Battery device

Abstract

The battery device includes a battery pack assembly mounted on a support member. The battery pack assembly comprises a battery pack and a tray located below the battery pack. The tray comprises a frame and a bottom plate connected with the frame. The frame has an upper surface supporting the battery pack and a lower surface supported by the support member. The bottom plate is provided with drainage holes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery device. Background Art

[0002] International Publication No. 2016 / 129385 discloses a power storage device. The power storage device includes a plurality of battery packs and a battery tray. The plurality of battery packs are accommodated in the battery tray. Summary of the invention

[0003] In the power storage device described in International Publication No. 2016 / 129385, water may be generated due to factors such as condensation on the surface of the battery pack. When the generated water accumulates inside the power storage device, it may affect the safety of the power storage device. However, in International Publication No. 2016 / 129385, no countermeasures are taken for the water that may be generated in this way.

[0004] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery device capable of draining water generated in the battery device to improve safety.

[0005] The battery device disclosed herein includes a battery pack assembly mounted on a support member. The battery pack assembly includes:

[0006] Battery pack; and

[0007] Tray, located underneath the battery pack.

[0008] The pallet includes a frame and a bottom plate connected to the frame.

[0009] The frame has an upper surface supporting the battery pack and a lower surface supported by a supporting member.

[0010] The bottom plate has drainage holes.

[0011] According to the battery device disclosed in the present invention, water adhering to the surface of the battery pack due to condensation or the like can be received by the tray. Furthermore, the water on the tray can be drained from a desired location through the drainage holes formed in the tray. This helps to improve the safety of the battery device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like elements, and wherein:

[0013] Figure 1 This is a diagram schematically showing an example of the configuration of the main parts of the battery device according to the embodiment;

[0014] Figure 2 yes Figure 1A three-dimensional view of the battery assembly (battery pack assembly) shown;

[0015] Figure 3 is a top view of a pallet supported by a pair of rails;

[0016] Figure 4 It is a diagram for explaining the arrangement position of the drainage hole according to the first modified example of the embodiment;

[0017] Figure 5A It is a diagram for explaining the arrangement position of the drainage hole involved in the second modified example of the embodiment;

[0018] Figure 5B It is a diagram for explaining the arrangement position of the drainage hole involved in the second modified example of the embodiment;

[0019] Figure 6 It is a diagram for explaining the structure of a tray according to a third modified example of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to common elements in the respective drawings, and repeated descriptions are omitted or simplified.

[0021] 1. Battery device configuration

[0022] Figure 1 This is a diagram schematically showing an example of the configuration of the main parts of the battery device 1 involved in the embodiment. The battery device 1 is installed in a stationary place. The battery device 1 is also called a stationary power source. The battery device 1 is configured to store power supplied from the outside and supply power to a predetermined power supply object. The battery device 1 can be used as a backup power source (emergency power source) in the event of a power outage (including an emergency such as a natural disaster).

[0023] The battery device 1 includes a battery pack assembly (or simply referred to as a battery assembly) 10 and a support body 30. The battery assembly 10 is an assembly of a battery pack 11 and a tray 20. The number of battery assemblies 10 mounted on the battery device 1 may be one, but is generally a plurality. Figure 1 In the example shown, six battery modules 10 are stacked in the up-down direction D1 (vertical direction) of the battery device 1 and housed in the support body 30 .

[0024] In this embodiment, the battery pack 11 is a vehicle-mounted battery pack. That is, the vehicle-mounted battery pack is used as the battery pack 11 of the battery device 1. This can reduce the cost of the battery device 1 and effectively use resources. In more detail, the vehicle-mounted battery pack can be a second-hand product after being used on a vehicle, or it can be a new product.

[0025] Each battery assembly 10 is arranged from a predetermined direction ( Figure 3 The insertion direction D3 is shown into and out of the support body 30 . Figure 1 From Exit 2 (ref. Figure 3 ) when the support body 30 housing the battery assembly 10 is viewed from the direction of .

[0026] The support body 30 has a rectangular parallelepiped frame structure, for example. Figure 1 , frame members 31 to 34 located on the side of the entrance 2 are shown among the plurality of frame members included in the support body 30. Frame members 31 and 32 extend in the left-right direction D2 (horizontal direction) at the upper and lower ends of the support body 30, respectively. Frame members 33 and 34 extend in the up-down direction D1 at each end of the support body 30 in the left-right direction D2, respectively.

[0027] The support body 30 further includes a pair of guide rails 35 and 36 for supporting the battery module 10 for each battery module 10. The pair of guide rails 35 and 36 are arranged along Figure 1 The pair of guide rails 35 and 36 are fixed to other frame members 37 and 38 and reinforcing members 39 and 40 together with the frame members 33 and 34 (see Figure 3 ) In addition, the guide rails 35 and 36 correspond to an example of the "support member" involved in the present disclosure.

[0028] The battery device 1 includes a battery module 10 and a support body 30, and "other components" that are not shown in the figure. The other components include, for example, a power conversion unit (including a boost converter) 50 (see Figure 4 ), electronic control units (ECUs), and electrical equipment such as high-voltage relays. In addition, other components include, for example, wiring harnesses (including high-voltage cables and connectors) and various components of the cooling device (for example, cooling water piping, pumps, radiators, radiator fans, and storage tanks). As an example, in the battery device 1, for these "other components", components used on the vehicle together with the vehicle-mounted battery pack are also used. As a result, cost reduction and effective use of resources can be achieved more effectively.

[0029] Then, with Figure 1 Add reference together Figure 2 , the specific structure of the battery assembly 10 is described. Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the battery assembly 10 is shown.

[0030] The battery pack 11 includes a pack body 12 and a pair of fixing parts 13 and 14. The pack body 12 contains a plurality of secondary battery cells (not shown) and a cooler 15. The cooler 15 constitutes a part of the above-mentioned cooling device. The cooler 15 allows cooling water flowing inside to perform heat exchange with the plurality of secondary battery cells in the pack body 12. As a result, the plurality of secondary battery cells are cooled.

[0031] The tray 20 is located below the battery pack 11. The tray 20 includes a frame 21 and a bottom plate 22. The frame 21 is formed in a quadrilateral frame shape, for example. The bottom plate 22 is connected to the frame 21. The frame 21 has a pair of frame portions 23 and 24 located on both sides of the left-right direction D2. The pair of frame portions 23 and 24 have upper surfaces 23a and 24a supporting the battery pack 11, respectively. In addition, the pair of frame portions 23 and 24 have lower surfaces 23b and 24b supported by guide rails 35 and 36, respectively.

[0032] More specifically, brackets 25 for fixing the battery pack 11 to the tray 20 are installed at multiple locations on each of the upper surfaces 23a and 24a. The pair of fixing portions 13 and 14 of the battery pack 11 are fixed to the pair of frame portions 23 and 24 via the multiple brackets 25. This fixing can be performed by fastening using fastening members such as bolts 16, for example.

[0033] In addition, each of the plurality of brackets 25 may be directly mounted on the frame 23 or 24. Figure 2 As shown in the example, each of the multiple brackets 25 can also be installed on the frame 23 or 24 via (through) an insulator 26. The following is a supplement about the use of such an insulator 26. As mentioned above, the battery pack 11 is a vehicle-mounted battery pack. The battery pack used in the battery device 1 may be required to withstand a higher pressure than a vehicle-mounted battery pack. Therefore, by interposing the insulator 26 between the battery pack 11 and the tray 20, when a vehicle-mounted battery pack that does not meet the withstand pressure required by the battery device 1 is converted to the battery pack 11, the insulation of the battery pack 11 can be properly ensured without increasing the withstand pressure of the battery pack 11 itself.

[0034] 2. Drainage holes

[0035] like Figure 2 As shown, the bottom plate 22 of the tray 20 has a drainage hole 27. The drainage hole 27 is formed to penetrate the bottom plate 22.

[0036] Generally speaking, as long as there are drainage holes 27, the bottom plate 22 may not be inclined relative to the horizontal plane. Figure 2 As shown, the bottom plate 22 is inclined so as to become lower toward the drain hole 27 .

[0037] In addition, generally speaking, the position of the drain hole 27 on the bottom plate 22 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, the center of the bottom plate 22. On this basis, in this embodiment, the drain hole 27 is as follows: Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the drain hole 27 is formed at a corner of the bottom plate 22 (more specifically, one of the four corners). In addition, when the drain hole 27 is formed at a corner of the bottom plate 22, the drain hole 27 may also be formed at Figure 2 Alternatively, the drain holes 27 may be formed at two or more corners. Furthermore, the bottom plate 22 may be inclined so as to become lower toward the corners where the drain holes 27 are formed.

[0038] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the position of the drainage hole 27 on the bottom plate 22 is also determined in consideration of the following viewpoints. Figure 3 35 and 36 is a top view of the tray 20 supported by a pair of guide rails 35 and 36. Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the drain hole 27 is formed at the end of the bottom plate 22 located near the inlet and outlet 2 of the battery assembly 10. More specifically, the drain hole 27 is formed at one of the corners of the end. In addition, when the drain hole 27 is formed at the end of the bottom plate 22 located near the inlet and outlet 2, it can also be connected to the bottom plate 22. Figure 3 Unlike the example shown, the drain hole 27 is formed at a position other than the corner of the end. In addition, when the drain hole 27 is formed at a position other than the corner of the end, the bottom plate 22 may be inclined so as to become lower from the end on the side far from the entrance 2 toward the end on the side close to the entrance 2.

[0039] In addition, the drain hole 27 is circular as an example, but is not limited to a circular shape, and may have any shape such as a long hole shape (including a slit shape). In addition, the number of the drain holes 27 may be more than two. This is also the same in each of the following modified examples.

[0040] Effect

[0041] As described above, in the battery device 1 involved in the present embodiment, the battery pack 11 is combined with the tray 20 as the battery assembly 10. The tray 20 includes a bottom plate 22. Water may adhere to the surface of the battery pack 11, for example, due to the generation of condensation. In addition, cooling water leaking from the cooling water pipe or the cooler 15 may adhere to the surface of the battery pack 11. The bottom plate 22 can prevent water, for example, adhering to the surface of the battery pack 11 in this way from falling to the battery pack 11 at the lower layer. In addition, a drainage hole 27 is formed in the bottom plate 22. Thus, water can be prevented from overflowing from the tray 20. More specifically, by selecting the position of the drainage hole 27, water can be drained from a desired position, such as a position that does not overlap with the battery pack 11 when viewed from above. This helps to suppress the generation of a short circuit in the battery pack 11 or an electrical device connected thereto, that is, it helps to improve the safety of the battery device 1.

[0042] Moreover, the bottom plate 22 according to the present embodiment is inclined so as to become lower toward the drainage hole 27. Thus, the drainage performance of the tray 20 can be improved.

[0043] In addition, the drainage hole 27 according to the present embodiment is formed at a corner of the bottom plate 22. Thus, the position of the drainage hole 27 can be determined so that water falling from the drainage hole 27 is less likely to splash onto the battery pack 11 at the lower layer.

[0044] Furthermore, the drainage hole 27 according to the present embodiment is formed at the end of the bottom plate 22 located near the inlet and outlet 2 of the battery pack 10. This end can be said to be a location where the components of the battery device 1 such as the above-mentioned electrical equipment are not arranged nearby so as not to hinder the insertion and removal of the battery pack 10 relative to the support body 30. By forming the drainage hole 27 at such a location, it is possible to easily avoid water from splashing onto the components, while allowing water to be drained from the tray 20.

[0045] 3. Modifications

[0046] The position of the drain hole 27 on the bottom plate 22 may also be determined in consideration of the following viewpoints. Figure 4 It is a diagram for explaining the arrangement position of the drainage hole 27 according to the first modified example of the embodiment. Figure 4 is with Figure 3 As a premise, in the first variant, the power conversion unit 50 as one of the electrical devices connected to the battery pack 11 is provided for each battery pack 11. And each power conversion unit 50 is provided at the same height as the battery pack 11 to be connected. Figure 4 As shown, it is arranged on the inner side in the insertion direction D3.

[0047] On this basis, the top view of the drainage hole 27 on the bottom plate 22 (ie, Figure 4), formed at the end of the bottom plate 22 located on the opposite side of the arrangement position of the power conversion unit 50 (for example, the corner of the end). By forming the drain hole 27 at the end on the side away from the power conversion unit 50, it is easy to avoid the drain water from reaching the power conversion unit 50, and at the same time, it is possible to drain water from the tray 20. In addition, it is also easy to avoid the wire harness connecting the power conversion unit 50 and the battery pack 11 from being splashed by the drain water.

[0048] then, Figure 5A and Figure 5B 1 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement position of the drain hole 62 according to the second modification of the embodiment. The tray 60 according to the second modification is different from the tray 60 in that it includes a bottom plate 61 instead of the bottom plate 22. Figure 2 The tray 20 shown is different.

[0049] As a premise, in the second modified example, four cam followers 70 are used to position the battery assembly 10 in the left-right direction D2 when the battery assembly 10 is inserted into the inside of the support body 30. Two mounting holes 62 for mounting two cam followers 70 of the four cam followers 70 are formed in the bottom plate 61. Two mounting holes 63 for mounting the remaining two cam followers 70 are formed in front of the two mounting holes 62 in the insertion direction D3. When the battery assembly 10 is inserted, the four cam followers 70 are mounted in the corresponding mounting holes 62 or 63. When the battery assembly 10 is inserted, the two cam followers 70 move along the inner side surface 35a of one guide rail 35, and the remaining two cam followers 70 move along the inner side surface 36a of the other guide rail 36. The battery assembly 10 is inserted into the inside of the support body 30 while being guided by the four cam followers 70 in this way. Thus, the battery module 10 is positioned in the left-right direction D2.

[0050] When the battery pack 10 is inserted, at least two cam followers 70 near the port 2 are removed from the tray 60. In the second modification, the two mounting holes 62 after the two cam followers 70 are removed are shared as two "drain holes" 62.

[0051] More specifically, for example, two drainage holes 62 are provided. Figure 5B As shown in FIG. 1 , the bottom plate 61 is provided at two corners of the bottom plate 61 located near the entrance 2. The bottom plate 61 may not necessarily be inclined relative to the horizontal plane, but may be inclined as shown in FIG. Figure 5BAs shown in FIG. 1 , the horizontal portion 62b has an inclined portion 61a and a horizontal portion 62b. Two drain holes 62 are formed in the horizontal portion 62b. The inclined portion 61a is inclined in a manner that becomes lower as it moves from the front toward the rear in the insertion direction D3 (i.e., toward the drain holes 62). In addition, the horizontal portion 62b may also be formed with two drain holes 62 and other drain holes 64 indicated by dotted lines.

[0052] then, Figure 6 1 is a diagram for explaining the structure of a tray 80 according to a third modified example of the embodiment. The tray 80 according to the third modified example is different from the tray 80 in that it includes a bottom plate 81 instead of the bottom plate 22. Figure 2 The tray 20 shown is different. Figure 6 The package body 12A and the tray 80 included in the battery module 10A, which is one of the plurality of battery modules 10 , and the package body 12B of the battery module 10B in the next layer of the battery module 10A are extracted and shown.

[0053] exist Figure 6 In the figure, for comparison, the base plates 22 and 100 are also shown together with the base plate 81. Figure 6 The line of the bottom plates 81 and 22 shown in is obtained at the end of the bottom plates 81 and 22 close to the entrance 2. The bottom plate 100 is horizontal without inclination and is located at the same height as the lower surfaces 23b and 24b of the frame 21. Figure 6 The gap G in FIG. 1 corresponds to the minimum gap required between the bottom plate of the upper battery module 10A and the lower package body 12B from the perspective of the performance of the battery device 1. Therefore, in the example of the bottom plate 100, the package body 12B cannot be closer to the battery module 10A than the position indicated by the dotted line due to the restriction of the gap G. In addition, Figure 6 As shown, the lowest position of the bottom plate 22 is at the same height as the bottom plate 100. Therefore, in the example of the bottom plate 22, in order to ensure the gap G, the package body 12B cannot be closer to the battery module 10A than the position indicated by the dotted line.

[0054] In contrast, Figure 6 As shown, the bottom plate 81 is arranged at a position above the lower surfaces 23b and 24b of the frame 21 by an offset O even at the lowest part. As a result, the pack body 12B can be brought close to the battery assembly 10A until the position indicated by the solid line while ensuring the gap G. That is, the distance between the battery assembly 10A and the battery assembly 10B in the vertical direction D1 can be shortened by an offset O. According to such a raised bottom structure, the rise of the center of gravity of the battery device 1 caused by the stacking of the battery packs 11 can be suppressed, so the stability (seismic resistance) of the battery device 1 is improved.

Claims

1. A battery device comprising a battery pack assembly mounted on a support member, It is characterized in that The battery pack assembly comprises: Battery pack; and A tray, the tray is located below the battery pack and includes a frame and a bottom plate connected to the frame, The frame has an upper surface supporting the battery pack and a lower surface supported by the supporting member, The bottom plate has drainage holes.

2. The battery device according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The bottom plate is inclined so as to become lower toward the drain hole.

3. The battery device according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The drainage hole is formed at an end of the bottom plate located on the opposite side of a location where an electric device connected to the battery pack is arranged when the bottom plate is viewed in plan.

4. The battery device according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The battery device includes an access opening for inserting and removing the battery pack assembly from a support body including the support member. The drainage hole is formed at an end of the bottom plate located close to the inlet and outlet.

5. The battery device according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The drainage hole is formed at a corner of the bottom plate.

6. The battery device according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The drain hole is commonly used as a mounting hole of a cam follower that guides the battery pack assembly by moving along a wall surface of the support member when the battery pack assembly is inserted into a support body including the support member.

7. The battery device according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The battery device is arranged in a stationary place. As the battery pack, a vehicle-mounted battery pack was used.

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