Power storage device

Abstract

To provide a battery pack having a structure capable of suppressing an electrical short circuit between a positive electrode side device and a negative electrode side device with a simple structure when an impact load acts on the battery pack.SOLUTION: A battery pack is mounted on a vehicle. The battery pack includes one or a plurality of battery cells, a positive electrode side device and a negative electrode side device, and a case. The positive electrode side device and the negative electrode side device are arranged along a first direction and are separately configured. The case houses one or more battery cells, and the positive electrode side device and the negative electrode side device. The positive electrode side device and the negative electrode side device are disposed at a position close to one end of the case with respect to one or the plurality of battery cells in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction when viewed from an upper direction of the vehicle. The case includes a first skeleton structure member that extends along the second direction between the positive electrode side device and the negative electrode side device and is formed so as to connect an end wall of the case on the one end side and a skeleton part of the case.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a Electric energy storage device mounted on a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an electrolytic solution regeneration device for a flow battery. This electrolytic solution regeneration device is configured to separately store the oxidized or reduced electrolytic solution in a positive electrode electrolytic solution storage unit and a negative electrode electrolytic solution storage unit. A battery module including the flow battery as a unit cell is used as a power source for a vehicle or the like.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] For example, it is conceivable to accommodate positive electrode side devices and negative electrode side devices such as the positive electrode electrolytic solution storage unit and the negative electrode electrolytic solution storage unit described in Patent Document 1 together with one or more battery cells Electric energy storage device in a case. When such positive electrode side devices and negative electrode side devices are separately configured and arranged side by side in the case, Electric energy storage device it is required for the battery pack to have a structure capable of suppressing an electrical short circuit between the positive electrode side device and the negative electrode side device when an impact load acts.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, Electric energy storage device and has a simple structure when an impact load acts, and can suppress an electrical short circuit between the positive electrode side Relay and the negative electrode side Relay and has a structure Electric energy storage device for the purpose of providing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present disclosure The first aspect relates to Electric energy storage device is mounted on a vehicle. The electric energy storage device includes a plurality of battery cells stacked in the vehicle width direction, a positive electrode side relay and a negative electrode side relay arranged in the vehicle width direction, and a case that houses the plurality of battery cells, the positive electrode side relay, and the negative electrode side relay. The case includes a first skeleton member that extends in the vehicle width direction between the positive electrode side relay and the negative electrode side relay and the plurality of battery cells to form the skeleton of the case. The distance between the positive electrode side relay and the negative electrode side relay in the vehicle width direction is greater than the length of each of the plurality of battery cells in the vehicle width direction.

[0007] In the first aspect, the case may include a front end wall that is disposed in front of the vehicle relative to the positive electrode side relay and the negative electrode side relay and extends in the vehicle width direction, and a second skeleton member that connects between the front end wall and the first skeleton member.

[0008] In the first aspect, the positive electrode side relay and the negative electrode side relay may not be fixed to the second skeleton member.

[0009] In the first aspect, the case may be fixed to the vehicle via a vehicle fixing portion. In this case, the vehicle fixing portion may be disposed overlapping the second skeleton member when viewed from the front of the vehicle.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to the present disclosure Electric energy storage device it is possible to Since the first skeleton member of the case extends in the vehicle width direction, even if an impact load is input to the case from the vehicle width direction, the displacement of one of the relays (positive electrode side or negative electrode side relay) located on the impact load input side in the vehicle width direction can be suppressed. Further, since the positive electrode side relay and the negative electrode side relay are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction and the distance between the positive electrode side relay and the negative electrode side relay in the vehicle width direction is greater than the length of each of the plurality of battery cells in the vehicle width direction, even if one of the relays located on the impact load input side is displaced in the vehicle width direction, it is expected to suppress interference with the other relay. Therefore, simple suppress an electrical short circuit between the positive electrode side Relay and the negative electrode side Relay with a simple structure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. When referring to numbers such as the number of elements, quantity, amount, range, etc. in the embodiments shown below, unless otherwise specified or clearly specified by the principle, the technical idea according to the present disclosure is not limited to the mentioned number. Further, the structures and the like described in the embodiments shown below are not necessarily essential to the technical idea according to the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified or clearly specified by the principle.

[0013] 1. Electric energy storage device Structure of FIG. 1 schematically shows the Electric energy storage device structure of 10 according to the embodiment. Electric energy storage device 10 includes a battery cell 12, a positive electrode side Relay 14, a negative electrode side Relay 16, and a case 18. The battery cell 12 does not necessarily have to be plural and may be one, but basically it is plural as illustrated in FIG. 1. The case 18 houses the battery cell 12, the positive electrode side Relay 14, and the negative electrode side Relay 16. Electric energy storage device 10 is mounted on a vehicle and supplies power to an electric motor for vehicle running. FIG. 1 shows the Electric energy storage device internal structure of 10 when viewed from above the vehicle.

[0014] The case 18 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as an example. More specifically, the case 18 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped skeletal structure as a basic structure. The case 18 includes a vehicle mounting portion and is fixed to a vehicle structural member via the vehicle mounting portion. Typically, the case 18 is fastened to the vehicle structural member at the vehicle mounting portion using a fastener (not shown) such as a bolt, but may be fixed by other methods such as welding. In FIG. 1, only the positive electrode side vehicle mounting portion 20 and the negative electrode side vehicle mounting portion 22 on the front side of the vehicle, which are part of the vehicle mounting portion, are shown. The vehicle mounting portions 20 and 22 are fastened to a vehicle structural member (for example, a suspension member) on the front side of the vehicle via a fastener. Note that the vehicle mounting portions 20 and 22 may be integrally formed with the case 18 or may be separate bodies.

[0015] Electric energy storage device In the battery pack 10, the plurality of battery cells 12 are formed in a plate shape and arranged in a stacked state. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the stacking direction of the battery cells 12 is parallel to the vehicle width direction (vehicle left-right direction) D1. However, the stacking direction is not particularly limited, and may be parallel to the vehicle front-rear direction D2, for example. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of battery cells 12 are connected in series. 6 The battery assembly has eight stacks of four battery cells 12. These eight stacks are connected in series to form a battery assembly. Each stack of battery cells 12 is fixed to the case 18 via a pair of end plates (not shown).

[0016] Positive side Relay 14 and negative electrode side Relay 16 are arranged in the vehicle width direction D1 and are configured as separate units. Relay 14 and negative electrode side Relay 1, the battery cell 16 is disposed near one end of the case 18 (the end on the front side of the vehicle in the example shown in FIG. 1) relative to the plurality of battery cells 12 in the vehicle longitudinal direction D2, and is fixed to the case 18. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle longitudinal direction D2 corresponds to an example of the "second direction" according to the present disclosure.

[0017] Positive side Relay 14 and negative electrode side Relay 16, for example , shi Stem Main Relay ーde Specifically, the vehicle: Electric energy storage device The battery pack 10 includes a power control unit (PCU) including an inverter to control the power supplied to the electric motor. Positive and negative relays 14, 16 are provided on the positive and negative sides, respectively, between the battery assembly of the multiple battery cells 12 and the PCU. to 1, the vehicle width direction D1 corresponds to an example of the "first direction" according to the present disclosure.

[0018] The case 18 of the present embodiment includes a first skeletal structure member 24, a second skeletal structure member 26, a positive electrode side skeletal structure member 28, and a negative electrode side skeletal structure member 30. In the following description, the end wall of the case 18 on the one end side (that is, the end on the vehicle front side) is referred to as the end wall 32. Also, the end wall of the case 18 located on the opposite side of the one end in the vehicle front-rear direction D2 (that is, the vehicle rear side) is referred to as the end wall 34. The end walls 32 and 34 are also included in the skeletal structure members that form the skeleton of the case 18. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the end walls 32 and 34 extend along the vehicle width direction D1.

[0019] The second skeletal structure member 26 is disposed between the positive electrode side Relay 14 and the negative electrode side Relay 16 and the plurality of battery cells 12 (battery assembly), extends along the vehicle width direction D1, and forms the skeleton of the case 18.

[0020] The first skeletal structure member 24 extends along the vehicle front-rear direction D2 between the positive electrode side Relay 14 and the negative electrode side Relay 16, and is formed so as to connect between the end wall 32 on the one end side and the "skeletal part S" of the case 18. In the example shown in FIG. 1, first, the second skeletal structure member 26 corresponds to the skeletal part S (the "skeletal part" according to the present disclosure) here. That is, the first skeletal structure member 24 connects between the end wall 32 and the second skeletal structure member 26.

[0021] Also, in the example shown in FIG. 1, the end wall 34 located on the opposite side of the end wall 32 also corresponds to an example of the skeletal part S. That is, the first skeletal structure member 24 connects between the end wall 32 and the end wall 34. In other words, in the structural example shown in FIG. 1, the first skeletal structure member 24 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction D2 so as to connect between the end wall 32 and the second skeletal structure member 26 and also connect between the second skeletal structure member 26 and the end wall 34.

[0022] By providing the first and second skeletal structure members 24 and 26, when viewed from above the vehicle (that is, as shown in FIG. 1), the outer wall of the case 18 (including the end wall 32) and the first and second skeletal structure members 24 and 26 form the positive electrode side RelayA skeleton structure can be formed so as to surround 14. This also applies to the negative electrode side. Relay The same applies to 16.

[0023] When added, in the example shown in FIG. 1, between each adjacent stack of battery cells 12 arranged in four rows along the vehicle front-rear direction, a further skeleton structure member 36 is provided. Each skeleton structure member 36 extends along the vehicle width direction D1 and forms a skeleton in the same manner as the second skeleton structure member 26. Therefore, it can be said that each skeleton structure member 36 also corresponds to another example of the above-described skeleton portion S.

[0024] Also, the above-described positive electrode side vehicle attachment portion 20, more specifically, has a first fixing point P1 with the vehicle at a position away from the end wall 32 in the vehicle front-rear direction D2 on the side of the positive electrode side 14 in the vehicle width direction D1. And the positive electrode side skeleton structure member 28 extends along the vehicle front-rear direction D2 with a straight line L1 passing through the first fixing point P1 and parallel to the vehicle front-rear direction D2 as the central axis when viewed from above the vehicle, and is formed so as to connect between the end wall 32 and the second skeleton structure member 26. Note that the positive electrode side 14 is formed and arranged so as to avoid the positive electrode side skeleton structure member 28 within the space surrounded by the outer wall (including the end wall 32) of the case 18 and the first and second skeleton structure members 24, 26. Relay 14 is formed and arranged so as to avoid the positive electrode side skeleton structure member 28 within the space surrounded by the outer wall (including the end wall 32) of the case 18 and the first and second skeleton structure members 24, 26. Relay 14 is formed and arranged so as to avoid the positive electrode side skeleton structure member 28 within the space surrounded by the outer wall (including the end wall 32) of the case 18 and the first and second skeleton structure members 24, 26.

[0025] Similarly, the negative electrode side vehicle attachment portion 22 has a second fixing point P2 with the vehicle at a position away from the end wall 32 in the vehicle front-rear direction D2 on the side of the negative electrode side 16 in the vehicle width direction D1. And the negative electrode side skeleton structure member 30 extends along the vehicle front-rear direction D2 with a straight line L2 passing through the second fixing point P2 and parallel to the vehicle front-rear direction D2 as the central axis when viewed from above the vehicle, and is formed so as to connect between the end wall 32 and the second skeleton structure member 26. And the negative electrode side Relay 16 is formed and arranged so as to avoid the negative electrode side skeleton structure member 30 within the space surrounded by the outer wall (including the end wall 32) of the case 18 and the first and second skeleton structure members 24, 26. Relay16 is formed and arranged so as to avoid the negative electrode side skeleton structure member 30 within the space surrounded by the outer wall of the case 18 and the first and second skeleton structure members 24 and 26. Note that the case 18 does not necessarily have to include both the positive electrode side vehicle attachment portion 20 and the negative electrode side vehicle attachment portion 22, and may include only one of them.

[0026] 2. Effects FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the effects of the structure of Electric energy storage device 10 according to the embodiment. More specifically, FIG. 2 shows Electric energy storage device only the structure around the positive electrode side Relay 14 and the negative electrode side Relay 16 in 10. And FIG. 2 shows a situation where a large impact load caused by a collision in the front part of the vehicle acts on Electric energy storage device 10 via the negative electrode side vehicle attachment portion 22 as an example.

[0027] When an impact load as shown in FIG. 2 is input to the negative electrode side vehicle attachment portion 22 in an example where the first skeleton structure member 24 is not provided, on both the positive electrode side Relay 14 side and the negative electrode side Relay 16 side, the case 18 is crushed so that the end wall 32 moves to the rear side of the vehicle, and on both the positive electrode side Relay 14 and the negative electrode side Relay 16 may be damaged. As a result, there is a concern that an electrical short circuit may occur between the positive electrode side Relay 14 and the negative electrode side Relay 16.

[0028] On the other hand, the Electric energy storage device 10 of the present embodiment, as described above, the positive electrode side Relay 14 and the negative electrode side RelayIt includes a first skeletal structure member 24 disposed between 16. The first skeletal structure member 24 extends along the vehicle longitudinal direction D2 (second direction) and connects between the end wall 32 and the skeletal portion S of the case 18. As a result, when a large input is applied to the negative electrode side vehicle mounting portion 22 from the vehicle longitudinal direction D2 as in the example shown in FIG. 2, the case 18 deforms as follows. That is, by the first skeletal structure member 24 functioning as a reinforcing member, the case 18 has a negative electrode side with respect to the connection point P3 between the end wall 32 and the first skeletal structure member 24 in the vehicle width direction D1 (first direction). Relay The portion of the end wall 32 located on the 16 side is deformed so as to fall toward the 16 side of the negative electrode side like a seesaw with the connection point P3 as a fulcrum. For this reason, only the negative electrode side Relay 16 is damaged, and it is less likely that the case 18 deforms so as to crush the positive electrode side Relay 14. That is, the impact on the positive electrode side Relay 14 is alleviated, and the positive electrode side Relay 14 is more easily protected. This is the same even when an impact load is input to the positive electrode side vehicle mounting portion 20, contrary to the example shown in FIG. 2. Only the positive electrode side Relay 14 is damaged, and the negative electrode side Relay 16 is more easily protected. In other words, the resistance of Relay 10 to impact can be improved well. Electric energy storage device 10 can be improved well.

[0029] As described above, by providing the first skeletal structure member 24, when an impact load is input to the case 18 from the vehicle longitudinal direction D2 on the positive electrode side Relay 14 side or the negative electrode side Relay 16 side, it is possible to make it difficult for both the positive electrode side Relay 14 and the negative electrode side Relay 16 to be damaged. Thus, according to the structure of Electric energy storage device 10, it is possible to suppress an electrical short circuit between the positive electrode side Relay 14 and the negative electrode side Relay 16 with a simple structure.

[0030] Furthermore, the above-described effects obtained by using the first skeleton structure member 24 can be achieved even without the second skeleton structure member 26. Moreover, according to the second skeleton structure member 26 extending in the vehicle width direction D1, by the cooperation of the outer wall of the case 18 (including the end wall 32) and the first skeleton structure member 24, the positive electrode side Relay 14 and the negative electrode side Relay 16 can each form a skeleton structure surrounding them. Thereby, with respect to the input of the above-described impact load from the vehicle longitudinal direction D2, the deformation of the case 18 located around the positive electrode side Relay 14 or the negative electrode side Relay 16 on the side receiving the input can be effectively suppressed.

[0031] And in the example shown in FIG. 1, the first skeleton structure member 24 is connected (extended) to the end wall 34 on the side opposite to the end wall 32 that receives the input of the impact load. Thereby, compared with an example where the first skeleton structure member 44 extends only up to the second skeleton structure member 26 as in the example shown in FIG. 3 described later, the first skeleton structure member 24 on which the input of the impact load from the vehicle longitudinal direction D2 (the vehicle front side in FIG. 1) acts can be received by utilizing not only the second skeleton structure member 26 but also the end wall 34. That is, the movement of the first skeleton structure member 24 toward the vehicle rear side due to the input can be more sufficiently suppressed. As a result, the deformation of the case 18 (mainly the end wall 32) caused by the input reaching the positive electrode side Relay 14 or the negative electrode side Relay 16 on the non-input side can be more effectively suppressed. In addition, in the example shown in FIG. 1, a skeleton structure member 36 extending in the vehicle width direction D1 is provided between the stacked bodies of the battery cells 12 adjacent to each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction D2. And the first skeleton structure member 24 is also connected to these skeleton structure members 36 corresponding to the skeleton portion S. For this reason, a structure for more sufficiently receiving the first skeleton structure member 24 with respect to the above input by utilizing the skeleton structure member 36 is obtained.

[0032] Furthermore, the case 18 includes a positive electrode side skeleton structure member 28 and a negative electrode side skeleton structure member 30. Thereby, since the end wall 32 can be supported at the position where the above-described impact load from the vehicle longitudinal direction D2 acts, the positive electrode side on the side receiving the input of the impact loadRelay 14 or the negative electrode side Relay Deformation of the case 18 located around 16 can be more effectively suppressed.

[0033] 3. Modification example The "first skeleton structure member" according to the present disclosure may be configured as follows, for example. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the Electric energy storage device structure of 40. As shown in FIG. 3 Power storage device The case 42 of 40 includes a first skeleton structure member 44. The first skeleton structure member 44 is configured to connect only between the end wall 32 and the second skeleton structure member 26. That is, the ends of the first skeleton structure member 44 in the vehicle front-rear direction D2 are supported by the second skeleton structure member 26 (skeleton portion S). Therefore, even in such a configuration example, the impact load acting on the first skeleton structure member 24 from the vehicle front-rear direction D2 can be received by the second skeleton structure member 26, so the positive electrode side Relay 14 and the negative electrode side Relay The effect of suppressing an electrical short circuit between 16 is obtained.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the Power storage device structure of 50 according to the second modification example of the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4 Power storage device The case 52 of 50 includes a first skeleton structure member 24 in the same manner as the case 18 shown in FIG. 1, but different from the case 18, it does not include the second skeleton structure member 26 and the skeleton structure member 36. Even in such a configuration example, the impact load acting on the first skeleton structure member 24 from the vehicle front-rear direction D2 can be received by the end wall 34 (skeleton portion S) alone, so the positive electrode side Relay 14 and the negative electrode side Relay The effect of suppressing an electrical short circuit between 16 is obtained.

[0035] In addition, in an example including the skeleton structure member 36 disposed between the stacked bodies of the adjacent battery cells 12 as in the examples shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 described above, the "first skeleton structure member" according to the present disclosure may be configured to connect to a skeleton structure member 36 corresponding to another example of the "skeleton portion S" instead of the end wall 34 or the second skeleton structure member 26.

[0036] Also, in the examples shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the positive electrode side Relay 14 and the negative electrode side Relay 16 are arranged near the end wall 32 on the front side of the vehicle. However, instead of such an example, the "positive electrode side Relay " and the "negative electrode side Relay " according to the present disclosure may be arranged, for example, near the end wall of the case on the rear side of the vehicle. According to such an example, an effect of suppressing an electrical short circuit between the positive electrode side Relay and the negative electrode side Relay can be obtained against the input of an impact load from the rear side of the vehicle.

[0037] Also, in the " Power storage device " according to the present disclosure, the "first direction" is not limited to the vehicle width direction D1, and thus the "second direction" is not limited to the vehicle longitudinal direction either.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0038] 10, 40, 50 Power storage device 12 Battery cell 14 Positive electrode side Relay 16 Negative electrode side Relay 18, 42, 52 Power storage device Case of 20 Positive electrode side vehicle attachment portion 22 Negative electrode side vehicle attachment portion 24, 44 First skeleton structure member 26 Second skeleton structure member 28 Positive electrode side skeleton structure member 30 Negative electrode side skeleton structure member 32, 34 End wall 36 Skeleton structure member

Claims

1. A battery pack mounted on a vehicle, comprising: one or more battery cells; a positive electrode side device and a negative electrode side device arranged along a first direction and separately configured; a case that houses the one or more battery cells, the positive electrode side device, and the negative electrode side device; wherein the positive electrode side device and the negative electrode side device are arranged closer to one end of the case than the one or more battery cells in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction when viewed from above the vehicle; the case includes a first skeleton structure member that extends along the second direction between the positive electrode side device and the negative electrode side device and is formed to connect between an end wall of the case on the one end side and a skeleton portion of the case; The battery pack is characterized by the above.

2. The skeleton portion is a second skeleton structure member that is arranged between the positive electrode side device, the negative electrode side device, and the one or more battery cells and extends along the first direction to form a skeleton of the case. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The skeleton portion is an end wall of the case located on the opposite side of the one end in the second direction. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

4. The skeleton portion is a second skeleton structure member that is arranged between the positive electrode side device, the negative electrode side device, and the one or more battery cells and extends along the first direction to form a skeleton of the case, and the first skeleton structure member extends in the second direction so as to connect between the second skeleton structure member and an end wall of the case located on the opposite side of the one end in the second direction. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

5. The battery pack further includes a positive electrode side vehicle attachment portion having a first fixing point with the vehicle at a position away from the end wall of the case on the one end side in the second direction on the side of the positive electrode side device in the first direction, wherein the case includes a positive electrode side skeleton structure member that extends along the second direction with a straight line passing through the first fixing point and parallel to the second direction as a central axis when viewed from above the vehicle and is formed to connect between the end wall of the case on the one end side and the second skeleton structure member. The battery pack according to claim 2 or 4, characterized by the above.

6. The battery pack further includes a negative electrode side vehicle attachment portion having a second fixing point with the vehicle at a position away from the end wall of the case at the one end side on the side of the negative electrode side device in the first direction. The case includes a negative electrode side skeleton structure member that extends along the second direction with a straight line passing through the second fixing point and parallel to the second direction as a central axis when the vehicle is viewed from above, and is formed so as to connect between the end wall of the case at the one end side and the second skeleton structure member. The battery pack according to claim 2 or 4, characterized in that.

7. The first direction is the vehicle width direction of the vehicle. The second direction is the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that.

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