JP5213361B2 - Pack battery - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery pack in which a battery is housed in a waterproof case, and more particularly to a battery pack in which a case main body and a case lid are connected to the waterproof structure via an O-ring.

The battery pack can be used safely and conveniently outdoors with a waterproof structure for the battery case. A battery pack with a waterproof case has been developed. (See Patent Documents 1 to 3)
In the battery pack described in these publications, the opening of the case is closed with a waterproof structure with an O-ring interposed therebetween.
JP 2002-63875 A JP 2000-48786 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-69893

  It is important that the waterproof structure of the O-ring is brought into close contact with the elastic restoring force of the crushed O-ring. This is because if the O-ring is not pressed and a gap is formed, a waterproof structure cannot be realized. Since this waterproof structure seals the gap with the elastic restoring force of the O-ring, it is necessary to hold the O-ring in a state where it can be crushed and deformed within a range where it can be elastically deformed. This is because an elastic restoring force does not act on the O-ring that is not crushed. The case in which the opening is hermetically sealed with an O-ring receives a reaction due to a restoring force that crushes the O-ring. In particular, since the waterproof structure is realized by holding the O-ring in the pressed state, this restoring force always acts on the case and causes the case to be distorted. In the case where distortion occurs due to the restoring force of the O-ring, the O-ring cannot be pressed into a deformed state, and a waterproof structure cannot be realized. Although this case can be prevented by using a strong structure that does not deform the case, the strong case needs to be formed thick, so it becomes heavier and larger, and the manufacturing cost also increases. Since it is important to pack a battery pack with a small outer shape, light weight, and mass production at low cost, it is required that the case be molded as thin as possible. The thin case is easily deformed, and it is difficult to elastically deform the O-ring into a crushed state and hold it in this state. That is, the waterproof structure of the case by the O-ring can be strongly pressed and waterproofed in an ideal state. However, if pressed strongly, the case is easily distorted, and a problem that the waterproof state deteriorates due to the distortion of the case occurs. In reality, it is also difficult to form a strong structure by thickening the case. For this reason, it is difficult for the battery pack to keep the case in a waterproof structure for a long period of time with an O-ring while making the outer shape small and light.

  The present invention has been developed for the purpose of realizing this. An important object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack that can hold a case in a waterproof structure in an ideal state over a long period of time.

The battery pack of the present invention has the following configuration in order to achieve the aforementioned object.
In the battery pack, the battery 1 is housed in cases 2 and 42 having a waterproof structure. The cases 2 and 42 have openings 15 and 55, and the case bodies 10 and 50 having the storage portions 14 and 54 of the battery 1 therein, and the openings 15 and 55 of the case bodies 10 and 50 are connected to the O-ring 3. And case lids 20 and 60 closed to a waterproof structure. The case lids 20 and 60 have the first ribs 21 and 61 projecting at positions away from the outer periphery to the inside. The first ribs 21, 61 are formed in a shape that bends the outer ends toward the outside, and are provided with bent portions 22, 62. The first ribs 21, 61 are formed between the bent portions 22, 62 and the inner surfaces of the case lids 20, 60. Guide grooves 23 and 63 for accommodating the O-ring 3 are provided therebetween. The case body 10, 50 is allowed to protrusively the second rib 11, 51 at a position away from the opening edge to the inside. The second ribs 11 and 51 are inserted into the guide grooves 23 and 63 on both the side surfaces 11A and 51A and the front end surfaces 11B and 51B in a state where the case lids 20 and 60 are fixed to the case main bodies 10 and 50. The ring 3 is provided at a position where the ring 3 is elastically pressed. In the battery pack, the O-ring 3 is inserted into the guide grooves 23 and 63 of the case lids 20 and 60, the case lids 20 and 60 are fixed to the case main bodies 10 and 50, and the second ribs 11 and 51 and the case lid 20, The O-ring 3 is sandwiched between the inner surface of 60 and the O-ring 3 is sandwiched between the second ribs 11 and 51 and the first ribs 21 and 61 to form a waterproof structure, and the case body (10), ( 50) and the case lids (20), (60) are fixed by set screws (5) .

  In the battery pack of claim 2 of the present invention, the case main bodies 10 and 50 and the case lids 20 and 60 are fixed by set screws 5 penetrating the case lids 20 and 60.

  In the battery pack of claim 3 of the present invention, the case lids 20 and 60 are formed into a plate shape as a whole.

  In the battery pack of claim 4 of the present invention, the battery 1 is accommodated in the case main bodies 10 and 50 via the holder 4, and the holder 4 and the case main bodies 10 and 50 are positioned by a fitting structure to be in a fixed position. Is arranged.

  The battery pack according to claim 5 of the present invention is provided in the holder 4 with connecting bosses 26 and 66 formed integrally with the case lids 20 and 60 and a fitting structure between the holder 4 and the case main bodies 10 and 50. And a fitting hole 4A that is inserted into the connecting bosses 26 and 66 and arranged at a fixed position. Further, the connection bosses 26 and 66 are provided with insertion holes 27 and 67 through which the set screws 5 for connecting the case lids 20 and 60 to the case main bodies 10 and 50 are inserted.

  The present invention is characterized in that the case can be held in a waterproof structure in an ideal state over a long period of time. This is because the battery pack of the present invention has a unique structure in which the opening of the case body is closed with a case lid via an O-ring. 1 and 3 show a structure in which the case of the battery pack according to the present invention is an O-ring and the opening of the case body is sealed to the case body by a case lid. As shown in this figure, in the battery pack of the present invention, the second rib provided on the inner surface of the case body presses the O-ring to seal it in a waterproof structure. The O-ring is sandwiched between the second rib and the case lid and pressed in the direction indicated by the arrow A, and further sandwiched between the second rib and the first rib, and pressed in the direction indicated by the arrow B. The O-ring is pressed in two directions indicated by arrows A and B, and the opening of the case body is sealed with a case lid. The O-ring pressed in two directions can be sealed with an ideal waterproof structure while reducing the pressing force in the direction indicated by the arrow A. The pressing force in the direction indicated by the arrow A acts in a direction to open the case lid from the case body. Since the conventional case has a waterproof structure by pressing the O-ring only in this direction, it is necessary to increase the pressing force in this direction to ensure the waterproof structure. The battery pack of the present invention realizes a waterproof structure not only in this direction but also when an O-ring is sandwiched between the first rib and the second rib. For this reason, a waterproof structure can be realized by sandwiching an O-ring in the direction indicated by arrow B while reducing the pressing force in the direction indicated by arrow A. The pressing force in the direction indicated by the arrow B acts in the direction of increasing the opening of the case body. The case body is hardly deformed by the pressing force acting in this direction. This is because the pressing force in this direction acts as a pulling force on the case body. The case body is not easily deformed by a tensile force even if it is thinly formed. As described above, the battery pack of the present invention sandwiches the O-ring between the direction in which the pulling force acts on the case body and the pressing force acting in two directions that deform the case lid. There is a feature that can realize a waterproof structure in an ideal state while being small.

  In particular, the battery pack according to the present invention has a case body and a case lid fixed with a set screw penetrating the case lid as described in claim 2, and a case battery according to claim 3. There is a feature that the opening of the case body can be sealed to a waterproof structure with a case lid with an O-ring, while the entire shape is formed into a plate shape.

  Furthermore, the battery pack according to claim 4 of the present invention has a configuration in which, in addition to the configuration of claim 1, the battery is housed in a case body via a holder, and the holder and the case body are positioned by a fitting structure. Since it arrange | positions in a position, it can arrange | position to a case main body so that a battery may not be displaced. Further, the battery pack according to claim 5 of the present invention includes, in addition to the structure of claim 4, a connection boss formed by integrally forming a fitting structure between the holder and the case main body on the case lid, and a battery holder And a fitting hole that is inserted through the connecting boss and is disposed at a fixed position. The connecting boss is further provided with an insertion hole through which a set screw for connecting the case lid to the case body is inserted. The battery pack with this structure uses the connecting boss for connecting the case body and the case lid, and also uses the battery for the member that places the battery in a fixed position. For this reason, there exists the characteristic which can connect firmly with a case main body and a case cover, arrange | positioning a battery in a fixed position.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the example shown below illustrates the battery pack for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention does not specify the battery pack as follows.

  Further, in this specification, in order to facilitate understanding of the scope of claims, numbers corresponding to the members shown in the examples are indicated in the “claims” and “means for solving problems” sections. It is added to the members. However, the members shown in the claims are not limited to the members in the embodiments.

  1 to 3 are diagrams related to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams related to another embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, common components are described with the same reference numerals.

  In the battery pack shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the battery 1 is housed in waterproof cases 2 and 42. Cases 2 and 42 have case openings 10 and 50 that have openings that open downward in the figure and that are provided with storage portions for batteries 1, and the openings of the case bodies 10 and 50 are O Case lids 20 and 60 are provided that are closed to a waterproof structure via the ring 3.

The case main bodies 10 and 50 are formed in a shape in which side walls 13 and 53 are provided on both sides of the surface plates 12 and 52 curved in an arch shape, and the storage portions 14 and 54 for the battery 1 are provided therein. Since the side walls 13 and 53 extend on both sides of the arch-shaped surface plates 12 and 52 in a cross-sectional view, the side walls 13 and 53 have a shape obtained by cutting a part of an ellipse or a shape inclined obliquely. The case main bodies 10 and 50 have the arch-shaped surface plates 12 and 52 and the side walls 13 and 53 on both sides so that the openings 15 and 55 are linear. Furthermore, the case main bodies 10 and 50 are integrally formed with second ribs 11 and 51 protruding from the inner surface in parallel with the opening edge. In the case main body 10 shown in FIG. 1, the second rib 11 is directed from the inner surface of the case main body 10 toward the center of the case main body 10. It has a protruding shape. In the case main body 50 shown in FIG. 4, in other words, the second rib 51 is directed from the inner surface of the case main body 50 toward the opening edge of the case main body 50. It has a protruding shape. These second ribs 11 and 51 are located inwardly from the opening edges of the case main bodies 10 and 50, and the side surfaces 11 </ b> A and 51 </ b> A of the second ribs 11 and 51 are fixed to the case main bodies 10 and 50. And the tip surfaces 11B and 51B are formed at a position and height where the O-ring 3 is elastically pressed. The second rib 11 in FIG. 1 is provided such that the side surface 11A presses the O-ring 3 in the direction indicated by arrow A, and the tip end surface 11B presses the O-ring 3 in the direction indicated by arrow B. Further, the second rib 51 of FIG. 4 is provided so that the O-ring 3 is pressed in the direction indicated by the arrow A by the tip surface 51B and the O-ring 3 is pressed in the direction indicated by the arrow B by the side surface 11A. .
Further, the O-ring 3, the second ribs 11 and 51 of the case bodies 10 and 50, the first ribs 21 and 61 of the case lids 20 and 60 on which the O-ring 3 described later is disposed, and the bent portion 22. 62, and the guide grooves 23 and 63, such a structure is adopted not only on the side walls 13 and 53 extending on both sides of the surface plates 12 and 52 but also on the entire circumference of the surface plate 12. ing.

  The case lids 20 and 60 are made of plastic so as to have a plate shape as a whole. 1 and 4, the case lids 20 and 60 are placed inside the case main bodies 10 and 50, and the openings 15 and 55 of the case main bodies 10 and 50 are closed by the case lids 20 and 60. Therefore, the outer shape of the case lids 20 and 60 is almost equal to the inner shape of the openings 15 and 55 of the case main bodies 10 and 50, and more precisely, slightly smaller than the inner shape of the openings 15 and 55 of the case main bodies 10 and 50. It is small. However, the battery pack of the present invention can also close the opening of the case body with the case lid by overlapping the case lid on the outside of the opening of the case body. In this case, the outer shape of the case lid is formed substantially equal to the outer shape of the opening of the case body.

  The case lids 20 and 60 are integrally formed of plastic with connecting bosses 26 and 66 protruding from the inner surface. The connection bosses 26, 66 are provided with insertion holes 27, 67 through which set screws 5 for fixing the case lids 20, 60 to the case bodies 10, 50 are inserted. The case lids 20, 60 are provided with connecting bosses 26, 66 at the center and the outer periphery of the case lids 20, 60. The connection bosses 26 and 66 on the outer periphery are provided at the four corners. The connection bosses 26 and 66 at the center are used together in a fitting structure for fitting the battery 1 in a fixed position. The fitting structure of the battery 1 includes the connection bosses 26 and 66 of the case lids 20 and 50 and the fitting hole 4 </ b> A of the holder 4 of the battery 1.

  Fixing bosses 16 and 56 into which set screws 5 are screwed are provided so as to face the positions of the connecting bosses 26 and 66 so as to protrude from the inner surfaces of the case main bodies 10 and 50. 1 and 3, the set screw 5 is inserted into the insertion hole 27 of the connecting boss 26 of the case lid 20, and the tip of the set screw 5 is screwed into the fixed boss 16 of the case body 10. 5, the case lid 20 is fixed to the case body 10. In this structure, since the screw head of the set screw 5 does not appear on the surface of the case body 10, the surface of the case body 10 can be kept clean and clean. However, the case can also be provided with a through hole in the fixing boss of the case body, screwing a set screw into the connecting boss, and fixing the case lid to the case body with the set screw. 4 and 5, the set screw 5 is inserted into the insertion hole 67 of the connecting boss 66 provided on the outer periphery of the case lid 60, and the tip of the set screw 5 is provided on the outer periphery of the case body 50. The fixing boss 56 is screwed and a through hole 57 is provided in the fixing boss 56 provided in the central portion of the case body 50, and the distal end portion of the set screw 5 inserted into the through hole 57 is connected to the central portion of the case lid 60. The case lid 60 is fixed to the case main body 50 with a set screw 5 by screwing into the connecting boss 66 provided.

  1, 4, and 5, four batteries 1 are connected to a fixed position by a holder 4. The holder 4 is formed of plastic in a shape in which the cylindrical battery 1 is fitted and placed in a fixed position. The holder 4 has four batteries 1 arranged in a fixed position in a parallel posture. Further, two batteries 1 are arranged in parallel on both sides, and a fitting hole 4A for inserting the connecting bosses 26, 66 is provided therebetween. The holder 4 is disposed at a fixed position of the case lids 20 and 60 by inserting the connecting bosses 26 and 66 through the fitting holes 4A in a state in which the battery 1 is housed inside. Further, the case lids 20 and 60 of FIGS. 2 and 5 are provided with the positioning ribs 24 and 64 integrally formed so as to protrude from the inner surface. The positioning ribs 24 and 64 are provided along both sides of the holder 4. In the case lids 20 and 60, the connection bosses 26 and 66 are inserted into the fitting holes 4A of the holder 4 and the holder 4 is inserted inside the positioning ribs 24 and 64. To place. Further, the holder 4 shown in the figure is provided with a plurality of support ribs 4B that protrude toward the inner surfaces of the case bodies 10 and 50 and are integrally molded in a parallel posture. The support rib 4B is formed in a shape along the inner surfaces of the case main bodies 10 and 50, and supports and reinforces the case main bodies 10 and 50 from the inner surface in a state where the case lids 20 and 60 and the case main bodies 10 and 50 are connected. With this structure, the case main bodies 10 and 50 can be thinly molded to have sufficient strength.

  2 and 5, the circuit board 6 is also fixed to the case lids 20 and 60. The circuit board 6 is mounted with an electronic component (not shown) that realizes a control circuit that controls charging and discharging of the battery 1. The circuit board 6 is connected to the battery 1 through lead wires (not shown), and is charged and discharged while protecting the battery 1.

  Further, the case lids 20 and 60 are provided with the first ribs 21 and 61 integrally formed so as to protrude from the inner surface in order to arrange the O-ring 3 at a fixed position. The first ribs 21 and 61 are provided in parallel to the outer peripheral edge at positions away from the outer peripheral edge of the case lids 20 and 60 inward. Further, the first ribs 21 and 61 are formed in a shape that bends the outer end portion toward the outside to provide the bent portions 22 and 62, and the bent portions 22 and 62 and the inner surfaces of the case lids 20 and 60, The guide grooves 23 and 63 for accommodating the O-ring 3 are provided between them. The first ribs 21 and 61 are such that the width (W) of the guide grooves 23 and 63 is substantially equal to the thickness of the O-ring 3, and the depth (d) of the guide grooves 23 and 63 is greater than the thickness of the O-ring 3. Shallow. The first ribs 21, 61 are shaped so as not to hit the inner surfaces of the case bodies 10, 60 when the case lids 20, 60 are connected to the case bodies 10, 50. In the case 2 of FIG. 1, the side surface 11 </ b> A of the second rib 11 of the case body 10 is disposed in the middle of the opening width (W) of the guide groove 23. In the case 42 of FIG. 4, the front end surface 51 </ b> B of the second rib 51 of the case body 50 is disposed in the middle of the opening width (W) of the guide groove 63.

The above battery pack is assembled in the following steps.
(1) The holder 4 containing the battery 1 is disposed at a fixed position of the case lids 20 and 60. The battery 1 is inserted in the fitting holes 4A of the holder 4 into the connecting bosses 26 and 66 of the case lids 20 and 60, and further disposed inside the positioning ribs 24 and 64 provided on the case lids 20 and 60. It is arranged. The circuit board 6 is fixed to the case lids 20 and 60. The lead plate 7 is welded to the end electrodes on both ends of the battery 1, and the battery 1 is connected to the lead plate 7, and this is connected to the circuit board 6, and the battery 1 is connected to the circuit board 6.
(2) The O-ring 3 is set in the guide grooves 23 and 63 of the case lids 20 and 60.
(3) The case main bodies 10 and 50 are set on the upper surfaces of the case lids 20 and 60, and the openings 15 and 55 of the case main bodies 10 and 50 are closed with the case lids 20 and 60.
(4) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the set screw 5 is inserted into the connecting boss 26 of the case lid 20, the tip of the set screw 5 is screwed into the fixed boss 16 of the case body 10, and the case lid 20 is attached. Secure to the case body 10. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a set screw 5 is inserted into a connecting boss 66 provided on the outer periphery of the case lid 60, and a fixed boss provided with the tip of the set screw 5 on the outer periphery of the case body 50. 66, and a set screw 5 is inserted into a fixed boss 56 provided at the center of the case body 50, and a tip end of the set screw 5 is screwed into a connecting boss 66 provided at the center of the case lid 60. 60 is fixed to the case body 50.
In this state, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the O-ring 3 placed in the guide grooves 23 and 63 of the case lids 20 and 60 has second ribs 11 provided on the inner surfaces of the case bodies 10 and 50. 51, the boundary between the case lids 20 and 60 and the case main bodies 10 and 50 is sealed in a waterproof structure by being pressed in two directions indicated by arrows A and B.

It is a partially expanded sectional view of the battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the case lid | cover which shows the internal structure of the battery pack shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a set screw is screwed into the battery pack shown in FIG. 1. It is a partially expanded sectional view of the battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the battery pack shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Battery 2 ... Case 3 ... O-ring 4 ... Holder 4A ... Fitting hole
4B ... support rib 5 ... set screw 6 ... circuit board 7 ... lead plate 10 ... case body 11 ... second rib 11A ... side face
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11B ... Tip surface 12 ... Surface plate 13 ... Side wall 14 ... Storage part 15 ... Opening part 16 ... Fixed boss | hub 20 ... Case lid 21 ... 1st rib 22 ... Bending part 23 ... Guide groove 24 ... Positioning rib 26 ... Connection boss | hub 27 ... insertion hole 42 ... case 50 ... case body 51 ... second rib 51A ... side surface
51B: Front end surface 52 ... Surface plate 53 ... Side wall 54 ... Storage part 55 ... Opening part 56 ... Fixed boss 57 ... Through hole 60 ... Case lid 61 ... First rib 62 ... Bent part 63 ... Guide groove 64 ... Positioning rib 66 ... Connection boss 67 ... Insertion hole

Claims (5)

A battery pack in which the battery (1) is housed in a waterproof case (2), (42), the case (2)
, (42) have case portions (10), (50) having openings (15), (55) and having storage portions (14), (54) for the battery (1) inside, and A case lid (20), (60) is formed by closing the opening (15), (55) of the case body (10), (50) to a waterproof structure via an O-ring (3),
The case cover (20), (60), a first rib at a position apart from the outer periphery to the inner (21), which is protrusively provided (61), the first rib (21), (61) The tip part is formed into a shape that bends outward, and bent parts (22), (62) are provided, and the bent parts (22), (62) and the case lids (20), (60) Guide grooves (23) and (63) for storing the O-ring (3) are provided between the inner surface and the inner surface.
Further state, the case body (10), (50), at a distance from the opening edge inwardly, that to case lid (20), is (60) is fixed to the case body (10), (50) in a side (11A), (51A) and the distal end surface (11B), first press the guide grooves in both (23), the O-ring (3) which is placed in a (63) resiliently in (51B) 2 ribs (11) and (51) are projected ,
An O-ring (3) is inserted into the guide grooves (23) and (63) of the case lid (20) and (60), and the case lid (20) and (60) are inserted into the case body (10) and (50). Is fixed, the O-ring (3) is sandwiched between the second ribs (11), (51) and the inner surfaces of the case lids (20), (60), and the second ribs (11), (51 ) And first rib (21), (61)
A pack in which the O-ring (3) is sandwiched between the case body (10), (50) and the case lid (20), (60) with a set screw (5). battery.   The case body (10), (50) and the case lid (20), (60) are fixed by a set screw (5) penetrating the case lid (20), (60). Battery pack.   The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the case lids (20) and (60) are formed into a plate shape as a whole.   The battery (1) is accommodated in the case body (10), (50) via the holder (4), and the holder (4) and the case body (10), (50) are positioned by a fitting structure. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the battery pack is disposed at a fixed position. Connection bosses (26), (66) formed by integrally forming the holder (4) and the case body (10), (50) integrally formed with the case lid (20), (60), Connecting bosses (26), (66) provided on the holder (4)
The fitting boss (26), (66) is connected to the case lid (20), (60) with the case body (10), ( 50) Insertion hole (27) for inserting the set screw (5)
, (67) The battery pack according to claim 4.

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