JP5213427B2 - Battery pack - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery pack formed by combining a plurality of batteries.

  Conventionally, a battery pack in which a plurality of batteries are housed in a case is known. Some battery packs of this type are provided with countermeasures when the electrolyte leaks from the battery into the case.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a battery pack in which a liquid storage structure is formed in a pack case that houses a plurality of secondary batteries and a circuit board. The liquid reservoir structure is formed at the bottom of the pack case and is formed by a groove facing the sealing portion of each secondary battery. Since the groove is formed in a direction crossing the direction of the component that is damaged by the electrolytic solution, even if the electrolytic solution leaks from each secondary battery, the electrolytic solution is not supplied to the circuit board. It is prevented from flowing out.
JP 2002-216721 A

  However, in the battery pack of Patent Document 1, since the groove is formed so as to face the sealing portion of each battery, a short circuit between the batteries occurs through the electrolyte leaked into the groove, There is a possibility that the potential difference required for the battery pack cannot be effectively secured.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said subject, and it aims at providing the battery pack which can suppress the short circuit of the batteries which made the electrolyte solution the medium.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a battery pack having a plurality of batteries and a case for storing these batteries, and used in a preset basic posture, wherein the case includes: A support member that supports each battery from below in a posture in which the longitudinal direction of each battery is vertically aligned with the batteries arranged in a horizontal direction in a basic posture, A liquid receiver for receiving the electrolyte leaked from each battery is individually provided for all of the batteries , and the support member has a plurality of recesses formed corresponding to the positions of the lower surfaces of the batteries. The recess is configured so that the lower part of each battery can be inserted, and the inserted battery can be positioned in the horizontal direction, and functions as the liquid receiver. Each battery has a battery body and the battery book. An insulating cover that covers the outside of the battery, and each of the recesses is configured such that a lower end portion of the insulating cover of the inserted battery is disposed in the recess, and the battery includes a battery case and the battery case. And the support member supports each of the batteries with the sealing plate positioned above in the basic posture, and the support members are arranged in at least two rows. Each battery is supported, and the arrangement of each battery is such that a part of the side surface of the battery in the row adjacent to the specific row enters between the adjacent cells in the specific row. Set, the support member is provided between rows of the recesses arranged in at least two rows corresponding to the batteries, and has a vent hole that vertically penetrates the support member in the basic posture, The case is in front of the basic posture. A covering member that covers the upper portions of the plurality of batteries supported by the supporting member, and a pair of connecting members that connect the covering member and the supporting member in the vertical direction are further provided, and the connecting members are spaced apart from each other. The battery pack is characterized in that the covering member and the support member are coupled in a state where the battery pack is in a closed state.

  According to the present invention, since the liquid receiver for receiving the electrolytic solution leaked from the plurality of batteries arranged in the horizontal direction is individually provided for all of the batteries, the electrolytic solution has temporarily leaked from the battery. Even in this case, this electrolyte solution can be stored independently in the liquid receptacle corresponding to the battery related to the leakage, and contact with other batteries can be suppressed.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a short circuit between the batteries using the electrolytic solution as a medium.

  Specifically, recesses are formed corresponding to the positions of the lower surfaces of the batteries, and the recesses are configured so that the lower portions of the batteries can be inserted, and the recesses are used as the liquid receivers. Can do.

Further , according to the present invention , since the battery can be positioned in the horizontal direction with respect to the support member by inserting the lower part of the battery into the recess, each recess is used not only as a liquid receiver but also as a positioning. be able to.

Furthermore, according to the present invention , since the lower end portion of the insulating cover that covers the outside of the battery body can be inserted into the recess, the electrolyte is more reliably introduced into the recess when the electrolyte leaks from the battery. can do. In other words, when the electrolyte leaks from the battery, the electrolyte often passes between the battery body and the insulating cover and is led out from the lower end of the insulating cover, so the lower end of the insulating cover is placed in the recess. If so, the electrolytic solution can be received in the recess more reliably.

Moreover , since the electrolyte outlet (lower end of the insulating cover) and the specific recess can be made to correspond one-to-one, when the user looks at the support member, the recess where the electrolyte is accumulated is specified. By doing so, it can be easily specified from which of the plurality of batteries the electrolyte has leaked.

In addition, according to the present invention , the batteries can be arranged more densely in the horizontal direction by orienting the longitudinal direction of each battery in the vertical direction, whereby the entire battery pack can be reduced in the horizontal direction. Therefore, versatility can be improved by reducing the installation space of the battery pack.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the liquid level of the electrolytic solution can be disposed below the sealing plate in the basic posture, the electrolytic solution is difficult to leak, and even if it is leaked, the electrolytic solution Can be received by liquid receiver.

Further , according to the present invention , by using the space between the batteries in a specific row as the arrangement space for the batteries constituting the other row, the batteries can be densely arranged in the horizontal direction.

Furthermore, according to the present invention , while a plurality of batteries are densely arranged in the horizontal direction as described above, heat is generated between the batteries by introducing the outside air through the ventilation openings between the dense batteries. Therefore, it is possible to achieve both space saving and heat exchange efficiency.

In addition, according to the present invention , in addition to taking in the outside air through the ventilation opening, it is possible to take in outside air from between the coupling members for each battery. The outside air can be taken into the battery from a total of three opposite sides). Therefore, according to this structure, the lifetime of each battery can be extended by improving the cooling efficiency of each battery.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the battery pack further includes detection means for detecting whether or not a predetermined amount of electrolyte is present in the liquid receiver.

  According to this configuration, since it is possible to detect whether or not the electrolyte is present in the liquid receiver, for example, if the detection result is electrically output, the battery pack is controlled by the control means or the like based on the output signal. Voltage control can be performed. In addition, if a detection means that appeals to the user's vision, such as discoloration due to the presence of the electrolytic solution, is employed without being output as an electrical signal, the user can immediately respond to the leakage of the electrolytic solution. .

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the short circuit of the batteries between electrolyte solution can be suppressed.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery pack of FIG.

  With reference to FIG.1 and FIG.2, the battery pack 1 comprises a substantially rectangular body as a whole, and is used by the basic attitude which becomes the up-down direction shown in each figure. Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the battery pack 1 in the basic posture is assumed to be the left-right direction, and the depth direction is assumed to be the front-rear direction.

  The battery pack 1 includes a plurality of batteries 2 (10 in the present embodiment), a lower case (support member) 3 that supports the batteries 2 from below, a covering member 4 that covers the top of each battery 2, A pair of left and right connecting members 5 and 6 for connecting the covering member 4 and the lower case 3 in the vertical direction, and eight stays 7 provided between the lower case and the covering member 4 are provided. ing. The lower case 3, the covering member 4, the coupling members 5, 6 and the stay 7 constitute a case in this embodiment.

  3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the battery of FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.

  3 and 4, the battery 2 includes a cylindrical battery body 8 extending in the vertical direction, a conductive member 9 mounted on the battery body 8, and the conductive member 9 and the battery body 8. And an insulating cover 10 that surrounds the outer side from the outside in the radial direction. 3 and 4, the cover 10 is provided in a range from the upper surface (shoulder) of the conductive member 9 to the lower surface (shoulder) of the battery body 8, but is necessarily provided to the lower surface of the battery body 8. It is not necessary for the battery body 8 to be provided at least in the range up to the lower side surface of battery body 8.

  The battery body 8 includes a sealing plate 11 constituting a positive electrode and a battery case 12 constituting a negative electrode, and an upper opening of the battery case 12 is closed by the sealing plate 11. An electrolytic solution is sealed inside the sealing plate 11 and the battery case 12.

  Specifically, the battery case 12 has a circular bottom wall 12a and a cylindrical peripheral wall 12b rising from the periphery of the bottom wall 12a. On the other hand, the sealing plate 11 is a disc having a diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the peripheral wall 12b, and is caulked in a state of being fitted into the upper end portion of the peripheral wall 12b via an insulating gasket (not shown). It is fixed to.

  A pedestal portion 14 a of the positive electrode bolt 14 is welded to the upper surface of the peripheral edge portion of the sealing plate 11. That is, the positive electrode bolt 14 is electrically connected to the sealing plate 11.

  A disc-shaped mounting plate 15 is provided at the center of the surface of the sealing plate 11, and an electrode plate 16 is mounted on the surface of the mounting plate 15. Further, an insulating plate 17 made of an insulating resin is fixed to the upper end surface of the battery case 12 so as to cover the electrode plate 16.

  The insulating plate 17 is formed with an insertion hole 17a through which the positive electrode bolt 14 is inserted. Further, the peripheral edge of the insulating plate 17 is covered with the conductive member 9. A pedestal 18 a of a negative electrode bolt 18 is welded to the upper surface of the conductive member 9. That is, the negative electrode bolt 18 is electrically connected to the peripheral wall 12 b of the battery case 12 via the conductive member 9.

  A rib 19 is erected on the upper surface of the insulating plate 17 at a position between the positive electrode bolt 14 and the negative electrode bolt 18. The ribs 19 can prevent the bus bars 20 (see FIG. 7) connected to the positive and negative bolts 14 and 18 from contacting (short circuiting) each other.

  In the battery 2, for example, the electrolyte solution may leak due to corrosion of the negative electrode component when overdischarge occurs. The leaked electrolyte passes between the peripheral wall 12b of the battery case 12 and the cover 10 and is led out from the lower surface of the battery case 12 that is the end of the cover 10 as indicated by an arrow Y1. Thus, the lower case 3 is provided with a configuration for receiving the electrolyte solution leaking from the lower surface of the battery 2.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a lower case of the battery pack of FIG. 6 is a top view showing a lower case of the battery pack of FIG.

  With reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the lower case 3 is a rectangular plate-shaped member made of synthetic resin (for example, PET: Polyethylene Terephthalate). The lower case 3 is formed with ten concave portions 21 that open upward and a vent 22 that penetrates in the vertical direction.

  Each concave portion 21 has a circular opening shape when viewed from above, and five rows on the left and right are arranged in two rows on the front and rear. The arrangement of the recesses 21 is arranged such that a part of the front of the recesses in the rear row enters between the adjacent ones in the front row, and the front and rear rows are exchanged. The relationship is similar.

  In addition, each concave portion 21 is configured such that the lower portion of each battery 2 can be inserted from above with the posture in which the longitudinal direction of each battery 2 is directed in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, since the insulating cover 10 of each battery 2 is provided in the range up to the lower surface of each battery body 8, the lower end of the cover 10 is inserted as a result of the lower part of the battery 2 being inserted into the recess 21. Is also disposed in the recess 21. Each recess 21 exhibits a function as a so-called liquid receiver that receives the electrolyte leaked from the inserted battery 2 and a function of positioning the inserted battery 2.

  Specifically, the diameter of the battery 2 in the present embodiment is 61 mm, whereas the inner diameter of each recess 21 is set to 63 mm, and each battery 2 is positioned with an accuracy corresponding to the clearance (2 mm) between the two. . Moreover, since the depth dimension of each recessed part 21 is 25 mm, about 5 ml of electrolyte solution can be received in the recessed part 21 by the relationship between this depth dimension and the said clearance.

  Further, a recess for storing a liquid having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the battery can be provided at the bottom of the recess 21 and the electrolyte can be received in the recess.

  In addition, the full length of the battery 2 of this embodiment is 180 mm, and an energy density is 150 Wh / kg.

  The vent hole 22 is a hole that vertically penetrates the partition wall portion between the front row of the recesses 21 and the rear row of the recesses 21 with a substantially triangular opening shape in plan view. That is, each ventilation port 22 is located between each row of each battery 2 arranged in two rows in the front and rear direction by each recess 21. Therefore, outside air can be introduced into the side surface of each battery 2 from the lower side of the lower case 3 through each ventilation port 22, and conversely, heat generated from the battery 2 is discharged to the lower side of the lower case 3 through the ventilation port 22. You can also.

  The vent 22 is formed in the partition between the front row of recesses 21 and the back row of recesses 21, that is, in the portion of the partition surrounding each recess 21, where the wall thickness is the thickest. 3 also functions to make the thermal shrinkage uniform during the injection molding. That is, when each ventilation port 22 is not formed, there will be a part with a very large thickness as a partition wall surrounding each recess 21, and this part has a cooling time during molding as compared with other parts. Therefore, there is a possibility that a difference in heat shrinkage rate occurs between the portion having a thinner wall thickness than this, and the accuracy of the inner diameter dimension of each recess 21 may be affected. Since the thickness of the partition wall is made relatively uniform by forming the ventilation port 22 in the thick part, the accuracy of the inner diameter dimension of each recess 21 can be improved.

  A plurality of insert nuts 23 are provided at the four corners of the lower case 3. Specifically, the insert nut 23 is provided on the front and right side of the right front corner of the lower case 3, on the front and left side of the left front corner (the left side is not shown), and on the right side and rear of the right rear corner (the rear side is shown). 1 is provided on each of the left side and the rear side (not shown) of the left rear corner.

  Furthermore, four insertion holes 24 that open upward are formed side by side on the front edge and rear edge of the lower case 3, four on each side. The lower end portions of the stays 7 are inserted into the insertion holes 24, respectively.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 again, the covering member 4 is fixed to the middle case 25 that supports the upper end of each battery 2 supported on the lower case 3 and the upper surface of the middle case 25. An upper case 26 and a pair of conductive members 34 provided between the middle case 25 and the upper case 26 are provided.

  FIG. 7 is a bottom view showing the middle case 25 of FIG.

  2 and 7, the middle case 25 is a rectangular plate member made of synthetic resin and having a size substantially equal to that of the lower case 3. The middle case 25 is provided so as to be vertically spaced from the lower case 3. The middle case 25 includes ten groove portions 27 provided on the lower surface, insertion holes 28 provided on both the left and right sides of the groove portions 27, and eight insertion holes 29 provided on the lower surface. A plurality of insert nuts 30 provided on the front, rear, left and right side surfaces and a pair of insert nuts 31 provided on the upper surface are provided.

  Each groove portion 27 is a groove that opens downward and extends in the front-rear direction, so that the upper portion of the rib 19 of each battery 2 supported by the lower case 3 can be inserted. That is, by inserting the ribs 19 into the respective groove portions 27, the rotation direction of each battery 2 can be matched with a preset direction (a state in which the longitudinal direction of the ribs 19 is directed in the front-rear direction). Further, since the longitudinal length of each groove 27 is set corresponding to the longitudinal length of the rib 19, each battery 2 is positioned also in the longitudinal and lateral directions by inserting the rib 19 into the groove 27. It will be. Therefore, each battery 2 has its lower end positioned by the lower case 3, while its upper end positioned by the middle case.

  Each insertion hole 28 is used to reliably fix the bus bar 20 that connects the batteries 2 to each other after the middle case 25 and the lower case 3 are fixed. That is, since the upper and lower ends of each battery 2 are positioned by the lower case 3 and the middle case 25, after each battery 2 is supported by the lower case 3 and before the middle case 25 is attached, Each bus bar 20 and each battery 2 are temporarily tightened (that is, lightly fastened) so that some play is possible. Since the middle case 25 is mounted on each battery 2 in this temporarily tightened state, it is necessary to perform final tightening between each bus bar 20 and each battery 2 after the middle case 25 is mounted. In order to perform this operation at a stage after the middle case 25 is attached, each insertion hole 28 is formed.

  Each insertion hole 29 is a hole for inserting the upper end of each stay 7. That is, each stay 7 is fixed in a state where it is sandwiched between the lower case 3 and the middle case 25. Thereby, it is suppressed that the position of the lower case 3 and the position of the middle case 25 are displaced in the twisting direction about the vertical axis.

  The insert nut 30 is formed on the front and right side of the right front corner of the middle case 25, on the front and left side of the left front corner (the left side is not shown), on the right side and rear side (the rear side is not shown) of the right rear corner, One is provided on each of the left side and the rear side (not shown) of the left rear corner.

  The insert nut 31 is capable of screwing a bolt from above at the left rear corner and the right front corner, and is for attaching an upper case 26 described later.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper case 26 is a rectangular plate member made of synthetic resin and having a size substantially equal to that of the middle case 25. The upper case 26 is formed with a through hole 32 penetrating vertically at a position corresponding to the insert nut 31 of the middle case 25. A bolt (not shown) is inserted into the through hole 32 from above, and the upper case 26 and the middle case 25 are fixed by screwing the bolt into the insert nut 31 of the middle case 25. In this fixed state, each insertion hole 28 of the middle case 25 is blocked by the upper case 26.

  In addition, outlet ports 33 penetrating in the vertical direction are formed in the right rear corner and the left front corner of the upper case 26, respectively. These lead-out ports 33 are electrically connected to the negative electrode bolt 18A (see FIG. 8) of the battery 2 arranged at the right end and the positive electrode bolt 14A (see FIG. 8) of the battery 2 arranged at the left end. Are used to derive the upper part of the upper case 26, respectively. Specifically, the negative electrode bolt 18A and the positive electrode bolt 14A are led out to the upper part of the middle case 25 through insertion holes 28A and insertion holes 28B arranged at the left and right ends of the middle case 25, respectively. The terminals 34a of the conductive members 34 respectively connected to the bolts 14A on the middle case 25 are led out to the upper portion of the upper case 26 through the lead-out port 33.

  Each of the coupling members 5 and 6 is a U-shaped metal plate as viewed from above. These coupling members 5 and 6 are respectively fixed to the lower case 3 and the middle case 25 arranged above and below each battery 2 from the left and right sides. That is, the coupling members 5 and 6 are for covering both end portions of the battery pack 1 in the longitudinal direction, and are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction.

  Specifically, the right coupling member 5 includes a right wall 35, a front wall 36 that extends to the left from the front edge of the right wall 35, and a rear wall 37 that extends to the left from the rear edge of the right wall 35. ing. Each of the walls 35 to 37 is formed with a through hole 38 penetrating in the plate thickness direction at a position corresponding to the insert nut 23 of the lower case 3 and the insert nut 30 of the middle case 25. By screwing bolts (not shown) inserted through the through holes 38 into the insert nuts 23 and 30, the coupling member 5, the lower case 3, and the middle case 25 are fixed. As a result, the lower case 3 and the middle case 25 are fixed. Are combined in the vertical direction.

  The left coupling member 6 includes a left wall 39, a front wall 40 that extends to the right from the front edge of the left wall 39, and a rear wall 41 that extends to the right from the rear edge of the left wall 39. Each of the walls 39 to 41 is formed with a through hole 42 penetrating in the plate thickness direction at a position corresponding to the insert nut 23 of the lower case 3 and the insert nut 30 of the middle case 25. By screwing bolts (not shown) inserted through the through holes 42 into the insert nuts 23 and 30, the coupling member 6, the lower case 3, and the middle case 25 are fixed. As a result, the lower case 3 and the middle case 25 are fixed. Are combined in the vertical direction.

  The batteries 2 are hidden from the left and right sides by the right wall 35 and the left wall 39 of the coupling members 5 and 6. On the other hand, intervals E1 and E2 (see FIG. 6) are provided between the front walls 36 and 40 of the coupling members 5 and 6 and between the rear walls 37 and 41. Therefore, outside air can be introduced into the side surface of the battery 2 through the intervals E1 and E2. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the vent hole 22 is formed in the lower case 3, outside air can be introduced from a total of three directions of the lower side, the front side, and the rear side, and the heat generated by each battery 2 It can be released in three directions.

  Hereinafter, a method for assembling the battery pack 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 5, 8, and 9. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an assembly process of the battery pack of FIG. 1 and shows a state after the stay is erected. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an assembly process of the battery pack of FIG. 1 and shows a state after the middle cover is assembled.

  First, the lower end of the battery 2 is inserted from above into the recess 21 of the lower case 3 shown in FIG. Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the direction of the batteries 2 is adjusted to some extent so that the ribs 19 are along the front-rear direction, and the batteries 2 are connected in series using the bus bar 20. Here, since the position of each battery 2 is not determined until the mounting of the middle case 25 described later is completed, it is necessary to allow a slight margin (temporarily tightening) between the bus bar 20 and each battery 2. It becomes. And the lower end part of each stay 7 is inserted in the insertion hole 24 of the lower case 3, respectively.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the middle case 25 is put on the batteries 2. In this operation, the rib 19 of each battery 2 is inserted into each groove 27 (see FIG. 7), and the upper end of each stay 7 is inserted into the insertion hole 29 (see FIG. 7) of the middle case 25, respectively. Thus, it is necessary to position the middle case 25, each battery 2, and each stay 7, and the middle case 25 and the lower case 3 can be coupled by each stay 7. When the attachment of the middle case 25 is completed, the twisting can be suppressed by attaching the coupling members 5 and 6 to the middle case 25 and the lower case 3 from both the left and right sides. As a result, the middle case 25 and the lower case 3 are coupled vertically, and the batteries 2 are held between the cases 3 and 25. In this state, the bus bar 20 and each battery 2 are securely fixed (finally tightened) through the insertion hole 28 of the middle case 25.

  As shown in FIG. 2, next, the conductive members 34 are respectively connected to the positive bolt 14A and the negative bolt 18A (see FIG. 8) led out through the insertion holes 28A and 28B of the middle case 25, from above. By attaching the upper case 26, the battery pack 1 is completed.

  As described above, according to the battery pack 1, the recesses 21 for receiving the leaked electrolyte from the plurality of batteries 2 arranged in the front / rear / left / right direction (horizontal direction) are provided for all the batteries 2. Since it is provided individually, even if the electrolyte solution leaks from the battery 2, this electrolyte solution is stored independently in the recess 21 corresponding to the battery 2 related to the leakage, and other batteries Can be prevented from touching.

  Therefore, according to the battery pack 1, it is possible to suppress a short circuit between the batteries 2 through the electrolyte solution.

  In the battery pack 1, since the battery 2 can be positioned in the left-right front-rear direction (horizontal direction) with respect to the lower case 3 by inserting the lower end portion of the battery 2 into the recess 21, It can be used not only as positioning but also as positioning.

  Moreover, in the said battery pack 1, since the lower end part of the cover 10 of each battery 2 is arrange | positioned in each recessed part 21, when electrolyte solution leaks from the battery 2, electrolyte solution is more reliably inserted into the recessed part 21. Can be introduced. That is, when the electrolytic solution leaks from the battery 2, the electrolytic solution is often led out from the lower end portion of the cover 10 through the space between the battery body 8 and the cover 10 as shown by an arrow Y1 in FIG. If the lower end portion of the cover 10 is disposed in the recess 21, the electrolytic solution can be received in the recess 21 more reliably.

  Moreover, since the electrolyte outlet (the lower end portion of the cover 10) and the specific recess 21 can be made to correspond one-to-one, when the user looks at the lower case 3, the recess where the electrolyte accumulates. By specifying 21, it is possible to easily specify from which battery 2 of the plurality of batteries 2 the electrolyte has leaked.

  Like the battery pack 1, the lower case 3 is configured to support each battery 2 in a posture in which the longitudinal direction thereof is directed vertically, so that each battery 2 is more closely arranged in the front-rear and left-right directions. As a result, the entire battery pack 1 can be reduced in the front-rear and left-right directions.

  Further, in the battery pack 1, the battery 2 is supported in a state where the sealing plate 11 is positioned on the upper side, so that the liquid level of the electrolytic solution can be disposed below the sealing plate 11. As a result, it is difficult for the electrolyte solution to leak out, and even if it leaks, the electrolyte solution can be received by the recess 21.

  Like the battery pack 1, by disposing the side surfaces of the batteries 2 in the rear row between the adjacent batteries 2 in the front row among the batteries 2 arranged in the front and rear rows, the front, rear, left and right The batteries 2 can be arranged more densely in the direction.

  If the lower case 3 has a vent 22 formed at a position between the front row battery 2 and the rear row battery 2 as in the battery pack 1, a plurality of batteries are formed as described above. 2 is densely arranged in the front-rear and left-right directions, and it is possible to suppress heat from being generated between the batteries 2 by introducing outside air between the dense batteries 2 through the ventilation openings 22. It is possible to achieve both space and heat exchange efficiency.

  Further, each battery 2 is held such that each battery 2 is opened in the front-rear direction as in the battery pack 1, so that each battery 2 can be taken in addition to taking in outside air through the ventilation port 22. On the other hand, outside air can be taken in from the front-rear direction where the coupling members 5 and 6 are not present, so that the outside air can be taken into the battery 2 from the lower side of the battery 2 and from a total of three directions. Therefore, according to the battery pack 1, the life of each battery 2 can be extended by improving the cooling efficiency of each battery 2.

  In addition to the above embodiment, a sensor (detection means) for detecting whether or not a predetermined amount of electrolyte exists in the recess 21 may be provided. In this way, it is possible to detect whether or not the electrolytic solution is present in the recess 21. For example, if this detection result is output electrically, the battery is controlled by the control means or the like based on the output signal. The voltage control of the pack 1 can be performed. Further, even when the test paper or the like that changes color due to the presence of the electrolytic solution is used without being output as an electrical signal, the user can immediately respond to the leakage of the electrolytic solution. One detection sensor is preferably provided in each of the recesses 21.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, although the sealing plate 11 comprised the positive electrode and the battery 2 in which the battery case 12 comprised a negative electrode was demonstrated, while the sealing plate 11 comprised a negative electrode, the battery case 12 was comprised. The same configuration as described above can be adopted for the battery constituting the positive electrode.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the battery pack 1 having ten batteries 2 has been described. However, if the plurality of lower cases 3 and middle cases 25 are connected to each other, the number of batteries 2 can be increased. can do. Specifically, a plurality of batteries in which 10 batteries 2 are sandwiched between the lower case 3 and the middle case 25 are prepared, these are arranged in the front-rear direction, and a plate or the like is stretched over the two, and this plate is used as the insert nut. By fixing using 23 and 30, the lower cases 3 and the intermediate cases 25 can be connected back and forth, and the number of the batteries 2 can be increased to 20. Similarly, when the plates are arranged in the left-right direction, the lower case 3 and the middle case 25 can be connected to the left and right by bridging the plates and fixing them using the insert nuts 23 and 30. .

It is a perspective view which shows the battery pack which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view of the battery pack of FIG. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the battery of FIG. It is the IV-IV sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the lower case of the battery pack of FIG. It is a top view which shows the lower case of the battery pack of FIG. It is a bottom view which shows the middle case of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the assembly process of the battery pack of FIG. 1, and shows the state before the assembly | attachment of an inner cover. It is a perspective view which shows the assembly process of the battery pack of FIG. 1, and shows the state after the assembly | attachment of an inner cover.

1 Battery pack 2 Battery 3 Lower case (part of the case)
4 Covering member (part of the case)
5, 6 Connecting member (part of the case)
14 Positive Bolt 18 Negative Electrode Bolt 21 Recess 22 Ventilation Port 25 Middle Case 26 Upper Case

Claims (2)

A battery pack having a plurality of batteries and a case for storing these batteries, and used in a preset basic posture,
The case includes a support member that supports the batteries from below in a posture in which the batteries are arranged in a horizontal direction in the basic posture in a posture in which the longitudinal directions of the batteries are aligned vertically .
This support member includes a liquid receiver for receiving the electrolyte solution leaked from each battery individually for all of the batteries ,
The support member has a plurality of recesses formed corresponding to the positions of the lower surfaces of the batteries. The recesses can be inserted into the lower portions of the batteries, and the inserted batteries are positioned in the horizontal direction. It is configured so that it functions as the liquid receiver,
Each of the batteries has a battery body and an insulating cover that covers the outside of the battery body, and each of the recesses is configured such that a lower end portion of the insulating cover of the inserted battery is disposed in the recess. ,
The battery includes a battery case and a sealing plate that closes an opening of the battery case, and the support member supports the batteries in a state where the sealing plate is positioned on the basic posture.
The support member is configured to support each battery arranged in at least two rows, and the arrangement of each battery is between the specific row and the adjacent row in the specific row. It is set so that part of the side of the battery in the matching row enters,
The support member is provided between rows of the recesses arranged in at least two rows corresponding to the batteries, and has a vent hole that vertically penetrates the support member in the basic posture.
The case further includes a covering member that covers upper portions of a plurality of batteries supported by the supporting member in the basic posture, and a pair of coupling members that vertically couple the covering member and the supporting member. The battery pack is characterized in that the connecting members are connected to the covering member and the supporting member in a state of being spaced apart from each other . 2. The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising detection means for detecting whether or not a predetermined amount of electrolyte is present in the liquid receiver.

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