electrical equipment

Abstract

Provided is a capacitor that, when inserted in an electric vehicle or a charging station which previously had inserted therein a battery pack of a pre-miniaturized version, is capable of preventing occurrence of looseness or deficiency in width of a fixing surface on which a battery pack is to be fixed. A capacitor 1 which is provided so as to be installable in a first loading part C of a first electrical power device and a second loading part S103 of a second electrical power device S is configured to have an external shape such that a first abutment part which, upon loading of the capacitor into the first loading part, comes into abutment with the first loading part C differs from a second abutment part 26 which, upon loading of the capacitor into the second loading part S103, comes into abutment with the second loading part S103.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention provides electric Regarding force devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, battery packs have been known as electricity storage devices that are detachably mounted on electric vehicles and the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). The battery pack is inserted into a battery case of the electric vehicle for use. Also, a charging station for charging the battery pack is known (see, for example, Patent Document 2). The battery pack removed from the electric vehicle is inserted into a storage slot of an exchanger in the charging station and charged. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2020 / 065868 [Patent Document 2] International Publication No. 2018 / 235204 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Battery packs, which are used as electricity storage devices that are detachably mounted on electric vehicles, etc., are required to be small and lightweight. However, when a battery pack is made smaller, rattle occurs or the fixing surface width for fixing the battery pack is insufficient when the smaller battery pack is inserted into an electric vehicle or a charging station exchanger that previously had a battery pack inserted therein.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a storage battery that can avoid rattles and insufficient fixing surface width for fixing the battery pack when inserted into an electric vehicle or a charging station exchange that has a battery pack inserted before miniaturization, and a power device to which the storage battery is attached. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a storage battery (e.g., a battery pack 1 described later) that is mountable to a first mounting portion (battery case C) of a first power device (e.g., an electric vehicle described later) and a second mounting portion (e.g., an insertion hole S103 of an exchange S described later) of a second power device (e.g., an exchange S described later), wherein the storage battery has an outer shape formed so that a first abutment portion (e.g., a side wall portion 4442, a horizontal thick portion 2442 described later) that abuts with the first mounting portion when mounted on the first mounting portion is different from a second abutment portion (e.g., a side surface 261 of an outer shell case 26 described later) that abuts with the second mounting portion when mounted on the second mounting portion.

[0007] The present invention also provides a power device having a first power device (for example, an electric vehicle described later) having a first mounting portion (battery case C) to which a power storage device (for example, a battery pack 1 described later) is mounted, and a second power device (for example, an exchange S described later) having a second mounting portion to which the power storage device or another power storage device having the same shape as the power storage device is mounted, wherein the first mounting portion has a first abutment portion (for example, a side wall portion 4442 described later) of an outer shape of the power storage device when the power storage device is mounted to the first mounting portion. The electric power device is formed to have a first abutment portion (e.g., a case housing portion C11 or a case opening cylindrical portion C12 described later) against which a horizontal thick portion 2442 abuts, and the second mounting portion is formed to have a second abutment portion (e.g., a positioning rail S11 or an inner wall S101 described later) against which a second abutment portion (e.g., a side surface 261 of an outer shell case 26 described later) different from the first abutment portion of the external shape of the electric power storage device or the other electric power storage device abuts when the electric power storage device or the other electric power storage device is mounted on the second mounting portion.

[0008] As a result, even if a capacitor is inserted into the first power device or the second power device, which had capacitors inserted before they were miniaturized, the abutment parts are different, so the capacitor can be reliably supported when inserted, and rattles or an insufficient fixing surface width for fixing the capacitor can be avoided.

[0009] In this case, when viewed in the extension direction of the storage battery, the external shape is preferably formed into an approximately rectangular shape having four vertices and four sides connecting the vertices, and the first abutment portion is preferably arranged near the vertices, and the second abutment portion is preferably arranged on the sides avoiding the vertices.

[0010] This makes it easy to configure the abutment portion with the first mounting portion when mounted on the first mounting portion and the abutment portion with the second mounting portion when mounted on the second mounting portion to be different when viewed in the extension direction of the storage battery.

[0011] In this case, the capacitor is preferably constituted by at least three components (for example, the bottom case 24, outer shell case 26, and top cover (handle body 43, handle cover 44, and top case 28) described below) that are arranged at different positions in the extension direction of the capacitor, and the first abutment portion is arranged on a component of the at least three components that constitutes an end of the capacitor in the extension direction (for example, the top cover (handle body 43, handle cover 44, and top case 28) described below), and the second abutment portion is arranged on a component of the at least three components that does not constitute an end of the capacitor in the extension direction but constitutes an intermediate portion of the capacitor (for example, the outer shell case 26 described below).

[0012] This makes it easy to make the abutment portion with the first mounting portion when attached to the first mounting portion and the abutment portion with the second mounting portion when attached to the second mounting portion have different configurations when viewed from the side of the storage battery.

[0013] In this case, it is preferable that the outer shape of the member constituting the end portion is formed so that the maximum outer periphery length in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction (e.g., maximum outer periphery length L2, maximum outer periphery length L3 described below) is greater than the maximum outer periphery length in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the member constituting the intermediate portion (e.g., maximum outer periphery length L1 described below).

[0014] This makes it possible to prevent rattling even when a storage battery with a miniaturized middle section is attached to the first attachment section of the first power device, which accommodates a large storage battery before it is miniaturized.

[0015] In this case, two of the at least three members (e.g., side wall portion 4442 and horizontal thick portion 2442 described below) are members that constitute one end and the other end in the extension direction of battery pack 1, and it is preferable that the outer shape of one of the two end portions be formed such that the maximum outer periphery length (e.g., maximum outer periphery length L2 described below) in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the outer shape of the member that constitutes the other end is greater than the maximum outer periphery length (e.g., maximum outer periphery length L3 described below) in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the outer shape of the member that constitutes the other end. This makes it possible to suppress rattle of the battery pack relative to the first attachment portion by inserting the member that constitutes one end into the first attachment portion.

[0016] In this case, it is preferable that the member constituting one of the ends (for example, bottom case 24 described below) is arranged vertically lower than the member constituting the other end (for example, top cover (handle body 43, handle cover 44, and top case 28) described below) when the capacitor is attached to the first attachment part. This increases the outer shape of the lower member in the direction of gravity, reducing the clearance with the first attachment part, making the attachment state of the capacitor more stable.

[0017] In this case, it is preferable that the member constituting the end portion has a grip portion (for example, handle 42 described below) that is gripped by a user of the electric storage device, the grip portion has a grip skeleton portion (for example, handle main body 43 described below) and a cover portion (for example, handle cover 44 described below) that covers the grip skeleton portion, and the first abutment portion (for example, side wall portion 4442 described below) is disposed on the cover portion. This makes it possible to adjust the dimensions only in the cover portion when accommodating the electric storage device in another accommodation portion, and makes it possible to eliminate the need to modify the grip skeleton portion.

[0018] In this case, it is preferable that the members constituting the end portions are detachably attached to the members constituting the intermediate portion, which allows the capacitor to be used for a long period of time by replacing only the end portions that are subject to a large amount of external force (damage) without discarding the entire capacitor.

[0019] In this case, the member constituting the intermediate portion is formed to have greater strength and / or rigidity than the members constituting the end portions. For example, the member constituting the intermediate portion is made of metal. The members constituting the end portions are made of resin. This allows the member constituting the intermediate portion, which has high strength and / or rigidity, to be used for a long period of time.

[0020] In this case, the first power device is a mobile body having a drive unit electrically connected to the electric storage device attached to the first mounting portion and driven by the electric power of the electric storage device, and the second power device is a charging / discharging device electrically connected to the electric storage device attached to the second mounting portion and having at least one of a charging unit that inputs external electric power to the electric storage device and a discharging unit that outputs the electric power of the electric storage device to the outside. For example, the charging / discharging device is an exchanger having an exchange function that provides another electric storage device in storage in place of the electric storage device received from a user. Also, the mobile body is a vehicle having wheels driven by the drive unit. This makes it possible to use an electric storage device in the charging / discharging device and the mobile body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a storage battery and a power device to which the storage battery is attached that can avoid rattling or insufficient fixing surface width for fixing the battery pack when the storage battery is inserted into a power device such as an electric vehicle or other power device such as a switchboard in which a battery pack before its miniaturization was inserted. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a battery pack as an electric storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a bottom perspective view showing a battery pack, which is an electric storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery pack, which is an electricity storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a battery pack, which is an electricity storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, housed in a battery case of an electric vehicle. [Figure 5] 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an upper front portion of a battery pack, which is an electricity storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, housed in a battery case of an electric vehicle. [Figure 6] 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an upper rear portion of a battery pack, which is an electricity storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, housed in a battery case of an electric vehicle. [Figure 7] 1 is a rear cross-sectional view showing a battery pack, which is an electricity storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, housed in a battery case of an electric vehicle. [Figure 8] 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a lower front portion of a battery pack, which is an electricity storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, housed in a battery case of an electric vehicle. [Figure 9] 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a lower rear portion of a battery pack, which is an electricity storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, housed in a battery case of an electric vehicle. [Figure 10]1 is a bottom cross-sectional view showing a state in which a battery pack, which is an electricity storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention, is inserted into an insertion hole of an exchange. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the battery pack 1. Fig. 2 is a bottom perspective view showing the battery pack 1. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the battery pack 1. In the following description, the upper side shown in Fig. 1 (the side where the handle 42 is provided) is defined as the upper side, and the opposite side (the lower side shown in Fig. 1) is defined as the lower side.

[0024] The portable battery pack 1 serving as a power storage device is suitably applied to, for example, a portable driving power source (MPP) that is detachably mounted on an electrically assisted bicycle, an electric motorcycle, or the like. The battery pack 1 as a power storage device includes a storage battery case 10 having a substantially rectangular exterior body, and a battery group as a power storage unit housed inside the storage battery case 10. The external shape of the battery pack 1 is a rectangular parallelepiped, and as shown in Fig. 10, is formed into a substantially rectangular shape having four vertices and four sides connecting the vertices when viewed in the extension direction of the battery pack 1. The extension direction of the battery pack 1 as a power storage device is also the direction in which the battery pack 1 is attached to an electric vehicle (such as an electrically assisted bicycle or an electric motorcycle) or a switchboard S as a power device.

[0025] The battery case 10 forms a housing and houses a battery core pack (not shown) that constitutes a battery group. The battery case 10 can be made of, for example, a metal such as aluminum, or a resin (including fiber-reinforced resin). The battery case 10 has a bottom case 24, an outer shell case 26, a handle body 43, a handle cover 44, and a top cover that includes a top case 28.

[0026] The bottom case 24 is configured separately from the battery group (not shown), is positioned outside and below the battery group, has an open top end, and has a rectangular shape in a plan view. The inside of the bottom case 24 also houses a connector section 33 and the like.

[0027] The connector unit 33 is exposed to the outside of the case 12, for example, through a through-hole (not shown) formed in the bottom wall of the bottom case 24, and can be electrically connected to a power supply port of the electric vehicle or a charging device for charging a battery group (not shown). By connecting the connector unit 33 to the power supply port or the charging device, the power supply port or the charging device and the battery group (not shown) are electrically connected via the BMU (not shown).

[0028] The outer shell case 26 (see FIG. 1) has a rectangular cylindrical shape and covers the side surfaces of the battery group (not shown). The upper end of the outer shell case 26 opens upward at an upper opening 26a, and the lower end of the outer shell case 26 opens downward at a lower opening 26b. With the lower opening 26b covered by the bottom case 24 and the upper opening 26a covered by the top case 28, the battery group (not shown), BMU (Battery Management Unit), etc. (not shown) are housed in the internal space of the outer shell case 26. Seal rings (not shown) are provided around the entire periphery between the top case 28 and the outer shell case 26, and between the bottom case 24 and the outer shell case 26, respectively.

[0029] The top case 28 is configured separately from the battery group (not shown), is positioned outside the battery group and above the battery group, is an open-bottom housing, and has a rectangular shape in a plan view.

[0030] A recess 281 is formed in the center of the top surface of top case 28 so that the hand does not come into contact with the top surface of top case 28 when gripping handle 42 with the hand. The four corners of top case 28 are fixed to outer shell case 26 with bolts 282, and waterproof caps 283 are attached to cover bolts 282 to prevent water from entering through the positions of bolts 282.

[0031] 1, a handle 42 is connected to the upper surface 28a of the top case 28. The handle 42 is held by a user when carrying the battery pack 1, for example.

[0032] The handle 42 includes a first handle portion 421 and a second handle portion 422. The first handle portion 421 is disposed along the outer periphery of the upper surface 28a of the top case 28. The second handle portion 422 is disposed to extend in a direction perpendicular to the first handle portion 421.

[0033] Specifically, the handle 42 has a handle main body 43 and a handle cover 44 that covers the entire handle main body 43. The handle main body 43 has a flat T-shape that includes a first main body 431 that constitutes the first handle portion 421 and a second main body 432 that constitutes the second handle portion 422, and three ends of the T-shape are fixed to the top case 28 by bolts 434. The handle cover 44 also includes a first cover portion 441 that constitutes the first handle portion 421 and a second cover portion 442 that constitutes the second handle portion 422.

[0034] The central portion of the first main body portion 431 has a square-shaped opening that opens in the front-to-rear direction. The first cover portion 441 of the handle cover 44 has an opening 4411 that has the same shape as the square-shaped opening in the central portion of the first main body portion 431.

[0035] A battery core pack (not shown) constituting a battery group (not shown) includes multiple battery cells and multiple cell holders that hold the battery cells. The battery cells are preferably lithium-ion secondary batteries, but are not limited thereto. For example, secondary batteries such as all-solid-state batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and nickel-cadmium batteries may also be used. Multiple bus bar plates (not shown) are provided to cover the positive and negative terminals of the multiple battery cells, respectively. The bus bar plates connect a predetermined number of positive terminals or negative terminals in parallel. The multiple bus bar plates are connected in series to each other and connected to a connector unit 33 via a BMU (not shown).

[0036] Next, details will be described of the insertion hole S103 of the exchanger S arranged in a charging station for charging the battery pack 1, the battery case C of the electric vehicle, and the handle cover 44 and bottom case 24 of the battery pack 1. The exchanger S can exchange the battery pack 1 by receiving a used battery pack 1 from a user and providing a new battery pack 1 that is being stored as a replacement. The battery pack 1 received from the user is charged and stored within the exchanger S. In other words, the exchanger S is also a charger that has the function of charging the battery pack 1. Furthermore, the exchanger S may be a discharger that has the function of discharging the power of the stored battery pack 1 to supply it outside the exchanger S.

[0037] 1 and 10, the maximum perimeter L3 of the outer shape of handle cover 44 (see FIG. 3) in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction in FIG. 1, which is the extension direction of battery pack 1, is formed by the portion of side wall portion 4442 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) that protrudes most in that direction, and handle cover 44 protrudes more in that direction than side surface 261. This maximum perimeter L3 is longer than the maximum perimeter L1 of the outer shape of outer shell case 26 in that direction, which is shown by the thick dotted line. Furthermore, the maximum perimeter L2 of the outer shape of bottom case 24 in a direction perpendicular to the up-down direction in FIG. 1, which is the extension direction of battery pack 1, is formed by the portion of horizontal thick portion 2442 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) that protrudes most in that direction. This maximum perimeter L2 is longer than the maximum perimeter L1 and also longer than the maximum perimeter L3 of the outer shape of outer shell case 26 in that direction. That is, the maximum circumferential length L2 is the longest among the maximum circumferential lengths L1 to L3.

[0038] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view showing the battery pack 1 housed in the battery case C of an electric vehicle. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an upper front portion showing the battery pack 1 housed in the battery case C of an electric vehicle. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an upper rear portion showing the battery pack 1 housed in the battery case C of an electric vehicle. FIG. 7 is a rear cross-sectional view showing the battery pack 1 housed in the battery case C of an electric vehicle. FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a lower front portion showing the battery pack 1 housed in the battery case C of an electric vehicle. FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a lower rear portion showing the battery pack 1 housed in the battery case C of an electric vehicle. FIG. 10 is a bottom cross-sectional view showing the battery pack 1 inserted into the insertion hole S103 of the exchanger S. Note that in FIG. 10, maximum outer periphery lengths L1 and L3 are shown only on the left side, and are not shown on the right side.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 10, the exchange S has an inner wall S101 that forms an insertion hole S103 into which the battery pack 1 can be inserted, and the battery pack 1 is inserted into the insertion hole S103 from the side of the bottom case 24. The insertion hole S103 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a closed bottom, and has a rectangular shape in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the battery pack 1. The bottom, not shown, is located on the near side of the paper in Fig. 10. A terminal, not shown, that is electrically connected to the connector unit 33 is provided at the bottom, not shown, of the inner wall S101.

[0040] One side of the inner wall S101, which is rectangular in cross section (the upper side of the inner wall S101 of the insertion hole S103 in FIG. 10), is curved so as to be convex toward the outside of the exchange S, and the other three sides (the left, right, and lower sides of the inner wall S101 in FIG. 10) are straight. As shown in FIG. 10, in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the battery pack 1, the approximate rectangle formed by the inner peripheral surface of the inner wall S101 is larger than the approximate rectangle forming the maximum outer periphery length (maximum outer periphery length L2 in FIG. 1) of the outer shape of the outer shell case 26 of the battery pack 1 in the same cross section. As a result, a space is formed between the battery pack 1 and the inner wall S101 of the insertion hole S103.

[0041] In this space, positioning rails S11 extending in the direction in which the battery pack 1 is inserted (in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the inserted battery pack 1) into the insertion hole S103 formed by the inner wall S101 are provided on three straight sides of the inner wall S101, which has a rectangular shape in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the battery pack 1. A positioning rail S11 is not provided on one curved side, but is provided at the centers of each of the two sides adjacent to that side (the left and right sides of the inner wall S101 in FIG. 10) and fixed to the inner wall S101.

[0042] Two positioning rails S11 are provided on the remaining side (the lower side of the inner wall S101 in FIG. 10), and the two positioning rails S11 are fixed to the inner wall S101 spaced apart so as to be positioned between adjacent outer thick portions 244 (described below) of the bottom case 24 of the battery pack 1 when viewed from the bottom of the battery pack 1 shown in FIG. The positioning rails S11 abut against the outer shell case 26 of the battery pack 1 to support the battery pack 1.

[0043] The battery case C of the electric vehicle is capable of accommodating the battery pack 1, and is configured to be able to accommodate, in place of the battery pack 1, a battery pack (not shown) having an outer shell case that is slightly larger than the outer shell case 26 of the battery pack 1. As shown in Figures 5, 6, etc., the battery case C of the electric vehicle includes a case housing portion C11 and a case opening cylindrical portion C12.

[0044] The case housing C11 has a cylindrical shape with a bottom that forms an insertion hole into which the battery pack 1 can be inserted. The case opening cylindrical portion C12 is fixed to the opening at the upper end of the case housing C11 and to the inner peripheral surface in the vicinity thereof, and has a cylindrical shape with both ends open. A terminal (not shown) that abuts and is electrically connected to the connector portion 33 is provided at the bottom of the case housing C11. In addition, a step C111 that increases the width of the case housing C11 upward is provided at the lower part of the side of the case housing C11 near the bottom, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0045] 5 and 6, the peripheral edge 444 of the handle cover 44 has an upper wall portion 4441 and a side wall portion 4442. The side wall portion 4442 is configured to be thicker than the upper wall portion 4441. Therefore, in a cross section taken along a horizontal plane that is parallel to a direction perpendicular to the up-and-down direction in FIG. 4, which is the extension direction (longitudinal direction) of the battery pack 1, the side wall portion 4442 protrudes outward from the battery pack 1 (to the left in FIG. 5 and to the right in FIG. 6) beyond the side surface 261 of the outer shell case 26.

[0046] As shown in Figures 8 to 10, the four corners of the bottom case 24, which has a rectangular shape when viewed in a plane, have outer thick portions 244, which have vertical thick portions 2441 that are thick in the longitudinal direction, which is the extension direction of the battery pack 1, and horizontal thick portions 2442 that are thick in the horizontal direction, which is the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0047] As shown in Fig. 10, the outer thick portion 244 is provided over the corner and over the two sides sandwiching the corner in the vicinity of the corner. As shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, a step engagement portion 2445 that can engage with a step C111 of a battery case C of an electric vehicle is provided at the upper part of the horizontal thick portion 2442. Due to the provision of the step engagement portion 2445, the thickness of the horizontal thick portion 2442 toward the upper side becomes thicker at the step engagement portion 2445.

[0048] The step engaging portion 2445 engages with the step C111 of the battery case C, so that the battery pack 1 is stored in the battery case C without any rattle. Furthermore, with respect to the exchanger S, the positioning rail S11 abuts against the side surface 261 of the outer shell case 26, and the inner surface of one side (the upper side of the inner wall S101 in FIG. 10) of the inner wall S101, which is curved so as to convexly face outward from the exchanger S, abuts against one side surface 261 (the upper side surface of the outer shell case 26 in FIG. 10) of the outer shell case 26, which is curved so as to convexly face outward from the battery pack 1, so that the battery pack 1 is stored in the exchanger S without any rattle.

[0049] According to this embodiment, the following effects are achieved. In this embodiment, the battery pack 1, which is mountable to the battery case C of an electric vehicle and the insertion hole S103 of the exchange machine S of a charging station, has an outer shape formed so that the side wall portion 4442 and horizontal thick portion 2442, which are the abutment portions with the battery case C when mounted on the battery case C, are different from the outer shell case 26, which is the abutment portion with the exchange machine S when mounted on the exchange machine S.

[0050] As a result, even when the battery pack 1 is inserted into the insertion hole S103 of the exchange S of an electric vehicle or charging station where a battery pack before miniaturization was inserted, the abutment portion is different, so the battery pack 1 can be reliably supported when inserted, and it is possible to avoid rattle or an insufficient fixing surface width for fixing the battery pack 1.

[0051] In addition, in this embodiment, when viewed in the extension direction of the battery pack 1, the external shape is formed into an approximately rectangular shape having four vertices and four sides connecting the vertices, and the side wall portion 4442 and the horizontal thick portion 2442 are arranged near the vertices, and the outer shell case 26 is arranged on a side that avoids the vicinity of the vertices.

[0052] This makes it easy to configure the contact portion with the battery case C when attached to the battery case C and the contact portion with the exchange S when attached to the exchange S to be different when viewed in the extension direction of the battery pack 1.

[0053] In this embodiment, the battery pack 1 includes at least three members (bottom case 24, outer shell case 26, and top cover (handle body 43, handle cover 44, and top case 28)) in the extension direction, and the side wall portion 4442 and the horizontal thick portion 2442 are arranged on the top cover (handle body 43, handle cover 44, and top case 28) that constitutes the end of the battery pack 1 in the extension direction among the at least three members, and the outer shell case 26 is composed of a member that does not constitute the end of the battery pack 1 in the extension direction but constitutes the middle part of the battery pack 1 among the at least three members.

[0054] This makes it easy to make the contact portion with the battery case C when attached to the battery case C and the contact portion with the exchange S when attached to the exchange S have different configurations when viewed from the side of the battery pack 1.

[0055] In addition, in this embodiment, the outer shape is formed so that the maximum outer circumferential lengths L2, L3 of the outer shapes of the side wall portion 4442 and the horizontal thick portion 2442, which are members constituting the end portions, in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the battery pack 1, are greater than the maximum outer circumferential length L1 of the outer shape of the outer shell case 26, which is a member constituting the intermediate portion, in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the battery pack 1.

[0056] This makes it possible to prevent rattle from occurring when the battery pack 1, in which the middle part, the outer shell case 26, has been miniaturized, is attached to the battery case C of an electric vehicle that houses a large battery pack 1 before it has been miniaturized.

[0057] In addition, in this embodiment, the side wall portion 4442 and the horizontal thick portion 2442 are members that constitute one end and the other end in the extension direction of the battery pack 1, and of the members that constitute the two ends, the external shape is formed so that the maximum peripheral length L2 of the external shape of the horizontal thick portion 2442 that constitutes one end in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the battery pack 1 is greater than the maximum peripheral length L3 of the external shape of the side wall portion 4442 that constitutes the other end in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the battery pack 1.

[0058] As a result, by inserting the horizontal thick portion 2442 of the bottom case 24 that constitutes one end into the battery case C, it is possible to prevent rattling of the battery pack 1 relative to the battery case C.

[0059] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the bottom case 24 is disposed vertically lower than the top cover (the handle body 43, the handle cover 44, and the top case 28) when the battery pack 1 is attached to the battery case C. This increases the outer shape of the bottom case 24, which is the lower member in the direction of gravity, and reduces the clearance between the bottom case 24 and the case housing section C11, making the attached state of the battery pack 1 more stable.

[0060] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the top cover (handle body 43, handle cover 44, and top case 28) has a handle 42 that is gripped by a user of the battery pack 1, and the handle 42 has a handle body 43 and a handle cover 44 that covers the handle body 43, and the side wall portion 4442 is disposed on the handle cover 44. This makes it possible to adjust the dimensions only with the handle cover when accommodating another battery pack in another accommodation section, and makes it possible to eliminate the need to modify the handle body.

[0061] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and includes modifications and improvements within the scope of achieving the object of the present invention. For example, the configurations of the capacitor, the first mounting portion of the first power device, the second mounting portion of the second power device, etc. are not limited to the configurations of the battery pack 1, the battery case C, the insertion hole S103 of the exchanger S, etc. in this embodiment. Therefore, for example, although the battery pack 1 includes three members, the bottom case 24, the outer shell case 26, and the top cover (the handle body 43, the handle cover 44, and the top case 28), it is sufficient if the battery pack includes at least three members.

[0062] Furthermore, the battery pack 1 as a power storage device has been applied to, for example, a portable driving power source that is detachably mounted on an electrically assisted bicycle, an electric motorcycle, etc., but is not limited thereto. For example, the battery pack 1 may be used as a power storage device for an electrical device that includes a power storage device therein.

[0063] Also, for example, the outer shell case 26 may be made of a metal such as aluminum, which is stronger and more rigid than resin, and the bottom case 24, top case 28, handle body 43, and handle cover 44 may be made of resin (including fiber-reinforced resin) or the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1...Battery pack (capacitor) 24...Bottom case (component forming one end) 26...Outer shell case (middle part) 28...Top case (member constituting the other end) 43...Handle body (member constituting the other end, gripping framework) 44...Handle cover (member constituting the other end, covering part) 261…Side (second contact part) 2442…Horizontal thick part (first contact part) 4442...Side wall part (first contact part) C... Battery case (first attachment part) C11...Case housing part (first contact part) C12...Case opening cylindrical part (first abutted part) L1…Maximum outer circumference length L2…Maximum outer circumference length L3…Maximum outer circumference length S…Switching machine (second power device) S103...insertion hole (second mounting part) S11...Rail (second contact part) S101…Inner wall (second contact part)

Claims

1. A storage battery comprising a first storage battery and a second storage battery; a first power device having a first mounting portion to which both the first and second capacitors can be mounted; a second power device having a second mounting portion to which the second capacitor can be mounted, The capacitor is The conductor comprises two end portions and a middle portion, each of which is disposed at a different position in the extending direction of the conductor, a first contact portion provided at a bottom end of the both end portions; the intermediate portion of the second capacitor has a circumferential length in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction that is shorter than the circumferential length of the first capacitor; The first contact portion is The capacitor has an outer shape having four thick corners when viewed in an extending direction thereof; an engaging portion provided at a corner of the thick wall and engageable with the first mounting portion; The first mounting portion is a first contacted portion against which the first contact portion comes into contact; an engaged portion that is provided on the first abutment portion and with which the engaging portion is engaged, When the engaging portion is engaged with the engaged portion, the electric storage device is locked to the first electric power device, the second capacitor has a second contact portion provided in the intermediate portion, a plurality of the second contact portions are arranged on side surfaces of the intermediate portion located between the thick-walled corner portions adjacent to each other when viewed in the extension direction of the electric storage battery; the second mounting portion is formed to have a plurality of second contacted portions with which the second contact portion, which has an outer shape different from that of the first contact portion, can come into contact when the second capacitor is mounted on the second mounting portion; The second power device is configured such that the second contact portions are engaged with the second contacted portions, thereby engaging the second electric storage device with the second power device.

2. The power device according to claim 1 , wherein the maximum perimeter of each of the end portions in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction is greater than the maximum perimeter of the middle portion in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction.

3. The two ends have the bottom end and another end, the other end has a grip portion that is gripped by a user of the electric storage device, The electric power device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the grip portion has a grip skeleton portion and a cover portion that covers the grip skeleton portion.

4. The electric power device according to claim 3 , wherein the other end portion is detachably provided with respect to the intermediate portion.

5. The electric power device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the intermediate portion is formed to have greater strength and / or rigidity than the end portions.

6. The electric power device according to claim 5 , wherein the intermediate portion is made of metal.

7. The electric power device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the opposite end portions are made of resin.

8. the first power device is a moving body having a drive unit electrically connected to the capacitor attached to the first attachment portion and driven by power from the capacitor, The second power device is a charging / discharging device electrically connected to the second storage battery mounted on the second mounting portion, and has at least one of a charging unit that inputs external power to the second storage battery and a discharging unit that outputs the power of the second storage battery to the outside.

9. The power device according to claim 8 , wherein the charging / discharging device is an exchanger having an exchange function of providing another stored electric storage device in place of the second electric storage device received from a user.

10. 10. The electric power device according to claim 8, wherein the moving body is a vehicle having wheels driven by the drive unit.

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