Battery Structure

Abstract

Without improving the assembled battery structure, instead, a battery structure that can flexibly respond to the assembled battery structure side is provided. 【Solution means】In the battery structure of the present invention, a connection plate 2 made of a material different from that of one or both of the positive electrode (plus electrode 1B) and the negative electrode (minus electrode 1A), which can be physically and electrically joined to the contact on the assembled battery side, is provided on one or both of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. 【Effect】Even if there are major improvements on the battery side or on the terminal connection structure on the assembled battery side, it can flexibly respond by simply changing the connection plate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery structure that, particularly when used as an assembled battery, does not cause problems in electrical and physical connections on the device side using the battery due to the materials of the positive and negative electrodes of the battery.

Background Art

[0002] Recently, for example, when obtaining electric power, instead of a power supply method of supplying power through a cord from an outlet, there has been an increase in vehicles, bicycles, power tools, and home appliances that incorporate an assembled battery (also referred to as a battery pack) in which a plurality of rechargeable batteries are connected and function as a single large-capacity battery, and power is supplied from this fully charged assembled battery. In the present application, the "battery" means not only a general non-rechargeable battery but also a rechargeable battery (secondary battery, rechargeable battery, storage battery). The configuration of the above-mentioned assembled battery is disclosed in, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4.

[0003] For example, in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-301982), a plurality of secondary batteries in which a conductive member electrically connected to an electrode group and the inner bottom surface of a metal battery can are joined by spot welding, a bus bar that electrically and mechanically connects between the secondary batteries, and one side abuts on the outer bottom surface on the opposite side to the inner bottom surface of the battery can joined by the spot welding, and the other side is fixed to at least one of the both ends of the bus bar. A structure including a metal heat radiating member is disclosed.

[0004] Further, for example, in Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-198930), at least two assembled batteries each including a plurality of battery cells whose electrode terminals are electrically connected via a bus bar, and the plurality of assembled batteries are further electrically connected in series. A battery pack configured as such, fluid supply means for supplying a fluid capable of exchanging heat with respect to the plurality of bus bars in each of the assembled batteries, and a passage provided individually for each of the assembled batteries, and the fluid supplied by the fluid supply means toward the plurality of bus bars in each of the assembled batteries. A structure including an individual passage through which the fluid passes is disclosed.

[0005] Furthermore, for example, in Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-244732), there is a battery assembly composed of a plurality of battery cells whose electrode terminals are connected in series by a bus bar, and a fluid supply means for supplying a fluid that exchanges heat with a plurality of the bus bars or the electrode terminals arranged at positions protruding from the surface of the battery assembly, and a partition member that partitions between the bus bars of the battery assembly and forms a plurality of passages in the outer space of the battery assembly. The structure is disclosed in which the fluid supplied by the fluid supply means is divided into the plurality of passages and flows through the outer space of the battery assembly.

[0006] Also, for example, in Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-214354), there is a battery module in which a plurality of batteries are arranged and housed in a housing. The battery has an opening portion at an electrode portion of the battery for discharging gas generated in the battery to the outside of the battery. The housing is partitioned by a separation plate disposed in contact with a battery case around the electrode portion of the battery into a storage portion that stores a coolant or a coolant filled in a gap between the plurality of batteries and an exhaust chamber that exhausts gas discharged from the opening portion of the electrode portion to the outside of the housing. The opening portion of the electrode portion communicates with the exhaust chamber through a through hole formed in the separation plate. The structure is disclosed.

[0007] However, the conventional Patent Documents 1 to 4 had problems, particularly in the battery structure. The conventional cylindrical batteries had a uniform structure (such as that shown in Patent Document 4), and the battery assembly structure was improved to match the battery structure. However, these days, the battery structure is also, for example, made lighter, and particularly the material of the terminal that becomes the contact point with the battery assembly is reviewed. When trying to adopt such a battery, there arises a problem that the structure of the battery assembly must be changed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0008]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] The problem to be solved by the present invention is that even if the structure of the conventional assembled battery is improved, it is still subject to battery constraints, and it is difficult to adopt the improved battery, or it is necessary to use the conventional battery.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, the battery structure of the present invention is a battery for an assembled battery, and a connection plate made of a material different from that of one or both of the positive electrode and the negative electrode, which can be physically and electrically joined to the contact on the assembled battery side, is provided on one or both of the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

Effects of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, even if the materials used for the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the battery are difficult to be electrically and physically connected to the terminals on the assembled battery side, the connection is facilitated through the connection plate. As a result, it is not necessary to greatly change the structure on the assembled battery side, and even for the improved battery, it is not necessary to greatly change the structure on the battery side by simply providing the connection plate.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] The battery of the present invention achieves the purpose of being able to flexibly respond to the collective battery structure side without improving the collective battery structure, by providing a connection plate made of a material different from one or both of the positive electrode and the negative electrode, which can physically and electrically join with the contact point on the collective battery side, on one or both of the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

[0014] The battery structure of the present invention provides a circular connection plate made of a material different from one or both of the positive electrode and the negative electrode, such as metal, for example, a small-diameter one for the positive electrode and a large-diameter one for the negative electrode, on one or both of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. For example, when only the positive electrode is made of aluminum, a metal plate made of a material different from aluminum, such as a nickel material, is provided on the surface of the positive electrode.

[0015] By doing so, even when the compatibility with the positive and negative electrodes on the battery side, for example, by welding, is poor in terms of the contact point structure on the collective battery side, in the battery structure of the present invention provided with a connection plate, terminal connection becomes easy and reliable, and it is not restricted by the contact point structure on the collective battery side, and it becomes possible to select aluminum as the positive and negative electrodes (cases) in order to achieve weight reduction of the cylindrical battery, for example, the material unique to the cylindrical battery. (In that case, as a result, the entire collective battery can also be weight-reduced.)

[0016] Further, in the battery structure of the present invention, in the above configuration, the negative electrode may be located on the same end face as the positive electrode, exposing the outer peripheral edge of the end face excluding the central portion serving as the positive electrode on the side where the positive electrode is located.

[0017] In a "general" and "ordinary" battery, when one side is the positive electrode, the negative electrode is located on the other side. The reason why the positive electrode and the negative electrode of a "general" and "ordinary" battery are separately located on both end faces is to avoid the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the same battery being easily short-circuited due to the terminal (connection) structure when the battery is housed and used in a device powered by the battery.

[0018] Incidentally, as for commercially available batteries, in the case of a rectangular (9V) battery, the positive and negative electrodes are located on one end face. However, the connection structure of the terminals is not a simple contact like a battery, but a so-called button type, and the connection structure with the positive and negative terminals on one end face is made difficult to short-circuit.

[0019] In short, as long as the battery has a structure that can prevent short-circuiting as described above, there is no problem even if the positive and negative electrodes are located on one end face. The structure that can prevent short-circuiting may be provided in the connection structure of the terminals on the side that houses the battery rather than on the battery side. Therefore, the battery of the present invention is not limited to being used in a collective battery structure using a plurality of batteries, and the short-circuit avoidance structure is left to the collective battery structure side.

[0020] In the case of the battery of the present invention having a configuration in which the positive and negative electrodes are "located" on one end face, for the negative electrode, the outer peripheral edge of the end face excluding the central portion serving as the positive electrode on the side where the positive electrode is located is "exposed" so as to be located on the same end face as the positive electrode. Therefore, the connection plate is a circular plate when provided on the positive electrode and an annular plate when provided on the negative electrode.

[0021] Incidentally, the battery of the present invention in which the positive electrode and the negative electrode are located on the same end face as the positive electrode can be manufactured from a "general" and "ordinary" battery. That is, as will be described later in the examples, the outer peripheral surface of the bottomed cylindrical case housing the battery components and the bottom surface on the opposite side of the positive electrode are all made the negative electrode, and the case (negative electrode) is covered with an insulating tube. That is, the portion not covered by the insulating tube on the bottom surface is the negative electrode.

[0022] Therefore, the battery of the present invention in which the positive electrode and the negative electrode are located on the same end face as the positive electrode, the cylindrical battery of the present invention, can be obtained from a "general" and "ordinary" cylindrical battery by a simple method that does not require much labor, such as peeling off the above-mentioned insulating tube so that the outer peripheral edge of the end face excluding the central portion serving as the positive electrode is exposed, and a configuration in which the negative electrode is located on the same end face as the positive electrode can be obtained.

[0023] In the case of the above battery structure, even if it is manufactured from a normal cylindrical battery and the bottom surface where the negative electrode is located is exposed as the negative electrode, as long as the exposed negative electrode on the bottom surface is not used as a terminal and not used as an electrical contact, there will be no particular impact. If safety measures are to be taken, an insulating seal or the like can be attached to the negative electrode exposed on the bottom surface.

[0024] Even in the case of a battery like this, by providing a connection plate, it can be used without significantly changing the structure on the side of the assembled battery.

Embodiment

[0025] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 illustrates, for example, a cylindrical lithium-ion battery (hereinafter referred to as a cylindrical battery) used in a power tool or a hybrid vehicle. FIG. 1 shows a so-called normal cylindrical battery structure in which the positive electrode and the negative electrode are located on both end faces that are opposite to each other, and FIG. 2 shows a cylindrical battery structure in which the negative electrode is located on the same end face where the positive electrode is located.

[0026] As a common structure in the configurations of FIGS. 1 and 2, the cylindrical battery 1 has, in order from the axis core, in the outer circumferential direction (radially outward direction), for example, a positive electrode plate 1a made of an oxide (ceramic) containing lithium and a metal, a separator 1b made of a polymerized compound, and a negative electrode plate 1c made of, for example, graphite, which are wound in a layered state to form a laminated state. An electrolytic solution is filled between the positive electrode plate 1a and the negative electrode plate 1c. Further, it includes a bottomed cylindrical case that encloses these, a negative electrode 1A whose outer surface is nickel-plated, a gasket 1d that covers the open end of the negative electrode 1A, a positive electrode 1B provided at the center of this gasket 1d, and an insulating tube 1C that covers the bottom surface and the outer circumferential surface of the bottomed cylindrical negative electrode 1A.

[0027] Also, in common in FIGS. 1 and 2, a connection plate 2 made of a material different from one or both of the materials of the positive electrode 1B and the negative electrode 1A, which enables physical and electrical bonding with the contacts on the side of the assembled battery, is provided on one or both of the positive electrode 1B and the negative electrode 1A.

[0028] In the structure of the cylindrical battery 1 of the present invention shown in Fig. 1, the insulating tube 1C is present at the outer peripheral edge of the end face excluding the central part serving as the positive electrode 1B on the opening side of the negative electrode 1A having a bottomed cylindrical shape and also serving as a case, and is not present on the bottom face of the negative electrode 1A having a bottomed cylindrical shape and also serving as a case. That is, the structure of the cylindrical battery 1 in Fig. 1 is a general one in which the positive electrode 1B is located on one end face and the negative electrode 1A is located on the other end face opposite thereto.

[0029] In Fig. 1(a), a circular connection plate 2 is provided on the upper surface of the positive electrode 1B, and in Fig. 1(b), a circular connection plate 2 is provided on the upper surface of the negative electrode 1A. Of course, the connection plate 2 is provided on one or both of the positive electrode 1B and the negative electrode 1A depending on the materials of the positive electrode 1B and the negative electrode 1A.

[0030] For example, as described above, when aluminum is adopted as the material of the positive electrode 1B and the negative electrode 1A in order to reduce the weight of the cylindrical battery 1, for example, a so-called clad material in which an aluminum plate and a nickel plate are joined may be used in this example where the material is different from that of the aluminum. Of course, the material of the connection plate 2 is not limited to the above, and may be appropriately adopted in consideration of various circumstances.

[0031] In the structure of the cylindrical battery 1 of the present invention shown in Fig. 2, the negative electrode 1A is formed by the outer peripheral edge of the end face excluding the central part serving as the positive electrode 1B on the side where the positive electrode 1B is located being exposed from the insulating tube 1C, and the negative electrode 1A is located on the same end face as the end face where the positive electrode 1B is located.

[0032] In the structure of the cylindrical battery 1 in Fig. 2, the insulating tube 1C does not exist at the outer peripheral edge of the end face excluding the central part serving as the positive electrode 1B on the opening side of the negative electrode 1A having a bottomed cylindrical shape and also serving as a case, and exists on the bottom face of the negative electrode 1A having a bottomed cylindrical shape and also serving as a case.

[0033] In Fig. 2(a), a circular connection plate 2 is provided on the upper surface of the positive electrode 1B, and in Fig. 2(b), an annular connection plate 2 is provided on the upper surface of the negative electrode 1A. Of course, the connection plate 2 is provided on one or both of the positive electrode 1B and the negative electrode 1A depending on the materials of the positive electrode 1B and the negative electrode 1A.

[0034] For example, as mentioned above, when aluminum is used as the material for the positive electrode 1B and the negative electrode 1A in order to reduce the weight of the cylindrical battery 1, for example, in this example where the material is different from aluminum, a so-called clad material obtained by joining an aluminum plate and a nickel plate may be used. Of course, the material of the connection plate 2 is not limited to the above, and may be appropriately adopted in consideration of various circumstances.

[0035] As described above, with the battery structure of the present invention, even if there is an improvement in the core structure inside the battery, the electrical and physical connections with the assembled battery side are ensured and guaranteed, enabling free improvement of the battery and reliable application to the assembled battery structure.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0036] 1 Cylindrical battery 1A Negative electrode 1B Positive electrode 2 Connection plate

Claims

1. A battery for a battery pack, comprising a connection plate made of a material different from that of one or both of the positive electrode and the negative electrode, which enables physical and electrical bonding with a contact on the battery pack side, provided on one or both of the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

2. The battery structure according to Claim 1, wherein the negative electrode exposes an outer peripheral edge of an end face excluding a central portion serving as the positive electrode on the side where the positive electrode is located, and is positioned on the same end face as the positive electrode.

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