Seal device

Abstract

This seal device comprises at least two seal members. One end of one of the at least two seal members has a first base and a first shaft part that vertically extends from a seating surface of the first base. One end of the other of the seal members has a first receiving seat that is to be seated on the seating surface of the first base, and a first shaft hole into which the first shaft part is fitted.

Description

Sealing Device

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a sealing device.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a battery pack to be mounted on a vehicle. The battery pack includes a tray that houses battery cells and a cover that covers the tray. A gasket is provided between the sealing surfaces of the tray and the cover to seal the gap.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-27701

[0004] The gasket (sealing device) disclosed in Patent Document 1 is annular and larger than the opening of the tray, which makes manufacturing costs high and parts management difficult.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of at least one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a sealing device that can reduce manufacturing costs and facilitate parts management.

[0006] (1) A sealing device according to at least one embodiment of the present invention is a sealing device having at least two sealing members, one of which has an end including a first base and a first shaft portion extending perpendicularly from the seat surface of the first base, and the other has an end including a first receiving seat seated on the seat surface of the first base and a first shaft hole into which the first shaft portion fits.

[0007] According to the above configuration (1), one seal member can be connected to another seal member by seating the second seat on the first seat and fitting the first shaft portion into the first shaft hole. This makes each seal member (one seal member and another seal member) smaller, reducing costs and facilitating parts management.

[0008] (2) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (1) above, the one other end has a second seat having the same shape as the first seat and a second axial hole having the same shape as the first axial hole, and the other one other end has a second base having the same shape as the first seat and a second axial portion having the same shape as the first axial portion.

[0009] According to the above configuration (2), the other end of one seal member can be connected to the other end of another seal member, thereby enabling at least two seal members (multiple seal members) to be connected in an annular shape, and enabling the multiple seal members to form an annular seal device.

[0010] (3) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (1) above, the one other end has a second base having the same shape as the first base and a second shaft portion having the same shape as the first shaft portion, and the other one other end has a second seat having the same shape as the first seat and a second shaft hole having the same shape as the first shaft hole.

[0011] According to the above configuration (3), one seal member can be alternately connected to another seal member, thereby enabling at least two seal members (multiple seal members) to be connected in an annular shape, and enabling the multiple seal members to form an annular seal device.

[0012] (4) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (1) above, the first base has a first tapered surface on a surface facing the other one of the sealing members, the other one of the sealing members has a first joining surface joined to the first tapered surface, the first receiving seat has a second tapered surface on a surface facing the one of the sealing members, and the one of the sealing members has a second joining surface joined to the second tapered surface.

[0013] According to the above configuration (4), by seating the second seat on the first seat and fitting the first shaft portion into the first shaft hole, the first tapered surface and the first mating surface are mated, and the second tapered surface and the second mating surface are mated. When the seal device is pressed, the first tapered surface and the first mating surface are brought into close contact with each other, and the second tapered surface and the second mating surface are brought into close contact with each other. This seals the gap between the first seat and the first seal member, seals the gap between the seat and the other seal member, and ensures watertightness between the first seal member and the other seal member.

[0014] (5) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (4) above, the first pedestal defines the first tapered surface and has a first stopper surface against which a portion of one surface adjacent to the first joining surface abuts, and the second pedestal defines the second tapered surface and has a second stopper surface against which a portion of one surface adjacent to the second joining surface abuts.

[0015] According to the above configuration (5), a portion of one surface adjacent to the first joining surface abuts against the first stopper surface, and a portion of one surface adjacent to the second joining surface abuts against the second stopper surface, thereby making the watertightness between one sealing member and another sealing member stronger.

[0016] (6) In some embodiments, in any one of the configurations (1) to (5) above, a sealing device is installed between a tray and a cover that covers the tray, and at least one of the at least two sealing members has an attachment portion for attachment to the tray.

[0017] According to the above configuration (6), by attaching the attachment portion to the tray, at least one of the at least two seal members is fixed to the tray, so that the at least two seal members can be positioned.

[0018] At least one embodiment of the present invention allows for cost reduction and simplifies parts management.

[0019] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a tray, a cover, and a sealing member that constitute a battery pack. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a main portion of two sealing members that constitute a sealing device according to embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a main portion of a sealing device that combines the two sealing members shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing two sealing members that constitute a sealing device according to embodiment 2. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a part of a sealing device in which the two sealing members shown in FIG. 4 are alternately connected. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing two sealing members that constitute a sealing device according to embodiment 4. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing one sealing member that constitutes a sealing device according to embodiment 5. FIG. 8 is a plan view schematically showing a sealing member connected to a sealing member in a straight manner. FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically showing a sealing member connected to a sealing member at an angle. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing a sealing device according to embodiment 6. FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically showing a sealing device according to embodiment 7. FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing a sealing device according to embodiment 8. FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically illustrating a sealing device according to a ninth embodiment.

[0020] Hereinafter, several embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, etc. of components described as embodiments or shown in the drawings are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0021] [Embodiment 1] As shown in Figure 1, a sealing device 1A according to embodiment 1 is a sealing device that seals a gap between a sealing surface 110a of a tray 110 and a sealing surface 120a of a cover 120 that covers the tray 110, for example, constituting a battery pack 100 mounted on an electric vehicle. The sealing device 1A is formed by connecting a plurality of sealing members 10, 20... in an annular shape. The plurality of sealing members 10, 20... are all made of an elastomer. For example, the elastomer may be ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), but is not limited thereto.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2 , the thickness t of the multiple seal members 10, 20... is uniform, and one end of one seal member 10 among the multiple seal members 10, 20... has a base 11 and a shaft portion 12 extending perpendicularly from the seat surface 11a of the base 11, and one end of one seal member 20 has a receiving seat 21 seated on the seat surface 11a of the base 11 and a shaft hole 22 into which the shaft portion 12 fits. The base 11 is cylindrical, and its thickness is half (t / 2) of the thickness t of the seal member 10. The shaft portion 12 is provided at the center of the seat surface 11a of the base 11. The shaft portion 12 is cylindrical, smaller than the base 11, and its height is half (t / 2) of the thickness t of the seal member 10. The receiving seat 21 is cylindrical and has the same size as the base 11, and its thickness is half (t / 2) of the thickness t of the seal member 20. The shaft hole 22 has a circular cross section and passes through the center of the receiving seat 21.

[0023] In addition, one end of the seal member 10 is provided with a cylindrical surface 10a that is joined to the outer peripheral surface 21b of the receiving seat 21, and one end of the seal member 20 is provided with a cylindrical surface 20a that is joined to the outer peripheral surface 11b of the base 11.

[0024] As shown in Figure 3, the shaft portion 12 provided at one end of the seal member 10 fits into the shaft hole 22 provided at one end of the seal member 20, and the receiving seat 21 seats on the seat surface 11a of the base 11, thereby connecting the seal member 10 to the seal member 20.

[0025] According to the sealing device 1A of the first embodiment, the sealing member 10 and the sealing member 20 can be connected by seating the receiving seat 21 on the base 11 and fitting the shaft portion 12 into the shaft hole 22. This makes each of the sealing members 10 and 20 smaller, reducing costs and facilitating parts management.

[0026] Furthermore, when the tray 110 is covered with the cover 120, the sealing device 1A (sealing members 10, 20) is pressed, and the base 11 and the receiving seat 21 come into close contact with each other. This seals the gap between the base 11 and the receiving seat 21. Furthermore, when the sealing members 10, 20 are pressed, the outer peripheral surface 11b of the base 11 comes into close contact with the cylindrical surface 20a of the sealing member 20, and the outer peripheral surface 21b of the receiving seat 21 comes into close contact with the cylindrical surface 10a of the sealing member 10. This seals the gap between the base 11 and the sealing member 20, and also seals the gap between the receiving seat 21 and the sealing member 10.

[0027] 4, one end of one seal member 10 and one end of another seal member 20 of a seal device 1B according to embodiment 2 are the same as one end of the seal member 10 and one end of the seal member 20 of the seal device 1A according to embodiment 1. In the seal device 1B according to embodiment 2, the other end of the seal member 10 has a receiving seat 13 having the same shape and size as the receiving seat 21 and a shaft hole 14 having the same shape and size as the shaft hole 22, and the other end of the seal member 20 has a base 23 having the same shape and size as the base 11 and a shaft portion 24 having the same shape and size as the shaft portion 12.

[0028] In addition, the other end of the sealing member 10 is provided with a cylindrical surface 10b of the same size and shape as the cylindrical surface 20a, and the other end of the sealing member 20 is provided with a cylindrical surface 20b of the same size and shape as the cylindrical surface 10a.

[0029] As shown in Figure 5, the axial hole 14 provided at the other end of the seal member 10 fits into the axial portion 24 provided at the other end of the seal member 20, and the receiving seat 13 sits on the seat surface 23a of the base 23, thereby connecting the seal member 10 to the seal member 20.

[0030] According to the sealing device 1B of the second embodiment, the sealing members 10 and 20 can be alternately connected. This allows the plurality of sealing members 10, 20... to be connected in an annular shape, and the plurality of sealing members 10, 20... can be used as an annular sealing device.

[0031] 6 , one end of one seal member 10 and one end of another seal member 20 of a seal device 1C according to embodiment 3 are the same as one end of the seal member 10 and one end of the seal member 20 of the seal device 1A according to embodiment 1. In the seal device 1C according to embodiment 3, the other end of the seal member 10 has a base 15 having the same shape and size as the base 11 and a shaft portion 16 having the same shape and size as the shaft portion 12, and the other end of the seal member 20 has a receiving seat 25 having the same shape and size as the receiving seat 21 and a shaft hole 26 having the same shape and size as the shaft hole 22.

[0032] In addition, the other end of the sealing member 10 is provided with a cylindrical surface 10c of the same size and shape as the cylindrical surface 10a, and the other end of the sealing member 20 is provided with a cylindrical surface 20c of the same size and shape as the cylindrical surface 20a.

[0033] As shown in Figure 7, the shaft portion 16 provided at the other end of the seal member 10 fits into the shaft hole 26 provided at the other end of the seal member 20, and the receiving seat 25 sits on the seat surface 15a of the base 15, thereby connecting the seal member 10 to the seal member 20.

[0034] According to the sealing device 1C of the third embodiment, the sealing members 10 and 20 can be alternately connected. This allows a plurality of sealing members 10, 20, etc. to be connected in an annular shape, and the plurality of sealing members 10, 20, etc. can be used as an annular sealing device.

[0035] [Embodiment 4] In a sealing device 1D according to embodiment 4, the same components as those in the sealing device 1A according to embodiment 1 are designated by the same reference numerals and will not be described again. As shown in Fig. 8, in the sealing device 1D according to embodiment 4, the base 11 of the sealing member 10 has a tapered surface 11b1 facing the sealing member 20, and the sealing member 20 has a mating surface 20a1 that is mated to the tapered surface 11b1. The tapered surface 11b1 is a conical surface that gradually expands from the seat surface 11a toward the underside of the base, and the mating surface 20a1 is a mortar-shaped surface that contacts the tapered surface. Furthermore, the receiving seat 21 of the sealing member 20 has a tapered surface 21b1 facing the sealing member 10, and the sealing member 10 has a mating surface 10a1 that is mated to the tapered surface 21b1. The tapered surface 21b1 is a conical surface that gradually widens from the lower surface of the seat 21 toward the upper surface of the seat, and the joining surface 10a1 is a mortar-shaped surface that comes into contact with the tapered surface.

[0036] According to the seal device 1D of the fourth embodiment, by seating the receiving seat 21 on the seat surface 11a of the base 11 and fitting the shaft portion 12 into the shaft hole 22, the tapered surface 11b1 and the mating surface 20a1 are joined together, and the tapered surface 21b1 and the mating surface 10a1 are joined together. When the seal device 1D is pressed, the tapered surface 11b1 and the mating surface 20a1 come into close contact with each other, and the tapered surface 21b1 and the mating surface 10a1 come into close contact with each other. This seals the gap between the base 11 and the seal member 20, seals the gap between the receiving seat 21 and the seal member 10, and ensures watertightness between the seal member 10 and the seal member 20.

[0037] [Embodiment 5] In a sealing device 1E according to embodiment 5, the same components as those in the sealing device 1D according to embodiment 4 are designated by the same reference numerals and will not be described again. As shown in FIG. 9, in the sealing device 1E according to embodiment 5, the base 11 has a pair of boundary surfaces 11b2 and 11b3 that define a tapered surface 11b1. At least one of the pair of boundary surfaces 11b2 and 11b3 serves as a stopper surface against which a portion of one of the surfaces 20d (20e) adjacent to the joining surface 20a1 abuts. Also, as shown in FIG. 8, the receiving seat 21 has a pair of boundary surfaces 21b2 (the other of which is omitted) that define the tapered surface 21b1. At least one of the pair of boundary surfaces 21b2 (the other of which is omitted) serves as an abutment surface against which a portion of one of the surfaces 10d (the other of which is omitted) adjacent to the joining surface 10a1 abuts.

[0038] 10, both of the pair of boundary surfaces 11b2 and 11b3 that define the tapered surface 11b1 serve as stopper surfaces, and a pair of surfaces 20d and 20e that are adjacent to the joining surface 201a1 of the seal member 20 abut against the stopper surfaces 11b2 and 11b3, respectively. Also, both of the pair of boundary surfaces 11b2 and 11b3 that define the tapered surface 21b1 serve as stopper surfaces, and a pair of surfaces 10d and 10e that are adjacent to the joining surface 10a1 of the seal member 10 abut against the stopper surfaces 11b2 and 11b3, respectively.

[0039] 11 , of a pair of boundary surfaces 11b2 and 11b3 that define tapered surface 11b1, one boundary surface 11b2 serves as a stopper surface, and one surface 20d that is adjacent to joining surface 20a1 of seal member 20 abuts against stopper surface 11b2. Also, of a pair of boundary surfaces 21b2 and 21b3 that define tapered surface 21b1, one boundary surface 21b2 serves as a stopper surface, and one surface 10d that is adjacent to joining surface 10a1 of seal member 10 abuts against stopper surface 21b2.

[0040] According to the sealing device 1E of embodiment 5, a portion of one of the surfaces 20d (20e) adjacent to the joining surface 20a1 abuts against the stopper surface 11b2 (11b3), and a portion of one of the surfaces 10d (10e) adjacent to the joining surface 10a1 abuts against the stopper surface 21b2 (21b3), thereby making the watertightness between the sealing member 10 and the sealing member 20 stronger.

[0041] 12 , a sealing device 1F according to a sixth embodiment is constructed by alternately connecting sealing members 10 and sealing members 20 having the same length (La) as the length of the sealing member 10. If the sealing members 10 and 20 of the sealing device 1F according to the sixth embodiment are the same as the sealing members 10 and 20 of the sealing device 1B according to the second embodiment, the sealing members 10 and 20 have the same length, and therefore have the same shape and size. As a result, the sealing device 1F according to the sixth embodiment is constructed by sequentially connecting the sealing members 10.

[0042] According to the sealing device 1F of embodiment 6, if the sealing members 10, 20 are the same as the sealing members 10, 20 of the sealing device 1F of embodiment 2, it is only necessary to manufacture the sealing member 10, which reduces manufacturing costs and makes parts management easier.

[0043] 13 , a sealing device 1G according to a seventh embodiment is configured by connecting a sealing member 10, a sealing member 20 having the same length (La) as the length (La) of the sealing member 10, and a sealing member 30 having a different length (Lb) than the sealing member 10. If the sealing members 10 and 20 of the sealing device 1G according to the seventh embodiment are the same as the sealing members 10 and 20 of the sealing device 1B according to the second embodiment, the sealing members 10 and 20 have the same length, and therefore have the same shape and size. This allows the sealing member 20 to be used as the sealing member 10.

[0044] In the sealing device of embodiment 7, when the sealing members 10 and 20 are the same as the sealing members 10 and 20 of the sealing device 1F of embodiment 2, the sealing device 1G is constructed by sequentially connecting the sealing member 10 and the sealing member 30.

[0045] According to the sealing device of embodiment 7, if the sealing members 10 and 20 are the same as the sealing members 10 and 20 of the sealing device 1F of embodiment 2, it is only necessary to manufacture the sealing members 10 and 30, which reduces manufacturing costs and makes parts management easier.

[0046] 14, a sealing device 1H according to an eighth embodiment is composed of a pair of straight-extending sealing members 10, 10 and a pair of bent sealing members 20, 20. The pair of straight-extending sealing members 10, 10 have the same length, shape, and size, and the pair of bent sealing members 20, 20 have the same length and shape. Therefore, it is only necessary to manufacture two types of sealing members, the straight-extending sealing member 10 and the bent sealing member 20, which enables reduction in manufacturing costs compared to manufacturing an annular sealing device and also simplifies parts management.

[0047] 15 , a sealing device 1K according to a ninth embodiment is a sealing device installed between a tray 110 and a cover 120 that covers the tray 110, and at least one of the sealing members 10, 20 has an attachment portion 40 for attaching to the tray 110. The attachment portion 40 is configured, for example, by a recess 41 that fits onto a protrusion 111 provided on the inside of the sealing surface of the tray 110, but is not limited to this.

[0048] According to the sealing device 1K of the above-mentioned embodiment 9, by attaching the mounting portion 40 to the tray 110, at least one of the sealing members 10, 20 is fixed to the tray 110, so that the two sealing members 10, 20 can be positioned.

[0049] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes modifications to the above-described embodiments and appropriate combinations of these modifications.

[0050] The electric vehicle on which the battery pack 100 comprising the tray 110 according to the above-described embodiment is mounted is a battery electric vehicle (BEV) powered by a motor, or a hybrid vehicle (HV) or fuel cell vehicle (FCV) powered by an engine and a motor. A hybrid vehicle is, for example, a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV, PHV) that can be charged from an external power source or can externally supply power to an external device, but is not limited to a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The battery pack 100 may be mounted inside the vehicle cabin or outside the vehicle cabin (for example, under the floor).

[0051] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 seal device 10 seal member 10a, 10b, 10c cylindrical surface 10a1 joining surface 10d, 10e surface adjacent to joining surface 11 base 11a seat surface 11b outer circumferential surface 11b1 tapered surface 11b2, 11b3 boundary surface (stopper surface) 12 shaft portion 13 seat 14 shaft hole 15 base 16 shaft portion 20 seal member 20a, 20b, 20c cylindrical surface 20a1 joining surface 20d, 20e surface adjacent to joining surface 21 seat 21b outer circumferential surface 21b1 tapered surface 21b2, 21b3 boundary surface (stopper surface) 22 shaft hole 23 base 24 shaft portion 25 seat 26 shaft hole 27 Tapered surface 30 Sealing member 40 Mounting portion 100 Battery pack 110 Tray 110a Sealing surface 111 Protrusion 120 Cover 120a Sealing surface

Claims

1. A sealing device comprising at least two sealing members, one end of the at least two seal members has a first base and a first shaft portion extending perpendicularly from a seating surface of the first base, and the other end has a first receiving seat seated on the seating surface of the first base and a first shaft hole into which the first shaft portion fits; the first base has a first tapered surface on a surface facing the other one of the seal members; the other seal member has a first joining surface that is joined to the first tapered surface, the first seat has a second tapered surface on a surface facing the one seal member, the one seal member has a second joining surface that is joined to the second tapered surface; Sealing device.

2. the other end of the one has a second seat having the same shape as the first seat and a second shaft hole having the same shape as the first shaft hole, The sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein the other end of the other one of the seal members has a second seat having the same shape as the first seat, and a second shaft portion having the same shape as the first shaft portion.

3. the other end of the one has a second base having the same shape as the first base and a second shaft portion having the same shape as the first shaft portion, The sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein the other end of the other one of the seal members has a second seat having the same shape as the first seat, and a second axial hole having the same shape as the first axial hole.

4. (delete)

5. the first base has a first stopper surface that defines the first tapered surface and that a part of one surface adjacent to the first joining surface abuts against the first stopper surface; The sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein the first seat defines the second tapered surface and has a second stop surface that abuts a portion of one surface adjacent to the second mating surface.

6. A sealing device installed between a tray and a cover that covers the tray, The sealing device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least two sealing members has an attachment portion for attachment to the tray.