IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,399,114
Granted Patent B2
US 8,399,114 · App. 13/386,814 · Granted Mar 19, 2013

Battery module

Inventors: Daisuke Kishii (Osaka, JP); Takuya Nakashima (Osaka, JP)
Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,399,114
App. No.
13/386,814
Granted
Mar 19, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A battery module includes a first unit cell, a second unit cell, a first exhaust chamber, and a second exhaust chamber. The first unit cell is disposed so that a positive electrode terminal faces the first direction. The second unit cell is connected in series to the first unit cell, the negative electrode terminal is disposed so as to face the first direction, and the second unit is disposed so as to be adjacent to the first unit cell. The first exhaust chamber is disposed so as to face the positive electrode terminal of the first unit cell, and discharges a gas which is emitted from the positive electrode terminal of the first unit cell. The second exhaust chamber is disposed so as to face the positive electrode terminal of the second unit cell, and discharges a gas generated from the positive electrode terminal of the second unit cell. The end surface of the second unit cell in the first direction and the outer surface of the first exhaust chamber in the first direction are flush with each other. The end surface of the first unit cell in a second direction opposite to the first direction and the outer surface of the second exhaust chamber in the second direction are flush with each other.

Claims (66)

1. A battery module comprising:

a first unit cell that has a positive electrode terminal disposed so as to face a first direction;

a second unit cell that is connected in series to the first unit cell, has a negative electrode terminal disposed so as to face the first direction, and is disposed adjacent to the first unit cell;

a first exhaust chamber that is disposed so as to face the positive electrode terminal of the first unit cell and discharges a gas emitted from the positive electrode terminal of the first unit cell;

a second exhaust chamber that is disposed so as to face a positive electrode terminal of the second unit cell and discharges a gas generated from the positive electrode terminal of the second unit cell; and

a lead plate that electrically connects the positive electrode terminal of the first unit cell and the negative electrode terminal of the second unit cell to each other,

wherein an end surface of the second unit cell in the first direction and an outer surface of the first exhaust chamber in the first direction are flush with each other,

wherein an end surface of the first unit cell in a second direction opposite to the first direction and an outer surface of the second exhaust chamber in the second direction are flush with each other,

wherein one end of the lead plate is disposed between the positive electrode terminal of the first unit cell and the exhaust chamber so as to face the positive electrode terminal,

wherein the other end of the lead plate is disposed so as to face the negative electrode terminal of the second unit cell, and

wherein the negative electrode-side end surface of the second unit cell is formed by an outer surface of the other end of the lead plate in the first direction.

2. The battery module of claim 1 ,

wherein the lead plate is bent so as to follow the positive electrode terminal of the first unit cell and the negative electrode terminal of the second unit cell.

3. The battery module of claim 1 ,

wherein the lead plate includes a through-hole at a position facing the positive electrode terminal,

wherein the first exhaust chamber includes a through-hole at a position facing the through-hole of the lead plate, and

wherein the gas emitted from the positive electrode terminal is discharged to the first exhaust chamber through the through-hole of the lead plate and the through-hole of the first exhaust chamber.

4. The battery module of claim 3 ,

wherein the through-hole of the lead plate is a plurality of holes along the outer periphery of the positive electrode terminal, and

wherein the positive electrode terminal is electrically connected to the lead plate at an inner portion in relation to the plurality of holes of the lead plate.

5. A battery module comprising:

a first unit cell that has a positive electrode terminal disposed so as to face a first direction;

a second unit cell that is connected in series to the first unit cell, has a negative electrode terminal disposed so as to face the first direction, and is disposed adjacent to the first unit cell;

a first exhaust chamber that is disposed so as to face the positive electrode terminal of the first unit cell and discharges a gas emitted from the positive electrode terminal of the first unit cell; and

a second exhaust chamber that is disposed so as to face a positive electrode terminal of the second unit cell and discharges a gas generated from the positive electrode terminal of the second unit cell,

wherein an end surface of the second unit cell in the first direction and an outer surface of the first exhaust chamber in the first direction are flush with each other,

wherein an end surface of the first unit cell in a second direction opposite to the first direction and an outer surface of the second exhaust chamber in the second direction are flush with each other,

wherein a plurality of first unit cells are provided and arranged along a third direction and are connected electrically in parallel to each other,

wherein the first exhaust chamber is provided in parallel with the third direction,

wherein a plurality of second cells are provided,

wherein the battery module further comprises a lead plate that electrically connects the positive electrode terminals of the plurality of first unit cells and the negative electrode terminal of the plurality of second unit cells to each other,

wherein one end of the lead plate is disposed between the positive electrode terminals of the plurality of first unit cells and the exhaust chamber so as to face the positive electrode terminals,

wherein the other end of the lead plate is disposed so as to face the negative electrode terminals of the plurality of second unit cells,

wherein the lead plate connects the plurality of first unit cells in parallel to each other,

wherein the lead plate connects the plurality of second unit cells in parallel to each other, and

wherein the negative electrode-side end surface of the second unit cell is formed by an outer surface of the other end of the lead plate in the first direction.

unit cell is formed by an outer surface of the other end of the lead plate in the first direction.

6. A battery module comprising:

a first unit cell that has a positive electrode disposed so as to face a first direction;

a second unit cell that is connected in series to the first unit cell, has a negative electrode disposed so as to face the first direction, and is disposed adjacent to the first unit cell;

a first exhaust chamber that is disposed so as to face the positive electrode terminal of the first unit cell and discharges a gas emitted from the positive electrode terminal of the first unit cell; and

a second exhaust chamber that is disposed so as to face the positive electrode terminal of the second unit cell and discharges a gas generated from the positive electrode terminal of the second unit cell,

wherein the second unit cell is disposed so that the negative electrode-side end surface is shifted from the positive electrode-side end surface of the first unit cell by a predetermined height in the first direction, and the first exhaust chamber is disposed so as to be included in a range of the predetermined height, and

wherein the second unit cell is disposed so that the positive electrode-side end surface is shifted from the negative electrode-side end surface of the first unit cell by a predetermined height in the first direction, and the second exhaust chamber is disposed so as to be included in a range of the predetermined height.

7. A battery module comprising:

a first unit cell that has a positive electrode terminal disposed so as to face a first direction;

a second unit cell that is connected in series to the first unit cell, has a negative electrode terminal disposed so as to face the first direction, and is disposed adjacent to the first unit cell;

a first exhaust chamber that is disposed so as to face the positive electrode terminal of the first unit cell and discharges a gas emitted from the positive electrode terminal of the first unit cell; and

a second exhaust chamber that is disposed so as to face a positive electrode terminal of the second unit cell and discharges a gas generated from the positive electrode terminal of the second unit cell,

wherein an end surface of the second unit cell in the first direction and an outer surface of the first exhaust chamber in the first direction are flush with each other,

wherein an end surface of the first unit cell in a second direction opposite to the first direction and an outer surface of the second exhaust chamber in the second direction are flush with each other,

wherein a plurality of first unit cells are provided and arranged along a third direction and are connected electrically in parallel to each other,

wherein the first exhaust chamber is provided in parallel with the third direction,

wherein the battery module further comprises a lead plate that electrically connects the positive electrode terminal of the first unit cell and the negative electrode terminal of the second unit cell to each other,

wherein one end of the lead plate is disposed between the positive electrode terminal of the first unit cell and the exhaust chamber so as to face the positive electrode terminal,

wherein the other end of the lead plate is disposed so as to face the negative electrode terminal of the second unit cell, and

wherein the negative electrode-side end surface of the second unit cell is formed by an outer surface of the other end of the lead plate in the first direction.

8. The battery module of claim 7 ,

wherein the lead plate is bent so as to follow the positive electrode terminal of the first unit cell and the negative electrode terminal of the second unit cell.

9. The battery module of claim 7 ,

wherein the lead plate includes a through-hole at a position facing the positive electrode terminal,

wherein the first exhaust chamber includes a through-hole at a position facing the through-hole of the lead plate, and

wherein the gas emitted from the positive electrode terminal is discharged to the first exhaust chamber through the through-hole of the lead plate and the through-hole of the first exhaust chamber.

10. The battery module of claim 9 ,

wherein the through-hole of the lead plate is a plurality of holes along the outer periphery of the positive electrode terminal, and

wherein the positive electrode terminal is electrically connected to the lead plate at an inner portion in relation to the plurality of holes of the lead plate.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2012
From: KISHII, DAISUKE; NAKASHIMA, TAKUYA
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027950/0179 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2010-171635 · Jul 30, 2010 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120189885A1 · Jul 26, 2012