Battery module

Abstract

A battery module includes a plurality of batteries stacked, a separator disposed between two adjacent batteries to insulate the two batteries, and a thermal conduction suppression member disposed between the battery and the separator adjacent to the battery, wherein outer surfaces of the plurality of batteries are each covered with an insulating film, the separator has a flat portion extending along opposite faces of the two adjacent batteries, the flat portion has a recess portion that receives at least a portion of the thermal conduction suppression member, an opening of the recess portion is located inside an outer periphery of the flat portion, a remaining portion of the flat portion other than the recess portion is formed in a ring shape, a size of the thermal conduction suppression member in a stacking direction of the plurality of batteries is larger than a depth of the recess portion, and the thermal conduction suppression member is in abutment with the insulating film.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application filed on September 20, 2017, with application number 201780050899.X and entitled "Manufacturing method of battery, battery module and separator". Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to a method for manufacturing batteries, battery modules, and separators. Background Technology

[0003] Battery modules with a structure in which multiple batteries are connected in series are known as power sources that require high output voltage, such as for vehicles. Patent Document 1 discloses a battery module with a structure in which batteries and separators are alternately stacked. By placing separators between two adjacent batteries, insulation can be achieved between the two batteries.

[0004] Prior art literature

[0005] Patent documents

[0006] Patent Document 1: JP 2012-181972 Summary of the Invention

[0007] -The problem the invention aims to solve-

[0008] In the aforementioned battery module, a cascading overheating problem can occur, where the temperature of the battery in use rises excessively, and this heat is transferred to adjacent batteries, causing their temperatures to also rise excessively. Due to this cascading overheating, the performance of the battery module is significantly reduced. Through repeated and careful study of the aforementioned battery module, the inventors have recognized that there is room for improvement in suppressing performance degradation in existing battery modules.

[0009] The present invention was made in view of this situation, and its object is to provide a technique for suppressing the degradation of the performance of a battery module.

[0010] -Methods for solving the problem-

[0011] In a first aspect of the invention, one embodiment is a battery module. The battery module includes: a plurality of stacked batteries; a separator disposed between two adjacent batteries to insulate the batteries from each other; and a heat conduction suppression component disposed between a battery and the separator adjacent to the battery.

[0012] In a second aspect of the invention, one method is a method for manufacturing a separator. This method is used for manufacturing a separator for a battery module having multiple stacked batteries, the separator comprising: an integral forming step of a resin base member comprising a first portion extending between two batteries when the battery module is assembled, and a heat conduction suppression member disposed on the first portion.

[0013] In a second aspect of the invention, another embodiment is a battery module. This battery module includes: a plurality of stacked batteries; and a separator disposed between two adjacent batteries to insulate the batteries from each other. The separator comprises: an integrally formed resin base member comprising a first portion extending between the two batteries and a heat conduction suppression member disposed in the first portion.

[0014] In a third aspect of the invention, one embodiment is a battery module. This battery module includes: a plurality of stacked batteries; a separator disposed between two adjacent batteries to insulate the batteries from each other; and a heat conduction suppression component disposed between two adjacent batteries. The separator has a through-hole extending through it in the region overlapping the batteries when viewed from the stacking direction. At least a portion of the heat conduction suppression component is housed within the through-hole.

[0015] In a fourth aspect of the invention, one embodiment is a battery. The battery includes: an outer can; an insulating film covering the surface of the outer can; and a heat conduction inhibiting component disposed between the outer can and the insulating film.

[0016] In a fourth aspect of the invention, another embodiment is a battery module. This battery module comprises multiple batteries of the aforementioned configuration stacked together, with a heat conduction suppression component disposed between two adjacent batteries.

[0017] As a fifth aspect of the invention, one embodiment is a battery. The battery includes: a housing; an adhesive layer laminated to the surface of the housing; and a heat conduction inhibiting member fixed to the housing via the adhesive layer.

[0018] As a fifth aspect of the invention, another embodiment is a battery module. This battery module comprises multiple batteries of the aforementioned configuration stacked together, with a heat conduction suppression component disposed between two adjacent batteries.

[0019] -Invention Effects-

[0020] According to the present invention, the performance degradation of the battery module can be suppressed. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of the battery module involved in Embodiment 1.

[0022] Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional diagram showing the general structure of the battery stack.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of the battery with respect to the first, second, and third sides of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of the separator and the heat conduction suppression component in a first-side embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the stacked structure of the battery, separator, and heat conduction suppression component in a first-side embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the stacked structure of the battery, separator, and heat conduction suppression component in the battery module according to Embodiment 2 of the first aspect of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the stacked structure of the battery, separator, and heat conduction suppression component in the battery module according to Embodiment 3, which is part of the first aspect of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 8 This is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of the separator from the second side of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the stacked structure of the battery and separator from the second side of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 10 Regarding the second aspect of the present invention, Figure 10 (A) to (D) of 10 are schematic process diagrams illustrating the manufacturing method of the separator according to Embodiment 1.

[0031] Figure 11 This is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the stacked structure of the battery and separator in the battery module according to Embodiment 2, with respect to the second aspect of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 12 This is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of the separator and the heat conduction suppression component in the third side of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 13 This is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the stacked structure of the battery, separator, and heat conduction suppression component in the third side of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 14This is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of the battery in the fourth aspect of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 15 This is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of the partition in the fourth side of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 16 This is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the stacked structure of the battery and separator in the fourth side of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 17 This is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the stacked structure of the battery and separator in the battery module according to Embodiment 2 of the fourth aspect of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 18 This is an exploded perspective view showing the schematic structure of the battery with respect to the fifth side of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 19 This is a diagram relating to the fifth side of the invention. Figure 19 (A) is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the stacked state of the batteries. Figure 19 (B) is a front view schematically showing the configuration of the heat conduction suppression components in the battery.

[0040] Figure 20 This is a diagram relating to the fifth side of the invention. Figure 20 (A) is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of the battery according to Embodiment 2. Figure 20 (B) is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the stacked state of the batteries.

[0041] Figure 21 This is a diagram relating to the fifth side of the invention. Figure 21 (A) is a schematic front view showing the heat conduction suppression component of the battery according to Embodiment 3. Figure 21 (B) is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of the battery according to Embodiment 3.

[0042] -Symbol Explanation-

[0043] 1 Battery Module

[0044] 12, 12a, 12b batteries

[0045] 14, 214, 314 separators

[0046] 14c Part 1

[0047] Part 2 of 14d

[0048] 18 outer cans

[0049] 40 heat conduction suppression components

[0050] 42 insulating film

[0051] 44 Thermal Insulation Materials

[0052] 46-layer lamination

[0053] 46a flange portion

[0054] 48 protrusions

[0055] 50 recesses

[0056] 56 through holes

[0057] 58, 258 base components

[0058] 70 mold

[0059] 44′ shell

[0060] 46′ adhesive layer

[0061] 50′ thermal insulation material

[0062] 51 and 351 laminated films. Detailed Implementation

[0063] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, based on suitable embodiments. These embodiments are not intended to limit the invention but are examples, and all features or combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily limited to the essential features of the invention. The same or equivalent structural elements, components, and processes shown in the various drawings are given the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted where appropriate. Furthermore, the scales and shapes of the parts shown in the figures are provided for ease of explanation and are not intended to be limiting unless specifically mentioned. Moreover, even for the same component, the scales, etc., may differ slightly between the figures. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., used in this specification or claims do not indicate any order or importance, but are used to distinguish one structure from others.

[0064] (Implementation Method 1)

[0065] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of the battery module involved in Embodiment 1. Figure 2 This is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of the battery stack. The battery module 1 includes a battery stack 2 and an outer casing component 8. The battery stack 2 includes: a plurality of batteries 12, a plurality of separators 14, a plurality of heat conduction suppression components 40, a pair of end plates 4, and a pair of restraint components 6. In this embodiment, as an example, eight batteries 12 are connected in series via a busbar (not shown) to form the battery stack 2.

[0066] Each battery 12 is, for example, a rechargeable secondary battery such as a lithium-ion battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, or a nickel-cadmium battery. The battery 12 is a so-called prismatic battery. Multiple batteries 12 are stacked at predetermined intervals such that the main surfaces of adjacent batteries 12 face each other. Furthermore, "stacked" refers to arranging multiple components in any one direction. Therefore, the stacking of batteries 12 also includes arranging multiple batteries 12 in a horizontal direction.

[0067] Two adjacent batteries 12 are arranged such that the output terminal 22 (positive terminal 22a) of the positive terminal of one battery 12 is adjacent to the output terminal 22 (negative terminal 22b) of the negative terminal of the other battery 12. Hereinafter, without needing to distinguish the polarity of the output terminals 22, the positive terminal 22a and the negative terminal 22b will be collectively referred to as output terminal 22. The adjacent positive terminals 22a and negative terminals 22b are connected in series via a busbar. The busbar is, for example, a strip of metal plate. One end of the busbar is electrically connected to the positive terminal 22a of one battery 12, and the other end of the busbar is electrically connected to the negative terminal 22b of the other battery 12.

[0068] The separator 14, also known as an insulating separator, is made of, for example, an insulating resin. The separator 14 is disposed between two adjacent batteries 12, electrically insulating the two batteries 12. Furthermore, the separator 14 is disposed between the battery 12 and the end plate 4, insulating the battery 12 from the end plate 4. Examples of thermoplastic resins constituting the separator 14 include polypropylene (PP) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

[0069] A heat conduction suppression component 40 is disposed between two adjacent batteries 12 to suppress heat conduction between the two batteries 12. Furthermore, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is insulating. In this embodiment, the battery 12 includes the heat conduction suppression component 40. The structure of the battery 12 including the heat conduction suppression component 40 will be described in detail below.

[0070] Multiple stacked batteries 12, multiple spacers 14, and multiple heat conduction suppression components 40 are sandwiched between a pair of end plates 4. The pair of end plates 4 are configured to be separated from the stacking direction X of the batteries 12 by the spacers 14. Figure 1 as well as Figure 2 The outermost battery 12 is adjacent to the end plate 4 (in the direction indicated by arrow X in the diagram). The end plate 4 is made of metal plate, for example, and is adjacent to the battery 12 by means of a separator 14, thereby being insulated relative to the battery 12. On the main surface of the end plate 4, screw holes (not shown) are provided for the fastening screws 16 to be screwed into.

[0071] A pair of constraint components 6 are arranged in a direction Y perpendicular to the stacking direction X of the battery 12. Figure 1 as well as Figure 2(In the direction indicated by arrow Y in the diagram). Between a pair of constraint members 6, an assembly consisting of multiple batteries 12, multiple separators 14, multiple heat conduction suppression members 40, and a pair of end plates 4 is arranged. The constraint member 6 has a rectangular planar portion 6a parallel to the side of the assembly, and eaves 6b protruding from the ends of each side of the planar portion 6a toward the assembly. The constraint member 6 can be formed, for example, by bending each side of a rectangular metal plate. Two eaves 6b opposite each other in the stacking direction X of the batteries 12 are provided with through holes (not shown) for inserting fastening screws 16. An opening 6d is provided in the planar portion 6a to expose the side of the assembly. The opening 6d is preferably configured to minimize its impact on the rigidity of the constraint member 6 relative to external forces in the stacking direction X of the batteries 12. This maintains the rigidity of the constraint member 6 and enables its lightweight design. Alternatively, multiple openings can be provided in the constraint member 6 as needed.

[0072] The outer cover component 8, also referred to as the top cover, is configured to cover the surface of the protruding side of the output terminal 22 of the battery 12 in the battery stack 2. The outer cover component 8 is a plate-shaped component with a shape consistent with the shape of the upper surface of the battery stack 2. In this embodiment, the outer cover component 8 is rectangular in shape. The outer cover component 8 prevents condensation or dust from contacting the output terminal 22 of the battery 12, the busbar, the valve portion 24 (described later), etc. Furthermore, the outer cover component 8 is a component that forms part of the outline of the battery module 1. The outer cover component 8 is made of, for example, an insulating resin. Examples of resins constituting the outer cover component 8 include thermoplastic resins such as polypropylene (PP) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). The outer cover component 8 can be fixed to the upper surface of the battery stack 2 by a known fixing structure (not shown) including screws or a known locking mechanism. Alternatively, the outer cover component 8 can also be fixed to the battery stack 2 by clamping the upper part of the separator 14 at both ends.

[0073] Battery module 1 is assembled, for example, as follows: First, a plurality of batteries 12 equipped with heat conduction suppression components 40 are prepared. Then, the plurality of batteries 12 and a plurality of separators 14 are arranged alternately, and these are sandwiched between a pair of end plates 4 to form an assembly. Furthermore, no heat conduction suppression components 40 are sandwiched between the end plates 4 and the adjacent batteries 12. This avoids obstructing heat dissipation of the batteries 12 via the end plates 4.

[0074] Furthermore, a pair of restraining members 6 are installed on the assembly. A portion of the assembly enters the space surrounded by four eaves 6b of each restraining member 6. Additionally, each restraining member 6 is aligned such that its through-hole overlaps with the screw holes of the end plate 4. In this state, fastening screws 16 are inserted into the through-holes and screwed into the screw holes. As a result, multiple batteries 12 and multiple separators 14 are secured by a pair of end plates 4 and a pair of restraining members 6.

[0075] Multiple batteries 12 are fastened to the stacking direction X by the constrained member 6, thereby positioning them in the stacking direction X. Furthermore, the bottom surfaces of the multiple batteries 12 abut against the lower edge 6b of the constrained member 6 via the separator 14, and their upper surfaces abut against the upper edge 6b of the constrained member 6 via the separator 14, thereby positioning them vertically. In this state, a busbar is electrically connected to the output terminal 22 of each battery 12, resulting in a battery stack 2. Then, the outer cover member 8 is installed on the upper surface of the battery stack 2. Through the above processes, the battery module 1 is obtained.

[0076] In the embodiments of the first, second, and third aspects of the present invention, such as Figure 3 As shown, the structure of the battery 12 and the separator 14, and their stacked structure will be described in detail below. Figure 3 This is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of battery 12. Battery 12 has a flat, cubic outer can 18. A generally rectangular opening is provided on one side of the outer can 18, through which electrodes, electrolyte, etc., are received into the outer can 18. A sealing plate 20 is provided at the opening of the outer can 18 to seal the interior of the outer can 18. On the sealing plate 20, a positive terminal 22a is provided at one end near the long side, and a negative terminal 22b is provided at the other end. The sealing plate 20 and the output terminal 22 constitute a sealing body. The outer can 18 and the sealing plate 20 are made of metal. Typically, the outer can 18 and the sealing plate 20 are made of aluminum, aluminum alloy, etc. The output terminal 22 is made of a conductive metal.

[0077] In this embodiment, the side with the sealing body is designated as the upper surface n of the battery 12, and the opposite side is designated as the bottom surface of the battery 12. Furthermore, the battery 12 has two main surfaces connecting the upper surface n and the bottom surface. These main surfaces are the largest of the six surfaces of the battery 12. The remaining two surfaces, excluding the upper surface n, the bottom surface, and the two main surfaces, are designated as the side surfaces of the battery 12. The upper surface n side of the battery 12 is designated as the upper surface of the battery stack 2, and the bottom surface side of the battery 12 is designated as the bottom surface of the battery stack 2.

[0078] The battery 12 has a valve portion 24 on its surface for releasing gas generated inside the battery 12. In this embodiment, the battery 12 has the valve portion 24 on its upper surface n opposite to the outer casing member 8. The valve portion 24 is disposed between a pair of output terminals 22 at the sealing plate 20. More specifically, the valve portion 24 is disposed approximately at the center along the long side of the sealing plate 20. The valve portion 24 is configured to open when the internal pressure of the outer casing 18 rises above a predetermined value, releasing the internal gas. The valve portion 24 is also referred to as a safety valve or a vent.

[0079] Furthermore, the battery 12 has an insulating film 42. The insulating film 42 is, for example, a shrink tube, which is heated after the outer can 18 is housed. As a result, the insulating film 42 shrinks and covers the surface of the outer can 18. The insulating film 42 can suppress short circuits between adjacent batteries 12 or between the battery 12 and the end plate 4.

[0080] Multiple batteries 12 are configured such that the main surfaces of adjacent batteries 12 face each other, and the output terminals 22 face the same direction (here, for convenience, the vertical direction is upward). Furthermore, two adjacent batteries 12 are arranged such that one positive terminal 22a is adjacent to the other negative terminal 22b, as described above. Alternatively, two adjacent batteries 12 can also be arranged such that one positive terminal 22a is adjacent to the other positive terminal 22b. For example, when two adjacent batteries 12 are connected in parallel, the batteries 12 are arranged such that the output terminals 22 of the same polarity are adjacent.

[0081] In a first aspect of the embodiment of the invention, Figure 4 This is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of the separator 14 and the heat conduction suppression component 40. Figure 5 This is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the stacked structure of the battery, separator, and heat conduction suppression components. Figure 5 The diagram illustrates any two batteries 12 (hereinafter referred to as battery 12a and battery 12b when distinguishing between the two batteries 12), a separator 14 disposed between the two batteries 12, and a heat conduction suppression component 40. Furthermore, in Figure 5 The diagram shows a cross-section extending in the X-direction of the stacking process. Furthermore, in... Figure 5 The internal structure of battery 12 is omitted from the diagram.

[0082] The separator 14 has a flat portion 14a parallel to the main surface of the battery 12, and a wall portion 14b extending from the end of the flat portion 14a in the stacking direction X of the battery 12. The flat portion 14a extends along the opposing surfaces (main surfaces) of two adjacent batteries 12. By extending between the main surfaces of adjacent batteries 12, the outer casings 18 of adjacent batteries 12 are insulated from each other. Furthermore, by extending between the battery 12 and the end plate 4, the outer casing 18 of the battery 12 is insulated from the end plate 4.

[0083] Furthermore, the wall portion 14b covers the upper surface n, bottom surface, and side surface of the battery 12. This suppresses short circuits between adjacent batteries 12 or between the battery 12 and the end plate 4 that may occur due to condensation on the surface of the battery 12 or end plate 4. In other words, the wall portion 14b ensures sufficient surface distance between adjacent batteries 12 or between the battery 12 and the end plate 4. Specifically, covering the upper surface n of the battery 12 with the wall portion 14b further suppresses the aforementioned short circuits. In this embodiment, the front end of one wall portion 14b of the two adjacent separators 14 abuts against the front end of the other wall portion 14b. Therefore, the battery 12 is housed in the space formed by the flat portion 14a and the wall portion 14b. In this embodiment, the separator 14 holds the battery 12 via the wall portion 14b.

[0084] The wall portion 14b has a cutout 26 at the position corresponding to the output terminal 22, allowing the output terminal 22 to be exposed externally. Furthermore, the wall portion 14b has an opening 28 at the position corresponding to the valve portion 24, allowing the valve portion 24 to be exposed externally. At the end of the opening 28, a surrounding portion 30 is provided, protruding from the surface of the wall portion 14b towards one side of the outer cover member 8. The surrounding portion 30 surrounds the entire circumference of the opening 28. Additionally, the wall portion 14b has cutouts 32 at positions corresponding to the side and bottom surfaces of the battery 12, allowing portions of the side and bottom surfaces of the battery 12 to be exposed. Heat sinks (not shown) are thermally connected to the side and / or bottom surfaces of the battery 12. The heat generated in the battery 12 is primarily dissipated via these heat sinks. When the battery module 1 is assembled, the wall portion 14b is located between the restraining member 6 and the battery 12. This prevents contact between the restraining member 6 and the battery 12.

[0085] Furthermore, the separator 14 has a support portion 54 that protrudes towards the outer cover component 8 and supports the outer cover component 8 when the battery module 1 is assembled. The support portion 54 is provided on the wall portion 14b covering the upper surface n of the battery 12. In this embodiment, the support portion 54 is provided at both ends of the cutout 26. A pair of support portions 54 sandwiching the cutout 26 and arranged in a direction Y orthogonal to the stacking direction X defines the position of the busbar. The busbar is disposed between the pair of support portions 54.

[0086] A heat conduction suppression member 40 is fixed to a main surface 14a1 of the planar portion 14a of the separator 14. The heat conduction suppression member 40, when viewed from the direction in which the heat conduction suppression member 40 and the separator 14 are arranged (lamination direction X), is positioned inside the main surface 14a1. The heat conduction suppression member 40 is sheet-shaped and has a heat-insulating material 44 and a laminated film 46. The thickness of the heat conduction suppression member 40 is, for example, 1 to 2 mm.

[0087] The heat insulation material 44 is sheet-like, having a porous structure in which a porous material with a void structure, such as silica dry gel, is supported between the fibers of a fiber sheet made of non-woven fabric or the like. The silica dry gel has a nano-sized void structure that restricts the movement of air molecules and has low thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity of the heat insulation material 44 is approximately 0.018–0.024 W / m·K. The heat insulation material 44 is particularly useful as a heat insulation material used in confined spaces. The thermal conductivity of the heat insulation material 44 is lower than that of air. Therefore, by providing the heat conduction suppression component 40, the battery module 1 can suppress heat conduction between the batteries 12 more effectively than when an air layer is provided as a heat insulation layer between the batteries 12. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is much lower than that of the separator 14.

[0088] Furthermore, the silica dry gel can stably maintain its structure against external pressure. Therefore, even with fastening based on the stacking direction X of the constraint member 6, the thermal insulation performance of the thermal insulation material 44 can be stably maintained. Therefore, by having the thermal conduction suppression member 40, the battery module 1 can more stably suppress thermal conduction between the batteries 12 compared to the case where an air layer serves as a thermal insulation layer between the batteries 12. Furthermore, since the thermal conductivity of the thermal insulation material 44 is lower than that of air, the same level of thermal insulation effect can be obtained with a layer thickness thinner than that of an air layer. Therefore, the enlargement of the battery module 1 can be prevented.

[0089] The laminate 46 is a component used to protect the entire thermal insulation material 44 by covering it. Specifically, the porous material and fiber sheet are covered by the laminate 46. The laminate 46 prevents the porous material in the thermal insulation material 44 from detaching from the fiber sheet. Furthermore, by configuring the heat conduction inhibiting member 40 to be covered by the laminate 46 over the thermal insulation material 44, the heat conduction inhibiting member 40 can be easily bonded to the separator 14. The laminate 46 may contain, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0090] The heat resistance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is higher than that of the separator 14. More specifically, the heat resistance of the heat insulation material 44 is higher than that of the separator 14. More specifically, the fiber sheet contains fibers with a melting point higher than that of the separator 14, or the porous material is composed of a substance with a melting point higher than that of the separator 14, or both. For example, the melting point of the heat insulation material 44 is 300°C or higher. Specifically, the melting point of the fiber sheet and / or the porous material constituting the heat insulation material 44 is 300°C or higher. In particular, it is preferable to set the melting point of the fibers constituting the fiber sheet to 300°C or higher. Thus, even when the heat insulation material 44 is exposed to high temperatures, the state of the fiber sheet carrying the porous material can be maintained. As described above, by making the heat resistance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 higher than that of the separator 14, even if the separator 14 melts due to the heat generated by the battery 12, the heat conduction suppression component 40 can remain. Therefore, even if the separator 14 melts, the insulation between the batteries 12 can be maintained by the heat conduction suppression component 40. Furthermore, the state of suppressed heat conduction between adjacent batteries 12 can be maintained for a longer period of time.

[0091] In the assembled state of the battery module 1, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is sandwiched between a battery 12a and the planar portion 14a of the separator 14. Therefore, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is positioned between the two batteries 12. One main surface of the heat conduction suppression component 40 abuts against the battery 12a. The other main surface of the heat conduction suppression component 40 abuts against one main surface 14a1 of the planar portion 14a. No heat conduction suppression component 40 is sandwiched between the other main surface 14a2 of the planar portion 14a and the other battery 12b. Therefore, the main surface 14a2 of the planar portion 14a abuts against the battery 12b. By not providing a heat conduction suppression component 40 between the battery 12b and the separator 14, heat conduction between the two batteries is suppressed even though there is no heat conduction suppression component 40 between the batteries 12a and 12b, and the enlargement of the battery module 1 can be prevented.

[0092] In the first embodiment of the present invention, as described above, the battery module 1 according to this embodiment includes: a plurality of stacked batteries 12, a separator 14 disposed between two adjacent batteries 12 and insulating the two batteries 12 from each other, and a heat conduction suppression member 40 disposed between the batteries 12 and the separator 14. Therefore, even if the temperature of any battery 12 rises excessively during use of the battery module 1, the heat transfer to adjacent batteries 12 can be suppressed. Thus, the cascading effect of overheating can be suppressed, thereby preventing a decrease in the performance of the battery module 1. With the battery module 1 according to this embodiment, even in the event of thermal runaway of a battery 12, the cascading effect of thermal runaway can be suppressed.

[0093] Furthermore, the heat conduction suppression component 40 has higher heat resistance than the separator 14. Therefore, even if the separator 14 melts due to the heat generated by the battery 12, insulation between the batteries 12 can be maintained. In addition, heat conduction between the batteries 12 can be suppressed for a longer period.

[0094] (Implementation Method 2)

[0095] In the first aspect of the present invention, the battery module according to Embodiment 2 has the same structure as that of Embodiment 1, except for the different shape of the separator. Hereinafter, the battery module according to this embodiment will be described with a focus on the structure that is different from that of Embodiment 1, and the common structure will be briefly described or omitted. Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the stacked structure of the battery, separator, and heat conduction suppression component in the battery module according to Embodiment 2. Figure 6 The diagram illustrates any two batteries 12 (hereinafter referred to as battery 12a and battery 12b when distinguishing between the two batteries 12), a separator 214 disposed between the two batteries 12, and a heat conduction suppression component 40. Furthermore, in Figure 6 The diagram shows a cross-section extending in the X-direction of the stacking process. Furthermore, in... Figure 6 The internal structure of battery 12 is omitted from the diagram.

[0096] The separator 214 of the battery module according to this embodiment has the same structure as the separator 14, except that it has the protrusion 48. That is, the separator 214 has a flat portion 214a and a wall portion 214b. A heat conduction suppression member 40 is mounted on a main surface 214a1 of the flat portion 214a of the separator 214. The heat conduction suppression member 40 is disposed inside the main surface 214a1 when viewed from the direction in which the heat conduction suppression member 40 and the separator 14 are arranged (stack direction X). The heat conduction suppression member 40 is sheet-shaped and has a heat-insulating material 44 and a laminated film 46.

[0097] Furthermore, the separator 214 has a main surface 214a1 in the planar portion 214a with a protrusion 48 protruding from the main surface 214a1 toward the heat conduction suppression member 40. Viewed from the direction in which the heat conduction suppression member 40 and the separator 214 are arranged, the protrusion 48 is positioned further outward than the heat conduction suppression member 40. In this embodiment, the protrusion 48 is configured to surround the entire outer periphery of the heat conduction suppression member 40. At least a portion of the heat conduction suppression member 40 is embedded in the space surrounded by the protrusion 48. In this state, the heat conduction suppression member 40 is supported by the protrusion 48. Alternatively, the protrusion 48 may be intermittently provided along the outer periphery of the heat conduction suppression member 40.

[0098] When the battery module 1 is assembled, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is sandwiched between the battery 12a and the flat portion 214a of the separator 214. Furthermore, the front end of the protrusion 48 is connected to one of the batteries 12a. Therefore, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is housed within the space surrounded by the battery 12a, the flat portion 214a, and the protrusion 48.

[0099] One main surface of the heat conduction suppression component 40 abuts against the battery 12a. The other main surface of the heat conduction suppression component 40 abuts against one main surface 214a1 of the planar portion 214a. The side connecting the two main surfaces of the heat conduction suppression component 40 abuts against the protrusion 48. Preferably, the protrusion height of the protrusion 48 is set to be less than the thickness of the heat conduction suppression component 40 in the state before the battery module 1 is assembled. In this case, in the assembled state of the battery module, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is pressed against the battery 12a and the planar portion 214a. This allows the heat conduction suppression component 40 to abut against the battery 12a and the planar portion 214a more reliably. The other main surface 214a2 of the planar portion 214a directly abuts against another battery 12b.

[0100] The battery module according to this embodiment can achieve the same effect as in Embodiment 1. Furthermore, the protrusion 48 on the separator 214 supports the heat conduction suppression member 40, thereby preventing displacement of the heat conduction suppression member 40. This more reliably suppresses performance degradation of the battery module. Additionally, the protrusion 48 can also be used for positioning the heat conduction suppression member 40, thus improving the assemblability of the battery module. Furthermore, the protrusion 48 ensures at least a portion of the storage space for the heat conduction suppression member 40, thereby preventing excessive pressure on the heat conduction suppression member 40.

[0101] In particular, when the heat conduction suppression component 40 includes fiber sheets or the like, it is prone to elastic deformation. If multiple batteries 12 are fastened in the stacking direction X by the constraint component 6, the heat conduction suppression component 40 can also be compressed by this fastening. In contrast, by providing the protrusion 48, dimensional changes in the heat conduction suppression component 40 can be suppressed. The thermal insulation performance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 depends on the thermal conductivity of the material constituting the heat conduction suppression component 40 and the thickness of the heat conduction suppression component 40. Therefore, by providing the protrusion 48, the thermal insulation performance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 can be more reliably ensured. Furthermore, it is preferable that the protrusion 48 be a height greater than or equal to the thickness of the heat conduction suppression component 40 necessary to obtain the specified thermal insulation performance.

[0102] In addition, such as Figure 6As shown, the protrusion 48 is offset in the extending direction of the flat portion 14a relative to the sealing plate 20, or in other words, the sealing body, located at the protruding front end of the protrusion 48 in the battery 12a. In this embodiment, the protrusion 48 is located at a position lower than the sealing body. That is, the position where the protrusion 48 contacts the battery 12a is lower than the sealing body. The constraint member 6 clamps multiple batteries 12 in the stacking direction X of the batteries 12, or in other words, in the protruding direction of the protrusion 48. Therefore, if the multiple batteries 12 are fastened by the constraint member 6, the protrusion 48 presses down on the batteries 12. Therefore, if the height of the protrusion 48 is aligned with the sealing body, the welded part between the sealing body and the outer can 18 may be pressed down and broken by the protrusion 48. In contrast, by offsetting the height position of the protrusion 48 from that of the sealing body (the position in the direction where the bottom surface and the upper surface n of the battery 12 are side by side), the breakage of the welded part can be prevented.

[0103] (Implementation Method 3)

[0104] In the first aspect of the present invention, the battery module according to Embodiment 3 has the same structure as that of Embodiment 1, except for the different shape of the separator. Hereinafter, the battery module according to this embodiment will be described with a focus on the structure that is different from that of Embodiment 1, and the common structure will be described simply or omitted. Figure 7 This is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the stacked structure of the battery, separator, and heat conduction suppression component in the battery module according to Embodiment 3. Figure 7 The diagram illustrates any two batteries 12 (hereinafter referred to as battery 12a and battery 12b when distinguishing between the two batteries 12), a separator 314 disposed between the two batteries 12, and a heat conduction suppression component 40. Furthermore, in Figure 7 The diagram shows a cross-section extending in the X-direction of the stacking process. Furthermore, in... Figure 7 The internal structure of battery 12 is omitted from the diagram.

[0105] The separator 314 of the battery module according to this embodiment has the same structure as the separator 14, except that it has the recess 50. That is, the separator 314 has a flat portion 314a and a wall portion 314b. A heat conduction suppression member 40 is mounted on a main surface 314a1 of the flat portion 314a of the separator 314. When viewed from the direction in which the heat conduction suppression member 40 and the separator 14 are side by side (stacked direction X), the heat conduction suppression member 40 is disposed inside the main surface 314a1. The heat conduction suppression member 40 is sheet-shaped and has a heat-insulating material 44 and a laminated film 46.

[0106] Furthermore, in one of the main surfaces 314a of the planar portion 314a, the separator 314 has a recess 50 that is recessed in the direction in which the battery 12 and the separator 14 are side by side (stacked direction X). At least a portion of the heat conduction suppression member 40 is housed in the recess 50. In this state, the heat conduction suppression member 40 is supported by the recess 50.

[0107] In the assembled state of the battery module, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is sandwiched between the battery 12a and the planar portion 314a of the separator 314. One main surface of the heat conduction suppression component 40 abuts against the battery 12a. The other main surface of the heat conduction suppression component 40 abuts against the bottom surface of the recess 50. The side surface of the heat conduction suppression component 40 abuts against the side surface of the recess 50. Preferably, the depth of the recess 50 is set to be less than the thickness of the heat conduction suppression component 40 in the state before the battery module 1 is assembled. In this case, in the assembled state of the battery module, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is pressed by the battery 12a and the planar portion 314a. This allows the heat conduction suppression component 40 to abut against the battery 12a and the planar portion 314a more reliably. The other main surface 314a2 of the planar portion 314a directly abuts against another battery 12b.

[0108] The battery module according to this embodiment can achieve the same effect as in Embodiment 1. Furthermore, by providing a recess 50 in the separator 314, and housing the heat conduction suppression member 40 in the recess 50, displacement of the heat conduction suppression member 40 can be prevented. This allows for more reliable suppression of performance degradation in the battery module. Additionally, the recess 50 can also be used for positioning the heat conduction suppression member 40. This improves the assemblability of the battery module. Furthermore, the recess 50 ensures at least a portion of the housing space for the heat conduction suppression member 40. This prevents the heat conduction suppression member 40 from being excessively pressed. Moreover, by housing the heat conduction suppression member 40 in the recess 50, the increase in battery module size caused by the installation of the heat conduction suppression member 40 can be prevented.

[0109] This invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. It is also possible to combine the embodiments or apply various design changes and other further modifications based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Such combinations or modifications are also included within the scope of this invention. New embodiments resulting from combinations of the above embodiments and additional modifications to the above embodiments simultaneously possess the effects of both the combined embodiments and the modifications themselves.

[0110] In the embodiments described above, heat conduction suppression components 40 are attached to the separators 14, 214, and 314, but the heat conduction suppression components 40 may also be attached to the battery 12. Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, the battery 12 is a prismatic battery, but the shape of the battery 12 is not particularly limited and may be cylindrical or the like. Furthermore, the number of batteries 12 included in the battery stack is not particularly limited. Furthermore, the battery 12 may not have an insulating film 42. Furthermore, the heat conduction suppression components 40 may be disposed on both sides of the separators 14, 214, and 314.

[0111] Any combination of the above structural elements, or any variation of the present invention in methods, apparatus, systems, etc., is also valid as a manifestation of the present invention.

[0112] On a second aspect of the invention, Figure 8 This is a perspective view showing the general structure of the separator 14. Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the stacked structure of battery 12 and separator 14. Figure 9 The diagram illustrates any two batteries 12 (hereinafter referred to as battery 12a and battery 12b when distinguishing between the two batteries 12) and a separator 14 disposed between these two batteries 12. Furthermore, in Figure 9 The diagram shows a cross-section extending in the X-direction of the stacking process. Furthermore, in... Figure 5 The internal structure of battery 12 is omitted from the diagram.

[0113] The separator 14 includes a base component 58 and a heat conduction suppression component 40. The base component 58 is made of resin. Examples of resins constituting the base component 58 include thermoplastic resins such as polypropylene (PP) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). The base component 58 includes a first portion 14c extending between two batteries when the battery module 1 is assembled, and a second portion 14d extending from the end of the first portion 14c toward the battery 12 side, i.e., in the stacking direction X. The first portion 14c is a generally rectangular flat plate that extends between the main surfaces of adjacent batteries 12, thereby insulating the outer casings 18 of adjacent batteries 12 from each other.

[0114] Furthermore, the upper surface n, bottom surface, and side surface of the battery 12 are covered by the second part 14d. This suppresses short circuits between adjacent batteries 12 that could occur due to condensation on the surface of the battery 12 or end plate 4. In other words, the second part 14d ensures sufficient surface distance between adjacent batteries 12. Specifically, covering the upper surface n of the battery 12 with the second part 14d further suppresses the aforementioned short circuits. In this embodiment, the front end of the second part 14d of one of the two adjacent separators 14 abuts against the front end of the other second part 14d. Therefore, the battery 12 is housed in the space formed by the first part 14c and the second part 14d. In this embodiment, the separator 14 holds the battery 12 via the second part 14d.

[0115] Part 2 14d has a cutout 26 at the position corresponding to the output terminal 22, allowing the output terminal 22 to be exposed externally. Furthermore, part 24d has an opening 28 at the position corresponding to the valve portion 24, allowing the valve portion 24 to be exposed externally. At the end of the opening 28, a surrounding portion 30 is provided, protruding from the surface of part 24d toward the outer cover member 8. The surrounding portion 30 surrounds the entire circumference of the opening 28. Additionally, part 2 14d has cutouts 32 at positions corresponding to the side and bottom surfaces of the battery 12, allowing portions of the side and bottom surfaces of the battery 12 to be exposed. Heat sinks (not shown) are thermally connected to the side and / or bottom surfaces of the battery 12. The heat generated by the battery 12 is primarily dissipated via these heat sinks. With the battery module 1 assembled, part 14d is located between the restraining member 6 and the battery 12. This prevents contact between the restraining member 6 and the battery 12.

[0116] Furthermore, when the battery module 1 is assembled, the separator 14 has a support portion 54 that protrudes towards the outer cover component 8 and supports the outer cover component 8. The support portion 54 is provided in the second portion 14d covering the upper surface n of the battery 12. In this embodiment, the support portion 54 is provided at both ends of the cutout 26. A pair of support portions 54, which sandwich the cutout 26 and are arranged side by side in a direction Y orthogonal to the stacking direction X, define the position of the busbar. The busbar is disposed between the pair of support portions 54.

[0117] Furthermore, the separator 14 has a through hole 56. The through hole 56 is disposed in the first portion 14c. Therefore, the through hole 56 is disposed in the area overlapping with the battery 12 when viewed from the stacking direction X of the battery 12. Furthermore, the through hole 56 penetrates the first portion 14c of the separator 14 in the stacking direction X of the battery 12. The through hole 56 has a generally rectangular opening shape and is disposed at approximately the center of the first portion 14c. Therefore, the first portion 14c is frame-shaped.

[0118] At least a portion of the heat conduction suppression member 40 is housed in the through-hole 56. Therefore, the heat conduction suppression member 40 is disposed in the first part 14c. In this embodiment, the entire heat conduction suppression member 40 is housed in the through-hole 56. Therefore, when viewed from the stacking direction X, the heat conduction suppression member 40 is disposed inside the through-hole 56. Furthermore, even when viewed from a direction Y orthogonal to the stacking direction X, the heat conduction suppression member 40 is disposed inside the through-hole 56. Alternatively, the heat conduction suppression member 40 may be disposed only partially inside the through-hole 56 when viewed from the direction Y. The heat conduction suppression member 40 comprises a sheet-like heat-insulating material. The thickness of the heat conduction suppression member 40 is, for example, 1 to 2 mm. Further, in this embodiment, the through-hole 56 is blocked by the heat conduction suppression member 40. Thus, even in the event of battery 12 expansion, insulation between adjacent batteries 12 can be ensured more reliably.

[0119] The heat-insulating material constituting the heat conduction suppression component 40 has a structure in which a porous material such as silica dry gel is supported between the fibers of a fiber sheet including non-woven fabric. Silica dry gel has a nano-sized pore structure that restricts the movement of air molecules, resulting in low thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity of the heat-insulating material is approximately 0.018–0.024 W / m·K. This heat-insulating material is particularly useful as a heat-insulating material used in confined spaces. The thermal conductivity of the heat-insulating material is lower than that of air. Therefore, by including the heat conduction suppression component 40, the battery module 1 can suppress heat conduction between the batteries 12 more effectively than in the case where an air layer serves as a heat-insulating layer between the batteries 12. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is much lower than that of the substrate component 58.

[0120] Furthermore, the silica dry gel can stably maintain its structure against external pressure. Therefore, even with fastening based on the stacking direction X of the constraint member 6, the thermal insulation performance of the insulation material can be stably maintained. Thus, by providing the thermal conduction suppression member 40, the battery module 1 can more stably suppress thermal conduction between the batteries 12 compared to the case where an air layer serves as a thermal insulation layer between the batteries 12. Furthermore, since the thermal conductivity of the insulation material is lower than that of air, the same level of thermal insulation effect can be achieved with a thinner layer thickness than that of an air layer. Therefore, the large size of the battery module 1 can be prevented.

[0121] A laminated film 46 is laminated on the surface of the heat conduction suppression component 40. The periphery of the laminated film 46 is bonded to the first portion 14c. The laminated film 46 is laminated on both sides of the heat conduction suppression component 40. Therefore, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is housed in a space defined by the first portion 14c (the inner side of the through hole 56) and the two laminated films 46. By covering the surface of the heat conduction suppression component 40 with the laminated film 46, it is possible to suppress the shedding of porous material from the fiber sheet in the insulation material. The laminated film 46 may contain, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0122] The heat resistance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is higher than that of the first part 14c. More specifically, the fiber sheet contains fibers with a melting point higher than that of the separator 14, or the porous material contains a substance with a melting point higher than that of the separator 14, or both. For example, the melting point of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is 300°C or higher. Specifically, the melting point of the fiber sheet and / or the porous material constituting the heat insulation material is 300°C or higher. In particular, it is preferable to set the melting point of the fibers constituting the fiber sheet to 300°C or higher. Thus, even when the heat insulation material is exposed to high temperatures, the state of the fiber sheet carrying the porous material can be maintained. As described above, by making the heat resistance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 higher than that of the separator 14, even if the first part 14c melts due to the heat generation of the battery 12, the heat conduction suppression component 40 can remain. Therefore, even if the first part 14c melts, the insulation between the batteries 12 can be maintained by the heat conduction suppression component 40. Furthermore, the state of suppressed heat conduction between adjacent batteries 12 can be maintained for a longer period of time. In addition, in this embodiment, the heat resistance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is higher than the heat resistance of the substrate component 58 as a whole.

[0123] In the assembled state of the battery module 1, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is disposed between the batteries 12a and 12b. One main surface of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is connected to the battery 12a via a laminate 46. The other main surface of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is connected to the battery 12b via a laminate 46. Additionally, the separator disposed between the end plate 4 and the adjacent battery 12 has the same structure as the separator 14, except that it lacks the through hole 56 and the heat conduction suppression component 40. This separator extends between the battery 12 and the end plate 4, thereby insulating the outer casing 18 of the battery 12 from the end plate 4.

[0124] Furthermore, the separator 14 is manufactured by integrally molding the base member 58 and the heat conduction suppression member 40. That is, the separator 14 comprises an integrally molded resin base member 58 and heat conduction suppression member 40. For example, the separator 14 is manufactured by insert molding, which is an example of integral molding. Figure 10(A) to (D) of 10 are schematic process diagrams illustrating the manufacturing method of the separator 14 according to Embodiment 1.

[0125] First, such as Figure 10 As shown in (A), a mold 70 is prepared. The mold 70 includes a core-side mold 72 and a cavity-side mold 74. With the heat conduction suppression member 40 positioned as an insert member in a predetermined position on the core-side mold 72, the core-side mold 72 and the cavity-side mold 74 are closed. This forms a forming space 76 between the core-side mold 72 and the cavity-side mold 74, corresponding to the shape of the base member 58. Next, the core-side mold 72 and the cavity-side mold 74 are heated and maintained at a predetermined temperature.

[0126] Next, as Figure 10 As shown in (B), the resin for the base component 58 is heated to a predetermined temperature and melted inside the molding machine (not shown). Next, the nozzle (not shown) of the molding machine is brought into contact with the mold 70, and molten resin 78 is injected into the mold 70. The molten resin 78 is injected into the molding space 76 through the runner and gate (both not shown) inside the mold 70. The molten resin 78 fills the entire molding space 76.

[0127] Next, as Figure 10 As shown in (C), the molten resin 78 filled in the mold 70 is cooled to obtain an integral molded part 15 of the base part 58 and the heat conduction inhibiting part 40. After the molten resin 78 cools, the core-side mold 72 is separated from the cavity-side mold 74. The integral molded part 15 is attached to the core-side mold 72 and moves together with the core-side mold 72.

[0128] Next, as Figure 10 As shown in (D), the protruding mechanism (not shown) protrudes from the core-side mold 72. Thus, the integral molded part 15 is removed from the core-side mold 72. Then, by providing a laminated film 46 to the integral molded part 15, the separator 14 is obtained. In the process of providing the laminated film 46, the laminated film 46 is bonded to the base member 58. Thus, the surface of the heat conduction inhibiting member 40 is covered by the laminated film 46.

[0129] As described above, regarding the second aspect of the present invention, the battery module 1 according to this embodiment includes: a plurality of stacked batteries 12, and a separator 14 disposed between two adjacent batteries 12 and insulating the two batteries 12 from each other. Furthermore, the separator 14 includes: a resin base member 58 comprising a first portion 14c extending between the two batteries 12, and an integrally formed part 15 comprising a heat conduction suppression member 40 disposed on the first portion 14c. Moreover, the manufacturing method of the separator 14 according to this embodiment includes a step of integrally forming the base member 58 comprising the first portion 14c extending between the two batteries 12 when the battery module 1 is assembled, and the heat conduction suppression member 40 disposed on the first portion 14c.

[0130] Thus, the separator 14 has a structure in which the base member 58 and the heat conduction suppression member 40 are integrally formed. Therefore, when the separator 14 is used in the battery module 1, the heat conduction suppression member 40 can extend between the two batteries 12. By extending the heat conduction suppression member 40 between the two batteries 12, even if the temperature of any battery 12 rises excessively during the use of the battery module 1, the transfer of heat to the adjacent battery 12 can be suppressed. Therefore, since the cascading effect of overheating can be suppressed, the performance degradation of the battery module 1 can be avoided. With the battery module 1 according to this embodiment, even in the event of thermal runaway of the battery 12, the cascading effect of thermal runaway can be suppressed.

[0131] Furthermore, by integrally molding the base component 58 with the heat conduction suppression component 40, the heat conduction suppression component 40 can be reliably maintained between the two batteries 12. This allows for more reliable suppression of performance degradation in the battery module. Moreover, the heat conduction suppression component 40 can be provided in the battery module 1 without requiring a separate step of providing the heat conduction suppression component 40 on the separator 14. Furthermore, the increase in the number of component points caused by providing the heat conduction suppression component 40 can be suppressed. Therefore, the assemblability of the battery module 1 can be improved.

[0132] Furthermore, the separator 14 has a through hole 56 in the first portion 14c overlapping the battery 12 when viewed from the stacking direction X. At least a portion of the heat conduction suppression member 40 is housed in the through hole 56. This prevents the battery module 1 from becoming too large due to the installation of the heat conduction suppression member 40. Furthermore, the through hole 56 ensures sufficient space for at least a portion of the heat conduction suppression member 40. This prevents the heat conduction suppression member 40 from being excessively pressed.

[0133] In particular, when the heat conduction suppression component 40 includes fiber sheets or the like, it is prone to elastic deformation. If multiple batteries 12 are fastened by the constraint component 6 in the stacking direction X, the heat conduction suppression component 40 can also be compressed through this fastening. In contrast, by providing the through hole 56, dimensional changes in the heat conduction suppression component 40 can be suppressed. The thermal insulation performance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 depends on the thermal conductivity of the material constituting the heat conduction suppression component 40 and the thickness of the heat conduction suppression component 40. Therefore, by providing the through hole 56, the thermal insulation performance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 can be more reliably ensured. Furthermore, it is preferable that the through hole 56 be a depth greater than or equal to the thickness of the heat conduction suppression component 40 necessary to obtain the specified thermal insulation performance.

[0134] Furthermore, the heat resistance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is higher than that of the first part 14c. Therefore, even if the first part 14c melts due to the heat generated by the battery 12, insulation between the batteries 12 can be maintained. In addition, heat conduction between the batteries 12 can be maintained for a longer period.

[0135] (Implementation Method 2)

[0136] Regarding the second aspect of the present invention, the battery module according to Embodiment 2 has the same structure as that of Embodiment 1, except for the different shape of the separator. Hereinafter, the description will focus on the structure that is different from that of Embodiment 1, and the common structure will be briefly described or omitted. Figure 11 This is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the stacked structure of the battery and separator in the battery module according to Embodiment 2. Figure 11 The diagram illustrates any two batteries 12 (hereinafter referred to as battery 12a and battery 12b when distinguishing between the two batteries 12) and a separator 214 disposed between these two batteries 12. Furthermore, in Figure 11 The diagram shows a cross-section extending in the X-direction of the stacking process. Furthermore, in... Figure 11 The internal structure of battery 12 is omitted from the diagram.

[0137] The separator 214 of the battery module according to this embodiment has the same structure as the separator 14, except that it has a recess 50 instead of a through hole 56. That is, the separator 214 has a base member 258 and a heat conduction suppression member 40. The base member 258 includes a first part 214c and a second part 214d.

[0138] Furthermore, the separator 214 has a recess 50. The recess 50 is disposed on one of the main surfaces of the first portion 214c. In this embodiment, the recess 50 is provided on the main surface facing the battery 12a side of the first portion 214c. Therefore, the recess 50 is disposed in the area overlapping the battery 12 when viewed from the stacking direction X of the battery 12. The recess 50 is recessed in the stacking direction of the battery 12.

[0139] At least a portion of the heat conduction suppression member 40 is received in the recess 50. Therefore, the heat conduction suppression member 40 is disposed in the first portion 214c. In this embodiment, viewed from the lamination direction X, the entire heat conduction suppression member 40 is disposed inside the recess 50. Furthermore, viewed from the direction Y, which is orthogonal to the lamination direction X, a portion of the heat conduction suppression member 40 is disposed inside the recess 50. Alternatively, the heat conduction suppression member 40 may also be entirely disposed inside the recess 50 when viewed from the direction Y. A laminated film 46 is laminated onto the surface of the heat conduction suppression member 40. The periphery of the laminated film 46 is bonded to the first portion 214c.

[0140] In the assembled state of the battery module, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is disposed between battery 12a and battery 12b. One main surface of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is connected to battery 12a via a laminate 46. The other main surface of the heat conduction suppression component 40 abuts against the bottom surface of the recess 50. Part 214c directly abuts against the other battery 12b.

[0141] Furthermore, the separator 214 comprises an integrally formed resin base component 258 and a heat conduction suppression component 40. That is, the separator 214 can be manufactured by integrally molding the base component 258 and the heat conduction suppression component 40. For example, the separator 214 is manufactured by insert molding, which is an example of integral molding. The manufacturing method of the separator 214 is the same as that of the separator 14 in Embodiment 1.

[0142] This embodiment achieves the same effect as Embodiment 1. Furthermore, by housing the heat conduction suppression member 40 in the recess 50, one laminate 46 can be omitted.

[0143] Regarding the second aspect of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. It is also possible to combine the embodiments or apply various design changes and other further modifications based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Such combinations or modifications are also included within the scope of the present invention. The combinations of the above embodiments, as well as the new embodiments resulting from modifications added to the above embodiments, simultaneously possess the effects of both the combined embodiments and the modifications themselves.

[0144] In the above embodiment, the battery 12 is a square battery, but the shape of the battery 12 is not particularly limited, and it can also be cylindrical or the like. Furthermore, the number of batteries 12 included in the battery stack is not particularly limited. Additionally, the battery 12 may not have an insulating film 42.

[0145] Any combination of the above structural elements, or any variation of the present invention in methods, apparatus, systems, etc., is also valid as a manifestation of the present invention.

[0146] Next, the implementation method of the third side will be described. Figure 12 This is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of the separator 14 and the heat conduction suppression component 40. Figure 13 This is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the stacked structure of the battery, separator, and heat conduction suppression components. Figure 13 The diagram illustrates any two batteries 12 (hereinafter referred to as battery 12a and battery 12b when distinguishing between the two batteries 12), a separator 14 disposed between the two batteries 12, and a heat conduction suppression component 40. Furthermore, in Figure 13 The diagram shows a cross-section extending in the X-direction of the stacking process. Furthermore, in... Figure 13 The internal structure of battery 12 is omitted from the diagram.

[0147] The separator 14 has a first portion 14c extending between the two batteries 12 and a second portion 14d extending from the end of the first portion 14c toward the battery 12 side, i.e., in the stacking direction X. The first portion 14c is a generally rectangular flat plate and extends between the main surfaces of adjacent batteries 12, thereby insulating the outer casings 18 of adjacent batteries 12 from each other.

[0148] Furthermore, the upper surface n, bottom surface, and side surface of the battery 12 are covered by the second portion 14d. This suppresses short circuits between adjacent batteries 12 that could occur due to condensation on the surface of the battery 12 or end plate 4. In other words, the second portion 14d ensures sufficient surface distance between adjacent batteries 12. Specifically, covering the upper surface n of the battery 12 with the second portion 14d further suppresses the aforementioned short circuits. In this embodiment, the front end of the second portion 14d of one of the two adjacent separators 14 abuts against the front end of the other second portion 14d. Therefore, the battery 12 is housed within the space formed by the first portion 14c and the second portion 14d. In this embodiment, the separator 14 holds the battery 12 via the second portion 14d.

[0149] Part 2 14d has a cutout 26 at the position corresponding to the output terminal 22, allowing the output terminal 22 to be exposed externally. Furthermore, part 24d has an opening 28 at the position corresponding to the valve portion 24, allowing the valve portion 24 to be exposed externally. At the end of the opening 28, a surrounding portion 30 is provided, protruding from the surface of part 24d toward the outer cover member 8. The surrounding portion 30 surrounds the entire circumference of the opening 28. Additionally, part 2 14d has cutouts 32 at positions corresponding to the side and bottom surfaces of the battery 12, allowing portions of the side and bottom surfaces of the battery 12 to be exposed. Heat sinks (not shown) are thermally connected to the side and / or bottom surfaces of the battery 12. The heat generated by the battery 12 is primarily dissipated via these heat sinks. With the battery module 1 assembled, part 14d is located between the restraining member 6 and the battery 12. This prevents contact between the restraining member 6 and the battery 12.

[0150] Furthermore, when the battery module 1 is assembled, the separator 14 has a support portion 54 that protrudes towards the outer cover component 8 and supports the outer cover component 8. The support portion 54 is provided in the second portion 14d covering the upper surface n of the battery 12. In this embodiment, the support portion 54 is provided at both ends of the cutout 26. A pair of support portions 54 arranged side by side in a direction Y orthogonal to the stacking direction X, sandwiching the cutout 26, define the position of the busbar. The busbar is disposed between the pair of support portions 54.

[0151] Furthermore, the separator 14 has a through hole 56. The through hole 56 is disposed in the first portion 14c. Therefore, the through hole 56 is disposed in the area overlapping the battery 12 when viewed from the stacking direction X of the battery 12. Furthermore, the through hole 56 penetrates the first portion 14c of the separator 14 in the stacking direction X. The through hole 56 has a generally rectangular opening shape and is disposed at approximately the center of the first portion 14c. Therefore, the first portion 14c is frame-shaped.

[0152] A heat conduction suppression component 40 is embedded in the through hole 56. The heat conduction suppression component 40 is sheet-like and has a heat insulation material 44 and a laminated film 46. The thickness of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is, for example, 1 to 2 mm.

[0153] The thermal insulation material 44 is sheet-like and has a structure in which a porous material such as silica dry gel is supported between the fibers of a fiber sheet including non-woven fabric. The silica dry gel has a nano-sized pore structure that restricts the movement of air molecules and has low thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity of the thermal insulation material 44 is approximately 0.018–0.024 W / m·K. The thermal insulation material 44 is particularly useful as a thermal insulation material used in confined spaces. The thermal conductivity of the thermal insulation material 44 is lower than that of air. Therefore, by providing the thermal conductivity suppression component 40, the battery module 1 can suppress heat conduction between the batteries 12 more effectively than in the case where an air layer is provided as a thermal insulation layer between the batteries 12. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity of the thermal conductivity suppression component 40 is much lower than that of the separator 14.

[0154] Furthermore, the silica dry gel can stably maintain its structure against external pressure. Therefore, even with fastening based on the stacking direction X of the constraint member 6, the thermal insulation performance of the thermal insulation material 44 can be stably maintained. Therefore, by having the thermal conduction suppression member 40, the battery module 1 can more stably suppress thermal conduction between the batteries 12 compared to the case where an air layer serves as a thermal insulation layer between the batteries 12. Furthermore, since the thermal conductivity of the thermal insulation material 44 is lower than that of air, the same level of thermal insulation effect can be obtained with a layer thickness thinner than that of an air layer. Therefore, the enlargement of the battery module 1 can be prevented.

[0155] The laminate 46 is a component used to cover and protect the entire thermal insulation material 44. The laminate 46 prevents the porous material in the thermal insulation material 44 from shedding from the fiber sheet. Furthermore, by configuring the heat conduction inhibiting component 40 to cover the thermal insulation material 44 with the laminate 46, the heat conduction inhibiting component 40 can be easily bonded to the separator 14. The laminate 46 may contain, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0156] The heat resistance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is higher than that of the separator 14. More specifically, the heat resistance of the heat insulation material 44 is higher than that of the separator 14. More specifically, the fiber sheet contains fibers with a melting point higher than that of the separator 14, or the porous material contains a substance with a melting point higher than that of the separator 14, or both. For example, the melting point of the heat insulation material 44 is 300°C or higher. Specifically, the melting point of the fiber sheet and / or the porous material constituting the heat insulation material 44 is 300°C or higher. In particular, it is preferable to set the melting point of the fibers constituting the fiber sheet to 300°C or higher. Thus, even when the heat insulation material 44 is exposed to high temperatures, the state of the fiber sheet carrying the porous material can be maintained. As described above, by making the heat resistance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 higher than that of the separator 14, even if the separator 14 melts due to the heat generated by the battery 12, the heat conduction suppression component 40 can remain. Therefore, even if the separator 14 melts, the insulation between the batteries 12 can be maintained by the heat conduction suppression component 40. Furthermore, the state of suppressed heat conduction between adjacent batteries 12 can be maintained for a longer period of time.

[0157] At least a portion of the heat conduction suppression member 40 is housed in the through-hole 56. In this embodiment, the portion of the heat conduction suppression member 40 that combines the area of ​​the heat insulation material 44 with the side surface (the surface connecting the two main surfaces of the heat insulation material 44) of the heat insulation material 44 in the covering laminate 46 has a projected area in the lamination direction X that is less than or equal to the opening area of ​​the through-hole 56. This portion is inserted into the through-hole 56. This portion corresponds to the portion excluding the flange portion 46a described later. Therefore, when viewed from the lamination direction X, the heat insulation material 44 is disposed inside the through-hole 56. Furthermore, when viewed from the direction Y, which is perpendicular to the lamination direction X, at least a portion of the heat insulation material 44 is disposed within the through-hole 56.

[0158] Furthermore, the laminate 46 has a flange portion 46a that overlaps the edge of the through hole 56 when viewed from the lamination direction X. The edge of the through hole 56 is the area in the surface 14cl facing the battery 12a side of the first part 14c that is in contact with the through hole 56. The flange portion 46a protrudes from the side end face of the portion covering the heat insulation material 44 in the laminate 46 in a direction orthogonal to the lamination direction X. The flange portion 46a protrudes from the end face of the battery 12a side in this side end face. Furthermore, the flange portion 46a is provided around the entire circumference of the heat insulation material 44.

[0159] The surface of flange 46a facing the battery 12b abuts against the surface 14cl of the first part 14c. The heat conduction suppression member 40 and the separator 14 are fixed together by adhesive at the portion where flange 46a abuts against surface 14cl. Furthermore, the front end of flange 46a abuts against the second part 14d.

[0160] In the assembled state of the battery module 1, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is sandwiched between the batteries 12a and 12b. One main surface of the heat conduction suppression component 40 abuts against the battery 12a. The other main surface of the heat conduction suppression component 40 abuts against the battery 12b. Additionally, the separator disposed between the end plate 4 and the adjacent battery 12 has the same construction as the separator 14, except that the through hole 56 is not provided in part 14c. This separator extends between the battery 12 and the end plate 4, thereby insulating the outer casing 18 of the battery 12 from the end plate 4.

[0161] As described above, the battery module 1 according to this embodiment includes: a plurality of stacked batteries 12, a separator 14 disposed between two adjacent batteries 12 and insulating the two batteries 12 from each other, and a heat conduction suppression member 40 disposed between two adjacent batteries 12. Therefore, even if the temperature of any battery 12 rises excessively during use of the battery module 1, the heat transfer to adjacent batteries 12 can be suppressed. Thus, the cascading effect of overheating can be suppressed, thereby preventing a decrease in the performance of the battery module 1. With the battery module 1 according to this embodiment, even in the event of thermal runaway of a battery 12, the cascading effect of thermal runaway can be suppressed.

[0162] Furthermore, the separator 14 has a through-hole 56 in the area overlapping the battery 12 when viewed from the stacking direction X of the battery 12. At least a portion of the heat conduction suppression member 40 is housed in the through-hole 56. This suppresses the increase in the size of the battery module 1 caused by the installation of the heat conduction suppression member 40. Furthermore, since the heat conduction suppression member 40 is supported by the through-hole 56, displacement of the heat conduction suppression member 40 is prevented. This more reliably suppresses the degradation of the battery module's performance. Moreover, the through-hole 56 can also be used for positioning the heat conduction suppression member 40. This improves the assemblability of the battery module. Furthermore, the through-hole 56 ensures sufficient storage space for at least a portion of the heat conduction suppression member 40. This prevents the heat conduction suppression member 40 from being excessively pressed.

[0163] In particular, when the heat conduction suppression component 40 includes fiber sheets or the like, it is prone to elastic deformation. If multiple batteries 12 are fastened in the stacking direction X by the constraint component 6, the heat conduction suppression component 40 can also be compressed by this fastening. In contrast, by providing the through hole 56, dimensional changes in the heat conduction suppression component 40 can be suppressed. The thermal insulation performance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 depends on the thermal conductivity of the material constituting the heat conduction suppression component 40 and the thickness of the heat conduction suppression component 40. Therefore, by providing the through hole 56, the thermal insulation performance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 can be more reliably ensured. Furthermore, it is preferable that the through hole 56 be a depth greater than or equal to the thickness of the heat conduction suppression component 40 necessary to obtain the specified thermal insulation performance.

[0164] Furthermore, the laminate 46 of the heat conduction suppression component 40 has a flange portion 46a that overlaps with the edge of the through hole 56. By providing the flange portion 46a, the contact area between the heat conduction suppression component 40 and the separator 14 can be increased. As a result, the heat conduction suppression component 40 and the separator 14 can be fixed more reliably. In addition, since the area around the through hole 56 is sealed by the flange portion 46a, the ingress of condensate water and the like into the through hole 56 can be suppressed. Therefore, the insulation between the battery 12a and the battery 12b can be ensured more reliably.

[0165] Furthermore, the front end of the flange portion 46a abuts against the second portion 14d. This allows the flange portion 46a to protrude in the following direction ( Figure 13 The positioning of the heat conduction suppression member 40 in the vertical direction (within the middle) can more reliably prevent the heat conduction suppression member 40 from shifting. In addition, the front end of the flange portion 46a may not abut against the second part 14d. For example, the heat insulation material 44 may be disposed in the through hole 56, and the flange portion 46a may be disposed around the through hole 56.

[0166] Furthermore, the heat conduction suppression component 40 has higher heat resistance than the separator 14. Therefore, even if the separator 14 melts due to the heat generated by the battery 12, insulation between the batteries 12 can be maintained. In addition, heat conduction between the batteries 12 can be suppressed for a longer period.

[0167] Furthermore, the laminate 46 can also be made of a rigid material to the extent that the flange portion 46a will not deform due to the weight of the heat conduction suppression member 40. This further suppresses the displacement of the heat conduction suppression member 40 and improves its assemblability. Moreover, by embedding the heat conduction suppression member 40 only in the through hole 56 and the second portion 14d without using adhesives, a design can be implemented to fix the separator 14 to the heat conduction suppression member 40. Therefore, the assemblability of the heat conduction suppression member 40 can be further improved.

[0168] This invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various design changes and other further modifications can be made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Embodiments with further modifications are also included within the scope of this invention. New embodiments resulting from adding modifications to the above embodiments possess both the combined effects of the embodiments and the individual effects of the modifications.

[0169] In the above embodiment, the battery 12 is a square battery, but the shape of the battery 12 is not particularly limited, and it can also be cylindrical or the like. Furthermore, the number of batteries 12 included in the battery stack is not particularly limited. Additionally, the battery 12 may not have an insulating film 42. Furthermore, the flange portion 46a may be provided intermittently.

[0170] Any combination of the above structural elements, and any variations of the present invention in methods, apparatus, systems, etc., are also valid embodiments of the present invention.

[0171] Next, the implementation method of the fourth side will be described. Figure 14 This is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of battery 12. In this embodiment, battery 12 includes a heat conduction suppression component 40. The other structures of battery 12 are the same as those in the embodiments of the first, second, and third sides, and the same structural elements are assigned the same reference numerals.

[0172] The heat conduction suppression component 40 is composed of sheet-like heat-insulating material. The thickness of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is, for example, 1–2 mm. The heat conduction suppression component 40 is disposed between the outer can 18 and the insulating film 42 (see reference). Figure 16 One main surface of the heat conduction suppression component 40 abuts against the outer can 18, and the other main surface abuts against the insulating film 42. For example, before the outer can 18 is housed in the insulating film 42, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is attached to one main surface 18a of the outer can 18. The outer can 18 and the heat conduction suppression component 40 are then housed together in the insulating film 42. Then, by shrinking the insulating film 42, the heat conduction suppression component 40 can be positioned between the outer can 18 and the insulating film 42.

[0173] The heat-insulating material constituting the heat conduction suppression component 40 has a structure in which a porous material such as silica dry gel is supported between the fibers of a fiber sheet including non-woven fabric. The silica dry gel has a nano-sized pore structure that restricts the movement of air molecules, resulting in low thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity of the heat-insulating material is approximately 0.018–0.024 W / m·K. This heat-insulating material is particularly useful as a heat-insulating material used in confined spaces. The thermal conductivity of the heat-insulating material is lower than that of air. Therefore, by including the heat conduction suppression component 40, the battery module 1 can better suppress heat conduction between the batteries 12 compared to the case where an air layer serves as a heat-insulating layer between the batteries 12. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is much lower than that of the separator 14.

[0174] Furthermore, the silica dry gel can stably maintain its structure relative to external pressure. Therefore, even with fastening based on the stacking direction X of the constraint member 6, the thermal insulation performance of the insulation material can be stably maintained. Thus, by providing the thermal conduction suppression member 40, the battery module 1 can more stably suppress thermal conduction between the batteries 12 compared to the case where an air layer serves as a thermal insulation layer between the batteries 12. Furthermore, since the thermal conductivity of the insulation material is lower than that of air, the same level of thermal insulation effect can be achieved with a layer thickness thinner than that of an air layer. Therefore, the large size of the battery module 1 can be prevented.

[0175] The insulating film 42 also functions as a laminated film that protects the thermal insulation material. The insulating film 42 helps prevent the porous material in the thermal insulation material from shedding from the fiber sheet. Furthermore, the insulating film 42 also functions as a fixing component for the heat conduction suppression component 40.

[0176] The heat resistance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is higher than that of the separator 14. More specifically, the fiber sheet contains fibers with a melting point higher than that of the separator 14, or the porous material contains a substance with a melting point higher than that of the separator 14, or both. For example, the melting point of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is 300°C or higher. Specifically, the melting point of the fiber sheet and / or the porous material constituting the heat insulation material is 300°C or higher. In particular, it is preferable to set the melting point of the fibers constituting the fiber sheet to 300°C or higher. Thus, even when the heat insulation material is exposed to high temperatures, the state in which the fiber sheet carries the porous material can be maintained. As described above, by making the heat resistance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 higher than that of the separator 14, even if the separator 14 melts due to the heat generated by the battery 12, the heat conduction suppression component 40 can remain. Therefore, even if the separator 14 melts, the insulation between the batteries 12 can be maintained by the heat conduction suppression component 40. Furthermore, the state in which heat conduction between adjacent batteries 12 is suppressed can be maintained for a longer period of time.

[0177] Multiple batteries 12 are configured such that the main surfaces of adjacent batteries 12 face each other and the output terminals 22 face the same direction (here, for convenience, the vertical direction is upward). Furthermore, two adjacent batteries 12 are arranged such that one positive terminal 22a is adjacent to the other negative terminal 22b, as described above. Alternatively, two adjacent batteries 12 can also be arranged such that one positive terminal 22a is adjacent to the other positive terminal 22b. For example, when two adjacent batteries 12 are connected in parallel, the batteries 12 are arranged such that the output terminals 22 of the same polarity are adjacent.

[0178] Figure 15 This is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of the separator 14. The separator 14 has a flat portion 14a parallel to the main surface of the battery 12, and a wall portion 14b extending from the end of the flat portion 14a toward the stacking direction X of the battery 12. The flat portion 14a extends between the main surfaces of adjacent batteries 12, thereby insulating the outer casing 18 of adjacent batteries 12 from each other. Furthermore, the flat portion 14a extends between the battery 12 and the end plate 4, thereby insulating the outer casing 18 of the battery 12 from the end plate 4.

[0179] Furthermore, the upper surface n, bottom surface, and side surface of the battery 12 are covered by the wall portion 14b. This suppresses short circuits between adjacent batteries 12 or between the battery 12 and the end plate 4 that could occur due to condensation on the surface of the battery 12 or the end plate 4. In other words, the wall portion 14b ensures sufficient surface distance between adjacent batteries 12 or between the battery 12 and the end plate 4. Specifically, covering the upper surface n of the battery 12 with the wall portion 14b further suppresses the aforementioned short circuits. In this embodiment, the front end of one wall portion 14b of the two adjacent separators 14 abuts against the front end of the other wall portion 14b. Therefore, the battery 12 is housed in the space formed by the flat portion 14a and the wall portion 14b. In this embodiment, the separator 14 holds the battery 12 via the wall portion 14b.

[0180] The wall portion 14b has a cutout 26 at the position corresponding to the output terminal 22, allowing the output terminal 22 to be exposed externally. Furthermore, the wall portion 14b has an opening 28 at the position corresponding to the valve portion 24, allowing the valve portion 24 to be exposed externally. At the end of the opening 28, a surrounding portion 30 is provided, protruding from the surface of the wall portion 14b towards the outer cover member 8. The surrounding portion 30 surrounds the entire circumference of the opening 28. Additionally, the wall portion 14b has cutouts 32 at positions corresponding to the side and bottom surfaces of the battery 12, allowing portions of the side and bottom surfaces of the battery 12 to be exposed. Heat sinks (not shown) are thermally connected to the side and / or bottom surfaces of the battery 12. The heat generated in the battery 12 is primarily dissipated via these heat sinks. With the battery module 1 assembled, the wall portion 14b is located between the restraining member 6 and the battery 12. This prevents contact between the restraining member 6 and the battery 12.

[0181] Furthermore, the separator 14 has a support portion 54 that protrudes towards the outer cover member 8 and supports the outer cover member 8 when the battery module 1 is assembled. The support portion 54 is provided on the wall portion 14b covering the upper surface n of the battery 12. In this embodiment, the support portion 54 is provided at both ends of the cutout 26. A pair of support portions 54 arranged side by side in a direction Y orthogonal to the stacking direction X, sandwiching the cutout 26, define the position of the busbar. The busbar is disposed between the pair of support portions 54.

[0182] Figure 16 This is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the stacked structure of the battery and separator. Figure 16 The diagram shows any two batteries 12 (hereinafter referred to as battery 12a and battery 12b when distinguishing between the two batteries 12) and a separator 14 disposed between these two batteries 12. Furthermore, in Figure 5 The diagram shows a cross-section extending in the X-direction of the stacking process. Furthermore, in... Figure 16 The internal structure of battery 12 is omitted from the diagram.

[0183] When the battery module 1 is assembled, two adjacent batteries 12a and 12b are configured such that the main surface of one battery 12a on which the heat conduction suppression component 40 is stacked faces the main surface of the other battery 12b on which the heat conduction suppression component 40 is not stacked. Therefore, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is disposed between the two adjacent batteries 12. More specifically, the battery module 1 has a structure in which the outer casing 18 of the battery 12a, the heat conduction suppression component 40, the insulating film 42, the planar portion 14a of the separator 14, the insulating film 42 of the battery 12b, and the outer casing 18 are arranged in sequence. No heat conduction suppression component 40 is sandwiched between the planar portion 14a and the outer casing 18 of the battery 12b. That is, a heat conduction suppression component 40 is sandwiched between the batteries 12a and 12b. This suppresses heat conduction between the batteries 12a and 12b and also prevents the battery module 1 from becoming too large.

[0184] As explained above, the battery 12 according to this embodiment includes: an outer can 18, an insulating film 42 covering the surface of the outer can 18, and a heat conduction suppression member 40 disposed between the outer can 18 and the insulating film 42. Therefore, when multiple batteries 12 are stacked to form a battery module 1, a heat conduction suppression member 40 is disposed between two adjacent batteries 12. Therefore, even if the temperature of any battery 12 rises excessively during use of the battery module 1, the heat transfer to adjacent batteries 12 can be suppressed. Therefore, the cascading effect of overheating can be suppressed, and thus the performance degradation of the battery module 1 can be avoided. Furthermore, with the battery 12 and battery module 1 according to this embodiment, even in the event of thermal runaway of the battery 12, the cascading effect of thermal runaway can be suppressed.

[0185] Furthermore, in the battery 12 of this embodiment, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is covered by an insulating film 42. This prevents the heat conduction suppression component 40 from shifting. Therefore, the performance degradation of the battery module can be suppressed more reliably.

[0186] Furthermore, the heat conduction suppression component 40 has higher heat resistance than the separator 14. Therefore, even if the separator 14 melts due to the heat generated by the battery 12, insulation between the batteries 12 can be maintained. In addition, heat conduction between the batteries 12 can be suppressed for a longer period.

[0187] Alternatively, the heat conduction suppression component 40 can also be disposed on both sides of the outer casing 18. When the heat conduction suppression component 40 is disposed on both sides of the outer casing 18, two heat conduction suppression components 40 are sandwiched between adjacent batteries 12. Therefore, the thickness of each heat conduction suppression component 40 is thinner than that used when the heat conduction suppression component 40 is only disposed on one side of the battery 12; for example, it can be half the thickness. This allows for heat insulation between adjacent batteries 12 and suppresses the increase in the size of the battery module 1 caused by the heat conduction suppression component 40.

[0188] (Implementation Method 2)

[0189] Regarding the fourth aspect of the present invention, the battery module according to Embodiment 2 has the same structure as that of Embodiment 1, except for the different shape of the separator. Hereinafter, the description will focus on the structure that is different from that of Embodiment 1, and the common structure will be briefly explained or described. Figure 17 This is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the stacked structure of the battery and separator in the battery module according to Embodiment 2. Figure 17 The diagram shows any two batteries 12 (hereinafter referred to as battery 12a and battery 12b when distinguishing between the two batteries 12) and a separator 214 disposed between these two batteries 12. Furthermore, in Figure 17 The diagram shows a cross-section extending in the X-direction of the stacking process. Furthermore, in... Figure 17 The internal structure of battery 12 is omitted from the diagram.

[0190] The battery module according to this embodiment includes a separator 214 comprising a first portion 214c corresponding to the planar portion 14a of the separator 14 in Embodiment 1, and a second portion 214d corresponding to the wall portion 14b. The first portion 214c has the same structure as the planar portion 14a, except that it has a through hole 56. The second portion 214d has the same structure as the wall portion 14b.

[0191] The separator 214 has a through hole 56. The through hole 56 is disposed in the first portion 214c. Therefore, the through hole 56 is disposed in the region overlapping with the battery 12 when viewed from the stacking direction X of the battery 12. The through hole 56 penetrates the first portion 214c of the separator 214 in the stacking direction X. The through hole 56 has a generally rectangular opening shape and is disposed at approximately the center of the first portion 214c. Therefore, the first portion 214c is frame-shaped.

[0192] With the battery module assembled, a portion of the battery 12 is housed in the through-hole 56. The battery 12 has a protrusion on its main surface caused by the heat conduction suppression member 40 being housed in the insulating film 42. This protrusion is formed by the heat conduction suppression member 40 and a portion of the heat conduction suppression member 40 covering the insulating film 42. In this embodiment, the projected area of ​​this protrusion in the stacking direction X is less than or equal to the opening area of ​​the through-hole 56. Therefore, the protrusion of the battery 12a facing the separator 214 side is inserted into the through-hole 56. Thus, viewed from the stacking direction X, the heat conduction suppression member 40 is disposed inside the through-hole 56. Furthermore, preferably, when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the stacking direction X (Y), at least a portion of the heat conduction suppression member 40 is housed in the through-hole 56.

[0193] This embodiment achieves the same effects as Embodiment 1. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the separator 214 has a through hole 56, in which a portion of the battery 12 is housed. This helps to suppress the enlargement of the battery module 1 caused by the installation of the heat conduction suppression member 40. It also prevents the heat conduction suppression member 40 from shifting. The through hole 56 can also be used for positioning the battery 12. This improves the assemblability of the battery module. Furthermore, the through hole 56 ensures sufficient space for at least a portion of the heat conduction suppression member 40. This prevents the heat conduction suppression member 40 from being excessively pressed.

[0194] In particular, when the heat conduction suppression component 40 includes fiber sheets or the like, it is prone to elastic deformation. If multiple batteries 12 are fastened in the stacking direction X by the constraint component 6, the heat conduction suppression component 40 can also be compressed by this fastening. In contrast, by providing the through hole 56, dimensional changes in the heat conduction suppression component 40 can be suppressed. The thermal insulation performance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 depends on the thermal conductivity of the material constituting the heat conduction suppression component 40 and the thickness of the heat conduction suppression component 40. Therefore, by providing the through hole 56, the thermal insulation performance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 can be more reliably ensured. Furthermore, it is preferable that the through hole 56 be a depth greater than or equal to the thickness of the heat conduction suppression component 40 necessary to obtain the specified thermal insulation performance.

[0195] Regarding the fifth aspect of the present invention, the structure of the battery 12 will now be described in detail. Figure 18 This is an exploded perspective view showing the general structure of battery 12. Figure 19 (A) is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the stacked state of battery 12. Figure 19 (B) is a schematic front view showing the configuration of the heat conduction suppression component 40 in battery 12. Figure 19In (A), any two batteries 12 are shown (hereinafter, when distinguishing between the two batteries 12, they will be referred to as battery 12a and battery 12b). Furthermore, in Figure 19 In (A), the figure shows a cross section extending in the stacking direction X.

[0196] The battery 12 has a flat, cubic outer can 18. A generally rectangular opening is provided on one side of the outer can 18, through which electrodes 30, electrolyte, etc., are housed. The electrodes 30, for example, have a structure in which positive and negative electrodes are spirally wound. A sealing plate 20 is provided at the opening of the outer can 18 to block the opening and seal the interior of the outer can 18. A positive terminal 22a is provided at one end of the sealing plate 20 near its long side, and a negative terminal 22b is provided at the other end. The sealing plate 20 and the output terminal 22 constitute a sealing body. The outer can 18 and the sealing plate 20 are made of metal. Typically, the outer can 18 and the sealing plate 20 are made of aluminum, aluminum alloy, etc. The output terminal 22 is made of a conductive metal.

[0197] In this embodiment, the side where the sealing body is located is designated as the upper surface n of the battery 12, and the opposite side is designated as the bottom surface of the battery 12. Furthermore, the battery 12 has two main surfaces connecting the upper surface n and the bottom surface. These main surfaces are the surfaces with the largest area among the six surfaces of the battery 12. The remaining two surfaces, excluding the upper surface n, the bottom surface, and the two main surfaces, are designated as the side surfaces of the battery 12. The upper surface n side of the battery 12 is designated as the upper surface of the battery stack 2, and the bottom surface side of the battery 12 is designated as the bottom surface of the battery stack 2.

[0198] The battery 12 has a valve portion 24 on its surface for releasing gas generated inside the battery 12. In this embodiment, the battery 12 has the valve portion 24 on its upper surface n opposite to the outer casing member 8. The valve portion 24 is disposed between a pair of output terminals 22 in the sealing plate 20. More specifically, the valve portion 24 is disposed approximately at the center along the long side of the sealing plate 20. The valve portion 24 is configured to open and release internal gas when the internal pressure of the outer casing 18 rises above a predetermined value. The valve portion 24 is also referred to as a safety valve or a vent.

[0199] Furthermore, the battery 12 includes an insulating film 42. The insulating film 42, for example, is a shrink tube, which is heated after the outer can 18 is housed. As a result, the insulating film 42 shrinks, covering the surface of the outer can 18. The insulating film 42 helps to suppress short circuits between adjacent batteries 12. The outer can 18 and the insulating film 42 together form the casing 44'.

[0200] In addition, the battery 12 includes an adhesive layer 46' and a heat conduction suppression component 40. The adhesive layer 46' is laminated onto the surface of the housing 44'. More specifically, the adhesive layer 46' is laminated onto a main surface of the housing 44'. The adhesive layer 46' contains a conventionally known adhesive. Alternatively, the adhesive layer 46' may also be laminated onto the surface of the heat conduction suppression component 40.

[0201] The heat conduction suppression component 40 is fixed to the housing 44' via an adhesive layer 46'. Therefore, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is disposed on a main surface of the housing 44'. The heat conduction suppression component 40 is disposed between two adjacent batteries 12 to suppress heat conduction between the two batteries 12. Furthermore, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is insulating, providing insulation between the two batteries 12. The heat conduction suppression component 40 is a square sheet with a heat-insulating material 50' and a laminated film 51. The thickness of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is, for example, 1 to 2 mm.

[0202] The thermal insulation material 50' has a structure in which a porous material such as silica dry gel is supported between the fibers of a fiber sheet including nonwoven fabric. The silica dry gel has a nano-sized pore structure that restricts the movement of air molecules, resulting in low thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity of the thermal insulation material 50' is approximately 0.018–0.024 W / m·K. The thermal insulation material 50' is particularly useful as a thermal insulation material used in confined spaces. The thermal conductivity of the thermal insulation material 50' is lower than that of air. Therefore, by providing the thermal conductivity suppression component 40, the battery module 1 is better able to suppress heat conduction between the batteries 12 compared to the case where an air layer is provided as a thermal insulation layer between the batteries 12. Furthermore, the thermal conductivity of the thermal conductivity suppression component 40 is much lower than that of conventionally known separators made of thermoplastic resins such as polypropylene (PP) and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).

[0203] Furthermore, the silica dry gel can stably maintain its structure against external pressure. Therefore, even with fastening based on the stacking direction X of the constraint member 6, the thermal insulation performance of the thermal insulation material 50′ can be stably maintained. Therefore, by providing the thermal conduction suppression member 40, the battery module 1 can more stably suppress thermal conduction between the batteries 12 compared to the case where an air layer serves as a thermal insulation layer between the batteries 12. Furthermore, since the thermal conductivity of the thermal insulation material 50′ is lower than that of air, the same level of thermal insulation effect can be achieved with a layer thickness thinner than that of an air layer. Therefore, the enlargement of the battery module 1 can be prevented.

[0204] The laminate 51 is a component used to protect the entire thermal insulation material 50' by covering it. That is, the porous material and fiber sheet are covered by the laminate 51. The laminate 51 can prevent the porous material in the thermal insulation material 50' from detaching from the fiber sheet. Furthermore, by configuring the heat conduction suppression component 40 with the laminate 51 covering the thermal insulation material 50', the heat conduction suppression component 40 can be easily bonded to the housing 44'. The laminate 51 may contain, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

[0205] The heat resistance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is higher than that of the aforementioned known separators. More specifically, the heat resistance of the insulation material 50' is higher than that of the separator. More specifically, the fiber sheet contains fibers with a melting point higher than that of the separator, or the porous material contains substances with a melting point higher than that of the separator, or both. For example, the melting point of the insulation material 50' is 300°C or higher. Specifically, the melting point of the fiber sheet and / or the porous material constituting the insulation material 50' is 300°C or higher. In particular, it is preferable to set the melting point of the fibers constituting the fiber sheet to 300°C or higher. Thus, even when the insulation material 50' is exposed to high temperatures, the state of the fiber sheet carrying the porous material can be maintained.

[0206] The heat conduction suppression component 40 has elasticity mainly due to the fiber sheets of the heat insulation material 50′. Therefore, in the assembled state of the battery module 1, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is compressed and elastically deformed in the lamination direction X.

[0207] The battery 12 is assembled as follows: First, the electrode body 30, electrolyte, etc., are placed in the outer can 18, and the sealing plate 20 is embedded. Next, the outer can 18 is placed under the insulating film 42, for example, by heating to shrink the insulating film 42. Then, an adhesive is coated on the main surface of the insulating film 42 to form an adhesive layer 46'. Then, a heat conduction suppressing member 40 is attached to the adhesive layer 46'. Thus, the battery 12 is obtained. Alternatively, by coating the main surface of the heat conduction suppressing member 40 with adhesive and forming the adhesive layer 46', a laminate of the heat conduction suppressing member 40 and the adhesive layer 46' can be attached to the main surface of the insulating film 42, which is in the state of covering the outer can 18.

[0208] With battery module 1 assembled, two adjacent batteries 12a and 12b are configured such that the main surface of one battery 12a with the heat conduction suppression component 40 stacked on it faces the main surface of the other battery 12b without the heat conduction suppression component 40 stacked on it. Therefore, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is disposed between the two adjacent batteries 12. More specifically, battery module 1 has a structure in which the housing 44' of battery 12a, the adhesive layer 46', the heat conduction suppression component 40, and the housing 44' of battery 12b are arranged in sequence.

[0209] In two adjacent batteries 12a and 12b, the heat conduction suppression component 40 of one battery 12a is directly connected to the casing 44' of the other battery 12b. That is, the battery module 1 does not have a conventionally known separator. Alternatively, the heat conduction suppression component 40 of battery 12a and the casing 44' of battery 12b can also be connected via other adhesive layers.

[0210] The heat conduction suppression component 40, viewed from the housing 44' and in the stacking direction of the heat conduction suppression component 40 (the same as the stacking direction X of the battery 12), covers the entire electrode body 30. That is, the height H1 of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is greater than the height H2 of the electrode body 30. Furthermore, the width W1 of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is greater than the width W2 of the electrode body 30. And, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is configured such that its center almost overlaps with the center of the electrode body 30. More preferably, the size and configuration of the heat conduction suppression component 40 are specified such that the heat insulation material 50' covers the entire electrode body 30.

[0211] Furthermore, it is preferable that no heat conduction suppression component 40 is sandwiched between the end plate 4 and the adjacent battery 12. This prevents the heat dissipation of the battery 12 via the end plate 4 from being hindered.

[0212] As described above, the battery 12 according to this embodiment includes: a housing 44', an adhesive layer 46' laminated on the surface of the housing 44', and a heat conduction suppression member 40 fixed to the housing 44' via the adhesive layer 46'. When multiple batteries 12 are stacked to form a battery module 1, the heat conduction suppression member 40 is disposed between two adjacent batteries 12 in the battery module 1. Therefore, even if the temperature of any battery 12 rises excessively during use of the battery module 1, the heat transfer to adjacent batteries 12 can be suppressed. As a result, the cascading effect of overheating can be suppressed, and thus the performance degradation of the battery module 1 can be avoided. Furthermore, with the battery 12 and battery module 1 according to this embodiment, even in the event of thermal runaway of the battery 12, the cascading effect of thermal runaway can be suppressed.

[0213] Furthermore, the heat conduction suppression component 40 covers the entire electrode body 30 when viewed from the housing 44' and the stacking direction X of the heat conduction suppression component 40. The expansion of the battery 12 that can occur during the use of the battery module 1 is mainly due to the expansion of the active material contained in the electrode body 30. That is, the extended portion of the electrode body 30 of the battery 12 is more prone to expansion. In contrast, by configuring the heat conduction suppression component 40 to cover the entire electrode body 30 when viewed from the stacking direction X, it is possible to more reliably prevent the housings 44' of adjacent batteries 12a and 12b from contacting each other. Therefore, short circuits and heat conduction between adjacent batteries 12a and 12b can be more reliably suppressed.

[0214] Furthermore, the heat conduction suppression component 40 of one of the two adjacent batteries 12a and 12b is directly connected to the casing 44' of the other battery 12b. This reduces manufacturing costs and the number of processes compared to situations where additional adhesive layers are provided between the heat conduction suppression component 40 of battery 12a and the casing 44' of battery 12b. Additionally, since no conventionally known separators are sandwiched between the two adjacent batteries 12a and 12b, the number of component points in the battery module 1 can be reduced, enabling miniaturization of the battery module 1. Moreover, the assembly strength of the battery stack 2 is further improved when the heat conduction suppression component 40 of battery 12a and the casing 44' of battery 12b are connected via other adhesive layers.

[0215] Furthermore, in the battery 12 of this embodiment, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is fixed to the housing 44' via an adhesive layer 46'. This prevents the heat conduction suppression component 40 from shifting. Therefore, the performance degradation of the battery module 1 can be suppressed more reliably.

[0216] Furthermore, the heat resistance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 is higher than that of existing known separators. Therefore, compared to the case where adjacent batteries 12 are insulated by existing known separators, the insulation between batteries 12 can be maintained more reliably.

[0217] (Implementation Method 2)

[0218] Regarding the fifth aspect of the present invention, the battery module according to Embodiment 2 has the same structure as that of Embodiment 1, except for the presence of the separator. Hereinafter, the battery module according to this embodiment will be described with a focus on the structure that differs from that of Embodiment 1, and the common structure will be briefly described or omitted. Figure 20 (A) is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of the battery according to Embodiment 2. Figure 20 (B) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the stacked state of the batteries. Figure 20In (B), any two batteries are shown. Furthermore, in... Figure 20 In (B), the diagram shows a cross-section extending in the stacking direction X.

[0219] The battery 212 according to this embodiment includes a separator 60. The separator 60 is a component disposed between two adjacent batteries 212a and 212b to ensure the distance between them. In this embodiment, the separator 60 is fixed to the main surface (first surface) of the side in which the heat conduction suppression member 40 is fixed in the housing 44'. The separator 60 is disposed in the area of ​​the main surface where the heat conduction suppression member 40 does not extend. The separator 60 is fixed to the housing 44', for example, via an adhesive layer 62. The adhesive layer 62 contains a conventionally known adhesive.

[0220] The separator 60 comprises any insulating material such as rubber or other resins. The separator 60 is a component with higher rigidity than the heat conduction suppression component 40. Materials constituting the separator 60 include, for example, resins such as polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), as well as rubber materials such as polyurethane rubber, silicone rubber, and fluororubber. The thickness T of the separator 60, i.e., its length in the stacking direction X, is thinner than the thickness of the heat conduction suppression component 40 in its uncompressed state in the stacking direction X. If batteries 212a and 212b are stacked and the restraining component 6 is fastened, the heat conduction suppression component 40 is compressed and elastically deformed in the stacking direction X. The casings 44' of the two batteries 212a and 212b approach each other as the heat conduction suppression component 40 deforms, but... Figure 20 As shown in (B), if the separator 60 of battery 212a abuts against the casing 44' of battery 212b, the proximity of the two can be suppressed. Therefore, a distance of at least the thickness T of the separator 60 is ensured between the two casings 44'. In addition, the thickness of the adhesive layers 46' and 62 is negligible.

[0221] By providing the separator 60, the distance between the casings 44' of adjacent batteries 212a and 212b can be defined, thus more reliably suppressing heat conduction and contact between the batteries. Furthermore, it ensures sufficient extension space for the heat conduction suppression component 40. This prevents the heat conduction suppression component 40 from being excessively pressed. The thermal insulation performance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 depends on the thermal conductivity of the material constituting the heat conduction suppression component 40 and the thickness of the heat conduction suppression component 40. Therefore, by providing the separator 60 to suppress dimensional changes in the heat conduction suppression component 40, the thermal insulation performance of the heat conduction suppression component 40 can be more reliably ensured.

[0222] Furthermore, by designing the heat conduction suppression component 40 to be compressed when the battery module 1 is assembled, the stress generated in the heat conduction suppression component 40 can be used to suppress the expansion of the battery 212. By suppressing the expansion of the battery 212, the performance degradation of the battery 212, heat conduction between adjacent batteries, and contact can be suppressed.

[0223] The separator 60 has a generally U-shaped form and extends along the bottom and side edges of the heat conduction suppression member 40, which is a quadrangular shape. That is, the bottom and side edges of the heat conduction suppression member 40 are surrounded by the separator 60, but the top is open. The bottom edge of the heat conduction suppression member 40 refers to the edge extending along the bottom surface of the battery 212, the side edge refers to the edge extending along the side of the battery 212, and the top edge refers to the edge extending along the upper surface n of the battery 212, in other words, the opening of the outer can 18. By positioning the separator 60 not near the top edge of the heat conduction suppression member 40 but surrounding the edges other than the top edge of the heat conduction suppression member 40, it is possible to suppress the force exerted on the sealing plate 20 due to the separator 60 when the restraining member 6 is tightened. As a result, it is possible to prevent the sealing plate 20 from separating from the outer can 18. In addition, the separator 60 can also be fixed to the main surface (second surface) opposite to the main surface on which the heat conduction suppression member 40 is fixed. In this case, the separator 60 is configured to surround the side other than the upper side of the heat conduction suppression member 40 of the adjacent battery 212.

[0224] (Implementation Method 3)

[0225] Regarding the fifth aspect of the present invention, the battery module according to Embodiment 3 has the same structure as that of Embodiment 1, except for the different shape of the heat conduction suppression component. Hereinafter, the battery module according to this embodiment will be described with a focus on the structure that is different from that of Embodiment 1, and the common structure will be described simply or omitted. Figure 21 (A) is a schematic front view showing the heat conduction suppression component of the battery according to Embodiment 3. Figure 21 (B) is a perspective view showing the schematic structure of the battery according to Embodiment 3.

[0226] The battery 312 according to this embodiment includes a heat conduction suppression component 340. The heat conduction suppression component 340 has a heat insulation material 50' and a laminated film 351. The laminated film 351 has a main body portion 351a and a pair of ribs 351b. The main body portion 351a is the portion surrounding the heat insulation material 50', corresponding to the laminated film 51 of Embodiment 1. The main body portion 351a covers one main surface of the housing 44'.

[0227] A pair of ribs 351b protrudes from both sides of the main body 351a. When the heat conduction suppression component 340 is installed on the housing 44', each rib 351b is bent relative to the main body 351a, covering both sides of the housing 44'. An adhesive layer 46' is sandwiched between each rib 351b and the side of the housing 44'. Therefore, the ribs 351b are attached to the side of the housing 44'. Thus, the heat conduction suppression component 340 is fixed to the housing 44'.

[0228] By configuring the heat conduction suppression component 340 to the side of the housing 44', the adhesive layer 46' can be avoided from the area sandwiched between the housings 44' of the adjacent battery 312. The area sandwiched between the two housings 44' tends to have a higher temperature than the side area of ​​the battery 312. Therefore, by placing the adhesive layer 46' on the side of the housing 44', the deterioration of the adhesive layer 46' and the leakage of adhesive components can be suppressed.

[0229] This invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. It is also possible to combine the embodiments or apply various design changes and other further modifications based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Such combinations or modifications are also included within the scope of this invention. New embodiments resulting from combinations of the above embodiments and modifications to them simultaneously possess the effects of both the combined embodiments and the modifications themselves.

[0230] The battery 12 may also lack the insulating film 42. In this case, the casing 44' only includes the outer can 18, and an adhesive layer 46' is laminated on the main surface of the outer can 18. Furthermore, the shape of the battery 12 is not particularly limited, and it may be cylindrical or the like. Furthermore, the number of batteries 12 included in the battery stack is not particularly limited.

[0231] Any combination of the above structural elements, and any transformation of the present invention in methods, apparatus, systems, etc., are also valid embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A battery module, comprising: Multiple batteries stacked together; A separator, disposed between two adjacent batteries, insulates the two batteries from each other; and A heat conduction suppression component is disposed between the battery and the separator adjacent to the battery. The outer surfaces of the plurality of batteries are each covered with an insulating film. The separator has a planar portion extending along the opposing surfaces of two adjacent batteries, and the opposing surface of the planar portion has a recess for receiving at least a portion of the heat conduction suppression component. The opening of the recess is located inside the outer periphery of the planar portion. In the planar portion, the remaining portion, excluding the recess, is formed in a ring shape. The size of the heat conduction suppression component in the stacking direction of the plurality of batteries is larger than the depth of the recess. The heat conduction suppression component abuts against the insulating film.

2. A battery module, comprising: Multiple batteries stacked together; A separator, disposed between two adjacent batteries, insulates the two batteries from each other; and A heat conduction suppression component is disposed between two adjacent cells. The separator has a through hole extending through the separator in the region where it overlaps with the battery when viewed from the stacking direction of the battery. At least a portion of the heat conduction suppression component is housed within the through hole through the opening of the through hole. In the heat conduction suppression component, the outer dimension of the portion housed within the through hole is smaller than the inner dimension of the through hole. The heat conduction suppression component faces the annular inner circumferential surface of the through hole. The heat conduction suppression component has a heat insulation material and a laminated film encapsulating the heat insulation material. The laminated film has a flange portion that overlaps with the edge portion of the through hole. The laminated film is larger than the opening of the through hole.

3. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein, The separator has: a first portion extending between the two batteries, and a second portion extending from the end of the first portion toward the battery side. The through hole is disposed in the first part. At least a portion of the thermal insulation material is disposed within the through hole. The flange portion overlaps with the edge portion of the through hole.

4. The battery module according to claim 3, wherein, The front end of the flange abuts against the second part.

5. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The heat resistance of the heat conduction suppression component is higher than that of the separator.

6. A battery module, comprising: Multiple batteries stacked together; A separator, disposed between two adjacent batteries, insulates the two batteries from each other; and A heat conduction suppression component is disposed between two adjacent cells. The separator has a planar portion extending along the opposing surfaces of two adjacent batteries. In the planar portion, a through hole is formed extending through the stacking direction of the plurality of batteries, and the through hole has a pair of openings at both ends. The heat conduction suppression component is located between the planar portion and one of the two batteries. The heat conduction suppression component has a heat insulation material and a pair of laminated films. In the direction extending from the planar portion, each of the pair of laminates has a flange portion that extends further outward than the pair of openings. In the direction in which the planar portion extends, the planar portion has a region that extends further outward than the pair of openings. The flange portion of one of the pair of laminates is fixed to a face of the region extending outwardly from the planar portion than one of the openings of the pair. The flange portion of the other laminate in the pair of laminates is fixed to the other side of the region in the planar portion, opposite to the first side. The laminated film is larger than the opening of the through hole.

7. A battery module, comprising: Multiple batteries stacked together; A separator, disposed between two adjacent batteries, insulates the two batteries from each other; and A heat conduction suppression component is disposed between two adjacent cells. The separator has a planar portion extending along the opposing surfaces of two adjacent batteries. In the planar portion, a through hole is formed extending through the stacking direction of the plurality of batteries. The heat conduction suppression component is located between the planar portion and one of the two batteries. The heat conduction suppression component has a heat insulation material and a laminated film. The thermal insulation material has one side arranged in the lamination direction. The thermal insulation material is contained within the through hole. In the direction extending from the planar portion, the laminate has a portion covering one side of the opposite pair of surfaces of the thermal insulation material and a portion covering the other side of the opposite pair of surfaces; the laminate has a flange portion extending outwardly beyond the pair of openings of the through-hole. The portion protrudes further than the flange portion in the stacking direction. The portion is accommodated within the through hole. In the direction in which the planar portion extends, the planar portion has an area that extends further outward than the opening of the through hole. The flange portion is fixed in the region of the planar portion that extends outward beyond the opening. The laminated film is larger than the opening of the through hole.

8. A battery module, comprising: Multiple batteries stacked together; A separator is disposed between two adjacent batteries to insulate the two batteries from each other; A heat conduction suppression component is disposed between two adjacent cells; and An insulating film covers the outer surface of the plurality of batteries. The separator has a planar portion extending along the opposing surfaces of two adjacent batteries. In the planar portion, a through hole is formed extending through the stacking direction of the plurality of batteries. The heat conduction suppression component has one opposite side arranged in the stacking direction. The heat conduction suppression component is disposed in the stacking direction between one of the two cells and the insulating film. One of the opposite surfaces abuts against the battery. The other side of the pair is covered by the insulating film. In the insulating film, the portion covering the other side protrudes further toward the separator than the portion of the insulating film not covering the other side. In the insulating film, the portion covering the other side and the heat conduction suppression component are housed within the through hole.

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