Piping joint unit

Abstract

A piping joint unit is easily and inexpensively attached to and fixed to a housing wall. A pipe joint unit is provided with: a first joint member having a tubular pipe section extending through a housing through-hole provided in a housing wall, and a flange section that is integrated with the pipe section and expands radially outward midway in the direction in which the pipe section extends; and a second joint member that is rotatable relative to the first joint member, has a plate-shaped plate portion provided with a plate through-hole through which the pipe portion is inserted, and faces the flange portion across the housing wall, the first joint member and the second joint member having a pipe attachment structure, and the first joint member and the second joint member having a plate through-hole through which the pipe portion is inserted. In a state in which a flange portion and a plate portion face each other across a housing wall in an extending direction, a first joint member and a second joint member rotate relative to each other in a first direction of a circumferential direction of a pipe portion, thereby reducing a relative distance between the flange portion and the plate portion in the extending direction, and fixing the pipe portion to the housing wall.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a piping joint unit for fixing a piping portion to a casing wall of a battery pack mounted on, for example, an electric vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Currently, battery packs installed in vehicles such as electric vehicles are known (for example, Patent Document 1). A battery pack is formed by connecting multiple single cells of secondary batteries such as lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and nickel-zinc batteries in series or in parallel, and housing the battery modules in a housing. Batteries installed in vehicles are sometimes placed in harsh operating environments and exposed to high-temperature external air. In addition, when the battery is used as a power source for the vehicle, it is repeatedly charged and discharged, and therefore easily reaches high temperatures.

[0003] Therefore, the battery pack described in Patent Document 1 is equipped with piping for supplying refrigerant from the outside into the housing to cool the battery modules through heat exchange. The piping includes internal piping routed within the housing that houses the battery modules, and a piping joint unit attached to the wall of the housing to connect the internal piping to the external piping on the supply source side.

[0004] The piping joint unit has a piping portion extending in a cylindrical shape and a flange portion extending radially outward from the outer periphery of the piping portion. A shell through-hole is provided on the shell wall for inserting the piping portion of the piping joint unit. The piping joint unit is configured so that, when the piping portion is inserted into the shell through-hole, the flange portion faces the shell wall via a sealing component for ensuring sealing at the shell through-hole. A plurality of bolt holes are formed in the flange portion and the shell wall, respectively. Furthermore, by inserting bolts into the bolt holes of the flange portion and the bolt holes of the shell wall and tightening them to nuts, the piping joint unit is mounted and fixed to the shell wall while the sealing component ensures sealing.

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-526828

[0006] However, in the aforementioned method of fixing the piping joint unit and the housing using bolts, bolts that are separate from the flanges and the housing wall of the connected objects must be used. Therefore, assembling the piping joint unit to the housing wall requires time and effort, and the bolts must be prepared. Consequently, the number of steps required to assemble the piping joint unit and the housing wall increases, and manufacturing costs rise. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is to provide a piping joint unit that can be easily and inexpensively mounted and fixed to a housing wall.

[0008] and a second connector portion configured to extend through a channel formed between a first connector portion and a second connector portion, the second connector portion being configured to extend through a channel formed between the first and second connector portions.

[0009] According to this structure, the piping joint unit can be attached and fixed to the housing wall simply and at low cost. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 It is a perspective view of a battery pack including a piping joint unit according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the piping joint unit according to the present embodiment as viewed from the inside of the housing (however, only a portion of the housing wall is shown in the drawing).

[0012] Figure 3 It is a cross-sectional view of the piping joint unit according to the present embodiment.

[0013] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the piping joint unit according to the present embodiment (but including the housing wall).

[0014] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of a first joint member included in the piping joint unit of the present embodiment, as seen from the outside of the housing (however, only a portion of the housing wall is shown in the drawing).

[0015] Figure 6 It is a front view of the first joint member included in the piping joint unit of the present embodiment.

[0016] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 An enlarged view of the dot-dash line portion is shown.

[0017] Figure 8 It is a perspective view of a first joint member included in the piping joint unit according to the present embodiment.

[0018] Figure 9 It is an external view of the second joint member included in the piping joint unit of the present embodiment.

[0019] Figure 10 yes Figure 9 XX cross-sectional view shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Next, use Figures 1-10 , a specific embodiment and a modified form of the piping joint unit according to the present invention will be described. In addition, in this embodiment and the modified form, "inside" and "outside" are based on the housing 20, "inside" refers to the inside of the housing 20, and "outside" refers to the outside of the housing 20.

[0021] The piping joint unit 40 of this embodiment is a piping connection structure suitable for use with a battery pack 1 mounted in an automobile or household energy storage device. Examples of automobiles equipped with the battery pack 1 include electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Furthermore, when the battery pack 1 is mounted in an automobile, it preferably includes batteries that serve as a power source for the vehicle.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown, the battery pack 1 includes a battery module 10 and a case 20 , and also includes a piping joint unit 40 .

[0023] The battery module 10 is a device that generates electricity. It includes battery cells 11. Battery cells 11 are the smallest unit of a battery. Battery cells 11 may be formed, for example, in a laminated, cylindrical, or prismatic shape. They are secondary batteries such as lithium-ion cells, nickel-metal hydride cells, nickel-cadmium cells, or all-solid-state cells. The battery module 10 is modularized by connecting multiple battery cells 11 in series or in parallel.

[0024] The battery module 10 is housed in a housing 20. The housing 20 is a box-shaped component surrounded by a housing wall 21, and is formed, for example, into a rectangular parallelepiped. The housing 20 is made of a metal such as aluminum. The housing wall 21 is preferably formed into a flat plate. A housing through-hole 22 is provided in the housing wall 21. The housing through-hole 22 is shaped to allow the piping portion 51 of the piping joint unit 40 to be inserted.

[0025] The battery module 10 also includes an internal piping unit 12. This unit is used to cool the battery cells 11. It includes a cooling path 12a that connects to an inlet for coolant flow and an outlet for coolant flow. The cooling path 12a of the internal piping unit 12 preferably extends completely within the housing 20 to prevent the battery cells 11 from tilting within the housing 20. The battery cells 11 are preferably cooled by the coolant flowing through the cooling path 12a.

[0026] The internal piping unit 12 is connected to the external piping unit 30 via the inlet-side piping joint unit 40, and is also connected to the external piping unit 30 via the outlet-side piping joint unit 40. Hereinafter, the inlet-side piping joint unit 40 will be referred to as the inlet-side piping unit 40A, and the outlet-side piping joint unit 40 will be referred to as the outlet-side piping unit 40B. Furthermore, the inlet-side external piping unit 30 will be referred to as the inlet-side external piping unit 30A, and the outlet-side external piping unit 30 will be referred to as the outlet-side external piping unit 30B. The refrigerant circulates in the order of inlet-side external piping unit 30A → inlet-side piping unit 40A → cooling path 12a of the internal piping unit 12 → outlet-side piping unit 40B → outlet-side external piping unit 30B.

[0027] Each piping joint unit 40 is a connection unit that connects the external piping unit 30 and the internal piping unit 12. Each piping joint unit 40 is attached to the housing wall 21 of the housing 20. Each piping joint unit 40 is arranged so as to sandwich the housing wall 21 at a portion of the housing through-hole 22 provided therein.

[0028] like Figure 2 、 Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 As shown, the piping joint unit 40 includes a first joint member 50, a second joint member 60, and a sealing member 70. The first joint member 50, the second joint member 60, and the sealing member 70 are formed of separate components. The piping joint unit 40 is attached to the housing wall 21 by assembling the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60.

[0029] The first joint component 50 is molded from, for example, a resin. The material of the first joint component 50 is, for example, a thermoplastic resin such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) or polypropylene (PP). The first joint component 50 includes a piping portion 51 and a flange portion 52. The piping portion 51 is a hollow, cylindrical portion through which fluid flows. The piping portion 51 extends through the interior and exterior of the housing through-hole 22 of the housing wall 21. Part or all of the piping portion 51 may be formed in a straight or curved shape.

[0030] The piping portion 51 is provided with an inlet 53 for fluid to flow in and an outlet 54 for fluid to flow out. The fluid flowing through the piping portion 51 may be any fluid that cools the battery cells 11 in the housing 20, and may be water, for example.

[0031] In the inlet-side piping unit 40A, the inlet portion 53 of the piping section 51 is arranged outside the housing wall 21, and the outflow portion 54 is arranged inside the housing wall 21. In the outlet-side piping unit 40B, the inflow portion 53 of the piping section 51 is arranged inside the housing wall 21, and the outflow portion 54 is arranged outside the housing wall 21. Furthermore, the inlet-side piping unit 40A and the outlet-side piping unit 40B can be formed of common components, with the components arranged inside the housing wall 21 and outside the components being opposite each other. Specifically, the inflow portion 53 and the outflow portion 54 can be opposite each other.

[0032] And, as Figures 1-6 、 Figure 8 As shown, the piping portion 51 of the inlet side piping unit 40A and the piping portion 51 of the outlet side piping unit 40B can be formed by being divided into two or more branches on the inner side of the shell wall 21, and the outflow portion 54 of the inlet side piping unit 40A and the inflow portion 53 of the outlet side piping unit 40B can also be respectively provided with two or more places.

[0033] Hereinafter, it is assumed that the outflow portion 54 of the inlet-side piping unit 40A and the inflow portion 53 of the outlet-side piping unit 40B are each provided at two locations, while the inflow portion 53 of the inlet-side piping unit 40A and the outflow portion 54 of the outlet-side piping unit 40B are each provided at one location. In other words, the piping portion 51 of the inlet-side piping unit 40A and the piping portion 51 of the outlet-side piping unit 40B are each formed in a T-shape. Furthermore, the following description will focus on the inlet-side piping unit 40A as a representative of the piping joint unit 40, with the exception of the relationship between the inflow and outflow of fluids.

[0034] The flange portion 52 is a plate-shaped portion extending radially outward from the piping portion 51. The flange portion 52 is integrated with the piping portion 51. The piping portion 51 and the flange portion 52 can be integrated, for example, by integrally molding the piping portion 51 with the flange portion 52, or by assembling and fixing a component forming the piping portion 51 and a component forming the flange portion 52.

[0035] The flange portion 52 is provided along the entire circumference of the outer periphery of the piping portion 51 (specifically, the side inserted into the housing through-hole 22 of the housing wall 21; in the inlet-side piping unit 40A, the side on the inlet portion 53). The flange portion 52 is formed, for example, in a circular or square shape. The flange portion 52 is arranged inside the housing 20 such that its outer surface faces the inner surface of the housing wall 21 via the sealing member 70. The first joint member 50 is arranged such that the piping portion 51 is inserted into the housing through-hole 22 of the housing wall 21 from the inside of the housing 20, and the flange portion 52 faces the inner surface of the housing wall 21.

[0036] The flange portion 52 has a hook portion 55. The hook portion 55 is the portion that hooks onto the outer surface of the housing wall 21 after the piping joint unit 40 is mounted on the housing wall 21. The hook portions 55 are preferably provided at multiple locations around the axial center of the flange portion 52, for example, at symmetrical locations across the axial center. The hook portion 55 includes a flexure 55a and a claw portion 55b.

[0037] The flexure 55a protrudes outward from the outer surface of the flange 52 and is formed to bend and deform in a direction (specifically, radially) intersecting the direction of this protrusion (i.e., the inward-outward direction of the flange 52). The claw 55b protrudes radially at the tip of the flexure 55a. The claw 55b is tapered so that the amount of radial protrusion increases from the tip to the base of the flexure 55a. Alternatively, the claw 55b can be formed to be flexibly deformable in the circumferential direction.

[0038] The housing through hole 22 of the housing wall 21 is formed in a shape into which the inflow portion 53 side of the piping portion 51 can be inserted and the hook portion 55 can be inserted (for example, Figure 4 The housing through-hole 22 is formed so that, when the piping portion 51 and the hook portion 55 are inserted, the rotation of the first joint member 50 relative to the housing wall 21 is restricted, and the first joint member 50 is positioned relative to the housing wall 21.

[0039] When attaching and fixing the piping joint unit 40 to the housing wall 21, the first joint member 50, which comprises the piping portion 51 and the flange portion 52, is first positioned within the housing 20. The inlet portion 53 side of the piping portion 51 and the hook portion 55 are positioned so as to be inserted into the housing through-hole 22 of the housing wall 21 and protrude outward from the inside of the housing wall 21. As the hook portion 55 is inserted into the housing through-hole 22 of the housing wall 21, the flexible portion 55a is pressed by the peripheral edge of the housing through-hole 22 of the housing wall 21, causing it to bend and deform. Subsequently, after the claw portion 55b passes through the housing through-hole 22, the pressing force from the peripheral edge of the housing through-hole 22 is released, and the flexible portion 55a returns to its original shape.

[0040] Therefore, after the claw portion 55b of the hook portion 55 passes through the shell through hole 22, even if a pulling force from the outside to the inside of the shell 20 acts on the first joint component 50, the claw portion 55b is hooked on the outer surface of the shell wall 21, thereby preventing the first joint component 50 from falling off to the inside of the shell 20.

[0041] The second joint component 60 is, for example, molded from a resin. The material of the second joint component 60 is, for example, a thermoplastic resin such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) or polypropylene (PP). The second joint component 60 is rotatable relative to the first joint component 50. The second joint component 60 has a plate portion 61. Figure 4As shown, the plate portion 61 is a plate-shaped portion that faces the flange portion 52 of the first joint member 50 across the housing wall 21 during and after the installation and fixing operation of the piping joint unit 40 to the housing wall 21. The plate portion 61 is formed, for example, in a square or circular shape. The plate portion 61 is molded, for example, from resin. The plate portion 61 is positioned outside the housing 20 so as to contact the outer surface of the housing wall 21.

[0042] The plate portion 61 is provided with a plate through-hole 62. The plate through-hole 62 is a hole through which the piping portion 51 passes. The plate through-hole 62 is located near the center of the main body of the plate portion 61. The plate through-hole 62 is shaped to allow the piping portion 51 to be inserted and rotated relative thereto. The second joint member 60 is positioned outside the housing 20 such that the plate portion 61 faces the outer surface of the housing wall 21 and the piping portion 51 is inserted into the plate through-hole 62.

[0043] The piping joint unit 40 is installed and fixed to the shell wall 21 by assembling the first joint component 50 constituting the piping portion 51 and the flange portion 52 and the second joint component 60 constituting the plate portion 61 with each other in a state where the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 are opposite to each other with the shell wall 21 separated therefrom and the piping portion 51 passes through the shell through hole 22 of the shell wall 21 and the plate through hole 62 of the plate portion 61.

[0044] The first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 include a pipe mounting structure 80. The pipe mounting structure 80 is a structure for fastening the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 to the housing wall 21 to secure the pipe portion 51 to the housing wall 21. In a predetermined state, the pipe mounting structure 80 is configured such that the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 are relatively rotated in a first direction (e.g., clockwise) circumferentially of the pipe portion 51, thereby reducing the relative distance between the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 in the relative direction (i.e., the extending direction X of the pipe portion 51), thereby securing the pipe portion 51 to the housing wall 21.

[0045] In addition, the specified state refers to a state in which the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 are opposite to each other via the shell wall 21 in the extension direction X of the piping portion 51, the piping portion 51 and the hook portion 55 are inserted into the shell through-hole 22 of the shell wall 21, and the piping portion 51 passes through the plate through-hole 62 of the plate portion 61.

[0046] like Figure 4 、 Figure 7 、 Figure 8 as well as Figure 10As shown, the pipe mounting structure 80 includes a first inclined surface 81 and a second inclined surface 82. The first inclined surface 81 is an inclined surface formed on the first joint member 50. The second inclined surface 82 is an inclined surface formed on the second joint member 60. The inclined surfaces 81 and 82 are formed so that when the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 are relatively rotated in the first direction in the above-described predetermined state, the inclined surfaces 81 and 82 contact each other.

[0047] The first inclined surface 81 and the second inclined surface 82 are each formed to extend along the circumferential direction of the piping portion 51. The first inclined surface 81 and the second inclined surface 82 are each inclined so that the height position in the extension direction X changes depending on the circumferential position. The first inclined surface 81 and the second inclined surface 82 are configured so as to come into close contact with each other by relatively rotating the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 in the first direction.

[0048] The first inclined surface 81 is inclined in the first joint component 50 in the direction opposite to the configuration side of the second joint component 60 relative to the first joint component 50 in the extension direction X (that is, the direction inside the housing 20 = the inside). The first inclined surface 81 is provided on a protruding portion 83 that protrudes outward from the outer surface of the flange portion 52 of the first joint component 50. The protruding portion 83 is formed in an L-shape so as to protrude outward from the flange portion 52 and bend in the radial direction at the front end portion to extend. A first engaging surface 84 is also provided on the protruding portion 83. The first engaging surface 84 is a surface that faces inward without being inclined at the protruding portion 83. The first engaging surface 84 is provided continuously in the circumferential direction relative to the inner end portion of the first inclined surface 81.

[0049] The second inclined surface 82 in the second joint member 60 is inclined in the direction opposite to the side where the first joint member 50 is disposed relative to the second joint member 60 (i.e., the direction outside the housing 20 = the outside) in the extension direction X. A second engaging surface 85 is provided in the second joint member 60. The second engaging surface 85 is a surface of the second joint member 60 that faces outward without being inclined. The second engaging surface 85 is provided continuously in the circumferential direction relative to the outer end of the second inclined surface 82.

[0050] After the first and second joint members 50 and 60 are relatively rotated in the first direction, causing the first inclined surface 81 and the second inclined surface 82 to contact each other, the first engaging surface 84 and the second engaging surface 85 are brought into contact and engaged with each other as the relative rotation in the first direction proceeds. The first engaging surface 84 and the second engaging surface 85 are engaged with each other while facing the extension direction X.

[0051] Due to the force generated by the surface contact between the first inclined surface 81 and the second inclined surface 82 as the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 are relatively rotated in the first direction, the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 approach each other in the extension direction X, and the relative distance between the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 in the extension direction X is reduced. Then, due to the force generated by the surface contact between the first engaging surface 84 and the second engaging surface 85 as the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 are relatively rotated in the first direction, the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 sandwich the housing wall 21, thereby fixing the piping portion 51 to the housing wall 21.

[0052] The first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 include a rotation-stopping structure 90. The rotation-stopping structure 90 restricts relative rotation of the first and second joint members 50, 60 in a second circumferential direction of the pipe portion 51, which is opposite to the first direction, while the pipe portion 51 is secured to the housing wall 21 by the pipe mounting structure 80. The rotation-stopping structure 90 restricts relative rotation after the first and second joint members 50, 60 are relatively rotated in the first direction from the predetermined state, bringing the engagement surfaces 84, 85 into contact with each other and securing the pipe portion 51 to the housing wall 21.

[0053] The anti-rotation structure 90 includes a first anti-rotation portion 91 provided on the first joint member 50 and a second anti-rotation portion 92 provided on the second joint member 60. When the pipe portion 51 and the hook portion 55 are inserted into the housing through-hole 22 of the housing wall 21 with the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 facing each other in the extension direction X, the first anti-rotation portion 91 and the second anti-rotation portion 92 face each other in the extension direction X. Thereafter, after the engaging surfaces 84 and 85 are brought into contact with each other to secure the pipe portion 51 to the housing wall 21, the first anti-rotation portion 91 and the second anti-rotation portion 92 face each other in the circumferential direction (specifically, the second direction).

[0054] The first rotation stopper 91 is the aforementioned protruding portion 83 and is formed to be shaped to allow the second rotation stopper 92 to bend and deform in the extension direction X. Furthermore, the first rotation stopper 91 is formed to be able to contact the second rotation stopper 92 in the second circumferential direction. Specifically, the first rotation stopper 91 has a pressing surface that contacts the second rotation stopper 92 in the extension direction X when moving in the extension direction X, and also has a limiting surface that contacts the second rotation stopper 92 in the second circumferential direction after the piping portion 51 is secured to the housing wall 21.

[0055] The second anti-rotation portion 92 can be bent and deformed in the extension direction X of the piping portion 51 at the second joint member 60. Figure 10 As shown, the second rotation-stopping portion 92 can be bent and deformed from a normal state toward the outside in the extending direction X. The second rotation-stopping portion 92 is formed in a leaf spring shape.

[0056] Furthermore, the second rotation-stopping portion 92 may extend from the main body side of the second joint member 60 in either the circumferential direction or the radial direction as long as it can bend and deform in the extension direction X. However, in order to facilitate the flexural deformation in the extension direction X, it is preferable to extend in the circumferential direction while ensuring the length from the root portion connected to the main body of the second joint member 60 to the front end portion and realizing the compactness of the second joint member 60. In addition, the second rotation-stopping portion 92 extending in the circumferential direction may extend linearly in the circumferential direction, but as shown in FIG. Figure 9 As shown, it can also extend in a curved manner in the circumferential direction.

[0057] When the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 are opposite to each other via the shell wall 21 in the extension direction X and the piping portion 51 and the hook portion 55 are inserted into the shell through hole 22 of the shell wall 21 and the plate through hole 62 of the plate portion 61, when the first joint component 50 and the second joint component 60 move toward each other in the extension direction X, the second stop portion 92 is pressed toward the outside of the extension direction X by the first stop portion 91 and is bent and deformed.

[0058] Before the second rotation-stop portion 92 is pressed by the first rotation-stop portion 91, the second inclined surface 82 has not yet reached a position in the extension direction X where it can contact the first inclined surface 81. Therefore, even if the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 rotate relative to each other in the first direction, the first inclined surface 81 and the second inclined surface 82 cannot contact each other. On the other hand, if the second rotation-stop portion 92 is pressed outward in the extension direction X by the first rotation-stop portion 91 and flexes and deforms, the second inclined surface 82 can reach a position in the extension direction X where it can contact the first inclined surface 81. After reaching this position, the first inclined surface 81 and the second inclined surface 82 can contact each other when the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 rotate relative to each other in the first direction.

[0059] Furthermore, regarding the second rotation-stop portion 92, during the relative rotational advancement of the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 in the first direction, the pressure from the first rotation-stop portion 91 is released, the aforementioned flexural deformation is released, and the second rotation-stop portion 92 thereby returns to its original position. Once the second rotation-stop portion 92 returns to its original position, the first rotation-stop portion 91 and the second rotation-stop portion 92 are then opposed to each other in the second circumferential direction, restricting relative rotation of the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 in the second direction.

[0060] The sealing component 70 is a component that seals between the flange portion 52 on the outer peripheral side of the piping portion 51 and the shell wall 21. The sealing component 70 is formed to be inserted into the portion of the piping portion 51 that is inserted into the shell wall 21 (i.e., the inflow portion 53 side). The sealing component 70 is configured to surround the outer periphery of the inflow portion 53 side of the piping portion 51. The sealing component 70 is, for example, a gasket formed in an annular shape. The sealing component 70 is made of, for example, resin. In addition, the piping joint unit 40 may also have a sealing component 70 that seals between the flange portion 52 and the shell wall 21, or, instead of the sealing component 70, an annular sealing component that seals between the plate portion 61 on the outer peripheral side of the piping portion 51 and the shell wall 21.

[0061] The second joint component 60 has a handle portion 63. The handle portion 63 is a portion that assists in the installation and fixing operation of the pipe fitting unit 40 to the shell wall 21, that is, the assembly operation of the second joint component 60 relative to the first joint component 50 (specifically, the movement operation in the extension direction X, the rotation operation in the circumferential direction). The handle portion 63 is formed in a shape that is easy for the operator to perform the above-mentioned assembly operation, for example, it is formed to protrude outward from the outer surface of the plate portion 61. The handle portion 63 is, for example, arranged at a peripheral portion of the plate portion 61 that is away from the rotation center (particularly preferably the farthest peripheral portion), and is provided at multiple locations on its peripheral portion (at Figure 4 There are four parts in it).

[0062] The piping joint unit 40 (specifically, the inlet-side piping unit 40A) is attached and fixed to the casing wall 21 in the following procedure.

[0063] First, the piping portion 51 of the first joint member 50 is inserted into the sealing member 70. The first joint member 50 is then placed within the housing 20, with the inlet portion 53 and hook portion 55 of the piping portion 51 inserted into the housing through-hole 22 of the housing wall 21, projecting outward from the inside of the housing wall 21. At this point, the first joint member 50 is positioned relative to the housing wall 21, with the sealing member 70 interposed between the flange portion 52 of the first joint member 50 and the housing wall 21.

[0064] Next, the second joint member 60 moves inward in the extension direction X on the outside of the housing 20, with the plate portion 61 facing the flange portion 52 across the housing wall 21 in the extension direction X and the distal end of the piping portion 51 inserted into the plate through-hole 62 of the plate portion 61. Furthermore, as the second joint member 60 moves further, the second rotation-stopping portion 92 of the second joint member 60 is pressed by the first rotation-stopping portion 91 of the first joint member 50, causing it to bend and deform outward in the extension direction X.

[0065] With the second rotation-stopping portion 92 flexed and deformed as described above, the second joint member 60 rotates in the first direction relative to the first joint member 50. When the second joint member 60 rotates in the first direction relative to the first joint member 50, the first inclined surface 81 and the second inclined surface 82 come into contact. As rotation in the first direction further progresses after this contact, the inclined surfaces 81 and 82 come into contact with each other as the second joint member 60 rotates in the first direction, shifting their positions in the extension direction X. This allows the second joint member 60 to approach the first joint member 50 in the extension direction X.

[0066] Then, when the state in which the inclined surfaces 81 and 82 are in contact with each other is transitioned to the state in which the engaging surfaces 84 and 85 are in contact with each other, the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 are brought closest to each other in the extension direction X, and the relative distance between the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 in the extension direction X is reduced. Furthermore, during the relative rotation of the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 in the first direction, the flexural deformation of the second rotation-stopping portion 92 is released.

[0067] When the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 are closest to each other in the extending direction X and the relative distance between the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 in the extending direction X decreases, the force with which the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 clamp the housing wall 21 increases, thereby fixing the piping portion 51 to the housing wall 21. In this case, the sealing member 70 is interposed between the flange portion 52 and the housing wall 21.

[0068] In addition, the installation and fixing operation of the piping joint unit 40 to the shell wall 21, that is, the operation of the operator moving the second joint component 60 relative to the first joint component 50 toward the inner side of the extension direction X, and the operation of the operator rotating the second joint component 60 relative to the first joint component 50 toward the first circumferential direction of the piping portion 51 are respectively performed by the operator holding the handle portion 63 of the second joint component 60.

[0069] As described above, according to the piping joint unit 40, the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 are arranged so that the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 face each other across the housing wall 21. Furthermore, by relatively rotating the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 in a first circumferential direction of the piping portion 51, they can be assembled to each other, thereby reducing the relative distance between the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 in the extension direction X. Thus, the piping portion 51 can be fixed to the housing wall 21.

[0070] Specifically, first, the first joint component 50 and the second joint component 60 are moved toward each other in the extension direction X of the piping portion 51, and the second rotation stop portion 92 is bent and deformed by the first rotation stop portion 91. Then, in this bent and deformed state, the first joint component 50 and the second joint component 60 are relatively rotated in the first circumferential direction of the piping portion 51, so that the first inclined surface 81 and the second inclined surface 82 come into contact with each other, and the relative rotation is advanced, so that the inclined surfaces 81 and 82 are offset from each other in the extension direction X, and finally the first engaging surface 84 and the second engaging surface 85 are engaged, so that the first joint component 50 and the second joint component 60 can be assembled with each other and the piping portion 51 can be fixed to the housing wall 21.

[0071] In this configuration, there is no need to prepare multiple bolts and corresponding bolt holes for mounting and securing the piping joint unit 40 to the housing wall 21. Therefore, only the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 are required for such mounting and securing. This allows for simple and cost-effective mounting and securing of the piping joint unit 40 to the housing wall 21. Furthermore, since there is no need to individually insert and tighten each bolt into a bolt hole for such mounting and securing, assembly man-hours can be reduced.

[0072] Furthermore, after the piping joint unit 40 is mounted and fixed to the housing wall 21, an annular sealing member 70 is interposed between the flange portion 52 of the first joint member 50 and the housing wall 21. Thus, the sealing performance of the housing wall 21 around the housing through-hole 22 is ensured, and water can be prevented from entering the housing 20 from outside the housing 20 or liquid can be prevented from leaking from inside the housing 20 to outside the housing 20.

[0073] Furthermore, according to the piping joint unit 40 , the relative rotation of the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 in the second direction can be restricted by the rotation prevention structure 90 while the piping portion 51 is fixed to the housing wall 21 by the piping mounting structure 80 .

[0074] Specifically, the anti-rotation structure 90 presses the first anti-rotation part 91 toward the second anti-rotation part 92 by the approach movement of the first joint part 50 and the second joint part 60 in the extension direction X, causing the second anti-rotation part 92 to be flexurally deformed from its normal state. Thereafter, the first anti-rotation part 91 moves circumferentially by the relative rotation of the first joint part 50 and the second joint part 60 in the first direction, thereby releasing the flexural deformation of the second anti-rotation part 92 and restoring the second anti-rotation part 92 to its normal state.

[0075] As described above, if the second stop portion 92 is deformed from its normal state, the first stop portion 91 moves from its abutment state with the second stop portion 92 toward the first direction, and the second stop portion 92 returns to its normal state, the first stop portion 91 and the second stop portion 92 can be relative to and abut against each other in the second circumferential direction, thereby limiting the relative rotation of the first joint component 50 and the second joint component 60 in the second direction.

[0076] Therefore, when the piping portion 51 is fixed to the housing wall 21 by the piping mounting structure 80, the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 are prevented from rotating relative to each other in the second direction in which the inclined surfaces 81 and 82 contact each other or the engagement surfaces 84 and 85 are disengaged. Therefore, after the piping portion 51 is fixed to the housing wall 21, the assembly of the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 can be prevented from being released, and the piping portion 51 can be prevented from being unnecessarily removed from the housing wall 21, thereby improving the reliability of the piping joint unit 40.

[0077] Furthermore, the installation and fixing of the pipe joint unit 40 to the housing wall 21 can be achieved by the operator holding the handle portion 63 of the second joint member 60 and performing the following operations: the operation of moving the second joint member 60 inward relative to the first joint member 50 in the extension direction X; and the operation of rotating the second joint member 60 relative to the first joint member 50 in the first direction of the circumference of the pipe portion 51. Therefore, the operator can improve the workability of the installation and fixing operation of the pipe joint unit 40 to the housing wall 21.

[0078] However, in the above embodiment, after the piping joint unit 40 is mounted and fixed to the housing wall 21, the first joint member 50 is first arranged inside the housing 20, and then the second joint member 60 is assembled to the first joint member 50. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can also be applied to a structure in which, after the piping joint unit 40 is mounted and fixed to the housing wall 21, the second joint member 60 is first arranged outside the housing 20, and then the first joint member 50 is assembled to the second joint member 60 via the housing wall 21.

[0079] Furthermore, in the above-described modified embodiment, the handle portion that assists the assembly operation of the second joint member 60 with respect to the first joint member 50 may be provided on the first joint member 50 instead of being provided on the second joint member 60 .

[0080] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the anti-rotation structure 90 includes: a first anti-rotation portion 91 as the protruding portion 83 provided on the first joint member 50; and a second anti-rotation portion 92 that is flexibly deformable and provided on the second joint member 60. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and is also applicable to a structure in which the anti-rotation structure includes a first anti-rotation portion that is flexibly deformable and provided on the first joint member 50, and a second anti-rotation portion that is a protruding portion and provided on the second joint member 60.

[0081] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be implemented without departing from the spirit of the present invention, including appropriately extracting and combining the elements described in the embodiments. Furthermore, the specification of the present invention not only discloses the reference relationship between the claims originally filed, but also discloses the technical concept of appropriately combining the matters described in the claims.

[0082] In addition, this application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-047371 filed in Japan on March 22, 2024, and all the contents described in this Japanese application are cited.

[0083] Description of the label

[0084] 1: Battery pack, 10: Battery module, 11: Battery cell, 12: Internal piping unit, 12a: Cooling path, 20: Housing, 21: Housing wall, 22: Housing through-hole, 30: External piping unit, 40: Piping joint unit, 40A: Inlet-side piping unit, 40B: Outlet-side piping unit, 50: First joint member, 51: Piping portion, 52: Flange portion, 53: Inflow portion, 54: Outflow portion, 5 5: Hook portion, 55a: Bend portion, 55b: Claw portion, 60: Second joint component, 61: Plate portion, 62: Plate through-hole, 63: Handle portion, 70: Sealing component, 80: Piping mounting structure, 81: First inclined surface, 82: Second inclined surface, 83: Protruding portion, 84: First engaging surface, 85: Second engaging surface, 90: Anti-rotation structure, 91: First anti-rotation portion, 92: Second anti-rotation portion, X: Extension direction.

Claims

1. A piping joint unit comprising: a first joint member having a piping portion and a flange portion, wherein the piping portion is cylindrical and extends through a housing through-hole provided in the housing wall, and the flange portion is integral with the piping portion and extends radially outward midway along the extending direction of the piping portion; and The second joint member is rotatable relative to the first joint member, has a plate portion having a plate through-hole through which the pipe portion passes, and faces the flange portion across the housing wall. The first joint component and the second joint component have a piping installation structure, which fixes the piping portion to the shell wall by relatively rotating the first joint component and the second joint component in a first circumferential direction of the piping portion when the flange portion and the plate portion are opposite to each other in the extension direction with the shell wall between them.

2. The piping joint unit according to claim 1, wherein The piping installation structure has: a first inclined surface formed to extend along the circumferential direction on the first joint member, wherein a height position in the extending direction varies according to a circumferential position; as well as The second inclined surface is formed to extend along the circumferential direction of the second joint member, and the height position of the extension direction changes according to the circumferential position. The second inclined surface approaches and contacts the first inclined surface due to the relative rotation of the first joint member and the second joint member in the first direction.

3. The piping joint unit according to claim 2, wherein: The first inclined surface is inclined in the first joint member in a direction opposite to the side where the second joint member is arranged relative to the first joint member in the extending direction. The second inclined surface is inclined in the second joint member in a direction opposite to the side where the first joint member is arranged relative to the second joint member in the extending direction.

4. The piping joint unit according to claim 1, wherein The first joint component and the second joint component have a rotation-stopping structure that restricts relative rotation of the first joint component and the second joint component in a second direction in the circumferential direction opposite to the first direction when the piping portion is fixed to the shell wall by the piping mounting structure.

5. The piping joint unit according to claim 1, wherein An annular sealing member is provided for sealing between the flange portion or the plate portion on the outer peripheral side of the piping portion and the housing wall.

6. The piping joint unit according to claim 1, wherein The second joint member includes a handle portion that assists an assembly operation of the second joint member with respect to the first joint member.

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