JP2019013066A - Battery charging device - Google Patents

Abstract

To secure spatial heat capacity of a charger while dew condensation of a battery is prevented.SOLUTION: A battery charging device 100 comprises: a battery 20; a charger 22 for supplying power to the battery; a storage case 24 for storing the battery and the charger; a partition wall 26 which is installed in the storage case and partitions a space where the battery is stored and a space where the charger is stored; an opening/closing mechanism 30 which is arranged in the partition wall and communicates and interrupts the space where the battery is stored and the space where the charger is stored; and an opening/closing mechanism control section 114 for controlling an opening/closing mechanism. The opening/closing mechanism control section communicates the space where the battery is stored and the space where the charger is stored when a temperature of the battery is equal to or higher than a prescribed temperature when the charger is operated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery charging device that charges a battery mounted on a vehicle.

  A vehicle such as a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle is provided with a drive motor, and a battery for operating the drive motor is mounted. In recent years, in order to improve fuel efficiency and power performance, such a vehicle is equipped with a high-voltage and large-capacity drive battery.

  Further, the vehicle may be equipped with a charger. The charger receives power from an external power source and supplies the power to the battery. The battery receives power supplied from the charger and stores (charges) the power. Therefore, the battery and the charger may be placed close to each other and may be housed in the same housing case. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technique in which a battery is housed in a housing and a charger is provided on a wall portion of the housing.

Japanese Patent No. 5769386

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, the battery and the charger are accommodated in the same space. Therefore, if the charger is operated when the temperature of the battery is low, the air heated by the charger may come into contact with the battery and condensation may occur in the battery. Thus, if dew condensation occurs in the battery, it will cause a decrease in the insulation resistance of the battery.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to provide a partition that separates the space in which the battery is stored and the space in which the charger is stored in the storage case. However, when the partition wall is provided in this manner, the mutual space is closed until the battery is at room temperature or higher (when no condensation occurs in the battery). Thus, when each space is closed, the space heat capacity of the space in which the charger is accommodated becomes lower than before the partition is provided, and the output performance of the charger may be reduced. .

  Then, in view of such a subject, this invention aims at providing the battery charging device which can ensure the space heat capacity of a charger, preventing condensation of a battery.

  In order to solve the above problems, a battery charger of the present invention is provided with a battery, a charger that supplies power to the battery, a storage case that stores the battery and the charger, and a storage case. A partition that separates the space to be stored from the space in which the charger is accommodated, an opening / closing mechanism that is provided in the partition and that communicates and blocks the space in which the battery is accommodated and the space in which the charger is accommodated, and An open / close mechanism control unit that controls the mechanism, and the open / close mechanism control unit includes a space in which the battery is accommodated when the battery temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature during operation of the charger; Communicate with the space to be accommodated.

  Further, the opening / closing mechanism control unit may cause the space in which the battery is accommodated to communicate with the space in which the charger is accommodated when the battery temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature at the start of charging of the charger. .

  The opening / closing mechanism may be provided on a surface of the partition wall extending in the vertical direction.

  According to the present invention, the space heat capacity of the charger can be secured while preventing condensation of the battery.

It is explanatory drawing explaining the structure of the vehicle by which a battery charging device is mounted. It is explanatory drawing explaining the structure of the vehicle by which a battery charging device is mounted. It is an extraction figure of the charger stored in the storage case. It is a flowchart explaining the opening / closing process of the opening / closing mechanism in a battery charging device. It is a figure explaining the battery charging device concerning the 1st modification of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the battery charging device concerning the 2nd modification of this embodiment.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in the embodiments are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not illustrated. To do.

  1 and 2 are explanatory diagrams for explaining the configuration of the vehicle 10 on which the battery charging device 100 is mounted. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the vehicle 10 viewed from the left direction, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the vehicle 10 viewed from the rear direction. In FIG. 1, the flow of power is indicated by solid arrows, and the flow of control signals is indicated by broken arrows. In the following, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the traveling direction of the vehicle 10 is the forward direction, the backward direction of the vehicle 10 is the backward direction, the vertically upward direction is the upward direction, the vertically downward direction is the downward direction, and the traveling direction is on the right side. Is the right direction, and the left side of the traveling direction is the left direction.

  Here, the vehicle 10 is a hybrid vehicle (HV) provided with an engine (internal combustion engine) 12 and a drive motor (for example, a synchronous motor) 14 as drive sources, particularly a plug-in hybrid that can receive electric power from an external power source. A car (PHV) will be described as an example. However, the embodiment can be applied to various vehicles such as an electric vehicle (EV) as long as the vehicle is equipped with the battery 20 regardless of the plug-in hybrid vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle 10 is equipped with an engine 12, a drive motor 14, a power control unit (hereinafter referred to as PCU) 16, and a battery charging device 100. The vehicle 10 travels with the engine 12 with priority over the drive motor 14, travels with the drive motor 14 with priority over the engine 12, and the engine 12 and the drive motor 14 are driven according to the travel state such as required torque. Or run together. The engine 12 and the drive motor 14 are provided on the front side of the vehicle 10. The PCU 16 is provided below the rear side of the passenger compartment formed in the vehicle 10. The battery charger 100 is provided below a luggage compartment (trunk room) formed on the rear side of the passenger compartment.

  In the vehicle 10, the charger 22 constituting the battery charging device 100 sends power (for example, single-phase or three-phase AC power) sent from an external power source (for example, a commercial commercial power source) through an external connection terminal. Receive power. Then, the charger 22 boosts the received power to a voltage suitable for charging the battery 20 constituting the battery charging device 100 (for example, DC power having a voltage of 100 V to 400 V) and supplies the power to the battery 20 (power transmission). To do.

  The battery (driving high voltage battery) 20 is configured by a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery including a plurality of cells. The battery 20 stores electric power boosted by the charger 22 (for example, direct-current power with a voltage of 100 V or higher). The battery 20 supplies (transmits) power to the PCU 16.

  The PCU 16 includes a booster 16a, an inverter 16b, and the like. The booster 16 a boosts the electric power (DC power) stored in the battery 20. The inverter 16 b converts the boosted DC power into AC power and supplies it to the drive motor 14. The drive motor 14 operates by receiving power supply from the PCU 16. The drive motor 14 is composed of a synchronous motor or the like, and is rotationally controlled according to the electric power supplied from the PCU 16.

  The battery charger 100 includes a battery 20, a charger 22, a housing case 24, and a partition wall 26. The housing case 24 is formed of, for example, a sheet metal such as aluminum or iron. The housing case 24 houses at least the battery 20 and the charger 22.

  The partition wall 26 is provided in the housing case 24, and is formed of, for example, a sheet metal such as a magnesium alloy. The partition wall 26 separates a space in which the battery 20 is accommodated (hereinafter abbreviated as “battery space”) and a space in which the charger 22 is accommodated (hereinafter abbreviated as “charger space”). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the partition wall 26 includes a surface (a surface facing the bottom surface of the charger 22) 26 a extending in the horizontal direction (left and right direction in the drawing) and a vertical direction (up and down in the drawing). Direction) and a surface (a surface facing the side surface of the charger 22) 26b. And the charger 22 is arrange | positioned so that it may be supported by the surface 26a.

  Assume that the battery 20 and the charger 22 are accommodated in the same case (accommodating case 24) and the partition wall 26 is not provided. In such a state, when the charger 22 is operated when the temperature of the battery 20 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature set in advance (for example, 0 ° C., which is a low temperature), the charger 22 is operated. The heat generated by the contact with the battery 20 causes condensation on the battery 20.

  However, in the battery charging device 100 of the present embodiment, the battery space and the charger space are separated by the partition wall 26. If it does so, since battery space and charger space will be intercepted, movement of air (heat) between battery space and charger space will be lost (movement of air will be prevented). Therefore, in the battery charging device 100, even if the charger 22 is operated when the battery 20 is at a low temperature, the heat of the charger 22 is not easily transmitted to the battery 20, so that it is possible to prevent condensation that occurs in the battery 20. Become.

  On the other hand, when the storage case 24 is separated into the battery space and the charger space by the partition wall 26, the space heat capacity of the charger space is compared with the space heat capacity of the charger 22 when the partition wall 26 is not provided. Will fall. Thus, when the space heat capacity of the charger 22 decreases, the output performance of the charger 22 may decrease.

  Note that the battery 20 and the charger 22 are accommodated in the same case (accommodating case 24) and the partition wall 26 is not provided, and the temperature of the battery 20 is set to a predetermined temperature ( For example, when the battery 22 is operated when the temperature is equal to or higher than 25 ° C., which is normal temperature, there is no possibility that condensation occurs in the battery 20. That is, even if the battery space and the charger space are communicated in this state, no problem occurs.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, when there is no possibility that condensation occurs in the battery 20 (when the battery 22 operates when the battery 20 is at a predetermined temperature (for example, 25 ° C., which is normal temperature) or higher), the battery space and The charger space is communicated to secure the space heat capacity of the charger 22 (so that the space heat capacity in the housing case 24 can be used to the maximum).

  Specifically, an opening / closing mechanism 30 is provided in the partition wall 26 constituting the battery charging device 100 of the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is an extraction diagram of the charger 22 housed in the housing case 24. 3A shows a case where the opening / closing mechanism 30 is closed (battery space and charger space are cut off), and FIG. 3B shows that the opening / closing mechanism 30 is opened (battery space and charger space). Indicates the case where communication is made.

  As shown in FIG. 3, for example, the opening / closing mechanism 30 is provided on a surface 26 b of the partition wall 26 that extends in the vertical direction. The opening / closing mechanism 30 includes a slide frame 32, a fixed plate 34 and a slide plate 36. The slide frame 32 is a frame member for holding the fixed plate 34 and the slide plate 36 inside. The length of the slide frame 32 in the longitudinal direction (length in the front-rear direction in FIG. 3) is substantially equal to the length in the longitudinal direction of the partition wall 26, and the length in the vertical direction (length in the vertical direction in FIG. 3) is The vertical length of the partition wall 26 is substantially equal. Therefore, sealing (separation between the battery space and the charger space) is also maintained by the opening / closing mechanism 30.

  The fixed plate 34 is a flat plate and is fixed upward inside the slide frame 32. The length in the longitudinal direction of the fixed plate 34 is substantially equal to the length in the longitudinal direction of the partition wall 26, and the length in the vertical direction of the fixed plate 34 corresponds to approximately ½ of the length in the vertical direction of the partition wall 26.

  The slide plate 36 is a flat plate and is formed to be movable up and down inside the slide frame 32. The length of the slide plate 36 in the longitudinal direction is substantially equal to the length of the partition wall 26 in the longitudinal direction, and the length of the slide plate 36 in the vertical direction corresponds to approximately ½ of the length of the partition wall 26 in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the slide plate 36 is normally located on the lower side in the vertical direction with respect to the fixed plate 34. That is, the opening / closing mechanism 30 closes the partition wall 26. As a result, the battery space and the charger space are blocked. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the slide plate 36 slides (moves) upward, the lower side of the fixed plate 34 is opened, and a flow path 40 that connects the battery space and the charger space is formed. Is done. Then, air (heat) can be moved between the battery space and the charger space through the flow path 40. Detailed control of the opening / closing mechanism 30 will be described later.

  The opening / closing mechanism 30 may be provided on a surface 26a of the partition wall 26 that extends in the horizontal direction. However, for example, when the vehicle 10 is traveling, if the temperature of the charger 22 is low and the battery 20 is high, condensation may occur in the charger 22. In the case where the opening / closing mechanism 30 is provided on the surface 26a extending in the horizontal direction, when the opening / closing mechanism 30 is opened, condensed water generated by condensation on the charger 22 enters the battery space. If it does so, the battery 20 will be exposed to condensed water and there exists a possibility of malfunctioning. Therefore, the opening / closing mechanism 30 is preferably provided on the surface 26b. However, if the purpose is to prevent condensation that may occur in the battery 20 and to ensure the space heat capacity of the charger 22, the opening / closing mechanism 30 may be provided on the surface 26b, even if provided on the surface 26a. The same effect as that provided in the case is achieved.

  Here, returning to FIG. 1, the vehicle 10 is provided with a control device 110. The control device 110 is constituted by a semiconductor integrated circuit including a central processing unit (CPU), a ROM storing programs, a RAM as a work area, and the like, and controls the entire vehicle 10. Control device 110 is electrically connected to battery charging device 100 and temperature sensor 120. In addition to controlling the operation of the entire vehicle 10, the control device 110 also functions as a charger control unit 112, an opening / closing mechanism control unit 114, and a chargeability determination unit 116 by executing a program. In addition, although the control apparatus 110 and the charger 22 are demonstrated as a separate body here, both can be comprised integrally, or it can also be set as the structure by which the control apparatus 110 is included in the charger 22. FIG.

  The temperature sensor 120 detects the temperature (temperature T) of the battery 20 and transmits a temperature signal indicating the detected temperature to the control device 110.

  Here, a specific operation of the control device 110 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the opening / closing process of the opening / closing mechanism 30 in the battery charging apparatus 100.

  First, a charging gun provided at one end of a charging cable (not shown) is connected to a power supply port (not shown) provided in the vehicle 10, and a charging plug provided at the other end of the charging cable is connected to a commercial power outlet or the like. When connected to the external power supply, the charger control unit 112 activates the charger 22 (S201). At this point, charging has not yet started.

  When the charger 22 is activated, the opening / closing mechanism control unit 114 acquires the operating state (whether or not it is operating) of the charger 22, and the chargeability determination unit 116 determines the voltage of power stored in the battery 20 ( Get the amount of electricity stored. Then, the chargeability determination unit 116 determines whether or not charging is possible (for example, the charger 22 is operating normally and has not reached a predetermined upper limit voltage) (S202).

  If it is determined that charging is possible (YES in step S202), charger control unit 112 operates charger 22 and starts charging (S203). On the other hand, if it is determined that charging is not possible (NO charging is possible) (NO in step S202), charger control unit 112 repeats the process in step S202 until it is determined that charging is possible.

  When charging is started, the opening / closing mechanism control unit 114 acquires a temperature signal (temperature T) of the battery 20 detected by the temperature sensor 120 (S204). Then, the opening / closing mechanism control unit 114 determines whether or not the temperature (temperature T) of the battery 20 is equal to or higher than a threshold value T1 (for example, 25 ° C.) (S205).

  If it is determined that the temperature (temperature T) of the battery 20 is equal to or higher than the threshold T1 (YES in step S205), the opening / closing mechanism control unit 114 determines that no condensation occurs in the battery 20, and the opening / closing mechanism 30 is Open (S206). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3B, the opening / closing mechanism control unit 114 slides the slide plate 36 upward in the vertical direction. By doing so, the flow path 40 is formed in the partition wall 26 (inside the slide frame 32 in the opening / closing mechanism 30), and the battery space and the charger space are communicated. Thus, the space heat capacity of the charger 22 is ensured.

  Thereafter, the charging of the battery 20 proceeds, and the charger control unit 112 determines that the charging end condition (for example, the voltage of the battery 20 reaches a predetermined upper limit voltage) based on the amount of stored power acquired by the chargeability determination unit 116. ) Is satisfied (S207). And if it determines with the completion | finish conditions of charge having been satisfied (YES in step S207), the charger control part 112 will stop the action | operation of the charger 22, and will complete | finish charge (S208). Note that the charger 22 remains activated until at least one of the connection between the power supply port and the charging gun or the connection between the charging plug and the external power supply is released.

  When the charging is completed, the opening / closing mechanism control unit 114 closes the opening / closing mechanism 30 (S209), and ends the opening / closing process of the opening / closing mechanism 30. If it is determined in step S207 that the charging termination condition is not satisfied (NO in step S207), the opening / closing mechanism control unit 114 performs step S207 until it is determined that the charging termination condition is satisfied. Repeat the process. That is, the opening / closing mechanism control unit 114 continues to open the opening / closing mechanism 30 until charging is completed.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S205 that the temperature (temperature T) of the battery 20 is less than the threshold T1 (NO in step S205), the opening / closing mechanism control unit 114 determines that condensation occurs in the battery 20, The closed state of the opening / closing mechanism 30 is maintained (S210). Specifically, since the opening / closing mechanism 30 is in a state as shown in FIG. 3A, the battery space and the charger space are blocked. In this way, condensation that occurs in the battery 20 is prevented.

  Thereafter, similarly to the case where the opening / closing mechanism 30 is opened (S206), the charger control unit 112 determines whether or not the charging end condition is satisfied based on the amount of power acquired by the charge availability determination unit 116. Is determined (S207). And if it determines with the completion | finish conditions of charge having been satisfied (YES in step S207), the charger control part 112 will stop the action | operation of the charger 22, and will complete | finish charge (S208). As described above, the charger 22 remains activated until at least one of the connection between the power supply port and the charging gun or the connection between the charging plug and the external power supply is released.

  When the charging is completed, the opening / closing mechanism control unit 114 ends the opening / closing process of the opening / closing mechanism 30 while maintaining the closed state of the opening / closing mechanism 30 (S209). If it is determined in step S207 that the charging termination condition is not satisfied (NO in step S207), the opening / closing mechanism control unit 114 performs step S207 until it is determined that the charging termination condition is satisfied. Repeat the process. That is, the opening / closing mechanism control unit 114 keeps closing the opening / closing mechanism 30.

  With this configuration, when the battery charging device 100 may cause condensation in the battery 20 (when the battery charger 22 operates when the battery 20 is below normal temperature), the battery charging device 100 can Shut off the charger space. Accordingly, warm air generated when the charger 22 is operated does not flow (move) to the battery space. Therefore, warm air does not come into contact with the cold battery 20, and the battery charger 100 can prevent condensation of the battery 20.

  On the other hand, when there is no possibility that condensation occurs in the battery 20 (when the battery charger 22 operates when the battery 20 is at room temperature or higher), the battery charger 100 opens the opening / closing mechanism 30 to charge the battery space. Communicate with vessel space. As a result, the battery space and the charger space can be shared. Therefore, the battery charging device 100 increases the space heat capacity of the charger 22 that has been reduced by providing the partition wall 26 by the battery space through the flow path 40 (maintains the space heat capacity without the partition wall 26). can do. Therefore, the battery charger 100 can ensure the space heat capacity of the charger 22 while preventing condensation of the battery 20.

(First modification)
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a battery charger 200 according to a first modification of the present embodiment. The battery charging device 200 of the first modification is provided with an opening / closing mechanism 210 different from the opening / closing mechanism 30. 5 shows an extraction diagram of the charger 22 housed in the housing case 24 as in FIG. FIG. 5A shows a case where the opening / closing mechanism 210 is closed (battery space and charger space are cut off), and FIG. 5B shows an opening / closing mechanism 210 opened (battery space and charger space). Indicates the case where communication is made.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the opening / closing mechanism 210 is provided, for example, on a surface 26 b of the partition wall 26 that extends in the vertical direction. The opening / closing mechanism 210 includes a slide frame 32, a fixed part 212, and a slide part 214. Since the slide frame 32 is as described above, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The fixing portion 212 is configured by a plurality of flat plates 216 that are indicated by hatching in FIG. 5 and extend in the front-rear direction. The flat plates 216 are provided at equal intervals in the vertical direction inside the slide frame 32. Here, for example, four flat plates 216 are provided. The length in the longitudinal direction of the flat plate 216 is substantially equal to the length in the longitudinal direction of the slide frame 32, and the length in the vertical direction is a length obtained by equally dividing the length of the slide frame 32 in the vertical direction (for example, equal to 7). Is almost equal.

  The slide part 214 is composed of a plurality of flat plates 218 extending in the front-rear direction shown by cross hatching in FIG. The flat plates 218 are provided at equal intervals in the vertical direction inside the slide frame 32. Here, for example, three flat plates 218 are provided. The flat plate 218 is formed in the same size as the flat plate 216.

  A plurality of flat plates 216 provided on the fixed portion 212 and a plurality of flat plates 218 provided on the slide portion 214 are alternately provided inside the slide frame 32 so as not to overlap each other. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5A, the flat plate 216 and the flat plate 218 are positioned in the slide frame 32 without a gap during normal operation (when the opening / closing mechanism 210 closes the partition wall 26). The inside of the slide frame 32 can be sealed to block the battery space and the charger space.

  On the other hand, when the slide part 214 slides (moves) upward, the flat plate 216 and the flat plate 218 overlap in the left-right direction. Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, the portion of the slide frame 32 where the flat plate 216 and the flat plate 218 do not overlap is opened, and a flow path 220 that connects the battery space and the charger space is formed. Therefore, also in the opening / closing mechanism 210 (battery charging apparatus 200), the battery space and the charger space can be communicated and blocked.

  At this time, the slide portion 214 only needs to move by one plate 218, and the opening / closing mechanism 210 can open / close the opening / closing mechanism 210 with less power than the opening / closing mechanism 30. Further, since the flow path 220 is formed over the entire inner side of the slide frame 32 as compared with the flow path 40, the battery space and the charger space can be evenly communicated (all over).

(Second modification)
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a battery charger 300 according to a second modification of the present embodiment. The battery charging device 300 of the second modified example is provided with an opening / closing mechanism 310 different from the opening / closing mechanism 30. 6 shows an extraction diagram of the charger 22 housed in the housing case 24 as in FIG. FIG. 6A shows a case where the opening / closing mechanism 310 is closed (battery space and charger space are shut off), and FIG. 6B shows that the opening / closing mechanism 310 is opened (battery space and charger space). Indicates the case where communication is made. In addition, description is abbreviate | omitted about the structure substantially equal to the battery charging device 100 mentioned above. In order to understand the description, the charger 22 is indicated by hatching in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the opening / closing mechanism 310 is provided, for example, on the surface 26b of the partition wall 26 extending in the vertical direction. The opening / closing mechanism 310 includes a holding unit 312 and a plurality of plate members 314.

  A pair of holding portions 312 are provided to extend in the vertical direction at the front-rear direction end of the partition wall 26 (the surface 26 b extending in the vertical direction), and hold a plurality of plate members 314.

  The plate member 314 is a flat plate, and a plurality of (for example, nine) plate members 314 are provided inside the pair of holding portions 312 in parallel to the longitudinal direction (the front-rear direction in FIG. 6) of the plate member 314 at a predetermined interval. The length in the longitudinal direction of the plate member 314 is formed to be approximately equal to the length (interval) between the pair of holding portions 312 facing each other, and the vertical length is the vertical length of the partition wall 26. It is formed to be approximately equal to an equally divided length (for example, 9 equal parts). Further, the adjacent plate members 314 are not overlapped with each other and are provided at positions where the longitudinal sides of the respective plate members 314 are in contact with each other. Further, the plate member 314 is pivotally supported so as to be capable of rotating by 90 degrees, with an axis extending in the longitudinal direction as a central axis.

  By providing the plate members 314 so as not to overlap each other and the sides in the longitudinal direction of adjacent plate members 314 are in contact with each other, the space formed inside the frame is sealed as shown in FIG. The battery space and the charger space can be shut off by being stopped (closed). On the other hand, when the plate member 314 rotates, as shown in FIG. 6B, the inside of the holding portion 312 is opened, and a flow path 316 that communicates the battery space and the charger space is formed, and the battery space and the charge are charged. Air (heat) can be transferred to and from the vessel space. Therefore, also in the opening / closing mechanism 310 (battery charging device 300), the battery space and the charger space can be communicated and blocked.

  At this time, the plate member 314 can be provided without waste (up to the limit) on the entire surface 26b (partition wall 26) extending in the vertical direction, so that the flow path 316 having a larger flow path area than the flow path 40 is provided. Can be formed. Since the flow path 316 is formed over the entire inside of the two holding portions 312 provided in parallel, the battery space and the charger space can be evenly communicated (all over).

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to this embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and these are naturally within the technical scope of the present invention. Is done.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the opening / closing mechanism control unit 114 opens the opening / closing mechanism 30 when the temperature (temperature T) of the battery 20 is higher than the threshold T1 when charging is started has been described. However, the opening / closing mechanism control unit 114 periodically measures the temperature (temperature T) of the battery 20 during charging (while the charger 22 is operating), and the temperature (temperature T) of the battery 20 becomes equal to or higher than the threshold T1. In this case, the opening / closing mechanism 30 may be opened.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the opening / closing mechanism 30 is provided on the surface 26b provided in the vertical direction of the partition wall 26 has been described. As described above, for example, when the vehicle 10 is traveling, if the temperature of the charger 22 is low and the battery 20 is high, condensation may occur in the charger 22. Therefore, the opening / closing mechanism 30 may have a hollow portion that stores condensed water generated by condensation attached to the charger 22. The recess is provided on a surface 26 a of the partition wall 26 that extends in the horizontal direction. Thereby, the opening / closing mechanism 30 allows the battery space and the charger to be charged when the condensation of the charger 22 (or the condensed water adhering to the surface 26a extending in the horizontal direction) generated during the traveling of the vehicle 10 has not evaporated. Even if it connects with space, condensed water can be stored in a hollow part. Therefore, the opening / closing mechanism 30 can prevent the condensed water from entering the battery space.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the fixed plate 34 is provided to be fixed upward inside the slide frame 32 has been described. However, the position of the fixing plate 34 is not necessarily fixed upward inside the slide frame 32. Further, the fixed plate 34 does not necessarily have to be fixed, and may be provided so as to be movable (slidable). At least the fixed plate 34 seals the inside of the slide frame 32 together with the slide plate 36, and forms the flow path 40 by moving only the slide plate 36 or the fixed plate 34 and the slide plate 36, and the battery. It is sufficient that the space and the charger space are communicated.

  The present invention can be used for a battery charging device that charges a battery mounted on a vehicle.

20 Battery 22 Battery Charger 24 Housing Case 26 Bulkhead 30, 210, 310 Opening / Closing Mechanism 100 Battery Charging Device 114 Opening / Closing Mechanism Control Unit

Claims (3)

Battery,
A charger for supplying power to the battery;
A housing case for housing the battery and the charger;
A partition wall provided in the housing case and separating a space in which the battery is housed from a space in which the charger is housed;
An opening / closing mechanism provided on the partition wall for communicating and blocking a space in which the battery is accommodated and a space in which the charger is accommodated;
An opening / closing mechanism control unit for controlling the opening / closing mechanism;
With
The opening / closing mechanism control unit communicates a space in which the battery is accommodated with a space in which the charger is accommodated when the temperature of the battery is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature when the charger is in operation. Battery charger.   The opening / closing mechanism control unit communicates a space in which the battery is accommodated with a space in which the charger is accommodated when the temperature of the battery is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature at the start of charging of the charger. The battery charger according to claim 1.   The battery charging device according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing mechanism is provided on a surface of the partition wall that extends in a vertical direction.

Images