Battery module

Abstract

To provide a battery module which improves bonding accuracy between electrode terminals of a laminate type battery cell.SOLUTION: In first and second side parts of a battery module, a first end where first and second cathode terminals are formed and a second end where first and second anode terminals are formed are alternately arranged side by side in a lamination direction in each battery cell. In the first and second side parts, the first cathode terminal and the first anode terminal are alternately arranged side by side in the lamination direction, and the second cathode terminal and the second anode terminal are alternately arranged side by side in the lamination direction. The battery module further comprises: a bonding member which bonds the first cathode terminal of a predetermined battery cell with the first anode terminal of a battery cell adjacent to the predetermined battery cell in one side part; and an insulation member which insulates the second cathode terminal of the predetermined battery cell and the second anode terminal of the adjacent battery cell in the side part. The insulation member covers the second cathode terminal and the second anode terminal and maintains a distance between the second cathode terminal and the second anode terminal constant.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery module. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, battery modules in which laminated type battery cells are stacked are known. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-147089 (Patent Document 1) discloses a manufacturing method for such a battery module. In the manufacturing method of Patent Document 1, a battery stack is formed by stacking a plurality of flat batteries (laminate type battery cells) whose exterior body is a laminate film in the thickness direction. Next, the plate-shaped electrode terminals protruding from each of the battery stacks are joined to electrically connect the flat batteries in series. Furthermore, an insulating member is inserted between the terminal joints. In Patent Document 1, a battery module is manufactured by such a process. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-147089 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In laminated battery cells, the electrode terminals are easily moved even after the battery cells are stacked, because the foil is simply welded to the electrode terminals inside. For this reason, it is difficult to align the electrode terminals with each other in Patent Document 1. Therefore, it cannot be said that the joining precision of the electrode terminals is high.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above problems, and provides a battery module in which electrode terminals of laminate-type battery cells are joined with high accuracy. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the battery module includes a plurality of laminate-type battery cells stacked in a first direction. Each battery cell includes a first end extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a second end extending in the second direction opposite to the first end. The first end is formed with first and second positive electrode terminals spaced apart in the second direction. The second end is formed with first and second negative electrode terminals spaced apart in the second direction. The battery module further includes a first side portion extending in the first direction and a second side portion opposite to the first side portion. On the first side portion and the second side portion, each battery cell is stacked such that the first end portion and the second end portion are alternately arranged in the first direction. In the first side and the second side, the first positive electrode terminal and the first negative electrode terminal are alternately arranged in the first direction, and the second positive electrode terminal and the second negative electrode terminal are alternately arranged in the first direction. The battery module further includes a joining member that joins, in one of the first side and the second side, a first positive electrode terminal of a predetermined battery cell among the plurality of battery cells and a first negative electrode terminal of a battery cell adjacent to the predetermined battery cell among the plurality of battery cells on one side of the first direction, and a first insulating member that insulates, in the one side, the second positive electrode terminal of the predetermined battery cell from the second negative electrode terminal of the adjacent battery cell. The first insulating member has a spacer portion therein that maintains a constant distance between the second positive electrode terminal and the second negative electrode terminal, and covers the second positive electrode terminal and the second negative electrode terminal.

[0007] According to this configuration, the spacer portion can maintain a constant distance between the second positive electrode terminal of the predetermined battery cell and the second negative electrode terminal of the battery cell adjacent to the predetermined battery cell on one side of the first direction. This allows the first positive electrode terminal of the predetermined battery cell to be aligned with the first negative electrode terminal of the battery cell adjacent to the predetermined battery cell on the first side. In this state, the first positive electrode terminal of the predetermined battery cell and the first negative electrode terminal of the battery cell adjacent to the predetermined battery cell can be joined using the joining member. Therefore, the accuracy of joining between the first positive electrode terminal of the predetermined battery cell and the first negative electrode terminal of the battery cell adjacent to the predetermined battery cell can be improved on the first side.

[0008] Preferably, the battery module further includes a joining member that joins, on the other side of the first side and the second side, a second negative terminal of a predetermined battery cell and a second positive terminal of a battery cell adjacent to the predetermined battery cell among the plurality of battery cells on the other side of the first direction, and a second insulating member that insulates, on the other side, the first negative terminal of the predetermined battery cell from the first positive terminal of the battery cell adjacent to the other side. The second insulating member has a spacer portion therein that maintains a constant distance between the first positive terminal and the first negative terminal, and covers the first positive terminal and the first negative terminal.

[0009] According to this configuration, the spacer portion of the second insulating member can maintain a constant distance between the first negative electrode terminal of the predetermined battery cell and the first positive electrode terminal of the battery cell adjacent to the predetermined battery cell on the other side of the first direction. This allows the second negative electrode terminal of the predetermined battery cell to be aligned with the second positive electrode terminal of the battery cell adjacent to the predetermined battery cell on the other side of the first direction on the second side. In this state, the second negative electrode terminal of the predetermined battery cell can be joined to the second positive electrode terminal of the battery cell adjacent to the predetermined battery cell on the other side by using the joining member. Therefore, the accuracy of joining between the second negative electrode terminal of the predetermined battery cell and the second positive electrode terminal of the battery cell adjacent to the predetermined battery cell on the other side of the first direction on the second side can be improved.

[0010] Preferably, the battery module further includes a joining member that joins, on the other side of the first side and the second side, a first negative terminal of a predetermined battery cell and a first positive terminal of a battery cell adjacent to the predetermined battery cell among the plurality of battery cells on the other side of the first direction, and a second insulating member that insulates, on the other side, a second negative terminal of the predetermined battery cell from a second positive terminal of the battery cell adjacent to the predetermined battery cell on the other side. The second insulating member has a spacer portion therein that maintains a constant distance between the second positive terminal and the second negative terminal, and covers the second positive terminal and the second negative terminal.

[0011] According to this configuration, the spacer portion of the second insulating member can maintain a constant distance between the second negative electrode terminal of the predetermined battery cell and the second positive electrode terminal of the battery cell adjacent to the predetermined battery cell on the other side of the first direction in the second side. This allows the first negative electrode terminal of the predetermined battery cell to be aligned with the first positive electrode terminal of the battery cell adjacent to the predetermined battery cell on the other side in the second side. In this state, the first negative electrode terminal of the predetermined battery cell can be joined to the first positive electrode terminal of the battery cell adjacent to the predetermined battery cell on the other side in the second direction using the joining member. Therefore, the accuracy of joining between the first negative electrode terminal of the predetermined battery cell and the first positive electrode terminal of the battery cell adjacent to the predetermined battery cell on the other side in the second side can be improved. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the joining accuracy between electrode terminals of laminate-type battery cells in a battery module. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front view of a laminate type battery cell. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the battery cell shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a method of stacking battery cells. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a battery module. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a top view of the battery module. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a simplified joining and insulating state on one side portion side. [Figure 8] 13 is a schematic diagram showing the joining and insulating state on the other side portion side. FIG. [Figure 9] 13 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the joining and insulating state on the other side portion side. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

[0015] Fig. 1 is a front view of a laminate-type battery cell. Fig. 2 is a side view of the battery cell shown in Fig. 1. More specifically, Fig. 2 is a view of the battery cell shown in Fig. 1 as viewed from the direction of arrow 902. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a battery cell 10 includes end portions 11 and 12, an electrode body 13, welded portions 14 and 15, an exterior body 16, and terminal members 17 and 18. The battery cell 10 is of a flat type.

[0016] The terminal members 17, 18 are made of metal. The terminal members 17, 18 are U-shaped when viewed from the front of the battery cell 10. The terminal member 17 is provided with a positive electrode terminal P1 and a positive electrode terminal P2. The metal terminal member 18 is provided with a negative electrode terminal N1 and a negative electrode terminal N2.

[0017] End 11 is an end in the longitudinal direction of battery cell 10. End 12 is an end opposite end 11. In battery cell 10, positive electrode terminal P1 and positive electrode terminal P2 are formed at end 11 with a gap therebetween in the direction of arrow 901. Similarly, in battery cell 10, negative electrode terminal N1 and negative electrode terminal N2 are formed at end 12 with a gap therebetween in the direction of arrow 901. Positive electrode terminal P1 is located opposite negative electrode terminal N2. Positive electrode terminal P2 is located opposite negative electrode terminal N1.

[0018] The welded portion 14 is a portion where the electrode body 13 and the terminal member 17 are welded to each other. The welded portion 15 is a portion where the electrode body 13 and the terminal member 18 are welded to each other. By this welding, the positive electrode terminals P1, P2 function as positive electrode terminals of the electrode body 13. The negative electrode terminals N1, N2 function as negative electrode terminals of the electrode body 13.

[0019] The electrode body 13 is housed in an exterior body 16. The electrode body 13 is sealed in the exterior body 16. The welded parts 14, 15 are also housed in the exterior body 16.

[0020] Exterior body 16 is made of a laminate film. In this example, exterior body 16 is made by bonding two sheets of laminate film together. A portion 17a of terminal member 17 and a portion 18a of terminal member 18 are covered with the laminate film along the direction of arrow 901.

[0021] The battery cell 10 has a thin exterior body 16 made of a laminate film, as shown in Fig. 2. Furthermore, the terminal members 17, 18 and the electrode body 13 are connected simply by welding their ends together. For this reason, the tips of the terminal members 17, 18 (the ends opposite the welded parts 14, 15) are prone to displacement in the directions of the arrows 903, 904 in Fig. 2, respectively. In other words, the positive electrode terminals P1, P2 and the negative electrode terminals N1, N2 are prone to movement in the thickness direction of the battery cell 10.

[0022] 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of stacking the battery cells 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the battery cells 10 are stacked in the stacking direction by alternately switching the orientation of the ends 11, 12 of each battery cell 10. As a result, the negative electrode terminal N1 of the battery cell 10 (the battery cell 10 on the upper side in the figure) stacked in the direction of the arrow 905 is adjacent to the positive electrode terminal P1 of the battery cell 10 on the lower side in the figure. The negative electrode terminal N2 of the battery cell 10 on the upper side in the figure is adjacent to the positive electrode terminal P2 of the battery cell 10 on the lower side in the figure. Similarly, the positive electrode terminals P1, P2 of the battery cells 10 stacked in the direction of the arrow 905 are adjacent to the negative electrode terminals N1, N2 of the battery cell 10 on the lower side in the figure, respectively.

[0023] In this manner, a predetermined number of battery cells 10 are stacked in the stacking direction. More specifically, the battery cells 10 are stacked while appropriately sandwiching cooling plates. As a result, a stack is produced in which the positive electrode terminal P1 and the negative electrode terminal N1 are adjacent to each other in the stacking direction, and the positive electrode terminal P2 and the negative electrode terminal N2 are adjacent to each other.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the battery module. FIG. 5 is a top view of the battery module. Specifically, FIG. 5 is a view of the battery module shown in FIG. 4 as viewed from the direction of an arrow 906. For ease of explanation, only eight battery cells 10 are shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, and the other battery cells 10 are not shown. Furthermore, in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, different reference symbols are used to identify each of the eight stacked battery cells 10. Specifically, the eight battery cells 10 are given the reference symbols "10_1", "10_2", ..., "10_8" in order in the positive direction of the X-axis.

[0025] 4 and 5, the battery module 100 is configured to include a stack of the above-mentioned battery cells 10. In addition to the multiple battery cells 10, the battery module 100 includes multiple cooling plates 20, multiple joining members 30, multiple insulating members 40, and multiple wire harnesses 52.

[0026] After stacking a plurality of battery cells 10 to generate a stack, a plurality of insulating members 40 are attached to the stack. Then, a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal are joined using a plurality of joining members 30. In this order, the battery module 100 is manufactured.

[0027] 4 and 5, in order to distinguish between the four joining members 30, different reference symbols "30_1", "30_2", ..., "30_4" are given to the four joining members 30 in order in the positive direction of the X-axis. Similarly, in order to distinguish between the four insulating members 40, different reference symbols "40_1", "40_2", ..., "40_4" are given to the four insulating members 40 in order in the positive direction of the X-axis. The X-axis direction and the stacking direction are parallel to each other.

[0028] In this example, a cooling plate 20 is disposed for every two battery cells 10. That is, two battery cells 10 are disposed between two cooling plates 20 in the stacking direction.

[0029] The battery module 100 further has a side portion 101 extending in the stacking direction. In the side portion 101, the battery cells 10 are stacked such that the ends 11 and 12 are alternately arranged in the stacking direction, as described above. Therefore, in the side portion 101, the positive electrode terminals P1 and the negative electrode terminals N1 are alternately arranged in the stacking direction, and the positive electrode terminals P2 and the negative electrode terminals N2 are alternately arranged in the stacking direction.

[0030] At the side portion 101, the joining member 30_1 joins the positive electrode terminal P2 of the battery cell 10_1 to the negative electrode terminal N2 of the battery cell 10_2. In detail, the joining member 30_1 joins the positive electrode terminal P2 of the battery cell 10_1 to the negative electrode terminal N2 of the battery cell 10_2 adjacent to the battery cell 10_1 on one side in the stacking direction (in this example, the X-axis positive side).

[0031] As shown in Fig. 4, in this example, the positive electrode terminal P2 and the negative electrode terminal N2 are L-shaped when viewed in the positive direction of the Y axis. More specifically, the positive electrode terminal P2 and the negative electrode terminal N2 are symmetrical with respect to the joining member 30_1. Therefore, it is easier to position the joining member 30_1 compared to when the positive electrode terminal P2 and the negative electrode terminal N2 are I-shaped when viewed in the positive direction of the Y axis. The other terminals also have the same shape.

[0032] The joining member 30_2 joins the positive electrode terminal P1 of the battery cell 10_3 and the negative electrode terminal N1 of the battery cell 10_4. In detail, the joining member 30_2 joins the positive electrode terminal P1 of the battery cell 10_3 and the negative electrode terminal N1 of the battery cell 10_4 adjacent to the battery cell 10_3 on one side in the stacking direction (the positive X-axis direction side).

[0033] The joint member 30_3 joins the positive electrode terminal P2 of the battery cell 10_5 and the negative electrode terminal N2 of the battery cell 10_6. The joint member 30_4 joins the positive electrode terminal P1 of the battery cell 10_7 and the negative electrode terminal N1 of the battery cell 10_8.

[0034] In this example, each joining member 30 is formed by bonding two parts 31 of the same shape together. The parts 31 have a shape in which a plate is bent at two different points in the extension direction of the plate. The part 31 has, in the positive direction of the Y axis, a first portion 31a parallel to the YZ plane, a second portion 31b inclined with respect to the YZ plane, and a third portion 31c parallel to the YZ plane. The inclination angle of the second portion 31b with respect to the first portion 31a is an acute angle. In the joining member 30, one surfaces of the first portions 31a of the two parts 31 are bonded together such that the third portions 31c are spaced apart from each other.

[0035] Each of the joint members 30 is inserted into the gap between the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal from the third portion 31c side, and is joined to the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal by welding. Specifically, the joint members 30 are attached after the insulating members 40 described later are attached.

[0036] In the side portion 101, the insulating member 40_1 insulates the positive electrode terminal P1 of the battery cell 10_1 from the negative electrode terminal N1 of the battery cell 10_2 (see FIG. 7). In detail, the insulating member 40_1 insulates the positive electrode terminal P1 of the battery cell 10_1 from the negative electrode terminal N1 of the battery cell 10_2 adjacent to the battery cell 10_1 on one side in the stacking direction (the positive X-axis direction side).

[0037] The insulating member 40_2 insulates the positive electrode terminal P2 of the battery cell 10_3 from the negative electrode terminal N2 of the battery cell 10_4 (see FIG. 7). In detail, the insulating member 40_2 insulates the positive electrode terminal P2 of the battery cell 10_3 from the negative electrode terminal N2 of the battery cell 10_4 adjacent to the battery cell 10_3 on one side in the stacking direction (the positive X-axis direction side).

[0038] The insulating member 40_3 insulates the positive terminal P1 of the battery cell 10_5 from the negative terminal N1 of the battery cell 10_6 (see FIG. 7). The insulating member 40_4 insulates the positive terminal P2 of the battery cell 10_7 from the negative terminal N2 of the battery cell 10_8 (see FIG. 7).

[0039] Each insulating member 40 is a cover that covers one positive electrode terminal and one negative electrode terminal. The insulating members 40_1 and 40_3 are covers that cover the positive electrode terminal P1 and the negative electrode terminal N1. The insulating members 40_2 and 40_4 are covers that cover the positive electrode terminal P2 and the negative electrode terminal N2. Each insulating member 40 is typically made of resin. A wire harness 52 extends from each insulating member 40.

[0040] Although details will be described later, the battery module 100 further has a side portion 102 ( FIG. 8 ) extending in the stacking direction. The side portion 102 is the portion opposite to the side portion 101. As described above, in the side portion 102 as well, the battery cells 10 are stacked such that the ends 11 and the ends 12 are alternately arranged in the stacking direction. Therefore, in the side portion 102 as well, the positive electrode terminals P1 and the negative electrode terminals N1 are alternately arranged in the stacking direction, and the positive electrode terminals P2 and the negative electrode terminals N2 are alternately arranged in the stacking direction.

[0041] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 6, the insulating member 40_1 has a frame body 41 and a spacer portion 42. The spacer portion 42 is provided inside the frame body 41. In this example, the frame body 41 and the spacer portion 42 are integrally formed.

[0042] The spacer portion 42 of the insulating member 40_1 maintains a constant distance between the positive electrode terminal P1 of the battery cell 10_1 and the negative electrode terminal N1 of the battery cell 10_2. This aligns the terminal member 17 (FIG. 1) on which the positive electrode terminal P1 is formed with the terminal member 18 on which the negative electrode terminal N1 is formed. As a result, the positive electrode terminal P2 of the battery cell 10_1 and the negative electrode terminal N2 of the battery cell 10_2 can be aligned with each other.

[0043] In this state, the positive electrode terminal P2 of the battery cell 10_1 and the negative electrode terminal N2 of the battery cell 10_2 can be joined using the joining member 30_1 (FIG. 4). This makes it possible to improve the accuracy of the joining between the positive electrode terminal P2 of the battery cell 10_1 and the negative electrode terminal N2 of the battery cell 10_2.

[0044] Furthermore, the insulating member 40_1 can insulate the negative electrode terminal N1 of the battery cell 10_2 from the positive electrode terminal P1 of the battery cell 10_3 adjacent to the battery cell 10_2 on the side of the side portion 101. Therefore, the insulating member 40_1 can prevent a short circuit between the negative electrode terminal N1 of the battery cell 10_2 and the positive electrode terminal P1 of the battery cell 10_3.

[0045] Inside the insulating member 40_1, a voltage detection terminal 51 is connected to the positive electrode terminal P1. The voltage detection terminal 51 is connected to a wire harness 52. More specifically, the voltage detection terminal 51 is connected to an electric wire 521 of the wire harness 52. In this example, the voltage detection terminal 51 is sandwiched between the spacer portion 42 and the positive electrode terminal P1. The frame body 41 has an opening through which the wire harness 52 is drawn out.

[0046] 7 is a schematic diagram showing, in a simplified manner, the bonding and insulating state on the side portion 101 side. The other insulating members 40 other than the insulating member 40_1 have the same configuration and function as the insulating member 40_1.

[0047] As shown in Fig. 7, for example, the insulating member 40_2 can improve the accuracy of the joining by the joining member 30 between the positive electrode terminal P1 of the battery cell 10_3 and the negative electrode terminal N1 of the battery cell 10_4. Furthermore, the insulating member 40_2 can insulate the negative electrode terminal N2 of the battery cell 10_2 from the positive electrode terminal P2 of the battery cell 10_3 on the side of the side portion 101. The negative electrode terminal N2 of the battery cell 10_4 can be insulated from the positive electrode terminal P2 of the battery cell 10_5. Therefore, the insulating member 40_2 can prevent a short circuit between the negative electrode terminal N2 of the battery cell 10_2 and the positive electrode terminal P2 of the battery cell 10_3, and a short circuit between the negative electrode terminal N2 of the battery cell 10_4 and the positive electrode terminal P2 of the battery cell 10_5.

[0048] In this way, the insulating member 40 can improve the accuracy of joining by the joining member 30 between the positive and negative terminals of the two battery cells 10 to which the insulating member 40 is attached. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent short-circuiting between the positive and negative terminals covered with the insulating member 40 and the negative or positive terminal located adjacent to the positive or negative terminal in the stacking direction (X-axis positive direction, X-axis negative direction).

[0049] Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the bonding and insulating state on the side portion 102 opposite to the side portion 101. As shown in Fig. 8, the battery module 100 also includes a plurality of bonding members 30 and a plurality of insulating members 40 on the side portion 102 side.

[0050] 8, in order to distinguish between the five joining members 30, different reference symbols "30A_1," "30A_2," ..., "30A_5" are given to the five joining members 30 in sequence in the positive direction of the X-axis. Similarly, in order to distinguish between the five insulating members 40, different reference symbols "40A_1," "40A_2," ..., "40A_5" are given to the five insulating members 40 in sequence in the positive direction of the X-axis.

[0051] In the battery module 100, the positive and negative terminals of the multiple battery cells 10 are joined together so that they are arranged in series. In the above-mentioned side portion 101, the battery cells 10_1 and 10_2 are joined together by a joining member 30_1, and therefore, in the side portion 102 opposite to the side portion 101, the battery cells 10_2 and 10_3 are joined together by a joining member 30A_2. In more detail, the positive terminal P2 of the battery cell 10_2 and the negative terminal N2 of the battery cell 10_3 are joined together.

[0052] Similarly, the battery cells 10_4 and 10_5 are joined by a joining member 30A_3. More specifically, the positive terminal P1 of the battery cell 10_4 is joined to the negative terminal N1 of the battery cell 10_5. The battery cells 10_6 and 10_7 are joined by a joining member 30A_4. More specifically, the positive terminal P2 of the battery cell 10_6 is joined to the negative terminal N2 of the battery cell 10_7.

[0053] The insulating member 40A_2 insulates the positive terminal P1 of the battery cell 10_2 from the negative terminal N1 of the battery cell 10_3. The insulating member 40A_3 insulates the positive terminal P2 of the battery cell 10_4 from the negative terminal N2 of the battery cell 10_5. The insulating member 40A_4 insulates the positive terminal P1 of the battery cell 10_6 from the negative terminal N1 of the battery cell 10_7.

[0054] As with the side portion 101, the insulating member 40 on the side portion 102 can increase the accuracy of joining by the joining member 30 between the positive and negative terminals of the two battery cells 10 to which the insulating member 40 is attached. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent a short circuit between the positive and negative terminals covered with the insulating member 40 and the negative or positive terminal located adjacent to the positive or negative terminal in the stacking direction.

[0055] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the bonding and insulating state on the side portion 102. As shown in Fig. 9, the battery module 100 includes a plurality of bonding members 30 and a plurality of insulating members 40 on the side portion 102 as well.

[0056] 9, in order to distinguish between the five joining members 30, different reference symbols "30B_1," "30B_2," ..., "30B_5" are assigned to the five joining members 30 in sequence in the positive direction of the X-axis. Similarly, in order to distinguish between the five insulating members 40, different reference symbols "40B_1," "40B_2," ..., "40B_5" are assigned to the five insulating members 40 in sequence in the positive direction of the X-axis.

[0057] In this modification, the up-down relationship (Z-axis direction) between the two terminals joined by the joining member 30 and the two terminals covered by the insulating member 40 is opposite to that in Fig. 8. For example, in Fig. 8, the positive electrode terminal P2 of the battery cell 10_2 and the negative electrode terminal N2 of the battery cell 10_3 are joined by the joining member 30A_2, whereas in Fig. 9, the positive electrode terminal P1 of the battery cell 10_2 and the negative electrode terminal N1 of the battery cell 10_3 are joined by the joining member 30B_2. In Fig. 8, the insulating member 40A_2 insulates the positive electrode terminal P1 of the battery cell 10_2 from the negative electrode terminal N1 of the battery cell 10_3, whereas in Fig. 9, the insulating member 40B_2 insulates the positive electrode terminal P2 of the battery cell 10_2 from the negative electrode terminal N2 of the battery cell 10_3.

[0058] With this configuration as well, the same effects as those of the joined and insulated state shown in FIG. 8 can be achieved.

[0059] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the scope of the claims, and it is intended to include all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 10 battery cell, 11, 12 end portion, 13 electrode body, 14, 15 welded portion, 16 exterior body, 17, 18 terminal member, 20 cooling plate, 30, 30A, 30B joining member, 40, 40A, 40B insulating member, 41 frame body, 42 spacer portion, 51 voltage detection terminal, 52 wire harness, 100 battery module, 101, 102 side portion, N1, N2 negative terminal, P1, P2 positive terminal.

Claims

1. A battery module, A battery pack includes a plurality of laminate-type battery cells stacked in a first direction; Each of the battery cells includes a first end extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a second end extending in the second direction opposite to the first end, First and second positive terminals are formed at the first end and spaced apart in the second direction; first and second negative terminals are formed at the second end and spaced apart in the second direction; The battery module further includes a first side extending in the first direction and a second side opposite to the first side, the battery cells are stacked in the first side portion and the second side portion such that the first ends and the second ends are alternately arranged in the first direction; On the first side portion and the second side portion, the first positive electrode terminals and the first negative electrode terminals are alternately arranged in the first direction, and the second positive electrode terminals and the second negative electrode terminals are alternately arranged in the first direction; The battery module includes: a first joining member that joins, at one of the first side portion and the second side portion, the first positive electrode terminal of a predetermined battery cell among the plurality of battery cells and the first negative electrode terminal of a battery cell adjacent to the predetermined battery cell among the plurality of battery cells on one side of the first direction; a first insulating member that insulates the second positive electrode terminal of the predetermined battery cell from the second negative electrode terminal of the adjacent battery cell on the one side; the first insulating member has a spacer portion therein that maintains a constant distance between the second positive terminal and the second negative terminal, and covers the second positive terminal and the second negative terminal.

2. a second joining member that joins, at the other side of the first side and the second side, the second negative electrode terminal of the predetermined battery cell and the second positive electrode terminal of a battery cell that is adjacent to the predetermined battery cell among the plurality of battery cells on the other side of the first direction; a second insulating member that insulates the first negative electrode terminal of the specific battery cell from the first positive electrode terminal of an adjacent battery cell on the other side; 2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the second insulating member has a spacer portion therein that maintains a constant distance between the first positive terminal and the first negative terminal, and covers the first positive terminal and the first negative terminal.

3. a second joining member that joins, at the other side of the first side and the second side, the first negative electrode terminal of the predetermined battery cell and the first positive electrode terminal of a battery cell that is adjacent to the predetermined battery cell among the plurality of battery cells on the other side of the first direction; a second insulating member that insulates the second negative electrode terminal of the specific battery cell from the second positive electrode terminal of an adjacent battery cell on the other side; 2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the second insulating member has a spacer portion therein that maintains a constant distance between the second positive terminal and the second negative terminal, and covers the second positive terminal and the second negative terminal.

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