Battery pack

Abstract

The utility model relates to a battery pack. The battery pack comprises a battery pack shell main body; a top case coupled to a top of the pack case body; and a gasket added to a coupling portion of the battery pack case main body and the top case, in which the gasket includes: a main body portion inserted in the coupling portion; and the reinforcing part extends along the internal direction and the height direction of the battery pack shell main body, so that sparks and flames generated in the battery pack can be prevented from being discharged to the outside of the battery pack.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 2022-0177294, filed on Dec. 16, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0002] The present utility model relates to a battery pack including a gasket having a reinforcing part added thereto. More specifically, the present utility model relates to a battery pack including a gasket having a reinforcing part configured to delay the discharge of sparks and flames generated in the battery pack to the outside. Background Art

[0003] Lithium secondary batteries capable of charging and discharging have been widely used as an energy source for wireless mobile devices or wearable devices worn on the body and have also been used as an energy source for electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles proposed as alternatives to existing gasoline and diesel vehicles that cause air pollution.

[0004] Due to their high energy density, lithium secondary batteries may explode when overheated, and once on fire, it is difficult to extinguish a lithium secondary battery until it burns out.

[0005] Generally, when thermal runaway occurs in a battery cell accommodated in a battery pack, sparks and flames may be generated in the battery cell. To prevent the discharge of sparks and flames from the battery pack, a gasket may be added to the sealing part of the battery pack to provide better sealing.

[0006] Figure 1 is a plan view of a conventional gasket for a battery pack, and Figure 2 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a conventional battery pack.

[0007] Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the battery pack includes a top case 101 and a battery pack outer case body 102, and a gasket 100 is added along the outer periphery of the top case 101 and the battery pack outer case body 102.

[0008] The gasket 100 includes a main body part 110 disposed along the perimeter of the top case 101 and the battery pack outer case body 102, a through hole 120 formed in the main body part 110, and a reinforcing part 130 disposed at a part of the main body part 110 and having a relatively large width.

[0009] That is, in Figure 1In [the figure], a reinforcing portion 130 is formed at the lower center of the figure, and when viewed in a plan view, the reinforcing portion 130 is configured in a form in which the width of the gasket increases. Conventionally, a reinforcing portion 130 configured to relatively increase the width of the gasket is provided at a portion of the battery pack that requires a high sealing force.

[0010] The gasket 100 is interposed between the top case 101 and the battery pack housing main body 102, and a nut 142 is coupled to a bolt 141 that is inserted through a through hole of the top case 101, a through hole of the battery pack housing main body 102, and a through hole 120 of the gasket 100, whereby the top case 101 and the battery pack housing main body 102 can be hermetically sealed.

[0011] However, when using this type of gasket, the gasket may be melted or damaged by sparks and flames generated in the interior 103 of the battery pack, whereby the sparks and flames may be discharged to the exterior 104 of the battery pack.

[0012] This has the problem of causing secondary damage to the user or adjacent electrical components.

[0013] In this regard, Patent Document 1 includes at least one battery module, a case cover configured to cover the at least one battery module, a battery pack case including a case plate coupled to an end of the case cover, and a sealing gasket disposed between the case plate and the case cover, wherein at least a part of an edge where the case plate and the case cover are adjacent to each other includes a stepped portion having a larger gap between the case plate and the case cover than other portions, and the sealing gasket includes a reinforcing portion having a larger surface area at the stepped portion than other portions.

[0014] In the sealing gasket of Patent Document 1, the reinforcing portion includes an uneven structure formed on its surface, thereby providing a battery pack including a sealing gasket structure capable of effectively preventing foreign matter from being introduced from the outside and a device including the battery pack.

[0015] However, the battery pack of Patent Document 1 does not provide a configuration for preventing sparks or flames from ejecting from the battery pack.

[0016] Patent Document 2 relates to a battery pack having enhanced fire or explosion safety. In this battery pack, it includes: a battery pack housing configured to accommodate a battery module therein, and the battery pack housing includes: a first housing configured to cover one side of the battery module, with the first housing being open on the other side; and a second housing configured to cover the other side of the battery module, with the second housing being open on one side, and one end of the second housing being coupled to the other end of the first housing; and a sealing member configured to melt at a predetermined temperature or higher and be introduced into the gap between one end of the first housing and the other end of the second housing.

[0017] In Patent Document 2, when the temperature in the battery pack housing rises to a predetermined temperature or higher due to a fire, the sealing member may melt and move to cover the gap between one end of the first housing and the other end of the second housing, thereby preventing the flames generated in the battery module from being discharged to the outside.

[0018] The battery pack of Patent Document 2 includes a gasket interposed between a first flange portion of the first housing and a second flange portion of the second housing, and also includes a sealing member configured to melt at a high temperature and fill the gap around the gasket, a holding member configured to accommodate the sealing member before the sealing member melts, and a guiding member configured to accommodate the melted sealing member.

[0019] That is, in addition to the gasket, in order to prevent the flames generated in the battery module from being discharged to the outside, Patent Document 2 also includes a holding member and a guiding member.

[0020] Therefore, a technology is needed that can reliably prevent sparks and flames from ejecting from the battery pack without further adding components that make up the battery pack.

[0021] (Prior Art Documents)

[0022] (Patent Document 1) Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2022-0043643 (April 5, 2022)

[0023] (Patent Document 2) Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2022-0100465 (July 15, 2022) Summary of the Utility Model

[0024] Technical Problem

[0025] The present utility model is made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present utility model is to provide a battery pack including a configuration that can prevent sparks and flames in the battery pack from ejecting from the battery pack without increasing the number of components that make up a conventional battery pack.

[0026] Technical Solution

[0027] A battery pack according to the present utility model for achieving the above object includes: a battery pack housing main body; a top housing that is coupled to an upper portion of the battery pack housing main body; and a gasket that is added to a coupling portion between the battery pack housing main body and the top housing, wherein the gasket includes: a main body portion that is disposed at the coupling portion; and a reinforcing portion that extends from the main body portion in a direction toward the inside of the battery pack housing main body and in a height direction of the battery pack housing main body.

[0028] The reinforcing portion of the gasket may include an inwardly extending portion and an upwardly extending portion. The inwardly extending portion is formed by the main body portion extending into the inside of the battery pack housing main body, and the upwardly extending portion extends upward from the inwardly extending portion.

[0029] The upwardly extending portion may be configured such that a thickness of the upwardly extending portion decreases as a distance from the inwardly extending portion increases.

[0030] A height of the upwardly extending portion may be greater than a height of the main body portion.

[0031] The reinforcing portion of the gasket may further include a downwardly extending portion that extends downward from the inwardly extending portion.

[0032] The downwardly extending portion may be configured such that a thickness of the downwardly extending portion decreases as a distance from the inwardly extending portion increases.

[0033] A height of the downwardly extending portion may be greater than a height of the main body portion.

[0034] The reinforcing portion may be provided with a plurality of through holes for bolt connection.

[0035] The battery pack housing main body may include a first flange portion, the top housing may include a second flange portion, a coupling portion between the battery pack housing main body and the top housing may be formed at the first flange portion and the second flange portion, the main body portion may be inserted between the first flange portion and the second flange portion, and the reinforcing portion may extend into an internal space of the battery pack housing main body.

[0036] Each of the first flange portion, the second flange portion, and the reinforcing portion may be provided with a plurality of through holes for bolt connection, and the battery pack housing main body and the top housing may be coupled to each other by bolts fastened to the plurality of through holes.

[0037] The reinforcing portion of the gasket may block flames and sparks generated in the battery pack housing main body from being discharged to the outside.

[0038] In a state where the battery pack housing main body and the top housing are coupled to each other, the gasket may be deformed while being compressed.

[0039] In addition, the present utility model may provide various combinations of the above solutions.

[0040] Beneficial effects

[0041] As is obvious from the above description, the battery pack according to the present utility model includes a gasket having a reinforcing portion extending in the inward direction and the height direction of the battery pack housing main body, whereby damage to the gasket due to an increase in temperature in the battery pack can be minimized.

[0042] In addition, the gasket is added to the coupling portion between the battery pack housing main body and the top case, whereby sparks and flames generated in the battery pack can be prevented from escaping from the battery pack. Description of the drawings

[0043] Figure 1 is a plan view of a conventional gasket for a battery pack.

[0044] Figure 2 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a conventional battery pack.

[0045] Figure 3 is a plan view of a gasket for a battery pack according to the present utility model.

[0046] Figure 4 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to the first embodiment.

[0047] Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of the battery pack according to the first embodiment with the top case removed.

[0048] Figure 6 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to the second embodiment.

[0049] Figure 7 is a partial perspective view of the battery pack according to the second embodiment with the top case removed. Detailed implementation manners

[0050] Now, preferred embodiments of the present utility model will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, so that those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present utility model pertains can easily implement the preferred embodiments of the present utility model. However, when the detailed description of the operating principles of the preferred embodiments of the present utility model may obscure the subject matter of the present utility model, the detailed description will be omitted when the detailed description of the known functions and configurations incorporated herein may make the subject matter of the present utility model unclear.

[0051] In addition, the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to refer to components that perform similar functions or operations. Throughout the specification, where a component is referred to as being connected to another component, not only can the one component be directly connected to the other component, but the one component can also be indirectly connected to the other component via yet another component. Further, including a certain element does not mean excluding other elements, but rather means that these elements can be further included, unless otherwise specified.

[0052] In addition, the description of elements by limitation or addition is applicable to all utility models (unless specifically limited) and does not limit a specific utility model.

[0053] In addition, in the description of the present utility model and the claims of the present application, the singular form is intended to include the plural form, unless otherwise specified.

[0054] In addition, in the description of the present utility model and the claims of the present application, "or" includes "and", unless otherwise specified. Therefore, "including A or B" means three cases, namely the case of including A, the case of including B, and the case of including both A and B.

[0055] Embodiments of the present utility model will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0056] Figure 3 is a plan view of a gasket for a battery pack according to the present utility model, Figure 4 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to the first embodiment, and Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of the battery pack according to the first embodiment with the top case removed.

[0057] Referring to Figures 3 to 5 , the battery pack according to the present utility model includes: a battery pack housing main body 202 configured to accommodate battery cells or battery modules therein; a top case 201 coupled to an upper portion of the battery pack housing main body 202; and a gasket 200 added to a coupling portion between the battery pack housing main body 202 and the top case 201.

[0058] The battery pack housing main body 202 includes a first flange portion 251 bent outward from its upper end, the top case 201 includes a second flange portion 252 bent outward from its lower end, and the battery pack housing main body 202 and the top case 201 are in contact with each other while facing each other at the first flange portion 251 and the second flange portion 252 to form a coupling portion.

[0059] The washer 200 includes: a main body portion 210 disposed at the coupling portion, a plurality of through holes 220 formed in the main body portion 210 for bolt coupling, and a reinforcing portion 230 extending from the main body portion 210 in a direction toward the interior 203 of the battery pack housing main body 202 and in its height direction.

[0060] Figure 3 A configuration in which the reinforcing portion 230 is formed at three regions is shown, and the reinforcing portion 230 can be added to regions in the battery pack that require high sealing force or are prone to spark or flame ejection.

[0061] Preferably, the washer 200 is made of a material that will not deform or melt due to sparks and flames generated in the battery pack, and in particular, the reinforcing portion 230 of the washer 200 can block the discharge of flames and sparks generated in the interior 203 of the battery pack housing main body 202 to the outside 204. Therefore, the washer 200 can be made of a highly heat-resistant elastic material (such as a rubber-based material including SBR or heat-resistant silicone).

[0062] The main body portion 210 of the washer 200 is inserted between the first flange portion 251 and the second flange portion 252. The first flange portion 251, the second flange portion 252, and the reinforcing portion 230 are provided with a plurality of through holes 220 for bolt coupling formed at the same positions, and a nut 242 is coupled to a bolt 241 fastened to the plurality of through holes 220, whereby the battery pack housing main body 202 and the top case 201 are coupled to each other.

[0063] The reinforcing portion 230 of the washer 200 extends into the internal space of the battery pack housing main body 202.

[0064] The washer 200 is made of an elastic material, and in a state where the battery pack housing main body 202 and the top case 201 are coupled to each other, the washer 200 deforms while being compressed. Therefore, the battery pack can be hermetically sealed by the washer 200, whereby sparks and flames generated in the battery modules or battery cells in the interior 203 of the battery pack can be prevented from discharging from the battery pack.

[0065] Protrusions can be formed on the surface of the main body portion 210 that contacts the first flange portion 251 and the second flange portion 252, and when the battery pack housing main body 202 and the top case 201 are coupled to each other using the bolt 241 and the nut 242, the protrusions can be compressed to further improve the sealing of the battery pack.

[0066] The reinforcing portion 230 of the washer 200 includes an inward extension portion 231 and an upward extension portion 232. The inward extension portion 231 is formed due to the main body portion 210 extending into the interior 203 of the battery pack housing main body 202, and the upward extension portion 232 extends upward from the inward extension portion 231.

[0067] The upward extension portion 232 serves as a barrier configured to block sparks and flames generated in the battery pack, and can be configured such that the thickness T1 of the upward extension portion decreases as the distance from the inward extension portion 231 increases. The height H2 of the upward extension portion 232 can be formed to be greater than the height H1 of the main body portion, which improves the effect as a barrier.

[0068] The gasket 200 according to the present utility model includes an inward extension portion 231. Therefore, even if sparks and flames are generated in the battery pack, damage to the main body portion 210 at the joint portion provided between the battery pack housing main body 202 and the top housing 201 can be prevented, as well as unsealing of the battery pack.

[0069] In addition, since the gasket 200 according to the present utility model includes an upward extension portion 232, sparks and flames generated in the battery pack can be prevented from passing through the joint portion.

[0070] Figure 6 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to a second embodiment, and Figure 7 is a partial perspective view of the battery pack according to the second embodiment with the top housing removed.

[0071] Referring to Figure 6 and Figure 7 , the battery pack according to the second embodiment is different from the battery pack according to the first embodiment in that the reinforcing portion 230 of the gasket further includes a downward extension portion 233 extending downward from the inward extension portion 231.

[0072] The downward extension portion 233 serves as a barrier configured to block sparks and flames generated in the battery pack, and can be configured such that the thickness T2 of the downward extension portion decreases as the distance from the inward extension portion 231 increases. The height H3 of the downward extension portion 233 can be formed to be greater than the height H1 of the main body portion, which improves the effect as a barrier.

[0073] The upward extension portion 232 and the downward extension portion 233 can be configured to be symmetric with each other. Thus, at the position where the upward extension portion and the downward extension portion are symmetric with each other, the thickness T1 of the upward extension portion and the thickness T2 of the downward extension portion can be equal to each other, and the height H2 of the upward extension portion and the height H3 of the downward extension portion can be equal to each other.

[0074] Alternatively, or conversely, the upward extension portion 232 and the downward extension portion 233 can be configured to have different sizes. Thus, at the position where the upward extension portion and the downward extension portion are symmetric with each other, the thickness T1 of the upward extension portion and the thickness T2 of the downward extension portion can be different from each other. The height H2 of the upward extension portion and the height H3 of the downward extension portion can be different from each other.

[0075] However, when considering the purpose of preventing the emission of sparks and flames in the battery pack, the thickness T1 of the upward extending portion can be formed to be greater than the thickness T2 of the downward extending portion, and the height H2 of the upward extending portion can be formed to be greater than the height H3 of the downward extending portion.

[0076] For other components with the same reference numerals, the description of the battery pack according to the first embodiment is equally applicable to the battery pack according to the second embodiment.

[0077] Thus, different from the conventional gasket, the battery pack according to the present utility model includes a gasket having a reinforcing portion extending in the direction toward the inside of the battery pack housing main body and in its height direction. Thereby, even when the temperature in the battery pack rises, the risk of damage to the main body portion provided at the coupling portion is small, and the sparks and flames generated in the battery pack can be prevented from spraying out of the battery pack. Therefore, it is impossible to suppress the spread of sparks and flames.

[0078] Those skilled in the art to which the present utility model pertains will understand that, based on the above description, various applications and modifications are feasible within the scope of the present utility model.

[0079] (Description of reference numerals)

[0080] 100, 200: Gasket

[0081] 101, 201: Top housing

[0082] 102, 202: Battery pack housing main body

[0083] 103, 203: Inside

[0084] 104, 204: Outside

[0085] 110, 210: Main body portion

[0086] 120, 220: Through hole

[0087] 130, 230: Reinforcing portion

[0088] 141, 241: Bolt

[0089] 142, 242: Nut

[0090] 231: Inward extending portion

[0091] 232: Upward extending portion

[0092] 233: Downward extending portion

[0093] 251: First flange portion

[0094] 252: Second flange portion

[0095] H1: Height of the main body part

[0096] H2: Height of the upward extension part

[0097] H3: Height of the downward extension part

[0098] T1: Thickness of the upward extension part

[0099] T2: Thickness of the downward extension part

Claims

1. A battery pack, characterized in that, The battery pack includes: A battery pack housing main body; A top housing that is coupled to an upper portion of the battery pack housing main body; and A gasket that is added to a coupling portion between the battery pack housing main body and the top housing, wherein The gasket includes: A main body portion that is disposed at the coupling portion; and A reinforcing portion that extends from the main body portion in a direction toward the interior of the battery pack housing main body and in a height direction of the battery pack housing main body.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein, The reinforcing portion of the gasket includes: An inwardly extending portion that is formed by the main body portion extending into the interior of the battery pack housing main body; and An upwardly extending portion that extends upward from the inwardly extending portion.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein: The upwardly extending portion is configured such that a thickness thereof decreases as a distance from the inwardly extending portion increases.

4. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein, A height of the upwardly extending portion is greater than a height of the main body portion.

5. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein: The reinforcing portion of the gasket further includes a downwardly extending portion that extends downward from the inwardly extending portion.

6. The battery pack according to claim 5, characterized in that The downwardly extending portion is configured such that a thickness thereof decreases as a distance from the inwardly extending portion increases.

7. The battery pack according to claim 5, characterized in that, A height of the downwardly extending portion is greater than a height of the main body portion.

8. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The reinforcing portion is provided with a plurality of through holes for bolt connection.

9. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein The battery pack housing main body includes a first flange portion, The top housing includes a second flange portion, The coupling portion between the battery pack housing main body and the top housing is formed at the first flange portion and the second flange portion, The main body portion is interposed between the first flange portion and the second flange portion, and The reinforcing portion extends into an interior space of the battery pack housing main body.

10. The battery pack according to claim 9, wherein Each of the first flange portion, the second flange portion, and the reinforcing portion is provided with a plurality of through holes for bolt connection, and The battery pack housing main body and the top housing are coupled to each other by bolts fastened to the plurality of through holes.

11. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that, The reinforcing portion of the gasket blocks flames and sparks generated in the battery pack housing main body from being discharged to the outside.

12. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The gasket is made of a material that will not be deformed or melted by flames and sparks generated in the battery pack.

13. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein In a state where the battery pack housing main body and the top housing are coupled to each other, the gasket is deformed while being compressed.

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