JP7764857B2 - Power storage device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an energy storage device comprising an energy storage element and an outer casing in which the energy storage element is housed.

Conventionally, energy storage devices in which energy storage elements are housed in an exterior body are widely known. Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle battery device (energy storage device) in which multiple cells (energy storage elements) are housed in a housing (exterior body).

International Publication No. 2016/042783

In conventional energy storage devices, there is a risk of problems occurring due to the size of the energy storage device. The first objective of the present invention is to provide an energy storage device that can suppress problems caused by size.

In a conventional energy storage device configured as described above, there is a risk of malfunctions occurring due to the weight of the energy storage device. A second object of the present invention is to provide an energy storage device that can suppress the occurrence of malfunctions due to weight.

In order to achieve the first objective, one aspect of the present invention provides an energy storage device comprising: an energy storage unit having an energy storage element; and an exterior body in which the energy storage unit is housed; the exterior body having a wall portion located on the opposite side of the electrode terminal of the energy storage element relative to the center position of the energy storage element; the energy storage device comprising a spacing member disposed between the wall portion and the energy storage unit, forming a space between the wall portion and the energy storage unit and spacing the energy storage unit from the wall portion; and a rib formed on the wall portion for restricting movement of the spacing member.

The present invention can be realized not only as such an energy storage device, but also as a combination of an outer casing having ribs formed thereon and a spacing member.

In order to achieve the second objective, one aspect of the present invention provides an energy storage device comprising: an energy storage unit having an energy storage element; and an exterior body in which the energy storage unit is housed; the energy storage device further comprises: a plurality of weight housing spaces, which are a plurality of spaces in which weights are housed, arranged between the energy storage unit and one wall portion of the exterior body; and a support portion, which is arranged between the energy storage unit and the wall portion and supports the energy storage unit.

The present invention can be realized not only as such an energy storage device, but also as a combination of an exterior body having a weight storage space and a support part.

The storage device of the present invention can reduce the occurrence of problems caused by size or weight.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a power storage device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the components of the electricity storage device according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an exterior body main body of the exterior body according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the weight, the first support member, and the second support member according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the weight, the first support member, and the second support member according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the weight, the first support member, and the second support member according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the energy storage element, the weight, and the support member according to the first modification of the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an exterior body, a power storage element, a weight, and a support member according to the first modification of the embodiment. FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an energy storage device and a support member according to a second modification of the embodiment. FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of an energy storage element and a support member according to the second modification of the embodiment.

In facilities where a power storage device is used, the facility may be used for a long period of time, but the power storage device may be replaced. In such cases, the power storage device may be downsized due to improved performance, resulting in empty space within the facility, which may affect the specifications of the facility. In the case of a power storage device used in a vehicle such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, the vehicle may be used for a long period of time, but the power storage device may be replaced and downsized, resulting in empty space within the vehicle, which may affect the vehicle design. As such, the inventors of the present application have discovered that problems may occur due to the size of the power storage device.

The first object of the present invention is to provide an energy storage device that can suppress the occurrence of defects caused by size.

In order to achieve the first objective, one aspect of the present invention provides an energy storage device comprising: an energy storage unit having an energy storage element; and an exterior body in which the energy storage unit is housed; the exterior body having a wall portion located on the opposite side of the electrode terminal of the energy storage element relative to the center position of the energy storage element; the energy storage device comprising a spacing member disposed between the wall portion and the energy storage unit, forming a space between the wall portion and the energy storage unit and spacing the energy storage unit from the wall portion; and a rib formed on the wall portion for restricting movement of the spacing member.

According to this, in the energy storage device, a spacing member is disposed between a wall portion of the exterior body opposite the electrode terminals of the energy storage element and the energy storage unit having the energy storage element, separating the energy storage unit from the wall portion, and a rib is formed on the wall portion to restrict movement of the spacing member. By disposing a spacing member between the wall portion of the exterior body and the energy storage unit to separate the energy storage unit from the wall portion, even if the energy storage element or the energy storage unit is miniaturized, the energy storage device can be prevented from being downsized. This allows the size of the energy storage device to be adjusted to fit the equipment in which it is installed. By disposing the spacing member between the wall portion of the exterior body opposite the electrode terminals of the energy storage element and the energy storage unit, the height of the electrode terminals within the energy storage device can be prevented from being reduced even if the energy storage element is miniaturized. This prevents problems caused by changes in the positional relationship between the electrode terminals and other components (such as bus bars). The spacing member forms a space between the wall of the exterior body and the energy storage unit, separating the energy storage unit from the wall, allowing the energy storage unit to be separated from the wall with a simple configuration. By forming a rib on the wall that restricts movement of the spacing member, the spacing member can be prevented from moving within the energy storage device, even when the spacing member is placed. These features make it possible to prevent problems caused by the size of the energy storage device.

The electrode terminal may be arranged in an exposed state from the outer casing.

By using the spacing member to position the energy storage unit away from the wall of the exterior body on the opposite side from the electrode terminal, the electrode terminal can be positioned closer to the exterior body, allowing the electrode terminal to be exposed from the exterior body. This allows the exposed electrode terminal to serve as the external terminal (general terminal) of the energy storage device, eliminating the need to provide a new external terminal and simplifying the configuration of the energy storage device.

Furthermore, it may also be provided with a container that is housed in the space.

By storing an object in the space between the wall of the exterior body and the power storage unit, the object can support the spacing member within the space. If it is desired to adjust the weight of the power storage device, the weight of the power storage device can be adjusted by placing a weight-adjusted weight as the object.

The storage unit may have a plurality of the storage elements, and the spacing member may be arranged between the wall portion and the plurality of storage elements, spanning the plurality of storage elements.

This means that even if the multiple storage elements in the storage unit are miniaturized, the spacing members are placed between the wall of the exterior body and the multiple storage elements across the multiple storage elements, preventing the storage device from becoming too small. This helps prevent problems caused by the size of the storage device.

The spacing member may be attached to the storage element.

By attaching the spacing member to the energy storage element, if the energy storage element is fixed within the exterior body, the spacing member can be prevented from moving within the exterior body. Alternatively, if the spacing member is fixed within the exterior body, the energy storage element can be prevented from moving within the exterior body.

The rib may be arranged to protrude toward the spacing member, and the spacing member may abut against the rib to form the space between itself and the wall portion.

With this, the spacing member abuts against the rib of the wall portion of the exterior body, easily forming a space between the spacing member and the wall portion, separating the energy storage unit from the wall portion. This simple configuration prevents the energy storage device from becoming too small, making it easy to prevent problems caused by the size of the energy storage device.

In facilities where a power storage device is used, the facility may be used for a long period of time, but the power storage device may need to be replaced. In such cases, improving the performance of the power storage device may result in a lighter power storage device, which may result in a lighter weight for the facility, potentially affecting the specifications of the facility. In the case of a power storage device used in a vehicle, such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1, the vehicle is used for a long period of time, but the power storage device is replaced and made lighter, which may result in a lighter weight for the vehicle, potentially affecting the vehicle design. Thus, the inventors of the present application have discovered that problems may occur due to the weight of the power storage device.

The second object of the present invention is to provide an energy storage device that can suppress the occurrence of defects caused by weight.

In order to achieve the second objective, one aspect of the present invention provides an energy storage device comprising: an energy storage unit having an energy storage element; and an exterior body in which the energy storage unit is housed; the energy storage device further comprises: a plurality of weight housing spaces, which are a plurality of spaces in which weights are housed, arranged between the energy storage unit and one wall portion of the exterior body; and a support portion, which is arranged between the energy storage unit and the wall portion and supports the energy storage unit.

According to this, in the energy storage device, multiple weight storage spaces for storing weights are arranged between the energy storage unit having the energy storage element and one wall of the exterior body, and a support portion for supporting the energy storage unit is arranged between the energy storage unit and the wall. By arranging multiple weight storage spaces between the energy storage unit and the wall of the exterior body in this way, weights can be accommodated in the weight storage spaces, making it possible to adjust the weight of the energy storage device. This allows the weight of the energy storage device to be adjusted to match the equipment in which the energy storage device is installed, making it possible to adjust the weight of the equipment to an appropriate level. By arranging a support portion for supporting the energy storage unit between the energy storage unit and the wall of the exterior body, the energy storage unit can be stably supported even when a weight storage space is arranged between the energy storage unit and the wall. These features make it possible to reduce the occurrence of problems caused by the weight of the energy storage device.

The wall portion may be a bottom wall portion of the exterior body, and the multiple weight accommodating spaces may be arranged between the storage unit and the bottom wall portion of the exterior body.

Storing weights inside the exterior body could change the weight balance of the energy storage device, causing it to tilt or tip over. For this reason, multiple weight storage spaces are arranged between the energy storage unit and the bottom wall of the exterior body. This prevents the center of gravity of the energy storage device from rising by arranging the weights on the bottom wall side of the exterior body, so the energy storage device can be placed in a stable position even when weights are stored inside the exterior body. This prevents problems caused by the weight of the energy storage device.

The support portion may have a first mounting portion to which the weight is attached.

By providing the support with a first mounting portion to which the weight can be attached, even if the weight is housed inside the exterior body, the weight can be prevented from moving inside the exterior body. This helps prevent problems caused by the weight of the energy storage device.

The support portion may have a second mounting portion that is attached to the storage element.

By providing the support portion with a second mounting portion that can be attached to the storage element, the storage element can be stably supported within the outer casing, thereby preventing the storage element from moving within the outer casing.

The plurality of weight storage spaces may include a first storage space in which a weight is stored and a second storage space in which no weight is stored.

This allows the weight of the storage device to be appropriately adjusted by selectively storing weights, such as storing a weight in the first storage space among the multiple weight storage spaces and not storing a weight in the second storage space.

The storage unit may have a first storage element and a second storage element, the first storage space may be arranged between the first storage element and the wall portion, and the second storage space may be arranged between the second storage element and the wall portion.

This allows the weight to be adjusted by placing a first storage space containing a weight between the first storage element and the wall, and a second storage space not containing a weight between the second storage element and the wall. This allows the weight of the storage device to be adjusted appropriately.

The storage unit may have a plurality of the storage elements, and each of the weight accommodating spaces may be arranged between each of the storage elements and the wall portion.

By arranging a weight storage space between each energy storage element and the wall of the exterior body, the weight of each energy storage element can be adjusted by placing or not placing a weight in the weight storage space. This allows the weight of the energy storage device to be adjusted appropriately.

The following describes an energy storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention (including its variations) with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are all comprehensive or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, component placement and connection configurations shown in the following embodiments are examples only and are not intended to limit the present invention. Dimensions, etc. in each figure are not strictly illustrated.

In the following description and drawings, the X-axis direction is defined as the direction in which the long sides of the container of the energy storage element or the long sides of the exterior body of the energy storage device face each other. The Y-axis direction is defined as the direction in which a pair of electrode terminals (positive and negative) of one energy storage element are aligned, the direction in which the short sides of the container of the energy storage element face each other, or the direction in which the short sides of the exterior body of the energy storage device face each other. The Z-axis direction is defined as the direction in which the exterior body main body and lid of the energy storage device are aligned, the direction in which the energy storage element and busbar are aligned, the direction in which the container main body and lid of the energy storage element are aligned, or the up-down direction. The X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, and Z-axis direction intersect each other (orthogonal in this embodiment). Depending on the usage mode, the Z-axis direction may not be the up-down direction; however, for ease of explanation, the Z-axis direction will be described below as the up-down direction.

In the following explanation, the positive X-axis direction refers to the direction of the X-axis arrow, and the negative X-axis direction refers to the direction opposite to the positive X-axis direction. The same applies to the Y-axis and Z-axis directions. Expressions indicating relative directions or attitudes, such as parallel and perpendicular, also include cases where the direction or attitude is not strictly that one. "Two directions are perpendicular" does not only mean that the two directions are completely perpendicular, but also means that they are substantially perpendicular, i.e., there is a difference of a few percent.

(Embodiment)
[1. General Description of the Power Storage Device 10]
First, a general description of the energy storage device 10 according to the present embodiment will be given. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the energy storage device 10 according to the present embodiment. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing each component of the energy storage device 10 according to the present embodiment when disassembled. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the exterior body main body 200 of the exterior body 100 according to the present embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the configuration of the exterior body main body 200 shown in Fig. 2 when viewed obliquely from above (positive direction of the Z axis).

The power storage device 10 is a device capable of charging and discharging electricity externally. In this embodiment, it has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The power storage device 10 is a battery module (battery assembly) used for power storage or power supply purposes. Specifically, the power storage device 10 is used as a battery for driving or starting the engine of a moving object such as an automobile, motorcycle, personal watercraft, boat, snowmobile, agricultural machinery, construction machinery, or electric railway vehicle. Examples of such automobiles include electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and gasoline-powered automobiles. Examples of such electric railway vehicles include electric trains, monorails, linear motor cars, and hybrid trains equipped with both a diesel engine and an electric motor. The power storage device 10 can also be used as a stationary battery for home use or as a power generator.

1 and 2, the energy storage device 10 includes an exterior body 100, which houses an energy storage unit 400 having an energy storage element 410, a weight 500, a first support member 600, a second support member 700, a bus bar 800, and the like. In addition to the above components, the energy storage device 10 may also include a bus bar frame on which the bus bar 800 is mounted, and electrical equipment such as a circuit board, fuses, relays, and connectors for monitoring the charge and discharge states of the energy storage element 410.

The exterior body 100 is a box-shaped (approximately rectangular parallelepiped) container (module case) that constitutes the exterior body of the energy storage device 10. In other words, the exterior body 100 is disposed outside the energy storage unit 400, weight 500, first support member 600, second support member 700, bus bar 800, etc., and secures the energy storage unit 400, etc. in a predetermined position, protecting them from impacts, etc. The exterior body 100 is formed from an insulating material such as polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polyphenylene sulfide resin (PPS), polyphenylene ether (PPE (including modified PPE)), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), tetrafluoroethylene perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether (PFA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethersulfone (PES), ABS resin, or a composite material thereof, or from a metal or the like with an insulating coating. This prevents the power storage unit 400 and the like from coming into contact with external metal members and the like. The exterior body 100 may be formed from a conductive material such as a metal as long as the electrical insulation of the power storage unit 400 and the like is maintained.

The exterior body 100 has an exterior body main body 200 that constitutes the main body of the exterior body 100, and a lid body 300 that constitutes the lid body of the exterior body 100. The exterior body main body 200 is a rectangular cylindrical housing (chassis) with a bottom and an opening facing in the positive direction of the Z axis, and houses the energy storage unit 400 and other components. The lid body 300 is a flat rectangular member that closes the opening of the exterior body main body 200. The exterior body main body 200 and the lid body 300 may be made of the same material or different materials.

In this embodiment, the exterior body main body 200 and the lid body 300 are connected by engaging with each other. Specifically, the exterior body main body 200 has four body-side engaging portions 221, and the lid body 300 has four lid-side engaging portions 310 at positions corresponding to the four body-side engaging portions 221. The exterior body main body 200 and the lid body 300 are connected by engaging each body-side engaging portion 221 with each lid-side engaging portion 310. In this embodiment, the body-side engaging portions 221 are through-holes that penetrate the side wall of the exterior body main body 200, and the lid-side engaging portions 310 are protrusions that are inserted into the through-holes. However, the engagement configuration of the body-side engaging portions 221 and the lid-side engaging portions 310 is not particularly limited. The exterior body main body 200 and the lid body 300 may be connected (joined) by fitting, bolting, adhesive, heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, laser welding, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 3 , the exterior body main body 200 has a bottom wall portion 210 and a side wall portion 220. The bottom wall portion 210 is a flat, rectangular wall portion that is elongated in the Y-axis direction and is located at the bottom of the exterior body main body 200 (the portion in the negative Z-axis direction). The side wall portion 220 is a quadrangular annular wall portion consisting of four flat, rectangular side walls that are arranged upright in the positive Z-axis direction from the outer edges of the bottom wall portion 210 on both sides in the X-axis direction and on both sides in the Y-axis direction. Two body-side engagement portions 221 aligned in the Y-axis direction as described above are formed at the ends in the positive Z-axis direction of each side wall of the side wall portion 220 located on both sides in the X-axis direction.

The bottom wall portion 210 is provided with a plurality of ribs 211 arranged in a grid pattern and protruding in the positive Z-axis direction. In this embodiment, three ribs 211 extending from one end of the bottom wall portion 210 in the X-axis direction are arranged at both ends and the center in the Y-axis direction, and five ribs 211 extending from one end of the bottom wall portion 210 in the Y-axis direction are arranged at equal intervals from one end to the other in the X-axis direction. As a result, eight weight storage spaces S1 separated by the ribs 211 are arranged in the positive Z-axis direction of the bottom wall portion 210. The weight storage spaces S1 are rectangular parallelepiped spaces extending in the Y-axis direction and accommodate weights 500 therein. Specifically, two sets of four weight storage spaces S1 are arranged in the Y-axis direction along the bottom wall portion 210. In other words, a weight storage space S1 is arranged for each energy storage element 410. In this embodiment, eight weight accommodating spaces S1 are arranged corresponding to the eight energy storage elements 410.

Openings 320, which are rectangular notches, are formed in the corners of the lid 300 on both sides in the positive Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction. The openings 320 expose the electrode terminals 412 of the energy storage elements 410 of the energy storage unit 400 (described below). In other words, the electrode terminals 412 (electrode terminals 412 located on both sides in the positive Y-axis direction and the X-axis direction) are positioned in an exposed state from the exterior body 100 (openings 320 of the lid 300). The energy storage device 10 charges with electricity from the outside and discharges electricity to the outside via these electrode terminals 412.

The energy storage unit 400 has multiple energy storage elements 410. Specifically, two sets of four energy storage elements 410 are arranged in the X-axis direction, and each set is arranged in the Y-axis direction, forming an energy storage unit 400 consisting of eight energy storage elements 410. The number and arrangement (arrangement) of the energy storage elements 410 included in the energy storage unit 400 are not particularly limited. In addition to these energy storage elements 410, the energy storage unit 400 may have spacers between the energy storage elements 410 or to the sides of the energy storage elements 410, or may have restraining members (end plates and side plates) that restrain the energy storage elements 410.

The energy storage element 410 is a secondary battery (single cell) that can charge and discharge electricity, and more specifically, is a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery such as a lithium-ion secondary battery. The energy storage element 410 has a flat rectangular parallelepiped (square) shape. The size and shape of the energy storage element 410 are not particularly limited. The energy storage element 410 is not limited to a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, and may be a secondary battery other than a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, or may be a capacitor. The energy storage element 410 may not be a secondary battery, but may be a primary battery that allows stored electricity to be used without the user having to charge it. The energy storage element 410 may be a battery that uses a solid electrolyte. The energy storage element 410 may also be a pouch-type energy storage element.

Specifically, the energy storage element 410 comprises a container 411 and a pair of electrode terminals 412 (positive and negative). The container 411 contains an electrode assembly, a pair of current collectors, and an electrolyte (non-aqueous electrolyte), among other things. Gaskets are disposed between the container 411 and the electrode terminals 412 and current collectors, but these are not shown. There are no particular restrictions on the type of electrolyte, and various types can be selected as long as they do not impair the performance of the energy storage element 410. In addition to the above configuration, the energy storage element 410 may also comprise spacers disposed on the sides of the current collectors, an insulating sheet covering the outer surface of the container 411, and other components.

Container 411 is a rectangular (square) container having a container body with an opening and a lid that closes the opening of the container body, and is formed from a metal member such as stainless steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, iron, or plated steel sheet. In this embodiment, container 411 is oriented such that its long side faces the X-axis direction and its short side faces the Y-axis direction, i.e., a pair of long sides face each other in the X-axis direction and a pair of short sides face each other in the Y-axis direction. Container 411 may also be provided with a gas release valve that releases pressure inside container 411 when the pressure inside the container 411 increases, and a liquid injection unit for injecting electrolyte into container 411.

The electrode terminals 412 are terminals (positive and negative terminals) of the energy storage element 410 that are arranged on the surface (lid) of the container 411 on the positive Z-axis side, and are electrically connected to the positive and negative electrode plates of the electrode body via current collectors. In other words, the electrode terminals 412 are metal members that conduct electricity stored in the electrode body to the external space of the energy storage element 410 and introduce electricity into the internal space of the energy storage element 410 to store electricity in the electrode body. The electrode terminals 412 are formed from aluminum, an aluminum alloy, copper, a copper alloy, or the like.

The electrode assembly is an electricity storage element (power generating element) formed by stacking a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator. The positive electrode plate is formed by forming a positive electrode active material layer on a positive electrode substrate layer, which is a current collecting foil made of a metal such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The negative electrode plate is formed by forming a negative electrode active material layer on a negative electrode substrate layer, which is a current collecting foil made of a metal such as copper or a copper alloy. Any known material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions can be used as the active material used in the positive electrode active material layer and the negative electrode active material layer. In this embodiment, the electrode assembly is formed by stacking electrode plates (positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates) in the X-axis direction. The electrode assembly may be of any shape, such as a wound electrode assembly formed by winding electrode plates (positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates), a stacked electrode assembly formed by stacking multiple flat electrode plates, or a bellows-shaped electrode assembly in which electrode plates are folded like bellows.

The current collectors are conductive members (positive and negative current collectors) that are electrically connected to the electrode terminal 412 and the electrode body. The positive current collector is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, similar to the positive electrode substrate layer of the positive electrode plate, and the negative current collector is made of copper or a copper alloy, similar to the negative electrode substrate layer of the negative electrode plate.

The bus bar 800 is a rectangular, flat member connected to the energy storage elements 410. Specifically, the bus bar 800 is disposed above the energy storage elements 410 and connected (joined) to the electrode terminals 412 of the energy storage elements 410. That is, the bus bar 800 electrically connects the electrode terminals 412 of the energy storage elements 410 to one another. In this embodiment, the bus bar 800 and the electrode terminals 412 are connected (joined) by bolting, but may also be connected (joined) by welding or other methods. The bus bar 800 is formed of a conductive metal member such as aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper, copper alloy, or nickel, or a combination thereof, or a conductive non-metallic member. In this embodiment, seven bus bars 800 connect the positive and negative terminals of adjacent energy storage elements 410, thereby connecting the eight energy storage elements 410 in series. The connection of the energy storage elements 410 is not limited to the above, and any combination of series and parallel connections may be used.

Of the multiple electrode terminals 412 possessed by the multiple energy storage elements 410, the two electrode terminals 412 located at the end in the positive Y-axis direction and at both ends in the X-axis direction are not connected to the bus bar 800, but are exposed through the opening 320 in the lid 300 described above. These two electrode terminals 412 are connected to external terminals (not shown) or function as external terminals, allowing the energy storage device 10 to charge with electricity from the outside and discharge electricity to the outside.

Next, we will explain the weight 500, first support member 600, and second support member 700. Here, we will provide an overview of these members, and a detailed explanation of the configuration of these members will be provided later.

The weight 500 is a member used to adjust the weight of the energy storage device 10. In other words, the weight 500 is a weight adjustment member that compensates for the shortfall in the weight of the energy storage element 410 due to the energy storage element 410 being made smaller and lighter (especially lighter). The weight 500 is disposed between the bottom wall portion 210 of the exterior body main body 200 and the first support member 600, and is attached to the first support member 600 and housed in the weight housing space S1. The weight 500 is a flat plate-shaped member extending in the Y-axis direction and positioned in the negative Z-axis direction of the energy storage element 410, and is disposed for each energy storage element 410. In other words, in this embodiment, eight weights 500 are disposed corresponding to the eight energy storage elements 410. Weight 500 may be made of any material, but is preferably made of a material having a higher density than exterior body 100 (exterior body main body 200), and is more preferably made of a material having the same density as or a higher density than energy storage element 410. In the present embodiment, weight 500 is made of a metal member such as stainless steel, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, copper, a copper alloy, iron, or a steel plate.

The first support member 600 is a flat, rectangular member disposed between the weight 500 and the second support member 700, and extends across multiple (eight) energy storage elements 410 in the X-axis and Y-axis directions. The first support member 600 is disposed between the energy storage unit 400 and the bottom wall portion 210 of the exterior body main body 200, and functions as a support portion that supports the energy storage unit 400. The first support member 600 also functions as a spacing member that forms a space (weight accommodating space S1) between the bottom wall portion 210 and the energy storage unit 400, separating the energy storage unit 400 from the bottom wall portion 210. The spacing member separates the energy storage unit 400 from the bottom wall portion 210 to compensate for the deficiency in size of the energy storage element 410 due to its reduced size and weight (particularly its miniaturization). The weight 500 is attached to the first support member 600, and the second support member 700 is positioned thereon. The first support member 600 may be made of any material, but is preferably made of a metal material such as stainless steel, aluminum, an aluminum alloy, iron, or a steel plate.

The second support member 700 is a bottomed, rectangular tubular member disposed between the energy storage element 410 and the first support member 600, extending in the Y-axis direction and with an opening facing in the positive Z-axis direction. The second support member 700 is disposed for each energy storage element 410 in the negative Z-axis direction of the energy storage element 410 and attached to the energy storage element 410. In this embodiment, eight second support members 700 are disposed corresponding to the eight energy storage elements 410. Similar to the first support member 600, the second support member 700 is disposed between the energy storage unit 400 and the bottom wall portion 210 of the exterior body main body 200 and functions as a support portion supporting the energy storage unit 400. The second support member 700 may be formed from any material, but is preferably formed from any electrically insulating resin material that can be used for the exterior body 100 described above.

[2. Description of the Configuration of the Weight 500, the First Support Member 600, and the Second Support Member 700]
Next, the configurations of the weight 500, the first support member 600, and the second support member 700 will be described in detail. FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views showing the configurations of the weight 500, the first support member 600, and the second support member 700 according to this embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the energy storage device 410, the weight 500, the first support member 600, and the second support member 700 shown in FIG. 2 , and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of FIG. 4 as viewed obliquely from below (the negative Z-axis direction). For ease of explanation, FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate one energy storage device 410, one weight 500, and one second support member 700 arranged in the Z-axis direction out of the multiple energy storage devices 410, multiple weights 500, and multiple second support members 700 shown in FIG. 2 . FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the configurations of the weight 500, the first support member 600, and the second support member 700 according to this embodiment. Specifically, FIG. 6 shows a cross section of the power storage device 10 shown in FIG. 1 taken along a plane parallel to the YZ plane and passing through the center of the weight 500.

As shown in these figures, the weight 500 has a third mounting portion 510 that is connected to the first support member 600 and attaches the weight 500 to the first support member 600. In this embodiment, two third mounting portions 510 are arranged side by side in the Y-axis direction at the center of the weight 500 in the X-axis direction. Specifically, the third mounting portion 510 is a through hole that penetrates the weight 500 in the Z-axis direction and has a female threaded portion formed therein, and the male threaded portion of the connecting member 640 that penetrates the first support member 600 is configured to thread into this female threaded portion.

The second support member 700 has a second mounting portion 710 that is attached to the energy storage element 410, and a second connection portion 720 that is connected to the first support member 600. The second mounting portion 710 is a recess formed by recessing almost the entire upper surface of the second support member 700 in the negative Z-axis direction, and the end portion of the energy storage element 410 in the negative Z-axis direction is inserted into the second mounting portion 710. This allows the second support member 700 to be attached to the energy storage element 410. The second connection portion 720 is a convex portion that protrudes in the negative Z-axis direction from the lower surface of the second support member 700 in the negative Z-axis direction, and is inserted into the first support member 600. In this embodiment, two second connection portions 720 are arranged side by side in the Y-axis direction at the center of the second support member 700 in the X-axis direction.

The first support member 600 has a first main body 610, a first mounting portion 620 to which the weight 500 is attached, and a first side wall 630. The first main body 610 is a flat, rectangular portion that is elongated in the Y-axis direction and parallel to the XY plane that constitutes the main body of the first support member 600. The first side wall 630 is a flat, rectangular side wall that protrudes in the negative Z-axis direction from the outer edges of the first support member 600 on both sides in the X-axis direction and on both sides in the Y-axis direction.

The first main body 610 has a first connection portion 611 that connects to the second connection portion 720 of the second support member 700. The first connection portion 611 is a circular through-hole that penetrates the first main body 610 in the Z-axis direction, and multiple first connection portions 611 are arranged at positions corresponding to the multiple second connection portions 720 of the second support member 700. By inserting multiple second connection portions 720 into each of the multiple first connection portions 611, the second support member 700 is positioned and attached to the first support member 600. As a result, it can be said that the storage element 410 is attached to the first support member 600 via the second support member 700, or that the first support member 600 is attached to the storage element 410 via the second support member 700.

The first mounting portion 620 is a protruding portion that protrudes from the first main body 610 in the negative Z-axis direction and is bent in the Y-axis direction so as to be parallel to the XY plane. In other words, the first mounting portion 620 is formed by bending a cutout portion of the first main body 610 in the negative Z-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. In this manner, multiple first mounting portions 620 are arranged in positions corresponding to multiple third mounting portions 510 of the weight 500. Each of these multiple first mounting portions 620 has a through-hole that penetrates in the Z-axis direction. The male threaded portion of the connecting member 640 is inserted into this through-hole and threadedly engages with the female threaded portion of each third mounting portion 510, thereby connecting the first mounting portion 620 and the third mounting portion 510. This allows the weight 500 to be attached to the first support member 600.

In this manner, as shown in Figure 6, the energy storage element 410, weight 500, first support member 600, second support member 700, etc. are attached and housed within the exterior body 100. In this configuration, the first support member 600 is positioned between the bottom wall portion 210 of the exterior body main body 200 and the multiple energy storage elements 410, spanning the multiple energy storage elements 410. The ribs 211 of the bottom wall portion 210 (in Figure 6, the ribs 211 at the center in the Y-axis direction and the end in the negative Y-axis direction) protrude toward the first support member 600 and are positioned in contact with the first support member 600, restricting movement of the first support member 600 in the negative Z-axis direction.

As a result, the rib 211, first support member 600, and second support member 700 can be defined as a support portion disposed between the energy storage unit 400 and one wall portion of the exterior body 100 (the bottom wall portion 210 of the exterior body main body 200) and supporting the energy storage unit 400. In this embodiment, the weight 500 attached to the first support member 600 is placed in contact with the bottom wall portion 210, and therefore the weight 500 can be said to have the function of restricting movement of the first support member 600 in the negative Z-axis direction and supporting the energy storage unit 400.

When the rib 211 abuts against the first support member 600, a space (weight accommodating space S1) is formed between the first support member 600 and the bottom wall portion 210. As a result, the first support member 600 can also be defined as a spacing member that forms a space (weight accommodating space S1) between the wall portion (bottom wall portion 210) and the energy storage unit 400, and separates the energy storage unit 400 from the wall portion (bottom wall portion 210). The wall portion (bottom wall portion 210) is a wall portion of the exterior body 100 located on the opposite side of the electrode terminal 412 of the energy storage element 410 (the negative Z-axis direction) relative to the center position of the energy storage element 410. If a gap is also formed between the second support member 700 and the energy storage element 410 or between the second support member 700 and the first support member 600, the second support member 700 can also be defined as a spacing member.

In this way, the wall portion (bottom wall portion 210) is formed with ribs 211 that restrict the movement of the spacing member (first support member 600, etc.). The ribs 211 are arranged to protrude toward the spacing member (first support member 600, etc.), and the spacing member (first support member 600, etc.) abuts against the ribs 211, thereby forming a space between the wall portion (bottom wall portion 210). An item (weight 500) is stored in this space (weight storage space S1).

The rib 211 (in Figure 6, the rib 211 at the center in the Y-axis direction) separates (divides or divides) the multiple weight accommodating spaces S1. As a result, the multiple weight accommodating spaces S1 are multiple different spaces arranged between the storage unit 400 and one wall portion (bottom wall portion 210) of the exterior body 100. Specifically, the multiple weight accommodating spaces S1 are each arranged for each of the multiple storage elements 410 in the negative Z-axis direction. In other words, each of the multiple weight accommodating spaces S1 is arranged between each of the multiple storage elements 410 and that wall portion (bottom wall portion 210).

It is also possible to remove the weight 500 from some of the multiple weight storage spaces S1. It is also possible that, among the multiple weight storage spaces S1 shown in Figure 6, the first storage space S11 in the negative Y-axis direction contains the weight 501, while the second storage space S12 in the positive Y-axis direction has the weight 502 (shown by the dashed line) removed and not stored therein. In this case, the multiple weight storage spaces S1 will have the first storage space S11 in which the weight 500 is stored and the second storage space S12 in which the weight 500 is not stored. In Figure 6, the storage element 410 in the negative Y-axis direction will be referred to as the first storage element, and the storage element 410 in the positive Y-axis direction will be referred to as the second storage element. The energy storage unit 400 has a first energy storage element and a second energy storage element, and the first storage space S11 is arranged between the first energy storage element and a wall portion (bottom wall portion 210) of the outer casing 100, and the second storage space S12 is arranged between the second energy storage element and the wall portion (bottom wall portion 210).

[3. Explanation of Effects]
As described above, according to the energy storage device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, a spacing member (such as the first support member 600) is disposed between the wall portion of the exterior body 100 opposite the electrode terminal 412 (the bottom wall portion 210 of the exterior body main body 200) and the energy storage unit 400, separating the energy storage unit 400 from the wall portion. The wall portion has a rib 211 formed thereon to restrict movement of the spacing member. In this manner, by disposing a spacing member between the wall portion of the exterior body 100 and the energy storage unit 400, separating the energy storage unit 400 from the wall portion, it is possible to prevent the energy storage device 10 from being downsized even if the energy storage elements 410 or the energy storage unit 400 are downsized. This allows the size of the energy storage device 10 to be adjusted to fit the equipment in which the energy storage device 10 is installed. By disposing the spacing member between the wall portion of the exterior body 100 opposite the electrode terminals 412 and the energy storage unit 400, it is possible to prevent the height of the electrode terminals 412 from decreasing within the energy storage device 10, even if the energy storage elements 410 are miniaturized. This prevents problems caused by changes in the positional relationship between the electrode terminals 412 and other components (such as the bus bar 800). The spacing member forms a space (weight accommodating space S1) between the wall portion of the exterior body 100 and the energy storage unit 400, separating the energy storage unit 400 from the wall portion. This allows the energy storage unit 400 to be separated from the wall portion with a simple configuration. By forming a rib 211 on the wall portion that restricts movement of the spacing member, it is possible to prevent the spacing member from moving within the energy storage device 10, even when the spacing member is disposed. These features prevent problems caused by the size of the energy storage device 10.

By using the spacing member to position the energy storage unit 400 away from the wall (bottom wall 210) of the exterior body 100 on the side opposite the electrode terminal 412, the electrode terminal 412 can be positioned closer to the exterior body 100, allowing the electrode terminal 412 to be exposed from the exterior body 100. This allows the exposed electrode terminal 412 to serve as an external terminal (general terminal) of the energy storage device 10, eliminating the need to provide a new external terminal and simplifying the configuration of the energy storage device 10.

By storing an object (weight 500) in the space (weight storage space S1) between the wall portion (bottom wall portion 210) of the exterior body 100 and the energy storage unit 400, the object can support a spacing member (such as the first support member 600) within the space. If it is desired to adjust the weight of the energy storage device 10, the weight of the energy storage device 10 can be adjusted by placing a weight-adjusted weight 500 as the object.

Even if the multiple energy storage elements 410 in the energy storage unit 400 are miniaturized, by disposing a spacing member (such as the first support member 600) between the wall portion (bottom wall portion 210) of the exterior body 100 and the multiple energy storage elements 410 across the multiple energy storage elements 410, it is possible to prevent the energy storage device 10 from being miniaturized. This makes it possible to prevent problems caused by the size of the energy storage device 10.

By attaching a spacing member (such as the first support member 600) to the energy storage element 410, if the energy storage element 410 is fixed within the exterior body 100, the spacing member can be prevented from moving within the exterior body 100. Alternatively, if the spacing member is fixed within the exterior body 100, the energy storage element 410 can be prevented from moving within the exterior body 100.

By having the spacing member (such as the first support member 600) abut against the rib 211 on the wall (bottom wall 210) of the exterior body 100, a space (weight storage space S1) can be easily formed between the spacing member and the wall, separating the energy storage unit 400 from the wall. This allows the energy storage device 10 to be prevented from becoming too small with a simple configuration, making it easy to prevent problems caused by the size of the energy storage device 10.

According to the energy storage device 10 of the embodiment of the present invention, multiple weight storage spaces S1 for storing weights 500 are arranged between the energy storage unit 400 having the energy storage elements 410 and one wall portion of the exterior body 100 (the bottom wall portion 210 of the exterior body main body 200). Support portions (first support member 600 and second support member 700) for supporting the energy storage unit 400 are arranged between the energy storage unit 400 and the wall portion. In this way, by arranging multiple weight storage spaces S1 between the energy storage unit 400 and the wall portion of the exterior body 100, weights 500 can be stored in the weight storage spaces S1, thereby adjusting the weight of the energy storage device 10. This allows the weight of the energy storage device 10 to be adjusted to suit the equipment in which the energy storage device 10 is installed, allowing the equipment to be adjusted to an appropriate weight. By disposing a support portion for supporting the power storage unit 400 between the power storage unit 400 and the wall portion of the exterior body 100, the power storage unit 400 can be stably supported even when a weight accommodating space S1 is disposed between the power storage unit 400 and the wall portion. This makes it possible to suppress the occurrence of problems caused by the weight of the power storage device 10.

If the weight 500 is housed inside the exterior body 100, the weight balance of the energy storage device 10 may change, causing the energy storage device 10 to tilt or tip over. For this reason, multiple weight housing spaces S1 are arranged between the energy storage unit 400 and the bottom wall 210 of the exterior body 100. In this way, by arranging the weight 500 on the bottom wall 210 side of the exterior body 100, the center of gravity of the energy storage device 10 can be prevented from rising, so even if the weight 500 is housed inside the exterior body 100, the energy storage device 10 can be placed in a stable position. Therefore, the occurrence of problems caused by the weight of the energy storage device 10 can be prevented.

By providing the first support member 600 with the first mounting portion 620 to which the weight 500 is attached, even when the weight 500 is housed inside the exterior body 100, the weight 500 can be prevented from moving inside the exterior body 100. This makes it possible to prevent malfunctions caused by the weight of the energy storage device 10.

By providing the second support member 700 with a second mounting portion 710 that can be attached to the energy storage element 410, the energy storage element 410 can be stably supported within the outer casing 100, thereby preventing the energy storage element 410 from moving within the outer casing 100.

By selectively storing weights 500, such as storing weights 500 in the first storage space S11 of the multiple weight storage spaces S1 and not storing weights 500 in the second storage space S12, the weight of the energy storage device 10 can be appropriately adjusted.

This allows the weight to be adjusted by placing a first storage space S11 containing a weight 500 between the first energy storage element and the wall (bottom wall 210 of the exterior body main body 200) and placing a second storage space S12 not containing a weight 500 between the second energy storage element and the wall. This allows the weight of the energy storage device 10 to be appropriately adjusted.

By arranging each weight storage space S1 between each energy storage element 410 and the wall (bottom wall 210) of the exterior body 100, the weight of each energy storage element 410 can be adjusted by placing or not placing a weight 500 in the weight storage space S1. This allows the weight of the energy storage device 10 to be appropriately adjusted.

[4. Description of Modifications]
(Variation 1)
Next, a first modification of the above embodiment will be described. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an energy storage element 410, a weight 500, and a support member 701 according to the first modification of the present embodiment. Fig. 7 illustrates the configuration of one energy storage element 410 among the plurality of energy storage elements 410 included in the energy storage unit 400. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an exterior body main body 200, an energy storage element 410, a weight 500, and a support member 701 according to the first modification of the present embodiment. Specifically, Fig. 8 illustrates a cross-section of these configurations taken along a plane parallel to the XZ plane and passing through the center of the weight 500.

As shown in these figures, in this modified example, a support member 701 is provided in place of the first support member 600 and second support member 700 in the above embodiment. The other configurations of this modified example are the same as those of the above embodiment, so detailed explanations will be omitted.

The support member 701 is arranged in the negative Z-axis direction of the storage element 410 for each storage element 410, and is attached to the storage element 410, and is a member to which the weight 500 is attached. In other words, in this modified example, eight support members 701 are arranged corresponding to the eight storage elements 410. The support members 701 may be made of any material, but are made of any electrically insulating resin material that can be used for the exterior body 100 described above.

The support member 701 has a first mounting portion 701a and a second mounting portion 701b. The first mounting portion 701a is located at the end of the support member 701 facing in the negative Z-axis direction, and is the portion to which the weight 500 is attached. The first mounting portion 701a is a rectangular tubular portion with a bottom and an opening facing in the negative Z-axis direction, thereby forming a space S2 (see Figure 8) between the first mounting portion 701a and the weight 500. The second mounting portion 701b is located at the end of the support member 701 facing in the positive Z-axis direction, and is the portion to which the storage element 410 is attached. The second mounting portion 701b is a rectangular tubular portion with a bottom and an opening facing in the positive Z-axis direction, thereby forming a space S3 (see Figure 8) between the second mounting portion 701b and the storage element 410.

Specifically, with the weight 500 attached to the first mounting portion 701a of the support member 701, the weight 500 and the first mounting portion 701a are housed in a weight housing space S1 formed in the bottom wall portion 210 of the exterior body main body 200. At this time, the weight 500 is placed on the bottom wall portion 210, and movement of the weight 500 and the first mounting portion 701a in the horizontal direction (the X-axis direction in FIG. 8 ) is restricted by a rib 211 on the bottom wall portion 210. The rib 211 may be positioned so as to abut the weight 500 and the first mounting portion 701a, or may be positioned so as to form a small gap (clearance) between the weight 500 and the first mounting portion 701a.

In this way, like the first support member 600 and the second support member 700 in the above embodiment, the support member 701 is disposed between the energy storage unit 400 and the bottom wall portion 210 of the exterior body main body 200, and functions as a support portion that supports the energy storage unit 400. The support member 701 also functions as a spacing member that forms a space (spaces S2, S3) between the bottom wall portion 210 and the energy storage unit 400, separating the energy storage unit 400 from the bottom wall portion 210. Alternatively, since the weight storage space S1 is disposed between the support member 701 and the bottom wall portion 210, it can also be said that the support member 701 forms the weight storage space S1 between the bottom wall portion 210 and the energy storage unit 400, separating the energy storage unit 400 from the bottom wall portion 210.

As described above, the energy storage device according to this modified example can achieve the same effects as the above-described embodiment. In particular, in this modified example, the two members, the first support member 600 and the second support member 700, in the above-described embodiment are formed from a single member, the support member 701, thereby achieving a simple configuration.

(Variation 2)
Next, a second modification of the above embodiment will be described. Figures 9A and 9B are cross-sectional views showing the configuration of the energy storage element 410 and support members 702 and 703 according to the second modification of the present embodiment. Specifically, these figures show cross sections of the energy storage element 410 and support members 702 and 703 cut along a plane parallel to the XZ plane. These figures illustrate the configuration around one energy storage element 410 of the multiple energy storage elements 410 included in the energy storage unit 400.

In this modified example, as shown in Figure 9A, a support member 702 is provided instead of the support member 701 and weight 500 in the above modified example 1. The other configuration of this modified example is the same as that of the above modified example 1, so detailed explanation will be omitted.

Like support member 701 in Variant 1, support member 702 is a member formed from any electrically insulating resin material or the like that can be used in the exterior body 100, and has a first mounting portion 702a and a second mounting portion 702b. First mounting portion 702a has a shape in which the end of first mounting portion 701a in Variant 1 facing the negative Z-axis direction extends in the negative Z-axis direction. Second mounting portion 702b has a shape similar to second mounting portion 701b in Variant 1. As a result, space S4 is formed within first mounting portion 701a, and space S3 is formed within second mounting portion 702b.

In this way, the support member 702 is disposed between the energy storage unit 400 and the bottom wall portion 210 of the exterior body 200, and functions as a support portion that supports the energy storage unit 400. The support member 702 also functions as a spacing member that forms a space (spaces S3, S4) between the bottom wall portion 210 and the energy storage unit 400, separating the energy storage unit 400 from the bottom wall portion 210. Alternatively, since the weight storage space S1 is disposed between the support member 702 and the bottom wall portion 210, it can also be said that the support member 702 forms the weight storage space S1 between the bottom wall portion 210 and the energy storage unit 400, separating the energy storage unit 400 from the bottom wall portion 210.

In the configuration shown in Figure 9B, the width of the storage element 410 in the X-axis direction is narrower than that of the storage element 410 shown in Figure 9A. Therefore, in order to adjust the width of the storage element 410 in the X-axis direction, a support member 703 is attached to the end of the storage element 410 facing in the negative Z-axis direction, and a support member 704 is attached to the end of the storage element 410 facing in the positive Z-axis direction.

The support member 703 has a first mounting portion 703a and a second mounting portion 703b. The first mounting portion 703a has a configuration similar to that of the first mounting portion 702a of the support member 702 described above. The second mounting portion 703b has a recess into which the energy storage element 410 is inserted that has a smaller width in the X-axis direction than the second mounting portion 702b of the support member 702 described above, but otherwise has a configuration similar to that of the second mounting portion 702b. The support member 704 is an annular member that is positioned around the end of the energy storage element 410 in the positive Z-axis direction and is formed so that the width of its outer periphery in the X-axis direction is the same as that of the support member 703. This allows the width of the energy storage element 410 in the X-axis direction to be adjusted. The width in the Y-axis direction can also be adjusted in a similar manner. In other words, the support member 703 is a member that supports the lower part of the energy storage element 410 from below and laterally, and the support member 704 is a member that supports the upper part of the energy storage element 410 from laterally.

As described above, the energy storage device according to this modified example can achieve the same effects as the above-described embodiment. In particular, this modified example does not require the placement of a weight 500, and can therefore be realized with a simple configuration.

In this modified example, by adjusting the weight of support member 702, 703, or 704 instead of weight 500, support member 702, 703, or 704 can function as a weight adjustment member. In this case, support member 702 or 703 is placed as a weight within weight storage space S1. A weight can also be placed within space S3 or S4 in support member 702 or 703. In this case, space S3 or S4 becomes the weight storage space. If the weight is also placed within weight storage space S1, weight storage space S1 also becomes the weight storage space in which the weight is stored. Space S3 or S4 does not have to be a space within a recess formed in a member, but may be a space within a hollow member, or may be any other form of space. The same applies to other spaces (space S2, etc.).

(Other Modifications)
Although the power storage device according to the present embodiment (including the above-mentioned modified examples) has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. In other words, the embodiment disclosed herein is illustrative in all respects and is not restrictive, and the scope of the present invention includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. In the following, the contents described for the above-mentioned embodiment also apply to the above-mentioned modified examples 1 and 2.

In the above embodiment, the weight storage space S1 is arranged between each storage element 410 and the bottom wall portion 210 of the exterior body main body 200. However, the weight storage space S1 may be arranged between the multiple storage elements 410 and the bottom wall portion 210 across multiple storage elements 410.

In the above embodiment, the multiple weight storage spaces S1 are arranged in a row along the bottom wall portion 210 of the exterior body main body 200. However, the multiple weight storage spaces S1 may also be arranged in a row in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall portion 210.

In the above embodiment, the weight storage space S1 is arranged between the energy storage unit 400 and the bottom wall 210 of the exterior body main body 200. However, the weight storage space S1 may also be arranged between the energy storage unit 400 and the side wall 220 of the exterior body main body 200, or between the energy storage unit 400 and the lid 300.

In the above embodiment, the weight 500 is attached to the first support member 600, and the second support member 700 is attached to the energy storage element 410. However, the weight 500 does not have to be attached to the first support member 600, and the second support member 700 does not have to be attached to the energy storage element 410.

In the above embodiment, the same weight 500 is accommodated in the multiple weight accommodating spaces S1. However, the multiple weight accommodating spaces S1 may accommodate weights 500 of different sizes, shapes, or densities. This allows the weight of the energy storage device 10 to be appropriately adjusted by accommodating weights 500 of different weights in the multiple weight accommodating spaces S1.

In the above embodiment, one of the multiple weight storage spaces S1 contains a weight 500. However, it is also possible to remove the weights 500 from all of the weight storage spaces S1, so that no weights 500 are stored in any of the weight storage spaces S1.

In the above embodiment, the space disposed between the energy storage unit 400 and the wall portion of the exterior body 100 is defined as the weight storage space S1 in which the weight 500 is stored. However, the item stored in this space does not have to be the weight 500, and may be a light material. However, from the perspective of supporting the first support member 600, the second support member 700, etc., it is preferable that the item be formed from a highly rigid material.

In the above embodiment, the storage unit 400 has multiple storage elements 410, but the storage unit 400 may have only one storage element 410.

Forms constructed by any combination of the components included in the above embodiments and their variations are also included within the scope of the present invention.

The present invention can be realized not only as an energy storage device, but also as a combination of an outer casing 100 having ribs 211 formed thereon and a spacing member (such as a first support member 600).

The present invention can be realized not only as an energy storage device, but also as a combination of an outer casing 100 provided with a weight storage space S1 and a support portion (such as a first support member 600 and a second support member 700).

The present invention can be applied to a storage device equipped with a storage element such as a lithium-ion secondary battery.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Energy storage device 100 Exterior body 200 Exterior body main body 210 Bottom wall portion 211 Rib 220 Side wall portion 221 Main body side engaging portion 300 Lid body 310 Lid body side engaging portion 320 Opening 400 Energy storage unit 410 Energy storage element 411 Container 412 Electrode terminal 500, 501, 502 Weight 510 Third mounting portion 600 First support member 610 First main body 611 First connecting portion 620, 701a, 702a, 703a First mounting portion 630 First side wall 640 Connecting member 700 Second support member 701, 702, 703, 704 Support member 710, 701b, 702b, 703b Second mounting portion 720 Second connecting portion 800 Bus bar S1 Weight storage space S2, S3, S4 Space S11 First storage space S12 Second storage space

Claims (12)

An electricity storage device including an electricity storage unit having an electricity storage element and an exterior body in which the electricity storage unit is housed,
the exterior body has a wall portion located on the opposite side of the electrode terminal of the energy storage element with respect to a center position of the energy storage element,
the power storage device includes a spacing member that is disposed between the wall portion and the power storage unit, that forms a space between the wall portion and the power storage unit, and that spaces the power storage unit from the wall portion;
a rib that restricts movement of the spacing member is formed on the wall portion ;
The electrode terminals are arranged in a state where they are exposed from the exterior body.
Energy storage device. An electricity storage device including an electricity storage unit having an electricity storage element and an exterior body in which the electricity storage unit is housed,
the exterior body has a wall portion located on the opposite side of the electrode terminal of the energy storage element with respect to a center position of the energy storage element,
The power storage device is
a spacing member that is disposed between the wall portion and the power storage unit, and that forms a space between the wall portion and the power storage unit to space the power storage unit from the wall portion;
a plurality of weight accommodating spaces that are arranged between the electricity storage unit and the wall portion and that are spaces in which weights are accommodated ,
The wall portion has a rib formed thereon for restricting movement of the spacing member. The power storage device according to claim 2 , wherein the spacing member is a support portion that supports the power storage unit. The power storage device according to claim 3 , wherein the support portion has a first attachment portion to which the weight is attached. The energy storage device according to claim 3 or 4 , wherein the support portion has a second attachment portion that is attached to the energy storage element. The power storage device according to any one of claims 2 to 5 , wherein the plurality of weight accommodating spaces include a first accommodating space in which a weight is accommodated and a second accommodating space in which no weight is accommodated. the power storage unit has a plurality of the power storage elements,
The electricity storage device according to claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of weight accommodating spaces is disposed between each of the plurality of electricity storage elements and the wall portion. moreover,
The electricity storage device according to claim 1 , further comprising an object housed in the space. the power storage unit has a plurality of the power storage elements,
The energy storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the spacing member is disposed between the wall portion and the plurality of energy storage elements, spanning the plurality of energy storage elements. The electricity storage device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , wherein the spacing member is attached to the electricity storage element. The rib is disposed so as to protrude toward the spacing member,
The electricity storage device according to claim 1 , wherein the spacing member abuts against the rib to form the space between the spacing member and the wall portion. An electricity storage device including an electricity storage unit having an electricity storage element and an exterior body in which the electricity storage unit is housed,
a plurality of weight accommodating spaces that are arranged between the power storage unit and one wall portion of the exterior body and that are spaces in which weights are accommodated;
a support portion disposed between the electricity storage unit and the wall portion and configured to support the electricity storage unit,
The support portion has a first mounting portion to which the weight is attached.
Energy storage device.