Battery Module

Abstract

To provide a battery module which can prevent stress concentration at a fixing part between the battery module and a support member even if laminate type cells are inflated.SOLUTION: A battery module 10 includes: a plurality of laminate type cells 21 laminated in the horizontal direction; an intermediate plate 30; a pair of end plates 40; and a pair of binding members 50 which face each other in a first direction perpendicular to a lamination direction. Outside the plurality of laminate type cells 21 in a second direction perpendicular to the lamination direction and the first direction, there is provided a cover plate 60 which extends in the lamination direction so as to cover electrode tabs 212 of the plurality of laminate type cells 21. The cover plate 60 is provided with a fixing part 62 which fixes the battery module 10 to a base 2a.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery module mounted on an electric vehicle or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, research and development into secondary batteries that contribute to energy efficiency has been conducted in order to ensure that more people have access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and advanced energy.

[0003] Laminated cells and rectangular cells are known as secondary batteries. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an electricity storage module in which laminated cells are stacked. Patent Document 2 discloses an electricity storage module having rectangular cells. When the electricity storage module of Patent Document 2 is attached to a vehicle frame, a pair of end plates are attached to the vehicle frame via brackets. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7142063 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 6184938 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the energy storage module of Patent Document 1, high pressure is applied to the end plates due to cell expansion of the laminated cells. In an energy storage module in which multiple laminated cells are stacked, if a pair of end plates are fixed to a vehicle frame as in Patent Document 2, stress is concentrated at the fixing parts between the end plates and the vehicle frame due to cell expansion. For this reason, a reinforcing structure is sometimes provided near the fixing parts, but this increases the number of parts and the size of the structure.

[0006] The present invention provides a battery module that is attached to a support member, and that prevents stress from concentrating at the fixing portion between the battery module and the support member even if a laminated cell expands. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention relates to A battery module mounted on a vehicle and fixed to a support member, A plurality of laminated cells stacked in a horizontal direction; an intermediate plate provided at an intermediate portion in a stacking direction of the plurality of laminated cells; A pair of end plates provided at both ends of the plurality of laminated cells in the stacking direction; a pair of restraining members that face each other in a first direction perpendicular to the stacking direction and are connected to the pair of end plates to restrain the plurality of laminated cells; Each laminated cell has an electrode tab extending in a second direction perpendicular to the stacking direction and the first direction; a cover plate extending in the stacking direction and covering the electrode tabs is provided on an outer side of the plurality of laminated cells in the second direction; The cover plate is at least The intermediate play To Concatenated, The cover plate is provided with at least a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion that fix the battery module to the support member on one end side and the other end side in the stacking direction relative to the intermediate plate. The present invention also provides a method for producing a semiconductor device comprising the steps of: A battery module mounted on a vehicle and fixed to a support member, A plurality of laminated cells stacked in a horizontal direction; an intermediate plate provided at an intermediate portion in a stacking direction of the plurality of laminated cells; A pair of end plates provided at both ends of the plurality of laminated cells in the stacking direction; a pair of restraining members that face each other in a first direction perpendicular to the stacking direction and are connected to the pair of end plates to restrain the plurality of laminated cells; Each laminated cell has an electrode tab extending in a second direction perpendicular to the stacking direction and the first direction; a cover plate extending in the stacking direction and covering the electrode tabs is provided on an outer side of the plurality of laminated cells in the second direction; the cover plate is connected to at least one of the intermediate plate and the pair of end plates, The cover plate is provided with at least a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion that fix the battery module to the support member at one end side and the other end side of the intermediate plate in the stacking direction, The intermediate plate has a fixing portion that is fixed to the support member. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, even if the laminated cell expands, it is possible to suppress stress concentration at the fixing portion between the battery module and the support member. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an internal structure of a battery pack 1 in which a battery module 10 according to each embodiment of the present invention is mounted. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a battery module 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a laminated cell 21. [Figure 4] 2 is a perspective view showing a plurality of laminated cells 21 stacked in the horizontal direction and a bus bar 22 connecting electrode tabs 212 of each laminated cell 21. FIG. [Diagram 5] 2 is a schematic diagram of a battery module 10 of a first embodiment attached to a base 2a of a battery case 2, as viewed from the front. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of a battery module 10 according to a second embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a partial perspective view of a battery module 10 according to a third embodiment. [Figure 8] 13 is a cross-sectional view of a modified example of the battery module 10 of the third embodiment, taken along an intermediate plate 30C. FIG. [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic diagram of a battery module X in which a pair of end plates 40X are fixed to a base 2a, as viewed from the front. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, the battery module of each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings are to be viewed in the direction of the reference symbols, and in the following description, for the sake of simplicity, front / rear, left / right, and up / down are set, and the front is indicated as Fr, the rear as Rr, the left as L, the right as R, the top as U, and the bottom as D.

[0011] First Embodiment First, a battery module 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0012] The battery module 10 is mounted on a vehicle (not shown) and is fixed and supported by a base 2a of a battery case 2 as shown in FIG. 1. The base 2a is, for example, a frame member provided on the battery case 2 or the bottom wall of the battery case 2. A plurality of (four here) battery modules 10 are supported on the base 2a, and the plurality of battery modules 10 are electrically connected to each other via electrical connection members (not shown). Furthermore, the power stored in the battery module 10 is supplied to, for example, a motor or the like that serves as a drive source for the vehicle. Here, the battery module 10 and the battery case 2 constitute a battery pack 1.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, the battery module 10 includes a cell stack 20 in which a plurality of laminated cells 21 are stacked, an intermediate plate 30, a pair of end plates 40, a pair of restraining members 50, and a cover plate 60.

[0014] The laminated cell 21 is, for example, a solid-state battery. As shown in FIG. 3, the laminated cell 21 made of a solid-state battery has a positive electrode connected to a positive electrode tab 21a, a negative electrode connected to a negative electrode tab 21b, a solid electrolyte disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a laminated film 21c that accommodates them, and charges and discharges by receiving and transferring lithium ions between the positive electrode and the negative electrode via the solid electrolyte. In addition, a seal portion 211 is provided on the periphery of the laminated cell 21. The positive electrode tab 21a extends from the seal portion 211 at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the laminated cell 21, and the negative electrode tab 21b extends from the seal portion 211 at the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the laminated cell 21. In the following, the positive electrode tab 21a and the negative electrode tab 21b are also collectively referred to as electrode tabs 212.

[0015] The solid electrolyte is not particularly limited as long as it has lithium ion conductivity and insulating properties, and materials generally used in all-solid-state lithium ion batteries can be used. For example, inorganic solid electrolytes such as sulfide solid electrolyte materials, oxide solid electrolyte materials, and lithium-containing salts, polymer-based solid electrolytes such as polyethylene oxide, and gel-based solid electrolytes containing lithium-containing salts and lithium ion conductive ionic liquids can be used. The form of the solid electrolyte material is not particularly limited, and can be, for example, particulate.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 4, the cell stack 20 is configured by stacking a plurality of laminated cells 21 in the horizontal direction. In this embodiment, each laminated cell 21 is arranged such that the electrode tabs 212 extend in the front-rear direction. Each laminated cell 21 is electrically connected via a bus bar 22. Specifically, adjacent laminated cells 21, 21 are connected in parallel via the bus bar 22, and other adjacent laminated cells 21, 21 are connected in parallel via the bus bar 22. That is, the laminated cells 21, 21 connected in parallel and the laminated cells 21, 21 adjacent thereto are connected in series.

[0017] The bus bar 22 is a plate-like member and has two openings 22a. The negative electrode tab 21b that passes through one opening 22a and the negative electrode tab 21b that extends from one side of the bus bar 22 are bent 90° from one side to be prevented from coming off, the positive electrode tab 21a that passes through the other opening 22a and the positive electrode tab 21a that extends from the other side of the bus bar 22 are bent 90° from the other side to be prevented from coming off, and the negative electrode tab 21b that passes through one opening 22a and the positive electrode tab 21a that passes through the other opening 22a are overlapped with each other, and the tabs 21b, 21b, 21a, 21a are joined to the bus bar 22. Note that all of the multiple laminated cells 21 that constitute the battery module 10 may be connected in series, and the connection method is not limited.

[0018] Returning to FIG. 2, the intermediate plate 30 is provided in the middle of the laminated cells 21 in the stacking direction (here, left-right direction). The intermediate plate 30 has a length that is substantially the same as the length of the laminated cells 21 in the longitudinal direction (here, front-rear direction) and lateral direction (here, up-down direction) of the laminated cells 21. Here, one intermediate plate 30 is provided at the center position in the stacking direction of the laminated cells 21, and divides the cell stack 20 into two. Note that two or more intermediate plates 30 may be provided to divide the cell stack 20 into three or more.

[0019] The pair of end plates 40 are provided at both ends of the laminated cells 21 in the stacking direction. The pair of end plates 40 have approximately the same length as the laminated cells 21 in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the laminated cells 21. Each laminated cell 21 expands due to aging deterioration, etc., and the cell stack 20 expands in the stacking direction (hereinafter also referred to as cell expansion). The pair of end plates 40 receive the expansion force in the stacking direction due to cell expansion.

[0020] The pair of restraining members 50 face each other in the vertical direction and are connected to the pair of end plates 40 to restrain the multiple laminated cells 21. Here, the pair of restraining members 50 have a plate shape and cover the multiple laminated cells 21, the intermediate plate 30, and the pair of end plates 40 from the vertical direction. The pair of restraining members 50 and the pair of end plates 40 are connected by, for example, welding. Here, the pair of restraining members 50 restrain the multiple laminated cells 21, but do not prohibit the dimensional expansion of the cell stack 20 in the stacking direction due to cell expansion. The pair of restraining members 50 can extend in the stacking direction to allow a certain degree of dimensional expansion in the stacking direction.

[0021] The cover plate 60 is provided outside the laminated cells 21 in the front-rear direction and extends in the stacking direction. Two cover plates 60 are provided facing each other in the front-rear direction. When viewed from the front-rear direction, the cover plate 60 covers the bus bars 22 and the electrode tabs 212 of each laminated cell 21 via the electrically insulating bus bar covers 23, thereby protecting the bus bars 22 and the electrode tabs 212.

[0022] In the first embodiment, the cover plate 60 is connected to the intermediate plate 30. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 5, the cover plate 60 is provided with a connecting portion 61 at a central position in the stacking direction. The connecting portion 61 is fastened to the intermediate plate 30 via a fastening member B1 such as a bolt. Specifically, the connecting portion 61 has a through hole through which the fastening member B1 is inserted from the front-rear direction, and the cover plate 60 is connected to the intermediate plate 30 by screwing the fastening member B1 into a screw hole 31 provided in the intermediate plate 30.

[0023] Now, when fixing a battery module to a base 2a, a case is assumed in which a pair of end plates 40X and the base 2a are fixed to each other as shown in Fig. 9. To explain Fig. 9 more specifically, flange portions 41X extending in the stacking direction are provided at the lower ends of the pair of end plates 40X, and fixing portions 42X to the base 2a are provided on the flange portions 41X. The fixing portions 42X have through holes through which fastening members B0 such as bolts are inserted, and the fastening members B0 are screwed into fixing portions 2b (here, screw holes) provided on the base 2a, thereby fixing the battery module 10X to the base 2a.

[0024] In the configuration shown in FIG. 9, when the laminated cells 21 expand in the stacking direction, a large expansion force is applied to the pair of end plates 40X in the stacking direction because the pair of end plates 40X is fixed to the base 2a. Therefore, stress is concentrated particularly on the fixing portion 42X and the fixing portion 2b which are fixing portions between the battery module 10X and the base 2a. In addition, since the fixing portion 42X is provided at the lower end portions of the pair of end plates 40X, the displacement in the stacking direction at the upper end portions of the pair of end plates 40X is allowed to a certain degree, but the displacement in the stacking direction at the lower end portions of the pair of end plates 40X is limited. Therefore, the surface pressure applied to the pair of end plates 40X due to cell expansion is biased in the vertical direction.

[0025] 2 and 5, the cover plate 60 is provided with two fixing portions 62 (a first fixing portion 621 and a second fixing portion 622) for fixing the battery module 10 to the base 2a at one end side (right side) and the other end side (left side) of the intermediate plate 30 in the stacking direction. The fixing portion 62 has a through hole through which a fastening member B2 such as a bolt can be inserted from the top and bottom directions, and the through hole penetrates the cover plate 60 from the upper end to the lower end. The battery module 10 is fixed to the battery case 2 by inserting the fastening member B2 into the fixing portion 2b (screw hole) provided in the base 2a and the fixing portion 62 of the cover plate 60.

[0026] As described above, since the cover plate 60 is provided outside the multiple laminated cells 21 in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the stacking direction, providing the fixing portion 62 on the cover plate 60 can prevent stress caused by cell expansion from concentrating on the fixing portion 62. Furthermore, since it is possible to prevent stress caused by cell expansion from concentrating on the fixing portion 62, for example, there is no need to provide a separate reinforcing structure near the fixing portion 62 (for example, by providing a reinforcing structure on the base 2a), and it is possible to prevent an increase in the number of parts and an increase in the size of the structure for mounting the battery module 10 to the base 2a.

[0027] Furthermore, since the pair of end plates 40 are not provided with fixing parts that are fixed to the base 2a, the surface pressure applied to the pair of end plates 40 due to cell expansion is less biased in the vertical direction. Therefore, the pair of end plates 40 and the pair of restraining members 50 can restrain the multiple laminated cells 21 more uniformly.

[0028] Furthermore, since the two fixing portions 62 (the first fixing portion 621 and the second fixing portion 622) are provided at both ends of the cover plate 60 in the stacking direction, the battery module 10 can be stably fixed to the base 2a in the stacking direction.

[0029] Second Embodiment Next, a battery module 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that since the laminated cells 21 and the pair of binding members 50 are common to the first embodiment, common reference numerals will be used and description thereof will be omitted.

[0030] 6, the battery module 10 of the second embodiment includes an intermediate plate 30A, a pair of end plates 40A, and a cover plate 60A. Note that the intermediate plate 30A, the pair of end plates 40A, and the cover plate 60A are arranged similarly to the intermediate plate 30, the pair of end plates 40, and the cover plate 60 of the first embodiment, and therefore detailed explanation of their arrangement will be omitted.

[0031] In the second embodiment as well, the cover plate 60A is provided outside the laminated cells 21 in the front-rear direction and extends in the stacking direction. The cover plate 60A is provided with two fixing portions 62A (a first fixing portion 621A and a second fixing portion 622A) that fix the battery module 10 to the base 2a at one end side (right side) and the other end side (left side) of the intermediate plate 30A in the stacking direction. With this configuration, in the second embodiment as well as in the first embodiment, it is possible to suppress concentration of stress due to cell expansion on the fixing portion 62A.

[0032] Unlike the cover plate 60 of the first embodiment, the cover plate 60A of the second embodiment is not connected to the intermediate plate 30A but is connected to a pair of end plates 40A. Specifically, the cover plate 60A is provided with connecting portions 63A at both ends in the stacking direction, which are connected to the pair of end plates 40A. The connecting portions 63A have through holes through which fastening members B3 such as bolts can be inserted. The pair of end plates 40A are provided with bent portions 41A extending in the stacking direction from both ends in the front-rear direction. The bent portions 41A are formed with screw holes (not shown) into which the fastening members B3 are screwed. The cover plate 60A is connected to the pair of end plates 40A by inserting the fastening members B3 into the through holes of the connecting portions 63A and the screw holes of the bent portions 41A.

[0033] In the battery module 10 of the first embodiment, the pair of end plates 40 and the cover plate 60 are not connected, so the pair of end plates 40 can swing up and down about the intermediate plate 30 in response to vehicle vibration. In the battery module 10 of the second embodiment, the pair of end plates 40A and the cover plate 60A are connected, so vertical swing of the pair of end plates 40A in response to vehicle vibration can be reduced.

[0034] The connecting portions 63A of the cover plate 60A are provided at one end (upper side) and the other end (lower side) in the vertical direction, so that the surface pressure applied to the pair of end plates 40 by cell expansion is less biased in the vertical direction, and the laminated cells 21 can be more uniformly restrained.

[0035] In the second embodiment, the first fixing portion 621A and the second fixing portion 622A are provided at a predetermined distance from the pair of end plates 40A in the stacking direction.

[0036] In the second embodiment, the intermediate plate 30A has a fixing portion 32A fixed to the base 2a. In other words, the battery module 10 is fixed to the base 2a not only by the fixing portion 62A of the cover plate 60A but also by the fixing portion 32A of the intermediate plate 30A. The fixing portion 32A of the intermediate plate 30A has a through hole through which a fastening member B4 such as a bolt can be inserted from above and below. The fastening member B4 inserted through the fixing portion 32A is screwed into a fixing portion (not shown) having a screw hole provided in the base 2a, thereby fixing the intermediate plate 30A and the base 2a. In this way, by providing the fixing portion 32A to the intermediate plate 30A, the battery module 10 can be fixed to the base 2a more stably.

[0037] The diameter of the through hole provided in the first fixing portion 621A and the second fixing portion 622A of the cover plate 60A is smaller than the diameter of the through hole provided in the fixing portion 32A of the intermediate plate 30A. In this way, by reducing the diameter of the through hole provided in the first fixing portion 621A and the second fixing portion 622A of the cover plate 60A, it is possible to prevent the thickness (i.e., the length in the front-rear direction) of the cover plate 60A from increasing. Therefore, the longitudinal dimension (front-rear direction) of the multiple laminated cells 21 can be increased, and the energy density of the entire battery module 10 can be increased.

[0038] Third Embodiment Next, a battery module 10 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that since the laminated cells 21 and the pair of binding members 50 are common to the first embodiment, common reference numerals will be used and description thereof will be omitted.

[0039] 7, the battery module 10 of the third embodiment includes an intermediate plate 30B, a pair of end plates 40B, and a cover plate 60B. Here, the intermediate plate 30B has the same configuration as the intermediate plate 30 of the first embodiment. The pair of end plates 40B has the same configuration as the pair of end plates 40A of the second embodiment, and has a bent portion 41B corresponding to the bent portion 41A. Note that the intermediate plate 30B, the pair of end plates 40B, and the cover plate 60B are arranged in the same manner as the intermediate plate 30, the pair of end plates 40, and the cover plate 60 of the first embodiment, and therefore detailed explanation of their arrangement will be omitted.

[0040] In the third embodiment, the cover plate 60B is also provided outside the laminated cells 21 in the front-rear direction and extends in the stacking direction. The cover plate 60B is provided with two fixing portions 62B (a first fixing portion 621B and a second fixing portion 622B) that fix the battery module 10 to the base 2a at one end side (right side) and the other end side (left side) of the intermediate plate 30B in the stacking direction. With this configuration, in the third embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, it is possible to suppress concentration of stress due to cell expansion on the fixing portion 62B.

[0041] The cover plate 60B of the third embodiment is connected to both the intermediate plate 30B and the pair of end plates 40B. To be more specific, the cover plate 60B is provided with a connecting portion 63B connected to the pair of end plates 40B at a position corresponding to the bent portion 41B of the pair of end plates 40B in the stacking direction. The configuration of the connecting portion 63B is the same as that of the connecting portion 63A, so a description thereof will be omitted. The cover plate 60B is connected to the pair of end plates 40B by inserting a fastening member B5 into a through hole of the connecting portion 63B of the cover plate 60B and a screw hole of the bent portion 41B. The cover plate 60B is also provided with a connecting portion 61B at a position of a screw hole 31B (corresponding to the screw hole 31 of the intermediate plate 30) provided in the intermediate plate 30B. The connecting portion 61B stands upright from the upper end of the cover plate 60B at the center position in the stacking direction of the cover plate 60B, and has a through hole through which the fastening member B6 is inserted from the front-rear direction. The cover plate 60B is connected to the intermediate plate 30B by screwing the fastening member B6 into the screw hole 31B of the intermediate plate 30B.

[0042] In this way, since the cover plate 60B is connected to both the intermediate plate 30B and the pair of end plates 40B, the rigidity of the entire battery module 10 is improved.

[0043] As described above, since the cover plate 60B is connected to the pair of end plates 40B, it is possible to reduce the vertical swing of the pair of end plates 40B about the intermediate plate 30B caused by vehicle vibration, similarly to the battery module 10 of the second embodiment. Here, when reducing the swing of the pair of end plates 40B, a moment is applied to the connecting portion 63B of the cover plate 60B and the bent portions 41B of the pair of end plates 40B, with the first fixing portion 621B and the second fixing portion 622B as fulcrums.

[0044] In the third embodiment, unlike the second embodiment, the first fixing portion 621B and the second fixing portion 622B are provided at positions overlapping a pair of end plates 40B when viewed from the front-rear direction. Compared to the second embodiment, the distances from the first fixing portion 621B and the second fixing portion 622B to the connecting portion 63B and the bending portion 41B are short, so that the moment acting on the connecting portion 63B and the bending portion 41B with the first fixing portion 621B and the second fixing portion 622B as the fulcrum can be reduced. Furthermore, the first fixing portion 621B and the second fixing portion 622B are provided at positions not overlapping the plurality of laminated type cells 21 when viewed from the front-rear direction, so that the longitudinal dimension of the plurality of laminated type cells 21 can be increased, and the energy density of the entire battery module 10 can be increased.

[0045] In the third embodiment, the fixing portion 62B of the cover plate 60B includes a third fixing portion 623B provided between the first fixing portion 621B and the second fixing portion 622B when viewed from the front-rear direction. The third fixing portion 623B has a through hole through which a fastening member B7 such as a bolt can be inserted from the top-bottom direction. The fastening member B7 inserted through the third fixing portion 623B is screwed into a fixing portion (not shown) which is a screw hole provided in the base 2a, thereby fixing the cover plate 60B to the base 2a. In this way, by providing the third fixing portion 623B in addition to the first fixing portion 621B and the second fixing portion 622B, the battery module 10 can be more stably fixed to the base 2a.

[0046] The fixing portion 62B will be described in more detail. The third fixing portion 623B is provided at a position overlapping the intermediate plate 30B when viewed from the front-rear direction. The diameter of the through hole provided in the first fixing portion 621B and the second fixing portion 622B is smaller than the diameter of the through hole provided in the third fixing portion 623B. In this way, by reducing the diameter of the through hole provided in the first fixing portion 621B and the second fixing portion 622B of the cover plate 60B, it is possible to prevent the thickness (i.e., the length in the front-rear direction) of the cover plate 60B from increasing. Therefore, the longitudinal dimension (front-rear direction) of the plurality of laminated cells 21 can be increased, and the energy density of the entire battery module 10 can be increased.

[0047] (Modification) Next, a modification of the battery module 10 of the above-mentioned third embodiment will be described.

[0048] In the battery module 10 of the modified example, instead of providing the third fixing portion 623B on the cover plate 60B of the third embodiment, a fixing portion 32C is provided on the intermediate plate 30C as shown in FIG. 8. The fixing portion 32C of the intermediate plate 30C has a through hole through which a fastening member B8 such as a bolt can be inserted from above and below. The fastening member B8 inserted through the fixing portion 32C is screwed into a fixing portion 2b having a screw hole provided on the base 2a, thereby fixing the intermediate plate 30C and the base 2a. In this way, by providing the fixing portion 32C on the intermediate plate 30C, the battery module 10 can be fixed to the base 2a more stably.

[0049] In this modification, the cover plate 60C is provided with a connecting portion 61C connected to the intermediate plate 30C, instead of the connecting portion 61B of the cover plate 60B of the third embodiment. The connecting portion 61C has a through hole through which the fastening member B9 is inserted from the front-rear direction. The cover plate 60C is connected to the intermediate plate 30C by screwing the fastening member B9 into a screw hole 31C provided on the front surface of the intermediate plate 30C.

[0050] Although various embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can come up with various modified or revised examples within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the components in the above-mentioned embodiments may be arbitrarily combined within the scope of the invention.

[0051] For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the battery module 10 is attached to the base 2a of the battery case 2, but this is not limited thereto, and any member may be used as long as it supports the battery module 10. For example, the battery module 10 may be attached to a vehicle body frame.

[0052] In addition, in each of the above-described embodiments, two cover plates 60, 60A, 60B, and 60C are provided facing each other in the front-rear direction, but this is not limited to this. The cover plate 60, 60A, 60B, and 60C may be provided only on either the front side or the rear side.

[0053] In addition, in each of the above-described embodiments, the pair of restraining members 50 have a plate shape, but this is not limited thereto. The pair of restraining members 50 may be, for example, band-shaped, as long as they are capable of restraining the plurality of laminated cells 21. Furthermore, the connection between the pair of restraining members 50 and the pair of end plates 40 is not limited to welding, and they may be connected using fastening members such as bolts.

[0054] In the first embodiment described above, the cover plate 60 is provided with the first fixing portion 621 and the second fixing portion 622, but a third fixing portion may be further provided between the first fixing portion 621 and the second fixing portion 622. This allows the battery module 10 to be more stably fixed to the base 2a.

[0055] In the second embodiment described above, the first fixing portion 621A and the second fixing portion 622A are provided at a predetermined distance from the pair of end plates 40A in the stacking direction, but this is not limited to the above. For example, the first fixing portion 621A and the second fixing portion 622A may be provided at a position overlapping the pair of end plates 40A when viewed from the front-rear direction, like the first fixing portion 621B and the second fixing portion 622B in the third embodiment.

[0056] This specification describes at least the following items. Note that, in parentheses, components corresponding to those in the above-mentioned embodiment are shown, but the present invention is not limited to these.

[0057] (1) A battery module (battery module 10) mounted on a vehicle and fixed to a support member (base 2a), A plurality of laminated type cells (a plurality of laminated type cells 21) stacked in a horizontal direction; an intermediate plate (intermediate plate 30, 30A, 30B, 30C) provided at an intermediate portion in the stacking direction (left-right direction) of the plurality of laminated cells; A pair of end plates (a pair of end plates 40, 40A, 40B) provided at both ends in the stacking direction of the plurality of laminated cells; a pair of restraining members (restraining members 50) opposed to each other in a first direction (vertical direction) perpendicular to the stacking direction and connected to the pair of end plates to restrain the plurality of laminated cells; Each laminated cell has an electrode tab (electrode tab 212) extending in a second direction (front-rear direction) perpendicular to the stacking direction and the first direction, a cover plate (60, 60A, 60B, 60C) extending in the stacking direction and covering the electrode tabs is provided on the outer side of the plurality of laminated cells in the second direction; the cover plate is connected to at least one of the intermediate plate and the pair of end plates, The cover plate is provided with at least a first fixing portion (first fixing portion 621, 621A, 621B) and a second fixing portion (second fixing portion 622, 622A, 622B) that fixes the battery module to the support member at one end side and the other end side of the intermediate plate in the stacking direction. Battery module.

[0058] According to (1), the battery module is provided with a cover plate that covers the electrode tabs, in addition to the end plates and the restraining members. The cover plate is provided with at least a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion that fix the battery module to the support member. The cover plate is provided outside the laminated cells in the second direction perpendicular to the stacking direction, so that it is possible to suppress concentration of stress due to cell expansion at the fixing portion between the battery module and the support member.

[0059] (2) A battery module according to (1), The cover plate is connected to at least the pair of end plates. Battery module.

[0060] According to (2), since the pair of end plates and the cover plate are connected to each other, it is possible to reduce rocking of the pair of end plates in the first direction caused by vibration of the vehicle.

[0061] (3) A battery module according to (2), The connection portions (connection portions 63A, 63B) between the cover plate and each end plate are provided on at least one end side and the other end side in the first direction. Battery module.

[0062] According to (3), the surface pressure applied to the pair of end plates by cell expansion is less biased in the first direction, so that the laminated cells can be more uniformly constrained.

[0063] (4) A battery module according to (1), The intermediate plate has a fixing portion (fixing portions 32A, 32C) fixed to the support member. Battery module.

[0064] According to (4), in addition to the first and second fixing portions of the cover plate, the intermediate plate also has a fixing portion that is fixed to the support member, so that the battery module can be more stably fixed to the support member.

[0065] (5) A battery module according to (1), the cover plate is connected to at least the intermediate plate; The intermediate plate has a fixing portion (fixing portions 32A, 32C) fixed to the support member. Battery module.

[0066] According to (5), since the cover plate is connected to the intermediate plate, and in addition to the first and second fixing portions of the cover plate, the intermediate plate also has a fixing portion that is fixed to the support member, the battery module can be more stably fixed to the support member.

[0067] (6) A battery module according to (4) or (5), the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion of the cover plate and the fixing portion of the intermediate plate have holes through which fastening members can be inserted in the first direction, The diameter of the hole provided in the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion of the cover plate is smaller than the diameter of the hole provided in the fixing portion of the intermediate plate. Battery module.

[0068] According to (6), the diameter of the hole provided in the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion of the cover plate is smaller than the diameter of the hole provided in the fixing portion of the intermediate plate, so that the thickness of the cover plate can be prevented from increasing, and thus the dimension of the laminated type cells in the second direction can be increased, and the energy density of the entire battery module can be increased.

[0069] (7) A battery module according to any one of (1) to (4), the cover plate is connected to at least the intermediate plate; The cover plate further includes a third fixing portion (third fixing portion 623B) provided between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion. Battery module.

[0070] According to (7), since the cover plate includes the third fixing portion in addition to the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion, the battery module can be fixed to the support member more stably.

[0071] (8) A battery module according to (7), the third fixing portion is provided at a position overlapping with the intermediate plate when viewed from the second direction, the first fixing portion, the second fixing portion, and the third fixing portion of the cover plate each have a through hole through which a fastening member can be inserted in the first direction; The diameter of the through hole provided in the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion is smaller than the diameter of the through hole provided in the third fixing portion. Battery module.

[0072] According to (8), the diameter of the holes provided in the first and second fixing parts is smaller than the diameter of the hole provided in the third fixing part provided at a position overlapping with the intermediate plate, so that the thickness of the cover plate can be prevented from increasing. This makes it possible to increase the dimension of the multiple laminated cells in the second direction, thereby increasing the energy density of the entire battery module.

[0073] (9) A battery module according to (2) or (3), The first fixing portion and the second fixing portion of the cover plate are provided at positions overlapping the pair of end plates when viewed from the second direction. Battery module.

[0074] According to (9), since the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are positioned near the connection portion between the pair of end plates and the cover plate, the moment applied to the connection portion with the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion as fulcrums can be reduced. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 2a Base (support member) 10 Battery Module 21 Multiple laminated cells 21 212 Electrode tab 30, 30A, 30B, 30C Intermediate plate 32A,32C Fixed part 40, 40A, 40B Pair of end plates 50 Restraint member 60,60A,60B,60C Cover plate 621,621A,621B 1st fixed part 622,622A,622B 2nd fixed part 623B 3rd fixed part 63A,63B connection part

Claims

1. A battery module mounted on a vehicle and fixed to a support member, A plurality of laminated cells stacked in a horizontal direction; an intermediate plate provided at an intermediate portion in a stacking direction of the plurality of laminated cells; A pair of end plates provided at both ends of the plurality of laminated cells in the stacking direction; a pair of restraining members that face each other in a first direction perpendicular to the stacking direction and are connected to the pair of end plates to restrain the plurality of laminated cells; Each laminated cell has an electrode tab extending in a second direction perpendicular to the stacking direction and the first direction; a cover plate extending in the stacking direction and covering the electrode tabs is provided on an outer side of the plurality of laminated cells in the second direction; the cover plate is coupled to at least the intermediate plate; The cover plate is provided with at least a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion that fix the battery module to the support member at one end side and the other end side of the intermediate plate in the stacking direction. Battery module.

2. A battery module mounted on a vehicle and fixed to a support member, A plurality of laminated cells stacked in a horizontal direction; an intermediate plate provided at an intermediate portion in a stacking direction of the plurality of laminated cells; A pair of end plates provided at both ends of the plurality of laminated cells in the stacking direction; a pair of restraining members that face each other in a first direction perpendicular to the stacking direction and are connected to the pair of end plates to restrain the plurality of laminated cells; Each laminated cell has an electrode tab extending in a second direction perpendicular to the stacking direction and the first direction; a cover plate extending in the stacking direction and covering the electrode tabs is provided on an outer side of the plurality of laminated cells in the second direction; the cover plate is connected to at least one of the intermediate plate and the pair of end plates, The cover plate is provided with at least a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion that fix the battery module to the support member at one end side and the other end side of the intermediate plate in the stacking direction, The intermediate plate has a fixing portion fixed to the support member. Battery module.

3. The battery module according to claim 2, The cover plate is connected to the intermediate plate. Battery module.

4. The battery module according to claim 2 or 3, the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion of the cover plate and the fixing portion of the intermediate plate have through holes through which fastening members can be inserted in the first direction, a diameter of the through hole provided in the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion is smaller than a diameter of the through hole provided in the fixing portion of the intermediate plate; Battery module.

5. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the cover plate is connected to the intermediate plate; The cover plate further includes a third fixing portion provided between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion. Battery module.

6. The battery module according to claim 5, the third fixing portion is provided at a position overlapping with the intermediate plate when viewed from the second direction, the first fixing portion, the second fixing portion, and the third fixing portion of the cover plate each have a through hole through which a fastening member can be inserted in the first direction; The diameter of the through hole provided in the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion is smaller than the diameter of the through hole provided in the third fixing portion. Battery module.

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