Battery pack

Abstract

To provide a battery pack capable of realizing both of an external-force stress and a smoke elimination measurement.SOLUTION: A battery pack comprises: a plurality of battery modules; a frame-like skeleton part that is arranged onto each battery module; and an upper surface part that is arranged onto the skeleton part. The upper surface part is fixed to the skeleton part with a fixing force for cancelling a fixing to the skeleton part by a pressure when each battery module fumes.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery pack. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a battery cell housing provided with an emergency vent opening for discharging gas when a battery cell emits smoke. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2021-528296 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to achieve both external stress (stress input from the outside) and smoke exhaust measures.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a battery pack that can achieve both external force stress and smoke exhaust measures. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The battery pack according to the present disclosure comprises a plurality of battery modules, a frame-shaped skeletal portion disposed on the battery modules, and an upper surface portion disposed on the skeletal portion, and the upper surface portion is fixed to the skeletal portion with a fixing force that releases the fixation to the skeletal portion due to pressure applied when the battery modules emit smoke. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, by providing a skeletal portion for improving strength and an upper surface portion that functions as a smoke exhaust outlet in an emergency, it is possible to achieve both external force stress and smoke exhaust measures. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a battery pack according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a battery module, a skeleton, and an upper surface portion in a battery pack according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the state of a skeleton portion and an upper surface portion in a normal state in the battery pack according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state of a skeleton portion and an upper surface portion when a battery module emits smoke in a battery pack according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which a battery module in a battery pack according to an embodiment is emitting smoke. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that components in the following embodiments include those that are replaceable and easy for a person skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[0010] The battery pack according to the embodiment is used as a battery for vehicles such as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), or a battery electric vehicle (BEV).

[0011] 1, a battery pack 1 according to the embodiment includes a case 11, a battery module 12, a skeleton 13, and an upper surface portion 14. Among the components of the battery pack 1, the skeleton 13 and the upper surface portion 14 function as an upper surface protection structure that protects the upper surface of the battery module 12.

[0012] The case 11 is for housing a plurality of battery modules 12 therein.

[0013] The battery module 12 is formed by stacking a plurality of battery cells. The battery module 12 is composed of, for example, a plurality of battery cells and elastic members interposed between the battery cells.

[0014] The skeleton 13 is intended to improve the strength of the battery pack 1. The skeleton 13 is formed in a frame shape. As shown in Fig. 2, the skeleton 13 is disposed on a plurality of (here, two) battery modules 12. The skeleton 13 may be configured as an integrated frame made of a single member, or may be configured as a frame in which a plurality of members are combined with rivets or the like.

[0015] The upper surface portion 14 is for covering the upper surface of the battery module 12. The upper surface portion 14 is formed in a plate shape and is made of, for example, mica (mica plate). Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of the upper surface portions 14 (two in this example) are disposed on the skeleton portion 13.

[0016] Here, even in the conventional battery pack, an upper surface portion made of a mica plate is disposed on the battery module. This upper surface portion is provided with a smoke exhaust port for exhausting smoke when the battery module generates smoke. Therefore, the conventional battery pack has a problem that the strength and resistance (foot-stepping, heat input) of the upper surface portion are low. In addition, if a smoke exhaust port is provided on the upper surface portion, there is a risk that high-temperature gas and ejected material will fall on the battery module adjacent to the battery module that has generated smoke, accelerating chain generation of smoke.

[0017] Therefore, in the battery pack according to the embodiment, the top surface portion 14 is fixed to the skeletal portion 13 with a fixing force that releases the fixation to the skeletal portion 13 due to the pressure (stress) or temperature when the battery module 12 emits smoke. That is, as shown in Fig. 3, under normal circumstances (when the battery module 12 is not emitting smoke), the top surface portion 14 and the skeletal portion 13 are simply fixed to each other with a weak fixing force.

[0018] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, when the battery module 12 emits smoke, the upper surface portion 14 is released from the skeleton portion 13 by the gas pressure generated when the battery module 12 emits smoke. In other words, when the battery module 12 emits smoke, the upper surface portion 14 is actively caused to drop from the skeleton portion 13, thereby allowing the smoke to be smoothly exhausted. Although the upper surface portion 14 is destroyed when the battery module 12 emits smoke, the adjacent battery modules 12 can be protected from high-temperature gas and ejected material, thereby preventing chain smoke emission.

[0019] Examples of a simple method for fixing the top surface portion 14 to the skeleton portion 13 include a method of making a cut in a predetermined portion of the top surface portion 14 (the portion fixed to the skeleton portion 13) and a method of fastening the two together using a member with a weak fixing strength. Also, the necessary fixing strength may be estimated based on, for example, measurement data of the gas pressure when the battery module 12 emits smoke, the weight, area, etc. of the top surface portion 14, and the top surface portion 14 may be fixed to the skeleton portion 13 by a method that matches the estimated fixing strength.

[0020] According to the battery pack of the embodiment described above, by providing the framework 13 for improving strength and the top surface 14 that functions as a smoke exhaust outlet in an emergency, it is possible to achieve both protection against external stress and smoke exhaust measures. That is, under normal circumstances, the top surface of the battery module 12 is blocked by the top surface 14, thereby providing protection against external stress. When the battery module 12 generates smoke, the top surface 14 is released from its fixed position to release the blockage of the top surface of the battery module 12, thereby allowing smooth exhaust of smoke.

[0021] Further advantages and modifications may readily occur to those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described above. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. [Explanation of symbols]

[0022] 1 Battery pack 11 Cases 12 Battery module 13 Skeleton 14 Top part

Claims

[Claim 1] A plurality of battery modules; a frame-shaped framework disposed on the battery module; An upper surface portion disposed on the skeleton portion; Equipped with The upper surface portion of the battery pack is fixed to the skeleton with a fixing force that causes the upper surface portion to be released from the fixing force to the skeleton due to pressure generated when the battery module emits smoke.

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