Battery module and vehicle equipped with same

{
  "publication_number": "US11251490B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Battery module and vehicle equipped with same",
  "abstract": "A pair of end plates disposed respectively at end faces of a battery stack are connected by bind bars and apply pressure to the battery stack to immobilize the battery stack. Each of the end plates includes a locking hole extending along a surface of the end plate. The end plate is fixed to a base plate by a fixing bolt inserted through the locking hole. The locking hole includes a deformation space that allows deformation of the fixing bolt when cell reaction force of the battery stack is caused.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A battery module comprising: a battery stack that includes a plurality of prismatic battery cells stacked in a direction along thicknesses of the plurality of prismatic battery cells; a pair of end plates disposed respectively at end faces of the battery stack that face in a stacked direction; a bind bar connecting the pair of end plates; and a fixing bolt fixing each of the pair of end plates to a base plate, wherein at least one of the end plates includes a locking hole for the fixing bolt, the locking hole extending along a surface of the at least one of the end plates, the locking hole includes, on a battery side of the locking hole, a deformation space that allows deformation of the fixing bolt when cell reaction force of the battery stack is caused, and the fixing bolt extends across an entire length of the locking hole in a direction parallel to a principal surface of the end plate.",
    "2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: the locking hole of the at least one of the end plates flaringly increases in size heading toward a leading edge of the fixing bolt; and the deformation space is provided near the leading edge of the fixing bolt.",
    "3. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: the locking hole of the at least one of the end plates is a hole that is elongated along the stacked direction of the battery stack; and the deformation space is provided on a battery side of the fixing bolt.",
    "4. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: the locking hole has an inside diameter that is larger than an outside diameter of a threaded part of the fixing bolt; the fixing bolt includes, near a rear edge of the fixing bolt, an engagement part of an outside diameter that engages in the locking hole; and with the engagement part engaging in the locking hole, the deformation space is provided near a leading edge of the fixing bolt.",
    "5. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: the locking hole includes: a small diameter part allowing insertion of a rear end of the fixing bolt; and a larger diameter part allowing insertion of a leading end of the fixing bolt, and having a diameter larger than a diameter of the small diameter part; and the larger diameter part includes the deformation space.",
    "6. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: the locking hole has an inside diameter that is larger than an outside diameter of a threaded part of the fixing bolt; the locking hole further includes a flaringly expanding part that increases in size heading toward an opening of the locking hole; the fixing bolt includes a flaring insert guided in the flaringly expanding part; and the fixing bolt is inserted into a fixed position in the locking hole with the flaring insert guided in the flaringly expanding part.",
    "7. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: the locking hole has an inside shape that is larger than an outside shape of a threaded part of the fixing bolt; the deformation space is provided between the locking hole and the threaded part; the deformation space partly includes a collar inserted; and the collar includes a center hole allowing insertion of a threaded part of the fixing bolt.",
    "8. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: the locking hole has an inside shape that is larger than an outside shape of a threaded part of the fixing bolt; the deformation space is provided between the locking hole and the threaded part; and the deformation space includes a flexible ring that is inserted and is flexible enough to deform on being pressed by a threaded part that is deformed.",
    "9. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the locking hole is groove-shaped, has a battery-side opening and includes the deformation space on a battery side of a threaded part of a fixing bolt.",
    "10. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the deformation space is provided between the locking hole and the threaded part that are included in the at least one of the end plates.",
    "11. A vehicle comprising the battery module according to claim 1, wherein: the base plate is a vehicle chassis; and the at least one of the end plates is fixed to the vehicle chassis by the fixing bolt."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a battery module including end plates that are connected by bind bars respectively at ends of a battery stack and are each fixed to a base plate, such as a chassis of a vehicle, by means of fixing bolts passed through the end plate along a surface of the end plate. The present invention also relates to a vehicle including this battery module.\n\nA typical battery module includes a battery stack including a plurality of prismatic battery cells, a pair of end plates disposed respectively at end faces of the battery stack, and bind bars connecting the pair of end plates (refer to PTL 1). The battery stack of this battery module is bound by the end plates and the bind bars, so that expansion of the prismatic battery cells of the battery stack can be suppressed. In cases where this battery module is mounted to a vehicle or the like, the end plates are each fixed to a chassis of the vehicle by means of fixing bolts that are passed through the end plate along a surface of the end plate for the purpose of preventing binding parts from coming loose when the prismatic battery cells expand during charge and discharge, or when the battery module experiences vibration, impact and others from the vehicle running.\n\nOn the other hand, with recent demand for a battery module having a higher energy density per volume and a higher energy density per weight, even prismatic battery cells having a higher energy density per volume and a higher energy density per weight are desirably adopted for a battery module.",
  "cpc": [
    "F16B 19/02",
    "B60L 50/64",
    "F16B 5/02",
    "F16B 5/0225",
    "F16B 5/0241",
    "H01M 10/0413",
    "H01M 10/647",
    "H01M 2220/20",
    "H01M 50/10",
    "H01M 50/103",
    "H01M 50/20",
    "H01M 50/209",
    "H01M 50/244",
    "H01M 50/249",
    "H01M 50/264",
    "H01M 50/271",
    "H01M 50/291",
    "Y02E 60/10",
    "Y02P 70/50",
    "Y02T 10/70"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F16B 19/02",
    "F16B 5/02",
    "H01M 10/04",
    "H01M 10/647",
    "H01M 50/10",
    "H01M 50/103",
    "H01M 50/20",
    "H01M 50/209",
    "H01M 50/244",
    "H01M 50/249",
    "H01M 50/264"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Sanyo Electric Co Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Kenichi Imai",
    "Shingo Ochi"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-07-18",
  "publication_date": "2022-02-15",
  "grant_date": "2022-02-15",
  "priority_date": "2017-08-21",
  "application_number": "US-201816635007-A",
  "family_id": "65438716",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "WO2012057322A1",
    "US20130273404A1",
    "JP2012256466A",
    "JP2013222554A",
    "WO2014024432A1",
    "JP2015011819A",
    "JP2015210971A",
    "US20170141367A1",
    "JP2017142942A"
  ]
}