BATTERY PACK AND DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME

Abstract

A battery pack includes: a plurality of battery modules; a venting inducing frame disposed along an edge of the battery modules and forming a venting passage; a venting gate for connecting an inside of the battery modules and the venting inducing frame; a rupture portion formed on an outside of the venting inducing frame; and a unidirectional valve formed on a passage of the venting inducing frame, wherein the unidirectional valve intercepts a passage in a direction connected to a venting gate connected to a second battery module from the venting gate connected to one battery module from among the battery modules, and opens a passage in a direction connected to the rupture portion from the venting gate connected to one battery module from among the battery modules.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising: a plurality of battery modules; a venting inducing frame disposed along an edge of the plurality of battery modules and forming a venting passage; a venting gate on each of the plurality of battery modules for connecting an inside of the plurality of battery modules and the venting inducing frame; a rupture portion formed on an outside of the venting inducing frame; and a unidirectional valve formed in the venting passage of the venting inducing frame, wherein the unidirectional valve divides the venting passage in a direction connected to the venting gate connected to a second battery module of the plurality of battery modules from the venting gate connected to a first battery module of the battery modules, and a opens the venting passage to the rupture portion from the venting gate connected to the first battery module.

2. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the unidirectional valve is opened or closed according to a direction in which a pressure is applied.

3. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the venting inducing frame includes a pair of vertical beams formed in parallel to a first direction and a pair of horizontal beams formed in parallel to a second direction traversing the first direction, wherein the vertical beams and the horizontal beams respectively include a cover formed in a length direction of the vertical beams and the horizontal beams, and the venting passage is surrounded by the cover and formed to allow gas to pass.

4. The battery pack of claim 3, wherein a 1-1 passage and a 1-2 passage are formed on the pair of vertical beams, respectively, a 2-1a passage and a 2-1b passage are separately formed in a first horizontal beam of the pair of horizontal beams, and a 2-2a passage and a 2-2b passage are separately formed in a second horizontal beam of the pair of horizontal beams.

5. The battery pack of claim 4, wherein the unidirectional valve is respectively formed on one of the 1-1 passage, the 2-1 a passage, and the 2-2a passage connected to each other, and on one of the 1-2 passage, the 1-2b passage, and the 2-2b passage connected to each other.

6. The battery pack of claim 4, wherein a notch is formed in a middle of each of the pair of horizontal beams, and wherein the 2-1a passage and the 2-1b passage, are formed on opposite sides of a first notch, and the 2-2a passage and the 2-2b passage, are formed on opposite sides of a second notch.

7. The battery pack of claim 6, wherein the venting gate of a first battery module of the plurality of battery modules is connected to the 2-2a passage and the venting gate of a second battery module of the plurality of battery modules is connected to the 2-2b passage.

8. The battery pack of claim 4, wherein a rupture portion is formed on respective sides of one of the pair of horizontal beams, and the rupture portion is respectively connected to the 2-1a passage and the 2-1b passage.

9. The battery pack of claim 1, further comprising a housing for receiving the plurality of battery modules and the venting inducing frame, wherein the housing includes an upper cover and a lower housing, and wherein a pack gasket is formed between the upper cover and the lower housing.

10. A device comprising the battery pack according to claim 1.

11. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the venting gate of a first battery module of the plurality of battery modules and the venting gate of a second battery module of the plurality of battery modules communicate with a first section of the venting passage, and wherein the unidirectional valve is in the first section of the venting passage between the venting gate of the first battery module and the venting gate of the second battery module.

12. The battery pack of claim 11, wherein the venting gate of a third battery module of the plurality of battery modules and the venting gate of a fourth battery module of the plurality of battery modules communicate with a second section of the venting passage, and wherein the unidirectional valve is in the second section of the venting passage between the venting gate of the third battery module and the venting gate of the fourth battery module.

13. The battery pack of claim 12, further comprising notches in the venting passage to separate the first section of the venting passage from the second section of the venting passage.

14. The battery pack of claim 12, wherein the rupture portion is formed in each of the first section of the venting passage from the second section of the venting passage.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a battery module of FIG. 1 seen from bottom to top in a z-axis direction.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of a venting inducing frame in a battery pack of FIG. 3.

[0025] FIG. 5 shows a mimetic diagram of a transfer path when a thermal runaway is generated on a certain module of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged portion IV of FIG. 5.

[0027] FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B show an enlarged portion V of FIG. 5.

[0028] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view in which a unidirectional valve according to an embodiment of the present invention is opened.

[0029] FIG. 9 shows a schematic view in which a unidirectional valve according to an embodiment of the present invention is closed.

[0030] FIG. 10 shows a battery pack in which a venting inducing frame is formed without a unidirectional valve according to a comparative example.

[0031] FIG. 11 shows that a unidirectional valve according to an embodiment of the present invention is formed on a passage of horizontal beams.

[0032] FIG. 12 shows that a unidirectional valve according to another embodiment of the present invention is formed on a passage of vertical beams.

MODE FOR INVENTION

[0033] The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.

[0034] Parts that are irrelevant to the description will be omitted to clearly describe the present invention, and the same elements will be designated by the same reference numerals throughout the specification.

[0035] The size and thickness of each configuration shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for better understanding and ease of description, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc., are exaggerated for clarity. For ease of description, the thicknesses of some layers and areas are exaggerated.

[0036] It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. Further, in the specification, the word “on” or “above” means disposed on or below the object portion, and does not necessarily mean disposed on the upper side of the object portion based on a gravitational direction.

[0037] Unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word “comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements.

[0038] Further, throughout the specification, the phrase “in a plan view” means viewing a target portion from the top, and the phrase “in a cross-sectional view” means viewing a cross-section formed by vertically cutting a target portion from the side.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a battery module of FIG. 1 seen from bottom to top in a z-axis direction.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the battery module 100 included in the battery pack of FIG. 1 may include a battery cell stacked body 102 in which a plurality of battery cells 101 are stacked, a module frame 108 for receiving the battery cell stacked body 102, and an end plate 120. The battery cells 101 are stacked to be mutually electrically connected to each other to configure the battery cell stacked body 102. Particularly, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of battery cells 101 may be stacked in a direction that is parallel to the y-axis.

[0041] In this instance, the battery cell stacked body 102 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be a large-area module including a greater number of the battery cells 101 than the prior art. For example, 48 battery cells 101 may be included per battery module 100. Regarding the large-area module, a horizontal direction length of the battery module becomes long. In this instance, the horizontal direction length may signify a direction in which the battery cells 101 are stacked, that is, the length in the direction that is parallel to the y-axis.

[0042] The module frame 108 for receiving the battery cell stacked body 102 may include an upper plate 112 and a lower frame 111. The lower frame 111 may be a U-shaped frame. The U-shaped frame may include a bottom portion and two lateral portions extending upward from respective ends of the bottom portion. The bottom portion may cover a lower side (an opposite direction of a z axis) of the battery cell stacked body 102, and the lateral portions may cover respective lateral sides (the y-axis direction and its opposite direction) of the battery cell stacked body 102.

[0043] The upper plate 112 may be formed to have one plate-shaped structure for surrounding a remaining upper side (z-axis direction) excluding the lower side and the respective sides surrounded by the U-shaped frame. The upper plate 112 and the lower frame 111 may be combined to each other by welding while corresponding corners contact each other, thereby configuring a structure for covering the battery cell stacked body 102 from top to bottom and from right to left. The battery cell stacked body 102 may be physically protected through the upper plate 112 and the lower frame 111. For this purpose, the upper plate 112 and the lower frame 111 may include a metallic material with predetermined rigidity.

[0044] A venting gate 121 for communicating with an inside of the battery module 100 and releasing a flame or heat that may be generated in the inside is disposed on the end plate 120 according to the present embodiment. The venting gate 121 may be provided on a lower side of the end plate 120 by considering a connector connecting portion for transmitting information. The venting gate 121 may be connected to an opening (not shown) formed in part of the end plate 120, and it may communicate with an inside of the battery module 100.

[0045] The module frame 108 may include a module frame protrusion 131 formed so that the bottom portion of the module frame 108 may extend to pass through the end plate 120. In this instance, a coolant input and output by a cooling port 140 connected to an upper side of the module frame protrusion 131 may be supplied to/discharged from a heat sink 130 through the module frame protrusion 131.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 3, the battery pack 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of battery modules 100, and a venting inducing frame 300 disposed along an edge of a plurality of battery modules 100. The battery modules 100 and the venting inducing frame 300 may be mounted on a pack tray 200 and may be received in a pack housing 400.

[0048] The pack housing 400 may include a lower housing 410 for receiving the pack tray 200, and an upper cover 420 combined to the lower housing 410 and covering an upper side of the battery module 100. A pack gasket 411 may be formed between the upper cover 420 and the lower housing 410 to close and seal the inside of the pack housing 400.

[0049] The battery modules 100 respectively include a battery cell stacked body disposed in the module frame 110, and include an end plate 120 for covering the battery cell stacked body exposed to the respective ends of the module frame 110. In this instance, one of the respective end plates 120 includes a venting gate 121 communicating with the inside of the battery module 100 and releasing the flame or heat that may be generated from the inside. In the battery pack 1000, the venting gate 121 is disposed to face an external side of the battery pack 1000, and preferably, as shown in FIG. 3, the venting gate 121 may be disposed to face the external side toward the respective ends in the first direction (x-axis direction) in the battery pack 1000.

[0050] A venting inducing frame 300 may be disposed along the edge of all the battery modules 100. The venting inducing frame 300 may include a pair of vertical beams 310 and a pair of horizontal beams 320 formed in a pipe shape along the respective sides of the battery pack 1000 and respectively extending in the first direction (x-axis direction) and the second direction (y-axis direction), and they are formed to communicate with each other as a whole body. A detailed configuration of the venting inducing frame 300 will be described in a later portion of the present specification.

[0051] The battery modules 100 and the venting inducing frame 300 may be mounted on the pack tray 200, and may be fixed to the pack tray 200 by a fixation means as needed. The battery module 100, the venting inducing frame 300, and the pack tray 200 may be received in the lower housing 410. The lower housing 410 may include a bottom side on which the pack tray 200 is disposed, and a side wall extending upward from the edge of the bottom side. An upper cover 420 for covering the upper portion of the battery module 100 may be combined to the lower housing 410 to protect an internal electrical field. In this instance, various control and protection systems such as a battery management system (BMS) and a cooling system together with the battery module 100 may be installed in the pack housing 400.

[0052] At least one rupture portion 500 for discharging heat or flame generated from the inside to the outside may be formed on one side wall of the lower housing 410. A detailed configuration of the rupture portion 500 will be described in a later portion of the present specification.

[0053] A venting inducing frame of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of a venting inducing frame in a battery pack of FIG. 3.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the venting inducing frame 300 is formed in a pipe shape along the respective sides of the battery pack 1000, it may include a pair of vertical beams 310 and a pair of horizontal beams 320 respectively extending in the first direction (x-axis direction) and the second direction (y-axis direction), and they are formed to communicate with each other as a whole body.

[0056] The vertical beams 310 have a pipe shape lengthily extending in the first direction (x-axis direction), and include a cover 311 for defining an inside of the pipe shape, and a passage 312 formed inside the cover 311. The cover 311 may include a first internal cover 311a disposed near the battery module 100 in the second direction (y-axis direction), and a first external cover 311b facing the same and disposed to become distant from the battery module 100 in the second direction (y-axis direction). At least one of the first internal cover 311a and the first external cover 311b includes a groove lengthily formed in the first direction. That is, its cross-section is formed to have a “⊏” shape (formed to have a shape in which one side is removed from a square pipe shape), and the cover of the other is combined thereto to thus define the passage 312. However, it is not limited thereto as long as the pipe shape may be obtained by the cover 311.

[0057] The horizontal beams 320 have a pipe shape lengthily extending in the second direction (y-axis direction), and includes a cover 321 for defining an inside of the pipe shape, and a passage 322 formed inside the cover 321. The cover 321 may include a second internal cover 321a disposed near the battery module 100 in the first direction (x-axis direction), and a second external cover 321b facing the same and disposed to become distant from the battery module 100 in the first direction (x-axis direction). At least one of the second internal cover 321a and the second external cover 321b includes a groove lengthily formed in the second direction That is, its cross-section is formed to have a “⊏” shape (formed to have a shape in which one side is removed from a square pipe shape), and the cover of the other is combined thereto to thus define the passage 322. Particularly, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the second internal cover 321a and the second external cover 321b may be respectively formed to have a “⊏” shaped cross-section, and by this, rigidity when the horizontal beams 320 are assembled may be increased. However, this is not limited thereto when the pipe shape may be obtained by the cover 321.

[0058] The horizontal beams 320 includes a first connection hole 324 formed on the side facing the battery module 100, that is, one side of the second internal cover 321a. The first connection hole 324 is disposed to communicate with the venting gate 121 of the battery module 100. The horizontal beams 320 further includes a third connection hole 326 formed on the side disposed in a direction becoming distant in the second direction from the battery module 100, that is, one side of the second external cover 321b. The third connection hole 326 is disposed so that the rupture portion 500 may communicate with the passage 322. In this instance, the venting path bracket 328 may combine the rupture portion 500 and the horizontal beams 320 to guide the path for the venting gate 121, the passage 322 of the horizontal beams 320, and the rupture portion 500 to communicate with each other.

[0059] The vertical beams 310 include a second connection hole 314 formed on the first internal cover 311a at the respective ends disposed near the horizontal beams 320. The passage 322 of the horizontal beams 320 may communicate with the passage 312 of the vertical beams 310 through the second connection hole 314.

[0060] The rupture portion 500 is connected to the passage 322 of the horizontal beams 320 and includes a rupture side (510, shown in FIG. 7B) that is broken when input gas has more than a predetermined level of pressure. Further, the rupture portion 500 includes a wing portion (520, shown in FIG. 7B) protruding from a body on which the rupture side 510 is formed and combining to the side wall of the lower housing 410. The wing portion 520 may be fixed to the lower housing 410 by use of a fastening means such as a screw.

[0061] In the present embodiment, the rupture portion 500 is connected to the passage 322 of the horizontal beams 320, and the rupture portion 500 is fixed with the horizontal beams 320 and the lower housing 410, and without being limited thereto, configurations for communicating with the passage of the venting inducing frame 300 and discharging to the outside may be appropriately used. Further, the formation of two rupture portions 500 on one of the pair of horizontal beams 320 is exemplified in the present embodiment, and without being limited thereto, the rupture portion 500 may be installed in the horizontal beams 320 on another side, or it may be installed in the vertical beams 310, and corresponding positions and numbers may be appropriately selected as needed.

[0062] By the above-noted configuration, the passage is formed to communicate with all components inside the venting inducing frame 300 in a square shape configured with the vertical beams 310 and the horizontal beams 320, and the passage communicates with the venting gate 121 of the battery module 100 and the rupture portion 500 to induce heat and flame to the outside and minimize the influence to peripheral battery modules when a thermal runaway is generated from the battery module 100. In this instance, the flame included in the generated high-pressure venting gas is combusted while passing through the path inside the venting inducing frame 300 and it may be discharged to the outside in a safer way. In the normal condition without a thermal runaway, the venting inducing frame 300 may function as a support frame for stably supporting the battery module 100 and may improve stability of the battery pack 1000.

[0063] A path for controlling a case in which issues such as overvoltage, overcurrent, or overheating are generated in some battery modules in the battery pack will now be described.

[0064] FIG. 5 shows a mimetic diagram of a transfer path when a thermal runaway is generated on a certain module of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows an enlarged portion IV of FIG. 5. FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B show an enlarged portion V of FIG. 5.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 3 to FIG. 7, when abnormal phenomena (heat issues) such as overvoltage, overcurrent, or overheating are generated in the battery module 100, high-pressure venting gas is discharged from the inside of the battery module 100 through the venting gate 121. In this instance, high-temperature and high-pressure gas and flames are induced to the first connection hole 324 positioned nearest the venting gate 121 of the battery module 100 in which heat is generated. The high-temperature and high-pressure gas and flames input through the first connection hole 324 may be discharged to the outside through the passage formed on the venting inducing frame 300.

[0066] For example, when heat is generated in the battery module 100 disposed on the position 1 in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 6, the high-pressure gas and flames may be discharged through the venting gate 121, may pass through the passage 322 of the horizontal beams 320, may be directly induced to the rupture portion 500, and may be discharged to the outside. By this, the heat generated by the battery module 100 on the position 1 may be discharged to the outside without giving an influence to the peripheral module.

[0067] Further, when heat is generated in the battery module 100 disposed on the position 2 in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas and flames are discharged through the venting gate 121, and are input to the passage 322 of the horizontal beams 320. The high-temperature and high-pressure gas and flames having been input to the passage 312 of the vertical beams 310 through the second connection hole 314 and having moved along the passage 312 may be induced to the horizontal beams 320 on the side where the rupture portion 500 is positioned and may be finally discharged to the outside through the rupture portion 500 through the second connection hole 314 formed on the opposite end of the corresponding vertical beams 310. That is, when heat is generated in the battery module 100, high-temperature and high-pressure gas and flames may be induced and may be finally discharged to the outside on the passage of the venting inducing frame 300 through the first connection hole 324 positioned nearest the venting gate 121 of the corresponding battery module 100.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 7B, the passage of the venting gate 121 and the passage of the rupture portion 500 may be formed to cross each other. When the passages of the venting gate 121 and the rupture portion 500 are positioned in the same line, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas and flames having passed through the venting gate 121 are transmitted to the rupture portion 500, so the rupture side 510 shown in FIG. 7B may be easily broken and the rupture portion 500 may be damaged. According to the present embodiment, the passage of the rupture portion 500 and the passage of the venting gate 121 cross each other, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas and flames having passed through the venting gate 121 may pass through the passage in the venting inducing frame 300 formed to be vertical to the direction of the passage of the venting gate 121, and may be induced to the rupture portion 500 formed to be vertical to the venting inducing frame 300, and the high-temperature and high-pressure gas and flames reach the rupture portion 500 according to direction switching, so the pressure transmitted to the rupture side 510 is reduced, and the high-temperature and high-pressure gas and flames may be stably discharged to the rupture portion 500.

[0069] A battery pack in which a unidirectional valve is formed according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

[0070] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view in which a unidirectional valve according to an embodiment of the present invention is opened. FIG. 9 shows a schematic view in which a unidirectional valve according to an embodiment of the present invention is closed.

[0071] The unidirectional valve 600 may be opened or closed according to the direction in which a pressure is applied. As shown in FIG. 8, when the high-temperature and high-pressure gas and flames are input to one side of the unidirectional valve 600 formed in the venting inducing frame 300 to pressurize the unidirectional valve 600, the unidirectional valve 600 is opened and the high-temperature and high-pressure gas and flames may pass through the unidirectional valve 600, and when the high-temperature and high-pressure gas and flames are input to another side of the unidirectional valve 600 to pressurize the unidirectional valve 600 as shown in FIG. 9, the unidirectional valve 600 is closed, and the high-temperature and high-pressure gas and flames fails to pass through the unidirectional valve 600. A structure for preventing backward flowing of gas and flames using the above-structured unidirectional valve 600 will be described in a later portion of the present specification.

[0072] FIG. 10 shows a battery pack in which a venting inducing frame is formed without a unidirectional valve according to a comparative example. FIG. 11 shows that a unidirectional valve according to an embodiment of the present invention is formed on a passage of horizontal beams. FIG. 12 shows that a unidirectional valve according to another embodiment of the present invention is formed on a passage of vertical beams.

[0073] According to the present specification, the unidirectional valve 600 is formed on the passage of the venting inducing frame 300. Referring to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the unidirectional valve 600 intercepts the passage in a direction connected to the venting gate 121 connected to a second battery module on the venting gate 121 connected to a first battery module from among a plurality of battery modules 100, and opens the passage in a direction connected to the rupture portion 500 on the venting gate 121 connected to the first battery module from among the battery modules 100.

[0074] According to what is shown with reference to FIG. 10, regarding the battery pack according to a comparative example of the present invention, the venting inducing frame 30 may be connected to venting gates 12 respectively connected to the battery modules 10. However, when high-temperature and high-pressure gas and flames are generated from one of the battery modules 10, the gas and the flames having passed through the venting gate 12 and having been input to the venting inducing frame 30 are not discharged to the outside through the rupture portion 50, but may pass through the venting gate 12 formed in another battery module and may be input into the other battery module. When the high-temperature and high-pressure gas and flames generated by one battery module are not discharged to the outside through the rupture portion but flow back to another battery module, the battery pack may be damaged, and the venting inducing frame may not well perform a venting function.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, regarding the battery pack 1000, the unidirectional valve 600 is installed on the passage of the venting inducing frame 300 to thus intercept the direction in which the high-temperature and high-pressure gas and flames discharged from the first battery module are input to the second battery module, and open the direction in which they are discharged to the outside through the rupture portion 500, and resultantly prevent the high-temperature and high-pressure gas and flames from flowing back into the battery pack.

[0076] In detail, as shown in FIG. 3, the venting inducing frame 300 includes a pair of vertical beams 310 formed in parallel to a first direction and a pair of horizontal beams 320 formed in parallel to a second direction traversing the first direction, and as shown in FIG. 4, the vertical beams 310 and the horizontal beams 320 respectively include covers 311 and 321 formed in the length direction of the vertical beams 310 and the horizontal beams 320 and passages 312 and 322 surrounded by the covers 311 and 321 to allow the gas to pass through, and at least one unidirectional valve 600 may be formed on the passages 312 and 322.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, a 1-1 passage (P1-1) and a 1-2 passage (P1-2) may be formed in a pair of vertical beams 310, a 2-1a passage (P2-1a) and a 2-1b passage (P2-1b) may be separately formed in one of the pair of horizontal beams 320, and a 2-2a passage (P2-2a) and a 2-2b passage (P2-2b) may be separately formed in the other of the pair of horizontal beams 320.

[0078] Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a notch 327 is formed in the middle of the pair of horizontal beams 320, and there is no passage on a portion where the notch 327 is formed, and it is found that the 2-1a passage (P2-1a) and the 2-1b passage (P2-1b), and the 2-2a passage (P2-2a) and the 2-2b passage (P2-2b), are separately formed on respective sides of the notch 327. In this instance, the venting gate 121 may be connected to one of the passages formed on the respective sides of the notch 327.

[0079] As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the 1-1 passage (P1-1), the 2-1a passage (P2-1a), and the 2-2a passage (P2-2a) are connected to each other, and the 1-2 passage (P1-2), the 2-1b passage (P2-1b), and the 2-2b passage (P2-2b) are connected to each other. The unidirectional valve 600 may be formed on one of the 1-1 passage (P1-1), the 2-1a passage (P2-1a), and the 2-2a passage (P2-2a) connected to each other, and on one of the 1-2 passage (P1-2), the 2-1b passage (P2-1b), and the 2-2b passage (P2-2b) connected to each other.

[0080] The rupture portion 500 may be formed on respective sides of one of the pair of horizontal beams 320. In detail, the rupture portion 500 may be respectively connected to the 2-1a passage (P2-1a) and the 2-1b passage (P2-1b).

[0081] As shown in FIG. 11, the unidirectional valve 600 may be respectively formed on the 2-1a passage (P2-1a) and the 2-1b passage (P2-1b), and the direction going to the rupture portion 500 from the venting gate 121 provided near the unidirectional valve 600 through the unidirectional valve 600 opens the passage, while the direction passing through the unidirectional valve 600 and going into the adjacent venting gate 121 may intercept the passage. By this, the phenomenon for the high-temperature and high-pressure gas and flames generated by one battery module 100 to flow back to another battery module may be prevented.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 12, the unidirectional valve 600 may be respectively formed on the 1-1 passage (P1-1) and the 1-2 passage (P1-2), and the direction going to the rupture portion from the venting gate 121 connected to the 2-2a passage (P2-2a) and the 2-2b passage (P2-2b) through the unidirectional valve 600 opens the passage, while the direction going to the venting gate 121 connected to the 2-2a passage (P2-2a) and the 2-2b passage (P2-2b) through the unidirectional valve 600 may intercept the passage. By this, the phenomenon for the high-temperature and high-pressure gas and flames generated by one battery module 100 to flow back to another battery module may be prevented.

[0083] The above-described battery module and the battery pack including the same are applicable to various types of devices. The devices include transport means such as electric bicycles, electric vehicles, and hybrid vehicles, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and it may be applied to various devices that use the battery module and the battery pack including the same, which also belongs to the scope of the present invention.

[0084] While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS

[0085]

TABLE-US-00001 121: venting gate 321b: second external cover 130: heat sink 322: passage 131: module frame protrusion 324: first connection hole 140: cooling pot 326: third connection hole 200: pack tray 400: pack housing 300: venting inducing frame 410: lower housing 310: vertical beams 411: pack gasket 311: cover 420: upper cover 311a: first internal cover 500: rupture portion 311b: first external cover P1-1: 1-1 passage 312: passage P1-2: 1-2 passage 314: second connection hole P2-1a: 2-1a passage 320: horizontal beams P2-1b: 2-1b passage 321: cover P2-2a: 2-2a passage 321a: second internal cover P2-2b: 2-2b passage