IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,703,317
Granted Patent B2
US 8,703,317 · App. 13/387,287 · Granted Apr 22, 2014

Battery pack

Inventors: Toshimichi Tsumaki (Tokyo, JP); Fumihiro Akahane (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,703,317
App. No.
13/387,287
Granted
Apr 22, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A battery pack includes a battery chamber ( 3 ) which houses a plurality of battery cells ( 2 ), a cooling air chamber ( 4 ) provided below the battery chamber ( 3 ), and a fan ( 5 ) which supplies cooling air (A) into the cooling air chamber ( 4 ) at a static pressure not less than atmospheric pressure. On a bottom part of the battery chamber ( 3 ), there is provided a supporting part ( 6 ) which supports the battery cells ( 2 ) while maintaining horizontal gaps therebetween, and air inlet holes ( 7 ) which guide cooling air (A) upward are provided in the bottom part of the battery chamber ( 3 ) at positions corresponding to the gaps between the battery cells ( 2 ).

Claims (18)

1. A battery pack comprising:

(a) a battery chamber which houses a plurality of battery cells;

(b) a cooling air chamber provided below said battery chamber; and

(c) a fan which supplies cooling air into said cooling air chamber at a static pressure not less than atmospheric pressure;

(d) an air discharge outlet provided above said battery chamber and configured to discharge air inside said battery chamber to an outside of said battery pack;

(e) a bottom part that separates said cooling air chamber and said battery chamber, and on which said plurality of battery cells is placed, said bottom part being provided with air inlet holes which guide cooling air upward at positions corresponding to gaps between said plurality of battery cells

wherein each gap between said plurality of battery cells has a plurality of air inlet holes; and

(f) a straightening plate provided in said cooling chamber for diffusing kinetic energy of said cooling air and equalizing said static pressure within said cooling air chamber, wherein said straightening plate is provided above said fan with a clearance from said fan, and a planar shape of said straightening plate is formed greater than a planar outer shape of said fan

and both said straightening plate and said bottom part are oriented orthogonally to the air flow initially resulting from the fan.

2. A battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein in said cooling air chamber there is provided a discharge outlet which discharges drain water flowing thereinto from said battery chamber.

3. A battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein said straightening plate is configured to apply a uniform static pressure to said air inlet holes.

4. A battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein a gap between said air inlet holes arranged in line along a planar direction of an electrode plate in said battery cell is greater than a gap between said air inlet holes arranged in line along a thickness direction of said electrode plate.

5. A battery pack according to claim 2 , wherein said straightening plate is configured to apply a uniform static pressure to said air inlet holes.

6. A battery pack according to claim 2 , wherein each of said battery cells includes an electrode plate, and a gap between said air inlet holes arranged in line along a planar direction of said electrode plate in said battery cell is greater than a gap between said air inlet holes arranged in line along a thickness direction of said electrode plate.

7. A battery pack according to claim 3 , wherein each of said battery cells includes an electrode plate, and a gap between said air inlet holes arranged in line along a planar direction of said electrode plate in said battery cell is greater than a gap between said air inlet holes arranged in line along a thickness direction of said electrode plate.

8. A battery pack according to claim 5 , wherein each of said battery cells includes an electrode plate, and a gap between said air inlet holes arranged in line along a planar direction of said electrode plate in said battery cell is greater than a gap between said air inlet holes arranged in line along a thickness direction of said electrode plate.

9. A battery pack according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a supporting part which supports said battery cells while maintaining horizontal gaps between said battery cells.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2012
From: TSUMAKI, TOSHIMICHI; AKAHANE, FUMIHIRO
To: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 028045/0721 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP P2010-000108 · Jan 4, 2010 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120189886A1 · Jul 26, 2012