JP2014160570A - Battery module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery module capable of miniaturization while being equipped with a current monitoring function.SOLUTION: A battery module 1 comprises: a cylindrical battery group 2 formed by connecting a plurality of arrayed cylindrical batteries 20; a case 7; and a positive side output terminal 3 and a negative side output terminal 4 pulled out of the upper surface of the case 7. A current monitoring board 5 on which a current sensor that monitors an output current is provided is included. The cylindrical battery group 2 is formed by connecting electrode ends 21 at one side in the axial direction of a plurality of cylindrical batteries 20 to each other and electrode ends 22 at the other side in the axial direction of a plurality of cylindrical batteries 20 to each other with connector tabs 24 and 25 at a plurality of points, respectively. The current monitoring board 5 is located between the electrode ends 21 at one side in the axial direction of the cylindrical battery group 2 and one side surface of the case 7.

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery module in which a plurality of cylindrical batteries are connected.

  In recent years, a battery module in which a plurality of storage batteries are enclosed in a case has been used in various applications such as a power source for driving a motor such as an electric vehicle and an emergency power source for home use. This battery module is provided with a monitoring device for overcurrent protection and detection of the remaining battery level. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a monitoring device that is connected to an electrode of a battery module and can detect a remaining battery level of the battery module. This monitoring device includes a main body with a built-in current sensor and the like, a battery side connection fitting connected to the positive electrode of the battery module, a ground wire connected to the negative electrode of the battery module, and a load side connection connected to an external load. It has metal fittings.

JP 2000-285968 A

However, the battery module including the monitoring device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has the following problems.
The monitoring device of Patent Document 1 is attached to the outside of the battery module, and the size of the battery module is increased. Further, since the monitoring device partially protrudes from the outer shape of the battery module, a dead space is formed around the battery module.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module that can be downsized while having a current monitoring function.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of cylindrical batteries arranged so that the axial directions thereof are parallel to each other are formed by using electrode ends on one axial side of the plurality of cylindrical batteries and shafts of the plurality of cylindrical batteries. A cylindrical battery set formed by connecting electrode ends on the other side in the plurality of locations with connection tabs, respectively,
A case for accommodating the cylindrical battery assembly;
A positive output terminal and a negative output terminal of the cylindrical battery set drawn out from one side surface of the case located on one axial side of the cylindrical battery set;
Connect the positive electrode end of the cylindrical battery assembly to the positive output terminal to monitor the output current flowing through the positive output terminal, or connect the negative electrode end of the cylindrical battery assembly to the negative A current monitoring board provided with a current sensor that is connected to the side output terminal and that monitors the output current flowing through the minus side output terminal;
The current monitoring board is provided in a battery module, which is disposed between an electrode end portion on one axial side of the cylindrical battery set and one side surface of the case (Claim 1).

  In the battery module, as described above, the current monitoring board is disposed between the electrode end on one axial side of the cylindrical battery set and one side surface of the case. That is, the current monitoring board is integrally disposed inside the case. Therefore, even if the current monitoring board is provided, the current monitoring board does not partially protrude from the outer shape of the battery module. Thereby, a current monitoring function can be given to the battery module while making the battery module compact.

  As described above, according to the battery module, it is possible to reduce the size of the battery module while providing a current monitoring function.

2 is a cross-sectional view of the battery module in Example 1. FIG. AA arrow sectional drawing in FIG. The top view of the battery module which removed the cover in Example 1. FIG. 1 is an external view of a battery module in Example 1. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a battery module in Example 1. FIG.

  In the battery module, the current monitoring board has a current measuring resistor for monitoring the output current between the plus side electrode end and the plus side output terminal or between the minus side electrode end and the minus side. It may be connected between the side output terminals (claim 2). In this case, the current of the cylindrical battery can be easily measured using the current measuring resistor.

  Further, the connection tab connects the plurality of cylindrical batteries arranged in the horizontal direction in parallel and connects the plurality of cylindrical batteries arranged in the vertical direction in series, and the battery module is connected to the connection tab. A voltage monitoring board for connecting and monitoring the intermediate voltage of the cylindrical batteries connected in parallel, and an output section of the voltage monitoring board is connected to the current monitoring board; The board may be configured to output both the output from the current sensor and the output from the voltage monitoring board to the control device (claim 3). In this case, an output for monitoring the current of the cylindrical battery and an output for monitoring the voltage can be collected on the current monitoring board. Thereby, the connection structure of the battery module and the control device can be simplified.

  The voltage monitoring board is arranged in parallel with one side surface of the case, and the plus side output terminal and the minus side output terminal are connected to the current monitoring board and the connecting part. And a lead-out portion that is bent at a right angle from the case and pulled out from the case (claim 4). In this case, the pair of output terminals of the battery module can be formed by pulling out the lead-out portion of the plus-side output terminal and the lead-out portion of the minus-side output terminal to the outside of one side surface of the case.

Example 1
Examples of the battery module will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the battery module 1 includes a cylindrical battery set 2 formed by connecting a plurality of cylindrical batteries 20 arranged so that the axial directions thereof are parallel to each other, and a cylindrical battery. A case 7 that accommodates the set 2, and a plus side output terminal 3 and a minus side output terminal 4 of the cylindrical battery set 2 that are drawn from the upper surface of the case 7 that is positioned on one side in the axial direction of the cylindrical battery set 2. I have. The battery module 1 also includes a current sensor 51 that monitors the output current flowing through the positive output terminal 3 by connecting the positive electrode end 211 of the cylindrical battery assembly 2 to the positive output terminal 3. A monitoring board 5 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cylindrical battery set 2 includes electrode ends 21 on one axial side of the plurality of cylindrical batteries 20 and electrode ends on the other axial side of the plurality of cylindrical batteries 20. 22 are connected by connecting tabs 24 and 25 at a plurality of locations.
The current monitoring substrate 5 is disposed between the electrode end 21 on one side in the axial direction of the cylindrical battery set 2 and the upper surface of the case 7.

This will be described in more detail below.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, as described above, the battery module 1 includes a cylindrical battery set 2 in which a plurality of cylindrical batteries 20 are connected, a case 7 that houses the cylindrical battery set 2, and an upper surface of the case 7. And a positive output terminal 3, a negative output terminal 4, and a current monitoring board 5 connected to the positive output terminal 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the plurality of cylindrical batteries 20 are integrally fixed by a battery holder 23, and are arranged so that the axial directions thereof are parallel to each other and the vertical direction Z. . The plurality of cylindrical batteries are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction X orthogonal to the vertical direction Z and a vertical direction Y orthogonal to both the vertical direction Z and the horizontal direction X. In the horizontal direction X, the cylindrical batteries 20 are arranged in three rows so that the polarities of the adjacent electrode end portions 21 and 22 are the same, and in the vertical direction Y, the adjacent electrode end portions 21 and 22 are arranged. Eight columns are arranged so as to have different polarities. Each cylindrical battery 20 has electrode ends 21 and 22 on one axial side so that the cylindrical batteries 20 arranged in the horizontal direction X are connected in parallel, and the cylindrical batteries 20 arranged in the vertical direction Y are connected in series. The electrode ends 21 and 22 on the other side in the axial direction are connected to each other by a connection tab 24 and a connection tab 25, respectively.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the plus side output terminal 3 and the minus side output terminal 4 are provided at the plus side electrode end portion 211 and the minus side electrode end portion 212 in the cylindrical battery assembly 2 arranged at both ends in the longitudinal direction Y. And are connected to each other.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the plus-side output terminal 3 is connected to the cylindrical battery assembly 2 via a battery-side terminal 213 and a current measuring resistor 55 provided on the current monitoring board 5. Are connected to the positive electrode end 211.
One end of the battery side terminal 213 is connected to the connection tab 24 arranged on the positive electrode end portion 211, and the other end is connected to one end of the circuit pattern of the current monitoring substrate 5. Further, the plus side output terminal 3 includes a connection part 321 connected to the current monitoring board 5 and a lead part 322 bent at a right angle from the connection part 321 and pulled out from the case 7. The connection part 321 is connected to the other end of the circuit pattern of the current monitoring board 5.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the minus-side output terminal 4 is connected to the connection tab 24 arranged at the minus-side electrode end 212 and is bent at a right angle from the connection portion 41 to be removed from the case 7. And a drawn-out portion 42 that is drawn out.
By forming the plus-side output terminal 3 and the minus-side output terminal 4 as described above, the lead-out portion 322 of the plus-side output terminal 3 and the lead-out portion 42 of the minus-side output terminal 4 are pulled out to the outside of the upper surface of the case 7. Thus, a pair of output terminals of the battery module 1 can be formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the battery holder 23, on one side in the horizontal direction, a voltage monitoring board 61 arranged in parallel with the vertical direction Z and the vertical direction Y, the voltage monitoring board 61 and the connection tab 24, Are arranged, and five other-side voltage detection tabs 63 for connecting the voltage monitoring board 61 and the connection tab 25 are arranged.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the five one-side voltage detection tabs 62 are formed by bending a band-shaped metal plate, and connect the connection tab 24 and the circuit pattern of the voltage monitoring board 61. . The four other side voltage detection tabs 63 are formed by bending a band-shaped metal plate to have the same shape as the one side voltage detection tab 62, and the circuit pattern of the connection tab 25 and the voltage monitoring board 61 Is connected.

1 to 3 and FIG. 5 are provided with a plurality of circuit patterns (not shown) constituting a voltage detection circuit and a temperature sensor (not shown) for monitoring the temperature of the cylindrical battery 20. Has been. One end of each circuit pattern is connected to the voltage output connector 611, and the other end of each circuit pattern is connected to the one side voltage detection tab 62 or the other side voltage detection tab 63. A voltage output harness 612 is connected to the voltage output connector 611 and is connected to the voltage input connector 53 of the current monitoring board 5.
The temperature sensor is connected to a plurality of temperature measuring units (not shown) attached to the outer surface of each cylindrical battery 20, and is configured to be able to monitor the temperature of the cylindrical battery 20. The temperature sensor is connected to the current monitoring board 5 by a voltage output harness 612 or a temperature output harness (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the case 7 containing the cylindrical battery set 2 includes a lower case 71 in which the cylindrical battery 20 is arranged, and an upper case 72 that forms a battery housing space together with the lower case 71.
The lower case 71 includes a lower bottom portion 711 that has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above, and a lower side wall portion 712 that rises upward from the entire periphery of the outer edge portion of the lower bottom portion 711. The upper end of the lower side wall portion 712 is It is open. A battery fixing structure (not shown) that can be fitted to the battery holder 23 is provided inside the lower case 71.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the upper case 72 disposed so as to cover the lower case 71 from above is composed of an upper ceiling surface 721 having an outer shape larger than the lower bottom portion 711 when viewed from above, and an outer edge portion of the upper ceiling surface 721. And an upper side wall portion 722 that hangs down from the entire circumference.
Between the upper case 72 and the lower case 71, a battery accommodating space for enclosing the entire circumference of the periphery and accommodating the cylindrical battery set 2 is formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, on the upper surface of the upper case 72, a board fixing portion 73 that fixes the current monitoring board 5 and two upper insertion openings 723 through which the plus side output terminal 3 and the minus side output terminal 4 are inserted. And a cover 74 that forms a substrate housing space between the upper case 72 and the upper case 72.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the cover 74 that forms a substrate housing space between the upper case 72 and the cover ceiling surface 741 that is substantially rectangular when viewed from above, and the entire outer edge of the cover ceiling surface 741. And a cover side wall portion 743 that hangs down from the periphery. The cover ceiling surface 741 is formed with two cover insertion ports 742 that allow the plus-side output terminal 3 and the minus-side output terminal 4 to communicate with each other. A silicon seal is filled between the plus-side output terminal 3 and minus-side output terminal 4 and each upper insertion port 742 to prevent intrusion of water or the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the board fixing part 73 includes two bosses 731 formed with screw holes into which bolts can be screwed, and a fitting part 732 that fits into the fixing holes of the current monitoring board 5. . The current monitoring board 5 is fixed by bolt fastening to the two bosses 731 and fitting using the fitting portion 732.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the current monitoring board 5 fixed to the board fixing portion 73 includes a current sensor 51 that monitors the output current flowing through the plus side output terminal 3 and a voltage input connector 53 that is connected to the voltage monitoring board 61. And an external output connector 54 connected to a control device (not shown) for controlling the battery module 1.

The current monitoring board 5 shown in FIG. 3 has a current measuring resistor 55 arranged on a circuit pattern connecting the plus side output terminal 3 and the battery side terminal 213, and the output flowing through the plus side output terminal 3. The current is monitored. The output from the current sensor 51 is output to the control device via the control output harness 56 connected to the external output connector 54. Thus, by using the current measuring resistor 55, the current of the cylindrical battery 20 can be easily measured.
Moreover, the connection structure between the battery module 1 and the control device can be simplified by collecting the output for current monitoring and the output for voltage monitoring of the cylindrical battery 20 on the current monitoring board 5.

  In the battery module 1 of the present example, as described above, the current monitoring substrate 5 is disposed between the electrode end 21 on one side in the axial direction of the cylindrical battery set 2 and the upper surface of the case 7. That is, the current monitoring board 5 is integrally disposed inside the case 7. Therefore, even if the current monitoring board 5 is provided, the current monitoring board 5 does not partially protrude from the outer shape of the battery module 1. Thereby, the current monitoring function can be given to the battery module 1 while making the battery module 1 compact.

  As described above, according to the battery module 1 of this example, the battery module 1 can be downsized while being provided with a current monitoring function.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Battery module 2 Cylindrical battery set 20 Cylindrical battery 21, 22 Electrode end 21 Positive side electrode end 22 Negative side electrode end 24, 25 Connection tab 3 Positive side output terminal 4 Negative side output terminal 5 Current monitoring board 51 Current sensor 7 case

Claims (4)

A plurality of cylindrical batteries arranged so that their axial directions are parallel to each other, electrode ends on one axial side of the plurality of cylindrical batteries, and electrode ends on the other axial side of the plurality of cylindrical batteries A cylindrical battery set formed by connecting each other at a plurality of locations with connection tabs,
A case for accommodating the cylindrical battery assembly;
A positive output terminal and a negative output terminal of the cylindrical battery set drawn out from one side surface of the case located on one axial side of the cylindrical battery set;
Connect the positive electrode end of the cylindrical battery assembly to the positive output terminal to monitor the output current flowing through the positive output terminal, or connect the negative electrode end of the cylindrical battery assembly to the negative A current monitoring board provided with a current sensor that is connected to the side output terminal and that monitors the output current flowing through the minus side output terminal;
The battery module, wherein the current monitoring board is disposed between an electrode end on one axial side of the cylindrical battery set and one side surface of the case.   2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the current monitoring board includes a current measuring resistor for monitoring the output current, between the positive electrode end and the positive output terminal, or a negative power supply. A battery module, wherein the battery module is connected between an extreme part and the negative output terminal. The battery module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connection tab connects the plurality of cylindrical batteries arranged in a horizontal direction in parallel and connects the plurality of cylindrical batteries arranged in a vertical direction in series. ,
The battery module includes a voltage monitoring board for monitoring an intermediate voltage of the cylindrical batteries connected in parallel to the connection tab,
The output part of the voltage monitoring board is connected to the current monitoring board,
The current monitoring board is configured to output both an output from the current sensor and an output from the voltage monitoring board to a control device. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the voltage monitoring board is arranged in parallel to one side surface of the case,
The plus side output terminal and the minus side output terminal have a connection part connected to the current monitoring board and a lead part bent at a right angle from the connection part and drawn out from the case. A battery module characterized by.

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