Battery stack fixing structure

Abstract

This suppresses vertical movement of the battery stack. [Solution] The battery stack fixing structure S comprises a battery stack 10 in which a plurality of battery cells 11 are stacked in the stacking direction and a resin frame 12 is provided between the battery cells 11; a pack case 20 that houses the battery stack 10 and compresses and restrains it in the stacking direction; a first contact portion 31 provided on the part of the resin frame 12 that is in line with the stacking direction and faces the side wall portion 21A and partition wall 21B (side wall portion) of the pack case 20; and a second contact portion 32 provided on the side wall portion of the pack case 20 and in contact with the first contact portion 31.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fixing structure for a battery stack.

Background Art

[0002] There is disclosed a pack case that houses a battery stack in which a plurality of batteries are stacked in a stacking direction, and has side wall portions that abut against one end portion and the other end portion in the stacking direction of the housed battery stack and press the battery stack to one side and the other side in the stacking direction (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, when a force is applied to the battery stack in the vertical direction orthogonal to the stacking direction, it is considered difficult to sufficiently fix the battery stack only by the frictional force due to the pressing from both ends in the stacking direction.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to suppress the vertical movement of the battery stack.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A fixing structure for a battery stack according to a first aspect includes a battery stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked in a stacking direction and a resin frame is provided between the battery cells, a pack case that houses the battery stack and compressively constrains it in the stacking direction, a first abutting portion provided at a portion of the resin frame along the stacking direction and facing a side wall portion of the pack case, and a second abutting portion provided on the side wall portion of the pack case and abutting against the first abutting portion.

[0007] In this battery stack fixing structure, the battery stack is compressed and constrained by the pack case in the stacking direction. Furthermore, the side wall of the pack case and the resin frame of the battery stack come into contact with each other via a first contact portion and a second contact portion, thereby constraining the battery stack to the pack case in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction as well. Therefore, vertical movement of the battery stack can be suppressed.

[0008] A second embodiment is a battery stack fixing structure according to the first embodiment, wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion have a hook-and-loop fastener structure.

[0009] In this battery stack fixing structure, the first and second contact points have a hook-and-loop fastener structure, making it difficult for the first and second contact points to separate from each other and difficult for them to shift vertically. As a result, the battery stack is firmly fixed by the pack case.

[0010] The invention of claim 3 is a battery stack fixing structure according to the first embodiment, wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion have a wedge-shaped restraining structure.

[0011] In this battery stack fixing structure, the first and second contact parts have a wedge-shaped restraining structure, making it difficult for the first and second contact parts to separate from each other and difficult for them to shift vertically. As a result, the battery stack is firmly fixed by the pack case. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, vertical movement of the battery stack can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the battery stack fixing structure according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a plan cross-sectional view showing the battery stack fixing structure according to this embodiment. [Figure 3]This is a cross-sectional view showing the battery stack fixing structure according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is an enlarged view of the main part of Figure 2. [Figure 5] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the structure of a hook-and-loop fastener. [Figure 6] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a wedge-shaped restraint structure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] The embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Components indicated by the same reference numerals in each drawing are the same or similar components. In the embodiments described below, descriptions and reference numerals that are repeated may be omitted. Furthermore, the drawings used in the following description are all schematic, and the dimensional relationships and ratios of each element shown in the drawings do not necessarily correspond to reality. Also, the dimensional relationships and ratios of each element do not necessarily correspond between multiple drawings.

[0015] In the drawing, arrow L indicates the stacking direction, arrow W indicates the width direction, and arrow H indicates the vertical direction.

[0016] In Figures 1 to 4, the battery stack fixing structure S according to this embodiment includes a battery stack 10, a pack case 20, a first contact portion 31, and a second contact portion 32.

[0017] The battery stack 10 consists of multiple battery cells 11 stacked in a stacking direction, and has, for example, two rows of stacked battery cells 11. A resin frame 12 is provided between the battery cells 11. End plates 13 are placed at both ends of the battery stack 10. The area around each battery cell 11 and the area around each end plate 13 are surrounded by the resin frame 12. A friction material 14 may be sandwiched between one end of the battery stack 10 in the stacking direction and the pack case 20.

[0018] The pack case 20 houses the battery stack 10 and compressively constrains it in the stacking direction. This pack case 20 has, for example, a lower case 21 and an upper case 22. The battery stack 10 and the friction material 14 are housed in the lower case 21 through an opening above the lower case 21, for example. A partition wall 21B is provided at the center of the lower case 21 in the width direction (direction of arrow W). The stacked battery cells 11 are respectively housed in the accommodating portions on both sides of the partition wall 21B. The opening of the lower case 21 is closed by the upper case 22. A flow path 21C for flowing cooling air for cooling the battery stack 10 is provided at the bottom of the lower case 21. An attachment bracket 23 for fixing to a vehicle or the like (not shown) may be attached to the lower case 21.

[0019] In FIGS. 2 to 4, the first contact portion 31 is provided at a portion of the resin frame 12 along the stacking direction (direction of arrow L) that faces the side wall portion of the pack case 20. Specifically, this side wall portion is the side wall portion 21A and the partition wall 21B of the lower case 21. The first contact portion 31 may be provided at the position of the center of gravity of the battery stack 10, for example, at the side portion of the central portion of the battery stack 10 in the stacking direction. Further, the first contact portion 31 may be provided at the upper portion of the resin frame 12 in the vertical direction (direction of arrow H). The first contact portion 31 may be a protruding portion protruding from the resin frame 12.

[0020] The second contact portion 32 is provided on the side wall portion of the pack case 20 and is in contact with the first contact portion 31. Specifically, this side wall portion is the side wall portion 21A and the partition wall 21B of the lower case 21 as described above. The second contact portion 32 is provided at a position facing the first contact portion 31. The second contact portion 32 may protrude from the lower case 21.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 5, the first abutting portion 31 and the second abutting portion 32 may have the structure A of the surface fastener. In the structure A of the surface fastener, the first abutting portion 31 corresponds to a loop, and the second abutting portion 32 corresponds to a hook. The hook protrudes obliquely downward, for example. Therefore, when the loop is caught by the hook, the upward movement of the resin frame 12 with respect to the lower case 21 is suppressed. Note that the first abutting portion 31 may correspond to a hook and the second abutting portion 32 may correspond to a loop.

[0022] Also, as shown in FIG. 6, the first abutting portion 31 and the second abutting portion 32 may have the wedge-shaped restraint structure B. In the wedge-shaped restraint structure B, the first abutting portion 31 corresponds to a hook-shaped protrusion, and the second abutting portion 32 corresponds to a recess into which the protrusion engages. When the resin frame 12 tries to move upward with respect to the lower case 21, the first abutting portion 31 engages with the second abutting portion 32 to suppress the movement. Note that the first abutting portion 31 may correspond to a recess and the second abutting portion 32 may correspond to a protrusion. In this case, the directions of the hook-shaped protrusion and the recess are opposite to those in the case of FIG. 6.

[0023] (Operation) This embodiment is configured as described above, and its operation will be described below. In FIGS. 2 to 4, in the battery stack fixing structure S according to this embodiment, in the stacking direction (arrow L direction) of the battery stack 10, the battery stack 10 is compression-restrained by the pack case 20. Further, the side wall portion of the pack case 20 along the stacking direction and the resin frame 12 of the battery stack 10 abut against each other by the first abutting portion 31 and the second abutting portion 32, so that in the direction orthogonal to the stacking direction of the battery stack 10 (width direction, arrow W direction), the battery stack 10 is also restrained by the pack case 20, for example, by compression. Therefore, the vertical movement of the battery stack 10 can be suppressed.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 5, when the first abutting portion 31 and the second abutting portion 32 have the structure A of the surface fastener, the first abutting portion 31 and the second abutting portion 32 are difficult to separate from each other and are difficult to shift vertically. For this reason, the battery stack 10 is firmly fixed by the pack case 20.

[0025] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, when the first contact portion 31 and the second contact portion 32 have a wedge-shaped restraint structure B, the first contact portion 31 and the second contact portion 32 are less likely to separate from each other and less likely to shift vertically. As a result, the battery stack 10 is firmly fixed by the pack case 20.

[0026] Thus, according to this embodiment, vertical movement of the battery stack 10 can be suppressed.

[0027] [Other embodiments] Although an example of an embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made and implemented without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 10 Battery Stack 11 battery cells 12 Resin frame 20 pack case 21A Side wall part 31 1st contact part 32 Second contact part S Battery stack fixing structure

Claims

1. A battery stack in which multiple battery cells are stacked in a stacking direction, and a resin frame is provided between the battery cells, A pack case for housing the battery stack and compressing and restraining it in the stacking direction, A first contact portion is provided in the portion of the resin frame that is aligned with the lamination direction and faces the side wall of the pack case, A second contact portion is provided on the side wall portion of the pack case and contacts the first contact portion, A fixing structure for a battery stack having the following characteristics.

2. The battery stack fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion have the structure of a hook-and-loop fastener.

3. The battery stack fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion have a wedge-shaped restraining structure.

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