JP7624960B2 - Power Supply Unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a power supply unit for a vehicle.

Vehicles such as hybrid vehicles (HVs) and electric vehicles (EVs) are equipped with a battery pack that supplies electricity to the vehicle and a blower that blows air onto the battery pack to cool it (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Battery packs will break down if water or other liquids get into them, so the structure that the blower uses to take in air needs to be designed to prevent liquids from being sucked into the blower.

For example, if a unit including a battery pack and blower is installed on the floor of the vehicle interior and a cooler box placed in the vehicle interior falls over, causing the water inside to spill out, it is possible that the air intake path to the blower may become wet (momentarily submerged). Even in such an event, the vehicle's power supply unit is required to have a structure that is less likely to cause the inconvenience of water being sucked in along with the air from the blower. Furthermore, it is desirable to achieve the low-cost requirement while preserving the existing structure.

JP 2022-092907 A

The present invention was made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a power supply unit with a structure that makes it difficult for the blower that cools the battery pack to suck in liquid.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the power supply unit of the present invention is a power supply unit mounted on the floor surface of a vehicle, and includes a battery pack that supplies electricity to the vehicle, a blower that blows air to cool the battery pack, an intake base, a filter, a filter case, an intake cover, and a drain. The intake base covers the blower and has an inclined portion on its outer surface, and an opening for taking in the air is opened in the inclined portion. The filter covers the opening and removes dust from the air. The filter case presses and fixes the filter to the intake base. The intake cover has a top surface portion that faces the filter and the filter case with a gap therebetween, and a side surface portion that surrounds the space between the top surface portion and the intake base, and has an intake hole in the side surface portion for sucking in the air. The drain groove is located around the opening on the outer surface of the intake base at a position higher than the opening, and has a recessed shape that crosses the infiltration path to the opening.

With this configuration, the drain groove that crosses the infiltration path guides the liquid that flows in from the infiltration path to be discharged elsewhere, reducing the amount of liquid that reaches the blower from the opening and making it difficult for the blower to suck in liquid, preventing breakdowns in the battery pack, etc.

In addition, in the power supply unit according to the present invention, a rib is provided on the bottom surface of the filter case, which is the surface facing the intake base, and protrudes from the bottom surface. The rib is positioned within the drain groove when the filter case is in a state where the filter is fixed to the intake base.

With this configuration, the direction of liquid flowing along the bottom surface of the filter case toward the opening is changed by the ribs toward the drain groove, preventing liquid from flowing along the bottom surface of the filter case and overflowing the drain groove.

In addition, in the power supply unit according to the present invention, the filter case has a claw that penetrates and engages with the intake base on the outer periphery, which is the part surrounding the area in contact with the filter, and the intake base has an engagement hole through which the claw penetrates on the opposite side of the drain groove from the opening.

With this configuration, the drain function is not impaired by the engagement hole.

In addition, in the power supply unit according to the present invention, the engagement hole is positioned opposite the outer surface of the blower.

With this configuration, even if liquid seeps in through the engagement hole, the liquid drips onto the outer surface of the blower, making it less likely to be sucked into the blower.

The power supply unit of the present invention has the advantage of providing a structure that makes it difficult for the blower that cools the battery pack to suck in liquid.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a vehicle on which a power supply unit according to an embodiment is mounted. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the appearance and configuration of a power supply unit according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an internal configuration of the power supply unit 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the intake cover according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the intake base according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of the filter case according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the filter according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the power supply unit with the intake cover removed according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view showing the external appearance of a part of the intake base according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the drain groove, the filter case, and the intake base according to the embodiment.

Below, an example of a power supply unit according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the outline of a vehicle 100 in which a power supply unit 1 according to an embodiment is mounted. The vehicle 100 includes a front seat 103, a rear seat 104, and a power supply unit 1 on a floor surface 102 of an interior 101. The power supply unit 1 is installed under the front seat 103.

2 is a perspective view showing an example of the external appearance and configuration of the power supply unit 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the internal configuration of the power supply unit 1. Note that FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are perspective views seen from different directions. To facilitate understanding, each drawing also shows a three-dimensional coordinate system. In the three-dimensional coordinate system, the depth direction (front-rear direction) of the vehicle 100 and the power supply unit 1 is the X-axis direction, the width direction (left-right direction) is the Y-axis direction, and the height direction (up-down direction) is the Z-axis direction. The positive direction of the X-axis is the direction from front to back for the driver holding the steering wheel of the vehicle 100, and the positive direction of the X-axis is the "rear" or "rear side", and the negative direction is the "front" or "front side". The positive direction of the Y-axis is the direction from left to right for the driver, and the positive direction of the Z-axis is the direction from bottom to top.

The power supply unit 1 comprises a protective cover 2, a blower 3, an intake base 4, a duct 5, a filter 6, a filter case 7, and an intake cover 8. In FIG. 3, the intake cover 8 is absent, and the filter 6 and the filter case 7 are exposed. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the intake cover 8. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the intake base 4. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the filter case 7. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the filter 6.

The protective cover 2 covers the battery pack from above. The battery pack is a secondary battery (battery) that supplies electricity to the vehicle 100, and is, for example, a lithium-ion battery. The blower 3 blows air onto the battery pack inside the protective cover 2 to cool the battery pack.

The intake base 4 covers the blower 3 and duct 5 from above, preventing them from getting wet and dusty. An opening 41 is provided in the intake base 4 for taking in air from the outside. The intake base 4 has an inclined portion on its outer surface 40, and the opening 41 is provided in this inclined portion. The air that the blower 3 blows onto the battery pack is taken in through the opening 41. The duct 5 has a bell-like shape that connects the edge of the opening 41 to the edge of the suction port 31 of the blower 3, and guides air from the opening 41 to the blower 3 (see Figure 3).

In this embodiment, a water ingress prevention measure is provided that assumes water ingress to the extent that the air intake path to the blower 3 is momentarily submerged, such as when a cooler box placed in the interior 101 of the vehicle 100 falls over and the water inside spills out. This embodiment at least partially prevents liquid from entering when water is ingressed due to momentary submersion, making it less likely for the power supply unit 1 to malfunction.

The filter 6 covers the opening 41 and removes dust from the air passing through. When the air in the duct 5 passes through the opening 41, the filter 6 removes dust from it. The filter case 7 presses the filter 6 against the intake base 4 and secures it to the edge of the opening 41.

The filter 6 has a dust removal section 61 and an outer periphery 62 (see FIG. 7). The dust removal section 61 is an accordion-folded section sized to fit into the opening 41 and removes dust carried by the air passing through. The outer periphery 62 is a flat section that surrounds the dust removal section 61 and is sandwiched between the edge of the opening 41 and the filter case 7.

The intake cover 8 has a top surface 81 and side surfaces 82, 83, and 84. The top surface 81 faces the filter 6 and the filter case 7 with a gap therebetween. The side surfaces 82, 83, and 84 are continuous with the top surface 81 and surround the gap between the top surface 81 and the intake base 4. Of the side surfaces 82, 83, and 84, the side surface 84 closest to the left end of the intake base 4 has an intake hole 841 for drawing in air. The intake hole 841 is a mesh-like hole that is integrated with the side surface 84.

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the power supply unit 1 with the intake cover 8 removed. As described above, the outer periphery 62 of the filter 6 is sandwiched between the bottom surface of the filter case 7 and the outer surface 40 of the intake base 4. As a result, a gap is created around the filter 6 between the bottom surface of the filter case 7 and the outer surface 40 of the intake base 4, the width of which is equal to the thickness of the outer periphery 62.

The bottom surface of the filter case 7 and the opposing area of the outer surface 40 are inclined so that they are lower the further forward the vehicle 100. Therefore, liquid that gets into the gap between the bottom surface and the outer surface 40 moves toward the front of the vehicle 100. Therefore, liquid that gets in behind the opening 41 of the vehicle 100 will flow into the opening 41 if no countermeasures are taken. However, in this embodiment, the intrusion of liquid is prevented by providing a drainage groove 42. This will be explained next.

When the power supply unit 1 becomes submerged in water, the water may seep into the duct 5. However, the drain groove 42, which will be described later, can block the path of water intrusion at the location where the drain groove 42 is installed.

The drain groove 42 of this embodiment prevents water from seeping in behind the opening 41 in the conventional configuration from spreading (drooping). If the drain groove 42 were not provided, the area of water seeping in would expand downward along the slope of the outer surface 40 toward the opening 41, and liquid would drip from above the blower 3 to the front of the suction port 31 or spread into the duct 5, making it easier for the liquid to be sucked into the blower 3. However, the configuration of this embodiment prevents dripping into the suction port 31 of the blower 3, making it harder for the blower 3 to suck in liquid, and therefore makes it harder for the inconvenience of liquid being sprayed onto the battery pack to occur.

9 is an enlarged perspective view showing the appearance of a part of the intake base 4. A drain groove 42 is formed at a predetermined position on the outer surface 40 of the intake base 4. The drain groove 42 has an elongated recessed shape. The drain groove 42 is provided in at least a part of the periphery (near the edge) of the opening 41. Since the opening 41 is provided in a sloping part of the outer surface 40 of the intake base 4, the height of the periphery of the opening 41 is not uniform, but is sloping. In this embodiment, this sloping is higher toward the rear of the vehicle 100. The drain groove 42 is provided at a position higher than the opening 41 (i.e., the upstream position of the opening 41 when the liquid flows on the outer surface 40). The drain groove 42 is provided across the infiltration path of the liquid into the opening 41. The bottom of the drain groove 42 is sloping so that the liquid received by the drain groove 42 flows toward the outside of the intake base 4. In other words, the height (Z-axis value) of the bottom of the drain groove 42 is lower (Z-axis value is smaller) on the outside of the intake base 4 than on the inside.

Figure 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the positional relationship between the drain groove 42 and the filter case 7 and the intake base 4. Reference numeral 70 in this figure indicates the bottom surface 70 of the filter case 7. Reference numeral 71 in this figure also indicates a gap 71 between the bottom surface 70 and the outer surface 40 of the intake base 4. As described above, this gap 71 corresponds to the thickness of the outer periphery 62 of the filter 6.

The filter case 7 further includes a claw 73 that penetrates and engages with the intake base 4 on the outer periphery 72, which is the peripheral portion of the area that contacts the filter 6. The intake base 4 has an engagement hole 43 with which the claw 73 engages. The engagement hole 43 is located on the opposite side of the drain groove 42 from the opening 41.

The filter case 7 also has a rib 74 protruding from the bottom surface 70. The rib 74 is located in the drain groove 42 when the filter case 7 is in a state in which the filter 6 is fixed to the intake base 4. The longitudinal direction of the rib 74 is aligned with the longitudinal direction of the drain groove 42.

The intake base 4 further includes a vertical rib 44. The vertical rib 44 protrudes upward from the outer surface 40 of the intake base 4, and is located on the opposite side of the drain groove 42 from the opening 41. The vertical rib 44 is located at a position higher (larger Z-axis value) than the drain groove 42 and the engagement hole 43, and is also located behind (larger X-axis value) than the drain groove 42 and the engagement hole 43.

In this configuration, liquid (such as water) enters the inside of the intake cover 8 via the intake hole 841 of the intake cover 8 or along the outer surface 40 of the intake base 4. When the liquid enters the gap 71 between the bottom surface 70 of the filter case 7 and the outer surface 40 of the intake base 4, it moves toward the opening 41 due to the inclination of the outer surface 40 of the intake base 4. Since the drain groove 42 crosses the path along which the liquid moves (the infiltration path), the liquid flows into the drain groove 42. In this way, the liquid is blocked by the drain groove 42 and does not reach the opposite bank of the drain groove 42, so infiltration through the infiltration path is prevented. Due to the inclination of the bottom of the drain groove 42, the liquid is guided in one direction within the drain groove 42. The liquid is then discharged from the bottom of the inclination of the drain groove 42. In this embodiment, a drain 42 is provided at a position that is the infiltration path for liquid dripping from above the blower 3 down the inner wall of the duct 5, blocking the infiltration path, thereby preventing the liquid from dripping (infiltrating) into the duct 5 or blower 3.

The ribs 74 (see FIG. 10) change the direction of the liquid that moves along the bottom surface 70 of the filter case 7 toward the opening 41 to a downward direction. The liquid moves along the protruding direction of the ribs 74 and drips into the drain groove 42.

The vertical ribs 44 also prevent water on the outer surface 40 from moving rearward. The vertical ribs 44 repel water moving rearward along the outer surface 40. Any water that is repelled and enters the gap 71 flows into the drain 42 and is discharged, as described above.

As described above, according to the power supply unit 1 of this embodiment, the drainage groove 42 is provided so as to cross the infiltration path, and liquid that is likely to flow into the opening 41 is guided to be discharged elsewhere, making it difficult for the blower 3 to suck in liquid, thereby preventing breakdowns in the battery pack, etc.

Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described, the above embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, modifications, and combinations can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. The above embodiment and its variations are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims.

For example, the power supply unit 1 in the above embodiment has drainage grooves 42 only at the positions shown in the figures, but in practice, drainage grooves that cross the infiltration path to the opening 41 may also be provided at other positions.

In the above embodiment, a bell-shaped duct 5 is provided to connect the edge of the opening 41 and the edge of the blower 3. However, in practice, if the duct 5 is not provided, the engagement hole 43 is positioned opposite the outer surface 32 of the blower 3 (see FIG. 3). The outer surface 32 is the outer surface of the cylindrical portion of the blower 3, which is a cylindrical container having an intake port 31. In practice, the cylindrical portion may be a square tube instead of a cylinder. With this configuration, even if liquid that has run down the outer surface 40 seeps into the intake base 4 through the engagement hole 43, the liquid will drip from the engagement hole 43 onto the outer surface 32 of the blower 3 and will not enter the blower 3.

1 ... power supply unit,
2 ... protective cover,
3 ... Blower, 31 ... Intake port, 32 ... Outer surface, 4 ... Intake base,
40: outer surface, 41: opening, 42: drain groove, 43: engagement hole, 44: vertical rib,
5 ... duct,
6 ... filter, 61 ... dust removal part, 62 ... outer periphery,
7 ... Filter case,
70: bottom surface, 71: gap, 72: outer periphery, 73: claw, 74: rib,
8 ... intake cover, 81 ... top surface portion, 82 to 84 ... side surface portions, 841 ... intake hole,
100...vehicle,
101: interior; 102: floor; 103: front seat; 104: rear seat

Claims (3)

A power supply unit mounted on a floor surface of a vehicle,
A battery pack that supplies electricity to the vehicle;
a blower that blows air to cool the battery pack;
an intake base that covers the blower and has an inclined portion on its outer surface, the inclined portion having an opening for taking in the air;
a filter covering the opening and removing dust from the air;
a filter case that presses and fixes the filter to the intake base;
an intake cover having a top surface portion facing the filter and the filter case with a gap therebetween and a side surface portion surrounding the space between the top surface portion and the intake base, the side surface portion having an intake hole for sucking in the air;
a drain groove that is provided around the opening on the outer surface of the intake base at a position higher than the opening and has a recessed shape that crosses the infiltration path to the opening;
A power supply unit comprising: The power supply unit according to claim 1, wherein a rib protruding from a bottom surface of the filter case, which is the surface facing the intake base, is positioned within the drain groove when the filter case is fixed to the intake base. The power supply unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a vertical rib protruding upward from the intake base and positioned on the opposite side of the drain groove from the opening.

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