Electricity storage device and service plug cover

Abstract

To provide an electricity storage device and a service plug cover that can improve sealing performance. [Solution] The power storage device B according to the present disclosure includes a battery module 21, a service plug 24 that interrupts an electrical circuit connected to the battery module 21, and a housing 1 that houses the battery module 21 and the service plug 24. The housing 1 has a service plug operation hole 111 for operating the service plug 24, and a service plug cover 3 that seals the service plug operation hole 111. The service plug cover 3 is provided with a structure having a through hole that penetrates from the inside to the outside of the housing 1.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electric storage device and a service plug cover. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an electricity storage device that has a service plug, a service plug operation hole for operating the service plug, and a lid member for sealing the service plug operation hole. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-157741 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the housing of the storage battery device is provided with not only a service plug operation hole for operating the service plug, but also multiple structures with through holes such as explosion-proof valves and cable outlet holes, which results in a problem of reduced sealing performance. Patent Document 1 does not disclose any technology that can solve such problems.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and has an object to provide an electric storage device and a service plug cover that can improve sealing performance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The power storage device according to the present disclosure includes a battery module, a service plug that interrupts an electrical circuit connected to the battery module, and a housing that houses the battery module and the service plug. The housing has a service plug operation hole for operating the service plug and a service plug cover that seals the service plug operation hole. The service plug cover is provided with a structure having a through hole that penetrates the interior and exterior of the housing.

[0007] With this configuration, the power storage device according to the present disclosure can reduce the number of structures with through holes that need to be provided in the housing body, thereby improving the sealing performance of the housing 1.

[0008] In the power storage device according to the present disclosure, the service plug cover may have at least one of an explosion-proof valve, a through-hole for air leak testing, a hole for adjusting internal and external pressure, and a cable outlet hole. In particular, in the power storage device according to the present disclosure, the service plug cover may have an explosion-proof valve.

[0009] The service plug cover according to the present disclosure seals a service plug operation hole provided in a housing that accommodates a battery module and a service plug that interrupts an electrical circuit connected to the battery module. The service plug cover according to the present disclosure is provided with a structure having a through-hole that penetrates from the inside to the outside of the housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The present disclosure makes it possible to provide an electric storage device and a service plug cover that can improve sealing performance. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a power storage device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an internal device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the service plug cover according to the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] First Embodiment (Configuration of the power storage device) Hereinafter, a first embodiment according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the electricity storage device according to the first embodiment.

[0013] It should be noted that the right-handed xyz Cartesian coordinate system shown in Fig. 1 and other drawings is a matter of convenience for explaining the positional relationship of the components. In this embodiment, the positive z-axis direction in Fig. 1 and other drawings is the vertically upward direction, and the xy plane is the horizontal plane, which is common among the drawings.

[0014] The power storage device B is a fixed power storage device. For example, the power storage device B is installed in a house or the like and is used to store electricity for home use, backup electricity for emergencies, electricity to be sold, and the like. The power storage device B includes a housing 1, an internal device 2, a service plug cover 3, and an exterior cover (not shown). The exterior cover is a cover that surrounds the periphery of the housing 1 and serves to protect the housing 1 and the internal device 2 from flying objects and to improve the design.

[0015] (Configuration of chassis 1) As shown in FIG. 1, in a power storage device B according to this embodiment, an internal device 2 is housed in the internal space of a housing 1. The housing 1 is a box-shaped structure that protects the internal device 2, and is typically made primarily of metal. The housing 1 includes a housing main body 11 and a housing lid 12.

[0016] The housing body 11 is a substantially rectangular box-shaped structure having an opening parallel to the zx plane. The opening of the housing body 11 is sealed by a housing lid 12, which is a plate-shaped structure. The housing body 11 houses the internal device 2 inside.

[0017] The housing 1 is sealed by fastening the housing body 11 and the housing lid 12 together along the outer edge of the storage opening of the housing body 11. There are no particular limitations on the method for fastening the housing body 11 and the housing lid 12 together, but they are fastened together using a removable method in order to perform maintenance on the internal device 2.

[0018] A service plug operation hole 111 is provided in the housing main body 11. The service plug operation hole 111 is a through-hole provided for operating a service plug 24, which will be described later, from outside the housing 1. When the service plug 24 is not being operated, the service plug operation hole 111 is sealed by a service plug cover 3, which will be described later.

[0019] In other words, the housing 1 according to this embodiment has a service plug operation hole 111 for operating the service plug 24, and a service plug cover 3 that seals the service plug operation hole 111.

[0020] In this embodiment, the service plug operation hole 111 is provided on the side surface of the housing main body 11. However, the location of the service plug operation hole 111 is not limited to this, and the service plug operation hole 111 may be provided anywhere as long as it is in a position corresponding to the service plug 24. For example, the service plug operation hole 111 may be provided at another location on the housing body 11 or on the housing cover 12.

[0021] (Configuration of internal device 2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an internal device of the power storage device according to the first embodiment. The internal device 2 is a device housed inside the housing 1, and has functions such as controlling the operation of the power storage device B, inputting and outputting power, and storing power. The internal device 2 includes a battery module 21 , a control unit 22 , a rack 23 , and a service plug 24 .

[0022] The battery module 21 is, for example, a secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery or a nickel-metal hydride battery. The battery module 21 operates under the control of the control unit 22. Specifically, the battery module 21 receives a supply of power from an external source and stores the supplied power under the control of the control unit 22. Then, the battery module 21 supplies the stored power to the outside under the control of the control unit 22. In other words, the battery module 21 exchanges power with the outside under the control of the control unit 22. The battery module 21 exchanges power with the outside via a cable not shown in FIG.

[0023] The battery module 21 is also connected to an electric circuit for exchanging power with the outside, and the electric circuit can be interrupted by a service plug 24, which will be described later. The electric circuit is interrupted, for example, when a worker performs maintenance work on the internal device 2.

[0024] Control unit 22 controls the operation of power storage device B. For example, the control unit 22 may control the amount of power supplied to the battery module 21 from the outside and the amount of power supplied from the battery module 21 to the outside. Furthermore, for example, the control unit 22 may monitor the temperature and voltage of the battery, calculate limit values ​​for the voltage and current to the battery, and further communicate with external devices.

[0025] For example, the control unit 22 includes an arithmetic unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) not shown, and a memory unit such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and data for controlling the storage device B. That is, control unit 22 has a function as a computer, and controls the operation of power storage device B based on the above program.

[0026] Therefore, each function executed by the illustrated control unit 22 can be configured in terms of hardware using the above-mentioned CPU, memory unit, other circuits, etc., and can be realized in terms of software using a program for controlling the storage device B stored in the memory unit, etc. That is, the control unit 22 can be implemented in various forms using hardware, software, or a combination of both.

[0027] The program includes a set of instructions (or software code) that, when loaded into a computer, causes the computer to perform one or more functions described in the embodiments. The program may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium or a tangible storage medium. By way of example and not limitation, computer-readable media or tangible storage media include random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, solid-state drive (SSD) or other memory technologies, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage device. The program may also be transmitted on a transitory computer-readable medium or communication medium. By way of example and not limitation, transitory computer-readable media or communication media include electrical, optical, acoustic, or other forms of propagated signals.

[0028] The rack 23 is a shelf-like structure that houses the battery modules 21 and the control unit 22. The rack 23 has rectangular parallelepiped housing spaces that can house the battery modules 21, with each housing space housing one or more battery modules 21. The control unit 22 is also installed on the top surface of the rack 23. Furthermore, the rack 23 is provided with a service plug 24, which will be described later.

[0029] The service plug 24 interrupts the electrical circuit connected to the battery module 21. More specifically, the service plug 24 interrupts the electrical circuit connected to the battery module 21 by being physically operated by a service worker. In this case, the service plug 24 is operated by the service worker via the service plug operation hole 111 described above.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the internal device 2 of this embodiment includes a plurality of battery modules 21, a control unit 22, a rack 23, and a service plug 24, but the configuration of the internal device 2 of this embodiment is not limited to this. For example, there may be only one battery module 21. Furthermore, for example, the control unit 22 may be replaced by a control device provided outside the power storage device B. Furthermore, the battery module 21 and the service plug 24 may be fixed directly to the housing 1 without being housed in the rack 23.

[0031] That is, the internal device 2 according to the present disclosure only needs to include at least one or more battery modules 21 and a service plug 24. In other words, the housing 1 according to the present disclosure only needs to accommodate at least one or more battery modules 21 and a service plug 24.

[0032] (Service plug cover 3 configuration) FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the service plug cover according to the first embodiment. 3, the service plug cover 3 according to this embodiment is a plate-like member that seals the service plug operation hole 111. The service plug cover 3 according to this embodiment is provided with a structure having a through-hole that penetrates from the inside to the outside of the housing 1. The service plug cover 3 according to this embodiment includes a cover body 31, a fastening portion 32, and an explosion-proof valve 33.

[0033] The cover body 31 is a plate-shaped member that seals the service plug operation hole 111. The cover body 31 is fastened to the housing 1 at fastening portions 32. The method for fastening the cover body 31 is not particularly limited, but because the service plug cover 3 must be removed when an operator operates the service plug 24, it is preferable to use a method that allows it to be removed again. An example of a preferred fastening method is mechanical fastening using screws or the like, as shown in FIG.

[0034] Here, the cover main body 31 has, on its main surface, a structure having a through-hole that penetrates the inside and outside of the housing 1. In particular, the cover main body 31 according to this embodiment has an explosion-proof valve 33 as a structure having a through-hole.

[0035] The explosion-proof valve 33 is a valve for adjusting the air pressure inside the housing 1 so that it does not exceed a predetermined threshold. More specifically, the explosion-proof valve 33 is a valve for releasing the air inside the housing 1 to the outside when the air pressure inside the housing 1 reaches the predetermined threshold. As described above, the explosion-proof valve 33 has the function of releasing the air inside the housing 1 to the outside, and therefore has a through-hole that serves as a path for the air to be released.

[0036] Although the service plug cover 3 according to this embodiment includes the explosion-proof valve 33 as a structure having a through hole, the structure having a through hole is not limited to this. For example, the structure having a through hole may be an air leak test through hole used to test the airtightness of the housing 1, an internal / external pressure adjustment hole for adjusting the internal pressure of the housing 1, a cable outlet hole for taking out a cable from the inside to the outside, etc. Furthermore, the service plug cover 3 may include a plurality of structures having through holes as described above. In other words, the structure having a through hole according to the present disclosure may be at least one or more of an explosion-proof valve, an air leak test through hole, an internal / external pressure adjustment hole, and a cable outlet hole.

[0037] In other words, the structure having a through hole according to this embodiment may be any structure that is provided on the housing of the power storage device and that requires drilling a through hole in the housing when it is formed. Naturally, the structure having a through hole may be one in which the through hole is sealed under normal conditions.

[0038] This configuration reduces the number of structures with through holes that need to be provided in the housing 1, thereby improving the sealing and strength of the housing 1. In other words, in the energy storage device according to this embodiment, through holes that would otherwise need to be drilled in the housing 1 are drilled in the service plug cover 3 instead, thereby improving the sealing and strength of the housing 1.

[0039] As described above, the power storage device B according to this embodiment includes the service plug cover 3 for sealing the service plug operation hole 111 provided in the housing 1. The service plug cover 3 has a structure with a through hole that penetrates from the inside to the outside of the housing 1. With this configuration, the power storage device B according to this embodiment can reduce the number of through holes that need to be drilled in the housing 1. As a result, the power storage device B according to this embodiment can improve the sealing performance and strength of the housing 1.

[0040] The present invention has been described above in accordance with the above-described embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments, and naturally includes various modifications, alterations, and combinations that can be made by a person skilled in the art within the scope of the invention claimed in the claims of this application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] B Energy storage device 1 chassis 11. Housing main body 111 Service plug operation hole 12 Housing lid 2 Internal device 21 Battery module 22 Control Unit 23 racks 24 Service plug 3 Service plug cover 31 Cover body 32 Fastening part 33 Explosion-proof valve

Claims

1. A battery module; a service plug that interrupts an electrical circuit connected to the battery module; a housing that houses the battery module and the service plug, The housing includes: a service plug operation hole for operating the service plug; a service plug cover that seals the service plug operation hole, The service plug cover is provided with a structure having a through hole that penetrates the interior and exterior of the housing. Energy storage device.

2. The service plug cover has at least one of an explosion-proof valve, an air leak test through hole, an internal and external pressure adjustment hole, and a cable outlet hole. The power storage device according to claim 1 .

3. The service plug cover has an explosion-proof valve. The power storage device according to claim 2 .

4. A service plug cover that seals a service plug operation hole provided in a housing that accommodates a battery module and a service plug that interrupts an electric circuit connected to the battery module, a structure having a through hole penetrating the inside and outside of the housing is provided; Service plug cover.

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