Battery cell holder, battery module, and battery pack

Abstract

To provide a battery cell holder that can house a plurality of sizes of battery cells without an increase in cost, a battery module, and a battery pack.SOLUTION: A battery cell holder comprises a housing part housing cylinder-like battery cells. The housing part includes a first housing part that is a cylinder-like space having a first diameter, and a second housing part that is a cylinder-like space having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter. In top view, the battery cell holder has a shape in which an outer periphery of the first housing part and an outer periphery of the second housing part are partially combined with each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery cell holder, a battery module, and a battery pack. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a battery module mounted on a vehicle or the like uses a battery cell holder capable of holding a plurality of battery cells.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a battery cell holder that includes a plurality of cylindrical storage portions corresponding to the size of cylindrical battery cells. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-61466 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Generally, battery modules come in a variety of sizes depending on their capacity and application. However, the battery cell holder of Patent Document 1 can only accommodate battery cells of one size because all of the accommodation sections are the same size.

[0006] Therefore, when using multiple types of battery cells with different diameters, it is necessary to newly design and manufacture a cell holder having a housing portion corresponding to each diameter, which poses a cost problem.

[0007] An object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a battery cell holder, a battery module, and a battery pack that can accommodate battery cells of multiple sizes without incurring additional costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A battery cell holder according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is a battery cell holder having a storage section for storing a cylindrical battery cell, the storage section including a first storage section which is a cylindrical space having a first diameter, and a second storage section which is a cylindrical space having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and when viewed from above, the outer periphery of the first storage section and the outer periphery of the second storage section are partially combined together.

[0009] A battery module according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes the battery cell holder according to the above-described aspect of the present disclosure.

[0010] A battery pack according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes the battery module according to the above aspect of the present disclosure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to accommodate battery cells of a variety of sizes without incurring additional costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a cell holder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a top view of a cell holder according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are a top view and a cross-sectional view of a storage unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are a top view and a cross-sectional view of a housing portion when a small cell according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is housed therein; [Figure 5] 1A and 1B are a top view and a cross-sectional view of a storage section when a large cell according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is stored; [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a top view of a storage section according to a first modified example of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are a top view and a cross-sectional view of a storage section according to a second modification of the present disclosure; [Figure 8]10A and 10B are a top view and a cross-sectional view of a housing section when housing a small cell according to a second modification of the present disclosure; [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are a top view and a cross-sectional view of a storage section when a large cell according to a second modification of the present disclosure is stored; [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are a top view and a cross-sectional view of a storage section according to a third modification of the present disclosure; [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are a top view and a cross-sectional view of a housing portion when a small cell according to a third modification of the present disclosure is housed therein; [Figure 12] 10A and 10B are a top view and a cross-sectional view of a storage section when a large cell according to a third modification of the present disclosure is stored; [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a top view of a cell holder according to a third modification of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] A battery cell holder 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to FIGS.

[0014] The battery cell holder 100 of this embodiment is a member for holding a plurality of battery cells in a battery module.

[0015] First, the configuration of the battery cell holder 100 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the battery cell holder 100. Figure 2 is a top view of the battery cell holder 100.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 1, the battery cell holder 100 has a rectangular parallelepiped housing 1 with an open top, and a flat lid 2 that covers the top of the housing 1. Note that Fig. 1 omits a portion of the side surface of the housing 1 and most of the lid 2.

[0017] A storage section 4 that stores a cylindrical battery cell (an example of a columnar shape) is provided on the bottom surface 3 of the housing 1. For convenience, only one storage section 4 is shown in Fig. 1, but in reality, multiple storage sections 4 are provided along the longitudinal direction (direction of arrow a) and the lateral direction (direction of arrow b) of the housing 1, as shown in Fig. 2. Note that Fig. 2 shows only a portion of the housing 1 (bottom surface 3).

[0018] As shown in Fig. 2, the plurality of storage sections 4 are spaced apart from one another. Also, as shown in Fig. 2, the plurality of storage sections 4 are arranged in a staggered manner. Furthermore, the first storage sections 5 and second storage sections 6 (described in detail later) included in the plurality of storage sections 4 are also arranged in a staggered manner.

[0019] Next, the configuration of the storage section 4 will be described with reference to Figs. 3 to 5. Fig. 3 is a top view and an AA cross-sectional view of the storage section 4 when no battery cell is stored. Fig. 4 is a top view and an AA cross-sectional view of the storage section 4 when a small-sized battery cell is stored. Fig. 5 is a top view and an AA cross-sectional view of the storage section 4 when a large-sized battery cell is stored. In Figs. 3 to 5, the upper view is a top view, and the lower view is an AA cross-sectional view. Note that the dotted lines and dash-dotted lines in Figs. 3 to 5 are virtual lines.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, the storage section 4 includes one first storage section 5 and three second storage sections 6.

[0021] The first storage section 5 is a cylindrical space having a center O1 and a first diameter, and the second storage section 6 is a cylindrical space having a center O2 and a second diameter smaller than the first diameter.

[0022] Furthermore, the housing portion 4 has a shape in which the outer periphery of the first housing portion 5 and the outer periphery of the second housing portion 4 are partially combined together when viewed from above (in other words, when viewed from the axial direction of the housing portion 4).

[0023] The above-described shape allows two types of battery cells of different sizes to be accommodated in the accommodation section 4. That is, as shown in Fig. 4, the second accommodation section 6 accommodates small-sized battery cells 7 (hereinafter referred to as small cells 7). Also, as shown in Fig. 5, the first accommodation section 5 accommodates large-sized battery cells 8 (hereinafter referred to as large cells 8).

[0024] 3, in a top view of the storage section 4, the center O2 of the second storage section 6 is preferably located outside the outer periphery of the first storage section 5. Alternatively, the center O2 of the second storage section 6 may be located on the outer periphery of the first storage section 5. This allows the second storage section 6 to have an arc with a central angle of 180 degrees or more in a top view, thereby increasing the holding force of the small cells 7.

[0025] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example has been described in which there are three second storage sections 6, but the number of second storage sections 6 that can be combined with one first storage section 5 may be at least two or more.

[0026] As described above, the battery cell holder 100 of this embodiment has a storage section 4 that stores a cylindrical battery cell, and the storage section 4 includes a first storage section 5 that is a cylindrical space having a first diameter, and a second storage section 6 that is a cylindrical space having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, and is characterized by a shape in which the outer periphery of the first storage section 5 and the outer periphery of the second storage section 6 are partially combined together when viewed from above.

[0027] This feature allows a single battery cell holder to accommodate multiple types of battery cells. Furthermore, by combining the first storage section 5 and the second storage section 6, the limited area of ​​the bottom surface 3 can be used efficiently, allowing more battery cells to be accommodated. Therefore, a battery cell holder that is both convenient and cost-effective can be provided.

[0028] Although not shown in the drawings, the battery module of this embodiment has the above-mentioned battery cell holder 100, and is realized by accommodating a plurality of battery cells (small cells 7 or large cells 8) in the battery cell holder 100. The accommodated plurality of battery cells are connected in series or parallel, and are used with the capacity, voltage, etc. adjusted to predetermined values.

[0029] Although not shown in the drawings, the battery pack of this embodiment is realized by including the above-described battery module. In addition to the battery module, the battery pack also includes, for example, a battery management system that monitors voltage and temperature, a charge / discharge circuit, a cooling mechanism, and the like.

[0030] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Modifications will be described below.

[0031] [Variation 1] In the embodiment, the case where a plurality of storage units 4 are provided spaced apart from each other (see FIG. 2) has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, two storage units 4 may be combined as in the storage unit 4a shown in FIG. 6.

[0032] [Variation 2] In the embodiment, the case where the depth (axial length) of the first housing portion 5 and the depth (axial length) of the second housing portion 6 are the same has been described as an example, but this is not limiting. For example, the depth of the first housing portion 5 may be deeper than the depth of the second housing portion 6. This case will be described below with reference to Figures 7 to 9. Figures 7 to 9 are top views and AA cross-sectional views of the housing portion 4, similar to Figures 3 to 5.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 7, the depth D1 of the first storage section 5 is deeper (longer) than the depth D2 of the second storage section 6. As shown in Fig. 8, small cells 7 are stored in the second storage section 6, and as shown in Fig. 9, large cells 8 are stored in the first storage section 5.

[0034] 8 and 9, in this modification, the axial length of the large cells 8 is longer than the axial length of the small cells 7 (in other words, the height of the large cells 8 is greater than the height of the small cells 7). On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, both the small cells 7 and the large cells 8 are housed in the storage section 4 without protruding from the top surface. In other words, in this modification, even if the small cells 7 and the large cells 8 have different axial lengths, the small cells 7 and the large cells 8 can be housed in the storage section 4 without protruding from the top surface.

[0035] Furthermore, in this modification, the holding force is improved in the lower part of the first housing portion 5 (the part that is deeper than the second housing portion 6).

[0036] [Variation 3] In the embodiment, the case where the housing section 4 has a shape in which one first housing section 5 and three second housing sections 6 are combined has been described as an example, but this is not limiting. Below, a housing section 9 having a shape in which one first housing section 5 and seven second housing sections 6 are combined will be described with reference to Figures 10 to 12. Figures 10 to 12 are top views and AA cross-sectional views of the housing section 9, similar to Figures 3 to 5.

[0037] As shown in the top view of Figure 10, the storage section 9 has a shape in which six second storage sections 6 are combined around the outer periphery of the first storage section 5, and one second storage section 6 is combined in the central part of the first storage section 5.

[0038] 10, in the storage section 9, the depth D2 of the second storage section 6 is deeper (longer) than the depth D1 of the first storage section 5. As shown in FIG. 11, the second storage section 6 stores small cells 7, and as shown in FIG. 12, the first storage section 5 stores large cells 8.

[0039] The above-described plurality of storage sections 9 may be provided spaced apart from one another on the bottom surface 3 of the housing 1, or may be provided in a combination of the plurality of storage sections 9 as shown in Fig. 13. Also, as shown in Fig. 13, the plurality of storage sections 9 (the first storage sections 5 and second storage sections 6 included therein) may be provided in a staggered arrangement.

[0040] [Variation 4] In the present embodiment, the battery cells have been described as being cylindrical, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the battery cells may be prismatic. In this case, the first housing portion 5 and the second housing portion 6 also have a prismatic shape. [Industrial Applicability]

[0041] The battery cell holder of the present disclosure is useful in technology for housing multiple battery cells. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1 chassis 2 lid 3 Bottom 4, 9 Storage section 5. First storage section 6 Second storage section 7 Small size battery cells (small cells) 8 large battery cells (large cells) 100 Battery Cell Holder

Claims

1. A battery cell holder having a housing portion for housing a columnar battery cell, The storage section is a first storage portion that is a cylindrical space having a first diameter; a second storage portion that is a columnar space having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter, When viewed from above, the outer periphery of the first housing portion and the outer periphery of the second housing portion are partially combined together. Battery cell holder.

2. When viewed from above, the center of the second housing portion is located on the outer periphery of the first housing portion or on the outer side of the outer periphery. The battery cell holder of claim 1 .

3. When viewed from above, at least two or more of the second housing sections are combined with one of the first housing sections. The battery cell holder of claim 1 .

4. The storage section is provided in plurality, When viewed from above, the first storage portions and the second storage portions included in the plurality of storage portions are respectively arranged in a staggered manner. The battery cell holder of claim 1 .

5. The depth of the first storage portion is greater than the depth of the second storage portion. The battery cell holder of claim 1 .

6. A battery module comprising the battery cell holder according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A battery pack comprising the battery module according to claim 6.

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