U.S. patent application number 12/866785 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-06 for electric power equipment, and electronic device and power supply element inspection equipment using same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Panasonic Corporation. Invention is credited to Yasushi Hirakawa, Shoichi Imashiku, Hajime Nishino.
Application Number | 20110000801 12/866785 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41055765 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110000801 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hirakawa; Yasushi ; et
al. |
January 6, 2011 |
ELECTRIC POWER EQUIPMENT, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND POWER SUPPLY
ELEMENT INSPECTION EQUIPMENT USING SAME
Abstract
An electric power equipment has a main body case, a plurality of
power supply elements provided in the main body case, and a
fire-extinguishing agent discharge space disposed facing the
plurality of power supply elements. The fire-extinguishing agent
discharge space includes fire-extinguishing agent spray space
having a plurality of fire-extinguishing agent spray holes for
spraying a fire-extinguishing agent toward the plurality of power
supply elements, and a fire-extinguishing agent supply space
coupled to the fire-extinguishing agent spray space via a plurality
of fire-extinguishing supply holes. A fire-extinguishing agent tank
is coupled to the fire-extinguishing agent supply space via a
shutoff valve.
Inventors: |
Hirakawa; Yasushi; (Osaka,
JP) ; Nishino; Hajime; (Nara, JP) ; Imashiku;
Shoichi; (Osaka, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione/Panasonic
P.O. Box 10395
Chicago
IL
60610
US
|
Assignee: |
Panasonic Corporation
Kadoma-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
41055765 |
Appl. No.: |
12/866785 |
Filed: |
February 27, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
February 27, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2009/000871 |
371 Date: |
August 9, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/223 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A62C 35/02 20130101;
H01M 10/613 20150401; A62C 3/16 20130101; B60L 3/0053 20130101;
B60L 3/0046 20130101; A62C 3/07 20130101; H01M 2200/00 20130101;
Y02E 60/10 20130101; Y02T 90/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/223 |
International
Class: |
B65D 71/00 20060101
B65D071/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 4, 2008 |
JP |
2008-052996 |
Claims
1. An electric power equipment comprising: a main body case
including an accommodation space for power supply element and a
fire-extinguishing agent discharge space; and a plurality of power
supply elements disposed in the accommodation space for power
supply element of the main body case, wherein the
fire-extinguishing agent discharge space includes a
fire-extinguishing agent spray space for spraying a
fire-extinguishing agent toward the plurality of power supply
elements, and a fire-extinguishing agent supply space for supplying
the fire-extinguishing agent to the fire-extinguishing agent spray
space, a first wall separating the fire-extinguishing agent spray
space from the accommodation space for power supply element is
provided with a plurality of fire-extinguishing agent spray holes,
a second wall separating the fire-extinguishing agent spray space
from the fire-extinguishing agent supply space is provided with a
plurality of fire-extinguishing agent supply holes, and a
fire-extinguishing agent tank is coupled to the fire-extinguishing
agent supply space via a shutoff valve.
2. The electric power equipment according to claim 1, wherein the
fire-extinguishing agent spray space and the fire-extinguishing
agent supply space are sequentially provided from a lower part to
an upper part above the plurality of power supply elements.
3. The electric power equipment according to claim 1, wherein one
or more of the fire-extinguishing agent spray holes are allowed to
face each of the plurality of power supply elements.
4. The electric power equipment according to claim 1, wherein a
number of the fire-extinguishing agent supply holes is made to be
smaller than a number of the fire-extinguishing agent spray holes,
and an opening area of each of the fire-extinguishing agent supply
holes is made to be larger than an opening area of each of the
fire-extinguishing agent spray holes.
5. The electric power equipment according to claim 1, wherein the
second wall is convex and concave with respect to the
fire-extinguishing agent supply space, and a concave portion is
provided with the fire-extinguishing agent supply holes.
6. The electric power equipment according to claim 1, wherein a
surface of the first wall is hydrophilic and a surface of the
second wall is water-repellent.
7. The electric power equipment according to claim 1, wherein the
first and second walls are formed of a metal plate, and a surface
of a metal plate forming the first wall is roughened and a surface
of a metal plate forming the second wall is mirror-finished.
8. The electric power equipment according to claim 1, wherein the
power supply elements are one of batteries are capacitors.
9. The electric power equipment according to claim 1, wherein the
shutoff valve is configured to be opened by an output from an
abnormal state detector provided in the main body case.
10. The electric power equipment according to claim 9, wherein the
abnormal state detector includes one of a impact detector and a
temperature detector.
11. An electronic device comprising a motor and an electric power
equipment as an electric power source for the motor, the electric
power equipment including: a main body case including an
accommodation space for power supply element and a
fire-extinguishing agent discharge space; a plurality of power
supply elements disposed in the accommodation space for power
supply element of the main body case; a first wall separating the
fire-extinguishing agent discharge space from the accommodation
space for power supply element, the first wall being provided with
a plurality of fire-extinguishing agent spray holes; a second wall
dividing the fire-extinguishing agent discharge space into a
fire-extinguishing agent supply space and a fire-extinguishing
agent spray space next to the accommodation space for power supply
element via the first wall, the second wall being provided with a
plurality of fire-extinguishing agent supply holes; and a
fire-extinguishing agent tank coupled to the fire-extinguishing
agent supply space via a shutoff valve.
12. A power supply element inspection equipment comprising: a main
body case including an accommodation space configured to
accommodate a power supply element and a fire-extinguishing agent
discharge space; a first wall separating the fire-extinguishing
agent discharge space from the accommodation space, the first wall
being provided with a fire-extinguishing agent spray hole; a second
wall dividing the fire-extinguishing agent discharge space into a
fire-extinguishing agent supply space and a fire-extinguishing
agent spray space next to the accommodation space via the first
wall, the second wall being provided with a fire-extinguishing
agent supply hole; a fire-extinguishing agent tank coupled to the
fire-extinguishing agent supply space via a shutoff valve; and an
inspection system configured to inspect properties of the power
supply element accommodated in the accommodation space.
13. An electronic device comprising a power-generation system and
an electric power equipment as an electric power storage for the
power-generation system, the electric power equipment including: a
main body case including an accommodation space for power supply
element and a fire-extinguishing agent discharge space; a plurality
of power supply elements disposed in the accommodation space for
power supply element of the main body case; a first wall separating
the fire-extinguishing agent discharge space from the accommodation
space for power supply element, the first wall being provided with
a plurality of fire-extinguishing agent spray holes; a second wall
dividing the fire-extinguishing agent discharge space into a
fire-extinguishing agent supply space and a fire-extinguishing
agent spray space next to the accommodation space for power supply
element via the first wall, the second wall being provided with a
plurality of fire-extinguishing agent supply holes; and a
fire-extinguishing agent tank coupled to the fire-extinguishing
agent supply space via a shutoff valve.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to electric power equipment
capable of responding to abnormal conditions of a power supply
element, and an electronic device and power supply element
inspection equipment using the electric power equipment.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In electronic devices, for example, automobiles, electric
vehicles in which a drive motor used as a power source is driven by
electric power from electric power equipment have been developed
and have received attention from the viewpoint of energy
savings.
[0003] Furthermore, the above-mentioned electric power equipment
has a configuration in which a fire-extinguishing agent is sprayed
from a plurality of nozzles in abnormal conditions in order to
enhance the safety in the abnormal conditions such as a crash (see,
for example, Patent Document 1).
[0004] The above-mentioned conventional example has a problem that
the size of the electric power equipment becomes larger.
[0005] More specifically, the electric power equipment has a
configuration in which power supply elements are connected in
series or in parallel in order to achieve high power. Therefore,
nozzles for spraying a fire-extinguishing agent to the respective
power supply elements and shutoff valves for the nozzles are used.
The use of the plurality of nozzles and shutoff valves in this way
causes the size of the electric power equipment to increase.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No.
H9-74603
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Electric power equipment of the present invention includes a
main body case having an accommodation space for power supply
element and a fire-extinguishing agent discharge space; and a
plurality of power supply elements provided in the accommodation
space for power supply element of the main body case. The
fire-extinguishing agent discharge space has a fire-extinguishing
agent spray space for spraying a fire-extinguishing agent to the
plurality of power supply elements, and a fire-extinguishing agent
supply space for supplying the fire-extinguishing agent to the
fire-extinguishing agent spray space. A plurality of
fire-extinguishing agent spray holes are provided in a first wall
which separates the fire-extinguishing agent spray space from the
accommodation space for power supply element. A plurality of
fire-extinguishing agent supply holes are provided in a second wall
which separates the fire-extinguishing agent spray space from the
fire-extinguishing agent supply space. A fire-extinguishing agent
tank is coupled to the fire-extinguishing agent supply space via a
shutoff valve. Thus, the size of the electric power equipment can
be reduced.
[0007] That is to say, in the present invention, the
fire-extinguishing agent flowing from the fire-extinguishing agent
tank into the fire-extinguishing agent discharge space via the
shutoff valve is firstly supplied to the fire-extinguishing agent
supply space and then spread. Next, the spread-state
fire-extinguishing agent is supplied to the fire-extinguishing
agent spray space from the fire-extinguishing agent supply holes in
the second wall, and then sprayed toward the power supply elements
from the fire-extinguishing agent spray holes provided in the first
wall.
[0008] As described in the present invention, since the
fire-extinguishing agent is sprayed not from a plurality of nozzles
but from a plurality of fire-extinguishing agent spray holes
provided in the first wall, a plurality of nozzles and shutoff
valves are not required. As a result, the size of the electric
power equipment can be considerably reduced.
[0009] Furthermore, the electronic device of the present invention
employs the above-mentioned electric power equipment as a power
source. Thus, the safety of the electronic device to be used can be
enhanced.
[0010] Furthermore, power supply element inspection equipment of
the present invention employs the above-mentioned electric power
equipment as inspection equipment of a power supply element. Thus,
the safety of the power supply element inspection equipment can be
enhanced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of electric power equipment in
accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of another example of electric
power equipment in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment
of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of another example of a wall of
the electric power equipment in accordance with the first exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a view showing a configuration of an electronic
device in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a view showing a configuration of power supply
element inspection equipment in accordance with a third exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS
[0016] 1 main body case [0017] 2 power supply element [0018] 3
fire-extinguishing agent discharge space [0019] 4
fire-extinguishing agent spray hole [0020] 4A wall [0021] 5
fire-extinguishing agent spray space [0022] 6 fire-extinguishing
agent supply hole [0023] 6A wall [0024] 7 fire-extinguishing agent
supply space [0025] 8 shutoff valve [0026] 9 fire-extinguishing
agent tank [0027] 9A piping [0028] 10 abnormality detection section
[0029] 11 abnormal state detector [0030] 12 controller [0031] 13A,
13B axle shaft [0032] 14A front wheel [0033] 14B rear wheel [0034]
15 shaft [0035] 16 power transmission unit [0036] 17 motor [0037]
18 electric power supply line [0038] 19 electric power equipment
[0039] 20 inspection system
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0040] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention
are described with reference to drawings in which the same
reference numerals are given to the same components. Note here that
the present invention is not limited to the embodiments mentioned
below as long as it is based on the basic features described in the
description.
First Exemplary Embodiment
[0041] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of electric power equipment in
accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the electric power equipment
includes main body case 1, power supply elements 2 accommodated in
main body case 1, and fire-extinguishing agent discharge space 3
facing power supply elements 2.
[0042] Furthermore, fire-extinguishing agent discharge space 3
includes fire-extinguishing agent spray space 5 having
fire-extinguishing agent spray holes 4 for spraying a
fire-extinguishing agent toward power supply elements 2, and
fire-extinguishing agent supply space 7 coupled to
fire-extinguishing agent spray space 5 via fire-extinguishing agent
supply holes 6. Fire-extinguishing agent tank 9 is coupled to
fire-extinguishing agent supply space 7 through piping 9A having
shutoff valve 8.
[0043] Power supply elements 2 specifically are batteries or
capacitors. This exemplary embodiment describes batteries as an
example of power supply elements 2.
[0044] That is to say, when power supply elements 2 are batteries,
the electric power equipment is a power source with a high voltage
when the batteries are connected in series and is a power source
with a large capacity when the batteries are connected in parallel.
Then, as described below, for example, by boosting the voltage of
the electric power equipment, a motor for driving an automobile as
an electronic device can be driven.
[0045] Above-mentioned fire-extinguishing agent spray space 5 and
fire-extinguishing agent supply space 7 are sequentially provided
above power supply elements 2. Furthermore, at least one of
(preferably a plurality of) fire-extinguishing agent spray holes 4
opening toward fire-extinguishing agent spray space 5 are disposed
facing the upper parts of power supply elements 2. FIG. 1 describes
an example in which each of fire-extinguishing agent spray hole 4
faces one of power supply elements 2, respectively. However, as
shown in a sectional view of FIG. 2 that shows another example of
electric power equipment, for example, every two fire-extinguishing
agent spray holes 4 may face one of power supply elements 2.
[0046] Fire-extinguishing agent supply holes 6 are formed in wall
6A made of a metal plate. Furthermore, fire-extinguishing agent
spray holes 4 are formed in wall 4A made of a metal plate. The
number of fire-extinguishing agent supply holes 6 formed in wall 6A
is smaller than the number of fire-extinguishing agent spray holes
4 formed in wall 4A. Then, the opening area of the individual
fire-extinguishing agent supply hole 6 is made to be larger than
that of the individual fire-extinguishing agent spray hole 4.
[0047] Shutoff valve 8 is configured to be opened by an output of
abnormality detection section 10. Inside abnormality detection
section 10, abnormal state detector 11 and controller 12 thereof
are provided. In a case that abnormal state detector 11 is, for
example, an impact detector, controller 12 allows shutoff valve 8
to open when an abnormal impact is detected. In a case that
abnormal state detector 11 is a temperature detector, controller 12
allows shutoff valve 8 to open when an abnormal temperature is
detected.
[0048] When shutoff valve 8 is opened by the detection of such
abnormalities, a fire-extinguishing agent is vigorously flown from
fire-extinguishing agent tank 9 into fire-extinguishing agent
supply space 7 through piping 9A, and it is firstly spread in
fire-extinguishing agent supply space 7. Next, this spread
fire-extinguishing agent is supplied from fire-extinguishing agent
supply holes 6 to fire-extinguishing agent spray space 5.
Thereafter, the fire-extinguishing agent is sprayed from
fire-extinguishing agent spray holes 4 to power supply elements 2.
Thus, safety measure for electric power equipment and an electronic
device using the electric power equipment is taken.
[0049] In the above-mentioned operation, since the number of
fire-extinguishing agent supply holes 6 is made to be smaller than
the number of fire-extinguishing agent spray holes 4, the
fire-extinguishing agent flown into fire-extinguishing agent supply
space 7 through piping 9A can be supplied to fire-extinguishing
agent spray space 5 via fire-extinguishing agent supply hole 6 in a
state in which the fire-extinguishing agent is spread in
fire-extinguishing agent supply space 7.
[0050] Furthermore, since the opening area of fire-extinguishing
agent supply hole 6 is made to be larger than that of
fire-extinguishing agent spray hole 4, flow passage resistance is
not too much increased when a fire-extinguishing agent is supplied
from fire-extinguishing agent supply space 7 to fire-extinguishing
agent spray space 5.
[0051] Therefore, the fire-extinguishing agent can be smoothly
sprayed from fire-extinguishing agent spray holes 4 to power supply
elements 2, thus enhancing the safety.
[0052] Furthermore, in this exemplary embodiment, since
fire-extinguishing agent spray space 5 and fire-extinguishing agent
supply space 7 are provided sequentially above power supply
elements 2, spraying of the fire-extinguishing agent from
fire-extinguishing agent spray holes 4 can use the force of free
drop (fall). As a result, improvement of safety measure can be
expected.
[0053] Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIGS.
1 and 2, since at least one fire-extinguishing agent spray hole 4
faces each of power supply elements 2, the fire-extinguishing agent
can be securely sprayed to individual power supply element 2. As a
result, the improvement of the safety measure can be expected. In
this configuration, by providing two or more fire-extinguishing
agent spray holes 4, the fire-extinguishing agent is sprayed to the
entire side surface of the power supply element more uniformly, and
abnormal heat-generation and the like can be suppressed for a short
time.
[0054] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, when the
surface of wall 6A made of a metal plate is made to be
water-repellent and the surface of wall 4A made of a metal plate is
made to be hydrophilic, the fire-extinguishing agent can be sprayed
more smoothly.
[0055] That is to say, when the surface of wall 6A made of a metal
plate is made to be water-repellent, the fire-extinguishing agent
can be supplied from wall 6A to fire-extinguishing agent spray
space 5 via fire-extinguishing agent supply hole 6 by using the
water-repellent property of the surface. Furthermore, the
fire-extinguishing agent supplied to fire-extinguishing agent spray
space 5 can be spread on wall 4A by the use of the hydrophilic
property of the surface of wall 4A. Therefore, the
fire-extinguishing agent can be sprayed smoothly from
fire-extinguishing agent spray holes 4 to power supply elements 2.
As a result, electric power equipment with high safety can be
achieved.
[0056] Furthermore, walls 6A and 4A can be formed of metal plates
respectively as mentioned above by following methods easily. Wall
6A is treated to have water-repellent property by mirror-finishing
the surface of the metal plate, and wall 4A is treated to have
hydrophilic property by roughening the surface of the metal plate.
Furthermore, since walls 4A and 6A are made of metal, they have
high strength, heat resistance, and high safety.
[0057] Furthermore, wall 6A in the above-mentioned exemplary
embodiment is made to be concave and convex with respect to the
fire-extinguishing agent supply space 7 side as shown in a
sectional view of FIG. 3 showing another example of the wall of the
electric power equipment, and fire-extinguishing agent supply holes
6 are provided at the concave portion. Thus, the fire-extinguishing
agent spread in fire-extinguishing agent supply space 7 can be
supplied smoothly to fire-extinguishing agent spray space 5 via
fire-extinguishing agent supply holes 6 formed in the concave
portion.
[0058] Therefore, a fire-extinguishing agent can be smoothly
sprayed from fire-extinguishing agent spray holes 4 to power supply
elements 2 and thus the safety becomes enhanced.
Second Exemplary Embodiment
[0059] Hereinafter, an electronic device in accordance with a
second exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described
in detail with reference to FIG. 4.
[0060] FIG. 4 is a view showing a configuration of an electronic
device in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment of the
present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the electric power equipment
in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment is used as a
power source of an electronic device, for example, an electric
vehicle. Note here that since the configuration and effect of the
electric power equipment are the same as those of the first
exemplary embodiment, the description thereof is omitted
herein.
[0061] As shown in FIG. 4, the electronic device of this exemplary
embodiment includes at least front wheels 14A coupled to axle shaft
13A, rear wheels 14B coupled to axle shaft 13B, shaft 15 coupling
front wheels 14A and rear wheels 14B, power transmission unit 16
provided on front wheels 14A or rear wheels 14B, motor 17 for
driving power transmission unit 16, and electric power equipment 19
for driving the motor via electric power supply line 18.
[0062] According to this exemplary embodiment, even when the
electronic device crashes and the electric power equipment
incorporated in the electronic device is in an abnormal state, the
fire-extinguishing agent is prayed to the power supply element
thanks to an impact detector. Thus, the safety of the electronic
device is secured.
[0063] Note here that this exemplary embodiment describes an
electric vehicle as an example of the electronic device. However,
the configuration is not necessarily limited to this example. For
example, the electronic device may be a stationary fuel cell
system, a solar light generating system, and the like, and the
electric power equipment may be a backup power source or a battery
pack for storing generated surplus electric power.
Third Exemplary Embodiment
[0064] Hereinafter, power supply element inspection equipment in
accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present
invention is described with reference to FIG. 5.
[0065] FIG. 5 is a view showing a configuration of power supply
element inspection equipment in accordance with the third exemplary
embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the
electric power equipment of the first exemplary embodiment is used
as an inspection device of a power supply element and the like.
Note here that since the configuration and effect of the electric
power equipment are the same as those in the first exemplary
embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 5, the power supply element inspection
equipment in this exemplary embodiment includes at least the
electric power equipment in accordance with the first exemplary
embodiment and inspection system 20 for inspecting properties of
the power supply elements in the electric power equipment.
[0067] Then, inspection system 20 includes a charge and discharge
evaluation system, an overcharge and overdischarge evaluation
system, high temperature storage test evaluation system, or the
like, when the power supply element is, for example, a lithium
secondary battery.
[0068] According to this exemplary embodiment, at the time of
inspection, even when abnormality occurs in power supply element 2,
the abnormality is detected by a temperature detector, so that a
shutoff valve is opened and a fire-extinguishing agent can be
sprayed to power supply element through the piping. As a result, an
influence on another power supply element inspection equipment or
inspection system of the power supply element inspection equipment
with abnormality can be securely prevented.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0069] An electric power equipment of the present invention, and an
electronic device and power supply element inspection equipment
using the electric power equipment are useful in the technical
field of, for example, automobiles, emergency power equipment, and
the like.
* * * * *