JP2017088077A - Temperature adjustment structure of vehicle battery pack - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inhibit leakage of a heat exchange medium in a battery pack during a rear-end collision.SOLUTION: A rear-end collision frame 16 is provided below rear parts of side frames 14. A battery pack 12 is formed comprising a case 1202, a battery 1206, and a heat exchange medium supply/discharge part 1208 and is attached to the pair of side frames 14 to be arranged. A heat exchange medium pipe 30 transfers a heat exchange medium to the battery pack 12 and is formed comprising a supply passage 30A and a recovery passage 30B. The supply passage 30A and the recovery passage 30B have a first part 3002 connected to the heat exchange medium supply/discharge part 1208, a second part 3004 attached to the rear-end collision frame 16, and a pipe connection part 3006. The pipe connection part 3006 detachably connects an end part 3002C of the first part 3002 with an end part 3004A of the second part 3004.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a temperature control structure of a vehicle battery pack.

Battery packs for supplying electric power to motors are used in electric vehicles such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles using a motor as a drive source.
In such a battery pack, the temperature of the heat exchange medium is circulated through the heat exchange medium path provided in the battery pack in order to cool the battery that generates heat during operation and adjust the battery temperature within a predetermined range. A structure has been proposed (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).
In this case, a heat exchange medium supply / discharge part for circulating the heat exchange medium through the heat exchange medium path is provided inside the battery pack, and a heat exchange medium pipe provided with a radiator and a pump is connected to the heat exchange medium supply / discharge part. Will do.

JP 2014-73803 A Japanese Patent No. 5435721

By the way, when such a battery pack is arranged at the rear part of the vehicle, the heat exchange medium supply / discharge unit is damaged by an impact load applied when the vehicle is rear-end collision, and the heat exchange medium leaks into the battery pack, and the battery There is a concern that the junction box that controls the battery may break down.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a temperature control structure for a vehicle battery pack that is advantageous in suppressing leakage of a heat exchange medium in the battery pack during a rear-end collision. It is to provide.

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a battery pack attached to a side frame, a heat exchange medium pipe for transferring a heat exchange medium to the battery pack, and a lower part of the battery pack. And a rear collision frame that receives a load at the time of rear collision, wherein the heat exchange medium pipe is attached to the first portion connected to the battery pack and the rear collision frame. The second part and a pipe coupling part that couples the first part and the second part, wherein the rear collision frame moves relative to the side frame. The first part and the second part are separated from each other.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the rear collision frame includes a vertical member that extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and transmits a collision load to a member on the front side of the vehicle, and the second portion includes the vertical portion. It is arranged along the upper surface of the member.
The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that a low-rigidity portion that is contracted and deformed when a predetermined load or more is applied to the front end portion of the vertical member in the vehicle front-rear direction.
The invention described in claim 4 is characterized in that a gap is provided between a front end portion of the vertical member and the vehicle front side member.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the battery pack includes a battery that is cooled by the heat exchange medium, and a case that houses the battery, and the first portion projects backward from the rear portion of the case. It is characterized by including.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the battery includes a heat exchange medium path, and the battery pack includes a heat exchange medium supply / discharge section that circulates the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange medium path, and the first portion. Is connected to the heat exchange medium path via the heat exchange medium supply / discharge section, and the junction box, the battery, and the heat exchange medium supply / discharge section are arranged inside the battery pack from the front to the rear of the vehicle. They are arranged in the order of.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first portion and the second portion are separated from each other through the pipe coupling portion at the time of rear collision, and the heat exchange medium in the battery pack is separated from the end portion of the first portion to the first portion. It is discharged outside. Therefore, it is advantageous for suppressing the inside of the battery pack from being immersed in the heat exchange medium at the time of rear collision.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the second portion is moved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle along the vertical member at the time of a rear collision, the first portion and the second portion can be smoothly separated from each other at the pipe connecting portion. It is advantageous in carrying out. Moreover, it is advantageous in protecting the second portion from the stepping stone.
According to the third and fourth aspects of the invention, at the time of a rear collision, the vertical member is likely to move relatively forward with respect to the side frame, so the end portion of the first portion and the second portion of the pipe joint portion Since the end portion is more smoothly separated, it is more advantageous in suppressing the inside of the battery pack from being immersed in the heat exchange medium.
According to invention of Claim 5, the 1st part which protrudes back from the rear part of a case at the time of a rear collision is destroyed, and a heat exchange medium can be discharged | emitted from the broken location to the exterior of piping for heat exchange media. This is advantageous in suppressing the battery from being immersed in the heat exchange medium.
According to the invention described in claim 6, since the junction box and the heat exchange medium supply / discharge section are separated from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, it is advantageous in suppressing the junction box from being immersed in the heat exchange medium. Become.

(A) is side surface sectional drawing which shows the temperature control structure of the battery pack of the vehicle which concerns on embodiment, (B) is B arrow directional view of (A). It is a perspective view of a battery pack. It is C arrow line view of FIG. 1 (A). It is explanatory drawing which shows the state of the temperature control structure of the battery pack of the vehicle at the time of a rear collision, (A) is a figure which shows the state before a rear collision, (B) is a figure which shows the state of the initial stage of a rear collision, (C) FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which the front part of the rear impacted vehicle has moved forward.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 4, the symbol FR indicates the front of the vehicle 10, the symbol RR indicates the rear of the vehicle 10, the symbol HL indicates the vehicle width direction, the symbol UP indicates the upper side, and the DOWN indicates the lower side. .
As shown in FIG. 1A, a vehicle 10 is an electric vehicle using only a motor as a drive source, or an electric vehicle using a motor such as a hybrid vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle as a drive source. A battery pack 12 is disposed at the rear of the vehicle body 11.
As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 3, the battery pack 12 is disposed between the left and right side frames 14 in plan view, and the left and right side frames 14 protect the battery pack 12. Is planned.
A rear impact frame 16 is provided below the rear portion of the side frame 14 for reducing impact during rear impact. The rear impact frame 16 is located below the battery pack 12. The rear impact frame 16 reduces the impact received by the vehicle 10 during the rear impact. In FIG. 1B, reference numeral 18 denotes a bumper beam connected to the rear end of the side frame 14 and extends in the vehicle width direction, and reference numeral 20 denotes a rear wheel.

The rear impact frame 16 includes a pair of vertical members 1602 extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 10 at intervals in the vehicle width direction, and a front horizontal member 1604 connected to the vertical members 1602 and extending in the vehicle width direction. An intermediate lateral member 1606 and a rear lateral member 1608 are provided, and the members 1602, 1604, 1606, 1608 have an elongated shape.
The pair of vertical members 1602 transmits a collision load to the rear suspension cross member 22 that is a member on the front side of the vehicle.
Further, a low-rigidity portion 1602A is provided at the front end portion of the pair of vertical members 1602, and the low-rigidity portion 1602A is formed to have lower rigidity than the rest of the vertical member 1602 except for the low-rigidity portion 1602A. ing.
The low-rigidity portion 1602A is a portion that is contracted and deformed when a predetermined load or more is applied in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
The front horizontal member 1604 and the intermediate horizontal member 1606 are connected to the pair of vertical members 1602 at their intermediate portions in the extending direction and are connected to the pair of side frames 14 at both ends in the extending direction.
The rear lateral member 1608 connects the rear ends of the pair of vertical members 1602, and the load at the time of rear collision is input to the rear lateral member 1608.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 2, the battery pack 12 includes a case 1202, a junction box 1204, a battery 1206, and a heat exchange medium supply / discharge unit 1208.
The case 1202 includes a tray 1202A and a cover 1202B, and the case 1202 is disposed by attaching the tray 1202A to the pair of side frames 14.
Inside the case 1202, a junction box 1204, a battery 1206, and a heat exchange medium supply / discharge unit 1208 are arranged in that order from the front to the rear of the vehicle 10.
The battery 1206 is configured by electrically connecting a plurality of battery cells. In the present embodiment, the battery 1206 is configured by arranging four assemblies vertically stacked in the case 1202 in the vehicle width direction. Yes.
A pipe (not shown) for circulating the heat exchange medium is provided in a heat exchange medium passage (not shown) of each battery 1206, and this pipe is connected to the heat exchange medium supply / discharge unit 1208.
The junction box 1204 controls the batteries 1206, and includes a battery control ECU and various sensors.

As shown in FIG. 4A, a heat exchange medium reservoir tank 24, a radiator 26 for cooling the heat exchange medium, and a pump 28 for circulating the heat exchange medium are provided at a position of the vehicle body 11 in front of the battery pack 12. Yes.
In the present embodiment, water is used as the heat exchange medium.
The heat exchange medium supply / discharge unit 1208 is connected to the reservoir tank 24 via the heat exchange medium pipe 30.
The heat exchange medium supply / discharge unit 1208 includes a supply unit (not shown) to which the heat exchange medium in the reservoir tank 24 is supplied and a discharge unit (not shown) to which the heat exchange medium that has cooled the battery 1206 is returned. ing.
The heat exchange medium pipe 30 is for transferring the heat exchange medium to the battery pack 12, and includes a supply path 30 </ b> A that supplies the heat exchange medium in the reservoir tank 24 to the supply unit, and the heat exchange medium in the discharge unit as the reservoir tank 24. And a recovery path 30B that returns to the inside.
The pump 28 is disposed in the supply path 30A, and the radiator 26 is disposed in the recovery path 30B.

The supply path 30A and the recovery path 30B include a first part 3002 connected to the heat exchange medium supply / discharge part 1208, a second part 3004 attached to the rear impact frame 16, and the first part 3002 and the first part 3002, respectively. It has a pipe joint 3006 that connects the two portions 3004.
The first portion 3002 includes a portion 3002A that extends rearward from the heat exchange medium supply / discharge portion 1208 and protrudes rearward from the rear surface of the case 1202, a portion 3002B that extends downward from the rear end of the portion 3002A, and this portion. And an end portion 3002C extending forward from the lower end of 3002B.
The second portion 3004 is disposed along the upper surface of the vertical member 1602, and is attached to the upper surface of the vertical member 1602 with the fixture 32, and the rear end of the second portion 3004 is an end portion 3004A.
The pipe coupling portion 3006 is for detachably coupling the end portion 3002C of the first portion 3002 and the end portion 3004A of the second portion 3004.
More specifically, when a rear impact occurs, a low-rigidity portion 1602A contracts and deforms due to a load greater than or equal to a predetermined value acting in the vehicle front-rear direction. 16 moves relatively. Thereby, the pipe coupling part 3006 is configured such that the first part 3002 and the second part 3004 are separated.
In the present embodiment, the pipe coupling part 3006 is attached to the vertical member 1602 together with the second part 3004, and the end part 3002C of the first part 3002 is separated from the pipe coupling part 3006 at the time of a rear collision. The pipe coupling portion 3006 and the end portion 3002C of the first portion 3002 may be separated from the end portion 3004A of the second portion 3004 at the time of rear collision.
Therefore, the heat exchange medium pipe 30 includes a first portion 3002 connected to the battery pack 12, a second portion 3004 attached to the rear impact frame 16, the first portion 3002, and the second portion 3004. And a pipe joint 3006 for joining the two.

According to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, at the time of a rear impact, for example, when the rear vehicle 40 approaches the host vehicle 10 and rear impacts, the pair of vertical members 1602 When the front end abuts against the rear suspension cross member 22 (member on the front side of the vehicle), the low-rigidity portion 1602A contracts and deforms, and the rear impact frame 16 moves forward relative to the side frame 14.
At this time, since the battery pack 12 is attached to the side frame 14, the supply path 30 </ b> A attached to the rear impact frame 16 and the recovery path 30 </ b> A and the first portion 3002 of the recovery path 30 </ b> B are recovered. The second portion 3004 of the path 30B moves relatively forward, and the end portion 3002C of the first portion 3002 and the end portion 3004A of the second portion 3004 are separated at the pipe coupling portion 3006.
When the end portion 3002C of the first portion 3002 and the end portion 3004A of the second portion 3004 are separated, the heat exchange medium located in the supply portion and the heat exchange medium located in the discharge portion become the end portions of the first portion 3002. It is discharged from 3002C to the outside of the heat exchange medium pipe 30.
As a result, leakage of the heat exchange medium inside the battery pack 12 can be suppressed, and in the present embodiment, water leakage can be suppressed. Therefore, it is advantageous in suppressing water exposure of the battery 1206 and the junction box 1204 at the time of rear collision. Become.

In addition, when the weak part destroyed at the rear impact is formed in the first part 3002 or the second part 3004, the weak part is destroyed at the rear impact and the heat exchange medium is discharged from the part to the outside of the battery pack 12. As compared with the first portion 3002, the first portion 3002 and the second portion 3004 can be firmly configured, which is advantageous in improving the durability of the heat exchange medium pipe 30.
In addition, the pipe coupling portion 3006 is configured such that the first portion 3002 and the second portion 3004 are separated by the rear impact frame 16 moving relative to the side frame 14. The heat exchange medium can be reliably discharged to the outside of the battery pack 12 as compared with the case where the fragile portion is sometimes destroyed and the heat exchange medium is discharged to the outside of the battery pack 12 from the location. This is advantageous in suppressing the flooding of the junction box 1204.

Further, since the second portion 3004 is arranged along the upper surface of the vertical member 1602, it is advantageous in smoothly separating the first portion 3002 and the second portion 3004 in the pipe coupling portion 3006. Further, it is advantageous in protecting the second portion 3004 from stepping stones.
Further, the first portion 3002 extends rearward from the heat exchange medium supply / discharge portion 1208 and has a portion 3002A that protrudes rearward from the rear surface of the case 1202. Therefore, the first portion 3002 is shown in FIG. As described above, the rear vehicle 40 destroys the portion 3002 </ b> A, and the heat exchange medium can be discharged to the outside of the heat exchange medium pipe 30 from the broken position.
Therefore, it is advantageous in suppressing water exposure of the battery 1206 and the junction box 1204.
In the present embodiment, the first portion 3002 is configured to protrude rearward from the rear surface of the case 1202, and the first portion 3002 is not disposed below the inside of the case 1202.
Therefore, it is advantageous for reducing the height of the battery pack 12 and advantageous for securing a large vehicle interior space height, and for improving the formability by simplifying the shape of the bottom wall of the tray 1202A. Is advantageous.
In addition, since the second portion 3004 is disposed along the upper surface of the vertical member 1602, it is advantageous in protecting the second portion 3004 from stepping stones.

  Further, a junction box 1204, a battery 1206, and a heat exchange medium supply / discharge unit 1208 are arranged in that order from the front to the rear of the vehicle 10 inside the battery pack 12, and the junction box 1204 and the heat exchange medium supply / discharge unit 1208 are arranged. Are separated from each other in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 10, which is advantageous for suppressing the flooding of the junction box 1204 and is advantageous for enhancing the durability of the battery control ECU and various sensors.

In the present embodiment, a low-rigidity portion 1602A is provided at the front end portion of the pair of vertical members 1602, and the low-rigidity portion 1602A abuts against the rear suspension cross member 22 (a member on the vehicle front side) at the time of rear-end collision. Although the case where the rear impact frame 16 is deformed and moved forward relative to the side frame 14 has been described, the front ends of the pair of vertical members 1602 and the rear suspension cross member 22 (vehicle front side) The rear impact frame 16 may be moved forward relative to the side frame 14 at the time of rear impact, and the same effect can be obtained. .
The low rigidity portion 1602A of the vertical member 1602 may be omitted, or the gap between the front ends of the pair of vertical members 1602 and the rear suspension cross member 22 may be omitted. However, as in the present embodiment, In the pipe coupling portion 3006, the end portion of the first portion 3002 and the end portion of the second portion 3004 are more smoothly separated from each other, which is more advantageous in suppressing water exposure of the battery 1206 and the junction box 1204.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the battery 1206 is cooled by the temperature control structure of the battery pack and the temperature of the battery 1206 is adjusted within a predetermined range has been described, but the present invention is based on the temperature control structure of the battery pack. Of course, the present invention can be applied even when the battery 1206 is heated at a low temperature and the temperature of the battery 1206 is adjusted within a predetermined range.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle 12 Battery pack 1202 Case 1204 Junction box 1206 Battery 1208 Heat exchange medium supply discharge part 14 Side frame 16 Rear impact frame 1602 Vertical member 1602A Low-rigidity part 30 Heat exchange medium pipe 30A Supply path 30B Recovery path 3002 First part 3002A part 3002B part 3002C end part 3004 second part 3004A end part 3006 piping joint part

Claims (6)

A battery pack attached to the side frame;
A heat exchange medium pipe for transferring the heat exchange medium to the battery pack;
A rear collision frame provided below the battery pack and receiving a load at the time of rear collision;
A vehicle comprising:
The piping for the heat exchange medium includes a first part connected to the battery pack, a second part attached to the rear impact frame, and a pipe coupling part that couples the first part and the second part. And
The pipe coupling portion is configured such that the first part and the second part are separated by the relative movement of the rear collision frame with respect to the side frame.
The temperature control structure of the battery pack of the vehicle characterized by the above-mentioned. The rear impact frame includes a vertical member that extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and transmits a collision load to a vehicle front side member.
The second portion is disposed along the upper surface of the vertical member.
The temperature control structure of the battery pack of the vehicle according to claim 1. Provided at the front end of the vertical member is a low-rigidity portion that contracts and deforms when a load greater than or equal to a predetermined value acts in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
The temperature control structure of the battery pack of the vehicle according to claim 1 or 2. A gap is provided between the front end portion of the vertical member and the vehicle front side member.
The temperature control structure of the battery pack of the vehicle according to claim 1 or 2. The battery pack includes a battery cooled by the heat exchange medium, and a case that houses the battery,
The first portion is configured to include a portion protruding rearward from the rear portion of the case.
The temperature control structure of the battery pack of the vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein The battery has a heat exchange medium path;
The battery pack has a heat exchange medium supply / discharge section for circulating the heat exchange medium in the heat exchange medium path,
The first part is connected to the heat exchange medium path through the heat exchange medium supply / discharge part,
Inside the battery pack, from the front to the rear of the vehicle, a junction box, the battery, and the heat exchange medium supply / discharge unit are arranged in that order.
The temperature control structure of the battery pack of the vehicle according to claim 5.

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