Battery pack and conductive module component

Abstract

To suppress an increase in cost.SOLUTION: An inter-cell bus bar 21, a total pole bus bar 22, an inter-cell bus bar housing member 31 in which an inter-cell bus bar housing chamber 31a for each inter-cell bus bar for an assembly targe for an electrode terminal group 12A is provided, a common housing member 32 in which an inter-cell bus bar housing chamber 32a for each inter-cell bus bar is provided for the assembly target of an electrode terminal group 12B, and a total pole bus bar housing member 33 in which a total pole bus bar housing chamber 33a is formed for the assembly target of the electrode terminal group 12B are provided in the number corresponding to an electrode terminal group of a plurality of battery modules 10 and an electrode terminal 11a of the electrode terminal group. The common housing member is provided with a coupling part 41 having the same shape at each of one end 32b and another end 32c in an arrangement direction, and the total pole bus bar housing member is provided with a coupled portion 42 to be coupled to one end of the common housing member by being assembled to the coupling part at one end of the common housing member and to be coupled to the other end of the common housing member by being assembled to the coupling part at the other end of the common housing member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to battery packs and conductive module components. [Background technology]

[0002] The battery module includes a plurality of battery cells arranged in a row, and includes a first electrode terminal group in which one electrode terminals of the plurality of battery cells are arranged along the arrangement direction, and a second electrode terminal group in which the other electrode terminals of the plurality of battery cells are arranged along the arrangement direction. In this battery module, a conductive module is assembled to each of the first electrode terminal group and the second electrode terminal group to form a battery pack. The conductive module for the first electrode terminal group includes a bus bar (hereinafter referred to as an "inter-cell bus bar") that electrically connects each pair of adjacent electrode terminals in the arrangement direction in the first electrode terminal group. The conductive module for the second electrode terminal group includes an inter-cell bus bar that electrically connects each pair of adjacent electrode terminals in the arrangement direction in the second electrode terminal group. Furthermore, some battery modules have electrode terminals in either the first electrode terminal group or the second electrode terminal group assigned as a total positive electrode terminal and a total negative electrode terminal. If the electrode terminal group to be assembled includes electrode terminals for the total poles (electrode terminals for the total positive poles and electrode terminals for the total negative poles), each conductive module also includes a bus bar for that electrode terminal (hereinafter referred to as a "total pole bus bar"). The conductive module includes a housing member that houses the inter-cell bus bar and, if a total pole bus bar is included, also houses that bus bar. This type of conductive module is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 listed below. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-200753 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In order to extend the driving range, vehicles such as electric vehicles are equipped with battery packs in which the common electrodes of multiple battery modules are electrically connected. In such battery packs, depending on the arrangement of each battery module, battery modules with different positions of common electrode terminals or battery modules equipped with common-electrode bus bars of different shapes may be mixed. Therefore, the battery pack requires a large number of conductive modules with different specifications, such as different types of bus bars and shapes of housing members, which may lead to a rise in costs.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide battery pack and conductive module components that can prevent increases in cost. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A battery pack according to the present invention includes a plurality of battery modules in which a plurality of battery cells having positive and negative electrode terminals are arranged, and each battery module is provided with one electrode terminal group consisting of one of the electrode terminals of each of the battery cells arranged along the arrangement direction and another electrode terminal group consisting of the other electrode terminals of each of the battery cells arranged along the arrangement direction; and conductive module components constituting a conductive module for each of the electrode terminal groups of each of the battery modules, wherein the conductive module components include an inter-cell bus bar that electrically connects a pair of the electrode terminals adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction in the electrode terminal group, a common-pole bus bar that can be physically and electrically connected to an electrode terminal for a common pole assigned from among the electrode terminals of each of the electrode terminal groups, and an inter-cell bus bar for each of the inter-cell bus bars that accommodates the inter-cell bus bars for all combinations of the electrode terminals assigned as combinations of pairs of the electrode terminals adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction. and a common housing member provided with inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers for each of the inter-cell bus bars that accommodates the inter-cell bus bars for all combinations of electrode terminals to be assembled, the electrode terminal groups having both ends of all the electrode terminals assigned as the positive and negative total pole bus bars, and the remaining electrode terminals being assigned as combinations of pairs of the electrode terminals adjacent in the arrangement direction, and the common housing member provided with inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers for each of the inter-cell bus bars that accommodates the inter-cell bus bars for all combinations of the electrode terminal groups having the total poles, and the common housing member provided with inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers for each of the inter-cell bus bars that accommodates the inter-cell bus bars for all combinations of the electrode terminals to be assembled, ..., the common housing member being provided with inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers for each of the inter-cell bus bars that accommodates the inter-cell bus bars, the common housing member being provided with inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers for each of the inter-cell bus bars that accommodates the inter-cell bus bars, the common housing member being provided with inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers for each of the inter-cell bus bars that accommodates the inter-cell bus bars, the common housing member being provided with inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers for each of the inter-cell bus bars that accommodates the inter-cell bus bars, the common housing member being provided with inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers for each of the common housing member has connecting portions of the same shape at one end and the other end in the arrangement direction, and the common housing member has a connecting portion which is assembled to the connecting portion at the one end of the common housing member to connect it to the one end of the common housing member, and which is assembled to the connecting portion at the other end of the common housing member to connect it to the other end of the common housing member.

[0007] Furthermore, the conductive module component according to the present invention constitutes a conductive module for each electrode terminal group of a plurality of battery modules in which a plurality of battery cells having positive and negative electrode terminals are arranged, and which is provided with one electrode terminal group consisting of one of the electrode terminals of each of the battery cells arranged along the arrangement direction, and another electrode terminal group consisting of the other electrode terminals of each of the battery cells arranged along the arrangement direction, and the conductive module comprises an inter-cell bus bar that electrically connects a pair of the electrode terminals adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction in the electrode terminal group, a common-pole bus bar that can be physically and electrically connected to an electrode terminal for a common pole assigned from among the electrode terminals of each of the electrode terminal groups, and an inter-cell bus bar accommodating chamber for each of the inter-cell bus bars that accommodates the inter-cell bus bars for all combinations of the electrode terminals assigned as combinations of pairs of the electrode terminals adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction as assembly targets. the electrode terminal groups with total poles are to be assembled, and the electrode terminals of the electrode terminal groups are to be assembled; a common housing member having inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers for the inter-cell bus bars that accommodate the inter-cell bus bars for all combinations of the electrode terminals, in which both ends of all the electrode terminals are assigned as the positive and negative total pole bus bars and the remainder are assigned as combinations of pairs of the electrode terminals adjacent in the arrangement direction; and a total pole bus bar housing member having inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers that accommodate the total pole bus bars, in numbers corresponding to the electrode terminal groups and the electrode terminals of the electrode terminal groups; the common housing member has connecting portions of the same shape at one end and the other end in the arrangement direction, and the total pole bus bar housing member has a connected portion that is assembled to the connecting portion at one end of the common housing member to connect it to the one end of the common housing member, and that is assembled to the connecting portion at the other end of the common housing member to connect it to the other end of the common housing member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] For example, when all battery modules are configured with the same number of battery cells, the battery pack and conductive module components according to the present invention can share a common housing member with the other electrode terminal groups of each battery module, and by setting a combination of a common bus bar housing member and a common bus bar shaped according to the arrangement of the battery modules for the electrode terminal groups, it is not necessary to prepare a dedicated conductive module for each other electrode terminal group of the battery module. Therefore, the battery pack and conductive module components according to the present invention can prevent a rise in the cost of the housing members and bus bars to be assembled to the other electrode terminal groups. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a battery pack and conductive module components according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a battery module. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the first conductive module. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the second conductive module. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a connecting portion and a connected portion. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a modified example of the battery pack according to the embodiment and conductive module components. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the third conductive module. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the fourth conductive module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of a battery pack and conductive module components according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0011] [Embodiment] An embodiment of a battery pack and conductive module components according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8. FIG.

[0012] The battery pack according to the present invention includes a plurality of battery modules. In this battery pack, each component included in the conductive module components is assembled to each battery module, and each battery cell in each battery module is electrically connected. In this battery pack, each battery module is electrically connected by a conductive member or the like. This battery pack is mounted, for example, in a vehicle (such as a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) or HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle)) that has a rotating machine as a drive source, and is used to supply power to the rotating machine.

[0013] 1, reference numeral 1 indicates an example of a battery pack according to this embodiment. The battery pack 1 includes a pair of battery modules 10 (FIG. 1).

[0014] The battery module 10 includes a battery cell 11 provided with a pair of positive and negative electrode terminals 11a, and multiple battery cells 11 each having a pair of electrode terminals 11a are arranged in an array (FIG. 2). The battery cells 11 may be of any type, and may be, for example, nickel-metal hydride batteries or lithium-ion batteries. The battery cell 11 shown here has a cell body 11b formed in a rectangular shape with six outer wall surfaces. In the battery module 10, multiple battery cells 11 are arranged in a row, with one outer wall surface of the cell body 11b facing each other. The battery cell 11 shown here also has positive and negative electrode terminals 11a on one outer wall surface of the cell body 11b other than the outer wall surface (FIG. 2). Therefore, the battery module 10 is provided with one electrode terminal group (hereinafter referred to as the "first electrode terminal group") 12A consisting of one electrode terminal 11a of each battery cell 11 arranged along the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells 11, and another electrode terminal group (hereinafter referred to as the "second electrode terminal group") 12B consisting of the other electrode terminals 11a of each battery cell 11 arranged along the arrangement direction (FIG. 2). Note that the battery cells 11 may have one electrode terminal 11a and the other electrode terminal 11a provided on different outer wall surfaces of the cell body 11b. Furthermore, hereinafter, the term "arrangement direction" simply refers to the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells 11.

[0015] The electrode terminal 11a may be formed in a flat plate shape, for example, so as to physically and electrically connect the inter-cell bus bar 21 and the total-pole bus bar 22 (described later) by welding. Alternatively, the electrode terminal 11a may be formed in a column shape so as to have a male screw portion so as to physically and electrically connect the inter-cell bus bar 21 and the total-pole bus bar 22 (described later) by screw fastening.

[0016] In this battery pack 1, a pair of battery modules 10 are arranged perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the plurality of battery cells 11 (FIG. 1).

[0017] The conductive module components include the following various components for configuring a conductive module for each electrode terminal group 12 (first electrode terminal group 12A, second electrode terminal group 12B) of each battery module 10. The conductive module is physically and electrically connected to one electrode terminal 11a in the electrode terminal group 12 or to a pair of electrode terminals 11a adjacent in the arrangement direction.

[0018] The conductive module component includes an inter-cell bus bar 21 that electrically connects a pair of electrode terminals 11a adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction of the electrode terminal group 12 (FIGS. 1, 3, and 4). Furthermore, the conductive module component includes a common-pole bus bar 22 that can be physically and electrically connected to an assigned common-pole electrode terminal 11a from among the electrode terminals 11a in the electrode terminal group 12 (FIGS. 1 and 4).

[0019] The inter-cell bus bar 21 and the common-pole bus bar 22 are metal, plate-like conductive components, and are, for example, press-formed using a metal plate as a base material. The inter-cell bus bar 21 and common-pole bus bar 22 shown here are formed in a rectangular flat plate shape, regardless of whether they are welded or screwed to the electrode terminals 11a. If the inter-cell bus bar 21 is screwed to two pole-shaped electrode terminals 11a, a through-hole for inserting the electrode terminal 11a is formed for each electrode terminal 11a. If the common-pole bus bar 22 is screwed to a single pole-shaped electrode terminal 11a, a through-hole for inserting the electrode terminal 11a is formed.

[0020] The conductive module component is intended to assemble electrode terminal groups 12 to which all electrode terminals 11a are assigned as combinations of pairs of electrode terminals 11a adjacent in the arrangement direction, and includes a first accommodating member (hereinafter referred to as an "inter-cell bus bar accommodating member") 31 provided with inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers 31a for each inter-cell bus bar 21 that accommodate the inter-cell bus bars 21 for all of the combinations (FIGS. 1 and 3). Furthermore, the conductive module component is intended to assemble electrode terminal groups 12 to which both ends of all electrode terminals 11a are assigned as positive and negative total-pole bus bars 22, respectively, and the remaining electrode terminals 11a are assigned as combinations of pairs of electrode terminals 11a adjacent in the arrangement direction, and includes a second accommodating member (hereinafter referred to as a "common accommodating member") 32 provided with inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers 32a for each inter-cell bus bar 21 that accommodate the inter-cell bus bars 21 for all of the combinations (FIGS. 1 and 4). Furthermore, this conductive module component is intended to assemble electrode terminal group 12 with a common pole, and includes a third housing member (hereinafter referred to as "common pole bus bar housing member") 33 in which a common pole bus bar housing chamber 33a that houses common pole bus bar 22 is formed (FIGS. 1 and 4). This inter-cell bus bar housing member 31, common housing member 32, and common pole bus bar housing member 33 are molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

[0021] The inter-cell bus bar accommodating member 31 has inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers 31a arranged in the arrangement direction. The inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers 31a are provided inside a rectangular cylindrical portion that is open at both ends. The inter-cell bus bar 21 is inserted into the inter-cell bus bar accommodating chamber 31a from the opening at one end with one flat surface facing the electrode terminal 11a. The inter-cell bus bar 21 is secured in place in the inter-cell bus bar accommodating chamber 31a at the opening at the other end, and the opening at the other end is provided with a bus bar locking portion (not shown) that uses the opening at the other end as a bottom. The bus bar locking portion is provided at a position that does not interfere with the connection between the inter-cell bus bar 21 and the electrode terminal 11a at the opening at the other end of the inter-cell bus bar accommodating chamber 31a. For example, the bus bar locking portion is provided at the opening at the other end to lock the four corners of the inter-cell bus bar 21 at the opening at the other end of the inter-cell bus bar accommodating chamber 31a.

[0022] Inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers 32a are arranged in the arrangement direction in the common accommodating member 32. These inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers 32a have the same shape as the inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers 31a of the inter-cell bus bar accommodating member 31, and have bus bar locking portions similar to the inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers 31a.

[0023] The common bus bar accommodating chamber 33a of the common bus bar accommodating member 33 is provided inside a rectangular cylindrical portion with both ends open. The common bus bar 22 is inserted into the common bus bar accommodating chamber 33a from the opening at one end with one flat surface facing the electrode terminal 11a. The common bus bar accommodating chamber 33a is provided with a bus bar locking portion (not shown) that uses the opening at the other end as a bottom to secure the common bus bar 22 inside the chamber. The bus bar locking portion is provided at a position that does not interfere with the connection between the common bus bar 22 and the electrode terminal 11a at the opening at the other end of the common bus bar accommodating chamber 33a. For example, the bus bar locking portions are provided at the opening at the other end to lock the four corners of the common bus bar 22 at the opening at the other end of the common bus bar accommodating chamber 33a.

[0024] The common housing member 32 has a common-pole bus bar housing member 33 attached to one end 32b and the other end 32c in the arrangement direction (FIGS. 4 and 5). The common housing member 32 has connecting portions 41 of the same shape attached to the one end 32b and the other end 32c in the arrangement direction (FIGS. 4 and 5). The common housing member 32 has a connected portion 42 attached to it that is connected to the one end 32b of the common housing member 32 by being attached to the connecting portion 41 at the one end 32b of the common housing member 32, and that is connected to the other end 32c of the common housing member 32 by being attached to the connecting portion 41 at the other end 32c of the common housing member 32 (FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0025] For example, the connecting portion 41 protrudes from the outer wall surface of each of the one end 32b and the other end 32c of the common accommodating member 32, and is formed in a rectangular tube shape with both ends open in the direction of the tube axis of the inter-cell bus bar accommodating chamber 32a (a direction perpendicular to the plane of the inter-cell bus bar 21 inside the inter-cell bus bar accommodating chamber 32a) (FIG. 5). The connected portion 42 protrudes from the outer wall surface of the total-pole bus bar accommodating member 33 and has a cantilever-shaped flexible piece 42a that is inserted into the tube of the connecting portion 41 from the opening at one end, and a claw 42b that protrudes from the free end of the flexible piece 42a that protrudes from the opening at the other end of the connecting portion 41 and is engaged with the peripheral edge of the opening at the other end of the connecting portion 41 (FIG. 5).

[0026] The conductive module components include the above-mentioned inter-cell bus bars 21, total-pole bus bars 22, inter-cell bus bar housing members 31, common housing members 32, and total-pole bus bar housing members 33 in quantities corresponding to the electrode terminal groups 12 and the electrode terminals 11a of the electrode terminal groups 12. Specific examples thereof will be described below.

[0027] As described above, in the battery pack 1 of this embodiment, a pair of battery modules 10 are arranged perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the multiple battery cells 11. The conductive module components are to be assembled to each electrode terminal group 12 of the pair of battery modules 10 and include at least the appropriate numbers of inter-cell bus bars 21, common-pole bus bars 22, inter-cell bus bar housing members 31, common housing members 32, and common-pole bus bar housing members 33. The conductive module components constitute a first conductive module BM1 that is assembled to one electrode terminal group 12 (first electrode terminal group 12A) of each of the pair of battery modules 10, and a second conductive module BM2 that is assembled to the other electrode terminal group 12 (second electrode terminal group 12B) of each of the pair of battery modules 10 ( FIGS. 1 , 3 , and 4 ).

[0028] In this battery pack 1, all of the electrode terminals 11a in the first electrode terminal group 12A are assigned as combinations of pairs of electrode terminals 11a adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction. Therefore, the first conductive module BM1 includes an inter-cell bus bar housing member 31 and inter-cell bus bars 21 housed in each inter-cell bus bar housing chamber 31a of the inter-cell bus bar housing member 31 (FIGS. 1 and 3). In other words, the first conductive module BM1 includes one inter-cell bus bar housing member 31 and multiple inter-cell bus bars 21 of the same shape housed in the inter-cell bus bar housing member 31. The conductive module components constitute a first conductive module BM1 that is assembled to the first electrode terminal group 12A of one battery module 10, and a second conductive module BM1 that is assembled to the first electrode terminal group 12A of the other battery module 10.

[0029] In addition, in this battery pack 1, the second electrode terminal group 12B is an electrode terminal group with common electrodes in which both ends of all the electrode terminals 11a are assigned as positive and negative common electrode bus bars 22, and the remaining electrode terminals are assigned as combinations of pairs of electrode terminals 11a adjacent in the arrangement direction. Therefore, the second conductive module BM2 includes a common housing member 32, inter-cell bus bars 21 housed in each inter-cell bus bar accommodating chamber 32a of the common housing member 32, one common electrode bus bar accommodating member 33 connected to one end 32b of the common housing member 32, the common electrode bus bar 22 housed in the common electrode bus bar accommodating chamber 33a of the one common electrode bus bar accommodating member 33, the other common electrode bus bar accommodating member 33 connected to the other end 32c of the common housing member 32, and the common electrode bus bar 22 housed in the common electrode bus bar accommodating chamber 33a of the other common electrode bus bar accommodating member 33 (FIGS. 1 and 4). That is, the second conductive module BM2 includes one common housing member 32, a plurality of inter-cell bus bars 21 of the same shape housed in the common housing member 32, two common-pole bus bar housing members 33 of the same shape, and two common-pole bus bars 22 of the same shape. The conductive module components constitute a second conductive module BM2 to be assembled to the second electrode terminal group 12B of one battery module 10, and a second conductive module BM2 to be assembled to the second electrode terminal group 12B of the other battery module 10.

[0030] In this battery pack 1, the common pole bus bars 22 housed in each of the common pole bus bar housing members 33 are electrically connected to each other by a conductive member 51 (FIG. 1). As the conductive member 51, for example, an electric wire having one end physically and electrically connected to one common pole bus bar 22 and the other end physically and electrically connected to the other common pole bus bar 22, or a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) provided with a conductor pattern having one end physically and electrically connected to one common pole bus bar 22 and the other end physically and electrically connected to the other common pole bus bar 22, or the like is used.

[0031] In this battery pack 1, for example, in one battery module 10, the common bus bar 22 housed in the other common bus bar housing member 33 is connected to the common positive electrode terminal 11a, and in the other battery module 10, the common bus bar 22 housed in the other common bus bar housing member 33 is connected to the common negative electrode terminal 11a. In this battery pack 1, the common bus bars 22 housed in the other common bus bar housing member 33 are connected to an electric junction box JB by conductive members 52, and power is supplied via this electric junction box JB (FIG. 1). As in the case of conductive member 51, for example, an electric wire, a flexible printed circuit board, or the like is used as conductive member 52.

[0032] When all battery modules 10 are configured with the same number of battery cells 11, the battery pack 1 and conductive module components described above share the common housing member 32 with the second electrode terminal groups 12B of each battery module 10, and by setting a combination of a common-pole bus bar housing member 33 and a common-pole bus bar 22 shaped according to the arrangement of the battery modules 10 for the second electrode terminal groups 12B, it becomes unnecessary to prepare a dedicated conductive module for each second electrode terminal group 12B of the battery module 10. Therefore, the battery pack 1 and conductive module components of this embodiment can suppress a rise in the cost of housing members and bus bars to be assembled to the second electrode terminal groups 12B.

[0033] Furthermore, in the battery pack 1 and conductive module components of this embodiment, the more battery modules 10 are included in the battery pack 1, the more applications of the common housing member 32 there are, and therefore it is possible to reduce costs by reducing the depreciation cost of the molding die for the common housing member 32. Furthermore, in the battery pack 1 and conductive module components of this embodiment, the housing member is divided into the common housing member 32 and the common-pole bus bar housing member 33 for the second electrode terminal group 12B, and therefore it is possible to reduce costs by making the molding die more compact, compared to when one housing member is used for the second electrode terminal group 12B.

[0034] [Variations] In this modification, a case where the conductive module components are applied to the following battery pack 2 (FIG. 6) will be described.

[0035] This battery pack 2 includes another pair of battery modules 10 arranged on one common-pole bus bar housing member 33 side in the arrangement direction relative to the battery pack 1 (a pair of battery modules 10 arranged perpendicular to the arrangement direction) shown as an example of the above-described embodiment (FIG. 6). The other pair of battery modules 10 are arranged perpendicular to the arrangement direction, similar to the pair of battery modules 10 of the battery pack 1. Hereinafter, the pair of battery modules 10 will be referred to as a first battery module group, and the other pair of battery modules 10 will be referred to as a second battery module group.

[0036] The conductive module component of this modified example is obtained by adding the following components to the conductive module component shown as an example of an embodiment. In this modified example, the total pole bus bar 22 of the conductive module component shown as an example of an embodiment is referred to as the first total pole bus bar 22, and the total pole bus bar housing member 33 of this conductive module component is referred to as the first total pole bus bar housing member 33.

[0037] The conductive module component of this modified example includes a flat second common electrode bus bar 23 that has a different shape from the first common electrode bus bar 22 and can be physically and electrically connected to the common electrode terminal 11a (FIGS. 6 to 8). The conductive module component of this modified example also includes a second common electrode bus bar accommodating member 34 that has a different shape from the common electrode bus bar accommodating chamber 33a of the first common electrode bus bar accommodating member 33 and is provided with a common electrode bus bar accommodating chamber 34a that accommodates the second common electrode bus bar 23 with one flat surface 23a facing the bottom (FIGS. 6 and 7). The conductive module component of this modified example also includes a third common electrode bus bar accommodating member 35 that has a different shape from the common electrode bus bar accommodating chambers 33a, 34a of the first common electrode bus bar accommodating member 33 and the second common electrode bus bar accommodating member 34 and is provided with a common electrode bus bar accommodating chamber 35a that accommodates the second common electrode bus bar 23 with the other flat surface 23b facing the bottom (FIGS. 6 and 8).

[0038] The second common pole bus bar 23 shown here is formed in an L-shaped flat plate shape, unlike the first common pole bus bar 22 which is in a rectangular flat plate shape (FIGS. 7 and 8).

[0039] The second common pole bus bar accommodating member 34 and the third common pole bus bar accommodating member 35 are molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

[0040] The common electrode bus bar accommodating chamber 34a of the second common electrode bus bar accommodating member 34 is formed in an L-shape that can accommodate the L-shaped second common electrode bus bar 23 with one flat surface 23a facing the bottom (FIG. 7). The second common electrode bus bar accommodating member 34 has a cylindrical portion with open ends that defines the L-shaped common electrode bus bar accommodating chamber 34a inside. The second common electrode bus bar 23 is inserted into the common electrode bus bar accommodating chamber 34a from the opening at one end with one flat surface 23a facing the electrode terminal 11a. The common electrode bus bar accommodating chamber 34a is provided with a bus bar locking portion (not shown) that uses the opening at the other end as a bottom portion to secure the second common electrode bus bar 23 within the chamber. The bus bar locking portion is provided at a position that does not interfere with the connection between the second common electrode bus bar 23 and the electrode terminal 11a at the opening at the other end of the common electrode bus bar accommodating chamber 34a. For example, the bus bar locking portions are provided at the opening at the other end of the common pole bus bar accommodating chamber 34a to lock the corners of the second common pole bus bar 23 at a plurality of locations on the opening side at the other end.

[0041] The common pole bus bar accommodating chamber 35a of the third common pole bus bar accommodating member 35 is formed in an L-shape that can accommodate the L-shaped second common pole bus bar 23 with the other flat surface 23b facing the bottom (FIG. 8). The third common pole bus bar accommodating member 35 has a cylindrical portion with open ends that defines the L-shaped common pole bus bar accommodating chamber 35a inside. The second common pole bus bar 23 is inserted into the common pole bus bar accommodating chamber 35a from the opening at one end with the other flat surface 23b facing the electrode terminal 11a. The common pole bus bar accommodating chamber 35a is provided with a bus bar locking portion (not shown) that uses the opening at the other end as a bottom portion to secure the second common pole bus bar 23 within the chamber. The bus bar locking portion is provided at a position that does not interfere with the connection between the second common pole bus bar 23 and the electrode terminal 11a at the opening at the other end of the common pole bus bar accommodating chamber 35a. For example, the bus bar locking portions are provided at the opening at the other end of the common pole bus bar accommodating chamber 35a to lock the corners of the second common pole bus bar 23 at a plurality of locations on the opening side at the other end.

[0042] The second common-pole bus bar accommodating member 34 and the third common-pole bus bar accommodating member 35 have connected portions 42 similar to those of the first common-pole bus bar accommodating member 33 (FIGS. 7 and 8). Therefore, the second common-pole bus bar accommodating member 34 and the third common-pole bus bar accommodating member 35 can be assembled to one end 32b of the common accommodating member 32 via the connecting portions 41, or can be assembled to the other end 32c of the common accommodating member 32 via the connecting portions 41.

[0043] The conductive module components of this modification constitute a first conductive module BM1 to be assembled to one of the electrode terminal groups 12 (first electrode terminal group 12A) in the first battery module group and one of the electrode terminal groups 12 (first electrode terminal group 12A) in the second battery module group (FIG. 6). This first conductive module BM1 is composed of the same components as those exemplified above.

[0044] The conductive module components of this modification form a second conductive module BM2 to be assembled to the other electrode terminal group 12 (second electrode terminal group 12B) of each of the first battery module groups (FIG. 6). This second conductive module BM2 is composed of the same components as those exemplified above.

[0045] The conductive module components of this modification form a third conductive module BM3 to be assembled to one of the other electrode terminal groups 12 (second electrode terminal group 12B) in the second battery module group (FIGS. 6 and 7). The third conductive module BM3 includes a common housing member 32, inter-cell bus bars 21 housed in the inter-cell bus bar housing chambers 32a of the common housing member 32, a first common pole bus bar housing member 33 connected to the other end 32c of the common housing member 32, a first common pole bus bar 22 housed in the common pole bus bar housing chamber 33a of the first common pole bus bar housing member 33, a second common pole bus bar housing member 34 connected to one end 32b of the common housing member 32, and a second common pole bus bar 23 housed in the common pole bus bar housing chamber 34a of the second common pole bus bar housing member 34 (FIG. 7). In other words, this third conductive module BM3 includes one common accommodating member 32, a plurality of identically shaped inter-cell bus bars 21 accommodated in this common accommodating member 32, one first general pole bus bar accommodating member 33, one first general pole bus bar 22 accommodated in this first general pole bus bar accommodating member 33, one second general pole bus bar accommodating member 34, and one second general pole bus bar 23 accommodated in this second general pole bus bar accommodating member 34.

[0046] The conductive module components of this modification form a fourth conductive module BM4 to be assembled to another one of the other electrode terminal groups 12 (second electrode terminal group 12B) in the second battery module group (FIGS. 6 and 8). The fourth conductive module BM4 includes a common housing member 32, inter-cell bus bars 21 housed in the inter-cell bus bar housing chambers 32a of the common housing member 32, a first common pole bus bar housing member 33 connected to the other end 32c of the common housing member 32, a first common pole bus bar 22 housed in the common pole bus bar housing chamber 33a of the first common pole bus bar housing member 33, a third common pole bus bar housing member 35 connected to one end 32b of the common housing member 32, and a second common pole bus bar 23 housed in the common pole bus bar housing chamber 35a of the third common pole bus bar housing member 35 (FIG. 8). In other words, this fourth conductive module BM4 includes one common accommodating member 32, a plurality of identically shaped inter-cell bus bars 21 accommodated in this common accommodating member 32, one first general pole bus bar accommodating member 33, one first general pole bus bar 22 accommodated in this first general pole bus bar accommodating member 33, one third general pole bus bar accommodating member 35, and one second general pole bus bar 23 accommodated in this third general pole bus bar accommodating member 35.

[0047] In this way, the conductive module components of this modified example include two common accommodating members 32, a plurality of identically shaped inter-cell bus bars 21 accommodated in each common accommodating member 32, two first general pole bus bar accommodating members 33, two first general pole bus bars 22 accommodated in each first general pole bus bar accommodating member 33, one second general pole bus bar accommodating member 34, one third general pole bus bar accommodating member 35, and two second general pole bus bars 23 accommodated in the second general pole bus bar accommodating member 34 and the third general pole bus bar accommodating member 35, and these components form a third conductive module BM3 and a fourth conductive module BM4.

[0048] In this battery pack 2, one battery module 10 of the first battery module group and one battery module 10 of the second battery module group are arranged side by side in the arrangement direction (FIG. 6). In this battery pack 2, the common electrode terminal 11a at one end of the second electrode terminal group 12B of one battery module 10 of the first battery module group faces the common electrode terminal 11a at the other end of the second electrode terminal group 12B of one battery module 10 of the second battery module group in the arrangement direction. Therefore, in this battery pack 2, the first common electrode bus bar 22 connected to the common electrode terminal 11a at one end faces the first common electrode bus bar 22 connected to the common electrode terminal 11a at the other end in the arrangement direction (FIG. 6). In this battery pack 2, the pair of first common electrode bus bars 22 are electrically connected to each other by a first conductive member 61 (FIG. 6). As the first conductive member 61, for example, an electric wire, a flexible printed circuit board, or the like is used, similarly to the conductive member 51 exemplified above.

[0049] In this battery pack 2, the other battery module 10 of the first battery module group and the other battery module 10 of the second battery module group are arranged side by side in the arrangement direction (FIG. 6). In this battery pack 2, the common electrode terminal 11a at one end of the second electrode terminal group 12B of the other battery module 10 of the first battery module group faces the common electrode terminal 11a at the other end of the second electrode terminal group 12B of the other battery module 10 of the second battery module group in the arrangement direction. Therefore, in this battery pack 2, the first common electrode bus bar 22 connected to the common electrode terminal 11a at one end faces the first common electrode bus bar 22 connected to the common electrode terminal 11a at the other end in the arrangement direction (FIG. 6). In this battery pack 2, the pair of first common electrode bus bars 22 are electrically connected to each other by a second conductive member 62 (FIG. 6). As the second conductive member 62, for example, an electric wire, a flexible printed circuit board, or the like is used, similarly to the conductive member 51 exemplified above.

[0050] In addition, in this battery pack 2, the second common pole bus bars 23 housed in the second common pole bus bar housing member 34 and the third common pole bus bar housing member 35 are electrically connected to each other by a third conductive member 63 (FIG. 6). As the third conductive member 63, for example, an electric wire, a flexible printed circuit board, or the like is used, similar to the conductive member 51 exemplified above.

[0051] In this battery pack 2, for example, in one battery module 10 of the first battery module group, the first common electrode bus bar 22 housed in the other first common electrode bus bar housing member 33 is connected to the common positive electrode terminal 11a, and in the other battery module 10 of the first battery module group, the first common electrode bus bar 22 housed in the other first common electrode bus bar housing member 33 is connected to the common negative electrode terminal 11a. In this battery pack 2, the first common electrode bus bars 22 housed in the other first common electrode bus bar housing member 33 are connected to the electric junction box JB by fourth conductive members 64, and power is supplied via this electric junction box JB (FIG. 6). As in the case of the conductive member 51 illustrated above, for example, an electric wire, a flexible printed circuit board, or the like is used as the fourth conductive member 64.

[0052] When all battery modules 10 are configured with the same number of battery cells 11, the battery pack 2 and conductive module components described above can share the common housing member 32 with the second electrode terminal groups 12B of each battery module 10. The battery pack 2 and conductive module components can share the combination of the first general-pole bus bar housing member 33 and the first general-pole bus bar 22 at four locations in each second electrode terminal group 12B of the first battery module group and at two locations in each second electrode terminal group 12B of the second battery module group. Furthermore, the battery pack 2 and conductive module components can share the second general-pole bus bar 23 at two locations in each second electrode terminal group 12B of the second battery module group. Therefore, the battery pack 2 and conductive module components do not require dedicated conductive modules for each second electrode terminal group 12B of all battery modules 10. Therefore, the battery pack 2 and conductive module components of this modified example can suppress a rise in the cost of the housing members and bus bars to be assembled to the second electrode terminal group 12B.

[0053] Furthermore, in the battery pack 2 and conductive module components of this modification, the number of applications of the common housing member 32 increases as the number of battery modules 10 increases, thereby reducing costs by reducing the depreciation cost of the molding die for the common housing member 32. Furthermore, in the battery pack 2 and conductive module components of this modification, the housing member is divided into the common housing member 32 and the first common-pole bus bar housing member 33 for the second electrode terminal group 12B, or into the common housing member 32, the first common-pole bus bar housing member 33, and the second common-pole bus bar housing member 34, or into the common housing member 32, the first common-pole bus bar housing member 33, and the third common-pole bus bar housing member 35. Therefore, compared to the case where one housing member is used for the second electrode terminal group 12B, costs can be reduced by making the molding die more compact. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1,2 Battery pack 10 Battery Module 11 Battery Cells 11a Electrode terminal 12 electrode terminal group 12A One electrode terminal group (first electrode terminal group) 12B Other electrode terminal group (second electrode terminal group) 21 Inter-cell bus bar 22 Total-pole bus bar (first total-pole bus bar) 23 Second total pole bus bar 23a One plane 23b The other plane 31 Inter-cell bus bar housing member 31a Inter-cell bus bar housing 32b one end 32c other end 32 Common housing member 32a Inter-cell bus bar housing 33 common-pole bus bar housing member (first common-pole bus bar housing member) 33a, 34a, 35a Total bus bar housing 34 Second common-pole bus bar housing member 35 Third total pole bus bar housing member 41 Connecting part 42 Connected part 51 Conductive material 61 First conductive member 62 second conductive member 63 Third conductive member BM1 First conductive module BM2 Second Conduction Module BM3 Third Conduction Module BM4 4th Conduction Module

Claims

1. a plurality of battery modules in which a plurality of battery cells each having positive and negative electrode terminals are arranged, and each battery module is provided with a first electrode terminal group consisting of one of the electrode terminals of each of the battery cells arranged along the arrangement direction, and a second electrode terminal group consisting of the other of the electrode terminals of each of the battery cells arranged along the arrangement direction; a conductive module component that configures a conductive module for each of the electrode terminal groups of each of the battery modules; Equipped with The conductive module component comprises: an inter-cell bus bar that electrically connects a pair of the electrode terminals adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction in the electrode terminal group; a common-pole bus bar that can be physically and electrically connected to the common-pole electrode terminal assigned from among the electrode terminals of the electrode terminal group; an inter-cell bus bar accommodating member that is an assembly target for the electrode terminal group to which all of the electrode terminals are assigned as combinations of pairs of the electrode terminals adjacent in the arrangement direction, and that is provided with inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers for each of the inter-cell bus bars that accommodate the inter-cell bus bars for all of the combinations; a common accommodating member for assembling electrode terminal groups with total poles, in which both ends of all the electrode terminals are assigned as the positive and negative total pole bus bars, respectively, and the remainder are assigned as combinations of pairs of the electrode terminals adjacent in the arrangement direction, and in which inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers are provided for each of the inter-cell bus bars that accommodate the inter-cell bus bars for all of the combinations; a common-pole bus bar accommodating member to which the electrode terminal group with common poles is attached, the common-pole bus bar accommodating member having a common-pole bus bar accommodating chamber formed therein to accommodate the common-pole bus bar; the number of which corresponds to the electrode terminal group and the electrode terminals of the electrode terminal group, The common housing member has connecting portions of the same shape at one end and the other end in the arrangement direction, the common bus bar housing member is provided with a connected portion that is connected to the one end of the common housing member by being assembled to the connecting portion at the one end of the common housing member, and that is connected to the other end of the common housing member by being assembled to the connecting portion at the other end of the common housing member.

2. a pair of the battery modules arranged perpendicular to the arrangement direction, a first conductive module is assembled to one of the electrode terminal groups in each of the pair of battery modules, the first conductive module including the inter-cell bus bar accommodating member and the inter-cell bus bars accommodated in the inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers of the inter-cell bus bar accommodating member; 2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein a second conductive module is assembled to the other electrode terminal group of each of the pair of battery modules, the second conductive module including the common housing member, the inter-cell bus bars housed in the inter-cell bus bar housing chambers of the common housing member, one of the common bus bar housing members connected to the one end of the common housing member, the common bus bar housed in the common bus bar housing chamber of the one of the common bus bar housing members, the other common bus bar housing member connected to the other end of the common housing member, and the common bus bar housed in the common bus bar housing chamber of the other common bus bar housing member.

3. 3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the common-pole bus bars housed in each of the common-pole bus bar housing members are electrically connected to each other by a conductive member.

4. The conductive module component comprises: a second common pole bus bar having a flat plate shape that is different in shape from the common pole bus bar serving as a first common pole bus bar and that can be physically and electrically connected to the electrode terminal for the common pole; a second common pole bus bar accommodating member having a shape different from the common pole bus bar accommodating chamber of the common pole bus bar accommodating member as a first common pole bus bar accommodating member, the second common pole bus bar accommodating member having a common pole bus bar accommodating chamber with one flat surface facing a bottom and accommodating the second common pole bus bar; a third common pole bus bar accommodating member in which a common pole bus bar accommodating chamber that has a shape different from the common pole bus bar accommodating chambers of the first common pole bus bar accommodating member and the second common pole bus bar accommodating member and that accommodates the second common pole bus bar with the other flat surface facing a bottom; Equipped with the second common-pole bus bar accommodating member and the third common-pole bus bar accommodating member have the connected portion, a second pair of battery modules arranged on one of the first common-pole bus bar housing members in the arrangement direction relative to the first pair of battery modules; the first conductive module is assembled to one of the electrode terminal groups of each of the other pair of battery modules; a third conductive module is assembled to one of the other electrode terminal groups in each of the other pair of battery modules, the third conductive module including the common housing member, the inter-cell bus bars housed in the inter-cell bus bar housing chambers of the common housing member, the first general pole bus bar housing member connected to the other end of the common housing member, the first general pole bus bar housed in the general pole bus bar housing chamber of the first general pole bus bar housing member, the second general pole bus bar housing member connected to the one end of the common housing member, and the second general pole bus bar housed in the general pole bus bar housing chamber of the second general pole bus bar housing member; 3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein a fourth conductive module is assembled to another of the other electrode terminal groups in each of the other pair of battery modules, the fourth conductive module including the common housing member, the inter-cell bus bars housed in the inter-cell bus bar housing chambers of the common housing member, the first common pole bus bar housing member connected to the other end of the common housing member, the first common pole bus bar housed in the common pole bus bar housing chamber of the first common pole bus bar housing member, the third common pole bus bar housing member connected to the one end of the common housing member, and the second common pole bus bar housed in the common pole bus bar housing chamber of the third common pole bus bar housing member.

5. 5. The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein one pair of the first general pole bus bars facing each other in the arrangement direction are electrically connected to each other by a first conductive member, the other pair of the first general pole bus bars facing each other in the arrangement direction are electrically connected to each other by a second conductive member, and the second general pole bus bars housed in the second general pole bus bar housing member and the third general pole bus bar housing member are electrically connected to each other by a third conductive member.

6. a plurality of battery cells each having a positive and negative electrode terminal are arranged in a battery module, and a first electrode terminal group is provided which is made up of one of the electrode terminals of each of the battery cells arranged in the arrangement direction, and a second electrode terminal group is provided which is made up of the other of the electrode terminals of each of the battery cells arranged in the arrangement direction, and a conductive module is configured for each of the electrode terminal groups of the plurality of battery modules, an inter-cell bus bar that electrically connects a pair of the electrode terminals adjacent to each other in the arrangement direction in the electrode terminal group; a common-pole bus bar that can be physically and electrically connected to the common-pole electrode terminal assigned from among the electrode terminals of the electrode terminal group; an inter-cell bus bar accommodating member that is an assembly target for the electrode terminal group to which all of the electrode terminals are assigned as combinations of pairs of the electrode terminals adjacent in the arrangement direction, and that is provided with inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers for each of the inter-cell bus bars that accommodate the inter-cell bus bars for all of the combinations; a common accommodating member for assembling electrode terminal groups with total poles, in which both ends of all the electrode terminals are assigned as the positive and negative total pole bus bars, respectively, and the remainder are assigned as combinations of pairs of the electrode terminals adjacent in the arrangement direction, and in which inter-cell bus bar accommodating chambers are provided for each of the inter-cell bus bars that accommodate the inter-cell bus bars for all of the combinations; a common-pole bus bar accommodating member to which the electrode terminal group with common poles is attached, the common-pole bus bar accommodating member having a common-pole bus bar accommodating chamber formed therein to accommodate the common-pole bus bar; the number of which corresponds to the electrode terminal group and the electrode terminals of the electrode terminal group, The common housing member has connecting portions of the same shape at one end and the other end in the arrangement direction, a common housing member having a connecting portion which is assembled to the connecting portion at the one end of the common housing member to connect the common bus bar housing member to one end of the common housing member, and which is assembled to the connecting portion at the other end of the common housing member to connect the common bus bar housing member to the other end of the common housing member.

Images