Battery case

Abstract

To provide a battery case capable of ensuring the fixing of a high-voltage component to a device while ensuring insulation between the high-voltage component and a battery when the high-voltage component and the battery are housed in the same device.SOLUTION: A battery case accommodates a high-voltage component and a battery. The battery case includes an insulation pedestal, a metal plate material, a metal component fastening member, and a metal pedestal fastening member. The insulation pedestal supports the high-voltage component. The metal plate material is attached with the insulation pedestal. The component fastening member fixes the high-voltage component to the insulation pedestal. The pedestal fastening member fixes the insulation pedestal to the metal plate material. An end part on the insulation pedestal side of the component fastening member is positioned inside the insulation pedestal. Inside the insulation pedestal, the end part on the insulation pedestal side of the component fastening member and the pedestal fastening member are separated by a portion constituting the insulation pedestal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery case that houses high-voltage components and a battery. [Background technology]

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2013-055748 discloses a power storage device. This conventional power storage device includes a secondary battery, an inverter, and a chassis member. The inverter converts external AC power into DC power and supplies it to the secondary battery, or converts DC power from the secondary battery into AC power and outputs it to the outside. The inverter is fixed to the chassis member, thereby supporting the inverter on the power storage device. The chassis member is made of a metal material. Therefore, from the perspective of ensuring safety, a sheet-like insulating member is provided between the inverter and the chassis member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-055748 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] JP 2013-055748 A does not specifically disclose how to secure the inverter to the chassis member. Therefore, it is assumed that the inverter is secured to the chassis member by using adhesive tape. In this case, adhesive tape is used between the inverter and the insulating member, and adhesive tape is also used between the insulating member and the chassis member. This raises the possibility that the inverter may become detached from the chassis member due to deterioration of the adhesive tape.

[0005] Next, assume that the inverter is secured to the chassis member by fastening with bolts and nuts. In this case, it is possible to prevent the inverter from detaching from the chassis member. However, since it is difficult to provide an insulating member at the fastening location, the insulation state is insufficient. Therefore, when a high-voltage component such as an inverter and a battery such as a secondary battery are housed in the same device, a specific configuration must be considered to ensure the two are insulated from each other.

[0006] One object of the present disclosure is to provide a technology that can reliably fix a high-voltage component to an apparatus and ensure insulation between the high-voltage component and the battery when the high-voltage component and the battery are housed in the same apparatus. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A first aspect of the present disclosure is a battery case that houses a high-voltage component and a battery, and has the following features. The battery case includes an insulating base, a metal plate, a metal component fastening member, and a metal base fastening member. The insulating base supports the high-voltage component. The insulating base is attached to the plate. The component fastening member fastens the high-voltage component to the insulating base. The base fastening member fastens the insulating base to the plate. The end of the component fastening member on the insulating base side is located inside the insulating base. Within the insulating base, the insulating base-side end of the component fastening member and the base fastening member are separated by a portion that constitutes the insulating base.

[0008] The second aspect of the present disclosure further includes the following features in addition to the first aspect. The high-voltage components include first and second high-voltage components, and the second high-voltage component is stacked on the first high-voltage component. The component fastening members include first and second component fastening members, the first component fastening member fastening the first high-voltage component to the insulating base, and the second component fastening member fastening the second high-voltage component to the insulating base. The first and second component fastening members are concentrated on the insulating base. Inside the insulating base where the first and second component fastening members are concentrated, the end of the first component fastening member on the insulating base side and the end of the second component fastening member on the insulating base side are separated by a portion that constitutes the insulating base.

[0009] A third aspect of the present disclosure is the first or second aspect further characterized by the following. The battery case further includes an additional metal plate member, to which the battery is attached. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the first aspect, a high-voltage component is fixed to an insulating base by a component fastening member, and the insulating base is fixed to a plate by a base fastening member. Therefore, the high-voltage component can be fixed to the plate via the insulating base. Furthermore, the end of the component fastening member facing the insulating base is located inside the insulating base, and inside the insulating base, the end of the component fastening member facing the insulating base and the base fastening member are separated by a portion that constitutes the insulating base. Therefore, electrical conduction between the plate and the high-voltage component can be blocked. Therefore, for example, in a case where a battery is attached to the plate, the battery can be insulated from the high-voltage component.

[0011] According to the second aspect, when a second high-voltage component is stacked on a first high-voltage component, the first and second component fastening members can be aggregated on a common insulating base to fasten these high-voltage components to the insulating base. Furthermore, inside this common insulating base, the insulating base-side ends of the first component fastening members and the second component fastening members are separated by portions that constitute the insulating base, making it possible to simultaneously fasten the first high-voltage component to the insulating base using the first component fastening members and the second high-voltage component to the insulating base using the second component fastening members.

[0012] According to the third aspect, when a battery is attached to a metal additional plate member, electrical conduction between the battery and high-voltage components can be blocked. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a battery case according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 2 is an exploded view illustrating an example of the configuration of the third stage of the battery case shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration around the insulating base shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration around the insulating base shown in FIG. 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Hereinafter, a battery case according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be simplified or omitted.

[0015] 1. Example of overall battery case configuration The battery case according to the embodiment is applied to a storage battery system in a small facility such as a general household or a food and beverage store. The battery case according to the embodiment is installed adjacent to the facility and supplies power to various electrical appliances or receives power from an external power source. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a battery case according to the embodiment. Note that the positive direction of the x-axis shown in FIG. 1 indicates, for example, the front of the battery case, the positive direction of the y-axis indicates, for example, the left of the battery case, and the positive direction of the z-axis indicates, for example, the top of the battery case. The example of the positional relationship between the positive directions of the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis and the battery case is the same in other figures.

[0016] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the battery case is equipped with a battery cover 11. The battery cover 11 is formed in a box shape. The bottom of the battery cover 11 is open, and the outer edge of this bottom protrudes around the battery cover 11 like a canopy. This outer edge is mechanically joined (bolted) to a bottom plate material 12. The bottom plate material 12 is made of, for example, a general-purpose flat bar (flat steel). The bottom of the battery cover 11 is sealed by this bottom plate material 12.

[0017] In the example shown in FIG. 1, for ease of explanation, the internal structure of the battery case is depicted as seen through the battery cover 11. The interior of the battery case is composed of three levels, with the first level (lower level) and the second level (middle level) separated by a plate member 21, and the second level (middle level) and the third level (upper level) separated by a plate member 31. The plates 21 and 31 are composed of, for example, general-purpose flat bars. The plate member 21 is supported by support members 22a to 22e. The plate member 31 is supported by support members 32a to 32d. The plate member 31 corresponds to the "plate member" in this disclosure, and the plate member 21 corresponds to the "additional plate member" in this disclosure.

[0018] The second tier houses a battery stack FC, which is made up of multiple stacked cells. A battery stack with the same configuration as the battery stack FC is also housed in the first tier. However, this battery stack is hidden behind the back of the L-shaped plate 51 shown in FIG. 1. The third tier houses electronic components for controlling the charging and discharging of these battery stacks. These battery stacks correspond to the "batteries" in this disclosure. Examples of electronic components housed in the third tier include a battery ECU (Electric Control Unit) and a voltage sensor. An example configuration of the third tier, including the battery ECU and voltage sensor, will be described later.

[0019] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the battery case has multiple support members 41 (support members 41a to 41j). These support members 41 are provided around the battery stack FC, and each support member 41 extends in the z-axis direction (i.e., vertical direction). Each support member 41 is made of, for example, a general-purpose aluminum extrusion. Each tip of the support member 41 faces the inner surface of the battery cover 11. Meanwhile, each base end of the support member 41 faces the upper surface of the bottom plate material 12. The support members 41a, 41c, 41e, 41g, and 41i are lined up on the left side of the battery stack FC. Meanwhile, the support members 41b, 41d, 41f, 41h, and 41j are lined up on the right side of the battery stack FC.

[0020] The support members 41a and 41b form a pair on the left and right sides of the battery stack FC. Similarly, the support members 41c and 41d form a pair, the support members 41e and 41f form a pair, the support members 41g and 41h form a pair, and the support members 41i and 41j form a pair. The total number of support members 41 is not limited to the number (10) shown in FIG. 1. The total number of support members 41 can be changed as desired, as long as it includes at least the support members 41 corresponding to the four corners of the battery stack FC (i.e., the support members 41a, 41b, 41i, and 41j).

[0021] 2.3rd stage configuration example FIG. 2 is an exploded view illustrating an example of the configuration of the third tier of the battery case shown in FIG. 1. In the example shown in FIG. 2, component cases 34 and 36 and a junction block 37 are provided on the third tier of plate material 31. Component case 34 is a resin housing and houses a battery ECU. The battery ECU is an electronic component for controlling charging and discharging by the battery stack. Although omitted in FIG. 2, a component case (component case 35) having a similar configuration to component case 34 is stacked above component case 34 and houses a voltage sensor. The voltage sensor detects, for example, the voltage of each cell constituting the battery stack. The voltage sensor is also included in the electronic components for controlling charging and discharging by the battery stack. Component cases 34 and 35 correspond to the "high-voltage components" of this disclosure.

[0022] The component case 34 has support brackets 34a and 34b on both sides in the x-axis direction (i.e., the front-rear direction of the battery case or the longitudinal direction of the battery stack FC). Two holes are formed in the support bracket 34a, and one hole is formed in the support bracket 34b. Two bolts BL provided on the insulating base 33a are inserted into the two holes in the support bracket 34a, respectively. One bolt BL provided on the insulating base 33b is inserted into the hole in the support bracket 34b. These bolts BL are combined with flange nuts (flanged nuts) FN, thereby fixing the component case 34 to the insulating bases 33a and 33b. The three bolts BL provided on the insulating bases 33a and 33b and the three flange nuts FN that are respectively combined with these bolts BL correspond to the "component fastening members" in this disclosure.

[0023] The insulating pedestals 33a and 33b are made of, for example, resin, and are fixed to the component case 34 and also to the plate material 31. The insulating pedestals 33a and 33b are fixed to the plate material 31 using four bolts BL provided on the plate material 31 and nuts NT that are combined with these bolts BL. The four bolts BL provided on the plate material 31 and the nuts NT that are combined with these bolts BL correspond to the "pedestal fastening members" of the present disclosure.

[0024] The component case 36 is made of a metal housing and houses an interface ECU. The interface ECU is an electronic component that controls communication between the battery ECU and various electronic components (e.g., a voltage converter) that are electrically connected to the outside of the battery case. The component case 36 is fixed to the plate material 31. The component case 36 is fixed to the plate material 31 by a combination of bolts BL and nuts NT, in the same way as the insulating pedestals 33a and 33b are fixed to the plate material 31.

[0025] The junction block 37 collects the wires that are drawn from the outside of the battery case into the inside of the battery case, and these wires are connected to various electronic components inside the battery case via the junction block 37. The junction block 37 is fixed to the plate material 31. The junction block 37 is fixed to the plate material 31 by a combination of bolts BL and nuts NT, in the same way as the insulating pedestals 33a and 33b are fixed to the plate material 31.

[0026] 3. Example of the configuration around the insulating base Fig. 3 is a view of the battery case cut along line III-III shown in Fig. 1, viewed from the left side of the battery case. Fig. 4 is a view of the battery case cut along line VI-VI shown in Fig. 1, viewed from the front of the battery case. For ease of explanation, Figs. 3 and 4 omit the portion below the middle of the second row.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3 , component case 35 is stacked on component case 34. Component cases 34 and 35 are supported by an insulating pedestal close to junction block 37 (i.e., insulating pedestal 33a) and an insulating pedestal close to component case 36 (i.e., insulating pedestal 33b). Thus, both ends of component cases 34 and 35 in the x-axis direction are supported by insulating pedestals 33a and 33b, respectively. A space SP exists between the center of component case 34 in the x-axis direction and plate member 31. The existence of this space SP prevents heat from being transmitted from the battery ECU to the battery stack FC via plate member 31. At the same time, heat from battery stack FC is also prevented from being transmitted to the battery ECU via plate member 31.

[0028] In addition to two bolts BL that are inserted into two holes in support bracket 34a, insulating base 33a is provided with one bolt BL that is inserted into one hole in support bracket 35a. Support bracket 35a is provided at one end of component case 35 close to junction block 37, and one bolt BL is also inserted into one hole formed therein. The bolt BL that is inserted into the hole in support bracket 35a is provided at a position closer to junction block 37 than the bolts BL that are inserted into the two holes in support bracket 34a.

[0029] The bolt BL inserted into one hole in the support bracket 35a is longer than the bolts BL inserted into each of the two holes in the support bracket 34a. This is because the distance from the insulating base 33a to the support bracket 35a is longer than the distance from the insulating base 33a to the support bracket 34a. The bolt BL inserted into one hole in the support bracket 35a and the bolts BL inserted into each of the two holes in the support bracket 34a are separated by a portion (base portion) 331 that constitutes the insulating base 33a. As a result, the bolts BL inserted into each of the holes in the support brackets 34a and 35a are supported by the insulating base 33a.

[0030] The insulating base 33b is provided with two bolts BL that are inserted into two holes in the support bracket 35b, respectively. These bolts BL are different from the bolt BL that is inserted into one hole in the support bracket 34b, as described in FIG. 2. The bolt BL that is inserted into each of the two holes in the support bracket 35b is longer than the bolt BL that is inserted into one hole in the support bracket 34b, as described in FIG. 2. The reason for this is the same as that described in the description of the support bracket 35a. The bolts BL that are inserted into the two holes in the support bracket 35b are also illustrated in FIG. 2. Furthermore, similar to the insulating base 33a, the insulating base 33b also blocks electrical conduction between the bolts BL that are inserted into the holes in the support brackets 34b and 35b, due to the components that make up the insulating base 33b.

[0031] The cross section depicted in FIG. 4 corresponds to a cross section of the battery case cut at a position passing through approximately the center of the insulating base 33a. As shown in FIG. 4, the bolts BL inserted into the two holes in the support bracket 34a are each combined with two flange nuts FN. These flange nuts FN are located on the support bracket 34a. In other words, these flange nuts FN are located on the component case 34 side. Meanwhile, the heads of the bolts BL combined with these flange nuts FN are located inside the insulating base 33a. Each head of the bolt BL is located on the side closer to the component case 34. Note that each head of the bolt BL corresponds to the "insulating base-side end" in this disclosure.

[0032] Because the flange nut FN is located on the component case 34 side, if a current leak occurs in the battery ECU, the component case 34 will become charged. This will then cause the support bracket 34a in contact with the component case 34 and the bolts BL inserted into the two holes in this support bracket 34a to also become charged. However, because the heads of these bolts BL are located inside the insulating pedestal 33a, electrical conduction between the heads of the bolts BL and the plate 31 is blocked. Therefore, even if a current leak occurs in the battery ECU, the charged area will be prevented from extending to the plate 31.

[0033] 4, the head of the bolt BL inserted into one hole in the support bracket 35a is located inside the insulating base 33a, as are the heads of the bolt BL inserted into the two holes in the support bracket 34a. Also, the flange nut FN combined with the bolt BL inserted into one hole in the support bracket 35a is located on the component case 35 side. Therefore, electrical conduction between the head of the bolt BL inserted into one hole in the support bracket 35a and the plate material 31 is blocked, and even if a current leak occurs in the voltage sensor, the charged area is prevented from extending to the plate material 31.

[0034] The arrangement of the flange nuts FN on the support fittings 34b and 35b is the same as that of the flange nuts FN on the support fitting 34a. The arrangement of the heads of the bolts BL on the insulating base 33b is the same as that of the heads of the bolts BL on the insulating base 33a.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 4, the insulating base 33a has two holes formed therethrough in the z-axis direction, into which two bolts BL are inserted. The bolts BL inserted into the two through holes of the insulating base 33a are mated with two nuts NT, respectively. These nuts NT are located on the upper surface of the insulating base 33a. The bolts BL mated with these nuts NT are inserted into the two through holes of the insulating base 33a from the lower surface of the plate 31. Therefore, the heads of the bolts BL are located on the lower surface of the plate 31. In the example shown in FIG. 4, cylindrical collars CL are provided in the two through holes of the insulating base 33a, respectively. The bolts BL inserted into the two through holes of the insulating base 33a are inserted along the central axes of the collars CL.

[0036] 4, the bolt BL inserted into the left through-hole of the insulating pedestal 33a and the head of the bolt BL inserted into the left hole of the support bracket 34a are separated by a portion (pedestal portion) 332 that constitutes the insulating pedestal 33a. In addition, the bolt BL inserted into the right through-hole of the insulating pedestal 33a and the head of the bolt BL inserted into the right hole of the support bracket 34a are separated by a portion (pedestal portion) 333 that constitutes the insulating pedestal 33a. In this way, the insulating pedestal 33a blocks electrical conduction between the bolts BL inserted into the respective holes of the support bracket 34a and the bolts BL inserted into the respective through-holes of the insulating pedestal 33a.

[0037] The arrangement of the bolts BL, nuts NT and collars CL in the insulating base 33b is the same as that in the insulating base 33a.

[0038] 4.Effects According to the battery case according to the embodiment described above, the component cases 34 and 35 are fixed to the insulating pedestals 33a and 33b by a combination of the flange nuts FN and the bolts BL inserted into the respective holes in the support fittings 34a and 34b. The insulating pedestals 33a and 33b are fixed to the plate 31 by a combination of the nuts NT and the bolts BL inserted into the respective through holes in the insulating pedestals. Therefore, the component cases 34 and 35 can be fixed to the plate 31 via the insulating pedestals 33a and 33b.

[0039] Furthermore, in the battery case according to the embodiment, the heads of the bolts BL that are combined with the flange nuts FN are located inside the insulating seats 33a and 33b. Inside the battery case, the heads of the bolts BL and the bolts BL inserted into the through-holes of the insulating seat 33a (or insulating seat 33b) are separated by the portions that make up the insulating seat 33a (or insulating seat 33b). This also blocks electrical conduction between the plate material 31 and the component cases 34 and 35. This also allows the battery stack to be insulated from the component cases 34 and 35.

[0040] Furthermore, in the battery case according to this embodiment, the bolt BL inserted into one hole in support bracket 35a (or the bolt BL inserted into two holes in support bracket 35b) and the bolt BL inserted into each of the two holes in support bracket 34a (or the bolt BL inserted into each of the two holes in support bracket 35b) are separated by a portion constituting insulating seat 33a (or insulating seat 33b). Therefore, the bolts BL inserted into the holes in support brackets 34a and 35a (or support brackets 34b and 35b) can be supported by insulating seat 33a (or insulating seat 33b) that is common to these support brackets. Therefore, both component cases 34 and 35 can be secured to insulating seat 33a (or insulating seat 33b). [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 11 Battery cover 12 Bottom plate material 21, 31 Plate material 22a~22d, 32a~32d Support material 33a, 33b Insulating base 331, 332, 333 Pedestal parts 34, 35, 36 Parts case 34a, 34b, 35a, 35b Support bracket 37 Junction Block 41a~41j Support members 51 L-shaped plate material BL Bolt CL Color FC battery stack FN flange nut NT Nut SP space

Claims

1. A battery case that houses a high-voltage component and a battery, an insulating base for supporting the high-voltage component; a metal plate to which the insulating base is attached; a metal component fastening member that fastens the high-voltage component to the insulating base; a metal base fastening member that fastens the insulating base to the plate material; Equipped with the battery is attached to a location other than the insulating base within the battery case; an end of the component fastening member on the insulating base side is located inside the insulating base; Inside the insulating base, the end of the component fastening member on the insulating base side and the base fastening member are separated by a portion that constitutes the insulating base. A battery case characterized by:

2. the high-voltage component includes a first high-voltage component and a second high-voltage component stacked on the first high-voltage component; the component fastening members include a first component fastening member that fastens the first high-voltage component to the insulating base, and a second component fastening member that fastens the second high-voltage component to the insulating base; the first component fastening member and the second component fastening member are gathered together on the insulating base, Inside the insulating base where the first component fastening member and the second component fastening member are gathered, the end of the first component fastening member on the insulating base side and the end of the second component fastening member are separated by a portion that constitutes the insulating base.

2. The battery case according to claim 1, wherein the battery case is made of a polycarbonate material.

3. The battery further includes an additional metal plate member disposed parallel to the plate member and on which the battery is attached.

3. The battery case according to claim 1 or 2.

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