Cooling bed components

The cooling bed member with a partitioned coolant flow path between metal plates addresses manufacturing and leakage issues, offering a lightweight, efficient, and cost-effective cooling solution for battery systems.

JP7814108B2Active Publication Date: 2026-02-16NIPPON STEEL CORPORATION
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2021067864
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2021-04-13
Publication Date
2026-02-16
Estimated Expiration
2041-04-13

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Current battery cooling systems face challenges such as high manufacturing costs, weight increase due to groove processing, potential refrigerant leakage, and inefficient cooling efficiency, particularly in water-cooled structures for electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles.

Method used

A cooling bed member is designed with a partition member inserted between thin metal plates, forming a coolant flow path between them, eliminating the need for groove processing and press working, and using resistance seam welding or laser welding for a watertight joint, with the partition member made of resin or resin-coated metal to prevent refrigerant leakage and enhance cooling efficiency.

Benefits of technology

The solution provides a lightweight, leak-proof, and efficiently cooling system that allows dense battery cell placement, reducing weight and manufacturing costs while maintaining effective temperature control.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

To provide a cooling floor member that is capable of suppressing leakage of refrigerant, is light in weight, and has excellent cooling efficiency.SOLUTION: A cooling floor member (100A) cools a battery cell placed above. The cooling floor member (100A) has an underfloor metal material (101) and a flat metal floor plate (102) arranged facing the underfloor metal material (101) and having its outer surface in contact with the battery cell. A cooling liquid flow path (104) through which a cooling liquid flows is provided in a closed cross-sectional space between the underfloor metal material (101) and the flat metal floor plate (102). The closed cross-sectional space has a dividing member (105) for dividing the cooling liquid flow path (104).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2A
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling bed member. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, fuel economy regulations have become stricter around the world, driving a shift toward electrification in the automotive industry. To extend the driving range of electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), there is a growing need for high-capacity, fast-charging batteries. Fast-charging batteries generate heat depending on their usage conditions, and their operating temperature range is regulated. High temperatures in the battery cells cause significant capacity loss due to changes in their internal chemicals, so an upper operating temperature limit is regulated. Therefore, battery cooling systems are often used to prevent the battery temperature from exceeding the upper limit, and many current EVs and HEVs use air-cooling. However, efficient suppression of battery temperature rise is necessary, and as battery capacity increases, the adoption of water-cooled cooling structures is being considered. In addition, increasing the driving range of a vehicle requires increasing the number of battery cells and reducing the weight of the cooling system.

[0003] As a water-cooled structure for a cooling system, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a panel formed by joining two plates, each having a flow path inside, facing each other. The two plates have the same shape, divided by a plane passing through the center of the flow path. A refrigerant is circulated through the flow path formed inside the panel to cool the object to be cooled. The flow path snakes inside the panel. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6064730 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the configuration of Patent Document 1, creating the flow paths inside the panel is complicated, resulting in high manufacturing costs. Specifically, the meandering flow paths inside the panel are formed, for example, by groove processing on the inner surface of a plate. Furthermore, because the two plates have the same shape, groove processing is required for each of the two plates. The plates require thickness to accommodate the groove processing, which increases the weight of the panel. Furthermore, although all areas without flow paths are joined by brazing, insufficient brazing may result in leakage of the refrigerant (water). If the refrigerant leaks, water may accumulate inside the battery pack that houses the battery cells and cooling system, potentially causing the battery cells to become submerged inside the battery pack.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a cooling bed member that can suppress refrigerant leakage, is lightweight, and has excellent cooling efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have conducted extensive research into a cooling bed member that suppresses refrigerant leakage, is lightweight, and has excellent cooling efficiency. As a result, the present inventors have found that by inserting a partition member (insert) between thin metal plates and flowing the refrigerant through the space formed between the thin metal plates and the partition member, it is possible to obtain a cooling bed member that suppresses refrigerant leakage, is lightweight, and has excellent cooling efficiency, without performing processing such as groove processing or press processing.

[0008] The present invention has been made in light of the above findings. The gist of the present invention is to adopt the following means. (1) A cooling bed member according to one embodiment of the present invention is A cooling floor member that cools battery cells placed above it, Metal underfloor material, a flat metal floor plate disposed opposite the metal floor under-floor material, the outer surface of which contacts the battery cells; A coolant flow path through which a coolant flows in a closed cross-sectional space between the metal underfloor material and the flat metal floor plate, a supply pipe for supplying the coolant, and a drain pipe for draining the coolant are provided, The closed cross-sectional space has a partition member that divides the coolant flow path, The cooling liquid supplied from the supply pipe flows through the cooling liquid flow path and is drained from the drain pipe, and after the cooling liquid is cooled by a cooling device, it is supplied again from the supply pipe to the cooling liquid flow path, The outer periphery of the metal underfloor material and the outer periphery of the flat metal floor plate are watertightly joined, The watertight joint is a joint made by resistance seam welding, laser welding, or seaming. the law of nature, the partition member is a solid resin obtained by solidifying a liquid resin, The coolant flow path is formed by the solid resin. do.

[0009] The cooling floor member configured as described above has a structure in which a partition member is provided in the closed cross-sectional space between the metal underfloor material and the flat metal floor plate, eliminating the need for processing such as groove machining and press working. This configuration can prevent refrigerant leakage and reduce weight. Furthermore, because the metal floor plate whose outer surface contacts the battery cells is flat, the battery cells and the cooling floor member can be tightly attached, and the battery cells can be installed densely without gaps on the top surface of the cooling floor member, allowing for efficient cooling of the battery cells.

[0010] (2) In the above (1), the following configuration may be adopted: The partition member is made of a resin having a linear expansion coefficient different from that of the metal floor under-material and the flat metal floor plate. (3) The cooling bed member according to one embodiment of the present invention is A cooling floor member that cools battery cells placed above it, Metal underfloor material, a flat metal floor plate disposed opposite the metal floor under-floor material, the outer surface of which contacts the battery cells; A coolant flow path through which a coolant flows in a closed cross-sectional space between the metal underfloor material and the flat metal floor plate, a supply pipe for supplying the coolant, and a drain pipe for draining the coolant are provided, The closed cross-sectional space has a partition member that divides the coolant flow path, The cooling liquid supplied from the supply pipe flows through the cooling liquid flow path and is drained from the drain pipe, and after the cooling liquid is cooled by a cooling device, it is supplied again from the supply pipe to the cooling liquid flow path, The outer periphery of the metal underfloor material and the outer periphery of the flat metal floor plate are watertightly joined, The watertight joint is a joint formed by resistance seam welding, laser welding, or seaming processing, the partition member is a sheet-like solid material, the coolant flow path is formed by the sheet-like solid material, The sheet-like solid material is a solid resin. (4) The cooling bed member according to one embodiment of the present invention is A cooling floor member that cools battery cells placed above it, Metal underfloor material, a flat metal floor plate disposed opposite the metal floor under-floor material, the outer surface of which contacts the battery cells; A coolant flow path through which a coolant flows in a closed cross-sectional space between the metal underfloor material and the flat metal floor plate, a supply pipe for supplying the coolant, and a drain pipe for draining the coolant are provided, The closed cross-sectional space has a partition member that divides the coolant flow path, The cooling liquid supplied from the supply pipe flows through the cooling liquid flow path and is drained from the drain pipe, and after the cooling liquid is cooled by a cooling device, it is supplied again from the supply pipe to the cooling liquid flow path, The outer periphery of the metal underfloor material and the outer periphery of the flat metal floor plate are watertightly joined, The watertight joint is a joint formed by resistance seam welding, laser welding, or seaming processing, the sheet-like solid material is a solid resin, the coolant flow path is formed by the sheet-like solid material, The sheet-like solid material is a resin having a linear expansion coefficient different from that of the metal floor under-material and the flat metal floor plate. ( 5 ) The cooling bed member according to one embodiment of the present invention is A cooling floor member that cools battery cells placed above it, Metal underfloor material, a flat metal floor plate disposed opposite the metal floor under-floor material, the outer surface of which contacts the battery cells; A coolant flow path through which a coolant flows in a closed cross-sectional space between the metal underfloor material and the flat metal floor plate, a supply pipe for supplying the coolant, and a drain pipe for draining the coolant are provided, The closed cross-sectional space has a partition member that divides the coolant flow path, The cooling liquid supplied from the supply pipe flows through the cooling liquid flow path and is drained from the drain pipe, and after the cooling liquid is cooled by a cooling device, it is supplied again from the supply pipe to the cooling liquid flow path, The outer periphery of the metal underfloor material and the outer periphery of the flat metal floor plate are watertightly joined, The watertight joint is a joint formed by resistance seam welding, laser welding, or seaming processing, The closed cross-sectional space side of either the metal floor under-floor material or the flat metal floor plate is a resin-coated metal, The cooling liquid water passage is formed by the resin-coated metal from which a portion of the coated resin has been peeled off and left. ( 6 )the above( 5 ) may employ the following configuration: The coated resin is a solid resin. ( 7 )the above( 5 ) may employ the following configuration: The coated resin has a linear expansion coefficient different from that of the metal floor under-material and the flat metal floor plate. ( 8 )From (1) above ( 7 ) In any one of the above, the following configuration may be adopted: The metal floor under-material and the flat metal floor plate are made of steel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cooling bed member that can suppress refrigerant leakage, is lightweight, and has excellent cooling efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a schematic configuration of a battery pack to which a cooling floor member according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the schematic configuration of a cooling bed member according to the embodiment. [Figure 2B] 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA' in FIG. 2A. [Figure 3A] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a cooling bed member according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3B] 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB' in FIG. 3A. [Figure 4A] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a cooling bed member according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4B] 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC' in FIG. 3A. [Figure 5A] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a cooling bed member, illustrating an example of a method for joining a metal underfloor material and a flat metal bed plate in a cooling bed member according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5B] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a cooling bed member, illustrating an example of a method for joining a metal underfloor material and a flat metal bed plate in a cooling bed member according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] A cooling bed member according to each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, common components in each embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof may be omitted.

[0014] In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the cooling bed member in plan view is defined as the X direction, the width direction of the cooling bed member as the Y direction, and the thickness direction of the cooling bed member as the Z direction.

[0015] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of a schematic configuration of a battery pack 1 to which a cooling floor member 100 according to this embodiment is applied. As shown in Fig. 1, the battery pack 1 mainly comprises an upper cover 2, battery cells 3, a cooling floor member 100, and a lower cover 4. The upper cover 2 covers the battery cells 3 from above. The battery cells 3 are placed in close contact with the upper surface of the cooling floor member 100. The lower cover 4 houses the cooling floor member 100A and the battery cells 3 from below. 1, the longitudinal direction (X direction), width direction (Y direction), and thickness direction (Z direction) of the cooling floor member 100 are the same as the longitudinal direction, width direction, and thickness direction, respectively, of the battery pack 1. In FIG. 1, the positive side of the Z direction is the upper side, and the negative side of the Z direction is the lower side.

[0016] 1 shows two battery cells 3 arranged in the X direction, but the number of battery cells 3 is not limited to two in the X direction. For example, three or more battery cells 3 may be arranged in the X direction, or two or more battery cells 3 may be arranged in the Y direction. The number of battery cells 3 may also be one.

[0017] [First embodiment] A cooling bed member 100A according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B. Fig. 2A is an exploded perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a cooling bed member according to the embodiment, and Fig. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA' in Fig. 2A. The battery cells 3 are placed above the cooling floor member 100A. The cooling floor member 100A has a metal underfloor material 101 and a flat metal floor plate 102. The flat metal floor plate 102 is disposed opposite the metal underfloor material 101, and the outer surface of the flat metal floor plate 102 contacts the battery cells 3. The cooling floor member 100A has a coolant flow path 104 through which a coolant flows in a closed cross-sectional space 103 between the metal underfloor material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102. The cooling floor member 100A has a partition member (insert) 105 that divides the coolant flow path 104 in the closed cross-sectional space 103.

[0018] The metal floor under-material 101 is made of, for example, an aluminum alloy material or a steel material. When an aluminum alloy material is used for the metal floor under-material 101, although it is lighter than a steel material, the plate thickness must be increased, which makes it difficult to pack the entire battery pack compact. Furthermore, aluminum alloy material is more expensive than a steel material. From this perspective, the metal floor under-material 101 is preferably made of steel material. The metal floor under-material 101 is more preferably made of high-strength steel material, which has excellent road surface interference properties and can be made thin to effectively secure space. High-strength steel material is steel material of 590 MPa class or higher. The thickness of the metal floor under-material 101 is 0.5 mm to 3.2 mm, and from the viewpoint of weight reduction and strength, 0.8 to 1.6 mm is preferable.

[0019] The flat metal floor plate 102 is particularly required to have good cooling performance. The flat metal floor plate 102 is made of, for example, an aluminum alloy material or a steel material. When an aluminum alloy material is used for the flat metal floor plate 102, it is lighter than a steel material, but the plate thickness must be increased, making it difficult to compactly assemble the entire battery pack. Furthermore, aluminum alloy material is more expensive than a steel material. From this perspective, the flat metal floor plate 102 is preferably made of a steel material. It is more preferable that the flat metal floor plate 102 be made of a high-strength steel material, which has excellent cooling performance and can be made thin to effectively secure space. The thickness of the flat metal floor plate 102 is preferably thin, but is 0.2 mm to 2.6 mm to prevent damage from contact with components due to vibration, etc. From the viewpoints of cooling performance, weight reduction, and strength, the thickness of the flat metal floor plate 102 is preferably 0.4 mm to 1.0 mm.

[0020] The outer surface of the flat metal floor plate 102 is flat, i.e., not uneven. Because the outer surface of the flat metal floor plate 102 that contacts the battery cells 3 is flat, the battery cells 3 can be tightly attached to the cooling floor member 100A so that they are in full contact with each other. Furthermore, because the outer surface of the flat metal floor plate 102 is flat, there are no restrictions on the placement of the battery cells 3. In other words, the battery cells 3 can be placed densely without gaps on the top surface of the cooling floor member 100A. Because the outer surface of the flat metal floor plate 102 is flat, the battery cells 3 can be cooled efficiently.

[0021] From the viewpoint of corrosion resistance, it is preferable that the metal underfloor material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102 are made of the same metal. By using the same metal for the metal underfloor material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102, deterioration due to galvanic corrosion that occurs at the connection between the metal underfloor material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102, or a decrease in joint strength due to fusion bonding of the dissimilar metals, can be avoided.

[0022] The battery cells 3 are placed above the cooling bed member 100A. The battery cells 3 are, for example, lithium ion batteries. The battery cells 3 are rectangular parallelepiped-shaped. A plurality of battery cells 3 may be arranged in the X direction. A plurality of battery cells 3 may be arranged in the Y direction. A plurality of battery cells 3 may be stacked in the Z direction. Note that although the battery cells 3 are placed above the cooling bed member 100A, this does not necessarily mean that the battery cells 3 are placed directly above the cooling bed member 100A. For example, this also includes the case where a battery case (not shown) that stores a bundle of battery cells 3 is placed above the cooling bed member 100A. In this case, it is preferable that the battery case has a thermal conductivity and thickness that allow heat to be conducted from the battery cells 3 to the cooling bed member 100A.

[0023] When the metal underfloor material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102 are placed face to face, the outer periphery of the metal underfloor material 101 is joined to the outer periphery of the flat metal floor plate 102, forming a closed cross-sectional space 103 inside the cooling floor member 100A. Figure 2A shows a state in which the metal underfloor material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102 are not joined. Figure 2B shows a state in which the metal underfloor material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102 are joined.

[0024] The coolant flow path 104 is provided in a closed cross-sectional space 103 between the metal floor under-material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102. A refrigerant (coolant) flows through the coolant flow path 104. If the height (length in the Z direction) of the coolant flow channel 104 is long, a large amount of refrigerant can flow, but from the viewpoint of weight reduction and cooling efficiency, the height is 1 mm to 10 mm. More preferably, the height of the coolant flow channel 104 is 1 mm to 5 mm.

[0025] A supply pipe (not shown) for supplying a refrigerant and a drain pipe (not shown) for draining the refrigerant are provided in the closed cross-sectional space 103. The refrigerant supplied from the supply pipe flows through the coolant flow path 104 and is drained from the drain pipe, and after being cooled by a cooling device (not shown), is supplied again from the supply pipe to the coolant flow path 104.

[0026] The partition members 105 divide the coolant flow paths 104 of the closed cross-sectional space 103. By arranging the partition members 105, it is possible to control the flow direction of the coolant so that it is aligned. By appropriately arranging the partition members 105, it is possible to efficiently cool the battery cells 3.

[0027] The cooling floor member 100A configured as described above has a structure in which a partition member 105 is provided in the closed cross-sectional space 103 between the metal underfloor material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102, eliminating the need for processing such as groove machining and press working. This makes it possible to suppress refrigerant leakage and reduce weight. Furthermore, because the metal floor plate whose outer surface contacts the battery cells 3 is flat, the battery cells 3 and the cooling floor member 100A can be tightly attached, and the battery cells 3 can be placed closely together on the top surface of the cooling floor member 100A with no gaps between them, allowing the battery cells to be cooled efficiently.

[0028] 2A, in this embodiment, the partition members 105 are arranged so that the coolant flow paths 104 meander. The refrigerant flows along the partition members 105 arranged in a meandering manner, thereby allowing the battery cells 3 to be cooled more efficiently.

[0029] 2A and 2B, in this embodiment, the coolant flow path 104 meanders with its longitudinal direction in the Y direction, but the meandering direction is not limited to this. For example, the coolant flow path 104 may meander with its longitudinal direction in the X direction. Furthermore, the coolant flow path 104 does not have to meander.

[0030] The partition member 105 may be a solid resin 106 obtained by solidifying a liquid resin. In this case, the coolant flow path 104 is formed by the solid resin 106. The liquid resin is a gel-like resin, such as a sealant.

[0031] A liquid resin is applied to at least one of the metal floor under-material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102, for example, to form a coolant flow path 104 in the closed cross-sectional space 103. Since the liquid resin has adhesive properties, it is suitable for joining the metal floor under-material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102, or for fixing to either the metal floor under-material 101 or the flat metal floor plate 102. The liquid resin can be applied using, for example, an application gun held by a robot, to form any desired flow path. When solid resin is used, there are no welded parts in the closed cross-sectional space 103, so it is possible to prevent refrigerant leakage from welding defects such as pinholes formed near the welded parts.

[0032] The partition member 105 may be a viscoelastic resin 107. The viscoelastic resin 107 is, for example, a rubber-like resin. When viscoelastic resin 107 is used for partition member 105, the linear expansion coefficients of metal underfloor material 101 and flat metal floor plate 102 are different from those of viscoelastic resin 107, which can mitigate strain that occurs at the contact interface when expanding and contracting in response to temperature changes. This allows for the maintenance of a stable coolant flow path 104. Furthermore, out-of-plane deformation of metal underfloor material 101 and flat metal floor plate 102 is small, making it easier to maintain the flat shapes of metal underfloor material 101 and flat metal floor plate 102. Viscoelastic resin 107 can be applied using an application gun held by a robot, for example, to arrange any desired flow path. As in the case of using a solid resin, when the viscoelastic resin 107 is used for the partition member 105, since there are no welds in the closed cross-sectional space 103, it is possible to avoid leakage of the refrigerant from welding defects such as pinholes formed near the welds.

[0033] 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views of the cooling floor member 100A, illustrating an example of a method for joining the metal underfloor material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102 in the cooling floor member 100A according to this embodiment. The outer peripheral edge 101a of the metal underfloor material 101 and the outer peripheral edge 102a of the flat metal floor plate 102 are watertightly joined 130. A watertight joint is a joint that seals out water and prevents leakage even when water pressure is applied. The watertight joint 130 between the outer peripheral edge 101a of the metal underfloor material 101 and the outer peripheral edge 102a of the flat metal floor plate 102 prevents the refrigerant from leaking from the cooling floor member 100A.

[0034] The watertight joint 130 is, for example, a continuous fusion joint or a continuous seal joint. The outer peripheral edge 101a of the metal floor underlayer 101 and the outer peripheral edge 102a of the flat metal floor plate 102 are continuously joined. Continuous fusion joints include resistance seam welding and laser welding. Continuous seal joints are joints made by seaming processes such as seaming and groove folding.

[0035] The portions where the supply pipes and drain pipes are connected to the cooling floor member 100A are watertightly joined to the outer periphery 101a of the metal underfloor material 101 and the outer periphery 102a of the flat metal floor plate 102.

[0036] Fig. 5A shows a state in which the outer peripheral edge 101a of the metal floor undermaterial 101 and the outer peripheral edge 102a of the flat metal floor plate 102 are welded together. Fig. 5B shows a state in which the outer peripheral edge 101a of the metal floor undermaterial 101 and the outer peripheral edge 102a of the flat metal floor plate 102 are bent together. The outer peripheral edge 101a of the metal floor undermaterial 101 and the outer peripheral edge 102a of the flat metal floor plate 102 may be crimped together.

[0037] Watertight joint 130 is formed between outer peripheral edge 101a of metal underfloor material 101 and outer peripheral edge 102a of flat metal floor plate 102, preventing refrigerant leakage and preventing battery cells 3 placed on cooling floor member 100A from becoming submerged. Even if refrigerant does leak, continuous fusion joining or continuous seal joining is used, so the refrigerant leakage can be remedied simply by repairing outer peripheral edge 101a of metal underfloor material 101 and outer peripheral edge 102a of flat metal floor plate 102.

[0038] [Second embodiment] A cooling bed member 100B according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3A and 3B. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their description will be omitted, with only the differences being described. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the partition member is a sheet-like solid material.

[0039] Figure 3A is an exploded perspective view illustrating the schematic configuration of a cooling floor member 100B according to this embodiment. Figure 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B' in Figure 3A. Figure 3A shows a state in which the metal floor under-material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102 are not joined. Figure 3B shows a state in which the metal floor under-material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102 are joined. 3A, the partition member 105 is a sheet-like solid material 110. In this embodiment, the partition member 105, which is a sheet-like solid material 110, is provided in a closed cross-sectional space 103 between a metal floor under-material 101 and a flat metal floor plate 102. The sheet-like solid material 110 can be produced by, for example, pressing.

[0040] The partition member 105 according to this embodiment is in a sheet form, and therefore can be easily produced to match the desired shape of the coolant flow path 104, providing a high degree of freedom in layout design. Furthermore, the shape of the flow path can be easily confirmed visually.

[0041] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 3A and 3B, the sheet-like solid material 110 is arranged along the Y direction, but the arrangement direction of the sheet-like solid material 110 is not limited to this. For example, the sheet-like solid material 110 may be arranged along the X direction. Furthermore, as in the first embodiment, the sheet-like solid material 110 may be arranged so that the coolant flow path 104 meanders. The coolant flows along the sheet-shaped solid material 110 arranged in this manner, thereby allowing the battery cells 3 to be cooled more efficiently.

[0042] The sheet-like solid material 110 may be a solid resin 111. The solid resin 111 is, for example, a hard resin, specifically, for example, an epoxy resin. When solid resin 111 is used, the compression strength is high, so deformation of closed cross-sectional space 103 due to the weight of loaded battery cells 3 can be avoided. When solid resin 111 is used, there are no welded parts in closed cross-sectional space 103, so it is possible to prevent refrigerant leakage from welding defects such as pinholes formed near the welded parts.

[0043] The sheet-like solid material 110 may be a viscoelastic resin 112. The viscoelastic resin 112 is, for example, a vinyl chloride resin. When the viscoelastic resin 112 is used, the linear expansion coefficients of the metal underfloor material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102 are different from those of the viscoelastic resin 112, so it is possible to alleviate the strain that occurs at the contact interface when the metal underfloor material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102 expand and contract in response to temperature changes. This makes it possible to maintain a stable coolant flow path 104. Furthermore, there is little out-of-plane deformation of the metal underfloor material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102, making it easier to maintain the flat shapes of the metal underfloor material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102. As in the case of using solid resin 111, when viscoelastic resin 112 is used, there are no welds in closed cross-sectional space 103, so leakage of refrigerant from welding defects such as pinholes formed near the welds can be avoided.

[0044] The sheet-like solid material 110 may be made of the same metal 113 as the metal floor under-material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102. This makes it possible to avoid deterioration due to galvanic corrosion occurring at the connection between the sheet-like solid material 110 and the metal floor under-material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102, or a decrease in joint strength due to fusion bonding of the dissimilar metals.

[0045] [Third embodiment] 4A and 4B, a cooling bed member 100C according to a third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted, and only the differences will be described. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the partition member is a resin-coated metal that is coated with resin.

[0046] Fig. 4A is an exploded perspective view illustrating the schematic configuration of a cooling floor member according to this embodiment. Fig. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows CC' in Fig. 4A. Fig. 4A shows a state in which the metal floor under-material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102 are not joined. Fig. 4B shows a state in which the metal floor under-material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102 are joined. In this embodiment, the side of the closed cross-sectional space 103 of either the metal floor under-material 101 or the flat metal floor plate 102 is a resin-coated metal 120 coated with resin.

[0047] In this embodiment, the coolant flow path 104 is formed by peeling off a part of the coated resin (coating resin). In this embodiment, resin is coated on the surface of the metal underfloor material 101 facing the closed cross-sectional space 103 (the top surface of the metal underfloor material 101). (a) of Figure 4A shows the state in which the top surface of the metal underfloor material 101 is coated with resin, and this is the state before the coating resin is peeled off. (b) of Figure 4A shows the state in which the coating resin has been partially peeled off. (b) of Figure 4A shows the partially peeled coating resin 123. As shown in (a) of Figure 4A, the resin coats the entire top surface of the metal underfloor material 101, but the outer edge of the metal underfloor material 101 corresponding to the portion that joins with the outer edge of the flat metal floor plate 102 is not coated. As shown in (b) of Figure 4A, when a portion of the coating resin is peeled off, the unpeeled coating resin remains on the upper surface of the metal floor underlayment 101. This unpeeled remaining coating resin forms the coolant flow path 104.

[0048] The resin is coated in advance onto the metal floor under-material 101. The resin is coated onto the metal floor under-material 101 by, for example, thermocompression bonding or adhesive bonding, or by slit coating or dip coating.

[0049] The thickness of the coating resin is 1 mm to 7 mm. Although it depends on the shape of the water channel and the amount of water required, from the viewpoint of formability, the thickness of the coating resin is preferably 1 mm to 5 mm. More preferably, the thickness of the coating resin is 3 mm. The coating resin is peeled off by, for example, a cutter, punching, or laser processing.

[0050] The resin-coated metal 120 allows for easy peeling of the coating resin to match the desired shape of the coolant flow path 104, providing a high degree of freedom in layout design. Furthermore, the shape of the flow path can be easily confirmed visually. The coating resin can be provided by coating a metal coil or a metal sheet, which reduces the possibility of the resin falling off during the manufacturing process of the coolant flow passage 104.

[0051] 4A and 4B, the resin-coated metal 120 is arranged along the Y direction, but the arrangement direction of the resin-coated metal 120 is not limited to this. For example, the resin-coated metal 120 may be arranged along the X direction. Furthermore, as in the first embodiment, the resin-coated metal 120 may be arranged so that the coolant flow path 104 is serpentine. The coolant flows along the resin-coated metal 120 arranged in this manner, allowing the battery cells 3 to be cooled more efficiently.

[0052] The coating resin may be solid resin 121. Solid resin 121 is, for example, a hard resin, specifically, for example, an epoxy resin. When solid resin 121 is used, the compression strength is high, so deformation of closed cross-sectional space 103 due to the weight of loaded battery cells 3 can be avoided. When solid resin 121 is used, there are no welded parts in closed cross-sectional space 103, so it is possible to prevent refrigerant leakage from welding defects such as pinholes formed near the welded parts.

[0053] The coating resin may be a viscoelastic resin 122. The viscoelastic resin 122 is, for example, a vinyl chloride resin. When the viscoelastic resin 122 is used, the linear expansion coefficients of the metal underfloor material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102 are different from those of the viscoelastic resin 112, so it is possible to alleviate the strain that occurs at the contact interface when the metal underfloor material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102 expand and contract in response to temperature changes. This makes it possible to maintain a stable coolant flow path 104. Furthermore, there is little out-of-plane deformation of the metal underfloor material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102, making it easier to maintain the flat shapes of the metal underfloor material 101 and the flat metal floor plate 102. As in the case of using solid resin 121, when viscoelastic resin 122 is used, there are no welds in closed cross-sectional space 103, so leakage of refrigerant from welding defects such as pinholes formed near the welds can be avoided.

[0054] The cooling floor members 100A, 100B, and 100C described in the above embodiments are applied to, for example, electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles.

[0055] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above embodiments are presented as examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The above embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The above embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents.

[0056] For example, the cooling bed member in each of the above-described embodiments is arranged between the lower cover 4 and the battery cell 3, as shown in FIG. 1, but when multiple battery cells 3 are stacked in the Z direction, it may also be arranged between each battery cell 3. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 1 Battery pack 2 Upper cover 3 battery cells 4 Lower cover 100, 100A, 100B, 100C cooling floor parts 101 Metal floor underlayment 101a, 102a outer periphery 102 Flat metal floor plate 103 Closed section space 104 Coolant flow path 105 Partition material (insert) 106, 111, 121 Solid resin 107, 112, 122 Viscoelastic resin 110 Sheet-shaped solids 120 Resin-coated metal 130 watertight joint

Claims

1. A cooling floor member that cools battery cells placed above it, Metal underfloor material, a flat metal floor plate disposed opposite the metal floor under-floor material, the outer surface of which contacts the battery cells; A coolant flow path through which a coolant flows in a closed cross-sectional space between the metal underfloor material and the flat metal floor plate, a supply pipe for supplying the coolant, and a drain pipe for draining the coolant are provided, The closed cross-sectional space has a partition member that divides the coolant flow path, The cooling liquid supplied from the supply pipe flows through the cooling liquid flow path and is drained from the drain pipe, and after the cooling liquid is cooled by a cooling device, it is supplied again from the supply pipe to the cooling liquid flow path, The outer periphery of the metal underfloor material and the outer periphery of the flat metal floor plate are watertightly joined, The watertight joint is a joint formed by resistance seam welding, laser welding, or seaming processing, the partition member is a solid resin obtained by solidifying a liquid resin, The cooling bed member has a cooling liquid flow path formed by the solid resin.

2. 2. The cooling bed member according to claim 1, wherein the partition member is made of a resin having a linear expansion coefficient different from that of the metal underfloor material and the flat metal bed plate.

3. A cooling floor member that cools battery cells placed above it, Metal underfloor material, a flat metal floor plate disposed opposite the metal floor under-floor material, the outer surface of which contacts the battery cells; A coolant flow path through which a coolant flows in a closed cross-sectional space between the metal underfloor material and the flat metal floor plate, a supply pipe for supplying the coolant, and a drain pipe for draining the coolant are provided, The closed cross-sectional space has a partition member that divides the coolant flow path, The cooling liquid supplied from the supply pipe flows through the cooling liquid flow path and is drained from the drain pipe, and after the cooling liquid is cooled by a cooling device, it is supplied again from the supply pipe to the cooling liquid flow path, The outer periphery of the metal underfloor material and the outer periphery of the flat metal floor plate are watertightly joined, The watertight joint is a joint formed by resistance seam welding, laser welding, or seaming processing, the partition member is a sheet-like solid material, the coolant flow path is formed by the sheet-like solid material, The sheet-like solid material is a solid resin. Cooling floor components.

4. A cooling floor member that cools battery cells placed above it, Metal underfloor material, a flat metal floor plate disposed opposite the metal floor under-floor material, the outer surface of which contacts the battery cells; A coolant flow path through which a coolant flows in a closed cross-sectional space between the metal underfloor material and the flat metal floor plate, a supply pipe for supplying the coolant, and a drain pipe for draining the coolant are provided, The closed cross-sectional space has a partition member that divides the coolant flow path, The cooling liquid supplied from the supply pipe flows through the cooling liquid flow path and is drained from the drain pipe, and after the cooling liquid is cooled by a cooling device, it is supplied again from the supply pipe to the cooling liquid flow path, The outer periphery of the metal underfloor material and the outer periphery of the flat metal floor plate are watertightly joined, The watertight joint is a joint formed by resistance seam welding, laser welding, or seaming processing, the partition member is a sheet-like solid material, the coolant flow path is formed by the sheet-like solid material, The sheet-like solid material is a cooling bed member made of a resin having a linear expansion coefficient different from that of the metal floor underlayer and the flat metal floor plate.

5. A cooling floor member that cools battery cells placed above it, Metal underfloor material, a flat metal floor plate disposed opposite the metal floor under-floor material, the outer surface of which contacts the battery cells; A coolant flow path through which a coolant flows in a closed cross-sectional space between the metal underfloor material and the flat metal floor plate, a supply pipe for supplying the coolant, and a drain pipe for draining the coolant are provided, The closed cross-sectional space has a partition member that divides the coolant flow path, The cooling liquid supplied from the supply pipe flows through the cooling liquid flow path and is drained from the drain pipe, and after the cooling liquid is cooled by a cooling device, it is supplied again from the supply pipe to the cooling liquid flow path, The outer periphery of the metal underfloor material and the outer periphery of the flat metal floor plate are watertightly joined, The watertight joint is a joint formed by resistance seam welding, laser welding, or seaming processing, The closed cross-sectional space side of either the metal floor under-floor material or the flat metal floor plate is a resin-coated metal, The cooling liquid flow path is formed by the resin-coated metal that remains after a portion of the coated resin has been peeled off. Cooling floor components.

6. 6. The cooling bed member according to claim 5, wherein the resin coating is a solid resin.

7. 6. The cooling bed member according to claim 5, wherein the resin coating has a linear expansion coefficient different from that of the metal underfloor material and the flat metal bed plate.

8. The cooling bed member according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the metal underfloor material and the flat metal bed plate are made of steel.

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