This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-78373, filed on Mar. 29, 2012 and International Application No. PCT/JP2012/008153, filed on Dec. 20, 2012; the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments described herein relates to an interlocking device for a battery unit board that stores a battery unit and includes a switch opening and closing a DC circuit.
Conventionally, a switch that opens and closes a DC circuit is connected to a battery unit board storing a battery unit (battery module) in which plural battery cells are connected in series (for example, see Patent Document 1).
For checking the battery unit board described above, a front plate or a side plate is removed to check discoloration or damage of the battery units that are stacked in multiple stages. For the battery unit that needs to be exchanged, a switch is opened, the battery unit is removed from a connection conductor, and the battery unit is exchanged. However, there may be a case in which the battery unit is removed without opening the switch. In view of this, an interlocking device between the switch and the battery unit with a simple configuration has been demanded.
According to one embodiment, there is provided an interlocking device for a battery unit board including a housing, a battery unit that is arranged in the housing, a switch that is electrically connected to the battery unit, and an interlocking mechanism that allows the movement of the battery unit when the switch is opened, and that inhibits the battery unit from being drawn from the housing when the switch is closed.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, the following is a description of an interlocking device for a battery unit board according to embodiments.
Firstly, an interlocking device for a battery unit board according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
An interlocking plate 7 is provided at the left side of the housing 1. The interlocking plate 7 is disposed in the vertical direction, and includes a base portion 7a that is movable on a guide 8 in the vertical direction, a horizontally arranged handle contact portion 7b that is consecutively provided at the upper part of the base portion 7a and that is in contact with the operation handle 5, and battery contact portions 7c that are provided downward from the middle part of the base portion 7a in multiple stages and that are in contact with the bottom surfaces of the battery units 4. A spring 9 that biases the interlocking plate 7 in the vertical direction is provided between the base portion 7a and the ceiling portion of the housing 1.
Next, an operation of the interlocking plate 7 will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
With this configuration, the movement of the interlocking plate 7 is restricted according to the position of the operation handle 5, and when the switch 2 is opened, the battery contact portion 7c that hinders the drawing direction of the battery unit 4 can be released. Accordingly, the battery unit 4 that needs to be exchanged can be removed, and a new battery unit can be connected. After the exchange, the interlocking plate 7 is moved downward, the lock pin is set, and then, the operation handle 5 is operated.
The interlocking plate 7 is referred to as an interlocking mechanism that allows the movement of the battery unit 4 when the switch 2 is opened, and that inhibits the movement of the battery unit 4 when the switch 2 is closed.
According to the interlocking device for a battery unit board according to the first embodiment, the interlocking plate 7 that can be moved when the operation handle 5 of the switch 2 is opened is provided. Therefore, the battery unit 4 can be removed, and can be connected with the DC circuit being shut down. The interlocking device also provides an interlocking with simple configuration.
In the above first embodiment, the movement of the battery unit 4 is restricted with a mechanical interlocking. A display device or an alarm device that receives an electric supply from the switch 2 can issue an alarm signal such as a flickering display or an alarm sound when the front plate or the like of the housing 1 is removed with the switch 2 being closed. The power source system has a simple circuit, since it is in interlocking with the switch 2.
Next, an interlocking device for a battery unit board according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
The locking rod 10 is referred to as an interlocking mechanism that allows the movement of the battery unit 4 when the switch 2 is opened, and that inhibits the movement of the battery unit 4 when the switch 2 is closed.
According to the interlocking device for a battery unit board according to the above second embodiment, the effect obtained by the first embodiment can also be obtained even by the electric interlocking.
Next, an interlocking device for a battery unit board according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
As illustrated in
According to the interlocking device for a battery unit board according to the above third embodiment, the effect obtained by the second embodiment can be obtained, and further, a connection operation can be carried out at the side of the terminal 13 of the battery unit 4, when the switch 2 is opened.
According to the embodiments described above, predetermined battery units that are stacked in multiple stages can be removed, and connected with a simple configuration, when the switch is opened.
While certain embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2012-078373 | Mar 2012 | JP | national |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/JP2012/008153 | Dec 2012 | US |
Child | 14496095 | US |