JP2016149440A - Electrode body pressurizing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrode body pressurizing device capable of making the improvement of power storage performance by the pressurization of an electrode body and the suppression of retention of gas in the electrode body compatible.SOLUTION: An electrode body pressurizing device 1 comprises a pressurizing operation member 4. The pressurizing operation member 4 is a rod-shaped member extending long. One end portion 5 of the pressurizing operation member 4 is disposed under a driver seat 6. A capacitor 2 is sandwiched by two restraint plates 3 from above and below. The other end portion 7 of the pressurizing operation member 4 is disposed under the lower restraint plate 3. At a middle portion of the pressurizing operation member 4, a supporting shaft 8 is provided at a position deviated to the other end portion 7 side. The supporting shaft 8 has an axis in a horizontal direction. The pressurizing operation member 4 is provided in an oscillatable manner with the supporting shaft 8 as a supporting point.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for pressurizing an electrode body provided in a power storage device such as a capacitor.

  In vehicles such as automobiles, in addition to lead batteries mounted as main batteries, capacitors capable of charging / discharging large power are being mounted as sub-batteries (auxiliary power supplies) for storing regenerative power.

  For example, a laminate-type capacitor (laminate cell) includes an electrode body having a structure in which positive and negative electrodes are alternately stacked with a separator interposed between a pair of laminate sheets. The peripheral edge of the laminate sheet is welded over the entire periphery, and the electrode body is sealed between the laminate sheets in a state of being immersed in an electrolytic solution.

  In the capacitor having such a configuration, the power storage performance can be improved by pressing (restraining) the electrode body in the stacking direction with a uniform surface pressure. In order to pressurize the electrode body, for example, two constraining plates are used. The capacitor is sandwiched from both sides of the electrode body in the stacking direction by the two restraining plates. One or both of the restraining plates are pressed toward the capacitor, and the capacitor is pressed in the stacking direction of the electrode body by the pressing force (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 5113034

  However, gas may be generated due to decomposition of the solvent of the electrolytic solution or the like with charge / discharge. When the capacitor is pressed from both sides in the stacking direction of the electrode bodies, it is difficult for gas to be discharged from the electrode bodies (between the electrodes). If the gas stays in the electrode body, the movement of ions is hindered, causing a decrease in energy density and an increase in internal resistance.

  The objective of this invention is providing the electrode body pressurization apparatus which can make compatible the improvement of the electrical storage performance by pressurization of an electrode body, and suppression of the stay of the gas in an electrode body.

  In order to achieve the above object, an electrode body pressurizing apparatus according to the present invention is used in a vehicle on which an electricity storage device including an electrode body having a structure in which positive electrodes and negative electrodes are alternately stacked with separators interposed therebetween, A device that pressurizes the electrode body, the contact portion contacting the power storage device, and a pressing operation portion that causes the power storage device to press the contact portion when the driver's seat of the vehicle is used and releases the pressure when the driver's seat is not used. including.

  According to this configuration, when the driver's seat of the vehicle is used, the contact portion is pressed against the power storage device. Thereby, at least during traveling of the vehicle, the electrode body provided in the power storage device is pressurized, and the power storage performance of the power storage device can be improved by the pressurization.

  On the other hand, when the driver's seat is not used, the pressing of the power storage device by the contact portion is released. Thereby, since pressurization of the electrode body is released, gas generated in the electrode body during charge / discharge of the electricity storage device is discharged out of the electrode body. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in performance due to gas remaining in the electrode body.

  The contact portion is disposed below the power storage device, the pressing operation portion is provided to be swingable around a fulcrum, one end portion is disposed below the driver's seat, and the other end portion is in contact with the contact portion. It may contact / separate or may be formed as a contact portion.

  According to this configuration, when the driver sits on the driver's seat, one end of the pressing operation unit is lowered and the other end of the pressing operation unit is raised. As the other end of the pressing operation unit rises, the contact unit presses the power storage device. On the other hand, when the driver leaves the driver's seat, one end of the pressing operation unit is raised, the other end of the pressing operation unit is lowered, and the pressing of the power storage device by the contact unit is released.

  The contact portion is disposed above the power storage device, the pressing operation portion is provided to be swingable with one end portion as a fulcrum, the other end portion is disposed below the driver's seat, and the middle portion is the contact portion. It may be connected or formed as a contact portion.

  According to this configuration, when the driver is seated on the driver's seat, the other end of the pressing operation unit is lowered, and the middle part of the pressing operation unit is lowered. As the midway portion of the pressing operation unit is lowered, the contact unit presses the power storage device. On the other hand, when the driver leaves the driver's seat, one end portion of the pressing operation portion is raised, and a middle portion of the pressing operation portion is lowered, so that the pressing of the power storage device by the contact portion is released.

  In addition, a constraining plate is disposed on at least one side in the stacking direction of the electrode body with respect to the power storage device, and a spacer made of a leaf spring that is naturally curved is convex between the power storage device and the constraining plate. May be interposed with the side to be directed toward the electricity storage device.

  Thus, when the restraint plate is pressed, the edge of the spacer is pressed by the restraint plate, and the spacer is elastically deformed. With the elastic deformation of the spacer, the power storage device is gradually pressed from the central portion toward the peripheral edge by the spacer. Thereby, the electrode body of an electrical storage device is gradually pressurized toward the periphery from the center part, and the gas which has accumulated in the electrode body can be pushed out from a center part to a periphery.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the improvement of the electrical storage performance by pressurization of an electrode body and suppression of the stay of the gas in an electrode body can be made compatible.

It is a side view showing the composition of the electrode body pressurizing device concerning one embodiment of the present invention diagrammatically. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a capacitor | condenser schematically. It is a side view which shows diagrammatically the composition of the electrode body pressurizing device concerning other embodiments of the present invention. It is a side view which shows the composition of the electrode body pressurization device concerning other embodiments of the present invention diagrammatically. It is a figure which shows the structure by which the spacer was provided between the capacitor and the restraint board, and shows the state by which the electrode body is not pressurized. It is a figure which shows the structure by which the spacer was provided between the capacitor and the restraint board, and shows the state by which the electrode body is pressurized.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of an electrode body pressing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The electrode body pressurizing device 1 is used, for example, in a vehicle in which the capacitor 2 is mounted as a sub battery. The capacitor 2 is disposed, for example, below the passenger seat (not shown) of the vehicle. The capacitor 2 is sandwiched from above and below by two restraining plates 3. The upper restraint plate 3 is fixedly provided on the vehicle, and the lower restraint plate 3 is provided to be movable up and down.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the capacitor 2.

  The capacitor 2 is, for example, a laminate type lithium ion capacitor. The capacitor 2 includes an electrode body 22 between a pair of laminate sheets 21. The laminate sheet 21 is a sheet formed by coating the surface of an aluminum base material with an insulating resin. The peripheral edge of the laminate sheet 21 is welded over the entire circumference, and the electrode body 22 is sealed between the laminate sheets 21 in a state of being immersed in an electrolytic solution.

  The electrode body 22 has a laminated structure in which a positive electrode 23 and a negative electrode 24 are laminated with a separator 25 interposed therebetween. The electrode body 22 includes one or a plurality of sets of the positive electrode 23, the negative electrode 24, and the separator 25, with the positive electrode 23 and the negative electrode 24 and the separator 25 therebetween as one set. The uppermost layer and the lowermost layer of the electrode body 22 are composed of separators 25.

  Referring again to FIG. 1, the electrode body pressing device 1 includes a pressing operation member 4. The pressing operation member 4 is a long bar-like member. One end portion 5 of the pressing operation member 4 is disposed below the driver seat 6. The other end portion 7 of the pressing operation member 4 is disposed below the lower restraint plate 3. A support shaft 8 is provided in the middle of the pressing operation member 4 at a position offset toward the other end 7 side. The support shaft 8 has an axis in the horizontal direction (front and rear, left and right directions when the vehicle is located on a horizontal road surface). The pressing operation member 4 is provided so as to be swingable about the support shaft 8 as a fulcrum. The distance between the one end portion 5 of the pressing operation member 4 and the support shaft 8 is, for example, about seven times the distance between the other end portion 7 and the support shaft 8. The total length of the pressing operation member 4 is, for example, 1200 mm.

  When the driver sits on the driver's seat 6, the weight of the driver is applied to the one end portion 5 of the pressing operation member 4, the one end portion 5 is lowered, and the other end portion 7 of the pressing operation member 4 is raised. As the other end portion 7 of the pressing operation member 4 is raised, the other end portion 7 of the pressing operation member 4 presses the restraint plate 3 from below, and the restraint plate 3 as an example of the operation portion presses the capacitor 2. Thereby, the electrode body 22 provided in the capacitor 2 is pressurized, and the storage performance of the capacitor 2 can be improved by the pressurization.

  On the other hand, when the driver leaves the driver's seat 6, one end portion of the pressing operation member 4 is raised, the other end portion 7 of the pressing operation member 4 is lowered, and the restraint plate 3 is pressed by the other end portion 7 of the pressing operation member 4. Is released. Thereby, the pressurization of the electrode body 22 is released, so that the gas generated in the electrode body 22 during charging and discharging of the capacitor 2 is discharged out of the electrode body 22. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in performance due to gas staying in the electrode body 22.

  A stopper 9 is provided below the one end portion 5 of the pressing operation member 4 to prevent the one end portion 5 from being lowered too much. When the one end 5 abuts against the stopper 9, the lowering of the one end 5 is prevented, and further pressing of the restraining plate 3 by the other end 7 of the pressing operation member 4 is prevented. Thereby, it can suppress that the electrode body 22 is pressurized too much.

  FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of an electrode body pressurizing device 31 according to another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, parts corresponding to the parts shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those parts. In the following description, the description of the parts with the same reference numerals is omitted.

  The electrode body pressing device 31 includes a pressing operation member 32. The pressing operation member 32 is a long bar-like member. One end portion 33 of the pressing operation member 32 is disposed below the driver's seat 6. A midway portion 34 of the pressing operation member 32 is disposed above the upper restraining plate 3. A support shaft 35 is provided at the other end of the pressing operation member 32. The support shaft 35 has an axis line in the horizontal direction. The pressing operation member 32 is provided so as to be swingable about the support shaft 35 as a fulcrum. The distance between the one end portion 33 and the intermediate portion 34 of the pressing operation member 32 is, for example, about 7 times the distance between the intermediate portion 34 and the support shaft 35. The total length of the pressing operation member 32 is, for example, 1200 mm.

  When the driver is seated on the driver's seat 6, the weight of the driver is added to the one end portion 33 of the pressing operation member 32, the one end portion 33 is lowered, and the middle portion 34 of the pressing operation member 32 is lowered. As the intermediate portion 34 of the pressing operation member 32 is lowered, the intermediate portion 34 of the pressing operation member 32 presses the restraint plate 3 from above, and the restraint plate 3 presses the capacitor 2. Thereby, the electrode body 22 provided in the capacitor 2 is pressurized, and the storage performance of the capacitor 2 can be improved by the pressurization.

  On the other hand, when the driver leaves the driver's seat 6, one end portion of the pressing operation member 32 is raised, the middle portion 34 of the pressing operation member 32 is raised, and the pressing of the restraint plate 3 by the middle portion 34 of the pressing operation member 32 is released. Is done. Thereby, the pressurization of the electrode body 22 is released, so that the gas generated in the electrode body 22 during charging and discharging of the capacitor 2 is discharged out of the electrode body 22. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in performance due to gas staying in the electrode body 22.

  FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of an electrode body pressing device 41 according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

  The electrode body pressurizing device 41 includes an electric cylinder 42, a control unit 43, and a seating sensor 44.

  The electric cylinder 42 includes a motor 45 and a piston 46 and incorporates a ball screw mechanism (not shown) that converts the rotation of the motor 45 into a linear motion of the piston 46. The electric cylinder 42 is arranged above the upper restraining plate 3 with the piston 46 facing downward.

  In the present embodiment, the upper restraint plate 3 is provided so as to be movable up and down, and the lower restraint plate 3 is fixedly provided on the vehicle.

  The control unit 43 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. The control unit 43 may be configured as a partial function of the ECU mounted on the vehicle.

  The seating sensor 44 detects whether or not the driver is seated in the driver's seat of the vehicle, and inputs the detection signal to the control unit 43. The seating sensor 44 may be, for example, a weight sensor provided in the driver's seat or an infrared sensor that detects a driver seated in the driver's seat using infrared rays.

  When a signal indicating that the driver is seated in the driver's seat is input from the seating sensor 44 to the control unit 43, the control unit 43 controls the motor 45 of the electric cylinder 42 and the piston 46 of the electric cylinder 42. Advances, and the restraint plate 3 is pressed by the piston 46 at a predetermined pressure (for example, 400 kPa). Thereby, the restraint plate 3 presses the capacitor 2 and the electrode body 22 provided in the capacitor 2 is pressurized. By pressurizing the electrode body 22, the power storage performance of the capacitor 2 can be improved.

  On the other hand, when a signal indicating that the driver is seated in the driver's seat is input from the seating sensor 44 to the control unit 43, the motor 45 of the electric cylinder 42 is controlled by the control unit 43, and the electric cylinder 42. The piston 46 is retracted. Thereby, the pressing of the restraint plate 3 by the piston 46 is released, and the pressurization of the electrode body 22 is released. By releasing the pressurization, the gas generated in the electrode body 22 during charging and discharging of the capacitor 2 is discharged out of the electrode body 22. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in performance due to gas staying in the electrode body 22.

  FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are diagrams for explaining a configuration for favorably pressurizing the capacitor 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, a spacer 51 may be interposed between the capacitor 2 and the restraining plate 3 disposed above and below the capacitor 2. The spacer 51 is made of a leaf spring that is curved in a natural state (a state where an external force other than gravity is not acting). Each spacer 51 is interposed between the capacitor 2 and the constraining plate 3 with the side convex to the curve facing the capacitor 2.

  Thus, when the restraint plate 3 is pressed, the edge of the spacer 51 is pressed by the restraint plate 3, and the capacitor 2 is moved from the central portion toward the periphery by the spacer 51 as the spacer 51 is elastically deformed. Pressed gradually. Thereby, the electrode body 22 of the capacitor 2 is gradually pressurized from the central portion toward the peripheral edge, and the gas staying in the electrode body 22 can be pushed out from the central portion to the peripheral edge.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the spacer 51 is preferably formed in a size that is in contact with almost the entire upper and lower surfaces of the capacitor 2 in a state where the pressurization of the electrode body 22 is completed. Thereby, the electrode body 22 can be pressurized in the laminating direction with a surface pressure that is more even.

  As mentioned above, although several embodiment of this invention was described, this invention can also be implemented with another form.

  For example, a piston that expands and contracts by hydraulic pressure is provided below the restraint plate 3, the weight of the driver seated in the driver's seat is transmitted to the piston by hydraulic pressure, the piston advances, and the restraint plate 3 is pressed by the piston. May be.

  Moreover, the capacitor 2 was taken up as an example of an electrical storage device, and the lithium ion capacitor was illustrated as an example of the capacitor 2. However, the storage device is not limited to this, and may be other types of capacitors such as an electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC), a nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery, A battery such as a lithium ion battery may be used.

  In addition, various design changes can be made to the above-described configuration within the scope of the matters described in the claims.

1 Electrode body pressurizing device 2 Capacitor 3 Restraint plate (contact part)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4 Press operation member 6 Driver's seat 22 Electrode body 23 Positive electrode 24 Negative electrode 25 Separator 31 Electrode body pressurization apparatus 32 Press operation member 41 Electrode body pressurization apparatus 43 Control part (press operation part)
45 Motor (Pressing operation part)
46 Piston (contact part)

Claims (1)

An apparatus for pressurizing the electrode body, which is used in a vehicle equipped with an electricity storage device including an electrode body having a structure in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are alternately stacked with a separator interposed therebetween,
A contact portion in contact with the electricity storage device;
An electrode body pressurizing device, comprising: a pressing operation unit that presses the power storage device when the driver's seat of the vehicle is used and releases the pressing when the driver's seat is not used.

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