Temperature adjustment structure for power storage apparatus

• US 8,251,169 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Fujiwara, Nobuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Restifo, Jeffrey J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gurari, Erez
• Application Number:
  US12/808,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20110240251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 180/68.5
• US Class Current: 180/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch 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 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A temperature adjustment structure for adjusting a temperature of a power storage module included in a power storage apparatus mounted on a vehicle has a duct forming a moving path of air in adjusting the temperature of the power storage module. The duct has a protrusion portion protruding toward the outside of the duct with respect to a surface forming the moving path. The protrusion portion is located above a connector that is provided additionally for the power storage apparatus and used for electrical connection to equipment (peripheral equipment) placed parallel with the power storage module within the power storage apparatus. At least a connection portion of the connector is located within an area of the protrusion portion when viewed from a vertical direction.

Claims

1. A temperature adjustment structure for adjusting a temperature of a power storage module included in a power storage apparatus mounted on a vehicle, comprising:

a duct forming a moving path of air in adjusting the temperature of the power storage module,

wherein the duct has a protrusion portion protruding toward the outside of the duct with respect to a surface forming the moving path, and

wherein the protrusion portion is located above a connector and at least a connection portion of the connector is located within an area of the protrusion portion when viewed from a vertical direction, the connector being provided additionally for the power storage apparatus and used for electrical connection to equipment placed parallel with the power storage module within the power storage apparatus.

2. The temperature adjustment structure according to claim 1, further comprising a panel configured to define space as a luggage compartment of the vehicle and located above the power storage apparatus,

wherein the panel has a depression portion in an outer edge portion thereof, the depression portion being located above the protrusion portion and being used for fixing the panel.

3. The temperature adjustment structure according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion portion is formed independently of a portion forming the moving path in the duct.

4. The temperature adjustment structure according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion portion is formed independently of a portion forming the moving path in the duct.