Battery pack

Abstract

When a load is applied to the battery pack case, it generates a reaction force against the input load, protecting the electrical equipment housed in the case. [Solution] The junction box 15 and the partition plate 31 inside the battery pack 10 are adjacent to each other in a first direction and adjacent to the side wall 24 of the case body 13 in a second direction. The partition plate 31 is formed in a triangular shape with a base 40 extending toward the side wall 24 along the second direction, a slanted side 41 that slopes away from the base as it approaches the side wall, and an opposite side 42 facing the side wall in the second direction. A portion of the partition plate, including the upper end and extending from the slanted side to the opposite side, bulges out in the first direction away from the junction box 15.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in order to enable more people to access affordable, reliable, sustainable, and advanced energy, research and development have been carried out on secondary batteries that contribute to energy efficiency.

[0003] In the protection structure of the battery pack described in Patent Document 1, a protective cover having an upper surface cover portion covering the upper surface of the battery pack and a side surface cover portion covering the side surface of the battery pack is attached to the vehicle body. A fragile portion is provided in the upper surface cover portion. When an external force is applied to the side surface cover portion from the arrangement direction of the upper surface cover portion and the side surface cover portion, the upper surface cover portion bends or breaks starting from the fragile portion. Thereby, the impact acting on the battery pack is mitigated.

[0004] The battery pack described in Patent Document 2 includes a battery and high-voltage components connected to the battery. The storage box body that houses the battery and the high-voltage components has a load transmission portion that transmits the load acting on the storage box body. The high-voltage components are structurally connected to the load transmission portion, and when a collision occurs, they are displaced together with the load transmission portion so as to be separated from the battery. Thereby, the occurrence of accidental short circuits and the like due to the contact between the high-voltage components and the battery is suppressed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] One of the objectives of the present invention is to generate a reaction force against the input load when a load is applied to the battery pack case, thereby protecting the electrical equipment housed in the case. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A battery pack according to one aspect of the present invention is Battery and Electrical equipment connected to the aforementioned battery, A case including a case body for housing the battery and the electrical equipment, and a case cover that covers the case body from above, A reinforcing member provided inside the aforementioned case, Equipped with, The case body has a bottom wall on which the battery and the electrical equipment are placed, and a side wall extending in a first direction parallel to the bottom wall. The electrical equipment is arranged adjacent to the side wall in a second direction parallel to the bottom wall and perpendicular to the first direction. The reinforcing member has a partition plate that is positioned adjacent to the electrical equipment in the first direction and adjacent to the side wall in the second direction. The aforementioned partition board is, Viewed in the first direction, it is formed in a triangular shape having a base that extends toward the side wall of the case body along the second direction, a slanted side that slopes away from the base as it approaches the side wall, and an opposite side that faces the side wall in the second direction. A portion of the partition board that includes the upper end portion of the partition board where the hypotenuse and the opposite side intersect, and extends from the hypotenuse to the opposite side, has a bulging portion that protrudes in the first direction toward the side opposite to the electrical equipment. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, when a load is applied to the battery pack case, a reaction force against the input load is generated, thereby protecting the electrical equipment housed in the case. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] It is a schematic diagram of an example of a vehicle for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack mounted on the vehicle of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view of a reinforcing member including a case body and a partition plate of the battery pack of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view of the reinforcing member of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] It is a plan view of the partition plate of FIG. 3. [Figure 6] It is a side view of the partition plate of FIG. 3. [Figure 7] It is a side view of a modified example of the partition plate of FIG. 3. [Figure 8] It is a side view showing a state of deformation of the partition plate of FIG. 3. [Figure 9] It is a plan view showing a state of deformation of the partition plate of FIG. 3. [Figure 10] It is a rear view showing a state of deformation of the partition plate of FIG. 3.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] An example of a vehicle for explaining an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings. Note that the drawings are to be viewed in the direction of the reference numerals. In addition, in this specification and the like, for the sake of simplicity and clarity of explanation, the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions are described according to the direction seen from the driver of the vehicle, and in the drawings, the front of the vehicle is shown as Fr, the rear as Rr, the left as L, the right as R, the upper as U, and the lower as D.

[0011] The vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an electric vehicle such as a battery-powered electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle (including a plug-in hybrid vehicle), a fuel cell vehicle, or the like. This vehicle 1 includes a vehicle body 2, a seat 3, and a battery pack 10. The vehicle body 2 constitutes the skeleton of the vehicle 1, and the battery pack 10 stores and discharges electric power to be supplied to a motor M or the like that serves as a driving source of the vehicle.

[0012] The vehicle body 2 includes a floor panel 4. The floor panel 4 forms part of the framework at the lower part of the vehicle. Although not shown in the figures, the vehicle body 2 may also include a pair of side sills extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle along both sides of the floor panel 4, and cross members bridging between the pair of side sills, etc. as members constituting the framework at the lower part of the vehicle. The seat 3 is installed on the floor panel 4.

[0013] The battery pack 10 is also installed on the floor panel 4 and is located below the seat 3 in the example shown in FIG. 1. A recess 5 is formed in the floor panel 4, and the battery pack 10 is housed in the recess 5. By housing the battery pack 10 in the space under the seat which would otherwise be dead space, the interior space of the vehicle 1 can be expanded.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the battery pack 10 includes a battery 11 and a case 12 for housing the battery 11. The battery 11 includes a plurality of battery cells. The battery cells are, for example, lithium-ion batteries using liquid electrolyte, nickel-metal hydride batteries, or all-solid-state batteries using solid electrolyte. The battery 11 is typically modularized with a plurality of battery cells connected in series and / or in parallel.

[0015] The case 12 includes a case body 13 and a case cover 14. The case body 13 is formed in a tray shape capable of housing the battery 11. The case body 13 is made of a metal plate material such as an aluminum alloy or steel. The case cover 14 covers the case body 13 from above. The case cover 14 is formed of a steel plate.

[0016] The case 12 further houses electrical devices such as a junction box 15 and a bus bar. The junction box 15 controls the connection between the charging system mounted on the vehicle and the battery pack 10, and the connection between the inverter driving the motor M and the battery pack 10. The bus bar connects the modularized batteries 11 to each other and also connects the battery 11 and the junction box 15.

[0017] The tray-shaped case body 13 has a bottom wall 20 on which the battery 11 and junction box 15 are placed, and side walls 21, 22, 23, and 24 extending upward from the edge of the bottom wall 20. The side walls 21 and 22 are arranged facing each other in the vehicle's front-rear direction and each extends in the vehicle's width direction. The side walls 23 and 24 are arranged facing each other in the vehicle's width direction and each extends in the vehicle's front-rear direction. The battery 11 and junction box 15 are arranged side by side in the vehicle's width direction, with the battery 11 adjacent to the left side wall 23 in the vehicle's width direction, and the junction box 15 adjacent to the right side wall 24 in the vehicle's width direction.

[0018] As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the battery pack 10 has a fixing plate 30, a partition plate 31, and a reinforcing plate 32 as reinforcing members provided inside the case 12.

[0019] The fixing plate 30 secures the junction box 15 and battery 11 to the bottom wall 20 of the case body 13. The fixing plate 30 is positioned between the junction box 15 and battery 11 and the bottom wall 20 and is joined to the bottom wall 20 by appropriate methods such as welding, fastening with bolts or rivets. The junction box 15 and battery 11 are placed on the upper surface of the fixing plate 30 and fastened to the fixing plate 30 with bolts and nuts. The junction box 15 and battery 11 are fixed to the bottom wall 20 via the fixing plate 30 which is joined to the bottom wall 20.

[0020] The partition plate 31 generates a reaction force against side impact loads applied to the side of the case 12 in the vehicle width direction, thereby protecting the junction box 15. The partition plate 31 is positioned adjacent to the junction box 15 in the vehicle longitudinal direction and adjacent to the right side wall 24 of the case body 13 in the vehicle width direction.

[0021] The partition panel 31 is formed in a roughly triangular shape when viewed in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and has a base 40 that extends toward the side wall 24 along the vehicle width direction, a hypotenuse 41 that slopes away from the base 40 as it approaches the side wall 24, and an opposite side 42 that faces the side wall 24 in the vehicle width direction. The partition panel 31 also has a contact portion 43 that extends from the opposite side 42 toward the opposite side of the vehicle in the front-rear direction away from the junction box 15, and a notch 44 is provided at the corner of the partition panel 31 where the opposite side 42 and the base 40 intersect.

[0022] The distance G1 between the opposite sides 42 and contact portion 43 of the partition plate 31 and the side wall 24 is smaller than the distance G2 between the junction box 15 and the side wall 24. When a lateral impact load is applied to the side of the case 12 on the side wall 24 side, the side of the side wall 24 and the side of the case cover 14 that overlaps the side wall 24 deform inward. However, the opposite sides 42 and contact portion 43 of the partition plate 31 contact the side of the side wall 24 and the side of the case cover 14 before the junction box 15, generating a reaction force. This suppresses the inward deformation of the side of the side wall 24 and the side of the case cover 14.

[0023] The reinforcing plate 32 increases the rigidity of the side of the case 12 in the vehicle width direction and protects the junction box 15. The reinforcing plate 32 is positioned between the junction box 15 and the right side wall 24 of the case body 13 and is joined to the side wall 24 by an appropriate method such as welding. In other words, the reinforcing plate 32 extends along the side wall 24 within the range where the junction box 15 and the side wall 24 face each other. The portion of the side wall 24 that faces the opposite side 42 and the contact portion 43 of the partition plate 31 is outside the range in which the reinforcing plate 32 extends.

[0024] The rigidity of the side wall 24 is increased over the extent to which the reinforcing plate 32 extends, suppressing inward deformation of the side wall 24 caused by lateral impact loads. The inward deformation of the side wall 24 is then guided to the portion of the side wall 24 facing the partition plate 31 and absorbed by the partition plate 31.

[0025] From the viewpoint of increasing the rigidity of the side wall 24 of the case body 13 and controlling the deformation of the side wall 24, it is preferable that the upper end of the reinforcing plate 32 be positioned below the upper end of the side wall 24. On the other hand, since the partition plate 31 also receives input from the side of the case cover 14 that overlaps the side wall 24, it is preferable that the upper end of the opposite side 42 of the partition plate 31 be positioned above the upper end of the side wall 24.

[0026] Furthermore, the fixing plate 30, the partition plate 31, and the reinforcing plate 32 may be made of separate components, but preferably they are integrally formed as shown in Figures 3 and 4. In the examples shown in Figures 3 and 4, the fixing plate 30, the partition plate 31, and the reinforcing plate 32 are made of metal plates such as aluminum alloy or steel, and the partition plate 31 and the reinforcing plate 32 extend from the fixing plate 30 and are bent upward relative to the fixing plate 30. By integrally forming the fixing plate 30, the partition plate 31, and the reinforcing plate 32, the number of parts is reduced, and adjustment of their relative positions is unnecessary, improving the ease of assembly of the battery pack 10.

[0027] When the fixing plate 30, the partition plate 31, and the reinforcing plate 32 are formed integrally, it is preferable that the partition plate 31 and the reinforcing plate 32, which are bent and raised relative to the fixing plate 30, be separate from each other in order to improve moldability and to ensure the functional independence of each plate.

[0028] The partition plate 31 deforms due to contact with the side wall 24 and the side of the case cover 14 that overlaps the side wall 24. A bulge 50 is provided on a part of the partition plate 31 to prevent the deforming partition plate 31 from coming into contact with the junction box 15, thereby controlling the deformation of the partition plate 31.

[0029] As shown in detail in Figures 5 and 6, the bulge 50 includes the upper end portion of the partition plate 31 where the hypotenuse 41 and the opposite side 42 intersect, and is a part of the partition plate 31 extending from the hypotenuse 41 to the opposite side 42. The bulge 50 extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction where the partition plate 31 and the junction box 15 are adjacent, on the side opposite to the junction box 15.

[0030] A bent portion 51 is provided on the lower edge LE of the bulge 50 extending from the hypotenuse 41 to the opposite side 42. The bent portion 51 is located closer to the opposite side 42 than the starting point 52 on the hypotenuse 41 of the lower edge LE, and is located below the starting point 52. In the example shown in Figure 6, the lower edge LE of the bulge 50 extends along the hypotenuse 41 from the bent portion 51 to the opposite side 42, but it may also extend along the base 40 as shown in Figure 7.

[0031] Furthermore, the starting point 52 on the hypotenuse 41 of the lower edge LE of the bulging portion 50 is located below the upper end of the side wall 24 of the case body 13.

[0032] Figures 8 to 10 show the deformation of the partition board 31.

[0033] First, the contact between the partition plate 31 and the side wall 24 of the case body 13 and the side of the case cover 14 that overlaps the side wall 24 causes one end of the bottom edge 40 of the partition plate 31, the distal end 45 opposite to the side wall 24, to be lowered, and the opposite edge 42 and the contact portion 43 to tilt backward relative to the side wall 24. A compressive force acts on the partition plate 31 along the hypotenuse 41.

[0034] When a compressive force is applied to the partition plate 31, it expands in one direction along the vehicle's longitudinal direction, which is the thickness direction of the partition plate 31, while simultaneously collapsing in the vehicle's width direction, which is the extension direction of the partition plate 31. Because the bulging portion 50 is pre-existing on the side opposite to the junction box 15 along the vehicle's longitudinal direction, the expansion of the partition plate 31 due to deformation is guided to the side opposite to the junction box 15. This suppresses contact between the deforming partition plate 31 and the junction box 15.

[0035] A bent portion 51 is provided on the lower edge LE of the bulging portion 50, and if the bent portion 51 is located closer to the opposite side 42 than the starting point 52 on the hypotenuse 41 of the lower edge LE, and is located below the starting point 52, then the bulging of the partition plate 31 due to deformation will originate from the bent portion 51. This makes it possible to control the bulging of the partition plate 31 due to deformation, and to more reliably suppress contact between the deforming partition plate 31 and the junction box 15.

[0036] Furthermore, if the starting point 52 on the hypotenuse 41 of the lower edge LE of the bulge 50 is located below the upper end of the side wall 24 of the case body 13, the load input point on the partition plate 31 will coincide with the bulge 50 when viewed in the vehicle width direction. This allows the compressive force to be effectively applied to the bulge 50.

[0037] The contact portion 43 of the partition plate 31 prevents the opposite side 42 of the partition plate 31 from displacing toward the junction box 15. This makes it possible to more reliably suppress contact between the deforming partition plate 31 and the junction box 15. Furthermore, if a notch 44 is provided at the corner of the partition plate 31 where the opposite side 42 and the base 40 intersect, the edge of the partition plate 31 along the opposite side 42 that overlaps with the notch 44 can be buckled toward the opposite side from the junction box 15. This makes it possible to more reliably suppress contact between the deforming partition plate 31 and the junction box 15.

[0038] This specification contains at least the following:

[0039] (1) Battery (Battery 11), The electrical equipment (junction box 15) connected to the aforementioned battery, A case (case 12) including a case body (case body 13) that houses the battery and the electrical equipment, and a case cover (case cover 14) that covers the case body from above, A reinforcing member provided inside the aforementioned case, Equipped with, The case body has a bottom wall (bottom wall 20) on which the battery and the electrical equipment are placed, and a side wall (side wall 24) extending in a first direction parallel to the bottom wall. The electrical equipment is arranged adjacent to the side wall in a second direction parallel to the bottom wall and perpendicular to the first direction. The reinforcing member includes a partition board (partition board 31) that is positioned adjacent to the electrical equipment in the first direction and adjacent to the side wall in the second direction. The aforementioned partition board is, Viewed in the first direction, it is formed in a triangular shape having a base (base 40) that extends toward the side wall of the case body along the second direction, a hypotenuse (hypotenuse 41) that slopes away from the base as it approaches the side wall, and an opposite side (opposite side 42) that faces the side wall in the second direction. A portion of the partition board that includes the upper end portion of the partition board where the hypotenuse and the opposite side intersect, and extends from the hypotenuse to the opposite side, having a bulging portion (bulging portion 50) that bulges out in the first direction on the side opposite to the electrical equipment, Battery pack.

[0040] According to the battery pack described in (1) above, when a load is applied to the side wall of the case body, the opposite side of the partition plate contacts the side wall and generates a reaction force. The partition plate that generates the reaction force will deform, but because the bulging portion is pre-protruding in the first direction on the side opposite to the electrical equipment, the bulging of the partition plate due to deformation is guided on the side opposite to the electrical equipment. This suppresses contact between the deforming partition plate and the junction box, thereby protecting the electrical equipment.

[0041] (2) The battery pack described in (1) above, The lower edge (lower edge LE) of the bulge extending from the hypotenuse to the opposite side has a bent portion (bent portion 51), The bent portion is located closer to the opposite side than the starting point (starting point 52) ​​on the hypotenuse of the lower edge, and is located below the starting point. Battery pack.

[0042] According to the battery pack described in (2) above, the bulging of the partition panel due to deformation can be generated starting from the bent part, and the bulging of the partition panel due to deformation can be controlled.

[0043] (3) The battery pack described in (2) above, The lower edge extends along the hypotenuse from the bent portion to the opposite side. Battery pack.

[0044] According to the battery pack described in (3) above, the compressive force along the slanted edge of the partition plate, generated by the contact between the opposite side of the partition plate and the side wall of the case body, can be effectively applied to the bulging portion.

[0045] (4) The battery pack described in (2) above, The starting point on the hypotenuse of the lower edge is located below the upper end of the side wall of the case body. Battery pack.

[0046] According to the battery pack described in (4) above, the load input on the partition plate overlaps with the bulging portion, allowing the compressive force to be effectively applied to the bulging portion.

[0047] (5) The battery pack described in (1) above, The upper end of the opposite side of the partition board is located above the upper end of the side wall of the case body. Battery pack.

[0048] According to the battery pack described in (5) above, it can receive input not only from the side wall of the case body but also from the side of the case cover that overlaps the side wall.

[0049] (6) The battery pack described in (1) above, The reinforcing member includes a fixing plate (fixing plate 30) for fixing the electrical equipment to the bottom wall of the case body, The aforementioned partition panel extends from the fixing plate integrally with the fixing plate and is bent upward relative to the fixing plate. Battery pack.

[0050] According to the battery pack described in (6) above, the number of parts in the battery pack will be reduced and the ease of assembly will be improved.

[0051] (7) The battery pack described in (6) above, The reinforcing member includes a splice plate (splice plate 32) that is positioned between the electrical equipment and the side wall of the case body and joined to the side wall. The aforementioned reinforcing plate extends from the fixing plate integrally with the fixing plate and is bent upward relative to the fixing plate. Battery pack.

[0052] According to the battery pack described in (7) above, the rigidity of the side walls of the case body can be increased, and deformation of the side walls can be guided to the partition plate. In addition, the number of parts in the battery pack can be reduced and assembly can be improved.

[0053] (8) The battery pack described in (7) above, The aforementioned partition board and the aforementioned support board are separate from each other. Battery pack.

[0054] According to the battery pack described in (8) above, the moldability of the integrally formed fixing plate, partition plate, and reinforcing plate is improved.

[0055] (9) The battery pack described in (7) above, The upper end of the reinforcing plate is located below the upper end of the side wall of the case body. Battery pack.

[0056] According to the battery pack described in (9) above, the deformation of the side of the case cover that overlaps the side wall of the case body is not affected by the deformation of the side of the case body, and the deformation of the side wall of the case body can be controlled more reliably.

[0057] (10) The battery pack described in (6) above, The partition panel has a contact portion (contact portion 43) extending from the opposite side in the first direction toward the side opposite to the electrical equipment. Battery pack.

[0058] According to the battery pack described in (10) above, it is possible to suppress the displacement of the opposite side of the partition panel toward the electrical equipment, and to more reliably suppress contact between the deforming partition panel and the electrical equipment.

[0059] (11) The battery pack described in (10) above, A notch (notch 44) is provided at the corner of the partition board where the opposite side and the base intersect. Battery pack.

[0060] According to the battery pack described in (11) above, the edges of the partition board along the opposite side can be buckled toward the side away from the electrical equipment, thereby more reliably suppressing contact between the deforming partition board and the electrical equipment. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0061] 1 vehicle 2 car bodies 3 sheets 4 Floor Panels 10 Battery Packs 11 batteries 12 cases 13 Case body 14 Case Cover 15 Junction Box 24 Side wall 30 Fixed plate 31 Partition board 32 Support plate 40 Bottom 41 Hypotenuse 42 opposite sides 43 Contact part 44 Bulge 45 Distal end 50 Bulge 51 Curved section 52 Starting point LE lower edge M Motor

Claims

1. Battery and Electrical equipment connected to the aforementioned battery, A case including a case body for housing the battery and the electrical equipment, and a case cover that covers the case body from above, A reinforcing member provided inside the aforementioned case, Equipped with, The case body has a bottom wall on which the battery and the electrical equipment are placed, and a side wall extending in a first direction parallel to the bottom wall. The electrical equipment is arranged adjacent to the side wall in a second direction parallel to the bottom wall and perpendicular to the first direction. The reinforcing member includes a partition plate that is positioned adjacent to the electrical equipment in the first direction and adjacent to the side wall in the second direction. The aforementioned partition board is, Viewed in the first direction, it is formed in a triangular shape having a base that extends toward the side wall of the case body along the second direction, a slanted side that slopes away from the base as it approaches the side wall, and an opposite side that faces the side wall in the second direction. A portion of the partition board that includes the upper end portion of the partition board where the hypotenuse and the opposite side intersect, and extends from the hypotenuse to the opposite side, having a bulging portion that bulges out in the first direction on the side opposite to the electrical equipment, Battery pack.

2. A battery pack according to claim 1, The lower edge of the bulge extending from the hypotenuse to the opposite side has a bent portion. The bent portion is located closer to the opposite side than the starting point on the hypotenuse of the lower edge, and is located below the starting point. Battery pack.

3. A battery pack according to claim 2, The lower edge extends along the hypotenuse from the bent portion to the opposite side. Battery pack.

4. A battery pack according to claim 2, The starting point on the hypotenuse of the lower edge is located below the upper end of the side wall of the case body. Battery pack.

5. A battery pack according to claim 1, The upper end of the opposite side of the partition board is located above the upper end of the side wall of the case body. Battery pack.

6. A battery pack according to claim 1, The reinforcing member includes a fixing plate for fixing the electrical equipment to the bottom wall of the case body, The aforementioned partition panel extends from the fixing plate integrally with the fixing plate and is bent upward relative to the fixing plate. Battery pack.

7. A battery pack according to claim 6, The reinforcing member is positioned between the electrical equipment and the side wall of the case body and includes a splice plate joined to the side wall. The aforementioned reinforcing plate extends from the fixing plate integrally with the fixing plate and is bent upward relative to the fixing plate. Battery pack.

8. A battery pack according to claim 7, The aforementioned partition board and the aforementioned support board are separate from each other. Battery pack.

9. A battery pack according to claim 7, The upper end of the reinforcing plate is located below the upper end of the side wall of the case body. Battery pack.

10. A battery pack according to claim 6, The partition panel has a contact portion that extends from the opposite side in the first direction toward the side opposite to the electrical equipment. Battery pack.

11. A battery pack according to claim 10, A notch is provided in the corner portion of the partition board where the opposite side and the base intersect. Battery pack.

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