JPH08162090A - Storage battery - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a lead-acid battery advantageous for reducing the electric resistance in a current collecting part to reduce the internal resistance. CONSTITUTION: In a lead-acid battery, cells are juxtaposed in series. A bar-like cell-to-cell conductive member 4R is held on a cell 2A side having an electrode plate group. A bar-like cell-to-cell conductive member 4S is held on a cell 2D side. A disc-like lead intermediate conductive member 8 is connected to the cell-to-cell conductive members 4S, 4R in a face contact state by welding. The intermediate conductive member 8 is arranged on the outside of a cell housing chamber 13 for receiving an electrolyte.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a storage battery. The present invention can be applied to, for example, a lead storage battery.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A lead storage battery will be described as an example. As a lead-acid battery, as schematically shown in FIG. 10, when the cells formed of the electrode plate group are electrically connected in series, an anode strap 100 and a cathode strap 102 having a current collecting function are used, and a pole of one cell 200 is used. A large number of anode plates 202 of the plate group 201 are connected to the anode strap 100, and a large number of cathode plates 208 of the electrode plate group 207 of the other cell 206 are connected to the cathode strap 102. A lead-acid battery of the type in which the portion 105 is exposed to the outside of the battery case 400, the conductive portion 108 is extended from the cathode strap 102 to the outside of the battery case 400, and the conductive parts 105 and 108 are connected by the intermediate conductive member 300. It is known (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 50-12124).

In this device, a large number of anode plates 202 are connected to the anode strap 100 having a current collecting function, and a large number of cathode plates 208 are connected to the cathode strap 102. Is advantageous in obtaining.

[0004]

However, as shown in FIG.
As you can see from the above, the anode strap with a current collecting function 1
After collecting a large number of anode plates 202 with 00, they are concentrated at one place with the conductive portion 105. Then, the conductive portion 105
After concentrating it in one place with the intermediate conductive member 300, the conductive portion 10 on the cathode strap 102 side, which is the other side, is connected via the intermediate conductive member 300.
Since it is a method of connecting to No. 8, it is not always sufficient to reduce the electric resistance in the current collecting portion. Therefore, the electric resistance of the current collecting portion tends to increase. In this case, the internal resistance of the lead storage battery increases and a voltage drop occurs due to the internal resistance, which is not preferable for the lead storage battery.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and a common object thereof is to provide a storage battery which is advantageous in reducing the electric resistance in the current collecting portion.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage battery comprising: a first cell group formed by connecting a proper number of cells each having an electrode plate group in series via an inter-cell conductive member; A second cell group formed by connecting a suitable number of cells provided in parallel to the cell group and having an electrode plate group in series via an inter-cell conductive member; a first cell group and a second cell group; And an intermediate conductive member formed of a conductive material that conducts in series, and the intermediate conductive member is in surface contact with an end-side inter-cell conductive member disposed on one end side of the first cell group among the inter-cell conductive members. And a disc-shaped other end portion joined to the end-side inter-cell conductive member disposed on one end side of the second cell group among the inter-cell conductive members in a surface contact state. It is characterized by including.

The battery according to claim 2 is provided with a battery case having a partition wall for partitioning a cell storage chamber in which the cells of the first cell group and the second cell group are respectively stored, and the end-side inter-cell conductive member. Is a first piece portion and a second piece portion that face each other, and a connecting portion that connects the intermediate portion of the first piece portion and the intermediate portion of the second piece portion, and is formed in a H-shaped cross section. The one part and the second part are characterized by sandwiching a partition wall.

[0008]

According to the present invention, an appropriate number of cells forming the first cell group are electrically connected via the inter-cell conductive member. An appropriate number of cells forming the second cell group are electrically connected via the inter-cell conductive member. One end of the intermediate conductive member is joined to the end-side inter-cell conductive member of the inter-cell conductive member, which is arranged on one end side of the first cell group, in a surface contact state. The other end of the intermediate conductive member is joined to the end-side inter-cell conductive member arranged on one end side of the second cell group in a surface contact state. Therefore, the first cell group and the second cell group are electrically connected in series via the intermediate conductive member.

The form shown in FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of such an embodiment of the present invention. According to this mode, compared with the prior art schematically shown in FIG. 10, the degree of conducting the collected charges in one place and then conducting them to the other electrode is reduced. Therefore, it is advantageous to reduce the electric resistance in the current collecting portion. Therefore, it is advantageous to reduce the internal resistance of the storage battery, which in turn is advantageous to reduce the voltage drop due to the internal resistance.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
Each example was applied to a lead-acid battery for a vehicle (for about 12V).
Things. The structure of lead acid battery is (cathode) Pb / H₂S
0 _Four/ Pb0₂(Anode). (Example 1) First, the overall configuration will be described. Figure 1 shows a lead-acid battery
The main part of is shown. In FIG. 1, a battery case 1 as a base is
Made of resin such as ABS and polypropylene, and has electrical insulation
It has. The battery case 1 is an integrally molded battery case body 10.
And the lid 12 (see FIG. 5) attached to the battery case body 10.
It is configured. The battery case body 10 includes a large number of cell storage chambers 1.
3 and a partition wall made of resin for partitioning the adjacent cell storage chamber 13
And 15. In the central area of the partition wall 15,
The long groove-shaped holding opening 15a extending along the direction perpendicular to the paper surface
Has been formed. Gas generated during charging etc. is stored in the battery case 1.
Equipped with a sealing cap 16 with a check valve for releasing
ing.

A cell 2 is stored in each cell storage chamber 13. The cell 2 is composed of an electrode plate group 20. In this embodiment, the electromotive force of each cell 2 is basically 2V, but the storage batteries of other types are not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 2, the electrode plate group 20 is composed of a pair of an anode plate 22y and a cathode plate 22x that face each other with a sheet-shaped insulating separator 28 interposed therebetween. Hereinafter, the anode plate 22y and the cathode plate 22x may be collectively referred to as the electrode plate 22. The anode plate 22y is generally formed by adhering lead peroxide (PbO ₂ ) which is an active material to a lattice. Cathode plate 2
2x is generally formed by attaching spongy lead (Pb), which is an active material, to a lattice.

The separator 28 interposed between the anode plate 22y and the cathode plate 22x can be formed of a glass mat, a porous resin, or the like, which is an aggregate of glass fibers stable with respect to a sulfuric acid solution which is an electrolytic solution. , The anode plate 22 while holding the electrolytic solution
This is to prevent a direct short circuit between y and the cathode plate 22x. In FIG. 1, the electrode plate 22 has a side 22m that defines the outer shape of the electrode plate 22, and the separator 28 has a side 28m outside the side 22m to avoid a short circuit.

In the present embodiment, the electrode plate 22 is set to have a smaller electrode plate area than that of the conventional electrode plate, and a method of increasing the number of electrode plates 22 to compensate for this is adopted, and a lead storage battery is adopted. To reduce the internal resistance. The anode strap 31 as the first current collector is made of lead or lead alloy and has a quadrangular cross section, and as shown in FIG.
In the stacking direction, that is, in the direction of the arrow W1. The anode strap 31 is in contact with the ears 22k of the respective anode plates 22y of the cell 2 and is electrically connected to the ears 22k, and exerts a current collecting action on the respective anode plates 22y. In this case, the tongue-shaped ears 22k may be integrally embedded in the anode strap 31 or may be joined by welding.

Cathode strap 32 as a second current collector
Is made of lead or lead alloy and has a quadrangular cross section, and extends in a rod shape along the stacking direction of the electrode plate group 20, that is, the direction of arrow W1 as shown in FIG. The cathode straps 32 are in contact with the ears 22k of the cathode plates 22x of the cell 2 and are electrically connected to the ears 22k, and exert a current collecting action on the cathode plates 22x. Also in this case, the ear portion 22k may be embedded in the cathode strap 32 or may be joined by welding.

In FIG. 1, the inter-cell conductive member 4 is made of lead or lead alloy as a conductive material. Similar to the anode strap 31 and the like, stability and corrosion resistance to the electrolytic solution are taken into consideration. The inter-cell conductive member 4 has a partition wall 15
The cells 2 adjacent to each other are electrically connected in series via the. As shown in FIG. 3, the inter-cell conductive member 4 has a cross section H-shaped, and includes a first piece portion 41 and a first piece portion 4.
2 and a first piece portion 41 that are provided so as to face 1
And a connecting portion 43 that connects the second piece portion 42 to each other. Since the cross section is H-shaped, the flat straight first butt end surface 45 of the first piece portion 41 has a height direction, that is, an arrow K1.
It extends in the direction, and therefore the area is enlarged. Similarly, the flat straight second butt end surface 47 of the second piece portion 42 also extends in the height direction, and thus the area is increased.

As described above, the inter-cell conductive member 4 is H-shaped, and the area where the inner surface 41i of the first piece portion 41 faces the partition wall 15 increases. Similarly, the inner surface 42i of the second piece portion 42
The area facing the partition wall 15 increases. Therefore, it is advantageous to increase the contact area between the inter-cell conductive member 4 and the partition wall 15, and the sealing property at the boundary between the both is easily secured. The inter-cell conductive member 4 is fitted and held in the holding opening 15a by moving relative to the partition wall 15 in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1 in the manufacturing process. Therefore, the inter-cell conductive member 4 is arranged in the height direction of the partition wall 15, that is, in a substantially intermediate region in the arrow K1 direction. As can be understood from FIG. 2, the first butting end surface 45 of the inter-cell conductive member 4 is provided substantially parallel to one surface of the partition wall 15. This first
The flat straight end surface of the anode strap 31 is joined to the butt end surface 45 by welding in a butt state.

As can be understood from FIG. 3, the second abutting end surface 47 of the inter-cell conductive member 4 faces the first abutting end surface 45, and is provided substantially parallel to the other surface of the partition wall 15. There is. The flat straight end face of the cathode strap 32 is welded to the second butting end face 47 in a butting state. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, an upper weld portion 4x and a lower weld portion 4y are formed in the cross section.

During welding, the anode strap 31 is attached to the inter-cell conductive member 4 along the direction in which the partition wall 15 extends, that is, the arrow K1 direction, in other words, the first butt end surface 45.
Alternatively, relative displacement can be made along the extending direction of the second butt end surface 47. Similarly, the cathode strap 32 can also be displaced relative to the inter-cell conductive member 4 in the direction in which the partition wall 15 extends, that is, in the arrow K1 direction. Due to the relative displacement of the straps 31 and 32, the straps 31 and 32 can be welded to appropriate positions.

In the butt welding as described above, the direction of arrow B1 which is the butt direction is the surface direction of the electrode plate 22 constituting the cell 2, and therefore the butt is satisfactorily achieved by allowing the displacement in the surface direction. It is advantageous to As shown in FIG. 3, a seal member 7 made of a resin or the like having durability against a sulfuric acid solution which is an electrolytic solution is disposed between the inter-cell conductive member 4 and the partition wall 15, and Conductive member 4
The sealing property of the boundary between the partition wall 15 and the partition wall 15 is further secured.

In this embodiment, the partition wall 1 is used in the manufacturing process.
In the state where 5 is laid sideways, a liquid sealant having fluidity is injected and solidified to form the seal member 7. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the seal member 7 is formed in the vicinity of the holding opening 15a of the partition wall 15. The rib-shaped protrusion 15w thus formed has a function similar to that of the baffle plate, and excessive spread of the liquid sealant having fluidity is suppressed. Therefore, it is advantageous for loading the liquid sealing agent, and in this sense, it is advantageous for ensuring the reliability of the seal at the boundary between the inter-cell conductive member 4 and the partition wall 15.

Further, since the protrusion 15w can be expected to have a rib effect for reinforcing the vicinity of the holding opening 15a of the partition wall 15, it is possible to suppress the bending deformation of the portion of the partition wall 15 which holds the inter-cell conductive member 4. This is advantageous, and also in this sense, the holding strength for holding the inter-cell conductive member 4 on the partition wall 15 is secured. Further, among the partition walls 15, the inter-cell conductive member 4
Since it is advantageous to suppress the bending of the portion holding the cell, it is possible to reduce or avoid excessive displacement between the partition wall 15 and the inter-cell conductive member 4, and in this sense also, the inter-cell conductive member 4 is prevented.
This is more advantageous for ensuring the sealing property at the boundary between the partition wall 15 and the partition wall 15.

In this embodiment, the electrolytic solution is a sulfuric acid-based solution, and is charged near the upper end of the electrode plate group 20 or slightly beyond the upper end. By the way, when the lead storage battery is used, particularly when charging or discharging, the active material or the like of the electrode plate 22 may drop off. It is considered that vibration and external force such as expansion and contraction of the active material are the causes. In this case, it is not preferable to secure the required performance of the lead storage battery. In this regard, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a large number of pressure contact ribs 10i are formed on the battery case body 10, and a large number of pressure contact ribs 12i are also formed on the lid 12. Then, in the manufacturing process, when the lid 12 is attached with the cells 2 arranged in the cell storage chamber 13 of the battery case body 10, the electrode plates 20 of the cells 2 are stacked by the pressure contact ribs 10i and 12i. The pressure contact force acts in the direction, that is, the arrow W1 direction. Then, in the manufacturing process, the lid 12 is fixed to the battery case body 10 by adhesion, welding, or the like while applying a pressure contact force. Therefore, the pressure contact force can be applied to the anode plate 22y and the cathode plate 22x that form the electrode plate group 20. Moreover, since the number of the pressure contact ribs 10i and 12i is large, the uniformity of the pressure contact force is high. Such pressure contact is advantageous in preventing the active material and the like from falling off when the lead storage battery is used.

Now, the configuration of the main part of this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, the electromotive force of the electrode plate group 20 of each cell 2 is basically 2 V. However, as a result of the butt welding as described above, as shown in FIG. A first cell group T1 in which a plurality of cells 2A, 2B, 2C are electrically connected in series
Is equipped. Similarly, three cells 2D, 2E, 2
A second cell group T1 in which F is electrically connected in series is provided. The first cell group T1 and the second cell group T2 are the battery case body 1
It is partitioned by a horizontal partition wall 19 which is integral with 0.
18A shown in FIG. 6 is an output terminal connected to the cell 2C side, and 18B is an output terminal connected to the cell 2F side. The first cell group T1 and the second cell group T2 are electrically connected in series as described later so that a required voltage (for example, 12V) can be obtained.

That is, as can be understood from FIG. 7, the end side inter-cell conductive member 4R (corresponding to the inter-cell conductive member 4) arranged at the end of the first cell group T1 has the cathode strap 32 of the cell 2A. Are connected. Further, the end side inter-cell conductive member 4S (corresponding to the inter-cell conductive member 4) arranged at the end of the second cell group T2 has the anode strap 31 of the cell 2D.
Is connected.

As shown in FIG. 8, the intermediate conductive member 8 is formed in a disk shape having a relatively large thickness so as to form a rectangular cross section, and the anode strap 31 and the end-side inter-cell conductive members 4R, 4R.
It extends in a board shape parallel to S. Then, one end 81 of the intermediate conductive member 8 is welded to the end-side inter-cell conductive member 4R in a surface contact state by welding means to form welded portions 8x and 8y, which are joined together. Further, the other end portion 82 of the intermediate conductive member 8 is welded to the end-side inter-cell conductive member 4S in a surface contact state by welding means, and similarly welded portions 8x and 8y are formed and joined by this.

The intermediate conductive member 8 is made of lead or a lead alloy like the inter-cell conductive member 4, the anode strap 31, and the cathode strap 32. Further, on the outside of the intermediate conductive member 8 shown in FIG. 7, the outer wall 10 forming a part of the battery case body 10 is provided.
r is arranged. Therefore, the intermediate conductive member 8 is arranged in the arrangement chamber 1x outside the cell storage chamber 13 in which the sulfuric acid solution as the electrolytic solution is stored. Therefore, the intermediate conductive member 8 may be formed of a material other than a lead-based material having corrosion resistance to a sulfuric acid-based solution, for example, another conductive material such as copper or a copper-based alloy.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. As can be understood from FIG. 9, the intermediate conductive member 8 is joined in a surface contact state while ensuring a wide contact area between the end-side inter-cell conductive member 4R and the end-side inter-cell conductive member 4S. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, compared to the prior art schematically shown in FIG. 10, the degree of conducting the collected charges at one location and then conducting them to the other electrode is reduced. Moreover, the intermediate conductive member 8 is relatively thick. Therefore, it is advantageous to reduce the electric resistance in the current collecting portion. Therefore, it is advantageous to reduce the internal resistance of the storage battery, which in turn is advantageous to reduce the voltage drop due to the internal resistance. Therefore, as compared with the conventional technique shown in FIG. 10, it is advantageous in reducing the electric resistance of the current collecting portion and in reducing the voltage drop caused by the internal resistance of the lead storage battery.

In this embodiment, the end-side inter-cell conductive member 4 is used.
The cathode strap 32 is connected to R, and the anode strap 31 is connected to the end-side inter-cell conductive member 4S.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the opposite form may be adopted, that is, the anode strap 31 may be connected to the end-side inter-cell conductive member 4R and the cathode strap 32 may be connected to the end-side inter-cell conductive member 4S.

In addition, according to this embodiment, since the cross section of the inter-cell conductive member 4 is H-shaped, the inter-cell conductive member 4 is formed.
The areas of the first butting end surface 45 and the second butting end surface 47 of the first piece portion 41 are widened, so that the bonding strength between the first butting end surface 45 and the anode strap 31 is secured. Similarly, the bonding strength between the second butting end face 47 and the cathode strap 32 is also secured.

Further, at the time of welding, the anode strap 31 and the cathode strap 32 are attached to the inter-cell conductive member 4 along the direction in which the partition wall 15 extends, that is, the arrow K1 direction, in other words, the first butt end face 45 and The second butting end face 47 can be relatively displaced along the extending direction. By such relative displacement, the straps 31 and 32 can be welded to appropriate positions, which is advantageous for ensuring the joint strength.

Further, in this embodiment, as can be understood from FIG. 2, the welded portions of the inter-cell conductive member 4 and the anode strap 31 are the welded portions 4x and 4y at two locations in the cross section. Therefore, even when deformation, displacement, expansion or contraction due to corrosion of the electrode plate 22 occurs, or vibration is applied, the bonding strength in the inter-cell conductive member 4 is secured. Therefore, the reliability of joining is further improved.

If the bonding strength is increased in this manner, a gap is unlikely to be formed between the inter-cell conductive member 4 and the partition wall 15 even when vibration or external force is applied, and the inter-cell conductive member 4 is formed.
This is advantageous in securing the reliability of the sealing property at the boundary between the partition wall 15 and the partition wall 15. Further, as described above, the inter-cell conductive member 4 has an H shape, and the inner surface 41i of the first piece portion 41 has the partition wall 15 formed therein.
The area where the inner surface 42i of the second piece 42 faces the partition wall 15 also increases. Therefore, the contact area at the boundary between the inter-cell conductive member 4 and the partition wall 15 is secured, and the sealing property at the boundary is more easily secured.

Moreover, since the seal member 7 is arranged at the boundary between the partition wall 15 and the inter-cell conductive member 4, it is even more advantageous for ensuring the sealing property. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to reduce or prevent the electrolytic solution from entering the boundary between the inter-cell conductive member 4 and the partition wall 15. Therefore, the adjacent cell storage chamber 13
It is advantageous in preventing short circuit between the electrolytic solutions. As described above, in this embodiment, the electrode plate 22 is set to have a smaller electrode plate area than that of the conventional electrode plate, and the method of increasing the number of electrode plates 22 is used to compensate for this, as shown in FIG. As can be understood from the above, the output is secured by electrically connecting the electrode plates 22 per cell 2 in parallel. According to this method, it is possible to contribute to the reduction of the entire voltage drop inside the lead acid battery. However, if the above method is adopted, the electrical resistance of the current collecting portion of each electrode plate 22 tends to increase due to the increase in the number of electrode plates 22, and a measure for reducing the electrical resistance of the current collecting portion is necessary. .

In this respect, in this embodiment, as can be understood from FIG. 2, the anode strap 31 and the cathode strap 32 are each formed in a rod shape so as to extend in the direction of the arrow W1 which is the laminating direction of the electrode plates 22, and then the rod shape. Anode strap 3
1, the ears 22k of the multiple anode plates 22y are connected in parallel. Similarly, the rod-shaped cathode straps 32 are connected in parallel with the ears 22k of a large number of cathode plates 22x. Therefore, it is advantageous to reduce the electric resistance of the current collecting portion. Further, a rod-shaped anode strap 31 and a rod-shaped cathode strap 32 are provided with a rod-shaped inter-cell conductive member 4 parallel to each other, and the three members are joined in a surface contact state. Cathode strap 3
2 and 2 are conducted.

That is, in this embodiment, one cell 2 has one current collecting path for collecting a large number of electrode plates 22.
The form of collecting electricity at a location is not adopted. As a result, the electric resistance of the current collecting portion is reduced, which is advantageous in reducing the voltage drop due to the internal resistance of the lead storage battery. In this example, welding was performed by inserting a welding torch into the cell storage chamber 13 by the TIG welding method. However, as a welding means, TIG
It is not limited to welding, and known welding methods such as MIG welding, laser beam welding, electron beam welding, electric resistance welding, induction heating welding, and ultrasonic welding can be adopted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a lead storage battery according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a laminated form of an electrode plate group of a lead storage battery.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part showing the vicinity of an inter-cell conductive member.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part showing the vicinity of an inter-cell conductive member.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a form in which a lid is attached.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a lead storage battery.

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram around an intermediate conductive member.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the vicinity of an intermediate conductive member.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a collecting form in the vicinity of an intermediate conductive member.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the figure, 1 is a battery case, 13 is a cell storage chamber, 15 is a partition wall, 2
Is a cell, T1 is a first cell group, T2 is a second cell group, 20 is an electrode plate group, 22 is an electrode plate, 31 is an anode strap, 32 is a cathode strap, 4 is an inter-cell conductive member, and 8 is an intermediate conductive member. Are shown respectively.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Soumi Mizutani 2-chome, Asahi-cho, Kariya city, Aichi Prefecture Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yusei Fujitani 2-chome, Asahi-cho, Kariya city, Aichi prefecture Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masatoshi Miwa 2-1-1 Asahi-cho, Kariya city, Aichi prefecture Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A first cell group formed by connecting a suitable number of cells having the electrode plate group in series via an inter-cell conductive member; and a plate group arranged in parallel with the first cell group. A second battery formed by connecting a suitable number of cells including
A cell group and an intermediate conductive member formed of a conductive material that electrically connects the first cell group and the second cell group in series, and the intermediate conductive member is the first of the inter-cell conductive members. The inter-cell conductive member provided on one end side of the cell group is provided with a disk-shaped one end portion which is joined in a surface contact state.
A storage battery comprising: a plate-shaped other end portion joined to an end-side inter-cell conductive member arranged on one end side of a cell group in a surface contact state. 2. A battery case provided with a partition wall for partitioning a cell storage chamber in which each cell of the first cell group and the second cell group is stored, and the end-side inter-cell conductive members face each other. The first piece portion and the second piece portion, and the connecting portion that connects the intermediate portion of the first piece portion and the intermediate portion of the second piece portion are formed in a H-shaped cross section. The storage battery according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall is sandwiched between the second piece and the second piece.