The present invention relates to a heater module effective in controlling the temperature of a battery module made by stacking a number of battery shells.
There is known a heater module used for controlling the temperature of a battery module made by stacking a number of battery shells, as described in Patent Literature 1.
In Patent Literature 1, a heater body tightly contacts the outer side surface of a casing of a battery pack that stores a number of battery modules, and the heater module is attached to the casing of the battery pack by using a heater unit casing. Also, a heat insulating sheet is placed between the surface of the heater body that faces away from the outer side surface of the casing of the battery pack, and the heater unit casing.
However, in the heater module described in Patent Literature 1, the battery modules, which are objects to be heated by the heater body, are not heated directly by the heater body. Specifically, the casing of the battery pack that stores the battery modules is heated by the heater body, and the battery modules are indirectly heated by heat conduction from the casing of the battery pack to the battery modules. Therefore, there has been a problem that heating efficiency for the battery modules is low.
In order to solve this problem, it is considered to arrange the heater body adjacent to the battery modules and heat the battery modules directly by the heater body. However, according to the configuration described in Patent Literature 1, the heater body may come into contact with heated surfaces of the battery modules when the heater modules vibrate or are inclined. The contact with the surfaces may cause damage to the heater body or electric leakage. Thus, particular measures for preventing such a problem are required.
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the conventional problem. An object of the present invention is to provide a heater module capable of solving the above-mentioned conventional problem with an inexpensive and simple configuration even if a heater body closely faces and directly heats a heated surface of an object to be heated.
A heater module according to an aspect of the present invention is provided along a heated surface of an object to be heated. The heater module includes: a plate-like heater body that faces the heated surface of the object to be heated; and an insulating holder that holds the plate-like heater body in a manner as to face the heated surface of the object to be heated. The insulating holder is fixed, at one edge of the insulating holder, to a mounting surface on which the object to be heated is mounted, and located on one side of the plate-like heater body away from the heated surface of the object to be heated. The insulating holder is provided, at another edge opposite to the one edge, with a regulation member that projects toward the heated surface of the object to be heated from the plate-like heater body.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that dimensional ratios in the drawings are magnified for convenience of explanation, and may be different from actual ratios.
First, the vehicle battery pack shown in
The battery pack 11 includes a plurality of battery modules 13FL, 13FR, 13CL, 13CR, and 13R, each of which is made by stacking a number of battery shells 12. The battery modules 13FL, 13FR, 13CL, 13CR, and 13R are stored in a common battery pack casing 14 to configure a single unit, as shown in
In particular, the battery modules 13FL on the front left side and the battery modules 13FR on the front right side are provided directly beneath the floor panel provided under the left and right front seats 6, as shown in
As shown in
Further, as shown in
Further, as shown in
As shown in
Further, the electrode terminals 12a are provided in the battery shells 12 that form the battery modules 13CL on the center left side and the battery modules 13CR on the center right side. The battery modules 13CL and 13CR are arranged in a manner such that the electrode terminals 12a of the battery modules 13CL and the electrode terminals 12a of the battery modules 13CR face each other.
As shown in
As shown in
Next, heater modules in the battery pack 11 are explained below based on
The heater modules function to heat the battery modules 13FL, 13FR, 13CL, 13CR, and 13R in the battery pack 11 in order to prevent the battery modules from freezing when not in use. In other words, the battery modules 13FL and 13FR on the front side have a large heat capacity, as four of the battery shells 12 are stacked therein as explained above. In contrast, since the battery modules 13CL and 13CR at the center are each made of two stacked battery shells 12 and thus have a small heat capacity, the temperature thereof easily decreases. Hence, in this embodiment, the thin heater modules 21L and 21R are provided only on the front sides of the battery modules 13FL and 13FR, as shown in
The battery module 13R at the rear includes the stacked battery shells 12 more than the battery modules 13FL and 13FR on the front side. The battery module 13R thus has the largest heat capacity, and the temperature thereof does not easily decrease. Therefore, in the battery module 13R at the rear, the heater modules 24L and 24R are provided only above both ends of the battery shells 12 in the stacking direction.
The heater modules 21L and 21R are arranged adjacent to the front sides of the battery modules 13FL on the front left side and the battery modules 13FR on the front right side, respectively, in a vertical state. Also, the heater modules 22L and 22R are arranged adjacent to the front sides of the battery modules 13CL on the center left side and the battery modules 13CR on the center right side, respectively, in a vertical state. Further, the heater modules 23L and 23R are arranged adjacent to the rear sides of the battery modules 13CL on the center left side and the battery modules 13CR on the center right side, respectively, in a vertical state. As explained below, the heater modules 21L, 21R, 22L, 22R, 23L and 23R are attached and fixed to a battery module mounting surface 14a of the battery pack casing 14.
The heater modules 24L and 24R are provided on both ends of the battery module 13R at the rear in the stacking direction of the battery shells. In addition, the heater modules 24L and 24R are attached and fixed to the top of the stacked battery module 13R, in other words, on side surfaces of the stacked battery module 13R.
As described above, the power supply cable 42 is arranged in the space at the midpoint between the battery modules 13FL and 13FR on the front side, and in the space at the midpoint between the battery modules 13CL and 13CR at the center. As described below, each heater module includes a power source connection terminal that electrically connects a plate-like heater body 34 having a plate-like heating element 32 and a heat equalizing plate 33, to the power supply cable 42. Therefore, the power source connection terminals of the heater modules 21L and 21R are preferably installed towards and close to the space at the midpoint between the battery modules 13FL and 13FR on the front side. Similarly, the power source connection terminals of the heater modules 22L, 22R, 23L, 23R, 24L and 24R are preferably installed towards and close to the space at the midpoint between the battery modules 13CL and 13CR at the center.
Accordingly, the power source connection terminals of the heater modules 21L and 21R arranged on the front sides of the battery modules 13FL on the front left side and the battery modules 13FR on the front right side, are located in mutually proximate end portions of the heater modules 21L and 21R. Also, the power source connection terminals of the heater modules 23L and 23R arranged on the rear sides of the battery modules 13CL on the center left side and the battery modules 13CR on the center right side, are located in mutually proximate end portions of the heater modules 23L and 23R. Hence, as shown in
As shown in
On the other hand, the battery modules 13FL on the front left side and the battery modules 13FR on the front right side are arranged next to the vehicle front sides of the battery modules 13CL on the center left side and the battery modules 13CR on the center right side, respectively. Therefore, it is difficult to secure spaces for arranging the power source connection terminals of the heater modules 22L and 22R in the peripheries of the mutually proximate end portions of the heater modules 22L and 22R arranged on the front sides of the battery modules 13CL and 13CR at the center.
Thus, in this embodiment, the heater modules 22L and 22R arranged in a vertical state on the front sides of the battery modules 13CL and 13CR at the center, have the configuration shown in
As shown in
The heater module 22L having the foregoing configuration is provided with lugs 31b at the bottom of the insulating holder 31, as shown in
As shown in
As explained above, the battery modules 13FL and 13FR on the front side are arranged immediately next to the vehicle front sides of the battery modules 13CL and 13CR at the center, respectively. Therefore, it is difficult to secure spaces for arranging the power source connection terminals of the heater modules 22L and 22R in the peripheries of the mutually proximate end portions of the heater modules 22L and 22R arranged on the front sides of the battery modules 13CL and 13CR.
Thus, in the present embodiment, each of the insulating holders 31 of the heater modules 22L and 22R is bent at least on one end in the extending direction along the battery module mounting surface 14a, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Moreover, a connector 38 is provided in the distal end of the lead wire 37. This connector 38 is electrically connected to the power supply cable 42 that is arranged in the space at the midpoint in the vehicle width direction as explained above. Thus, an electric current is fed from the power source to the heater module 22L, in other words, to the plate-like heating element 32 of the plate-like heater body 34.
It could be considered that the power source connection terminal 35 of the plate-like heater body 34 is arranged at the midpoint of the insulating holder 31 in a longitudinal direction, and is placed between the insulating holder 31 and the plate-like heating element 32. In this case, however, the thickness of the heater module 22L is increased, and the heater module 22L cannot be inserted into the limited space between the battery modules 13CL on the center left side and the battery modules 13FL on the front left side.
The heater module 22L for the battery module 13CL on the center left side of the heater modules according to the present embodiment, includes the plate-like heater body 34 that faces the heated surface 13CLa of the battery module 13CL in the laid state. As shown in
The plate-like heater body 34 is composed of a joined body of the plate-like heating element 32 and the heat equalizing plate 33, and the heat equalizing plate 33 faces the heated surface 13CLa. This arrangement allows the heat equalizing plate 33 to heat the heated surface 13CLa evenly, thereby preventing an uneven temperature distribution in the heated surface 13CLa.
The heater body locking portions 31a, which are provided at other edges on the opposite side of the one edge of the insulating holder 31 to lock the plate-like heater body 34, project toward the heated surface 13CLa from the plate-like heater body 34. These heater body locking portions 31a serving as regulation members hit the heated surface 13CLa when the heater module 22L vibrates or is inclined, and thereby prevent the plate-like heater body 34 from coming into contact with the heated surface 13CLa. Accordingly, damage to the plate-like heater body 34 or electric leakage caused by the contact with the heated surface 13CLa can be prevented. This effect can be achieved simply by providing the heater body locking portions 31a in the insulating holder 31 to project in the manner described above. Such an effect is possible with the inexpensive and simple configuration and therefore, has a significant advantage in cost and weight.
Further, the end portions of the insulating holders 31 away from the space at the midpoint in the vehicle width direction, are bent along the corner portions of the corresponding battery module 13CL on the center left side and battery module 13CR on the center right side. The bent end portions 31c of the insulating holders 31 increase the intensity of fixation on the battery module mounting surface 14a when the heater module 22L vibrates or is inclined. As a result, damage to the plate-like heater body 34 or electric leakage caused by the contact with the heated surface 13CLa can surely be prevented.
The bent end portions 31c of the insulating holders 31 are located outside of the region, but within the battery module mounting surface 14a, where the corresponding battery modules 13CL on the center left side and battery modules 13CR on the center right side are mounted. Thus, the bent end portions 31c of the insulating holders 31 can be provided while utilizing the extra space provided for safety reasons at the time of a side impact crash of another vehicle.
The extra space in which the bent end portions 31c of the insulating holders 31 are located, contributes to providing the power source connection terminal 35 of the heater module 22L (the plate-like heater body 34) in the bent end portion 31c with no limitation. Thus, even when there is no available space for the power source connection terminal 35 in the end portion of the heater module 22L adjacent to the space at the midpoint in the vehicle width direction, the provision of the power source connection terminal 35 of the heater module 22L is possible.
The entire content of Japanese Patent Application No. P2011-054084 (filed on Mar. 11, 2011) is herein incorporated by reference.
Although the present invention has been described above by reference to the embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the description thereof, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made.
The heater module of the present invention uses the insulating holder to attach the plate-like heater body in a manner as to face the heated surface of the object to be heated. The insulating holder is located on one side of the plate-like heater body away from the heated surface of the object to be heated. Therefore, the plate-like heater body directly heats the object to be heated so as to improve the heating efficiency.
In addition, the heater body locking portions provided in the insulating holder to lock the plate-like heater body project toward the heated surface of the object to be heated from the plate-like heater body. The heater body locking portions hit the heated surface of the object to be heated when the heater module vibrates or is inclined, and thereby prevent the plate-like heater body from coming into contact with the heated surface of the object to be heated. Accordingly, damage to the plate-like heater body or electric leakage caused by the contact with the heated surface of the object to be heated, can be prevented. This effect can be achieved simply by providing the heater body locking portions in the insulating holder to project in the manner described above. Such an effect is possible with the inexpensive and simple configuration and therefore, has a significant advantage in cost and weight.
11 Battery pack
13CL, 13CR Battery module (object to be heated)
13CLa Heated surface
14
a Battery module mounting surface
22L, 22R Heater module
31 Insulating holder
31
a Heater body locking portion (regulation member)
31
c Bent end portion
32 Plate-like heating element
33 Heat equalizing plate
34 Plate-like heater body
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2011-054084 | Mar 2011 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2012/054950 | 2/28/2012 | WO | 00 | 9/5/2013 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2012/124471 | 9/20/2012 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
7964827 | Suzuki et al. | Jun 2011 | B2 |
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2 148 385 | Jan 2010 | EP |
8-256950 | Oct 1996 | JP |
9-190840 | Jul 1997 | JP |
10-032021 | Feb 1998 | JP |
2000-243435 | Sep 2000 | JP |
2000-243435 | Sep 2000 | JP |
2005-286071 | Oct 2005 | JP |
3131704 | May 2007 | JP |
2008-186621 | Aug 2008 | JP |
Entry |
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Korean Office Action dated Jun. 25, 2014, 3 pgs. |
Supplementary Search Report dated Oct. 7, 2014, 5 pgs. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20130341319 A1 | Dec 2013 | US |