Battery module

Abstract

To provide a battery module capable of appropriately constraining a battery stack while avoiding the enlargement of a physical constitution.SOLUTION: A battery module includes: a plurality of battery stacks which each comprise a plurality of battery cells stacked in a first direction, the battery stacks being arranged side by side in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; an end member arranged at both ends of the plurality of battery stacks; and a restraint member arranged around the plurality of battery stacks and the end member. The end member includes a planar first side surface in contact with both ends of the plurality of battery stacks and a curved second side surface in contact with the restraint member. The first side surface is arranged to straddle the plurality of battery stacks as viewed in a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction. The second side surface is restrained by the restraint member. The plurality of battery stacks are restrained in the first direction by the first side surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that includes a battery stack in which battery cells are stacked in a predetermined direction, and applies a restraining load to the battery stack by a restraining member that connects a pair of end members. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-010534 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires an increase in the restraining load on the battery cells, which inevitably requires the end members and restraining members to be made larger, and so there is room for improvement.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above, and has an object to provide a battery module that can appropriately restrain a battery stack while avoiding an increase in size. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The battery module of the present disclosure is composed of a plurality of battery cells stacked in a first direction, and comprises a plurality of battery stacks arranged side by side in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, end members arranged on both ends of the plurality of battery stacks, and restraining members arranged around the plurality of battery stacks and the end members, wherein the end members have a planar first side surface in contact with both ends of the plurality of battery stacks and a curved second side surface in contact with the restraining member, the first side surface is arranged to straddle the plurality of battery stacks when viewed from a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, the second side surface is restrained by the restraining member, and the plurality of battery stacks are restrained in the first direction by the first side surface. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to appropriately restrain the battery stack while avoiding an increase in size. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a battery module according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle body including a battery module according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a modified example of the battery module according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[0010] The configuration of a battery module according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The battery module according to the embodiment is used as a battery for, for example, a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), an electric vehicle (BEV), or the like.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a battery module according to an embodiment. The battery module 1 includes a plurality of battery stacks 11, a pair of end members (end plates) 12, a restraining member (restraining plate) 13, and a pair of mounting members 14. In the figure, a first direction (vertical direction on the paper) is the direction in which battery cells 111, which will be described later, are arranged (stacked). Furthermore, a second direction (horizontal direction on the paper) is the direction in which the battery stacks 11 are arranged. Furthermore, a third direction (depth direction on the paper) is a direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions.

[0012] The battery stack 11 is formed by stacking a plurality of battery cells 111 in a first direction. The battery stacks 11 are arranged side by side in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The plurality of battery stacks 11 are constrained in the first direction by a first side surface 121 of an end member 12 described later. When the width (width in the second direction) of the battery cells 111 constituting the battery stack 11 is small, the radius of a second side surface 122 of the end member 12 described later can be reduced to achieve size and weight reduction. Therefore, it is preferable to use battery cells 111 with as small a width as possible.

[0013] The end members 12 are configured as a pair and are arranged at both ends of the multiple battery stacks 11. Note that, of the pair of end members 12, only the one arranged at one end of the multiple battery stacks 11 is illustrated in FIG.

[0014] 1 (when viewed from the third direction), the end member 12 is formed in a semicircular or semielliptical shape. The end member 12 also includes a first side surface 121 and a second side surface 122.

[0015] The first side surface 121 is formed in a planar shape and is arranged parallel to the second direction. The first side surface 121 is in contact with both ends of the multiple battery stacks 11. The first side surface 121 is arranged to straddle the multiple battery stacks 11 when viewed from the third direction. That is, the length of the first side surface 121 is formed to be equal to or greater than the width of the multiple battery stacks 11 in the second direction. The first side surface 121 also restrains the multiple battery stacks 11 in the first direction.

[0016] The second side surface 122 is formed in a curved shape (arcuate shape). The second side surface 122 is in contact with the restraining member 13. The second side surface 122 is restrained by the restraining member 13, which will be described later.

[0017] The restraining member 13 is for restraining the plurality of battery stacks 11 and the end members 12. The restraining member 13 is disposed around the plurality of battery stacks 11 and the pair of end members 12. In other words, the restraining member 13 is disposed so as to surround the plurality of battery stacks 11 and the pair of end members 12.

[0018] The mounting members 14 are for mounting the battery module 1 to the body of the vehicle. A pair of mounting members 14 are provided on each of the pair of end members 12. The mounting members 14 are preferably provided in the center of the end members 12, which is less affected by the expansion of the end members 12 in the first direction. Note that FIG. 1 illustrates only the mounting member 14 that is provided on one of the pair of end members 12.

[0019] 2 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a vehicle body 2 equipped with a battery module 1. In the figure, a plurality of battery modules 1 are each attached to a battery case 4 by a battery module attachment member 3. In addition, the battery case 4 is attached to the vehicle body 2 by a battery case attachment member 5.

[0020] In the battery module 1 having the above configuration, for example, when the battery stack 11 expands, a force is transmitted to the semicircular end members 12 in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 1. As a result, the end members 12 are pressed against each other by the two forces indicated by arrow A, so that the expansion of the battery stack 11 is suppressed by the expansion force of the adjacent battery stack 11.

[0021] As described above, the expansion of the battery stack 11 is suppressed by the expansion force of the adjacent battery stacks 11, so the restraining members 13 can only function to prevent the battery stacks 11 from shifting in position. In addition, in the battery module 1, even for battery cells with high expansion loads (e.g., all-solid-state battery cells), multiple battery cells can be stacked in series as in the conventional case, so that it is possible to both address the expansion load of the battery cells and avoid a reduction in energy density.

[0022] (Modification) Fig. 3 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a modified battery module according to the embodiment. The battery module 1 in Fig. 1 has two battery stacks 11, but may have three battery stacks 11, as in the battery module 1A in Fig. 3.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, when three or more battery stacks 11 are bound by one end member 12, the end member 12 is configured as follows. (1) A thickness is provided in the portion of the end member 12 corresponding to the central battery stack 11 so that the expansion of the central battery stack 11 is possible. (2) The portions of the end members 12 that correspond to the battery stacks 11 on the left and right (both sides) are formed into a shape close to a quarter circle (quadrangle).

[0024] According to the battery module according to the embodiment described above, it is possible to appropriately restrain the battery stack 11 while avoiding an increase in size.

[0025] In the battery module according to the embodiment, the multiple battery stacks 11 are restrained by the planar first side surface 121 of the end member 12. Furthermore, since the end member 12 has a curved second side surface 122, the load (expansion load) from one battery stack 11 can be applied to the other battery stack 11, and the necessary restraining load can be reduced.

[0026] In addition, in the battery module according to the embodiment, the end members 12 arranged across the multiple battery stacks 11 are integrated and have a semicircular (or semi-elliptical) shape, so that the end members 12 press against each other when the cells expand. This makes it possible to prevent the entire battery module 1 from expanding.

[0027] In the battery module according to the embodiment, the semicircular (or semi-elliptical) end member 12 may result in a larger size than a planar end member. On the other hand, when an all-solid-state battery cell is used as the battery cell 111, the expansion load is likely to increase. Therefore, when an all-solid-state battery cell is used as the battery cell 111, a planar end member may need to be thicker than the semicircular end member 12. Therefore, according to the battery module according to the embodiment, the semicircular end member 12 is provided, so that an increase in size can be substantially avoided.

[0028] Further advantages and modifications may readily occur to those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described above. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 1,1A battery module 11 Battery stack 111 Battery Cell 12 End member 121 First aspect 122 Second aspect 13 Restraining member 14 Mounting material 2. Body 3 Battery module mounting material 4 Battery case 5 Battery case mounting material

Claims

[Claim 1] A plurality of battery stacks are formed of a plurality of battery cells stacked in a first direction and arranged side by side in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; end members disposed on both ends of the plurality of battery stacks; a restraining member disposed around the plurality of battery stacks and the end member; Equipped with the end members have planar first side surfaces in contact with both ends of the plurality of battery stacks and curved second side surfaces in contact with the restraint members, the first side surface is disposed so as to straddle the plurality of battery stacks when viewed from a third direction perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, The second side surface is restrained by the restraining member, The plurality of battery stacks are constrained in the first direction by the first side surface. Battery module.

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