restraint device

Abstract

The present invention provides a restraint device that can prevent a stacked energy storage module restrained by the restraint device from colliding with the restraint device due to overturning. [Solution] The laminated unit 1 comprises a laminate 10 and a restraint device 20. The restraint device 20 restrains the laminate 10. The restraint device 20 comprises a first restraint plate 30, a second restraint plate 50, a connecting member 70, and a buffer member 100. The laminated unit 1, which is placed on a mounting base X and formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, has a mounting surface 2 facing the mounting base X, an upper surface 3 spaced apart from the mounting surface 2 in the vertical direction V, and a circumferential surface 4 connecting the mounting surface 2 and the upper surface 3. The mounting surface 2 has a first end surface 6a and a second end surface 6b spaced apart in the width direction W, and the circumferential surface 4 has a first end surface 5a and a second end surface 5b spaced apart in the width direction W. The first end surface 5a is formed to rise from the first end surface 6a. The cushioning member 100 is provided on the first end face 5a and is formed to protrude from the first end face 5a.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a restraint device.

Background Art

[0002] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-216073 (Patent Document 1) discloses a power storage device including a laminate having a plurality of power storage modules arranged in a stacking direction and a restraint device that restrains the laminate in the stacking direction.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the power storage device described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2019-216073, for example, when the power storage device topples over, it is conceivable that the positions of the power storage modules of the laminate shift. In this case, the power storage modules may collide with the restraint device, and the power storage modules may be damaged.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a restraint device capable of suppressing the power storage modules of the laminate restrained by the restraint device from colliding with the restraint device due to toppling over.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The restraint device relating to the first aspect of this disclosure forms a laminate unit together with the laminate. The restraint device restrains a laminate including a plurality of energy storage modules arranged in the stacking direction. The laminate includes a first main surface and a second main surface spaced apart from the first main surface in the stacking direction. The restraint device comprises a first restraint plate positioned opposite the first main surface of the laminate, a second restraint plate positioned opposite the second main surface of the laminate, a connecting member connecting the first restraint plate and the second restraint plate, and a buffer member. The connecting member includes a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion arranged in the width direction. The laminate unit, which is placed on a mounting base and formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, has a mounting surface facing the mounting base, an upper surface spaced apart from the mounting surface in the upright direction, and a circumferential surface connecting the mounting surface and the upper surface. The mounting surface has a first end edge and a second end edge spaced apart in the width direction. The circumferential surface has a first end face and a second end face arranged at intervals in the width direction. The first end face is formed to rise from the first end edge. The cushioning member is a restraining device provided on the first end face and formed to protrude from the first end face. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the restraining device described herein, it is possible to suppress the collision of the energy storage module of the stacked structure restrained by the restraining device with the restraining device caused by overturning. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] A schematic perspective view of the laminated assembly according to this embodiment is shown. [Figure 2] This shows an exploded perspective view of the laminated assembly according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] A schematic perspective view of a laminate assembly according to Modification 1 of this embodiment is shown. [Figure 4] A plan view of a laminated assembly according to a modified example 2 of this embodiment is shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions will not be repeated.

[0010] In the embodiments of this disclosure, a restraining device 20 for forming a laminate assembly 1, which is one form of a laminate unit, will be described. Note that the laminate assembly 1 is one form in the manufacturing process of an energy storage device. <Basic configuration of laminated assembly> Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the laminate assembly according to this embodiment. The lamination direction H shown in Figure 1 indicates the lamination direction of the laminate 10. The width direction W indicates the width direction of the laminate assembly 1. The upright direction V indicates the upright direction of the laminate assembly 1.

[0011] The laminated assembly 1 is placed on a mounting base X and is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The laminated assembly 1 has a mounting surface 2, an upper surface 3, and a first circumferential surface 4.

[0012] The mounting surface 2 is the surface facing the mounting base. The upper surface 3 is arranged at a distance from the mounting surface 2 in the upright direction V. The mounting surface 2 has a first end edge 6a and a second end edge 6b. The first end edge 6a and the second end edge 6b are spaced apart in the width direction W. The first circumferential surface 4 connects the outer peripheral edge of the mounting surface 2 and the outer peripheral edge of the upper surface 3. The first circumferential surface 4 has a first end surface 5a and a second end surface 5b. The first end surface 5a and the second end surface 5b are spaced apart in the width direction W. The first end surface 5a is formed to rise from the first end edge 6a in the upright direction V. The second end surface 5b is formed to rise from the second end edge 6b in the upright direction V.

[0013] Laminated assembly 1 is an example of a “laminated unit” in this disclosure. First circumferential surface 4 is an example of a “circumferential surface” in this disclosure.

[0014] The laminate assembly 1 includes a restraint device 20, a laminate 10, and elastic sheets 17, 18 (refer to FIG. 2). The restraint device 20 sandwiches the elastic sheets 17, 18 and restrains the laminate 10.

[0015] FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the laminate assembly. The laminate 10 is formed, for example, in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The laminate 10 has a first main surface 11, a second main surface 12, and a connection surface 13.

[0016] The first main surface 11 and the second main surface 12 are both end faces of the laminate 10 arranged at intervals in the lamination direction H. Note that the first main surface 11 is located near the first restraint plate 30 with respect to the second main surface 12.

[0017] The connection surface 13 is a surface that connects the outer peripheral edge of the first main surface 11 and the outer peripheral edge of the second main surface 12. The connection surface 13 has a third end face 14a and a fourth end face 14b. The third end face 14a and the fourth end face 14b are arranged at intervals in the width direction W.

[0018] The laminate 10 includes a plurality of power storage modules 15 and a plurality of inclusions 16. The inclusions 16 are laminated in the lamination direction H with the power storage modules 15 sandwiched therebetween. The inclusion 16 is formed of a conductive plate and two elastic bodies. The two elastic bodies sandwich the conductive plate and are arranged in the lamination direction H. Each of the two elastic bodies may be covered with a conductive material on the periphery. Thereby, the power storage modules 15 adjacent to each other with the inclusion 16 sandwiched therebetween are electrically connected. Note that the inclusion 16 adjacent to the elastic sheets 17, 18 may be formed of one elastic body and a conductive plate. In this case, the conductive plate is adjacent to the elastic sheet 17 or the elastic sheet 18.

[0019] The elastic sheets 17, 18 are provided on the first main surface 11 and the second main surface 12, respectively. When the elastic sheets 17, 18 are viewed in a plan view from a position away from the elastic sheets in the lamination direction H, the elastic sheets 17, 18 are formed in the same shape as the first main surface 11 of the laminate 10.

[0020] The restraint device 20 includes a first restraint plate 30, a second restraint plate 50, and a connecting member 70. The first restraint plate 30 and the second restraint plate 50 sandwich the laminate 10 therebetween and are arranged at intervals in the stacking direction H. That is, the first restraint plate 30 sandwiches the elastic sheet 17 therebetween and is disposed at a position facing the first main surface 11 in the stacking direction H. The second restraint plate 50 sandwiches the elastic sheet 18 therebetween and is disposed at a position facing the second main surface 12 in the stacking direction H. Since the second restraint plate 50 has substantially the same configuration as the first restraint plate 30, mainly the configuration of the first restraint plate 30 will be described.

[0021] The first restraint plate 30 is a plate-like member. When the first restraint plate 30 is viewed in a plan view from a position away from the first restraint plate 30 in the stacking direction H, the first restraint plate 30 is formed so as to cover the laminate 10.

[0022] The first restraint plate 30 has a first outer surface 36a, a first inner surface 36b, and a second peripheral surface 37. The first outer surface 36a and the first inner surface 36b are arranged at intervals in the stacking direction H. The first inner surface 36b is disposed at a position facing the first main surface 11. The second peripheral surface 37 connects the first outer surface 36a and the first inner surface 36b. The second peripheral surface 37 has a first end portion 39a and a second end portion 39b. The first end portion 39a and the second end portion 39b are arranged at intervals in the width direction W. A first notch portion 33a is formed in the first end portion 39a. A second notch portion 33b is formed in the second end portion 39b. The first notch portion 33a and the second notch portion 33b are arranged at intervals in the width direction W.

[0023] The first restraint plate 30 has a thin plate 41, a thin plate 42, and a beam portion 43. The thin plates 41 and 42 are each formed so as to cover the beam portion 43. The thin plates 41 and 42 sandwich the beam portion 43 therebetween and are arranged at intervals in the stacking direction H. The thin plate 42 is disposed closer to the laminate 10 side than the thin plate 41 in the stacking direction H.

[0024] The beam section 43 is formed to extend in the width direction W. The beam sections 43 are arranged with a gap in the upright direction V, with the first notch 33a and the second notch 33b sandwiched between them.

[0025] The second restraint plate 50 has substantially the same configuration as the first restraint plate 30. The second restraint plate 50, like the first restraint plate 30, has a second outer surface 56a, a second inner surface 56b, and a third circumferential surface 57. The third circumferential surface 57 has a third end 59a and a fourth end 59b. A first notch 53a is formed in the third end 59a. A second notch 53b is formed in the fourth end 59b. When the second restraint plate 50 and the first restraint plate 30 are viewed in plan from a position away from the second restraint plate 50 in the stacking direction H, the first notch 53a is positioned to overlap with the first notch 33a, and the second notch 53b is positioned to overlap with the second notch 33b.

[0026] The second restraint plate 50, like the first restraint plate 30, has thin plates 61 and 62 and a beam portion 63. The thin plates 61 and 62 are each formed to cover the beam portion 63. The thin plates 61 and 62 are arranged in the stacking direction H with the beam portion 63 in between and at intervals. Compared to the thin plate 61, the thin plate 62 is positioned closer to the laminate 10 in the stacking direction H. The beam portion 63 is formed to extend in the width direction W.

[0027] The first end 39a and the third end 59a form the first end face 5a. The second end 39b and the fourth end 59b form the second end face 5b.

[0028] The connecting member 70 connects the first restraint plate 30 and the second restraint plate 50 with the laminate 10 positioned between them. The connecting member 70 has a first connecting portion 80 and a second connecting portion 90. The first connecting portion 80 and the second connecting portion 90 are arranged with a gap in the width direction W, with the laminate 10 in between. The first connecting portion 80 is positioned opposite the third end face 14a. The second connecting portion 90 is positioned opposite the fourth end face 14b.

[0029] The first connecting section 80 has a frame 81 and a plurality of column members 84. The frame 81 is formed to extend in the vertical direction V. The frame 81 has an upper frame 82 and a lower frame 83. The upper frame 82 and the lower frame 83 are spaced apart in the stacking direction H. When the upper frame 82 is viewed from above from a position away from the upper frame 82 in the stacking direction H, the upper frame 82 is formed to extend in the vertical direction V. The upper frame 82 is positioned in contact with the first restraint plate 30. When the lower frame 83 is viewed from above from a position away from the lower frame 83 in the stacking direction H, the lower frame 83 is formed to extend in the vertical direction V. The lower frame 83 is positioned in contact with the second restraint plate 50. The column members 84 are formed to extend in the stacking direction H. The plurality of column members 84 are spaced apart in the vertical direction V. The column member 84 is positioned to pass through the first notch 33a and the first notch 53a, and connects the upper frame 82 and the lower frame 83.

[0030] The second connecting section 90 has substantially the same configuration as the first connecting section 80. That is, the second connecting section 90 has a frame 91 and a plurality of column members 94. The frame 91 has an upper frame 92 and a lower frame 93. The column members 94 are arranged to pass through the second notch 33b and the second notch 53b, and connect the upper frame 92 and the lower frame 93. <Cushioning material> Referring again to Figure 1, the restraint device 20 further includes a buffer member 100. The buffer member 100 is connected to the first end edge 6a and is provided at the first end 39a and the third end 59a that form the first end face 5a. The buffer member 100 is formed to protrude from the first end face in the width direction W.

[0031] In the above embodiment, the restraint device 20 has a cushioning member 100. This makes it possible to suppress collision between the restraint device 20 and the laminate assembly 1 caused by its overturning.

[0032] Referring to Figure 1, the details of the collision suppression effect will be explained. Figure 1 shows the time series when the laminated assembly 1 falls from the mounting base X and overturns. When the laminated assembly 1 falls from the mounting base X onto the base B, it starts to rotate in the rotational direction R with the cushioning member 100 as the pivot point. Next, when the laminated assembly 1 overturns, the rotational motion of the laminated assembly 1 applies an impact load F to point A located on the outer edge of the first restraint plate 30. The impact load F can be vector-decomposed into an upright load Fv and a widthwise load Fw using the angle α between the base B and the laminated assembly 1. The angle α is determined by the overhang t of the cushioning member 100. The upright load Fv is the impact load F acting in the upright direction V, and the widthwise load Fw is the impact load F acting in the widthwise direction W. When a widthwise load Fw is applied to the laminated assembly 1, inertia acts on the laminated body 10, and the energy storage module 15 may move in the widthwise direction W. As a result, it is conceivable that the energy storage module 15 of the laminated body 10 may collide with the connecting member 70.

[0033] As shown in this embodiment, the restraining device 20 has a cushioning member 100, so that the angle α is 0° or greater. When the angle α is 0° or greater, a portion of the impact load F acts in the upright direction V as an upright direction load Fv. As a result, the widthwise load Fw when the angle α is 0° or greater is less than when the angle α is 0°. Consequently, when the laminate assembly 1 is rolled over, it is possible to suppress the shifting of the energy storage module 15 of the laminate 10 in the widthwise direction W and collision with the connecting member 70. <Example 1> In the above embodiment, an example of a laminated assembly 1 in a orientation where the stacking direction H is perpendicular to the upright direction V was shown, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the stacking direction H may be in the same direction as the upright direction V.

[0034] Figure 3 shows a laminate assembly 1 placed on a mounting base such that the stacking direction H and the upright direction V are in the same direction. The laminate assembly 1 has a mounting surface 2, an upper surface 3, and a first circumferential surface 4. The mounting surface 2 and the upper surface 3 are spaced apart in the upright direction V, which is in the same direction as the stacking direction H. The mounting surface 2 has a first end edge 6a and a second end edge 6b. The first end edge 6a and the second end edge 6b are spaced apart in the width direction W. The first circumferential surface 4 connects the outer peripheral edge of the mounting surface 2 and the outer peripheral edge of the upper surface 3. The first circumferential surface 4 has a first end face 5a and a second end face 5b. The first end face 5a and the second end face 5b are spaced apart in the width direction W. The first end face 5a is formed to rise from the first end edge 6a in the upright direction V. The second end face 5b is formed to rise from the second end edge 6b in the vertical direction V.

[0035] The buffer member 100 is connected to the first end edge 6a and is provided at the third end portion 59a which forms the first end face 5a. The buffer member 100 is formed to protrude from the first end face 5a in the width direction W. <Modification 2> In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the cushioning member 100 is formed to protrude in the width direction W from the first end face 5a, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the restraining device 20 does not have to have the cushioning member 100. In addition, as shown in Figure 4, the first connecting portion 80 and the second connecting portion 90 may be formed to protrude in the width direction W. More specifically, in the first connecting portion 80, when the upper frame 82 and the lower frame 83 are viewed from a position away from the stacking direction H, the upper frame 82 may protrude in the width direction W in an arc shape from the first end face 5a, and the lower frame 83 may protrude in the width direction W in an arc shape from the first end face 5a. The same applies to the second connecting portion 90. As a result, as shown in Figure 4, if the laminated assembly 1 is rolled over, the impact load applied to the laminated assembly 1 can be reduced.

[0036] In the above embodiment, the restraint device 20 was shown as forming a laminate assembly 1 as a laminate unit, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the restraint device 20 may form an energy storage device as a laminate unit. The energy storage device is used, for example, as a battery for a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle), or FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle). The intervening material 16 forming the laminate 10 in the energy storage device is a cooling device or a conductive plate. The energy storage device as a laminate unit does not have to have elastic sheets 17, 18. Except as stated above, the energy storage device has substantially the same configuration as the laminate assembly 1.

[0037] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of this disclosure is indicated by the claims rather than by the description of the embodiments above, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0038] 1 laminate assembly, 2 placement surface, 3 upper surface, 4 first peripheral surface, 5a first end surface, 5b second end surface, 6a first end side, 6b second end side, 10 laminate, 15 electricity storage module, 16 inclusion, 20 restraint device, 30 first restraint plate, 39a first end, 39b second end, 50 second restraint plate, 59a 3rd end, 59b 4th end, 70 connection member, 80 1st connection, 90 2nd connection, 100 buffer member, A point, B foundation, F impact load, Fv upright direction load, Fw width direction load, t overhang amount, X mounting table, α angle.

Claims

[Claim 1] The laminated unit comprises a laminate and a restraining device. The restraining device restrains the stack, which includes a plurality of energy storage modules arranged in the stacking direction. The laminate includes a first main surface and a second main surface arranged at a distance from the first main surface in the stacking direction. The restraint device includes a first restraint plate positioned opposite the first main surface of the laminate, A second restraint plate is positioned opposite the second main surface of the laminate, A connecting member that connects the first restraint plate and the second restraint plate, It comprises a cushioning member, The connecting member includes a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion arranged in the width direction. The stacked unit, which is placed on a mounting base and formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, has a mounting surface facing the mounting base, an upper surface arranged at a distance from the mounting surface in the upright direction, and a circumferential surface connecting the mounting surface and the upper surface. The mounting surface has a first edge and a second edge that are spaced apart in the width direction, The circumferential surface has a first end face and a second end face that are spaced apart in the width direction. The first end face is formed to rise from the first edge, The cushioning member is provided on the first end face and is formed to protrude from the first end face, and is a restraining device.

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