JP2006185815A - Battery pack - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a battery pack capable of simplifying structure, facilitating assembly work, and achieving the sufficient binding of battery assembly. <P>SOLUTION: The battery pack 1A is equipped with the battery assembly 10 constituted by stacking a plurality of battery modules 11, a case housing the battery assembly 10 on the inside, end plates 15 positioned at both ends in the stacking direction of the battery assembly 10, and brackets 26, 27 connecting the end plates. The battery assembly 10 has a projecting strip part formed by joining in the stacking direction the projection parts 11a formed on both sides of the battery module 11. The brackets 26, 27 lock the projecting strip parts and are fixed to a lower case 4 of the case 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a battery pack, and more particularly to a battery pack mounted on an electric vehicle or the like.

  In recent years, an electric vehicle using an electric motor as a drive source and a so-called hybrid electric vehicle combining an electric motor as a drive source and another drive source have been put into practical use. In such a vehicle, a battery for supplying electricity as energy to the electric motor is mounted. As this battery, for example, a secondary battery represented by a nickel-cadmium battery, a nickel-hydrogen battery, a lithium ion battery, or the like that can be repeatedly charged and discharged is used.

  The secondary battery is configured as a battery assembly in which battery cells and battery modules are stacked, and is mounted on an automobile in a state in which the battery assembly is accommodated inside the case body. A battery pack including the case body, the battery assembly housed in the case body, and other internal components is referred to as a battery pack.

  Each battery cell or battery module generates heat due to an internal electrochemical reaction, and its temperature rises. Since the power generation efficiency of the battery cell or the battery module decreases when the temperature becomes high, for example, cooling air is introduced into the case body from the outside of the case body to cool the battery module.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the battery pack in Conventional Example 1. FIG. 9 is a schematic exploded view showing the assembly structure of the battery pack in Conventional Example 1 shown in FIG. The battery pack 1F according to the conventional example 1 employs a so-called downflow type cooling structure in which the cooling air passes through the inside of the battery assembly from above to below.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the battery pack 1 </ b> F includes a case body 2 including an upper case 3 and a lower case 4, and a battery assembly 10 (see FIG. 9) installed inside the case body 2. The battery assembly 10 is configured by stacking a plurality of battery modules 11. A convex portion 12 is provided on the main surface of each battery module 11, and a part of a flow path for circulating cooling air is formed between the battery modules 11 stacked by the convex portion 12. .

  As shown in FIG. 8, an upper space 5 is provided in the upper part of the battery pack 1F, and a lower space 6 is provided in the lower part of the battery pack 1F. These spaces communicate with the flow path formed inside the battery assembly 10 described above. Further, a right side space 7a and a left side space 7b in which internal components such as a bus bar for ensuring electrical connection of the individual battery modules 11 are disposed are provided on the side of the battery pack 1F. An air inlet (not shown) is provided on an end surface facing the upper space 5 in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the case body 2. An exhaust port (not shown) is provided on an end surface facing the lower space 6 in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of the case body 2. The cooling air introduced into the upper space 5 of the battery pack 1 </ b> F from the air inlet by a blowing means such as a blower installed outside the battery pack passes through a flow path formed between the stacked battery modules 11. Move to the lower space 6. The cooling air introduced into the lower space 6 is led out of the battery pack 1F from the exhaust port. As described above, the heat generated in the battery module 11 with the circulation of the cooling air is discharged to the outside of the battery pack 1F.

  As shown in FIG. 9, end plates 15 as end members are disposed at both ends in the stacking direction of the battery assembly 10, and the stacked battery modules are connected by connecting the end plates 15 with a restraining pipe 16. 11 is constrained in the stacking direction. The restraint by the end plate 15 and the restraining pipe 16 is performed for the purpose of maintaining the stacked state of the battery assembly 10 by fixing the battery module 11 and the purpose of giving the battery assembly 10 a predetermined strength. It is. The end plate 15 is fixed to the lower case 4 with bolts 31. The individual battery modules 11 are also fixed to the lower case 4 by bolts 32.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the battery pack in Conventional Example 2. The battery pack 1G shown in FIG. 10 is a down-flow type battery pack, similar to the battery pack 1F in the above-described conventional example 1, but unlike the battery pack 1F in the above-described conventional example 1, the air inlet 8 and the exhaust An opening 9 is provided on the side surface of the case body 2, and the battery assembly 10 is inclined and arranged at a predetermined inclination angle inside the case body 2. In the battery pack in which the battery assembly 10 is inclined as described above, in the upper space 5 and the lower space 6, the cross-sectional area in the flow direction of the cooling air decreases as the distance from the intake port 8 and the exhaust port 9 increases. Therefore, the battery assembly 10 can be cooled more uniformly over the entire area.

  Also in the battery pack 1G configured as described above, the battery assembly 10 is restrained in the stacking direction by the end plate 15 and the restraining pipe 16, similarly to the battery pack 1F in the conventional example 1 shown in FIG. Are fixed to the lower case 4 by bolts 31, and the individual battery modules 11 are also fixed to the lower case 4 by bolts 32.

  In the battery packs 1F, 1G having the above-described configuration, for example, the battery assembly 10 and the upper case 3 are maintained in order to maintain an airtight space between the upper space 5 or the lower space 6 and the right side space 7a or the left side space 7b. The gasket 23 is disposed between the battery assembly 10 and the lower case 4. Thereby, since the refrigerant does not leak from the upper space 5 or the lower space 6 to the right side space 7a or the left side space 7b, efficient heat exchange can be realized.

The configurations of the battery packs as in Conventional Example 1 and Conventional Example 2 are disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-249202 (Patent Document 1), Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-167806 (Patent Document 2), and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-2003. No. 346759 (Patent Document 3), Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-111309 (Patent Document 4), and the like.
JP 2003-249202 A JP 2001-167806 A JP 2003-346759 A JP 2004-111309 A

  However, the battery packs 1F and 1G in the above-described Conventional Example 1 and Conventional Example 2 have the following problems.

  First, when the battery module 11 generates heat, there is a problem that deformation of the battery module 11 due to expansion cannot be sufficiently suppressed. When the battery assembly 10 is constrained using the end plate 15 and the constraining pipe 16, the constraining force is exerted in the vicinity of the portion where the constraining pipe 16 is disposed. Is suppressed. However, since the end plate 15 is also warped as the battery module 11 generates heat, the battery module 11 is disposed at the side of the battery module 11 where the constraining pipe 16 is not disposed, particularly at the corner of the battery module 11. Large deformation occurs. The deformation of the battery module 11 causes a decrease in the reliability of the secondary battery. In order to suppress deformation at the side part of the battery module 11, it is conceivable to further add a restraining pipe 16 in the vicinity of the side part of the battery assembly 10, but the structure becomes complicated and the size is increased and the number of parts is increased. For this reason, the assembly work becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost is reduced.

  Secondly, there is a problem that the assembling work is complicated. As shown in FIG. 9, the individual battery modules 11 are individually fixed to the lower case 4 using bolts 32. In the case of such a configuration, the number of bolts 32 that is twice the number of battery modules 11 is required, which not only requires a very large number of parts but also complicates the assembling work. Therefore, it is a cause of pressure on manufacturing costs.

  Thirdly, there is a problem that the work of attaching the gasket 23 for ensuring airtightness between the upper space 5 and the lower space 6 and the right side space 7a and the left side space 7b is complicated. Normally, a sponge seal is used as the gasket 23. However, in order to attach the gasket 23 to the case body 2 and the battery module 11, it is necessary to degrease the surfaces of the case body 2 and the battery module 11 in advance. . However, this degreasing treatment causes an increase in cost. In addition, when using gaskets such as sponge seals, there is a concern that reliability may drop significantly due to deterioration over time, and preferably use as few gaskets as possible, more preferably abolish the use of gaskets. There is a request to do.

  As described above, the battery packs in the above-described conventional examples 1 and 2 have various problems, and it has been desired to solve them.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and a battery pack that can simplify the structure, facilitate assembly work, and realize sufficient battery assembly restraint. The purpose is to provide.

  Moreover, an object of this invention is to provide the battery pack which can fully ensure the airtightness inside a case body, reducing the usage location of a gasket as much as possible.

  A battery pack according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a battery assembly configured by stacking a plurality of battery cells or battery modules, a case body that accommodates the battery assembly therein, and the battery assembly. And restraining means for restraining in the stacking direction. The restraining means includes a pair of end members disposed at both ends of the battery assembly in the stacking direction, and a bracket that extends along the stacking direction and connects the pair of end members. The bracket is fixed to the case body.

  By configuring in this way, the restraint means for restraining the battery assembly and the fixing means for attaching the battery assembly restrained by the restraint means to the case body can be shared by the bracket. The assembly structure is simplified, and the number of parts required for restraining and fixing the battery assembly can be greatly reduced. Therefore, manufacture becomes easy and it becomes possible to manufacture a battery pack at low cost.

  In the battery pack according to the first aspect of the present invention, the bracket preferably holds each of the battery cells or the battery module.

  By comprising in this way, it becomes unnecessary to fix each battery cell or battery module to a case body separately, and it fixes to a case body collectively with a bracket. Therefore, the structure is simplified and the battery pack can be manufactured at a low cost.

  In the battery pack according to the first aspect of the present invention, each of the battery cell or the battery module has protrusions on both side surfaces located in a direction intersecting the stacking direction, and the battery assembly The body has a pair of protrusions formed by connecting the protrusions in the stacking direction on both side surfaces, and the brackets are arranged in a pair so as to extend along the both side surfaces of the battery assembly. Each of the pair of brackets may have a locking portion that extends along the stacking direction and locks the protruding portion. In this case, the battery assembly is held in the direction intersecting the stacking direction by the battery assembly being sandwiched and held by the pair of locking portions.

  With this configuration, the battery assembly is not only restrained in the stacking direction by the end member and the bracket, but also the battery assembly is restrained in the direction intersecting the stacking direction by the pair of brackets. For this reason, the deformation | transformation accompanying expansion | swelling of a battery cell or a battery module can be more reliably suppressed now by the restraint means of simple structure. Moreover, since all the battery modules can be fixed to the case body collectively by the pair of brackets, the battery pack can be manufactured easily and inexpensively.

  In the battery pack according to the first aspect of the present invention, the case body may be formed by an upper case located at the upper part and a lower case located at the lower part. Of these brackets, one bracket is preferably fixed to the lower case, and the other bracket is preferably fixed to the upper case.

  By configuring in this way, the upper case and the battery assembly and the battery assembly and the lower case are fixed by the bracket, the strength of the battery pack as a whole is improved, and the battery pack is excellent in vibration resistance. can do. In addition, by forming the bracket with a material with high thermal conductivity such as metal, the heat generated in the battery assembly via the bracket can be dissipated to both the lower case and the upper case, so the heat dissipation is excellent. Battery pack.

  In the battery pack according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the bracket and the case body are fixed by a bolt, and in that case, the case body is further connected to the battery by the bolt. You may fix with respect to the mounting object in which a pack is mounted.

  With such a configuration, the battery pack can be fixed to the placement object at the same time as the bracket and the case body are fixed, so that the assembling work is simplified.

  In the battery pack according to the first aspect of the present invention, the space inside the case body includes a flow path forming region that forms a flow path through which cooling air flows, and a non-flow path that does not form the flow path. In that case, the bracket disposed at the boundary between the flow path formation area and the non-flow path formation area, the flow path formation area and the non-flow path formation area, Is preferably kept airtight.

  With this configuration, since the airtightness between the flow path forming area and the non-flow path forming area is ensured by the bracket that is a fixing means between the battery assembly and the case body, the gasket is used for airtightness. As a result, the number of parts to be secured is reduced, and in some cases, the use of gaskets can be eliminated. Therefore, since it is possible to maintain high airtightness with a simple configuration, a battery pack having high cooling performance can be easily obtained at low cost.

  In the battery pack according to the first aspect of the present invention, the space inside the case body includes a flow path forming region that forms a flow path through which cooling air flows, and a non-flow path that does not form the flow path. In this case, it is preferable that the bracket is provided with a communication hole so that the flow path is not shielded by the bracket disposed in the flow path formation area.

  With this configuration, even when the bracket is disposed on the cooling air flow path, the spaces located on both sides of the bracket communicate with each other through the communication hole, and the flow path is not shielded. . Therefore, the degree of freedom of the installation position of the bracket can be increased, and the battery assembly can be restrained and fixed using the bracket to the maximum extent.

  A battery pack according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a battery assembly configured by stacking a plurality of battery cells or battery modules, a case body in which the battery assembly is accommodated, and the battery assembly. And restraining means for restraining in the laminating direction. The restraining means includes a pair of end members disposed at both ends of the battery assembly in the stacking direction and a predetermined portion extending along the stacking direction of the case body, and the pair of end members And a locking portion for connecting the two.

  With this configuration, since the restraining means for restraining the battery assembly can be formed by the case body itself, the assembly structure is simplified and the number of parts required for restraining and fixing the battery assembly is greatly increased. Can be reduced. Therefore, manufacture becomes easy and it becomes possible to manufacture a battery pack at low cost.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a battery pack that can be simplified in structure and easy to assemble. Moreover, it can be set as the battery pack by which sufficient restraint of the battery assembly was implement | achieved.

  Further, according to the present invention, the number of locations where the gasket is used can be reduced as much as possible, and in some cases, the use of the gasket can be abolished. Even in such a case, the airtightness inside the case body can be sufficiently ensured, so that a battery pack having a high cooling performance can be easily manufactured at low cost.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view showing the assembly structure of the battery pack in FIG. The battery pack 1A in the present embodiment has a so-called upflow type cooling structure in which cooling air passes through the inside of the battery assembly from below to above.

  A battery pack 1 </ b> A shown in FIG. 1 mainly includes a case body 2 including an upper case 3 and a lower case 4, and a battery assembly 10 (see FIG. 2) installed inside the case body 2. The upper case 3 constitutes the upper part of the case body 2, and the lower case 4 constitutes the lower part of the case body 2. The upper case 3 and the lower case 4 are combined with each other and fastened with bolts 33 at the ends, thereby forming a box-like body having a space inside. The battery assembly 10 is configured by stacking a plurality of battery modules 11. A convex portion 12 is provided on the main surface of each battery module 11, and a part of a flow path for circulating cooling air is formed between the battery modules 11 stacked by the convex portion 12. . As the battery module 11, for example, a secondary battery such as a nickel-cadmium battery, a nickel-hydrogen battery, or a lithium ion battery can be used. The battery module 11 has a so-called square plate-like outer shape. Note that the battery assembly 10 is disposed to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the bottom surface of the lower case 4.

  The internal space of the case body 2 is partitioned by the battery assembly 10 disposed inside the case body 2. An upper space 5 is formed between the upper surface of the battery assembly 10 and the upper case 3. A lower space 6 is formed between the lower surface of the battery assembly 10 and the lower case 4. Between the side surfaces on both sides of the battery assembly 10 and the side surfaces on both sides of the upper case 3 and the lower case 4, a right side space 7a and a left side space 7b, which are a pair of left and right side spaces, are formed. Is formed. The upper space 5 and the lower space 6 communicate with each other through a flow path formed inside the battery assembly 10 described above.

  An exhaust terminal 14 for discharging a gas such as hydrogen gas discharged from the inside of the battery module 11 to the outside is provided on the upper part of the battery assembly 10. The upper space 5 is provided with an exhaust hose 20 that is connected to the exhaust terminal 14 and leads the gas discharged from the exhaust terminal 14 to the outside of the battery pack 1A. A temperature sensor 21 for detecting the temperature of the battery assembly 10 is installed on the upper surface of the battery assembly 10. A terminal 13 for charging / discharging the battery module 11 is provided on the side surface of the battery module 11. These terminals 13 are connected by a bus bar (not shown).

  An intake duct 8a and an exhaust duct 9a are respectively installed in the right side space 7a and the left side space 7b located on the side of the battery assembly 10. The intake duct 8a communicates with the intake port 8 provided on the end surface of the case body 2 in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The exhaust duct 9a communicates with the exhaust port 9 provided on the end surface of the case body 2 in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The intake duct 8 a communicates with the lower space 6, and the exhaust duct 9 a communicates with the upper space 5.

  In the above configuration, the cooling air flowing into the intake duct 8a from the intake port 8 flows into the lower space 6 while flowing along the extending direction of the intake duct 8a, and is formed inside the battery assembly 10. It flows into the upper space 5 via the flow path. At this time, the battery assembly 10 is cooled by receiving heat generated in the battery assembly 10. The cooled cooling air flowing into the upper space 5 flows into the exhaust duct 9a, flows along the extending direction of the exhaust duct 9a, and is discharged from the exhaust duct 9a to the outside of the battery pack 1A.

  Here, in the space in the intake duct 8a, the upper space 5, the space located between the stacked battery modules 11, the lower space 6 and the space in the exhaust duct 9a, the cooling air flows inside the case body 2. This corresponds to a flow path forming region for forming a flow path. On the other hand, in the right side space 7a and the left side space 7b, the spaces other than the space where the intake duct 8a and the exhaust duct 9a are arranged do not form a flow path through which cooling air flows in the case body 2. It corresponds to the path formation area.

  As shown in FIG. 2, end plates 15 as end members are disposed at both ends of the battery assembly 10 in the stacking direction. The end plates 15 arranged at both ends of the battery assembly 10 in the stacking direction are connected by brackets 26 and 27 attached to the side surfaces of the battery assembly 10. The brackets 26 and 27 are fixed to the lower case 4 of the case body 2 while holding the battery assembly 10. As the brackets 26 and 27, it is preferable to use a material having excellent strength such as metal so that the battery assembly 10 can be stably supported. More preferably, a material having excellent thermal conductivity is used so that heat generated in the battery module 11 can be radiated to the lower case 4.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, protrusions 11 a are provided at the lower portions of both side surfaces of each battery module 11, and by stacking the battery modules 11, these protrusions 11 a Connected on both sides of the body 10 to form a ridge. Similarly, protrusions 15a are provided at lower portions on both side surfaces of the pair of end plates 15, and are connected to the protrusions after lamination. On the other hand, the brackets 26, 27 have a shape extending along both side surfaces of the battery assembly 10, and the locking portions 26 a, 27 a that can lock the ridges, and the lower of the case body 2. Fixing portions 26 b and 27 b that can be fixed to the case 4 are provided.

  The projecting portion 15a of the end plate 15 is provided with a bolt hole, and the end plate 15 is connected by the brackets 26 and 27 by attaching the bolt 34 with the brackets 26 and 27 interposed therebetween. Thereby, the individual battery modules 11 are bundled in a stacked state, and the battery assembly 10 is restrained in the stacking direction of the battery assemblies 10. At this time, the locking portions 26a and 27a provided on the brackets 26 and 27 are locked to the protrusions formed on both side surfaces of the battery assembly 10, respectively. As a result, the individual battery modules 11 are held between the brackets 26 and 27, and the individual battery modules 11 are held together. Therefore, the battery assembly 10 is restrained in the direction intersecting the stacking direction of the battery assembly 10 by the brackets 26 and 27.

  Bolt-passing holes are provided at predetermined positions of the fixing portions 26b, 27b of the brackets 26, 27 and the lower case 4, and the bolts 35 are attached to the bolt-passing holes, so that the brackets 26, 27 are attached. Fixed to the lower case 4.

  As described above, the battery assembly 10 is fixed to the case body 2 by the brackets 26 and 27.

  By adopting the assembly structure as described above, the restraining means for restraining the battery assembly 10 and the battery assembly 10 restrained by the restraining means, which have been separately configured conventionally, are connected to the lower part of the case body 2. Since the fixing means for attaching to the case 4 can be shared by the brackets 26 and 27, the assembly structure is simplified and the number of parts required for restraining and fixing the battery assembly 10 is greatly reduced. can do. Therefore, manufacture becomes easy and it becomes possible to manufacture a battery pack at low cost.

  Further, not only the battery assembly 10 is constrained in the stacking direction by the end plate 15 and the brackets 26 and 27, but also the battery assembly 10 is constrained by the pair of brackets 26 and 27 in the direction intersecting the stacking direction. Become. For this reason, the deformation | transformation accompanying the expansion | swelling of the battery module 11 can be more reliably suppressed now by the restraining means of a simple structure. Further, since all the battery modules 11 can be collectively fixed to the lower case 4 of the case body 2 by the pair of brackets 26 and 27, the battery pack can be manufactured easily and inexpensively.

  In the battery pack 1A according to the above-described embodiment, the brackets 26 and 27 and the lower case 4 of the case body 2 are fixed by the bolts 35. The battery pack 1A is further placed by the bolts 35. You may comprise so that the case body 2 may be fixed with respect to the mounting object (for example, floor of a motor vehicle). In the case of such a configuration, the number of parts can be further reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the battery pack 1 </ b> A according to the present embodiment, it is necessary to introduce cooling air flowing into the intake duct 8 a from the intake port 8 into the lower space 6. Therefore, in battery pack 1A in the present embodiment, the boundary portion between intake duct 8a and lower space 6 corresponds to a flow path formation region. However, a bracket 27 is disposed at a boundary portion between the intake duct 8a and the lower space 6 in order to support the battery assembly 10. When the bracket 27 is formed by simply pressing and bending the plate-like member, the flow path through which the cooling air flows is shielded at this boundary portion. Therefore, in the battery pack 1A according to the present embodiment, the communication holes 27c are provided in the bracket 27 so that the spaces located on both sides of the bracket 27 are communicated so that the cooling air flow path is not shielded. ing.

  Here, the communication hole 27c provided in the bracket 27 is made as large as possible within a range in which the strength for supporting the battery assembly 10 is not impaired. By doing so, a stable support of the battery assembly 10 is realized while ensuring a large cross-sectional area of the flow path through which the cooling air flows.

  On the other hand, the boundary portion between the left side space 7b and the lower space 6 where the exhaust duct 9a is disposed needs to be airtight so that the cooling air flowing through the lower space 6 does not leak into the left side space 7b. That is, the boundary portion between the left side space 7b and the lower space 6 corresponds to a boundary portion between the flow path forming region and the non-flow path forming region. Therefore, in the battery pack 1A according to the present embodiment, the bracket 26 is arranged at the boundary portion between the left side space 7b and the lower space 6 so that the left side space 7b is formed by the bracket 26. And the lower space 6 are kept airtight. As a result, it is not necessary to use a gasket having poor reliability at this boundary portion, and the use of the gasket at that portion can be eliminated. Therefore, by simplifying the structure, it becomes possible to manufacture easily and inexpensively, and a highly reliable battery pack can be obtained.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an automobile using the battery system including the battery pack shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 3, automobile 100 to which a battery system including a battery pack according to the present invention is applied includes control unit 101, battery unit 102 including battery pack 1 </ b> A according to the present embodiment, and drive unit 103. . The control unit 101 controls the battery unit 102 and the drive unit 103. The drive unit 103 may include an internal combustion engine such as a gasoline engine or a diesel engine in addition to an electric motor such as a motor driven by a current supplied from the battery unit 102. That is, the automobile 100 includes not only an electric vehicle that uses only an electric motor such as a motor driven by a current supplied from the battery unit 102 as a driving source, but also a driving means other than an electric motor such as a gasoline engine as a driving source. So-called hybrid cars are also included.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the battery pack according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected in the figure about the part similar to the battery pack 1A in the above-mentioned Embodiment 1, and the description is not repeated here.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the battery pack 1B in the present embodiment, unlike the battery pack 1A in the above-described first embodiment, the bracket 27 located on the right side of the pair of left and right brackets 26, 27 has a case. It is fixed to the upper case 3 of the body 2. More specifically, a protrusion formed on the right side of the protrusions 11 a formed on both side surfaces of the battery module 11 is provided on the upper portion of the right side of the battery module 11. Therefore, the ridge formed on the right side surface of the battery assembly 10 is also formed on the upper right side surface of the battery assembly 10. And the bracket 27 latches the protrusion part formed in the upper part of the right side surface of this battery assembly 10 by the latching | locking part 27a. Further, bolt fixing holes 27 are provided at predetermined positions of the fixing portion 27b of the bracket 27 and the upper case 3, and the bracket 27 is attached to the upper case 3 by attaching bolts 35 to the bolt passing holes. It is fixed.

  In such a configuration, in addition to the effects described in the first embodiment, the upper case 3 and the battery assembly 10, and the battery assembly 10 and the lower case 4 are fixed by the brackets 26 and 27. Thus, the strength of the battery pack 1B as a whole is improved, and a battery pack having excellent vibration resistance can be obtained. Further, by forming the brackets 26 and 27 with a material having high thermal conductivity such as metal, the heat generated in the battery assembly 10 through the brackets 26 and 27 is radiated to both the upper case 3 and the lower case 4. Therefore, a battery pack with excellent heat dissipation can be obtained.

  Furthermore, since the airtightness can be maintained at the boundary between the upper space 5 and the right space 7a by the bracket 27, it is not necessary to use a gasket having poor reliability at the boundary, and the use of the gasket at the portion is eliminated. Can be abolished. Therefore, by simplifying the structure, it becomes possible to manufacture easily and inexpensively, and a highly reliable battery pack can be obtained.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a modification of the battery pack according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the battery pack 1 </ b> C in the present modification has a configuration in which the exhaust duct 9 a provided in the left side space 7 b is eliminated in the structure of the battery pack 1 </ b> C described above. . Thus, the exhaust duct 9a is not necessarily a necessary component, and may be abolished depending on the specifications of the battery pack.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 6 is a schematic exploded view showing a battery pack assembly structure according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. Note that portions similar to those of battery pack 1A in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawing, and description thereof will not be repeated here.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the battery pack 1 </ b> D in the present embodiment, the battery assembly 10 is restrained in the stacking direction by the restraining belt 38 in addition to being restrained by being sandwiched between the brackets 26 and 27. . In this way, by constraining the substantially central portion of the battery assembly 10 in a complementary manner using the restraining belt 38, it is possible to obtain a battery pack having a battery assembly that is less likely to be deformed due to expansion. It is possible to provide a highly reliable battery pack provided with a cooling mechanism.

  Since the battery assembly 10 is restrained mainly by the brackets 26 and 27, the restraining belt 38 is complementary. Even when the battery assembly 10 is constrained using the brackets 26 and 27, if the width of the battery assembly 10 is long, the substantially central portion in the width direction of the battery assembly 10 is complementarily constrained. Is preferred. However, as long as the battery assembly 10 is restrained using the brackets 26 and 27, it is not always necessary to use the restraint means as the restraint means using the restraint pipe 16 in the above-described conventional example. A restraining means having a relatively simple configuration that wraps the battery assembly by the member is sufficient. Therefore, also in this case, it is possible to manufacture a battery pack at a lower cost than in the past.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the battery pack according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected in the figure about the part similar to the battery pack 1B in the above-mentioned Embodiment 2, and the description is not repeated here.

  As shown in FIG. 7, battery pack 1E in the present embodiment differs from battery pack 1B in the second embodiment described above in that a pair of left and right brackets 26 and 27 are connected to upper case 3 itself of case body 2 and a lower case. 4 is formed by bending a part of itself. More specifically, by bending a predetermined portion of the upper case 3, a locking portion 3 a that can lock the protrusion provided on the right side surface of the battery assembly 10 is formed, and the lower case 4. By folding the predetermined portion of the battery assembly 10, a locking portion 4 a that can lock the protruding portion provided at the lower portion of the left side surface of the battery assembly 10 is formed, and these protruding portions are provided on the case body 2. The battery assembly 10 is restrained and fixed by the upper case 3 and the lower case 4 by being sandwiched and held directly by the stop portions 3a and 4a.

  With this configuration, the battery assembly can be restrained and fixed by the case body itself without using a separate bracket, so that the configuration can be further simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  In the first to fourth embodiments described above, the battery pack provided with the upflow type cooling structure has been described as an example, but the present invention naturally applies to the battery pack provided with the downflow type cooling structure. Applicable.

  Further, the shape and material of the bracket are not limited to the shape and material of the bracket used in the first to fourth embodiments, and can be changed to various shapes and materials.

  In the first to fourth embodiments described above, a part of the flow path for circulating the cooling air between the stacked battery modules is formed by the convex portions provided on the main surfaces of the individual battery modules. Although the case has been described as an example, the present invention is not particularly limited to such an embodiment, and a flow for circulating cooling air by interposing a member different from the battery module between the stacked battery modules. You may comprise so that a part of path | route may be formed.

  Thus, the above-described embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not restrictive. The technical scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a schematic cross section of the battery pack according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a model exploded view which shows the assembly structure of the battery pack in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the battery system containing the battery pack shown in FIG. It is a schematic cross section of the battery pack according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. It is a schematic cross section which shows the modification of the battery pack in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a schematic exploded view which shows the assembly structure of the battery pack in Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a schematic cross section of the battery pack according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a battery pack in Conventional Example 1. FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic exploded view showing a battery pack assembly structure in Conventional Example 1. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a battery pack in Conventional Example 2. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  1A to 1G Battery pack, 2 case body, 3 upper case, 3a locking part, 4 lower case, 4a locking part, 5 upper space, 6 lower space, 7a right side space, 7b left side space, 8 air inlet, 8a Intake duct, 9 Exhaust port, 9a Exhaust duct, 10 Battery assembly, 11 Battery module, 11a Projection, 12 Projection, 13 Terminal, 14 Exhaust terminal, 15 End plate, 15a Projection, 16 Restraint pipe, 20 exhaust hose, 21 temperature sensor, 23 gasket, 26, 27 bracket, 26a, 27a locking part, 26b, 27b fixing part, 27c communication hole, 31-35 bolt, 38 restraint belt, 100 automobile, 101 control part, 102 Battery part, 103 drive part.

Claims (8)

A battery assembly configured by stacking a plurality of battery cells or battery modules;
A case body for accommodating the battery assembly therein;
A restraining means for restraining the battery assembly in the stacking direction;
The restraining means includes a pair of end members disposed at both ends in the stacking direction of the battery assembly, and a bracket that extends along the stacking direction and connects the pair of end members,
The battery pack, wherein the bracket is fixed to the case body.   The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the bracket holds each of the battery cells or the battery modules. Each of the battery cell or the battery module has protrusions on both side surfaces located in a direction intersecting the stacking direction,
The battery assembly has protrusions formed on both side surfaces by the protrusions being connected in the stacking direction.
A pair of the brackets are arranged so as to extend along the both side surfaces of the battery assembly,
Each of the pair of brackets has a locking portion that extends along the stacking direction and locks the protrusion.
The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the battery assembly is restrained in a direction intersecting the stacking direction by sandwiching and holding the battery assembly by the pair of locking portions. The case body is formed by an upper case located at the upper part and a lower case located at the lower part,
The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein one of the pair of brackets is fixed to the lower case, and the other bracket is fixed to the upper case.   5. The bracket according to claim 1, wherein the bracket and the case body are fixed by bolts, and the case body is further fixed by a bolt with respect to a mounting object on which the battery pack is mounted. Battery pack. The space inside the case body includes a flow channel forming region that forms a flow channel through which cooling air flows, and a non-flow channel forming region that does not form the flow channel,
The flow path forming area and the non-flow path forming area are hermetically maintained by the bracket disposed at a boundary portion between the flow path forming area and the non-flow path forming area. The battery pack according to any one of the above. The space inside the case body includes a flow channel forming region that forms a flow channel through which cooling air flows, and a non-flow channel forming region that does not form the flow channel,
The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein a communication hole is provided in the bracket so that the flow path is not shielded by the bracket disposed in the flow path forming region. A battery assembly configured by stacking a plurality of battery cells or battery modules;
A case body in which the battery assembly is housed;
A restraining means for restraining the battery assembly in the stacking direction;
The restraining means includes a pair of end members disposed at both ends of the battery assembly in the stacking direction, and a predetermined portion extending along the stacking direction of the case body, and the pair of end members A battery pack including a locking portion for connecting the two.

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