Battery cell holder and battery module including the same

Abstract

Disclosed are a battery cell holder and a battery module including the same. The battery cell holder includes: a plurality of partition walls defining insertion holes into which battery cells are inserted; a plurality of support walls located between the plurality of partition walls; and a plurality of protrusions formed on the plurality of partition walls, in which a distance between a center of the insertion hole and the plurality of support walls may be smaller than a distance between the center of the insertion hole and the plurality of protrusions.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0117639 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on September 5, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0002] One or more embodiments relate to a battery cell holder and a battery module including the same. Background Art

[0003] Secondary batteries refer to batteries that can be charged and discharged, unlike primary batteries that cannot be recharged. Secondary batteries are used as energy sources for mobile devices, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, electric bicycles, and uninterruptible power supplies, and can be used in the form of a single battery or in the form of a module in which a plurality of batteries are connected to form a single unit according to the type of external device to which they are applied.

[0004] In addition, as secondary battery applications require larger and larger capacities, the size of battery cells is gradually increasing to increase energy density. For example, in the case of multiple cylindrical cells, the diameter and height are gradually increasing, and as battery cells become larger and larger, damage to the battery cells due to volume changes during charging becomes a problem.

[0005] The above-mentioned background technology refers to technical information that the inventor possesses in order to derive the present invention or obtained in the process of deriving the present invention, and is not necessarily a known technology disclosed to the general public before applying for the present invention. Summary of the invention

[0006] One or more embodiments include a battery cell holder and a battery module including the battery cell holder, wherein the battery cell holder is configured to prevent (or at least mitigate) damage to the battery cell and the battery module by suppressing expansion of the battery cell.

[0007] However, the above-described battery cell holder and the battery module including the same are merely illustrative, and the problem that the present disclosure seeks to solve is not limited thereto.

[0008] Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments of the disclosure.

[0009] According to one or more embodiments, the battery cell holder includes partition walls defining an insertion hole into which the battery cell is inserted, a support wall positioned between the partition walls, and a protrusion on the partition walls. The distance between the center of the insertion hole and the support wall may be smaller than the distance between the center of the insertion hole and the protrusion.

[0010] The support wall may contact the battery cell in an initial state, and the protrusion may not contact the battery cell in an initial state. In other words, the support wall may be configured to contact the battery cell in an initial state, and the protrusion may be configured not to contact the battery cell in an initial state.

[0011] The protrusion may be configured to contact the battery cell when the battery cell swells.

[0012] At least a portion of the support wall may be convexly bent toward the insertion hole. In other words, at least a portion of the support wall may be bent outwardly from the middle of the support wall toward the insertion hole.

[0013] The support wall may include sections having different curvatures.

[0014] At least a portion of the support wall may include a first concave portion that is concave toward the insertion hole. In other words, at least a portion of the support wall may include a first concave portion that is bent inwardly relative to the middle of the support wall.

[0015] The first concave portion may not contact the battery cell in an initial state, and the first concave portion may be configured to contact the battery cell in response to expansion of the battery cell.

[0016] A distance between the first concave portion and a center of the insertion hole may be smaller than a distance between the protrusion and a center of the insertion hole.

[0017] The support wall and the projection continuously extend in a height direction of the battery cell holder.

[0018] The protrusions may each be positioned at a center in the length direction of a plurality of partition walls extending in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction.

[0019] Each of the protrusions has a flat surface that protrudes toward the insertion hole.

[0020] Each of the protrusions has a curved surface that protrudes toward the insertion hole.

[0021] Each of the partition walls includes connection portions located at both ends of the partition wall in a length direction thereof and connected to the support wall, and a distance between the connection portions and a center of the insertion hole may be greater than a distance between the protrusion and the center of the insertion hole.

[0022] The cross-sectional area of ​​the connection portion may gradually widen from the center of the partition wall toward the support wall.

[0023] The battery cell holder may further include an auxiliary protrusion on the connecting portion.

[0024] A distance between the auxiliary protrusion and the center of the insertion hole may be greater than a distance between the protrusion and the center of the insertion hole.

[0025] The support wall may be at a position extending in two different directions from an end of each of the partition walls.

[0026] Two of the partition walls may be parallel to a first direction, the other two partition walls may be parallel to a second direction crossing the first direction, and the support wall may be located between the respective partition walls to define an insertion hole having a closed contour.

[0027] The support wall may define an opening, and the opening may be located between the insertion hole and the other insertion hole.

[0028] According to one or more embodiments, a battery module may include: a housing that accommodates a battery cell; a battery cell holder that is inside the housing and configured to accommodate the battery cell; a bus bar that electrically connects the battery cells together; and a cover that covers the upper surface of the housing. The battery cell holder may include: a partition wall that defines an insertion hole into which one of a plurality of battery cells is inserted; a support wall that is positioned between the partition walls; and a protrusion on the partition wall. The distance between the center of the insertion hole and the support wall may be smaller than the distance between the center of the insertion hole and the protrusion.

[0029] In addition to the above aspects, features and advantages, further aspects, features and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description, claims and drawings for implementing the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certain embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent through the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 It is an exploded perspective view of the battery module; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a battery cell holder; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a battery cell holder having a battery cell inserted therein; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a battery cell holder in which a battery cell is not inserted; Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a battery cell holder before the battery cell expands; Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a protrusion of a battery cell holder before the battery cell expands; Figure 7 is an enlarged view of a support wall of a battery cell holder before expansion of a battery cell; Figure 8 is an enlarged view of a battery cell holder after the battery cell has expanded; Fig. 9is an enlarged view of a protrusion of a battery cell holder after the battery cell has expanded; Fig.10 is an enlarged view of a support wall of a battery cell holder after expansion of a battery cell; Fig.11 is an enlarged view of a support wall of a battery cell holder before expansion of a battery cell; Fig.12 is an enlarged view of a support wall of a battery cell holder after expansion of a battery cell; Fig.13 is an enlarged view of a protrusion of a battery cell holder before the battery cell expands; Fig.14 is an enlarged view of a protrusion of a battery cell holder after the battery cell has expanded; Fig.15 is an enlarged view of a battery cell holder before the battery cell expands; Fig.16 is an enlarged view of the battery cell retainer after a first expansion of the battery cell; and Fig.17 is an enlarged view of the battery cell holder after the second expansion of the battery cell. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, examples of which are shown in the drawings, wherein the same reference numerals always represent the same elements. In this regard, the embodiments provided may have different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein. Therefore, the embodiments are described below only by reference to the drawings to explain aspects of this specification. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items. If a statement such as "at least one (kind / person) of ... is placed after a column of elements, the entire column of elements is modified without modifying the individual elements of the column.

[0032] By referring to the detailed description and the accompanying drawings of the embodiments, some embodiments of the present disclosure and the methods according to some embodiments of the present disclosure can be understood. The described embodiments may have various modifications and may be implemented in different forms, and are not limited to the embodiments described herein. In addition, some or all of the features of the various embodiments of the present disclosure may be combined with each other. Each embodiment may be implemented independently or in relation to each other. The described embodiments are provided as examples to ensure that the present disclosure is complete, and are also intended to fully convey the concept of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. The present disclosure is subject to all modifications, equivalents and alternatives within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention. Therefore, processes, elements and techniques that are not necessary for those skilled in the art to fully understand the embodiments of the present disclosure may not be described.

[0033] Unless otherwise specified, throughout the drawings and the specification, the same reference numerals, letters or combinations thereof denote the same components, and thus descriptions already given are omitted. In addition, in order to clearly explain the present invention, parts irrelevant to the description have been omitted.

[0034] The relative sizes of elements, layers, and regions in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity. The use of hatching and / or shading in the drawings is generally used to make the boundaries between adjacent elements clear. Therefore, unless otherwise specified, the presence or absence of hatching or shading does not indicate a requirement for a specific material, material property, size, ratio, commonality between the illustrated elements, and / or other characteristics, properties, preferred forms, or attributes of the elements.

[0035] Here, various embodiments are described with reference to embodiments and / or cross-sectional examples as schematic diagrams of intermediate structures. Therefore, the appearance of the drawings may change, for example, due to manufacturing techniques and / or tolerances. In addition, in order to illustrate embodiments of the concepts according to the present invention, the specific structural or functional descriptions disclosed in this specification are only examples. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in this specification should not be interpreted as being limited to the shape of the regions shown, and include changes in shape caused, for example, by manufacturing.

[0036] The regions shown in the drawings are schematic in nature, and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the actual shape of the device region and are not intended to limit the actual shape of the device region. In addition, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the described embodiments may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure.

[0037] Many specific details are set forth in the specification to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments. However, various embodiments may be practiced without or including one or more of these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to avoid unnecessarily obscuring various embodiments.

[0038] In order to describe the relationship between an element or feature shown in the drawings and another element or feature, spatial relative terms such as "below ... ", "above ... ", "lower", "upper" may be used herein for ease of description. In addition to the orientation shown in the drawings, spatial relative terms are also intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation. For example, when the device in the drawings is turned over, other elements or features described as "below ... " or "bottom" will face "above" other elements or features. Therefore, as illustrative terms, "downward" and "down" can include both the upper direction and the lower direction. The device can be oriented in different directions (for example, rotated 90 degrees or in other directions), and the spatial relative description used herein should be interpreted accordingly. Similarly, when a first part is described as being arranged "above" a second part, this may mean that the first part is arranged above or below the second part.

[0039] In addition, the expression "viewed from the top" means viewing a portion of an object from above, and the expression "in a schematic cross-sectional view" means when viewing a schematic cross-section taken by vertically cutting a portion of an object from the side. The term "viewed from the side" means that the first object can be above, below or to the side of the second object, and vice versa. In addition, the term "overlapping" may include layers, laminations, facing, extending, covering or partially covering, or any other suitable term that a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand. The expression "non-overlapping" may include meanings such as "spaced apart from..." or "separated from..." and any other suitable equivalents recognized and understood by those skilled in the art. The term "facing" may mean that the first object may directly or indirectly face the second object. When there is a third object between the first object and the second object, the first object and the second object face each other, but can be understood as being indirectly opposite to each other.

[0040] When an element, layer, region or component is referred to as "forming", "connecting" or "bonding" to another element, the element, layer, region or component may be directly formed on another element, layer, region or component, or may be indirectly formed on another element, layer, region or component, may be indirectly connected to or indirectly bonded to another element, layer, region or component. In addition, this may refer to the direct or indirect combination or connection of an element, layer, region or component and the integral or non-integrated combination or connection of an element, layer, region or component, so that one or more elements, layers, regions or components may exist. For example, when an element, layer, region or component is referred to as "electrically connected" or "electrically bonded" to another element, layer, region or component, the element, layer, region or component may be directly electrically connected or directly electrically bonded to another element, layer, region or component, or other elements, layers, regions or components may exist. However, "direct connection" or "direct bonding" means that a component is directly connected or directly combined with another component without an intermediate component, or directly on another component. In addition, in this specification, when a part of a layer, film, region, guide plate, etc. is formed in another part, the formation direction is not limited to the upper direction, and includes the part being formed on the side or lower part. On the contrary, when a part of a layer, film, region, guide plate, etc. is formed "below" another part, this includes the case where the other part exists between the part and the other part and the case where the part is "immediately below" the other part. In addition, other expressions describing the relationship between components, such as "between...", "directly between...", "adjacent to..." and "directly adjacent to...", can be similarly interpreted. In addition, when an element or layer is referred to as "between" two elements or layers, it can be the only element between the two elements or layers, or other elements can be present between the two elements or layers.

[0041] For the purpose of this specification, expressions such as "at least one (kind / person) or more (kind / person)" or "any one (kind / person)" do not limit the order of individual elements. For example, "at least one (kind / person) of X, Y and Z", "at least one (kind / person) of X, Y or Z", "at least one (kind / person) selected from the group consisting of X, Y and Z" may include only X, only Y, only Z, or any combination of two or more of X, Y and Z. Similarly, expressions such as "at least one (kind / person) of A and B" and "at least one (kind / person) of A or B" may include A, B, or A and B. As used herein, the term "and / or" generally includes any combination of one or more of the relevant listed items. For example, expressions such as "A and / or B" may include A, B, or A and B.

[0042] Terms such as "first", "second", "third", etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and / or sections, but these elements, components, regions, layers and / or sections are not limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Therefore, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, the first element, first component, first region, first layer or first section described below may be referred to as the second element, second component, second region, second layer or second section. Describing an element as a "first" element may not require or imply the existence of a second or other element. Terms such as "first", "second", etc. may be used herein to distinguish between elements of different categories or groups. For clarity, terms such as "first", "second", etc. may refer to "first category (or first group)", "second category (or second group)", etc., respectively.

[0043] The terms used in this application are only used to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the invention. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, singular terms are intended to include plural terms, and plural terms are also intended to include singular terms. The terms "comprising", "including" and "having" used herein mean to specify the presence of specified features, integers or steps. These statements do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other functions, steps, operations, components and / or their groups.

[0044] When one or more embodiments may be implemented differently, a specific process order may be performed in a different order than described. For example, two processes described in succession may be performed substantially simultaneously or in an order opposite to the order described.

[0045] As used herein, the terms "substantially," "approximately," "approximately," and similar terms are used as terms of approximation rather than as terms of degree, and are intended to account for the inherent deviations in measured or calculated values ​​that one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize. Taking into account the measurements in question and the errors associated with the measurement of a particular quantity (i.e., the limitations of the measurement system), "approximately" or "approximately" as used herein include the stated value and mean within an acceptable range of deviation for the particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, "approximately" can mean within one or more standard deviations, or within ±30%, ±20%, ±10%, ±5% of the specified value.

[0046] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical or scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs. Unless explicitly defined herein, terms (such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries) should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant technology and / or this specification, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense.

[0047] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module 10, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a battery cell holder 200, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a battery cell holder 200 in which a battery cell C is accommodated, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the battery cell holder 200 in which the battery cell C is not inserted, Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the battery cell holder 200 before the battery cell C expands, Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the protrusion 230 of the battery cell holder 200 before the battery cell C expands, Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the support wall 220 of the battery cell holder 200 before the battery cell C expands, Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the battery cell holder 200 after the battery cell C is expanded, Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the protrusion 230 of the battery cell holder 200 after the battery cell C is expanded, and Fig.10 is an enlarged view of the support wall 220 of the battery cell holder 200 after the battery cell C is expanded.

[0048] The battery module 10 is a battery assembly in which battery cells C are grouped into one group to protect the battery cells C from external impact, heat, vibration, etc. The battery module 10 may include battery cells C having a prismatic shape, a pouch shape, and / or a cylindrical shape. Hereinafter, a description is given with respect to an embodiment in which the battery module 10 includes a battery cell C having a prismatic shape. The battery module 10 may be applied to large applications such as energy storage systems (ESS) or small applications such as power tools. In one or more embodiments, the battery module 10 may be applied to electric vehicles. The battery module 10 may be used alone or may be electrically connected to other battery modules 10 to form a battery pack.

[0049] The battery module 10 may include a battery cell C, a housing 100, a battery cell holder 200, a bus bar 300, a cover 400, and a cooling plate 500. In one or more embodiments, the battery module 10 may include the housing 100 accommodating the battery cell C and the battery cell holder 200, the battery cell holder 200 located inside the housing 100 to insert the battery cell C therein, the bus bar 300 electrically connecting the battery cells C together, and the cover 400 covering the upper surface of the housing 100.

[0050] As described above, a plurality of battery cells C may form the battery module 10, and the battery cells C may be, for example, cylindrical. The number and arrangement of the battery cells C may vary according to the specifications and applications of the battery module 10. In one or more embodiments, the plurality of battery cells C may be arranged in a rectangular shape having 8 battery cells in the horizontal direction (e.g., in the length direction of the battery module 10, in the X-axis direction) and 6 battery cells in the vertical direction (e.g., in the width direction of the battery module 10, in the Y-axis direction), for a total of 48 battery cells. The number and arrangement of the battery cells C are not limited thereto and may vary. In addition, each battery cell C may have a diameter of approximately 20 mm or greater (e.g., approximately 46 mm or greater).

[0051] The housing 100 may accommodate and support a plurality of battery cells C. In one or more embodiments, the housing 100 may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape with a hollow interior, and a plurality of battery cells C and a battery cell holder 200 may be accommodated therein. The housing 100 may include a module bus bar for connecting to other battery modules 10. In addition, each housing 100 may include a connector connected to a battery monitoring system (BMS).

[0052] The battery cell holder 200 is configured to prevent the movement of the plurality of battery cells C contained in the housing 100, thereby preventing the battery cells C from being damaged or separated from their designated positions. The battery cell holder 200 may be located inside the housing 100, and a plurality of battery cells C may be inserted into the battery cell holder 200. The battery cell holder 200 may be inside the housing 100 without a gap with the inner surface of the housing 100, so that the outer surface of the battery cell holder 200 is supported on the inner surface of the housing 100. The battery cell holder 200 may include a honeycomb structure including a plurality of openings and a plurality of structures dividing the openings therein. In one or more embodiments, the battery cell holder 200 may include a honeycomb structure in which a plurality of octagonal structures each including an opening are repeated in an array.

[0053] The battery cell holder 200 may have a shorter height than the battery cell C. Therefore, when the battery cell C is inserted into the battery cell holder 200 , the top of the battery cell C may protrude above the battery cell holder 200 . The protruding portion of the battery cell C may be connected to the bus bar 300 .

[0054] The battery cell holder 200 may include partition walls 210, support walls 220, and protrusions 230. In one or more embodiments, the battery cell holder 200 may include a plurality of partition walls 210 forming or defining an insertion hole 240 into which the battery cell C is inserted, a plurality of support walls 220 located between the plurality of partition walls 210, and a plurality of protrusions 230 on the plurality of partition walls 210. A distance between a center of the insertion hole 240 and one of the plurality of support walls 220 may be smaller than a distance between a center of the insertion hole 240 and one of the plurality of protrusions 230.

[0055] The partition walls 210 may partition the insertion holes 240 and may extend in a height direction (e.g., a height direction of the battery module 10, a Z-axis direction). A plurality of partition walls 210 may be located around one insertion hole 240. In one or more embodiments, four partition walls 210 may be located around one insertion hole 240, and two partition walls 210 may be located to face each other relative to the center of the insertion hole 240. Among the four partition walls 210, two partition walls 210 may be parallel to each other or substantially parallel to each other and extend in a first direction (e.g., a length direction of the battery cell holder 200 or a length direction of the battery cell holder 200). Figure 3 The other two partition walls 210 extending in the X-axis direction in the battery cell holder 200 and parallel to or substantially parallel to each other may be arranged in a second direction (eg, a width direction or a width direction of the battery cell holder 200) intersecting the first direction. Figure 3 The plurality of support walls 220 may be positioned between the plurality of partition walls 210. The partition walls 210 may extend continuously or discontinuously in the height direction (eg, the Z-axis direction) of the battery cell holder 200.

[0056] The ends of the partition wall 210 may be connected to the plurality of support walls 220. In one or more embodiments, as shown in FIG. Figure 3As shown in , two support walls 220 can be connected to the ends of one partition wall 210. Two support walls 220 connected to the same end of the partition wall 210 can branch in different directions so that the two support walls 220 can define different insertion holes 240, respectively. In addition, one connected partition wall 210 can separate an insertion hole 240 on one side and another insertion hole 240 on the other side. In addition, a plurality of partition walls 210 and a plurality of support walls 220 can be connected to each other to define the insertion hole 240 on the inner side. In one or more embodiments, when viewed from a plan view, four partition walls 210 and four support walls 220 can be connected to each other to form a substantially octagonal outline.

[0057] The partition wall 210 may include a connection portion 211. The plurality of partition walls 210 may each include a connection portion 211 connected to the support wall 220 at both ends in the length direction. Figure 3 As shown in , the connection portion 211 is located at both ends of the partition wall 210 in the length direction and can be connected to the adjacent support wall 220. The connection portion 211 may have a shape in which the cross-sectional area gradually increases from the center of the partition wall 210 toward the support wall 220. Therefore, the connection strength between the partition wall 210 and the support wall 220 can be increased. When the battery cell C is inserted into the insertion hole 240, the connection portion 211 can be spaced apart from the outer surface of the battery cell C. Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 2 , the distance L3 between the inner surface of the connecting portion 211 and the center point P of the insertion hole 240 may be longer than the distance L2 between the protrusion 230 and the center point P, and longer than the distance L1 between the support wall 220 and the center point P. In one or more embodiments, as Figure 7 As shown in , after the battery cell C is inserted into the insertion hole 240 and before the battery cell C expands, the connection portion 211 may be spaced apart from the outer surface of the battery cell C by a gap G2. Therefore, when the battery cell C is inserted into the insertion hole 240, there is a sufficient free space 241 between the battery cell C and the partition wall 210, so that the battery cell C can be smoothly inserted into the insertion hole 240. In addition, even if the battery cell C expands and contacts the support wall 220 and the protrusion 230, the battery cell C can be easily taken out through the free space 241 between the connection portion 211 and the battery cell C. The connection portion 211 may extend in three directions and be connected to the partition wall 210 and the two support walls 220.

[0058] The partition wall 210 may not be in contact with the battery cell C. In one or more embodiments, Figure 3As shown in , when the battery cell C is inserted into the battery cell holder 200 and has not yet expanded, the support wall 220 may be in contact with the battery cell C, and the partition wall 210 and the protrusion 230 may not be in contact with the battery cell C. In addition, as shown in Figure 8 , when the battery cell C inserted into the battery cell holder 200 expands, a portion of the battery cell C contacts the protrusion 230, and the partition wall 210 and the connection portion 211 still do not contact the battery cell C. Therefore, when the battery cell C is inserted into or removed from the insertion hole 240, a sufficient gap is formed between the battery cell C and the partition wall 210 so that the battery cell C can be easily taken out. However, when the battery cell C expands excessively, a portion of the battery cell C contacts the partition wall 210.

[0059] The partition wall 210 may be located between two adjacent insertion holes 240. In one or more embodiments, Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown in , one partition wall 210 tangent to one insertion hole 240 may be tangent to another insertion hole 240 adjacent in the length direction (e.g., X-axis direction) of the battery cell holder 200 or another insertion hole 240 adjacent in the width direction (e.g., Y-axis direction) of the battery cell holder 200. That is, two adjacent insertion holes 240 may share one partition wall 210. The partition wall 210 may be located between adjacent insertion holes 240 in a direction intersecting the extension direction (e.g., length direction) of the partition wall 210. In one or more embodiments, in a first direction (e.g., Figure 3 The partition wall 210 extending in the X-axis direction in the first direction may be positioned along a second direction (eg, Figure 3 In one or more embodiments, the partition wall 210 extending in the second direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction) may be located between two adjacent insertion holes 240 in the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction) intersecting the second direction. When four partition walls 210 are located around one insertion hole 240, the insertion hole 240 may be located between four insertion holes 240 adjacent to the four partition walls 210.

[0060] The support wall 220 may partition at least a portion of the insertion hole 240. A plurality of support walls 220 may be located around one insertion hole 240, and the support wall 220 may be located between two adjacent partition walls 210. The number of support walls 220 may be the same as the number of partition walls 210. In one or more embodiments, there may be four support walls 220 for one insertion hole 240, and each support wall 220 may be connected to each connection portion 211 of two adjacent partition walls 210. In addition, two support walls 220 may extend from one connection portion 211 in different directions. In an embodiment where a plurality of partition walls 210 are positioned side by side in the first direction and the second direction, the plurality of support walls 220 may be positioned in directions intersecting each other along the first direction and the second direction. In one or more embodiments, a center line passing from the center point P of the insertion hole 240 to the center of the length direction of the plurality (e.g., four) partition walls 210 that partition the insertion hole 240 may extend parallel (or substantially parallel) in the first direction and the second direction, respectively. In addition, a line passing from the center point P of the insertion hole 240 to the center of the length direction of the support wall 220 may extend between the center lines, and may extend to form an angle of approximately 45 degrees, for example. The support wall 220 may extend continuously or discontinuously in the height direction (e.g., Z-axis direction) of the battery cell holder 200. The support wall 220 may have a height equal to, lower than, or higher than the height of the partition wall 210.

[0061] At least a portion of the plurality of support walls 220 may be bent inwardly toward the insertion hole 240. The support wall 220 may have a shape that is convexly bent toward the center point P of the insertion hole 240. At least a portion of the support wall 220 may protrude further into the insertion hole 240 than the partition wall 210. In one or more embodiments, a distance (e.g., the shortest distance) L1 between the support wall 220 and the center point P may be smaller than a distance L3 between the connection portion 211 and the center point P and smaller than a distance L2 between the protrusion 230 and the center point P. Therefore, a virtual circle extending from the center of the plurality of partition walls 210 that separate one insertion hole 240 may have a radius greater than a radius of a virtual circle extending from the center of the plurality of support walls 220 that separate the insertion hole 240. That is, a virtual circle extending from the center of the plurality of partition walls 210 may surround a virtual circle extending from the center of the plurality of support walls 220.

[0062] When the battery cell C is inserted into the battery cell holder 200 and / or while the battery cell C is inserted into the battery cell holder 200, the support wall 220 may contact the battery cell C. Figure 3 and Figure 5As shown in , when the battery cell C is inserted into the insertion hole 240, the support wall 220 may contact the battery cell C to support and fix the battery cell C, and may be configured to suppress the expansion and deformation of the battery cell C. In one or more embodiments, the four support walls 220 may be positioned at equal (or substantially equal) intervals and / or at equal (or substantially equal) angles relative to the center point P to support the battery cell C in four directions. The support wall 220 may be in substantially linear contact with the battery cell C. In one or more embodiments, the support wall 220 may be in substantially surface contact with the battery cell C. In one or more embodiments, when the battery cell C is first inserted into the insertion hole 240, the most protruding portion of the support wall 220 may be in linear contact with the outer surface of the battery cell C. In response to the expansion of the battery cell C, the support wall 220 is pressed outward and the support wall 220 may be in surface contact with the battery cell C. Therefore, when the battery cell C is first inserted, the friction or resistance between the support wall 220 and the battery cell C can be relatively low, and when the battery cell C expands, the contact area between the support wall 220 and the battery cell C expands, so that the battery cell C can be stably supported while suppressing expansion.

[0063] The distance between the two support walls 220 facing each other based on the center point P may be equal to or less than the diameter of the battery cell C. Therefore, when the battery cell C is inserted into the insertion hole 240, the support wall 220 may stably support the battery cell C. In one or more embodiments, the distance between the two support walls 220 may be greater than the diameter of the battery cell C. That is, in one or more embodiments, the support wall 220 may not contact the battery cell C when the battery cell C is first inserted, but may contact the battery cell C later when the battery cell C begins to expand. Therefore, when the battery cell C is first inserted into the insertion hole 240, the battery cell C may be inserted more smoothly and more stably.

[0064] The support wall 220 can separate the openings 250. In one or more embodiments, as Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown in , a plurality of support walls 220 may separate an opening 250 on the inner side. In one or more embodiments, four support walls 220 may separate one opening 250. The support wall 220 may be located between the insertion hole 240 and the opening 250. Relative to the support wall, the insertion hole 240 may be located on one side of the support wall 220, and the opening 250 may be located on the other side of the support wall 220 (e.g., the insertion hole 240 and the opening 250 may be located on opposite sides of the support wall 220). At least a portion of the plurality of support walls 220 separating one opening 250 may be bent outward away from the opening 250. That is, the support wall 220 may have a convex shape toward the insertion hole 240 and a concave shape toward the opening 250.

[0065] Some of the plurality of support walls 220 formed on the battery cell holder 200 may contact the housing 100. In one or more embodiments, among the plurality of support walls 220, the support wall 220 located outside the battery cell holder 200 may be as shown in FIG. Figure 1 and Figure 2 240 and may not define other insertion holes 240 or openings 250. In addition, when the battery cell holder 200 is inserted into the housing 100, the support wall 220 located on the outside of the battery cell holder 200 may contact the inner surface of the housing 100. Therefore, the battery cell holder 200 may be firmly supported by the housing 100 so that the battery cell holder 200 does not deviate (or substantially deviate) from the specified position. In addition, the insertion hole 240 may directly contact the housing 100 to prevent the battery cell C accommodated in the insertion hole 240 from being subjected to external impact.

[0066] The supporting wall 220 in contact with the housing 100 may have a shorter length than the other supporting walls 220. Figure 2 As shown in , some support walls 220 located on the outside or outer portion of the battery cell holder 200 may have a shorter length than other support walls 220, for example, approximately half the length of other support walls 220. Therefore, even if an external impact is applied to the housing 100, the risk of damage to the support wall 220 in contact with the housing 100 can be reduced. The support wall 220 in contact with the housing 100 may form an empty space between the inner surface of the housing 100 and the support wall 220. The empty space may increase the rigidity of the support wall 220.

[0067] The protrusion 230 may be formed on the partition wall 210 to support the battery cell C. In one or more embodiments, one or more protrusions 230 are on one surface of the partition wall 210 facing the insertion hole 240, and may selectively contact the battery cell C. The protrusion 230 may be on one or more of the plurality of partition walls 210 that separate one insertion hole 240. In one or more embodiments in which four partition walls 210 separate one insertion hole 240, the protrusion 230 may be formed on all four partition walls 210 or on one or more of the four partition walls 210. In an embodiment in which one protrusion 230 is on the partition wall 210, the protrusion 230 may have a distance L2 from the center point P of the insertion hole 240. The distance L2 may be longer than the distance L1 between the support wall 220 and the center point P, and may be shorter than the distance L3 between the connection portion 211 and the center point P. Therefore, before the battery cell C is first inserted into the insertion hole 240 and expands, the battery cell C may not contact the protrusion 230. Thereafter, when the battery cell C expands, the protrusion 230 may contact the battery cell C to suppress the expansion and deformation of the battery cell C. That is, in addition to the support wall 220, the protrusion 230 may secondarily suppress the expansion and deformation of the battery cell C. In one or more embodiments where a plurality of protrusions 230 are on the partition wall 210, the distance between the protrusion 230 located closest to the center point P of the insertion hole 240 and the center point P may be L2. In one or more embodiments, when the battery cell C is initially inserted into the insertion hole 240, the plurality of support walls 220 may contact the battery cell C, and the plurality of protrusions 230 may not contact the battery cell C. In addition, when the battery cell C expands, the plurality of protrusions 230 may contact the battery cell C.

[0068] The protrusion 230 may be located at the center (or substantially the center) of the partition wall 210. In one or more embodiments, the protrusion 230 may be located at the center (or substantially the center) of the partition wall 210 in the length direction and may protrude toward the insertion hole 240. In one or more embodiments, the plurality of protrusions 230 may each be located in a first direction (e.g., Figure 4 The X-axis direction in the first direction) and a second direction intersecting the first direction (for example, Figure 4 The two protrusions 230 facing each other with respect to the center point P of the insertion hole 240 may be symmetrical (or substantially symmetrical) to each other. Figure 5 and Figure 8 As shown in FIG. , two protrusions 230 may be located through the center point P and in a first direction (eg, Figure 5 and Figure 8The two protrusions 230 may be located on a virtual line CL1 extending in the X-axis direction of the second direction (eg, Figure 5 and Figure 8 The virtual line CL2 extends in the Y-axis direction. Figure 5 As shown in , when the battery cell C is first inserted into the insertion hole 240, a plurality of support walls 220 (e.g., four support walls 220) may support the battery cell C at different positions. And when the battery cell C expands, a plurality of protrusions 230 (e.g., four protrusions 230) may support the battery cell C at different positions. In addition, the plurality of support walls 220 and the plurality of protrusions 230 surrounding one insertion hole 240 may be arranged at equal (or substantially equal) angles (e.g., regular intervals). In one or more embodiments, a virtual line passing through the center point P between the virtual line CL1 and the virtual line CL2 passes through the center of the length direction of the support wall 220, and therefore, the plurality of support walls 220 and the plurality of protrusions 230 may be arranged at an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to the center point P.

[0069] The protrusion 230 may extend continuously or discontinuously in the height direction (e.g., Z-axis direction) of the battery cell holder 200. The surfaces of the plurality of protrusions 230 protruding toward the insertion hole 240 may be flat (planar). In one or more embodiments, the protrusion 230 may have a rectangular cross-section (e.g., a rectangular cross-section on the XY plane). However, the shape of the protrusion 230 is not particularly limited, and a portion of the protrusion 230 may have a curved shape or a polygonal shape, such as a triangle, a square, or a pentagon. One or more protrusions 230 may be formed on one side and the other side of a partition wall 210, respectively. That is, based on a partition wall 210 located between two adjacent insertion holes 240, a pair of protrusions 230 may be formed on one side surface and the other side surface (e.g., opposite surfaces or sides) of the partition wall 210, respectively. In addition, each pair of protrusions 230 may be positioned symmetrically (or substantially symmetrically) relative to the partition wall 210.

[0070] The protrusion 230 may be spaced apart from the outer surface of the battery cell C by the gap G1. Figure 6 As shown in , when the battery cell C is first inserted into the insertion hole 240, the protrusion 230 does not contact the battery cell C and can be spaced apart by a gap G1. Thereafter, when the battery cell C expands, the protrusion 230 contacts the outer surface of the battery cell C, and the protrusion 230 can support the battery cell C to prevent the battery cell C from over-expanding and deforming.

[0071] The insertion hole 240 is a region that accommodates the battery cell C and is a region in which the battery cell C can be inserted and removed. The insertion hole 240 may be formed or defined by (bounded by) a plurality of partition walls 210 and a plurality of support walls 220. In one or more embodiments, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown in , a plurality of partition walls 210 and a plurality of support walls 220 may be located around one insertion hole 240, and the insertion hole 240 may be formed inside the plurality of partition walls 210 and the plurality of support walls 220. In one or more embodiments, four partition walls 210 and four support walls 220 are alternately positioned to form a closed profile, and the insertion hole 240 may be formed inside the four partition walls 210 and the four support walls 220. The shape of the insertion hole 240 may correspond to the profile formed by the partition walls 210, the support walls 220, and the protrusions 230. In one or more embodiments, the insertion hole 240 has an overall shape close to an octagon, and the edge corresponding to the support wall 220 may have an inwardly curved shape. In addition, a portion of the edge corresponding to the partition wall 210 may have a concave shape due to the protrusions 230.

[0072] The insertion holes 240 may be arranged in multiple rows and columns. Figure 2 As shown in , a plurality of insertion holes 240 may be arranged in a length direction (eg, X-axis direction) of the battery cell holder 200 and a width direction (eg, Y-axis direction) of the battery cell holder 200 .

[0073] The opening 250 may be located between the plurality of insertion holes 240 and may be used to buffer external impact. The opening 250 may be formed or defined by the plurality of support walls 220 (defined by the plurality of support walls 220). In one or more embodiments, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown in , a plurality of support walls 220 may be positioned around one opening 250, and the opening 250 may be formed inside the plurality of support walls 220. In one or more embodiments, four support walls 220 form a closed outline or boundary, and the opening 250 may be formed inside the four support walls 220. The shape of the opening 250 may correspond to the outline formed by the support walls 220. In one or more embodiments, the opening 250 may have an overall shape close to a square, but each corner may have a shape that is convexly curved outward. Each opening 250 may be located between a plurality of adjacent insertion holes 240. For example, one opening 250 may be located between four insertion holes 240. Therefore, the center of the opening 250 may be located on a virtual line passing through the center point P of two insertion holes 240 adjacent to each other in a diagonal direction (e.g., between the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction). In this way, the battery cell holder 200 has a honeycomb structure in which a plurality of insertion holes 240 and a plurality of openings 250 are alternately formed and each opening 250 is located between adjacent insertion holes 240 , thereby effectively protecting the battery cells C from external impact and increasing the overall rigidity of the battery cell holder 200 .

[0074] Hereinafter, a description is given of before the battery cell C is inserted into the battery cell holder 200 and after the battery cell C is inserted into the battery cell holder 200 and then expanded.

[0075] like Figure 5 As shown in , when the battery cell C is first inserted into the insertion hole 240 of the battery cell holder 200, the outer surface of the battery cell C may contact the support wall 220. The battery cell C may contact the support wall 220 at multiple different points or portions. In one or more embodiments in which four support walls 220 are formed around one insertion hole 240, the battery cell C may contact the support wall 220 at four different points or portions. The insertion position of the battery cell C is guided by the support wall 220, and the position of the battery cell C does not change while the battery cell C is inserted, which can mainly suppress the expansion and deformation of the battery cell C. In this state, the protrusion 230 is separated from the battery cell C by a gap G1 (see Figure 6 ), and the connection portion 211 is spaced apart from the battery cell C by a gap G2 (see Figure 7 ). Therefore, a free space 241 may be formed between the battery cell C, the partition wall 210, and the protrusion 230. In addition, the support wall 220 may be in substantially line contact with the battery cell C or substantially surface contact with the battery cell C.

[0076] like Figure 8As shown in , when the battery cell C expands, the battery cell C may contact the protrusion 230 while pressing the support wall 220 outward. The battery cell C may contact the protrusion 230 at multiple different points or portions. In one or more embodiments in which four partition walls 210 are formed around one insertion hole 240 and one protrusion 230 is on each partition wall 210, the battery cell C may contact four protrusions 230. The battery cell C may contact four support walls 220 and four protrusions 230, for a total of eight different contact points. The protrusion 230 may secondarily suppress the expansion and deformation of the battery cell C. In this state, the protrusion 230 contacts the battery cell C without a gap (see Fig. 9 ), and the connecting portion 211 is spaced apart from the battery cell C by a gap G2′ (see Fig.10 ). The free space 241 formed between the battery cell C, the partition wall 210 and the protrusion 230 is reduced, but still exists even after the battery cell C is expanded. In addition, the support wall 220 may be partially deformed to correspond to the shape of the expanded battery cell C. In one or more embodiments, as Fig.10 As shown in FIG. 2 , a portion of the support wall 220 may be bent outward, for example, convex toward the opening 250 , to correspond to the curvature of the outer surface of the battery cell C. As shown in FIG.

[0077] The bus bar 300 can electrically connect multiple battery cells C together. In one or more embodiments, the bus bar 300 can connect multiple battery cells C in series and / or in parallel by connecting the negative electrodes and positive electrodes of the multiple battery cells C. The bus bar 300 can be made of a conductive material such as a metal. The bus bar 300 can be located on the upper portion of the multiple battery cells C. In one or more embodiments in which the multiple battery cells C are inserted into the battery cell holder 200, the bus bar 300 can be positioned to contact the upwardly exposed electrodes of the battery cells C. In one or more embodiments, the bus bar 300 can be located below the multiple battery cells C or both above and below the multiple battery cells C. When the battery module 10 is combined with other battery modules 10 to form a battery pack, the bus bar 300 can be connected to other battery modules 10 through the group bus bar.

[0078] The cover 400 may be located on the plurality of battery cells C and cover the opened upper surface of the case 100. The cover 400 may have a rectangular shape corresponding to the shape of the case 100 and may be detachably coupled to the case 100. In one or more embodiments, the cover 400 may open and close the case 100 by a hinge or the like.

[0079] The cooling plate 500 may be located on one side of the battery module 10 and may cool the plurality of battery cells C. In one or more embodiments, the cooling plate 500 is made of a material having a higher thermal conductivity than the battery cells C and other components of the battery module 10, so that heat generated from the plurality of battery cells C may be discharged to the outside of the battery module 10. The cooling plate 500 may be located on an outer bottom surface of the housing 100 and / or an inner bottom surface of the housing 100 and may be in direct contact with the plurality of battery cells C.

[0080] Fig.11 is an enlarged view of the support wall of the battery cell holder 200A before the battery cell C expands, Fig.12 is an enlarged view of the support wall 220A of the battery cell holder 200A after the battery cell C has expanded. Fig.11 and Fig.12 The battery cell holder 200A included in the battery module 10 may be partially enlarged and illustrated, and the remaining configuration of the battery module 10 may be similar to that of FIG. Figure 1 The battery cell holder 200A includes a partition wall 210A, a support wall 220A, a protrusion, an insertion hole 240A, and an opening 250A, and its configuration which is not described separately below may be the same as that of the battery module 10. Figures 1 to 10 The configuration of the battery cell holder 200 is the same.

[0081] At least a portion of the support wall 220A may have a shape that is bent toward the outside of the insertion hole 240A rather than the inside. A portion of the support wall 220A may be bent toward the inside of the insertion hole 240A, and the remaining portion of the support wall 220A may have a shape that is bent toward the outside of the insertion hole 240A (ie, toward the opening 250A). Fig.11As shown in , the support wall 220A may include a first concave portion 221A. The first concave portion 221A may have a concave shape to correspond (or substantially correspond) to the outer surface of the battery cell C. That is, in one or more embodiments, the plurality of support walls 220A may include a plurality of sections having different curvatures. Before the battery cell C expands, the first concave portion 221A may be spaced apart from the outer surface of the battery cell C by a distance G4 and may not contact the battery cell C. In this state, the connecting portion 211A may be spaced apart from the battery cell C by a gap G2. Thereafter, when the battery cell C expands, the outer surface of the battery cell C may be supported by at least a portion of the first concave portion 221A. In addition, the gap between the connecting portion 211A and the battery cell C may be reduced to G2'. Because the first concave portion 221A has a concave shape corresponding (or substantially corresponding) to the outer surface of the battery cell C, the contact area between the support wall 220A and the battery cell C may be increased. Therefore, the support wall 220A more firmly supports the battery cell C, thereby maintaining the position of the battery cell C and preventing (or at least reducing) further expansion and deformation of the battery cell C. In one or more embodiments, the distance between the first concave portion 221A and the center of the insertion hole 240A may be shorter than the distance between the protrusion and the center of the insertion hole 240A. Therefore, when the battery cell C is initially inserted into the insertion hole 240C, the first concave portion 221A may not contact the battery cell C, but may contact the battery cell C as the battery cell C expands.

[0082] Fig.13 is an enlarged view of the protrusion 230B of the battery cell holder 200B before the battery cell C expands, Fig.14 is an enlarged view of a protrusion of the battery cell holder 200B after the battery cell C has expanded; Fig.13 and Fig.14 The battery cell holder 200B included in the battery module 10 is partially enlarged, and the remaining configuration of the battery module 10 may be the same as Figure 1 The battery cell holder 200B includes a partition wall 210B, a support wall, a protrusion 230B, an insertion hole 240B, and an opening, and its configuration which is not described separately below may be the same as that of the battery module 10. Figures 1 to 10 The configuration of the battery cell holder 200 is the same.

[0083] At least a portion of the protrusion 230B may have a curved shape. In one or more embodiments, the surfaces of the plurality of protrusions 230B protruding toward the insertion hole 240B may be curved. At least a portion of the protrusion 230B may have a shape that is curved toward the outside of the insertion hole 240B. Fig.13As shown in , the protrusion 230B may include a second concave portion 231B. The second concave portion 231B may have a concave shape to correspond (or substantially correspond) to the outer surface of the battery cell C. That is, in one or more embodiments, the surface of the protrusion 230B facing the battery cell C may have a curved surface instead of a flat surface. Before the battery cell C expands, the second concave portion 231B may be spaced apart from the outer surface of the battery cell C by a distance G5 and may not contact the battery cell C. The gap G5 is the distance between the center of the second concave portion 231B and the battery cell C, and may be the longest distance between the second concave portion 231B and the battery cell C. In addition, the farthest protruding end of the second concave portion 231B may be spaced apart from the outer surface of the battery cell C by a distance G1. In this state, the battery cell C may contact the support wall, or may not contact the support wall. Afterwards, when the battery cell C expands, the outer surface of the battery cell C may be supported by at least a portion of the second concave portion 231B. Because the second concave portion 231B has a concave shape corresponding to (or substantially corresponding to) the outer surface of the battery cell C, the contact area between the protrusion 230B and the battery cell C can be expanded. Therefore, the protrusion 230B more firmly supports the battery cell C, thereby maintaining the position of the battery cell C and preventing (or at least reducing) further expansion and deformation of the battery cell C.

[0084] Fig.15 is an enlarged view of the battery cell holder 200C before the battery cell C expands, Fig.16 is an enlarged view of the battery cell holder 200C after the first expansion of the battery cell C, Fig.17 is an enlarged view of the battery cell holder 200C after the second expansion of the battery cell C. Fig.15 and Fig.16 The battery cell holder 200C included in the battery module 10 is partially enlarged, and the remaining configuration of the battery module 10 may be the same as Figure 1 The battery cell holder 200C may include a partition wall 210C, a support wall 220C, a protrusion 230C, an insertion hole 240C, and an opening 250C, and its configuration which is not described separately below may be the same as that of the battery module 10 in FIG. Figures 1 to 10 The configuration of the battery cell holder 200 is the same.

[0085] The battery cell holder 200C may include a plurality of auxiliary protrusions 260C. One or more auxiliary protrusions 260C may be located on the battery cell holder 200C to suppress further expansion and deformation of the battery cell C. In one or more embodiments, a plurality of auxiliary protrusions 260C may be located at each connection portion 211C of the partition wall 210C. The auxiliary protrusion 260C may be located between the adjacent support wall 220C and the protrusion 230C, and may protrude inwardly toward the center point P of the insertion hole 240C. The distance between the auxiliary protrusion 260C and the battery cell C may be greater than the distance between the protrusion 230C and the battery cell C. Therefore, when the battery cell C is first inserted and the battery cell C expands and first contacts the protrusion 230C, the auxiliary protrusion 260C may not contact the battery cell C. Thereafter, when the battery cell C further expands, the auxiliary protrusion 260C may contact the battery cell C to suppress (or at least mitigate) further expansion and deformation of the battery cell C.

[0086] The auxiliary protrusion 260C may have a polygonal cross-sectional shape, such as a triangular, square or pentagonal cross-sectional shape. In one or more embodiments, at least a portion of the auxiliary protrusion 260C may have a curved shape. In one or more embodiments, one side of the auxiliary protrusion 260C facing the insertion hole 240C is concavely curved so that when the battery cell C expands, at least a portion of the outer surface of the battery cell C may be supported by the auxiliary protrusion 260C. The auxiliary protrusion 260C may be located at the center (or substantially the center) of the support wall 220C and the protrusion 230C in the circumferential direction. The auxiliary protrusion 260C may be made of the same material as the material of the protrusion 230C or a different material. In one or more embodiments, the auxiliary protrusion 260C may be made of a material having a greater rigidity than the protrusion 230C, or may be made of a material having a lower rigidity than the protrusion 230C. The auxiliary protrusion 260C may extend continuously or discontinuously in the height direction (e.g., Z-axis direction) of the battery cell holder 200C.

[0087] The above-mentioned battery cell holders 200, 200A, 200B, 200C are not mutually exclusive embodiments, and at least some configurations can be combined with each other. That is, the partition wall 210, the support wall 220, the protrusion 230, the insertion hole 240 and the opening 250 of the battery cell holder 200, the partition wall 210A, the support wall 220A, the protrusion, the insertion hole 240A and the opening 250A of the battery cell holder 200A, the partition wall 210B, the support wall 250B, the protrusion, the insertion hole 240B and the opening of the battery cell holder 200B, and the partition wall 210C, the support wall 220C, the protrusion 230C, the insertion hole 240C and the opening 250C of the battery cell holder 200C can be combined with each other in various suitable combinations. In one or more embodiments, the support wall 220A of the battery cell holder 200A and the protrusion 230B of the battery cell holder 200B can be combined. In one or more embodiments, the support wall 220A of the battery cell holder 200A and the auxiliary protrusion 260C of the battery cell holder 200C may be combined. In one or more embodiments, the protrusion 230B of the battery cell holder 200B and the auxiliary protrusion 260C of the battery cell holder 200C may be combined. In one or more embodiments, the support wall 220A of the battery cell holder 200A, the protrusion 230B of the battery cell holder 200B, and the auxiliary protrusion 260C of the battery cell holder 200C may be combined.

[0088] A battery cell holder configured to suppress (or at least reduce) the expansion and deformation of a battery cell and a battery module including the battery cell holder are provided. By including a support wall and a protrusion, the battery cell holder can guide the smooth insertion of the battery cell and effectively suppress (or at least reduce) the expansion and deformation of the battery cell at the same time.

[0089] It should be understood that the embodiments described herein should be considered in a descriptive sense only, and not for the purpose of limitation. The description of features or aspects within each embodiment will generally be considered to be applicable to other similar features or aspects in other embodiments. Although one or more embodiments have been described with reference to the drawings, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A battery cell holder, comprising: a plurality of partition walls defining insertion holes for receiving the battery cells; a plurality of support walls between the plurality of partition walls; as well as a plurality of protrusions on the plurality of partition walls, Wherein, the distance between the center of the insertion hole and the plurality of support walls is smaller than the distance between the center of the insertion hole and the plurality of protrusions.

2. The battery cell holder according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of support walls contact the battery cells in an initial state, and wherein the plurality of protrusions do not contact the battery cells in the initial state.

3. The battery cell holder according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of protrusions are configured to contact the battery cells in response to expansion of the battery cells.

4. The battery cell holder according to claim 1, wherein: At least a portion of the plurality of support walls is convexly bent toward the insertion hole.

5. The battery cell holder according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of support walls include a plurality of sections having different curvatures.

6. The battery cell holder according to claim 5, wherein: At least a portion of the plurality of support walls includes a first concave portion that is concave toward the insertion hole.

7. The battery cell holder according to claim 6, wherein: The first concave portion does not contact the battery cell in response to the battery cell having an initial configuration, and wherein the first concave portion is configured to contact the battery cell in response to expansion of the battery cell.

8. The battery cell holder according to claim 6, wherein: A distance between the first concave portion and the center of the insertion hole is smaller than a distance between the protrusion and the center of the insertion hole.

9. The battery cell holder according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of support walls and the plurality of protrusions extend continuously in a height direction of the battery cell holder.

10. The battery cell holder according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of protrusions are each positioned at a center in a length direction of the plurality of partition walls extending in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction.

11. The battery cell holder according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of protrusions each have a flat surface that protrudes toward the insertion hole.

12. The battery cell holder according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of protrusions each have a curved surface that protrudes toward the insertion hole.

13. The battery cell holder according to claim 1, in, Each of the plurality of partition walls includes connection portions located at both ends of each partition wall in a length direction and connected to the support wall, and Wherein, a distance between the connecting portion and the center of the insertion hole is greater than a distance between one of the plurality of protrusions and the center of the insertion hole.

14. The battery cell holder according to claim 13, wherein: A cross-sectional area of ​​the connection portion gradually widens in a direction from a center of the partition wall toward the support wall.

15. The battery cell holder according to claim 13, wherein: The battery cell holder further includes a plurality of auxiliary protrusions on the connecting portion.

16. The battery cell holder according to claim 15, wherein: A distance between each of the plurality of auxiliary protrusions and the center of the insertion hole is greater than a distance between one of the plurality of protrusions and the center of the insertion hole.

17. The battery cell holder according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of support walls are at positions extending in two different directions from an end of each of the plurality of partition walls.

18. The battery cell holder according to claim 1, in, Two of the plurality of partition walls are parallel to one direction, and the other two of the plurality of partition walls are parallel to another direction intersecting the one direction, and The plurality of support walls and the plurality of partition walls define the insertion hole having a closed contour.

19. The battery cell holder according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of support walls define an opening, and wherein the opening is between the insertion hole and another insertion hole.

20. A battery module, comprising: A housing for accommodating a plurality of battery cells; a battery cell holder inside the housing, the battery cell holder accommodating the plurality of battery cells; A bus bar electrically connecting the plurality of battery cells; as well as a cover covering an upper surface of the housing, Wherein, the battery cell holder comprises: a plurality of partition walls defining an insertion hole, the insertion hole receiving one battery cell among the plurality of battery cells; a plurality of support walls between the plurality of partition walls; and a plurality of protrusions on the plurality of partition walls, Wherein, the distance between the center of the insertion hole and the plurality of support walls is smaller than the distance between the center of the insertion hole and the plurality of protrusions.

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