JP2006244981A - Power supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely exhaust a gas exhausted from a secondary battery without coupling a hose or the like in a case. <P>SOLUTION: A power supply device arranges a plurality of battery modules 1 in parallel and houses them in a holder case 2. In the battery modules 1, arranged are insulating cylinders 30 at coupling parts of secondary batteries 10. The insulating cylinders 30 open exhaust ports 35 for exhausting the gas in a gas exhausting room 31 to the outside. The holder case 2 is provided with supporting walls 3 for supporting the insulating cylinders 30 of the battery modules 1. The supporting walls 3 have degassing passages 4 in the interior. In the holder case 2, gas collective passages 5 with which degassing passages 4 of a plurality of rows of the supporting walls 3 are coupled are installed at side face plates 24, and a collective exhaust port 6 which is communicated with these gas collective passages 5 is opened. The power supply device exhausts the gas from a safety valve 50 of the secondary battery 10 to the outside of the gas holder 2 from the gas exhausting room 31 via the degassing passages 4 and the gas collective passages 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a power supply device that drives a motor that is mounted on a vehicle and travels the vehicle. In particular, the present invention relates to a power supply device that quickly exhausts fluid discharged from a safety valve of a battery to the outside.

  When a battery is overcharged, overdischarged, or internally shorted or externally shorted, gas is generated inside. The generated gas increases the internal pressure of the battery. In order to prevent the outer can from bursting due to an increase in internal pressure, the battery includes a safety valve. When the internal pressure becomes higher than the set pressure, the safety valve opens to discharge the gas to the outside. The gas discharged from the battery causes various harmful effects. For example, hydrogen gas discharged from a nickel-hydrogen secondary battery may blast at a predetermined mixing ratio with air. Moreover, the gas discharged from various batteries, not limited to nickel-hydrogen secondary batteries, causes adverse effects such as corrosion of electrical components.

  The present applicant has developed a battery module that exhausts gas discharged from the battery to the outside (see Patent Document 1). In the battery module of this publication, the end of the secondary battery connected in a straight line is connected to an insulating cylinder, and a gas discharge chamber is provided between the secondary battery with the insulating cylinder and connected to the exhaust hole of the safety valve. ing. The insulating cylinders are connected by inserting end portions of secondary batteries connected to each other. In this battery module, the ends of two adjacent secondary batteries are inserted into an insulating cylinder, and a gas discharge chamber is provided between the secondary batteries. Further, the insulating cylinder communicates with the gas discharge chamber, opens a discharge port, connects a hose to the discharge port, and exhausts the gas discharged from the safety valve to the outside by the hose.

  Since the battery module having this structure has a large number of gas discharge chambers between the secondary batteries, there is a drawback that it takes time to connect the hose to the discharge port provided in each gas discharge chamber. In addition, since a large number of outlets are connected by hoses, there is a drawback that the gas is filled inside when a hose connected to one of the outlets is disconnected due to vibration or the like.

In addition, a power supply device has been developed in which a plurality of battery modules are inserted into a bulkhead and gas discharged from the secondary battery is exhausted to the outside by the bulkhead (see Patent Document 2). The power supply apparatus of this publication has a gas discharge chamber inside a bulkhead having a double wall structure. The battery module is hermetically inserted through a through hole provided in the bulkhead via a seal ring. The battery module has the connecting part of the secondary battery inserted through the bulkhead. The double wall of the bulkhead is arranged in a gas discharge chamber with one wall in close contact with the outer periphery of one secondary battery and the other wall in airtight contact with the outer periphery of the other secondary battery. . Since the gas discharged from the safety valve of the battery is discharged between the secondary batteries, this gas is discharged into the gas discharge chamber. By the way, the battery module which has connected 5 or 6 secondary batteries in series is provided with 4 or 6 rows of bulkheads between the secondary batteries. Furthermore, since the gas is exhausted from the end of the battery module, bulkheads are also provided at both ends of the battery module. All the bulkheads are connected to a hose, and the gas flowing in from the gas discharge chamber is exhausted to the outside by the hose.
JP 2003-229102 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-255735

  The devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 need to exhaust a gas to the outside by connecting a hose to a gas discharge chamber or a bulkhead. For this reason, not only does it take time to connect the hose, but there is a drawback that the gas is filled when the hose comes off. In addition, the power supply device of Patent Document 2 needs to connect a hose to each bulkhead, and each bulkhead needs to be arranged at a fixed position. There is a fault leaking.

  The present invention has been developed for the purpose of solving such drawbacks. An important object of the present invention is a structure in which a plurality of secondary batteries are connected to form a battery module, and the plurality of battery modules are housed in a case, and the secondary battery is connected without connecting a hose or the like in the case. Another object of the present invention is to provide a power supply device that can reliably exhaust gas discharged from the outside of the case.

The power supply device of the present invention has the following configuration in order to achieve the above-described object.
The power supply device includes a battery module 1 in which a plurality of secondary batteries 10 each having a safety valve 50 at an end thereof are linearly connected in series, and a holder case 2 in which the plurality of battery modules 1 are stored in parallel. Prepare. In the battery module 1, an insulating cylinder 30 having elasticity and insulating properties is disposed at a connecting portion of the secondary battery 10, and the end of the secondary battery 10 is inserted into the insulating cylinder 30 so as not to leak gas. Thus, a gas discharge chamber 31 is provided at the connecting portion of the secondary battery 10. The insulating cylinder 30 opens a discharge port 35 for exhausting the gas in the gas discharge chamber 31 to the outside. The holder case 2 includes a support wall 3 that supports the insulating cylinder 30 of the battery module 1, and the support wall 3 supports the battery module 1 via the insulating cylinder 30 to hold a plurality of battery modules 1. The case 2 is arranged at a fixed position. The support wall 3 has a gas vent path 4 inside, and is in close contact with the surface of the insulating cylinder 30 so as not to leak gas, and connects the opening end of the gas vent path 4 to the discharge port 35 of the insulating cylinder 30. The gas vent path 4 is connected to the gas discharge chamber 31. Further, the holder case 2 is provided with a gas collecting path 5 for connecting the gas venting path 4 of the support wall 3 in the side plate 24 parallel to the battery module 1, and an opening for collecting and discharging the communicating port 6 communicating with the gas collecting path 5. is doing. The power supply device exhausts the gas discharged from the safety valve 50 of the secondary battery 10 from the gas discharge chamber 31 to the outside of the holder case 2 through the gas vent path 4 and the gas collecting path 5.

  The insulating tube 30 is provided with a ridge 32 on the contact surface with the secondary battery 10, and elastically presses the ridge 32 against the surface of the secondary battery 10 so that no gas leaks to the surface of the secondary battery 10. Can be linked together. Furthermore, the insulating cylinder 30 can be inserted between the secondary batteries 10 connected in series to insulate the connected secondary batteries 10.

In the power supply device of the present invention, the discharge port 35 can be opened above the gas discharge chamber 31, and the collective discharge port 6 can be opened above the gas collecting path 5.
However, in this specification, the vertical direction of the gas discharge chamber 31 that opens the discharge port 35 and the vertical direction of the gas collection path 5 that opens the collective discharge port 6 mean the vertical direction in FIGS. And

  The holder case 2 inclines the upper surface of the gas vent path 4 of the support wall 3 in an upward gradient toward the gas collecting path 5 of the side plate 24, and the upper surface of the gas collecting path 5 of the side plate 24 sets the upper surface of the gas collecting path 5 to the collecting outlet. It is possible to incline upward toward 6.

  Furthermore, the power supply device of the present invention can cover the surface of the battery module 1 connecting the secondary battery 10 with the insulating cylinder 30 with the insulating tube 8. The insulating tube 8 covers the surfaces of the secondary battery 10 and the insulating cylinder 30, and a gas permeable hole 9 that allows gas to pass through can be provided in the covering portion of the insulating cylinder 30. The insulating tube 8 can open a plurality of gas permeable holes 9 on the same circumference. Furthermore, the insulating tube 8 can cover the battery module 1 so as to cover the surface of the secondary battery 10 and not cover the opening of the discharge port 35 of the insulating cylinder 30.

  The power supply device of the present invention is characterized in that a battery module composed of a plurality of secondary batteries is housed in a case, and fluid such as gas discharged from a safety valve of each secondary battery can be reliably exhausted to the outside of the case. There is. In the power supply device of the present invention, a battery module in which a plurality of secondary batteries are connected by an insulating cylinder and a gas discharge chamber is provided at the connecting portion is housed in a holder case having a support wall that supports the insulating cylinder. In addition, the insulating cylinder is provided with a discharge port for exhausting the gas in the gas discharge chamber to the outside, and a degassing path is provided inside the support wall, and the open end of this degassing path is connected to the discharge port of the insulating cylinder Furthermore, it is because the gas venting path of the support wall is connected by a gas collecting path, and a collecting discharge port communicating with the gas collecting path is opened. The power supply device of this structure exhausts the gas discharged from the safety valve of each secondary battery of the battery module from the gas discharge chamber to the outside of the insulating cylinder through the discharge port, and further discharges the gas discharged from the insulating cylinder. Then, the gas is exhausted from the collecting outlet to the outside of the holder case through the gas venting path and the gas collecting path. Therefore, the gas discharged from the secondary battery can be reliably exhausted outside the case without connecting a hose or the like in the case.

  Furthermore, since the power supply device of Claim 6 and Claim 8 of this invention has coat | covered the surface of the battery module which has connected the secondary battery with the insulation cylinder with the insulation tube, it can improve the handleability at the time of an assembly. In addition, there is a feature that it is possible to effectively prevent a short circuit, and to effectively prevent a short circuit due to a foreign substance mixed in the cooling air in a state where the air is forcedly blown to the surface of the battery module to cool it. Furthermore, these power supply devices cover the surface of the secondary battery and the insulating cylinder with an insulating tube, and provide a gas permeable hole for allowing gas to permeate the covering portion of the insulating cylinder, or use an insulating tube for the secondary battery. Since the battery module is covered so that it covers the surface and does not cover the opening of the outlet of the insulating cylinder, the gas discharged from the outlet of the insulating cylinder can be smoothly discharged into the gas discharge chamber. is there.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below exemplify a power supply device for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention does not specify the power supply device as follows.

  Further, in this specification, in order to facilitate understanding of the scope of claims, numbers corresponding to the members shown in the examples are indicated in the “claims” and “means for solving problems” sections. It is added to the members. However, the members shown in the claims are not limited to the members in the embodiments.

  The power supply apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 stores a plurality of battery modules 1 in parallel in a holder case 2. In the battery module 1, a plurality of secondary batteries 10 are linearly connected in series. The power supply apparatus of the present invention preferably houses the battery module 1 in which three or more secondary batteries 10 are connected in a straight line, and the gas discharged from each secondary battery 10 is more effectively a case. Can be exhausted outside. However, the battery module can also connect two secondary batteries in a straight line. The secondary battery 10 is a nickel-hydrogen battery. However, a lithium ion secondary battery or a nickel cadmium battery can be used as the secondary battery.

  As shown in the sectional views of FIGS. 5 and 6, the secondary battery 10 has a safety valve 50 at the end. In the secondary battery 10 in this figure, the opening of the outer can 11 is hermetically sealed with a sealing plate 12. The outer can 11 and the sealing plate 12 are metal plates. The outer can 11 is manufactured by press-molding a metal plate into a cylindrical shape with a bottom. The sealing plate 12 is provided with a convex electrode 13 in the center, and a safety valve 50 is built in the convex electrode 13. The safety valve 50 includes a coil spring 51 that is an elastic body, a valve body 52 that is pressed against the valve hole 53 of the sealing plate 12 by being pressed by the coil spring 51, a valve body 52, and the coil spring 51. And a metal lid 54 constituting the partial electrode 13. An exhaust hole 55 is opened in the metal lid 54. In the safety valve 50 having this structure, the valve body 52 opens the valve hole 53 when the internal pressure of the secondary battery 10 increases. When the valve hole 53 is opened, the gas in the battery passes through the valve hole 53 and the exhaust hole 55 and is exhausted outside the battery. In a normal use state, the coil spring 51 presses the valve body 52 and airtightly closes the valve hole 53.

  The safety valve may use a thin film such as a metal foil that is broken at a predetermined pressure, instead of the valve body. This safety valve fixes the thin film so as to airtightly close the valve hole. In the safety valve of this structure, when the internal pressure of the secondary battery rises, the thin film is broken and the valve hole is opened. When the valve hole is opened, the gas in the battery is exhausted out of the battery through the valve hole and the exhaust hole. In the safety valve having this structure, since the thin film closes the valve hole, it is not necessary to use a coil spring, and the structure can be simplified.

  The outer can 11 has a built-in electrode 17 and is also filled with an electrolytic solution. The outer can 11 has a sealing plate 12 hermetically fixed by caulking the end of the opening. The sealing plate 12 is sandwiched between the caulked portions of the outer can 11 via the gasket 14 and is hermetically fixed. The gasket 14 is a rubber-like elastic body made of an insulating material. The gasket 14 insulates the sealing plate 12 and the outer can 11, and airtightly closes the gap between the sealing plate 12 and the outer can 11. In the secondary battery 10 having this structure, a groove portion 15 is provided along the periphery at the end portion where the sealing plate 12 is provided in order to crimp the sealing plate 12 and sandwich it. Further, crimping ridges 16 are provided on the periphery of the sealing plate 12. The secondary battery 10 uses the sealing plate 12 as a first electrode and the outer can 11 as a second electrode. The nickel-hydrogen secondary battery uses a first electrode as a positive electrode and a second electrode as a negative electrode. In the secondary battery, the first electrode can be a negative electrode and the second electrode can be a positive electrode.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the secondary battery 10 is linearly connected in series via a connection body 40. The connection body 40 is a conductive metal plate and is welded to the sealing plate 12 of the secondary battery 10 and the outer can 11 to connect the secondary battery 10. 7 to 10 show the connection body 40. The connection body 40 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is provided with welding convex portions 41 on the inner side and the outer side concentrically. The inner welding convex portion 41 is welded to the sealing plate 12 of the lower secondary battery 10 in the drawing, and the outer welding convex portion 41 is welded to the bottom surface of the outer can 11 of the upper secondary battery 10 in the drawing. The secondary battery 10 is connected. The connection body 40 in FIGS. 9 and 10 protrudes in the vertical direction and has a welding convex portion 41. The upper and lower welding projections 41 are welded to the battery end faces of the secondary battery 10 disposed above and below, and connect the secondary batteries 10 in a straight line in series. Further, although not shown, the connection body can be welded to the outer peripheral surface of the bottom of the outer can to connect the outer can and the sealing plate.

  In the battery module 1, an insulating cylinder 30 having elasticity and insulating properties is disposed at an end portion and a connecting portion of the secondary battery 10. The insulating cylinder 30 of the connecting portion is inserted so as not to leak gas at the end of the secondary battery 10, and a gas discharge chamber 31 is provided at the connecting portion of the secondary battery 10. The insulating cylinder 30 is manufactured by integrally molding the whole with a soft synthetic resin such as soft urethane or EVA, or natural or synthetic rubber.

  In the illustrated battery module 1, the secondary battery 10 is a cylindrical battery. Therefore, the insulating cylinder 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the end portions of the secondary battery 10 are inserted at both ends. The insulating cylinder 30 is elastically pressed against the surface of the secondary battery 10 to prevent gas leakage with the secondary battery 10. The insulating cylinder 30 in the figure has a protrusion 32 on the surface on the contact surface with the secondary battery 10. The ridges 32 are formed into a shape that is continuous in the circumferential direction of the secondary battery 10. The inner diameter of the ridge 32 is smaller than the outer diameter of the secondary battery 10. The insulating cylinder 30 is connected to the surface of the secondary battery so as not to leak gas by elastically pressing the ridges 32 against the surface of the secondary battery. The insulating cylinder 30 having this structure can prevent the gas leakage reliably by closely attaching the ridge 32 to the surface of the secondary battery 10 without a gap. However, the insulating cylinder does not necessarily need to be provided with protrusions on the inner surface. Insulating cylinders without protrusions have an inner diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the secondary battery. This insulating cylinder is elastically extended in a state where the secondary battery is inserted. The expanded insulating cylinder is brought into close contact with the surface of the secondary battery by contraction force so as not to leak gas.

  The insulating cylinder 30 is provided with an insulating ring 33 integrally formed in the middle. The insulating ring 33 prevents the outer can 11 of the secondary battery 10 connected in series from contacting and short-circuiting. As shown in the figure, the secondary battery 10 connected in series via the connection body 40 has a potential difference between the outer cans 11. When the outer cans 11 of the upper and lower secondary batteries 10 come into contact with each other, the lower secondary battery 10 in FIG. The insulating ring 33 is disposed between the upper and lower outer cans 11 to prevent the outer can 11 from being short-circuited. Therefore, the insulating cylinder 30 with the insulating ring 33 provides the gas discharge chamber 31 sealed between the secondary batteries 10 and prevents a short circuit of the outer can 11 of the secondary batteries 10 connected in series.

  The insulating ring 33 is between the outer cans 11 connected in series, that is, between the bottom surface of the outer can 11 of the upper secondary battery 10 and the upper surface of the caulking ridge 16 of the lower secondary battery 10 in the drawing. It is arranged. Further, the insulating ring 33 shown in the figure is provided by integrally forming a locking ring 34 along the inner peripheral edge. The locking ring 34 is disposed inside the caulking ridge 16 of the lower secondary battery 10 to prevent the insulating ring 33 from coming out between the secondary batteries 10.

  The insulating cylinder 30 with the insulating ring 33 can prevent the axial displacement by sandwiching the insulating ring 33 between the secondary batteries 10. For this reason, the insulating cylinder 30 with the insulating ring 33 can be disposed between the secondary batteries 10 so as not to be displaced.

  11 and 12 show the structure of the end of the battery module 1, that is, the end on the convex electrode side. The battery module 1 of FIG. 11 has an output terminal 25 connected to the protruding electrode 13 at the end via a connecting body 40 and is sealed with an insulating cylinder 30 between the output terminal 25 and the secondary battery 10. A gas discharge chamber 31 is provided. The output terminal 25 has the same outer shape as the outer can 11 of the secondary battery 10 on the side facing the secondary battery 10, and the front side has a shape that connects the bus bar 26. The output terminal 25 is connected to the secondary battery 10 by a connection body 40 that connects the secondary batteries 10 in series. Further, the output terminal 25 and the secondary battery 10 are inserted into the same insulating cylinder 30 as the insulating cylinder 30 connected between the secondary batteries 10, and have a sealed structure between the output terminal 25 and the secondary battery 10. A gas discharge chamber 31 is provided. The battery module 1 having this structure has the same structure as the connecting portion of the secondary battery 10, and a gas discharge chamber 31 can be provided at the end of the battery module 1. The output terminal 25 is screwed with a set screw 27 for connecting the bus bar 26 to the surface side, and the bus bar 26 is fixed.

  In the battery module 1 of FIG. 12, the output terminal 25 is directly connected to the convex electrode side of the secondary battery 10 by a method such as welding. This battery module 1 has an insulating cylinder 30 inserted at its end. Further, in the battery module 1, a set screw 27 for connecting the bus bar 26 is screwed into the surface of the output terminal 25, and the bus bar 26 is fixed to the output terminal 25. In this power supply device, the bus bar 26 is disposed inside the holder case 2. Therefore, it is not necessary to project the output terminal 25 to the outside of the gas discharge chamber 31, and the structure of the holder case 2 can be simplified.

  The insulating cylinder 30 opens a discharge port 35 for exhausting the gas in the gas discharge chamber 31 to the outside. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the discharge port 35 is opened at the upper and lower portions of the gas discharge chamber 31 in a state where the battery module 1 is stored in the holder case 2 in a horizontal posture. According to this structure, hydrogen gas lighter than the air discharged from the safety valve 50 of the nickel-hydrogen battery to the gas discharge chamber 31 can be discharged smoothly. In addition, the electrolyte discharged from the safety valve 50 can be discharged smoothly. The two discharge ports 35 opened at the upper and lower portions of the gas discharge chamber 31 are located at positions where the position of the other discharge port 35 is shifted by 180 degrees with respect to the one discharge port 35. However, the two outlets can also be opened at a position where the position of the other outlet is shifted from 135 degrees to 225 degrees relative to one. Moreover, an insulation cylinder can provide two or more discharge ports, and any one can be arrange | positioned upwards. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide two or more outlets, one of which is disposed on the top and one of which is disposed on the bottom. In this insulating cylinder, the upper discharge port exhausts hydrogen, and the lower discharge port discharges the electrolyte.

  The inner diameter of the discharge port 35 is 1 mm or more. The discharge port 35 can smoothly discharge gas and electrolyte. The discharge port 35 is opened inside the gas vent path 4 of the support wall 3 provided in the holder case 2. If the discharge port 35 is too large, it is likely to be disposed outside the gas vent path 4, so that the inner diameter of the discharge port 35 is smaller than 10 mm, preferably smaller than 5 mm.

  Further, in the battery module 1 of FIG. 13, the surface of the battery module 1 in which the secondary battery 10 is connected by the insulating cylinder 30 is covered with the insulating tube 8. The insulating tube 8 is a heat-shrinkable tube obtained by forming a plastic sheet into a cylindrical shape. The insulating tube 8 is inserted into the battery module 1 in a state of being cut to a predetermined length, and is heated and contracted to be in close contact with the surface of the battery module 1. The insulating tube 8 in this figure covers the surfaces of the secondary battery 10 and the insulating cylinder 30. In order to allow the gas discharged from the discharge port 35 of the insulating cylinder 30 to permeate smoothly, the insulating tube 8 is provided with a gas permeable hole 9 through which the gas is transmitted in the covering portion of the insulating cylinder 30.

  The illustrated insulating tube 8 has a plurality of, preferably five or more, gas permeation holes 9 on the same circumference. The insulating tube 8 allows the gas discharged from the discharge port 35 located at the opposite position to pass more smoothly. This is because the gas transmission hole 9 is opened in the vicinity of the discharge port 35 or at the position of the discharge port 35.

  Furthermore, the battery module 1 in FIG. 14 covers the surface of the battery module 1 with the insulating tube 8, and the insulating tube 8 covers the surface of the secondary battery 10, and the opening of the discharge port 35 of the insulating cylinder 30. Do not coat. The insulating tube 8 is provided with a notch or perforation at the opening portion of the discharge port 35, and when the heat shrinkable tube is heated and contracted, the cutout and the perforation are separated to open the discharge port 35. Do not cover the part.

  As described above, the heat-shrinkable tube that is provided with the gas permeable hole 9 or does not cover the opening of the discharge port 35 smoothly exhausts the air in the insulating tube 8 when heated and contracts, and the insulating tube 8 Can be adhered to the surface of the secondary battery 10 or the insulating cylinder 30.

  Since the above battery module 1 is insulated on the surface by the insulating tube 8, the handling property at the time of assembling can be improved, in particular, a short circuit can be effectively prevented, and the surface of the secondary battery 10 is forcedly blown and cooled. Thus, it is possible to effectively prevent a short circuit due to foreign matters mixed in the cooling air. Further, the insulating tube 8 is configured to smoothly discharge the gas discharged from the discharge port 35 of the insulating cylinder 30 from the gas permeation hole 9 to the gas discharge chamber 31, or to cover the portion, so that the gas in the discharge port 35 Can be smoothly discharged into the gas discharge chamber 31.

  The holder case 2 stores a plurality of battery modules 1 arranged in parallel in a horizontal posture. The battery module 1 housed in the holder case 2 is electrically connected by connecting bus bars 26 to both ends. The plurality of battery modules 1 are housed in the holder case 2 with both ends thereof arranged on the same surface so that each bus bar 26 can be arranged on the same surface. In the battery module 1 in which both end surfaces are arranged on the same surface, the connecting portion of the secondary battery 10 is also arranged on the same surface.

  The holder case 2 shown in the figure stores the battery modules 1 in two upper and lower stages. The holder case 2 has a box shape with a closed structure by connecting an end face plate 23 and a side plate 24 around a top plate 21 and a bottom plate 22 having a square planar shape. The end face plates 23 are located at both ends of the battery module 1, and the side face plates 24 are located at both outer sides of the battery module 1. The holder case 2 houses the battery module 1 in a box shape surrounded by a top plate 21, a bottom plate 22, an end face plate 23, and a side plate 24. Further, the holder case 2 shown in the figure is divided into three parts in the vertical direction, and is composed of an upper case 2A, a lower case 2B and an intermediate case 2C. The holder case 2 is formed of an insulating material such as plastic.

  Further, the holder case 2 is provided with a support wall 3 for supporting the insulating cylinder 30 of the battery module 1 therein. Since the support wall 3 supports the connecting portion of the battery module 1, the support wall 3 is one less than the number of the secondary batteries 10. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the holder case 2 that houses the battery module 1 in which three secondary batteries 10 are connected in series includes two rows of support walls 3. A holder case that houses a battery module that connects two secondary batteries in series includes a row of support walls. In addition, the holder case that houses the battery modules that connect five or six secondary batteries in series includes four or five rows of support walls.

  As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, the support wall 3 is provided with a curved recess 7 in a portion where the insulating cylinder 30 is inserted. The support wall 3 puts the battery module 1 in the curved recess 7 and sandwiches the battery module 1 at the top and bottom to place the battery module 1 at a fixed position. Further, the support wall 3 is provided with a gas vent path 4 therein. The support wall 3 in FIG. 3 has a gas vent path 4 in the middle as a double wall structure in which a gap is provided in the middle. As shown in FIG. 2, the support wall 3 has the curved recess 7 provided in the double wall 3 </ b> A in close contact with the surface of the insulating cylinder 30 so as not to leak gas. The discharge port 35 of the insulating cylinder 30 is opened between the double walls 3A. In other words, the support wall 3 is brought into close contact with the insulating cylinder 30 so that the discharge port 35 is located between the double walls 3A. The open end of the gas vent path 4 is connected to the discharge port 35 of the insulating cylinder 30. In this state, the gas vent path 4 is connected to the gas discharge chamber 31 through the discharge port 35 of the insulating cylinder 30. Therefore, the gas or electrolyte discharged from the safety valve 50 to the gas discharge chamber 31 passes through the discharge port 35 and flows into the gas vent path 4.

  The holder case 2 houses, for example, a battery module 1 in which three or more secondary batteries 10 are connected in series. Therefore, the holder case 2 is provided with two or more rows of support walls 3. The degassing paths 4 of the support walls 3 are connected to each other by a gas collecting path 5 provided in the holder case 2. In the holder case 2, gas collecting paths 5 that connect the gas vent paths 4 of the plurality of rows of support walls 3 are provided on the side plate 24 parallel to the battery module 1. The holder case 2 in FIG. 2 is provided with a gas collecting path 5 inside a side plate 24 located at the right end in the drawing. The gas collecting path 5 communicates therewith and opens a collecting discharge port 6 in order to discharge a fluid such as an inflowing gas or an electrolytic solution to the outside. In the holder case 2 of FIG. 2, the gas collecting path 5 is provided on one side plate 24, but the gas collecting path may be provided on both side plates.

  The holder case 2 of FIG. 1 is provided with a cylindrical collective discharge port 6 protruding from the case. The collective discharge port 6 can easily connect an exhaust path such as a hose or a duct for exhausting gas or electrolyte. The exhaust path is connected to the forced exhaust side of the air that cools the battery module 1 or is connected to the outside of the vehicle. The exhaust path connected to the forced exhaust side quickly forcibly exhausts the gas or the electrolyte discharged from the collective discharge port 6 with air for cooling the battery module 1.

  The gas discharge chamber 31 of the support wall 3 shown in the sectional view of FIG. 2 has an upper surface inclined upwardly toward the gas collecting path 5 of the side plate 24. The gas discharge chamber 31 can smoothly transfer a gas lighter than air, such as hydrogen, to the gas collecting path 5 of the side plate 24. Further, the upper surface of the gas collecting path 5 of the side plate 24 shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. The gas collecting path 5 having this structure can smoothly exhaust hydrogen gas that is lighter than the air flowing in from the gas discharge chamber 31 from the collective discharge port 6.

  The end face plate 23 has a double-wall structure like the support wall 3 and has a gas vent path 4 inside the inner wall 23A and the outer wall 23B. The gas venting path 4 of the end face plate 23 is connected to the gas collecting path 5 of the side face plate 24 and discharges fluid such as gas and electrolyte discharged from the end of the battery module 1 to the outside. 11 connects the gas discharge chamber 31 provided between the secondary battery 10 and the output terminal 25 to the gas vent path 4. This end face plate 23 is configured to remove a fluid such as a gas discharged from the safety valve 50 at the end of the battery module 1 from the gas discharge chamber 31 surrounded by the insulating cylinder 30, the secondary battery 10, and the output terminal 25. To the outside and exhaust to the outside. The holder case 2 having this structure can discharge a fluid such as a gas discharged from the safety valve 50 while being isolated from an electrical connection portion such as the bus bar 26. For this reason, there is a feature that can increase safety.

  In the end face plate 23 of FIG. 12, the end of the battery module 1 is disposed inside the gas vent path 4. This end face plate 23 directly discharges the gas discharged from the safety valve 50 to the gas vent path 4 without providing a gas exhaust chamber at the end of the battery module 1, and from the gas vent path 4 to the gas collecting path 5. Exhaust to the outside through the collective discharge port 6. In this structure, only the inner wall 23 </ b> A which is one wall of the end face plate 23 having a double wall structure is brought into close contact with the surface of the insulating cylinder 30. It is not necessary to insert the battery module 1 into the outer wall which is the other wall. The outer wall 23B of the end face plate 23 can be formed into a plate shape without a through hole. For this reason, the structure of the end face plate 23 can be simplified, and connecting parts such as the bus bar 26 can be accommodated in the holder case 2.

  In the holder case 2 of FIG. 1, an end face plate 23, a side face plate 24, and a support wall 3 are divided into three parts in the vertical direction to form an upper case 2A, a lower case 2B, and an intermediate case 2C. The end face plate 23, the side face plate 24, and the support wall 3 are divided at the upper and lower middles of the battery module 1. Therefore, the upper case 2 </ b> A is provided by integrally molding the end face plate 23, the side face plate 24, and the support wall 3 around the top plate 21. The lower case 2 </ b> B is provided by integrally molding an end face plate 23, a side face plate 24, and a support wall 3 around the bottom plate 22. The intermediate case 2 </ b> C is integrally formed as a whole so that the end face plate 23 and the side face plate 24 are connected in a square shape, and further, both ends of the support wall 3 are connected to the side face plate 24. The holder case 2 divided into three is divided at the upper and lower center lines of the battery module 1 as shown in FIGS.

  In the holder case 2, the battery module 1 is arranged in the curved recess 7 of the lower case 2B and arranged in parallel, the intermediate case 2C is arranged on the lower case 2B, and then the battery module 1 is placed in the curved recess 7 of the intermediate case 2C. Are arranged in parallel, the upper case 2A is placed on the intermediate case 2C, and finally the lower case 2B, the intermediate case 2C and the upper case 2A are connected and assembled. The holder case 2 in which the bus bar 26 is arranged outside the end face plate 23 connects the battery case 1 with the bus bar 26 after connecting the lower case 2B, the intermediate case 2C, and the upper case 2A. In the holder case 2 in which the bus bar 26 is arranged inside the end face plate 23, the battery module 1 is arranged in the lower case 2B to connect the bus bar 26, and then the intermediate case 2C is mounted on the lower case 2B. The battery module 1 is placed on and connected by the bus bar 26, the upper case 2A is placed on the intermediate case 2C, and the lower case 2B, the intermediate case 2C, and the upper case 2A are connected.

It is a perspective view of the power supply device concerning one Example of this invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the power supply device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of the power supply device illustrated in FIG. 1, corresponding to a cross section taken along the line BB of FIG. 2. It is CC sectional view taken on the line of the power supply device shown in FIG. 1, Comprising: It is a figure corresponded in CC line cross section of FIG. It is an expanded sectional view showing an example of a battery module. It is an expanded sectional view which shows another example of a battery module. It is a top view which shows the connection body of the battery module shown in FIG. It is the sectional view on the AA line of the connection body shown in FIG. It is a top view which shows the connection body of the battery module shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the connection body illustrated in FIG. 9. It is an expanded sectional view which shows an example of the connection structure of the edge part of a battery module. It is an expanded sectional view which shows another example of the connection structure of the edge part of a battery module. It is a cross-sectional side view which shows another example of a battery module. It is a cross-sectional side view which shows another example of a battery module.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Battery module 2 ... Holder case 2A ... Upper case
2B ... Lower case
2C ... Intermediate case 3 ... Support wall 3A ... Double wall 4 ... Gas vent path 5 ... Gas collecting path 6 ... Collecting outlet 7 ... Curved recess 8 ... Insulating tube 9 ... Gas permeation hole 10 ... Secondary battery 11 ... Exterior can DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Sealing plate 13 ... Convex part electrode 14 ... Gasket 15 ... Groove part 16 ... Caulking protrusion 17 ... Electrode 21 ... Top plate 22 ... Bottom plate 23 ... End surface plate 23A ... Inner wall
23B ... Outer wall 24 ... Side plate 25 ... Output terminal 26 ... Bus bar 27 ... Set screw 30 ... Insulating cylinder 31 ... Gas discharge chamber 32 ... Rub 33 ... Insulating ring 34 ... Locking ring 35 ... Discharge port 40 ... Connector 41 ... Welding convex part 50 ... Safety valve 51 ... Coil spring 52 ... Valve body 53 ... Valve hole 54 ... Metal lid 55 ... Exhaust hole

Claims (8)

A battery module (1) in which a plurality of secondary batteries (10) having a safety valve (50) at the end are linearly connected in series, and a holder for storing a plurality of battery modules (1) arranged in parallel A power supply device comprising a case (2),
In the battery module (1), an insulating cylinder (30) having elasticity and insulation is disposed at a connecting portion of the secondary battery (10), and the secondary battery (10) is connected to the insulating cylinder (30). Insert the end so as not to leak gas, and provide a gas discharge chamber (31) at the connecting part of the secondary battery (10),
The insulating cylinder (30) has an exhaust port (35) for exhausting the gas in the gas discharge chamber (31) to the outside,
The holder case (2) includes a support wall (3) that supports the insulating cylinder (30) of the battery module (1), and the support wall (3) is connected to the battery module (1) via the insulating cylinder (30). ), And a plurality of battery modules (1) are arranged in a fixed position on the holder case (2),
The support wall (3) has a gas vent path (4) inside and is in close contact with the surface of the insulating cylinder (30) so as not to leak gas, and the opening end of the gas vent path (4) is connected to the insulating cylinder (30 ) Is connected to the discharge port (35), and the gas vent path (4) is connected to the gas discharge chamber (31).
Further, the holder case (2) is provided with a gas collecting path (5) connecting the gas venting path (4) of the support wall (3) in the side plate (24) parallel to the battery module (1), and this gas. The collective outlet (6) communicating with the collective path (5) is opened,
The gas discharged from the safety valve (50) of the secondary battery (10) is exhausted from the gas discharge chamber (31) to the outside of the holder case (2) through the gas venting path (4) and the gas collecting path (5). A power supply unit configured to do so.   The insulating tube (30) is provided with protrusions (32) on the contact surface with the secondary battery (10), and the protrusions (32) are elastically pressed against the surface of the secondary battery (10), The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the insulating cylinder (30) is connected to the surface of the secondary battery (10) so as not to leak gas.   The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the insulating cylinder (30) is inserted between the secondary batteries (10) connected in series to insulate the connected secondary battery (10).   The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the discharge port (35) is opened at an upper portion of the gas discharge chamber (31), and the collective discharge port (6) is opened at an upper portion of the gas collecting passage (5).   The holder case (2) inclines the upper surface of the gas vent path (4) of the support wall (3) in an upward slope toward the gas collecting path (5) of the side plate (24) and the side plate (24). The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the gas collecting passage (5) is inclined upwardly toward the collecting outlet (6).   The surface of the battery module (1) connecting the secondary battery (10) with the insulating cylinder (30) is covered with the insulating tube (8), and the insulating tube (8) is insulated from the secondary battery (10). The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the cylinder (30) is covered, and a gas permeable hole (9) for allowing gas to pass therethrough is provided in a covering portion of the insulating cylinder (30).   The power supply device according to claim 6, wherein the insulating tube (8) has a plurality of gas permeation holes (9) opened on the same circumference. The surface of the battery module (1) connecting the secondary battery (10) with the insulating cylinder (30) is covered with an insulating tube (8), and this insulating tube (8) is connected to the secondary battery (10). The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the battery module (1) is covered so as not to cover the opening of the discharge port (35) of the insulating cylinder (30).

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