JP2015069729A - Power storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power storage device which is equipped with a plurality of power storage elements, has a high degree of freedom in the number of power storage elements to be included, and is also capable of being efficiently manufactured.SOLUTION: A power storage device 1 is equipped with a plurality of power storage elements 10. Each of the plurality of power storage elements 10 includes an electrode body 140, a container 100, and a positive electrode terminal 200 and a negative electrode terminal 300 protruding from the container 100. The power storage device 1 includes: a bus bar 150 for electrically connecting a first terminal, which is one of the positive electrode terminal 200 and the negative electrode terminal 300 of a first power storage element 10a, with a second terminal, which is one of the positive electrode terminal 200 and the negative electrode terminal 300 of a second power storage element 10b and has the opposite polarity to the first terminal; and an insulating member 160 attached to the bus bar 150 so as to cover a part of the bus bar 150. The covered part of the bus bar 150 is positioned between the container 100 of the first power storage element 10a and the container 100 of the second power storage element 10b with the insulating member 160 being interposed therebetween.

Description

  The present invention relates to a power storage device including a plurality of power storage elements.

  As an approach to global environmental problems, vehicles equipped with a motor as a power source, such as hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles, instead of conventional gasoline vehicles are beginning to spread.

  In addition, power storage devices including a plurality of power storage elements such as lithium ion secondary batteries are widely used as a power source for supplying power to motors provided in these hybrid vehicles and the like.

  There is also a document disclosing a technique regarding a power storage device including such a plurality of power storage elements.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a bus bar in which a plurality of battery modules are arranged in parallel and held in a holder case, and the battery module terminals are electrically connected to respective end plates located at both ends of the holder case. A provided battery power supply is disclosed.

  Moreover, in this battery power supply device, the bus bar is fixed to the end plate by insert molding. Thereby, for example, the work of incorporating the battery module into the holder case is facilitated.

JP-A-10-270006

  In a power storage device including a plurality of power storage elements such as lithium ion secondary batteries, for example, it is configured of an insulating material so that metal containers of these power storage elements do not contact each other between two adjacent power storage elements. Spacers are arranged.

  This spacer improves the reliability of electrical insulation between the containers of the two power storage elements.

  For example, when the spacer is provided in the power storage device as a member affixed to the container of each power storage element, and the spacer is provided as a partition plate between the power storage elements provided in the exterior body that accommodates the plurality of power storage elements. There is a case where it is arranged in a device.

  In any case, for example, in the case of a power storage device including N power storage elements (N is an integer of 2 or more), at least N-1 spacers are necessary.

  Therefore, in the case of a spacer of a type that is attached to the container of the power storage element, an increase in the number of power storage elements can directly lead to complication of the production process of the power storage device.

  In addition, when the partition plate provided in the exterior body functions as a spacer, the number of power storage devices that can be arranged inside the exterior body is limited by the number of partition plates, and therefore the number of power storage elements is changed. In principle, it is necessary to change the design of the exterior body.

  In view of the above-described conventional problems, the present invention provides a power storage device including a plurality of power storage elements, which has a high degree of freedom in the number of power storage elements provided and can be efficiently produced. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, a power storage device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a power storage device including a plurality of power storage elements, and each of the plurality of power storage elements includes a container that houses an electrode body, and the container A positive terminal and a negative terminal electrically connected to the electrode body, wherein the power storage device is one of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the first power storage element of the plurality of power storage elements. The first terminal is electrically connected to the second terminal that is one of the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal of the second power storage element of the plurality of power storage elements, and is opposite in polarity to the first terminal. A bus bar and an insulating member attached to the bus bar so as to cover a part of the bus bar, and the part of the bus bar is connected to the container of the first power storage element and the first through the insulating member. Arranged between two storage element containers It has been.

  According to this configuration, the bus bar that electrically connects adjacent power storage elements also serves as a spacer between the power storage elements.

  That is, in a power storage device including a plurality of power storage elements, an insulating member is disposed between containers of these power storage elements by disposing a bus bar that is a member necessary for electrical connection between adjacent power storage elements.

  Therefore, for example, in the production process of the power storage device, a process of only arranging the spacers between the plurality of power storage elements arranged side by side is unnecessary.

  In addition, since the insulating member is disposed between the containers of the adjacent power storage elements in a state where a part of the bus bar is included therein, the bus bar functions as a reinforcing member and a heat radiating member of the insulating member. As a result, for example, the impact resistance and heat resistance of the insulating member are improved.

  As described above, the power storage device of this aspect is a power storage device that has a high degree of freedom in the number of power storage elements provided and can be efficiently produced.

  Further, in the power storage device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the first power storage element and the second power storage element have the same protruding direction of the first terminal and the protruding direction of the second terminal. The bus bar includes a first connection part connected to the first terminal, a second connection part connected to the second terminal, and the part covered with the insulating member. The intermediate portion may be a U-shaped portion provided between the first connection portion and the second connection portion in the bus bar.

  According to this configuration, for example, by disposing the bus bar so as to connect the different polarities of these power storage elements from above the two adjacent power storage elements (from the electrode terminal side), the insulating member has two power storage elements. Inserted between the elements.

  In addition, since the U-shaped portion of the bus bar is covered with the insulating member and exists between these power storage elements, for example, the impact resistance and heat resistance of the insulating member are further improved.

  Further, in the power storage device according to one embodiment of the present invention, in the first power storage element and the second power storage element, the protruding direction of the first terminal and the protruding direction of the second terminal are opposite to each other. The bus bars are arranged side by side, and the bus bar includes a first connection portion connected to the first terminal, a second connection portion connected to the second terminal, and the one covered with the insulating member. An intermediate portion including a first portion, wherein the first connection portion is provided at one end of both ends of the intermediate portion in a direction intersecting with the arrangement direction of the first power storage element and the second power storage element. It is good also as said and the said 2nd connection part being provided in the other end of the said both ends.

  According to this configuration, for example, one of the two power storage elements is disposed with the electrode terminal facing upward, and the other is disposed with the electrode terminal facing downward. In this state, the electrode terminals are connected by the bus bar. The

  Therefore, even if the internal pressures of these two power storage elements rise and as a result each container expands, the influence of the expansion of these containers is not biased to only one of the upper part and the lower part. That is, as compared with the case where a plurality of power storage elements are connected only at the upper part, the accumulation of the bulges of each container is dispersed in the vertical direction, so that, for example, deformation of the exterior body that houses the plurality of power storage elements is suppressed. The

  Moreover, in a bus bar, since an intermediate part can be comprised by one elongate board | plate material, the thickness of an insulating member can be made thin, for example.

  In the power storage device according to one embodiment of the present invention, the insulating member and the bus bar may be integrally formed.

  According to this configuration, since the insulating member is handled as a member integrated with the bus bar from the beginning, for example, the production of the power storage device and the parts management in the production are made efficient.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the electrical storage apparatus which has the high freedom degree of the number of the electrical storage elements with which it can provide and can produce efficiently can be provided.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration outline of a power storage device in Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration outline of a power storage element according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of shapes and arrangement positions of bus bars and insulating members in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a top view corresponding to FIG. 3. It is a 1st figure which shows another example of the attachment method to the bus bar of an insulating member. It is a 2nd figure which shows another example of the attachment method to the bus bar of an insulating member. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the insulating member which has a some recessed part. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of the shape and arrangement position of a bus bar and an insulating member in Embodiment 2. FIG. FIG. 10 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a top view corresponding to FIG. 9. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the shape and arrangement position of the bus bar to which the insulating member is not attached.

  Hereinafter, a power storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Each figure is a schematic diagram and is not necessarily illustrated exactly.

  Each embodiment described below shows one specific example of the present invention. The numerical values, shapes, materials, constituent elements, arrangement positions and connecting forms of the constituent elements shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, among the constituent elements in the following embodiments, constituent elements that are not described in the independent claims indicating the highest concept are described as optional constituent elements.

(Embodiment 1)
First, an outline of the configuration of power storage device 1 according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of power storage device 1 according to the first embodiment.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of power storage element 10 according to the first embodiment. 2 shows the power storage element 10 in a state where the main body 111 and the cover plate 110 of the container 100 are separated.

  In these drawings, the Z-axis direction is shown as the up-down direction. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the Z-axis positive direction will be described as “up” and the Z-axis negative direction will be described as “down”. However, the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) does not have to coincide with the vertical direction. That is, the orientation of the power storage device 1 when the power storage device 1 is arranged in an automobile or the like is not limited by the expression of directions such as “up” and “down” in this specification and the like.

  Power storage device 1 includes a plurality of power storage elements 10 and a bus bar 150 that electrically connects two power storage elements 10 among the plurality of power storage elements 10.

  In the present embodiment, power storage device 1 includes a plurality of bus bars 150, and each bus bar 150 electrically connects different polarities of two adjacent power storage elements 10 among a plurality of power storage elements 10. As a result, the plurality of power storage elements 10 are connected in series.

  A positive external terminal is connected to one of the storage elements 10 at both ends of the plurality of storage elements 10 connected in series, and a negative external terminal is connected to the other. That is, the power storage device 1 accumulates (charges) electricity from the outside via the positive electrode external terminal and the negative electrode external terminal, and discharges electricity to the outside.

  The power storage device 1 includes an insulating member 160 attached to the bus bar 150 so as to cover a part of the bus bar 150. The part of the bus bar 150 is disposed between the containers 100 of the two adjacent power storage elements 10 via the insulating member 160.

  That is, the bus bar 150 is a member that performs electrical connection between the two power storage elements 10 and also functions as a spacer between the two power storage elements 10.

  Details and variations of the bus bar 150 in which the insulating member 160 is disposed will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  Since the power storage device 1 includes a plurality of power storage elements, the power storage device 1 may be called, for example, a “power storage module” or “assembled battery”. Moreover, each electrical storage element 10 may be called a "cell" or a "unit cell", for example.

  In addition to the positive electrode external terminal and the negative electrode external terminal described above, the power storage device 1 also includes other components not shown in FIG. 1 such as an exterior body that houses the plurality of power storage elements 10. However, in order to clearly describe the characteristics of the power storage device 1 of the present embodiment, the illustration and detailed description of other components such as the outer package are omitted.

  Each of the power storage elements 10 included in the power storage device 1 in Embodiment 1 is a secondary battery that can charge electricity and discharge electricity, for example, a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery.

  Examples of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery include a lithium ion secondary battery in which the positive electrode active material is a lithium transition metal oxide such as lithium cobaltate and the negative electrode active material is a carbon material.

  In addition, the kind of electrical storage element 10 is not limited to a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, Secondary batteries other than a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery may be sufficient, and a primary battery may be sufficient.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the power storage element 10 includes a container 100 that houses the electrode body 140, and a positive electrode terminal 200 and a negative electrode terminal 300 that protrude from the container 100 and are electrically connected to the electrode body 140. In the present embodiment, the positive electrode terminal 200 and the negative electrode terminal 300 protrude from the container 100 in the same direction.

  The container 100 includes a main body 111 having a rectangular cylindrical shape made of metal and having a bottom, and a metal lid plate 110 that closes an opening of the main body 111.

  In addition, an electrode body 140, a positive electrode current collector 120, and a negative electrode current collector 130 are disposed inside the container 100.

  Note that a liquid such as an electrolytic solution is sealed inside the container 100 of the power storage element 10, but the liquid is not shown.

  The container 100 has a structure in which after the electrode body 140 and the like are accommodated therein, the lid plate 110 and the main body 111 are welded to seal the inside.

  The electrode body 140 includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator, and is a member that can store electricity. Specifically, the electrode body 140 is formed by winding a layered structure in which a separator is sandwiched between a negative electrode and a positive electrode so that the whole becomes an oval shape. Further, the positive foil is made of, for example, aluminum, and the negative foil is made of, for example, copper.

  The shape of the electrode body 140 is not limited to an oval shape, and may be a circular shape or an elliptical shape. The shape of the electrode body 140 is not limited to a wound type, and may be a shape in which flat plate plates are laminated.

  The positive electrode terminal 200 is an electrode terminal electrically connected to the positive electrode of the electrode body 140, and the negative electrode terminal 300 is an electrode terminal electrically connected to the negative electrode of the electrode body 140.

  Further, the positive electrode terminal 200 and the negative electrode terminal 300 are attached to the cover plate 110 disposed above the electrode body 140 in a state insulated from the cover plate 110 by packing (not shown).

  Specifically, the positive terminal 200 is attached to the lid plate 110 via a packing (not shown), and the negative terminal 300 is similarly attached to the lid plate 110 via a packing (not shown). ing.

  The positive electrode current collector 120 is disposed between the positive electrode of the electrode body 140 and the side wall of the container 100, and has a conductivity and rigidity that are electrically connected to the positive electrode terminal 200 and the positive electrode of the electrode body 140. It is. The positive electrode current collector 120 is made of aluminum, like the positive electrode foil of the electrode body 140.

  The negative electrode current collector 130 is disposed between the negative electrode of the electrode body 140 and the side wall of the container 100, and has a conductivity and rigidity that are electrically connected to the negative electrode terminal 300 and the negative electrode of the electrode body 140. It is. The negative electrode current collector 130 is made of copper, like the negative electrode foil of the electrode body 140.

  Various non-aqueous electrolytes (electrolytic solutions) sealed in the container 100 can be selected.

For example, as an organic solvent for non-aqueous electrolyte, ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, butylene carbonate, trifluoropropylene carbonate, γ-butyrolactone, γ-valerolactone, sulfolane, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, 1,2-diethoxyethane, Tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, 2-methyl-1,3-dioxolane, dioxolane, fluoroethyl methyl ether, ethylene glycol diacetate, propylene glycol diacetate, ethylene glycol dipropionate, propylene glycol dipropionate, methyl acetate, acetic acid Ethyl, propyl acetate, butyl acetate, methyl propionate, ethyl propionate, propyl propionate, dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, Ethyl methyl carbonate, methyl propyl carbonate, ethyl propyl carbonate, dipropyl carbonate, methyl isopropyl carbonate, ethyl isopropyl carbonate, diisopropyl carbonate, dibutyl carbonate, acetonitrile, fluoroacetonitrile, ethoxypentafluorocyclotriphosphazene, diethoxytetrafluorocyclotriphosphazene, Alkoxy and halogen-substituted cyclic phosphazenes such as phenoxypentafluorocyclotriphosphazene or chain phosphazenes, phosphate esters such as triethyl phosphate, trimethyl phosphate and trioctyl phosphate, boric acids such as triethyl borate and tributyl borate Esters, N-methyloxazolidinone, N-ethyloxazolidinone It includes non-aqueous solvents are. Moreover, a well-known additive can also be added to this.

  When a solid electrolyte is used, a porous polymer solid electrolyte membrane may be used as the polymer solid electrolyte, and an electrolyte solution may be further contained in the polymer solid electrolyte. Moreover, when using a gel-like polymer solid electrolyte, the electrolyte solution which comprises gel and the electrolyte solution contained in the pore etc. may differ. However, in the case of a medium-sized or large-sized battery that requires high output and high capacity, it is more preferable to use a nonaqueous electrolyte alone than to use a solid electrolyte or a polymer solid electrolyte.

  In the present embodiment, power storage device 1 includes, for example, twelve power storage elements 10 having the above-described configuration, and when the electromotive force of one power storage element 10 is 4.2 V, the electromotive force as power storage device 1 is 50. .4V.

  Further, eleven bus bars 150 are arranged in the power storage device 1 in order to connect these twelve power storage elements 10 in series.

  In addition, the number of these electrical storage elements 10 and bus bars 150 is an example. The power storage device 1 includes at least two power storage elements 10 and one bus bar 150 that connects between different polarities of the power storage elements 10, and a bus bar 150 that is partially covered with an insulating member 160. That's fine.

  The shapes and arrangement positions of bus bar 150 and insulating member 160 in power storage device 1 of the first embodiment having the above basic configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the shapes and arrangement positions of bus bar 150 and insulating member 160 in the first embodiment. 4 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a top view corresponding to FIG.

  3 to 5, focusing on two power storage elements 10 among a plurality of power storage elements 10 and one bus bar 150 connecting the two power storage elements 10, the bus bar 150 and the bus bar The arrangement position of the insulating member 160 corresponding to 150 will be described.

  In order to distinguish these two power storage elements 10, for convenience, one of these two power storage elements 10 is referred to as a first power storage element 10a and the other is referred to as a second power storage element 10b.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the first power storage element 10 a and the second power storage element 10 b are connected to the protruding direction of the electrode terminal of the first power storage element 10 a and the electrode terminal of the second power storage element 10 b. They are arranged side by side in the same projecting direction.

  More specifically, in the first power storage element 10a and the second power storage element 10b, the negative electrode terminal 300 of the first power storage element 10a and the positive electrode terminal 200 of the second power storage element 10b are adjacent to each other, and the first power storage element 10a The positive electrode terminal 200 and the negative electrode terminal 300 of the second electricity storage element 10b are arranged adjacent to each other. Moreover, the 1st electrical storage element 10a and the 2nd electrical storage element 10b are arranged so that a mutual long side may oppose.

  Bus bar 150 is a metal plate-like or rod-like conductor, and electrically connects negative electrode terminal 300 of first power storage element 10a and positive electrode terminal 200 of second power storage element 10b as shown in FIGS. It is a member connected to. An insulating member 160 is attached to the bus bar 150 so as to cover a part of the bus bar 150.

  In other words, the bus bars 150 electrically connect different polarities of the two adjacent power storage elements 10, and a part of the bus bar 150 is connected to the container 100 of the first power storage element 10 a via the insulating member 160. And the container 100 of the second power storage element 10b.

  In the present embodiment, the bus bar 150 is a member having connection portions 151 at both ends, and integrally including these connection portions 151 and an intermediate portion 155 including a part covered with the insulating member 160.

  Each of the connection portions 151 at both ends of the bus bar 150 is formed with a through hole 151a into which an electrode terminal is inserted.

  In addition, the negative electrode terminal 300 of the 1st electrical storage element 10a is an example of a 1st terminal, and the positive electrode terminal 200 of the 2nd electrical storage element 10b is an example of a 2nd terminal. Moreover, the connection part 151 connected with the negative electrode terminal 300 of the 1st electrical storage element 10a is an example of a 1st connection part, and the connection part 151 connected with the positive electrode terminal 200 of the 2nd electrical storage element 10b is a 2nd connection. It is an example of a part.

  In the present embodiment, for example, a thread is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the electrode terminal, and the bus bar 150 and the electrode terminal are connected by a nut (not shown), but a method of connecting the bus bar 150 and the electrode terminal There is no particular limitation. For example, the electrode terminal and the bus bar 150 may be connected by caulking or welding.

  The insulating member 160 is a member formed of, for example, a resin having high heat resistance (heat resistant resin). As shown in FIG. 3, insulating member 160 is inserted between first power storage element 10 a and second power storage element 10 b while being attached to bus bar 150 in the process of assembling power storage device 1.

  That is, by performing an operation of electrically connecting two adjacent power storage elements 10 by the bus bar 150, the arrangement of the insulating member 160 (spacer arrangement) between the power storage elements 10 is also completed. That is, by using the bus bar 150 to which the insulating member 160 is attached as a conductive member between the power storage elements 10, the production efficiency of the power storage device 1 can be improved.

  In addition, for example, when the power storage element 10 is arranged between a plurality of partition plates fixed to the exterior body, that is, compared to the case where each of the plurality of fixed partition plates is used as a spacer, the number of power storage elements 10 is increased or decreased. It can respond flexibly. That is, the degree of freedom of the number of power storage elements 10 provided in the power storage device 1 is high.

  The insulating member 160 covers a part of the bus bar 150, and the part is interposed between the container 100 of the first power storage element 10 a and the container 100 of the second power storage element 10 b via the insulating member 160. Has been placed.

  As described above, since a part of the bus bar 150 that is a metal member exists inside the insulating member 160 that functions as a spacer between the two power storage elements 10, for example, the shock resistance and heat resistance of the insulating member 160. Improves.

  For example, even when the insulating member 160 is placed in a high-temperature environment, the bus bar 150 plays a role as a heat radiating member, so that occurrence of a situation in which the insulating member 160 is melted by heat is suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the intermediate portion 155 is a U-shaped portion provided between the connecting portions 151 at both ends of the bus bar 150. Therefore, the high reinforcement effect with respect to the insulating member 160 by the bus bar 150 is acquired.

  Note that the bus bar 150 having such a shape is manufactured by, for example, punching and bending a metal plate material.

  In this embodiment, insulating member 160 is formed so as to cover a part of bus bar 150 by resin insert molding. That is, the insulating member 160 is integrally formed with the bus bar 150, and the pair of bus bars 150 and the insulating member 160 are handled as one part. Therefore, for example, the production of the power storage device 1 and the parts management in the production are made efficient.

  The insulating member 160 does not need to be made of only resin, and may be a member obtained by mixing ceramic particles and a binder such as epoxy resin, for example. That is, for example, the strength can be improved by forming the insulating member 160 from a material obtained by mixing an inorganic material with a resin as a base material.

  As the resin of the material of the insulating member 160, for example, a heat resistant resin is employed as described above. Examples of the heat resistant resin include polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyimide, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyetherimide (PEI), poly Phenylsulfone (PPSU), polyamideimide (PAI), polyethersulfone (PES), polysulfone (PSF), polyacrylate (PAR), liquid crystal polyester (LCP), melamine resin (MF), phenol resin (PF), Examples include silicone resin (SI) and epoxy resin (EP).

  In addition, as a fluororesin that is a kind of heat-resistant resin, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), tetrafluoroethylene / hexafluoropropylene copolymer (FEP), tetrafluoroethylene / ethylene copolymer (ETFE), tetrafluoro Examples thereof include ethylene / perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (FEP) and polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE).

  Further, as the inorganic material mixed with the resin of the material of the insulating member 160, for example, particulate ceramic is adopted. Examples of the particulate ceramic include oxide ceramics such as alumina, silica, titania, zirconia, magnesia, ceria, yttria, zinc oxide, and iron oxide, and nitrides such as silicon nitride, titanium nitride, and boron nitride. Examples are based ceramics.

  Other examples of the ceramic include silicon carbide, calcium carbonate, aluminum sulfate, aluminum hydroxide, potassium titanate, talc, kaolin clay, kaolinite, halloysite, pyrophyllite, montmorillonite, sericite, mica, and American Examples include sites, bentonite, zeolite, calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, diatomaceous earth, and silica sand.

  In addition, the inorganic material mixed with the resin of the insulating member 160 may be a fibrous material. For example, glass fiber, rock wool, carbon fiber, ceramic fiber, or the like is one of the materials of the insulating member 160. You may comprise a part.

  In addition, the size and shape of the insulating member 160 are not limited to the size and shape shown in FIGS.

  For example, the height direction (Z-axis direction) and the width direction (X-axis direction) size of the side surface (surface parallel to the XZ plane) of the insulating member 160 that contacts the container 100 of the power storage element 10 are both, for example, a container It may be about half the size in the height and width directions of 100.

  Further, the shape of the side surface of the insulating member 160 does not have to be a rectangle, and may be a polygon other than a rectangle, or a shape including a curve at least partially.

  Further, the method of attaching the insulating member 160 to the bus bar 150 is not limited to insert molding.

  FIG. 6 is a first diagram illustrating another example of a method of attaching the insulating member 160 to the bus bar 150, and FIG. 7 is a second diagram illustrating another example of the method of attaching the insulating member 160 to the bus bar 150. FIG.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the insulating member 160 may be attached to the bus bar 150 by inserting the intermediate portion 155 of the bus bar 150 into the attachment hole 161 opened on the upper surface of the insulating member 160.

  In this case, for example, the insulating member 160 is fixed to the bus bar 150 by a frictional force between the inner surface of the mounting hole 161 and the intermediate portion 155. The fixing method is not particularly limited. For example, the insulating member 160 may be fixed to the bus bar 150 by bonding the inner surface of the mounting hole 161 and the intermediate portion 155 with an adhesive.

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the insulating member 160 may be configured by bonding two plate materials (first insulating member 160a and second insulating member 160b) in the thickness direction.

  Specifically, the first insulating member 160a and the second insulating member 160b are fitted so that the intermediate portion 155 of the bus bar 150 fits into the mounting groove 161a of the first insulating member 160a and the mounting groove 161b of the second insulating member 160b. And paste together. Thereby, the insulating member 160 is attached to the bus bar 150.

  In addition, the 1st insulating member 160a and the 2nd insulating member 160b are joined by the adhesive agent, for example. Further, for example, the protrusion provided on one of the first insulating member 160a and the second insulating member 160b engages with the hole provided on the other, so that the first insulating member 160a and the second insulating member 160b are It may be joined.

  In this case, for example, the insulating member 160 is fixed to the bus bar 150 by a frictional force between the inner surface of the mounting groove 161a and the mounting groove 161b and the intermediate portion 155. The fixing method is not particularly limited. For example, the insulating member 160 may be fixed to the bus bar 150 by bonding the attachment groove 161a and the inner surface of the attachment groove 161b and the intermediate portion 155 with an adhesive.

  Moreover, the insulating member 160 does not need to have a flat surface, and may have a recess, for example.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an insulating member 160 having a plurality of recesses 162.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the insulating member 160 may have a shape in which a plurality of ribs are arranged vertically and horizontally so that a plurality of recesses 162 are formed on the side surface.

  Thereby, the quantity of materials, such as resin required for manufacture, can be reduced, maintaining the predetermined intensity | strength calculated | required by the insulating member 160. FIG. This effect can also be obtained by making at least a part of the insulating member 160 a hollow structure.

  In addition, a plurality of fine depressions (holes) may be formed on the surface of the insulating member 160. Thereby, the surface area of the insulating member 160 increases, and as a result, the heat dissipation effect of the insulating member 160 is improved.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, power storage device 2 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, differences from the power storage device 1 according to Embodiment 1 will be mainly described, and description of common components such as the power storage element 10 will be omitted.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an example of shapes and arrangement positions of bus bar 170 and insulating member 180 in the second embodiment. 10 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 9, and FIG. 11 is a top view corresponding to FIG.

  In these drawings, two power storage elements 10 (first power storage element 10a and second power storage element 10b), a bus bar 170 connecting them, and an insulating member 180 attached to the bus bar 170 are shown. . However, the number of power storage elements 10 included in the power storage device 2 is not limited to two, and may be two or more as with the power storage device 1.

  The power storage device 2 also includes other components not shown in FIG. 9, such as an exterior body that houses the plurality of power storage elements 10. However, in order to clearly describe the characteristics of the power storage device 2 of the present embodiment, illustration and detailed description of other components such as the exterior body are omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, power storage device 2 in the second embodiment is characterized by the arrangement of power storage elements 10.

  Specifically, in power storage device 2 according to the second embodiment, first power storage element 10a and second power storage element 10b are provided with the protruding direction of the electrode terminal of first power storage element 10a and the electrode terminal of second power storage element 10b. They are arranged side by side in a state in which the projecting direction is reversed.

  That is, the 1st electrical storage element 10a and the 2nd electrical storage element 10b are arranged side by side so that a mutual electrode terminal may turn upside down.

  When three or more power storage elements 10 are provided in the power storage device 2, the power storage elements 10 are arranged side by side so that the directions of the electrode terminals are alternated vertically.

  For example, in FIG. 10, the power storage element 10 disposed on the right side of the first power storage element 10 a is disposed such that the electrode terminal faces downward.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the bus bar 170 that connects the different electrodes of the first power storage element 10 a and the second power storage element 10 b arranged in this manner has a Z-shape as a whole.

  The power storage device 2 includes an insulating member 180 attached to the bus bar 170 so as to cover a part of the bus bar 170. The part of the bus bar 170 is disposed between the containers 100 of the two adjacent power storage elements 10 via the insulating member 180.

  That is, the bus bar 170 is a member that performs electrical connection between the two power storage elements 10 and also functions as a spacer between the two power storage elements 10.

  More specifically, the bus bar 170 is a member having connection portions 171 at both ends, and integrally including these connection portions 171 and an intermediate portion 175 including a part covered with the insulating member 180.

  Insulating member 180 is attached to bus bar 170 by resin insert molding, similarly to insulating member 160 in the first embodiment.

  In addition, a connecting portion 171 connected to the negative electrode terminal 300 of the first power storage element 10a is provided at one end of both ends of the intermediate portion 175 in the direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the first power storage element 10a and the second power storage element 10b. A connecting portion 171 connected to the positive electrode terminal 200 of the second power storage element 10b is provided at the other end of the both ends.

  Each of these connection portions 171 is formed with a through hole 171a into which an electrode terminal is inserted.

  The bus bar 170 having such a shape is manufactured by, for example, punching and bending a metal plate material.

  The connection part 171 connected to the negative electrode terminal 300 is an example of a first connection part, and the connection part 171 connected to the positive electrode terminal 200 is an example of a second connection part.

  Further, in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the bus bar 170 and the electrode terminal are connected by a nut (not shown), but the connection method between the bus bar 170 and the electrode terminal is not particularly limited. For example, the electrode terminal and the bus bar 150 may be connected by caulking or welding.

  Further, the insulating member 180 is a member formed of, for example, a heat-resistant resin, like the insulating member 160 in the first embodiment, and the resin and the inorganic material that are selected as the raw materials are as described in the first embodiment. There are various types.

  According to power storage device 2 having such a configuration, the same effects as power storage device 1 in the first embodiment are exhibited.

  That is, in the process of assembling power storage device 2, insulating member 180 is inserted between first power storage element 10a and second power storage element 10b in a state of being attached to bus bar 170 as shown in FIG. .

  That is, by performing an operation of electrically connecting the two adjacent power storage elements 10 by the bus bar 170, the arrangement of the insulating member 180 (spacer arrangement) between the power storage elements 10 is also completed.

  Thus, by using the bus bar 170 to which the insulating member 180 is attached as a conductive member between the power storage elements 10, the production efficiency of the power storage device 2 can be improved. In addition, it is possible to flexibly cope with an increase or decrease in the number of power storage elements 10. That is, the degree of freedom of the number of power storage elements 10 provided in the power storage device 2 is high.

  In power storage device 2, simply speaking, one upper portion and the other lower portion of two adjacent power storage elements 10 are connected by bus bar 170. As a result, one upper part and the other lower part of the two adjacent power storage elements 10 are in a mutually restricting relationship.

  Further, such a constraint relationship between the two parties exists continuously in the direction in which the plurality of power storage elements 10 provided in the power storage device 2 are arranged.

  Therefore, even if the internal pressure of the plurality of power storage elements 10 rises and, as a result, each container 100 expands in the direction in which the plurality of power storage elements 10 are arranged, the influence of the expansion of these containers 100 is affected. Do not bias to only one of the upper and lower parts.

  That is, as compared with the case where the plurality of power storage elements 10 are connected only at the upper part, the accumulation of the bulges of each container 100 is dispersed in the vertical direction. Is suppressed.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, the intermediate part 175 of the bus-bar 170 is comprised with one elongate board | plate material, as FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show. Therefore, compared to the U-shaped intermediate portion 155 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) in the first embodiment, for example, the thickness of the insulating member 180 can be reduced. As a result, for example, it is possible to increase the number of power storage elements 10 that can be accommodated in the same exterior body.

  In addition, the shape and size of the insulating member 180 are not limited to the illustration in Embodiment 2, and may differ from the shape and size shown in FIGS.

  Also, the method of attaching the insulating member 180 to the bus bar 170 is not limited to insert molding, and for example, a method as shown in FIG. 7 may be adopted. That is, the insulating member 180 may be attached to the bus bar 170 by sandwiching the intermediate portion 175 of the bus bar 170 with a plurality of members constituting the insulating member 180.

  Further, for example, a recess as shown in FIG. 8 may be formed in the insulating member 180, and a plurality of fine recesses (holes) may be formed on the surface of the insulating member 180.

(Other embodiments)
The power storage device according to the present invention has been described based on the first and second embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments. As long as it does not deviate from the gist of the present invention, various modifications conceived by those skilled in the art may be applied to the first or second embodiment, or a form constructed by combining a plurality of constituent elements described above. Included in range.

  For example, the shape and size of the bus bar 150 (170) are not limited to those illustrated in FIG. 3 (FIG. 9). For example, the intermediate portion 155 (175) of the bus bar 150 (170) is illustrated in FIG. 3 (FIG. 9) if the portion covered with the insulating member 160 (180) is disposed between the two power storage elements 10. Other shapes may be used.

  For example, the intermediate portion 155 of the bus bar 150 has a portion covered by the insulating member 160, and the length in the vertical direction may be longer than the length shown in FIG. It may be short. Further, the intermediate portion 155 may have a portion protruding in the width direction (X-axis direction) of the insulating member 160.

  For example, the intermediate portion 175 of the bus bar 170 has a portion covered with the insulating member 180 and bends in the width direction (X-axis direction) if the portion other than the portion connected to the connecting portion 171 is not exposed from the insulating member 180. Or you may have the bent part.

  For example, the bus bar 150 and the bus bar 170 may be mixed in one power storage device. That is, a group of storage elements 10 (see FIG. 1) arranged so that the electrode terminals are in the same direction and a group of storage elements 10 (see FIG. 9) arranged so that the electrode terminals are alternately reversed. One power storage device may be provided.

  In Embodiment 1, for example, a part of the bus bar 150 is covered with the insulating member 160, but the power storage device 1 may include a bus bar that is not covered with the insulating member.

  FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing an example of the shape and arrangement position of the bus bar 150a to which the insulating member 160 is not attached.

  The power storage device 1 shown in FIG. 12 includes a bus bar 150a connected to the electrodes of two power storage elements 10 (first power storage element 10a and second power storage element 10b).

  Bus bar 150a has the same shape as bus bar 150 in the first embodiment. Specifically, the bus bar 150a has connection portions 151 provided at both ends, and an intermediate portion 155 that is a U-shaped portion provided between the connection portions 151 at both ends.

  That is, the bus bar 150a has a shape in which the intermediate portion 155 is disposed between the container 100 of the first power storage element 10a and the container 100 of the second power storage element 10b.

  However, unlike bus bar 150 in the first embodiment, bus bar 150a does not have insulating member 160 attached thereto.

  The bus bar 150a having such a configuration is provided with an insulation measure such as formation of an insulating film or adhesion of an insulating sheet on the side surface of the container 100 of each of the first power storage element 10a and the second power storage element 10b on the bus bar 150a side. Used when

  When the bus bar 150a is used for electrical connection between two adjacent power storage elements 10, a part of the bus bar 150a is disposed between the two power storage elements 10, so that the bus bar 150a is connected to the two power storage elements 10. It can also function as a heat dissipation member for the electricity storage element 10.

  The present invention can provide a power storage device including a plurality of batteries, which has a high degree of freedom in the number of power storage elements provided and can be efficiently produced. Therefore, the power storage device according to the present invention is useful as a power storage device mounted in an automobile or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 Power storage device 10 Power storage element 10a First power storage element 10b Second power storage element 100 Container 110 Cover plate 111 Main body 120 Positive electrode current collector 130 Negative electrode current collector 140 Electrode body 150, 150a, 170 Bus bar 151, 171 Connection portion 151a , 171a Through hole 155, 175 Intermediate portion 160, 180 Insulating member 160a First insulating member 160b Second insulating member 161 Mounting hole 161a Mounting groove 161b Mounting groove 162 Recessed portion 200 Positive electrode terminal 300 Negative electrode terminal

Claims (4)

A power storage device comprising a plurality of power storage elements,
Each of the plurality of power storage elements includes a container that houses an electrode body, a positive electrode terminal that protrudes from the container and is electrically connected to the electrode body, and a negative electrode terminal.
The power storage device
A first terminal that is one of a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of the first power storage element of the plurality of power storage elements, and one of a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of the second power storage element of the plurality of power storage elements, A bus bar for electrically connecting a second terminal having a polarity opposite to that of the first terminal;
An insulating member attached to the bus bar so as to cover a part of the bus bar;
The part of the bus bar is disposed between the container of the first power storage element and the container of the second power storage element via the insulating member. The first power storage element and the second power storage element are arranged side by side with the protruding direction of the first terminal and the protruding direction of the second terminal being the same.
The bus bar integrally includes a first connection part connected to the first terminal, a second connection part connected to the second terminal, and an intermediate part including the part covered with the insulating member. A member comprising,
The power storage device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion is a U-shaped portion provided between the first connection portion and the second connection portion in the bus bar. The first power storage element and the second power storage element are arranged side by side with the protruding direction of the first terminal and the protruding direction of the second terminal being reversed.
The bus bar integrally includes a first connection part connected to the first terminal, a second connection part connected to the second terminal, and an intermediate part including the part covered with the insulating member. A member comprising,
The first connection portion is provided at one end of both ends of the intermediate portion in a direction crossing the arrangement direction of the first power storage element and the second power storage element, and the second connection is provided at the other end of the both ends. The power storage device according to claim 1, further comprising a connection portion. The power storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the insulating member and the bus bar are integrally molded.

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