JP2016115481A - Power storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power storage device that can prevent deterioration in cooling performance of a power storage element even when the power storage element is deformed.SOLUTION: A power storage device has a power storage element, a spacer 2A adjacent to the power storage element and a holding member for holding the power storage element and the spacer 2A. The power storage element has a confronting face which confronts the spacer 2A, and the spacer 2A has a base 20A containing a center portion area 200A confronting the center portion of the confronting face of the power storage element and other areas surrounding the center portion area 200A, and a rib 25A extending from the base 20A to an adjacent power storage element. The rib 25A is formed in the spacer 2A so that the rigidity of the center portion area 200A is higher than the rigidity of the other areas.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a power storage device including a power storage element.

  Conventionally, an assembled battery has been provided as a power source for various devices. Such an assembled battery includes a battery cell, a separator adjacent to the battery cell, a battery cell element, and a bind bar that holds the separator.

  The battery cell has a facing surface facing the separator. This will be described more specifically. The battery cell has a case that houses an electrode body including a positive electrode and a negative electrode. The case includes a case main body having an opening and a lid plate for closing the opening of the case main body.

  In the battery cell, the case main body is adjacent to the separator (a separator main body described later). Therefore, the opposing surface of the battery cell is constituted by one surface of the case body in the direction in which the battery cell and the separator are arranged.

  The separator includes a separator main body portion including a central region facing the central portion of the opposed surface of the battery cell and other regions around the central region, and a rib extending from the separator main body portion toward an adjacent battery cell. And have.

  The rib of the separator is in contact with the opposing surface of the battery cell. Therefore, in the assembled battery, a space is formed between the facing surface of the battery cell and the separator main body.

  Therefore, in the assembled battery, it is supposed that the battery cell can be cooled by circulating gas in the space between the facing surface of the battery cell and the separator main body.

  By the way, in the battery cell of the assembled battery, the case body may be deformed. This will be described more specifically. In the battery cell, for example, the case main body may expand due to repeated charge and discharge, and the opposing surface may be deformed.

  In this case, since the facing surface of the battery cell is curved in a convex shape toward the separator main body, the space between the facing surface of the battery cell and the separator main body is reduced. In particular, the battery cell is likely to be deformed toward the central portion side of the facing surface. For this reason, the space between the central part of the opposing surface and the separator main body part tends to decrease more remarkably.

  Therefore, in the assembled battery, as the battery cell is deformed, the flow rate of the cooling gas flowing between the facing surface of the battery cell and the separator main body portion is reduced, and the cooling performance of the battery cell is lowered. There is.

JP 2012-123905 A

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a power storage device that can prevent a decrease in cooling performance of a power storage element even when the power storage element is deformed.

The power storage device of the present invention is
A storage element;
A spacer adjacent to the electricity storage element;
A holding member for holding the power storage element and the spacer,
The power storage element has a facing surface facing the spacer,
The spacer is
A base including a central region facing the central portion of the opposing surface of the power storage element and other regions around the central region;
A rib extending from the base toward the power storage element adjacent to the base, and
In the spacer, the rib is formed so that the rigidity of the central region of the spacer is higher than the rigidity of other regions of the spacer.

  According to the power storage device having the above configuration, the spacer is adjacent to the power storage element, and the rib of the spacer extends from the base toward the power storage element adjacent to the base. Therefore, the rib of the spacer is in contact with the opposing surface of the power storage element. Thereby, a space is formed between the opposing surface of the power storage element and the base. Therefore, the power storage element can be cooled by circulating a cooling fluid (cooling fluid) in the space between the opposing surface of the power storage element and the base.

  In the spacer in the power storage device having the above structure, the rib is formed so that the rigidity of the central region of the spacer is higher than the rigidity of the other regions. Therefore, in the power storage device, the deformation (expansion) of the central portion of the facing surface of the power storage element is suppressed, and the rib in the central region is suppressed from being deformed (crushed) by being pressed by the facing surface to be deformed. It is done. Therefore, in the power storage device, a decrease in the space between the facing surface of the power storage element and the base of the spacer is suppressed, and thereby a decrease in cooling performance of the power storage element is suppressed. In the present invention, the central region of the spacer is a region including the central region of the base and the ribs provided in the region, and the other region of the spacer is provided in the other region of the base and the region. The region including the ribs formed.

In the power storage device,
The ribs may be provided more densely in the central region of the base than in other regions of the base.

  In this way, the rigidity of the central region of the spacer can be made higher than the rigidity of other regions of the spacer, so that the deformation of the opposing surface of the power storage element is suppressed, and the rib of the central region of the spacer is deformed. It is possible to suppress deformation by being pushed by the opposing surface to be attempted. Therefore, in the power storage device, a decrease in the space between the facing surface of the power storage element and the base of the spacer is suppressed, and thereby a decrease in cooling performance of the power storage element is suppressed.

In the power storage device,
The ribs provided in the central region of the base may be thicker than the ribs provided in other regions of the base.

  In this way, the rigidity of the rib provided in the central region of the base is higher than the rigidity of the rib provided in other areas of the base. Therefore, the rigidity of the central region of the spacer is higher than the rigidity of the other region of the spacer, thereby suppressing the deformation of the facing surface of the power storage element and the rib of the central region of the spacer facing the deformation. It is possible to suppress deformation by being pushed by the surface. Therefore, in the power storage device, it is possible to suppress a space between the facing surface of the power storage element and the base of the spacer from being reduced, thereby suppressing a decrease in cooling performance of the power storage element.

In the power storage device,
The rib provided in the central region of the base may be made of a material harder than the rib provided in another region of the base.

  Even if it does in this way, the rigidity of the rib provided in the center part area | region of a base becomes higher than the rigidity of the rib provided in the other area | region of a base. Therefore, the rigidity of the central region of the spacer can be made higher than the rigidity of the other region of the spacer, thereby suppressing the deformation of the facing surface of the power storage element and the rib of the central region of the spacer trying to deform It is possible to suppress deformation by being pushed by the facing surface. Therefore, in the power storage device, it is possible to suppress a space between the facing surface of the power storage element and the base of the spacer from being reduced, thereby suppressing a decrease in cooling performance of the power storage element.

Furthermore, in the power storage device,
The extension amount of the rib provided in the central region of the base may be set larger than the extension amount of the rib provided in the other region of the base.

  In this way, in the assembled state as the power storage device, the amount of compression of the rib provided in the central region of the base by the facing surface of the power storage element is reduced by the rib provided in another region of the base by the facing surface of the power storage element It becomes larger than the compression amount.

  Thereby, the rigidity of the rib provided in the center part area | region of a base becomes higher than the rigidity of the rib provided in the other area | region of a base. Therefore, the rigidity of the central region of the spacer is higher than the rigidity of the other region of the spacer, thereby suppressing the deformation of the facing surface of the power storage element and the rib of the central region of the spacer trying to deform It is possible to suppress deformation by being pushed by the facing surface. Therefore, the power storage device can prevent a decrease in the cooling performance of the power storage element by suppressing a decrease in the space between the facing surface of the power storage element and the base of the spacer.

In the power storage device,
The extension amount of the rib provided in the other region of the base is set larger than the extension amount of the rib provided in the central region of the base,
The ribs provided in other regions of the base may have higher flexibility than the ribs provided in the central region of the base.

  According to this configuration, since the rib in the central region of the spacer is harder than the rib in the other region of the spacer, the rib in the central region is not easily deformed when the facing surface of the power storage element is deformed. A decrease in the space between the opposing surface of the element and the base of the spacer is suppressed, and as a result, a decrease in the cooling performance of the power storage element is suppressed.

  Moreover, since the ribs in other regions of the spacer have flexibility, when the facing surface of the electricity storage element is deformed, the distance from the base increases toward the outside of the facing surface. Before the deformation, the ribs in the other regions that have been pressed and compressed by the facing surface toward the base side extend following the separation of the facing surface from the base. Thereby, even if the opposing surface of an electrical storage element deform | transforms, contact with this opposing surface and the rib of said other area | region is maintained. That is, the airtight state at the contact position between the facing surface and the rib in the other region is maintained.

  As a result, it is possible to prevent the space between the opposing surface of the power storage element and the spacer base from decreasing, and to prevent the cooling fluid supplied to the space from leaking outside while maintaining the airtightness of the space. .

  As described above, according to the power storage device of the present invention, even if the power storage element is deformed, it is possible to achieve an excellent effect that the cooling performance of the power storage element can be prevented from being lowered.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a power storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a power storage element in the power storage device. FIG. 3 is a front view of the power storage element. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view in a state in which a part of the configuration of the power storage device is omitted. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view in a state where a part of the configuration of the power storage device is omitted. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an internal spacer of the power storage device. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the magnitude of the force applied from the power storage element to the internal spacer. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an internal spacer of a power storage device according to another embodiment. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an internal spacer of a power storage device according to another embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an internal spacer of a power storage device according to another embodiment. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an internal spacer of a power storage device according to another embodiment. FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a state in which the internal spacer and the storage element are fitted together. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an internal spacer of a power storage device according to another embodiment. FIG. 14 is a schematic view of a state in which the internal spacer and the storage element are fitted together. FIG. 15 is a schematic view when the case of the power storage element expands in a state where the internal spacer and the power storage element are fitted together.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the name of each component (each component) of this embodiment is a thing in this embodiment, and may differ from the name of each component (each component) in background art.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the power storage device includes a power storage element 1, a spacer 2 adjacent to the power storage element 1, and a holding member 3 that holds the power storage element 1 and the spacer 2 together. The holding member 3 is formed of a conductive material. Accordingly, the power storage device includes an insulator 4 that is an insulating material and is disposed between the power storage element 1 and the holding member 3.

  The power storage element 1 has a facing surface that faces the spacer 2. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the electricity storage device 1 includes an electrode body 15 including a positive electrode and a negative electrode (see FIG. 7), a case 10 that houses the electrode body 15, and an outer surface of the case 10. A pair of external terminals 11 are provided.

  The case 10 includes a case main body 100 having an opening, and a cover plate 101 that closes the opening of the case main body 100, and a pair of external terminals 11 are disposed on the outer surface.

  The case main body 100 includes a closing part 100a (see FIG. 3) and a cylindrical body part 100b connected to the periphery of the closing part 100a so as to surround the closing part 100a.

  The trunk portion 100b includes a pair of first walls 100c that face each other with a space therebetween, and a pair of second walls 100d that face each other across the pair of first walls 100c.

  Each of the first wall 100c and the second wall 100d is formed in a rectangular shape. That is, each surface of the first wall 100c and the second wall 100d is a flat surface and is a quadrangular region. The first wall 100c and the second wall 100d are arranged adjacent to each other with their edges abutted against each other. The edge of the adjacent first wall 100c and the edge of the second wall 100d are connected over the entire length. Thereby, the trunk | drum 100b is formed in the square cylinder shape. One end of the trunk portion 100b is closed by the closing portion 100a. On the other hand, the other end of the body part 100b in the case body 100 is open. This opening is closed by the cover plate 101. In the present embodiment, the surface area of the first wall 100c is larger than the surface area of the second wall 100d. For this reason, the trunk | drum 100b is a flat square tube shape. In the present embodiment, the surface of the first wall 100 c is a facing surface that faces the spacer 2.

  The power storage device according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of power storage elements 1. Each of the plurality of power storage elements 1 is aligned in one direction (first direction). In the present embodiment, each of the plurality of power storage elements 1 is aligned with the first wall 100c of the case 10 facing in one direction (first direction). The power storage device includes an unillustrated bus bar that electrically connects the external terminals 11 of two adjacent power storage elements 1.

  In the following description, for convenience, the direction (first direction) in which the power storage elements 1 are aligned is referred to as the X-axis direction. In a coordinate system (orthogonal coordinate system) in which the three axes are orthogonal to each other, one direction (second direction) of the two axial directions orthogonal to the direction in which the storage elements 1 are aligned (X-axis direction) is the Y-axis direction. The remaining one direction (third direction) is called the Z-axis direction. Accordingly, in each drawing, three orthogonal axes (coordinate axes) corresponding to the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction are supplementarily illustrated.

  The spacer 2 has an insulating property. The spacer 2 includes a base adjacent to the power storage element 1 (specifically, the case 10, more specifically, the first wall 100c of the body 100b), and a rib extending from the base toward the power storage element 1 adjacent to the base. Have. In addition, the spacer 2 of the present embodiment also has a restricting portion that prevents displacement of the power storage element 1 adjacent to the base.

  The spacer 2 will be described more specifically. The power storage device includes a plurality of power storage elements 1 as described above. Accordingly, the power storage device includes two types of spacers 2 (2A and 2B) as shown in FIGS. That is, the power storage device includes a spacer (hereinafter referred to as an internal spacer) 2A disposed between two power storage elements 1 and a spacer (hereinafter referred to as an external) adjacent to the power storage element 1 at the end of the plurality of power storage elements 1. 2B).

  First, the internal spacer 2A will be described with reference to FIGS. The internal spacer 2A forms a ventilation path 203 through which the cooling fluid can flow in the Y-axis direction (second direction) between the adjacent power storage elements 1 (see FIG. 1). Specifically, the inner spacer 2A includes a base 20A adjacent to the power storage element 1 (the first wall 100c of the case body 100) and a rib 25A extending from the base 20A toward the power storage element 1 adjacent to the base 20A. Have. Further, the inner spacer 2A has a restricting portion 21A that suppresses a positional shift of the power storage element 1 adjacent to the base 20A with respect to the base 20A. The internal spacer 2A of the present embodiment is a valve cover portion 22A that protrudes from the base 20A, and has a valve cover portion 22A that is disposed on the cover plate 101 (gas discharge valve 101a) of the electricity storage device 1. In the inner spacer 2A, the ribs are set so that the rigidity of the central region of the inner spacer 2A is higher than the rigidity of other regions around the central region (hereinafter referred to as other regions of the inner spacer 2A). 25A is formed. Details are as follows.

  The base 20 </ b> A of the inner spacer 2 </ b> A is sandwiched between the two power storage elements 1. That is, the power storage elements 1 are respectively disposed on both sides of the base 20A of the inner spacer 2A in the X-axis direction. The base 20A is a flat plate-like portion that extends in a direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction (YZ plane (plane including the Y-axis and Z-axis) direction). The base 20A of the inner spacer 2A has a first surface facing one of the two adjacent power storage elements 1 and a second surface opposite to the first surface, It has the 2nd surface facing the other electrical storage element 1 of the electrical storage elements 1. FIG. The base 20A of the inner spacer 2A has a substantially rectangular shape (a shape corresponding to the power storage element 1) when viewed in the X-axis direction. The base 20 </ b> A is approximately the same size (corresponding) as the first wall 100 c of the electricity storage device 1. Hereinafter, a region facing the central portion (the central portion in the Z-axis direction in the example of the present embodiment) of the first wall 100c of the power storage element 1 in the base 20A of the inner spacer 2A is referred to as a central region 200A. The peripheral area of 200A is referred to as another area 201A. Further, in the inner spacer 2A, a region including the central region 200A of the base 20A and the rib 25A provided in the region 200A is referred to as a central region of the inner spacer 2A, and the other region 201A of the base 20A and the region A region including the rib 25A provided on 201A is referred to as another region of the inner spacer 2A.

  In the power storage device, a fluid (at least one of the first surface of the base 20A of the inner spacer 2A and the power storage element 1 and at least one of the second surface of the base 20A of the inner spacer 2A and the power storage element 1 is provided. A ventilation path 203 for passing a cooling fluid) is formed. In the power storage device of the present embodiment, the ventilation path 203 is formed by the rib 25A. That is, the inner spacer 2 </ b> A forms the ventilation path 203 between the adjacent power storage elements 1 so that the cooling fluid passing through the ventilation path 203 is in direct contact with the surface of the power storage element 1. Thereby, cooling of the electrical storage element 1 is performed effectively.

  The rib 25A extends (projects) from the base 20A in the X-axis direction and extends in the Y-axis direction. A plurality of ribs 25A are provided on the first surface and the second surface of the base 20A. In the internal spacer 2A of the present embodiment, the number of ribs 25A provided on the first surface of the base 20A is the same as the number of ribs 25A provided on the second surface of the base 20A. The rib 25A provided on the first surface and the rib 25A provided on the second surface are provided at the same position in the Z-axis direction. That is, the rib 25A provided on the first surface and the rib 25A provided on the second surface are respectively provided at positions overlapping in the X-axis direction (see FIG. 7).

  On each surface of the base 20A of the inner spacer 2A, the plurality of ribs 25A are arranged in parallel to each other at intervals in the Z-axis direction. Each rib 25A is provided more densely in the central region 200A of the base 20A than in the other region 201A of the base 20A. In the inner spacer 2A of the present embodiment, five ribs 25A are provided in the central region 200A of the base 20A, and one rib 25A is provided in two other regions 201A sandwiching the central region 200A in the Z-axis direction. It has been. In the manufacturing method of the inner spacer 2A, the base 20A and the ribs 25A may be molded separately, and the base 20A and the ribs 25 may be bonded together by other methods. It is preferable to be molded integrally. By integrally molding, the number of parts can be minimized, and man-hours related to assembling the power storage device can be minimized.

  Each of the plurality of ribs 25A provided as described above brings the tip of the rib 25A (tip in the X-axis direction) into contact with the power storage element 1 adjacent to the base 20A of the inner spacer 2A, thereby A space (ventilation path) 203 through which the cooling fluid can flow is formed between the storage element 1 (specifically, the first wall 100c) adjacent to the base 20A. That is, each ventilation path 203 is a flow path space defined by the base 20 </ b> A, the rib 25 </ b> A of the inner spacer 2 </ b> A, and the power storage element 1. A cooling fluid (for example, air) for cooling the electricity storage element 1 is supplied to the ventilation path 203. The ventilation path 203 extends in the Y-axis direction and allows the cooling fluid to flow in the Y-axis direction while being in direct contact with the first wall 100c of the energy storage device 1. In the power storage device of the present embodiment, the air passage 203 is provided between the first surface of the base 20A of the inner spacer 2A and the power storage element 1, and between the second surface of the base 20A of the inner spacer 2A and the power storage element 1. Is formed.

  The restricting portion 21A suppresses (regulates) positional deviation in the YZ plane direction with respect to the internal spacer 2A (base 20A) of the power storage element 1 on both sides in the X-axis direction. Thereby, 21 A of control parts can control the relative movement of the two electrical storage elements 1 adjacent to 2 A of internal spacers. Specifically, the restricting portion 21A extends from the base 20 to both sides in the X-axis direction. That is, the restricting portion 21A extends from the base 20A toward the power storage element 1 adjacent to the first surface of the base 20A of the inner spacer 2A and to the power storage element 1 adjacent to the second surface of the base 20A of the inner spacer 2A. It extends from the base 20A of the inner spacer 2A. When these restricting portions 21 </ b> A hold (restrain) the four corners of the power storage element 1, the displacement of the power storage element 1 in the YZ plane direction with respect to the inner spacer 2 </ b> A (base 20 </ b> A) is restricted.

  As described above, the power storage device of the present embodiment includes a plurality of power storage elements 1, and the internal spacers 2 </ b> A are disposed between the adjacent power storage elements 1. For this reason, the power storage device of this embodiment includes a plurality of internal spacers 2A.

  Next, the external spacer 2B will be described. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the external spacer 2B includes a base 20B arranged so as to be aligned with the power storage element 1, and a rib 201B extending from the base 20B toward the power storage element 1 adjacent to the base 20B. Have. The external spacer 2B also includes a restricting portion 21B that suppresses a positional shift of the power storage element 1 adjacent to the base 20B with respect to the base 20B. The outer spacer 2 </ b> B is an external contact portion 24 </ b> B that protrudes from the second surface of the base 20 </ b> B toward the termination member 30, and has an external contact portion 24 </ b> B that contacts the termination member 30.

  In the external spacer 2 </ b> B of the present embodiment, the base 20 </ b> B and a termination member 30 (described later) of the holding member 3 face each other. That is, the external spacer 2 </ b> B is disposed between the power storage element 1 and the termination member 30. Accordingly, the outer spacer 2B has a fitting portion 22B that fits the termination member 30 at a position facing the termination member 30 of the base 20B. That is, the outer spacer 2B is a fitting portion 22B for determining the position of the termination member 30 with respect to the base 20B, and has a fitting portion 22B formed on the second surface of the base 20B. The outer spacer 2B is a shaft portion 23B for determining the position of the termination member 30 with respect to the base 20B, and has a shaft portion 23B protruding from the second surface of the base 20B.

  In the outer spacer 2B, as in the inner spacer 2A, the rigidity of the central region of the outer spacer 2B is the rigidity of other regions around the central region (hereinafter referred to as other regions of the outer spacer 2B). Ribs 201B are formed so as to be higher. Details are as follows.

  The base 20B of the outer spacer 2B extends along the power storage element 1 (specifically, the first wall 100c of the case body 100). Specifically, the base 20 </ b> B of the outer spacer 2 </ b> B is a flat plate-like portion that extends in a direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction (YZ plane direction). The base 20B of the outer spacer 2B has a first surface facing the power storage element 1 (specifically, the first wall 100c of the case body 100) and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The base 20B of the external spacer 2B has a substantially rectangular shape (a shape corresponding to the power storage element 1) when viewed in the X-axis direction. The base 20 </ b> B is approximately the same size (corresponding) as the first wall 100 c of the electricity storage device 1. Hereinafter, a region facing the central portion (the central portion in the Z-axis direction in the example of the present embodiment) of the first wall 100c of the power storage element 1 in the base 20B of the outer spacer 2B is referred to as a central region 205B. A peripheral region of the region 205B is referred to as another region 206B (see FIG. 5). In the outer spacer 2B, a region including the central region 205B of the base 20B and the rib 201B provided in the region 205B is referred to as a central region of the outer spacer 2B, and the other region 206B of the base 20B and the region A region including the rib 201B provided on 206B is referred to as another region of the outer spacer 2B.

  In the power storage device, an air passage 203 for allowing a cooling fluid to pass is formed between the first surface of the base 20B of the external spacer 2B and the power storage element 1. In the power storage device of the present embodiment, the ventilation path 203 is formed by the rib 201B between the power storage element 1 and the base 20B of the external spacer 2B.

  The rib 201B extends (projects) from the base 20B of the outer spacer 2B in the X-axis direction and extends in the Y-axis direction. The base 20B of the outer spacer 2B according to the present embodiment has a plurality of ribs 201B. Each of the plurality of ribs 201B is arranged in parallel to each other with a gap in the Z-axis direction (direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction). The plurality of ribs 201B are arranged similarly to the arrangement of the ribs 25A in the inner spacer 2A. That is, each rib 201B is provided more densely in the central region 205B of the base 20B than in the other region 206B of the base 20B. In the outer spacer 2B of the present embodiment, five ribs 201B are provided in the central region 205B of the base 20B, and one rib 201B is provided in two other regions 206B that sandwich the central region 205B in the Z-axis direction. It has been. Each of the plurality of ribs 201B is adjacent to the base 20B and the base 20B by bringing the tip of the rib 201B (tip in the X-axis direction) into contact with the power storage element 1 adjacent to the base 20B of the external spacer 2B. A space (ventilation path) 203 through which the cooling fluid can flow is formed between the storage element 1 (specifically, the first wall 100c) (see FIG. 1).

  The external contact portion 24 </ b> B protrudes from the base 20 </ b> B of the external spacer 2 </ b> B toward the termination member 30 and is in contact with the termination member 30. Therefore, in the power storage device, a gap is formed between the external spacer 2 </ b> B and the termination member 30.

  The restricting portion 21B restricts displacement (relative movement) of the power storage element 1 adjacent to the first surface of the outer spacer 2B with respect to the base 20B. The restricting portion 21B extends from the base 20B of the outer spacer 2B toward the power storage element 1 adjacent to the first surface of the base 20B. When these restricting portions 21B hold (restrain) the four corners of the electricity storage device 1, the displacement of the electricity storage device 1 in the YZ plane direction with respect to the external spacer 2B (base 20B) is restricted.

  The power storage device of the present embodiment includes a pair of external spacers 2B configured as described above. The outer spacer 2 </ b> B is adjacent to the power storage element 1 at the end of the plurality of power storage elements 1. That is, a pair of external spacers 2B are provided so as to sandwich a plurality of aligned power storage elements 1 in the X-axis direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the holding member 3 connects the pair of termination members 30 disposed on the outer side in the X-axis direction of the plurality of power storage elements 1 to be aligned, and the pair of termination members 30. Frame 31.

  Each of the pair of termination members 30 extends along the power storage element 1 (specifically, the first wall 100c). The termination member 30 of the present embodiment extends in the YZ plane direction. Termination member 30 has a first surface facing outer spacer 2B and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The termination member 30 of the present embodiment has a substantially rectangular shape (a shape corresponding to the power storage element 1) when viewed in the X-axis direction, and a plurality of (four in this embodiment) penetrations formed at each corner. It has a hole 300b. Moreover, the termination | terminus member 30 has the press-contact part 300 contact | abutted to the external contact part 24B extended from the base 20B of the external spacer 2B. The pressure contact portion 300 has an insertion hole 300a formed at a position corresponding to the shaft portion 23B of the outer spacer 2B. The shaft portion 23B of the outer spacer 2B is inserted into the insertion hole 300a.

  The frame 31 is a connection part that connects the pair of termination members 30 to each other and extends along corners of the power storage element block (a plurality of power storage elements 1 aligned via the internal spacer 2A) (example of this embodiment). The two connection portions 310 and 311, and at least one reinforcing portion 314 that reinforces the connection portions 310 and 311. The holding member 3 of the present embodiment has frames 31 at one end and the other end in the Y-axis direction. That is, the holding member 3 has a pair of frames 31. Each of the pair of frames 31 includes a first connection part 310 disposed at a position corresponding to the cover plate 101 of the power storage element 1 and a second connection part 311 disposed at a position corresponding to the closing part 100 a of the power storage element 1. And have.

  The first connection part 310 extends in the X-axis direction. Similarly to the first connection portion 310, the second connection portion 311 extends in the X-axis direction.

  Further, the frame 31 has a support portion 312 that connects the first connection portion 310 and the second connection portion 311. The support part 312 extends in the Z-axis direction. The support portion 312 connects corresponding ends of a pair of connection portions (first connection portion 310 and second connection portion 311) on the same side with respect to the power storage element 1 in the Y-axis direction.

  The reinforcing portion 314 connects adjacent connecting portions (that is, the first connecting portion 310 and the second connecting portion 311). Thereby, in the frame 31, deformation of the first connection part 310 and the second connection part 311 is suppressed.

  The 1st connection part 310 has the 1st fixing | fixed part 313a at both ends. Moreover, the 2nd connection part 311 has the 2nd fixing | fixed part 313b at both ends.

  The first fixing portion 313a formed at one end portion of the first connection portion 310 faces the peripheral portion of the through hole 300b in the one end member 30 in the X-axis direction. The first fixing portion 313 a formed at the other end of the first connection portion 310 faces the peripheral portion of the through hole 300 b in the other end member 30 in the X-axis direction. And each of the 1st fixing | fixed part 313a formed in the both ends of the 1st connection part 310 has the 1st hole part 313c formed in the position corresponding to the through-hole 300b. The first connection portion 310 is coupled to the termination member 30 by screwing a nut into a bolt inserted into the through hole 300b of the termination member 30 and the first hole 313c of the first fixing portion 313a.

  The second fixing portion 313b formed at one end of the second connection portion 311 faces the peripheral portion of the through hole 300b in the one end member 30 in the X-axis direction. The second fixing portion 313b formed at the other end of the second connection portion 311 faces the peripheral portion of the through hole 300b in the other end member 30 in the X-axis direction. And each of the 2nd fixing | fixed part 313b formed in the both ends of the 2nd connection part 311 has the 2nd hole part 313d in the position corresponding to the through-hole 300b. The second connection portion 311 is coupled to the termination member 30 by screwing a nut into a bolt inserted into the through hole 300b of the termination member 30 and the second hole 313d of the second fixing portion 313b.

  The insulator 4 is made of an insulating material and insulates the electricity storage element 1 and the holding member 3. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the power storage device of the present embodiment includes a pair of insulators 4. Each of the pair of insulators 4 includes a first insulating portion 40 disposed between the first connecting portion 310 and the spacer 2 (inner spacer 2A and outer spacer 2B), a second connecting portion 311 and a spacer 2 (inner spacer). 2A and the outer spacer 2B).

  The insulator 4 has a third insulating part 42 that connects the first insulating part 40 and the second insulating part 41. Furthermore, the insulator 4 includes a fourth insulating portion 43 that connects a midway position of the first insulating portion 40 and a midway position of the second insulating portion 41.

  The first insulating portion 40 extends in the X-axis direction along the power storage element 1 and the spacer 2. The first insulating portion 40 is sandwiched between the first connecting portion 310 and the restricting portions 21A and 21B of the spacer 2. Thereby, the first insulating part 40 insulates the electricity storage element 1 from the first connecting part 310.

  The second insulating portion 41 extends in the X-axis direction along the power storage element 1 and the spacer 2. The second insulating portion 41 is sandwiched between the second connecting portion 311 and the restricting portions 21A and 21B of the spacer 2. Thereby, the second insulating portion 41 insulates the electricity storage element 1 from the second connection portion 311.

  Each of the pair of insulators 4 includes two third insulating portions 42. Each of the two third insulating portions 42 corresponds to the corresponding ends of the first insulating portion 40 and the second insulating portion 41, that is, the first end of the first insulating portion 40 and the second end of the second insulating portion 41. One end and the second end of the first insulating portion 40 and the second end of the second insulating portion 41 are connected. The third insulating portion 42 is disposed between the outer spacer 2 </ b> B and the support portion 312 of the frame 31.

  The fourth insulating portion 43 is disposed at a position corresponding to the reinforcing portion 314 of the frame 31 in the X-axis direction. That is, the fourth insulating portion 43 is disposed between the reinforcing portion 314 and the power storage element 1 that overlaps the reinforcing portion 314 in the Y-axis direction. Thereby, the reinforcement part 314 and the electrical storage element 1 which overlaps this reinforcement part 314 and the Y-axis direction are insulated.

  According to the power storage device described above, the spacer 2 (the inner spacer 2A and the outer spacer 2B) is adjacent to the power storage element 1, and the ribs 25A and 201B of the spacer 2 are adjacent to the bases 20A and 20B from the bases 20A and 20B. It extends toward the storage element 1. Therefore, the ribs 25 </ b> A and 201 </ b> B of the spacer 2 are in contact with the opposing surface (the surface of the first wall 100 c) of the energy storage device 1. Thereby, a space (ventilation path) 203 is formed between the first wall 100c of the electricity storage element 1 and the bases 20A and 20B. Therefore, the electricity storage device 1 can be cooled by circulating the cooling fluid through the space (ventilation path) 203 between the first wall 100c of the electricity storage device 1 and the bases 20A and 20B.

  Further, in the spacer 2 in the power storage device of the present embodiment, the ribs 25A and 201B are formed so that the rigidity of the central regions 200A and 205B of the spacer 2 is higher than the rigidity of other regions of the spacer 2. . Therefore, in the power storage device, deformation (expansion) of the central portion of the first wall 100c in the power storage element 1 is suppressed, and the ribs 25A and 201B of the central regions 200A and 205B are formed on the first wall 100c to be deformed. It is suppressed from being deformed (crushed) by being pushed. Details are as follows.

  When the electrode body 15 (see FIG. 7) of the power storage element 1 is expanded by repeated charging and discharging of the power storage device (power storage element 1), the case 10 is also expanded and the first wall 100c is deformed (convex toward the spacer 2). To bend into a shape). At this time, in the power storage device, the plurality of power storage elements 1 arranged in the X-axis direction are bound (restrained) by the holding member 3 via the internal spacer 2A. For this reason, the first wall 100c of the electricity storage device 1 cannot be deformed, and as a result, a greater force F is applied to the inner spacer 2A disposed between the electricity storage devices 1 as shown in FIG.

  However, in the spacer 2 of the present embodiment, the central region of the spacer 2 (the region facing the central portion of the first wall 100c and corresponding to the central regions 200A and 205B of the bases 20A and 20B). The ribs 25A and 201B are formed so that the rigidity is higher than the rigidity of other regions of the spacer 2. For this reason, deformation (expansion) of the central portion of the first wall 100c in the electric storage element 1 is suppressed, and the ribs 25A and 201B in the central region of the spacer 2 are deformed by being pushed by the first wall 100c to be deformed. (Crushing) is suppressed.

  Therefore, in the power storage device, a reduction in the space (ventilation path) 203 between the first wall 100c of the power storage element 1 and the bases 20A and 20B of the spacer 2 is suppressed, and this reduces the cooling performance of the power storage element 1. It can be suppressed.

  The power storage device of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  The specific configuration of the ribs 25A and 201B so that the rigidity of the central regions 200A and 205B of the spacer 2 is higher than the rigidity of the other regions 201A and 206B of the spacer 2 is not limited.

  In the power storage device of the above-described embodiment, the ribs 25A and 201B are more densely provided in the central regions 200A and 205B of the bases 20A and 20B than the other regions 201A and 206B of the bases 20A and 20B. Although the rigidity of the central region is higher than the rigidity of the other regions of the spacer 2, for example, the ribs 25A and 206B provided in the central regions 200A and 205B of the bases 20A and 20B are replaced with the bases 20A and 20B. Even if the rigidity of the central region of the spacer 2 is made higher than the rigidity of the other regions of the spacer 2 by making the material harder than the ribs 25A and 206B provided in the other regions 200A and 205B. Good. In this case, specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the ribs 25A are arranged at equal intervals in the Z-axis direction, and the ribs 25A provided in the central region 200A of the base 20A of the inner spacer 2A are It is made of a material harder than the ribs 25A provided in the other region 201A of the base 20A.

  In the power storage device of the above embodiment, the ribs 25A and 201B are formed so that the rigidity of the central region of the spacer 2 is higher than the rigidity of other regions of the spacer 2 in the Z-axis direction. It is not limited to the configuration. As shown in FIG. 9, the ribs 25A may be provided more densely in the central regions 200A and 203A in the Z-axis direction and the Y-axis direction of the base 20A than in the surrounding regions 201A and 204A. In this case, in particular, the flow of the cooling fluid becomes smooth, and the electricity storage device 1 can be effectively cooled. In the above embodiment, the rib 25A has an elongated bar shape extending in the Y-axis direction, but is not limited to this configuration. For example, protrusions having the same or substantially the same dimension in the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction may be used. Specifically, the rib 25A may be a disk-shaped protrusion. However, from the viewpoint of smooth circulation of the cooling air, it is preferable that the rib 25A has an elongated bar shape as in the above embodiment. In this case, it becomes possible to cool the electrical storage element 1 particularly effectively and efficiently.

  Further, in order to make the rigidity of the central region of the spacer 2 higher than the rigidity of the other regions of the spacer 2, as shown in FIG. 10, the ribs 25A of the central region 200A of the base 20A are connected to the other portions of the base 20A. It may be thicker than the ribs 25A in the region 201A.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11, even if the extending amount of the rib 25A provided in the central region 200A of the base 20A is set larger than the extending amount of the rib 25A provided in the other region 201A of the base 20A. Good. According to such a configuration, in the state assembled as a power storage device, as shown in FIG. 12, the compression amount of the rib 25A provided in the central region 200A of the base 20A by the first wall 100c of the power storage element 1 is It becomes larger than the compression amount of the rib 25A provided in the other region 201A of the base 20A by the first wall 100c. Thereby, the rigidity of the rib 25A provided in the central region 200A of the base 20A is higher than the rigidity of the rib 25A provided in the other region 201A of the base 20A. Therefore, the rigidity of the central region 200A of the inner spacer 2A is higher than the rigidity of the other region 201A of the inner spacer 2A, thereby suppressing the deformation of the first wall 100c of the electric storage element 1 and the inner spacer 2A. It is possible to prevent the rib 25A of the central region 201A from being pushed and deformed by the first wall 100c to be deformed. Here, in FIG. 12, the compression state of the rib 25A provided in the central region 200A of the base 20A is exaggerated.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 13, even if the extending amount of the rib 25A provided in the other region 201A of the base 20A is set larger than the extending amount of the rib 25A provided in the central region 200A of the base 20A. Good. In this case, the rib 25A provided in the other region 201A of the base 20A has higher flexibility than the rib 25A provided in the central region 200A of the base 20A.

  According to this configuration, when the rib 25A of the central region 200A of the inner spacer 2A is harder (higher rigidity) than the rib 25A of the other region 201A of the inner spacer 2A, the first wall 100c of the electricity storage device 1 is deformed. Further, the rib 25A in the central region is not easily deformed. For this reason, a decrease in the space (ventilation path) 203 between the first wall 100c of the power storage element 1 and the base 20A of the internal spacer 2A is suppressed, and as a result, a decrease in cooling performance of the power storage element is suppressed. In addition, since the rib 25A of the other region 201A of the spacer 2A has flexibility, when the first wall 100c of the power storage element 1 is deformed, the outer side of the first wall 100c is spaced apart from the base 20A. However, before the deformation of the first wall 100c, the rib 25A (see FIG. 14) of the other region 201A that has been pressed and compressed by the first wall 100c toward the base 20A is It extends following the separation from the base 20A (see FIG. 15). Thereby, even if the 1st wall 100c of the electrical storage element 1 deform | transforms, contact with this 1st wall 100c and the rib 25A of other area | region 201A is maintained. That is, the airtight state at the contact position between the first wall 100c and the rib 25A of the other region 201A is maintained. Accordingly, even if the first wall 100c is deformed, the cooling fluid can be prevented from leaking from the space (ventilation path) 203 formed between the base 20A and the first wall 100c to the outside of the power storage device. As described above, the space (ventilation path) 203 between the first wall 100c of the electricity storage element 1 and the base 20A of the inner spacer 2A is prevented from decreasing, and the airtightness of the space (ventilation path) 203 is maintained and Leakage of the cooling fluid supplied to the space (ventilation path) 203 can be prevented. Here, in FIGS. 14 and 15, the compression amount state of the rib 25A provided in the other region 201A of the base 20A is exaggerated.

  Although the arrangement, shape, and the like of the rib 25A in the inner spacer 2A have been described above, the same effect can be obtained by arranging the rib 201B in the outer spacer 2B with the arrangement, shape, and the like of the rib 25A in the inner spacer 2A.

  Whether the rigidity of the central regions 200A and 205B of the spacer 2 is higher than the rigidity of the other regions 201A and 206B of the spacer 2 can be determined, for example, by the following method. That is, the base 20 of the spacer 2 is sandwiched in parallel by a plate-like object, and a force for compressing the spacer 2 in the thickness direction (X-axis direction) is applied to the base 20. Then, the force (compression force) applied to the plate-like object when the predetermined displacement amount is reached is measured. The measurement is performed in the central regions 200A and 205B of the spacer 2 and the other regions 201A and 206B of the spacer 2, and the compressive force is higher in the central regions 200A and 205B than in the other regions 201A and 206B. Is larger, it can be said that the rigidity of the central regions 200A and 205B of the spacer 2 is higher than the rigidity of the other regions 201A and 206B of the spacer 2.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Power storage element, 10 ... Case, 100 ... Case main body, 100a ... Closure part, 100b ... Trunk part, 100c ... First wall, 100d ... Second wall, 101 ... Cover plate, 101a ... Gas exhaust valve, 11 ... External Terminal 15, Electrode body, 2 Spacer, 20 Base, 203 Air passage, 2 A Internal spacer, 20 A Base, 200 A Central region, 201 A Other region, 21 A Regulator, 22 A Valve cover Part, 25A ... rib, 2B ... external spacer, 20B ... base, 201B ... rib, 205B ... central part region, 206B ... other part region, 21B ... regulating part, 22B ... fitting part, 23B ... shaft part, 24B ... External contact portion, 3 ... holding member, 30 ... termination member, 300 ... pressure contact portion, 300a ... insertion hole, 300b ... through hole, 31 ... frame, 310 ... first connection portion, 311 ... second connection portion, 312 ... support Part, 313a ... first fixing part, 313b ... second fixing part, 313c ... first hole part, 313d ... second hole part, 314 ... reinforcing part, 4 ... insulator, 40 ... first insulating part, 41 ... second Insulating part, 42 ... third insulating part, 43 ... fourth insulating part

Claims (6)

A storage element;
A spacer adjacent to the electricity storage element;
A holding member for holding the power storage element and the spacer,
The power storage element has a facing surface facing the spacer,
The spacer is
A base including a central region facing the central portion of the opposing surface of the power storage element and other regions around the central region;
A rib extending from the base toward the power storage element adjacent to the base, and
In the spacer, the rib is formed such that the rigidity of the central region of the spacer is higher than the rigidity of other regions of the spacer. The power storage device according to claim 1, wherein the ribs are provided more densely in a central region of the base than in other regions of the base. The power storage device according to claim 1, wherein a rib provided in a central region of the base is thicker than a rib provided in another region of the base. The power storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a rib provided in a central region of the base is made of a material harder than a rib provided in another region of the base. The electrical storage according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an extension amount of a rib provided in a central region of the base is set larger than an extension amount of a rib provided in another region of the base. apparatus. The extension amount of the rib provided in the other region of the base is set larger than the extension amount of the rib provided in the central region of the base,
The power storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a rib provided in another region of the base has a higher flexibility than a rib provided in a central region of the base.

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