Terminal member, terminal connection plate, and battery module

Abstract

To provide a terminal member attachable to a battery, a terminal connection plate connecting a plurality of batteries in parallel, and a battery module.SOLUTION: A terminal member according to an embodiment of the present invention integrally includes: a terminal facing part disposed to face an electrode terminal of a battery; a plurality of radial arm parts extending radially outward from the terminal facing part; and a plurality of attachment arm parts extending from a radially outer end part of the radial arm parts toward an opposite side in a longitudinal direction of the battery. The terminal facing part has a contact region in contact with the electrode terminal and a convex region located radially inward of the contact region. The radial arm part is configured to be in an elastically deformed state in which an elastic force for pressing the contact region against the electrode terminal is generated, the attachment arm part is configured to be in the elastically deformed state in which an elastic force for narrowing an outer peripheral surface of the battery is generated, and the elastic force generated by the elastic deformation of the attachment arm part is large enough to hold the radial arm part in the elastically deformed state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a terminal member to be attached to a battery, a terminal connection plate for electrically connecting a plurality of batteries, and a battery module in which a plurality of batteries are connected in parallel and in series. [Background technology]

[0002] There is an increasing demand for reusable secondary batteries such as lithium-ion and nickel-cadmium batteries. When used as a power source for driving motors in automobiles or as a power source for home or industrial use, it is necessary to obtain the desired power for each application, and battery modules consisting of multiple secondary batteries connected in parallel and in series have been proposed (see Patent Document 1 below).

[0003] The battery module described in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of batteries each having a positive terminal and a negative terminal on a first end face on one side in the longitudinal direction, the first end faces of the batteries being arranged side by side on the same side, and a conductive member arranged above the first end faces of the plurality of batteries.

[0004] The plurality of batteries includes first to n-th columns. The conductive member is divided into a plurality of sections, and one section is configured to be electrically connected to all the negative electrode terminals of the batteries in the first row and all the negative electrode terminals of the batteries in the second row adjacent to the first row, and to all the positive electrode terminals of the batteries in the third row adjacent to the second row and all the positive electrode terminals of the batteries in the fourth row adjacent to the third row. In other words, one section connects in series the negative electrode terminals of all the batteries in the first and second rows and the positive electrode terminals of all the batteries in the third and fourth rows.

[0005] The battery module described in Patent Document 1 is useful for batteries having a positive terminal and a negative terminal on a first end face on one side in the longitudinal direction, but is not applicable to batteries having first and second electrode terminals on the first end face on one side in the longitudinal direction and the second end face on the other side, respectively. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2019 / 058938 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional technology, and aims to provide a terminal member that can be attached to a battery having first and second electrode terminals on one and the other longitudinal sides, respectively; a terminal connection plate that can effectively realize an electrical parallel connection state between corresponding electrodes of multiple batteries; and a battery module that can effectively realize an electrical parallel connection state and a series connection state between multiple batteries. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a conductive terminal member detachable from a battery having first and second electrode terminals provided on end faces on one and the other sides in the longitudinal direction, the terminal member integrally comprising: a terminal facing portion disposed to face the electrode terminal on the mounting end face to which the terminal member is attached; a plurality of radial arm portions extending radially outward from the terminal facing portion, with radially outer end portions located radially outward from the mounting end face; and a plurality of mounting arm portions extending from the radially outer end portions of the plurality of radial arm portions toward an end face opposite the mounting end face, the terminal facing portion being disposed to face the electrode terminal on the mounting end face. a contact area where the plurality of radial arm portions abut and are connected to each other, and a convex area located radially inward from the contact area and protruding outward so as to be spaced away from the mounting end face, wherein the radial arm portions are configured to be able to assume an elastically deformed state in which they generate an elastic force that presses the contact area against the electrode terminal, and the plurality of mounting arm portions are configured to be able to assume an elastically deformed state in which they generate an elastic force that compresses the outer peripheral surface of the battery, and the elastic force generated by the elastic deformation of the plurality of mounting arm portions is of a magnitude that is able to maintain the radial arm portions in an elastically deformed state.

[0009] Preferably, the plurality of radial arm portions are three or six and are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction with the terminal opposing portion as a reference.

[0010] In one embodiment, the radial arm portion is configured to include a radially inner region that is inclined away from the mounting end face as it extends radially outward from the contact region, and a radially outer region that extends radially outward from the radially inner region and is connected to the corresponding mounting arm portion.

[0011] Preferably, the radially outer region is inclined relative to the radially inner region in a direction approaching the mounting end surface.

[0012] The mounting arm portion has a base end portion that serves as a connection portion with the radial arm portion, and a tip portion that is located midway between the mounting end face where the terminal member is mounted and the opposite end face in the longitudinal direction of the battery.

[0013] In one embodiment, the mounting arm portion is configured so that the base end is located radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the battery, and at least a portion between the base end and the tip end is located radially inward from the outer peripheral surface of the battery in the initial state, but can be located radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the battery in the elastically deformed state.

[0014] Preferably, the mounting arm portion may include a base end region extending from the base end toward the opposite end face, an inclined region approaching the outer peripheral surface of the battery as it approaches the opposite end face from the tip of the base end region, and a tip region extending from the inclined region toward the opposite end face and abutting the outer peripheral surface of the battery.

[0015] The present invention also provides a battery box having a storage space defined by an X direction and a Y direction orthogonal to each other in a plan view and having a predetermined depth in a Z direction orthogonal to both the X direction and the Y direction; a plurality of batteries each having first and second electrode terminals provided on a first end face on one side in a longitudinal direction and a second end face on the other side, the plurality of batteries being stored in the battery box with the first end face facing a first X direction on one side in the X direction; a plurality of terminal members according to any one of claims 1 to 6 attached to the first and second end faces of the plurality of batteries; and a plurality of conductive plates stored in the battery box so as to be movable in the X direction but immovable in the Y direction, the plurality of batteries being partitioned into a plurality of battery groups arranged in series along the X direction with each being movable in the X direction but immovable in the Y direction, the plurality of battery groups including one or more first array battery groups and one or more second array battery groups, the first and second array battery groups being alternately arranged in the X direction, the second battery group includes the first battery row and the second battery row, the second battery group including the first battery row and the second battery row, the second battery group including the second battery row and the second battery row, the second battery group including the first battery row and the second battery row, the second battery group including the second battery row and the first battery row, the second battery group including the first battery row and the second battery row, the second battery group being arranged in the second row and the first battery row being arranged in the Z direction, and the plurality of conductive plates including: a base-side conductive plate arranged on the other side in the X direction of a base-side battery group that is located furthest on the other side in the X direction among the plurality of battery groups; an intermediate conductive plate arranged between adjacent battery groups in the X direction; and a tip-side conductive plate arranged on one side in the X direction of a tip-side battery group that is located furthest on one side in the X direction among the plurality of battery groups.

[0016] The present invention also provides a conductive terminal connection plate that electrically connects identical electrode terminals of multiple batteries in a battery group including: a battery example in which multiple batteries, each having first and second electrode terminals provided on one end face and the other end face in the longitudinal direction, are arranged in parallel in the width direction of the batteries with the electrode terminals oriented in the same direction; and another battery row placed on top of the first battery row with the electrode terminals oriented in the same direction as the batteries in the first battery row. The terminal connection plate has: a terminal facing portion group including a plurality of terminal facing portions that are arranged opposite corresponding electrode terminals of the multiple batteries in the battery group; a frame that surrounds the terminal facing portion group in a front view along the longitudinal direction of the batteries; and a connector that connects the multiple terminal facing portions to each other and connects the terminal facing portion group to the frame.

[0017] The terminal opposing portion has a contact area that abuts the corresponding electrode terminal and a convex area that is located radially inward from the contact area and protrudes outward so as to be away from the electrode terminal, and the connecting body has an arm set provided for each of the plurality of terminal opposing portions, and the arm set includes a radial arm portion that extends radially outward from the contact area of the corresponding terminal opposing portion.

[0018] The radial arm portion extending from one of the terminal opposing portions is connected to the radial arm portion extending from the other of the terminal opposing portions or to the frame, and is configured so that by positioning the frame at a predetermined position in the thickness direction of the frame relative to the battery group, the radial arm portion elastically deforms to generate an elastic force that presses the contact area of the corresponding terminal opposing portion against the electrode terminal of the corresponding battery.

[0019] The radial arm portion extending from one of the terminal opposing portions is connected to the radial arm portion extending from another adjacent terminal opposing portion at a position that overlaps the dead space formed by the batteries of the battery group in a front view.

[0020] Preferably, the arm set may have three or six radial arm portions arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the corresponding terminal opposing portion.

[0021] In one embodiment, the radial arm portion extending from one of the terminal opposing portions is configured to include a radially inner region that is inclined so as to move away from the corresponding electrode terminal of the battery in the thickness direction of the frame as it extends radially outward from the contact region of the one terminal opposing portion, and a radially outer region that extends radially outward from the radially inner region and is connected to the radial arm portion extending from the other terminal opposing portion or the frame.

[0022] Preferably, the radially outer region is inclined relative to the radially inner region in a direction approaching the electrode terminal of the corresponding battery in the thickness direction of the frame. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] The terminal member according to the present invention can improve the electrical connectivity of a battery having first and second electrode terminals provided on one and the other longitudinal sides, respectively.

[0024] The electrical module of the present invention can effectively realize an electrical parallel connection state of a battery group formed by a plurality of batteries each having first and second electrode terminals on one and the other longitudinal sides, as well as an electrical series connection state between the battery group and another battery group arranged in series with the battery group.

[0025] The terminal connection plate according to the present invention can effectively realize the electrical parallel connection state of a battery group formed by a plurality of batteries each having first and second electrode terminals on one and the other longitudinal sides, respectively. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery module including a plurality of batteries to which terminal members according to one embodiment of the present invention are attached. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the battery module shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Figure 5] 5(a) and 5(b) are perspective views of the battery to which the terminal members are attached, viewed from one side and the other side in the axial direction, respectively. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an end view of one axial side of the battery to which the terminal members are attached. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the terminal member. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a front view of the terminal member. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged plan view of the first and second arrayed battery groups in the battery module. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged plan view of adjacently arranged battery groups in a battery module according to a modified example. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a front view of a terminal connection plate according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a partial vertical sectional perspective view of the terminal connection plate as viewed from the front side. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a partial vertical sectional perspective view of the terminal connection plate as viewed from the rear side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Embodiment 1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A terminal member according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 and 2 are a perspective view and a plan view, respectively, of a battery module 100 formed by electrically connecting a plurality of batteries 90 in parallel and in series, each battery 90 having a terminal member 10 according to the present embodiment attached thereto. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views taken along lines III-III and IV-IV in FIG. 2, respectively.

[0028] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the battery module 100 includes a battery box 110, a plurality of batteries 90 housed in the battery box 110, and a plurality of the terminal members 10 attached to end faces at one end and the other end of the plurality of batteries 90 in the longitudinal direction.

[0029] The battery box 110 has a storage space defined by X and Y directions that are orthogonal to each other in a plan view, and has a predetermined depth in a Z direction that is orthogonal to both the X and Y directions. The battery box 110 is made of an insulating material such as plastic.

[0030] In this embodiment, the battery box 110 has a bottom wall 112 that is rectangular in plan view, and a side wall 114 that extends upward from the periphery of the bottom wall 112, and is open at the top.

[0031] The side wall 114 has a pair of first and second side walls 114a, 114b extending along the X direction while being spaced apart in the Y direction, a base end wall 114c connecting the other X-direction ends of the pair of first and second side walls 114a, and a tip end wall 114d connecting the one X-direction ends of the pair of first and second side walls 114a, 114b.

[0032] 5(a) and 5(b) are perspective views of the battery 90 to which the terminal member 10 is attached, viewed from one side and the other side in the axial direction, respectively. FIG. 6 shows an end view of one axial side of the battery 90 to which the terminal member 10 is attached. 6. Furthermore, FIG. 7 shows a partially enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG.

[0033] As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the battery 90 has a first electrode terminal (e.g., a positive electrode terminal) 91 and a second electrode terminal (e.g., a negative electrode terminal) 92 on a first end face 90a on one side in the longitudinal direction and a second end face 90b on the other side, respectively. The battery 90 is, for example, a lithium ion battery.

[0034] 8 and 9 are a perspective view and a front view, respectively, of the terminal member 10 according to this embodiment. FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG.

[0035] As shown in Figures 8 to 10, the terminal member 10 integrally has a terminal facing portion 20 that is arranged to face an electrode terminal (a first electrode terminal 91 when attached to the first end face 90a, and a second electrode terminal 92 when attached to the second end face 90b) on the mounting end face to which the terminal member 10 is attached, a plurality of radial arm portions 30 that extend radially outward from the terminal facing portion 20 and have radial outer ends located radially outward from the mounting end face 90a (90b), and a plurality of mounting arm portions 40 that extend from the radial outer ends of the plurality of radial arm portions 30 toward the opposite end face opposite the mounting end face 90a (90b).

[0036] The terminal facing portion 20 has a contact area 26 that abuts against the electrode terminal on the mounting end face and to which the multiple radial arm portions 30 are connected, and a convex area 22 that protrudes radially inward and axially outward from the contact area 26.

[0037] According to the terminal member 10 having such a configuration, the convex areas 22 can be used as connection terminals for the corresponding batteries 90, and the electrical connectivity of the plurality of batteries 90 can be improved.

[0038] In particular, it is possible to effectively improve the electrical connectivity of a battery in which the first electrode terminal 91 and / or the second electrode terminal 92 are recessed from the corresponding end face.

[0039] The radial arm portion 30 is configured to be capable of assuming an elastically deformed state in which the contact region 26 is pressed against the electrode terminal 91 (92).

[0040] In this embodiment, the radial arm portion 30 includes a radially inner region 32 that is inclined so as to move away from the mounting end face as it extends radially outward from the contact region 26, and a radially outer region 36 that extends radially outward from the radially inner region 32 and is connected to the corresponding mounting arm portion 40.

[0041] According to this configuration, the radial arm portion 30 is elastically deformed so that the radial outer end of the radial outer region 36 approaches the mounting surface while the contact region 26 is abutted against the electrode terminal, and the axial position of the radial outer end of the radial outer region 36 is maintained so that this elastically deformed state is maintained, whereby the contact region 26 is pressed against the electrode terminal by the elastic force (restoring force) of the radial arm portion 30.

[0042] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the radially outer region 36 is inclined relative to the radially inner region 32 in a direction approaching the mounting end face.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in this embodiment, the three radial arm portions 30 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction with the center of the terminal opposing portion 20 as the reference.

[0044] The multiple mounting arms 40 are configured to be able to assume an elastically deformed state that generates an elastic force that presses against the outer circumferential surface of the battery 90 .

[0045] In this embodiment, the mounting arm portion 40 has a base end portion that serves as the connection portion with the radial arm portion 30, and a tip end portion that serves as the free end portion, and the base end portion is located radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the battery 90, and at least a portion between the base end portion and the tip end portion is configured to be located radially inward from the outer peripheral surface of the battery 90 in the initial state, but can be located radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the battery 90 in the elastically deformed state.

[0046] According to this configuration, the terminal member 10 can be attached to the battery by the elastic force (restoring force) that accompanies the elastic deformation of the multiple mounting arm portions 90.

[0047] Here, the elastic force generated by the elastic deformation of the plurality of mounting arm portions 40 is set to a magnitude that can maintain the radial arm portions 30 in an elastically deformed state.

[0048] With this configuration, the elastic force (restoring force) accompanying the elastic deformation of the multiple mounting arm portions 40 makes it possible to hold the base end of the mounting arm portion 40 (i.e., the radial outer end of the radial outer region of the radial arm portion 30) in an axial position that causes the elastic deformation state of the radial arm portion 30 to appear.

[0049] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the mounting arm portion 40 includes a base end region 42 extending from the base end toward the opposite end face, an inclined region 44 that approaches the outer peripheral surface of the battery as it approaches the opposite end face from the tip of the base end region 42, and a tip region 46 that extends from the inclined region 44 toward the opposite end face and abuts the outer peripheral surface of the battery 90.

[0050] The terminal member 10 can be formed by pressing a sheet of various conductive materials, preferably pure copper, beryllium copper, or phosphor bronze, into a predetermined shape, and then performing forming (wire bending). Therefore, no mold is required, and it is possible to effectively cope with small-lot production of a wide variety of batteries, that is, batteries of various shapes.

[0051] The plurality of batteries 90 are housed in the battery box 110 with the first end surface 90a facing one side in the X direction, and are arranged to be partitioned into a plurality of battery groups 200(1), 200(2), etc. that are arranged in series in the X direction.

[0052] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the battery module 100 has twelve battery groups 200(1) to 200(12). In FIG. 1, for ease of understanding, only the first battery group (base end battery group) 200(1) located furthest to the other side in the X direction and the second battery group 200(2) are shown in a substantial manner, and the third to twelfth battery groups 200(3) to 200(12) are shown schematically by two-dot chain lines. The battery group located furthest to one side in the X direction (the twelfth battery group 200(12) in this embodiment) may be referred to as the tip-side battery group.

[0053] The plurality of battery groups (200(1) to 200(12) in this embodiment) include one or more first array battery groups 210 and one or more second array battery groups 220, and the first and second array battery groups 210, 220 are arranged alternately in the X direction, movable in the X direction but immovable in the Y direction relative to the battery box 110.

[0054] 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the first base-end battery group 200(1), which is located furthest to the other side in the X direction among the plurality of battery groups, is designated as the first arranged battery group 210. The second battery group 200(2), which is adjacent to one side of the base-end battery group 200(1) in the X direction, is designated as the second arranged battery group 220, and from the third battery group 200(3) onwards, the first arranged battery groups 210 and the second arranged battery groups 220 are alternately arranged in this order.

[0055] In this embodiment, the first array battery group 210 provided as the base-end battery group 200(1) (and the third, fifth, etc. battery groups) includes a first battery row 250 in which a predetermined number of the batteries 90 are arranged in parallel in the Y direction at a predetermined pitch W corresponding to the width of the batteries 90, and a second battery row 260 in which the same or different number of batteries 90 as in the first battery row 250 are arranged in parallel in the Y direction at a pitch W, displaced by W / 2 in the Y direction relative to the batteries 90 in the first battery row 250, and configured so that when the first battery row 250 is arranged in the lowest row, the first and second battery rows 250, 260 are arranged alternately from bottom to top in the Z direction.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the first arrayed battery group 210 has three battery rows including a first battery row 250 arranged in the bottom row, a second battery row 260 arranged in the second row from the bottom, and a first battery row 250 arranged in the third row from the bottom (top row).

[0057] In this embodiment, the second arrangement battery group 220 provided as the second battery group 200(2) (and the fourth, sixth, etc. battery groups) is common to the first arrangement battery group 210 in that it has the first and second battery strings 250, 260, but differs from the first arrangement battery group 210 in the arrangement order (stacking order) of the first and second battery strings 250, 260.

[0058] That is, the second battery array 220 is configured such that the second and first battery rows 260, 250 are alternately arranged from bottom to top in the Z direction, with the second battery row 260 arranged at the bottom.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 4, in this embodiment, the second arrayed battery group 220 has three battery rows including a second battery row 260 arranged in the bottom row, a first battery row 250 arranged in the second row from the bottom, and a second battery row 260 arranged in the third row from the bottom (top row).

[0060] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, in this embodiment, in the first battery row 250, multiple batteries 90 (14 batteries in the illustrated configuration) are arranged in parallel and adjacent to each other in the Y direction so that they can move in the X direction but cannot move in the Y direction. In this case, the pitch of the batteries in the first battery row 250 is the width W of the battery 90, and recesses that open to one side (upward) and the other side (downward) in the Z direction are formed between adjacent batteries 90, 90.

[0061] In this embodiment, the second battery row 260 has a plurality of batteries 90 (in the illustrated configuration, the number of batteries 90 in the first battery row 250 is 14 - 1 = 13) arranged so that they fit into the recesses formed between adjacent batteries 90, 90 in the first battery row 250. In this case, the pitch at which the batteries 90 are arranged in the second battery row 260 is also the width W of the batteries 90 .

[0062] As described above, the first and second battery array groups 210, 220 are alternately arranged in the X direction, and in the first battery array group 210, the first and second battery rows 250, 260 are alternately stacked from the bottom up, and in the second battery array group 220, the second and first battery rows 260, 250 are alternately stacked from the bottom up.

[0063] In this configuration, between the battery groups 200 adjacent in the X direction, the first and second battery strings 250, 260 face each other at the same height.

[0064] For example, the bottommost first battery row 250, the second-lowest second battery row 260, and the topmost first battery row 250 of the first base-end battery group 200(1) face the bottommost second battery row 260, the second-lowest first battery row 250, and the topmost second battery row 260 of the second battery group 200(2), respectively.

[0065] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the battery module 100 has a plurality of conductive plates 150 arranged movably in the X direction on the other X-direction side of the base-end battery group 200(1), between the plurality of battery groups 200, and on one X-direction side of the tip-end battery group 200(12).

[0066] The plurality of conductive plates 150 are formed from various conductive materials, and preferably from the same material as the terminal member 10 .

[0067] The plurality of conductive plates 150 are housed in the battery box 110 with their plate surfaces oriented along the YZ plane, their side ends insulated and in contact with the inner surfaces of the side walls 114a, 114b of the battery box 110, and their bottom ends insulated and in contact with the bottom wall 112 of the battery box 110, so as to be movable in the X direction but immovable in the Y direction.

[0068] The conductive plate 150 (hereinafter referred to as the base-end conductive plate 150a) arranged on the other side of the base-end battery group 200(1) in the X direction abuts against the convex areas 22 of the terminal members 10 attached to the second end faces 90b of the plurality of batteries 90 in the base-end battery group 200, and thereby acts as a member that connects the second electrode terminals 92 of the plurality of batteries 90 in parallel.

[0069] The base-end conductive plate 150a also functions as an external connection terminal for the battery module 100, that is, one of the positive and negative electrodes (for example, the negative electrode) of the entire battery group 200.

[0070] The conductive plate 150 (hereinafter referred to as the intermediate conductive plate 150b) disposed between adjacent battery groups 200 in the X direction abuts against the convex areas 22 of the terminal members 10 attached to the first end faces 90a of the plurality of batteries 90 in the battery group located on the other side of the intermediate conductive plate 150b in the X direction (hereinafter referred to as the adjacent battery group on the other side of the X direction), and also abuts against the convex areas 22 of the terminal members 10 attached to the second end faces 90b of the plurality of batteries 90 in the battery group located on one side of the intermediate conductive plate 150b in the X direction (hereinafter referred to as the adjacent battery group on one side of the X direction). This acts as a member that connects in parallel the first electrode terminals 91 of the plurality of batteries 90 in the adjacent battery group on the other side of the X direction and the second electrode terminals 92 of the plurality of batteries 90 in the adjacent battery group on one side of the X direction, while also connecting in parallel the first electrode terminals 91 of the adjacent battery group on the other side of the X direction and the second electrode terminals 92 of the adjacent battery group on one side of the X direction.

[0071] The conductive plate 150 (hereinafter referred to as the tip-side conductive plate 150c) arranged on one side of the tip-side battery group 200 (12) in the X direction abuts against the convex areas 22 of the terminal members 10 attached to the first end faces 90a of the plurality of batteries 90 in the tip-side battery group 200 (12), thereby acting as a member that connects the first electrode terminals 91 of the plurality of batteries 90 in parallel.

[0072] The front conductive plate 150c also functions as an external connection terminal for the battery module 100, that is, the other of the positive and negative electrodes (for example, the positive electrode) of the entire battery group 200.

[0073] As described above, the radial arm portions 30 of the terminal member 10 are elastically deformable in the axial direction of the battery 90 . Therefore, in the battery module 100, by compressing the plurality of conductive plates 150 and the plurality of battery groups 200 in the X direction, contact between the plurality of conductive plates 150 and the terminal members 10 attached to the batteries 90 can be effectively ensured.

[0074] Preferably, the battery box 110 may be provided with a fixing means for fixing the plurality of battery groups 200 at a position (series connection position) where the plurality of battery groups 200 arranged in series in the X direction are electrically connected in series to each other by the plurality of terminal members 10 and the plurality of conductive plates 150.

[0075] For example, one or more slits (not shown) may be formed at predetermined positions in the battery box 110 corresponding to the series connection positions, and when the plurality of battery groups 200 are positioned in the series connection position, plate-shaped or pin-shaped stoppers inserted into the slits may be configured to engage with the corresponding conductive plates 150, thereby holding the plurality of battery groups 200 in the series connection position.

[0076] In the battery module 100, as described above, the first arranged battery groups 210 and the second arranged battery groups 220 are alternately arranged in the X direction. FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged plan view of the first arranged battery group and the second arranged battery group in the battery module.

[0077] 11, one battery 90 in the first arranged battery group 210 is not positioned coaxially with a battery 90 at the same height (same position in the Z direction) in the second arranged battery group 220 adjacent in the X direction, but is displaced by W / 2 in the Y direction. Therefore, the conductive plate 150b creates an electrical series connection state between the first and second arranged battery groups 210, 220 adjacent in the X direction.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 12, in a battery module configured such that the batteries 90 in adjacent battery groups 200 in the X direction are positioned coaxially (for example, in a battery module 100′ in which all of the multiple battery groups 200 arranged in series in the X direction are the first arranged battery group 210 (or the second arranged battery group 220)), the conductive plate 150b arranged between the battery groups 200 adjacent in the X direction is omitted, and only the base end side conductive plate 150a and the tip end side conductive plate 150c that act as external connection terminals are provided.

[0079] Embodiment 2 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A terminal connection plate according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 13 shows a front view of a terminal connection plate 300 according to this embodiment. 14 and 15 are partial vertical cross-sectional perspective views of the terminal connection plate 300 as viewed from the front and rear sides, respectively. In the figure, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0080] The terminal connection plate 300 electrically connects in parallel the same electrode terminals of the plurality of batteries 90 in a battery group including one battery row in which the plurality of batteries 90 are arranged in parallel in the width direction with their electrode terminals oriented in the same direction, and another battery row in which the plurality of batteries with the electrode terminals oriented in the same direction as the batteries 90 in the first battery row are arranged in parallel in the width direction on the first battery row. In FIG. 13, the plurality of batteries 90 connected in parallel by the terminal connection plate 300 are indicated by two-dot chain lines.

[0081] The terminal connection plate 300 can be formed by pressing a sheet of various conductive materials, preferably pure copper, beryllium copper, or phosphor bronze, into a predetermined shape, and then performing a forming process (wire bending process). Therefore, no mold is required, and it is possible to effectively cope with small-lot production of a wide variety of batteries, that is, batteries of various shapes.

[0082] The terminal connection plate 300 integrally includes a terminal facing portion group including a plurality of terminal facing portions 20 that are respectively arranged opposite corresponding electrode terminals of the plurality of batteries 90 in the battery group, a frame 310 that surrounds the terminal facing portion group in a front view along the longitudinal direction of the batteries 90, and a connector that connects the plurality of terminal facing portions 20 to each other and also connects the terminal facing portion group to the frame 310.

[0083] The terminal connection plate 300 according to this embodiment is configured to connect the electrode terminals of the plurality of batteries 90 in the first battery array 210 in parallel.

[0084] Specifically, in the terminal connection plate 300, the terminal facing portion group includes a first terminal facing portion row 20A including a plurality of terminal facing portions 20 arranged to face the electrode terminals of the plurality of batteries 90 in the first battery row 250 arranged in the lowest row, a second terminal facing portion row 20B including a plurality of terminal facing portions 20 arranged to face the electrode terminals of the plurality of batteries 90 in the second battery row 260 arranged in the second row from the bottom, and a first terminal facing portion row 20A including a plurality of terminal facing portions 20 arranged to face the electrode terminals of the plurality of batteries 90 in the first battery row 250 arranged in the third row from the bottom (top row).

[0085] As shown in Figures 14 and 15, the terminal opposing portion 20 has a contact area 22 that abuts against the corresponding electrode terminal, and a convex area 26 that is located radially inward from the contact area 22 and protrudes outward so as to be spaced apart from the electrode terminal.

[0086] The connecting body has an arm set provided for each of the plurality of terminal facing portions 20 . The arm set has a plurality of radial arm portions 30 extending radially outward from the corresponding terminal opposing portion 20, and the plurality of radial arm portions 30 are arranged at equal intervals circumferentially around the corresponding terminal opposing portion 20. In this embodiment, the arm set has three radial arm portions 30a to 30c.

[0087] The radial arm portion 30 extending from one of the terminal opposing portions 20 is connected to the radial arm portion 30 extending from the other terminal opposing portion 20 or to the frame 310 .

[0088] By positioning the frame 310 at a predetermined position in the thickness direction of the frame 310 relative to the battery group, the radial arm portion 30 is elastically deformed, and the elastic force (restoring force) of the radial arm portion 30 presses the contact area 22 of the corresponding terminal opposing portion 20 against the electrode terminal of the corresponding battery 90.

[0089] In this embodiment, the radial arm portion 30 extending from one of the terminal opposing portions 20 has a radially inner region 32 that is inclined in the thickness direction of the frame 310 so as to move away from the electrode terminal of the corresponding battery 90 as it extends radially outward from the contact region 22 of the one terminal opposing portion 20, and a radially outer region 36 that extends radially outward from the radially inner region 32 and is connected to the radial arm portion 30 extending from the other terminal opposing portion 20 or the frame 310.

[0090] The radially outer region 36 is inclined relative to the radially inner region 32 in the thickness direction of the frame 310 in a direction approaching the electrode terminal of the corresponding battery 90 .

[0091] As shown in Figure 13, the radial arm portion 30 extending from one of the terminal opposing portions 20 and the radial arm portion 30 extending from the other of the terminal opposing portions 20 are connected at a position that overlaps with the dead space formed by the batteries 90 of the battery group in a front view. In FIG. 13, the batteries 90 connected in parallel by the terminal connection plate 300 are indicated by two-dot chain lines.

[0092] In this embodiment, the arm set is formed by three radial arm portions 30a to 30c arranged at 120° intervals circumferentially around the corresponding terminal opposing portion 20, but it is also possible to form the arm set by six radial arm portions 30 arranged at 60° intervals circumferentially. [Explanation of symbols]

[0093] 10 Terminal member 20 Terminal facing part 22 Contact area 26 Convex region 30 Radial arm 32 Radial inner area 36 Radial outer area 40 Mounting arm 42 Proximal region 44 Slope area 46 Tip area 90 batteries 90a 1st end face 90b 2nd end face 91 1st electrode terminal 92 2nd electrode terminal 100 Battery Module 110 Battery Box 150a Base end conductive plate 150b Intermediate conductive plate 150c Tip side conductive plate 200 battery groups 210 First array battery group 220 Second array battery group 250 1st battery row 260 Second Battery Row 300 Terminal Connection Plate 310 frames

Claims

1. A conductive terminal member detachably attached to a battery, the terminal member having first and second electrode terminals provided on end surfaces on one and the other sides in a longitudinal direction, a terminal facing portion disposed opposite to an electrode terminal on an attachment end surface to which the terminal member is attached; a plurality of radial arm portions extending radially outward from the terminal facing portion and having radially outer ends located radially outward from the attachment end surface; and a plurality of attachment arm portions extending from the radially outer ends of the plurality of radial arm portions toward an opposite end surface opposite to the attachment end surface, the terminal facing portion has a contact region that abuts against the electrode terminal on the mounting end surface and to which the plurality of radial arm portions are connected, and a convex region that is located radially inward from the contact region and protrudes outward so as to be spaced apart from the mounting end surface, the radial arm portion is configured to be capable of assuming an elastically deformed state that generates an elastic force that presses the contact area against the electrode terminal, the plurality of mounting arms are configured to be capable of assuming an elastically deformed state that generates an elastic force that compresses the outer peripheral surface of the battery; A terminal member, wherein an elastic force generated by elastic deformation of the plurality of mounting arms is large enough to maintain the radial arms in an elastically deformed state.

2. 2. The terminal member according to claim 1, wherein the terminal member has three or six radial arm portions that are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction with respect to the terminal facing portion.

3. 3. The terminal member according to claim 2, wherein the radial arm portion includes a radially inner region that is inclined so as to move away from the mounting end face as it extends radially outward from the contact region, and a radially outer region that extends radially outward from the radially inner region and is connected to the corresponding mounting arm portion.

4. 4. The terminal member according to claim 3, wherein the radially outer region is inclined relative to the radially inner region in a direction approaching the mounting end surface.

5. the mounting arm portion has a base end portion that serves as a connection portion with the radial arm portion, and a tip portion that is located midway between a mounting end surface to which the terminal member is mounted and an opposite end surface in the longitudinal direction of the battery, the base end is located radially outward from the outer circumferential surface of the battery, A terminal member described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least a portion between the base end and the tip end is configured to be located radially inward from the outer peripheral surface of the battery in an initial state, and to be located radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the battery in an elastically deformed state.

6. The terminal member according to claim 5, characterized in that the mounting arm portion includes a base end region extending from the base end toward the opposite end face, an inclined region approaching the outer peripheral surface of the battery as it approaches the opposite end face from the tip of the base end region, and a tip region extending from the inclined region toward the opposite end face and abutting the outer peripheral surface of the battery.

7. a battery box having a storage space defined by an X direction and a Y direction which are orthogonal to each other in a plan view and having a predetermined depth in a Z direction which is orthogonal to both the X direction and the Y direction; a plurality of batteries each having a first end face on one side in a longitudinal direction and a second end face on the other side, the plurality of batteries being housed in a battery box with the first end face facing a first X direction on one side in the X direction; a plurality of terminal members according to any one of claims 1 to 4 attached to the first and second end surfaces of the plurality of batteries; a plurality of conductive plates housed in the battery box so as to be movable in the X direction but immovable in the Y direction; the plurality of batteries are partitioned into a plurality of battery groups arranged in series along the X direction, each of which is movable in the X direction but immovable in the Y direction; the plurality of battery groups include one or more first array battery groups and one or more second array battery groups, the first and second array battery groups being alternately arranged in an X direction; the first array battery group includes a first battery row in which a predetermined number of the batteries are arranged in parallel at a predetermined pitch W in the Y direction, and a second battery row in which the same number of batteries as in the first battery row or a different number of batteries are arranged in parallel at a pitch W in the Y direction while being displaced by W / 2 in the Y direction with respect to the batteries in the first battery row, the first battery row being arranged in the lowest row, and the first and second battery rows being arranged alternately in the Z direction; the second battery array group includes the first battery row and the second battery row, the second battery row being arranged in the lowermost row, and the first and second battery rows being arranged alternately in a Z direction; the plurality of conductive plates include a base-end conductive plate arranged on the other side in the X direction of a base-end battery group that is located furthest to the other side in the X direction among the plurality of battery groups, an intermediate conductive plate arranged between adjacent battery groups in the X direction, and a tip-end conductive plate arranged on one side in the X direction of a tip-end battery group that is located furthest to one side in the X direction among the plurality of battery groups.

8. A battery group includes a first battery example in which a plurality of batteries, each having a first electrode terminal and a second electrode terminal provided on one end surface and the other end surface in the longitudinal direction, are arranged in parallel in the width direction of the batteries with the electrode terminals facing in the same direction, and another battery row placed on top of the first battery row with the electrode terminals facing in the same direction as the batteries in the first battery row. The conductive terminal connection plate electrically connects the same electrode terminals of the plurality of batteries in the battery group, a terminal facing portion group including a plurality of terminal facing portions that are respectively arranged to face corresponding electrode terminals of a plurality of batteries in the battery group; a frame that surrounds the terminal facing portion group in a front view seen along the longitudinal direction of the batteries; and a connector that connects the plurality of terminal facing portions to each other and connects the terminal facing portion group to the frame, the terminal facing portion has a contact area that comes into contact with the corresponding electrode terminal, and a convex area that is located radially inward from the contact area and protrudes outward so as to be spaced apart from the electrode terminal, the connecting body has an arm set provided for each of the plurality of terminal facing portions, The arm set includes a radial arm portion extending radially outward from a contact region of the corresponding terminal opposing portion, the radial arm portion extending from one of the terminal opposing portions is connected to the radial arm portion extending from the other of the terminal opposing portions or the frame, and when the frame is positioned at a predetermined position relative to the battery group in a thickness direction of the frame, the radial arm portion elastically deforms to generate an elastic force that presses a contact area of the corresponding terminal opposing portion against an electrode terminal of the corresponding battery, a terminal connection plate characterized in that the radial arm portion extending from one of the terminal opposing portions and the radial arm portion extending from another adjacent terminal opposing portion are connected at a position that overlaps with a dead space formed by the batteries of the battery group in a front view.

9. 9. The terminal connection plate according to claim 8, wherein the arm set has three or six radial arm portions arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the corresponding terminal facing portion.

10. 10. The terminal connection plate according to claim 8, wherein the radial arm portion extending from one of the terminal opposing portions includes: a radially inner region that is inclined so as to be away from the corresponding electrode terminal of the battery in the thickness direction of the frame as it extends radially outward from the contact region of the one of the terminal opposing portions; and a radially outer region that extends radially outward from the radially inner region and is connected to the radial arm portion extending from the other of the terminal opposing portions or to the frame.

11. 11. The terminal connection plate according to claim 10, wherein the radially outer region is inclined relative to the radially inner region in a direction approaching the electrode terminal of the corresponding battery in the thickness direction of the frame.

Images