Lithium battery pack for wheelchair and medical mobility aid device

Abstract

To provide a lithium battery pack for a wheelchair and a medical mobility aid device.SOLUTION: A lithium battery pack for a portable wheelchair and a medical driving aid device includes a battery module in which a plurality of cylindrical batteries are arranged in horizontal and vertical directions, an insulating case that fixes the battery module and covers the battery module so that the battery module can be insulated, and a battery case that is injection-molded from aluminum material and has excellent heat dissipation performance. The insulating case that covers the battery module is allowed to be detachably inserted and fastened into the battery case, thereby making it easy to mount the lithium battery pack in various driving aid devices such as medical electric scooters and medical electric wheelchairs.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lithium battery pack for wheelchairs and medical driving assistance devices, and more particularly to a lithium battery pack for wheelchairs and medical driving assistance devices that can be easily used in various driving assistance devices such as medical electric scooters or medical electric wheelchairs. [Background technology]

[0002] In general, a secondary battery is a battery that can be charged and discharged. In the case of a battery for driving a motor of an electric vehicle, a large-capacity secondary battery is used that is modularized by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series or in parallel.

[0003] The secondary battery is manufactured in a modular structure in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked and housed in a case, and the battery cells are electrically connected to each other, which may result in overcharging, over-discharging, overcurrent, heat generation, and the like.

[0004] Therefore, a cooling device for cooling the battery cells must be installed inside and outside the case.

[0005] Currently used cooling methods for electric vehicle batteries can be roughly divided into air-cooling and water-cooling.

[0006] The water-cooling method is a method in which a heat sink or the like is provided inside a battery case and cooling water is circulated around the heat sink, and multiple battery cells can be cooled by the heat sink cooled by the cooling water.

[0007] However, in a conventional water-cooled cooling device, a heat sink or a cooling water circulation tube can be easily installed when rectangular or pouch-type battery cells are stacked, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the battery cells. However, when multiple cylindrical batteries are stacked, it is difficult to apply the water-cooled cooling device, and there is a problem that it is difficult to uniformly cool the multiple cylindrical batteries. In particular, since it must be connected to a cooling water supply source, there is a problem that it is inconvenient to carry. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned problems in the related art, and has an object to provide a lithium battery pack for portable wheelchairs and medical driving assistance devices, which includes a battery module in which a plurality of cylindrical batteries are arranged in horizontal and vertical directions, an insulating case that fixes the battery module and covers it to be insulated, and a battery case that is injection molded from an aluminum material and has excellent heat dissipation performance, and the insulating case that covers the battery module can be detachably inserted and fastened into the battery case, so that the battery pack can be easily installed in various driving assistance devices such as a medical electric scooter or a medical electric wheelchair. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a lithium battery pack for wheelchairs and medical driving assistance devices, comprising: a battery module in which a plurality of cylindrical batteries are arranged in horizontal and vertical directions; an insulation case fastened to an upper, lower and peripheral portion of the battery module so as to be insulative; a battery case injection molded from an aluminum material so that the battery module and the insulation case fastened to the battery module can be detachably inserted and fastened; a front cover attached to a front portion of the battery case with the battery module and the insulation case inserted and fastened into the battery case; and a connector attached to a predetermined position of the front cover for charging and discharging the battery module.

[0010] The battery module includes a plurality of battery trays each having a plurality of battery insertion portions, and a plurality of cylindrical batteries inserted and fastened into the battery insertion portions of each battery tray, and when inserted and fastened into the battery case, the cylindrical batteries inserted into the battery insertion portions of each battery tray are spaced apart from each other to form an air passage.

[0011] Preferably, an air inflow hole is formed at a predetermined position of the battery case to allow air to flow into the air passage.

[0012] The insulating case includes an upper plate having a structure in which a plurality of upper heat dissipation holes are formed to communicate between an upper plate portion of the battery case and the battery module and in close contact with an upper portion of the battery module, a lower plate having a structure in which a plurality of lower heat dissipation holes are formed to communicate between a lower plate portion of the battery case and the battery module and in close contact with a bottom portion of the battery module, and vertical connecting bars connected between four corners of the upper plate and the lower plate.

[0013] In particular, step blocks having a right-angled cross section for accommodating and supporting battery modules of different sizes are formed at four corner positions of an upper surface of the upper plate and at four corner positions of a bottom surface of the lower plate, and the four corner portions of the battery modules are supported in close contact with one or other surface of the step blocks.

[0014] The battery case is characterized in that two or more rail portions recessed inward are formed on the upper and lower plate portions, and the upper and lower plates are formed with slide protrusions that slidably fit in contact with one side of the rail portions.

[0015] Alternatively, a plurality of heat dissipation pins may be protruded from the inner surfaces of the upper and lower plate portions of the battery case, and the upper and lower plates may be formed with slide protrusions that are slidably connected to or in close contact with the heat dissipation pins.

[0016] Preferably, the front cover is provided with a handle for easy portability.

[0017] The battery pack of the present invention further includes a bus bar that is conductively connected to the battery module and installed in a front space of the battery case, and a battery control board that is conductively connected to the bus bar and controls discharging battery power via the connector or controls charging power input via the connector to the battery module. Effect of the Invention

[0018] By solving the above problems, the present invention provides the following effects.

[0019] First, by covering the battery module with an insulating case and enabling it to be detachably inserted and fastened into a battery case that is injection molded from an aluminum material, the battery module can be air-cooled and repair and maintenance of the battery module can be easily performed.

[0020] Second, the heat generated in the battery module is directly released to the outside through the aluminum battery case, maximizing the heat dissipation effect of the battery pack.

[0021] Third, since the battery pack can be mounted in a rechargeable and dischargeable manner on various driving assistance devices such as a medical electric scooter or a medical electric wheelchair, the battery pack can be carried around and used conveniently. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a lithium battery pack for wheelchairs and medical mobility aids according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a lithium battery pack for a wheelchair and a medical driving assistance device according to the present invention; [Diagram 3] 1 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing that battery modules of different sizes are installed inside an insulating case in a lithium battery pack for wheelchairs and medical mobility aids according to the present invention; FIG. [Figure 4] 1 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing that battery modules of different sizes are installed inside an insulating case in a lithium battery pack for wheelchairs and medical mobility aids according to the present invention; FIG. [Diagram 5] 1 is a plan sectional view showing a lithium battery pack for wheelchairs and medical mobility aids according to the present invention, in which battery modules of different sizes are provided inside an insulating case. FIG. [Figure 6]1 is a plan sectional view showing a lithium battery pack for wheelchairs and medical mobility aids according to the present invention, in which battery modules of different sizes are provided inside an insulating case. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a coupling structure between a battery case and an insulating case of a lithium battery pack for wheelchairs and medical driving assistance devices according to the present invention; [Figure 8] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a coupling structure between a battery case and an insulating case of a lithium battery pack for wheelchairs and medical driving assistance devices according to the present invention; [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view showing air cooling for a battery module of a lithium battery pack for wheelchairs and medical mobility aids according to the present invention. [Figure 10] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing only one battery module in a lithium battery pack for wheelchairs and medical mobility aids according to the present invention; FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a structure in which a cylindrical battery is air-cooled in the lithium battery pack for wheelchairs and medical mobility aids according to the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] 1 and 2 are perspective views showing a lithium battery pack for wheelchairs and medical mobility aids according to the present invention, in which reference numeral 30 denotes a battery case.

[0025] The battery case 30 is manufactured as a rectangular parallelepiped structure having an internal volume for accommodating the battery module 10 and the insulating case 20, and in particular, the battery case 30 is injection molded from an aluminum material having excellent thermal conductivity in order to easily release heat generated in the battery module 10 to the outside.

[0026] The battery module 10 is inserted and fastened inside the battery case 30 while being wrapped in the insulating case 20 .

[0027] To this end, the battery module 10 includes a plurality of battery trays 14 having a plurality of battery insertion portions 13, and a plurality of cylindrical batteries 12 inserted and fastened into the battery insertion portions 13 of each battery tray 14, as shown in detail in FIG.

[0028] Here, when the battery module 10 is inserted and fastened in the battery case 30, the cylindrical batteries 12 inserted into the battery insertion portions 13 of the battery trays 14 may be spaced apart from each other to form air passages 15.

[0029] More specifically, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, when each cylindrical battery 12 is inserted into the battery tray 14, the cooling pins 16 are closely arranged between each cylindrical battery 12, and the cooling tubes 17 having air passages 15 are inserted into the cooling pins 16 so as to pass therethrough.

[0030] Preferably, an air inflow hole 33 is formed at a predetermined position of the battery case 30 so that air can flow into the air passage 15.

[0031] Therefore, the air that flows into the inside of the battery case 30 through the air inlet hole 33 of the battery case 30 passes through the air passage 15 of the cooling tube 17, and the air passing through the air passage 15 of the cooling tube 17 cools the cooling pins 16 and also cools the cylindrical battery 12. As a result, air cooling of the cylindrical battery 12 can be easily achieved.

[0032] Meanwhile, an insulating case 20 is insulatively fastened to the upper, lower and peripheral parts of the battery module 10 to insulate the battery case 30 made of a conductive aluminum material.

[0033] To this end, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the insulating case 20 includes an upper plate 22 closely contacting the upper portion of the battery module 10, a lower plate 24 closely contacting the bottom portion of the battery module 10, and vertical connecting bars 25 connected between the four corners of the upper plate 22 and the lower plate 24.

[0034] Here, the upper plate 22 has a structure in which a plurality of upper heat dissipation holes 21 for communicating between the upper plate portion 31 of the battery case 30 and the battery module 10 are formed therethrough, and is closely attached to the upper portion of the battery module 10.

[0035] In addition, the lower plate 24 has a structure in which a plurality of lower heat dissipation holes 23 are formed to communicate between the lower plate portion 32 of the battery case 30 and the battery module 10, and is closely attached to the bottom of the battery module 10.

[0036] With the insulating case 20 fastened to the battery module 10 configured as above, the battery module 10 and the insulating case 20 may be inserted and fastened into a battery case 30 that is injection molded from an aluminum material.

[0037] Therefore, the upper plate 22 of the insulating case 20 provides insulation between the upper plate 31 of the battery case 30 and the battery module 10, and heat generated in the battery module 10 is conducted to the battery case 30 through a plurality of upper heat dissipation holes 21 formed in the upper plate 22, so that the heat conducted to the battery case 30 can be easily released to the outside.

[0038] Similarly, the lower plate 24 of the insulating case 20 provides insulation between the lower plate 32 of the battery case 30 and the battery module 10, and heat generated in the battery module 10 is conducted to the battery case 30 through a plurality of lower heat dissipation holes 23 formed in the lower plate 24, so that the heat conducted to the battery case 30 can be easily released to the outside.

[0039] Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 7 , the upper plate 31 and the lower plate 32 of the battery case 30 are formed with two or more rail portions 34 recessed inward, and the upper plate 22 and the lower plate 24 of the insulation case 20 may be formed with a slide protrusion 27 that is slidably attached to one side of the rail portions 34.

[0040] Therefore, when the battery module 10 and the insulation case 20 are inserted and fastened inside the battery case 30, the slide protrusions 27 formed on the upper plate 22 and the lower plate 24 of the insulation case 20 can move linearly while making sliding contact with the rail portions 34 formed on the upper plate portion 31 and the lower plate portion 32 of the battery case 30, so that the battery module 10 and the insulation case 20 can be accurately inserted and fastened inside the battery case 30 in a certain direction.

[0041] Alternatively, referring to FIG. 8, a plurality of heat dissipation pins 35 may be protruded from the inner surfaces of the upper plate portion 31 and the lower plate portion 32 of the battery case 30, and the upper plate 22 and the lower plate 24 may be formed with slide protrusions 27 that are slidably connected to or in close contact with the heat dissipation pins 35.

[0042] Therefore, when the battery module 10 and the insulation case 20 are inserted and fastened inside the battery case 30, the slide protrusions 27 formed on the upper plate 22 and the lower plate 24 of the insulation case 20 can move linearly while making sliding contact with the heat dissipation pins 35 formed on the upper plate portion 31 and the lower plate portion 32 of the battery case 30, so that the battery module 10 and the insulation case 20 can be accurately inserted and fastened inside the battery case 30 in a certain direction.

[0043] 3 to 6, right-angled step blocks 26 for accommodating and supporting battery modules 10 of different sizes are protruded at four corner positions of an upper surface of the upper plate 22 of the insulation case 20 and at four corner positions of a bottom surface of the lower plate 24 of the insulation case 20.

[0044] Therefore, the four corners of the battery modules 10 having different sizes can be supported in close contact with one surface or the other surface of the step block 26 .

[0045] For example, in the case of a battery module 10 having a relatively short overall length in the front-rear direction but a relatively long overall width in the left-right direction as shown in Figures 3 and 5, the battery module 10 may be supported in close contact with one surface of the step block 26 formed on the upper plate 22 and the lower plate 24. Meanwhile, in the case of a battery module 10 having a relatively long overall length in the front-rear direction but a relatively short overall width in the left-right direction as shown in Figures 4 and 6, the battery module 10 may be supported in close contact with the other surface of the step block 26 formed on the upper plate 22 and the lower plate 24.

[0046] In this manner, the four corners of the battery modules 10 having different sizes can be supported in close contact with one side or the other side of the step blocks 26 formed on the upper plate 22 and the lower plate 24, and as a result, the battery modules 10 of different sizes can be stably fixed within a single insulating case 20.

[0047] Meanwhile, with the battery module 10 and the insulating case 20 inserted and fastened into the battery case 30, a front cover 40 is attached to the front part of the battery case 30 to seal the inside.

[0048] A connector 41 for charging and discharging the battery module 10 is attached to a predetermined position of the front cover 40, and a handle 42 for carrying is attached to the outer surface of the front cover 40.

[0049] Here, in the front space of the battery case 30, a bus bar 43 that is conductively connected to the battery module 10 and serves as a charge / discharge path, and a battery control board 44 for controlling the charge / discharge of the battery are installed.

[0050] Preferably, the battery control board 44 is conductively connected to the bus bar 43 and is configured to control the discharging of battery power through the connector 41 or to control the charging of the battery module 10 with charging power input from the connector 41.

[0051] The battery pack of the present invention configured as described above can be mounted on various driving assistance devices such as a medical electric scooter or a medical electric wheelchair.

[0052] Therefore, by controlling the discharge of the battery control board 44, the power for driving the driving assistance device can be discharged from the battery module 10 to the connector 41 via the bus bar 43.

[0053] Here, even if heat is generated in the battery module 10, the heat is conducted to the battery case 30 through a plurality of upper heat dissipation holes 21 formed in the upper plate 22 and a plurality of lower heat dissipation holes 23 formed in the lower plate 24, and can then be easily released to the outside of the battery case 30.

[0054] Furthermore, the air that has flowed into the battery case 30 through the air inflow hole 33 of the battery case 30 passes through the air passage 15 and can easily air-cool the cylindrical batteries 12, thereby maintaining and improving the performance of the battery module.

[0055] As described above, the battery module 10 is covered with the insulating case 20 and can be detachably inserted and fastened into the battery case 30 injection-molded from an aluminum material, thereby allowing the battery module 10 to be air-cooled and easy to charge and discharge, repair and maintenance of the battery module 10. Therefore, the battery pack of the present invention can be easily carried and conveniently used by being mounted in various driving assistance devices such as a medical electric scooter or a medical electric wheelchair in a chargeable and dischargeable manner. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 10 Battery Module 12 Battery Tray 13 Battery Insertion 14 Cylindrical battery 15 Air passage 16 Cooling pin 17 Cooling tube 20 Insulating case 21 Upper heat dissipation hole 22 Upper Plate 23 Lower heat dissipation hole 24 Lower Plate 25 Vertical Connecting Bar 26 Step Block 27 Slide protrusion 30 Battery case 31 Upper plate 32 Lower plate part 33 Air inlet hole 34 Rail section 35 Heat sink pin 40 Front cover 41 Connector 42 Handle 43 Busbar 44 Battery control board

Claims

1. A lithium battery pack for a chair and a medical mobility aid, comprising: A battery module in which a plurality of cylindrical batteries are arranged along horizontal and vertical directions; an insulating case fastened to an upper portion, a lower portion and a periphery of the battery module so as to be insulated; a battery case that is injection molded from an aluminum material so that the battery module and an insulating case fastened to the battery module can be detachably inserted and fastened to the battery module; a front cover attached to a front portion of the battery case when the battery module and the insulating case are inserted and fastened into the battery case; a connector attached to a predetermined position of the front cover for charging and discharging the battery module; A lithium battery pack comprising:

2. the battery module includes a plurality of battery trays each having a plurality of battery insertion portions, and a plurality of cylindrical batteries each inserted and fastened to the battery insertion portions of the battery trays, When the cylindrical batteries are inserted and fastened in the battery case, the cylindrical batteries inserted in the battery inserting portions of the battery trays are spaced apart from each other to form air passages, 2. The lithium battery pack according to claim 1, wherein cooling pins are closely arranged between the cylindrical batteries, and a cooling tube having an air passage is inserted into the cooling pins so as to pass therethrough.

3. 3. The lithium battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the battery case has an air inlet hole formed at a predetermined position thereof for allowing air to flow into the air passage.

4. The insulating case is an upper plate having a structure in which a plurality of upper heat dissipation holes are formed to communicate between an upper plate portion of the battery case and the battery module, the upper plate being in close contact with an upper portion of the battery module; a lower plate having a structure in which a plurality of lower heat dissipation holes are formed to communicate between a lower plate portion of the battery case and the battery module, the lower plate being in close contact with a bottom of the battery module; a vertical connection bar connected between four corners of the upper plate and the lower plate; 2. The lithium battery pack according to claim 1, comprising:

5. 5. The lithium battery pack of claim 4, wherein right-angled step blocks for accommodating and supporting battery modules of different sizes are protruded from four corner positions of an upper surface of the upper plate and four corner positions of a bottom surface of the lower plate, and the four corner portions of the battery modules are supported by being in close contact with one surface or the other surface of the step blocks.

6. 5. The lithium battery pack according to claim 4, wherein the upper and lower plates of the battery case are formed with two or more rail portions recessed inward, and the upper and lower plates are formed with slide protrusions slidably attached to one side of the rail portions.

7. 5. The lithium battery pack according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of heat radiation pins are protruded from inner surfaces of the upper and lower plates of the battery case, and the upper and lower plates are formed with slide protrusions that are slidably coupled to or in close contact with the heat radiation pins.

8. 2. The lithium battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the front cover is provided with a handle for easy carrying.

9. a bus bar electrically connected to the battery module and installed in a front space of the battery case; a battery control board that is conductively connected to the bus bar and controls discharging battery power through the connector or controls charging the battery module with charging power input through the connector; 2. The lithium battery pack of claim 1, further comprising:

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