Electricity storage device with enhanced heat dissipation

• US 8,343,649 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2008
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Murata, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Crepeau, Jonathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOUYETTE, KENNETH J
• Application Number:
  US12/593,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20100112429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,742 Days
• Field of Search: 429/120, 429/592, 429/62, 429/86, 429/89, 429/91, 429/163, 429/185, 429/175, 429/164, 429/153
• 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 10/6554 Rods or plates
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6562 with free flow by convection only
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6565 with recirculation or U-turn in the flow path, i.e. back and forth
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6567 Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

An electricity storage device has: an enclosed container; an electricity storage unit contained in the enclosed container; a coolant, contained in the enclosed container, for cooling the electricity storage unit; and protrusions that extend into the coolant and conduct the heat of the coolant to a top lid of the enclosed container. The protrusions are formed on the top lid.

Claims

1. An electricity storage device comprising:

an enclosed container provided with a top lid;

an electricity storage unit contained in the enclosed container;

an electrically insulating liquid coolant, contained in the enclosed container, for cooling the electricity storage unit; and

at least one protrusion, protruding from the top lid into the liquid coolant, for transferring heat in the liquid coolant to the top lid of the enclosed container,

wherein the electricity storage unit is immersed in the liquid coolant, and

wherein a lower end portion of the protrusion is in contact with the liquid coolant in which the electricity storage unit is immersed.

2. The electricity storage device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is formed only on the top lid.

3. The electricity storage device according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of the protrusions are provided.

4. The electricity storage device according to claim 2, wherein the electricity storage unit includes a plurality of electricity storage elements that are electrically connected.

5. The electricity storage device according to claim 4, wherein:

each of the electricity storage elements has a cylindrical shape; and

each of the protrusions extends in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the electricity storage elements.

6. The electricity storage device according to claim 4, wherein:

the electricity storage unit has a pair of holding members, each of the electricity storage elements has a cylindrical shape, and the plurality of electricity storage elements are arranged between the pair of holding members such that axes of the electricity storage elements are mutually parallel; and

the protrusions extend in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the electricity storage elements.

7. The electricity storage device according to claim 6, wherein a top region of the pair of holding members is fixed to the top lid.

8. The electricity storage device according to claim 2, wherein:

the top lid includes an inner plate portion; and

the protrusion is formed on the top lid with the use of the inner plate portion.

9. The electricity storage device according to claim 8, wherein:

the top lid is made of a material with thermal conductivity; and

the top lid, the inner plate portion, and the protrusion are integrally formed.

10. The electricity storage device according to claim 3, wherein the electricity storage unit includes a plurality of electricity storage elements that are electrically connected.

11. The electricity storage device according to claim 10, wherein:

each of the electricity storage elements has a cylindrical shape; and

each of the protrusions extends in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the electricity storage elements.

12. The electricity storage device according to claim 10, wherein:

The electricity storage unit has a pair of holding members, each of the electricity storage elements has a cylindrical shape, and the plurality of electricity storage elements are arranged between the pair of holding members such that axes of the electricity storage elements are mutually parallel; and

the protrusions extend in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the electricity storage elements.

13. The electricity storage device according to claim 11, wherein a top region of the pair of holding members is fixed to the top lid.

14. The electricity storage device according to claim 3, wherein:

the top lid includes an inner plate portion; and

the protrusion is formed on the top lid with the use of the inner plate portion.

15. The electricity storage device according to claim 14, wherein:

the top lid is made of a material with thermal conductivity; and

the top lid, the inner plate portion, and the protrusion are integrally formed.

16. The electricity storage device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is a solid structure.

17. The electricity storage device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is a rigid structure.

18. A method of manufacturing an electricity storage device in which an enclosed container including a container body and a top lid contains an electricity storage unit and an electrically insulating liquid coolant for cooling the electricity storage unit, comprising:

forming at least one protrusion on an inner surface of the top lid; and

injecting the liquid coolant into the container body such that a lower end portion of the protrusion is in contact with the liquid coolant in which the electricity storage unit is immersed.