| Claims m l] A battery cooling device comprising; a baffle which act as a turbulence accelerator and rib for impact absorb, m 2] The battery cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the design of baffle are set to provide variable strength according to the impact speed. |
Title of Invention: BATTERY COOLING DEVICE WHICH
PROVIDE IMPACT ABSORB PERFORMANCE
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a battery cooling and impact absorb device which including a plurality of battery units, such as battery cells, battery modules, or battery packs, incorporated in a desired enclosure and adapted for use as a power source for an electric vehicle, for example.
Background Art
Each battery unit is provided as a battery cell 11, a battery module 12 formed of a plurality of battery cells connected in series with one another, or a battery pack 13 including the battery modules and an electronic fan 14, charge/discharge control circuit, incorporated therein as Fig. l. The arrow in Fig.l shows typical cooling path between the cells or modules.
Fig.2 shows a typical cell structure. The cathode 21 and anode 22 conductor stack repeatedly in a battery housing 20. The conductor and housing separated by insulator 23 and cavities 24. Good thermal conductivity can be achieved when the cooling provide along the electrodes rather than perpendicular.
Fig.3 display representative cell types according to the cell shapes. The Prismatic type (b) have favorable surfce/volume ratio and aerodynamic than cylindrical (a) when air-cooled.
Various attempts have been made to develop a battery cooling for an electric vehicle or the like, in which a plurality of battery units are connected in series and/or parallel with one another. The present invention focus on the technology by the cooling plates or pin between cells or modules. U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,831 proposes a method for determining the optimum dimensions of the gaps between battery modules in cooling design, focusing on the fact that making the gaps narrower than necessary increases the flow resistance and reduces the flow rate, which results in poor cooling performance. In US 6,953,638, a plurality of battery modules are each provided with a plurality of convex portions and concave portions on the sides, where the connections to other battery modules are made. When the battery modules are connected by bringing the opposite convex portions into contact with each other, coolant flow paths, through which a coolant flows, are formed.
Generally, a battery impact absorb device implemented on the battery pack or module. U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,950 proposed battery carrier for impact resistance vehicle structure by introducing a movement restricting member which restricts movement of the battery carrier. U.S. Pat. No.5,501,289 proposed a grid structure which divides the united space into a plurality of container spaces. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,555, the batteries are interlocked one to the next and held in place in the tray by a housing which bears down on the batteries by means of a resilient spacer positioned between the tops of the batteries and the ceiling of the housing.
Disclosure of Invention
Technical Problem
The present invention relates to a battery cooling and impact resistance technology for a battery including a plurality of battery cells or modules connected in series or in parallel.
The performance of batteries varies depending on the temperature of the batteries. It is therefore desirable for the batteries on such an electric vehicle to be used in a predetermined temperature range in order to maintain their mileage and prevent their durability from being reduced. To solve the battery temperature control problems, the method in which a battery is cooled by forcing a coolant, such as air or the like, into the gaps between battery cells or modules is known. In this case, cooling performance can be improved by introducing optimized shape baffle between battery cells or modules to generate the turbulence of the coolant.
The battery impact absorb device is essential and commonly implemented on the battery pack or module. This kind of shock resistance device needs complex structure and not enough for the each battery cell or module protection to avoid an explosion possibility with automobile high-speed impact. And, the battery cell or module should be able to reuse when the car collide with low-speed impact.
Furthermore, Separately managing cooling and impact resistance in electric battery car is an inefficient way in cost and weight.
Technical Solution
The present invention has been contrived in consideration of these circumstances, and its object is to provide a simple construction battery device, capable of reducing battery cooling between a plurality of battery units arranged in an enclosure and simultaneously providing impact absorb performance by inserting baffle between battery cells or modules.
The first solution presented is the use of baffle between cells or modules which act as a turbulence accelerator and rib for shock absorber.
The second solution is the design of baffle which are set to various shape by length, thickness, material, welding and shear deformation so that it can provide variable strength according to the impact speed.
Advantageous Effects The proposed solution will increase a possibility of battery cells or modules reuse in a car slow-speed impact and reduce the battery cell explosion when electric battery car collide with high-speed.
The additional advantage of this invention is the cost and weight saving in electric battery car because it provide cooling and shock absorb performance simultaneously. Description of Drawings
Fig.1 shows representative example of battery cell, module and pack.
Fig.2 shows a typical cell structure.
Fig.3 display representative cell types according to the cell shapes.
Fig.4 shows representative design example using the proposed first and second solution.
Fig.5 explains the variable strength concept.
Fig.6 shows a design example using the different length.
Fig.7 shows a design example using the different thickness.
Fig.8 is a baffle design example using the different material.
Fig.9 shows a design example using the welding.
Fig.10 is a baffle design example using the shear deformation.
Best Mode
Fig.4 shows representative design example using the proposed first and second solution. FIG.4(A) is a perspective view showing a method for assembly of battery cells or modules 1 according to the present invention. FIG.4(B) is an enlarged view of a portion A in a battery cooling device 40 in Fig.4(A).
In Fig.4(A), a battery cooling device 40 inserted between the battery cells or modules 1. The battery cooling device 40 can be made of metallic like steel or nonmetallic like plastic material. The coolant can be air or fluid and the arrow shows its input direction. Numeral baffle array spaced at a predefined distance in a battery cooling device 40 to make the input coolant turbulent. This will increase cooling efficiency by mixing and increasing coolant velocity between the battery. In Fig.4(B), cylindrical rib 41 and the internal additional rectangular rib 42 designed mainly for the impact absorb. And, the several holes 43 proposed to improve the cooling performance. The distance between each cylindrical rib 41 can be set to vary for the optimum cooling efficiency.
And Fig.5 explains the variable strength concept. Until a certain amount of baffle deformation stroke as a~b in Fig.5, the outer cylindrical rib 41 in Fig.4(B) act very flexible so it can protect battery cells or modules when it collide with low-speed. If it impact with high-speed as b~c , it able to show enough shock absorb performance by the internal additional rectangular rib 42 in Fig.4(B). The force required can be control by the cylindrical rib 41 and rectangular rib 42 thickness. Mode for invention
The design of baffle can be set to various shape by length, thickness, material, welding and shear deformation so that it can provide battery cooling and variable strength according to the impact speed.
Fig.6 shows a design example using the different length. Fig.6(A) is a perspective view showing a method for assembly of battery modules 60 according to the present invention. Fig.6(B) is an enlarged view of a portion B in battery modules 60 in Fig.6(A).
In Fig.6(A) , a pin shaped rib inserted between the battery modules 60 to generate coolant turbulence. The pin are long 61 and short 62 in length which also act as rib for shock absorb. These pin array repeat along the coolant flow. During the low-speed impact, only the long length pin 61 deform first. And, the short pin 62 collapse simultaneously with long 61 when the car collide with high-speed.
Fig.7 shows a design example using the different thickness. Fig.7(A) is a perspective view showing a method for assembly of battery 1 according to the present invention. Fig.7(B) is an enlarged view of a portion C in battery cooling device 70 in Fig.7(A) and Fig.7(C) is a cut-section of a baffle in Fig.7(B).
In Fig.7 (A) , a battery cooling device 70 inserted between the battery 1. A circular projection 72 which has inner protrusion 71 spaced at a predefined distance against the other opposite direction circular projection 72 in a battery cooling device 70 as Fig.7(B). The inner circular protrusion 71 will collapse first until the notch by thickness 73 break. After the notch 73 break, The inner 71 and outer 72 circular projection will act as rib for impact absorber hence increase its impact absorb performance.
Fig.8 shows a design example using the different material. Fig.8 (A) is a perspective view showing a method for assembly of battery 1 according to the present invention. Fig.8(B) is an enlarged view of proposed baffle 80 in Fig.8(A).
In Fig.8(A), a battery cooling device 80 inserted between the battery 1. The baffle fixed in holes 81 and numerous baffle array spaced at a predefined distance in a battery 1. In Fig.8(B) , the baffle made of different material which have different strength designed for both the impact absorber and turbulence generator. The material A, B can be either metallic or nonmetallic component. When the car collision happen, the softer material deform first, and the harder one deform later.
Fig.9 shows a design example using the welding. Fig.9(A) is a perspective view showing a method for assembly of battery 1 according to the present invention.
Fig.9(B) is an side enlarged view of proposed baffle 90 in Fig.9(A).
In Fig.9(A) , a battery cooling device 90 inserted between the battery 1. The baffle fixed 91 and numerous baffle arrayed between the battery 1. In Fig.9(B), the J-shaped baffle 90 made to deform flexibly along the baffle fixture 91 wall until the welding 92(a kind of bonding) break, and the baffle will deform as U-shaped baffle 90 which can absorb high-speed impact energy.
Fig.10 shows a design example using the shear deformation. Fig.10(A) is a perspective view showing a method for assembly of battery 1 according to the present invention. Fig.10(B) is an enlarged view of proposed baffle 100 in Fig.10(A).
In Fig.10(A) , a battery cooling device 100 inserted between the battery 1. The baffle fixed 101 and numerous baffle arrayed between the battery 1. In Fig.10(B), the baffle made to deform flexibly first, and it will be teared along the arrow if high-speed impact occur.
Industrial Applicability
As apparent from the above description, the introduction of the baffle on the battery cells or modules according to the present invention generate coolant turbulence. Consequently, the cooling efficiency of the battery improved. Furthermore, the baffle act as a rib for the shock absorber which increase a possibility of battery cells or modules reuse in slow-speed impact and reduce the battery cell explosion when electric battery car collide with high-speed. As a result, the presented battery cooling device can also used as shock absorber for electric vehicles or hybrid electric vehicles.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
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