Battery pack

Abstract

The invention provides a battery pack with improved component arrangement efficiency. A battery pack (10) is provided with a plurality of unit modules (12) and one or more battery-related devices, the unit modules (12) are arranged side by side with an intermediate space (16) therebetween in the longitudinal direction of each of the unit modules (12), and the one or more battery-related devices are arranged inside the intermediate space (16) or on the upper side of the intermediate space (16).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This specification discloses a battery pack mounted on a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Electric vehicles are powered by electric motors. They are equipped with battery packs for charging and discharging electricity. A battery pack typically consists of multiple unit modules and one or more battery-related devices. A unit module is a component that combines multiple battery cells. Examples of battery-related devices include the ECU, connectors, and piping.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a battery pack comprising multiple unit modules arranged in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. In Patent Document 1, the unit modules are generally rectangular parallelepiped-shaped, elongated in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, in Patent Document 1, battery-related equipment and the unit modules are arranged adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction.

[0004] Prior art literature

[0005] Patent Literature

[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-234870 Summary of the Invention

[0007] Problems to be solved by the invention

[0008] To reduce the short-side dimension of a battery pack, multiple unit modules are sometimes arranged along the long-side dimension of the unit modules. In this case, the long-side dimension of the battery pack may become excessively large depending on the arrangement of battery-related devices.

[0009] Therefore, the present specification discloses a battery pack with improved component arrangement efficiency.

[0010] Technical solutions to problems

[0011] The battery pack disclosed in this specification is characterized by including a plurality of unit modules and one or more battery-related devices, wherein the plurality of unit modules are arranged in the longitudinal direction of each unit module with an intermediate space therebetween, and the one or more battery-related devices are arranged inside or above the intermediate space.

[0012] In this case, the one or more battery-related devices may include: an electronic device, which is arranged on the upper side of the intermediate space; and a connector, which is arranged on the lower side of the electronic device, electrically relaying the electronic device and the wiring harness, and the dimension of the intermediate space in the long side direction is smaller than the dimension of the electronic device in the long side direction.

[0013] Furthermore, the one or more battery-related devices may include a fuse disposed inside the intermediate space; and a connector disposed inside or above the intermediate space and connected to wiring harnesses drawn from the plurality of unit modules.

[0014] Furthermore, the connector may be arranged with an insertion port of the harness facing downward.

[0015] Furthermore, the one or more battery-related devices may include a duct partially disposed inside the intermediate space.

[0016] Effects of the Invention

[0017] According to the technology disclosed in this specification, the efficiency of component arrangement is improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the battery pack.

[0019] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a battery pack.

[0020] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing a battery controller and the configuration of the battery controller.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing the arrangement of fuses.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the pipeline.

[0023] Figure 6 This is a diagram showing an example of another battery pack. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Hereinafter, the structure of the battery pack 10 will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 1 is a schematic perspective view of the battery pack 10. In the following description, Fr, Up, and Rh represent the front, upper, and right side of the vehicle, respectively.

[0025] Figure 1 The battery pack 10 shown is mounted on an electric vehicle and supplies power to the electric motor for driving. An electric vehicle is a vehicle that has an electric motor as one of its power sources. Examples of such vehicles include hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and fuel cell electric vehicles. The battery pack 10 is placed in a location that does not obstruct the view of the passengers, such as the luggage space or under the vehicle seat. In this example, Figure 2As shown, the battery pack 10 is arranged on the lower side of the rear seat 100. In this example, the battery pack 10 is arranged in a posture in which the longitudinal direction of the unit module 12 described later is parallel to the vehicle width direction. Figures 1 to 6 The arrow Rh indicating the right side in FIG. 1 is in the same direction as the long side direction of the unit module 12 , and the arrow Fr indicating the front is in the same direction as the short side direction of the unit module 12 .

[0026] The battery pack 10 is constructed by accommodating a plurality of unit modules 12 and one or more battery-related devices in a housing (not shown). The unit module 12 is constructed by alternately stacking a plurality of battery cells 14 and a plurality of partitions 15 in the thickness direction. The battery cell 14 is a secondary battery capable of charging and discharging. For example, the battery cell 14 is a lithium-ion secondary battery or a sodium-ion secondary battery. In addition, the battery cell 14 may also be an all-solid-state battery. The battery cell 14 is a square battery in a flat rectangular shape. The plurality of battery cells 14 are electrically connected in series or in parallel via a conductor called a bus bar. The partition 15 is a plate made of an insulating material. A groove is formed on the surface of the partition 15, which functions as a flow path for the flow of a cooling fluid.

[0027] The unit module 12 formed by stacking a plurality of battery cells 14 and a plurality of partitions 15 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape that is longer in the stacking direction. The battery pack 10 has two unit modules 12. In this example, the two unit modules 12 are arranged in the long side direction of the unit module 12. This configuration is made to improve space efficiency, which will be described later. The battery pack 10 is arranged in a posture in which the long side direction of the unit module 12 is roughly parallel to the vehicle width direction. Therefore, in this example, the long side direction of the unit module 12 is roughly parallel to the vehicle width direction, and the short side direction of the unit module 12 is roughly parallel to the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0028] An intermediate space 16 is provided between two adjacent unit modules 12. The size of the intermediate space 16 is not particularly limited. However, if the intermediate space 16 is too large, the longitudinal dimension of the battery pack 10 will increase. On the other hand, if the intermediate space 16 is too small, it will be impossible to arrange the battery-related equipment described later, or the workability of connecting the wiring harness 22 will be poor. Therefore, the intermediate space 16 can be sized to allow the operator's hand to enter, for example. Therefore, the intermediate space 16 can be set within a range of 5 cm to 20 cm, for example.

[0029] The battery pack 10 also includes one or more battery-related devices. These devices are required to safely operate the battery pack 10. For example, the battery controller 18, connector 20, fuse 24, piping 25, junction box 30, and service plug 32 constitute battery-related devices. The battery controller 18 is a computer that controls the charging and discharging of the control module 12 and is generally referred to as an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). The battery controller 18 is a flat, square-shaped device located above the intermediate space 16.

[0030] The wiring harness 22 drawn out from the unit module 12 is electrically connected to the connector 20. For example, the connector 20 is a female connector into which a male connector installed at the end of the wiring harness 22 is inserted. In addition, the connector 20 is also electrically connected to the battery controller 18. Furthermore, the connector 20 relays power or electrical signals between the battery controller 18 and the unit module 12. Figure 1 As shown, the connector 20 is arranged on the lower side of the battery controller 18 with the insertion port of the wire harness 22 facing downward.

[0031] The fuse 24 is an electronic component that protects the unit module 12 from overcurrent. Figure 1 As shown, the fuse 24 is arranged inside the intermediate space 16. The duct 25 is a flow path that connects the cooling flow path and the blower (not shown) with the unit module 12. Figure 1 As shown, at least a portion of the duct 25 is disposed inside the intermediate space 16. Furthermore, the duct 25 and the fuse 24 are arranged in the intermediate space 16 along the short side direction of the unit module 12.

[0032] The junction box 30 is an electronic component that integrates relays that allow or cut off the flow of power. It is located above the cell module 12. The service plug 32 is located midway in the power circuit and, when removed, disconnects the high voltage. When inspecting and maintaining the battery pack 10, the operator removes the service plug 32 beforehand. After the inspection and maintenance is complete, the operator reinstalls the service plug 32. In this example, the service plug 32 is located above the cell module 12, next to the junction box 30.

[0033] As can be seen from the above description, in this example, the two unit modules 12 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the unit modules 12. The reason for this configuration will now be explained. As mentioned above, in this example, the battery pack 10 is positioned below the rear seat 100. The longitudinal dimension of the lower side of the rear seat 100 is smaller than the vehicle width dimension. Therefore, the longitudinal dimension of the battery pack 10 positioned below the rear seat 100 is required to be as small as possible.

[0034] Therefore, in this example, the two unit modules 12 are aligned in the longitudinal direction, and the battery pack 10 is arranged below the rear seat 100 with the longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the vehicle width direction. This arrangement allows the battery pack 10 to have a small dimension in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0035] In this example, an intermediate space 16 is provided between the two unit modules 12, and battery-related equipment is provided inside or on the upper side of the intermediate space 16. For the reason for this arrangement, refer to Figures 3 to 5 Provide explanation. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the battery pack 10 viewed from the front. Figure 3 In FIG. 1 , the upper state S1 represents the configuration of this example, and the middle state S2 and the lower state S3 represent the configurations of comparative examples, respectively.

[0036] First, consider the case where two unit modules 12 are arranged without a gap, as in state S2, and the battery controller 18 and the connector 20 are arranged on the outside in the long side direction. In this case, the long side dimension of the battery pack 10 increases by the width of the battery controller 18. In addition, in the case of state S2, the distance from the unit module 12 on the right side of the paper to the connector 20 becomes longer, so the wiring harness 22 becomes longer. Moreover, in the case of state S2, the battery controller 18 and the connector 20 are arranged within the range in the height direction of the unit module 12. In this case, it is difficult to ensure sufficient working space on the lower side of the connector 20. As a result, there is a problem of poor operability in connecting the wiring harness 22. In addition, if the insertion port of the connector 20 is facing upward, the operability is improved, but in this case, it leads to other problems such as foreign matter easily adhering to the insertion port.

[0037] Therefore, as shown in state S3, it is also possible to arrange the two unit modules 12 without a gap, with the battery controller 18 and connector 20 located above the unit modules 12. This arrangement can reduce the longitudinal dimensions of the battery pack 10. However, in this case, to ensure sufficient space for connecting the wiring harness 22 to the connector 20, the battery controller 18 and connector 20 must be placed significantly apart from the unit modules 12. As a result, in state S3, the height dimension of the battery pack 10 increases significantly, making it difficult to place the battery pack 10 below the rear seat 100.

[0038] On the other hand, in this example, as shown in state S1, an intermediate space 16 is provided between the two unit modules 12. Furthermore, a battery controller 18 and a connector 20 are arranged on the upper side of the intermediate space 16. In this case, the longitudinal dimension of the battery pack 10 can be made smaller than that in state S2. In addition, the length of the wire harness 22 can be significantly shortened. Moreover, in this case, the intermediate space 16 can be used as a work space for connecting the wire harness 22. As a result, in the case of state S1, the battery controller 18 and the wire harness 22 can be arranged near the unit module 12. Furthermore, the height dimension of the battery pack 10 can be suppressed to be smaller.

[0039] Furthermore, in this example, in order to sufficiently reduce the overall longitudinal dimension of the battery pack 10, the longitudinal dimension of the intermediate space 16 is smaller than both the longitudinal dimension of the battery controller 18 and the longitudinal dimension of the connector 20. However, if the installation space for the battery pack 10 is sufficiently large, the longitudinal dimension of the intermediate space 16 may be larger than the longitudinal dimension of the battery controller 18 or the longitudinal dimension of the connector 20. Furthermore, both the battery controller 18 and the connector 20, or only the connector 20, may be arranged within the intermediate space 16. This configuration allows the height dimension of the battery pack 10 to be kept small. Furthermore, if adequate dust prevention measures are taken, the connector 20 may be arranged with the insertion port facing upward.

[0040] Next, refer to Figure 4 The arrangement of the fuse 24 will be described. Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the battery pack 10 viewed from the front. Figure 4 In the figure, the upper state S4 represents the configuration of this example, and the lower state S5 represents the configuration of a comparative example. When two unit modules 12 are arranged without a gap, and the fuse 24 is positioned on the outer side in the longitudinal direction, as in state S5, the longitudinal dimension of the battery pack 10 increases, and the length of the wiring harness 22 also increases. Furthermore, when the fuse 24 is positioned above the unit module 12, the height dimension of the battery pack 10 increases.

[0041] On the other hand, in this example, as shown in state S4, fuse 24 is placed inside intermediate space 16. This shortens the length of wire harness 22. Furthermore, in this example, the longitudinal dimension of fuse 24 is smaller than both the longitudinal dimension of connector 20 and the longitudinal dimension of intermediate space 16. However, this placement and dimension of fuse 24 is merely an example; fuse 24 may also be placed outside intermediate space 16. For example, fuse 24 may also be placed above intermediate space 16 or above unit module 12.

[0042] Next, refer to Figure 5 The arrangement of the duct 25 will be described. Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the battery pack 10 viewed from above. Figure 5 In FIG, the upper state S6 represents the configuration of this example, and the lower state S7 represents the configuration of the comparative example. Figure 5 As shown, the pipe 25 is roughly divided into sub-pipes 27 connected to the unit modules 12 respectively and a main pipe 26 where a plurality of sub-pipes 27 merge.

[0043] When the two unit modules 12 are arranged without a gap as in state S7, the main duct 26 needs to be arranged on the front side or the rear side of the unit module 12. For example, consider the case where the main duct 26 is arranged on the front side of the two unit modules 12. In this case, the sub-duct 27 connecting the main duct 26 to the unit module 12 passes from the outside in the long side direction of the unit module 12 through the front side of the unit module 12 and is connected to the main duct 26. As a result, in this case, the path of the sub-duct 27 becomes longer, and a large bend is generated in the middle of the path of the sub-duct 27. Moreover, as a result, the pressure loss becomes larger, and thus the cooling efficiency of the unit module 12 is reduced. In addition, in the case of state S7, a space for arranging the sub-duct 27 is required, and therefore the short side dimension of the battery pack 10 increases accordingly.

[0044] On the other hand, in this example, as in state S6, an intermediate space 16 is provided between the two unit modules 12, and a portion of the main duct 26 is arranged inside the intermediate space 16. In this case, the secondary duct 27 extends straight from the inner end of the longitudinal direction of the unit module 12 toward the main duct 26. Figure 5 As can be seen, in state S6, the sub-duct 27 is significantly shorter than in state S7, and the sub-duct 27 has fewer bends. As a result, in state S6, pressure drop is reduced, improving the cooling efficiency of the unit module 12. Furthermore, in state S6, the sub-duct 27 can be placed within the short-side dimensions of the unit module 12, reducing the short-side dimension of the battery pack 10.

[0045] The arrangement of the duct 25 is merely an example, and the duct 25 may be arranged outside the intermediate space 16. For example, the duct 25 may be arranged outside the two unit modules 12 in the longitudinal direction or in the transverse direction.

[0046] In the description so far, the battery pack 10 has been described as having two unit modules 12. However, the number of unit modules 12 is not particularly limited as long as it is two or more, and may be three, for example. In this case, Figure 6 As shown in the upper layer (state S8 ), the battery pack 10 may include two intermediate spaces 16 . Furthermore, a portion of the duct 25 may be disposed in each of the two intermediate spaces 16 .

[0047] In addition, the battery pack 10 only needs to have a plurality of unit modules 12 adjacent to each other in the long side direction, and may also have unit modules 12 adjacent to each other in the short side direction. Figure 6 As shown in the lower layer (state S9 ), four or more unit modules 12 may be arranged in an array along the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction.

[0048] Furthermore, in the description thus far, the battery pack 10 is arranged with the longitudinal direction of the unit modules 12 substantially parallel to the vehicle width direction. However, the arrangement of the battery pack 10 in the vehicle may be modified as appropriate. For example, the battery pack 10 may be arranged with the longitudinal direction of the unit modules 12 substantially parallel to the vehicle's front-to-back direction.

[0049] Marking Description

[0050] 10 battery pack, 12 unit module, 14 battery cell, 15 partition, 16 intermediate space, 18 battery controller, 20 connector, 22 wiring harness, 24 fuse, 25 pipe, 26 main pipe, 27 auxiliary pipe, 30 junction box, 32 service plug, 100 rear seat.

Claims

1. A battery pack, characterized in that: have: a plurality of unit modules; and One or more battery-related devices, The plurality of unit modules are arranged in a longitudinal direction with spaces therebetween. The one or more battery-related devices are arranged inside the intermediate space or above the intermediate space.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The one or more battery-related devices include: electronic equipment, disposed on the upper side of the intermediate space; and The connector is arranged on the lower side of the electronic device and electrically connects the electronic device and the wiring harness. A dimension of the intermediate space in the longitudinal direction is smaller than a dimension of the electronic device in the longitudinal direction.

3. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The one or more battery-related devices include: a fuse disposed inside the intermediate space; and The connector is disposed inside the intermediate space or on an upper side of the intermediate space and is connected to the wiring harnesses respectively led out from the plurality of unit modules.

4. The battery pack according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: The connector is arranged with the insertion port of the wire harness facing downward.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The one or more battery-related devices include a pipe partially disposed inside the intermediate space.

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