Power source unit

• US 9,153,806 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2013
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd. (GS Yuasa Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd. (GS Yuasa Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshioka, Toshiki, Kusunoki, Toshiki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhang, Haixia
• Application Number:
  US13/740,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20130183573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/227 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/264 for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/367 Internal gas exhaust passages forming part of the battery cover or case; Double cover vent systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/51 Connection only in series
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/524 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/579 in response to shock
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/581 in response to temperature
• 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 power source unit includes a battery module including a stack and a coupling member that binds the stack, the stack including a plurality of battery cells aligned, and a container that accommodates therein the battery module. The container includes a projecting portion projecting from an inner wall of the container toward a surface of the battery module, and a top end portion of the projecting portion is located separately from the coupling member.

Claims

1. A power source unit, comprising:

a battery module including a stack and a coupling member that binds the stack, the stack including a plurality of battery cells aligned; and

a container comprising a container body that accommodates therein the battery module and a cover that closes an upper opening of the container body, the container body comprising a bottom wall and first, second, third, and fourth side walls,

wherein the coupling member faces an inner surface of the first side wall,

wherein the container includes a rib projecting from inner surfaces of the second, third, and fourth side walls toward a surface of the battery module,

wherein a top end portion of the rib is located separately from the coupling member, and

wherein a region of the inner surface of the first side wall, which is opposed to the coupling member, is devoid of the rib.

2. The power source unit according to claim 1, wherein said inner surface of the first side wall is different, with respect to placements of the rib, from the inner surfaces of the second, third, and fourth side walls opposing the coupling member.

3. The power source unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the battery cells includes a safety valve located on a face of the battery cell opposing the coupling member, and

wherein the coupling member includes a hollow space.

4. The power source unit according to claim 3, wherein the battery cell further includes an electrode terminal on the face of the battery cell opposing the coupling member, and

wherein the face opposing the coupling member is oriented to oppose a side wall of the container.

5. The power source unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the battery cells includes an electrode terminal on a face of the battery cell opposing the coupling member, and

wherein the face opposing the coupling member is oriented to oppose a side wall of the container.

6. The power source unit according to claim 1, wherein the stack is held between holding plates respectively provided on side faces of the stack, the holding plates being fixed to the coupling member,

wherein respective peripheral edges of the holding plates are connected via a beam member, and

wherein the holding plates and the beam member are formed as portions of a single sheet of a bent metal plate.

7. The power source unit according to claim 6, wherein the rib is provided on said inner surfaces of the second, third, and fourth side walls opposing at least one of the holding plates.

8. The power source unit according to claim 6, further comprising:

an electric device attached to at least one of the holding plates,

wherein the electric device includes a wall taller than a height of parts included in the electric device and projecting from a side of the holding plate, and

wherein a top end portion of the wall is oriented to oppose a top end portion of the rib.

9. The power source unit according to claim 1, wherein the container comprises a synthetic resin.

10. The power source unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the battery cells includes an electrode terminal projecting in a horizontal direction on a face of the one of the battery cells opposing the coupling member.

11. The power source unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

holding plates provided on side faces of the stack,

wherein peripheral edges of the holding plates are connected via a beam member, and

wherein the holding plates and the beam member are formed as portions of a single sheet of a bent metal plate.

12. The power source unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

holding plates provided on side faces of the stack,

wherein the rib is provided on said inner surfaces of the second, third, and fourth side walls opposing at least one of the holding plates.

13. The power source unit according to claim 1, further comprising:

holding plates provided on side faces of the stack; and

an electric device attached to at least one of the holding plates,

wherein the electric device includes a wall projecting from a side of the at least one of the holding plates, and

wherein a top end portion of the wall is oriented to oppose a top end portion of the rib.

14. The power source unit according to claim 1, wherein said inner surface of the first side wall has a different structure, with respect to placements of the rib, than the inner surfaces of the second, third, and fourth side walls.

15. The power source unit according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the side walls is flat.

16. The power source unit according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the first side wall is devoid of the rib.

17. The power source unit according to claim 1, wherein an entirety of the inner surface of the first side wall is devoid of the rib.

18. The power source unit according to claim 1, wherein the first side wall includes a reinforcing rib projecting from an outer surface of the first side wall, the reinforcing rib extending along an upper edge of the first side wall.

19. The power source unit according to claim 1, wherein said inner surface of the first side wall is different, with respect to placements of the rib, from each of the inner surfaces of the second, third, and fourth side walls.

20. The power source unit according to claim 1, wherein the region of the inner surface of the first side wall, which is opposed to the coupling member, faces a region of the inner surface of the third side wall that includes the rib.