IP Library › Granted Patent US 12695132
Granted Patent B2
US 12695132 · App. 18/209,624 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Storage apparatus

Inventors: Tatsuya Ishibashi (Tokyo, JP); Yusuke Okubo (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
H01M10/635H01M10/613H01M10/625H01M10/6568H05K7/20872B60K11/02B60L58/26H01M2220/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12695132
App. No.
18/209,624
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A power storage apparatus includes a first storage battery, a first flow path, a connector, a pump, and a controller. The first flow path allows a coolant to flow therein to the first storage battery. The connector couples the first storage battery to an electric power device of an external apparatus including the electric power device and a second flow path. The connector couples the first flow path to the second flow path and thereby allows the first and second flow paths to form a circulatory flow path. The second flow path allows the coolant to flow therein. The pump is provided on the first flow path and controls a flow rate and a flowing direction of the coolant. The controller controls an operation of the pump. The controller switches the flowing direction of the coolant multiple times after the first and second flow paths are coupled to each other.

Claims (56)

1 . A power storage apparatus comprising:

a first storage battery;

a first flow path configured to allow a coolant to flow therein to the first storage battery;

a connector configured to couple the first storage battery to an electric power device of an external apparatus comprising the electric power device and a second flow path, and to couple the first flow path to the second flow path and thereby allow the first flow path and the second flow path to form a circulatory flow path, the second flow path being configured to allow the coolant to flow therein;

a pump provided on the first flow path and configured to control a flow rate and a flowing direction of the coolant; and

a controller comprising one or more processors and one or more memories storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to:

detect that the first flow path is coupled to the second flow path via the connector,

detect a temperature difference between a temperature of the coolant in the first flow path and a temperature of the coolant in the second flow path;

determine a frequency of switching a flowing direction of the coolant of the pump based on the detected temperature difference, wherein the frequency of switching the flowing direction of the coolant is higher when the temperature difference is greater;

in response to detecting that the first flow path is coupled to the second flow path via the connector, repeatedly execute a cycle including (i) a first control of controlling the pump such that, in the circulatory flow path, the coolant flows in a first direction at a first flow rate for a first period of time, and (ii) a second control of controlling the pump such that, in the circulatory flow path, the coolant flows in a second direction opposite to the first direction at a second flow rate for a second period of time after the first control; and

increase the flow rate of the coolant as the cycle is repeatedly executed.

2 . The power storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to increase a number of times per predetermined unit time that the cycle is executed as the temperature difference becomes larger.

3 . The power storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the power storage apparatus is provided in a first vehicle,

the external apparatus is provided in a second vehicle different from the first vehicle, and

the electric power device comprises a second storage battery.

4 . A power storage apparatus comprising:

a first storage battery;

a first flow path configured to allow a coolant to flow therein to the first storage battery;

a connector configured to couple the first storage battery to an electric power device of an external apparatus comprising the electric power device and a second flow path, and to couple the first flow path to the second flow path and thereby allow the first flow path and the second flow path to form a circulatory flow path, the second flow path being configured to allow the coolant to flow therein;

a pump provided on the first flow path and configured to control a flow rate and a flowing direction of the coolant; and

circuitry configured to control an operation of the pump the circuitry comprising one or more processors and one or more memories storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the circuitry to

detect that the first flow path is coupled to the second flow path via the connector,

detect a temperature difference between a temperature of the coolant in the first flow path and a temperature of the coolant in the second flow path;

determine a frequency of switching a flowing direction of the coolant of the pump based on the detected temperature difference, wherein the frequency of switching the flowing direction of the coolant is higher when the temperature difference is greater;

in response to detecting that the first flow path is coupled to the second flow path via the connector, repeatedly execute a cycle including (i) a first control of controlling the pump such that, in the circulatory flow path, the coolant flows in a first direction at a first flow rate for a first period of time, and (ii) a second control of controlling the pump such that, in the circulatory flow path, the coolant flows in a second direction opposite to the first direction at a second flow rate for a second period of time after the first control; and

increase the flow rate of the coolant as the cycle is repeatedly executed.

5 . The power storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:

detect a State Of Charge (SOC) of the first storage battery and an SOC of a second storage battery of the external apparatus;

determine to repeatedly execute the cycle when the SOC of the first storage battery is higher than the SOC of the second storage battery; and

determine not to execute the cycle when the SOC of the first storage battery is not higher than the SOC of the second storage battery.

6 . The power storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the pump such that, in repeated execution of the cycle, a volume of the coolant flowing through the pump during one cycle becomes larger as the cycle is repeatedly executed.

7 . The power storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the pump such that, in repeated execution of the cycle, (i) a volume of the coolant passing through the pump during execution of the first control becomes greater than a volume of the coolant that passed through the pump during execution of the first control in a immediately preceding cycle, and (ii) a volume of the coolant passing through the pump during execution of the second control becomes equal to or greater than a volume of the coolant that passed through the pump during execution of the first control in the same cycle.

8 . The power storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured, in repeated execution of the cycle, (i) to set the first period of time to be longer than the first period of time in an immediately preceding cycle, and (ii) to set the second period of time to be equal to or longer than the first period of time in the same cycle.

9 . The power storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured, in repeated execution of the cycle, (i) to set the first flow rate to be greater than the first flow rate in an immediately preceding cycle, and (ii) to set the second flow rate to be equal to or greater than the first flow rate in the same cycle.

10 . The power storage apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured, in repeated execution of the cycle, (i) to set the first flow rate to be greater than the first flow rate in the immediately preceding cycle, and (ii) to set the second flow rate to be equal to or greater than the first flow rate in the same cycle.

11 . The power storage apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to:

decrease, as the temperature difference becomes larger, a difference between a volume of the coolant passing through the pump during execution of the first control and a volume of the coolant that passed through the pump during execution of the first control in an immediately preceding cycle.

12 . A vehicle comprising:

a first storage battery;

a first flow path configured to allow a coolant to flow therein to the first storage battery;

a connector configured to couple the first storage battery to a second storage battery of a second vehicle that is different from the vehicle, the second vehicle having the second storage battery and a second flow path configured to allow the coolant to flow therein, and to couple the first flow path to the second flow path such that the first flow path and the second flow path form a circulatory flow path;

a pump provided on the first flow path and configured to control a flow rate and a flowing direction of the coolant; and

a controller comprising one or more processors and one or more memories storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to:

detect that the first flow path is coupled to the second flow path via the connector;

detect a temperature difference between a temperature of the coolant in the first flow path and a temperature of the coolant in the second flow path;

determine a frequency of switching a flowing direction of the coolant of the pump based on the detected temperature difference, wherein the frequency of switching the flowing direction of the coolant is higher when the temperature difference is greater;

in response to detecting that the first flow path is coupled to the second flow path via the connector, repeatedly execute a cycle including (i) a first control of controlling the pump such that, in the circulatory flow path, the coolant flows in a first direction at a first flow rate for a first period of time, and (ii) a second control of controlling the pump such that, in the circulatory flow path, the coolant flows in a second direction opposite to the first direction at a second flow rate for a second period of time after the first control; and

increase the flow rate of the coolant as the cycle is repeatedly executed.

13 . The vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to control the pump such that, in repeated execution of the cycle, (i) a volume of the coolant passing through the pump during execution of the first control becomes greater than a volume of the coolant that passed through the pump during execution of the first control in an immediately preceding cycle, and (ii) a volume of the coolant passing through the pump during execution of the second control becomes equal to or greater than the volume of the coolant that passed through the pump during execution of the first control in the same cycle.

14 . The vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to:

decrease, as the temperature difference becomes larger, a difference between a volume of the coolant passing through the pump during execution of the first control and a volume of the coolant that passed through the pump during execution of the first control in an immediately preceding cycle.

15 . The vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to:

detect a State Of Charge (SOC) of the first storage battery and an SOC of the second storage battery;

determine to repeatedly execute the cycle when the SOC of the first storage battery is higher than the SOC of the second storage battery, and

determine not to execute the cycle when the SOC of the first storage battery is not higher than the SOC of the second storage battery.