Battery power source with coolant flow

• US 6,411,063 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2000
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Kanamaru, Kunio, Kimura, Tadao, Nakanishi, Toshiaki, Inui, Kiwamu, Marukawa, Shuuhei, Watanabe, Koh, Kouzu, Katsumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/649,771
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 320/112, 320/116, 320/132, 320/150, 320/149, 320/153, 320/161, 320/162
• US Class Current: 320/150
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 58/13 Maintaining the SoC within a determined range
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/14 Preventing excessive discharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/617 for achieving uniformity or desired distribution of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/63 Control systems charging or discharging in response to temperature H01M10/44 , H01M10/443; measurement of temperature H01M10/48 , H01M10/486
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/643 Cylindrical cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/652 characterised by gradients for achieving a desired temperature gradient H01M10/617
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6551 Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6557 arranged between the cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 : with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6565 : with recirculation or U-turn in the flow path, i.e. back and forth
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6566 : Means within the gas flow to guide the flow around one or more cells, e.g. manifolds, baffles or other barriers H01M10/6565 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/10 : Temperature sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/106 : PTC
• 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 50/50 : Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0031 : using battery or load disconnect circuits H02J9/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A power source has a battery pack housing a plurality of interconnected battery modules wherein a plurality of single cells are connected serially. A blower is provided which forces air through the battery pack to maintain the battery modules at a correct temperature. A controller controls the blower in accordance with data provided by sensors which detect voltage, current and temperature. The controller outputs the data and a state of charge. A charging/discharging current circuit includes a relay for interrupting charging and discharging of the battery modules in the event of failure and also includes a rush current prevention resistor and a current sensor. The controller permits the power source to be maintained in a correct operating condition wherein neither overcharging nor undercharging occurs.

Claims

1. A battery power source device comprising:

a battery pack having battery modules formed by connecting in series electrically and mechanically a plurality of single cells in the form of secondary cells;

said battery modules being held in a holder case in a three-dimensionally parallel arrangement and being electrically connected in series;

cooling means for forcing cooling air to flow within the battery pack and be channeled to flow between said battery modules; and

means for detecting temperature at one of a single and a plurality of said battery modules and controlling said cooling means based upon detected temperatures to effectuate the flow of the cooling air between said battery modules.

2. A battery power source device comprising:

a battery pack having modules that are interconnected and elongated in a longitudinal direction;

a holding casing containing said battery modules;

cooling means for forcing cooling air to flow in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of said battery modules and be channeled to flow between said battery modules; and

temperature detection means for detecting temperature of one of said battery modules and a plurality of said battery modules and controlling said cooling means based upon detected temperatures to effectuate the flow of the cooling air between said battery modules.