JP5482864B1 - Battery module - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to prevent relative displacement of battery cells arranged in a stacked manner.
A battery module includes a first battery stack and a second battery stack. The first battery stack 61 includes a first square battery 63 and a first holder 62 that holds the first square battery 63. The second battery stack 81 includes a second square battery 83 that is stacked on the first square battery 63 and a second holder 82 that holds the second square battery 83. The second legs 67 a and 67 b of the first holder 62 function as a spacer that secures the space A above the first rectangular battery 63. A prevention member 91 is provided between the second square battery 83 and the second leg portions 67 a and 67 b of the first holder 62. The battery control device 101 is thermally coupled to the prevention member 91.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery module formed by stacking a plurality of battery cells.

As a battery module configured by stacking battery cells, for example, a battery pack described in Patent Document 1 is known.
The battery pack described in Patent Document 1 is formed by stacking a plurality of battery modules. The battery module is configured by arranging a plurality of unit battery cells in the horizontal direction and providing end plates that sandwich the plurality of unit battery cells arranged outside the unit battery cells at both ends in the arrangement direction. The end plate includes a base plate that covers the side surface of the unit battery cell, and flange portions formed on four sides of the base plate. The battery modules adjacent in the stacking direction are integrated by fastening the flange portions.

JP 2011-228306 A

  By the way, in patent document 1, positioning in the lamination direction of each battery module is performed by fixing end plates. However, since the end plates are only fixed to each other, for example, when a severe vibration occurs and the relative positions of the end plates shift, the relative position shift of the unit battery cells adjacent in the stacking direction occurs. There is a problem of end.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module capable of preventing relative displacement of battery cells arranged in a stacked manner. is there.

In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1 includes a battery cell and a spacer that secures a space above the battery cell, and the plurality of battery cells are stacked via the spacer. In addition, between the battery cells adjacent in the stacking direction, a metal prevention member that prevents relative displacement of the battery cells adjacent in the stacking direction is provided, and the prevention member includes the plurality of The gist of the invention is that the battery cell is controlled and a battery control device accommodated in the space is provided to conduct heat generated in the battery control device .

According to this, in the battery module formed by stacking a plurality of battery cells, the prevention member is provided between the battery cells adjacent in the stacking direction. For this reason, the relative position shift between the battery cells adjacent in the stacking direction is prevented. In addition, the prevention member has these functions because it has a function of preventing displacement of the battery cell and a heat dissipation function that conducts heat from the battery control device and dissipates the heat of the battery control device. The number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where the members are provided separately.

  In addition, the prevention member includes a first positioning unit that prevents misalignment between the battery cell positioned below the spacer and the prevention member among the plurality of battery cells stacked via the spacer. In addition, the plurality of battery cells stacked via the spacer may include second positioning means for preventing a displacement between the battery cell positioned above the spacer and the prevention member. Good.

  According to this, the prevention member can prevent positional deviation of both battery cells adjacent in the stacking direction. For this reason, the relative positional shift of the battery cells adjacent in the stacking direction can be more appropriately prevented as compared with the case where the positional shift of only one of the battery cells adjacent in the stacking direction is prevented. . The first positioning unit and the second positioning unit may be, for example, an adhesive material.

The prevention member may be in contact with an endothermic member that absorbs heat conducted from the battery control device to the prevention member.
According to this, when heat is conducted to the prevention member as the battery control device generates heat, this heat is absorbed by the heat absorption member. For this reason, it is suppressed that a prevention member will be in an overheated state, and it is easy to cool a battery control apparatus.

Also includes a holder having an accommodating portion of said battery cell, before Kiho holder has a said spacer, said preventing member is in the holder for accommodating the battery cells in the stacking direction upper contact with the holder You may have the control part which controls a movement.

  According to this, since the holder can also be used as a spacer, it is not necessary to prepare a spacer separately, and the number of parts of the battery module can be reduced. Further, by restricting the movement of the holder by the restricting portion of the prevention member, it is possible to restrict the movement of the battery cell and prevent the displacement.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent relative displacement of battery cells arranged in a stacked manner.

The schematic side view which shows the forklift of embodiment. The perspective view which shows the battery pack of embodiment. The disassembled perspective view which shows the battery module of embodiment. The perspective view which shows the holder of embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2 showing the battery pack of the embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the battery module of another example. The front view which shows the battery module of another example.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the battery module of the present invention is embodied in a battery module mounted on a forklift will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “upper”, and “lower” are “front”, “rear”, and “left” when the forklift driver is facing the front of the forklift. ”,“ Right ”,“ upper ”, and“ lower ”.

  As shown in FIG. 1, drive wheels 12 are provided at the front lower part of the vehicle body 11 of the forklift 10, and steering wheels 13 are provided at the rear lower part of the vehicle body 11. In addition, a cargo handling device is provided at the front portion of the vehicle body 11. The mast 14 constituting the cargo handling apparatus is erected on the front portion of the vehicle body 11, and the mast 14 is provided with a pair of left and right forks 16 via a lift bracket 15. The fork 16 is lifted and lowered together with the lift bracket 15 by driving a lift cylinder 17 connected to the mast 14. Further, the fork 16 is tilted together with the mast 14 by driving a tilt cylinder 18 connected to the mast 14. A load 19 is mounted on the fork 16. The vehicle body 11 is equipped with a traveling motor M1 as a drive source for the drive wheels 12 and a cargo handling motor M2 as a drive source for the fork 16.

  A cab 20 is provided in the center of the vehicle body 11. The cab 20 is provided with a driving seat 21 on which an operator (driver) can sit. A handle 22 is provided in front of the driving seat 21. A battery pack 30 is mounted below the cab 20. Hereinafter, the battery pack 30 will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the battery pack 30 includes a counterweight 31 for balancing with the load 19 mounted on the fork 16. The counterweight 31 is made of a metal material such as iron, for example. The counterweight 31 is erected in the thickness direction of the weight portion 32 from the short-direction first end portion 32a of the weight portion 32 and the weight portion 32 having a rectangular plate shape, and the first end in the longitudinal direction of the weight portion 32 The weight body 33 has a rectangular plate shape extending from the portion 32c to the second end portion 32d in the longitudinal direction.

  An inverted U-shaped frame 34 that is provided apart from the weight main body 33 is erected from the weight portion 32 at a second end 32 b in the short direction of the weight portion 32. The frame 34 includes a first pillar part 35 and a second pillar part 36 erected from two corners of the edge part on the side of the second end part 32b in the short side direction on the upper surface of the weight part 32; And a base portion 37 that connects the upper end portions of the column portion 35 and the second column portion 36 (the end portion opposite to the end portion joined to the weight portion 32). That is, the battery pack 30 has a front opening 30 a surrounded by the weight portion 32 and the frame 34 on the second end portion 32 b side of the weight portion 32 in the short direction. In the battery pack 30, the front opening 30a is closed by a lid member 41 having a rectangular plate shape.

  The length in the standing direction of each column portion 35, 36 (the length in the longitudinal direction of each column portion 35, 36) is the same as the shortest length from the upper surface of the weight portion 32 to the upper surface of the weight body 33. A top plate 44 is supported on the upper surface of the frame 34 and the upper surface of the weight main body 33. The top plate 44 closes an opening (not shown) between the weight body 33 and the frame 34. Further, the battery pack 30 has one end side opening portion surrounded by the weight body 33, the weight portion 32, the first column portion 35, and the top plate 44 on the first longitudinal end portion 32 c side of the weight body 33. 30b. Further, the battery pack 30 has an opening on the other end side surrounded by the weight main body 33, the weight portion 32, the second column portion 36, and the top plate 44 on the second longitudinal end portion 32 d side of the weight main body 33. Part 30c. The one end side opening 30 b is closed by the one end side lid member 42, and the other end side opening 30 c is closed by the other end side lid member 43.

  One surface in the thickness direction of the weight main body 33 is an installation surface 33a on which the battery module 50 is installed. Two battery modules 50 are provided on the installation surface 33 a at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the weight body 33. Hereinafter, the battery module 50 will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the battery module 50 stacks the first battery stack 61 and the second battery stack 81 and prevents them between the first battery stack 61 and the second battery stack 81. The member 91 is interposed. In the present embodiment, the first battery stack 61 and the second battery stack 81 have the same configuration.

  The first battery stack 61 includes a plurality of first square batteries 63 as battery cells held by a first holder 62 arranged in the thickness direction of the first square battery 63, The rectangular battery 63 and the heat-transfer plate 64 which makes a rectangular flat plate shape alternately are arranged in parallel. End plates 71 are provided on the first prismatic batteries 63 provided at both ends in the direction in which the first prismatic batteries 63 are arranged side by side. The first prismatic battery 63 is sandwiched between the end plates 71 from the direction in which the first prismatic batteries 63 are juxtaposed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the first holder 62 includes a holder main body 65 having a bottomed rectangular tube shape, and leg portions 66 a, 66 b, 67 a, 67 b having a rectangular parallelepiped shape protruding from four corners of the outer surface of the holder main body 65. And have. Specifically, the holder main body 65 extends in the thickness direction of the first covering portion 68 from the first covering portion 68 having a rectangular flat plate shape and both longitudinal ends 68 a and 68 b of the first covering portion 68. A rectangular flat plate-like second covering portion 69 and a rectangular flat plate-like second portion extending from the first end portion 68c of the first covering portion 68 in the thickness direction of the first covering portion 68. 3 covering portions 70. The holder body 65 has a rectangular flat plate-like fourth covering portion 75 extending in the thickness direction of the first covering portion 68 from the second end portion 68 d in the short direction of the first covering portion 68. ing. The short sides of the fourth covering portion 75 are shorter than the short sides of the first to third covering portions 68, 69 and 70. A region surrounded by the first covering portion 68, the second covering portion 69, and the third covering portion 70 is a housing portion S in which the first prismatic battery 63 is housed.

  The first leg portions 66 a and 66 b protruding from the holder main body 65 are provided at both longitudinal ends of the third covering portion 70. The second leg portions 67 a and 67 b protruding from the holder main body 65 are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the fourth covering portion 75.

  Of the leg portions 66a, 66b, 67a, 67b protruding from the holder body 65, the first leg portions 66a, 66b protruding from the third covering portion 70 are the second legs protruding from the fourth covering portion 75. The protrusion length from the holder main body 65 is shorter than the portions 67a and 67b.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the second battery stack 81 includes a second square battery 83 as a battery cell, a heat transfer plate 64, and a second square battery 83 that holds the second square battery 83. And a holder 82. As described above, the second battery stack 81 has the same configuration as the first battery stack 61, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, when the second battery stack 81 is stacked on the first battery stack 61, the second leg 67 a and 67 b in the first holder 62 is placed on the second leg 67 a and 67 b via the prevention member 91. The second battery stack 81 is arranged so that the first legs 66a and 66b of the holder 82 are located. Thus, the second prismatic battery 83 is stacked in a state of being spaced apart from the first prismatic battery 63 in the stacking direction, and the first prismatic battery 63 and the second prismatic battery 83 are stacked. A space A is formed between them. That is, the space A is formed by the second leg portions 67a and 67b of the first holder 62 and the prevention member 91, and the second leg portions 67a and 67b function as spacers. The space A is located above the first battery stack 61 (first prismatic battery 63).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the prevention member 91 is formed by bending one rectangular metal plate. Specifically, the prevention member 91 includes a base portion 92 having a rectangular flat plate shape. Rectangular plate-shaped first bent portions 93 a and 93 b extending in the thickness direction of the base 92 are formed at both ends 92 a and 92 b in the short direction of the base 92. Rectangles extending in the thickness direction of the first bent portions 93a and 93b at the first ends 93c and 93d in the short direction of the first bent portions 93a and 93b (ends on the side opposite to the end on the base 92 side) Flat second bent portions 94a and 94b are formed. A rectangular flat plate extending in the thickness direction of the second bent portion 94a at the first end portion 94c in the short direction of one second bent portion 94a (the end opposite to the end portion on the first bent portion 93a side). A third bent portion 95 is formed. In the following description, of the both surfaces in the thickness direction of the flat prevention member 91, the surface on the first battery stack 61 side is referred to as an inner surface, and the surface on the second battery stack 81 side is referred to as an outer surface. .

  The length of the base portion 92 in the longitudinal direction is such that the outer surfaces of the end plates 71 at both ends of the first battery stack 61 and the second battery stack 81 (the surface facing the first battery stack 61 or the second battery stack 81). Is the same as the distance between the opposite surfaces. The length between the outer surfaces of the first bent portions 93 a and 93 b is slightly shorter than the distance between the first leg portions 66 a and 66 b in the second holder 82. The lengths of the first bent portions 93 a and 93 b in the short direction are shorter than the protruding lengths of the first leg portions 66 a and 66 b from the holder main body 65 in the second holder 82.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the front end surfaces of the second leg portions 67 a and 67 b in the first holder 62 of the first battery stack 61 and the first legs in the second holder 82 of the second battery stack 81. The tip surfaces of the portions 66a and 66b sandwich the second bent portions 94a and 94b of the prevention member 91.

  The base portion 92 and the first bent portions 93 a and 93 b are inserted between the first leg portions 66 a and 66 b in the second holder 82. The outer surfaces of the first bent portions 93a and 93b and the first leg portions 66a and 66b in the second holder 82 are in surface contact. The first bent portions 93 a and 93 b function as a restricting portion that restricts the movement of the second holder 82. The first bent portions 93a and 93b also function as second positioning means for preventing the displacement between the preventing member 91 and the second rectangular battery 83.

In the space A, a storage case 102 that stores the battery control device 101 and a junction box 103 that stores a relay and the like are provided.
The housing case 102 has a bottomed rectangular tube shape, and the battery control device 101 is housed therein. The battery control device 101 is, for example, a DCDC converter that performs power conversion of the first rectangular battery 63 and the second rectangular battery 83. The housing case 102 is provided such that the opening is closed by the base 92 of the prevention member 91. The housing case 102 is made of a metal material such as aluminum, for example. The battery control device 101 is thermally coupled to the prevention member 91 via the housing case 102.

  The junction box 103 is configured in the same manner as the housing case 102, and the relay housed in the junction box 103 is thermally coupled to the prevention member 91 via the junction box 103.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the battery module 50 configured as described above, the bolt B that is inserted through the bracket 72 provided on the end plate 71 is screwed into the weight body 33 and fixed to the counterweight 31. .

  As shown in FIG. 5, the outer surface of the third bent portion 95 is in surface contact with the installation surface 33 a of the weight body 33, and the inner surface is the second leg of the first holder 62 of the first battery stack 61. The portion 67a is in surface contact. The third bent portion 95 is sandwiched between the weight main body 33 and the second leg portion 67a. Thereby, the prevention member 91 is prevented from moving in the direction away from the weight main body 33 (the width direction of the second rectangular battery 83). By preventing the prevention member 91 from moving from the weight main body 33, the prevention member 91 and the first prismatic battery 63 are prevented from being displaced. That is, the third bent portion 95 functions as the first positioning means. The prevention member 91 is thermally coupled to the counterweight 31 via the third bent portion 95.

Next, the operation of the battery module 50 of the present embodiment will be described.
The second holder 82 tends to move away from the weight main body 33 (in the width direction of the second prismatic battery 83) due to vibration accompanying the traveling of the forklift 10 or the like. At this time, since the prevention member 91 is prevented from moving in a direction away from the weight main body 33, the first bending portion 93 a, 93 b of the prevention member 91 is arranged on the outer surface of the first holder 82. When the leg portions 66a and 66b come into contact with each other, the movement of the second holder 82 is restricted.

  Further, when the battery control device 101 or the relay generates heat, this heat is conducted to the housing case 102 and the junction box 103. This heat is further conducted to the prevention member 91, and the heat conducted to the prevention member 91 is conducted to the counterweight 31 via the third bent portion 95. Therefore, the counterweight 31 functions as a heat absorbing member that absorbs the heat of the battery control device 101.

Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) A prevention member 91 is provided between the first battery stack 61 and the second battery stack 81 arranged in a stacked manner, and the first bent portions 93a and 93b of the prevention member 91 are provided in the second The second stack 82 of the battery stack 81 enters between the first legs 66a and 66b. Further, the front end surfaces of the second leg portions 67 a and 67 b in the first holder 62 are fixed to the prevention member 91. For this reason, relative displacement between the first rectangular battery 63 and the second rectangular battery 83 is prevented. Further, the battery control device 101 is thermally coupled to the prevention member 91. For this reason, since the prevention member 91 has a function of preventing misalignment and a function as a heat radiating member, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with a case where a member for preventing misalignment and a heat radiating member are provided separately. Is planned.

  (2) The prevention member 91 prevents the displacement of the first square battery 63 relative to the prevention member 91 and the displacement of the second square battery 83 relative to the prevention member 91. Therefore, compared with the case where only one of the first square battery 63 and the second square battery 83 is prevented from being displaced with respect to the prevention member 91, the first square battery 63 and the first square battery 63 are more appropriately connected. The displacement of the second prismatic battery 83 can be prevented.

  (3) The prevention member 91 is thermally coupled to the counterweight 31. Therefore, when heat is conducted from the battery control device 101 to the prevention member 91, this heat is absorbed by the counterweight 31. Therefore, the prevention member 91 is suppressed from being overheated, and the battery control device 101 can be efficiently cooled.

  (4) The second legs 67 a and 67 b of the first holder 62 function as spacers that secure the space A above the first prismatic battery 63. For this reason, it is not necessary to separately prepare a member for securing the space A, and the number of parts can be reduced.

  (5) The battery control device 101 is provided in the space A and is not in direct contact with the first battery stack 61 and the second battery stack 81. Further, the place where the prevention member 91 is in contact with the first battery stack 61 and the second battery stack 81 is also the second leg portions 67 a and 67 b of the first holder 62 and the first leg of the second holder 82. Only the portions 66a and 66b are present, and there are very few. For this reason, the heat generated by the battery control device 101 is not easily conducted to the first square battery 63 and the second square battery 83, and the first square battery 63 and the second square battery 83 are heated. It is suppressed that deterioration is accelerated by this.

(6) The prevention member 91 supports the second battery stack 81 from below (vertically downward). For this reason, it is possible to prevent the second square battery 83 from moving downward.
In addition, you may change embodiment as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the embodiment, the first leg portions 66 a and 66 b of the second holder 82 may not be formed. In this case, the prevention member 121 is formed so that the cross-sectional shape is H-shaped. Specifically, the prevention member 121 includes a base 122 having a rectangular flat plate shape, a first covering portion 123 extending from both ends in the short direction of the base 122 toward both sides in the thickness direction of the prevention member 91, and the first cover 123. 2 covering portions 124. The second leg portions 67 a and 67 b of the first holder 62 enter between the pair of first covering portions 123. The first covering portion 123 covers the second leg portions 67 a and 67 b of the first holder 62. The second holder 82 enters the second covering portion 124. The second covering portion 124 covers the second holder 82. Thereby, the first battery stack 61 can move only within the region between the pair of first covering portions 123, and the second battery stack 81 can move between the pair of second covering portions 124. You can only move within. And the relative position shift of the 1st square battery 63 and the 2nd square battery 83 is prevented. In this case, the pair of first covering portions 123 functions as first positioning means, and the pair of second covering portions 124 functions as second positioning means.

  In embodiment, although 2nd leg part 67a, 67b of the 1st holder 62 was used as a spacer, it is not restricted to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the first square battery 63 is not provided with the first holder 62 and the second holder 82 and the second square battery 83 is interposed with the spacer 130 therebetween. It may be laminated. Then, the prevention member 121 shown in FIG. 6 is provided between the spacer 130 and the second prismatic battery 83 so that the spacer 130 enters between the first covering portions 123 and between the second covering portions 124. The second prismatic battery 83 may be inserted into the battery.

  In the embodiment, the prevention member 91 may be formed with a bent portion that enters between the second leg portions 67a and 67b of the first holder 62, and this bent portion may function as the first positioning means. .

  In the embodiment, the first bent portions 93a and 93b are not formed, and the front end surfaces of the first leg portions 66a and 66b in the second holder 82 are bonded to the outer surface of the prevention member 91 using an adhesive or bolt fastening. May be fixed. Alternatively, the third bent portion 95 may not be formed, and the tip surfaces of the second leg portions 67a and 67b in the first holder 62 may be fixed to the inner surface of the prevention member 91 using an adhesive or bolt fastening. Good. In this case, the adhesive material and the bolt function as the first positioning means and the second positioning means.

  In the embodiment, the second bent portion 94b may be further extended in the lateral direction to be exposed to the outside of the first holder 62 and the second holder 82. In this case, the heat radiation area of the second bent portion 94b increases, and the prevention member 91 can be easily cooled.

In the embodiment, a cylindrical battery or a laminated secondary battery may be used as the battery cell.
In the embodiment, a heat absorbing member other than the counterweight 31 may be used.

In the embodiment, the counterweight 31 (heat absorbing member) may not be provided.
In the embodiment, the battery stack may be further stacked.

  A ... space, S ... accommodating part, 31 ... counter weight as heat absorbing member, 50 ... battery module, 62 ... first holder, 63 ... first prismatic battery as battery cell, 82 ... second holder, 83: Second prismatic battery as a battery cell, 91: Prevention member, 101: Battery control device.

Claims (4)

A battery cell;
A spacer for securing a space above the battery cell,
A plurality of the battery cells are stacked via the spacers, and between the battery cells adjacent in the stacking direction, a metal prevention that prevents relative displacement of the battery cells adjacent in the stacking direction Members are provided,
The battery module, wherein the prevention member controls the plurality of battery cells and is provided with a battery control device accommodated in the space to conduct heat generated in the battery control device .   The prevention member includes a first positioning unit that prevents a displacement between the battery cell positioned below the spacer and the prevention member among the plurality of battery cells stacked via the spacer; 2. A second positioning means for preventing a displacement between the battery cell positioned above the spacer and the prevention member among the plurality of battery cells stacked via a spacer. Item 2. The battery module according to Item 1. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the prevention member is in contact with a heat absorption member that absorbs heat conducted from the battery control device to the prevention member. A holder having a housing part for the battery cell;
Before Kiho holder has a said spacer,
The said prevention member has a control part which contact | abuts to the said holder which accommodates the said battery cell of the upper direction of a lamination | stacking, and controls the movement of the said holder. The battery module described in 1.