Battery pack

Details Battery pack Battery pack

2000-09-13

2002-08-27

Ryan, Patrick (Department: 1745)

Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and

Cell support for removable cell

C429S098000, C429S099000, C429S100000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06440601

ABSTRACT:

This application is a 371 of PCT/JP00/00525.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a packed battery wherein a plurality of single cells are combined and joined together so that they can be handled more easily as a single battery of a predetermined shape with certain voltage required for respective applications.
BACKGROUND ART
Battery has its own specified voltage value that differs corresponding to the type of battery. Similarly, the size of battery, as well as dischargeable current value and electric capacity, are defined for each type of batteries. It is, however, often the case that the voltage and current values that are required for certain applications are different from those of a battery available on the market. It is thus customary practice to connect a plurality of batteries in series or in parallel so as to obtain voltage or current of required value.
Packed battery, that has been developed for the purpose of simplifying the handling of a plurality of batteries used in combination as described above, enables a plurality of batteries to be used as a single battery in accordance with various applications by joining them together in a predetermined shape, and has been widespread in recent years. Such packed battery is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Published Patent Application No. 10-69892.
FIG. 23
is an exploded perspective view of such packed battery. Two cells
1
,
2
such as nickel-cadmium battery are disposed in close contact with each other with their respective longitudinal axes parallel to each other and with their respective positive and negative terminals arranged opposite from each other. The positive terminal and the negative terminal that are adjacent with each other at one end of these cells
1
,
2
are electrically connected with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) element
3
, while input/output terminals
4
,
7
are respectively attached to the positive terminal and the negative terminal juxtaposed at the other end of the cells
1
,
2
. The two cells
1
,
2
that are thus connected to each other are then united by means of a frame body
10
comprising an upper end plate
8
and a lower end plate
9
. That is, by bringing each of retaining plates
11
,
12
into contact with both ends of the two cells
1
,
2
in a lengthwise direction, the distal ends of support pieces
13
,
14
provided in pairs respectively to both of the end plates
8
,
9
are abutted with each other, and this abutted portion of the two pairs of support pieces
13
,
14
are joined together by ultrasonic welding. The two cells
1
,
2
are thus united in a state of being sandwiched between both retaining plates
11
,
12
of the integrated frame body
10
.
The input/output terminals
4
,
7
attached respectively to each of the united cells
1
,
2
are exposed to the outside through windows
17
,
18
formed in the upper end plate
8
for being electrically connected to outside terminals. A labeling sheet
19
is then wrapped around and bonded to the peripheries of the respective cells
1
,
2
united by the frame body
10
, thereby completing the packed battery. The packed battery constituted as described above is highly durable against vibration or shock as compared to a packed battery that is merely covered with a label consisting of a heat-shrinkable synthetic resin tube with a lead connector connected to the cells. Furthermore, it has an advantage over a packed battery that is housed in a casing of synthetic resin in that it is small-sized, light-weighted, and inexpensive.
However, the packed battery described above has a large number of components, and its assemblage involves complicated processes such as abutting the distal ends of the respective pairs of support pieces
13
,
14
formed in the separate upper and lower end plates
8
,
9
of the frame body
10
and bonding them by ultrasonic welding. The number of assembling steps is large and the cost is high accordingly. Furthermore, in case there is variation in length or other features of each support piece
13
,
14
in the above described packed battery, these support pieces
13
,
14
will be connected to each other in a misaligned state. If this happens, the two cells
1
,
2
cannot be united at predetermined relative positions without any play therebetween. The yield of packed batteries may thus be decreased.
Apart from the above, the packed battery described above has the following drawback. As long as the packed batteries such as the one described above are produced solely for a specific purpose in which the number of cells
1
,
2
to be connected and the way in which they are packed together are limited to one type of packed battery, no inconvenience will arise. However, if several types of packed batteries that have the same appearance but different specifications such as output voltage are fabricated by, for example, connecting two lithium cells in series and in parallel and sold, needs will arise for providing features for distinguishing one type of battery from another and for preventing misuse of the packed battery. The above-described packed battery is given no consideration for preventing complications in this regard.
In the case of manufacturing and selling several types of packed battery, it is necessary to indicate the differences in specifications such as output voltage of the battery by some characters or designs. Moreover, the packed battery should have a construction such as to prevent a user from using a packed battery of wrong specification by mistake, or such as to make the user realize the mistake immediately so that an electric appliance for which the packed battery is used will not be damaged.
Specifically, if a packed battery with a specification of 6V output voltage in which two lithium cells of 3V terminal voltage are connected in series is used by mistake for an electric appliance for which a packed battery with a specification of 3V output voltage in which the cells are connected in parallel should be used as a power source, it is quite likely that the electric appliance is damaged. Thus the packed battery must be provided with a construction that never fails to prevent such misuse. On the other hand, if a packed battery of 3V output voltage is used for an appliance that requires 6V voltage as a power source, the appliance cannot fully perform its function, and therefore, the packed battery must also have such features as to make the user of the battery to realize that the battery is a wrong type and should not be used in the appliance the user wishes to use.
With the above described problems in prior art in view, an object of the present invention is to provide a packed battery that can be manufactured in a predetermined shape in a high yield at a low cost by reducing the number of components and the number of assembling process steps, and that is provided with features for preventing misuse between packed batteries of different specifications or reverse connection of the packed battery.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention according to one aspect thereof provides a packed battery comprising a plurality of cells joined together in series- or parallel-connection and arranged with their axes parallel to each other and their external surfaces in proximity to or in contact with each other, and with their juxtaposed electrode terminals electrically connected to each other at least at one end with a connector piece. A frame body into which said cells are mounted includes a pair of first and second end face covers that respectively cover the entire surface of end faces of the adjacent cells at both ends, a connecting bar for connecting said pair of end face covers opposed to each other at a space corresponding to a length of the cells, and a retaining piece that is shorter than the connecting bar and is provided to the first end face cover to protrude parallel to the connecting bar, all of which end face covers, connecting bar, and retaining piece are formed in one piece. The cells are held at their l

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