POWER SUPPLY DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20070216226A1
• Filed: 03/16/2007
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Ikeda, Takeshi, Suzuki, Shigeto, Matsumoto, Takaie, Fukudome, Toshinori, Hosoi, Yukiharu
• Granted Patent: US 7,990,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/10.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/147 electro magnetic [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0007 Measures or means for preventing or attenuating collisions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A high voltage power supply device has a plurality of battery modules connected to each other in series by coupling a safety plug unit to a safety plug unit connecting base to output a series voltage from a power supply output coupler. The safety plug unit connects/disconnects electrode terminals of all the battery modules to each other. Female electrode bodies electrically connected to power supply terminals of the respective battery modules are collectively positioned in a limited area and are arranged at equal intervals on the safety plug unit connecting base. An output voltage of each battery module is set to be lower than 50V to reduce the risk of injury during use, inspection or maintenance of the high voltage power supply device and to downsize the device.

Claims

1. A power supply device for a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of batteries;

a battery container for housing the plurality of batteries;

a safety plug unit connecting base having a plurality of plug connective plus electrodes, each plus electrode electrically connected to a plus terminal of the respective battery through a wiring, and a plurality of plug connective minus electrodes, each minus electrode electrically connected to a minus terminal of the respective battery through a wiring, the plug connective plus electrodes and the plug connective minus electrodes being disposed outside of the battery container; and

a safety plug unit having coupling electrodes that are removably coupleable with the safety plug unit connecting base and that, while being coupled therewith, electrically connects the plug connective plus electrodes and the plug connective minus electrodes and connects the plurality of batters in series to form a power supply circuit and output a voltage from a power supply output section,

the plug connective plus electrodes and the plug connective minus electrodes configured to connect the plus terminals and the minus terminals that define series connective terminals between the batteries via wirings, the safety plug unit configured to disconnect the batteries from each other when the safety plug unit is decoupled from the safety plug unit connecting base.

2. The power supply device of claim 1, wherein the safety plug unit connecting base is a base in which the plug connective plus electrodes and the plug connective minus electrodes are collectively positioned in a limited area and are arranged generally at equal intervals in a plane.

3. The power supply device of claim 1, wherein each one of the batteries contains a plurality of cells connected to each other in series, and an output voltage from each battery is greater than 12V and less than 50V.

4. The power supply device of claim 1, further comprising:

switching means disposed in a power supply line for selectively opening and closing the power supply circuit;

removal preventing means for mechanically preventing the safety plug unit from being removed from the safety plug unit connecting base; and

switch operating means for keeping the switching means under an open condition thereof when the removal preventing means releases the safety plug unit.

5. The power supply device of claim 4, wherein the removal preventing means includes a cover for selectively moving between an open position and a close position to cover the safety plug unit in the close position, and wherein the switch operating means operates in response to the open/close position conditions of the cover and keeps the switching means under an open condition when the cover is under the open position condition.

6. The power supply device of claims 1, further comprising a breaker disposed in a power supply circuit for protecting the power supply circuit from an excessive current.

7. The power supply device of claim 1, wherein a fuse is disposed in the safety plug unit and configured to connect to the plurality of batteries connected in series.

8. The power supply device of claim 7, wherein the fuse is positioned on a reverse side of the safety plug unit and arranged so that replacement of the fuse is inhibited while the safety plug unit is coupled with the plug unit connecting base.

9. The power supply device of claim 1, wherein the power supply device is disposed above a rear wheel of a hybrid type motorcycle and supplies power to the motorcycle, the motorcycle operating via power generated by a combination of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.

10. A power supply device for a vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of batteries;

a container housing the plurality of batteries;

a safety plug unit base having a plurality of plus and minus electrodes electrically connected to the plurality of batteries, each plus electrode electrically connected to a plus terminal of the respective battery, each minus electrode electrically connected to a minus terminal of the respective battery, the plus and minus electrodes disposed outside of the container; and

a safety plug unit having coupling electrodes that are removably coupleable with the safety plug unit base to electrically connect the plus electrodes and the minus electrodes to connect the plurality of batteries in series to form a power supply circuit configured to output a voltage from a power supply output section, the safety plug unit configured to disconnect the batteries from each other upon decoupling of the safety plug unit from the safety plug unit base.

11. The power supply device of claim 10, wherein each one of the batteries contains a plurality of cells connected to each other in series, and an output voltage from each battery is greater than 12V and less than 50V.

12. The power supply device of claim 10, wherein the voltage provided by the plurality of batteries while the safety plug unit is decoupled from the safety plug unit base is equal to the voltage provided by one of the batteries.