JP2015125824A - Power supply module and power storage element - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power supply module and a power storage element capable of suppressing looseness of the power storage element and fixing the power storage element without considering an individual difference of the power storage element.SOLUTION: A power supply module comprises: a spacer 4 including an engagement convex part 40; and a battery 3 including an outer package 30, and an engagement recessed part 35 provided on an outer surface 33 of the outer package and abutting on the engagement convex part of the spacer 4. When the engagement convex part is press-fitted into the engagement recessed part from above, the engagement convex part is engaged with the engagement recessed part in a plastic deformation state. As a result, the engagement convex part of the spacer after press-fitting is tightly adhered to the engagement recessed part by its self-restoring force.

Description

  The present invention relates to a power supply module and a power storage element, and more particularly to a power supply module including a spacer and a power storage element and a power storage element used for the power supply module.

  Conventionally, a power supply module including a spacer and a power storage element is known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  Patent Document 1 discloses an intermediate assembly (power supply module) including a plurality of batteries (power storage elements) and a pair of spacer sheets respectively disposed on the upper side and the lower side of the plurality of batteries.

  Moreover, in the said patent document 2, the several cell (electric storage element) laminated | stacked on the thickness direction of the cell, the restraint band which restrains a some cell in the thickness direction, and the length in the thickness direction are adjusted. In addition, an assembled battery (power supply module) including a plurality of spacer members for restraining the plurality of single cells with a predetermined pressure is disclosed. In the assembled battery in Patent Document 2, the number of spacer members is adjusted such that the total length of the plurality of single cells and the thickness of the plurality of spacer members is a specified length. . Thus, the plurality of single cells are fixed in a state where the spacer member absorbs the variation in the thickness of the single cells.

JP 2013-37866 A JP 2009-200051 A

  However, in the intermediate assembly of Patent Document 1, when there are variations in the vertical length of the plurality of batteries, any one of the spacer sheets other than the battery that contacts both the upper and lower spacer sheets is used. It is considered that there is a battery that contacts only one side. For this reason, when a vibration is applied to the intermediate assembly, there is a problem that a battery that does not come into contact with the other of the spacer sheets is shaken in the intermediate assembly due to the applied vibration.

  Moreover, in the assembled battery of the said patent document 2, in order to constrain a several unit cell by predetermined pressure, since it is necessary to change the number of spacer members for every assembled battery, when making an assembled battery, several batteries are used. It is not only necessary to determine the number of spacer members in consideration of individual differences of single cells, but also when the number of spacer members does not match and cannot be restrained with sufficient pressure, the single cell will rattle There is a point.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and one object of the present invention is to suppress shakiness of the power storage element without considering individual differences among the power storage elements. And a power storage element used for the power supply module.

  A power supply module according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a spacer including a first contact portion, an exterior body, and a second contact portion that is provided on the outer surface of the exterior body and contacts the first contact portion of the spacer. And an electricity storage device including The “spacer” means a component that is disposed in a gap between a power storage element and a member that houses the power storage element.

  In the power supply module according to the first aspect of the present invention, the second contact portion that contacts the first contact portion of the spacer is provided on the outer surface of the exterior body of the power storage element, so that the first contact portion of the spacer and the power storage device are stored. By bringing the second contact portion of the element into contact with each other, it is possible to regulate the movement of the power storage element in the contact direction by the spacer, so that the power storage element comes into contact regardless of the individual difference of the power storage elements. Shaking in the direction can be suppressed. Thereby, even if there is an individual difference in the size of the power storage element, the power storage element can be fixed without adjusting the size and quantity of the spacers.

  In the power supply module according to the first aspect described above, preferably, the exterior body accommodates a power generation element configured by laminating electrode plates, and the second contact portion is an electrode plate out of the outer surface of the exterior body. Are provided on the outer surface parallel to the stacking direction. Here, the power generation element of the electricity storage element may vary in thickness in the stacking direction of the electrode plates due to manufacturing variations, or may deteriorate due to repeated charge and discharge, and the electrode plates may expand. For this reason, the outer surface perpendicular | vertical to the lamination direction of an electrode plate among the outer surfaces of an exterior body tends to produce dispersion | variation in the dimension regarding the said outer surface. On the other hand, the outer surface parallel to the stacking direction of the electrode plates is not easily affected by variations in the thickness of the power generation elements in the stacking direction, and is not easily affected by the expansion of the electrode plates due to deterioration. Therefore, the dimensions relating to the outer surface parallel to the stacking direction of the electrode plates are less likely to vary. For these reasons, by providing the second contact portion on the outer surface of the exterior body that is parallel to the stacking direction of the electrode plates, even if there are variations in the dimensions of the storage elements, Since the outer surface of the parallel exterior body does not easily vary, the contact state between the first contact portion of the spacer and the second contact portion of the power storage element can be more reliably maintained.

  In the power supply module according to the first aspect described above, preferably, the exterior body has a terminal surface provided with a terminal, and the first contact portion of the spacer is a second contact portion from a direction orthogonal to the terminal surface. It is comprised so that it may contact | abut. Here, since the terminal surface of the power storage element in the power supply module needs to be exposed to the outside for connection to other power storage elements, the direction perpendicular to the terminal surface of the power storage element in the power supply module Can be opened to the outside. Therefore, the first contact portion of the spacer can be brought into contact with the second contact portion from a direction orthogonal to the opened terminal surface, so that the first contact portion of the spacer and the second contact portion of the storage element Can be easily brought into contact with each other.

  In the power supply module according to the first aspect, preferably, the first contact portion has a first engagement portion, and the second contact portion engages with the first engagement portion. Have If comprised in this way, since the 1st engaging part of a spacer and the 2nd engaging part of an electrical storage element can mutually be engaged, it can suppress effectively that an electrical storage element rattles.

  In this case, preferably, one of the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion has a wedge shape, and the other of the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion corresponds to the wedge shape. Having a concave shape. If comprised in this way, since the 1st engagement part of a spacer and the 2nd engagement part of an electrical storage element can be mutually engaged by the wedge shape and the concave shape corresponding to a wedge shape, it rattles. Can be more effectively suppressed. Moreover, since the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion have corresponding shapes, the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion can be easily engaged.

  A power storage device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes an exterior body having a terminal surface provided with terminals, and an abutting portion that is provided on the outer surface of the exterior body and abuts on an external member from a direction orthogonal to the terminal surface. With.

  In the electricity storage device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the first contact portion of the spacer and the electricity storage device are provided on the outer surface of the exterior body of the electricity storage device by providing a second contact portion that contacts the first contact portion of the spacer. By bringing the second contact portion of the element into contact with each other, it is possible to regulate the movement of the power storage element in the contact direction by the spacer, so that the power storage element comes into contact regardless of the individual difference of the power storage elements. Shaking in the direction can be suppressed. Thereby, even if there is an individual difference in the size of the power storage element, the power storage element can be fixed without adjusting the size and quantity of the spacers. In addition, since the external member can be brought into contact with the contact portion from a direction orthogonal to the terminal surface on which nothing is arranged, the contact portion can be easily brought into contact with the external member.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, even if there exists an individual difference in the magnitude | size of an electrical storage element, the power supply module which can fix an electrical storage element without adjusting the magnitude | size and quantity of a spacer can be provided.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a power supply module according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a power supply module according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the perspective view which showed the battery and spacer of the power supply module by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the side view which looked at the power supply module from X1 direction in the state which removed the wall part by the side of X1 of the battery accommodating main body by 1st Embodiment of this invention virtually. It is the enlarged view which showed the engagement convex part and engagement concave part by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the side view which looked at the power supply module from Y1 direction in the state which removed the wall part by the side of Y1 of the battery accommodating main body by 1st Embodiment of this invention virtually. The side view which looked at the power supply module from the direction orthogonal to a Y direction in the state which removed the wall part of the direction orthogonal to the Y direction of the battery accommodating main body by the 1st modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention virtually. is there. It is the disassembled perspective view which showed the power supply module by the 2nd modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention. The side view which looked at the power supply module from the direction orthogonal to a Y direction in the state which removed the wall part of the direction orthogonal to the Y direction of the battery accommodating main body by the 2nd modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention virtually. is there. It is the top view which showed the power supply module in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the side view which looked at the power supply module from the direction orthogonal to a Y direction in the state which removed the wall part of the direction orthogonal to the Y direction of the battery accommodating main body in 2nd Embodiment of this invention virtually. It is the top view which showed the power supply module in 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is the side view which looked at the power supply module from X2 direction in the state which removed the wall part by the side of X2 of the battery accommodating main body in 3rd Embodiment of this invention virtually. It is the side view which showed the power supply module in 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is the enlarged view which showed the engagement convex part and engagement recessed part by the 3rd modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the enlarged view which showed the engagement convex part and engagement concave part by the 4th modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the enlarged view which showed the engagement convex part and engagement concave part by the 5th modification of 1st Embodiment of this invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
First, with reference to FIGS. 1-6, the structure of the power supply module 100 by 1st Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the power supply module 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a box-shaped battery housing body 1 and an opening provided on the upper side (Z1 side) of the battery housing body 1. A cover 2 for covering, four batteries 3 accommodated in the accommodating portion 1a of the battery accommodating main body 1, and a pair of spacers 4 are provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the lid 2 is configured to be fixed to the battery housing body 1 by six fastening members 5. The battery housing main body 1 and the lid 2 are both made of steel and are manufactured using a mold, so that the dimensional accuracy is high. The battery 3 is an example of the “storage element” in the present invention, and the spacer 4 is an example of the “spacer” and the “external member” in the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the four batteries 3 are separated from each other by a predetermined distance D <b> 1 in the longitudinal direction (Y direction) of the battery housing body 1, and the terminal surface 33 a is on the opening side (Z <b> 1) of the battery housing body 1. Are arranged side by side in the accommodating portion 1a. In addition, the pair of spacers 4 are respectively disposed so as to be positioned on the side surface 33b on the X1 side and the side surface 33c on the X2 side of the four batteries 3, and as shown in FIG. It is comprised so that it may arrange | position between the four batteries 3 and the accommodating part 1a of the battery accommodating main body 1 so that it may pinch | interpose from the transversal direction (X direction) of the main body 1. FIG.

  The spacer 4 is made of a hard resin material that is slightly deformable with respect to a predetermined stress or more. The spacer 4 is made of a plate-like member that extends in the Y direction, which is the direction in which the batteries 3 are arranged. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, the length L1 of the spacer 4 in the Y direction is configured to be substantially the same as the length of the housing portion 1a of the battery housing body 1 in the Y direction. Thereby, the spacer 4 is comprised so that the movement of a Y direction may be controlled in the state arrange | positioned in the accommodating part 1a.

  Further, four engaging convex portions 40 are formed in the lower portion (the portion on the Z2 side) of the spacer 4. The engaging protrusions 40 are formed in a wedge shape (trapezoidal shape) that is formed at a constant interval D2 in the Y direction and has a width in the Y direction that narrows downward (Z2 direction) toward the Z2 side. It is formed to protrude. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the wedge-shaped engagement convex portion 40 has a bottom portion 40b extending in the Y direction so as to connect the lower ends of a pair of inclined portions 40a inclined downward (Z2 direction). doing. The engagement convex portion 40 is an example of the “first contact portion” and the “first engagement portion” in the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the battery 3 is a rectangular lithium ion battery, and includes a box-shaped exterior body 30 made of an aluminum alloy, a wound-type power generation element 31 (broken line in FIG. 3), and a pair of electrodes. Terminal 32. The exterior body 30 is composed of an open box-shaped container 30a having an opening at the upper end and a plate-shaped lid portion 30b, both of which are made of an aluminum alloy. The power generation element 31 is wound inside a container 30a in a state where an electrode plate 31a composed of a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate and a separator 31b are wound in a long cylindrical shape so as to be stacked in the stacking direction (Y direction and Z direction). Be placed. And the cover part 30b is fitted to the opening location of the container 30a, and the container 30a and the cover part 30b are joined by welding, such as laser welding. Thereafter, an electrolytic solution is injected from an injection port (not shown), and the injection port is sealed to complete the battery 3.

  At this time, due to manufacturing variations such as variations in the thickness of the electrode plate 31a and variations in tension when the power generating element 31 is wound, variations in thickness in the Y direction, which is the main stacking direction of the power generating elements 31, occur. 3 also varies in the thickness in the Y direction. Similarly, the length of the power generation element 31 in the Z direction also varies. When the container 30a and the lid portion 30b are welded, the upper and lower sides of the exterior body 30 completed after welding due to variations in the length of the power generating element 31 in the Z direction and variations in the degree of fitting between the container 30a and the lid portion 30b. Variation in the length in the direction (Z direction) also occurs.

  Further, the power generation element 31 is likely to deteriorate and expand due to repeated charging and discharging. At that time, the power generating element 31 hardly expands in the X direction in which the winding axis A extends, but expands slightly in the Z direction, and greatly expands in the Y direction (main stacking direction) in which the electrode plates 31a are stacked. . Thereby, among the outer surfaces 33 of the exterior body 30, the side surface 33d on the Y1 side and the side surface 33e on the Y2 side orthogonal to the Y direction are easily deformed by the expansion of the power generation element 31 in the Y direction, while the stacking direction of the electrode plates The side surface 33b on the X1 side and the side surface 33c on the X2 side parallel to the (Y direction and Z direction) are not easily affected by the expansion of the power generation element 31, and are not easily deformed.

  The pair of electrode terminals 32 are provided so as to protrude upward from the upper (Z1 side) terminal surface 33 a of the outer surface 33 of the exterior body 30. The terminal surface 33a is also the upper surface of the lid portion 30b. Moreover, the electrode terminals 32 of the adjacent batteries 3 are connected by a bus bar (not shown), and as a result, the four batteries 3 are connected in series or in parallel. Thus, the terminal surface 33a is open to the outside when the cover 2 of the power supply module 100 is removed.

  In addition, the engaging member 34 is attached to each of the side surface 33b on the X1 side and the side surface 33c on the X2 side, which are parallel to the stacking direction (Y direction and Z direction) of the electrode plate 31a, of the outer surface 33 of the exterior body 30. ing. The engaging member 34 is formed in a plate shape having a predetermined thickness, and is made of an aluminum alloy like the exterior body 30. Further, the engaging member 34 is attached to the approximate center in the vertical direction (Z direction) of the side surfaces 33b and 33c and the center in the Y direction. Here, as will be described in detail later, the engaging member 34 is attached at substantially the same height position (position in the Z direction) among the four batteries 3 as shown in FIG. In other words, due to individual differences of the batteries 3 that occur when the batteries 3 are manufactured, the vertical sizes of the batteries 3 are different from each other, and even if the terminal surfaces 33a are not located at the same height position, The height position of the combined member 34 is configured to be substantially the same.

  Here, in the first embodiment, a concave engagement recess 35 is provided on the upper portion (Z1 side portion) of the engagement member 34. The engaging recess 35 is formed by cutting the upper portion of the engaging member 34 into a wedge shape (trapezoidal shape). That is, the concave engagement recess 35 is formed to correspond to the wedge-shaped engagement protrusion 40. As shown in FIG. 5, the engagement recess 35 has a bottom 35b extending in the Y direction so as to connect the lower ends of a pair of inclined portions 35a inclined downward from the upper end of the engagement member 34. ing. The engagement recess 35 is an example of the “second contact portion”, “second engagement portion”, and “contact portion” in the present invention.

  The engaging member 34 is attached to the side surfaces 33b and 33c by welding. Attachment is performed with respect to the single member of the container 30a which is a structural member of the battery 3. Here, the individual members of the container 30a and the engaging member 34 are manufactured with high dimensional accuracy by a mold or the like. Then, the engagement member 34 is welded to a predetermined height position from the bottom surface of the container 30a with high accuracy by welding using a positioning jig (not shown) or the like. The welding is performed by spot welding or laser welding. At this time, since the container 30a and the engaging member 34 are both made of an aluminum alloy, the engaging member 34 can be easily attached to the container 30a (the outer package 30) by welding.

  In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the four spacers 4 are arranged in the engagement recesses 35 of the engagement members 34 attached to the side surfaces 33 b of the four batteries 3 on the X1 side of the power supply module 100. The engaging projections 40 are configured to be inserted from above (Z direction) and engaged (contacted). Further, on the X2 side of the power supply module 100, the four engaging convex portions 40 of the spacer 4 are inserted from above into the engaging concave portions 35 of the engaging members 34 attached to the side surfaces 33c of the four batteries 3, respectively. It is configured to be in contact (contact). In addition, the engagement convex part 40 is comprised so that it may press-fit and engage with the engagement recessed part 35 from the upper direction (Z1 direction) orthogonal to the terminal surface 33a on XY plane.

  In addition, the upper end surface 4a of the spacer 4 is positioned above (the Z1 side) the terminal surface 33a of the battery 3 in a state where the engaging convex portion 40 of the spacer 4 is press-fitted into the engaging concave portion 35 of the battery 3. It is configured. Thereby, when the engagement convex part 40 of the spacer 4 is press-fitted into the engagement concave part 35 of the battery 3, it is possible to suppress the press-fitting tool (for example, a hammer) from coming into contact with the terminal surface 33 a of the battery 3. Therefore, it is possible to easily press-fit the engaging convex portion 40 into the engaging concave portion 35.

  Further, the interval D2 between the four engaging convex portions 40 is configured to be substantially the same as the interval D1 between the batteries 3. As a result, the four batteries 3 are fixed by the pair of spacers 4, whereby the distance D1 between the four batteries 3 is kept substantially constant, and the movement of the four batteries 3 in the Y direction is restricted. It is configured as follows. The distance D1 between the batteries 3 is larger than the thickness t1 of the batteries 3 and is formed so that individual differences in the thickness t1 of each battery 3 can be absorbed. As a result, even if the thickness t1 of the battery 3 varies due to the individual differences of the batteries 3 that occur during the manufacture of the battery 3, the distance D1 between the four batteries 3 is kept substantially constant regardless of the variation. It is configured as follows. The interval D1 is set so as to absorb the expansion of the battery 3 during use.

  Further, in the four batteries 3, the engagement member 34 is configured so that the height positions thereof are substantially the same, so that the engagement protrusions 40 of the spacer 4 are more formed in the engagement recesses 35 of the engagement member 34. Engagement (contact) can be ensured.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the bottom portion 40 b of the engaging convex portion 40 is formed to be slightly larger in the Y direction than the bottom portion 35 b of the engaging concave portion 35. As a result, when the engaging convex portion 40 of the spacer 4 is press-fitted into the engaging concave portion 35 from above, the engaging convex portion 40 of the spacer 4 is plastically deformed in a direction contracted in the Y direction. 35 to be engaged. As a result, the inclined portion 40a of the engaging convex portion 40 of the spacer 4 after press-fitting is located on the inner side in the Y direction relative to the inclined portion 40a before press-fitting, and the bottom portion of the engaging convex portion 40 of the spacer 4 after press-fitting. 40b is shorter in the Y direction than the bottom 40b before press-fitting. And the engagement convex part 40 is comprised so that it may closely_contact | adhere to the engagement recessed part 35 with its own restoring force (force which tries to return to the original in a Y direction).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the side surface 33b on the X1 side and the side surface 33c on the X2 side of the battery 3 are respectively arranged with a distance D3 from the inner surface on the X1 side and the inner surface on the X2 side of the housing portion 1a. The distance D3 is formed to be larger than the thickness t2 of the engaging member 34. Thus, the engagement member 34 and the inner surface on the X1 side and the inner surface on the X2 side of the housing portion 1a are configured to be spaced from each other (D3-t2).

  The spacer 4 is disposed between the battery 3 and the housing portion 1a of the battery housing body 1, and has a thickness t3 substantially the same as the gap D3 between the inner surface of the housing portion 1a and the side surfaces 33b and 33c. Have. Here, the side surface 33b and the side surface 33c of the battery 3 are outer surfaces 33 parallel to the stacking direction (Y direction and Z direction) of the electrode plate 31a of the power generating element 31. The side surface 33b and the side surface 33c are not easily affected by variations in the power generation element 31. For this reason, the distance D3 is substantially constant with little variation among the four batteries 3. Therefore, it is not necessary to adjust the thickness t3 of the spacer 34 for each battery 3, and as a result, it is possible to improve the assembly workability when assembling the plurality of battery modules 100. In addition, with the battery 3 and the spacer 4 disposed in the housing portion 1a, the pair of spacers 4 are disposed in the gaps on both sides in the X direction, whereby the four batteries 3 are restricted from moving in the X direction. It is configured to be.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, when the spacer 4 comes into surface contact with the inner surface in the X direction of the housing portion 1a, the friction force acting between the spacer 4 and the inner surface of the housing portion 1a causes the spacer 4 and the spacer 4 to move. The four batteries to be fixed are configured to be restricted from moving in the Z direction. As a result, the spacer 4 restricts the movement of the four batteries 3 in all the X, Y, and Z directions. As a result, even if there are individual differences among the four batteries 3, the movement of the four batteries 3 in all directions of the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction is regulated using one kind of spacer 4. Has been.

  In the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  In the first embodiment, four engagement convex portions 40 of the spacer 4 arranged on the X1 side are respectively engaged with the engagement concave portions 35 of the engagement members 34 attached to the side surfaces 33b on the X1 side of the four batteries 3. The four engaging protrusions 40 of the spacer 4 arranged on the X2 side are engaged with the engaging recesses 35 of the engaging members 34 attached to the side surfaces 33c on the X2 side of the four batteries 3. Each is configured to engage (abut). Thereby, since the movement of the battery 3 in the Z direction can be restricted by the spacer 4, it is possible to effectively suppress the battery 3 from rattling in the Z direction regardless of the individual difference of the batteries 3. Thereby, even if there is an individual difference in the size of the battery 3, the battery 3 can be fixed without adjusting the size and quantity of the spacers 4.

  Moreover, in 1st Embodiment, the engagement recessed part 35 was provided in the side surfaces 33b and 33c which are hard to deform | transform parallel to the lamination direction (Y direction and Z direction) of the electrode plate 31a among the outer surfaces 33 of the exterior body 30. By attaching the engaging member 34, even if the dimensions of the battery 3 vary, the side surfaces 33b and 33c parallel to the stacking direction (Y direction and Z direction) of the electrode plate 31a are less likely to vary. The engagement (contact) state between the engagement protrusion 40 and the engagement recess 35 of the battery 3 can be more reliably maintained.

  In the first embodiment, the engagement convex portion 40 of the spacer 4 is engaged with the engagement concave portion 35 of the battery 3 from above (Z1 direction) perpendicular to the terminal surface 33a on the XY plane. Since the engaging convex portion 40 can be engaged (contacted) with the engaging concave portion 35 of the battery 3 from above (Z1 direction) orthogonal to the opened terminal surface 33a, the engaging convex portion 40 of the spacer 4 can be engaged. And the engagement recess 35 of the battery 3 can be easily brought into contact with each other.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the engaging convex portion 40 of the spacer 4 is formed so as to protrude in a wedge shape (trapezoidal shape), and the concave engaging concave portion 35 is formed in the wedge-shaped engaging convex portion 40. Form to correspond. Accordingly, the engagement convex portion 40 of the spacer 4 and the engagement concave portion 35 of the battery 3 can be engaged with each other by the wedge shape and the concave shape corresponding to the wedge shape, so that the battery 3 is effectively rattled. Can be suppressed. Moreover, the engagement convex part 40 and the engagement recessed part 35 can be easily engaged because the engagement convex part 40 and the engagement recessed part 35 have a corresponding shape.

  In the first embodiment, in the four batteries 3, the height positions of the engagement members 34 are substantially the same, and the four engagement protrusions 40 of the spacer 4 and the engagement recesses 35 of the four batteries 3 Even if there are variations in the height dimension in the Z direction and the thickness in the Y direction among the four batteries 3, the Z of the battery 3 is not affected by the spacer 4 regardless of the variation. Movement in the direction and the Y direction can be restricted.

  In the first embodiment, since only the pair of spacers 4 can be used to restrict the movement of the four batteries 3 in the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction, the battery 3 as in the conventional case. There is no need to arrange a spacer so as to fill a gap between each other or between the battery 3 and the accommodating portion 1a. Thereby, since the number of spacers is not required to be large, the power supply module 100 can be reduced in weight. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to change the shape (size or thickness) of the spacer 4 in order to fill the gap between the batteries 3 or between the battery 3 and the accommodating portion 1a, the component configuration can be simplified. .

(First modification of the first embodiment)
Next, a first modification of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the first modification of the first embodiment, unlike the first embodiment in which the engagement member 34 is provided at the approximate center in the vertical direction (Z direction) of the side surfaces 33b and 33c, the engagement member 34 is disposed on the side surface 33b. An example provided near the lower end in the Z direction of 33c will be described.

  In the power supply module 200 of the first modified example of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the engaging member 34 is a lower end in the Z direction (on the Z2 side) of the side surfaces 33 b and 33 c of the outer surface 33 of the exterior body 30. It is attached in the vicinity of the end portion and in the center in the Y direction. In addition, the spacer 204 has the upper end surface 204a of the spacer 204 above the terminal surface 33a of the battery 3 (Z1 side) in a state where the engaging convex portion 40 of the spacer 204 is press-fitted into the engaging concave portion 35 of the battery 3. The upper part of the spacer 204 is formed so as to extend in the Z direction as compared with the first embodiment. Thereby, since the area | region where the spacer 204 surface-contacts with the inner surface of the accommodating part 1a can be enlarged rather than the said 1st Embodiment, the frictional force which acts between the spacer 204 and the inner surface of the accommodating part 1a is larger. As a result, it is possible to further restrict the movement of the spacer 204 and the battery 3 in the Z direction.

  In addition, the other structure and effect of the 1st modification of 1st Embodiment are the same as that of the said 1st Embodiment.

(Second modification of the first embodiment)
Next, a second modification of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. In the second modification of the first embodiment, an example will be described in which the spacer 304 is fixed to the battery housing body 301, unlike the spacer 4 of the first embodiment.

  In the second modification of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the end portion on the Y1 side and the end portion on the Y2 side of the upper end surface 304a of the spacer 304 are protruded in the Y1 direction and the Y2 direction, respectively. A portion 304b is provided. As shown in FIG. 9, the flange portion 304 b is configured to be fixed to the upper surface 301 b of the battery housing body 301 by a fastening member 305.

  Here, in the second modification of the first embodiment, the lower surface of the flange portion 304b of the spacer 304 is the battery housing body 301 in a state where the engaging convex portion 40 of the spacer 304 is press-fitted into the engaging concave portion 35 of the battery 3. The length of the upper portion of the spacer 304 in the vertical direction (Z direction) is set so as to contact the upper surface 301b of the spacer 304. Accordingly, the spacer 304 is fixed to the upper surface 301b of the battery housing body 301 by the fastening member 305 in a state in which the engaging convex portion 40 of the spacer 304 is press-fitted into the engaging concave portion 35 of the battery 3, thereby The movement in all directions of the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction is restricted. In addition, the other structure of the 2nd modification of 1st Embodiment is the same as that of the said 1st Embodiment.

  In the second modification of the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  In the second modification of the first embodiment, the four engagement protrusions of the spacer 304 disposed on the X1 side are fitted into the engagement recesses 35 of the engagement members 34 attached to the side surfaces 33b on the X1 side of the four batteries 3. Each of the portions 40 engages (contacts), and the four engagements of the spacers 304 disposed on the X2 side in the engagement recesses 35 of the engagement members 34 attached to the side surfaces 33c on the X2 side of the four batteries 3 are provided. The mating protrusions 40 are configured to engage (abut). Thereby, similarly to the said 1st Embodiment, irrespective of the individual difference of the battery 3, it can suppress effectively that the battery 3 shakes in a Z direction.

  Further, in the second modified example of the first embodiment, the spacer 304 is inserted into the upper surface 301 b of the battery housing body 301 by the fastening member 305 in a state where the engaging convex portion 40 of the spacer 304 is press-fitted into the engaging concave portion 35 of the battery 3. By fixing the spacer 304 in the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction in all directions. Thereby, since the movement of the spacer 304 can be reliably suppressed, in the four batteries 3 in which the engagement concave portions 35 are engaged with the engagement convex portions 40 of the spacer 304, all of the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction are used. The movement in the direction can be effectively restricted. The remaining effects of the second modification of the first embodiment are similar to those of the aforementioned first embodiment.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. In the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment in which the engagement convex portions 40 of the spacers 4 are engaged with the engagement concave portions 35 of the four batteries 3, the contact member attached to one battery 403. An example in which the contact portion 440 of the spacer 404 is brought into contact with the contact portion 435 of 434 will be described.

  In the power supply module 400 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, one cylindrical battery 403 and a pair of plates are provided in the housing portion 401 a of the box-shaped battery housing body 401. The spacer 404 is accommodated. Note that the lid disposed above the battery housing body 401 and the power generation element disposed inside are not shown. The cylindrical battery 403 includes a cylindrical exterior body 430 having a terminal surface 433a provided with a pair of electrode terminals 32 on the upper side (Z1 side). The exterior body 430 includes a lid portion 430b including a terminal surface 433a and a container 430a, and the lid portion 430b and the container 430a are joined by laser welding or the like. When the lid portion 430b and the container 430a are joined, the height dimension of the battery 403 varies.

  A pair of contact members 434 are provided on the side surface 433 b of the outer surface 433 of the cylindrical exterior body 430. The pair of contact members 434 are located at a predetermined height from the bottom surface of the exterior body 430 (the bottom surface of the battery 403), as in the first embodiment. The pair of contact members 434 are provided so as to protrude in the X1 direction and the X2 direction from the X1 side and the X2 side of the side surface 433b, respectively, and are joined to the side surface 433b of the exterior body 430 by welding or the like. . The battery 403 is an example of the “power storage element” in the present invention, and the spacer 404 is an example of the “spacer” and the “external member” in the present invention.

  Further, the plate-like spacer 404 is configured to be substantially the same as the length in the Y direction of the housing portion 401a of the battery housing body 401, so that the movement in the Y direction is performed in the state of being disposed in the housing portion 401a. It is configured to be regulated. In addition, the pair of spacers 404 are disposed in the gaps on both sides in the X direction of the battery 403, so that the battery 403 is restricted from moving in the X direction.

  Further, the power supply module 400 is configured such that the contact portion 440 on the lower surface of the spacer 404 is in surface contact (contact) with the contact portion 435 on the upper surface of the contact member 434 of the battery 403. Accordingly, the movement of the battery 403 in the Z direction is restricted, and the movement of the battery 403 in the Y direction is also restricted to some extent by the frictional force acting between the contact part 435 and the contact part 440. Has been. As a result, the spacer 404 restricts the movement of the battery 403 in the X direction and the Z direction among the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction, and also restricts the movement in the Y direction to some extent. The contact portion 435 is an example of the “second contact portion” and the “contact portion” in the present invention, and the contact portion 440 is the “first contact portion” and the “contact portion” in the present invention. Is an example.

  In the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  In the power supply module 400 according to the second embodiment, even when the height dimension of the battery 403 in the Z direction varies, the contact member 434 has a predetermined height position from the bottom surface of the battery 403. Therefore, it is not necessary to adjust the dimension of the spacer 404 in accordance with the height dimension of each battery 403.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. In the third embodiment, unlike the first embodiment in which the pair of spacers 4 are arranged on the X1 side and the X2 side of the four batteries 3, respectively, the spacer 504 is arranged only on one side of the four batteries 503. Will be described.

  In the power supply module 500 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 12, four long cylindrical batteries 503 and one plate-shaped battery 503 are housed in the housing portion 1 a of the box-shaped battery housing body 1. A spacer 504 is accommodated. In addition, the cover body arrange | positioned above the battery accommodating main body 1 (Z1 side) is abbreviate | omitting illustration. In the power generation element 531 accommodated in the long cylindrical battery 503, the electrode plate and the separator are wound so as to be stacked in the stacking direction (X direction and Y direction), and the winding shaft B is in the Z direction. It is arranged to extend. The battery 503 includes a long cylindrical exterior body 530 having a terminal surface 533a on which a pair of electrode terminals 32 are provided. Note that the exterior body 530 includes a lid portion 530b including a terminal surface 533a and a container 530a. When the lid portion 530b and the container 530a are joined, the height of the battery 503 varies. The power generation element 531 does not substantially expand in the Z direction in which the winding shaft B extends, but expands slightly in the X direction and expands greatly in the Y direction. The four batteries 503 are accommodated in the accommodating portion 1a of the battery accommodating main body 1 with a predetermined interval in the Y direction. The battery 503 is an example of the “storage element” in the present invention.

  The contact member 434 is attached to the arc-shaped side surface 533c on the X2 side of the outer surface 533 of the exterior body 530 so that the contact member 434 is positioned at a predetermined height from the bottom surface of the exterior body 530 (the bottom surface of the battery 503). ing. On the other hand, the contact member 434 is not attached to the arc-shaped side surface 533b on the X1 side. Here, since the side surface 533c is formed in an arc shape, it is possible to absorb the expansion of the power generation element 531 in the X direction to some extent. Further, the side surface 533b on the X1 side of the four batteries 503 is configured to contact the inner surface of the housing portion 1a of the battery housing body 1, while the side surface 533c and the battery housing are disposed on the X2 side of the four batteries 503. A gap is formed between the housing portion 1 a of the main body 1.

  The spacer 504 is disposed between the side surface 533 c and the accommodating portion 1 a of the battery accommodating body 1 on the X2 side of the four batteries 503. That is, unlike the first embodiment, only one spacer 504 is provided. Thereby, since the number of the spacers 504 can be reduced, the number of parts can be reduced. The spacer 504 is an example of the “external member” in the present invention.

  Further, in the power supply module 500, as shown in FIG. 13, the contact portion 440 on the lower surface of the spacer 504 is in surface contact (contact) with the contact portion 435 on the upper surface of the contact member 434 of the four batteries 503. It is configured. Thereby, the movement of the batteries 503 in the Z direction is restricted, and the movement of the four batteries 503 in the Y direction is restricted to some extent by the frictional force acting between the contact parts 435 and 440. It is configured. Further, the battery 503 is configured such that movement in the X direction is restricted in a state where the battery 503 and the spacer 504 are disposed in the housing portion 1a. As a result, the four batteries 503 are configured to be restricted from moving in all directions of the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction with a predetermined interval in the Y direction.

  In the third embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  In the power supply module 500 according to the third embodiment, even if the height dimension in the Z direction and the thickness in the Y direction vary among the four batteries 503, the contact member 434 is separated from the bottom surface of the battery 503. Therefore, it is not necessary to adjust the dimension of the spacer 504 in accordance with the height dimension of each battery 503.

(Fourth embodiment)
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the fourth embodiment, among the outer surface 33 of the exterior body 30, the engaging member is respectively formed on the side surface 33b on the X1 side and the side surface 33c on the X2 side parallel to the stacking direction (Y direction and Z direction) of the electrode plate 31a. Unlike the first embodiment in which 34 is attached, an example in which the terminal surface 633a of the battery 603 has a frame member 634 (engagement member) engaged with the spacer 604 will be described.

  In the power supply module 600 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 14, the opening of the box-shaped battery housing body 601 is formed so as to face sideways (X2 side). Although the opening is closed with a lid, the illustration is omitted. Further, the four batteries 603 are accommodated horizontally in the accommodating portion 1a of the battery accommodating main body 601 with a predetermined interval in the Y direction. That is, the battery 603 is accommodated such that the terminal surface 633a is positioned on the X2 side. The battery 603 is an example of the “storage element” in the present invention.

  The battery 603 is a rectangular lithium ion battery, and includes a box-shaped exterior body 630 made of an aluminum alloy, a stack-type power generation element 631 (broken line in FIG. 14), and a pair of electrode terminals 632. The stack-type power generation element 631 is a power generation element in which a plurality of electrode plates and a plurality of separators are alternately stacked. The exterior body 630 includes a lid portion 630b and a container (not shown), and the terminal surface 633a is an outer surface exposed from an opening portion on the X2 side of the lid portion 630b. The pair of electrode terminals 632 are provided on the terminal surface 633a of the outer surface 633 of the exterior body 630, and are formed in a flat plate shape having a rectangular shape. Each electrode terminal 632 is provided with a frame member 634 made of an insulating member so as to cover the entire circumference of the electrode terminal 632. The frame member 634 is formed in a rectangular frame shape so as to correspond to the rectangular electrode terminal 632. Here, both the lid portion 630b and the electrode terminal 632 are metal parts processed by a mold, and the frame member 634 is also resin-molded by the mold, so that each part has high dimensional accuracy. For this reason, the position on the terminal surface 633a (lid portion 630b) of the frame member 634 has little variation among the plurality of batteries 603.

  In addition, the power supply module 600 includes one spacer 604. Four engaging recesses 640 formed at a predetermined interval in the Y direction are formed in the lower portion (Z2 side portion) of the spacer 604 so as to correspond to the interval between the four batteries 603. The engaging recess 640 is formed as a rectangular cutout so as to correspond to the outer peripheral surface 635 of the rectangular frame member 634. Thereby, the outer peripheral surface 635 of the frame member 634 and the engaging recess 640 of the spacer 604 are configured to engage (contact) each other. As a result, the four batteries 603 are configured to be restricted from moving in the Y direction by the spacer 604. The engagement recess 640 is an example of the “first contact portion” and the “first engagement portion” in the present invention, and the outer peripheral surface 635 is the “second contact portion” and the “second contact” in the present invention. It is an example of an “engagement part”.

  In addition, the spacer 604 is engaged with the outer peripheral surface 635 of the frame member 634 by moving downward (Z2 direction) with the surface in contact with the vicinity of the center in the Z direction of the terminal surfaces 633a of the four batteries 603. It is configured to engage the mating recess 640.

  In the fourth embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  In the power supply module 600 of the fourth embodiment, even when the thickness in the Y direction varies among the four batteries 603, the spacer 604 keeps a predetermined interval in the Y direction of the four batteries 603. Since the movement in the Y direction can be restricted, even if there is a variation in the thickness in the Y direction among the four batteries 603, the spacer 604 allows the battery 603 to move in the Y direction regardless of the variation. The movement to can be regulated.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description of the embodiments but by the scope of claims for patent, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims for patent.

  For example, in the first embodiment, the engaging convex portion 40 of the spacer 4 is formed so as to protrude in a wedge shape (trapezoidal shape) on the Z2 side, and corresponds to the wedge-shaped engaging convex portion 40. Although the example which forms the engagement recessed part 35 of the engagement member 34 in a concave shape was shown, this invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, for example, as in the third modification of the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 15, the engagement convex portion 740 of the spacer 704 is formed in a triangle so as to protrude to the Z2 side, and the triangle The engaging concave portion 735 of the engaging member 734 may be formed in a triangular concave shape so as to be engageable with the engaging convex portion 740 having a shape. The engagement convex portion 740 is an example of the “first contact portion” and the “first engagement portion” in the present invention, and the engagement recess portion 735 is the “second contact portion”, “ It is an example of a “second engaging portion” and a “contact portion”.

  Further, as in the fourth modification of the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 16, contrary to the third modification of the first embodiment, the engagement member 834 has a triangular shape so as to protrude to the Z1 side. In addition, the spacer 804 may be provided with an engaging concave portion 840 formed in a triangular concave shape so as to be engageable with the triangular engaging convex portion 835. The engagement concave portion 840 is an example of the “first contact portion” and the “first engagement portion” in the present invention, and the engagement convex portion 835 is the “second contact portion”, “ It is an example of a “second engaging portion” and a “contact portion”.

  Further, as in the fifth modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 17, the claw portions 935c may be provided so as to protrude from the pair of inclined portions 935a of the engaging recess 935 of the engaging member 934. Good. As a result, the claw portion 935c is hooked on the engaging convex portion 40 of the spacer 4, whereby the engaging convex portion 40 of the spacer 4 and the engaging concave portion 935 of the engaging member 934 can be more firmly engaged. is there. The engagement recess 935 is an example of the “second contact portion”, “second engagement portion”, and “contact portion” in the present invention.

  Moreover, in the said 1st-4th embodiment, although the battery 3 showed the example which consists of lithium ion batteries, this invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the battery may be composed of a non-aqueous electrolyte battery other than a lithium ion battery, or may be composed of an aqueous electrolyte battery such as a nickel hydrogen battery.

  In the first, third, and fourth embodiments, an example in which four batteries 3 are arranged in the Y direction but not arranged in the X direction is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this. I can't. In the present invention, in addition to arranging a plurality of batteries in the Y direction, a plurality of batteries may be arranged in the X direction. At this time, it is preferable that the spacer is appropriately arranged so that the first contact portion comes into contact with the second contact portion provided in the battery.

  In the second modification of the first embodiment, the spacer 304 is fixed to the upper surface 301b of the battery housing body 301. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the spacer may be fixed to the side surface of the battery housing body. At this time, it is preferable that the spacer is fixed to the side surface of the battery housing body in a state where the engaging convex portion of the spacer is press-fitted into the engaging concave portion of the battery.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, the engagement member (abutment member, frame) provided with an engagement recess (abutment portion, outer peripheral surface), which is an example of the “second engagement portion” of the present invention. Although the example in which the member) and the exterior body are separate members has been shown, the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the second engaging portion (second abutting portion) may be formed on a protruding portion that is integrally formed with the exterior body so as to protrude from the outer surface of the exterior body.

3,403,503,603 Battery (electric storage element)
4, 204, 304, 404, 504, 704, 804 Spacer (external member)
30, 430, 530 Exterior body 31, 531, Power generation element 31a Electrode plate 33, 433, 533 Outer surface 33a, 433a Terminal surface 35, 735, 935 Engaging recess (second contact portion, second engagement portion, contact portion) )
40, 740 Engagement convex part (first contact part, first engagement part)
100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 Power module 435 contact part (second contact part)
440 Contact portion (first contact portion)
604 Spacer 635 Outer peripheral surface (second contact portion, second engagement portion)
640 engagement recess (first contact portion, first engagement portion)
835 engagement convex part (second contact part, second engagement part, contact part)
840 engagement recess (first contact portion, first engagement portion)

Claims (6)

A spacer including a first contact portion;
A power supply module comprising: an exterior body; and a power storage element including a second contact portion that is provided on an outer surface of the exterior body and contacts the first contact portion of the spacer. The exterior body contains a power generation element configured by laminating electrode plates,
2. The power supply module according to claim 1, wherein the second contact portion is provided on the outer surface of the exterior body that is parallel to the stacking direction of the electrode plates. The exterior body has a terminal surface provided with terminals,
The power supply module according to claim 1, wherein the first contact portion of the spacer is configured to contact the second contact portion from a direction orthogonal to the terminal surface. The first contact portion has a first engagement portion,
The power module according to claim 1, wherein the second contact portion includes a second engagement portion that engages with the first engagement portion. Either one of the first engagement portion or the second engagement portion has a wedge shape,
5. The power supply module according to claim 4, wherein one of the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion has a concave shape corresponding to the wedge shape. An exterior body having a terminal surface provided with terminals;
A power storage device comprising: an outer surface of the exterior body, and a contact portion that contacts an external member from a direction orthogonal to the terminal surface.

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