JP6149490B2 - Assembled battery - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an assembled battery in which a plurality of power storage elements are constrained and integrated, and more particularly, to an assembled battery including an insulating member that holds components related to the assembled battery.

  Conventionally, an assembled battery including a plurality of power storage elements (unit cells) is known. The assembled battery can generate a high voltage by, for example, connecting a plurality of power storage elements in series by a plurality of bus bars (wiring boards).

  When assembling such an assembled battery, there is a case where a so-called bus bar module in which a bus bar is arranged on a plate-like insulating member so as to correspond to the positions of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the adjacent unit cells is used. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2012-243608 A

  However, even if the insulating member with the bus bar attached is placed on the assembled power storage element, the positional relationship between each power storage element and the insulating member is not fixed, so it takes time to connect the bus bar and the electrode terminal. The efficiency is low.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can easily determine the positional relationship between a plurality of assembled power storage elements and an insulating member arranged in the vicinity of the power storage element, and a process of assembling an assembled battery It aims at providing the assembled battery which can simplify.

  In order to achieve the above object, an assembled battery according to the present invention includes a plurality of power storage elements, a plurality of power storage elements sandwiched between and constrained integrally, a first engagement portion, a restraint member, and the restraint member. A cross-linking member that is connected in a cross-linked manner and constrains the plurality of power storage elements, and an insulating member that includes a second fitting portion that fits the first fitting portion and covers the surface of the power storage element. It is said.

  Since the restraining member sandwiches a plurality of power storage elements and restrains them integrally, the positional relationship with respect to the power storage elements is stable. Therefore, the insulating member can be properly positioned by fitting the second fitting portion provided on the insulating member to the first fitting portion provided on the restraining member.

  The insulating member may cover a plurality of power storage elements, or may cover a predetermined surface of a single power storage element. The insulating member may be plate-shaped, or may be frame-shaped or skeleton-shaped.

  The insulating member may be disposed in a bridging manner on the restraining member. In this case, the insulating member extends from one restraining member to the other restraining member, so that a wide assembly area can be provided for a part to be assembled to the insulating member. Further, by fitting the second fitting portion provided on the insulating member to the first fitting portion provided on the restraining member, the positional relationship between the insulating member occupying a relatively large installation area and the power storage element can be obtained. Can be determined.

  The insulating member may be placed on the terminal surface (surface on which the terminal is disposed) of the power storage element. In this case, the distance between the component assembled to the insulating member and the terminal of the storage element can be shortened, and electrical connection between them can be easily achieved.

  The first mating portion may be one of the recessed portion and the projecting portion, and the second mating portion may be the other of the recessed portion and the projecting portion, but the first mating portion provided in the restraining member is a recessed portion. The second mating portion provided on the insulating member is preferably a protrusion that fits into the recessed portion. The restraining member is preferably formed of a highly rigid member, for example, a metal plate, in order to firmly restrain the plurality of power storage elements. The insulating member is preferably a resin member having good shape workability. When the constraining member is formed of a member having high rigidity such as metal, providing the concavity on the constraining member makes it easier to obtain a desired shape by simple processing than providing the concavity on the constraining member.

  The restraint member includes a substrate and a flange protruding in a state bent from the substrate to the side opposite to the power storage element, and the recessed portion is formed outside a corner portion formed by the substrate and the flange. It may be provided.

  According to this, the concave portion contributes to increasing the rigidity (mechanical strength between the substrate and the flange) of the restraining member.

  Furthermore, it has a bottom wall and a side wall, and includes an exterior body that houses the power storage element, and a guide member provided on an inner wall surface of the side wall, and the restraining member has a groove portion that fits into the guide member. It may be a thing.

  According to this, the positional relationship of each electrical storage element with respect to an exterior body is stabilized. Therefore, the positional relationship between the insulating member and the exterior body is also stabilized via the restraining member. From the above, the process of connecting the insulating member or the component assembled to the insulating member and the exterior body is also simplified.

  In addition, since the guide member provided on the exterior body and the groove provided on the restraining member are fitted and the insulating member is also engaged with the restraining member, it is assembled to the storage element and the insulating member against external vibration and impact. The protected parts can be protected.

  The guide member may have a tapered shape whose width gradually increases as it goes downward.

  According to this, a plurality of power storage elements integrated with the bridging member (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “power storage element assembly”) can be easily inserted into the exterior body, and the power storage element assembly with respect to the exterior body Can be easily aligned. In addition, in a state where the power storage element assembly is housed in the exterior body, the lower portion of the guide member and the groove portion are fitted with no gap or a slight gap, so that the alignment can be performed accurately. Therefore, the position of the insulating member can be accurately aligned with the exterior body.

  According to the present invention, the process of assembling the assembled battery can be simplified.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an assembled battery. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the assembled state of the assembled battery with a part of the exterior body omitted. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the upper and lower flanges of the restraining member from above. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the constrained member and the resin member in a disassembled state in cross section. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the resin member from below.

  Next, an embodiment of an assembled battery according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiment is merely an example of the assembled battery according to the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined by the wording of the claims with reference to the following embodiments, and is not limited to the following embodiments. Therefore, among the constituent elements in the following embodiments, constituent elements that are not described in the independent claims indicating the highest concept of the present invention are not necessarily required to achieve the object of the present invention. It will be described as constituting a preferred form.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an assembled battery.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the assembled state of the assembled battery with a part of the exterior body omitted.

  As shown in these drawings, the assembled battery 100 includes a plurality of power storage elements 101, a restraining member 140 that sandwiches the power storage elements 101 and restrains them integrally, a bridging member 142 that connects the restraining members 140 in a bridging manner, And a resin member 107 as a member. In the case of the present embodiment, the assembled battery 100 includes an exterior body 102.

  The power storage element 101 is an element that can be charged and discharged, and includes a housing 111, an electrode terminal 112, and a safety valve 114.

  The casing 111 is a member that houses a power generation element (electrode body), an electrolytic solution, and the like in a sealed state, and is a member that bears the mechanical strength of the power storage element 101.

  The electrode terminal 112 is a member disposed on one surface of the housing 111 and is a member that conducts electricity between the outside and the inside of the housing 111. In the present embodiment, power storage element 101 includes two electrode terminals 112 that protrude in the same direction and correspond to the positive electrode and the negative electrode, respectively.

  The power storage elements 101 are arranged side by side in the X-axis direction in the figure so that the long side surfaces of the casing 111 face each other, and the positive electrode terminal 112 of one power storage element 101 of the adjacent power storage elements 101 and the other The negative electrode terminal 112 of the power storage element 101 is disposed adjacent to the negative electrode terminal 112. In addition, the power storage element 101 is electrically connected in series by connecting the positive electrode terminal 112 and the negative electrode terminal 112 adjacent to each other to the bus bar 113. Some of the power storage elements 101 may be connected in parallel.

  The exterior body 102 is a box-shaped member having a bottom wall and a side wall that accommodates the power storage element 101, the restraining member 140, and the bridging member 142. In the case of the present embodiment, a guide member 103 is integrally provided on the inner surface of the side wall of the exterior body 102. The exterior body 102 arranges the power storage element 101 at a predetermined position, protects the power storage element 101 from an impact or the like, and prevents the power storage element 101 from inadvertently contacting a metal member or the like. The assembled battery 100 includes a lid 122 that closes the opening of the exterior body 102. The exterior body 102 and the lid body 122 are made of an insulating material such as a resin.

  The guide member 103 is a rail-shaped member that is provided on the inner surface of the side wall of the exterior body 102 and extends in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction in the figure, a direction substantially orthogonal to the bottom). In the case of the present embodiment, the guide member 103 is formed integrally with the exterior body 102. Further, the guide member 103 has a tapered shape in which the width gradually increases toward the lower side. A plurality of guide members 103 (two in the case of this embodiment) are arranged in the X-axis direction side by side in the Y-axis direction on the inner surfaces (wall surfaces arranged in the YZ plane in the figure) of the opposite side walls of the exterior body 102. It is provided in a protruding state. By providing the guide member 103 on the opposing inner wall surface, the storage element assembly 104 (see FIG. 2) can be stably inserted into the exterior body 102. In particular, by providing a plurality of guide members 103 on one inner wall surface, the power storage element assembly 104 can be inserted in a stable state by the exterior body 102.

  The restraining member 140 is a member that is disposed at both ends in the arrangement direction of the power storage elements 101 (X-axis direction in the drawing) and sandwiches the plurality of power storage elements 101 so as to be integrally restrained. The restraining member 140 includes a substrate 141 and a flange 144 that protrudes in a state of being bent from the edge of the substrate 141 to the side opposite to the power storage element 101 (the side opposite to the power storage element side in the X-axis direction). . In addition, the restraining member 140 includes a recessed portion 145 that is recessed in a direction away from the power storage element 101 outside the corner portion formed by the substrate 141 and the flange 144.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the restraining member 140 is integrally provided with a flange 144 projecting to the opposite side of the electricity storage element 101 to be restrained at the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the plate-like substrate 141. By providing the upper and lower flanges 144 on the restraining member 140, it is possible to improve the mechanical strength while suppressing an increase in the weight of the restraining member 140. Specifically, the upper and lower flanges 144 of the restraining member 140 are formed by bending (drawing) a metal plate material. The restraining member 140 may include an upper and lower flange and a lateral flange (not shown) that connects the upper and lower flanges by drawing a metal plate.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the upper and lower flanges of the restraining member from above.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the constrained member and the resin member in a disassembled state in cross section.

  As shown in these drawings, the restraining member 140 includes a recessed portion 145 outside a corner portion formed by the substrate 141 and the upper flange 144.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the constraining member 140 is formed by drawing a metal plate, and the recessed portion 145 is formed by hammering from the outside of the corner after forming the substrate 141 and the flange 144. Has been. Specifically, a part of the ridgeline formed between the substrate 141 and the flange 144 is crushed from the outside and swells in a triangular shape on the inside to form a recessed portion 145. As described above, the rib is formed (formed by plastic deformation) inside the corner portion formed by the substrate 141 and the flange 144.

  Thus, by providing the concavity 145 in the restraining member 140, it can be used as a reference for alignment of the resin member 107. Since the restraining member 140 restrains the power storage element 101, the positional relationship with respect to the power storage element 101 is stable. Therefore, the recessed portion 145 provided at a predetermined position of the restraining member 140 is useful for aligning the power storage element 101 and the resin member.

  Further, by providing the recessed portion 145 on the outer side of the corner portion, a rib is formed so as to obliquely connect between the substrate 141 and the flange 144. Therefore, the mechanical strength between the substrate 141 and the flange 144 is increased. Improvements can also be achieved.

  In addition, in one restraint member 140 arranged on the side shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of (three in this embodiment) recessed portions 145 are provided side by side in the Y-axis direction in the drawing. The other restraining member 140 arranged on the side not shown in FIG. 2 is provided with a different number of recessed portions (for example, 2, 4, etc.) than the one restraining member 140 side by side in the Y-axis direction in the figure. Yes. In this way, by providing a different number of recesses 145 in each of the two restraining members 140, the direction in which the resin member 107 is attached is taught, and when the resin member 107 is to be attached in the wrong direction, the recess 145 Since the protrusion 171 (described later) cannot be inserted into the head, it is possible to present an incorrect orientation.

  In the case of this embodiment, the lower flange 144 is similarly provided with a recessed portion 145. Further, the lower flange 144 is provided with a groove 143.

  The groove portion 143 has a shape that is slidably fitted to the guide member 103 (see FIG. 2) provided on the inner surface of the side wall of the exterior body 102.

  Further, the width of the groove portion 143 (interval in the Y-axis direction in the drawing) matches or substantially matches the width of the lower end portion of the guide member 103 (length in the Y-axis direction in the drawing). Accordingly, the lower end portion of the guide member 103 and the groove portion 143 are fitted to each other by inserting the power storage element assembly 104 into the exterior body 102 while engaging the groove portion 143 with the guide member 103, and the inside of the exterior body 102 It is possible to determine the position of the storage element assembly 104 in FIG.

  The bridging member 142 is a member that generates a restraining force that constrains the plurality of power storage elements 101 by connecting the restraining members 140 arranged outside the both ends of the power storage elements 101 arranged in the X-axis direction in a cross-linked manner. It is. In the case of the present embodiment, the bridging members 142 are rod-shaped members that are disposed on both sides of the power storage element 101 in the Y-axis direction and extend in the X-axis direction, and are disposed at the four corners of the restraining member 140, respectively. . The length of the bridging member 142 is set slightly shorter than the overall length of the power storage elements 101 and the like arranged in the X-axis direction, and the end of the bridging member 142 and the restraining member 140 are fastened with screws or the like. As a result, a restraining force that restrains the plurality of power storage elements 101 is generated.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the resin member from below.

  The resin member 107 is disposed in a bridging manner on the two restraining members 140 disposed at both ends of the plurality of power storage elements 101 arranged side by side, and has an insulating property to which components such as a bus bar and a control electronic circuit board are attached. It is a member. Further, the resin member 107 includes a protrusion 171 that engages with a recess 145 provided in the restraining member 140.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the protrusion 171 has a triangular cross section so as to correspond to the triangular recess 145 (see FIG. 4) provided at the corner of the restraining member 140. The recessed portion 145 forms a hole together with the buffer member 110. The protrusion 171 has a shape (triangular prism shape in side view) that fits into the hole.

  The buffer member 110 is a thin plate-like insulating member disposed between the power storage elements 101 and between the power storage element 101 and the restraining member 140. It has a function of securing an insulation state between them and preventing collision and rubbing that occur between the storage element 101 and the restraining member 140 when an impact or the like is applied to the assembled battery 100.

  Next, a method for manufacturing the assembled battery will be described.

  A plurality of power storage elements 101 are arranged in layers in the thickness direction of the power storage element 101 so that the long side surfaces of the rectangular power storage elements 101 face each other (arrangement step). Here, a resin plate-like buffer member 110 for insulation and buffering may be sandwiched between adjacent power storage elements 101.

  Next, the restraining member 140 is disposed at both ends of the storage element 101 in the arrangement direction with the flange 144 facing outward, and the entire storage element 101 is sandwiched. Next, the restraining member 140 is connected in a bridging manner by the bridging member 142, and the interval between the two restraining members 140 is slightly shortened to restrain the entire storage element 101 (restraining step). Thus, the power storage element assembly 104 is formed (see FIG. 2). Before and after the restraining step, the power storage elements 101 may be connected to each other by the bus bar 113, or an electrical device such as a relay, a shunt resistor, or a control board may be connected to the power storage element 101. By making these connections before being accommodated in the exterior body 102, the bus bar 113 and the like can be easily attached.

  Next, the resin member 107 is attached to the two restraining members 140 of the power storage element assembly 104 in a cross-linked manner (resin member attaching step). At this time, by arranging the resin member 107 so that the protrusion 171 provided on the resin member 107 engages (inserts) into the recessed portion 145 provided on the restraining member 140, the resin member with respect to the power storage element assembly 104 is disposed. The position 107 can be easily determined. Therefore, for example, the fixing hole provided in the upper flange 144 of the restraining member 140 and the through hole provided in the resin member 107 can be easily overlapped, and the resin member 107 can be easily attached to the power storage element assembly 104. It can be fastened with screws 172 or the like.

  Next, an opening end portion of a groove portion 143 provided in the restraining member 140 is provided at an upper end portion of a rail-like guide member 103 provided on the inner wall surface of the container-like exterior body 102 and extending in the vertical direction. (Positioning process). In the case of the present embodiment, the guide member 103 is provided on each of two opposing inner wall surfaces of the exterior body 102, and on the outside of the two restraining members 140 attached to both ends of the power storage element 101. The groove portions 143 provided in the protruding lower flange 144 and the upper end portion of the guide member 103 are matched in a fitted state. By doing so, the horizontal positional relationship between the exterior body 102 and the power storage element assembly 104 is stabilized, and the power storage element assembly 104 can be easily inserted into the exterior body 102. Furthermore, the guide member 103 has a tapered shape that expands downward from the upper end portion, and the shape of the upper end portion of the guide member 103 is set smaller than the shape of the opening end portion of the groove portion 143. For this reason, it is possible to easily align the upper end portion of the guide member 103 and the opening end portion of the groove portion 143.

  Next, the storage element assembly 104 is inserted and accommodated inside the exterior body 102 while sliding the groove 143 with respect to the guide member 103 in a state where the respective guide members 103 and the groove 143 are fitted. (Containment process). When the power storage element assembly 104 is completely inserted into the exterior body 102, the lower end portion of the guide member 103 and the groove portion 143 are fitted with no gap in the width direction (Y-axis direction in the drawing), and the power storage element assembly with respect to the exterior body 102 The backlash of 104 in the Y-axis direction can be suppressed. Further, the distance in the X-axis direction between the guide members 103 provided on the inner wall surfaces of the two opposing exterior bodies 102, and the distance in the X-axis direction between the groove portions 143 disposed at both ends of the power storage element assembly 104, By making them the same or substantially the same, rattling in the X-axis direction of the power storage element assembly 104 with respect to the exterior body 102 can be suppressed.

  Next, the fixing member 105 on the axis (the Z axis in the figure) extending upward from the position where the lower end portion of the guide member 103 and the groove portion 143 are fitted between the upper end portion of the restraining member 140 and the upper end portion of the guide member 103. Is fixedly connected (fixing step).

  Finally, the lid body 122 is attached to the exterior body 102, and the production of the assembled battery 100 is completed.

  By manufacturing the assembled battery 100 as described above, the resin member 107 can be easily attached to the electrical storage element assembly 104 at an accurate position. Moreover, the position of the electrical storage element assembly 104 with respect to the exterior body 102 in the horizontal direction is stabilized only by inserting the electrical storage element assembly 104 to which the resin member 107 is attached into the container-like exterior body 102 having an upper opening. Furthermore, by fixing the restraining member 140 and the guide member 103 with the fixing member 105, the power storage element assembly 104 and the exterior body 102 are fixed, and the position of the power storage element assembly 104 with respect to the exterior body 102 in the vertical direction is stable. To do. Thereby, a correct positional relationship can be ensured between the exterior body 102 and the resin member 107 via the power storage element assembly 104.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. For example, another embodiment realized by arbitrarily combining the components described in this specification and excluding some of the components may be used as an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the present invention includes modifications obtained by making various modifications conceivable by those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the present invention, that is, the meaning described in the claims. It is.

  For example, although the buffer member 110 has been described in the above embodiment, the buffer member 110 is a preferable aspect of the assembled battery 100 and is not an essential member.

  The present invention can be used, for example, as an assembled battery for power supply mounted on a transportation device for transporting a person or an object.

100 assembled battery 101 power storage element 102 exterior body 103 guide member 104 power storage element assembly 107 resin member 110 buffer member 111 housing 112 electrode terminal 113 bus bar 114 safety valve 122 lid body 140 restraining member 141 substrate 142 bridging member 143 groove 144 flange 145 recess 171 Projection 172 Screw

Claims (7)

A plurality of power storage elements;
A constraining member that sandwiches the plurality of electric storage elements and constrains them integrally, and has a first fitting portion;
A bridging member for connecting the constraining member in a bridging manner and constraining the plurality of power storage elements;
An insulating member that includes a second fitting portion that fits with the first fitting portion and covers a surface of the power storage element ;
The first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are disposed at positions adjacent to the fastening portions of the restraining member and the insulating member.
Assembled battery.   A plurality of power storage elements;
  A constraining member that sandwiches the plurality of electric storage elements and constrains them integrally, and has a first fitting portion;
  A bridging member for connecting the constraining member in a bridging manner and constraining the plurality of power storage elements;
  An insulating member that includes a second fitting portion that fits with the first fitting portion and covers a surface of the power storage element;
  The first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are arranged inside the fastening portions of the restraining member and the insulating member in the arrangement direction of the plurality of power storage elements.
Assembled battery.   A plurality of power storage elements;
  A constraining member that sandwiches the plurality of electric storage elements and constrains them integrally, and has a first fitting portion;
  A bridging member for connecting the constraining member in a bridging manner and constraining the plurality of power storage elements;
  An insulating member that includes a second fitting portion that fits with the first fitting portion and covers a surface of the power storage element;
  The restraining member is
  A substrate,
  A flange projecting in a state bent from the substrate to the opposite side of the electricity storage element,
  The first fitting portion is provided outside a corner portion formed by the substrate and the flange.
Assembled battery.   The second fitting portion includes a facing surface that faces the power storage element, and an inclined surface that is inclined from the facing surface.
The assembled battery according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The first fitting portion is a recess, the assembled battery according the second fitting part in any one of claims 1-4 is a protrusion which fits into the recess. further,
And the outer body for accommodating the storage element and a bottom wall and side walls,
Provided inwardly of the wall surface of the side wall, and a guide member which Ru extending in the bottom wall in a direction substantially orthogonal,
The restraining member is
The assembled battery of any one of Claims 1-5 provided with the groove part fitted with the said guide member. The assembled battery according to claim 6 , wherein the guide member has a tapered shape whose width gradually increases toward the bottom wall.

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