JP2013196981A - Power supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power supply device that has drip-proofness against external moisture intrusion and the like.SOLUTION: A power supply device 1 includes: an assembled battery 30 that has unit batteries 31 as storage elements; and a housing that houses at least the assembled battery 30 and has a lid 10 and a housing main body 20. Electrode terminals 31a of the unit batteries 31 in the assembled battery 30 are positioned in the lid 10 as a side surface of the housing. The power supply device 1 also has a shield wall 23 that is positioned between the lid 10 and a top surface 22 of the housing main body 20, that is formed along the lid 10, and that extends beyond the top surface 22.

Description

  The present invention relates to a power supply device in which a storage element is configured in a storage container.

  Secondary batteries are widely used as power sources for electronic devices such as mobile phones and IT devices, as well as for replacing primary batteries. In particular, non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries represented by lithium ion batteries have a high energy density, and are therefore being applied to electric vehicles and large industrial electric equipment. In order to obtain this, a plurality of nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries are stacked to form one power source (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and FIG. 1).

  FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a power supply device composed of a plurality of single cells according to the prior art. As shown in FIG. 10, the power supply apparatus 100 includes an assembled battery 110, an open box-shaped storage container 120 having an opening 121, and a lid 130.

  The assembled battery 110 is a stack in which a plurality of external hexahedron cells 111 are arranged so that the front and the back face each other. In each unit cell 111, electrodes 112 of different polarities are connected to each other by a bus bar 113, whereby each unit cell 111 is connected in series to form a high-voltage assembled battery as a whole.

  The assembled battery 110 is stored in the storage container 120, and the opening 121 of the storage container 120 is sealed by the lid 130. The positive electrode terminal 112a and the negative electrode terminal 112b of the entire assembled battery 110 are electrically connected to the positive electrode terminal 131a and the negative electrode terminal 131b provided on the upper surface 130a of the lid portion 130, respectively. 110 power is taken out as power of the power supply apparatus 100.

JP 2002-134078 A

  The configuration of the power supply device according to the conventional technique is as described above. However, the conventional technique has the following problems.

  In other words, contrary to the expansion of the use range of the power supply device, the relationship between the arrangement of the power supply device in the external environment where the power supply device is used and the arrangement of electrode terminals and other electrical systems on the power supply device is sufficiently considered. I could not say. Specifically, the present invention has a technical problem that it is necessary to consider the arrangement of the electrode terminals of the power supply device and other electrical systems against leakage from a device cooperating with the power supply device or intrusion of water droplets from the outside. Found.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a power supply device that is excellent in drip-proofing in consideration of intrusion of moisture from the outside.

In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention provides:
A storage element;
A storage container for storing at least the power storage element;
The electrode terminal of the electricity storage element is disposed on a side surface of the storage container,
It is a power supply device which has the shielding part which is located between the upper surface of the said storage container and the said side surface, and was formed along the said side surface.

The second aspect of the present invention is
The shielding part is a shielding wall that is taller than the upper surface.
It is a power supply device of the 1st side of the present invention.

The third aspect of the present invention is
The electrode is provided on one bottom surface of the electricity storage element,
The storage container surrounds the periphery of the side surface of the power storage element, and has a rectangular tube part having at least one end opened,
The shielding wall is formed by bending a part of a portion forming the side surface including the one end of the square tube portion,
It is a power supply device of the 2nd side surface of this invention.

The fourth aspect of the present invention is
The electrode is provided on one bottom surface of the electricity storage element,
The storage container encloses the periphery of the electricity storage element including the bottom surface, and has a rectangular tube part having at least one end opened,
The shielding wall is formed by extending from the bottom surface of the square tube portion,
The upper surface is formed by bending a part of a portion forming the side surface including the one end of the square tube portion,
It is a power supply device of the 2nd side surface of this invention.

The fifth aspect of the present invention is
The electrode is provided on one bottom surface of the electricity storage element,
The storage container is
Surrounding the periphery of the side surface of the electricity storage element, and at least one end of the rectangular tube member opened,
An angle member having a first plate portion parallel to the side surface of the rectangular tube member and a second plate portion bent from the first plate portion;
The surface of the first plate portion of the angle member is formed as all or part of the upper surface,
A second plate portion of the angle member is formed as the shielding wall;
It is a power supply device of the 2nd side surface of this invention.

The sixth aspect of the present invention is
The step structure is
Formed on the upper surface of the storage container, both ends thereof are grooves that do not reach the side surface,
It is a power supply device of the 1st side of the present invention.

The seventh aspect of the present invention is
An electronic device that performs an operation related to the power storage element;
The electronic device is disposed on the same surface as the side surface on which the electrode of the electricity storage element is located.
5 is a power supply device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects of the present invention.

The eighth aspect of the present invention is
The storage container has a sealing body that seals the one end of the rectangular tube portion,
One main surface of the sealing body is opposed to the other bottom surface of the electricity storage element,
It is a power supply device in any one of the 3rd to 5th side of the present invention.

The ninth aspect of the present invention is
Two sets of the storage container and the storage element,
The one main surface of the sealing body is opposed to the other bottom surface of the two sets of the electricity storage elements,
The other main surface of the sealing body is opposed to the other bottom surface of the other two power storage elements.
It is a power supply device of the 6th side of the present invention.

The tenth aspect of the present invention provides
The sealing body is
It has a heat dissipation function and is in direct or indirect contact with the other bottom surface of the electricity storage element.
It is a power supply device of the 7th or 8th side surface of this invention.

The eleventh aspect of the present invention is
The sealing body has a flow path that is provided therein and allows a cooling medium to pass therethrough.
On the upper surface of the storage container,
A circulation pipe that is connected to the flow path and circulates the cooling medium in the sealing body can be disposed.
It is a power supply device of the 10th side surface of this invention.

  According to the present invention as described above, it is possible to improve the drip-proof property in the power supply device.

The perspective view which shows the structure of the power supply device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the power supply device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the power supply device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the principal part which shows the structure of the power supply device which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention Sectional drawing which shows the principal part which shows the structure of the power supply device which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the principal part which shows the structure of the power supply device which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. The perspective view which shows the structure of the power supply device which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. The disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the power supply device which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. The perspective view which shows the other structural example of the power supply device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a conventional power supply device

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment 1)
1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a power supply device 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view seen from the front right side, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view seen from the rear left side. It is a perspective view.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the power supply device 1 according to the first embodiment mainly includes an assembled battery 30, a lid portion 10 that forms a storage container of the assembled battery 30, a container body 20, and a sealing plate 24. It consists of.

  The container main body 20 is a member made of a metal such as steel and having a rectangular tube shape, and the assembled battery 30 is housed therein with the front opening being a rectangular opening 20x. A shielding wall 23 is provided at a position adjacent to the opening 20 x on the upper surface 22 of the container body 20.

  Next, the assembled battery 30 is a stack formed by arranging hexahedron unit cells 31 having a metal exterior in two horizontal rows and four vertical columns. The unit cell 31 includes a rectangular upper surface 31b provided with positive and negative electrode terminals 31a, a bottom surface 31e, a top surface 31b, a top surface 31b and a bottom surface 31e, which are a pair of side surfaces connected to the long side of the bottom surface 31e. It has a side surface 31d that is a pair of side surfaces that are continuous to the short side.

  Such a unit cell 31 can be viewed as a prism having a top surface 31b and a bottom surface 31e as a pair of bottom surfaces, and a main surface 31c and a side surface 31d as side surfaces. The main surfaces 31c are arranged to face each other.

  Next, the sealing plate 24 is a plate-like member made of a highly heat-conductive metal such as aluminum or a synthetic resin, and has an opening 20y that is the back surface of the container body 20 with respect to the opening 20x as the front surface. While sealing, it plays the role of the radiator which discharge | releases the heat from the assembled battery 30 to the exterior from the power supply device 1. FIG. The sealing plate 24 and the container main body 20 are fixed by conventional or well-known mechanical means such as screws and bolts (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 3, between the sealing plate 24 and the bottom surface 31e of each unit cell 31 constituting the assembled battery 30, a heat conductive sheet 32 made of heat conductive silicon rubber is provided. The heat from 30 is radiated from the sealing body 24 through the heat conductive sheet 32.

  Next, the lid portion 10 is a metal member similar to the container body 20, has a planar shape corresponding to the opening 20 x, and is a member for sealing the container body 20 in a state where the assembled battery 30 is stored. is there. The lid 10 is provided with openings 11a to 11c on the main surface of a lid member 10a serving as a base material. As shown in FIG. 1, the electrode terminal 31a of each unit cell 31 of the assembled battery 30 Are exposed to the outside through the openings 11a to 11c.

  Further, on the surface of the lid portion 10, the electrode terminals 31a are electrically connected to each other by a connecting member such as a bus bar to form a high voltage assembled battery as a whole. Furthermore, an electronic device (not shown) including a management circuit, a relay circuit, and the like for managing charge / discharge with respect to the assembled battery 30 is mounted on the surface of the lid 10.

  Furthermore, a tab 12a having a through hole 12b and a tab 21a having a through hole 21b are provided on both side ends of the lid member 10a of the lid 10 and both side surfaces 21 of the container body 20, respectively. In a state where the battery 30 is housed in the container body 20, the tabs 12a and 21a are also opposed to each other. By inserting the bolts 13 into the through holes 12b and 21b of the respective tabs and fastening them, the container main body 20 is sealed, and the assembled battery 30 has the upper surface 31b and the bottom surface 31e of each unit cell 31 with the tabs 12a and 21a. It is restrained by the fastening pressure.

  In the above configuration, the assembled battery 30 corresponds to the power storage element of the present invention, and the combination of the lid portion 10, the container body 20, and the sealing plate 24 corresponds to the storage container of the present invention. The sealing plate 24 corresponds to the sealing body of the present invention, and the shielding wall 23 corresponds to the shielding wall of the present invention.

  The power supply device 1 according to the first embodiment having the above-described configuration includes a shielding wall 23 provided on the container body 20.

  Hereinafter, further details will be described with reference to FIG. However, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the power supply device 1 along the direction parallel to the side surface 31d of the unit cell 31.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the shielding wall 23 is formed by extending a member constituting the upper surface 22 of the container body 20 and bending the member in a direction parallel to the opening 20x.

  Further, the main surface 23a of the shielding wall 23 formed by exposing the back surface of the member of the container body 20 coincides with the position of the opening 20x. Therefore, the shielding wall 23 is positioned closer to the upper surface 22 of the container body 20 than the joint surface C1 between the lid 10 and the container body 20.

  In the power supply device 1 according to the first embodiment having such a configuration, in the storage container, the cover portion 10 including the upper surface 22 of the container body 20 and the joint surface C1 between the cover portion 10 is separated by the shielding wall 23. ing.

  Therefore, as shown in each figure, when the power supply device 1 is incorporated in an electric vehicle or other load with the upper surface 22 facing upward, moisture enters the load from the outside or condensation in the load. When this occurs, the moisture dropped or staying on the upper surface 22 is shielded by the shielding wall 23, and leakage and dripping to the lid 10 side where the electrode terminal 31a and the electronic device are arranged are reduced.

  As described above, in the power supply device 1 according to the first embodiment, by including the container body 20 provided with the shielding wall 23 adjacent to the opening 20x, movement of water droplets or the like from the upper surface 22 is reduced, It becomes possible to improve the drip-proof property.

(Embodiment 2)
The power supply device 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is characterized in that a shielding wall is formed from the lid 10 side.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the power supply device 1 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, in the power supply device 1 according to the second embodiment, the container body 20 has a rectangular tube shape in which both the openings 20x and 20y have the same shape end surface, while the upper end of the lid portion 10 has an opening. Along the upper surface 22 of the container body 20 along 20x, the container body 20 reciprocates and bends at a bending point 14a, bends in a direction parallel to the upper surface 22 at the bending point 14b, and then extends toward the sealing plate 24. It has the composition which becomes.

  Thereby, in the storage container, the upper surface 22 of the container body 20 and the container body 20, the lid part 10, and the sealing plate formed seamlessly between the shielding wall 14 and the shielding wall 14 due to the deformation of the lid part 10. A covering portion 15 is provided to cover the joint surfaces C1 and C2 with 24 respectively.

  In the above configuration, the shielding wall 14 has an effect of reducing leakage of water droplets or the like from the upper surface 22 of the power supply device 1, similarly to the shielding wall 23 of the first embodiment. In addition to the upper surface 22 of the container body 20, the covering portion 15 covers the bonding surface C <b> 1 between the lid 10 and the container body 20 and the bonding surface C <b> 2 between the sealing plate 20 and the container body 20. It is also possible to reduce the risk of intrusion of water droplets from the water.

  Further, since the lid portion 10 is thinner than the container body 20 and is made of a material that can be easily processed, the shielding wall 14 and the covering portion 15 can be easily and inexpensively realized.

  In the above description, the covering portion 15 has been described as covering the entire upper surface of the storage container. However, the covering portion 15 has a size and size that covers at least the joint surface C1 between the lid portion 10 and the container body 20. I just need it.

(Embodiment 3)
The power supply device 1 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention is characterized in that a shielding wall is formed using a member different from the storage container.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the power supply device 1 according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, in the power supply device 1 according to the second embodiment, the container body 20 has a rectangular tube shape in which both the openings 20x and 20y have the same end surface, and the lid 10 is also the embodiment. 1 has the same outer shape as that of the flat plate. On the other hand, an angle member 40 having an L-shaped cross section is provided so as to overlap the upper surface 22 of the container body 20.

  The angle member 40 is bent in a direction parallel to the upper surface 22 of the container body 20 from the first plate portion 40a, the first plate portion 40a extending so as to be flush with the surface of the lid portion 10, and a sealing plate And a second plate portion 40b extending to 24 edges.

  Thus, in the storage container, the first plate portion 40a serves as a shielding wall, and the second plate portion 40b serves as the upper surface 22 of the container body 20, the joint surface C1 between the lid 10 and the container body 20, and the sealing. It functions as a covering portion that covers the joining surface C2 of the stop plate 24 and the container body 20.

  That is, the first plate portion 40 a has an effect of reducing leakage of water droplets or the like from the upper surface 22 of the power supply device 1, similar to the shielding wall 23 of the first embodiment. In addition to the upper surface 22 of the container body 20, the second plate part 40b covers the bonding surface C1 between the lid 10 and the container body 20, and the bonding surface C2 between the sealing plate 24 and the container body 20. The risk of intrusion of water droplets or the like from these joint surfaces can be reduced.

  In addition, the angle member 40 is thinner than the container body 20 and can be made of a material that can be easily processed. Also, the angle member 40 has a simpler shape than both the container body 20 and the lid portion 10 and has a lower cost. The invention can be realized.

  In the above description, the second plate portion 40b has been described as covering the entire top surface of the storage container, but the dimensions are such that at least the joint surface C1 between the lid portion 10 and the container body 20 is covered. Any size is acceptable.

(Embodiment 4)
The power supply device according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention is characterized in that it is configured by combining two assembled batteries.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the power supply device 2 according to the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view thereof. However, components that are the same as or correspond to those in FIGS. 1 to 4 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the power supply device 2 according to the fourth embodiment includes a pair of container main bodies 20 and a pair of assembled batteries 30, and corresponds to one sealing plate 24 according to the first to third embodiments. The heat sink 50 is shared. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, an assembled battery 30, a container body 20, a lid 10, an electronic device 60 mounted on the lid 10, and a cover 70 that covers the electronic device 60, with a heat sink 50 as the center. The heat conduction sheets 32 (provided on the bottom surface of the unit cells 31) of the respective assembled batteries 30 are arranged symmetrically and come into contact with both surfaces of the heat sink 50 with the frame member 34 interposed therebetween, whereby a pair of sets Waste heat from the battery 30 is transmitted.

  The heat sink 50 is provided with a flow path therein, through which a cooling medium such as cooling water or antifreeze can pass, and the heat transmitted from the heat conductive sheet 32 is transferred to the cooling medium passing through the flow path. It is carried and taken out of the power supply device 2.

  Both ends of the flow path are exposed to the upper surface 22 side of the storage container 20 as an injection end 50a and a discharge end 50b positioned at the upper edge of the heat sink 50, and the injection end 50a and the discharge end 50b are not shown for circulation piping. To complete the waste heat cycle.

  Moreover, the upper surface 22 of the storage container 20 shown in FIG. 7 is used as a space in which a circulation pipe to which the injection end 50a and the injection end 50b of the heat sink 50 are connected is routed.

  The mounting portions 2a and 2b exposed from the cover 70 are mechanisms for mounting the power supply device 2 to an external load such as an electric vehicle.

  In the power supply device 2 of the fourth embodiment having the above-described configuration, the circulation pipe connected to the heat sink 50 for cooling the assembled battery 30 and the connection end of the pipe and the heat sink 50 are the container body. 20 is laid out on the upper surface 22 of the substrate. Therefore, when the cooling medium flows out from the circulation path due to a maintenance failure or the like, the flowing heat medium may diffuse from the upper surface 22 of the container body 20.

  On the other hand, in the fourth embodiment, by having the configuration in which the shielding wall 23 of each of the first to third embodiments is formed closer to the lid portion 10, the diffused cooling medium is transferred to the electronic device 60 and the electrode terminal. It is possible to improve the reliability of the power supply device by avoiding flowing to the side surface of the device where 2a and 2b are located.

  As described above, according to the power supply device of the embodiment of the present invention, in the storage container that stores the assembled battery 30, the lid 10 as a side surface on which the upper surface 22 of the container body 20 and the electrode of the assembled battery 30 are disposed. By providing the shielding wall 23 and the like between them, it is possible to reduce the movement of water droplets from the upper surface 22 and improve the drip-proof property.

  However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

  In the above description, the shielding portion of the present invention is implemented as a shielding wall provided between the lid portion 10 and the upper surface 22 of the container body 20, but the shielding portion of the present invention is a power storage element. As long as the behavior of the fluid on the upper surface 22 can be regulated so as not to reach the side surface on which the electrode is located, the configuration may be arbitrary.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the groove portion provided on the upper surface 22 of the container body 20 so as to extend in parallel with the lid portion 10 so that both ends thereof reach the side surface 21 of the container body 20 orthogonal to the lid portion 10. 25 may be realized. In this case, water droplets or the like dripped or condensed on the upper surface 20 drops on the side surface 21 along the groove 25, so that the same drip-proof effect as in the above embodiments is achieved.

  Moreover, although each said embodiment was shown as an independent thing, you may implement the structure of each embodiment combining all the one part or some characteristics arbitrarily.

  In the above description, the storage element of the present invention is a single battery represented by a lithium ion secondary battery. However, as long as it is a battery that can be charged and discharged by an electrochemical reaction, a nickel metal hydride battery and other various types. Secondary batteries may be used. Moreover, a primary battery may be sufficient. Furthermore, it may be an element that directly stores electricity as electric charges, such as an electric double layer capacitor. In short, the power storage element of the present invention is not limited by its specific method as long as it can store electricity.

  In the above description, the outer shape of the container body 20 is rectangular. However, the container body 20 may have an arbitrary shape such as a circle or a polygon, and the bottom shape of the container body 20 is an arbitrary shape corresponding to this. It's okay. The lid 10 and the container body 20 are made of the same kind of metal, but may be made of different materials. Further, it may be made of a resin or other material.

  Moreover, although the unit cell 31 constituting the assembled battery 30 is a metal outer hexahedron, it may be a cylindrical shape or the like. In addition, the assembled battery 30 is a stack of 8 rows of cells, and is a stack of 2 rows x 4 rows. However, the battery pack 30 may be a stack of any number of combinations both vertically and horizontally. In short, the power supply device of the present invention is not limited by the number, shape, and other specific configurations of the power storage elements.

  In short, the present invention may be implemented by adding various modifications to the above-described embodiment, including those described above, as long as they do not depart from the spirit of the present invention.

  The present invention as described above has an effect that the drip-proof property can be improved in the power supply device, and is useful, for example, in a power supply device using a secondary battery.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 2 Power supply device 2a, 2b Electrode terminal 10 Cover part 10a Cover member 12a, 21a Tab 12b, 21b Through hole 14 Shielding wall 14a, 14b Bending point 15 Plate part 20 Storage container 20x, 20y Opening 21 Side surface 22 Upper surface 23 Shielding wall 23a main surface 24 sealing plate 30 assembled battery 31 single cell 31b upper surface 31c main surface 32 heat conduction sheet 40 angle member 50 heat sink 60 electronic device 70 cover

Claims (11)

A storage element;
A storage container for storing at least the power storage element;
The electrode terminal of the electricity storage element is disposed on a side surface of the storage container,
It is located between the upper surface and the side surface of the storage container, and has a shielding part formed along the side surface,
Power supply. The shielding part is a shielding wall that is taller than the upper surface.
The power supply device according to claim 1. The electrode is provided on one bottom surface of the electricity storage element,
The storage container surrounds the periphery of the side surface of the power storage element, and has a rectangular tube part having at least one end opened,
The shielding wall is formed by bending a part of a portion forming the side surface including the one end of the square tube portion,
The power supply device according to claim 2. The electrode is provided on one bottom surface of the electricity storage element,
The storage container encloses the periphery of the electricity storage element including the bottom surface, and has a rectangular tube part having at least one end opened,
The shielding wall is formed by extending from the bottom surface of the square tube portion,
The upper surface is formed by bending a part of a portion forming the side surface including the one end of the square tube portion,
The power supply device according to claim 2. The electrode is provided on one bottom surface of the electricity storage element,
The storage container is
Surrounding the periphery of the side surface of the electricity storage element, and at least one end of the rectangular tube member opened,
An angle member having a first plate portion parallel to the side surface of the rectangular tube member and a second plate portion bent from the first plate portion;
The surface of the first plate portion of the angle member is formed as all or part of the upper surface,
A second plate portion of the angle member is formed as the shielding wall;
The power supply device according to claim 2. The step structure is
Formed on the upper surface of the storage container, both ends thereof are grooves that do not reach the side surface,
The power supply device according to claim 1. An electronic device that performs an operation related to the power storage element;
The electronic device is disposed on the same surface as the side surface on which the electrode of the electricity storage element is located.
The power supply device according to claim 1. The storage container has a sealing body that seals the one end of the rectangular tube portion,
One main surface of the sealing body is opposed to the other bottom surface of the electricity storage element,
The power supply device according to claim 3. Two sets of the storage container and the storage element,
The one main surface of the sealing body is opposed to the other bottom surface of the two sets of the electricity storage elements,
The other main surface of the sealing body is opposed to the other bottom surface of the other two power storage elements.
The power supply device according to claim 6. The sealing body is
It has a heat dissipation function and is in direct or indirect contact with the other bottom surface of the electricity storage element.
The power supply device according to claim 7 or 8. The sealing body has a flow path that is provided therein and allows a cooling medium to pass therethrough.
On the upper surface of the storage container,
A circulation pipe that is connected to the flow path and circulates the cooling medium in the sealing body can be disposed.
The power supply device according to claim 10.

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