Battery pack and device comprising one

Abstract

Battery pack, comprising: a battery module with a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, a pack housing that accommodates the battery module, and at least one reinforcing element that is inserted inside the pack housing, wherein the reinforcing element is made of a material with a higher melting point than the pack housing.

Description

[TECHNICAL FIELD]Cross-reference to related application

[0001] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0088757, filed on July 19, 2022, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a battery pack and an apparatus having the same, and more particularly to a battery pack with improved cooling performance and an apparatus having the same. [BACKGROUND]

[0003] Since portable devices such as mobile phones, notebook computers, video recorders, and digital cameras are used daily in modern societies, the development of technologies in the fields related to mobile devices has been accelerated, as described above. Additionally, rechargeable / dischargeable secondary batteries are used as a power source for electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (P-HEVs), and the like in an attempt to reduce air pollution caused by existing internal combustion vehicles that use fossil fuels. Therefore, the need for the development of secondary batteries is growing.

[0004] Currently, commercially available secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. Among these, the lithium secondary battery has come into the spotlight due to its advantages, such as freely charging and discharging, very low self-discharge rate, and high energy density.

[0005] Meanwhile, in the case of a secondary battery used for small appliances, two to three battery cells are used, but in the case of a secondary battery used for a medium- to large-sized appliance such as an automobile, a medium- or large-sized battery module is used in which a large number of battery cells are electrically connected. Since medium- or large-sized battery modules are preferably manufactured as small and lightweight as possible, a prismatic battery, a pouch battery, or the like, which can be stacked with high integration and is lightweight relative to its capacity, is mainly used as a battery cell of the medium- or large-sized battery module.

[0006] On the other hand, battery cells mounted in battery modules can generate a large amount of heat during charging and discharging. If the temperature exceeds the correct temperature, for example, due to overcharging, performance may deteriorate, and if the temperature rise is excessive, there is a risk of explosion or ignition. When an ignition phenomenon occurs inside the battery module, high-temperature heat, gas, or flames may leak outside the battery module. The heat, gas, spark, flame, or the like emanating from one battery module may be transmitted to other adjacent battery modules arranged at short intervals in the battery pack, which may lead to cascading thermal runaway within the battery pack.In addition, the pack casing may be damaged due to heat, gas, sparks or flames emanating from the battery module, which may cause a fire or accident.

[0007] For various other reasons, it is currently necessary that the packing case maintains its structure and that its stability is ensured. [DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE UTILITY MODEL][Technical Task]

[0008] Therefore, the present disclosure has been designed to achieve the above objects, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery pack that can maintain the structure of the battery pack and ensure stability while blocking heat transfer to adjacent modules or to the outside, and an apparatus having the same.

[0009] However, the technical problems to be solved by the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the problems described above and can be expanded in various ways within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure. [Technical solution]

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a battery pack is provided, comprising: a battery module having a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, a pack case accommodating the battery module, and at least one reinforcing member inserted within the pack case, wherein the reinforcing member is formed of a material having a higher melting point than the pack case.

[0011] The pack case further includes an outflow space through which flames, sparks, or high-temperature heat from the battery cell stack can be discharged to the outside of the battery pack, and a space between the inner surface of the pack case and the reinforcing member forms the outflow space.

[0012] The pack housing further comprises aluminum, stainless steel, carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) or glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) and the reinforcing element comprises stainless steel.

[0013] The reinforcing element may comprise a thermal insulating material.

[0014] The reinforcing element can be a flame-retardant silicone mat, fire-resistant fabric, mica or superwool.

[0015] The reinforcing element may be arranged parallel to at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface.

[0016] The reinforcing member may be arranged to be spaced from at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface by a predetermined distance.

[0017] The reinforcing member may have a plate shape as a whole or a structure in which a plurality of plate-shaped members are connected to each other.

[0018] The reinforcing member may comprise a lattice-shaped frame structure as a whole or a structure in which a plurality of lattice-shaped frames are connected to each other.

[0019] The battery pack may further include a plate-shaped thermal insulating material disposed side by side adjacent to the reinforcing member.

[0020] The reinforcing element may further comprise a thermal insulating material in a space between the lattice-shaped frames.

[0021] The pack case may be one of a single frame structure having a square tube shape so that the battery cell stack can be accommodated therein; a structure having a U-shaped frame in which one of upper and lower surfaces is opened and a rectilinearly shaped cover covers the open surface of the U-shaped frame; and a structure in which the open surfaces of the two U-shaped frames face each other.

[0022] The reinforcing member may be provided on at least one of an upper surface, a lower surface and both side surfaces of the pack case.

[0023] The battery pack further comprises an end plate closing at least one of the open front and rear surfaces of the pack case, and at least one reinforcing member inserted into the interior space between the inner and outer surfaces of the end plate, wherein the reinforcing member may be arranged parallel to at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the end plate.

[0024] The reinforcing element may have a rectilinear shape, an “I” shape, a “⊦” shape, a left-right symmetrical shape thereof, or a combination of at least one thereof.

[0025] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a device is provided that includes at least one battery pack as described above. [Beneficial Effects]

[0026] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a battery pack is provided with a structure inserted into the battery pack case, which can maintain the structure of the battery pack case and ensure stability while preventing dissipation of heat, gas, sparks, flames, etc. to the adjacent modules and to the outside.

[0027] The effects of the present disclosures are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and additional other effects not described above can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the appended claims. [SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTER] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a battery module used in the battery pack according to Fig. 1 is included; Fig. 3 is a front view of an upper case among the pack cases used in the battery pack according to Fig. 1 are included; Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are enlarged cross-sectional views of portions indicated by dotted lines in the upper case of the battery pack according to Fig. 3 are displayed; Fig. 6 to Fig. 9 are cross-sectional views of the upper housing of the battery pack according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, viewed along the line A-A'; Fig. 10 to Fig. 12 are perspective views showing all or part of the reinforcement member used in the battery pack of the Fig. 1 is included; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a heat sink used in the battery pack according to Fig. 1 is included; and Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack according to Fig. 1, viewed along the yz-plane. [DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS]

[0028] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement them. The present disclosure may be modified in various ways and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0029] Portions irrelevant to the description are omitted in order to clearly describe the present disclosure, and like reference numerals indicate like or similar elements throughout the description.

[0030] Furthermore, the size and thickness of each element in the drawings are arbitrarily illustrated for convenience of description, and the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to those illustrated in the drawings. In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers, regions, etc. are exaggerated for clarity. For convenience of description, the thicknesses of a part and a region are exaggerated in the drawings.

[0031] Additionally, it is understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or plate is referred to as being formed or disposed "on" or "on / above" another element, this should be interpreted to include not only a case where an element such as a layer, film, region, or plate is located directly on the other element, but also a case where intervening elements are present. Conversely, when an element such as a layer, film, region, or plate is referred to as being formed or disposed "directly on" another element, it may mean that other intervening elements are not present.The word "on" or "upon / above" means arranged on or below a reference portion and does not necessarily mean arranged at the upper end of the reference portion in the direction opposite to gravity. Meanwhile, and similar to cases where something is described as being arranged or formed "on" or "upon / above" another part, a case where something is described as being formed or arranged "below" or "under" another part should also be understood in relation to the above.

[0032] Since the top surface / bottom surface of a specific element can be determined differently depending on the reference direction used, "top surface" and "bottom surface" are defined throughout the description as two directed surfaces on the z-axis of the respective element.

[0033] Furthermore, throughout the specification, when a section is referred to as "including" or "having" a particular component, it means that the section may further include other components without excluding the other components, unless otherwise defined.

[0034] Furthermore, throughout the specification, when something is referred to as "planar," it means that a target portion is viewed from the top side, and when it is referred to as "cross-sectional," it means that a target portion is viewed from the side of a vertically cut cross-section.

[0035] A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described.

[0036] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a battery module used in the battery pack according to Fig. 1 is included. Fig. 3 is a front view of an upper housing 220 among pack housings 200 used in the battery pack according to Fig. 1 are included.

[0037] Referring to Fig. 1, the battery pack 1000 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least a battery module 100, a pack case 200 that houses the battery module 100, a reinforcement member 300 provided in the pack case 200, an end plate 400 that closes the open surface of the pack case 200, a heat sink 500 disposed between the pack case 200 and the battery cell stack 120, and a cooling fin 600 that dissipates heat of the battery cell 110 by contacting the battery cell 110. However, the components included in the battery pack 1000 are not limited thereto, and depending on the design, the battery pack 1000 may be provided in a state such that some of the above components are omitted, or may be provided in a state such that other components not mentioned are added.

[0038] Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the battery module 100 provided in this embodiment may have a module-less structure in which the module frame is removed.

[0039] Typically, conventional battery packs have a dual-assembly structure in which a battery cell stack and various parts connected thereto are assembled to form a battery module, and a plurality of battery modules are housed in the battery pack. Since the battery module has a module frame forming its outer surface or the like, conventional battery cells are doubly protected by the module frame of the battery module and the pack case of the battery pack. However, this dual-assembly structure has the disadvantage of not only increasing the manufacturing cost and complexity of the battery pack, but also poor disassembly when defects occur in some battery cells.If a heat sink, which is a cooling element, is present outside the battery module, there is an additional problem that a heat transfer passage between the battery cell and the heat sink becomes somewhat complicated.

[0040] Therefore, the battery module 100 of this embodiment can be provided in the form of a "cell block" in which the module frame is removed, and the battery cell stacks 120 contained in the cell block can be directly connected to the pack case 200 of the battery back 1000. This can simplify the structure of the battery pack 1000, achieve advantages in terms of unit manufacturing cost and manufacturing complexity, and achieve a weight reduction of the battery pack.

[0041] Hereinafter, the battery module 100 without a module frame may be referred to as a "cell block" to distinguish it from a battery module with a module frame. However, the battery module 100 collectively refers to having a battery cell stack 120 segmented into predetermined units for modularization, regardless of the presence or absence of a module frame, and the battery module 100 should be interpreted as both a conventional battery module with a module frame and a cell block.

[0042] Referring to Fig. 2, the battery module 100 of the present embodiment may include a battery cell stack 120 in which a plurality of battery cells 110 are stacked in one direction, side surface plates 130 located at both ends in the stacking direction of the battery cell stack 120, a holding band 140 that wraps the side surface plate 130 and the battery cell stack 120 to fix their shape, and a bus bar frame 150 that covers the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack 120.

[0043] On the other hand, Fig. 2 shows the battery module 100 provided in the form of a cell block, but the contents of this drawing do not exclude a case where the battery module of a closed structure having a module frame is applied to the battery pack 1000 of the present embodiment.

[0044] Each battery cell may include an electrode assembly, a cell casing, and an electrode lead protruding from the electrode assembly. The battery cell 110 may be provided as a pouch-type or in a prismatic shape that can maximize the number of stacks per unit area. For example, the battery cell 110 provided in a pouch shape may be manufactured by accommodating an electrode assembly including a cathode, an anode, and a separator in a cell casing made of laminated sheets and then heat-sealing the sealing portion of the cell casing. On the other hand, Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the cathode lead and the anode lead of the battery cell 110 protrude in opposite directions, but this is not necessarily the case and the electrode leads of the battery cell 110 may also protrude in the same direction.

[0045] The battery cell stack 120 may be formed by stacking a plurality of electrically connected battery cells 110 along one direction. The direction in which the plurality of battery cells 110 are stacked (hereinafter referred to as "stacking direction") may be the y-axis direction, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 (alternatively, it can be the -y-axis direction and subsequently the term “axis direction” can be interpreted as encompassing both (+ / -) directions).

[0046] On the other hand, the battery cells 110 are arranged along one direction, so that the electrode lines of the battery cells 110 can be located on one surface of the battery cell stack 120, or on the other surface opposite to the one surface. In this way, the surface on which the electrode lines are located in the battery cell stack 120 can be referred to as the front surface or the rear surface of the battery cell stack 120 and in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the front surface and the rear surface of the battery cell stack 120 are shown as two surfaces facing each other on the x-axis.

[0047] Furthermore, the surface where the outermost battery cell 110 is located in the battery cell stack 120 may be referred to as the side surface of the battery cell stack 120, and the side surface of the battery cell stack 120 is shown as two surfaces facing each other on the y-axis.

[0048] The side surface plate 130 may be provided to maintain the overall shape of the battery cell stack 120. The side surface plate 130 is a plate-shaped element and can contribute to the rigidity of the cell block instead of the module frame. The side surface plates 130 can be arranged at both ends in the stacking direction of the battery cell stack 120 and can make contact with the outermost battery cells 110 on both sides of the battery cell stack 120.

[0049] The side surface plate 130 may be made of various materials and may be provided by various manufacturing methods. In one example, the side surface plate 130 may be a plastic material produced by injection molding. In another example, the side surface plate 130 may be made of a leaf spring material. In yet another example, the side surface plate 130 may be made of a material with elasticity that allows its shape to deform in response to a volume change of the battery cell stack 120 due to swelling.

[0050] The retaining band 140 can serve to fix the position and shape of the side surface plates 130 at both ends of the battery cell pack 120. The retaining band 140 can be a member having a length and a width. Specifically, the battery cell stack 120 can be located between the two side surface plates 130 that are in contact with the outermost battery cell 110, and the retaining band 140 can cross the battery cell stack 120 and connect the two side surface plates 130. Thus, the retaining band 140 can prevent the distance between the two side plates 130 from increasing beyond a certain range, thereby keeping the overall shape of the cell block 100 within a certain range.

[0051] The retaining band 140 may have hooks at both ends in the longitudinal direction for stable connection of the side surface plates 130. The hooks may be formed by bending both ends in the longitudinal direction of the retaining band 140. Meanwhile, the side surface plate 130 may be formed with a hooking groove at a position corresponding to the hook, and the retaining band 140 and the side surface plate 130 may be stably connected by connecting the hook to the hooking groove.

[0052] The retaining band 140 can be provided with various materials or by various manufacturing methods. In one example, the retaining band 140 can be made of a material with elasticity, allowing the volume change of the battery cell stack 120 due to swelling within a certain range.

[0053] On the other hand, the retaining band 140 serves to fix the relative position between the side surface plate 130 and the battery cell stack 120, and when its purpose as a "fixing element" is achieved, it may be provided in a configuration other than the one shown. For example, the fixing element may be provided in the form of a long screw that can bridge two side surface plates 130, i.e., a long screw. The side surface plate 130 may be provided with a groove into which a long screw can be inserted, and the long screw can fix the relative position of the two side surface plates 130 by simultaneously connecting the two side plates 130 through the groove. The long screw may be provided at an edge of the side surface plate 130, preferably at a position near a corner point of the side surface plate 130.Depending on the design, it would be possible to replace the retaining band 140 with the above-mentioned long screw, but it would also be possible to provide both the retaining band 140 and the long screw in the cell block.

[0054] The bus bar frame 150 is located on a surface of the battery cell stack 120 so that it can simultaneously cover a surface of the battery cell stack 120 and simultaneously connect the battery cell stack 120 to an external device. The bus bar frame 150 can be located on the front surface or the rear surface of the battery cell stack 120. Two bus bar frames 150 can be provided so that they are located on the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack 120. A bus bar can be attached to the bus bar frame 150, whereby the electrode leads of the battery cell stack 120 can be connected to the bus bar, and thus the battery cell stack 120 can be electrically connected to an external device.

[0055] The busbar frame 150 may include an electrically insulating material. The busbar frame 150 may limit contact of the busbar with portions of the battery cells 110 other than the portions connected to the electrode leads, preventing a short circuit from occurring.

[0056] The package housing 200 may serve to protect the cell block 100 and associated electrical components from physical impact. The package housing 200 may house the cell block 100 and associated electrical components within the interior of the package housing 200. Here, the package housing 200 has an inner surface and an outer surface, and the interior of the package housing 200 may be defined by the inner surface.

[0057] A plurality of battery modules 100 may be provided in the battery pack 1000. The plurality of battery modules 100 may be referred to as a “module assembly.” The battery modules 100 may be arranged in rows and columns within the pack housing 200. Here, “row” may refer to a set of battery modules 100 arranged in one direction, and “column” may refer to a set of battery modules 100 arranged in a direction perpendicular to the one direction. For example, the battery modules 100 may be arranged along the stacking direction of the battery cell stack to form a module assembly in a row or column, as shown in Fig. 1 shown.

[0058] The packing case 200 may be provided in a hollow shape that is open along one direction. As shown in Fig. 1, for example, a plurality of cell modules 100 are arranged one after another along the stacking direction of the battery cells 110, and the pack case 200 may have a hollow shape opened along the above-mentioned stacking direction.

[0059] The structure of the pack housing 200 may vary. As in Fig. 1, in one example, the pack housing 200 may include a lower housing 210 and an upper housing 220. Here, the lower housing 210 may be provided in a plate shape, and the upper housing may be provided in a U-shape. At least one battery module 100 may be disposed in the plate-shaped housing 210, and a U-shaped upper housing 220 may be provided to encompass the upper surface and two surfaces of the module assembly on the x-axis.

[0060] The pack case 200 may include a high thermal conductivity portion to quickly dissipate heat in the interior space to the outside. For example, at least a portion of the pack case 200 may be made of a metal with high thermal conductivity, and examples thereof include aluminum, gold, silver, copper, platinum, or alloys or stainless steels including these, carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP), or the like. Further, the pack case may partially have electrical insulating properties, and an insulating film or insulating paint may be applied to positions where insulation is required. A portion of the pack case 200 to which an insulating film or insulating paint is applied may be referred to as an insulating portion.The end plate 400 can serve to protect the battery module 100 and the associated electrical equipment from external physical impacts by closing the open surface of the pack housing 200. Each corner of the end plate 400 can be connected to a corresponding corner of the pack housing 200 by welding or the like. Two end plates 400 can be provided to close the two open surfaces of the pack housing 200 and can be made of a metal material with a predetermined strength.

[0061] The end plate 400 may be formed with an opening 410 for exposing an inlet / outlet port 530 of the cooling element 500, which will be described later, to which a connector 420 for low voltage (LV) connection or high voltage (HV) connection with an external device may be attached.

[0062] Fig. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of portions indicated by dotted lines in the upper case of the battery pack according to Fig. 3 are displayed, and Fig. 5 is a modification of Fig. 4.

[0063] Referring to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the pack case 200 largely has a surface facing the battery cell stack 120 and a surface facing outward. Hereinafter, the surface facing the battery cell stack 120 is referred to as the inner surface 200a of the pack case 200, and the surface facing outward is referred to as the outer surface 200b of the pack case 200.

[0064] According to the present disclosure, a reinforcement member 300 is inserted into the space between the inner surface 200a and the outer surface 200b. The reinforcement member 300 may be arranged parallel to the inner surface 200a facing the battery cell stack 120. In some cases, various modifications may be made, such as arranging the reinforcement member 300 parallel to the outer surface 200b facing outward, to suit the structure and shape of the pack housing.

[0065] The reinforcement member 300 may have a shape that covers the entire inner surface 200a facing the battery cell stack 120. Alternatively, the reinforcement member 300 may have a shape that covers a portion of the inner surface 200a, which may be a shape that has the same dimension as one of the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the inner surface 200a and a smaller dimension than the other of the horizontal and vertical dimensions of the inner surface 200a.

[0066] The reinforcing member 300 may be installed such that it is spaced apart from at least one of the inner surface 200a and the outer surface 200b by a predetermined distance. It may be in contact with at least one of the inner surface 200a and the outer surface 200b.

[0067] As described above, at least a portion of the pack case 200 may be made of a metal with high thermal conductivity, and examples thereof may be aluminum, sulfur, silver, copper, platinum, alloys containing these, or the like. The reinforcing member 300 may be made of a material with a higher melting point than the material of the pack case 200 in order to maintain the structure of the pack case 200 even in the event of battery ignition or external impact. For example, the pack case 200 may be made of aluminum or the like, which has a melting point of approximately 600°C, and the reinforcing member 300 may be made of stainless steel or the like, which has a higher melting point. In some cases, only when some stiffness reinforcement is required, it may be made of a material in which the stiffness of the reinforcing member 300 is higher than that of the pack case. DOCUMENTS ON WHICH THE EXAMINATION IS BASED: AMENDED DESCRIPTION PAGES (FAIR COPY)

[0068] 200.

[0069] Alternatively, the reinforcing member 300 may be made of a material with high thermal insulation properties. For example, it may be made of flame-retardant insulating material, flame-retardant silicone mat, fire-resistant fabric, mica, superwool, or the like. If a battery cell ignites or explodes, flames from the battery cell will not pass through the reinforcing member 300 with high thermal insulation properties, so that the outer surface 200b, which is the surface facing outward, can maintain its structure and shape. Conversely, in the event of external ignition or thermal shock due to high temperatures, flames from the outside will not pass through the highly insulating reinforcing member 300, so that the inner surface 200a, which is the surface facing the battery cell stack 120, can maintain its structure and shape.

[0070] Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show exemplary shapes of the sub-housing elements 200c and 200d and the corresponding reinforcing elements 300a and 300b, which each protrude into the interior of the packing case 200. Fig. 4 shows, by way of example, a case in which the sub-housing member 200c protrudes in a direction parallel to the inner surface 200a and the outer surface 200b. Fig. 5 exemplifies a case where the lower case member 200d protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the inner surface 200a and the outer surface 200b. However, the number, shape, structure, and the like of the lower case members and reinforcement members of the present disclosure are not limited to those illustrated, and various modifications and changes may be made to suit the environment in which the utility model is implemented. By forming the lower case member 200c according to this embodiment, the reinforcement member 300a can be stably inserted into the package case 200 and can prevent the structure of the package case 200 from collapsing due to excessive heat.

[0071] Fig. Fig. 4 shows a case where the reinforcing member 300a is provided on the left side of the lower housing member 200c, that is, on the left side of Fig. 4, but various modifications and changes may be made, such as providing the reinforcing member 300a on the right side of the lower housing member 200c, that is, on the right side of Fig. 4, wherein the lower housing element 200c is to the left or right side of Fig. 4 is shifted and the reinforcing element 300a is provided near the center.

[0072] Additionally, Fig. 4 illustrates the case where the reinforcing member 300a has a rectilinear shape, but it may also have an I-shape. Alternatively, the reinforcing member may have a "⊦" shape, and in this case, an end extending vertically from the center of the reinforcing member 300a may be in contact with the inner surface 200a. In contrast, the sub-housing member 200c may have a "┤" shape, and in this case, the end extending vertically from the center of the reinforcing member 300a may also be in contact with the outer surface 200b.

[0073] Fig. Fig. 5 shows a case where the lower housing member 200d protrudes perpendicularly from the inner surface 200a. The reinforcing member 300b has a "⊏" shape, but even in this case, modifications and changes can be made to various shapes, such as a rectilinear shape as shown in Fig. 4, an “I” shape or a left-right symmetric “⊏” shape.

[0074] On the other hand, in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 an empty space 250 between the inner surface 200a and the outer surface 200b of the pack case acts as an exhaust space 250 that vents flames, sparks and high-temperature heat from the battery cell to the outside when the battery cell ignites.

[0075] Conventionally, since the reinforcing member 300 is not provided, flames, sparks, and high-temperature heat from the battery cells may damage the pack case 200 while passing through the inner surface 200a of the pack case 200 and then the outer surface 200b of the pack case 200, which may cause the problem that flames, sparks, and high-temperature heat from the battery cells are dissipated to the outside of the pack case 200.

[0076] However, according to the present disclosure, the reinforcing member 300b blocks flames, sparks, and high-temperature heat from the battery cell, so that flames, sparks, and high-temperature heat from the battery cells can be discharged to the outside through the empty space between the inner surface 200a and the outer surface 200b of the pack case 200, or through the empty space between the inner surface 200a of the pack case 200 and the reinforcing member 300b, that is, through the outflow space 250.

[0077] Fig. 6 to Fig. 9 are cross-sectional views of the upper housing 220 of the pack housing 200 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, viewed along the line AA' (see Fig. 1) and Fig. 6 to Fig. 9 show various application examples 300c, 300d, 300e and 300f of the packing housing 200 of Fig. 1 and the reinforcing element 300 applicable thereto. Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 show a case where the upper surface and both side surfaces of the upper case 220 have an integrated structure and Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 shows a structure in which the upper surface and both side surfaces of the upper case 220 are separately formed and connected. The upper surface of the upper case 220 covers the upper surface of the battery cell stack 120, and both side surfaces of the upper case 220 cover both side surfaces of the battery cell stack 120.

[0078] Fig. 6 shows, by way of example, a case in which the reinforcing element 300c is formed so as to be spaced apart from the inner surface 220a and the outer surface 220b by a predetermined distance and Fig. 7 shows, by way of example, a case in which the reinforcing element 300d is formed in contact with the outer surface 220b.

[0079] Similarly, Fig. 8 exemplifies a case in which the reinforcing element 300e is formed so that it is spaced from the inner surface 220a and the outer surface 220b by a predetermined distance and Fig. 9 shows, by way of example, a case in which the reinforcing member 300f is formed in contact with the outer surface 220b.

[0080] Fig. 6 to Fig. 9 show the case where the reinforcing member 300 covers both the upper surface and both side surfaces of the upper case, but the reinforcing member 300 may be provided only on at least one of the upper surface and both side surfaces if necessary.

[0081] The present disclosure is not limited to the structure and shape of the upper housing 220 and the structure, shape and number of the reinforcing elements 300 shown in Fig. 6 to Fig. 9, and modifications and changes may be made to adapt to different environments in which the utility model is implemented.

[0082] Fig. 10 to Fig. 12 are perspective views showing all or parts of exemplary shapes 300g, 300h and 300i of the reinforcing element 300 of the Fig. 1. The reinforcing element 300 may have a plate shape (or a lattice-shaped frame structure) as a whole, as shown in Fig. 10 to Fig. 12, and a plurality of plate-shaped elements (or grid-shaped frame structures) arranged in Fig. 10 to Fig. 12 can be provided and designed to be arranged in various structures and directions as described above with reference to Fig. 6 to Fig. Connect as described in section 9.

[0083] Fig. 10 shows a case where the reinforcing member 300g has a plate shape. In this case, as described above, the reinforcing member 300g may be made of a material with a higher melting point than the material of the package case 200 or a material with high thermal insulation properties.

[0084] Fig. 11 shows a case where a reinforcing member 300h has a lattice-shaped frame structure. Although Fig. 11 shows a square lattice-shaped structure, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and any structure that contributes to the rigidity of the pack case 200 and maintains the structure of the pack case is sufficient. The reinforcing member 300h may be made of a material with a higher melting point than the material of the pack case 200, such as a metal. In this case, a plate-shaped thermal insulation material (not shown) may be further disposed side by side adjacent to the reinforcing member 300h to attenuate or prevent flames from the battery cells 110 from directly impacting and damaging the pack case 200.

[0085] Fig. 12 shows a case where the reinforcement member 300i is composed of a portion forming the lattice-shaped frame 300i-1 and a thermal insulation material 300i-2 filling the space between the lattice-shaped frames 300i-1. The reinforcement member is made of a material with a higher melting point than the material of the package case 200. For example, the space between the metal lattice frames 300i-1 may be filled with a thermal insulation material 300i-2 to contribute to the thermal insulation properties.

[0086] Alternatively, the plate-shaped reinforcing element 300g of the thermal insulation material contained in Fig. 10, and the lattice-shaped frame structure shown in Fig. 11, may be provided within the pack case 200 to be in contact with each other, or may be provided at positions spaced apart from each other.

[0087] On the other side show Fig. 4 to Fig. 9 only the case of an upper housing 220, but the reinforcing element 300 can also be inside the lower housing 210 of the Fig. 1. In addition, the pack case 200 can be modified and changed into various structures, such as a single-frame structure with a square tube shape to accommodate the battery cell stack inside, a structure with a U-shaped frame of which either the upper surface or the lower surface is open, and a rectilinearly shaped cover covering the open surface of the U-shaped frame, and a structure in which the opening surfaces of two U-shaped frames face each other. In some cases, a reinforcing member 300 may also be provided inside the end plate 400. For the reinforcing member 300 provided on the lower case 210 and / or the end plate 400, reference is made to the descriptions of Fig. 4 to Fig. 12. At this time, at least one reinforcing member is inserted into the end plate 400, and the reinforcing member may be formed of a material having a higher melting point than the end plate 400.

[0088] Fig. 4 to Fig. 9 illustrate a case where the upper housing 220 has an upper surface and both side surfaces, and the lower housing 210 has a lower surface, but the reverse is also possible. That is, the upper housing 220 may have an upper surface, and the lower housing 210 may have a lower surface and both side surfaces. In this case, the embodiments of Fig. 4 to Fig. 9 to the lower housing 210.

[0089] Fig. 13 shows, by way of example, a heat sink 500 that can be applied to the battery pack 1000 of the present disclosure. The heat sink 500 can serve to cool the interior of the battery pack 1000 by dissipating heat generated by the battery cells 110. Considering that high-temperature air or gases released upon ignition of the battery cell 110 move primarily in the direction opposite to gravity, the heat sink 500 can preferably be arranged at the upper portion of the battery cells 110, as shown in Fig. 1. However, this is not necessarily the case, and according to various design reasons, the heat sink 500 may also be located below the battery cells 110.

[0090] The heat sink 500 may be a water-cooled type heat sink 500 into which a coolant, such as cooling water, is poured. At this time, any cooling water can be used for the heat sink 500 as long as it can dissipate the heat of the battery cells 110 by moving along the flow passage within the heat sink 500.

[0091] Referring to Fig. 13, the heat sink 500 may include an upper plate 510, a lower plate 520, and a lower inlet / outlet port 530. The heat sink 500 may be formed by joining the upper plate 510 and the lower plate 520. An empty space may be formed between the joined upper plate 510 and lower plate 520, and cooling water may be introduced into the empty space through the inlet / outlet port 530. The cooling water may be supplied through the inlet port 500 and discharged to the outlet port 530.

[0092] On the other hand, the above description is based on the assumption that the heat sink 500 is provided outside the battery module 100, but this is not necessarily the case, and the heat sink may also be provided inside the battery module 100. When the heat sink 500 is provided inside the battery module 100, even if the battery module 100 has a closed structure with a module frame, heat transfer between the heat sink 500 and the battery cells 110 can be easily achieved. To eliminate the deterioration of cooling efficiency due to air pockets and the like, a method of forming a heat transfer passage by filling the above-mentioned separation space with a thermal interface material (TIM) has been developed.However, there is a problem that the overall manufacturing cost of the battery pack 1000 increases due to the unit cost of the heat dissipation interface material, and the manufacturing time of the battery pack 1000 increases due to the additional process. Therefore, the battery module 100 or battery pack 1000 of the present embodiment may be equipped with a cooling fin 600 to minimize the deterioration in cooling efficiency due to the air gap. Cooling fins 600 may be provided with one or more battery cells 110 between them.

[0093] Referring to Fig. 14, the cooling fins 600 of these embodiments may serve to maintain the temperature within the battery pack 1000 or the battery module 100 within a suitable range.

[0094] The cooling fins 600 may be provided between battery cells 110 facing a surface thereof, and the cooling fins 600 may transfer heat generated by the battery cells 110 by contacting a surface of the battery cells 110. The cooling fin 600 may transfer heat absorbed by the battery cell 110 toward the heat sink 500. A portion of the cooling fins 600 may be located in the separation space between the battery cell 110 and the heat sink 500, through which the heat of the battery cell 110 can be transferred to the heat sink 500 through the cooling fins 600.A portion of the cooling fins 600 may be located in the separation space between the battery cell 110 and the heat sink 500, whereby the amount of heat dissipation interface material used in the battery module 100 or the battery pack 1000 may be minimized and a reduction in manufacturing costs or simplification of the manufacturing process of the battery module 100 or the battery pack 1000 may be achieved.

[0095] The cooling fin 600 may include a body portion 610 that contacts a surface of the battery cell 110 and an extension portion 620 that extends above the top surface of the battery cell stack 120 and is located near the heat sink 500. The body portion 610 receives heat from the battery cell 110 by contacting the battery cell 110, and the extension portion 620 may be located near the heat sink 500 to thereby dissipate heat that is transferred toward the heat sink 500. Here, the extension portion 620 of the cooling fin 600 may be located near the bottom plate 520 of the heat sink 500 or in contact with the bottom plate 520.

[0096] A plurality of cooling fins 600 may be provided in the battery cell stack 120. The cooling fins 600 may be provided entirely between two adjacent battery cells 110, but this is not necessarily the case, and may also be provided only on a portion of the two adjacent battery cells 110. At this time, if the cooling fins are provided only on a portion of the two adjacent battery cells 110, it may be preferable for the cooling fins 600 to be arranged at regular intervals so that the effect of the cooling fins 600 is evenly distributed across the battery cell stack 120.

[0097] The cooling fins 600 may be made of a material with high thermal conductivity. For example, the cooling fins 600 may be made of aluminum, gold, silver, copper, platinum, alloys containing these, or the like. The cooling fins 600 made of a material with high thermal conductivity may have a much lower thermal resistance than air, and such cooling fins 600 allow heat to be transferred more evenly between the battery cell 110 and the heat sink 500.

[0098] On the other hand, although not specifically mentioned above, the battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a battery management system (BMS) and / or a cooling device that regulates the temperature or voltage of the battery.

[0099] The battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied to various devices. For example, the device to which the battery pack is applied can be a vehicle such as an electric bicycle, an electric vehicle, or a hybrid vehicle. However, the above-mentioned device is not limited thereto, and the battery pack according to the present embodiment can be used for various devices that also fall within the scope of the present disclosure, in addition to the above.

[0100] Although the utility model has been described above in detail with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements, which also fall within the scope of the present disclosure, can be made by those skilled in the art using the basic concepts of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. [Description of reference symbols] 100 battery modules 110 battery cells 120 battery cell stacks 130 Side surface plate 140 retaining strap 150 busbar frames 200 packing cases 300 reinforcement element 400 end plate 500 heat sink 600 cooling fins QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] KR 10-2022-0088757

[0001]

Claims

[1] Battery pack, comprising: a battery module with a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, a pack housing that houses the battery module, and at least one reinforcing element inserted within the packing housing, wherein the reinforcing element is formed from a material having a higher melting point than the pack housing. [2] Battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the pack housing further comprises an outflow space through which flames, sparks or high-temperature heat from the battery cell stack can be discharged to the outside of the battery pack, and a space between the inner surface of the packing housing and the reinforcing element forms the outflow space. [3] The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the pack case further comprises aluminum, stainless steel, carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) or glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) and the reinforcing member comprises stainless steel. [4] The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member comprises a thermal insulating material. [5] The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein the reinforcing member comprises a flame-retardant silicone mat, fire-resistant fabric, mica or superwool. [6] The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is arranged parallel to at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface. [7] The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member is arranged to be spaced from at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface by a predetermined distance. [8] The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member has a plate shape as a whole or a structure in which a plurality of plate-shaped members are connected to each other. [9] The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member comprises a lattice-shaped frame structure as a whole or a structure in which a plurality of lattice-shaped frames are connected to each other. [10] Battery pack according to claim 9, further comprising: a plate-shaped thermal insulating material arranged side by side adjacent to the reinforcing element. [11] The battery pack according to claim 9, wherein the reinforcing member further comprises a thermal insulating material in a space between the lattice-shaped frames. [12] Battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the pack housing is a single-frame structure with a square tube shape so that the battery cell stack can be accommodated therein; a structure comprising a U-shaped frame in which one of upper and lower surfaces is open and a rectilinearly shaped cover covers the open surface of the U-shaped frame; and a structure in which the open surfaces of the two U-shaped frames face each other. [13] The battery pack according to claim 12, wherein the reinforcing member is provided on at least one of an upper surface, a lower surface and both side surfaces of the pack case. [14] Battery pack according to claim 12 or 13, further comprising: an end plate closing at least one of the open front and rear surfaces of the pack housing, and at least one reinforcing element inserted into the interior space between the inner and outer surfaces of the end plate, wherein the reinforcing element is arranged parallel to at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the end plate. [15] The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member has a rectilinear shape, an "I" shape, a "⊦" shape, a left-right symmetrical shape thereof, or a combination of at least one thereof. [16] Device comprising at least one battery pack according to claim 1.

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