Inter-cell component unit, Inter-cell component, Battery unit

Abstract

The present invention aims to improve both the absorption of expansion and contraction of multiple battery cells and the protection of multiple battery cells against external forces. [Solution] The inter-cell member unit includes a cell stack including a plurality of battery cells arranged in one or more rows along a first direction on a predetermined plane, and includes a plurality of inter-cell members each disposed between two adjacent battery cells in the first direction. The inter-cell members extend along a second direction on the predetermined plane that is perpendicular to the first direction and protrude from the cell stack. Ends of the inter-cell members in the second direction are in contact with or connected to a frame portion disposed outside the cell stack in the second direction and extending along the first direction, or have a gap between them and the frame portion. The inter-cell members include elastic beam portions that have elasticity that allows them to deform in the first direction in response to expansion and contraction of the battery cells, and that have higher strength in the second direction than the frame portion.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an inter-cell member unit, an inter-cell member, and a battery unit. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, multiple water-cooled plate assemblies have been proposed that are housed in a case together with a cell stack including multiple battery cells arranged in multiple rows along a predetermined direction, and are each positioned between two adjacent battery cells in the cell stack in the predetermined direction (see Patent Document 1). Here, the water-cooled plate assembly includes a harmonica tube plate. An outer layer cooling passage and an inner layer cooling passage located inside the outer layer cooling passage are formed inside the harmonica tube plate, and the outer layer cooling passage and the inner layer cooling passage extend along the longitudinal direction of the harmonica tube plate (a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction). One of the outer layer cooling passage and the inner layer cooling passage is a liquid-cooled cooling passage, and the other is filled with an elastic material. With this configuration, the water-cooled plate assembly absorbs the expansion of the battery cells with the elastic material and cools the battery cells with a cooling medium flowing through the liquid-cooled cooling passage.

[0003] Also proposed is a reinforcing body that is housed in a housing formed by a lower case and an upper case together with a cell stack having a plurality of battery cells arranged in multiple rows along a predetermined direction, and that is connected to the lower case and / or the upper case (see Patent Document 2). Here, the reinforcing body includes first and second members and first, second, and third beams. The first and second members are arranged on the outer side of one end of the cell stack in the predetermined direction, and are aligned in the width direction of the cell stack (a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction). The first beam is arranged on the outer side of the other end of the cell stack in the predetermined direction, and is formed to have approximately the same width as the cell stack. The second beam is arranged between two adjacent rows of the cell stack, extends along the predetermined direction, and is connected to the first member and the first beam. The third beam is arranged at a position different from the second beam between the two adjacent rows of the cell stack, extends along the predetermined direction, and is connected to the second member and the first beam. The first and second members and the first, second, and third beams each have an internal flow path, and the communication between the internal flow paths of the first member, second beam, first beam, third beam, and second member forms a cooling flow path for water cooling. With this configuration, the reinforcement body improves the structural stability of the lower case and upper case, and also integrates the water cooling function into the reinforcement body. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Chinese Patent No. 114497826 [Patent Document 2] Chinese Utility Model No. 216648494 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The water-cooled plate assembly of Patent Document 1 and the reinforcing body of Patent Document 2 mentioned above cannot be said to be able to adequately absorb the expansion and contraction of the multiple battery cells while protecting the multiple battery cells from external forces from outside the case, and there is a demand for improvements in this compatibility.

[0006] A primary object of the present disclosure is to improve both the ability to absorb the expansion and contraction of a plurality of battery cells and the ability to protect the plurality of battery cells from external forces. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present disclosure has adopted the following means to achieve the above-mentioned main object.

[0008] The inter-cell member unit of the present disclosure comprises: An inter-cell member unit including a plurality of inter-cell members respectively disposed between two adjacent battery cells in a cell stack including a plurality of battery cells arranged in one or more rows along a first direction on a predetermined plane, the inter-cell member extends along a second direction on the predetermined plane that is perpendicular to the first direction and protrudes from the cell stack; an end portion of the inter-cell member in the second direction abuts against or is connected to a frame portion that is disposed on the outside of the cell stack in the second direction and extends along the first direction, or has a gap between the end portion and the frame portion; the inter-cell component has elasticity that allows it to deform in the first direction in response to expansion and contraction of the battery cells, and includes an elastic beam portion that has higher strength than the frame portion in the second direction. The gist of this is as follows.

[0009] By configuring the inter-cell member unit of the present disclosure as described above, the expansion and contraction of the multiple battery cells can be absorbed by the elastic deformation of the elastic beam portions of the inter-cell member, and the multiple battery cells can be protected by the strength of the elastic beam portions (because the elastic beam portions are less likely to deform) when an external force in the second direction acts on the frame portion from outside the frame portion. In other words, it is possible to improve both the absorption of expansion and contraction of the multiple battery cells and the protection of the multiple battery cells against external forces. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1]FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the battery unit of the present disclosure, viewed from above. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the state in which the top cover is removed from FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the battery unit from below. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the state in which the lower cover is removed from FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the state in which the case body and the like are removed from FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cell stack. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an inter-cell member unit. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of an inter-cell member unit. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a side view from the right of FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a side view of a modified inter-cell member. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a side view of a modified inter-cell member. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a side view of a modified inter-cell member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] A mode (embodiment) for carrying out the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a battery unit 10 according to the present disclosure, viewed from above. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the battery unit 10 shown in FIG. 1 with the top cover 14 removed. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the battery unit 10 shown in FIG. 4 with the bottom cover 15 removed. FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the battery unit 10 shown in FIG. 4 with the case body 13 and other components removed. FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of a cell stack 20. FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of an inter-cell member unit 40. FIG. 8 is an external perspective view of a portion of the inter-cell member unit 40. FIG. 9 is a side view from the right of FIG. 8. Note that the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction of the battery unit 10 and other components are as shown in FIGS. 1 to 9. In the present disclosure, the front-rear direction corresponds to the "first direction," the left-right direction corresponds to the "second direction," and a plane extending along the front-rear direction and the left-right direction corresponds to a "predetermined plane." Hereinafter, a plane extending along the front-to-back and left-to-right directions may be referred to as the XY plane, a plane extending along the front-to-back and left-to-right directions may be referred to as the XZ plane, and a plane extending along the left-to-right and up-to-down directions may be referred to as the YZ plane.

[0012] 1 to 9, the battery unit 10 includes a case 12 and a cell stack unit 19 housed in the case 12. The cell stack unit 19 includes a cell stack 20, a restraining portion 30, and an inter-cell member unit 40.

[0013] 1 to 5, case 12 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape overall, and includes case body 13, upper cover 14, and lower cover 15. Case body 13 is formed of, for example, an aluminum alloy, and upper cover 14 and lower cover 15 are formed of, for example, a steel material (iron alloy).

[0014] The case body 13 is a short rectangular tube with openings at the top and bottom, and includes a front wall 13a, a rear wall 13b, a left side wall 13c, and a right side wall 13d. The top cover 14 and the bottom cover 15 are each plate-shaped. The top cover 14 is fixed to the top surface of the case body 13 using fastening members such as bolts, and closes the opening at the top end of the case body 13. The bottom cover 15 is fixed to the bottom surface of the case body 13 using fastening members, and closes the opening at the bottom end of the case body 13. The case body 13, the top cover 14, and the bottom cover 15 define an accommodation chamber 16 for accommodating a cell stack unit 19.

[0015] Mounting members 17, 18 are fixed by fastening members to the lower ends of the outer surfaces of the left and right side walls 13c, 13d of the case body 13. The mounting members 17, 18 are made of, for example, an aluminum alloy and have a long rectangular tubular shape extending in the front-to-rear direction. The mounting members 17, 18 are fixed by fastening members to, for example, the body of a vehicle.

[0016] As shown in Figures 2 and 4 to 6, the cell stack 20 includes a plurality of battery cells 21. Each battery cell 21 is configured as, for example, a lithium-ion secondary battery or a nickel-metal hydride secondary battery, and is generally rectangular parallelepiped in shape. The plurality of battery cells 21 are arranged in four rows (rows 22a to 22d from the left) along the front-rear direction on the XY plane. Note that the number of rows is not limited to four, and may be two, three, five or more.

[0017] The multiple battery cells 21 are connected in series as a whole. Specifically, two adjacent battery cells 21 in the front-rear direction are electrically connected to each other via connection terminals 24 at the left or right end of their undersides. As a result, the multiple connection terminals 24 are arranged side by side at intervals along the front-rear direction at the left and right ends of each of the columns 22a to 22d. The last two battery cells 21 in the two left columns 22a and 22b are electrically connected to each other via connection terminals 25 attached to the rear end plate 32 of the restraint section 30. The first two battery cells 21 in the two central columns 22b and 22c are electrically connected to each other via a spanning connection terminal 26. The last two battery cells 36 in the two right columns 22c and 22d are electrically connected to each other via connection terminals 27 attached to the rear end plate 32. The first two battery cells 21 in the two left and right columns 22a and 22d are electrically connectable to the outside of the battery unit 10 via connection terminals (not shown). The connection relationship of the plurality of battery cells 21 is not limited to this, but may be designed as appropriate.

[0018] 2, 4, and 5, the restraint portion 30 includes a front end plate 31, a rear end plate 32, and a plurality of support portions 33. The front end plate 31, the rear end plate 32, and the plurality of support portions 33 are formed of, for example, an aluminum alloy.

[0019] The front end plate 31 is disposed forward relative to the cell stack 20 and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that extends in the left-right and up-down directions. The rear end plate 32 is disposed rearward relative to the cell stack 20 and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that extends in the left-right and up-down directions. Inter-cell members 41 of the inter-cell member unit 40 are disposed between two adjacent battery cells 21 in the front-to-back direction in each of the rows 22a to 22d, between the leading battery cell 21 in each of the rows 22a to 22d and the front end plate 31, and between the rearmost battery cell 21 in each of the rows 22a to 22d and the rear end plate 32. The left-to-right lengths of the front end plate 31 and the rear end plate 32 and the left-to-right lengths of each inter-cell member 41 are designed to be approximately the same, and are designed to be slightly longer than the left-to-right length of the cell stack 20. The front end plate 31 and the rear end plate 32 are fixed to the top cover 14 using fastening members. The top surfaces of the plurality of battery cells 21 and the top surfaces of the plurality of inter-cell members 41 are joined to the top cover 14 using an adhesive or the like.

[0020] Each of the multiple support portions 33 is disposed below the cell stack 20 and has a rectangular column shape extending in the front-to-rear direction. The front ends of each of the multiple support portions 33 are fixed to the underside of the front end plate 31 using fastening members, and the rear ends are fixed to the underside of the rear end plate 32 using fastening members. Each of the multiple support portions 33 abuts against the multiple connection terminals 34 in the left-to-right direction, or has a small gap between them and the multiple connection terminals 34. This restricts movement of the multiple battery cells 21 in the left-to-right direction.

[0021] 2, 4, 5, and 7 to 9, the inter-cell member unit 40 includes multiple inter-cell members 41 and a main flow path portion 60. As described above, each inter-cell member 41 is disposed between two adjacent battery cells 21 in the front-to-rear direction in each of the rows 22a to 22d, between the first battery cell 21 in each of the rows 22a to 22d and the front end plate 31, and between the last battery cell 21 in each of the rows 22a to 22d and the rear end plate 32.

[0022] Each inter-cell member 41 includes a storage portion 42, first and second elastic beam portions 51, 52, and a cap 54. The storage portion 42 is formed of a material, such as an aluminum alloy, that has higher thermal conductivity than the first and second elastic beam portions 51, 52. The storage portion 42 includes a peripheral wall portion 43 and a partition wall portion 44. The peripheral wall portion 43 has a rectangular annular cross section that is sufficiently longer in the up-down direction than in the front-to-rear direction, and is a long, rectangular tube extending in the left-right direction. The peripheral wall portion 43 has an internal storage chamber 45. The left-to-right length of the peripheral wall portion 43 is designed to be slightly longer than the left-to-right length of the cell stack 20. A plurality of protrusions 48 are formed on the inner circumferential surfaces of the front and rear walls of the peripheral wall portion 43 at intervals in the up-down direction. Each of the protrusions 48 extends in the left-to-right direction.

[0023] The partition wall 44 extends in the left-right direction so as to connect the centers in the front-rear direction of the upper and lower walls of the peripheral wall 43, and divides the storage chamber 45 into first and second storage chambers 46, 47 that are aligned in the front-rear direction. Communication holes (not shown) are formed in the left-right ends of the partition wall 44, thereby connecting the first storage chamber 46 and the second storage chamber 47. The first and second storage chambers 46, 47 are used as first and second branch flow paths for the coolant. The peripheral wall 43 and the partition wall 44 may be molded integrally, or may be formed separately and joined by welding or the like.

[0024] The first and second elastic beams 51, 52 are each formed of a material, such as steel (iron alloy), that has higher strength than the case body 13 and the housing 42. The first and second elastic beams 51, 52 are housed in the first and second housing chambers 46, 47, respectively. The first and second elastic beams 51, 52 each have a cross section shaped like a rounded "W" (a fixed shape) and extend linearly in the left-right direction. The first and second elastic beams 51, 52 are arranged so that their ends and center are closer to each other in the up-down direction and face each other in the front-to-back direction. The contact portions between the first and second elastic beams 51, 52 and the protrusions 48 of the peripheral wall 43 are joined by welding or the like. This fixes the positions of the first and second elastic beams 51, 52 in the up-down direction relative to the first and second housing chambers 46, 47. The length in the left-right direction of the first and second elastic beam portions 51, 52 is designed to be approximately the same as the length in the left-right direction of the peripheral wall portion 43, and to be slightly longer than the length in the left-right direction of the cell stack 20. Such first and second elastic beam portions 51, 52 are elastically deformed by external forces in the front-rear direction, and have high strength against external forces in the left-right direction.

[0025] Each cap 54 is formed from, for example, an aluminum alloy or steel (iron alloy). Each cap 54 has a rectangular annular cross section and a bottomed, square cylindrical shape with one end open. Each cap 54 is attached to both left-right ends of the corresponding peripheral wall 43, and the housing portion 42 and the first and second elastic beams 51, 52 are fixed to each other by welding or the like with the bottom of the cap 54 in contact with the housing portion 42 and the first and second elastic beams 51, 52. This closes both left-right ends of the peripheral wall 43 (housing chamber 45). The thickness (length in the left-right direction) of the bottom of each cap 54 is designed to be stronger in the left-right direction than the left side wall 13c and the right side wall 13d of the case body 13. When the caps 54 are attached to both left-right ends of the peripheral wall portion 43, the left-right ends (caps 54) of the inter-cell member 41 may abut against the left side wall portion 13c or the right side wall portion 13d of the case main body 13, or may be joined to these by welding or the like, or there may be a small gap between them.

[0026] The storage section 42 (peripheral wall section 43 and partition section 44) and the first and second elastic beam sections 51, 52 of each inter-cell member 41 are formed with two through holes (not shown) that are aligned vertically and penetrate in the front-to-rear direction in the center in the left-to-right direction.

[0027] The main flow path section 60 includes a plurality of first and second pipe sections 61, 65, a plurality of first and second flexible sections 71, 72, one supply pipe 73, and one discharge pipe 74. The first and second pipe sections 61, 65 each include a cylindrical section 62, 66, a flange section 63, 67, and a communication hole 64, 68. The cylindrical sections 62, 66 each have an annular cross section and are cylindrical in shape extending in the front-to-rear direction. The interior of the cylindrical sections 62, 66 is used as part of the main flow path for the coolant. The flange sections 63, 67 extend radially outward from a position on the outer periphery of the cylindrical sections 62, 66 that is forward of the center in the front-to-rear direction. The first and second pipe sections 61, 65 are inserted into two through holes formed in the corresponding accommodation section 42 (the peripheral wall section 43 and the partition wall section 44) and the first and second elastic beam sections 51, 52, respectively, and are joined to the accommodation section 42 by welding or the like with the flange sections 63, 67 abutting against the front surface of the accommodation section 42. The communication hole 64 is formed at a position where the first pipe section 61 communicates with the first accommodation chamber 46 when the first pipe section 61 is joined to the accommodation section 42. The communication hole 67 is formed at a position where the second pipe section 65 communicates with the second accommodation chamber 47 when the second pipe section 65 is joined to the accommodation section 42. Therefore, the first pipe section 61, the first accommodation chamber 46, the second accommodation chamber 47, and the second pipe section 65 communicate with each other as a flow path for the coolant. The rear ends of the first and second pipe sections 61, 65 joined to the rearmost inter-cell member 41 (accommodating section 42) are closed by the rear end plate 32, for example.

[0028] The first and second flexible parts 71, 72 are each formed of, for example, a rubber material or a metal material and are bellows-shaped. One end of each of the first and second flexible parts 71, 72 in the front-rear direction is joined by welding or the like to the first and second pipe parts 61, 65 joined to the front housing part 42 of two housing parts 42 adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction, and the other end is joined by welding or the like to the first and second pipe parts 61, 65 joined to the rear housing part 42. By using the first flexible part 71 to connect the two first pipe parts 61 fixed to the two housing parts 42 adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction, it is possible to allow for relative positional misalignment of these two first pipe parts 61 in the left-right and up-down directions. Furthermore, by using the second flexible section 72 to connect two second pipe sections 65 that are respectively fixed to two adjacent storage sections 42 in the front-to-rear direction, it is possible to allow for relative positional misalignment of these two second pipe sections 65 in the left-right and up-down directions.

[0029] The supply pipe 73 and the discharge pipe 74 are each made of, for example, an aluminum alloy, and are cylindrical with an annular cross section extending in the front-to-rear direction. The supply pipe 73 and the discharge pipe 74 are each inserted into a through-hole (not shown) formed in the front end plate 31, and are joined by welding or the like to the first and second pipe portions 61, 65 joined to the leading inter-cell member 41 (accommodation portion 42) and to the front wall portion 13a of the case body 13.

[0030] The first and second pipe sections 61, 65 (cylindrical sections 62, 66), the first and second flexible sections 71, 72, the supply pipe 73, and the discharge pipe 74 are used as main flow paths for the cooling medium. With the above-described configuration, the cooling medium supplied to the supply pipe 73 is discharged to the outside via the first pipe sections 61, the first flexible sections 71, the housing section 42 (the first housing chamber 46 and the second housing chamber 47), the second pipe sections 65, the second flexible sections 72, and the discharge pipe 74. This allows the multiple battery cells 21 to be cooled. Furthermore, since the housing section 42 is made of a material with high thermal conductivity, the multiple battery cells 21 can be cooled even more effectively.

[0031] In the battery unit 10 of this embodiment configured as described above, the first and second elastic beam portions 51, 52 of each inter-cell member 41 of the inter-cell member unit 40 each have a cross section shaped like a "W" with rounded corners, extend linearly in the left-right direction, and are arranged to face each other in the front-rear direction. The second elastic beam portions 51, 52 elastically deform from their initial state (the state shown in FIG. 9 ) to approach a flat plate shape due to a force acting from the front-rear direction as the battery cells 21 on both sides expand in the front-rear direction. Furthermore, the second elastic beam portions 51, 52 approach their initial state as the battery cells 21 contract after expanding. As a result, the expansion and contraction of the battery cells 21 can be absorbed by the deformation of the first and second elastic beam portions 51, 52.

[0032] The first and second elastic beams 51, 52 extend linearly in the left-right direction, and are designed so that their left-right length is longer than the left-right length of the cell stack 20. Therefore, the first and second elastic beams 51, 52 protrude from the cell stack 20 in the left-right direction. This prevents deformation of the first and second elastic beams 51, 52 even when a left-right external force acts on the left sidewall 13c or the right sidewall 13d of the case body 13 from the outside of the case 12, thereby protecting the cell stack 20 (the plurality of battery cells 21). Furthermore, caps 54, each having a bottom stronger than the left sidewall 13c or the right sidewall 13d of the case body 13, are attached to both left-right ends of the storage section 42 (peripheral wall 43). This also suppresses deformation of the first and second elastic beam portions 51, 52 and the cap 54, thereby making it possible to better protect the cell stack 20 (plurality of battery cells 21).

[0033] That is, the inter-cell member unit 40 including a plurality of inter-cell members 41 can improve both the absorption of expansion and contraction of the plurality of battery cells 21 and the protection of the cell stack 20 (the plurality of battery cells 21) against external forces.

[0034] Furthermore, in the battery unit 10, the main cooling medium flow path is formed by the first and second pipe sections 61, 65 (cylindrical sections 62, 66), the first and second flexible sections 71, 72, the supply pipe 73, and the discharge pipe 74, and extends in the front-to-rear direction between the two central rows 22b, 22c of the cell stack 20. The first and second branch cooling medium flow paths are formed as first and second storage chambers 46, 47 within the storage section 42. The storage section 42 and the first and second elastic beam sections 51, 52 have substantially the same length in the left-to-right direction, and caps 54 are attached to both left-to-right ends of the storage section 42 (peripheral wall section 43). Therefore, by suppressing deformation of the first and second elastic beam sections 51, 52 and the caps 54 as described above, the main flow path and the first and second branch flow paths can also be protected.

[0035] In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the inter-cell member 41 includes the storage portion 42. However, this is not limiting. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the inter-cell member 141 may include first and second storage portions 142A and 142B, a heat insulating portion 149, and first and second elastic beam portions 51 and 52. The first and second storage portions 142A and 142B each have a rectangular annular cross section that is sufficiently longer in the up-down direction than in the front-to-rear direction, and are elongated rectangular tubular shapes extending in the left-right direction. The first and second storage chambers 146 and 147 are formed therein. The first and second storage chambers 142A and 142B are formed with protrusions 148A and 148B similar to the above-described protrusion 48. The first and second storage chambers 146 and 147 accommodate the above-described first and second elastic beam portions 51 and 52. The contact portions between the first and second elastic beam portions 51, 52 and the protrusions 148A, 148B are joined by welding or the like. The heat insulating portion 149 is formed, for example, from inorganic fiber, foamed plastic, aerogel, or the like, and is plate-shaped. The heat insulating portion 149 is disposed between the first and second housing portions 142A, 142B in the front-to-rear direction, and is joined to the first and second housing portions 142A, 142B by welding or the like. By providing the inter-cell member 141 with the heat insulating portion 149, when one of two battery cells 21 adjacent in the front-to-rear direction becomes hot, the influence of that heat on the other can be suppressed.

[0036] In the inter-cell member 141, the first and second storage chambers 146, 147 may be used as first and second branch flow paths for the cooling medium, similar to the first and second storage chambers 46, 47 of the inter-cell member 41. In this case, for example, the following may be configured. The first and second storage chambers 146, 147 are connected to each other at their left-right ends via cylindrical portions or the like. Furthermore, first and second through holes penetrating in the front-rear direction are formed in the first and second storage sections 141, 142, the heat insulating section 149, and the first and second beam sections 151, 152. Then, first and second pipe sections similar to the first and second pipe sections 61, 65 are inserted into the first and second through holes, respectively, so that the first pipe section, the first storage chamber 146 (first branch flow path), the second storage chamber 147 (second branch flow path), and the second pipe section are connected as flow paths for the cooling medium.

[0037] In the embodiment described above, as shown in Fig. 9 , the storage chamber 45 in the peripheral wall portion 43 of the storage section 42 of the inter-cell member 41 is partitioned by the partition portion 44 into a first storage chamber 46 and a second storage chamber 47 that are aligned in the front-to-rear direction. However, this is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12 , the storage chambers 245, 345 in the peripheral wall portions 243, 343 of the inter-cell members 241, 341 may each be partitioned by partition portions 244, 344 into first storage chambers 246, 346 and second storage chambers 247, 347 that are aligned in the up-down direction. A plurality of protrusions 248, 348 extending in the left-right direction are formed on the inner peripheral surfaces of the front and rear walls of the peripheral wall portions 243, 343 at intervals in the up-down direction. 11, the first and second elastic beam portions 251, 252 are accommodated in the first and second accommodation chambers 246, 247, and in FIG. 12, the first and second elastic beam portions 351, 352 are accommodated in the first and second accommodation chambers 346, 347, but this is not limiting. Details of the first and second elastic beam portions 251, 252 will be described later. For example, the first and second accommodation chambers 246, 247 and the first and second accommodation chambers 346, 347 may accommodate portions having a similar shape to the first and second elastic beam portions 51, 52.

[0038] In the inter-cell member 241, the first and second storage chambers 246, 247 may be used as first and second branch flow paths for the coolant, similar to the first and second storage chambers 46, 47 of the inter-cell member 41. In this case, for example, the following may be true. The first and second storage chambers 246, 247 communicate with each other via communication holes formed at the left-right ends of the partition wall portion 244. Furthermore, a first through hole penetrating in the front-rear direction is formed in the peripheral wall portion 243 and the first elastic beam portion 251, and a second through hole penetrating in the front-rear direction is formed in the peripheral wall portion 244 and the second elastic beam portion 252. Then, first and second pipe portions similar to the first and second pipe portions 61, 65 are inserted into the first and second through holes, respectively, so that the first pipe portion, the first storage chamber 246 (first branch flow path), the second storage chamber 247 (second branch flow path), and the second pipe portion communicate with each other as flow paths for the coolant. The same applies to the inter-cell member 341.

[0039] In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the first and second elastic beams 51 and 52 have a cross section with a rounded "W" shape and extend linearly in the left-right direction. However, this is not limiting. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the first and second elastic beams 251 and 252 may have a rectangular ring-shaped cross section and extend linearly in the left-right direction. In this case, the first and second elastic beams 251 and 252 may be housed in the first and second housing chambers 146 and 147 as shown in FIG. 11, or in the first and second housing chambers 46 and 47 as shown in FIG. 9. The contact portions between the first and second elastic beams 251 and 252 and the protrusions 248 and 48 are joined by welding or the like. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12, the first and second elastic beams 351 and 352 may extend linearly in the left-right direction and have a cross section that is modified from the rectangular ring-shaped cross section so that the front and rear walls are alternately spaced apart and close to each other. In this case, the first and second elastic beam portions 351, 352 may be housed in the first and second housing chambers 346, 347 as shown in Fig. 12, or may be housed in the first and second housing chambers 46, 47 as shown in Fig. 9. The contact portions between the first and second elastic beam portions 351, 352 and the protrusion 348 or the protrusion 48 are joined by welding or the like. The cross-sectional shapes of the first and second elastic beam portions are not limited to these shapes, and may be any shape that has elasticity that allows deformation in the front-rear direction in response to expansion and contraction of the battery cell 21.

[0040] In the embodiment described above, in the main flow path section 60, the two first and second pipe sections 61, 65 respectively joined to two adjacent housing sections 42 in the front-rear direction are connected to each other using the first and second flexible sections 71, 72, respectively, but this is not limiting. For example, the two first and second pipe sections 61, 65 respectively joined to two adjacent housing sections 42 in the front-rear direction may be directly connected to each other.

[0041] In the above-described embodiment, the first and second storage chambers 46, 47 of the inter-cell member 41 are used as first and second branch flow paths through which the coolant flows. However, they do not have to be used as first and second branch flow paths. In this case, the inter-cell member unit 40 does not have to have two through holes formed in the storage section 42 (the peripheral wall section 43 and the partition wall section 44) and the first and second elastic beam sections 51, 52 of the inter-cell member 41, and does not have to have a main flow path section 60. When the inter-cell member unit 40 does not have a main flow path section 60, the multiple battery cells 21 may be arranged in a single row. Furthermore, the storage section 42 of the inter-cell member 41 may have one storage chamber 45 without having a partition wall section 44. Furthermore, the inter-cell member 41 does not have to have a cap 54. In addition, the inter-cell member 41 does not have to have a storage section 42. In this case, it is preferable that a portion of the first and second elastic beam portions 51, 52 is joined to the battery cell 21 by welding or the like, so that misalignment of the first and second elastic beam portions 51, 52 is restricted.

[0042] In the above-described embodiment, the cell stack unit 19, which includes the cell stack 20, the restraining portion 30, and the inter-cell member unit 40, is accommodated in the accommodation chamber 16 of the case 12. However, this is not limiting. For example, instead of accommodating the cell stack unit 19 in the case 12, a frame portion extending in the front-rear direction may be disposed on the outside of the cell stack unit 19 in the left-right direction. In this case, the caps 54 of each inter-cell member 41 of the inter-cell member unit 40 may abut against the frame portion, may be joined to the frame portion by welding, or may have a slight gap between them and the frame portion. The frame portion may be a component that the battery unit includes together with the cell stack unit 19, such as a component corresponding to the mounting members 17 and 18 described above. Alternatively, the frame portion may be a component separate from the battery unit including the cell stack unit 19 and part of the vehicle in which the battery unit is mounted, such as a so-called rocker EA member.

[0043] In the above-described embodiment, the configuration of the battery unit 10 has been described, but the configuration may also be an inter-cell member unit 40 used in the battery unit 10, or an inter-cell member 41 used in the inter-cell member unit 40.

[0044] The correspondence between the main elements of the embodiments and the main elements of the invention described in the "Means for Solving the Problem" section does not limit the elements of the invention described in the "Means for Solving the Problem" section, since the embodiments are examples for specifically explaining the mode for implementing the invention described in the "Means for Solving the Problem" section. In other words, the interpretation of the invention described in the "Means for Solving the Problem" section should be based on the description in that section, and the embodiments are merely specific examples of the invention described in the "Means for Solving the Problem" section.

[0045] The above describes the forms for implementing the present disclosure using embodiments, but the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments in any way, and it goes without saying that the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present disclosure.

[0046] [Note] [1] The inter-cell component unit of the present disclosure is an inter-cell component unit comprising a cell stack including a plurality of battery cells arranged in one or more rows along a first direction on a predetermined plane, the inter-cell components being each disposed between two adjacent battery cells in the first direction, wherein the inter-cell components extend along a second direction on the predetermined plane that is perpendicular to the first direction and protrude from the cell stack, and the ends of the inter-cell components in the second direction are in contact with or connected to a frame portion that is disposed outside the cell stack in the second direction and extends along the first direction, or have a gap between them and the frame portion, and the inter-cell components have elasticity that allows them to deform in the first direction in response to expansion and contraction of the battery cells, and have higher strength in the second direction than the frame portion.

[0047] By configuring the inter-cell member unit of the present disclosure as described above, the expansion and contraction of the multiple battery cells can be absorbed by the elastic deformation of the elastic beam portions of the inter-cell member, and the multiple battery cells can be protected by the strength of the elastic beam portions (because the elastic beam portions are less likely to deform) when an external force in the second direction acts on the frame portion from outside the frame portion. In other words, it is possible to improve both the absorption of expansion and contraction of the multiple battery cells and the protection of the multiple battery cells against external forces.

[0048] [2] In the inter-cell component unit of the present disclosure (the inter-cell component unit described in [1] above), the elastic beam portion may have a cross section with a constant shape and extend linearly along the second direction, thereby increasing the strength of the elastic beam portion in the second direction.

[0049] [3] In the inter-cell component unit of the present disclosure (the inter-cell component unit described in [1] or [2] above), the elastic beam portion may be formed of a material having higher strength than the frame portion.

[0050] [4] In the inter-cell component unit of the present disclosure (the inter-cell component unit described in any one of [1] to [3] above), the inter-cell component may further include a storage portion having a storage chamber extending along the second direction, and the elastic beam portion may be stored in the storage chamber.

[0051] [5] In this case (the inter-cell member unit described in [4] above), the battery cell may further include a main flow path portion having first and second main flow paths for the cooling medium extending along the first direction between two adjacent rows of the plurality of rows, the accommodating chamber being partitioned into first and second accommodating chambers, the two elastic beam portions being accommodated in the first and second accommodating chambers, the first accommodating chamber communicating with the first main flow path, the second accommodating chamber communicating with the second main flow path and the first accommodating chamber, and the first and second accommodating chambers being used as first and second branch flow paths for the cooling medium. With this configuration, the cooling medium can be circulated from the first main flow path through the first and second accommodating chambers to the second main flow path, thereby cooling the plurality of battery cells.

[0052] [6] In this case (the inter-cell component unit described in [5] above), the elastic beam portion and the accommodating portion may have first and second through holes formed therein that penetrate in the first direction, and the main flow path portion may further include a first communicating portion having a first communicating hole that communicates the first main flow path with the first branch flow path when inserted into the first through hole, and a second communicating portion having a second communicating hole that communicates the second main flow path with the second branch flow path when inserted into the second through hole.

[0053] [7] In this case (the inter-cell member unit described in [6] above), two adjacent first communication portions in the first direction may be connected using a first flexible portion, and two adjacent second communication portions in the first direction may be connected using a second flexible portion. This allows for relative positional deviation between two adjacent first and second communication portions in the first direction.

[0054] [8] In the inter-cell component unit of the present disclosure (the inter-cell component unit described in any one of [5] to [7] above) in which the first and second storage chambers are used as the first and second branch flow paths for the cooling medium, the storage section may have higher thermal conductivity than the elastic beam section, and the elastic beam section may have higher strength in the second direction than the storage section. This allows for more efficient cooling of the multiple battery cells.

[0055] [9] An inter-cell component unit of the present disclosure (the inter-cell component unit described in any one of [4] to [8] above) in which the inter-cell component includes a storage section having a storage chamber extending along the second direction may further include a cap attached to an end of the storage section in the second direction, the cap having a strength greater than that of the frame section in the second direction. This can better protect the multiple battery cells when an external force in the second direction acts on the frame section from outside the frame section.

[0056]

[10] In the inter-cell component unit of the present disclosure (the inter-cell component unit described in any one of [1] to [9] above), the inter-cell component may further include a heat insulating portion disposed between the two elastic beam portions arranged side by side in the first direction. In this way, when one of two battery cells adjacent in the first direction becomes hot, the influence of that heat on the other battery cell can be suppressed.

[0057]

[11] The inter-cell component of the present disclosure is used in the inter-cell component unit described in any one of [1] to

[10] above, thereby achieving the same effects as those achieved by the inter-cell component unit described above, such as the effect of improving both the absorption of expansion and contraction of multiple battery cells and the protection of the multiple battery cells from external forces.

[0058]

[12] A first battery unit of the present disclosure comprises the inter-cell component unit described in any one of [1] to

[10] above, the cell stack, and the frame portion, thereby achieving the same effects as those achieved by the inter-cell component unit described above, such as the effect of improving both the absorption of expansion and contraction of the multiple battery cells and the protection of the multiple battery cells from external forces.

[0059]

[13] A second battery unit of the present disclosure is a battery unit including the inter-cell component unit described in any one of [1] to

[10] above and the cell stack, and is mounted on a vehicle including the frame portion. This provides the same effects as those provided by the inter-cell component unit described above, such as the ability to improve both the absorption of expansion and contraction of multiple battery cells and the protection of the multiple battery cells from external forces. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 10 battery unit, 13 case body, 20 cell stack, 21 battery cell, 40 inter-cell member unit, 41,141,241,341 inter-cell member, 42,242,342 accommodating section, 43,243,343 peripheral wall section, 44,244,344 partition wall section, 45,245,345 accommodating chamber, 46,146,246,346 first accommodating chamber, 47,147,247,347 second accommodating chamber, 51,251,351 first elastic beam section, 52,252,352 second elastic beam section, 54 cap, 60 main flow path section, 61 first pipe section, 65 second pipe section, 71 first flexible section, 72 second flexible section, 142A first accommodating section, 143B second accommodating section.

Claims

1. An inter-cell member unit including a plurality of inter-cell members respectively disposed between two adjacent battery cells in a cell stack including a plurality of battery cells arranged in one or more rows along a first direction on a predetermined plane, the battery cells being arranged in the first direction, the inter-cell member extends along a second direction on the predetermined plane that is perpendicular to the first direction and protrudes from the cell stack; an end portion of the inter-cell member in the second direction abuts against or is connected to a frame portion that is disposed outside the cell stack in the second direction and extends along the first direction, or has a gap between the end portion and the frame portion; the inter-cell member includes an elastic beam portion that has elasticity that allows it to deform in the first direction in response to expansion and contraction of the battery cells and that has higher strength than the frame portion in the second direction, and an accommodation portion that has an accommodation chamber that extends along the second direction, The elastic beam portion is accommodated in the accommodation chamber, the inter-cell member unit further includes a main flow path portion having first and second main flow paths for the cooling medium extending along the first direction between two adjacent rows of the plurality of rows, The storage chamber is divided into a first storage chamber and a second storage chamber, the two elastic beam portions are accommodated in the first and second accommodation chambers, respectively; the first storage chamber communicates with the first main flow path, the second storage chamber communicates with the second main flow path and the first storage chamber, The first and second storage chambers are used as first and second branch flow paths for the cooling medium. Inter-cell component unit.

2. 2. The inter-cell member unit according to claim 1, The elastic beam portion and the housing portion have first and second through holes formed therein, the first and second through holes penetrating in the first direction, The main flow path portion further includes a first communication portion having a first communication hole that communicates the first main flow path and the first branch flow path when inserted into the first through hole, and a second communication portion having a second communication hole that communicates the second main flow path and the second branch flow path when inserted into the second through hole. Inter-cell component unit.

3. 3. The inter-cell member unit according to claim 2, two first communication portions adjacent to each other in the first direction are connected to each other using a first flexible portion; Two second communication portions adjacent to each other in the first direction are connected using a second flexible portion. Inter-cell component unit.

4. 2. The inter-cell member unit according to claim 1, the housing portion has higher thermal conductivity than the elastic beam portion, The elastic beam portion has a higher strength in the second direction than the housing portion. Inter-cell component unit.

5. 2. The inter-cell member unit according to claim 1, the inter-cell member further includes a cap attached to an end of the storage portion in the second direction, The cap has a higher strength in the second direction than the frame portion. Inter-cell component unit.

6. An inter-cell member unit including a plurality of inter-cell members respectively disposed between two adjacent battery cells in a cell stack including a plurality of battery cells arranged in one or more rows along a first direction on a predetermined plane, the battery cells being arranged in the first direction, the inter-cell member extends along a second direction on the predetermined plane that is perpendicular to the first direction and protrudes from the cell stack; an end portion of the inter-cell member in the second direction abuts against or is connected to a frame portion that is disposed outside the cell stack in the second direction and extends along the first direction, or has a gap between the end portion and the frame portion; the inter-cell member includes a plurality of elastic beam portions that have elasticity that allows deformation in the first direction in response to expansion and contraction of the battery cells and that have higher strength in the second direction than the frame portion, and a heat insulating portion that is disposed between two of the elastic beam portions that are arranged side by side in the first direction; Inter-cell component unit.

7. The inter-cell member unit according to claim 1 or 6, The elastic beam portion has a cross section with a constant shape and extends linearly along the second direction. Inter-cell component unit.

8. The inter-cell member unit according to claim 1 or 6, The elastic beam portion is formed of a material having higher strength than the frame portion. Inter-cell component unit.

9. An inter-cell member used in the inter-cell member unit according to claim 1 or 6.

10. A battery unit comprising the inter-cell member unit according to claim 1 or 6, the cell stack, and the frame portion.

11. A battery unit comprising the inter-cell component unit according to claim 1 or 6 and the cell stack, The frame portion is mounted on a vehicle. Battery unit.

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