Specification
Title of Invention: Battery Module, Battery Pack, and Automobile
technical field
[One]
The present invention relates to a battery module, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle, and more particularly, to a battery module and battery pack with improved manufacturing efficiency and durability, and a vehicle.
[2]
This application is a priority claim application for Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0160106 filed on December 04, 2019, and all contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of the application are incorporated herein by reference.
background
[3]
Currently commercialized secondary batteries include nickel cadmium batteries, nickel hydride batteries, nickel zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. The self-discharge rate is very low and the energy density is high, attracting attention.
[4]
These lithium secondary batteries mainly use a lithium-based oxide and a carbon material as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, respectively. A lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate to which the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material are respectively applied with a separator interposed therebetween, and a cylindrical battery can for sealingly housing the electrode assembly together with an electrolyte as an exterior material.
[5]
In recent years, secondary batteries have been widely used not only in small devices such as portable electronic devices, but also in medium and large devices such as automobiles and power storage devices. When used in such a medium-large device, a large number of secondary batteries are electrically connected to increase capacity and output.
[6]
On the other hand, in recent years, as the need for a large-capacity structure, including its use as an energy storage source, increases, a plurality of secondary batteries electrically connected in series and/or in parallel, a module case accommodating these secondary batteries inside, and a plurality of secondary batteries are electrically connected to each other. There is an increasing demand for a battery module having a busbar that connects to a battery module, a battery management system (BMS), and a battery pack having a pack housing accommodated therein.
[7]
In this case, the bus bar was provided with connecting portions of various shapes for electrically connecting to a plurality of secondary batteries. However, when the battery pack is mounted in a vehicle that can be exposed to an environment where there is a lot of flow and frequent external shocks, for example, the part where the mechanical rigidity of the busbar is weak due to frequent vibrations or external shocks from the vibration of the vehicle body It was easy to cause problems such as damage or disconnection of the electrical connection structure between the secondary battery and the bus bar. Accordingly, the durability of the battery module is greatly reduced.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
technical challenge
[8]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module with increased durability, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle, as devised to solve the above problems.
[9]
Other objects and advantages of the present invention may be understood by the following description, and will become more clearly understood by the examples of the present invention. It will also be readily apparent that the objects and advantages of the present invention may be realized by the means and combinations thereof indicated in the appended claims.
means of solving the problem
[10]
The battery module according to the present invention for achieving the above object,
[11]
A plurality of cylindrical battery cells each having an electrode terminal;
[12]
a module case provided with an accommodating part for accommodating the plurality of cylindrical battery cells;
[13]
a bus bar having a body portion having an electrical conductivity and having a plate shape, and a connection portion in contact with an electrode terminal to electrically connect the plurality of cylindrical battery cells;
[14]
an insulating sheet having electrical insulation properties, the insulating sheet being positioned to cover the outside of the bus bar and having an exposure hole formed so that at least a portion of the bus bar is exposed to the outside; and
[15]
and an adhesive applied to at least a portion of the bus bar having electrical insulation properties and exposed to the outside through an exposure hole of the insulating sheet.
[16]
In addition, the bus bar includes a fuse part that connects between the connection part and the main body part and is configured to be disconnected when a predetermined or more current flows from the cylindrical battery cell,
[17]
The exposure hole of the insulating sheet may be positioned such that the fuse unit is exposed to the outside.
[18]
In addition, the cylindrical battery cell, each of the negative terminal and the positive terminal are formed on one end and the other end, when the internal pressure rises above a predetermined level, one of the positive terminal and the negative terminal is opened to release the internal gas and a gas vent unit configured to be
[19]
The fuse part of the bus bar may be formed by being connected only to the connection part connected to the positive terminal configured to be opened by the gas vent part or the negative terminal.
[20]
In addition, an applicator to which the adhesive is added may be formed on the insulating sheet so that a portion of the body portion of the bus bar is bonded to the module case.
[21]
Further, a portion of the adhesive may be cured in a form interposed between the insulating sheet and the body portion of the bus bar.
[22]
In addition, the insulating sheet may include a guide part protruding inward from the exposure hole to prevent the adhesive added to the exposure hole from being lost around the exposure hole.
[23]
Furthermore, the guide part may be provided with a bent structure in which a portion is bent to cover the outside of the cylindrical battery cell.
[24]
In addition, the insulating sheet may include a funnel that protrudes outwardly from the exposure hole to prevent the adhesive added to the exposure hole from being lost around the exposure hole.
[25]
In addition, the battery pack according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes at least one or more battery modules.
[26]
Moreover, the vehicle according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes at least one or more of the battery pack.
Effects of the Invention
[27]
According to one aspect of the present invention, an insulating sheet having an electrical insulation property and positioned to cover the outside of the bus bar and having an exposure hole formed so that at least a part of the bus bar is exposed to the outside, and an insulating sheet having electrical insulation property By including the adhesive applied to at least a portion of the bus bar exposed to the outside through the exposure hole, it is possible to prevent damage to the portion where the mechanical rigidity of the bus bar is weak. Accordingly, the battery module of the present invention can significantly reduce the occurrence of accidents such as damage to the bus bar or disconnection of the electrical connection even in an external shock or frequent vibration environment, thereby greatly improving the durability of the battery module.
[28]
In addition, according to one aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, an adhesive may be appropriately applied to the fuse part by positioning the exposed hole of the insulating sheet so that the fuse part is exposed to the outside. In addition, the bus bar may be electrically insulated from an external object by an insulating sheet. At the same time, according to the present invention, the adhesive can be applied through the exposed opening only to the fuse unit requiring mechanical rigidity of the bus bar, thereby preventing the fuse unit from being damaged due to vibration or external impact. Accordingly, durability of the battery module can be effectively improved.
[29]
And, according to one aspect of the present invention, in the present invention, an applicator configured to add an adhesive to an insulating sheet so that a part of the body part of the module case and the bus bar is bonded to each other is formed, whereby the body part of the bus bar is a module case It can be fixed to a part of Accordingly, it is possible to prevent vibration or flow of the body portion of the bus bar, thereby effectively reducing damage to the fuse portion connected to the body portion.
[30]
Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present invention, according to the present invention, a part of the adhesive is cured in a form interposed between the insulating sheet and the body portion of the bus bar, so that even after the adhesive is cured, the flow or vibration of the adhesive can be prevented. Therefore, the fuse unit can be more stably fixed by the adhesive. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively increase the durability of the battery module of the present invention.
[31]
In addition, according to another aspect of the present invention, the insulating sheet of the present invention is provided with a guide portion protruding inward from the exposure hole, thereby preventing the adhesive added to the exposure hole from being lost around the exposure hole. Accordingly, the adhesive can be densely filled without empty space in the portion where the mechanical rigidity of the bus bar is weak. Accordingly, the present invention can reliably prevent damage or disconnection of the bus bar due to external shock or vibration.
Brief description of the drawing
[32]
The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and serve to further understand the technical spirit of the present invention together with the detailed description of the present invention to be described later, so the present invention is described in such drawings should not be construed as being limited to
[33]
1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[34]
2 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating a state in which components of a battery module of a battery pack are separated according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[35]
3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a cylindrical battery cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[36]
4 is a front view schematically showing a state of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[37]
5 is a front view schematically showing only some components of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[38]
6 is a rear view schematically showing a state of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[39]
7 is a rear view schematically showing only some components of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[40]
FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view showing an enlarged area A of FIG. 7 .
[41]
FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged view showing an enlarged area B of FIG. 7 .
[42]
10 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a state taken along line C-C' of the battery module of FIG. 6 .
[43]
11 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a state in which a battery module is cut in a front-rear direction according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[44]
12 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a state in which a battery module is cut in a front-rear direction according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[45]
13 is another embodiment of the present invention.It is a partial cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a state in which the battery module is cut in the front-rear direction according to an embodiment.
[46]
14 and 15 are photographs showing the front and rear surfaces of the battery module according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[47]
16 is a table showing measured values ​​of AC internal resistance (AC-IR) of battery module A of Example 1 in Test Examples 1 to 3 of the present invention.
[48]
17 is a table showing measured values ​​of AC internal resistance (AC-IR) of battery module B of Example 1 in Test Examples 1 to 3 of the present invention.
Modes for carrying out the invention
[49]
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, the terms or words used in the present specification and claims should not be construed as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, and the inventor should properly understand the concept of the term in order to best describe his invention. Based on the principle that it can be defined, it should be interpreted as meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of ​​the present invention.
[50]
Therefore, the configuration shown in the embodiments and drawings described in the present specification is only the most preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not represent all of the technical spirit of the present invention, so at the time of the present application, various It should be understood that there may be equivalents and variations.
[51]
[52]
1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating a state in which components of a battery module of a battery pack are separated according to an embodiment of the present invention. And, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a cylindrical battery cell according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[53]
1 to 3 , the battery module 200 of the present invention may include a plurality of cylindrical battery cells 100 , a module case 210 , a bus bar 220 , and an insulating sheet 230 . have.
[54]
Here, the cylindrical battery cell 100 may include an electrode assembly 110 , a battery can 112 , and a cap assembly 113 .
[55]
The electrode assembly 110 may have a structure wound with a separator interposed between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate, and the positive electrode tab 114 is attached to the positive electrode plate to be connected to the cap assembly 113 , and the negative electrode tab is provided to the negative electrode plate A 115 may be attached and connected to the lower end of the battery can 112 .
[56]
The battery can 112 may have an empty space therein to accommodate the electrode assembly 110 . In particular, the battery can 112 may be cylindrical or prismatic, and may have an open top. In addition, the battery can 112 may be made of a metal material such as steel or aluminum to secure rigidity. In addition, the battery can 112 may have a negative electrode tab attached to a lower end thereof, so that the battery can 112 itself may function as a negative terminal as well as the lower portion of the battery can 112 .
[57]
The cap assembly 113 may be coupled to the upper open portion of the battery can 112 to seal the open end of the battery can 112 . The cap assembly 113 may have a circular or prismatic shape depending on the shape of the battery can 112, and includes sub-configurations such as the top cap (C1), the gas vent part (C2), and the gasket (C3). may include
[58]
Here, the top cap C1 may be positioned at the top of the cap assembly 113 and configured to protrude upward. In particular, the top cap C1 may function as a positive terminal in the cylindrical battery cell 100 . Accordingly, the top cap C1 may be electrically connected to another cylindrical battery cell 100 , a load, or a charging device through an external device, for example, the bus bar 220 . The top cap C1 may be formed of, for example, a metal material such as steel or aluminum.
[59]
The gas vent unit C2 has the internal pressure of the cylindrical battery cell 100 , that is, when gas is generated inside the battery can 112 to increase the internal pressure of the battery can 112 to a predetermined pressure or higher, the gas vent unit C2 It may be configured to be deformed in shape. For example, the top cap C1 may be opened while the gas inside the battery can 112 is ejected through the gas vent part C2 . That is, the gas vent unit C2 may open the positive terminal 111a or the negative terminal 111b. For example, the cylindrical battery cell 100 may be configured such that, when the internal pressure is higher than a predetermined level through the gas vent unit C2, any one of the positive terminal and the negative terminal is opened to discharge the internal gas. can
[60]
Meanwhile, the cap assembly 113 may further include a current blocking member C4. The current interrupting member C4 is also called a CID (Current Interrupt Device), and when the internal pressure of the battery increases due to gas generation and the shape of the gas vent part C2 is reversed, the gas vent part C2 and the current interrupt device C4 ) is cut off or the current blocking member C4 is damaged, so that the electrical connection between the gas vent unit C2 and the electrode assembly 110 may be blocked.
[61]
Since the configuration of the cylindrical battery cell 100 is widely known to those skilled in the art at the time of filing the present invention, a more detailed description will be omitted herein. In addition, although an example of the cylindrical battery cell 100 is illustrated in FIG. 3 , the battery module 200 according to the present invention is not limited to a cylindrical battery cell having a specific shape. That is, various types of battery cells known at the time of filing of the present invention may be employed in the battery module according to the present invention. That is, the cylindrical battery cell 100 of FIG. 3 is not necessarily limited to a cylindrical shape, and a prismatic battery cell may also be applied to the battery module 200 according to the present invention.
[62]
Again, referring to FIG. 2 , the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 100 may be provided in a form arranged in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) and the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 100 may be arranged in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction. Furthermore, the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 100 may be arranged in a form in which tubular portions in the cylindrical battery can ( 112 in FIG. 3 ) face each other.
[63]
In particular, in the battery module 200 according to the present invention, the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 100 may be configured to be laid down in a horizontal direction. Here, the horizontal direction means a direction parallel to the ground. That is, as shown in FIG. 2 , each of 112 cylindrical battery cells 100 may be configured to be elongated in the front-rear direction (Y-axis direction). In this case, the entire cylindrical battery cell 100, when viewed in the F direction of FIG. 1 , the positive terminal 111a and the negative terminal 111b may be located at the ends in the front-rear direction.
[64]
Meanwhile, terms indicating directions such as before, after, left, right, up, and down described in the present specification may vary depending on the position of the observer or the placed shape of the object. However, in the present specification, for convenience of explanation, directions such as front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom are separately indicated with reference to the time when viewed in the F direction.
[65]
Referring to FIG. 2 , the module case 210 may include an accommodating part 212h accommodating the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 100 , and an outer wall 211 .
[66]
In addition, at least two or more cylindrical battery cells 100 may be accommodated in the receiving portion 212h of the module case 210 in a horizontal direction (Y-axis direction) in a lying shape. The stacking direction is not necessarily limited to one direction, and may be an up-down direction (Z-axis direction) according to the direction in which the cylindrical battery cell 100 is laid down.
[67]
Furthermore, the outer wall 211 may be formed to surround an inner space configured to insert and receive the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 100 . In addition, the module case 210, when viewed in the F direction of FIG. 1, is formed in the front, rear, up, down, left, right directions to form an internal space, the front wall, the rear wall, the upper wall, the lower wall, the left wall , and a right wall.
[68]
In addition, the module case 210 may include a first case 217 and a second case 219 . The first case 217 may be configured such that the second case 219 is stacked on the rear side in the Y direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , the battery module 200, when viewed from the Y-axis direction, includes the first case 217 and the second case 217 located at the rear of the first case 217 . A case 219 may be provided. A plurality of hollow structures H1 configured to be inserted respectively into the front and rear portions of the cylindrical battery cell 100 are formed in the receiving portions 212h of the first case 217 and the second case 219, respectively. can be
[69]
4 is a front view schematically showing the state of the battery module 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a front view schematically showing only some components of the battery module 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a rear view schematically showing the state of the battery module 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 7 is a rear view schematically showing only some components of the battery module 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention. And, FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged view showing an enlarged area A of FIG. 7 . In FIG. 5 , the insulating sheet 230 is removed from the battery module 200 of FIG. 4 for convenience of drawing description. In addition, in FIG. 7 , the insulating sheet 230 is removed from the battery module 200 of FIG. 6 for convenience of drawing description.
[70]
First, referring to FIGS. 4 to 8 , the bus bar 220 is between the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 100 , for example, between all cylindrical battery cells 100 , or some of the cylindrical battery cells 100 . ) can be electrically connected. To this end, at least a portion of the bus bar 220 is made of an electrically conductive material.can be composed of For example, the bus bar 220 may be made of a metal material such as copper, aluminum, nickel, or the like. Furthermore, the bus bar 220 may have a structure in which two metal plates 220a and 220b using different main materials are joined. For example, the bus bar 220 may include a first metal plate 220a having a predetermined thickness, and a second metal plate 220b bonded to a portion of the body portion 222 of the first metal plate 220a. can be provided. The second metal plate 220b may be relatively thinner than the first metal plate 220a.
[71]
Also, the second metal plate 220b may have a metal having relatively lower electrical conductivity than the first metal plate 220a. For example, the first metal plate 220a may be a plate mainly made of copper. The second metal plate 220b may be a plate mainly made of nickel.
[72]
Furthermore, the bus bar 220 may include a body portion 222 and a connection portion 224 . Specifically, the body portion 222 of the bus bar 220 may be formed in a plate shape. Moreover, the bus bar 220 may be configured in the form of a metal plate to ensure rigidity and electrical conductivity. In particular, the main body 222 may be configured in a vertical direction (the Z-axis direction in the drawing) along the electrode terminals 111 of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 100 to be erected.
[73]
In addition, a connector K1 may be formed in the main body 222 . The connector K1 may be a hole formed by being drilled at a position corresponding to the electrode terminal 111 of the cylindrical battery cell 100 .
[74]
Furthermore, the connection part 224 may have a protruding shape extending from the connection port K1 to be connected to the electrode terminal 111 of the cylindrical battery cell 100 . The connection part 224 may be melt-bonded to the electrode terminal 111 by welding.
[75]
That is, in the present invention, a plurality of cylindrical battery cells 100 are arranged in the left-right direction (X-axis direction in the drawing) and up-and-down direction (Z-axis direction in the drawing) in a form in which the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 100 are laid down long in the front-rear direction (Y-axis direction in the drawing). In this case, the electrode terminals 111 of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 100 may be arranged in the front-rear direction. In this case, the main body 222 may extend flatly in the left and right and up and down directions as a plate according to the arrangement direction of the electrode terminals 111 of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 100 . In addition, the main body 222 may be configured to be erected with respect to the ground.
[76]
Furthermore, external terminals (223 in FIG. 2 ) for sensing a voltage by a sensing member (not shown) or transmitting power to the outside may be provided on the left and right sides of the main body 222 of the bus bar 220 . have.
[77]
In addition, the bus bar 220 may contact the same polarity of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 100 to electrically connect them in parallel. Alternatively, the bus bar 220 may contact the electrode terminals 111 of some of the cylindrical battery cells 100 and electrically connect them in parallel and in series.
[78]
Referring back to FIGS. 3 and 8 , a connection part connected to any one of the positive terminal 111a and the negative terminal 111b that is not opened by the gas vent part C2 of the cylindrical battery cell 100 . 224 may include a fuse unit 226 . The fuse unit 226 may be configured to be disconnected when a predetermined or more current flows from the cylindrical battery cell 100 . That is, when a current greater than a predetermined level flows, the fuse unit 226 may be partially melted and lost due to resistance heat. In this way, the fuse unit 226 may be electrically disconnected.
[79]
Also, the fuse unit 226 may have a structure B1 bent at least once in a horizontal direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 8 , any one of the fuse units 226 protrudes from the end of the main body 222 in the left direction, and the extended end is again bent in the upper direction ( B1 ). can have
[80]
Therefore, according to this configuration of the present invention, among the connection portion 224 connected to the positive terminal 111a and the connection portion 224 connected to the negative terminal 111b, not opened by the gas vent portion C2. The connection part 224 in contact with the positive terminal 111a or the negative terminal 111b includes a fuse part 226 configured to be disconnected when a predetermined or more current flows from the cylindrical battery cell 100, so that the battery module ( 200) When a short circuit occurs between the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 100 inside and a high current flows to the specific cylindrical battery cell 100, the specific cylindrical battery cell 100 and the bus bar ( 220) may be electrically cut off. That is, a fire or runaway phenomenon of the battery module 200 may be prevented through the fuse unit 226 . Accordingly, the safety of the battery module 200 may be improved.
[81]
Furthermore, the fuse unit 226 is provided in the connection unit 224 in contact with the positive terminal 111a or the negative terminal 111b, which is not opened by the gas vent unit C2, so that the Since the electrode terminal 111 (eg, the negative terminal) that is not opened by the gas vent unit C2 is located closer to the electrode assembly than the open electrode terminal 111 , the interior of the cylindrical battery cell 100 is more Since the heat of the bar can be effectively transferred, there is an advantage that the fuse can be shorted more quickly and easily by receiving the internal heat of the cylindrical battery cell 100 through the fuse unit 226 .
[82]
Also, since the fuse unit 226 has a structure B1 bent at least once in the horizontal direction, it is easy to secure a longer current path in the same space. That is, when the fuse unit 226 has a shape extending in a straight line, it is necessary to form a larger connection port, so that one bus bar 220 is electrically connected to more cylindrical battery cells 100 in a predetermined space. It can be a factor that becomes a space constraint in achieving Accordingly, according to the present invention, it is easy to implement the compact battery module 200 by remarkably reducing the space occupied by the fuse unit 226 of the bus bar 220 .
[83]
For example, as shown in FIG. 8 , the fuse unit 226 may be formed only on the second metal plate 220b. In addition, the fuse unit 226 may be configured to connect between the connection unit 224 connected to the negative terminal 111b and the body unit 222 .
[84]
Furthermore, an electrically insulating insulating sheet 230 may be provided on the outer surface of the bus bar 220 . The insulating sheet 230 may be positioned to cover the outside of the bus bar 220 . For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , each of the two insulating sheets 230 may be provided on the front side of the bus bar 220 located on the front side and the rear side of the bus bar 220 located on the rear side, respectively. .
[85]
Referring back to FIGS. 2, 4, and 6 , the insulating sheet 230 may have an exposure hole 232 formed so that at least a portion of the bus bar 220 is exposed to the outside. For example, the exposure hole 232 may extend in the left and right direction so that the adhesive 240 can be applied to a portion of the bus bar 220 . However, the shape of the exposure hole 232 is not necessarily limited only to this shape, and the shape of the exposure hole 232 depends on the shape of the portion where the adhesive 240 needs to be applied to the bus bar 220 . can be variously modified.
[86]
Referring back to FIGS. 2 and 4 to 7 , the battery module 200 may further include an adhesive 240 . The adhesive 240 may have electrical insulation properties. The adhesive 240 may be glue or hot-melt resin. For example, the adhesive 240 may include at least one of a polyamide-based resin, a polyimide-based resin, an epoxy-based resin, and an acrylic resin. More specifically, the adhesive 240 may be an epoxy-based adhesive (3M, Scotch Weld DP460NS). Alternatively, the adhesive 240 may include a hot melt resin (LG Chem, LGCEB03_T3, or Everwide JC801).
[87]
In addition, the adhesive 240 may be applied to at least a portion of the bus bar 220 exposed to the outside through the exposure hole 232 of the insulating sheet 230 . For example, as shown in FIG. 5 , an adhesive 240 is applied to a portion (front side) of each of the eight bus bars 220 positioned in front of the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 100 based on the insulating sheet. It may be applied through the exposure hole 232 of the 230 . In addition, an adhesive 240 is applied to a portion (rear side) of each of the eight bus bars 220 located at the rear with respect to the plurality of cylindrical battery cells 100 to connect the exposed openings 232 of the insulating sheet 230 to each other. can be applied through
[88]
Therefore, according to this configuration of the present invention, the present invention is positioned to cover the outside of the bus bar 220 with electrical insulation and exposes at least a portion of the bus bar 220 to the outside. By including an insulating sheet 230 on which is formed, and an adhesive 240 applied to at least a portion of the bus bar 220 exposed to the outside through the exposure hole 232 of the insulating sheet 230 having electrical insulation properties. , it is possible to prevent damage to a portion where the mechanical rigidity of the bus bar 220 is weak. Accordingly, the battery module 200 of the present invention can dramatically reduce the occurrence of accidents such as damage to the bus bar 220 or disconnection of the electrical connection even in an external shock or frequent vibration environment, thereby improving the durability of the battery module 200 . can be greatly improved.
[89]
Referring back to FIGS. 4 to 8 , the exposed hole 232 of the insulating sheet 230 has the fuse unit 226 connected to the outside.It can be positioned to be exposed as For example, as shown in FIG. 4 , an insulating sheet 230 having a plurality of exposure holes 232 formed thereon may be positioned in front of the battery module 200 . The insulating sheet 230 may be configured to be in close contact with the bus bar 220 . For example, an adhesive (not shown) may be coated on one surface facing the insulating sheet 230 and the bus bar 220 . The adhesive may be configured to attach the insulating sheet 230 to the outer surface of the bus bar 220 .
[90]
Also, the exposure hole 232 of the insulating sheet 230 may extend in the left and right directions along the fuse unit 226 of the bus bar 220 . The width of the exposure hole 232 may be such that the fuse unit 226 of the bus bar 220 can be exposed to the outside.
[91]
Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 , the adhesive 240 added through the exposure hole 232 of the insulating sheet 230 is applied to the fuse unit 226 formed on the bus bar 220 to be cured. can
[92]
For example, as shown in FIG. 6 , an insulating sheet 230 having a plurality of exposure holes 232 formed thereon may be positioned at the rear of the battery module 200 . The insulating sheet 230 may be configured to be in close contact with the bus bar 220 .
[93]
Accordingly, according to this configuration of the present invention, the exposure hole 232 of the insulating sheet 230 is positioned so that the fuse unit 226 is exposed to the outside, so that the adhesive 240 is properly applied to the fuse unit 226 . can be spread evenly. Also, the bus bar 220 may be electrically insulated from an external object by the insulating sheet 230 . At the same time, according to the present invention, the adhesive 240 can be applied through the exposure hole 232 only to the fuse unit 226 requiring mechanical rigidity of the bus bar 220, so that the fuse unit 226 due to vibration or external impact. ) to prevent damage. Accordingly, durability of the battery module 200 can be effectively improved.
[94]
FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged view showing an enlarged area B of FIG. 7 .
[95]
Referring to FIG. 9 together with FIGS. 4, 6, 7, and 8 , an applicator 234 configured to apply the adhesive 240 to the insulating sheet 230 may be formed. The applicator 234 includes an outer surface of the module case 210 and a body portion of the bus bar 220 such that a portion of the body portion 222 of the bus bar 220 is bonded to the module case 210 . A portion of the 222 may have an open shape to be exposed to the outside.
[96]
For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 , a plurality of applicators 234 may be formed on the insulating sheet 230 . The applicator 234 may be an opening configured to expose a portion of the first metal plate 220a of the bus bar 220 and the outer surface of the stopper P1 of the module case 210 to the outside.
[97]
For example, as shown in FIG. 9 , the adhesive 240 of the present invention is applied to a portion of the first metal plate 220a of the bus bar 220 and the module case 210 through the applicator 234 . ) may be in a cured state by being added to the outer surface of the stopper P1.
[98]
Therefore, according to this configuration in the present invention, the insulating sheet 230 is applied to the module case 210 to which the adhesive 240 is added so that a portion of the body portion 222 of the bus bar 220 is bonded to the module case 210 . By forming the sphere 234 , the main body 222 of the bus bar 220 may be fixed to a portion of the module case 210 . Accordingly, vibration or flow of the main body 222 of the bus bar 220 can be prevented, thereby effectively reducing damage to the fuse unit 226 connected to the main body 222 .
[99]
That is, the fuse unit 226 is easily disconnected at the connection portion with the body unit 222 . The adhesive 240 is used to fix the fuse unit 226 and the main body unit 222 . ) In addition, by fixing to the module case 210, it is possible to limit the vibration or movement of both the body portion 222 and the fuse portion 226 of the bus bar 220. Accordingly, the present invention can more effectively prevent damage to the fuse unit 226 .
[100]
10 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a state taken along line C-C' of the battery module of FIG. 6 .
[101]
Referring to FIG. 10 together with FIGS. 6 and 8 , a portion 240b of the adhesive 240 is cured in a form interposed between the insulating sheet 230 and the body portion 222 of the bus bar 220 . can be The portion 240b interposed between the insulating sheet 230 of the adhesive 240 and the body portion 222 of the bus bar 220 serves to limit the flow or shaking of the adhesive 240 after curing. can be performed. In addition, the interposed portion 240b may restrain the insulating sheet 230 and the bus bar 220 from each other, thereby preventing the insulating sheet 230 from being detached from the bus bar 220 . have.
[102]
That is, the adhesive 240 is injected through the exposure hole 232 and the connection hole of the insulating sheet 230 to connect the connection part 224 of the bus bar 220 and the body part 222 to the fuse part ( 226 , and a portion may be cured in a form interposed between the insulating sheet 230 and the body portion 222 of the bus bar 220 .
[103]
Accordingly, according to this configuration of the present invention, a portion of the adhesive 240 is cured in a form interposed between the insulating sheet 230 and the body portion 222 of the bus bar 220 , so that the adhesive 240 is ) can prevent the flow or vibration of the adhesive 240 even after curing, so that the fuse unit 226 can be more stably fixed by the adhesive 240 . Accordingly, it is possible to effectively increase the durability of the battery module 200 of the present invention.
[104]
11 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a state in which a battery module is cut in a front-rear direction according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[105]
Referring to FIG. 11 together with FIGS. 6 and 8 , the insulating sheet 230A of FIG. 11 is different from the insulating sheet 230 of FIG. 10 in that a guide part 236 is further provided. . The same configuration was used for the rest of the configurations.
[106]
The insulating sheet 230A may include a guide part 236 configured to prevent the adhesive 240 added to the exposure hole 232 from being lost around the exposure hole 232 . The guide part 236 may have a structure protruding inward from the exposure hole 232 .
[107]
Specifically, the guide part 236 may have a structure protruding from at least a portion of an edge of the exposure hole 232 formed in the insulating sheet 230A in a direction in which the cylindrical battery cell 100 is located. For example, the guide part 236 may have a shape protruding from the upper and lower portions and left and right portions of the edge of the exposure hole 232 formed in the insulating sheet 230A in the direction in which the cylindrical battery cell 100 is located.
[108]
Accordingly, according to this configuration of the present invention, the insulating sheet 230A is provided with a guide part 236 protruding inward from the exposure hole 232 , so that the adhesive ( It is possible to prevent the 240) from being lost around the exposure hole 232 . Accordingly, the adhesive 240 can be densely filled without empty space in the portion where the mechanical rigidity of the bus bar 220 is weak. Accordingly, the present invention can reliably prevent damage or disconnection of the bus bar 220 due to external shock or vibration.
[109]
12 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a state in which a battery module is cut in a front-rear direction according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[110]
Referring to FIG. 12 together with FIGS. 6 and 8 , the guide part 236B of the insulating sheet 230B of FIG. 12 is partially bent when compared with the guide part 236 of the insulating sheet 230A of FIG. 11 . It has a difference in that the bent structure 236b is formed. The same configuration was used for the rest of the configurations.
[111]
Specifically, the guide part 236B may have a bent structure 236b in which a portion is bent to cover the outside of the cylindrical battery cell 100 . A portion 240c of the adhesive 240 may have a shape corresponding to the bent structure 236b of the guide part 236B. For example, the portion 240c of the adhesive 240 may have a stepped structure in cross-section. The stepped structure of the adhesive 240 may serve to prevent the adhesive 240 from being released to the outside through the exposure hole 232 of the insulating sheet 230B. In addition, the step structure of the adhesive 240 may have a shape surrounding a portion of the upper end of the cylindrical battery cell 100 , so that the bonding force between the adhesive 240 and the cylindrical battery cell 100 can be further increased. .
[112]
Therefore, according to this configuration of the present invention, the guide portion 236B is provided with a bent structure 236b in which a portion is bent to cover the outside of the cylindrical battery cell 100, so that the adhesive 240 is the cylindrical battery cell 100 . It is possible to maintain a more intactly coupled state on the battery cell 100 . That is, a stepped structure of the adhesive 240 may be formed by the bent structure 236b of the insulating sheet 230B, and the stepped structure of the adhesive 240 may be determined such that the adhesive 240 is the cylindrical battery cell ( 100) can increase the fixing force fixed to the upper part. Accordingly, durability of the battery module 200 may be further increased.
[113]
13 is a partial cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a state in which a battery module is cut in a front-rear direction according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[114]
Referring to FIG. 13 along with FIGS. 6 and 8 , the insulation of FIG.The funnel 230C has a difference in that compared with the insulating sheet 230 of FIG. 10, the funnel part 238 is further provided. The same configuration was used for the rest of the configurations.
[115]
Specifically, the funnel part 238 may be configured such that the insulating sheet 230C prevents the adhesive 240 added to the exposure hole 232 from being lost around the exposure hole 232 . For example, as shown in FIG. 13 , the funnel part 238 may have a shape protruding outward from the exposure hole 232 . Here, the outward direction may be a direction in which a nozzle (not shown) configured to apply the adhesive 240 to the exposure hole 232 is located. The nozzle is currently applicable to any type of nozzle for injecting the adhesive 240, and any device is applicable as long as the nozzle is provided.
[116]
In addition, the funnel part 238 may have a shape that opens up and down or left and right with respect to the exposure hole 232 toward the outside. The funnel part 238 may have a shape extending along the edge of the exposure hole 232 of the insulating sheet 230C.
[117]
Therefore, according to this configuration of the present invention, the insulating sheet 230C has a funnel 238 protruding outward from the exposure hole 232, so that the adhesive ( It is possible to prevent the 240) from being lost around the exposure hole 232 . Accordingly, when the adhesive 240 is not added to the intended position from the exposure hole 232 and the adhesive 240 is lost, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the application amount that may occur. Accordingly, the defect rate of the battery module 200 can be effectively reduced.
[118]
Meanwhile, the battery pack 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include at least one or more of the battery modules 200 . In addition, the battery pack 300 includes various devices (not shown) for controlling the charging and discharging of the battery module 200, for example, a BMS (FIG. 2, 380, Battery Management System), a current sensor, a fuse, and the like. may be included.
[119]
Also, referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2 , the battery pack 300 may include a pack housing 310 . Specifically, the pack housing 310 may include an upper cover 312 , an intermediate housing 314 , and a lower support portion 316 . Specifically, when viewed in the F direction, the intermediate housing 314 may be coupled to a lower portion of the upper cover 312 , and the lower support portion 316 may be coupled to a lower portion of the intermediate housing 314 . . More specifically, the top cover 312 may have an upper wall and a side wall to cover the upper portion of the module case 210 accommodated in the pack housing 310 . In addition, the intermediate housing 314 may have a rectangular tubular shape in which upper and lower portions are open. Furthermore, the lower support part 316 may have a side wall and a lower wall in the form of a box with an open top.
[120]
Meanwhile, the battery pack 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be included in a vehicle (not shown) such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. That is, in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one or more battery packs 300 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above may be mounted in a vehicle body.
[121]
[122]
Hereinafter, examples and test examples will be described in more detail to describe the present invention in detail, but the present invention is not limited by these examples and test examples. Embodiments according to the present invention may be modified in various other forms, and the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described below. The embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely explain the present invention to those of ordinary skill in the art.
[123]
[124]

[125]
Battery module A according to an embodiment of the present invention includes 112 cylindrical battery cells, a module case capable of accommodating these cylindrical battery cells, 15 bus bars configured to electrically connect 112 cylindrical battery cells, and bus bars. Two insulating sheets configured to cover were provided. An epoxy-based adhesive (3M, Scotch Weld DP460NS) was applied around the fuse portion of the busbar through the exposed hole formed in the insulating sheet. At this time, the adhesive had a main viscosity of 150,000 cps to 275,000 cps, a curing agent viscosity of 8,000 to 14,000 cps, and a pot life of 1 hour or less. The adhesive was applied with a width of 4 mm and a thickness of 2 mm for each application site, and the amount of application was about 10 g per one insulating sheet. As in the photos of FIGS. 14 and 15 of the present application, a battery module A was prepared.
[126]
[127]

[128]
A battery module B was manufactured in the same manner as in Example 1.
[129]
[130]

[131]
First, 112 cylindrical battery cells of each of the battery modules A and B of Examples 1 and 2 were divided into 14 banks. The AC internal resistance (AC-IR) and DC voltage of each bank were measured using a HIOKI tester. The measured AC internal resistance values ​​are shown in the table of FIG. 16 and the table of FIG. 17, respectively. In addition, all 14 banks of each of battery module A and battery module B of Examples 1 and 2 were measured at normal ranges of 4.8 mΩ to 5.7 mΩ and 3.50V to 3.60V.
[132]
Thereafter, each of the battery module A and the battery module B was subjected to a vibration test in the Z-axis direction (up and down direction). The vibration time was 3 hours, and the vibration test was performed at 12 cycles for 7 Hz to 200 Hz.
[133]
After completion of the vibration test in the Z-axis direction, the AC internal resistance (AC-IR) of each of the 14 banks of the battery module A and the battery module B was measured. The measured AC internal resistance values ​​are shown in the table of FIG. 16 and the table of FIG. 17, respectively. As a result of the test, all 14 banks of each of the battery modules A and B of Examples 1 and 2 were measured at 4.8 mΩ to 5.8 mΩ, which are normal ranges, and 3.50V to 3.60V.
[134]
[135]

[136]
After performing Test Example 1, each of the battery modules of Examples 1 and 2 was subjected to a vibration test in the Y-axis direction (left and right direction). The vibration time was 3 hours, and the vibration test was performed at 12 cycles for 7 Hz to 200 Hz.
[137]
After completion of the Y-axis vibration test, the AC internal resistance (AC-IR) of 14 banks of each of the battery modules was measured. The measured values ​​are shown in the table of FIG. 16 and the table of FIG. 17, respectively. All 14 banks of each of the battery modules of Examples 1 and 2 were measured at a normal range of 4.8 mΩ to 5.8 mΩ, and 3.50V to 3.60V.
[138]
[139]

[140]
After performing Test Example 2, each of the battery modules of Examples 1 and 2 was subjected to a vibration test in the X-axis direction (left and right direction). The vibration time was 3 hours, and the vibration test was performed at 12 cycles for 7 Hz to 200 Hz.
[141]
After completion of the vibration test in the X-axis direction, the AC internal resistance (AC-IR) of 14 banks of each of the battery modules was measured. The measured values ​​are shown in the table of FIG. 16 and the table of FIG. 17, respectively. All 14 banks of each of the battery modules of Examples 1 and 2 were measured at a normal range of 4.8 mΩ to 5.8 mΩ, and 3.50V to 3.60V.
[142]
[143]
In conclusion, as a result of performing Test Examples 1 to 3, the battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention uses an insulating sheet provided with an exposed hole through which a portion of the bus bar with weak mechanical rigidity is exposed. By applying , it is possible to supplement the mechanical rigidity of the busbar, and it is possible to prevent damage to the portion where the mechanical rigidity of the busbar is weak even in a vibration environment in various directions such as the Z-axis, X-axis, and Y-axis. Accordingly, the battery module of the present invention can significantly reduce the occurrence of accidents such as damage to the bus bar or disconnection of the electrical connection even in an external shock or frequent vibration environment, thereby greatly improving the durability of the battery module.
[144]
Meanwhile, in this specification, terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are used, but these terms are for convenience of explanation only, and may vary depending on the position of the object or the position of the observer. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can.
[145]
[146]
As described above, although the present invention has been described with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the technical idea of ​​the present invention and the following by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Of course, various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of equivalents of the claims to be described.
[147]
[Explanation of code]
[148]
100: cylindrical battery cell 200: battery module
[149]
111, 111a, 111b: electrode terminal, positive terminal, negative terminal
[150]
210: module case
[151]
212h: receiving portion 211: outer wall
[152]
H1: hollow structure
[153]
230: insulation sheet 232: exposure hole
[154]
234: applicator 236: guide unit
[155]
236b: bent structure 238: funnel base
[156]
240: adhesive
[157]
220: bus bar
[158]
222: body portion 224: connection portion
[159]
226: fuse unit
[160]
310: pack housing 312: top cover
[161]
314: middle housing 313: bottom support

Claims

[Claim 1]
A plurality of cylindrical battery cells each having an electrode terminal; a module case provided with an accommodating part for accommodating the plurality of cylindrical battery cells; a bus bar having a body portion having an electrical conductivity and having a plate shape, and a connection portion in contact with an electrode terminal to electrically connect the plurality of cylindrical battery cells; electrical insulationan insulating sheet positioned to cover the outside of the bus bar and having an exposure hole formed so that at least a portion of the bus bar is exposed to the outside; and an adhesive applied to at least a portion of the bus bar exposed to the outside through the exposed opening of the insulating sheet having electrical insulation properties.
[Claim 2]
The method according to claim 1, wherein the bus bar includes a fuse unit configured to connect between the connection unit and the body unit and disconnect when a predetermined or more current flows from the cylindrical battery cell, and the exposed opening of the insulating sheet includes the fuse unit. Battery module, characterized in that positioned to be exposed to the outside.
[Claim 3]
According to claim 2, wherein the cylindrical battery cell, each of the negative terminal and the positive terminal are formed at one end and the other end, when the internal pressure rises above a predetermined level, any one of the positive terminal and the negative terminal is opened A battery module comprising a gas vent part configured to discharge internal gas, and the fuse part of the bus bar is connected only to the connection part connected to the positive terminal or the negative terminal configured to be opened by the gas vent part.
[Claim 4]
The battery module according to claim 1, wherein an applicator to which the adhesive is added is formed on the insulating sheet so that a portion of the body portion of the bus bar is bonded to the module case.
[Claim 5]
The battery module according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the adhesive is cured in a form interposed between the insulating sheet and the main body of the bus bar.
[Claim 6]
The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the insulating sheet has a guide part protruding inward from the exposure hole to prevent the adhesive added to the exposure hole from being lost around the exposure hole.
[Claim 7]
The battery module according to claim 6, wherein a portion of the guide part has a bent structure to cover the outside of the cylindrical battery cell.
[Claim 8]
The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the insulating sheet has a funnel that protrudes outward from the exposure hole to prevent the adhesive added to the exposure hole from being lost around the exposure hole.
[Claim 9]
A battery pack comprising at least one battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
[Claim 10]
A vehicle comprising at least one battery pack according to claim 9 .