JP2020177851A - Rechargeable battery module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To disclose a secondary battery module capable of stably connecting a secondary battery and a charging / discharging device with a low resistance without unnecessarily deforming a secondary battery or an electrode terminal. SOLUTION: The secondary battery module is formed by laminating a plurality of laminated units, and each of the laminated units includes a non-conductive plate member and at least one conductive member fixed to the plate member. A secondary battery laminated on the plate member is provided, at least one electrode terminal projects from the side surface of the secondary battery, and the at least one electrode terminal comes into surface contact with the at least one conductive member. It is a secondary battery module that is fixed while being fixed. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

The present application discloses a secondary battery module in which a plurality of secondary batteries are stacked.

Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe a secondary battery module including a plurality of secondary batteries arranged in parallel, in which electrode terminals of the plurality of secondary batteries are connected by a plurality of chuck portions connected to an external charging / discharging device. It is disclosed that it is sandwiched individually.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-102883 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-003959

In the conventional structure in which the electrode terminals are sandwiched between the chuck portions, there is a risk that the contact pressure and contact resistance between the electrode terminals and the chuck portion in each cell will vary widely. In view of such circumstances, the present application discloses a secondary battery module capable of suppressing variations in contact pressure and contact resistance between an electrode terminal and a conductive member in contact with the electrode terminal.

The present application is a secondary battery module in which a plurality of laminated units are laminated as one of means for solving the above-mentioned problems, and each of the laminated units is a non-conductive plate member and the plate. It includes at least one conductive member fixed to the member and a secondary battery laminated on the plate member, and at least one electrode terminal projects from the side surface of the secondary battery, and at least one of the electrode terminals is Disclosed is a secondary battery module that is fixed in surface contact with at least one of the conductive members.

According to the secondary battery module of the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress variations in contact pressure and contact resistance between the electrode terminal and the conductive member in contact with the electrode terminal.

It is the schematic for demonstrating the structure of the secondary battery module 100. It is the schematic for demonstrating the structure of the stacking unit 50 which comprises the secondary battery module 100. It is the schematic for demonstrating the structure of the plate member 10. Assuming that the vertical direction of the paper surface in FIG. 2 is the top-bottom direction of the plate member 10, the front-back direction of the paper surface is the side-side direction of the plate member 10, and the left-right direction of the paper surface is the front-back direction of the plate member 10, (A) Is a side view, (B) is a top view, (C) is a front view, and (D) is a bottom view. It is the schematic for demonstrating the structure of the conductive member 20. Assuming that the vertical direction of the paper surface in FIG. 2 is the top-bottom direction of the conductive member 20, the front side of the paper surface is the side-side direction of the conductive member 20, and the left-right direction of the paper surface is the front-back direction of the conductive member 20, (A) Is a side view, (B) is a top view, (C) is a front view, and (D) is a bottom view. It is the schematic for demonstrating the structure of the secondary battery 30. Assuming that the vertical direction of the paper surface in FIG. 2 is the top-bottom direction of the secondary battery 30, the front side of the paper surface is the side-side direction of the secondary battery 30, and the left-right direction of the paper surface is the front-back direction of the secondary battery 30. (A) is a side view, (B) is a top view, (C) is a front view, and (D) is a bottom view. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the process (fixing of the conductive member 20 to a plate member 10) for manufacturing the laminated unit 50 of a secondary battery module 100. It is a schematic diagram for explaining the process of manufacturing the stacking unit 50 of the secondary battery module 100 (stacking of the secondary battery 30 on the plate member 10 and fixing the electrode terminal 31 of the secondary battery 30 to the conductive member 20). is there. It is the schematic for demonstrating the structure of the secondary battery module 200. It is the schematic for demonstrating the structure of the stacking unit 50 which comprises the secondary battery module 200. It is the schematic for demonstrating the structure of the conductive member 20 provided in the secondary battery module 300. It is the schematic for demonstrating the function of the secondary battery module 300.

1. 1. Secondary battery module 100
FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of the secondary battery module 100. Further, FIG. 2 schematically shows the configuration of the stacking unit 50 constituting the secondary battery module 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the secondary battery module 100 is formed by stacking a plurality of stacking units 50, 50, .... Further, as shown in FIG. 2, each stacking unit 50 is a non-conductive plate member 10, at least one conductive member 20 fixed to the plate member 10, and a secondary battery laminated on the plate member 10. 30 and. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, at least one electrode terminal 31 projects from the side surface of the secondary battery 30, and at least one electrode terminal 31 is fixed to the at least one conductive member 20 while in surface contact. ing.

1.1. Plate member 10
FIG. 3 schematically shows the configuration of the plate member 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the plate member 10 is a plate-shaped member having a certain thickness. As shown in FIG. 3, the plate member 10 may have a convex portion 11 and a concave portion 12 on one surface side, and the entire surface may be flat on the other surface side. When the stacking unit 50 is formed by using such a plate member 10, the conductive member 20 can be arranged in the convex portion 11 of the plate member 10 and the secondary battery 30 can be arranged in the concave portion 12, as shown in FIG. .. The size (area on the laminated surface side) and thickness of the plate member are not particularly limited, and may be appropriately determined according to the size of the target module and the like. From the viewpoint of easily arranging and restraining the secondary battery 30, the area of the plate member 10 on the laminated surface side may be larger than the area of the laminated surface of the secondary battery 30. Further, from the viewpoint of ensuring sufficient rigidity and the like, the thickness of the plate member 10 may be 4 mm or more and 25 mm or less.

The plate member 10 may be provided with a hole (not shown) for fixing the conductive member 20 or the like. The location of the holes in the plate member 10 is not particularly limited, and may be one side, the other side, or the side surface of the plate member 10. As shown in FIG. 2, when the conductive member 20 is fixed to the convex portion 11 of the plate member 10, a hole is provided in a part of the convex portion 11 or a portion of the side surface of the plate member 10 adjacent to the convex portion 11. You may be.

The plate member 10 is made of a non-conductive material. Specific examples of the non-conductive material include various resins and ceramics. The plate member 10 made of such a non-conductive material can function as a positioning member for the conductive member 20 and the secondary battery 30, and also as a member for preventing heat conduction and fire spread due to heat generation of the battery in an abnormal situation. Can work.

The form shown in FIG. 3 is only one form of a plate member that can be adopted in the secondary battery module of the present disclosure. In the secondary battery module of the present disclosure, the shape of the plate member is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 3, and may be, for example, a flat plate shape having no unevenness or a shape other than this.

1.2. Conductive member 20
FIG. 4 schematically shows the configuration of the conductive member 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the conductive member 20 has a first fixing portion 21 fixed to the plate member 10 and a second fixing portion 22 to which the electrode terminal 31 of the secondary battery 30 is fixed. May be. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the first fixing portion 21 of the conductive member 20 has a through hole for fixing the conductive member 20 to the plate member 10 with a fixing member 41 (for example, a bolt). 21a may be provided, and the second fixing portion 22 of the conductive member 20 may be provided with a screw portion 22a for fixing the electrode terminal 30 to the conductive member 20. Further, in this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the fixing surface of the first fixing portion 21 of the conductive member 20 and the fixing surface of the second fixing portion 22 correspond to the shape of the end portion of the plate member 10. It may be configured to be substantially orthogonal to each other. That is, the conductive member 20 may have a substantially L-shape in the side surface shape.

The conductive member 20 is made of a conductive material. Specific examples of the conductive material include various metals and the like. By fixing the electrode terminal 31 of the secondary battery 30 to the conductive member 20 made of such a conductive material, the secondary battery 30 can be charged and discharged via the conductive member 20. That is, the secondary battery 30 can be charged / discharged while pressing the terminal of the charging / discharging device against the conductive member 20.

The number of the conductive members 20 fixed to the plate member 10 is not particularly limited, and may be appropriately determined according to the number and shape of the terminals 31 of the secondary battery 30. The location where the conductive member 20 is fixed in the plate member 10 may also be appropriately determined according to the position of the terminal 31 of the secondary battery 30 and the like.

The form shown in FIG. 4 is only one form of the conductive member that can be adopted in the secondary battery module of the present disclosure. In the secondary battery module of the present disclosure, the shape of the conductive member is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 4 (substantially L-shaped), for example, a U-shaped or flat plate without bending, or other shapes. It may be in the shape of. Further, the method of fixing the conductive member to the plate member is not limited to the fixing by the bolt 41 as described above. Various fixing methods such as fixing with a nut, fixing with an adhesive, and fixing with a fitting can be adopted. From the viewpoint of facilitating fixing, fixing with bolts 41 is preferable. In this case, as will be described later, the conductive member may not be completely fixed to the plate member, but may be slightly movable.

1.3. Secondary battery 30
FIG. 5 schematically shows the configuration of the secondary battery 30. The secondary battery 30 may have at least one electrode terminal 31 protruding from the side surface thereof, and may be capable of extracting electric power to the outside through the electrode terminal 31. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the secondary battery 30 may have a positive electrode terminal 31a and a negative electrode terminal 31b. As shown in FIG. 5, the positive electrode terminal 31a and the negative electrode terminal 31b may each project in the same direction from one side surface of the secondary battery 30, or as described later, each from a different side surface of the secondary battery 30. It may project in different directions. The "side surface" of the secondary battery 30 means a surface substantially along the stacking direction of the stacking unit 50. That is, the secondary battery 30 has a laminated surface (a surface laminated on the plate member) intersecting the stacking direction and a side surface substantially along the stacking direction. The "electrode terminal 31 protruding from the side surface of the secondary battery 30" means that the electrode terminal 31 protrudes in a direction intersecting the stacking direction. The same applies hereinafter.

The secondary battery 30 may be an electrolytic solution-based secondary battery or a solid-state battery. As will be described later, when the restraint member 60 is provided in the secondary battery module 100, the internal resistance of the secondary battery 30 or the like can be easily reduced by the restraint pressure from the restraint member 60. That is, even when a solid-state battery is used as the secondary battery 30, it is easy to improve the battery performance by adjusting the restraining pressure.

The internal configuration (positive electrode, electrolyte, negative electrode, etc.) of the secondary battery 30 may be the same as that known. For example, it can have the same configuration as a known lithium ion secondary battery. The external configuration of the secondary battery 30 may be the same as that known. For example, the secondary battery 30 may be packaged by an exterior body. A laminated film or the like can be used as the exterior body.

The material and shape of the electrode terminal 31 of the secondary battery 30 are not particularly limited, and may be the same as known terminals. For example, it can be a metal plate or metal foil made of copper, aluminum, or the like. The terminal made of aluminum has a problem that an oxide film is formed on the surface thereof and easily causes an increase in resistance. However, in the secondary battery module of the present disclosure, the electrode terminal 31 is in surface contact with the conductive member 10. Since it is fixed, it is easy to reduce the resistance between the electrode terminal 31 and the conductive member 10.

As long as the electrode terminal 31 of the secondary battery 30 is fixed while being in surface contact with the conductive member 20, the fixing method is not particularly limited. For example, the electrode terminal 31 may be tightened and fixed while being in surface contact with the surface of the conductive member 20. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the electrode terminal 31 may be tightened and fixed to the conductive member 20 by a fixing member 42 selected from bolts or nuts. For example, the electrode terminal 31 may be inserted into the screw portion 22a provided in the second fixing portion 22 of the conductive member 20 and tightened by the nut 42. By fixing the electrode terminal 31 and the conductive member 20 by tightening in this way, the resistance between the electrode terminal 31 and the conductive member 20 can be further reduced, and the fixed portion can be fixed even when a large current flows. It is possible to suppress the heat generation of. Further, when charging / discharging the secondary battery 30 via the conductive member 20 using a charging / discharging device, the performance of the secondary battery 30 is unlikely to deteriorate.

When the electrode terminal 31 is tightened and fixed to the conductive member 20 by using a fixing member 42 selected from bolts or nuts, the fixing member 42 preferably has irregularities in a portion in contact with the electrode terminal 31. As a result, even if an oxide film is formed on the surface of the electrode terminal 31, the oxide film can be easily broken by the fixing member 42. Further, when the electrode terminal 31 is tightened and fixed to the conductive member 20 by using the fixing member 42, it is preferable to use a washer. By using a washer, it becomes easy to prevent unnecessary damage to the electrode terminal 31. It is also possible to prevent loosening. When a washer is used, it is preferable that the washer has irregularities on the portion in contact with the electrode terminal 31. As a result, even if an oxide film is formed on the surface of the electrode terminal 31, the oxide film can be easily broken by the washer.

1.4. Lamination unit 50
The stacking unit 50 includes the plate member 10 described above, at least one conductive member 20 fixed to the plate member 10, and a secondary battery 30 laminated on one surface of the plate member 10. Such a stacking unit 50 can be easily manufactured, for example, by the procedure shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the first fixing portion 21 of the conductive members 20 and 20 is arranged so that the second fixing portion 22 of the conductive members 20 and 20 is arranged on the convex portion 11 of the plate member 10. It is fixed to a part of the plate member 10 (for example, a part of the side surface of the plate member 10 adjacent to the convex portion 11) by a fixing member 41 such as a bolt or a nut. After that, as shown in FIG. 7, while the secondary battery 30 is laminated in the recess 12 of the plate member 10, the electrode terminal 31 protruding from the secondary battery 30 is bolted or nutted to the second fixing portion 22 of the conductive member 20. It is fixed while being in surface contact with a fixing member 42 such as. By configuring the stacking unit 50 in this way, for example, by pressing the terminal of the charging / discharging device against the conductive member 20, a complicated mechanism such as a conventional chuck portion sandwiching mechanism is not required. The next battery 30 can be charged and discharged. Further, since the secondary battery 30 and the conductive member 20 can be positioned by the plate member 10, it is easy to avoid the positional deviation between the electrode terminal 31 and the conductive member 20. Further, the electrode terminal 31 is fixed by surface contact along the surface shape of the conductive member 20, and it is easy to reduce variations in contact pressure and contact resistance between the electrode terminal 31 and the conductive member 20.

1.5. Other Configuration The secondary battery module 100 is formed by stacking a plurality of the above stacking units 50. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, one laminated unit 50 is laminated on one side (laminated battery 30 side) with the other laminated unit 50 on the other side (opposite to the laminated battery 30), and two plates are laminated. One secondary battery 30 may be sandwiched between the members 10 and 10.

Note that FIG. 1 shows a form in which the secondary batteries 30 are arranged only on one side of each of the plurality of laminated units 50, and the plurality of laminated units 50 are laminated so as to face the same direction. However, the secondary battery module of the present disclosure is not limited to this form. The stacking units 50 and 50 may be laminated so that the secondary batteries 30 and 30 face each other.

Further, although FIG. 1 shows a form in which the secondary battery 30 is laminated only on one side of each of the plurality of laminated units 50, the secondary battery module of the present disclosure is not limited to this form. .. The secondary battery 30 may be laminated on both sides of the stacking unit 50. In this case, the secondary battery 30 laminated on the other side of the stacking unit 50 is fixed with the electrode terminals 31 in surface contact with the conductive member 20, similarly to the secondary battery 30 laminated on the one side. You may.

Further, although FIG. 1 shows a form in which a plurality of laminated units 50, 50, ... Are laminated so as to be in direct contact with each other, the secondary battery module of the present disclosure is not limited to this form. Some intermediate member may be sandwiched between the plurality of laminated units 50, 50, .... For example, a stacking unit having a form different from that of the stacking unit 50 may be sandwiched within a range that can solve the above problems.

As shown in FIG. 1, the secondary battery module 100 may include a restraint member 60. Specifically, the restraint pressure by the restraint member 60 may be applied to the plurality of stacking units 50, 50, ... From both sides in the stacking direction. This facilitates the handling of the secondary battery module 100, and is expected to reduce the internal resistance of the battery due to the restraining pressure. The form of the restraint member 60 is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, in the secondary battery module 100, plate-shaped portions 60a and 60a sandwiching both ends of the stacking units 50, 50, ... In the stacking direction and rod-shaped portions 60b connecting the plate-shaped portions 60a and 60a. Examples thereof include a restraint member 60 which is connected to the rod-shaped portion 60b and includes an adjusting portion 60c which is connected to the rod-shaped portion 60b and adjusts the distance between the plate-shaped portions 60a and 60a by a screw structure or the like. Alternatively, a restraining member or the like utilizing the elastic pressure of the elastic member may be used.

2. Secondary battery module 200
8 and 9 schematically show the configuration of the secondary battery module 200, which is a modification of the secondary battery module 100. In FIG. 8, the restraint member 60 is omitted for the sake of clarity. In the secondary battery module 200, the same members as those of the secondary battery module 100 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted here. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the secondary battery module 200 differs from the secondary battery module 100 in the form of the electrode terminals 31 protruding from the secondary battery 30 and the positions and numbers of the conductive members 20. There is.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in the stacking unit 50 constituting the secondary battery module 200, the conductive member 20 fixed to the plate member 10 is divided into a voltage measurement type and a current measurement type. Specifically, the current measuring conductive member 20a and the voltage measuring conductive member 20b are separately fixed to the plate member 10, and the positive electrode terminal 31a protruding from the secondary battery 30 is one current measuring conductive member 20a. And one voltage measuring conductive member 20b, and the negative electrode terminal 31b is fixed to another current measuring conductive member 20a and another voltage measuring conductive member 20b.

By separately providing the conductive member 20a for current measurement and the conductive member 20b for voltage measurement in this way, the voltage of each secondary battery can be measured with high accuracy, and a highly accurate charge / discharge test can be performed. Become.

3. 3. Secondary battery module 300
FIG. 10 schematically shows the configuration of the conductive member 20 provided in the secondary battery module 300, which is a modification of the secondary battery module 100. Further, FIG. 11 shows the function of the secondary battery module 300. In FIG. 11, only a part of the secondary battery module 300 is extracted and shown. In the secondary battery module 300, the same members as those of the secondary battery module 100 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted here.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the shape of the hole 21a provided in the first fixing portion 21 of the conductive member 20 is different in the secondary battery module 300 as compared with the secondary battery module 100. Specifically, when the conductive member 20 is fixed to the plate member 10 by the fixing member 41, the conductive member 20 can slide in the thickness direction of the plate member 10 (the stacking direction in the secondary battery module). The hole 21a provided in the conductive member 20 is longer in the thickness direction of the plate member 10 than in the width direction of the plate member 10 (direction orthogonal to the stacking direction in the secondary battery module).

Alternatively, when the conductive member 20 is fixed to the plate member 10 by the fixing member 41, the conductive member 20 can slide in the width direction of the plate member 10 (the direction orthogonal to the stacking direction in the secondary battery module). The hole 21a provided in the conductive member 20 is longer in the width direction of the plate member 10 (direction orthogonal to the stacking direction in the secondary battery module) than in the thickness direction of the plate member 10 (stacking direction in the secondary battery module). You may. Further, a hole provided in the conductive member 20 so that the conductive member 20 can slide in both the thickness direction and the width direction of the plate member 10 when the conductive member 20 is fixed to the plate member 10 by the fixing member 41. 21a may be larger than the insertion portion (screw portion) of the fixing member 41.

As shown in FIG. 11, the electrode is formed by fixing the conductive member 20 to the plate member 10 while leaving a clearance between the solid member 41 and the conductive member 20 so that the conductive member 20 can slide with respect to the plate member 10. The variation in the position of the terminal 31 can be absorbed, and a more stable contact resistance can be obtained.

4. Supplement In the secondary battery module of the present disclosure, for example, each terminal of the charging / discharging device as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-2199886, Japanese Patent No. 5312000, etc. is connected to each conductive member 20 of the secondary battery module. It is possible to charge and discharge the respective secondary batteries 30, 30, ... While pressing them against 20, .... According to the secondary battery module of the present disclosure, the conductive member 20 incorporated in the module functions as a terminal, and the battery 30 and the electrode terminal 31 are stably charged with a low resistance without being unnecessarily deformed. It can be connected to a discharge device.

The secondary battery module of the present disclosure can be suitably used as a large power source for mounting on a vehicle, for example.

10 Plate member 20 Conductive member 30 Secondary battery 41 Fixing member 42 Fixing member 50 Laminating unit 60 Restraining member 100, 200, 300 Secondary battery module

Claims (1)

A secondary battery module in which a plurality of laminated units are laminated.
Each of the laminated units includes a non-conductive plate member, at least one conductive member fixed to the plate member, and a secondary battery laminated to the plate member.
At least one electrode terminal projects from the side surface of the secondary battery, and the at least one electrode terminal is fixed to the at least one conductive member while in surface contact.
Secondary battery module.

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