CASING FOR ELECTRIC BATTERY

Abstract

A casing for electric battery that, applicable to an electric battery (2) to house inside a plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3) and including a metal container-shaped box (10), formed by a lower base (101) and a perimetric wall (102) , where the cells (3) are incorporated, that in addition includes an upper fixing part (11) that acts as a lid to the box (10) fitted on its perimetric wall (102) and on the cells (3) centering them and leaving the contacts or lugs apparent for the electric connection. An upper fixing part (11) can include housings (7) with holes that, distributed through the full extent of the part, have a number, shape and size adapted to receive an upper portion of each of the cells (3) so that they surround each cell (3) leaving apparent and insulated from one another their positive and negative contacts.

Claims

1. A casing for an electric battery (2) to house inside a plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3) and comprising a metal container-shaped box (10), formed by a lower base (101) and a perimetric wall (102), where the plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3) are incorporated, characterized in that an upper fixing part (11) is configure to act as a lid to the metal container-shaped box (10) fitting on the perimetric wall (102) and on the plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3) centering the plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3) and only leaving a contact of lug of the plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3) thereof configured for electric connection.

2. The casing for electric battery, according to the claim 1, characterized in that the upper fixing part (11) comprises a plurality of housings (7) provided with holes that have a number, shape and size configured to receive an upper portion of each of the plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3) so that the plurality of holed housings (7) surround each of the plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3) leaving apparent and insulated from one another positive and negative contacts of each of the plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3).

3. The casing for electric battery, according to the claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3) are cylindric and the plurality of housings (7) of the upper fixing part (11) are circular and having a diameter in line with the plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3).

4. The casing for electric battery, according to the claim 3, characterized in that each of the plurality of holed housings (7) of the upper fixing part (11) presents a central hole (71) coinciding with the lug of an upper base of one of the plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3), that constitutes a positive pole thereof, and a lateral hole (72), that leaves apparent at least a portion of the perimetric edge (32) of each cell of the plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3) and that constitutes the negative pole thererof.

5. The casing for electric battery, according to the claim 2 characterized in that, the upper securing part (11) presents centering cones (8) that emerge protruding around each of the plurality of holed housings (7) as guide fingers.

6. The casing for electric battery, according to the claim 5 characterized in that, the cones (8) each have a rounded vortex and a tilt of conical surface of around 15° with respect to a cone base.

7. The casing for electric battery, according to the claim 1, characterized in that the lower base (101) of the metal container-shaped box (10) internally comprises a plurality of identical slots (4), that are distributed on the full extent of a surface of the metal container-shaped box (10) and that possess a number, shape and size configured to receive a lower portion of each of the plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3), so that each of the plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3) of the battery remains secured in one of the plurality of identical slots (4) and separated from each other by a regular gap therebetween.

8. The casing for electric battery, according to the claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of identical slots (4) of an internal surface of the lower base (101) of the metal container-shaped box (10) are obtained by machining.

9. The casing for electric battery, according to the claim 7, characterized in that each of the plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3) of the battery (2) fits in each of the plurality of identical slots (4) of the metal container-shaped box (10) of the casing (1) by inclusion of a centering part (5).

10. The casing for electric battery, according to the claim 1, characterized in that, between the lower base of the plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3) and the housing defined by the plurality of identical slots (4) of an internal surface of the base (101) of the metal container-shaped box (10) of the casing (1), comprises hot glue (6).

11. The casing for electric battery, according to the claim 3, characterized in that the plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3) are cylindric, and the plurality of identical slots (4) of an internal surface of the base (101) of metal container-shaped box (10) have a circular configuration and with a diameter in line with the diameter of the plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3).

12. The casing for electric battery, according to the claim 9, characterized in that, the centering part (5) is formed by a bowl-shaped body with a base centrally provided with a hole (51), that leaves the base of each cell of the plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3) accessible, and the perimetric wall divided in different lengths (52) by open slots (53) up to an end.

13. The casing for electric battery, according to the claim 12, characterized in that the centering part (5) is formed of plastic material.

14. The casing for electric battery, according to the claim 8, wherein the machining is milling material forming the lower base (101).

15. The casing for electric battery, according to the claim 8, characterized in that each of the plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3) of the battery (2) fits in each of the plurality of identical slots (4) of the metal container-shaped box (10) of the casing (1) by inclusion of a centering part (5).

16. The casing for electric battery, according to the claim 9, characterized in that, between the lower base of the plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3) and the housing defined by the plurality of identical slots (4) of an internal surface of the base (101) of the metal container-shaped box (10) of the casing (1), comprises hot glue (6).

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] To complement the description being carried out and in order to assist to best understanding the characteristics of the invention, attached to this specification, as an integral part thereof, there is a set of drawings in which, for illustration and no limitation purpose, the following has been represented:

[0020] FIG. 1.—It shows a schematic top view in perspective of an example of embodiment of the container-shaped box that comprises the casing for electric battery object of the invention, its configuration can be seen, especially the slots provided on the internal surface of the base of the said box;

[0021] FIG. 2.—It shows a schematic view in perspective of an example of the centering part that is incorporated in each cell to facilitate centering in the slots of the box, which has been represented in an independent manner, its general configuration and main parts can be seen;

[0022] FIG. 3.—It shows an example of a cell of the battery with the centering part incorporated at its lower base;

[0023] FIG. 4.—It shows a sectional view, according to a vertical cross section, of an example of the battery to which the casing object of the invention is designed, the arrangement of the cells in the slots of the box can be seen as well as the upper securing part;

[0024] FIG. 5.—It shows a schematic view in perspective of an example of the upper securing part that comprises the casing, according to the invention, which has been represented in inverted position to facilitate watching its main parts; and

[0025] FIG. 6.—It shows an enlarged view of the detail A appearing in the FIG. 5 and that allows to appreciate with higher accuracy the configuration and parts of the upper securing part.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Seen the said figures, and according to the numerals adopted, a non-limiting example of embodiment of the casing for electric battery of the invention can be seen which comprises what is disclosed in detail thereafter.

[0027] Thus, as it can be seen in the said figures, the casing (1) of the invention applicable to an electric battery (2) to house inside a plurality of identical electrochemical cells (3), essentially comprises a lower metal container-shaped box (10), formed by a lower base (101) and a perimetric wall (102) , where the cells (3) are incorporated, and an upper fixing part (11) that acts as a lid to the box (10) fitted on the perimetric wall (102) of the box (10) and on the cells (3) serves for fixing and centering the cells (3) as well as for their insulation, leaving only the contacts apparent, for the electric connection.

[0028] For this, the said fixing part (11), as it can be seen in the FIGS. 5 and 6, presents a plurality of housings (7) with holes that, distributed through the full extent of the said part, present a number, shape and size adapted to receive an upper portion of each of the cells (3) so that they surround each cell (3) leaving apparent and insulated to each other their positive and negative contacts necessary for the electric connection.

[0029] Preferably, the cells (3) are cylindric and the housings (7) of the upper fixing part (11) are circular and having a diameter in line with the diameter of the said cylindric cells (3).

[0030] In addition, preferably, each circular housing (7) of the upper fixing part (11) presents a central hole (71) coinciding with the lug (31) of the cells (3) upper base, that constitutes their positive pole or anode and a lateral hole (72) that leaves apparent at least a portion of the perimetric edge (32) of each cell (3) and that constitutes the negative pole or cathode. In the detail of the FIG. 6, the said central (71) and lateral (72) holes of the housings (7) of the upper fixing part (11) can be clearly seen while in the FIG. 3, the lug (31) and the perimetric edge (32) of each of the cells (3) can be seen.

[0031] Anyway, preferably, the upper securing part (11) of the casing (1) in addition presents centering cones (8) that emerge around the housings (7) as guide fingers with the aim to assist to centering the set of all the cells (3) of the battery (2).

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the said cones (8) have a rounded vortex and a tilt of their conical surface of around 15° with respect to their base, to favor the said centering function. In the FIG. 6, the said configuration of the said cones (8) can be seen.

[0033] On the other hand, in an optional embodiment of the invention, the lower base (101) of the metal box (10) of the casing (1), as shown in the FIG. 1, internally presents a plurality of identical slots (4), preferably obtained by machining by means of milling in the material forming the said base, that are distributed on the full extent of its surface and that possess a number, shape and size adapted to receive a lower portion of each of the cells (3), so that each of the cells (3) of the battery remains in turn secured in one of the slots (4) and separated to each other with a regular gap between them.

[0034] Preferably, as it was said before, the casing (1) is designed to a battery of cylindric cells (3), therefore the slots (4) of the internal surface of the base (101) of the box that forms the casing also have a circular configuration and a diameter in line with the diameter of the cells (3). In an example of embodiment, the battery (2) includes up to 200 cells (3).

[0035] In addition, preferably, each of the cells (3) of the battery (2) is fitted in each of the said slots (4) of the box (10) of the casing (1) by means of the inclusion of a centering part (5).

[0036] The said centering part (5) preferably consists of a plastic material part, as it can be seen in the FIGS. 2 and 3, preferably it is formed by a bowl-shaped body with a base centrally provided with a hole (51), that leaves the base of the cell (3) accessible, and a perimetric wall divided in different lengths (52) by open slots (53) up to the end, so that it endows it a given flexibility, allowing to achieve an improved adjustment of each cell (3) in the related slot (4) of the box (10) of the casing (1).

[0037] Last, it shall be pointed out that, optionally, between the lower base of the cells (3) and the housing defined by the slots (4) of the internal surface of the base (101) of the box (10) of the casing (1), either if the centering part (5) is included or not, it is foreseen to incorporate a hot glue (6) to assure a best fixation of the cells (3), which is an electrical insulator and heat conductor to favor the evacuation of the heat generated by the cells (3) towards the base (101) of the box (10).

[0038] Sufficiently disclosed the nature of this invention, as well as the manner of implementing it, it is not deemed necessary to extend anymore its explanation in order that any person skilled in the art understands its extends and the advantages arising from it.