JP2012099355A - Battery module and battery connection configuration - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smooth out a discrepancy in distance between two electrodes connected to each other.SOLUTION: There is provided a battery module comprising: a plurality of electric cells 11 each including a positive electrode 13 at one end and a negative electrode 14 at the other end such that the positive electrodes 13 are aligned and the negative electrodes 14 are aligned; a plurality of crimping wires 20 configured to connect the positive electrode 13 of one of two adjacent electric cells 11 and the negative electrode 14 of the other electric cell 11 such that electricity conducts therebetween, thereby arranging the plurality of crimping wires 20 in a direction oblique to a direction which the two adjacent electric cells 11 face; and an electric wire housing member 30 configured to house the crimping wires 20 collectively. The crimping wires 20 housed in the electric wire housing member 30 are collectively arranged between electrodes 13, 14 to which the crimping wires 20 correspond, and each of the crimping wires 20 is connected to each of the electrodes 13, 14 such that the plurality of electric cells 11 are connected in series.

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery module and a battery connection structure.

  Conventionally, as a connection structure of a battery assembly in which batteries having positive electrodes and negative electrodes are alternately arranged in opposite directions, one described in Patent Document 1 below is known. In this device, a positive electrode and a negative electrode are arranged side by side between adjacent batteries, and the adjacent electrodes are connected by a single bus bar. Each bus bar is disposed in a corresponding bus bar accommodating portion, and the connection portion for the battery is configured by the bus bar accommodating portion and the bus bar accommodated therein. Further, a pitch adjusting means for adjusting the positional deviation between the electrode and the bus bar is provided for each predetermined number of connecting portions, and the positional deviation between the predetermined number of connecting portions can be adjusted by the pitch adjusting means. It is said.

Japanese Patent No. 3707595

  However, in the above configuration, the pitch adjusting means is provided only for each predetermined number of connection portions, and since both adjacent electrodes are connected by one bus bar, they are connected to each other. The tolerance of pitch between both electrodes cannot be absorbed. Further, depending on the degree of expansion and contraction of the battery, it becomes impossible to assemble a plurality of bus bars to a plurality of batteries at a time, and it becomes difficult to connect the bus bars and electrodes. In addition, when the battery assembly is mounted on the vehicle, the contact portion between the bus bar and the electrode may slide and wear due to the expansion and contraction of the battery accompanying the temperature change, and the contact resistance may increase.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above situation, and an object thereof is to absorb the tolerance of the distance between both electrodes connected to each other.

  The present invention is adjacent to a plurality of batteries in which a positive electrode is provided at one end, a negative electrode is provided at the other end, and the positive electrode is arranged in a row and the negative electrode is arranged in a row. By connecting one electrode between the two batteries and the other electrode in a conductive manner, a plurality of wires arranged in an oblique direction with respect to the direction in which both adjacent batteries face each other and a plurality of wires are accommodated together. A plurality of batteries are connected in series by arranging the electric wires accommodated in the case together between the corresponding electrodes and connecting the electric wires to the respective electrodes. It has the characteristics in the configuration.

  The present invention also provides a battery connection structure in which batteries in a battery assembly in which batteries having a positive electrode at one end and a negative electrode at the other end are stacked in the same direction are connected in series. A plurality of electric wires arranged in an oblique direction with respect to a direction in which both adjacent batteries face each other by connecting one electrode and the other electrode between the matching batteries so as to be conductive, and a plurality of electric wires It is characterized in that it is configured to include a housing case.

  According to such a configuration, since both electrodes are connected by electric wires between adjacent batteries, the tolerance of the distance between the two electrodes can be absorbed by bending and deforming the electric wires. Therefore, each electric wire accommodated in the case can be collectively disposed between both electrodes corresponding to the electric wire, and each electric wire can be smoothly connected to the electrode. Furthermore, even when the battery assembly is mounted on a vehicle, the tolerance of the distance between the electrodes due to temperature changes can be absorbed by bending and deforming the wires, so that the contact portions between the wires and the electrodes are subject to sliding wear. No, contact resistance can be stabilized.

The following configuration is preferable as an embodiment of the present invention.
The electric wire has a configuration in which the core wire is covered with an insulating coating, and the core wire is exposed by removing the insulating coating on a part of the electric wire, and a terminal is previously crimped and connected to the exposed core wire. The electrodes may be connected to each other by connecting each terminal to both electrodes.
According to such a structure, an electric wire can be connected to an electrode by connecting a terminal to an electrode instead of connecting an electric wire directly to an electrode.

The case includes a plurality of terminal holding portions that individually hold a plurality of terminals and a connecting portion that connects the adjacent both terminal holding portions, and the connecting portion determines the distance between the adjacent both terminal holding portions. It is good also as a structure provided so that adjustment is possible.
According to such a configuration, since the distance between the two terminal holding portions adjacent to each other can be adjusted by the connecting portion, the electric wire can be freely deformed even when both terminals of the electric wire are held by the terminal holding portions, respectively. Operation can be secured.

The connecting portion may be configured as a thin hinge.
According to such a structure, since the distance between the both terminal holding parts adjacent by a hinge can be adjusted, a connection part can be comprised with a simple structure.

The plurality of batteries may have the same shape, and the arrangement direction of the positive electrodes may be the same as the direction in which both adjacent batteries face each other.
According to such a configuration, the size of the battery assembly in the direction in which the positive electrodes are arranged can be reduced.

  According to the present invention, the tolerance of the distance between both electrodes connected to each other can be absorbed.

The top view which shows the battery module in embodiment The figure which expanded and showed a part of FIG. Sectional view showing the internal structure of the box

<Embodiment>
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings of FIGS. The battery module in the present embodiment is used as a drive source for an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, for example. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the battery module includes a battery assembly 10 in which a plurality of unit cells (an example of the “battery” of the present invention) 11 are arranged side by side, and both adjacent unit cells 11 are electrically connected. A plurality of crimped electric wires 20 that can be connected and an electric wire housing member (an example of the “case” of the present invention) 30 that collectively accommodates these crimped electric wires 20 are configured. In the following description, the vertical direction is based on FIG.

  The unit cell 11 is a small prismatic battery and has a known structure as a lithium ion battery. The cell 11 includes a main body 12 in which a power generation element (not shown) is housed, a positive electrode (hereinafter referred to as “positive electrode”) 13, and a negative electrode (hereinafter referred to as “negative electrode”) 14. It is prepared for. Both electrodes 13 and 14 are arranged at both ends in the longitudinal direction on the upper surface of the main body 12. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the electrodes 13 and 14 is configured such that stud bolts 13 </ b> B and 14 </ b> B protrude upward from the fastening surfaces of pedestal parts 13 </ b> A and 14 </ b> A that protrude from the upper surface of the body 12. Yes.

  The plurality of unit cells 11 have the same shape, and are arranged so that the opposing surfaces of the two adjacent unit cells 11 face each other with a predetermined interval. Further, the positive electrodes 13 are arranged in a row, while the negative electrodes 14 are arranged in a row. Furthermore, the direction in which both adjacent unit cells 11 face each other, the arrangement direction of the positive electrodes 13, and the arrangement direction of the negative electrodes 14 are all the same.

  The crimped electric wire 20 includes a core wire 21 in which a plurality of metal wires made of a conductive metal are twisted together and an insulating coating 22 made of an insulating resin. The insulating coating 22 is configured to cover the core wire 21, and the terminal portion of the core wire 21 is exposed by removing the insulating coating 22 at the terminal portion of the crimped electric wire 20. A round terminal 23 is crimped to the exposed core wire 21.

  The round terminal 23 is formed by pressing a conductive metal flat plate, and includes a flat plate-like connecting portion 24 having a round hole 25 and a crimping portion 26 formed integrally with the connecting portion 24. . That is, the crimping portion 26 is provided with a pair of wire barrel pieces for caulking the exposed core wire 21 and a pair of insulation barrel pieces for caulking the end portion of the insulating coating 22 adjacent to the exposed core wire 21. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the round hole 25 of the round terminal 23 has a size that allows the stud bolt 14 </ b> B of the negative electrode 14 to be inserted. Therefore, by inserting the round hole 25 into the stud bolt 14B and fastening the nut N, the connection portion 24 of the round terminal 23 is sandwiched between the upper surface of the pedestal portion 14A and the lower surface of the nut N, and the round terminal 23 is It is connected to the negative electrode 14 so as to be conductive. In addition, although not shown in figure, since it is the same as that of the negative electrode 14 also about the positive electrode 13, the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Now, as shown in FIG. 1, the crimped electric wire 20 in the present embodiment is disposed between the positive electrode 13 of the unit cell 11 and the negative electrode 14 of the unit cell 11 adjacent to the unit cell 11. The matching unit cells 11 are arranged in an oblique direction with respect to the facing direction. The reason why the crimped electric wires 20 are arranged obliquely in this way is that the pitch of the positive electrodes 13 (the negative electrodes 14) arranged in a row is smaller than the length dimension in which the two round terminals 23 are arranged in series. It is. As a countermeasure, two round terminals 23 may be installed in parallel, and the round terminals 23 may be connected by the crimped electric wire 20. However, in that case, it is necessary to bend the crimped electric wire 20, and an excessive load is applied to both the electrodes 13 and 14 due to this bending elasticity, which is not a good idea. Therefore, as a method of connecting the adjacent single cells 11 by the crimped electric wires 20, the crimped electric wires 20 are bent by arranging the crimped electric wires 20 in an oblique direction with respect to the direction in which the two adjacent single cells 11 face each other. It can be said that the method of arranging without any is the most appropriate and effective.

  By the way, in this embodiment, the some crimped electric wire 20 is accommodated by the electric wire accommodating member 30 collectively. This is because, when the electrodes 13 and 14 are connected by the crimping electric wire 20, if each crimping electric wire 20 is individually arranged and positioned on the upper surface of the battery assembly 10, it takes time and workability is lowered. Because. Further, when the nut N is fastened to the stud bolts 13B and 14B, the round terminal 23 may be rotated, and it is necessary to work while holding the crimped electric wire 20 by hand so that the round terminal 23 is not rotated. However, if the crimped electric wire 20 is accommodated in the electric wire housing member 30, it is not necessary to hold the crimped electric wire 20 by hand, and the fastening operation is facilitated.

  The electric wire accommodation member 30 includes a plurality of box portions 31 that individually accommodate a plurality of round terminals 23 and a hinge 32 that couples the adjacent box portions 31 together. The box portion 31 has a bottomed box shape with an opening on the upper surface, and has a rectangular opening that is long in the axial direction of the crimped electric wire 20 crimped to the crimp portion 26 of the round terminal 23. The box portions 31 located on the positive electrode 13 are arranged side by side in the arrangement direction of the positive electrodes 13, and the box portions 31 located on the negative electrode 14 are arranged side by side in the arrangement direction of the negative electrode 14. Similarly to the crimped electric wire 20, the box portion 31 is disposed in an oblique direction with respect to the direction in which both adjacent unit cells 11 face each other, and the inclination angle of the box portion 31 and the inclination angle of the crimped electric wire 20 are the same. It is said that.

  A notch 34 is formed at a position corresponding to the crimped electric wire 20 in the side wall portion of the box portion 31, and the crimped electric wire 20 is inserted into the notch 34. The notch 34 is formed by notching the box portion 31 downward from the opening edge 33. A predetermined clearance is set between the notch 34 and the crimped electric wire 20 inserted therethrough. This clearance is set to be small so as to prevent the round terminal 23 from being rotated. Further, the notch 34 can guide and position the crimped electric wire 20 when the crimped electric wire 20 is accommodated in the electric wire housing member 30.

  The plurality of hinges 32 connect the hinges 32 that connect the opening edges 33 of both box portions 31 adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction of the positive electrodes 13 and the opening edges 33 of both box portions 31 that are adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction of the negative electrodes 14. The hinge 32 and the hinge 32 that connects the box portions 31 adjacent to each other in the axial direction of the crimped electric wire 20 are configured. Among these, the hinge 32 connecting the box portions 31 adjacent to each other in the axial direction of the crimped electric wire 20 is disposed below the crimped electric wire 20 and is longer than the other two hinges 32 (the length of the crimped electric wire 20 is longer). About 1/3 of the height).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the box portion 31 has two receiving portions 35 that receive the peripheral portion of the connecting portion 24 of the round terminal 23 from below, and the peripheral portion of the connecting portion 24 supported by the receiving portion 35. There are provided three lock portions 36 that come into contact with the portion from above. The receiving portion 35 is disposed between both lock portions 36 adjacent in the circumferential direction of the connecting portion 24 of the round terminal 23. That is, the receiving portions 35 and the lock portions 36 are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction of the connection portion 24 of the round terminal 23 and are alternately arranged in the vertical direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, an insertion hole 37 through which the pedestal portions 13 </ b> A and 14 </ b> A are inserted is formed in the bottom wall portion of the box portion 31. The insertion hole 37 has a shape that is slightly larger than the base parts 13A and 14A. For this reason, the box part 31 can move freely along the fastening surface with respect to the base parts 13A and 14A.

  The lock portion 36 is configured to bulge out in an arc shape from the side wall portion of the box portion 31. For this reason, the round terminal 23 supported by the receiving portion 35 is locked in the vertical direction in a semi-locked state with respect to the lock portion 36. Therefore, when the crimping electric wire 20 is lifted upward, the two round terminals 23 connected to both sides of the crimping electric wire 20 move in a direction approaching each other, and the round terminal 23 moves upward so as to ride on the lock portion 36. Thus, the locked state of the lock portion 36 and the round terminal 23 is released, and the round terminal 23 can be easily removed from the box portion 31.

  Here, in addition to the large dimensional tolerance of the unit cell 11 itself, the positions of the electrodes 13 and 14 are likely to fluctuate due to the expansion and contraction of the unit cell 11 due to the temperature change. When the plurality of crimped electric wires 20 are attached to the battery assembly 10 together, it is necessary to absorb the tolerance of the distance between the electrodes 13 and 14 to which the crimped electric wires 20 are connected.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the crimped electric wire 20 is bent and deformed to absorb the tolerance of the distance between the electrodes 13 and 14, and the crimped electric wire 20 is changed even when the positions of the electrodes 13 and 14 are changed. The round hole 25 of the round terminal 23 can be inserted into the stud bolts 13B and 14B by bending and deforming. In connection with this, it is necessary to be able to move freely also according to the position of the electrodes 13 and 14 also about the box part 31 holding the round terminal 23, so that the free movement of the box part 31 can be ensured. The elasticity of the hinge 32 is set.

  The present invention has the above-described configuration, and subsequently, a method for assembling the battery module will be described. First, the core wire 21 is exposed by peeling off the insulation coating 22 at the terminal portion of the crimping electric wire 20, and the crimping portion 26 of the round terminal 23 is crimped to the core wire 21. The round terminals 23 are connected to both sides of the crimped electric wire 20, and the crimped electric wire 20 is accommodated in the electric wire housing member 30. Then, the peripheral edge portion of the connection portion 24 of the round terminal 23 is sandwiched between the receiving portion 35 and the lock portion 36 from above and below, and the round terminal 23 is held by the box portion 31, while the crimped electric wire 20 is connected to the box portion 31. Is inserted into the notch 34. When all the crimped electric wires 20 are accommodated in the electric wire accommodating member 30, the electric wire accommodating member 30 is placed on the upper surface of the battery assembly 10 and assembled. Here, when the electrodes 13 and 14 are in the normal positions, the round holes 25 can be inserted into the stud bolts 13B and 14B as they are, but the electrodes 13 and 14 are moved from the normal positions due to a temperature change or the like. When in the shifted position, the round holes 25 can be inserted into the stud bolts 13B and 14B while the crimped electric wire 20 and the hinge 32 are both bent and deformed. Subsequently, the pedestals 13A and 14A are inserted through the insertion holes 37.

  Next, each nut N is fastened to each stud bolt 13B, 14B. When the nut N is fastened, the connection portion 24 of the round terminal 23 is sandwiched between the base portion 13A and the nut N, and the respective round terminals 23 and the respective electrodes 13 and 14 are connected so as to be conductive. Thus, when all the unit cells 11 are connected in series by the crimped electric wire 20 and the round terminal 23, the battery module is completed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the crimped wire 20 and the round terminal 23 are housed in the wire housing member 30 and the wire housing member 30 is assembled to the battery assembly 10. Can be attached to the battery assembly 10 collectively. At this time, since the crimped electric wire 20 is disposed between the electrodes 13 and 14, the tolerance of the distance between the electrodes 13 and 14 can be absorbed by bending and deforming the crimped electric wire 20.

  Moreover, since both adjacent box parts 31 are connected by the thin hinge 32, even if it is a case where the round terminal 23 is hold | maintained at the box part 31, the free bending deformation operation | movement of the crimped electric wire 20 is ensured. it can. Furthermore, since the plurality of single cells 11 are arranged in the arrangement direction of the positive electrodes 13, the size of the battery assembly 10 in the arrangement direction of the positive electrodes 13 can be reduced.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) In the above embodiment, the electric wire housing member 30 constituted by the box part 31 and the hinge 32 is illustrated as the case. However, according to the present invention, the case may be constituted by a flat base. . In this case, a hole larger than the electrodes 13 and 14 may be formed in a position corresponding to the electrodes 13 and 14 in the base, and the crimped electric wire 20 may be arranged in a positioned state on the base by appropriate positioning means. .

  (2) In the embodiment described above, the direction in which the individual cells 11 face each other coincides with the arrangement direction of the positive electrodes 13. However, according to the present invention, the direction in which the individual cells 11 face each other with respect to the arrangement direction of the positive electrodes 13. May be inclined. That is, you may arrange | position each cell 11 by arrangement | positioning of each crimping electric wire 20 in the said embodiment. In this case, each crimped electric wire 20 may be arranged so that the axial direction thereof is orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the positive electrodes 13.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the arrangement direction of the positive electrode 13 and the arrangement direction of the negative electrode 14 are the same. However, according to the present invention, the arrangement direction of the positive electrode and the arrangement direction of the negative electrode are strictly the same. It does not have to be. For example, the first unit cell 11 is arranged to be orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the positive electrodes as in the above embodiment, and the second and subsequent unit cells 11 are arranged in the same manner as the crimped electric wire 20 in the above embodiment. It may be arranged in an oblique direction with respect to the direction, and the inclination angle may be gradually increased.

  (4) In the above embodiment, although the crimped electric wire 20 and the electrodes 13 and 14 are connected via the round terminal 23, according to the present invention, the crimped electric wire 20 may be directly connected to the electrodes 13 and 14. .

  (5) In the above embodiment, the connecting portion is constituted by the thin hinge 32. However, according to the present invention, for example, a bellows-like connecting portion may be provided.

  (6) In the above embodiment, the battery assembly 10 is configured by the single cells 11 having the same shape. However, according to the present invention, the battery assembly may be configured by batteries having different shapes.

10 ... Battery assembly 11 ... Single cell (battery)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 13 ... Positive electrode 14 ... Negative electrode 20 ... Crimp electric wire 21 ... Core wire 22 ... Insulation coating 23 ... Round terminal 30 ... Electric wire accommodation member (case)
31 ... Box (terminal holding part)
32 ... Hinge (connection part)

Claims (9)

A plurality of batteries provided with a positive electrode at one end and a negative electrode at the other end, the positive electrode being arranged in a row and the negative electrode being arranged in a row;
A plurality of electric wires arranged obliquely with respect to the direction in which the two adjacent batteries face each other by connecting the one electrode between the two adjacent batteries and the other electrode in a conductive manner;
A case for collectively housing the plurality of electric wires,
Each of the electric wires accommodated in the case is collectively arranged between both electrodes corresponding to the electric wires, and the plurality of batteries are connected in series by connecting the electric wires to the respective electrodes. Battery module characterized.   The electric wire has a configuration in which a core wire is covered with an insulating coating, and the core wire is exposed by removing the insulating coating on a part of the electric wire, and a terminal is connected to the exposed core wire. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the electrodes are connected via the electric wires by crimping in advance and connecting the terminals to the electrodes, respectively.   The case includes a plurality of terminal holding portions that individually hold the plurality of terminals, and a connecting portion that connects adjacent terminal holding portions, and the connecting portion includes the adjacent both terminal holding portions. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the distance is adjustable.   The battery module according to claim 3, wherein the connecting portion is a thin hinge.   The plurality of batteries have the same shape, and the arrangement direction of the positive electrodes and the direction in which the adjacent batteries face each other are the same. The battery module according to one item. A battery connection structure in which the batteries are connected in series in a battery assembly in which a battery having a positive electrode at one end and a negative electrode at the other end are stacked in the same direction,
A plurality of electric wires arranged obliquely with respect to the direction in which the two adjacent batteries face each other by connecting the one electrode between the two adjacent batteries and the other electrode in a conductive manner;
A battery connection structure including a case for collectively housing the plurality of electric wires.   The electric wire has a configuration in which a core wire is covered with an insulating coating, and the core wire is exposed by removing the insulating coating on a part of the electric wire, and a terminal is connected to the exposed core wire. The battery connection structure according to claim 6, wherein the electrodes are connected via the electric wires by crimping in advance and connecting the terminals to the electrodes, respectively.   The case includes a plurality of terminal holding portions that individually hold the terminals, and a connecting portion that connects adjacent terminal holding portions, and the connecting portion is between the adjacent terminal holding portions. The battery connection structure according to claim 7, wherein the distance is adjustable.   The battery connection structure according to claim 8, wherein the connecting portion is a thin hinge.

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