Patent Application
20200083514
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a battery pack and a battery cell.
Conventionally, battery packs are known, which include metal-case battery cells including electrodes on the top walls, and holders for supporting the battery cells.
Patent Literature 1: WO 2013/073046
It is preferable to provide such a battery back with a novel configuration and less inconvenience, for example.
A battery pack of an embodiment includes a plurality of battery cells, for example. The battery cells are aligned in a first direction, and each include a positive electrode terminal having one of a male structure and a female structure of a shape to be fitted to the male structure by press-fitting, and a negative electrode terminal having the other of the male structure and the female structure.
The following discloses exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The configurations of the embodiments and actions and results (effects) brought about by the configurations described below are merely exemplary. The present invention can also be achieved by configurations other than those disclosed in the following embodiments. The present invention can attain at least one of various effects (including derivative effects) obtained by the configurations.
The following describes exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments include similar or same elements. Thus, in the following, similar or same elements are denoted by common reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions are omitted. In the present specification, ordinals are used for distinguishing parts and members alone and are not intended to indicate order or priority.
The battery cell 2 includes, for example, a lithium-ion secondary battery. The battery cell 2 may be another secondary battery such as a nickel-hydrogen battery or a nickel-cadmium battery. The lithium-ion secondary battery is one type of non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, in which lithium ions in the electrolyte assume electrical conduction. Examples of the positive electrode material include, for example, lithium-manganese composite oxide, lithium-nickel composite oxide, lithium-cobalt composite oxide, lithium-nickel-cobalt composite oxide, lithium-manganese-cobalt composite oxide, spinel-type lithium-manganese-cobalt composite oxide, or lithium-phosphorus oxide having an olivine structure. Examples of the negative electrode material include, for example, an oxide-based material such as lithium titanate (LTO), or an oxide material such as niobium composite oxide. Examples of the electrolyte (for example, electrolytic solution) include, for example, sole or combination of organic solvent mixed with lithium salt such as fluorine complex salt (for example, LiBF4, LiPF6) such as ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, diethyl carbonate, or ethyl methyl carbonate, dimethyl carbonate. The battery cell 2 is also referred to as a cell.
As illustrated in
The walls 20a to 20d are located at the peripheral edges of the wall 20e, and extend between the wall 20e and the wall 20f. The wall 20a and the wall 20c both extend in the direction orthogonal to the Z direction (X-Y plane) and are spaced apart from each other in parallel in the Z direction. The walls 20a and 20c are referred to as lateral walls or peripheral walls, and form two long sides of the four sides of the housing 20. One of the walls 20a and 20c can be provided with a valve for gas venting. The valve is opened to reduce the pressure inside the housing 20 when the pressure exceeds a threshold.
The wall 20b and the wall 20d both extend in the direction orthogonal to the Y direction (X-Z plane) and are spaced apart from each other in the Y direction. The walls 20b and 20d are referred to as lateral walls or peripheral walls, and form two short sides of the four sides of the housing 20. One of the walls 20b and 20d is provided with the positive electrode terminal 26, and the other is provided with the negative electrode terminal 27.
The battery cells 2 are aligned in the X direction with outer faces 20i of the respective walls 20e face in the same direction (upward). The battery cells 2 are arranged such that the positive electrode terminals 26 and the negative electrode terminals 27 are arranged alternately in the X direction. With such a configuration, in the first embodiment, connections 22 between the positive electrode terminals 26 and the negative electrode terminals 27 are arranged alternately at both sides (left and right) in the Y direction. The X direction is one example of a first direction, and the Y direction is one example of a second direction.
The insulation plates 3 have a rectangular shape extending in the direction orthogonal to the X direction (Y-Z plane). The size of the insulation plates 3 is substantially the same as the size of the walls 20e and 20f. Each insulation plate 3 is located between every two adjacent battery cells 2 in the X direction. The insulation plates 3 and the battery cells 2 are stacked alternately in the X direction.
In the first embodiment, the two adjacent battery cells 2 in the X direction are mechanically and electrically connected to each other by press-fitting of male and female structures illustrated in
Each positive electrode terminal 26 includes a base 26a and a connection 26b provided with the projection 26c, for example. Similarly, each negative electrode terminal 27 includes a base 27a and a connection 27b provided with the recess 27d, for example. The bases 26a and 27a and the connections 26b and 27b are integrated (joined) together by welding, for instance. The connections 26b and 27b are also referred to as connection terminals.
The connection 27b is provided with a projection 27c that projects in the opposite X direction (downward). The projection 27c has a cylindrical shape along the projection 26c, for example. Inside the cylinder of the projection 27c is the recess 27d having an opening width (diameter) that is substantially the same as or slightly smaller than the diameter of the projection 26c. The projection 26c is not limited to this example, and may have a solid columnar shape, for example.
As in the foregoing, in the first embodiment, each of the battery cells 2 includes the positive electrode terminal 26 provided with the projection 26c, and the negative electrode terminal 27 provided with the recess 27d of a shape to be fitted to the projection 26c by press-fitting, for example. By such a configuration, electrically connecting the battery cells 2 can be facilitated due to the projections 26c and the recesses 27d, which can reduce the time and effort needed for the manufacture (assembling work) of the battery pack 1, for example.
In the first embodiment, the projections 26c and the recesses 27d extend in the X direction in which the battery cells 2 are aligned, for example. With such a configuration, electrically connecting the two adjacent battery cells 2 in the X direction can be facilitated due to the projections 26c and the recesses 27d, and the battery cells 2 can be more firmly integrated together in the X direction, for example.
In the first embodiment, in the row of the battery cells 2 in the X direction, the connections 22 formed by the projections 26c and the recesses 27d are alternately arranged at both sides in the Y direction, for example. With such a configuration, the battery cells 2 aligned in the X direction are relatively easily connected to one another via the connections 22, whereby a series circuit of the battery cells 2 can be formed relatively easily, for example.
A battery pack 1A of a second embodiment illustrated in
However, the second embodiment, as illustrated in
Bases 25a of the positive electrode terminal 25A and the negative electrode terminal 25B are integrated (joined) with connections 25b of the same configuration by welding. That is, the connection 25b of the positive electrode terminal 25A and the connection 25b of the negative electrode terminal 25B are the same components. The male connector 25c and the female connector 25d both project from the connections 25b in the Y direction, that is, oppositely to the battery cell 2A, and are aligned in the Z direction. The positive electrode terminal 25A and the negative electrode terminal 25B are arranged such that their respective male and female connectors 25c and 25d are rotationally symmetric to each other. The connections 25b are also referred to as connection terminals.
As illustrated in
In the second embodiment as in the foregoing, the positive electrode terminals 25A and the negative electrode terminals 25B each include the male connector 25c and the female connector 25d. With such a configuration, for example, the battery cells 2A can be more readily connected by connecting the pairs of the male connectors 25c and the female connectors 25d, which can reduce the time and effort needed for the manufacture (assembling work) of the battery pack 1A, as with the first embodiment. It is also possible to integrate the battery cells 2A more firmly.
A battery pack 1B of a first modification illustrated in
However, the first modification, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As in the foregoing, in the first modification, the battery cells 2A are electrically connected via the conductive members 28 including the male connectors 28c and the female connectors 28d of the same configurations as those of the male connectors 25c and the female connectors 25d of the positive electrode terminals 25A (negative electrode terminals 25B), for example. With such a configuration, the battery cells 2A can be more readily electrically connected by connecting the male connectors 25c and 28c and the female connectors 25d and 28d by press-fitting, which can reduce the time and effort needed for the manufacture (assembling work) of the battery pack 1B, for example.
A battery pack IC of a second modification illustrated in
However, the second modification, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
The second modification describes the example of connecting the two adjacent battery cells 2A in the X direction via the conductive members 28A. However, it is not limited to such an example. The male connector 25c and the female connector 25d of the positive electrode terminal 25A and the male connector 25c and the female connector 25d of the negative electrode terminal 25B may be directly connected by folding back the connection 25b of the positive electrode terminal 25A (negative electrode terminal 25B) around the Z-directional axis and press-fitting them, for example.
A battery pack 1D of a third embodiment illustrated in
However, the third embodiment, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
A battery pack 1E of a fourth embodiment illustrated in
However, the fourth embodiment, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
The first member 31 is integrated (joined) with the positive electrode terminals 23 of one of the two adjacent battery cells 2E in the X direction by welding, for example. The second member 32 is integrated (joined) with the negative electrode terminals 24 of the other of the two adjacent battery cells 2E in the X direction by welding, for example. The first member 31 and the second member 32 are integrated (joined) with each other with bolts 41 and nuts 42, by inserting the bolts 41 through the first and second members 31 and 32 in the Y direction and fitting into the nuts 42. The bolts 41 and the nuts 42 are one example of a fastener.
As in the foregoing, in the fourth embodiment, the positive electrode terminals 23 of one of the two battery cells 2 and the negative electrode terminals 24 of the other are electrically connected via the busbar 30, for example. With such a configuration, the battery cells 2E each including the positive electrode terminals 23 (negative electrode terminals 24) can be more easily connected to each other via the busbar 30, for example.
Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment, each busbar 30 includes the first member 31 that is electrically connected to the positive electrode terminals 23 of one of the two battery cells 2E, and the second member 32 that is electrically connected to the negative electrode terminals 24 of the other and to the first member 31 with the bolt 41 and the nut 42, for example. With such a configuration, due to the division of the first member 31 and the second member 32, it is possible to electrically connect the battery cells 2E more easily, more smoothly, or more accurately, for example.
The fourth embodiment has described the example in which the first member 31 and the second member 32 are integrated (joined) with the bolt 41 and the nut 42, however, it is not limited to such an example. For instance, as in a first modification illustrated in
A battery pack 1G of a fifth embodiment illustrated in
However, the fifth embodiment, as illustrated in
Positive electrode terminals 23 and negative electrode terminals 24 each include a plurality of bases (not depicted) and connections 23b and 24b that are connectable to the busbars 35. The connections 23b and 24b and the bases are integrated (joined) together by welding, for example. The connections 23b and 24b are also referred to as connection terminals.
The connections 23b and 24b are each provided with a female screw 21. The female screw 21 engages with the male screw of a screw 45 penetrating through the busbar 35 in the Y direction, thereby electrically and mechanically connecting the battery cells 2G to one another. The screw 45 is one example of a fastener having conductivity.
The battery packs 1 to 1G and the battery cells 2 to 2G in the foregoing embodiments can be improved in tolerance to large amounts of charging and discharging current and to screw tightening torque at the time of manufacturing, for example.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, combinations, and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions. The present invention can also be implemented by configurations other than those disclosed in the embodiments to attain various effects (including derivative effects) attainable by the basic configurations (technical features). In addition, the specifications (structure, type, direction, shape, size, length, width, thickness, height, number, arrangement, position, material, and the like) of the respective constituent elements can be changed as appropriate.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-107902 | May 2016 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2017/020140 | 5/30/2017 | WO | 00 |
