Battery pack

Abstract

To improve a cooling efficiency of a battery pack.SOLUTION: A battery pack 100 comprises: a battery module 2 formed by laminating a plurality of single cells 21 and a heat radiation plate 4 provided between the adjacent single cells 21 and radiating a heat generated in each single cell 21; a cooling plate 3 provided on a side surface 2b of the battery module 2, and contacted to the heat radiation plate 4; and a pressing plate 5 pressing the cooling plate 3 toward the heat radiation plate 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle battery pack including a plurality of battery modules and cooling pipes for cooling them.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the battery pack described in Patent Document 1, the battery module surrounded by the cooling pipe is cooled by the refrigerant circulating through the cooling pipe.

[0005] However, in the battery pack described in Patent Document 1, since there is a gap between the cooling pipe and the battery module, the cooling efficiency cannot be said to be good.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of such technical problems, and an object thereof is to improve the cooling efficiency of a battery pack.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention, a battery pack includes a battery module formed by laminating a plurality of single cells and a heat dissipation plate provided between adjacent single cells for dissipating heat generated by the single cells, a cooling plate provided on a side surface of the battery module and in contact with the heat dissipation plate, and a pressing plate for pressing the cooling plate toward the heat dissipation plate. A support plate that supports one end face of the battery module, It is provided with. The heat dissipation plate has a heat dissipation portion extending along the side surface of the battery module. The pressing plate has a pressing portion that extends so as to face the cooling plate and presses the cooling plate, and an engaging end that is continuously provided on the pressing portion and engaged with an engaging portion provided on the support plate. The engaging portion is a protrusion formed so as to protrude from the support plate toward the other end side of the battery module. The pressing plate holds the cooling plate in a state of being pressed toward the heat dissipation portion of the heat dissipation plate by the outer surface of the engaging end being locked to the protrusion.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, since the cooling plate is pressed toward the heat dissipation plate by the pressing plate, the heat transfer efficiency between them is improved. Thereby, the cooling efficiency of the battery pack can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings and the like.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a battery pack 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view of the battery pack 100 with the pressing plate 5 removed. As shown in FIG. 1, the battery pack 100 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of battery modules 2 provided in a housing 1 and a cooling plate 3 for cooling the battery modules 2.

[0012] The housing 1 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape by a metal plate or the like. The housing 1 includes a main body portion 1a for accommodating the battery modules 2 and a lid (not shown) for closing the opening of the main body portion 1a.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, the battery module 2 is configured by stacking secondary batteries (single cells 21) such as lithium-ion batteries. A heat dissipation plate 4 for dissipating heat generated in the single cell 21 is provided between adjacent single cells 21. The battery module 2 is configured by stacking a plurality of single cells 21 and the heat dissipation plate 4 between plates 22 and 23 as support plates. The plates 22 and 23 are fastened by bolts (not shown). Thereby, the single cell 21 and the heat dissipation plate 4 are held in a stacked state between the plates 22 and 23.

[0014] The battery module 2 is fixed to the housing 1 by fixing the plate 22 to the bottom surface 1b of the housing 1 with bolts (not shown) or the like. That is, the battery module 2 is fixed to the housing 1 such that one end surface 2a is supported by the plate 22.

[0015] The heat dissipation plate 4 is formed in a plate shape from a metal with high thermal conductivity (for example, copper). The heat dissipation plate 4 is provided between two adjacent single cells 21 and includes a heat transfer portion 4a that extends along the surface of the single cell 21 and a heat dissipation portion 4b that extends along the side surface 2b of the battery module 2. The heat dissipation plate 4 is formed by bending so that the heat transfer portion 4a and the heat dissipation portion 4b have a substantially L-shaped cross section.

[0016] The cooling plate 3 is formed in a plate shape so as to be in surface contact with the heat dissipation portion 4b of the heat dissipation plate 4, and a plurality of flow paths (not shown) through which a refrigerant flows are provided inside. The refrigerant flowing in the cooling plate 3 is cooled by a heat exchanger (not shown) provided outside the battery module 2. The refrigerant circulates between the heat exchanger and the cooling plate 3.

[0017] The pressing plate 5 extends so as to face the cooling plate 3, and includes a pressing portion 5a that presses the cooling plate 3, a fixing portion 5b that is continuously provided on the pressing portion 5a and fixed to the plate 22, and a fixing portion 5c that is continuously provided on the pressing portion 5a and fixed to the plate 23 by bolts. Although not shown in the figure, the pressing plate 5 is formed so as to extend over the three battery modules 2, similar to the cooling plate 3. The pressing plate 5 is formed, for example, by bending a thin metal plate such as iron.

[0018] The pressing portion 5a has a flat surface that makes surface contact with the side surface 3a of the cooling plate 3. The fixing portion 5b is formed on one end side (lower end side) of the pressing portion 5a, and the fixing portion 5c is formed on the other end side (upper end side) of the pressing portion 5a. The pressing plate 5 fixes the fixing portion 5b to the plate 22 and the fixing portion 5c to the plate 23, thereby holding the cooling plate 3 in a state of being pressed toward the heat radiating portion 4b of the heat radiating plate 4.

[0019] In the battery pack 100 configured as described above, the heat generated in the single cell 21 is transmitted to the heat radiating portion 4b through the heat transfer portion 4a of the heat radiating plate 4. Then, the heat transmitted to the heat radiating plate 4 is radiated by exchanging heat with the refrigerant flowing through the cooling plate 3. In the battery pack 100, since the cooling plate 3 and the heat radiating portion 4b of the heat radiating plate 4 are pressed and in surface contact, the heat transfer efficiency between them is improved. As a result, more heat can be radiated from the heat radiating portion 4b of the heat radiating plate 4, so that the battery module 2 can be cooled more efficiently.

[0020] In the battery pack 100, since the pressing plate 5 is formed in a thin plate shape, the pressing portion 5a can be pressed against the cooling plate 3 by bending the pressing plate 5. Thereby, the heat transfer efficiency can be further improved. Instead of the elasticity of the pressing plate 5, an elastic member such as a spring or rubber may be provided between the pressing plate 5 and the cooling plate 3. Also, a heat transfer member formed of resin, aluminum, or the like may be provided between the cooling plate 3 and the heat radiating portion 4b. Further, the cooling plate 3 may be covered with a resin having good thermal efficiency.

[0021] Note that the shape of the pressing plate 5 is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 2. Hereinafter, modified examples of the pressing plate 5 will be described. First, a modified example shown in FIG. 3 will be described.

[0022] In the modified example shown in FIG. 3, the pressing plate 5 has an engaging end 5d that extends straight from the pressing portion 5a instead of the fixing portion 5b and engages with a hole 22a as an engaging portion provided in the plate 22. When the engaging end 5d of the pressing plate 5 is inserted into the hole 22a, the pressing plate 5 holds the cooling plate 3 in a state of being pressed toward the heat radiating portion 4b of the heat radiating plate 4.

[0023] According to this modified example, since a space for providing bolts for fixing the pressing plate 5 to the plate 22 can be made unnecessary, the battery pack 100 can be miniaturized.

[0024] Next, referring to FIG. 4, another modified example will be described.

[0025] In the modified example shown in FIG. 4, the pressing plate 5 has an engaging end 55d that engages with a protrusion 22b as an engaging portion formed to protrude from the plate 22 toward the other end side of the battery module 2 instead of the fixing portion 5b. When the outer surface 5e of the engaging end 55d is locked to the inner surface of the protrusion 22b, the pressing plate 5 holds the cooling plate 3 in a state of being pressed toward the heat radiating portion 4b of the heat radiating plate 4.

[0026] According to this modified example, since a space for providing bolts for fixing the pressing plate 5 to the plate 22 can be made unnecessary, the battery pack 100 can be miniaturized.

[0027] Next, referring to FIG. 5, another modified example will be described.

[0028] In the modified example shown in FIG. 5, the engaging end 5d of the modified example shown in FIG. 3 is provided at a position closer to the side surface 2b of the battery module 2 than the pressing portion 5a so as to be bent from the pressing portion 5a. In the modified example shown in FIG. 5, the engaging end 5d is formed by bending the end portion of the pressing portion 5a twice in a crank shape.

[0029] According to this modified example, since the engagement position between the engaging end 5d and the hole 22a is closer to the side surface 2b of the battery module 2, the battery pack 100 can be made smaller.

[0030] The configuration, operation, and effects of the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be collectively described.

[0031] The battery pack 100 includes a battery module 2 formed by laminating a plurality of single cells 21 and a heat dissipation plate 4 provided between adjacent single cells 21 to dissipate heat generated by the single cells 21, a cooling plate 3 provided on the side surface 2b of the battery module 2 and in contact with the heat dissipation plate 4, and a pressing plate 5 that presses the cooling plate 3 toward the heat dissipation plate 4.

[0032] In this configuration, since the cooling plate 3 is pressed toward the heat dissipation plate 4, the contact area between the cooling plate 3 and the heat dissipation plate 4 can be increased. As a result, the heat transfer efficiency between the cooling plate 3 and the heat dissipation plate 4 is improved, so that more heat can be dissipated from the heat dissipation portion 4b of the heat dissipation plate 4. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the battery pack 100 can be improved.

[0033] The battery pack 100 further includes a plate 22 (support plate) that supports one end surface 2a of the battery module 2. The heat dissipation plate 4 has a heat dissipation portion 4b that extends along the side surface 2b of the battery module 2. The pressing plate 5 extends so as to face the cooling plate 3 and has a pressing portion 5a that presses the three cooling plates, and engaging ends 5d, 55d that are continuously provided on the pressing portion 5a and engage with engaging portions (holes 22a, protrusions 22b) provided on the plate 22 (support plate). The cooling plate 3 is held in a state of being pressed toward the heat dissipation portion 4b of the heat dissipation plate 4 by the engaging ends 5d, 55d being engaged with the engaging portions (holes 22a, protrusions 22b).

[0034] In this configuration, since bolts are not used, the number of components can be reduced.

[0035] In the battery pack 100, the engaging portion is a hole 22a formed in the plate 22 (support plate). The pressing plate 5 holds the cooling plate 3 in a state of being pressed toward the heat dissipation portion 4b of the heat dissipation plate 4 by the engaging end 5d being inserted into the hole 22a.

[0036] In this configuration, since the space for providing bolts for fixing the pressing plate 5 to the plate 22 (support plate) can be made unnecessary, the battery pack 100 can be miniaturized.

[0037] In the battery pack 100, the engaging portion is a protrusion 22b formed so as to protrude from the plate 22 (support plate) toward the other end side of the battery module 2. The pressing plate 5 holds the cooling plate 3 in a state of being pressed toward the heat dissipation portion 4b of the heat dissipation plate 4 by the outer surface 5e of the engaging end 55d being locked to the protrusion 22b.

[0038] In this configuration, since it is possible to eliminate the space for providing bolts for fixing the pressing plate 5 to the plate 22 (support plate), the battery pack 100 can be miniaturized. Further, in this configuration, since the outer surface 5e of the engaging end 55d is locked to the protrusion 22b, it can be easily visually confirmed from the opening portion of the main body portion 1a during assembly.

[0039] In the battery pack 100, the engaging end 5d is provided at a position closer to the side surface 2b of the battery module 2 than the pressing portion 5a so as to be bent from the pressing portion 5a.

[0040] In this configuration, since the engagement position between the engaging end 5d and the hole 22a becomes closer to the side surface 2b of the battery module 2, the battery pack 100 can be further miniaturized.

[0041] As described above, the embodiments, the above-described embodiments, and the modified examples of the present invention merely show a part of the application examples of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the specific configurations of the above-described embodiments.

[0042] In FIG. 1, a configuration in which six battery modules 2 are provided in the housing 1 is shown, but the number of battery modules 2 can be set as appropriate. Further, in FIG. 1, the case where the cooling plate 3 is configured to extend over three battery modules 2 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the cooling plate 3 may be provided individually for each battery module 2.

[0043] In the above-described embodiment, the engaging portions (holes 22a and protrusions 22b) are provided on the plate 22, but instead, the engaging portions (holes 22a and protrusions 22b) may be provided at the bottom of the housing 1. In this case, the bottom of the housing 1 corresponds to the support plate.

[0044] Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the fixing portion 5c is fixed to the plate 23 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the fixing portion 5c may be fixed to the housing 1 or a bracket (not shown) fixed to the housing 1.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0045] 1 Housing 1a Body portion 1b Bottom surface 2 Battery module 2a One end face 2b Side surface 3 Cooling plate 4 Heat dissipation plate 4a Heat transfer portion 4b Heat dissipation portion 5 Pressing plate 5a Pressing portion 5d Engaging end 5e Outer surface 21 Single cell 22 Plate (support plate) 22a Hole (engaging portion) 22b Projection (engaging portion) 55d Engaging end 100 Battery pack

Claims

1. A battery module formed by laminating a plurality of single cells and a heat dissipation plate provided between adjacent ones of the single cells for dissipating heat generated by the single cells, a cooling plate provided on a side surface of the battery module and in contact with the heat dissipation plate, a pressing plate for pressing the cooling plate toward the heat dissipation plate, and a support plate for supporting one end surface of the battery module, wherein the heat dissipation plate has a heat dissipation portion extending along the side surface of the battery module, the pressing plate has a pressing portion extending so as to face the cooling plate and pressing the cooling plate, and an engaging end provided continuously to the pressing portion and engaged with an engaging portion provided on the support plate, the engaging portion being a protrusion formed so as to protrude from the support plate toward the other end side of the battery module, and the battery pack in which the cooling plate is held in a state of being pressed toward the heat dissipation portion of the heat dissipation plate by the outer surface of the engaging end being locked to the protrusion.

2. A battery module formed by laminating a plurality of single cells and a heat dissipation plate provided between adjacent ones of the single cells for dissipating heat generated by the single cells, a cooling plate provided on a side surface of the battery module and in contact with the heat dissipation plate, a pressing plate for pressing the cooling plate toward the heat dissipation plate, and a support plate for supporting one end surface of the battery module, wherein the heat dissipation plate has a heat dissipation portion extending along the side surface of the battery module, the pressing plate has a pressing portion extending so as to face the cooling plate and pressing the cooling plate, and an engaging end provided continuously to the pressing portion and engaged with an engaging portion provided on the support plate, the engaging end being provided at a position closer to the side surface of the battery module than the pressing portion by being bent from the pressing portion, and the battery pack in which the cooling plate is held in a state of being pressed toward the heat dissipation portion of the heat dissipation plate by the engaging end being engaged with the engaging portion.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the engaging portion is a hole formed in the support plate, and the battery pack in which the cooling plate is held in a state of being pressed toward the heat dissipation portion of the heat dissipation plate by the engaging end being inserted into the hole.

Images