Battery module, battery pack including the battery module, and vehicle

Abstract

A battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a module housing having a predetermined accommodation space; a plurality of battery cells accommodated in the module housing; a bus bar member disposed on the battery cells and formed to electrically connect the battery cells; a support plate disposed between the battery cells and the bus bar member so as to support the bus bar member; and a foam member filling the space between the plurality of battery cells at the bottom of the support plate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery module, and a battery pack and a vehicle including the battery module.

[0002] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0149839 filed in Korea on November 20, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Background Art

[0003] Secondary batteries, which are highly suitable for various products and exhibit excellent electrical properties (such as high energy density, etc.), are generally used not only in portable devices but also in electric vehicles (EV) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) driven by power supplies. Secondary batteries are attracting attention as a new energy source for improving environmental friendliness and energy efficiency because the use of fossil fuels can be greatly reduced and no by-products are generated during energy consumption.

[0004] Currently widely used secondary batteries include lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, etc. The operating voltage of a unit secondary battery cell (i.e., a unit battery cell) is about 2.5V to 4.5V. Therefore, if a higher output voltage is required, a plurality of battery cells can be connected in series to form a battery pack. In addition, according to the required charge / discharge capacity of the battery pack, a plurality of battery cells can be connected in parallel to form a battery pack. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in the battery pack can be set differently according to the required output voltage or the required charge / discharge capacity.

[0005] In addition, when a plurality of battery cells are connected in series or in parallel to configure a battery pack, a battery module including at least one battery cell is generally configured first, and then the battery pack is configured by using the at least one battery module and adding other components.

[0006] Specifically, when the battery cells are cylindrical battery cells, a conventional battery module generally includes a plurality of cylindrical cells stacked on each other, a bus bar member for electrically connecting the plurality of cylindrical cells, and a module housing for accommodating the bus bar member, the cylindrical cells and various electronic components of the battery module.

[0007] However, in a conventional battery module, a predetermined gap is generated between the cells according to the structural shape of the cylindrical cell. Therefore, when an external impact or the like occurs, the battery cells frequently move relative to each other, which increases the concern about damage to the battery cells.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need to develop a battery module that can more stably support battery cells and prevent the battery cells from being damaged due to external impact or the like, and to provide a battery pack and a vehicle including the battery module. Summary of the invention

[0009] Technical issues

[0010] Therefore, the present invention is directed to providing a battery module that can more stably support battery cells, and a battery pack and a vehicle including the battery module.

[0011] These and other objects and advantages of the present disclosure can be understood from the following detailed description and will become more apparent from the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Moreover, it is easily understood that the objects and advantages of the present disclosure can be achieved by the means shown in the attached claims and their combinations.

[0012] Technical Solution

[0013] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a battery module is provided, comprising: a module housing having a predetermined accommodation space; a plurality of battery cells accommodated in the module housing; a plurality of bus bar members disposed on an upper side of the plurality of battery cells to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells; a support plate disposed between the plurality of battery cells and the plurality of bus bar members to support the plurality of bus bar members; and a foam member filling a space between the plurality of battery cells at a bottom of the support plate.

[0014] The foam member may be filled using a dispenser unit including the foam member, and the support plate may have at least one filling guide insertion hole to guide the dispenser unit to inject the foam member.

[0015] The at least one filling guide insertion hole may be arranged at an upper side corresponding to spaces between the plurality of battery cells in a height direction of the module case.

[0016] The support plate may include: a plate body connected to the module housing at an upper side of the plurality of battery cells; and a plurality of bus bar supports provided to the plate body and spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other so that the plurality of bus bar members are provided on the plurality of bus bar supports.

[0017] The at least one filling guide insertion hole may be provided to the plurality of bus bar supports.

[0018] The filling guide insert hole may be provided in plural, and the plural filling guide insert holes are provided to each bus bar supporter.

[0019] The plurality of filling guide insertion holes may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a longitudinal direction of each bus bar supporter.

[0020] A guide wall protruding to a predetermined height may be provided at an upper side of the plurality of bus bar supports to support side surfaces of the plurality of bus bar members.

[0021] Guide ribs shaped corresponding to facing battery cells may be provided at lower sides of the plurality of bus bar supports.

[0022] The guide ribs may at least partially contact upper sides of the plurality of battery cells to support the upper sides of the plurality of battery cells.

[0023] The plurality of battery cells may be provided as cylindrical battery cells, and the cylindrical battery cells may be stacked in a horizontal direction within the module housing.

[0024] In addition, the present disclosure also provides a battery pack, including: at least one battery module according to the above-mentioned embodiment; and a battery pack case configured to encapsulate the at least one battery module.

[0025] Furthermore, the present invention also provides a vehicle including at least one battery pack according to the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0026] Beneficial Effects

[0027] According to various embodiments as described above, a battery module that can more stably support a battery cell, and a battery pack and a vehicle including the battery module can be provided.

[0028] Furthermore, according to various embodiments as described above, a battery module that can improve the safety of battery cells by preventing the battery cells from being damaged due to external impact or the like, and a battery pack and a vehicle including the same may be provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the foregoing disclosure, are used to provide a further understanding of the technical features of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure is not interpreted as being limited to the accompanying drawings.

[0030] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] Figure 2 It is shown Figure 1 Partially exploded perspective view of a battery module.

[0032] Figure 3 is used to show Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a diagram of a shell body according to another embodiment used in a module housing of a battery module.

[0033] Figure 4 It is shown in Figure 2A plan view of a case cover and a bus bar component used in a battery module.

[0034] Figure 5 It is used to illustrate Figure 4 Figure 2 is a diagram of a support plate used at a battery module.

[0035] Figure 6 It is used to illustrate Figure 5 Diagram of the main parts of the support plate.

[0036] Figure 7 It is shown Figure 5 A three-dimensional bottom view of the support plate.

[0037] Figure 8 It is shown Figure 7 Bottom view of the support plate.

[0038] Fig. 9 It is used to illustrate Figure 4 FIG. 2 is a diagram of a support plate according to another embodiment used in a battery module of FIG. 1 .

[0039] Fig.10 and Fig.11 It is used to illustrate Figure 1 Figure 2 is a diagram of a battery module filled with foam components.

[0040] Fig.12 is a diagram showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] Fig.13 is a diagram showing a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] By describing the embodiments of the present disclosure in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present disclosure will become more apparent. It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative only for a better understanding of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure may be modified in various ways. In addition, in order to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure, the accompanying drawings are not drawn to actual scale, but the sizes of some components may be exaggerated.

[0043] Figure 1 is a diagram showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 2 It is shown Figure 1 A partially exploded perspective view of a battery module. Figure 3 It is shown in Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a diagram of a shell body according to another embodiment used at a module housing of a battery module of FIG. 1 , Figure 4 It is shown in Figure 2 A plan view of a housing cover and a busbar member used in a battery module, Figure 5 It is shown in Figure 4Figure 1 shows a support plate used in a battery module. Figure 6 It is shown Figure 5 Figure 1. The main part of the support plate. Figure 7 It is shown Figure 5 A three-dimensional bottom view of the support plate, Figure 8 It is shown Figure 7 A bottom view of the support plate, and Fig. 9 is used to show Figure 4 FIG. 2 is a diagram of a support plate according to another embodiment used in a battery module.

[0044] Reference Figures 1 to 9 , the battery module 10 may include a battery cell 100 , a module case 200 , a bus bar member 300 , a circuit board assembly 400 , a support plate 500 , and a foam member 600 .

[0045] The battery cell 100 is a secondary battery and may be provided as a pouch-type secondary battery, a rectangular secondary battery, or a cylindrical secondary battery. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, a case where the battery cell 100 is provided as a cylindrical battery cell as a cylindrical secondary battery will be described.

[0046] The battery cell 100 may be provided in plurality. The plurality of battery cells 100 may be accommodated in a module case 200, which will be explained later. The plurality of battery cells 100 may be stacked (explained later) inside the module case 200 along a horizontal direction of the module case 200 (explained later).

[0047] The module case 200 may accommodate the battery cells 100 and various electrical components of the battery module 10. To this end, a predetermined accommodation space may be provided in the module case 200.

[0048] The module case 200 may include a case body 210 and a case cover 250 .

[0049] The case main body 210 has an accommodation space and may accommodate the plurality of battery cells 100 and various electrical components of the battery module 10 .

[0050] In addition, if Figure 3 As shown, a plurality of cell insertion holes 235 may be formed in the inner bottom of the case body 230. The plurality of cell insertion holes 235 are provided to correspond to the number of the plurality of battery cells 100.

[0051] The bottoms of the plurality of battery cells 100 may be inserted into the plurality of cell insertion holes 235. Therefore, the plurality of battery cells 100 accommodated in the module case 200 may be more stably accommodated in the module case 200.

[0052] In addition, an adhesive or the like may be applied within the plurality of cell insertion holes 235. In this case, the plurality of battery cells 100 may be more stably fixed.

[0053] The case cover 250 forms an upper side of the module case 200 and may be coupled with the case main bodies 210 , 230 to enclose the battery cells 100 within the module case 200 .

[0054] The bus bar member 300 is disposed at an upper side of the plurality of battery cells 100 and may electrically connect the plurality of battery cells 100. The bus bar member 300 may be provided in plurality, and the plurality of bus bar members 300 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.

[0055] The circuit board assembly 400 may be electrically connected to the plurality of bus bar members 300. The circuit board assembly 400 may sense the voltage or temperature of the battery cell 100. In addition, the circuit board assembly 400 may include a terminal for connecting to an external power source, a control board for managing the battery cell 100, and the like.

[0056] The support plate 500 is disposed between the plurality of battery cells 100 and the plurality of bus bar members 300 and may support the plurality of bus bar members 300 .

[0057] The support plate 500 may include a plate body 510 , a bus bar support 530 , and guide ribs 550 .

[0058] The plate body 510 may be coupled to the module case 200 at an upper side of the plurality of battery cells 100. The plate body 510 may be disposed between the case main bodies 210, 230 and the case cover 250 of the module case 200.

[0059] The bus bar holder 530 may be provided in plurality. A plurality of bus bar holders 530 are provided to the board body 510 and are arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, and a plurality of bus bar members 300 may be placed on the plurality of bus bar holders 530 .

[0060] A plurality of predetermined spaces S may be provided between the plurality of bus bar holders 530. Through the plurality of predetermined spaces S, the foam member 600 may be injected through a dispenser unit D, which will be described later.

[0061] The plurality of bus bar supports 530 may include a guide wall 535 .

[0062] The guide wall 535 is disposed at an upper side of the plurality of bus bar holders 530 and may protrude to a predetermined height to support side surfaces of the plurality of bus bar members 300. By the guide wall 535, the plurality of bus bar members 300 may be more stably placed and fixed on the bus bar holder 530.

[0063] The guide rib 550 may be provided in plurality, and the plurality of guide ribs 550 may be provided at the lower side of the plurality of bus bar holders 530 to have a shape corresponding to the facing battery cells 100 .

[0064] The plurality of guide ribs 550 may at least partially contact the upper sides of the plurality of battery cells 100 to support the upper sides of the plurality of battery cells 100. The upper sides of the plurality of battery cells 100 may be arranged to at least partially fit into the upper sides of the plurality of guide ribs 550. Therefore, the plurality of battery cells 100 may be more stably supported within the module housing 200.

[0065] In addition, the plurality of guide ribs 550 may be at least partially adhered to the plurality of battery cells 100 by an adhesive, etc. In this case, the plurality of battery cells 100 may be more stably supported and fixed within the module case 200 .

[0066] In addition, if Fig. 9 As shown, the support plate 505 may further include a filling guide insertion hole 570 .

[0067] The filling guide insertion hole 570 may be provided in a hole shape having a predetermined size to guide the injection of the foam member 600 through the dispenser unit D, which will be described later. The filling guide insertion hole 570 may be provided in plural.

[0068] A plurality of filling guide insertion holes 570 may be provided in the plurality of bus bar supports 530. Specifically, a plurality of filling guide insertion holes 570 may be disposed in each bus bar support 530 to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a longitudinal direction of each bus bar support 530.

[0069] The plurality of filling guide insertion holes 570 may be arranged at an upper side corresponding to the space between the plurality of battery cells 100 in the height direction of the module case 200. Through the plurality of filling guide insertion holes 570, the foam member 600 (explained later) may be filled, and the filling efficiency of the foam member 600 (explained later) may be further improved.

[0070] The foam member 600 serves to prevent the plurality of battery cells 100 from shaking, and may be filled in a space between the plurality of battery cells 100 at the bottom of the support plate 500 .

[0071] The foam member 600 may be provided as a composite material capable of filling a predetermined space. The foam member 600 may be provided as rubber foam, polyurethane foam, foam glass, etc., but is not limited thereto, and may also be provided as a material capable of filling other spaces.

[0072] When manufacturing the battery module 10 , the foam member 600 may be filled into the module case 200 through the dispenser unit D containing the foam member 600 .

[0073] Hereinafter, a process of filling the foam member 600 according to this embodiment will be described in more detail.

[0074] Fig.10 and Fig.11 It is used to describe the foam components filled in Figure 1 Figure 2. Battery module of the battery pack.

[0075] Reference Fig.10 , the battery module 10 may be filled with the foam member 600 to prevent the battery cell 100 from shaking to more stably support and fix the battery cell 100. The foam member 600 may be filled using a dispenser unit D containing the foam member 600. A filling nozzle for injecting the foam member 600 may be provided at an end of the dispenser unit D.

[0076] In this embodiment, the foam member 600 may be filled by injecting the foam member 600 of the distributor unit D into the predetermined space S between the bus bar supports 530 of the support plate 500 at the upper side of the plate body 510 of the support plate 500. That is, the foam member 600 may be directly injected through the distributor unit D at the upper side of the plate body 510 of the support plate 500 through the predetermined space S.

[0077] Therefore, in this embodiment, the foam member 600 of the dispenser unit D may be injected more conveniently, thereby significantly improving the manufacturing efficiency of the battery module 10 .

[0078] refer to Fig.11 , except for the predetermined space S between the bus bar supports 530 of the support plate 500, the foam member 600 may be filled through the filling guide insertion hole 570. A worker such as a manufacturer may also inject the foam member 600 by inserting the filling nozzle of the dispenser unit D through the filling guide insertion hole 570.

[0079] Therefore, the foam member 600 may be more uniformly filled in the spaces between the battery cells 100 , and thus the foam member 600 may be more uniformly distributed in the spaces between the battery cells 100 .

[0080] In this embodiment, the foam member 600 may be injected more conveniently and directly through the support plates 500 , 505 , and the foam member 600 may be filled in the spaces between the battery cells 100 more uniformly.

[0081] If the foam member 600 is completely injected, a worker or the like may place the bus bar member 300 on the bus bar supporter 530 of the support plate 500 and connect it to the circuit board assembly 400 .

[0082] Thereafter, a worker or the like may install other electrical components of the battery module 10 within the case main bodies 210 , 230 of the module case 200 , and then connect the case cover 250 to the case main bodies 210 , 230 .

[0083] As described above, in this embodiment, the battery cell 100 can be more stably supported by the foam member 600, and the battery cell 100 can be more effectively prevented from shaking due to external vibration. Therefore, in this embodiment, the risk of damage to the battery cell 100 due to external impact, etc. can be significantly reduced.

[0084] Fig.12 is a diagram for explaining a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Fig.13 It is a diagram for explaining a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0085] Reference Fig.12 and 13 , the battery pack 1 may include at least one battery module 10 and a battery pack case 50 for encapsulating the at least one battery module 10 according to the previous embodiment.

[0086] The battery pack 1 may be provided as a fuel source of the vehicle to the vehicle V. As an example, the battery pack 1 may be provided to an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, and various other types of vehicles V capable of using the battery pack 1 as a fuel source.

[0087] Furthermore, in addition to the vehicle V, the battery pack 1 may be provided in other equipment, devices, or facilities such as an energy storage system using a secondary battery.

[0088] As described above, the battery pack 1 of this embodiment and the equipment, instrument or facility such as vehicle V having the battery pack 1 include the battery module 10 described above, so that the battery pack 1 having all the advantages of the above-mentioned battery module 10, or the equipment, instrument, facility, etc. such as vehicle V having the battery pack 1 can be realized.

[0089] According to the various embodiments as described above, it is possible to provide the battery module 10 that can more stably support the battery cells 100 , and the battery pack 1 and the vehicle V including the battery module 10 .

[0090] Furthermore, according to the various embodiments described above, a battery module 10 that can improve the safety of the battery cells 100 by preventing the battery cells 100 from being damaged due to external impact or the like, and a battery pack 1 and a vehicle V including the battery module 10 may be provided.

[0091] Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described, and that persons skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications within the scope of the present disclosure, and that these modifications should not be understood solely from the technical ideas and viewpoints of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A battery module, comprising: A module housing having a predetermined accommodation space and including a housing body and a housing cover; a plurality of battery cells, the plurality of battery cells being accommodated in the module housing; a plurality of bus bar members disposed on upper sides of the plurality of battery cells to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells; a support plate disposed between the plurality of battery cells and the case cover to support the plurality of bus bar members between the support plate and the case cover; as well as a foam member filling the space between the plurality of battery cells at the bottom of the support plate, Wherein, the support plate comprises: a plate body coupled to the module case at an upper side of the plurality of battery cells; and a plurality of bus bar supports provided to the plate body and provided to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance so that the plurality of bus bar members are provided on the plurality of bus bar supports, and wherein a plurality of guide ribs are provided at the lower sides of the plurality of bus bar supports and are shaped corresponding to the plurality of battery cells facing the plurality of bus bar supports, wherein the upper sides of the plurality of battery cells are arranged to at least partially fit into the upper sides of the plurality of guide ribs, wherein the plurality of guide ribs are at least partially adhered to the plurality of battery cells, wherein the foam element is filled using a dispenser unit containing the foam element, and The support plate has at least one filling guide insertion hole to guide the dispenser unit to be injected into the foam member, and the at least one filling guide insertion hole is disposed on at least one of the plurality of guide ribs.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The at least one filling guide insertion hole is arranged at an upper side corresponding to spaces between the plurality of battery cells in a height direction of the module case.

3. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The at least one filling guide insertion hole is provided to the plurality of bus bar supports.

4. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The filling guide insertion holes are provided as a plurality of filling guide insertion holes, and The plurality of filling guide insertion holes are provided to each bus bar support.

5. The battery module according to claim 4, in, The plurality of filling guide insertion holes are arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a longitudinal direction of each bus bar supporter.

6. The battery module according to claim 1, in, A guide wall protruding to a predetermined height is provided at an upper side of the plurality of bus bar supports to support side surfaces of the plurality of bus bar members.

7. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The plurality of battery cells are arranged as cylindrical battery cells, and The cylindrical battery cells are stacked in a horizontal direction within the module housing.

8. A battery pack, comprising: at least one battery module, the at least one battery module being a battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 7; as well as A battery pack housing is configured to enclose the at least one battery module.

9. A vehicle, comprising: At least one battery pack according to claim 8.

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