Storage battery having a plurality of containers with one cover

• US 6,635,380 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2000
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshihara, Yasuyuki, Koike, Kiichi, Iwamura, Akira, Shimoda, Kazuhiko, Takami, Nobuyuki, Hirao, Ayako
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaney, Carol
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSANG FOSTER, SUSY N
• Application Number:
  US09/588,493
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 429/148-161, 429/87-93, 429/120
• US Class Current: 429/93
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/147 Lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/26 Assemblies sealed to each other in a non-detachable manner
• 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

The present invention provides a high output storage battery with a high reliability that is easy to fabricate. This storage battery comprises a plurality of monoblock containers united to each other with space provided between the adjacent monoblock containers and one common cover to seal the openings of those monoblock containers. Each monoblock container has a plurality of cell compartments separated from each other by partitions. Each of those cell compartments houses an assembly element comprising a plurality of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates stacked with separators placed between them.

Claims

1. A storage battery comprising a plurality of monoblock containers put together with space provided between each pair of adjacent containers and one container cover to seal the openings of said monoblock containers, each of said monoblock containers having a plurality of cell compartments separated from each other by partitions and each of said cell compartments housing an assembly element comprised of a plurality of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates stacked with separators placed between the plates, wherein each monoblock container has two cell rows adjacent and parallel to each other, each cell row including a plurality of cell compartments lined up in one direction and separated from each other by partitions, and said monoblock containers being so arranged that said cell rows are parallel with each other.

2. The storage battery in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said monoblock containers has a positive electrode pole connected to the assembly element in the cell compartment at the first end of one cell row and a negative electrode pole connected to the assembly element in the cell compartment in the adjacent and corresponding position of the other cell row, wherein said container cover has a positive electrode terminal connected to the positive electrode pole of the monoblock container at one end of said arranged monoblock containers, a negative electrode terminal connected to the negative electrode pole of the monoblock container at the other opposing end of said arranged monoblock containers, and connectors connecting the positive electrode pole and negative electrode pole in the adjacent monoblock containers, and wherein the assembly elements in each of said cell rows being electrically connected in series with the assembly elements in the next adjacent cell compartment through an aperture provided in the partition between the two cell compartments and wherein the assembly elements in the cell compartments at an end opposite the first end of each cell row are electrically connected in series through an aperture provided in the partition between the two cell rows.

3. The storage battery in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of said connectors has two ends connected to metal bushings insert molded to said container cover, one end of said bushings being joined to the positive electrode pole of one monoblock container and the other end being joined to the negative electrode pole of the adjacent monoblock container.

4. The storage battery in accordance with claim 1, wherein the stacking direction of electrode plates in each assembly element is the same as the disposing direction of the cell rows.

5. The storage battery in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of said monoblock containers has projections at the lower right and left corners on the outside surface of the sides facing the ends of the cell rows, one of the projections of the monoblock container and the neighboring projection on the adjacent monoblock container being linked with a coupler with the two projections fit into the holes provided in said coupler, thereby uniting the neighboring monoblock containers together.

6. A storage battery comprising a plurality of monoblock containers put together with space provided between each pair of adjacent containers and one container cover to seal the openings of said monoblock containers, each of said monoblock containers having a plurality of cell compartments separated from each other by partitions and each of said cell compartments housing an assembly element comprised of a plurality of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates stacked with separators placed between the plates, wherein each monoblock container has one cell row including a plurality of cell compartments lined up in one direction and separated from each other by partitions, and said monoblock containers being so arranged that said cell rows are parallel with each other, and wherein each of said monoblock containers has a positive electrode pole connected to the assembly element in the cell compartment at the first end and a negative electrode pole connected to the assembly element in the cell compartment at the other end in the same container, wherein said container cover has a positive electrode terminal connected to the positive electrode pole of the monoblock container at one end of said arranged monoblock containers, a negative electrode terminal connected to the negative electrode pole of the monoblock container at the other opposing end of said arranged monoblock containers, and connectors connecting the positive electrode pole and negative electrode pole in the adjacent monoblock containers, and wherein the assembly elements in each cell row is electrically connected in series with the assembly element in the next adjacent cell compartment through an aperture provided in the partition between the two cell compartments.

7. The storage battery in accordance with claim 6, wherein each of said connectors has two ends connected to metal bushings insert molded to said container cover, one end of said bushings being joined to the positive electrode pole of one monoblock container and the other end being joined to the negative electrode pole of the adjacent monoblock container.

8. A storage battery comprising a plurality of monoblock containers put together with space provided between each pair of adjacent containers, one container cover to seal the openings of said monoblock containers, lead wires for detection of the voltage of series connected assembly elements in each monoblock container, a thermistor for detection of temperature in an assembly element at least in one monoblock container, a lead wire for said thermistor, and a connector having terminals for said lead wires for detection of the voltage and for said lead wire for said thermistor, each of said monoblock containers having a plurality of cell compartments separated from each other by partitions and each of said cell compartments housing an assembly element comprised of a plurality of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates stacked with separators placed between the plates, said connector being mounted on the container cover, wherein the assembly element in each of said cell compartments is electrically connected in series with the assembly element in the next adjacent cell compartment in a row of adjacent cell compartments through an aperture provided in the partition between the two adjacent cell compartments.

9. The storage battery in accordance with claim 8, wherein said thermistor is mounted in contact with an electrode pole.

10. A storage battery comprising a plurality of monoblock containers put together with space provided between each pair of adjacent containers and one container cover to seal the openings of said monoblock containers, each of said monoblock containers having a plurality of cell compartments separated from each other by partitions and each of said cell compartments housing an assembly element comprised of a plurality of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates stacked with separators placed between the plates, wherein each monoblock container has one cell row including a plurality of cell compartments lined up in one direction and separated from each other by partitions, and said monoblock containers being so arranged that said cell rows are parallel with each other, and wherein each of said monoblock containers has projections at the lower right and left corners on the outside surface of the sides facing the ends of the cell rows, one of the projections of the monoblock container and the neighboring projection on the adjacent monoblock container being linked with a coupler with the two projections fit into the holes provided in said coupler, thereby uniting the neighboring monoblock containers together.

11. A storage battery comprising a plurality of monoblock containers put together with space provided between each pair of adjacent containers and one container cover to seal the openings of said monoblock containers, each of said monoblock containers having a plurality of cell compartments separated from each other by partitions and each of said cell compartments housing an assembly element comprised of a plurality of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates stacked with separators placed between the plates, wherein said container cover has one sealed chamber provided with openings communicating with the respective cell compartments, safety valves closing said openings in said sealed chamber, and an air passage having an explosion-proof mechanism through which said sealed chamber communicates with the outside.

12. A storage battery comprising a plurality of monoblock containers put together with space provided between each pair of adjacent containers and one container cover to seal the openings of said monoblock containers, each of said monoblock containers having a plurality of cell compartments separated from each other by partitions and each of said cell compartments housing an assembly element comprised of a plurality of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates stacked with separators placed between the plates, wherein each monoblock container has one cell row including a plurality of cell compartments lined up in one direction and separated from each other by partitions, and said monoblock containers being so arranged that said cell rows are parallel with each other, and wherein each of said monoblock containers has parallel ribs that form spaces for coolant to pass through between that monoblock container and the adjacent monoblock container, said ribs being provided along the line on the outside surfaces that correspond to the side ends of said partition.