Battery device

Abstract

To provide a battery device capable of improving assembly workability while ensuring a mounting strength of a connector.SOLUTION: A battery device 10 includes: a battery 14; a case main body 20 having an opening 31 for attaching and detaching the battery 14 and housing the battery 14; a first cover 21 and a second cover 22 attached to the opening 31 of the case main body 20; and a connector 53 provided on the second cover 22 toward a connection direction A opposite to a direction in which the second cover 22 faces the first cover 21. The second cover 22 includes a first claw portion 61 provided on an extension line of the connection direction A of the connector 53 and attached to the case main body 20, and a second claw portion 62 provided in a direction intersecting the connection direction A and attached to the case main body 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a battery device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is a battery device that supplies power to an electrical device. In this battery device, a connector is disposed outside a case that houses a battery, and when the battery device is attached to a battery mounting portion of the electrical device, the connector is inserted and connected to a device-side connector disposed at the battery mounting portion.

[0003] In such a battery device, since a load is applied to the attachment portion of the connector when attaching / detaching to / from the electrical device, it is desirable that the attachment portion of the connector be firmly fixed to the case, and thus the attachment portion of the connector is fixed using a screw. However, in the attachment structure using a screw, there is a concern that the number of work steps during the assembly of the battery device increases and the assembly workability deteriorates.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a battery device that can improve the assembly workability while ensuring the attachment strength of the connector.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The battery device of the embodiment comprises a battery, a case body having an opening for inserting and removing the battery and housing the battery, a first cover and a second cover attached to the opening of the case body, and a connector provided on the second cover facing the connection direction opposite to the direction in which the second cover faces the first cover. The second cover has a first claw portion provided on the extension of the connection direction of the connector and attached to the case body, and a second claw portion provided in a direction intersecting the connection direction and attached to the case body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the battery device of this embodiment, it is expected that assembly workability will be improved while ensuring the mounting strength of the connector. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a battery device showing one embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a disassembled perspective view of the same battery device. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the connector portion of the battery device shown above. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view of the case of the same battery device. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of the second cover of the same battery device. [Figure 6] This is a plan view of the second cover of the battery device shown above. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] One embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0010] The battery device 10 is used, for example, in electrical equipment including emergency lighting devices that operate on battery power during a power outage, such as emergency lights and exit signs, and other devices that operate on battery power.

[0011] The battery device 10 is formed in a roughly U-shape, having an intermediate portion 11 and two end portions, a first end portion 12 and a second end portion 13, which protrude from the intermediate portion 11 in the same direction. The battery device 10 is mounted to an electrical device in the direction in which the protruding end portions 12 and 13 are positioned. It is mounted to the battery mounting portion of the electrical device by moving it in the mounting direction, and removed from the battery mounting portion of the electrical device by moving it in the opposite direction. In the following explanation, the top and bottom relationships will be described with the roughly U-shaped surface of the battery device 10 as the top surface.

[0012] The battery device 10 comprises a plurality of batteries 14 and a case 15 that houses these batteries 14.

[0013] The battery 14 uses a rechargeable secondary battery cell, such as a nickel-metal hydride battery or a lithium-ion battery. The battery 14 is formed in a cylindrical shape, for example, the size of a AA battery, and has electrodes with one end face being a positive electrode 14a and the other end face being a negative electrode 14b.

[0014] Multiple batteries 14 are arranged in parallel in a roughly U-shape to accommodate the case 15, with the positive terminal 14a and negative terminal 14b of adjacent batteries 14 facing opposite directions. The opposite polarities of adjacent batteries 14 are connected in series by electrode plates (not shown). The electrode plates are welded and fixed to the electrodes of the batteries 14 for electrical connection. This constitutes a battery unit in which multiple batteries 14 are connected in series. Note that Figure 2 shows a diagram in which only one battery 14 is exposed outside the case 15 to illustrate the shape of the batteries 14.

[0015] In the series-connected batteries 14, one end of a pair of lead wires (not shown) is welded to the positive terminal 14a of one end of the battery 14 (which is not connected to an electrode plate) and the negative terminal 14b of the other end of the battery 14 (which is not connected to an electrode plate), thereby electrically connecting them. A fuse is incorporated into the wiring path of the lead wires connected to the batteries 14 for protection against overcurrent.

[0016] The case 15 is made of resin having insulation properties and is formed in a substantially U-shaped form having an intermediate portion 11 and end portions 12 and 13 protruding from the intermediate portion 11 in the same direction as described above.

[0017] The case 15 includes a case body 20 on the lower side having a substantially U-shaped form in a top view, and a first cover 21 and a second cover 22 which are upper side covers attached to cover the upper surface of the case body 20. The first cover 21 and the second cover 22 are attached so as to cover the entire upper surface side of the case body 20 in combination.

[0018] The case body 20 has an internal accommodation portion 25 for accommodating a plurality of batteries 14, a bottom surface portion 26 constituting the bottom surface of the accommodation portion 25, an inner side surface portion 27 constituting the inner peripheral surface side of the accommodation portion 25, an outer side surface portion 28 constituting the outer peripheral surface side of the accommodation portion 25, end surface portions 29 and 30 constituting the end surfaces of the end portions 12 and 13 of the accommodation portion 25, and an opening 31 opened on the upper surface side of the accommodation portion 25. A plurality of ribs 32 protrude on the inner surface sides of the inner side surface portion 27 and the outer side surface portion 28 of the accommodation portion 25 so as to be disposed between adjacent batteries 14 accommodated in the accommodation portion 25.

[0019] On the upper side of the case body 20, a first attachment portion 33 to which the first cover 21 is attached and a second attachment portion 34 to which the second cover 22 is attached are provided.

[0020] The first attachment portion 33 is provided in a region excluding the tip side of the second end portion 13 of the case body 20 (the region extending from the intermediate portion 11 to the first end portion 12). The first attachment portion 33 has a plurality of first cover claws 35 protruding upward from the upper ends of the inner side surface portion 27 and the outer side surface portion 28. The first cover claws 35 are dispersedly arranged over the entire first attachment portion 33. The first cover claws 35 are provided at the upper ends of protruding portions 36 so as to protrude outward with respect to the accommodation portion 25. The first cover claws 35 have a locking surface whose lower surface side is substantially parallel to the upper surface of the case body 20, and an inclined surface whose upper surface side descends and inclines from the upper end side of the protruding portion 36 toward the tip side of the first cover claws 35.

[0021] The second attachment portion 34 is provided in a region on the tip side of the second end portion 13. The second attachment portion 34 is provided with an attachment edge portion 37 that protrudes upward from the inner side surface portion 27, the outer side surface portion 28, and the end surface portion 29. A first attachment hole 38 is provided below the attachment edge portion 37 of the end surface portion 29, and a pair of second attachment holes 39 are provided below the attachment edge portion 37 of the inner side surface portion 27 and the outer side surface portion 28. An inclined surface 40 that slopes downward toward each of the attachment holes 38, 39 is provided on the inner surface side of the attachment edge portion 37.

[0022] Also, the first cover 21 is formed in a shape corresponding to the region of the first attachment portion 33, which is a region (the region extending from the intermediate portion 11 to the first end portion 12) excluding the tip side of the second end portion 13 of the case body 20. The first cover 21 has a cover portion 43 on the upper surface and a side surface portion 44 that protrudes downward from the peripheral portion of the cover portion 43.

[0023] A plurality of insertion holes 45 through which each first cover claw portion 35 is inserted are provided in the first cover 21 along the vertical direction, and first cover attachment holes 46 that enable each first cover claw portion 35 to engage are provided outside each of the insertion holes �5.

[0024] On the end surface of the first cover 21 that is combined with the second cover 22, a wiring cover portion 47 on one side in the width direction of the end surface and a holding portion 48 on the other side in the width direction are provided side by side. The wiring cover portion 47 is formed in a frame shape that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the first cover 21, has an opening on the lower surface side, and has an opening on the end surface side that is combined with the second cover 22. An engagement groove portion 49 is formed on the inner peripheral portion on the end surface side of the wiring cover portion 47. The holding portion 48 protrudes from the end surface of the first cover 21 in the mounting direction of the battery device 10 (connection direction A of the connector 53) more than the wiring cover portion 47.

[0025] Furthermore, the second cover 22 has a cover portion 51 formed in a shape corresponding to the area of ​​the second mounting portion 34, which is the area on the tip side of the second end portion 13 of the case body 20. The cover portion 51 is substantially flat and is fitted inside the mounting edge portion 37 of the second mounting portion 34, and is positioned and held between this mounting edge portion 37 and the end face of the first cover portion 21 attached to the case body 20. The cover portion 51 is provided with a wall portion 52 that protrudes upward from the edge facing the end face of the first cover 21.

[0026] Furthermore, the second cover 22 has a connector 53. The connector 53 is provided on one side in the width direction of the wall portion 52. The connector 53 has a connector portion 54 that protrudes from one surface of the wall portion 52 facing the tip side of the second end portion 13, and a connector cover portion 55 that protrudes from the other surface of the wall portion 52 opposite to the one surface.

[0027] The connector portion 54 is positioned above and away from the cover portion 51, and the connection direction (insertion direction) A is the same direction as the mounting direction of the battery device 10. When the battery device 10 is mounted in the battery mounting portion of the electrical equipment, the connector portion 54 is inserted into the corresponding equipment-side connector located in the battery mounting portion and electrically connected.

[0028] The connector portion 54 has a pair of connector holes 56, which penetrate from the tip surface of the connector portion 54 into the connector cover portion 55. A pair of connector terminals (not shown) are arranged within the pair of connector holes 56 of the connector portion 54, accessible from the connector cover portion 55. Within the connector cover portion 55, the other ends of a pair of lead wires connected to the battery 14 are electrically connected to the pair of connector terminals.

[0029] The connector cover portion 55 is opened in the direction opposite to the connection direction A of the connector 53, and is formed by partitioning a pair of wiring spaces 57 that communicate with a pair of connector holes 56. The pair of wiring spaces 57 are where the pair of connector terminals and the other ends of a pair of lead wires from the battery 14 connected to these connector terminals are located.

[0030] The connector 53 has a support portion 58 protruding from it on the extension line in the direction opposite to the connection direction A of the connector 53, which can engage with the first cover 21. The support portion 58 is tongue-shaped and protrudes from the lower side in the thickness direction in the vertical direction of the end face of the upper surface of the connector cover portion 55, and is positioned in the engagement groove portion 49 of the wiring cover portion 47 so as to overlap the lower side of the inside of the upper surface of the wiring cover portion 47, and can engage with the wiring cover portion 47.

[0031] Furthermore, the second cover 22 is located on the connection direction A side of the connector 53 than the support portion 58 and has a contact portion 59 that abuts against the first cover 21. The contact portion 59 is located on the end face of the connector 53 in the direction opposite to the connection direction A, so that the connector 53 (connector cover portion 55) abuts against the holding portion 48 of the first cover 21 when it is not in contact with the first cover 21. The contact portion 59 is provided on the end face of the wall portion 52 of the first cover 21 that faces the holding portion 48.

[0032] Due to these holding portions 48 and contact portions 59, the end face of the connector 53 (connector cover portion 55) in the direction opposite to the connection direction A does not come into contact with the end face of the wiring cover portion 47 of the first cover 21, and a gap 60 is provided. Furthermore, the support portion 58 protruding from the connector 53 (connector cover portion 55) is provided with a protrusion dimension larger than the gap 60 between the end face of the connector 53 (connector cover portion 55) and the end face of the wiring cover portion 47, so that when viewed from above, the gap 60 is closed by the support portion 58.

[0033] Furthermore, the second cover 22 has a first claw portion 61 provided on the extension line of the connection direction A of the connector 53, and second claw portions 62 provided on both sides in a direction intersecting the connection direction A. Preferably, the first claw portion 61 is provided on the extension line from the center of the end face of the connector 53 in the connection direction A, but it is sufficient if at least a portion of it is located in the area of ​​the extension line from the entire end face of the connector 53 in the connection direction A. The second claw portions 62 on both sides are located in a position continuous with or close to the wall portion 52 of the cover portion 51, and are located on both sides of the connector portion 54 of the connector 53. In other words, the connector portion 54 of the connector 53 is located between the second claw portions 62 on both sides.

[0034] The claw portions 61 and 62 are provided at the lower end of the projection portion 63 that protrudes downward from the cover portion 51, so as to protrude outward from the cover portion 51. The upper surface of the claw portions 61 and 62 is a locking surface that is substantially parallel to the upper surface of the case body 20, and the lower surface is formed as an inclined surface that slopes upward from the lower end of the projection portion 63 toward the tip of the claw portions 61 and 62. The first claw portion 61 is attached by engaging with the first mounting hole 38 of the case body 20, and the second claw portion 62 is attached by engaging with the second mounting hole 39 of the case body 20. The projection portion 63 of the first claw portion 61 is formed in a substantially L-shape in horizontal cross-section, ensuring strength against external forces. The projection portion 63 of the second claw portion 62 is formed to be wider than the second claw portion 62, ensuring strength against external forces.

[0035] Furthermore, the first mounting hole 38 of the case body 20, into which the first claw portion 61 engages, is located on the extension of the connection direction A of the connector 53, and the pair of second mounting holes 39 of the case body 20, into which the pair of second claw portions 62 engage, are located on both sides in a direction intersecting the connection direction A.

[0036] When assembling the battery device 10, multiple batteries 14 are first connected and fixed in series with electrode plates, and one end of a pair of lead wires is electrically connected to form a battery unit. Furthermore, the other end of the pair of lead wires is electrically connected to the connector 53 of the second cover 22.

[0037] The unitized battery 14 is inserted into the housing 25 through the opening 31 of the case body 20.

[0038] The second cover 22 is attached to the second mounting portion 34 of the case body 20 while housing the pair of lead wires inside the case body 20. The first claw portion 61 and the second claw portion 62 are aligned so as to fit inside the mounting edge portion 37 of the case body 20, and the second cover 22 is pushed onto the case body 20 from above. As the second cover 22 and the mounting edge portion 37 of the case body 20 elastically deform, the first claw portion 61 and the second claw portion 62 enter inside the mounting edge portion 37 of the case body 20 and engage with the first mounting hole 38 and the second mounting hole 39 to be attached.

[0039] When the second cover 22 is installed, the peripheral portion of the cover 51 is fitted inside the mounting edge 37 of the case body 20, and is positioned and held in place.

[0040] Next, the first cover 21 is attached to the first mounting portion 33 of the case body 20. The first cover claw portion 35 of the case body 20 is fitted into the inside of the side portion 44 of the first cover 21, and the first cover 21 is pushed onto the case body 20 from above. As the first cover 21 and the case body 20 elastically deform, the first cover claw portion 35 enters the inside of the side portion 44 of the first cover 21 and is inserted into the insertion hole 45, and engages with the first cover mounting hole 46 to be attached.

[0041] When the first cover 21 is installed, the side portion 44 fits into the upper edge of the case body 20, the lead wires connected to the connector cover portion 55 of the connector 53 are covered by the wiring cover portion 47, and the wiring cover portion 47 is positioned so as to overlap the support portion 58 that protrudes from the connector cover portion 55. Furthermore, the holding portion 48 of the first cover 21 and the contact portion 59 of the second cover 22 are positioned to face each other or contact each other. In addition, when the first cover 21 and the second cover 22 are attached to the case body 20, multiple batteries 14 are sandwiched and held between the case body 20 and the first cover 21 and the second cover 22.

[0042] Furthermore, when attaching the battery device 10 to the battery mounting section of an electrical device, moving the battery device 10 toward the battery mounting section of the electrical device allows the connector portion 54 of the connector 53 to be inserted into the device-side connector of the battery mounting section from connection direction A, thereby making an electrical connection.

[0043] In this case, the second cover 22 is attached to the case body 20 by a first claw portion 61 provided on the extension of the connection direction A of the connector 53 and second claw portions 62 provided on both sides in a direction intersecting the connection direction A. Therefore, even if the battery device 10 is installed by twisting it in the left-right direction relative to the installation direction, for example, the second cover 22 is firmly fixed to the case body 20, and the state in which the second cover 22 is fixed to the case body 20 is maintained against the stress applied to the connector 53.

[0044] When connector 53 is inserted into the device-side connector, if resistance is encountered in connection direction A or if insertion stops, the connector 53 will move in the opposite direction to connection direction A relative to the case body 20 which moves in the mounting direction. However, before the connector cover portion 55 of connector 53 and the wiring cover portion 47 of the first cover 21 come into contact, the contact portion 59 of the second cover 22 and the holding portion 48 of the first cover 21 come into contact. This stops the movement of the second cover 22 (cover portion 51) and prevents the position of connector 53 from shifting significantly, while allowing the connector 53 to move freely and reducing the load on connector 53.

[0045] Furthermore, since the support portion 58 of the second cover 22 is positioned to overlap the underside of the wiring cover portion 47 of the first cover 21, it is possible to prevent the connector 53 from shifting position even if stress is applied to it.

[0046] On the other hand, when removing the battery device 10 from the battery mounting section of the electrical equipment, the battery device 10 is moved away from the battery mounting section of the electrical equipment in the opposite direction to the mounting direction, causing the connector portion 54 of the connector 53 to move away from the equipment-side connector of the battery mounting section in the opposite direction to the connection direction A.

[0047] In this case, the second cover 22 is attached to the case body 20 by a first claw portion 61 provided on the extension of the connection direction A of the connector 53 and second claw portions 62 provided on both sides in a direction intersecting the connection direction A. Therefore, even if the battery device 10 is removed by, for example, twisting it from side to side in the direction opposite to the mounting direction, the second cover 22 is firmly fixed to the case body 20, and the state in which the second cover 22 is fixed to the case body 20 is maintained against the stress applied to the connector 53.

[0048] Furthermore, although there is resistance to the connector 53, which is plugged into and connected to the device-side connector, moving in the direction opposite to the connection direction A is possible. However, since the first claw portion 61 is provided on the extension of the connection direction A of the connector 53, as the battery device 10 moves in the direction opposite to the mounting direction, the first claw portion 61 that engages with the case body 20 effectively applies force in the direction that the connector 53 moves away from the device-side connector in the direction opposite to the connection direction A, allowing the connector 53 to be removed from the device-side connector.

[0049] As described above, with the battery device 10, the second cover 22, on which the connector 53 is provided, is attached to the case body 20 by a first claw portion 61 provided on the extension of the connection direction A of the connector 53 and second claw portions 62 provided on both sides in a direction intersecting the connection direction A. This ensures attachment strength to the case body 20 without using screws and improves assembly workability.

[0050] Furthermore, the connector 53 has a support portion 58 protruding from the extension line in the direction opposite to the connection direction A of the connector 53, which can engage with the first cover 21. This prevents the connector 53 from shifting position and allows the first cover 21 to absorb stress on the connector 53.

[0051] Furthermore, the second cover 22 is located on the side of the connection direction A of the connector 53, closer to the support portion 58, and has a contact portion 59 that abuts against the first cover 21. This prevents the movement of the second cover 22 from being stopped and prevents the position of the connector 53 from shifting significantly.

[0052] Furthermore, the second cover 22 has a contact portion 59 that allows the connector 53 to contact the first cover 21 when it moves in the direction opposite to the connection direction A of the connector 53, even when it is not in contact with the first cover 21. In other words, the first cover 21 has a holding portion 48 that protrudes from the end face of the first cover 21 more than the wiring cover portion 47, and when it moves in the direction opposite to the connection direction A of the connector 53, the connector 53 contacts the second cover 22 while it is not in contact with the first cover 21. This prevents the movement of the second cover 22 from being stopped and the position of the connector 53 from shifting significantly, while allowing the movement of the connector 53 to have a degree of freedom and reducing the load applied to the connector 53.

[0053] The shape of the battery device 10 is not limited to a roughly U-shape; it may be a roughly I-shape, a roughly L-shape, or any other shape.

[0054] In this embodiment, the positive terminal 14a and negative terminal 14b of adjacent batteries 14 were described as being arranged in opposite directions. However, the invention is not limited to this configuration, and adjacent batteries 14 may be arranged so that they have the same polarity and are in the same orientation.

[0055] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be carried out in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0056] 10 Battery device 14 Batteries 20 Case body 21 Cover 1 22 Second Cover 31 Opening 53 Connectors 58 Support section 59 Contact part 61 1st claw part 62 2nd claw part A Connection direction

Claims

1. Battery and; A case body having an opening for inserting and removing the battery, and housing the battery; A first cover and a second cover attached to the opening of the case body; The second cover has a connector provided on it that is oriented in a connection direction opposite to the direction in which the second cover faces the first cover; Equipped with, The second cover has a first claw portion provided on the extension of the connection direction of the connector and attached to the case body, and a second claw portion provided in a direction intersecting the connection direction and attached to the case body. A battery device characterized by comprising the following features.

2. The connector has a support portion that protrudes on the extension line in the direction opposite to the connection direction of the connector and is capable of engaging with the first cover. The battery device according to claim 1, characterized by its features.

3. The second cover is located on the side of the connector connection direction that is closer to the support portion, and has a contact portion that abuts against the first cover. The battery device according to feature 2.

4. The second cover has a contact portion that allows the connector to contact the first cover in a non-contacting state when the connector moves in the direction opposite to the connection direction. The battery device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the features described above.

Images