JP2009274656A - Electric vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric vehicle in which when a battery controller is arranged outside a vehicle room, the layout flexibility of the battery controller is high and the internal pressure of a battery controller accommodating case for accommodating the battery controller can be assuredly adjusted. <P>SOLUTION: The electric vehicle 1 includes a battery 41, a battery box 42 arranged outside the vehicle room to accommodate the battery 41, a piping 51 arranged outside the vehicle room and having an air inlet port 512 in an upper part and a temperature adjusting device 50 for introducing air to the battery box 42 through the piping 51 from the air inlet port 512 to adjust the temperature of the battery 41. A vent pipe 90 is further provided which extends from at least one accommodating case of the battery controller 61, a fan controller 541, a battery contactor 71 and an equalizing circuit 81 and is connected to the piping 51 through a filter 91. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electric vehicle in which a battery and a control device that controls the battery are arranged outside the vehicle compartment.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electric vehicle including a drive motor that drives wheels, a battery that supplies electric power to the drive motor, and a control device that controls the battery is known.
In this electric vehicle, it has been proposed to arrange a battery outside the vehicle compartment in order to secure a wide space in the vehicle cabin and improve the safety of the vehicle occupant (see, for example, Patent Document 1). . In such an electric vehicle, a battery control device for controlling the battery is also disposed outside the vehicle compartment along with the battery.

  According to the electric vehicle proposed in Patent Document 1, since the battery control device is disposed outside the vehicle compartment together with the battery, a connection harness that connects the battery and the battery control device can be configured to be short. As a result, noise generated in the connection harness can be reduced.

By the way, when an electric device such as a battery control device is arranged outside the passenger compartment, for example, the electric device is stored in a storage case dedicated to the electric device to prevent moisture from adhering to the electric device, and in the storage case. Ventilation holes are provided to suppress fluctuations in the internal pressure of the storage case due to changes in the outside air temperature. Further, a filter that allows air to pass but not moisture is attached to the vent to prevent water from entering the storage case.
JP 2004-127747 A

  However, in the above method, if dust adheres to the surface of the filter or moisture adheres to the filter, the air flow through the vent is hindered, and the internal pressure of the electrical device storage case cannot be adjusted. There was a problem.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to arrange a storage case in a dust-free position outside the vehicle compartment or above the vehicle interior, or connect a ventilation pipe to the storage case and arrange the tip of this ventilation pipe above the vehicle interior. In this case, however, there is a problem that the layout of the electric device is deteriorated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electric vehicle having a high degree of freedom in layout of the electric device when the electric device is arranged outside the passenger compartment, and capable of reliably adjusting the internal pressure of a storage case for storing the electric device. And

  An electric vehicle (for example, a fuel cell vehicle 1 described later) of the present invention includes a battery (for example, a battery 41 described later) and a battery box (for example, a battery box 42 described later) that is disposed outside the vehicle compartment and stores the battery. And a pipe (for example, a later-described intake pipe 51) provided outside the passenger compartment and provided with an intake port (for example, a later-described intake port 512) on the upper side, and from the intake port to the battery box through the pipe. An electric vehicle including a temperature adjusting device (for example, a temperature adjusting device 50 described later) that introduces air to adjust the temperature of the battery, and a battery control device (for example, a battery control device 61 described later), Fan control device (for example, fan control device 541 described later), battery contactor (for example, battery contactor 71 described later), and equalization It extends from at least one storage case (for example, a battery control device storage case 62, a fan control device storage case 542, an equalization circuit storage case 82, and a contactor box 72, which will be described later) among the paths (for example, an equalization circuit 81 described later). And a ventilation pipe (for example, a later-described ventilation pipe 90) connected to the pipe via a filter (for example, a later-described filter 91).

According to this invention, the piping for introducing air into the battery box and at least one of the storage cases of the electric devices such as the battery control device, the fan control device, the battery contactor, and the equalization circuit are ventilated through the filter. Connected with a pipe. Therefore, air can be circulated into the storage case of the electrical device through the ventilation pipe and the piping, and the internal pressure of the storage case of the electrical device can be reliably adjusted.
Further, since the vent pipe is connected to the pipe, the same effect as that obtained by extending the vent pipe to the height of the intake port of the pipe located above can be obtained.
In addition, even if the electrical device is placed in a position where it can easily be submerged, such as below the outside of the passenger compartment, the internal pressure of the storage case of the electrical device can be adjusted through the ventilation pipe and piping, so the layout of the electrical device is not limited, and the electrical device The degree of freedom of layout is improved.

  In this case, the filter is preferably made of a fine porous material.

  The microporous material has a property of allowing air to pass but not allowing water to pass. Therefore, according to the present invention, since the filter is formed of a fine porous material, air can be circulated while preventing water from entering the inside of the storage case of the electrical device from the ventilation pipe. Therefore, the waterproofness of the storage case of the electrical device can be improved.

  In this case, it is preferable that a part of the piping protrudes outward, and the ventilation pipe is connected to the protruding portion (for example, protrusions 513 and 513A described later).

  According to this invention, a part of the piping is protruded outward, and the ventilation pipe is connected to the protruding part. As a result, the connection portion between the ventilation pipe and the piping does not become an obstacle to the flow of air from the air inlet to the battery box, so that this connection portion does not cause a pressure loss and the air inside the piping can be circulated efficiently. it can.

  In this case, it is preferable that the protruding portion is an upper portion of the pipe.

When foreign matter such as dust, dust, moisture, etc. enters the inside of the pipe, the foreign matter tends to accumulate on the lower side of the pipe.
So, according to this invention, the upper part of piping was made to protrude outward. Thereby, even if a foreign substance enters the inside of the pipe, the foreign substance can be prevented from adhering to the filter.

  In this case, it is preferable that the protruding portion has a chamber shape.

  According to the present invention, the protruding portion has a chamber shape. As a result, even when the pipe is submerged and water enters the inside of the pipe, an air pool is formed in the protruding portion, so that this water can be prevented from reaching the storage case of the electric device, The internal pressure of the electrical device storage case can be effectively adjusted.

  In this case, it is preferable that the part connected to the said piping of the said ventilation pipe is opened toward the downstream of the said piping.

Inside the piping, air flows from the intake port toward the battery box. When dust or moisture enters the piping, the dust or moisture moves toward the battery box together with the air.
So, according to this invention, the part connected to piping of a ventilation pipe was opened toward the downstream of piping. Therefore, it is possible to prevent dust and moisture entering the inside of the pipe from reaching the filter, and to effectively prevent dust and moisture from adhering to the filter.

  In this case, it is preferable that the ventilation pipe passes through two or more of the storage cases.

  According to this invention, since the ventilation pipe is routed through the storage cases of two or more electrical devices, the internal pressure of the storage cases of these two or more electrical devices can be adjusted.

According to the present invention, the piping for introducing air into the battery box and at least one of the storage cases of the electric devices such as the battery control device, the fan control device, the battery contactor, and the equalization circuit are connected via the filter. Connected with a vent pipe. Therefore, air can be circulated into the storage case of the electrical device through the ventilation pipe and the piping, and the internal pressure of the storage case of the electrical device can be reliably adjusted. Further, since the vent pipe is connected to the pipe, the same effect as that obtained by extending the vent pipe to the height of the intake port of the pipe located above can be obtained.
In addition, even if the electrical device is placed in a position where it can easily be submerged, such as below the outside of the passenger compartment, the internal pressure of the storage case of the electrical device can be adjusted through the ventilation pipe and piping, so the layout of the electrical device is not limited, and the electrical device The degree of freedom of layout is improved.

Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a fuel cell vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the electric vehicle of the present invention.
The fuel cell vehicle 1 includes a fuel cell 10, a battery system 20 disposed behind the fuel cell 10, and a hydrogen tank 30 that is disposed behind the battery system 20 and stores hydrogen gas supplied to the fuel cell 10. Prepare.

The fuel cell 10, the battery system 20, and the hydrogen tank 30 are provided below the floor panel 11 that is the floor of the passenger compartment of the fuel cell vehicle 1, that is, outside the passenger compartment.
In addition, the bottom side of each of the fuel cell 10, the battery system 20, and the hydrogen tank 30 is covered with an under cover 12 provided below the floor panel 11.

The fuel cell 10 has a stack structure in which, for example, several tens to several hundreds of cells are stacked. Each cell is configured by sandwiching a membrane electrode structure (MEA) between a pair of separators. The membrane electrode structure is composed of two electrodes, an anode electrode (anode) and a cathode electrode (cathode), and a solid polymer electrolyte membrane sandwiched between these electrodes. Usually, both electrodes are formed of a catalyst layer that performs an oxidation / reduction reaction in contact with the solid polymer electrolyte membrane and a gas diffusion layer in contact with the catalyst layer.
The fuel cell 10 is supplied with hydrogen gas from the hydrogen tank 30 on the anode electrode (anode) side and air containing oxygen on the cathode electrode (cathode) side by a reaction gas supply device (not shown). Then, the fuel cell 10 generates power by an electrochemical reaction. The electric power generated by the fuel cell 10 is supplied to a drive motor (not shown).

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the battery system 20, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the battery system 20.
The battery system 20 includes a box-shaped battery unit 40, a battery control unit 60 provided on the upper surface of the battery unit 40, a contactor unit 70 provided on the rear surface of the battery unit 40, and a contactor on the rear surface of the battery unit 40. An equalization circuit unit 80 provided adjacent to the unit 70 and a temperature adjustment device 50 provided from the side surface to the rear surface of the battery unit 40 for adjusting the temperature of the battery unit 40 are provided.

The battery unit 40 includes a battery 41 and a box-shaped battery box 42 that houses the battery 41.
The battery 41 includes a plurality of battery cells (not shown), and stores power generated by the fuel cell 10, regenerative power from a drive motor (not shown) during deceleration, and the like. Further, the electric power stored in the battery 41 is appropriately supplied to the drive motor according to the operating state.

The battery control unit 60 includes a battery control device 61 and a box-shaped battery control device storage case 62 that stores the battery control device 61.
The battery control device 61 detects the temperature and voltage of the battery 41 and controls the battery 41. The battery control device 61 and the battery 41 are connected by a connection harness (not shown).

The contactor unit 70 includes a battery contactor 71 and a box-shaped contactor box 72 that houses the battery contactor 71.
The battery contactor 71 electrically connects and disconnects the battery 41 and an electric load such as a drive motor and accessories not shown.

The equalization circuit unit 80 includes an equalization circuit 81 and a box-shaped equalization circuit storage case 82 that stores the equalization circuit 81.
For example, the equalization circuit 81 discharges the battery 41 and eliminates the variation in the battery capacity of each of the plurality of battery cells constituting the battery 41.

  The temperature adjustment device 50 is disposed inside the exhaust pipe 52, an intake pipe 51 extending from the side surface of the battery unit 40 and extending upward of the battery unit 40, an exhaust pipe 52 extending rearward from the side surface of the battery unit 40. And a fan control unit 54 provided on the side surface of the exhaust pipe 52.

The intake pipe 51 includes an intake chamber 511 provided on the rear surface of the battery unit 40 and extending upward, and intake pipe bodies 510A and 510B extending from both side surfaces of the battery unit 40 and connected to the intake chamber 511.
An intake port 512 that opens rearward is formed on the upper end side of the intake chamber 511. The intake port 512 is located above the battery control unit 60.

  The battery fan 53 introduces air into the battery box 42 through the intake pipe 51 and exhausts air introduced into the battery box 42 through the exhaust pipe 52.

The fan control unit 54 includes a fan control device 541 and a fan control device storage case 542 that stores the fan control device 541.
The fan control device 541 controls the battery fan 53 according to the temperature of the battery 41.

  Further, the battery control device storage case 62 of the battery control unit 60, the fan control device storage case 542 of the fan control unit 54, the contactor box 72 of the contactor unit 70, the equalization circuit storage case 82 of the equalization circuit unit 80, and The intake pipe 51 of the temperature adjusting device 50 is connected by a ventilation pipe 90. That is, the ventilation pipe 90 extends from the battery control device storage case 62 and is connected to the intake pipe 51 via the filter 91 via the fan control device storage case 542, the contactor box 72, and the equalization circuit storage case 82. The

4 and 5 are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing a connection portion between the intake pipe 51 and the ventilation pipe 90. FIG.
In the intake pipe main body 510A of the intake pipe 51, a part of the intake pipe main body 510A protrudes outward to form a protruding portion 513. Specifically, the protruding portion 513 is formed so that the upper side of the intake pipe main body 510A protrudes, and the protruding amount becomes smaller from the intake chamber 511 side toward the battery unit 40 side.

  A ventilation pipe 90 is connected to a side surface of the protruding portion 513 on the intake chamber 511 side via a filter 91. Thereby, the front-end | tip of the ventilation pipe 90 opens toward the battery unit 40 side.

Specifically, a joint 516 is attached to the tip of the ventilation pipe 90, and the ventilation pipe 90 is connected to the projection 513 by screwing the joint 516 to the projection 513.
The joint 516 has a tubular joint body 514 having a proximal end connected to the ventilation pipe 90 and a recess formed on the distal end side, and a filter 91 attached to the distal end side, and is fitted into the recess of the joint body 514. A cylindrical jig 515.
The filter 91 is formed of a fine porous material having a property of allowing air to pass but not allowing water to pass.

The above temperature adjusting device 50 operates, for example, as follows.
When the temperature of the battery 41 rises, the fan control device 541 detects the temperature rise of the battery 41 and drives the battery fan 53. Then, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 3, air is introduced into the intake chamber 511 from the intake port 512 of the intake pipe 51, and the introduced air is divided into two and passes through the intake pipe main bodies 510A and 510B. The battery box 42 is reached. Thereafter, the air reaching the battery box 42 is discharged to the outside through the exhaust pipe 52. In this way, the battery 41 is cooled.

  Further, air flows through the ventilation pipe 90 and the intake pipe 51, and the internal pressures of the battery control device storage case 62, the fan control device storage case 542, the contactor box 72, and the equalization circuit storage case 82 are adjusted.

According to the fuel cell vehicle 1 of the present embodiment, the following effects are obtained.
(1) Since the intake pipe 51 for introducing air into the battery box 42 and the battery control device storage case 62 are connected by the ventilation pipe 90 through the filter 91, the battery control is performed through the ventilation pipe 90 and the intake pipe 51. Air can be circulated inside the device storage case 62, and the internal pressure of the battery control device storage case 62 can be reliably adjusted.

  (2) Since the ventilation pipe 90 is connected to the intake pipe 51, the same effect as that of extending the ventilation pipe 90 to the height of the intake port 512 of the intake pipe 51 located above the battery control device 61 is obtained. can get.

  (3) Even if the battery control device 61 is disposed at a position that is easily submerged, such as below the outside of the passenger compartment, the internal pressure of the battery control device storage case 62 can be adjusted through the ventilation pipe 90 and the intake pipe 51. The layout of the battery control device 61 is improved.

  (4) Since the filter 91 is formed of a fine porous material, air can be circulated while preventing water from entering the battery control device storage case 62 from the ventilation pipe 90. Therefore, the waterproofness of the battery control device storage case 62 can be improved.

  (5) A part of the intake pipe 51 is protruded outward to form a protrusion 513, and the ventilation pipe 90 is connected to the protrusion 513. Thereby, the connection portion between the ventilation pipe 90 and the intake pipe 51 does not become an obstacle to the flow of air from the intake port 512 to the battery box 42, so this connection portion does not cause a pressure loss, and the air inside the intake pipe 51 Can be distributed efficiently.

  (6) When foreign matters such as dust, dust, and moisture enter the inside of the intake pipe 51, the foreign matters are likely to collect below the intake pipe 51. Therefore, since the protruding portion 513 is formed with the upper portion of the intake pipe 51 protruding outward, even if a foreign object enters the inside of the intake pipe 51, the foreign object adheres to the filter 91. Can be prevented.

  (7) Since air flows from the intake port 512 toward the battery box 42 inside the intake pipe 51, when dust or moisture enters the inside of the intake pipe 51, these dust and moisture together with the air enter the battery box 42. Move towards. Therefore, the portion of the ventilation pipe 90 that is connected to the intake pipe 51 is opened toward the downstream side of the intake pipe 51, so that dust and moisture that have entered the intake pipe 51 are prevented from reaching the filter 91. It is possible to effectively suppress the dust and moisture from adhering to the filter 91.

  (8) The temperature adjusting device 50 includes the battery fan 53, the fan control device 541, and the fan control device storage case 542, and the ventilation pipe 90 is routed through the fan control device storage case 542. The internal pressure of the fan control device storage case 542 can be adjusted by the pipe 90.

  (9) Since the battery contactor 71 and the contactor box 72 are provided and the ventilation pipe 90 is routed through the contactor box 72, the internal pressure of the contactor box 72 can also be adjusted by the ventilation pipe 90.

  (10) Since the equalization circuit 81 and the equalization circuit storage case 82 are provided and the ventilation pipe 90 is routed through the equalization circuit storage case 82, the internal pressure of the equalization circuit storage case 82 can be adjusted by the ventilation pipe 90. .

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes modifications and improvements as long as the object of the present invention can be achieved.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the protruding portion 513 has a shape in which the protruding amount decreases from the intake chamber 511 side toward the battery unit 40 side, but is not limited thereto. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the protruding portion 513A includes a box-shaped chamber 517 and a ventilation pipe 518 connecting the chamber 517 and the intake pipe main body 510A. Then, the inner diameter of the ventilation pipe 518 may be made smaller than the inner diameter of the chamber 517, and the protruding portion 513A may have a chamber shape.

In this way, in addition to the effects (1) to (10) described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(11) Since the protruding portion has a chamber shape, even when the intake pipe 51 is submerged and water enters the inside of the intake pipe 51, an air pocket is formed in the protruding portion 513A. Therefore, the water that has entered the inside of the intake pipe 51 can be prevented from reaching the battery control device storage case 62, and the internal pressure of the battery control device storage case 62 can be effectively adjusted.

  In the present embodiment, the ventilation pipe 518 is connected to all of the battery control device storage case 62, the fan control device storage case 542, the equalization circuit storage case 82, and the contactor box 72, but this is not restrictive. That is, the ventilation pipe may be connected only to any one of the storage case and the contactor box.

1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a fuel cell vehicle according to an embodiment of an electric vehicle of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the battery system which concerns on the said embodiment. It is a top view which shows the battery system which concerns on the said embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the connection part of the intake piping and ventilation pipe which concern on the said embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the connection part of the intake piping and ventilation pipe which concern on the said embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the connection part of the intake piping and ventilation pipe of the modification of the said embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Fuel cell vehicle (electric vehicle)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fuel cell 20 Battery system 41 Battery 42 Battery box 50 Temperature control apparatus 51 Intake piping (pipe)
53 Battery Fan 61 Battery Control Device 62 Battery Control Device Storage Case 71 Battery Contactor 72 Contactor Box 81 Equalization Circuit 82 Equalization Circuit Storage Case 90 Ventilation Pipe 91 Filter 512 Inlet 513 Protruding Portion (Protruding Portion)
541 Fan control device 542 Fan control device storage case

Claims (7)

Battery,
A battery box arranged outside the passenger compartment to store the battery;
A temperature adjusting device that is arranged outside the passenger compartment and includes a pipe provided with an intake port on the upper side, and that introduces air into the battery box from the intake port through the pipe to adjust the temperature of the battery. An electric vehicle,
An electric vehicle further comprising a ventilation pipe extending from at least one storage case among the battery control device, the fan control device, the battery contactor, and the equalization circuit and connected to the pipe via a filter.   The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the filter is made of a fine porous material. A part of the piping protrudes outward,
The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation pipe is connected to the protruding portion.   The electric vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the protruding portion is an upper portion of the pipe.   The electric vehicle according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the protruding portion has a chamber shape.   The electric vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a portion of the ventilation pipe connected to the piping is opened toward a downstream side of the piping.   The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation pipe passes through two or more of the storage cases.

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