Storage battery

Abstract

To provide a storage battery in which a grip is not easily detached from a lid part.SOLUTION: A storage battery 10 comprises: an electrode; an electric tank 11 into which the electrode is housed; a lid part 20 that blocks the electric tank 11; and a grip 30. The lid part 20 includes a pair of side surfaces 24, and a pair of support parts 25 is provided to the pair of side surfaces 24. Each support part 25 comprises: a shaft part 25A that is projected from each side surface 24; and an anti-falling-out part 25B that is formed to the projection end part of the shaft part 25A. The grip 30 comprises: a grip part 31; and a pair of arm parts 32 that are extended from both ends of the grip part 31. In the end part of the arm part 32, an insertion hole 35 that receives the shaft part 25A is formed. The arm part 32 includes: a first surface 39 that is arranged to a part that is near the grip part 31 in the extension direction of the arm part 32 of the hole edge part of the insertion hole 35, and is opposite to each side surface 24; and a second surface 40 that is arranged to a part on the side opposite to the grip part 31 in the extension direction of the arm part 32 of the hole edge part of the insertion hole 35, and is opposite to the side surface 24. The distance D2 between the second surface 40 and each side surface 24 is greater than a distance D1 between the first surface 39 and each side surface 24.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to storage batteries. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a lead-acid battery described in International Publication WO 2019 / 150538 (Patent Document 1 below) is known. The lead-acid battery described in Patent Document 1 includes a battery case with an open top, a lid that closes the opening of the battery case, and a handle attached to the lid. The handle includes two arms and a grip. Both ends of the grip are connected to the tips of the arms, and the handle is generally U-shaped. An insertion hole is provided at the end opposite to the tip of the arm, and a shaft protruding from the outer surface of the lid is inserted into the insertion hole. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2019 / 150538 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned configuration, as shown in the schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 15, the arm portion 1 may have an opposing surface 2A opposing the outer surface 3A of the lid 3 at a portion of the hole edge of the insertion hole 2 that is distant from the grip portion in the extension direction of the arm portion 1 (the vertical direction in the figure). In such a configuration, when the arm portion 1 is pulled diagonally upward as shown by the arrow, the arm portion 1 tries to rotate approximately around a contact point P1 between the lower end of the opposing surface 2A and the outer surface 3A of the lid 3 as a fulcrum. As a result, a force is applied to the contact portion between the removal prevention portion 4A of the shaft portion 4 and the hole edge of the insertion hole 2, deforming the removal prevention portion 4A and the hole edge of the insertion hole 2, and it is considered that the shaft portion 4 becomes easily removed from the insertion hole 2. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The storage battery disclosed herein comprises an electrode, a battery case in which the electrode is housed, a lid portion for closing the battery case, and a handle, the lid portion having a pair of side surfaces, each of which is provided with a pair of support portions, the support portions including an axis portion protruding from the side surfaces and a stop portion formed on the protruding end of the axis portion, the handle including a grip portion and a pair of arms extending from both ends of the grip portion, an insertion hole for receiving the axis portion is formed at the end of the arm portion, the arm portion has a first surface that is located on a portion of an edge of the insertion hole that is closer to the grip portion in the extension direction of the arm portion and faces the side surface, and a second surface that is located on a portion of an edge of the insertion hole that is opposite the grip portion in the extension direction of the arm portion and faces the side surface, the distance between the second surface and the side surface being greater than the distance between the first surface and the side surface. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the present disclosure, a storage battery can be provided in which the handle is unlikely to come off the lid. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage battery according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the lid showing the support portion. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of the lid showing the support portion. [Figure 7] 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the handle, showing the hole edge portion of the insertion hole from the outside in the axial direction. FIG. [Figure 8] 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the handle, showing the hole edge of the insertion hole from the inside in the axial direction. FIG. [Figure 9] 13 is an enlarged side view of the handle, showing the hole edge of the insertion hole from the outside in the axial direction. FIG. [Figure 10]13 is a side view of the lid and the handle with the handle engaged with the lid. FIG. [Figure 11] 11 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 10 taken along line B-B. [Figure 12] 13 is a side view of the lid and the handle in the lifted state. FIG. [Figure 13] 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along CC in FIG. 12. [Figure 14] 13 is a view showing a state in which the handle is pulled diagonally upward in cross section CC of FIG. 12. FIG. [Figure 15] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a mounting structure of a lid and a handle in a conventional storage battery. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] (Outline of this embodiment) (1) A storage battery of the present disclosure comprises an electrode, a battery case in which the electrode is housed, a lid portion for closing the battery case, and a handle, the lid portion having a pair of side surfaces, each of which is provided with a pair of support portions, the support portions including an axis portion protruding from the side surfaces and a stop portion formed on the protruding end of the axis portion, the handle including a grip portion and a pair of arms extending from both ends of the grip portion, the end of the arm portion being formed with an insertion hole for receiving the axis portion, the arm portion having a first surface disposed on a portion of an edge of the insertion hole that is closer to the grip portion in the extension direction of the arm portion and facing the side surface, and a second surface disposed on a portion of an edge of the insertion hole that is opposite the grip portion in the extension direction of the arm portion and facing the side surface, the distance between the second surface and the side surface being greater than the distance between the first surface and the side surface.

[0009] With this configuration, the distance between the second surface and the side surface is greater than the distance between the first surface and the side surface, so that when the arm portion is pulled diagonally, the second surface and the side surface are less likely to come into contact with each other. Therefore, until the second surface and the side surface come into contact with each other, the arm portion tries to rotate substantially around the contact portion between the retaining portion and the edge of the insertion hole. As a result, the shaft portion is less likely to come out of the insertion hole.

[0010] (2) In the storage battery described above in (1), it is preferable that the second surface is inclined in an extension direction of the arm portion so as to approach the side surface as it approaches the insertion hole.

[0011] With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the edge of the insertion hole from becoming thin, and also to prevent the second surface from coming into contact with the side surface when the arm portion is pulled in an oblique direction.

[0012] <Embodiment> An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 14. In the following description, the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction are based on the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction shown in Figure 1. In this specification, "perpendicular" and "parallel" do not only mean strictly perpendicular and parallel, but also include roughly perpendicular and parallel within the scope of the action and effect of this embodiment.

[0013] 1. Battery configuration The storage battery 10 is mounted on a mobile object such as a four-wheeled vehicle or a two-wheeled vehicle. The storage battery 10 in this embodiment is a lead-acid battery. As shown in Fig. 1, the storage battery 10 includes a battery case 11 that opens upward, a lid 20 that closes the opening of the battery case 11, and a handle 30 that is rotatably supported by the lid 20. The battery case 11, the lid 20, and the handle 30 are each made of synthetic resin.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 2, the battery case 11 is box-shaped and opens upward. Five partition walls 11A are formed inside the battery case 11 at equal intervals in the left-right direction. The five partition walls 11A divide the inside of the battery case 11 into six cell chambers 12. As shown in Fig. 3, each cell chamber 12 contains a plate group 13 (an example of an electrode) and an electrolyte 14 made of dilute sulfuric acid.

[0015] The electrode plate group 13 is composed of a positive electrode plate 13A, a negative electrode plate 13B, and a separator 13C that separates the positive electrode plates 13A, 13B. Each of the electrode plates 13A, 13B is composed of a lattice body filled with an active material.

[0016] 1, the storage battery 10 is provided with a positive external terminal 10A and a negative external terminal 10B. These external terminals 10A, 10B are disposed at the right end and the left end of the upper surface of the lid portion 20, respectively.

[0017] 2. Lid structure As shown in Fig. 4, the lid 20 includes a flat plate 21, an outer peripheral wall 22 extending downward from the outer peripheral edge of the flat plate 21, and an overhang 23 overhanging upward from the flat plate 21. The flat plate 21 is thin in the vertical direction and is formed to a size capable of closing the opening of the battery case 11. A lid partition wall (not shown) is formed on the back surface of the lid 20 at a position corresponding to the partition wall 11A of the battery case 11. The lid 20 is attached so as to be overlapped on the battery case 11, and is heat-welded to the battery case 11.

[0018] The protruding portion 23 is substantially T-shaped in a plan view. The protruding portion 23 includes a horizontally long portion 23A and a convex portion 23B that protrudes forward from the left-right center of the horizontally long portion 23A. The horizontally long portion 23A is long in the left-right direction and is disposed in the rear half of the lid portion 20. The convex portion 23B is disposed between the positive electrode external terminal 10A and the negative electrode external terminal 10B in the left-right direction.

[0019] A pair of support parts 25 are provided on each of a pair of side surfaces 24 (left and right surfaces) of the horizontally elongated portion 23A. The pair of support parts 25 are disposed at approximately the center of the front-rear direction of the lid portion 20. The support parts 25 are inserted into insertion holes 35 of the handle 30 to support the handle 30. When the handle 30 is supported by the support parts 25, the handle 30 is rotatable relative to the lid portion 20.

[0020] 5, the support portion 25 includes a shaft portion 25A protruding from the side surface 24, and a retaining portion 25B formed at the protruding end of the shaft portion 25A. The direction in which the shaft portion 25A protrudes from the side surface 24 is defined as the axial direction. In this embodiment, the axial direction is the left-right direction (left or right). The shaft portion 25A has a generally cylindrical shape extending in the axial direction.

[0021] The retaining portion 25B extends from the shaft portion 25A in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction. In this embodiment, the retaining portion 25B extends upward from the shaft portion 25A. As shown in FIG. 6, the retaining portion 25B has a curved contour in a side view and smoothly connects to the outer circumferential surface of the shaft portion 25A. The support portion 25 as a whole has a substantially egg shape in a side view.

[0022] As shown in Figs. 6 and 11, the support portion 25 may have a lightening hole 25C formed so as to be recessed from the protruding end surface of the support portion 25 in the axial direction.

[0023] As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a slit 25D extending in the radial direction is provided at the protruding end of the support portion 25, and the protruding end of the support portion 25 may be divided by the slit 25D. For example, in this embodiment, the support portion 25 includes a first divided body 25E and a second divided body 25F divided by the slit 25D extending in the front-rear direction. The first divided body 25E is disposed above the second divided body 25F. The retaining portion 25B is disposed on the first divided body 25E side. With this configuration, the first divided body 25E and the second divided body 25F can be elastically deformed so as to approach each other, and the support portion 25 can be easily inserted into the insertion hole 35 of the handle 30.

[0024] As shown in Figs. 4 and 12, the engaging portions 26 are provided on both sides and the rear of the horizontally elongated portion 23A of the cover 20. The engaging portions 26 are formed so as to protrude upward from the flat plate portion 21 and to be recessed with respect to the upper surface of the horizontally elongated portion 23A. The engaging portions 26 are arranged so as to partially surround the outer periphery of the horizontally elongated portion 23A. As shown in Figs. 1 and 10, the engaging portions 26 have a shape that allows the handle 30 attached to the cover 20 to engage with them. When the handle 30 is engaged with the engaging portions 26, the arms 32 of the handle 30 are arranged to extend in the front-rear direction, and the gripping portion 31 of the handle 30 is arranged to extend in the left-right direction. In addition, the upper surface of the horizontally elongated portion 23A and the upper surface of the handle 30 are arranged at approximately the same position in the vertical direction.

[0025] 3. Handle configuration As shown in Fig. 4, the handle 30 includes a grip portion 31 and a pair of arms 32 extending from both ends of the grip portion 31. The grip portion 31 and the pair of arms 32 each have an elongated shape. Each of the pair of arms 32 includes a tip portion 33 (an example of an end portion of an arm portion) disposed on the opposite side to the connection portion with the grip portion 31. The pair of arms 32 are configured to be elastically deformable from the grip portion 31 such that the tip portions 33 of the pair of arms 32 move away from each other. The grip portion 31 is a portion that an operator grasps with his or her hands when, for example, transporting the storage battery 10.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 7, each arm 32 has a cylindrical portion 34 at its tip 33. The cylindrical portion 34 is formed by penetrating the tip 33 of the arm 32 in the direction in which the pair of arms 32 are aligned. When the handle 30 is attached to the lid 20, the direction in which the pair of arms 32 are aligned coincides with the axial direction (left-right direction). The cylindrical portion 34 has a first portion 34A and a second portion 34B that is connected to the first portion 34A in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 11, the inner diameter of the second portion 34B is larger than the inner diameter of the first portion 34A. The inner peripheral surface of the second portion 34B is disposed radially outward from the inner peripheral surface of the first portion 34A. The first portion 34A is disposed on the side of the cylindrical portion 34 that is closer to the side surface 24 of the lid 20 in the axial direction (hereinafter referred to as the inner side in the axial direction). The second portion 34B is disposed on the side of the cylindrical portion 34 that is farther from the side surface 24 of the cover portion 20 in the axial direction (hereinafter, referred to as the outer side in the axial direction).

[0027] The first portion 34A has an insertion hole 35 that receives the shaft portion 25A of the support portion 25. The second portion 34B has a communication hole 36 that receives the protruding end portion of the support portion 25. The insertion hole 35 and the communication hole 36 are in communication with each other.

[0028] The inner circumferential surface of the first portion 34A and the inner circumferential surface of the second portion 34B are connected in a stepped manner via an engagement portion 37. The engagement portion 37 is a surface of the hole edge portion of the insertion hole 35 that is disposed on the outer side in the axial direction.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 4, the handle 30 of this embodiment is attached to the lid 20 with the pair of arms 32 aligned in the axial direction and extending horizontally. More specifically, the pair of arms 32 extend forward relative to the grip 31. Hereinafter, the position of the handle 30 when attached to the lid 20 is referred to as the attachment position. Specifically, the attachment position is the position of the handle 30 shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 10.

[0030] When the handle 30 is in the mounting position, the shape of the insertion hole 35 in a side view (see FIG. 9) matches the shape of the support part 25 in a side view (see FIG. 6). In other words, the outline of the insertion hole 35 in an axial view is substantially the same as the outline of the support part 25 in an axial view. Note that the dashed dotted line in FIG. 9 indicates the shape of the shaft part 25A inserted into the insertion hole 35 in a side view. Since the shape of the insertion hole 35 in a side view matches the shape of the support part 25 in a side view, when the handle 30 is in the mounting position, the support part 25 is allowed to be inserted into the insertion hole 35 (see FIG. 11).

[0031] When the pair of arms 32 are rotated from the attached posture around a virtual axis extending in the axial direction, the shape of the insertion hole 35 in a side view does not match the shape of the support part 25 in a side view. For this reason, the protruding end of the support part 25 hits the hole edge of the insertion hole 35, so that the insertion of the support part 25 into the insertion hole 35 is not allowed.

[0032] When the pair of arms 32 are rotated from the attached position about the shaft 25A with the shaft 25A inserted through the insertion hole 35, the retaining portion 25B and the locking portion 37 are disposed opposite to each other in the axial direction (see FIG. 13, for example).

[0033] In this embodiment, the handle 30 is rotatable about the shaft portion 25A between a position where it engages with the engaging portion 26 (see FIG. 10) and a position where it interferes with the external terminals 10A, 10B.

[0034] When the retaining portion 25B is configured to be elastically deformable as described above, the shape of the outer portion of the insertion hole 35 through which the shaft portion 25A is inserted (see FIG. 9) in a side view may be set to be slightly smaller than the shape of the retaining portion 25B in a side view (see FIG. 6). With this configuration, the retaining portion 25B (first divided body 25E) slides against the edge of the insertion hole 35 and elastically deforms, so that the shaft portion 25A can be inserted into the insertion hole 35. Furthermore, after the shaft portion 25A is inserted into the insertion hole 35, the retaining portion 25B returns to its natural state, and the locking portion 37 and the retaining portion 25B can be locked in the axial direction. Therefore, even when the handle 30 is in the mounting position, the shaft portion 25A can be prevented from coming off the insertion hole 35 (see FIG. 11).

[0035] As shown in FIG. 8, the tip 33 of the arm 32 has a facing portion 38 disposed on the axially inner side of the hole edge of the insertion hole 35. The facing portion 38 has a first surface 39 and a second surface 40. The first surface 39 is disposed in a portion closer to the grip portion 31 in the extension direction of the arm 32. The second surface 40 is disposed in a portion opposite the grip portion 31 in the extension direction of the arm 32. As shown in FIG. 13, when the handle 30 is attached to the lid 20, the first surface 39 and the second surface 40 (facing portion 38) are disposed opposite the side surface 24 of the lid 20. The distance D2 between the second surface 40 and the side surface 24 is greater than the distance D1 between the first surface 39 and the side surface 24. Here, the distance D2 between the second surface 40 and the side surface 24 and the distance D1 between the first surface 39 and the side surface 24 are distances in the axial direction. In addition, the distance D2 between the second surface 40 and the side surface 24, and the distance D1 between the first surface 39 and the side surface 24 are distances defined in a state where no external force is acting on the arm portion 32, i.e., in a state where the arm portion 32 is not deformed (natural state).

[0036] In this embodiment, the second surface 40 is inclined in the extension direction of the arm portion 32 (the vertical direction in FIG. 13) so as to approach the side surface 24 the closer it is to the insertion hole 35. When the second surface 40 is inclined, the distance D2 between the second surface 40 and the side surface 24 is set to the shortest distance between the second surface 40 and the side surface 24. Although not shown, when the first surface 39 is inclined, that is, when the first surface 39 and the side surface 24 are not parallel, the distance D1 between the first surface 39 and the side surface 24 is set to the shortest distance between the first surface 39 and the side surface 24.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 8, in this embodiment, a guide portion 41 is formed on the facing portion 38. When the handle 30 is in the mounting position, the guide portion 41 is disposed on the lower portion of the facing portion 38. The guide portion 41 is recessed outward in the axial direction from the first surface 39 and the second surface 40, and is groove-shaped extending in the vertical direction. When the handle 30 is in the mounting position, the tip portion 33 of the arm portion 32 is pressed against the protruding end of the support portion 25 from above, whereby the tip portion 33 of the arm portion 32 is elastically deformed so as to open outward in the axial direction relative to the grip portion 31, and the support portion 25 is guided to the insertion hole 35 through the guide portion 41 (see Fig. 4).

[0038] 4.Effects When the storage battery 10 is transported, the gripping portion 31 is lifted as shown in FIG. 12. At this time, as shown in FIG. 14, the arm portion 32 may be pulled outward in the axial direction. That is, the arm portion 32 may receive an oblique force (arrow in FIG. 14) that is a combination of an upward force and an axially outward force. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the distance D2 between the second surface 40 and the side surface 24 is set to be greater than the distance D1 between the first surface 39 and the side surface 24. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, when an oblique force acts on the arm portion 32, the second surface 40 and the side surface 24 are less likely to come into contact with each other. Therefore, by the principle of leverage, the contact portion between the second surface 40 and the side surface 24 serves as a fulcrum, and the arm portion 32 rotates, and it is possible to prevent a double force from acting on the contact portion between the locking portion 37 and the removal prevention portion 25B. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the locking portion 37 and the removal prevention portion 25B from being damaged, and the shaft portion 25A from being removed from the insertion hole 35.

[0039] According to this embodiment, when an oblique force acts on the arm portion 32, the arm portion 32 tilts without contacting the second surface 40 with the side surface 24, and the locking portion 37 and the anti-pullout portion 25B can be locked together, making it difficult for the shaft portion 25A to come out of the insertion hole 35.

[0040] 14, when arm portion 32 is further pulled outward in the axial direction and second surface 40 comes into contact with side surface 24, arm portion 32 will attempt to rotate from its tilted state, with the contact portion between second surface 40 and side surface 24 as a substantial fulcrum. In this case, arm portion 32 rotates while corner portion 42 formed by locking portion 37 and the inner circumferential surface of insertion hole 35 bites into the step portion between retaining portion 25B and shaft portion 25A, so that shaft portion 25A is prevented from coming off insertion hole 35.

[0041] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the second surface 40 is inclined in the extension direction of the arm portion 32 so as to approach the side surface 24 the closer it is to the insertion hole 35. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the edge of the insertion hole 35 from becoming thin, and also to prevent the second surface 40 and the side surface 24 from coming into contact with each other when the arm portion 32 is pulled in an oblique direction.

[0042] <Other embodiments> The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, but is intended to include all modifications within the scope of the claims and their equivalent meanings. The technical scope of the present disclosure also includes, for example, the following embodiments.

[0043] The second surface does not have to be inclined so as to approach the side surface as it approaches the insertion hole in the extension direction of the arm. For example, the second surface may be parallel to the side surface.

[0044] The guide may be omitted.

[0045] The second portion of the cylindrical portion may be omitted.

[0046] Holes and slits may be omitted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 10. Storage battery 11 Battery case 13 Plate group (example of electrode) 20 Lid 24 Side 25 Support part 25A shaft 25B Retaining part 30 Handle 31 Gripping part 32 Arm 33 Tip (an example of the end of an arm) 35 Insertion hole 39 Page 1 40 Side 2 D1 Distance between the first face and the side D2 Distance between the second face and the side

Claims

1. An electrode; A container in which the electrodes are accommodated; A lid portion that closes the battery case; A handle and The cover portion has a pair of side surfaces, and a pair of support portions are provided on each of the pair of side surfaces, The support portion includes a shaft portion protruding from the side surface and a retaining portion formed on a protruding end portion of the shaft portion, The handle includes a grip portion and a pair of arms extending from both ends of the grip portion, An insertion hole is formed at the end of the arm portion to receive the shaft portion, the arm portion has a first surface that is disposed on a portion of an edge portion of the insertion hole that is closer to the grip portion in the extension direction of the arm portion and faces the side surface, and a second surface that is disposed on a portion of an edge portion of the insertion hole that is opposite to the grip portion in the extension direction of the arm portion and faces the side surface, A storage battery, wherein a distance between the second surface and the side surface is greater than a distance between the first surface and the side surface.

2. The storage battery according to claim 1 , wherein the second surface is inclined in an extension direction of the arm portion so as to approach the side surface as it approaches the insertion hole.

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