Title of the invention: Battery cell connection structure and method
Technical field
[One]
This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 2018-0124459 filed on October 18, 2018, and all contents disclosed in the documents of the Korean patent application are included as part of this specification.
[2]
The present invention relates to a connection structure and method for connecting a battery cell to a frame.
Background
[3]
In recent years, as the demand for portable electronic devices such as notebook computers, smart phones, and tablet computers increases, research on high-performance secondary batteries capable of repetitive charging and discharging has been actively conducted.
[4]
In addition, secondary batteries are widely used not only for small devices such as portable electronic devices, but also for medium and large devices such as automobiles, robots, and satellites. In particular, as interest in the depletion of fossil fuels and environmental pollution increases, research on hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles is being actively conducted. The most essential component in such a hybrid vehicle or electric vehicle is a battery pack that supplies power to a motor.
[5]
A plurality of battery cells are closely provided inside the battery module. The battery module includes a frame on which a plurality of battery cells are mounted, and a connection member connected to the plurality of battery cells and coupled to the frame. The connecting member is usually fastened to the frame by means of rivets.
[6]
The riveting process has an advantage in that it can be performed in a short process time and increases the fastening force between the connecting member and the frame. However, it is difficult to separate the connecting member and the frame joined by the riveting process, and when there is another mechanism between the connecting member and the frame, it is difficult to perform riveting due to interference with other mechanisms. Accordingly, when the process of coupling the connection member to the frame fails, that is, when a part of the connection member is damaged in the process of coupling the connection member to the frame, there is a problem that the entire battery module must be disassembled or discarded.
Detailed description of the invention
Technical challenge
[7]
The present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is a battery cell connection structure capable of coupling the connection member to the frame without disassembling the entire battery module even when the process of coupling the connection member to the frame fails And to provide a method.
Means of solving the task
[8]
A battery cell connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object includes a connection member for connecting a plurality of battery cells mounted on the frame to the frame, and the connection member includes a plurality of batteries mounted on the frame. A connection portion connected to the cell, and a coupling portion extending from the connection portion and coupled to the frame, and the coupling portion includes a plurality of coupling position indicators arranged in a row in the extending direction of the coupling portion and indicating the coupling position of the coupling portion to the frame. I can.
[9]
The coupling portion may be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the connection portion.
[10]
The coupling position indicator may be formed of any one of a groove, a protrusion, and a mark.
[11]
The coupling portion may be coupled to the frame by a fastening member, and the coupling position indicator may be a through hole into which the fastening member is inserted.
[12]
Among the plurality of engagement position indicators, an engagement position indicator positioned at an outermost end in an extension direction of the engagement portion may be coupled to the frame.
[13]
At least one pair of coupling position display portions among the plurality of coupling position display portions may be formed to form a predetermined angle.
[14]
A cutting mark may be displayed between a pair of adjacent coupling position displays among the plurality of coupling position displays.
[15]
A cutting groove may be formed between a pair of adjacent coupling position display portions among the plurality of coupling position display portions.
[16]
The bonding position indicator may be bonded to the frame by any one of bolting, riveting, and welding.
[17]
In addition, a battery cell connection method according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object includes a connection member for coupling a plurality of battery cells mounted on the frame to the frame, and the connection member includes a plurality of battery cells mounted on the frame. A connection part connecting the battery cells of the battery cell, and a coupling part extending from the connection part and coupled to the frame, wherein the coupling part is arranged in a row in the extending direction of the coupling part, and a plurality of coupling position indicators indicating the coupling position of the coupling part to the frame In the method for connecting a plurality of battery cells using a battery cell connection structure, comprising: (a) a first coupling position indicating portion located at an outermost end of the plurality of coupling position indicating portions in an extension direction of the coupling portion Coupling to the frame; (b) removing the first coupling position indicator from the coupling portion when the process of coupling the first coupling position indicator to the frame fails; And (c) coupling a second coupling position display unit adjacent to the first coupling position display unit to the frame.
[18]
Step (b) may precede or follow step (c).
[19]
The present invention also provides a battery module including battery cells connected by the battery cell connection structure or the battery cell connection method.
Brief description of the drawing
[20]
1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a battery cell connection structure and a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[21]
2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a battery cell connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[22]
3 to 6 are cross-sectional views schematically illustrating an operation process of a battery cell connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[23]
7 is a perspective view schematically illustrating another example of a battery cell connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[24]
8 is a perspective view schematically illustrating another example of a battery cell connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[25]
9 is a perspective view schematically showing another example of a battery cell connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Mode for carrying out the invention
[26]
Hereinafter, a battery cell connection structure and method according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[27]
1, the battery module to which the battery cell connection structure according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied includes a plurality of battery cells 10 and a frame 20 on which the plurality of battery cells 10 are mounted. .
[28]
The battery cell connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention serves to connect a plurality of battery cells 10 mounted on the frame 20 to the frame 20. The cell connection structure includes a connection member 30 connected to the plurality of battery cells 10 and coupled to the frame 20, and a fixing portion 40 provided on the frame 20 and to which the connection member 30 is fixed. Can include.
[29]
The fixing part 40 is a part to which the connection member 30 is coupled, and is formed integrally with the frame 20 or separately manufactured to the frame 20 and attached to the frame 20 by bolting, riveting, welding, etc. have.
[30]
The connection member 30 serves to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells 10 to each other. To this end, the connection member 30 may include a terminal portion 37 connected to the electrodes of the plurality of battery cells 10.
[31]
The connection member 30 may include a connection part 31 connected to the plurality of battery cells 10, and a connection part 32 extending from the connection part 31 and coupled to the frame 20. The connection part 31 may be provided with a terminal part 37 electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells 10.
[32]
The coupling part 32 is fixed to the fixing part 40 of the frame 20. For example, the coupling portion 32 may be fixed to the fixing portion 40 of the frame 20 by any one of bolting, riveting, and welding.
[33]
As shown in FIG. 2, the coupling part 32 may be formed to be inclined at a predetermined angle A with respect to the connection part 31. The coupling part 32 may be formed to be inclined at an angle of about 90 degrees with respect to the connection part 31. Accordingly, the coupling part 32 may be formed to be inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the fixing part 40 of the frame 20. Since the coupling portion 32 is formed to be inclined at a predetermined angle (A) with respect to the connection portion 31, the coupling portion ( When fastening 32) to the fixing part 40, the tool used to fasten the fastening member F or the fastening member F and the frame 20 or the fixing part 40 are not prevented from mechanical interference. I can.
[34]
The coupling portion 32 is arranged in a line in the extending direction of the coupling portion 32, and a plurality of coupling position display portions 321, 322 indicating the coupling position of the frame 20 of the coupling portion 32 to the fixing portion 40 ) Can be provided.
[35]
When the operator couples the coupling portion 32 to the fixing portion 40 of the frame 20 using the coupling member F, the plurality of coupling position indication portions 321 and 322 It serves to guide the position to be joined to (32). As another example, the plurality of coupling position indicators 321, 322 are used to guide the position where welding is to be performed when the operator couples the coupling portion 32 to the fixing portion 40 of the frame 20 Plays a role.
[36]
In the drawing, a coupling portion 32 having two coupling position indicating portions 321 and 322 is shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the coupling portion 32 includes three or more coupling position indicating portions 321 and 322. Can be equipped.
[37]
For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the plurality of coupling position indicators 321 and 322 may be formed in the form of a hole into which the fastening member F is inserted. Since the plurality of coupling position indicators 321 and 322 are formed in the shape of a hole, the coupling member F is inserted into the hole so that the coupling portion 32 can be easily coupled to the fixing portion 40 of the frame 20. .
[38]
As another example, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the plurality of coupling position indicators 321 and 322 may be configured as predetermined marks. However, if the plurality of coupling position indicators 321 and 322 can guide the position where the fastening member F is to be fastened or the position where welding is to be performed, the plurality of coupling position indicators 321 and 322 may have various shapes. have. For example, the plurality of coupling position indicators 321 and 322 may be formed of any one of a groove, a through hole, a protrusion, and a mark.
[39]
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 3, the coupling position display portion 321 positioned at the outermost end in the extending direction of the coupling portion 32 among the plurality of coupling position display portions 321 and 322 is It may be fixed to the fixing part 40.
[40]
As shown in FIG. 7, the plurality of coupling position indicators 321 and 322 may be formed to achieve a predetermined angle B (an angle greater than 0 degrees). When three or more coupling position display portions 321 and 322 are provided, at least one pair of coupling position display portions 321 and 322 among three or more coupling position display portions 321 and 322 are formed to form a predetermined angle B Can be. When the pair of engagement position indicators 321 and 322 form a predetermined angle B, it is located at the outermost end of the plurality of engagement position indicators 321 and 322 in the extending direction of the engagement portion 32 When the combined position display unit 321 is coupled to the fixing unit 40 of the frame 20, the remaining joint position display unit 322 is positioned at the outermost end of the frame 20. It can be prevented from interfering with the process of binding to the government 40.
[41]
On the other hand, as shown in Figure 4, in the process of coupling the coupling position indicator 321 (first coupling position indicating portion) located at the outermost end to the fixing portion 40 of the frame 20, the fastening member (F) Due to the damage of the coupling portion 32 due to collision of the coupling portion 32 with the coupling portion 32, the coupling position indicating portion 321 (first coupling position indicating portion) located at the outermost end was fixed to the fixing portion 40 of the frame 20 The process of joining in can fail.
[42]
In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the coupling position indicating portion 321 (the first coupling position indicating portion) positioned at the outermost end may be cut from the coupling portion 32 and removed.
[43]
Then, as shown in FIG. 6, after this removal process, the coupling position indicating portion 322 (second coupling position indicating portion) positioned at the outermost end of the coupling portion 32 is fixed to the fixing portion 40 of the frame 20. ) Can be combined.
[44]
On the other hand, in FIGS. 5 and 6, after the process of cutting and removing the coupling position display unit 321 (the first coupling position display unit) from the coupling unit 32 is performed, the coupling position display unit 322 (the second coupling position display unit) ) Is shown to be coupled to the fixing portion 40 of the frame 20, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, after performing the process of coupling the coupling position display unit 322 (the second coupling position display unit) to the fixing unit 40 of the frame 20, the coupling position display unit 321 (first coupling A process of cutting and removing the position display unit) from the coupling unit 32 may be performed.
[45]
As described above, according to the battery cell connection structure and method according to the embodiment of the present invention, the outermost end (the first coupling position indicator 321) of the coupling portion 32 of the connection member 30 is attached to the frame 20. Even if the coupling process fails, the outermost end of the coupling portion 32 (the first coupling position indicator 321) is cut and removed, and then the outermost end of the coupling portion 32 that exists again (the second coupling position The display unit 322 may be coupled to the frame 20. Accordingly, even when the process of coupling the connection member 30 to the frame 20 fails, the connection member 30 can be coupled to the frame 20 without disassembling the entire battery module.
[46]
As shown in FIG. 8, when the process of coupling the outermost end (the first coupling position indicator 321) of the coupling portion 32 of the connection member 30 to the frame 20 fails, the operator It is preferable that a cutting mark 325 is displayed between the plurality of coupling position indicating portions 321 and 322 so that the portion to be cut at the end (the first coupling position indicating portion 321) can be easily identified. When three or more coupling position indicators 321 and 322 are provided on the coupling portion 32, the cutting mark 325 may be displayed between a pair of adjacent coupling position indicating portions 321 and 322. In this way, since the cutting mark 325 is displayed between the pair of adjacent coupling position display portions 321 and 322, when the operator cuts the outermost end (the first coupling position display portion 321), for cutting While checking the mark 325 or operating the cutting tool along the cutting mark 325, the outermost end (the first coupling position indicator 321) can be accurately cut and removed.
[47]
As shown in FIG. 9, when the process of coupling the outermost end (the first coupling position indicator 321) of the coupling portion 32 of the connection member 30 to the frame 20 fails, the operator It is preferable that a cutting groove 327 is formed between the plurality of coupling position indicating portions 321 and 322 so that the portion to be cut from the end portion (the first coupling position indicating portion 321) can be easily cut and removed. When three or more coupling position indicating portions 321 and 322 are provided in the coupling portion 32, the cutting groove 327 may be formed between a pair of adjacent coupling position indicating portions 321 and 322. In this way, since the cutting groove 327 is formed between the pair of adjacent coupling position display portions 321, 322, when the operator cuts the outermost end (first coupling position display portion 321), the outermost side The end (the first coupling position indicator 321) can be easily cut along the cutting groove 327.
[48]
Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been exemplarily described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments, and may be appropriately changed within the scope described in the claims.
[49]
(Explanation of code)
[50]
10: battery cell
[51]
20: frame
[52]
30: connection member
[53]
31: connection
[54]
32: coupling portion
[55]
40: fixed part
Industrial availability
[56]
According to the battery cell connection structure and method according to an embodiment of the present invention, even when the process of coupling the outermost end (the first coupling position indicator) of the coupling part of the connection member connecting the plurality of battery cells to the frame fails After cutting and removing the outermost end of the unit (the first engagement position indicator), the outermost end (the second engagement position indicator) of the existing engagement portion may be coupled to the frame. Accordingly, even when the process of coupling the connection member to the frame fails, the connection member can be coupled to the frame without disassembling the entire battery module.
Claims
[Claim 1]
A connection member for connecting a plurality of battery cells mounted on the frame to the frame, the connection member including a connection part connected to the plurality of battery cells mounted on the frame, and extending from the connection part and coupled to the frame And a coupling portion configured to be coupled, wherein the coupling portion includes a plurality of coupling position indicators arranged in a line in the extending direction of the coupling portion and indicating a coupling position of the coupling portion to the frame.
[Claim 2]
The battery cell connection structure of claim 1, wherein the coupling portion is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the connection portion.
[Claim 3]
The battery cell connection structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coupling position indicator comprises one of a groove, a protrusion, and a mark.
[Claim 4]
The battery cell connection structure of claim 1, wherein the coupling portion is coupled to the frame by a coupling member, and the coupling position indication portion is a through hole into which the coupling member is inserted.
[Claim 5]
The battery cell connection structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein a coupling position indicating part positioned at an outermost end of the plurality of coupling position indicating parts in an extension direction of the coupling part is coupled to the frame.
[Claim 6]
The battery cell connection structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one pair of coupling position display portions among the plurality of coupling position display portions is formed to form a predetermined angle.
[Claim 7]
The battery cell connection structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein a cutting mark is displayed between a pair of adjacent coupling position displays among the plurality of coupling position displays.
[Claim 8]
The battery cell connection structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein a cutting groove is formed between a pair of adjacent coupling position displays among the plurality of coupling position displays.
[Claim 9]
The battery cell connection structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coupling position indicator is coupled to the frame by any one of bolting, riveting, and welding.
[Claim 10]
A battery module comprising battery cells connected by the battery cell connection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
[Claim 11]
A connection member for coupling a plurality of battery cells mounted on the frame to the frame, the connection member including a connection portion for connecting the plurality of battery cells mounted on the frame, and extending from the connection portion and coupled to the frame A battery cell connection structure, characterized in that the coupling portion includes a plurality of coupling position indicators arranged in a line in the extending direction of the coupling portion and indicating a coupling position of the coupling portion to the frame. A method for connecting a plurality of battery cells, the method comprising: (a) coupling a first coupling position display unit positioned at an outermost end of the plurality of coupling position display units in an extension direction of the coupling unit to the frame; (b) removing the first coupling position indicator from the coupling portion when the process of coupling the first coupling position indicator to the frame fails; And (c) coupling a second coupling position display unit adjacent to the first coupling position display unit to the frame.
[Claim 12]
The method of claim 11, wherein the step (b) precedes or follows the step (c).
[Claim 13]
A battery module comprising battery cells connected by the battery cell connection method according to claim 11 or 12.