VEHICLE BATTERY KIT

Abstract

Vehicle battery set (10) comprising: a battery compartment (20) in which a battery module (11) is installed; an electrical component (13) configured to convert electrical power from the battery compartment (20); a pipe (50) through which air flows to cool the electrical component (13); and a housing (30) that accommodates the battery compartment (20), the electrical component (13) and the tube (50), wherein the vehicle battery pack (10) comprises a support (40) which supports the electrical component (13) in the housing (30) such that the electrical component (13) is located near the battery compartment (20) in a space formed on a side side of the battery compartment (20) in the housing (30), where the carrier (40) includes: an upper carrier section (40A) that is attached to an upper surface of the battery compartment (20); a vertical support wall section (40B) that is continuous with the upper support section (40A) and extends along a vertical wall of the battery compartment (20) between the electrical component (13) and the vertical wall of the battery compartment (20); and a lower support section (40C) which is continuous with the vertical support wall section (40B) and which faces a lower surface of the electrical component (13), and wherein the vertical support wall section (40B) separates the electrical component (13) and the battery compartment (20) and covers one side surface of the electrical component (13).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle battery pack. General state of the art

[0002] In a vehicle, such as a motor vehicle, a battery may be located in a trunk at the rear of the vehicle. Prior art of this type is disclosed in patent literature 1. Patent literature 1 discloses a cooling structure for an electrical device in a vehicle, in which the electrical device is located under a floor behind a seat and is cooled by cooling air. The electrical device includes a battery for powering a motor for propulsion, a DC / DC converter, and an inverter for powering the motor. The DC / DC converter and the inverter for powering the motor are arranged side by side in a vehicle width direction on an upper section of the battery.The cooling air, which flows from the front of a vehicle body to the rear, is divided into an upper and a lower part to cool the battery in parallel on a bottom side and the DC / DC converter and the inverter to drive the motor on a top side.

[0003] From DE 10 2011 109 024 A1 an electric drive module for a commercial vehicle is known in which a battery pack together with a cooling device for temperature control of the electrical components is attached in a support frame to the vehicle body. List of citations from patent literature

[0004] Patent Literature 1: JP-A-2008-62780 Brief description of the invention Technical problem

[0005] In the prior art described in patent literature 1, since the battery module and the inverter are arranged in an overlapping manner in an up-down direction, vibration of the vehicle is transmitted to the inverter through the battery module, and the inverter vibrates vertically.

[0006] The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and one objective is to provide a vehicle battery pack that can prevent vibration of an electrical component and improve the reliability of the electrical component. Solution to the problem

[0007] A vehicle battery kit is provided, comprising: a battery compartment containing a battery module; an electrical component configured to convert electrical power from the battery compartment; a duct through which air flows to cool the electrical component; and an enclosure housing the battery compartment, the electrical component, and the duct. The vehicle battery kit includes a support that holds the electrical component within the enclosure, positioning it close to the battery compartment in a space formed on one side of the battery compartment within the enclosure.The support comprises: an upper support mounting section that is attached to an upper surface of the battery compartment; a vertical support wall section that is continuous with the upper support section and extends along a vertical wall of the battery compartment between the electrical component and the vertical wall of the battery compartment; and a lower support section that is continuous with the vertical support wall section and faces a lower surface of the electrical component. The vertical support wall section separates the electrical component and the battery compartment and covers a side surface of the electrical component. Brief description of the drawings [ Fig. 1] Fig. Figure 1 is a top view of a vehicle battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [ Fig. 2] Fig. Figure 2 is a top view of a state in which an upper housing of the vehicle battery pack has been removed according to the embodiment of the present invention. [ Fig. 3] Fig. Figure 3 is a view from below of the vehicle battery pack according to the embodiment of the present invention. [ Fig. 4] Fig. Figure 4 is a view from below of a state in which a lower cover of a lower housing of the vehicle battery pack according to the embodiment of the present invention has been removed. [ Fig. 5] Fig. Figure 5 is a view from below of a state in which the lower cover of the lower housing and the carrier of the vehicle battery pack have been removed according to the embodiment of the present invention. [ Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view along a line VI-VI in Fig. 2. [ Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view along a line VII-VII in Fig. 2, [ Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view along a line IIX-IIX in Fig. 2. [ Fig. 9] Fig. Figure 9 is a perspective view of the vehicle battery pack according to the embodiment of the present invention. Description of embodiments

[0008] According to an advantageous aspect of the present invention, a vehicle battery pack is provided comprising: a battery compartment in which a battery module is installed; an electrical component configured to convert electrical power from the battery compartment; a tube through which air flows to cool the electrical component; and a housing that accommodates the battery compartment, the electrical component, and the tube. The vehicle battery pack includes a support that holds the electrical component in the housing such that the electrical component is positioned close to the battery compartment in a space formed on a lateral side of the battery compartment within the housing.The support comprises: an upper support section attached to an upper surface of the battery compartment; a vertical support wall section continuous with the upper support section and extending along a vertical wall of the battery compartment between the electrical component and the vertical wall of the battery compartment; and a lower support section continuous with the vertical support wall section and facing a lower surface of the electrical component. The vertical support wall section separates the electrical component from the battery compartment and covers a side surface of the electrical component. Therefore, in the vehicle battery pack according to an advantageous aspect of the present invention, vibration of the electrical component can be prevented, and the reliability of the electrical component can be improved. [Version]

[0009] Below, a vehicle battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 to 9 are the upper, lower, front, rear, left and right directions of the vehicle battery pack installed in the vehicle; a direction orthogonal to a front-rear direction of the vehicle is a left-right direction; and a vertical direction of the vehicle battery pack is an up-down direction.

[0010] The Fig. Figures 1 to 9 are figures showing the vehicle battery pack according to the embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a vehicle battery pack 10 installed on a rear floor plate 2A on a rear section of a vehicle body 2 of a vehicle 1. The rear floor plate 2A forms a trunk by means of a side plate 2C, which forms a side surface of the vehicle body 2, and a rear plate 2D, which forms a rear surface of the vehicle body.

[0011] In the Fig. 2 and Fig. The vehicle battery pack 10 includes a battery compartment 20 in which battery modules 11 are installed. The vehicle battery pack 10 includes an inverter 13, which extracts electrical power from the battery modules 11 (see Fig. 6) converts, a switching section 14 which electrically connects the battery modules 11 and the inverter 13, and a cooling fan 12. The vehicle battery pack 10 includes a tube 50 which is connected to the cooling fan 12. In the present embodiment, the inverter 13 constitutes the electrical component of the present invention. The electrical component can be another electrical component, not limited to the inverter 13.

[0012] In Fig. 6 The vehicle battery set 10 includes a housing 30, and the battery compartment 20, the inverter 13, the switching section 14 and the tube 50 (see Fig. 9) are housed in the casing 30. Four battery modules 11 are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction within the battery compartment 20. Each battery module 11 consists of an assembled battery in which a plurality of cells are electrically connected. The battery compartment 20 is located in a region on the right side of a central section in the vehicle width direction of the casing 30. A space in which the inverter 13 and the switching section 14 are located is therefore formed in a region on the left side of the battery compartment 20 within the casing 30, that is, in a region on a lateral side (a left side) of the battery compartment 20 in the vehicle width direction. The inverter 13 includes a heat dissipation element 13B, such as a heat sink, on one of its lower surfaces.

[0013] In Fig. 2 The cooling fan 12 is arranged on an upper surface of a left rear end section of the housing 30 and directs air introduced from outside the housing 30 to the pipe 50. The pipe 50 includes an upstream pipe 51, which is connected to the cooling fan 12, and a cooling pipe 60 of an electrical component and a battery cooling pipe 70, which are connected to a lower section of the upstream pipe 51. The cooling pipe 60 of the electrical component and the battery cooling pipe 70 branch off from the upstream pipe 51. The cooling pipe 60 of the electrical component branches off from the upstream pipe 51 and extends forward to the inverter 13. The battery cooling pipe 70 branches off from the upstream pipe 51 and extends to the right along a rear surface of the battery compartment 20.

[0014] Air supplied from the cooling fan 12 to the downstream pipe 51 flows in a manner that branches into the cooling pipe 60 of the electrical component and the battery cooling pipe 70. The air flowing from the downstream pipe 51 into the cooling pipe 60 of the electrical component is supplied to the inverter 13 to cool the inverter 13. The air flowing from the upstream pipe 51 into the battery cooling pipe 70 is supplied from the rear surface of the battery compartment 20 to the interior of the battery compartment 20 to cool the battery modules 11.

[0015] In the Fig. 2 and Fig. In section 9, the inverter 13 and the switching section 14 are arranged side by side on the front and rear of the vehicle, respectively, each in a space formed on the side of the housing 30 in the battery compartment 20, extending in the vehicle width direction. The inverter 13 is located on the front of the switching section 14. The inverter 13 and the switching section 14 are electrically connected to each other via a busbar 15.

[0016] In Fig. Figure 9 includes the cooling tube 60 of the electrical component, a tube 61 extending in a front-to-back direction, and an inclined tube 62 extending in the vehicle width direction between the inverter 13 and the switching section 14. The tube 61 extending in the front-to-back direction is located between the switching section 14 and the battery compartment 20. The inclined tube 62 is located between the switching section 14 and the inverter 13. The inclined tube 62 is connected to a front end of the tube 61 extending in the front-to-back direction and is inclined such that it directs the air received from the tube 61 extending in the front-to-back direction downwards.

[0017] In Fig. 6 The vehicle battery pack 10 includes a support 40 which supports the inverter 13 in the housing 30. The support 40 supports the inverter 13 such that the inverter 13 is located near the battery compartment 20 in a space formed on a side of the battery compartment 20 in the housing 30.

[0018] In the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 the carrier 40 includes an upper carrier section 40A which is attached to an upper surface of the battery compartment 20, and a vertical carrier wall section 40B which is continuous with the upper carrier section 40A and extends along a vertical wall of the battery compartment 20 between the inverter 13 and the vertical wall of the battery compartment 20.

[0019] In Fig. The support 40 includes a lower support section 40C, which is continuous with the vertical support wall section 40B and faces a lower surface of the inverter 13. The vertical support wall section 40B separates the inverter 13 and the battery compartment 20 and covers a side surface of the inverter 13. The support 40 forms the support and the first support in the present invention, the upper support section 40A forms the upper support section and the first upper support section in the present invention, the vertical support wall section 40B forms the vertical support wall section and the first vertical support wall section in the present invention, and the lower support section 40C forms the lower support section and the first lower support section in the present invention. An inverter support section 40D, which supports the inverter 13, is formed on the vertical support wall section 40B.The inverter support section 40D extends in a horizontal direction. As described above, the vertical support wall section 40B generally has a plate-like shape extending in the up-down direction, but has a slight step in one section of the inverter support section 40D.

[0020] The vehicle battery pack 10 includes a support 44 arranged between the housing 30 and the support 40. The support 44 comprises: an end section 44A supported by the housing 30 below the battery compartment 20; another end section 44B supported by the housing 30 below the inverter 13; a first projection 44C extending from one end section 44A to a gap between the battery compartment 20 and the inverter 13, above a lower surface of the heat dissipation element 13B of the inverter 13; and a second projection 44D extending upward from the other end section 44B to the lower surface of the inverter 13 and attached to the lower support section 44C between the inverter 13 and the housing 30.

[0021] The housing 30 includes an upper housing 31, which is in Fig. 1 is shown, and a lower housing 32, which is in Fig. Figure 2 shows that the upper housing 31 forms the upper surface of the housing 30, and the lower housing 32 forms a side surface and a lower surface of the housing 30. Fig. Figure 3 includes the lower housing 32, a support 32B, and a base plate 32C, which is supported by the support 32B. As shown in the Fig. 4 and Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the battery modules 11 are arranged on the base of the housing 30. The battery modules 11 are formed in a rectangular parallelepiped with long sides oriented front-to-back. The battery modules 11 are arranged side-by-side in the width direction of the vehicle.

[0022] In Fig. 2 A connection surface 30A is provided at the upper end of an end section of the lower housing 32 in the vehicle width direction. The lower housing 32 is connected to the upper housing 31 via the connection surface 30A. The vehicle battery pack 10 includes a plate element 42, and the plate element 42 is arranged in such a way that it crosses over the inverter 13. Furthermore, the plate element 42 connects the connection surface 30A and the battery compartment 20.

[0023] In Fig. The inverter 13 comprises a substrate section 13C in which a substrate is stored, and a power storage section 13D, which is arranged on an upper surface of the substrate section 13C and projects upwards. The power storage section 13D is located at an end section (a rear end section) of the inverter 13. The plate element 42 comprises a first plate section 42A, which extends along an upper surface of the power storage section 13D, a second plate section 42B, which extends along the upper surface of the substrate section 13C, and a step section 42C, which forms a step in the upward-downward direction between the first plate section 42A and the second plate section 42B.

[0024] In Fig.2 the inclined tube 62 of the tube 50 includes a feed section 62A which faces a side surface of the first plate section 42A opposite the second plate section 42B, and the feed section 62A covers from a side side a section of the first plate section 42A and the power storage section 13D which is adjacent to the battery compartment 20.

[0025] As described above, in the present embodiment, the vehicle battery pack 10 includes the support 40, which supports the inverter 13 in the housing 30 such that the inverter 13 is located near the battery compartment 20 in the space formed on the side of the battery compartment 20 within the housing 30. The support 40 comprises the upper support section 40A, which is attached to the upper surface of the battery compartment 20; the vertical support wall section 40B, which is continuous with the upper support section 40A and extends along the vertical wall of the battery compartment 20 between the inverter 13 and the vertical wall of the battery compartment 20; and the lower support section 40C, which is continuous with the vertical support wall section 40B and faces the lower surface of the inverter 13.Furthermore, the vertical support wall section 40B separates the inverter 13 and the battery compartment 20 and covers a side surface of the inverter 13.

[0026] Even if the inverter 13 is located near the battery compartment 20, the heat generated by the battery compartment 20 can be shielded by the vertical support wall section 40B, thus preventing the inverter 13 from being affected by the heat from the battery compartment 20. Consequently, it is possible to prevent a deterioration in operating performance and a reduction in the service life of the inverter 13 due to high temperature, and it is possible to ensure the reliability of the inverter 13.

[0027] By attaching the upper support section 40A to the upper surface of the battery compartment 20, the mounting area of ​​the support 40 relative to the battery compartment 20 can be increased, and the support 40 can be held stably on the battery compartment 20. Since the inverter 13 can be held stably by the support 40, vibration of the inverter 13 can be prevented. Therefore, the deterioration of the operating performance of the inverter 13 due to vibration can be prevented, and the reliability of the inverter 13 can be improved.

[0028] Since the lower support section 40C is formed in a manner that faces the lower surface of the inverter 13, heat from the battery compartment 20 can be prevented from entering the inverter 13 directly from the bottom of the inverter 13, and heat damage to the inverter 13 can be reduced, thus improving the reliability of the inverter 13.

[0029] In the present embodiment, the vehicle battery pack 10 includes the support 44, which is arranged between the housing 30 and the support 40, and the support 44 includes: one end section 44A, which is supported by the housing 30 below the battery compartment 20; another end section 44B, which is supported by the housing 30 below the inverter 13; the first projection 44C, which projects above the lower surface of the inverter 13 from one end section 44A to the gap between the battery compartment 20 and the inverter 13; and the second projection 44D, which projects upward from the other end section 44B to the lower surface of the inverter 13 and which is attached to the lower support section 40C between the inverter 13 and the housing 30.

[0030] The first projection 44C of the carrier 44 can therefore prevent the heat generated by the battery compartment 20 from reaching the underside of the inverter 13. Since heat is less likely to be transferred from the battery compartment 20 to the inverter 13, it is possible to prevent a deterioration in the operating performance and service life of the inverter 13 and to improve the reliability of the inverter 13.

[0031] Since the support 44 can support the lower section of the support 40 by means of the second projection 44D, vibration or the like of the vehicle generated in the inverter 13, which is supported by the support 40, can be distributed to the support 40 and the support 44, and the inverter 13 can be stably supported in the housing 30.

[0032] In the present embodiment, the housing 30 includes the upper housing 31 and the lower housing 32, which is connected to the upper housing 31 via the connection surface 30A, and the connection surface 30A and the battery compartment 20 are connected to each other by the plate element 42 in a manner that crosses above the inverter 13.

[0033] The plate element 42, the support 40, and the housing 30, which support the inverter 13, can therefore be prevented from deforming or distorting due to vibration of the vehicle or vibration of the battery compartment 20. Since the plate element 42 is suspended above the battery compartment 20 and the connection surface 30A of the housing 30, which exhibit high rigidity, deformation of the plate element 42 can be prevented.

[0034] The inverter 13 can therefore be held in a stable state on the lower side of the plate element 42, and it can be prevented that the inverter 13 is greatly affected by the vibration of the vehicle and the distortion of the housing 30 and the like, thereby improving the reliability of the operating performance, the service life and the like of the inverter 13.

[0035] Since the plate element 42 is arranged in a way that crosses above the inverter 13, it is possible to block the flow of heat directly from the battery compartment 20 to the upper surface of the inverter 13 through the plate element 42. As a result, it is possible to reduce heat damage to the inverter 13, prevent deterioration in its operating performance and service life, and improve its reliability.

[0036] In this embodiment, the inverter 13 includes a substrate section 13C in which a substrate is stored, and a power storage section 13D, which is arranged on the upper surface of the substrate section 13C and projects upwards. The plate element 42 includes the first plate section 42A, which extends along the upper surface of the power storage section 13D, the second plate section 42B, which extends along the upper surface of the substrate section 13C, and the step section 42C, which forms the step in the upward-downward direction between the first plate section 42A and the second plate section 42B.

[0037] By providing the step section 42C, the stiffness of the plate element 42 can be improved, and it can be prevented that the plate element 42 is slightly deformed, even if the plate element 42 should be deformed due to vibration of the vehicle or vibration of the housing 30.

[0038] Since the plate element 42 is formed in a shape along the upper surface of the substrate section 13C of the inverter 13 and the upper surface of the power storage section 13D, it is possible to prevent the gap between the first plate section 42A and the inverter 13 and the gap between the second plate section 42B and the upper surface of the substrate section 13C from increasing, it is possible to prevent the heat generated in the battery compartment 20 from flowing into the gap between the plate element 42 and the inverter 13, and the inverter 13 can be protected from the heat.

[0039] In the present embodiment, the power storage section 13D is arranged at one end section of the inverter 13. The tube 50 includes the feed section 62A, which faces the side surface of the first plate section 42A opposite the second plate section 42B, and the feed section 62A covers from the side the section of the first plate section 42A and the power storage section 13D, which adjoins the battery compartment 20.

[0040] Even if the heat generated in the battery compartment 20 flows to the inverter 13, it is therefore possible to prevent the heat from flowing from the top of the inverter 13 through the first plate section 42A. The heat flowing from the battery compartment 20 to the power storage section 13D can be blocked by the first plate section 42A.

[0041] Since the feed section 62A of the tube 50 closes the rear end of the inverter 13 under the first plate section 42A, it can be prevented that the heat generated in the battery compartment 20 flows from the gap between the first plate section 42A and the inverter 13 through the feed section 62A of the tube 50.

[0042] In particular, the power storage section 13D includes a smoothing capacitor that stores electrical power, and the capacitor's operating performance can be degraded due to heat. By blocking the heat generated in the battery compartment 20 through the first plate section 42A and the feed section 62A, the degradation of the power storage section 13D's operating performance can be prevented, and the reliability of the inverter 13 can be improved.

[0043] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed, it is clear to the person skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. It is intended that all such modifications and equivalents are included in the following claims. Reference symbol list 1 vehicle 10 vehicle battery sets 11 Battery module 13 Inverters (electrical component) 13C substrate section 13D power memory section 20 Battery compartment 30 cases 30A connection surface 31 Upper Case 32 Lower Case 40 carriers (First carrier) 40A Upper girder section 40B Vertical support wall section 40C Lower support section 42 plate elements 42A First plate section 42B Second plate section 42C Step section 44 carriers (Second carrier) 44A One end section 44B Another end section 44C First lead 44D Second Lead 50 pipe 51 Upstream pipe 62A Facing Section

Claims

[1] Vehicle battery pack (10) comprising: a battery compartment (20) in which a battery module (11) is installed; an electrical component (13) configured to convert electrical power from the battery compartment (20); a pipe (50) through which air flows to cool the electrical component (13); and a housing (30) that accommodates the battery compartment (20), the electrical component (13) and the tube (50), wherein the vehicle battery pack (10) comprises a support (40) which supports the electrical component (13) in the housing (30) such that the electrical component (13) is located near the battery compartment (20) in a space formed on a side side of the battery compartment (20) in the housing (30), where the carrier (40) includes: an upper carrier section (40A) that is attached to an upper surface of the battery compartment (20); a vertical support wall section (40B) that is continuous with the upper support section (40A) and extends along a vertical wall of the battery compartment (20) between the electrical component (13) and the vertical wall of the battery compartment (20); and a lower support section (40C) which is continuous with the vertical support wall section (40B) and which faces a lower surface of the electrical component (13), and wherein the vertical support wall section (40B) separates the electrical component (13) and the battery compartment (20) and covers one side surface of the electrical component (13). [2] Vehicle battery set (10) according to claim 1, where, where the beam (40) is called a first beam, the upper beam section (40A) is called a first upper beam section, the vertical beam wall section (40B) is called a first vertical beam wall section, and the lower beam section (40C) is called a first lower beam section, The vehicle battery pack (10) further comprises: a second support (44) arranged between the housing (30) and the first support, and the second support (44) includes: an end section (44A) which is supported by the housing (30) under the battery compartment (20); another end section (44B) which is supported by the housing (30) under the electrical component (13); a first projection (44C) extending above the lower surface of the electrical component (13) from one end section (44A) to a gap between the battery compartment (20) and the electrical component (13); and a second projection (44D) extending upwards from the other end section (44B) to the lower surface of the electrical component (13) and attached to the first lower support section between the electrical component (13) and the housing (30). [3] Vehicle battery pack (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing (30) comprises an upper housing (31) and a lower housing (32) which is coupled to the upper housing (31) via a connecting surface (30A), and wherein the connecting surface (30A) and the battery compartment (20) are connected to each other by a plate element (42) in a manner that crosses above the electrical component (13). [4] Vehicle battery set (10) according to claim 3, wherein the electrical component (13) comprises a substrate section (13C) in which a substrate is stored, and a power storage section (13D) which is arranged on an upper surface of the substrate section (13C) and which projects upwards, and wherein the plate element (42) includes a first plate section (42A) extending along an upper surface of the power storage section (13D), a second plate section (42B) extending along the upper surface of the substrate section (13C), and a step section (42C) forming a step in the up-down direction between the first plate section (42A) and the second plate section (42B). [5] Vehicle battery set (10) according to claim 4, wherein the power storage section (13D) is arranged at an end section of the electrical component (13), wherein the tube (50) includes a feed section (62A) which faces a side surface of the first plate section (42A) opposite the second plate section (42B), and wherein the feed section (62A) covers from a lateral side a section of the first plate section (42A) and the power storage section (13D) which is adjacent to the battery compartment (20).

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