Active material holding member and manufacturing method thereof, electrode, lead-acid battery, micro-hybrid vehicle, and electric vehicle

Abstract

An active material retaining member 50 comprises: a base 14 that includes tubes 10a containing an active material, and that also includes a lower portion connected seat 10d that seals an opening 12d of the tubes 10a on one end 12a thereof, the lower portion connected seat 10d being arranged in the exterior of the tubes 10a; and an insertion unit 16 that is connected to the base 14 and also inserted inside the tubes 10a. At least a portion of the one end 12a of the tubes 10a and the base 14 are spaced apart from each other.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an active material holding member and a manufacturing method thereof, an electrode, a lead-acid battery, a micro hybrid vehicle, and an electric vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Lead-acid batteries are widely used as secondary batteries for industrial or consumer use, and in particular, lead-acid batteries are used for micro-hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, power supply devices, etc. In lead-acid batteries, a tube that contains an active material may be used. For example, a lead-acid battery includes an electrode having a tube that contains the active material, a metal core (current collector) inserted into the tube, and an electrode material that is filled between the tube and the metal core and contains the active material (for example, see Patent Document 1 below). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-203506 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Meanwhile, there is a demand for lead-acid batteries to have excellent battery characteristics.

[0005] An object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an active material retention member capable of obtaining excellent battery characteristics in a lead-acid battery.Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method for manufacturing the active material retention member.Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an electrode having the active material retention member.Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a lead-acid battery including the electrode.Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a micro-hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle including the lead-acid battery. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present inventor has discovered that in an active material holding member comprising a tube that contains an active material, a base arranged on the outside of the tube, and a sealing member connected to the base and having an insertion portion inserted into the tube, defects caused by contact between one end of the tube and the base can contribute to deterioration of battery characteristics, and has also discovered that separating at least a portion of one end of the tube from the base is effective in suppressing deterioration of battery characteristics.

[0007] One aspect of the present disclosure provides an active material holding member comprising a tube that contains an active material and a sealing member that seals an opening on one end side of the tube, the sealing member having a base disposed on the outside of the tube and an insertion portion connected to the base and inserted into the tube, and at least a portion of the one end of the tube and the base are spaced apart from each other.

[0008] Such an active material holding member can suppress defects caused by contact between one end of the tube and the base. For example, in addition to being able to suppress damage to the contact portion between the tube and the base due to changes in shape of the components of the active material holding member accompanying the progress of charge / discharge reactions, it can also suppress damage to the contact portion between the tube and the base due to contact between one end of the tube and the base when manufacturing the active material holding member by inserting the insertion portion of the sealing member into the tube. Therefore, it is possible to suppress deterioration of battery characteristics caused by damage to the contact portion between the tube and the base, and excellent battery characteristics can be obtained in a lead-acid battery.

[0009] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing the above-mentioned active material retention member, the method comprising the step of inserting the insertion portion of the sealing member into the tube.Another aspect of the present disclosure provides an electrode having the above-mentioned active material retention member and an electrode material that is contained in the tube and contains an active material.Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a lead-acid battery comprising the above-mentioned electrode.Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a micro-hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle comprising the above-mentioned lead-acid battery. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an active material retention member capable of obtaining excellent battery characteristics in a lead-acid battery. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a method for manufacturing the active material retention member. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an electrode having the active material retention member. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a lead-acid battery including the electrode. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a micro-hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle including the lead-acid battery. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a lead-acid battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a lead-acid battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a lead-acid battery according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a lead-acid battery according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a lead-acid battery according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0013] In this specification, a numerical range indicated using "~" indicates a range including the numerical values ​​described before and after "~" as the minimum and maximum values, respectively. In the numerical ranges described in stages in this specification, the upper limit or lower limit of a numerical range of a certain stage can be arbitrarily combined with the upper limit or lower limit of a numerical range of another stage. "A or B" may include either A or B, or may include both. Unless otherwise specified, the materials exemplified in this specification may be used alone or in combination of two or more types. The term "process" includes not only an independent process, but also a process that cannot be clearly distinguished from other processes as long as the intended effect of the process is achieved.

[0014] The active material holding member according to this embodiment is a member (active material holding member) for holding an active material. The active material holding member according to this embodiment includes a tube that contains an active material, and a sealing member that seals an opening on one end side of the tube, the sealing member having a base portion disposed on the outside of the tube, and an insertion portion that is connected to the base portion and inserted into the tube, and at least a part of the one end of the tube and the base portion are spaced apart from each other. Hereinafter, the end portion sealed by the sealing member with the base portion spaced apart is referred to as "one end of the tube", and the end portion opposite to the one end portion is referred to as "the other end of the tube".

[0015] The active material holding member according to this embodiment is an active material holding member for a lead-acid battery that can be used in a lead-acid battery. According to the active material holding member according to this embodiment, it is possible to suppress defects caused by one end of the tube and the base coming into contact with each other. For example, in addition to being able to suppress damage to the contact portion between the tube and the base due to the shape change of the components of the active material holding member accompanying the progress of the charge / discharge reaction, it is possible to suppress damage to the contact portion between the tube and the base due to the one end of the tube coming into contact with each other when manufacturing the active material holding member by inserting the insertion portion of the sealing member into the tube. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of battery characteristics caused by damage to the contact portion between the tube and the base, and excellent battery characteristics can be obtained in the lead-acid battery.

[0016] The active material holding member according to this embodiment may include at least one tube that contains an active material, and may include a plurality of tubes (e.g., two, three, four or more) that contain an active material. In the active material holding member, the plurality of tubes may be arranged side by side. A structure in which a plurality of tubes are arranged side by side may be obtained by arranging separate tubes side by side, or may be obtained by forming a plurality of through holes between opposing substrates. A connection portion such as a seam (seamed portion) may be formed between adjacent tubes.

[0017] In an active material holding member having a plurality of tubes, at least a part of one end of at least one tube and the base of the sealing member may be separated from each other. An active material holding member having a plurality of tubes (a group of tubes for holding active material) may have one tube (a first tube) and another tube (a second tube) adjacent to each other, and a sealing member (e.g., a component part of the base) that seals the opening at one end of one tube and a sealing member (e.g., a component part of the base) that seals the opening at one end of the other tube may be connected to each other (e.g., integrated). The sealing member that seals the opening at one end of one tube and the sealing member that seals the opening at one end of the other tube may not be connected to each other.

[0018] The tube is a long cylindrical body and has a through hole extending in the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the tube. The cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axial direction of the tube may be a circle, an ellipse, a rounded rectangle, or the like. The length of the tube is, for example, 160 to 650 mm. The outer diameter of the tube is, for example, 5 to 12 mm. The inner diameter of the tube is, for example, 5 to 10 mm. The thickness (wall thickness) of the tube is, for example, 0.1 to 2 mm.

[0019] The tube may be porous and may have pores. The tube may be formed of a substrate such as a woven fabric or a nonwoven fabric. An acid-resistant material may be used as the substrate material. Examples of substrate materials include resin materials such as polyolefin (polypropylene, polyethylene, etc.), polyester (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate (PET)), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and polycarbonate (PC); and inorganic materials such as glass (e.g., glass fiber), silicon carbide, and alumina.

[0020] The tube may include a resin material held on a substrate. Examples of the resin material include acrylic resin, epoxy resin, phenolic resin, melamine resin, styrene resin, and the like. The resin material may be held on the inner or outer surface of the substrate, or on the surface inside the pores in the substrate, or may be attached to the substrate. The resin material may be held on a portion of the substrate, or on the entire substrate.

[0021] The tube of the active material retention member according to this embodiment may be a resin tube (a tube containing resin as a main component) or a glass tube (a tube containing glass as a main component). The active material retention member according to this embodiment may include a resin tube and a glass tube. The resin content in the resin tube may be 50% by mass or more, 70% by mass or more, 90% by mass or more, 93% by mass or more, or 95% by mass or more based on the total amount of the resin tube. The glass content in the glass tube may be 50% by mass or more, 70% by mass or more, 90% by mass or more, 93% by mass or more, or 95% by mass or more based on the total amount of the glass tube.

[0022] The sealing member seals at least a part of the opening at one end of the tube, and may seal the entire opening. The sealing member has a base portion disposed on the outside of the tube, and an insertion portion connected to the base portion and inserted into the tube. Examples of materials constituting the sealing member (base portion, insertion portion, etc.) include resin materials such as polyolefin (polypropylene, polyethylene, etc.), polyester (e.g., polyethylene terephthalate (PET)), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polycarbonate (PC), etc.

[0023] The base of the sealing member is a portion of the sealing member located outside the tube and supports the insertion portion. The base may have a portion connected to the insertion portion outside the tube, and the shape of the base is not particularly limited. The base may have a maximum or minimum diameter in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the tube that is equal to the inner diameter (e.g., maximum diameter) of the opening at one end of the tube, or a diameter wider than the inner diameter (e.g., maximum diameter) of the opening at one end of the tube. The base may have a portion with an area larger than the area of ​​the opening at one end of the tube in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction of the tube. The base may have an opening through which a core metal described later is inserted, and the core metal may be fitted to the opening of the base. In this case, it is easy to prevent the sealing member from coming off the tube, and it is easy to suppress the active material from leaking out of the tube, which makes it easy to extend the life of the battery.

[0024] At least a part of one end of the tube and the base are separated from each other, that is, at least a part of one end of the tube and the base are not in contact with each other. At least a part of one end of the tube and the base can be separated from each other in the axial direction of the tube, and the base can have a part separated from at least a part of one end of the tube in the axial direction of the tube. "One end of the tube" is a part exposed on one end side of the tube, for example, an end face of the tube. From the viewpoint of further suppressing damage to the contact part between the tube and the base, the entire one end of the tube (the entire one end of at least one tube in the active material holding member) and the base may be separated from each other (that is, they may not be in contact with each other). The one end of the tube and the base may be separated from each other by forming a space (gap) between the one end of the tube and the base.

[0025] The distance between the portion of the sealing member at one end of the tube separated from the base (the distance in the axial direction of the tube, for example, the minimum distance or the maximum distance) may be, for example, within the following ranges. The distance may be 0.1 mm or more, 0.2 mm or more, 0.5 mm or more, 1.0 mm or more, or 2.0 mm or more. The distance may be 2.5 mm or less, 2.0 mm or less, 1.0 mm or less, 0.5 mm or less, or 0.2 mm or less. From these viewpoints, the distance may be 0.1 to 2.5 mm.

[0026] The insertion portion of the sealing member is connected to the base portion and inserted into the tube. The insertion portion is a portion of the sealing member that is located inside the tube when the opening on one end side of the tube is sealed with the sealing member. The insertion portion may be fitted to one end of the tube.

[0027] When the insertion part is inserted into the tube, the insertion part can suppress the active material from leaking out of the tube, and may have a portion in contact with the inner surface (inner circumferential surface) of the tube. The insertion part may seal the opening at one end of the tube with one or more constituent parts of the insertion part. The insertion part may have an opening through which a core metal described below is inserted, and the insertion part and the core metal may seal the opening at one end of the tube. The core metal may be fitted into the opening of the insertion part. The insertion part may have a portion that spans the entire cross section inside the tube, and may have a portion that is bent in the axial direction of the tube.

[0028] The shape of the insertion part is not particularly limited. For example, the first aspect of the insertion part may have a first part that contacts the inner surface (inner peripheral surface) of the tube along the circumferential direction of the tube, and a second part that extends in the axial direction of the tube from the end of the first part on the other end side of the tube. The second part may be configured with a plurality of wing-shaped parts that extend in the axial direction of the tube, or may have a through hole that extends in the axial direction of the tube.

[0029] The second aspect of the insertion part may have a rod-shaped first part extending in the axial direction of the tube and a disk-shaped second part extending from the outer periphery of the first part in a direction perpendicular to the first part. The outer periphery of the second part may contact the inner surface (inner circumferential surface) of the tube, thereby fitting the insertion part into the tube. The insertion part may have a plurality of second parts.

[0030] The insertion portion and the tube (the inner surface (inner circumferential surface) of the tube) may be welded to each other. In this case, it is sufficient that at least a part of the insertion portion is welded to the tube. By welding the insertion portion and the tube to each other, it is easy to prevent the relative positions of the tube and the sealing member from changing, and it is easy to prevent one end of the tube and the base from coming into contact with each other, making it easy to obtain excellent battery characteristics.

[0031] The active material holding member according to this embodiment may include a core (current collector) extending in one direction, or may not include a core (it may be in a state before the core is inserted into the tube). When the active material holding member according to this embodiment includes multiple tubes, the active material holding member may include multiple cores. The cores are rod-shaped members that are inserted into the tubes, and extend, for example, in the axial direction of the tube when inserted into the tube (i.e., are arranged along the axial direction of the tube).

[0032] The active material holding member according to this embodiment may be in a form in which one end of the core (the end of the core on one end side of the tube; the same applies below) is located outside the tube, and the other end of the core (the end of the core on the other end side of the tube; the same applies below) is located inside the tube (inserted into the tube) (see, for example, FIG. 3(b) and FIG. 4(c) described later). In this case, by forming an opening through which the core is inserted in the base, it is easy to prevent the sealing member from coming off the tube. In addition, by lengthening the part of the core located outside the tube and the opening of the base, it is even easier to prevent the sealing member from coming off the tube. As a result, it is easy to prevent the active material from leaking out of the tube, which makes it easy to extend the life of the battery. Furthermore, by having the other end of the core located inside the tube, the core contributes to preventing the active material from leaking out of the tube, which makes it easy to extend the life of the battery.

[0033] For example, one end of the core can be positioned outside the tube by providing a through hole in the insertion portion through which the core passes. At least a part of the base of the sealing member may be spaced apart from one end of the tube by adjusting the position of one end of the core. One end of the core may be positioned at the same position as one end of the tube in the axial direction of the tube (e.g., see FIG. 1(b) and FIG. 4(a) described below), or may be positioned inside the tube (e.g., see FIG. 3(a) and FIG. 4(b) described below).

[0034] When one end of the core is located outside the tube and the base has an opening through which the core is inserted, the length X of the part of the core located outside the tube in the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the core may be equal to or greater than the length Y of the opening in the base (X≧Y). In this case, since at least a part of the one end of the tube and the base are likely to be separated from each other, it is easy to suppress defects caused by the one end of the tube and the base coming into contact with each other. The length Y of the opening is, for example, the distance from the end face of the base on the tube side to the bottom of the opening.

[0035] At least a part of one end of the core metal and the sealing member may be separated from each other (i.e., they may not be in contact with each other. For example, see FIG. 4 described later). In this case, it is easy to suppress damage to the sealing member caused by the phenomenon that the core metal extends in the axial direction of the tube as the charge / discharge reaction progresses, and therefore it is easy to obtain excellent battery characteristics. "One end of the core metal" is a part exposed to one end side of the core metal, for example, an end face of the core metal. From the viewpoint of further suppressing damage to the sealing member, the entire one end of the core metal (the entire one end of at least one core metal in the active material holding member) and the sealing member may be separated from each other (i.e., they may not be in contact with each other). One end of the core metal and the sealing member may be separated from each other by forming a space (gap) between them. The space can be formed in a position of the sealing member (base, insertion part, etc.) facing one end of the core metal in the axial direction of the tube. The position of the core metal can be fixed by holding at least a part of the outer periphery (outer periphery surface) of the core metal by the sealing member (base, insertion part, etc.).

[0036] The core can be obtained, for example, by casting using pressure casting. The material constituting the core may be any conductive material, for example, a lead alloy such as a lead-calcium-tin alloy or a lead-antimony-arsenic alloy. The lead alloy may contain selenium, silver, bismuth, etc. The cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the core may be circular, elliptical, etc. The length of the core is, for example, 170 to 650 mm. The diameter of the core is, for example, 2.0 to 4.0 mm.

[0037] The manufacturing method of the active material holding member according to the present embodiment includes an inserting step of inserting the inserting portion of the sealing member into the tube. In the inserting step, the inserting portion of the sealing member can be inserted into the tube while at least a part (e.g., the entirety) of one end of the tube and the base of the sealing member are spaced apart from each other (i.e., without contacting each other). The manufacturing method of the active material holding member according to the present embodiment may include a step of inserting a core bar into the tube before or after the inserting step.

[0038] The manufacturing method of the active material holding member according to the present embodiment may include a tube preparation step of preparing a tube before the insertion step. When preparing a resin tube, in the tube preparation step, for example, at least two sheet-like substrates are arranged opposite each other, and then the space between the substrates is formed into a cylindrical shape, thereby obtaining a tube having a through hole. Examples of a method for forming a cylindrical space between the substrates include a method of inserting a rod-shaped body between the substrates and molding it; a method of impregnating the substrate with a liquid containing a resin component and then expanding the space between the substrates during drying, and the like. When preparing a glass tube, in the tube preparation step, for example, a tube having a through hole can be obtained by braiding a glass fiber bundle obtained by bundling glass fibers using a bundling agent.

[0039] The electrode according to the present embodiment includes the active material holding member according to the present embodiment and an electrode material that is accommodated in the tube of the active material holding member and contains an active material. The active material may be either before (unformed) or after formation. When the active material holding member according to the present embodiment includes a core metal, the electrode material may be filled between the tube and the core metal. The active material holding member in the electrode according to the present embodiment may include a first sealing member that seals an opening at one end of the tube, and a second sealing member that seals an opening at the other end of the tube, or may not include a second sealing member. The electrode according to the present embodiment may be, for example, a positive electrode or a negative electrode.

[0040] When the electrode is a positive electrode, the electrode includes a positive electrode material containing a positive electrode active material as an electrode material. Examples of the positive electrode active material before chemical formation include lead powder, red lead, etc. Examples of the positive electrode active material after chemical formation include lead dioxide, etc.

[0041] The positive electrode material may further contain additives as necessary. Examples of additives for the positive electrode material include short reinforcing fibers. Examples of short reinforcing fibers include acrylic fibers, polyethylene fibers, polypropylene fibers, and polyethylene terephthalate fibers (PET fibers).

[0042] When the electrode is a negative electrode, the electrode includes a negative electrode material containing a negative electrode active material as an electrode material. Examples of the negative electrode active material before chemical formation include lead powder, etc. Examples of the negative electrode active material after chemical formation include porous spongy lead, etc.

[0043] The negative electrode material may further contain additives as necessary. Examples of additives for the negative electrode material include barium sulfate, reinforcing short fibers, and carbon materials (carbonaceous conductive materials). The reinforcing short fibers may be the same as those used for the positive electrode material. Examples of carbon materials include carbon black and graphite. Examples of carbon black include furnace black (Ketjen Black (registered trademark), etc.), channel black, acetylene black, and thermal black.

[0044] A first aspect of the method for producing an electrode according to this embodiment includes an electrode material accommodating step of accommodating an electrode material containing an active material in a tube of an active material holding member according to this embodiment (with an opening at one end of the tube sealed with a sealing member). A second aspect of the method for producing an electrode according to this embodiment includes an electrode material accommodating step of accommodating an electrode material containing an active material in a tube with an opening at the other end of the tube sealed with a sealing member (the above-mentioned second sealing member), and a step of sealing the opening at one end of the tube with a sealing member (the above-mentioned first sealing member) after the electrode material accommodating step.

[0045] In the electrode material accommodating step, the active material may be supplied directly into the tube, or a paste containing the active material may be supplied into the tube and then aged, dried, etc. The electrode manufacturing method according to this embodiment may include a chemical conversion treatment step of applying a chemical conversion treatment to the electrode material after the electrode material accommodating step. When the active material holding member includes a core metal, the electrode manufacturing method according to this embodiment may include a step of inserting the core metal into the tube of the active material holding member before the electrode material accommodating step.

[0046] The lead-acid battery according to the present embodiment includes the electrode according to the present embodiment. The lead-acid battery according to the present embodiment includes the active material holding member according to the present embodiment, and the sealing member of the active material holding member may be a sealing member (e.g., a lower seat) that seals the lower end of the tube in the vertical direction, or a sealing member (e.g., an upper seat) that seals the upper end of the tube in the vertical direction.

[0047] The lead-acid battery according to this embodiment may include a battery case that contains the electrodes. The battery case is filled with an electrolyte. The electrolyte may be sulfuric acid (e.g., dilute sulfuric acid). The electrolyte may contain aluminum ions, sodium ions, or the like.

[0048] The electrodes may form an electrode group. For example, in the electrode group, positive and negative electrodes are alternately arranged with a separator interposed therebetween. The material of the separator is not particularly limited as long as it prevents electrical connection between the positive and negative electrodes and allows the electrolyte to pass through. Examples of the material of the separator include microporous polyethylene; a mixture of glass fiber and synthetic resin, and the like.

[0049] The lead-acid battery according to the present embodiment may include at least one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode as the electrode according to the present embodiment. When one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode is not the electrode according to the present embodiment, the form of the electrode is arbitrary, and may be, for example, an electrode plate having a plate-shaped current collector and an electrode material held on the current collector (for example, a paste-type electrode plate obtained by applying a paste containing an active material to a plate-shaped current collector and then drying it). The composition of the plate-shaped current collector may be the same as or different from the composition of the core metal described above.

[0050] The manufacturing method of the lead-acid battery according to the present embodiment includes an assembly process for assembling components including electrodes to obtain a lead-acid battery, for example, by stacking positive and negative electrodes via a separator and welding the current collectors of the electrodes of the same polarity with a strap to obtain an electrode group, and then disposing the electrode group in a battery case to obtain a lead-acid battery.

[0051] The method for producing a lead-acid battery according to the present embodiment may include an electrode preparation step of preparing a positive electrode and a negative electrode. In the electrode preparation step, at least one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode is obtained as the electrode according to the present embodiment.

[0052] When the electrode material is in an unformed state before the assembly step, the method for producing a lead-acid battery according to the present embodiment may include a chemical conversion treatment step of performing a chemical conversion treatment on the electrode material after the assembly step. Also, the method for producing a lead-acid battery according to the present embodiment may include a chemical conversion treatment step of performing a chemical conversion treatment on the electrode material after the electrode preparation step and before the assembly step. In the chemical conversion treatment step, for example, the chemical conversion treatment can be performed by passing a direct current through the electrode material in contact with an electrolyte.

[0053] An example of a lead-acid battery according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Figs. 1 and 2 are schematic cross-sectional views showing an example of a lead-acid battery. In Fig. 1, positive and negative electrodes are alternately arranged with separators interposed between them from the front side to the back side of the drawing. Fig. 1(b) is an enlarged view showing region P in Fig. 1(a). In Fig. 1(a), the details inside the tube are omitted. The lead-acid battery shown in Figs. 1 and 2 includes a battery case extending in the vertical direction, and Fig. 2 shows the laminated structure of the positive electrodes, negative electrodes, and separators when the lead-acid battery is viewed from above in the vertical direction (above the height direction of the battery case).

[0054] The lead-acid battery 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2 includes an electrode group 110, a battery case 120 that houses the electrode group 110, connecting members 130a, 130b connected to the electrode group 110, poles 140a, 140b connected to the connecting members 130a, 130b, a liquid inlet plug 150 that closes the liquid inlet of the battery case 120, and a support member 160 connected to the battery case 120.

[0055] The electrode group 110 includes a plurality of positive electrodes 10, a plurality of negative electrodes 20, and a plurality of separators 30. The positive electrodes 10 and the negative electrodes 20 are arranged alternately with the separators 30 interposed therebetween. An electrolyte solution 40 is filled in the space between the separators 30 around the positive electrodes 10.

[0056] The positive electrode 10 has a plurality of tubes 10a that accommodate active materials, a metal core (current collector) 10b, a positive electrode material 10c, a lower connecting seat 10d, an upper connecting seat 10e, and an ear portion 10f. The tubes 10a, the metal core 10b, and the lower connecting seat 10d constitute an active material holding member 50 according to this embodiment.

[0057] The multiple tubes 10a are arranged side by side to form a group of tubes for holding active material. Each tube 10a extends in the height direction (vertical direction) of the battery case 120, and has one end 12a (the end of the tube 10a on the bottom side of the battery case 120; the lower end in the figure) and the other end 12b (the upper end in the figure). The metal core 10b extends in the axial direction of the tube 10a at the center of the tube 10a, and has one end 12c (the end of the tube 10a on the bottom side of the battery case 120; the lower end in the figure) and the other end (not shown). The positive electrode material 10c is filled between the tube 10a and the metal core 10b.

[0058] The lower linking seat 10d is disposed on one end 12a side of the tube 10a, and the upper linking seat 10e is disposed on the other end 12b side of the tube 10a. The lower linking seat 10d has a base portion 14 and an insertion portion 16.

[0059] The base 14 is disposed outside the tube 10a. A component part of the base 14 of the lower linking seat 10d that seals the opening 12d on the one end 12a side of one tube 10a and a component part of the base 14 of the lower linking seat 10d that seals the opening 12d on the one end 12a side of another tube 10a adjacent to the one tube 10a are connected to each other, so that the base 14 extends in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the tube 10a.

[0060] The insertion part 16 is connected to the base part 14 and inserted into the tube 10a. The insertion part 16 has an annular first part 16a that contacts and fits with the inner surface (inner peripheral surface) of the tube 10a along the circumferential direction of the tube 10a, and a plurality of wing-shaped second parts 16b that extend in the axial direction of the tube 10a from the end of the first part 16a on the other end 12b side of the tube 10a. A through hole extending in the axial direction of the tube 10a is formed in the first part 16a, and the core metal 10b is held by the plurality of second parts 16b and fits into the through hole of the first part 16a. One end 12c of the core metal 10b is located at a position equivalent to one end 12a of the tube 10a in the axial direction of the tube 10a, and contacts the base part 14.

[0061] A space (void) S is formed between one end 12a of the tube 10a and the base 14, so that the entire one end 12a of the tube 10a and the base 14 are separated from each other (i.e., the entire one end 12a and the base 14 are not in contact with each other).

[0062] One end of the ear 10f (the lower end in the drawing) is connected to the upper connecting seat 10e, and the other end of the ear 10f (the upper end in the drawing) is connected to the connecting member 130a. The core metal 10b accommodated in the tube 10a is electrically connected to the pole 140a via the upper connecting seat 10e, the ear 10f, and the connecting member 130a.

[0063] The negative electrode 20 is a paste-type electrode plate, and is electrically connected to an electrode post 140b via a connecting member 130b.

[0064] The support member 160 has multiple protrusions 160a extending in the axial direction (longitudinal direction, for example, height direction of the battery case 120) of the tube 10a, and the lower link seat 10d is fixed by contacting the multiple protrusions 160a (see FIG. 1(a)). That is, the support member 160 supports the portion of the lower link seat 10d on the bottom side of the battery case 120 by the protrusions 160a.

[0065] 3 to 5 are schematic cross-sectional views showing other examples of the lead storage battery.

[0066] The lead-acid batteries 200a, 200b shown in FIG. 3 have the same configuration as the lead-acid battery 100 shown in FIG. 1, except that the length of the core 10b is different, resulting in a different position of one end 12c of the core 10b, and that the configuration of the peripheral portion of one end 12c of the core 10b at the lower connecting seat 10d is different.

[0067] 3(a), the length of the metal core 10b is shorter than that of the lead-acid battery 100. As a result, one end 12c of the metal core 10b is located inside the tube 10a and contacts the first portion 16a of the insertion portion 16.

[0068] 3(b), the length of the metal core 10b is longer than that of the lead-acid battery 100. A through hole extending in the axial direction of the tube 10a is formed in the base 14, and the metal core 10b is fitted into the through hole. As a result, one end 12c of the metal core 10b is located outside the tube 10a and inside the base 14.

[0069] The lead-acid battery 300a shown in Fig. 4(a) has a similar configuration to the lead-acid battery 100 shown in Fig. 1, including the configuration of the space (gap) S2 (corresponding to the space S in Fig. 1(b)) formed between one end 12a of the tube 10a and the base 14, except that a space (gap) S1 is formed between one end 12c of the core 10b and the base 14 of the lower linking seat 10d, so that the entire one end 12c of the core 10b and the lower linking seat 10d (base 14) are separated from each other (i.e., the entire one end 12c and the lower linking seat 10d (base 14) are not in contact with each other). The space S1 is formed at a position in the base 14 facing the one end 12c of the core 10b in the axial direction of the tube 10a.

[0070] The lead-acid battery 300b shown in Fig. 4(b) has a similar configuration to the lead-acid battery 200a shown in Fig. 3(a), including the configuration of the space (gap) S2 (corresponding to the space S in Fig. 3(a)) formed between the one end 12a of the tube 10a and the base 14, except that a space (gap) S1 is formed between the one end 12c of the core 10b and the first part 16a of the insertion part 16 of the lower linking seat 10d, so that the entire one end 12c of the core 10b and the lower linking seat 10d (first part 16a) are separated from each other (i.e., the entire one end 12c and the lower linking seat 10d (first part 16a) are not in contact with each other). The space S1 is formed at a position facing the one end 12c of the core 10b in the axial direction of the tube 10a in the first part 16a of the insertion part 16.

[0071] The lead-acid battery 300c shown in Fig. 4(c) has a similar configuration to the lead-acid battery 200b shown in Fig. 3(b), including the configuration of the space (gap) S2 (corresponding to the space S in Fig. 3(b)) formed between one end 12a of the tube 10a and the base 14, except that a space (gap) S1 is formed between one end 12c of the metal core 10b and the base 14 of the lower linking seat 10d, so that the entire one end 12c of the metal core 10b and the lower linking seat 10d (base 14) are separated from each other (i.e., the entire one end 12c and the lower linking seat 10d (base 14) are not in contact with each other). The space S1 is formed at a position facing the one end 12c of the metal core 10b inside the base 14 in the axial direction of the tube 10a.

[0072] The lead-acid battery 400 shown in FIG. 5 has the same configuration as the lead-acid battery 100 shown in FIG. 1, except that the position of one end 12c is different due to the difference in length of the core 10b, and the configuration of the peripheral portion of one end 12c of the core 10b at the lower connecting seat 10d is different.

[0073] In the lead-acid battery 400, the length of the metal core 10b is shorter than that of the lead-acid battery 100, so that one end 12c of the metal core 10b is located inside the tube 10a. The lower link 10d of the lead-acid battery 400 has a base 24 arranged outside the tube 10a, and an insertion part 26 connected to the base 24 and inserted into the tube 10a. The base 24 has a configuration similar to that of the base 14 of the lead-acid battery 100. The insertion part 26 has a rod-shaped first part extending in the axial direction of the tube 10a at the center of the tube 10a, and a disk-shaped second part extending from the outer periphery of the first part in a direction perpendicular to the first part. The insertion part 26 is fitted into the tube 10a by the outer periphery of the second part contacting the inner surface (inner peripheral surface) of the tube 10a. The insertion part 26 has two second parts along the axial direction of the tube 10a. In the axial direction of the tube 10a, the positive electrode material 10c is disposed above the second portion located on the upper side. The positive electrode material 10c may or may not be disposed below the second portion located on the upper side.

[0074] The micro hybrid vehicle, electric vehicle, or power supply device according to the present embodiment includes the lead acid battery according to the present embodiment. The manufacturing method of the micro hybrid vehicle, electric vehicle, or power supply device according to the present embodiment includes a step of obtaining a lead acid battery by the manufacturing method of the lead acid battery according to the present embodiment. The manufacturing method of the micro hybrid vehicle, electric vehicle, or power supply device according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a step of obtaining a lead acid battery by the manufacturing method of the lead acid battery according to the present embodiment, and a step of assembling components including the lead acid battery to obtain a micro hybrid vehicle, electric vehicle, or power supply device. Examples of the micro hybrid vehicle include an ISS vehicle (start-stop system vehicle) and a power generation control vehicle. Examples of the electric vehicle include a forklift and a golf cart. Examples of the power supply device include a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply), a power supply for disaster prevention (emergency) radio, and a power supply for a telephone. According to the present embodiment, a lead acid battery for a micro hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle (for example, for a forklift), or a power supply device is provided. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 10...positive electrode (electrode), 10a...tube, 10b...core metal, 10c...positive electrode material (electrode material), 10d...lower seat (sealing member), 12a...one end of tube, 12c...one end of core metal, 12d...opening, 14, 24...base, 16, 26...insertion portion, 50...active material holding member, 100...lead-acid battery.

Claims

1. A tube containing an active material; a sealing member for sealing an opening at one end of the tube; a core bar extending in an axial direction of the tube, The sealing member has a base portion disposed on the outside of the tube and an insertion portion connected to the base portion and inserted into the tube, At least a portion of the one end of the tube and the base are spaced apart from each other; The core metal contains a lead-antimony-arsenic alloy, One end of the metal core is located inside the tube.

2. The active material holder according to claim 1 , wherein the entire one end of the tube and the base are spaced apart from each other.

3. 3 . The active material holding member according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the one end of the metal core and the sealing member are spaced apart from each other.

4. The active material holder according to claim 3 , wherein the one end of the core metal and the sealing member are spaced apart from each other.

5. 5. The active material holding member according to claim 1, wherein the insertion portion and the tube are welded to each other.

6. 6. The active material holding member according to claim 1, wherein the tube is a resin tube.

7. 6. The active material holding member according to claim 1, wherein the tube is a glass tube.

8. The active material holding member according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of the tubes.

9. The tube is adjacent to another tube, 9. The active material holding member according to claim 8, wherein the sealing member sealing the opening at the one end side of the one tube and the sealing member sealing the opening at the one end side of the other tube are connected to each other.

10. A method for producing an active material holding member according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising the steps of: A method for manufacturing an active material holding member, comprising: inserting the insertion portion of the sealing member into the tube.

11. 10. An electrode comprising: the active material holding member according to claim 1; and an electrode material contained in the tube and containing an active material.

12. A lead-acid battery comprising the electrode of claim 11.

13. A micro-hybrid vehicle or electric vehicle comprising the lead-acid battery according to claim 12.

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