JP6223978B2 - Power supply device, electric vehicle including the same, and power storage device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a power supply device in which a plurality of batteries are connected, and an electric vehicle and a power storage device including the power supply device, and more particularly, the vehicle is mounted on an electric vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, an electric vehicle, and an electric motorcycle. The present invention relates to a power supply device for a motor, or a power supply device for supplying power to a large-current power supply used for household or factory power storage applications, an electric vehicle including the power supply device, and a power storage device.

  A power supply device including a plurality of battery cells is used for a power supply device for a vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle, or a power source for a power storage system for a factory or a home (for example, see Patent Document 1). An example of such a power supply device is shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. In the power supply device shown in this figure, an end plate 1503 is arranged on each end surface of a battery stack 1502 in which a large number of battery cells 1501 are stacked via insulating spacers 1515, and the end plates 1503 are bound to each other by a bind bar 1504. It is concluded. Each battery cell 1501 is provided with a gas discharge valve on the upper surface for opening the valve and discharging the internal gas when the internal pressure rises. Further, a gas duct 1506 for guiding the gas discharged in this way is arranged on the upper surface of the battery stack 1502. On the lower surface of the gas duct 1506, connection openings are opened at positions corresponding to the gas discharge valves of the respective battery cells 1501. A circuit board 1509 is fixed on the upper surface of the gas duct 1506.

  Further, FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of a battery cell constituting such a power supply device. The battery cell 1601 includes an outer can 1601a having a bottomed cylindrical shape with an upper surface opened, and a sealing plate 1610 that closes the opening surface of the outer can 1601a. In addition to the gas discharge valve 1611 described above, the sealing plate 1610 has an electrolyte solution injection port 1630 for charging the electrolyte therein. When the battery cell 1601 is assembled, the internal electrode is housed in the outer can 1601a, and the outer can 1601a is closed with the sealing plate 1610, and then the electrolytic solution is injected from the electrolytic solution injection port 1630. After injecting the electrolytic solution, the electrolytic solution injection port 1630 needs to be closed. Here, as shown in FIG. 16, a metal plug 1632 formed in a cylindrical plug shape is press-fitted into the electrolyte solution injection port 1630 from the outside of the sealing plate 1610.

  When the internal pressure of the battery cell 1601 is abnormally high, the gas discharge valve 1611 provided on the sealing plate 1610 is broken and opened by the internal pressure as shown in FIG. To do. The high-pressure gas guided to the gas duct 1606 is safely discharged to the outside according to the gas piping connected to the gas duct 1606.

  However, when the internal pressure in the outer can becomes abnormally high, there is a possibility that the plug of the electrolyte injection port is pushed out. Since this part is not supposed to be opened essentially, if the electrolyte injection port is opened, high-pressure gas is released from an unintended part or the electrolyte inside the outer can is scattered. This is not preferable in terms of reliability and safety.

  In addition, although the power supply device of patent document 1 is provided with the gas exhaust valve, the power supply device of a structure which does not provide a gas exhaust valve also exists. Even in the case of such a configuration, it is not preferable from the viewpoint of reliability, safety, and the like that a plug that is not supposed to be opened is opened by high-pressure gas or the like.

JP 2010-080135 A

  The present invention has been made to solve such conventional problems. A main object of the present invention is to provide a power supply device capable of avoiding a situation where gas is discharged from an unintended portion of a battery cell, an electric vehicle including the power supply device, and a power storage device.

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the power supply device of the present invention, a plurality of battery cells and a battery stack formed by stacking a plurality of battery cells are fastened and extended in the stacking direction of the battery cells. Fastening means. Each battery cell includes a rectangular outer can whose thickness is smaller than its width. The outer can has an electrolytic solution injection port for injecting an electrolytic solution therein, and a closing plug for closing the electrolytic solution injection port. The battery cells are stacked in such a manner that the electrolyte injection hole is positioned on the same surface side of the battery stack. The fastening means is disposed at a position overlapping with the electrolyte solution injection port or the blocking plug. With the above configuration, the fastening means for fastening the battery cell can also be used as a member for covering the electrolyte solution injection port from the upper surface, thereby suppressing the situation where the plug is unintentionally pushed out due to the high pressure inside the outer can, and is reliable. The advantage which can improve property is acquired.

  According to another power supply apparatus, the electrolyte solution injection port can be provided on the upper surface of the battery cell at a position eccentric from the center in the direction intersecting the stacking direction of the battery cells. In the battery cell, the central portion of the outer can is particularly expanded, and therefore, the load on the upper surface of the battery cell is most affected by expansion. Therefore, according to this configuration, even if the fastening by the fastening member is broken, the load due to the expansion of the outer can is applied to the electrolyte injection port by providing the electrolyte injection port at a position eccentric from the center. Can be suppressed.

  According to still another power supply device, the battery cell is provided with a pair of electrode terminals on a top surface thereof at a position different from the position where the gas discharge valve and the electrolyte injection port are provided. The electrode terminals can be provided on the upper surface of the battery cell at positions symmetrical to each other with respect to the center in the direction intersecting the stacking direction of the battery cells.

  Still further, according to another power supply apparatus, as the fastening means, a pair of parallel fastening means is in a position not in contact with the electrode terminals on the upper surface of the battery stack, and the stacking direction of the battery cells When the plurality of battery cells are stacked in a posture in which the eccentric directions of the electrolyte solution inlets are opposite to each other, the pair of battery cells Each of the fastening means can be configured to cover the electrolyte injection port in which the eccentric direction is dispersed. With the above-described configuration, the electrolyte solution injection port that is eccentrically opened on the upper surface of the battery cell by arranging the pair of fastening means at symmetrical positions is distributed to the left and right by inverting and stacking the battery cells. Even the position can be covered. As a result, even if the battery cells are inverted and stacked, all the electrolyte injection ports can be covered, so that stacking in a posture in which the battery cells are inverted is allowed, thereby connecting the electrode terminals of the battery cells. At this time, since the connection form between the battery cells can be inverted and stacked according to series or parallel, the electrode terminals can be connected with the shortest distance.

  Furthermore, according to another power supply apparatus, the fastening means can be disposed between the electrode terminals. With the configuration described above, the battery stack can be efficiently disposed on the battery stack in a limited space on the upper surface of the battery stack without restraining the fastening means from being unnecessarily projected.

  Furthermore, according to another power supply apparatus, the battery cell is provided on the upper surface of the outer can and at a position different from the position where the electrolyte injection hole is provided, and the pressure in the outer can is high. It is equipped with a gas discharge valve that opens when it becomes abnormal. In the battery stack, the battery cells are stacked such that the electrolyte injection port and the gas discharge valve are located on one surface of the battery stack. The power supply device further includes a gas duct that is provided on one surface of the battery stack and covers the gas discharge valve to form a flow path through which the gas discharged from the gas discharge valve flows. The fastening means fastens the battery stack and fixes the gas duct to one surface of the battery stack. With the above configuration, the gas duct fixing mechanism and the battery stack fastening mechanism can be shared to save space and simplify the structure. It is possible to more effectively suppress the unintentionally pushed out due to the high pressure, and to improve the reliability.

  Furthermore, according to another power supply apparatus, the gas duct has a shape extending in the stacking direction of the battery cells, and a cross section in the extending direction can be formed in a horizontally long rectangular shape. With the above configuration, it is possible to obtain a power supply device with excellent space efficiency with a reduced height.

  Still further, according to another power supply apparatus, the gas duct is configured such that a flow path is formed therein and a connection opening is provided at a position corresponding to the position where the gas discharge valve is provided. Can do. According to the said structure, since a sealing part can be made small, the airtightness of the connection opening of a gas duct and a gas exhaust valve can be improved comparatively easily.

  Furthermore, according to another power supply device, the gas duct can be made of resin. With the above configuration, the gas duct can be configured with light weight at low cost.

  Furthermore, according to another power supply device, the blocking plug can be configured with a blind rivet. With the above configuration, the electrolyte injection hole can be easily closed from the outside.

  Furthermore, according to the electric vehicle which concerns on this invention, said power supply device can be provided. The vehicle includes a traveling motor that is supplied with power from the power supply device, a vehicle main body on which the power supply device and the motor are mounted, and wheels that are driven by the motor and cause the vehicle main body to travel.

  Furthermore, according to the power storage device of the present invention, the power supply device described above can be provided. The power storage device includes a power supply controller that controls charging / discharging of the power supply device, and the power supply controller enables charging of the power supply device with electric power from the outside. It can be controlled to charge.

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the power supply device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a top view which shows the state which removed the gas duct from the power supply device of FIG. FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the power supply device of FIG. 1. It is a schematic cross section which shows a mode that an electrolyte solution injection port is obstruct | occluded with an obstruction | occlusion stopper. It is a perspective view of the power supply device which concerns on Example 1 of this invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of the power supply device shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view corresponding to a cross section taken along line VII-VII of the power supply device illustrated in FIG. 5. It is the perspective view which looked at the power supply device of FIG. 5 from diagonally downward. It is a disassembled perspective view of the power supply device shown in FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the electric laminated body of the power supply device shown in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows a battery cell. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the gas exhaust valve of the battery cell of FIG. 11A opened. It is a block diagram which shows the example which mounts a power supply device in the hybrid vehicle which drive | works with an engine and a motor. It is a block diagram which shows the example which mounts a power supply device in the electric vehicle which drive | works only with a motor. It is a block diagram which shows the example which uses a power supply device for an electrical storage apparatus. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the conventional power supply device. It is a perspective view which shows the battery cell which comprises the power supply device of FIG. It is a schematic cross section which shows the state which the gas exhaust valve of the battery cell of FIG. 16 act | operates.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below exemplifies a power supply device for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, an electric vehicle including the power supply device, and a power storage device, and the present invention is a power supply device and an electric motor including the power supply device. The vehicle and the power storage device are not specified as follows. In addition, the member shown by the claim is not what specifies the member of embodiment. In particular, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the constituent members described in the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to the description unless otherwise specified. It's just an example. Note that the size, positional relationship, and the like of the members shown in each drawing may be exaggerated for clarity of explanation. Furthermore, in the following description, the same name and symbol indicate the same or the same members, and detailed description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, each element constituting the present invention may be configured such that a plurality of elements are constituted by the same member and the plurality of elements are shared by one member, and conversely, the function of one member is constituted by a plurality of members. It can also be realized by sharing. In addition, the contents described in some examples and embodiments may be used in other examples and embodiments.
(Embodiment 1)

  1 is an exploded perspective view of the power supply device 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the power supply device 100 of FIG. 1 with the gas duct 6 removed, and FIG. A plan view is shown in FIG. A power supply device 100 shown in these drawings includes a battery stack 2 in which a plurality of battery cells 1 are stacked, and a gas duct 6. In the battery stack 2, a plurality of battery cells 1 are stacked via spacers 15, an end plate 3 is disposed on the end surface, and the end plates 3 are fastened by fastening means 5. The spacer 15 is composed of an insulating member in order to insulate the battery cells 1 from each other. Moreover, since the end plate 3 is fastened in a state where the battery stack 2 is stacked, the end plate 3 is made of a highly rigid member such as a metal. Furthermore, the fastening means 5 is similarly composed of a highly rigid metal plate or the like. Here, the metal plate is bent in a U shape in a sectional view, and the end portion is fixed to the end plate 3 by screwing or the like.

The fastening means 5 in FIG. 2 is extended in the stacking direction of the battery cells 1 and fastens the battery stack 2 in which a plurality of battery cells 1 are stacked. The fastening means 5 is disposed on the upper surface of the battery stack 2. The fastening means 5 has two fastening means 5 arranged on both sides of the gas duct 6. The fastening means 5 can also be used as means for fixing the gas duct 6 to the upper surface of the battery stack 2. For example, it is possible to fix the battery stack 2 to the left and right of the gas duct 6 by providing flanges on the left and right sides of the gas duct 6 and pressing the flanges with the fastening means 5 from above.
(Battery cell 1)

Each battery cell 1 has a rectangular outer can 1a. The outer can 1a is thin with a thickness smaller than its width. A gas exhaust port 12 is opened on the upper surface of the outer can 1 a, and the gas exhaust port 12 is further closed by a gas exhaust valve 11. The gas discharge valve 11 is configured to open in response to an increase in the internal pressure of the outer can 1a.
(Electrolytic solution injection port 30)

In addition, an electrolyte injection port 30 is opened on the upper surface of the outer can 1a. When the battery cell 1 is assembled, the electrolyte solution injection port 30 is closed by a closing plug 32 as shown in FIG. 4 after the electrolyte solution is injected into the outer can 1a. The electrolyte injection hole 30 is provided on the upper surface of the battery cell 1 at a position eccentric from the center in the direction intersecting the stacking direction of the battery cells 1. As a result, when the internal pressure of the outer can increases, the sealing plate of the outer can expands to remove the central portion where a large load is applied, and an electrolyte injection port can be provided. Mouth protection is achieved.
(Occlusion stopper 32)

The electrolyte injection hole 30 is closed with a closing plug 32. As the blocking plug 32, a blind rivet that can be fixed by being pulled out from one side after insertion as shown in FIG. 4 can be preferably used. With this method, the electrolyte injection hole 30 can be effectively closed from the outside of the outer can 1a.
(Electrode terminal 13)

A pair of electrode terminals 13 is provided on the upper surface of the battery cell 1 at a position different from the position where the gas discharge valve 11 and the electrolyte solution injection port 30 are provided. The electrode terminals 13 are positive and negative electrodes and are provided apart from each other. Preferably, positive and negative electrode terminals 13 are provided at positions symmetrical to each other with respect to the center in the direction intersecting with the stacking direction of the battery cells 1. The electrode terminal 13 is connected to another electrode terminal 13 by a bus bar 14 in a state where the battery cells 1 are stacked. The bus bar 14 is made of a metal plate having excellent conductivity. When the electrode terminal 13 has a rod shape, an opening compatible with the rod-shaped electrode terminal 13 is formed in the bus bar 14 to facilitate welding and screwing.
(Gas duct 6)

  The gas duct 6 is disposed at the center of the upper surface of the battery stack 2 in the direction intersecting with the stacking direction of the battery cells 1. The gas duct 6 has a hollow prismatic shape extending in the stacking direction of the battery cells 1, and has a gas exhaust port 12 at the end. On the bottom surface side of the gas duct 6, a connection opening 6 b is opened at a position corresponding to the gas discharge valve 11 of each battery cell 1. Each of the connection openings 6 b communicates with the gas discharge port 12 in a state where the gas discharge valve 11 is opened, and is configured so that high-pressure gas discharged from the battery cell 1 is guided into the gas duct 6. Further, the inside of the gas duct 6 is closed at one end, and the duct discharge portion 6x is opened at the other end. The duct discharge part 6x is connected with the gas discharge path 36, and discharges | emits gas safely outside. The internal shape of the gas duct 6 can be an arbitrary shape such as a tube, an inverted U-shape, a U-shape, etc. in addition to forming a cross section in the extending direction in a horizontally long rectangular shape.

The gas duct 6 can be made of a light and inexpensive resin. The resin constituting the gas duct 6 is preferably a material that can exhibit a certain degree of heat resistance and rigidity. A metal gas duct can also be used.
(Fastening means 5)

  As shown in the plan view of FIG. 2, the fastening means 5 is disposed on the upper surface of the outer can 1 a so as to overlap with the electrolyte injection hole 30 and not to block the gas discharge valve 11. Yes. By doing in this way, the fastening means 5 can be used not only for fastening the battery cell 1 but also as a member for holding the closing plug 32 so as not to fall out of the electrolyte solution inlet 30. For example, even if the internal pressure of any one of the battery cells 1 increases, the upper surface of the closing plug 32 is covered with the fastening means 5, so that the gas discharge port 12 is opened as shown in FIG. Even if the closure plug 32 is about to be pushed out from the electrolyte injection port 30, the fastening means 5 can prevent this, and the closure plug 32 is unintentionally pushed out of the electrolyte solution injection port 30 and the outer can 1a. It is possible to avoid the situation where the internal electrolyte is scattered. As described above, it is possible to maintain the closed state of the electrolyte solution injection port 30 without providing another member, and the reliability of the power supply device can be improved.

  Furthermore, it is preferable to provide a plurality of fastening means 5. In the example of FIG. 2, a pair of parallel fastening means 5 is used. The pair of fastening means 5 are provided on the upper surface of the battery stack 2 at positions that are not in contact with the electrode terminals 13 and symmetrical with respect to the center in the direction intersecting the stacking direction of the battery cells 1. Yes.

  As described above, the electrolyte solution injection port 30 provided in the battery cell 1 is provided eccentrically rather than in the center in the width direction. On the other hand, when a plurality of battery cells 1 are stacked, a combination in which the positions of the positive electrode and the negative electrode, which are the electrode terminals 13 of each battery cell 1, are adjacent to each other depending on the connection form such as series connection or parallel connection. May be reversed to adjust. As a result, on the upper surface of the battery stack 2, the positions of the electrolyte solution injection ports 30 are not necessarily arranged in a line, but are dispersed in two places according to the inverted posture. Therefore, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 2, each of the pair of fastening means 5 is arranged so that the portion of the electrolyte solution injection port 30 is covered with the fastening means 5 regardless of the orientation of the battery cell 1. However, it arrange | positions so that the electrolyte solution injection port 30 may each be coat | covered. Accordingly, all the electrolyte solution injection ports 30 can be covered with the fastening means 5 regardless of the inverted posture of the battery cell 1. As a result, since inversion of the battery cell 1 is permitted, the electrode terminals 13 can be connected to each other by the bus bar 14 at the shortest distance.

  In addition, in the example of FIGS. 1-2, although the two fastening means 5 are provided individually, these can also be comprised integrally. For example, it can be connected to each other at the ends of two fastening means to form one fastening means having an open center. In this case, for example, the flange provided around the gas duct can be pressed by the opening edge of the fastening means to fix the gas duct to the battery stack.

Further, the fastening means 5 is disposed between the electrode terminals 13 of the battery cell 1. By doing in this way, in the limited space of the battery laminated body 2 upper surface, it can arrange | position on the battery laminated body 2 efficiently with the attitude | position which restrained height, without making the fastening means 5 protrude unnecessarily.
Example 1

  Hereinafter, the example applied to the vehicle-mounted power supply device as a power supply device which concerns on Example 1 of this invention is demonstrated based on FIGS. 5-11B. In these drawings, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the power supply apparatus 1000, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of the power supply apparatus 1000 in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of the power supply apparatus 1000 in FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the power supply device 1000 of FIG. 5 as viewed obliquely from below, FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the power supply device 1000 of FIG. 11A is a perspective view of the battery cell 1, and FIG. 11B is a perspective view showing a state where the gas discharge valve 11 of the battery cell 1 of FIG. 11A is opened. The power supply apparatus 1000 shown in these drawings is suitable mainly for the power source of an electric vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle that travels by both an engine and a motor and an electric vehicle that travels by only a motor. However, the power supply device of the present invention can be used for vehicles other than hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles, or can be used for applications requiring high output other than electric vehicles.

A power supply device 1000 shown in FIGS. 5 to 11B includes a plurality of battery cells 1 in which a gas discharge port 12 having a gas discharge valve 11 is provided in a sealing plate 10 and a battery stack formed by stacking these battery cells 1. 2 and a gas duct 6 fixed on one surface of the battery stack 2 so as to be connected to the gas discharge port 12 of each battery cell 1. Further, the power supply apparatus 1000 includes an end plate 3 disposed on both end faces of the battery stack 2 and side fastening means that are fixed to the end plate 3 and fasten the battery stack 2 in the stacking direction via the end plate 3. 4 is provided. The side fastening means 4 is further fixed to the end plate 3 so as to be arranged on one surface of the battery stack 2 and to which the gas duct 6 is fixed. Upper surface fastening means 5 ′ for fastening the laminate 2 in the laminating direction is provided. In the power supply device 1000 of FIG. 9, the gas duct 6 is disposed at a fixed position of the battery stack 2 via the upper surface fastening means 5 ′.
(Battery stack 2)

The power supply apparatus 1000 shown in FIGS. 5 to 11B is a battery stack 2 in which a plurality of battery cells 1 having a rectangular outer shape are stacked. Each battery cell 1 has a rectangular outer can 1a, and is provided with a gas discharge valve 11 for discharging gas generated inside the outer can 1a. The battery cell 1 is provided with a gas discharge port 12 for discharging gas from the gas discharge valve 11 on the surface of the outer can 1a. In the battery stack 2 shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of battery cells 1 are stacked in a posture in which the sealing plate 10 is disposed on substantially the same surface, and a plurality of gas discharge ports 12 are disposed on the first surface 2A. . Moreover, the battery laminated body 2 has laminated | stacked the several battery cell 1 with the attitude | position which makes the sealing board 10 in which the gas exhaust valve 11 is provided the upper surface.
(Battery cell 1)

As shown in the perspective views of FIGS. 10 and 11A, the battery cell 1 is a square battery having a width wider than the thickness, in other words, a thickness smaller than the width. A plurality of the battery cells 1 are stacked in the thickness direction to form a battery stack 2. Each battery cell 1 is a lithium ion secondary battery. However, the battery cell may be a secondary battery such as a nickel metal hydride battery or a nickel cadmium battery. The battery cell 1 shown in FIG. 10 is a battery having a rectangular shape with both wide surfaces, and the battery stack 2 is formed by stacking both surfaces so as to face each other. Each battery cell 1 is provided with positive and negative electrode terminals 13 projecting from both ends of a sealing plate 10 on the upper surface, and a gas exhaust port 12 of a gas exhaust valve 11 is provided at the center. The rectangular battery cell 1 has a sealing plate 10 that closes an opening of an outer can 1a in which a metal plate is pressed into a cylindrical shape that closes the bottom. The sealing plate 10 is a flat metal plate, and its outer shape is the shape of the opening of the outer can 1a. The sealing plate 10 is laser-welded and fixed to the outer peripheral edge of the outer can 1a to airtightly close the opening of the outer can 1a. The sealing plate 10 fixed to the outer can 1a has positive and negative electrode terminals 13 fixed to both ends thereof, and a gas discharge port 12 is provided between the positive and negative electrode terminals 13. A gas discharge valve 11 is provided inside the gas discharge port 12.
(Gas discharge valve 11)

  The gas discharge valve 11 normally closes the gas discharge port 12 as shown in the sectional view of FIG. On the other hand, when the internal pressure of the battery cell 1 becomes higher than the set pressure, the gas discharge valve 11 is opened. That is, when the internal pressure of the outer can 1a reaches a predetermined pressure, the gas discharge valve 11 is broken and the gas discharge port 12 is opened as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B. When the gas discharge valve 11 is opened, the inside of the battery cell 1 is opened to the outside through the gas discharge port 12, and the internal gas is discharged to prevent the internal pressure from increasing.

  In the example of FIG. 11A, the gas discharge valve 11 is formed by forming a broken portion 12 </ b> A in a track shape at the center in the longitudinal direction of the sealing plate 10. The gas discharge valve 11 opens the track-shaped gas discharge port 12 by breaking the breaking portion 12A at a set pressure. The track-shaped gas discharge port 12 is formed in a posture in which the longitudinal direction thereof coincides with the longitudinal direction of the sealing plate 10.

  Further, a second fracture portion 12B is provided at the center of the gas discharge port 12 in the longitudinal direction. And the 2nd fracture | rupture part 12B is made easier to fracture | rupture than the track-shaped fracture | rupture part 12A. Specifically, the thickness of the second breaking portion 12B is set to be smaller than that of the track-like breaking portion 12A while forming the track-like breaking portion 12A and the second breaking portion 12B by reducing the thickness of the sealing plate 10. Configure to be thin. As a result, the second fracture portion 12B, which has been weakened by being thin, is fractured before the track-like fracture portion 12A. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11B, the gas discharge valve 11 broken at the second breaking portion 12B is opened in a double-spread shape so as to tear from the central portion. This configuration provides the advantage that the gas discharge valve 11 can be opened without fail.

  The broken gas discharge valve 11 is preferably left unseparated from the sealing plate 10. For this reason, it is preferable that the end portion of the track-shaped fracture portion 12A is thicker than the other portions. Thereby, the connection between the gas discharge valve 11 and the gas discharge port 12 is not easily broken at the edge portion of the gas discharge valve 11, and the metal piece constituting the gas discharge valve 11 may enter the gas duct 6. Can be reduced. That is, the thin portion constituting the fracture portion is thin at the central second fracture portion 12B, thick at the surrounding track-like fracture portion 12A, and particularly thick at the base of the gas discharge valve 11. This makes it easy to open the valve by breaking at the center of the gas discharge port 12 at high pressure, and can reduce the possibility that the gas discharge valve 11 is torn off from the outer can 1a while leaving the root portion.

  In the example of FIG. 11A, the gas discharge valve 11 is formed integrally with the sealing plate 10, but the gas discharge valve is a separate member and is fixed to the gas discharge port previously opened in the sealing plate by welding or bonding. It goes without saying that it is also possible to do this.

  The plurality of battery cells 1 to be stacked are connected in series and / or in parallel with each other by connecting positive and negative electrode terminals 13. The power supply device connects positive and negative electrode terminals 13 of adjacent battery cells 1 to each other in series and / or in parallel via a bus bar 14. A power supply device that connects adjacent battery cells in series can increase the output voltage by increasing the output voltage, and can connect adjacent battery cells in parallel to increase the charge / discharge current.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 11A, the battery cell 1 has an electrolyte solution injection port 30 between the gas discharge port 12 and one electrode terminal 13 on the upper surface of the outer can 1a. In the assembly process of the battery cell 1, the internal electrodes and the like are housed in the outer can 1 a from the opening, the opening of the outer can 1 a is closed with the sealing plate 10, and then the electrolytic solution is supplied from the electrolyte injection port 30. Pour into 1a. Thereafter, the electrolytic solution injection port 30 is closed with the closing plug 32 to prevent the electrolytic solution from leaking from the outer can 1a. It is desirable from the workability at the time of assembly that the closing plug 32 is columnar and can be press-fitted from the outside of the outer can 1a to close the electrolyte injection hole 30. For example, a blind rivet can be suitably used. Furthermore, the electrolyte solution injection port 30 is designed so that the electrolyte solution injection port 30 is covered by the upper surface fastening means 5 ′ when the battery stack 2 is fastened by the upper surface fastening means 5 ′.

In the battery stack 2 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, twelve battery cells 1 are stacked on each other via a spacer 15, and these battery cells 1 are connected in series. In the illustrated battery stack 2, adjacent battery cells 1 are arranged in opposite directions, and electrode terminals 13 adjacent on both sides thereof are connected by a bus bar 14 to connect two adjacent battery cells 1 in series. All battery cells 1 are connected in series. However, the present invention does not specify the number of battery cells constituting the battery stack and the connection state thereof.
(Spacer 15)

  As shown in FIG. 10, the battery stack 2 has spacers 15 sandwiched between stacked battery cells 1. The spacer 15 insulates adjacent battery cells 1. The spacer 15 shown in the figure is an insulating sheet. As this insulating sheet, for example, a plastic sheet can be used. Since the spacer 15 made of a plastic insulating sheet can be reduced in thickness, there is a feature that the entire length of the battery stack 2 can be shortened to make the whole compact. However, as the spacer, a plastic molded into a plate shape can be used. The spacers can be stacked so that adjacent battery cells are not displaced as a shape in which the battery cells are fitted and arranged at a fixed position. In addition, the spacer molded from plastic can cool the battery cell by providing a cooling gap on the surface for allowing a cooling gas such as air to pass through. This structure can efficiently cool the battery cell outer can 1a directly by forcing air into the cooling gap. Furthermore, the spacer formed of a plastic having a low thermal conductivity has an effect of effectively preventing thermal runaway of adjacent battery cells.

As described above, in the battery cell 1 that is insulated and stacked by the spacer 15, the outer can 1a can be made of a metal such as aluminum. However, the battery stack does not necessarily need to interpose a spacer between the battery cells. For example, spacers can be formed by insulating battery cells that are adjacent to each other by forming the battery cell outer can with an insulating material, or by coating the outer periphery of the battery cell outer can with an insulating cover or insulating paint. It is because it can be made unnecessary. Furthermore, the battery stack without interposing a spacer between battery cells is a method of directly cooling using a refrigerant or the like without adopting an air cooling method in which cooling air is forced between the battery cells to cool the battery cells. Can be used to cool the battery cell.
(End plate 3)

  A pair of end plates 3 are arranged on both end faces of the battery stack 2, and the battery stack 2 is fastened by being sandwiched from both ends by the pair of end plates 3. The end plate 3 is a quadrangle having the same shape and dimensions as the outer shape of the battery cell 1 and sandwiches the stacked battery stack 2 from both end faces. The end plate 3 in FIG. 9 is entirely made of metal. The metal end plate is strong as a whole, and can stably hold the battery stack from both ends. However, the end plate can be entirely made of plastic, or can be reinforced by fixing a reinforcing bracket to a plastic main body.

  The end plate 3 shown in the figure is provided with fitting recesses 3A and 3B for the side fastening means 4 and the top fastening means 5 'on the outer surface so that the side fastening means 4 and the top fastening means 5' can be fixed in place. Yes. The end plate 3 shown in the figure has a connecting recess for fitting connecting portions 4B provided at both ends of the side fastening means 4 to the corners of the four corners of the outside surface in order to fix the side fastening means 4 in place. 3A is provided. In the end plate 3 shown in the figure, the shape of the fitting recess 3A is such that the connecting portion 4B of the side fastening means 4 can be fitted. Further, the end plate 3 is fitted to fit the connecting portions 5B provided at both ends of the upper surface fastening means 5 'to the upper end portions of the outer surface in order to place and fix the upper surface fastening means 5' in a fixed position. A recess 3B is also provided. In the end plate 3 shown in the figure, the shape of the fitting recess 3B is such that the connecting portion 5B of the upper surface fastening means 5 'can be fitted.

Further, the end plate 3 shown in the drawing is provided with female screw holes 3a and 3b on the outer peripheral surface for screwing set screws 18 and 19 for fixing both ends of the side fastening means 4 and the top fastening means 5 '. The end plate 3 shown in the figure has a female screw hole 3a through which a set screw 18 for fixing a pair of side surface fastening means 4 arranged at the upper end portions of both side surfaces 2B of the battery stack 2 is formed on the upper surface of the end plate 3. It is provided at the left and right ends. Further, the end plate 3 has female screw holes 3b through which set screws 18 for fixing the pair of side surface fastening means 4 arranged at the lower end portions of the both side surfaces 2B of the battery stack 2 are formed on both side surfaces of the end plate 3. It is provided at the lower end. Further, the end plate 3 has a female screw hole 3b through which a set screw 19 for fixing the upper surface fastening means 5 ′ disposed on the first surface 2A of the battery stack 2 is inserted in the center of the upper surface of the end plate 3. Provided. The above structure is a direction in which the axial direction of the set screws 18 and 19 screwed into the end plate 3 intersects the stacking direction of the battery stack 2. For this reason, in a state where the power supply device vibrates by receiving a force from the outside, the shearing force acting on the shaft portions of the set screws 18 and 19 screwed into the end plate 3 is reduced, and the set screws 18 and 19 are protected. A stronger connection strength can be realized. Further, there is also a feature that the set screws 18 and 19 can be more firmly connected by making the entire length of the set screws 18 and 19 larger than the thickness of the end plate 3, that is, by increasing the total length of the set screws 18 and 19.
(Side fastening means 4)

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the side fastening means 4 extends in the stacking direction of the battery stack 2, and both ends are fixed to the end plate 3 to fasten the battery stack 2 in the stacking direction. The side fastening means 4 shown in the figure is disposed to face both side surfaces 2B different from the first surface 2A of the battery stack 2. Thus, the structure which arrange | positions and fastens the side surface fastening means 4 on the both sides 2B of the battery laminated body 2 can fasten the some battery cell 1 more reliably in a lamination direction. However, the fastening means is not necessarily arranged on both side surfaces of the battery stack. The fastening means can be disposed on the top surface and the bottom surface in addition to the both side surfaces of the battery stack, or can be disposed only on the top surface and the bottom surface without being disposed on both side surfaces.

  The side fastening means 4 is a metal plate having a predetermined width and a predetermined thickness along the surface of the battery stack 2. The side fastening means 4 may be a metal plate such as iron, preferably a steel plate. The side fastening means 4 made of a metal plate is provided with connecting portions 4B that are connected to the end plate 3 at both ends of the binding portion 4A. The side fastening means 4 in the figure is bent at both ends at substantially right angles along the outer side surface of the end plate 3 to provide connecting portions 4B. In this side fastening means 4, the connecting portions 4 B at both ends are connected to the end plate 3, whereby the connecting portions 4 B of the side fastening means 4 are locked to the pair of end plates 3 disposed at both ends of the battery stack 2. The battery stack 2 is sandwiched from both ends so that the pair of end plates 3 are at a predetermined interval. The side fastening means 4 of FIG. 9 connects the connecting portion 4B to the fitting recesses 3A provided at the four corners of the end plate 3 and connects the pair of end plates 3 with the four side fastening means 4. Therefore, the connecting portion 4 </ b> B of the side fastening means 4 is bent so as to follow the fitting recess 3 </ b> A of the end plate 3. Further, the side fastening means 4 is fixed to the end plate 3 with set screws 18 at both ends. The side fastening means 4 in the figure is provided with open through holes into which set screws 18 are inserted at both ends of the binding portion 4A. The side fastening means 4 inserts a set screw 18 into the through hole in a state where the connecting portions 4B at both ends are connected to the fitting recess 3A of the end plate 3, and the set screw 18 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the end plate 3. It is screwed into the female screw hole 3 a and fixed to the pair of end plates 3.

  According to this configuration, as described above, the axial direction of the set screws 18 and 19 to be screwed into the end plate 3 and the stacking direction of the battery stack 2 intersect each other, and the set screws 18 and 19 are protected while being stronger. In addition to this, the connection portion 4B of the side fastening means 4 is locked to the end plate 3 so that the connection is strong even in the stacking direction of the battery stack 2. Strength can be realized. Further, in this configuration, since the set screws 18 and 19 are not positioned in the stacking direction of the battery stack 2, it is possible to suppress an increase in size of the power supply device. Specifically, since the dimension of the end plate 3 is approximately the same as the size of the outer can 1a of the battery cell 1, there is a margin in the vertical direction of the end plate 3 by the dimension of the electrode terminal 13 of the battery cell 1. Yes, the above configuration can suppress the increase in size of the power supply device.

Further, the side fastening means 4 shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 are arranged at the corners of the four corners of the battery stack 2 such that the cross-sectional shape of the binding part 4A is L-shaped. 4 A of bind parts of this shape can arrange | position an inner surface in the state which follows the corner part of the battery laminated body 2, and can suppress the vibration of the battery cell 1 laminated | stacked mutually up and down and right and left. That is, the vertical portion along the side surface 2B of the battery stack 2 can prevent left-right vibration of the battery cell 1, and the horizontal portion along the top and bottom surfaces of the battery stack 2 can prevent vertical vibration of the battery cell 1. Because. Furthermore, there is also a feature that the bending strength of the binding portion 4A can be increased by making the cross-sectional shape L-shaped. However, the fastening means does not necessarily need to have an L-shaped cross-sectional shape for all of the binding portions, and only the upper fastening means has an L-shaped cross-sectional shape and is arranged at the upper corner of the battery stack. In addition, only the lower fastening means can be arranged in the lower corner portion of the battery stack with the L-shaped cross section. Further, the fastening means is not necessarily arranged along the corner portion of the battery stack, and can be arranged along both side surfaces of the battery stack or along both side surfaces and the bottom surface. Furthermore, a fastening means can also be made into the plate shape in alignment with the side surface of a battery laminated body. The plate-shaped main fixture can also open the opening.
(Gas duct 6)

  The gas duct 6 is a first surface which is the upper surface of the battery stack 2 in a posture facing the gas discharge port 12 of each battery cell 1 so as to guide the gas discharged from the gas discharge valve 11 to the outside of the power supply device. It is arranged on the surface 2A. The gas duct 6 is designed to have sufficient strength so as not to be destroyed when high-pressure and high-temperature gas is discharged, and preferably made of a plastic excellent in heat resistance and chemical resistance, for example, made of polybutylene terephthalate. . However, the gas duct can be made of plastic such as nylon resin or epoxy resin. In addition, the structure which shape | molds a gas duct with resin has the advantage that it is excellent in workability and there are few restrictions on a design.

The gas duct 6 shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 is formed in a hollow shape, and is a surface facing the battery stack 2 and at a position facing the gas discharge port 12 of each battery cell 1. The connection opening 6b connected to is provided. The gas duct 6 shown in the figure is provided with a columnar gas passage 46 inside, and gas discharged from the gas discharge port 12 of the battery cell 1 flows into the gas passage 46 through the connection opening 6b. Yes.
(Duct discharge part 6x)

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the gas duct 6 is provided with a duct discharge portion 6x that discharges the gas inside the gas duct 6 to the outside at one end. The gas duct 6 shown in the drawing is formed as a duct discharge portion 6x by connecting a hollow pipe projecting from the upper surface to a cylindrical pipe communicating with an internal gas path 46. In the gas duct 6 shown in FIG. 7, an external gas discharge path 36 is connected to the duct discharge portion 6x to discharge the gas flowing in from the gas duct 6 to the outside.

  The duct discharge portion 6x is formed so that its inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the metal piece that is the gas discharge valve 11. As a result, even when a fragment of the gas discharge valve 11 broken by the high-pressure gas enters the gas duct 6, it is possible to avoid a situation where the gas discharge valve 11 is sent to the gas discharge path. For this reason, even when the gas discharge path is configured by, for example, a rubber tube, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the gas discharge path is broken by the fragments of the gas discharge valve 11.

  Further, the gas duct 6 is provided with a metal layer 17 on the inner surface in order to improve resistance to the high-temperature gas discharged from the gas discharge port 12. The gas duct 6 is provided with a metal layer 17 on the inner surface thereof, that is, on the surface facing the gas discharge port 12, that is, on the inner surface facing the surface provided with the connection opening 6b. The gas duct 6 shown in FIGS. 6 to 7 is provided with a prismatic gas path 46 therein, and is formed on the top surface 6t of the gas path 46 only on the inner surface facing the bottom surface where the connection opening 6b is provided. The layer 17 is provided, and the other surface exposes the inner surface of the gas duct 6 without providing the metal layer 17. This structure can reliably protect the top surface 6t of the gas duct 6 by causing the high-temperature gas discharged from the gas discharge port 12 to directly collide with the metal layer 17. Since the high-temperature gas injected from the gas discharge port 12 is normally injected in a direction perpendicular to the sealing plate 10 of the battery cell 1, the top surface 6t side to which the high-temperature gas is directly injected has the most thermal influence. It becomes easy to receive. Therefore, by providing the metal layer 17 only at this portion, the metal layer 17 can be provided only at the minimum necessary portion, and its resistance can be maintained. However, the gas duct can also be provided with a metal layer on a surface other than the inner surface facing the connection opening, for example, the inner surface of the side wall.

  The gas duct 6 shown in FIGS. 6 to 7 is provided with a metal layer 17 by fixing a metal sheet 17 </ b> A to the inner surface of the gas duct 6. However, the metal layer can be provided by fixing a thin metal plate to the inner surface of the gas duct instead of the metal sheet. The metal layer 17A or the metal layer 17 made of a thin metal plate is provided with an adhesive layer on one side and is attached to the inner surface of the gas duct 6 through the adhesive layer, or the gas duct is provided through an adhesive or a double-sided tape. 6 can be affixed to the inner surface.

  The gas duct 6 shown in FIG. 9 is manufactured by being divided into a first duct 6A and a second duct 6B. The first duct 6A and the second duct 6B are divided in a direction perpendicular to the sealing plate 10 of the battery cell 1, and the second duct 6B is interposed between the first duct 6A and the battery stack 2. It is arranged. The gas duct 6 connects the first duct 6A and the second duct 6B to each other to form a columnar gas path 46 therein. The first duct 6A shown in FIG. 6 is formed in a shape having a groove-shaped recess 6d on the inner side, and the opening of the groove-shaped recess 6d is disposed so as to face the gas discharge port 12 of the battery cell 1. doing. The first duct 6 </ b> A is provided with the metal layer 17 on the inner surface of the groove-shaped recess 6 d and on the top surface 6 t of the gas path 46. Further, the first duct 6A shown in FIG. 6 is to be protruded outward along the opening edge of the groove-shaped recess 6d in order to be fixed to the battery stack 2 via the upper surface fastening means 5 ′ described later. The part 6a is integrally formed.

  The 2nd duct 6B is plate shape arrange | positioned along the 1st surface 2A of the battery laminated body 2, and the level | step difference recessed part 6c which fits the collar part 6a of the 1st duct 6A is provided in the surface. The second duct 6B is a hollow gas duct 6 in which the flange 6a of the first duct 6A is fitted into the stepped recess 6c to connect the first duct 6A and the second duct 6B. Yes. The gas duct 6 can be hermetically fixed by vibration welding the first duct 6A and the second duct 6B, ultrasonic welding, or bonding them. However, the first duct and the second duct do not necessarily need to be fixed by welding or bonding, and a packing (not shown) is arranged at the boundary between the stepped recess and the flange, and the packing is sandwiched. The first duct and the second duct can be connected in an airtight manner by being connected in a state.

  Further, the second duct 6 </ b> B is provided with a connection opening 6 b connected to the gas discharge port 12 of each battery cell 1, and the connection opening 6 b is connected to the gas discharge port 12. The second duct 6 </ b> B in FIG. 6 is provided with a rectangular connection opening 6 b at a position facing the gas discharge port 12 of the battery cell 1. However, the connection opening may be an oval shape or an elliptical shape along the gas discharge port of the battery cell.

As described above, in the structure in which the gas duct 6 is divided into the first duct 6A and the second duct 6B, the first duct 6A and the second duct 6B can be made of different plastic materials. The gas duct 6 can be formed by molding the first duct 6A with a plastic excellent in heat resistance and the second duct 6B with a plastic excellent in insulation. The first duct 6A is made of plastic such as polybutylene terephthalate, nylon resin or epoxy resin in which glass fiber or carbon fiber is embedded and reinforced, and the second duct 6B is made of nylon resin or epoxy. It can be made of insulating plastic such as resin. Even if the 2nd duct formed by an insulating plastic contacts the surface of a battery cell, it does not short-circuit the outer can of a battery cell.
(Bus bar holder)

  Further, in the power supply device shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 9, the bus bar holder 8 is disposed on the first surface 2 </ b> A of the battery stack 2, and the sealing of the battery cells 1 stacked on each other by the bus bar holder 8. The plate 10 is covered. The bus bar holder 8 is formed in an outer shape along the upper surface of the battery stack 2. Here, in the power supply apparatus shown in the figure, the bus bar holder 8 is also used as the second duct 6B of the gas duct 6. That is, the bus bar holder 8 shown in the figure is provided with a plurality of connection openings 6b by using a portion facing the plurality of gas discharge ports 12 arranged at the center of the battery stack 2 as the second duct 6B. . Therefore, the bus bar holder 8 is formed of an insulating plastic such as nylon resin or epoxy resin.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the bus bar holder 8 is provided with an opening window 24 for arranging the bus bar 14 at a position facing the electrode terminal 13 of the battery cell 1. The bus bar holder 8 in the figure is provided with a plurality of opening windows 24 along both sides of the battery stack 2 on both sides of the central portion constituting the second duct 6B. The opening window 24 is sized and shaped along the outer shape of the bus bar 14 so that it can be connected to the electrode terminal 13 while guiding the bus bar 14 to a fixed position. The bus bar 14 disposed in the opening window 24 of the bus bar holder 8 is fixed to the electrode terminal 13 of the battery cell 1 by welding such as laser welding, and connects the plurality of battery cells 1 to a predetermined connection state. However, the power supply device does not necessarily need to arrange the bus bar holder on the first surface of the battery stack. The bus bar holder 8 described above is fixed to the first surface of the battery stack 2 via the upper surface fastening means 5 ′ that connects the gas duct 6 to the battery stack 2.

As described above, the structure in which the bus bar holder 8 arranged on the first surface 2A of the battery stack 2 is also used as the gas duct 6 allows the gas duct 6 to be arranged easily and at low cost by reducing the number of parts. Further, the structure in which the bus bar holder 8 is also used as the second gas duct 6B is configured to connect the first gas duct 6A with the battery stack 2 fastened in advance through the side fastening means 4 in the assembly process of the power supply device. Therefore, the first gas duct 6A can be more reliably connected to the second gas duct 6B in an airtight state. However, the power supply device of the present invention can be disposed on the first surface of the battery stack without using the bus bar holder as a gas duct, with the gas duct as a separate member.
(Upper surface fastening means 5 ')

  The above gas duct 6 is disposed opposite to the gas discharge port 12 of the battery stack 2 and is fixed in place via the upper surface fastening means 5 ′ disposed on the first surface 2A of the battery stack 2. The As shown in FIG. 9, the upper surface fastening means 5 ′ is disposed to face the first surface 2 </ b> A of the battery stack 2, and the gas duct 6 is disposed at a fixed position of the battery stack 2. Both ends of the upper surface fastening means 5 ′ are also fixed to the end plate 3 to fasten the battery stack 2 with the first surface 2 </ b> A. The upper surface fastening means 5 'is a metal plate having a predetermined width and thickness, and a metal plate such as iron, preferably a steel plate can be used. The upper surface fastening means 5 ′ made of a metal plate is provided with connecting portions 5 </ b> B that are connected to the outer surface of the end plate 3 at both ends of the binding portion 5 </ b> A.

  The upper surface fastening means 5 'shown in the figure includes two rows of binding portions 5A and a connecting portion 5B formed by connecting both ends of these binding portions 5A. Two rows of binding portions 5 </ b> A are arranged along both sides of the gas duct 6. The two rows of binding portions 5A are arranged at predetermined intervals so that the flange portions 6a provided on both sides of the gas duct 6 can be pressed. The upper surface fastening means 5 'is fixed to the end plate 3 in a state where the gas duct 6 is disposed between the two rows of binding portions 5A, and presses the flange portion 6a with the two rows of binding portions 5A. The two rows of binding portions 5A are connected at both ends by connecting portions 5B, and the connecting portions 5B are bent at substantially right angles and connected to the end plate 2. The upper surface fastening means 5 ′ connects the battery stack 2 from both ends by connecting the connecting portions 5B at both ends to the fitting recesses 3B provided on the end plate 3, with the pair of end plates 3 being set at a predetermined interval. . Further, both ends of the upper surface fastening means 5 ′ are fixed to the end plate 3 with set screws 19. The upper surface fastening means 5 'shown in the figure is provided with opening through holes into which set screws 19 are inserted at both ends of the binding portion 5A. The upper surface fastening means 5 ′ is configured such that a set screw 19 is inserted into the through hole in a state where the connecting portions 5 B at both ends are connected to the fitting recess 3 B of the end plate 3, and the set screw 19 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the end plate 3. Screwed into the female screw holes 3b and fixed to the pair of end plates 3.

  Although the upper surface fastening means 5 'shown in the figure is integrally formed with two rows of binding portions 5A and connecting portions 5B at both ends, the upper surface fastening means 5' can also be divided into two. Although not shown in the drawing, the upper surface fastening means 5 ′ divided into two parts are arranged along both sides of the gas duct, and press the claws along the flanges protruding from both sides of the gas duct at the respective binding parts. Can do.

  Further, although not shown, the upper surface fastening means 5 ′ can connect two rows of binding portions with a bridge portion provided in the middle, and this bridge portion can be disposed on the upper surface of the gas duct. The upper surface fastening means 5 ′ can place the gas duct at a fixed position on the first surface of the battery stack by pressing the upper surface of the gas duct at the bridge portion. Furthermore, although not shown, the upper surface fastening means 5 ′ includes a row of binding portions, and presses the upper surface of the gas duct with this binding portion, thereby arranging the gas duct at a fixed position on the first surface of the battery stack. You can also.

Furthermore, as shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 9, the upper surface fastening means 5 ′ is positioned so as to close the electrolyte injection hole 30 provided in the battery cell 1 with the bus bar holder 8 interposed therebetween. . As a result, the upper surface of the electrolyte injection port 30 can be pressed by the upper surface fastening means 5 'via the bus bar holder 8, so that the blocking plug 32 press-fitted into the electrolyte injection port 30 is prevented from unintentionally coming off from here. It is possible to prevent the electrolyte from scattering. In particular, according to this configuration, the upper surface fastening means 5 ′ is configured to exert a force in the direction of pressing the gas duct 6 and the bus bar holder 8 on the upper surface of the battery cell. The blocking plug 32 press-fitted into the liquid port 30 can be effectively suppressed.
(Fastening means 5)

As shown in the plan view of FIG. 2, the fastening means 5 is disposed on the upper surface of the outer can 1 a so as to overlap with the electrolyte injection hole 30 and not to block the gas discharge valve 11. Yes. By doing in this way, the fastening means 5 can be used not only for fastening the battery cell 1 but also as a member for holding the closing plug 32 so as not to fall out of the electrolyte solution inlet 30. For example, even if the internal pressure of any one of the battery cells 1 increases, the upper surface of the closing plug 32 is covered with the fastening means 5, so that the gas discharge port 12 is opened as shown in FIG. Even if the closure plug 32 is about to be pushed out from the electrolyte injection port 30, the fastening means 5 can prevent this, and the closure plug 32 is unintentionally pushed out of the electrolyte solution injection port 30 and the outer can 1a. It is possible to avoid the situation where the internal electrolyte is scattered. As described above, it is possible to maintain the closed state of the electrolyte solution injection port 30 without providing another member, and the reliability of the power supply device can be improved.
(Circuit board)

  Further, the power supply device shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 includes a circuit board 9 connected to the battery stack 2, and the circuit board 9 is located above the gas duct 6 and between the top cover 20. It is arranged. The top cover 20 shown in the drawing is provided with a storage recess 21 for storing the circuit board 9 on the upper surface side, and the circuit board 9 is stored in the storage recess 21. The circuit board 9 is mounted with an electronic component (not shown) that implements a protection circuit for the battery cell 1. The circuit board 9 is mounted with a voltage detection circuit that detects the cell voltage connected to each battery cell 1, a temperature detection circuit that detects the temperature of the battery cell 1, etc. 1 is controlled so as to prevent overcharging and overdischarging, or charging / discharging is controlled so as to prevent an abnormal temperature rise of the battery cell 1. Electronic components that realize these circuits are arranged on the circuit board 9 and stored in the storage recess 21.

The circuit board 9 shown in the figure is disposed at a fixed position on the upper surface of the gas duct 6 via the upper surface fastening means 5 ′. The upper surface fastening means 5 ′ shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 9 fixes a plurality of nuts 26 on the upper surface of the binding portion 5A in order to fix the circuit board 9. In the illustrated power supply device, a set screw 25 penetrating the circuit board 9 is screwed into a nut 26 provided on the upper surface fastening means 5 ′, and the circuit board 9 is arranged at a fixed position on the upper surface of the gas duct 6. In this power supply device, the upper surface fastening means 5 ′ made of a metal plate is disposed between the circuit board 9 and the battery stack 2, so that the circuit board 9 is attached to the battery stack 2 with the metal plate of the upper surface fastening means 5 ′. Can shield from. Furthermore, since the power supply device has the metal layer 17 provided on the inner surface of the gas duct 6, the circuit board 9 can be shielded from the battery stack 2 by the metal layer 17. The battery stack 2 is charged and discharged with a large current, and is charged and discharged with a particularly large pulse current, so that pulse noise is emitted. The metal plate 17 of the upper surface fastening means 5 ′ and the metal layer 17 of the gas duct 6 are between the circuit board 9 and the battery stack 2 and shield the circuit board 9 from pulsed induction noise radiated from the battery stack 2. Thus, there is a feature that it is possible to prevent malfunction due to induction noise of the circuit board 9. In particular, the induction noise from the battery stack 2 can be more effectively shielded by connecting the upper surface fastening means 5 ′, which is a metal plate, to the ground line.
(Top cover)

  6 and 7 has a top cover 20 on the top surface. The top cover 20 covers the upper surface of the bus bar holder 8 and covers and protects the bus bar 14 and the circuit board 9 connected to the battery stack 2. Therefore, the top cover 20 has an outer shape that can cover the upper surface of the bus bar holder 8 and is molded of plastic into a shape having a space in which the circuit board 9 can be accommodated. The top cover 20 in FIG. 6 is formed into a shallow container shape with a lower opening as a whole, and the central portion is formed one step deeper than the surroundings, and a storage recess 21 for storing the circuit board 9 is provided. .

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the top cover 20 is provided with a notch 22 at one end for projecting the duct discharge part 6 x of the gas duct 6 to the outside. As shown in FIG. 5, the top cover 20 allows the duct discharge part 6 x to be exposed to the outside from the notch 22 in a state where it is connected to the upper surface of the battery stack 2. Further, the top cover 20 shown in FIG. 5 has output terminal windows 23 at both ends. In the battery stack 2, output terminal plates 16 are connected to the electrode terminals 13 of the battery cells 1 arranged at both ends. The top cover is provided with terminal windows 23 opened at both ends for exposing these output terminal plates 16 to the outside.

  The above top cover 20 is fixed to the gas duct 6 via a set screw 27. The gas duct 6 shown in FIG. 9 is provided with a connecting boss 28 integrally formed on the upper surface in order to fix the top cover 20 in a fixed position. The connecting boss 28 of FIG. 9 is provided to protrude from the upper surface of both ends of the gas duct 6. The top cover 20 has a through hole 29 at a position facing the connection boss 28, and a set screw 27 inserted through the through hole 29 is screwed into the connection boss 28 of the gas duct 6 to fix the battery stack 2. Fixed in position. The power supply device provided with the top cover 20 can prevent the connection portion between the battery cells 1 having a high voltage, the circuit board 9 and the like from being exposed. For example, the battery is inadvertently used during maintenance. It is possible to prevent the circuit from being short-circuited by contacting the connection portion between the cells 1 or the circuit board 9 or the like. Also, a simple waterproof effect can be obtained.

  In the power supply device of the above embodiment, the gas duct 6 is fixed to the first surface 2A of the battery stack 2 via the upper surface fastening means 5 '. However, the gas duct does not necessarily need to be fixed to the battery stack via the upper surface fastening means 5 ′, and can be fixed to the battery stack via another connection structure.

  The power supply device is cooled, for example, by arranging a cooling plate on the bottom surface of the battery stack and transferring heat to the cooling plate. The cooling plate can be forcibly cooled by circulating a coolant inside the cooling plate, and can be efficiently cooled by heat exchange. Further, instead of the cooling plate, for example, in the case of an in-vehicle power supply device, the battery stack may be fixed to the chassis of the car and naturally radiated by heat exchange with the chassis. Moreover, the fixing position of such a cooling plate etc. does not necessarily need to be made into the bottom face of a battery laminated body, and can also be made into other surfaces, such as a side surface. Alternatively, it may be an air-cooling type in which cooling air is supplied to the battery cell. For example, the battery cell can be effectively air-cooled by providing the cooling air flow path in the spacer disposed between the battery cells as described above and flowing the cooling air therethrough.

The above power supply apparatus can be used as a vehicle-mounted power supply. As a vehicle equipped with a power supply device, an electric vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle that runs with both an engine and a motor, or an electric vehicle that runs only with a motor can be used, and is used as a power source for these vehicles. .
(Power supply for hybrid vehicles)

FIG. 12 shows an example in which a power supply device is mounted on a hybrid vehicle that runs with both an engine and a motor. A vehicle HV equipped with the power supply device shown in this figure includes an engine 96 and a travel motor 93 that travel the vehicle HV, a power supply device 1000 that supplies power to the motor 93, and a generator that charges a battery of the power supply device 1000. 94. The power supply apparatus 1000 is connected to a motor 93 and a generator 94 via a DC / AC inverter 95. The vehicle HV travels by both the motor 93 and the engine 96 while charging / discharging the battery of the power supply apparatus 1000. The motor 93 is driven to drive the vehicle when the engine efficiency is low, for example, during acceleration or low-speed driving. The motor 93 is driven by power supplied from the power supply apparatus 1000. The generator 94 is driven by the engine 96, or is driven by regenerative braking when the vehicle is braked, and charges the battery of the power supply apparatus 1000.
(Power supply for electric vehicles)

FIG. 13 shows an example in which a power supply device is mounted on an electric vehicle that runs only with a motor. A vehicle EV equipped with the power supply device shown in FIG. 1 is a motor 93 for running the vehicle EV, a power supply device 1000 that supplies power to the motor 93, and a generator 94 that charges a battery of the power supply device 1000. And. The power supply apparatus 1000 is connected to a motor 93 and a generator 94 via a DC / AC inverter 95. The motor 93 is driven by power supplied from the power supply apparatus 1000. The generator 94 is driven by energy when regeneratively braking the vehicle EV and charges the battery of the power supply apparatus 1000.
(Power storage device for power storage)

  Furthermore, this power supply apparatus can be used not only as a power source for a moving body but also as a stationary power storage facility. For example, as a power source for home and factory use, a power supply system that is charged with sunlight or midnight power and discharged when necessary, or a streetlight power supply that charges sunlight during the day and discharges at night, or during a power outage It can also be used as a backup power source for driving signals. Such an example is shown in FIG. The power supply apparatus 1000 shown in this figure forms a battery unit 82 by connecting a plurality of battery packs 81 in a unit shape. Each battery pack 81 has a plurality of battery cells connected in series and / or in parallel. Each battery pack 81 is controlled by a power controller 84. The power supply apparatus 1000 drives the load LD after charging the battery unit 82 with the charging power supply CP. Therefore, the power supply apparatus 1000 has a charge mode and a discharge mode. The load LD and the charging power source CP are connected to the power supply apparatus 1000 via the discharging switch DS and the charging switch CS, respectively. ON / OFF of the discharge switch DS and the charge switch CS is switched by the power supply controller 84 of the power supply apparatus 1000. In the charging mode, the power controller 84 switches the charging switch CS to ON and the discharging switch DS to OFF to permit charging from the charging power supply CP to the power supply apparatus 1000. Further, when the charging is completed and the battery is fully charged, or in response to a request from the load LD in a state where a capacity of a predetermined value or more is charged, the power controller 84 turns off the charging switch CS and turns on the discharging switch DS to discharge The mode is switched to permit discharge from the power supply apparatus 1000 to the load LD. Further, if necessary, the charge switch CS can be turned on and the discharge switch DS can be turned on to supply power to the load LD and charge the power supply apparatus 1000 at the same time.

  A load LD driven by the power supply apparatus 1000 is connected to the power supply apparatus 1000 via a discharge switch DS. In the discharge mode of the power supply apparatus 1000, the power supply controller 84 switches the discharge switch DS to ON, connects to the load LD, and drives the load LD with the power from the power supply apparatus 1000. As the discharge switch DS, a switching element such as an FET can be used. ON / OFF of the discharge switch DS is controlled by the power supply controller 84 of the power supply apparatus 1000. The power controller 84 also includes a communication interface for communicating with external devices. In the example of FIG. 14, the host device HT is connected according to an existing communication protocol such as UART or RS-232C. Further, if necessary, a user interface for the user to operate the power supply system can be provided.

  Each battery pack 81 includes a signal terminal and a power supply terminal. The signal terminals include a pack input / output terminal DI, a pack abnormality output terminal DA, and a pack connection terminal DO. The pack input / output terminal DI is a terminal for inputting / outputting signals from other pack batteries and the power supply controller 84, and the pack connection terminal DO is for inputting / outputting signals to / from other pack batteries which are child packs. Terminal. The pack abnormality output terminal DA is a terminal for outputting the abnormality of the battery pack to the outside. Furthermore, the power supply terminal is a terminal for connecting the battery packs 81 in series and in parallel.

  The power supply apparatus according to the present invention, the electric vehicle including the power supply apparatus, and the power storage apparatus are preferably used as a power supply apparatus for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, an electric vehicle, or the like that can switch between the EV traveling mode and the HEV traveling mode. Available. In addition, a backup power supply that can be mounted on a rack of a computer server, a backup power supply for a wireless base station such as a mobile phone, a power supply for home use, a power supply for a factory, a power supply for a street light, etc. It can also be used as appropriate for applications such as backup power supplies for devices and traffic lights.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100, 1000 ... Power supply device 1 ... Battery cell; 1a ... Outer can 2 ... Battery laminated body; 2A ... 1st surface; 2B ... Side surface 3 ... End plate; 3A ... Insertion recessed part; 3B ... Insertion recessed part 3a ... Female 3b ... female screw hole 4 ... side fastening means; 4A ... bind part; 4B ... coupling part 5 ... fastening means; 5 '... top fastening means;
5A ... Bind part; 5B ... Connecting part 6 ... Gas duct; 6A ... First duct; 6B ... Second duct 6a ... Saddle part; 6b ... Connecting opening; 6c ... Step recess part; 6d ... Groove-shaped recess part 6e ... Rib; 6t ... top surface; 6x ... duct discharge part 7 ... packing; 7b ... through hole 8 ... bus bar holder 9 ... circuit board 10 ... sealing plate 11 ... gas discharge valve 12 ... gas discharge port; 12A ... track-like fracture part; 2nd fracture | rupture part 13 ... Electrode terminal 14 ... Bus bar 15 ... Spacer 16 ... Output terminal board 17 ... Metal layer; 17A ... Metal sheet 18 ... Set screw 19 ... Set screw 20 ... Top cover 21 ... Storage recessed part 22 ... Notch part 23 ... Terminal window 24 ... Opening window 25 ... Nut 26 ... Set screw 27 ... Set screw 28 ... Connecting boss 30 ... Electrolyte injection port 32 ... Blocking plug 36 ... Gas discharge path 46 ... Gas path 81 ... Battery pack 82 ... Battery unit 84 ... Electric Controller 85 ... Parallel connection switch 93 ... Motor 94 ... Generator 95 ... DC / AC inverter 96 ... Engine 1501 ... Battery cell 1502 ... Battery stack 1503 ... End plate 1504 ... Bind bar 1506 ... Gas duct 1509 ... Circuit board 1515 ... Spacer 1601 ... Battery cell 1601a ... Exterior can 1606 ... Gas duct 1610 ... Sealing plate 1611 ... Gas discharge valve 1630 ... Electrolyte injection port 1632 ... Occlusion plug EV, HV ... Vehicle LD ... Load CP ... Power supply DS ... Discharge switch CS ... Charge Switch OL ... Output line HT ... Host device DI ... Pack input / output terminal DA ... Pack abnormal output terminal DO ... Pack connection terminal

Claims (12)

A plurality of battery cells;
A power supply device comprising: fastening means for fastening a battery stack formed by laminating the plurality of battery cells; and extending means in a stacking direction of the battery cells,
Each of the battery cells includes a rectangular outer can whose thickness is smaller than the width,
The outer can is
An electrolyte injection port for injecting an electrolyte into the interior;
A plug for closing the electrolyte injection port;
The battery cells are stacked in a posture in which the electrolyte injection port is positioned on the same surface side of the battery stack,
The power supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fastening means is arranged at a position overlapping the electrolyte solution injection port closed by the closing plug . The power supply device according to claim 1,
The power supply device, wherein the electrolyte solution injection port is provided at a position eccentric from a center in a direction intersecting a stacking direction of the battery cells on an upper surface of the battery cell. The power supply device according to claim 2,
The battery cell is a a top, in a position different from a position in which a pre-Symbol electrolytic liquid pouring hole, and a pair of output terminals,
Each of the pair of output terminals is provided on the upper surface of the battery cell at positions symmetrical to each other with respect to the center in a direction intersecting the stacking direction of the battery cells. The power supply device according to claim 3,
As the fastening means, a pair of parallel fastening means are symmetrical to each other with respect to the center in a direction that does not conflict with the output terminal on the upper surface of the battery stack and intersects the stacking direction of the battery cells. It is provided in a position,
When the plurality of battery cells are stacked in a posture in which the eccentric direction of the electrolyte injection port is opposite, each of the pair of fastening means has an electrolyte injection port in which the eccentric direction is dispersed. A power supply device configured to cover each of the above. The power supply device according to claim 4,
The power supply device, wherein the fastening means is disposed between the output terminals. The power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The battery cell is provided on the upper surface of the outer can and at a position different from the position where the electrolyte injection port is provided, and the gas discharge opens when the pressure in the outer can increases. Equipped with a valve,
The battery stack is formed by stacking the battery cells so that the electrolyte injection port and the gas discharge valve are located on one surface of the battery stack,
The power supply device further includes a gas duct that is provided on one surface of the battery stack, covers the gas discharge valve, and forms a flow path through which the gas discharged from the gas discharge valve flows.
The fastening means fastens the battery stack, and fixes the gas duct to one surface of the battery stack. The power supply device according to claim 6,
The power supply apparatus, wherein the gas duct has a shape extending in a stacking direction of the battery cells, and a cross section in the extending direction is formed in a horizontally long rectangular shape. The power supply device according to claim 6 or 7,
The gas duct has a flow path formed therein and a connection opening provided at a position corresponding to the position where the gas discharge valve is provided. The power supply device according to any one of claims 6 to 8,
A power supply device characterized in that the gas duct is made of resin. The power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The power plug device according to claim 1, wherein the closing plug comprises a blind rivet. An electric vehicle comprising the power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
A traveling motor powered by the power supply device;
A vehicle body on which the power supply device and the motor are mounted;
An electric vehicle comprising: wheels driven by the motor to cause the vehicle body to travel. A power storage device comprising the power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
A power supply controller for controlling charging and discharging of the power supply device;
The power storage device, wherein the power supply controller can charge the power supply device with electric power from the outside and can be controlled to charge the power supply device.

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