Battery pack

Abstract

To protect a battery module from external force applied to a battery pack.SOLUTION: A battery pack 10 includes a battery module 100, a pack housing 300 that accommodates the battery module 100, and a supporter 342 that at least partially partitions the battery module 100 and the pack housing 300.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, various battery packs have been developed. A battery pack includes a battery module and a housing that houses the battery module.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a battery pack. The battery pack includes a battery assembly and a battery pack frame. The battery pack frame has a side frame and a bottom guard. The side frame and the bottom guard form a housing area for housing the battery assembly.

[0004] Patent Document 2 describes a battery pack. The battery pack includes a battery module and a shock-resistant exhaust assembly. The shock-resistant exhaust assembly has a honeycomb buffer structure. The honeycomb buffer structure absorbs impacts on the battery pack.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] An external force may be applied to the battery pack. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the battery module from the external force applied to the battery pack.

[0007] An example of the object of the present invention is to protect a battery module from an external force applied to a battery pack. Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the description herein.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is as follows. 1. A battery module, a housing that houses the battery module, a partition that at least partially partitions the battery module and the housing, and a battery pack including the same. 2. The battery pack according to 1., wherein a space exists between the housing and the partition. 3. The battery pack according to 2., wherein the space on the side where the battery module is located communicates with the space existing between the housing and the partition. 4. The battery pack according to any one of 1. to 3., wherein the battery module and the partition are attached to each other.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the above aspect of the present invention, the battery module can be protected from an external force applied to the battery pack.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments and modified examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a battery pack 10 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1. For the sake of explanation, in FIG. 1, the upper plate 330 shown in FIG. 2 is removed.

[0013] In an embodiment, the battery pack 10 is mounted on an automobile. Specifically, the battery pack 10 is mounted between the front and rear wheels of the automobile. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the battery pack 10 is described as being mounted on an automobile. However, the battery pack 10 is also applicable to uses other than automobiles.

[0014] In each figure, for the sake of explanation, the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction are shown. The X direction indicates the front-rear direction of the battery pack 10. The Y direction is orthogonal to the X direction. The Y direction indicates the left-right direction of the battery pack 10. The Z direction is orthogonal to both the X direction and the Y direction. The Z direction indicates the up-down direction of the battery pack 10. The arrow indicating the X direction, the arrow indicating the Y direction, and the arrow indicating the Z direction respectively indicate the front direction, left direction, and up direction of the battery pack 10. In FIG. 1, the white circle with a black dot indicating the Z direction indicates that the arrow indicating the Z direction extends from the back to the front of the paper surface. In FIG. 2, the white circle with a black dot indicating the X direction indicates that the arrow indicating the X direction extends from the back to the front of the paper surface. However, the relationships between the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction and the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction of the battery pack 10 are not limited to this example.

[0015] In an embodiment, the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction of the battery pack 10 are determined by the automobile on which the battery pack 10 is mounted. The X direction, Y direction, and Z direction respectively indicate the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction of the automobile. The arrow indicating the X direction, the arrow indicating the Y direction, and the arrow indicating the Z direction respectively indicate the front direction, left direction, and up direction of the automobile. However, the relationships between the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction of the battery pack 10 and the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction of the automobile are not limited to this example.

[0016] Hereinafter, as necessary, the side indicated by the arrow indicating the X direction is referred to as the +X side, and the opposite side of the side indicated by the arrow indicating the X direction is referred to as the -X side. Hereinafter, as necessary, the side indicated by the arrow indicating the Y direction is referred to as the +Y side, and the opposite side of the side indicated by the arrow indicating the Y direction is referred to as the -Y side. Hereinafter, as necessary, the side indicated by the arrow indicating the Z direction is referred to as the +Z side, and the opposite side of the side indicated by the arrow indicating the Z direction is referred to as the -Z side.

[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the battery pack 10 according to the embodiment will be described.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, the battery pack 10 includes a plurality of battery modules 100, a junction box 200, and a pack housing 300.

[0019] In the example shown in FIG. 1, four battery modules 100 are arranged in two rows and two columns in the X direction and the Y direction, respectively. The number and arrangement of the battery modules 100 are not limited to the number and arrangement shown in FIG. 1. For example, the number of battery modules 100 mounted on the battery pack 10 may be only one. Alternatively, the battery pack 10 may include, for example, five or more battery modules 100.

[0020] Each battery module 100 has a plurality of battery cells (not shown) stacked in a direction perpendicular to the Z direction. The plurality of battery cells are electrically connected to each other in series, in parallel, or in a combination of series and parallel. As shown in FIG. 1, each battery module 100 further has a module housing 110 that houses the battery cells (not shown). Each module housing 110 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. As shown in FIG. 1, when viewed from the Z direction, each module housing 110 has a substantially quadrilateral shape having a pair of sides substantially parallel to the X direction and a pair of other sides substantially parallel to the Y direction. As shown in FIG. 1, protrusions 112 are provided on both sides in the Y direction of each module housing 110. When viewed from the Z direction, each protrusion 112 extends in the X direction. However, the shape of the protrusion 112 is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 1.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the junction box 200 is located on the +X side with respect to the two battery modules 100 located on the +X side. The position where the junction box 200 is disposed is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 1. The plurality of battery modules 100 and the junction box 200 are electrically connected by a bus bar (not shown).

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pack housing 300 has a lower plate 310, side frames 320, an upper plate 330, and a support frame 340. The pack housing 300 houses the plurality of battery modules 100 and the junction box 200.

[0023] The lower plate 310 has a substantially plate shape that is substantially perpendicular to the Z direction. The plurality of battery modules 100 and the junction box 200 are located on the +Z side with respect to the +Z side surface of the lower plate 310. As shown in FIG. 1, the lower plate 310 has a substantially rectangular shape having a pair of long sides that are substantially parallel to the X direction and a pair of short sides that are substantially parallel to the Y direction. The shape of the lower plate 310 is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 1.

[0024] The side frame 320 extends from the entire circumference around the Z direction of the +Z side surface of the lower plate 310 toward the +Z side. When viewed from the Z direction, the side frame 320 surrounds the region where the plurality of battery modules 100 and the junction box 200 are located.

[0025] The upper plate 330 is located on the +Z side with respect to the plurality of battery modules 100, the junction box 200, and the side frame 320. When viewed from the Z direction, the lower plate 310 and the upper plate 330 have substantially the same shape. The side frame 320 and the portion of the upper plate 330 that overlaps the side frame 320 in the Z direction are fastened to each other by a fastener such as a bolt (not shown). With the side frame 320 and the portion of the upper plate 330 that overlaps the side frame 320 in the Z direction being fastened to each other, the lower plate 310, the side frame 320, and the upper plate 330 form an accommodation space for accommodating the plurality of battery modules 100 and the junction box 200.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, when viewed from the Z direction, the support frame 340 extends in a frame shape that at least partially surrounds each battery module 100. As shown in FIG. 1, when viewed from the Z direction, the support frame 340 includes a support 342 located on the +Y side with respect to the battery module 100 located on the +Y side, a support 342 located between the battery module 100 located on the +Y side and the battery module 100 located on the -Y side, and a support 342 located on the -Y side with respect to the battery module 100 located on the -Y side. When viewed from the Z direction, each support 342 extends in the X direction. As shown in FIG. 2, each protrusion 112 is located on the +Z side with respect to the +Z side surface of each support 342. Each protrusion 112 and each support 342 are fastened to each other by a fastener such as a bolt (not shown). With each protrusion 112 and each support 342 being fastened to each other, each battery module 100 and the pack housing 300 are attached to each other.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 2, the battery pack 10 according to the embodiment will be further described. Hereinafter, as necessary, the portion of the side frame 320 located in the cross-section shown in FIG. 2 will be referred to as the side wall 322. Hereinafter, the battery module 100 described with reference to FIG. 2 means the battery module 100 located on the +X side and +Y side in FIG. 1. Matters described with reference to FIG. 2 are similarly applicable to battery modules 100 different from the battery module 100 located on the +X side and +Y side in FIG. 1. Hereinafter, the support 342 described with reference to FIG. 2 means the support 342 located on the +Y side with respect to the battery module 100 located on the +Y side in FIG. 1. Matters described with reference to FIG. 2 are similarly applicable to the support 342 located on the -Y side with respect to the battery module 100 located on the -Y side in FIG. 1.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 2, there is a space between the +Y side portion of the module housing 110 and the -Y side portion of the side wall 322. The support 342 is located in the space existing between the +Y side portion of the module housing 110 and the -Y side portion of the side wall 322. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the support 342 serves as a partition that at least partially partitions the +Y side portion of the module housing 110 and the -Y side portion of the side wall 322. Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 2, even if an external force is applied to the battery pack 10 from the +Y side with respect to the side wall 322, the battery module 100 can be protected by the support 342. Further, compared with the case where a cushioning material is provided in place of the support 342 between the +Y side portion of the module housing 110 and the side wall 322, the battery module 100 can be protected more simply from an external force. In order to protect the battery module 100 from an external force, it is preferable that the rigidity of the support 342 is relatively high. The support 342 is made of a metal such as aluminum, for example.

[0029] In the example shown in FIG. 2, a first space S1 exists between the inner surface on the -Y side of the side wall 322 and the side surface on the +Y side of the support 342. Therefore, even if an external force is applied to the battery pack 10 from the +Y side with respect to the side wall 322 and the side wall 322 moves toward the -Y side due to the deformation of the side wall 322, the external force can be prevented from being transmitted to the battery module 100 via the support 342 until the inner surface on the -Y side of the side wall 322 and the side surface on the +Y side of the support 342 come into contact with each other. Further, even if an external force is applied to the battery pack 10 from the +Y side with respect to the side wall 322 and the inner surface on the -Y side of the side wall 322 and the side surface on the +Y side of the support 342 come into contact with each other, the first space S1 can function as a buffer region for relaxing the external force. Therefore, compared with the case where the inner surface on the -Y side of the side wall 322 and the side surface on the +Y side of the support 342 are in contact with each other in advance in a state where the first space S1 does not exist, the battery module 100 can be more easily protected from the external force applied to the battery pack 10. However, in a state where the first space S1 does not exist, the inner surface on the -Y side of the side wall 322 and the side surface on the +Y side of the support 342 may be in contact with each other in advance.

[0030] In the example shown in FIG. 2, the height of the support 342 in the Z direction is less than the height of the module housing 110 in the Z direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, a second space S2 exists between the surface on the +Z side of the support 342 and the surface on the -Z side of the upper plate 330. Accordingly, the space on the side where the battery module 100 is located and the first space S1 communicate with each other via the second space S2. Therefore, in a state where no external force is applied to the battery pack 10 from the +Y side with respect to the side wall 322, the first space S1 can also function as a flow path for flowing relatively high-temperature gas generated from the battery module 100. The gas may be generated, for example, due to an abnormal occurrence of the battery cells of the battery module 100.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a modified example of FIG. 2.

[0032] Also in the example shown in FIG. 3, the protrusion 112 and the support 342 are fastened to each other. As shown in FIG. 3, a protrusion wall 344 is provided on the +Z side surface side of the support 342. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the support 342 is located on the +Y side with respect to the protrusion 112. However, the position where the support 342 is provided is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 3. The support 342 and the protrusion wall 344 serve as a partition that at least partially partitions the +Y side portion of the module housing 110 and the -Y side portion of the side wall 322. Therefore, in the same manner as in the embodiment, even if an external force is applied to the battery pack 10 from the +Y side with respect to the side wall 322, the battery module 100 can be protected by the support 342 and the protrusion wall 344.

[0033] The space on the side where the battery module 100 is located and the first space S1 may communicate with each other through a through hole that penetrates at least one of the support 342 and the protrusion wall 344 in the Y direction. By providing the through hole, it is possible to facilitate the flow of relatively high-temperature gas generated from the battery module 100 toward the first space S1. In the same manner as in the embodiment, the first space S1 can function as a buffer region for relaxing an external force and also as a flow path for flowing relatively high-temperature gas generated from the battery module 100.

[0034] As described above, the embodiments and modified examples of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings. These are examples of the present invention, and various configurations other than the above can also be adopted.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0035] 10 Battery pack, 100 Battery module, 110 Module housing, 112 Protrusion, 200 Junction box, 300 Pack housing, 310 Lower plate, 320 Side frame, 322 Side wall, 330 Upper plate, 340 Support frame, 342 Support, 344 Protrusion wall, S1 First space, S2 Second space

Claims

1. A battery module, a housing for accommodating the battery module, and a partition for at least partially partitioning the battery module and the housing. A battery pack comprising the above.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein a space exists between the housing and the partition.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the space on the side where the battery module is located communicates with the space existing between the housing and the partition.

4. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the battery module and the partition are attached to each other.

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