Battery module with improved frame structure and frame arrangement for it

Abstract

Battery module, comprising: several cells (100); and a frame arrangement (110) comprising a lower plate (111) configured to support lower end faces of the multiple cells (100), a pair of side plates (113) extending perpendicularly from opposite edge ends of the lower plate (111) and arranged alongside an outermost side of the cells (100), and an upper plate (114) coupled to upper ends of the side plates (113) to cover an upper section of the cells (100), a second guide plate (115) extending perpendicularly from an edge end of the upper plate (114) to prevent separation of the cells (100), wherein the second guide plate (115) is bent in one piece with the upper plate (114), wherein opposite edge sections of the upper plate (114) are each welded to the upper ends of the side plates (113), and wherein a width of the upper plate (114) essentially corresponds to the distance between the outer surfaces of the pair of side plates (113).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present application claims priority from Korean patent application No. 10-2016-0103079, which was filed in the Republic of Korea on August 12, 2016, and the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a battery module, and in particular a battery module having a structure in which a cell is supported by an outer frame, and to a frame arrangement therefor. BACKGROUND

[0003] In general, battery modules are designed in a structure where multiple cells are connected in series and / or parallel. Such a battery module includes: a cell array in which several cells are arranged and stacked in one direction; and a frame that has a plate capable of surrounding the cell array.

[0004] A state-of-the-art battery module is manufactured in a structure in which a cell arrangement 20 is surrounded by a frame 10, which, as in Fig. 1 shown, is formed in one piece by an extrusion or molding process.

[0005] However, such extrusion or molding processes are a major reason for the increase in the unit price of battery modules due to the high process costs, and since the expansion of battery modules is necessarily restricted, the lifespan of the cells can be negatively affected.

[0006] Alternatively, Korean patent application 2015-0031861 discloses a battery module in which a side plate is arranged adjacent to one side of a cell assembly. The battery module disclosed in Korean patent application 2015-0031861 comprises: several battery cells aligned in one direction; and a side plate arranged adjacent to sides of the battery cells, the side plate including a pressing area that protrudes toward the battery cells to press them together. Because the pressing area applies tension to the battery cells and prevents movement of the battery cells, the battery module is improved in its safety.

[0007] The Korean patent application with publication number 2012-0051237 discloses a battery module housing in which at least two pouch-type secondary batteries are stacked and arranged side by side, the electrode tap sides of the pouch-type secondary batteries being arranged in the same way, each pouch-type secondary battery being mounted in a vertically or horizontally displaceable manner, the battery module housing being coupled to outer surfaces of the pouch-type secondary batteries including the electrode tap sides, and the battery module housing having an upper, lower and laterally separable arrangement structure.

[0008] Although techniques as described above have been proposed, no technical means have yet been suggested to stably support battery modules and reduce material or process costs while allowing some expansion of an end plate due to swelling, so measures are needed. REVELATION Technical Problem

[0009] The present disclosure was developed taking into account the problems described above, and the present disclosure is therefore directed to provide a battery module with a structure in which a frame is provided by an arrangement of plates formed from a material such as a metallic sheet material, and a frame arrangement therefor.

[0010] Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide a battery module with a structure in which a frame is formed by a welding process, and to provide a frame arrangement for it. Technical solution

[0011] To achieve the tasks described above, the present disclosure provides a battery module comprising: at least one cell; and a frame arrangement comprising a lower plate configured to support a lower end face of the cell, a side plate extending perpendicularly from any opposite edge ends of the lower plate and arranged adjacent to an outermost side of the cell, and a top plate coupled to an upper end of the side plate to cover an upper section of the cell.

[0012] Preferably, an edge section of the upper plate is coupled to the upper end of the side plate by welding.

[0013] The battery module of the present disclosure may further include a first guide plate extending perpendicularly from other opposite edge ends of the lower plate to prevent separation of the cell.

[0014] The first guide plate can be bent in one piece with the lower plate.

[0015] The battery module of the present disclosure may further include a second guide plate extending perpendicularly from an edge end of the upper plate to prevent separation of the cell.

[0016] The second guide plate can be bent in one piece with the upper plate.

[0017] The side plate can be bent in one piece with the lower plate.

[0018] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a frame arrangement of a battery module for supporting at least one cell from outside the battery module is provided, the frame arrangement comprising: a lower plate configured to support a lower end face of the cell; a side plate extending perpendicularly from any opposite edge ends of the lower plate and arranged adjacent to an outermost side of the cell; and a top plate arranged to cover an upper section of the cell, with opposite edge ends of the top plate coupled to an upper end of the side plate. Beneficial effects

[0019] According to the present disclosure, the frame arrangement of the battery module is made from a sheet material, such as a metallic sheet material, to reduce weight and is assembled by a welding process to reduce process costs.

[0020] Additionally, even if the battery module swells due to an overcharged cell, the expansion of the side plate can be properly allowed so that the cell's lifespan is not negatively affected. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the preceding disclosure, serve to provide a better understanding of the technical features of the present disclosure, and therefore the present disclosure is not to be construed as being limited to the drawings. Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of a prior art battery module. Fig. Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view illustrating a configuration of a battery module in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 3 is a composite perspective view showing the battery module. Fig. 2 illustrated. Fig. Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a battery module in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 5 is a composite perspective view showing the battery pack. Fig. 4 illustrates. BEST EXECUTION

[0022] Fig. Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view illustrating a configuration of a battery module in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] With reference to Fig. 2 includes the battery module according to the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure: several cells 100; and a frame arrangement 110 which is arranged to surround the several cells 100 and includes a lower plate 111, a side plate 113 and an upper plate 114.

[0024] Each of the cells 100 has a thin, plate-like body and is preferably a pouch-type secondary cell. The multiple cells 100 are arranged in one direction to essentially form a stacked structure.

[0025] The frame assembly 110 is a structure for receiving, supporting, and protecting the cells 100 in units of several cells. The frame assembly 110 includes the lower plate, which is located below the cells 100, the side plate 113, which is located beside the outermost sides of the cells 100, and the upper plate 114, which is located above the cells 100. Each of the plates 111, 113, and 114 of the frame assembly 110 is made of a metallic sheet material, such as an aluminum plate, with a thin thickness of approximately a few millimeters.

[0026] The lower plate 111 has a base area capable of jointly supporting the lower end surfaces of the multiple cells 100.

[0027] The side plate 113 extends vertically upwards from any opposite edge ends of the lower plate 111 and is arranged next to the outermost sides of the cells 100. That is, a pair of side plates 113 is provided, and the distance between the side plates 113 is set such that the multiple cells 100 are accommodated within them. Preferably, the side plates 113 are bent in one piece with the lower plate 111 to form a ⊏-shaped section.

[0028] A first guide plate 112 extends vertically upwards from opposite edge ends of the lower plate 111 to a height of a few centimeters in order to prevent the cells 100 from separating from the frame arrangement 110 in forward and backward directions, that is, in directions perpendicular to the direction in which the cells 100 are arranged. Preferably, the first guide plate 112 is bent in one piece with the lower plate 111.

[0029] The upper plate 114 is coupled to the upper ends of the side plates 113 to jointly cover upper sections of the multiple cells 100. Preferably, opposing edge sections of the upper plate 114 are welded to the upper ends of the side plates 113. Thus, weld zones (see W in Fig. 3) formed at edge sections where the side plates 113 meet the upper plate 114. Here, a welding process such as laser welding, ultrasonic welding or spot welding can be used.

[0030] Fig. Figure 3 illustrates a state in which the upper plate 114 is assembled by welding to the upper ends of the side plates 113. As shown in Fig. As illustrated in Figure 3, the battery module, which is provided in units of several cells 100 and includes the frame arrangement 110, is manufactured by welding together edge sections of the upper plate 114 with the upper ends of the side plates 113 in a state in which the several cells 100 are arranged in the frame arrangement 110.

[0031] Preferably, the width of the upper plate 114 corresponds substantially to the distance between the inner surfaces of the pair of side plates 113 or the distance between the outer surfaces of the pair of side plates 113.

[0032] A second guide plate 115 extends vertically downwards to a height of several centimeters from opposite edge ends of the upper plate 114, which are not in contact with the side plates 113, in order to prevent the cells 100 from separating from the frame arrangement 110 in forward and backward directions, that is, in directions perpendicular to the direction in which the cells 100 are arranged. Preferably, the second guide plate 115 is bent in one piece with the upper plate 114.

[0033] Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a battery module having a structure in which a frame arrangement 110, as in Fig. Figure 4 shows that the battery module is coupled on a single-cell basis. In this case, the battery module includes: a single cell 100; and the frame assembly 110, which is provided according to the single cell 100 and arranged to surround the cell 100, the frame assembly 110 comprising a bottom plate 111, a side plate 113 and a top plate 114.

[0034] Since the frame assembly 110 is provided for each individual cell 100, only one cell 100 is accommodated in the frame assembly 110, and thus the frame assembly 110 can have a slim form. The lower plate 111, the side plate 113, and the upper plate 114 of the frame assembly 110 have the same specific configuration and coupling relationship as those described in the preceding embodiment, and therefore detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

[0035] As in Fig.As shown in Figure 5, the battery module, which includes the frame assembly 110 designed for individual cells, is manufactured by welding an edge section of the upper plate 114 to an upper end of the side plate 113 in a state where the individual cell 100 is arranged in the frame assembly 110. This creates weld zones W at the edge sections where the side plate 113 meets the upper plate 114.

[0036] In the battery module, which has the configuration described above in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the frame arrangement 110 is assembled into units of a single cell 100 or multiple cells 100.

[0037] The frame arrangement 110 can be lightweight because the lower plate 111, the side plate 113 and the upper plate 114, which are made of a metallic sheet material (or a metallic plate), such as an aluminum plate, are organically coupled to each other.

[0038] In the manufacture of the frame arrangement 110, the lower plate 111 and the side plate 113 are formed in one piece by a bending process, and the upper plate 114 is coupled to the upper end of the side plate 113 by a welding process, such as a laser welding process or an ultrasonic welding process. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0039] According to the present disclosure, a battery module with lower weight and lower assembly costs can be provided compared to the case where a frame is used that is produced by a conventional extrusion or molding process. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] KR 10-2016-0103079

[0001] KR 2015-0031861

[0006] KR 2012-0051237

[0007]

Claims

[1] Battery module comprising: several cells (100); and a frame arrangement (110) comprising a lower plate (111) configured to support lower end faces of the multiple cells (100), a pair of side plates (113) extending perpendicularly from opposite edge ends of the lower plate (111) and arranged alongside an outermost side of the cells (100), and an upper plate (114) coupled to upper ends of the side plates (113) to cover an upper section of the cells (100), a second guide plate (115) extending perpendicularly from an edge end of the upper plate (114) to prevent separation of the cells (100), wherein the second guide plate (115) is bent in one piece with the upper plate (114), wherein opposite edge sections of the upper plate (114) are each welded to the upper ends of the side plates (113), and wherein a width of the upper plate (114) essentially corresponds to the distance between the outer surfaces of the pair of side plates (113). [2] Battery module according to claim 1, further comprising first guide plates (112) extending perpendicularly from other opposing edge ends of the lower plate (111) to prevent separation of the cells (100). [3] Battery module according to claim 2, wherein the first guide plates (112) are bent in one piece with the lower plate (111). [4] Battery module according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first guide plates (112) prevent the cells (100) from separating from the frame arrangement (110) in directions perpendicular to a direction in which the cells (100) are arranged. [5] Battery module according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the first guide plates (112) each have a width corresponding to the width of the lower plate (111). [6] Battery module according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the first guide plates (112) extend vertically upwards from the other opposite edge ends of the lower plate (111) to a height of a few centimeters. [7] Battery module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the multiple cells (100) are arranged in one direction to essentially form a stacked structure. [8] Battery module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second guide plate (115) has a width corresponding to the width of the upper plate (114). [9] Battery module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second guide plate (115) extends vertically downwards from the edge end of the upper plate (114) to a height of a few centimeters. [10] Battery module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower plate (111), the side plates (113) and the upper plate (114) are each formed from a metallic plate, for example an aluminum plate. [11] Battery module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein weld zones (W) are formed at edge sections where the side plates (113) meet the upper plate (114). [12] Battery module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower plate (111), the side plates (113) and the upper plate (114) are organically coupled to each other.

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