JP2010009809A - Power supply device, and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power supply device capable of avoiding adverse effects due to collision or the like of power supply parts when external force is applied to the adjacent power supply parts. <P>SOLUTION: The power supply device 1 is characterized in that it is equipped with a plurality of the power supply parts 11 including at least one power supply element 12 and arranged in a predetermined direction, and guide members 31, 32 connected between the plurality of power supply parts 11 adjacent in the predetermined direction, guiding air flowing between the plurality of power supply parts 11, and with at least one part formed in a structure easily deformed by external force. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a power supply device.

  Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, in a power storage device such as a secondary battery or an electric double layer capacitor (capacitor) and a power supply device such as a fuel cell, a plurality of power supply units are arranged in a predetermined direction, and an upper case and a lower case What is accommodated in the case comprised is known. The power supply unit is configured by laminating a plurality of power supply elements, and is fixed to the lower case by a fastening member such as a bolt. The power supply device is also mounted on the vehicle by being fixed to the vehicle body body by a fastening member such as a bolt.

  10 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional battery pack, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack shown in FIG. 10 cut along the ZY plane in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the battery pack 100 includes a lower case 101 and an upper case 102, and a power supply unit (power supply assembly) 103 in which a plurality of power supply elements 111 are stacked. The power supply unit 103 is fastened and fixed by a lower case 101 and a bolt 105, and the lower case 101 and the upper case 102 are fastened and fixed by a bolt (not shown).

JP 2006-024510 A JP 2005-183217 A JP 2004-058697 A JP 2003-045392 A

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the conventional power supply apparatus, when a plurality (two in this case) of power supply units are arranged in a predetermined direction, the power supply units are arranged at a predetermined distance.

  However, when an external force is applied due to a vehicle collision or the like, a member to which the power supply unit is fixed or the power supply unit itself may be deformed, and adjacent power supply units may contact or collide with each other. The power supply elements that make up the power supply unit are equipped with electrode terminals for charging and discharging, and in some cases, the electrolyte solution may be contained. I want to avoid.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a power supply device that can avoid the occurrence of adverse effects due to collision between power supply units when an external force is applied to adjacent power supply units. The purpose is to provide.

  A power supply device according to one aspect of the present invention is a power supply unit including at least one power supply element, and is connected between a plurality of power supply units arranged in a predetermined direction and a plurality of power supply units adjacent in the predetermined direction, A guide member is provided that guides air flowing between the plurality of power supply units, and at least a part of which is easily deformed by an external force. By doing in this way, even when an external force that causes the power supply units arranged adjacent to each other to contact or collide with each other works, the power supply unit is provided by interposing the easily deformable guide member between the power supply units. The impact to the can be reduced. Further, by interposing a guide member that is deformed due to an external force between the power supply units, it is possible to prevent the power supply units from directly contacting each other. Further, by adopting a configuration in which the impact caused by contact or collision between adjacent power supply units is reduced by the guide member that guides the air flowing between the power supply units, the guide member can also be used, and the number of parts can be reduced. This can contribute to miniaturization of the power supply device.

  The guide member may be formed in a structure that is deformed so as to be sandwiched between a plurality of power supply units adjacent in the predetermined direction when the guide member is deformed. By adopting such a configuration, when an external force that causes the power supply units to contact or collide with each other is applied, the guide member can be surely inserted between the power supply units. Prevention and mitigation of impact at the time of collision can be realized with high reliability.

  Further, the power supply unit has an electrode terminal, and the guide member is formed to be deformed so as to be sandwiched between a plurality of electrode terminals adjacent in a predetermined direction when the guide member is deformed. It may be. By adopting such a configuration, when an external force that causes the power supply units to contact or collide with each other is applied, the guide member can be surely inserted between the electrode terminals, and the contact between the electrode terminals by the guide member Prevention and mitigation of impact at the time of collision can be realized with high reliability.

  Furthermore, the guide member may be connected to a plurality of adjacent power supply units in a state where the guide member is inclined in advance in a direction to be deformed. According to this, it is possible to stably control the deformation direction of the guide member when an external force that causes the power supply units to contact or collide with each other is applied.

  Furthermore, at least a part of the second region other than the first region, which is formed in a structure that is easily deformed, is formed in a structure in which the guide member is less deformable than the first region. It can also be. In this way, when an external force that causes the power supply units to contact or collide with each other is applied, the guide member can be bent at an arbitrary position and the guide member can be deformed into an arbitrary shape. In particular, it is possible to protect the vicinity of a portion to be protected by a bent guide member. Here, as “a structure that is difficult to deform”, for example, in the arrangement direction of the power supply units, a range from the connection portion of the guide member to the power supply unit to the first region (the first region is adjacent). In the case of providing a plurality, a structure in which at least a part of the range between the first regions is reinforced with ribs, or a rib extending in the vertical plane direction including the arrangement direction of the power supply units is guided. The structure etc. which reinforced the member are mentioned.

  Furthermore, the guide member is formed so that the thickness of the first region formed in the structure that is easily deformed is thinner than the thickness of the second region other than the first region. May be. In this way, when an external force that causes the power supply units to contact or collide with each other is applied, by deliberately reducing the strength of the portion to be bent, it can be deformed around such a low strength portion. It is possible to control the deformation of the guide member.

  Furthermore, the guide member may be electrically insulating. According to such a configuration, even when adjacent power supply units are brought close to each other by an external force, it is possible to prevent the two from acting electrically (such as a short circuit between the power supply units).

  According to the present invention, when an external force is applied to adjacent power supply units, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of adverse effects due to collisions between the power supply units.

  Examples of the present invention will be described below.

Example 1
First, a power supply device that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. Here, in this embodiment, as an example of a power supply device, a battery pack in which a stack 11 (corresponding to a power supply unit) configured by stacking power storage elements (hereinafter referred to as battery cells, which are referred to as battery cells) 12 is housed. 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack 1 as a power supply device, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack 1 cut along a ZY plane in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a guide member disposed in the battery pack according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the battery pack 1 when adjacent stacks approach each other.

  If the three axes orthogonal to each other are the X axis, the Y axis, and the Z axis, respectively, in this specification, as shown in FIG. 1, the stacking direction of the battery cells 12 is the X axis direction, and the width direction perpendicular to the X axis. The left-right direction (corresponding to a predetermined direction when viewed in the stacking direction) is the Y-axis direction, and the height direction perpendicular to the X-axis (up-down direction when viewed in the stacking direction) is the Z-axis direction.

  The power supply device according to this embodiment is mounted on a vehicle, for example, and has a function of outputting energy used for driving the vehicle or storing kinetic energy generated during braking of the vehicle as regenerative power. Yes. In addition, the power supply apparatus according to the present embodiment can be charged by receiving power supplied from the outside of the vehicle. Here, the power supply device has a configuration in which the temperature can be adjusted by circulating air as a temperature control medium inside in order to maintain the function as the power supply device at an appropriate level. In addition, the vehicle here includes a hybrid vehicle and an electric vehicle. A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle provided with other power sources such as an internal combustion engine and a fuel cell that output energy used for traveling of the vehicle in addition to the power supply device. An electric vehicle is a vehicle that travels using only the output of a power supply device.

  Specifically, in the battery pack 1 according to the first embodiment, two stacks 11 arranged in the Y-axis direction are provided in a stack housing case including a lower case portion 21 and an upper case portion 22 connected to the lower case portion 21. It is the structure accommodated. As will be described later, the stack 11 formed by integrally restraining the battery cells 12 is fastened by bolts 41 in which a predetermined number of the battery cells 12 are inserted from below the lower case portion 21 as shown in FIG. Thus, the lower case portion 21 is fixed. Further, the battery pack 1 is mounted on the vehicle with the lower case portion 21 fixed to the vehicle body by a bolt (not shown).

  Each of the plurality of battery cells 12 constituting the stack 11 includes a power generation element and a resin case that covers the power generation element. The resin case has a rectangular parallelepiped main body 12a and flange portions 12b protruding from lower portions on both side surfaces of the main body in the Y-axis direction. Each battery cell 12 is laminated | stacked on the X-axis direction with the attitude | position in which the side surface which has the largest area is orthogonal to an X-axis direction. The battery cell 12 includes a positive electrode terminal 13a and a negative electrode terminal 13b that are electrode terminals for connecting the battery cells 12 in series on the upper side, and the positive electrode terminal 13a and the negative electrode terminal of the battery cell 12 adjacent in the X-axis direction. 13b is connected in series by a bus bar (not shown).

  The stacked battery cells 12 are integrally restrained between the end plates 17 by the end plates 17 and the restraining bars 18 arranged at both ends in the stacking direction of the battery cells 12. The end plate 17 is made of an insulating material such as resin, and is formed to have the same cross-sectional shape corresponding to the battery cell 12. Like the battery cell 12, the end plate 17 protrudes from the lower part of both side surfaces in the Y-axis direction. Has a flange.

  In the battery pack 1 of the present embodiment, the chamber 23 that guides air for adjusting the temperature of the stack 11 to the stack 11 is a side surface of each stack 11 that does not face the adjacent stack 11 (hereinafter referred to as an outer surface in the Y-axis direction). Arranged). Specifically, the chamber 23 includes a chamber engaging portion 14a and a lower portion (more specifically, flange portions protruding from the outer surface in the Y-axis direction) provided on the outer surface in the Y-axis direction of each power cell 12. The stack 11 is engaged with the stack 11 via a chamber engaging portion 14b provided in the vicinity of the upper side.

  The chamber 23 is supplied with air as a temperature control medium taken from outside the battery pack 1 by an air supply device (not shown). The supplied air is guided and discharged by a guide member to be described later through the side surface portion of the stack 11 in the X direction (the air flow path is indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1). Moreover, it can also be set as the structure which air distribute | circulates between the laminated | stacked battery cells 12 which comprise the stack 11. FIG. Thereby, the temperature of the battery cell 12 laminated | stacked can be adjusted efficiently.

  A first guide member 31 and a second guide member 32 are provided on the Y-axis direction side surface (hereinafter referred to as the Y-axis direction inner side surface) opposite to the side surface on which the chamber 23 is disposed. By being engaged with guide member engaging portions 15 a and 15 b formed on the inner side surface in the axial direction, the two adjacent stacks 11 are arranged to be connected. Specifically, the first guide member 31 is coupled to the stack 11 by engaging with a first guide member engaging portion 15a formed on the Z-axis direction upper side of the inner surface in the Y-axis direction. The second guide member 32 is a second guide member 32 formed on the lower side in the Z-axis direction of the inner surface in the Y-axis direction (more specifically, in the vicinity of the upper side of the flange portion 12 protruding from the inner surface in the Y-axis direction). It engages with the guide member engaging portion 15 b and is connected to the stack 11. In addition, the 1st guide member 31 and the 2nd guide member 32 can be shape | molded with the material (for example, resin etc.) which has electrical insulation.

  Here, the first guide member 31 and the second guide member 32 according to the first embodiment can be deformed as will be described later, and each of them is previously inclined with respect to the stack 11 in the direction to be deformed. It is arranged with. Specifically, in the first embodiment, the first guide member 31 and the second guide member 32 are arranged in a state in which the first guide member 31 and the second guide member 32 are inclined in advance in the direction of the broken-line arrow shown in FIG. .

  Next, details of the guide member in the power supply device according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The first guide member 31 and the second guide member 32 discharge the air flowing through the X-axis direction side surface portion of the stack 11 and the gap between the battery cells 12 in the discharge direction (backward in the X-axis direction in FIG. 2). Guide in the direction you head. A seal member is disposed in the vicinity of the guide member engaging portions 15a and 15b in order to improve airtightness. In order to secure an air discharge path, a chamber having the same shape as the air supply chamber 23 described above may be arranged on the inner surface in the Y-axis direction for each stack 11. However, this is not preferable because the number of parts increases and the configuration becomes complicated. On the other hand, according to the configuration of the guide members 31 and 32 according to the first embodiment, the number of parts can be reduced and the configuration can be simplified as compared with the arrangement of the air discharge chamber for each stack. it can.

  The shapes of the first guide member 31 and the second guide member 32 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the guide member according to the first embodiment has a thin hinge portion 33 (first region) and a rigidity that is thicker than the thin hinge portion 33 and is difficult to deform. The region 34 (second region) and the engagement region 35 are configured.

  The thin hinge portion 33 is configured by forming a groove extending in the X-axis direction at a substantially central position in the Y-axis direction of the first and second guide members 31 and 32. The thin hinge portion 33 is set to be thinner than the rigid region 34 and the engagement region 35. The thin hinge portion 33 has a semicircular shape when viewed in the X-axis direction, and the thin hinge portion 33 of the first guide member 31 is convex downward in the Z-axis direction. The thin hinge portion 33 of the second guide member 32 is curved so as to protrude upward in the Z-axis direction.

  A rigid region 34 extending in the X-axis direction is formed on both sides of the thin hinge portion 33, and the rigid region 34 is thicker than the thin hinge portion 33. Further, the length of the rigid region 34 in the width direction (Y-axis direction) can be changed according to the size of the battery pack 1 and the distance between adjacent stacks 11.

  In addition, a plurality of reinforcing ribs 36 are disposed in the rigid region 34 so as to have appropriate intervals in the X-axis direction. The individual reinforcing ribs 36 extend along the width direction of the rigid region 34 and ensure that the first and second guide members 31 and 32 are deformed with the thin hinge portion 33 as the center (starting point). Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the first guide member 31 has a surface on the upper side in the Z-axis direction when the first guide member 31 engages with the stack 11, and the second guide member 32 has Reinforcing ribs 36 are formed on the surfaces positioned on the lower side in the Z-axis direction when the second guide member 32 engages with the stack 11. Since the reinforcing rib 36 of the second guide member 32 is in a position where it cannot be visually recognized, it is represented by a broken line in FIG. Here, the reinforcing rib 36 is provided on the first and second guide members 31 and 32 so as to extend on the ZY plane.

  The engagement area 35 is provided adjacent to the rigid area 34. The engagement region 35 is shaped like a bowl at the end, and engages with the guide member engagement portions 15 a and 15 b of each battery cell 12.

  Next, a case where the first and second guide members 31 and 32 are deformed will be described. As a case where the guide member is deformed, for example, due to a collision of a vehicle or the like, an external force (see FIG. 4) that causes the adjacent stacks 11 to contact or collide with each other is received, and the adjacent stacks 11 approach each other. Conceivable.

  When the adjacent stack 11 approaches, the first and second guide members 31 and 32 are such that the thin guide member 33 is formed thinner than the other regions, and the reinforcing ribs 36 disposed in the rigid region 34. Due to this, the thin hinge portion 33 is deformed in the direction of the broken line arrow in FIG. In other words, as shown in FIG. 4, the first and second guide members 31 and 32 are deformed so as to be sandwiched between the adjacent stacks 11 when the guide members are deformed. In the first embodiment, the first and second guide members 31 and 32 are disposed in an inclined manner with respect to the stack 11 in the direction to be deformed in advance (the direction of the broken arrow in FIG. 2). Thus, the deformation to a position such that it is sandwiched between the stacks 11 is achieved more stably. In addition, in this specification, a deformation | transformation is a concept also including a fracture | rupture and elastic deformation besides plastic deformation.

  In this way, even when an external force that causes the adjacently arranged stacks 11 to contact or collide with each other is applied, the deformable guide member is interposed between the stacks 11 by any chance. It is possible to reduce the impact on the stack 11 when the stacks 11 contact or collide with each other. Further, by interposing a guide member that is deformed due to an external force between the power supply units, it is possible to prevent the stacks 11 from directly contacting each other. Further, by adopting a configuration in which the impact caused by contact or collision between adjacent stacks 11 is reduced by the guide member that guides the air flowing between the stacks 11, the guide member can also be used, and the number of parts can be reduced. This can contribute to miniaturization of the power supply device.

  Further, by forming the first and second guide members 31 and 32 so as to be sandwiched between the adjacent stacks 11 at the time of deformation, an external force that causes the stacks 11 to contact or collide with each other works. In this case, the guide member can be surely inserted between the stacks 11, and the prevention of contact between the stacks 11 by the guide member and the mitigation of the impact at the time of collision can be realized with high reliability.

  In addition, as represented by the dashed-two dotted line in FIG. 2, even when the adjacent stack 11 adjoins by external force by using the protection member 19 which covers the electrode terminal of the battery cell 12, the electrode terminal of the battery cell 12 is shown. Contact can be prevented. The protective member can also be made of an electrically insulating material such as a resin.

(Example 2)
A power supply device (battery pack) that is Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack according to the second embodiment cut along the ZY plane, and FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic cross-sectional views when the distance between adjacent stacks 11 is shortened. The second embodiment of the present invention is a modification of the first embodiment described above, and the difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is the shape of the guide member. Hereinafter, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted (the same applies to other embodiments).

  In the second embodiment, the first guide member 31 and the second guide member 32 are set so as to be deformed in the direction of the broken arrow in FIG.

  More specifically, the thin hinge portions (first regions) of the first and second guide members 31 and 32 have a semi-annular shape when viewed in the X-axis direction, and are adjacent stacks with the guide members. When arranged between 11, they are curved so as to be convex upward in the Z-axis direction. Further, the first and second guide members 31 and 32 are arranged in a state inclined with respect to the stack in the direction of the broken line arrow in FIG.

  When an external force is applied to the stack 11 due to a vehicle collision or the like, and the adjacent stack 11 approaches, the first and second guide members 31 and 32 are substantially in the center in the X-axis direction as shown in FIG. 6A. The thin hinge portion 33 formed to extend is deformed around the center. At this time, the first guide member 31 is deformed in the direction of the broken line arrow so as to be sandwiched between the adjacent electrode terminals in the Y-axis direction (between the positive terminal 13a and the negative terminal 13b) between the adjacent stacks 11. Transforms into On the other hand, the second guide member 32 is deformed so as to be sandwiched between the adjacent stacks 11 by being deformed in the direction of the broken arrow. The length in the width direction of the rigid region 34 of the first guide member 31 and the attachment position of the first guide member 31 to the stack 11 do not interfere with the upper case portion 22 in a deformed state, and the thin hinge The length and the attachment position are set such that the portion 33 is located above the electrode terminal in the Z-axis direction.

  The manner in which the stack 11 approaches by external force is not limited to the case shown in FIG. 6A, but the lower case portion 21 is deformed or the stack 11 is released from being fixed to the lower case portion 21. There are also cases where the electrode terminals of the stack 11 approach each other (see FIG. 6B), for example, by rotating the stack 11 around the shaft. According to the second embodiment, the adjacent stacks 11 can be prevented from coming into direct contact with each other by the second guide member 32, and the electrodes provided in the adjacent stacks 11 by the first guide member, respectively. It is possible to prevent contact between the terminals and prevent the electrode terminals from interacting with each other (such as a short circuit between the power supply units).

(Example 3)
Subsequently, Example 3 of the present invention will be described.

  A power supply device (battery pack) that is Embodiment 3 of the present invention is shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack according to Example 3 cut along the ZY plane.

  The first guide member 31 according to the battery pack 1 of Example 3 has three thin hinge portions 33a, 33b, and 33c (the hinge portions 33a to 33c correspond to the first region). Here, when connected to the stack, the first thin-walled hinge portion 33a is positioned between the inner surfaces in the Y-axis direction, and the second and third thin-walled hinge portions 33b and 33c are the electrodes of the stack. It is set to be positioned above the terminals (positive electrode terminal 13a and negative electrode terminal 13b) in the Z-axis direction. Further, the first rigid region 34a sandwiched between the first thin-walled hinge portion 33a and the second thin-walled hinge portion 33b or the third thin-walled hinge portion 33c is the second thin-walled hinge portion 33b or the third thin-walled hinge portion 33b. The length in the width direction is set longer than the second rigid region 34b sandwiched between the thin hinge portion 33c and the engagement region 35.

  According to the third embodiment, when the adjacent stacks 11 approach due to a collision or the like, the first guide member 31 is deformed around the three hinge portions. At this time, the second rigid region 34b and a part of the first rigid region 34a are deformed so as to be sandwiched between adjacent electrode terminals. Further, the first rigid region 34 a is deformed so that the other portion is sandwiched between the stacks 11. For this reason, it becomes possible to inhibit both the contact between the electrode terminals of the adjacent stacks 11 and the contact between the adjacent stack 11 bodies.

  In the present embodiment, the second and third thin hinge portions 33b and 33c are positioned above the electrode terminals of the stack 11 in advance in the Z-axis direction in a state where the adjacent stacks 11 are in a normal positional relationship. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this example. As a result of the deformation of the guide member when the adjacent stacks 11 approach each other by an external force or the like, the second and third are arranged. The thin hinge portions 33b and 33c may be configured to be positioned above the electrode terminals of the stack 11 in the Z-axis direction.

Example 4
Subsequently, Example 4 of the present invention will be described.

  In the third embodiment, an example is shown in which the second and third thin hinge portions are set so as to be positioned above the Z axis with respect to the electrode terminals, but the present invention is not limited to this, and other settings and It is also possible to do. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8 as the fourth embodiment, when connected to the stack 11, the first thin-walled hinge portion 33a is positioned above the electrode terminal of the stack 11 in the Z-axis direction, and the second, And the 3rd thin hinge part 33b, 33c may be set so that it may be located below the Y-axis direction inner surface upper end part.

  According to the fourth embodiment, when the adjacent stacks 11 approach due to a collision or the like, the first guide member 31 is deformed around the three thin hinge portions 33a, 33b, and 33c as in the third embodiment. At this time, the first rigid region 34a is deformed so as to be sandwiched between adjacent electrode terminals. Further, the second rigid region 34 b is deformed so that the other portion of the first rigid region 34 a and the second rigid region 34 b are sandwiched between the stacks 11.

(Example 5)
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  Furthermore, the number of thin hinge portions 33 can be changed not only in the first guide member 31 but also in the second guide member 32. In the power supply device shown in FIG. 9 as the fifth embodiment, the first and second guide members 31 and 32 are each provided with five thin hinge portions 33. Thus, by providing many thin hinge portions (first regions) on the guide member, when the adjacent stack 11 approaches due to a collision or the like, the guide member can be bent around more positions. Can do. By doing in this way, the size in the height direction of the guide member in the state deform | transformed by the external force can be restrained small.

(Other embodiments)
Although the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and other embodiments can be used. For example, in the above-described embodiment, two stacks are arranged side by side in the Y-axis direction. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and three or more stacks may be arranged in the Y-axis direction. In each of the embodiments described above, air is supplied from the chamber side to the stack and air is discharged from the guide member side. However, air is supplied from the guide member side and air is discharged from the chamber side. May be. Furthermore, the number of stacked battery cells constituting the stack can be arbitrarily set. Furthermore, although the battery pack has been described as the power supply device, the present invention can also be applied to a power supply device such as a fuel cell.

  Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the two guide members are arranged to be connected to the adjacent stack. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, one guide member is arranged on the upper side. In addition, three or more guide members may be arranged. In addition, when it is set as the structure which connects the upper part of an adjacent stack by a single guide member, the air which flows between these stacks is guided by the wall surface of the lower case part to which these stacks are fixed, and a guide member. The

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the power supply unit as an object to be connected by the guide member is a stack formed by stacking a plurality of battery cells, but is not necessarily limited thereto. Single battery cells can be connected to each other by a guide member, and the temperature of these battery cells can be adjusted by air guided by the guide member.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the reinforcing rib is arranged in the vertical plane direction including the direction in which the stack is arranged (Y-axis direction), but it is deformed around the thin hinge portion (first region). As long as there exists an effect | action, it is not limited to this. For example, the reinforcing rib is disposed so as to be inclined with respect to the direction in which the battery cells are stacked (X-axis direction). At this time, the reinforcing rib is adjacent to the thin hinge portion and the thin hinge portion via the rigid region. It can also be made to extend in the direction of a line connecting other thin-walled hinges or connection points to the stack.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the direction in which the guide member bends when an external force is applied is exemplified by the provision of the thin hinge portion and the attachment angle with respect to the stack 11, but the present invention is not limited thereto. However, it is needless to say that any technique that can control the direction in which the guide member bends when an external force is applied to the guide member is applicable.

For example, the guide member may be configured to be deformed when an external force is applied to the stack by configuring the guide member so that the thickness decreases from the engagement portion toward the center position in the Y-axis direction. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the semi-circular thin hinge portion is provided when viewed in the X-axis direction, but the notch portion extending along the X-axis direction that is concave toward the upper side or the lower side in the Z-axis direction is provided. You may make it provide.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the configuration in which the guide member and the stack are connected by engagement is illustrated. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and as a result, adjacent stacks are connected by the guide member. It suffices if the configuration can be made. Specifically, for example, a connection method in which the guide member and the stack are bonded, or the guide member and the stack are integrally formed of the same resin material can be employed.

  As described above, the present invention has been illustrated in detail according to specific embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

1 is a perspective view of a power supply device according to a first embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the power supply device of Example 1. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a guide member according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the power supply device of Example 1. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the power supply device of Example 2. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the power supply device of Example 2. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the power supply device of Example 2. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the power supply device of Example 3. FIG. It is sectional drawing of the power supply device of Example 4. FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a power supply device according to a fifth embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the conventional power supply device. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the conventional power supply device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Power supply device 11 Stack 12 Battery cell 12a Battery cell main body 12b Flange part 13 Electrode terminal 14 Chamber engaging part 15 Guide member engaging part 16 End plate 17 Restriction bar 21 Lower case part 22 Upper case part 23 Chamber 31 1st guide member 32 Second guide member 33 Thin hinge part 34 Rigid area 35 Engagement area 36 Reinforcement rib 41 Bolt

Claims (8)

A power supply unit including at least one power supply element, a plurality of power supply units arranged in a predetermined direction;
A guide member that is connected between a plurality of power supply units adjacent in the predetermined direction, guides air flowing between the plurality of power supply units, and at least a part that is easily deformed by an external force; and
A power supply apparatus comprising: The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is formed in a structure that is deformed so as to be sandwiched between a plurality of power supply units adjacent in the predetermined direction when the guide member is deformed. . The power supply unit has an electrode terminal,
The said guide member is formed in the structure deform | transformed so that it may be pinched | interposed between the some electrode terminal adjacent in the said predetermined direction at the time of the deformation | transformation of this guide member. Power supply.   4. The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the guide member is connected to a plurality of adjacent power supply units in an inclined state in a direction to be deformed in advance. 5.   The guide member is formed in a structure in which at least a part of the second region other than the first region formed in the easily deformable structure is more difficult to deform than in the first region. Item 5. The power supply device according to any one of Items 1 to 4.   The guide member is formed such that a thickness of a first region formed in the easily deformable structure is thinner than a thickness of a second region other than the first region. 6. The power supply device according to any one of items 1 to 5.   The power supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the guide member has electrical insulation.   A vehicle comprising the power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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