restraints

Abstract

The present invention provides a restraint device that can suppress uneven surface pressure from being applied to a restraint plate on a laminate that is restrained by the restraint device. [Solution] The restraint device 100 restrains a laminate 2 including a plurality of energy storage modules 6 stacked in the stacking direction H. The laminate 2 has a first end face 3 and a second end face 4 arranged in the stacking direction H, and a circumferential surface 5 connecting the first end face 3 and the second end face 4. The circumferential surface 5 has a first side surface 5a and a second side surface 5b arranged in the width direction W. The restraint device 100 includes a first restraint plate 20 provided on the first end face 3, a second restraint plate 30 provided on the second end face 4, a first ladder member 50 provided on the first side surface 5a and a second ladder member 60 provided on the second side surface 5b, and a connecting member 70 connecting the first ladder member 50 and the second ladder member 60.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a restraint device.

Background Art

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-091947 (Patent Document 1) discloses a restraint device including a laminate, a pair of restraint plates, and fastening bolts. The restraint plates are provided on both end faces in the lamination direction of the laminate. The restraint plates are fastened by the fastening bolts.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the restraint device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-091947, the outer peripheral portions of the pair of restraint plates are fastened by the fastening bolts. Here, when each of the pair of restraint plates is deflected by a load in the out-of-plane direction, there is a known problem that the surface pressure received by the laminate restrained by the restraint device having such a form becomes non-uniform. More specifically, the surface pressure from the restraint plate that is farther from the bolt fastening portion received by the laminate is smaller than the surface pressure from the outer peripheral portion of the restraint plate closer to the bolt fastening portion. In particular, the surface pressure at the central portion is smaller compared to the surface pressure at the outer peripheral portion. Note that the bolt fastening portion means a place where the restraint plate receives a restraint load from the fastening bolt.

[0005] This disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a restraint device capable of suppressing the non-uniform surface pressure received by the restrained laminate from the restraint plate.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A restraint according to the first aspect of this disclosure restrains a laminate including a plurality of energy storage modules stacked in the stacking direction. The laminate has a first end face and a second end face arranged in the stacking direction, and a circumferential surface connecting the first end face and the second end face. The circumferential surface has a first side surface and a second side surface arranged in the width direction. The restraint includes a first restraint plate provided on the first end face, a second restraint plate provided on the second end face, a first ladder member provided on the first side surface and a second ladder member provided on the second side surface, and a connecting member connecting the first ladder member and the second ladder member.

[0007] The restraint further includes a central beam. The first and second sides are formed to extend in the longitudinal direction intersecting the width direction. The connecting member includes at least one connecting beam connecting the first ladder member and the second ladder member. The central beam is formed to pass through the center in the width direction and to extend in the longitudinal direction L. The central beam is positioned on the first restraint plate.

[0008] The first restraint plate of the restraint device includes a first main surface facing the first end face of the laminate and a second main surface located opposite the first main surface in the lamination direction. At least one connecting beam includes a first connecting beam and a second connecting beam spaced longitudinally from the first connecting beam. The first and second connecting beams are spaced apart from the second main surface. The central beam is positioned between the first and second connecting beams and the second main surface, and presses against the second main surface.

[0009] The second restraint plate of the restraint device includes a third main surface facing the second end face and a fourth main surface located opposite the third main surface in the stacking direction. The first ladder member includes a first frame positioned on the second main surface of the first restraint plate, a second frame positioned on the fourth main surface of the second restraint plate, and a first column member connecting the first and second frames and provided on the first side. The second ladder member includes a third frame positioned on the second main surface of the first restraint plate, a fourth frame positioned on the fourth main surface of the second restraint plate, and a second column member connecting the third and fourth frames and provided on the second side. At least one connecting beam includes a third connecting beam connecting the center of the first frame and the center of the third frame in the longitudinal direction. The third connecting beam is provided at a distance from the second main surface. The central beam is positioned between the third connecting beam and the second main surface.

[0010] The central beam of the restraint is formed from an elastic material. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the restraint device described herein, it is possible to suppress the laminate being restrained by the restraint device from receiving uneven surface pressure from the restraint plate. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [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. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] 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.

[0014] In the embodiments of this disclosure, a restraint device 100 that forms a laminate assembly 1, which is one form of a laminate unit, will be described. Note that the laminate assembly 1 is one form during the manufacturing process of an energy storage device.

[0015] 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 2. The width direction W indicates the width direction of the laminate assembly 1. The length direction L indicates the length direction of the laminate assembly 1.

[0016] The laminated assembly 1 comprises a restraint 100 and a laminated body 2. The restraint 100 restrains the laminated body 2 in the lamination direction H.

[0017] Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the laminate assembly. The laminate 2 is formed, for example, in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. The laminate 2 has a first end face 3, a second end face 4, and a circumferential surface 5.

[0018] The first end face 3 and the second end face 4 are the end faces of the laminate 2, which are arranged with a gap in the stacking direction H. The first end face 3 is located closer to the first restraint plate 10 than the second end face 4.

[0019] The circumferential surface 5 is the surface connecting the outer peripheral edge of the first end face 3 and the outer peripheral edge of the second end face 4. The circumferential surface 5 has a first side surface 5a and a second side surface 5b. The first side surface 5a and the second side surface 5b are spaced apart in the width direction W. Each of the first side surface 5a and the second side surface 5b is formed to extend in the length direction L.

[0020] The laminate 2 includes a plurality of energy storage modules 6 and a plurality of inclusions 7. The inclusions 7 are stacked in the stacking direction H with the energy storage modules 6 sandwiched in between. The inclusions 7 are formed from a conductive plate and two elastic bodies. The two elastic bodies are arranged in the stacking direction H with the conductive plate in between. Each of the two elastic bodies may be covered with a conductive material. As a result, adjacent energy storage modules 6 with the inclusions 7 in between are electrically connected.

[0021] The restraint device 100 includes a first restraint plate 10, a second restraint plate 30, a first ladder member 50, a second ladder member 60, a first connection member 70, a first central beam 74, a second connection member 80, and a second central beam 84.

[0022] The first restraint plate 10 and the second restraint plate 30 sandwich the laminate 2 therebetween and are arranged at intervals in the lamination direction H. The first restraint plate 10 is provided at a position facing the first end face 3 in the lamination direction H. The second restraint plate 30 is disposed at a position facing the second end face 4 in the lamination direction H. Since the second restraint plate 30 has substantially the same configuration as the first restraint plate 10, the configuration of the first restraint plate 10 will mainly be described.

[0023] The first restraint plate 10 is a plate-shaped member. When the first restraint plate 10 is viewed in a plan view from a position away from the first restraint plate 10 in the lamination direction H, the first restraint plate 10 is formed so as to cover the laminate 2.

[0024] The first restraint plate 10 has a first main surface 13, a second main surface 14, and a first peripheral surface 15. The first main surface 13 and the second main surface 14 are arranged at intervals in the lamination direction H. The first main surface 13 is disposed at a position facing the first end face 3. The second main surface 14 is located on the opposite side of the first main surface 13 in the lamination direction H. The first peripheral surface 15 connects the second main surface 14 and the first main surface 13. The first peripheral surface 15 has a first end portion 15a and a second end portion 15b. The first end portion 15a and the second end portion 15b are arranged at intervals in the width direction W. A first notch 11 is formed in the first end portion 15a. A second notch 12 is formed in the second end portion 15b. The first notch 11 and the second notch 12 are arranged at intervals in the width direction W.

[0025] The first restraint plate 10 has a thin plate 21, a thin plate 22, and a beam portion 23. The thin plates 21 and 22 are each formed so as to cover the beam portion 23. The thin plates 21 and 22 sandwich the beam portion 23 and are arranged at intervals in the lamination direction H. The thin plate 22 is disposed closer to the laminate 2 side than the thin plate 21 in the lamination direction H.

[0026] The beam section 23 is formed to extend in the width direction W. The beam sections 23 are arranged with a gap in the upright direction V, with the first notch 11 and the second notch 12 sandwiched between them.

[0027] The second restraint plate 30 has substantially the same configuration as the first restraint plate 10. The second restraint plate 30, like the first restraint plate 10, has a third main surface 33, a fourth main surface 34, and a third circumferential surface 35. The third main surface 33 faces the second end surface 4. The fourth main surface 34 is located on the opposite side of the third main surface 33 in the stacking direction H. The third circumferential surface 35 has a third end 35a and a fourth end 35b. A first notch 31 is formed in the third end 35a. A second notch 32 is formed in the fourth end 35b. When the second restraint plate 30 and the first restraint plate 10 are viewed in plan from a position away from the second restraint plate 30 in the stacking direction H, the first notch 31 is positioned to overlap with the first notch 11, and the second notch 32 is positioned to overlap with the second notch 12.

[0028] The second restraint plate 30, like the first restraint plate 10, has thin plates 41 and 42 and a beam portion 43. The thin plates 41 and 42 are each formed to cover the beam portion 43. The thin plates 41 and 42 are arranged in the stacking direction H with the beam portion 43 in between and spaced apart. Compared to the thin plate 41, the thin plate 42 is positioned on the side of the laminate 2 in the stacking direction H. The beam portion 43 is formed to extend in the width direction W.

[0029] The first ladder member 50 and the second ladder member 60 connect the first restraint plate 10 and the second restraint plate 30 with the laminated body 2 positioned between them. The first ladder member 50 and the second ladder member 60 are arranged with the laminated body 2 in between, spaced apart in the width direction W. The first ladder member 50 is positioned opposite the first side surface 5a. The second ladder member 60 is positioned opposite the second side surface 5b.

[0030] The first ladder member 50 has a frame 51 and a plurality of first column members 54. The frame 51 is formed to extend in the longitudinal direction L. The frame 51 has a first frame 52 and a second frame 53. The first frame 52 and the second frame 53 are spaced apart in the stacking direction H. The first frame 52 is positioned on the second main surface 14 of the first restraint plate 10. The second frame 53 is positioned on the fourth main surface 34 of the second restraint plate 30. The first frame 52 has an outer surface 52a and an inner surface 52b that are spaced apart in the stacking direction H. The inner surface 52b faces the second main surface 14. The second frame 53 has an outer surface 53a and an inner surface 53b that are spaced apart in the stacking direction H. The inner surface 53b faces the fourth main surface 34. The first column members 54 are formed to extend in the stacking direction H. Multiple first column members 54 are arranged at intervals in the stacking direction H. The first column members 54 are positioned to pass through the first notch 11 and the first notch 31, and connect the first frame 52 and the second frame 53. Multiple first column members 54 are provided on the first side surface 5a of the laminate 2.

[0031] The second ladder member 60 has substantially the same configuration as the first ladder member 50. That is, the second ladder member 60 has a frame 61 and a plurality of second column members 64. The frame 61 has a third frame 62 and a fourth frame 63. The third frame 62 and the fourth frame 63 are spaced apart in the stacking direction H. The third frame 62 is located on the second main surface 14. The fourth frame 63 is located on the fourth main surface 34. The third frame 62 has an outer surface 62a and an inner surface 62b. The fourth frame 63 has an outer surface 63a and an inner surface 63b. The second column members 64 are arranged to pass through the second notch 12 and the second notch 32, and connect the third frame 62 and the fourth frame 63. The plurality of second column members 64 are provided on the second side surface 5b of the laminate 2.

[0032] Furthermore, the multiple first column members 54 of the first ladder member 50 and the multiple second column members 64 of the second ladder member 60 are formed to the same height in the stacking direction H.

[0033] The first connecting member 70 includes a first connecting beam 71, a second connecting beam 72, and a third connecting beam 73.

[0034] The first connecting beam 71, the second connecting beam 72, and the third connecting beam 73 are each arranged with a gap in the length direction L. The first connecting beam 71, the second connecting beam 72, and the third connecting beam 73 are each formed to extend in the width direction W. The first connecting beam 71, the second connecting beam 72, and the third connecting beam 73 each connect the first ladder member 50 and the second ladder member 60, and are each positioned with a gap from the second main surface 14. More specifically, one end of the first connecting beam 71 in the width direction W is joined to the outer surface 52a of the first frame 52, and the other end of the first connecting beam 71 is joined to the outer surface 62a of the third frame 62. The same applies to the second connecting beam 72 and the third connecting beam 73. The third connecting beam 73 connects the center of the first frame 52 and the center of the third frame 62 in the length direction L.

[0035] The first central beam 74 is formed to extend in the longitudinal direction L. The first central beam 74 is positioned on the first restraint plate 10. That is, the first central beam 74 is positioned between the second main surface 14 and the first connecting member 70 (first connecting beam 71, second connecting beam 72, and third connecting beam 73). The first central beam 74 is positioned between the first frame 52 and the third frame 62, passing through the center in the width direction W. The first central beam 74 has outer surfaces 74a and inner surfaces 74b that are spaced apart in the stacking direction H. The outer surface 74a of the first central beam 74 is in contact with the first connecting beam 71, the second connecting beam 72, and the third connecting beam 73, respectively. The inner surface 74b faces the second main surface 14 of the first restraint plate 10. The inner surface 74b of the first central beam 74 presses against the second main surface 14. The inner surface 74b of the first central beam 74, the inner surface 52b of the first frame 52, and the inner surface 62b of the third frame 62 are arranged at the same height in the stacking direction H.

[0036] The second connecting member 80 includes the first connecting beam 81, the second connecting beam 82, and the third connecting beam 83. The second central beam 84 has an outer surface 84a and an inner surface 84b. Since the second connecting member 80 and the second central beam 84 have substantially the same configuration as the first connecting member 70 and the first central beam 74, a detailed description of the second connecting member 80 and the second central beam 84 is omitted.

[0037] In the above embodiment, the plurality of first column members 54 of the first ladder member 50 and the plurality of second column members 64 of the second ladder member 60 are formed to the same height in the stacking direction H. The first frame 52 and the third frame 62 are connected by the first connecting beam 71, the second connecting beam 72, and the third connecting beam 73. As a result, the reaction force that the first frame 52 receives from the first restraint plate 10 is transmitted to the third frame 62. Similarly, the reaction force that the third frame 62 receives from the first restraint plate 10 is transmitted to the first frame 52. As a result, it is possible to suppress unevenness in the load that the second main surface 14 of the first restraint plate 10 receives from the first frame 52 and the third frame 62. Consequently, it is possible to suppress unevenness in the surface pressure that the first end face 3 of the laminate 2 receives from the first restraint plate 10. The same applies to the second restraint plate 30.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the inner surface 74b of the first central beam 74, the inner surface 52b of the first frame 52, and the inner surface 62b of the third frame 62 are arranged at the same height in the stacking direction H. The first central beam 74 is in contact with the first connecting beam 71, the second connecting beam 72, and the third connecting beam 73. As a result, the first central beam 74 applies a load in the stacking direction H to the first restraining plate 10. Consequently, it is possible to suppress the surface pressure in the central part of the first end face 3 of the laminate 2 from becoming smaller than the surface pressure in the outer periphery of the first end face 3. In turn, it is possible to suppress the unevenness of the surface pressure that the first end face 3 of the laminate 2 receives from the first restraining plate 10. The same applies to the second restraining plate 30.

[0039] In the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the inner surface 74b of the first central beam 74, the inner surface 52b of the first frame 52, and the inner surface 62b of the third frame 62 are arranged at the same height in the stacking direction H, but the disclosure is not limited to this. In the stacking direction H, the inner surface 74b of the first central beam 74 may be closer to the center of the laminate 2 than the inner surface 52b of the first frame 52 or the inner surface 62b of the third frame 62. This makes it possible to increase the surface pressure applied to the central portion of the first end face 3 of the laminate 2 compared to the surface pressure applied to the outer periphery of the first end face 3 of the laminate 2.

[0040] The first central beam 74 may be formed of, for example, an elastic material. This prevents the surface pressure at the center of the first end face 3 of the laminate from becoming higher than when the first central beam 74 is made of metal or the like, if the inner surface 74b of the first central beam 74 protrudes towards the center of the laminate 2 in the lamination direction H compared to the inner surface 52b of the first frame 52 or the inner surface 62b of the third frame 62.

[0041] In the above embodiment, the restraint 100 was shown as a laminated unit forming a laminated assembly 1, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the restraint 100 may form an energy storage device as a laminated 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 inclusions 7 forming the laminated 2 in the energy storage device are cooling devices or conductive plates.

[0042] 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]

[0043] 1 Laminate assembly, 2 Laminate, 3 First end face, 4 Second end face, 5 Surrounding surface, 5a First side surface, 5b Second side surface, 6 Energy storage module, 7 Inclusion, 10 First restraint plate, 11 First notch, 12 Second notch, 13 First main surface, 14 Second main surface, 15 First circumferential surface, 15a First end, 15b Second end, 21, 22 Thin plate, 21 Thin plate, 22 Thin plate, 23 Beam section, 30 Second restraint plate, 31 First notch, 32 Second notch, 33 Third main surface, 34 Fourth main surface, 35 Third circumferential surface, 35a Third end, 35b Fourth end, 41, 42 Thin plate, 41 Thin plate, 42 Thin plate, 43 Beam section, 50 First ladder member, 51 Frame, 52 First frame, 52a outer surface, 52b inner surface, 53 Second frame, 53a outer surface, 53b inner surface, 54 First column member, 60 Second ladder member, 61 Frame, 62 Third frame, 62a outer surface, 62b inner surface, 63 Fourth frame, 63a outer surface, 63b inner surface, 64 Second column member, 70 First connecting member, 71 First connecting beam, 72 Second connecting beam, 73 Third connecting beam, 74 First central beam, 74a outer surface, 74b inner surface, 80 Second connecting member, 81 First connecting beam, 82 Second connecting beam, 83 Third connecting beam, 84 Second central beam, 84a outer surface, 84b inner surface, 100 Restraint device.

Claims

1. A restraining device for restraining a laminate including multiple energy storage modules stacked in the stacking direction, The laminate has a first end face and a second end face arranged in the stacking direction, and a circumferential surface connecting the first end face and the second end face. The circumferential surface has a first side surface and a second side surface arranged in the width direction, The aforementioned restraint device is The first restraint plate provided on the first end face, The second restraint plate provided on the second end face, The first ladder member provided on the first side surface and The second ladder member provided on the second side surface, A connecting member that connects the first ladder member and the second ladder member Restraints, including those mentioned above.

2. The aforementioned restraint further includes a central beam, The first side surface and the second side surface are formed to extend in a longitudinal direction intersecting the width direction, The connecting member includes at least one connecting beam that connects the first ladder member and the second ladder member. The central beam is formed to pass through the center in the width direction and extend in the length direction L, The central beam is positioned on the first restraint plate, as described in claim 1.

3. The first restraint plate includes a first main surface facing the first end face of the laminate and a second main surface located on the opposite side of the first main surface in the lamination direction. The at least one connecting beam includes a first connecting beam and a second connecting beam positioned at a distance from the first connecting beam in the longitudinal direction. The first connecting beam and the second connecting beam are arranged at a distance from the second main surface. The restraint device according to claim 2, wherein the central beam is positioned between the first connecting beam and the second connecting beam and the second main surface, and presses against the second main surface.

4. The second restraint plate includes a third main surface facing the second end face and a fourth main surface located on the opposite side of the third main surface in the stacking direction. The first ladder member is, A first frame positioned on the second main surface of the first restraint plate, A second frame positioned on the fourth main surface of the second restraint plate, The first frame and the second frame are connected, and a first column member is provided on the first side surface, The second ladder member is, A third frame positioned on the second main surface of the first restraint plate, A fourth frame positioned on the fourth main surface of the second restraint plate, The third frame and the fourth frame are connected, and a second column member is provided on the second side, The at least one connecting beam includes a third connecting beam that connects the center of the first frame and the center of the third frame in the longitudinal direction. The third connecting beam is provided at a distance from the second main surface, The restraint device according to claim 3, wherein the central beam is positioned between the third connecting beam and the second main surface.

5. The restraint according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the central beam is formed of an elastic material.

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