BATTERY MODULE COMPRISING CARTRIDGE HAVING GRIPPING PART

Abstract

A battery module having a plurality of battery cells electrically connected to each other is disclosed. The battery module includes a plurality of cartridges, each of which includes a frame member, to opposite sides of which battery cells are mounted, each of the cartridges being provided at corners thereof with fastening parts, through which adjacent cartridges are coupled to each other in order to constitute a cartridge assembly, a pair of end plates mounted to opposite side surfaces of the cartridge assembly so as to cover outermost cartridges, and a busbar assembly mounted to one surface of the cartridge assembly, the busbar assembly including busbars for electrical connection between electrode terminals of the battery cells, wherein each of the cartridges is configured such that a cooling fin, with opposite surfaces of which the battery cells are in contact for thermal conduction, is mounted to the middle part of the cartridge, when viewed in vertical section, one end of the cooling fin being exposed outward from the cartridge, and gripping parts for mounting the battery cells in position are formed on the inner surface of the frame member of the cartridge.

Claims

1. A battery module having a plurality of battery cell is electrically connected to each other, the battery module comprising: a plurality of cartridges, each of which comprises a frame member, to opposite sides of which battery cells are mounted, each of the cartridges being provided at corners thereof with fastening parts, through which adjacent cartridges are coupled to each other in order to constitute a cartridge assembly; a pair of end plates mounted to opposite side surfaces of the cartridge assembly so as to cover outermost cartridges; and a busbar assembly mounted to one surface of the cartridge assembly, the busbar assembly comprising busbars for electrical connection between electrode terminals of the battery cells, wherein each of the cartridges is configured such that a cooling fin, with opposite surfaces of which the battery cells are in contact for thermal conduction, is mounted to a middle part of the cartridge, when viewed in vertical section, one end of the cooling fin being exposed outward from the cartridge, and gripping pans for mounting the battery cells in position are formed on an inner surface of the frame member of the cartridge.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein each of the battery cells is configured to have a structure in which an electrode assembly is mounted in a pouch-shaped case made of a laminate sheet comprising a resin layer and a metal layer and in which a thermally bonded surplus portion is formed at an edge of the pouch-shaped case.

3. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the frame member of each of the cartridges is provided with an outer wall, which is formed along an outer edge of the frame member so as to extend upward and downward from die cooling fin, when viewed in vertical section, in order to cover the battery cells mounted to the opposite sides of the frame member.

4. The battery module according to claim 3, wherein the outer wall of the frame member has a height corresponding to a height of each of the battery cells.

5. The battery module according to claim 3, wherein the outer wall of the frame member is provided on one side of the inner surface thereof with fastening protrusions for coupling with another frame member adjacent to the frame member, the fastening protrusions being configured to protrude outward, and the outer wall of the frame member is provided on the other side of the inner surface thereof with fastening recesses, which correspond to the respective fastening protrusions.

6. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the fastening parts of the frame member protrude outward from an outer edge of the frame member, and each of the fastening parts is provided in a middle part thereof with a fastening hole.

7. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the frame member is formed in a quadrangular planar shape, and each of the fastening parts extends outward from two sides of the frame member adjacent to a corresponding one of the corners of the frame member so as to be formed in a quadrangular planar shape.

8. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the gripping parts comprise a first gripping part formed on a region of the inner surface of the frame member in which the electrode terminals of each of the battery cells are located and at least one second gripping part formed on a region of the inner surface of the frame member in which the electrode terminals of each of the battery cells are not located.

9. The battery module according to claim 8, wherein the first gripping part comprises a protrusion formed in a region of the inner surface of the frame member between the electrode terminals of each of the battery cells so as to protrude toward the battery cell.

10. The battery module according to claim 9, wherein the protrusion of the first gripping part is configured to be in tight contact with an outer surface of an electrode assembly receiving pan of each of the battery cells.

11. The battery module according to claim 8, wherein the second gripping pan is formed on a region of the inner surface of the frame member in which the electrode terminals of each of the batter cells are not located in a state of having a sufficient length to support a thermally bonded surplus portion of each of the battery cells.

12. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the cooling fin is integrally formed with the frame member by insert molding.

13. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the cooling fin is made of a metal material, an inorganic material exhibiting high thermal conductivity, or a carbon material, the cooling fin is formed in a plate shape, and one end of the cooling fin, configured to extend outward for heat conduction, is configured to have a T-shaped structure so as to correspond to a shape of an outer surface of the frame member, when viewed in vertical section.

14. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein beads are formed on surfaces of the end plates, and each of the end plates is provided with fastening holes, which are formed so as to correspond to the fastening parts of each of the cartridges.

15. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein an insulation plate exhibiting high thermal insulability is interposed between each of the end plates and a corresponding one of the outermost cartridges, and one of the end plates is provided with a groove, in which a thermistor is mounted.

16. A battery pack comprising at least one battery module according to claim 1 and a base plate, on a top surface of which the battery module is disposed.

17. The battery pack according to claim 16, wherein the battery module is disposed on the base plate in a direction in which the battery cells of the battery module are perpendicular to the base plate.

18. The battery pack according to claim 16, wherein the neighboring fastening parts of the cartridges of the battery module constitute fastening stack parts of the cartridge assembly, and two of the fastening stack parts are coupled to the base plate via hold-down brackets.

19. The battery pack according to claim 18, wherein the hold-down brackets comprise a first hold-down bracket for fixing the first fastening stack part of the cartridge assembly and a second hold-down bracket for fixing the second fastening stack part of the cartridge assembly, the first hold-down bracket is coupled to the base plate by welding, and the second hold-down bracket is coupled to the base plate using a bolt or a screw.

20. The battery pack according to claim 19, wherein the first fastening stack part is inserted into the first hold-down bracket such that the first fastening stack part is fixed by the first hold-down bracket in a state in which the battery module is inclined with respect to the base plate, and the second hold-down bracket is fastened to the base plate such that the second fastening stack part is fixed by the second hold-down bracket in a state in which the battery module is in tight contact with the base plate so as to be parallel to the base plate, whereby the battery module is mounted on the base plate.

21. The battery pack according to claim 16, wherein a thermal pad for thermal contact with the cooling fin is interposed between the battery module and the base plate.

22. A device comprising a battery pack according to claim 16.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0047] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0048] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view showing a battery pack including battery modules disposed on a base plate according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0049] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0050] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the battery module of FIG. 2;

[0051] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a frame member;

[0052] FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a process of mounting a battery cell to the frame member;

[0053] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the frame member and a cooling fin;

[0054] FIG. 7 is a typical view showing the structure in which a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention is disposed on the top surface of the base plate; and

[0055] FIG. 8 is a typical view showing a process of disposing the battery module of FIG. 7 on the top surface of the base plate.

BEST MODE

[0056] FIG. 1 is a typical view schematically showing a battery pack including battery modules disposed on a base plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] Referring to FIG. 1, a base plate 110 includes a first plate 111 and a second plate 112, each of which has a rectangular planar structure. The second plate 122 is connected to a middle region of one relatively long side of the first plate 111.

[0058] A plurality of first fastening holes 113, through which fastening members are inserted such that a pack cover (not shown) is coupled to the base plate 110, and a plurality of second fastening holes 114, through which fastening members are inserted such that the battery pack 100 is mounted and fixed to a device (not shown) are formed in the outer edge of the base plate 110.

[0059] Battery module groups 121, 122, 123, and 124 include a fourth battery module group 124 and a third battery module group 123, each of which is configured such that battery cells are arranged perpendicular to the direction in which the second plate 112 is connected to the first plate 111, and a first battery module group 121 and a second battery module group 122, each of which is configured such that battery cells are arranged parallel to the direction in which the second plate 112 is connected to the first plate 111.

[0060] The fourth battery module group 124 is disposed on the second plate 112, and the third battery module group 123 is disposed on the first plate 111 so as to be opposite the fourth battery module group 124.

[0061] The first battery module group 121 and the second battery module group 122 are disposed on the opposite side regions of the first plate 111 so as to be disposed at opposite sides of the third battery module group 123 in the state of being separated from each other.

[0062] The fourth battery module group 124 and the third battery module group 123 are each constituted by a single battery module. The first battery module group 121 is constituted by a battery module assembly including three battery modules 121a, 121b, and 121c, which are arranged adjacent to each other. The second battery module group 122 is constituted by a battery module assembly including three battery modules 122a, 122b, and 122c, which are arranged adjacent to each other.

[0063] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the battery module of FIG. 2.

[0064] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a battery module 121a includes a cartridge assembly 200, which includes a plurality of cartridges, a pair of end plates 141 and 142 mounted to opposite side surfaces of the cartridge assembly 200 so as to cover the outermost cartridges 201 and 202, and a busbar assembly 130 mounted to one surface of the cartridge assembly 200.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 4, which is a side view showing a frame member, together with FIGS. 2 and 3, the cartridge assembly 200 includes a plurality of cartridges. Each cartridge includes a frame member 210, to which battery cells are mounted. Fastening parts 211a, 211b, 211c, and 211d are formed at corners of the frame member 210 such that adjacent cartridges can be coupled to each other through the fastening parts 211a, 211b, 211c, and 211d in order to constitute the cartridge assembly 200.

[0066] Beads 143 are formed on the surfaces of the end plates 141 and 142. Each of the end plates 141 and 142 is provided with fastening holes 144a, 144b, 144c, and 144d, through which the end plates 141 and 142 are coupled to the cartridge assembly and which are formed so as to correspond respectively to the fastening parts 211a, 211b, 211c, and 211d.

[0067] Between each of the end plates 141 and 142 and a corresponding one of the outermost cartridges 201 and 202 is interposed an insulation plate 146 exhibiting high thermal insulability in order to minimize the reduction in performance of the battery module due to the difference in temperature between the battery cells mounted to the outermost cartridges 201 and 202 and the battery cells mounted to the other cartridges.

[0068] In addition, the end plate 141 is provided with a groove 145, in which a thermistor 150 is mounted such that the temperatures of the battery cells are effectively measured to control the operation of the battery cells.

[0069] The busbar assembly 130 is configured to have a structure in which busbars 131 for electrical connection between electrode terminals of the battery cells are mounted to an insulative frame member.

[0070] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a process of mounting a battery cell to the frame member, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the frame member and a cooling fin.

[0071] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 together with FIG. 4, the frame member 210 is formed in a quadrangular planar shape, and each fastening part 211 extends outward from two sides of the frame member adjacent to a corresponding one of the corners of the frame member so as to be formed in a quadrangular planar shape. In addition, the frame member 210 is provided with an outer wall 212, which is formed along the outer edge of the frame member 210 so as to extend upward and downward from a cooling fin 230, when viewed in vertical section, in order to cover the battery cells 10 mounted to the opposite sides of the frame member 210, whereby the battery cells 10 may be more stably mounted to the opposite sides of the frame member 210. For reference, only one battery cell 10 is shown in FIG. 5 for simplicity.

[0072] Fastening protrusions 213 for coupling with another frame member (not shown) adjacent to the frame member 210 are formed on one side of the inner surface of the outer wall 212 of the frame member 210 so as to protrude outward, and fastening recesses 214, which correspond to the respective fastening protrusions 213, are formed in the other side of the inner surface of the outer wall 212 of the frame member 210.

[0073] The fastening parts 211 of the frame member 210 protrude outward from the outer edge of the frame member 210. A fastening hole 215 is formed in the middle part of each of the fastening parts 211.

[0074] The above structure has advantages in that the coupling between the frame members 210 is achieved and in that when the battery module 121a (see FIG. 1) is mounted on the base plate 110 (see FIG. 1) in order to manufacture the battery pack 100 (see FIG. 1), easy assembly is achieved while a secure coupling state is provided.

[0075] Gripping parts 216, 217a, 217b, and 217c are formed on the inner surface of the frame member 210. The first gripping part 216 is formed on the region of the inner surface of the frame member 210 in which the electrode terminals of the battery cell 10 are located, and the second gripping parts 217a, 217b, and 217c are formed on the regions of the inner surface of the frame member 210 in which the electrode terminals of the battery cell 10 are not located so as to extend along the outer edge of the battery cell 10.

[0076] As previously described, the first gripping part 216 includes a protrusion 216a formed in the region of the inner surface of the frame member 210 between the electrode terminals of the battery cell 10 so as to protrude toward the battery cell 10. The protrusion 216a of the first gripping part 216 is configured to be in tight contact with the outer surface of an electrode assembly receiving part of the battery cell.

[0077] The second gripping parts 217a, 217b, and 217c are formed to have sufficient lengths to support thermally bonded surplus portions of the battery cell. The second gripping parts 217a, 217b, and 217c are formed on the regions of the inner surface of the frame member 210 in which the electrode terminals of the battery cell are not located.

[0078] In the above structure, the battery cell 10 is correctly mounted to the cartridge, and the coupled and assembled state thereof is stably maintained when external force, such as impacts or vibrations, is applied thereto, by the provision of the first gripping part and the second gripping parts 217a, 217b, and 217c.

[0079] The cooling fin 230 is integrally formed with the frame member 210 by insert molding. One end 231 of the cooling fin 230 extends outward so as to be exposed outside the cartridge such that the cooling fin 230 performs heat conduction. In order to stably mount the cooling fin 230 and to improve the thermal conductivity of the cooling fin 230, the end 231 of the cooling fin 230 is configured to have a T-shaped structure so as to correspond to the shape of the outer surface of the frame member 210, when viewed in vertical section.

[0080] FIG. 7 is a typical view showing the structure in which a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention is disposed on the top surface of the base plate, and FIG. 8 is a typical view showing a process of disposing the battery module of FIG. 7 on the top surface of the base plate.

[0081] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the battery module 121a is disposed on the base plate 110 in the direction in which the battery cells 10 of the battery module 121a are perpendicular to the base plate 110.

[0082] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 together with FIG. 2, the neighboring fastening parts of the cartridges 210 of the battery module 121a constitute fastening stack parts 201a, 201b, 201c, and 201d of the cartridge assembly.

[0083] The fastening stack parts 201b and 201d, which are in contact with the base plate 110, among the fastening stack parts 201a, 201b, 201c, and 201d, are coupled to the base plate 110 via hold-down brackets 301 and 302, respectively.

[0084] The first hold-down bracket 301 fixes the first fastening stack part 201b, and the second hold-down bracket 302 fixes the second fastening stack part 201d. The first hold-down bracket 301 is coupled to the base plate 110 by welding, and the second hold-down bracket 302 is coupled to the base plate 110 using bolts or screws.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 8(A), the first fastening stack part 201b is inserted into the first hold-down bracket 301 such that the first fastening stack part 201b is fixed by the first hold-down bracket 301 in the state in which the battery module is inclined with respect to the base plate. As shown in FIG. 8(B), the second hold-down bracket 302 is fastened to the base plate 110 such that the second fastening stack part 201d is fixed by the second hold-down bracket 302 in the state in which the battery module is in tight contact with the base plate so as to be parallel to the base plate.

[0086] Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0087] As is apparent from the above description, the battery module is configured such that cartridges, each of which has a specific structure, are stably coupled to each other, battery cells are efficiently cooled, and the battery cells are stably mounted to the cartridges.