JP6337603B2 - Battery pack - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery pack including a mechanism for adjusting the temperature of a built-in battery module.

  An electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, and the like are equipped with a battery pack in order to supply electric power for driving a traveling motor. The battery pack generates heat during charging or discharging, but in the case of a battery pack in which a plurality of battery modules are mounted in combination, heat tends to be trapped inside the battery module. If the temperature rises too much, the power generation efficiency / charging efficiency is lowered, so that it is cooled by the cooling device.

  In the assembled battery (battery pack) described in Patent Document 1, a spacing plate in contact with the side surface of each unit cell is interposed between a plurality of unit cells (battery modules) placed in a storage box. This spacing plate has a ventilation path leading in the vertical direction, and functions as a heat radiating plate. The storage box has a plurality of air inlets communicating with the air passage on the outer periphery of the lower part, and a blower is installed in the air inlet. The air in the air passage is warmed and rises, is discharged from the upper part, and is replaced with the outside air taken in by the blower, whereby the single cell is cooled.

  The battery pack employed in the battery system described in Patent Document 2 includes a plurality of single cells (battery modules) and a cooling fan disposed below the plurality of single cells (battery modules). In this battery pack, the temperature is periodically measured by the thermistor provided in each unit cell, and when the temperature exceeds the set temperature, the cooling air is blown down to the gap provided between the adjacent unit cells by the cooling fan. The battery is discharged from the feed and cooled down.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-138856 Japanese Patent No. 4918611

  Since the battery pack is heavy, when it is mounted on a vehicle, it is often disposed at a low position such as a lower part of a luggage compartment at the rear of the vehicle. When this vehicle is rear-projected from the rear and the rear part of the vehicle body is greatly deformed, the battery pack is also deformed accordingly. In particular, when a vehicle that has collided from behind with respect to a vehicle on which the battery pack is mounted at the rear part enters the vehicle at a momentum, the battery pack is deformed so as to be pushed up from below.

  In the battery pack described in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, since the fan for cooling the battery module is built under the battery module, when the lower part of the battery pack is deformed by the rear-end collision, The fan may be pushed upward to contact the battery module. The members constituting the fan, particularly the rotating shaft and the iron core of the drive motor, etc. have high rigidity and may damage the battery module when it hits the battery module.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a battery pack that includes a temperature adjustment mechanism for a battery module and that can prevent damage to the built-in battery module even when the lower portion is deformed due to a collision.

A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of battery modules, a tray, a cover, a support member, a fan, and a duct . The tray covers the lower part of the battery module. The cover covers the battery module and is coupled to the tray. The support member is fixed to the inner wall of the tray and supports the battery module. Fans, a base plate is placed against the lower surface of the battery module, possess a shaft erected on the base plate toward the bottom wall of the tray, the tray and the suction port provided to face the bottom wall Inhale the gas inside the cover. The duct is connected to the discharge side of the fan, and supplies the gas discharged from the fan to the battery module. The fan circulates the gas inside covered with the tray and the cover through the duct.

At this time, the battery pack may further include a temperature controller for adjusting the temperature of the gas circulated by the fan. In addition, the plurality of battery modules are arranged in at least two stages of an upper stage and a lower stage. The support member includes an upper support member that is installed between the lower battery module and the upper battery module and supports the upper battery module, and a lower support member that supports the lower battery module. The battery pack further includes a partition member. The partition member is provided between the upper surface of the upper battery module and the lower surface of the lower battery module, and divides the interior covered with the tray and the cover into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The duct communicates the upper chamber side and the lower chamber side via a through hole formed in the partition member. And a fan is connected to the duct extended to the lower chamber, and circulates the gas of an upper chamber and a lower chamber via a duct.

  The upper support member may also serve as a partition member by sealing between the outer peripheral portion of the lower surface of the upper battery module and the inner wall of the tray. Moreover, it has the sealing member which plugs up between the partition member and the outer periphery of the upper part of a lower battery module.

  The distance from the through hole to the fan is longer than the distance from the through hole to the center of the bottom wall of the tray. In addition, a bypass channel that connects the upper chamber and the lower chamber is provided between the partition member and the upper battery module, and the distance from the through hole through which the duct formed in the partition member passes to the bypass channel passes through. It is also preferable to make it longer than the distance from the hole to the center of the bottom wall of the tray.

  The lower support member may also serve as a partition member by sealing between the outer peripheral portion of the lower surface of the lower battery module and the inner wall of the tray. The upper support member includes an upper frame that supports the outer periphery of the lower end of the upper battery module, and the lower support member supports the outer periphery of the lower end of the lower battery module and the lower frame is fixed to the inner wall of the tray. It is also preferable to include a lower bracket. When this battery pack is mounted on a vehicle, it is also preferable to dispose a fan biased toward the front side of the vehicle and provide an inclined portion that rises toward the rear of the vehicle on the bottom wall of the tray.

  According to the battery pack of one embodiment of the present invention, the battery module is cooled by the gas circulating inside the tray and the cover. Since moisture such as moisture does not enter from the outside, a stable cooling effect can be obtained, and the operating temperature of the battery module can be easily kept constant. At this time, the fan has a base plate arranged to face the lower surface of the lower battery module, and a shaft erected below the base plate toward the lower wall of the tray. Therefore, even when the battery pack is subjected to a load from below so that the tray is deformed inward, the fan shaft abuts against the base plate, so that the battery module can be prevented from being damaged.

  Further, according to the battery pack of the invention in which the temperature controller for adjusting the temperature of the gas circulated by the fan is provided in the middle of the duct, the gas in the battery pack is circulated between the upper chamber and the lower chamber via the duct. In addition, the gas passing through the duct is adjusted to an optimum temperature for use of the battery pack. When an evaporator is used as a temperature controller, the warmed gas in the battery pack can be efficiently cooled. When an electric heater is used as the temperature controller, a battery module having a temperature lower than the appropriate temperature range can be efficiently used. Be warmed up.

  Further, according to another embodiment of the battery pack of the present invention, a plurality of battery modules are arranged in at least two stages of an upper stage and a lower stage, and an upper support member and a lower battery module for supporting the upper battery module are provided. The lower stage supporting member to support is provided as a supporting member. This battery pack has a partition member that divides the inside of the battery pack covered with the tray and the cover into an upper chamber and a lower chamber between the upper surface of the upper battery module and the lower surface of the lower battery module. . And the duct which penetrates a partition member and connects an upper chamber and a lower chamber is provided. The fan is installed at the end of this duct extending to the lower chamber side, and circulates the gas in the upper chamber and the lower chamber through the duct.

  According to the battery pack of the invention in which the upper support member that supports the upper battery module also serves as a partition member by sealing between the outer peripheral portion of the lower surface of the upper battery module and the inner wall of the tray, the internal structure of the battery pack Is simplified.

  According to the battery pack of the invention including the sealing member that closes the space between the partition member and the upper outer peripheral edge of the lower battery module, the internal gas circulation efficiency is improved, so that the cooling efficiency by the gas is stabilized.

  According to the battery pack of the invention in which the distance from the through hole to the fan is longer than the distance from the through hole to the center of the bottom wall of the tray, the gas passing through the upper battery module and the lower battery module is discharged from the fan. After that, the difference in the length of the circulation path before returning to the fan is reduced between the position close to the duct and the position far from the duct. Therefore, the temperature difference between the circulating gases is reduced, and the temperature difference between the individual battery modules is also reduced.

  In addition, a bypass channel that communicates the upper chamber and the lower chamber is provided between the partition member and the upper battery module, and the distance from the through hole to the bypass channel is from the through hole to the center of the bottom wall of the tray. According to the battery pack of the invention longer than the distance, the gas sent by the fan from the lower chamber to the upper chamber via the duct and the temperature controller can be supplied to the lower battery module without passing through the upper battery module. . Compared to the case where warm gas is supplied after passing through the upper battery module, lower gas can be supplied to the lower battery module and the flow rate of the gas passing through the lower battery module is increased. The cooling efficiency is improved. Since the temperature difference between the upper battery module and the lower battery module is reduced, the performance of the battery pack is improved. At this time, since the distance from the through hole to the bypass flow path is longer than the distance from the through hole to the center of the bottom wall of the tray, the temperature-controlled gas discharged from the duct to the upper chamber is separated from the duct by the bypass flow. By being led to the path, the spots of gas flow in the battery pack are reduced, and the temperature difference of the battery module is also reduced.

  The battery pack of the invention also serves as a partition member by arranging a lower support member that supports the lower battery module so as to face the lower surface of the lower battery module and sealing between the outer peripheral portion and the inner wall of the tray Since the internal structure of the battery pack is simplified and the impact load input from the outside to the outer peripheral wall is transmitted to the opposite side along the lower support member, it is possible to suppress the deformation of the tray and the cover. In addition, the battery module can be prevented from being damaged.

  According to the invention in which the upper support member includes the upper frame supporting the outer periphery of the lower end of the upper battery module, or the battery pack of the invention in which the lower support member includes the lower frame supporting the outer periphery of the lower end of the lower battery module, The weight of the upper battery module or the lower battery module can be evenly distributed and the structural rigidity for supporting is increased.

  Furthermore, when this battery pack is mounted on a vehicle, the fan is arranged biased to the front side of the vehicle, and according to the battery pack of the invention having an inclined portion that rises toward the rear of the vehicle on the bottom wall of the tray, Even if another vehicle collides from behind, the impact can be reduced by avoiding that the battery pack receives the impact load along the outer surface of the inclined portion and catches it straight.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Sectional drawing of the battery pack which follows the F2-F2 line | wire in FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the flow of the gas inside the battery pack of FIG. Sectional drawing of the state which the bottom wall of the tray of the battery pack of FIG. 2 deform | transformed. The disassembled perspective view of the battery pack of 2nd Embodiment which concerns on this invention. Sectional drawing of the battery pack which follows F6-F6 line | wire in FIG. The disassembled perspective view of the battery pack of 3rd Embodiment which concerns on this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the flow of the gas inside the battery pack of FIG. Sectional drawing of the battery pack of 4th Embodiment which concerns on this invention. The disassembled perspective view of the battery pack of 5th Embodiment which concerns on this invention. Sectional drawing of the battery pack which follows F11-F11 line | wire in FIG. Sectional drawing which shows typically the load added when a vehicle collides with the battery pack of FIG. 10 from back. Sectional drawing of the battery pack of 6th Embodiment which concerns on this invention. The battery pack of 7th Embodiment which concerns on this invention is shown in the state mounted in the rear part of the vehicle, (A) is sectional drawing of the battery pack in alignment with the vertical surface of the front-back direction of a vehicle, (B) is the back of a vehicle The side view of the battery pack seen from. 14 schematically shows a state in which another vehicle has collided with the battery pack of FIG. 14 from the rear, (A) is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack along the vertical plane in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and (B) is viewed from the rear of the vehicle The side view of a battery pack.

  A battery pack 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The battery pack 1 is mounted on a vehicle as a driving power source for an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. As shown in the exploded perspective view of FIG. 1, the battery pack 1 includes a plurality of battery modules 2, a tray 11, a cover 12, a support member, and a fan 162. In the first embodiment, the battery pack 1 further includes a partition member 15 and a duct 161 in addition to the evaporator 163 serving as a temperature controller for adjusting the temperature of the gas circulated by the fan 162. The evaporator 163 is disposed in the middle of the duct 161. Further, the duct 161, the fan 162 and the evaporator 163 constitute a cooling device 16. FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the battery pack 1 along the line F2-F2 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows the flow of the gas G when the cooling device 16 is operating in FIG.

  The plurality of battery modules 2 each include a plurality of battery cells. Each battery module 2 has vent holes 211 and 221 in the upper surface 21 and the lower surface 22 for allowing the gas G to flow through a gap formed between the battery cells. The plurality of battery modules 2 are arranged in at least two stages of an upper stage and a lower stage. As shown in FIG. 1, in the battery pack 1 of this embodiment, a total of eight battery modules 2 are incorporated, four in each of the upper and lower stages. Moreover, the battery module 2 has the through-hole 23 which lets the volt | bolt for fixation pass to a perpendicular direction at each corner | angular part.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tray 11 is arranged so as to cover the lower part of the lower battery module 2, and has a lower flange 111 on the upper outer periphery. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the tray 11 includes an outer bracket 112 attached to the outside of the outer peripheral wall at substantially the same height as the lower flange 111, a lower bracket 113 and an intermediate bracket 114 attached to the inner side of the outer peripheral wall, It has a bottom bracket 116 attached to the inside of the wall. Each bracket is spot welded to the tray 11, but may be joined by other reliable methods such as TIG welding, MIG welding, MAG welding, or brazing or adhesive.

  The cover 12 is disposed so as to cover the upper part of the upper battery module 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and has an upper flange 121 coupled to the lower flange 111 on the lower outer periphery. The upper flange 121 is coupled to the lower flange 111 with bolts as shown in FIG.

  The support member includes a lower support member 13 and an upper support member 14 so as to support the battery modules 2 arranged in at least two stages of the upper stage and the lower stage. The lower support member 13 includes a lower bracket 113 attached to the inside of the outer peripheral wall of the tray 11 and a lower frame 131 fixed to the lower bracket 113. The lower support member 13 is fixed to the inner wall of the tray 11 and supports the lower battery module 2. Specifically, the lower frame 131 is formed in a square frame that entirely surrounds the outer periphery of the lower end of the battery module 2 arranged in the lower stage, and supports the lower end of each battery module 2.

  The lower frame 131 is formed in an L shape in a cross section that traverses in the vertical direction, has a bolt hole at the bottom corresponding to the through hole 23 of the placed battery module 2, and a nut on the bottom surface of the bottom. It is attached. Instead of attaching a nut to a bolt hole, a screw hole may be formed directly. The lower battery module 2 is fixed to the lower frame 131 by fastening a bolt passed through the through hole 23 to a nut.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper support member 14 includes an intermediate bracket 114 attached to the inside of the outer peripheral wall of the tray 11, and a partition wall 145 fixed to the intermediate bracket 114. The upper support member 14 is disposed between the upper battery module 2 and the lower battery module 2 to support the upper battery module 2.

  In the present embodiment, the partition wall 145 is larger than the range that entirely surrounds the outer periphery of the lower end of the upper battery module 2 so that the range corresponding to the vent hole 221 opened in the lower surface 22 of the upper battery module 2 is opened. The inside is a continuous opening 146. The opening 146 may not be continuous as long as the flow area of the gas G passing through the vent holes 211 and 221 of the upper battery module 2 is secured. For example, the openings 146 may be connected to each other. May have a beam.

  The partition wall 145 is located between the upper surface 21 of the upper battery module 2 and the lower surface 22 of the lower battery module 2. In this embodiment, the edge of the opening 146 is positioned at the height of the lower surface 22 of the upper battery module 2. By sealing between the outer peripheral portion of the lower surface 22 of the upper battery module 2 and the inner side of the outer peripheral wall of the tray 11, the interior covered with the tray 11 and the cover 12 is divided into the upper chamber A and the lower chamber. It is divided into B. That is, the partition wall 145 has the function of the partition member 15, and thus the upper support member 14 also serves as the partition member 15.

  At this time, as the partition member 15, in order to improve the sealing performance by the upper support member 14 between the upper chamber A and the lower chamber B, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first seal member 151 and the second seal member 151 The sealing member 152 is further provided. The first seal member 151 is sandwiched between the edge of the opening 146 of the partition wall 145 and the outer peripheral portion of the upper surface 21 of the lower battery module 2. The second seal member 152 is installed between the inner surface of the outer peripheral wall of the tray 11 and the outer peripheral edge of the partition wall 145.

  The partition wall 145 has a bolt hole at a position corresponding to the through hole 23 of the upper battery module 2, that is, the edge of the opening 146, and a nut is attached to the lower surface of the edge. Instead of attaching a nut to a bolt hole, a screw hole may be formed directly. The battery module 2 in the upper stage is fixed to the partition wall 145 by fastening a bolt passed through the through hole 23 to a nut.

  The duct 161 passes through the partition wall 145 of the upper support member 14 functioning as the partition member 15 and communicates the upper chamber A side and the lower chamber B side. In the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an insertion hole is formed in the partition wall 145 between the portion where the upper battery module 2 and the lower battery module 2 are disposed and the outer peripheral walls of the tray 11 and the cover 12. 147 is provided, and the duct 161 is inserted into the insertion hole 147. A gap between the duct 161 and the insertion hole 147 is closed with a closing plate, a gasket, or the like. Further, the lower frame 131 is cut out in a range where it interferes with the duct 161, and a fixing bracket or the like for fixing the duct 161 is attached.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the fan 162 is installed at the end of a duct 161 that extends to the center of the lower chamber B, and passes through the upper battery module 2, the lower battery module 2, and the duct 161. The gas G of B is circulated. In this embodiment, the fan 162 is a centrifugal fan in which the rotation axis S is disposed perpendicularly to the bottom wall of the tray 11 between the partition wall of the tray 11 and the lower support member 13. The fan 162 is fixed to the bottom bracket 116 of the tray 11 with the inlet 162a facing downward. The fan 162 includes a base plate 162 b disposed so as to face the lower surface 22 of the lower battery module 2 and a shaft 162 c erected below the base plate 162 b toward the bottom wall of the tray 11. In this embodiment, the base plate 162b is disposed in parallel to the lower surface of the lower battery module 2, and the shaft 162c is disposed perpendicular to the base plate 162b.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the evaporator 163 is disposed in the middle of the duct 161 and cools the gas G flowing through the duct 161. The evaporator 163 shares the refrigerant with the air conditioner of the vehicle on which the battery pack 1 is mounted, and a pipe for circulating the refrigerant to the outside of the battery pack 1 extends. You may comprise the independent refrigerant cycle, without diverting the refrigerant | coolant of an air conditioning apparatus.

  The cooling device 16 including the duct 161, the fan 162, and the evaporator 163 circulates an internal gas G surrounded by the tray 11 and the cover 12 of the battery pack 1, thereby setting the temperature of the battery module 2 to a preset temperature. It is controlled so that it does not become above.

  The battery pack 1 configured as described above has the cooling device 16 (evaporator 163) installed at the lowest position with respect to the tray 11 to which the external bracket 112, the lower bracket 113, the intermediate bracket 114, and the bottom bracket 116 are attached. , Duct 161, fan 162). After the cooling device 16 is fixed to the bottom bracket 116 of the bottom wall, the lower frame 131 of the lower support member 13 is fixed to the lower bracket 113, and the lower battery module 2 is placed thereon and fixed with bolts. The first seal member 151 is mounted on the upper surface 21 of the lower battery module 2, and the partition wall 145 of the upper support member 14 that also serves as the partition member 15 is placed thereon and fixed to the intermediate bracket 114. The second seal member 152 is mounted on the outer periphery of the partition wall 145, the upper battery module 2 is arranged above the lower battery module 2, and is fixed to the partition wall 145 with bolts. Finally, the battery pack 1 is configured by covering the cover 12 and connecting the upper flange 121 to the lower flange 111.

  When covering the cover 12, air may be sealed as the gas G sealed in the battery pack 1, or nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, or the like may be sealed. Further, the gas G may be sealed in a pressurized manner so that the internal pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure can be maintained throughout the year so that moisture does not enter the inside of the battery pack 1. Alternatively, in order to discharge condensed water generated in the evaporator 163, the battery pack 1 may be provided with an outlet and a one-way valve to reduce the amount of water in the battery pack 1.

  The battery module 2 includes at least one temperature measurement sensor corresponding to each of the battery cells incorporated in the present embodiment. Each temperature measurement sensor is connected to the ECU that controls the battery pack 1 or the ECU of the vehicle. When the ECU detects that the temperature of the battery module 2 (or battery cell) has risen above a predetermined temperature while the battery pack 1 is being charged or discharged, the ECU 16 detects the cooling device 16. The temperature of the battery module 2 is controlled to be lower than a set value by increasing the flow rate of the gas G by starting and circulating the gas G or increasing the output of the cooling device 16.

  When the fan 162 of the cooling device 16 is driven, the gas G in the lower chamber B is sucked from the suction port 162a and discharged to the duct 161 as shown in FIG. The gas G is cooled when it passes through an evaporator 163 provided in the middle of the duct 161. The cooled gas G is further sent to the upper chamber A through the duct 161. The gas G passes through the vent hole 211 on the upper surface 21 of the upper battery module 2 disposed in the upper chamber A so as to flow into the vent hole 221 on the lower surface 22, thereby allowing the upper battery module 2 to To be cooled. The gas G that has passed through the upper battery module 2 is supplied to the lower battery module 2 through the opening 146 of the partition wall 145 that is the partition member 15. The gas G passes through the lower battery module 2 from the vent hole 211 on the upper surface 21 to the vent hole 221 on the lower surface 22, thereby cooling the battery cells built in the lower battery module 2 and flowing out to the lower chamber B. The warmed gas G is circulated again by the fan 162.

  According to this battery pack 1, the partition wall 145 serving as the partition member 15 divides the upper chamber A and the lower chamber B, and the duct 161 connected to the discharge side of the fan 162 disposed in the lower chamber B is the partition wall. Gas G is supplied to upper chamber A through 145. Therefore, since the gas G reliably circulates through the upper chamber A and the lower chamber B through the upper battery module 2 and the lower battery module 2, the battery pack 1 can be efficiently cooled.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the battery pack 1 is discharged from the lower battery module 2 immediately above the fan 162 because the suction port 162a of the fan 162, which is a centrifugal fan, faces the bottom wall of the tray 11. By sucking the gas G discharged into the lower chamber B almost uniformly without sucking the gas G preferentially, the circulation spots of the gas G can be reduced. By circulating the gas G without any spots, the temperature difference of the battery module 2 is reduced, and the performance of the battery pack 1 is improved.

  Furthermore, when this battery pack 1 is mounted in the rear part of a vehicle, it must be assumed that another vehicle collides from the rear. In particular, when a vehicle with a low front part of the vehicle body collides from behind, it is expected that the vehicle that has collided with the rear part of the vehicle body on which the battery pack 1 is mounted will sink. In the battery pack 1 of this embodiment, the inlet 162a of the fan 162 is directed downward, and the base plate 162b is positioned above the shaft 162c of the fan 162. That is, the base plate 162b is disposed between the shaft 162c and the lower surface 22 of the lower battery module 2. Therefore, even when a vehicle that has collided from behind enters the rear of the vehicle body and a collision load is applied to the battery pack 1 so as to push up the battery pack 1 from below, the lower battery module 2 is protected by the base plate 162b. The shaft 162c does not damage the battery module 2.

  The battery packs 1 of the second to seventh embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, the structure which has the same function as the battery pack 1 of 1st Embodiment attaches | subjects the same code | symbol in each embodiment, and the detailed description considers the corresponding description of 1st Embodiment. And

  A battery pack 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the battery pack 1, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled battery pack 1. The battery pack 1 of this embodiment further includes an upper frame 141 as the upper support member 14. As shown in FIG. 5, the upper frame 141 is formed in a square frame that entirely surrounds the outer periphery of the lower end of the battery module 2 disposed in the upper stage, as in the lower frame 131, and a cross section in which each side crosses in the vertical direction. In, it is L-shaped.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the upper frame 141 is joined to the opening 146 of the partition wall 145 to increase the strength of the upper support member 14. The upper frame 141 has a bolt hole that also penetrates the edge of the opening 146 of the partition wall 145 at the bottom of the position corresponding to the through hole 23 of the upper battery module 2, and a nut on the lower surface of the opening 146 of the partition 145. Is attached. Instead of attaching the nut, a screw hole may be provided directly on the bottom of the upper frame 141 and the edge of the opening 146 of the partition wall 145. By providing the upper frame 141, the battery pack 1 of the second embodiment increases the strength and rigidity of the upper support member 14, and can firmly fix the upper battery module 2. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  A battery pack 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the battery pack 1, and FIG. 8 shows the flow of the gas G with arrows in the cross-sectional view of the assembled battery pack 1. The battery pack 1 of the present embodiment is different from the battery pack 1 of the first and second embodiments in the shape of the edge of the opening 146 of the partition 145 of the upper support member 14 that also serves as the partition member 15.

  The partition wall 145 of the battery pack 1 has at least one bypass channel 148 at the edge of the opening 146 of the partition wall 145, and in the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. Each bypass flow path 148 is provided between the partition 145 of the upper support member 14 serving as the partition member 15 and the upper battery module 2, and allows the upper chamber A and the lower chamber B to communicate with each other. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the bypass channel 148 allows the upper chamber A to communicate with the gap between the upper battery module 2 and the lower battery module 2. Further, the distance from the insertion hole 147 formed in the partition wall 145 of the upper support member 14, which is the partition member 15 so that the duct 161 penetrates, to the bypass flow path 148 is from the insertion hole 147 to the center of the bottom wall of the tray 11. The at least one bypass flow path 148 is arranged so as to be longer than the distance.

  In the present embodiment, since a plurality of bypass channels 148 are provided, at least one bypass channel 148 is provided in a partition wall 145 serving as a partition member 15 so as to penetrate the duct 161 as shown in FIG. Many are arranged at positions far from the position of the insertion hole (through hole) 147. Specifically, in other words, the plurality of bypass flow paths 148 are not provided at equal intervals on the edge of the opening 146 but are arranged at a position distant from the duct 161. Instead of increasing the number of bypass channels 148, the opening area of the bypass channels 148 may be increased. The configuration other than the above is the same as the battery pack 1 of the first and second embodiments.

  According to the battery pack 1 of the third embodiment configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 8, a part of the gas G in the upper chamber A passes through the bypass channel 148 and the upper battery module 2 is passed through. Without passing, it flows into the gap between the upper battery module 2 and the lower battery module 2. A gas G having a low temperature can be provided to the lower battery module 2 by mixing a part of the gas G supplied to the lower battery module 2 with the gas G flowing directly from the upper chamber A via the bypass channel 148. . Compared to the case where only the warmed gas G is supplied after passing through the upper battery module 2, the lower temperature gas G can be supplied to the lower battery module 2, and the gas G passing through the lower battery module 2 can be supplied. Since the flow rate is increased, the cooling efficiency of the lower battery module 2 is improved. And since the temperature difference of the upper battery module 2 and the lower battery module 2 becomes small, the performance of the battery pack 1 improves. Further, the distance from the insertion hole (through hole) 147 of the upper support member 14 serving as the partition member 15 through which the duct 161 passes to at least one bypass flow path 148 is the center of the bottom wall of the tray 11 from the insertion hole 147. Since the at least one bypass flow path 148 is disposed at a position longer than the distance to the duct 161, that is, farther from the center of the bottom wall of the tray 11 than the duct 161, the temperature distribution in the battery pack 1 is increased. The bias is reduced and the performance of the battery pack 1 is stabilized.

  A battery pack 1 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the battery pack 1 shown in FIG. 9, the distance from the position of the insertion hole (through hole) 147 provided to pass the duct 161 through the partition wall 145 of the upper support member 14 also serving as the partition member 15 to the fan 162 is the insertion hole. The fan 162 is disposed so as to be longer than the distance from 147 to the center of the bottom wall of the tray 11. Therefore, the inlet 162 a of the fan 162 is disposed at a position farther from the center of the bottom wall of the tray 11 than the insertion hole 147. In the length of the circulation path from when the gas G passing through the upper battery module 2 and the lower battery module 2 is exhausted from the fan 162 to return to the fan 162 again, the position is close to the duct 161 and far from the duct 161. Since the difference is reduced, the temperature difference of the circulating gas G is reduced, and the temperature difference between the individual battery modules 2 is also reduced.

  A battery pack 1 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the battery pack 1, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled battery pack 1. FIG. 12 schematically shows transmission of an impact load when the battery pack 1 is mounted on the rear portion of the vehicle 100 and is collided with another vehicle 200 from the rear.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the battery pack 1 includes an upper and lower battery module 2, a tray 11, a cover 12, support members (lower support member 13 and upper support member 14), and a cooling device 16 (duct 161, A fan 162 and an evaporator 163). In the fifth embodiment, the upper support member 14 includes an intermediate bracket 114, a partition wall 145, and an upper frame 141. The upper support member 14 is provided so as to seal between the upper battery module 2 and the upper end of the tray 11 and also serves as the first partition member 15A. The lower support member 13 includes a load transmission partition wall 135 and a lower frame 131. The lower support member 13 is provided so as to seal between the lower battery module 2 and the outer peripheral wall of the tray 11 and also serves as the second partition member 15B.

  As described above, in the battery pack 1 of the fifth embodiment, the upper support member 14 is provided as the first partition member 15A and the lower support member 13 is provided as the second partition member 15B, whereby the tray 11 The interior surrounded by the cover 12 includes an upper chamber A above the upper support member 14, a lower chamber B below the lower support member 13, and an intermediate chamber C between the upper support member 14 and the lower support member 13. It will be divided into.

  Further, in the fifth embodiment, the load transmission partition wall 135 is disposed flat along the lower surface 22 of the lower battery module 2, and the battery module 2 so that the gas G passes through the lower battery module 2. In this embodiment, the inner portion of the lower end of the battery module 2 is surrounded by a continuous opening so that at least a range corresponding to the vent hole 221 opened on the lower surface 22 of the battery is open. Part 136. The load transmission partition wall 135 has a rim portion 135 a bent upward at the outer peripheral portion, and the rim portion 135 a is welded to the inner surface of the outer peripheral wall of the tray 11. Since the load transmission partition wall 135 is directly fixed to the tray 11, the lower support member 13 may not include the lower bracket 113.

  The lower frame 131 is welded to the edge of the opening 136 of the load transmission partition wall 135. As a result, the opening 136 is reinforced. The load transmission partition wall 135 has an insertion hole 137 through which the duct 161 passes. In the fifth embodiment, since the range other than the opening 136 and the insertion hole 137 of the load transmission partition wall 135 is closed, the load transmission partition wall 135 is between the upper surface 21 of the upper battery module 2 and the lower surface 22 of the lower battery module 2. Installed and divided into an upper chamber A and a lower chamber B inside the tray 11 and the cover 12 (in this case, the upper chamber A is partitioned by the upper support member 14 (the first partition member 15A, It has a high sealing function as the second partition member 15B (divided into the intermediate chamber C and the lower chamber B.) Since the load transmitting partition wall 135 functions as the second partition member 15B, the sealing performance is ensured. It is not necessary to ensure high sealing performance for the upper support member 14 that becomes the first partition member 15 A. Therefore, between the lower battery module 2 and the partition wall 145 of the upper support member 14. The first seal member 151 may not be provided, and the second seal member 152 may not be provided between the outer periphery of the partition wall 145 and the inner surface of the outer peripheral wall of the tray 11. Also, the opening of the partition wall 145 may be omitted. You may provide the bypass flow path which has an effect similar to 3rd Embodiment in the edge of 146. FIG.

  In the battery pack 1 of the fifth embodiment configured as described above, after the load transmission partition wall 135, the intermediate bracket 114, the bottom bracket 116, and the lower frame 131 are joined to the tray 11 by spot welding or the like, the cooling device 16 ( An evaporator 163, a duct 161 and a fan 162) are incorporated. After the lower frame 131 is joined to the load transmission partition wall 135 by spot welding or the like, the load transmission partition wall 135 may be welded to the tray 11, or after the load transmission partition wall 135 is welded to the tray 11, the lower frame 131 is loaded. You may join to the transmission partition 135. FIG. The lower battery module 2 is placed on the lower frame 131 of the lower support member 13 and is fixed to the through hole 23 with a bolt. A partition wall 145 to which the upper frame 141 is joined as the upper support member 14 is fixed to the intermediate bracket 114. The upper battery module 2 is placed on the upper frame 141 of the upper support member 14 and is fixed to the through hole 23 with bolts. Finally, the cover 12 is covered and the upper flange 121 is fastened to the lower flange 111 with bolts.

  When the gas G is sucked from the inlet 162 a of the fan 162 in the lower chamber B, the gas G is supplied to the upper chamber A through the duct 161. The gas G in the upper chamber A passes through the upper battery module 2 and the lower battery module 2 and flows out into the lower chamber B. The gas G is again collected by the fan 162 and circulated inside the battery pack 1.

  Since the battery pack 1 of the fifth embodiment includes the partition wall 145 of the upper support member 14 serving as the partition member as the first partition member 15A as in the battery pack 1 of the second to fourth embodiments, The gas G inside the battery pack 1 is circulated efficiently, and the upper battery module 2 and the lower battery module 2 can be efficiently cooled.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the battery pack 1 includes the load transmission partition wall 135 of the lower support member 13 serving as a partition member as the second partition member 15B. As shown in FIG. 12, when the battery pack 1 is mounted on the rear portion of the vehicle 100 and is impacted by another vehicle 200 from the rear, an impact load is applied to the battery pack 1. It is transmitted along the partition wall 135 to the outer peripheral wall on the opposite side, that is, the front side of the tray 11. Since the impact load input from the rear is transmitted to the front side along the load transmission partition wall 135, it is possible to prevent the tray 11 in the portion receiving the collision load from being locally deformed. Since the deformation of the tray 11 is suppressed, the battery module 2 built in the battery pack 1 is not damaged.

  A battery pack 1 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this battery pack 1, unlike the battery pack 1 of the third embodiment, a part of the cold gas G supplied to the upper chamber A by the fan 162 is transferred to the lower battery module 2 without going through the upper battery module 2. In order to supply directly, the partition 145 is provided with a bypass channel 148. The bypass flow path 148 is a hole that communicates the upper chamber A with the intermediate chamber C formed between the partition wall 145 that is the first partition member 15A and the load transmission partition wall 135 that is the second partition member 15B. The distance from the position of the insertion hole (through hole) 147 provided in the upper support member 14 for passing the duct 161 to the bypass flow path 148 is greater than the distance from the position of the insertion hole 147 to the center of the bottom wall of the tray 11. Also long. That is, the bypass flow path 148 is disposed farther from the center of the bottom of the tray 11 than the duct 161, in the present embodiment, on the opposite side with the upper battery module 2 interposed therebetween.

  A plurality of bypass channels 148 may be provided as in the third embodiment. In this case, if the gas G is discharged from the upper battery module 2 to the intermediate chamber C and mixed with the gas G flowing into the intermediate chamber C via the bypass flow path 148 if it is disposed at a position far from the duct 161. When this happens, the temperature distribution is less likely to be uneven. A gas G having a temperature lower than that of the gas G supplied via the upper battery module 2 can be supplied to the lower battery module 2 via the intermediate chamber C, and the gas supplied to the lower battery module 2 Since the flow rate of G increases, the cooling efficiency of the lower battery module 2 is improved. As a result, the temperature difference between the upper battery module 2 and the lower battery module 2 can be reduced, and the performance of the battery pack 1 is stabilized.

  In order to directly supply the cold gas G to the lower battery module 2, a branch hole is provided in the duct 161 passing through the intermediate chamber C between the load transmitting partition wall 135 and the partition wall 145 instead of providing the bypass flow path 148. The gas G may be supplied to the intermediate chamber C. The flow rate of the gas G to be supplied to the upper battery module 2 is considered in the size and shape of the branch holes.

  A battery pack 1 according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. The battery pack 1 shown in FIG. 14 is mounted on the rear part of the vehicle 100. FIG. 14A shows a state immediately before the vehicle 100 in which the battery pack 1 is mounted enters another vehicle 200 beyond the rear bumper by a rear-end collision and comes into contact with the battery pack 1. FIG. 14B shows a state in which the battery pack 1 of FIG. 14A is viewed from the rear.

  In the seventh embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14A, the fan 162 of the cooling device 16 is arranged to be biased forward while the battery pack 1 is mounted on the vehicle 100. Further, the tray 11 has an inclined portion 117 on the bottom wall where a rear portion of the fan 162 is raised toward the rear portion. The battery pack 1 is fixed to the side member 101 of the vehicle 100 by external brackets 112 attached to the left and right sides of the tray 11 as shown in FIG. Further, the floor pan 102 of the vehicle 100 covers the battery pack 1 with a gap.

  FIG. 15 shows a state in which another vehicle 200 has collided from the rear with respect to the battery pack 1 configured as described above. FIG. 15A shows a state where the vehicle 200 further intrudes from the state of FIG. FIG. 15B shows a state in which the battery pack 1 of FIG. 15A is viewed from the rear. As shown in FIG. 15A, since the battery pack 1 of the seventh embodiment has the inclined portion 117, the other vehicle 200 that has entered from behind is deflected downward and the vehicle 200 hits directly. Escape. At this time, as shown in FIG. 15A, although the tray 11 is slightly deformed, the external bracket 112 is mainly deformed, and the battery pack 1 is relatively displaced upward. Since there is a floor pan 102 of the vehicle 100 above the battery pack 1, when the cover 12 of the battery pack 1 contacts the floor pan 102 as shown in FIG. Stop. As described above, the battery pack 1 has the inclined portion 117, so that the impact applied to the battery pack 1 is prevented and the internal battery module 2 is prevented from being damaged.

  Further, the cooling device 16 in the battery pack 1 of the seventh embodiment is the same as the cooling device 16 of the battery pack 1 of the first to sixth embodiments, and is a centrifugal in which the inlet 162a of the fan 162 is directed downward. It is a fan and has a base plate 162b between the lower surface 22 of the lower battery module 2 and the shaft 162c. Therefore, even if the bottom wall of the tray 11 is deformed upward due to a collision from the rear, the shaft 162c of the fan 162 does not hit the lower battery module 2.

  As mentioned above, although the 1st-7th embodiment was shown about the battery pack 1 of this invention, it has shown as an example and is not intending to be limited to these embodiments. These embodiments can be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the components of the battery pack 1 of the first to seventh embodiments can be rearranged with each other or added to other embodiments. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  Further, in the first to seventh embodiments, the evaporator 163 is adopted as the temperature controller, but the temperature controller may be an electric heater instead of the evaporator 163, or the evaporator 163 and the electric heater You may have both. By providing the electric heater, heating can be performed when the temperature of the battery pack 1 is lower than the appropriate temperature range in a cold district or the like. Even when the evaporator 163 is not provided, the heat of the battery module 2 is transferred from the outer surface of the tray 11 and the cover 12 to the air flowing outside by circulating the gas inside the battery pack 1 and is radiated. The

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Battery pack, 2 ... Battery module, 11 ... Tray, 111 ... Lower flange, 113 ... Lower bracket (lower support member), 114 ... Middle bracket (upper support member), 117 ... Inclined part, 12 ... Cover, 121 ... Upper flange, 13 ... lower support member, 131 ... lower frame, 135 ... load transmission partition, 14 ... upper support member, 141 ... upper frame, 145 ... partition, 148 ... bypass channel, 15 ... partition member, 151 ... first 152 ... second seal member, 161 ... duct, 162 ... fan, 163 ... evaporator (temperature controller), A ... upper chamber, B ... lower chamber, G ... gas, S ... rotary shaft.

Claims (11)

A plurality of battery modules;
A tray covering the lower side of the battery module;
A cover that covers the battery module and is coupled to the tray;
A support member fixed to the inner wall of the tray and supporting the battery module;
A base plate disposed to face the lower surface of the battery module; and a shaft erected on the base plate toward a bottom wall of the tray, and the tray and the tray from an inlet provided facing the bottom wall A fan that sucks the gas inside covered by the cover;
A duct connected to the discharge side of the fan and supplying the gas discharged from the fan to the battery module ,
The fan, battery pack, characterized in Rukoto by circulating the gas inside covered with said tray and said cover through said duct. The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature controller that adjusts the temperature of the gas circulated by the fan. The plurality of battery modules are arranged to be stacked in at least two stages of an upper stage and a lower stage,
The support member includes an upper support member that is installed between the lower battery module and the upper battery module and supports the upper battery module; and a lower support member that supports the lower battery module. Have
Further comprising a partition member dividing the interior covered with said tray and said cover is provided between the upper surface of the battery module of the upper to the lower surface of the battery module in the lower part to the upper chamber and the lower chamber,
The duct communicates the upper chamber side and the lower chamber side through a through hole formed in the partition member,
3. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the fan is connected to the duct extending to the lower chamber, and circulates gas in the upper chamber and the lower chamber through the duct. pack. 4. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein the upper support member also serves as the partition member by sealing between the outer peripheral portion of the lower surface of the upper battery module and the inner wall of the tray. 5. . The battery pack according to claim 4, further comprising a sealing member that closes a gap between the partition member and an outer peripheral edge of an upper part of the lower battery module. 6. The battery according to claim 3, wherein a distance from the through hole to the fan is longer than a distance from the through hole to a center of a bottom wall of the tray. pack. A bypass channel that communicates the upper chamber and the lower chamber is provided between the partition member and the upper battery module, and a distance from the through hole to the bypass channel is determined from the through hole to the tray. 6. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein the battery pack is longer than a distance to the center of the bottom wall. 4. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein the lower support member also serves as the partition member by sealing between the outer peripheral portion of the lower surface of the lower battery module and the inner wall of the tray. 5. . The battery pack according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the upper support member includes an upper frame that supports an outer periphery of a lower end of the battery module in the upper stage. The said lower stage support member contains the lower stage frame which supports the outer periphery of the lower end of the battery module of the lower stage, and the lower bracket which fixes the said lower stage frame to the inner wall of the said tray. 10. The battery pack described in any one of 9 above. When mounted on a vehicle,
The fan is arranged biased to the front side of the vehicle,
11. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the tray has an inclined portion that rises toward the rear of the vehicle on the bottom wall. 11.

Images