Power source device and battery cooling structure for vehicle

• US 7,654,351 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sato, Seiichi, Koike, Eiji, Ohkuma, Kanae, Oya, Satoyoshi, Takedomi, Harumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan; Hau V
• Application Number:
  US11/440,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20080196957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.5, 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.1, 180/89.11, 165/47, 165/122, 165/96, 429/26, 429/27, 429/34, 622/39, 622/44, 622/592
• US Class Current: 180/68.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0416 Arrangement in the rear part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0007 Measures or means for preventing or attenuating collisions
• 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 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6563 with forced flow, e.g. by blowers
• 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 10/667 the system being an electronic component, e.g. a CPU, an inverter or a capacitor
• 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 50/224 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/249 specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/278 Organic material
• 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 battery box housing a battery is mounted between left and right side frames extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body so that the battery box is offset to a left side of the vehicle body, and an intake duct and an exhaust duct for cooling air for cooling the battery are connected to an end of the battery box on a right side of the vehicle body. Therefore, it is possible not only to protect the battery between the left and right frames from a shock caused upon a side collision, but also to ensure a space for disposition of the intake duct and the exhaust duct while ensuring a volume of the battery box to the maximum. Moreover, the battery box is connected at its left and right ends to the left and right side frames.

Claims

1. A power source device for a vehicle having left and right side frames extending longitudinally with respect thereto, said power source device, comprising:

a battery box, housing one or more battery modules, and being mounted on a vehicle body, said one or more battery modules supplying electric power to a motor for driving the vehicle, wherein the battery box is mounted between the left and right side frames such that said one or more battery modules are offset altogether to one of a left and right side of the vehicle, with respect to a center line thereof, such that a majority of said battery or battery modules are located on said left or right side of the vehicle with respect to the center line;

an intake duct connected to the battery box at an other of the left and right sides of the vehicle, for supplying cooling air to said one or more battery modules; and

an exhaust duct connected to the battery box at said other of the left and right sides of the vehicle, for exhausting cooling air from said one or more battery modules.

2. A power source device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the battery box is connected at each end thereof to respective left and right side frames.

3. A power source device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a fan is mounted on the exhaust duct and disposed in a space between an exterior plate of the vehicle body and an interior material.

4. A power source device for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein a silencer is mounted on the exhaust duct at a location downstream from the fan.

5. A power source device for a vehicle according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein a filler tube for a fuel tank is mounted on a side of the vehicle opposite from the intake duct and the exhaust duct.

6. A power source device for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an electrical equipment is disposed between a fan connected to a cooling air outlet in the battery box and a cooling air inlet of the exhaust duct to cool the electrical equipment.

7. A power source device for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the exhaust duct is connected to a tire pan formed on a floor surface of a trunk room.

8. A power source device for a vehicle having left and right side frames extending longitudinally with respect thereto, said power source device comprising:

a battery box including a battery cover and a plurality of battery modules housed inside the battery cover, the battery modules supplying electric power to a motor for driving the vehicle,

wherein the battery box further includes battery support frames supporting the battery modules and passing through an opening in the battery cover in a lateral direction of a vehicle body, the battery support frames being connected at their left and right ends to the left and right side frames.

9. A power source device for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the battery support frames are connected at their left and right ends to the left and right side frames at a location corresponding to a wheel housing.

10. A power source device for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the battery modules comprise a plurality of elongated battery cells connected in series, and being disposed longitudinally of the vehicle body.

11. A power source device for a vehicle according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the battery cover is covered with a battery case made of a metal.

12. A power source device for a vehicle, comprising:

a battery box housing a battery and disposed in the rear of a seat on which an occupant sits, and substantially between rear wheels of the vehicle, the battery supplying electric power to a motor for driving the vehicle; and

an intake duct for supplying air from a vehicle passenger compartment into the battery box to cool the battery,

wherein the intake duct is disposed in a space between the seat and a side portion of a vehicle body, and a suction port of the intake duct opens below a sitting surface of the seat in the vehicle passenger compartment and into a space between a side face of a seat cushion and an inner face of a door.

13. A power source device for a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein an air-conditioning blow-out port opens in front of and below the seat to face rearwards, and the suction port is offset upwards with respect to the blow-out port.

14. A power source device for a vehicle according to either one of claims 12 and 13, wherein the intake duct has a sectional area of a flow path set at a value larger than an area of the suction port.