Assembled battery

Abstract

The present invention provides an assembled battery with reduced weight and high reliability that can achieve improvement of assembling easiness at low cost. An assembled battery is provided with a frame holding a plurality of unit cells 14 having positive polarity at one end and negative polarity at the other end. The frame is composed of two outer frames 2 having the same shape and an inner frame 3 . The unit cells 14 constituting an assembled battery 1 are disposed on both sides of the inner frame 3 , and one outer frame 2 and the other outer frame 2 are disposed such that the unit cells are sandwiched between the former outer frame 2 and the inner frame 3 and between the latter outer frame 2 and the inner frame 3 . The two outer frames 2 are joined to the inner frame 3 through side face coupling portions 23 and vertical coupling portions 24 . The inner frame 3 is fixed with positive electrode bus bars 5 , negative electrode bus bars 6 , and inter-unit cell bus bars 7 for electrically connecting the unit cells 14 in series, and lead wires for voltage detection with a connector 4 for detecting voltages of the unit cells 14.

1 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . An assembled battery, comprising:
 a plurality of unit cells in which one end of each of the unit cells functions as a positive electrode external terminal and another end of each of the unit cells functions as a negative electrode external terminal;   a frame which has an inner frame, and first and second outer frames disposed at both sides of the inner frame, said frame holding the plurality of unit cells by sandwiching plural unit cells between one side of the inner frame and the first outer frame and by sandwiching plural unit cells between another side of the inner frame and the second outer frame;   a plurality of connection conductors which connect the plurality of unit cells electrically; and   voltage detection lead wires for detecting a voltage of each of the plurality of unit cells,   wherein the inner frame includes two inner frame retaining portions in which plural arc-shaped abutting portions which abut on end portions of the unit cells are formed at both end portions thereof; an inner frame supporting portion which is disposed between the two inner frame retaining portions and which supports the two inner frame retaining portions; and fitting portions which are fitted to the first and second outer frames, respectively;   and wherein the first and second outer frames each includes two inner frame retaining portions in which plural arc-shaped abutting portions which abut on end portions of the unit cells are formed at a side of the inner frame, and fitting portions which are fitted to the inner frame;   and wherein the inner frame and the first and second outer frames are joined by fitting the fitting portions of the inner frame and the fitting portions of the first and second outer frames,   and wherein the plurality of unit cells are disposed at both sides of the inner frame and each of the plurality of unit cells are held in a state that an end portion of each of the plurality of unit cells is sandwiched between one of the abutting portions of the inner frame and one of the abutting portions of the first or second outer frames.   
     
     
         23 . The assembled battery according to  claim 22 , wherein the abutting portions have a positioning portion for defining each of the end portions of the unit cells. 
     
     
         24 . The assembled battery according to  claim 22 , wherein the abutting portions are formed with an arc-shaped groove portion for being filled with bonding material. 
     
     
         25 . The assembled battery according to  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of unit cells are spaced from each other to form ventilation paths for conducting cooling air among the plurality of unit cells. 
     
     
         26 . The assembled battery according to  claim 22 , wherein each of the plurality of connection conductors is welded to the positive and negative electrode external terminals of the unit cells in a state of being attached to the inner frame. 
     
     
         27 . The assembled battery according to  claim 22 , wherein each of the fitting portions is configured by a fitting hole and a protrusion which is fitted into the fitting hole. 
     
     
         28 . The assembled battery according to  claim 22 , wherein each of the voltage detection lead wires is fixed with a connector at one side thereof. 
     
     
         29 . A battery module comprising a plurality of assembled batteries according to  claim 22 .