Electric storage apparatus

• US 9,711,764 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2015
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): RYAN, PATRICK J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Domone, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US14/602,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20150207116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 an 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 including projections that are respectively in contact with the plurality of electric storage devices,

wherein each of the projections extends in a third direction between the second frame element and the plurality of electric storage devices, the third direction being orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, and

wherein each of the plurality of electric storage devices includes external terminals, the external terminals of said each of the plurality of electric storage devices being arranged along the third direction.

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

wherein 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 include reference surfaces in the second direction, and

wherein 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 include the external terminals on the reference surfaces, and

wherein 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 include the external terminals,

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

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

wherein 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 further 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, and

wherein the first frame element and the second frame element constitute a part or a 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 comprises an insulating member configured to insulate the plurality of electric storage devices from the second frame element.

11. The electric storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said each of the projections longitudinally extends in the third direction orthogonal to an extension direction of the external terminals from upper surfaces of the plurality of electric storage devices.

12. The electric storage apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the holding part includes:

a bottom part that faces bottom surfaces of the plurality of electric storage devices; and

a side part that faces side surfaces of the plurality of electric storage devices that extend between the bottom surfaces and the upper surfaces of the plurality of electric storage devices.

13. The electric storage apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the holding part further includes mounting parts provided between each pair of the projections, the mounting parts longitudinally extending in the third direction from the bottom part to abut the bottom surfaces of the electric storage devices.

14. The electric storage apparatus according to claim 13, wherein, in the holding part, a height of said each pair of the projections in the second direction is more than a height of the mounting parts in the second direction.

15. The electric storage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one side and said other side are positioned in the second direction on opposing sides of a face of the electric storage apparatus that covers the plurality of electric storage devices in the first direction and the second direction.

16. An electric storage apparatus, comprising:

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

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

a first frame element longitudinally extending in the first direction to abut the plurality of electric storage devices; and

a second frame element longitudinally extending in the first direction, the first frame element and the second frame element being positioned in a second direction, orthogonal to the first direction, on opposing sides of a face of the electric storage apparatus that covers the plurality of electric storage devices in the first direction and the second direction; and

a holding part including projections that are respectively in contact with the plurality of electric storage devices,

wherein each of the projections extends in a third direction between the second frame element and the plurality of electric storage devices, the third direction being orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, and

wherein each of the plurality of electric storage devices includes external terminals, the external terminals of said each of the plurality of electric storage devices being arranged along the third direction.

17. The electric storage apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said each of the projections longitudinally extends in the third direction orthogonal to an extension direction of the external terminals from upper surfaces of the plurality of electric storage devices.

18. The electric storage apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the holding part includes:

a bottom part that faces bottom surfaces of the plurality of electric storage devices; and

a side part that faces side surfaces of the plurality of electric storage devices that extend between the bottom surfaces and the upper surfaces of the plurality of electric storage devices.

19. The electric storage apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the holding part further includes mounting parts provided between each pair of the projections, the mounting parts longitudinally extending in the third direction from the bottom part to abut the bottom surfaces of the electric storage devices, and

wherein, in the holding part, a height of said each pair of the projections in the second direction is more than a height of the mounting parts in the second direction.

20. 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;

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

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

wherein each of the projections extends in a third direction between the second frame element and the plurality of electric storage devices, the third direction being orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, and

wherein the holding part is disposed on the second frame element facing the plurality of electric storage devices in the third direction.