Pipe joint unit

Abstract

To provide a pipe joint unit that achieves mounting and fixation thereof to a case wall in a simple manner and at low cost.SOLUTION: A pipe joint unit includes: a first joint member having a pipe part in a tubular shape extending through a case through-hole provided in a case wall, and a flange part integrated with the pipe part and extending radially outward at a position midway in an extending direction of the pipe part; and a second joint member having a plate part in a plate shape, the plate part being provided with a plate through-hole where the pipe part penetrates and opposing the flange part with the case wall interposed therebetween, the second joint member being capable of performing relative rotation with respect to the first joint member. The first joint member and the second joint member have a pipe mounting structure configured to fix the pipe part to the case wall with a relative distance, in the extending direction between the flange part and the plate part, reduced by the first joint member and the second joint member performing relative rotation in a first direction of a circumferential direction of the pipe part in a state where the flange part and the plate part oppose each other with the case wall interposed therebetween in the extending direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a piping joint unit for fixing a piping section to a case wall of a battery pack mounted on, for example, an electric vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, battery packs mounted on automobiles such as electric vehicles have been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). A battery pack is a battery module in which a plurality of single cells of secondary batteries, such as lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, or nickel-zinc batteries, are connected in series or parallel, and the resulting battery module is housed in a case. Batteries mounted on automobiles are often placed in harsh operating environments and exposed to high-temperature outside air, and when used as a power source for the automobile, they are subject to repeated charging and discharging, making them prone to becoming hot.

[0003] Therefore, the battery pack described in Patent Document 1 is provided with piping for supplying a refrigerant from the outside into the case to cool the battery modules through heat exchange. The piping includes internal piping that runs throughout the case that houses the battery modules, and a piping joint unit that is attached to the wall of the case and connects the internal piping to an external piping on the supply source side.

[0004] The piping joint unit has a tubular piping portion and a flange portion extending radially outward from the outer periphery of the piping portion. A case through hole is provided in the wall of the case, into which the piping portion of the piping joint unit is inserted. The piping joint unit is arranged so that, with the piping portion inserted into the case through hole, the flange portion faces the case wall via a seal member that ensures sealing at the case through hole. A plurality of bolt holes are formed in the flange portion and the case wall, respectively. Bolts are inserted into the bolt holes in the flange portion and the bolt holes in the case wall and fastened to nuts, whereby the piping joint unit is attached and fixed to the case wall with sealing ensured by the seal member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-526828 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, in the above-described method of fastening the piping joint unit to the case using bolts, bolts must be provided separately from the flanges of the objects to be connected and from the case wall, which makes it time-consuming to assemble the piping joint unit to the case wall and requires the preparation of bolts, thereby increasing the number of steps required to assemble the piping joint unit to the case wall and raising manufacturing costs.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a piping joint unit that can be easily and inexpensively attached and fixed to a case wall. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] One aspect of the present invention is a piping joint unit comprising: a first joint member having a cylindrical piping portion extending through a case through-hole formed in a case wall; and a flange portion integrated with the piping portion and expanding radially outward midway in the extension direction of the piping portion; and a second joint member having a plate-shaped plate portion facing the flange portion across the case wall and having a plate through-hole through which the piping portion passes, the second joint member being rotatable relative to the first joint member, wherein the first joint member and the second joint member rotate relatively in a first direction circumferentially of the piping portion with the flange portion and the plate portion opposing each other across the case wall in the extension direction, thereby reducing the relative distance between the flange portion and the plate portion in the extension direction and fixing the piping portion to the case wall.

[0009] According to this configuration, the piping joint unit can be attached and fixed to the case wall easily and at low cost. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack including a piping joint unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of the piping joint unit of the present embodiment as seen from inside the case (however, only a part of the case, that is, the case wall, is shown). FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the piping joint unit of the present embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is an exploded view of the piping joint unit of the present embodiment (including the case wall). FIG. [Figure 5] 1 is a perspective view of a first joint member included in the piping joint unit of the present embodiment, as viewed from the outside of the case (however, only a part of the case, that is, the case wall, is shown). FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a front view of a first joint member included in the piping joint unit of the present embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the part surrounded by the dashed dotted line in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first joint member included in the piping joint unit of the present embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is an outer view of a second joint member included in the piping joint unit of the present embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Specific embodiments and modifications of the piping joint unit according to the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 10. In the present embodiment and modifications, "inside" and "outside" are based on the case 20, with "inside" referring to the inside of the case 20 and "outside" referring to the outside of the case 20.

[0012] The piping joint unit 40 of this embodiment is a piping connection structure applied to a battery pack 1 mounted in an automobile or a home power storage facility. The automobile in which the battery pack 1 is mounted is, for example, an electric automobile, a hybrid automobile, or a plug-in hybrid automobile. When the battery pack 1 is mounted in an automobile, it is preferable that the battery pack 1 includes a battery that serves as a power source for running the automobile.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the battery pack 1 includes a battery module 10 and a case 20, and further includes a piping joint unit 40.

[0014] The battery module 10 is a device that generates electric power. The battery module 10 has battery cells 11. The battery cell 11 is the smallest unit that constitutes a battery. The battery cells 11 are formed, for example, in a laminated, cylindrical, or prismatic shape. The battery cells 11 are secondary batteries such as lithium-ion battery cells, nickel-metal hydride battery cells, nickel-cadmium battery cells, and all-solid-state battery cells. The battery module 10 is modularized by connecting multiple battery cells 11 in series or in parallel.

[0015] The battery module 10 is housed in a case 20. The case 20 is a box-shaped member surrounded by a case wall 21, and is formed, for example, in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The case 20 is made of a metal such as aluminum. The case wall 21 is preferably formed in a flat plate shape. A case through hole 22 is provided in the case wall 21. The case through hole 22 is formed in a shape that allows the piping portion 51 of the piping joint unit 40 to be inserted therein.

[0016] The battery module 10 also has an internal piping unit 12. The internal piping unit 12 is a piping unit for cooling the battery cells 11. The internal piping unit 12 has cooling paths 12a that communicate with an inlet through which the refrigerant flows and an outlet through which the refrigerant flows out. It is preferable that the cooling paths 12a of the internal piping unit 12 are laid out evenly within the case 20, and it is preferable that the battery cells 11 in the case 20 are cooled evenly by the refrigerant flowing through the cooling paths 12a.

[0017] The internal piping unit 12 is connected to the external piping unit 30 via an inlet-side piping joint unit 40 and to the external piping unit 30 via an outlet-side piping joint unit 40. Hereinafter, the inlet-side piping joint unit 40 will be simply referred to as the inlet-side piping unit 40A, and the outlet-side piping joint unit 40 will be simply referred to as the outlet-side piping unit 40B, as appropriate. Furthermore, the inlet-side external piping unit 30 will be referred to as the inlet-side external piping unit 30A, and the outlet-side external piping unit 30 will be referred to as the outlet-side external piping unit 30B, as appropriate. The refrigerant circulates in the following order: inlet-side external piping unit 30A → inlet-side piping unit 40A → cooling path 12a of the internal piping unit 12 → outlet-side piping unit 40B → outlet-side external piping unit 30B.

[0018] Each piping joint unit 40 is a connection unit that connects the external piping unit 30 and the internal piping unit 12. Each piping joint unit 40 is attached and fixed to the case wall 21 of the case 20. Each piping joint unit 40 is arranged and formed so as to sandwich the case wall 21 at a location where the case through-hole 22 is provided in the case wall 21.

[0019] 2, 3, and 4, the piping joint unit 40 includes a first joint member 50, a second joint member 60, and a seal member 70. The first joint member 50, the second joint member 60, and the seal member 70 are configured as separate parts. The piping joint unit 40 is attached and fixed to the case wall 21 by assembling the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 together.

[0020] The first joint member 50 is molded from, for example, resin. The material of the first joint member 50 is, for example, a thermoplastic resin such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) or polypropylene (PP). The first joint member 50 has a piping portion 51 and a flange portion 52. The piping portion 51 is a hollow cylindrical portion through which a fluid flows. The piping portion 51 extends through the inside and outside of the case through-hole 22 of the case wall 21. The piping portion 51 is formed so that a part or the whole of it has a straight or curved shape.

[0021] The piping section 51 is provided with an inlet section 53 through which the fluid flows in, and an outlet section 54 through which the fluid flows out. The fluid flowing through the piping section 51 may be any fluid that cools the battery cells 11 inside the case 20, and may be, for example, water.

[0022] In the inlet-side piping unit 40A, the inlet section 53 of the piping section 51 is arranged outside the case wall 21, and the outlet section 54 is arranged inside the case wall 21. In the outlet-side piping unit 40B, the inlet section 53 of the piping section 51 is arranged inside the case wall 21, and the outlet section 54 is arranged outside the case wall 21. Note that the inlet-side piping unit 40A and the outlet-side piping unit 40B may be formed from common members, and the components arranged inside and outside the case wall 21 may be reversed, specifically, the inlet section 53 and the outlet section 54 may be reversed.

[0023] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 to 6 and 8, the piping section 51 of the inlet side piping unit 40A and the piping section 51 of the outlet side piping unit 40B may each be formed by branching into two or more branches inside the case wall 21, and the outlet section 54 of the inlet side piping unit 40A and the inlet section 53 of the outlet side piping unit 40B may each be provided in two or more locations.

[0024] Hereinafter, it is assumed that the outlet portion 54 of the inlet side piping unit 40A and the inlet portion 53 of the outlet side piping unit 40B are each provided in two locations, and that the inlet portion 53 of the inlet side piping unit 40A and the outlet portion 54 of the outlet side piping unit 40B are each provided in one location. That is, it is assumed that the piping portion 51 of the inlet side piping unit 40A and the piping portion 51 of the outlet side piping unit 40B are each formed in a T-shape. Furthermore, hereinafter, the inlet side piping unit 40A will be described as a representative of the piping joint unit 40, excluding the relationship between the inflow and outflow of fluid.

[0025] The flange portion 52 is a plate-like portion that extends radially outward from the pipe portion 51. The flange portion 52 is integrated with the pipe portion 51. The pipe portion 51 and the flange portion 52 are integrated, for example, by integral molding of resin, or by assembling and fixing a part on which the pipe portion 51 is formed and a part on which the flange portion 52 is formed.

[0026] The flange portion 52 is provided around the entire circumference of the piping portion 51 (specifically, the side inserted into the case through-hole 22 of the case wall 21; the inlet portion 53 side in the inlet-side piping unit 40A) in the extending direction X. The flange portion 52 is formed, for example, in a circular or rectangular shape. The flange portion 52 is arranged inside the case 20 such that the outer surface of the flange portion 52 faces the inner surface of the case wall 21 via the seal member 70. The first joint member 50 is arranged such that the piping portion 51 is inserted into the case through-hole 22 of the case wall 21 from inside the case 20, and the flange portion 52 faces the inner surface of the case wall 21.

[0027] The flange portion 52 has a catch portion 55. The catch portion 55 is a portion that catches on the outer surface of the case wall 21 after the piping joint unit 40 is attached to the case wall 21. The catch portions 55 are provided at a plurality of locations around the axial center on the flange portion 52, and are preferably provided at symmetrical locations on either side of the axial center, for example. The catch portion 55 has a flexible portion 55a and a claw portion 55b.

[0028] The flexible portion 55a is a portion that protrudes outward from the outer surface of the flange portion 52 and is formed so as to be flexible and deformable in a direction (specifically, a radial direction) intersecting the protruding direction (i.e., the inward / outward direction of the flange portion 52). The claw portion 55b is a portion that protrudes radially at the tip of the flexible portion 55a. The claw portion 55b is formed in a tapered shape so that the amount of radial protrusion increases from the tip side to the base side of the flexible portion 55a. Note that the claw portion 55b may be formed so as to be flexible and deformable in the circumferential direction.

[0029] The case through-hole 22 in the case wall 21 is formed in a shape (for example, a hook-shaped cross shape as shown in FIG. 4 ) that allows the inlet portion 53 of the piping portion 51 to be inserted and the catch portion 55 to be inserted. The case through-hole 22 is formed so that when the piping portion 51 and the catch portion 55 are inserted, rotation of the first joint member 50 relative to the case wall 21 is restricted, and the first joint member 50 is positioned relative to the case wall 21.

[0030] When the piping joint unit 40 is attached and fixed to the case wall 21, first, the first joint member 50 comprising the piping portion 51 and the flange portion 52 is placed inside the case 20, and the inlet portion 53 side of the piping portion 51 and the hook portion 55 are inserted into the case through-hole 22 of the case wall 21 and are positioned so as to protrude from the inside to the outside of the case wall 21. In the process of inserting the hook portion 55 into the case through-hole 22 of the case wall 21, the flexible portion 55a is pressed against the periphery of the case through-hole 22 in the case wall 21 and is deflected and deformed, and then, after the claw portion 55b passes through the case through-hole 22, the pressing force from the periphery of the case through-hole 22 is released and the flexible portion 55a returns to its original shape.

[0031] As a result, even if a force acts on the first joint member 50 to pull it from the outside to the inside of the case 20 after the claw portion 55b of the catch portion 55 passes through the case through-hole 22, the claw portion 55b catches on the outer surface of the case wall 21, preventing the first joint member 50 from being pulled out to the inside of the case 20.

[0032] The second joint member 60 is molded, for example, from a resin. The material of the second joint member 60 is a thermoplastic resin such as polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) or polypropylene (PP). The second joint member 60 is rotatable relative to the first joint member 50. The second joint member 60 has a plate portion 61. As shown in FIG. 4 , the plate portion 61 is a plate-shaped portion that faces the flange portion 52 of the first joint member 50 across the case wall 21 during and after the installation and fixing of the piping joint unit 40 to the case wall 21. The plate portion 61 is formed, for example, in a rectangular or circular shape. The plate portion 61 is molded, for example, from a resin. The plate portion 61 is arranged outside the case 20 so as to contact the outer surface of the case wall 21.

[0033] The plate portion 61 has a plate through-hole 62. The plate through-hole 62 is a hole through which the piping portion 51 passes. The plate through-hole 62 is provided near the center of the body of the plate portion 61. The plate through-hole 62 is formed in a shape that allows the piping portion 51 to be inserted therein and to rotate relatively therethrough. The second joint member 60 is disposed outside the case 20 so that the plate portion 61 faces the outer surface of the case wall 21 and the piping portion 51 is inserted into the plate through-hole 62.

[0034] The piping joint unit 40 is attached and fixed to the case wall 21 by assembling the first joint member 50 forming the piping portion 51 and the flange portion 52 and the second joint member 60 forming the plate portion 61 to each other, with the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 facing each other across the case wall 21 and the piping portion 51 passing through the case through-hole 22 in the case wall 21 and the plate through-hole 62 in the plate portion 61.

[0035] The first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 have a piping mounting structure 80. The piping mounting structure 80 is a structure that fastens the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 to the case wall 21 to fix the piping portion 51 to the case wall 21. The piping mounting structure 80 fixes the piping portion 51 to the case wall 21 by causing the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 to rotate relative to each other in a first direction (e.g., a clockwise direction) in the circumferential direction of the piping portion 51 at a predetermined interval, thereby reducing the relative distance between the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 in the opposing direction (i.e., the extension direction X of the piping portion 51).

[0036] The specified state is a state in which the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 face each other across the case wall 21 in the extension direction X of the piping portion 51, the piping portion 51 and the hook portion 55 are inserted into the case through-hole 22 of the case wall 21, and the piping portion 51 passes through the plate through-hole 62 of the plate portion 61.

[0037] 4, 7, 8, and 10, the piping mounting structure 80 has a first inclined surface 81 and a second inclined surface 82. The first inclined surface 81 is an inclined surface formed on the first joint member 50. The second inclined surface 82 is an inclined surface formed on the second joint member 60. The inclined surfaces 81 and 82 are formed so as to come into contact with each other when the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 rotate relatively to each other in the first direction in the predetermined state.

[0038] The first inclined surface 81 and the second inclined surface 82 are each formed to extend along the circumferential direction of the piping portion 51. The first inclined surface 81 and the second inclined surface 82 are each inclined so that the height position in the extension direction X changes depending on the circumferential position. The first inclined surface 81 and the second inclined surface 82 are configured to approach and come into contact with each other as the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 rotate relative to each other in the first direction.

[0039] The first inclined surface 81 of the first joint member 50 is inclined in the extending direction X in a direction opposite to the arrangement side of the second joint member 60 relative to the first joint member 50 (i.e., toward the inside of the case 20, i.e., inward). The first inclined surface 81 is provided on a protruding portion 83 that protrudes outward from the outer surface of the flange portion 52 of the first joint member 50. The protruding portion 83 is formed in an L-shape that protrudes outward from the flange portion 52 and bends and extends radially at its tip. The protruding portion 83 also has a first engagement surface 84. The first engagement surface 84 is a surface of the protruding portion 83 that faces inward without being inclined. The first engagement surface 84 is provided circumferentially continuous with the inner end of the first inclined surface 81.

[0040] The second inclined surface 82 is inclined in the extension direction X of the second joint member 60 in a direction opposite to the arrangement side of the first joint member 50 relative to the second joint member 60 (i.e., toward the outside of the case 20 = outward). The second joint member 60 is provided with a second engagement surface 85. The second engagement surface 85 is a surface of the second joint member 60 that faces outward without being inclined. The second engagement surface 85 is provided continuous with the outer end of the second inclined surface 82 in the circumferential direction.

[0041] The first engagement surface 84 and the second engagement surface 85 come into contact with each other and engage with each other when the relative rotation in the first direction continues after the first inclined surface 81 and the second inclined surface 82 come into contact with each other due to the relative rotation in the first direction between the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60. The first engagement surface 84 and the second engagement surface 85 engage with each other while facing the extension direction X.

[0042] As the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 rotate relative to each other in the first direction, a force is generated when the first inclined surface 81 and the second inclined surface 82 come into surface contact with each other, causing the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 to approach each other in the extension direction X, thereby reducing the relative distance in the extension direction X between the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61. Then, as the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 rotate relative to each other in the first direction, a force is generated when the first engagement surface 84 and the second engagement surface 85 come into surface contact with each other, causing the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 to sandwich the case wall 21, and the piping portion 51 is fixed to the case wall 21.

[0043] The first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 have a rotation prevention structure 90. The rotation prevention structure 90 is a structure that prevents the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 from rotating relative to each other in a second direction opposite to the first direction in the circumferential direction of the pipe member 51 when the pipe portion 51 is fixed to the case wall 21 by the pipe mounting structure 80. The rotation prevention structure 90 prevents the relative rotation after the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 rotate relative to each other in the first direction from the predetermined state, causing the engagement surfaces 84, 85 to come into contact with each other and fixing the pipe portion 51 to the case wall 21.

[0044] The rotation prevention structure 90 has a first rotation prevention portion 91 provided on the first joint member 50 and a second rotation prevention portion 92 provided on the second joint member 60. The first rotation prevention portion 91 faces the second rotation prevention portion 92 in the extension direction X when the piping portion 51 and the hook portion 55 are inserted into the case through-hole 22 of the case wall 21 in a state where the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 face each other in the extension direction X with the case wall 21 sandwiched therebetween, and then faces the second rotation prevention portion 92 in the circumferential direction (specifically, the second direction) after the engagement surfaces 84, 85 come into contact with each other and the piping portion 51 is fixed to the case wall 21.

[0045] The first rotation stop portion 91 is the protruding portion 83 described above, and is formed in a shape that allows the second rotation stop portion 92 to bend and deform in the extension direction X, and is also formed in a shape that allows it to come into contact with the second rotation stop portion 92 in the second circumferential direction. That is, the first rotation stop portion 91 has a pressing surface that comes into contact with the second rotation stop portion 92 in the extension direction X when it moves in the extension direction X, and also has a restricting surface that can come into contact with the second rotation stop portion 92 in the second circumferential direction after the piping portion 51 is fixed to the case wall 21.

[0046] The second rotation preventing portion 92 is capable of being flexibly deformed in the extension direction X of the piping portion 51 in the second joint member 60. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 10, the second rotation preventing portion 92 is capable of being flexibly deformed outward in the extension direction X from its normal state. The second rotation preventing portion 92 is formed in the shape of a leaf spring.

[0047] Note that the second rotation preventing portion 92 may extend in either the circumferential direction or the radial direction from the main body side of the second joint member 60 as long as it is capable of bending in the extension direction X. However, it is preferable that the second rotation preventing portion 92 extend in the circumferential direction in order to ensure a length from the base portion connected to the main body of the second joint member 60 to the tip portion so as to facilitate bending in the extension direction X, while also achieving a compact size of the second joint member 60. Furthermore, the second rotation preventing portion 92 extending in the circumferential direction may extend linearly in the circumferential direction, or may extend curvedly along the circumferential direction as shown in FIG.

[0048] The second rotation prevention portion 92 is flexibly deformed by being pressed outward in the extension direction X by the first rotation prevention portion 91 when the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 are moved toward each other in the extension direction X while the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 are facing each other across the case wall 21 in the extension direction X and the piping portion 51 and the hook portion 55 are inserted into the case through-hole 22 in the case wall 21 and the plate through-hole 62 in the plate portion 61.

[0049] Before the second rotation prevention portion 92 is pressed by the first rotation prevention portion 91, the second inclined surface 82 has not reached a position in the extension direction X where it can come into contact with the first inclined surface 81, and the first inclined surface 81 and the second inclined surface 82 cannot come into contact with each other even when the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 rotate relatively in the first direction. On the other hand, when the second rotation prevention portion 92 is pressed outward in the extension direction X by the first rotation prevention portion 91 and is flexibly deformed, the second inclined surface 82 can reach a position in the extension direction X where it can come into contact with the first inclined surface 81, and after it reaches that position, when the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 rotate relatively in the first direction, the first inclined surface 81 and the second inclined surface 82 come into contact with each other.

[0050] As the relative rotation between the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 in the first direction progresses, the second rotation preventing member 92 is released from the pressure from the first rotation preventing member 91 and the above-mentioned bending deformation, thereby returning to its original position. Once the second rotation preventing member 92 returns to its original position, the first rotation preventing member 91 and the second rotation preventing member 92 thereafter face each other in the second circumferential direction, and the relative rotation between the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 in the second direction is restricted.

[0051] The sealing member 70 is a member that seals between the flange portion 52 and the case wall 21 on the outer periphery side of the piping portion 51. The sealing member 70 is formed so that the portion of the piping portion 51 that is inserted into the case wall 21 (i.e., the inlet portion 53 side) can be inserted into the sealing member 70. The sealing member 70 is arranged to surround the outer periphery of the inlet portion 53 side of the piping portion 51. The sealing member 70 is, for example, a gasket formed in an annular shape. The sealing member 70 is made of, for example, resin. Note that the piping joint unit 40 may be provided with an annular sealing member that seals between the plate portion 61 and the case wall 21 on the outer periphery side of the piping portion 51, together with or instead of the sealing member 70 that seals between the flange portion 52 and the case wall 21.

[0052] The second joint member 60 has a handle portion 63. The handle portion 63 is a portion that assists in the work of attaching and fixing the piping joint unit 40 to the case wall 21, i.e., the work of assembling the second joint member 60 to the first joint member 50 (specifically, the work of moving it in the extension direction X and the work of rotating it in the circumferential direction). The handle portion 63 is formed in a shape that makes it easy for the worker to perform the above-mentioned assembling work, and is formed, for example, so as to protrude outward from the outer surface of the plate portion 61. The handle portions 63 are arranged, for example, on the periphery of the plate portion 61 far from the center of rotation (particularly, the farthest periphery is preferable), and are provided at multiple locations on the periphery (four locations in FIG. 4, etc.).

[0053] The piping joint unit 40 (specifically, the inlet side piping unit 40A) is attached and fixed to the case wall 21 in the following procedure.

[0054] First, the piping portion 51 of the first joint member 50 is inserted into the seal member 70, and the first joint member 50 is placed inside the case 20, with the inlet portion 53 side and the catch portion 55 of the piping portion 51 inserted into the case through-hole 22 of the case wall 21 and placed so as to protrude from the inside to the outside of the case wall 21. At this time, the first joint member 50 is positioned relative to the case wall 21, and the seal member 70 is interposed between the flange portion 52 of the first joint member 50 and the case wall 21.

[0055] Next, the second joint member 60 is moved inward in the extension direction X outside the case 20 so that the plate portion 61 faces the flange portion 52 with the case wall 21 therebetween and the tip end of the piping portion 51 is inserted into the plate through-hole 62 of the plate portion 61. As the movement of the second joint member 60 continues, the second rotation stopper 92 of the second joint member 60 is pressed by the first rotation stopper 91 of the first joint member 50 and is flexibly deformed outward in the extension direction X.

[0056] With the second rotation preventing portion 92 flexibly deformed as described above, the second joint member 60 is rotated in the first direction relative to the first joint member 50. When the second joint member 60 is rotated in the first direction relative to the first joint member 50, the first inclined surface 81 and the second inclined surface 82 come into contact with each other. When the rotation in the first direction continues after such contact has occurred, the inclined surfaces 81 and 82 come into contact with each other and shift in position in the extension direction X as the second joint member 60 approaches the first joint member 50 in the extension direction X.

[0057] When the inclined surfaces 81, 82 transition from a state in which they are in contact with each other to a state in which the engagement surfaces 84, 85 are in contact with each other, the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 come closest to each other in the extension direction X, and the relative distance between the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 in the extension direction X decreases. Note that the bending deformation of the second rotation preventing portion 92 is released as the relative rotation between the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 in the first direction progresses.

[0058] When the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 approach each other in the extension direction X and the relative distance between the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 in the extension direction X decreases, the force with which the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 sandwich the case wall 21 increases, and the piping portion 51 is fixed to the case wall 21. In this case, the seal member 70 is interposed between the flange portion 52 and the case wall 21.

[0059] In addition, when an operator attaches and fixes the piping joint unit 40 to the case wall 21, that is, when the operator moves the second joint member 60 inward in the extension direction X relative to the first joint member 50, or when the operator rotates the second joint member 60 relative to the first joint member 50 in a first direction circumferentially of the piping section 51, the operator generally holds the handle portion 63 of the second joint member 60 in his or her hand.

[0060] In this way, according to the piping joint unit 40, the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 are arranged so that the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 face each other across the case wall 21, and then rotated relative to each other in a first direction that is the circumferential direction of the piping member 51, thereby assembling them together and reducing the relative distance between the flange portion 52 and the plate portion 61 in the extension direction X. This allows the piping member 51 to be fixed to the case wall 21.

[0061] Specifically, first, the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 are moved toward each other in the extension direction X of the pipe portion 51, and the first rotation prevention member 91 flexibly deforms the second rotation prevention member 92. Next, in this flexibly deformed state, the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 are rotated relatively in a first circumferential direction of the pipe portion 51, and the first inclined surface 81 and the second inclined surface 82 are brought into surface contact. As this relative rotation progresses, the inclined surfaces 81 and 82 are misaligned in the extension direction X, and finally the first engagement surface 84 and the second engagement surface 85 are engaged with each other. This allows the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 to be assembled together and the pipe portion 51 to be fixed to the case wall 21.

[0062] In this configuration, it is not necessary to prepare multiple bolts and bolt holes corresponding to the bolts in order to attach and fix the piping joint unit 40 to the case wall 21. Therefore, it is sufficient to prepare the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 to perform the above-mentioned attachment and fixation, so that it is possible to easily and inexpensively attach and fix the piping joint unit 40 to the case wall 21. Furthermore, it is not necessary to insert each bolt into a bolt hole and fasten them in order to perform the above-mentioned attachment and fixation, so the number of assembly steps can be reduced.

[0063] Furthermore, when the piping joint unit 40 is attached and fixed to the case wall 21, an annular sealing member 70 is interposed between the flange portion 52 of the first joint member 50 and the case wall 21. This ensures sealing around the case through-hole 22 in the case wall 21, preventing water from entering the case 20 from outside and liquid from leaking from the inside of the case 20 to the outside of the case 20.

[0064] Furthermore, according to the piping joint unit 40, the rotation prevention structure 90 can restrict relative rotation in the second direction between the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 while the piping section 51 is fixed to the case wall 21 by the piping mounting structure 80.

[0065] Specifically, in the rotation prevention structure 90, the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 move toward each other in the extension direction X, thereby pressing the first rotation prevention portion 91 against the second rotation prevention portion 92, causing the second rotation prevention portion 92 to bend and deform from its normal state, and then the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 rotate relative to each other in the first direction, causing the first rotation prevention portion 91 to move circumferentially, thereby releasing the bending deformation of the second rotation prevention portion 92 and returning the second rotation prevention portion 92 to its normal state.

[0066] As described above, when the second rotation prevention portion 92 flexes and deforms from its normal state, the first rotation prevention portion 91 moves in the first direction from its abutment with the second rotation prevention portion 92, and the second rotation prevention portion 92 returns to its normal state, the first rotation prevention portion 91 and the second rotation prevention portion 92 can abut against each other in the second circumferential direction, thereby restricting relative rotation between the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 in the second direction.

[0067] Therefore, with the piping portion 51 fixed to the case wall 21 by the piping mounting structure 80, the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 are prevented from rotating relative to each other in the second direction in which the inclined surfaces 81, 82 come into contact with each other or the engagement surfaces 84, 85 are disengaged from each other. Therefore, after the piping portion 51 is fixed to the case wall 21, the assembly of the first joint member 50 and the second joint member 60 is prevented from being disengaged, and the piping portion 51 can be prevented from being unnecessarily removed from the case wall 21, thereby improving the reliability of the piping joint unit 40.

[0068] Furthermore, the piping joint unit 40 can be attached and fixed to the case wall 21 by an operator picking up the handle portion 63 of the second joint member 60 and moving the second joint member 60 inward in the extension direction X relative to the first joint member 50, or by an operator rotating the second joint member 60 relative to the first joint member 50 in a first direction which is the circumferential direction of the piping portion 51. This improves the ease with which an operator can attach and fix the piping joint unit 40 to the case wall 21.

[0069] In the above embodiment, when attaching and fixing the piping joint unit 40 to the case wall 21, the first joint member 50 is first placed inside the case 20, and then the second joint member 60 is assembled to the first joint member 50. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to a configuration in which, when attaching and fixing the piping joint unit 40 to the case wall 21, the second joint member 60 is first placed outside the case 20, and then the first joint member 50 is assembled to the second joint member 60 with the case wall 21 sandwiched between them.

[0070] In the above modified embodiment, a handle portion for assisting the assembling operation of the second joint member 60 to the first joint member 50 may be provided on the first joint member 50 instead of the second joint member 60.

[0071] In the above embodiment, the rotation prevention structure 90 includes the first rotation prevention portion 91, which is the protruding portion 83 provided on the first joint member 50, and the second rotation prevention portion 92, which is flexible and deformable, provided on the second joint member 60. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Conversely, the rotation prevention structure may be applied to a configuration including the first rotation prevention portion, which is flexible and deformable, provided on the first joint member 50, and the second rotation prevention portion, which is a protruding portion provided on the second joint member 60.

[0072] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, including implementing the invention by appropriately extracting and combining elements described in the embodiments. Furthermore, the specification of the present invention discloses not only the citation relationships of each claim as originally filed, but also the technical idea of ​​appropriately combining the matters described in each claim. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1: battery pack, 10: battery module, 11: battery cell, 12: internal piping unit, 12a: cooling path, 20: case, 21: case wall, 22: case through-hole, 30: external piping unit, 40: piping joint unit, 40A: inlet side piping unit, 40B: outlet side piping unit, 50: first joint member, 51: piping portion, 52: flange portion, 53: inlet portion, 54: outlet portion, 55: hook portion, 55a: flexible portion, 55b: claw portion, 60: second joint member, 61: plate portion, 62: plate through-hole, 63: handle portion, 70: sealing member, 80: piping mounting structure, 81: first inclined surface, 82: second inclined surface, 83: protruding portion, 84: first engagement surface, 85: second engagement surface, 90: rotation prevention structure, 91: first rotation prevention portion, 92: second rotation prevention portion, X: extension direction.

Claims

1. a first joint member including a cylindrical piping portion extending through a case through-hole provided in a case wall, and a flange portion integrated with the piping portion and extending radially outward midway along the extension direction of the piping portion; a second joint member having a plate-shaped plate portion, the plate portion having a plate through-hole through which the piping portion passes and facing the flange portion with the case wall interposed therebetween, the second joint member being rotatable relative to the first joint member; Equipped with the first joint member and the second joint member have a pipe mounting structure in which the flange portion and the plate portion face each other across the case wall in the extension direction, and the first joint member and the second joint member rotate relative to each other in a first direction circumferentially of the piping portion, thereby reducing the relative distance between the flange portion and the plate portion in the extension direction and fixing the piping portion to the case wall.

2. The piping mounting structure includes: a first inclined surface formed on the first joint member so as to extend along the circumferential direction, the height position of which in the extending direction varies depending on the circumferential position; a second inclined surface formed on the second joint member to extend along the circumferential direction, the second inclined surface having a height position in the extending direction that varies depending on a circumferential position, and the second inclined surface approaching and coming into contact with the first inclined surface as the first joint member and the second joint member rotate relative to each other in the first direction; 2. The piping joint unit according to claim 1, comprising:

3. the first inclined surface is inclined in the first joint member in the extension direction toward a direction opposite to a side of the first joint member where the second joint member is disposed, 3. The piping joint unit according to claim 2, wherein the second inclined surface is inclined in the extension direction of the second joint member in a direction opposite to a side on which the first joint member is disposed relative to the second joint member.

4. 2. The piping joint unit according to claim 1, wherein the first joint member and the second joint member have a rotation prevention structure that prevents the first joint member and the second joint member from rotating relative to each other in a second direction opposite to the first direction in the circumferential direction with the piping portion fixed to the case wall by the piping mounting structure.

5. 2. The piping joint unit according to claim 1, further comprising an annular seal member for sealing between the flange portion or the plate portion on the outer periphery of the piping portion and the case wall.

6. 2. The piping joint unit according to claim 1, wherein the second joint member has a handle portion that assists in assembling the second joint member to the first joint member.

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