Supply device and modular supply system so obtained

1 . A supply device comprising:

a tubular body configured to contain a battery pack formed by a plurality of cells organized in a predetermined number of superimposed layers;

a control unit configured to monitor a state of functioning and to manage a charge of said battery pack;

a connector including a plurality of electrical contacts to supply, or absorb, a predetermined electric power; and

a plurality of connection cables arranged to connect said battery pack to said plurality of electrical contacts of said connector and to said control unit;

wherein:

each layer of cells includes a first group of cells and a second group of cells;

between said first group of cells and said second group of cells a housing channel is formed delimited by a first lateral containment wall and a second lateral containment wall for housing, in use, said plurality of connection cables;

said battery pack comprises a plurality of superimposed layers of cells;

between two consecutive superimposed layers of cells an interposition member is provided comprising an electrical connection member provided with a first plurality of contacting portions at a first side and a second plurality of contacting portions at a second side at respective axial symmetric positions with respect to an axis of symmetry,

a cell of a first layer of the superimposed layers is positioned, in use, adjacent to a respective contacting portion of said first plurality of contacting portions,

a cell of a second layer of the superimposed layers is positioned, in use, adjacent to a respective contacting portion of said second plurality of contacting portions;

said electrical connection member is provided with a plurality of protruding portions at the first side and at the second side at which said first plurality of contacting portions and said second plurality of contact portions are provided, respectively;

said electrical connection member is made of a metallic material;

said electrical connection member comprises a first plate portion and a second plate portion arranged on substantially parallel planes and provided respectively with the first plurality of contacting portions and the second plurality of contacting portions aligned with each other, and

said first plate portion and said second plate portion are connected to each other by a connection portion configured in such a way to allow said first plate portion and second plate portion to elastically approach, or depart, with respect to one another.

2 . The supply device according to claim 1 , wherein said first lateral containment wall and said second lateral containment wall are configured to move with respect to one another between:

a spaced position, where it is possible to position said connection cables within said housing channel, or remove them, and

a close position, where said first lateral containment wall and said second lateral containment wall are arranged to arrange said battery pack in a configuration of minimum lateral encumbrance, with said connection cables positioned within said housing channel.

3 . The supply device according to claim 1 , wherein said first lateral containment wall and said second lateral containment wall are provided with:

a first surface facing towards said housing channel and arranged to laterally contain said plurality of connection cables, and

a second surface opposite to said first surface provided with a plurality of longitudinal grooves configured to house, in use, a respective cell of said first group and of said second group, respectively.

4 . The supply device according to claim 1 , wherein:

said tubular body is provided with a lateral surface having a substantially prismatic shape; and

a first end wall and a second end wall are provided, which are arranged at opposite sides with respect to said tubular body, said second end wall being provided with said connector.

5 . The supply device according to claim 4 , wherein said first end wall is provided with a handle portion configured to move between:

a rest position, which is arranged to form a perimeter edge of said first end wall, and

a grasping position, where said handle portion is inclined with respect to said first end wall.

6 . The supply device according to claim 1 , wherein:

said predetermined number of superimposed layers of cells includes a first layer of cells, a second layer of cells, and a third layer of cells, wherein the

cells of the first layer of cells are connected in series, wherein the cells of the second layer of cells are connected in series, and the cells of the third layer of cells are connected in series, and

wherein said first layer of cells, said second layer of cells, and said third layer of cells are connected in parallel.

7 . The supply device according to claim 1 , wherein said first lateral containment wall and said second lateral containment wall are configured to protrude longitudinally to said tubular body for a whole length of said battery pack.

8 . The supply device according to claim 1 , wherein an elastic member is provided between said first plate portion and said second plate portion at said first plurality of contacting portions and at said second plurality of contacting portions.

9 . The supply device according to claim 8 , wherein the elastic member is made of an elastomeric material.

10 . The supply device according to claim 8 wherein said first plate portion and second plate portion are mutually engaged to each other by welding at a welded portion arranged along said axis of symmetry, said electrical connection member being arranged to allow the movement of electric current between said first plate portion and said second plate portion only at the welded portion.

11 . The supply device according to claim 1 , wherein said interposition member further includes, a spacer member provided with an aperture arranged to house, in use, said electrical connection member in such a way that said first plate portion and second plate portion are able to move towards one another.

12 . The supply device according to claim 1 , wherein said first plate portion and second plate portion provide respective free end portions.

13 . The supply device according to claim 11 , wherein said spacer member is provided with a shaped groove configured to house, in use, a connection cable of said plurality of connection cables.

14 . A modular supply system to supply an electric, or hybrid, vehicle, comprising:

a battery housing including a plurality of housing seats having a substantially prismatic shape, each housing seat being provided with a first connector comprising a respective plurality of electrical contacts;

a plurality of supply devices provided with tubular bodies having a substantially prismatic shape and configured to contain a respective battery pack formed by a plurality of cells organized in a predetermined number of superimposed layers, each supply device of said plurality:

being arranged to move from a position external to said battery housing, to an internal position, which is arranged to engage into a respective housing seat of said battery housing;

being provided with a second connector including a plurality of electrical contacts and arranged to be connected to said first connector including said respective plurality of electrical contacts when said supply device is positioned in said internal position, to supply a predetermined electric power, and

being provided with a respective control unit configured to monitor a state of functioning and to manage a charge of the respective battery pack; and

a central control unit configured to monitor the state of functioning and to manage the charge of the different supply devices;

wherein:

each layer of cells includes a first group of cells and a second group of cells;

between said first group of cells and said second group of cells a housing channel is formed arranged to contain, in use, a plurality of connection cables arranged to connect said battery pack with said second connector and, therefore, to said first connector;

said housing channel is delimited by a first lateral containment wall and a second lateral containment wall in such a way to separate said plurality of cells from said housing channel;

said battery pack comprises a plurality of superimposed layers of cells;

between two consecutive layers of said plurality of superimposed layers an interposition member is provided including an electrical connection member provided with a first plurality of contacting portions at a first side and a second plurality of contacting portions at a second side at respective axial symmetric positions with respect to an axis of symmetry,

a cell of a first layer of the superimposed layers is positioned, in use, adjacent to a respective contacting portion of said first plurality of contacting portions,

a cell of a second layer of the superimposed layers is positioned, in use, adjacent to a respective contacting portion of said second plurality of contacting portions;

said electrical connection member is provided with a plurality of protruding portions at the first side and at the second side at which said first plurality of contacting portions and said second plurality of contacting portions are provided, respectively;

said electrical connection member is made of a metallic material;

said electrical connection member comprises a first plate portion and a second plate portion arranged on substantially parallel planes and provided respectively with the first plurality of contacting portions and the second plurality of contacting portions aligned with each other, and

said first plate portion and said second plate portion are connected to each other by a connection portion configured in such a way to allow said first plate portion and second plate portion to elastically approach, or depart, with respect to one another.

15 . The modular supply system according to claim 14 , wherein said supply devices and said housing seats are configured to carry out a shape coupling, said tubular bodies of said supply devices and said housing seats of said battery housing being provided with respective lateral surfaces including a first converging side and a second converging side, in such a way to facilitate a movement from said external position to said internal position and vice versa.