JP2017004833A - Assembled battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an assembled battery with higher safety secured.SOLUTION: There is provided the assembled battery in which a plurality of unit cells 20 are arranged such that wide surfaces of unit cells 20 are opposed to each other and an interval maintaining member 40 is disposed between the arranged unit cells 20. A discharge valve 30 for discharging gas generated inside the battery is provided on the side surface of the unit cell 20. Here, with regard to the peripheral portion of the wide surface of the unit cell 20, when a peripheral portion adjacent to the side surface on which the discharge valve 30 is provided is referred to as a first peripheral portion, a peripheral edge portion adjacent to each of the two side surfaces adjacent to the side surface on which the discharge valve 30 is provided is referred to as a second and a third peripheral edge portion, and a side edge portion adjacent to the side surface opposite to the side surface on which the discharge valve 30 is provided is referred to as a fourth side edge portion, a space maintaining member 40 closes the space between the first to third peripheral edge portions of the unit cells 20 opposed to each other with the space maintaining member interposed therebetween, and is formed into a shape to maintain a gap 42 at the fourth peripheral edge portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an assembled battery in which a plurality of unit cells are electrically connected to each other.

  Conventionally, an assembled battery formed by electrically connecting a plurality of unit cells to each other is known. For example, a battery pack including a storage battery, such as a lithium ion battery, a nickel hydride battery, or another secondary battery or a capacitor, as a single battery is used as a power source for vehicle output or a power source for mounting on a vehicle or a personal computer and a portable terminal. The importance is increasing. In particular, an assembled battery in which a plurality of lithium-ion batteries that are lightweight and obtain high energy density are connected as a single battery is expected to be preferably used as a high-output power source for mounting on a vehicle.

  As an assembled battery of this type, an assembled battery having a spacing member (so-called spacer) between a plurality of single cells, the shape of the spacing member being a cooling fluid (typically air) between the cells. ) Is known to have a shape that can be introduced. By providing the interval maintaining material having such a shape between the single cells, heat generated in each single cell at the time of use can be efficiently diffused. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses such an assembled battery.

  In addition, a unit cell constituting this type of battery is generally provided with a discharge valve for discharging gas generated inside each unit cell to the outside of the unit cell. As a result, even if gas is generated inside the unit cell due to overcharge or the like and the internal pressure of the cell is excessively increased, the gas inside the unit cell is discharged outside the unit cell. The internal pressure can be released.

JP 2014-110190 A

  By the way, depending on the configuration of the unit cell, flammable gas may be generated inside the unit cell. For example, when the unit cell is a battery including a nonaqueous electrolyte, flammable gas tends to be generated inside the unit cell. For this reason, in the event that a trouble such as a sharp foreign object such as a nail pierces from the outside of the cell, for example, it is unexpected due to the interaction between the flammable gas released from the discharge valve and the trouble. It is assumed that a situation will occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and even when the gas generated inside the unit cell is released from the discharge valve of the unit cell to the outside of the unit cell, higher safety is ensured. Is to provide an assembled battery.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided an assembled battery in which a plurality of unit cells having the same shape including a rectangular battery case containing an electrode body and an electrolyte are electrically connected to each other. The battery case has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape having a pair of rectangular wide surfaces and four side surfaces between the pair of wide surfaces, and any one of the four side surfaces includes A discharge valve is provided for discharging the gas generated inside the battery case to the outside of the battery case. The plurality of single cells are arranged such that the wide surfaces of the battery cases face each other and the side surfaces of the single cells provided with the discharge valve are in the same direction. In the gap between the single cells, a spacing member is disposed so that at least a part thereof is in contact with the rectangular wide surface.
Here, with respect to the four side edge portions of the rectangular wide surface (that is, the region of the four edge portions corresponding to each of the four sides of the wide surface, not the side itself), the discharge valve is used. The edge part adjacent to the provided side face is the first edge part, and the two edge parts in contact with each of the two side faces adjacent to the side face provided with the discharge valve are the second edge part and When the third edge, the edge adjacent to the opposite side facing the side where the discharge valve is provided, is the fourth edge, the gap retainer is the gap retainer. In the two unit cells facing each other, the space between the first edge portion, the second edge portion, and the third edge portion that face each other are both closed and face each other. A gap is maintained between the fourth edge portions.

In the assembled battery disclosed here, the first edge portion, the second edge portion, and the third edge portion of the gap between the two facing unit cells are separated by the spacing member. Is blocked (shielded). For this reason, the wide surface of each cell in the arrayed state can be physically isolated from the gas released from the discharge valve provided in each cell.
Therefore, even if a trouble such as a sharp foreign object such as a nail sticks into the wide surface of any single cell in the above-described arrangement, the trouble occurrence site (typically This is caused by a direct interaction between the trouble and the gas released from the exhaust valve, because a gap maintaining material exists as a shielding member between the central portion of the wide surface) and the side surface provided with the exhaust valve. Unforeseen circumstances can be prevented.
That is, according to the assembled battery disclosed herein, even if the gas generated inside the unit cell is released from the discharge valve of the unit cell to the outside of the unit cell, the assembled battery in which safety is ensured. Can be provided.

It is a perspective view which shows typically the structure of the assembled battery which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a side view which shows typically the structure of the assembled battery which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows typically the structure of the cell which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically the relationship of the space | interval holding | maintenance material arrange | positioned between two unit cells which oppose about the structure of the assembled battery which concerns on one Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows typically the space | interval holding material which concerns on a 1st aspect. It is a perspective view which shows typically the space | interval holding material which concerns on a 2nd aspect. It is a perspective view which shows typically the space | interval holding material which concerns on a 3rd aspect. It is a perspective view which shows typically the space | interval holding material which concerns on a 4th aspect. It is a perspective view which shows typically the space | interval holding material which concerns on a 5th aspect. It is a perspective view which shows typically the space | interval holding material which concerns on a 6th aspect.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. Note that matters other than the matters specifically mentioned in the present specification and necessary for the implementation of the present invention (for example, a method for constructing an assembled battery that does not characterize the present invention) are described in the related art in this field. It can be grasped as a design matter of those skilled in the art based on. The present invention can be carried out based on the contents disclosed in this specification and common technical knowledge in the field. In addition, the dimensional relationships (length, width, thickness, etc.) in each drawing do not reflect actual dimensional relationships.

  In the present specification, the “single cell” is a term indicating individual power storage elements constituting the assembled battery, and includes batteries and capacitors of various compositions unless specifically limited. The “secondary battery” generally refers to a battery that can be repeatedly charged, and includes so-called storage batteries such as lithium ion secondary batteries and nickel metal hydride batteries. The lithium ion secondary battery is a typical example included in the “unit cell” referred to herein, and a lithium ion secondary battery module (battery pack) including a plurality of such unit cells is disclosed herein. This is one typical example of the “assembled battery”. In the technology disclosed herein, a predetermined number (for example, 3 to 50) of single cells (for example, lithium ion secondary batteries), which are also called rectangular batteries having a flat box-shaped outer shape, are stacked on a flat wide surface. It can be particularly preferably applied to an assembled battery which is arranged in the direction (stacking direction) and the terminals of those single cells are connected in series or in parallel.

  In FIG. 1, the structure of the assembled battery which concerns on one Embodiment is shown. The assembled battery 10 according to this embodiment includes a plurality of unit cells 20. The unit cell 20 can typically be a battery having the same shape, and the plurality of unit cells 20 are electrically connected to each other. In the unit cell 20, as in the unit cell provided in a conventional general assembled battery, an electrode body including a predetermined battery constituent material (positive and negative electrodes, a separator, and the like) has a suitable electrolyte (typically nonaqueous). In addition to the electrolyte, the battery case 50 has a configuration. The single battery 20 can be a chargeable / dischargeable secondary battery, for example, a lithium ion secondary battery can be suitably employed.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the battery case 50 has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape (that is, a square shape) having a pair of rectangular wide surfaces 52 and four side surfaces 54 between the pair of wide surfaces 52. It is. A discharge valve 30 for discharging the gas generated inside the battery case to the outside of the battery case is provided on any one of the four side surfaces 54 (here, the upper surface when a normal battery is used). Is provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the battery case 50 has one of the four side surfaces 54 (here, the same surface as the surface on which the discharge valve 30 is formed, that is, a normal battery use). The positive electrode terminal 60 and the negative electrode terminal 62 that are electrically connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the electrode body, respectively, so that a part of the terminals protrudes outward (in this case upward) of the battery. Is provided. Typically, one positive electrode terminal 60 and the other negative electrode terminal 62 are electrically connected by a connector 64 between adjacent unit cells 20. Thus, the assembled battery 10 having a desired voltage is constructed by electrically connecting a plurality of unit cells 20 (typically in series).

  In addition, the material which comprises the battery case 50 can be made into the same thing as what is used with a typical cell, for example, and there is no restriction | limiting in particular. From the viewpoint of heat dissipation of the unit cell 20, a metal (for example, aluminum) battery case 50 can be preferably used.

  FIG. 2 is a side view showing the configuration of the assembled battery 10 according to one embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the assembled battery 10 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of unit cells 20 having the above-described configuration arranged in a predetermined direction. Specifically, in the plurality of unit cells 20, the wide surfaces 52 of the battery case 50 face each other, and the side surfaces 54 provided with the discharge valve 30 are in the same direction (that is, the battery case 50). Are arranged so that the discharge valves 30 provided on the side surface 54 are arranged on the same surface. Then, typically, the plurality of unit cells 20 are arranged so as to be inverted one by one so that the positive terminals 60 and the negative terminals 62 are alternately arranged.

Typically, a restraining member that restrains the plurality of unit cells 20 together can be provided around the arranged unit cells 20. That is, a pair of restraining plates 70 </ b> A and 70 </ b> B are disposed on the outer side of the unit cell 20 positioned on the outermost side in the arrangement direction of the unit cells 20. Further, a fastening beam member 72 is attached so as to bridge the pair of restraining plates 70A and 70B. Then, by tightening and fixing the end of the beam member 72 to the restraining plate 70 </ b> A with the screws 74, the unit cells 20 can be restrained in the arrangement direction. Typically, the unit cell 20 is subjected to a predetermined load (restraint load) in the arrangement direction of the unit cells 20 (for example, the surface pressure received by the wide surface 52 is about 10 ⁴ Pa to 10 ⁶ Pa). To be constrained. For example, the load applied in the arrangement direction of the unit cells 20 can be adjusted according to the tightening condition of the beam member 72.

  Here, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a spacing member 40 is disposed in the gap between the unit cells 20 arranged as described above. That is, the spacing member 40 disposed between the unit cells 20 is disposed in a state where at least a part of the spacing member 40 is in contact with the rectangular wide surface 52 of the adjacent unit cell 20. In addition, the space | interval holding | maintenance material 40 may further be arrange | positioned on both the outer sides of the arrangement direction of the arranged unit cell 20 other than between each adjacent unit cell 20. FIG. Typically, the spacing member 40 is restrained in the arrangement direction together with the unit cells 20.

  In the following description, as shown in FIG. 3, each of the four side edges (that is, the four sides of the wide surface) of the wide surface 52 (rectangular wide surface 52) of the unit cell 20 corresponds. The area of the four edge portions, not the side itself) is the first edge portion 55 adjacent to the side surface 54A where the discharge valve 30 is provided, and the discharge valve 30 is provided. Two side edges adjacent to each of the two side faces 54B and 54C adjacent to the side face 54A are opposed to the second side edge 56 and the third side edge 57, and the side face 54A provided with the discharge valve 30. The edge portion adjacent to the opposite side surface 54D is also referred to as a fourth edge portion 58.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the relationship between the two unit cells 20 facing each other and the spacing member 40 arranged between them, with respect to the configuration of the assembled battery 10 according to the embodiment. It is a figure which cuts and shows some cell 20 arranged. As shown in FIG. 4, the spacing member 40 disclosed here includes the two second cells 20 that are opposed to each other with the spacing member 40 interposed therebetween. The gaps between the edge portions 56 and the third edge portion 57 are both closed, and the gap 42 is maintained between the fourth edge portions 58 facing each other. ing.
Even when the gas generated inside the unit cell 20 is released from the discharge valve 30 by providing the interval holding member 40 having such a shape between the adjacent unit cells 20, the arrayed state is maintained. The wide surface 52 of each unit cell 20 and the gas released from the discharge valve 30 provided in each unit cell can be physically separated.

In addition, the shape of the spacing member 40 disclosed here is such that, in the two unit cells 20 that are opposed to each other with the spacing member 40 interposed therebetween, between the facing first edge portions 55, the second edge. There is no particular limitation as long as both gaps between the portions 56 and the third edge 57 are closed and the gap 42 is maintained between the fourth edges 58 facing each other.
For example, in the spacing member 40 disclosed herein, the gap 42 is maintained in a part between the fourth edge portions 58 facing each other in the two unit cells 20 that are opposed to each other with the spacing member 40 interposed therebetween. As long as it is, a part between the fourth edge portions 58 facing each other may be blocked by the spacing member 40.

Moreover, it is the shape of the space | interval holding material 40 disclosed here, Comprising: In the two unit cells 20 which oppose on both sides of the said space | interval holding material 40, the said 1st-4th edge part (55-58) which faces each other. The shape other than the portions arranged between them is not particularly limited. Typically, the spacing member 40 is continuous with the gap 42 maintained between the fourth edge portions 58 facing each other in the two unit cells 20 facing each other with the spacing member 40 interposed therebetween. In addition, a gap that is not blocked by the spacing member 40 may be formed in a part between the wide surfaces 52 facing each other.
By providing the spacing member 40 having such a shape between the adjacent unit cells 20, the gap formed between the two unit cells 20 facing each other with the spacing plate sandwiched therebetween has the fourth edge. A cooling medium (typically air) can enter and exit through the gap 42 maintained in the section 58. That is, the spacing member 40 having the above-described configuration suitably serves to dissipate heat that can be generated in the unit cell 20. In addition, since the suitable embodiment of the space | interval holding | maintenance material 40 disclosed here can fully ensure the cooling area for cooling the adjacent cell 20, it can exhibit the outstanding cooling performance.

The material which comprises the space | interval holding | maintenance material 40 disclosed here can be made into the same thing as what is used with a typical assembled battery, for example, and there is no restriction | limiting in particular. For example, a spacing member 40 made of a metal having good thermal conductivity or light and hard polypropylene or other synthetic resin is suitable.
For example, the synthetic resin spacing member 40 is preferable because it can be easily manufactured by injection molding. In particular, since the spacing member 40 disclosed here has a relatively simple shape, it is possible to manufacture the spacing member 40 at a low cost.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the spacing member 40 disclosed herein will be specifically described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The embodiments described below are merely examples, and the invention disclosed herein includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples shown below.

  A preferred embodiment (first aspect) of the spacing member 40 (40A) disclosed herein is, for example, two unit cells facing each other with the spacing member 40 (40A) interposed therebetween, as shown in FIG. 20 can be a U-shaped member that blocks between the first side edge portion 55, the second side edge portion 56, and the third side edge portion 57 that face each other. . Note that the spacing member 40 (40A) disclosed herein further blocks a portion between the fourth edge portions 58 of the two unit cells 20 that are opposed to each other with the spacing member 40 (40A) interposed therebetween. It may be a frame-shaped member (that is, a part of the gap 42 between the fourth edge portions 58 is maintained).

  Alternatively, another preferred embodiment (second aspect) of the spacing member 40 (40B) disclosed herein is opposed to the spacing member 40 (40B), for example, as shown in FIG. In the two unit cells 20, the gap between the first side edge portion 55, the second side edge portion 56, and the third side edge portion 57 that face each other is blocked, and the Two or three or more gaps between two unit cells 20 facing each other with the spacing member 40 (40B) interposed therebetween in a direction orthogonal to the first edge 55 (for example, four to twenty, typically It is possible to have a shape (typically a comb-tooth shape) divided into six). In addition, the space | interval holding material 40 (40B) of this shape may be a shape which can divide | segment the gap | interval between the two unit cells 20 which oppose on both sides of the said space | interval holding material 40 (40B).

  Alternatively, other preferred embodiments (third to sixth aspects) of the spacing member 40 disclosed herein correspond to the wide surface 52 of the unit cell 20 as shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, for example. A rectangular plate-shaped member that faces the adjacent unit cell 20 (hereinafter, a surface of the spacing member 40 that faces the unit cell 20 (wide surface 52) is referred to as an “opposing surface”). One surface (preferably both surfaces) may have a shape in which a convex portion 44 that contacts the wide surface 52 of the unit cell 20 and a concave portion 46 that does not contact the wide surface 52 of the unit cell 20 are formed. The spacing member 40 is a surface facing the spacing member 40, and includes the first edge portion 55, the second edge portion 56, and the third edge of the adjacent unit cell 20. The convex portion 44 may be formed in any portion facing the portion 57. By providing the interval holding member 40 having such a shape between the two unit cells 20 facing each other with the interval holding member 40 interposed therebetween, the first edge portion 55 facing the two unit cells 20 facing each other. Between the second edge portion 56 and the third edge portion 57, the protrusion 44 closes the gap. And the said convex part 44 is not formed in at least one part of the part which is the opposing surface of the said space | interval holding | maintenance material 40, and opposes the 4th edge part 58 of the adjacent unit cell 20 (namely, adjoins). A convex part may be formed in a part of opposing surface which opposes the 4th edge part 58 of the cell 20). Accordingly, the gap 42 is maintained between the fourth edge portions 58 of the two unit cells 20 that are opposed to each other with the gap holding member 40 interposed therebetween.

For example, a preferred embodiment (third embodiment) of the spacing member 40 (40C) disclosed herein is a rectangular plate-like member corresponding to the wide surface 52 of the unit cell 20, as shown in FIG. The convex portions are U-shaped on the opposing surfaces facing the first edge portion 55, the second edge portion 56, and the third edge portion 57 of the adjacent unit cells 20. (Third embodiment).
In addition, the plate-like spacing member 40 is provided with the convex portion 44 formed on the opposing surface facing the first to third edge portions (and the fourth edge portion) of the adjacent unit cell 20. In addition to (typically the U-shaped convex portion 44), a mode in which a convex portion 44 having a desired shape is further provided may be used. For example, the spacing members (40D to 40F) of the embodiments (fourth to sixth embodiments) as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 are preferable examples.

  Specifically, as another preferred embodiment (fourth embodiment) of the spacing member 40 (40D) disclosed herein, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, it corresponds to the wide surface 52 of the unit cell 20. A rectangular plate-shaped member, in addition to the convex portion 44 formed on the opposing surface facing the first to third edge portions (and the fourth edge portion) of the adjacent unit cell 20. One or more (for example, 3) extending in a direction perpendicular to the first edge 55 (that is, a direction along the second edge 56 (or the third edge 57)) The aspect which further provided the convex part 44 of -20 pieces (typically 5 pieces) is mentioned. The convex portion 44 extending in a direction orthogonal to the first edge portion 55 is formed so as to be orthogonal to the convex portion 44 formed at a portion facing the first edge portion 55 of the unit cell 20. It may be. Further, the convex portion 44 extending in a direction orthogonal to the first edge portion 55 may be formed so as to reach the fourth edge portion 58 of the unit cell 20. Moreover, the some convex part 44 extended in the direction orthogonal to said 1st edge 55 may be arrange | positioned so that it may become equal intervals.

  Alternatively, as another preferred embodiment (fifth embodiment) of the spacing member 40 (40E) disclosed herein, for example, as shown in FIG. 9, a rectangular shape corresponding to the wide surface 52 of the unit cell 20 is used. In addition to the convex portion 44 formed on the opposing surface facing the first to third edge portions (and the fourth edge portion) of the adjacent unit cell 20, The aspect which further provided the arc-shaped convex part 44 of this or 2 or more (for example, 3-10, typically 4) is mentioned. The arc-shaped convex portion 44 may have a shape in which a plurality of convex portions 44 having different lengths are arranged at equal intervals in order from the arc-shaped convex portion 44 having a shorter length. Further, the arc-shaped convex portion 44 may have a shape formed so that the end of the arc reaches the fourth edge portion 58 of the unit cell 20.

  Alternatively, as another preferred embodiment (sixth aspect) of the spacing member 40 (40F) disclosed herein, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, a rectangular shape corresponding to the wide surface 52 of the unit cell 20 is used. In addition to the convex portion 44 formed on the opposing surface facing the first to third edge portions (and the fourth edge portion) of the adjacent unit cell 20, It may be a mode provided with projections (dots) of convex portions 44 (for example, 4 to 50, typically 12). The shape of the protruding (dot-like) convex portion 44 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a cylindrical shape or an elliptical column shape. Note that the protruding convex portions 44 may have a shape in which adjacent convex portions 44 are arranged at equal intervals. Further, the spacing member 40 (40F) disclosed herein is opposed to the first to third edge portions (and the fourth edge portion) of the adjacent unit cell 20, for example, as shown in FIG. In addition to the protrusion 44 formed on the opposing surface and the protrusion-like (dot-like) protrusion 44, one or more (here, 1) extending in the direction perpendicular to the first edge 55 The present embodiment may further include a convex portion 44 of the book.

  Hereinafter, although not intended to be particularly limited, the configuration of the single battery 20 constituting the assembled battery 10 disclosed herein will be described by taking a case where the single battery 20 is a lithium ion secondary battery as an example.

The electrode body housed inside the unit cell 20 (that is, inside the battery case 50) has a structure in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are stacked via a separator. That is, the electrode body provided in the assembled battery 10 disclosed herein can be, for example, a stacked electrode body or a wound electrode body.
The material and the member constituting the electrode body may be the same as those of a conventional lithium ion secondary battery, and are not particularly limited. For example, the positive electrode is provided with a positive electrode active material layer containing a positive electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery such as a lithium transition metal composite oxide on a positive electrode current collector (for example, an aluminum foil having a thickness of 5 μm to 20 μm). Can be formed.
On the other hand, the negative electrode has a negative electrode active material layer containing a negative electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery such as graphite or lithium transition metal oxide on a negative electrode current collector (for example, a copper foil having a thickness of 5 μm to 20 μm). Can be formed.
Moreover, as a separator which is arrange | positioned between a positive electrode and a negative electrode and isolate | separates the said positive electrode and a negative electrode electrically, the porous separator sheet | seat of thickness 5 micrometers-30 micrometers which consists of polyolefin resin can be used suitably, for example.

Further, the electrolyte (typically nonaqueous electrolyte) accommodated in the unit cell 20 (that is, the inside of the battery case 50) together with the electrode body may be the same as that of a conventional lithium ion secondary battery, and in particular. There is no limit. For example, non-aqueous electrolysis containing a suitable amount (for example, concentration 1M (1 mol / L)) of an appropriate supporting salt (for example, a lithium salt such as LiPF ₆ ) in a non-aqueous solvent (for example, a mixed solvent of diethyl carbonate and ethylene carbonate). A liquid can be preferably used.

  The battery pack 10 disclosed here can be used for various purposes, but is a case where gas generated inside the cell 20 is released from the discharge valve 30 of the cell 20 to the outside of the cell 20. However, safety is ensured. Therefore, it can be preferably used in applications that require high reliability (safety) by utilizing such characteristics. As such an application, for example, a power source (drive power source) for a motor mounted on a vehicle can be cited. The type of vehicle is not particularly limited, but is typically an automobile, for example, a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHV), a hybrid vehicle (HV), an electric vehicle (EV), a fuel cell vehicle, an electric truck, a motorbike, electric It can be an assist bicycle, an electric wheelchair, an electric railway or the like. Accordingly, the present invention can provide a vehicle (typically, an automobile equipped with an electric motor such as a hybrid automobile, an electric automobile, and a fuel cell automobile) provided with the assembled battery 10 disclosed herein as a power source. .

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated in detail, these are only illustrations and do not limit a claim. The technology described in the claims of the present application includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above. For example, in the present embodiment, a lithium ion secondary battery is exemplified as the battery structure of the single battery 20 constituting the assembled battery 10, but the present invention can be widely applied to batteries other than the lithium ion secondary battery.

  For example, the technology described in the scope of claims of the present application includes an assembled battery in which the spacing members of at least two or more aspects from the first aspect to the sixth aspect described above are combined. Moreover, in the specific example mentioned above, although the surface in which the discharge valve is provided in the battery case which comprises a single battery was made into the top | upper surface at the time of battery use, the claim of this application is not restricted to it. For example, the technology described in the claims of the present application is naturally applied to an assembled battery including a single battery in which the discharge valve is formed on any one of the surfaces (side surfaces) sandwiched between the wide surfaces of the battery case. Can be done.

  In addition, the assembled battery 10 shown in FIG. 1 has a simple configuration in order to explain the present invention, but various modifications and additions of equipment can be made without impairing the configuration and effects of the present invention. It is clear to the contractor. For example, when mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, an exterior cover for protecting the main part (unit cell group, etc.) of the assembled battery, a part for fixing the assembled battery to a predetermined part of the vehicle, a plurality of assembled batteries ( However, the presence or absence of such equipment does not affect the technical scope of the present invention.

10 assembled battery 20 single cell 30 discharge valve 40, 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D, 40E, 40F interval holding material 42 gap 44 convex portion 46 concave portion 50 battery case 52 wide surfaces 54, 54A, 54B, 54C, 54D side surface 55 first One edge portion 56 Second edge portion 57 Third edge portion 58 Fourth edge portion 60 Positive electrode terminal 62 Negative electrode terminal 64 Connector 70A, 70B Restraining plate 72 Beam material 74 Screw

Claims (1)

A battery assembly in which a plurality of unit cells having the same shape including a rectangular battery case containing an electrode body and an electrolyte are electrically connected to each other,
The battery case has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape having a pair of rectangular wide surfaces and four side surfaces between the pair of wide surfaces, and any one of the four side surfaces includes the A discharge valve for discharging the gas generated inside the battery case to the outside of the battery case is provided,
The plurality of unit cells are arranged such that the wide surfaces of the battery case face each other, and the side surfaces of the unit cells provided with the discharge valve are in the same direction,
In the gap between the arranged single cells, a spacing member is disposed in a state where at least a part thereof is in contact with the rectangular wide surface,
Here, about the four edge portions of the rectangular wide surface,
The first edge part is the edge part adjacent to the side surface provided with the discharge valve,
Two edge portions adjacent to each of the two side surfaces adjacent to the side surface provided with the discharge valve are a second edge portion and a third edge portion,
When the edge portion adjacent to the opposite side surface opposite to the side surface provided with the discharge valve is the fourth edge portion,
In the two unit cells facing each other with the spacing member interposed therebetween, the spacing member is between the first edge portion, the second edge portion, and the third edge portion facing each other. An assembled battery configured to have a shape in which a gap is maintained between the fourth edge portions facing each other.

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