JP7067890B2 - Batteries assembled - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an assembled battery.

Conventionally, a rechargeable battery module including a plurality of battery cells is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a battery module in which a plurality of battery cells are arranged inside an upper frame and a lower frame in a state where each battery cell is restrained by a cell cover. Patent Document 2 discloses a battery module in which both ends of a battery cell aggregate composed of stacked battery cells are constrained. In any of the battery modules, expansion of a plurality of battery cells in the stacking direction is taken into consideration.

Patent No. 5154454 German Patent Application Publication No. 102013018400

However, in the battery modules disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 in which each battery cell is restrained by a cell cover or both ends of the battery cell assembly are restrained in order to suppress expansion, the case in the stacking direction of the battery cells is used. May increase in thickness. Further, in such a battery module, the number of parts increases. Along with this, the cost also increases.

An object of the present invention made in view of this viewpoint is to provide an assembled battery that can be miniaturized while suppressing expansion of stacked battery cells.

In order to solve the above problems, the assembled battery according to the embodiment of the present invention is
A battery cell assembly consisting of a plurality of stacked battery cells,
The first case and the second case that internally support the battery cell assembly in a state of being engaged with each other,
A restraint plate that covers the battery cell assembly from one of the stacking directions,
Equipped with
The one end face of the battery cell assembly is pressurized by the restraint plate, and the other end face is in contact with the bottom surfaces of the first case and the second case engaged.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide an assembled battery that can be miniaturized while suppressing the expansion of stacked battery cells.

It is a perspective view which shows the appearance of the assembled battery which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an exploded perspective view of each component inside the assembled battery shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the battery cell alone of FIG. It is a figure which shows the restraint plate alone of FIG. It is a figure which shows the 1st case single substance of FIG. It is a figure which shows the 2nd case unit of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the process for assembling the assembled battery. It is a schematic diagram which showed the inside state of the 1st case and the 2nd case at the time of the 3rd process and the 4th process of FIG. It is an enlarged view of the part surrounded by the broken line of FIG. It is a figure which shows the assembled battery housed in the housing. It is a perspective view which shows the appearance of the assembled battery which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 11 is a top view showing a single battery cell of FIG. 11. It is a figure which shows the 1st case single substance of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the appearance of the assembled battery which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the fitting part of the 1st case and the 2nd case.

Hereinafter, one embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The front-back, left-right, and up-down directions in the following explanation are based on the directions of the arrows in the figure. Hereinafter, as an example, the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells 10 will be described as the vertical direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. The stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells 10 may coincide with any other direction.

(First Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the assembled battery 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of each internal component of the assembled battery 1 shown in FIG. The assembled battery 1 includes six battery cells 10, an insulating sheet 20, a restraining plate 30, a first case 40, and a second case 50 as major components.

The six battery cells 10 are stacked in the vertical direction. In the following, the six stacked battery cells 10 will be referred to as battery cells 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, and 10f, respectively, from the bottom to the top. When each battery cell is not distinguished, it is collectively referred to as a battery cell 10. Each battery cell 10 has two outer surfaces 11 each composed of a front surface and a rear surface substantially parallel to each other in the vertical direction. Each battery cell 10 has a set of electrode tabs 12p and 12n projecting from the two outer surfaces 11 in opposite directions along a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction, particularly in the anteroposterior direction. Each battery cell 10 is laminated with a set of electrode tabs 12p and 12n arranged along the front-rear direction.

The insulating sheet 20 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape by an electrically insulating material such as polyethylene (PE: polyethylene) or polypropylene (PP: polypropylene) resin. The insulating sheet 20 is arranged so as to abut on the upper surface of the battery cell 10f located at the upper end of the stacked battery cells 10. The insulating sheet 20 is provided to ensure electrical insulation between the restraint plate 30 that is in contact with the upper surface of the assembled battery 1 and the battery cell 10 inside the assembled battery 1.

The restraint plate 30 is arranged so as to abut on the upper surface of the insulating sheet 20. The restraint plate 30 is fixed to the upper surfaces of the engaged first case 40 and the second case 50 by an appropriate method such as screwing. For example, in the restraint plate 30, the holes 31 penetrating the four corners are provided in the two screw holes 41 provided at the left and right ends of the front end of the first case 40 and the left and right ends of the rear end of the second case 50. It is fixed on the engaged first case 40 and the second case 50 by screwing in the two screw holes 51. The restraint plate 30 holds the battery cell 10 between the first case 40 and the second case 50 in a state where the outer surface 13 formed by the upper surface and the lower surface of each battery cell 10 and perpendicular to the stacking direction is restrained. At the same time, the restraint plate 30 supports the battery cell 10.

The first case 40 and the second case 50 internally support the stacked battery cells 10 in a state of being engaged with each other. That is, the stacked battery cells 10 are placed on the bottom surface 40a of the first case 40 and the bottom surface 50a of the second case 50. The engaged first case 40 and second case 50 face the bottom surface and have an opening O configured in the upper surface thereof. The connection surface S1 between the first case 40 and the second case 50 is substantially parallel to the outer surface 11 of the battery cell 10 on the electrode tab 12p or 12n side. That is, the connection surface S1 is parallel in the vertical direction. In this way, the first case 40 and the second case 50 engage or separate along the protruding directions of the electrode tabs 12p and 12n of the battery cell 10.

Of the stacked battery cells 10, the battery cells 10 adjacent to each other may be adhered and fixed with an adhesive or an adhesive such as double-sided tape. For example, the battery cells 10 adjacent to each other may be adhered and fixed by any method such as applying an adhesive to the upper surface of each battery cell 10. Similarly, the battery cell 10f and the insulating sheet 20 may be adhesively fixed to each other with an adhesive. Further, the insulating sheet 20 and the restraining plate 30 may be similarly adhered and fixed with an adhesive.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a single battery cell 10 of FIG. FIG. 3A is a top view of the battery cell 10. FIG. 3B is a side view of the battery cell 10. FIG. 3 shows, as an example, a battery cell 10b arranged as shown in FIG. The other battery cells 10 are also configured in the same manner as the battery cells 10b shown in FIG.

The battery cell 10 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape when viewed from above. The exterior member 14 of the battery cell 10 is made of a laminated film. The outermost layer of the exterior member 14 is made of resin to ensure electrical insulation. Both the upper and lower surfaces of the exterior member 14 form the outer surface 13. The outer surface 11 protrudes one step outward from the left and right ends in the central portion. That is, the outer surface 11 is formed to be convex in the top view. An electrode tab 12p or 12n is projected from a portion of the outer surface 11 that protrudes one step outward. The electrode tabs 12p and 12n are usually projected in a flat plate shape, but in order to make contact with the electrode tabs of other battery cells 10 adjacent in the vertical direction, the electrode tabs 12p and 12n are substantially L-shaped in side view toward the outside. It is bent symmetrically with each other so as to have a shape. For example, the electrode tab 12p projects outward in a straight line along the front-rear direction and then bends downward. The electrode tab 12n projects outward in a straight line along the front-rear direction and then bends upward. Hereinafter, as an example, the electrode tab 12p that bends downward will be described as a positive electrode terminal, and the electrode tab 12n that bends upward will be described as a negative electrode terminal, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The electrode tabs 12p and 12n may be configured so that the roles of the positive electrode and the negative electrode are reversed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a single restraint plate 30 of FIG. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the restraint plate 30 from a top view. FIG. 4 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I of FIG. 4 (a).

The restraint plate 30 is preferably made of any highly rigid material. For example, the restraint plate 30 is preferably made of only a metal material. The restraining plate 30 is not limited to this, and may be made of a metal material or a resin material having an electrically insulating material such as PET resin on the surface thereof. The restraint plate 30 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape. The restraint plate 30 has a substantially rectangular recess 32 formed in a substantially central portion and recessed inward in one step along the vertical direction. The four holes 31 are projected from the four corners of the outer edge of the restraint plate 30 surrounding the recess 32, respectively. As an example, the surface of the recess 32 is formed in a straight line so as to be substantially parallel to the surface of the outer edge portion of the restraint plate 30. The surface of the recess 32 is not limited to such a configuration, and may be formed as a linear or curved inclined surface such that the surface further protrudes inward toward the central portion. The assembled battery 1 can firmly fix the internal battery cell 10 by pressurizing the recess 32. The restraint plate 30 is not limited to the configuration such as the recess 32. For example, the restraint plate 30 does not have a recess 32 and has a linear or curved inclined surface such that the surface of the restraint plate 30 gradually protrudes inward from the outer edge portion toward the central portion. May be formed in. Further, the restraint plate 30 may have at least one rib projecting from the lower surface of the central portion, for example, instead of the recess 32.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a single unit of the first case 40 of FIG. FIG. 5A is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the front surface of the first case 40. FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the first case 40 viewed from the rear and an enlarged view of the two dashed lines. FIG. 5C is an enlarged view of the rear view of the first case 40 and the portion surrounded by the broken line.

The first case 40 is made of a metal material or a resin material having an electrically insulating material such as PET resin on the surface thereof. The first case 40 may be made of any highly rigid material. The front central portion of the first case 40 is formed so as to project outward one step. In the central portion of the front surface, four window portions 42 penetrating the front surface are extended in a substantially rectangular shape along the left-right direction. The window portion 42 is formed so that one half portion in the left-right direction is wider in the vertical direction than the other half portion. The window portion 42 is formed so as to be smaller than the tip surface S2 of the electrode tabs 12p and 12n of the battery cell 10. The tip surface S2 of the electrode tabs 12p and 12n is the outer surface of each of the vertically bent portions (see FIG. 3B). The four window portions 42 are arranged in a row along the vertical direction with the left and right end portions of each and the left and right positions of the wide half portion aligned. Further, jig insertion holes 43 are formed on both left and right side surfaces of the front center portion of the first case 40. A pair of jig insertion holes 43 are formed at substantially the same height as each window portion 42, corresponding to each of the four window portions 42. That is, the pair of jig insertion holes 43 are formed so as to have substantially the same height position on the left and right side surfaces of the front center portion of the first case 40.

The first case 40 has an electrode tab 12p or 12n protruding from the outer surface 11 of the battery cell 10, or a contact portion 44 that abuts on the outer surface 11. For example, the contact portion 44 is preferably configured by the first inner wall 44a of the first case 40 to which the electrode tabs 12p or 12n of the battery cell 10 face each other when the battery cell 10 is inserted into the first case 40. Is. That is, the first inner wall 44a is composed of the surface on which the window portion 42 is formed, which is the back surface of the front central portion of the first case 40. In this case, when the six battery cells 10 are inserted into the first case 40, the tip surface S2 of the electrode tab 12p or 12n comes into contact with the first inner wall 44a.

The first case 40 is located on the back side of the jig insertion hole 43 and has a second inner wall 44b formed one step inside the first inner wall 44a. The contact portion 44 may be configured by the second inner wall 44b. In this case, when the six battery cells 10 are inserted into the first case 40, the central portion of the outer surface 11 that protrudes one step outward from the left and right ends abuts on the second inner wall 44b.

The first case 40 has a third inner wall 44c formed further inward than the second inner wall 44b. The contact portion 44 may be configured by the third inner wall 44c. In this case, when the six battery cells 10 are inserted into the first case 40, the left and right ends of the outer surface 11 recessed one step inward from the central portion come into contact with the third inner wall 44c.

In this way, the positioning of each battery cell 10 is performed by bringing the corresponding portion into contact with the contact portion 44 of the first case 40 with reference to the electrode tab 12p or 12n or the outer surface 11. Further, the contact portion 44 is located in the vicinity of the window portion 42. More specifically, the contact portion 44 is formed so as to be located at the same front end portion of the first case 40 as the front center portion where the window portion 42 is formed. With the above configuration, the assembled battery 1 can be accurately positioned when the electrode tabs 12p and 12n of the adjacent battery cells 10 are welded to each other.

The first case 40 is projected inward from the first inner wall 44a, and further has a guide portion 45 for attracting the electrode tabs 12p or 12n toward the first inner wall 44a when the battery cell 10 is inserted. At least one guide portion 45 is projected from the first inner wall 44a. The first case 40 further includes a first insulating portion 46a that protrudes inward from the first inner wall 44a and electrically insulates the electrode tabs 12p and 12n adjacent to each other in the stacking direction of the battery cells 10. A total of three first insulating portions 46a are provided, one between each of the four window portions 42. The front-rear position of the rear end of the first insulating portion 46a is the same as that of the second inner wall 44b. That is, the rear surface of the first insulating portion 46a and the second inner wall 44b form the same plane.

Each of the guide portions 45 is extended on both the upper and lower surfaces of the first insulating portion 46a in a state of protruding in the vertical direction in the front-rear direction. As an example, four guide portions 45 are extended on the upper surface of each first insulating portion 46a. It is preferable that each of them is evenly spaced in the left-right direction. Similarly, four guide portions 45 are extended on the lower surface of each first insulating portion 46a. It is preferable that each of them is evenly spaced in the left-right direction. The guide portions 45 formed on both the upper and lower surfaces of the first insulating portion 46a may be arranged at the same left-right direction position or may be arranged at different left-right direction positions.

The guide portion 45 may have a tapered portion 45a that is tapered inward from the first inner wall 44a. For example, the amount of protrusion from the first insulating portion 46a in the first half of the guide portion 45 is constant, but the amount of protrusion from the first insulating portion 46a in the latter half of the guide portion 45 is about the vicinity of the center. , May gradually decrease toward the inside. For example, the tapered shape of the tapered portion 45a may be a straight line or a gently curved shape. As a result, the separation width of the guide portions 45 adjacent to each other in the vertically separated state increases toward the inside. With the configuration of the tapered portion 45a as described above, the assembled battery 1 can further improve the insertability of the battery cell 10 into the first case 40.

The first case 40 has four accommodating portions 47 in which the back portion of the front central portion projecting outward one step is vertically separated by three first insulating portions 46a. That is, each accommodating portion 47 accommodates the electrode tabs 12p and 12n arranged at the corresponding vertical positions. In the following, the four accommodating portions 47 will be referred to as accommodating portions 47a, 47b, 47c, and 47d, respectively, from the bottom to the top. When each accommodating portion is not distinguished, it is collectively referred to as accommodating portion 47. One window portion 42 is arranged at each of the front ends of the accommodating portions 47a to 47d.

The first case 40 has a second insulating portion 46b projecting inward from both inner side surfaces in the left-right direction. The second insulating portion 46b insulates adjacent battery cells 10 from each other in a laminated state. For example, a total of five second insulating portions 46b are arranged, one between each of the six stacked battery cells 10. For example, the second insulating portion 46b is arranged in the same front-rear width and the same front-rear position along the stacking direction of the six battery cells 10, that is, the vertical direction. The second insulating portion 46b also functions as a guide when the battery cell 10 is inserted into the first case 40.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a single unit of the second case 50 of FIG. FIG. 6A is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the rear surface of the second case 50. FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the second case 50 viewed from the rear and an enlarged view of the two dashed lines. FIG. 6C is an enlarged view of the rear view of the second case 50 and the portion surrounded by the broken line.

The second case 50 is configured in the same manner as the first case 40, and has a screw hole 51, a window portion 52, a jig insertion hole 53, a first inner wall 54a, a second inner wall 54b, a third inner wall 54c, a guide portion 55, and a taper. It has a portion 55a, a first insulating portion 56a, a second insulating portion 56b, and a housing portion 57. The above description for the first case 40 also applies to the corresponding components of the second case 50. Hereinafter, the differences between the second case 50 and the first case 40 will be mainly described.

Three window portions 52 of the second case 50 are formed so as to be located between the corresponding window portions 42 of the first case 40 in the vertical direction. More specifically, the four window portions 42 are described as window portions 42a, 42b, 42c, and 42d from the bottom to the top, respectively, and the three window portions 52 are described from the bottom to the top, respectively. Notated as windows 52a, 52b, and 52c. In this case, the window portion 52a is located between the window portion 42a and the window portion 42b in the vertical direction. The window portion 52b is located between the window portion 42b and the window portion 42c in the vertical direction. The window portion 52c is located between the window portion 42c and the window portion 42d in the vertical direction.

As an example, the wide half of the window 52 may be formed on the same side in the left-right direction as the wide half of the window 42. That is, when the wide half of the window 42 is formed on the left side as an example, as shown in FIG. 5, the wide half of the window 52 is formed on the left side as shown in FIG. ..

Two first insulating portions 56a are provided, one between each of the three window portions 52, for a total of two. Three accommodating portions 57 are provided in a state where the back portion of the central portion of the rear surface protruding outward one step is divided in the vertical direction by two first insulating portions 56a. That is, each accommodating portion 57 accommodates the electrode tabs 12p and 12n arranged at the corresponding vertical positions. In the following, the three accommodating portions 57 will be referred to as accommodating portions 57a, 57b, and 57c, respectively, from the bottom to the top. When each accommodating portion is not distinguished, it is collectively referred to as accommodating portion 57. The guide portion 55 is similarly extended to the bottom surface of the accommodating portion 57a and the ceiling surface of the accommodating portion 57c. As an example, four guide portions 55 are extended on each surface.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a process for assembling the assembled battery 1. 7 (a) to 7 (d) are schematic views showing typical first steps to fourth steps for assembling the assembled battery 1, respectively. FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the inside of the first case 40 and the second case 50 during the third step and the fourth step of FIG. 7. FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of a part of the cross section taken along the line II-II of FIG. 7C. FIG. 8 (b) is an enlarged view of a part of the cross section taken along the line III-III of FIG. 7 (d). FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the portion surrounded by the broken line in FIG. 9 (a) is an enlarged view of the broken line surrounding portion R1 of FIG. 8 (a). 9 (b) is an enlarged view of the broken line surrounding portion R2 of FIG. 8 (a).

In the first step shown in FIG. 7A, the six battery cells 10 and the insulating sheet 20 to be stacked are inserted into the first case 40 one by one in order from the bottom. The six battery cells 10 are inserted into the first case 40 with the electrode tabs 12p and 12n bent. At this time, each battery cell 10 is positioned by abutting the corresponding portion with the contact portion 44 of the first case 40 with reference to the electrode tab 12p or 12n or the outer surface 11. That is, the outer surface 11 side of the battery cell 10 on which the electrode tab 12p or 12n is formed is used for positioning the battery cell 10, particularly the electrode tab 12p or 12n, with respect to the first case 40. In the second step shown in FIG. 7B, the second case 50 is fitted from the rear to the first case 40 holding the battery cell 10 and the insulating sheet 20. At the same time, the total plus bus bar 60a and the total minus bus bar 60b are temporarily fixed to the first case 40. In the third step shown in FIG. 7 (c), the corresponding jig 70a is inserted from the jig insertion hole 43 of the first case 40, and the electrode tabs 12p and 12n are fixed in the first case 40. As an example, the electrode tabs 12p and 12n are fixed in contact with the first inner wall 44a by the jig 70a. Then, the electrode tabs 12p and 12n, the electrode tabs 12p and the total plus bus bar 60a, and the electrode tabs 12n and the total minus bus bar 60b are welded by an appropriate method such as laser welding. For example, in the case of laser welding, the laser for welding irradiates the welded portion through the window portion 42. In the fourth step shown in FIG. 7D, the corresponding jig 70b is inserted from the jig insertion hole 53 of the second case 50, and the electrode tabs 12p and 12n are fixed. Then, the electrode tabs 12p and 12n are welded to each other by an appropriate method such as laser welding. For example, in the case of laser welding, the laser for welding irradiates the welded portion through the window portion 52.

After the fourth step shown in FIG. 7 (d), the restraint plate 30 is fixed to the upper surfaces of the engaged first case 40 and the second case 50 by an appropriate method such as screwing. As described above, the assembly of the assembled battery 1 is completed.

By the above steps, as shown in FIG. 8, the electrode tabs 12p and 12n of each battery cell 10 are housed in the housing section 47 of the first case 40 and the housing section 57 of the second case 50. In this state, the six battery cells 10 are stacked so that the electrode tabs 12p and 12n of the adjacent battery cells 10 are alternately arranged in the front and the rear.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the electrode tab 12p of the battery cell 10a is arranged in the accommodating portion 47a. In the accommodating portion 47b, an electrode tab 12n of the battery cell 10b arranged adjacent to the upper portion of the battery cell 10a is arranged. Similarly, in the accommodating portion 47b, an electrode tab 12p of the battery cell 10c arranged adjacent to the upper portion of the battery cell 10b is arranged. Similarly, for the accommodating portions 47c and 47d, the electrode tabs 12p and 12n on the front side of the battery cells 10d, 10e, and 10f are alternately arranged. As a result, the four accommodating portions 47 of the first case 40 have one, two, two, or one electrode tabs in a state where the electrode tabs 12p and 12n are alternately arranged from the lower side to the upper side. Be housed.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8B, the electrode tab 12n of the battery cell 10a is arranged in the accommodating portion 57a. An electrode tab 12p of the battery cell 10b arranged adjacent to the upper portion of the battery cell 10a is also arranged in the accommodating portion 57a. Similarly, for the accommodating portions 57b and 57c, the electrode tabs 12p and 12n on the rear surface side of the battery cells 10c, 10d, 10e, and 10f are alternately arranged. As a result, the electrode tabs 12p and 12n are alternately arranged in the three accommodating portions 57 of the second case 50 from the lower side to the upper side. Two electrode tabs 12p and 12n are accommodated in each accommodating portion 57.

As described above, the electrode tabs 12p and 12n of each battery cell 10 are connected to the electrode tabs having opposite polarities of the adjacent battery cells 10 by bending in the up-down direction. Finally, the six battery cells 10 are connected in series with each other.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the electrode tab 12n of one battery cell 10f is accommodated in the accommodating portion 47d at the upper end of the first case 40. The end portion of the total minus bus bar 60b is also accommodated in the accommodating portion 47d. As an example, the tip surface S2 of the electrode tab 12n faces the first inner wall 44a, and the back side of the tip surface S2 faces the end of the total minus bus bar 60b. In other words, the first inner wall 44a, the tip of the electrode tab 12n, and the end of the total minus bus bar 60b are arranged in this order from the outside to the inside. In this state, when the jig 70a is inserted by the third step shown in FIG. 7 (c), the surfaces come into contact with each other.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the accommodating portion 47a at the lower end of the first case 40 accommodates the electrode tab 12p of one battery cell 10a and also accommodates the end portion of the total plus bus bar 60a. .. The above description with respect to FIG. 9A also applies to the relationship between the electrode tab 12p and the total plus bus bar 60a in the accommodating portion 47a.

As shown in FIG. 9B, the electrode tabs 12p and 12n of the two battery cells 10 are housed in the central two housing portions 47b and 47c of the first case 40 in a superposed state. As an example, the tip surface S2 of the electrode tab 12n faces the first inner wall 44a, and the back side of the tip surface S2 faces the tip surface S2 of the electrode tab 12p. In other words, the first inner wall 44a, the tip of the electrode tab 12n, and the tip of the electrode tab 12p are arranged in this order from the outside to the inside. In this state, when the jig 70a is inserted by the third step shown in FIG. 7 (c), the surfaces come into contact with each other.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the assembled battery 1 housed in the housing 80. FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing a cross section of the housing 80 that supports the assembled battery 1 from a top view. 10 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 10 (a). FIG. 10 (c) is an enlarged view of the portion surrounded by the broken line in FIG. 10 (b).

The housing 80 is preferably made of a metal material such as aluminum. The housing 80 is not limited to this, and the housing 80 may be made of any highly rigid material. For example, the housing 80 may be made of a metal material or a highly rigid resin material having an electrically insulating material such as PET resin on the surface thereof.

The assembled battery 1 is fixed to the inside of the housing 80 by an appropriate method such as screwing. More specifically, the assembled battery 1 is housed inside the housing 80 in a state where the bottom surface 40a of the first case 40 and the bottom surface 50a of the second case 50 are in contact with the bottom surface 80a of the housing 80. At this time, the bottom surface 80a of the housing 80 functions as a restraining member for restraining the stacked battery cells 10 from below, similarly to the upper restraining plate 30. That is, the stacked battery cells 10 are indirectly restrained by the bottom surface 80a by abutting the bottom surface 40a of the first case 40 and the bottom surface 50a of the second case 50 that are in contact with the bottom surface 80a. The configuration is not limited to this, and for example, the bottom surface 40a of the first case 40 and the bottom surface 50a of the second case 50 have sufficient rigidity and can play a role as a restraining member by themselves. For example, the bottom surface 80a and the bottom surface 40a and the bottom surface 50a do not have to be in contact with each other.

As shown in FIG. 10, the fixing portion F of the first case 40 and the second case 50 with respect to the housing 80 is provided inside the bottom surface 80a of the housing 80. That is, the fixed portion F is located above the bottom surface 80a so as to be closer to the center of gravity of the battery cell assembly 100 composed of the six stacked battery cells 10.

The fixed portion F may be configured as follows, for example. That is, as an example, the two screw holes 41 of the first case 40 may be configured to penetrate from the upper surface to the lower surface of the first case 40. Similarly, the two screw holes 51 of the second case 50 may be configured to penetrate from the upper surface to the lower surface of the second case 50. On the other hand, the housing 80 has a support portion 81 projecting inward from the bottom surface 80a at a position corresponding to each of the two screw holes 41 and the two screw holes 51. On the upper surface of the support portion 81, a screw hole 81a for screwing with a screw inserted from above into each of the two screw holes 41 and the two screw holes 51 is screwed. For example, the first case 40 and the second case 50 may be fixed to the housing 80 by inserting a screw into the screw hole 41 and the screw hole 51 from above and screwing the screw into the screw hole 81a. That is, the fixing portion F may be composed of the screw hole 41 or the screw hole 51 and the screw hole 81a.

As described above, the bottom surface of the assembled battery 1 is fixed in contact with the bottom surface 80a of the housing 80. Therefore, the bottom surface side of the assembled battery 1 is firmly restrained from below by the bottom surface 80a of the housing 80. On the other hand, if the upper surface side of the assembled battery 1 is composed only of the first case 40, the second case 50, and the insulating sheet 20, the binding force is weaker than that of the bottom surface side. Therefore, with the assembled battery 1 fixed to the housing 80, the restraint plate 30 is fixed to the first case 40 and the second case 50 so as to cover the battery cell assembly 100 from one of the stacking directions, that is, from above. ing. As described above, the restraint plate 30 has a recess 32 recessed one step toward the upper surface of the battery cell assembly 100. At this time, the insulating sheet 20 is arranged between the restraint plate 30 and the upper surface of the battery cell assembly 100. The insulating sheet 20 abuts on the recess 32 of the restraint plate 30 and the upper surface of the battery cell assembly 100. On the other hand, the bottom surface 40a of the first case 40 and the bottom surface 50a of the second case 50 abut on the bottom surface 80a of the housing 80. That is, the upper surface of the battery cell assembly 100 is pressed from above by the restraint plate 30, and at the same time, the lower surface of the battery cell assembly 100 abuts on the bottom surface 40a of the first case 40 and the bottom surface 50a of the second case 50. Is supported by the bottom surface 80a of the housing 80. As a result, the vertical position of each battery cell 10 is restricted. At this time, the gas generated inside the battery cell 10 due to deterioration over time tends to collect on the outer periphery of the battery cell 10 due to the pressurization in the stacking direction. That is, the internal gas is collected at a place separated from the electrode formed in the central portion.

In general, there is a correlation between the battery characteristics of the battery cell 10 and the pressure of the battery cell 10 in the stacking direction. That is, by applying a predetermined pressure, the distance between the electrodes inside the battery cell 10 is stabilized, so that the internal resistance is lowered and the battery characteristics of the battery cell 10 are improved. On the other hand, if the pressure is excessively applied, the chemical reaction itself inside the battery cell 10 is inhibited, and the battery characteristics are deteriorated. Therefore, when assembling the assembled battery 1, it is preferable to fix the restraint plate 30 so that the pressure is applied within a predetermined pressure range so that stable and good battery characteristics can be obtained over time. As a result, even if the battery cell 10 expands with time and the pressure in the stacking direction of the battery cell 10 increases due to the reaction, the optimum pressure value capable of maintaining the battery characteristics can be secured.

The assembled battery 1 according to the first embodiment as described above can be accurately positioned when the electrode tabs 12p and 12n of the adjacent battery cells 10 are welded to each other. That is, the electrode tab 12p or 12n, which is the reference for positioning, or the outer surface 11 and the welded portion are arranged close to each other. As a result, in the assembled battery 1, the positioning accuracy of the electrode tabs 12p and 12n at the time of welding can be improved as compared with the case where the positioning reference and the welded portion are arranged on the outer surfaces of the battery cells in different directions. In particular, in the assembled battery 1, by setting the contact portion 44 as the first inner wall 44a, the electrode tab 12p or 12n, which is the reference for positioning, and the welded portion can be arranged at substantially the same position. As a result, the positioning accuracy of the electrode tabs 12p and 12n at the time of welding is further improved. As described above, the assembled battery 1 can simplify the welding process of the electrode tabs 12p and 12n and facilitate the welding operation. Thereby, the assembled battery 1 can also contribute to the improvement of the reliability as a product.

By having the guide portions 45 and 55 and the second insulating portions 46b and 56b, the assembled battery 1 can improve the insertability of the battery cell 10 into the first case 40 and the second case 50. The effect is also obtained by the configuration of at least one of the guide portions 45 and 55 and the second insulating portions 46b and 56b. When all of these configurations are provided, the effect is most noticeable. Further, in the assembled battery 1, the insertability can be further improved by providing the tapered portions 45a and 55a in the guide portions 45 and 55, respectively. That is, the assembled battery 1 prevents the electrode tabs 12p and 12n from coming into contact with the inner surface of the first case 40 or the second case 50 and deforming at the time of insertion, and ensures that the electrode tabs 12p and 12n are accommodated in the accommodating portion 47 and 12n. It can be accommodated in 57. In particular, due to the formation of the tapered portions 45a and 55a, the vertical separation widths of the guide portions 45 and 55 increase inward, so that interference between the electrode tabs 12p and 12n at the time of insertion and the inner wall of the case is avoided. It will be easier to do. Further, the assembled battery 1 can simplify the manufacturing process of the first case 40 and the second case 50 by having the same position and number of the guide portions 45 and 55 in the left-right direction. That is, the assembled battery 1 can contribute to the improvement of productivity.

By providing the first insulating portions 46a and 56a and the second insulating portions 46b and 56b, the assembled battery 1 can secure electrical insulation with respect to the stacking direction of the adjacent battery cells 10. That is, the insulating property can be maintained not only in the initial state but also even if the battery cell 10 expands due to deterioration over time and the vertical positions of the electrode tabs 12p and 12n change.

The assembled battery 1 restrains the outer surface 13 perpendicular to the stacking direction of the battery cells 10 by the restraining plate 30, so that even if the assembled battery 1 is used, charged / discharged, or after deterioration over time, internal gas is generated. Expansion of the cells 10 in the stacking direction can be suppressed. By forming the restraint plate 30 from a metal material, the assembled battery 1 can improve its rigidity and effectively suppress the expansion of the battery cell 10.

Since the assembled battery 1 is provided with one insulating sheet 20 and one restraining plate 30 only on one of the stacked battery cells 10, the number of parts can be reduced and the productivity can be improved. As described above, the assembled battery 1 is advantageous in terms of the number of parts and productivity as compared with a conventional assembled battery in which a cell cover is provided for each battery cell to protect each battery cell, for example. That is, the assembled battery 1 can contribute to the improvement of productivity and the cost reduction by the simplified configuration. Further, by fixing the battery cells 10 to each other, the battery cells 10 and the insulating sheets 20 to each other, and the insulating sheets 20 and the restraining plates 30 to each other with an adhesive, the resistance of the assembled battery 1 to vibration or impact is improved. For example, when the assembled battery 1 is mounted on a vehicle, it can prevent relative displacement between parts due to vibration or impact during traveling. In this way, the assembled battery 1 can also firmly fix the internal components to each other to prevent damage to the internal components due to vibration or impact.

The assembled battery 1 can be miniaturized and reduced in height while suppressing the expansion of the stacked battery cells 10. That is, the assembled battery 1 pressurizes the battery cell assembly 100 from one of the stacking directions on the upper surface by one restraining plate 30, and at the same time, the lower surface thereof is the bottom surface 40a of the first case 40 and the bottom surface 50a of the second case 50. By abutting the batteries, the expansion of the battery cells 10 in the stacking direction can be suppressed. At the same time, since the number of restraint plates 30 used in the assembled battery 1 is one, the size, height, and weight can be reduced as compared with the conventional battery module provided with a plurality of restraint plates. Similarly, the assembled battery 1 can contribute to the reduction of the number of parts and the cost.

By providing the opening O in the assembled battery 1, deterioration of the first case 40 and the second case 50 can be suppressed. For example, if the restraint plate 30 is directly placed on the upper surfaces of the first case 40 and the second case 50 without the opening O being provided, the restraint plate 30 directly pressurizes these cases, so that the case is deformed. , Deterioration is promoted. Therefore, the assembled battery 1 can prevent the case from being damaged due to such deterioration over time.

The assembled battery 1 can appropriately pressurize the central portion of the outer surface 13 of the battery cell 10 perpendicular to the stacking direction due to the configuration of the recess 32 of the restraint plate 30. As a result, the assembled battery 1 can suppress the expansion of the battery cells 10 in the stacking direction. Further, the assembled battery 1 can appropriately hold the battery cell aggregate 100 inside the first case 40 and the second case 50 by pressurizing the restraining plate 30, so that the holding reliability is also improved. That is, the assembled battery 1 can further firmly fix the battery cell assembly 100 by pressurizing the recess 32. The assembled battery 1 can stabilize the internal resistance in the battery cell 10 by pressurizing the assembled battery 1 at a pressure within an optimum range in which good battery characteristics can be maintained. Further, since the assembled battery 1 releases the internal gas from the vicinity of the electrode to the outer periphery of the battery cell 10 by pressurization, deterioration of the battery cell 10 can be suppressed. That is, the assembled battery 1 suppresses deterioration of battery characteristics due to the presence of internal gas between the electrodes. In particular, the assembled battery 1 is formed so that the surface of the concave portion 32 projects further inward toward the central portion, so that the pressurization is more concentrated on the central portion of the outer surface 13 of the battery cell 10. Expansion of the battery cells 10 in the stacking direction can be suppressed more effectively. In this case, the assembled battery 1 can also collect the internal gas to the outer periphery of the battery cell 10 more efficiently.

The assembled battery 1 can secure electrical insulation between the restraint plate 30 and the internal battery cell 10 by arranging the insulating sheet 20.

Further, the assembled battery 1 can further improve the supportability of the battery cell assembly 100 by bringing the bottom surface 40a of the first case 40 and the bottom surface 50a of the second case 50 into contact with the bottom surface 80a of the housing 80. In particular, since the assembled battery 1 has a restraining plate 30 on the upper surface side and the bottom surface of the assembled battery 1 abuts on the bottom surface 80a of the housing 80, the internal battery cell assembly 100 is firmly restrained from both the upper and lower directions. .. Further, due to the restraint from the vertical direction by the restraint plate 30 and the bottom surface 80a, the first case 40 and the second case 50 are less likely to bend even when the battery cell assembly 100 is supported. In other words, the restraint plate 30 and the bottom surface 80a regulate the bending of the first case 40 and the second case 50.

The assembled battery 1 can fix a heavy object called the battery cell assembly 100 in a well-balanced manner by arranging the fixing portion F so as to be closer to the center of gravity of the battery cell assembly 100. For example, when the assembled battery 1 is mounted on a vehicle, the stress generated by vibration or impact during traveling is relaxed. Thereby, the assembled battery 1 can improve the reliability as a product. Further, the assembled battery 1 can contribute to lowering the height by the arrangement.

The assembled battery 1 is a component such as an electric component arranged outside the assembled battery 1 by forming the first case 40 and the second case 50 with a metal material or a resin material having an electrically insulating material on the surface thereof. And, electrical insulation with the battery cell 10 inside the assembled battery 1 can be ensured.

Similar to the first case 40 and the second case 50, the assembled battery 1 can further improve the electrical insulating property by forming the restraining plate 30 from the metal material or the resin material to which the electrically insulating material is applied. .. Further, in such a case, since the assembly battery 1 can be manufactured at low cost by reducing the weight of the restraint plate 30, it can contribute to the weight reduction and cost reduction of the assembly battery 1 itself.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the assembled battery 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11A is a completed view of the assembled battery 1. FIG. 11B is an exploded perspective view of the assembled battery 1. FIG. 12 is a top view showing a single battery cell 10 of FIG. The assembled battery 1 according to the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the electrode tabs 12p and 12n of the battery cell 10 are formed on the same surface. In the following, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals. Further, the description thereof will be omitted, and the points different from those of the first embodiment will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 12, the outer surface 11 of the battery cell 10 projects one step outward from the left and right ends at the center of each of the two halves along the left-right direction. That is, the outer surface 11 is formed so that the two convex shapes are continuous in the left-right direction in the top view. Electrode tabs 12p and 12n are projected from two portions of the outer surface 11 that protrude one step outward, respectively. The electrode tabs 12p and 12n project outward symmetrically so as to form a substantially L-shape. For example, the electrode tab 12p projects forward in a straight line and then bends downward. The electrode tab 12n projects forward in a straight line and then bends upward.

As shown in FIG. 11B, the six battery cells 10 are stacked so that the positions of the electrode tabs 12p and 12n in the left-right direction are staggered between the adjacent battery cells 10. Specifically, the electrode tab 12p is arranged on the right side of the outer surface 11 of the lowermost battery cell 10a, and the electrode tab 12n is arranged on the left side. The electrode tab 12n is arranged on the right side of the outer surface 11 of the battery cell 10b adjacent to the upper part of the battery cell 10a, and the electrode tab 12p is arranged on the left side. Electrode tabs 12p and 12n are similarly arranged for the battery cells 10c, 10d, 10e, and 10f.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a single unit of the first case 40 of FIG. FIG. 13A is an enlarged perspective view of the first case 40 from a rear view and a portion surrounded by the broken line. FIG. 13B is an enlarged view of the rear view of the first case 40 and the portion surrounded by the broken line.

On the front surface of the first case 40, four window portions 421 penetrating the right half portion and three window portions 422 penetrating the left half portion are extended in a substantially rectangular shape along the left-right direction. The window portion 421 and the window portion 422 are formed so that one half portion in the left-right direction is wider in the vertical direction than the other half portion. The four window portions 421 are arranged in a row along the vertical direction with the left and right end portions of each and the left and right positions of the wide half portion aligned. Similarly, the three window portions 422 are arranged in a row along the vertical direction with the left and right end portions of each and the left and right positions of the wide half portion aligned.

The three window portions 422 are formed so as to be located between the corresponding window portions 421 in the vertical direction. More specifically, the four window portions 421 are described as window portions 421a, 421b, 421c, and 421d from the bottom to the top, respectively, and the three window portions 422 are described from the bottom to the top, respectively. Notated as windows 422a, 422b, and 422c. In this case, the window portion 422a is located between the window portion 421a and the window portion 421b in the vertical direction. The window portion 422b is located between the window portion 421b and the window portion 421c in the vertical direction. The window portion 422c is located between the window portion 421c and the window portion 421d in the vertical direction. Further, as an example, the wide half portion of the window portion 421 and the wide half portion of the window portion 422 may be located on the central portion side of the front surface of the first case 40, respectively.

The first case 40 has an electrode tab 12p and 12n projecting from the outer surface 11 of the battery cell 10 or a contact portion 44 that abuts on the outer surface 11. For example, the contact portion 44 is preferably configured by the first inner wall 44a of the first case 40 to which the electrode tabs 12p and 12n of the battery cell 10 face each other when the battery cell 10 is inserted into the first case 40. Is. That is, the first inner wall 44a is composed of the surface on the back side of the front surface of the first case 40 on which the window portions 421 and 422 are formed. In this case, when the six battery cells 10 are inserted into the first case 40, the tip surfaces S2 of the electrode tabs 12p and 12n come into contact with the first inner wall 44a.

The first case 40 has a second inner wall 44b formed one step inward from the first inner wall 44a. The contact portion 44 may be configured by the second inner wall 44b. In this case, when the six battery cells 10 are inserted into the first case 40, the central portion of each of the two half portions of the outer surface 11 projecting one step outward from the left and right ends is the second inner wall 44b. Contact with.

The first case 40 has a third inner wall 44c formed further inward than the second inner wall 44b. The contact portion 44 may be configured by the third inner wall 44c. In this case, when the six battery cells 10 are inserted into the first case 40, the central portion and the left and right end portions, which are recessed one step inward from the central portion of each of the two half portions of the outer surface 11, are formed. It comes into contact with the third inner wall 44c.

In this way, the positioning of each battery cell 10 is performed by bringing the corresponding portion into contact with the contact portion 44 of the first case 40 with reference to the electrode tabs 12p and 12n or the outer surface 11. Further, the contact portion 44 is located in the vicinity of the window portions 421 and 422. More specifically, the contact portion 44 is formed so as to be located at the same front end portion of the first case 40 as the front surface where the window portions 421 and 422 are formed.

The first case 40 further includes a guide portion 45, a tapered portion 45a, and a first insulating portion 46a, which are configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment. A total of five first insulating portions 46a are provided between each of the four window portions 421 and the three window portions 422.

In the first case 40, four accommodating portions 471 and three accommodating portions 472 are vertically separated by three first insulating portions 46a and two first insulating portions 46a on the back sides of the left and right half portions of the front surface. Have. That is, each accommodating portion 471 and 472 accommodates the electrode tabs 12p and 12n arranged at the corresponding vertical positions. In the following, the four accommodating portions 471 will be referred to as accommodating portions 471a, 471b, 471c, and 471d, respectively, from the bottom to the top. The three accommodating portions 472 are referred to as accommodating portions 472a, 472b, and 472c, respectively, from the bottom to the top. When each accommodating portion is not distinguished, it is collectively referred to as accommodating portions 471 and 472. Window portions 421a to 421d are arranged at the front ends of the accommodating portions 471a to 471d, respectively. Window portions 422a to 422c are arranged at the front ends of the accommodating portions 472a to 472c, respectively.

The first case 40 has a second insulating portion 46b projecting inward from both inner side surfaces in the left-right direction to the third inner wall 44c. The second insulating portion 46b insulates adjacent battery cells 10 from each other in a laminated state.

Jig insertion holes 43 are formed at the front ends of the left and right side surfaces of the first case 40. The jig insertion holes 43 are formed in pairs corresponding to each of the seven window portions 421 and 422 at substantially the same height position as the window portions 421 and 422.

As shown in FIG. 11B, the second case 50 may have a second insulating portion 56b projecting in a substantially U-shape along the inner surface. The second insulating portion 56b may be formed, for example, only on the left and right side surfaces or only on the rear surface. The second insulating portion 56b insulates adjacent battery cells 10 from each other in a laminated state. It is preferable that the second insulating portion 56b is arranged in the same number in the same vertical direction as the second insulating portion 46b of the first case 40.

The second case 50 may have a guide portion 55 as in the first embodiment. In this case, for example, the guide portion 55 may be projected from at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the second insulating portion 56b formed on the rear surface in an appropriate arrangement and number.

In the present embodiment, since the windows 421 and 422 are concentrated on the front surface, the fourth step described with reference to FIG. 7 is not required in assembling the assembled battery 1. When the assembly of the assembled battery 1 is completed by the same steps as those from the first step to the third step described with reference to FIG. 7, the electrode tabs 12p and 12n of each battery cell 10 are replaced with the accommodating portions 471 and 472 of the first case 40. Is housed in. In this state, the six battery cells 10 are stacked so that the electrode tabs 12p and 12n of the adjacent battery cells 10 are alternately arranged.

For example, an electrode tab 12p of the battery cell 10a and a total plus bus bar 60a (not shown) are arranged in the accommodating portion 471a. An electrode tab 12n of the battery cell 10a and an electrode tab 12p of the battery cell 10b arranged adjacent to the upper portion of the battery cell 10 are arranged in the accommodating portion 472a. Similarly, the electrode tab 12n of the battery cell 10b and the electrode tab 12p of the battery cell 10c arranged adjacent to the upper portion of the battery cell 10b are arranged in the accommodating portion 471b. Similarly for the accommodating portions 472b, 471c, 472c, and 471d, the electrode tabs 12p and 12n are alternately arranged. In the accommodating portion 471d, in addition to the electrode tab 12n of the battery cell 10f, a total minus bus bar 60b (not shown) is also arranged.

The assembled battery 1 according to the second embodiment as described above has the same effect as the above-mentioned effect described in the first embodiment. In addition, in the assembled battery 1 according to the second embodiment, since the window portions 421 and 422 are concentrated on the front surface, the man-hours for assembling can be reduced. As a result, the assembled battery 1 can contribute to the improvement of productivity. Further, the electrode tabs 12p and 12n of the battery cell 10 are formed only on the outer surface 11, and the rear portion of the battery cell 10 is flat, so that the front-rear width of the battery cell 10 is shortened by the amount of the electrode tabs 12p or 12n. Along with this, the front-rear width of the second case 50 is also shortened, and the assembled battery 1 can contribute to miniaturization as a whole.

(Third Embodiment)
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the assembled battery 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 14, the assembled battery 1 according to the third embodiment has a discharge unit for discharging gas generated inside the battery cell 10 to the outside in addition to the configuration of the assembled battery 1 according to the first embodiment. 90 is provided. The assembled battery 1 may have a discharge unit 90 added to the configuration of the assembled battery 1 according to the second embodiment. In the following, the same components as those in the first embodiment and the second embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals. Further, the description thereof will be omitted, and the description will be mainly focused on the discharge unit 90, which is different from the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

One discharge unit 90 is provided, for example, on the left side surface of the second case 50. The discharge unit 90 has a discharge tube 91 extending outward from the side surface. The discharge unit 90 may be provided on any outer surface of the first case 40 and the second case 50 other than the left side surface of the second case 50, as long as the internal gas can be efficiently discharged to the outside. good. The number of discharge units 90 is not limited to one, and a plurality of discharge units 90 may be provided.

With aging, gas is generated inside the battery cell 10. When the pressure of the internal gas exceeds a predetermined value, the internal gas is discharged to the outside from the peripheral end portion of the battery cell 10. The discharge unit 90 guides the internal gas discharged from the battery cell 10 to the outside of the assembled battery 1 through the discharge tube 91.

The assembled battery 1 according to the third embodiment as described above has the same effect as the above-mentioned effect described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment. In addition, the safety of the assembled battery 1 according to the third embodiment can be improved by inducing the internal gas to the outside by the discharging unit 90. In other words, the assembled battery 1 can improve the reliability as a product.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be realized in certain embodiments other than those described above, without departing from its spirit or its essential features. Therefore, the above description is exemplary and is not limited thereto. The scope of the invention is defined by the added claims, not by the earlier description. Some of all changes that are within their equality shall be included therein.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a fitting portion between the first case 40 and the second case 50. FIG. 15A is a perspective view showing the appearance of the assembled battery 1. FIG. 15B is an enlarged view of the portion surrounded by the broken line in FIG. 15A.

For example, the first case 40 and the second case 50 are fitted to each other in a state where the engaging claws E1 are formed on one of the left and right side surfaces and the engaging holes E2 are formed on the other corresponding left and right side surfaces. You may. That is, when the first case 40 and the second case 50 are fitted, the engaging claw E1 engages with the engaging hole E2. The assembled battery 1 is not limited to the configuration by engaging the claw and the hole. For example, the first case 40 and the second case 50 may be fitted by sandwiching arbitrary convex portions protruding from the left and right side surfaces thereof by elastic members such as clips. Further, the first case 40 and the second case 50 may be fitted by an arbitrary fastening structure such as screwing. As described above, the assembled battery 1 may have an arbitrary engaging structure as long as the first case 40 and the second case 50 can be securely fitted. As a result, the assembled battery 1 can realize good assembling property, and as a result, can contribute to the improvement of the reliability of the product.

In the above, the configuration in which the contact portion 44 is provided only in the first case 40 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the second case 50 may have a contact portion, in which case the contact portion may be composed of at least one of a first inner wall 54a, a second inner wall 54b, and a third inner wall 54c. .. Further, both the first case 40 and the second case 50 may have a contact portion.

The assembled battery 1 does not have to have the tapered portions 45a and 55a as long as the insertability of the battery cell 10 into the first case 40 and the second case 50 can be ensured.

The assembled battery 1 is not limited to the configuration in which the guide portions 45 and 55 are independently provided. For example, the assembled battery 1 may be configured so that the guide portions 45 and 55 are not provided and the first insulating portions 46a and 56a are also used as the guide portions. In this case, the insertability of the battery cell 10 may be improved by providing the first insulating portions 46a and 56a with tapered shapes.

The assembled battery 1 may also have a restraint plate 30 arranged on the lower surface side of the battery cell assembly 100 together with the opening O. As a result, the battery cell assembly 100 is narrowed by the restraint plate 30 having high rigidity from both the upper and lower directions, so that the pressure holding property is further improved.

Similarly, in the assembled battery 1, the insulating sheet 20 may be arranged on the lower surface side of the battery cell assembly 100. Thereby, the assembled battery 1 can further improve the insulating property.

The number of battery cells 10 and the number of windows 42 and 52 are not limited to the above configuration. The number of battery cells 10 may be any number. The windows 42 and 52 may be formed in an optimum manner according to the number of battery cells 10.

1 set Battery 10, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f Battery cell 11 Outer surface 12p, 12n Electrode tab 13 Outer surface 14 Exterior member 20 Insulation sheet 30 Restraint plate 31 Hole 32 Recess 40 First case 40a Bottom 41 Screw hole 42, 42a, 42b, 42c, 42d Window part 421, 421a, 421b, 421c, 421d Window part 422, 422a, 422b, 422c Window part 43 Jig insertion hole 44 Contact part 44a First inner wall (inner wall)
44b 2nd inner wall 44c 3rd inner wall 45 Guide part 45a Tapered part 46a 1st insulating part (insulating part)
46b 2nd insulating part 47, 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d Accommodating part 471, 471a, 471b, 471c, 471d Accommodating part 472, 472a, 472b, 472c Accommodating part 50 2nd case 51 Screw holes 52, 52a, 52b, 52c Window 53 Jig insertion hole 54a First inner wall (inner wall)
54b 2nd inner wall 54c 3rd inner wall 55 Guide part 55a Tapered part 56a 1st insulating part (insulating part)
56b Second insulating part 57, 57a, 57b, 57c Accommodating part 60a Total plus bus bar 60b Total minus bus bar 70a, 70b Jig 80 Housing 80a Bottom 81 Support part 81a Screw hole 90 Discharge part 91 Discharge tube 100 Battery cell assembly E1 Jig E2 Engagement hole F Fixed part O Opening S1 Connection surface S2 Tip surface

Claims (7)

It ’s an assembled battery,
A battery cell assembly consisting of a plurality of stacked battery cells,
The first case and the second case that internally support the battery cell assembly in a state of being engaged with each other,
A restraint plate that covers the battery cell assembly from one of the stacking directions,
Equipped with
The one end face of the battery cell assembly is pressurized by the restraint plate, and the other end face is in contact with the bottom surfaces of the first case and the second case engaged.
The bottom surface of the first case and the second case abuts on the bottom surface of the housing for accommodating the assembled battery inside.
The first case, the restraint plate, and the housing are fixed to each other at the same place.
The second case, the restraint plate, and the housing are fixed to each other at the same place .
Batteries assembled. The one-sided upper surface of the engaged first case and the second case facing the bottom surface is composed of an opening.
The assembled battery according to claim 1. The restraint plate has a recess recessed towards the one end face of the battery cell assembly.
The assembled battery according to claim 1 or 2. An insulating sheet is arranged between the restraining plate and the one end face.
The assembled battery according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The fixing portions of the first case and the second case to the housing are provided inside the bottom surface of the housing.
The assembled battery according to any one of claims 1 to 4 . The first case and the second case are made of a metal material or a resin material having an electrically insulating material on the surface thereof.
The assembled battery according to any one of claims 1 to 5 . The restraint plate is made of a metal material or a resin material having an electrically insulating material on the surface thereof.
The assembled battery according to any one of claims 1 to 6 .

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