Battery module

Abstract

In a battery module, a portion of the busbar is made easier to secure to the terminal block. [Solution] The battery module 10 comprises a plurality of battery cells 20 including electrode terminals 21, 22, a conductive member 60 connected to the electrode terminals 21, 22 of at least one of the plurality of battery cells 20, and a terminal block 50 to which the conductive member 60 is fixed. The conductive member 60 has a first plate portion 61 whose thickness direction is oriented in the first direction. The first plate portion 61 is fixed to the terminal block 50. The conductive member 60 has a second plate portion 62 whose thickness direction is oriented in the second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction. The second plate portion 62 is fixed to the terminal block.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery module.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a battery module including a battery assembly (a plurality of battery cells) and a bus bar (a conductive member) attached to the battery assembly.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in the battery module as described above, a part of the bus bar may be fixed to a terminal block and used.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to facilitate fixing a part of a bus bar to a terminal block in a battery module.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A battery module according to a first aspect includes a plurality of battery cells including electrode terminals, a conductive member connected to the electrode terminals of at least one of the plurality of battery cells, and a terminal block to which the conductive member is fixed. The conductive member includes a first plate portion having a plate thickness direction in a first direction, the first plate portion being fixed to the terminal block, and a second plate portion having a plate thickness direction in a second direction which is a direction perpendicular to the first direction, the second plate portion being fixed to the terminal block.

[0007] In this embodiment, the battery module comprises a plurality of battery cells including electrode terminals, a conductive member connected to the electrode terminal of at least one of the plurality of battery cells, and a terminal block to which the conductive member is fixed.

[0008] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the conductive member includes a first plate portion oriented in the thickness direction in the first direction. The first plate portion is fixed to the terminal block. Here, the conductive member further includes a second plate portion whose thickness direction is oriented in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second plate portion is then fixed to the terminal block. Therefore, by pre-fixing the second plate portion to the terminal block, the conductive member can be positioned relative to the terminal block, and as a result, it becomes easier to fix the first plate portion to the terminal block. Furthermore, since the portion that is pre-fixed is the second plate portion, which is different from the first plate portion, it is not necessary to make the first plate portion larger compared to a configuration in which a different portion of the first plate portion is pre-fixed.

[0009] In the second embodiment, the battery module, in the first embodiment, comprises a second plate portion having a second through-hole penetrating the second plate portion, and a terminal block comprising a terminal block body, a nut held by the terminal block body, and a fixing pin protruding from the terminal block body in the second direction, wherein the first plate portion is fixed to the terminal block by fastening the first plate portion together with other conductive members using the nut, and the second plate portion is fixed to the terminal block by inserting the fixing pin into the second through-hole of the second plate portion.

[0010] In this embodiment, the terminal block comprises a terminal block body and a nut held by the terminal block body. The first plate portion is fixed to the terminal block by fastening the first plate portion together with other conductive members using the nut. Therefore, by pre-fixing the second plate portion to the terminal block, the position of the first plate portion relative to the terminal block can be determined, and the above-mentioned fastening operation can be facilitated.

[0011] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the second plate portion is provided with a second through-hole that penetrates the second plate portion, and the terminal block is provided with a fixing pin that protrudes in a second direction from the terminal block body. The second plate portion is fixed to the terminal block by inserting the fixing pin into the second through-hole of the second plate portion. Therefore, by fixing the second plate to the terminal block, positioning can be achieved in both the first and third directions. The third direction refers to the direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions.

[0012] A battery module according to a third embodiment, in the first or second embodiment, comprises a conductive member including a first plate and a second plate having a thickness less than that of the first plate, wherein the second plate is welded to the electrode terminals of the battery cell.

[0013] In this embodiment, the conductive member includes a first plate and a second plate having a thickness less than that of the first plate. Therefore, it is possible to achieve both electrical conductivity and structural reliability. This is because structural reliability is ensured by the second plate, which has a relatively small thickness, while electrical conductivity is ensured by the first plate, which has a relatively large thickness. Note that the plate thickness referred to here is the average plate thickness.

[0014] In this embodiment, the second plate is welded to the electrode terminals of the battery cell. Therefore, the second plate, which has a relatively smaller thickness, can be welded (for example, by laser welding), making the welding process easier.

[0015] In the fourth embodiment, the battery module, in the third embodiment, comprises a second plate having a third plate portion joined to the first plate, a fourth plate portion welded to the electrode terminals, and a displacement absorbing portion connecting the third plate portion and the fourth plate portion and facilitating relative displacement between the third plate portion and the fourth plate portion.

[0016] In this aspect, the second plate includes a third plate portion joined to the first plate, a fourth plate portion connected to the electrode terminal, and a displacement absorbing portion that connects the third plate portion and the fourth plate portion and facilitates relative displacement between the third plate portion and the fourth plate portion. Therefore, displacement between the electrode terminal and the terminal block can be absorbed by the displacement absorbing portion of the conductive member. Further, since the displacement absorbing portion is formed in the second plate having a relatively small plate thickness, it is easy to ensure the performance of the displacement absorbing portion.

[0017] The battery module according to the fifth aspect is the battery module according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, and the battery module includes a cover member that covers the second plate portion, and the cover member includes a locked portion locked to the terminal block so as to determine a position of the cover member in a second direction with respect to the terminal block.

[0018] In this aspect, the battery module includes a cover member that covers the second plate portion. Here, the cover member includes a locked portion locked to the terminal block so as to determine a position of the cover member in a second direction with respect to the terminal block. Therefore, the position of the conductive member in the second direction with respect to the terminal block is determined via the cover member.

Advantages of the Invention

[0019] According to the present disclosure, in a battery module, it is possible to easily fix a part of a bus bar to a terminal block.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] [Figure 1] It is a schematic exploded view of a battery module 10. [Figure 2] It is a schematic diagram of a battery 90 including a plurality of battery modules 10. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view of an end bus bar (conductive member). [Figure 4] It is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the relationship between a terminal block and an end bus bar (conductive member). [Figure 5]This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the cover and the terminal block. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0021] Preferred embodiments of this disclosure are described below.

[0022] In each diagram, arrows FR indicate the front of the vehicle, UP indicates the top of the vehicle, and LH indicates the left side in the vehicle's width direction. Furthermore, in the following explanations, unless otherwise specified, the directions front / back, up / down, and left / right refer to the front / back direction of the vehicle, the up / down direction of the vehicle, and the left / right direction in the vehicle's width direction.

[0023] Furthermore, the three directions perpendicular to each other will be described as the "first direction," "second direction," and "third direction." In the following embodiments, the first direction is the vehicle's vertical direction, the second direction is the vehicle's width direction, and the third direction is the vehicle's longitudinal direction; however, the "first direction," "second direction," and "third direction" in this disclosure are not limited to these.

[0024] Figure 1 is a schematic exploded view of the battery module 10 of this embodiment.

[0025] The battery module 10 comprises a plurality of battery cells 20, a plurality of inter-cell connecting busbars 30, a pair of end plates 40, a terminal block 50 fixed to the pair of end plates 40, and a pair of end busbars 60 fixed to the terminal block 50.

[0026] Figure 2 shows a battery 90 comprising multiple battery modules 10.

[0027] In the battery 90, multiple battery modules 10 are arranged along a second direction. Two adjacent battery modules 10 in the second direction are connected to each other using end busbars 60 on one side in the third direction (not shown). The end busbars 60 on one side in the third direction are connected to, for example, a junction block via busbars (not shown).

[0028] The battery cell 20 is a prismatic cell. The battery cell 20 is oriented with its thickness in the third direction. That is, the third-direction dimension of the battery cell 20 is smaller than either the first-direction dimension or the second-direction dimension. Multiple battery cells 20 are arranged along the third direction.

[0029] The battery cell 20 is equipped with electrode terminals 21 and 22. Specifically, the battery cell 20 is equipped with a positive electrode terminal 21 and a negative electrode terminal 22. The positive electrode terminal 21 and the negative electrode terminal 22 are provided on both sides of the battery cell 20 in the second direction, respectively.

[0030] The inter-cell connection busbar 30 connects two adjacent battery cells 20 in the array direction (third direction).

[0031] A pair of end plates 40 are provided to sandwich a plurality of battery cells 20 in their arrangement direction. The pair of end plates 40 are connected to each other by a restraining member (not shown). The end plates 40 are made of, for example, die-cast aluminum.

[0032] The pair of terminal blocks 50 are provided on the third outward side relative to the pair of end plates 40.

[0033] A pair of end busbars 60 are fixed to a pair of terminal blocks 50. Hereinafter, the end busbars 60 may be referred to as conductive members 60.

[0034] As shown in Figure 3, the conductive member 60 includes a first plate 60A and a second plate 60B. The second plate 60B is formed from a plate material with a smaller thickness than the first plate 60A. The second plate 60B is joined to the first plate 60A, thereby integrating with the first plate 60A to form the conductive member 60. The first plate 60A and the second plate 60B are made of aluminum.

[0035] The first plate 60A comprises a first plate portion 61 oriented in the first direction with the plate thickness direction, a second plate portion 62 oriented in the second direction with the plate thickness direction, and a first curved portion 65 connecting the first plate portion 61 and the second plate portion 62.

[0036] The first plate portion 61 is provided with a first through-hole 61A that penetrates the first plate portion 61. As shown in Figure 4, the first plate portion 61 is fixed to the terminal block 50 using the first through-hole 61A.

[0037] The second plate portion 62 is provided on one side in the second direction relative to the first plate portion 61. The first curved portion 65 is a curved portion that extends in the third direction.

[0038] The second plate portion 62 is provided with a second through-hole 62A that penetrates the second plate portion 62. The second plate portion 62 is fixed to the terminal block 50 using the second through-hole 62A. The second through-hole 62A is provided in a position that overlaps with the first plate portion 61 in a third direction. Specifically, the second through-hole 62A is a smaller hole than the first through-hole 61A and is provided in a position that overlaps with the first through-hole 61A in a third direction.

[0039] The second plate portion 62 is joined to the second plate 60B in the portion that is inward in the third direction from the portion that overlaps with the first plate portion 61 in the third direction. The portion of the second plate portion 62 that is joined to the second plate 60B has a larger dimension in the first direction than the portion of the second plate portion 62 that overlaps with the first plate portion 61 in the third direction.

[0040] The end of the second plate portion 62 that is joined to the second plate 60B, on one side in the first direction, is located on one side in the first direction relative to the first curved portion 65.

[0041] The end of the second plate portion 62 that is joined to the second plate 60B in the first direction, on the other side in the first direction, coincides with the end of the portion of the second plate portion 62 that overlaps with the first plate portion 61 in the third direction, on the other side in the first direction.

[0042] The second plate 60B comprises a third plate portion 63 oriented in the thickness direction in the first direction, a fourth plate portion 64 oriented in the thickness direction in the first direction, and a displacement absorbing portion 66 that connects the third plate portion 63 and the fourth plate portion 64 and facilitates the relative displacement of the third plate portion 63 and the fourth plate portion 64.

[0043] The third plate portion 63 is welded to a part of the second plate portion 62 while overlapping it in the thickness direction. Specifically, the welding method is laser welding. The third plate portion 63 is positioned on the other side of the second direction from the second plate portion 62.

[0044] The fourth plate portion 64 is welded to the electrode terminals 21 and 22 of the battery cell 20. Specifically, the welding method is laser welding. The fourth plate portion 64 is positioned on one side in the second direction relative to the electrode terminals 21 and 22. The fourth plate portion 64 includes a weldable portion 64A that is partially thinned to facilitate laser welding.

[0045] The displacement absorbing section 66 is formed by combining curved sections that extend in the first direction. The displacement absorbing section 66 mainly absorbs relative displacement in the second and third directions, but can also absorb relative displacement in the first direction. By providing the displacement absorbing section 66, even if the position of the fourth plate section 64 joined to the electrode terminals 21 and 22 is misaligned, the misalignment of the first plate section 61 and other components can be suppressed.

[0046] As shown in Figure 4, the terminal block 50 comprises a terminal block body 51 made of synthetic resin and a nut 52 held by the terminal block body 51.

[0047] The nut 52 is insert-molded into the terminal block body 51. In other words, the terminal block body 51 is insert-molded with the nut 52 as an insert part.

[0048] The first plate portion 61 is fixed to the terminal block 50 by fastening the first plate portion 61 together with other conductive members 80 using a nut 52. Specifically, the first bolt 53 is passed through the through hole of the other conductive member 80 and the first through hole 61A and screwed into the nut 52. The first bolt 53 is screwed in from one side in the first direction.

[0049] The terminal block 50 is equipped with a fixing pin 54 that protrudes in a second direction from the terminal block body 51. The fixing pin 54 is integrally molded with the terminal block body 51. The second plate portion 62 is fixed to the terminal block 50 by inserting the fixing pin 54 into the second through hole 62A of the second plate portion 62. The fixing pin 54 has a retaining portion 54A at its tip.

[0050] Furthermore, the battery module 10 includes a cover member 70 that covers at least the second plate portion 62.

[0051] The cover member 70 includes a portion 71 positioned on the other side in the second direction relative to the second plate portion 62 of the conductive member 60. The cover member 70 may also include a portion (not shown) positioned on one side in the second direction relative to the second plate portion 62.

[0052] As shown in Figure 5, the cover member 70 is provided with a locking portion 72 that is locked to the terminal block 50. The locking portion 72 functions to determine the position of the cover member 70 in a second direction relative to the terminal block 50. The locking portion 72 is provided outward in a third direction from the second plate portion 62. The locking portion 72 is provided on the other side in the first direction from the first plate portion 61.

[0053] <Effects and Effects> Next, the effects and advantages of this embodiment will be described.

[0054] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the battery module 10 comprises a plurality of battery cells 20 including electrode terminals 21 and 22, a conductive member 60 connected to the electrode terminals 21 and 22 of at least one of the plurality of battery cells 20, and a terminal block 50 to which the conductive member 60 is fixed.

[0055] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the conductive member 60 includes a first plate portion 61 oriented in the thickness direction in the first direction. The first plate portion 61 is fixed to the terminal block 50. Here, the conductive member 60 further includes a second plate portion 62 whose thickness direction is oriented in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second plate portion 62 is fixed to the terminal block. Therefore, by pre-fixing the second plate portion 62 to the terminal block 50, the conductive member 60 can be positioned relative to the terminal block 50, and as a result, it becomes easier to fix the first plate portion 61 to the terminal block 50. Furthermore, since the part that is pre-fixed is the second plate portion 62, which is different from the first plate portion 61, it is not necessary to make the first plate portion 61 larger compared to the configuration in which a different part of the first plate portion 61 is pre-fixed.

[0056] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the terminal block 50 comprises a terminal block body 51 and a nut 52 held by the terminal block body 51. The first plate portion 61 is fixed to the terminal block 50 by fastening the first plate portion 61 together with other conductive members 80 using the nut 52. Therefore, by pre-fixing the second plate portion 62 to the terminal block 50, the position of the first plate portion 61 relative to the terminal block 50 can be determined, and the above-mentioned fastening operation can be facilitated.

[0057] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the second plate portion 62 is provided with a second through-hole 62A that penetrates the second plate portion 62, and the terminal block 50 is provided with a fixing pin 54 that protrudes in a second direction from the terminal block body 51. The second plate portion 62 is fixed to the terminal block 50 by inserting the fixing pin 54 into the second through-hole 62A of the second plate portion 62. Therefore, by fixing the second plate portion 62 to the terminal block 50, positioning can be performed in the first and third directions.

[0058] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the conductive member 60 includes a first plate 60A and a second plate 60B having a smaller thickness than the first plate 60A. Therefore, it is possible to achieve both electrical conductivity and structural reliability. This is because structural reliability is ensured by the second plate 60B, which has a relatively small plate thickness, while electrical conductivity is ensured by the first plate 60A, which has a relatively large plate thickness. Note that the plate thickness referred to here is the average plate thickness.

[0059] In this embodiment, the second plate 60B is welded to the electrode terminals 21 and 22 of the battery cell 20. Therefore, the second plate 60B, which has a relatively smaller thickness, can be welded (for example, by laser welding), making the welding process easier.

[0060] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the second plate 60B includes a third plate portion 63 joined to the first plate 60A, a fourth plate portion 64 connected to electrode terminals 21 and 22, and a displacement absorbing portion 66 that connects the third plate portion 63 and the fourth plate portion 64 and facilitates relative displacement between the third plate portion 63 and the fourth plate portion 64. Therefore, the displacement between the electrode terminals 21 and 22 and the terminal block 50 can be absorbed by the displacement absorbing portion 66 of the conductive member 60. Furthermore, since the displacement absorbing portion 66 is formed on the second plate 60B, which has a relatively small plate thickness, it is easier to ensure the performance of the displacement absorbing portion 66.

[0061] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 5, the battery module 10 includes a cover member 70 that covers the second plate portion 62. Here, the cover member 70 is provided with a locking portion 72 that is locked to the terminal block 50 so as to determine the second position of the cover member 70 relative to the terminal block 50. Therefore, the second position of the conductive member 60 relative to the terminal block 50 is determined via the cover member 70.

[0062] Furthermore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the first direction is the vertical direction of the vehicle. Therefore, for example, the first plate portion 61 can be fixed to the terminal block 50 from the upper side of the vehicle, making the fixing work easier.

[0063] While preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above description. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0064] 10 Battery Modules 20 battery cells 21 Positive terminal (electrode terminal) 22 Negative terminal (electrode terminal) 50 terminal block 52 nuts 54 Fixing pins 60 End busbars (conductive components) 60A First Plate 60B Second Plate 61 First plate part 61A First through hole 62 Second plate part 62A Second through hole 63 Third plate part 64 Fourth plate part 66 Displacement absorption section 70 Cover component 72 Locked part

Claims

1. Multiple battery cells including electrode terminals, A conductive member connected to the electrode terminal of at least one of the plurality of battery cells, A terminal block to which the conductive member is fixed, Equipped with, The conductive member is A first plate portion oriented in the thickness direction in the first direction, the first plate portion fixed to the terminal block, A second plate portion whose thickness direction is oriented in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and which is fixed to the terminal block, Equipped with, Battery module.

2. The second plate portion is provided with a second through hole that penetrates the second plate portion, The aforementioned terminal block is Terminal block body and A nut held by the terminal block body, A fixing pin protruding from the terminal block body in the second direction, Equipped with, The first plate portion is fixed to the terminal block by fastening it together with other conductive members using the nuts. The second plate portion is fixed to the terminal block by inserting the fixing pin into the second through hole of the second plate portion. The battery module according to claim 1.

3. The conductive member is The first plate and The second plate has a smaller thickness than the first plate, Includes, The second plate is welded to the electrode terminals of the battery cell. The battery module according to claim 1.

4. The aforementioned second plate is A third plate portion joined to the first plate, A fourth plate portion is welded to the electrode terminal, A displacement absorbing portion connects the third plate portion and the fourth plate portion and facilitates the relative displacement of the third plate portion and the fourth plate portion, Equipped with, The battery module according to claim 3.

5. The battery module includes a cover member that covers the second plate portion, The cover member is A locking portion that is locked to the terminal block determines the second position of the cover member relative to the terminal block. Equipped with, The battery module according to claim 1.

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