Energy storage module with reduced damage to electrode terminals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9786895-B2
Application number	US-201514796174-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2015
Priority date	Jul 11, 2014
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

An energy storage module includes an energy storage cell group containing a plurality of energy storage cells stacked in a stacking direction, and a pair of end plates provided at both ends of the energy storage cell group in the stacking direction. A terminal frame is provided at the end plate in order to electrically connect an electrode terminal of the energy storage cell provided at an end in the stacking direction and an output line. The terminal frame is fixed to the end plate by fixing points.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An energy storage module comprising:
an energy storage cell group comprising a plurality of energy storage cells stacked in a stacking direction; and
a pair of end plates provided at both ends of the energy storage cell group in the stacking direction to hold the energy storage cells of the energy storage cell group together,
wherein a terminal frame is provided at the end plate in order to electrically connect an electrode terminal of an energy storage cell provided at an end of the plurality of energy storage cells in the stacking direction and an output line, and
wherein the terminal frame has a line connector connected to the output line, and the terminal frame is fixed to the end plate by a plurality of fixing points,
the terminal frame is attached to the end plate via an intervening member,
the terminal frame comprises:
a first portion that is disposed across from one plate side surface of the end plate, the one plate side surface being perpendicular to the stacking direction; and
a second portion that is disposed across from an end surface that is perpendicular to the one plate side surface,

the fixing points are fixed to the first direction.

2. The energy storage module according to claim 1 , wherein the energy storage cells and the end plates have a rectangular shape;
the electrode terminal is provided on one cell side surface of the energy storage cell, and the terminal frame is provided on the one plate side surface connected to the one cell side surface; and
the line connector is positioned on the terminal frame between two of the plurality of fixing points.

3. The energy storage module according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing points comprise any of screw tightening, caulking, and fitting of a pin and a hole, or any combination thereof.

4. The energy storage module according to claim 1 , further comprising a bus bar member electrically connecting the electrode terminal and the terminal frame, wherein the bus bar member comprises a plurality of curves.

5. The energy storage module according to claim 4 , wherein the bus bar member is provided separately from the terminal frame, one end of the bus bar member is welded to the electrode terminal, and another end of the bus bar member is connected to the terminal frame; and
the bus bar member is thinner than the terminal frame.

6. The energy storage module according to claim 4 , wherein the curves of the bus bar member comprise a curved portion having a U-shape in cross section.

7. The energy storage module according to claim 1 , wherein an axial direction of the line connector is parallel to the stacking direction of the energy storage cells.

8. The energy storage module according to claim 7 , wherein any of the plurality of fixing points is provided as a plate side surface fixing point on one plate side surface of the end plate connected to a cell surface of one of the energy storage cells on which the electrode terminal is provided; and
any of others of the plurality of fixing points is provided as a plate surface fixing point on a plate surface intersecting with the stacking direction of the energy storage cells;
the plate side surface fixing point comprises tightening by a bolt and a nut or caulking; and
the plate surface fixing point comprises fitting of a pin and a hole.

9. The energy storage module according to claim 8 , wherein all or two of axial directions of the electrode terminal, the plate side surface fixing point, and the plate surface fixing point are same.

10. The energy storage module according to claim 1 , wherein the terminal frame has a rotation locking structure.

11. An electric vehicle comprising the energy storage module according to claim 1 .

12. A hybrid vehicle comprising the energy storage module according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd
• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kawata Masao
• Sakurai Atsushi
• Wada Makoto

Classifications

• H01M50/249 Primary

  specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains (constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64) · CPC title

• H01M50/516

  by welding, soldering or brazing · CPC title

• H01M50/51

  Connection only in series · CPC title

• H01M50/209

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

• H01M50/296

  characterised by terminals of battery packs (terminals of batteries H01M50/543) · CPC title