JP3253445B2 - Battery pack - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an assembled battery in which a plurality of unit cells are juxtaposed and electrically connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An assembled battery in which a plurality of unit cells are integrally connected can obtain an optimum output voltage and capacity according to a device to be used. In addition, the integrated battery can be easily and detachably handled in the device without replacing a large number of batteries individually, which is very convenient. In such an assembled battery, it is necessary to firmly connect a plurality of unit cells to form an integrated structure.

A conventional battery pack is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-842.
As shown in JP-A-63-63, the peripheral side surfaces of a unit cell having an upper surface as a one-pole terminal portion and a peripheral side surface and a lower surface as the other electrode terminal portion are covered with an insulator and arranged side by side, and the outer periphery thereof is an insulator. It is wrapped with adhesive tape from above and fixed. The unit cells are electrically connected to each other in series or in parallel using a lead tab. Further, these may be stored in a plastic case.

[0004]

The assembled battery having the above-mentioned structure has a structure in which the unit cell is directly fixed with an adhesive tape from above an insulator covering the peripheral side surface of the unit cell. I haven't. Therefore, it falls to the battery pack,
When a strong impact such as vibration is applied, the unit cell is rotated, and there is a problem that the lead tab is easily detached from the unit cell. In particular, a battery pack used in a very harsh environment such as a power tool is liable to cause a lot of breakage and detachment of a lead tab.

On the other hand, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 62-144064, there is a structure in which unit cells are bonded with an adhesive. However, in order to firmly bond all the cells with an adhesive, a large amount of adhesive must be used, which increases the manufacturing cost of the assembled battery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, the present invention provides an assembled battery having excellent shock resistance by connecting a plurality of unit cells simply and easily and securely.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided an assembled battery in which a plurality of unit cells, each having an upper surface serving as one terminal terminal and a peripheral side surface and a lower surface serving as the other electrode terminal, are juxtaposed and electrically connected,
The peripheral side surfaces of the unit cells are covered with an insulator so that a part thereof is exposed, and an adhesive tape is attached to the peripheral side surfaces of the plurality of unit cells so as to include the exposed portions, and these are integrally formed. It is characterized by being fixed.

[0008]

According to the present invention, in an assembled battery in which a plurality of unit cells are juxtaposed and electrically connected, an adhesive tape is attached to a peripheral side surface of the unit cells and these are integrally fixed. At this time, the peripheral side surface of the unit cell is covered with an insulator so that the peripheral side surface of the adjacent unit cell is not electrically short-circuited, but the insulator is a part of the peripheral side surface of the unit cell. Are covered so as to be exposed, and the adhesive tape is directly adhered to the peripheral side surfaces of the plurality of unit cells including the exposed portions to integrally fix them.

Accordingly, the adhesive tape is directly adhered to the unit cell at least at the exposed portion to fix the unit cell, and the unit cell is firmly fixed.

[0010]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. The figure shows that six cylindrical unit cells 1 are arranged on the upper and lower surfaces (that is, +
(Positive and negative poles) are alternately arranged in two rows of three each, and the electrically conductive tabs 2 are spot-welded appropriately and electrically connected in series.

In this assembled battery, each of the unit cells 1
It is covered with an insulator 3, for example, a heat-shrinkable tube so that a part of the peripheral side surface is exposed. More specifically, the insulator 3 has a window-like opening 4 substantially at the center of the peripheral side surface of the unit cell 1.
Therefore, the peripheral side surface of the unit cell 1 is covered so as to be exposed. The unit cells 1 are arranged side by side so that the window-shaped openings 4 face outward.

In this state, the adhesive tape 5 is adhered directly to the peripheral side surface of the unit cell 1 exposed from the window-like opening 4.
The adhesive tape 5 is wound around the entire unit cell 1, and the six unit cells 1 are integrally connected and fixed to form an assembled battery.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show another embodiment of the present invention, in which, similarly to FIG. 1, six cylindrical unit cells 1 are arranged on the upper and lower surfaces (that is, the positive and negative electrodes). 3) so that they alternate
They are arranged side by side in two rows and are electrically connected in series by a conductive tab 2.

In this assembled battery, almost half of the peripheral side surface of each unit cell 1 on the side of the positive electrode terminal is covered with an insulator 3. Therefore, the peripheral side surface on the negative electrode terminal side of each unit cell 1 is exposed.

In this state, the adhesive tape 5 is wound around the whole unit cell 1 so that the adhesive tape 5 is directly adhered to the exposed side surface of the unit cell 1, and the six unit cells 1 are integrated. It is connected and fixed to form an assembled battery.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, only one insulator 3 exists between adjacent unit cells 1.
On the other hand, in the conventional structure in which the entire peripheral side surface of the unit cell is covered with the insulator, two insulators exist between the adjacent unit cells 1. Therefore, in this embodiment, the size of the assembled battery can be reduced.

By the way, in order to prevent the explosion of the unit cell 1 due to overcharging or the like, usually, the positive electrode side of the unit cell 1
A valve that is activated by an increase in internal pressure is provided, and when activated, the electrolyte in the unit cell 1 leaks to the outside of the battery.
In order to prevent the electrolyte from spreading around,
In this embodiment, the insulator 3 covers substantially half of the peripheral surface of the unit cell 1 on the positive terminal side, but is not limited to this. You may make it cover half.

[0018]

According to the present invention, there is provided an assembled battery in which a plurality of unit cells each having an upper surface serving as a one-pole terminal portion and a peripheral side surface and a lower surface serving as the other electrode terminal portion are juxtaposed and electrically connected. The peripheral side surface is covered with an insulator so that a part thereof is exposed, and an adhesive tape is attached to the peripheral side surfaces of the plurality of unit cells so as to include the exposed portions, and these are integrally fixed. Therefore, each unit cell is firmly connected and fixed because the adhesive tape is directly attached to the exposed portion and fixed. Therefore, even if a strong shock such as dropping or vibration is applied to the assembled battery, the unit cell does not rotate and the lead tab is not cut or detached, and the shock resistance is excellent.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Unit cell 2 Conductive tab 3 Insulator 4 Window-like opening 5 Adhesive tape

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] An assembled battery in which a plurality of unit cells each having an upper surface serving as one terminal terminal and a peripheral side surface and a lower surface serving as another electrode terminal unit are juxtaposed and electrically connected, the peripheral side surface of the unit cell is A set comprising a plurality of unit cells, which are covered with an insulator so as to be partially exposed, and adhesive tapes are attached to peripheral sides of the plurality of unit cells so as to include the exposed portions, and these are integrally fixed. battery. 2. The set according to claim 1, wherein the insulator has a window-like opening, and the unit cell is covered so that a peripheral side surface of the unit cell is exposed from the window-like opening. battery. 3. A plurality of said unit cells are arranged side by side such that an upper surface and a lower surface thereof are alternately arranged, and said insulator is substantially a part of said peripheral side surface on said one pole terminal portion side to be a positive pole terminal portion. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein half of the battery pack is covered.