Load applicator and power storage apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022238951-A1
Application number	US-202217579601-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 20, 2022
Priority date	Jan 27, 2021
Publication date	Jul 28, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A load applicator includes an elastic mechanism, a first member configured to move in accordance with contraction of power storage cells, a second member provided on a side opposite to the first member across the elastic mechanism, and a switching device. The elastic mechanism has a first form in which a first restraint load is applied to the power storage module when the power storage module expands by a first dimension, and a second form in which a second restraint load larger than the first restraint load is applied to the power storage module when the power storage module expands by the first dimension. The switching device performs an operation to switch from the first form to the second form in a case where a restraint load smaller than the first restraint load is applied to the power storage module when the power storage module expands by the first dimension.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A load applicator for applying a restrain load to a power storage module including a plurality of power storage cells, the load applicator comprising:
an elastic mechanism; a first member placed between the elastic mechanism and the power storage module in one direction, the first member being configured to move along the one direction along with contraction of the power storage cells; a second member provided on a side in the one direction, the side being opposite to a side where the first member is placed, across the elastic mechanism; and a switching device, wherein: the elastic mechanism contracts so as to correspond to a distance between the first member and the second member in the one direction; the elastic mechanism applies a restraint load to the power storage module via the first member in accordance with a contraction amount of the elastic mechanism; the elastic mechanism has
a first form in which a first restraint load is applied to the power storage module when the power storage module expands by a first dimension, and
a second form in which a second restraint load larger than the first restraint load is applied to the power storage module when the power storage module expands by the first dimension; and
the switching device is configured to perform an operation to switch from the first form to the second form in a case where a restraint load smaller than the first restraint load is applied to the power storage module when the power storage module expands by the first dimension.

2 . The load applicator according to claim 1 , wherein the one direction is a direction where the power storage cells are stacked.

3 . The load applicator according to claim 1 , wherein an elastic modulus of the elastic mechanism in a case where the second form is formed is larger than an elastic modulus of the elastic mechanism in a case where the first form is formed.

4 . The load applicator according to claim 3 , wherein:
the elastic mechanism forming the first form includes a predetermined number of elastic bodies configured to apply a restraint load to the power storage module; and the elastic mechanism forming the second form includes elastic bodies the number of which is greater than the predetermined number, the elastic bodies being configured to apply a restraint load to the power storage module.

5 . The load applicator according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first member includes a first part and a second part having a thickness thicker than a thickness of the first part in the one direction; in a state where the elastic mechanism forms the first form, the elastic mechanism applies a restraint load to the power storage module via the first part of the first member; and in a state where the elastic mechanism forms the second form, the elastic mechanism applies a restraint load to the power storage module via the second part of the first member.

6 . A power storage apparatus comprising:
a power storage module including a plurality of power storage cells; and the load applicator according to claim 1 , wherein, in a state where respective SOC values of the power storage cells constituting the power storage module are set to values out of a predetermined range, the switching device performs switching from the first form to the second form.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ishikawa Shotaro
• Sasaki Tatsuhiko
• Kishi Koichiro
• Watanabe Kenta

Classifications

• H01M50/204 Primary

  Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells · CPC title

• H01M50/242

  adapted for protecting batteries against vibrations, collision impact or swelling · CPC title

• H01M50/289

  characterised by spacing elements or positioning means within frames, racks or packs (spacing elements inside cells other than separators, membranes or diaphragms H01M50/471) · CPC title

• H01M50/247

  specially adapted for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, computers, hand tools or pacemakers · CPC title

• H01M50/209

  adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells (H01M50/216 takes precedence) · CPC title