End plate manufacturing method

Abstract

To provide a method for manufacturing an end plate that can restrict the relative rotation of the metal terminals with respect to the end plate. [Solution] The method for manufacturing an end plate comprises a preparation step of preparing a plate body 210 having an opening 212 formed on its upper surface and a metal terminal 220, and a restricting member forming step of inserting at least a part of the metal terminal into the opening and supplying resin into the opening to form a restricting member 230 interposed between the plate body and the metal terminal, which restricts the relative rotation of the restricting member with respect to the plate body.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing an end plate.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2024-119026 discloses a battery module including a plurality of cells, a first end plate, and a second end plate. A high-voltage output terminal attachment portion is attached to an attachment groove provided on the first end plate, and an output terminal block is connected to a restriction groove provided on the first end plate.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a battery module as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2024-119026, when an external force acts on the high-voltage output terminal attachment portion or the output terminal block, there is a concern that the metal terminal may rotate relative to the end plate.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a method for manufacturing an end plate capable of restricting relative rotation of a metal terminal with respect to the end plate.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A method for manufacturing an end plate according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises: a preparation step of preparing a plate body having an opening formed on its upper surface and a metal terminal; and a regulating member forming step of inserting at least a portion of the metal terminal into the opening and supplying resin into the opening to form a regulating member interposed between the plate body and the metal terminal, the regulating member which restricts the relative rotation of the regulating member with respect to the plate body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide a method for manufacturing an end plate that can restrict the relative rotation of the metal terminals with respect to the end plate. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic perspective view of an energy storage device in one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This is an exploded perspective view showing the plate body, metal terminals, and regulating members in general terms. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings referred to below, the same or equivalent components are given the same number.

[0010] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an energy storage device in one embodiment of the present disclosure. This energy storage device 1 is preferably installed in, for example, a hybrid electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or a battery electric vehicle.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the energy storage device 1 comprises a plurality of energy storage cells 100 and a pair of end plates 200.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the multiple energy storage cells 100 are arranged in a line along one direction (hereinafter referred to as "first direction DR1"). Note that only a portion of the multiple energy storage cells 100 are shown in Figure 1. An external terminal 110 and a safety valve 120 are provided on the upper surface of each energy storage cell 100.

[0013] A pair of end plates 200 are positioned on both sides of a plurality of energy storage cells 100 in a first direction. Each end plate 200 is made of metal. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, each end plate 200 has a plate body 210, metal terminals 220, and a regulating member 230.

[0014] The plate body 210 faces the energy storage cell 100 in the first direction DR1. As shown in Figure 2, an opening 212 is formed on the upper surface of the plate body 210. The opening 212 has a cylindrical inner circumferential surface 212a. Female threads are formed on this inner circumferential surface 212a. The opening 212 further has a protruding inner surface 212b that protrudes outward in the radial direction of the cylindrical inner circumferential surface 212a.

[0015] The metal terminal 220 is provided on the upper surface of the plate body 210. The metal terminal 220 has a shaft portion 222 and a flange 224.

[0016] The shaft portion 222 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The flange 224 protrudes outward from the shaft portion 222 in the radial direction of the shaft portion 222. The flange 224 is formed in an annular shape. The portion of the shaft portion 222 below the flange 224 is inserted into the opening 212.

[0017] The restricting member 230 restricts the relative rotation of the metal terminal 220 with respect to the plate body 210. The restricting member 230 also restricts the upward detachment of the metal terminal 220 with respect to the plate body 210. The restricting member 230 fills the gap between the opening 212 and the metal terminal 220. The restricting member 230 is made of resin. The restricting member 230 is integrally formed with the plate body 210 by insert molding together with the metal terminal 220. The restricting member 230 has a receiving portion 232, an intervening portion 234, and a protruding portion 236.

[0018] The receiving portion 232 receives the flange 224. The receiving portion 232 is formed in an annular shape. The lower surface of the receiving portion 232 is in contact with the upper surface of the plate body 210.

[0019] The intervening portion 234 intervenes between the inner surface of the opening 212 and the shaft portion 222. The intervening portion 234 protrudes downward from the receiving portion 232. The intervening portion 234 is located within the opening 212. A male screw that engages with a female screw formed on the inner peripheral surface 212a of the opening 212 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the intervening portion 234. By the engagement of this male screw and the female screw formed on the inner peripheral surface 212a, the upward detachment of the restricting member 230 with respect to the plate body 210 is restricted.

[0020] The protruding portion 236 protrudes outward in the radial direction from the intervening portion 234. The protruding portion 236 is located within the protruding inner surface 212b of the opening 212. By the engagement of this protruding portion 236 with the protruding inner surface 212b, the relative rotation of the restricting member 230 with respect to the plate body 210 is restricted.

[0021] Next, a method for manufacturing the end plate 200 will be described. The method for manufacturing the end plate 200 includes a preparation step and a restricting member forming step.

[0022] In the preparation step, the plate body 210 and the metal terminal 220 are prepared.

[0023] In the regulating member forming step, with a portion of the shaft portion 222 below the flange 224 positioned within the opening 212, a resin material is supplied between the opening 212 and the metal terminal 220. Thereby, a regulating member 230 including an intervening portion 234 and a protruding portion 236 positioned within the opening 212 is formed. At this time, on the outer peripheral surface of the intervening portion 234, a male screw having a shape corresponding to the female screw formed on the inner peripheral surface 212a of the opening 212 is formed. Further, the protruding portion 236 is formed in a shape corresponding to the protruding inner surface 212b of the opening 212.

[0024] As described above, in the end plate 200 of the present embodiment, since the protruding portion 236 of the regulating member 230 engages with the protruding inner surface 212b of the opening 212, relative rotation of the regulating member 230 with respect to the plate body 210 is restricted, and thereby, relative rotation of the metal terminal 220 with respect to the plate body 210 is restricted.

[0025] Furthermore, since the male screw formed on the outer peripheral surface of the intervening portion 234 engages with the female screw formed on the inner peripheral surface 212a of the opening 212, upward detachment of the regulating member 230 from the plate body 210 is restricted, and thereby, upward detachment of the metal terminal 220 with respect to the plate body 210 is restricted.

[0026] Those skilled in the art will understand that the exemplary embodiments described above are specific examples of the following aspects.

[0027] [Aspect 1] A method for manufacturing an end plate, comprising: a preparation step of preparing a plate body having an opening formed on an upper surface and a metal terminal; and a regulating member forming step of inserting at least a part of the metal terminal into the opening and supplying a resin into the opening to form a regulating member intervening between the plate body and the metal terminal, the regulating member restricting relative rotation of the regulating member with respect to the plate body.

[0028] In this end plate manufacturing method, a restricting member is formed between the plate body and the metal terminal, and the relative rotation of this restricting member with respect to the plate body is restricted, thereby restricting the relative rotation of the metal terminal with respect to the plate body.

[0029] [Aspect 2] Multiple energy storage cells arranged in a line along one direction, The system comprises a pair of end plates arranged on both sides of the plurality of energy storage cells in the aforementioned one direction, Each of the pair of end plates is The plate body and The metal terminals provided on the plate body, The plate body and the metal terminal are provided with a restricting member, An opening is formed on the upper surface of the plate body. At least a portion of the metal terminal is inserted into the opening, The energy storage device wherein the restricting member has a shape that restricts the relative rotation of the restricting member with respect to the plate body.

[0030] In this energy storage device, the relative rotation of the regulating member with respect to the plate body is restricted, and therefore the relative rotation of the metal terminals with respect to the plate body is also restricted.

[0031] [Aspect 3] The aforementioned opening is The inner circumferential surface formed in a cylindrical shape, It has a protruding inner surface that extends outward in the radial direction from the inner circumferential surface, The aforementioned restraining member is It is formed in a cylindrical shape, and has an intervening portion between the metal terminal and the inner circumferential surface of the opening, The intervening portion has a shape that protrudes outward in the radial direction from the intervening portion and has a protruding portion that engages with the inner surface of the protruding portion, A male screw is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the intervening portion. The energy storage device according to embodiment 2, wherein a female thread that engages with the male thread is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the opening.

[0032] In this embodiment, both the relative rotation of the regulating member with respect to the plate body and the upward detachment of the regulating member from the plate body are restricted.

[0033] It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of this disclosure is defined by the claims rather than the description of the embodiments above, and includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1 Energy storage device, 100 Energy storage cell, 110 External terminal, 120 Safety valve, 200 End plate, 210 Plate body, 212 Opening, 212a Inner circumferential surface, 212b Protruding inner surface, 220 Metal terminal, 222 Shaft portion, 224 Flange, 230 Regulating member, 232 Receiving portion, 234 Intervening portion, 236 Protruding portion.

Claims

[Claim 1] A method for manufacturing an end plate, A preparation step involves preparing a plate body with an opening formed on its upper surface and metal terminals. A method for manufacturing an end plate, comprising: a regulating member forming step of inserting at least a portion of the metal terminal into the opening and supplying resin into the opening to form a regulating member interposed between the plate body and the metal terminal, which restricts the relative rotation of the regulating member with respect to the plate body.

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