JP5648621B2 - Assembled battery - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an assembled battery including a plurality of battery cells held in a case.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an assembled battery in which a plurality of battery cells are assembled together. This assembled battery is a set in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked in a cell thickness direction in a casing by storing one battery cell in each unit cell compartment partitioned by a partition wall portion in the casing. Is the body. The battery cells stacked and arranged in the casing are connected in series as a whole assembled battery by connecting different-polarity terminals protruding from adjacent cells so that they can be energized by a bus bar.

  When each battery cell is disposed in each unit cell chamber in the housing, the side surface of the cell is supported by the rib protruding from the inner wall surface and the partition wall portion of the housing and is positioned in the housing. The rib supports the surface of the cell on both sides in the cell width direction (a direction perpendicular to both the cell thickness direction and the height direction) and on both sides in the cell thickness direction.

JP 2009-21118A

  In the assembled battery described in Patent Document 1, since each battery cell is supported on both side surfaces in the cell width direction, the deformation amount of the rib supporting each battery cell may be uneven on both sides in the cell width direction. . In other words, since the ribs provided on both sides in the cell width direction support one battery cell in total on both sides in the cell width direction, the deformation amount between the rib on one side and the rib on the other side in the cell width direction. And the shape after deformation is different. Therefore, the position in the cell width direction may be shifted between the battery cells adjacent in the cell thickness direction, and there is a problem that the position shift occurs in the electrode terminals between the adjacent battery cells.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and a first object is to ensure positioning accuracy in the cell width direction of each battery cell with respect to the case and to realize proper connection between the electrode terminals. It is to provide an assembled battery.

  In addition, the rib protruding in the cell thickness direction from the partition wall portion of the housing also has a problem that the electrode terminal between the battery cells adjacent in the cell thickness direction is displaced. Then, the 2nd objective is to provide the assembled battery which can ensure the positioning precision regarding the cell thickness direction of each battery cell with respect to a case, and can implement | achieve appropriate connection between electrode terminals.

The present invention employs the following technical means to achieve the above object. The invention described in claim 1 is a rectangular parallelepiped, and includes a plurality of battery cells (20) connected in series using a bus bar (21), and a plurality of battery cells holding each battery cell. It is an invention relating to an assembled battery (1) comprising a case (10) laminated in a cell thickness direction (T),
The case is
A plurality of partition walls (110, 111) disposed at intervals in the cell thickness direction to form a storage chamber (11) for storing each battery cell;
Two wall portions (112, 13) that are positioned so as to face each other in the cell width direction (W) and that form a storage chamber together with the partition wall;
Of the two wall portions (112, 13) facing the cell width direction (W), only one wall portion (112) is provided so as to protrude toward the other wall portion (13), First protrusions (113, 114) that contact one end surface (20a) of the battery cell accommodated in the accommodation chamber and press the other end surface (20b) of the battery cell against the other wall portion (13). and, with a,
The first protrusion is provided on the same side with respect to each battery cell in each of the storage chambers that store each battery cell,
Bus bar, between the battery cells stacked cell in the thickness direction and wherein the connection to Rukoto.

  According to the present invention, since the battery cell contacts the first protrusion only on one side in the cell width direction, the case is based on the wall on the other side in the cell width direction against which the other end surface of the battery cell is pressed. The position of each battery cell in the cell width direction is determined. As a result, the plurality of battery cells arranged in the cell thickness direction can be accurately positioned and aligned in the cell width direction, so that the positioning accuracy can be ensured for the electrode terminals of the plurality of battery cells. By securing the positioning accuracy in the cell width direction, it is possible to provide an assembled battery that can improve the bondability between the electrode terminal and the bus bar.

  The invention according to claim 2 is connected in series by a bus bar and is opposed to the partition wall (110) positioned between the battery cells adjacent in the cell thickness direction (T). And a second protrusion (116) that contacts the side surface (20c) of the battery cell accommodated in the accommodation chamber and presses the battery cell against the partition wall (110). It is characterized by.

  According to this invention, since the battery cell contacts the second protrusion in the cell thickness direction only at the wall portion facing the partition wall between the battery cells connected by the bus bar, the side surface of the battery cell is pressed against the battery cell. The position of each battery cell in the cell thickness direction with respect to the case is determined with reference to the partition wall in the vicinity of the bus bar and the electrode terminal. Thereby, since a battery cell can be arrange | equalized also about a cell thickness direction, the positioning accuracy can be further improved about the electrode terminal of a some battery cell. By ensuring the positioning accuracy in the cell thickness direction, the bondability between the electrode terminal and the bus bar can be further improved.

  According to invention of Claim 3, a 2nd protrusion part (116) is arrange | positioned so that it may contact the edge part of a battery cell (20) regarding a cell width direction (W).

According to this invention, since the partition wall and the second protrusion support the battery cell at the end in the cell width direction of the battery cell, the positioning according to the above invention is performed at the end in the cell width direction of each battery cell. Is called. The electrode body that can expand and contract due to charging / discharging of the cell electrode is often not present inside the cell case at the end in the cell width direction, which affects the change in cell case thickness due to expansion or contraction of the cell case. It is hard to receive. Therefore, by supporting each battery cell in a site where the dimensional accuracy of the cell case is good and stable, the positioning accuracy in the cell thickness direction of each battery cell can be secured, and the appropriateness between the electrode terminals of the assembled battery can be ensured. Connection can be realized.
For this reason, since the positioning accuracy of the electrode terminal can be further improved in the cell thickness direction, the bondability between the electrode terminal and the bus bar can be further improved.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, the second protrusion (116) is disposed so as to contact the side surface in the vicinity of the electrode terminal (22) of the battery cell in the cell width direction (W). And

  According to this invention, since the partition wall and the second protrusion support the battery cell in the vicinity of the portion where the terminal of the battery cell is disposed, the positioning according to the invention is performed in the vicinity of the electrode terminal of each battery cell. For this reason, since the positioning accuracy of the electrode terminal can be further improved in the cell thickness direction, the bondability between the electrode terminal and the bus bar can be further improved.

According to the invention described in claim 5, the case (10) includes the storage chambers (11, 12) provided in two or more rows in the cell width direction (W), and 2 of the battery cells adjacent in the cell width direction. columns are connected in series via bus bars for connecting the column, between two columns a pair of battery cells arranged in the cell width direction towards the other side end surface of the battery cell (20b) presses against which wall section (13 ) Is arranged. According to the present invention, the plurality of battery cells arranged in two or more rows in the cell width direction are connected in series using the bus bar. And according to invention of each said claim, the positioning accuracy of the electrode terminal of each battery cell is securable between the battery cells adjacently connected via a bus bar in the cell width direction. By ensuring the positioning accuracy of the electrode terminals between the rows, it is possible to improve the bondability between the electrode terminals and the bus bars for the assembled battery having battery cells arranged in two or more rows.

  Note that the reference numerals in parentheses described in the claims and the above-described means are examples of a correspondence relationship with the specific means described in the embodiments described later as one aspect, and are technical terms of the present invention. It does not limit the range.

It is a perspective view which shows the assembled battery which concerns on 1st Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a bottom view which shows the case for hold | maintaining a battery cell in 1st Embodiment. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2. It is the elements on larger scale which show the state which installed the battery cell in the case. In the assembled battery which concerns on 2nd Embodiment to which this invention is applied, it is the elements on larger scale which show the state which installed the battery cell in the case. In the assembled battery which concerns on 3rd Embodiment to which this invention is applied, it is the elements on larger scale which show the state which installed the battery cell in the case. It is a bottom view which shows the case for hold | maintaining a battery cell in the assembled battery which concerns on 4th Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is the elements on larger scale of FIG. It is the elements on larger scale which show the state which installed the battery cell in the case. In the assembled battery which concerns on 5th Embodiment to which this invention is applied, it is the elements on larger scale which show the state which installed the battery cell in the case.

  A plurality of modes for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, parts corresponding to the matters described in the preceding embodiment may be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted. When only a part of the configuration is described in each mode, the other modes described above can be applied to the other parts of the configuration. Not only combinations of parts that clearly show that combinations are possible in each embodiment, but also combinations of the embodiments even if they are not explicitly stated unless there is a problem with the combination. Is also possible.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. In each figure, T is the cell thickness direction of the rectangular parallelepiped battery cell 20, W is the cell width direction, and H is the cell height direction. The cell thickness direction T is also the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells 20. The cell width direction W is a direction perpendicular to both the cell thickness direction T and the cell height direction H. In the assembled battery 1 of the first embodiment, the cell height direction H is set to the vertical direction. The assembled battery 1 is used in, for example, a hybrid vehicle that uses a traveling drive source by combining an internal combustion engine and a motor driven by electric power charged in the battery, an electric vehicle that uses a motor as a travel drive source, and the like.

  The assembled battery 1 includes at least a case 10 and a plurality of battery cells 20 accommodated in the case 10. The assembled battery 1 according to the first embodiment has a configuration in which two rows of battery cells are arranged in the cell width direction W, and specifically, a stacked battery in which a predetermined number of battery cells 20 are stacked in the cell thickness direction T. Two groups are arranged in the cell width direction W, and all the battery cells are connected in series. The battery cell is, for example, a nickel metal hydride secondary battery, a lithium ion battery, or an organic radical battery. The battery cell is housed in a housing, under a car seat, between a rear seat and a trunk room, a driver seat and a passenger seat. It is arranged in the space between.

  The plurality of battery cells 20 constituting the assembled battery 1 are also unit cells, and have, for example, an outer case that constitutes an outer shell such as an aluminum can, and a positive electrode terminal that protrudes upward from one end surface of the rectangular parallelepiped outer case And electrode terminals 22 each having a negative electrode terminal. The assembled battery 1 includes a plurality of bus bars 21 that connect the electrode terminals 22 so as to connect all the battery cells 20 in series.

  The outer case of each battery cell 20 is provided with a safety valve. Each safety valve is located between the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal, and is set to break when the internal pressure of the battery cell becomes an abnormal pressure. The safety valve is configured, for example, by sticking and closing a thin metal film in a hole opened in the end face of the outer case of the battery cell. In this case, when the internal pressure of the battery cell becomes abnormal, the metal film is broken and the hole of the outer case is opened, and the gas inside the battery cell is released to the outside of the outer case. As a result, the cell internal pressure is reduced, and the battery itself can be prevented from rupturing.

  The case 10 is a deep box shape that can accommodate the entire battery cell 20 therein, and is a member that supports the outer case of the battery cell 20 and holds the battery cell 20. The case 10 is formed of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene, polypropylene containing filler or talc, for example. The case 10 is formed to include a lid portion 10a and four side plates 10b and 10c that surround four sides of the lid portion 10a. The side plates 10b and 10c of the case 10 are provided with a plurality of attachment portions 14 for fixing the assembled battery 1 to the vehicle side with a fixture such as a bolt and nut at predetermined positions. The case 10 has an opening surrounded by four side plates 10b and 10c at the lower end. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the case 10, and each battery cell 20 is inserted and installed from the opening at the lower end with the electrode terminal 22 at the head. The pair of side plates 10 b are located on both sides of the battery cell 20 in the cell width direction W. The pair of side plates 10c are located at both ends in the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells 20 arranged in layers, that is, in the thickness direction T.

  The case 10 includes a plurality of storage chambers each storing the battery cell 20. The storage chamber 11 and the storage chamber 12 are provided in the case 10 so as to be arranged in two rows in the cell width direction W. Openings 115 and 125 for disposing the bus bars 21 at predetermined positions are formed in the lid 10 a at the upper end of the case 10. The openings 115 and 125 are arranged so that the electrode terminals 22 of the battery cells 20 installed in the storage chambers 11 and 12 are exposed. The lid 10a has cooling fluid circulation ports 113 and 123 formed between the two partition walls 110 arranged in the cell width direction W and between the two partition walls 111 arranged in the cell width direction W, respectively. . For example, the cooling fluid flows between the battery cells 20 from the lower surface side of each battery cell 20, rises, contacts and cools the outer case, the electrode terminal 22, and the bus bar 21 of each battery cell 20, and then enters the lid 10 a. It flows out of the case 10 through a plurality of cooling fluid circulation ports 113 and 123.

  The lid 10 a is provided so as to insulate the bus bar 21 and the outer case of the battery cell 20 and cover the upper surface portion of the outer case excluding the safety valve and the electrode terminal 22, for example. The lid portion 10a is provided with a smoke exhaust duct portion 30 that forms an internal passage so that the safety valves of the plurality of battery cells 20 are exposed.

  The duct portion 30 has heat resistance, and has a heat resistance capability that prevents the inside of the battery cell 20 from being melted and damaged even if the inside of the battery cell 20 is in an abnormally high pressure state and the gas inside is blown out due to the breakage of the safety valve. It is. Moreover, the cover part 10a has insulation, for example, is formed with synthetic resins, such as a polypropylene containing polypropylene and a filler and a talc.

  The upper surface of the battery cell 20 from which the electrode terminal 22 protrudes is in contact with the lid portion 10a. A seal member such as rubber may be disposed between the duct portion 30 of the lid portion 10 a and the upper surface of the battery cell 20. Moreover, you may make it provide resin with high softness | flexibility, such as an elastomer, by a two-color food molding etc. in the part which presses the upper surface of the battery cell 20 in the duct part 30.

  The bus bar 21 electrically connects the corresponding electrode terminals 22 to each other. The electrical connection between the bus bar 21 and the electrode terminal 22 is provided by connection means such as fastening with bolts and nuts or welding. In order to properly perform this electrical connection, the electrode terminals 22 connected by the bus bar 21 must be properly positioned.

  Each bus bar 21 has an opening through which the electrode terminal 22 of the battery cell 20 is inserted. When the bus bar 21 corresponding to the opening 115 of the lid portion 10a is disposed in the storage chambers 11 and 12 of the case 10 in a state in which the battery cells 20 are properly stored and held, the electrode terminals 22 to be connected are arranged. It fits in the opening part of each bus bar 21, and the positional relationship between each battery cell 20 and the bus bar 21 is appropriately determined. Since the position of each bus bar 21 is regulated by the process of installing the bus bar 21 at a predetermined position of the opening 115, it contributes to performing the joining process such as welding of the bus bar 21 and the electrode terminal 22 quickly and accurately. In addition, it is possible to prevent the bus bar 21 from touching the parts that should not be touched, thereby preventing an inappropriate connection such as a short circuit or damage to the parts. In particular, when the connection between the bus bar 21 and the electrode terminal 22 is welding, a positional shift of several tens of μm between the bus bar 21 and the electrode terminal 22 can be a cause of welding failure.

  When the process of connecting the electrode terminals 22 by the bus bar 21 is performed, first, each battery cell 20 is properly accommodated and held in a predetermined accommodation chamber with the electrode terminal 22 leading from the lower end opening of the case 10. To do. Next, predetermined bus bars 21 respectively corresponding to the electrode terminals 22 exposed from the opening 115 of the lid 10 a are installed on the assembly of the case 10 and the plurality of battery cells 20. In this state, a corresponding predetermined electrode terminal 22 is inserted through the opening of each bus bar 21. Furthermore, each bus bar 21 and each electrode terminal 22 are joined by welding such as fastening with a bolt and nut, laser welding, arc welding, or the like. Moreover, in the case of welding, the structure which welds in the state which mounted the bus-bar 21 on the electrode terminal 2 is also possible.

  The assembled battery 1 may constitute a battery pack together with a battery monitoring device, a battery control device, a blower device and the like (not shown). The battery monitoring device is a battery ECU that monitors the state of the assembled battery 1. The battery monitoring device is connected to the assembled battery 1 via a plurality of detection lines extending from detection terminals installed at predetermined positions of the assembled battery 1 in order to detect information related to the state of the assembled battery 1. The detection lines are, for example, a voltage detection line 31 connected to a voltage sensor that detects the voltage of the assembled battery 1, a temperature detection line 32 connected to a temperature sensor that detects the battery temperature, and the like. Sent to the device. The battery pack includes electronic components that perform charging, discharging, battery temperature monitoring, battery cooling by a blower, and the like of the plurality of battery cells 20.

  Next, the detailed configuration of the case 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. The case 10 has a plurality of partition walls 110, 111, 120, 121 provided in parallel with the side plate 10 c with a predetermined interval in the cell thickness direction T. Thereby, the case 10 defines the accommodating chambers 11 and 12 which are a plurality of flat chambers. One battery cell 20 is accommodated in one accommodation chamber.

  The plurality of storage chambers 11 is one of the two rows of storage chambers arranged in the cell width direction W inside the case 10, and the plurality of storage chambers 12 is the other. The storage chamber 11 and the storage chamber 12 are partitioned in the cell width direction W by a wall portion 13 provided in the center of the cell 10 in the cell width direction W over the entire cell thickness direction T. The storage chamber 11 is a rectangular parallelepiped chamber surrounded by a partition wall 110 and a partition wall 111 that face each other in the cell thickness direction T, and a wall portion 112 and a wall portion 13 that face each other in the cell width direction W with a space therebetween. is there.

  One partition wall 110 is provided at each end in the cell width direction W in the storage chamber 11. The partition walls 111 are also provided one by one on both end sides in the cell width direction W in the storage chamber 11 so as to face the partition wall 110 in the cell thickness direction T. The partition walls 110 and 111 do not support the central portion in the cell width direction W on the side surface of the battery cell 20. Therefore, the battery cell 20 of the storage chamber 11 is pressed by the partition walls 110 and 111 arranged opposite to both end sides in the cell width direction W, and only the side surfaces on both end sides in the cell width direction W are pressed. It is sandwiched in the direction T.

  The storage chamber 12 is a rectangular parallelepiped chamber surrounded by a partition wall 120 and a partition wall 121 that face each other in the cell thickness direction T, and a wall portion 122 and a wall portion 13 that face each other in the cell width direction W with a space therebetween. is there. One partition wall 120 is provided at each end of the storage chamber 12 in the cell width direction W. The partition walls 121 are also provided one at each end in the cell width direction W in the storage chamber 12 so as to face the partition wall 120 in the cell thickness direction T. The partition walls 120 and 121 do not support the central portion in the cell width direction W on the side surface of the battery cell 20. Therefore, the battery cell 20 of the storage chamber 12 is pressed by the partition walls 120 and 121 arranged opposite to both end sides in the cell width direction W, so that only the side surfaces on both end sides in the cell width direction W are pressed. It is sandwiched in the direction T.

  In addition, about the storage chamber 11 and the storage chamber 12 which are located at the both ends of the cell thickness direction T of the case 10, one side surface forming the chamber is the side plate 10c. One battery cell 20 is accommodated in one accommodation chamber. Therefore, the battery cell 20 is disposed so as to be surrounded by a plurality of plate-like members constituting the case 10. In each of the housing chambers 11 and 12, the lid portion 10a is located at the end in the cell height direction H, and the electrode terminal 22 is exposed from the opening 115 of the lid portion 10a in a state where the battery cell 20 is housed. The position of the electrode terminal 22 in the cell height direction H with respect to the case 10 is defined by placing the upper surface of the battery cell 20 in contact with the lid portion 10a.

  Thus, the battery cell 20 is fixed to the case 10 with respect to the cell height direction H, the cell width direction W, and the cell thickness direction T by partially contacting the plate-like member of the case 10. The The battery cell 20 housed in the housing chamber 11 is sandwiched between the wall portion 13 and the wall portion 112 in the cell width direction W, and is sandwiched between the partition wall 110 and the partition wall 111 in the cell thickness direction T. It is sandwiched between the lid 10a and the bottom plate (not shown) in the height direction H. Similarly, the battery cell 20 accommodated in the accommodation chamber 12 is sandwiched between the wall portion 13 and the wall portion 122 in the cell width direction W, and is sandwiched between the partition wall 120 and the partition wall 121 in the cell thickness direction T. Then, it is sandwiched between the lid 10a and the bottom plate (not shown) in the cell height direction H.

  Each battery cell 20 is held with respect to the case 10 by a plurality of positioning members. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the first protrusion 114 has only one wall 112 on the other wall 13 of the two walls 112, 13 facing in the cell width direction W. It is provided so as to protrude. The first protrusion 114 contacts the one end face 20 a of the battery cell accommodated in the accommodation chamber 11 and presses the other end face 20 b of the battery cell against the wall 13 on the other side. 20 is positioned in the cell width direction W. The battery cell 20 is restrained and positioned by the partition wall 110 and the partition wall 111 in the cell thickness direction T.

  The partition walls 110 and 111 support the battery cell 20 accommodated in the accommodation chamber 11 at a portion corresponding to a position where the bus bar 21 is disposed at least in the cell width direction W. The partition walls 120 and 121 support the battery cell 20 accommodated in the accommodation chamber 12 at a portion corresponding to a position where the bus bar 21 is disposed at least in the cell width direction W. The partition walls 110, 111, 120, and 121 are not provided at the center in the cell width direction W in the storage chambers 11 and 12. Therefore, each battery cell 20 is not supported in the cell thickness direction T at the center in the cell width direction W, but is stably supported in the vicinity of the bus bar 21 and the electrode terminal 22.

  Further, the partition walls 110 and 111 support the battery cell 20 at the surface portion of the outer case end portion where the inclusion contained in the battery cell does not contact the outer case from the inside. Since the partition walls 110, 111, 120, 121 are not provided in the central part in the cell width direction W in the storage chambers 11, 12, each battery cell 20 is in the cell thickness direction at the central part in the cell width direction W. Not supported by T. However, the surface part of the outer case end supported by the partition walls 110, 111, 120, and 121 is not affected by the expansion and contraction of the outer case due to charging / discharging of the cell electrode, and the case has high rigidity and good dimensional accuracy. And since it is a stable site | part, each battery cell 20 can be supported stably.

  The first protrusion 114 can be deformed by a reaction force from the battery cell 20 due to the contact with the battery cell 20 and the contact between the wall 13 and the battery cell 20. The first protrusion 114 has a material and shape such that when the battery cell 20 is pressed against the first protrusion 114, the first protrusion 114 itself deforms rather than the battery cell 20 deforms. Have. The first protrusion 114 is made of the same material as that of the case 10 and is integrally formed with the side plate 10b.

  Since the wall portion 13 is not formed with a projection, it does not deform because it is in surface contact with the entire surface of the other end surface 20b of the battery cell, and only the first projection 114 is deformed in the cell width direction W. Thereby, the position of the electrode terminal 22 of the battery cell 20 in the cell width direction W is determined with the wall portion 13 as a reference plane. Therefore, the electrode terminals 22 arranged in the cell thickness direction T shown by the broken line in FIG. 4 are aligned in the cell width direction W, and the bus bar 21 and the electrode terminal 22 shown by the broken line are properly joined and fastened. And it can be implemented reliably.

  The first protrusion 114 presses a predetermined position on the one end surface 20a of the battery cell. The 1st projection part 114 is located so that the center part of the one side end surface 20a of a battery cell may be contacted. Thus, since the 1st projection part 114 presses the center part of the one side end surface 20a of a battery cell regarding the cell thickness direction T, it can hold | maintain each battery cell 20 stably.

  Moreover, about the battery cell 20 accommodated in the storage chamber 12, holding | maintenance and positioning are performed similarly to the case of the battery cell 20 accommodated in the above-mentioned storage chamber 11, and the same effect is obtained. Accordingly, the first protrusion 114 on the storage chamber 11 side corresponds to the first protrusion 124 on the storage chamber 12 side.

  Next, the effect which the assembled battery 1 of this embodiment brings is demonstrated. The case 10 of the assembled battery 1 includes a plurality of partition walls 110 and 111 arranged at intervals in the cell thickness direction T in order to form a storage chamber 11 that stores each battery cell 20, and a cell width direction W Two wall portions 112 and 13 that are positioned so as to face each other and form the storage chamber 11 together with the partition walls 110 and 111 are provided. Furthermore, the case 10 has a first protrusion provided so as to protrude toward the other wall 13 only on the one wall 112 out of the two walls 112 and 13 facing the cell width direction W. 114. The first protrusion 114 comes into contact with the one end face 20 a of the battery cell accommodated in the accommodation chamber 11 and presses the other end face 20 b of the battery cell against the wall 13 on the other side. This configuration is the same for the storage chamber 12 that is symmetrical to the storage chamber 11 with respect to the wall portion 13.

  According to this configuration, the protrusions that are relatively easily deformable as compared with the wall portions are not provided on both sides in the cell width direction W as in the prior art, but are provided only on one side. Since the opposite side portion of the case 10 against which the battery cell 20 is pressed is the surface of the wall portion 13, it is not easily deformed as compared with the first protrusion 114. For this reason, when the first protrusion 114 is deformed or crushed only on one side, the positioning of each battery cell 20 in the cell width direction W is determined using the surface of the wall 13 on the other side as a reference plane. Will be. That is, if the plurality of battery cells 20 have the same size in the cell width direction, the amount of deformation and the degree of collapse of the first protrusion 114 on one side are uniform in all the storage chambers 11, and each battery cell 20. Are aligned in the cell width direction W. As a result, it is possible to align the plurality of end faces of the plurality of battery cells 20 and further align the positions of the plurality of electrode terminals 22.

  As described above, the assembled battery 1 can accurately position the plurality of battery cells 20 arranged in the cell thickness direction T and align them in the cell width direction W, so that the positioning of the plurality of battery cells 20 with respect to the electrode terminals 22 can be performed. Accuracy can be ensured. By ensuring the positioning accuracy in the cell width direction W, it is possible to improve the bondability between the electrode terminal 22 and the bus bar 21.

  Moreover, according to the assembled battery 1 of this embodiment, it is the structure which presses each battery cell 20 against the wall part 13 on the opposite side with the 1st projection part 114 provided only in the one side of the cell width direction W. For this reason, since the wall part 13 is a surface which is hard to deform | transform, since the part which deform | transforms easily in the cell width direction W is only the 1st projection part 114, use that a vibration acts with respect to the assembled battery 1 Even in the environment, the only part deformed by vibration is the projection on one side. Therefore, the displacement in the cell width direction W of each battery cell 20 with respect to the case 10 can be suppressed. Therefore, since the mechanical load on the bus bar 21 connecting the electrode terminals 22 can be suppressed, the durability of the bus bar joining can be improved.

  Further, the partition walls 110 and 111 are provided to face portions corresponding to the end portions in the cell width direction W in the battery cell 20, and support the battery cell 20 accommodated in the accommodation chamber 11. According to this configuration, the partition walls 110 and 111 are not easily affected by the expansion and contraction of the outer case, and sandwich the end of the battery cell 20 in the cell width direction W. Therefore, the electrode terminals adjacent in the cell thickness direction T 22 is accurately positioned. For this reason, since the positioning accuracy of the electrode terminal 22 can be further improved in the cell thickness direction T, the bondability between the electrode terminal 22 and the bus bar 21 can be further improved. Therefore, the positioning accuracy of each battery cell 20 in the cell thickness direction T can be improved, and the assembled battery 1 that realizes proper connection between the electrode terminals 20 is obtained.

  In addition, the partition wall may have a thickness dimension at a portion corresponding to a position where the bus bar 21 is disposed in the cell width direction W larger than a thickness dimension at a central portion in the cell width direction W. In this case, the partition wall can support the battery cell 20 more strongly at the portion where the bus bar 21 is disposed than the central portion in the cell width direction W. For this reason, it is possible to accurately position each battery cell 20 particularly in the vicinity of the electrode terminal 22.

  In addition, the case 10 includes storage chambers 11 and 12 that are provided in two or more rows in the cell width direction W. According to this configuration, the plurality of battery cells 20 arranged in two or more rows in the cell width direction W are connected in series using the bus bar 21 and the inter-row connection bus bar 21A. And the positioning accuracy of the electrode terminal 22 of each battery cell 20 is securable about the battery cells between the rows which adjoin the cell width direction W and are connected via the row connection bus bar 21A. By ensuring the positioning accuracy of the electrode terminals 22 between the rows, it is possible to improve the bondability between the electrode terminals 22 and the bus bars 21 in the assembled battery 1 having the battery cells 20 arranged in two or more rows in the cell width direction W. .

  Further, in the case of an assembled battery in which two rows of battery cells are arranged in the cell width direction W, the terminal positions at both ends of a plurality of battery cells constituting the assembled battery can be set to be located on the same side. Therefore, various harness wirings can be simplified.

(Second Embodiment)
In the second embodiment, an assembled battery 1A, which is another form of the first embodiment, will be described with reference to FIG. Components having the same reference numerals as those in the drawings according to the first embodiment and other configurations not described in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment and have the same effects. The assembled battery 1 </ b> A further includes a second protrusion 116.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the second protrusion 116 provided near the wall 112 on one side in the case 10 </ b> A is connected in series by the bus bar 21 and between the battery cells 20 adjacent in the cell thickness direction T. Is provided so as to protrude from only the facing wall 117. That is, the second protrusion 116 is provided so as to protrude toward the partition wall 110 on the other side only on the wall 117 on one side of the two wall portions facing in the cell thickness direction T. . The wall 117 is provided at a distance from the partition wall 110 in the cell thickness direction T by approximately the thickness dimension of the battery cell 20. The wall 117 has a smaller dimension in the cell thickness direction T than the partition wall 110. The dimension in the cell thickness direction T including the wall 117 and the second protrusion 116 is set to be equal to or slightly larger than the thickness of the partition wall 110.

  The second protrusion 116 is a protrusion that presses only one side surface of the battery cell 20 in the cell thickness direction T. Therefore, the force that presses each battery cell 20 in the cell thickness direction T by the second protrusion 116 acts only on one side surface in the cell thickness direction T, and the side surface 20c of the battery cell accommodated in the accommodation chamber 11. In contact with the battery cell 20 and presses the battery cell 20 against the partition wall 110. As a result, the battery cell 20 is supported by the partition wall 110 in the cell thickness direction T, and is pressed in the direction toward the partition wall 110 by the second protrusion 116.

  The second protrusion 116 presses the battery cell 20 against the partition wall 110 and positions the battery cell 20 in the cell thickness direction T in the case 10A. The second protrusion 116 is provided in the vicinity of the portion where the bus bar 21 is disposed or at the end in the cell width direction W of the battery cell 20, and is stable in the cell thickness direction T of the electrode terminal 22 to which the bus bar 21 is joined. Contributes to accurate positioning.

  The second protrusion 116 can be deformed by a reaction force from the battery cell 20 due to the contact with the battery cell 20 and the contact between the partition wall 110 and the battery cell 20. The second protrusion 116 has a material and shape such that when the battery cell 20 is pressed against the second protrusion 116, the second protrusion 116 itself deforms rather than the battery cell 20 deforms. Have. The second protrusion 116 is made of the same material as the case 10A.

  The partition wall 110 substantially opposite to the second protrusion 116 is not deformed because the protrusion is not formed and is in surface contact with the entire side surface of the battery cell. Only the second protrusion 116 in the cell thickness direction T is not deformed. Is deformed. Thereby, the position of the electrode terminal 22 of the battery cell 20 with respect to the cell thickness direction T is determined with the partition wall 110 as a reference plane. Therefore, the electrode terminals 22 arranged in the cell thickness direction T shown by the broken line in FIG. 5 come to have the same position in the cell thickness direction T, and the bus bar 21 and the electrode terminal 22 shown by the broken line are joined and fastened. It can be implemented properly and reliably.

  The second protrusion 116A is provided closer to the wall 13 on the other side in the case 10A. 116 A of 2nd protrusion parts are connected in series by the bus-bar 21, and protrude only from 117 A of opposing wall parts with respect to the partition wall 111 located between the battery cells 20 adjacent in the cell thickness direction T. Provided. That is, the second protrusion 116A is provided so that only the one wall 117A of the two walls facing the cell thickness direction T protrudes toward the other partition wall 111. . The wall portion 117 </ b> A is provided with respect to the partition wall 111 at a distance approximately in the cell thickness direction T by the thickness dimension of the battery cell 20. The wall 117A has a smaller dimension in the cell thickness direction T than the partition wall 111. The dimension in the cell thickness direction T including the wall part 117A and the second protrusion part 116A is set to be equal to or slightly larger than the thickness dimension of the partition wall 111.

  The second protrusion 116 </ b> A is a protrusion that presses only one side surface of the battery cell 20 in the cell thickness direction T. Therefore, the force that presses each battery cell 20 in the cell thickness direction T by the second protrusion 116 </ b> A acts only on one side surface in the cell thickness direction T, and the side surface 20 c of the battery cell accommodated in the accommodation chamber 11. In contact with the battery cell 20 and presses the battery cell 20 against the partition wall 111. As a result, the battery cell 20 is supported by the partition wall 111 in the cell thickness direction T, and is pressed in the direction toward the partition wall 111 by the second protrusion 116A.

  Since the partition wall 111 substantially opposite to the second protrusion 116A is not formed with a protrusion, the partition wall 111 does not deform because it is in surface contact with the entire side surface of the battery cell, and only the second protrusion 116A in the cell thickness direction T. Is deformed. Thereby, the position of the electrode terminal 22 of the battery cell 20 with respect to the cell thickness direction T is determined with the partition wall 111 as a reference plane.

  Moreover, about the battery cell 20 accommodated in the storage chamber 12, similarly to the case of the battery cell 20 accommodated in the above-mentioned storage chamber 11, positioning is performed in the cell thickness direction T, and the same effect is obtained. It is done. Accordingly, the walls 117 and 117A and the second protrusions 116 and 116A on the storage chamber 11 side correspond to the walls 127 and 127A and the second protrusions 126 and 126A on the storage chamber 12 side, respectively.

  Next, the effect which the assembled battery 1A of this embodiment brings is demonstrated. The case 10A of the assembled battery 1A is provided in a second manner so as to protrude only from the opposing wall portions 117, 117A with respect to the partition walls 110, 111 positioned between the battery cells 20 connected in series by the bus bar 21. Protrusions 116 and 116A are provided. The second protrusions 116 and 116 </ b> A contact the side surface 20 c of the battery cell accommodated in the accommodation chamber 11 and press the battery cell 20 against the partition walls 110 and 111.

  According to this configuration, the battery cell 20 comes into contact with the second protrusions 116 and 116A in the cell thickness direction T only at the wall portions 117 and 117A facing the partition walls 110 and 111. 111 is pressed against. Therefore, the position of each battery cell 20 in the cell thickness direction T with respect to the case 10A can be determined using the partition walls 110 and 111 near the bus bar 21 as a reference plane. As a result, also in the cell thickness direction T, it is possible to align the plurality of end faces of the plurality of battery cells 20 and further align the positions of the plurality of electrode terminals 22. Thereby, since it is possible to align the positions of the plurality of battery cells 20 in the cell thickness direction T, the positioning of each electrode terminal 22 of the battery cell 20 in both the cell width direction W and the cell thickness direction T. The accuracy can be further improved. By ensuring the positioning accuracy in the cell thickness direction T in this way, the bondability between the electrode terminal 22 and the bus bar 21 can be further improved.

(Third embodiment)
In 3rd Embodiment, the assembled battery 1A1 which is another form with respect to 1st Embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG. Components having the same reference numerals as those in the drawing according to the second embodiment, and other configurations not described in the third embodiment are the same as those in the second embodiment and have the same effects.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the assembled battery 1 </ b> A <b> 1, each of the second protrusions 118 and 118 </ b> A has a distance in the cell width direction W from the one side end face 20 a of the battery cell equal to that of the electrode terminal 22. That is, each of the second protrusions 118 and 118 </ b> A is provided at a position aligned with the electrode terminal 22 and the cell thickness direction T between the battery cells 20. The second projecting portion 118 projects from the wall portion 119 disposed on one side in the cell width direction W toward the partition wall 110 </ b> A that faces the wall portion 119. The second protruding portion 118A protrudes from the wall portion 119A arranged on the other side in the cell width direction W toward the partition wall 111A facing the wall portion 119A. The wall portion 119 and the wall portion 119A are extended to a position closer to the center portion in the cell width direction W of the battery cell 20 than to the electrode terminal 22.

  Moreover, about the battery cell 20 accommodated in the storage chamber 12, holding | maintenance and positioning are performed similarly to the case of the battery cell 20 accommodated in the storage chamber 11, and the same effect is obtained. Therefore, the partition walls 110A, 111A, 119, and 119A on the storage chamber 11 side correspond to the partition walls 120A, 121A, 129, and 129A on the storage chamber 12 side, respectively. The second protrusions 118 and 118A on the storage chamber 11 side correspond to the second protrusions 128 and 128A on the storage chamber 12 side.

  According to the assembled battery 1 </ b> A <b> 1 of the third embodiment, the partition walls 110 </ b> A and 111 </ b> A and the second protrusions 118 and 118 </ b> A correspond to positions where the bus bars 21 are disposed in the cell width direction W. The battery cell 20 is provided at least in the vicinity or at a position aligned with the electrode terminal 22 in the cell thickness direction T and supports the battery cell 20 accommodated in the accommodation chamber 11. The partition wall 111 may be provided in addition to these parts in the cell width direction W.

  According to this configuration, the partition walls 110A and 111A and the second protrusions 118 and 118A support the battery cell 20 at a portion where the bus bar 21 is disposed or a portion near the electrode terminal 22, so the cell thickness direction Positioning of the electrode terminal 22 adjacent to T is accurately performed. For this reason, since the positioning accuracy of the electrode terminal 22 can be further improved in the cell thickness direction T, the bondability between the electrode terminal 22 and the bus bar 21 can be further improved.

(Fourth embodiment)
4th Embodiment demonstrates the assembled battery 1B which is another form with respect to 1st Embodiment with reference to FIGS. Components having the same reference numerals as those in the drawings according to the first embodiment and other configurations not described in the fourth embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and have the same effects.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the assembled battery 1 </ b> B is different from the assembled battery 1 including the two storage chambers 11 and 12 in that the case 10 </ b> B includes the storage chambers 11 in one row in the cell width direction W. ing. With this configuration, the storage chamber 11 of the assembled battery 1B includes a partition wall 110 and a partition wall 111 that face each other in the cell thickness direction T, and a wall portion 112 and a wall portion 112A that face and face each other in the cell width direction W. , A rectangular parallelepiped chamber surrounded by. The battery cell 20 accommodated in the accommodation chamber 11 is sandwiched between the wall 112 and the wall 112A in the cell width direction W, and is sandwiched between the partition wall 110 and the partition wall 111 in the cell thickness direction T. It is sandwiched between the lid 10a and the bottom plate (not shown) in the height direction H.

  Of the two wall portions 112 and 112A facing each other in the cell width direction W, the first protrusion 114 is provided only on one wall portion 112 so as to protrude toward the other wall portion 112A. . The first protrusion 114 contacts the one end surface 20a of the battery cell accommodated in the accommodation chamber 11 and presses the other end surface 20b of the battery cell against the other wall portion 112A. 20 is positioned in the cell width direction W. The battery cell 20 is restrained and positioned by the partition wall 110 and the partition wall 111 in the cell thickness direction T.

  The partition walls 110 and 111 support the battery cell 20 accommodated in the accommodation chamber 11 at a portion corresponding to a position where the bus bar 21 is disposed at least in the cell width direction W. The partition walls 110 and 111 are not provided in the center of the storage chambers 11 and 12 in the cell width direction W. Therefore, each battery cell 20 is not supported in the cell thickness direction T at the center in the cell width direction W, but is stably supported in the vicinity of the bus bar 21 and the electrode terminal 22. The first protrusion 114 can be deformed by a reaction force from the battery cell 20 due to the contact with the battery cell 20 and the contact between the wall 112 </ b> A and the battery cell 20.

  Since no protrusion is formed on the wall 112A, the wall 112A does not deform because it is in surface contact with the entire surface of the other end surface 20b of the battery cell, and only the first protrusion 114 is deformed in the cell width direction W. Thereby, the position of the electrode terminal 22 of the battery cell 20 in the cell width direction W is determined with the wall portion 112A as the reference plane. Accordingly, the electrode terminals 22 arranged in the cell thickness direction T shown by the broken line in FIG. 9 are aligned in the cell width direction W, and the bus bar 21 and the electrode terminal 22 also shown by the broken line are properly joined and fastened. And it can be implemented reliably.

(Fifth embodiment)
In the fifth embodiment, an assembled battery 1 </ b> C that is another form of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10. Components having the same reference numerals as those in the drawings according to the fourth embodiment and other configurations not described in the fifth embodiment are the same as those in the fourth embodiment and have the same effects. The assembled battery 1C further includes second protrusions 116 and 116A.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the second protrusions 116 provided on the case 10 </ b> C are connected in series by the bus bar 21 and against the partition wall 110 located between the battery cells 20 adjacent in the cell thickness direction T. Are provided so as to protrude only from the opposing wall portions 117. That is, the second protrusion 116 is provided so as to protrude toward the partition wall 110 on the other side only on the wall 117 on one side of the two wall portions facing in the cell thickness direction T. . The wall 117 is provided at a distance from the partition wall 110 in the cell thickness direction T by approximately the thickness dimension of the battery cell 20. The wall 117 has a smaller dimension in the cell thickness direction T than the partition wall 110. The dimension in the cell thickness direction T including the wall 117 and the second protrusion 116 is set to be equal to the thickness of the partition wall 110.

  The second protrusion 116 is a protrusion that presses only one side surface of the battery cell 20 in the cell thickness direction T. Therefore, the force that presses each battery cell 20 in the cell thickness direction T by the second protrusion 116 acts only on one side surface in the cell thickness direction T, and the side surface 20c of the battery cell accommodated in the accommodation chamber 11. In contact with the battery cell 20 and presses the battery cell 20 against the partition wall 110.

  The second protrusion 116 presses the battery cell 20 against the partition wall 110 and positions the battery cell 20 in the cell thickness direction T in the case 10C. The second protrusion 116 is provided in the vicinity of the portion where the bus bar 21 is disposed, and contributes to stable positioning in the cell thickness direction T of the electrode terminal 22 to which the bus bar 21 is joined. Accordingly, the battery cell 20 is supported by the partition wall 110 in the cell thickness direction T, and is pressed in the direction toward the partition wall 110 by the second protrusion 116.

  The second protrusion 116 can be deformed by a reaction force from the battery cell 20 due to the contact with the battery cell 20 and the contact between the partition wall 110 and the battery cell 20. The second protrusion 116 has a material and shape such that when the battery cell 20 is pressed against the second protrusion 116, the second protrusion 116 itself deforms rather than the battery cell 20 deforms. Have. The second protrusion 116 is made of the same material as the case 10C.

  The partition wall 110 substantially opposite to the second protrusion 116 is not deformed because the protrusion is not formed and is in surface contact with the entire side surface of the battery cell. Only the second protrusion 116 in the cell thickness direction T is not deformed. Is deformed. Thereby, the position of the electrode terminal 22 of the battery cell 20 with respect to the cell thickness direction T is determined with the partition wall 110 as a reference plane. Accordingly, the electrode terminals 22 arranged in the cell thickness direction T indicated by the broken line in FIG. 10 are aligned in the cell thickness direction T, and the bus bar 21 and the electrode terminal 22 indicated by the broken line are joined, fastened, and the like. It can be implemented properly and reliably.

  Further, in the vicinity of the wall 112 </ b> A on the opposite side of the wall 112 in the cell width direction W, a second protrusion 116 </ b> A having the same action as the second protrusion 116 described above is provided. The second protrusion 116A presses the battery cell 20 against the partition wall 111, and positions the battery cell 20 in the cell thickness direction T in the case 10C. The configuration and operational effects of the other elements related to the second protrusion 116A are the same as those described above for the second protrusion 116, and are omitted. The wall portion 117A corresponds to the wall portion 117 on one side in the cell width direction W. The partition wall 111 is connected in series by the bus bar 21 on the other side in the cell width direction W and is located between the battery cells 20 adjacent to each other in the cell thickness direction T, and the partition wall 110 on one side in the cell width direction W. It corresponds to. On the other side in the cell width direction W, a second protrusion 116A that protrudes toward the opposing partition wall 111 is provided on the side plate 10c located at the end in the cell thickness direction T.

(Other embodiments)
The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The structure of the said embodiment is an illustration to the last, Comprising: The scope of the present invention is not limited to the range of these description. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the description of the scope of claims, and further includes meanings equivalent to the description of the scope of claims and all modifications within the scope.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case of the assembled battery includes the storage chambers 11 and 12 provided in one row of the storage chambers 11B or two rows in the cell width direction W, but the present invention is limited to this configuration. is not. The case includes a form in which three or more rows of storage chambers are provided side by side in the cell width direction W.

  In the above embodiment, each of the storage chambers 11, 11 B, 12 is provided with the first protrusions 114, 124 that support the central part on the end face of the battery cell 20. Is not limited to this form. For example, each of the storage chambers 11, 11 </ b> B, and 12 includes either a first protrusion that supports a corner portion of the end surface of the battery cell 20 or a first protrusion 114 or 124 that supports the center portion of the end surface of the battery cell 20. It may be provided.

  In the above embodiment, the case 10, the first protrusions 114 and 124, and the second protrusions 116 and 126 have been described as being formed from a resin material. However, the present invention is not limited to this material. For example, each of the first protrusion and the second protrusion has a shape that is more easily deformed by the reaction force from the battery cell 20 than the wall 13, the partition wall 111, or the partition wall 120. It is also possible to form with a hard material.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Battery assembly 10 ... Case 11, 11B, 12 ... Accommodating chamber 13 ... Wall part (wall part on the other side)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... Battery cell 20a ... One side end surface of a battery cell 20b ... The other side end surface of a battery cell 21 ... Bus-bar 110,111 ... Partition wall 112 ... Wall part (one side wall part)
114: First protrusion T: Cell thickness direction W: Cell width direction

Claims (5)

A plurality of battery cells (20) each having a rectangular parallelepiped shape and connected in series using a bus bar (21), and holding each battery cell, the plurality of battery cells in the cell thickness direction (T). An assembled battery (1) comprising a case (10) for stacking;
The case is
A plurality of partition walls (110, 111) arranged at intervals in the cell thickness direction to form a storage chamber (11) for storing each battery cell;
Two wall portions (112, 13) that are positioned so as to face each other in the cell width direction (W) and that form the accommodation chamber together with the partition wall;
Of the two wall portions (112, 13) facing the cell width direction (W), only one wall portion (112) is provided so as to protrude toward the other wall portion (13). The first protrusion that contacts the one end surface (20a) of the battery cell housed in the housing chamber and presses the other end surface (20b) of the battery cell against the other wall portion (13). (114), equipped with a,
The first protrusion is provided on the same side with respect to each battery cell in each of the storage chambers for storing the battery cells,
The bus bar is assembled battery, wherein connection to Rukoto between the battery cells stacked in the cell thickness direction.   It is connected in series by the bus bar, and protrudes only from the facing wall portion (117) with respect to the partition wall (110) positioned between the battery cells adjacent in the cell thickness direction (T). And a second protrusion (116) that contacts the side surface (20c) of the battery cell housed in the housing chamber and presses the battery cell against the partition wall (110). The assembled battery according to claim 1.   The assembled battery according to claim 2, wherein the second protrusion (116) is arranged to contact an end of the battery cell (20) in the cell width direction (W).   The said 2nd projection part (116) is arrange | positioned so that the side surface of the vicinity of the electrode terminal (22) of the said battery cell may be contacted regarding the said cell width direction (W). Battery pack. The case (10) includes the storage chambers (11, 12) provided in two or more rows in the cell width direction (W),
Two rows of the battery cells adjacent in the cell width direction are connected in series via a bus bar connecting the rows,
Between the cell width direction two columns a pair of the battery cells arranged in direction, claims, characterized in that the other end surface of the battery cell (20b) presses against which the wall portion (13) is arranged The assembled battery according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images