Module battery

• US 7,241,530 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Envision AESC Japan Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Oogami, Etsuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalafut; Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US10/608,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20040016455A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 429/120, 429/130, 429/152, 429/153, 429/154, 429/155, 429/156, 429/157, 429/158, 429/159, 429/160, 429/162, 429/181
• US Class Current: 429/159
• 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 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6555 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6561 Gases
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/485 of mixed oxides or hydroxides for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiTi2O4 or LiTi2OxFy H01M4/505, H01M4/525 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/525 of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing iron, cobalt or nickel for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiNiO2, LiCoO2 or LiCoOxFy
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/105 Pouches or flexible bags
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/256 Carrying devices, e.g. belts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/291 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/507 comprising an arrangement of two or more busbars within a container structure, e.g. busbar modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A module battery comprises cells each having an electric power generating element hermetically sealed in a package film, and cell holders on each of which each of the cells is mounted and held. The cell holders are formed in configurations so as to allow the cell holders to be freely stacked in a plurality of stages while permitting the cells to be retained thereon and to allow electrode tabs of the cells to be exposed between the cell holders neighboring in a stacking direction. Thus, the module battery can be formed in an easy assembly work.

Claims

1. A module battery, comprising:

a plurality of cells respectively having an electric power generating element hermetically sealed in a package film; and

respective cell holders on which each of the cells are mounted and held,

wherein the cell holders are formed in configurations so as to allow the cell holders to be freely stacked in a plurality of stages while permitting the cells to be retained thereon, and so as to allow electrode tabs of the cells to be exposed between cell holders neighboring in a stacking direction.

2. A module battery according to claim 1,

wherein each of the cell holders includes a locate pin, and each of the cells has a through-bore through which the locate pin of the cell holder extends.

3. A module battery according to claim 1,

wherein the cell holders neighboring in the stacking direction are structured to be freely connectable to one another.

4. A module battery according to claim 1,

wherein a plate-shaped heat sink is intervened between the cell holders neighboring in the stacking direction.

5. A module battery according to claim 1,

wherein each of the cell holders has a sealing surface which is brought into abutting engagement with an outer peripheral terminal of the cell.

6. A module battery according to claim 1,

wherein a sealing member is intervened between abutment surfaces of the cell holders neighboring in the stacking direction.

7. A module battery according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sub-assembly body, wherein the cell holders are stacked in a plurality of stages;

a module case accommodating the sub-assembly body; and

a wedge-shaped spacer fitted between the sub-assembly body and a side wall portion of the module case.

8. A module battery according to claim 7,

wherein the wedge-shaped spacer is fitted between a terminal end portion, facing in the stacking direction, of the sub-assembly body and the side wall portion of the module case.

9. A module battery according to claim 7,

wherein each of the cell holders is formed in a frame shape so as to allow each of the cells to be mounted and held, and the electrode tabs of the cells are exposed between the cell holders neighboring in the stacking direction.

10. A module battery according to claim 7,

wherein the cell holders neighboring in the stacking direction are structured to be freely connectable to one another.

11. A module battery according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sub-assembly body, wherein the cell holders are stacked in a plurality of stages; and

a module case accommodating the sub-assembly body,

wherein a space is provided between the sub-assembly body and an inner surface of the module case,

the space is divided into an electrode tab exposure space, in which the electrode tabs of the cell are exposed, and another space, and

the another space serves as a ventilation space to allow atmospheric air to be ventilated.

12. A module battery according to claim 11,

wherein a partition wall causing the space to be divided into the electrode tab exposure space and the ventilation space is formed with a communicating portion that establishes communication between the electrode tab exposure space and the ventilation space, and

the communicating portion is provided with an air filter.