JP4292365B2

JP4292365B2 - battery

Info

Publication number: JP4292365B2
Application number: JP2002151808A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 哲三小島; 下薗　　武司; 胸永　　訓良; 岳人松原; 田才　　博志; 鈴木　　勲
Original assignee: GS Yuasa Corp
Current assignee: GS Yuasa Corp
Priority date: 2002-05-27
Filing date: 2002-05-27
Publication date: 2009-07-08
Anticipated expiration: 2022-05-27
Also published as: CN101562260A; JP2003346770A; CN101562260B; CN101308920A; CN101308920B

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、巻回型や積層型の発電要素の電極を集電接続体を介して端子に接続する電池に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
図３に、大型の非水電解質二次電池における従来の発電要素１と集電接続板２と端子３との接続構造を示す。この非水電解質二次電池は、２個の長円筒形の発電要素１を並べ並列接続したものである。各発電要素１は、正極１ａと負極１ｂをセパレータを介して長円筒形に巻回したものであり、正極１ａは帯状のアルミニウム箔の表面に正極活物質を担持させ、負極１ｂは帯状の銅箔の表面に負極活物質を担持させたものである。ただし、これらの正極１ａと負極１ｂは、それぞれ帯状の片方の側端部に活物質を塗布しない未塗工部を設けておき、この未塗工部でアルミニウム箔と銅箔が露出するようにしている。そして、これらの正極１ａと負極１ｂは、発電要素１の巻回の際に、巻回軸に沿って互いに反対方向にずらすことにより、長円筒形の一方（図示右下）の端面には正極１ａの側端部のアルミニウム箔のみがはみ出し、他方（図示左上）の端面には負極１ｂの側端部の銅箔のみがはみ出すようにしている。
【０００３】
上記２個の発電要素１，１は、長円筒形の平坦な側面同士が直立して重なり合うように横置きに並べられる。そして、これらの発電要素１，１の双方の端面で、それぞれ波板状の集電接続板２，２に、各発電要素１の端面からはみ出した正極１ａのアルミニウム箔や負極１ｂの銅箔を接続するようになっている。各集電接続板２は、２枚の金属板を波板状の凹凸に成形し、これらの端部同士を重ね合わせると共に、この合わせ部の上端に端子３を接続固定したものである。そして、正極側となる端子３を接続固定した集電接続板２は、波板状の各凹部に発電要素１，１の一方の端面からはみ出した正極１ａのアルミニウム箔を挟み込んで超音波溶接により接続固定し、負極側となる端子３を接続固定した集電接続板２は、波板状の各凹部に発電要素１，１の他方の端面からはみ出した負極１ｂの銅箔を挿入して超音波溶接により接続固定している。
【０００４】
上記２個の発電要素１は、図示しない筐体状の電池容器に収納され、この電池容器の上端開口部が蓋板によって塞がれる。この際、端子３，３の上端部は、絶縁封止材を介してこの蓋板を貫通し外部に突出するようになっている。そして、この電池容器と蓋板からなる電池外装体の内部に電解液が充填され封止されることにより非水電解質二次電池となる。
【０００５】
従って、上記非水電解質二次電池は、２個の発電要素１，１を長円筒形の平坦な側面が直立するように横置きに並べて収納し、しかも、端子３，３が電池外装体の上面の両端部から上方に突設されるので、設置のスペース効率が良いものとなる。
【０００６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
ところが、上記非水電解質二次電池は、上方に突出する端子３に接続された集電接続板２を横置きの発電要素１の正極１ａや負極１ｂにおける直線部の垂直になって重なり合った部分に沿わせて接続するために、波板状の複雑な形状の板材を組み合わせたり、端子３にも接続し難い形状にならざるを得ないため、作製が困難になるという問題があった。
【０００７】
しかも、集電接続板２は、電流容量を高めるために、波板状の部分の板厚もある程度厚くする必要があり、薄いアルミニウム箔や銅箔を挟み込んで超音波溶接を行なっても十分に溶着させることができないという問題も生じていた。また、この集電接続板２は、２個の発電要素１ごとに幾重にも重なり合ったアルミニウム箔や銅箔を波板状の各凹部に同時に挿入して挟み込む必要があり、この組み立て時の作業性が悪くなるという問題もあった。
【０００８】
本発明は、かかる事情に対処するためになされたものであり、集電接続板の本体から折れ曲がりねじれて突設された接続板部に発電要素の電極を沿わせて接続することにより、この集電接続板を作製容易なものにすると共に集電効率を高めることができる電池を提供することを目的としている。
【０００９】
【課題を解決するための手段】
請求項１の電池は、金属板からなる集電接続板の本体を端子に接続すると共に発電要素の端部に沿わせて配置し、この本体の端縁部から発電要素の端面側に向けて折れ曲がると共にほぼ９０度ねじれて突設された１本以上の細長い板状の接続板部を発電要素の端面から突出する電極に沿わせて接続したことを特徴とする。
【００１０】
請求項１の発明によれば、集電接続板の接続板部が本体の端縁部から発電要素の端面上に向けて折れ曲がると共に９０度ねじれて突設されているので、発電要素の端面から突出しこの本体にほぼ直交する電極の接続部を接続板部の板面に沿わせて接続することができるようになる。このため、金属板を例えば打ち抜き・曲げ・ねじり加工しただけの簡単な構造の集電接続板を用いて、効率のよい集電を行うことができるようになる。しかも、この集電接続板の接続板部に発電要素の電極を沿わせて接続するので、この接続を確実なものにすることもできる。
【００１１】
請求項２の電池は、前記集電接続板の本体から１対以上の接続板部が突設されると共に、各対の２本の接続板部が互いに向かい合う側辺を発電要素の端面とは反対側に回転させることにより逆向きにねじったものであることを特徴とする。
【００１２】
請求項２の発明によれば、接続板部が対となって２本ずつ突設されるので、これら２本の接続板部の間に発電要素の端面から突出する電極を挿入し接続作業を行うことにより、接続作業を容易にすることができる。しかも、対となる２本の接続板部は、発電要素の電極が間に挿入され易い方向にねじれているので、集電接続板を発電要素に取り付ける作業も容易になる。
【００１３】
請求項３の電池は、前記各接続板部の９０度のねじれ部の突出方向における長さがこの接続板部の板厚よりも長いことを特徴とする。
【００１４】
請求項３の発明によれば、接続板部のねじれ部が板厚に対して十分な長さとなるので、短い間で急峻なねじり加工を行うことによりこの接続板部のねじれ部に応力が集中して導電性が低下し電池の内部抵抗が高くなるのを防止することができる。
【００１５】
（削除）
【００１６】
（削除）
【００１７】
（削除）
【００１８】
（削除）
【００１９】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の実施形態について図面を参照して説明する。
【００２０】
図１〜図２は本発明の一実施形態を示すものであって、図１は非水電解質二次電池の発電要素と端子との接続構造を示す組み立て斜視図、図２は非水電解質二次電池の構造を示す組み立て斜視図である。なお、図３に示した従来例と同様の機能を有する構成部材には同じ番号を付記する。
【００２１】
本実施形態は、従来例と同様に大型の非水電解質二次電池について説明する。この非水電解質二次電池は、図１に示すように、２個の長円筒形の発電要素１，１を並べて並列接続したものである。各発電要素１は、従来例と同じ構成であり、長円筒形の一方の端面からは正極１ａの側端部のアルミニウム箔がはみ出すと共に、他方の端面からは負極１ｂの側端部の銅箔がはみ出すようになっている。
【００２２】
上記２個の発電要素１，１は、長円筒形の平坦な側面同士が直立して重なり合うように横置きに並べられる。そして、これら２個の発電要素１，１の両端部にそれぞれ集電接続板２，２が配置されている。集電接続板２，２は、それぞれ大きな電流容量が得られるように十分な厚さの金属板が使用され、発電要素１の一方の端部に配置する正極１ａ側のものはアルミニウム合金板からなり、他方の端部に配置する負極１ｂ側のものは銅合金板からなる。各集電接続板２は、ほぼ台形状の水平に配置された本体２ａと、この本体の台形状の底辺部から下方に向けて突設された４本の細長い接続板部２ｂとからなる。また、各接続板部２ｂには、板面から突出する凸部が適宜間隔で複数箇所ずつ形成されている。即ち、各集電接続板２は、アルミニウム合金板や銅合金板を、台形状の本体２ａとこの台形状の底辺部から櫛歯状に真っ直ぐ伸びた細長い４本の接続板部２ｂとをプレス加工により打ち抜くと共に各接続板部２ｂに凸部を形成し、これらの接続板部２ｂを基部で本体２ａに対して直角に折り曲げ、折り曲げた各接続板部２ｂを基部でそれぞれ９０度ねじることにより形成される。また、これら４本の接続板部２ｂは、左右の２本ずつが対となり、各対の２本の接続板部２ｂの向かい合う側辺が本体２ａ側とは反対方向に回転するようにねじっている。そして、各接続板部２ｂの凸部は、このねじりによって、対となるもの同士が向かい合う方向に突出するように突設されている。
【００２３】
上記各接続板部２ｂのねじれ部の突出方向における長さＬは、この接続板部２ｂの板厚Ｔよりも長くなるようにしている。これは、長さＬが板厚Ｔよりも短い場合には、この接続板部２ｂに急峻なねじり加工が加えられねじれ部に応力が集中して導電性が低下するからである。
【００２４】
上記各集電接続板２は、２個の発電要素１，１の双方の端部の上方に本体２ａを配置すると共に、接続板部２ｂがこれらの発電要素１，１の端面に沿って配置されるようにする。即ち、各発電要素１の正極１ａのアルミニウム箔がはみ出す端面側には、アルミニウム合金板からなる集電接続板２が配置され、負極１ｂの銅箔がはみ出す端面側には、銅合金板からなる集電接続板２が配置される。また、対となる２本の接続板部２ｂは、各発電要素１の端面から突出する正極１ａや負極１ｂの金属箔の両脇に配置される。ここで、各発電要素１の双方の端面には、正極１ａや負極１ｂの金属箔が巻回された状態で長円筒形にはみ出して突出しているので、これらの金属箔が長円筒形の湾曲部の間の直線部で垂直になり重なり合った部分は、巻回軸を中心にして左右に二等分することができる。そして、各発電要素１の端面ごとに配置された対となる２本の接続板部２ｂは、これら左右に分かれた金属箔の重なりの外側にそれぞれ配置される。この際、対となる２本の接続板部２ｂは、元々向かい合っていた内側の側辺が発電要素１から逃げるような方向にねじられているので、各発電要素１の端面から突出する金属箔の特に上側の湾曲部が各対の２本の接続板部２ｂの間に自然に嵌まり込むようになる。
【００２５】
このようにして集電接続板２が配置されると、発電要素１の正極１ａと負極１ｂの金属箔が挟持板４によって各接続板部２ｂに接続固定される。即ち、各発電要素１の各端面では、まず金属箔の直線部の重なりを左右に分けて、それぞれの側の接続板部２ｂに沿わせ、これらの接続板部２ｂと金属箔とを挟持板４の間に挟んで挟持させる。すると、これにより対となる２本の接続板部２ｂの内側の面には、それぞれ左右半分ずつの金属箔の重なりが密着することになる。そして、このようにして接続板部２ｂと金属箔を挟持した各挟持板４の両側から超音波溶接を行うことにより、これら接続板部２ｂと正極１ａや負極１ｂの金属箔とが接合される。各挟持板４は、短冊状の比較的薄い金属板を長手方向に沿って中央で二つ折りにしたものであり、正極１ａ側にはアルミニウム合金板の挟持板４が用いられ、負極１ｂ側には銅合金板の挟持板４が用いられる。これらの挟持板４は、接続板部２ｂと金属箔とを溶着して確実に接続固定するためだけに用いられるので、電流容量を特に大きくする必要はなく、最適な超音波溶接が可能となるような適度な厚さの金属板を用いることができる。また、各接続板部２ｂには、金属箔と重なり合う内側の面に凸部が形成されているので、これらの金属箔が各凸部で集中的に超音波のエネルギーを受けるようになり、溶着を確実にすることができる。
【００２６】
上記挟持板４は、発電要素１の端面から突出する正極１ａや負極１ｂの金属箔の円筒形における直線部の長さよりも短いものが用いられる。このようにすれば、挟持板４が金属箔の直線部だけを接続板部２ｂと共に挟み込むようにすることができる。これは、挟持板４が金属箔の直線部の長さよりも長い場合には、この挟持板４が円筒形に突出した金属箔の上下の湾曲部まで挟み込むことになり、この金属箔を無理に挟持板４側に引っ張り破損させるおそれがあるからである。
【００２７】
本実施形態の非水電解質二次電池の正負極の端子３，３は、それぞれリベット端子３ａと端子接続杆３ｂと端子ボルト３ｃとで構成されている。リベット端子３ａは、四隅が面取りされた正方形状のフランジ部の上下の面から円筒状のカシメ部を突出させたものであり、正極端子として用いられる端子３の場合にはアルミニウムやアルミニウム合金で作製され、負極端子として用いられる端子３の場合には銅や銅合金で作製される。このリベット端子３ａは、下方のカシメ部が電解液に接触するので、非水電解質二次電池の場合、正極端子側では、正極電位で非水電解液に溶解しないアルミニウムやアルミニウム合金等を用いる必要があり、負極端子側では、負極活物質と合金化しない銅や銅合金等を用いる必要がある。端子接続杆３ｂは、銅合金製の矩形の金属板であり、両端部に貫通孔が形成されている。また、端子ボルト３ｃは、六角形状の頭部の上面から上方に向けてボルト部を突設したステンレス鋼製の六角ボルトである。これらの端子接続杆３ｂと端子ボルト３ｃは、電解液と接触することがないので、端子接続杆３ｂの場合は、特に導電性が高く十分な機械強度を有する銅合金を用い、外部回路との接続を行う端子ボルト３ｃの場合には、特に機械強度が強く十分な導電性を有するステンレス鋼が用いられる。
【００２８】
上記集電接続板２，２の本体２ａ，２ａは、実際には発電要素１，１への取り付けよりも先に、それぞれ図２に示す下部絶縁封止材５，５を介して蓋板６の下面の両端部に配置される。また、この蓋板６の上面の両端部には、それぞれ上部絶縁封止材７，７を介して端子３，３のリベット端子３ａ，３ａと端子接続杆３ｂ，３ｂと端子ボルト３ｃ，３ｃとが配置される。ただし、各リベット端子３ａは、下部絶縁封止材５と蓋板６と上部絶縁封止材７に形成された貫通孔を通して下方のカシメ部の先端部を集電接続板２の本体２ａに形成された貫通孔に嵌入させてカシメにより接続固定される。この際、リベット端子３ａは、絶縁封止材５，７によって蓋板６とは絶縁される。また、リベット端子３ａの下方のカシメ部と集電接続板２の本体２ａとがカシメられることにより、絶縁封止材５，７が蓋板６を挟持圧迫することになるので、この蓋板６の貫通孔が封口される。この蓋板６の上面の両端部にそれぞれ上部絶縁封止材７，７を介して配置された各端子接続杆３ｂは、一方の貫通孔にリベット端子３ａの上方のカシメ部を下方から嵌入させてカシメにより接続固定すると共に、他方の貫通孔に端子ボルト３ｃのボルト部を下方から嵌入させる。この際、端子ボルト３ｃは、六角形状の頭部を上部絶縁封止材７の六角形状の凹部に嵌め込むことにより回り止めされる。この端子ボルト３ｃは、ボルト部が端子接続杆３ｂの貫通孔に隙間嵌めされ係止されたままにすることにより、このボルト部に外部回路の接続部材を通してナットで締め付けた場合にのみ端子接続杆３ｂに接続固定されるようにしてもよいし、予め溶接等によって頭部等を端子接続杆３ｂに接続固定しておくようにしてもよい。このように予め端子ボルト３ｃを端子接続杆３ｂに接続固定しておいた場合には、外部回路の接続部材のナットによる締め付けが十分でない場合にも、端子接続杆３ｂがこの接続部材と直接接触する部分に電流が流れる他に、この端子接続杆３ｂから端子ボルト３ｃを介しナットが接続部材に接触する部分にも確実に電流が流れるようになり、端子３と接続部材との接触抵抗を低減させることができるようになる。
【００２９】
上記のようにして蓋板６の上面の両端部に端子３，３が配置されると共に、この蓋板６の下面の両端部に集電接続板２，２が取り付けられると、これらの集電接続板２，２に上記のようにして発電要素１，１が接続される。そして、これら２個の発電要素１は、ステンレス鋼板製の筐体状の電池容器８の内部に収納され、この電池容器８の上端開口部が蓋板６によって塞がれる。そして、この蓋板６の周囲を溶接によって封止し、電池容器８の内部に電解液を充填して、この内部を密閉することにより非水電解質二次電池となる。この非水電解質二次電池は、２個の発電要素１を長円筒形の平坦な側面が直立するように横置きに並べて収納すると共に、端子３の端子ボルト３ｃが蓋板６の上面の両端部から上方に突出するので、設置のスペース効率が良いものとなる。
【００３０】
上記構成の非水電解質二次電池によれば、各発電要素１の正極１ａや負極１ｂと端子３との間が、大きな電流容量を有する集電接続板２の本体２ａと接続板部２ｂを介して接続されるので、十分に大きな充放電電流を流すことができるようになる。しかも、各発電要素１の正極１ａや負極１ｂの金属箔は、ある程度薄い金属板からなる挟持板４を介して接続板部２ｂに超音波溶接されるので、溶着が確実に行なわれ金属箔が剥がれ易くなるようなこともなくなる。
【００３１】
また、２個の発電要素１，１の上方に集電接続板２の本体２ａを水平に配置して、蓋板を貫通する端子３との接続を容易にすると共に、この本体２ａから接続板部２ｂを下方に向けて折り曲げねじって突出させることにより、各発電要素１の端面から突出する正極１ａや負極１ｂの垂直な金属箔にこの接続板部２ｂの板面を沿わせることができるので、これら金属箔との接続が容易になる。即ち、各接続板部２ｂがねじれてなければ、金属箔とが直交することになり、接続が容易ではなくなる。また、集電接続板２の接続板部２ｂが本体２ａにおける発電要素１，１の並び方向に沿って両側に突出した板片を下方に折り曲げて形成されたものである場合には、発電要素１の端面から突出する金属箔をこの接続板部２ｂの板面を沿わせることができるが、各発電要素１に１本ずつの接続板部２ｂしか割り当てることができず、３個以上の発電要素１が並べて配置された電池の場合には、真ん中の１個以上の発電要素１の集電を行うことができないようになる。しかも、本実施形態の集電接続板２は、１枚の金属板に打ち抜き・曲げ・ねじり加工による簡単な加工を施すだけで作製することができる。
【００３２】
また、各発電要素１の各端面ごとに対となる２本の接続板部２ｂが配置されるので、この接続板部２ｂの幅を狭くしても十分な電流容量を得ることができ、この端面からの金属箔の突出量を少なくて済むようにすることができる。しかも、各発電要素１の各端面から突出する金属箔は、これら対となる２本の接続板部２ｂのねじり方向に従って間に挿入されるので、組み立て作業も容易となる。
【００３３】
なお、上記実施形態では、超音波溶接によって挟持板４の間に接続板部２ｂと正極１ａや負極１ｂの金属箔の接続を行う場合について示したが、スポット溶接等の他の溶接により溶着を行なうこともできる。また、このような溶接に代えて、挟持板４の外側から強い力で圧迫することにより、接続板部２ｂと金属箔とを圧着することもできる。さらに、接続板部２ｂには、凸部が形成されていなくても、金属箔を確実に溶着又は圧着することは可能である。また、上記実施形態では、接続板部２ｂと正極１ａや負極１ｂの金属箔との接続に挟持板４を用いる場合を示したが、挟持板４以外の接続部品を用いたり、いずれの接続部品を用いることなく接続を行うことも可能である。
【００３４】
また、上記実施形態では、２個の発電要素１，１を並べて配置した非水電解質二次電池について示したが、この発電要素１の個数は限定されず、１個以上であれば何個の発電要素１を用いる非水電解質二次電池であってもよい。さらに、上記実施形態では、集電接続板２が各発電要素１の正負極ごとにそれぞれ対となる２本の接続板部２ｂを配置する場合を示したが、各発電要素１の正負極にそれぞれ少なくとも１本以上の接続板部２ｂが配置されていればよい。
【００３５】
また、上記実施形態では、端子３がリベット端子３ａと端子接続杆３ｂと端子ボルト３ｃによって構成される場合を示したが、この端子３の構成は特に限定されず、図３に示したような単一部品からなるようなものであってもよい。
【００３６】
また、上記実施形態では、長円筒形の巻回型の発電要素１について説明したが、積層型の発電要素１の場合にも、積層の端面からはみ出した正極１ａや負極１ｂの金属箔を同様に接続固定することができる。さらに、上記実施形態では、電池容器８と蓋板６で構成される電池外装体を例示したが、この電池外装体の構成は特に限定されない。また、上記実施形態では、非水電解質二次電池について説明したが、この電池の種類も特に限定されない。
【００３７】
【発明の効果】
以上の説明から明らかなように、本発明の電池によれば、発電要素と端子をスペース効率良く配置した場合にも、金属板に簡単な加工を施した集電接続板を用いて、効率のよい集電を行うことができるようになる。しかも、発電要素の電極と集電接続板の接続板部との接続を確実にすることができ、これらの組み立て作業も容易に行うことができるようになる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の一実施形態を示すものであって、非水電解質二次電池の発電要素と端子との接続構造を示す組み立て斜視図である。
【図２】本発明の一実施形態を示すものであって、非水電解質二次電池の構造を示す組み立て斜視図である。
【図３】従来例を示すものであって、非水電解質二次電池の発電要素と端子との接続構造を示す組み立て斜視図である。
【符号の説明】
１発電要素
１ａ正極
１ｂ負極
２集電接続板
２ａ本体
２ｂ接続板部
３端子
３ａリベット端子
３ｂ端子接続杆
３ｃ端子ボルト
４挟持板[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a battery in which an electrode of a wound type or stacked type power generation element is connected to a terminal via a current collector connection body.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In FIG. 3, the connection structure of the conventional electric power generation element 1, the current collection connection board 2, and the terminal 3 in a large sized nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is shown. This non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has two long cylindrical power generation elements 1 arranged in parallel. Each power generation element 1 is obtained by winding a positive electrode 1a and a negative electrode 1b in a long cylindrical shape through a separator. The positive electrode 1a supports a positive electrode active material on the surface of a strip-shaped aluminum foil, and the negative electrode 1b is formed of a strip-shaped copper. A negative electrode active material is supported on the surface of the foil. However, each of the positive electrode 1a and the negative electrode 1b is provided with an uncoated portion where no active material is applied on one side end of the belt-like shape so that the aluminum foil and the copper foil are exposed at the uncoated portion. ing. Then, the positive electrode 1a and the negative electrode 1b are shifted in the opposite directions along the winding axis when the power generating element 1 is wound, so that the positive electrode 1a and the negative electrode 1b are disposed on one end surface (lower right in the drawing) of the long cylindrical shape. Only the aluminum foil at the side end of 1a protrudes, and only the copper foil at the side end of the negative electrode 1b protrudes from the other end face (upper left in the figure).
[0003]
The two power generation elements 1 and 1 are arranged side by side so that the flat side surfaces of the long cylindrical shape stand upright and overlap each other. Then, the aluminum foil of the positive electrode 1a and the copper foil of the negative electrode 1b protruding from the end face of each power generating element 1 are respectively attached to the corrugated current collecting connection plates 2 and 2 at both end faces of these power generating elements 1 and 1. It comes to connect. Each current collector connection plate 2 is formed by forming two metal plates into corrugated irregularities, overlapping the end portions thereof, and connecting and fixing the terminals 3 to the upper ends of the mating portions. The current collector connection plate 2 to which the terminal 3 on the positive electrode side is connected and fixed is sandwiched between the corrugated plate-like recesses with the aluminum foil of the positive electrode 1a protruding from one end face of the power generation element 1, 1 by ultrasonic welding. The current collector connection plate 2 that is connected and fixed and connected and fixed to the terminal 3 on the negative electrode side is inserted by inserting the copper foil of the negative electrode 1b protruding from the other end face of the power generating elements 1 and 1 into each corrugated recess. The connection is fixed by sonic welding.
[0004]
The two power generating elements 1 are housed in a casing-like battery container (not shown), and the upper end opening of the battery container is closed by a cover plate. At this time, the upper end portions of the terminals 3 and 3 pass through the lid plate via an insulating sealing material and project outside. And the inside of the battery exterior body which consists of this battery container and a cover board is filled with electrolyte solution, and it becomes a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery.
[0005]
Therefore, the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery accommodates the two power generation elements 1 and 1 side by side so that the long cylindrical flat side faces upright, and the terminals 3 and 3 are the battery exterior body. Since it protrudes upwards from the both ends of the upper surface, the space efficiency of the installation becomes good.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, the current collector connecting plate 2 connected to the terminal 3 protruding upward is overlapped with the straight portions of the positive electrode 1a and the negative electrode 1b of the horizontal power generation element 1 that are perpendicular to each other. For this reason, there is a problem in that it is difficult to manufacture the substrate 3 by combining corrugated plate materials having a complicated shape or making it difficult to connect to the terminals 3.
[0007]
Moreover, in order to increase the current capacity of the current collector connection plate 2, it is necessary to increase the thickness of the corrugated portion to some extent, and it is sufficient even if ultrasonic welding is performed by sandwiching a thin aluminum foil or copper foil. There was also a problem that it could not be welded. In addition, the current collector connection plate 2 needs to be sandwiched by inserting and overlapping aluminum foils and copper foils overlapping each other for each of the two power generating elements 1 into each of the corrugated concave portions. There was also a problem that the sex became worse.
[0008]
The present invention has been made to cope with such a situation, and by connecting the electrodes of the power generation element along the connection plate portion that is bent and twisted from the main body of the current collection connection plate, the current collection element is connected. An object of the present invention is to provide a battery that can easily produce an electric connection plate and can improve current collection efficiency.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The battery according to claim 1 connects the main body of the current collector connection plate made of a metal plate to the terminal and is arranged along the end portion of the power generation element, from the end edge of the main body toward the end face side of the power generation element. One or more elongated plate-like connecting plate portions that are bent and twisted by approximately 90 degrees are connected along electrodes protruding from the end face of the power generating element.
[0010]
According to the invention of claim 1, the connecting plate portion of the current collector connecting plate is bent from the edge of the main body toward the end face of the power generation element and is twisted by 90 degrees so as to protrude from the end face of the power generation element. The connecting portion of the electrode that protrudes and is substantially orthogonal to the main body can be connected along the plate surface of the connecting plate portion. For this reason, efficient current collection can be performed by using a current collecting connection plate having a simple structure in which a metal plate is simply punched, bent, or twisted, for example. Moreover, since the electrode of the power generation element is connected along the connection plate portion of the current collector connection plate, this connection can be ensured.
[0011]
In the battery according to claim 2, one or more pairs of connecting plate portions project from the main body of the current collecting connecting plate, and the side surfaces where the two connecting plate portions of each pair face each other are defined as end faces of the power generation element. It is characterized by being twisted in the opposite direction by rotating to the opposite side.
[0012]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the connecting plate portions protrude in pairs, the electrodes projecting from the end face of the power generating element are inserted between the two connecting plate portions for connection work. By doing so, the connection work can be facilitated. In addition, since the two connecting plate portions to be paired are twisted in a direction in which the electrodes of the power generation element are easily inserted between them, the work of attaching the current collecting connection plate to the power generation element is facilitated.
[0013]
The battery according to claim 3 is characterized in that the length in the protruding direction of the 90-degree twisted portion of each connection plate portion is longer than the plate thickness of the connection plate portion.
[0014]
According to the invention of claim 3, since the twisted portion of the connecting plate portion is sufficiently long with respect to the plate thickness, the stress is concentrated on the twisted portion of the connecting plate portion by performing steep twisting in a short time. Thus, it is possible to prevent the conductivity from decreasing and the internal resistance of the battery from increasing.
[0015]
(Delete)
[0016]
(Delete)
[0017]
(Delete)
[0018]
(Delete)
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
1 to 2 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view showing a connection structure between a power generation element and a terminal of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, and FIG. 2 is a nonaqueous electrolyte 2. It is an assembly perspective view which shows the structure of a secondary battery. In addition, the same number is attached | subjected to the structural member which has the function similar to the prior art example shown in FIG.
[0021]
In the present embodiment, a large nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery will be described as in the conventional example. As shown in FIG. 1, the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has two long cylindrical power generation elements 1 and 1 arranged in parallel. Each power generating element 1 has the same configuration as that of the conventional example, and the aluminum foil at the side end of the positive electrode 1a protrudes from one end surface of the long cylindrical shape, and the copper foil at the side end of the negative electrode 1b from the other end surface. Has come to protrude.
[0022]
The two power generation elements 1 and 1 are arranged side by side so that the flat side surfaces of the long cylindrical shape stand upright and overlap each other. And the current collection connection plates 2 and 2 are arrange | positioned at the both ends of these two electric power generation elements 1 and 1, respectively. The current collector connection plates 2 and 2 are each made of a metal plate having a sufficient thickness so that a large current capacity can be obtained. The one on the positive electrode 1a side disposed at one end of the power generation element 1 is made of an aluminum alloy plate. The one on the negative electrode 1b side arranged at the other end is made of a copper alloy plate. Each of the current collector connection plates 2 includes a substantially trapezoidal horizontally disposed main body 2a and four elongated connection plate portions 2b protruding downward from the trapezoidal bottom portion of the main body. In each connection plate portion 2b, a plurality of convex portions protruding from the plate surface are formed at appropriate intervals. That is, each current collector connection plate 2 presses an aluminum alloy plate or a copper alloy plate with a trapezoidal main body 2a and four elongated connection plate portions 2b extending straight from the bottom of the trapezoidal shape in a comb shape. By punching out by machining, forming convex portions on each connecting plate portion 2b, bending these connecting plate portions 2b at right angles to the main body 2a at the base, and twisting each bent connecting plate portion 2b by 90 degrees at the base It is formed. Further, these four connection plate portions 2b are twisted so that the left and right two pairs form a pair, and the opposite sides of each pair of the two connection plate portions 2b rotate in the opposite direction to the main body 2a side. Yes. And the convex part of each connection board part 2b is protrudingly provided so that what may become a pair may protrude in this direction by this twist.
[0023]
The length L in the protruding direction of the twisted portion of each connection plate portion 2b is set to be longer than the plate thickness T of the connection plate portion 2b. This is because when the length L is shorter than the plate thickness T, a steep torsion process is applied to the connecting plate portion 2b, stress is concentrated on the twisted portion, and the conductivity is lowered.
[0024]
Each of the current collector connection plates 2 has a main body 2 a disposed above both ends of the two power generation elements 1, 1, and the connection plate portion 2 b is disposed along the end faces of these power generation elements 1, 1. To be. That is, the current collecting connection plate 2 made of an aluminum alloy plate is disposed on the end face side where the aluminum foil of the positive electrode 1a of each power generating element 1 protrudes, and the end face side where the copper foil of the negative electrode 1b protrudes consists of a copper alloy plate. A current collector connection plate 2 is disposed. Further, the two connecting plate portions 2b to be paired are arranged on both sides of the metal foil of the positive electrode 1a and the negative electrode 1b protruding from the end face of each power generating element 1. Here, since the metal foil of the positive electrode 1a and the negative electrode 1b is wound on both end faces of each power generation element 1 and protrudes into a long cylindrical shape, these metal foils are curved in a long cylindrical shape. The overlapping portion that is perpendicular to and overlaps with the straight portion between the portions can be divided into two equal parts about the winding axis. And the two connection board parts 2b used as the pair arrange | positioned for every end surface of each electric power generation element 1 are each arrange | positioned on the outer side of the overlap of these metal foils divided into right and left. At this time, the two connecting plate portions 2b to be paired are twisted in such a direction that the inner side sides that were originally facing each other escape from the power generation element 1, so that the metal foil protruding from the end face of each power generation element 1 In particular, the curved portion on the upper side naturally fits between the two connecting plate portions 2b of each pair.
[0025]
When the current collector connection plate 2 is arranged in this manner, the metal foils of the positive electrode 1a and the negative electrode 1b of the power generation element 1 are connected and fixed to each connection plate portion 2b by the sandwiching plate 4. That is, at each end face of each power generating element 1, first, the overlap of the straight portions of the metal foil is divided into left and right, and along the connection plate portion 2b on each side, and the connection plate portion 2b and the metal foil are sandwiched between 4 to be sandwiched between. Then, the overlapping of the metal foils of the left and right halves is in close contact with the inner surfaces of the two connecting plate portions 2b that form a pair. Then, the connection plate portion 2b and the metal foil of the positive electrode 1a and the negative electrode 1b are joined by performing ultrasonic welding from both sides of each of the holding plates 4 holding the connection plate portion 2b and the metal foil. . Each sandwiching plate 4 is a strip-shaped relatively thin metal plate folded in half along the longitudinal direction. The sandwiching plate 4 made of an aluminum alloy plate is used on the positive electrode 1a side, and on the negative electrode 1b side. A copper alloy plate clamping plate 4 is used. Since these clamping plates 4 are used only for welding and fixing the connection plate portion 2b and the metal foil securely, it is not necessary to increase the current capacity in particular, and optimum ultrasonic welding is possible. A metal plate having an appropriate thickness can be used. Moreover, since each convex part is formed in each connection board part 2b on the inner surface which overlaps with metal foil, these metal foils receive ultrasonic energy intensively in each convex part, and welding Can be ensured.
[0026]
The sandwiching plate 4 is shorter than the length of the straight portion of the cylindrical metal foil of the positive electrode 1a and the negative electrode 1b protruding from the end face of the power generation element 1. In this way, the sandwiching plate 4 can sandwich only the straight portion of the metal foil together with the connection plate portion 2b. This is because when the sandwiching plate 4 is longer than the length of the straight portion of the metal foil, the sandwiching plate 4 sandwiches the upper and lower curved portions of the metal foil protruding in a cylindrical shape, and this metal foil is forcedly pushed. This is because there is a risk of pulling and breaking the holding plate 4 side.
[0027]
The positive and negative terminals 3 and 3 of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery of the present embodiment are each composed of a rivet terminal 3a, a terminal connection rod 3b, and a terminal bolt 3c. The rivet terminal 3a is obtained by projecting cylindrical caulking portions from the upper and lower surfaces of a square flange portion having four corners chamfered, and is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy in the case of the terminal 3 used as a positive electrode terminal. In the case of the terminal 3 used as the negative electrode terminal, it is made of copper or a copper alloy. Since the rivet terminal 3a is in contact with the electrolyte at the lower caulking portion, in the case of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, it is necessary to use aluminum or an aluminum alloy that does not dissolve in the nonaqueous electrolyte at the positive electrode side on the positive electrode terminal side. On the negative electrode terminal side, it is necessary to use copper, a copper alloy, or the like that is not alloyed with the negative electrode active material. The terminal connection rod 3b is a rectangular metal plate made of a copper alloy, and through holes are formed at both ends. The terminal bolt 3c is a stainless steel hexagon bolt with a bolt portion protruding upward from the top surface of the hexagonal head. Since the terminal connection rod 3b and the terminal bolt 3c do not come into contact with the electrolytic solution, in the case of the terminal connection rod 3b, a copper alloy having a particularly high electrical conductivity and sufficient mechanical strength is used. In the case of the terminal bolt 3c to be connected, stainless steel having particularly high mechanical strength and sufficient conductivity is used.
[0028]
The main bodies 2a and 2a of the current collector connection plates 2 and 2 are actually covered with the bottom plate 6 via the lower insulating sealing materials 5 and 5 shown in FIG. It is arrange | positioned at the both ends of the lower surface of. Further, on both ends of the upper surface of the cover plate 6, rivet terminals 3a, 3a, terminal connection rods 3b, 3b, and terminal bolts 3c, 3c of the terminals 3, 3 via upper insulating sealing materials 7, 7 respectively. Is placed. However, each rivet terminal 3 a is formed in the main body 2 a of the current collector connection plate 2 at the tip of the lower crimping portion through a through hole formed in the lower insulating sealing material 5, the cover plate 6 and the upper insulating sealing material 7. It is inserted into the through-hole and fixed by caulking. At this time, the rivet terminal 3 a is insulated from the cover plate 6 by the insulating sealing materials 5 and 7. In addition, the caulking portion below the rivet terminal 3a and the main body 2a of the current collector connection plate 2 are caulked, so that the insulating sealing materials 5 and 7 press the lid plate 6 between them. The through-hole is sealed. Each terminal connection rod 3b disposed on both ends of the upper surface of the cover plate 6 via the upper insulating sealing materials 7 and 7 has the caulking portion above the rivet terminal 3a inserted into one through hole from below. Then, the terminal bolt 3c is inserted into the other through hole from below by being connected and fixed by caulking. At this time, the terminal bolt 3 c is prevented from rotating by fitting the hexagonal head into the hexagonal recess of the upper insulating sealing material 7. The terminal bolt 3c is provided only when the bolt is tightened with a nut through a connection member of an external circuit by keeping the bolt portion fitted and locked in the through hole of the terminal connection rod 3b. The head may be connected and fixed to the terminal connection rod 3b by welding or the like in advance. When the terminal bolt 3c is connected and fixed in advance to the terminal connection rod 3b as described above, the terminal connection rod 3b is in direct contact with the connection member even when the connection member of the external circuit is not sufficiently tightened with the nut. In addition to the current flowing through the connecting portion, the current flows reliably from the terminal connecting rod 3b to the portion where the nut contacts the connecting member via the terminal bolt 3c, thereby reducing the contact resistance between the terminal 3 and the connecting member. To be able to.
[0029]
When the terminals 3 and 3 are disposed at both ends of the upper surface of the lid plate 6 as described above, and the current collector connection plates 2 and 2 are attached to both ends of the lower surface of the lid plate 6, these current collectors The power generation elements 1 and 1 are connected to the connection plates 2 and 2 as described above. These two power generation elements 1 are housed inside a casing-like battery container 8 made of a stainless steel plate, and the upper end opening of the battery container 8 is closed by the cover plate 6. Then, the periphery of the cover plate 6 is sealed by welding, the inside of the battery container 8 is filled with an electrolytic solution, and the inside is sealed to form a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery. This non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery accommodates two power generating elements 1 side by side so that the flat side surfaces of the long cylindrical shape stand upright, and the terminal bolts 3c of the terminals 3 are arranged at both ends of the upper surface of the lid plate 6. Since it protrudes upward from the part, the space efficiency of the installation is good.
[0030]
According to the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having the above-described configuration, the main body 2a and the connection plate portion 2b of the current collector connection plate 2 having a large current capacity are formed between the positive electrode 1a and the negative electrode 1b of each power generation element 1 and the terminal 3. Therefore, a sufficiently large charge / discharge current can flow. Moreover, the metal foils of the positive electrode 1a and the negative electrode 1b of each power generating element 1 are ultrasonically welded to the connecting plate portion 2b via the sandwiching plate 4 made of a somewhat thin metal plate. There is no longer a tendency to peel off.
[0031]
In addition, the main body 2a of the current collector connection plate 2 is disposed horizontally above the two power generation elements 1 and 1 so as to facilitate connection with the terminal 3 penetrating the lid plate, and from the main body 2a to the connection plate. By bending the portion 2b downward and twisting and projecting, the plate surface of the connecting plate portion 2b can be aligned with the vertical metal foil of the positive electrode 1a and the negative electrode 1b protruding from the end surface of each power generating element 1. Connection with these metal foils becomes easy. That is, if each connecting plate portion 2b is not twisted, the metal foil is orthogonal to each other, and connection is not easy. Further, when the connecting plate portion 2b of the current collecting connecting plate 2 is formed by bending downward plate pieces protruding on both sides along the direction in which the power generating elements 1 and 1 of the main body 2a are arranged, the power generating element A metal foil protruding from one end face can be arranged along the plate surface of the connection plate portion 2b, but only one connection plate portion 2b can be assigned to each power generation element 1, and three or more power generations can be made. In the case of a battery in which the elements 1 are arranged side by side, it becomes impossible to collect current from one or more power generating elements 1 in the middle. Moreover, the current collector connection plate 2 of the present embodiment can be manufactured by simply performing a simple process such as punching, bending, and twisting on a single metal plate.
[0032]
In addition, since two connecting plate portions 2b are arranged for each end face of each power generating element 1, a sufficient current capacity can be obtained even if the width of the connecting plate portion 2b is reduced. It is possible to reduce the protruding amount of the metal foil from the end face. In addition, the metal foil protruding from each end face of each power generating element 1 is inserted between the two connecting plate portions 2b to be paired, so that the assembling work is facilitated.
[0033]
In the above embodiment, the connection plate portion 2b and the metal foil of the positive electrode 1a and the negative electrode 1b are connected between the clamping plates 4 by ultrasonic welding, but welding is performed by other welding such as spot welding. It can also be done. Further, instead of such welding, the connection plate portion 2b and the metal foil can be pressure-bonded by pressing with a strong force from the outside of the sandwiching plate 4. Furthermore, the metal foil can be reliably welded or pressure-bonded even if the connecting plate portion 2b is not formed with a convex portion. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where the clamping board 4 was used for the connection of the connection board part 2b and the metal foil of the positive electrode 1a or the negative electrode 1b was shown, connection components other than the clamping board 4 are used, and any connection components are used. It is also possible to connect without using.
[0034]
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although shown about the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery which has arrange | positioned the two electric power generation elements 1 and 1 side by side, the number of this electric power generation element 1 is not limited, If it is one or more, how many pieces A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery using the power generation element 1 may be used. Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although the case where the current collection connection board 2 arrange | positions the two connection board parts 2b which become a pair for every positive / negative electrode of each electric power generation element 1, the positive / negative electrode of each electric power generation element 1 was shown. It is only necessary that at least one or more connecting plate portions 2b are arranged.
[0035]
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the case where the terminal 3 was comprised by the rivet terminal 3a, the terminal connection rod 3b, and the terminal volt | bolt 3c was shown, the structure of this terminal 3 is not specifically limited, As shown in FIG. It may consist of a single part .
[0036]
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the long cylindrical winding type electric power generation element 1 was demonstrated, also in the case of the lamination type electric power generation element 1, the metal foil of the positive electrode 1a and the negative electrode 1b which protruded from the end surface of lamination | stacking is the same. Can be fixed to the connection. Furthermore, in the said embodiment, although the battery exterior body comprised by the battery container 8 and the cover plate 6 was illustrated, the structure of this battery exterior body is not specifically limited. Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, the kind of this battery is not specifically limited .
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, according to the battery of the present invention, even when the power generating element and the terminal are arranged in a space-efficient manner, the current collector connection plate obtained by performing simple processing on the metal plate can be used to improve the efficiency. Good current collection will be possible. In addition, the connection between the electrode of the power generation element and the connection plate portion of the current collector connection plate can be ensured, and the assembly work can be easily performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view showing a connection structure between a power generation element and a terminal of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view showing the structure of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view showing a connection structure between a power generation element and a terminal of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to a conventional example.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power generation element 1a Positive electrode 1b Negative electrode 2 Current collection connection plate 2a Main body 2b Connection plate part 3 Terminal 3a Rivet terminal 3b Terminal connection rod 3c Terminal bolt 4 Clamping plate

Claims

The main body of the current collector connecting plate made of a metal plate is connected to the terminal and arranged along the end of the power generation element, bent from the end edge of the main body toward the end face of the power generation element and twisted by approximately 90 degrees. A battery characterized in that one or more elongated plate-like connecting plate portions projecting from each other are connected along an electrode protruding from an end face of a power generating element.

One or more pairs of connecting plate portions project from the main body of the current collecting connecting plate, and the sides where the two connecting plate portions of each pair face each other are rotated to the side opposite to the end face of the power generating element. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the battery is twisted in the opposite direction.

3. The battery according to claim 1, wherein a length of each of the connection plate portions in the protruding direction of the 90-degree twisted portion is longer than a plate thickness of the connection plate portion.