JPH1069893A - Pack battery having electrode window of waterproof structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inexpensively produce a case in high volume by using a die having simple structure, and moreover surely waterproof the portion of an electrode window to simply assemble the case. SOLUTION: In this pack battery, an electrode window 2, for exposing an electrode terminal 4 to outside, is opened in a case 9, and the electrode terminal 4 is mounted on an electrode projection 3 provided on a terminal holder 6. The electrode projection 3 is inserted into the electrode window 2 to expose the electrode terminal 4 to outside the case 9 from the electrode window 2. A rubber sponge 7 is mounted, along the outer periphery of the electrode projection 3, on the terminal holder 6, and is nippedly mounted in a condition, where the rubber sponge 7 is elastically crushed into the electrode window peripheral edge 8 and thermal holder 6 of the case 9, thereby waterproofing the electrode window 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a battery pack having an electrode window having a waterproof structure. In the present specification, the waterproof structure is used in a broad sense including a protective eyelash grade.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A battery pack has a built-in battery in a case. The case is made of plastic in a shape that can be divided into two parts so that the case can be opened to accommodate the battery. The case where the battery is opened and the battery is opened can be sealed by ultrasonic welding or by bonding with an adhesive to form a waterproof structure by watertight closing. However, in a battery pack, it is necessary to expose electrode terminals to the outside in order to extract power. An electrode window is opened in the case to expose the electrode terminal to the outside. If water or the like intrudes from the electrode window opening in the case, the life of the battery pack is shortened and a failure is caused. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the electrode window has a waterproof structure.

[0003] An O-ring is used to make the electrode window waterproof. FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of an electrode window which is waterproofed by an O-ring. In the battery pack of this figure, a guide groove 3A for receiving the O-ring 1 is formed on the outer periphery of the electrode projection 3 inserted into the electrode window 2. The O-ring 1 inserted in the guide groove 3 </ b> A is disposed between an electrode protrusion 3 inserted into the electrode window 2 and a protrusion 5 provided to protrude along the inside of the electrode window 2. Thus, the electrode window 2 has a waterproof structure.

[0004]

As shown in FIG.
The battery pack in which the electrode window 2 has a waterproof structure with the ring 1 is formed by a complicated mold, and therefore, it takes time to manufacture the mold. In addition, the shape of the terminal holder 6 provided with the electrode terminals 4 is complicated. Further, there is a disadvantage that it takes time to attach the O-ring 1. The reason why the mold is complicated is that the mold for forming the mounting portion of the electrode terminal 4 and the mold for forming the guide groove 3A can be punched in different directions as indicated by arrows A and B. This is because the structure is designed to be separately separable. Further, the die that is die-cut in different directions has a drawback that, for example, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 2, the L-shaped electrode window 2 has a more complicated structure in order to have a waterproof structure. .

[0005] The waterproof structure shown in FIG.
Since the electrode window 2 has a waterproof structure by being sandwiched between the electrode projections 3 and the projections 5, it is necessary to form the electrode projections 3 and the projections 5 with extremely high dimensional accuracy. If the O-ring 1 does not adhere to the surfaces of the electrode protrusions 3 and the protrusions 5, a gap is formed in the electrode window 2 and a waterproof structure cannot be obtained. Also, O
If the ring 1 is assembled without being accurately guided in the guide groove 3A, there is a disadvantage that the electrode projection 3 cannot be inserted into the electrode window 2 smoothly.

Therefore, in the waterproof structure shown in FIG. 1, the O-ring 1 needs to be accurately inserted into the guide groove 3A, and when the electrode projection 3 is inserted into the electrode window 2, the O-ring 1 is inserted into the guide groove 3A. It is necessary to keep
The mounting of the ring 1 and the assembling process of inserting the electrode protrusion 3 into the electrode window 2 have a disadvantage that it takes time. Further, if the O-ring 1 cannot be set at a normal position, the electrode window 2 is surely provided with a waterproof structure. There are drawbacks that can not be done.

[0007] The present invention has been developed for the purpose of further solving this drawback. An important object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack having a waterproof structure that can be formed with a simple structure of a metal mold to make the electrode window a reliable waterproof structure and that can be efficiently assembled.

[0008]

The battery pack of the present invention comprises:
An electrode window 2 for exposing the electrode terminal 4 to the outside is opened in the case 9.

Further, in the battery pack, the electrode terminals 4 are mounted on the electrode projections 3 provided on the terminal holder 6,
The electrode protrusions 3 are inserted into the electrode windows 2, and the electrode terminals 4 attached thereto are exposed outside the case 9 from the electrode windows 2. Further, a rubber sponge 7 is attached to the terminal holder 6 along the outer periphery of the electrode projection 3. The rubber sponge 7 is sandwiched between the electrode window peripheral edge 8 of the case and the terminal holder 6 so as to be elastically crushed, and seals the electrode window 2 in a waterproof structure.

[0010] The battery pack having this structure is provided with a terminal holder 6.
A rubber sponge 7 is attached to the outer periphery of the electrode projection 3 of the above, the electrode projection 3 is inserted into the electrode window 2, and the rubber sponge 7 is elastically held between the electrode window peripheral edge 8 of the case 9 and the terminal holder 6. hand,
The electrode window 2 is surely made to have a waterproof structure. When the electrode projection 3 is inserted into the electrode window 2, the electrode terminal 4 is moved from the electrode window 2 to the case 9.
And the rubber sponge 7 closes the electrode window 2 in a waterproof structure.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the following examples illustrate the battery pack for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention does not specify the battery pack as follows.

Further, in this specification, in order to make it easier to understand the claims, the numbers corresponding to the members shown in the embodiments will be referred to as "claims" and "claims". In the column of “means”.
However, the members described in the claims are not limited to the members of the embodiments.

The battery pack having the terminal holder 6 shown in FIG. 3 has a case 9 in which a secondary battery (not shown) is built. The positive and negative electrodes of the secondary battery are connected to the electrode terminals 4 mounted on the electrode projections 3 of the terminal holder 6 via lead wires and protection circuits.

In the battery pack of the present invention, the waterproof structure of the electrode window has a unique structure. The structure of the parts other than the electrode windows can be the same as the conventional battery pack or the same as the battery pack to be developed.

The case 9 is made of plastic, and the upper case 9
A and the lower case 9B are separately formed. Further, the terminal holder 6 is disposed at a fixed position of the case 9 so as to be sandwiched between the upper case 9A and the lower case 9B. However, the terminal holder can be integrally formed with either one of the cases. The lower case 9B is formed in a rectangular box shape with an opening at an upper part in which a secondary battery can be inserted. The upper case 9A is formed in a plate shape for closing the opening of the lower case 9B. The upper case 9A has two electrode windows 2 in the lower right part in FIG.
The upper case 9A incorporates a battery, a protection circuit, and the like, and is then ultrasonically welded to its periphery at the lower case 9B to be connected in a watertight state. The battery pack in which the upper case 9A and the lower case 9B are ultrasonically welded has a feature that both cases 9 can be reliably connected. However, the upper case 9A and the lower case 9B can be connected to a waterproof structure by heat welding or by bonding with an adhesive.

The lower case 9B has two projecting pins 10 and mounting ribs 11 for holding the terminal holder 6 in place.
Is integrally molded. The terminal holder 6 is a molded plastic product, and has the through-hole 12 into which the protruding pin 10 is inserted as an intermediate portion, and the electrode convex portions 3 on both sides. The electrode window 2 into which the electrode projection 3 of the terminal holder 6 is inserted is the upper case 9A.
It is open to.

The electrode projection 3 shown in FIG. 3 has an L-shape in plan view and is integrally formed with three rows of partition walls on the upper surface so that two rows of electrode terminals 4 having different lengths can be arranged. . The electrode terminals 4 made of a metal plate whose surface is plated with gold are mounted between the partition walls.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of the electrode window portion of the battery pack of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the terminal holder 6, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the terminal holder 6. As shown in FIG. 5, the electrode terminal 4 has a U-shaped bent portion attached to the electrode convex portion 3, and furthermore, the right end in the figure is bent at a right angle to extend in the horizontal direction. Is sandwiched by a rubber sponge 7 to have a waterproof structure. The right end of the electrode terminal 4 is connected to a battery or a protection circuit via a lead wire 13.

The terminal holder 6 has a rubber sponge 7 mounted around the electrode projection 3. The rubber sponge 7 is formed by foaming a soft plastic such as soft urethane or soft vinyl chloride, for example. The rubber sponge 7 is ideally a closed-cell plastic foam. This is because water does not pass through the closed-cell plastic foam since the cells are closed. However, since the rubber sponge is crushed by the case and the terminal holder, a waterproof structure can be used by using an open-cell plastic foam. In particular, it can be used satisfactorily for waterproofing of waterproofing grades.

The inner shape of the rubber sponge 7 is cut into a shape substantially the same as the outer shape of the electrode projection 3. Rubber sponge 7
Is elastically crushed by the ridges 5 integrally formed with the upper case 9A to seal the electrode window 2 in a waterproof structure. Therefore, it is cut to the width pressed by the ridge 5.

The upper case 9 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is used to elastically crush the rubber sponge 7 to provide a reliable waterproof structure.
A is integrally formed with a ridge 5 extending downward along the electrode window 2. The ridge 5 is formed in a shape such that the tip protrudes in a mountain shape. The ridges 5 having this shape locally crush the rubber sponge 7 strongly, and realize a more reliable waterproof structure.

In the battery packs shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the ridges 5 are integrally formed on the electrode window 2 of the upper case 9A. However, it is not always necessary to provide the ridges around the electrode window. For example, in the battery pack shown in FIG. 6, the electrode window peripheral edge 8 is flat, and a mountain-shaped projection 14 is integrally formed around the electrode projection 3. The ridge 14 also elastically crushes the rubber sponge 7 to provide a waterproof structure. Further, although not shown, a rubber sponge may be elastically crushed between the flat portion of the terminal holder and the inner surface of the upper case without providing a projection on the periphery of the electrode window and the terminal holder, thereby providing a waterproof structure.

[0023]

The battery pack having a waterproof structure according to the present invention has a feature that the electrode windows can be reliably waterproofed, despite being able to mass-produce efficiently and inexpensively with a mold having a simple structure. That is, the battery pack of the present invention has a rubber sponge attached along the outer periphery of the electrode convex portion, and the rubber sponge is elastically crushed by the peripheral edge of the electrode window of the case and the terminal holder, thereby opening the electrode window. This is because the part is waterproofed. In particular, in the battery pack of this structure, the case and the terminal holder crush the rubber sponge provided around the electrode protruding part and waterproof it, so after storing the battery in the case, close the case and close the electrode window. Can be reliably waterproof. Therefore, unlike the conventional structure in which the O-ring is fitted into the guide groove and waterproofed, there is no need to accurately mount the O-ring in the guide groove, and there is a feature that the O-ring can be easily assembled and securely waterproofed. . This is because, when the rubber sponge is sandwiched between the case and the terminal holder, the rubber sponge provided around the protruding portion of the electrode is disposed at a fixed position to reliably waterproof the electrode window.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an electrode window of a conventional battery pack.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an electrode window portion of the battery pack.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an electrode window portion of the battery pack shown in FIG. 3;

5 is a cross-sectional view of an electrode window portion of the battery pack shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an assembled state of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... O-ring 2 ... Electrode window 3 ... Electrode convex part 3A ... Guide groove 4 ... Electrode terminal 5 ... Protrusion 6 ... Terminal holder 7 ... Rubber sponge 8 ... Electrode window periphery 9 ... Case 9A ... Upper case 9B ... Lower case 10 ... Projecting pin 11 ... Mounting rib 12 ... Through-hole 13 ... Lead wire 14 ... Protrusion

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A battery pack comprising a case (9) having an electrode window (2) for exposing the electrode terminal (4) to the outside, wherein the electrode terminal (4) is provided on a terminal holder (6). Electrode protrusion
(3), the electrode protrusion (3) is inserted into the electrode window (2), and the electrode terminal (4) mounted here is connected to the electrode window (2).
A rubber sponge (7) is attached to the terminal holder (6) along the outer periphery of the electrode protrusion (3), and the rubber sponge (7) is mounted on the terminal holder (6). ) Is the periphery of the electrode window (8) of the case (9) and the terminal holder (6).
The electrode window (2)
A battery pack characterized by being sealed in a waterproof structure.