Battery pack

Abstract

To provide a battery pack capable of detecting submergence of a battery case with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A battery case 2 includes an upper case 8 and a lower case 9 which are made of a conductive material and exposed to an outer face. There is provided, between the upper case 8 and the lower case 9, an insulating member 12 insulating the upper case 8 from the lower case 9. There are provided, inside the battery case 2, a first contact 4 conducting with the upper case 8, a second contact 5 conducting with the lower case 9, and a submergence detection circuit 6 detecting conduction between the first contact 4 and the second contact 5 caused by the submergence of the upper case 8 and the lower case 9. The battery case 2 includes the upper case 8 as a first conducting part, and the lower case 9 as a second conducting part, which are joined to each other so as to form a sealed space housing a high voltage battery 3 therein. The insulating member 12 is provided in a junction between the upper case 8 and the lower case 9.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a battery pack having a housing that houses a battery and a control unit and a submersion sensor that detects liquid fluid. The housing of the battery pack described in Patent Document 1 has a bottom wall and an annular side wall that stands up from the bottom wall, and the bottom wall and the side wall form a storage space into which fluid can flow. The battery and control unit are provided in the storage space, and at least a part of the submersion sensor that detects the battery pack being submerged in water is located outside the storage space. Thus, in the battery pack described in Patent Document 1, the submersion sensor is provided outside the battery pack. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-40700 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, the submersion sensor is provided outside the battery pack, which requires installation space outside the battery pack, resulting in a complex configuration.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to provide a battery pack that can detect submersion of a battery case in water with a simple configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention is a battery pack comprising a battery and a battery case that houses the battery, wherein the battery case has a first conductive part and a second conductive part made of a conductive material and exposed to the outer surface, an insulating member that insulates the first conductive part from the second conductive part is provided between the first conductive part and the second conductive part, and the battery case is provided inside with a first contact that is conductive with the first conductive part, a second contact that is conductive with the second conductive part, and a submersion detection circuit that detects conductivity between the first contact and the second contact that occurs when the first conductive part and the second conductive part are submerged in water. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a battery pack that can detect submersion of the battery case in water with a simple configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a battery pack according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of a battery pack according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a front view of a battery pack according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a battery and a battery case that houses the battery, the battery case having first and second conductive parts made of a conductive material and exposed to the outside, an insulating member provided between the first and second conductive parts for insulating the first and second conductive parts, and a submersion detection circuit provided inside the battery case for detecting conduction between the first and second conductive parts and a submersion detection circuit configured to detect conduction between the first and second contacts when the first and second conductive parts are submerged in water. This allows the battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention to detect submersion of the battery case with a simple configuration. [Example]

[0010] [Example 1] A battery pack for a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the battery pack according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] 1, a battery pack 1 includes a high-voltage battery 3 and a battery case 2 that houses the high-voltage battery 3. The battery pack 1 is configured as an in-vehicle battery pack to be mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile (not shown), and supplies power to a traction motor provided in the vehicle via an inverter or the like.

[0012] The high-voltage battery 3 has a plurality of battery cells 3A, a relay 3B that switches the connection of these battery cells 3A, and a conductor 3C that connects the battery cells 3A and the relay 3B and is drawn out to the outside of the battery case 2. The high-voltage battery 3 generates a high voltage by connecting the plurality of battery cells 3A in series with the conductor 3C. The high-voltage battery 3 constitutes the battery of the present invention.

[0013] The battery case 2 has an upper case 8 and a lower case 9 that are joined together to form an enclosed space that houses the high-voltage battery 3. The upper case 8 and the lower case 9 form a case body 7 that houses the high-voltage battery 3. The upper case 8 forms the first case and the first conductive part in the present invention, and the lower case 9 forms the second case and the second conductive part in the present invention.

[0014] The upper case 8 and the lower case 9 are made of a conductive material and are exposed to the outside. Examples of the conductive material that can be used include metals such as iron. Note that, as long as at least a portion of the upper case 8 and at least a portion of the lower case 9 are exposed to the outside, the outer surfaces of the upper case 8 and the lower case 9 may be coated with a non-conductive material.

[0015] An insulating member 12 is provided at the joint between the upper case 8 and the lower case 9 to electrically insulate the upper case 8 from the lower case 9. In addition, a sealing member 11 is provided between the upper case 8 and the lower case 9 to join the upper case 8 and the lower case 9 together in a liquid-tight manner.

[0016] A first contact 4 electrically connected to the upper case 8 and a second contact 5 electrically connected to the lower case 9 are provided inside the battery case 2. In this embodiment, the first contact 4 is connected to the inner wall surface (lower surface) of the upper case 8, and the second contact 5 is connected to the inner wall surface on the front side of the lower case 9.

[0017] A submersion detection circuit 6 is provided inside the battery case 2. The submersion detection circuit 6 is electrically connected to the first contact 4 via a conductor 4A and to the second contact 5 via a conductor 5A.

[0018] The submersion detection circuit 6 detects electrical continuity between the first contact 4 and the second contact 5 that occurs when the upper case 8 and the lower case 9 are submerged in water.

[0019] In the battery pack 1 configured in this manner, when the upper case 8 and the lower case 9 made of conductive material are submerged in water, the upper case 8 and the lower case 9 become electrically conductive through the water, resulting in an equipotential, and the first contact 4 and the second contact 5 also become electrically conductive, resulting in an equipotential. Therefore, the submersion detection circuit 6 can determine that the battery case 2 is submerged in water when electrical continuity is established between the first contact 4 and the second contact 5.

[0020] As described above, in this embodiment, the battery case 2 has an upper case 8 and a lower case 9 made of a conductive material and exposed to the outside, and an insulating member 12 that insulates the upper case 8 from the lower case 9 is provided between the upper case 8 and the lower case 9. Also provided inside the battery case 2 are a first contact 4 that is electrically connected to the upper case 8, a second contact 5 that is electrically connected to the lower case 9, and a submersion detection circuit 6 that detects electrical continuity between the first contact 4 and the second contact 5 that occurs when the upper case 8 and the lower case 9 are submerged in water.

[0021] As a result, by detecting conduction between the first contact 4 and the second contact 5 that occurs when the upper case 8 and the lower case 9 of the battery case 2 are submerged in water, it is possible to detect the submersion of the battery case 2 without providing a submersion sensor outside the battery case 2. As a result, it is possible to detect the submersion of the battery case 2 with a simple configuration.

[0022] In this embodiment, the battery case 2 has an upper case 8 as a first conductive part and a lower case 9 as a second conductive part that are joined together to form an enclosed space that houses the high-voltage battery 3. An insulating member 12 is provided at the joint between the upper case 8 and the lower case 9.

[0023] This allows the first conductive part and the second conductive part to be respectively configured using the upper case 8 and the lower case 9 that are generally provided in the battery case 2. This makes it possible to detect submersion of the battery case 2 with a simple configuration.

[0024] [Example 2] A vehicle battery pack according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figures 2 and 3 are diagrams showing the battery pack according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same members as those in the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment.

[0025] 2 and 3, the battery pack 1A includes a high-voltage battery 3 and a battery case 2A that houses the high-voltage battery 3.

[0026] The battery case 2A has an upper case 8 and a lower case 9 that are joined together to form an enclosed space that houses the high-voltage battery 3. The upper case 8 and the lower case 9 constitute a case main body 7 that houses the high-voltage battery 3.

[0027] The battery case 2A has a vent 21 that opens into the wall of the case body 7 and adjusts the internal pressure of the case body 7, and a filter member 22 that is provided in the vent 21 and prevents dust from entering the case body 7 through the vent 21. The filter member 22 constitutes the first conductive part of the present invention, and the case body 7 constitutes the second conductive part of the present invention.

[0028] The filter member 22 and the case main body 7 are made of a conductive material and are exposed to the outside. A seal member 11 is provided at the joint between the upper case 8 and the lower case 9. The ventilation hole 21 is rectangular and is located on the wall surface on the front side of the lower case 9 of the case main body 7. The filter member 22 is made of a mesh filter formed by forming thin wires of metal such as iron into a mesh pattern. In this embodiment, the ventilation hole 21 and the filter member 22 are provided on the wall surface of the lower case 9 of the case main body 7, but the ventilation hole 21 and the filter member 22 may also be provided on the wall surface of the upper case 8 instead of the lower case 9.

[0029] An insulating member 23 that electrically insulates the filter member 22 from the case body 7 is provided at the joint between the filter member 22 and the case body 7 .

[0030] Inside the battery case 2A, there are provided a first contact 4 electrically connected to the filter member 22 and a second contact 5 electrically connected to the case main body 7. In this embodiment, the first contact 4 is connected to the edge portion of the filter member 22, and the second contact 5 is connected to the inner wall surface on the front side of the lower case 9 of the case main body 7.

[0031] A submersion detection circuit 6 is provided inside the battery case 2A. The submersion detection circuit 6 is electrically connected to the first contact 4 via a conductor 4A and to the second contact 5 via a conductor 5A.

[0032] The submersion detection circuit 6 detects electrical continuity between the first contact 4 and the second contact 5 that occurs when the filter member 22 and the case body 7 are submerged in water.

[0033] In the battery pack 1A configured in this manner, when the filter member 22 made of a conductive material and the case body 7 are submerged in water, the filter member 22 and the case body 7 become electrically conductive through the water, resulting in an equipotential, and the first contact 4 and the second contact 5 also become electrically conductive and therefore equipotential. Therefore, the submersion detection circuit 6 can determine that the battery case 2A is submerged in water when electrical continuity is established between the first contact 4 and the second contact 5.

[0034] It is preferable to provide a partition wall 25, indicated by dashed lines in FIGS. 2 and 3, inside the case body 7 to prevent water from entering the interior through the ventilation opening 21. The partition wall 25 is disposed inside the ventilation opening 21 in the case body 7 and is U-shaped in plan view and L-shaped in side view. The partition wall 25 covers the bottom and side surfaces of the space inside the ventilation opening 21 and the filter member 22. This allows air inside the case body 7 to pass above the partition wall 25, reach the ventilation opening 21, and exit to the outside, as indicated by arrow A (see FIG. 2). Conversely, air that enters the interior of the case body 7 from the outside through the ventilation opening 21 can pass above the partition wall 25 and further enter the interior.

[0035] As described above, in this embodiment, the battery case 2A has the filter member 22 made of a conductive material and exposed to the outside, and the case body 7, and an insulating member 23 that insulates the filter member 22 from the case body 7 is provided between the filter member 22 and the case body 7. Inside the battery case 2A, there are provided a first contact 4 that is electrically connected to the filter member 22, a second contact 5 that is electrically connected to the case body 7, and a submersion detection circuit 6 that detects electrical continuity between the first contact 4 and the second contact 5 that occurs when the filter member 22 and the case body 7 are submerged in water.

[0036] This makes it possible to detect submersion of the battery pack 1A in water without providing a submersion sensor outside the battery case 2A by detecting conduction between the first contact 4 and the second contact 5 that occurs when the filter member 22 of the battery case 2A and the case body 7 are submerged in water. As a result, submersion of the battery case 2A can be detected with a simple configuration.

[0037] In this embodiment, the battery case 2A has a case body 7 as a second conductive part that houses the high-voltage battery 3, a vent 21 that opens into the wall of the case body 7 and adjusts the internal pressure of the case body 7, and a filter member 22 that is provided in the vent 21 and serves as a first conductive part that prevents dust from entering the case body 7 through the vent 21. An insulating member 23 is provided at the joint between the filter member 22 and the case body 7.

[0038] This allows the first conductive part and the second conductive part to be respectively configured using the case body 7 and the ventilation hole 21, which are components that are generally provided in the battery case 2A. This makes it possible to detect submersion of the battery case 2A with a simple configuration.

[0039] While an embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of this invention, and it is intended that all such modifications and equivalents be included in the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1.1A battery pack 2,2A battery case 3 High voltage battery (battery) 4 First Contact 5 Second Contact 6 Submersion detection circuit 7 Case body (second conductive part) 8 Upper case (first conductive part, first case) 9 Lower case (second conductive part, second case) 12,23 Insulating members 21 Ventilation hole 22 filter member (first conductive part)

Claims

1. A battery pack including a battery and a battery case that houses the battery, the battery case has a first conductive part and a second conductive part made of a conductive material and exposed to an outer surface; an insulating member is provided between the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion to insulate the first conductive portion from the second conductive portion; Inside the battery case, a first contact point electrically connected to the first conductive portion; a second contact point electrically connected to the second conductive portion; a submersion detection circuit that detects conduction between the first contact and the second contact that occurs when the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion are submerged in water.

2. The battery case includes: a first case and a second case coupled to each other to form an enclosed space for accommodating the battery; the first case constitutes the first conductive part, the second case constitutes the second conductive portion, 2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the insulating member is provided at a joint between the first case and the second case.

3. The battery case includes: a case body that houses the battery; a vent opening in a wall surface of the case body for adjusting the internal pressure of the case body; a filter member provided in the ventilation hole to prevent dust from entering the case body through the ventilation hole, the filter member constitutes the first conductive portion, the case body constitutes the second conductive part, 2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the insulating member is provided at a joint between the filter member and the case body.

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