JP2013068466A - Thermistor, power-supply unit, and vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a thermistor that prevents damage to a glass tube clamped in a narrow space due to a load generated in a clamping direction.SOLUTION: The thermistor includes: a glass tube g housing an element having thermister characteristics; a temperature measuring part 101 for housing the glass tube and having a contact surface that comes into contact with a measured surface of an object the temperature of which is to be measured; a support part 102 that is close to the temperature measuring part in a plane direction parallel with the contact surface and larger than the temperature measuring part in a normal direction of the contact surface; and a narrowed part 103 that connects the temperature measuring part to the support part in the plane direction parallel with the contact surface and smaller than the temperature measuring part in the normal direction of the contact surface.

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermistor that performs temperature detection in a power supply device in which a plurality of single cells are arranged.

  Conventionally, in a laminated battery pack, a configuration in which a thermistor is used for battery temperature detection is known.

  Since the thermistor has a structure in which an element having thermistor characteristics is sealed with glass, it can be said that the mechanical strength is low (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In order to prevent the thermistor having low mechanical strength from being damaged in this way, various techniques are provided (see, for example, Patent Documents 2 and 3).

Japanese Utility Model Publication 64-57601 JP2005-189080 JP2005-019644

  However, in the above-described prior art, in a battery pack in which a plurality of unit cells are stacked, when used by being inserted between the plurality of unit cells, (1) a load due to being caught in a narrow gap, (2) a plurality of units It has been difficult to provide a low-cost thermistor that has sufficient strength to withstand the restraining load applied to the battery and (3) the occurrence of a pinching load due to the thermal expansion of the battery.

  Then, this invention aims at providing the thermistor which can prevent the failure | damage of the glass tube by the load which generate | occur | produces in the pinching direction in the state pinched in the narrow clearance gap.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the thermistor of the present invention includes (1) a glass tube that houses an element having thermistor characteristics, and a contact surface that houses the glass tube and contacts the surface to be measured of the temperature measurement object. A temperature measuring unit, a support unit that is close to the temperature measuring unit in a plane direction parallel to the contact surface, and that is larger in the normal direction of the contact surface than the side temperature unit, and parallel to the contact surface The temperature measuring part and the support part are connected in a smooth surface direction, and a constricted part having a size in the normal direction of the contact surface smaller than that of the temperature measuring part is provided.

  (2) In the configuration of (1), in the normal direction of the contact surface, the support portion protrudes on the side farther from the contact surface than on the side closer to the contact surface.

  (3) In the configuration of (1) or (2), the constricted portion may be a recess formed on both the side of the thermistor where the contact surface is provided and the side where the contact surface is not provided. Good.

  (4) In the configurations of (1) to (3), an insertion portion for inserting a wire harness connected to the element is provided, and at least a part of the support portion is inserted in the plane direction parallel to the contact surface. It is desirable to be in a position overlapping the part.

  (5) In the configuration of (1) to (4), the power supply device of the present invention is inserted between a plurality of unit cells to be stacked and at least two unit cells adjacent to each other among the plurality of unit cells. A thermistor according to any one of claims 1 to 4 may be provided.

  (6) In the configuration of (5), it is preferable that the plurality of unit cells is one of a lithium ion battery and a nickel metal hydride battery.

  (7) It is preferable that the vehicle of the present invention is equipped with the power supply device having the configuration (5) or (6).

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the thermistor which can prevent the failure | damage of the glass tube by the load generate | occur | produced in the pinching direction in the state pinched in the narrow clearance gap can be provided.

It is a disassembled perspective view of a power supply device. It is an external appearance perspective view of the thermistor 900 in a present Example. It is the figure which looked at the protrusion surface 102a in the thermistor 900 in the x-axis direction. It is the figure which looked at the thermistor 900 to the z-axis direction. It is the figure which looked at the thermistor 900 in the P direction in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the thermistor 900 taken along line AA in FIG. 3. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the thermistor 900 is inserted between the single cells 13. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating deformation characteristics of the thermistor 900 when a load is applied to the thermistor 900.

  A power supply apparatus that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, the Z axis indicates the direction of gravity, and the X axis and the Y axis are orthogonal to the Z axis and orthogonal to each other. Here, FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the power supply device.

  The power supply device according to the present embodiment can be mounted on a vehicle, and examples of the vehicle include a hybrid vehicle and an electric vehicle. A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle provided with an internal combustion engine and a fuel cell in addition to a power supply device as a power source for generating running energy (kinetic energy) of the vehicle. An electric vehicle is a vehicle that travels using only the output of a power supply device.

  The power supply device 10 includes a battery module (power supply module) 12 in which a plurality of single cells (power supply bodies) 13 are arranged in the X direction. Here, a spacer 14 for guiding a cooling gas (heat exchange medium) to the surface of the unit cell 13 is disposed between the unit cells 13 adjacent in the X direction. That is, the spacer 14 forms a passage for allowing the cooling gas to pass between the unit cells 13 adjacent in the X direction. The spacer 14 can be formed of a resin such as polypropylene.

  Here, by using a duct and a fan, for example, air existing in a vehicle interior can be guided between adjacent unit cells 13 as a cooling gas. The interior of the vehicle means a space in which a passenger gets in or a space for storing luggage (so-called luggage compartment). Note that a gas or liquid (heat exchange medium) having a component other than air can be guided between adjacent unit cells 13.

  When a cooling gas is supplied to the power supply device 10, the gas flows between the adjacent unit cells 13 via the spacer 14. The gas introduced between the adjacent unit cells 13 exchanges heat with the unit cells 13, thereby depriving the heat generated in the unit cells 13 by charging / discharging or the like. Then, the gas that has passed between the adjacent unit cells 13 is discharged to the outside of the battery pack 10. Thereby, the cell 13 can be cooled (heat radiation).

  Here, a secondary battery such as a nickel metal hydride battery or a lithium ion battery is used as the single battery 13. An electric double layer capacitor may be used instead of the secondary battery. On the other hand, the number of unit cells 13 constituting the battery pack 10 can be set as appropriate based on the output performance that the battery pack 10 has.

  A positive electrode terminal 13 a and a negative electrode terminal 13 b are provided on the top of each unit cell 13. These terminals 13 a and 13 b are connected to a power generation element housed inside the unit cell 13. Here, the power generation element is an element that can be charged and discharged, and includes, for example, a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, a separator, and an electrolytic solution.

  A positive electrode terminal 13a in each unit cell 13 is electrically connected to a negative electrode terminal 13b in another unit cell 13 arranged adjacent to the unit cell 13 in the X direction via a bus bar (not shown). . Moreover, the negative electrode terminal 13b in each single cell 13 is electrically connected to the positive electrode terminal 13a in another single cell 13 arranged adjacent to the single cell 13 in the X direction via a bus bar (not shown). ing.

  Thus, the terminals 13a and 13b of each unit cell 13 are electrically connected, whereby the plurality of unit cells 13 constituting the battery module 12 are electrically connected in series. Thereby, a desired output can be obtained as the battery module 12. In addition, the cell 13 electrically connected in parallel may be included.

  At both ends in the X direction of the battery module 12, a pair of end plates 15 for sandwiching the plurality of single cells 13 constituting the battery module 12 are disposed. The end plate 15 has a predetermined thickness (length in the X direction) in order to ensure strength, and an opening 15a is formed in order to reduce the weight.

  Further, a hole 15b is formed in the end plate 15. By inserting a fastening member (not shown) such as a bolt into the hole 15b, the end plate 15 (power supply device 10) is inserted into the pack case 11. Can be fixed to. Of the plurality of single cells 13 constituting the battery module 12, some of the single cells 13 are also formed with holes for attaching fastening members such as bolts.

  A pair of restraining bands (an upper restraining band 16a and a lower restraining band 16b as restraining members) are fixed to the end plates 15 located at both ends of the battery module 12 from the vertical direction (Z direction). Specifically, two upper restraint bands 16 a and two lower restraint bands 16 b are fixed to the battery module 12.

  The upper restraint band 16a includes an intermediate portion 16a1 disposed along the upper surface of the battery module 12, and an end portion 16a2 formed by bending with respect to the intermediate portion 16a1 and disposed along the end surface in the X direction of the end plate 15. have. Here, the intermediate portion 16a1 extends in the arrangement direction (X direction) of the plurality of single cells 13. The lower restraint band 16b is an intermediate portion 16b1 disposed along the lower surface of the battery module 12, and an end portion that is bent with respect to the intermediate portion 16b1 and is disposed along the end surface of the end plate 15 in the X direction. 16b2. Here, the intermediate portion 16b1 extends in the arrangement direction (X direction) of the plurality of unit cells 13.

  The end portion 16a2 in the upper restraint band 16a and the end portion 16b2 in the lower restraint band 16b are connected by a rivet (not shown). Thereby, the battery module 12 is restrained by the upper restraint band 16a and the lower restraint band 16b. In addition, a force acting in a direction in which the plurality of single cells 13 are brought closer to each other is generated via the end plate 15.

  Further, in the power supply device according to the present embodiment, similarly to the spacer 14, a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the unit cell is inserted in a gap between at least two unit cells among the plurality of unit cells. Has been.

  Hereinafter, the details of the thermistor in the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the thermistor 900 in the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a view of the protruding surface 102a of the thermistor 900 as viewed in the x-axis direction. FIG. 4 is a view of the thermistor 900 viewed in the z-axis direction. FIG. 5 is a view of the thermistor 900 viewed in the direction P in FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the thermistor 900 taken along the line AA in FIG.

  The thermistor 900 includes a temperature measuring part 101, a glass tube g, a support part 102, a constricted part 103, an insertion part 104, and a wire harness H.

  The glass tube g accommodates an element having thermistor characteristics. A wire harness H is connected to the glass tube g, and a temperature value detected by the glass tube g is transmitted via the wire harness H.

  Here, the thermistor characteristics include a characteristic in which resistance decreases with an increase in temperature (NTC thermistor) and a characteristic in which resistance increases with an increase in temperature (PTC thermistor) contrary to the NTC thermistor. It means a characteristic that can be adopted for the thermistor.

  The temperature measuring unit 101 accommodates the glass tube g and has a contact surface 101 s that comes into contact with the measured surface 13 m of the unit cell 13 that is a temperature measurement object. The temperature measuring unit 101 has a side surface 101d on the side opposite to the contact surface 101s.

  The support unit 102 is close to the temperature measuring unit 101 in a plane direction parallel to the contact surface 101s, and the size of the contact surface 101s in the normal direction (x-axis direction) is larger than that of the side temperature unit 101.

  Further, in the normal direction (x-axis direction) of the contact surface 101 s, the support portion 102 protrudes on the side farther from the contact surface 101 s than on the side closer to the contact surface 101 s. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the amount of protrusion in the x-axis direction of the support portion 102 with respect to the contact surface 101s is zero on the side close to the contact surface 101s, and the x-axis direction of the support portion 102 on the side far from the contact surface 101s. The protrusion amount of Q is Q (see, for example, FIG. 4). Thereby, the area | region which can retract | save the side surface 101d of the temperature measuring part 101 can be ensured, and damage to the glass tube g can be prevented.

  The constricted part 103 connects the temperature measuring part 101 and the support part 102 in a surface direction (yz plane direction) parallel to the contact surface 101s, and the size of the contact surface 101s in the normal direction is larger than that of the temperature measuring part. small.

  The constricted portion 103 is a recess formed on both the side of the thermistor 900 where the contact surface 101s is provided and the opposite side where the contact surface 101s is not provided.

  The constricted portion 103 in the present embodiment is formed in a groove shape surrounding the entire circumference of the thermistor 900, but is not necessarily limited to this, and at least the side of the thermistor 900 opposite to the contact surface 101s. As long as it is formed on the surface.

  The insertion part 104 inserts the wire harness H connected to the element in the glass tube g.

  In this way, by connecting the temperature measuring part 101 that accommodates the glass tube g and the support part 102 by the constriction part 103, the support part 102 is interlocked with the deformation of the support part 102 when deformed by receiving a load. The deformation of the temperature measuring unit 101 can be suppressed, and as a result, the load applied to the glass tube g accommodated in the temperature measuring unit 101 can also be minimized.

  In the normal direction (x-axis direction) of the contact surface 101 s, the support portion 102 protrudes on the side farther from the contact surface 101 s than on the side closer to the contact surface 101 s. According to this, when the supporting portion 102 to which a load is applied is deformed, a space for retracting the end surface 101d opposite to the contact surface 101s of the temperature measuring portion 101 can be secured (see FIGS. 7 and 7 described later). As a result, the load applied to the glass tube g can be reduced.

  Further, at least a part of the support portion 102 is located at a position overlapping the insertion portion 104 in a surface direction parallel to the surface direction (yz plane direction) of the contact surface 101s. According to this, when a load is applied to the support portion 102, the load applied to the support portion 102 can be released to the hollow portion 104 k for inserting the wire harness H of the insertion portion 104.

Next, the usage state of the thermistor 900 according to this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the thermistor 900 is inserted between the single cells 13. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the deformation characteristics of the thermistor 900 when a load is applied to the thermistor 900.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the thermistor 900 is inserted into a narrow gap between two adjacent unit cells 13, the contact surface 101 s of the thermistor 900 contacts the side surface 13 m of the unit cell 13.

  When the thermistor 900 receives a sandwiching load from the side surfaces 13m of the two unit cells 13 sandwiching the thermistor 900, the thermistor 900 is deformed as indicated by a broken line in FIG.

The following factors (1) to (3) can be cited as factors for receiving the sandwiching load from the side surface 13m of the two unit cells 13 sandwiching the thermistor 900, for example.

(1) Load due to being caught in a narrow gap,
(2) Restraint load applied to a plurality of batteries,
(3) Generation of pinching load due to thermal expansion of the battery

  As shown in FIG. 8, the thermistor 900 receives the load by the support surfaces 102 a and 102 s of the support portion 102 and the contact surface 101 s of the temperature measuring portion 101 when a sandwiching load in the direction of the arrow is applied from the side surfaces 13 m on both sides.

  The support portion 102 of the thermistor 900 has an outer side surface 102 h in the y-axis direction extending substantially at right angles to the wall surface of the insertion portion 104, and an inner side surface 103 h in the y-axis direction obliquely with respect to the insertion portion 104. Is set. Thereby, the support part 102 becomes easy to deform | transform so that it may fall outside rather than the inner side in a y-axis direction.

  In addition, the support surface 102a of the support portion 102 overlaps with the hollow portion 104k of the insertion portion 104 in the y-axis direction and is located on the base end side with respect to the bottom surface 104b, and receives the pinching load and uses the region w as a fulcrum. The structure is bent as shown by the broken line in FIG.

  Further, the support portion 102 is bent while being inclined so as to open toward the outside in the y-axis direction as indicated by a broken line. As a result, the side surface 101d of the temperature measuring portion 101 is deformed so as to swell in the retracting direction, and the glass tube Release the load applied to g.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, the temperature measuring unit 101 that accommodates the glass tube g and the support unit 102 are connected by the constricted portion 103, so that the temperature measuring unit can be deformed even if the support unit 102 receives a load and deforms. It can be seen that 101 is not easily affected by the deformation of the support portion 102.

  In addition, in the said Example, although the case where the outline which looked at the y-axis direction of the temperature measuring part 101 which comprises the thermistor 900, and the support part 102 was substantially rectangular was illustrated, it is not necessarily restricted to this, For example, It is also possible to make an elliptical outline long in the z-axis direction.

900 thermistor, 101 temperature measuring part, g glass tube, 102 support part, 103 constriction part, 104 insertion part, H wire harness.

Claims (7)

A glass tube containing an element having thermistor characteristics;
A temperature measuring unit that houses the glass tube and has a contact surface that comes into contact with the surface to be measured of the temperature measurement object;
A support portion that is close to the temperature measuring unit in a plane direction parallel to the contact surface and that has a larger size in the normal direction of the contact surface than the side temperature unit;
Connecting the temperature measuring unit and the support unit in a plane direction parallel to the contact surface, and a constricted portion having a size in the normal direction of the contact surface smaller than the temperature measuring unit;
Thermistor with.   2. The thermistor according to claim 1, wherein in the normal direction of the contact surface, the support portion protrudes on a side farther from the contact surface than on a side closer to the contact surface.   3. The thermistor according to claim 1, wherein the constricted portion is a recess formed on both the side of the thermistor where the contact surface is provided and the side where the contact surface is not provided. 4. An insertion portion for inserting a wire harness connected to the element;
The thermistor according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least a part of the support portion is located at a position overlapping the insertion portion in a plane direction parallel to the contact surface. A plurality of unit cells stacked;
The thermistor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the thermistor is inserted between at least two adjacent cells among the plurality of cells.
A power supply device comprising:   The power supply device according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of single cells are any one of a lithium ion battery and a nickel metal hydride battery.   A vehicle equipped with the power supply device according to claim 5.

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