Vehicle-mounted battery structure

Abstract

The present application aims to suppress noise to an occupant while suppressing inflow of water from a discharge port of cooling air for cooling a battery. A vehicle-mounted battery structure has a battery pack, an exhaust duct that discharges cooling air for the battery pack from an exhaust port, and a ventilation member that is provided on at least one of the battery pack and the exhaust duct and has a ventilation hole that is liquid-impermeable and gas-permeable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a vehicle battery structure. Background Technology

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a cooling device for a battery pack, which includes a cooling air supply mechanism for supplying cooling air to each cooling channel of a battery pack consisting of multiple secondary batteries arranged side-by-side with cooling channels spaced apart from each secondary battery. In this cooling device, a mesh-like group of openings is formed on the wall surface of the cooling air duct that supplies or discharges cooling air to the cooling channels, i.e., the exhaust duct, the inflow-side distribution space, or the outflow-side collection space, and a sound-absorbing material is attached to the outer surface of the exhaust duct to cover its opening group.

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-327142 Summary of the Invention

[0004] In a vehicle structure where a battery is mounted, it is desirable to prevent water from flowing into the cooling air outlet that cools the battery when the vehicle is crossing a river. For example, if the cooling air outlet is set at a high position, water from the outlet can be prevented from flowing in. However, if the outlet is located near the occupant's ear inside the vehicle, the exhaust sound from the outlet becomes noise for the occupant.

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to suppress the inflow of water from the cooling air outlet of the battery while simultaneously reducing noise to the occupants.

[0006] The first type of vehicle battery structure includes: a battery pack; an exhaust pipe that discharges cooling air from the battery pack through an exhaust port; and a ventilation component disposed on at least one of the battery pack and the exhaust pipe and having a ventilation hole that is impermeable to liquids but permeable to gas.

[0007] In the first type of vehicle battery structure, cooling air from the battery pack is discharged from the exhaust port of the exhaust pipe, and a portion of the cooling air is discharged from the ventilation holes of the ventilation components. Compared to a structure without ventilation components, the amount of cooling air discharged from the exhaust port is reduced and the flow rate is decreased, thus suppressing noise to occupants caused by the cooling air discharged from the exhaust port. Furthermore, by setting the exhaust port at a higher position, for example, water inflow from the exhaust port can be suppressed when the vehicle is crossing a river.

[0008] In the second embodiment of the vehicle battery structure, in the first embodiment, the exhaust port is located at a position higher than the water immersion setting line set on the vehicle, and at least a portion of the ventilation component is located at a position lower than the water immersion setting line.

[0009] In the second type of vehicle battery structure, since the exhaust port is located higher than the vehicle's immersion water level setting, water inflow from the exhaust port during river crossing can be suppressed more reliably. Furthermore, since at least a portion of the ventilation components is located lower than the immersion water level setting, noise to occupants caused by the ventilation components can be suppressed compared to a structure where all ventilation components are located higher than the immersion water level setting. Even when the water level reaches the immersion water level setting, cooling air can be discharged from the ventilation holes of the ventilation components located lower than the immersion water level setting.

[0010] Invention Effects

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the inflow of water from the cooling air outlet of the cooling battery while suppressing noise to the occupants. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic side view of the vehicle battery structure according to the first embodiment.

[0013] Figure 2 This is a schematic side view of a comparative example of an on-board battery structure. Detailed Implementation

[0014] Hereinafter, the vehicle battery structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, the description will primarily focus on the scope necessary for explaining the technology of the present invention, and omitted descriptions will be based on prior art. Identical or equivalent components in the drawings will be labeled with the same or similar symbols, and repeated descriptions will be omitted. Moreover, when multiple identical or equivalent components are included in the drawings, sometimes only a portion of them will be labeled for ease of observation. In each drawing, arrows FR and UP are used to indicate the front and top of the vehicle, respectively.

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic side view showing the vehicle-mounted battery structure 12 according to the first embodiment. Figure 1 As shown, the vehicle battery structure 12 includes a battery pack 14, an exhaust pipe 16, and a ventilation component 18.

[0016] Multiple batteries are housed in the battery pack 14. The batteries supply power to the vehicle. Examples of vehicles include battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), and the batteries are configured with a large capacity for these vehicles. However, the vehicles to which the technology of this invention relates are not limited to these.

[0017] The vehicle is equipped with a seat 20. The battery pack 14 is located below the seat 20.

[0018] The vehicle is equipped with a cooling mechanism (not shown) for cooling the battery pack 14. The cooling mechanism includes, for example, a blower and an air supply duct. The blower generates air from the vehicle interior as cooling air, and this cooling air is supplied to the battery pack 14 through the air supply duct.

[0019] The exhaust duct 16 has an air inlet 22 and an exhaust outlet 24. The air inlet 22 is opposite to the battery pack 14, and cooling air that cools the batteries in the battery pack 14 flows into the exhaust duct 16 from the air inlet 22. Then, the cooling air flowing through the exhaust duct 16 is discharged from the exhaust outlet 24. The exhaust outlet 24 is located at a position higher than the immersion setting line FL set on the vehicle. The immersion setting line FL refers to the water level when the vehicle is submerged in a river. That is, the vehicle is designed to be able to drive when the water level is lower than the immersion setting line FL.

[0020] In this embodiment, the exhaust duct 16 is formed in a generally L-shape, having a horizontal duct portion 16A and a vertical duct portion 16B. The horizontal duct portion 16A communicates with the battery pack 14 at the air inlet 22 and extends horizontally. The vertical duct portion 16B continues from the horizontal duct portion 16A and extends vertically upward. The exhaust port 24 is located at the upper end of the vertical duct portion 16B. The exhaust port 24 is positioned near the ear ER of the occupant PG sitting in the seat 20.

[0021] Ventilation components 18 are provided on the upper and lower walls of the battery pack 14, and on the upper and lower parts of the horizontal section 16A of the duct. The ventilation component 18 is a membrane-like component with multiple vent holes that allow liquid to pass through but gas to pass through. A portion of the cooling air that has cooled the battery pack 14 is discharged to the outside through the vent holes of the ventilation component 18. That is, the cooling air that has cooled the battery pack 14 is dispersed and discharged to the exhaust port 24 and the ventilation component 18. The dispersion ratio of the cooling air to the exhaust port 24 and the ventilation component 18 is not limited; for example, the flow resistance of the exhaust port 24 and the ventilation component 18 can be set to 80% for the exhaust port 24 and 20% for the ventilation component.

[0022] The path of cooling airflow from the cooling mechanism through the battery pack 14 to the exhaust port 24 of the exhaust duct 16 is sealed to prevent liquid from entering from the outside.

[0023] Next, the function of this embodiment will be explained.

[0024] When the vehicle is in motion, power is supplied to the vehicle from the batteries in the battery pack 14. The batteries in the battery pack 14 then generate heat. Cooling air is supplied to the battery pack 14 from the cooling mechanism, and the batteries are cooled by the cooling air.

[0025] Cooling air that has cooled the battery flows into the exhaust pipe 16 from the air inlet 22 and is discharged from the exhaust port 24, but part of the cooling air is also discharged from the ventilation hole of the ventilation component 18.

[0026] Here, Figure 2 In the figure, a schematic side view is used to show the vehicle battery structure 92 of the comparative example. In the vehicle battery structure 92 of the comparative example, the ventilation component 18 of the first embodiment is not present, but otherwise the structure is substantially the same as that of the vehicle battery structure 12 of the first embodiment.

[0027] In the comparative example of the vehicle battery structure 92, since it lacks a ventilation component 18, the cooling air that cools the battery pack 14 is not dispersed and is entirely discharged from the exhaust port 24 of the exhaust pipe 16. With the same opening cross-sectional area as the first embodiment, the comparative example has a faster flow rate of cooling air flowing through the exhaust port 24 in order to discharge a constant flow of cooling air than the first embodiment. Because the exhaust port 24 is located higher than the immersion setting line FL, the sound of the cooling air discharged from the exhaust port 24 can sometimes be quite loud for the occupant, especially when it is close to the ear ER of the occupant sitting in the seat 20.

[0028] In contrast, in this embodiment, the cooling air that has cooled the battery pack 14 is dispersed and discharged to the exhaust port 24 and the ventilation component 18. The flow rate of the cooling air flowing through the exhaust port 24 is slower than in the comparative example. The sound of the cooling air discharged from the exhaust port 24 is also lower than in the comparative example. Therefore, even when the distance to the ear ER of the occupant PG sitting in the seat 20 is close, it is possible to suppress the sound of the cooling air discharged from the exhaust port 24 from becoming noise to the occupant.

[0029] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the exhaust port 24 is located at a position higher than the immersion setting line FL, water inflow from the exhaust port 24 can be suppressed even when the vehicle is crossing a river. In other words, in the structure that suppresses water inflow from the exhaust port 24 when the vehicle is crossing a river, noise from the exhaust port 24 to the occupant PG can also be suppressed.

[0030] Because the ventilation component 18 is located lower than the immersion setting line FL, it is positioned further away from the ear ER of the occupant PG sitting on the seat 20 compared to structures located higher than the immersion setting line FL. Therefore, noise to the occupant PG caused by the cooling air flowing through the ventilation holes of the ventilation component 18 can be suppressed.

[0031] Furthermore, the ventilation holes of the ventilation component 18 allow gas to pass through but not liquid. Therefore, even if the vehicle is submerged in water up to the submersion setting line FL, liquid will not penetrate into the battery pack 14 and the exhaust pipe 16.

[0032] In the invention, the position, orientation, and number of ventilation components 18 are not limited as long as they can discharge cooling air from the vents. For example, part or all of the ventilation components 18 can be provided in the vertical portion 16B of the exhaust duct 16. Furthermore, all of the ventilation components 18 can be provided in the battery pack 14.

[0033] The following are notes relating to this invention.

[0034] (Note 1)

[0035] A vehicle-mounted battery structure, comprising:

[0036] Battery pack;

[0037] An exhaust duct that discharges cooling air from the battery pack through an exhaust port; and

[0038] A ventilation component is disposed on at least one of the battery pack and the exhaust duct and has a ventilation hole that is impermeable to liquids but permeable to gas.

[0039] (Note 2)

[0040] According to the vehicle battery structure described in Appendix 1, wherein...

[0041] The exhaust port is located at a position higher than the water immersion setting line set on the vehicle.

[0042] At least a portion of the ventilation component is located at a position lower than the immersion setting line.

[0043] Symbol Explanation

[0044] 12-Vehicle battery structure, 14-Battery pack, 16-Exhaust pipe, 18-Ventilation components, 24-Exhaust port, FL-Immersion setting line.

Claims

1. A vehicle-mounted battery structure, characterized by comprising: Having: a battery pack; an exhaust duct that exhausts cooling air of the battery pack from an exhaust port; and a ventilation member provided on at least one of the battery pack and the exhaust duct and having ventilation holes through which liquid is not permeable but gas is permeable.

2. The vehicle-mounted battery structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the exhaust port is located at a position higher than a water immersion setting line set on a vehicle, at least a portion of the ventilation member is located at a position lower than the water immersion setting line.

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