BATTERY MODULE AND BATTERY MODULE ARRANGEMENT

Description

[Technical Field] Cross-reference to related application(s)

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery module and a battery module assembly, and more particularly, to a battery module and a battery module assembly that may simplify electrical connection between battery modules in forming a battery module assembly by combining two or more battery modules.[Background Art]

[0002] With technology development and a demand for mobile devices, demand for secondary batteries as an energy source has been rapidly increasing. Accordingly, many researches on batteries that may meet various demands have been conducted.

[0003] A secondary battery has attracted considerable attention as an energy source for power-driven devices, such as an electric bicycle, an electric vehicle, and a hybrid electric vehicle, as well as an energy source for mobile devices, such as a cellular phone, a digital camera, and a laptop computer.

[0004] A small-sized device such as a cellular phone, a camera, or the like uses a small-sized battery pack in which one battery cell is packed, however, a middle or large-sized device such as a laptop computer, an electric vehicle, or the like uses a middle or large-sized battery module assembly in which a plurality of battery modules including two or more battery cells connected to each other in parallel and / or in series are bound and combined.

[0005] The middle or large-sized battery module assembly includes a bus bar for electrical connection between the battery modules. Conventionally, a bus bar for connecting battery modules is manufactured as a separate part from a battery module, is inserted by bolts formed in the battery module, and nuts are tightened thereto, and thus is assembled. However, since an assembly process of the bus bar reduces workability in manufacturing the battery module assembly, a process time may increase.

[0006] Examples of battery assemblies comprising several battery modules linked by bus bars are given in documents US 2017 / 125774 A1, US 2013 / 017436 A1, JP 2013 / 073929 A, US2015 / 380713 A1, JP 2016 / 225065 A1 and WO 2014 / 178114 1A.

[0007] However, manufacturing an assembly comprising several such battery modules is complex and time-consuming due to a large number of required parts.[DISCLOSURE] [Technical Problem]

[0008] The present invention has been made in an effort provide a battery module and a battery module assembly that may improve workability and reduce a process time in manufacturing the battery module assembly.[Technical Solution]

[0009] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a battery module according to claim 1.

[0010] The battery module may further include features for any of the dependent claims 2 to 5, in any technically feasible combination.

[0011] Another embodiment of the invention provides a battery module assembly according to claim 6.

[0012] The battery module may further include any feature from dependent claims 7 to 13 in any technically feasible combination.

[0013] The invention also relates to a device according to claim 14.[Advantageous Effects]

[0014] According to the battery module of the embodiment of the present invention, a battery module itself is provided with a bus bar that may be connected to a neighboring battery module, thereby simply connecting the battery modules and reducing the number of parts and time required for assembling.[Description of the Drawings]

[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a battery module assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a battery module assembly at a final stage of assembling the battery module assembly of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of one battery module included in the battery module assembly of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an arrangement structure of a left cover and a module bus bar of the battery module of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a battery module assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a battery module assembly at a final stage of assembling the battery module assembly of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of one battery module included in the battery module assembly of FIG. 5. FIG. 8 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an arrangement structure of a left cover and a module bus bar of the battery module of FIG. 7. [Mode for Invention]

[0016] The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being "on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" another element, there are no intervening elements present.

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a battery module assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a battery module assembly at a final stage of assembling the battery module assembly of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of one battery module included in the battery module assembly of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an arrangement structure of a left cover and a module bus bar of the battery module of FIG. 3.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, a battery module assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes six battery modules 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, and 160 closely attached to each other. Here, the number of the battery modules 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, and 160 may be adjusted as needed. Each of the battery modules 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, and 160 includes a plurality of battery cells (not shown), and the plurality of battery cells are closely disposed in a predetermined arrangement, and are interconnected in serious or in parallel and housed in a module case.

[0019] An input / output terminal of any one of the battery cells is drawn out of the battery module through a module bus bar of the battery module 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, or 160 to be connected to neighboring battery modules or to be used as an input / output terminal of the battery module assembly 100. Each of the battery modules 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, and 160 includes a first input / output terminal and a second input / output terminal provided at one side of the module case, and in one embodiment of the present invention, the first input / output terminal is configured as an extended module bus bar 1.

[0020] The remaining battery modules 120, 130, 140, 150, and 160 of the battery modules 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, and 160 excluding the first battery module 110 have extended module bus bars 1 for connecting rightward neighboring battery modules. The expanded module bus bar 1 is a module bus bar connected to the terminal of the battery cell in each of the battery modules 120, 130, 140, 150, and 160 and extends in a vertical direction, is perpendicularly bent, and then extends in a horizontal direction, and it serves as the first input / output terminal and is extended to reach a second input / output terminal 2 of the rightward neighboring battery module. A recess portion 11 is formed at an end portion of the extended module bus bar 1, and thus, the second input / output terminal 2 of the battery module adjacent to the recess portion 11 is inserted into the recess portion 11.

[0021] The second input / output terminal 2 is provided at a left side of the battery module 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, or 160. The second input / output terminal 2 is provided with a body having a thread and a bolt having a quadrangular head 21. As shown in FIG. 4, the second input / output terminal 2 is connected to a module bus bar 4. An upper end of the module bus bar 4 is recessed downward in a U-shape, and the body of the second input / output terminal 2 is inserted into the recessed upper end. The quadrangular head 21 is pressed by the module bus bar 4, so that the second input / output terminal 2 is fixed. Lower portions of the extended module bus bar 1 and the module bus bar 4 are covered with and fixed to a side cover 101.

[0022] A nut 3 is fastened to the second input / output terminal 2 in a state in which the recess portion 11 of the extended module bus bar 1 is inserted into the second input / output terminal 2 of the neighboring battery module, so that the extended module bus bar 1 and the second input / output terminal 2 may be stably coupled.

[0023] Since the first battery module 110 is disposed at a rightmost side of the battery module assembly 100, there is no battery module to be electrically connected thereto. A first input / output terminal 8 of the first battery module 110 is provided with a body having a thread and a bolt having a quadrangular head, like the second input / output terminal 2. The first input / output terminal 8 of the first battery module 110 is connected to a module bus bar 5 connected to the inside of the battery module. The first input / output terminal 8 of the first battery module 110 is used as an input / output terminal of the battery module assembly 100.

[0024] By using the battery module having such a structure, the extended module bus bar 1 is inserted into the second input / output terminal 2 of the neighboring battery module and fixed by using the nut 3 without using a separate bus bar, so that the battery modules 110, 120 , 130, 140 140, 150, and 160 may be simply electrically connected. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of parts, and since the number of processes required for assembly may be reduced, it is possible to reduce the process time.

[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a battery module assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a battery module assembly at a final stage of assembling the battery module assembly of FIG. 5, FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of one battery module included in the battery module assembly of FIG. 5, and FIG. 8 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an arrangement structure of a left cover and a module bus bar of the battery module of FIG. 7.

[0026] The above-described embodiment has the structure in which the second input / output terminal 2 is provided with the bolt on which the nut is fastened to fix the extended module bus bar 1, while the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 8, has a structure in which a terminal nut 22 with a terminal hole 6 is installed inside the battery module and a bolt 7 is fastened to the terminal hole 6 to fix the extended module bus bar 1 such that the second input / output terminal is configured. As shown in FIG. 8, the terminal nut 22 is disposed inside the module bus bar 4 so that the terminal hole 6 is formed at a position corresponding to the recess portion of the extended module bus bar 1, and the bolt 7 is fastened to the terminal hole 6, so that the second input / output terminal is configured.

[0027] By using the battery module having such a structure, the recess portion of the extended module bus bar 1 is positioned in the terminal hole 6 of the neighboring battery module and the bolt 7 is fastened and fixed to the terminal hole 6, so that the battery modules 110, 120, 130, 140 140, 150, and 160 may be simply electrically connected. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of parts, and since the number of processes required for assembly may be reduced, it is possible to reduce the process time.

[0028] The battery module assembly described above may be applied to various devices. It may be applied to a transportation apparatus such as an electric bicycle, an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, and the like, but is not limited thereto, and may be applied to various devices that can use the battery module assembly.<Description of symbols>

[0029] 1:extended module bus bar11:recess portion2:second input / output terminal8:first input / output terminal5:second module bus bar3:nut6:terminal hole7:bolt110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160:battery module100:battery module assembly

Claims

1. A battery module (120, 130, 140, 150, 160) comprising: a module case housing a plurality of battery cells; and a first input / output terminal and a second input / output terminal (2) that are provided at one same side of the module case, wherein the first input / output terminal is formed by extending a first module bus bar (1) connected to at least one of the plurality of battery cells inside the module case to a position away from the module case, and an end portion of the first input / output terminal is provided with a recess portion (11), and since the recess portion is formed at the same height as the second input / output terminal (2), when another battery module is disposed next to the battery module, the second input / output terminal (2) of another battery module is inserted into the recess portion (11) of the first input / output terminal.

2. The battery module of claim 1, further comprising a second module bus bar (4) connected to at least one of the plurality of battery cells, wherein the second input / output terminal (2) is provided with a bolt including a body with a thread and a head connected to the body, the second module bus bar is provided with a downwardly directed recess portion at an upper end thereof, and the body of the second input / output terminal (2) is inserted into the recess portion of the second module bus bar (4) to be exposed to the outside.

3. The battery module of claim 1, further comprising a second module bus bar (4) connected to at least one of the plurality of battery cells, wherein the second input / output terminal (2) is provided with a nut (22) formed with a terminal hole (6) with a thread, the second module bus bar (4) is provided with a downwardly directed recess portion at an upper end thereof, and the terminal hole (6) of the second input / output terminal is disposed to be exposed to the outside through the recess portion of the second module bus bar (4).

4. The battery module of claim 3, further comprising a bolt (7) fastened to the terminal hole (6).

5. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the first input / output terminal includes a first portion extending in a vertical direction and a second portion bent in a direction perpendicular to the first portion and extending in a horizontal direction, and the recess portion (11) is recessed and formed in the horizontal direction at an end of the second portion.

6. A battery module assembly (100), comprising: a first battery module (120, 130, 140, 150, 160) including a module case housing a plurality of battery cells, and a first input / output terminal and a second input / output terminal that are provided at one same side of the module case; and a second battery module including a module case housing a plurality of battery cells, and a first input / output terminal and a second input / output terminal that are provided at one same side of the module case, wherein the first input / output terminal of the first battery module is formed by extending a first module bus bar (1) connected to at least one of the plurality of battery cells inside the module case, and extends to the second input / output terminal (2) of the second battery module to be connected to the second input / output terminal (2), and an end portion of the first input / output terminal is provided with a recess portion (11), and since the recess portion is formed at the same height as the second input / output terminal, when another battery module is disposed next to the battery module, the second input / output terminal of another battery module is inserted into the recess portion of the first input / output terminal.

7. The battery module assembly of claim 6, wherein the first input / output terminal of the first battery module includes a first portion extending in a vertical direction and a second portion bent in a direction perpendicular to the first portion and extending in a horizontal direction, and the second portion includes a recess portion that is recessed and formed in the horizontal direction from an end thereof.

8. The battery module assembly of claim 7, wherein the first battery module and the second battery module further include a second module bus bar (4) connected to at least one of the plurality of battery cells, respectively, the second input / output terminal (2) of the first battery module and the second input / output terminal (2) of the second battery module are respectively provided with a bolt including a body with a thread and a head (21) connected to the body, the second module bus bar (4) is provided with a downwardly directed recess portion at an upper end thereof, and the body of the second input / output terminal (2) of the first battery module or of the second input / output terminal of the second battery module is inserted into the recess portion of the second module bus bar to be exposed to the outside.

9. The battery module assembly of claim 8, wherein the body of the second input / output terminal (2) of the second battery module is inserted into the recess portion (11) of the first input / output terminal of the first battery module, and a nut fastened to the body of the second input / output terminal (2) of the second battery module is further included.

10. The battery module assembly of claim 7, wherein the second battery module further includes a second module bus bar (4) connected to at least one of the plurality of battery cells, and the second input / output terminal (2) of the second battery module is provided with a nut formed with a terminal hole with a thread, the second module bus bar (4) is provided with a downwardly directed recess portion at an upper end thereof, and the terminal hole (6) of the second input / output terminal (2) of the second battery module is disposed to be exposed to the outside through the recess portion of the second module bus bar.

11. The battery module assembly of claim 10, wherein the terminal hole (6) of the second input / output terminal (2) of the second battery module is disposed in the recess portion of the first input / output terminal of the first battery module, and a nut fastened to the terminal hole of the second input / output terminal terminal of the second battery module is further included.

12. The battery module assembly (100) of claim 7, wherein the second battery module further includes a third module bus bar connected to at least one of the plurality of battery cells, and the first input / output terminal of the second battery module is provided with a bolt including a body with a thread and a head connected to the body, the third module bus bar is provided with a downwardly directed recess portion at an upper end thereof, and the body of the first input / output terminal of the second battery module is inserted into the recess portion of the third module bus bar to be exposed to the outside.

13. The battery module assembly of claim 12, wherein two or more first battery modules are included, the first battery modules are disposed so as to be adjacent to each other in a sequential manner, and the second battery module is disposed adjacent to the outermost one of the first battery modules.

14. A device comprising the battery module assembly (100) of claim 6.