JP2012015121A - Power supply - Google Patents

Abstract

A circuit board is held in place while being insulated with an insulating resin. Moreover, it protects from fluids, such as gas discharged | emitted from a battery.
A power supply apparatus for storing a plurality of batteries (1) having a safety valve (10) in a case (2), a battery chamber (4) for storing the plurality of batteries (1), and a safety valve (10) for the battery (1) stored in the battery chamber (4). A partition wall 3 for partitioning the inside of the case 2 is provided in the exhaust chamber 5 for exhausting the gas discharged from the opening 11, and the partition wall 3 allows the gas to flow into the exhaust chamber 5 without flowing into the battery chamber 4. The circuit board 28 is configured to be discharged from the exhaust chamber 5 to the outside of the case 2, and further includes a circuit board 28 built in the case 2. The circuit board is embedded in the insulating resin 27 by potting. To do.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a power supply device that incorporates a battery in a case, and more particularly to a power supply device that can improve safety in a state where a safety valve of the battery is opened.

  A power supply device used for a vehicle or the like in which a battery is housed in a case opens a safety valve provided on the battery when the battery is charged and discharged in an abnormal state. The safety valve discharges gas and electrolyte and prevents the outer can from bursting. The gas discharged from the battery differs depending on the type of the battery. For example, a lithium ion secondary battery discharges oxygen-containing gas from the opened safety valve. The nickel metal hydride battery discharges a gas containing hydrogen. Since the battery is used in an abnormal state when the safety valve is opened and gas is injected into the case, the battery temperature may be abnormally overheated. The gas that fills the case and the overheating of the battery reduce the safety of the power supply. In particular, in an abnormal state, the battery temperature may rise to several hundred degrees, which may cause a fire.

In order to eliminate a dangerous state due to overheating of a battery, a power supply device has been developed that fills an enclosed case with an inert substance such as an inert gas. (See Patent Document 1)
In addition, in order to prevent abnormal heat generation in the case, a power supply device incorporating an inert gas generating substance and a fire extinguisher in the case has been developed. (See Patent Documents 2 and 3)

JP-A-10-55822 JP 2001-332237 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-247527

  In the publication of Patent Document 1, a plurality of batteries are housed in a case, and an inert gas such as nitrogen, helium, argon, neon, krypton, xenon, carbon dioxide, or a nonflammable non-aqueous solvent is contained in the case. Alternatively, a power supply device that fills a liquid, gel, or solid polymer and seals the case is described. With this structure, even if the battery is in an abnormal state and gas is injected into the case, the battery is surrounded by an inactive substance, reducing the danger of the power supply becoming dangerous There is a feature that can be.

  Furthermore, the power supply device described in Patent Document 2 houses a plurality of batteries in a case and a substance that generates an inert gas by thermal decomposition in the case. In this power supply device, when a battery stored in the case abnormally generates heat, the inert gas generating substance is thermally decomposed to generate an inert gas in the case. Therefore, when the battery is overheated, it is possible to alleviate the danger of the power supply device being filled with an inert gas around the battery.

  However, in these power supply devices, since the gas discharged from the abnormal battery is filled in the case, there is no change in the environment where the discharged gas exists around the battery that is abnormally heated. Thus, the state in which the gas containing oxygen and hydrogen discharged from the battery is filled in the case containing the battery is never preferable in view of the extremely abnormal state in which the battery temperature rises to several hundred degrees. It is not a state.

  Further, in the power supply device of Patent Document 2, it is difficult to set the temperature and reaction rate at which thermal decomposition of the inert gas generating substance starts, and it is extremely difficult to generate the inert gas at the optimal timing when the battery is abnormally heated. There are also difficult problems.

  The present invention has been developed for the purpose of solving such drawbacks. A first object of the present invention is to provide a power supply device that can improve safety by minimizing the influence of an overheated battery even when the battery is in an abnormal state and gas is injected into the case. There is to do.

  Furthermore, in the power supply device described in Patent Document 3, when the battery housed in the case abnormally heats up and the temperature in the case exceeds an allowable value, the starting operation means of the abnormal heat reduction means such as a fire extinguisher Is pressed down, and the powder containing sodium hydrogen carbonate as a main component is discharged into the casing by the gas pressure of carbon dioxide. When sodium bicarbonate is heated to a high temperature, it absorbs heat, generating carbon dioxide and water vapor, lowering the temperature in the casing, keeping it in an inert atmosphere, preventing the occurrence of fire, and terminating the combustion reaction.

  This apparatus manually operates abnormal heat generation reducing means such as a fire extinguisher, or is operated by a temperature sensor, a smoke sensor, a gas sensor, a flame sensor, or the like. When a non-aqueous electrolyte battery heats up abnormally, the battery surface temperature rises in the initial stage, and the non-aqueous electrolyte or generated gas is released from the battery by the operation of the safety valve in the next stage. Phenomenon occurs, and it leads to fire outbreak.

  A device that manually operates a fire extinguisher is difficult for a user to inject a fire extinguishing agent at an optimal timing. In particular, when the range of user groups used is wide, such as a power supply device used in a vehicle, all users cannot operate the fire extinguisher at an optimal timing. In addition, a device that operates a fire extinguisher with a temperature sensor, a smoke sensor, a gas sensor, a flame sensor, etc. cannot inject a fire extinguisher at an ideal timing with simple detection. For example, when operating a fire extinguisher with a temperature sensor, it is necessary to detect all battery temperatures and to operate the fire extinguisher when any battery temperature is higher than a set temperature. In this mechanism, for example, in a power supply device for a vehicle in which 100 or more batteries are housed in a case, each battery temperature needs to be detected by a temperature sensor, so that the battery temperature detection circuit becomes extremely complicated. When operating a fire extinguisher by detecting a specific battery temperature, the fire extinguisher cannot be operated at an accurate timing when the temperature of a battery whose temperature is not detected becomes an abnormal state. Moreover, the device which operates a fire extinguisher with a smoke sensor or a gas sensor cannot always operate the fire extinguisher correctly at an accurate timing due to the arrangement part of the sensor. This is because even if smoke or gas flows through the part where the sensor is arranged, it can be detected accurately, but the smoke or gas where the sensor is not arranged cannot be detected. Moreover, since the apparatus which operates a fire extinguisher with a flame sensor operates a fire extinguisher after detecting a flame, there is a disadvantage that timing is delayed.

  The present invention has been developed for the purpose of solving this drawback. A second object of the present invention is to provide a power supply apparatus that can detect a battery abnormality accurately and promptly with a simple structure and operate a fire extinguisher, and can effectively inject a fire extinguisher into the case. is there.

  The power supply device of the present invention has the following configuration in order to achieve the above-described object.

  A power supply device that houses a plurality of batteries having a safety valve in a case, and exhausts a gas discharged from a battery chamber storing the plurality of batteries and an opening of the safety valve of a battery stored in the battery chamber. A partition wall for partitioning the inside of the case is provided in the exhaust chamber so that the partition wall flows into the exhaust chamber without flowing into the battery chamber and is discharged from the exhaust chamber to the outside of the case. And a circuit board built in the case. The circuit board is embedded in an insulating resin by potting.

  The partition wall can open a through portion through which the gas discharged from the safety valve flows into the exhaust chamber, and a battery end can be airtightly connected to the periphery of the through portion.

  The battery chamber may be positioned at a lower portion of the case, the exhaust chamber may be positioned at an upper portion of the case, and the circuit board may be accommodated in the exhaust chamber.

  The battery chamber may be positioned above the case, the exhaust chamber may be positioned below the case, and the circuit board may be housed in the battery chamber.

The exhaust chamber has a sealed structure, a discharge port for discharging the gas flowing into the exhaust chamber to the outside of the case, and a discharge valve connected to the discharge port, the discharge valve, When the internal pressure of the exhaust chamber reaches the set pressure, the valve can be opened to exhaust the gas in the exhaust chamber.

  The power supply device may include a fire extinguisher that injects a digester or an inert fluid into the exhaust chamber.

  However, this specification does not limit a fire extinguisher to what extinguishes a fire. In this specification, a fire extinguisher is used in a broad sense to prevent fire or ignition by injecting a fire extinguishing agent or an inert fluid, or preventing an abnormally high temperature.

  The power supply device has a sealed structure in the exhaust chamber and a pressure sensor for detecting the internal pressure of the exhaust chamber, and the fire extinguisher is controlled by the pressure sensor so that the internal pressure of the exhaust chamber is higher than a set pressure. If it becomes, the said fire extinguisher can be comprised so that a digestive agent or an inert fluid may be injected in the said exhaust chamber.

  The power supply device includes a valve opening sensor that detects whether the battery opens the safety valve, the fire extinguisher is controlled by the valve opening sensor provided in the battery, and the safety valve of the battery opens. Then, the fire extinguisher can be configured to inject a digester or an inert fluid into the exhaust chamber.

  The power supply device of the present invention has an advantage that safety can be improved by minimizing the influence of the overheated battery even when the battery is in an abnormal state and gas is injected into the case. That is, the power supply device of the present invention partitions a case storing a plurality of batteries into a battery chamber storing a battery and an exhaust chamber exhausting gas discharged from the battery, with a partition wall. In addition, the opening of the safety valve of the battery disposed in the battery chamber communicates with the exhaust chamber, and the gas discharged from the safety valve of the battery flows into the exhaust chamber without flowing into the battery chamber. It is because it discharges from the case outside. The power supply device with this structure does not allow the gas discharged from the abnormal battery to flow into the battery chamber, so that the discharged gas can be reliably prevented from filling around the abnormally heated battery, and the overheated battery Safety can be improved by minimizing the effects of Furthermore, since the circuit board is embedded in the potting resin, the circuit board can be protected from a fluid such as a gas discharged from the battery. For this reason, even in an abnormal state where the safety valve of the battery is opened, the control circuit mounted on the circuit board can be operated normally to improve safety.

  Moreover, since the power supply apparatus of Claim 6 of this invention injects a fire extinguisher or an inert fluid from a fire extinguisher in the exhaust chamber of a sealed structure, it makes a fire extinguisher and an inert fluid act effectively, and is effective. Features that can be extinguished.

  Furthermore, the power supply device according to claim 7 of the present invention has a feature that it can detect a battery abnormality accurately and promptly with a simple structure to operate the fire extinguisher, and can effectively inject a fire extinguisher into the case from the fire extinguisher. . This power supply device has a sealed structure in the exhaust chamber and controls the fire extinguisher with a pressure sensor that detects the internal pressure of the exhaust chamber. When the internal pressure of the exhaust chamber becomes higher than the set pressure, the fire extinguisher is This is because a fire extinguisher or an inert fluid is sprayed on. This power supply device detects battery abnormality with the pressure in the exhaust chamber and operates the fire extinguisher, so it seems like a conventional device that detects battery abnormality with sensors such as temperature sensor, smoke sensor, gas sensor, flame sensor, etc. In addition, there is a feature that the operation timing of the fire extinguisher is not shifted depending on the arrangement position of the sensor, and when a battery abnormality occurs and gas is discharged from the safety valve of the battery, this can be reliably detected.

  Furthermore, the power supply device according to claim 8 of the present invention has a feature that the fire extinguisher can be operated by detecting the battery abnormality extremely accurately and promptly, and the fire extinguisher can be effectively injected into the case from the fire extinguisher. This is because the power supply device is provided with a valve opening sensor for detecting the opening of the safety valve in the battery, and the fire extinguisher is controlled by the valve opening sensor. In this power supply device, when the battery becomes abnormal and the safety valve is opened, the valve opening sensor detects the opening of the safety valve, and the fire extinguisher injects a fire extinguishing agent. This power supply device detects the opening of the safety valve of the battery with the valve opening sensor and operates the fire extinguisher, so it detects the abnormality of the battery with the conventional temperature sensor, smoke sensor, gas sensor, flame sensor, etc. In this way, the operation timing of the fire extinguisher is not shifted, and when a battery abnormality occurs and the safety valve opens, the fire extinguisher can be injected with extremely accurate timing. Moreover, since a fire extinguisher or an inert fluid is injected from the fire extinguisher into an exhaust chamber having a sealed structure, the fire extinguisher or the inert fluid can be effectively operated to effectively extinguish the fire.

It is a schematic sectional drawing of the power supply device concerning one Example of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the power supply device concerning the other Example of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the power supply device concerning the other Example of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the power supply device concerning the other Example of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the power supply device concerning the other Example of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the power supply device concerning the other Example of this invention. It is an expanded sectional view showing an example of a discharge valve provided in an exhaust room. It is an expanded sectional view which shows another example of the discharge valve provided in an exhaust chamber.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiments described below exemplify a power supply device for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the present invention does not specify the power supply device as follows.

  Further, in this specification, in order to facilitate understanding of the scope of claims, numbers corresponding to the members shown in the examples are indicated in the “claims” and “means for solving problems” sections. It is added to the members. However, the members shown in the claims are not limited to the members in the embodiments.

  The power supply device shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 stores a plurality of batteries 1 including a safety valve 10 in a case 2. These power supply devices exhaust a gas discharged from a battery chamber 4 containing a plurality of batteries 1 and a safety valve 10 of the battery 1 housed in the battery chamber 4 with a partition wall 3 inside the case 2. The exhaust chamber 5 is partitioned.

  The battery 1 includes a safety valve 10 that opens when the internal pressure increases. The safety valve 10 opens when the internal pressure of the battery 1 becomes higher than the set pressure. When the safety valve 10 is opened, gas and electrolyte are discharged from the opening 11 to prevent an increase in internal pressure. The battery 1 opens the safety valve 10 to prevent the outer can 12 from bursting. The battery 1 is a lithium ion secondary battery. However, the power supply device of the present invention does not specify a battery as a lithium ion secondary battery. As the battery, any rechargeable battery such as a nickel metal hydride battery or a nickel cadmium battery can be used.

  The plurality of batteries 1 are accommodated in the battery chamber 4 in parallel in the axial direction. The plurality of batteries 1 disposed in the battery chamber 4 are disposed so that the opening 11 of the safety valve 10 communicates with the exhaust chamber 5. This is because the safety valve 10 of the battery 1 is opened, and the gas discharged from the safety valve 10 flows into the exhaust chamber 5 without flowing into the battery chamber 4. The power supply device shown in the figure has the battery end portion on the side having the safety valve 10 in close contact with the partition wall 3, and the opening portion 11 of the safety valve 10 communicates with the exhaust chamber 5 through the through portion 6 provided in the partition wall 3. Yes.

  The partition wall 3 is a non-breathable partition wall and partitions the inside of the case 2 into a battery chamber 4 and an exhaust chamber 5. Furthermore, the partition wall 3 has a through-hole 6 that allows the gas discharged from the safety valve 10 to flow into the exhaust chamber 5 at a position facing the battery ends of the plurality of batteries 1 disposed in the battery chamber 4. Yes. The partition wall 3 is airtightly connected to the periphery of the through-hole 6 so that the gas discharged from the opening 11 of the safety valve 10 flows into the exhaust chamber 5 without flowing into the battery chamber 4. I have to.

  1 to 4 includes a battery chamber 4 on the upper side in the case 2 and an exhaust chamber 5 on the lower side. In these power supply devices, a plurality of batteries 1 are placed on a partition wall 3 and stored side by side in a battery chamber 4. The battery 1 shown in these drawings is provided with a safety valve 10 at the lower end of the battery 1. In the illustrated battery 1, a safety valve 10 is provided at the bottom of the outer can 12. The safety valve 10 is broken and opened when the internal pressure of the battery 1 becomes higher than a set pressure. For example, as shown in a partially enlarged sectional view of the figure, the metal plate of the outer can 12 is partially thinned. Then, it is destroyed at the set pressure. However, the present invention does not specify a safety valve for this structure. The safety valve can have any structure that opens when the internal pressure becomes higher than the set pressure.

  The through portion 6 of the partition wall 3 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is an exhaust hole 6 </ b> A, and the exhaust hole 6 </ b> A is opposed to the opening 11 of the safety valve 10 of the battery 1. In the apparatus shown in the figure, the periphery of the opening 11 of the safety valve 10 is fixed in an airtight manner around the exhaust hole 6 </ b> A of the partition wall 3, and the battery end is fixed in close contact with the partition wall 3. The battery end portion is airtightly connected to the partition wall 3 by applying a sealing agent such as silicon or an adhesive. In this connection structure, fluid such as gas discharged from the opening 11 of the safety valve 10 can flow into the exhaust chamber 5 from the exhaust hole 6 </ b> A without flowing into the battery chamber 4.

  In the apparatus of FIG. 1, the battery end surface, which is the bottom surface of the outer can 12, is adhered to the periphery of the exhaust hole 6 </ b> A on the upper surface of the partition wall 3 and is fixed in close contact. The apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is provided with a recess 7 for inserting a battery end on the upper surface of the partition wall 3. In these devices, the battery end is inserted into the recess 7 and the battery end is adhered and fixed to the inner surface of the recess 7. The partition wall 3 shown in FIG. 2 is formed into a concavo-convex shape having a concave portion 7 into which a battery end can be inserted, and an exhaust hole 6 </ b> A is opened at the center of the concave portion 7. Further, the partition wall 3 shown in FIG. 3 is provided with a rib 8 around the exhaust hole 6A to form a recess 7 into which a battery end is inserted.

  Further, in the battery 1 shown in FIG. 4, a cap 9 is connected to the battery end portion on the side having the safety valve 10, and the cap 9 is fixed to the partition wall 3 in an airtight manner. The cap 9 is manufactured by molding an insulating material such as plastic or rubber. The cap 9 has a peripheral wall into which the end of the battery can be inserted. The inner shape of the peripheral wall is substantially equal to the outer shape of the battery 1, and a sealant or adhesive such as silicon is applied to the gap between the peripheral wall and the surface of the battery 1. The peripheral wall is airtightly connected to the surface of the battery 1. Further, the cap 9 has a central hole 9A at the end face for exposing the opening 11 of the safety valve 10 to the outside. The battery 1 connected to the cap 9 has the end face of the cap 9 adhered to the partition wall 3, or the end of the cap is inserted into the recess and a sealant or adhesive such as silicon is inserted between the recess and the cap. It is applied and connected to the partition wall 3 in an airtight manner. A fluid such as a gas discharged from the safety valve 10 of the battery 1 passes through the central hole 9 </ b> A of the cap 9 and the exhaust hole 6 </ b> A that is the through portion 6 and flows into the exhaust chamber 5. As described above, the structure in which the battery end is hermetically connected to the penetrating portion 6 of the partition wall 3 through the cap can effectively prevent the gas discharged from the safety valve 10 from flowing into the battery chamber 4.

  5 and 6 has an exhaust chamber 5 on the upper side in the case 2 and a battery chamber 4 on the lower side. In this power supply device, a plurality of batteries 1 are placed on the bottom surface of the battery chamber 5 and stored side by side in the battery chamber 4. The battery 1 shown in these drawings is provided with a safety valve 10 at the upper end of the battery 1. In the illustrated battery 1, a safety valve 10 is provided on a sealing plate 13 that closes an opening of an outer can 12. As shown in the partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the safety valve 10, the elastic body 14 presses the valve body 15 against the valve seat 16, and when the internal pressure of the battery 1 becomes higher than the set pressure, the valve body 15 The valve is opened away from the valve seat 16. The sealing plate 13 has openings 11 on both sides of the convex electrode 17, and discharges gas and electrolyte from the opening 11 when the safety valve 10 is opened.

  The through-hole 6 of the partition wall 3 shown in FIG. 5 is an exhaust hole 6 </ b> A, and the exhaust hole 6 </ b> A is opposed to the opening 11 of the safety valve 10 of the battery 1. In the apparatus shown in the figure, the periphery of the opening 11 of the safety valve 10 is fixed in an airtight manner around the exhaust hole 6 </ b> A of the partition wall 3, and the battery end is fixed in close contact with the partition wall 3. The battery 1 shown in the figure has a cap 9 attached to the end on the convex electrode side, and a sealant such as silicon or an adhesive is applied to the gap between the peripheral wall of the cap 9 and the surface of the battery 1 to make it airtight. In addition to being connected, a sealing agent such as silicon or an adhesive is applied between the end face of the cap 9 and the partition wall 3 so as to be airtightly connected to the partition wall 3. This cap 9 can be the same as the cap described above.

  The through-hole 6 of the partition wall 3 shown in FIG. 6 is an insertion hole 6B, and the battery end provided with the safety valve 10 is inserted through the insertion hole 6B, and the opening 11 of the safety valve 10 is communicated with the exhaust chamber 5. ing. In the apparatus shown in the figure, a cap 9 is attached to the end of the battery 1 on the convex electrode side, the outer peripheral surface of the cap 9 is airtightly fixed to the inner surface of the insertion hole 6B, and the end of the battery is partitioned. 3 is fixed in close contact. The inner shape of the insertion hole 6B is substantially equal to the outer shape of the cap 6, and a sealing agent such as silicon or an adhesive is applied to the gap between the peripheral wall of the cap 9 and the inner surface of the insertion hole 6B of the partition wall 3 to form an airtight. It is linked to. This cap 9 can be the same as the cap described above. Although not shown, the cap may be provided with a ridge along the outer peripheral surface, and the ridge may be brought into close contact with the peripheral edge of the insertion hole to be more airtightly fixed.

  With the above structure, the power supply device in which the opening 11 of the safety valve 10 of the battery 1 is arranged to communicate with the exhaust chamber 5 is discharged when the safety valve 10 is opened due to an abnormal temperature of the battery 1. A fluid such as a gas flows into the exhaust chamber 5. The gas discharged from the safety valve 10 flows into the exhaust chamber 5 without flowing into the battery chamber 4 and is discharged out of the case 2 from the exhaust chamber 5.

  The exhaust chamber 5 shown in the figure has a sealed structure. The exhaust chamber 5 having a sealed structure can protect the end portion of the battery communicated and exposed from dust, moisture, and salt. For this reason, it is possible to reliably prevent the dust from adhering to the end of the battery, and the dust from condensing into a wet state, or wet in a state containing salt, and corroding the metal part. Therefore, there is a feature that the life can be extended while the battery is used in a high humidity environment or in a salty environment. However, the exhaust chamber can be opened to the outside by providing an opening without having a sealed structure. The exhaust chamber discharges the gas discharged from the battery from the opening to the outside of the case.

  The exhaust chamber 5 having a sealed structure is provided with a discharge port 18, and the gas discharged from the safety valve 10 of the battery 1 and flowing into the exhaust chamber 5 is discharged from the discharge port 18 to the outside of the case 2. The discharge port 18 has a discharge valve 19. The discharge valve 19 is closed during normal operation, and the exhaust chamber 5 is kept in a sealed state. The exhaust valve 19 is opened when the internal pressure of the exhaust chamber 5 reaches the set pressure, and exhausts the gas in the exhaust chamber 5 to the outside. The discharge valve 19 can be a break valve that is broken and opened when the pressure in the exhaust chamber 5 becomes higher than a set pressure. However, the discharge valve may be an on-off valve that is opened by an actuator that operates by detecting that the safety valve has been opened.

  7 and 8 show specific examples of the discharge valve 19. The discharge valve 19 in FIG. 7 is obtained by thinning a part of the outer wall of the case 2. When the internal pressure in the exhaust chamber 5 becomes higher than the set pressure, the thin portion of the exhaust chamber 5 is destroyed, and the exhaust valve 19 opens the exhaust valve 19. The discharge valve 19 can be simplified in structure. In the discharge valve 19 of FIG. 8, a through hole 29 is provided in a part of the outer wall of the case 2, and the through hole 29 is closed with a valve membrane 30. The valve membrane 30 is connected to the outer wall of the case 2 by a method such as welding or adhesion, and closes the through hole 29 in an airtight manner. When the internal pressure in the exhaust chamber 5 becomes higher than the set pressure, the discharge valve 19 opens when the valve membrane 30 is removed or destroyed.

  3 to 5, when the battery 1 becomes abnormal and fluid such as gas is discharged from the safety valve 10, a fire extinguisher or an inert fluid is put into the exhaust chamber 5 having a sealed structure. A fire extinguisher 20 is provided. The illustrated exhaust chamber 5 has a connection port 21 for connecting the fire extinguisher 20, and the connection port 21 is provided with an introduction valve 22 for a fire extinguishing agent and an inert fluid. The introduction valve 22 is closed during normal operation to keep the exhaust chamber 5 in a sealed state. The fire extinguisher 20 connects an injection port 23 for injecting a fire extinguisher or an inert fluid to a connection port 21. When the fire extinguisher and the inert fluid are injected from the fire extinguisher 20, the introduction valve 22 is opened, and the fire extinguisher and the inert fluid injected from the fire extinguisher 20 are supplied into the case 2. The introduction valve 22 in the figure is a destruction valve that is destroyed by a fire extinguisher or an inert fluid injected from the fire extinguisher 20, for example. However, the introduction valve may be an on-off valve that is opened by an actuator that operates the fire extinguisher.

  In the power supply apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the discharge port 18 and the connection port 21 of the exhaust chamber 5 are arranged at opposing positions. This power supply device can discharge the fire extinguishing agent and the inert fluid supplied from the connection port 21 through the exhaust port 5 through the exhaust port 5. This structure quickly extinguishes a fire caused by a fluid such as a gas supplied from the battery 1 by a fire extinguisher or an inert fluid ejected from the fire extinguisher 20, or a fluid such as a gas supplied from the battery 1 Effectively prevent ignition. Furthermore, in this state, the discharge valve 19 of the discharge port 18 is opened, and a fluid such as gas is quickly discharged from the case 2 from the exhaust chamber 5.

  The fire extinguisher 20 in FIGS. 3 and 5 is controlled by a pressure sensor 24 that detects the internal pressure of the sealed exhaust chamber 5, and when the internal pressure of the exhaust chamber 5 becomes higher than the set pressure, the fire extinguisher is placed in the exhaust chamber 5. Alternatively, an inert fluid is sprayed. In the illustrated power supply apparatus, the pressure sensor 24 detects the pressure in the exhaust chamber 5. The pressure sensor 24 is connected to an actuator 25 that operates the fire extinguisher 20.

  The fire extinguisher 20 of FIG. 4 is controlled by a valve opening sensor 26 that detects the opening of the safety valve 10, and when the safety valve 10 of the battery 1 is opened, a fire extinguisher or an inert fluid is injected into the exhaust chamber 5. The battery 1 shown in the figure includes a valve opening sensor 26 that detects the opening of the safety valve 10. As this valve opening sensor, for example, although not shown, a sensor that detects the valve opening by wiring the valve portion of the safety valve and disconnecting the wiring by operating the valve can be used. However, any other sensor that can detect that the safety valve has opened can be used as the valve opening sensor.

  Furthermore, the power supply device of the present invention can use a sensor other than the pressure sensor and the valve opening sensor as a sensor for controlling the operation of the fire extinguisher. For example, the power supply device can operate the fire extinguisher by detecting an abnormality of a battery stored in the battery chamber or an abnormality of the exhaust chamber by a sensor such as a temperature sensor, a smoke sensor, a gas sensor, or a flame sensor.

  The actuator 25 operates the fire extinguisher 20 when the pressure in the exhaust chamber 5 rises to a set pressure or more in response to a signal from the pressure sensor 24 or the valve opening sensor 26, and extinguishes or inert fluid in the exhaust chamber 5. To spray. The inert fluid is an inert gas such as nitrogen gas or carbon dioxide gas, or an inert liquid such as insulating oil. The fire extinguisher 20 is filled with an inert gas such as carbon dioxide in a compression cylinder, for example. The fire extinguisher 20 injects a fire extinguisher such as powder containing sodium hydrogen carbonate as a main component into the exhaust chamber 5 with an inert gas pressure such as a filled carbon dioxide gas. However, this invention does not specify the extinguishing agent which a fire extinguisher injects to the powder which has sodium hydrogen carbonate as a main component. A fire extinguishing agent is a gas that is injected into the exhaust chamber to extinguish a fluid such as a gas discharged from a battery, to prevent ignition of a fluid such as a gas discharged from a battery, or to be discharged from a battery. This is because all other fluids that can safely discharge fluid such as the like can be used.

  Furthermore, the exhaust chamber 5 having a sealed structure can be filled with an inert fluid. The inert fluid is an inert gas such as nitrogen gas or carbon dioxide gas, or an inert liquid such as insulating oil. As described above, the power supply device that fills the exhaust chamber 5 with the inert fluid has a feature that the safety can be further enhanced by the inert fluid filled in the exhaust chamber 5. In particular, when the flammable gas is discharged from the battery 1 by filling the exhaust chamber 5 with the activating gas, a fire extinguisher or an inert fluid is jetted from the fire extinguisher 20 so that the flammable gas is removed from the case 2. The power supply apparatus that discharges the battery can be extremely safe.

  1 to 4 and 6, the end portion of the battery 1 is potted and embedded in the resin 27. The potting resin 27 is an insulating resin such as silicon resin. In the battery 1 whose end is embedded in the potting resin 27, the opening 11 of the safety valve 10 is provided at a position where no potting is performed. The battery 1 of FIGS. 1 to 4 has an opening 11 of the safety valve 10 at the bottom of the outer can 12, and the power supply device of FIG. 6 has the opening 11 of the safety valve 10 on the sealing plate 13.

  Further, the power supply device shown in the figure houses a circuit board 28 in the case 2. The power supply device shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 stores the circuit board 28 in the battery chamber 4, and the power supply device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 stores the circuit board 28 in the exhaust chamber 5. The circuit board 28 is mounted with a control circuit that detects the voltage and temperature of each battery 1 and controls charging / discharging of the battery 1. The circuit board 28 is arranged in a horizontal posture above the battery 1 and is embedded in the potting resin 27. 1 to FIG. 4, the potting resin 27 is filled in the upper part of the battery chamber 4, the circuit board 28 is embedded in the potting resin 27, and the upper part of the battery 1 is also embedded in the potting resin 27. This power supply device can hold both the circuit board 28 and the battery 1 in place while insulating them with the potting resin 27. 5 and 6, the potting resin 27 is filled in the upper part of the exhaust chamber, and the circuit board 28 is embedded in the potting resin 27. The power supply device can protect the circuit board 28 from a fluid such as a gas discharged from the battery 1. For this reason, even in an abnormal state in which the safety valve 10 of the battery 1 is opened, the control circuit mounted on the circuit board 28 can be operated normally to improve safety.

  The battery chamber can be a sealed structure. Since the battery chamber having the sealed structure can block the circuit board and the battery from the outside, the circuit board and the battery housed in the battery chamber can be effectively protected from dust, moisture and salt. Furthermore, the battery chamber having a sealed structure can be filled with an inert fluid. However, although not shown, the battery chamber can connect a cooling duct and cool the battery by circulating a cooling medium through the duct.

1, 2, and 5 perform the following operation to discharge a fluid such as a gas discharged from the battery 1 to the outside of the case 2.
(1) When the internal pressure of the battery 1 increases, the safety valve 10 opens and discharges a fluid such as gas or electrolyte.
(2) The fluid such as the discharged gas is discharged into the exhaust chamber 5 without flowing into the battery chamber 4.
(3) A fluid such as gas flowing into the exhaust chamber 5 raises the pressure in the exhaust chamber 5.
(4) When the pressure in the exhaust chamber 5 becomes higher than the set pressure, the discharge valve 19 provided in the discharge port 18 is destroyed by the internal pressure and opens.
(5) The gas in the exhaust chamber 5 is discharged out of the case through the opened discharge port 19.

3 and 6 discharges fluid such as gas discharged from the battery 1 to the outside of the case 2 by the following operation.
(1) When the internal pressure of the battery 1 increases, the safety valve 10 opens and discharges a fluid such as gas or electrolyte.
(2) The fluid such as the discharged gas is discharged into the exhaust chamber 5 without flowing into the battery chamber 4.
(3) A fluid such as gas flowing into the exhaust chamber 5 raises the pressure in the exhaust chamber 5.
(4) When the pressure in the exhaust chamber 5 becomes higher than the set pressure, the pressure sensor 24 detects this, and the actuator 25 operates the fire extinguisher 20 so that a fire extinguisher or an inert fluid is injected. .
(5) When a fire extinguisher or an inert fluid is injected from the fire extinguisher 20, the introduction valve 22 of the connection port 21 is destroyed and opened, and the fire extinguisher or the inert fluid is injected into the exhaust chamber 5.
(6) The fire extinguisher or the inert fluid to be ejected discharges fluid such as gas discharged from the battery 1 to the outside of the case 2 at a stretch. At this time, the discharge valve 19 provided in the discharge port 18 is also broken by the internal pressure and opened.

The power supply device of FIG. 4 performs the following operation to discharge a fluid such as a gas discharged from the battery 1 to the outside of the case 2.
(1) When the internal pressure of the battery 1 increases, the safety valve 10 opens and discharges a fluid such as gas or electrolyte.
(2) The fluid such as the discharged gas is discharged into the exhaust chamber 5 without flowing into the battery chamber 4.
(3) The valve opening sensor 26 detects that the safety valve 10 of the battery 1 has been opened, and the actuator 25 operates the fire extinguisher 20 so that a fire extinguisher or an inert fluid is injected.
(4) When a fire extinguisher or an inert fluid is injected from the fire extinguisher 20, the introduction valve 22 of the connection port 21 is destroyed and opened, and the fire extinguisher or the inert fluid is injected into the exhaust chamber 5.
(5) The fire extinguisher or the inert fluid to be ejected discharges fluid such as gas discharged from the battery 1 to the outside of the case 2 at once. At this time, the discharge valve 19 provided in the discharge port 18 is also broken by the internal pressure and opened.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Battery 2 ... Case 3 ... Partition wall 4 ... Battery chamber 5 ... Exhaust chamber 6 ... Penetration part 6A ... Exhaust hole
6B ... Insertion hole 7 ... Recess 8 ... Rib 9 ... Cap 9A ... Center hole 10 ... Safety valve 11 ... Opening 12 ... Exterior can 13 ... Sealing plate 14 ... Elastic body 15 ... Valve body 16 ... Valve seat 17 ... Convex electrode 18 ... Discharge port 19 ... Discharge valve 20 ... Fire extinguisher 21 ... Connection port 22 ... Introduction valve 23 ... Injection port 24 ... Pressure sensor 25 ... Actuator 26 ... Valve open sensor 27 ... Resin 28 ... Circuit board 29 ... Through hole 30 ... Valve membrane

Claims (8)

A power supply device that houses a plurality of batteries with safety valves in a case,
A partition wall partitioning the inside of the case into a battery chamber storing the plurality of batteries and an exhaust chamber exhausting gas discharged from the opening of the safety valve of the battery stored in the battery chamber;
The partition wall is configured to flow into the exhaust chamber without flowing the gas into the battery chamber and to discharge the gas from the exhaust chamber to the outside of the case.
The power supply device further comprises a circuit board built in the case, and the circuit board is embedded in an insulating resin by potting. The power supply device according to claim 1, wherein
The partition wall opens a through portion through which the gas discharged from the safety valve flows into the exhaust chamber, and has a battery end airtightly connected to the periphery of the through portion. The power supply device according to claim 1 or 2,
The battery chamber is located at the bottom of the case, and the exhaust chamber is located at the top of the case.
The power supply device, wherein the circuit board is housed in the exhaust chamber. The power supply device according to claim 1 or 2,
The battery chamber is located in the upper part of the case, and the exhaust chamber is located in the lower part of the case.
The power supply device, wherein the circuit board is housed in the battery chamber. The power supply device according to claim 1 or 2,
The exhaust chamber has a sealed structure, and a discharge port for discharging the gas flowing into the exhaust chamber to the outside of the case is provided.
Furthermore, a discharge valve connected to the discharge port is provided,
The exhaust valve is configured to open and exhaust the gas in the exhaust chamber when the internal pressure of the exhaust chamber reaches a set pressure. The power supply device according to claim 1 or 2,
A power supply device comprising a fire extinguisher that injects a digestive agent or an inert fluid into an exhaust chamber. The power supply device according to claim 6, wherein
When the exhaust chamber has a sealed structure and includes a pressure sensor for detecting the internal pressure of the exhaust chamber, the fire extinguisher is controlled by the pressure sensor, and the internal pressure of the exhaust chamber becomes higher than a set pressure. Is configured to inject a digestive agent or an inert fluid into the exhaust chamber. The power supply device according to claim 6, wherein
The battery comprises a valve opening sensor for detecting the opening of the safety valve;
The fire extinguisher is controlled by the valve opening sensor provided in the battery, and when the safety valve of the battery is opened, the fire extinguisher is configured to inject digester or inert fluid into the exhaust chamber. A power supply device.