JP2011081981A - Secondary battery module - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a secondary battery which controls capacity degradation irrespective of outside environments. <P>SOLUTION: A secondary battery module includes: a plurality of battery cells 10; a housing 20 including a bottom plate to support the plurality of battery cells 10, and a wall plate 22 extending from an end edge of the bottom plate to accommodate the plurality of battery cells 10; and heat-insulating means 30 attached on outside surfaces of at least either the bottom plate or the wall plate 22 to make thermal insulation of internal environments of the housing 20 from external environments. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a secondary battery module, and more particularly, to a secondary battery module including a plurality of battery cells.

  Secondary batteries are used as power sources for various electronic devices. Recently, the output of secondary batteries has been increased, and it has been adopted as a power source for various portable devices and mobile objects. For this reason, secondary batteries mounted on portable devices and mobile objects are not only used in a normal temperature environment (an environment of about 15 ° C. to about 30 ° C.) but also a low temperature environment (about −50) that was not initially planned. It is also increasing when it is used in an environment below ℃.

  On the other hand, it is known that when a secondary battery is used in a high temperature environment, its output and reliability are lowered. Therefore, in order to prevent the surrounding environment from being heated by the heat generated by the secondary battery itself, a battery provided with heat radiating means has been proposed.

  In addition, a battery cover has been proposed that includes a partial heat insulating material for blocking heat from an adjacent heat generating mechanism and prevents external heating (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese translation of PCT publication No. 8-501655

  However, when the secondary battery is used in a low temperature environment, the secondary battery is attached to the battery cover provided with means for interrupting the heat from the heat generating mechanism and radiating the heat generated in the secondary battery as described above. When it is accommodated, heat generated by its own power generation is taken away by the external environment, and the secondary battery is exposed to a low-temperature environment that was not initially planned.

  When the secondary battery is used in a low temperature environment, the internal resistance increases and the capacity of the battery decreases. For example, in a secondary battery having a low internal resistance such as a lithium ion battery, the amount of heat generated by its own power generation is small. Therefore, when it is used in a low temperature environment, the capacity is significantly reduced as compared with a normal temperature environment.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a secondary battery module that suppresses a decrease in capacity regardless of the external environment.

  The secondary battery module according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of battery cells, a plurality of battery cells, a bottom plate supporting the plurality of battery cells, and a wall plate extending from an edge of the bottom plate, A secondary battery comprising: a housing body that houses a plurality of battery cells; and a heat insulating means that is attached to an outer surface of at least one of the bottom plate and the wall plate and thermally isolates the internal environment of the housing body from the external environment. It is a module.

  A secondary battery module according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of battery cells, a bottom plate that supports the plurality of battery cells, and a wall plate that extends from an edge of the bottom plate, and accommodates the plurality of battery cells. And a heat insulating means that thermally isolates the internal environment of the container from the external environment, and at least one of the bottom plate and the wall plate protrudes from an edge of the bottom plate or the wall plate, The guide member is bent so that the end portion faces the bottom plate or the wall plate, and the heat insulating means is provided in a guide groove provided between the guide member and the bottom plate or the guide member and the wall plate. It is the secondary battery module inserted.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the secondary battery module which suppresses a capacity | capacitance fall regardless of external environment can be provided.

It is a figure which shows roughly the example of 1 structure of an industrial vehicle provided with the secondary battery module concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows roughly the 1st structural example of the secondary battery module concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematically the 2nd structural example of the secondary battery module concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematically the 3rd structural example of the secondary battery module concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the cross section in the line VV of the battery case of the secondary battery shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. The secondary battery module BT according to the present embodiment is a secondary battery module having a function of thermally isolating from the external environment, and is mounted on an industrial vehicle. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the forklift 100 as an industrial vehicle includes a seat ST on which an operator sits, a support portion 104 that supports the seat ST, and four wheels 106 that are disposed under the support portion 104. An operator 102 that operates the operation of the forklift 100 by an operator and a fork FK that supports the lift objective are provided.

  In the space in the support portion 104, drive means (not shown) for driving the wheel 106 and the fork FK by operation of the operation portion 102 and a secondary battery module BT as a power source are accommodated. The secondary battery module BT also serves as a weight that prevents the vehicle body from overturning when the lift object is lifted by the fork FK of the forklift.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the secondary battery module BT includes a plurality of battery cells 10 connected in series and a battery case 20 as a container that houses the plurality of battery cells 10. The battery cell 10 is a lithium ion battery, for example. The plurality of battery cells 10 are arranged side by side in the battery case 20 via insulating means (not shown).

  Each of the plurality of battery cells 10 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and includes an end surface 11 disposed on the opening side of the battery case 20, a bottom surface (not shown) facing the end surface 11, and between the end surface 11 and the bottom surface. And a side surface (not shown). The plurality of battery cells 10 are arranged side by side so that the side surfaces face each other. An electrode terminal (not shown) protruding in a direction substantially orthogonal to the end surface 11 is arranged on the end surface 11. The electrode terminal includes a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal.

  The positive electrode terminal of the battery cell 10 is electrically connected to the negative electrode terminal of the adjacent battery cell 10 by the conductive connection member 12. Conductive cables CBL for discharging and charging the plurality of battery cells 10 are connected to the plurality of battery cells 10 connected in series. By connecting this conductive cable CBL to the driving means of the forklift, a power supply current is supplied to the driving means.

  The battery case 20 has a bottom plate (not shown) that faces the bottom surfaces of the plurality of battery cells 10 and supports the plurality of battery cells 10, and a plurality of walls that extend from edges of the bottom plate in a direction substantially orthogonal to the bottom plate. A plate 22 is provided and a plurality of battery cells 10 are accommodated. The wall plate 22 is disposed so as to surround the plurality of battery cells 10 facing the side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells 10 connected in series. The bottom plate of the battery case 20 is in contact with the body of the forklift.

  The battery case 20 of the secondary battery module BT according to the present embodiment includes heat insulating means that thermally isolates the internal environment of the battery case 20 from the external environment. The battery case 20 is at least partially formed of a heat insulating material.

  The battery case 20 desirably has a portion of the forklift that contacts the vehicle body formed of a heat insulating material. In the present embodiment, at least the bottom plate of the battery case 20 is preferably formed of a heat insulating material. This is because the external environment in contact with the battery case 20 is mainly the vehicle body and air of the forklift, and the heat conductivity of the vehicle body of the forklift is higher than that of air. The heat insulating material is, for example, a resin material, a heat insulating board such as polystyrene foam, vacuum beads, or the like.

  For example, when vacuum beads are used as the heat insulating material, the bottom plate and the wall plate 22 of the battery case 20 have a space (not shown) for filling the vacuum beads and a filling port (see FIG. Not shown). The filling port communicates the space of the bottom plate and the wall plate 22 with the outside.

  In this case, it is desirable to provide a space for filling the vacuum beads in the portions of the bottom plate and the wall plate 22 that come into contact with the body of the forklift. The internal environment of the battery case 20 is insulated from the external environment by vacuum beads filled in the space of the bottom plate and the wall plate 22.

  In the secondary battery module BT mounted on an industrial vehicle, if at least a portion of the battery case 20 that contacts the vehicle body, particularly a bottom plate, is formed of a heat insulating member, heat is transferred from the internal environment of the battery case 20 to the external environment. It is possible to effectively prevent deprivation.

  That is, according to the secondary battery module BT according to the present embodiment, by forming at least a part of the battery case 20 with a heat insulating material, the temperature in the battery case 20 in a normal temperature environment is maintained even in a low temperature environment, A secondary battery that suppresses a decrease in capacity regardless of the external environment can be provided.

  Therefore, even when the forklift equipped with the secondary battery module BT according to the present embodiment works in a normal temperature environment and then moves to a low temperature environment, the secondary battery module BT is affected by the external environment. Thus, the frequency of interrupting work can be reduced.

  3 and 4 show a second configuration example and a third configuration example of the secondary battery module BT. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the battery case 20 is a heat insulating member detachably attached to the outer surface of the bottom plate and the wall plate 22 as a heat insulating means for thermally isolating the internal environment of the battery case 20 from the external environment. The member 30 may be provided. In the case shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the heat insulating member 30 is detachable.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, as the heat insulating member 30, a heat insulating sheet having adhesiveness on one surface, such as a resin seal, can be used. In this case, for example, a heat insulating sheet as the heat insulating member 30 is attached to at least one of the bottom plate and the wall plate 22 of the battery case 20 formed of a metal material.

  Here, the heat insulating member 30 may be attached to at least a portion that contacts the external environment of the battery case 20. In the case of this embodiment, it should just be affixed on the part which contacts the vehicle body of an industrial vehicle at least, and it is desirable to affix on the surface which contacts the vehicle body of the bottom plate of the battery case 20 at least.

  As described above, by sticking the heat insulating member 30 to the bottom plate and the wall plate 22 of the battery case 20, the temperature inside the battery case 20 in a normal temperature environment is maintained even in a low temperature environment, and the capacity is reduced regardless of the external environment. A secondary battery for suppression can be provided.

  In the case shown in FIG. 4, the bottom plate and the wall plate 22 of the battery case 20 include guide members 20 </ b> A and 21 </ b> A for attaching and detaching and fixing the heat insulating member 30. The guide member 21A is arranged along a pair of opposite sides of the bottom plate. In FIG. 4, the guide member 21 </ b> A is disposed along an end side extending in the second direction D <b> 2 of the bottom plate. The guide member 21A protrudes from the edge of the bottom plate in a direction substantially orthogonal to the bottom plate, and the end is bent in a direction substantially parallel to the bottom plate toward the center side of the bottom plate. The end of the guide member 21A extends so as to face the bottom plate. Therefore, a guide groove 21B extending in the second direction is provided between the bottom plate and a portion substantially parallel to the bottom plate of the guide member 21A.

  The battery case 20 is formed of a steel plate. Therefore, the guide member 21A protruding from the bottom plate becomes a leg of the battery case 20, and is supported by the guide member 21A so that the battery case 20 is self-supporting. This avoids the bottom plate coming into contact with the vehicle body of the industrial vehicle.

  The guide member 20 </ b> A is disposed along a pair of opposite sides of the wall plate 22. FIG. 5 shows two guide members 20 </ b> A provided in the vicinity of the intersection position of the two wall plates 22. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, one of the two wall plates 22 extends in the first direction D1, and the other wall plate 22 extends in the second direction D2.

  The guide member 20 </ b> A protrudes from the edge of the wall plate 22. The guide member 20A of one wall plate 22 has a battery case in a direction (second direction D2) substantially orthogonal to the one wall plate 22 from the vicinity of the position where the one wall plate 22 and the other wall plate 22 intersect. 20 protrudes outward, the end is bent in a direction substantially parallel to one wall plate 22 (first direction D1), and extends to face the wall plate 22. Therefore, a guide groove 20B extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the bottom plate is provided between the one wall plate 22 and the guide member 20A.

  The heat insulating member 30 is, for example, a heat insulating board such as a resin material or polystyrene foam. The end portions of the heat insulating member 30 are inserted into the guide grooves 20B and 21B between the guide members 20A and 21A and the bottom plate and the wall plate 22 of the battery case 20, so that the heat insulating member 30 faces the bottom plate and the wall plate 22. Fixed to. That is, the outer shape of the heat insulating member 30 is defined by the guide members 20A and 21A. Here, since the battery case 20 is self-supporting by the guide member 21A, the heat insulating member 30 is not compressed by the weight of the battery case 20 and the plurality of battery cells BT. As a result, in the cases shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it is possible to avoid a decrease in the heat insulation performance.

  The detachable heat insulating member 30 may be fixed so as to face the bottom plate and the wall plate 22 by a clip-shaped fixing means provided in the battery case 20. The clip-shaped fixing means is formed of, for example, an elastic material, and the heat insulating member 30 is sandwiched between the clip-shaped fixing means and the bottom plate and the wall plate 22.

  In this way, by making the heat insulating member 30 removable from the outside of the battery case 20, the heat insulating member 30 can be attached only when used in a low temperature environment, and in other cases, the heat insulating member 30 can be removed. Become. Therefore, an industrial vehicle equipped with the secondary battery according to the present embodiment can prevent a decrease in output regardless of the external environment only by attaching the heat insulating member 30 before entering the low temperature environment from the normal temperature environment. . That is, when moving from the normal temperature environment to the low temperature environment, it is not necessary to replace the secondary battery module BT itself, so that the operation in the low temperature environment can be easily started. In addition, even when it is brought into a place where the usage environment is different, no design change is required, and versatility can be improved.

  As described above, the secondary battery module BT according to the present embodiment maintains the temperature in the battery case 20 when used in a room temperature environment even in a low temperature environment, and reduces the capacity regardless of the external environment. A secondary battery for suppression can be provided.

  4 and 5, the induction members 20A and 21A are provided on both the bottom plate and the wall plate 22 of the battery case 20. However, the induction member is provided on at least one of the bottom plate and the wall plate 22. That's fine. It is only necessary that the heat insulating member 30 be provided at least in a portion that comes into contact with the external environment. In the case shown in FIG. It is possible to provide a secondary battery that maintains the temperature in the battery case 20 when in use and suppresses a decrease in capacity regardless of the external environment.

  Furthermore, when the conductive cable CBL connected to the plurality of battery cells 10 connected in series is exposed to a low temperature environment, the heat generated in the battery cell 10 may be taken away via the conductive cable CBL.

  Therefore, in the secondary battery module BT according to the present embodiment, the conductive cable CBL is covered with a heat insulating material. For example, by winding a heat insulating tape formed of a resin material or the like around the conductive cable CBL, the conductive cable CBL is insulated from a low temperature environment, and heat generated in the battery cell 10 is taken away via the conductive cable CBL. It is suppressed. Therefore, by covering the conductive cable CBL with the conductive material as described above, it is possible to more effectively suppress the capacity reduction of the secondary battery module BT.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as it is, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. The above embodiment, provided that the secondary battery includes a plurality of battery cells and a housing that houses the plurality of battery cells, and the housing includes a heat insulating means that thermally isolates the internal environment of the housing from the external environment. The effect similar to the secondary battery which concerns on can be acquired.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the battery case 20 has a box shape including the wall plate 22, but is a heat insulating material seal that is directly attached to at least one of the bottom surface and the side surface of the plurality of battery cells 10 connected in series. There may be.

  A plurality of battery cells 10 are fixed by a heat insulating material seal, and heat capacity is prevented from being taken away from the internal environment of the battery case 20 to a low-temperature environment (external environment), and the capacity of the secondary battery module BT regardless of the external environment It is possible to suppress the decrease.

  Moreover, in said embodiment, although secondary battery module BT was mounted in the industrial vehicle, this invention can be applied when used in another low-temperature environment. For example, the present invention can be applied to a secondary battery mounted on a video camera or the like. Even in such a case, before using in a low temperature environment, the secondary battery module BT is covered with a container such as a seal formed of a heat insulating material in a normal temperature environment and set in a video camera. If it does so, it will be suppressed in the low temperature environment that the heat | fever in a container is deprived of a low temperature environment, and it will be suppressed that the capacity | capacitance of the secondary battery module BT falls.

  Further, it is more effective when a battery having a low internal resistance such as a lithium ion battery is used as the battery cell 10 constituting the secondary battery module BT. This is because a battery having a low internal resistance has a smaller amount of heat generated during power generation than a battery having a high internal resistance, and the influence of the external environment is large.

  Further, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine the component covering different embodiment suitably.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Battery cell, 20 ... Battery case (container), 20A, 21A ... Induction member, 22 ... Wall board, 30 ... Heat insulation member (heat insulation means), BT ... Secondary battery.

Claims (3)

A plurality of battery cells;
Including a bottom plate that supports the plurality of battery cells, and a wall plate extending from an edge of the bottom plate, and a container that houses the plurality of battery cells;
A secondary battery module, comprising: heat insulating means attached to an outer surface of at least one of the bottom plate and the wall plate and thermally isolating the internal environment of the container from the external environment. A plurality of battery cells;
Including a bottom plate that supports the plurality of battery cells, and a wall plate extending from an edge of the bottom plate, and a container that houses the plurality of battery cells;
Heat insulating means for thermally isolating the internal environment of the container from the external environment,
At least one of the bottom plate and the wall plate includes a guide member that protrudes from an edge of the bottom plate or the wall plate and is bent so that an end portion faces the bottom plate or the wall plate,
An end portion of the heat insulating means is a secondary battery module inserted into an induction groove provided between the induction member and the bottom plate or between the induction member and the wall plate. Further comprising a cable connected to the plurality of battery cells;
The secondary battery module according to claim 1, wherein the cable is covered with a heat insulating material.

Images