Battery device

Abstract

Battery-powered device with: a battery unit (20) comprising a plurality of battery cells (21), each of which has a flat rectangular parallel-flat shape, wherein each of the battery cells (21) has a first and a second larger area (21b), wherein the battery cells (21) are stacked in a predetermined direction as a stacking direction such that the first and second larger area (21b) of each of the battery units (20) faces in the stacking direction, wherein the battery unit (20) has a first and a second inflation surface (22a1, 22a2) which inflate in the stacking direction due to an inflation of the battery cells (21) in the stacking direction; and a base (30) with a surround (31) designed to accommodate at least a part of the battery unit (20), while at least a part of the battery unit (20) is fixed to the base (30), wherein: the basis (30) has the following features: a pair consisting of a first and a second side wall (31a, 31b) that divide the enclosure (31) in the base (30), the first and second side walls (31a, 31b) each have a first and second surface (33a, 33b, 233a, 233b, 333a, 333b, 433a, 433b, 533a, 533b) and are arranged such that the first and second surfaces (33a, 33b, 233a, 233b, 333a, 333b, 433a, 433b, 533a, 533b) are adjacent to or abut the respective first and second inflation surfaces (22a1, 22a2), the first and second side walls (31a, 31b) are designed to limit the expansion of the first and second expansion surfaces (22a1, 22a2) in the stacking direction when the first and second expansion surfaces (22a1, 22a2) expand, the battery unit (20) has a housing (22) made of resin which has a predetermined first stiffness level and accommodates the battery cells (21), wherein the base (30) has a predetermined second stiffness level, the second stiffness level being higher than the first stiffness level, the housing (22) is fixed to the first and second side wall (31a, 31b) of the base (30), Furthermore, a variety of fastening components are provided, designed to fasten the housing (22) to the first and second side wall (31a, 31b) of the base (30), each of the first and second inflation surfaces (22a1, 22a2) has a central section; and The fastening components have the following features: a first bolt hole (34a) formed in an upper surface of the first side wall (31a, 31b), wherein the first bolt hole (34a) is higher than the central section of the first inflating surface (22a1); a second bolt hole (34b) formed in an upper surface of the second side wall (31a, 31b), wherein the second bolt hole (34b) is higher than the central section of the second inflating surface (22a2); a first bolt (71) threaded into the first bolt hole (34a) to fasten the housing (22) to the first side wall (31a); and a second bolt (71) which is threaded into the second bolt hole (34b) to fasten the housing (22) to the second side wall (31b).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present disclosure relates to battery-powered devices. BACKGROUND

[0002] JP 2014-13726A discloses a battery device that can be mounted in vehicles. The battery device has a highly rigid base mounted on a horizontal surface and a plurality of battery cells. Each battery cell has a flat rectangular parallel-planar shape, that is, an essentially flat hexahedral shape. Each battery cell is arranged at the base, with a first principal face parallel to the horizontal surface.

[0003] For example, a first and a second battery cell are mounted within a five-cell battery stack with their first larger surfaces at the base, while aligned with each other. A third battery cell is mounted with its first larger surface to the first battery cell, and a fourth battery cell is mounted with its first larger surface to the second battery cell. The last, fifth battery cell is mounted with its one main surface to the fourth battery cell. That is, the first and third battery cells form a first battery stack, and the second, fourth, and fifth battery cells form a second battery stack.

[0004] Battery cells can swell due to their internal pressures. In particular, larger areas of a battery cell swell considerably in the direction of their thickness. Each of the first and second battery stacks can therefore swell in its stacking direction. The battery device has a highly rigid restraint plate, which is fixed to the base and mounted on the top of each of the first and second battery stacks, to counteract this swelling.

[0005] DE 10 2010 012 930 A1 discloses a battery device comprising: a battery unit with a plurality of battery cells, each of which has a flat rectangular parallel-flat shape, wherein each of the battery cells has a first and a second larger surface, wherein the battery cells are stacked in a predetermined direction as a stacking direction such that the first and second larger surface of each of the battery units faces in the stacking direction, wherein the battery unit has a first and a second inflating surface which inflate in the stacking direction due to an inflating of the battery cells in the stacking direction;and a base with an enclosure designed to receive at least part of the battery unit, while at least part of the battery unit is fixed to the base, the base having a pair of a first and a second side wall dividing the enclosure in the base, the first and second side walls each having a first and second surface and being arranged such that the first and second surfaces abut or are adjacent to the respective first and second inflating surfaces, and the first and second side walls being designed to limit the inflatation of the first and second inflating surfaces when they inflate in the stacking direction.

[0006] Further battery-powered devices are known from JP 2015 - 162 546 A and JP 3 193 409 U. SUMMARY

[0007] Each of the base and the confinement plate of the aforementioned conventional battery device requires high rigidity to counteract the swelling of each of the first and second battery stacks. The fastening assembly between the base and the confinement plate also requires high rigidity to counteract the swelling of each of the first and second battery stacks.

[0008] In particular, it is required that each of the first and second battery stacks be sandwiched between the highly rigid base and the highly rigid confinement plate in the inflation direction, i.e. the thickness direction, of the respective battery stack.

[0009] In view of the foregoing circumstances, the object of the present invention is to provide a battery device having an improved design which counteracts the swelling of at least one first and one second battery cell using a smaller number of components.

[0010] The object of the invention is achieved with a battery-powered device according to claims 1 and 2. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0011] If the battery cells were to swell, the battery unit would deform. Because, according to the invention, each battery cell has a flat, rectangular, parallel-flat shape, the swelling is most evident at the first and second larger surfaces of each battery cell. Because the battery cells are stacked in the stacking direction such that the first and second larger surfaces face in the stacking direction, the battery unit swells in the stacking direction due to the swelling of the battery cells.

[0012] From this perspective, according to the invention, the base has a pair of first and second side walls that divide the enclosure in the base. The first and second side walls each have a first and second surface and are arranged such that the first and second surfaces abut or are adjacent to the respective first and second inflating surfaces. The first and second side walls are designed to limit the inflatation of the first and second inflating surfaces when they inflate in the stacking direction, thereby reducing deformation of the battery unit.

[0013] Thus, the battery device according to the invention enables a limitation of deformation of the battery unit using the base to which the battery unit is fixed, which makes it possible to provide the battery device that can counteract the swelling of the battery cells.

[0014] The foregoing and / or other features and / or advantages of various aspects of this disclosure will become further apparent in light of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Various aspects of this disclosure may include and / or exclude various features and / or advantages where appropriate. Furthermore, various aspects of this disclosure may combine one or more features from other embodiments where appropriate. The descriptions of features and / or advantages of particular embodiments should not be interpreted as limiting other embodiments or the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Other aspects of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view that schematically represents the appearance of a battery device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. Figure 2 is a perspective view that schematically depicts the appearance of the battery device from which the cover has been removed; Fig. Figure 3 is a perspective exploded view that schematically depicts the battery device according to the first embodiment; Fig. Figure 4 is a perspective exploded view schematically representing a battery unit of the battery device according to the first embodiment; Fig. Figure 5 is a perspective view that schematically represents a base of the battery device according to the first embodiment; Fig. Figure 6 is a perspective view that schematically represents the base of the battery device according to the first embodiment; Fig. 7 is a top view schematically showing the battery device from which the cover has been removed; Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view along a line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7; Fig. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view along a line IX-IX of Fig. 7; Fig. Figure 10 is an enlarged view that schematically represents a part of the battery device, indicated by an arrow X. Fig. 8 is marked; Fig. 11 is an enlarged view that schematically represents a part of the battery device, indicated by an arrow XI in Fig. 8 is marked; Fig. Figure 12 is an enlarged view that schematically represents a part of the battery device, indicated by an arrow XII in Fig. 9 is marked; Fig. Figure 13 is an enlarged view that schematically shows a part of the battery device 10, indicated by an arrow XIII in Fig. 9 is marked; Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view along a line XIV-XIV of Fig. 7; Fig. 15 is a perspective view that schematically represents a cross-section that is in Fig. 14 is shown; Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view along a line XVI-XVI of Fig. 7; Fig. Figure 17 is a perspective view that schematically represents a cross-section that is in Fig. 16 is shown; Fig. 18 is a side view schematically showing an L-shaped inner surface of each side wall of the base of the battery device according to the first embodiment; Fig. 19 is a side view which schematically represents an inner surface of each side wall of a base of a battery device according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 20 is a side view schematically representing an inner surface of each side wall of a base of a battery device according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 21 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the battery unit installed in the base according to the first embodiment as a comparative example; Fig. Figure 22 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the battery unit mounted in the base of a battery device according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure; and Fig. Figure 23 is a perspective view schematically representing a battery device according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED EXECUTION EXAMPLE DESCRIPTION

[0016] The following describes exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the exemplary embodiments, functionally and / or structurally identical or related parts between the exemplary embodiments to which the same reference numerals are assigned have been omitted or simplified to avoid redundant description. In particular, a reference numeral X, such as 31, and a reference numeral Y, which is the sum of the reference numeral X and a hundreds digit, such as 131, are shown and indicate functionally or structurally identical or related elements. If an element in one of the exemplary embodiments is identical or related to a corresponding element in another of the exemplary embodiments, we may refer to the description of the corresponding element in the other of the exemplary embodiments, thereby omitting the description of the element in the first of the exemplary embodiments. First embodiment

[0017] The following describes an example of the overall structure of a battery-powered device 10 according to the first embodiment with reference to Fig. 1 to 18.

[0018] With reference to Fig. 1. The battery device 10 has a substantially rectangular, plate-shaped base 30 and a cover 11. Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the rectangular, plate-shaped base 30 is referred to as a width direction WD, the lateral direction of the rectangular, plate-shaped base 30 is referred to as a depth direction DD, and the vertical direction, which is perpendicular to the width direction WD and the depth direction WD, is referred to as a height direction HD. Fig. 1. The near side in the depth direction DD is also referred to as a front side, and the far side in the depth direction DD is also referred to as a back side.

[0019] The base 30 forms a lower housing for the battery unit 10. That is, the base 30 serves as a housing for the battery unit 10. The cover 11, which is made of resin, for example, forms an upper housing and is mounted on the base 30. The battery unit 10 can be installed, for example, in a means of transport such as a vehicle. For example, according to the first embodiment, the battery unit 10 is an example that is installed under a driver's or passenger's seat in the vehicle, such that the battery unit 10 has a height suitable for installation under the driver's or passenger's seat in the vehicle.

[0020] Fig. Figure 2 schematically depicts the battery unit 10 with its cover 11 removed. The battery unit 10 interacts with a motor-generator (MG) 15 installed in the vehicle to form the vehicle's electrical power system. The battery unit 10 is coupled to an internal combustion engine (EG) 16. The battery unit 10 is connected to a first type (LD1) of electrical loads 17 and a second type (LD2) of electrical loads 18 installed in the vehicle. The first type of electrical loads 17, comprising a battery and a starter, is designed to allow a higher current to flow through them. The second type of electrical loads 18 comprises some of the remaining electrical loads installed in the vehicle, excluding the battery and the starter.

[0021] The internal combustion engine 16 drives the motor-generator 15, enabling the motor-generator 15 to act as a power generator. At least some of the power generated by the motor-generator 15 is supplied to the battery 10, charging it. Power is then supplied from the battery 10 to the motor-generator 15, allowing the motor-generator 15 to function as a motor. Thus, the motor-generator 15, acting as a motor, and the internal combustion engine each serve as power sources for the vehicle. For example, the motor-generator 15 can supply power to a vehicle output level that exceeds the power supplied by the internal combustion engine 16. The motor-generator 15 can also supply power to the vehicle output level that supplements the power supplied by the internal combustion engine 16.The battery-powered device 10 has a nominal voltage of, for example, 12V.

[0022] Fig. Figure 3 is an exploded view of battery unit 10. With reference to Fig. In Figure 3, the battery device 10 has a battery unit 20, a base 30, a busbar unit 40, and an electrical circuit module 50. The base 30 has a substantially rectangular, flat dish shape. The battery unit 20, the busbar unit 40, and the electrical circuit module 50 are mounted on the base 30. The base 30 has an enclosure 31 with a substantially rectangular, parallel-flat space and an open top. Part of the battery unit 20 is installed in the enclosure 31 over the open top such that the remaining part of the battery unit 20 is exposed by the base 30.

[0023] The battery unit 20, the busbar unit 40 and the electrical circuit module 50 are attached to the base 30 with fastening components such as screws and / or bolts.

[0024] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the battery unit 20 comprises a plurality of battery cells 21 and a housing 22, which essentially has a rectangular, parallel-flat shape with an opening side wall and accommodates the battery cells 21. The housing 22 is made, for example, of an electrically insulating resin and serves as a holder for holding the battery cells 21. In particular, the housing 22 holds the battery cells 21 together and serves as a fixing element that secures the battery cells 21 to the base 30. The housing 22 has brackets, which will be described later, and which are mounted on the outer surface of predetermined side walls of the housing 22; the brackets enable the housing 22 to be attached to the base 30.The housing 22 also has ribs attached to the outer surface of at least one side wall of the housing 22 to reinforce the side wall and / or to reduce a gap between the base 30 and the side wall of the housing 22.

[0025] The battery unit 20 has a monitoring module 23. The monitoring module 23 comprises a panel wall component 24, which is made, for example, of an electrically insulating resin, and electrical connection components 25 that are mounted in the panel component 24. For example, the connection components 25 are embedded in the panel component 24 using overmolding. The electrical connection components 25 have first ends that are connected to the battery cells 21 and second ends opposite to the first ends that are connected to the electrical circuit module 50.

[0026] For example, as in Fig. Figure 5 shows the tips of the second ends of the electrical connecting components 25 from a circuit board 51 of the electrical circuit module 50, which will be described later, free.

[0027] The monitoring module 23 has a water sensor, which will be described later and which has water detection electrodes not shown.

[0028] The monitoring module 23 is arranged along the opening side wall of the housing 22.

[0029] Detailed descriptions of battery unit 20 will be given later.

[0030] The base 30, also called a support, is made of an electrically conductive metal, for example using die-cast aluminum, and is called a support. The base 30 has high rigidity.

[0031] For example, as in Fig. 2 is shown, the base 30 has a main part 30a which has a rectangular plate shape and is arranged such that its long sides extend along the width direction WD.

[0032] The main part 30a has a notched corner between a first longitudinal side and a first lateral side. The main part 30a has the enclosure 31, which has the open top side as described above, and which is located between a second lateral side of the main part 30a and the notched corner; the second lateral side being opposite to the first lateral side. A portion of the battery unit 20 is installed in the enclosure 31 via the open top side such that the remaining portion of the battery unit 20 is exposed from the base 30. The battery unit 20, a portion of which is installed in the enclosure 31, is arranged such that an outer larger surface MS of the plate wall component 24 of the monitoring module 23 faces the inner side of the main part 30a and is perpendicular to the depth direction DD.

[0033] The main part 30a also has a heat dissipation section 35, which is located close to and along a second longitudinal side of the main part 30a, which is opposite to the first longitudinal side, such that the heat dissipation section 35 projects vertically in the vertical direction.

[0034] The base 30 also has a busbar enclosure part 30b, which projects outwards from the second lateral side of the main part 30a in the width direction WD such that part of the busbar enclosure 30b is adjacent to the enclosure 31 in the width direction HD.

[0035] The base 30 has an outer circumference to which several supports 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d are attached.

[0036] Supports 32a and 32b are arranged on the second longitudinal side of the main part 30a at a predetermined distance between them. Support 32c is attached to the outer surface of the notched corner. Support 32d is attached to the projecting end of the busbar enclosure part. Supports 32a to 32d, called collective supports 32, serve to fix the components to the vehicle. Each of the supports 32 can have one of several different shapes.

[0037] The busbar unit 40 serves as power paths extending, for example, from a common output power terminal of the battery unit 20. The busbar unit 40 has a terminal holder 40a, which is made of an electrically insulating resin and is mounted on the busbar housing 30b. The busbar unit 40a also has first, second, and third terminals 41, 42, and 43, which are mounted on the terminal holder 40a.

[0038] The busbar unit 40 further comprises at least two power supply busbars. One of the power supply busbars is connected between a terminal of the battery unit 20 and one of the first to third power terminals 41 to 43. This provides an electrical connection between one of the first to third power supply terminals 41 to 43 and a terminal of the battery unit 20.

[0039] The first and second power terminals 41 and 42 are positioned adjacent to each other, in relation to the battery unit 20. The outer first power terminal 41 is connected to the motor generator 15, the inner second power terminal 42 is connected to the first type LD1 of electrical loads, and the third power terminal 43 is connected to the second type LD2 of electrical loads.

[0040] The electrical circuit module 50 has an essentially L-shaped circuit board 51 which is mounted on or above the main part 30a in such a way that the edges face the inner corner of the battery unit 20.

[0041] Specifically, the L-shaped circuit board 51 has a first rectangular part 51a that extends from the second lateral side of the main part 30a to the first lateral side of the main part 30a along the larger area MS of the monitoring module 23 in the width direction WD. The L-shaped circuit board 51 has a second rectangular part 51b that extends from the end of the first rectangular part 51a to the first longitudinal side of the main part 30a in the depth direction DD.

[0042] The electrical circuit module 50 also has a plurality of electrical or electronic components 52, including switching elements, which are mounted on a larger upper surface of the L-shaped circuit board 51; at least some of the electrical or electronic components, referred to simply as electrical components 52, are interconnected to provide a predetermined circuit pattern. The L-shaped circuit board 51 additionally has connectors, at least some of which are connected to at least some of the electrical components 52, including the switching elements. At least one part of the circuit board 51 provides an electrical connection between the other power supply busbar of the busbar unit 40 and the switching elements.

[0043] The arrangement of the battery unit 20 and the L-shaped circuit board 51 of the electrical circuit module 50 makes it easy to establish an electrical connection between the battery unit 20 and the electrical components 52 of the electrical circuit module.

[0044] Predefined components, interconnected via the circuit pattern in the electrical components 52, form a monitoring control device. The monitoring control device is connected to the electrical connecting components 25 and is operable to monitor the voltage across each battery cell 21 of the battery unit 20. In particular, the monitoring control device is operable to monitor the state of charge or discharge of each battery cell 21 and to appropriately control each state of charge and discharge of each battery cell 21.

[0045] If water is spilled on the seat located above the battery unit 10, or if an occupant uses the seat that is wet and located above the battery unit 10, or if at least part of the vehicle is submerged in water, water can enter the battery unit 10. In this case, the battery unit 10 can deliver an electrical current via water as a discharge path. To address such a problem, the battery unit 10 has a water sensor 60, which is included in the monitoring module 23, and a control unit, which is included in the electrical components 52 and is connected to the water sensor 60. That is, if the water sensor 60 detects water, it outputs a measurement signal indicating the detected water to the control unit. The control unit then takes at least one countermeasure against the detected water.For example, the electrical components 52 include a circuit breaker connected to the battery unit 10 to switch off the battery unit 10. That is, the control unit switches off the circuit breaker in order to switch off the battery unit 10.

[0046] Furthermore, the electrical circuit module 50 provides a control system that includes an electronic control unit (ECU). The ECU has at least one CPU and at least one storage device, such as a storage medium, for storing programs and data. For example, a microcomputer with a computer-readable storage medium can be used as a main component of the ECU. The storage device has at least one non-perishable storage medium for the non-perishable storage of computer-readable programs. For example, a semiconductor memory or a magnetic disk device can be used as the storage device. The ECU can consist of a single computer or of a set of computers that are communicatively interconnected via a data link device.Such programs, operated by the ECU, cause the ECU to serve as part of the battery device described in the present disclosure, or to perform procedures disclosed in the present disclosure.

[0047] The control system has a variety of signal sources as input devices for supplying signals, each representing information, to the ECU. The control system receives information when the corresponding signals are received by the ECU and stored in the memory device. The control system has a variety of targets as output devices, which are to be controlled; the ECU is designed to control the behavior of the targets. Specifically, the control system's ECU is designed to convert information stored in the memory device into control signals and supply these control signals to the targets, thereby controlling their behavior.

[0048] The ECU, signal sources, and controlled targets comprise various elements. At least one of these elements functions as a block. From another perspective, at least one of the elements functions as a module or area that can be interpreted as a structural element. At least one of the elements included in the control system serves as a device for realizing the functions of at least one of the elements, if it is intended that at least one of the elements functions as a device.

[0049] The features and / or functions provided by the control system can be implemented as the set of software stored in the storage device and a computer designed to run the software, as the software itself, as the hardware itself, or as a combination of software and hardware. If one or more electronic hardware circuits are provided by the ECU, one or more digital circuits, including multiple logic grids, and / or one or more analog circuits can constitute the one or more electronic hardware circuits. The electrical circuit module 50 can include a circuit as a power inverter and / or a power converter and a monitoring circuit for monitoring the voltages across the respective battery cells 21.In this case, the ECU is preferably installed in an enclosure that is different from an enclosure of the circuit as the power inverter and / or the power converter.

[0050] Fig. Figure 4 is a perspective exploded view of the battery unit 20. The battery unit 20, which has an essentially rectangular parallel-flat shape, comprises the battery cells 21 and the housing 22, which has an essentially rectangular parallel-flat shape with an opening side wall and accommodates the battery cells 21. For example, as shown in Fig. As shown in 4, the battery unit 20 has five battery cells 21.

[0051] Each battery cell 21 has a flat rectangular parallel-flat shape, that is, an essentially flat hexahedral shape. Each battery cell 21 has a first and second larger side face 21b, which are opposite each other, a first and second smaller side face 21c, which are opposite each other, a top face, and a bottom face. Each battery cell 21 has a pair of a positive and a negative terminal 21a, which are mounted on the first smaller side face 21b.

[0052] Each of the first and second smaller side faces 21c has a first and second lateral edge ED1 and ED2 opposite each other, and a first and second longitudinal edge opposite each other.

[0053] The battery cells 21 are stacked together in the lateral direction WD in such a way that (1) their first smaller side faces 21c are substantially flush with each other, (2) their second smaller side faces 21c are substantially flush with each other, (3) the width direction WD passes through its first and second larger side faces 21b.

[0054] In other words, the battery cells 21 are stacked together in the lateral direction WD in such a way that (1) their first lateral edges of the first smaller side surfaces 21c are substantially aligned with each other, (2) their second lateral edges of the first smaller side surfaces 21c are substantially aligned with each other, (3) their first and second larger side faces 21b are essentially parallel to each other.

[0055] The direction perpendicular to the first and second larger side surface 21b of the stacked battery cells 21 is defined as a stacking direction.

[0056] Because the first smaller side surfaces 21c are flush with each other, the pair of positive and negative terminals 21a of each battery cell 21 is adjacent to the pair of positive and negative terminals 21a of one of the remaining battery cells 21 that is adjacent to the battery cell.

[0057] As will be described later, the battery unit 20, which comprises the stack of battery cells 21, is arranged in the enclosure 31 of the base 30 such that the stacking direction of the battery unit 20 is aligned with the width direction WD. Each battery cell 21 in the battery unit 20 can expand in its thickness direction between the first and second larger side surfaces 21b due to its internal pressure. That is, the stacked battery cells 21 can expand in the stacking direction, i.e., in the width direction WD. In other words, the stacked battery cells 21 can expand along an inner surface of a bottom wall of the enclosure 31, which will be described later, perpendicular to the height direction HD, i.e., the assembly direction, and to the depth direction DD.

[0058] The stack of battery cells 21 is enclosed in the housing 22, which essentially has a rectangular, parallel-flat shape with an opening side wall. The housing 22 comprises a rectangular, cup-shaped holder 22a, which serves as a first housing component, and a lid component 22b, which serves as a second housing component.

[0059] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the lid-shaped holder 22a has an upper wall and a bottom wall opposite each other, an opening side wall facing the monitoring module 23, which is referred to as a front opening side wall, a side wall opposite the first opening side wall, a first and a second side wall 22a1 and 22a2 opposite each other, and a bottom wall 22a3. The cup-shaped holder 22a also has a plurality of, for example, four, partition walls 22WA, which are mounted between the upper wall and the bottom wall and are arranged parallel to each other in the lateral direction WD with spaces between them. This provides five chambers CHM in the cup-shaped holder 22a, such that the battery cells 21 are each installed in the chambers CHM.

[0060] The lid component 22b covers the front opening side wall of the cup-shaped holder 22a in which the battery cells 21 have been installed.

[0061] The battery unit 20 also has a multitude of conductive components 26, which are supported by the cover component 22b. The conductive components 26 are designed to electrically connect the battery cells 21 in series. The battery unit 20 further has a multitude of monitoring connections 27. For example, six monitoring connections 27 are mounted on the conductive components 26. The six monitoring connections 27 enable monitoring of the voltages across the respective five battery cells 21.

[0062] The monitoring module 23 is arranged adjacent to and along the cover component 22b with a seal 28 between the wall component 24 and the cover component 22b, while the monitoring connections 27 are electrically connected to the respective electrical connection components 25, which are mounted in the wall component 24 of the monitoring module 23.

[0063] The monitoring module 23 has a water sensor 60, which has water detection electrodes 61 (not shown). The water sensor 60 is integrated with the wall component 24 of the monitoring module 23.

[0064] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the battery cells 21 are installed in the respective chambers CHM of the cup-shaped holder 22a in the depth direction DD in order to assemble the battery unit 20. That is, the assembly direction of the battery unit 20 is the depth direction D.

[0065] Because the set of one positive and one negative terminal 21a of each battery cell 21 is horizontally adjacent to the set of one positive and one negative terminal 21a of one of the remaining battery cells 21, which is adjacent to battery cell 21, it is possible to electrically connect the battery cells 21 with the electrical circuit 50 with the smaller number of connecting components.

[0066] As described above, the battery cells 21 are stacked together, with the stacking direction being perpendicular to the vertical direction HD, i.e., parallel to the horizontal direction WD. For this reason, the stacked battery cells 21 can swell primarily in the horizontal direction WD.

[0067] As described above, the enclosure 31 of the housing 30 has a substantially rectangular parallel-flat space with the open top side.

[0068] In other words, the enclosure 31 has a downwardly convex shape or an upwardly concave shape. The enclosure 31, in which the battery unit 20 is installed, has high rigidity in the horizontal directions perpendicular to the vertical direction HD, and especially in the lateral direction WD, that is, the stacking direction.

[0069] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. As shown in Figure 6, the enclosure 31 has a first and a second side wall 31a and 31b, which are opposite each other, a bottom wall 31c, a rear wall 31d and a front wall 31e. In other words, the base 30 has the first and second side walls 31a and 31b, which are opposite each other, the bottom wall 31c, the rear wall 31d and the front wall 31e.

[0070] The battery unit 20 is installed in the enclosure 31 such that the first and second side walls 22a1 and 22a2 face the respective first and second side walls 31a and 31b. In other words, the first and second side walls 31a and 31b are positioned to face the stacking direction of the battery cells 21, i.e., the width direction WD. Specifically, the first and second side walls 31a and 31b have at least partially internal surfaces 33a and 33b that face each other and are parallel to each other. The outer surfaces of the first and second side walls 22a1 and 22a2 face the respective inner surfaces 33a and 33b of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b, with narrow gaps between them. In other words, the outer surfaces of the first and second side walls 22a1 and 22a2 are adjacent to the respective inner surfaces 33a and 33b of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b with narrow spaces between them.Alternatively, the outer surfaces of the first and second side walls 22a1 and 22a2 are in direct contact with the respective inner surfaces 33a and 33b of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b.

[0071] Each of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b has bolt holes 34 formed in the upper surface of these; the bolt holes 34 are used to fasten the housing 22 to the enclosure 31.

[0072] Each bolt hole 34 has a predetermined depth in the vertical direction HD, i.e., the assembly direction, and an internal threaded section formed on the inner surface of the bolt hole 34. Each of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b has a complex shape suitable for forming the bolt holes 34 on the corresponding side wall.

[0073] For example, the first side wall 31a is shaped to have a first wall section 31w1 and a second wall section 31w2; the first wall section 31w1 is higher than the second wall section 31w2 in the vertical direction HD. A first bolt hole 34a of the bolt holes 34, formed in the upper surface of the first wall section 31w1 of the first side wall 31a, is therefore arranged to be, for example, higher than half the height of the corresponding first larger side surface 21b. In the same way, the second side wall 31b is shaped to have a first wall section 31w1 and a second wall section 31w2; the first wall section 31w1 is higher than the second side wall section 31w2 in the vertical direction HD. The first wall section 31w1 and the second wall section 31w2 of the second side wall 31b face the respective first wall section 31w1 and the respective second wall section 31w2 of the second side wall 31b.The first bolt hole 34a of the bolt holes 34, which is formed in the upper surface of the first wall section 31w1 of the second side wall 31b and which is opposite to the bolt hole 34a, is arranged to be, for example, higher than half the height of the corresponding second larger side surface 21b.

[0074] Furthermore, the first side wall 31a is shaped such that a second bolt hole 34b, formed in the upper surface of the first side wall 31a, is arranged to be lower than the first bolt hole 34a. Similarly, the second side wall 31b is shaped such that the second bolt hole 34b, formed in the upper surface of the second side wall 31b and opposite to the second bolt hole 34b, is arranged to be lower than the first bolt hole 34a.

[0075] Each of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b also has bolt holes formed in their upper surfaces; the bolt holes 34 are used to fasten the cover 31 to the housing 30 and to attach parts used for the electrical connection of the battery unit 20 to the housing 30. The bottom wall 31c is located at the bottom of the enclosure 31. That is, the bottom wall 31c has the lowest position in the base 30 in the vertical direction HD. The bottom wall 31c has an inner surface 33c that serves as part of an upper surface of the base 30, that is, of the main part 30a.

[0076] The rear wall 31d is located at a rear section of the enclosure 31 in the depth direction DD. The rear wall 31d is designed to connect the first side wall 31a, the second side wall 31b, and the bottom wall 31c above it. The rear wall 31d has an inner surface 33d. The rear wall 31d is designed to connect the first side walls 31a and 31b. That is, the rear wall 31d acts as a crossbeam or as a reinforcing connection that firmly and stably connects and supports the first and second side walls 31a and 31b. The rear wall 31d is therefore designed to counteract an external force applied to the first and second side walls 31a and 31b that would cause the upper edge of each of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b to expand towards the outside.

[0077] The front wall 31e is located at a front section of the enclosure 31 in the depth direction DD. The front wall 31e is designed to be connected to the bottom wall 31c. The front wall 31e can be designed to connect the first side wall 31a, the second side wall 31b, and the bottom wall 31c above it. The front wall 31e has an inner surface 33e.

[0078] The heat dissipation section 35 is higher in the vertical direction HD than the first and second side walls 31a and 31b, the rear wall 31d and the front wall 31e.

[0079] In particular, the front wall 31e is situated between the heat dissipation section 35 and the bottom wall 31c in the depth direction DD such that the assembly consisting of the heat dissipation section 35, the front wall 31e and the bottom wall 31c forms three steps or three levels, consisting of the bottom wall 31c, which serves as a first level at the lowest stage, the front wall 31e, which serves as a second level that is higher than the first level at the lowest stage, and the upper surface of the heat dissipation section 35, which serves as a third level at the highest stage.

[0080] The front wall 31e serves as a crossbeam or reinforcing connection that firmly and stably connects and supports the first and second side walls 31a and 31b. The front wall 31e is therefore designed to counteract an external force applied to the first and second side walls 31a and 31b that would otherwise cause the upper edge of each of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b to expand towards the outside.

[0081] The electrical circuit module 50 has an insulating plate 59.

[0082] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, a portion of the circuit board 51 is mounted to the upper surface of the heat dissipation section 35 via the insulating plate 59. This portion of the circuit board 51 contains selected components requiring heat dissipation, such as the switching elements mentioned above. That is, the insulating plate 59 is positioned between this portion of the circuit board 51 and the upper surface of the heat dissipation section 35.

[0083] With reference to Fig. 7 The housing 22 consists in one piece of brackets 22c, 22d, 22e and 22f, which are made of the same resin as the housing 22 and of which each has a hole formed through it in its thickness direction parallel to the height direction HD. The brackets 22c and 22d project outwards from the first side wall 22a1 such that the brackets 22c and 22d are mounted on the respective first and second bolt holes 34a and 34b of the first side wall 31a, while the through holes of the brackets 22c and 22d are aligned coaxially with the respective first and second bolt holes 34a and 34b.Similarly, the brackets 22e and 22f project outwards from the second side wall 22a2 such that the brackets 22e and 22f are mounted on the respective first and second bolt holes 34a and 34b of the second side wall 31b, with the through holes of the brackets 22e and 22f being aligned coaxially with the respective first and second bolt holes 34a and 34b.

[0084] The battery device 10 has a multitude of bolts 71, each of which has a head and an external thread end opposite the head.

[0085] The battery unit 20 is installed in the enclosure 31 such that the brackets 22c and 22d are aligned with the respective bolt holes 34a and 34b of the first side wall 31a and the brackets 22e and 22f are aligned with the respective first and second bolt holes 34a and 34b of the second side wall 31b.

[0086] Then the bolts 71 are fitted into the respective bolt holes 34a and 34b of the first side wall 31a via the respective brackets 22c and 22d so that the external thread sections of the bolts 71 engage with the internal thread sections of the respective first and second bolt holes 34a and 34b.

[0087] Similarly, the bolts 71 are fitted into the respective first and second bolt holes 34a and 34b of the second side wall 31b via the respective brackets 22e and 22f such that the external thread sections of the bolts 71 engage with the internal thread sections of the respective first and second bolt holes 34a and 34b.

[0088] This results in the battery unit 20 being fixed to the base 30.

[0089] Fig. Figure 8 schematically shows a cross-section along a line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7, and Fig. Figure 9 schematically represents a cross-section along line IX-IX of Fig. 7 dar.

[0090] With reference to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 Each of the brackets 22c, 22d, 22e and 22f has a collar 22g, which is made of metal, for example. The collar 22g is fitted into the through-hole of each bracket 22c, 22d, 22e and 22f such that a part of the collar 22g protrudes outwards from the through-hole in the vertical direction HD.

[0091] This results in an increase in the strength of the through-hole of each of the supports 22c, 22d, 22e and 22f, in order to protect the through-hole from the fastening force of the corresponding bolt 71.

[0092] As described above, the first and second side walls 31a and 31b are located on both sides of the battery unit 20 in the lateral direction WD. In other words, the first and second side walls 31a and 31b divide the enclosure 31 at the base 30.

[0093] The first side wall 31a has a downwardly concave recess 36a, which is subdivided to separate the first and second bolt holes 34a and 34b. Similarly, the second side wall 31b has a downwardly concave recess 36b, which is subdivided to separate the first and second bolt holes 34a and 34b. That is, the recess 36a is concave upwards with respect to Fig. 8 and the recess 36b is recessed upwards with reference to Fig. 9.

[0094] As described above, the bolts 71 are fitted into the respective first and second bolt holes 34a and 34b of the first side wall 31a via the collars 22g of the respective supports 22c and 22d such that the external thread sections of the bolts 71 engage with the internal thread sections of the respective bolt holes 34a and 34b.

[0095] This means that the bolts 71 and the bundles 22g serve as an auxiliary component to compensate for the height of the first side wall 31a.

[0096] Similarly, the bolts 71 are fitted into the respective first and second bolt holes 34a and 34b of the second side wall 31b via the collars 22g of the respective brackets 22e and 22f such that the external thread sections of the bolts 71 engage with the internal thread sections of the respective first and second bolt holes 34a and 34b.

[0097] This means that the bolts 71 and the bundles 22g serve as an auxiliary component to compensate for the height of the second side wall 31b. Each of the recesses 36a and 36b

[0098] The first side wall 31a has a downwardly concave recess 36a, which is subdivided to separate the first and second bolt holes 34a and 34b. Similarly, the second side wall 31b has a downwardly concave recess 36b, which is subdivided to separate the first and second bolt holes 34a and 34b. The recesses 36a and 36b reduce the weight of the battery unit 10, while maintaining the strength of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b against swelling of the battery unit 20.

[0099] The busbar unit 41 projects outwards from the first side wall 22a1 of the battery unit 20 in the width direction WD, and the first and second power connections 41 and 42 project upwards from the busbar unit 41. Fig. Figure 7 clearly states that no main components of the battery device 10, such as the electrical circuit 50, are provided on either side of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b of the enclosure 31 in the lateral direction WD. This would prevent the deformation of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b from adversely affecting the main parts of the battery device 10 if the battery device 10 were to deform.

[0100] As described above, the battery unit 20 is mounted directly or indirectly to the bottom wall 31c of the enclosure 31 of the base 30 by means of bolts 71. In particular, a predetermined lower part of the battery unit 20 is arranged within the enclosure 31, and a predetermined upper part of the battery unit 20 projects upward from the open upper side of the enclosure 31. Because the battery cells 21 are stacked in the lateral direction WD above the bottom wall 31c of the enclosure 31, the lower parts of all battery cells 21 are arranged to be enclosed by the walls 31a, 31b, 31d, and 31e of the enclosure 31, while the upper parts of all battery cells 21 are exposed to project upward from the enclosure 31.

[0101] In particular, the base 30, that is, the enclosure 31, is designed such that a predetermined height of each battery cell 21 faces the upper edge of each of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b.

[0102] Fig. Figure 10 schematically represents a part of the battery device 10, indicated by an arrow X in Fig. 8 is marked, and Fig. 11 represents a part of the battery device 10, which is marked by an arrow XI. Fig. Figure 12 schematically represents a part of the battery device 10, indicated by an arrow XII in Fig. 9 is marked, and Fig. 13 represents a part of the battery device 10, which is indicated by an arrow XIII in Fig. It is marked 9.

[0103] As described above, the battery unit 20 is installed in the enclosure 31 such that the brackets 22c and 22d are aligned with the respective first and second bolt holes 34a and 34b of the first side wall 31a and the brackets 22e and 22f are aligned with the respective bolt holes 34a and 34b of the second side wall 31b.

[0104] Then the bolts 71 are fitted into the respective first and second bolt holes 34a and 34b of the first side wall 31a via the collars 22g of the respective brackets 22c and 22d so that the external thread sections of the bolts 71 engage with the internal thread sections of the respective first and second bolt holes 34a and 34b.

[0105] Similarly, the bolts 71 are fitted into the respective first and second bolt holes 34a and 34b of the second side wall 31b via the collars 22g of the respective brackets 22e and 22f such that the external thread sections of the bolts 71 engage with the internal thread sections of the respective first and second bolt holes 34a and 34b.

[0106] This results in the battery unit 20 being attached to the base 30.

[0107] For example, Fig. Figures 10 to 13 schematically show that the outer surfaces of the first and second side walls 22a1 and 22a2 face the respective inner surfaces 33a and 33b of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b, with narrow gaps between them. The outer surfaces of the first and second side walls 22a1 and 22a2 can be in direct contact with the respective inner surfaces 33a and 33b of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b.

[0108] Each battery cell has a predetermined height HB in the vertical direction HD.

[0109] With reference to Fig. 10 The inner surface 33a of the first side wall 31a, which faces the bottom of the through-hole of the bracket 22c, i.e., the collar 22g, has a predetermined height H1 in the vertical direction HD. The upper side of the through-hole of the bracket 22c, i.e., the collar 22g, has a predetermined height H2 in the vertical direction HD. As described above, the outer surface of the first side wall 22a1 faces the inner surface 33a of the first side wall 31a with a narrow gap between them.

[0110] One or more ribs may be provided to project from the inner surface 33a of the first side wall 31a in the lateral direction WD to abut the outer surface of the first side wall 22a1. One or more ribs may be provided to project from the outer surface of the first side wall 22a1 in the lateral direction WD to abut the inner surface 33a of the first side wall 31a. The outer surface of the bottom wall 22a3 of the housing is mounted on the inner surface of the bottom wall 31c of the enclosure 31. One or more ribs may be provided to project from the inner surface of the bottom wall 31c in the vertical direction HD to abut the outer surface of the bottom wall 22a3. One or more ribs may be provided to project from the outer surface of the bottom wall 22a3 to abut the inner surface of the bottom wall 31c.

[0111] With reference to Fig. 11 The inner surface 33b of the second side wall 31b, which faces the bottom of the through-hole of the bracket 22e, i.e., the collar 22g, also has the same height H1 in the vertical direction HD. The upper side of the through-hole of the bracket 22e, i.e., the collar 22g, also has the same height H2 in the vertical direction HD. As described above, the outer surface of the second side wall 22a2 faces the inner surface 33b of the second side wall 31b with a narrow gap between them.

[0112] One or more ribs may be provided to project from the inner surface 33b of the second side wall 31b in the lateral direction WD in order to abut the outer surface of the second side wall 22a2. One or more ribs may be provided to project from the outer surface of the second side wall 22a2 in the lateral direction WD in order to abut the inner surface 33b of the second side wall 31b.

[0113] For example, height H1 is set to be greater than half the height HB. Height H2 is set to be greater than half the height HB. Height H2 is preferably set to be greater than two-thirds the height HB.

[0114] With reference to Fig. 12 The inner surface 33a of the first side wall 31a, which faces the bottom of the through-hole of the bracket 22d, i.e., the collar 22g, has a predetermined height H3 in the vertical direction HD. The upper side of the through-hole of the bracket 22d, i.e., of the collar 22g, also has a predetermined height H4 in the vertical direction HD.

[0115] Similarly, with regard to Fig. 13 The position of the inner surface 33b of the second side wall 31b, which faces the bottom of the through-hole of the bracket 22f, i.e., the collar 22g, has the same height H3 in the vertical direction HD. The upper side of the through-hole of the bracket 22g, i.e., of the collar 22g, also has the same height H4 in the vertical direction HD.

[0116] For example, height H3 is set to be greater than one-third of height HB. Similarly, height H4 is set to be greater than one-third of height HB.

[0117] As described above and as in Fig. As shown in Figures 10 to 13, the predetermined lower part of the battery unit 20 is arranged in the enclosure 31, and the predetermined upper part of the battery unit 20 extends upwards from the open upper side of the enclosure 31.

[0118] As described above, height H1 represents the height of the first wall section 31b1 of each of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b. The first wall section 31w1 is positioned closer to the first larger side faces 21c, where the positive and negative terminals 21a of the battery cells 21 are mounted, than the second wall section 31w2 of the corresponding side walls 31a and 31b. Height H3, which is shorter than height H1, represents the height of the second wall section 31w2 of each of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b. The second wall section 31w2 is located farther away from the first larger side faces 21c of the battery cells 21 than the first wall section 31w1 of the corresponding side walls 31a and 31b.

[0119] The first wall section 31w1 of the first side wall 31a is located on a substantially middle section of the first side wall 31a in the depth direction DD, and the first wall section 31w1 of the second side wall 31b is also located on a substantially middle section of the second side wall 31b in the depth direction DD.

[0120] Specifically, the lower part of the outer surface of each of the first and second side walls 22a1 and 22a2 is arranged to face the corresponding inner surfaces 33a and 33b of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b, respectively, with a narrow gap between them. This gap allows the battery unit 20 to be installed within the enclosure. If the battery cells 21 expand laterally WD, the outer surfaces of the first and second side walls 22a1 and 22a2 of the expanded battery unit 20 abut the respective side walls 33a and 33b. This means that because the first and second side walls 31a and 31b have high rigidity laterally WD, an expansion of the gap between the inner surfaces 33a and 33b of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b is difficult.This means that the first and second side walls 31a and 31b of the enclosure 31 allow the swelling of the battery cells 21 of the battery unit 20 in the lateral direction WD to be limited.

[0121] Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view along a line XIV-XIV of Fig. 7. Fig. 15 is a perspective view that schematically represents the cross-section that is in Fig. 14 is shown. Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view along a line XVI-XVI of Fig. 7. Fig. 17 is a perspective view that schematically represents the cross-section that is in Fig. 16 is shown.

[0122] As in Fig. 14 and Fig. As shown in Figure 15, the inner surface 33a of the first side wall 31a has essentially an L-shape corresponding to the inner surfaces of the first and second wall sections 33w1 and 33w2. The height H3 of a part of the L-shaped inner surface 33a corresponding to the second wall section 33w2 is shorter than the height H1 of another part of the L-shaped inner surface 33a corresponding to the first wall section 33w1. Similarly, as shown in Figure 15, the inner surface 33a of the first side wall 31a has an L-shape corresponding to the first wall section 33w2. Fig. 16 and Fig. As shown in Figure 17, the inner surface 33b of the second side wall 31b is essentially L-shaped, corresponding to the inner surfaces of the first and second side wall sections 33w1 and 33w2. The height H3 of a part of the L-shaped inner surface 33b corresponding to the second side wall section 33w2 is shorter than the height H1 of another part of the L-shaped surface 33b corresponding to the first wall section 33w1.

[0123] The L-shaped inner surfaces 33a and 33b of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b cover at least the section of the center of gravity of the battery unit 20 in the lateral direction WD. This effectively reduces the swelling of the battery cells 21.

[0124] Fig. Figure 18 schematically represents an overlap region in each of the L-shaped inner surfaces 33a and 33b; the overlap region represents a region with which the battery unit 20 overlaps in the lateral direction WD. The battery unit 20 has a maximum expansion position, which has the greatest displacement due to the expansion of each battery cell 21. Although the shape of the battery unit 20 can be varied, the variations of the battery unit 20 usually have the center of gravity G as the maximum expansion position.

[0125] In Fig. 18 is the position corresponding to the center of gravity G of the battery unit 20, shown as reference symbol G on each of the inner surfaces 33a and 33b.

[0126] Fig. Figure 18 clearly shows that each of the L-shaped inner surfaces 33a and 33b covers the center of gravity G of the battery unit 20. In particular, each of the L-shaped inner surfaces 33a and 33b covers at least half of the lower half of the corresponding first and second larger side surfaces 21b. This allows for efficient limitation of any swelling of the battery cells 21 in the lateral direction WD.

[0127] As described above, the battery device 10 is designed such that the battery unit 20 is fixed to the base 30 without multiple high-rigidity components, the base 30 also serving to efficiently limit the swelling of the battery cells 21. This design therefore provides for the battery devices 10, each of which can resist the swelling of the battery cells 21 using a smaller number of components. Second embodiment

[0128] The following describes an example of the overall construction of a battery-powered device according to the second embodiment with reference to Fig. 19. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the following points. Therefore, the following mainly describes these differences.

[0129] Each of the L-shaped inner surfaces 33a and 33b according to the first embodiment has a lower part whose height is less than the height of the center of gravity G of the battery unit 20.

[0130] In contrast, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 19, the first side wall 31a has a first inner surface 233a corresponding to the inner surfaces of the first and second wall sections 33w1 and 33w2, and the second side wall 31b has an inner surface 233b corresponding to the inner surfaces of the first and second wall sections 33w1 and 33w2.

[0131] The first and second inner surfaces 233a and 233b of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b cover at least the section of the center of gravity G of the battery unit 20 in the lateral direction WD, without having the lower part whose height is less than the height of the center of gravity G of the battery unit 20.

[0132] In particular, each of the first and second inner surfaces 233a and 233b covers at least all of the lower half of the corresponding first and second larger side surfaces 21b. This enables efficient limitation of the swelling of the battery cells 21 in the lateral direction WD.

[0133] As described above, the battery device according to the second embodiment is designed such that the battery unit 20 is fixed to the base 30 without several highly rigid components, the base 30 also serving to efficiently limit the swelling of the battery cells 21. This design therefore provides battery devices, each of which can counteract the swelling of the battery cells 21 by means of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b, which have the first inner surface 233a and the second inner surface 233b, respectively. Third example

[0134] The following describes an example of the overall construction of a battery-powered device according to the third embodiment with reference to Fig. 20. The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the following points. Therefore, the following mainly describes these differences.

[0135] Each of the L-shaped inner surfaces 33a and 33b according to the first embodiment covers the center of gravity G of the battery unit 20.

[0136] In contrast, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 20, the first side wall 31a has a first concave shaped inner surface 333a corresponding to the inner surfaces of the first and second wall sections 33w1 and 33w2, and the second side wall 31b has a second concave shaped inner surface 333b corresponding to the inner surfaces of the first and second wall sections 33w1 and 33w2.

[0137] Each of the first and second concavely shaped inner surfaces 333a and 333b of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b is designed to (1) to cover the lower part of the corresponding first and second larger side surface 21b, (2) to have both a first and a second part P1 and P2 with a gap between them, (3) to surround the section of the center of gravity G of the battery unit 20 by the first and second parts P1 and P2.

[0138] As described above, the battery device according to the third embodiment is designed such that the battery unit 20 is fixed to the base 30 without several highly rigid components, the base 30 also serving to efficiently limit the swelling of the battery cells 21. This design therefore provides battery devices, each of which can counteract the swelling of the battery cells 21 by means of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b, which have the first concave inner surface 333a and the second concave inner surface 333b, respectively. Fourth embodiment

[0139] The following describes an example of the overall construction of a 10A battery device according to the fourth embodiment with reference to Fig. 21 and Fig. 22. The fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the following points. Therefore, the following mainly describes these differences.

[0140] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 21, the first and second side walls 31a and 31b have their respective inner surfaces 33a and 33b, which are parallel to each other, according to the first embodiment as a comparative example. The inner surfaces 33a and 33b of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b face the outer surfaces of the respective first and second side walls 22a1 and 22a2 in the lateral direction WD in order to limit the swelling of the battery cells 21 in the lateral direction WD.

[0141] In contrast, as in Fig. Figure 22 shows an enclosure 31A of a base 30A of the battery device 10A consisting of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b, which are opposite each other, the bottom wall 31c, the rear wall 31d and the front wall 31e.

[0142] The battery unit 20 is installed in the enclosure 31A such that the first and second side walls 22a1 and 22a2 face the respective first and second side walls 31a and 31b. In other words, the first and second side walls 31a and 31b are arranged to face the stacking direction of the battery cells 21, i.e., the width direction WD. Specifically, the first side wall 31a has at least a partial inner surface 433a, and the second side wall 31b has at least a partial inner surface 433b; the inner surfaces 433a and 433b face each other.

[0143] The inner surface 433a is inclined relative to the first side wall 22a1 with a narrow space between them, extending outwards from the bottom wall 31c towards the open upper side of the enclosure 31A. Similarly, the inner surface 433b is inclined relative to the second side wall 22a2 with a narrow space between them, extending outwards from the bottom wall 31c towards the open upper side of the enclosure 31A.

[0144] If the battery cells 21 swell in the lateral direction WD, the outer surfaces of the first and second side walls 22a1 and 22a2 of the swollen battery unit 20 abut the respective side walls 433a and 433b. This means that because the first and second side walls 31a and 31b have high stiffness in the lateral direction WD, it is difficult for the gap between the inner surfaces 433a and 433b of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b to expand. Therefore, the first and second side walls 31a and 31b of the enclosure 31A limit the swelling of the battery cells 21 of the battery unit 20A in the lateral direction WD.

[0145] Furthermore, the free space between the outer surface of each of the first and second side walls 22a1 and 22a2 of the inflated battery unit 20 and the corresponding side walls 433a and 433b widens as the free space approaches the open upper side of the enclosure 31A. In other words, the side walls 433a and 433b taper from the open upper side of the enclosure 31A to the bottom wall 31c in the vertical direction HD.

[0146] This allows for easy installation of the battery unit 20 in the enclosure 31A from the open top of the enclosure 31A along the side walls 433a and 433b. Fifth embodiment

[0147] The following describes an example of the overall construction of a battery-powered device according to the fifth embodiment with reference to Fig. 23. The fifth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the following points. Therefore, the following mainly describes these differences.

[0148] As described above, the first side surface 21c of each battery cell 21, on which the positive and negative terminals 21a are mounted, faces in the depth direction DD, that is, the depth direction DD runs through the first side surface 21c of each battery cell 21.

[0149] In contrast, Fig. Figure 23 schematically depicts a battery device 10B according to the fifth embodiment. The battery device 10B has a base 30, which includes an enclosure 31 with an open top, as described above. The battery device 10B has a battery unit 20A, which is installed in the enclosure 31 of the housing 30. The battery unit 20A has opposing side walls 221a1 and 221a2 of the housing 22. The upper edge of the side wall 221a1 is attached to the first side wall 31a by means of a bracket 22c1 and the bolts 71, for example, in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Similarly, the upper edge of the side wall 222a2 is attached to the second side wall 31b by means of a bracket 22e1 and the bolts 71.

[0150] The housing 22 has an open top, but it can also have a closed top. The electrical circuit module 50 is mounted on the battery unit 20A without the use of highly rigid components such as the base 30.

[0151] Each battery cell 21 has a flat rectangular parallel-flat shape, that is, an essentially flat hexahedral shape. Each battery cell 21 has the first and second larger side faces 21b, which are opposite each other, the first and second smaller side faces 21c, which are opposite each other, the top face 21d, and the bottom face. Each battery cell 21 has a pair of positive and negative terminals 21a, which are mounted on the top face 21d.

[0152] The battery cells 21 are stacked together in the lateral direction WD in such a way that (1) their first smaller side surfaces 21c are flush with each other, (2) their second smaller side surfaces 21c are flush with each other, and (3) their first and second larger side faces 21b are parallel to each other.

[0153] The 20A battery unit is installed in the 31A enclosure in such a way that at least a part (hatched in Fig. 23) the first and second side walls 222a1 and 222a2 are oriented towards the respective first and second side walls 31a and 31b. In other words, the first and second side walls 31a and 31b are arranged to face the stacking direction of the battery cells 21, i.e., the width direction WD. That is, the outer surfaces of the first and second side walls 222a1 and 222a2 face the respective inner surfaces 333a and 333b of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b with narrow gaps between them, or are in direct contact with the respective inner surfaces 333a and 333b of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b.

[0154] The inner surfaces 333a and 333b of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b cover at least the section of the center of gravity of the battery unit 20A in the lateral direction WD. This efficiently reduces the swelling of the battery cells 21 while the battery unit 20A is attached to the housing 30A by the resin-made brackets 22c1 and 22e1. MODIFICATIONS

[0155] The present disclosure is not limited to the aforementioned exemplary embodiments and therefore includes the exemplary embodiments disclosed above and various modifications based on the embodiments that can be carried out by a person skilled in the art. For example, the present disclosure is not limited to combinations of the components and / or elements disclosed in the embodiments. The present disclosure can be realized by various combinations of the components and / or elements disclosed in the embodiments.

[0156] The present disclosure may contain additional information that can be added to the embodiments. The present disclosure may include embodiments from which at least one component and / or at least one element has been omitted. The present disclosure may include the substitution of at least one element or component disclosed in one embodiment with at least one element or component disclosed in another embodiment. The scope disclosed in the present disclosure is not limited to the descriptions of the embodiments. All aspects encompassed in the technological ideas specified by the language used in the claims constitute embodiments of the present invention.The disclosed scopes are shown in the claims, and various modifications can be applied to the embodiments within the scope of the claims or the scope equivalent to the claims.

[0157] Each of the first to fifth embodiments uses a single circuit board as the circuit board 51 of the electrical circuit module 50, but it can use the assembly of a plurality of unit circuit boards as the circuit board 51 of the electrical circuit module 50.

[0158] The battery cells 21 according to each of the first to fifth embodiments are connected in series, but they can also be connected in parallel. Alternatively, the battery cells 21 can comprise several sets of battery cells connected in parallel, and the several sets can be connected in series.

[0159] The stacking direction, that is, the width direction WD, of the stacked battery cells 21 is fixed to a horizontal direction perpendicular to the height direction HD, but it can be fixed to a direction inclined at a predetermined angle, such as 90°, with respect to a horizontal direction perpendicular to the height direction HD.

[0160] Each of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b according to the first embodiment has a substantially L-shaped inner surface, but it can have various shapes, different areas, and / or protrusions and depressions. In particular, the structure of the inner surface of each of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b can be determined depending on a corresponding expansion area of ​​the battery unit 20. The expansion areas of the battery unit 20 are defined as regions of the battery unit 20; the regions can be deformed to expand due to the expansion of the battery cells 21. That is, the expansion areas of the battery unit 20, which are the outer surfaces of the first and second side walls 22a1 and 22a2 of the housing 22, are arranged to face the respective first and second larger side surface 21b.If the battery unit 20 has no housing, the first and second larger side surfaces 21b from both ends of the battery unit 20 in the width direction WD serve as the respective inflation surfaces of the battery unit 20.

[0161] For example, the base 30 preferably has side surfaces whose contours are identical to the contours of the respective expansion surfaces of the battery unit 20. Alternatively, the base 30 preferably has side surfaces whose surfaces are wider than the surfaces of the respective expansion surfaces of the battery unit 20. If the expansion surfaces are flat surfaces, the base 30 preferably has flat side surfaces such that no load concentration is generated as a result of the expansion surfaces being in contact with the respective flat side surfaces.

[0162] The base 30 preferably has side surfaces, each of which faces at least one maximum inflation position of the corresponding inflation surfaces. The base 30 preferably has side surfaces whose heights are equal to or less than the upper surface of the battery unit 20. Each of the bolt holes 34 formed in the upper surface of the corresponding first and second side walls 31a and 31b is preferably arranged to be lower than the center of gravity of the battery unit 20. This allows each of the first and second side walls 31a and 31b of the base 30 to provide a side surface that covers at least the center of gravity of the battery unit 20.

[0163] It should be noted that the lateral direction WD, which corresponds to the stacking direction of the battery cells 21, is not limited to a horizontal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction HD of the battery device 10 that is installed, and may be set to a vertical direction corresponding to the vertical direction HD of the installed battery device 10.

[0164] While the illustrative embodiments and their modifications of the present disclosure are described herein, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and their modifications described herein. Specifically, the present disclosure includes any and all embodiments with modifications, omissions, combinations (for example, aspects across different embodiments), adaptations, and / or changes that may occur to a person skilled in the art based on the present disclosure. The limitations in the claims are to be interpreted broadly based on the language used in the claims and are not limited to examples described in the present description or during the pursuit of the application, and these examples are to be interpreted as non-exclusive.

Claims

[1] Battery-powered device with: a battery unit (20) comprising a plurality of battery cells (21), each of which has a flat rectangular parallel-flat shape, wherein each of the battery cells (21) has a first and a second larger area (21b), wherein the battery cells (21) are stacked in a predetermined direction as a stacking direction such that the first and second larger area (21b) of each of the battery units (20) faces in the stacking direction, wherein the battery unit (20) has a first and a second inflation surface (22a1, 22a2) which inflate in the stacking direction due to an inflation of the battery cells (21) in the stacking direction; and a base (30) with a surround (31) designed to accommodate at least a part of the battery unit (20), while at least a part of the battery unit (20) is fixed to the base (30), wherein: the basis (30) has the following features: a pair consisting of a first and a second side wall (31a, 31b) that divide the enclosure (31) in the base (30), the first and second side walls (31a, 31b) each have a first and second surface (33a, 33b, 233a, 233b, 333a, 333b, 433a, 433b, 533a, 533b) and are arranged such that the first and second surfaces (33a, 33b, 233a, 233b, 333a, 333b, 433a, 433b, 533a, 533b) are adjacent to or abut the respective first and second inflation surfaces (22a1, 22a2), the first and second side walls (31a, 31b) are designed to limit the expansion of the first and second expansion surfaces (22a1, 22a2) in the stacking direction when the first and second expansion surfaces (22a1, 22a2) expand, the battery unit (20) has a housing (22) made of resin which has a predetermined first stiffness level and accommodates the battery cells (21), wherein the base (30) has a predetermined second stiffness level, the second stiffness level being higher than the first stiffness level, the housing (22) is fixed to the first and second side wall (31a, 31b) of the base (30), Furthermore, a variety of fastening components are provided, designed to fasten the housing (22) to the first and second side wall (31a, 31b) of the base (30), each of the first and second inflation surfaces (22a1, 22a2) has a central section; and The fastening components have the following features: a first bolt hole (34a) formed in an upper surface of the first side wall (31a, 31b), wherein the first bolt hole (34a) is higher than the central section of the first inflating surface (22a1); a second bolt hole (34b) formed in an upper surface of the second side wall (31a, 31b), wherein the second bolt hole (34b) is higher than the central section of the second inflating surface (22a2); a first bolt (71) threaded into the first bolt hole (34a) to fasten the housing (22) to the first side wall (31a); and a second bolt (71) which is threaded into the second bolt hole (34b) to fasten the housing (22) to the second side wall (31b). [2] Battery-powered device with: a battery unit (20) comprising a plurality of battery cells (21), each of which has a flat rectangular parallel-flat shape, wherein each of the battery cells (21) has a first and a second larger area (21b), wherein the battery cells (21) are stacked in a predetermined direction as a stacking direction such that the first and second larger area (21b) of each of the battery units (20) faces in the stacking direction, wherein the battery unit (20) has a first and a second inflation surface (22a1, 22a2) which inflate in the stacking direction due to an inflation of the battery cells (21) in the stacking direction; and a base (30) with a surround (31) designed to accommodate at least a part of the battery unit (20), while at least a part of the battery unit (20) is fixed to the base (30), wherein: the basis (30) has the following features: a pair consisting of a first and a second side wall (31a, 31b) that divide the enclosure (31) in the base (30), the first and second side walls (31a, 31b) each have a first and second surface (33a, 33b, 233a, 233b, 333a, 333b, 433a, 433b, 533a, 533b) and are arranged such that the first and second surfaces (33a, 33b, 233a, 233b, 333a, 333b, 433a, 433b, 533a, 533b) are adjacent to or abut the respective first and second inflation surfaces (22a1, 22a2), the first and second side walls (31a, 31b) are designed to limit the expansion of the first and second expansion surfaces (22a1, 22a2) in the stacking direction when the first and second expansion surfaces (22a1, 22a2) expand, the battery unit (20) has a housing (22) made of resin which has a predetermined first stiffness level and accommodates the battery cells (21), wherein the base (30) has a predetermined second stiffness level, the second stiffness level being higher than the first stiffness level, the housing (22) is fixed to the first and second side wall (31a, 31b) of the base (30), Furthermore, a variety of fastening components are provided, designed to fasten the housing (22) to the first and second side wall (31a, 31b) of the base (30), the base (30) is made of metal; the housing (22) has the following features: a first support (22c, 22d) with a first through-hole; and a second bracket (22e, 22f) with a second through-hole; and The fastening components have the following characteristics: a first bolt hole (34a) formed in an upper surface of the first side wall (31a), wherein the first support (22c, 22d) is arranged such that the first through hole is aligned with the first bolt hole (34a); a second bolt hole (34b) formed in an upper surface of the second side wall (31b), wherein the second support (22e, 22f) is arranged such that the second through hole is aligned with the second bolt hole (34b); a first bolt (71) threaded into the first bolt hole (34a) and the first through hole of the first bracket (22c, 22d) to fasten the first bracket (22c, 22d) of the housing (22) to the first side wall (31a); and a second bolt (71) which is threaded into the second bolt hole (34b) and the second through hole of the second bracket (22e, 22f) to fasten the second bracket (22e, 22f) of the housing (22) to the second side wall (31b). [3] Battery device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an electrical circuit module (50) connected to the battery cells (21). [4] Battery device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: each of the first and second inflation surfaces (22a1, 22a2) has a central section; and each of the first and second surfaces (33a, 33b, 233a, 233b, 333a, 333b, 433a, 433b, 533a, 533b) of the first and second side wall (31a, 31b) has an area that covers the center of the corresponding first and second inflating surface (22a1, 22a2). [5] Battery device according to claim 2, wherein: the battery unit (20) has a rectangular parallel-flat shape with the first and second inflating surfaces (22a1, 22a2) in the stacking direction and a connecting surface that connects the first and second inflating surfaces (22a1, 22a2), the battery unit (20) has a connection (21a) which is mounted on the connection surface; the first and second inflating surface (22a1, 22a2) of the respective first and second surface (33a, 33b, 233a, 233b, 333a, 333b, 433a, 433b, 533a, 533b) of the first and second side wall (31a, 31b) are facing; the first support (22c, 22d) is designed to project outwards from the first inflation surface (22a1); and the second support (22e, 22f) is designed to project outwards from the second inflation surface (22a2). [6] Battery device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one part of the battery unit (20) is received in the enclosure (31) of the base (30) and a remaining part of the battery unit (20) is exposed to protrude from the enclosure (31) of the base (30).

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