Battery pack and vehicle including the same

Abstract

The battery pack according to the present invention may comprise: a plurality of battery modules arranged in a width direction or a length direction thereof; a battery pack case for accommodating the plurality of battery modules; a plurality of interconnection bus bars for electrically connecting two adjacent battery modules among the plurality of battery modules; and a shielding unit for isolating the interconnection bus bars from an internal space of the battery pack case, in which the shielding unit is provided on an outer surface of the interconnection bus bars, between one interconnection bus bar and another interconnection bus bar, and between the internal space and the interconnection bus bars.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery pack, and more particularly, to a battery pack for preventing an arc or short circuit from occurring on the outer surface of an inter-busbar due to a flame or high-temperature impurities in the event of a fire in a battery module. This application claims the priority of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0112309, filed in Korea on August 25, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Background Art

[0002] Contrary to primary batteries that cannot be used again after a single use, secondary batteries convert electrical energy into chemical energy, are rechargeable, and can be used semi-permanently.

[0003] In particular, lithium-ion secondary batteries have a high energy storage density, light weight, compact size, high safety, low discharge rate, and long life, and due to these advantages, they have been widely used as electric vehicle batteries in recent years. For reference, lithium-ion secondary batteries are generally classified into cylindrical, square, and pouch types according to their shape, and have a wide range of applications, including electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESSs) and other electrical devices.

[0004] Currently, lithium-ion secondary battery cells have an operating voltage of about 2.5V to 4.5V. Therefore, in order to use secondary batteries as an energy source for electric vehicles, a plurality of lithium-ion secondary battery cells are connected in series and / or in parallel to form a battery module, and a plurality of battery modules are connected in series and / or in parallel to form a battery pack.

[0005] Since secondary batteries involve chemical reactions during charging and discharging, when they are used in a temperature environment higher than the optimal temperature, performance degradation may occur, and in the case of a failure in thermal control of the optimal temperature, there is a risk of accidental fire or explosion. In addition, a battery pack including a plurality of secondary batteries has a structure in which the secondary batteries are densely packed in a battery pack case, and thus may be vulnerable to thermal events.

[0006] When a thermal event such as overheating or thermal runaway occurs in a specific battery module, a flame or high-temperature impurities may be released into the battery pack case. In addition, since the inter-busbars that electrically connect the battery modules are exposed to the internal space, when a flame or impurities come into contact with the inter-busbars, an arc or short circuit may occur, and thermal energy may accumulate more quickly, resulting in heat propagation to adjacent battery modules or acceleration of thermal runaway propagation in the battery modules.

[0007] Therefore, there is an urgent need for an improved structure for isolating the interconnecting busbars from the interior space of the battery pack housing to prevent the generation of arcs or short circuits in the interconnecting busbars in the event of a fire in the battery module. Summary of the Invention

[0008] Technical Problem

[0009] The present disclosure aims to solve the above problems. Therefore, the present disclosure aims to provide a battery pack in which the interconnecting busbars connecting the battery modules are completely shielded within the battery pack housing to prevent the generation of arcs or short circuits on the outer surface of the interconnecting busbars in the event of a fire in the battery module, minimize heat energy accumulation, and delay heat propagation to adjacent battery modules.

[0010] The technical problems to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the above problems, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand these and other problems from the following description.

[0011] Technical Solution

[0012] To solve the above problems, a battery pack according to the present disclosure includes: a plurality of battery modules arranged in a width direction or a length direction; a battery pack housing that houses the plurality of battery modules; a plurality of interconnecting busbars that electrically connect two adjacent battery modules among the plurality of battery modules; and a shielding unit configured to isolate the interconnecting busbars from the interior space of the battery pack housing, wherein the shielding unit is provided on the outer surface of the interconnecting busbars, between any two interconnecting busbars, and between the interior space and the interconnecting busbars.

[0013] The interconnecting busbars may connect two battery modules that are adjacent to each other in the width direction among the plurality of battery modules, and the shielding unit may extend in the width direction and be provided at a gap between the two battery modules that are adjacent to each other in the length direction.

[0014] The shielding unit can be partitioned by blocking the exposure of the top or side of the interconnecting busbar, so that the flame or solid ejection material generated in the interior space during a thermal event does not contact the outer surface of the interconnecting busbar.

[0015] The shielding unit may include: a first shielding member provided to correspond to the outer surface of the interconnecting busbar; and a second shielding member configured to separate any one interconnecting busbar from another interconnecting busbar adjacent to the one interconnecting busbar in the length direction.

[0016] The first shielding member may include: a refractory member that is arranged to face the interconnection bus bar and surround a part of the interconnection bus bar; and a housing that houses the interconnection bus bar.

[0017] The refractory member may include a mica tape or a glass tape.

[0018] The housing may be made of a heat-resistant plastic material.

[0019] The housing may include a lower housing that houses the interconnection bus bar; and an upper housing cover that is provided on the lower housing and coupled to the lower housing.

[0020] The lower housing may include: a side wall frame having a height equal to the thickness of the interconnection bus bar; and a support plate that is provided on the lower part of the side wall frame and is configured to mount and support the interconnection bus bar at the center, and the support plate may have open surfaces on both sides.

[0021] The side wall frame has coupling hooks that project upward to be coupled to the upper housing cover, and the upper housing cover may have coupling grooves to which the coupling hooks are detachably coupled.

[0022] The second shielding member may include: a cover portion that is attached to a part of the outer surface of the battery module and is configured to cover the interconnection bus bar; and a shielding member that contacts the cover portion and is provided on the upper ends of the two battery modules adjacent to each other in the length direction to block the gap.

[0023] The cover portion may be bent to cover one side edge of the battery module.

[0024] The cover portion may include: a first cover member that is configured to cover the upper surface of the interconnection bus bar; and a second cover member that is arranged perpendicular to the first cover member and is configured to cover one side of the interconnection bus bar. The length and width of the first cover member may be greater than the length and width of the interconnection bus bar in the length direction. The length of the second cover member may be equal to the length of the first cover member, and the width of the second cover member may be greater than the thickness of the interconnection bus bar.

[0025] The shielding member may be formed in a flat plate shape and is provided to connect the upper surfaces of two battery modules adjacent to each other in the length direction.

[0026] The length of the shielding member may be greater than the length of the covering portion.

[0027] The shielding member may extend continuously in the width direction of the battery module.

[0028] The width of the shielding member may be greater than the sum of the width of the first cover member provided in the two battery modules adjacent to each other in the length direction and the gap between the two battery modules adjacent to each other in the length direction.

[0029] The second shielding member may be made of mica.

[0030] The first shielding member and the cover portion may prevent the flame or solid ejection material released from the front side of any one battery module from contacting the interconnection bus bar of another battery module adjacent to the battery module in the length direction.

[0031] Fastening holes for coupling with the battery module may be provided on both sides of the interconnection bus bar, fastening bolts may be provided at the fastening holes, and the accommodation housing may shield the outer surface of the fastening bolts.

[0032] In addition, according to the present disclosure, a vehicle including a battery pack is provided.

[0033] Advantageous Effects

[0034] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the interconnection bus bar for connecting the battery modules can be completely shielded inside the battery pack housing by a shielding unit configured to shield the internal space of the battery pack housing, thereby preventing arcing or short circuit on the outer surface of the interconnection bus bar due to the release of flame or high-temperature impurities into the battery pack housing during a thermal event, thereby reducing heat energy accumulation and delaying heat propagation to adjacent battery modules.

[0035] In addition, the spread of fire between battery modules can be prevented, thereby enhancing the durability of the battery pack and reducing maintenance and repair costs.

[0036] In addition, with a relatively simple shielding structure, short circuits between battery modules can be prevented, and the spread of explosive fires in the battery modules can be prevented in the case of a fire in the battery pack, thereby suppressing significant heat energy accumulation in the battery pack and preventing structural collapse of the battery pack.

[0037] The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above effects, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand these and other effects from the specification and the drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0038] The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and are used in conjunction with the following detailed description to provide a better understanding of the technical aspects of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure should not be construed as limited to the drawings.

[0039] Figure 1is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] Figure 2 is Figure 1 an exploded perspective view of the main components of the battery pack.

[0041] Figure 3 is a view showing a shielding unit in a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] Figure 4 schematically shows Figure 2 a first shielding member of the shielding unit in

[0043] Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a shielding unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of a first shielding member in a shielding unit of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0045] Figure 7 and Figure 8 are views showing a shielding unit in a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0046] Figure 9 and Figure 10 is a perspective view schematically showing a coupling process of a shielding unit in a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0047] Figure 11 and Figure 12 is a view schematically showing a shielding unit in a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in a coupled state.

[0048] Figure 13 is a view showing a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Embodiments

[0049] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before the description, it should be understood that the terms or words used in the specification and the appended claims should not be construed as limited to the general and dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted based on the principle that allows the inventor to appropriately define the terms for the best explanation, based on the meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical aspects of the present disclosure.

[0050] Therefore, the embodiments described herein and the illustrations in the drawings are provided by way of illustration, but are not intended to be restrictive, and thus it should be understood that various other equivalents and modifications can be made when submitting this application.

[0051] Figure 1is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 2 is Figure 1 an exploded perspective view of main components of the battery pack.

[0052] Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the battery pack 10 according to the present embodiment may include a plurality of battery modules 100 arranged in a width direction or a length direction, a battery pack housing 200 that houses the plurality of battery modules 100, a plurality of interconnecting busbars 300 that electrically connect two adjacent battery modules 100 (see Figure 4 ), and a shielding unit 400 that isolates the interconnecting busbars 300 from the internal space of the battery pack housing 200.

[0053] The battery module 100 may include a plurality of battery cells (not shown). A battery cell refers to a secondary battery including an electrode assembly, an electrolyte, and a pouch case that houses the electrode assembly, and in this embodiment, the battery cell is a pouch-type battery cell having a high energy density and being easy to stack, but a cylindrical or square secondary battery may be used as the battery cell.

[0054] The pouch-type battery cell may include a pair of electrode leads (not shown) that are connected to the electrode assembly and extend in an outward direction of the pouch case and serve as electrode terminals. The pair of electrode leads may extend forward and backward along the length direction. Alternatively, the pair of electrode leads may extend from both ends of the battery cell, that is, in the length direction (±X direction). If necessary, the electrode leads may be provided only at the ends in the X-axis direction, for example, the ends in the -X axis direction. Although not shown, electrical components (for example, busbars, busbar frames, and module connectors) may be mounted adjacent to the pair of electrode leads of the battery cell.

[0055] In addition, the battery module 100 may include a module housing 110 that houses the battery cells. The module housing 110 may be configured to accommodate at least one battery cell therein and is made of a material having high stiffness and durability (for example, a metal material or a plastic material such as ABS resin) to physically or chemically protect the battery cells housed therein.

[0056] Terminals 120 of the battery module 100 may be present at the front side or the rear side (both sides in the X-axis direction) of the module housing 110. The terminals 120 may be positive or negative. The terminals 120 may be provided on one side of the battery module 100, and in some cases, may be provided on both sides of the battery module 100. The terminals 120 may be connected to the interconnecting busbars 300.

[0057] The battery pack housing 200 can accommodate a plurality of battery modules 100. To this end, the battery pack housing 200 can have an accommodation space for accommodating the plurality of battery modules 100. Main reference Figure 2 , the battery modules 100 can be arranged in the accommodation space of the battery pack housing 200 in the width direction (Y-axis direction) and the length direction (X-axis direction).

[0058] The battery pack housing 200 can include a battery pack tray 210 in which the plurality of battery modules 100 are accommodated and a battery pack cover 230 provided on the battery pack tray 210. The battery pack tray 210 has an open top and is coupled to the battery pack cover 230. The battery pack tray 210 can be made of a material having high mechanical strength to protect the battery modules 100 from external shocks.

[0059] The battery pack tray 210 can include a tray body 211 and a plurality of partitions 212. The tray body 211 includes the bottom surface and the edge frame of the battery pack tray 210, and the battery modules 100 can be mounted and supported on the bottom surface of the tray body 211. The plurality of partitions 212 can be provided inside the edge frame of the tray body 211 and are arranged at regular intervals in the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the battery pack tray 210. Therefore, the partitions 212 can separate the battery modules 100 arranged in the width direction (Y-axis direction).

[0060] The height (Z-axis direction) of the partition 212 can be lower than the height of the battery module 100. In addition, the height of the partition 212 can be lower than the height at which the terminals 120 of the battery module 100 are located. Therefore, when the interconnecting bus bar 300 is provided between any one battery module 100 and another adjacent battery module 100, the interconnecting bus bar 300 can not interfere with the partition 212.

[0061] In the present embodiment, six battery modules 100 can be arranged in the width direction, and partitions 212 between the battery modules 100 can be provided for each battery module 100, a total of five partitions 212 in the width direction. When the six battery modules 100 form an array, another array can be provided parallel to the array and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the length direction of the battery module 100. Therefore, the battery modules 100 can be arranged in a 6×2 (width direction × length direction) arrangement. Similarly, five partitions 212 can be provided in the second array. That is, as shown in the figure, any one partition 212 can be continuous in the length direction (Y-axis direction) of the battery pack housing 200. On the contrary, the partition 212 can be cut at the center. The number of battery modules 100 or the number of partitions 212 in the battery pack tray 210 is not limited to this embodiment and can be set differently.

[0062] The battery pack cover 230 is disposed on the battery pack tray 210 to hermetically seal the internal space in which the battery module 100 is received. In this embodiment, the battery pack cover 230 may be configured to completely cover the plurality of battery modules 100. The battery pack cover 230 may be made of aluminum or SUS to ensure stiffness and may also be made of a highly conductive material. Although not shown, various coupling methods for sealing (e.g., bolting, welding, bonding, and hooking) may be used to couple the battery pack tray 210 to the battery pack cover 230.

[0063] Figure 3 FIG. is a diagram showing a shielding unit in a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 4 schematically shows Figure 2 a first shield of the shielding unit in

[0064] Referring to Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the interconnection bus bar 300 electrically connects two adjacent battery modules 100 among the plurality of battery modules 100. The interconnection bus bar 300 may connect two battery modules 100 adjacent to each other in the width direction among the plurality of battery modules 100. To this end, both ends of the interconnection bus bar 300 may be located at the terminals 120 of any one battery module 100 and the terminals 120 of another battery module 100 adjacent to the battery module 100 in the width direction to electrically connect the battery modules 100. The interconnection bus bar 300 may be made of copper.

[0065] Fastening holes 310 for coupling to the battery module 100 may be provided on both sides of the interconnection bus bar 300 (see Figure 6 ), and fastening bolts 320 may be provided at the fastening holes 310. Through the fastening bolts 320, the interconnection bus bar 300 may be fastened to the terminals 120 of the battery module 100. Although the interconnection bus bar 300 for connecting the battery modules 100 in the width direction is shown, the interconnection bus bar 300 may be provided in the length direction of the battery module 100 and electrically connect the battery modules 100 arranged in the length direction.

[0066] Returning to reference Figure 2 , the shielding unit 400 may isolate the interconnection bus bar 300 from the internal space of the battery pack housing 200. That is, the shielding unit 400 may cover the interconnection bus bar 300 to prevent the outer surface of the interconnection bus bar 300 from being exposed to the internal space of the battery pack housing 200.

[0067] To this end, the shielding unit 400 may be provided on the outer surface of the interconnection bus bar 300, between any one interconnection bus bar 300 and another interconnection bus bar 300, and between the internal space and the interconnection bus bar 300.

[0068] The shielding unit 400 may include a first shield 410 on the outer surface of the interconnecting bus bar 300 and a second shield 430 that separates any one interconnecting bus bar 300 from another interconnecting bus bar 300 adjacent to the interconnecting bus bar 300 in the longitudinal direction, as described below.

[0069] As Figure 4 shown, the first shield 410 may cover the outer surface of the interconnecting bus bar 300 to isolate the interconnecting bus bar 300 from the internal space of the battery pack housing 200. The first shield 410 may be attached to the outer surface of the interconnecting bus bar 300 to cover the outer surface of the interconnecting bus bar 300 and may have a housing conforming to the shape of the outer surface of the interconnecting bus bar 300 to accommodate the interconnecting bus bar 300 therein, such that the interconnecting bus bar 300 may be separated from the internal space of the battery pack housing 200.

[0070] The second shield 430 may be interposed between any one interconnecting bus bar 300 and another interconnecting bus bar 300. Specifically, as Figures 2 to 4 shown, the cover portion 431 of the second shield 430 may be configured to separate the interconnecting bus bar 300 of any one battery module 100 from the interconnecting bus bar 300 of another battery module 100 adjacent to the battery module 100 in the longitudinal direction.

[0071] In addition, the second shield 430 may be interposed between the internal space and the interconnecting bus bar 300 to isolate the interconnecting bus bar 300 from the internal space of the battery pack housing 200. That is, the shielding member 436 of the second shield 430 may be provided on the upper ends of two battery modules 100 adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction and is configured to separate the interconnecting bus bar 300 from the internal space of the battery pack housing 200. Flame moving along the upper surface of the battery module 100 can be prevented from moving to the interconnecting bus bar 300. The shielding unit 400 will be described in detail below.

[0072] The shielding unit 400 may be partitioned by blocking the top or side of the interconnecting bus bar 300 from being exposed to the internal space of the battery pack housing 200, so that the flame or solid ejection material generated in the internal space during a thermal event does not contact the outer surface of the interconnecting bus bar 300. Therefore, the interconnecting bus bar 300 connecting the battery modules 100 may be completely blocked within the battery pack housing 200, thereby preventing arcing or short circuit, reducing heat energy accumulation, and delaying heat propagation to adjacent battery modules 100. The interconnecting bus bar 300 made of copper can be prevented from being exposed to the flame or solid ejection material inside the battery pack housing 200. As a result, the problems of flame exposure outside the battery pack and accelerated heat propagation due to arcing or short circuit in the interconnecting bus bar 300 can be solved.

[0073] In the following, the shielding unit 400 will be described in detail.

[0074] Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a shielding unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of a first shielding member in the shielding unit of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 7 and Figure 8 is a diagram showing a shielding unit in a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0075] Referring to Figures 5 to 8 , the shielding unit 400 may include a first shielding member 410 and a second shielding member 430.

[0076] The first shielding member 410 may be arranged to correspond to the outer surface of the interconnecting bus bar 300 to block the interconnecting bus bar 300 from being exposed to the internal space of the battery pack housing 200.

[0077] Mainly referring to Figure 6 , the first shielding member 410 may include a refractory member 411 arranged to face the interconnecting bus bar 300 and surround a part of the interconnecting bus bar 300, and a receiving housing 420 for receiving the interconnecting bus bar 300.

[0078] The refractory member 411 may be arranged to contact the outer surface of the interconnecting bus bar 300. The refractory member 411 may surround a part of the outer surface of the interconnecting bus bar 300 and the outer surface of the central region except for the fastening holes 310 on both sides of the interconnecting bus bar 300. The refractory member 411 used may be mica or a glass tape. The refractory member 411 may directly cover the outer surface of the interconnecting bus bar 300 to shield the interconnecting bus bar 300. Additionally, when using mica or a glass tape instead of an insulating material, the high-temperature resistance time and temperature at the interconnecting bus bar 300 are increased by the refractory member 411.

[0079] The receiving housing 420 may receive the interconnecting bus bar 300. The receiving housing 420 may completely receive the interconnecting bus bar 300 to isolate the interconnecting bus bar 300 from the internal space of the battery pack housing 200. The receiving housing 420 may include a lower receiving housing 421 for receiving the interconnecting bus bar 300 and an upper receiving cover 426 provided on and coupled to the lower receiving housing 421.

[0080] The lower accommodation housing 421 may include a sidewall frame 422 and a support plate 424. The sidewall frame 422 has a height equal to the thickness of the interconnecting bus bar 300. The support plate 424 is disposed on the lower portion of the sidewall frame 422 and is configured to mount and support the interconnecting bus bar 300 at the center. The sidewall frame 422 may have a coupling hook 423 that protrudes upward and is coupled to the upper accommodation cover 426. The interconnecting bus bar 300 may be mounted and supported on the upper surface of the support plate 424. The support plate 424 may have open faces 425 on both sides. The terminals 120 of the battery module 100 may be disposed at the open faces 425.

[0081] The upper accommodation cover 426 may have an open bottom and completely cover the lower accommodation housing 421, and the upper accommodation cover 426 may have a coupling groove 427 to which the coupling hook 423 is detachably coupled.

[0082] The accommodation housing 420 having the above configuration may completely accommodate the interconnecting bus bar 300 to completely isolate the interconnecting bus bar 300 from the internal space of the battery pack housing 200. In this case, both ends of the interconnecting bus bar 300 may be disposed at the open faces 425 of the support plate 424, and a coupling area may be provided between the interconnecting bus bar 300 and the terminals 120. In this case, the fastening bolts 320 may also be disposed in the accommodation housing 420 and isolated from the internal space of the battery pack housing 200. Specifically, the accommodation housing 420 may cover the entire area of the interconnecting bus bar 300 and shield the outer surface of the fastening bolts 320.

[0083] The outer surface of the interconnecting bus bar 300 may be completely shielded while minimizing the exposure at the connection portion between the interconnecting bus bar 300 and the battery module 100. The material of the accommodation housing 420 may include a heat-resistant plastic material. Any other material having heat resistance and isolation properties may be used.

[0084] Through the first shield 410 having the above configuration, the outer surface of the interconnecting bus bar 300 may be isolated from the internal space of the battery pack housing 200. Since the interconnecting bus bar 300 is prevented from being exposed to the outside, arcing or short-circuiting can be more effectively prevented.

[0085] Return reference Figure 5 , the second shield 430 may separate any one interconnecting bus bar 300 from another interconnecting bus bar 300 adjacent to the interconnecting bus bar 300 in the length direction. To this end, the second shield 430 may include: a cover portion 431 that is attached to a part of the outer surface of the battery module 100 and is configured to cover the interconnecting bus bar 300; and a shielding member 436 that contacts the cover portion 431 and is disposed on the upper ends of two battery modules 100 adjacent to each other in the length direction to block the gap.

[0086] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 7 and also Figure 5 Figure 5 The cover portion 431 can be attached to the outer surface of the battery module 100, particularly to the edge. The cover portion 431 can be bent to cover one side edge of the battery module 100. For example, the cover portion 431 can have an L-shaped cross-section. The cover portion 431 can be placed on the battery module 100 and cover the top and side of the interconnecting bus bar 300. The cover portion 431 can include a first cover member 432 that covers the upper surface of the interconnecting bus bar 300, and a second cover member 433 that is disposed perpendicular to the first cover member 432 and covers the side of the interconnecting bus bar 300.

[0087] Reference Figure 8 Figure 8 The first cover member 432 can be attached to the upper surface of the battery module 100 and spaced apart from the interconnecting bus bar 300 by a predetermined distance. The first cover member 432 can cover the upper side of the interconnecting bus bar 300. The length and width of the first cover member 432 can be greater than the length and width of the interconnecting bus bar 300 in the length direction to improve the shielding efficiency.

[0088] The second cover member 433 can be bent vertically from the first cover member 432 and attached to the side surface (or front side) of the battery module 100. The length of the second cover member 433 can be equal to the length of the first cover member 432, and the width of the second cover member 433 can be greater than the thickness of the interconnecting bus bar 300.

[0089] In addition, the shielding member 436 can be formed in a flat plate shape and disposed to connect the upper surfaces of two battery modules 100 adjacent to each other in the length direction. The size of the shielding member 436 can be greater than the size of the cover portion 431. Specifically, the length of the shielding member 436 can be greater than the length of the cover portion 431. In this embodiment, as Figure 5 shown, the shielding member 436 can be continuously disposed in the width direction of the battery module 100.

[0090] In a variant, the shielding member does not extend continuously and can be divided into a plurality of shielding members connected to each other. In this case, the divided shielding members can be arranged along the width direction of the battery module 100. Cutting lines can be formed between the plurality of shielding members.

[0091] Additionally, the width of the shielding member 436 can be greater than the sum of the width of the first cover member 432 disposed at two battery modules 100 adjacent to each other in the length direction and the gap between the two battery modules 100 adjacent to each other in the length direction.

[0092] Therefore, the second shield 430 including the cover portion 431 and the shielding member 436 can form a secondary shielding structure that isolates the interconnecting bus bar 300 from the internal space. The second shield 430 having the above configuration can be made of mica. In this embodiment, a rigid mica material can be used and can be a material having higher mechanical properties to resist warping or depression in the plate-like structure. Here, the rigid mica material can be a material that is more rigid than soft or flexible mica or tape in a relative concept.

[0093] With this exemplary configuration, when flames or high-temperature impurities are released into the battery pack housing 200 in the case of a thermal event, the interconnecting bus bar 300 connecting the battery modules 100 can be completely shielded inside the battery pack housing 200, thereby preventing arcing or short circuits and reducing heat energy accumulation. In addition, heat transfer to adjacent battery modules 100 can be delayed or prevented, thereby contributing to heat transfer (TP) suppression.

[0094] In addition, fire spread between the battery modules 100 can be prevented, thereby enhancing the durability of the battery pack 10 and reducing maintenance and repair costs. Additionally, with a relatively simple shielding structure, explosive fire spread due to electrical short circuits in the battery modules 100 can be prevented, thereby preventing structural collapse of the battery pack 10.

[0095] Figure 9 and Figure 10 is a perspective view schematically showing the coupling process of the shielding unit in the battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0096] Hereinafter, reference will be made to Figure 6 and Figures 8 to 10 to describe in detail the coupling process of the shielding unit 400 in the battery pack 10 according to this embodiment.

[0097] First, as Figure 6 shown, the fire-resistant member 411 is attached to the interconnecting bus bar 300. Mica or a glass tape is attached to the outer surface of the interconnecting bus bar 300.

[0098] Subsequently, before connecting the interconnection bus bar 300 between the battery modules 100, the accommodation housing 420 is disposed at the position where the interconnection bus bar 300 is to be connected. The lower accommodation housing 421 is disposed on the two terminals 120 of a pair of battery modules 100. The interconnection bus bar 300 is mounted on the support plate 424, and the battery module 100 and the interconnection bus bar 300 are connected by a fastening bolt 320 in the fastening hole 310. Subsequently, when the interconnection bus bar 300 is received in the lower accommodation housing 421, the upper accommodation cover 426 is coupled, thereby completing the assembly of the accommodation housing 420. Through this process, the first shielding member 410 can be placed. The first shielding member 410 can cover the entire outer surface of the interconnection bus bar 300 and the fastening portion including the terminal 120 of the battery module 100 and the fastening bolt 320.

[0099] Subsequently, as Figure 3 shown, the cover portion 431 can be attached to the edge of the battery module 100, as Figure 9 shown. That is, the first cover member 432 is attached to the upper surface of the battery module 100, and the second cover member 433 is attached to the front side of the battery module 100. As Figure 8 shown, the length and width of the first cover member 432 and the length and width of the second cover member 433 can be greater than the length or thickness of the interconnection bus bar 300 to improve the shielding efficiency.

[0100] Subsequently, as Figure 10 shown, the shielding member 436 is disposed on the upper ends of two battery modules 100 adjacent to each other in the length direction. The shielding member 436 has a flat plate shape and is connected to the upper surfaces of two battery modules 100 adjacent to each other in the length direction. In addition, the shielding member 436 extends continuously in the width direction of the battery module 100.

[0101] Hereinafter, the shielding process will be described.

[0102] Figure 11 and Figure 12 are schematic diagrams showing the shielding unit in the coupled state in the battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0103] Referring to Figure 11 and Figure 12 and Figures 6 to 8 , when a thermal event occurs in any one of the battery modules 100 (see the side battery module 100 in Figure 11 ), flames or many ejected materials may be released along the front side of the battery module 100 (in Figure 11 , the central region between the battery modules 100) and the upper surface.

[0104] In this case, first, the first shielding member 410 shields the outer surface of the interconnection bus bar 300. That is, the refractory member 411 (see Figure 6 ) attached to the outer surface of the interconnection bus bar 300 prevents contact with the flame or the sprayed material. In addition, the accommodation housing 420 prevents the outer surface of the interconnection bus bar 300 from being exposed and prevents contact with the flame or the sprayed material.

[0105] When the flame or the sprayed material is released along the upper surface of the battery module 100 (bent on the battery pack cover 230) (see Figure 11 above the battery module 100 in Figure 12 the arrow in), the shielding member 436 of the second shielding member 430 prevents it from moving into the gap between the battery modules 100. In addition, through the double shielding layer of the first cover member 432 of the cover portion 431, the movement of the flame or the sprayed material is blocked to the greatest extent.

[0106] The flame or the sprayed material can be released to the front side of the battery module 100 (see Figure 11 the arrow at the front side of the battery module 100 in Figure 11 ). In this case, the second cover member 433 on the side of the triggered battery module 100 (the right battery module 100 in

[0107] ) can block the release of the flame. Based on the interconnection bus bar 300 of the left battery module 100, first, the first shielding member 410 isolates the interconnection bus bar 300 from the flame or the sprayed material, and then the second cover member 433 isolates the interconnection bus bar 300 from the flame or the sprayed material. As described above, the first shielding member 410 and the cover portion 431 prevent the flame or the solid sprayed material released from the front side of any one battery module 100 from contacting the interconnection bus bar 300 of another battery module 100 adjacent to this battery module 100 in the length direction.

[0108] According to this embodiment, since the interconnection bus bar 300 connecting the battery modules 100 can be completely shielded inside the battery pack housing 200, it is possible to prevent the generation of electric arcs or short circuits on the outer surface of the interconnection bus bar 300 due to the flame or high-temperature impurities released into the battery pack housing 200 during a thermal event, reduce the heat energy accumulation, and delay the heat propagation to the adjacent battery modules 100.

[0109] Although not shown, the battery pack 10 according to the present disclosure may further include various types of devices to control charging / discharging of the battery module 100, for example, a battery management system (BMS), a current sensor, a fuse, etc.

[0110] Figure 13 It is a diagram showing a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0111] Reference Figure 13 , the battery pack 10 according to the present disclosure may be applied to a vehicle V such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle. That is, the vehicle V according to the present disclosure may include the battery pack 10 according to the present disclosure. The battery pack 10 may be installed at a frame under a vehicle seat or a trunk space, and when installed in a vehicle, if necessary, the battery pack 10 may be placed in a reverse order.

[0112] According to these various embodiments, a vehicle V including the battery pack 10 may be provided to prevent an arc or a short circuit caused by contact between the interconnecting bus bar 300 and a flame or high-temperature impurities released into the battery pack housing 200 when a thermal event occurs, reduce heat energy accumulation, and delay heat propagation to adjacent battery modules 100.

[0113] Terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are used for convenience of description, but it is obvious to those skilled in the art that these terms may change according to the position of the element or the observer.

[0114] Although the present disclosure has been described above with respect to a limited number of embodiments and drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and it is obvious that those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications within the scope of the technical aspects of the present disclosure and the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0115] [List of Reference Numerals]

[0116] 10: Battery pack 100: Battery module

[0117] 120: Terminal 200: Battery pack housing

[0118] 210: Battery pack tray 211: Tray main body

[0119] 212: Partition 230: Battery pack cover

[0120] 300: Interconnecting bus bar 310: Fastening hole

[0121] 320: Fastening bolt 400: Shielding unit

[0122] 410: First shielding member 411: Fire-resistant member

[0123] 420: Housing case 421: Lower housing case

[0124] 422: Side wall frame 423: Connecting hook

[0125] 424: Support plate 425: Open face

[0126] 426: Upper housing cover 427: Connecting groove

[0127] 430: Second shielding member 431: Cover part

[0128] 432: First cover member 433: Second cover member

[0129] 436: Shielding member

Claims

1. A battery pack, comprising: A plurality of battery modules, wherein the plurality of battery modules are arranged along a width direction or a length direction; a battery pack housing, the battery pack housing housing the plurality of battery modules; a plurality of interconnecting bus bars, the plurality of interconnecting bus bars electrically connecting two adjacent battery modules among the plurality of battery modules; as well as a shielding unit configured to isolate the interconnector bus bar from an inner space of the battery pack case, Wherein, the shielding unit is arranged on the outer surface of the interconnection busbar, between any one interconnection busbar and another interconnection busbar, and between the inner space and the interconnection busbar.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The interconnector bus bar connects two battery modules adjacent to each other in the width direction among the plurality of battery modules, and The shielding unit extends along the width direction and is disposed at a gap between two battery modules adjacent to each other along the length direction.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein: The shielding unit is partitioned by blocking the top or side of the interconnector busbar from being exposed so that a flame or solid spraying material generated in the inner space when a thermal event occurs does not contact the outer surface of the interconnector busbar.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein: The shielding unit comprises: a first shield disposed to correspond to the outer surface of the interconnector bus bar; and A second shield is configured to divide and separate any one interconnector bus bar from another interconnector bus bar adjacent to the interconnector bus bar in the length direction.

5. The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein: The first shielding member comprises: a refractory member disposed to face the interconnector bus bar and to surround a portion of the interconnector bus bar; and A housing case houses the interconnector bus bar.

6. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein: The refractory member includes a mica tape or a glass tape.

7. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein: The accommodating shell is made of heat-resistant plastic material.

8. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein: The accommodating shell comprises: a lower accommodation case accommodating the interconnection bus bar; and An upper accommodating cover is disposed on the lower accommodating case and is coupled to the lower accommodating case.

9. The battery pack according to claim 8, wherein: The lower accommodating shell comprises: a side wall frame having a height the same as a thickness of the interconnector bus bar; and a support plate disposed on a lower portion of the side wall frame and configured to centrally mount and support the interconnector bus bar, and Therein, the support plate has open surfaces on both sides.

10. The battery pack according to claim 9, wherein: The side wall frame has a coupling hook protruding upward to be coupled to the upper receiving cover, and Wherein, the upper receiving cover has a coupling groove, and the coupling hook is detachably coupled to the coupling groove.

11. The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein: The second shielding member comprises: a cover portion attached to a portion of the outer surface of the battery module and configured to cover the interconnector bus bar; and A shielding member contacts the cover portion and is disposed on upper ends of the two battery modules adjacent to each other in the length direction to block the gap.

12. The battery pack according to claim 11, wherein: The cover portion is bent to cover one side edge of the battery module.

13. The battery pack according to claim 12, wherein: The cover portion comprises: a first cover member configured to cover an upper surface of the interconnector bus bar; and a second cover member disposed vertically from the first cover member and configured to cover a side surface of the interconnector bus bar, wherein the length and width of the first cover member are greater than the length and width of the interconnector busbar in the length direction, and The length of the second cover member is equal to the length of the first cover member, and the width of the second cover member is greater than the thickness of the interconnector bus bar.

14. The battery pack according to claim 13, wherein: The shield member is formed in a flat plate shape and is provided to connect upper surfaces of the two battery modules adjacent to each other in the length direction.

15. The battery pack according to claim 11, wherein: The shield member has a length greater than a length of the cover portion.

16. The battery pack according to claim 11, wherein: The shield member continuously extends in the width direction of the battery module.

17. The battery pack according to claim 13, wherein: The shield member has a width greater than a sum of a width of the first cover member provided in the two battery modules adjacent to each other in the length direction and a gap between the two battery modules adjacent to each other in the length direction.

18. The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein: The second shielding member is made of mica.

19. The battery pack according to claim 11, wherein: The first shield and the cover portion prevent flame or solid spraying material released from the front side of any one battery module from contacting the interconnector bus bar of another battery module adjacent to the battery module in the length direction.

20. The battery pack according to claim 9, wherein: Fastening holes for coupling with the battery module are provided on both sides of the interconnector busbar. Wherein, the fastening hole is provided with a fastening bolt, and Wherein, the accommodating shell shields the outer surface of the fastening bolt.

21. A vehicle comprising a battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

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