Battery pack

Abstract

To provide a battery pack.SOLUTION: A battery pack includes: a battery cell; a lower housing including a housing part which houses the battery cell, a first lateral wall which surrounds the battery cell and defines the housing part, and a second lateral wall which is disposed to surround the first lateral wall; a first upper housing which covers the housing part on the upper side and is coupled to the first lateral wall; and a second upper housing which covers the first upper housing on the upper side and is coupled to the second lateral wall. An upper end of the first lateral wall may be disposed upper than an upper end of the second lateral wall.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery pack. [Background technology]

[0002] Secondary batteries are batteries that can be charged and discharged multiple times for repeated use. Secondary batteries are used as energy sources for mobile devices, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, electric bicycles, uninterruptible power supplies, etc. Depending on the type of external device they are used in, they are used in the form of a battery or in the form of a module in which multiple batteries are connected together to form a single unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 1,112,8011 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention may provide a double waterproof function to a housing that houses a battery cell.

[0005] The battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention may discharge fluid that has entered the battery pack to the outside. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A battery pack for solving the above problem may include a lower housing including a battery cell, an accommodating portion for accommodating the battery cell, a first sidewall surrounding the battery cell and defining the accommodating portion, and a second sidewall arranged to surround the first sidewall, a first upper housing covering the accommodating portion at an upper part and coupled to the first sidewall, and a second upper housing covering the first upper housing at an upper part and coupled to the second sidewall, wherein an upper end of the first sidewall is positioned higher than an upper end of the second sidewall.

[0007] A height at which the first upper housing is coupled to the first sidewall may be different from a height at which the second upper housing is coupled to the second sidewall.

[0008] The first upper housing may include a first coupling portion coupled to the first side wall, and the second upper housing may include a second coupling portion coupled to the second side wall, and the first coupling portion may be disposed above the second coupling portion.

[0009] The first sidewall and the second sidewall may be spaced apart by a predetermined distance.

[0010] An air gap may be interposed between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

[0011] The lower housing may include a drain hole configured to drain fluid that has entered the air gap from the outside of the battery pack.

[0012] The drain hole may be formed by penetrating an outer wall of the lower housing so that the air gap is connected to the outside of the battery pack.

[0013] The drain holes may include a first drain hole disposed at a side of the lower housing.

[0014] The drain holes may include a second drain hole disposed in a lower portion of the lower housing.

[0015] The drain holes may include a plurality of first drain holes disposed on sides of the lower housing and a plurality of second drain holes disposed on a bottom of the lower housing.

[0016] The first drain hole and the second drain hole may be formed in a substantially vertical direction on the lower housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] The battery pack according to the present invention can provide a double waterproof function to the housing in which the battery cells are housed.

[0018] The battery pack according to the present invention can discharge fluid that has entered the battery pack to the outside. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to an exemplary embodiment with a second upper housing separated. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first upper housing in FIG. 2, with the first upper housing separated. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a battery pack in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 5] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack shown in FIG. 2 taken along line AA. [Figure 6] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack shown in FIG. 2 taken along line BB. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of a lower housing according to an exemplary embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, the terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be construed as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted as meanings and concepts consistent with the technical spirit of the present invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concepts of terms to best describe his or her invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely some of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications may exist as of the time of filing of this application. Furthermore, when used in this specification, the words "comprise," "include," and / or "comprising," "including," or "including" specify the presence of a stated shape, number, step, operation, member, element, and / or group thereof, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other shapes, numbers, operations, members, elements, and / or groups. Furthermore, when describing an embodiment of the present invention, the words "may" and "is also" may include "one or more embodiments of the present invention."

[0021] In order to facilitate understanding of the invention, the accompanying drawings may not be drawn to scale, and the dimensions of some components may be exaggerated. In addition, the same reference numerals are used to refer to the same components in different embodiments.

[0022] A statement that two comparison objects are "identical" means that they are "substantially identical." Therefore, "substantially identical" may include deviations that are considered low in the art, for example, deviations within 5%. Furthermore, "uniformity of a parameter in a given region" means uniformity on average.

[0023] Even if terms such as "first," "second," etc. are used to describe various elements, it goes without saying that these elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element from another, and it goes without saying that a first element is also a second element unless otherwise specified.

[0024] Throughout the specification, unless specifically stated to the contrary, each element may be singular or plural.

[0025] When a structure is placed "on top (or bottom)" of a component or "on (or under)" a component, it does not only mean that the structure is placed in contact with the top surface (or bottom surface) of the component, but also that another structure is interposed between the component and the structure placed on (or under) the component.

[0026] Furthermore, when a component is described as being "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that the components are directly coupled or connected to each other, but that other components may be "interposed" between the components, or that each component may be "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" through other components. Furthermore, when a component is said to be electrically coupled to another component, this includes not only direct coupling, but also coupling via an intervening element.

[0027] Throughout the specification, when we refer to "A and / or B," this means A, B, or A and B, unless specifically stated to the contrary. That is, "and / or" includes any and all combinations of the listed items. When we refer to "C through D," this means at least C and at most D, unless specifically stated to the contrary.

[0028] A battery pack 1 according to an exemplary embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack 1 according to an exemplary embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the battery pack 1 according to the exemplary embodiment, with the second upper housing 40 separated. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the battery pack 1 according to the exemplary embodiment, with the first upper housing 30 separated.

[0030] 1 to 3 , a battery pack 1 according to an exemplary embodiment may include a lower housing 2, a first upper housing 30, and a second upper housing 40. The lower housing 2, the first upper housing 30, and the second upper housing 40 may protect the battery cells 10. The lower housing 2 may include a receiving portion 20 that receives the battery cells 10. The battery cells 10 may be received in the receiving portion 20 of the lower housing 2. The first upper housing 30 may cover the receiving portion 20 of the lower housing 2 from above. The first upper housing 30 may be coupled to the lower housing 2. The first upper housing 30 may cover the battery cells 10 from above. The second upper housing 40 may cover the first upper housing 30 from above. The second upper housing 40 may be coupled to the lower housing 2. The battery cells 10 may be doubly protected by the first upper housing 30 and the second upper housing 40.

[0031] The lower housing 2 according to the exemplary embodiment may include a first sidewall 23. The first sidewall 23 may define the receiving portion 20 of the lower housing. The first sidewall 23 may extend upward from the lower housing 2, thereby defining the outer limit of the receiving portion 20 disposed inside the first sidewall 23. The first sidewall 23 may prevent fluid from penetrating into the receiving portion 20. The first sidewall 23 may support the first upper housing 30. However, the above description of the function of the first sidewall 23 is merely an example and is not intended to be limiting.

[0032] The lower housing 2 according to the exemplary embodiment may include a second side wall 24. The second side wall 24 may be disposed to surround the first side wall 23. The second side wall 24 may extend upward from the lower housing 2. The second side wall 24 may prevent fluid from penetrating into the interior of the battery pack 1. The second side wall 24 may support the second upper housing 40. However, the above description of the function of the second side wall 24 is merely an example and is not intended to be limiting.

[0033] The first side wall 23 and the second side wall 24 according to the exemplary embodiment may provide a waterproof function to the battery pack 1. The first side wall 23 and the second side wall 24 may prevent the battery cells 10 from being flooded by fluid that has penetrated from the outside of the battery pack 1. More specifically, the first side wall 23 and the second side wall 24 may provide a waterproof function to the battery cells 10 by doubly covering the battery cells 10.

[0034] According to an exemplary embodiment, the first upper housing 30 may cover the receiving portion 20 of the lower housing 2 from above and may be coupled to the first side wall 23. The first upper housing 30 may include a first coupling portion 300 coupled to the first side wall 23. The first coupling portion 300 may extend downward from the first upper housing 30. The first coupling portion 300 may be coupled to the first side wall 23. The first coupling portion 300 of the first upper housing 30 couples to the first side wall 23 of the lower housing 2, thereby providing a waterproof function to the receiving portion 20 in which the battery cells 10 are accommodated. Here, the first upper housing 30 and the lower housing 2 provide a waterproof function to the receiving portion 20 in order to prevent fluid from penetrating from the outside to the inside of the receiving portion 20.

[0035] According to an exemplary embodiment, the second upper housing 40 may cover the first upper housing 30 from above and may be coupled to the second side wall 24. The second upper housing 40 may include a second coupling portion 400 coupled to the second side wall 24. The second coupling portion 400 may extend downward from the second upper housing 40. The second coupling portion 400 may be coupled to the second side wall 24. The second coupling portion 400 of the second upper housing 40 couples to the second side wall 24 of the lower housing 2, thereby providing a dual waterproof function to the receiving portion 20 in which the battery cells 10 are accommodated. Here, providing the receiving portion 20 with a dual waterproof function is intended to prevent fluid from penetrating into the gap between the first coupling portion 300 of the first upper housing 30 and the first side wall 23 of the lower housing 2.

[0036] Below, we will explain in more detail the waterproof function provided by the first side wall 23 and the second side wall 24 by specifically explaining the length that the first side wall 23 and the second side wall 24 of the lower housing 2 extend in the upward direction.

[0037] Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the battery pack 1 according to an exemplary embodiment. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack 1 shown in Fig. 2 taken along line AA. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack 1 shown in Fig. 2 taken along line BB.

[0038] 2 to 6 , the first side wall 23 and the second side wall 24 of the lower housing 2 according to the exemplary embodiment may each extend upward by a predetermined length. The length by which the first side wall 23 extends upward is longer than the length by which the second side wall 24 extends upward. The length by which the second side wall 24 extends upward is shorter than the length by which the first side wall 23 extends upward. Here, the lengths by which the first side wall 23 and the second side wall 24 extend upward are also lengths from the lower end of the battery pack 1 to the ends of the first side wall 23 and the second side wall 24, respectively. The upper end of the first side wall 23 may be located higher than the upper end of the second side wall 24. The upper end of the first side wall 23 may be located higher than the upper end of the second side wall 24 throughout its entire length. In other words, the upper end of the first side wall 23 may be located higher than the upper end of the second side wall 24 opposite it. Since the upper end of the first side wall 23 is positioned higher than the upper end of the second side wall 24, fluid flowing from the outside of the battery pack 1 into the inside of the second side wall 24 can be prevented from flowing into the inside of the first side wall 23.

[0039] According to an exemplary embodiment, the height h1 at which the first upper housing 30 is coupled to the first side wall 23 may be different from the height h2 at which the second upper housing 40 is coupled to the second side wall 24. More specifically, the height h1 at which the first upper housing 30 is coupled to the first side wall 23 is higher than the height h2 at which the second upper housing 40 is coupled to the second side wall 24. The first coupling portion 300 may be coupled to the upper end of the first side wall 23. The second coupling portion 400 may be coupled to the upper end of the second side wall 24. The height h1 at which the first upper housing 30 is coupled to the first side wall 23 is higher than the height h2 at which the second upper housing 40 is coupled to the second side wall 24 because the upper end height h1 of the first side wall 23 is higher than the upper end height h2 of the second side wall 24. Since the height h1 at which the first coupling portion 300 is coupled to the first side wall 23 is greater than the height h2 at which the second coupling portion 400 is coupled to the second side wall 24, fluid that has flowed between the second coupling portion 400 and the second side wall 24 from outside the battery pack 1 can be prevented from flowing into the accommodating portion 20 that accommodates the battery cell 10 through the gap between the first coupling portion 300 and the first side wall 23.

[0040] According to an exemplary embodiment, the first side wall 23 and the second side wall 24 may be spaced apart by a predetermined distance. Spaced apart from the first side wall 23 and the second side wall 24, an air gap 5 is interposed between the first side wall 23 and the second side wall 24. Fluid flowing from outside the battery pack 1 between the second coupling portion 400 of the second upper housing 40 and the second side wall 24 may move downward through the air gap 5. The air gap 5 may prevent fluid flowing from outside the battery pack 1 between the second coupling portion 400 of the second upper housing 40 and the second side wall 24 from flowing between the first coupling portion 300 of the first upper housing 30 and the first side wall 23. The presence of the air gap 5 in the first side wall 23 and the second side wall 24 may provide a dual waterproof function to the receiving portion 20 that receives the battery cells 10.

[0041] The drain hole 50 configured to drain the current flowing into the air gap 5 from the outside of the battery pack 1 will be described below.

[0042] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the lower housing 2 according to an exemplary embodiment, as seen from below.

[0043] 2 to 7 , the lower housing 2 according to the exemplary embodiment may include a drain hole 50 configured to drain fluid that has flowed into the air gap 5 from outside the battery pack 1. The drain hole 50 may be connected to the air gap 5. Fluid that has flowed between the second coupling portion 400 of the second upper housing 40 and the second side wall 24 from outside the battery pack 1 may be discharged to the outside of the battery pack 1 through the drain hole 50 connected to the air gap 5. The drain hole 50 may prevent fluid that has flowed from outside the battery pack 1 from being stored in the air gap 5.

[0044] According to an exemplary embodiment, the drain hole 50 may penetrate the outer wall of the lower housing 2 so that the air gap 5 is connected to the outside of the battery pack 1. There may be a plurality of drain holes 50. The drain holes 50 may include a first drain hole 51 disposed on a side of the lower housing 2. The drain holes 50 may include a second drain hole 52 disposed on a lower portion of the lower housing 2. The first drain hole 51 and the second drain hole 52 may be formed in a substantially vertical direction on the lower housing 2. When the first drain hole 51 and the second drain hole 52 are formed in a substantially vertical direction on the lower housing 2, the drain holes 50 have an excellent function of preventing fluid flowing from the outside of the battery pack 1 from being stored in the air gap 5.

[0045] The first drain hole 51 and the second drain hole 52 may each be configured in plurality. The plurality of first drain holes 51 may be arranged at predetermined intervals. The plurality of second drain holes 52 may be arranged at predetermined intervals. However, the size and arrangement of the drain holes 50 illustrated in the drawings are shown as an example to explain the function of the drain holes 50, and drain holes 50 of various sizes and arrangements configured to provide waterproofing to the battery pack 1 may be provided.

[0046] The present invention has been described based on the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but this is merely an example, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent embodiments are possible therefrom. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1 Battery pack 2 Lower housing 5. Air gap 10 battery cells 20 Storage section 23 First side wall 24 Second side wall 30 First upper housing 40 Second upper housing 50 Drain Hole 51 First Drain Hole 52 Second Drain Hole 300 1st joint 400 2nd joint

Claims

1. A battery cell; a lower housing including a receiving portion that receives the battery cell, a first sidewall that surrounds the battery cell and defines the receiving portion, and a second sidewall that is disposed to surround the first sidewall; a first upper housing covering the receiving portion from above and coupled to the first side wall; a second upper housing covering the first upper housing at an upper portion and coupled to the second side wall; The battery pack, wherein an upper end of the first side wall is positioned higher than an upper end of the second side wall.

2. The height at which the first upper housing is coupled to the first side wall is The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the second upper housing is coupled to the second side wall at a different height.

3. the first upper housing includes a first coupling portion coupled to the first side wall, the second upper housing includes a second coupling portion coupled to the second side wall, The battery pack according to claim 2 , wherein the first coupling portion is disposed above the second coupling portion.

4. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are spaced apart by a predetermined distance.

5. The battery pack of claim 4 , wherein an air gap is interposed between the first side wall and the second side wall.

6. The lower housing includes: The battery pack of claim 5 , further comprising a drain hole configured to drain fluid that has flowed into the air gap from outside the battery pack.

7. The drain hole is The battery pack according to claim 6 , wherein the air gap is formed by penetrating an outer wall of the lower housing so as to be connected to the outside of the battery pack.

8. The drain hole is The battery pack according to claim 7 , further comprising a first drain hole disposed on a side of the lower housing.

9. The drain hole is The battery pack according to claim 8 , further comprising a second drain hole disposed in a lower portion of the lower housing.

10. The drain hole is The battery pack of claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of first drain holes disposed on a side of the lower housing and a plurality of second drain holes disposed on a bottom of the lower housing.

11. The first drain hole and the second drain hole are The battery pack of claim 9 , wherein the battery pack is formed substantially vertically on the lower housing.

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