Battery pack

Abstract

To provide a battery pack that can ensure impact resistance.SOLUTION: A battery pack according to the present invention includes a plurality of battery packs in which a plurality of battery cells are arranged, and a rectangular storage case having an opening on its top surface in which the plurality of battery packs are housed, and includes a connecting member in which, within the storage case, a cross-shaped partition is provided as an integral structure with the storage case, which connects opposing inner surfaces in the longitudinal direction of the storage case and connects opposing inner surfaces in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the storage case, and which spans the partition and electrically connects adjacent battery packs.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a power supply device in which an electric junction box is disposed between a plurality of batteries. In the power supply device disclosed in Patent Document 1, by disposing the electric junction box between a plurality of batteries, the distance from the electric junction box to one end of the battery assembly and the distance from the electric junction box to the other end of the battery assembly can be shortened, and therefore it is possible to prevent the length of the connection member connecting them from increasing. In addition, in the power supply device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the first battery group, the electric junction box, and the second battery group are arranged in order on a straight line. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-004323 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the power supply device disclosed in Patent Document 1 does not have any member for protecting the battery, and therefore there is a risk of the battery being damaged if subjected to an impact such as a collision.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack that can ensure impact resistance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the battery pack of the present invention is a battery pack comprising a plurality of assembled batteries in which a plurality of battery cells are arranged, and a rectangular storage case having an opening on its top surface for housing the plurality of assembled batteries, wherein within the storage case, a cross-shaped partition is provided as an integral structure with the storage case, connecting opposing inner surfaces in the longitudinal direction of the storage case and connecting opposing inner surfaces in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the storage case, and the battery pack is provided with a connecting member that electrically connects adjacent assembled batteries across the partition.

[0007] This makes it possible to improve the case rigidity against input of a load from outside the storage case during a collision compared to when the partition and the storage case are separate members, thereby ensuring impact resistance.

[0008] In the above, wire harness connection portions for electrically connecting device components to wire harnesses may be provided at both longitudinal ends of the plurality of assembled batteries.

[0009] This allows for greater freedom in the layout of the wire harness that electrically connects the battery pack (battery assembly) and the equipment components, making it possible to increase the freedom in the layout of the equipment components while suppressing increases in costs due to increases in the length of the wire harness and increases in size due to the wiring of the wire harness. Effect of the Invention

[0010] The battery pack according to the present invention has an effect of ensuring impact resistance. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a battery pack according to an embodiment, seen from above. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack shown in FIG. [Diagram 3]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a first example in which the mounting layout of device components is changed in the battery pack according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a second example in which the mounting layout of device components is changed in the battery pack according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a battery pack according to the present invention will be described below, however, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a battery pack 1 according to an embodiment, as viewed from above. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack 1 shown in Fig. 1, taken along line AA. Note that arrows Rr, UPR, and LH, as appropriate, shown in each drawing indicate the rearward direction, the upward direction, and the leftward direction of the vehicle to which the battery pack 1 according to the embodiment is applied, respectively. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the front-rear direction of the vehicle indicates the width direction of the battery pack, the left-right direction of the vehicle indicates the longitudinal direction of the battery pack, and the up-down direction of the vehicle indicates the up-down direction of the battery pack.

[0014] The battery pack 1 according to the embodiment includes a storage case 2, a plurality of a first assembled battery 3A, a second assembled battery 3B, a third assembled battery 3C, a fourth assembled battery 3D, and device components 6. In the following description, the first assembled battery 3A, the second assembled battery 3B, the third assembled battery 3C, and the fourth assembled battery 3D will be collectively referred to as the respective assembled batteries 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D, or will be simply referred to as the assembled battery 3 when no particular distinction is made.

[0015] The storage case 2 is a rectangular parallelepiped that is formed of a first side wall 20A, a second side wall 20B, a third side wall 20C, a fourth side wall 20D, a bottom plate 21, a first partition wall 22A, and a second partition wall 22B and has an opening at the top in the vertical direction of the battery pack. In the storage case 2, the first side wall 20A, the second side wall 20B, the third side wall 20C, the fourth side wall 20D, the bottom plate 21, the first partition wall 22A, and the second partition wall 22B are integrally formed. The storage case 2 is formed, for example, by aluminum die casting.

[0016] The first side wall 20A is located at one end of the battery pack in the width direction, and the second side wall 20B is located at the other end of the battery pack in the width direction. The third side wall 20C is located at one end of the battery pack in the longitudinal direction, and the fourth side wall 20D is located at the other end of the battery pack in the longitudinal direction. The first side wall 20A, the second side wall 20B, the third side wall 20C, and the fourth side wall 20D are formed to rise upward from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom plate 21.

[0017] The first partition 22A extends in the width direction of the battery pack so as to connect the inner surfaces of the first side wall 20A and the second side wall 20B facing each other. The second partition 22B extends in the longitudinal direction of the battery pack so as to connect the inner surfaces of the third side wall 20C and the fourth side wall 20D facing each other. When viewed from above in the vertical direction of the battery pack, the first partition 22A and the second partition 22B intersect to form a cross-shaped partition connecting the opposing side surfaces. The first partition 22A and the second partition 22B also function as support members that support the first side wall 20A, the second side wall 20B, the third side wall 20C, and the fourth side wall 20D in the storage case 2. The first partition 22A and the second partition 22C divide the storage case 2 into four storage sections: a first storage section 200A, a second storage section 200B, a third storage section 200C, and a fourth storage section 200D. The first storage section 200A is surrounded by the first side wall 20A, the third side wall 20C, the first partition 22A, and the second partition 22B. The second storage section 200B is surrounded by the first side wall 20A, the fourth side wall 20D, the first partition 22A, and the second partition 22B. The third storage section 200C is surrounded by the second side wall 20B, the third side wall 20C, the first partition 22A, and the second partition 22B. The fourth storage section 200D is surrounded by the second side wall 20B, the fourth side wall 20D, the first partition 22A, and the second partition 22B.

[0018] Specifically, the first storage section 200A stores a first assembled battery 3A. The second storage section 200B stores a second assembled battery 3B. The third storage section 200C stores a third assembled battery 3C. The fourth storage section 200D stores a fourth assembled battery 3D. The first storage section 200A, the second storage section 200B, the third storage section 200C, and the fourth storage section 200D store the four assembled batteries 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D through openings provided at the top of the storage case 2 in the vertical direction of the battery pack.

[0019] The first assembled battery 3A is configured by arranging a plurality of battery cells 31aA, 31bA, 31cA, 31dA, 31eA, 31fA, 31gA, 31hA, and 31iA in the longitudinal direction of the battery pack from the third side wall 20C side toward the first partition wall 22A side. In the following description, when the plurality of battery cells 31aA, 31bA, 31cA, 31dA, 31eA, 31fA, 31gA, 31hA, and 31iA are not particularly distinguished from each other, they are also simply referred to as battery cells 31A. In the first assembled battery 3A, the positive and negative terminals of adjacent battery cells 31A are electrically connected by a plurality of bus bars 4, which are connecting members. As a result, the multiple battery cells 31aA, 31bA, 31cA, 31dA, 31eA, 31fA, 31gA, 31hA, and 31iA are electrically connected in series.

[0020] Moreover, wire harness connection portions 32aA, 32bA are provided at both ends of the first assembled battery 3A in the battery pack longitudinal direction. Specifically, in the battery cell 31aA located closest to the third side wall 20C in the battery pack longitudinal direction of the first assembled battery 3A, the remaining terminal that is not electrically connected to the battery cell 31bA by the bus bar 4 is provided with a wire harness connection portion 32aA. In addition, in the battery cell 31iA located closest to the first partition wall 22A in the battery pack longitudinal direction of the first assembled battery 3A, the remaining terminal that is not electrically connected to the battery cell 31hA by the bus bar 4 is provided with a wire harness connection portion 32bA.

[0021] The second assembled battery 3B is configured by arranging a plurality of battery cells 31aB, 31bB, 31cB, 31dB, 31eB, 31fB, 31gB, 31hB, and 31iB in the longitudinal direction of the battery pack from the first partition wall 22A side toward the fourth side wall 20D side in the longitudinal direction of the battery pack. In the following description, when the plurality of battery cells 31aB, 31bB, 31cB, 31dB, 31eB, 31fB, 31gB, 31hB, and 31iB are not particularly distinguished from each other, they are simply referred to as battery cells 31B. In the second assembled battery 3B, the positive and negative terminals of adjacent battery cells 31B are electrically connected by a plurality of bus bars 4. As a result, the multiple battery cells 31aB, 31bB, 31cB, 31dB, 31eB, 31fB, 31gB, 31hB, and 31iB are electrically connected in series.

[0022] Furthermore, wire harness connection portions 32aB, 32bB are provided at both ends of the second assembled battery 3B in the battery pack longitudinal direction. Specifically, in the battery cell 31aB located closest to the first partition wall 22A in the battery pack longitudinal direction of the second assembled battery 3B, a wire harness connection portion 32aB is provided at the remaining terminal that is not electrically connected to the battery cell 31bB by the bus bar 4. In addition, in the battery cell 31iB located closest to the fourth side wall 20D in the battery pack longitudinal direction of the second assembled battery 3B, a wire harness connection portion 32bB is provided at the remaining terminal that is not electrically connected to the battery cell 31hB by the bus bar 4.

[0023] The third assembled battery 3C is configured by arranging a plurality of battery cells 31aC, 31bC, 31cC, 31dC, 31eC, 31fC, 31gC, 31hC, and 31iC in the longitudinal direction of the battery pack from the third side wall 20C side toward the first partition wall 22A side. In the following description, when the plurality of battery cells 31aC, 31bC, 31cC, 31dC, 31eC, 31fC, 31gC, 31hC, and 31iC are not particularly distinguished from each other, they are simply referred to as battery cells 31C. In the third assembled battery 3C, the positive and negative terminals of adjacent battery cells 31C are electrically connected by a plurality of bus bars 4. As a result, the multiple battery cells 31aC, 31bC, 31cC, 31dC, 31eC, 31fC, 31gC, 31hC, and 31iC are electrically connected in series.

[0024] Furthermore, wire harness connection portions 32aC, 32bC are provided at both ends of the third assembled battery 3C in the battery pack longitudinal direction. Specifically, in the battery cell 31aC located closest to the third side wall 20C in the battery pack longitudinal direction of the third assembled battery 3C, the remaining terminal that is not electrically connected to the battery cell 31bC by the bus bar 4 is provided with a wire harness connection portion 32aC. In addition, in the battery cell 31iC located closest to the first partition wall 22A in the battery pack longitudinal direction of the third assembled battery 3C, the remaining terminal that is not electrically connected to the battery cell 31hC by the bus bar 4 is provided with a wire harness connection portion 32bC.

[0025] The fourth assembled battery 3D is configured by arranging a plurality of battery cells 31aD, 31bD, 31cD, 31dD, 31eD, 31fD, 31gD, 31hD, and 31iD in the longitudinal direction of the battery pack from the first partition wall 22A side toward the fourth side wall 20D side in the longitudinal direction of the battery pack. In the following description, when the plurality of battery cells 31aD, 31bD, 31cD, 31dD, 31eD, 31fD, 31gD, 31hD, and 31iD are not particularly distinguished from each other, they are also simply referred to as battery cells 31D. In the fourth assembled battery 3D, the positive and negative terminals of adjacent battery cells 31D are electrically connected by a plurality of bus bars 4. As a result, the multiple battery cells 31aD, 31bD, 31cD, 31dD, 31eD, 31fD, 31gD, 31hD, and 31iD are electrically connected in series.

[0026] Furthermore, wire harness connection portions 32aD, 32bD are provided at both ends in the battery pack longitudinal direction of the fourth assembled battery 3D. Specifically, in the battery cell 31aD located closest to the first partition wall 22A in the battery pack longitudinal direction of the fourth assembled battery 3D, a wire harness connection portion 32aD is provided at the remaining terminal that is not electrically connected to the battery cell 31bD by the bus bar 4. In addition, in the battery cell 31iD located closest to the fourth side wall 20D in the battery pack longitudinal direction of the fourth assembled battery 3D, a wire harness connection portion 32bD is provided at the remaining terminal that is not electrically connected to the battery cell 31hD by the bus bar 4.

[0027] In the battery pack 1 according to the embodiment, a wire harness connection portion 32aA provided on a battery cell 31aA of the first assembled battery 3A and a wire harness connection portion 32aC provided on a battery cell 31aC of the third assembled battery 3C are electrically connected by a wire harness 5A across the second partition wall 22B.

[0028] Furthermore, in the battery pack 1 according to the embodiment, the wire harness connection portion 32bA provided on the battery cell 31iA of the first assembled battery 3A and the wire harness connection portion 32aB provided on the battery cell 31aB of the second assembled battery 3B are electrically connected by a wire harness 5B across the first partition 22A.

[0029] Furthermore, in the battery pack 1 according to the embodiment, the wire harness connection portion 32bC provided on the battery cell 31iC of the third assembled battery 3C and the wire harness connection portion 32aD provided on the battery cell 31aD of the fourth assembled battery 3D are electrically connected by a wire harness 5C across the first partition 22A.

[0030] The equipment component 6 includes a system main relay and other electric components. One of the positive and negative terminals of the equipment component 6 is electrically connected to a wire harness connection portion 32bB provided on a battery cell 31iB of the second assembled battery 3B by a wire harness 5D across the fourth side wall 20D. The other of the positive and negative terminals of the equipment component 6 is electrically connected to a wire harness connection portion 32bD provided on a battery cell 31iD of the fourth assembled battery 3D by a wire harness 5E across the fourth side wall 20D.

[0031] In the battery pack 1 according to the embodiment, wire harness connection parts 32 for electrically connecting the device components 6 via the wire harness 5 are provided at both ends of each of the assembled batteries 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D in the battery pack longitudinal direction. This increases the degree of freedom in handling the wire harness 5 that electrically connects the battery pack 1 (assembled battery 3) and the device components 6. Therefore, in the battery pack 1 according to the embodiment, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in the mounting layout of the device components 6 while suppressing an increase in cost due to an increase in the length of the wire harness 5 and an increase in the size due to the handling of the wire harness.

[0032] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a first example of a modified mounting layout of device components 6 in a battery pack 1 according to an embodiment. In the battery pack 1 shown in Fig. 3, the mounting layout is such that the device components 6 are arranged in the width direction of the battery pack 1.

[0033] In the battery pack 1 shown in FIG. 3, the wire harness connection portion 32bB provided on the battery cell 31iB of the second assembled battery 3B and the wire harness connection portion 32bD provided on the battery cell 31iD of the fourth assembled battery 3D, which were electrically connected to the device component 6 in the battery pack 1 shown in FIG. 1, are electrically connected by a wire harness 5F across the second partition wall 22B.

[0034] One of the positive and negative terminals of the device component 6 is electrically connected to the wire harness connection portion 32bC provided on the battery cell 31iC of the third assembled battery 3C by the wire harness 5G across the second side wall 20B. The other of the positive and negative terminals of the device component 6 is electrically connected to the wire harness connection portion 32aD provided on the battery cell 31aD of the fourth assembled battery 3D by the wire harness 5H across the second side wall 20B. This allows the lengths of the wire harnesses 5G and 5H to be shorter in the battery pack 1 shown in FIG. 3 than when the device component 6 is electrically connected to the wire harness connection portion 32bB and the wire harness connection portion 32bD as in the battery pack 1 shown in FIG. 1.

[0035] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a second example of a modified mounting layout of the device components 6 in the battery pack 1 according to the embodiment. In the battery pack 1 shown in Fig. 4, the mounting layout is such that the device components 6 are disposed on the battery pack 1.

[0036] In the battery pack 1 shown in FIG. 4, the wire harness connection portion 32bB provided on the battery cell 31iB of the second assembled battery 3B and the wire harness connection portion 32bD provided on the battery cell 31iD of the fourth assembled battery 3D, which were electrically connected to the device component 6 in the battery pack 1 shown in FIG. 1, are electrically connected by a wire harness 5F across the second partition wall 22B.

[0037] One of the positive and negative terminals of the device component 6 is electrically connected to the wire harness connection portion 32bA provided on the battery cell 31iA of the first assembled battery 3A by the wire harness 5I across the first side wall 20A. The other of the positive and negative terminals of the device component 6 is electrically connected to the wire harness connection portion 32aB provided on the battery cell 31aB of the second assembled battery 3B by the wire harness 5J across the first side wall 20A. This allows the lengths of the wire harnesses 5I and 5J to be shorter in the battery pack 1 shown in FIG. 4 than when the device component 6 is electrically connected to the wire harness connection portion 32bB and the wire harness connection portion 32bD as in the battery pack 1 shown in FIG. 1.

[0038] In the battery pack 1 according to the embodiment, the storage case 2 has a cross-shaped partition formed by intersecting the first partition 22A and the second partition 22B, which is integral with the first side wall 20A, the second side wall 20B, the third side wall 20C, the fourth side wall 20D, and the bottom plate 21. This improves the case rigidity against input of a load F as shown in FIG. 1 from the outside of the storage case 2 during a collision, as compared with a case in which the cross-shaped partition (the first partition 22A and the second partition 22B) and the storage case 2 (the first side wall 20A, the second side wall 20B, the third side wall 20C, the fourth side wall 20D, and the bottom plate 21) are separate members, and therefore ensures impact resistance.

[0039] In the battery pack 1 according to the embodiment, each of the assembled batteries 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D may be composed of a plurality of battery cells 31, a plurality of separators provided between adjacent battery cells 31, and a pair of end plates provided at both ends of the assembled battery 3. In the battery pack 1 according to the embodiment, a bus bar may be used instead of a wire harness as a connection member that electrically connects adjacent assembled batteries 3 across the first partition 22A or the second partition 22B. In the battery pack 1 according to the embodiment, a wire harness may be used instead of a bus bar as a connection member that electrically connects the positive terminals and negative terminals of adjacent battery cells 31. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1 Battery pack 2 Storage Case 3A first set battery 3B Second assembled battery 3C third assembled battery 3D 4th assembled battery 4 Busbars 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 5E, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5I, 5J Wire harness 6. Equipment parts 20A First side wall 20B Second side wall 20C Third side wall 20D Fourth side wall 21 Bottom plate 22A First bulkhead 22B Second bulkhead 31 Battery Cell 32aA, 32bA, 32aB, 32bB, 32aC, 32bC, 32aD, 32bD Wire harness connection

Claims

1. A plurality of assembled batteries each including a plurality of battery cells arranged therein; a rectangular parallelepiped storage case having an opening on an upper surface thereof for storing the plurality of assembled batteries; A battery pack comprising: a cross-shaped partition wall is provided in the storage case as an integral structure, the cross-shaped partition wall connecting inner surfaces facing each other in a longitudinal direction of the storage case and connecting inner surfaces facing each other in a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the storage case; a connecting member that electrically connects adjacent assembled batteries to each other across the partition wall, the connecting member being provided between the adjacent assembled batteries;

2. a wiring harness connection portion for electrically connecting the plurality of assembled batteries to an equipment component via a wiring harness, the wiring harness connection portion being provided at both longitudinal ends of the plurality of assembled batteries;

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