Title of Invention: Battery module and battery pack including same
technical field
[One]
Cross-Citation with Related Application(s)
[2]
This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0043944 dated April 10, 2020, and all contents disclosed in the literature of the Korean patent application are incorporated as a part of this specification.
[3]
The present invention relates to a battery module and a battery pack including the same, and more particularly, to a battery module having rigidity and a simplified structure, and a battery pack including the same.
background
[4]
Secondary batteries are receiving a lot of attention as an energy source in various product groups such as mobile devices and electric vehicles. Such a secondary battery is a powerful energy resource that can replace the use of conventional products using fossil fuels, and is in the spotlight as an eco-friendly energy source because no by-products are generated according to energy use.
[5]
Recently, as the need for a large-capacity secondary battery structure, including the use of secondary batteries as an energy storage source, increases, the demand for battery packs having a multi-module structure in which a plurality of secondary batteries are assembled in series/parallel connected battery pack is increasing. .
[6]
On the other hand, when configuring a battery pack by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series/parallel, a battery module composed of battery cells is configured, and other components are added using at least one battery module to configure the battery pack. How to do it is common
[7]
Such a battery module includes a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, a module frame accommodating the battery cell stack, and an end plate covering the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack.
[8]
1 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional battery module in which an upper plate and an end plate are formed. 2 is a view showing an assembled state of the components of FIG. 1 disassembled.
[9]
1 and 2 , a conventional battery module includes a battery cell stack 10 in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, a lower frame 20 covering the lower surface and both sides of the battery cell stack 10 , and a battery It may include an upper plate 30 that covers the upper surface of the cell stack 10 and an end plate 40 that covers the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack 10 .
[10]
At this time, on the lower side of the end plate 40, there are two module mounting parts 41 protruding from the plate surface are formed, the vibration of the battery module. When a physical force such as an impact is applied, stress is concentrated on the module mounting part 41 protruding from the end plate 40 , and there is a risk that the module mounting part 41 is broken from the end plate 40 . In addition, even when a compressive force is applied to the battery module, the load is concentrated on the module mounting part 41, and the end plate 40 connected to the module mounting part 41 is subjected to pressure and deformation occurs, so that between the electrode leads inside the end plate. A short circuit may occur.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
technical challenge
[11]
An object of the present invention is to provide a battery module and a battery pack including the same, which can minimize the possibility of breakage through the module mounting part, ensure the physical rigidity of the battery module, and at the same time simplify the structure.
[12]
The problems of the present invention are not limited to the problems mentioned above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.
means of solving the problem
[13]
A battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention for realizing the above object includes: a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked; a lower frame accommodating the battery cell stack; an upper plate covering an upper surface of the battery cell stack; and an end plate covering the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack, wherein module mounting portions are formed at both ends of the upper plate.
[14]
The end plate may be formed of an insulating member.
[15]
The end plate may be fixed to at least one of the lower frame and the upper plate with an adhesive.
[16]
The end plate may be coupled to at least one of the lower frame and the upper plate by a hook structure.
[17]
The upper plate may protrude more than a width between both side portions of the lower frame, and the module mounting portion may be formed in the protruding portion.
[18]
A plurality of module mounting portions may be formed along both ends of the upper plate.
[19]
The module mounting part may be formed in a hole structure.
[20]
The lower frame may include a bottom portion and side portions formed by bending and extending from both sides of the bottom portion.
[21]
A width of the upper plate may be wider than a gap between both side portions of the lower frame.
[22]
A battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention includes the battery module.
Effects of the Invention
[23]
The battery module and the battery pack including the same according to an embodiment of the present invention minimize the risk of breakage of the module mounting part through a frame multi-point fixing structure through a plurality of module mounting parts formed on the upper plate and improve the physical rigidity of the battery module. In addition, by using an insulating member instead of an end plate, the structure of the battery module is simplified and the weight of the battery module can be reduced.
[24]
Effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.
Brief description of the drawing
[25]
1 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional battery module in which an upper plate and an end plate are formed.
[26]
2 is a view showing an assembled state of the components of FIG. 1 disassembled.
[27]
3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a battery module including an upper plate and an end plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[28]
4 is a view showing a state in which the components of FIG. 3 are assembled.
[29]
5 is a view showing a portion in which the edge portions of the upper plate and the lower frame are coupled to the end plate with an adhesive.
Modes for carrying out the invention
[30]
It should be understood that the embodiments described below are illustratively shown to aid understanding of the invention, and the present invention may be implemented with various modifications different from the embodiments described herein. However, in the description of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or component may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description and detailed illustration thereof will be omitted. In addition, the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale in order to help understanding of the invention, but dimensions of some components may be exaggerated.
[31]
The first and second terms used in the present application may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.
[32]
In addition, the terms used in the present application are only used to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the scope of rights. The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "comprises", "consists of" or "consisting It should be understood that it does not preclude the possibility of addition or existence of further other features or numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.
[33]
Hereinafter, a configuration of a battery module including an upper plate according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 .
[34]
3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a battery module including an upper plate and an end plate according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a view showing a state in which the components of FIG. 3 are assembled.
[35]
3 and 4, the battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, a battery cell stack 100 in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, a lower frame 200 for accommodating the battery cell stack, It includes an upper plate 300 covering the upper surface of the battery cell stack and an end plate 400 covering the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack 100 , and module mounting parts 310 at both ends of the upper plate 300 . ) is formed. The lower frame 200 may have, for example, a U-shaped frame structure, in this case, the lower frame 200 is bent and extended from the bottom and both sides of the bottom to cover the side of the battery cell stack 100 . can be composed of
[36]
The battery cell according to this embodiment is a secondary battery, and may be configured as a pouch-type secondary battery. The battery cells may be configured in plurality, and the plurality of battery cells may be stacked to each other so as to be electrically connected to each other to form the battery cell stack 100 . Each of the plurality of battery cells may include an electrode assembly, a cell case, and an electrode lead protruding from the electrode assembly.
[37]
The lower frame 200 may be formed to cover the lower surface and both sides of the battery cell stack 100 , and the upper plate 300 may be formed to cover the upper surface of the battery cell stack 100 . The upper edge of both sides of the lower frame 200 may be coupled to the lower surface of the upper plate 300 . The lower frame 200 may include a bottom portion and side portions formed by bending and extending from both sides of the bottom portion.
[38]
The end plate 400 is formed to cover the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack 100 . The end plate 400 may be coupled to both side edge portions of the upper plate 300 and both side edge portions of the lower frame 200 . Through the lower frame 200 , the upper plate 300 , and the end plate 400 , the battery cell stack 100 located inside the frame structure and the electrical components connected thereto can be physically protected.
[39]
The heat sink 500 may be formed under the lower frame 200 . The heat sink 500 is formed on one side of the lower plate 510 and the heat sink 500 to form a skeleton of the heat sink and contact the bottom of the lower frame 200 to move from the outside to the inside of the heat sink 500 . The inlet 520 for supplying the refrigerant, the outlet 530 , the inlet 520 and the outlet 530 formed on one side of the heat sink so that the refrigerant flowing inside the heat sink 500 flows out to the outside of the heat sink 500 . ) and may include a flow path part 540 through which the refrigerant flows.
[40]
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the flow passage 540 may refer to a structure in which the lower plate 510 in contact with the lower surface of the bottom of the lower frame 500 is depressed downward. The upper side of the flow path part 540 is opened to form a flow path between the flow path part 540 and the bottom of the lower frame 200 , and a refrigerant may flow through the flow path. That is, the battery module according to the present embodiment may be formed in a cooling integrated structure in which the heat sink 500 is coupled to the bottom of the lower frame 200 .
[41]
Conventionally, a structure in which a refrigerant flows is separately formed on the lower side of the lower frame, so that the module frame cannot but be indirectly cooled, so cooling efficiency is lowered and a separate refrigerant flow structure is formed on the battery module and the battery pack equipped with the battery module. There was a problem that the space utilization rate was lowered. However, according to an embodiment of the present invention, by adopting a structure in which the heat sink 500 is integrated in the lower part of the lower frame 200 , the refrigerant flows directly between the flow path part 540 and the bottom part of the lower frame 200 . As a result, the cooling efficiency due to direct cooling is increased, and the space utilization rate on the battery module and the battery pack equipped with the battery module is further improved through the structure in which the heat sink 500 is integrated with the bottom of the lower frame 200 . can do it
[42]
According to an embodiment of the present invention, module mounting parts 310 may be formed at both ends of the upper plate 300 . In the present embodiment, the left and right widths of the upper plate 300 may be wider than the gap between both side portions of the lower frame 200 . In this case, the portion of the upper plate 300 in which the module mounting portion 310 is formed may be a portion of the upper plate 300 that further protrudes outward based on the width between both side portions of the lower frame 200 . A plurality of module mounting units 310 may be formed at regular intervals along both ends of the upper plate 300 . The module mounting part 310 may be formed in a hole structure. A coupling member may be inserted into the module mounting part 310 of the hole structure to couple the battery pack frame and the upper plate 300 .
[43]
Conventionally, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , two module mounting portions protruding in a direction perpendicular to the plate surface of the end plates are formed at the lower ends of the two end plates for each end plate. In this way, when two module mounting parts are formed at the lower end of the end plate, stress is concentrated on the two module mounting parts when an external force acts, and the protruding module mounting part or the end plate is broken or the end plate is deformed. There was a risk of short circuits between the leads.
[44]
However, according to an embodiment of the present invention, by forming a plurality of module mounting parts 310 at both ends of the upper plate 300, the four-point fixing structure of the battery module formed only with the existing four module mounting parts is similar to the present invention. As such, it is possible to improve the physical rigidity of the battery module and the battery pack combined with the battery module by developing a multi-point fixing structure through the plurality of module mounting units 310 . In addition, the fixing structure may be formed on the upper plate 300 manufactured by the press method instead of the fixing structure of the end plate manufactured by the conventional casting method.
[45]
Hereinafter, a battery module including an end plate formed of an insulating member according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 5 .
[46]
5 is a view showing a portion in which the edge portions of the upper plate and the lower frame are coupled to the end plate with an adhesive.
[47]
3 and 5 , the end plate 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be formed of an insulating member. Conventionally, a metal end plate formed by a casting method is used, but the metal end plate is heavy and there is a risk of fracture when stress concentration occurs.
[48]
However, according to an embodiment of the present invention, since the end plate 400 is formed of an insulating member, the end plate can be molded by an injection method, thereby manufacturing the end plate 400 that is lighter and more flexible than metal and has insulating performance at the same time. was able to do The insulating member may be formed of an insulating tape, but is not limited thereto and may be formed of various types of insulating members.
[49]
Also, according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5 , the end plate 400 may be fixed to at least one of the lower frame 200 and the upper plate 300 with an adhesive. More specifically, the upper edge of the end plate 400 may be adhered to the edge portion of the upper plate 300 , and both ends and the lower edge of the end plate 400 may be attached to the edge portions of the lower frame 200 . can be glued. The coupling method between the end plate and at least one of the lower frame and the upper plate may be coupled using a hook in addition to a method using an adhesive, but is not limited thereto, and various types of coupling methods may be employed.
[50]
Conventionally, a separate fixing structure for coupling the end plate was required, but according to an embodiment of the present invention, the insulating member can be fixed with an adhesive, so that a separate fixing structure is not needed, and the structure of the battery module is simplified. As a result, the manufacturing process can be reduced and manufacturing costs can be reduced.
[51]
The battery module described above may be included in the battery pack. The battery pack may have a structure in which one or more battery modules according to the present embodiment are collected and packed by adding a battery management system (BMS) that manages the temperature or voltage of the battery and a cooling device.
[52]
The battery pack may be applied to various devices. These devices can be applied to transportation means such as electric bicycles, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, etc., but the present invention is not limited thereto and can be applied to various devices that can use a battery module, which also falls within the scope of the present invention. .
[53]
In the above, preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, but the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and it is common in the technical field to which the present invention pertains without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the claims. Various modifications are possible by those having the knowledge of, of course, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or perspective of the present invention.
[54]
Explanation of symbols
[55]
200: lower frame
[56]
300: upper plate
[57]
310: module mounting unit
[58]
400: end plate
[59]
500: heat sink
Claims
[Claim 1]
a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked; a lower frame accommodating the battery cell stack; an upper plate covering an upper surface of the battery cell stack; and an end plate covering the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack, wherein module mounting portions are formed at both ends of the upper plate.
[Claim 2]
The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the end plate is formed of an insulating member.
[Claim 3]
The battery module of claim 2 , wherein the end plate is fixed to at least one of the lower frame and the upper plate with an adhesive.
[Claim 4]
The battery module of claim 2, wherein the end plate is coupled to at least one of the lower frame and the upper plate by a hook structure.
[Claim 5]
The battery module of claim 1, wherein the upper plate protrudes more than a width between both side portions of the lower frame, and the module mounting portion is formed in the protruding portion.
[Claim 6]
The battery module of claim 5 , wherein a plurality of module mounting portions are formed along both ends of the upper plate.
[Claim 7]
The battery module of claim 6 , wherein the module mounting part has a hole structure.
[Claim 8]
The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the lower frame includes a bottom portion and side portions formed by bending and extending from both sides of the bottom portion.
[Claim 9]
The battery module of claim 1, wherein a width of the upper plate is wider than a gap between both side portions of the lower frame.
[Claim 10]
A battery pack comprising the battery module according to claim 1 .