Technology field
[One]
The present invention relates to a battery module having a structure that facilitates serial/parallel connection and a battery pack including the same, and more specifically, a bus bar is provided for each unit module, and connectors of various sizes are used. Thus, by electrically connecting two or three or more adjacent battery cells to each other, the present invention relates to a battery module and a battery pack including the battery module capable of freely generating a desired serial/parallel connection structure.
[2]
This application is a priority claim application for Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0046305 filed on April 20, 2018, and all contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of the application are incorporated in this application by citation.
Background
[3]
The battery module including a plurality of battery cells is electrically connected between the battery cells by connecting the electrode leads of each battery cell to each other using a bus bar.
[4]
1 and 2, a conventional battery module structure is shown.
[5]
In the conventional battery module, a plurality of battery cells 1 are stacked to form a cell stack 2, and then the bus bar frame 4 including the bus bar 3 is stacked with a battery cell stack 2. It can be coupled to both sides of a plurality of battery cells 1 to implement a series connection form, a parallel connection form or a combination of a series and a parallel connection form.
[6]
Since such a conventional battery module requires a dedicated bus bar frame 4 individually suited to a desired electrical connection type and the size or shape of the cell stack 2, a bus bar frame suitable for each new model is developed. There is a hassle of new development and production.
Detailed description of the invention
Technical challenges
[7]
The present invention was devised in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and only the number of battery cells and the size/amount of connectors are different according to the desired electrical connection relationship without the need to manufacture a dedicated bus bar frame suitable for each development of a new battery module model. The objective is to make it easy to manufacture various types of battery modules.
[8]
However, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is not limited to the above-described problems, and other problems that are not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention described below.
Task resolution
[9]
The battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the above-described problem is attached to a battery cell, a bus bar attached to an electrode lead provided in the battery cell, and a terrace portion of the battery cell, thereby leading to an electrode lead and a bus bar. A unit module stack formed by stacking a plurality of unit modules including a bus bar frame accommodating at least a portion of the inside thereof; And a connector fixed by a connector holder provided on the busbar frame to contact the busbar.
[10]
The fixed position of the connector may be blocked by the connector holder.
[11]
The bus bar frame may include a first unit frame covering at least a portion of an upper surface of the terrace portion; And a second unit frame covering at least a portion of the lower surface of the terrace unit and coupled to the first unit frame. It may include.
[12]
The shapes of the first unit frame and the second unit frame may be point-symmetrical to each other.
[13]
Each of the first unit frame and the second unit frame may include at least one fixing protrusion formed on an opposite surface and a protrusion receiving groove having a size and shape corresponding to the fixing protrusion.
[14]
The fixing protrusion formed on the engaging surface of the first unit frame may be formed at a position corresponding to a size and shape corresponding to the projection receiving groove formed on the engaging surface of the second unit frame.
[15]
The fixing protrusion and the protrusion receiving groove may be formed on a surface opposite to the opposite surface of each of the first unit frame and the second unit frame.
[16]
The battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention is implemented by connecting a plurality of battery modules according to an embodiment of the present invention described above.
[17]
On the other hand, a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention is implemented in a form including a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Effects of the Invention
[18]
According to an aspect of the present invention, each time a new battery module model is developed, there is no need to produce a dedicated bus bar frame suitable for it, and the number of battery cells and the size/amount of connectors are different depending on the desired electrical connection, so that various forms can be easily formed. The battery module can be manufactured.
Brief description of drawings
[19]
The following drawings attached to the present specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention serves to further understand the technical idea of ​​the present invention together with the detailed description of the invention described below. It should not be interpreted as being limited to.
[20]
1 and 2 are views showing a conventional battery module structure.
[21]
3 is a perspective view showing a part of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[22]
4 is a front view showing a part of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[23]
5 is a view showing a unit module stack applied to a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[24]
6 is an exploded perspective view showing a unit module applied to a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[25]
7 is a perspective view showing a battery cell applied to a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[26]
8 is a front view showing a unit module and a bus bar coupled to a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[27]
9 and 10 are perspective views each showing a unit frame constituting a bus bar frame applied to a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention from different angles.
[28]
11 is a side view showing a unit frame constituting a bus bar frame applied to a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[29]
12 and 13 are views showing a case in which 13 battery cells are connected in a 1P/13S type by using a plurality of bus bars of one type on a blocked connector coupling site.
[30]
14 and 15 are diagrams showing a case where 12 battery cells are connected in a 2P/6S type by using two types of busbars in a blocked connector coupling position.
Mode for carrying out the invention
[31]
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 interpreted as being limited to ordinary or dictionary meanings, and the inventor appropriately explains the concept of terms in order to explain his or her invention in the best way. Based on the principle that it can be defined, it should be interpreted as meanings and concepts consistent with the technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shown in the embodiments and the drawings shown in the present specification are only some of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical spirit of the present invention, and thus can replace them at the time of application. It should be understood that there may be equivalents and variations.
[32]
[33]
First, the overall configuration of the battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.
[34]
3 is a perspective view showing a part of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a front view showing a part of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition, Figure 5 is a view showing a unit module stack applied to a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a unit module applied to a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention .
[35]
3 and 4, the battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention is implemented in a form including a unit module stack 10, a connector 20, and an external terminal 30.
[36]
5 and 6, the unit module stack 10 is a stack formed by stacking a plurality of unit modules 100, and each unit module 100 includes a battery cell 110. , It is implemented in a form including a bus bar 120 connected to the electrode lead 114 of the battery cell 110 and a bus bar frame 130 attached to the terrace portion T of the battery cell 110. Each unit module stack 10 is stacked so that the wide surfaces of the battery cells 110 adjacent to each other face each other to form one unit module stack 10.
[37]
The connector 20 is a component applied to electrically connect the unit module stacks 10 adjacent to each other, and connects between the bus bars 130 provided in the unit module stacks 10 adjacent to each other. do.
[38]
The external terminal 30 is in contact with the bus bar 130 provided in the unit module 100 disposed on the outermost of the plurality of unit modules 100 constituting the unit module stack 10, which is external It functions as a terminal for electrical connection with electronic devices.
[39]
[40]
Next, with reference to FIG. 7 together with FIG. 6, the battery cell 110 constituting the unit module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.
[41]
6 is an exploded perspective view showing a unit module applied to a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a battery cell applied to a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[42]
6 and 7, a pouch type battery cell may be applied to the battery cell 110. The battery cell 110 may be implemented in a form including an electrode assembly (not shown), a cell case 111 and an electrode lead 114.
[43]
Although not shown in the drawing, the electrode assembly has a form in which a separator is interposed between the positive and negative plates alternately repeatedly stacked, and it is preferable that the separators are positioned at the outermost sides of each side for insulation.
[44]
The positive electrode plate is made of a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer coated on one or both sides thereof, and a positive electrode non-coated region where a positive electrode active material is not coated is formed at one end, which is an electrode lead. It functions as a positive electrode tab connected to 114.
[45]
Similarly, the negative electrode plate is made of a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material layer coated on one or both sides thereof, and a negative electrode non-coated region where the negative electrode active material layer is not coated is formed at one end thereof. The region functions as a negative electrode tab connected to the electrode lead 114.
[46]
In addition, the separator is interposed between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate to prevent direct contact between electrode plates having different polarities, but may be made of a porous material to enable ionic movement by using an electrolyte between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate as a medium. have.
[47]
The cell case 111 extends in the circumferential direction of the receiving part 112 accommodating the electrode assembly (not shown) and the accommodating part, and the electrode lead 114 is thermally fused to the outside to open the cell case 111. The sealing portion 113 to be sealed includes two regions.
[48]
The electrode lead 114 is divided into a positive electrode lead connected to the positive electrode tab and a negative electrode lead connected to the negative electrode tab, and each of the positive electrode lead and the negative electrode lead is withdrawn to the outside of the cell case 111, and withdrawn in opposite directions to each other. do.
[49]
On the other hand, in the present invention, in the sealing portion 113 formed around the receiving portion 112, the sealing portion 113 located in the direction in which the electrode lead 114 is drawn out is particularly called the terrace portion (T). Let's define.
[50]
[51]
Next, the bus bar 120 constituting the unit module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6 referred to above.
[52]
Referring to FIG. 6, the bus bar 120 is bonded to the electrode bar 114 by welding while being fixed to the bus bar frame 130, and some are located inside the bus bar frame 130 and the rest Some are exposed outside of the busbar frame 140. As such, a portion of the busbar frame 140 exposed to the outside of the busbar frame 140 is connected to the above-described connector 20 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), whereby the electrical between the battery unit modules 100 adjacent to each other The connection is made.
[53]
More specifically, the bus bar 120 includes a junction portion 121, an exposed portion 122 and a hook portion 123.
[54]
The bonding part 121 extends in a direction parallel to the electrode lead 114, that is, extends in a horizontal direction to contact the electrode lead 114, and is located inside the bus bar frame 130. The exposed portion 122 is bent from the junction portion 121 and extends in a direction perpendicular to the junction portion 121 and is drawn out of the bus bar frame 130 and seated on the bus bar seating portion 136 to be described later. do.
[55]
The hook portion 123 extends in a direction parallel to the exposed portion 122 from the end of the bonding portion 121, and is provided with one or two or more. The hook portion 123 is to allow the bus bar 120 to be fixed to the inside of the bus bar frame 130, and is coupled to the hook fixing portion 135 provided on the inner surface of the bus bar frame 130. / Fixed.
[56]
As described above, the bus bar 120 is fixedly installed inside the bus bar frame 130, and a part thereof is installed to be exposed to the outside of the bus bar frame 130, and is located inside the bus bar frame 130. The connection part 121, which is a part to be connected, is joined to the lower surface of the electrode lead 114, and the exposed part 122, which is a part located outside the bus bar frame 130, is connected to the connector 20 and adjacent unit modules ( 100) Let each other be electrically connected.
[57]
[58]
Next, the bus bar frame 130 constituting the unit module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11 together with FIG. 6 referred to above.
[59]
8 is a front view showing a unit module and a bus bar coupled to a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 9 and 10 are bus bars applied to a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention It is a perspective view showing a unit frame constituting the frame from different angles, Figure 11 is a side view showing a unit frame constituting the bus bar frame applied to the battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[60]
First, referring to FIGS. 6 and 8, the bus bar frame 130 is attached to the terrace portion T of the battery cell 110 and functions as a support of the bus bar 120 as described above.
[61]
The bus bar frame 130 is implemented by combining the first unit frame 130A and the second unit frame 130B having the same shape. That is, the first unit frame 130A and the second unit frame 130B are parts having the same shape as each other, and the first unit frame 130A covers at least a portion of the upper surface of the terrace portion T, and the second The unit frames 130A are coupled to each other while covering at least a portion of the lower surface of the terrace portion T.
[62]
Meanwhile, when the first unit frame 130A and the second unit frame 130B are combined to form one bus bar frame 130, the first unit frame 130A and the second unit frame 130B ) Is in a point-symmetry relationship.
[63]
That is, in the completed one bus bar frame 130, if the first unit frame 130A is rotated 180 degrees based on the center point in the longitudinal direction, the second unit frame 130B has the same shape.
[64]
As described above, when a pair of unit frames 130A and 130B having a point-symmetry relationship with each other is coupled, the bus bar 130 is drawn out through a gap of the bonding surface. That is, the exposed portion 122 of the bus bar 120 is drawn out through a gap between the engaging surfaces of the first unit frame 130A and the second unit frame 130B.
[65]
In addition, the withdrawn bus bar 130 is bent toward either one of the first unit frame 130A or the second unit frame 130B and is formed in the first unit frame 130A or the second unit frame 130B. Seated on the bus bar seating portion 136, the bending direction is to establish an electrical connection with any one of the unit module contacting the first unit frame (130A) and the unit module 100 and the second unit frame (130B) It depends on whether it is.
[66]
[67]
As described above, since the pair of unit frames 130A and 130B are parts having the same shape as each other, referring to FIGS. 9 to 11 in describing a specific structure of the bus bar frame 130, one unit frame It will be described based on (130A or 130B).
[68]
9 to 11, the unit frame (130A, 130B) is a fixed projection 131, the projection receiving groove 132, the welding slit 133, the hook receiving groove 134, the hook fixing portion 135 , It may be implemented in a form including a bus bar seating portion 136, a connector holder (137).
[69]
The fixed protrusion 131 and the protrusion receiving groove 132 are formed on at least one or more of the coupling surfaces of the unit frames 130A and 130B and the opposite surfaces thereof, and the fixing protrusion 131 and the protrusion receiving groove 132 ) Is formed in pairs at corresponding positions of the opposing surfaces of each of the unit frames 130A and 130B. That is, the fixing protrusion 131 formed on the engaging surface of the first unit frame 130A is formed at a position corresponding to the size and shape corresponding to the projection receiving groove 132 formed on the engaging surface of the second unit frame 130B. Likewise, the protrusion receiving groove 132 formed on the engaging surface of the first unit frame 130A is at a position corresponding to the size and shape corresponding to the fixed protrusion 131 formed on the engaging surface of the second unit frame 130B. Is formed.
[70]
The first unit frame 130A and the second unit frame 130B may be coupled/fixed to each other due to the formation of the mating fixing protrusions 131 and the protrusion receiving grooves 132 as described above.
[71]
In addition, since the fixed protrusion 131 and the protrusion receiving groove 132 are formed not only on the opposing surfaces of the unit frames 130A and 130B, but also on opposite sides thereof, the unit modules 100A and 100B adjacent to each other (FIG. 4 and See also FIG. 5) It is also possible to make a coupling using the fixed protrusion 131 and the protrusion receiving groove 132 with each other.
[72]
[73]
9 and 11, the welding slit 133 is formed on a surface perpendicular to a bonding surface of the unit frames 130A and 130B, and an electrode lead 114 positioned inside the busbar frame 130. (See Fig. 5) and to be able to perform welding on the joint of the bus bar 120. The welding slit 133, the width of the bonding portion of the electrode lead 114 and the bus bar 120, so that welding can be made over the entire width of the bonding portion of the electrode lead 114 and the bus bar 120 It can be formed to a corresponding length.
[74]
The bus bar frame 130 is attached to the battery cell 110 and constitutes the unit module 100, and the bus bar 120 fixed/combined therein is pressed to be in close contact with the electrode lead 114. It can also perform the function as a pressing jig, and also, by providing the welding slit 133, it is possible to easily perform the welding without a separate operation for securing a space for welding.
[75]
The hook receiving groove 134 is formed to extend from the welding slit 133 to provide a space in which the hook portion 123 of the bus bar 130 can be accommodated. In consideration of this function, the hook receiving groove 134 may be formed in the same number as the hook portion 123.
[76]
The hook fixing portion 135 is formed on the inner wall surface of the hook receiving groove 134, and has a shape corresponding to the fastening with the hook portion 134. That is, the hook fixing part 135 may be formed in various forms, such as a shape of a groove formed on the hook receiving groove 134 or a shape of a protruding protrusion.
[77]
The bus bar seating portion 136 corresponds to the exposed portion 132 so that the exposed portion 132, which is a portion exposed to the outside of the bus bar frame 130 among the bus bars 120, can be seated without shaking. It is formed concavely on the outer surface of the busbar frame 130 in size and shape.
[78]
The bus bar seating portion 136 may include a damage preventing groove 136a formed in a concave groove shape along the longitudinal direction on the surface thereof, which is a bus bar 130 and a connector 20 (FIGS. 3 and 4 ). This is to prevent damage to the busbar seating portion 136 in the process of welding for the coupling.
[79]
That is, the bus bar frame 130 may be made of a resin injection material. In this case, welding is performed for coupling the exposed portion 132 of the bus bar 120 seated on the seating portion 136 and the connector 20. In the course of being performed, it is highly likely that the busbar seating portion 136 is damaged by heat.
[80]
Accordingly, a groove is formed at a position corresponding to a welding line where welding is performed to partially prevent the busbar 130 and the busbar seating portion 136 from contacting each other, thereby preventing the resin injection material from melting due to heat conduction by welding. Is to do.
[81]
[82]
Next, with reference to FIGS. 8 and 11 together with FIGS. 3 and 4, the connector holder 137 will be described in detail.
[83]
The connector holder 137 is formed in a protruding form on the same surface as the busbar seating portion 136 of the unit frames 130A, 130B, and one side and/or the other side in the longitudinal direction of the unit frames 130A, 130B. At least one is formed.
[84]
The connector holder 137 is a component applied to fix the connector 20 in performing welding for joining the connector 20 and the bus bar 120. That is, the fixed position of the connector 20 is blocked by the connector holder 137, and the connector holder 137 is inserted through an insertion hole formed in the connector 20 in a size and shape corresponding to the connector holder 137. By fixing the connector 20, it is possible to perform welding for joining the connector 20 and the bus bar 120 even without applying a separate fixing jig.
[85]
3 and 4, a connector holder 137 provided in each of a pair of unit modules 100A, 100B or three or more unit modules 100 adjacent to each other is fastened simultaneously with one connector 20, In this way, the bus bar 120 of the first unit module 100A and the bus bar 120 of the second unit module 100B bent toward each other are in common contact with one connector 20, and a pair of units The modules 100A and 100B or three or more unit modules 100 are electrically connected.
[86]
[87]
Next, with reference to FIGS. 12 to 15, various electrical connection types of the battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.
[88]
12 and 13 are diagrams showing a case where 13 battery cells are connected in a 1P/13S type by using a plurality of bus bars of one type to a blocked connector connection site, and FIGS. 14 and 15 are block connector connection sites A diagram showing a case where 12 battery cells are connected in 2P/6S type using two types of busbars.
[89]
First, referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, each unit module 100 constituting the unit module stack 10 is connected in series with each other. As such, when all the unit modules 100 are connected in series with each other, a plurality of connectors 20 applied to connect each other to a pair of adjacent unit modules 100 have the same size and/or shape. Can.
[90]
14 and 15, some unit modules 100 are connected in parallel to form a parallel connection group, and form a serial connection between adjacent parallel connection groups. When the electrical connection is made in such a series/parallel connection, the first connector 20A used for parallel connection and the second connector 20A used for serial connection may have different sizes and/or shapes. have.
[91]
That is, the battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with a connector holder for fixing the connector 20 for each unit module 100 constituting the unit module stack 10, the connector 20 ) Is fixed. Accordingly, a desired electrical connection type can be realized only by applying different sizes and shapes of the connector 20, and desired capacity and voltage can be obtained by adjusting the number of connections of the unit module 100. will be.
[92]
[93]
Although the present invention has been described above by way of limited examples and drawings, the present invention is not limited by this and will be described below and the technical thoughts of the present invention by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. Of course, various modifications and variations are possible within the equal scope of the claims.

Claim
[Claim 1]
A plurality of unit modules including a battery cell, a bus bar attached to an electrode lead provided in the battery cell, and a bus bar frame attached to the terrace portion of the battery cell to receive at least a portion of the electrode lead and the bus bar therein. A unit module stack formed by stacking; And a connector fixed by a connector holder provided on the busbar frame to contact the busbar. Battery module comprising a.
[Claim 2]
The battery module according to claim 1, wherein a fixed position of the connector is blocked by the connector holder.
[Claim 3]
According to claim 1, The bus bar frame, A first unit frame covering at least a portion of the upper surface of the terrace portion; And a second unit frame covering at least a portion of the lower surface of the terrace unit and coupled to the first unit frame. Battery module comprising a.
[Claim 4]
The battery module according to claim 3, wherein the first unit frame and the second unit frame have a point-symmetry relationship with each other.
[Claim 5]
The method of claim 3, wherein each of the first unit frame and the second unit frame is provided with at least one fixing protrusion formed on an opposite surface and a protrusion receiving groove having a size and shape corresponding to the fixing protrusion. Battery module.
[Claim 6]
The battery module according to claim 5, wherein the fixing protrusion formed on the engagement surface of the first unit frame is formed at a position corresponding to a size and shape corresponding to the protrusion receiving groove formed on the engagement surface of the second unit frame. .
[Claim 7]
The battery module according to claim 5, wherein the fixing protrusion and the protrusion receiving groove are also formed on opposite sides of the first unit frame and the second unit frame, respectively.
[Claim 8]
A battery pack implemented by connecting a plurality of battery modules according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
[Claim 9]
A vehicle comprising the battery pack according to claim 8.