Battery module

Abstract

To inhibit short circuits of a battery when an impact is input.SOLUTION: A battery module 10 includes: a cell stack 16 in which electric power is accumulated; a first conductor part 18 connected to the cell stack 16 side; a second conductor part 20 connected to the inverter 12 side; and a third conductor part 22 which contacts with the first conductor part 18 and the second conductor part 20 to connect the first conductor part 18 with the second conductor part 20. Further, the battery module 10 includes a blocking part 26 having a plunger 40 which is displaced by a load input from the outside and separates the third conductor part 22 from the first conductor part 18 and the second conductor part 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses a battery pack for mounting on a vehicle. The battery pack for mounting on a vehicle described in this document includes a battery tray having a floor portion arranged under the floor of the vehicle, and a right frame and a left frame. The battery tray also includes a battery arrangement region on which a battery module is placed, and a right shock absorbing region and a left shock absorbing region. The right shock absorbing region and the left shock absorbing region are provided on the outer side of the battery arrangement region in the vehicle width direction. The right frame and the left frame are formed to be thinner than the right shock absorbing region and the left shock absorbing region, respectively. Furthermore, a deformable portion is formed in the lower part of the right shock absorbing region and the left shock absorbing region. In this configuration, when a load (collision load) due to a side collision is input, the shock absorbing region on the side where the collision load is input deforms downward, and the side frame (right frame and left frame) on the side where the collision load is input deforms, thereby absorbing the impact energy. The shock absorbing region is formed to be thicker than the side frame. Therefore, deformation of the impact absorbing area due to the collision load can be minimized to the extent that the battery module can be protected, which protects the battery module and eliminates the need to reinforce the vehicle pack more than necessary, thereby making it possible to reduce the weight of the vehicle pack. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-111787 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, although the configuration described in Patent Document 1 is useful from the viewpoint of protecting the battery module from impact, there is room for improvement in terms of preventing a short circuit in the battery when an impact is applied.

[0005] In consideration of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module that can suppress short-circuiting of the battery when an impact is applied. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The battery module of the first embodiment includes a battery in which power is stored, a first conductor portion connected to the battery side, a second conductor portion connected to an electrical equipment side, a third conductor portion that connects the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion by contacting the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion, and an interrupter having a pressing portion that is displaced when an external load is input to separate the third conductor portion from the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion.

[0007] In the battery module of the first aspect, when the third conductor portion is in contact with the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion, the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion are connected via the third conductor portion. This allows the power stored in the battery to be supplied to the electric device. Also, the power on the electric device side can be stored in the battery. Here, when an impact is applied to the electromagnetic module and a load is input to the pressing portion of the interrupter, the pressing portion is displaced. This causes the pressing portion to separate the third conductor portion from the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion. As a result, the connection between the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion via the third conductor portion is interrupted, and the battery can be prevented from being short-circuited. Effect of the Invention

[0008] The battery module according to the present invention has the excellent effect of being able to prevent a short circuit in the battery when an impact is applied. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a battery module according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a schematic cross section of the battery module of the first embodiment taken along a portion corresponding to a terminal block. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a battery module according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, showing a state in which the plunger is pushed into the cell stack. [Diagram 5] 6 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates a cross section of a battery module according to a second embodiment taken along a portion corresponding to a terminal block. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 5, showing a state in which the plunger is pushed into the cell stack. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a battery module according to a third embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] (First embodiment) 1 shows a battery module 10 according to a first embodiment. The battery module 10 is mounted under a floor of a vehicle, for example. The battery module 10 is connected to an inverter 12, which is an electric device, via wiring 14, for example. This makes it possible to supply power from the battery module 10 to the inverter 12, and also makes it possible to store power from the inverter 12 in the battery module 10.

[0011] 2 and 3, the battery module 10 includes a cell stack 16 as a battery for storing power, a plurality of conductor parts (first conductor part 18, second conductor part 20, third conductor part 22, etc.) that connect the cell stack 16 and the wiring 14, and a terminal block 24 that supports the plurality of conductor parts. The battery module 10 also includes a cutoff part 26 that cuts off the electrical connection between the cell stack 16 and the wiring 14 when an impact is applied to the battery module 10.

[0012] 3, the cell stack 16 constitutes a battery body that stores electric power, and is configured by stacking a number of cells and connecting them in a predetermined wiring state. The cell stack 16 is stored inside a box-shaped stack case 28.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal block 24 is formed in a box shape using an insulating material such as a resin material. In FIG. 2, hatching of the cross section is omitted for ease of viewing. Specifically, the terminal block 24 includes a rear wall portion 24A disposed on the cell stack 16 side, and an upper wall portion 24B that bends and extends from an end portion of the rear wall portion 24A on the vehicle upper side toward the opposite side to the cell stack 16. The terminal block 24 also includes a lower wall portion 24C that bends and extends from an end portion of the rear wall portion 24A on the vehicle lower side toward the opposite side to the cell stack 16. The terminal block 24 also includes a front wall portion 24D that connects an end portion of the upper wall portion 24B on the opposite side to the rear wall portion 24A and an end portion of the lower wall portion 24C on the opposite side to the rear wall portion 24A in the vehicle up-down direction. As a result, a storage space 30 is formed between the front wall 24D, the rear wall 24A, the upper wall 24B, and the lower wall 24C in which a plurality of conductors (first conductor 18, second conductor 20, third conductor 22) described below are stored. The terminal block 24 also has a cylindrical wall 24E that protrudes from the rear wall 24A toward the front wall 24D. A locked portion 24F that passes through the cylindrical wall 24E is formed in a portion of the cylindrical wall 24E on the rear wall 24A side as a retaining portion.

[0014] A through hole 24G is formed in the vertical middle of the front wall 24D, penetrating the front wall 24D. An inner protrusion 24H is formed around the through hole 24G in the front wall 24D, protruding toward the storage space 30. A cylindrical boss 24J is formed around the through hole 24G in the front wall 24D, protruding toward the opposite side to the storage space 30. A first engagement portion 24K is formed on the outer periphery of the boss 24J as a retaining portion protruding toward the radially outer side of the boss 24J. A second engagement portion 24L is formed on the inner periphery of the boss 24J, protruding toward the radially inner side of the boss 24J.

[0015] The first conductor 18 is formed, for example, by using a copper plate cut into a predetermined shape. The first conductor 18 includes a first extension 18 extending in the vehicle vertical direction. The end of the first extension 18 on the vehicle lower side is arranged along a portion of the inner protrusion 24H formed on the terminal block 24 on the vehicle upper side. Meanwhile, the end of the first extension 18 on the vehicle upper side penetrates the upper wall 24B of the terminal block 24. The first conductor 18 also includes a second extension 18B that bends and extends from the end of the first extension 18 on the vehicle upper side toward the cell stack 16 (see FIG. 3). The second extension 18B is arranged along the surface of the upper wall 24B of the terminal block 24 on the vehicle vertical direction side. The second extension 18B is also connected to a cell stack side terminal 32 connected to the cell stack 16. The connection between the second extending portion 18B and the cell stack side terminal 32 is maintained by a connection holding pin .

[0016] The second conductor 20 is formed, as in the first conductor 18, by using a copper plate cut into a predetermined shape, for example. The second conductor 20 extends in the vehicle up-down direction. The end of the second conductor 20 on the vehicle upper side is arranged along the vehicle lower side portion of the inner protrusion 24H formed on the terminal block 24. Meanwhile, the end of the second conductor 20 on the vehicle lower side penetrates the lower wall portion 24C of the terminal block 24 and is arranged on the vehicle lower side with respect to the lower wall portion 24C. The wiring 14 is connected to the end of the second conductor 20 on the vehicle lower side. The connection state between the second conductor 20 and the wiring 14 is maintained by a connection holding pin 34.

[0017] The third conductor 22 is formed, as with the first conductor 18 and the second conductor 20, by using a copper plate cut into a predetermined shape as an example. The third conductor 22 includes a first extending portion 22A formed in a disk shape. The first extending portion 22A is disposed on the rear wall 24A side of the terminal block 24 with respect to the first extending portion 18 and the second conductor 20 of the first conductor 18. The first extending portion 22A contacts the first extending portion 18 and the second conductor 20 of the first conductor 18, so that the first conductor 18 and the second conductor 20 are electrically connected via the third conductor 22. The third conductor 22 includes a second extending portion 22B that extends from the outer peripheral end of the first extending portion 22A toward the rear wall 24A side of the terminal block 24 while bending. The second extending portion 22B is disposed radially inward with respect to the cylindrical wall 24E of the terminal block 24. Further, at the end of the second extending portion 22B opposite to the first extending portion 22A, a locking portion 22C is formed as a holding portion that is bent toward the cylindrical wall portion 24E.

[0018] The interrupter 26 is configured to include a spring 36 provided inside the terminal block 24, a guide member 38 fixed to the terminal block 24, and a plunger 40 attached to the terminal block 24 as a pressing portion.

[0019] The spring 36 is, for example, a compression coil spring, and is disposed radially inward with respect to the cylindrical wall portion 24E of the terminal block 24. By disposing this spring 36 between the rear wall portion 24A of the terminal block 24 and the first extending portion 22A of the third conductor portion 22, the third conductor portion 22 is biased toward the front wall portion 24D side of the terminal block 24. As a result, the first extending portion 22A of the third conductor portion 22 is pressed against the first extending portion 18 of the first conductor portion 18 and the second conductor portion 20.

[0020] The guide member 38 includes a fixed portion 38A that is fixed in a state of being embedded in the rear wall portion 24A of the terminal block 24, and a guide portion 38B that protrudes from the fixed portion 38A toward the front wall portion 24D of the terminal block 24. The tip of the guide portion 38B is formed in a conical shape that gradually narrows toward the plunger 40 side, which will be described later.

[0021] The plunger 40 is formed using an insulating material such as a resin material. The plunger 40 includes a cylindrical shaft portion 40A as an intermediate portion, and a disk-shaped plunger head 40B extending from the end of the shaft portion 40A opposite to the guide member 38 toward the radially outward direction of the shaft portion 40A. The plunger 40 also includes a plunger outer peripheral portion 40C formed in a cylindrical shape and protruding from the outer peripheral portion of the plunger head 40B toward the front wall portion 24D side of the terminal block 24. A second engagement portion 40D protruding toward the radially outward direction of the shaft portion 40A is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the shaft portion 40A. A slit 40E is formed on the opposite side of the shaft portion 40A from the plunger head 40B, dividing the shaft portion 40A in the vehicle vertical direction. At the end of the plunger outer periphery 40C opposite to the plunger head 40B, a first engagement portion 40F is formed as a retaining portion protruding toward the inside in the radial direction of the plunger outer periphery 40C. The plunger 40 is attached to the terminal block 24 by inserting the shaft portion 40A into the boss portion 24J of the terminal block 24. When the shaft portion 40A is inserted into the boss portion 24J of the terminal block 24, the second engagement portion 40D formed on the shaft portion 40A overcomes the second engagement portion 24L formed on the boss portion 24J. This prevents or suppresses the shaft portion 40A from coming off the boss portion 24J, and the attached state of the plunger 40 to the terminal block 24 is maintained. Furthermore, when the plunger 40 is attached to the terminal block 24, the tip of the guide portion 38B of the guide member 38 is positioned within a slit 40E formed in the shaft portion 40A, and the shaft portion 40A and the first extension portion 22A of the third conductor portion 22 are positioned in close proximity to each other.

[0022] 3, the above-described terminal block 24 and the like are disposed in a box-shaped device case 42. The device case 42 is provided with a load transmission section 42A disposed adjacent to the plunger head section 40B of the plunger 40 described above.

[0023] (Actions and Effects of the Present Embodiment) Next, the operation and effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0024] 3, it is considered that an impact (collision load) caused by a vehicle collision is input to the battery module 10. For example, when the collision causes deformation of the vehicle body, a collision load F is transmitted to the equipment case 42, causing the equipment case 42 to deform, and a load transmitting portion 42A provided on the equipment case 42 presses the plunger 40 toward the stack case 28, causing the plunger 40 to be displaced toward the stack case 28.

[0025] When the plunger 40 is displaced toward the stack case 28, as shown in Fig. 4, the shaft portion 40A of the plunger 40 presses the first extension portion 22A of the third conductor portion 22. This causes the third conductor portion 22 to be displaced toward the rear wall portion 24A of the terminal block 24 against the biasing force of the spring 36. This causes the first extension portion 22A of the third conductor portion 22 to be separated from the first extension portion 18 of the first conductor portion 18 and the second conductor portion 20. As a result, the electrical connection between the first conductor portion 18 and the second conductor portion 20 via the third conductor portion 22 is cut off, making it possible to prevent the cell stack 16 from being short-circuited.

[0026] Furthermore, when the third conductor 22 is displaced toward the rear wall 24A side of the terminal block 24 against the biasing force of the spring 36, the locking portion 22C of the third conductor 22 is locked in a fitted state into the locked portion 24F formed on the cylindrical wall portion 24E of the terminal block 24. This maintains the third conductor 22 in a state spaced apart from the first conductor 18 and the second conductor 20. In this way, in this embodiment, a short circuit in the cell stack 16 after input of the collision load F can be suppressed compared to a configuration in which the locking portion 22C and the locked portion 22C are not provided.

[0027] Furthermore, when the plunger 40 is displaced toward the stack case 28, the first engagement portion 40F formed on the plunger outer periphery 40C of the plunger 40 climbs over the first engagement portion 24K formed on the boss portion 24J of the terminal block 24. This limits the displacement of the plunger 40 toward the opposite side from the stack case 28. This configuration also makes it possible to suppress a short circuit in the cell stack 16 after the input of the collision load F.

[0028] Furthermore, when the plunger 40 is displaced towards the stack case 28, the shaft portion 40A of the plunger 40 is pushed outward by the guide portion 38B of the guide member 38, and a portion of the shaft portion 40A is disposed between the first extension portion 22A of the third conductor portion 22 and the first extension portion 18 of the first conductor portion 18 and the second conductor portion 20. In other words, a portion of the shaft portion 40A is interposed between the third conductor portion 22 and the first conductor portion 18 and the second conductor portion 20. This configuration can also suppress a short circuit in the cell stack 16 after the input of the collision load F.

[0029] Second embodiment Next, a battery module of a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Note that in the battery module of the second embodiment, members and parts corresponding to those of the battery module 10 of the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals as those corresponding to those of the battery module 10 of the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof may be omitted.

[0030] 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views corresponding to Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, respectively, used in the description of the battery module 10 of the first embodiment described above. As shown in Fig. 5, the breaker 26 of this embodiment includes a first engagement tooth 44 provided on the third conductor part 22, a pair of first gears 46 as an intervening part, and a pair of second gears 48 rotatably supported by the terminal block 24.

[0031] A plurality of first engagement teeth 44 formed of an insulating material such as a resin material are fixed to the vehicle upper side and vehicle lower side portions of the second extension portion 22B of the third conductor 22. The plurality of first engagement teeth 44 are disposed at equal intervals along the direction in which the plunger 40 is displaced.

[0032] The pair of first gears 46 are each formed in a rectangular block shape using an insulating material such as a resin material. One of the first gears 46 is disposed along the first extension portion 18 of the first conductor portion 18 on the vehicle upper side with respect to the first extension portion 22A of the third conductor portion 22. The other first gear 46 is disposed along the second conductor portion 20 on the vehicle lower side with respect to the first extension portion 22A of the third conductor portion 22. Furthermore, a plurality of second engagement teeth 46A are formed on the pair of first gears 46 at a portion on the side of a pair of second gears 48 described later. These second engagement teeth 46A are disposed at equal intervals along the vehicle up-down direction.

[0033] The pair of second gears 48 are each formed in a disk shape using an insulating material such as a resin material, and are supported rotatably with the rotation axis being perpendicular to the vehicle vertical direction and the direction in which the plunger 40 is displaced. One of the second gears 48 is disposed on the vehicle upper side with respect to the second extension portion 22B of the third conductor portion 22. The other of the second gears 48 is disposed on the vehicle lower side with respect to the second extension portion 22B of the third conductor portion 22. A plurality of third engagement teeth 48A are formed on the outer periphery of the pair of second gears 48. These third engagement teeth 48A are disposed at equal intervals along the rotation circumferential direction of the second gear 48. The third engagement teeth 48A of one of the second gears 48 mesh with the first engagement teeth 44 provided on the vehicle upper side of the second extension portion 22B of the third conductor portion 22 and the second engagement teeth 46A formed on one of the first gears 46. In addition, the third engagement tooth 48A of the other second gear 48 meshes with the first engagement tooth 44 provided on the vehicle lower side of the second extension portion 22B of the third conductor portion 22 and the second engagement tooth 46A formed on the other first gear 46.

[0034] (Actions and Effects of the Present Embodiment) Next, the operation and effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0035] As shown in Figure 3, when the collision load F is transmitted to the equipment case 42 due to deformation of the vehicle body caused by the collision, and the equipment case 42 is deformed, the load transmission part 42A provided on the equipment case 42 presses the plunger 40 toward the stack case 28, and the plunger 40 is displaced toward the stack case 28.

[0036] When the plunger 40 is displaced toward the stack case 28, the shaft portion 40A of the plunger 40 presses the first extension portion 22A of the third conductor portion 22, as shown in Fig. 6. This causes the third conductor portion 22 to be displaced toward the rear wall portion 24A of the terminal block 24 against the biasing force of the spring 36. This causes the first extension portion 22A of the third conductor portion 22 to be separated from the first extension portion 18 of the first conductor portion 18 and the second conductor portion 20. As a result, the electrical connection between the first conductor portion 18 and the second conductor portion 20 via the third conductor portion 22 is cut off, making it possible to prevent the cell stack 16 from being short-circuited.

[0037] Furthermore, when the third conductor portion 22 is displaced toward the rear wall portion 24A of the terminal block 24 against the biasing force of the spring 36, the pair of second gears 48 rotate. As a result, the pair of first gears 46 meshing with the pair of second gears 48 are displaced. In more detail, one of the first gears 46 is displaced toward the vehicle lower side along the first extension portion 18 of the first conductor portion 18, and is disposed between the first extension portion 18 of the first conductor portion 18 and the first extension portion 22A of the third conductor portion 22. The other first gear 46 is displaced toward the vehicle upper side along the second conductor portion 20, and is disposed between the second conductor portion 20 and the first extension portion 22A of the third conductor portion 22. That is, the pair of first gears 46 are interposed between the third conductor portion 22 and the first conductor portion 18 and the second conductor portion 20. This configuration can also suppress a short circuit of the cell stack 16 after the input of the collision load F.

[0038] In the above-described embodiments, the load transmitting portion 42A provided in the device case 42 presses the plunger 40 toward the stack case 28, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a battery module 50 of a third embodiment shown in FIG. 7 may be used. In the battery module 50 of the third embodiment, the members and parts corresponding to the battery module 10 of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals as those corresponding to the battery module 10 of the first embodiment, and the description thereof may be omitted. In detail, in the battery module 50 of the third embodiment, when the collision load F is transmitted to the device case 42 due to deformation of the vehicle body caused by a collision and the device case 42 is deformed, the part 52 provided in the device case 42 presses the plunger 40 toward the stack case 28, and the plunger 40 is displaced toward the stack case 28.

[0039] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above, and it is of course possible to implement the present invention in various other modified forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 10 Battery module 12 Inverter (electrical equipment) 16 Cell stack (battery) 18 First conductor section 20 Second conductor section 22 Third conductor 22C Locking part (holding part) 24 Terminal block 24F Locked part (holding part) 24K 1st engaging part (holding part) 26 Breaking section 40 Plunger (pressing part) 40A Shaft part (interposed part) 40F 1st engaging part (holding part) 46 1st gear (intervening part) 50 Battery Module

Claims

[Claim 1] A battery for storing power; A first conductor portion connected to the battery side; A second conductor portion connected to the electrical device; a third conductor portion that connects the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion by contacting the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion; a breaking portion having a pressing portion that is displaced by an input of an external load to separate the third conductor portion from the first conductor portion and the second conductor portion; A battery module comprising:

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