Battery cooling system

• US 7,353,900 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2005
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Horie, Hideaki, Suzuki, Masaaki, Abe, Takaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): RESTIFO, JEFFREY J
• Application Number:
  US11/216,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20060060402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.5, 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 903/907, 903/952
• US Class Current: 180/68.5
• 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 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/04 Arrangement of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A battery cooling system includes a depression-shaped battery accommodating section formed at a bottom surface of a floor panel of a vehicle and dented to side of a passenger compartment so as to accommodate therein a battery. An introduction device is disposed in front of the battery in a vehicle traveling direction, to introduce travel air flow into the battery accommodating section. Here, the battery is accommodated within the battery accommodating section in a condition where a bottom surface of the battery is located at a level above or at a substantially same level as a level of a bottom surface of the vehicle which bottom surface is around the accommodating section. Additionally, the battery includes a plurality of thin cells which are electrically connected with each other, and disposed in a posture that a major surface of each thin cell extends substantially parallelly with the vehicle traveling direction.

Claims

1. A battery cooling system comprising:

a battery;

a depression-shaped battery accommodating section formed at a bottom surface of a floor panel of a vehicle and dented to side of a passenger compartment so as to accommodate therein the battery; and

an introduction device disposed in front of the battery in a vehicle traveling direction, to introduce travel air flow into the battery accommodating section,

wherein the battery is accommodated within the battery accommodating section in a condition where a bottom surface of the battery is located at a level above or at a substantially same level as a level of a bottom surface of the vehicle which bottom surface is around the accommodating section,

wherein the battery includes a plurality of thin cells which are electrically connected with each other, and disposed in a posture that a major surface of each thin cell extends substantially parallelly with the vehicle traveling direction, and

wherein the introduction device includes a baffle for adjusting a flow direction of travel air flow to introduce travel air flow into the battery accommodating section.

2. A battery cooling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thin cells are piled up one upon another, wherein a clearance is formed between at least one major surface of one of thin cells and major surface of at least one of the thin cells.

3. A battery cooling system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the battery includes at least first and second batteries which are connected to each other as a single body, wherein the clearance in the first battery and the clearance in the second battery are aligned with each other to be in direct communication with each other.

4. A battery cooling system comprising:

a battery;

a depression-shaped battery accommodating section formed at a bottom surface of a floor panel of a vehicle and dented to side of a passenger compartment so as to accommodate therein the battery; and

an introduction device disposed in front of the battery in a vehicle traveling direction, to introduce travel air flow into the battery accommodating section,

wherein the battery is accommodated within the battery accommodating section in a condition where a bottom surface of the battery is located at a level above or at a substantially same level as a level of a bottom surface of the vehicle which bottom surface is around the accommodating section,

wherein the battery includes a plurality of thin cells which are electrically connected with each other, and disposed in a posture that a major surface of each thin cell extends substantially parallelly with the vehicle traveling direction, and

wherein the introduction device includes a heat absorbing device for absorbing heat from a fluid flown in the heat absorbing device which fluid has been supplied with heat from a heat source of the vehicle.

5. A battery cooling system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a section defining a flow passage for introducing fluid passing through the heat source and circumference of the heat source to a side direction of the vehicle so as to release the fluid.

6. A battery cooling system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the battery accommodating section has an upstream side wall surface which is inclined to become higher in level in a direction of from an upstream side to a downstream side of travel air flow, wherein the heat adsorbing device including a section defining a plurality of through-openings which pierce from an upstream end to an downstream end of the heat adsorbing device, wherein the heat adsorbing device is installed to the upstream side wall surface in a manner that the through-openings extend along the upstream side wall surface.

7. A battery cooling system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the thin cells are piled up one upon another, wherein a clearance is formed between at least one major surface of one of thin cells and major surface of at least one of the thin cells.

8. A battery cooling system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the battery includes at least first and second batteries which are connected to each other as a single body, wherein the clearance in the first battery and the clearance in the second battery are aligned with each other to be in direct communication with each other.