 1 includes a plurality of bus bars that connect the electrode terminals so that all the battery cells 2 are connected.

  The plurality of bus bars include intermediate conductive plates 5 and 6 that connect electrode terminals of different polarities and connect the parallel units in series, and end conductive plates 3 and 4 that are connected to each of the parallel units located at both ends. And is composed of. The intermediate conductive plates 5 and 6 and the end conductive plates 3 and 4 can be made of nickel, copper, or an alloy thereof, respectively. The electrical connection between the electrode terminal and the intermediate conductive plates 5 and 6 and the end conductive plates 3 and 4 is provided by connection means such as laser welding or arc welding.

  In the assembled battery 1, the 16 parallel units 200 to 215 are arranged in such a manner that, on the upper surface 1 a side of the battery housing case, the positive electrode terminal group and the negative electrode terminal group arranged in a row in the Y direction alternately They are arranged side by side. In addition, on the lower surface 1b side of the battery housing case, the 16 parallel units 200 to 215 are arranged so that the negative electrode terminal groups and the positive electrode terminal groups arranged in the Y direction in a row are alternately arranged in the X direction. It is arranged in.

  Accordingly, the pair of electrode terminal groups 20 arranged in a line in the Y direction are arranged in parallel to each other. Further, the pair of electrode terminal groups 20 are arranged at positions shifted from each other in the intersecting direction Y as shown in FIG. That is, among the electrode terminals constituting the pair of electrode terminal groups 20, the positive electrode terminal 20a and the negative electrode terminal 20b adjacent to each other are not arranged along the X direction, but one terminal is Y with respect to the other terminal. They are electrically connected via the intermediate conductive plate 5 in a state of being disposed at a position shifted in the direction.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate conductive plate 6 is configured to connect electrode terminals of the same polarity arranged in a row of the same parallel unit in parallel on the upper surface 1 a side of the battery housing case, and to connect electrodes of different polarities connected in parallel. It is a connecting member made of a conductive material that connects terminal groups in series. The intermediate conductive plate 5 electrically connects electrode terminals of the same polarity arranged in a row of the same parallel unit on the lower surface 1b side of the battery housing case in parallel, and also connects groups of electrode terminals of different polarities connected in parallel to each other in series. It is the connection member which consists of a property material. The intermediate conductive plates 5 and 6 are rectangular members that are longer in the column direction (cross direction Y) in which electrode terminals of the same polarity are arranged than in the direction X in which two parallel units connected in series are arranged.

  On the upper surface 1 a side of the assembled battery 1, seven intermediate conductive plates 5 are arranged between the end conductive plate 3 and the end conductive plate 4 from the end conductive plate 3 toward the end conductive plate 4. It is arranged. On the lower surface 1 b side of the assembled battery 1, eight intermediate conductive plates 6 are arranged side by side from the parallel unit 200 toward the parallel unit 215.

  In the assembled battery 1, seven positive terminals 20 a located at one end of 16 parallel units connected in series are connected to the end conductive plate 3. The end terminal 30 of the end conductive plate 3 corresponds to a positive terminal as a total terminal portion of the assembled battery 1 as a whole. The seven negative terminals 20 b located at the other end of the 16 parallel units connected in series are connected to the end conductive plate 4. The end terminal 40 of the end conductive plate 4 corresponds to a negative terminal as a total terminal portion of the assembled battery 1 as a whole.

  The end conductive plate 3 and the end conductive plate 4 are each composed of sixteen parallel units composed of seven battery cells 2 connected in parallel and eight intermediate conductors arranged on the lower surface 1b side of the battery housing case. The plate 5 and the seven intermediate conductive plates 6 arranged on the upper surface 1a side are electrically connected. The end terminal 30 and the end terminal 40 arranged at both ends as the total terminal portion of the entire assembled battery 1 are used for supplying power (charging operation) and discharging (discharging operation) to the assembled battery 1, for example. , Connected to a current control circuit using a relay or the like.

  In the assembled battery 1, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 3, the negative terminal 20 b of the parallel unit 200 in the intermediate conductive plate 5 on the lower surface 1 b side passes through the parallel unit 200 from the positive terminal 30 that is the total terminal. Flows to the positive terminals 20a of the adjacent parallel units 201 and reaches the negative terminals 20b located on the upper surface 1a side of the parallel units 201. Further, current flows from each negative terminal 20b of the parallel unit 201 to each positive terminal 20a of the adjacent parallel unit 202 in the intermediate conductive plate 6 on the upper surface 1a side, and flows to each negative terminal 20b located on the lower surface 1b side of the parallel unit 202. Reach.

  Similarly, current flows from each negative terminal 20b to each positive terminal 20a of the adjacent parallel unit in the intermediate conductive plate 5 on the lower surface 1b side, and adjacent to each negative terminal 20b in the intermediate conductive plate 6 on the upper surface 1a side. It flows to each positive electrode terminal 20a of the parallel unit. And it flows from each positive electrode terminal 20a of the last parallel unit 215 on the lower surface 1b side to each negative electrode terminal 20b located on the upper surface 1a side through each battery cell 2 constituting the parallel unit 215, and the end conductive plate 4 The end terminal 40 is reached.

  The assembled battery 1 may constitute a battery pack together with a current control device such as a relay, the monitoring device 10, a control device, a blower, and the like. The monitoring device 10 is a battery ECU that monitors the state of the assembled battery 1. The monitoring device 10 is connected to the assembled battery 1 via a plurality of detection lines extending from detection terminals installed at predetermined positions of the assembled battery 1 in order to detect information related to the state of the assembled battery 1. The plurality of detection lines are a voltage detection line connected to a detection terminal for detecting the voltage of the assembled battery 1, a temperature detection line connected to a detection terminal for detecting the battery temperature, and the like. Sent. The battery pack includes electronic components that perform charging, discharging, battery temperature monitoring, battery cooling by a blower, and the like of a plurality of battery cells.

  In each parallel unit, the voltage detection line includes an end conductive plate 3 coupled to a predetermined number of positive terminals 20a, an end conductive plate 4 coupled to a predetermined number of negative terminals 20b, and a predetermined number of positive terminals 20a. And intermediate conductive plates 5 and 6 coupled to a predetermined number of negative electrode terminals 20b, respectively.

  In the conceptual diagram shown in FIG. 2, the voltage detection line includes a high potential portion 202 a on the positive electrode terminal 20 a side and a low potential portion 202 b on the negative electrode terminal 20 b side for the parallel unit 202 and a high potential portion on the positive terminal 20 a side on the parallel unit 203. They are connected to the potential portion 203a and the low potential portion 203b on the negative electrode terminal 20b side. The high potential portion 202a is set to the intermediate conductive plate 6 that connects the seven negative terminals 20b of the parallel unit 201 and the seven positive terminals 20a of the parallel unit 202 on the upper surface 1a side. The low potential portion 202b is set to the intermediate conductive plate 5 that connects the seven negative terminals 20b of the parallel unit 202 and the seven positive terminals 20a of the parallel unit 203 on the lower surface 1b side. The high potential portion 203a is set to the intermediate conductive plate 5 that connects the seven negative terminals 20b of the parallel unit 202 and the seven positive terminals 20a of the parallel unit 203 on the lower surface 1b side. The low potential portion 202b is set to the intermediate conductive plate 6 that connects the seven negative terminals 20b of the parallel unit 203 and the seven positive terminals 20a of the parallel unit 204 on the upper surface 1a side.

  The monitoring device 10 detects the voltage V1 between the high potential portion 202a and the low potential portion 202b by using an electric signal input via a voltage detection line connected to each of the high potential portion 202a and the low potential portion 202b. can do. In addition, the monitoring device 10 uses the electric signal input through the voltage detection line connected to each of the high potential unit 203a and the low potential unit 203b, and thereby the voltage V2 between the high potential unit 203a and the low potential unit 203b. Can be detected.

  A conventional assembled battery 100 shown in FIG. 4 as a comparative example will be described below. In the case of the assembled battery 100, four parallel units 101 to 104 are arranged as a positive electrode terminal group or a negative electrode terminal group arranged in two rows in the X direction on the upper surface 100a side of the battery housing case. On the lower surface 1b side of the battery housing case, four parallel units 101 to 104 are arranged as a positive electrode terminal group or a negative electrode terminal group arranged in two rows in the X direction.

  The assembled battery 100 includes intermediate conductive plates 113 and 114 that connect electrode terminals of different polarities and connect parallel units in series, and end conductive plates 111 that are connected to the parallel units 101 and 104 that are positioned at both ends. , 112. The intermediate conductive plate 114 connects the electrode terminals of the same polarity arranged in two rows of the same parallel unit in parallel on the upper surface 100a side of the battery housing case, and the electrode terminal groups of different polarities connected in parallel in two rows, respectively. It is the connection member which consists of an electroconductive material which connects in series. On the lower surface 100b side of the battery housing case, the intermediate conductive plate 113 connects electrode terminals of the same polarity arranged in two rows of the same parallel unit in parallel, and sets of electrode terminals of different polarities connected in parallel in two rows, respectively. It is the connection member which consists of an electroconductive material which connects in series.

  In the assembled battery 100, as shown by arrows in FIG. 4, the parallel unit 102 adjacent to each negative electrode terminal 20 b of the parallel unit 101 in the intermediate conductive plate 113 on the lower surface 100 b side through the parallel unit 101 from the end conductive plate 111. To each positive electrode terminal 20a and reach each negative electrode terminal 20b located on the upper surface 100a side of the parallel unit 102. Further, current flows from each negative electrode terminal 20b of the parallel unit 102 to each positive electrode terminal 20a of the adjacent parallel unit 103 in the intermediate conductive plate 114 on the upper surface 100a side, and flows to each negative electrode terminal 20b located on the lower surface 100b side of the parallel unit 103. Reach. Similarly, current flows from each negative terminal 20b to each positive terminal 20a of the adjacent parallel unit 104 in the last intermediate conductive plate 113 on the lower surface 100b side. Further, current flows from each positive electrode terminal 20 a of the parallel unit 104 to each negative electrode terminal 20 b located on the upper surface 100 a side via each battery cell of the parallel unit 104 and reaches the end conductive plate 112.

  When detecting a cell voltage based on an electric signal detected by a voltage detection line connected to the intermediate conductive plate or the like of the assembled battery 100, a current flows through the intermediate conductive plates 113 and 114 for each battery cell. The distance is different. For example, referring to FIG. 4, in each of the intermediate conductive plates 113 and 114, four negative terminals 20b arranged in one row in the Y direction on the X direction side and one row in the Y direction on the opposite side to the X direction 3 The distance to reach the positive electrode terminal 20a is greatly different from the individual negative electrode terminals 20b.

  Therefore, in each of the intermediate conductive plates 113 and 114, each negative electrode terminal 20b varies in the energization distance to the positive electrode terminal 20a. Due to the variation in the energization distance in the intermediate conductive plate, the electric resistance generated between the battery cells is not substantially constant due to the influence of the specific resistance of the plate itself. When the cell voltage is detected via a voltage detection line for a plurality of battery cells connected in parallel, the value of the cell voltage actually applied to each battery cell is detected due to such a variation in energization distance. There is a problem that the voltage value varies up and down. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a difference occurs in the actual control voltage of each battery cell.

  Therefore, according to the assembled battery 1 of the first embodiment, for example, with respect to each positive electrode terminal 20a, a current flows from the predetermined number of negative electrode terminals 20b to the closest negative electrode terminal 20b. This phenomenon is the same in any positive electrode terminal 20a. And when an electric current flows through the assembled battery 1, in each intermediate conductive plate 5, 6, the energization distance (the distance through which the current flows) from each negative electrode terminal 20b to the positive electrode terminal 20a is between any adjacent different polarity terminals. Similar value. That is, in the pair of electrode terminal groups 20, the energization distances between any adjacent different polarity terminals are substantially equal, and there is no great difference as in the comparative example shown in FIG. Therefore, in each parallel unit, since the energization distance between the different polarity terminals is substantially constant, the current resistance due to the intermediate conductive plate hardly varies with respect to each battery cell 2.

  The assembled battery 1 of 1st Embodiment is equipped with the following characteristics. The assembled battery 1 includes a plurality of parallel units 200 to 215 configured by connecting in parallel a predetermined number of battery cells 2 each having a positive electrode terminal 20a and a negative electrode terminal 20b, and electrode terminals having different polarities for these parallel units. And intermediate conductive plates 5 and 6 for connecting the parallel units in series. The intermediate conductive plates 5 and 6 are plate-like members extending in a direction in which two parallel units connected in series are arranged. Each of the two parallel units connected in series by the intermediate conductive plates 5 and 6 has one row in a direction Y in which a predetermined number of electrode terminals having the same polarity intersect the arrangement direction X of the two parallel units. It is arranged to line up. The pair of electrode terminal groups 20 arranged in a line in the intersecting direction Y are arranged so as to be parallel to each other.

  According to this configuration, for two parallel units connected in series, a predetermined number of electrode terminals for each unit are arranged in a line so as to intersect the arrangement direction X of the parallel units. Further, a predetermined number of positive electrode terminal groups and a predetermined number of negative electrode terminal groups arranged in a line in the intersecting direction Y constitute an electrode terminal group 20 parallel to each other. Due to the arrangement relationship of the electrode terminal group 20, the energization distance in which the current flows through the intermediate conductive plates 5 and 6 for each battery cell 2 between the positive electrode terminal 20 a and the negative electrode terminal 20 b becomes substantially constant. The variation can be reduced every time.

  This makes it difficult for the battery cells 2 to have a difference in the magnitude of the current resistance received from the intermediate conductive plates 5 and 6. Therefore, it can be configured so that the actual cell voltage applied to each battery cell 2 does not vary. Therefore, the assembled battery 1 which can control an appropriate cell voltage by reducing the dispersion | variation in the voltage value concerning each battery cell 2 is obtained.

  Further, since the control of the cell voltage is performed based on the value of the detected cell voltage, according to the assembled battery 1, the effect of reducing the difference between the detected value of the cell voltage and the actual cell voltage, About the some battery cell 2 connected in parallel, the malfunction that the battery cell of an overdischarge state and the battery cell of an overcharge state generate | occur | produce can be eliminated.

  Moreover, the battery cell 2 contained in the parallel units 200-215 which comprise the assembled battery 1 is arrange | positioned so that those electrode terminals may be located in the same plane. The term “coplanar” means that the positions of the electrode terminals are aligned so that the surface formed by connecting all the electrode terminals of the parallel unit forms one plane or substantially one plane. According to this configuration, since all the electrode terminals of the two parallel units connected in series by the intermediate conductive plates 5 and 6 are arranged in the same plane, each of the positive terminals 20a and the negative terminals 20b It is easy to make the energization distance through which the current flows about the battery cell 2 constant. Therefore, according to this characteristic, it contributes to implement | achieving the characteristic structure which does not vary the actual cell voltage concerning each battery cell 2. FIG.

  Furthermore, each of the predetermined number of battery cells 2 constituting each parallel unit 200 to 215 has a positive electrode terminal 20a and a negative electrode terminal 20b protruding from the surfaces positioned at both ends in the axial direction. According to this configuration, the electrode terminals arranged in the same plane can be connected in series by the intermediate conductive plates 5 and 6 at both axial ends of each battery cell 2. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, in the physique which forms the assembled battery 1, most of the opposing surfaces can be covered with the intermediate conductive plates 5 and 6. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the physique of the assembled battery as compared with the case where the assembled battery is configured using battery cells having other external shapes, and the parallel unit is configured with a larger number of battery cells than the size of the physique. be able to. A large-capacity assembled battery can be constructed without making the physique so large.

  In the assembled battery 1 including the cylindrical battery cells 2, the pair of electrode terminal groups 20 are disposed at positions shifted from each other in the column direction Y (direction Y intersecting the direction X) of the same polarity terminals. ing. According to this configuration, the battery cells connected in series by the intermediate conductive plates 5 and 6 can be arranged so as to be close to each other in the direction X, and the distance between the battery cells can be shortened. Further, the intermediate conductive plates 5 and 6 can also be formed in a small size in the alignment direction X, so that the current resistance due to the intermediate conductive plates 5 and 6 can be suppressed. Thereby, about the positive electrode terminal 20a and the negative electrode terminal 20b mutually connected in series, the distance through which an electric current flows becomes short, and it can accelerate | stimulate the dispersion | variation suppression of the actual cell voltage concerning each battery cell. Moreover, it can also contribute to suppressing the size of the assembled battery 1 in the arrangement direction X.

(Second Embodiment)
In the second embodiment, an assembled battery 1A, which is another form of the first embodiment, will be described with reference to FIG. Components having the same reference numerals as those in the drawings according to the first embodiment and other configurations not described in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment and have the same effects.

  In FIG. 6, X is the arrangement direction of a plurality of parallel units, and Y is the column direction of the same polarity terminals in each parallel unit. Y is also a direction intersecting the arrangement direction X of the parallel units, and may be simply referred to as an intersecting direction in this specification.

  As shown in FIG. 6, each battery cell 2 </ b> A is different from the assembled battery 1 in the assembled battery 1 </ b> A. The battery cell 2A has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a positive electrode terminal 20a and a negative electrode terminal 20b protruding from both sides of a predetermined rectangular end surface. A predetermined number (here, 5) of battery cells 2A constituting each of the parallel units 200A, 201A, and 215A are arranged to be stacked in the thickness direction.

  The electrical connection between the electrode terminal and the intermediate conductive plates 5A and 6A and the end conductive plates 3A and 4A is provided by connection means such as laser welding or arc welding. Or a connection means can also be comprised by the fastening by a volt | bolt nut.

  In the assembled battery 1A, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 6, the current flows from the positive end terminal 30A, which is the total terminal portion, through each battery cell 2A of the parallel unit 200A, and from each negative terminal 20b of the parallel unit 200A to intermediate conductivity. It flows to each positive electrode terminal 20a of the adjacent parallel unit 201A through the plate 5A. Further, the current flows through each battery cell 2A of the parallel unit 201A, and flows from each negative terminal 20b of the parallel unit 201A to each positive terminal 20a of the adjacent parallel unit 215A via the intermediate conductive plate 6A. Then, the current flows through each battery cell 2A of the parallel unit 215A and reaches the end terminal 40A of the end conductive plate 4A from each negative terminal 20b of the parallel unit 215A.

  As described above, the assembled battery 1A includes a plurality of parallel units 200A, 201A, and 215A each configured by connecting a predetermined number of battery cells 2 each having the positive electrode terminal 20a and the negative electrode terminal 20b in parallel, and the parallel units have different polarities. Intermediate conductive plates 5A and 6A for connecting the electrode terminals to each other and connecting the parallel units in series are provided. Intermediate conductive plates 5A and 6A are plate-like members extending in the direction in which two parallel units connected in series are arranged. Each of the two parallel units connected in series by the intermediate conductive plates 5A and 6A has one row in a direction Y in which a predetermined number of electrode terminals having the same polarity intersect the arrangement direction X of the two parallel units. It is arranged to line up. The pair of electrode terminal groups 20 arranged in a line in the intersecting direction Y are arranged so as to be parallel to each other.

  According to the above assembled battery 1A, the same effect as the assembled battery 1 of 1st Embodiment is show | played, and the objective of this invention can be achieved.

(Other embodiments)
The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The structure of the said embodiment is an illustration to the last, Comprising: The scope of the present invention is not limited to the range of these description. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the description of the scope of claims, and further includes meanings equivalent to the description of the scope of claims and all modifications within the scope.

  The external shape of the battery cell which comprises the assembled battery which concerns on this invention is not limited to the column-shaped single cell as described in the said embodiment, and a rectangular parallelepiped single cell. The present invention can be applied to any battery cell as long as it has features such as a parallel unit, an arrangement direction of electrode terminals, a pair of electrode terminal groups, and the like described in this specification.

  In the above-described embodiment, the arrangement direction X of the parallel units and the column direction Y of the same polarity terminals are orthogonal to each other. However, the assembled battery according to the present invention only needs to have a relationship in which the direction X and the direction Y intersect. The angle formed by both directions is not limited to 90 °.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Battery assembly 2 ... Battery cell 5, 6 ... Intermediate conductive plate (connection member)
20 ... A pair of electrode terminals 20a ... Positive electrode terminal (electrode terminal)
20b ... Negative electrode terminal (electrode terminal)
200 to 215 ... parallel unit X ... arrangement direction of parallel unit Y ... row direction of the same polarity terminal (crossing direction)

Claims (4)

A plurality of parallel units (200 to 215) configured by connecting in parallel a predetermined number of battery cells (2) having positive and negative electrode terminals (20a, 20b), and electrode terminals having different polarities with respect to the parallel units And connecting members (5, 6) for connecting the parallel units in series by connecting each other,
The connecting member is a plate-like member extending in the direction (X) in which the two parallel units connected in series are arranged,
In the two parallel units connected in series by the connecting member, each of the predetermined number of electrode terminals having the same polarity intersects with the arrangement direction (X) of the two parallel units (Y ) Are arranged in a row,
A pair of electrode terminal groups (20) arranged in a row in a direction (Y) intersecting the arrangement direction (X) of the two parallel units is arranged so as to be parallel to each other. Assembled battery.   2. The assembled battery according to claim 1, wherein the battery cells included in the plurality of parallel units are arranged so that the electrode terminals are positioned on the same plane.   3. The assembled battery according to claim 2, wherein each of the predetermined number of battery cells constituting the parallel unit has a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal protruding from surfaces positioned at both ends in the axial direction.   The assembled battery according to claim 3, wherein the pair of electrode terminal groups (20) are arranged at positions shifted from each other in the intersecting direction.

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