This nonprovisional application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-168086 filed on Oct. 20, 2022 with the Japan Patent Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
The present technology relates to a battery module.
As indicated in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2012-014962, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2016-157586, WO 2021/033476, and WO 2020/194929, it has been conventionally known to position a battery cell in a battery module.
A battery module used for a vehicle or the like may be vibrated due to an external environment. Also in such a case, it is required to precisely position a battery cell.
It is an object of the present technology to provide a battery module to precisely position a stack including battery cells even when vibrated.
The present technology provides the following battery module.
[1] A battery module comprising: a stack including a plurality of battery cells arranged side by side in a first direction, each of the plurality of battery cells having a housing with a prismatic shape and an electrode terminal provided on the housing; a restraint member that restrains the stack along the first direction, the restraint member being provided to be arranged side by side with the plurality of battery cells in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a cover member having an insulating property, the cover member being provided to cover the stack from a side opposite to the electrode terminal in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, wherein a reference plane for positioning the stack in the third direction is provided, the cover member includes a biasing portion that biases the stack in a direction away from the cover member, and the biasing portion biases the stack to press the stack against the reference plane.
[2] The battery module according to [1], wherein the restraint member includes a facing portion that faces the stack from a side opposite to the cover member in the third direction, and the reference plane is constituted of the facing portion.
[3] The battery module according to [1] or [2], wherein the cover member includes a protuberance that protrudes toward the stack, and when the stack is moved in a direction toward the cover member against a biasing force of the biasing portion, the protuberance is brought into abutment with the stack to support the stack.
[4] The battery module according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the biasing portion includes a plate spring provided on the cover member.
[5] The battery module according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the biasing portion is provided to be symmetrical with respect to a center of the cover member in the second direction.
[6] The battery module according to any one of [1] to [5], wherein the cover member is provided with a through hole at a position overlapping with the biasing portion in the third direction.
[7] The battery module according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein the stack further includes a case that accommodates the plurality of battery cells, that supports the plurality of battery cells in at least the first direction, and that forms a unit including the plurality of battery cells.
[8] The battery module according to [7], wherein the unit includes two or more battery cells, and each of the two or more battery cells has an output density of 8000 W/L or more.
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present technology will be described. It should be noted that the same or corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference characters, and may not be described repeatedly.
It should be noted that in the embodiments described below, when reference is made to number, amount, and the like, the scope of the present technology is not necessarily limited to the number, amount, and the like unless otherwise stated particularly. Further, in the embodiments described below, each component is not necessarily essential to the present technology unless otherwise stated particularly. Further, the present technology is not limited to one that necessarily exhibits all the functions and effects stated in the present embodiment.
It should be noted that in the present specification, the terms “comprise”, “include”, and “have” are open-end terms. That is, when a certain configuration is included, a configuration other than the foregoing configuration may or may not be included.
Also, in the present specification, when geometric terms and terms representing positional/directional relations are used, for example, when terms such as “parallel”, “orthogonal”, “obliquely at 45°”, “coaxial”, and “along” are used, these terms permit manufacturing errors or slight fluctuations. In the present specification, when terms representing relative positional relations such as “upper side” and “lower side” are used, each of these terms is used to indicate a relative positional relation in one state, and the relative positional relation may be reversed or turned at any angle in accordance with an installation direction of each mechanism (for example, the entire mechanism is reversed upside down).
In the present specification, the term “battery” is not limited to a lithium ion battery, and may include other batteries such as a nickel-metal hydride battery and a sodium ion battery. In the present specification, the term “electrode” may collectively represent a positive electrode and a negative electrode.
Each of
Referring to
In the present specification, for convenience of description of the structure of battery module 1, the “Y axis” represents an axis extending in parallel with a stacking direction of a plurality of below-described battery cells 11, the “X axis” represents an axis extending in a direction orthogonal to the Y axis, and the “Z axis” represents an axis extending in a direction orthogonal to the Y axis and the X axis. An obliquely rightward upward direction in the plane of sheet of
First, an overall structure of battery module 1 will be described. As shown in
The plurality of battery cell units 21 are arranged side by side in the Y axis direction. Battery cell unit 21A, battery cell unit 21B, battery cell unit 21C, battery cell unit 21D, battery cell unit 21E, and battery cell unit 21F are arranged side by side in this order from the negative side to the positive side in the Y axis direction. It should be noted that the number of battery cell units 21 included in battery module 1 is not particularly limited as long as two or more battery cell units 21 are included.
As shown in
In each battery cell unit 21, two battery cells 11 are arranged side by side continuously in the Y axis direction. It should be noted that the number of battery cells 11 included in each battery cell unit 21 is not particularly limited as long as a plurality of battery cells 11 are included.
Each of battery cells 11 is a lithium ion battery. As an example, battery cell 11 can have an output density of 8000 W/L or more. Battery cell 11 has a prismatic shape. More specifically, battery cell 11 has a thin plate shape in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped. The plurality of battery cells 11 are stacked such that the Y axis direction corresponds to the thickness direction of each battery cell 11.
Each of battery cells 11 has an exterior package 12. Exterior package 12 is constituted of a housing having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and forms the external appearance of battery cell 11. An electrode assembly and an electrolyte solution are accommodated in exterior package 12.
Exterior package 12 has a cell side surface 13, a cell side surface 14, and a cell top surface 15. Each of cell side surface 13 and cell side surface 14 is constituted of a flat surface orthogonal to the Y axis direction. Cell side surface 13 and cell side surface 14 are oriented oppositely in the Y axis direction. Each of cell side surface 13 and cell side surface 14 has the largest area among the areas of the plurality of side surfaces of exterior package 12. Cell top surface 15 is constituted of a flat surface orthogonal to the Z axis direction. Cell top surface 15 is oriented in the +Z axis direction.
Battery cell 11 further has a gas-discharge valve 17. Gas-discharge valve 17 is provided in cell top surface 15. Gas-discharge valve 17 is provided at the center portion of cell top surface 15 in the X axis direction. When internal pressure of exterior package 12 becomes more than or equal to a predetermined value due to gas generated inside exterior package 12, gas-discharge valve 17 discharges the gas to the outside of exterior package 12. The gas from gas-discharge valve 17 flows through a below-described duct 71 and is discharged to the outside of battery module 1.
Battery cell 11 further has electrode terminals 16 including a pair of a positive electrode terminal 16P and a negative electrode terminal 16N. Electrode terminals 16 are provided on cell top surface 15. Positive electrode terminal 16P and negative electrode terminal 16N are provided on both sides with gas-discharge valve 17 being interposed therebetween in the X axis direction.
Case body 31 has a rectangular parallelepiped appearance. Case body 31 is composed of a resin. In each battery cell unit 21, case body 31 accommodates a plurality of battery cells 11. Case body 31 has a case top portion 32. Case top portion 32 has a wall shape having a thickness direction corresponding to the Z axis direction with case top portion 32 being disposed in parallel with the X-Y axes plane.
As shown in
As shown in
The pair of end plates 42 are disposed at both ends beside the plurality of battery cells 11 (the plurality of battery cell units 21) in the Y axis direction. End plate 42P faces battery cell unit 21A in the Y axis direction, and end plate 42Q faces battery cell unit 21F in the Y axis direction.
The pair of binding bars 43 are disposed at both ends of the stack of battery cells 11 in the X axis direction (second direction). That is, the pair of bind bars 43 are provided to be arranged side by side with the plurality of battery cell units 21 and end plates 42 in the X axis direction. Each of binding bars 43 extends in the Y axis direction. An end portion of binding bar 43 in the −Y axis direction is connected to end plate 42P by a bolt 44. An end portion of binding bar 43 in the +Y axis direction is connected to end plate 42Q by a bolt 44. The pair of binding bars 43 and the pair of end plates 42 apply a restraint force in the Y axis direction onto the plurality of battery cells 11 (the plurality of battery cell units 21). It should be noted that a retainer may be further provided which extends in the X axis direction with the retainer intersecting a below-described duct 71 and which is connected to the pair of binding bars 43 at both end portions thereof.
Stud bolts 45 are attached to end plates 42. Battery module 1 is fixed to a supporting mechanism (such as a pack case) via stud bolts 45.
Battery module 1 further has duct 71 and a cover body 51.
Duct 71 is composed of a resin such as polybutylene terephthalate resin (PBT resin). Duct 71 extends in the Y axis direction with duct 71 facing the plurality of battery cells 11 (the plurality of battery cell units 21) in the Z axis direction (third direction). Duct 71 is an elongated body extending in the Y axis direction. Duct 71 forms a path through which gas discharged from each of the plurality of battery cells 11 flows. Duct 71 is attached to an attachment-target member 30. Attachment-target member 30 is a member held by battery cells 11, and, in the present embodiment, is constituted of the plurality of case bodies 31 arranged side by side in the Y axis direction.
Cover body 51 is composed of a resin. Cover body 51 is provided to cover the plurality of battery cells 11 in the Z axis direction. Cover body 51 is provided to face case top portions 32 of case bodies 31 in the Z axis direction. Cover body 51 is provided to further cover duct 71.
A bottom-portion cover body 81 (cover member) shown in
As shown in
Bottom-portion cover body 81 is provided with: through holes 100 provided at the center in the X axis direction; plate springs 200 and through holes 300 provided on both sides in the X axis direction with respect to through holes 100; protuberances 400 provided at both end portions in the X axis direction; and groove portions 500 provided in corner portions at four corners thereof.
Through holes 100, 300 are provided in a region 600 of bottom-portion cover body 81 on the center side in the X axis direction (second direction). Through holes 100, 300 constitute a “first drainage portion” located at the center portion of bottom-portion cover body 81 in the X axis direction. Groove portions 500 are provided in regions 700 at the end portions of bottom-portion cover body 81 in the X axis direction (second direction). Groove portions 500 constitute a “second drainage portion” located at each of the end portions (four corners) of bottom-portion cover body 81 in the X axis direction and the Y axis direction. A liquid such as dew condensation water accumulated on bottom surface 81A of bottom-portion cover body 81 is drained from bottom-portion cover body 81 via through holes 100, 300 and groove portions 500.
In region 600, bottom surface 81A of bottom-portion cover body 81 has an inclined surface that is inclined downward (−Z axis direction) toward through holes 100 located at the center in the X axis direction. Thus, when battery module 1 is installed horizontally as a whole, the liquid accumulated on region 600 is likely to flow toward through holes 100, thereby promoting drainage of the liquid. It should be noted that the formation of the inclined surface described above is not an essential configuration in the present technology.
In an example, each of through holes 100 is a circular hole having a diameter of about 7 mm, each of through holes 300 is a quadrangular hole of about 6 mm (Y axis direction)×8 mm (X axis direction), and each of groove portions 500 has a width (X axis direction) of about 10 mm. It should be noted that the shapes and sizes of through holes 100, 300 and groove portion 500 are not limited to those described above, and can be changed appropriately.
Each of protuberances 400 provided in regions 700 has a substantially circular cross sectional shape as an example, but may have a cross sectional shape different from the substantially circular cross sectional shape, such as a substantially polygonal cross sectional shape. With protuberance 400 having the substantially circular cross sectional shape, resistance against flow of the liquid such as dew condensation water drained from region 700 via groove portion 500 can be reduced.
In the present embodiment, as an example, six sets of plate springs 200 and twelve sets of protuberances 400 are provided for six battery cell units 21 in the Y axis direction. The number and arrangement of plate springs 200 and protuberances 400 can be changed appropriately.
The size of each of protuberances 400 can also be changed appropriately. As an example, the diameter (for example, about 4 mm) and shape (circular shape) of top surface 400A can be set to avoid plastic deformation of case body 31 of battery cell unit 21 even under application of a predetermined load (for example, 120 N).
Each of plate springs 200 (biasing portion) biases the stack in a direction away from bottom-portion cover body 81 (+Z axis direction). Plate spring 200 may be formed in one piece with bottom surface 81A and wall surface portions 81B of bottom-portion cover body 81 by integral molding, or may be formed as a separate member and attached thereto. Plate spring 200 is provided at a position overlapping with through hole 300 in the Z axis direction. Plate spring 200 is formed to extend upward from an edge of through hole 300. Plate springs 200 and through holes 300 are symmetrically provided with respect to the center of bottom-portion cover body 81 in the X axis direction.
The plurality of through holes 100 are formed side by side along the Y axis direction and the plurality of through holes 300 are formed side by side along the Y axis direction. Each through hole 100 and each through hole 300 are formed at positions displaced from each other in the Y axis direction. That is, through holes 100, 300 are arranged in a zigzag manner.
A specification of bottom-portion cover body 81 can be changed appropriately. In an example, the material (hardness) of bottom-portion cover body 81, the thickness of bottom surface 81A, the diameter of each through hole 100, and the like are set to avoid a predetermined test finger from being brought into contact with battery cell 11 when the test finger is pressed into through hole 100 in accordance with a method compliant with, for example, JISC 0920.
As shown in
When battery module 1 is used for a vehicle, a ship, or the like, battery module 1 may be inclined due to an external environment. When battery module 1 is inclined, liquid 800 is brought to an end portion of bottom-portion cover body 81 in the X axis direction as shown in
Thus, in battery module 1 according to the present embodiment, even when battery module 1 is inclined due to an external environment, dew condensation water or the like can be drained smoothly.
As shown in
Thus, in battery module 1, by plate springs 200 and binding bars 43, the plurality of battery cell units 21 can be precisely positioned in the Z axis direction. In particular, a simple and precise positioning method can be provided in a step of stacking the plurality of battery cell units 21 and restraining them in the Y axis direction.
As described above, bottom-portion cover body 81 includes protuberances 400 each protruding toward battery cell unit 21. Protruding heights of the plurality of protuberances 400 are substantially the same. Part of the plurality of protuberances 400 may have a different height.
When battery module 1 is vibrated due to an external environment to move each of battery cell units 21 downward (direction toward bottom-portion cover body 81) against the biasing force of each plate spring 200, top surface 400A of each protuberance 400 is brought into abutment with the stack of battery cell units 21 to support the stack of battery cell units 21 as shown in
Thus, in battery module 1 according to the present embodiment, even when battery module 1 is inclined, dew condensation water or the like accumulated on bottom-portion cover body 81 can be drained smoothly, and even when battery module 1 is vibrated, the stack of the plurality of battery cell units 21 can be precisely positioned.
Further, in battery module 1, by forming battery cell units 21 that each accommodate the plurality of battery cells 11 in case body 31 with the plurality of battery cells 11 being arranged side by side in the Y axis direction and by forming battery module 1 by arranging the plurality of battery cell units 21 side by side in the Y axis direction, a manufacturing process can be simplified as compared with a case where battery module 1 is manufactured based on each of the plurality of battery cells 11 as one unit.
In battery module 1, by forming battery cell units 21 that each accommodate the plurality of battery cells 11 in case body 31, battery module 1 can be readily disassembled or replaced based on each battery cell unit 21 as a unit.
In battery module 1, by forming battery cell units 21 that each accommodate the plurality of battery cells 11 in case body 31, battery module 1 can be divided based on each battery cell unit 21 as one unit in order to lower the voltage to be handled when discarding battery module 1. Therefore, battery module 1 can be readily discarded.
In battery module 1, since two or more battery cells 11 are included in one unit and each of two or more battery cells 11 is set to have an output density of about 8000 W/L or more, a power supply device having a predetermined voltage or higher can be formed based on each unit.
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2022-168086 | Oct 2022 | JP | national |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20240136623 A1 | Apr 2024 | US |