Battery module and battery pack using the same

1. A battery module comprising:

a plurality of batteries aligned and stored in a housing, wherein

each of the batteries includes an electrode portion protruding from a battery case,

a base is arranged on a side of the electrode portions of the batteries, the electrode portions of the batteries being inserted in a plurality of through holes, respectively, provided in the base,

connection portions connected to the electrode portions are formed on upper surfaces of the electrode portions of the batteries,

a connection terminal for connecting the batteries in parallel is formed in a region on the base in which the connection terminal does not cover at least the plurality of through holes, and

the connection terminal is connected to the connection portions for the batteries by fusible links straddling the through holes.

2. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein

the base is in contact with the battery cases.

3. The battery module of claim 2 , wherein

a gap is provided between an outer side surface of each electrode portion and an inner side surface of the corresponding through hole.

4. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein

the connection portions, the connection terminal, and the fusible links are monolithically made of a same material.

5. The battery module of claim 4 , wherein

a thickness of the base is substantially the same as a height of protruding portions of the electrode portions, and

the connection portions, the connection terminal, and the fusible links are flush with each other.

6. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein

the connection terminal is formed in a belt shape having a plurality of openings in positions corresponding to the electrode portions of the batteries, and

the fusible links are each provided between the connection terminal and the connection portion for the battery while straddling the opening.

7. A battery module of claim 6 , wherein

an internal diameter of each opening of the connection terminal is substantially the same as that of each through hole of the base.

8. A battery module of claim 1 , wherein

the connection terminal is formed in a belt shape on one side relative to the electrode portions for the batteries, and

the fusible links are each provided between the connection terminal and the connection portion for the battery while straddling the through hole.

9. The battery module of claim 2 , wherein

the base is made of a flat plate,

the electrode portions of the batteries include opening portions through which gas generated in the batteries is released to an outside of the batteries, and

the housing is partitioned by the base into a storage portion in which the plurality of batteries are stored, and an exhaust chamber via which the gas released through the opening portions of the electrode portions is released to an outside of the housing, the opening portions of the electrode portions being in communication with the exhaust chamber via the through holes formed in the base.

10. The battery module of claim 2 , wherein

the opening portion of each electrode portion is provided at a side surface of the electrode portion, and

an internal diameter of each through hole is larger at a position of the base where the connection terminal is formed than at a position of the base which is in contact with the battery case.

11. The battery module of claim 9 , wherein

the opening portion of each electrode portion is provided at an upper surface of the electrode portion, and

the connection portion is formed in a region other than the opening portion.

12. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein

the base includes bases independently provided for the batteries.

13. A battery pack comprising:

multiple ones of the battery module of claim 1 , wherein

the battery modules are aligned and connected in series and/or in parallel.