Vehicle power storage unit and vehicle

• US 20080318121A1
• Filed: 06/18/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Takagi, Masaru
• Granted Patent: US 8,007,933 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/120
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/643 Cylindrical cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6551 Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6567 Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/325 comprising deformable valve members, e.g. elastic or flexible valve members
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/3425 in the form of rupturable membranes or weakened parts, e.g. pierced with the aid of a sharp member
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A vehicle power storage unit, has: a power storage assembly; a coolant for cooling the power storage assembly; a casing having a coolant inlet through which the coolant is filled into the casing and containing the coolant and the power storage assembly; a gas-discharge pipe through which gas produced by the power storage assembly is discharged from the casing to the outside of a passenger compartment or a trunk of the vehicle; and a first pressure-release valve which is provided at the coolant inlet and through which the pressure in the casing is released to the outside when gas is produced by the power storage assembly.

Claims

1. A vehicle power storage unit, comprising:

a power storage assembly;

a coolant for cooling the power storage assembly;

a casing having a coolant inlet through which the coolant is filled into the casing and containing the coolant and the power storage assembly;

a gas-discharge pipe through which gas produced by the power storage assembly is discharged from the casing to the outside of a passenger compartment or a trunk of the vehicle; and

.

a first pressure-release valve which is provided at the coolant inlet and through which the pressure in the casing is released to the outside when gas is produced by the power storage assembly.

2. The vehicle power storage unit according to claim 1, wherein a valve-open pressure of the first pressure-release valve is lower than a resistible pressure limit of the casing.

3. The vehicle power storage unit according to claim 2,.wherein the valve-open pressure of the first pressure-release valve is 5 to 10 Mpa, and the resistible pressure limit of the casing is higher than 10 Mpa.

4. The vehicle power storage unit according to claim 1, further comprising a second pressure-release valve through which, when gas is produced by the power storage assembly, the gas is discharged to the gas-discharge pipe.

5. The vehicle power storage unit according to claim 4, wherein the valve-open pressure of the first pressure-release valve is higher than the valve-open pressure of the second pressure-release valve.

6. The vehicle power storage unit according to claim 5, wherein the valve-open pressure of the first pressure-release valve is 5 to 10 Mpa, and the valve-open pressure of the second pressure-release valve is 1 to 5 Mpa.

7. The power storage unit according to claim 1, further comprising a cap closing the coolant inlet,

wherein the first pressure-release valve is provided at the cap.

8. The vehicle power storage unit according to claim 7, wherein the wall thickness of the cap is smaller at the first pressure-release valve than at other portions.

9. The vehicle power storage unit according to claim 1, further comprising a container into which the coolant is discharged via the coolant inlet together with the gas produced by the power storage assembly.

10. The vehicle power storage unit according to claim 9, wherein the container is an elastic container that freely expands and contracts.

11. The vehicle power storage unit according to claim 9, wherein the container is formed or structured so as to return at least one of the gas and the coolant in the container to the casing.

12. The vehicle power storage unit according to claim 9, wherein the container is heat-resistant.

13. The vehicle power storage unit according to claim 1, wherein a filter member is provided at the gas-discharge pipe to interrupt the flow of the coolant.

14. A vehicle incorporating the vehicle power storage unit according to claim 1.