JP-2026075481-A - Battery pack

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a battery pack that can use the internal space of the pack frame as a gas exhaust passage while suppressing a decrease in the strength of the pack frame. [Solution] The battery pack of the present invention is a battery pack in which a plurality of battery cells, which are elongated in the first direction, are arranged in a pack frame in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a plurality of gas discharge valves provided on the end face of each of the plurality of battery cells in the first direction are arranged in a staggered pattern along the second direction, with their positions alternately offset in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, and the pack frame has a hollow structure and a plurality of through holes are provided at positions corresponding to the plurality of gas discharge valves. [Selection Diagram] Figure 4

Inventors

• 山下 修

Assignees

• トヨタ自動車株式会社

Dates

Publication Date

20260508

Application Date

20241022

Claims (3)

1. A battery pack in which multiple battery cells, each elongated in the first direction, are arranged in a pack frame in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, The multiple gas discharge valves provided on the end face of each of the multiple battery cells in the first direction are arranged in a staggered pattern along the second direction, with their positions alternately offset in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions. The pack frame has a hollow structure and is provided with multiple through holes at positions corresponding to the multiple gas discharge valves. A battery pack characterized by the following features.
2. The plurality of gas discharge valves are provided only on one end side in the first direction of each of the plurality of battery cells. The battery pack according to feature 1.
3. The plurality of battery cells are arranged in an alternating pattern in the second direction, with each battery cell having the gas discharge valve on one end in the first direction and each battery cell having the gas discharge valve on the other end in the first direction. The plurality of gas discharge valves provided at one end in the first direction are arranged in a staggered pattern relative to each other. The plurality of gas discharge valves provided on the other end side in the first direction are arranged in a staggered pattern relative to each other. The battery pack according to feature 1.

Description

This invention relates to a battery pack. Patent Document 1 discloses a battery pack in which the battery cells are housed within a pack frame, and the internal space of the pack frame also serves as a gas exhaust passage. Japanese Patent Publication No. 2024-050559 Figure 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of a battery pack according to Embodiment 1.Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the left end of a plurality of battery cells according to Embodiment 1.Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the pack frame according to Embodiment 1.Figure 4 shows a gas exhaust passage formed in the internal space of the left side frame.Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the left end of a plurality of battery cells according to Embodiment 2.Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the right end of a plurality of battery cells according to Embodiment 2.Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the pack frame according to Embodiment 2. (Embodiment 1) Embodiment 1 of the battery pack according to the present invention will be described below. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the schematic configuration of the battery pack 1 according to Embodiment 1. The battery pack 1 according to Embodiment 1 is configured with multiple battery cells 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, 3G, and 3H housed within a pack frame 2. Multiple battery cells 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, 3G, and 3H are elongated rectangular cells in the width direction, which is the first direction of the battery pack 1. The multiple battery cells 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, 3G, and 3H are arranged in the order of battery cell 3A, battery cell 3B, battery cell 3C, battery cell 3D, battery cell 3E, battery cell 3F, battery cell 3G, and battery cell 3H, from rear to front in the front-to-back direction (second direction) perpendicular to the width direction (first direction) of the battery pack 1, so that their respective longitudinal directions align with the width direction of the battery pack 1. In the following description, unless specifically distinguished, battery cells 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, 3G, and 3H will simply be referred to as battery cell 3. The battery pack frame 2 is constructed in a rectangular shape by connecting a hollow front end frame 20, a hollow rear end frame 21, a hollow left side frame 22, and a hollow right side frame 23. The front end frame 20 and the rear end frame 21 each extend in the width direction of the battery pack 1, facing each other in the front-to-back direction of the battery pack 1. The left side frame 22 and the right side frame 23 each extend in the front-to-back direction of the battery pack 1, facing each other in the width direction of the battery pack 1. Hollow extruded material is used for the front end frame 20, the rear end frame 21, the left side frame 22, and the right side frame 23. The left side frame 22 and the right side frame 23 are configured to support the longitudinal ends of the multiple battery cells 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, 3G, and 3H, respectively. The front end frame 20 and the rear end frame 21 are configured to support the multiple battery cells 3A, 3B, 3C, 3E, 3F, 3G, and 3H by sandwiching them between the front and rear sections of the battery pack 1. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the left end of multiple battery cells 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, 3G, and 3H according to Embodiment 1. As shown in Figure 2, the plurality of battery cells 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, 3G, and 3H according to Embodiment 1 have left end faces 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E, 30F, 30G, and 30H on the left side (one end side) in the width direction of the battery pack 1. Electrode terminals 31A, 31B, 31C, 31D, 31E, 31F, 31G, and 31H are provided in the center in the height direction of the battery pack 1, respectively, on the left end faces 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E, 30F, 30G, and 30H. The height direction of the battery pack 1 is a third direction perpendicular to the first direction (width direction) and the second direction (front-to-back direction) of the battery pack 1. Furthermore, gas discharge valves 32A, 32B, 32C, 32D, 32E, 32F, 32G, and 32H are provided on the left end faces 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 30E, 30F, 30G, and 30H, respectively. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the gas discharge valves 32A, 32B, 32C, 32D, 32E, 32F, 32G, and 32H will simply be referred to as gas discharge valve 32. The gas discharge valve 32 is composed of a rupture disc that ruptures and releases gas (smoke) when the internal pressure of the battery cell 3 increases, for example, due to a short circuit within the battery cell 3's case. By discharging gas from the case through the gas discharge valve 32, the battery cell 3 can prevent the internal pressure of the case from becoming excessive. Multiple gas exhaust valves 32A, 32B, 32C, 32D, 32E, 32F, 32G, and 32H are arranged in a staggered pattern along the longitudinal direction of the battery pack 1, with their positions a