Battery pack
By guiding the cooling fluid in the battery pack to contact the battery cell directly and using a sealing structure to prevent leakage, the existing battery pack's low heat dissipation efficiency and cooling fluid leakage are solved, achieving more efficient heat dissipation and more stable performance.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510124312.1
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2019-09-09
- Filing Date
- 2020-06-24
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-22
AI Technical Summary
The existing battery packs have shortcomings in terms of heat dissipation efficiency and cooling fluid sealing, resulting in poor heat dissipation effect and cooling fluid leakage.
A battery pack is designed in which the cooling fluid is directed in direct contact with the battery cell in the case, improving heat dissipation efficiency, and preventing leakage of the cooling fluid through a sealing structure. The battery pack includes a battery cell, a housing, a first bracket plate and a second bracket plate, and the cooling fluid flows in the receiving space between the bracket plates and is sealed by a potting resin.
By direct contact with the cooling fluid, the heat dissipation efficiency of the battery pack is improved, and the leakage prevention of cooling fluid is ensured through the sealing structure, extending the service life and performance stability of the battery pack.
Smart Images

Figure CN119864579A_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] This application is a divisional application of application No. 202010586466.X entitled “Battery Pack” filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of China on June 24, 2020. Technical Field
[0002] Aspects of one or more embodiments relate to a battery pack. Background Art
[0003] Generally, a secondary battery refers to a battery that can be charged and discharged, unlike a non-rechargeable primary battery. Secondary batteries are used as energy sources for devices such as mobile devices, electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, electric bicycles, and uninterruptible power supplies. Depending on the type of external device using the secondary battery, a secondary battery of a single cell or a secondary battery of multiple cells in which multiple battery cells are connected as one unit (secondary battery pack) is used.
[0004] A small mobile device such as a cellular phone can be operated for a certain time (e.g., a predetermined time) using a single-cell secondary battery. However, a secondary battery (secondary battery pack) having multiple cells with high output and high capacity characteristics can be applied to devices that have a long operating time and require high power, such as electric vehicles or hybrid electric vehicles that consume a large amount of power. The output voltage or output current of the battery pack can be increased by adjusting the number of batteries (battery cells) included in the battery pack. Summary of the invention
[0005] According to aspects of one or more embodiments, there is provided a battery pack having an accommodation space in which a cooling fluid flow is guided to directly contact a battery cell, thereby improving heat dissipation efficiency.
[0006] According to another aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a battery pack having a sealing structure for a cooling fluid so that the cooling fluid does not leak from an accommodation space of a battery cell.
[0007] 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 disclosed illustrated embodiments.
[0008] According to one or more embodiments, a battery pack includes: battery cells, each including an end in a height direction of the battery cells; a shell, accommodating the battery cells and a cooling fluid for cooling the battery cells; and a first bracket plate and a second bracket plate, coupled to the shell to face each other along the shell, so that the ends of the battery cells are insertable through the first bracket plate and the second bracket plate, and an accommodating space is defined between the first bracket plate and the second bracket plate to accommodate the cooling fluid, wherein the shell, the battery cells, and the first bracket plate and the second bracket plate have a height in the height direction of the battery cells that satisfies the following condition: the height between the first bracket plate and the second bracket plate < the height of the battery cells < the height of the shell, and the battery pack also includes a potting resin located on the first bracket plate and the second bracket plate.
[0009] In one or more embodiments, the potting resin on the first bracket plate and the second bracket plate may have a height in the height direction that satisfies the following condition: height of the battery cell<height of the potting resin<height of the housing.
[0010] In one or more embodiments, the battery pack may further include a bus bar electrically connecting the battery cells to each other, wherein the potting resin may cover a coupling portion between the bus bar and the battery cells.
[0011] In one or more embodiments, the bus bar may include a body extending along adjacent rows of the battery cells and branches branching from the body toward the battery cells, and the coupling portion may include a welding portion between the branches of the bus bar and the battery cells.
[0012] In one or more embodiments, the main body and the branches of the bus bar may have a height difference in a height direction, and the potting resin may cover the branches of the bus bar and the main body of the bus bar.
[0013] In one or more embodiments, the body and the branches of the bus bar may have a height difference in a height direction, and the body of the bus bar may be exposed through the potting resin.
[0014] In one or more embodiments, the potting resin on the first bracket plate and the second bracket plate may have a height in the height direction that satisfies the following condition: height between the first bracket plate and the second bracket plate < height of the potting resin < height of the battery cell.
[0015] In one or more embodiments, the potting resin may expose the vent holes located at the ends of the battery cells.
[0016] In one or more embodiments, the case may include a hollow member opened in a height direction to accommodate the battery cells and the cooling fluid.
[0017] In one or more embodiments, the housing may include: an accommodation space located in a central portion of the housing; and an outer wall and an inner wall extending parallel to each other along an edge of the housing located around the accommodation space.
[0018] In one or more embodiments, the battery cells, the outer wall, and the inner wall may have heights satisfying the following condition: height of the inner wall < height of the battery cells < height of the outer wall.
[0019] In one or more embodiments, a well space can be defined along an edge of the housing between the outer wall and the inner wall.
[0020] In one or more embodiments, the potting resins on the first support plate and the second support plate may be continuously disposed in the well space.
[0021] In one or more embodiments, the skirt may be bent inwardly from the first and second bracket plates toward the well space and inserted into the well space.
[0022] In one or more embodiments, the skirt may be curved and extend from the first and second bracket plates and around the inner wall.
[0023] In one or more embodiments, the assembling protrusions may protrude outward from the first and second bracket plates away from the accommodation space and support ends of the battery cells.
[0024] In one or more embodiments, the first bracket plate and the second bracket plate may include a single cell hole into which the battery single cell may be inserted, and the assembly protrusions may be arranged along a row of the single cell holes to support the ends of the battery single cells adjacent to each other when the assembly protrusions are located between the single cell holes adjacent to each other.
[0025] In one or more embodiments, the battery pack may further include a bus bar that electrically connects the battery cells to each other, wherein some assembly protrusions may include a first assembly protrusion that supports the ends of the battery cells and does not physically interfere with the bus bar, and other assembly protrusions may include a second assembly protrusion that supports the ends of the battery cells and the bus bar.
[0026] In one or more embodiments, the first assembling protrusion and the second assembling protrusion may include a first protrusion portion protruding toward an end portion of the battery cell, and the second assembling protrusion may further include a second protrusion portion protruding toward the bus bar.
[0027] In one or more embodiments, the first protrusion portion may be disposed on opposite sides of the second assembling protrusion, and the second protrusion portion may be disposed on a side edge of the second assembling protrusion between the opposite sides.
[0028] In one or more embodiments, the first protrusion portion and the second protrusion portion may have a height difference in a height direction.
[0029] In one or more embodiments, the cell rib may protrude inwardly from the first and second support plates toward the accommodation space and may surround an outer circumferential surface of the battery cell.
[0030] In one or more embodiments, a gap may be formed between an outer circumferential surface of the battery cell and the cell rib. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certain disclosed embodiments will become more apparent through the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a battery pack according to an embodiment; Figure 2 and Figure 3 It is shown Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of a battery pack shown in ; Figure 4 It is shown Figure 1 a cutaway perspective view of a battery pack shown in ; Figure 5A It is shown Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a battery pack shown in FIG. Figure 5B It is shown Figure 5A An enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery pack shown in ; Figure 6 It is shown Figure 5A An enlarged cross-sectional view of region VI in FIG. Figure 7 is a cutaway perspective view showing filling of a potting resin in a battery pack according to an embodiment; Fig. 8A It is shown Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of a battery pack shown in FIG. Figure 8B It is shown Fig. 8A An enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery pack shown in ; Fig. 9 is shown in conjunction with Figure 7 A partially exploded perspective view of a cover of a battery pack shown in FIG. Fig.10 It is shown Figure 4 A perspective view of a portion of a battery pack shown in ; Fig.11 It is shown Fig.10 A cross-sectional view of a battery pack shown in ; Fig.12 It is shown Fig.10 A plan view of the battery pack shown in ; Fig.13 It is shown Fig.10 An enlarged perspective view of a portion of a battery pack shown in ; Fig.14 It shows that Fig.10 A view showing the manner in which the first bracket plate and the second bracket plate of the battery pack and the housing are combined and assembled with each other as shown in FIG. Fig.15 and Fig.16 An exploded perspective view and a plan view respectively illustrate a partition wall structure of a battery pack according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] Now will further detail with reference to some embodiments whose examples are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same reference numerals always represent the same elements. In this regard, the present embodiment may have different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the description set forth herein. Therefore, the embodiments are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings to explain aspects of the present description. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any combination and all combinations of one or more of the relevant listed items. Throughout the disclosure, the expression "at least one (kind / person) of a, b, and c" indicates only a, only b, only c, both a and b, both a and c, both b and c, all of a, b, and c, or variations thereof.
[0033] It will be understood that although the terms "first", "second", etc. may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one component from another component.
[0034] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
[0035] It will be understood that the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” used herein specify the presence of stated features or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features or components.
[0036] For the convenience of description, the size of the components in the drawings may be exaggerated. In other words, since the size and thickness of the components in the drawings may be arbitrarily shown for the convenience of description, the following embodiments are not limited thereto.
[0037] When a certain embodiment can be implemented differently, the specific process order can be performed differently from the described order. For example, two consecutively described processes can be performed substantially simultaneously or in the reverse order of the described order.
[0038] It will be understood that when a layer, region, or component is referred to as being “connected to” another layer, region, or component, it may be directly connected to the other layer, region, or component, or may be indirectly connected to the other layer, region, or component with one or more intermediate layers, regions, or components interposed therebetween. For example, it will be understood that when a layer, region, or component is referred to as being “electrically connected to” another layer, region, or component, it may be directly electrically connected to the other layer, region, or component, or may be indirectly electrically connected to the other layer, region, or component with one or more intermediate layers, regions, or components interposed therebetween.
[0039] For ease of description, spatially relative terms such as "under...", "below...", "below...", "above...", "on...", etc. may be used herein to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another element or feature as shown in the figure. It will be understood that spatially relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figure. For example, if the device in the accompanying drawings is turned over, the elements described as "under" or "below" other elements or features will then be positioned as "above" other elements or features. Therefore, the exemplary term "under..." can include both above and below orientations. The device can be positioned otherwise (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used herein are interpreted accordingly.
[0040] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the example embodiments of the inventive concepts belong. It will also be understood that terms (such as those defined in common dictionaries) should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0041] A battery pack will now be described according to some embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0042] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a battery pack according to an embodiment; Figure 2 and Figure 3 It is shown Figure 1 An exploded perspective view of a battery pack shown in ; Figure 4 It is shown Figure 1 A perspective view of a battery pack shown in FIG. Figure 5A It is shown Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a battery pack shown in FIG. Figure 5B It is shown Figure 5A An enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery pack shown in ; Figure 6 It is shown Figure 5AAn enlarged cross-sectional view of region VI in FIG.
[0043] Reference Figure 1 , the battery pack of the present embodiment may include a plurality of battery cells 10 accommodated in a case 100 and a potting resin F filled in a filling space G2 of the case 100. The potting resin F will be further described later.
[0044] Refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The battery pack of this embodiment may include: a battery cell 10; a housing 100 accommodating the battery cell 10 and a cooling fluid for cooling the battery cell 10; and a first bracket plate 110 and a second bracket plate 120 assembled to the housing 100 to face each other along the housing 100 so that the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 can be inserted through the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120, and an accommodating space G1 (refer to Figure 3 ) may be formed between the first support plate 110 and the second support plate 120 .
[0045] In an embodiment, each of the battery cells 10 may be a cylindrical battery cell having a first end 11 and a second end 12 in a height direction thereof and a cylindrical outer peripheral surface 15 between the first end 11 and the second end 12. In the present specification, the height direction may refer to a length direction of the battery cell 10 in which each of the battery cells 10 has a longest dimension. For example, in the present specification, the height direction of the housing 100 may be the same as the height direction of the battery cell 10.
[0046] In an embodiment, the first end 11 and the second end 12 that are opposite to each other in the height direction of the battery cell 10 may correspond to electrodes having different polarities and through which a charging current is input or a discharging current is output. For example, the first end 11 and the second end 12 may respectively include an upper electrode and a lower electrode of the battery cell 10 in the height direction. In this case, the first end 11 and the second end 12 are defined according to the upper and lower positions in the height direction rather than according to polarity (i.e., positive and negative polarity). Therefore, some of the first ends 11 of the battery cell 10 may have a positive polarity, and other first ends 11 of the battery cell 10 may have a negative polarity. Similarly, some of the second ends 12 of the battery cell 10 may have a positive polarity, and other second ends 12 of the battery cell 10 may have a negative polarity. For example, the battery cells 10 may be flipped relative to each other in the height direction, so that the polarities of the first ends 11 and the second ends 12 of the battery cells 10 in two adjacent rows may be reversed. That is, the first end 11 and the second end 12 may have different polarities in this way, and as described later, a bus bar B (refer to Figure 2) The first end portions 11 and the second end portions 12 of the battery cells 10 in two adjacent rows are electrically connected to each other so that the battery cells 10 of different polarities in the two adjacent rows are connected in series. In this case, the first end portions 11 and the second end portions 12 of the battery cells 10 in the same row may be connected in parallel via the bus bar B by connecting the ends having the same polarity, and the first end portions 11 and the second end portions 12 of the battery cells 10 in adjacent rows may be connected in series via the bus bar B by connecting the ends having different polarities.
[0047] In another embodiment, electrodes with different polarities through which a charging current is input or a discharging current is output may be formed on ends selected from the first end 11 and the second end 12 opposite in the height direction of the battery cell 10, in which case different portions of the selected end may have positive and negative polarities. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the battery cell 10 may be of any type, including a prismatic type, without being limited to a cylindrical type. In an embodiment, a battery pack may be mounted on a mobile unit such as a vehicle to provide power to the mobile unit, in which case the battery pack may include a large-capacity battery cell 10 or a plurality of large-capacity battery cells 10 to provide the desired output performance.
[0048] Reference Figure 2 , the battery cells 10 of the battery pack may be electrically connected to each other through the bus bar B. In an embodiment, the bus bar B may include a plurality of bus bars B, each bus bar B electrically connecting two adjacent rows of the battery cells 10. For example, the bus bars B may include: first bus bars B1, each connected to the first end 11 of the battery cells 10 included in two adjacent rows; and second bus bars B2, each connected to the second end 12 of the battery cells 10 in two adjacent rows. The first bus bar B1 and the second bus bar B2 may be arranged at the upper relative position and the lower relative position of the battery cell 10 in the height direction to be connected to the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10, respectively.
[0049] Each of the bus bars B may include: a main body Ba extending in the direction of the row of battery cells 10; and a plurality of branches Br branching from the main body Ba toward the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10. In an embodiment, the bus bar B may electrically connect two adjacent rows of battery cells 10, in which case the main body Ba may extend along the two adjacent rows of battery cells 10, and the branches Br may protrude from intermittent positions of the main body Ba toward the first end 11 and the second end 12. The main body Ba may have both ends about the outermost branches Br and may extend between the outermost branches Br, and the main body Ba may be fixed by assembling protrusions S (corresponding to the second assembling protrusion S2) as described later.
[0050] Reference Figure 2 , a measuring terminal Bt for outputting voltage information of the battery cell 10 may be formed on the body Ba of the bus bar B, and according to an embodiment, the measuring terminal Bt may protrude outward from the body Ba of each bus bar B. An output terminal P may be formed on some of the bus bars B so that a charging current may be input or a discharging current may be output through the output terminal P, and according to an embodiment, the output terminal P may be formed on the outermost second bus bar B2 arranged at the outermost position among the second bus bars B2.
[0051] Reference Figure 3 The housing 100 may be formed as a hollow member opened in the height direction to accommodate the battery cell 10 and a cooling fluid for cooling the battery cell 10. For example, an accommodation space G1 for accommodating the battery cell 10 and the cooling fluid for cooling the battery cell 10 may be formed in the central portion of the housing 100, and an inner wall 102 for assembling the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 and for limiting the potting resin F (refer to Figure 1 ) may be formed along the edge of the housing 100 surrounding the accommodation space G1 formed in the central portion of the housing 100. The inner wall 102 and the outer wall 101 may extend side by side along the edge of the housing 100. The inner wall 102 and the outer wall 101 are connected to each other by a bottom surface 103 disposed therebetween, and may have a height different from that of the bottom surface 103. The inner wall 102 and the outer wall 101 of the housing 100 may form a well space W therebetween (refer to Figure 5A and Figure 5B ), the well space W will be further described later.
[0052] The housing 100 may provide rigidity to the battery pack and may protect the battery cells 10 contained therein from external influences. For example, in some embodiments, the battery pack may be attached to a mobile unit such as a vehicle and may have a certain degree of strength in the event of a collision of the mobile unit. In an embodiment, the housing 100 may include a ductile metal material having strength and ductility so that the housing 100 does not break or crack even when the housing 100 is subjected to an external impact. For example, if the housing 100 includes a brittle material such as plastic or a synthetic resin, the housing 100 may break or crack due to an impact with an external object, and therefore, in an embodiment, the housing 100 may include a metal material such as aluminum. In addition, the housing 100 may serve as a heat sink for the battery cells 10 contained therein and a cooling fluid for cooling the battery cells 10, and therefore the housing 100 may include a metal material such as aluminum having high thermal conductivity. In an embodiment, as further described later, a plurality of reinforcing ribs 108 (refer to Figure 3), to supplement the structural rigidity of the housing 100 and increase the heat dissipation area of the housing 100.
[0053] In an embodiment, the housing 100 may be formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape including a pair of long side portions 100L and a first short side portion 100S1 and a second short side portion 100S2 connecting the pair of long side portions 100L to each other, and the housing 100 may also be formed in a serpentine shape along the outer peripheral surface 15 of the battery cell 10, and the outer peripheral surface 15 of the battery cell 10 is arranged along the edge of the housing 100. In this case, since the surface area of the housing 100 having the serpentine shape is increased, heat dissipation can be promoted, and the housing 100 can absorb external impacts, while the housing 100 is more flexibly deformed according to the external impact. In an embodiment, the serpentine shape of the housing 100 may be formed along the long side portion 100L of the housing 100, and the first short side portion 100S1 and the second short side portion 100S2 of the housing 100 may be flat. An inlet I and an outlet O may be formed in the first short side portion 100S1 to allow a cooling fluid to flow into and out of the housing 100, and in an embodiment, the first short side portion 100S1 may be formed in a flat shape in order to provide a firm fluid connection with the opposite portions of the inlet I and the outlet O. In an embodiment, a second short side portion 100S2 opposite to the first short side portion 100S1 may be formed in a flat shape to provide a reference mounting plane or a reference assembly plane when the battery pack is mounted on a device such as a vehicle, and to stably align the mounting position of the battery pack in such a device without shaking. The reinforcing rib 108 (refer to Figure 3 ) may be formed along the outer side of the housing 100 to strengthen the strength of the housing 100. In an embodiment, for example, the reinforcing ribs 108 may include: a plurality of first reinforcing ribs 108a extending parallel to each other at different heights in the height direction of the housing 100; and a plurality of second reinforcing ribs 108b extending crosswise with the first reinforcing ribs 108a along the height direction of the housing 100. The reinforcing ribs 108 may strengthen the strength of the housing 100 and increase the surface area of the housing 100 to provide a larger heat dissipation area.
[0054] Reference Figure 3, the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 may be assembled to the housing 100 to face each other along the housing 100, so that the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 may be inserted through the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120, and the accommodation space G1 for accommodating the cooling fluid may be formed between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120. A plurality of monomer holes 115 into which the battery cell 10 is inserted may be formed in the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120. In addition, the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 may include: a monomer rib R protruding inwardly from the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 to surround the outer peripheral surface 15 of the battery cell 10; and an assembling protrusion S protruding outwardly from the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 to support the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10. The monomer holes 115, the monomer rib R, and the assembling protrusion S formed on the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 will be further described later.
[0055] The first support plate 110 and the second support plate 120 may form a receiving space G1 for receiving a cooling fluid for cooling the battery cells 10 together with the housing 100. The first support plate 110 and the second support plate 120 may include an inner surface facing the receiving space G1 for the cooling fluid and an outer surface opposite to the inner surface. As described below, the potting resin F (refer to Figure 1 ) may be formed to a certain height (eg, a predetermined height) on the outer surfaces of the first support plate 110 and the second support plate 120 to seal the receiving space G1 of the cooling fluid.
[0056] In the present specification, the cooling fluid may refer to a liquid cooling medium having a relatively high heat capacity and thus a relatively high cooling capacity compared to a gaseous cooling medium (such as air), and may include any one of an electrically insulating cooling fluid and a conductive cooling fluid. However, the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the cooling fluid may include a gaseous cooling medium (for example, a gaseous cooling medium such as a refrigerant gas). In this case, the cooling fluid including the gaseous cooling medium may be accommodated in the accommodating space G1 between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120, and the cooling fluid accommodated in the accommodating space G1 may be formed by a potting resin F (refer to Figure 1 )seal.
[0057] Reference Figure 4 , Figure 5A and Figure 5B, the potting resin F can be filled on the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120. The potting resin F filled on the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 can firmly seal the accommodating space G1 formed between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 for the cooling fluid. In an embodiment, the potting resin F may include a silicone material with good sealing properties. However, the potting resin F of the present disclosure is not limited to this and may include any other suitable material. The potting resin F may be surrounded by the outer wall 101 forming the edge of the shell 100, so that the potting resin F can be formed to a certain height on the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 without overflowing to the outside. That is, the outer wall 101 of the shell 100 can define a filling space G2 for the potting resin F. Since the potting resin F is formed on the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120, the height HF of the potting resin F (refer to Figure 5A and Figure 5B ) may be at least greater than the height H15 between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120. Here, the height HF of the potting resin F is the height from the portion of the potting resin F formed on the first bracket plate 110 to the portion of the potting resin F formed on the second bracket plate 120, that is, the height between the portion of the potting resin F formed on the first bracket plate 110 and the portion on the second bracket plate 120. In other words, the height HF of the potting resin F does not refer to the thickness of the potting resin F formed only on the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 but may refer to the sum of the thickness of the layer of the potting resin F formed on the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120, the thickness t of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120, and the height HG of the accommodation space G1 formed between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120.
[0058] Similarly, the height H15 between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 may refer to a height obtained by adding the thickness t of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 to the height HG of the accommodation space G1 formed between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120. That is, the height H15 between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 may refer to a height measured between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 without including the assembling protrusion S protruding in the outward direction from the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 or the single rib R protruding in the inward direction from the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120, and therefore, the thickness t of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 may be included in the height H15, but the height of the assembling protrusion S or the single rib R may not be included in the height H15.
[0059] In an embodiment, in order that the cooling fluid for cooling the battery cell 10 can be securely accommodated in the accommodation space G1 between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120, the potting resin F can be filled above the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 to prevent or substantially prevent leakage of the cooling fluid. In this case, the housing 100 (e.g., the outer wall 101) can be used as a dam so that the potting resin F can be formed to a certain height (e.g., a predetermined height) on the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 without overflowing to the outside. Therefore, the height HF of the potting resin F can be lower than the height H10 of the housing 100. As a result, the height HF of the potting resin F can be greater than the height H15 between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 on which the potting resin F is formed, but can be smaller than the height H10 of the housing 100 used as a dam for the potting resin F, that is, the heights HF, H15, and H10 can satisfy the condition H15. <HF<H10。
[0060] In an embodiment, the potting resin F may be formed to a height at which the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 are completely covered by the potting resin F. In this case, the height HF of the potting resin F may be greater than the height HC of the battery cell 10, that is, HF>HC. For example, the potting resin F may cover the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 and the bonding portion Cp between the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 and the bus bar B (e.g., the branch Br of the bus bar B). In an embodiment, the bonding portion Cp may include a welding portion between the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 and the branch Br of the bus bar B. In this way, since the potting resin F covers the bonding portion Cp between the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 and the bus bar B (e.g., the branch Br of the bus bar B), the bonding portion Cp may be protected from harmful environmental factors that may cause corrosion, oxidation, or electrical corrosion of the bonding portion Cp. In an embodiment, the height HF of the potting resin F may be greater than the height HC of the battery cell 10 but smaller than the height H10 of the case 100 serving as a dam for the potting resin F, ie, HC <HF<H10。
[0061] Reference Figure 4In an embodiment, the potting resin F may cover the coupling portion Cp between the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 of the battery cell 10 and the branch Br of the bus bar B, and the branch Br and the body Ba of the bus bar B. Although not shown, in another embodiment, the potting resin F may cover the coupling portion Cp between the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 of the battery cell 10 and the branch Br of the bus bar B, but may not cover the body Ba of the bus bar B. In an embodiment, because the branch Br is bent in a step-like shape in an inward (e.g., downward) direction from the body Ba (bent in a step-like shape at the bent portion Bc) and connected to the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 of the battery cell 10, the body Ba of the bus bar B may have a height difference with the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 of the battery cell 10 in an outward (e.g., upward) direction. In this case, the potting resin F may cover the coupling portion Cp between the battery cell 10 and the branch Br to protect it, but may not cover the body Ba of the bus bar B, so that a smaller amount of the potting resin F can be used.
[0062] Reference Figure 5A and Figure 5B , since the outer wall 101 of the housing 100 defines a filling space G2 filled with a potting resin F and serves as a dam for accommodating the potting resin F, the height of the outer wall 101 (e.g., a height H10 of the housing 100) may be greater than the height of the inner wall 102. The outer wall 101 and the inner wall 102 may be connected by a bottom surface 103 formed between the outer wall 101 and the inner wall 102, and may protrude to different heights from the bottom surface 103. Since the inner wall 102 forms a well space W connected to the filling space G2, the height of the inner wall 102 may be smaller than the height of the outer wall 101.
[0063] In an embodiment, the height HC of the battery cell 10 may be greater than the height of the inner wall 102 but less than the height of the outer wall 101. The inner wall 102 may adjust the height H15 between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120, and the heights of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 may be determined when the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 are in contact with the inner wall 102. Here, the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 may be away from the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120, and may be exposed from the accommodation space G1 of the cooling fluid, for which the height H15 between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 may be less than the height HC of the battery cell 10. In an embodiment, the height of the inner wall 102 that adjusts the height H15 between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 may also be less than the height HC of the battery cell 10. In addition, the height H10 of the housing 100 (i.e., the height of the outer wall 101) may be at least greater than the height HC of the battery cell 10, so that the battery cell 10 may be completely accommodated in the housing 100. As described above, the potting resin F can be filled above the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 to a height at which the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 of the battery cell 10 exposed through the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 are covered by the potting resin F, and therefore, the height H10 of the housing 100 (i.e., the height of the outer wall 101 serving as a dam for accommodating the potting resin F) can be at least greater than the height HC of the battery cell 10, so that even after being covered with the potting resin F, the outer wall 101 can have additional height remaining.
[0064] Reference Figure 6 , a well space W may be formed along the edge of the housing 100 to hermetically seal the receiving space G1 for the cooling fluid. As described above, a potting resin F may be formed on the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 to hermetically seal the receiving space G1 for the cooling fluid formed between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120. In an embodiment, the potting resin F may fill the filling space G2 above the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 and also fill the well space W formed along the edge of the housing 100, thereby preventing or substantially preventing the cooling fluid from leaking through the edge of the housing 100.
[0065] In an embodiment, the well space W may include a recessed space defined by the outer wall 101, the inner wall 102, and the bottom surface 103 connecting the outer wall 101 and the inner wall 102 to each other of the housing 100. For example, the well space W may be defined by the inner wall 102 and a skirt portion 113 of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 surrounding the inner wall 102, and may include a space between the inner wall 102 and the outer wall 101 and a space between the outer wall 101 and the skirt portion 113 surrounding the inner wall 102. The skirt portion 113 will be further described later.
[0066] The well space W can be connected to the filling space G2 formed on the first support plate 110 and the second support plate 120, so that all the well spaces W and the filling space G2 can be filled with the potting resin F. In an embodiment, for example, the potting resin F can be continuously formed in the well space W and the filling space G2 without disconnection or separation. The well space W and the filling space G2 can be connected to each other in a stepped manner in the width direction thereof. For example, the well space W having a relatively small width between the outer wall 101 and the inner wall 102 can be connected to the filling space G2 in a stepped manner in the width direction thereof, and the filling space G2 has a relatively large width and is surrounded by the outer wall 101 at a height away from the inner wall 102.
[0067] The boundary defining the well space W may be a bypass boundary curved along the inner wall 102, the bottom surface 103, and the outer wall 101, and due to the well space W (or the potting resin F filled in the well space W) having the bypass boundary in a curved shape, leakage of the cooling fluid accommodated in the accommodation space G1 may be effectively prevented. For example, in order to prevent or substantially prevent the cooling fluid from leaking from the accommodation space G1 along the boundary of the well space W (or the potting resin F filled in the well space W), the boundary of the well space (or the potting resin F filled in the well space W) is formed as a bypass boundary having a curved shape to increase the path for the cooling fluid to flow and effectively prevent leakage of the cooling fluid.
[0068] Figure 7 is a cutaway perspective view showing filling of a potting resin in a battery pack according to an embodiment; Fig. 8A It is shown Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of a battery pack shown in FIG. Figure 8B It is shown Fig. 8A An enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery pack shown in ; Fig. 9 is shown in conjunction with Figure 7 A partially exploded perspective view of a cover of a battery pack is shown in FIG.
[0069] Reference Figure 7 , Fig. 8A and Figure 8B, in an embodiment, the potting resin F can be formed at a specific height (e.g., a predetermined height) from the first support plate 110 and the second support plate 120, and can not cover the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10. That is, the height HF of the potting resin F can be smaller than the height HC of the battery cell 10, i.e., HF < HC. The vent hole V (refer to Figure 7 ) can be formed in at least one of the first end 11 and the second end 12 of each of the battery cells 10. Therefore, the potting resin F can not cover the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 so as not to obstruct or block the release of pressure from the inside of the battery cell 10 through the vent hole V. In an embodiment, the vent hole V (refer to Figure 7 ) can be formed along the edge of the first end 11 or the second end 12 of the battery cell 10. In an embodiment, two rows of battery cells 10 connected by the bus bar B can be arranged upside down relative to each other in the height direction of the battery cell 10, so that the positive and negative polarities of the two rows of battery cells 10 can be reversed. Therefore, the vent hole V (refer to Figure 7 ) can be formed in the first end 11 or the second end 12 according to the position of the battery cell 10. In the present embodiment, the height HF of the potting resin F (refer to Fig. 8A and Figure 8B ) can be greater than the height H15 between the first support plate 110 and the second support plate 120 on which the potting resin F is formed, but can be smaller than the height HC of the battery cell 10, i.e., H15 < HF < HC.
[0070] As described above, since the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 are exposed by the potting resin F, the bonding portion Cp between the bus bar B and the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 will be exposed. However, as shown in Fig. 9 , the bonding portion Cp can be protected from environmental factors by covering the first cover 51 and the second cover 52 of the housing 100. That is, the first cover 51 and the second cover 52 can be assembled to cover the housing 100 in the direction facing each other with the housing 100 therebetween. Therefore, the bonding portion Cp between the bus bar B and the first end 11 and the second end 12 can be protected from being exposed to the outside.
[0071] Now, the structures of the first support plate 110 and the second support plate 120 will be described. Fig.10 is a perspective view showing a part of the battery pack shown in Figure 4 ; Fig.11 is a cross-sectional view showing the battery pack shown in Fig.10 ; Fig.12 is a plan view showing the battery pack shown in Fig.10 ; Fig.13 is a view showing Fig.10 An enlarged perspective view of a portion of a battery pack is shown in FIG.
[0072] Reference Fig.10 and Fig.11 , the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 may be assembled to the housing 100 to face each other along the housing 100, and may be positioned at a height at which the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 may be exposed by the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120, so that the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 having the electrical polarity may not contact the cooling fluid. In other words, the height HC of the battery cell 10 (refer to Fig.11 ) may be greater than the height H15 between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 assembled to the housing 100. In an embodiment, the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 may be exposed away from the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 through the accommodating space G1 for the cooling fluid. Here, the height H15 between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 may be adjusted by the inner wall 102 of the housing 100 that contacts the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120.
[0073] The height H10 of the housing 100 may be at least greater than the height HC of the battery cell 10. The housing 100 is used to accommodate the battery cell 10, and therefore, the height H10 of the housing 100 may be at least greater than the height HC of the battery cell 10 to fully accommodate the battery cell 10. As described above, the potting resin F may be applied over the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 to a height for covering the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 exposed through the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120, and in an embodiment, the height H10 of the housing 100 used as a dam for accommodating the potting resin F may be at least greater than the height HC of the battery cell 10, so that the housing 100 may have an additional height remaining even after accommodating the potting resin F. In an embodiment, as described above, the height HC of the battery cell 10 is greater than the height H15 between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 assembled to the housing 100, so that the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 of the battery cell 10 may be exposed through the accommodating space G1 of the cooling fluid and protrude from the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120. That is, the height H15 between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 , the height HC of the battery cell 10 , and the height H10 of the housing 100 may satisfy the following condition: H15<HC<H10.
[0074] Reference Figure 3 and Fig.10, the monomer holes 115 may be formed in the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120. The battery cells 10 may be inserted into the monomer holes 115, and the assembly positions of the battery cells 10 may be determined according to the arrangement of the monomer holes 115. For example, the monomer holes 115 may determine the assembly positions of the battery cells 10 adjacent to each other to define the intervals between the battery cells 10. Since the intervals between the battery cells 10 adjacent to each other are ensured, the cooling fluid accommodated in the accommodation space G1 may flow smoothly along the periphery of each of the battery cells 10, and therefore, the battery cells 10 may be sufficiently cooled. In an embodiment, the monomer holes 115 may be formed in a circular shape to surround the outer peripheral surface 15 of the battery cell 10.
[0075] Reference Fig.12 , the monomer holes 115 may be arranged in multiple rows according to the arrangement of the battery cells 10. In an embodiment, the arrangement of the monomer holes 115 may be substantially the same as the arrangement of the battery cells 10. For example, the monomer holes 115 of adjacent rows may be densely arranged in such a manner (such as in a matrix pattern arrangement arranged side by side in the row direction and the column direction in the matrix): the monomer holes 115 may be staggered and fitted into the valleys between adjacent monomer holes 115 while being densely staggered so as not to form any large empty spaces between adjacent battery cells 10. As described above, since the monomer holes 115 of adjacent rows are densely arranged at staggered positions, the battery cells 10 may be compactly arranged, and therefore, the battery pack may have a high energy density relative to the volume of the battery pack.
[0076] For reference, in this specification, the row direction or column direction may refer to the direction along which the battery cells 10 are arranged or the direction along which the cell holes 115 defining the assembly positions of the battery cells 10 are arranged, and may refer to the direction along which the groups of adjacent battery cells 10 (or cell holes 115) are linearly arranged. In this specification, the direction parallel to the first short side portion 100S1 and the second short side portion 100S2 may be referred to as the column direction, and the direction parallel to the long side portion 100L may be referred to as the row direction. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. For example, the bus bar B (e.g., refer to Figure 2 The main body Ba) shown in FIG. 1 may extend in the column direction of the battery cells 10 in some embodiments, and may extend in the row direction of the battery cells 10 in other embodiments.
[0077] Reference Figure 3 and Fig.10, a cell rib R extending along the cell hole 115 may be formed on the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120. The cell rib R may extend inward from the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120, and may surround the outer peripheral surface 15 of the battery cell 10 to stably support the battery cell 10. That is, the cell rib R may extend in the height direction of the battery cell 10 to support the battery cell 10 in an upright position relative to the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120.
[0078] In the present specification, the inward direction of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 may refer to a direction in which the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 face each other, or a direction in which the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 face a receiving space G1 for a cooling fluid formed between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120. In addition, the outward direction of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 may refer to a direction in which the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 move away from each other, or a direction in which the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 move away from a receiving space G1 for a cooling fluid formed between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120. The inward direction and the outward direction of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 may be parallel to the height direction of the battery cell 10 and may be opposite to each other.
[0079] The single rib R may protrude inwardly from the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 toward the accommodation space G1 for the cooling fluid. As described later, the assembly protrusion S protruding from the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 together with the single rib R may protrude outwardly from the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 away from the accommodation space G1 for the cooling fluid. In this way, the single rib R and the assembly protrusion S may protrude in the inward direction and the outward direction of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120, respectively (i.e., in opposite directions from the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120). For example, the single rib R may protrude from the inner surface of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120, and the assembly protrusion S may protrude from the outer surface of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120.
[0080] In an embodiment, the cell rib R may protrude from the first and second bracket plates 110 and 120 in a cylindrical shape to surround the outer peripheral surface 15 of the battery cell 10. The cell rib R may protrude from the first and second bracket plates 110 and 120 at a position adjacent to the cell hole 115 into which the battery cell 10 is inserted, so that the cell rib R may surround the outer peripheral surface 15 of the battery cell 10. For example, in an embodiment, the cell rib R may protrude from the wall of the first and second bracket plates 110 and 120 surrounding the cell hole 115 into which the battery cell 10 is inserted.
[0081] The cell ribs R may protrude from the first and second bracket plates 110 and 120 in the height direction of the battery cell 10, and in an embodiment, the protruding length of the cell ribs R may be as short as possible as long as the cell ribs R stably support the battery cell 10. The cell ribs R surround the outer peripheral surface 15 of the battery cell 10 while protruding inwardly from the first and second bracket plates 110 and 120 toward the accommodation space G1 of the cooling fluid, and in this case, the protruding length of the cell ribs R may be short so as not to hinder the heat transfer between the cooling fluid and the outer peripheral surface 15 of the battery cell 10. For example, the cell ribs R may have a short length so as not to cover the central portion of the battery cell 10 in the height direction of the battery cell 10. In an embodiment, when the height HC of the battery cell 10 is about 105 mm, the protruding length of the cell ribs R protruding from the first and second bracket plates 110 and 120 in the height direction of the battery cell 10 may be about 10 mm. That is, in an embodiment, the protruding length of the cell ribs R may be about 10% or less of the height HC of the battery cell 10, for example, about 9.5% of the height HC of the battery cell 10.
[0082] In an embodiment, the cell rib R may completely surround the outer circumferential surface 15 of the battery cell 10. In an embodiment, the cell rib R may be spaced apart from the outer circumferential surface 15 of the battery cell 10 by a gap (eg, a predetermined gap) q (refer to Fig.10 ), rather than being in close contact with the outer peripheral surface 15 of the battery cell 10, to allow the cooling fluid to contact the outer peripheral surface 15 of the battery cell 10. The cooling fluid may contact the outer peripheral surface 15 of the battery cell 10 at a specific flow rate to transfer heat from the battery cell 10 by convection, and a gap q may be formed between the outer peripheral surface 15 of the battery cell 10 and the cell rib R in order to contact the cooling fluid (refer to Fig.10 In the embodiment, for example, the gap q between the outer peripheral surface 15 of the battery cell 10 and the cell rib R (refer to Fig.10 ) can be about 0.1 mm.
[0083] Reference Fig.10 and Fig.13, an assembly protrusion S may be formed on the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 to support the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 to adjust the assembly position of the battery cell 10 in the height direction. For reference, the cell hole 115 into which the battery cell 10 is inserted may define the assembly position of the battery cell 10 in the plane in which the battery cell 10 is arranged, and the assembly protrusion S may adjust the assembly position of the battery cell 10 in the height direction. The assembly protrusion S may protrude outward from the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120. That is, the assembly protrusion S may protrude outward from the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 in a direction opposite to the cell rib R. For example, the assembly protrusion S may protrude from the outer surface of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120, while the cell rib R may protrude from the inner surface of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120.
[0084] In an embodiment, the assembly protrusions S may protrude from the periphery of the cell hole 115 of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 into which the battery cell 10 is inserted to support the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10. In an embodiment, two or more assembly protrusions S may be formed at symmetrical positions on the periphery of each cell hole 115 of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 to support the edge position of each battery cell 10 in a balanced state. In an embodiment, a pair of assembly protrusions S may be formed at back-to-back positions along the periphery of each cell hole 115.
[0085] In an embodiment, the assembly protrusion S is formed at a position between adjacent cell holes 115 (or adjacent battery cells 10) in a row of cell holes 115 (or battery cells 10), so that one assembly protrusion S can concurrently (e.g., simultaneously) support two battery cells 10 inserted into the adjacent cell holes 115. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the assembly protrusion S may be formed so that one assembly protrusion S can be among three cell holes 115 having adjacent peripheries, and thus can concurrently (e.g., simultaneously) support three battery cells 10 inserted into the cell holes 115 adjacent to each other. As described above, in an embodiment, in a structure in which one assembly protrusion S is arranged among three cell holes 115 having adjacent peripheries, the number (e.g., the maximum number) of assembly protrusions S arranged between one cell hole 115 and six cell holes 115 surrounding the cell hole 115 may be six, and the number of assembly protrusions S surrounding one cell hole 115 may be different within the range of six or less according to the design. In addition, the assembling protrusions S around one single hole 115 may be at symmetrical or asymmetrical positions.
[0086] The assembly protrusions S (outer assembly protrusions S) may also be formed on the outer side of the outermost cell holes 115 (or the outermost battery cells 10) among the cell holes 115 (or the battery cells 10) in the row, and each of the outer assembly protrusions S may support one battery cell 10. That is, each of the inner assembly protrusions S formed along the row of the cell holes 115 (or the battery cells 10) may concurrently (e.g., simultaneously) support two battery cells 10 inserted into the adjacent cell holes 115, and each of the outer assembly protrusions S formed along the row of the cell holes 115 (or the battery cells 10) may support one battery cell 10 inserted into the outermost cell hole 115.
[0087] Reference Fig.13 In an embodiment, each of the inner assembly protrusions S formed along the row of the monomer holes 115 (or the battery cells 10) may include: a central protrusion portion Sc protruding outward from the first support plate 110 and the second support plate 120; and a pair of first protrusion portions Sa branching from the central protrusion portion Sc toward the monomer holes 115 (or the battery cells 10) positioned on both sides. In addition, each of the outer assembly protrusions S formed along the row of the monomer holes 115 (or the battery cells 10) may include: a central protrusion portion Sc protruding outward from the first support plate 110 and the second support plate 120; and a first protrusion portion Sa protruding from the central protrusion portion Sc toward the monomer holes 115 (the outermost monomer holes 115 or the outermost battery cells 10). In an embodiment, the first protrusion portion Sa and the central protrusion portion Sc may be formed in a plate shape and may have substantially the same width WD.
[0088] The assembling protrusions S may protrude outward from the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 to support the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 of the battery cell 10 so that the battery cell 10 may not be separated from the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120. For example, the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 of the battery cell 10 may be firmly fixed by the assembling protrusions S protruding from the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120. For example, the assembling protrusions S may not cover the vent holes V formed in the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 of the battery cell 10 so as not to hinder or block the release of the internal pressure from the battery cell 10, and thus the assembling protrusions S may protrude only until the clamping portion CL formed on the edge portion of the battery cell 10 so as to physically interfere only with the clamping portion CL surrounding the vent holes V of the battery cell 10.
[0089] The assembling protrusion S can support the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 at a height that the assembling protrusion S protrudes outward from the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120, thereby fixing the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 at a position outside the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 and allowing the central portion of the battery cell 10 to be exposed to the cooling fluid.
[0090] In an embodiment, since the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 correspond to electrodes to which a charging current is input or from which a discharging current is output, the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 are fixed at a height outside the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 forming a accommodating space G1 for the cooling fluid, thereby insulating the first end 11 and the second end 12 from the cooling fluid.
[0091] Some of the assembling protrusions S may support the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10, and also support the bus bar B electrically connected to the battery cell 10. For example, according to an embodiment, the assembling protrusions S may include: a first assembling protrusion S1 for supporting the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10; and a second assembling protrusion S2 for supporting the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 and the bus bar B. Hereinafter, the second assembling protrusion S2 will be described.
[0092] In an embodiment, each of the bus bars B may electrically connect two adjacent rows of battery cells 10. In this case, the main body Ba of the bus bar B may extend between the assembly protrusions S arranged in two rows along the two adjacent rows of battery cells 10. In addition, among the assembly protrusions S arranged in two rows with the main body Ba of the bus bar B located therebetween, two assembly protrusions S separated from each other may correspond to the second assembly protrusions S2 that fix the main body Ba of the bus bar B.
[0093] The body Ba of the bus bar B may extend between the outermost branches Br provided on both ends thereof, in which case the second assembly protrusions S2 may be assembly protrusions S adjacent to the outermost branches Br. For example, the second assembly protrusions S2 may be assembly protrusions S adjacent to the inner side of the outermost branches Br, and each second assembly protrusion S2 may include a first protrusion portion Sa for supporting the battery cell 10 and a second protrusion portion Sb for supporting the bus bar B. For reference, unlike the second assembly protrusions S2, the first assembly protrusions S1 that support the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 without physically interfering with the bus bar B may include the first protrusion portion Sa but may not include the second protrusion portion Sb.
[0094] In an embodiment, the first protrusion portion Sa and the second protrusion portion Sb of each second assembly protrusion S2 may be centered on the central protrusion portion Sc and may protrude in different directions from the central protrusion portion Sc, and the central protrusion portion Sc protrudes outward from the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120. That is, the first protrusion portion Sa may protrude from the central protrusion portion Sc in two lateral directions along the row of the battery cells 10, and the second protrusion portion Sb may protrude from the central protrusion portion Sc toward the body Ba of the bus bar B. In other words, each of the second assembly protrusions S2 may include: a pair of first protrusion portions Sa formed on both sides of the central protrusion portion Sc; and a second protrusion portion Sb protruding from the central protrusion portion Sc between the first protrusion portions Sa. In an embodiment, the first protrusion portion Sa may have a width WD substantially the same as a width of the central protrusion portion Sc, and the second protrusion portion Sb may have a width smaller than the width WD of the first protrusion portion Sa. In this case, the widths of the first protrusion portion Sa and the central protrusion portion Sc may be measured in the same direction that is different from (eg, 90 degrees apart from) the direction in which the width of the second protrusion portion Sb is measured.
[0095] The first protrusion portion Sa and the second protrusion portion Sb are respectively configured to fix the positions of the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 of the battery cell 10 and the bus bar B, and may have different structures that physically interfere with the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 of the battery cell 10 and the bus bar B, respectively. For example, the first protrusion portion Sa may protrude in a direction intersecting the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 of the battery cell 10 and at a level away from the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 in the height direction of the battery cell 10, so that the first protrusion portion Sa may serve as a stopper for the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12, and may support the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 to place the battery cell 10 at a designated position in the height direction. The second protrusion portion Sb may protrude at the same level as the bus bar B in the height direction of the battery cell 10, and may extend in a direction intersecting the bus bar B to be inserted into the receiving groove B' of the bus bar B. The bus bar B can be supported on the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10, so that no additional supporting structure is required for the bus bar B in the height direction of the battery cell 10. For example, since the second protrusion portion Sb is assembled into the accommodating groove B', the bus bar B can be fixed at a level perpendicular to the height direction of the battery cell 10 without moving.
[0096] For example, in each second assembly protrusion S2, the first protrusion portion Sa and the second protrusion portion Sb may protrude from the central protrusion portion Sc. In an embodiment, the first protrusion portion Sa may have a small thickness in the height direction of the battery cell 10 and may protrude at a level away from the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 of the battery cell 10 in a direction crossing the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12, and the second protrusion portion Sb may have a relatively large thickness in the height direction of the battery cell 10 and may be inserted into the receiving groove B' of the bus bar B at the same level as that of the bus bar B.
[0097] The second protrusion portion Sb may be inserted into the receiving groove B' formed in the main body Ba of the bus bar B at a diagonal position based on the main body Ba of the bus bar B, so that the main body Ba of the bus bar B can be supported in a balanced manner. For example, the second protrusion portion Sb may be inserted at a diagonal position based on the main body Ba of the bus bar B, and thus, the main body Ba of the bus bar B can be stably supported. The receiving groove B' may be intermittently formed along the main body Ba of the bus bar B at a diagonally spaced position corresponding to the position of the second protrusion portion Sb.
[0098] In an embodiment, the second protrusion portion Sb may have a height difference with the first protrusion portion Sa in the outward (e.g., upward) direction. For example, in the height direction of the battery cell 10, at least the outer surface (e.g., upper surface) of the second protrusion portion Sb may have a height difference with the outer surface (e.g., upper surface) of the first protrusion portion Sa in the outward (e.g., upward) direction. That is, the second protrusion portion Sb for supporting the main body Ba of the bus bar B may have a height difference with the first protrusion portion Sa for supporting the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 in the outward (e.g., upward) direction. Because the branch Br is bent in a step shape with the main body Ba (at the bent portion Bc) in the inward (e.g., downward) direction and connected to the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10, the main body Ba of the bus bar B may have a height difference with the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 in the outward (e.g., upward) direction. That is, the second protrusion portion Sb for supporting the main body Ba of the bus bar B may have a height difference outwardly (e.g., upwardly) from the first protrusion portion Sa for supporting the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 of the battery cell 10. For reference, since the branch Br of the bus bar B is bent in a step shape in an inward (e.g., downward) direction from the main body Ba toward the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 of the battery cell 10, the branch Br may be in close contact with the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 of the battery cell 10, and thus, the welding strength between the branch Br and the first end portion 11 and the second end portion 12 may be improved.
[0099] For example, the second assembly protrusions S2 may fix the position of the bus bar B (e.g., the main body Ba), and in addition, since the bus bar B (e.g., the branch Br) is welded to the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10, the position of the bus bar B may be more firmly fixed. For example, the battery cell 10 and the bus bar B may be fixed to each other by the second assembly protrusions S2 during welding, so that the battery cell 10 and the bus bar B may be stably welded to each other.
[0100] In an embodiment, the branches Br and the assembly protrusions S of the bus bar B may be staggered in a zigzag pattern. For example, in an embodiment, each of the bus bars B may electrically connect two adjacent rows of battery cells 10 to each other. In this case, the two rows of battery cells 10 connected to each other by the bus bar B may be arranged in a zigzag pattern, in which the battery cells 10 in one row are placed in the valley between the battery cells 10 in another row. Therefore, the branches Br of the bus bar B connected to the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 (e.g., the electrodes formed in the central portion of the first end 11 and the second end 12) may be arranged in a zigzag pattern centered on the main body Ba of the bus bar B, and the assembly protrusions S supporting the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 (e.g., the two edge portions of the first end 11 and the second end 12) may be arranged in a zigzag pattern. In addition, the branches Br and the assembly protrusions S may be arranged in a zigzag pattern centered on the main body Ba of the bus bar B while staggered. As such, the branch Br and the assembling protrusion S all contact the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10 at different positions of the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10. That is, the branch Br may be connected to the electrode formed in the central portion of the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10, and the assembling protrusion S may support the lateral edge portions of the first end 11 and the second end 12 of the battery cell 10.
[0101] Fig.14 It shows that Fig.10 1 is a view showing the manner in which the first bracket plate 110, the second bracket plate 120 and the housing 100 are coupled to each other and assembled together.
[0102] Reference Fig.11 and Fig.14, the skirt 113 may be formed on the edge of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 for assembly with the housing 100. For example, the skirt 113 may be formed in an inwardly curved shape along the edge of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120. The skirt 113 formed on the edge of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 may be inserted into the well space W between the outer wall 101 and the inner wall 102 formed along the edge of the housing 100. For example, when the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 are assembled to the housing 100 while sliding inwardly along the housing 100, the skirt 113 formed on the edge of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 may be inserted into the well space W between the outer wall 101 and the inner wall 102 formed on the edge of the housing 100, and thus, the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 may be coupled to the housing 100. In an embodiment, the skirt 113 can be inserted into the well space W between the outer wall 101 and the inner wall 102 of the shell 100, for example, while being in close contact with the inner wall 102 to surround the inner wall 102 rather than in close contact with the outer wall 101, so that the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 on which the skirt 113 is formed can be assembled to the shell 100 while surrounding the shell 100.
[0103] As described above, the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 having the skirt portion 113 may be assembled to the housing 100 while surrounding the inner wall 102 of the housing 100, and then the fastening member 6 (see Fig.14 ) The first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 are fastened to the housing 100. For example, a coupling hole 116 may be formed in the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 to insert the fastening member 6 (see Fig.14), and a coupling flange portion 106 to be fastened may be formed on the housing 100 to couple the fastening member 6 to the coupling flange portion 106. For example, the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 and the housing 100 may be coupled to each other by inserting the fastening member 6 through the coupling holes 116 of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 and fastening the fastening member 6 in the coupling flange portion 106. The coupling holes 116 of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 may be formed at positions corresponding to the coupling flange portion 106 of the housing 100. For example, the coupling holes 116 may be formed in the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 in an intermittent manner along the edges of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 on which the skirt 113 is formed at positions adjacent to the skirt 113 surrounding the inner wall 102 of the housing 100. The coupling flange portion 106 may be intermittently formed along the inner wall 102 at a position adjacent to the inner wall 102 of the housing 100 , and may protrude toward the accommodation space G1 formed in the central portion of the housing 100 .
[0104] Considering the bonding strength between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 and the housing 100, a plurality of bonding holes 116 and a plurality of bonding flange portions 106 may be formed on the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 and the housing 100 at corresponding positions, and the fastening member 6 may be used to increase the bonding strength between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 and the housing 100. For example, the bonding holes 116 may be formed at intermittent positions along the edges of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 on which the skirt 113 is formed, and the bonding flange portions 106 may be formed at intermittent positions along the inner wall 102.
[0105] Reference Fig.12, the battery cells 10 of two adjacent rows may be arranged in a zigzag pattern in which the battery cells 10 are densely arranged in the valley between the adjacent battery cells 10. In this case, the battery cells 10 in one of the two adjacent rows may be relatively shifted to the left so that the area for forming the coupling hole 116 may be set at a position with respect to the right side of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120, and similarly, the battery cells 10 in the other of the two adjacent rows may be relatively shifted to the right so that the area for forming the coupling hole 116 may be set at a position with respect to the left side of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120. Therefore, the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 may not require an additional area for forming the coupling hole 116. For reference, the position with respect to the left side or the position with respect to the right side may be a position adjacent to one side and the other side of the row of battery cells 10 parallel to the first short side portion 100S1 and the second short side portion 100S2 of the housing 100. As described above, the coupling holes 116 of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 may be formed at alternating positions on the left and right sides in the row direction of the battery cells 10, coupling the flange portions 106 (refer to Fig.14 ) may be formed at a position corresponding to the combining hole 116.
[0106] Fig.15 and Fig.16 1 and 2 are respectively a perspective view and a plan view showing a partition wall structure of a battery pack according to an embodiment.
[0107] Reference Fig.15 , the accommodation space G1 may be formed between the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 that are assembled to face each other along the housing 100. In an embodiment, the accommodation space G1 may accommodate a cooling fluid flow for cooling the battery cell 10, and the partition wall 150 may extend across the accommodation space G1 of the housing 100 to divide the accommodation space G1 into an upstream portion G11 and a downstream portion G12. In an embodiment, for example, the partition wall 150 may be formed integrally with the housing 100.
[0108] The upstream portion G11 may be connected to an inlet I of a cooling fluid so that the cooling fluid can flow into the upstream portion G11 at a relatively low temperature, and the downstream portion G12 may be connected to an outlet O of the cooling fluid so that the cooling fluid can flow outward from the downstream portion G12 at a relatively high temperature. The inlet I and outlet O of the cooling fluid may be formed at the end side in the extension direction of the partition wall 150, and the communication portion CN may be provided at the other end side in the extension direction of the partition wall 150 so that the upstream portion G11 and the downstream portion G12 are connected to each other. For example, the extension direction of the partition wall 150 may be parallel to the long side portion 100L.
[0109] The connecting portion CN can connect the upstream portion G11 and the downstream portion G12 to each other, so that the cooling fluid flowing in the upstream portion G11 in a direction from the inlet I of the end side toward the other end side can be reversed (i.e., turn in a U-shape) and can flow in the downstream portion G12 in a direction from the other end side toward the outlet O of the end side.
[0110] The inlet I and the outlet O may be formed at the end side in the extension direction of the partition wall 150, for example, at the first short side portion 100S1 of the housing 100. As described above, the inlet I and the outlet O are formed together in the first short side portion 100S1 of the housing 100, for example, since the inlet I and the outlet O are not formed in the first short side portion 100S1 and the second short side portion 100S2 that are opposite to each other, respectively, but are formed together in the first short side portion 100S1, fluid connection with the housing 100 may be easily performed. In an embodiment, for example, the housing 100 may include: a pair of long side portions 100L parallel to the extension direction of the partition wall 150; and a first short side portion 100S1 and a second short side portion 100S2 connecting the pair of long side portions 100L to each other, wherein the inlet I and the outlet O may be formed together in the first short side portion 100S1, rather than being formed in the first short side portion 100S1 and the second short side portion 100S2, respectively.
[0111] In the present embodiment, an inlet I and an outlet O are formed in a first short side portion 100S1 of the shell 100, and a partition wall 150 provided in the shell 100 is used to direct the cooling fluid flow from the inlet I toward the outlet O by reversing the cooling fluid flow in a U-shaped turn at the second short side portion 100S2, so that a relatively large flow resistance can be applied to the cooling fluid flow to completely or almost completely fill the interior of the shell 100 (the accommodating space G1) with the cooling fluid.
[0112] In an embodiment, one inlet I and one outlet O may be formed together as a pair in the first short side portion 100S1 of the housing 100. However, the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the inlet I and the outlet O may be formed in the first short side portion 100S1 and the second short side portion 100S2 of the housing 100, respectively, and the number of the inlet I and the number of the outlet O may be equal to or different from each other, and may be at least two. In an embodiment, for example, referring to Fig.15, a partition wall 150 is provided in the housing 100 to divide the accommodating space G1 into two parts: an upstream part G11, connected to the inlet I; and a downstream part G12, connected to the outlet O. However, in another embodiment, at least two partition walls 150 may be provided to divide the accommodating space G1 into a plurality of parts, and two or more inlets I and outlets O may be formed so that the inlet I or the outlet O may be provided in each part. In an embodiment, the number of inlets I and the number of outlets O may be different from each other. For example, the number of inlets I and the number of outlets O may be adjusted to control the flow resistance or flow rate of the cooling fluid, and the flow rate of the cooling fluid may be controlled by considering the efficiency of cooling according to the driving power to prevent or substantially prevent a local area from being without cooling.
[0113] Reference Fig.16 In order to evenly distribute the heat dissipation burden to the cooling fluid in the upstream portion G11 and the downstream portion G12, the partition wall 150 may be provided so that the number of battery cells 10 or the cell holes 115 defining the assembly positions of the battery cells 10 in the upstream portion G11 may be equal to the number of battery cells 10 or the cell holes 115 in the downstream portion G12. In an embodiment, for example, the battery cells 10 (or the cell holes 115) may be arranged in eight rows in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the partition wall 150, and the partition wall 150 may divide the eight rows into four rows in the upstream portion G11 and four rows in the downstream portion G12. In an embodiment, the number of battery cells 10 in the upstream portion G11 and the number of battery cells 10 in the downstream portion G12 may be equal to each other to evenly or substantially evenly distribute the heat dissipation burden of the cooling fluid to the upstream portion G11 and the downstream portion G12.
[0114] When the partition wall 150 extends between the first row L1 and the second row L2 adjacent to each other, the first row L1 and the second row L2 may be arranged adjacent to each other so that the monomer holes 115 (or battery cells 10) of the first row L1 may be placed between the monomer holes 115 (or battery cells 10) of the second row L2, in which case the partition wall 150 may extend in a serpentine shape between the first row L1 and the second row L2. For example, the partition wall 150 may extend in a zigzag pattern along the outer surfaces of the battery cells 10 of the first row L1 and the second row L2, and therefore, the partition wall 150 may include a plurality of curved portions.
[0115] Reference Fig.15 and Fig.16In an embodiment, the partition wall 150 may include: a wall portion 155 extending across the accommodation space G1; and a first coupling portion 151 and a second coupling portion 152 coupled to the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120 at intermittent positions in a direction from the end side to the other end side. The first coupling portion 151 and the second coupling portion 152 may be coupled to the gap portions 118 of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120, respectively.
[0116] The partition wall 150 may extend along the gap portion 118 between the single ribs R, and in an embodiment, the first coupling portion 151 and the second coupling portion 152 of the partition wall 150 may contact and be welded to the gap portion 118 of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120. The first coupling portion 151 and the second coupling portion 152 may protrude with a large width in the thickness direction of the wall portion 155, and may form a wide contact area with the gap portion 118 of the first bracket plate 110 and the second bracket plate 120. In an embodiment, the first coupling portion 151 and the second coupling portion 152 may be connected to each other while extending in the height direction of the wall portion 155.
[0117] Each of the gap portions 118 of the first support plate 110 and the second support plate 120 may be provided by an additional space between four adjacent single ribs R having adjacent peripheries. For example, the single ribs R may be densely arranged in such a manner that the peripheries of every four single ribs R around the peripheries of the densely arranged battery cells 10 may be adjacent to each other. In addition, the gap portions 118 (each of which is provided as an additional space between four single ribs R) may provide a coupling position for fixing the position of the partition wall 150 in the housing 100.
[0118] Reference Fig.15, the wall portion 155 of the partition wall 150 may have a first height h1 and a second height h2 along the partition wall 150. The wall portion 155 of the partition wall 150 may have the first height h1 over most of the length of the wall portion 155 from the end side (first short side portion 100S1) in which the inlet I and the outlet O are formed, and may separate the upstream portion G11 and the downstream portion G12 from each other at a position between the first support plate 110 and the second support plate 120. The wall portion 155 of the partition wall 150 may have a second height h2 at the other end side (second short side portion 100S2) that is smaller than the first height h1 at the end side (first short side portion 100S1) to form a connecting portion CN connecting the upstream portion G11 and the downstream portion G12 to each other at the other end side (second short side portion 100S2) opposite to the end side in which the inlet I and the outlet O are formed, and the connecting portion CN may correspond to the difference between the first height h1 and the second height h2. That is, the wall portion 155 of the partition wall 150 may be stepped from a first height h1 on one end to a second height h2 on the other end, and the communication portion CN may correspond to the difference between the first height h1 and the second height h2.
[0119] In an embodiment, the portion having the second height h2 may correspond to the central area of the portion having the first height h1, and therefore, there may be an upper height difference and a lower height difference between the portion having the second height h2 and the portion having the first height h1. In this case, the connecting portion CN may include a first connecting portion CN1 corresponding to the upper height difference adjacent to the first bracket plate 110 and a second connecting portion CN2 corresponding to the lower height difference adjacent to the second bracket plate 120, and the cooling fluid may flow smoothly between the upstream portion G11 and the downstream portion G12 through the first connecting portion CN1 and the second connecting portion CN2 opposite to each other in the height direction of the partition wall 150. For example, the first connecting portion CN1 may form a cooling fluid flow in contact with a portion relatively adjacent to the first end 11 of the battery cell 10, and the second connecting portion CN2 may form a cooling fluid flow in contact with a portion relatively adjacent to the second end 12 of the battery cell 10. In an embodiment, due to the first connecting portion CN1 and the second connecting portion CN2, the cooling fluid may flow along a portion adjacent to the first end 11 and the second end 12 where heat is mainly generated.
[0120] As described above, according to one or more embodiments, the cooling fluid may flow in the accommodation space of the battery cell 10 and may directly contact the surface of the battery cell 10 , thereby effectively dissipating heat from the battery cell 10 through direct convection heat transfer.
[0121] In addition, according to one or more embodiments, a sealing structure is provided for the cooling fluid so that the cooling fluid does not leak from the accommodation space G1 of the battery cell 10 .
[0122] It will be understood that the embodiments described herein should be considered in a descriptive sense, and not for limiting purposes. The description of features or aspects within each embodiment should generally be considered applicable to other similar features or aspects in other embodiments. Although one or more embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying 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 set forth in the claims.
Claims
1. A battery pack, comprising: Battery cells each including a first end and a second end in a height direction of the battery cell; a housing that accommodates the battery cells and a cooling fluid for cooling the battery cells; as well as The first bracket plate and the second bracket plate are coupled to the housing to face each other along the housing so that the first end and the second end of the battery cell are insertable through the first bracket plate and the second bracket plate, respectively, and an accommodation space is defined between the first bracket plate and the second bracket plate to accommodate a cooling fluid, wherein each of the first bracket plate and the second bracket plate comprises: a single rib extending from an inner surface of each of the first bracket plate and the second bracket plate in a height direction of the battery cell to surround an outer peripheral surface of the battery cell; and an assembling protrusion protruding outwardly from an outer surface of the first bracket plate and the second bracket plate to support the first end and the second end of the battery cell, wherein the length of each single rib does not exceed 10% of the height of the battery cell; bus bars to electrically connect the battery cells to each other; and A potting resin is disposed on outer surfaces of the first support plate and the second support plate to cover the first and second ends of the battery cell and a junction between the first and second ends of the battery cell and the bus bar, The housing, the battery cell, and the first bracket plate and the second bracket plate have heights in the height direction of the battery cell that satisfy the following conditions: The height between the first bracket plate and the second bracket plate is less than the height of the battery cell and less than the height of the housing.
2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The potting resin on the first bracket plate and the second bracket plate has a height in the height direction that satisfies the following conditions: The height of the battery cell is less than the height of the potting resin and less than the height of the shell.
3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein: The busbars include: a main body extending along adjacent rows of battery cells; and a branch branching from the main body toward the battery cell, and The coupling portion includes a welding portion between the branches of the bus bar and the battery cell.
4. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein: The main body and the branch of the bus bar have a height difference in the height direction, and The potting resin covers the branches of the bus bar and the main body of the bus bar.
5. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein: The main body and the branch of the bus bar have a height difference in the height direction, and The body of the bus bar is exposed through the potting resin.
6. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The case includes a hollow member opened in a height direction to accommodate the battery cells and a cooling fluid.
7. The battery pack according to claim 6, wherein: The housing includes: an accommodating space located in a central portion of the housing; and an outer wall and an inner wall extending parallel to each other along an edge of the housing located around the accommodating space.
8. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein: The battery cells, outer walls and inner walls have heights that satisfy the following conditions: The height of the inner wall is less than the height of the battery cell and less than the height of the outer wall.
9. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein: A well space is defined between the outer wall and the inner wall along an edge of the housing.
10. The battery pack according to claim 9, wherein: The potting resins located on the first support plate and the second support plate are continuously arranged in the well space.
11. The battery pack according to claim 9, wherein: The skirt is bent inwardly from the first support plate and the second support plate toward the well space and inserted into the well space.
12. The battery pack according to claim 11, wherein: The skirt is bent and extends from the first bracket plate and the second bracket plate and surrounds the inner wall.
13. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: Each of the first support plate and the second support plate further includes a cell hole into which the battery cell is inserted, and The assembling protrusions are arranged along the row of the cell holes to support first and second end portions of the battery cells adjacent to each other in a state where the assembling protrusions are located at positions between the cell holes adjacent to each other.
14. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: Some of the assembly protrusions include first assembly protrusions that do not physically interfere with the bus bar, and Other of the assembling protrusions include a second assembling protrusion that holds the bus bar.
15. The battery pack according to claim 14, wherein: The first assembling protrusion and the second assembling protrusion include a first protruding portion protruding toward the first end portion and the second end portion of the battery cell, and The second assembling protrusion further includes a second protrusion portion that protrudes toward the bus bar.
16. The battery pack according to claim 15, wherein: The first protrusion portion is arranged on an opposite side of the second assembling protrusion, and The second protrusion portion is arranged on a side edge of the second assembling protrusion between the opposite sides.
17. The battery pack according to claim 15, wherein: The first protruding portion and the second protruding portion have a height difference in a height direction.
18. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: A gap is defined between the outer peripheral surface of the battery cell and the cell rib.