Power Supply Unit

Abstract

To provide a power supply unit having a structure which makes a blower for cooling a battery pack less likely to suction a liquid.SOLUTION: A power supply unit according to the invention is mounted on a floor surface of a vehicle and includes a battery pack, a blower, an intake base, a filter, a filter case, an intake cover, and a drain trench. The intake base covers the blower and has, on its outer surface, an inclined portion. An opening for taking air thereinto is provided at the inclined portion. The filter covers the opening and removes dust from air. The filter case presses the filter against the intake base and fixes the filter. The intake cover has: a top surface part which faces the filter and the filter case while forming gaps therebetween; and a side surface part which surrounds an area between the top surface part and the intake base. The intake cover further has a suction hole for suctioning air on the side surface part. The drain trench is provided at a position, which is located higher than the opening, of an area around the opening on the outer surface of the intake base and has a recessed shape crossing an entry path to the opening.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a power supply unit for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Vehicles such as hybrid vehicles (HVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) are equipped with battery packs that supply electricity to the vehicles and blowers that blow air onto the battery packs to cool them (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Battery packs will break down if water or other liquids get into them, so the structure used by the blower to take in air needs to be designed to prevent liquids from being sucked into the blower.

[0004] For example, if a unit including a battery pack and a blower is installed on the floor of a vehicle interior and a cooler box placed in the vehicle interior falls over and the water inside spills out, it is possible that the air intake path to the blower may become submerged (momentarily submerged). Even in such a case, the vehicle's power supply unit is required to have a structure that is unlikely to cause the inconvenience of water being sucked in along with the air from the blower. Furthermore, it is desirable to achieve the low-cost requirement while preserving the existing structure. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-092907 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and has an object to provide a power supply unit having a structure in which a blower that cools a battery pack is less likely to suck in liquid. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the power supply unit according to the present invention is a power supply unit mounted on a floor surface of a vehicle, and includes a battery pack that supplies electricity to the vehicle, a blower that blows air to cool the battery pack, an intake base, a filter, a filter case, an intake cover, and a drainage groove. The intake base covers the blower and has an inclined portion on its outer surface, and an opening for taking in the air is opened in the inclined portion. The filter covers the opening and removes dust from the air. The filter case presses and fixes the filter to the intake base. The intake cover has a top surface portion that faces the filter and the filter case with a gap therebetween and a side surface portion that surrounds the space between the top surface portion and the intake base, and has an intake hole in the side surface portion for sucking in the air. The drainage groove is provided at a position higher than the opening on the outer surface of the intake base around the opening, and has a recessed shape that crosses the infiltration path to the opening.

[0008] According to this configuration, the drain groove that crosses the infiltration path guides the liquid flowing in from the infiltration path to be discharged elsewhere, thereby reducing the amount of liquid reaching the blower from the opening and making it difficult for the blower to suck in liquid, thereby preventing malfunctions of the battery pack, etc.

[0009] Furthermore, in the power supply unit of the present invention, a rib protruding from the bottom surface, which is the surface of the filter case facing the intake base, is provided within the drain groove when the filter case fixes the filter to the intake base.

[0010] With this configuration, the direction of liquid flowing along the bottom surface of the filter case toward the opening is changed by the rib toward the drain groove, preventing liquid from flowing along the bottom surface of the filter case and overflowing the drain groove.

[0011] In addition, in the power supply unit of the present invention, the filter case has a claw that penetrates and engages with the intake base on the outer periphery, which is the surrounding part of the area that contacts the filter, and the intake base has an engagement hole through which the claw penetrates, on the opposite side of the drain groove to the opening.

[0012] According to this configuration, the function of the drain groove is not impaired by the engagement hole.

[0013] In the power supply unit according to the present invention, the engagement hole is disposed at a position facing an outer surface of the blower.

[0014] According to this configuration, even if liquid seeps in through the engagement hole, the liquid drips onto the outer surface of the blower, and is therefore unlikely to be sucked into the blower. Effect of the Invention

[0015] The power supply unit according to the present invention has an effect of providing a structure that makes it difficult for a blower that cools a battery pack to suck in liquid. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a vehicle on which a power supply unit according to an embodiment is mounted. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the appearance and configuration of a power supply unit according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of an internal configuration of the power supply unit 1 according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the intake cover according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the intake base according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the filter case according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the filter according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the power supply unit with the intake cover removed according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view showing the external appearance of a part of the intake base according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the drain groove, the filter case, and the intake base according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] An example of a power supply unit according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the outline of a vehicle 100 in which a power supply unit 1 according to an embodiment is mounted. The vehicle 100 includes a front seat 103, a rear seat 104, and the power supply unit 1 on a floor surface 102 of an interior 101. The power supply unit 1 is installed under the front seat 103.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance and configuration of the power supply unit 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the internal configuration of the power supply unit 1. Note that FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are perspective views seen from different directions. To facilitate understanding, each drawing also shows a three-dimensional coordinate system. In the three-dimensional coordinate system, the depth direction (front-rear direction) of the vehicle 100 and the power supply unit 1 is the X-axis direction, the width direction (left-right direction) is the Y-axis direction, and the height direction (up-down direction) is the Z-axis direction. In addition, the positive direction of the X-axis is the direction from front to back for the driver who holds the steering wheel of the vehicle 100, and the positive direction of the X-axis is the "rear" or "rear side", and the negative direction is the "front" or "front side". In addition, the positive direction of the Y-axis is the direction from left to right for the driver, and the positive direction of the Z-axis is the direction from bottom to top.

[0019] The power supply unit 1 includes a protective cover 2, a blower 3, an intake base 4, a duct 5, a filter 6, a filter case 7, and an intake cover 8. In FIG. 3, the intake cover 8 is absent, and the filter 6 and the filter case 7 are exposed. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the intake cover 8. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the intake base 4. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the filter case 7. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the filter 6.

[0020] The protective cover 2 covers the battery pack from above. The battery pack is a secondary battery (battery), such as a lithium ion battery, that supplies electricity to the vehicle 100. The blower 3 blows air onto the battery pack inside the protective cover 2 to cool the battery pack.

[0021] The air intake base 4 covers the blower 3 and duct 5 from above to prevent them from getting wet and to protect them from dust. An opening 41 is formed in the air intake base 4 for taking in air from the outside. The air intake base 4 has an inclined portion on its outer surface 40, and the opening 41 is provided in the inclined portion. The air that the blower 3 blows to the battery pack is taken in through the opening 41. The duct 5 has a bell-like shape that connects the edge of the opening 41 to the edge of the suction port 31 of the blower 3, and guides the air from the opening 41 to the blower 3 (see FIG. 3).

[0022] In this embodiment, a water ingress countermeasure is provided assuming water ingress to the extent that the air intake path to the blower 3 is momentarily submerged, such as when a cooler box placed in the interior 101 of the vehicle 100 falls over and the water inside spills out. This embodiment at least partially prevents liquid from entering when water is ingressed due to momentary submersion, making it less likely for the power supply unit 1 to malfunction.

[0023] Filter 6 covers opening 41 and removes dust from the air passing through. When the air in duct 5 passes through opening 41, dust is removed by filter 6. Filter case 7 presses filter 6 against intake base 4 and fixes it to the edge of opening 41.

[0024] The filter 6 has a dust removing portion 61 and an outer peripheral portion 62 (see FIG. 7). The dust removing portion 61 is an accordion-folded portion sized to fit into the opening 41, and removes dust carried by the air passing through. The outer peripheral portion 62 is a flat portion surrounding the dust removing portion 61, and is sandwiched between the edge of the opening 41 and the filter case 7.

[0025] The intake cover 8 has a top surface portion 81 and side surfaces 82, 83, and 84. The top surface portion 81 faces the filter 6 and the filter case 7 with a gap therebetween. The side surfaces 82, 83, and 84 are continuous with the top surface portion 81 and surround the gap between the top surface portion 81 and the intake base 4. Of the side surfaces 82, 83, and 84, the side surface portion 84 closest to the left end portion of the intake base 4 is provided with an intake hole 841 for drawing in air. The intake hole 841 is a mesh-like hole that is integrated with the side surface portion 84.

[0026] 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the power supply unit 1 with the intake cover 8 removed. As described above, the outer peripheral portion 62 of the filter 6 is sandwiched between the bottom surface of the filter case 7 and the outer surface 40 of the intake base 4. For this reason, a gap is generated around the filter 6 between the bottom surface of the filter case 7 and the outer surface 40 of the intake base 4, the gap being equal to the thickness of the outer peripheral portion 62.

[0027] Here, the bottom surface of the filter case 7 and the opposing area of ​​the outer surface 40 are inclined so as to be lower toward the front of the vehicle 100. Therefore, liquid that has entered the gap between the bottom surface and the outer surface 40 moves toward the front of the vehicle 100. Therefore, liquid that has entered behind the opening 41 of the vehicle 100 will flow into the opening 41 unless some measure is taken. However, in this embodiment, the drain groove 42 is provided to prevent liquid from entering. This will be explained next.

[0028] When the power supply unit 1 becomes submerged in water, the water may enter the duct 5. However, by using the drain groove 42 described later, the water intrusion path that causes the water to enter the duct 5 can be blocked at the location where the drain groove 42 is provided.

[0029] Water seepage that could occur behind opening 41 in a conventional configuration is prevented from spreading (drooping) by drain groove 42 of this embodiment. If drain groove 42 were not provided, the range of water seepage would expand downward along the slope of outer surface 40 toward opening 41, and liquid would drip from above blower 3 to the front of suction port 31 or spread into duct 5, making it easier for liquid to be sucked into blower 3. However, with the configuration of this embodiment, dripping into suction port 31 of blower 3 is prevented, making it harder for blower 3 to suck in liquid, and therefore making it harder for the inconvenience of liquid being sprayed onto the battery pack to occur.

[0030] FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view showing the appearance of a part of the intake base 4. A drain groove 42 is formed at a predetermined position on the outer surface 40 of the intake base 4. The drain groove 42 has an elongated recessed shape. The drain groove 42 is provided in at least a part of the periphery (near the edge) of the opening 41. Since the opening 41 is provided in a sloping part of the outer surface 40 of the intake base 4, the height of the periphery of the opening 41 is not uniform, but is sloping. In this embodiment, this sloping is higher toward the rear of the vehicle 100. The drain groove 42 is provided at a position higher than the opening 41 (i.e., a position upstream of the opening 41 when liquid flows on the outer surface 40). The drain groove 42 is provided across the infiltration path of the liquid into the opening 41. The bottom of the drain groove 42 is sloping so that the liquid received by the drain groove 42 flows toward the outside of the intake base 4. In other words, the height (Z-axis value) of the bottom of the drain groove 42 is lower (the Z-axis value is smaller) on the outside of the intake base 4 than on the inside.

[0031] 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the drain groove 42 and the filter case 7 and the intake base 4. Reference numeral 70 shown in this figure indicates the bottom surface 70 of the filter case 7. Reference numeral 71 shown in this figure indicates a gap 71 between the bottom surface 70 and the outer surface 40 of the intake base 4. As described above, the gap 71 corresponds to the thickness of the outer circumferential portion 62 of the filter 6.

[0032] The filter case 7 further includes, on an outer periphery 72, which is the periphery of the range in contact with the filter 6, claws 73 that penetrate and engage with the intake base 4. The intake base 4 has an engagement hole 43 with which the claws 73 engage. The engagement hole 43 is located on the opposite side of the drain groove 42 from the opening 41.

[0033] Furthermore, the filter case 7 is provided with a rib 74 protruding from the bottom surface 70. The rib 74 is located in the drain groove 42 when the filter case 7 is in a state in which the filter 6 is fixed to the intake base 4. The longitudinal direction of the rib 74 is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the drain groove 42.

[0034] Furthermore, the intake base 4 is provided with a vertical rib 44. The vertical rib 44 is provided so as to protrude upward from the outer surface 40 of the intake base 4, and is located on the opposite side of the drain groove 42 from the opening 41. The position where the vertical rib 44 is provided is higher (where the Z-axis value is larger) than the drain groove 42 and the engagement hole 43, and is also behind (where the X-axis value is larger) than the drain groove 42 and the engagement hole 43.

[0035] In this configuration, liquid (such as water) enters the inside of the intake cover 8 via the intake hole 841 of the intake cover 8 or along the outer surface 40 of the intake base 4. When the liquid enters the gap 71 between the bottom surface 70 of the filter case 7 and the outer surface 40 of the intake base 4, it moves toward the opening 41 due to the inclination of the outer surface 40 of the intake base 4, etc. The drain groove 42 crosses the path (infiltration path) along which the liquid moves, so the liquid flows into the drain groove 42. In this way, the liquid is blocked by the drain groove 42 and does not reach the opposite bank of the drain groove 42, so infiltration through the infiltration path is prevented. Due to the inclination of the bottom of the drain groove 42, the liquid is guided in one direction within the drain groove 42. The liquid is then discharged from the lowest part of the inclination of the drain groove 42. In this embodiment, a drain groove 42 is provided at a position that is a path for liquid to drip from above the blower 3 down the inner wall of the duct 5, and this path is blocked, thereby preventing liquid from dripping (entering) into the duct 5 or the blower 3.

[0036] The rib 74 (see FIG. 10) changes the flow direction of liquid that flows along the bottom surface 70 of the filter case 7 toward the opening 41 to a downward direction. The liquid moves along the protruding direction of the rib 74 and drips into the drain groove 42.

[0037] Additionally, the vertical ribs 44 prevent water on the outer surface 40 from moving rearward. The vertical ribs 44 bounce back water moving rearward along the outer surface 40. Any of the bounced back water that enters the gaps 71 flows into the drain grooves 42 and is discharged, as described above.

[0038] As described above, according to the power supply unit 1 of this embodiment, the drain groove 42 is provided so as to cross the infiltration path and liquid that is about to flow into the opening 41 is guided to be discharged elsewhere, thereby making it difficult for the blower 3 to suck in liquid, thereby preventing breakdowns in the battery pack, etc.

[0039] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described, the above embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. The above embodiment and its modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims.

[0040] For example, the power supply unit 1 in the above embodiment has the drain groove 42 only at the position shown in the figure, but in practice, drain grooves that cross the infiltration path to the opening 41 may also be provided at other positions.

[0041] In the above embodiment, a bell-shaped duct 5 is provided to connect the edge of the opening 41 and the edge of the blower 3. In practice, if the duct 5 is not provided, the engagement hole 43 is disposed at a position facing the outer surface 32 of the blower 3 (see FIG. 3). The outer surface 32 is the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the blower 3, which is a cylindrical container having the suction port 31. In practice, the cylindrical portion may be a square tube instead of a cylinder. With this configuration, even if liquid that has run down the outer surface 40 seeps into the intake base 4 through the engagement hole 43, the liquid drips from the engagement hole 43 onto the outer surface 32 of the blower 3, and does not enter the blower 3. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1 ... power supply unit, 2 ... protective cover, 3...Blower, 31...Suction port, 32...Outer surface 4... Intake base, 40...outer surface, 41...opening, 42...drain groove, 43...engagement hole, 44...longitudinal rib, 5 ... duct, 6 ... filter, 61 ... dust removal part, 62 ... outer periphery, 7 ... Filter case, 70... bottom surface, 71... gap, 72... outer periphery, 73... claw, 74... rib, 8 ... intake cover, 81 ... top surface portion, 82 to 84 ... side surface portion, 841 ... intake hole, 100…vehicles, 101...interior, 102...floor, 103...front seat, 104...rear seat

Claims

1. A power supply unit mounted on a floor surface of a vehicle, A battery pack that supplies electricity to the vehicle; a blower that blows air to cool the battery pack; an intake base that covers the blower and has an inclined portion on its outer surface, the inclined portion having an opening for taking in the air; a filter covering the opening and removing dust from the air; a filter case that presses and fixes the filter to the intake base; an intake cover having a top surface portion facing the filter and the filter case with a gap therebetween and a side surface portion surrounding the space between the top surface portion and the intake base, the side surface portion having an intake hole for sucking in the air; a drain groove that is provided around the opening on the outer surface of the intake base at a position higher than the opening and has a recessed shape that crosses the infiltration path to the opening; A power supply unit comprising:

2. A rib is provided on the bottom surface of the filter case, which is the surface facing the intake base, and protrudes from the bottom surface and is positioned within the drain groove when the filter case fixes the filter to the intake base. The power supply unit according to claim 1 .

3. a longitudinal rib protruding upward from the intake base and positioned on the opposite side of the drain groove to the opening; The power supply unit according to claim 1 .

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