JP5965350B2 - Power storage module - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a power storage module.

  Conventionally, in a power storage module for an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, a plurality of single cells having positive and negative electrode terminals are arranged side by side. A plurality of unit cells are connected in series or in parallel by connecting the electrode terminals of adjacent unit cells with a connecting member (bus bar).

  In Patent Literature 1, two adjacent battery terminals of two batteries are inserted into two insertion holes of the bus bar, and the adjacent batteries are electrically connected by tightening a nut to each battery terminal. ing.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-067184

  By the way, in the said structure, the operation | work which fastens two adjacent electrode terminals twice with two nuts must be performed about each of the location which electrically connects between electrode terminals. If the work for electrically connecting such electrode terminals can be reduced, it is preferable because the number of steps for assembling the power storage module can be reduced.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to reduce the number of man-hours for assembling the power storage module.

The present invention is a power storage module configured by arranging a plurality of power storage elements having positive and negative electrode terminal portions, wherein a connection portion that electrically connects the electrode terminal portions, and pressing the connection portion The connecting portion bent by being pressed by the pressing portion is connected to the electrode terminal portion of the power storage element adjacent to the power storage element having the connection portion.
According to this structure, since the connection part which the press part pressed and was bent is connected to the electrode terminal part of an adjacent electrical storage element, the process for connecting a connection part to an electrode terminal part can be reduced. . Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of man-hours for assembling the power storage module.

It is preferable to have the following configuration as an embodiment of the above configuration.
-The connection between the electrode terminal portions is connected by fastening the connection portion overlapped with the electrode terminal portion of the adjacent power storage element with a fastening member.

-The said connection part is being integrally fixed to the said electrode terminal part of one electrical storage element of the said adjacent electrical storage element.
When the connection portion is integrally fixed to the electrode terminal portion of one power storage element of the adjacent power storage elements, a plurality of electrodes are used when performing an electrical connection between the electrode terminal portions of the adjacent power storage elements. The number of man-hours for the assembly work of the power storage module can be reduced compared to the case where the connection work is performed for each of the terminal portions.

-It has the separator which partitions off between the said adjacent electrical storage elements, and the said press part is provided in the said separator.
If it does in this way, it will become possible to press and bend a connection part using a separator.

-The separator is provided with the support part which supports the said connection part from the opposite side to the side pressed by the said press part in the said connection part.
If it does in this way, it can be made to support when a connecting part is bent using a separator.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the number of steps for assembling the power storage module.

The perspective view which shows an electrical storage module Top view showing power storage module Left side view showing the storage module Perspective view showing a single cell Front view showing a single cell Left side view showing a single cell Perspective view showing one separator Front view showing one separator Rear view showing one separator Perspective view showing the other separator Front view showing the other separator Rear view showing the other separator The top view which shows the cell and the separator assembled to this cell Left side view showing unit cell and separator assembled to unit cell A perspective view showing a state in which a plurality of cells with separators are arranged at intervals. A plan view showing a state in which a plurality of cells with separators are arranged at intervals. Left side view showing a state where a plurality of cells with separators are arranged at intervals. Left side view showing a state where the pressing part starts to press the connecting part A left side view showing a state where the pressing portion further presses the connecting portion from the state of FIG. The left view which shows the state which the press part pressed from the state of FIG. 19 to the position which can fasten a connection part.

<Embodiment 1>
Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The power storage module 10 of the present embodiment is configured by arranging a plurality of single cells 11 (an example of “power storage element”), and is used as a drive source of, for example, an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. In the following description, with respect to the front-rear direction, the lower part of FIG. 2 is assumed to be the front, the upper part is assumed to be the rear, the left-right direction is assumed to be the reference of FIG.

(Power storage module 10)
As shown in FIG. 1, the power storage module 10 includes a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) unit cells 11 (storage unit group) arranged side by side in the front-rear direction and a plurality of unit cells 11 that partition between adjacent unit cells 11. (Four in this embodiment) separators 38A and 38B are provided.
(Single cell 11)
As shown in FIG. 4, the plurality of single cells 11 have a flat shape in which a storage element (not shown) is accommodated, and are provided on a flat rectangular parallelepiped battery main body 12 and an upper end surface of the battery main body 12. And positive electrode terminal portions 21A and 21B (in this embodiment, for example, the positive electrode is 21A and the negative electrode is 21B).

In the unit cell 11, two types of unit cells 11A and 11B having different electrode terminal portion 21A shapes are formed by changing the bending direction of the electrode terminal unit 21A according to the position in the battery module 10 (see FIG. 1). ).
The two types of unit cells 11A and 11B are alternately arranged so that the electrode terminal portions 21A and 21B having different polarities are adjacent to each other, thereby connecting the plurality of unit cells 11 in series.

The battery body 12 is covered with a case, and the upper surface 13 is formed with synthetic resin fixing portions 14 and 20 for fixing the electrode terminal portions 21A and 21B at predetermined positions, as shown in FIG. ing.
The fixing portions 14 and 20 include a first fixing portion 14 that fixes the electrode terminal portion 21A and a second fixing portion 20 that fixes the electrode terminal portion 21B.

The 1st fixing | fixed part 14 is provided with the surrounding wall part 15 which protrudes upwards from the upper surface 13 of the battery main body 12 so that electrode terminal part 21A may be enclosed.
The peripheral wall portion 15 has a notch portion 16 in which a predetermined range in the circumferential direction is notched, and the fit cover 18 can be attached to the first fixed portion 14 by inserting the fit cover 18 from the notch portion 16. .

A locking portion 17 protrudes inward from the portion of the notch portion 16 in the peripheral wall portion 15.
A locking recess is formed on the inner wall of the locking portion 17.
The fitting cover 18 is made of synthetic resin and has a plate shape that is long in the left-right direction. The edges and the inside of the fitting cover 18 are reinforced by increasing the thickness in a frame shape.

The fitting cover 18 has a locked portion 19 that is locked to the locking portion 17 so as not to be detached from the first fixing portion 14 (see FIG. 13).
The locked portion 19 is a bending piece whose front end side (rear end side) can bend and deform in the left-right direction, and a locking claw that protrudes outward is formed at the front end.

The second fixing portion 20 protrudes from the upper surface 13 of the battery body 12 at a predetermined height.
The projecting dimension of the second fixing portion 20 is a height at which a connecting portion 22 described later is placed on the electrode terminal portion 21 </ b> B disposed on the second fixing portion 20.

(Electrode terminal portion 21B)
The electrode terminal portion 21 </ b> B includes an L-shaped receiving portion 32 placed on the second fixing portion 20, and a relay connection member 35 that electrically connects the receiving portion 32 and the internal storage element.
The receiving portion 32 is made of a metal such as copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, stainless steel (SUS), and the plate-like plate-like portion 33 and the rod-like portion 34 rising from the plate-like portion 33 are integrally formed. ing.

The plate-like portion 33 is formed with a through hole through which the relay connecting member 35 is inserted.
The relay connecting member 35 is made of metal rivets. It is also possible to use a member such as a screw as the relay connection member.
The receiving portion 32 is fixed to the battery body 12 by being crimped to the through hole of the plate-like portion 33 through the relay connection member 35 and the battery main body 12 side. Electrically connected.
(Electrode terminal portion 21A)
The electrode terminal portion 21A includes a plate-like connection portion 22 connected to the electrode terminal portion 21B of the unit cell 11 adjacent to the unit cell 11 having the electrode terminal unit 21A.

(Connection 22)
The connecting portion 22 is made of a metal such as copper, copper alloy, aluminum, aluminum alloy, stainless steel (SUS), and the like, and a belt-like fixed portion 23 fixed to the first fixing portion 14 and an edge portion of the fixed portion 23. A folded portion 28 that extends so as to be folded back, and an extended portion 27 that rises upward from the front end of the folded portion 28 (in the direction orthogonal) and extends to a length connectable to the electrode terminal portion 21B of the adjacent unit cell 11. .

The fixed portion 23 extends in a band shape in the left-right direction, and a circular through-hole through which the relay connection member 31 for connecting to the power storage element of the battery body 12 is inserted is formed at one end side.
The relay connecting member 31 uses a metal rivet. In addition, it is also possible to use not only rivets but also members such as metal screws (members that can be electrically connected).

By caulking the battery main body 12 through one end side of the relay connection member 31 in the through hole of the fixed portion 23, the fixed portion 23 is fixed to the battery main body 12 and the internal power storage element is connected via the relay connection member 31. Electrically connected.
The edge of the fitting cover 18 is fitted inside the folded portion 28.
The fitting cover 18 is fixed to the first fixing portion 14 by the locking claw of the locked portion 19 being locked to the inner wall of the locking recess of the locking portion 17.

The fitting cover 18 fitted into the folded-back portion 28 presses and fixes the fixed portion 23 from above.
The extending portion 27 is bent by pressing a pressing portion 47 of a separator 38A, 38B, which will be described later. Before the bending portion 47 is bent by the pressing portion 47, the extending portion 27 extends straight upward, and after being bent by the pressing portion 47. Is fastened to the electrode terminal portion 21B.
The extending portion 27 is formed with a thickness that can be elastically deformed by pressing by the pressing portion 47, and a circular fastening hole 26 penetrates the distal end side of the extending portion 27 at a position slightly closer to the left side. Is formed.

The fastening hole 26 has an oval shape that is long in the front-rear direction (the arrangement direction of the cells 11).
Thus, by making the fastening hole 26 into an oval shape, it is possible to absorb the tolerance at the time of assembly (tolerance in the front-rear direction).

As shown in FIG. 3, the extended portion 27 after being bent by the pressing portion 47 has a bent portion 29 </ b> A that is bent at a right angle.
The extended portion 27 can be elastically deformed by bending between the bent portion 29A and the folded portion 28, and tolerances in the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction between the cells 11 during and after assembly. To absorb.
As shown in FIG. 4, a recess 30 is formed on the side edge of the extended portion 27 where the bent portion 29 </ b> A is formed.
The connecting portion 22 in FIG. 4 is formed by punching a metal plate material into a developed shape and bending it with a press.

  In addition, since the connection part 22 of this embodiment is formed from the thin metal plate material, it has a width dimension (extension part 27) by the thickness made thinner than the bus bar as the connection member between the electrodes normally used. And the width dimension of the folded portion 28) is increased. Thus, even if the thickness is reduced, the conductor cross-sectional area corresponding to the energization current is ensured by increasing the width.

(Separators 38A, 38B)
The separators 38A and 38B are made of synthetic resin, and two types having different shapes are used. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, a plate-shaped main body 39 that partitions the adjacent unit cells 11; A pressing portion 47 that is provided at the upper end portion of the main body portion 39 and presses and bends the connection portion 22, and a support portion 45 that is provided at the upper end portion of the main body portion 39 and supports the connection portion 22 from the side opposite to the pressing portion 47. And comprising.
The two types of separators 38 </ b> A and 38 </ b> B have symmetrical shapes in which the protruding directions of the pressing portion 47 and the support portion 45 are different.

The main body 39 has a rectangular plate shape, and has a projecting frame 40 that projects in a frame shape at the periphery.
The overhanging frame 40 on the upper surface of the main body 39 is formed with a cutout portion 40A that is cut out so as to reduce the overhanging dimension over substantially the entire width.
Between the pressing portion 47 and the support portion 45 at the upper end 39A of the main body 39, a first connecting portion 41 for connecting the adjacent separators 38A and 38B is provided.

The first connecting portion 41 has a U shape, and protrudes from the main body portion 39 in front of and behind the main body portion 39.
The front end portion of the first connecting portion 41 is a fitting portion 41A that protrudes forward in a step shape slightly from the inside, and this fitting portion 41A is fitted into the rear end portion of the first connecting portion 41.

On both the left and right sides of the lower end portion of the main body 39, second connecting portions 42 for connecting the adjacent separators 38A and 38B are provided.
The second connecting portion 42 protrudes in a box shape from the side surface of the main body 39, and is provided with a connecting protrusion 43 protruding rearward on the rear end face, and a connecting protrusion of the adjacent separator 38A (38B) on the front end face. It has a connecting hole 44 through which 43 is inserted.
The connection protrusion 43 has a plate shape that is long in the vertical direction.
By connecting the first connecting portion 41 and the second connecting portion 42 of the adjacent separators 38A and 38B, the relative movement in the vertical and horizontal directions between the adjacent separators 38A and 38B is restricted.

(Supporting part 45)
The support portion 45 is provided on one end side in the left-right direction at the upper end 39A of the main body portion 39, is formed to have a width corresponding to the width of the connection portion 22, and projects to the rear side.
The portion extending rearward of the support portion 45 is formed such that the lower end has a constant height and the upper end becomes higher toward the distal end side. Thereby, the dimension of the up-down direction is gradually thickened at the front end side of the support part 45.
As shown in FIG. 14, the rear end surface (front end surface) of the support portion 45 is formed at substantially the same position as the rear end (rear end of the extended frame 40) of the main body portion 39. The support portion 45 is in close contact with the extending portion 27 of the connecting portion 22 when the separators 38 </ b> A and 38 </ b> B are attached to the unit cell 11.

The upper surface of the support part 45 is inclined so that the side opposite to the side that supports the connection part 22 is slightly lower.
As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of rectangular recesses 45 </ b> A are formed side by side on the rear end surface of the support portion 45.
On the base end side of the front surface of the support portion 45, a plurality of hollow portions 46 that are recessed in a rectangular shape are formed side by side (see FIG. 7).

(Pressing part 47)
The pressing portion 47 has a shape projecting obliquely forward from the upper surface of the main body portion 39, and includes a base end portion 47A continuous with the main body portion 39 and a protruding portion 48 protruding slightly forward from the base end portion 47A. Have.
A rounded surface on the bottom surface side of the protruding portion 48 (the bottom surface on the side pressing the connecting portion 22) is a pressing surface 49.
The shape of the pressing surface 49 is a curved surface that can bend the connecting portion 22 gradually in a substantially orthogonal direction when the connecting portion 22 is pressed.
The pressing surface 49 is formed with a slightly depressed recess 49A (see FIG. 8), and the connecting portion 22 is bent at a substantially right angle at the position of the recess 49A.
The upper surface of the pressing portion 47 is a thinned portion 50 that is thinned like a comb blade (see FIG. 7). A plate-like reinforcing portion 47 </ b> B is formed on the side edge of the bottom surface of the pressing portion 47.

Next, assembly of the power storage module 10 will be described.
A plurality of separators 38 </ b> A and 38 </ b> B are alternately sandwiched between the plurality of single cells 11 having the connection portions 22 in a state where the extending portions 27 extend straight upward (FIG. 4). In the present embodiment, the number of separators 38A and 38B is one more than that of the single cells 11, and all the single cells 11 are arranged between the separators 38A and 38B. Then, the separators 38A and 38B are mounted so as to overlap the plurality of single cells 11 from the side where the support portion 45 projects (see FIGS. 13 and 14). Thereby, a plurality (4 in the present embodiment) of single cells 51 with separators are formed (FIG. 15).
In this state, the support portions 45 of the separators 38A and 38B are in close contact with the front surface of the extension portion 27 (FIG. 17).

Next, the plurality of unit cells 51 with separators are brought closer to each other.
Then, the tip of the pressing portion 47 comes into contact with the extending portion 27 of the separator-equipped cell 51 and bends the extending portion 27 from a position immediately above the support portion 45 (position to become the bending portion 29A) (FIG. 18). ).
Then, when the separator-equipped unit cells 51 are brought closer to each other, the bent portion 29A of the extending portion 27 is further bent (FIG. 19), and the rod-shaped portion of each electrode terminal portion 21B is inserted into the fastening hole 26 of the extending portion 27. 34 is inserted.
Then, when the bent portion 29A of the extending portion 27 is bent to a position orthogonal (FIG. 20), the nut 36 is screwed into the rod-shaped portion 34 and fastened to the electrode terminal portion 21B (the rod-shaped portion 34 and the nut 36 are “ Example of “fastening member”).
When the extending portions 27 of all the connecting portions 22 other than the frontmost connecting portion 22 are fastened to the electrode terminal portion 21B, the electrode terminal portions 21A and 21B are connected, and when the frontmost separator 38B is removed, the battery module 10 is removed. Is formed (FIG. 1).
Thus, if the operation | work which piles up the cell 11 normally performed at the time of the assembly | attachment of the electrical storage module 10 via a separator is performed, even if it does not perform the operation | work which attaches the connection part 22 to the electrode terminal part 21B separately, it will be a rod-shaped part. 34 can be inserted into the fastening hole 26 for fastening.

According to the said embodiment, there exist the following effects.
According to the present embodiment, the connecting portion 22 bent by pressing the pressing portion 47 is connected to the electrode terminal portions 21A, 21B of the adjacent unit cells 11B, 11A (storage element). The process for connecting to the electrode terminal portions 21A and 21B can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of steps for assembling the power storage module 10.

  Moreover, the connection part 22 is integrally fixed to the electrode terminal part 21A of one unit cell 11B, 11A of the adjacent unit cells 11B, 11A, so that the electrode terminal parts 21A, 21B of the adjacent unit cells 11B, 11A are fixed. When performing an electrical connection between them, it is possible to reduce the number of man-hours for the assembly work of the power storage module 10 as compared to the case where the connection work is performed for each of the plurality of electrode terminal portions.

Furthermore, separators 38A and 38B are provided that partition between adjacent unit cells 11B and 11A, and a pressing portion 47 is provided in the separators 38A and 38B.
If it does in this way, it will become possible to press and bend the connection part 22 using separator 38A, 38B.

The separators 38 </ b> A and 38 </ b> B include a support portion 45 that supports the connection portion 22 from the side opposite to the side pressed by the pressing portion 47 in the connection portion 22.
If it does in this way, it can be made to support when connecting part 22 is bent using separators 38A and 38B.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the pressing portion 47 is provided in the separators 38A and 38B. However, the pressing portion 47 is not limited thereto, and the pressing portion may be provided in another member. For example, a pressing portion may be provided in the unit cell (storage element) to press the connection unit of the adjacent unit cell (storage element).

(2) In the above embodiment, the pressing portion 47 is configured to press the connecting portion 22 when the unit cells 51 with separators are stacked. However, the pressing portion may be pressed to such an extent that the connecting portion 22 can be bent. For example, the method by which the pressing portion presses the connection portion 22 is not limited to the method of the above embodiment.

(3) In the above embodiment, the connection portion 22 is provided only on one electrode terminal portion 21A of the pair of electrode terminal portions 21A and 21B of each unit cell 11 (11B). The connecting portion 22 may be provided on both the positive electrode terminal portion 21A and the negative electrode terminal portion 21B of the unit cell (storage element). In this case, next to the unit cell having the connection part 22, a unit cell (storage element) not provided with the connection part 22 is arranged on both of the pair of electrode terminal units, and a plurality of unit cells are alternately arranged and adjacent to each other. The electrode terminal portions 21A and 21B of the battery 11 may be connected.

(4) In the above embodiment, an example in which the power storage element is a battery has been described, but the power storage element may be a capacitor or the like.
(5) In the above embodiment, the nut 36 is fastened to the rod-like portion 34 of the electrode terminal portion 21B. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a nut is provided on the electrode terminal portion 21B, and a bolt of another member is screwed to the nut. May be.

(6) In the above embodiment, the electrode terminal portion 21A is a positive electrode and the electrode terminal portion 21B is a negative electrode. However, the electrode terminal portion 21B may be a positive electrode and the electrode terminal portion 21A may be a negative electrode.
(7) In the above embodiment, the plurality of unit cells 11 are connected in series. However, the plurality of unit cells 11 may be connected in parallel.
(8) The number of the single cells 11 is not limited to the number in the above embodiment, but may be other numbers.

10 ... Power storage module 11 (11A, 11B) ... Single battery (power storage element)
21A, 21B ... Electrode terminal portion 22 ... Connection portion 25 ... Fastening portion 34 ... Rod-like portion (fastening member)
36 ... Nut (fastening member)
38A, 38B ... Separator 39 ... Main body 45 ... Supporting portion 47 ... Pressing portion 48 ... Protruding portion 49 ... Pressing surface 49A ... Depression portion 51 ... Single with separator battery

Claims (3)

A power storage module configured by arranging a plurality of power storage elements having positive and negative electrode terminal portions,
A connection part for electrically connecting the electrode terminal parts;
A pressing part that presses and bends the connecting part,
The connection part pressed and bent by the pressing part is connected to the electrode terminal part of the power storage element adjacent to the power storage element having the connection part ,
Comprising a separator for partitioning adjacent power storage elements;
The pressing portion is a power storage module provided in the separator .   2. The power storage module according to claim 1, wherein the electrode terminal portions are connected to each other by fastening the connection portion overlapped with the electrode terminal portion of the adjacent power storage element with a fastening member.   The power storage module according to claim 1, wherein the connection portion is integrally fixed to the electrode terminal portion of one power storage element of the adjacent power storage elements.

Images