Battery pack
A battery pack includes a battery and a case. The case is configured to accommodate the battery. The case includes a bead and a continuous member. The bead protrudes outward with respect to a planar member. The continuous member is continuous with the bead and is configured to allow communication between an interior of the case and an area outside the case.
1 . A battery pack comprising:
a battery; and
a case configured to accommodate the battery,
wherein the case comprises:
a bead protruding outward with respect to a planar member;
a continuous member that is continuous with the bead and that is configured to allow communication between an interior of the case and an area outside the case;
a battery case having an upper opening; and
a lid configured to cover the upper opening of the battery case, and
wherein the lid comprises the bead and the continuous member.
2 . The battery pack according to claim 1 ,
wherein the continuous member extends such that an end of the continuous member on a side opposite to the bead is positioned outside an outer edge of the battery case and such that the end faces downward.
3 . The battery pack according to claim 2 , wherein the bead extends along a longitudinal direction of a vehicle, and
wherein the continuous member is coupled to the bead so as to be positioned behind a center of the bead in the longitudinal direction.
4 . The battery pack according to claim 2 , wherein the continuous member is inclined downward, and has a width that decreases as a distance from the bead increases.
5 . The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the bead and the continuous member together form a flow structure configured to discharge air from the interior of the case to the area outside the case.
6 . The battery pack according to claim 5 , wherein the flow structure is configured to discharge air that has been warmed as a result of cooling the battery.
7 . The battery pack according to claim 5 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the continuous member decreases in a direction from the bead toward an end of the continuous member on a side opposite to the bead, such that a flow velocity of air flowing along the continuous member increases toward the end.
8 . The battery pack according to claim 5 , wherein the battery pack is configured to be disposed in a vehicle below a luggage compartment, and wherein the flow structure is positioned to discharge air at a position away from a rear passenger seat of the vehicle.
9 . The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the bead is configured to improve rigidity of the case.
10 . The battery pack according to claim 9 , wherein the planar member is a flat surface of the lid of the case, and the bead protrudes upward from the flat surface.
11 . The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the continuous member comprises an opening that faces downward, and the opening is configured to reduce a probability of foreign matter entering the case.
12 . The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the continuous member comprises an opening positioned in a vicinity of an upper end of the case such that water is less likely to enter the case when a vehicle in which the battery pack is disposed is submerged.
13 . The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the case further comprises an intake duct configured to allow air to flow into the case for cooling the battery.
14 . The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the bead extends along a first direction, and the continuous member extends in a second direction that intersects the first direction.
15 . The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein a coupling end of the continuous member that is coupled to the bead has approximately a same height as the bead.
16 . The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the case comprises a plurality of beads disposed so as to be isolated from one another, and the continuous member is continuous with at least one of the plurality of beads.
17 . The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the continuous member defines an exhaust space, and wherein a gap is formed between the bead and the continuous member such that the gap communicates with both an internal space of the case and the exhaust space.
18 . The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the case is made of a metal material.
19 . A battery pack comprising:
a battery; and
a case configured to accommodate the battery,
wherein the case comprises:
a bead protruding outward with respect to a planar member; and
a continuous member that is continuous with the bead and that is configured to allow communication between an interior of the case and an area outside the case,
wherein the case comprises:
a battery case having an upper opening;
a lid configured to cover the upper opening of the battery case; and
a frame that is disposed between the battery case and the lid and that is configured to fix the case to a vehicle body,
wherein the battery case comprises the bead, and
wherein the frame serves as the continuous member.
20 . The battery pack according to claim 19 , wherein the planar member is a side surface of the battery case, and the bead protrudes outward from the side surface.