Battery pack cover

Abstract

The battery pack cover has a device cover that covers the upper surface of the device side of the battery pack, which includes a device and a battery; a battery cover that covers the upper surface of the battery side of the battery pack and has a portion that overlaps with the device cover in the vertical direction; and a bead portion (upwardly protruding bead) that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the overlapping portion and extends outwardly along the overlapping portion of the lower cover.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery pack cover. Background Technology

[0002] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-92907 describes a vehicle in which a penetration is formed on the bottom surface of a waterproof tray accommodating a battery pack and a cooling blower, and a sheet metal bracket is positioned on the bottom surface of the waterproof tray to cover the penetration. Additionally, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-92907 describes that a seal packing is formed on the bottom surface of the waterproof tray to surround the penetration, and that the seal packing is sandwiched between the bottom surface of the waterproof tray and the sheet metal bracket. The problem to be solved

[0003] In a battery pack cover that covers the top surface of a battery pack, using a seal packing to prevent liquid from entering the interior of the battery pack increases costs.

[0004] The present disclosure is intended to prevent liquid from entering the interior of a battery pack while keeping costs down, in a battery pack cover that covers the upper surface of a battery pack. means of solving the problem

[0005] A battery pack cover of a first embodiment has a device cover that covers the upper surface of the device side of a battery pack including a device and a battery, a battery cover that covers the upper surface of the battery side of the battery pack and has a portion that overlaps with the device cover in the vertical direction, and a bead portion that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the overlapping portion of a lower cover located relatively lower between the device cover and the battery cover and extends outwardly along the overlapping portion of the lower cover.

[0006] In the battery pack cover of the first embodiment, the device cover and the battery cover partially overlap to form an overlapping portion. Among the device cover and the battery cover, the one located on the lower side of the overlapping portion is the lower cover.

[0007] On the upper surface of the overlapping portion of the lower cover, a bead portion protruding upward is formed. The bead portion extends outward along the overlapping portion of the lower cover. Liquid attempting to enter the interior of the battery pack from the overlapping portion is blocked by this bead portion, thereby preventing the intrusion of liquid into the interior of the battery pack. Since there is no need to add new components such as seal packing, costs can be reduced compared to cases where new components are added.

[0008] The battery pack cover of the second embodiment, in the first embodiment, is formed at the upper cover side position which is relatively higher than the device cover and the battery cover on the upper surface of the overlapping portion of the lower cover, and has a wall portion that is higher than the general surface where the bead portion is formed.

[0009] In the battery pack cover of the second embodiment, a wall portion is formed on the upper surface of the overlapping portion of the lower cover. The wall portion is located on the upper cover side, which is relatively higher than the device cover and the battery cover. The wall portion is located on the side deeper than the bead portion in the overlapping portion. Therefore, the intrusion of liquid into the interior of the battery pack can be further suppressed by the wall portion on the side deeper than the bead portion.

[0010] In the third embodiment, the battery pack cover has a height from the general surface of the wall portion higher than the height from the general surface of the bead portion in the second embodiment.

[0011] In the battery pack cover of the third embodiment, since the wall portion is higher than the bead portion, liquid that extends beyond the bead portion can be blocked by the wall portion.

[0012] In any one of the first to third embodiments, the battery pack cover of the fourth embodiment has a concave portion formed in the bead portion that is partially recessed downward and partially open toward the outside.

[0013] In the battery pack cover of the fourth embodiment, a concave portion is formed in the bead portion, so the intrusion of liquid into the interior of the battery pack can be further suppressed. Since the concave portion is partially open toward the outside, the retention of liquid in the concave portion can be suppressed. Effects of the invention

[0014] According to the present disclosure, in a battery pack cover that covers the upper surface of a battery pack, the intrusion of liquid into the interior of the battery pack can be suppressed while reducing costs. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0015] The features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, and like reference numerals indicate like elements: FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a battery pack having a battery pack cover of a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a battery pack cover of a first embodiment; FIG. 3 is a plan view partially showing a battery pack cover of a first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a perspective view partially showing a battery pack cover of a first embodiment; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the flow of liquid in a battery pack cover of a first embodiment; and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the flow of liquid in a battery pack cover of the first embodiment. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0016] Hereinafter, a battery pack cover of the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Furthermore, the following description will mainly focus on the scope necessary for explaining the technology of the present disclosure, and parts where description is omitted will be described according to known technology. Identical or equivalent components in the drawings are given identical or similar reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted. Also, if multiple identical or equivalent components are included in the drawings, reference numerals may be given to only a few of them to make the drawings easier to view. Arrows F, W, and U in the drawings represent the front-rear direction, width direction, and up-down direction, respectively, of a battery pack (12) equipped with a battery pack cover (20). In the following description, when the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions are used without specific description, they represent the front-rear direction of the battery pack, the up-down direction of the battery pack, and the left-right direction of the battery pack, respectively.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a battery pack (12) equipped with a battery pack cover (20) of a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view along the longitudinal direction of the battery pack (12). FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are a perspective view and a plan view, respectively, showing a partial view of the battery pack cover (20).

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the battery pack (12) is equipped with a device (14) and a battery (16). In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of batteries (16) are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction of the battery pack (12). A device (14) is located at the end of a row of the plurality of batteries (16). In the battery pack (12), the side that is relatively closer to the device (14) is the device side and is indicated by arrow A1. In contrast, in the battery pack (12), the side that is relatively closer to the battery (16) is the battery side and is indicated by arrow A2.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, the battery pack cover (20) has a device cover (22) and a battery cover (32).

[0020] The device cover (22) has a device cover upper portion (24) covering the upper surface (12A) (see FIG. 2) of the device side of the battery pack (12), and device cover side portions (26) extending obliquely downward from both ends in the width direction of the device cover upper portion (24).

[0021] The battery cover (32) has a battery cover top (34) and a battery cover side (36). The battery cover top (34) covers the upper surface (12B) (see FIG. 2) of the battery side of the battery pack (12). The battery cover side (36) extends obliquely downward from both ends in the width direction of the battery cover top (34). In the battery cover (32), the direction from the center toward the battery cover side (36) is the outer direction of the battery cover (32).

[0022] The device cover (22) may not only cover the upper surface (12A) on the device side, but a part thereof may also cover a part of the upper surface (12B) on the battery side of the battery pack (12). Likewise, the battery cover (32) may not only cover the upper surface (12B) on the battery side, but a part thereof may also cover a part of the upper surface (12A) on the device side of the battery pack (12).

[0023] A part of the battery cover (32), specifically a part of the device side (arrow A1 side), overlaps with the device cover (22) in the vertical direction, i.e., is overlapped. The part of the battery cover (32) that overlaps with the device cover (22) is the overlap portion (38), and the part of the device cover (22) that overlaps with the battery cover (32) is the overlap portion (28). In the overlap portions (28, 38), the device cover (22) and the battery cover (32) are joined by bolts (40). In this embodiment, the device cover (22) and the battery cover (32) are joined by two bolts (40) spaced apart from each other.

[0024] In this embodiment, in the overlapping portion (28, 38), the battery cover (32) is located on the lower side of the device cover (22). That is, in this embodiment, the battery cover (32) is also the lower cover (20L), and the device cover (22) is also the upper cover (20U). Also, the battery side can be said to be the lower cover side, and the device side can be said to be the upper cover side.

[0025] On the upper surface (38A) of the overlapping portion (38) of the battery cover (32), an upward protruding bead (42) and a wall portion (44) are formed. Specifically, the upward protruding bead (42) protrudes upward from the upper surface (38A) of the overlapping portion (38). The upward protruding bead (42) is formed extending outward along the overlapping portion (38), from the upper part (34) of the battery cover to the left and right battery cover sides (36). The upward protruding bead (42) is an example of a bead portion in the disclosed technology.

[0026] The surface on which the upward protruding bead (42) is formed is the general surface (46) of the battery cover (32) (see FIG. 2). Therefore, the upward protruding bead (42) can be said to extend outward in the width direction of the battery pack (12) while protruding from the general surface (46) toward the device cover (22).

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the central portion in the width direction, a recess (48) is formed at a position between two bolts (40), and a part of the recess (48) is opened toward the battery side by a groove (52). Also, at the end portion in the width direction, a recess (50) is formed on the outer side of each bolt (40), and each of these recesses (50) is opened toward the outer side in the width direction. Accordingly, the upward protruding bead (42) is formed as a three-dimensional maze structure in the overlapping portion (38) of the lower cover (20L) (battery cover (32)).

[0028] The wall portion (44) is formed on the general surface (46) of the battery cover (32) at a position on the device cover side (direction of arrow A1) rather than the upward protruding bead (42). In this embodiment, the wall portion (44) is formed at the end of the device cover side and extends in the width direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the protrusion height (H2) of the wall portion (44) from the general surface (46) is higher than the protrusion height (H1) of the upward protruding bead (42) from the general surface (46). The wall portion (44) is formed in a sloping shape with a height that gradually increases toward the device side, corresponding to the shape of the device cover (22).

[0029] Between the upward protruding bead (42) and the wall (44), a concave portion (54) is formed that is lower in height from the general surface (46) than the upward protruding bead (42). The concave portion (54) extends in the width direction. Both ends of the concave portion (54) are open toward the outside in the width direction.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, a downward protruding bead (56) is formed on the device cover (22) (upper cover (20U)) that protrudes toward the battery cover (32) at a position corresponding to the upward protruding bead (42). The downward protruding bead (56) follows the upward protruding bead (42) and makes the gap between the overlapping portion (28) and the overlapping portion (38) smaller than that between the upward protruding bead (42).

[0031] Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be explained.

[0032] Consider the case where liquid attempts to enter the battery pack (12) from between the overlapping portion (28) and the overlapping portion (38), as indicated by arrow F1 in FIG. 5. In this case, the liquid strikes the upward protruding bead (42), as indicated by arrow F2 in FIG. 6, and its flow toward the device is suppressed. Accordingly, the intrusion of liquid toward the device can be suppressed. Since additional components such as seal packing are unnecessary to suppress the intrusion of liquid, the increase in cost can be suppressed.

[0033] The upward protruding bead (42) has a concave portion (48, 50) formed therein, and since it is a so-called maze structure, compared to a configuration in which such a concave portion (48, 50) is not formed therein, it has a high effect of suppressing the intrusion of liquid.

[0034] The liquid struck by the upward protruding bead (42) is discharged outward in the width direction of the battery cover (32), as indicated by arrow F4.

[0035] In addition, even if the liquid passes over the upward protruding bead (42), as indicated by arrow F3, the liquid hits the wall (44) and is blocked. That is, the liquid passing over the upward protruding bead (42) is blocked, thereby preventing it from entering the device. In this case, additional components such as seal packing are not required to prevent the liquid from entering, thus preventing an increase in cost.

[0036] In particular, the height (H2) of the wall (44) from the general surface (46) is higher than the height (H1) of the upward protruding bead (42) from the general surface (46). Therefore, compared to a configuration where the height (H2) of the wall (44) is less than or equal to the height (H1) of the upward protruding bead (42), the effect of blocking liquid that has gone over the upward protruding bead (42) to the wall (44) can be achieved more effectively.

[0037] The upward protruding bead (42) has a concave portion (48, 50) formed therein and has a maze structure. Therefore, compared to, for example, a simple straight bead portion, it has a high effect of suppressing the intrusion of liquid into the device side.

[0038] In the device cover (22) of the upper cover (20U), a downward protruding bead (56) corresponding to the upward protruding bead (42) of the battery cover (32) is formed. The downward protruding bead (56) follows the upward protruding bead (42) and makes the gap between the overlapping portion (28) and the overlapping portion (38) smaller than that between the upward protruding bead (42). Therefore, compared to a configuration in which the downward protruding bead (56) is not formed, the effect of suppressing the intrusion of liquid attempting to enter the battery pack (12) through the gap between the overlapping portion (28) and the overlapping portion (38) is high.

[0039] A groove (52) is formed in the concave portion (48) and is partially open toward the battery side. Additionally, the left and right concave portions (50) are each open toward the outer side in the width direction. Furthermore, the concave portion (54) on the front side (battery side) of the wall portion (44) is also open toward the outer side in the width direction. Therefore, the liquid in the concave portions (48, 50, 54) is discharged to the outside of the concave portions (48, 50, 54) without accumulating, as indicated by arrow F5. Since the liquid does not accumulate in the concave portions (48, 50, 54), corrosion and deterioration of the battery cover (32) caused by liquid accumulation can be suppressed.

[0040] In the above description, regarding the overlapping portions (28, 38) of the device cover (22) and the battery cover (32), a configuration in which the battery cover (32) is located relatively lower is described, that is, a configuration in which the device cover (22) is an example of an upper cover and the battery cover (32) is an example of a lower cover (20L). The vertical relationship between the device cover (22) and the battery cover (32) may be the opposite of this, that is, a configuration in which the device cover (22) is located lower than the battery cover (32). In this case, the battery cover (32) is an example of an upper cover and the device cover (22) is an example of a lower cover (20L). And, an upward protruding bead (42) and a wall (44) are formed on the upper surface of the overlapping portion (28) of the device cover (22), and a downward protruding bead (56) is formed on the lower surface of the overlapping portion (38) of the battery cover (32).

[0041] The following is an appendix regarding the present disclosure.

[0042] (Appendix 1)

[0043] A device cover covering the upper surface of the device side of a battery pack including a device and a battery, and

[0044] A battery cover that covers the upper surface of the battery side of the battery pack and has a portion that overlaps with the device cover in the vertical direction, and

[0045] A bead portion that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the overlapping portion of the lower cover located relatively lower among the device cover and the battery cover, and extends outwardly along the overlapping portion of the lower cover.

[0046] Battery pack cover having

[0047] (Appendix 2)

[0048] A battery pack cover described in Appendix 1, having a wall portion higher than the general surface where the bead portion is formed, formed at the upper cover side position which is relatively higher than the device cover and the battery cover on the upper surface of the overlapping portion of the lower cover.

[0049] (Appendix 3)

[0050] A battery pack cover described in Appendix 2, wherein the height from the general surface of the wall portion is higher than the height from the general surface of the bead portion.

[0051] (Appendix 4)

[0052] A battery pack cover described in any one of appendices 1 to 3, having a concave portion formed in the bead portion that is partially recessed downward and partially open toward the outside.

Claims

Claim 1 A battery pack cover comprising: a device cover covering the upper surface of the device side of a battery pack including a device and a battery; a battery cover covering the upper surface of the battery side of the battery pack, with a portion overlapping the device cover in an up-and-down direction; and a bead portion extending outwardly along the overlapping portion of a lower cover located relatively lower between the device cover and the battery cover, while protruding upward from the upper surface of the overlapping portion. Claim 2 A battery pack cover according to claim 1, wherein, on the upper surface of the overlapping portion of the lower cover, a wall portion is formed at a position on the upper cover side that is relatively higher than the device cover and the battery cover, and has a wall portion that is higher than the general surface where the bead portion is formed. Claim 3 A battery pack cover according to claim 2, wherein the height from the general surface of the wall portion is higher than the height from the general surface of the bead portion. Claim 4 A battery pack cover according to claim 1, wherein a concave portion is formed in the bead portion, which is partially recessed downward and partially open toward the outside.

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