JP2004200017A - Storage battery - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention comprises M × N cells (M and N are each an odd number of 3 or more) arranged in M rows and N columns, all cells are connected in series, the manufacturing cost is low, the weight is low, Provided is a storage battery that has excellent large-current discharge characteristics and hardly causes deterioration of a battery case.
The assembled battery is composed of M × N cells (M and N are each an odd number of 3 or more) arranged in M rows and N columns. The cell has a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal, and M × N cells are all connected in series, and cells included in continuous 2n columns (2n <N, where n is an integer of 1 or more) include: The cells included in the remaining (N−2n) columns are alternately connected in a zigzag manner in the row direction and the column direction, and are connected in a straight line in each column direction, and have the lowest potential negative electrode terminal. Cell X and cell Y having the highest potential positive terminal are located at both ends of the same row or column, respectively, and the row or column including cell X and cell Y forms one side of the assembled battery Storage battery.
[Selection] Fig. 2

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a storage battery including M × N cells (M and N are each an odd number of 3 or more) arranged in M rows and N columns, and all cells are connected in series.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, from the viewpoint of maintaining and improving the environment, attempts have been made to improve the fuel efficiency of a vehicle by electrifying auxiliary equipment such as a compressor and various pumps which have conventionally been driven by the power of an engine. As a result, especially in the field of vehicles, a storage battery having a higher output than before has been required. In order to increase the output of the storage battery, it is necessary to increase the output current or the output voltage. In order to increase the output current, it is effective to increase the surface area of the electrode plates constituting the storage battery or to reduce the distance between the electrode plates. However, when increasing the output current, the capacity of the harnesses also needs to be increased. When the capacity of the harnesses is increased, the weight of the harnesses increases, which has an adverse effect on fuel efficiency and increases vehicle prices.
[0003]
On the other hand, when the output voltage is increased, an increase in the weight of the harnesses can be suppressed. Therefore, in the past, a 12V storage battery has been widely used as a storage battery for a vehicle, but in recent years, a higher voltage storage battery has been developed. For example, there is disclosed a 36V lead-acid battery composed of an assembled battery in which 18 cells each having a voltage of 2V are connected in series (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
These assembled batteries are usually arranged in a matrix and fixed to a battery case, but for convenience of use, it is common to provide a positive terminal and a negative terminal at both ends of one side of the assembled battery. If the positive terminal and the negative terminal are provided at diagonal positions of the battery pack, the work of connecting each terminal to the harness after mounting the battery pack on the vehicle will be hindered.
[0004]
Patent Literature 1 discloses a 36V lead-acid battery composed of an assembled battery in which 18 cells are arranged in 9 rows and 2 columns. Patent Literature 2 discloses a 36V lead-acid battery composed of an assembled battery in which 18 cells are arranged in 3 rows and 6 columns. Each of these assembled batteries employs a cell arrangement composed of even rows. In addition, all cells in each column are connected in series, and all batteries are connected in series by turning back the connection direction for each column. According to the cell arrangement including such even rows, it is easy to arrange the positive terminal and the negative terminal on one side surface of the battery pack.
[0005]
However, since the 36V battery pack is composed of 18 cells, the volume of the storage battery must be bulky. For this reason, there is a problem that the mounting position of the storage battery on a vehicle or the like is extremely limited. On the other hand, if two sets of 18V battery packs consisting of 9 cells are manufactured and stored in separate locations and connected in series, the capacity required to store one set of battery packs is Since only half of the space is required, the degree of freedom in storage can be dramatically increased.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-23582 A [Patent Document 2]
JP 2002-8736 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Here, as the cell arrangement of the 18V assembled battery, an arrangement of 9 rows and 1 column or 3 rows and 3 columns is conceivable, but the latter arrangement is compact and advantageous. However, in the arrangement of three rows and three columns, as shown in FIG. 1, when the connection direction is turned back for each column and all the cells 14 are connected in series along the arrow as in the conventional case, the positive terminal 11 and the negative terminal 12 must be the diagonal position of the assembled battery. In order to arrange both terminals on one side of the assembled battery, a connection piece 13 for bridging one terminal (the negative terminal in FIG. 1) to the side having the other terminal (the positive terminal in FIG. 1) is used. Although it is necessary, this requires a high manufacturing cost, and the weight of the assembled battery must be increased due to the weight of the connection piece itself.
[0008]
In addition, when the connection piece is used, the resistance value of the battery pack per set increases, and the battery output decreases during large-current discharge. Further, such output loss is converted into heat generated in the connection piece. Generally, the battery case 15 of the storage battery is made of a thermoplastic resin such as an ABS resin or a polypropylene resin. When the connection piece generates heat, there is also a problem that the battery case material near the connection piece is deformed, and the strength is reduced during long-term use due to thermal stress.
The above-described problem is not limited to the case of three rows and three columns, but necessarily arises when adopting a cell arrangement of three or more odd rows and three or more odd columns.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention includes an assembled battery and a battery case for fixing the assembled battery, and the assembled battery includes M × N cells (M and N are each an odd number of 3 or more) arranged in M rows and N columns. , The M × N cells are all connected in series, each cell having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, a cell X having the lowest potential negative terminal, and a cell X having the highest potential positive terminal. The present invention relates to a storage battery in which a cell Y and a cell Y are located at both ends of the same row or column, and a row or column including the cell X and the cell Y forms one side surface of the assembled battery.
[0010]
In the storage battery, cells included in continuous 2n columns (2n <N) are alternately connected in a zigzag manner in a row direction and a column direction, and cells included in the remaining (N−2n) columns are respectively , And n is an integer of 1 or more.
[0011]
In the storage battery, when the cell located in m rows and n columns is represented by (mn), when M and N are 3, the cells are (11), (21), (31), (32), and (32). 33), (23), (22), (12), (13), or (11), (12), (22), (21), (31), (32), (33), They are connected in the order of (23) and (13).
In the storage battery, when each cell includes an electrode plate group in which a plurality of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates are alternately stacked with a separator interposed therebetween, the stacking direction of the electrode plate group Preferably, it is perpendicular to the side surface.
[0012]
Further, in the storage battery, each cell includes an electrode group in which a plurality of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates are alternately stacked with a separator interposed therebetween, and the electrode group is provided on all the positive electrode plates. In the case of having a positive electrode strap welded to an electrode lug and a negative electrode strap welded to a current collecting ear provided on all negative electrode plates, the positive electrode strap and the negative electrode strap are parallel to the laminating direction of the electrode plate group. The positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal are each in the form of a column, and are coupled to the upper surfaces of the positive electrode strap and the negative electrode strap. The positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal are located at the center in the stacking direction of the electrode plate group and at the same distance from the center of the one end face, and the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal are provided on the lid of the battery case. Are inserted into predetermined terminal hole has, and the one of the positive terminal of the cells adjacent to each other are connected in series with the other of the negative terminal, which is preferably electrically connected by a connecting piece.
Preferably, a lead bushing is insert-molded in each terminal hole of the lid, and the lead bushing connects the positive electrode terminal or the negative electrode terminal to the connection piece.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the storage battery of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual view of an assembled battery in which nine cells 20 are arranged in three rows and three columns as viewed from above. FIGS. 3 and 4 show that twenty-five cells 30 and 40 are arranged in five rows and five columns. It is the conceptual diagram which looked at the assembled battery from the upper surface. Arrows indicate the direction in which all cells are connected in series, but the connection method is not limited to these.
According to such a connection method, the cells 20y, 30y, and 40y having the lowest potential negative terminal and the cells 20x, 30x, and 40x having the highest potential positive terminal are in the same row 21, 31,. 41, respectively. Since the rows 21, 31, and 41 form one side of the assembled battery, there is no need to use a connection piece for bridging the terminals, and the work of connecting the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the assembled battery to the harness is easy. It becomes.
[0014]
As described above, the method of connecting cells in which the cell having the lowest potential negative terminal and the cell having the highest potential positive terminal are located at both ends of the same row has the following common features. .
First, cells included in continuous 2n columns (2n <N) are alternately connected in a row direction and a column direction in a zigzag manner.
For example, in FIG. 2, the cells are alternately zigzag connected in the row direction and the column direction in two consecutive columns in the second and third columns from the left. In addition to such a connection method, cells can be alternately connected in a row direction and a column direction in a continuous two columns in a first column and a second column from the left in a zigzag manner.
[0015]
Further, in FIG. 3, cells are alternately connected in a zigzag manner in the row direction and the column direction in two consecutive columns in the fourth and fifth columns from the left, and in FIG. In two consecutive columns of the column, cells are alternately connected in a row direction and a column direction in a zigzag manner.
In FIG. 2, there can be only n = 1, but in FIGS. 3 and 4, n = 1 and 2 in some cases. As the number N of battery cells increases, the number of possible integers n increases. I will do it. On the other hand, the cells included in the remaining (N−2n) columns are connected in a straight line in each column direction.
[0016]
Next, an example of a structure of a cell constituting the assembled battery will be described.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an example of a preferred cell. The cell in FIG. 5 is composed of an electrode plate group in which a plurality of positive electrode plates 52 and negative electrode plates 51 are alternately stacked with a separator 53 interposed therebetween. In FIG. 5, although the separator 53 has approximately twice the size of the positive electrode plate 52 and is folded in a U-shape at substantially the center thereof, the separator 53 covers both surfaces of the positive electrode plate so as to sandwich the positive electrode plate. It is not always necessary to use such a separator.
[0017]
All positive and negative electrode plates are provided with a positive electrode current collecting ear 52a and a negative electrode current collecting ear 51a. The positive electrode current collector ears protrude in a line from a position depending on one side of one end face 54 parallel to the stacking direction of the electrode group indicated by arrow Z, and the upper end of each positive electrode current collector ear is a positive electrode strap. 56 is welded to the lower surface. The negative electrode current collecting ears protrude in a line from a position symmetrical to the positive electrode current collecting ear on one end face 54, and the upper end of each negative electrode current collecting ear is welded to the lower surface of the negative electrode strap 55.
[0018]
On the upper surfaces of the positive electrode strap and the negative electrode strap, a columnar positive electrode terminal 58 and a negative electrode terminal 57 are provided, respectively. The central axes of the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal are respectively located at the centers in the stacking direction of the electrode plate groups and at the same distance from the center of the one end face 54. According to such a cell structure, in the assembled battery, the connection between the positive terminal and the negative terminal of each cell is simplified, so that the productivity of the storage battery including the assembled battery is improved.
[0019]
FIG. 6 shows a top view of a storage battery composed of an assembled battery in which the above-described cells are arranged in three rows and three columns. The inner space of the battery case 60 accommodating nine cells is divided into nine small spaces by partition walls 60a, and one cell is accommodated in each small space. Such a battery case is manufactured by molding a synthetic resin material such as polypropylene or ABS resin. In FIG. 6, all the cells are accommodated in the battery case in the same direction, but the directions of the cells may be changed as appropriate. However, the operation of inserting cells into the battery case can be simplified by making the cell insertion directions coincide in the row.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 7B, a lid 70 is attached to the upper opening of the battery case containing the cells. The peripheral portion 70a of the lid 70 is formed thick, and terminal portions of the assembled battery are provided at both ends of one side portion 70a '. In addition, in the concave portion 70b surrounded by the peripheral portion 70a, an injection hole 73 for injecting the electrolytic solution into each small space, and a terminal hole for inserting the positive terminal and the negative terminal of each cell are provided. ing. The terminal 72 and the terminal 71 are electrically connected to the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the cell located thereunder, respectively.
[0021]
In each terminal hole, a lead bushing 74 is insert-molded. As shown in FIG. 8, the top part 80 of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of each cell is connected to the connection plate 75 via the lead bushing 74. . When the connection of the cells is completed, an upper lid 76 is placed over the concave portion of the lid to prevent a short circuit between the cells. A metal such as a lead alloy or brass is used for the connection plate, but any electronic conductor can be used without particular limitation.
[0022]
The method of connecting the cells by the connection plate 75 is as described above. FIG. 9 shows the connection state of the cells by broken lines. In FIG. 9, the cells located at m rows and n columns are represented by (mn) in order from the cell located at the upper left corner, so that cells (11), (12), (22), (21), (31), (32), (33), (23), and (13) are connected in this order. Therefore, here, in the two consecutive columns in the first and second columns from the left, cells are alternately connected in a zigzag manner in the row direction and the column direction, and the cells included in the remaining third column are That is, they are connected in a straight line in the column direction.
[0023]
In the storage battery, the stacking direction of the electrode plate group of the cell is perpendicular to one side surface (one side portion 70a 'of the peripheral portion) where the terminal portion of the assembled battery is located. By defining the cell insertion direction in this manner, the connection structure between cells is simplified, and all cells can be connected in series with a minimum number of connection plates.
[0024]
Incidentally, the battery case may be a monoblock type battery case in which all the cells constituting the assembled battery are fixed integrally, but a combination of independent small battery cases for each cell, row or column. Alternatively, they can be integrated with one lid. According to such a structure, a gap is formed between the facing side walls of the small battery case, which is advantageous for radiating heat generated in the storage battery. FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of an example of a storage battery including three small battery containers 101, each of which contains cells for each row. In such a storage battery, since the slit 102 is formed between the small battery containers, the battery can be easily dissipated.
[0025]
Also, without combining small battery cases, the height from the bottom surface of the battery case to a predetermined height is divided by one or more rows or columns by slits penetrating from one battery case side wall to the other opposite battery case side wall. The same heat radiation effect can be obtained by using the battery case described above. FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of an example of a storage battery in which a predetermined height from the bottom surface of the battery case is divided by a slit 103 for each row.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in a storage battery including M × N cells (M and N are each an odd number of 3 or more) arranged in M rows and N columns, and all the cells are connected in series. The cell having the lowest potential negative terminal and the cell having the highest potential positive terminal are located at both ends of the same row or column, respectively, and the row or column is one side of the assembled battery Is formed, it is not necessary to use a connecting piece for bridging one terminal to the side of the assembled battery having the other terminal in order to arrange both terminals on one side of the assembled battery. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a storage battery that is low in manufacturing cost, lightweight, excellent in large-current discharge characteristics, and hardly causes deterioration of the battery case.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a method of connecting cells in a conventional cell arrangement of three rows and three columns.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of how cells are connected in a cell arrangement of three rows and three columns according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of how cells are connected in a cell arrangement of 5 rows and 5 columns according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of a method of connecting cells in a cell arrangement of 5 rows and 5 columns according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an example of a cell according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a top view of a storage battery including battery packs arranged in three rows and three columns according to the present invention without a lid.
FIG. 7 is a top view of a state in which a lid of a storage battery including battery packs arranged in three rows and three columns according to the present invention is attached, and all cells are connected in series.
8 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the terminal hole in a state where the terminal of the lid of FIG. 7 is inserted.
FIG. 9 is a top view showing a state in which an upper lid of a storage battery including battery packs arranged in three rows and three columns according to the present invention is attached.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an example of a storage battery using a preferable battery case according to the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another example of a storage battery using a preferred battery case according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Positive terminal 12 Negative terminal 13 Connection piece 14, 20 Cell 15 Battery case 20x, 30x, 40x Cells 20y, 30y, 40y having the highest potential positive terminal Cells 21, 31 and 41 having the lowest potential negative terminal A row 51 including a cell having a high-potential positive electrode terminal and a cell having a lowest-potential negative electrode terminal. Negative electrode plate 51a Negative current collecting ear 52 Positive electrode plate 52a Positive current collecting ear 53 Separator 54 One row parallel to the stacking direction of the electrode group. End face 55 Negative strap 56 Positive strap 57 Negative terminal 58 Positive terminal 60 Battery case 60a Partition wall 70 Cover 70a Peripheral portion 70a 'Peripheral portion 70b having terminal portion Recess 71 Negative terminal portion 72 Positive terminal portion 73 Injection hole 74 Lead bushing 75 Connection plate 76 Upper lid 80 Terminal top 101 Small battery case 102 Slit 103 Slit

Claims (7)

It consists of a battery pack and a battery case for fixing the battery pack,
The assembled battery is composed of M × N cells (M and N are each an odd number of 3 or more) arranged in M rows and N columns,
Each cell has a positive terminal and a negative terminal,
The M × N cells are all connected in series,
Cells included in continuous 2n columns (2n <N, where n is an integer of 1 or more) are alternately zigzag connected in the row direction and the column direction, and the cells included in the remaining (N−2n) columns are , Are connected in a straight line in each column direction,
Cell X having the lowest potential negative terminal and cell Y having the highest potential positive terminal are located at both ends of the same row or column, respectively.
A storage battery in which a row or a column including the cells X and the cells Y forms one side surface of the assembled battery. When M and N are 3, and the cell located at m row and n column is represented by (mn), (11), (21), (31), (32), (33), (23), (22) ), (12), (13), or (11), (12), (22), (21), (31), (32), (33), (23), (13) The storage battery according to claim 1, wherein the cells are connected. Each cell includes an electrode plate group in which a plurality of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates are alternately stacked with a separator interposed therebetween, and a stacking direction of the electrode plate group is perpendicular to the one side surface of the assembled battery. 1. The storage battery according to 1. Each cell includes an electrode plate group in which a plurality of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates are alternately stacked via a separator,
The electrode group has a positive electrode strap welded to a current collecting ear provided on all positive electrode plates and a negative electrode strap welded to a current collecting ear provided on all negative electrode plates,
The positive electrode strap and the negative electrode strap are located on one end surface parallel to the stacking direction of the electrode plate group,
The positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal are respectively columnar, and are coupled to the upper surfaces of the positive electrode strap and the negative electrode strap,
The central axes of the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal are respectively located at the centers in the stacking direction of the electrode plate group, and are located equidistant from the center of the one end surface,
The positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal are inserted into predetermined terminal holes provided in a lid of the battery case,
The storage battery according to claim 1, wherein one positive electrode terminal and the other negative electrode terminal of the cells adjacent to each other connected in series are electrically connected by a connection piece. The storage battery according to claim 4, wherein a lead bushing is insert-molded in each terminal hole of the lid, and the lead bushing connects the positive electrode terminal or the negative electrode terminal to the connection piece. 6. The battery container according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined height from the bottom surface of the battery case is divided by one or more rows or columns by slits penetrating from one battery case side wall to the opposite other battery case side wall. The storage battery according to any one of the above. The battery case is composed of a plurality of small battery containers, each of which contains cells in one or a plurality of rows or columns, and a gap is formed between the mutually facing side walls of adjacent small battery containers. The storage battery according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is provided.

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