Power supply device

Abstract

The present invention improves the fixing strength of a core pack by preventing spread of fire caused by the stagnation of discharged matter at the time of abnormality. This power supply device comprises: an exterior case 20; a core pack 3 housed in the exterior case 20 and having one or more battery cells 1 arranged at fixed positions in a battery holder 4; and a metal heat sink 10 arranged on a first surface 3a of the core pack 3. The heat sink 10 is provided with, along a discharge end surface 1a of the battery cell 1, a discharge port 14 for discharging a matter that has been discharged from the discharge end surface 1a, and has a fixing part 15 fixed to the exterior case 20.

Description

Power supply device

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

[0002] Power supply devices including a heat sink for dissipating thermal energy from battery cells (battery blocks) that generate heat during charge and discharge have been developed (for example, Patent Document 1). Particularly in view of the recent demand for higher output, power supply devices tend to have an increased number of battery cells used and a larger capacity. In order to maintain battery characteristics and service life, it is becoming increasingly important to dissipate thermal energy from heat-generating battery cells and maintain an appropriate temperature range. A heat sink with a large area can be arranged close to battery cells to achieve efficient heat dissipation. However, if the heat sink blocks the discharge path for discharge such as high-temperature gas ejected from a discharge valve during an abnormality, the discharged matter will stay inside the heat sink, causing spreading fire to other battery cells, which expands and worsens thermal damage. In addition, resin battery holders do not have sufficient fixing strength for the core pack. When fixing the weight of a plurality of battery cells plus a metal heat sink to an outer case with a battery holder, the amount of resin of the battery holder needs to be increased, a complicated fixing structure and shape are required, the number of parts such as fastening screws for fixing increases, which further leads to an increase in weight, and causes problems such as increased material and manufacturing costs including molds.

[0003] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-190604

[0004] One object of the present disclosure is to provide a power supply device that can prevent spreading fire caused by retention of discharged matter in a core pack during an abnormality. Another object is to provide a power supply device that can improve the fixing strength of a core pack and suppress an increase in the number of parts and weight for fixing the core pack. It should be noted that the recitation of these objects and problems of the present disclosure does not preclude the existence of other objects and problems. In addition, one aspect of the present disclosure does not need to solve all of these problems. Furthermore, other problems can be extracted from the description of the specification, drawings, and claims of the present disclosure.

[0005] A power supply device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises an outer casing, a core pack housed within the outer casing and having one or more battery cells held by a battery holder, and a metal heat sink arranged on the first surface of the core pack, wherein the heat sink has an outlet for discharging waste from the discharge end face along the discharge end face of the battery cell and has a fixing portion fixed to the outer casing.

[0006] The above configuration has the advantage of preventing the spread of fire due to the accumulation of discharged materials in the event of an abnormality. Furthermore, the above configuration has the advantage of improving the fixing strength of the core pack and suppressing the increase in the number of parts and weight used to fix the core pack.

[0007] This is a schematic exploded perspective view showing a power supply device according to Embodiment 1. This is a schematic perspective view showing the core pack in a fixed state as shown in Figure 1. This is a schematic exploded perspective view of the core pack as shown in Figure 2. This is a schematic front view showing the core pack and heat sink. This is a schematic front view of the core pack. This is a schematic perspective view of the core pack. This is a schematic perspective view showing the core pack with the battery holder removed. This is a schematic perspective view showing a heat sink according to one embodiment. This is a schematic perspective view showing a heat sink according to another embodiment. This is a schematic exploded perspective view showing the fixing part in a bolted state as shown in another embodiment. This is an enlarged perspective view of a key part showing an example of the fixing state of the fixing part. This is a schematic perspective view showing a heat sink according to a comparative example. This is a partially exploded perspective view showing a power supply device according to a conventional example.

[0008] The form of this disclosure may be limited by the following configurations and features.

[0009] A power supply device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises an outer casing, a core pack housed within the outer casing and having one or more battery cells held by a battery holder, and a metal heat sink disposed on the first surface of the core pack, wherein the heat sink has an outlet for discharging waste from the discharge end face along the discharge end face of the battery cell and has a fixing portion fixed to the outer casing.

[0010] The above configuration has the advantage of preventing the spread of fire due to the accumulation of waste materials within the heat sink during malfunctions. This is because the heat sink has an outlet for discharging waste materials from its discharge end face, which is provided along the discharge end face of the battery cell, and the outlet allows for smooth discharge of waste materials from the discharge valve during malfunctions. Furthermore, the above configuration has the advantage of improving the fixing strength of the core pack and suppressing and reducing the increase in the number of parts and weight used to fix the core pack. This is because the metal heat sink has a fixing part that is fixed to the outer case, and the core pack can be fixed to the outer case via the metal heat sink, and can be fixed and fastened with metal components. The above configuration has the advantage that the strong metal heat sink is positioned to cover the first surface of the core pack and fixed to the outer case, reinforcing the first surface of the core pack and firmly fixing the core pack to the outer case, thereby increasing the strength of the core pack as well as the strength and rigidity of the power supply unit. Furthermore, the heatsink can be constructed from a single metal component (a single metal plate), resulting in higher strength and rigidity than a configuration using two connected components (two plates). The fixing part secures the heatsink to the outer casing, allowing the heatsink's strength to be utilized to enhance the core pack's robustness and the power supply's strength and rigidity. The heatsink has the advantage of being easy to open and provide an outlet while maintaining the strength of the single metal component, resulting in a simplified structure and lower costs. It also has the advantage of being lightweight because it does not require a connecting component between the two components, reducing the number of parts and manufacturing processes, thus lowering costs.

[0011] The conventional power supply unit 900 shown in Figure 14 has a problem in that the heat sink 910 blocks the exhaust path for waste materials, causing high-temperature waste materials to accumulate inside the heat sink and exacerbating thermal damage. In contrast, the above configuration has the advantage that the heat sink has an exhaust port and can smoothly discharge waste materials without blocking the exhaust path. This allows for both smooth discharge of waste materials and improved cooling performance of the heat sink. Furthermore, the power supply unit 900 in Figure 14 has a problem in that the resin battery holder 904 is fixed to the outer casing, making it difficult to ensure sufficient fixing strength. This is because the power supply unit 900 has a core pack containing multiple battery cells, and the weight of the metal heat sink 910 is added to the weight of the core pack, which is then fixed to the battery holder 904, and the battery holder 904 is then fixed to the outer casing. The power supply unit 900 has increased resin content in the battery holder 904 to fix the resin battery holder 904 to the outer casing, and also has fixing parts 915A and 915B on both sides of the lower part of the core pack 910, and fixing parts 915C and 915D at the top and bottom of the central part. In this way, a complex fixing structure and shape are required to increase the fixing strength, the number of fastening screws and other parts for fixing increases, further increasing the weight, increasing material and manufacturing costs including molds, and also resulting in the problem of increased size. In contrast, the above configuration fixes the core pack to the outer casing with a metal heat sink (fixing part). Therefore, the core pack can be firmly fixed with a simpler structure than that shown in Figure 14, and the strength and rigidity of the power supply unit can be increased. The above configuration eliminates the need to fix the core pack to the battery holder and provide fastening parts as shown in Figure 14. This eliminates the need for increased resin volume in the battery holder, complex fixing structures and shapes, and fastening screws. Compared to configurations that use a battery holder for fixing, it suppresses and reduces the increase in the number of parts and weight. Furthermore, by eliminating the need for fastening parts in the battery holder, undercuts are reduced, mold costs are lowered, costs are reduced, and the device can be made smaller.

[0012] In addition to the above embodiments, a power supply device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure has a core pack having first and second battery blocks, each having a battery cell and with the discharge end faces of the battery cells facing each other, and a discharge gap provided between the first and second battery blocks, with the discharge gap communicating with a discharge port. The above configuration has the advantage of preventing the spread of fire due to the accumulation of discharged material in the heat sink in the event of a malfunction. This is because the core pack has first and second battery blocks with the discharge end faces of the battery cells facing each other, and a discharge gap communicating with a discharge port is provided between the first and second battery blocks, allowing discharged material from the discharge valve to be smoothly discharged in the event of a malfunction. Furthermore, the above configuration has the advantage that by having first and second battery blocks with the discharge end faces of the battery cells facing each other, the mass of multiple battery cells can be evenly divided and arranged, and a strong metal heat sink can be firmly fixed to the outer case, improving the strength and rigidity of the power supply device along with the strength of the core pack.

[0013] In addition to the above embodiments, power supply devices according to other embodiments of this disclosure can have a discharge port width (w1) that is greater than or equal to the discharge gap width (w2). The above configuration has the advantage of preventing fire spread due to the accumulation of discharged material inside the heat sink in the event of an abnormality. This is because the discharged material from the discharge valve can be smoothly discharged and guided from the relatively narrow discharge gap to the wide discharge port, and is pushed out by the continuously discharged material, allowing the discharged material from the discharge valve to be smoothly discharged in the event of an abnormality at the discharge port.

[0014] In addition to the above embodiments, power supply devices according to other embodiments of this disclosure have a heat sink with an outlet in the center, a first plate and a second plate arranged on both sides of the outlet, and a connecting portion connecting the first plate and the second plate. The above configuration has the advantage of preventing fire spread due to the accumulation of discharged material inside the heat sink in the event of an abnormality. This is because the heat sink has an outlet in the center, and the outlet can smoothly discharge the discharged material regardless of whether the discharge is from the discharge valve of the battery cell of the first or second battery block. Furthermore, the above configuration has the advantage of improving the robustness of the core pack and the strength and rigidity of the power supply device, and reducing costs. The heat sink has a first plate, a second plate, and a connecting portion between the first and second plates. This allows the heat sink to be constructed from a single metal component (a single metal plate), resulting in higher strength and rigidity than a configuration where two components are connected. It also eliminates the need for a connecting component between the two components, reducing weight, lowering the number of parts and manufacturing processes, and allowing for easy opening and provision of an outlet while maintaining the strength of the single metal component.

[0015] In addition to the above embodiments, power supply devices according to other embodiments of this disclosure may have connecting parts positioned above and below the discharge port. This configuration has the advantage that the connecting parts do not obstruct the discharge of waste from the discharge port, preventing waste accumulation and fire spread within the heat sink. Furthermore, this configuration has the advantage of improving the fixing strength of the core pack and suppressing an increase in the number of parts and weight used to fix the core pack. This is because, by having connecting parts positioned above and below the discharge port, the heat sink can be constructed from a single metal member (a single metal plate), maintaining the strength and rigidity of the heat sink itself, allowing for easy opening to provide a discharge port, improving the robust strength of the core pack and the strength and rigidity of the power supply device, and resulting in lower costs and lighter weight.

[0016] In addition to the above embodiments, other embodiments of the power supply device described herein allow the width of the connecting section (w3) to be greater than or equal to the width of the discharge port. The above configuration has the advantage of preventing the spread of fire due to the accumulation of waste materials inside the heat sink in the event of an abnormality. This is because the discharge port can be wide enough to smoothly discharge waste materials, and the connecting section does not obstruct the discharge of waste materials from the discharge port. Furthermore, the above configuration has the advantage of improving the fixing strength of the core pack and suppressing an increase in the number of parts and weight used to fix the core pack. This is because by making the width of the connecting section greater than or equal to the width of the discharge port, the heat sink can be constructed from a single metal member (a single metal plate), the strength and rigidity of the heat sink (the single metal member) itself can be maintained, an opening can be easily made to provide a discharge port, the robust strength of the core pack and the strength and rigidity of the power supply device can be increased, and costs and weight can be reduced. Note that the width of the connecting section (w3) is the width relative to the length of the connecting section that extends (length in the horizontal direction), i.e., the length relative to the width of the connecting section (w3), and in Figure 8, it shows the height width in the vertical direction.

[0017] In addition to the above embodiments, power supply devices according to other embodiments of this disclosure can have an elongated shape for the discharge port, having both a longitudinal and a transverse direction. The above configuration has the advantage of preventing the spread of fire due to the accumulation of discharged material inside the heat sink in the event of an abnormality. This is because, by making the discharge port elongated, regardless of which discharge end face of the multiple battery cells arranged in the array discharges material, it can be discharged from the discharge port that extends in the longitudinal direction, and a width that allows for smooth discharge of material can be secured in the transverse direction of the discharge port. Furthermore, the above configuration has the advantage of improving the fixing strength of the core pack and suppressing an increase in the number of parts and weight used to fix the core pack. This is because, by shortening the length of the connecting part (the transverse length in Figure 8) to the transverse length of the discharge port, the strength and rigidity of the heat sink itself made of metal can be maintained, an opening can be easily made to provide a discharge port, the strength of the core pack and the strength and rigidity of the power supply device can be increased, and costs and weight can be reduced.

[0018] In addition to the above embodiments, power supply devices according to other embodiments of this disclosure may have a mounting portion that protrudes vertically from the heat sink, and a bolt insertion portion for inserting a bolt into the mounting portion. The above configuration has the advantage that the mounting portion can reinforce the heat sink 1 as a rim, and the bolt insertion portion has a screw hole (female screw portion), a through hole, etc., and the core pack can be firmly fixed by fastening it with a bolt. Furthermore, by fixing the core pack with the mounting portion of the heat sink, it is possible to suppress the increase in the number of parts to be fixed and the weight.

[0019] In addition to the above embodiments, a power supply device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure has a heat sink comprising a first plate and a second plate arranged on both sides of the exhaust port, and the protrusions are projections that protrude outward from the outer surface of the heat sink, and can be provided on the first plate and the second plate, respectively. This configuration allows the heat sink to be positioned close to the internal battery holder and battery cells, the inner surface of the heat sink to be shaped according to the battery holder and battery cells, heat dissipation can be improved, and space can be saved and the device can be made smaller. Furthermore, this configuration has the advantage that the strength and rigidity of the heat sink and the power supply device can be increased by reinforcing them with the protrusions.

[0020] In addition to the above embodiments, power supply devices according to other embodiments of this disclosure may have a pair of protrusions arranged in a parallel position as the fixing portion. The above configuration has the advantage that the pair of parallel protrusions can reinforce the rim of the first plate and the second plate, thereby improving the strength and fixing strength of the heat sink.

[0021] In addition to the above embodiments, power supply devices according to other embodiments of this disclosure may have a protrusion that extends in a second direction from the top to the bottom of the heat sink. This configuration allows the protrusion extending in the second direction from the top to the bottom to improve the strength of the metal heat sink covering the first surface in the second direction. By making the second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the protrusion can connect the top to the bottom of the heat sink in a straight line over the shortest distance, effectively improving the strength in the vertical direction and improving the strength and fixing strength of the heat sink. The top of the heat sink is above the midpoint between the top and bottom ends and includes the top end, while the bottom is below the midpoint and includes the bottom end. The second direction is a direction that intersects the first direction and includes a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The first direction is the arrangement direction of the battery cells.

[0022] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments shown below are illustrative examples for embodying the technical concept of this disclosure, and this disclosure is not limited to the following. Furthermore, this specification does not limit the components shown in the claims to the components of the embodiments. In particular, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, etc. of the components described in the embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure to those components alone, unless otherwise specifically stated, but are merely illustrative examples. Note that the size and positional relationships of the components shown in each drawing may be exaggerated for clarity of explanation. For example, the battery cell in the schematic diagram is for illustrative purposes only, and the thickness of the double-sided adhesive tape and base material are exaggerated for illustrative purposes, and neither is an accurate dimension. Furthermore, in the following description, the same name and reference numeral indicate the same or similar components, and detailed explanations are omitted as appropriate. Furthermore, each element constituting this disclosure may be configured such that multiple elements are made of the same component, with one component serving multiple elements, or conversely, the function of one component may be shared among multiple components.

[0023] This disclosure does not specify the intended use or load of the power supply unit, but can be used as a power source for vehicles such as electric assist bicycles, electric carts, electric scooters, hybrid cars, electric vehicles, marine vehicles (including outboard motors), and construction machinery, for both driving and non-driving purposes. It can also be used as a power source for portable and mobile electrical equipment such as radios, electric cleaners, power tools, and other devices, or as a stationary power storage device for server backups, or for home, business, and factory use. The power supply unit is particularly useful for power supplies that require high capacity, heavy weight, safety, vibration resistance, and shock resistance. As the number of battery cells 1 and the weight of the battery block increase, the importance of fixing the core pack 3 and the strength of the power supply unit 100 increases. In particular, power supplies for marine, automotive, and construction machinery are frequently exposed to vibration and shock, and heavy power supply units 100 with many battery cells 1 stacked on top of each other are susceptible to large vibrations and shocks, which can cause failures, deterioration of electrical characteristics, and shortened lifespan. Furthermore, the power supply unit 100 disclosed herein is not limited to those that are charged and replaced as a unit of the power supply unit 100, but also includes those that are charged as a unit of the electrical equipment containing the power supply unit 100, and can also be applied to power supply units that have a battery cell 1 built into the housing of the electrical equipment. [Embodiment 1]

[0024] Figures 1 to 12 show a power supply device 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. The power supply device 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises an outer casing 20, a battery core pack 3 housed within the outer casing 20 and held by a battery holder 4, having one or more battery cells 1, and a metal heat sink 10 arranged on the first surface 3a of the core pack 3. (Outer casing 20)

[0025] The outer case 20 houses and contains the core pack 3. The outer case 20 has a fixing portion 21 to which the core pack 3 can be directly or indirectly fixed. The outer case 20 in Figure 1 exemplifies a simplified rectangular parallelepiped, with a main case 20A whose peripheral walls are connected to a top plate and whose bottom surface is open, providing a storage space 1 for the core pack 3 inside, and a lid case 20B that closes the bottom opening of the main case 20A. The outer case 20 can be shaped to conform to the outer surface of the core pack 3, for example, the shape of the heat sink 10, the fixing portion 15 (protrusion 16), the fixing portion 21, and the fixing structure. The external shape can also be shaped to have functionality and aesthetic appeal. This disclosure does not specify the shape, structure, number of divisions, closing, fitting structure, shape of the fixing portion 21, fixing structure, etc. of the outer case 20. The outer case 20 has a fixing portion 21 to which the core pack 3 can be fixed, and all cases that house and contain the core pack 3 can be used. The outer casing 20 can be partially or entirely used as a component within the housing of the electrical equipment. The outer casing 20 may have an exhaust port for discharging waste to the outside, and for safety reasons, it is preferable to discharge the waste at a temperature below the ignition temperature of high-temperature gases. (Core pack 3)

[0026] The core pack 3 has one or more battery cells 1, and a battery holder 4 holds each battery cell 1. The battery cell 1 is a secondary battery having a cell side surface and a pair of cell end surfaces that form the end surface of the cell side surface, and a pair of cell electrodes (positive electrode and negative electrode). The cell electrodes can be provided on one or both cell end surfaces as protrusions, recesses, or substantially flat surfaces. They may also be provided on the cell side surface. Lead plates can electrically connect the cell electrodes in series or parallel, and can also be connected to a circuit board. Figure 3 shows a cylindrical battery for the battery cell 1. A lithium-ion battery is suitable for the battery 1. Lithium-ion batteries have a large charge / discharge capacity relative to their capacity and weight, and allow for a smaller and lighter power supply unit 100 while maintaining a large charge / discharge capacity. However, this disclosure does not specify the shape, size, type, structure, electrode shape, number, connection, etc. of the battery cell 1. Battery cell 1 can use shapes other than cylindrical batteries, such as prismatic batteries, and can also use all rechargeable secondary batteries that have already been developed or will be developed in the future, including non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries other than lithium-ion batteries and all-solid-state batteries.

[0027] The battery cell 1 has an outlet end face 1a on the cell end face, which has an outlet valve. In the event of an abnormality, the outlet valve opens, ejecting the contents as gas, electrolyte, etc., in a high-temperature and high-pressure state, preventing the battery case, such as the outer casing, from rupturing due to increased internal pressure. The battery cell 1 in Figure 3 is a cylindrical battery, having a cylindrical cell side and a pair of cell end faces that form the end faces of the cell side, with one of the cell end faces being the outlet end face 1a. For example, the battery cell 1 (cylindrical battery) has an outer casing made by press-forming a metal plate, and the opening is airtightly sealed with a sealing plate. The sealing plate has an outlet valve that opens in the event of an abnormality, and serves as the outlet end face 1a of the battery cell 1. However, the battery cell 1 can also have an outlet valve on the bottom plate of the outer casing. The battery cell 1 has a discharge valve on the discharge end face 1a of the sealing plate or the bottom of the outer casing. When the internal pressure exceeds the set pressure, the discharge valve opens, and high-temperature ejected material is discharged from the discharge end face 1a of the battery cell 1. In the battery cell 1 shown in Figure 3, one cell end face is the discharge end face 1a, and the other cell end face is a non-discharge end face without a discharge valve.

[0028] The battery holder 4 has one or more storage cylinders, each housing one or more battery cells 1. The divided plurality of (2) battery holders 4A, 4B in Figure 3 insert and house each battery cell 1 into the storage cylinder, holding each battery cell 1 in a predetermined position and orientation without misalignment. The battery holder 4 arranges each battery cell 1 in a parallel orientation, with the cell end faces (discharge end faces 1a) substantially on the same plane, and stacks them vertically. The battery holder 4 is preferably made of thermoplastic plastic with excellent strength and heat resistance, and can be made of polycarbonate, polypropylene, polybutylene terephthalate, modified polyphenylene ether, ABS, PPS, etc. The battery holder 4 is provided with opening windows that expose the cell electrodes at both ends of the battery cell 1, and lead plates are fixed to the cell electrodes exposed through the opening windows by welding or other means, and connected in series or parallel to form a battery block 2.

[0029] The core pack 3 can be arranged in units of two battery blocks, each having one or more battery cells 1. The core pack 3 in Figures 1 to 7 has two sets of first and second battery blocks 2A and 2B, with a discharge gap 2a provided between the first and second battery blocks 2A and 2B. The discharge gap 2a is located in the center between the first and second battery blocks 2A and 2B, and spacers, insulators, etc., can be interposed and placed therein. In Figures 3 and 7, the first and second battery blocks 2A and 2B each stack and arrange multiple battery cells 1 in a parallel position extending in a first direction. The first and second battery blocks 2A and 2B are each arranged with the discharge end faces 1a of the battery cells 1 facing each other in a horizontal position. The first direction is the arrangement direction of the battery cells. In Figures 3 and 7, the first and second battery blocks 2A and 2B are arranged side by side on both sides of the discharge gap 2a. A first battery block 2A is positioned on the left side of the discharge gap 2a, and a second battery block 2B is positioned on the right side. The first battery block 2A has the discharge end faces 1a of each battery cell 1 facing the discharge gap 2a side (right side), while the second battery block 2B has the discharge end faces 1a of each battery cell 1 facing the discharge gap 2a side (left side). This core pack 3 allows a large number of battery cells 1 to be balanced evenly on both sides as a pair of battery blocks 2A and 2B, enabling efficient and effective heat dissipation of the heat sink 10, discharge of waste materials, and fixing strength of the core pack 3.

[0030] The core pack 3 shown in Figures 1 to 4 is a roughly rectangular parallelepiped with a top, side, and bottom surface on its outer periphery. A heat sink 10 is positioned close to the battery block 2, with one of the side surfaces designated as the first surface 3a. The power supply unit 100 secures the core pack 3 using the fixing portion 15 of the metal heat sink 10, ensuring metal fastening and thus guaranteeing fixing strength. This increases the strength and rigidity of the power supply unit 100, and further improves its vibration and impact resistance. (Heat sink 10)

[0031] The heat sink 10 is a metal heat dissipation plate, with its inner heat-absorbing surface facing the core pack 3 of the heat-generating element, and its outer surface and other surfaces having heat-dissipating surfaces in addition to the heat-absorbing surface. The heat sink 10 can be made of a metal with high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum, copper, stainless steel, graphite, or an alloy containing any of these, to improve heat dissipation efficiency and contribute to maintaining the characteristics and extending the lifespan of the battery cell 1. The heat sink 10 can be made of a flat or curved surface. The heat sink 10 in Figures 1 to 4 is a metal plate covering the first surface 3a, positioned close to the battery block 2 to dissipate heat, and has an exhaust port 14 to discharge waste in case of abnormality to improve safety. Furthermore, the strength of the metal plate and the fixing part 15 ensure a firm fixation of the core pack 3. The heat sink 10 can be manufactured, for example, by extrusion molding, die casting, or machining. The heat sink 10 in Figure 8 is plate-shaped, but the surface area can be increased by providing protrusions, fins, or other uneven shapes on the surface. The heat dissipation surface can also be provided outside the outer casing 20, and it may be connected to an external component to enable heat exchange. Furthermore, it is not prohibited to provide a fan to blow air and to provide a coolant flow path inside.

[0032] The heatsink 10 is positioned on the first surface 3a of the core pack 3. The outer edge of the heatsink 10 is positioned along the outer edge of the first surface 3a. The heatsink 10 covers the first surface 3a, increasing its surface area for efficient heat dissipation, and extends from the top to the bottom of the core pack 10 to support and fix the core pack 3 in a surface manner. Furthermore, the protrusions 16 that extend from the same top to the bottom further improve the fixing strength. For example, the heatsink 10 can cover 70% or more, 80% or more, or 90% or more of the first surface 3a. One or more heatsinks 10 can be arranged, and Figure 3 shows the heatsinks 10 arranged on the first surface 3a and on the second surface facing the first surface 3a. A pair of heatsinks 10 can dissipate heat on both sides, fix the core pack 3 to the outer case 20 on both sides, and improve safety by discharging waste from each exhaust port 14 in the event of a malfunction. A pair of heatsinks 10 can have the same or different shapes, sizes, structures, etc.

[0033] The heat sink 10 is provided with an outlet 14 for discharging waste materials to the outside of the heat sink 10 in the event of an abnormality. The outlet 14 is shaped, sized, and arranged to allow for the rapid discharge of waste materials such as gas, depending on the amount of waste material discharged, the direction of discharge, the discharge range, the distance from the discharge gap 2a, the positional relationship, and the discharge flow path. The outlet 14 is an opening, a through hole, a notch, etc., and does not obstruct the passage and discharge of waste materials as much as possible. The heat sink 10 having an outlet 14 has a simple structure, improves safety, and further improves the fixing strength of the core pack 3, the overall strength, and rigidity by utilizing the strength of the metal plate. The outlet 14 is provided along the discharge end face 1a of the battery cell 1 and extends along the discharge gap 2a. The discharge gap 2a is in communication with the outlet 14, and by positioning the outlet 14 close to the discharge gap 2a, waste materials can be discharged quickly and smoothly. The outlet 14 is provided with a guide to guide waste materials to the outlet 14, which can further promote the smooth discharge of waste materials. The heat sink 10 in Figures 2 and 4 has an outlet 14 located in the central part, excluding the outer edge. The outlet 14 opens including the first surface 3a and / or the intersection (center) of the diagonals of the heat sink 10. With this configuration, both the outlet 14 and the discharge gap 2a are located in the central part, and the outlet 14 extends vertically along the discharge gap 2a. This allows the outlet 14 to smoothly discharge waste regardless of whether the waste is discharged from the discharge valve of the battery cell 1 of the first or second battery block, thereby improving the safety of the power supply device 100. The outlet 14 can be, for example, 2% to 20% of the area of ​​the heat sink 10, preferably 3% to 15%, and more preferably 4% to 10%. If the outlet 14 is too small, waste cannot be discharged smoothly, and if the outlet 14 is too large, the strength of the heat sink 10 will decrease.

[0034] The discharge port 14 in Figures 4 and 8 has an elongated shape with a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, and can open along the discharge gap 2a. The discharge port 14 can be rectangular (including substantially rectangular), and the corners and transverse sides can be curved to an R shape to minimize the reduction in discharge efficiency and efficiently improve the fixing strength and overall strength. It can also be in a shape other than rectangular. The discharge port 14 can have a pair of longitudinal sides and / or transverse sides at opposing positions on the outer edge. The width (w1) in the transverse direction of the discharge port 14 is a width that allows discharge of waste material, for example, the discharge port 14A in Figure 8 can be wide, and the discharge port 14B in Figure 9 can be narrow, for example, it can be 5 mm or more, 7 mm or more, 1 cm or more, 1.5 cm or more, and within 5 cm, within 4 cm, and within 3 cm. By widening the width (w1) of the discharge port 14, waste can be discharged more smoothly, and by narrowing the width (w1) of the discharge port 14, i.e., shortening the length of the connecting portion 13, the strength of the heat sink 10 can be maintained and improved. The length (l1) in the longitudinal direction of the discharge port 14 is appropriately determined according to the size of the battery block 2, the number of battery cells 1, and their arrangement. The length (l1) of the discharge port 14 can be, for example, 40% to 95% of the height of the heat sink 10, preferably 40% to 90%. The length (l1) of the discharge port 14 can be, for example, 2 times or more, 3 times or more, 4 times or more, or 5 times or more than the width (w1) in the transverse direction. By making the width (w1) of the discharge port 14 greater than or equal to the width (w2) of the discharge gap 2a, waste can be sent from the relatively narrow discharge gap 2a to the wide discharge port 14, promoting the rapid discharge of waste from the discharge port 14.

[0035] The heat sink 10 in Figure 8 has a first plate 11 and a second plate 12 positioned on both sides of the outlet 14, and a connecting portion 13 that connects the first plate 11 and the second plate 12. In the heat sink 10 of Figure 8, the first plate 11, the second plate 12, and the connecting portion 13 surround the periphery of the outlet 14, thereby maintaining the strength of the heat sink 10 while providing the outlet 14. One or more outlets 14 can be provided, and one or more connecting portions 13 can also be provided. Multiple outlets 14 and multiple connecting portions 13 can each have the same or different shapes. The heat sink 10 in Figures 8 and 9 has one outlet 14A and two connecting portions 13A and 13B. The two connecting portions 13A and 13B are positioned above and below the outlet 14, and the first plate 11 and the second plate 12 connect their upper and lower edges. The one outlet 14A allows for smooth discharge without obstructing the passage of waste. The heat sink 10 in Figure 10 has two outlets 14C1 and 14C2 and three connecting sections 13A, 13B, and 13C. The two outlets 14C1 and 14C2 are arranged vertically in the center of the heat sink 10, the connecting sections 13A and 13B connect the upper and lower edges of the first plate 11 and the second plate 12, and the connecting section 13C connects the outlets 14A and 14B. This configuration allows for the discharge of waste through the two outlets 14C1 and 14C2, and the connecting section 13C connects the middle section in addition to the upper and lower edges, thereby maintaining and improving the strength of the heat sink 10. The height and width of the connecting section 13C are made narrower than the connecting sections 13A and 13B, making it easier to discharge waste while maintaining and improving the strength of the heat sink 10. The connecting portion 13, depending on its length, width, number, arrangement, and combination, can ensure the connecting strength of the connecting portion 13, as well as the strength, rigidity, and fixing strength of the heat sink 10 itself. Furthermore, the connecting portion 13 can be easily reinforced with reinforcing parts such as ribs and risers, and can be made thicker than the first plate 11 and the second plate 12, allowing for easy reinforcement.

[0036] The heatsink 10 has fixing parts 15 for fixing the core pack 3 to the outer case 20. The heatsink 10 in Figure 4 has substantially the same size as the width and height of the first surface 3a, and covers the first surface 3a surfacely over a wide area. The heatsink 10 is a metal plate-like member having strength and thickness that can firmly fix the core pack 3. Multiple fixing parts 15 provided on the heatsink 10 enable metal fastening to the fixed part 21 with bolts 17, nuts 17c, etc., thereby firmly fixing the core pack 3. The power supply device 100 of this disclosure has a unique configuration that uses the metal heatsink 10 not only for heat dissipation but also for fixing the core pack 3, which can improve the fixing strength of the core pack 3 and is particularly useful in heavy power supply devices and equipment having a power supply device in which a large number of battery cells 1 are arranged side by side in first and second battery blocks 2A and 2B.

[0037] The fixing portion 15 in Figures 2 and 8 has a protrusion 16 that projects vertically from the heat sink 10. One or more protrusions 16 can be provided, reinforcing the heat sink 10 as a rib and providing the fixing portion 15. The protrusions 16 in Figures 2, 4, and 8 are projections that protrude outward from the outer surface of the heat sink 10, extending linearly in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and are provided on the first plate 11 and the second plate 12, respectively. The pair of protrusions 16 are positioned near both sides of the heat sink 10, but can be positioned in the center of the first plate 11 and the second plate 12 or near either side. The protrusion 16 in Figure 8 has a gently curving mountain shape in the cross-section perpendicular to the second direction, with the tip (summit) side shaped along the bolt insertion portion 16a, and the connecting (base) side having a shape where the width of the protrusion 16 gradually increases and gently curved surfaces spread out on both sides. The three-dimensional protrusions 16 can be provided with bolt insertion parts 16a and function as ribs, and by being fastened with screws at both ends, the strength of the heat sink 10 and the fixing strength of the core pack 3 can be improved. The pair of protrusions 16 extend in the vertical direction in a parallel position and extend in a second direction from the top to the bottom of the heat sink 10, and the strength in the vertical direction can be enhanced by the pair of protrusions 16 in addition to the strength of the metal plate. In Figure 8, the pair of protrusions 16 extend from the upper edge to the lower edge of the heat sink 10, and the upper and lower end faces are flush with the upper and lower edges of the heat sink 10 (first plate 11 and second plate 12). Two or more fixing parts 15 are fixed to the fixed part 21. The protrusions 16 are fixed to the fixed part 21 at both the top and bottom, and the vertical direction can be fixed, improving the strength. The pair of protrusions 16 each secure the core pack 3 at its four corners (top, bottom, left, and right) on both the top and bottom, preventing vertical and horizontal misalignment. This contributes to the efficient improvement of the strength and fixing strength of the heatsink 10, thereby improving vibration and shock resistance.

[0038] The protrusion 16 has a bolt insertion portion 16a on its end face into which a bolt 17 to be screwed in can be inserted. The internal shape of the bolt insertion portion 16a is formed according to the length and shape of the bolt 17 to be inserted and screwed in. For example, it can have a screw hole 16b with a female screw portion into which the bolt 17 can be fastened, or a through hole 16c through which the bolt 17 passes. The bolt 17 may have a male screw portion at the tip and a shaft with a non-male screw portion. In Figure 1, the protrusion 16 can be fastened and secured to the fixed part 21 by inserting a long bolt 17a through the through hole 16c and screwing the male screw portion into a nut 17c located on the opposite side of the protrusion 16. In Figure 11, the protrusion 16 has screw holes 16b for the bolt insertion portion 16a on both the top and bottom, and the core pack 3 can be fixed by screwing in bolts 17b inserted and screwed in from above and below to clamp the fixed part 21.

[0039] The fixing portion 15 in Figures 8 and 11 is provided with bolt insertion portions 16a (screw hole 16b, female screw hole 16c) on both end faces of the protrusion 16, allowing the head of the bolt 17 to be positioned with the fixed portion 21 on the outer case 20 side interposed, and the bolt can be fastened by clamping the fixed portion 21, thereby fixing the core pack 3 to a predetermined position on the outer case 20. With this configuration, the bolt 17 can be fastened by inserting it through the through hole of the fixed portion 21 on the outer case 20 from outside the fixed portion 21 of the outer case 20, other than the front surface (first surface 3a) area of ​​the core pack 3, and the head of the bolt 17 is not positioned on the front surface of the heat sink 10, so there is no contact or interference between the head of the bolt 17 and the heat sink 10, allowing the bolt to be fastened close to the heat sink 10, improving vibration resistance and energy density, and enabling space saving and miniaturization. As shown in Figure 12, the innermost position of the head of the bolt 17 can also be positioned inside the outer surface of the heat sink 10 shown by the dashed line. The same applies to the nut 17c. For example, in the power supply unit 800 of the comparative example in Figure 13, a bolted fixing part 815 is provided, which is bent outward from the heat sink 810 and connected to it, in order to fix the heat sink 810. In the figure, since the bolts are tightened from top to bottom on the front surface of the heat sink 810, it is necessary to provide clearance so that the bolt heads do not come into contact with or interfere with the heat sink 810, which increases the size and reduces vibration resistance and energy density because the screw fastening part is separated from the core pack. In contrast, the fixing part 15 in Figure 12 can avoid this problem, and the fixing part 15 of the protruding part 16 can efficiently improve both the strength of the heat sink 10 and the fixing strength compared to the fixing part 815.

[0040] The heat sink 10 has a shape and structure that allows it to fit, lock, and be fixed to the battery block 2. The heat sink 10 in Figure 2 is fixed to the battery block 2 at its first surface 3a, and can reinforce and support the battery block 2. With the heat sink 10 fixed to the battery block 2, the heat sink 10 is fixed to the core pack 3 in the fixed part 21 (outer case 20). This disclosure does not specify the fixing structure between the heat sink 10 and the battery block 2, but for example, it can be fixed by fastening multiple bolts. In the heat sink 10 in Figure 3, through holes 18a are provided at the four corners to be fixed to the battery block 2, and bolts 18b are inserted through the through holes 18a and screwed into the female threaded portion 18c of the battery block 2, thereby fastening the bolts to fix the heat sink 10 and the battery block 2.

[0041] This disclosure can be suitably used as a power supply device that can prevent the spread of fire due to the accumulation of discharged materials in the event of an abnormality, improve the fixing strength of the core pack, and suppress an increase in the number of parts and weight used to fix the core pack.

[0042] 100, 800, 900... Power supply unit 1... Battery cell; 1a... Discharge end face 2... Battery block; 2A, 2B... First and second battery blocks 2a... Discharge gap 3... Core pack; 3a... First surface 4, 4A, 4B... Battery holder 10... Heat sink 11... First plate 12... Second plate 13, 13A, 13B, 13C... Connecting part 14, 14A, 14B, 14C1, 14C2... Discharge port 15... Fixing part 16, 16A, 16B... Protrusion 16a... Bolt insertion part, 16b... Screw hole, 16c... Through hole 17, 17a, 17b... Bolt, 17c... Nut 18a... Through hole, 18b... Bolt, 18c... Female thread part 20... Outer case; 20A... Main case, 20B... Lid case 21...Fixed part 810...Heat sink 815...Fixed part 904...Battery holder 910...Heat sink 915A-915D...Fixed part

Claims

1. A power supply device comprising: an outer case; a core pack having one or more battery cells housed in the outer case and held by a battery holder; and a metal heat sink disposed on the first surface of the core pack, wherein the heat sink has an outlet for discharging waste from its discharge end face, provided along the discharge end face of the battery cell, and has a fixing part that is fixed to the outer case.

2. A power supply device according to claim 1, wherein the core pack has a first and a second battery block, each having the battery cell and having the discharge end faces of the battery cells arranged opposite to each other, a discharge gap is provided between the first and second battery blocks, and the discharge gap is in communication with the discharge port.

3. A power supply device according to claim 2, wherein the width of the discharge port (w1) is equal to or greater than the width of the discharge gap (w2).

4. A power supply device according to claim 2, wherein the heat sink has an outlet in the center, and has a first plate and a second plate arranged on both sides of the outlet, and has a connecting portion connecting the first plate and the second plate.

5. A power supply device according to claim 4, wherein the connecting portion is arranged above and below the outlet.

6. A power supply device according to claim 4, wherein the width of the connecting portion (w3) is equal to or greater than the width of the outlet (w1).

7. A power supply device according to claim 4, wherein the discharge port has an elongated shape having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction.

8. A power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the fixing portion has a protrusion that protrudes vertically from the heat sink, and a bolt insertion portion is provided in the protrusion for inserting a bolt.

9. A power supply device according to claim 8, wherein the heat sink has a first plate and a second plate arranged on both sides of the outlet, and the protrusions are projections that protrude outward from the outer surface of the heat sink, and are provided on the first plate and the second plate, respectively.

10. A power supply device according to claim 8, wherein the fixed portion has a pair of protrusions arranged in a parallel position.

11. A power supply device according to claim 8, wherein the protrusion extends in a second direction from the upper part to the lower part of the heat sink.

Images