JP6291955B2 - Service plug cover structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a service plug cover structure applied to a vehicle including a battery unit such as an electric vehicle.

  For example, an electric vehicle such as an electric vehicle includes a battery unit formed by connecting a plurality of battery modules in series as a power source. Further, in order to ensure safety at the time of maintenance of the battery unit, a service plug for shutting off the power supply is provided as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example. The service plug includes a terminal pair provided at an intermediate portion of a power supply circuit in which battery modules are connected in series, a plug member that can electrically disconnect the terminal pair, and the like. The plug member is provided with an operation lever for operating the locked state and the unlocked state.

  In the case of a vehicle in which the service plug is provided at a position where it can be handled relatively easily, a bolt with a rigid plug cover including a metal frame, such as the plug cover device of Patent Document 1, for safety reasons. It is made to fasten to a service plug accommodating part by fastening members, such as. On the other hand, in a vehicle in which the battery unit is arranged below the floor panel of the vehicle body, the service plug is not in a position where it can be easily handled. It is possible to attach to the part.

  When the service plug is disposed on the lower side of the floor panel, an opening (panel hole) for the service plug is formed in the floor panel, and this panel hole is usually covered with a lid member that is a part of the floor panel. is there. That is, when the service plug is not operated, the lid member is closed, and when the service plug is operated, the lid member is opened and then the operation lever is operated. For this reason, the opening (panel hole) formed in the floor panel needs to have a size that allows the operator to operate the operation lever with fingers or tools.

Japanese Patent No. 5360042

  In the plug cover device described in Patent Document 1, the plug cover is fixed to the service plug housing portion by a screw member provided on a side portion of the cover. For this reason, assuming that the service plug is placed under the floor panel, the opening of the service plug housing part needs to be large enough to allow the operator's fingers or tools to be inserted. In comparison, a considerably large opening is required. If the opening becomes large, the plug cover becomes large, which increases the cost and makes it difficult to secure a space for the plug cover. Moreover, since the panel hole formed in a floor panel also becomes large, some reinforcement measures may be needed.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a service plug cover structure in which an opening formed in a service plug housing portion provided in a battery unit and a plug cover covering the opening can be formed as small as possible.

The service plug cover structure according to the present invention includes a service plug housing portion formed in a battery case of a battery unit and having a service plug disposed therein, and the service plug housing portion formed in the service plug housing portion outside the battery unit. An opening that can be faced from and a plug cover that is attached to the opening, and the plug cover is fitted to a cover body that covers the opening and a locking portion formed in the opening. And a handle portion formed on the cover body and capable of locking a finger or a tool when the fitting portion is removed from the locking portion. The service plug includes an operation lever that can rotate between a lying position and an upright position, and the operating lever includes a handle portion and a rotation fulcrum, and the handle portion when the operating lever is in the lying position. Is disposed at a position closer to the handle than the pivot point.

In one embodiment, the plug cover and the opening is a shape having a respective major axis and a minor axis, that is formed at a position where the handle portion is offset to one longitudinal end of the plug cover. Et al provided with the rear-side protrusion which the handle portion is protruded from the back surface of the plug cover is, the back-side convex portion in the mounted state of the plug cover, said service when said operating lever is in the collapsed position It may be formed so as to protrude downward from the uppermost end of the plug. In these embodiments, a panel hole formed at a position corresponding to the opening in a part of the panel member disposed above the battery unit, and a lid member for closing the panel hole, The panel hole and the lid member may each have a shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the opening.

  According to the service plug cover structure of the present invention, the opening formed in the service plug accommodating portion provided in the battery unit and the plug cover covering the opening can be formed as small as possible.

The perspective view which shows an example of the vehicle provided with the battery unit. The side view which shows a partial cross section of the vehicle provided with the service plug part which concerns on 1st Embodiment, and a battery unit. The top view which shows the service plug part of the vehicle shown by FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the service plug part which follows the F4-F4 line | wire in FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which a cover panel member is removed from the service plug portion shown in FIG. 3. Sectional drawing in the middle of removing a plug cover in the service plug part in alignment with the F6-F6 line | wire in FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state where a plug cover is removed from the service plug unit shown in FIG. 3. Sectional drawing of the service plug part which follows the F8-F8 line | wire in FIG. Sectional drawing of the service plug part which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. Sectional drawing in the middle of removing a plug cover in the service plug part shown by FIG. Sectional drawing of the service plug part which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. Sectional drawing of the service plug part which concerns on 4th Embodiment. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the plug cover is moved in the service plug portion shown in FIG. 12.

The service plug cover structure according to the first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 shows an example of an electric vehicle 10 and an example of a battery unit 11 mounted on the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 may be an electric vehicle having only an electric motor as a driving power source, or may be a hybrid vehicle using both an engine and an electric motor.

  FIG. 2 shows a floor panel 15 which is an example of a panel member forming a part of the vehicle body of the vehicle 10, a battery unit 11 disposed on the back surface (lower surface) 15a side of the floor panel 15, a service plug portion 17, and the like. ing. The battery unit 11 includes a sealed battery case 20 and a battery module 21 accommodated in the battery case 20. The battery module 21 is configured by combining a plurality of battery cells (for example, lithium ion batteries).

  FIG. 3 is a plan view of the service plug portion 17 as viewed from above the floor panel 15. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line F4-F4 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, a service plug accommodating portion 30 having a convex shape is formed on the upper surface of the battery case 20. A service plug 31 is arranged inside the service plug accommodating portion 30. A plug cover 40 is attached to an opening 35 (shown in FIGS. 6 to 8) formed on the upper surface of the service plug housing 30. The plug cover 40 will be described in detail later.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a panel hole 45 is formed in a part of the floor panel 15 disposed above the battery unit 11. The panel hole 45 is formed at a position corresponding to the service plug accommodating portion 30. The panel hole 45 can be closed by a removable lid member 46. The lid member 46 is fixed to the floor panel 15 by a fixing member 47 (shown in FIG. 3) such as a bolt. Between the floor panel 15 and the lid member 46, a sealing material 48 surrounding the entire periphery of the panel hole 45 is provided.

  FIG. 5 shows the service plug portion 17 with the lid member 46 removed. The floor panel 15 is formed with a hole 47a for inserting a fixing member 47 (shown in FIG. 3). 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F6-F6 in FIG. 5, but shows a state in the middle of removing the plug cover 40. FIG. FIG. 7 shows the service plug portion 17 with the plug cover 40 removed. FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line F8-F8 in FIG.

  The service plug 31 includes a base member 50 fixed to the battery case 20 and a plug member 51 inserted into the base member 50. The base member 50 is provided with a terminal pair that forms part of the power supply circuit of the battery module 21. An operation lever 52 is provided on the plug member 51. The operation lever 52 has a handle portion 52a and a rotation fulcrum 52b. With the rotation fulcrum 52b as the center, an operation position (lock position) indicated by a solid line in FIG. 8 and a standing position indicated by a two-dot chain line L1 in FIG. The plug member 51 can be pulled out from the base member 50 when it is in an upright state.

  The plug member 51 is provided with a conductor for conducting the terminal pair in a state where the plug member 51 is inserted into the base member 50. When the plug member 51 is inserted into the base member 50, the terminal pair is conducted by the conductor of the plug member 51, thereby closing the power supply circuit of the battery module 21. When the plug member 51 is pulled out from the base member 50, the power supply circuit is divided, so that the battery module 21 is turned off.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, an opening 35 is formed in the wall constituting the upper surface of the service plug housing 30. A plug cover 40 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 6) is attached to the opening 35. The opening 35 is formed at a position where the service plug 31 can be seen from the outside (above) of the battery case 20 in a state where the plug cover 40 is removed.

  As shown in FIG. 7, an example of the opening 35 has an oval shape when viewed from above the service plug housing 30. That is, the opening 35 has a major axis X1 extending in the longitudinal direction and a minor axis Y1 extending in a direction perpendicular to the major axis X1. Both ends 35a, 35b in the longitudinal direction of the opening 35 are substantially semicircular, and straight portions 35c, 35d are formed between both ends 35a, 35b. A locking portion 55 is formed on the inner periphery of the opening 35.

  The plug cover 40 attached to the opening 35 is an integrally molded product of an elastic member having rubber elasticity such as rubber or elastomer, and is formed on the entire circumference of the cover main body 60 covering the opening 35 and the cover main body 60. A groove-shaped fitting portion 61 (shown in FIGS. 4 and 6) and a hooking portion 62 formed on the cover main body 60 are provided. The cover main body 60 has a long and thin shape corresponding to the opening 35 (an oblong shape having a long axis X1 and a short axis Y1). As shown in FIG. 5, both ends 60a and 60b in the longitudinal direction of the cover main body 60 are substantially semicircular, and straight portions 60c and 60d are formed between both ends 60a and 60b.

  The fitting portion 61 of the plug cover 40 can be fitted into the locking portion 55 of the opening 35 by elastically deforming the plug cover 40. By fitting the fitting portion 61 into the locking portion 55, the plug cover 40 is fixed to the service plug housing portion 30, and the entire opening 35 is covered by the cover main body 60, and the inside of the service plug housing portion 30. A space S hermetically sealed is secured.

  The hook portion 62 is an example of a handle portion that allows an operator or the like to lock a finger or a tool when the plug cover 40 is removed from the locking portion 55 of the opening 35. Thus, by forming the hook 62 as the handle on the cover body 60 of the plug cover 40, it is possible to prevent the opening 35 for inserting the operator's fingers or tools from being enlarged.

  As shown in FIG. 5 and the like, the hook portion 62 is formed at a position offset from the center C of the cover body 60 toward the one end 60a in the longitudinal direction when the cover body 60 is viewed from above. The outer surface (upper surface) side of the hook portion 62 is a concave portion that allows an operator or the like to insert and hook a finger or a tool 75 (shown in FIG. 6). On the back surface (lower surface) side of the cover body 60, a back surface side convex portion 80 of the hook portion 62 that protrudes toward the space S inside the service plug housing portion 30 is formed. As shown in FIG. 4, the rear surface convex portion 80 is accommodated in the space S between the inner surface 30 a of the service plug accommodating portion 30 and the operation lever 52. That is, the hook portion 62 is disposed at a position near the handle portion 52a among the handle portion 52a and the rotation fulcrum 52b of the operation lever 52. Accordingly, after the finger or tool is locked to the hooking portion 62 and the plug cover 40 is removed from the locking portion 55 of the opening 35, the finger is again operated when the handle 52a of the operation lever 52 is operated. When inserting tools and tools, workability is good because there is no need to change posture.

  In this way, the hook portion 62 is provided at a position offset toward the one end 60 a in the longitudinal direction of the plug cover 40, and the rear surface side convex portion 80 of the hook portion 62 is connected to the inner surface 30 a of the service plug housing portion 30 and the operation lever. 52 is accommodated in the space S between the two. And the back surface side convex part 80 protrudes below the uppermost end of the service plug 31 when the operation lever 52 is in the lying down position when the plug cover 40 is mounted. Thereby, when the plug cover 40 is about to be attached to the opening 35 in the front-rear reverse direction, the reverse-side convex portion 80 interferes with the service plug 31 so that the reverse direction is recognized. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the plug cover 40 from being forcibly attached to the opening 35 in an incomplete state in the reverse direction, and the plug cover 40 can exhibit a predetermined sealing performance.

  The space S that accommodates the rear surface side convex portion 80 of the hook portion 62 is also a space necessary for inserting the finger 85 when operating the operation lever 52. Since the rear surface side convex portion 80 of the hook 62 is accommodated in such a space S, it is not necessary to bother to secure a special space for accommodating the rear surface side convex portion 80 in the service plug accommodating portion 30. For this reason, it is suppressed that the service plug accommodating part 30 becomes large.

Next, the operation of the service plug unit 17 of this embodiment will be described.
When it is not necessary to operate the service plug 31, the panel hole 45 of the floor panel 15 is closed by the lid member 46. When the service plug 31 needs to be operated, the cover member 46 is removed from the floor panel 15 to open the panel hole 45 as shown in FIG. The panel hole 45 is located above the service plug accommodating portion 30. For this reason, the plug cover 40 can be exposed below the panel hole 45 in a state where the lid member 46 is removed.

  With the lid member 46 removed, as shown in FIG. 6, a finger or a tool 75 is hooked on the hook portion 62 of the plug cover 40, and the plug cover 40 is deformed using the elasticity of the plug cover 40, while the arrow is deformed. The plug cover 40 is removed from the locking portion 55 of the opening 35 by pulling up in the direction indicated by P1. Since the hook 62 is provided at a position offset toward the one end 60a in the longitudinal direction of the cover main body 60, the plug cover can be formed by pulling the hook 62 with a finger or a tool 75 (shown in FIG. 6). 40 can be bent relatively, and the fitting portion 61 of the plug cover 40 can be removed from the locking portion 55 of the opening 35.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the plug cover 40 is removed from the opening 35, the service plug 31 appears inside the opening 35, so that the operation lever 52 can be operated. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the finger 85 is inserted into the opening 35, the finger 85 is hooked on the operation lever 52, and the operation lever 52 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow P2, thereby bringing the plug member 51 into the unlocked state. By pulling out the plug member 51 from the base member 50 under this unlocked state, the power supply circuit of the battery module 21 is shut off, so that maintenance work and the like can be performed safely.

  After the maintenance is completed, the plug member 51 is inserted into the base member 50 again to close the power supply circuit. After that, the plug cover 40 is attached to the opening 35 by fitting the fitting portion 61 of the plug cover 40 to the engaging portion 55 of the opening 35. Then, the panel hole 45 is closed by the lid member 46 and fixed by the fixing member 47.

  According to the present embodiment, when the opening is expanded by Z1 in order to secure a space for inserting a finger or a tool with respect to the virtual opening indicated by a two-dot chain line Z in FIG. Increasing the area of the opening 35 can be made smaller by extending Z1 in the direction of the axis X1 than by extending Z1 in the direction of the minor axis Y1. In other words, if the opening 35 is widened by the same dimension, the increase in the opening area is smaller when Z1 is increased in the major axis X1 direction than when Z1 is increased in the minor axis Y1 direction. For this reason, it can suppress that the opening part 35 and the plug cover 40 become large. For the same reason, it is possible to prevent the panel hole 45 and the lid member 46 from becoming large.

  Moreover, a hook 62 is provided on one end of the elongated plug cover 40 in the longitudinal direction, and the plug cover 40 is compared by pulling the hook 62 when removing the plug cover 40 from the opening 35. Therefore, the plug cover 40 can be removed from the opening 35.

  9 and 10 show a plug cover 40A according to the second embodiment. At one end in the longitudinal direction of the plug cover 40A, a hooking portion 62A made of a band or a string is provided. For example, the base portion 90 of the hook portion 62 </ b> A made of a band-shaped member is connected to the back surface of the cover body 60 at a position offset toward the one end 60 a in the longitudinal direction of the cover body 60. In order to remove the plug cover 40A from the opening 35, as shown in FIG. 10, the finger 61 or a tool is hooked on the hook 62A and pulled up to pull the fitting portion 61 of the opening 35 while deforming the plug cover 40A. It can be removed from the locking portion 55.

  FIG. 11 shows a plug cover 40B according to the third embodiment. At one end in the longitudinal direction of the plug cover 40B, a knob portion 62B formed so as to protrude toward the panel hole 45 is provided. The knob portion 62B is an example of a handle portion referred to in the present invention. In order to remove the plug cover 40B from the opening portion 35, the fitting portion 61 of the plug cover 40B can be detached from the locking portion 55 of the opening portion 35 by hooking a finger or a tool to the knob portion 62B and pulling it up.

  FIG. 12 shows a state in which the plug cover 40C according to the fourth embodiment is closed. FIG. 13 shows a state where the plug cover 40C has moved to the open position (open state). At one end in the longitudinal direction of the plug cover 40C, a surface-side convex portion 62C formed so as to protrude toward the panel hole 45 is provided. The front-side convex portion 62C is an example of a handle portion referred to in the present invention. The plug cover 40 </ b> C is a slide type cover, which is formed of, for example, a synthetic resin and is fitted to a locking portion 55 that also serves as a rail-shaped guide portion formed around the opening 35. That is, both ends of the plug cover 40 </ b> C in the short direction (short axis direction) form a fitting portion 61 that fits into the locking portion 55 of the opening 35.

  In order to open the plug cover 40C, as shown in FIG. 13, a finger 85 or a tool is put on the surface-side convex portion 62C and the direction toward the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the plug cover 40C (arrow in FIG. 13). The plug cover 40C is slid along the rail-shaped locking portion 55 in the direction indicated by P3. In this manner, the opening 35 is opened by moving the fitting portion 61 of the plug cover 40C in a direction to remove it from the locking portion 55 of the opening 35. A sealing material 100 that surrounds the entire circumference of the opening 35 is provided between the service plug housing 30 and the plug cover 40C.

  About the 2nd-4th embodiment (FIGS. 9-13) mentioned above, since it is the same as that of 1st Embodiment (FIGS. 1-8) about a structure and an effect other than the matter mentioned above, it is common to both. A common code | symbol is attached | subjected to a location and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In carrying out the present invention, the specific shape of the service plug housing portion and the plug cover, the opening portion of the service plug housing portion, the cover body and fitting portion of the plug cover, the hook portion, and the panel member of the vehicle body Needless to say, the structure and arrangement of each element constituting the service plug unit such as the panel hole and the lid member can be appropriately changed and implemented.

  The plug cover is not limited to an integrally molded product of an elastic member having rubber elasticity such as rubber or elastomer. Further, the handle portion that can be engaged with a finger or a tool when the fitting portion of the plug cover is removed from the engaging portion of the opening portion only needs to be formed on the cover body of the plug cover. The configuration is not limited to one end.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Battery unit, 15 ... Floor panel (panel member), 17 ... Service plug part, 20 ... Battery case, 21 ... Battery module, 30 ... Service plug accommodating part, 30a ... Inner surface, 31 ... Service plug, 35 ... Opening part , 40 ... Plug cover, 45 ... Panel hole, 46 ... Lid member, 52 ... Operation lever, 55 ... Locking part, 60 ... Cover body, 60a ... One end in the longitudinal direction, 61 ... Fitting part, 62, 62A ... Pull Hang part (handle part), 62B ... knob part (handle part), 62C ... front side convex part (handle part), 80 ... back side convex part, X1 ... long axis, Y1 ... short axis, S ... space

Claims (5)

A service plug housing portion that is formed in the battery case of the battery unit and in which the service plug is disposed;
An opening that is formed in the service plug housing portion and can face the service plug from the outside of the battery unit;
A plug cover attached to the opening,
The plug cover is
A cover body covering the opening;
A fitting portion that fits into a locking portion formed in the opening;
A handle portion formed on the cover body and capable of locking a finger or a tool when the fitting portion is removed from the locking portion;
Equipped with,
The service plug includes an operation lever that can rotate between a lying position and an upright position, and the operating lever includes a handle portion and a rotation fulcrum, and when the operation lever is in the lying position, A service plug cover structure, wherein the service plug cover structure is disposed closer to the handle than the pivot point .   The plug cover and the opening have shapes having a major axis and a minor axis, respectively, and the handle is formed at a position offset toward one end side in the longitudinal direction of the plug cover. The cover structure of the service plug according to 1. The service plug cover structure according to claim 2, wherein the handle portion includes a hook portion formed in a concave portion of the cover body . The handle portion includes a rear surface-side convex portion that protrudes toward the rear surface side of the plug cover,
The said back surface side convex part protrudes below from the uppermost end of the said service plug when the said operation lever exists in a fall position in the mounting state of the said plug cover, It is characterized by the above-mentioned. Service plug cover structure.   A panel hole formed at a position corresponding to the opening in a part of the panel member disposed above the battery unit, and a lid member for closing the panel hole, the panel hole and the lid member being 5. The service plug cover structure according to claim 2, wherein the service plug cover structure has a shape extending in a longitudinal direction of the opening.

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