Electric power supply device

Abstract

This electric power supply device comprises: a plurality of battery blocks, each of which has a plurality of secondary battery cells; an exterior case that accommodates the plurality of battery blocks in a side-by-side arrangement; and a fixture that secures the plurality of battery blocks to the exterior case. The plurality of battery blocks arranged side by side constitute a battery assembly. The fixture comprises: a first securing portion that is disposed in the middle of the battery assembly so as to straddle adjacent battery blocks among the plurality of battery blocks; and a plurality of second securing portions, each of which has a portion that is secured to the first securing portion and another portion that is secured to the outer case, and presses and holds the plurality of battery blocks toward the outer case side.

Description

power supply

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a power supply device.

[0002] Power supply devices with many secondary battery cells connected in series or parallel are used for stationary power storage applications, such as power supply devices for homes, offices, and factories, backup power supplies for servers, and as drive power supplies for vehicles such as hybrid cars, electric vehicles, construction machinery, electric scooters, and electric carts. Such power supply devices generally consist of multiple battery blocks, each of which has multiple secondary battery cells connected in series or parallel, connected together and housed in an exterior case.

[0003] On the other hand, in light of recent social demands such as reducing environmental impact and realizing a sustainable society, there is a demand for products that consider recycling, reusing, and reducing resources. This demand has led to a demand for power supplies that can be reused for multiple purposes.

[0004] However, conventional power supply devices have not been designed for this type of reuse. For example, when reusing a backup power supply for a server as a power supply for other storage devices, the specifications of the server backup power supply and the storage device power supply are different, so the structure for fixing the battery blocks is different and it is necessary to prepare special parts for fixing each time. In addition, when replacing some of the battery blocks, it is necessary to remove all of the battery blocks, which makes the work less convenient.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-224627

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a power supply device includes a plurality of battery blocks, each having a plurality of secondary battery cells, an exterior case that houses the plurality of battery blocks arranged side by side, and a fastener for fastening the plurality of battery blocks to the exterior case. The plurality of battery blocks arranged side by side constitute a battery assembly. The fastener includes a first fixing portion that is disposed in the middle of the battery assembly so as to straddle adjacent battery blocks among the plurality of battery blocks, and a plurality of second fixing portions that each have a portion fixed to the first fixing portion and another portion fixed to the exterior case, and that press the plurality of battery blocks against the exterior case to hold them.

[0007] In one embodiment of the power supply device, the fixing device that fixes the battery assembly to the outer case is divided into a first fixing portion that straddles the battery blocks and a second fixing portion that presses against the periphery of each battery block to fix it.By providing second fixing portions that correspond to the external shape of the battery blocks, it becomes possible to fix battery blocks of various shapes to a common outer case.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a power supply device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the power supply device of FIG. 1 with the upper case removed. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the power supply device of FIG. 2 with the end panel removed. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the power supply device of FIG. 3 with the first fixing part removed. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the power supply device of FIG. 4 with the front second fixing part and battery block removed. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the power supply device of FIG. 1 as seen obliquely from below. FIG. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the power supply device of FIG. 1 taken along line VII-VII with an enlarged view of a main part. FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the power supply device of FIG. 1 taken along line VIII-VIII with an enlarged view of a main part. FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the power supply device of FIG. 1 taken along line IX-IX. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the power supply device of FIG. 1 taken along line X-X. FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the first fixing part of the power supply device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the first fixing part of FIG. 11 taken obliquely from below. FIG. 13A is a perspective view of the second fixing part of the power supply device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 13B is a perspective view of the second fixing portion of FIG. 13A as viewed from diagonally below. FIG. 13C is a cross-sectional view of the second fixing portion of FIG. 13A. FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing the power supply device of FIG. 1 with the upper case and one end panel removed. FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view showing the power supply device of FIG. 14 with the screws fastening the second fixing portion and the first fixing portion, which secure one battery block, removed from the battery assembly, and the harnesses removed. FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing the power supply device of FIG. 14 with the second fixing portion removed. FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view showing the power supply device of FIG. 16 with one battery block removed. FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of a power supply device according to embodiment 2. FIG. 19A is a perspective view of the second fixing portion of the power supply device of FIG. 18. FIG. 19B is a perspective view of the second fixing portion of FIG. 19A as viewed from diagonally below. FIG. 19C is a cross-sectional view of the second fixing portion of FIG. 19A. FIG. 20 is a further exploded perspective view of the power supply device of FIG. 18. FIG. 21A is a perspective view of the second fixing portion of a power supply device according to modification 1. Fig. 21B is a perspective view of the second fixing portion of Fig. 21A as seen from diagonally below. Fig. 21C is a cross-sectional view of the second fixing portion of Fig. 21A. Fig. 22A is a perspective view of the second fixing portion of a power supply device according to Modification 2. Fig. 22B is a perspective view of the second fixing portion of Fig. 22A as seen from diagonally below.Fig. 22C is a cross-sectional view of the second fixing portion of Fig. 22A. Fig. 23A is a perspective view of the second fixing portion of a power supply device according to Modification 3. Fig. 23B is a perspective view of the second fixing portion of Fig. 23A as viewed obliquely from below. Fig. 23C is a cross-sectional view of the second fixing portion of Fig. 23A.

[0009] The embodiments of the present disclosure may be specified by the following configurations and features.

[0010] In another aspect of the power supply device according to the present disclosure, in the above aspect, each of the second fixing portions is U-shaped in cross section and includes a first surface, a pair of second surfaces bent from both sides of the first surface, and a pair of third surfaces bent from the opposite sides of the pair of second surfaces. The first surfaces are fixed to the first fixing portion, and the third surfaces are fixed to the exterior case with the first surfaces and the pair of second surfaces covering the periphery of each battery block. With this configuration, the second fixing portions can press and fix each battery block to the exterior case while covering the periphery of the battery block. Furthermore, when disassembling the battery block from the exterior case, it is sufficient to disassemble only the corresponding second fixing portion, and a specific battery block can be separated without disassembling the entire battery block, leaving the other second fixing portions intact.

[0011] In addition, in a power supply device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, in any of the above aspects, the exterior case includes a lower case, an upper case that closes the top surface of the lower case, and an end plate that closes at least one of a pair of end surfaces surrounded by the lower case and the upper case, and the first fixing portion is fixed to the upper case, and the plurality of second fixing portions are fixed to the lower case. With the above configuration, when removing a specific battery block from the exterior case, the upper case and the end plate are disassembled, and the second fixing portion of the specific battery block is disassembled, making it easy to remove the specific battery block from the exterior case.

[0012] Furthermore, in a power supply device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, in any of the above aspects, the third surfaces of the plurality of second fixing portions have third surface fixing holes, the exterior case has case fixing holes that fasten the third surface fixing holes of the third surfaces, and the second fixing portions that fasten adjacent battery blocks among the plurality of battery blocks constituting the battery assembly overlap the third surface fixing holes on the opposing sides of the second fixing portions that fasten the battery blocks to the case fixing holes. This configuration makes it possible to overlap the third surfaces and fasten them together using a common case fixing hole, thereby saving labor by sharing the fixing work between adjacent battery blocks. Furthermore, reducing the number of parts can contribute to cost reduction.

[0013] Furthermore, in a power supply device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, in any of the above aspects, the plurality of second fixing portions include protruding portions that protrude in a stepped manner from the first surface, and the protruding portions have third surface fixing holes into which the first fixing portions are screwed. With the above configuration, by adjusting the height of the protruding portions according to the height of the battery block to be pressed, even battery blocks of different heights can be fixed to the first fixing portion with the height difference adjusted by the protruding portions, and different battery blocks can be stored using a common exterior case and first fixing portion.

[0014] Furthermore, in a power supply device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, in any of the above aspects, the power supply device further includes a tray interposed between each of the plurality of battery blocks and the exterior case on the side opposite the side on which the first fixing portion is provided, and the tray has tray fixing holes 52 for fixing to the exterior case at least on both ends in the longitudinal direction. With this configuration, it is possible to fix the battery blocks to the exterior case via the tray without having to provide holes on the battery blocks for fixing to the exterior case.

[0015] Furthermore, in a power supply device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, in any of the above embodiments, the first fixing portion and the plurality of second fixing portions do not have a structure for directly fixing the battery block. This configuration uses a pressing mechanism to fix the battery block to the fixing device without providing a structure for directly fixing the battery block to the fixing device, thereby enabling battery blocks of different shapes to be fixed and providing a convenient configuration for reusing battery blocks. This is particularly effective when reusing or recycling battery blocks. However, this is not limited to power supply devices for reuse or recycling.

[0016] Furthermore, in the power supply device according to another aspect of the present disclosure, in any of the above aspects, the battery block is a recycled battery block.

[0017] An object of one embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a power supply device that allows for easy fixing and disassembly when reusing a battery block. Another object of another embodiment is to provide a novel power supply device, battery block, fixing structure, or method for manufacturing the same. The description of these objects does not preclude the existence of other objects. It is not necessary for one embodiment of the present disclosure to solve all of these objects. Furthermore, other objects may be extracted from the description of the specification, drawings, claims, etc.

[0018] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below are merely examples for embodying the technical concepts of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to the following. Furthermore, this specification does not in any way specify the components set forth in the claims to be those of the embodiments. The dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions, etc. of components described in the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, and are merely illustrative examples, unless otherwise specified. The size and positional relationships of components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity. Furthermore, in the following description, the same names and symbols indicate components that are identical or of the same quality, and detailed descriptions will be omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, the elements constituting the present disclosure may be configured with the same components, such that multiple elements are shared by one component, or conversely, the functions of one component may be shared by multiple components.

[0019] The power supply device of the present disclosure can be used as a backup power source for servers in stationary power storage applications, or as a power supply for home, office, or factory use, or as a driving power source for mobile objects such as electric carts, electric scooters, and assisted bicycles, or as a power source for portable electrical devices such as radios, electric cleaners, and power tools, and further as a driving power source for vehicles such as hybrid cars and electric automobiles, etc. Below, a power supply device used as a power source for power storage will be described as one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] [Embodiment 1] A power supply device 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure is shown in Figures 1 to 10. In these figures, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the power supply device 100 according to Embodiment 1, Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which an upper case 11 has been removed from Figure 1, Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which an end panel has been removed from Figure 2, Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a first fixing portion 30 has been removed from Figure 3, Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which a second fixing portion 40 on the near side and a battery block 20 have been removed from Figure 4, Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the power supply device 100 of Figure 1 viewed obliquely from below, Figure 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view with an enlarged view of a main portion taken along line VII-VII of Figure 1, Figure 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view with an enlarged view of a main portion taken along line VIII-VIII of Figure 1, Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of a main portion taken along line IX-IX of Figure 1, and Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X of Figure 1. The power supply device 100 shown in these figures comprises an outer case 10 and a battery assembly 2 .

[0021] (External Case 10) The external case 10 houses the battery assembly 2. Any shape that has an internal storage space can be used for the external shape of the external case 10. In the example shown in Fig. 1, the external case 10 is formed in the shape of a thin box that extends in one direction and is shorter in height than in width.

[0022] The exterior case 10 is composed of an upper case 11, a lower case 12, and end panels. The end panels close at least one of the pair of end faces surrounded by the lower case 12 and the upper case 11. In the example shown in Figures 2 to 3 and 10, front covers 13 and 14 are used as the end panels. The exterior case 10 is made of a metal member such as aluminum or its alloy, which has excellent strength and heat dissipation properties. It may also be made of a resin member with excellent insulation properties, such as polycarbonate or PC-ABS alloy. The front cover 13 is provided with terminals for external connection, etc. The front cover 13 and rear cover 14 may each have a ventilator opening to introduce cooling air to cool the interior of the exterior case 10.

[0023] The parts that make up the exterior case 10 are not limited to the example shown in the figures, and may be divided into three or fewer parts, or five or more parts. For example, the front cover 13 and the rear cover 14 may be formed integrally with the upper case 11 and the lower case 12. The shape and size of the exterior case 10 are also not limited to the example shown in the figures, and any shape, such as a cube or a vertically elongated rectangular pillar, may be used as appropriate.

[0024] As shown in Figures 2 to 3, 10, etc., an internal space is provided inside the exterior case 10 to house the battery assembly 2. The battery assembly 2 is made up of multiple battery blocks 20. The multiple battery blocks 20 are arranged horizontally in a row. In the example shown in Figures 4 to 6 and 10, the battery assembly 2 is made up of four battery blocks 20. Note that the number and arrangement of the battery blocks are not limited to the example shown, and any arrangement method can be used, such as arranging multiple battery blocks in the longitudinal direction of the battery blocks. Furthermore, other battery blocks may be stacked vertically, perpendicular to the direction in which the battery blocks 20 are arranged horizontally, i.e., in a row.

[0025] Each battery block 20 is composed of multiple rechargeable battery cells 1. The multiple rechargeable battery cells 1 are connected in series or in parallel via lead plates. The number of series connections or parallel connections can be set as desired according to the required specifications. Each battery block 20 includes multiple rechargeable battery cells 1. For example, the battery block 20 includes a battery holder for housing the rechargeable battery cells 1. Each battery holder 21 has multiple storage cylinders for individually housing the rechargeable battery cells 1. For example, each battery holder 21 is divided into two, upper and lower, and the two storage cylinders sandwich the rechargeable battery cells 1 from above and below. Such battery holders 21 can be made of a resin such as polycarbonate, which has excellent insulating properties. Each battery block may also be provided with a circuit board 22 as needed. The circuit board 22 is equipped with a charge / discharge circuit for charging and discharging the rechargeable battery cells 1, a protection circuit that monitors the voltage and temperature of the rechargeable battery cells 1 and cuts off the current in the event of an abnormality, and other components. The circuit board 22 is made of a glass epoxy substrate or the like. A board holder for holding such circuit boards 22 may also be provided.

[0026] (Secondary battery cells 1) Each secondary battery cell 1 can be a secondary battery cell with a cylindrical or rectangular outer shape. In the examples shown in Figures 7 and 8, cylindrical secondary battery cells 1 are used in a staggered arrangement in a vertical orientation. Note that the number and arrangement of the secondary battery cells 1 are not limited to this example, and any number and arrangement can be used as appropriate. For example, cylindrical secondary battery cells may be arranged in a matrix.

[0027] Each secondary battery cell 1 has a positive and negative electrode, which are preferably provided on one end surface of the secondary battery cell 1. The secondary battery cell 1 may be any known secondary battery, such as a lithium-ion secondary battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, or a nickel-cadmium battery.

[0028] (Fixing Device 3) The multiple battery blocks 20 are fixed to the exterior case 10 via the fixing device 3. The fixing device 3 is composed of a first fixing portion 30 and a second fixing portion 40. The first fixing portion 30 is arranged in the middle of the battery assembly 2, in which the multiple battery blocks 20 are arranged side by side, so as to straddle adjacent battery blocks 20. The first fixing portion 30 is a common member for fixing the multiple second fixing portions 40. On the other hand, the second fixing portion 40 is a fixing metal fitting for fixing each battery block 20. Specifically, a portion of the second fixing portion 40 is fixed to the first fixing portion 30, and another portion is fixed to the exterior case 10. Each second fixing portion 40 presses the periphery of each battery block 20 toward the exterior case 10 to hold it in place. With this configuration, as shown in Figure 5, etc., the fixing device 3 that fixes the battery assembly 2 to the outer case 10 is divided into a first fixing portion 30 that straddles the battery blocks 20 and a second fixing portion 40 that presses against the periphery of each battery block 20 to fix it.By preparing second fixing portions 40 that correspond to the external shape of the battery blocks 20, it is possible to fix battery blocks 20 of various shapes to a common outer case 10.

[0029] Generally, battery blocks often have different external shapes depending on the application and model. In such cases, the fasteners for fastening the battery blocks to the exterior case also had to be specially designed according to the shape of the battery blocks. In contrast, in the power supply device 100 according to the first embodiment, the fastener 3 is divided into a first fastening portion 30 and a second fastening portion 40, and only the second fastening portion 40 is designed according to the shape of the battery block 20 to be fastened. This makes it possible to fasten the battery block 20 to the exterior case 10 using the common first fastening portion 30.

[0030] (First fixing portion 30) The first fixing portion 30 is shown in the perspective views of FIGS. 11 and 12. As shown in these figures, the first fixing portion 30 is a plate member extending in one direction and has spaced second fixing holes 33 for fixing the second fixing portion 40. Preferably, the first fixing portion 30 is bent into a downwardly convex shape to improve strength. The first fixing portion 30 is formed concave in cross section, and the second fixing hole 33 is opened in a central recess 31. Meanwhile, a pair of end portions 32 formed on both sides of the recess 31 each have a first fixing portion-side fixing hole 34 for fixing to the upper case 11. Such a first solid bottom portion 30 is made of a material with excellent strength, for example, a metal such as SUS or SGCC, or a resin such as polycarbonate.

[0031] (Second Fixing Portion 40) As shown in Figures 13A to 13C, the second fixing portion 40 has a U-shaped cross section and includes a first surface 41, a pair of second surfaces 42, and a pair of third surfaces 43. The first surface 41 has a first fixing hole 47 for fixing to the first fixing portion 30. The pair of second surfaces 42 are bent from both sides of the first surface 41. The height of the second surface 42, i.e., the height ha of the second fixing portion 40, is designed to be approximately equal to the height of the battery block 20 to which it is fixed. The pair of third surfaces 43 are bent from the sides of the pair of second surfaces 42 opposite the first surfaces 41. Each third surface 43 has a third surface fixing hole 44 for fixing the second fixing portion 40 to the outer case 10. Meanwhile, the bottom case 12 of the outer case 10 has a case fixing hole 15 for fixing to the third surface fixing hole 44. In the example shown in Figure 7, the case fixing hole 15 is a boss hole.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 7 and other figures, the second fixing portion 40 is fixed to the exterior case 10 by screwing the third surface fixing holes 44 of the third surface 43 into the case fixing holes 15, with the first surface 41 and the pair of second surfaces 42 covering the periphery of each battery block 20. At this time, the first surface 41 presses against the top surface of the battery block 20. In other words, the second fixing portion 40 and the battery block 20 are not screwed together, but are fixed by frictional force due to the pressure. In this state, by fixing the first surface 41 to the first fixing portion 30, the second fixing portion 40 is fixed in a fixed position along the longitudinal direction of the battery block 20 without shifting. With this configuration, the second fixing portion 40 can be pressed against the exterior case 10 and fixed while covering the periphery of each battery block 20. Furthermore, when disassembling the battery block 20 from the outer case 10, it is sufficient to disassemble only the corresponding second fixing part 40, and the specific battery block 20 can be separated without disassembling the entire battery assembly 2, leaving the other second fixing parts 40 as they are.

[0033] This configuration facilitates tasks such as replacing and maintaining specific battery blocks 20. For example, if only some battery blocks deteriorate due to prolonged use of the power supply device and need to be replaced, it is possible to remove and insert only the desired battery block for replacement without disassembling all the battery blocks. As an example, Figures 14 to 17 show the procedure for replacing only the front battery block 20A. First, as shown in Figure 14, the upper case 11 and rear cover 14 of the exterior case 10 are removed. Next, as shown in Figure 15, the harnesses for the front battery block 20A are removed, and the second fixing portion 40 and the first fixing portion 30 that secure the front battery block 20A are unscrewed. Next, as shown in Figure 16, the second fixing portion 40 is slid toward the rear cover 14 to remove it. Then, as shown in Figure 17, the battery block 20A is slid toward the rear cover 14 to remove it. Note that depending on the connection state, the second fixing portion 40 and battery block 20A may be simultaneously slid toward the rear cover 14 to remove them.

[0034] In this way, in conventional cases, the fasteners that secure the battery blocks to the exterior case were integrated, and so it was necessary to remove the entire fastener even to disassemble only some of the battery blocks. However, in this embodiment, the fastener 3 is divided into the first fastening part 30 and the second fastening part 40, so that it is possible to separate the desired battery block 20A by disassembling only the specific second fastening part 40 while leaving the first fastening part 30 itself secured to the other battery blocks 20. As a result, workability is greatly improved when performing maintenance or replacing some of the battery blocks.

[0035] Furthermore, the first fixing portion 30 and the second fixing portion 40 that constitute the fixing device 3 do not have a structure that directly fixes the battery block 20. By using the fixing device 3 to press and fix the battery block 20, and by not providing a structure that directly fixes the fixing device 3 to the battery block 20, battery blocks of different shapes can be fixed, making it possible to provide a configuration that is convenient for reusing battery blocks. Furthermore, when disassembling the battery block 20, the labor required to release the fixed state between the battery block 20 and the fixing device 3 can be reduced. Meanwhile, in the examples shown in Figures 7, 8, 9, etc., the first fixing portion 30 is fixed to the upper case 11, and the second fixing portion 40 is fixed to the lower case 12, thereby preventing the fixing device 3 from becoming misaligned.

[0036] In the above example, the front cover 13 side is fixed, the rear cover 14 side is removed, and the second fixing part 40 and the battery block 20 are removed to the rear cover 14 side. However, this configuration is not limited to this, and for example, the front cover 13 side may be removed, and the second fixing part 40 and the battery block 20 may be removed to the front cover 13 side.

[0037] 15, when removing harnesses from a battery block 20, it is preferable to make electrical connections for each battery block 20 on each battery block 20 so that only the wiring of the corresponding battery block 20 can be removed with minimal impact on the wiring of the other battery blocks. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the power lines and bus bars of each battery block 20 are connected independently along the longitudinal direction of the battery block 20. This configuration allows tasks such as removing harnesses and unplugging connectors to be performed on a battery block 20-by-battery block basis, enabling replacement with as little impact on other battery blocks as possible.

[0038] Furthermore, in the above example, one fastener 3 is provided at the middle of the battery block 20 in the longitudinal direction, but multiple fasteners may be provided along the length of the battery block. Long battery blocks, in particular, can be stabilized by fastening them at multiple locations spaced apart from each other. A battery block can also be constructed by connecting multiple sub-blocks longitudinally. In this case, the middle of the sub-blocks in the longitudinal direction need not necessarily be fastened with a fastener. Depending on the length and number of sub-blocks, the ends of the sub-blocks may also be fastened with a fastener. The middle of the battery block, which indicates the position where the battery block is fastened with a fastener, is not necessarily limited to the center of the battery block in the longitudinal direction, but varies depending on the configuration of the battery block and refers to a position where the battery block can be stably fastened depending on the configuration of the battery block.

[0039] The second fixing portion 40 may have ribs 45 at the interface between the first surface 41 and the second surface 42, or at the interface between the second surface 42 and the third surface 43, as needed. Providing the ribs 45 adds a surface that presses against the battery block 20. The ribs 45 also reinforce the interface. They can also limit the installation direction and can be used for positioning, etc. In the example shown in Figures 13A to 13C, etc., the ribs 45 are provided by partially bending part of the second surface 42 at the interface between the first surface 41 and the second surface 42.

[0040] Furthermore, the shape of the rib is not limited to the examples shown in Figures 13A to 13C, etc., and other shapes that can reinforce the second fixing portion can be used as appropriate. Furthermore, the rib is not limited to one location, but may be provided in multiple locations. For example, in the example shown in Figures 13A to 13C, etc., a second rib 48A is also provided on the third surface 43. The second rib 48A not only reinforces the third surface 43, but can also be used to determine the installation direction and position the third surface 43. In this example, the second rib 48A is provided only on the left third surface 43 of the pair of third surfaces 43 in the figure, but this configuration is not limited.

[0041] For example, examples of the second fixing portion of the power supply device according to Modification 1 are shown in Figures 21A to 21C. In these figures, components similar to those in the above-described embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted where appropriate. The second fixing portion 40C shown in these figures has a second rib 48C provided on the third surface 43C on the right side of the figure. Second ribs may also be provided on the third surfaces on both sides.

[0042] As yet another example, an example of a second fixing portion of a power supply device according to Modification 2 is shown in Figures 22A to 22C. In these figures, similar components to those in the above-described embodiment and modification are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted where appropriate. In the second fixing portion 40C shown in these figures, a rib 45D provided at the interface between the first surface 41D and the second surface 42D is bent in the opposite direction to the joining direction of the first surface 41D and the second surface 42D to form a step. This configuration also improves the strength of the interface between the first surface 41D and the second surface 42D.

[0043] Furthermore, when fixing each second fixing portion 40 to the lower case 12, adjacent battery blocks 20 may share a screw hole for screwing. In the example of Fig. 7 etc., the second fixing portions 40 that fix adjacent battery blocks 20 of the multiple battery blocks 20 that make up the battery assembly 2 overlap the third surface fixing holes 44 on the opposing sides and are fixed to the case fixing holes 15. With this configuration, it is possible to overlap the third surfaces 43 and fasten them together using the common case fixing holes 15, and the fixing work between adjacent battery blocks 20 is shared, thereby saving labor.

[0044] The first fixing portion 30 is preferably fixed to the upper case 11. In the examples shown in Figures 6, 11, and 12, the first fixing portion 30 has first fixing portion-side fixing holes 34 for fixing to the upper case 11. The first fixing portion-side fixing holes 34 are opened at a pair of ends 32 formed along the longitudinal direction of the first fixing portion 30. On the other hand, upper case-side fixing holes 16 for fixing to the first fixing portion-side fixing holes 34 are opened at the upper case 11 side. As shown in Figures 6, 8, etc., the first fixing portion-side fixing holes 34 of the first fixing portion 30 are aligned with the upper case-side fixing holes 16 of the upper case 11, and the first fixing portion 30 and the first fixing portion 30 are fixed by screwing.

[0045] [Embodiment 2] As described above, the second fixing portion constituting the fixing device can be configured in different forms depending on the specifications of the battery block. As an example, a fixing device 3B of a power supply device 200 according to Embodiment 2 is shown in FIGS. 18 and 19A-19C. In these figures, FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the power supply device 200 according to Embodiment 2, FIG. 19A is a perspective view of the second fixing portion 40B of FIG. 18, FIG. 19B is a perspective view from diagonally below, and FIG. 19C is a cross-sectional view. In these figures, components similar to those in Embodiment 1 described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions will be omitted as appropriate. In particular, the outer case 10 and the first fixing portion 30 are the same as those in Embodiment 1. However, the battery block 20B in FIG. 18 is slightly lower in height than the battery block 20 of the power supply device 100 according to Embodiment 1 shown in FIG. 3 and other figures. Therefore, the second fixing portion 40B shown in FIGS. 13A-13C and other figures cannot adequately fix the battery block. Therefore, a second fixing portion 40B shown in FIGS. 19A to 19C is used as a dedicated second fixing portion instead of the second fixing portion shown in FIGS. 13A to 13C.

[0046] 19A to 19C also has a first surface 41B, a second surface 42B, and a third surface 43B, and is formed in a U-shape in cross section. The height of the second surface 42B is designed to be approximately equal to the height of the battery block 20B to be fixed, as shown in Fig. 18. This allows the third surface fixing holes 44 in the third surface 43B to be threaded into the case fixing holes 15 in the lower case 12, and the first surface 41B to press and fix the battery block 20B.

[0047] Meanwhile, the second fixing portion 40B includes a stepped protrusion 46 protruding from the first surface 41B. A third surface fixing hole 44 is formed in this protrusion 46 as a screw hole for threading the first fixing portion 30. As shown in FIG. 19C , the height hb from the protrusion 46 to the third surface 43B, i.e., the height of the second fixing portion 40B, is the same as the height ha of the second fixing portion 40 in the power supply device 100 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 13C . This configuration makes it possible to appropriately fix battery blocks 20B of different sizes to the external case 10 while using the external case 10 and first fixing portion 30 of the power supply device 100 according to the first embodiment. That is, by changing the height of the protrusion 46 according to the height of the battery block to be fixed, it is possible to accommodate differences in the height of the battery blocks and fix the battery blocks using a common external case and first fixing portion.

[0048] Needless to say, the shape of the rib in the second fixing portion 40B can also be modified as appropriate. For example, an example of a second fixing portion of a power supply device according to Modification 3 is shown in Figures 23A to 23C. In these figures, similar components to those in the above-described embodiments and modifications are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions are omitted where appropriate. The second fixing portion 40E shown in these figures has a step formed by bending the rib 45E in the opposite direction to the joining direction between the first surface 41E and the second surface 42E, as in Modification 2. This configuration improves the strength of the interface between the first surface 41E and the second surface 42E. Furthermore, the height he of the second fixing portion 40E can be changed by adjusting the height of the step formed by the rib 45. In this case, the height adjustment function of the second fixing portion using a protrusion can also be achieved by the rib 45. For example, the protrusion may be omitted, as shown in Figures 22A to 22C.

[0049] In this way, even battery blocks with different specifications can be accommodated by simply changing the second fixing portion, which is smaller than the fixing device, without preparing dedicated fixing devices for each. This configuration allows battery blocks with different specifications to be used inexpensively by sharing components. This is particularly effective in reusing battery blocks. In recent years, the effective use of reusable components has been emphasized in light of the SDGs, and battery materials are a particularly high-demand area due to limited resources. For example, secondary battery cells that have reached the end of their lifespan after being used for one purpose may be usable for another purpose. For example, in server backup power supplies, most batteries reach the end of their specified service life without being used in actual use. Such power supplies are often still usable for other purposes. To repurpose such usable batteries for other purposes, it is conceivable to replace them with an outer case 10 of a different shape than the original, depending on the shape and other requirements of each application. In this case, while it would normally be necessary to design a dedicated fixture for each one, this embodiment allows the fixture to be divided into multiple components and only one of the components can be replaced, offering the advantage of being able to be converted to a reuse specification at low cost.In addition, as mentioned above, it also makes it easier to replace some of the battery blocks, which is advantageous in terms of improving maintenance workability.

[0050] (Tray 50) In addition to the configuration in which each battery block 20 is fixed to the exterior case 10 with the fasteners 3, a configuration in which each battery block 20 is directly fixed to the exterior case 10 by screwing or the like may be added. For example, each battery block 20 may be fixed to a tray 50, and then fixed to the lower case by screwing or the like using screw holes provided on both ends of the tray 50.

[0051] For example, in the power supply device 200 shown in FIG. 20 , a tray 50 is interposed between each of the multiple battery blocks 20 and the lower case 12. Each tray 50 has tray fixing holes 52 at least at both longitudinal ends for fixing to the outer case 10. This configuration allows the battery blocks 20 to be fixed to the outer case 10 via the tray without having to provide holes for fixing to the outer case 10 on the battery blocks 20 themselves. Furthermore, placing the battery blocks 20 individually on the tray also has the advantage of making the interface between the tray and the outer case 10 flat, making it easier to slide the battery blocks out of the outer case 10. This also allows for a common outer case and allows for greater flexibility in the placement orientation of the battery blocks. When determining the axial rotation direction (i.e., which side of the battery block faces the top and bottom of the outer case), even if the battery blocks have holes for fixing to the outer case, it may not be possible to install them in that orientation depending on the position of the circuit board and harness, etc. Even in such a case, by using the tray, it is possible to fix the tray and the exterior case together regardless of the rotational position or posture of the battery block.

[0052] In the above examples, the power supply device is attached to the electrical device to be driven and supplies power to the electrical device. When the remaining capacity of the power supply device becomes low or when the power supply device deteriorates over time, the power supply device can be replaced to continue using the electrical device. However, the present disclosure is not limited to replaceable power supply devices that mainly house secondary battery cells, but can also be applied to configurations in which secondary battery cells are housed within the housing of the electrical device. In the present disclosure, a power supply device is sufficient as long as it houses secondary battery cells in a case, and also includes power supply devices that incorporate secondary battery cells for driving the electrical device within the housing of the electrical device itself. In other words, the present disclosure is not limited to replaceable power supply devices, but can also be applied to electrical devices that incorporate secondary battery cells.

[0053] The power supply device according to the present disclosure can be suitably used for stationary power storage applications, such as a backup power source for servers, a power supply device for home, business, or factory use, as a power source for driving mobile objects such as electric carts, electric scooters, and assisted bicycles, as a power source for portable electrical equipment such as radios, electric cleaners, and power tools, and as a power source for driving vehicles such as hybrid cars and electric cars.

[0054] 100, 200 Power supply device 1 Secondary battery cell 2 Battery assembly 3, 3B Fixing device 10 Outer case 11 Upper case 12 Lower case 13 Front cover 14 Rear cover 15 Case fixing hole 16 Upper case side fixing hole 20, 20A, 20B Battery block 21 Battery holder 22 Circuit board 30 First fixing portion 31 Recessed portion 32 End 33 Second fixing hole 34 First fixing portion side fixing hole 40, 40B, 40C, 40D, 40E Second fixing portion 41, 41B, 41D, 41E First surface 42, 42B, 42D, 42E Second surface 43, 43B, 43C Third surface 44 Third surface fixing hole 45, 45D Rib 46 Protrusion 47 First fixing hole 48A, 48C: Second rib 50: Tray 52: Tray fixing hole ha, hb: Height of second fixing portion

Claims

1. A power supply device comprising: a plurality of battery blocks, each having a plurality of secondary battery cells; an outer case that houses the plurality of battery blocks arranged side by side; and a fastener for fastening the plurality of battery blocks to the outer case, wherein the plurality of battery blocks arranged side by side form a battery assembly, and the fastener comprises: a first fixing portion that is positioned in the middle of the battery assembly so as to straddle adjacent battery blocks among the plurality of battery blocks; and a plurality of second fixing portions, each having a part fixed to the first fixing portion and another part fixed to the outer case, and pressing and holding the plurality of battery blocks against the outer case.

2. A power supply device as described in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of second fixing parts is formed in a U-shape in cross section having a first surface, a pair of second surfaces bent from both sides of the first surface, and a pair of third surfaces bent from each of the pair of second surfaces on the sides opposite the first surface, and wherein the first surfaces of each of the plurality of second fixing parts are fixed to the first fixing part, and the third surfaces of each of the plurality of second fixing parts are fixed to the exterior case with the first surfaces and the pair of second surfaces of each of the plurality of second fixing parts covering the periphery of each battery block.

3. A power supply device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the exterior case comprises a lower case, an upper case closing an upper surface of the lower case, and an end plate closing at least one of a pair of end surfaces surrounded by the lower case and the upper case, the first fixing portion being fixed to the upper case, and the plurality of second fixing portions being fixed to the lower case.

4. A power supply device as described in claim 2, wherein the third surface of each of the plurality of second fixing parts has a third surface fixing hole opened therein, the outer case has a case fixing hole opened therein for fixing the third surface fixing hole of the third surface, and the third surface fixing holes of the opposing sides of each second fixing part which fixes each battery block between adjacent battery blocks among the plurality of battery blocks constituting the battery assembly are overlapped and fixed to the case fixing hole.

5. A power supply device as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of second fixing parts is provided with a protruding part that protrudes in a stepped shape from said first surface, and said protruding part has a third surface fixing hole into which said first fixing part is screwed.

6. A power supply device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a tray interposed between each of the plurality of battery blocks and the exterior case on the side opposite to the side on which the first fixing portion is provided, the tray having tray fixing holes at least at both ends in the longitudinal direction for fixing the tray to the exterior case.

7. A power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first fixing portion and the plurality of second fixing portions are not structured to directly fix to the plurality of battery blocks.

8. The power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plurality of battery blocks are recycled battery blocks.

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