Battery case assembly

Abstract

A battery case assembly is disclosed. According to the present disclosure, a battery case assembly is provided comprising: an internal space for accommodating one or more battery cells arranged in a front-rear direction; an upper cover covering the upper surface of the internal space; a front cover covering the front of the internal space; and a rear cover covering the rear of the internal space, wherein the upper cover is provided with a plurality of beads, and each bead is provided to extend in a front-rear direction to transfer heat from the internal space to the front cover or the rear cover.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a battery case assembly. Background Technology

[0002] A secondary battery (hereinafter referred to as "battery") is a means of energy storage capable of repeated charging and discharging. Batteries are used to supply power to various devices in various fields. For example, batteries have been used to power portable devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablet computers, and recently, their application in medium and large-sized devices such as vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles has also expanded. In addition, demand in the field of energy storage systems (ESS) for utilizing surplus power has also been increasing recently.

[0003] Multiple batteries can be electrically connected and used depending on the power requirements of the load. For example, in the automotive sector, batteries can be provided as a single unit battery cell, or multiple such unit battery cells can be electrically connected to form a battery module or battery pack. In battery modules, multiple battery cells can be provided as a single modular component through the use of covers, end plates, etc. While such modularization offers advantages such as relatively easy design and manufacturing, and the ability to perform maintenance and lifespan management on a per-module basis, it has disadvantages in terms of space efficiency and energy density. Consequently, methods have recently emerged that omit the battery module—which serves as an intermediate assembly unit—and instead directly package multiple battery cells into a pack (cell-to-pack; CTP), integrate the battery cells into the vehicle body (cell-to-body; CTB), or integrate them into the chassis (cell-to-chassis; CTC).

[0004] In a context similar to the above, increasing the size of individual battery cells is being considered as a more realistic alternative to improve space efficiency or energy density. For example, while conventional pouch-type battery cells typically have a long side length slightly exceeding 300mm, one approach involves extending this to over 500mm to use long-axis battery cells. However, the use of such long-axis battery cells requires a new design for the module structure. For instance, since long-axis battery cells have a relatively smaller surface area compared to existing standard battery cells, appropriate measures for thermal management within the module may be required. Additionally, improved rigidity to address swelling and improvements to the joint structure between components reflecting this may be necessary.

[0005] The foregoing description is provided to aid in understanding the technical background of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing description should not be interpreted as reducing, limiting, or restricting the technical concept of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the contents described or suggested in the foregoing description do not necessarily constitute prior art. The foregoing description may include contents that do not constitute prior art. The problem to be solved

[0006] Some embodiments of the present disclosure aim to provide a battery case assembly.

[0007] In addition, some embodiments of the present disclosure aim to provide a battery case assembly capable of improving thermal management performance.

[0008] In addition, some embodiments of the present disclosure aim to provide a battery case assembly capable of improving structural rigidity.

[0009] In addition, some embodiments of the present disclosure aim to provide a battery case assembly capable of improving bonding quality.

[0010] However, the technical problems that the embodiments of the present disclosure aim to solve are not necessarily limited to the technical problems mentioned above. Other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains from other descriptions in the specification, such as the detailed description. means of solving the problem

[0011] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a battery case assembly may be provided, comprising: an internal space for accommodating one or more battery cells arranged in a front-rear direction; an upper cover covering the upper surface of the internal space; a front cover covering the front surface of the internal space; and a rear cover covering the rear surface of the internal space, wherein the upper cover is provided with a plurality of beads, and each of the beads is provided to extend in a front-rear direction to transfer heat from the internal space to the front cover or the rear cover.

[0012] In some embodiments, the battery cell is provided as a pouch-type cell having a long side length of 500 mm or more in the front-rear direction, and the upper cover may be provided by press-forming a metal plate made of high strength steel (HSS) or advanced high strength steel (AHSS).

[0013] In some embodiments, the upper cover is provided with a metal material having a higher tensile strength than the front cover and the rear cover, and the front cover and the rear cover may be provided with a metal material having a higher thermal conductivity than the upper cover.

[0014] In some embodiments, the upper cover may be made of at least a portion of high-strength steel or ultra-high-strength steel, and the front cover and the rear cover may be made of at least a portion of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

[0015] In some embodiments, the plurality of beads may include one or more first beads formed by the upper surface of the upper cover being concavely indented toward the internal space; and one or more second beads formed by the upper surface being convexly protruding toward the outside and arranged alternately with the first beads along the left-right direction.

[0016] In some embodiments, the plurality of beads may be spaced apart from each other from left to right, a pair of beads placed in the central area may be arranged to have a first spacing in the left-right direction, and another pair of beads placed in the relative edge area may be arranged to have a second spacing smaller than the first spacing in the left-right direction.

[0017] In some embodiments, the front cover or the rear cover may include an assembly flange that is extended in a folded manner from the top of the front cover or the rear cover toward the upper surface of the upper cover, has a predetermined width in the front-rear direction and is disposed to overlap the upper surface and is detachably provided with the upper surface; and a hinge joint provided at the bottom of the front cover or the rear cover, which supports the front cover or the rear cover so as to be rotatable about a hinge axis in the left-right direction so that the internal space can be opened and closed.

[0018] In some embodiments, a pair of end plates covering the left and right sides of the internal space are further included, and each end plate has a first joining area where the upper cover is welded, and the first joining area may have a plurality of protrusions that induce the discharge of fumes during welding.

[0019] In some embodiments, the plurality of protrusions may be provided in three or more and may be spaced apart at predetermined intervals along the periphery of the weld point so as to include the weld point inside.

[0020] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a plurality of clamps spaced apart in the front-rear direction, which are fastened to the bottom of the pair of end plates to support the pair of end plates, and the clamps are configured such that both ends are welded to a second joining area of ​​each end plate, and the second joining area may be provided with a plurality of protrusions that induce the discharge of fumes during welding. Effects of the invention

[0021] Some embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a battery case assembly.

[0022] In addition, some embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a battery case assembly with improved thermal management performance.

[0023] In addition, some embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a battery case assembly with improved structural rigidity.

[0024] In addition, some embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a battery case assembly with improved bonding quality.

[0025] However, the technical effects obtainable through the embodiments of the present disclosure are not necessarily limited to the effects mentioned above. Other technical effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains from other descriptions in the specification, such as the detailed description. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a battery case assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the battery case assembly shown in FIG. 1, viewed from a different direction. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the bead illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the bead illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the bead illustrated in FIG. 1. Figure 6 is an operating state diagram showing the opening and closing operation of the front cover illustrated in Figure 1. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the end plate illustrated in FIG. 1 separated. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing another embodiment of the protrusion illustrated in FIG. 7. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0027] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0028] The following embodiments are provided to more faithfully and completely explain the technical concept of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. Accordingly, the technical concept of the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to the following embodiments. The present disclosure should be understood to broadly include various equivalents, substitutions, modifications, etc., that embody the technical concept to be described below.

[0029] The terms used in the following description are intended to describe specific embodiments more faithfully and completely in the same light as above. Accordingly, the terms used in the following description should not be interpreted to reduce, limit, or restrict the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0030] In the following description, terms such as "first," "second," etc., may be used to refer to specific components to distinguish them from other components. However, such terms are used for clarity of explanation, and the technical concept of the present disclosure should not be interpreted as being limited by such terms.

[0031] In the following description, singular expressions may be interpreted to include the plural unless explicitly excluded by the context. Furthermore, in the following description, the expression "includes" means that the components, parts, actions, features, steps, numbers, etc. described in the description exist, and does not exclude the addition of one or more other components, parts, actions, features, steps, numbers, etc.

[0032] In the following description, terms related to direction, such as "beneath," "above," "lower," and "upper," may be used to facilitate understanding of the components. However, such terms are provided to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure based on various operations and usage conditions, and should not be interpreted to reduce, limit, or restrict the technical scope of the present disclosure. For example, terms related to direction may be determined from a relative perspective.

[0033] Meanwhile, in the drawings below, the depiction of each component may be exaggerated or omitted for the convenience and clarity of explanation.

[0034] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a battery case assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the battery case assembly shown in FIG. 1 viewed from a different direction.

[0035] For convenience, the x-axis direction will be referred to as the left-right direction, the y-axis direction as the front-back direction, and the z-axis direction as the up-down direction based on the coordinate axes shown in Figure 1, etc.

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in some embodiments, a battery case assembly (100) (hereinafter referred to as 'assembly (100)') may be provided. The assembly (100) may form a predetermined internal space (110) for accommodating a plurality of battery cells (10). In the illustrated embodiment, the internal space (110) may be provided as a space enclosed by an upper cover (120) on the upper side, a front cover (130) and a rear cover (140) on the front and rear sides, and end plates (150) on the left and right sides. Additionally, the lower side of the internal space (110) may be provided to be open.

[0037] A plurality of battery cells (10) may be accommodated in the internal space (110) (see FIG. 6). In some embodiments, the battery cells (10) may be provided as pouch-type cells. However, the form factor of the battery cells (10) to which the assembly (100) is applicable is not necessarily limited to pouch-type cells. In other embodiments, the battery cells (10) may be provided as prismatic cells, cylindrical cells, coin-type cells, or other cells of non-generalized atypical form factors, in addition to pouch-type cells. For convenience, the case where the battery cells (10) are provided as pouch-type cells will be described below as an example.

[0038] Meanwhile, the battery cell (10) equipped as a pouching-type cell may have a long side and a short side. In the illustrated embodiment, the battery cell (10) may be accommodated in an internal space (110) such that the long side is arranged along the front-rear direction. Additionally, a plurality of battery cells (10) may be arranged in alignment within the internal space (110) along the left-right direction. In some embodiments, the battery cell (10) may be provided with a long side length of 500 mm or more. Alternatively, the battery cell (10) may be provided as a long-axis cell or a long cell according to classification standards commonly used in the art. In some embodiments, an assembly (100) as described below may be utilized more effectively in such a long-axis cell, etc.

[0039] In some embodiments, the assembly (100) may be combined with a plurality of battery cells (10) to be provided as a single modular component. For example, the assembly (100) may be combined with a plurality of battery cells (10) to be provided as a single battery module component. However, the name of the modular component comprising the assembly (100) is not necessarily limited to names or classification standards commonly used in the art. For example, the assembly (100) may be combined with a greater number of battery cells (10) to be provided as a single battery pack component, or may be provided as a component in the form of a new assembly in which a plurality of battery cells (10) are combined.

[0040] Meanwhile, in some embodiments, the assembly (100) may include an upper cover (120). The upper cover (120) may be provided to cover the upper side of the internal space (110). In the illustrated embodiment, the upper cover (120) may be provided in the form of a rectangular plate extending forward and backward with a predetermined width. As described above, in some embodiments, the battery cell (10) may be provided as a long-axis cell, and to correspond thereto, the upper cover (120) may be extended to have a sufficient length forward and backward, for example, a length of 500 mm or more.

[0041] In some embodiments, the upper cover (120) may be provided with a bead (121). The bead (121) may be provided such that the upper surface of the upper cover (120) is partially recessed toward the internal space (110). Alternatively, the bead (121) may be provided such that the upper surface of the upper cover (120) is partially convexly protruded toward the outside. The illustrated embodiment illustrates a bead (121) in a recessed shape.

[0042] In some embodiments, the bead (121) may have a predetermined cross-sectional shape. For reference, the cross-sectional shape may refer to the shape of the bead (121) along the xz plane. For example, the bead (121) may have a cross-sectional shape such as a semicircle, a partial circle, or a trapezoid with the long side facing outward. Additionally, the bead (121) may be formed to extend forward and backward along the upper cover (120). In some embodiments, the bead (121) may be formed to extend sufficiently forward and backward from the front end region of the upper cover (120) to the rear end region. The bead (121) formed to extend sufficiently forward and backward may contribute to securing appropriate structural rigidity against external forces acting from the internal battery cell (10) or external forces acting from the outside on the assembly (100).

[0043] In some embodiments, a plurality of beads (121) may be provided, and a plurality of beads (121) may be arranged on the upper cover (120) with a predetermined spacing from left to right. The number of beads (121) may be appropriately increased or decreased depending on the characteristics of the battery cell (10) accommodated in the internal space (110), the left and right width of the assembly (100), the installation type, the usage environment, etc.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the bead illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows the upper cover (120) separated from FIG. 1 and illustrates another embodiment of the beads (121) provided on the upper cover (120). Referring to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, a plurality of beads (121) may be provided such that some parts are concavely recessed toward the internal space (110), and other parts are provided such that they protrude convexly toward the outside. That is, the plurality of beads (121) may include one or more first beads (121a) formed to be concavely recessed on the upper surface of the upper cover (120), and one or more second beads (121b) formed to be convexly protruded on the upper surface of the upper cover (120). In addition, in some embodiments, the first and second beads (121a, 121b) may be arranged alternately and repeatedly along the width direction of the upper cover (120). However, the meaning of the above 'alternate repeated placement' is that after one or more first beads (121a) or second beads (121b) are placed, one or more second beads (121b) or first beads (121a) may be placed again, and it is not necessarily limited to first and second beads (121a, 121b) being placed one by one. For example, the first and second beads (121a, 121b) may be alternately repeated one by one along the width direction of the upper cover (120), alternately repeated in multiples, or alternately repeated in different numbers.

[0046] The first and second beads (121a, 121b) as described above can contribute to securing structural rigidity of the upper cover (120). Additionally, the protrusion directions of the first and second beads (121a, 121b) are provided in opposite directions, thereby ensuring appropriate structural rigidity against external forces of various directions applied to the upper cover (120) or the assembly (100). Furthermore, the first and second beads (121a, 121b) as described above can advantageously reduce springback of the upper cover (120) after molding the upper cover (120) or during the use of the assembly (100). That is, the first and second beads (121a, 121b) protruding in opposite directions can appropriately offset each other's deformation caused by springback, thereby functioning to reduce springback of the upper cover (120). In addition, such reduction of springback allows the shape of the first and second beads (121a, 121b) to be implemented in a shape that is more advantageous for securing structural rigidity. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the first and second beads (121a, 121b) can be formed to have sufficient depth compared to the bead (121) shown in FIG. 1.

[0047] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the bead illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 4, in some embodiments, a plurality of beads (121) may be arranged at different intervals along the left-right width direction of the upper cover (120). Alternatively, a plurality of beads (121) may be arranged to have different densities along the left-right width direction of the upper cover (120). In addition, in some embodiments, a plurality of beads (121) may be arranged such that the spacing (G1, G2) becomes narrower toward the edge of the upper cover (120). Alternatively, a plurality of beads (121) may be arranged such that the density becomes higher toward the edge of the upper cover (120).

[0049] Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the upper cover (120) may have a central area (E1) and an edge area (E2) along the left-right width direction. Here, a pair of beads (121c) placed in the central area (E1) may be spaced apart by a first gap (G1), and another pair of beads (121d) placed in the edge area (E2) may be spaced apart by a second gap (G2). Additionally, the second gap (G2) may be formed to be smaller than the first gap (G1).

[0050] In some embodiments, the difference in spacing (G1, G2) as described above may be implemented in a form where the spacing (G1, G2) between adjacent beads (121) gradually decreases as one moves from the central region (E1) to the edge region (E2). An embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 illustrates such a form.

[0051] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the bead illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 5, in some embodiments, the spacing difference described above may also be implemented in a form where the spacing (G3, G4, G5) between the beads (121) is set differently for each region (E3, E4, E5).

[0053] Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the upper cover (120) may have a central first area (E3) along the left-right width direction, a second area (E4) positioned to the left and right of the first area (E3), and a third area (E5) positioned to the left and right of the second area (E4). Additionally, a plurality of first beads (121e) may be arranged in the first area (E3) with a predetermined first spacing (G3), a plurality of second beads (121f) may be arranged in the second area (E4) with a predetermined second spacing (G4), and a plurality of third beads (121g) may be arranged in the third area (E5) with a predetermined third spacing (G5). Here, the second spacing (G4) may be smaller than the first spacing (G3), and the third spacing (G5) may be smaller than the second spacing (G4). Multiple beads (121) can be arranged in this manner with different spacing (G3, G4, G5) for each area (E3, E4, E5).

[0054] In embodiments such as FIGS. 4 and 5, beads (121) are arranged densely toward the edge of the upper cover (120), so that structural rigidity in the edge region (E2) can be more appropriately secured. More specifically, a plurality of battery cells (10) accommodated in the assembly (100) can be stacked along the left-right width direction, and accordingly, external force or displacement due to swelling can be accumulated in the edge region (E2) in the width direction and act on the assembly (100). That is, external force or displacement due to swelling can act relatively large on the edge region (E2) along the left-right width direction of the assembly (100), and in response to this, the arrangement of beads (121) as described above can contribute to securing structural rigidity in the edge region (E2).

[0055] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, in some embodiments, the upper cover (120) may be provided with a first reinforcing rib (122). The first reinforcing rib (122) may be formed by being bent downward from the left and right edges of the upper cover (120) and extended. Additionally, the first reinforcing rib (122) may be formed by extending forward and backward along the left and right edges of the upper cover (120). In some embodiments, the first reinforcing rib (122) may be formed by extending sufficiently forward and backward from the front end region of the upper cover (120) to the rear end region. Similar to the bead (121) described above, the first reinforcing rib (122) formed by extending sufficiently forward and backward can contribute to securing appropriate structural rigidity of the assembly (100).

[0056] In some embodiments, the upper cover (120) may have a first joint (123). The first joint (123) may be provided on the first reinforcing rib (122). In the illustrated embodiment, the first joint (123) may have a roughly square protrusion shape and be provided to protrude a certain amount from the first reinforcing rib (122). However, the shape of the first joint (123) may be varied as needed and is not necessarily limited to the example. Furthermore, the first joint (123) may be provided as long as it can provide an appropriate joint area between the upper cover (120) and the end plate (150) described later, and it is not necessary for it to be provided in a form distinct from the first reinforcing rib (122). For example, the first joint (123) may be provided in a part of the area included in the first reinforcing rib (122).

[0057] In some embodiments, a plurality of first joining portions (123) may be provided, and a plurality of first joining portions (123) may be spaced apart from each other along the first reinforcing rib (122). For example, in the illustrated embodiment, four first joining portions (123) may be arranged along one edge of the upper cover (120), so that a total of eight may be provided. The plurality of first joining portions (123) may contribute to providing an appropriate joining structure between the upper cover (120) and the end plate (150) corresponding to the front-to-back length of the upper cover (120). However, the number of first joining portions (123) may increase or decrease as needed and is not necessarily limited to what is illustrated.

[0058] In some embodiments, the upper cover (120) may be provided with at least a portion made of a metal material. For example, the upper cover (120) may be provided with at least a portion made of high strength steel (HSS) or advanced high strength steel (AHSS). In some embodiments, the upper cover (120) may be provided with a material having a higher tensile strength than the front cover (130) and rear cover (140) described later. Additionally, in some embodiments, the upper cover (120) may be provided by press-forming a single metal plate. For example, the upper cover (120) may be provided by press-forming a single metal plate made of high strength steel or advanced high strength steel. Such a metal upper cover (120) can contribute to properly dissipating heat generated from the battery cell (10) to the outside of the assembly (100) while ensuring the structural rigidity of the assembly (100).

[0059] Meanwhile, in some embodiments, the assembly (100) may include a front cover (130) and a rear cover (140). The front cover (130) may be provided to cover the front of the internal space (110), and the rear cover (140) may be provided to cover the rear of the internal space (110). In the illustrated embodiment, the front cover (130) and the rear cover (140) may each be provided in the form of a rectangular plate extending vertically with a predetermined left-right width. In some embodiments, the front cover (130) and the rear cover (140) may be provided in mutually identical or similar forms, differing only in their placement positions. Accordingly, for convenience, the configuration will be described below with a focus on the front cover (130).

[0060] In some embodiments, the front cover (130) may be provided with an assembly flange (131). The assembly flange (131) may be formed by being bent and extended backward from the upper edge of the front cover (130). Additionally, the assembly flange (131) may be formed by extending left and right along the upper edge of the front cover (130). In some embodiments, the assembly flange (131) may be formed by extending sufficiently left and right from one side end area of ​​the front cover (130) to the opposite side end area. The assembly flange (131) formed by extending sufficiently left and right can contribute to securing appropriate structural rigidity of the front cover (130) while also securing appropriate bonding strength between the front cover (130) and the upper cover (120).

[0061] In some embodiments, the assembly flange (131) may have a predetermined width (W1) in the front and rear directions. The front and rear width (W1) of the assembly flange (131) may be determined by considering the structural rigidity of the front cover (130), the bonding strength with the upper cover (120), etc. For example, the front and rear width (W1) of the assembly flange (131) may be provided to be relatively larger than the first reinforcing rib (122) described above or the second reinforcing rib (133) described later. In some embodiments, the front and rear width (W1) of the assembly flange (131) may be set by considering the front and rear length (L1) of the entire upper cover (120). For example, the front and rear width (W1) of the assembly flange (131) may be provided to be 5 to 10% of the front and rear length (L1) of the entire upper cover (120). In some embodiments, the front-to-back width (W1) of such assembly flange (131) can contribute to securing an appropriate heat transfer path between the upper cover (120) and the front cover (130). That is, the assembly flange (131) has an appropriate front-to-back width (W1) and is joined to the upper cover (120), so that heat transferred from the upper cover (120) can be dissipated to the front cover (130) through the assembly flange (131).

[0062] In some embodiments, the assembly flange (131) described above may be positioned to overlap the upper surface of the upper cover (120) and joined with the upper cover (120). Such an overlap arrangement may contribute to improving structural rigidity in the joint area between the upper cover (120) and the front cover (130). Additionally, it may provide convenience in joining and separating operations of the front cover (130) in relation to the opening and closing operation of the front cover (130) described later.

[0063] In some embodiments, the assembly flange (131) may be provided to be connectable and detachable from the upper cover (120). For example, the assembly flange (131) may be provided with a plurality of first assembly holes (132), and the upper cover (120) may be provided with a plurality of corresponding second assembly holes. Additionally, the assembly flange (131) and the upper cover (120) may be provided to be connectable and detachable from each other by fastening a predetermined connecting member to the first and second assembly holes (132, not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of first and second assembly holes (132, not shown) are illustrated as being spaced apart from each other along the assembly flange (131). However, the number, location, etc. of the first and second assembly holes (132, not shown) may be modified as necessary and are not necessarily limited to what is illustrated.

[0064] Meanwhile, in some embodiments, the front cover (130) may be provided with a second reinforcing rib (133). The second reinforcing rib (133) may be formed by being bent and extended backward from the left and right edges of the front cover (130). Additionally, the second reinforcing rib (133) may be formed by extending vertically along the left and right edges of the front cover (130). In some embodiments, the second reinforcing rib (133) may be formed by extending vertically sufficiently from the upper region to the lower region of the front cover (130). Similar to the first reinforcing rib (122) described above, the second reinforcing rib (133), which is formed by extending vertically sufficiently, may contribute to securing appropriate structural rigidity of the front cover (130).

[0065] Additionally, in some embodiments, the front cover (130) may be configured to open and close the internal space (110) of the assembly (100). That is, the front cover (130) may be positioned to close the internal space (110) as illustrated, or to open the internal space (110) as described below. In some embodiments, the front cover (130) may be hinged to the end plate (150) to enable the opening and closing operation described above. That is, the front cover (130) may be provided with a hinge connecting part (134) configured to be hinged to each end plate (150). In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge connecting part (134) may be provided at the lower left and right sides of the front cover (130) and may be connected to each end plate (150) so as to be rotatable around a hinge axis (H1) in the left and right directions.

[0066] Figure 6 is an operating state diagram showing the opening and closing operation of the front cover illustrated in Figure 1.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 6, the front cover (130) described above may be configured to rotate around a hinge axis (H1) to open and close the internal space (110). Specifically, the front cover (130) may be positioned to close the internal space (110) in the state shown in FIG. 1, etc., and may be positioned to rotate forward to open the internal space (110) as shown in FIG. 6. Additionally, the assembly (100) may have an opening (111) connected to the internal space (110) exposed to the outside as the front cover (130) rotates.

[0068] In some embodiments, the opening of the front cover (130) as described above may be used to insert a battery cell (10) into the internal space (110) or to discharge a battery cell (10) placed in the internal space (110) to the outside. In order to enable such insertion or discharge of the battery cell (10), the front cover (130) may be configured to rotate with a sufficient angle of rotation relative to the upper cover (120) or the end plate (150). For example, the front cover (130) may be configured to rotate with an angle of rotation of 120 degrees or more.

[0069] In some embodiments, the opening of the front cover (130) as described above may be used to remove defective battery cells (10) generated during the manufacturing process from the internal space (110). For example, if a defective battery cell (10) is detected during a performance test after the battery cell (10) is assembled in the assembly (100), the battery cell (10) can be properly removed through the opening of the front cover (130). The opening of the front cover (130) as described above may be used to remove and replace defective battery cells (10) generated during the use process, or to separate and remove the battery cell (10) from a used battery module, etc.

[0070] Meanwhile, referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, in some embodiments, the front cover (130) may be provided with at least a portion made of a metal material. Also, in some embodiments, the front cover (130) may be provided with a material different from the upper cover (120) described above. Additionally, the front cover (130) may be provided with at least a portion made of a material having a higher thermal conductivity than the upper cover (120). For example, if the upper cover (120) described above is provided with a steel-based material such as high-strength steel or ultra-high-strength steel, the front cover (130) may be provided with at least a portion made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy material. Also, similar to the upper cover (120) described above, in some embodiments, the front cover (130) may be provided by press-forming a single metal plate. For example, the front cover (130) may be provided by press-forming a single metal plate made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

[0071] The front cover (130) described above can function to properly dissipate heat transferred from the upper cover (120) to the outside of the assembly (100). Specifically, at least a portion of the heat generated from the battery cell (10) in the internal space (110) can be transferred to the upper cover (120), and the heat transferred to the upper cover (120) can be transferred again to the front and rear of the assembly (100) along the upper cover (120). A plurality of beads (121) formed extending in the front and rear directions on the upper cover (120) can contribute to promoting such heat transfer in the front and rear directions. In addition, the upper cover (120) can cover the entire upper area of ​​the internal space (110) to effectively absorb and transfer heat generated from each battery cell (10). For example, heat generated from the battery cell (10) placed in the central area (E1) can also be properly transferred to the front or rear along the upper cover (120). Meanwhile, heat transferred along the upper cover (120) can be transferred again to the front cover (130) and rear cover (140) via the assembly flange (131). As described above, the assembly flange (131) may be provided to have a sufficient width (W1) in the front and rear directions and to be in contact with the upper cover (120) so that such heat transfer can be carried out smoothly. In addition, heat transferred to the front cover (130), etc., can be properly dissipated to the outside of the assembly (100) through the front cover (130), etc., which has a relatively high thermal conductivity.

[0072] The heat dissipation structure described above can contribute to rapidly discharging heat generated from the battery cell (10) to the outside while adequately securing the structural rigidity of the assembly (100). Accordingly, the thermal management performance or safety of the battery module, etc., employing the assembly (100) can be further improved.

[0073] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, in some embodiments, the assembly (100) may include end plates (150). A pair of end plates (150) may be provided on the left and right sides to cover the left and right sides of the internal space (110). In the illustrated embodiment, the end plates (150) may be provided in the form of rectangular plates extending forward and backward with a predetermined vertical height. Additionally, each of the left and right end plates (150) may be provided identically or similarly to one another, differing only in their placement positions.

[0074] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the end plate illustrated in FIG. 1 separated.

[0075] Referring to FIG. 7, in some embodiments, the end plate (150) may have a joining area (151, 152). The joining area (151) may be provided as an area where the end plate (150) and the upper cover (120) are welded together. Alternatively, the joining area (152) may be provided as an area where the end plate (150) and the clamp (160), which will be described later, are welded together. For convenience, the joining area (151) where the end plate (150) and the upper cover (120) are welded together will be referred to as the first joining area (151), and the joining area (152) where the end plate (150) and the clamp (160) are welded together will be referred to as the second joining area (152).

[0076] In some embodiments, a plurality of first joining regions (151) may be provided, and a plurality of first joining regions (151) may be arranged at predetermined intervals to correspond to the aforementioned plurality of first joining parts (123). In the illustrated embodiment, the first joining regions (151) may be provided adjacent to the upper region of the end plate (150), and four may be spaced apart at predetermined intervals along the front-rear direction to correspond to the aforementioned four first joining parts (123).

[0077] In some embodiments, a projection (153) may be provided in at least one of the plurality of first bonding regions (151). The projection (153) may be provided to protrude in the shape of a small dot on the outer surface of the first bonding region (151). For example, the projection (153) may be provided to protrude in the shape of a small dot that is circular or hemispherical. The projection (153) may be provided selectively in only some of the first bonding regions (151) among the plurality of first bonding regions (151), or, as in the illustrated embodiment, may be provided in all of the plurality of first bonding regions (151).

[0078] In some embodiments, the protrusions (153) may be provided in such a way that a plurality of them form a set. That is, a plurality of protrusions (153) may be provided for a single first joining area (151). Such a plurality of protrusions (153) may be arranged in a circumferential direction around a central welding point (WA). For example, the illustrated embodiment may have four protrusions (153), and the four protrusions (153) may be arranged in a roughly rectangular shape around the central welding point (WA). Here, the welding point (WA) may be provided as an area where a heat source is applied for welding the first joining area (151). For example, the welding point (WA) may be provided as an area where a laser beam is irradiated.

[0079] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view showing another embodiment of the protrusion illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0080] Referring to FIG. 8, the protrusions (153) may be provided in various numbers and arrangements corresponding to each welding point (WA). For example, in FIG. 8 (a), three protrusions (153) may be provided, and the three protrusions (153) may be arranged in a roughly triangular shape centered on the welding point (WA). Also, in FIG. 8 (b), five protrusions (153) may be provided, and the five protrusions (153) may be arranged in a roughly pentagonal shape centered on the welding point (WA). Also, in FIG. 8 (c), six protrusions (153) may be provided, and the six protrusions (153) may be arranged in a row of three each on the upper and lower sides of the welding point (WA) in the drawing. Additionally, although not shown, multiple protrusions (153) may be arranged around the weld point (WA) in an irregular shape.

[0081] In some embodiments, a plurality of protrusions (153) may be arranged along the periphery of the weld point (WA) to enclose the weld point (WA). For example, the plurality of protrusions (153) may be provided in three or more to adequately surround the weld point (WA). Additionally, in some embodiments, the plurality of protrusions (153) may be spaced apart at a predetermined interval. Such arrangement may facilitate the smooth discharge of fumes generated during welding through the gap between adjacent protrusions (153).

[0082] Referring again to FIG. 7, the above-mentioned protrusions (153) can function to facilitate the smooth discharge of fumes generated during welding. Specifically, a plurality of protrusions (153) can form a gap between a first joining area (151) provided on the end plate (150) and a first joining part (123) provided on the upper cover (120), and in this state, a central welding point (WA) can be welded. Accordingly, fumes generated at the welding point (WA) can be properly discharged to the outside through the gap created by the protrusions (153).

[0083] Proper fume evacuation as described above can contribute to reducing gas accumulation around the weld point (WA), thereby preventing the formation of porosity and reducing welding defects. Additionally, proper fume evacuation can contribute to improving the transmission efficiency of the laser beam during laser welding and preventing uneven heat distribution caused by gas accumulation. Furthermore, in terms of the working environment, proper fume evacuation can contribute to preventing explosion accidents caused by gas accumulation and promoting the health of workers.

[0084] Meanwhile, in some embodiments, the above-mentioned protrusion (153) may be replaced and provided in a corresponding configuration joined to the end plate (150). For example, the protrusion (153) provided in the first joining area (151) of the end plate (150) may be replaced and provided in the first joining portion (123) provided in the upper cover (120). Similarly, the protrusion (153) provided in the second joining area (152) of the end plate (150), which will be described later, may also be replaced and provided in a corresponding configuration joined to the end plate (150), such as a clamp (160).

[0085] Meanwhile, in some embodiments, the end plate (150) may have a second joining area (152). The second joining area (152) may be provided to be welded to a clamp (160) to be described later. In some embodiments, a plurality of second joining areas (152) may be provided. In the illustrated embodiment, two second joining areas (152) may be provided to correspond to two clamps (160). Additionally, two second joining areas (152) may be provided adjacent to the lower area of ​​the end plate (150) and spaced apart from each other at a predetermined distance in the front and back to correspond to the spacing of the clamps (160).

[0086] In some embodiments, the second joining area (152) may be provided in the same or similar manner as the first joining area (151) described above. That is, the second joining area (152) may be provided with a plurality of protrusions (153), and the plurality of protrusions (153) may be arranged along the periphery of the central welding point (WA). Additionally, the second joining area (152) may be welded to the clamp (160), and the plurality of protrusions (153) may function to induce the discharge of fumes generated during welding.

[0087] Meanwhile, in some embodiments, the end plate (150) may be provided with at least a portion made of a metal material. For example, the end plate (150) may be provided with at least a portion made of ordinary steel, high-strength steel, or ultra-high-strength steel. In some embodiments, the end plate (150) may be provided with a material having a lower tensile strength compared to the upper cover (120) described above. Additionally, in some embodiments, the end plate (150) may be provided by press-forming a single metal plate.

[0088] In some embodiments, an insulating pad (154) may be provided on the inner surface of the end plate (150). For reference, the inner surface may refer to one side of the end plate (150) positioned toward the internal space (110). The insulating pad (154) may be provided by being adhered to the inner surface of the end plate (150). An adhesive insulating pad (154) may contribute to simplifying the assembly process of the end plate (150). In some embodiments, the insulating pad (154) may be provided with a material having electrical insulation and flame retardancy. For example, the insulating pad (154) may be provided with one or more of the following materials: polyphenylene ether (PPE), polystyrene (PS), and polyetherimide (PEI) resin containing glass fiber.

[0089] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, in some embodiments, the assembly (100) may include a clamp (160). The clamp (160) may be fastened between a pair of end plates (150) spaced apart from each other. Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the clamp (160) is positioned at the bottom of the assembly (100), so that one end may be fastened to the lower region of the end plate (150) positioned on the right side, and the opposite end may be fastened to the lower region of the end plate (150) positioned on the left side. Such a clamp (160) may function to support the pair of end plates (150) from below.

[0090] In some embodiments, a plurality of clamps (160) may be provided. The plurality of clamps (160) may function to adequately support between a pair of end plates (150) corresponding to each end plate (150) that is extended in the front and rear directions. In the illustrated embodiment, two clamps (160) may be provided, and the two clamps (160) may be spaced apart from each other in the front and rear directions, centered on the center of the end plate (150) in the front and rear directions. Additionally, each clamp (160) may be spaced apart from each end of the end plate (150) in the front and rear directions, by a predetermined distance. In other words, each clamp (160) may be positioned between the center of the end plate (150) in the front and rear directions and each end of the end plate (150) in the front and rear directions.

[0091] In some embodiments, a clamp (160) may be omitted at each end of the end plate (150) according to the front-rear direction. Additionally, support of the end plate (150) at each of the above ends may be replaced by the aforementioned hinge joint (134). That is, as described above, a pair of hinge joints (134) may be provided on the left and right sides of the bottom of the front cover (130), and each hinge joint (134) may be fastened to each end plate (150) on the left and right sides to support the left and right end plates (150). In this way, the front end of the left and right end plates (150) may be supported by the front cover (130), and the rear end may be supported by the rear cover (140).

[0092] In some embodiments, the clamp (160) may have a second joint (152) at both ends. The second joint (152) may be welded to a corresponding end plate (150) at each end of the clamp (160). That is, the second joint (152) may be welded to the aforementioned second joint area (152).

[0093] In some embodiments, the clamp (160) may have an insulating coating (161) on its outer surface. In some embodiments, the insulating coating (161) may be provided by the applicant’s previously filed Published Patent No. 10-2024-0078836 (published June 4, 2024) (Title of Invention: Insulating Coated Battery Module Clamp and Method for Manufacturing the Same). Alternatively, the insulating coating (161) may be provided by the applicant’s previously filed Published Patent No. 10-2024-0052138 (published April 23, 2024) (Title of Invention: Clamp for Battery Module with Coating Having Improved Insulating Performance).

[0094] In some embodiments, the second joint (152) may be provided so that its position in the front-rear direction corresponds to that of the first joint (123) described above. That is, in the illustrated embodiment, the second joint (152) of the clamp (160) positioned at the front may be provided so that its front-rear position corresponds to that of the second first joint (123) provided on the upper cover (120). Similarly, the second joint (152) of the clamp (160) positioned at the rear may be provided so that its front-rear position corresponds to that of the third first joint (123) provided on the upper cover (120). Meanwhile, the first joining portion (123) provided at the front end of the upper cover (120) can be positioned to correspond to the hinge joining portion (134) provided on the front cover (130), and the first joining portion (123) provided at the rear end of the upper cover (120) can be positioned to correspond to the hinge joining portion (134) provided on the rear cover (140). By doing so, the end plate (150) can maintain a robust joining structure by appropriately supporting the upper and lower regions at each location along the front-rear direction. Additionally, the end plate (150) can appropriately support the battery cells (10) placed in the internal space (110) from the left and right sides. Such a support structure can contribute to maintaining proper surface pressure of the battery cells (10) or improving resistance to swelling.

[0095] As described above, some embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a battery case assembly. In some embodiments, the assembly may be suitably used to package a plurality of battery cells, provided as pouch-type cells, into an assembly such as a battery module.

[0096] In addition, some embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a battery case assembly with improved thermal management performance. In some embodiments, the assembly may be configured to appropriately dissipate heat generated from the battery cells through the top cover to the front cover and the rear cover. Additionally, the assembly may appropriately assist such heat dissipation operation through a bead provided on the top cover, assembly flanges provided on the front cover and the rear cover, etc. These features may contribute to improving the thermal management performance of the assembly.

[0097] In addition, some embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a battery case assembly with improved structural rigidity. In some embodiments, the assembly may be provided with a main component, including an upper cover, a front cover, a rear cover, an end plate, etc., made of a metal material. The use of such a metal material may contribute to improving the structural rigidity of the assembly. Furthermore, the use of a metal material may also contribute to improving the aforementioned thermal management performance. Additionally, such improvements in structural rigidity and thermal management performance may contribute to enabling packaging using larger battery cells, such as elongated cells.

[0098] In addition, some embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a battery case assembly with improved bonding quality. In some embodiments, the assembly may include an upper cover equipped with a first reinforcing rib, a front cover and a rear cover equipped with a second reinforcing rib, and such first and second reinforcing ribs may contribute to improving the bonding structure at the connection portion between each member. In addition, in some embodiments, the front cover and the rear cover may be provided with an assembly flange that overlaps the upper cover, and such an assembly flange may contribute to preventing deformation of the upper cover and realizing a robust bonding structure between the front and rear covers and the upper cover. In addition, in some embodiments, the end plate may be provided with a plurality of protrusions around the welding point, and such protrusions may contribute to improving bonding quality by inducing the smooth discharge of fumes generated during welding.

[0099] Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, those skilled in the art may modify or change the present disclosure in various ways by adding, changing, deleting, or adding components without departing from the technical spirit of the present disclosure as described in the claims, and such modifications or changes shall also be deemed to be included within the scope of the rights of the present disclosure. Explanation of the symbols

[0100] 100: Battery case assembly 110: Internal space 120: Top cover 130: Front cover 150: End plate 160: Clamp

Claims

Claim 1 A battery case assembly comprising: an internal space accommodating one or more battery cells arranged in a front-rear direction; an upper cover covering the upper surface of the internal space; a front cover covering the front of the internal space; and a rear cover covering the rear of the internal space, wherein the upper cover is provided with a plurality of beads, each of which is extended in a front-rear direction to transfer heat from the internal space to the front cover or the rear cover, the upper cover is provided with a metal material having a tensile strength greater than that of the front cover and the rear cover, and the front cover and the rear cover are provided with a metal material having a thermal conductivity higher than that of the upper cover. Claim 2 A battery case assembly according to claim 1, wherein the battery cell is provided as a pouch-type cell having a long side length of 500 mm or more in the front-rear direction, and the upper cover is provided by press-forming a metal plate made of high strength steel (HSS) or advanced high strength steel (AHSS). Claim 3 delete Claim 4 A battery case assembly comprising: an internal space accommodating one or more battery cells arranged in a front-rear direction; an upper cover covering the upper surface of the internal space; a front cover covering the front of the internal space; and a rear cover covering the rear of the internal space, wherein the upper cover is provided with a plurality of beads, each of which is extended in a front-rear direction to transfer heat from the internal space to the front cover or the rear cover, wherein at least a portion of the upper cover is made of high-strength steel or ultra-high-strength steel, and at least a portion of the front cover and the rear cover are made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. Claim 5 A battery case assembly according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 4, wherein the plurality of beads comprises: one or more first beads formed by the upper surface of the upper cover being concavely indented toward the internal space; and one or more second beads formed by the upper surface being convexly protruding toward the outside and alternately arranged with the first beads along the left-right direction. Claim 6 A battery case assembly according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 4, wherein the plurality of beads are spaced apart from each other in the left and right directions, a pair of beads arranged in the central region are arranged to have a first gap in the left and right directions, and another pair of beads arranged in the edge region are arranged to have a second gap smaller than the first gap in the left and right directions. Claim 7 A battery case assembly according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 4, wherein the front cover or the rear cover comprises: an assembly flange that is extended in a folded manner from the top of the front cover or the rear cover toward the upper surface of the upper cover, has a predetermined width in the front-rear direction and is disposed to overlap the upper surface, and is detachably provided with respect to the upper surface; and a hinge coupling portion provided at the bottom of the front cover or the rear cover, which supports the front cover or the rear cover so as to be rotatable about a hinge axis in the left-right direction so that the internal space can be opened and closed. Claim 8 A battery case assembly comprising: an internal space accommodating one or more battery cells arranged in a front-rear direction; an upper cover covering the upper surface of the internal space; a front cover covering the front of the internal space; a rear cover covering the rear of the internal space; and a pair of end plates covering the left and right sides of the internal space, wherein the upper cover has a plurality of beads, each bead extending in a front-rear direction to transfer heat from the internal space to the front cover or the rear cover, and each end plate has a first joining area to which the upper cover is welded, and the first joining area has a plurality of protrusions that induce the discharge of fumes during welding. Claim 9 A battery case assembly according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of protrusions are provided in three or more and are spaced apart at predetermined intervals along the periphery of the welding point so as to include the welding point inside. Claim 10 A battery case assembly according to claim 8, further comprising a plurality of clamps spaced apart in the front-rear direction and fastened to the lower ends of the pair of end plates to support the pair of end plates, wherein the clamps are configured such that both ends are welded to a second joining area of ​​each end plate, and the second joining area is provided with a plurality of protrusions that induce the discharge of fumes during welding.

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