Battery pack structure

Abstract

To provide a battery pack structure capable of preventing the intrusion of wire-like foreign objects without adding extra parts (brackets, etc.) unlike a conventional example.SOLUTION: There is provided a battery pack structure in which a plurality of battery cells 4 and a live part 5 are accommodated in an internal space 3 formed by a lower case 1 and an upper case 2. A step wall part 12 is provided in an upper side region of an upward facing vertical outer wall 11 of the lower case 1, the step wall part retreating to the inner side than a portion other than the upper side region in the vertical outer wall 11. A lower side region of a downward facing vertical outer wall 21 of the upper cover 2 is set to be fitted to the outside of the step wall part 12 of the lower case 1 through a gap. In a state where the upper cover 2 is fitted to the lower case 1, the outer face of the upper cover 2 in the lower side region is set to be flush with the outer face of a lower side portion than the step wall part 12 on the vertical outer wall 11 of the lower case 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 states that "it is equipped with a bracket that crosses the path connecting the gap between the front end face of the upper cover and the front end face of the lower case and the plurality of battery cells, and prevents wire-like foreign objects from entering through the gap." [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6477366 (JP 2017-50121) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, a bracket is added to prevent the intrusion of wire-like foreign objects, which raises concerns about increased product costs and mass.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack structure capable of preventing the intrusion of wire-like foreign objects without adding extra parts (such as brackets) as in the conventional example. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is a battery pack structure in which a plurality of battery cells and live parts are stored in an internal space created by a lower case and an upper cover, wherein an upper region of the upward vertical outer wall of the lower case is provided with a step wall portion that is recessed inward further than portions of the vertical outer wall other than the upper region, and a lower region of the downward vertical outer wall of the upper cover is configured to fit into the outside of the step wall portion of the lower case via a gap, and when the upper cover is fitted into the lower case, the outer surface of the lower region of the upper cover is configured to be flush with the outer surface of the portion of the vertical outer wall of the lower case lower than the step wall portion.

[0007] According to this configuration, an upward gap is provided along both vertical outer walls between the upper region of the upward vertical outer wall of the lower case and the lower region of the downward vertical outer wall of the upper cover, making it difficult for, for example, conductive wire-like foreign objects to enter through this gap.

[0008] Even if it were possible to insert a conductive wire-like foreign object from the outer opening of the gap, when the tip of the wire-like foreign object protrudes from the inner opening of the gap, it will abut against the inner surface of the ceiling of the upper cover, and will not be able to penetrate into the internal space beyond that (the space formed by the lower case and the upper cover).

[0009] This makes it possible to prevent the conductive wire-like foreign object from coming into contact with the live portion. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a battery pack structure capable of preventing the intrusion of wire-like foreign objects without adding extra parts (such as brackets) as in the conventional example. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a battery pack structure according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the battery pack structure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0013] One embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 1 to 3. The battery pack structure shown in the figures is a structure in which a plurality of battery cells 4 and live parts 5 are housed in an internal space 3 formed by a lower case 1 and an upper cover 2.

[0014] An upper cover 2 is placed over the upper opening of the lower case 1. The live part 5 refers to a conductive part intended to conduct electricity during normal use, such as the part where the terminals of the wire harness are present in a junction box (a part where multiple wire harnesses are gathered) or the outer periphery of a battery cell 4, as shown by the dashed dotted line in Fig. 1.

[0015] The upper region of the upwardly facing vertical outer wall 11 of the lower case 1 is provided with a stepped wall portion 12 which is recessed inward from the remaining portion of the vertical outer wall 11 other than the upper region.

[0016] The stepped wall portion 12 includes an inclined portion 13 and an inverted portion 14. The inclined portion 13 is in a position where it is tilted diagonally inward from the upper end of the upward vertical outer wall 11 of the lower case 1. The inverted portion 14 is in a position where it is raised vertically from the upper end of the inclined portion 13.

[0017] The lower region of the downward vertical outer wall 21 of the upper cover 2 is set to be fitted to the outside of the stepped wall portion 12 of the lower case 1 via a gap 6. This gap 6 has a labyrinth shape that curves from bottom to top.

[0018] When the upper cover 2 is fitted to the lower case 1, the outer surface of the lower region of the upper cover 2 is set to be flush with the outer surface of the portion of the vertical outer wall 11 of the lower case 1 below the stepped wall portion 12.

[0019] In such a battery pack structure, an upward gap 6 along the vertical direction is provided between the opposing upper region of the upward vertical outer wall 11 of the lower case 1 and the lower region of the downward vertical outer wall 21 of the upper cover 2, making it difficult to insert a conductive wire-like foreign object 7 from the outer opening of the gap 6.

[0020] Even if it were possible to insert a conductive wire-like foreign object 7 from the outer opening of gap 6, as shown in Figure 3, when the tip of wire-like foreign object 7 protrudes from the inner opening of gap 6, it will abut against the inner surface of the ceiling of upper cover 2, and will not be able to penetrate beyond that into the internal space 3 (the space formed by lower case 1 and upper cover 2).

[0021] This makes it possible to prevent the conductive wire-like foreign object 7 from coming into contact with the live part 5 housed in the internal space 3.

[0022] As described above, according to the embodiment to which the present invention is applied, it is possible to prevent the intrusion of wire-like foreign matter 7 without adding extra parts (such as brackets) as in the conventional example.

[0023] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the claims and a range equivalent to the claims.

[0024] (1) In the above embodiment, the upper end of the stepped wall portion 12 of the lower case 1 can be bent further rearward at right angles. In this case, the gap 6 becomes a labyrinth shape with more complex bends, so that it is possible to reliably prevent the intrusion of wire-like foreign objects through the gap 6. [Industrial Applicability]

[0025] The present invention can be suitably used in a battery pack structure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0026] 1 Lower case 11 Vertical exterior wall 12 Step wall section 13 Slope 14 Inverted section 2 Top cover 21 Vertical exterior wall 3. Interior space 4 Battery Cells 5 Live power section 6. Gap 7 Wire-like foreign body

Claims

[Claim 1] A battery pack structure in which a plurality of battery cells and live parts are housed in an internal space formed by a lower case and an upper cover, a stepped wall portion is provided in an upper region of an upwardly facing vertical outer wall of the lower case, the stepped wall portion being recessed inward from a portion of the vertical outer wall other than the upper region, a lower region of a downwardly facing vertical outer wall of the upper cover is set to be fitted to an outer side of a stepped wall portion of the lower case via a gap; A battery pack structure characterized in that, when the upper cover is fitted to the lower case, the outer surface of the lower area of ​​the upper cover is set to be flush with the outer surface of the portion of the vertical outer wall of the lower case that is lower than the step wall portion.

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