Power Supply Unit

Abstract

To provide a power supply unit which can improve maintainability.SOLUTION: A power supply unit includes: a battery pack for storing a battery; a service plug which is mounted on a service plug, and can cut off a power supply circuit by being removed from the service hole; a suction device for supplying air to the battery pack; a case which stores the battery pack, the service plug and the suction device, and is mounted on a vehicle; a first cover which covers the case and is provided with a first opening that allows outside and the service hole to communicate each other, and a second opening through which air taken in by the suction device can pass; and a second cover for covering the first opening and the second opening.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A conventional power supply unit includes a battery pack for accommodating a battery, a service plug for interrupting a power supply circuit, and an intake device for drawing in air. The power supply unit is mounted, for example, under the rear seat. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-34750 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional power supply units, the service plug and the intake port of the intake device are each covered by a separate cover, which means that maintenance of the power supply unit requires removing multiple covers individually, which is time-consuming.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a power supply unit that can improve maintainability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the power supply unit of the present invention comprises a battery pack that houses a battery, a service plug that is attached to a service hole and can be removed from the service hole to cut off the power circuit, an intake device that supplies air to the battery pack, a case that houses the battery pack, the service plug, and the intake device and is mounted on a vehicle, a first cover that covers the case and is provided with a first opening that connects the outside to the service hole and a second opening through which air taken in by the intake device can pass, and a second cover that covers the first opening and the second opening.

[0007] With this configuration, a worker can access the service plug and the intake device through the first and second openings, for example, during maintenance. That is, the worker can access the service plug and the intake device simply by removing the second cover that covers the first and second openings. This allows the worker to easily perform maintenance on the power supply unit. Therefore, this embodiment can improve the maintainability of the power supply unit.

[0008] In addition, in the power supply unit of the present invention, the first cover has a concave surface that is recessed inward and an inclined surface that is inclined relative to the vertical direction, and the first opening opens into the concave surface and the second opening opens into the inclined surface.

[0009] With this configuration, for example, compared to the case of an end face, it is easier for the operator to insert and remove the service plug. This also makes it easier for the operator to insert and remove the service plug. Furthermore, the cross-sectional area of ​​the second opening is larger. Therefore, with the power supply unit of this embodiment, the second opening can be made larger in a limited space.

[0010] Moreover, the power supply unit according to the present invention further includes a filter provided in the second opening, and a barrier that protrudes to the outside from the first cover and surrounds the filter.

[0011] According to this configuration, the filter is surrounded by the barrier, which can prevent water seeping in from below the vehicle body, for example, from passing through the filter.

[0012] In addition, the power supply unit of the present invention further includes a service plug cover having a covering portion that covers the first opening, and an attachment portion that extends diagonally downward from the lower end of the covering portion and is attached to the concave surface of the first cover.

[0013] With this configuration, the attachment portion of the service plug cover extends diagonally downward from the covering portion, which makes it easier for the service plug cover to drain liquid from inside the second cover downward and prevents liquid from entering the first opening. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve maintainability. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a power supply unit according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the power supply unit of this embodiment with the second cover removed. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the power supply unit of this embodiment with the first cover and second cover removed. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the first cover of the present embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a side view showing the configuration of the power supply unit of this embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the second cover of this embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] (Embodiment) The power supply unit 1 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. The configuration of the embodiment described below, as well as the actions and results (effects) brought about by this configuration, are merely examples and are not limited to the following description. Note that in this specification, ordinal numbers are used only to distinguish between parts and components, and do not indicate order or priority.

[0017] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a power supply unit 1 according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the power supply unit 1 according to this embodiment with a second cover 19 removed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the power supply unit 1 according to this embodiment with a first cover 13 and a second cover 19 removed.

[0018] The power supply unit 1 is mounted on electric vehicles such as battery electric vehicles (BEVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCVs). The power supply unit 1 may also be mounted on other vehicles. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the power supply unit 1 includes a battery pack 11, a case 12, a first cover 13, a service plug 14, an intake device 15, a filter 16, a filter case 17, a service plug cover 18, and a second cover 19.

[0019] For convenience, three mutually orthogonal directions are defined in the following figures. The X direction is the direction along the depth direction of the power supply unit 1 and may also be referred to as the front-rear direction. The Y direction is the direction along the width direction of the power supply unit 1 and may also be referred to as the left-right direction. The Z direction is the direction along the height direction of the power supply unit 1 and may also be referred to as the up-down direction.

[0020] The power supply unit 1 is mounted, for example, under the driver's seat or passenger seat of a vehicle. Therefore, the case 12, first cover 13, service plug 14, intake device 15, filter 16, filter case 17, service plug cover 18, and second cover 19 are positioned between two seat rails that support the driver's seat or passenger seat so that they can move left and right (Y direction).

[0021] As shown in Fig. 3, the battery pack 11 is a container that houses batteries 11a, such as lithium-ion batteries. The bottom surface of the battery pack 11 is provided with legs, such as ribs. The battery pack 11 is supported on a waterproof tray by the ribs and is mounted on the vehicle body via the waterproof tray. Note that the battery pack 11 may be mounted on the vehicle body without the waterproof tray, or may be mounted on the vehicle body by another method.

[0022] The battery pack 11 is provided with a service hole 111. The service hole 111 is a hole that opens to the outside of the battery pack 11 and can accommodate the service plug 14. For example, the service hole 111 opens in the forward direction (+X direction).

[0023] The case 12 is, for example, a metal plate that is mounted on a vehicle and covers the battery pack 11, the service plug 14, and the intake device 15 from at least one of the front-to-rear direction (X direction) and the up-to-down direction (Z direction). In other words, the case 12 houses the battery pack 11, the service plug 14, and the intake device 15.

[0024] First cover 13 is a case made of, for example, synthetic resin and extending in a direction (XY plane) substantially perpendicular to the up-down direction (Z direction). As shown in Fig. 2, first cover 13 is attached to case 12 and covers at least a portion of case 12 from above. First cover 13 also covers service plug 14 and intake device 15 housed in case 12 from above. In this way, first cover 13 protects service plug 14 and intake device 15 from liquids, for example.

[0025] Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the configuration of first cover 13 according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 4, first cover 13 has a concave surface 131 and an inclined surface 132. Concave surface 131 and inclined surface 132 are part of the outer surface of first cover 13. Concave surface 131 and inclined surface 132 are adjacent to each other in the left-right direction (Y direction).

[0026] The concave surface 131 is a surface that is recessed from another portion of the outer surface of the first cover 13 toward the inside of the first cover 13. For example, the concave surface 131 is an L-shaped surface that is recessed from another portion of the outer surface of the first cover 13 toward the inside of the first cover 13. The concave surface 131 has a front surface 131a and a bottom surface 131b.

[0027] The front surface 131a, for example, extends substantially downward (-Z direction) from other portions of the outer surface of the first cover 13 and faces forward (+X direction). The bottom surface 131b, for example, extends rearward (-X direction) from other portions of the first cover 13 and faces substantially upward (+Z direction). The end of the front surface 131a in the downward direction and the end of the bottom surface 131b in the rear direction are connected to each other. The bottom surface 131b extends obliquely downward from the front surface 131a.

[0028] The inclined surface 132 is a surface that is inclined with respect to the vertical direction. For example, the inclined surface 132 extends obliquely between an upper end of the outer surface and a front end of the outer surface.

[0029] Furthermore, the first cover 13 is provided with a maintenance and inspection opening 133 and an air intake 134. The maintenance and inspection opening 133 is an example of a first opening, and the air intake 134 is an example of a second opening.

[0030] The maintenance and inspection opening 133 is a hole that opens into the recessed surface 131. The maintenance and inspection opening 133 opens into the front surface 131a and the bottom surface 131b of the recessed surface 131. The size of the maintenance and inspection opening 133 is such that the service plug 14 can pass through. In other words, the maintenance and inspection opening 133 connects the outside of the first cover 13 with the service hole 111. Therefore, the first cover 13 exposes the service plug 14 to the outside of the first cover 13 through the maintenance and inspection opening 133.

[0031] The air intake port 134 is a hole that opens in the inclined surface 132. This increases the cross-sectional area of ​​the air intake port 134. For example, the cross-sectional area of ​​the air intake port 134 is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the portion of the maintenance and inspection opening 133 that is provided on the front surface 131a of the concave surface 131. The air taken in by the air intake device 15 passes through the air intake port 134.

[0032] 3, the service plug 14 is housed and attached in the service hole 111 of the battery pack 11 and is electrically connected to the vehicle's power supply circuit. For example, the service plug 14 shuts off the vehicle's power supply circuit when it is removed from the service hole 111. The service plug 14 is also disposed adjacent to the battery 11a in the left-right direction (Y direction).

[0033] The intake device 15 is a device that supplies air from inside the vehicle to the battery pack 11. The intake device 15 is disposed adjacent to the service plug 14 in the left-right direction (Y direction). The intake device 15 also has a blower 151 and a duct 152.

[0034] The blower 151, for example, takes in air from inside the vehicle body and supplies the air to the battery pack 11 that houses the batteries 11a, thereby cooling the batteries 11a. The duct 152 is a curved pipe that connects the air intake 134 and the blower 151 and guides the air that has passed through the air intake 134 to the blower 151.

[0035] The filter 16 is, for example, a bellows-shaped nonwoven fabric, filter paper, or another filter. As shown in Fig. 2, the filter 16 is provided in the air intake 134 and attached to the first cover 13 by a filter case 17. This allows the filter 16 to capture foreign matter such as dust and dirt contained in the air passing through the air intake 134.

[0036] Filter case 17 is made of, for example, synthetic resin or the like. Filter case 17 has a frame 171 and a barrier 172. Frame 171 sandwiches filter 16 between frame 171 and inclined surface 132, and is attached to first cover 13 with screws or the like. That is, the size of filter 16 is slightly larger than the size of air intake port 134.

[0037] The barrier wall 172 protrudes from the frame 171 in a direction intersecting with the inclined surface 132. In other words, the barrier wall 172 is attached to the inclined surface 132 via the frame 171. The barrier wall 172 is formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape and surrounds the air intake port 134 and the filter 16 provided in the air intake port 134. In other words, the barrier wall 172 protrudes from the inclined surface 132 toward the outside of the first cover 13 and surrounds the air intake port 134. In this way, the barrier wall 172 prevents water from entering the filter 16 from the side or below of the vehicle body, for example. The barrier wall 172 may be formed integrally with the first cover 13.

[0038] In this embodiment, the length of the barrier 172 varies at each position around the intake port 134. The uppermost portion of the barrier 172 is at the same height as or lower than the uppermost portion of the first cover 13. Furthermore, the forwardmost portion of the barrier 172 is at the same position as or further rearward than the forwardmost portion of the first cover 13. Therefore, the barrier 172 located above the intake port 134 is short, and the barrier 172 located below the intake port 134 is long.

[0039] The barrier walls 172 located on the left and right sides of the air intake port 134 each have an upper portion connected to the barrier wall 172 located above the air intake port 134, and a lower portion connected to the barrier wall 172 located below the air intake port 134. The uppermost portion of the upper portions is at the same height as the barrier wall 172 located above the air intake port 134. Therefore, the length of the upper portions decreases from top to bottom. The length of the lower portions is approximately the same as the length of the barrier wall 172 located below the air intake port 134. Therefore, the length of the lower portions is longer than the average length of the upper portions.

[0040] Service plug cover 18 is made of, for example, synthetic resin, etc. Service plug cover 18 abuts against concave surface 131 of first cover 13 and is attached to concave surface 131 with screws or the like, thereby covering maintenance and inspection access hole 133.

[0041] Service plug cover 18 is formed, for example, in an L-shape that is recessed toward the inside of first cover 13. Service plug cover 18 has a covering portion 181 and an attachment portion 182. Covering portion 181 extends along front surface 131a of recessed surface 131 and covers maintenance and inspection access 133.

[0042] Fig. 5 is a side view showing the configuration of the power supply unit 1 of this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 5, the attachment portion 182 extends obliquely downward from the lower end of the cover portion 181 along the lower surface 131b of the concave surface 131. The attachment portion 182 is attached to the lower surface 131b by, for example, a screw.

[0043] Furthermore, for example, sponge rubber or the like is provided between service plug cover 18 and concave surface 131 of first cover 13. In this way, maintenance and inspection opening 133 is sealed by service plug cover 18.

[0044] 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the second cover 19 of this embodiment. The second cover 19 is made of, for example, synthetic resin. As shown in FIG. 6, the second cover 19 has a cover main body 190 and an attachment portion 191.

[0045] 1, the cover body 190 is formed in the shape of a plate bent into a substantially L-shape. The cover body 190 covers the maintenance and inspection opening 133 and the air intake 134 of the first cover 13 from above and from the front.

[0046] In the left-right direction (Y direction), a gap is formed between the first cover 13 and the second cover 19. This allows the intake device 15 to suck in air from inside the vehicle body even when the intake port 134 is covered by the second cover 19.

[0047] 6, the cover main body 190 has an inner surface 190a facing the first cover 13. The attachment portion 191 is attached to the inner surface 190a with a screw or the like. The attachment portion 191 has two clips 191a.

[0048] Two clips 191a protrude from the attachment portion 191 toward the case 12. Each clip 191a is inserted into a hole 121 provided in the case 12 and attached to the case 12. That is, the second cover 19 is attached to the case 12 by the two clips 191a. The clips 191a are barbed. Therefore, once the clips 191a are inserted into the hole 121 of the case 12, they are unlikely to come out of the hole 121.

[0049] The cover main body 190 is provided with a plurality of openings 192. The plurality of openings 192 open to the side surface of the cover main body 190. This allows the intake device 15 to take in air into the interior of the second cover 19 through the plurality of openings 192.

[0050] Generally, when a power supply unit is installed under a rear seat of a vehicle, the power supply unit is shielded from the outside by being covered with trim. However, seat rails are provided below the driver's seat or passenger seat of the vehicle. Therefore, when the power supply unit is installed under the driver's seat or passenger seat, no trim is provided. In other words, when the power supply unit is installed under the driver's seat or passenger seat, the power supply unit is exposed to the outside.

[0051] In conventional power supply units, when placed under the driver's seat or passenger seat, each component, such as the service plug and intake system, is covered by a separate cover. However, because each component is covered by a separate cover, maintenance of the power supply unit takes time.

[0052] On the other hand, when performing maintenance on the power supply unit 1 of this embodiment, a worker removes the screws that attach the cover main body 190 to the attachment portion 191, and removes the cover main body 190 from the case 12. At this time, the attachment portion 191 remains attached to the case 12.

[0053] With the cover body 190 removed, the first cover 13, filter 16, filter case 17, and service plug cover 18 are exposed in the power supply unit 1. By removing the filter case 17 from the first cover 13, an operator can access the filter 16 or the intake device 15 through the intake port 134 to perform maintenance. Furthermore, by removing the service plug cover 18 from the first cover 13, an operator can remove the service plug 14 from the service hole 111 through the maintenance and inspection port 133.

[0054] After maintenance is completed, the filter 16, filter case 17, and service plug cover 18 are attached to the first cover 13, and the cover body 190 is attached to the attachment portion 191. As a result, the second cover 19 again covers the filter 16, filter case 17, service plug cover 18, maintenance and inspection port 133, and intake port 134.

[0055] As described above, the power supply unit 1 of this embodiment includes the battery pack 11 that houses the battery 11a, the case 12, the first cover 13, the service plug 14, the intake device 15 that supplies air to the battery pack 11, and the second cover 19. The case 12 houses the battery pack 11, the service plug 14, and the intake device 15, and is mounted on a vehicle. The first cover 13 covers the case 12 and is provided with a maintenance and inspection opening 133 and an intake port 134. The maintenance and inspection opening 133 connects the outside to the service hole 111. The intake port 134 allows air taken in by the intake device 15 to pass through. The service plug 14 is attached to the service hole 111, and can be removed from the service hole 111 to shut off the power circuit. The second cover 19 covers the maintenance and inspection opening 133 and the intake port 134.

[0056] The service hole 111 in which the service plug 14 of this embodiment is attached can be exposed to the outside from the first cover 13 through the maintenance and inspection opening 133. Furthermore, the intake device 15 of this embodiment can be exposed to the outside from the first cover 13 through the intake port 134. Therefore, during maintenance, for example, an operator can access the service plug 14 and the intake device 15 through the maintenance and inspection opening 133 and the intake port 134. In other words, an operator can access the service plug 14 and the intake device 15 simply by removing the second cover 19 that covers the maintenance and inspection opening 133 and the intake port 134.

[0057] This allows workers to more easily maintain the power supply unit 1 than with conventional power supply units. Therefore, in this embodiment, the maintainability of the power supply unit 1 can be improved.

[0058] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the maintenance and inspection opening 133 and the air intake 134 can be covered only by the second cover 19. This simplifies the assembly work of the power supply unit 1.

[0059] In this embodiment, the first cover 13 has a concave surface 131 that is concave inward and an inclined surface 132 that is inclined relative to the vertical direction. Furthermore, a maintenance and inspection opening 133 opens into the concave surface 131, and an air intake 134 opens into the inclined surface 132.

[0060] For example, when performing maintenance on the power supply unit 1, a worker inserts or removes the service plug 14 through the maintenance and inspection opening 133. In this embodiment, the service plug 14 is exposed to the outside through the maintenance and inspection opening 133 provided in the recessed surface 131. This makes it easier for a worker to insert or remove the service plug 14 than when it is exposed through the end surface.

[0061] In this embodiment, the air intake 134 is inclined with respect to the vertical direction. This increases the cross-sectional area of ​​the air intake 134. Therefore, in the power supply unit 1 of this embodiment, the air intake 134 can be made large in a limited space.

[0062] Moreover, the power supply unit 1 of this embodiment further includes a filter 16 and a barrier wall 172. The filter 16 is provided at the air intake port . The barrier wall 172 protrudes outward from the first cover 13 and surrounds the air intake port .

[0063] In this embodiment, the air intake 134 provided with the filter 16 is surrounded by a barrier 172. This allows the barrier 172 to prevent, for example, water seeping in from below the vehicle body from entering the filter 16.

[0064] The power supply unit 1 of this embodiment also includes a service plug cover 18. The service plug cover 18 has a cover portion 181 that covers the maintenance and inspection opening 133, and an attachment portion 182 that extends diagonally downward from the lower end of the cover portion 181 and is attached to the recessed surface 131 of the first cover 13.

[0065] In this embodiment, the attachment portion 182 of the service plug cover 18 extends diagonally downward. This makes it easier for the service plug cover 18 to drain liquid inside the second cover 19 downward, for example, and prevents liquid from entering the maintenance and inspection opening 133.

[0066] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, combinations, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the specifications of each configuration, shape, and the like (structure, type, direction, format, size, length, width, thickness, height, number, arrangement, position, material, etc.) can be modified as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1 Power Supply Unit 11 Battery pack 11a battery 111 Service Hall 12 cases 13 First Cover 131 Concave 132 Slope 133 Maintenance and inspection hatch (first opening) 134 Air intake (second opening) 14 Service plug 15 Intake system 16 filters 172 Barrier 18 Service plug cover 181 Cover part 182 Mounting part 19 Second Cover

Claims

1. a battery pack that houses a battery; a service plug that is attached to a service hole and that can cut off a power circuit when removed from the service hole; an intake device that supplies air to the battery pack; a case that houses the battery pack, the service plug, and the intake device and is mounted on a vehicle; a first cover having a concave surface recessed inward and an inclined surface inclined relative to the vertical direction, covering the case, and provided with a first opening that opens into the concave surface and connects the service hole to the outside, and a second opening that opens into the inclined surface and allows air taken in by the intake device to pass through; a second cover that covers the first opening and the second opening; a service plug cover including a cover portion that covers the first opening and an attachment portion that extends obliquely downward from a lower end of the cover portion and is attached to the concave surface of the first cover; A power supply unit comprising:

2. A filter provided in the second opening; a barrier that protrudes outward from the first cover and surrounds the second opening; Further provided with The power supply unit according to claim 1 .

3. A battery pack that houses a battery; a service plug that is attached to a service hole and that can cut off a power circuit when removed from the service hole; an intake device that supplies air to the battery pack; a case that houses the battery pack, the service plug, and the intake device and is mounted on a vehicle; a first cover that covers the case and has a first opening that connects the service hole to the outside and a second opening through which air taken in by the intake device can pass; a second cover having a cover body and an attachment portion having a clip attached to the case and detachably attached to an inner surface of the cover body, the second cover covering the first opening and the second opening; A power supply unit comprising:

4. The first cover has a concave surface having a front surface and an inclined surface extending obliquely between an upper end of the outer surface and a forward end of the outer surface, the concave surface and the inclined surface are adjacent to each other, the first opening opens into the concave surface, and the second opening opens into the inclined surface. The power supply unit according to claim 3 .

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