Battery pack

Abstract

The present technology relates to a battery pack accommodating a plurality of battery cell assemblies, and includes a battery pack case providing a space in which the battery cell assemblies are seated, and the battery pack case includes: a bottom plate supporting lower portions of the battery cell assemblies; and a partition wall interposed between a pair of adjacent battery cell assemblies such that the respective battery cell assemblies are separated, and coupled to the bottom plate, in which the partition wall is coupled to the bottom plate by a coupling member vertically penetrating a bottom of the bottom plate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery pack in which a bottom plate supporting the bottom of a battery cell assembly and a partition wall interposed between a pair of adjacent battery cell assemblies are arranged so that the battery cell assemblies are separated and the partition wall is screw-coupled to the bottom plate through a coupling member.

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0167128 filed on December 2, 2022, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0035452 filed on March 17, 2023, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0172135 filed on December 1, 2023, the entire contents of the aforementioned Korean patent applications are incorporated herein by reference. Background Art

[0003] Types of secondary batteries include lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, etc. The operating voltage of such a unit secondary battery cell (in other words, a unit battery cell) is about 2.5V to 4.2V. Therefore, if a higher output voltage is required, a plurality of battery cells can be connected in series to form a battery pack. In addition, according to the required charge and discharge capacity of the battery pack, a plurality of battery cells can be connected in parallel to form a battery pack. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in the above-mentioned battery pack can vary according to the required output voltage or charge and discharge capacity.

[0004] For example, when a plurality of battery cells are connected in series / parallel to form a battery pack, a battery module including the plurality of battery cells is first constructed.

[0005] Figure 1 FIG. 2 shows a battery pack case 20 that contains a battery cell assembly 10 included in a conventional battery pack. Figure 1 As shown, the battery pack case 20 provides a space in which the battery cell assemblies 10 are individually accommodated. The bottom of each battery cell assembly 10 is supported by a bottom plate 30 corresponding to the bottom of the battery pack case 20, the side is supported by a side wall 40 coupled along the edge of the bottom plate 30, and the side is supported by a partition wall 50, and can be separated at the same time.

[0006] Figure 2 The battery pack case 20 is shown to completely contain the battery cell assemblies 10, and the individual battery cell assemblies 10 are separated by partition walls 50. Figure 2 As shown, the battery pack housing 20 may further include a main wall 60 that crosses the middle, wherein each battery cell assembly 10 is placed in a space partitioned by the main wall 60 and the partition wall 50 .

[0007] Meanwhile, the partition wall 50 is generally combined with the bottom plate 30 by welding.

[0008] Figure 3 The welding of the partition wall 50 and the bottom plate 30 is schematically shown, wherein the edge portion formed by the combination of the partition wall 50 and the bottom plate 30 is welded by a welding gun 70. At this time, a weld 80 is generated by welding, and the weld 80 is formed at the edge portion of the partition wall 50 and the bottom plate 30, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 shown.

[0009] However, the weld 80 formed by the above welding may hinder the installation of the battery cell assembly 10 .

[0010] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the battery pack housing 20, wherein reference is made to Figure 4 , the welds 80 are formed at both ends of the partition wall 50. When the battery cell assembly 10 is placed on the bottom plate 30, the welds 80 interfere with the edges of the battery cell assembly 10; in other words, the battery cell assembly 10 may not be completely placed on the bottom plate 30 due to collision with the welds 80 during placement and positioning.

[0011] A conventional method of solving the above-mentioned contact problem attempts to expand the internal space of the battery pack case 20. However, this method not only increases the weight of the battery pack, but also introduces a new problem that the battery cell assembly 10 is not properly supported by the partition wall 50. Summary of the invention

[0012] Technical issues

[0013] Therefore, the present disclosure is directed to solving the above-mentioned problems, and is directed to providing a battery pack that appropriately supports the sides of a battery cell assembly and effectively utilizes the internal space.

[0014] Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be understood from the following description, will become more apparent from the embodiments of the present disclosure, and will be easily understood that the objects and advantages of the present disclosure can be achieved by the methods disclosed in the claims of this patent and their combinations.

[0015] Technical Solution

[0016] The present disclosure provides a battery pack, including a battery pack shell, which provides a space for accommodating a battery cell assembly. The battery pack shell includes: a bottom plate, which supports the lower part of the battery cell assembly; and a partition wall, which is inserted between a pair of adjacent battery cell assemblies to separate the individual battery cell assemblies, and the partition wall is combined with the bottom plate, and the partition wall is combined with the bottom plate by a coupling member that vertically penetrates the bottom of the bottom plate.

[0017] The bottom of the partition wall may include a thread groove, and the bottom plate may include a coupling hole formed through a position corresponding to the thread groove of the partition wall, and the coupling member may be threadedly coupled to the thread groove by penetrating the coupling hole.

[0018] The dividing wall may include a plurality of thread grooves.

[0019] The thread grooves may be formed to be spaced apart at predetermined intervals along a length direction of the partition wall.

[0020] The bottom plate may extend in a length direction of the battery pack case and an interior of the bottom plate may include a plurality of cooling channels spaced apart at predetermined intervals in a width direction of the battery pack case.

[0021] The coupling member may be inserted between the cooling channels and coupled with the partition wall.

[0022] The length of the coupling member may be equal to or greater than the middle height of the partition wall.

[0023] The partition wall may further include a reinforcing rod inside, and the coupling member may be inserted into the thread groove of the partition wall and coupled with the reinforcing rod.

[0024] The reinforcing rod may be in the form of any one of a cylindrical column and a polygonal column.

[0025] The partition wall may include a plurality of reinforcing bars, each reinforcing bar being spaced apart at a predetermined interval along a height direction of the partition wall.

[0026] Beneficial Effects

[0027] According to the present disclosure, the efficiency of the inner space of the battery pack case can be improved.

[0028] Furthermore, the safety of the battery pack may be improved by stably supporting the side of a battery cell assembly including a plurality of battery cells.

[0029] In addition, even if one battery cell assembly expands due to a thermal runaway phenomenon, deformation and explosion of the thermal runaway battery cell assembly and surrounding other battery cell assemblies can be minimized. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 A battery pack case included in a conventional battery pack is shown.

[0031] Figure 2 A conventional battery pack housing housing a battery cell assembly is shown.

[0032] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of a welding process of a partition wall and a bottom plate included in a conventional battery pack case.

[0033] Figure 4yes Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a battery pack housing.

[0034] Figure 5 is a plan view of a battery pack case included in the battery pack according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Bottom view of the battery pack housing.

[0036] Figure 7 yes Figure 5 A bottom perspective view of a battery pack housing.

[0037] Figure 8 is a sectional view of a portion of a battery pack case included in the battery pack according to the first embodiment (before coupling of coupling members).

[0038] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery pack case included in the battery pack according to the first embodiment (after coupling of coupling members).

[0039] Fig.10 is a sectional view of a portion of a battery pack case included in the battery pack according to the second embodiment (before coupling of coupling members).

[0040] Fig.11 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery pack case included in the battery pack according to the second embodiment (after coupling of coupling members).

[0041] Fig.12 A sectional view showing a battery pack case included in a battery pack according to a third embodiment (before coupling members are coupled).

[0042] Fig.13 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack case included in the battery pack according to the third embodiment (after coupling members are coupled).

[0043] Fig.14 is a perspective view of a reinforcing rod inside a partition wall and a coupling member outside the partition wall.

[0044] Fig.15 It is a perspective view of a reinforcing rod inside a partition wall and a coupling member coupled to the reinforcing rod.

[0045] Fig.16 is a schematic diagram of combining a reinforcing bar of a partition wall and a combining member included in a battery pack according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] The present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure. It will therefore be understood that the terms and words used in the specification and claims should not be interpreted in their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted in meanings and concepts consistent with the technical concept of the present disclosure based on the principle that the inventor can define the concepts of terms he or she deems appropriate to best describe the present disclosure.

[0047] However, it will be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments, and includes all modifications, equivalents, or replacements within the spirit and technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0048] Additionally, in describing the present disclosure, in the case where a detailed description of a configuration or function of the relevant disclosure is considered to obscure the subject matter of the present disclosure, such a detailed description is omitted.

[0049] The present disclosure is shown in the embodiments to more completely explain the present disclosure to those skilled in the art, and therefore, for the sake of clarity, the shapes and sizes of the components in the drawings may be magnified, omitted or schematically shown. Therefore, the size or ratio of each component does not necessarily represent its actual size or ratio.

[0050] The present disclosure relates to a battery pack containing a plurality of battery cell assemblies. More specifically, the battery pack of the present disclosure is characterized by a bottom plate supporting the bottom of the battery cell assembly and a partition wall interposed between a pair of battery cell assemblies adjacent to each other so that the battery cell assemblies are separated, and the partition wall is screwed to the bottom plate through a coupling member.

[0051] Figures 5 to 9 Relating to a battery pack according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 10 to Figure 11 Relating to a battery pack according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, Figures 12 to 15 relates to a battery pack according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure, and Fig.16 A battery pack according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure is provided.

[0052] Hereinafter, with reference to the following drawings, a battery pack of the present disclosure according to various embodiments will be described.

[0053] (First embodiment)

[0054] Figure 5 is a top view of a battery pack case 1000 included in the battery pack according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A bottom view of the battery pack housing 1000, and Figure 7 yes Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a battery pack housing 1000 .

[0055] The battery pack of the present disclosure houses a plurality of battery cell assemblies S. As shown in FIG.

[0056] The battery cell assembly S includes a battery cell block including a plurality of battery cells.

[0057] The battery cell includes: an electrode assembly having alternately stacked electrodes (including negative electrodes and positive electrodes) and separators; electrode leads electrically connected to the electrodes; and a battery cell case enclosing and sealing the electrode assembly so that the electrode leads protrude to the outside.

[0058] According to the shapes of the electrode assembly and the battery case, the battery cells can be divided into cylindrical battery cells, square battery cells and pouch-type battery cells.

[0059] In a cylindrical battery cell, an electrode assembly is wound in the form of a roll and inserted into a cylindrical battery cell case.

[0060] In a square battery cell, the electrode assembly may be in the form of a stack in which electrodes and separators are alternately stacked, and may be in a stacked folded form in which electrodes and the like are provided on a sheet-like separator folded at prescribed intervals.

[0061] In a prismatic battery cell, the electrode assembly is inserted into a battery cell case in the form of a square box.

[0062] In the pouch type battery cell, the electrode assembly may be in a stacked form, or may be in a stacked and folded form.

[0063] In the pouch type battery cell, the electrode assembly is inserted into a pouch type battery cell case.

[0064] Therefore, the battery cell assembly may include any one of a cylindrical battery cell, a square battery cell, and a pouch type battery cell.

[0065] The battery cell assembly S includes a plurality of battery cells and a bus bar frame including bus bars electrically connected to electrode leads included in the respective battery cells.

[0066] The battery cell assembly S may further include a module frame surrounding the periphery of the battery cell block to protect the individual battery cells from external impact. In this case, the module frame may be provided to support or protect only a portion of the battery cell block, or may be provided on all exposed portions of the battery cell block to completely isolate the battery cell block from the outside.

[0067] The battery pack of the present disclosure includes a battery pack case 1000 shaped to enclose and support the side and lower portions of a battery cell assembly S, and the battery cell assembly S is directly accommodated in the battery pack case 1000. It may further include an upper case combined with the battery pack case 1000 to cover the upper portions of the respective battery cell assemblies S. However, the upper portion of the case is less relevant to the features of the present disclosure and will not be described.

[0068] The battery pack case 1000 serves to provide a space for seating the battery cell assembly S, and serves to protect the seated battery cell assembly S from external impact or the like.

[0069] The battery pack case 1000 basically includes a bottom plate 100 , a side wall 200 , and a partition wall 300 .

[0070] The bottom plate 100 is used to support the lower portion of the battery cell assembly S, and a cooling channel 120 for cooling the battery cell assembly S may be formed in the bottom plate 100 as needed.

[0071] like Figure 5 As shown, the side wall 200 is used to support, close and protect the side of the battery cell assembly S placed on the bottom plate 100 , and is combined along the edge of the bottom plate 100 .

[0072] like Figure 5 As shown, the partition wall 300 is interposed between a pair of adjacent battery cell assemblies S so that the respective battery cell assemblies S are separated, and the partition wall 300 is combined with the bottom plate 100 .

[0073] like Figure 5 As shown, the battery pack housing 1000 may further include a main wall 400 that crosses the middle and is combined with the bottom plate 100 .

[0074] The main wall 400 serves to separate the battery cell assemblies S while dividing the inner space of the battery pack case 1000 into two large compartments.

[0075] Conductors, bus bars, etc. may be disposed in the main wall 400 .

[0076] like Figure 5 As shown, a plurality of battery cell assemblies S accommodated in the battery pack case 1000 are arranged in respective spaces partitioned by the partition wall 300 and the main wall 400 .

[0077] The battery pack of the present disclosure is characterized in that a partition wall 300 configured to partition a space inside a battery pack case 1000 is screw-coupled to the bottom plate 100 , in other words, the partition wall 300 is coupled to the bottom plate 100 by a coupling member B vertically penetrating the bottom of the bottom plate 100 .

[0078] The coupling member B may be a bolt or the like that can be threadedly coupled together, but the present disclosure is not limited to a specific type thereof.

[0079] Figure 8 and Fig. 9 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery pack case 1000 included in a battery pack according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, Figure 8The bonding member B before bonding the bonding member B to the partition wall 300 is shown, and Fig. 9 The coupling member B is shown after being coupled to the partition wall 300 .

[0080] Reference Figures 7 to 9 , the bottom of the partition wall 300 includes a thread groove 310, and the bottom plate 100 includes a coupling hole 110 formed at a position corresponding to the thread groove 310 of the partition wall 300. In other words, when the partition wall 300 is initially coupled to the bottom plate 100, the thread groove 310 of the partition wall 300 matches the coupling hole 110 of the bottom plate 100.

[0081] The coupling member B is threadably coupled to the thread groove 310 by passing through the coupling hole 110 to fix the partition wall 300 to the bottom plate 100 .

[0082] The partition wall 300 may include a plurality of thread grooves 310 , and the bottom plate 100 includes a plurality of coupling holes 110 corresponding to the respective thread grooves 310 .

[0083] The plurality of thread grooves 310 may be formed to be spaced apart at predetermined intervals along the length direction of the partition wall 300 , and the plurality of coupling members B are sequentially coupled along the length direction of the partition wall 300 , respectively.

[0084] like Figures 8 to 9 As shown, when the bottom plate 100 is provided with the cooling channels 120 , the cooling channels 120 extend along the length direction of the battery pack case 1000 , and are spaced apart at predetermined intervals along the width direction of the battery pack case 1000 .

[0085] The coupling hole 110 and the thread groove 310 may be positioned and formed to be interposed between the cooling channels 120 , and the coupling member B may be inserted between the cooling channels 120 and coupled with the partition wall 300 .

[0086] (Second embodiment)

[0087] The battery pack according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure is characterized in that the length of the coupling member B for fixing the partition wall 300 is extended.

[0088] Fig.10 and Fig.11 1 shows a cross section of a portion of a battery pack case 1000 included in a battery pack according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, Fig.10 The diagram shows the state before the coupling member B is coupled to the partition wall 300, and Fig.11 The state after the coupling member B is coupled to the partition wall 300 is shown.

[0089] The coupling member B is characterized in that the length of the coupling member B is equal to or greater than an intermediate height of the partition wall 300 .

[0090] When the coupling member B of a longer length is used, it is inserted to be equal to or greater than the middle height of the partition wall 300, thereby improving the mechanical strength of the partition wall 300, in other words, improving the resistance of the partition wall 300 to external forces acting in the horizontal direction due to the coupling member B. For example, if the accommodated battery cell assembly S has a problem and expands, the partition wall 300 and the coupling member B inserted in the partition wall 300 can fully withstand the expansion force transmitted from the battery cell assembly S.

[0091] (Third Embodiment)

[0092] The battery pack according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure is characterized in that it further includes a reinforcing rod 320 located inside the partition wall 300, and the coupling member B is coupled to the reinforcing rod 320, thereby improving the mechanical strength of the partition wall 300. In other words, the battery pack according to the third embodiment is characterized in that the reinforcing rod 320 configuration is added to the coupling member B of the battery pack according to the second embodiment.

[0093] The reinforcing rod 320 may be steel or the like, but is not limited thereto, and may include any material having high mechanical strength and light weight.

[0094] Fig.12 and Fig.13 1 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack case 1000 included in a battery pack according to a third embodiment. Specifically, Fig.12 The reinforcing rod 320 inside the partition wall 300 and the coupling member B coupled to the reinforcing rod 320 are shown. Fig.13 Show Fig.12 The reinforcing rod 320 is combined with the combining member B.

[0095] like Fig.12 and Fig.13 As shown, the interior of the partition wall 300 further includes a reinforcing rod 320 , and the coupling member B is inserted into the thread groove 310 of the partition wall 300 to be coupled with the reinforcing rod 320 .

[0096] The reinforcing rod 320 is disposed inside the partition wall 300 and extends along the length direction of the partition wall 300, so that when an external force is applied to either side of the partition wall 300, the external force can be dispersed by the reinforcing rod 320. In addition, the partition wall 300 can more effectively resist the external force acting in the horizontal direction by the combining member B combined with the reinforcing rod 320.

[0097] Fig.14is a perspective view of the reinforcing rod 320 inside the partition wall 300 and the coupling member B outside the partition wall 300, and Fig.15 3 is a perspective view of the reinforcing rod 320 inside the partition wall 300 and the coupling member B coupled to the reinforcing rod 320 .

[0098] The reinforcing rod 320 includes a plurality of reinforcing holes 321 formed through positions corresponding to the thread grooves 310. Therefore, the coupling member B inserted into the thread grooves 310 may be coupled with the reinforcing rod 320 while passing through the reinforcing holes 321 of the reinforcing rod 320.

[0099] The reinforcing rod 320 may be Fig.14 and Fig.15 The cylindrical form shown is not limited thereto and may also be a polygonal column.

[0100] (Fourth embodiment)

[0101] The battery pack according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure is characterized in that the plurality of reinforcing bars 320 included in the battery pack of the third embodiment is used.

[0102] Fig.16 4 is a schematic diagram of coupling of a reinforcing bar 320 of a partition wall 300 and a coupling member B included in a battery pack according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0103] like Fig.16 As shown, the partition wall 300 includes a plurality of reinforcing bars 320 , and the respective reinforcing bars 320 are spaced apart at predetermined intervals along a height direction of the partition wall 300 .

[0104] In this case, the positions of the respective reinforcing bars 320 are disposed so that the coupling member B inserted into the partition wall 300 penetrates all the reinforcing bars 320 .

[0105] As described above, the present disclosure has been described in more detail through the drawings and embodiments. However, since the configuration described in the drawings or embodiments described herein is only one embodiment of the present disclosure and does not represent the entire technical spirit of the present disclosure, it should be understood that when submitting this application, the present disclosure covers various equivalents, modifications and alternatives.

[0106] Description of Reference Numerals

[0107] 10: (Conventional technology) Battery monomer assembly

[0108] 20: (Conventional technology) battery pack housing

[0109] 30: (Conventional Technology) Bottom Plate

[0110] 40: (Conventional technology) side wall

[0111] 50: (Conventional technology) partition wall

[0112] 60: (Conventional technology) main wall

[0113] 70: (Conventional technology) welding gun

[0114] 80: (Conventional technology) weld

[0115] 1000: Battery pack housing

[0116] 100: Base plate

[0117] 110: Combination hole

[0118] 120: Cooling channel

[0119] 200: Sidewall

[0120] 300: Divider wall

[0121] 310: thread groove

[0122] 320: Enhancement rod

[0123] 321: Enhanced hole

[0124] 400: Main wall

[0125] S: Battery cell assembly

[0126] B: Combined components

Claims

1. A battery pack, the battery pack containing a plurality of battery cell assemblies, the battery pack comprising a battery pack housing, the battery pack housing providing a space for accommodating the battery cell assemblies, the battery pack housing comprising: a bottom plate supporting a lower portion of the battery cell assembly; as well as a partition wall, the partition wall being interposed between a pair of adjacent battery cell assemblies so as to separate the battery cell assemblies and the partition wall being combined with the bottom plate, and The partition wall is coupled to the bottom plate via a coupling member vertically penetrating the bottom of the bottom plate.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The bottom of the partition wall includes a threaded groove, and The bottom plate includes a coupling hole formed through a position corresponding to the thread groove of the partition wall, and the coupling member is thread-coupled to the thread groove by penetrating through the coupling hole.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein: The partition wall includes a plurality of thread grooves.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein: The thread grooves are formed to be spaced apart at predetermined intervals along a length direction of the partition wall.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The bottom plate extends along a length direction of the battery pack case and includes a plurality of cooling channels inside the bottom plate, the plurality of cooling channels being spaced apart at predetermined intervals along a width direction of the battery pack case.

6. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein: The coupling member is inserted between the cooling channels and coupled with the partition wall.

7. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The length of the coupling member is equal to or greater than a middle height of the partition wall.

8. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The partition wall further includes a reinforcing rod inside, and the coupling member is inserted into the thread groove of the partition wall and coupled with the reinforcing rod.

9. The battery pack according to claim 8, wherein: The reinforcing rod is in the form of any one of a cylinder and a polygonal column.

10. The battery pack according to claim 8, wherein: The partition wall includes a plurality of reinforcing bars, each of which is spaced apart at a predetermined interval along a height direction of the partition wall.

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