Power storage device

Abstract

To provide a power storage device of which the durability against vibration and mechanical shock is improved.SOLUTION: The power storage device comprises: a power storage unit provided with a first power storage element row 11 and a second power storage element row 12 that are aligned in the direction of an axis X; a case for accommodating the power storage unit; and a frame member which is separate from the case. The first power storage element row and the second power storage element row respectively include a plurality of power storage elements aligned in the direction of an axis Y. The case includes an opening provided at one side in the direction of an axis Z and having the frame member located thereto. The power supply unit has a gap 15 formed between the first and the second power storage element rows. The frame member includes a first frame 110 extending in the direction of the axis Y. The first frame faces the gap in the direction of the axis Z, contacts the first and the second power storage element rows in the direction of the axis Z, and is secured to the case.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a power storage device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a battery module including a laminate and a pair of end plates. The laminate is configured by laminating a plurality of rectangular battery cells. The pair of end plates each have a facing surface. The facing surfaces are disposed on both sides of the laminate in the lamination direction of the laminate. The facing surfaces face the outermost rectangular battery cells in the lamination direction and extend orthogonally to the lamination direction. A protruding portion that protrudes from either one of the outermost rectangular battery cell and the facing surface toward the other is disposed between the outermost rectangular battery cell and the facing surface.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above conventional battery module, by disposing a protruding portion between the facing surface of the end plate and the side surface of the outermost rectangular battery cell, a gap is formed between the facing surface and the side surface and above the protruding portion. Thereby, vertical deflection of the laminate due to vibration is allowed. Therefore, the battery cells located at the center of the laminate in the lamination direction may move greatly in the vertical direction, which may cause problems such as damage to the battery cells.

[0005] The present invention has been made by the inventors of the present application newly paying attention to the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a power storage device having improved resistance to vibration or impact.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A power storage device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a power storage unit including a first power storage element row and a second power storage element row arranged in a first direction, a case that houses the power storage unit, and a frame member separate from the case. Each of the first power storage element row and the second power storage element row includes a plurality of power storage elements arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The case has an opening provided on one side in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, and the opening in which the frame member is arranged. A gap is formed between the first power storage element row and the second power storage element row in the power storage unit. The frame member includes a first frame extending in the second direction. The first frame faces the gap in the third direction, contacts the first power storage element row and the second power storage element row in the third direction, and is fixed to the case.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a power storage device with improved resistance to vibration or impact.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

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[0009] (1) A power storage device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a power storage unit including a first power storage element row and a second power storage element row arranged in a first direction, a case accommodating the power storage unit, and a frame member separate from the case. Each of the first power storage element row and the second power storage element row includes a plurality of power storage elements arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The case has an opening provided on one side in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, and the opening in which the frame member is arranged. A gap is formed between the first power storage element row and the second power storage element row in the power storage unit. The frame member includes a first frame extending in the second direction. The first frame faces the gap in the third direction, contacts the first power storage element row and the second power storage element row in the third direction, and is fixed to the case.

[0010] According to the power storage device described in (1) above, for example, when the case is arranged with the opening facing upward, the first frame of the frame member contacts the upper ends of the two power storage element rows housed in the case from above. Therefore, the power storage element rows are sandwiched between the bottom wall portion of the case and the first frame, and as a result, the vertical movement of the two power storage element rows is restricted. Thereby, the resistance of the power storage device to vibration or impact is improved.

[0011] (2) In the power storage device described in (1) above, the case may be provided with a partition wall portion that is inserted into the gap and extends in the second direction, and the first frame may be fixed to the partition wall portion.

[0012] According to the power storage device described in (2) above, by fixing the first frame to the partition wall portion extending in the second direction, the deformation etc. of the first frame in the third direction is restricted in a wide range in the second direction. As a result, the movement of the two power storage element rows in the third direction is more reliably restricted.

[0013] (3) In the power storage device described in (1) or (2) above, when viewed from the third direction, the first frame may (i) overlap with one or more of the plurality of power storage elements included in the first power storage element row, and (ii) overlap with one or more of the plurality of power storage elements included in the second power storage element row.

[0014] According to the power storage device described in (3) above, since the first frame is located on one side in the third direction of one or more power storage elements of each of the first power storage element row and the second power storage element row, the movement of the two power storage element rows in the third direction can be restricted more stably.

[0015] (4) In the power storage device according to any one of (1) to (3) above, the frame member further includes a second frame extending in the second direction, the second frame is fixed to the case, the first power storage element row includes a first inner shoulder portion on one side in the first direction and a first outer shoulder portion on the other side in the first direction, the second power storage element row includes a second outer shoulder portion on one side in the first direction and a second inner shoulder portion on the other side in the first direction, the first frame is in contact with the first inner shoulder portion and the second inner shoulder portion in the third direction, and the second frame may be in contact with the first outer shoulder portion or the second outer shoulder portion in the third direction.

[0016] According to the power storage device described in (4) above, for one of the first power storage element row and the second power storage element row, both shoulders in the first direction are in contact with two frames (the first frame and the second frame). Thereby, the movement of the said one of the first power storage element row and the second power storage element row in the third direction is more reliably restricted.

[0017] (5) In the power storage device according to any one of (1) to (4) above, the frame member further includes a third frame extending in the first direction, the third frame is connected to the first frame, and at any position of the power storage unit in the second direction, the third frame may be in contact with the first power storage element row and the second power storage element row in the third direction.

[0018] According to the power storage device described in (5) above, the first power storage element row and the second power storage element row are in contact with one first frame facing the gap in the third direction, and further, each of the first power storage element row and the second power storage element row is in contact with the third frame in the third direction at any position in the second direction. As a result, the movement of the first power storage element row and the second power storage element row in the third direction is more reliably restricted by the frame member.

[0019] (6) In the power storage device according to (5) above, the third frame contacts the first power storage element row and the second power storage element row in the third direction at an end portion of the power storage unit in the second direction, the case includes an end wall portion that is a wall portion at an end portion in the second direction, and the end wall portion includes a connection portion provided on an inner surface facing the power storage unit, the connection portion being a portion where a part of the third frame is hooked in the third direction. This may be adopted.

[0020] According to the power storage device described in (6) above, since a part of the third frame is hooked in the third direction by the connection portion of the end wall portion, the third frame can be easily connected to the end wall portion of the case, and detachment of the third frame to one side in the third direction is suppressed.

[0021] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a power storage device according to an embodiment (including a modified example thereof) of the present invention will be described. Each of the embodiments described below shows comprehensive or specific examples. Numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement positions and connection forms of the components, manufacturing processes, order of manufacturing processes, etc. shown in the following embodiments are examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. In each drawing, dimensions and the like are not strictly illustrated. In each drawing, the same or similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0022] In the following description and drawings, the arrangement direction of a pair of terminals of the power storage element or the facing direction of a pair of short side surfaces in the container of the power storage element is defined as the X-axis direction. The facing direction of a pair of long side surfaces in the container of the power storage element, the thickness direction (flat direction) of the container of the power storage element, or the arrangement direction of a plurality of power storage elements included in the power storage element row is defined as the Y-axis direction. The protruding direction of the terminals of the power storage element, the arrangement direction of the container main body and the cover plate of the power storage element, or the vertical direction is defined as the Z-axis direction. These X-axis direction, Y-axis direction and Z-axis direction are directions that intersect (orthogonal in this embodiment) with each other. Although it is conceivable that the Z-axis direction may not be the vertical direction depending on the usage mode, hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the Z-axis direction will be described as the vertical direction.

[0023] In the following description, the positive X-axis direction indicates the arrow direction of the X-axis, and the negative X-axis direction indicates the direction opposite to the positive X-axis direction. When simply referring to the X-axis direction, it indicates both directions of the positive X-axis direction and the negative X-axis direction or either one of them. When referring to one side and the other side of the X-axis direction, it indicates one and the other of the positive X-axis direction and the negative X-axis direction. The same applies to the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction. Expressions indicating relative directions or postures such as parallel and orthogonal include cases where they are not strictly in that direction or posture. For example, when two directions are parallel, it means not only that the two directions are completely parallel but also that they are substantially parallel, that is, including a difference of, for example, about a few percent. In the following description, when expressing "insulation", it means "electrical insulation". A material having insulation properties is preferably formed from a material with a volume resistivity of 1×10 10 Ωm or more.

[0024] (Embodiment) [1. General description of the power storage device] First, the schematic configuration of the power storage device 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the power storage device 1 according to the embodiment. In the figures after FIG. 1, the illustration of busbars and various wirings joined to one or more power storage elements 70 is omitted. FIG. 2 is a first exploded perspective view of the power storage device 1 according to the embodiment. In FIG. 2, bolts used for fixing various members are shown, and among these bolts, there are bolts with different sizes and shapes, but for simplicity of explanation, each of these bolts is all denoted as "bolt 50". This also applies to FIGS. 6 to 9 described later.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a second exploded perspective view of the power storage device 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the first power storage element row 11 according to the embodiment. In FIG. 4, some of the plurality of power storage elements 70 and the plurality of holders 200 included in the first power storage element row 11 are shown separated in their arrangement direction (Y-axis direction). Although not shown in FIG. 4, the second power storage element row 12 also has the same configuration as the first power storage element row 11 shown in FIG. 4.

[0026] The power storage device 1 is a device that can charge electricity from the outside and discharge electricity to the outside. The power storage device 1 is, for example, a battery module (battery pack) used for power storage applications or power supply applications. Specifically, the power storage device 1 is used, for example, as a battery for driving a moving body such as an automobile, a motorcycle, a watercraft, a ship, a snowmobile, an agricultural machine, a construction machine, an automatic guided vehicle (AGV), or a railway vehicle for electric railways, or for engine starting. Examples of the above-mentioned automobiles include electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and fossil fuel (gasoline, light oil, liquefied natural gas, etc.) automobiles. Examples of the above-mentioned railway vehicles for electric railways include trains, monorails, linear motor cars, and hybrid trains equipped with both a diesel engine and an electric motor. Further, the power storage device 1 can also be used as a stationary battery used for household or business use.

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the power storage device 1 includes a power storage unit 10, a case 300 that houses the power storage unit 10, and a frame member 100 that is separate from the case 300. In the present embodiment, the frame member 100 includes a first frame 110 and two second frames 150. The frame member 100 is disposed at the opening 310 of the case 300 and serves to limit the movement of the power storage unit 10 in the Z-axis direction (more specifically, the movement in the positive Z-axis direction). Details of the frame member 100 and related configurations will be described later with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. The power storage device 1 also includes external terminals (a positive electrode external terminal and a negative electrode external terminal) for electrically connecting to an external device, but their illustration and description are omitted. In addition to the above-described components, the power storage device 1 may include an electric device such as a circuit board and a relay for monitoring or controlling the charge state and discharge state of the power storage unit 10 inside or outside the case 300.

[0028] The power storage unit 10 is a battery module (battery pack) having a plurality of power storage elements 70. The power storage unit 10 includes a first power storage element row 11 and a second power storage element row 12 arranged in the X-axis direction. The X-axis direction is an example of the first direction. Each of the first power storage element row 11 and the second power storage element row 12 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the Y-axis direction by arranging a plurality of power storage elements 70 alternately with the holders 200 in the Y-axis direction. The Y-axis direction is an example of the second direction. When distinguishing between the holders 200 disposed between two power storage elements 70 and the holders 200 disposed at the ends of the power storage element row in the Y-axis direction among the plurality of holders 200, the holder 200 disposed between two power storage elements 70 is referred to as a "holder 210", and the holder 200 disposed at the end of the power storage element row in the Y-axis direction is referred to as a "holder 220". The holder 210 is also called, for example, an "inter-cell holder", and the holder 220 is also called, for example, an "end holder".

[0029] The case 300 is a container in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape (box shape). The case 300 is disposed outside the two power storage units 10 and protects the two power storage units 10 from impacts and the like. The case 300 is a metal case formed of a metal member such as aluminum, an aluminum alloy, stainless steel, iron, or a plated steel sheet. In the present embodiment, the case 300 is formed by die-casting of aluminum. The case 300 may be formed of an insulating member such as any resin material usable for the holder 200 included in the power storage unit 10.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the case 300 has a pair of side wall portions 312 disposed at both ends in the X-axis direction, a pair of end wall portions 313 disposed at both ends in the Y-axis direction, and a bottom wall portion 315 forming an inner bottom surface on which the power storage unit 10 is placed. The case 300 further has a partition wall portion 316 that partitions a space in which the first power storage element row 11 is disposed and a space in which the second power storage element row 12 is disposed. That is, the partition wall portion 316 is inserted into the gap 15 between the first power storage element row 11 and the second power storage element row 12 in the power storage unit 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the partition wall portion 316 protrudes in the +Z-axis direction from the bottom wall portion 315 and is connected to the pair of end wall portions 313.

[0031] The case 300 is provided with an opening 310 in the +Z-axis direction. In the present embodiment, the opening 310 includes a first opening 310a and a second opening 310b. That is, the opening 310 is divided into the first opening 310a and the second opening 310b by the partition wall portion 316. The first power storage element row 11 is accommodated inside the case 300 through the first opening 310a. The second power storage element row 12 is accommodated inside the case 300 through the second opening 310b. That is, when viewed from the +Z-axis direction (plan view), the first opening 310a is larger than the first power storage element row 11, and the second opening 310b is larger than the second power storage element row 12. The case 300 may further include a lid (not shown) that closes the opening 310. In this case, the case 300 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be referred to as, for example, a "case body", and a combination of the case body and the lid may be referred to as a "case 300".

[0032] The energy storage element 70 is a secondary battery (single cell), and more specifically, a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery such as a lithium-ion secondary battery. As shown in FIG. 4, the energy storage element 70 includes a flat rectangular parallelepiped-shaped (angular) container 71. The rectangular parallelepiped referred to here is a hexahedron composed of all rectangular or square faces. Inside the container 71, an electrode body, a current collector, an electrolytic solution, etc. (not shown) are accommodated. As the electrode body, for example, a wound-type electrode body formed by winding a polar plate and a separator is adopted. As the electrode body, a stacked-type (stacked-type) electrode body formed by stacking a plurality of flat polar plates, or an electrode body having a structure in which long strip-shaped polar plates are stacked in a bellows shape by repeating mountain folds and valley folds may be adopted. The type of the electrolytic solution accommodated in the container 71 is not particularly limited as long as it does not impair the performance of the energy storage element 70, and various types can be selected. The energy storage element 70 may be a secondary battery other than a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, or may be a capacitor. The energy storage element 70 may be a primary battery. The energy storage element 70 may be a battery using a solid electrolyte. The energy storage element 70 may be a pouch-type energy storage element. The shape of the energy storage element 70 is not limited to the above-mentioned angular shape, and may be other polygonal prism shapes, cylindrical shapes, elliptical cylinder shapes, oblong cylinder shapes, etc. The number of energy storage elements 70 included in each of the first energy storage element row 11 and the second energy storage element row 12 may be two or more.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, the container 71 includes a pair of long side faces 81, a pair of short side faces 82, and a bottom face 83 formed by a container body 80, and a terminal arrangement face formed by a cover plate 90. The long side face 81 is adjacent to the short side face 82 and the bottom face 83, and has a larger area than the short side face 82. The short side face 82 is adjacent to the long side face 81 and the bottom face 83, and has a smaller area than the long side face 81. The bottom face 83 is a rectangular planar portion forming the bottom face of the container 71. The bottom face 83 is disposed adjacent to the long side face 81 and the short side face 82.

[0034] The cover plate 90 is provided with a gas discharge valve 91 for releasing the pressure when the pressure inside the container 71 rises excessively, a liquid injection part (not shown) for injecting electrolytic solution into the container 71, and the like. After the electrode body and the like are accommodated inside the container body 80, the container body 80 and the cover plate 90 closing the opening of the container body 80 are welded or the like, so that the inside of the container 71 is sealed. The material of the container 71 is not particularly limited, but it is preferably a weldable metal such as stainless steel, aluminum, aluminum alloy, iron, or plated steel sheet. A resin can also be used as the material for forming the container 71.

[0035] The terminal 95 is a terminal member (positive electrode terminal and negative electrode terminal) of the power storage element 70 disposed on the cover plate 90. Specifically, the terminal 95 is disposed in a state of protruding in the +Z axis direction from the terminal arrangement surface which is the upper surface of the cover plate 90. The terminal 95 is electrically connected to the positive electrode plate or the negative electrode plate of the electrode body via a current collector. The terminal 95 is formed of aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper, copper alloy, or the like.

[0036] The electrode body is a power storage element (power generation element) formed by laminating a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator. The positive electrode plate is a plate in which a positive electrode active material layer is formed on the surface of a positive electrode current collector foil which is a long strip-shaped metal foil. The negative electrode plate is a plate in which a negative electrode active material layer is formed on the surface of a negative electrode current collector foil which is a long strip-shaped metal foil. Aluminum or aluminum alloy or the like is used for the positive electrode current collector foil. Copper or copper alloy or the like is used for the negative electrode current collector foil. The positive electrode active material layer contains a positive electrode active material, a binder, a conductive material, and the like. The negative electrode active material layer contains a negative electrode active material, a binder, a thickener, and the like. As the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material, any known material can be appropriately used as long as it can occlude and release charge transport ions. As the separator, a microporous sheet or nonwoven fabric made of resin can be used. In the present embodiment, the electrode body is a wound-type electrode body formed by winding a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator. The electrode body included in the power storage element 70 may be an electrode body in any form such as a stacked-type (stacked-type) electrode body formed by laminating a plurality of flat plates or a bellows-type electrode body in which the plates are folded in a bellows shape.

[0037] The current collector is a conductive current collecting member (a positive electrode current collector and a negative electrode current collector) that is electrically and mechanically connected to the terminal 95 and the electrode body. The positive electrode current collector is formed of aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or the like, similar to the positive electrode base material layer of the positive electrode plate of the electrode body, and the negative electrode current collector is formed of copper, a copper alloy, or the like, similar to the negative electrode base material layer of the negative electrode plate of the electrode body.

[0038] The holder 200 is a member that is arranged side by side with the power storage element 70 in the Y-axis direction and insulates and / or thermally insulates the power storage element 70 from other members. The holder 200 is made of an insulating member such as polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polyphenylene sulfide resin (PPS), polyphenylene ether (PPE (including modified PPE)), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), tetrafluoroethylene·perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether (PFA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyether sulfone (PES), polyamide (PA), ABS resin, or a composite material thereof, or a member having heat insulating properties such as mica. All the holders 200 may be formed of members of the same material, or any one of the holders 200 may be formed of a member of a different material.

[0039] In the present embodiment, the holder 200 has a function of holding the power storage element 70 and positioning the power storage element 70. Specifically, the holder 200 includes a holder main body portion 201 arranged along the long side surface 81 of the power storage element 70, a bottom wall portion 202 arranged along the bottom surface 83 of the power storage element 70, an upper wall portion 205 arranged above (in the +Z-axis direction) the power storage element 70, and side wall portions 203 arranged along the short side surfaces 82 of the power storage element 70. The side wall portions 203 are arranged at both ends of the holder main body portion 201 in the X-axis direction.

[0040] More specifically, in the holder 210 which is an inter-cell holder, each of the bottom wall portion 202, the upper wall portion 205, and the side wall portion 203 extends from the holder main body portion 201 in the +Y-axis direction and the -Y-axis direction, respectively. Thereby, the holder 210 can hold the two power storage elements 70 arranged with the holder main body portion 201 therebetween. Similarly, the holder 220 (see FIG. 2) which is an end holder also includes the holder main body portion 201, the bottom wall portion 202, the upper wall portion 205, and the side wall portion 203. In the holder 220, the bottom wall portion 202, the upper wall portion 205, and the side wall portion 203 extend from the holder main body portion 201 in the +Y-axis direction or the -Y-axis direction. Thereby, the holder 220 can hold one power storage element 70.

[0041] The holder 200 according to the present embodiment further includes a holder shoulder portion 230 which is a portion in contact with the frame member 100. Specifically, the holder 200 includes the holder shoulder portions 230 at both ends in the X-axis direction of the upper wall portion 205. In the present embodiment, the holder shoulder portion 230 has a tapered surface 231 that faces outward as it goes downward (in the -Z-axis direction).

[0042] Each of the plurality of holders 200 included in the first power storage element row 11 is arranged continuously in the Y-axis direction as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 with the power storage element 70 sandwiched between it and an adjacent other holder 200. Thereby, a pair of holder shoulder portions 230 provided in each of the plurality of holders 200 are arranged in the Y-axis direction. As a result, in the first power storage element row 11, a first inner shoulder portion 11a and a first outer shoulder portion 11b extending in the Y-axis direction are formed (see FIG. 3). That is, each of the first inner shoulder portion 11a and the first outer shoulder portion 11b is formed by arranging the plurality of holder shoulder portions 230 in the Y-axis direction. The first inner shoulder portion 11a is a corner portion in the +X-axis direction at the upper end portion of the first power storage element row 11 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The first outer shoulder portion 11b is a corner portion in the -X-axis direction at the upper end portion of the first power storage element row 11 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0043] Similarly, the second battery element row 12 has a second inner shoulder portion 12a and a second outer shoulder portion 12b that extend in the Y-axis direction. Each of the second inner shoulder portion 12a and the second outer shoulder portion 12b is formed by arranging a plurality of holder shoulder portions 230 in the Y-axis direction. The second inner shoulder portion 12a is a corner portion in the minus X-axis direction at the upper end portion of the second battery element row 12 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The second outer shoulder portion 12b is a corner portion in the plus X-axis direction at the upper end portion of the second battery element row 12 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0044] In the present embodiment, the first inner shoulder portion 11a and the first outer shoulder portion 11b are part of the first shoulder portion that is the peripheral edge portion of the first battery element row 11 when viewed from the plus Z-axis direction. The second inner shoulder portion 12a and the second outer shoulder portion 12b are part of the second shoulder portion that is the peripheral edge portion of the second battery element row 12 when viewed from the plus Z-axis direction.

[0045] In the present embodiment, the first inner shoulder portion 11a of the first battery element row 11 and the second inner shoulder portion 12a of the second battery element row 12 are in contact with the first frame 110 included in the frame member 100 in the Z-axis direction. That is, the force applied to the first inner shoulder portion 11a and the second inner shoulder portion 12a by the first frame 110 contacting the first inner shoulder portion 11a and the second inner shoulder portion 12a includes at least a component (that is, a component force) directed in the minus Z-axis direction. As a result, the upward (plus Z-axis direction) movement of the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 is restricted, and consequently, the movement of the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis direction is restricted. The first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 are further restricted from moving in the plus Z-axis direction by the second frame 150 included in the frame member 100.

[0046] [2. Regarding the frame member 100 and its surrounding configuration] Next, regarding the frame member 100 according to the present embodiment and the configuration around it, in addition to FIGS. 1 to 4 described above, FIGS. 5 to 7 will be referred to for a detailed explanation. FIG. 5 is a plan view simply showing the layout of the frame member 100 according to the embodiment. In FIG. 5, the approximate outer shape of the case 300 is represented by a dotted line. In FIG. 5, the approximate arrangement ranges of the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 are represented by the dotted areas. This also applies to FIGS. 12 and 13 described later. Further, in FIG. 5, the arrangement ranges of one battery element 70 included in each of the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 are illustrated by dotted rectangles.

[0047] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the first frame 110 according to the embodiment. In FIG. 6, the cross-section of the first frame 110 in the XZ plane passing through the line VI-VI in FIG. 3 is simply shown. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the second frame 150 according to the embodiment. In FIG. 7, the cross-section of the second frame 150 in the XZ plane passing through the line VII-VII in FIG. 3 is simply shown.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the frame member 100 includes a first frame 110 facing the gap 15 (see FIG. 2) between the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis direction, and a pair of second frames 150 facing both end portions in the X-axis direction of the battery unit 10 in the Z-axis direction. In the present embodiment, the first frame 110 and the second frame 150 are separate bodies arranged separately from each other. The first frame 110 and the second frame 150 are members elongated in the Y-axis direction as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5.

[0049] The first frame 110 is a member that collectively restricts the movement of the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis direction. The first frame 110 includes a first frame main body 111 and a first buffer member 119. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the first frame main body 111 includes an opposing wall portion 112 that faces the partition wall portion 316 of the case 300 in the Z-axis direction, a pair of first restricting portions 114 that face the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis direction, and a connecting wall portion 115 that connects the opposing wall portion 112 and the pair of first restricting portions 114.

[0050] The opposing wall portion 112 is provided with a plurality (four in this embodiment) of through holes 113 (see FIG. 6), and bolts 50 arranged to penetrate the through holes 113 are screwed into bolt holes 61 provided in the partition wall portion 316. Thereby, the first frame 110 is fixed to the partition wall portion 316.

[0051] In a state where the first frame 110 is fixed to the partition wall portion 316, one of the pair of first restricting portions 114, the first restricting portion 114a, contacts the first inner shoulder portion 11a of the first battery element row 11 in the Z-axis direction. The other of the pair of first restricting portions 114, the first restricting portion 114b, contacts the second inner shoulder portion 12a of the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis direction. More specifically, in this embodiment, for example, the first buffer member 119 realized by sponge or rubber or the like is attached to each of the pair of first restricting portions 114 or to each of the first inner shoulder portion 11a and the second inner shoulder portion 12a via an adhesive layer or the like. Therefore, the first restricting portion 114a contacts the first inner shoulder portion 11a in the Z-axis direction via the first buffer member 119, and thereby, the first inner shoulder portion 11a can be pressed in the minus Z-axis direction. The first restricting portion 114b contacts the second inner shoulder portion 12a in the Z-axis direction via the first buffer member 119, and thereby, the second inner shoulder portion 12a can be pressed in the minus Z-axis direction.

[0052] The first frame body 111 having the above configuration is manufactured, for example, by molding resin using a mold. As the resin material used for molding the first frame body 111, for example, any of the resin materials that can be used for the above-described holder 200 is adopted. The first frame body 111 may be formed of a metal such as aluminum or iron instead of resin. In this case, in order to more surely insulate the first frame body 111 and the power storage unit 10, the first frame body 111 may be coated with resin, or an insulating member such as an insulating sheet may be disposed between the first frame body 111 and the power storage unit 10. In this case, the insulating member may function as the first buffer member 119.

[0053] Hereinafter, for simplicity of explanation, the fact that the first restricting portion 114a contacts (or presses) the first inner shoulder portion 11a via the first buffer member 119 is expressed as "the first restricting portion 114a contacts (or presses) the first inner shoulder portion 11a". The same applies to the first restricting portion 114b, and the fact that the first restricting portion 114b contacts (or presses) the second inner shoulder portion 12a via the first buffer member 119 is expressed as "the first restricting portion 114b contacts (or presses) the second inner shoulder portion 12a". These also apply to the description of the second frame 150 described later.

[0054] The first buffer member 119 does not necessarily have to be attached to each of the first restricting portion 114 or the first inner shoulder portion 11a and the second inner shoulder portion 12a. The first buffer member 119 may be disposed between the first restricting portion 114 and the first inner shoulder portion 11a. The same applies to other buffer members.

[0055] In this embodiment, more specifically, each of the first inner shoulder portion 11a and the second inner shoulder portion 12a is formed by a plurality of holder shoulder portions 230, and each of the plurality of holder shoulder portions 230 has a tapered surface 231 (see FIG. 4). Accordingly, the first inner shoulder portion 11a has a first tapered surface portion 11a1 formed by arranging a plurality of tapered surfaces 231, and the second inner shoulder portion 12a has a second tapered surface portion 12a1 formed by arranging a plurality of tapered surfaces 231. The first tapered surface portion 11a1 forms a tapered surface that faces the positive X-axis direction as it faces the negative Z-axis direction. The second tapered surface portion 12a1 forms a tapered surface that faces the negative X-axis direction as it faces the negative Z-axis direction.

[0056] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, each of the pair of first restricting portions 114 provided in the first frame body 111 forms a tapered surface parallel to the first tapered surface portion 11a1 and the second tapered surface portion 12a1. That is, the first restricting portion 114a forms a tapered surface that faces the positive X-axis direction as it faces the negative Z-axis direction. The first restricting portion 114b forms a tapered surface that faces the negative X-axis direction as it faces the negative Z-axis direction. Thus, when the first restricting portion 114a contacts the first inner shoulder portion 11a, a component force in the negative Z-axis direction and a component force in the negative X-axis direction act on the first inner shoulder portion 11a. That is, the first restricting portion 114a can push the first inner shoulder portion 11a at least in the negative Z-axis direction. The first restricting portion 114a can further push the first inner shoulder portion 11a in the negative X-axis direction. The first restricting portion 114b can push the second inner shoulder portion 12a at least in the negative Z-axis direction. The first restricting portion 114b can further push the second inner shoulder portion 12a in the positive X-axis direction.

[0057] That is, in this embodiment, the first frame 110 can restrict the movement of the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 in the positive Z-axis direction. The first frame 110 can further restrict the movement of the first battery element row 11 in the positive X-axis direction and the movement of the second battery element row 12 in the negative X-axis direction.

[0058] The first frame 110 configured as described above is arranged along the entire Y-axis direction of the first inner shoulder portion 11a of the first energy storage element row 11 and the second inner shoulder portion 12a of the second energy storage element row 12, as shown in FIG. 5. Thereby, the movement of each of the plurality of holders 200 can be restricted. However, for example, due to the tolerances of each of the plurality of holders 200, if there are differences in the positions of the plurality of holder shoulder portions 230 included in the first inner shoulder portion 11a in the Z-axis direction and / or the X-axis direction, a state may occur in which the first restricting portion 114a cannot contact one or more of the holder shoulder portions 230. In this regard, in the present embodiment, a first buffer member 119 is interposed between the first restricting portion 114a and the first inner shoulder portion 11a of the first energy storage element row 11. Thereby, the differences in the positions of the plurality of holder shoulder portions 230 are absorbed by the first buffer member 119. That is, the first restricting portion 114a can evenly hold each of the plurality of holders 200 included in the first energy storage element row 11 via the first buffer member 119. A first buffer member 119 is also disposed between the first restricting portion 114b and the second outer shoulder portion 12b of the second energy storage element row 12. Therefore, the first restricting portion 114b can evenly hold each of the plurality of holders 200 included in the second energy storage element row 12 via the first buffer member 119. As a result, the plurality of energy storage elements 70 included in the first energy storage element row 11 and the second energy storage element row 12 are restricted in their movement in at least the +Z-axis direction by the first frame 110.

[0059] The second frame 150 is a member that restricts the movement of the first energy storage element row 11 or the second energy storage element row 12. In the present embodiment, the frame member 100 includes two second frames 150. Since their structures are common, attention is paid to the second frame 150 that restricts the movement of the first energy storage element row 11 among the two second frames 150, and an explanation thereof will be given.

[0060] The second frame 150 includes a second frame body 151 and a second buffer member 159. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 7, the second frame body 151 includes a second limiting portion 154 that faces the first outer shoulder portion 11b of the first battery element row 11 in the Z-axis direction, a fixing portion 152 that is fixed to the side wall portion 312 of the case 300, and an intermediate connecting portion 155 that connects the fixing portion 152 and the second limiting portion 154. The fixing portion 152 is provided with a plurality (four in this embodiment) of through holes 153 (see FIG. 7), and bolts 50 arranged to penetrate the through holes 153 are screwed into bolt holes 62 provided in the side wall portion 312. Thereby, the second frame 150 is fixed to the side wall portion 312.

[0061] In a state where the second frame 150 is fixed to the side wall portion 312, the second limiting portion 154 contacts the first outer shoulder portion 11b of the first battery element row 11 in the Z-axis direction. More specifically, in this embodiment, for example, a second buffer member 159 realized by sponge or rubber or the like is attached to the second limiting portion 154 or the first outer shoulder portion 11b via an adhesive layer or the like. Therefore, the second limiting portion 154 contacts the first outer shoulder portion 11b in the Z-axis direction via the second buffer member 159, and thereby, the first outer shoulder portion 11b can be pressed in the negative Z-axis direction. The same applies to the second frame 150 that restricts the movement of the second battery element row 12. The second limiting portion 154 included in the second frame 150 contacts the second outer shoulder portion 12b in the Z-axis direction via the second buffer member 159, and thereby, the second outer shoulder portion 12b can be pressed in the negative Z-axis direction.

[0062] The second frame body 151 having the above configuration is manufactured, for example, by performing bending processing or the like on a metal plate formed of a metal such as aluminum or iron. In this case, in order to more surely insulate the second frame body 151 and the power storage unit 10, the second frame body 151 may be coated with resin, or an insulating member such as an insulating sheet may be disposed between the second frame body 151 and the power storage unit 10. In this case, the insulating member may function as the second buffer member 159. The second frame body 151 may be formed of a non-metallic material such as resin instead of metal.

[0063] In this embodiment, more specifically, each of the first outer shoulder portion 11b and the second outer shoulder portion 12b is formed by a plurality of holder shoulder portions 230, and each of the plurality of holder shoulder portions 230 has a tapered surface 231 (see FIG. 4). Therefore, the first outer shoulder portion 11b has a first tapered surface portion 11b1 formed by arranging a plurality of tapered surfaces 231, and the second outer shoulder portion 12b has a second tapered surface portion (not shown) formed by arranging a plurality of tapered surfaces 231. The first tapered surface portion 11b1 forms a tapered surface that faces the minus X-axis direction as it faces the minus Z-axis direction. The second tapered surface portion of the second outer shoulder portion 12b forms a tapered surface that faces the plus X-axis direction as it faces the minus Z-axis direction.

[0064] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the second restricting portion 154 provided in the second frame body 151 forms a tapered surface parallel to the first tapered surface portion 11b1. Thereby, when the second restricting portion 154 comes into contact with the first outer shoulder portion 11b, a component force in the minus Z-axis direction and a component force in the plus X-axis direction act on the first outer shoulder portion 11b. That is, the second restricting portion 154 can push the first outer shoulder portion 11b at least in the minus Z-axis direction. The second restricting portion 154 can further push the first outer shoulder portion 11b in the plus X-axis direction. The same applies to the second frame 150 that restricts the movement of the second battery element row 12. That is, the second restricting portion 154 provided in the second frame 150 can push the second outer shoulder portion 12b at least in the minus Z-axis direction. The second restricting portion 154 can further push the second outer shoulder portion 12b in the minus X-axis direction.

[0065] In this embodiment, a second buffer member 159 is interposed between the second restricting portion 154 and the first outer shoulder portion 11b. Thereby, the second restricting portion 154 can evenly hold each of the plurality of holders 200 included in the first battery element row 11 via the second buffer member 159. The same applies to the second frame 150 that restricts the movement of the second battery element row 12. That is, the second restricting portion 154 provided in the second frame 150 can evenly hold each of the plurality of holders 200 included in the second battery element row 12 via the second buffer member 159.

[0066] As described above, in this embodiment, each of the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 is in contact with the first frame 110 and the second frame 150 in the Z-axis direction, so that the movement in the +Z-axis direction is restricted. Further, due to the contact between the first frame 110 and the first battery element row 11, a force in the -X-axis direction acts on the first battery element row 11, and due to the contact between the second frame 150 and the first battery element row 11, a force in the +X-axis direction acts on the first battery element row 11. Therefore, the movement of the first battery element row 11 in one side and the other side in the X-axis direction is further restricted by the first frame 110 and the second frame 150. The same applies to the second battery element row 12. That is, due to the contact between the first frame 110 and the second battery element row 12, a force in the +X-axis direction acts on the second battery element row 12, and due to the contact between the second frame 150 and the second battery element row 12, a force in the -X-axis direction acts on the second battery element row 12. Therefore, the movement of the first battery element row 12 in one side and the other side in the X-axis direction is further restricted by the first frame 110 and the second frame 150.

[0067] As described above, the power storage device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a power storage unit 10 including a first power storage element row 11 and a second power storage element row 12 arranged in a first direction (X-axis direction in the present embodiment), a case 300 that houses the power storage unit 10, and a frame member 100 that is separate from the case 300. Each of the first power storage element row 11 and the second power storage element row 12 includes a plurality of power storage elements 70 arranged in a second direction (Y-axis direction in the present embodiment) orthogonal to the X-axis direction. The case 300 is an opening 310 provided on one side in a third direction (Z-axis direction in the present embodiment) orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, and includes the opening 310 in which the frame member 100 is arranged. A gap 15 is formed between the first power storage element row 11 and the second power storage element row 12 in the power storage unit 10. The frame member 100 includes a first frame 110 extending in the Y-axis direction. The first frame 110 faces the gap 15 in the Z-axis direction, is in contact with the first power storage element row 11 and the second power storage element row 12 in the Z-axis direction, and is fixed to the case 300.

[0068] According to this configuration, for example, when the case 300 is arranged such that the opening 310 faces upward, the upper ends of the two power storage element rows (the meaning of "the first power storage element row 11 and the second power storage element row 12", the same hereinafter) housed in the case 300 are contacted by the first frame 110 of the frame member 100 from above. Therefore, the two power storage element rows are sandwiched between the bottom wall portion 315 of the case 300 and the first frame 110, and as a result, the movement of the two power storage element rows in the Z-axis direction is restricted. Thereby, the resistance of the power storage device 1 to vibration or impact is improved.

[0069] In the present embodiment, the first frame 110 is arranged to contact substantially the entire region in the Y-axis direction of the first power storage element row 11 and the second power storage element row 12, but this is not essential. For example, when it is desired to suppress the movement in the Z-axis direction of the central portion in the Y-axis direction of the first power storage element row 11 and the second power storage element row 12, the first frame 110 only needs to be in contact with at least the central portion.

[0070] In the present embodiment, the first frame 110 includes a first buffer member 119 disposed between the first frame body 111 and each of the two battery element arrays. That is, the first buffer member 119 is provided as a member that directly contacts the two battery element arrays. Therefore, even if each of the two battery element arrays is long in the Y-axis direction, it is difficult for a non-contact portion to occur between the first frame 110 and each of the two battery element arrays. As a result, the first frame 110 and each of the two battery element arrays can be pressed in a well-balanced manner in the Y-axis direction. As a result, the movement of the two battery element arrays in the Z-axis direction is more reliably restricted.

[0071] In the present embodiment, a first restricting portion 114a, which is a portion of the first frame 110 that faces the first battery element array 11 in the Z-axis direction, has a tapered surface. The tapered surface is formed so as to face the +X-axis direction (that is, the direction approaching the second battery element array 12 in the X-axis direction) as it goes in the -Z-axis direction. As a result, the first restricting portion 114a can hold the first battery element array 11 in the -Z-axis direction and also hold the first battery element array 11 in the -X-axis direction. That is, the first frame 110 can also restrict the movement of the first battery element array 11 in the X-axis direction. The same applies to the first restricting portion 114b, which is a portion of the first frame 110 that faces the second battery element array 12 in the Z-axis direction. That is, the first restricting portion 114b has a tapered surface formed so as to face the -X-axis direction (that is, the direction approaching the first battery element array 11 in the X-axis direction) as it goes in the -Z-axis direction. As a result, not only the movement of the second battery element array 12 in the Z-axis direction but also the movement of the second battery element array 12 in the X-axis direction can be restricted.

[0072] In the present embodiment, the case 300 is inserted into the gap 15 between the first battery element array 11 and the second battery element array 12 and includes a partition wall portion 316 that extends in the Y-axis direction. The first frame 110 is fixed to the partition wall portion 316.

[0073] In this way, by fixing the first frame 110 to the partition wall portion 316 extending in the Y-axis direction, deformation of the first frame 110 in the Z-axis direction and the like are restricted in a wide range in the Y-axis direction. As a result, the movement of the two battery element arrays in the Z-axis direction is more reliably restricted.

[0074] In the present embodiment, when viewed from the Z-axis direction, as shown in FIG. 5, the first frame 110 is disposed at a position overlapping with the first battery element array 11 and the second battery element array 12 in the Z-axis direction. More specifically, when viewed from the Z-axis direction, the first frame 110 (i) overlaps with one or more of the plurality of battery elements 70 included in the first battery element array 11, and (ii) overlaps with one or more of the plurality of battery elements 70 included in the second battery element array 12.

[0075] In this way, when the first frame 110 is located on one side (the Z-axis positive direction in the present embodiment) in the Z-axis direction of one or more of the battery elements 70 of each of the first battery element array 11 and the second battery element array 12, the movement of the two battery element arrays in the Z-axis direction can be restricted more stably.

[0076] The first frame 110 may restrict the movement of one or more battery elements 70 held by the holder 200 in the Z-axis positive direction by overlapping only with the holder 200 in the Z-axis direction. However, when the portion of the first frame 110 that pushes the holder 200 in the Z-axis negative direction is arranged to overlap with the one or more battery elements 70 in the Z-axis direction, the force with which the first frame 110 pushes the holder 200 easily acts on the one or more battery elements 70. Therefore, the movement of the one or more battery elements 70 in the Z-axis positive direction can be restricted more stably.

[0077] In this embodiment, the frame member 100 further includes a second frame 150 extending in the Y-axis direction. The second frame 150 is fixed to the case 300. The first battery element row 11 includes a first inner shoulder portion 11a on one side in the X-axis direction and a first outer shoulder portion 11b on the other side in the X-axis direction. The second battery element row 12 includes a second outer shoulder portion 12b on one side in the X-axis direction and a second inner shoulder portion 12a on the other side in the X-axis direction. The first frame 110 is in contact with the first inner shoulder portion 11a and the second inner shoulder portion 12a in the Z-axis direction. The second frame 150 is in contact with the first outer shoulder portion 11b or the second outer shoulder portion 12b in the Z-axis direction. In this embodiment, one side in the X-axis direction is the X-axis positive direction, and the other side in the X-axis direction is the X-axis negative direction.

[0078] According to this configuration, for one of the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12, both shoulders in the X-axis direction are in contact with the two frames (the first frame 110 and the second frame 150) in the Z-axis direction. Thereby, the movement of the corresponding one of the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis direction is more reliably restricted. In this embodiment, the frame member 100 includes two second frames 150. One of the two second frames 150 is in contact with the first outer shoulder portion 11b in the Z-axis direction, and the other of the two second frames 150 is in contact with the second outer shoulder portion 12b in the Z-axis direction. Therefore, the movement of each of the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis direction is more reliably restricted.

[0079] As described above, the power storage device 1 according to the embodiment has been mainly described centering on the frame member 100 and the configurations related thereto. However, the frame member 100 and the configurations related thereto may be configurations different from those shown in FIGS. 1 to 7. Therefore, hereinafter, a modification example of the frame member 100 and the configurations related thereto will be described centering on the differences from the above embodiment.

[0080] [3-1. Modification Example 1] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the second frame 150a according to Modification 1 of the embodiment. The position of the cross-section in FIG. 8 corresponds to the position of the cross-section in FIG. 7. The frame member 100a according to this modification includes a first frame 110 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) and a second frame 150a.

[0081] The second frame 150a contacts the first outer shoulder portion 11b in the Z-axis direction, similar to the second frame 150 according to the embodiment. More specifically, the second frame 150a includes a second frame body 151a and a second buffer member 159. The second frame body 151a includes a fixing portion 152, an intermediate connecting portion 155, and a second restricting portion 154. A plurality of through holes 153 are provided in the fixing portion 152, and the second frame 150a is fixed to the side wall portion 312 by bolts 50 arranged to penetrate the through holes 153. A second buffer member 159 is disposed between the second restricting portion 154 and the first outer shoulder portion 11b of the first battery element row 11. That is, the second restricting portion 154 can press the first outer shoulder portion 11b in the negative Z-axis direction via the second buffer member 159. These configurations are common to the second frame 150 according to the embodiment.

[0082] In this modification, the second restricting portion 154 included in the second frame 150a is formed in a posture parallel to the XY plane, which is different from the second frame 150 according to the embodiment in this regard. Even in this case, the second frame 150a can restrict the movement of the first battery element row 11 in the positive Z-axis direction. In this modification, the first outer shoulder portion 11b of the first battery element row 11 does not have the first tapered surface portion 11b1, unlike the first outer shoulder portion 11b according to the embodiment, and the first outer shoulder portion 11b is formed by a substantially right-angled corner when viewed from the Y-axis direction. In this case, in the second frame 150a, the fact that the second restricting portion 154 has a surface parallel to the XY plane as the surface facing the first outer shoulder portion 11b in the Z-axis direction is advantageous from the viewpoint of more reliably restricting the movement of the first battery element row 11 in the positive Z-axis direction.

[0083] When the second restricting portion 154 has a surface parallel to the XY plane as the surface facing the first outer shoulder portion 11b in the Z-axis direction, the first outer shoulder portion 11b may have the first tapered surface portion 11b1. Even in this case, the second buffer member 159 or the insulating member or the like disposed between the second restricting portion 154 and the first outer shoulder portion 11b has a tapered surface along the first tapered surface portion 11b1, so that the force from the second restricting portion 154 can be efficiently transmitted to the first outer shoulder portion 11b.

[0084] The matters regarding the posture or shape of the second restricting portion 154 described above may be applied to the first frame 110. For example, the first frame 110 may have a surface parallel to the XY plane as the surface facing the first inner shoulder portion 11a in the Z-axis direction.

[0085] [3-2. Modification 2] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a frame member 100b according to Modification 2 of the embodiment. The frame member 100b according to this modification includes a first frame 110b extending in the Y-axis direction. The first frame 110b, similar to the first frame 110 according to the embodiment, faces the gap 15 (see FIG. 2) in the Z-axis direction, is in contact with the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis direction, and is fixed to the case 300. Specifically, the first frame 110b is fixed to a partition wall portion 316 provided in the case 300 by a plurality of bolts 50.

[0086] In this modification, the frame member 100b further includes a third frame 170b extending in the X-axis direction, which is different from the frame member 100 according to the embodiment in this regard. The third frame 170b is connected to the first frame 110b and contacts the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis direction at any position in the Y-axis direction of the power storage unit 10. More specifically, in the present embodiment, third frames 170b extending in the X-axis direction are connected to both ends in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) of the first frame 110b. That is, in this modification, one of the two third frames 170b contacts the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis direction at the end in the positive Y-axis direction of the power storage unit 10. The other of the two third frames 170b contacts the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis direction at the end in the negative Y-axis direction of the power storage unit 10. Each of the two third frames 170b is fixed to the case 300 by screwing each of a plurality of bolts 50 into bolt holes 63 provided in the end wall portion 313.

[0087] According to this configuration, the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 contact a single first frame 110b facing the gap 15 in the Z-axis direction, and further, each of the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 contacts the third frame 170b in the Z-axis direction at any position in the Y-axis direction. As a result, the movement of the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis direction is more reliably restricted by the frame member 100b.

[0088] The frame member 100b according to this modification may further include a second frame 150 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) that contacts the first outer shoulder portion 11b or the second outer shoulder portion 12b (see FIG. 5) in the Z-axis direction in addition to the first frame 110b and the third frame 170b. The frame member including the first to third frames will be described later as Modification 4.

[0089] The first frame 110b according to this modification may have the same structure as the first frame 110 (see FIGS. 3 and 6) according to the embodiment.

[0090] In the example shown in FIG. 9, the frame member 100b integrally includes the first frame 110b and the third frame 170b. However, the first frame 110b and the third frame 170b may be separate members connected by a predetermined method. In this case, as the predetermined method, welding, caulking, fitting, or coupling using bolts and nuts may be employed.

[0091] The frame member 100b may include the first frame 110b and the third frame 170b in a state separated from each other. Even in this case, since each of the first frame 110b and the third frame 170b is fixed to the case 300, the effect of restricting the movement of the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis direction is achieved.

[0092] There is no particular limitation on the number of the third frames 170b included in the frame member 100b. In addition to the two third frames 170b shown in FIG. 9, the frame member 100b may include one or more third frames 170b between the two third frames 170b. The frame member 100b may include only one of the two third frames 170b shown in FIG. 9.

[0093] The supplementary matters regarding the frame member 100b according to the present modification example may be appropriately applied to each of the frame members 100c to 100e according to the following modification examples 3 to 5.

[0094] [3-3. Modification Example 3] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a partial configuration of a frame member 100c according to Modification Example 3 of the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the third frame 170c according to Modification Example 3 of the embodiment. In FIG. 11, the cross-sections of the third frame 170c and the case 300 in the YZ plane passing through the line XI-XI of FIG. 10 are schematically shown.

[0095] The frame member 100c according to this modification includes a first frame 110c extending in the Y-axis direction and a third frame 170c connected to the first frame 110c and extending in the X-axis direction. The first frame 110c faces the gap 15 (see FIG. 2) in the Z-axis direction, is in contact with the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis direction, and is fixed to the case 300. The third frame 170c is in contact with the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis direction at the Y-axis end of the power storage unit 10. These configurations are common to the frame member 100b according to Modification 2.

[0096] In this modification, a part of the third frame 170c is hooked on the case 300, so that the third frame 170c is fixed to the case 300, which is different from the frame member 100b according to Modification 2 in this regard. Specifically, in this modification, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the case 300 includes an end wall portion 313 that is a wall portion at the end in the Y-axis direction. The end wall portion 313 includes a connecting portion 319 provided on the inner surface 313c facing the power storage unit 10, and the connecting portion 319 on which a part of the third frame 170c is hooked in the Z-axis direction.

[0097] More specifically, in this modification, the third frame 170c includes a pair of arm portions 175 extending in the minus Z-axis direction and claw portions 176 protruding from the respective arm portions 175 toward the end wall portion 313. When the third frame 170c is disposed in the opening 310 (see FIG. 2) of the case 300, the pair of arm portions 175 are inserted into the gap between the power storage unit 10 and the end wall portion 313. Thereby, the claw portions 176 provided on each of the pair of arm portions 175 are hooked on the connecting portion 319 corresponding to the claw portions 176. Thereby, the third frame 170c is fixed to the case 300. In this modification, the claw portion 176 is insertable, and a concave portion having an inner surface located in the plus Z-axis direction of the claw portion 176 is provided on the end wall portion 313 as the connecting portion 319.

[0098] According to this configuration, since a part of the third frame 170c is hooked in the Z-axis direction to the connection portion 319 of the end wall portion 313, the third frame 170c can be easily connected to the end wall portion 313 of the case 300, and removal of the third frame 170c in one direction in the Z-axis direction (the Z-axis positive direction in this modification) is suppressed.

[0099] In this modification, the end wall portion 313 or the holder 220 facing the end wall portion 313 in the Y-axis direction may be provided with a groove extending in the Z-axis direction for facilitating insertion of the arm portion 175 or for guiding the claw portion 176 to the connection portion 319. In this modification, the end wall portion 313 may have a claw portion, and a part of the third frame 170c may be provided with a connection portion on which the claw portion is hooked in the Z-axis direction.

[0100] In this modification, the third frame 170c may not be in contact with the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis direction. That is, the third frame 170c may not have a function of restricting the movement of the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis positive direction. Even in this case, since the case 300 is provided with the connection portion 319 on which a part of the third frame 170c is hooked in the Z-axis direction, the third frame 170c can be used as a means for easily fixing the end portion of the first frame 110c in the Y-axis direction to the case 300.

[0101] [3-4. Modification 4] FIG. 12 is a plan view simply showing the layout of the frame member 100d according to Modification 4 of the embodiment. In FIG. 12, the illustration of the case 300 is omitted. The frame member 100d according to this modification is arranged at the opening 310 (see FIG. 2) of the case 300, similar to the frame member 100 according to the embodiment, and is a member that restricts the movement of the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis direction.

[0102] The frame member 100d according to this modification includes a first frame 110d, a second frame 150d, and a third frame 170d, and in this regard, it is different from the frame member 100 according to the embodiment. Specifically, the first frame 110d extends in the Y-axis direction and contacts the first power storage element row 11 and the second power storage element row 12 in the Z-axis direction. Each of the two second frames 150d extends in the Y-axis direction and contacts the first power storage element row 11 or the second power storage element row 12 in the Z-axis direction. The third frame 170d extends in the X-axis direction and contacts the first power storage element row 11 and the second power storage element row 12 in the Z-axis direction at any position in the Y-axis direction of the power storage unit 10. In this modification, third frames 170d extending in the X-axis direction are connected to both ends in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) of the first frame 110d.

[0103] According to this configuration, as shown in FIG. 12, in a plan view, the entire or almost the entire peripheral portions of the first power storage element row 11 and the second power storage element row 12 can be covered with the frame member 100d. As a result, the movement of the first power storage element row 11 and the second power storage element row 12 in the Z-axis direction is more reliably restricted.

[0104] In this modification, the third frame 170d is connected to the first frame 110d and the two second frames 150d, but this is not essential. For example, the third frame 170d may be connected to the two second frames 150d and not connected to the first frame 110d. The third frame 170d may be arranged at the opening 310 of the case 300 as a separate body separated from the first frame 110d and the two second frames 150d.

[0105] [3-5. Modification 5] FIG. 13 is a plan view simply showing the layout of the frame member 100e according to Modification 5 of the embodiment. In FIG. 13, the illustration of the case 300 is omitted. The frame member 100e according to this modification is, like the frame member 100 according to the embodiment, a member that is disposed at the opening 310 (see FIG. 2) of the case 300 and restricts the movement of the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 in the +Z-axis direction.

[0106] The frame member 100e according to this modification includes a first frame 110e and a third frame 170e, and in this respect, is common to Modifications 2 and 3. The frame member 100e according to this modification has a third frame 170e extending in the X-axis direction connected to an intermediate portion between both ends in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) of the first frame 110e, and in this respect, is different from the frame members 100b and 100c according to Modifications 2 and 3. The end portions of the first frame 110e in the Y-axis direction are, for example, in a range of 10% of the total length from the edge of the first frame 110e in the Y-axis direction. In this case, the intermediate portion of the first frame 110e in the Y-axis direction is a range including the central position in the Y-axis direction and is a range of 80% of the total length excluding both end portions of the first frame 110e.

[0107] According to this configuration, the third frame 170e can restrict the movement of the power storage unit 10 in the +Z-axis direction at portions other than both end portions of the power storage unit 10 in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, the third frame 170e is effective in suppressing the bending of the power storage unit 10 (that is, the movement upward in the +Z-axis direction of the intermediate portion), which is likely to occur, for example, when the length of the power storage unit 10 in the Y-axis direction is relatively long.

[0108] The frame member 100e according to this modification may further include a third frame 170b or 170c (see FIGS. 9 and 10) connected to the end portions of the first frame 110e in the Y-axis direction. The frame member 100e according to this modification may further include a second frame 150 or 150a (see FIGS. 7 and 8) extending in the Y-axis direction and contacting the first battery element row 11 or the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis direction.

[0109] [3-6. Modification Example 6] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of the frame member 100f according to Modification Example 6 of the embodiment. In FIG. 14, the boundary between the cover portion 390 and the first frame 110f and the second frame 150f is represented by a dotted line.

[0110] The frame member 100f according to this modification example includes a first frame 110f and a second frame 150f. The first frame 110f faces the gap 15 (see FIG. 2) in the Z-axis direction, is in contact with the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis direction, and is fixed to the case 300. The frame member 100f according to this modification example includes two second frames 150f. One of the two second frames 150f is in contact with the first battery element row 11 in the Z-axis direction, and the other of the two second frames 150f is in contact with the second battery element row 12 in the Z-axis direction. These configurations are common to the frame member 100 according to the embodiment.

[0111] In this modification example, a cover portion 390 that covers the opening 310 of the case 300 is provided integrally with the frame member 100f. That is, the frame member 100f according to this modification example includes, in addition to the first frame 110f and the second frame 150f, a cover portion 390 that covers the opening 310 of the case 300. In this regard, it is different from the frame member 100 according to the embodiment.

[0112] That is, in this modification example, by fixing the cover portion 390 that covers the opening 310 of the case 300 to the case 300, the first frame 110f that presses the first battery element row 11 and the second battery element row 12 together in the +Z-axis direction is disposed on the case 300. Further, two second frames 150f that press the first outer shoulder portion 11b and the second outer shoulder portion 12b (see FIG. 5) in the +Z-axis direction are disposed on the case 300. Thereby, the manufacturing efficiency of the power storage device 1 with improved resistance to vibration or impact is improved. In this modification example, since the first frame 110f, the two second frames 150f, and the cover portion 390 can be treated as a single member (component), the number of components required for manufacturing the power storage device 1 is reduced.

[0113] It is not essential that the first frame 110f, the two second frames 150f, and the cover portion 390 are all integrated. For example, the first frame 110f and the two second frames 150f may be connected to one surface on one side in the thickness direction of the flat plate-shaped cover portion 390 by a predetermined means such as welding, fitting, caulking, or connection using bolts and nuts.

[0114] In this modification, the second frame 150f is fixed to the inner surface of the side wall portion 312 of the case 300 by an adhesive. This is not essential, and the second frame 150f may be fixed to the side wall portion 312 of the case 300 by a plurality of bolts 50, similar to the second frame 150 (see FIGS. 2 and 7) according to the embodiment.

[0115] [4. Other Modifications] As described above, the power storage device 1 according to the embodiment and its modifications of the present invention has been described, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and modifications. The embodiments and modifications disclosed this time are illustrative in all respects, and the scope of the present invention includes all changes within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0116] In the above embodiment, the frame member 100 includes the first frame 110 and the two second frames 150, but the frame member 100 may not include the two second frames 150. The frame member 100 only needs to include at least the first frame 110. By including the first frame 110, the frame member 100 can restrict the movement of both the first power storage element row 11 and the second power storage element row 12 in the +Z-axis direction.

[0117] The first frame 110 may not be provided with the first buffer member 119. For example, assume a case where the first limiting portion 114, which is the portion of the first frame 110 that contacts the power storage unit 10, is formed of a highly flexible resin such as rubber. In this case, the first limiting portion 114 can contact the plurality of holder shoulders 230 while deforming to absorb the difference in the Z-axis direction positions of the plurality of holder shoulders 230 arranged in the Y-axis direction.

[0118] The first frame 110 may not be fixed to the partition wall portion 316 of the case 300. For example, when the case 300 does not have the partition wall portion 316, the first frame 110 may be fixed to the end wall portions 313 at both ends in the Y-axis direction by bolts 50 or the like. In this case, by providing a convex portion (rib) extending in the Y-axis direction on the first frame 110 or the like, the second moment of inertia of the cross-section of the first frame 110 can be increased, and thereby the first frame 110 can be made difficult to bend. By connecting the third frame 170e (see FIG. 13) to the middle portion of the first frame 110 in the Y-axis direction, the third frame 170e may be given the role of suppressing the bending of the first frame 110.

[0119] In a case where the thickness of the side wall portion 312 of the case 300 is relatively small, etc., the bolt hole 62 (see FIG. 2) may not be provided on the upper end surface of the side wall portion 312. For example, a protruding portion protruding outward may be provided at the upper end portion of the wall portion, and a bolt hole may be provided in the protruding portion. In this case, the bolt 50 and the nut arranged to penetrate the bolt hole may be coupled.

[0120] It is not essential to use the bolt 50 to fix the frame member 100 to the case 300. For example, the frame member 100 may be fixed to the case 300 by welding, soldering, fitting, caulking, or adhesion.

[0121] Materials other than sponge and rubber may be adopted as the materials of the first buffer member 119 and the second buffer member 159 respectively. The first buffer member 119 may be formed of a material having a lower rigidity than the material forming the portion (holder 200 in the present embodiment) in the power storage unit 10 with which the first buffer member 119 comes into contact. The same applies to the second buffer member 159.

[0122] Each of the first power storage element row 11 and the second power storage element row 12 may not include a plurality of holders 200. Each of the first power storage element row 11 and the second power storage element row 12 may be provided with a spacer that does not have the function of holding the power storage element 70 in place of the holder 200. For example, when each of the plurality of power storage elements 70 is provided with an insulating member such as an insulating film covering the outer surface, each of the first power storage element row 11 and the second power storage element row 12 may be formed only by the plurality of power storage elements 70. In this case, at the end portions of the containers 71 of each of the plurality of power storage elements 70 in the +Z-axis direction and at the corner portions at both end portions in the X-axis direction, the inner shoulder portions and the outer shoulder portions of each of the first power storage element row 11 and the second power storage element row 12 may be formed by arranging them in the Y-axis direction.

[0123] The power storage unit 10 may include a restraining member that restrains each of the first power storage element row 11 and the second power storage element row 12 in the Y-axis direction. Even when each of the first power storage element row 11 and the second power storage element row 12 is restrained by the restraining member, the frame member 100 can limit the movement of the first power storage element row 11 and the second power storage element row 12 in the +Z-axis direction.

[0124] Each of the supplementary matters regarding the frame member 100 according to the above embodiment may be appropriately applied to each of the frame members 100a to 100f according to Modifications 1 to 6. A form constructed by arbitrarily combining the components provided in the above embodiment and its modifications is also included within the scope of the present invention.

Industrial Applicability

[0125] The present invention can be applied to a power storage device including a power storage element such as a lithium ion secondary battery.

Description of Symbols

[0126] 1 Power storage device 10 Power storage unit 11 First power storage element row 11a First inner shoulder part 11b First outer shoulder part 12 Second power storage element row 12a Second inner shoulder part 12b Second outer shoulder part 15 Gap 50 Bolt 61, 62, 63 Bolt holes 70 Power storage element 100, 100a, 100b, 100c, 100d, 100e, 100f Frame members 110, 110b, 110c, 110d, 110e, 110f First frame 111 First frame body 112 Opposing wall part 114, 114a, 114b First restricting part 119 First buffer member 150, 150a, 150d, 150f Second frame 151, 151a Second frame body 154 Second restricting part 159 Second buffer member 170, 170b, 170c, 170d, 170e Third frame 175 Arm part 176 Claw part 200, 210, 220 Holder 230 Holder shoulder part 300 Case 310 Opening 310a First opening 310b Second opening 312 Side wall part 313 End wall part 313c Inner surface 315 Bottom wall part 316 Partition wall part 319 Connection part 390 Cover part

Claims

1. A power storage unit including a first power storage element row and a second power storage element row arranged in a first direction, a case for housing the power storage unit, and a frame member separate from the case, wherein each of the first power storage element row and the second power storage element row includes a plurality of power storage elements arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the case is an opening provided on one side in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, and includes an opening where the frame member is disposed, a gap is formed between the first power storage element row and the second power storage element row in the power storage unit, the frame member includes a first frame extending in the second direction, the first frame faces the gap in the third direction, contacts the first power storage element row and the second power storage element row in the third direction, and is fixed to the case, a power storage device.

2. The case includes a partition wall portion inserted into the gap and extending in the second direction, and the first frame is fixed to the partition wall portion. The power storage device according to Claim 1.

3. When viewed in the third direction, the first frame (i) overlaps with one or more power storage elements among the plurality of power storage elements included in the first power storage element row, and (ii) overlaps with one or more power storage elements among the plurality of power storage elements included in the second power storage element row. The power storage device according to Claim 1 or 2.

4. The frame member further includes a second frame extending in the second direction, the second frame is fixed to the case, the first power storage element row includes a first inner shoulder portion on one side in the first direction and a first outer shoulder portion on the other side in the first direction, the second power storage element row includes a second outer shoulder portion on one side in the first direction and a second inner shoulder portion on the other side in the first direction, the first frame contacts the first inner shoulder portion and the second inner shoulder portion in the third direction, the second frame contacts the first outer shoulder portion or the second outer shoulder portion in the third direction. The power storage device according to Claim 1 or 2.

5. The frame member further includes a third frame extending in the first direction, the third frame is connected to the first frame, and contacts the first power storage element row and the second power storage element row in the third direction at any position in the second direction of the power storage unit. The power storage device according to Claim 1 or 2.

6. The third frame contacts the first battery element row and the second battery element row in the third direction at an end portion of the power storage unit in the second direction. The case includes an end wall portion which is a wall portion at an end in the second direction. The end wall portion includes a connection portion provided on an inner surface facing the power storage unit, and the connection portion is configured such that a part of the third frame is hooked in the third direction. The power storage device according to claim 5.

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