Battery device

Abstract

A battery device is provided with a plurality of battery pack assemblies accommodated in a support body so as to be stacked in the vertical direction. Each of the plurality of battery pack assemblies includes a battery pack and a tray. The tray is located below the battery pack and comprises a frame and a bottom plate connected with the frame. The frame has an upper surface that supports the battery pack, and a lower surface that is supported by the support body. The bottom plate is disposed above the lower surface of the frame.

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. The plurality of battery packs are stacked in the up-down direction (vertical direction) in the battery tray. Summary of the invention

[0003] In the power storage device described in International Publication No. 2016 / 129385, when the center of gravity of the power storage device becomes higher due to stacking of battery packs, the stability of the power storage device may be reduced.

[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 suppressing the rise of the center of gravity due to stacking of battery packs and improving stability.

[0005] The battery device according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of battery pack assemblies stacked in the up-down direction and accommodated in a support body.

[0006] The plurality of battery pack components each include:

[0007] Battery pack; and

[0008] tray.

[0009] The tray is located below the battery pack and includes a frame and a bottom plate connected to the frame.

[0010] The frame has an upper surface supporting the battery pack and a lower surface supported by the support body.

[0011] The bottom plate is arranged above the lower surface of the frame.

[0012] According to the battery device involved in the present disclosure, the tray supporting the battery pack includes a bottom plate arranged at a position higher than the lower surface of the frame. Therefore, it is possible to shorten the distance between the battery pack assemblies adjacent to each other in the vertical direction while ensuring the required gap between the two. As a result, it is possible to suppress the rise of the center of gravity of the battery device caused by the stacking of the battery packs, thereby improving the stability of the battery device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] 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 in which:

[0014] Figure 1 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the configuration of the main parts of the battery device according to the embodiment;

[0015] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A three-dimensional view of the battery assembly (battery pack assembly) shown;

[0016] Figure 3 A diagram for explaining a raised bottom structure of a tray according to an embodiment;

[0017] Figure 4 A diagram for explaining the structure of a tray according to a modified example of the embodiment;

[0018] Figure 5 It is used to illustrate Figure 4 A diagram of a tray shown having a raised bottom configuration. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] 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.

[0020] 1. Battery device configuration

[0021] 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).

[0022] 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 .

[0023] 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.

[0024] Each battery assembly 10 is arranged from a predetermined direction ( Figure 4 The insertion direction D3 is shown into and out of the support body 30 . Figure 1 From Exit 2 (ref. Figure 4) when the support body 30 housing the battery assembly 10 is viewed from the direction of .

[0025] 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.

[0026] The support body 30 further includes a pair of rails 35 and 36 for supporting the battery module 10 for each battery module 10. The pair of 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 4 ) In addition, the guide rails 35 and 36 correspond to an example of the "support member" involved in the present disclosure.

[0027] The battery device 1 includes a battery module 10 and a support body 30, and "other components" which 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, regarding 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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, respectively, via the plurality of brackets 25. This fixing can be performed by fastening using fastening members such as bolts 16, for example.

[0032] 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, the plurality of brackets 25 are each mounted on the frame portion 23 or 24 via (through) an insulator 26. The following supplement is made regarding the use of such an insulator 26. As described 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 voltage than a vehicle-mounted battery pack. Therefore, by interposing the insulator 26 between the battery pack 11 and the tray 20, in the case of converting a vehicle-mounted battery pack that does not meet the withstand voltage required by the battery device 1 to the battery pack 11, the insulation of the battery pack 11 can be properly ensured without increasing the withstand voltage of the battery pack 11 itself.

[0033] 2. Raise the bottom structure

[0034] Figure 3 It is a figure for demonstrating the raised bottom structure which the tray 20 which concerns on embodiment has. Figure 3 The package main body 12A and the tray 20 included in the battery module 10A, which is one of the plurality of battery modules 10 , and the package main body 12B of the battery module 10B in the next layer of the battery module 10A are extracted and shown.

[0035] For comparison, Figure 3 2 shows the bottom plate 22 and the bottom plate 100 (comparative example). The bottom plate 100 is located at the same height as the lower surfaces 23b and 24b of the frame 21. That is, the bottom plate 100 is not provided in a raised bottom shape relative to the lower surfaces 23b and 24b.

[0036] Figure 3The gap G in the figure 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.

[0037] In contrast, the bottom plate 22 of the present embodiment is disposed at a position above the lower surfaces 23b and 24b of the frame 21 by an offset amount O. As a result, the pack body 12B can be brought close to the battery assembly 10A to the position indicated by the solid line while ensuring the gap G. In other words, the distance between the battery assembly 10A and the battery assembly 10B in the up-down direction D1 can be shortened by an offset amount 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, thereby improving the stability (shock resistance) of the battery device 1.

[0038] 3. Modifications

[0039] Figure 4 It is a diagram for explaining the structure of a tray 60 according to a modified example of the embodiment. Figure 4 35 and 36. The tray 60 according to this modification is similar to the tray 60 in that it is supported by a pair of guide rails 35 and 36. Figure 2 The disc 20 shown is different.

[0040] like Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 1 , the bottom plate 61 of the tray 60 has a drainage hole 62. The drainage hole 62 is formed to penetrate the bottom plate 22. Figure 4 As shown, the drain hole 62 is inclined so as to become lower.

[0041] According to the bottom plate 61 constructed as described above, the following effects can be obtained. That is, water may adhere to the surface of the battery pack 11, for example, due to 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. According to the bottom plate 61, for example, it is possible to prevent the water attached to the surface of the battery pack 11 from falling to the battery pack 11 of the lower layer (the above-mentioned bottom plate 22 is also the same in this regard). On this basis, a drainage hole 62 is formed in the bottom plate 61. Thus, it is possible to prevent water from overflowing from the tray 60. More specifically, by selecting the position of the drainage hole 62, water can be discharged from a desired position such as a position that does not overlap with the battery pack 11 when viewed from above. This is conducive to suppressing a short circuit in the battery pack 11 or an electrical device connected thereto, that is, it is conducive to improving the safety of the battery device 1. In addition, the bottom plate 61 is inclined in a manner that becomes lower as it moves toward the drainage hole 62. Thus, the drainage of the tray 60 can be improved.

[0042] Figure 5 It is used to illustrate Figure 4 A diagram of a tray 60 having a raised bottom configuration is shown. Figure 5 The line of the bottom plate 61 shown in FIG. 1 is obtained at the end of the bottom plate 61 close to the inlet and outlet 2. Figure 5 , together with the base plate 61, the base plates 22 and 100 are also shown.

[0043] according to Figure 5 It can be seen that the bottom plate 61 also has a raised bottom structure similar to the bottom plate 22. More specifically, the bottom plate 61 has the same height as the bottom plate 22 even at the lowest position. Therefore, as in the case of using the bottom plate 22, the center of gravity of the battery device 1 can be lowered by the bottom plate 61. In this way, according to the use of the bottom plate 61, by appropriately setting the size of the offset O, the drainage of the tray 60 can be improved while improving the stability (seismic resistance) of the battery device 1.

[0044] In addition, generally speaking, the position of the drain hole 62 on the bottom plate 61 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, the center of the bottom plate 61. Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 1 , the drain hole 62 is formed at a corner of the bottom plate 61 (more specifically, one of the four corners). Thus, the position of the drain hole 62 can be determined in such a way that water falling from the drain hole 62 is unlikely to splash onto the battery pack 11 below. In addition, when the drain hole 62 is formed at a corner of the bottom plate 61, the drain hole 62 may also be formed at Figure 4 Alternatively, the drain holes 62 may be formed at two or more corners. Furthermore, the bottom plate 61 may be inclined so as to become lower toward the corners where the drain holes 62 are formed.

[0045] Moreover, in Figure 4 In the modified example shown, the position of the drain hole 62 on the bottom plate 61 is also determined from the following perspectives. Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 1 , the drain hole 62 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 62 is formed at one of the corners of the end. In addition, when the drain hole 62 is formed at the end of the bottom plate 61 located near the inlet and outlet 2, it can also be connected to the bottom plate 61. Figure 4 Unlike the example shown, the drain hole 62 is formed at a position other than the corner of the end. In addition, when the drain hole 62 is formed at a position other than the corner of the end, the bottom plate 61 is 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.

[0046] The end near the inlet and outlet 2 is a portion 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 battery assembly 10 from entering and exiting the support body 30. By forming the drainage hole 62 in such a portion, it is possible to drain water from the tray 60 while easily avoiding water splashing onto the components.

[0047] In more detail, Figure 4 In the modified example shown, the power conversion unit 50 as an example of an electrical device connected to the battery pack 11 is at the same height as the battery pack 11 to be connected. Figure 4 In relation to the power conversion unit 50, the drain hole 62 can also be said to be located on the inner side of the bottom plate 61 in the top view (i.e. Figure 4 ), formed at the end of the bottom plate 61 at the position opposite to the arrangement position of the power conversion unit 50 (for example, the corner of the end). By forming the drain hole 62 at the end on the side away from the electronic device (power conversion unit 50) in this way, it is possible to drain water from the tray 60 while easily avoiding water from splashing onto the power conversion unit 50. In addition, it is also possible to easily avoid the wire harness connecting the power conversion unit 50 and the battery pack 11 from being splashed by the drainage.

[0048] Furthermore, the drainage hole 62 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 drainage holes 62 may be two or more.

Claims

1. A battery device comprising a plurality of battery pack assemblies stacked in a vertical direction and accommodated in a support body, characterized in that: Each of the plurality of battery pack assemblies comprises: Battery pack; and 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 support body. The bottom plate is arranged above the lower surface of the frame.

2. The battery device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom plate has a drainage hole and is inclined so as to become lower toward the drainage hole.

3. The battery device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The battery pack is supported by the frame via an insulator.

4. The battery device according to claim 1 or 2, 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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