Battery pack

Abstract

A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a side cover; a front cover coupled to the side cover in a direction intersecting the side cover; a top cover coupled to an upper portion of the side cover and the front cover; a first sealing member disposed along a first region, the first region being a coupling region of the side cover and the front cover; and a second sealing member disposed along a second region, the second region being a coupling region of the side cover, the front cover, and the top cover, in which the first sealing member may extend along a boundary between the side cover and the front cover in a contact region in contact with the second sealing member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0097611, filed on August 4, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0004] The present invention relates to a battery pack including a sealing member. Background Art

[0005] In order to cope with environmental pollution and the depletion of petroleum resources, research and development are being conducted on power generation based on environmentally friendly energy. In particular, research on secondary batteries is being actively conducted, and various aspects such as materials, structures, processes, and systems of secondary batteries are being studied.

[0006] Secondary batteries are assembled into modules and battery packs, and their stability is managed by a battery management system (BMS). In addition to voltage management by the BMS of the secondary battery, structural stability is important, and detailed design of a sealing structure for waterproofing the module or battery pack is also required.

[0007] According to the prior art, when three surfaces are connected to form a battery pack, it is difficult to design a waterproof design due to the structure of the three surface connection part itself. In addition, even if a sealing member is provided at the three surface connection part, the seal at the area where the three surfaces meet each other is weak, so there is a risk of moisture penetration. Summary of the invention

[0008] Technical issues

[0009] An object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems is to provide a battery pack including a sealing member to improve sealing when three surfaces are coupled to each other.

[0010] Technical Solution

[0011] A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a side cover; a front cover, the front cover is connected to the side cover in a direction intersecting the side cover; a top cover, the top cover is connected to the upper portion of each of the side cover and the front cover; a first sealing member, the first sealing member is arranged along a first area, the first area is a connection area of ​​the side cover and the front cover; and a second sealing member, the second sealing member is arranged along a second area, the second area is a connection area between the side cover and the front cover and the top cover, wherein the first sealing member extends along a boundary between the side cover and the front cover at a contact area with the second sealing member.

[0012] Beneficial effects

[0013] According to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the sealing effect of the battery pack can be improved.

[0014] According to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is possible to improve the sealing effect to suppress the penetration of moisture or impurities into the battery pack, thereby improving the stability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 3 is an enlarged view showing a portion of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 4 is a plan view showing an arrangement relationship between a first sealing member and a second sealing member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a first sealing member according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a second sealing member according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 7 is a plan view showing an arrangement relationship between a first sealing member and a second sealing member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a first sealing member according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. However, the present invention can be implemented in several different forms and is not limited or constrained by the following examples.

[0024] In order to explain the present invention clearly, the detailed description of the related known technology that is irrelevant to the description or may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention is omitted, and in this specification, reference symbols are added to the components in each drawing. In this case, the same or similar reference numerals are assigned to the same or similar elements throughout the specification.

[0025] Furthermore, the terms or words used in the specification and claims should not be restrictively interpreted as ordinary meanings or dictionary-based meanings, but should be interpreted as meanings and concepts consistent with the scope of the present invention based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concepts of the terms in order to best describe and interpret his or her invention.

[0026] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Reference Figure 1 The battery pack 1 may have an internal space (eg, Figure 3 2). The inner space can be surrounded by a cover that is separated from the outside.

[0028] The battery pack 1 may have a three-surface coupling shape of the side cover 10, the front cover 20, and the top cover 30. For example, the side cover 10 may define two surfaces of the battery pack 1, and the front cover 20 may define a front surface and a rear surface (or other surfaces in addition to these two surfaces). Specifically, for example, the front cover 20 may be coupled to the side cover 10 in a direction (e.g., a vertical direction) intersecting the side cover 10. The top cover 30 may be coupled to the upper portion of each of the side cover 10 and the front cover 20.

[0029] The side cover 10, the front cover 20 and the top cover 30 may be connected to each other on three surfaces to form a rectangular parallelepiped shape. For example, the side cover 20 may define a first surface and a second surface facing each other of the side surface of the rectangular parallelepiped shape. The front cover 20 may define a third surface and a fourth surface of the side surface of the rectangular parallelepiped shape that face each other while intersecting with the first surface and the second surface. The top cover 30 may be connected to the upper portion of each of the side cover 10 and the front cover 20 in a direction (or vertical direction) intersecting with the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth surface. In other words, the top cover 30 may define the top surface of the battery pack 1.

[0030] Reference Figure 2 , the battery pack 1 may include a sealing member (e.g., a first sealing member 40 and a second sealing member 50). For example, the first sealing member 40 may be disposed between the side cover 10 and the front cover 20. The first sealing member 40 may perform sealing between the side cover 10 and the front cover 20 to prevent external moisture, etc. from being introduced into the internal space (e.g., the internal space 2). The second sealing member 50 may be disposed between the side cover 10, the front cover 20, and the top cover 30. The second sealing member 50 may perform sealing between the side cover 10, the front cover 20, and the top cover 30 to prevent external moisture, etc. from being introduced into the internal space (e.g., the internal space 2).

[0031] The first sealing member 40 and the second sealing member 50 can have different hardnesses. For example, the hardness of the first sealing member 40 can be lower than the hardness of the second sealing member 50. For example, the first sealing member 40 can be made of ethylene propylene rubber, and the second sealing member 50 can be made of polyurethane rubber whose hardness is lower than that of ethylene propylene rubber. The above-mentioned rubber is only an example and is not limited to this. As mentioned above, when there is a hardness difference between the first sealing member 40 and the second sealing member 50, the formation of the empty space can be suppressed when the first sealing member 40 and the second sealing member 50 overlap each other to perform sealing more effectively. In addition, even when the hardness of the first sealing member 40 is higher than the hardness of the second sealing member 50, similar effects can also be obtained.

[0032] Figure 3 is an enlarged view showing a portion of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. The above description may be equally or similarly applied to the following.

[0033] The first sealing member 40 may be disposed on the first region 110. For example, a region where the side cover 10 and the front cover 20 are coupled to each other may be defined as the first region 110. The first sealing member 40 may be disposed along the first region 110.

[0034] The first sealing member 40 may extend toward the internal space 2. For example, the side cover 10, the front cover 20, and the top cover 30 may define the internal space 2 capable of accommodating a battery. The first sealing member 40 may be disposed between the side cover 10 and the front cover 20, and at least a portion of the first sealing member 40 may extend toward the internal space 2. At least a portion of the first sealing member 40 may be a portion of the first sealing member 40 located on one side of the top cover 30. When at least a portion of the first sealing member 40 extends toward the internal space 2, at least a portion of the first sealing member 40 may be limited to the extent of extension of the path through which moisture permeates.

[0035] The first sealing member 40 may be installed in the first installation groove 210. For example, the first installation groove 210 may be a groove provided in at least one of the side cover 10 or the front cover 20 so as to install the first sealing member 40. In other words, the first installation groove 210 may be defined in the side cover 10 or the front cover 20, or may be defined in both the side cover 10 and the front cover 20. In addition, for example, the first installation groove 210 may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the first sealing member 40.

[0036] The second sealing member 50 may be disposed on the second region 120. For example, a region where the side cover 10 and the front cover 20 are coupled to the top cover 30 may be defined as the second region 120. The second sealing member 50 may be disposed along the second region 120. The second region 120 may be a region corresponding to an edge of the top cover 30.

[0037] Figure 4 is a plan view showing an arrangement relationship between a first sealing member 40 and a second sealing member 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 5 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a first sealing member 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The above description may be equally or similarly applied to the following.

[0038] The first sealing member 40 and the second sealing member 50 may include an overlapping region. For example, when viewed from above, the first sealing member 40 and the second sealing member 50 may define a contact region 300 as an overlapping region.

[0039] The first sealing member 40 may be in contact with the second sealing member 50. The first sealing member 40 and the second sealing member 50 may be in contact with each other to suppress the movement of moisture, etc., thereby improving the sealing effect. In addition, if the contact area 300 between the first sealing member 40 and the second sealing member 50 is large, the movement of moisture, etc. can be further suppressed to improve the sealing effect to a certain extent.

[0040] The first sealing member 40 may extend along the boundary of each of the side cover 10 and the front cover 20. For example, the first sealing member 40 may include a portion extending along the boundary of each of the side cover 10 and the front cover 20 on the contact area 300 contacting the second sealing member 50.

[0041] The second sealing member 50 may include an expansion portion 51. For example, when viewed from above, the expansion portion 51 may have a shape that expands to cover the first sealing member 40. When viewed from above, the expansion portion 51 may cover the entire first sealing member 40 or a portion of the first sealing member 40. When viewed from above, the area covered by the expansion portion 51 of the first sealing member 40 may correspond to the contact area 300.

[0042] The first sealing member 40 may include a part with a cross-sectional area different from each other. For example, the first sealing member 40 may include a first part 41 with a first cross-sectional area and a second part 42 with a second cross-sectional area less than the first cross-sectional area. Specifically, the first part 41 may be arranged on a side of the contact area 300 that contacts with the second sealing member 50, and may have a first cross-sectional area. The second part 42 may extend from the first part 41 to a side opposite to a side provided with the second sealing member 50, and may have a second cross-sectional area less than the first cross-sectional area. As described above, the cross-sectional area of ​​the first part 41 may be increased in the area where the side cover 10, the front cover 20 and the top cover 30 are connected to each other, to improve the sealing effect at the three surface connection parts.

[0043] Figure 62 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a second sealing member 50 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The above description may be equally or similarly applied to the following.

[0044] The second sealing member 50 may include an expansion portion 51. For example, the second sealing member 50 may be provided along an edge region of the top cover 30, and the expansion portion 51 for increasing a contact area with the first sealing member 40 may be provided on the edge region of the second sealing member 50. The shape of the expansion portion 51 may not be particularly limited.

[0045] The second sealing member 50 may be installed in the second installation groove 220 of the top cover 30. For example, the top cover 30 may be provided with the second installation groove 220 in which the second sealing member 50 is installed. In addition, the second installation groove 220 may have a shape corresponding to that of the second sealing member 50.

[0046] Figure 7 1 is a plan view showing an arrangement relationship between a first sealing member 40 a and a second sealing member 50 a according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a first sealing member 40a according to another embodiment of the present invention. The above description may be equally or similarly applied to the following.

[0047] The first sealing member 40a may further extend along the second sealing member 50a. For example, the first sealing member 40a may include a portion further extending along a direction intersecting the boundary between the side cover 10a and the front cover 20a at the contact area 300a contacting the second sealing member 50a. In this case, the extension may further extend along the second sealing member 50a to increase the contact area.

[0048] The first sealing member 40a may include a first portion 41a and a second portion 42a. For example, a portion of the first sealing member 40a that contacts the second sealing member 50a may be the first portion 41a, and a portion of the first sealing member 40a that extends to a side opposite to a side provided with the second sealing member 50a may be the second portion 42a. The first portion 41a may have a shape such as "L". As described above, the first portion 41a may further extend in a direction intersecting with a boundary from an area where the side cover 10, the front cover 20, and the top cover 30 are connected to each other, to increase the contact area 300a, and also additionally block the moving path of moisture, thereby maximizing the sealing effect on the three surface connection parts.

[0049] While embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

[0050] [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1: Battery Pack

[0052] 2: Internal Space

[0053] 10,10a: Side cover

[0054] 20,20a: Front cover

[0055] 30: Top cover

[0056] 40, 40a: first sealing member

[0057] 41,41a: Part I

[0058] 42,42a: Part 2

[0059] 50, 50a: Second sealing member

[0060] 51,51a: expansion part

[0061] 110: First Area

[0062] 120: Second Area

[0063] 210: First installation slot

[0064] 220: Second installation slot

[0065] 300,300a: contact area

Claims

1. A battery pack, comprising: Side covers; a front cover coupled to the side cover in a direction intersecting the side cover; a top cover coupled to an upper portion of each of the side cover and the front cover; a first sealing member disposed along a first region, the first region being a coupling region of the side cover and the front cover; as well as a second sealing member, the second sealing member being disposed along a second area, the second area being a coupling area between the side cover and the front cover and the top cover, The first sealing member extends along a boundary between the side cover and the front cover at a contact area with the second sealing member.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The first sealing member also extends along the second sealing member at the contact area with the second sealing member while intersecting the boundary between the side cover and the front cover.

3. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The second sealing member includes an expansion portion that expands to cover the first sealing member when viewed from above.

4. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The side cover, the front cover, and the top cover are configured to define an inner space in which the battery is accommodated, and The first sealing member extends toward the interior space.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The first sealing member comprises: a first portion disposed at one side of the contact region with the second sealing member and having a first cross-sectional area; and A second portion extends from the first portion to a side opposite to a side where the second sealing member is provided and has a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area.

6. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: When viewed from above, the first sealing member and the second sealing member include an overlapping area.

7. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: At least one of the side cover or the front cover includes a first mounting groove provided so that the first sealing member is mounted therein and having a shape corresponding to a shape of the first sealing member.

8. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The top cover includes a second mounting groove configured such that the second sealing member is mounted therein and having a shape corresponding to a shape of the second sealing member.

9. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The first sealing member has a lower hardness than the second sealing member.

10. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The hardness of the first sealing member is different from the hardness of the second sealing member.

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