JP5609822B2 - Batteries, assembled batteries and onboard equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure for attaching a terminal electrode attached to a battery, and the like.

  An assembled battery in which a plurality of single cells are connected by a bus bar is known as a battery having a high capacity and a high output as compared with a battery for a portable device such as an electric tool driving power source and a vehicle driving power source. The bus bar is fixed by fastening a nut to a terminal electrode protruding from the unit cell.

JP 2010-097822 A International Publication No. 2008-084883

  A battery mounted on a power tool or a vehicle is subjected to vibration when the mounted device is operated. When this vibration becomes large, a rotational force around the terminal electrode is applied to the bus bar, which may cause the terminal electrode to rotate. Then, this invention aims at suppressing that the terminal electrode of the battery for vehicles rotates.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a battery according to the present invention includes (1) a bottomed cylindrical case that houses a power generation element, a lid of the case, a pedestal portion, and a protruding portion that extends from the pedestal portion. A terminal electrode used for connection to another battery, a current collector terminal extending from the power generation element, a connection terminal connecting the terminal electrode, and a gap between the lid and the terminal electrode to have a, an insulating frame. The frame is formed with a terminal detent portion in which the pedestal portion of the terminal electrode is engaged and a part of the frame is depressed, and a support portion for supporting the connection terminal . The connection terminal is supported by the support portion and is positioned at a different height from the first flat plate portion to which the current collecting terminal is connected, and is connected to the terminal electrode. The first flat plate portion extends from one flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion extends from the other end portion and extends in a direction inclined with respect to the first flat plate portion. Part. A bottom surface of the terminal detent portion is formed at a position lower than the support portion.

According to the configuration of (1 ), when the terminal electrode receives an external force in the axial direction, the load applied to the inclined portion can be reduced.

According to the configuration of (1 ), when a force around the axis acts on the terminal electrode, when the terminal detent portion is pressed by the pedestal portion, this pressing force is received by the thick portion of the frame directly below the support portion. be able to. Thereby, it is suppressed that a terminal detent | locking part bends and the detent effect of a terminal electrode can be heightened. Further, since the pedestal portion is installed in a region closer to the case, the battery can be reduced in size.

( 2 ) In the configuration of ( 1), a first opening is formed in the first flat plate portion, and a protruding caulking portion included in the current collecting terminal is formed in the first opening portion. The second flat plate portion is formed with a second opening, and the protruding portion of the terminal electrode can be inserted into the second opening.

( 3 ) A battery according to the present invention includes a bottomed cylindrical case that houses a power generation element, a lid of the case, a pedestal portion, and a protruding portion that extends from the pedestal portion, A terminal electrode used for the connection, and an insulating frame interposed between the lid and the terminal electrode. The frame is formed with a terminal detent portion in which the pedestal portion of the terminal electrode is engaged and a part of the frame is recessed. Wherein the cover body includes a first frame detent portion recessed part of the lid member, wherein the second frame detent portion formed on the bottom surface of the first frame detent portion is formed The first frame detent portion is engaged with the frame, and the second frame detent portion is engaged with a frame protrusion formed at the lower end of the frame. Yes. According to the configuration of ( 3 ), the effect of preventing the terminal electrode from rotating can be further enhanced.

( 4 ) An assembled battery in which the battery according to any one of (1) to ( 3 ) is connected through a bus bar, and the bus bar is inserted into the protruding portion of the terminal electrode. In this state, it can be fixed by a nut fastened to a thread groove formed in the protruding portion.

( 5 ) In the configuration of ( 4 ), the assembled battery can be used as a power source for driving a vehicle or an electric tool . (5) According to the configuration of, or to obtain a strong battery pack to the vehicle vibration, may often a useful obtain a suitable assembled battery to the electric tool vibrates during operation.

( 6 ) A mounted device equipped with the assembled battery resistant to vibration described in ( 4 ) can be obtained.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can suppress that the terminal electrode of a battery rotates.

It is sectional drawing of the battery for vehicles. It is a disassembled perspective view of the connection structure of a terminal volt | bolt (positive electrode) and an electric power generation element. It is sectional drawing of the connection structure of a terminal volt | bolt (positive electrode) and an electric power generation element. It is the schematic diagram which showed typically the force added to a connection terminal (positive electrode). 6 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a force applied to a connection terminal of Comparative Example 1. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram schematically showing a force applied to a connection terminal of Comparative Example 2. FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle battery 1 according to the present embodiment, and an X axis, a Y axis, and a Z axis are three mutually orthogonal three axes. In FIG. 1, in order to simplify the drawing, the reference numerals of some elements shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 are omitted. The vehicle battery 1 is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery. In this embodiment, a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is used as a vehicle battery, but a nickel hydrogen battery or the like may be used. The vehicle battery 1 includes a battery case 10, a lid 11, a power generation element 12, a terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13 and a terminal bolt (negative electrode) 14 as terminal electrodes. The power generation element 12 is accommodated in the battery case 10 together with the electrolytic solution.

  The power generation element 12 includes a positive electrode body, a negative electrode body, and a separator disposed between the positive electrode body and the negative electrode body. A positive electrode end coating portion 12a is formed at one end portion of the power generation element 12 in the Y axis direction, and a negative electrode side uncoated portion 12b is formed at the other end portion in the Y axis direction. A current collecting terminal (positive electrode) 131 is electrically and mechanically connected to the positive electrode side end coating portion 12a, and a negative electrode side current collecting terminal 141 is electrically and mechanically connected to the negative electrode side end coating portion 12b. Connected.

  The current collector terminal (positive electrode) 131 is connected to the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13 via the connection terminal (positive electrode) 132, and the negative electrode side current collector terminal 141 is connected to the terminal bolt (negative electrode) via the negative electrode side connection terminal 142. ) 14. Thereby, the electric power of the power generation element 12 can be taken out via the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13 and the terminal bolt (negative electrode) 14.

  Next, the connection structure of the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13 and the power generation element 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connection structure. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the connection structure. The terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13 includes a pedestal portion 13a and a protruding portion 13b extending from the pedestal portion 13a. The pedestal portion 13a is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed in the Z-axis direction. However, the four corners of the pedestal portion 13a are formed by curved surfaces. The protrusion 13b has a circular cross section in the XY plane direction, and a thread groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface.

  The connection terminal (positive electrode) 132 includes a terminal fastening surface (second flat plate portion) 132a, a terminal fixing surface (first flat plate portion) 132b located at a different height from the terminal fastening surface 132a, and one end portion. The terminal fastening surface 132a extends, and the terminal fixing surface 132b extends from the other end portion, and an inclined piece (inclined portion) 132c is formed. The terminal fastening surface 132a extends in the plane including the lid 11, that is, in the XY plane direction, and a terminal insertion hole (second portion) penetrating in the plate thickness direction (Z-axis direction) at the center thereof. ) 132a1 is formed. The terminal fixing surface 132b extends in the plane including the lid 11, that is, in the XY plane direction, and has a crimp hole (a first hole) penetrating in the plate thickness direction (Z-axis direction) at the center thereof. An opening) 132b1 is formed. The inclined piece 132c extends in a direction inclined with respect to the terminal fastening surface 132a. When viewed in the Y-axis direction, the terminal fastening surface 132a and the terminal fixing surface 132b are positioned so as not to overlap each other. The connection terminal (positive electrode) 132 is configured by bending a metal plate. The metal plate may be aluminum.

  A protruding portion 13b of a terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13 is inserted into the terminal insertion hole portion 132a1 in the terminal fastening surface 132a, and a through hole of the bus bar 40 is inserted into the protruding portion 13b and tightened. The nut 41 is fastened. In FIG. 2, the bus bar 40 and the fastening nut 41 are omitted. Thereby, the bus bar 40 is electrically connected to the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13. Here, the bus bar 40 is connected to a terminal bolt (negative electrode) of an adjacent battery (not shown). An assembled battery is configured by connecting a plurality of vehicle batteries 1 using the bus bar 40. This assembled battery can be used as a power source for a motor that drives the vehicle. The bus bar 40 may be used for connecting a plurality of vehicle batteries 1 in parallel.

  Here, the effect of the connection terminal (positive electrode) 132 having the above-described shape will be described in detail with reference to a comparative example. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the force applied to the connection terminal (positive electrode) 132. FIG. 5 is a schematic view schematically showing the force applied to the connection terminal 232 (Comparative Example 1). FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the force applied to the connection terminal 332 (Comparative Example 2). In these drawings, elements other than the connection terminal and the terminal bolt (positive electrode) are omitted.

  Referring to FIG. 5, the connection terminal of Comparative Example 1 is connected to the present embodiment in that the terminal fastening surface 232a and the terminal fixing surface 232b are connected by a vertical portion 232c extending in the plate thickness direction of the terminal fastening surface 232a. Different from the connection terminal (positive electrode) 132. With reference to FIG. 6, the connection terminal 332 of Comparative Example 2 is different from the connection terminal (positive electrode) 132 according to the present embodiment in that it is formed in a flat shape.

  Here, an external force in the axial direction may act on the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13 in addition to the rotational force around the shaft when the vehicle is mounted. In the configuration of Comparative Example 1, when an external force is applied in the axial direction of the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13, a tensile stress is intensively generated in the vertical portion 232c. Moreover, in the structure of the comparative example 2, a big external force is added to the crimping part of the rivet 131a, and there exists a possibility that the sealing performance of the battery case 10 may be impaired. On the other hand, in the connection terminal (positive electrode) 132 according to the present embodiment, since the inclined piece 132c is inclined, the external force applied when the vehicle vibrates is dispersed, and stress concentrates in one direction of the inclined piece 132c. Can be suppressed.

  With reference to FIG.2 and FIG.3, it returns to description of a connection structure. The insulator 133 as a frame is formed with an electrode detent portion (terminal detent portion) 133a in which a part of the insulator 133 is depressed, and a terminal support portion 133b that supports the terminal fixing surface 132b. The insulator 133 is made of an insulating material, and is interposed between the lid 11 and the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13 and the terminal bolt (negative electrode) 14 from being short-circuited via the lid 11. The insulating material constituting the insulator 133 may be a resin (for example, PPS resin). The insulator 133 may be integrally formed by an injection molding method.

  The electrode detent portion 133a is formed so as to surround the pedestal portion 13a, and when the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13 receives an external force around the axis, the pedestal portion 13a contacts the wall surface of the electrode detent portion 133a. Thus, the rotation of the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13 is suppressed. Here, the pedestal portion 13a overlaps the thick portion of the insulator 133 when viewed in the horizontal direction (Y-axis direction). That is, the inner bottom surface of the electrode detent portion 133a is positioned below the support surface of the terminal support portion 133b. Therefore, the force applied to the wall surface of the electrode detent portion 133 a from the pedestal portion 13 a of the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13 can be received by the thick portion of the insulator 133. Thereby, it is suppressed that the wall part of the electrode detent part 133a bends, and the detent effect by the electrode detent part 133a can be heightened.

  Here, as another form (comparative example) of the electrode detent portion 133a, a configuration in which a rib is formed on the upper surface of the insulator 133 is conceivable. However, in this configuration of the comparative example, all the force received from the pedestal portion 13a is applied to the rib, so that the rib is bent and the anti-rotation effect is reduced. According to the configuration of this embodiment, the anti-rotation effect can be enhanced as compared with the method of forming a rib on the upper surface of the insulator 133. Furthermore, since the electrode detent portion 133a is formed at the same time as the insulator 133 is injection molded, the manufacturing process is simplified and the cost can be reduced.

  Further, since the pedestal portion 13a of the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13 is surrounded by the electrode rotation preventing portion 133a, it is possible to suppress the pedestal portion 13a from being displaced in the horizontal direction. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the vehicle battery 1 from being short-circuited by the contact between the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13 and the lid 11. Furthermore, since the pedestal portion 13a of the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13 is buried in the insulator 133, the vehicle battery 1 can be downsized in the height direction (Z-axis direction).

  A terminal fixing surface 132 b of the connection terminal (positive electrode) 132 is placed on the terminal support portion 133 b of the insulator 133. An insulator opening 133c is formed in the terminal support portion 133b. The insulator opening 133c is located at a position overlapping the crimping hole 132b1 of the terminal fixing surface 132b when viewed in the Z-axis direction. The terminal support portion 133b is formed with an outer wall portion 133d that surrounds the outer periphery of the terminal fixing surface 132b, and the movement of the terminal fixing surface 132b in the horizontal direction is suppressed by contacting the outer wall portion 133d. Thereby, it can prevent that the battery 1 for vehicles is short-circuited by the contact of the terminal fixing surface 132b and the cover body 11. FIG. Projections 133e as a pair of frame projections are formed at the lower end of the insulator 133, and these projections 133e are formed at a predetermined interval in the Y-axis direction.

  A gas release valve 11d is formed in the approximate center of the lid 11 in the Y-axis direction. The gas release valve 11d is a destructive valve formed by reducing the thickness of the lid 11, and is destroyed when the internal pressure of the battery case 10 reaches the operating pressure when the battery is abnormal. Thereby, the pressure rise of the battery case 10 can be suppressed. An electrolyte solution inlet 11e is formed between the gas release valve 11d and the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13 in the lid 11, and the electrolyte solution is introduced into the battery case 10 through the electrolyte solution inlet 11e. Injected.

  An insulator 133 is fixed to one end of the lid 11 in the Y-axis direction. The lid 11 is formed with a first insulator detent portion 11a as a first frame detent portion and a second insulator detent portion 11b as a second frame detent portion. The first frame detent portion 11a is formed so as to surround the outer surface of the electrode detent portion 133a in the insulator 133. Therefore, when a rotational force in the XY plane is applied to the insulator 133, the outer surface of the electrode detent portion 133a comes into contact with the inner surface of the first insulator detent portion 11a, and the insulator 133 rotates. Can be suppressed. Thereby, the detent effect of the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13 fixed to the insulator 133 can be further enhanced.

  The second insulator detent portion 11b is formed to extend in the Y-axis direction substantially at the center of the first insulator detent portion 11a. One protrusion 133e in the insulator 133 is in contact with one end surface in the Y-axis direction of the second insulator detent part 11b, and the other protrusion 133e is in the second insulator detent part 11b. It is in contact with the other end surface in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, when a rotational force in the XY plane is applied to the insulator 133, the outer surface of the protrusion 133e comes into contact with the inner surface of the second insulator detent portion 11b, and the insulator 133 rotates. Can be suppressed. Thereby, the detent effect of the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13 fixed to the insulator 133 can be further enhanced.

  The first insulator detent portion 11 a is formed by recessing a part of the lid body 11 toward the inner side of the battery case 10. Thereby, since the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13 is disposed in a region closer to the battery case 10, the vehicle battery 1 can be downsized in the Z-axis direction.

The lid body 11 has a lid body insertion hole 11c. The lid insertion hole 11c is provided at a position overlapping the insulator opening 133c of the insulator 133 when viewed in the Z-axis direction.

  A gasket 134 is interposed between the lid 11 and the current collecting terminal (positive electrode) 131. A peripheral wall 134 b surrounding the rivet support portion 131 b of the current collecting terminal (positive electrode) 131 is formed on the outer periphery of the gasket 134. The gasket 134 is made of an insulating material. The insulating material may be rubber or resin. The gasket 134 is formed with a gasket opening 134 a that is in close contact with the rivet 131 a formed on the current collecting terminal (positive electrode) 131. By tightly attaching the rivet 131a to the gasket opening 134a, the airtightness of the battery case 10 can be enhanced.

  In the assembled state of the vehicle battery 1, the rivet 131 a passes through the gasket opening 134 a, the lid insertion hole 11 c, the insulator opening 133 c, and the crimping hole 132 b 1 so as to expand radially in the terminal fixing surface 132 b. It is squeezed to. Thereby, the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13, the insulator 133, the current collecting terminal (positive electrode) 131, and the power generation element 12 are integrated. Note that the structure of the terminal on the negative electrode side is the same as that on the positive electrode side, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

(Modification 1)
In the above-described embodiment, the pedestal portion 13a and the electrode rotation preventing portion 133a of the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13 are formed in a substantially rectangular shape, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the rotation prevention of the terminal bolt (positive electrode) 13 Other shapes that are possible may be used. The other shape may be a polygon such as a hexagon or an uneven shape. Also in these modified examples, the anti-rotation effect can be enhanced by overlapping the thick portions of the electrode anti-rotation portion 133a and the insulator 133 in the horizontal direction.

(Modification 2)
In the above-described embodiment, the electrode detent portion 133a and the thick portion of the insulator 133 overlap in the horizontal direction. However, the electrode detent portion 133a has a thick portion of the insulator 133 and a thickness of the lid 11. You may comprise so that it may overlap with both thick parts. In this case, both the thick part of the insulator 133 and the thick part of the lid 11 are overlapped with the electrode detent part 133a by forming the inner bottom surface of the electrode detent part 133a further downward. Can do. As a result, the rigidity is further increased by the thickness of the lid 11, and the anti-rotation effect can be further improved.

(Modification 3)
In the above-described embodiment, the vehicle battery 1 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can be used for other purposes. The other application may be a power tool that vibrates during operation. The electric tool may be a lawn mower or a chainsaw. That is, the battery of the present invention can be suitably mounted not only on a vehicle but also on various mounted devices that cause vibration when operating a lawnmower, a chain saw, or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Battery for vehicles 10 Battery case 11 Lid 11a 1st insulator rotation prevention part 11b 2nd insulator rotation prevention part
12 Power Generation Element 13 Terminal Bolt (Positive Electrode) 13a Base Part 13b Projecting Part 14 Terminal Bolt (Negative Electrode) 131 Current Collecting Terminal (Positive Electrode) 131a Rivet
131b Rivet support part 132 Connection terminal (positive electrode) 132a Terminal fastening surface
132a1 terminal insertion hole 132b terminal fixing surface 132b1 crimping hole
133 Insulator 133a Electrode detent part 133b Terminal support part
133c Insulator opening 133d Outer wall 133e Projection
134 gasket 134a gasket opening 134b peripheral wall

Claims (6)

A bottomed cylindrical case that houses the power generation element;
A lid of the case;
A pedestal portion and a projecting portion extending from the pedestal portion, and a terminal electrode used for connection to another battery;
A connection terminal connecting the current collector terminal extending from the power generation element and the terminal electrode;
An insulating frame interposed between the lid and the terminal electrode,
The frame is formed with a terminal detent part in which the pedestal part of the terminal electrode is engaged, a part of the frame is recessed, and a support part for supporting the connection terminal ,
The connection terminal is
A first flat plate portion supported by the support portion and connected to the current collecting terminal;
A second flat plate portion located at a different height from the first flat plate portion and connected to the terminal electrode;
The first flat plate portion extends from one end portion, the second flat plate portion extends from the other end portion, and includes an inclined portion extending in a direction inclined with respect to the first flat plate portion,
The bottom surface of the terminal detent portion is formed at a position lower than the support portion.
A battery characterized by that. A first opening is formed in the first flat plate portion, and a protruding crimping portion provided in the current collecting terminal is crimped in the first opening.
Wherein the second flat plate portion is formed a second opening, this second opening, in claim 1, wherein the protruding portion of the terminal electrode is inserted The battery described. A bottomed cylindrical case that houses the power generation element;
A lid of the case;
A pedestal portion and a projecting portion extending from the pedestal portion, and a terminal electrode used for connection to another battery;
An insulating frame interposed between the lid and the terminal electrode,
The frame is formed with a terminal detent portion in which the pedestal portion of the terminal electrode is engaged and a part of the frame is recessed,
Wherein the cover body includes a first frame detent portion recessed part of the lid member, wherein the second frame detent portion formed on the bottom surface of the first frame detent portion is formed And
The frame is engaged with the first frame detent portion,
Wherein the second frame detent portion, batteries you characterized in that the frame projection formed on a lower end portion of the frame is engaged. An assembled battery in which a plurality of the batteries according to any one of claims 1 to 3 are connected via a bus bar,
The assembled battery, wherein the bus bar is fixed by a nut fastened to a screw groove formed in the projecting portion in a state of being inserted into the projecting portion of the terminal electrode. The assembled battery according to claim 4 , wherein the assembled battery is a power source for driving a vehicle or an electric tool . A mounting device on which the assembled battery according to claim 4 is mounted.

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