Patent Application
20110005781
The present invention relates to a power apparatus capable of coping with abnormal circumstances of a power supply element and an electronic apparatus using the power apparatus.
In electronic apparatuses such as automobiles, electric vehicles and the like, in which electric power from a power apparatus drives a drive motor used as a power source, have been developed and have received much attention from the viewpoint of energy saving.
Furthermore, the above-mentioned power apparatus is equipped with a fire-extinguishing agent which is ejected from a plurality of nozzles in the abnormal circumstances in order to enhance the safety in the abnormal circumstances such as collision (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
The problem in the conventional example of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is that the size of the power apparatus is increased.
That is to say, the power apparatus has a configuration in which a plurality of power supply elements are connected in series or in parallel in order to increase the electric power thereof. Therefore, when a fire-extinguishing agent is ejected to all parts of the plurality of power supply elements from a nozzle, an extremely large amount of fire-extinguishing agent is necessary, which causes to increase the size of the apparatus.
Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. H9-74603
A power apparatus of the present invention includes a main body case, a plurality of power supply elements provided inside the main body case, and a fire-extinguishing agent tank facing each of the plurality of power supply elements. Between the power supply elements and the fire-extinguishing agent tank facing the power supply elements, an opening part configured to sense heat of each of the power supply element and open the fire-extinguishing agent tank is provided. With such a configuration, the size of the power apparatus can be reduced.
That is to say, in the present invention, the fire-extinguishing agent tank facing each of the plurality of power supply elements is provided, and the opening part configured to sense heat of each of the power supply element and open the fire-extinguishing agent tank is provided between each of the power supply elements and the fire-extinguishing agent tank facing the power supply elements. Thus, from the fire-extinguishing agent tank in the portion corresponding to the relevant power supply element whose temperature is abnormally increased, a fire-extinguishing agent can be reliably ejected. That is to say, the amount of the fire-extinguishing agent can be reduced as compared with a conventional example in which a fire-extinguishing agent is ejected in a wide area. As a result, the size of the apparatus can be reduced.
Furthermore, an electronic apparatus of the present invention uses the above-mentioned power apparatus as an electric power supply. Thus, the size of the electronic apparatus can be reduced and the safety can be enhanced.
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to drawings. The same reference numerals are given to the same parts. Note here that the present invention is not limited to the following contents as long as it is based on the basic features described in this description.
Fire-extinguishing agent tank 3 is made of synthetic resin such as polypropylene which is softened and then melted by heat generated by the temperature rise. As shown in
Note here that fire-extinguishing agent 5 is filled in a pressurized state as shown in
In this exemplary embodiment, opening part 3a for sensing heat of the corresponding power supply element 2 and opening fire-extinguishing agent tank 3 is provided between power supply elements 2 and fire-extinguishing agent tank 3 facing power supply elements 2.
Specifically, opening part 3a is configured, for example, by forming at least a bottom surface of fire-extinguishing agent tank 3 of synthetic resin such as polypropylene that is melted by heat at about 180° C., and by bringing connecting lines 4 for electrically connecting a plurality of power supply elements 2 into contact with or closer to the bottom surface of fire-extinguishing agent tank 3. Opening part 3a may be formed of synthetic resin on the entire surface of the bottom surface of fire-extinguishing agent tank 3 or in at least the vicinity which connecting line 4 is brought into contact with or closer to. Furthermore, opening part 3a may be formed by laminating polyethylene terephthalate on one surface of a metal film made of at least an aluminum layer and a resin film made of, for example, polyethylene on the other surface of the metal film.
When the temperature of power supply element 2 is abnormally increased due to occurrence of some abnormality, the bottom surface of fire-extinguishing agent tank 3 that is close to power supply element 2 is melted. Thereby, opening part 3a is opened. As a result, fire-extinguishing agent 5 is ejected intensively toward power supply element 2 whose temperature is abnormally increased. Thus, the abnormal temperature rise of power supply element 2 is stopped, and the safety can be enhanced.
Since connecting line 4, which electrically connects a plurality of power supply elements 2 to each other, is brought into contact with or closer to the bottom surface of fire-extinguishing agent tank 3, the heat of power supply element 2 whose temperature is increased can be easily conducted to fire-extinguishing agent tank 3 via connecting line 4. As a result, the fire-extinguishing agent can start to be ejected within a short time, and thus the safety can be enhanced.
This point is described in more detail. One end of connecting line 4 is electrically connected to the external surface of cylindrical case 2a serving as the negative electrode of power supply element 2 and the other end of connecting line 4 is connected to positive electrode 2b.
Therefore, connecting line 4 made of metal and having a high thermal conductivity can securely conduct heat of the abnormally increased temperature from positive electrode 2b and cylindrical case 2a to fire-extinguishing agent tank 3. Consequently, fire-extinguishing agent tank 3 is melted so as to provide a hole. Thus, fire-extinguishing agent 5 is ejected to power supply element 2 whose temperature is abnormally increased.
Furthermore, since fire-extinguishing agent 5 is forced into fire-extinguishing agent tank 3 as mentioned above in a pressurized state, fire-extinguishing agent 5 is ejected vigorously toward power supply element 2 whose temperature is abnormally increased.
Hereinafter, a power apparatus in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to
As shown in
As shown in
Between each power supply element 2 and respective fire-extinguishing agent tank 6 facing power supply element 2, as shown in
As shown in
Each of bimetals 9 is provided so that the lower surface side (the side stretches largely by the temperature rise) is brought into contact with the upper surface of power supply element 2. When the temperature of the corresponding power supply element 2 is abnormally increased, bimetal 9 is, for example, thermally deformed in such a manner in which it stretches largely upwardly. As a result, needle 10 ruptures and opens the bottom of fire-extinguishing agent tank 3.
Fire-extinguishing agent tank 6 is described in more detail. Fire-extinguishing agent tank 6 is made of rubber and the inside thereof is filled with fire-extinguishing agent 5 in a pressurized state as shown in
Furthermore, since the bottom of fire-extinguishing agent tank 6 is made to be thin, this bottom is largely ruptured and opened when the temperature of the corresponding power supply element 2 mentioned above is increased and needle 10 sticks the bottom of fire-extinguishing agent tank 6. As a result, fire-extinguishing agent 5 is vigorously ejected to the corresponding power supply element 2. Thus, the safety is enhanced.
Fire-extinguishing agent tank 6 shown in
Furthermore, supporting plate 12 supporting the bottom of fire-extinguishing agent tank 6 as shown in
This exemplary embodiment describes an example of a configuration in which opening part 8 includes bimetal 9 and needle 10 fixed on the upper surface of bimetal 9. The configuration is not limited to this example. For example, as a configuration of opening part 8, configurations shown in the following
In
That is to say, instead of bimetal 9 in accordance with the exemplary embodiments shown in
As a result, fire-extinguishing agent 5 is vigorously ejected to the corresponding power supply element 2. Thus, the safety is enhanced.
The shape memory state of operation body 9a is a state in which operation body 9a warps to the side of the fire-extinguishing agent tank at a predetermined temperature of, for example, 150 to 200° C. That is, a state in which operation body 9a is deformed into a flat shape at a normal temperature as shown in
In
That is to say, instead of bimetal 9 in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of
As a result, fire-extinguishing agent 5 is vigorously ejected to the corresponding power supply element 2. Therefore, the safety is enhanced. In
In
That is to say, instead of bimetal 9 in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of
Note here that the above-mentioned example describes an example in which a valve itself like a fire extinguishing sprinkler is melted at the detected temperature and opened. However, the configuration is not limited to this example. For example, a configuration in which a valve is opened by using an electromagnetic force based on a temperature detected a temperature detector via a control part may be employed. Thus, a power apparatus having a high control property can be realized.
Note here that a configuration of the opening part of this exemplary embodiment can be applied to the power apparatus of the first exemplary embodiment. Thus, the configuration of the fire-extinguishing agent tank can be simplified.
Hereinafter, an electronic apparatus in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to
As shown in
According to this exemplary embodiment, even if a built-in power apparatus is in an abnormal state, the safety of the electronic apparatus can be secured by ejecting a fire-extinguishing agent to a power supply element.
This exemplary embodiment describes an electric vehicle as an example of the electronic apparatus. However, the electronic apparatus is not necessarily limited to this example. For example, a power apparatus may be used for an electronic apparatus such as a floor-mounted type fuel cell system or a solar photovoltaic power generating system as a backup power source or a battery pack for storing generated surplus electricity.
A power apparatus and an electronic apparatus using the same in accordance with the present invention are useful in a technical field of, for example, automobiles and emergency power equipment.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-060655 | Mar 2008 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2009/001013 | 3/6/2009 | WO | 00 | 8/9/2010 |
