JPH11283610A - Storage battery and pole therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce resistances of a pole and current collecting parts around the pole while keeping a high energy density in a storage battery by providing the pole for a storage battery in which both its own electric resistance of the pole and electric resistance between the pole and a terminal plate can be reduced in comparison with the prior art and a weight can be relatively reduced. SOLUTION: A pole 30 comprises: a columnar penetrating portion 31 penetrating a jar cover; an engaging portion 32 projecting outward of the jar cover from the penetrating portion 31 and engaging with a terminal plate; and an electrode connecting portion 33 extending along the inside face of the jar cover from the penetrating portion 31 and being electrically connected to an electrode (positive or negative) The penetrating portion 31 is thicker than the engaging portion 32, and is formed into a pedestal having an abutting surface 31a in face-contact with the terminal plate engaging with the engaging portion 32. Inside the penetrating portion 31, a recess is bored on the side of the electrode connecting portion 33 (inside of the battery).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a storage battery, and more particularly to an improvement of a pole provided through a battery case and connecting a terminal plate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An alkaline storage battery has a structure in which a power generation element formed by laminating a positive electrode and a negative electrode via a separator and impregnated with an alkaline electrolyte is accommodated in a battery case. Widely used as. Currently, most of the alkaline storage batteries actually used are cylindrical or rectangular and have a small capacity of up to several Ah. However, the use of alkaline storage batteries is expanding, and mobile batteries such as stationary and electric vehicles are being used. Large alkaline storage batteries of several tens Ah to one hundred and several tens Ah have also been developed for use.

Meanwhile, an alkaline storage battery for a moving body such as an electric vehicle is required to have high output characteristics and a high energy density in order to improve the acceleration performance of the moving body. In order to realize high output characteristics, research and development from various aspects such as improvement of positive and negative electrode plates and optimization of separators and electrolytes are also being made. Also, to increase the energy density,
As a material for the battery case, for example, a relatively lightweight alkali-resistant resin such as polypropylene, ABS resin, or modified polyphenylene ether resin is used.

A pole is attached to each storage battery. A plurality of storage batteries are arranged and arranged, and the poles of an adjacent storage battery are connected to each other by a terminal plate. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a conventional general pole for an alkaline storage battery, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of an alkaline storage battery using the pole. As shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 01 denotes an electrode body 120 housed in a battery case main body 111 and sealed with a battery case cover 112.
30 is mounted.

The pole 130 has a columnar projection formed in the center of a rectangular electrode connecting portion 133, and penetrates the battery case lid 112 at the base 131 of the projection. A thread groove is formed on the peripheral surface of the tip side 132. Then, the nut 134 is fastened to the battery case lid 112 with a nut 134 inserted into the thread groove. In addition, an O-ring 136 is inserted into the root 131 of the projection and sealed.

[0006] One end of a terminal plate 160 is engaged with the protruding portion, and the terminal plate 160 is pressed against a nut 134 by a nut 161 and fastened. A current collecting comb 137 is welded to an edge of the electrode connection portion 133. The current collecting comb 137 is connected to a current collecting tab 121 (a positive electrode current collecting tab or a negative electrode current collecting tab) from the electrode body 120.

[0007]

In a storage battery having such a pole, it is important to reduce the resistance of the current-collecting components inside and around the pole. In the pole 130, in order to reduce the internal resistance, it is desirable to form the protrusion as thick as possible. However, the thicker the pole, the larger the weight of the pole 130 and the lower the energy density of the battery. You can't really make it too thick.

[0008] Looking at the resistance between the terminal plate 160 and the pole 130, the terminal plate 160 and the projection are not screwed together and have a small area in direct contact. The contact area between the nuts 134 and 161 is large, and the contact area is large because the nuts 134 and 161 and the projections are screwed together. Therefore, between the terminal plate 160 and the pole 130, mainly the nut 13
4, 161 causes the contact resistance at two locations (d1, d2 and e1, e2 in FIG. 5) to be added, and the resistance during this period tends to increase.

When the nut 134 or the nut 161 is loosened due to creep deformation of the battery case cover 112, the terminal plate 160 and the nuts 134, 16
1 and the contact resistance between the nuts 134 and 161 and the projections tend to be further increased. In order to solve such a problem of the contact resistance, a horizontal surface in contact with the terminal plate is provided, and a bolt portion for tightening the terminal plate is provided on the horizontal surface, as in a pole disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 57-23869. In this case, since the terminal plate and the pole are in surface contact, the resistance between the terminal plate and the pole can be reduced.

However, in this case, it is necessary to make the base of the projection thick in order to form a horizontal plane, and therefore the weight of the pole is considerably increased. The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an electric pole for a storage battery that can reduce the electric resistance of the pole itself and the electric resistance between the pole and the terminal plate as compared with the related art, and can reduce the weight relatively. An object of the present invention is to provide a storage battery with low resistance while maintaining a high energy density of a storage battery and a current collecting component around the pole.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a pole for a storage battery according to the present invention is provided with a penetrating portion penetrating a battery case of a storage battery having electrodes housed in the battery case, and an electric power supply through the penetrating portion. An engaging portion projecting outward from the tank and engaging with the terminal plate; and an electrode connecting portion provided below the penetrating portion and electrically connected to the electrode. A penetrating portion was formed in a pedestal shape thicker than the engaging portion so that the terminal plate engaged with the contact portion could make surface contact, and a recess was formed in the inside from the electrode connecting portion side.

According to this configuration, since the electrode connecting portion is provided below the through portion, the connection with the electrode is easy. Since the penetrating portion is formed thicker than the engaging portion, the electric resistance of the pole itself becomes smaller than that of the conventional case having the same thickness as the engaging portion. Furthermore, since the terminal plate contacts the pedestal provided in the penetrating portion, good direct contact is made between the terminal plate and the pole, and the resistance between the terminal plate and the pole is greatly reduced as compared with the conventional case. be able to.

On the other hand, since the concave portion is formed from the electrode connecting portion to the penetrating portion, even if the penetrating portion is formed to be thick and pedestal-shaped as described above, it can be made relatively light. The effect of reducing the electric resistance of the pole itself is almost the same as when the recess is not formed in the pedestal-shaped through portion. Here, if the electrode connection portion is formed in a plate shape and is electrically connected to the electrode at the edge portion, the weight is reduced.
Low resistance and preferable for electrical connection.

When the through portion has a cylindrical or prismatic appearance, the recess is preferably formed in a column shape coaxial with the through portion. The maximum diameter of the recess is preferably set to 10 to 90% of the maximum diameter of the outer periphery of the through portion. Also, if the penetrating portion is projected from the outer surface of the battery case and a thread groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion, the battery case is sandwiched between the nut and the electrode connection portion fitted in this groove, and the pole is formed. Can be fastened to a battery case.

Such a pole for a storage battery may be formed of at least one material selected from nickel and a nickel alloy, or a pole selected from steel, copper, a copper alloy, aluminum and an aluminum alloy. It is preferable that it is made of a kind or two or more kinds of materials and is made by plating the surface with nickel, because it is easy to manufacture, has good conductivity, and is cost-effective.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [Configuration of Battery] FIG.
FIG. 2 is an external view of an alkaline storage battery equipped with a storage battery pole according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part including the pole of the alkaline storage battery. As shown in the figure, in the storage battery 1, an electrode body 20 in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are laminated via a separator and impregnated with an alkaline electrolyte is housed in a battery case body 11, The opening is sealed with a battery case lid 12.

The battery case body 11 and the battery case cover 12 are both formed of an alkali-resistant resin. The battery case lid 12 includes a positive pole 30a for the positive electrode, a negative pole 30b for the negative electrode, and a safety valve 5
0 is attached. The alkaline storage battery 1 is used as a power source for an automobile. In practice, a plurality of alkaline storage batteries 1 are stacked, and poles 30a, 30b of adjacent storage batteries are connected in series by terminal plates 60a, 60b. Used in conjunction with.

The pole 30a and the pole 30b have the same configuration. [About the structure and manufacturing method of the pole]
0a and 30b) will be described. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the pole. As shown in FIGS.
A cylindrical penetrating part 31 penetrating the battery case lid 12, an engaging part 32 extending from the penetrating part 31 to the outside of the battery case lid 12 and engaging with the terminal plate 60, An electrode connection portion 33 extends from 31 along the inner surface of the battery case cover 12 and is electrically connected to the positive or negative electrode of the electrode body 20.

The penetrating portion 31 is thicker than the engaging portion 32, and the terminal plate 60 (60a, 60
b) is formed in a pedestal shape having an abutting surface 31a that makes surface contact. A recess 34 is formed in the through portion 31 from the electrode connection portion 33 side (that is, from the inside of the battery). The recess 34 is formed in a cylindrical shape coaxial with the axis of the through portion 31.

The engaging portion 32 is also cylindrical and has a penetrating portion 31.
It is erected above. The contact surface 31a of the penetration portion 31
Is formed around the base of the engaging portion 32, and the terminal plate 60 engaged with the engaging portion 32 is
And come into surface contact. A thread groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the engaging portion 32, and the nut 61 (6
1a, 61b) are inserted, and the terminal plate 60 is fastened on the through portion 31 by the nut 61 and pressed against the contact surface 31a.

The electrode connecting portion 33 is in the shape of a rectangular plate, and is formed entirely along the inner surface of the battery case cover 12.
The electrode connecting portion 33 has edge protruding portions 3 protruding inward of the battery along both sides in the electrode laminating direction.
3a are formed. A current collecting comb 37 is joined to the edge projection 33a. The current collecting comb 37 has a current collecting tab 2 attached to the positive electrode or the negative electrode of the electrode body 20.
1 is connected.

As described above, the pole 30 is connected to the electrode connecting portion 33.
Is connected to the current collecting comb at the edge protruding portion 33a, so that this portion can be easily connected at the time of manufacturing the battery. The penetrating part 31 is provided with the battery case lid 12.
And a thread groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion. In this thread groove, nut 35
(35a, 35b) are inserted and fastened, and the pole 30 is fixed to the battery case lid 12 by holding the battery case lid 12 between the nut 35 and the electrode connecting portion 33.

In order to fix the pole to the battery case lid, a self-locking type such as a spring plate nut may be used instead of the nut 35. In this case, a thread groove on the outer peripheral surface of the through portion 31 is used. Is not particularly necessary, and may be in a state where the spring plate nut can be fixed to the pole. An O-ring 36 is inserted into the base of the through portion 31 (on the side of the electrode connecting portion 33), thereby sealing the space between the O-ring 36 and the battery case lid 12.

In order to further improve the sealing performance, an asphalt pitch-based or Teflon-based sealing agent may be applied to the O-ring portion. Such a pole 30 is made of a metal such as nickel, steel, copper, or aluminum, or an alloy such as a nickel alloy, a copper alloy, or an aluminum alloy, or a material obtained by mixing these materials. Alternatively, the entire thread groove can be easily formed by a cutting method after being molded by a casting method or a forging method.

Further, the recess 34 may be formed by cutting, or the entire pole 30 may be formed by cutting. Alternatively, the pole 30 can be manufactured by a powder sintering method, or the through-hole 31, the engaging part 32, and the electrode connecting part 33 can be separately manufactured and welded to each other. The pillar 30 can also be manufactured.

It is preferable to form a metal or alloy other than nickel or a nickel alloy on the surface after forming the pole 30 as described above, since the corrosion resistance can be further improved. [Effect of Polar Pole] The polar pole 30 having the above configuration is shown in FIG.
5 has the following effects as compared with the conventional polar pole 130 shown in FIG.

First, regarding the contact resistance between the terminal plate and the pole, in the case of the pole 130, as described above, the gap between the terminal plate 160 and the pole 130 is mainly white in FIG. As shown by pull-out arrows D and E, the nut 13
4, 161 via contact surfaces (d in FIG. 5)
1, d2 and e1, e2), the electric current flows, so that a corresponding contact resistance is added.

On the other hand, in the case of the pole 30, the terminal plate 60
A part of the flow between the nut and the pole 30 also flows through the nut 61 as shown by a white arrow B in FIG. 2, but mainly flows directly through the surface as shown by a white arrow A in FIG. Since the fluid flows via the contacting portion, the contact resistance can be significantly reduced as compared with the case of the pole 130. Next, looking at the resistance in the pole, an electric flow path (shown by an outline arrow F in FIG. 5) from the contact point with the terminal plate 160 on the pole 130 and the terminal on the pole 30 Comparing the electric flow path from the point of contact with the plate 60 to the edge projection 33a (indicated by the white arrow C in FIG. 2), the latter has a shorter distance to pass through the electrode connection part (ie,
The white arrow C has a shorter horizontal length than the white arrow F).

Therefore, it can be said that the pole 30 has a smaller resistance in the pole than the pole 130. Also, in terms of weight, the pole 30 can be almost as light as the pole 130. In addition, in the case of a pole similar to the pole 30 and not forming the concave portion 34, the same effect as the pole 30 can be obtained in terms of resistance, but the weight is considerably larger than that of the pole 30. In other words, in the pole 30, by forming the concave portion 34, the resistance is equal and the weight can be significantly reduced as compared with such a pole.

Next, considering the size of the recessed portion 34 to be bored, in order to make the pole 30 as light as possible,
It is preferable that the depth of the concave portion 34 be set as large as possible without impairing the strength of the pole 30. Also, it is preferable to set the diameter of the recess 34 as large as possible within a range where the resistance in the electric flow path indicated by the outlined arrow C does not increase. Generally, the diameter of the recess 34 is
It can be said that it is preferable to set the diameter in the range of 10 to 90% with respect to the diameter of the through portion 31.

[0031]

(Example) (Example) Based on the above embodiment, 10
A 0 Ah alkaline storage battery was produced. The battery case main body 11 and the battery case cover 12 are made of polypropylene.
And the battery case lid 12 were welded by heat welding.

The electrode body 20 was manufactured using 15 positive electrode plates and 16 negative electrode plates. The pole 30 was made of a steel material, and its surface was plated with nickel. The diameter of the concave portion 34 was set to 70% of the diameter of the through portion 31. The joining of the current collecting tab 21 to the current collecting comb 37 and the joining between the edge protruding portion 33a of the electrode connecting portion 33 and the current collecting comb 37 were performed by laser welding.

(Comparative Example 1) An alkaline storage battery was manufactured in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, except that the pole 30 was replaced with a pole similar to the pole 30 without a recess. (Comparative Example 2) An alkaline storage battery was manufactured in the same manner as in the above embodiment, but the pole 1 shown in FIGS.
The pole made based on No. 30 was used.

[Experiment] Weight was measured for each of the poles of Example and Comparative Examples 1 and 2. Further, using the alkaline storage batteries of Examples and Comparative Examples 1 and 2, a terminal plate was attached to each battery, and the battery was fixed by tightening a nut with a tightening torque of 120 kgf · cm.

Then, the resistance value at the pole of the negative electrode was measured as follows. After cutting the battery case around the pole of the negative electrode, while charging at 100 A, the voltage drop between the negative terminal plate and the negative current collecting comb was measured, and the measured voltage drop was measured as a current value (100 A). The value divided by was defined as the resistance value. Table 1 shows the experimental results. In Table 1,
The pole weight and resistance were set to 100 for Comparative Example 2.
It is shown by the index at the time.

[0036]

[Table 1]

From Table 1, it can be seen that in the examples, compared to the comparative example 2,
It can be seen that the resistance value is greatly reduced and the pole weight is slightly reduced. In addition, it can be seen that in the example, as compared with the comparative example 1, the weight of the pole was significantly reduced and the resistance values were substantially equal. (Other Matters) In the above embodiment, the penetration portion 3
Although the first and concave portions 34 are formed in a columnar shape, they may be formed in a prismatic shape.

In the above embodiment, the recess 34 is
Although the hole is formed so as to be coaxial with the axis of the penetrating portion 31, the same effect can be obtained even if the hole is not necessarily coaxial. However, it is preferable to form them coaxially in order to reduce the resistance and weight.
In the above-described embodiment, the electrode connecting portion 33 is formed in a rectangular plate shape. However, the electrode connecting portion 33 may be formed in a circular plate shape, for example. It may have a portion extending from the penetrating portion along the inner surface of the tank lid and may be connected to the electrode at that portion, but it is considered to be preferably formed in a plate shape for low resistance and light weight .

The shape of the engaging portion 32 is not necessarily limited to the cylindrical rod shape, but may be, for example, a prismatic rod shape.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been given by taking the prismatic alkaline storage battery as an example. However, the present invention is applicable to a cylindrical storage battery or any type of storage battery without any limitation on the shape and type of the storage battery.

[0040]

According to the present invention, a pole for a storage battery according to the present invention has a penetrating portion penetrating a battery case of a storage battery in which electrodes are accommodated in a battery case, and a terminal extending from the penetrating portion to extend outside the battery case. A terminal plate that has an engagement portion with which the plate is engaged and an electrode connection portion that is provided below the through portion and is electrically connected to the electrode, wherein the terminal plate that engages with the engagement portion makes surface contact. By forming a penetrating portion in a pedestal shape thicker than the engaging portion so as to make it possible to form a concave portion from the electrode connecting portion side inside,
The connection with the electrode is easy, the resistance between the terminal plate and the pole can be significantly reduced and the weight can be made relatively light.

Here, if the penetrating portion is made to protrude from the outer surface of the battery case and a thread groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion, the battery case is sandwiched between the nut fitted in this groove and the electrode connection portion. Thus, the pole can be fastened to the battery case. Further, such a storage battery pole may be formed of at least one material selected from nickel and a nickel alloy.
Alternatively, it may be formed of one or more materials selected from iron, steel, copper, copper alloy, aluminum, and aluminum alloy, and plated with nickel on the surface.
It is easy to manufacture, has good conductivity, and is preferable in terms of cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an alkaline storage battery provided with a storage battery pole according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part including a pole of the alkaline storage battery shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a pole according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a conventional general pole.

5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a storage battery using the pole shown in FIG.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Alkaline storage battery 11 Battery case main body 12 Battery case lid 20 Electrode body 21 Current collecting tab 30 Polar column 31 Penetrating part 31a Contact surface 32 Engaging part 33 Electrode connecting part 33a Projecting part 34 Depression 35 Nut 37 Electric comb 60 Terminal plate 61 Nut

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A penetrating portion of a storage battery in which an electrode is housed in a battery case, the penetrating portion penetrating through the battery case, and an engaging portion that extends from the penetrating portion to the outside of the battery case and is engaged with a terminal plate. A storage battery pole having a joining portion and an electrode connecting portion provided below the through portion and electrically connected to the electrode, wherein the through portion is a terminal plate that engages with the engaging portion. Is formed in a pedestal shape thicker than the engaging portion so as to be able to make surface contact, and a concave portion is formed in the inside thereof from the electrode connection portion side. 2. The pole for a storage battery according to claim 1, wherein the electrode connecting portion has a plate shape, and is electrically connected to the electrode at an edge portion thereof. 3. The pole for a storage battery according to claim 1, wherein the through portion has a columnar or prismatic appearance, and the recess has a coaxial columnar shape. 4. The pole for a storage battery according to claim 3, wherein the maximum diameter of the concave portion is 10 to 90% of the maximum diameter of the outer periphery of the through portion. 5. The storage battery according to claim 3, wherein the through portion protrudes from an outer surface of the battery case, and a thread groove is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion. Pole. 6. The storage battery pole according to claim 1, wherein the pole is formed of at least one material selected from nickel and a nickel alloy.
6. The pole for a storage battery according to any one of items 1 to 5. 7. The storage battery pole pole is formed of one or more materials selected from iron, steel, copper, copper alloy, aluminum, and aluminum alloy, and has a surface plated with nickel. The pole for a storage battery according to claim 1. 8. A storage battery using the storage battery pole according to any one of claims 1 to 7.