JP6255941B2 - Method for manufacturing power storage module - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a power storage module and a power storage module.

  As a power storage module, as described in Patent Document 1, an assembled battery in which a plurality of single cells (power storage devices) are electrically connected in series or in parallel by a bus bar is known. An example of the unit cell is a lithium ion secondary electric ground. In the cell, electrode terminals such as a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal are arranged so as to protrude from the case. A storage module including a plurality of unit cells is manufactured by preparing a plurality of unit cells and then connecting one electrode terminal of the adjacent unit cell and the other electrode terminal with a conductive connecting member such as a bus bar. Can be done.

JP 2010-212155 A

  In the process of manufacturing the power storage module, when connecting the electrode terminals between the adjacent single cells (power storage devices) with the connection members, the connection members and the electrode terminals between the adjacent single cells (power storage devices) to be connected therewith There may be a case where time is required for the alignment of each other. As a result, the power storage module may not be manufactured efficiently.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a power storage module and a power storage module that can efficiently manufacture a power storage module.

  The manufacturing method of the electrical storage module which concerns on 1 side of this invention has a 1st and 2nd electrical storage apparatus, and the 1st and 2nd electrode terminal which each of the 1st and 2nd electrical storage apparatus each has connected by a connection member This is a method for manufacturing a power storage module. In this manufacturing method, the connecting member is fixed to the first and second electrode terminals by using the first and second fixing members that are screwed into the first and second electrode terminals, respectively. A step of connecting the first and second electrode terminals via the first and second electrode terminals. The connection member includes a first edge, a second edge facing the first edge, and a first engagement portion that engages with one of the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member. And a second engagement portion that engages with one of the second electrode terminal and the second fixing member. The step of connecting the first and second electrode terminals via the connection member includes connecting one of the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member engaged with the first engagement portion to the first electrode terminal. A first alignment member that defines the position of the first alignment member, and a step of aligning the connection member with the first electrode terminal by engaging the first alignment member with the first engagement portion; One of the second electrode terminal and the second fixing member engaged with the engaging portion is a second alignment member that defines the position of the second electrode terminal, and the second alignment member, The engagement of the two engaging portions, the step of aligning the connecting member with the second electrode terminal, the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member are screwed together, and the connecting member is The step of fixing to the electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal and the second fixing member are screwed together to fix the connecting member to the second electrode terminal. And a step, a. In the step of aligning the connection member with the second electrode terminal, the connection member is arranged around the first rotation axis when the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member are screwed together. And the first fixing member are rotated in the tightening direction to engage the second engagement portion with the second alignment member, thereby aligning the connection member with the second electrode terminal, When the connection member is rotated in the tightening direction around the first rotation axis, the one edge portion is located in front of the second edge portion in the rotation direction of the connection member. The second engagement portion is a recess having an opening at the first edge. The first engaging portion includes a connecting member, a second electrode terminal, a second fixing member, and a second rotating shaft around the second rotating shaft when the second electrode terminal and the second fixing member are screwed together. When the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member are engaged with each other, the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member are engaged with one of the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member engaged with the first engaging portion. It is formed in the connection member so that the movement of the connection member in the direction away from one of the two is regulated.

  In this manufacturing method, one of the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member is used as a first alignment member for aligning the connection member and the first electrode terminal, and the second electrode terminal and the first fixing member are used. One of the two fixing members is used as a second alignment member for aligning the connection member and the second electrode terminal. Then, the connection member is aligned with respect to the first and second electrode terminals by engaging the first and second engaging portions of the connection member with the first and second alignment members, respectively. ing. Therefore, the alignment of the connection member with respect to the first and second electrode terminals is easy. Further, after aligning the connection member with the first electrode terminal, the connection member is rotated around the first rotation axis in the tightening direction of the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member as described above. Thus, the second engaging portion is engaged with the second alignment member. In this case, the engagement of the second engaging portion and the second positioning member stops the rotation of the connecting member, thereby defining the position of the connecting member. Therefore, when the first fixing member and the first electrode terminal are screwed together and the connection member is fixed to the first electrode terminal, the position of the connection member is not shifted from the second electrode terminal. . Therefore, since the time during which the first and second electrode terminals can be connected can be shortened by the connecting member, the power storage module can be manufactured efficiently. Further, when the first engaging portion rotates the connection member around the second rotation axis in the tightening direction of the second electrode terminal and the second fixing member, the connection member is The connection member is formed so as to be regulated by one of the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member engaged with the first engagement portion. For this reason, even when the connecting member is fixed to the second electrode terminal, the positional displacement of the connecting member with respect to the first electrode terminal does not occur.

  In one embodiment, each of the first and second electrode terminals may be formed with a screw hole that engages with the first and second fixing members.

  When screw holes are formed in the first and second electrode terminals, the first and second fixing members are temporarily fixed to the screw holes of the first and second electrode terminals, for example. And the 1st and 2nd fixing member can be used as a 2nd positioning member. Therefore, the connecting member can be easily positioned with respect to the first and second electrode terminals in which the screw holes are formed.

  In one embodiment, the first engagement portion may be a recess having an opening at the second edge.

  In this case, the opening part of the recessed part as a 1st engaging part is formed in the opposite side to the opening part of the recessed part as a 2nd engaging part. Therefore, when the connection member is rotated around the second rotation axis in the tightening direction of the second electrode terminal and the second fixing member, the connection member engages with the first engagement portion. It is easier to be regulated by one of the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member.

  In one embodiment, the width of the opening formed in the first edge may be wider than the width of the end of the second engagement portion opposite to the opening.

  In this case, it is easy to engage the second positioning member with the second engaging portion.

  In a form in which the width of the opening formed in the first edge is wider than the width of the end opposite to the opening in the second engaging portion, the first engaging portion serves as the first positioning member. In the engaged state, when the position of the axis of the first positioning member is the center, a virtual arc having a radius between the first and second electrode terminals and a first edge are formed. The distance between one end located inside the arc in the opened opening is longer than the distance between the arc and the other end located outside the arc in the opening formed in the first edge. Also good.

  When the connecting member is rotated around the first rotation axis, the opening formed in the first edge is wide on the first rotation axis side. Therefore, the influence by the inner ring difference is reduced.

  In one embodiment, the second engaging portion is configured such that when the first engaging portion is engaged with the first positioning member and the position of the axis of the first positioning member is the center, It may be curved along a virtual arc whose radius is the distance between the second electrode terminals.

  When the connection member is rotated around the first rotation axis, the second positioning member is easily engaged with the second engagement portion.

  A power storage module according to another aspect of the present invention is a power storage module including first and second power storage devices, the first electrode terminal included in the first power storage device, and the first power storage device included in the second power storage device. A connection member that is electrically connected to the first and second electrode terminals, and a first fixing member that fixes the connection member to the first electrode terminal, A first fixing member screwed to one electrode terminal, a second fixing member to fix the connecting member to the second electrode terminal, and a second fixing member screwed to the second electrode terminal; . The connecting member includes a first edge, a second edge facing the first edge, and a first engagement in which one of the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member is engaged. And a second engagement portion with which one of the second electrode terminal and the second fixing member is engaged. The first edge is threadedly engaged with the first fixing member and the first electrode terminal with one of the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member engaged with the first engaging portion as an axis. When the connecting member is rotated in the tightening direction when the connecting member is rotated, the connecting member is positioned in front of the second edge in the rotating direction of the connecting member. The second engagement portion is a recess having an opening at the first edge. The first engaging portion is configured to tighten the connection member and the second electrode terminal and the second fixing member around the rotation axis when the second electrode terminal and the second fixing member are screwed together. When the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member are engaged with each other, one of the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member engaged with the first engaging portion is moved from one of the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member. It is formed in the connection member so that the movement of the connection member in the direction of leaving is restricted.

  The power storage module having this configuration can be manufactured using, for example, the method for manufacturing a power storage module according to one aspect of the present invention. Therefore, the configuration of the power storage module is a configuration that can be manufactured efficiently.

  In one embodiment, each of the first and second electrode terminals may be formed with a screw hole that engages with the first and second fixing members.

  When manufacturing the power storage module, the first and second fixing members are temporarily fixed to the screw holes of the first and second electrode terminals, for example, so that the first and second fixing members are And it can be used as a positioning member for positioning the second electrode terminal. Therefore, in the manufacture of the power storage module, the connection member can be easily positioned with respect to the first and second electrode terminals in which the screw holes are formed.

  In one embodiment, the first engagement portion may be a recess having an opening at the second edge.

  In this case, the opening part of the recessed part as a 1st engaging part is formed in the opposite side to the opening part of the recessed part as a 2nd engaging part. Therefore, when manufacturing the power storage module, the connection member is tightened between the second electrode terminal and the second fixing member around the rotation axis when the second electrode terminal and the second fixing member are screwed together. The position of the connecting member relative to the first electrode terminal is more restricted by one of the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member engaged with the first engaging portion. Yes. As a result, even when the connection member is fixed to the second electrode terminal, the displacement of the connection member with respect to the first electrode terminal is reduced.

  In one embodiment, the width of the opening formed in the first edge may be wider than the width of the end of the second engagement portion opposite to the opening.

  One of the second electrode terminal and the second fixing member can be easily engaged with the second engagement portion through the opening of the second engagement portion.

  In one embodiment, an imaginary arc centered on the position of the axis of the first electrode terminal and having a radius between the first and second electrode terminals, and an opening formed in the first edge The distance between the arc and the one end located inside the arc may be longer than the distance between the arc and the other end located outside the arc in the opening formed in the first edge.

  In this configuration, when the power storage module is manufactured, the connection member is positioned in the tightening direction when the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member are screwed in a state where the connection member is positioned on the first electrode terminal. When the second engagement portion is aligned with the second electrode terminal by rotating the, the opening formed in the first edge extends to the rotation center side. Therefore, when one of the second electrode terminal and the second fixing member engaged with the second engagement portion is used as a positioning member that determines the position of the second electrode terminal, When the second engaging portion is engaged with the positioning member by rotation, the influence of the inner ring difference is reduced.

  In one embodiment, the second engaging portion is curved along a virtual arc centered on the position of the axis of the first electrode terminal and having a radius as the distance between the first and second electrode terminals. It may be.

  In this configuration, in the manufacture of the power storage module, for example, when used as a positioning member that determines the position of the second electrode terminal, the first electrode terminal and the first electrode are positioned with the connecting member positioned on the first electrode terminal. The connecting member is rotated in the tightening direction by screwing with the fixing member, and the second engaging portion is easily engaged with the positioning member.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the manufacturing method and electrical storage module of an electrical storage module which can be manufactured efficiently are provided.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a power storage module according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a connection relationship of power storage devices included in the power storage module. FIG. 3A is a diagram for describing a process of connecting electrode terminals included in adjacent power storage devices with a connection member. FIG. 3B is a view when FIG. 3A is viewed from the upper side in FIG. FIG. 4A is a drawing showing a first modification of a bus bar as an example of a connection member. FIG. 4B is a drawing showing a second modification of the bus bar as an example of the connection member. FIG. 5A is a drawing showing a third modification of the bus bar as an example of the connection member. FIG. 5B is a drawing showing a fourth modification of the bus bar as an example of the connection member. FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing a modification of the electrode terminal included in the power storage device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. In the description, words indicating directions such as “up” and “down” are convenient words based on the state shown in the drawings. The dimensional ratios in the drawings do not necessarily match those described.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a power storage module according to an embodiment. The power storage module 10 includes a plurality of power storage devices 12. The number of power storage devices 12 may be appropriately determined according to the use of power storage module 10. The power storage module 10 only needs to include two or more power storage devices 12. Each power storage device 12 includes an electrode assembly 14 and a case 16 that houses the electrode assembly 14. An example of the power storage device 12 is a non-aqueous electrolytic secondary battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery. An example of the shape of the case 16 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The case 16 is filled with an electrolytic solution. The electrode assembly 14 includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator disposed between them. In one embodiment, the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the separator have a sheet shape, which may be alternately stacked.

  A pair of electrode terminals 18, 18 are attached to the case 16 at a distance. One electrode terminal 18 of the pair of electrode terminals 18 and 18 is electrically connected to the positive electrode of the electrode assembly 14 and functions as a positive electrode terminal. The other electrode terminal 18 of the pair of electrode terminals 18 and 18 is electrically connected to the negative electrode of the electrode assembly 14 and functions as a negative electrode terminal. Each electrode terminal 18 is attached to the case 16 such that one end thereof protrudes outside the case 16, and is fixed to the case 16 by a fixing nut 20 as a fixing member, for example. When the case 16 is made of metal, an insulating member is provided between the electrode terminal 18 and the fixing nut 20 and the case 16 in order to ensure insulation between the electrode terminal 18 and the fixing nut 20 and the case 16. May be interposed. Each electrode terminal 18 is formed with a female screw hole 22 extending from the end surface of the electrode terminal 18 outside the case 16 (the surface facing a bus bar 26 described later) toward the inside of the case 16.

  The plurality of power storage devices 12 are arranged in parallel. The arrangement direction of the plurality of power storage devices 12 is a direction substantially orthogonal to a straight line connecting the axes of the pair of electrode terminals 18 and 18 arranged in one case 16. In FIG. 1, the plurality of power storage devices 12 are arranged along the minor axis direction of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped case 16. A partition 24 such as a heat sink may be provided between the power storage devices 12 to prevent the power storage devices 12 from being short-circuited and to dissipate heat.

  In the plurality of power storage devices 12, the electrode terminal 18 of one power storage device 12 of the adjacent power storage devices 12 and 12 and the electrode terminal 18 of the other power storage device 12 are electrically connected by a bus bar 26. The bus bar 26 is fixed to the electrode terminal 18 by screwing a bolt 28 screwed into the female screw hole 22 into the female screw hole 22 of the electrode terminal 18. The fixing member for fixing the bus bar 26 exemplified by the bolt 28 to the electrode terminal 18 has a head portion and a shaft portion extending from the head portion, and a screw portion (a screw portion that is screwed into the female screw hole 22 in the shaft portion). It suffices to have a male thread portion).

  The connection relationship between the power storage devices 12 and 12 included in the power storage module 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a connection relationship of power storage devices included in the power storage module. For convenience of explanation, one of the two adjacent power storage devices 12 is referred to as a first power storage device 12A, and the other is referred to as a second power storage device 12B. Accordingly, the components of the first power storage device 12A and the components provided corresponding to the first power storage device 12A are denoted by “A”. Similarly, the constituent elements of the second power storage device 12B and the constituent elements provided corresponding to the second power storage device 12B are denoted by “B”. In FIG. 2, the electrode terminal (first electrode terminal) 18A of the first power storage device 12A and the electrode terminal (second electrode terminal) 18B of the second power storage device 12B are connected by a bus bar 26. The state is disassembled.

  When the plurality of power storage devices 12 and 12 are connected in series, the polarities of the electrode terminals 18A and 18B are opposite. That is, one of the electrode terminals 18A and 18B is a positive terminal and the other is a negative terminal. When the plurality of power storage devices 12 and 12 are connected in parallel, the polarities of the electrode terminals 18A and 18B are the same. That is, the electrode terminals 18A and 18B connected by the bus bar 26 are both positive terminals or both negative terminals.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the bus bar 26 is a conductive flat plate. An example of the shape of the bus bar 26 in a plan view (a shape viewed from the thickness direction) is a rectangular shape. The bus bar 26 is formed with a recess (second engagement portion) 30 and a recess (first engagement portion) 32. The recess 30 has an opening 30 a at an edge (first edge) 26 a parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bus bar 26. The recess 32 has an opening 32a at an edge (second edge) 26b that is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bus bar 26 and faces the edge 26a. In other words, each of the recess 30 and the recess 32 is a notch formed in the edge portions 26a and 26b. Although the method for manufacturing the bus bar 26 is not particularly limited, the bus bar 26 may be manufactured by press molding, for example.

  A bolt (second fixing member) 28B that is screwed into the electrode terminal 18B is inserted into the recess 30 and the recess 30 and the bolt 28B are engaged. The bolt 28B is inserted into the recess 30 from the opening 30a so as to contact the end 30b of the recess 30 opposite to the opening 30a. The shape of the end portion 30b may be a circular shape that is the same as the diameter of the shaft portion of the bolt 28B or slightly larger than the diameter of the shaft portion of the bolt 28B, or may be a rectangle. In one embodiment, the direction from the opening 30 a toward the end 30 b may be a direction parallel to the edges 26 c and 26 d that connect the edges 26 a and 26 b of the bus bar 26.

  A bolt (first fixing member) 28A that is screwed into the electrode terminal 18A is inserted into the recess 32, and the recess 32 and the bolt 28A engage with each other. The bolt 28A is inserted into the recess 32 from the opening 30a so as to contact the end 30b of the recess 32 on the side opposite to the opening 30a. The shape of the end portion 30b may be a circular shape that is the same as the diameter of the shaft portion of the bolt 28A or slightly larger than the diameter of the shaft portion of the bolt 28A, or may be a rectangle. In one embodiment, the direction from the opening 32 a toward the end 32 b may be a direction parallel to the edges 26 c and 26 d of the bus bar 26.

  The bus bar 26 is fixed to the electrode terminals 18B and 18A by screwing the bolts 28B and 28A to the electrode terminals 18B and 18A through the bolts 28B and 28A through the recesses 30 and 32, respectively. Accordingly, the distance between the end portions 30b and 32b of the concave portions 30 and 32, specifically, the distance between the axes of the bolts 28B and 28A when the bolts 28B and 28A abut against the end portions 30b and 32b is the electrode terminal. The distance between the axes of 18B and 18A.

  In one embodiment, washers 34A and 34B may be disposed between the heads of the bolts 28A and 28B and the bus bar 26 as shown in FIG. An example of the washers 34A and 34B is a spring washer.

  In the connection form shown in FIG. 2, when the bus bar 26 engaged with the bolt 28A through the recess 32 is rotated in the tightening direction of the bolt 28A with the bolt 28A screwed to the electrode terminal 18A as a rotation axis, In the rotational direction (tightening direction), the edge portion 26a is positioned in front of the edge portion 26b.

  Next, a method for manufacturing the power storage module 10 will be described. Here, the case 16 of the power storage device 12 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. First, a plurality of power storage devices 12 constituting the power storage module 10 are prepared. Next, the plurality of power storage devices 12 are arranged in parallel so that the surfaces perpendicular to the short axis direction of the case 16 face each other. When a plurality of power storage devices 12 are connected in series, the plurality of power storage devices 12 are arranged so that the positive terminals and the negative terminals are alternately arranged in the arrangement direction of the power storage devices 12 (the short axis direction of the case 16). . When a plurality of power storage devices 12 are connected in parallel, the plurality of power storage devices 12 are arranged so that electrode terminals having the same polarity are arranged in the arrangement direction of the power storage devices 12. In one embodiment, a partition wall 24 may be provided between adjacent power storage devices 12.

  Then, the electrode terminal 18 and the electrode terminal 18 which adjoin in the arrangement direction of the electrical storage apparatus 12 are connected with the bus bar 26 (connection process). This connection process will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B). In the description of the connection process, as in the case of FIG. 2, one of the two adjacent power storage devices 12 is referred to as a first power storage device 12A, and the other is referred to as a second power storage device 12B. The notation method of the code | symbol with respect to the component of 1st and 2nd electrical storage apparatus 12A, 12B and the component provided corresponding to 1st and 2nd electrical storage apparatus 12A, 12B is the same notation method as the case of FIG. Is adopted. FIG. 3A is a diagram for describing a process of connecting electrode terminals included in adjacent power storage devices with a connection member. FIG. 3B is a view when FIG. 3A is viewed from the upper side in FIG.

  When the electrode terminal 18A and the electrode terminal 18B adjacent in the arrangement direction of the first and second power storage devices 12A and 12B are connected by the bus bar 26, the bolt 28A is temporarily fixed to the female screw hole 22A of the electrode terminal 18A. At this time, the bolt 28A may be inserted into the female screw hole 22 to such an extent that there is a space for the bus bar 26 to enter between the electrode terminal 18A and the head of the bolt 28A. The recess 32 of the bus bar 26 is fitted into the bolt 28A temporarily fixed to the electrode terminal 18A. Thereby, the bus bar 26 is positioned with respect to the electrode terminal 18A (first positioning step).

  As described above, the recess 32 of the bus bar 26 is fitted into the bolt 28 </ b> A, but when viewed from the bus bar 26, the bolt 28 </ b> A is fitted into the recess 32. Accordingly, the recess 32 can also be an insertion portion into which the bolt 28A is inserted. Alternatively, when the bolt 28 </ b> A is engaged with the recess 32, the bolt 28 </ b> A can be regarded as being inserted through the bus bar 26. Therefore, the recess 32 opens a hole formed in the bus bar 26 into which the bolt 28A can be inserted and a part of the hole toward the edge 26b (or communicates the hole and the edge 26b). It can be considered that it is composed of a notch.

  Since the position of the bus bar 26 with respect to the electrode terminal 18A is determined using the bolt 28A fixed to the electrode terminal 18A, the bolt 28A can be an electric positioning member (first positioning member). When the bus bar 26 is positioned on the electrode terminal 18A in this manner, the bolt 28A is screwed into the female screw hole 22A so that the bus bar 26 can rotate around the axis of the bolt 28A, and the bus bar 26 is temporarily fixed to the electrode terminal 18A. May be.

  Next, the bolt 28B is temporarily fixed to the female screw hole 22B of the electrode terminal 18B. At this time, the bolt 28B is inserted into the female screw hole 22B so that there is a space for the bus bar 26 to enter between the electrode terminal 18B and the head of the bolt 28B. Then, the bus bar 26 is rotated around the axis S1 of the electrode terminal 18A (or the axis of the bolt 28A) in the tightening direction of the bolt 28A (the direction of the arrow A in the figure), so that the recess 30 of the bus bar 26 is It fits in the bolt 28B temporarily fixed to the terminal 18B. Thereby, the bus bar 26 is positioned with respect to the electrode terminal 18B (second positioning step). Even if the temporary fixing of the bolt 28B to the female screw hole 22B of the electrode terminal 18B is performed in advance, for example, when the bolt 28A is temporarily fixed to the female screw hole 22A of the electrode terminal 18A, etc. Good.

  In this way, the recess 30 of the bus bar 26 is fitted into the bolt 28B, but when viewed from the bus bar 26, the bolt 28B is fitted into the bus bar 26. Therefore, the recessed part 30 can also be an insertion part in which the volt | bolt 28B is inserted. Alternatively, it can be considered that the bolt 28 </ b> B is inserted through the bus bar 26 when the bolt 28 </ b> B is engaged with the recess 30. Therefore, the recess 30 opens a hole formed in the bus bar 26 into which the bolt 28B can be inserted and a part of the hole toward the edge 26a (or communicates the hole and the edge 26a). It can be considered that it is composed of a notch.

  Since the position of the bus bar 26 with respect to the electrode terminal 18B is determined using the bolt 28B fixed to the electrode terminal 18B, the bolt 28B can be a positioning member (second positioning member).

  Thereafter, the bolt 28A temporarily fixed to the electrode terminal 18A is tightened, the bus bar 26 is sandwiched between the head of the bolt 28A and the electrode terminal 18A, and the bus bar 26 is permanently fixed to the electrode terminal 18A (connection to the first electrode terminal). Member fixing step). Next, the bolt 28B temporarily fixed to the electrode terminal 18B is tightened, the bus bar 26 is sandwiched between the head of the bolt 28B and the electrode terminal 18B, and the bus bar 26 is permanently fixed to the electrode terminal 18B (connection to the second electrode terminal) Member fixing step).

  In the above description, the bus bar 26 is rotated around the axis S1 of the electrode terminal 18A. However, since the bolt 28A is temporarily fixed to the electrode terminal 18A as a positioning member for the electrode terminal 18A, It coincides with the axis of the bolt 28A. Therefore, the rotation around the axis S1 of the electrode terminal 18A of the bus bar 26 corresponds to the rotation around the axis of the bolt 28A. Therefore, the axis S1 is also a rotation axis (first rotation axis) when the bolt 28A is screwed into the electrode terminal 18A.

  Here, the case where the electrode terminals 18A and 18B of the first and second power storage devices 12A and 12B are connected by the bus bar 26 has been described. When the power storage module 10 has three or more power storage devices 12, the adjacent two power storage devices 12 and 12 are used as the first and second power storage devices 12A and 12B, and the electrode terminals 18A and 18B are connected by the bus bar 26. By repeating the above, the power storage module 10 can be manufactured.

  In the manufacturing method, the bolts 28A and 28B are temporarily fixed to the female screw holes 22A and 22B, and the bolts 28A and 28B are used as positioning members. Therefore, even if the electrode terminals 18A and 18B have the female screw holes 22A and 22B, the bus bar 26 can be easily positioned on the electrode terminals 18A and 18B.

  The recess 30 of the bus bar 26 assumes that the bus bar 26 is rotated in the tightening direction of the bolt 28A around the axis of the bolt 28A temporarily fixed to the electrode terminal 18A. (In the direction indicated by arrow A) of FIG. In other words, when the bus bar 26 is fitted to the bolt 28A, the bolt 28A is utilized using the recess 32 so that the edge 26a is positioned in front of the edge 26b when rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow A of the bus bar 26. It is fitted in. Therefore, as shown in the above manufacturing method, after the bus bar 26 is aligned with the electrode terminal 18A, the bus bar 26 is rotated in the tightening direction of the bolt 28A as the central axis of the bolt 28A (or the electrode terminal 18A). Thus, it can be fitted to the bolt 28B temporarily fixed to the electrode terminal 18B.

  Further, when the bolt 28A is tightened, even if the bus bar 26 rotates in the direction of the arrow A according to the tightening, that is, the bus bar 26 rotates in the direction of the arrow 30. The end 30b is in a direction further in contact with the bolt 28B. Therefore, even if the bus bar 26 is accompanied by the tightening of the bolt 28A, the position of the bus bar 26 is not shifted or the bus bar 26 is not separated from the bolt 28B.

  Therefore, the bus bar 26 can be easily assembled to the electrode terminals 18A and 18B, and as a result, the power storage module 10 can be easily manufactured.

  In the manufacturing method described above, after the bus bar 26 is positioned on the electrode terminals 18A and 18B, the bus bar 26 is permanently fixed to the electrode terminals 18A and 18B. However, for example, after the bus bar 26 is positioned on the electrode terminal 18A, the bus bar 26 may be positioned on the electrode terminal 18B while the bus bar 26 is permanently fixed to the electrode terminal 18A. This point will be described.

  First, after the first positioning step, first, the bolt 28A is screwed into the female screw hole 22A of the electrode terminal 18A, and the bus bar 26 is permanently fixed to the electrode terminal 18A. When the bolt 28A is screwed into the female screw hole 22A, the bus bar 26 is rotated along with the rotation of the bolt 28A. With this rotation, the recess 30 is automatically fitted into the bolt 28B, and the bus bar 26 is positioned with respect to the electrode terminal 18B. Thereafter, the bolt 28B may be screwed into the female screw hole 22 and the bus bar 26 may be permanently fixed to the electrode terminal 18B.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2 between the bolt 28A and the bus bar 26, in the form in which the washer 34A is provided, the amount of rotation of the bus bar 26 accompanying the screwing of the bolt 28A increases. In other words, more urging force is applied to the bus bar 26 by screwing the bolt 28A. In this case, the degree of freedom in positioning the bus bar 26 with respect to the electrode terminal 18A is increased, and thus the power storage module 10 can be easily manufactured. This is more remarkable when a spring washer is used as the washer 34A. When the washer 34A (34) is arranged on the electrode terminal 18A side, the same washer 34B (34) is usually arranged on the electrode terminal 18B side.

  In one embodiment, in the washer 34A, the surface roughness of the surface that contacts the head of the bolt 28A and the surface roughness of the surface that contacts the bus bar 26 are rougher than the surface roughness of the surface that contacts the electrode terminal 18A of the bus bar 26. May be. In this case, the rotational torque of the bolt 28A is easily transmitted to the bus bar 26 via the washer 34A. As a result, the above-described degree of freedom is further increased, so that the power storage module 10 can be easily manufactured.

  Here, the washer 34A (34) is illustrated as an example of a member that efficiently transmits the rotational torque of the bolt 28A to the bus bar 26. However, the member for transmitting the rotational torque of the bolt 28A to the bus bar 26 is not limited to the washer 34A. Any interposed member that is conductive and that imparts the rotational torque of the bolt 28 </ b> A to the bus bar 26 may be used.

  Even when the washer 34A is not used, from the viewpoint of transmitting the rotational torque of the bolt 28A to the bus bar 26, the surface roughness of the surface of the bus bar 26 that contacts the head of the bolt 28A is equal to the electrode terminal 18A in the bus bar 26. It may be rougher than the surface roughness of the contacting surface.

  Further, in the above manufacturing method, after the bus bar 26 is permanently fixed to the electrode terminal 18A, the bus bar 26 is permanently fixed to the electrode terminal 18B. However, if the positioning of the bus bar 26 to the electrode terminals 18A and 18B has been completed, the bus bar 26 may be permanently fixed to the electrode terminal 18B first. When the bolt 28B is screwed into the female screw hole 22B, the bus bar 26 is stopped at the end 32b of the recess 32 (or even if the bus bar 26 is accompanied by rotation around the axis S2 of the bolt 28B). Therefore, the displacement of the bus bar 26 does not occur. In other words, the recess 32 is formed on the bus bar 26 so that the bus bar 26 is stopped by the bolt 28A when the bus bar 26 is rotated about the axis S2 of the bolt 28B in the screwing direction (tightening direction) of the bolt 28B. Is formed. Since the bolt 28B is temporarily fixed to the electrode terminal 18B as a positioning member for the electrode terminal 18A, the axis S2 of the bolt 28 is also a rotating shaft (second rotating shaft) when the bolt 28B is screwed into the electrode terminal 18B. . In one embodiment, when the bus bar 26 is rotated in the screwing direction (tightening direction) of the bolt 28B around the axis S2 of the bolt 28B, the recess 32 is formed by the bolt 28A engaged with the recess 32. What is necessary is just to be formed in the bus-bar 26 so that the movement of the bus-bar 26 in the direction away from 28A may be controlled.

  Next, a modified example of the bus bar 26 as a connecting member will be described. FIG. 4A is a drawing showing a first modification of the bus bar. FIG. 4B is a drawing showing a second modification of the bus bar. FIGS. 4A and 4B schematically show a state in which the bus bar is replaced with the first and second modifications in FIG. 3B, respectively.

  The bus bar 36 shown in FIG. 4 (A) is different from the configuration of the bus bar 26 in that it has a recess 38 shown in FIG. 4 (A) instead of the recess 30 of the bus bar 26. In the recess 38 shown in FIG. 4A, the width d1 of the opening 38a (the length along the edge 26a) is wider than the width d2 of the end 38b opposite to the opening 38a. The configuration of the bus bar 36 is the same as the configuration of the bus bar 26 except that the width d1 of the opening 38a is wider than the width d2 of the end 38b. Therefore, the power storage module including the bus bar 40 instead of the bus bar 26 And the manufacturing method has at least the same effect as the case of the bus bar 26.

  Further, in the embodiment having the recess 38 in which the width d1 of the opening 38a is wider than the width d2 of the end 38b, when the recess 38 is engaged with the bolt 28B, that is, when the recess 38 is fitted into the bolt 28B, the bolt 28B. Tends to enter the recess 38. Furthermore, if the opening 38a is wide, the influence of manufacturing errors of the bus bar 36 can be reduced. Furthermore, the width of the recess 38 is narrowed from the opening 38a toward the end 38b. In other words, the recess 38 has a tapered shape in a plan view. Therefore, the electrical connection between the bus bar 36 and the electrode terminal 18B can be ensured more reliably. This is because the width of the end 30b is narrower than the opening 38a, so that when the bus bar 36 is fitted to the bolt 28B, the contact area between the bus bar 36 and the bolt 28B is, for example, the width of the entire recess 38 is open. It is because it increases from the case similar to the part 38a.

  In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4A, the opening 38 a may extend toward the edge 26 c from the opening 30 a of the recess 30. In other words, when the bus bar 36 is positioned on the electrode terminal 18A and rotated around the bolt 28A, the virtual arc C having the radius R between the axes of the electrode terminals 18A and 18B, and the opening The distance between one end 38c located inside the arc C of the portion 38a and the distance between the arc C and the other end 38d located outside the arc C of the opening 38a are the distance between the arc C and one end 38c. Is longer.

  When the bus bar 36 is rotated about the axis of the bolt 28A as a center axis and the bus bar 36 is fitted to the bolt 28B, an inner ring difference occurs. Even if the inner ring difference occurs in this way, the bus bar 26 shown in FIG. 4A can be easily fitted to the bolt 28B.

  The bus bar 40 shown in FIG. 4B is different from the configuration of the bus bar 26 in that it has a recess 42 shown in FIG. 4B instead of the recess 30 of the bus bar 26. The recess 42 shown in FIG. 4B has a distance R between the axis of the electrode terminal 18A and the electrode terminal 18B with the axis (axis S1) of the bolt 28A temporarily fixing the bus bar 40 to the electrode terminal 18A as a central axis. It is curved along a virtual arc C as a radius. Since the configuration of the bus bar 40 is the same as that of the bus bar 26 except that the shape of the recess 42 is different from the shape of the recess 30, the power storage module including the bus bar 40 instead of the bus bar 26 and the manufacturing method thereof are It has at least the same effect as the case.

  Furthermore, since the bus bar 40 has the concave portion 42, it is possible to detect a positional deviation between the electrode terminal 18A and the concave portion 32 of the bus bar 40 which are initially positioned. That is, since the concave portion 42 has a curved shape along the arc C described above, the concave portion 42 and the bolt 28B can be easily fitted if the electrode terminal 18A and the concave portion 32 are aligned substantially as designed. On the other hand, when the bus bar 26 is rotated and the bolt 28B is not fitted in the recess 42, a positional deviation occurs between the electrode terminal 18A and the recess 32. Therefore, a positional shift can be detected between the electrode terminal 18A and the recess 32 depending on how the recess 42 and the bolt 28B are fitted. Furthermore, in the recess 42, the width of the recess 42 (the length in the radial direction of the arc C) can be constant in the extending direction (that is, along the arc C). Therefore, since the contact area between the bus bar 40 and the bolt 28B can be increased, the electrical connection between the bus bar 40 and the electrode terminal 18B can be ensured more reliably. This effect is more remarkable when the width of the recess 42 is substantially the same as the diameter of the bolt 28B.

  FIG. 5A is a drawing showing a third modification of the bus bar. FIG. 5B is a drawing showing a fourth modification of the bus bar. FIGS. 5A and 5B schematically show a state in which the bus bar is replaced with the third and fourth modifications in FIG. 3B, respectively.

  The bus bar 44 shown in FIG. 5A has a configuration of the bus bar 26 in that the position of the recess 32 is formed in the edge 26c, that is, the opening 32a of the recess 32 is positioned on the edge 26c. Is different. Since the configuration of the bus bar 44 is the same as that of the bus bar 26 except that the formation position of the recess 32 is different, the power storage module including the bus bar 44 and the manufacturing method thereof have at least the same operational effects as the case of the bus bar 26.

  The bus bar 46 shown in FIG. 5 (B) is different from the bus bar 26 in that the engaging portion that engages with the bolt 28A is the insertion hole 48 of the bolt 28A. In this bus bar 46, after the bolt 28A is passed through the insertion hole 48 of the bus bar 46, the bolt 28A may be temporarily fixed to the female screw hole 22A of the electrode terminal 18A. Also in this case, the bus bar 46 is positioned on the electrode terminal 18A using the bolt 28A. The process after this positioning is the same as that for the bus bar 26. Therefore, the power storage module can be manufactured efficiently as in the case where the bus bar 26 is used.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, a female screw hole has been formed in the electrode terminal of the power storage device 12 so far. In other words, in the above description, the electrode terminal is a female screw terminal in that it is screwed with a bolt. However, the electrode terminal may be a male screw terminal.

  This point will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, the same notation as FIG. 2, FIG. 4 (A) and FIG. 4 (B) is adopted. The electrode terminals 50A and 50B as male screw terminals are threaded on the outer peripheral surfaces of the portions protruding from the cases 16A and 16B, respectively. In this case, the bus bar 26 is fixed to the electrode terminals 50A and 50B using the fixing nuts 52A and 52B screwed to the electrode terminals 50A and 50B instead of the bolts 28A and 28B as fixing members. In the manufacturing method of the power storage module in which the electrode terminals 50A and 50B are employed instead of the electrode terminals 18A and 18B, the electrode terminals 50A and 50B are fitted into the recesses 32 and 30 of the bus bar 26, respectively. Except for positioning with respect to 50B, it may be the same as the case where the electrode terminals 18A and 18B are employed. Instead of the bus bar 26, bus bars 36, 40, 44, 46 may be used. Since the electrode terminals 50A and 50B are engaged with the recesses 32 and 30 to determine the position of the bus bar 26 with respect to the electrode terminals 50A and 50B, when the electrode terminals 50A and 50B are employed, they function as positioning members.

  Although the bus bar is illustrated as the connection member, the bus bar is not limited to the bus bar as long as the electrode terminals of the adjacent power storage devices can be electrically connected to each other.

  Various embodiments and modifications described above may be combined in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Power storage module, 12A ... First power storage device, 12B ... Second power storage device, 18A ... Electrode terminal (first electrode terminal), 18B ... Electrode terminal (second electrode terminal), 22 ... Female screw hole (Screw holes), 26 ... busbar (connecting member), 26a ... edge (first edge), 26b ... edge (second edge), 28A ... bolt (first fixing member), 28B ... Bolt (second fixing member), 30... Recessed portion (second engaging portion), 30a... Opening portion (opening portion formed at first edge portion), 30b... End portion (second engaging portion) ), 32... Recessed portion (first engaging portion), 32 a... Opening portion (opening portion formed on the second edge portion), 32 b... End portion (end portion of the first engaging portion) , 36 ... bus bar (connection member), 38 ... recess (second engaging part), 38a ... opening (opening formed in the first edge), 38b ... end (second) End of the engaging portion), 38c ... one end (one end of the opening), 38d ... the other end (the other end of the opening), 40 ... a bus bar (connecting member), 42 ... a recess (second engaging portion), 44, 46 ... busbar (connection member), 48 ... insertion hole (first engagement portion), 50A ... electrode terminal (first electrode terminal), 50B ... electrode terminal (second electrode terminal), 52A ... fixed Nut (first fixing member), 52B ... fixing nut (second fixing member), C ... arc, S1 ... axis (first rotating shaft), S2 ... axis (second rotating shaft).

Claims (7)

A method of manufacturing a power storage module, comprising first and second power storage devices, wherein first and second electrode terminals of each of the first and second power storage devices are connected by a connecting member. ,
By fixing the connection member to the first and second electrode terminals by using first and second fixing members that are screwed into the first and second electrode terminals, respectively, the connection member is interposed therebetween. And connecting the first and second electrode terminals.
The connecting member is
A first edge;
A second edge facing the first edge;
A first engaging portion that engages with one of the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member;
A second engaging portion that engages with one of the second electrode terminal and the second fixing member,
Connecting the first and second electrode terminals via the connecting member,
One of the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member engaged with the first engagement portion is a first alignment member that defines the position of the first electrode terminal, and the first A step of aligning the connection member with the first electrode terminal by engagement of the alignment member and the first engagement portion;
One of the second electrode terminal and the second fixing member engaged with the second engaging portion is a second alignment member that defines the position of the second electrode terminal, and the second A step of aligning the connection member with the second electrode terminal by engagement between the alignment member and the second engagement portion;
Screwing the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member to fix the connecting member to the first electrode terminal;
Screwing the second electrode terminal and the second fixing member to fix the connecting member to the second electrode terminal;
In the step of aligning the connection member with the second electrode terminal, the connection member is arranged around the first rotation axis when the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member are screwed together. By rotating the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member in the tightening direction to engage the second engagement portion with the second alignment member, the connection member is Align with the second electrode terminal,
The first edge portion is positioned forward of the second edge portion in the rotation direction of the connection member when the connection member is rotated in the tightening direction around the first rotation axis. And
The second engagement portion is a recess having an opening at the first edge portion,
The first engagement portion includes the connection member, the second electrode terminal, and the second electrode terminal around a second rotation axis when the second electrode terminal and the second fixing member are screwed together. When the first fixing member is rotated in the tightening direction with the second fixing member, the first electrode terminal engaged with the first engaging portion and the first fixing member are used to Formed in the connection member such that movement of the connection member in a direction away from one of the electrode terminal and the first fixing member is restricted;
A method for manufacturing a power storage module. Each of the first and second electrode terminals is formed with a screw hole that engages with the first and second fixing members.
The manufacturing method of the electrical storage module of Claim 1. The first engagement portion is a recess having an opening at the second edge portion.
The manufacturing method of the electrical storage module of Claim 1 or 2. The width of the opening formed in the first edge is wider than the width of the end opposite to the opening in the second engagement portion.
The manufacturing method of the electrical storage module as described in any one of Claims 1-3. When the first engagement portion is engaged with the first alignment member and the axis of the first alignment member is centered, the first and second electrode terminals A distance between a virtual arc having a radius as a radius and one end located inside the arc in the opening formed in the first edge is formed in the arc and the first edge. Longer than the distance between the other end located outside the arc in the opened opening,
The manufacturing method of the electrical storage module of Claim 4. The second engaging portion is configured such that when the first engaging portion is engaged with the first alignment member and the position of the shaft of the first alignment member is the center, the second engagement portion is Curved along a virtual arc whose radius is the distance between the first and second electrode terminals,
The manufacturing method of the electrical storage module as described in any one of Claims 1-5. In the step of fixing the connecting member to the first electrode terminal, the connecting member is aligned with the second electrode terminal when the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member are screwed together. To carry out the process
In the step of aligning the connection member with the second electrode terminal, the connection member is moved by the rotation of the connection member when the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member are screwed together. Rotating around the first rotation axis in the tightening direction of the first electrode terminal and the first fixing member;
The manufacturing method of the electrical storage module as described in any one of Claims 1-6.

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