Electric Storage Apparatus

• US 20150207116A1
• Filed: 01/21/2015
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd. (GS Yuasa Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd. (GS Yuasa Corporation)
• Inventors: MOCHIZUKI, Ryota, KAWATA, Masao
• Granted Patent: US 9,711,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/291 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/505 comprising a single busbar
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/516 by welding, soldering or brazing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electric storage apparatus of the present invention includes: a plurality of electric storage devices aligned in a first direction; and a frame configured to hold the plurality of electric storage devices, the frame including: a first frame element that is arranged so as to face the plurality of electric storage devices from one side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and to directly or indirectly abut the plurality of electric storage devices; and a second frame element that is arranged so as to face the plurality of electric storage devices from the other side in the second direction, wherein the second frame element includes, between the second frame element and the plurality of electric storage devices, a holding part having projections that are respectively in contact with the plurality of electric storage devices.

Claims

1. An electric storage apparatus comprising:

a plurality of electric storage devices aligned in a first direction; and

a frame configured to hold the plurality of electric storage devices,

the frame comprising;

a first frame element that is arranged so as to face the plurality of electric storage devices from one side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and to directly or indirectly abut the plurality of electric storage devices; and

a second frame element that is arranged so as to face the plurality of electric storage devices from the other side in the second direction, wherein

the second frame element comprises, between the second frame element and the plurality of electric storage devices, a holding part having projections that are respectively in contact with the plurality of electric storage devices.

2. The electric storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of electric storage devices include a first electric storage device and a second electric storage device that has a larger dimension in the second direction than the first electric storage device, and

the projections that are in contact with the second electric storage device have a smaller height in the second direction than the projections that are in contact with the first electric storage device.

3. The electric storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the projections are deformable.

4. The electric storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the projections are elastically deformable.

5. The electric storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of electric storage devices respectively have reference surfaces in the second direction, and

the first frame element directly or indirectly abuts the reference surfaces.

6. The electric storage apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the plurality of electric storage devices respectively have external terminals on the reference surfaces, and

the external terminals of each two adjacent electric storage devices are connected to each other by a bus bar.

7. The electric storage apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the plurality of electric storage devices respectively have external terminals,

the external terminals of each two adjacent electric storage devices are connected to each other by a bus bar,

the external terminals are connected to the bus bar by welding, and

the reference surfaces are welding surfaces between the bus bar and the respective external terminals.

8. The electric storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the frame comprises:

a pair of end members that are arranged on both sides in the first direction of the plurality of electric storage devices so as to sandwich the plurality of electric storage devices; and

a coupling member configured to couple the pair of end members to each other so as to integrally secure the plurality of electric storage devices, wherein

the first frame element and the second frame element constitute a part or the whole of the coupling member.

9. The electric storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

pairs of the projections are provided at intervals from each other so as to correspond respectively to the plurality of electric storage devices.

10. The electric storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the holding part is an insulating member configured to insulate the plurality of electric storage devices from the second frame element.