BATTERY MODULE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING BATTERY MODULE

• US 20170358788A1
• Filed: 01/21/2016
• Published: 12/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: INOUE, Taku, KATO, Takayuki, UEDA, Hiromi
• Granted Patent: US 10,388,934 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0481 Compression means other than compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/103 prismatic or rectangular H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/224 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/264 for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/289 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 Class Codes: H01M 50/529 Intercell connections through partitions, e.g. in a battery casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A battery module 1 includes an array body including a plurality of battery cells held by cell holders and arranged along a predetermined array direction, and elastic members disposed between adjacent battery cells, and a restraint member applying a restraining load to the array body in the array direction. The cell holder has a protrusion protruding in the array direction, and a compression amount of the elastic member between the battery cells is regulated by the protrusion abutting on a cell holder of an adjacent battery cell.

Claims

1. A battery module comprising:

an array body including a plurality of battery cells held by cell holders and arranged along a predetermined array direction and elastic members disposed between adjacent battery cells; and

a restraint member applying a restraining load to the array body in the array direction,

wherein the cell holder has a protrusion protruding in the array direction, and

a compression amount of the elastic member between the battery cells is regulated by the protrusion abutting on a cell holder of an adjacent battery cell.

2. The battery module according to claim 1,

wherein the restraint member includes a pair of end plates interposing the array body in the array direction, and a connecting member connecting the pair of end plates to each other,

the cell holder has an insertion hole, the connecting member being inserted into the insertion hole, and

the protrusion has a tubular shape and communicates with the insertion hole.

3. The battery module according to claim 2,

wherein the insertion hole has a depression corresponding to the protrusion, and

the protrusion of the cell holder in the adjacent battery cell abuts on a bottom surface of the depression.

4. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion includes at least one metal collar inserted into the insertion hole.

5. The battery module according to claim 4, wherein the at least one metal collar comprises a pair of metal collars, and each of the metal collars is inserted into both ends of the insertion hole respectively and abuts on a metal collar of the cell holder in the adjacent battery cell.

6. The battery module according to claim 4,

wherein the protrusion is inserted into one end of the insertion hole,

a metal collar having a depression corresponding to the protrusion is inserted into the other end of the insertion hole, and

the protrusion of the cell holder in the adjacent battery cell abuts on a bottom surface of the depression.

7. The battery module according to claim 4, wherein the metal collar extends in the insertion hole to protrude from both ends of the insertion hole, and abuts on a metal collar of the cell holder in the adjacent battery cell.

8. A method of manufacturing a battery module comprising

an assembly process of applying a restraining load to an array body including a plurality of battery cells held by cell holders and arranged along a predetermined array direction and elastic members disposed between adjacent battery cells in the array direction using a restraint member,

wherein each of the cell holders having a protrusion protruding in the array direction is used in the assembly process to regulate a compression amount of the elastic member between the battery cells by the protrusion abutting on a cell holder of an adjacent battery cell.