Battery module, battery pack including said battery module, and vehicle

Abstract

A battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: battery cells having electrode leads extending to a predetermined length; a busbar frame having slots into which the electrode leads are inserted and guide portions configured to guide the electrode leads to entrances of the slots; and a busbar coupled to the busbar frame and connected to ends of the electrode leads inserted into the slots.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0178570 filed on December 19, 2022, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0045611 filed on April 6, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety in the specification and drawings.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery module, a battery pack including the battery module, and a vehicle, and more particularly to a battery module including rechargeable battery cells, and a battery pack and a vehicle including the battery module. [Background technology]

[0003] Generally, a secondary battery refers to a battery that can be repeatedly charged and discharged, such as a lithium-ion battery, a lithium polymer battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, a nickel-metal hydride battery, a nickel-zinc battery, etc. The most basic battery cell provides an output voltage of about 2.5V to 4.2V.

[0004] In recent years, as such secondary batteries are applied to devices requiring a high output voltage and a large charging capacity, such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS), battery modules manufactured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series, parallel, or a combination of series and parallel, and battery packs manufactured by further connecting the battery modules manufactured in this manner in series, parallel, or a combination of series and parallel, have become widely used.

[0005] As such, the battery cells included in the battery module or battery pack are densely arranged in a small space in order to increase the energy density, so it is necessary to precisely control the exhaust direction of high-temperature gases and flames generated in each battery cell.

[0006] However, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, in the conventional technology, when manufacturing a battery module, the electrode leads 111, 112 of the battery cells 100 located at the rear of the bus bar frame 230 are passed through slots H4 having a through-hole structure provided in the bus bar frame 230 to the front side of the bus bar frame 230, and then the ends of the corresponding electrode leads 111, 112 are coupled to the bus bars 210, 220 attached to the front side of the bus bar frame 230.

[0007] As a result, the conventional technology has a problem that when thermal runaway occurs in a battery cell included in a battery module, high-temperature gas, flames, particles, etc. emitted from the battery cell are discharged to the front of the busbar frame 230 through the slot H4 of the busbar frame 230, damaging the busbars and terminals arranged on the busbar frame, resulting in a fire or explosion of the battery module, or a chain reaction of thermal runaway of other battery cells and other battery modules located in the vicinity. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent No. 10-2270266 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a battery module that facilitates assembly of the battery module and suppresses damage to bus bars and terminals arranged on a bus bar frame when a battery cell included in the battery module experiences thermal runaway, and a battery pack and a vehicle including the battery module.

[0010] Another technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a battery module, a battery pack, and a vehicle including the battery module, which suppress fire or explosion of the battery module, or chain reaction thermal runaway of other battery cells or other battery modules located nearby, when a battery cell included in the battery module experiences thermal runaway. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, a battery module includes a battery cell having an electrode lead extending a predetermined length, a bus bar frame having a slot into which the electrode lead is inserted and a guide portion configured to guide the electrode lead to an entrance of the slot, and a bus bar coupled to the bus bar frame and connected to an end of the electrode lead inserted into the slot, wherein the guide portion is configured to expand after the electrode lead is inserted into the slot to closely contact the electrode lead or an edge portion of the battery cell supporting the electrode lead.

[0012] In one embodiment, the guide portion may include a guide structure made of an elastic material, the guide structure having a guide surface on its outer surface for guiding the electrode lead to the entrance of the slot and a filling space on its interior, and a filling substance that is filled in the filling space to expand the guide structure.

[0013] In one embodiment, the guide structure may include an inlet through which the filling material is injected, the inlet communicating with the filling space.

[0014] In one embodiment, the guide portion includes a plurality of the guide structures, and the plurality of guide structures may include a first guide structure and a second guide structure positioned opposite each other with respect to the entrance of the slot.

[0015] In one embodiment, the first guide structure and the second guide structure may each be configured to expand with the filling material to closely contact an electrode lead inserted into the slot or an edge portion of the battery cell supporting an electrode lead inserted into the slot.

[0016] In one embodiment, the battery module may include a plurality of the battery cells, and the first guide structure may have a first guide surface that guides an electrode lead of a first battery cell of the plurality of battery cells to an entrance of the slot, and the second guide structure may have a second guide surface that guides an electrode lead of a second battery cell of the plurality of battery cells to the entrance of the slot.

[0017] In one embodiment, the plurality of guide structures may further include a third guide structure located between the first guide structure and the second guide structure.

[0018] In one embodiment, the third guide structure may include a third guide surface that guides the electrode lead of the first battery cell to an entrance of the slot, and a fourth guide surface that guides the electrode lead of the second battery cell to the entrance of the slot.

[0019] In one embodiment, the filling material may include a material in a gel or liquid state.

[0020] In one embodiment, the filler material may include at least one of silicone, silicone foam, polyurethane foam, and a blowing agent.

[0021] In one embodiment, the filler material may include a thermally expansive material that expands at a predetermined temperature.

[0022] In one embodiment, the fill material may include a fire extinguishing agent.

[0023] A battery pack according to another aspect of the present invention includes a battery module according to any one of the above-described embodiments.

[0024] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle includes a battery module according to any one of the above-described embodiments. Effect of the Invention

[0025] According to one aspect of the present invention, a guide portion of a busbar frame is configured to guide an electrode lead of a battery cell to an entrance of a slot of the busbar frame, and expand after the electrode lead is inserted into the slot to come into close contact with the electrode lead or a sealed edge portion of the battery cell supporting the electrode lead. This not only facilitates manufacture of a battery module, but also blocks gas from being discharged from the slot of the busbar frame when thermal runaway occurs in a battery cell, thereby suppressing damage to the busbars and terminals arranged in the busbar frame and suppressing chain reaction thermal runaway of other battery cells and other battery modules located in the vicinity.

[0026] In addition, the guide structure of the guide part is made of an elastic material and has a filling space therein, and the filling space is further filled with a filling substance in a gel or liquid state, so that a fire that occurs in the battery module can be extinguished or suppressed, and an explosion of the battery module can be suppressed.

[0027] In addition, the support portion of the insulating cover on which the terminal of the battery module is placed is positioned within a through hole of the end plate that exposes the terminal to the outside, and is configured to block contact between the terminal and the periphery of the through hole. This makes it possible to suppress the phenomenon of a short circuit occurring between the terminal and the end plate due to melting or collapse of the insulating structure when high-temperature gas or flame is generated in the corresponding battery module or another battery module adjacent to the corresponding battery module.

[0028] In addition, since the insulating cover is made of a material having high fire resistance, damage or destruction of the insulating cover caused by high-temperature gas or flames can be suppressed or delayed, and the electrical safety of the battery module can be further improved.

[0029] Furthermore, a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand from the following description that the various embodiments of the present invention are capable of solving various technical problems not described above. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 illustrates a battery cell assembly of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a battery cell applicable to the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a front view of the battery cell assembly shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view showing a bus bar frame according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line S1-S1' in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 8 is a diagram showing an expanded state of the guide portion shown in FIG. 7. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a bus bar frame according to a modified embodiment. [Figure 10] 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] In order to clarify the solution to the technical problem of the present invention, the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, in the description of the present invention, if the description of related known technologies may make the gist of the present invention unclear, the description will be omitted. Furthermore, the terms used in this specification are defined in consideration of the functions in the present invention, and may vary depending on the intentions or practices of the designer, manufacturer, etc. Therefore, the definitions of the terms described below should be based on the entire contents of this specification.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a battery module 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the battery module 100 shown in FIG.

[0034] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a battery module 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a module frame 120 that accommodates battery cell assemblies 110, an insulating cover 130 having a support portion 132 that supports terminals 118 of the battery module 100, and an end plate 140 that covers an opening 122 of the module frame 120 to which the insulating cover 130 is coupled.

[0035] The module frame 120 has an opening 122 at at least one of both ends in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) of the battery module 100, and can accommodate a battery cell assembly 110 including a plurality of battery cells in an internal space connected to the opening 122.

[0036] For example, the module frame 120 may have a tubular structure with openings at both ends in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction). The module frame 120 may be made of a metal material having a high level of rigidity and heat resistance. The module frame 120 may be integrally manufactured through a sheet metal and welding process or an injection process.

[0037] In one embodiment, the module frame 120 may be made of a clad metal in which dissimilar metals are bonded together, i.e., the module frame 120 may be made of a multi-layered metal plate in which a first metal plate and a second metal plate are bonded together.

[0038] In this case, the first metal plate constituting the outer surface of the module frame 120 may be made of a material having a relatively higher thermal conductivity than the second metal plate constituting the inner surface of the module frame 120, and the second metal plate may be made of a material having a higher heat resistance and fire resistance than the first metal plate. For example, the first metal plate may be made of a material containing aluminum (Al), and the second metal plate may be made of a material containing stainless steel. For reference, the melting point of aluminum is about 660°C, and the melting point of stainless steel is about 2750°C.

[0039] The insulating cover 130 may have a support portion 132 on which the terminals 118 electrically connected to the battery cells of the battery cell assembly 110 are placed and supported, and may be configured to temporarily cover the openings 122 of the module frame 120.

[0040] To this end, the insulating cover 130 may include a guide hole H1 that guides the terminal 118 to the support portion 132. In addition, the insulating cover 130 may include a first connector hole H2 that exposes a connector that transmits an electrical signal of the battery cell included in the battery cell assembly 110 to the outside.

[0041] As will be described later, the support portion 132 may include a mounting portion having a mounting surface on which the terminal 118 is placed, and a blocking portion extending from the mounting portion to the peripheral side of a through hole H3 provided in the end plate 140 and blocking contact between the peripheral edge of the through hole H3 and the terminal 118.

[0042] The insulating cover 130 may be made of a polymer synthetic resin having electrical insulation properties. In particular, the insulating cover 130 may be made of a material having electrical insulation properties and high fire resistance.

[0043] The end plate 140 may have a through hole H3 that exposes the support portion 132 of the insulating cover 130 to the outside, and may be configured to secondarily cover the opening 122 of the module frame 120 covered by the insulating cover 130. In addition, the end plate 140 may include a second connector hole H4 that is provided at a position corresponding to the first connector hole H2 of the insulating cover 130 and exposes the connector to the outside.

[0044] Such end plates 140 may be constructed from a metallic material having a high level of rigidity and heat resistance.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a battery cell assembly 110 of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 3 , the battery cell assembly 110 may include a plurality of battery cells 112 , a bus bar 114 , and a bus bar frame 200 .

[0047] The battery cells 112 may be densely arranged in a width direction (X-axis direction) of the battery module. Each battery cell 112 is a most basic secondary battery that can be charged and discharged, and may be embodied in various types.

[0048] As described below, the battery cell 112 may be implemented as a pouch-type secondary battery. In this case, the battery cell 112 may be manufactured by housing an electrode assembly and an electrolyte material inside a pouch-shaped case and sealing the case.

[0049] The electrode assembly of the battery cell 112 has a laminated structure in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are laminated with a separator interposed therebetween. In addition, the case of the battery cell 112 may be composed of one or two pouch sheets.

[0050] Such a battery cell 112 may include an electrode lead extending to the outside of the corresponding battery cell 112. One end of the electrode lead may be electrically connected to an electrode assembly housed inside the case, and the other end may be connected to a bus bar 114 extending to the outside of the case and coupled to the bus bar frame 200.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 3, the multiple battery cells 112 may be stacked on one another in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction) with each being arranged vertically (Z-axis direction).

[0052] In another embodiment, each of the battery cells 112 may be embodied as a cylindrical secondary battery or a prismatic secondary battery.

[0053] The bus bar 114 may be configured to be electrically coupled to the electrode leads or terminals 118 of the battery cells 112. To that end, the bus bar 114 may be made of a conductive material such as a metal.

[0054] The bus bar frame 200 may be configured to support at least one bus bar 114. The bus bar frame 200 may be made of an electrically insulating material. As will be described later, the bus bar frame 200 may be made of a material having high fire resistance as well as electrical insulation properties.

[0055] In addition, the battery cell assembly 110 may further include terminals 118 electrically connected to the battery cells through the bus bars 114 to provide an output voltage of the battery module 100, and connectors 119 for transmitting electrical signals related to the battery cells. In this case, the terminals 118 and the connectors 119 may be disposed on the bus bar frame 116.

[0056] FIG. 4 shows an example of a battery cell 112 applicable to the present invention.

[0057] 4, the battery cell 112 may be configured as a pouch-type secondary battery. In this case, the battery cell 112 may include an electrode lead 112a. One end of the electrode lead 112a may be electrically connected to an electrode assembly housed inside the battery cell 112, and the other end may extend to the outside of the battery cell 112.

[0058] The case of the battery cell 112 may be manufactured from a sheet of a metal material including aluminum. In one embodiment, the case of the battery cell 112 may be manufactured from a single metal sheet. For example, the case may be manufactured by folding the metal sheet so that both ends of the metal sheet face each other, and then bonding and sealing the edges of the overlapped ends.

[0059] In another embodiment, the case of the battery cell 112 may be manufactured from two metal sheets. For example, the case may be manufactured by overlapping two metal sheets facing each other and joining and sealing the edges of the overlapped two metal sheets.

[0060] The sealed edge portion 112b of the battery cell 112 may include a PP (polypropylene) layer, and such PP layer may be sealed by heat sealing.

[0061] This case sealing process is difficult to perform uniformly due to various factors such as heating temperature, time, thickness, width, and quality of the PP layer, etc. Therefore, it is difficult to uniformly control the direction of gas discharged through the sealed edge portion 112b of the battery cell 112.

[0062] Meanwhile, the electrode lead 112 a may extend to the outside through a sealed edge portion 112 b of the entire outer edge portion of the battery cell 112 and be connected to a bus bar 114 .

[0063] FIG. 5 shows a front view of the battery cell assembly 110 shown in FIG.

[0064] 5, the bus bar frame 200 may be disposed in the internal space of the module frame 120, and further disposed between a plurality of battery cells housed in the module frame 120 and an insulating cover 130 covering an opening of the module frame 120, and configured to support at least one bus bar 114. In this case, each bus bar 114 may be electrically connected to an electrode lead 112a of the battery cell 112 or a terminal 118 of the battery module 100.

[0065] Terminals 118 electrically connected to the battery cells through the bus bars 114 and connectors 119 for transmitting electrical signals related to the battery cells may be disposed on the bus bar frame 116 .

[0066] The bus bar frame 200 may be made of a material having high fire resistance as well as electrical insulation properties, for example, a material including one or more of polyimide, aromatic polyamide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether ether ketone, fluororesin, and ceramics.

[0067] Since the bus bar frame 200 is made of a material that is both insulating and highly fire resistant, structural deformation of the bus bar frame can be suppressed even if high-temperature gas or flames are generated inside the battery module, and as a result, short circuits due to contact between the bus bars can be suppressed.

[0068] In addition, the bus bar frame 200 of the battery module 100 according to the present invention may be configured to block gas discharged to the electrode lead 112a side of the battery cell 112.

[0069] FIG. 6 shows a rear perspective view of a busbar frame 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 6 , the bus bar frame 200 includes slots 210 into which the electrode leads 112 a of the battery cells 112 are inserted, and guide portions 220 .

[0071] The guide portion 220 is configured to guide the electrode lead 112a of the battery cell 112 to the entrance of the slot 210 when assembling a battery module. An end of the electrode lead 112a inserted into the slot 210 may be coupled to a bus bar 114 coupled to a front surface of the bus bar frame 200.

[0072] In particular, the guide portion 220 may be configured to expand after the electrode lead 112a is inserted into the slot 210, and to closely contact the corresponding electrode lead 112a or the edge portion 112b of the battery cell 112 supporting the electrode lead 112a.

[0073] Therefore, the guide part 220 may include a guide structure 222 and a filling material filled inside the guide structure 222 .

[0074] The guide structure 222 is made of an elastic material such as rubber or polymer synthetic resin, and has an outer surface provided with a guide surface that guides the electrode lead 112a to the entrance of the slot 210, and a filling space may be provided inside.

[0075] In this case, the guide structure 222 may include an inlet 222b communicating with the filling space as an inlet 222b through which the filling material is injected. After the injection of the filling material is completed, the inlet 222b may be sealed.

[0076] Also, the guide unit 220 may include a plurality of the above-mentioned guide structures 222. In this case, the plurality of guide structures may include a first guide structure and a second guide structure located on opposite sides of the entrance of the slot 210. That is, the entrance of the slot 210 may be located between the two guide structures.

[0077] The filling material may be filled into the filling space of the guide structure 222 through the inlet 222b to expand the guide structure 222. In this case, the filling material may include a substance in a gel state or a liquid state.

[0078] In one embodiment, the filling material may be configured to expand while filling the filling space of the guide structure 222, thereby expanding the guide structure 222 together. In this case, the filling material may include at least one of silicone, expanded silicone, silicone foam, polyurethane foam, and a foaming agent.

[0079] In another embodiment, the filling material may be configured to expand by heat of a predetermined temperature or higher after being filled in the filling space, and to expand the guide structure 222 together. In this case, the filling material may include a thermal expansion material that expands at a predetermined temperature. Such a thermal expansion material may include various thermal expansion materials known at the time of filing of the present invention. For example, the thermal expansion material may include one or more of PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane), polyvinyl acetate, polystyrene, butyl (meth)acrylate, hexyl (meth)acrylate, n-hexyl (meth)acrylate, isohexyl (meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate, isononyl (meth)acrylate, and urethane-based polymers.

[0080] The filling material may also include a fire extinguishing agent. For example, the fire extinguishing agent may be in a liquid, gel, or powder state and may include one or more of sulfuric acid, potassium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, aluminum sulfate, water, halon, and halogen compounds. Powder fire extinguishing agents provide a cooling effect and a fire extinguishing effect by decomposing through an endothermic reaction to generate CO2 gas. However, powder fire extinguishing agents may leave solid residues. To prevent this, the fire extinguishing agent may include a halon-based liquid fire extinguishing agent.

[0081] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line S1-S1' in FIG.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 7 , the guide portion 220 may be configured to guide the electrode lead 112 a of the battery cell 112 to an entrance of the slot 210 when the electrode lead 112 a is inserted into the slot 210 of the bus bar frame 200 .

[0083] Therefore, the guide unit 220 may include a plurality of guide structures 222. That is, the guide unit 220 may include a first guide structure G1 and a second guide structure G2 located on opposite sides of the entrance of the slot 210.

[0084] In this case, the first guide structure G1 may have a first guide surface F1 that guides the electrode lead 112a on one side of the slot 210, and the second guide structure G2 may have a second guide surface F2 that guides the electrode lead 112a on the other side of the slot 210.

[0085] The end of the electrode lead 112 a inserted into the slot 210 may be connected to a bus bar 114 coupled to the front surface of the bus bar frame 200 .

[0086] Meanwhile, a filling space 222a may be provided inside each of the first guide structure G1 and the second guide structure G2. The filling space 222a may be filled with the above-mentioned filling material 224.

[0087] In addition, when the electrode lead 112a of the battery cell 112 is inserted into the slot 210 of the bus bar frame 200 and connected to the bus bar 114, the first guide structure G1 and the second guide structure G2 may each expand due to the filling material 224 filled in the filling space 222a, and may come into close contact with the electrode lead 112a inserted into the slot 210 or the edge portion 112b of the battery cell 112 supporting the corresponding electrode lead 112a.

[0088] FIG. 8 shows the guide portion 220 shown in FIG. 7 in an expanded state.

[0089] As shown in FIG. 8, when the guide structures (first guide structure G1 and second guide structure G2) of the guide portion 220 expand due to the filling material 224 and come into close contact with the electrode lead 112a inserted into the slot 210 or the edge portion 112b of the battery cell 112 supporting the corresponding electrode lead 112a, the gas movement path passing through the slot 210 of the busbar frame 200 is blocked.

[0090] As a result, when thermal runaway occurs in the battery cell 112, damage to the bus bar 114 and terminals 118 arranged on the bus bar frame 200 can be suppressed, and chain reaction thermal runaway of other battery cells and other battery modules located in the vicinity can be suppressed or delayed.

[0091] FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a modified bus bar frame 200'.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 9, the bus bar frame 200' may be configured such that a plurality of electrode leads 112a are inserted into one slot 210.

[0093] In this case, the first guide structure G1 may have a first guide surface F1 that guides the electrode lead 112a of a first battery cell B1 among the plurality of battery cells 112 included in the battery module 100 to the entrance of the slot 210. In addition, the second guide structure G2 may have a second guide surface F2 that guides the electrode lead of a second battery cell B2 among the plurality of battery cells 112 to the entrance of the slot 210.

[0094] In one embodiment, the busbar frame 200' may further include a third guide structure G3 located between the first guide structure G1 and the second guide structure G2.

[0095] In this case, the third guide structure G3 may have a third guide surface F3 that guides the electrode lead of the first battery cell B1 to the entrance of the slot 210, and a fourth guide surface F4 that guides the electrode lead of the second battery cell B2 to the entrance of the slot 210.

[0096] When the electrode lead of the first battery cell B1 and the electrode lead of the second battery cell B2 are inserted into the same slot 210 and connected to the bus bar 114, the first guide structure G1, the second guide structure G2, and the third guide structure G3 may each expand to fit closely to the electrode lead of the first battery cell B1, the electrode lead of the second battery cell B2, or the edge portions of the battery cells supporting these electrode leads.

[0097] That is, the first guide surface F1 of the first guide structure G1 and the third guide surface F3 of the third guide structure G3 may be in close contact with the electrode lead 112a of the first battery cell B1 or an edge portion of the first battery cell B1. Also, the second guide surface F2 of the second guide structure G2 and the fourth guide surface F4 of the third guide structure G3 may be in close contact with the electrode lead of the second battery cell B2 or an edge portion 112b of the second battery cell B2.

[0098] FIG. 10 shows a battery pack 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0099] 10, a battery pack 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the battery modules 100 according to the various embodiments described above. The battery pack 10 may further include pack cases 12, 14 that accommodate one or more battery modules 100.

[0100] The pack cases 12 and 14 may include a pack tray 12 having an accommodation space for accommodating a plurality of battery modules, and a pack lid 14 that covers an upper opening of the pack tray 12 .

[0101] In addition, the battery pack 10 may further include various electrical components (not shown) that control the charging / discharging operation of the battery modules 100 housed in the pack cases 12, 14 or the battery cells included in the corresponding battery modules 100, or monitor the state of charge (SOC), state of health (SOH), etc. Such electrical components may be housed in the pack cases 12, 14 together with the battery modules 100.

[0102] FIG. 11 shows a vehicle 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0103] 11, a vehicle 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a battery module 100 according to the various embodiments described above. For example, the vehicle 2 may include a battery pack 10 incorporating one or more battery modules 100. In this case, the battery module 100 or the battery pack 10 including the battery module 100 may provide electrical energy required for various operations of the vehicle 2.

[0104] In this case, the vehicle 2 may further include an electric motor that drives the vehicle 2 using electric energy supplied from the battery module 100 or a battery pack 10 including the battery module 100.

[0105] For reference, the battery module 100 according to the present invention may be applied to various electric devices and electric systems that use electric energy in addition to vehicles, and may also be applied to an energy storage system (ESS).

[0106] As described above, according to the present invention, the guide portion of the busbar frame is configured to guide the electrode lead of the battery cell to the entrance of the slot of the busbar frame, and expand after the electrode lead is inserted into the slot to come into close contact with the electrode lead or a sealed edge portion of the battery cell supporting the electrode lead. This not only facilitates manufacture of a battery module, but also blocks gas discharge from the slot of the busbar frame when thermal runaway occurs in a battery cell, thereby suppressing damage to the busbars and terminals arranged in the busbar frame and suppressing chain reaction thermal runaway of other battery cells and other battery modules located in the vicinity.

[0107] In addition, the guide structure of the guide part is made of an elastic material and has a filling space therein, and the filling space is further filled with a filling substance in a gel or liquid state, so that a fire that occurs in the battery module can be extinguished or suppressed, and an explosion of the battery module can be suppressed.

[0108] In addition, the support portion of the insulating cover on which the terminal of the battery module is placed is positioned within a through hole of the end plate that exposes the terminal to the outside, and is configured to block contact between the terminal and the periphery of the through hole. This makes it possible to suppress the phenomenon of a short circuit occurring between the terminal and the end plate due to melting or collapse of the insulating structure when high-temperature gas or flame is generated in the corresponding battery module or another battery module adjacent to the corresponding battery module.

[0109] In addition, since the insulating cover is made of a material having high fire resistance, damage or destruction of the insulating cover caused by high-temperature gas or flames can be suppressed or delayed, and the electrical safety of the battery module can be further improved.

[0110] Furthermore, it goes without saying that the embodiments of the present invention can solve various other technical problems in the art, as well as in related arts, other than those described in this specification.

[0111] Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will clearly understand that various modifications can be embodied within the technical scope of the present invention. Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be considered from an explanatory perspective, not a limiting perspective. In other words, the true scope of the technical ideas of the present invention is set forth in the claims, and all differences within the scope of equivalents thereto should be interpreted as being included in the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0112] 2 Vehicles 10 Battery Pack 12, 14 pack cases 12 pack case 12 pack tray 14 pack case 14 pack lids 100 Battery Module 110 Battery Cell Assembly 112 Battery Cell 112a Electrode lead 112b Edge 114 Busbar 116 Busbar frame Terminal 118 119 Connector 120 module frame 122 Aperture 130 Insulating cover 132 Support part 140 End Plate 200 Busbar Frame 200' Busbar Frame 210 Slots 220 Busbar 220 Guide section 222 Guide structure 222a Filling space 222b Inlet 224 Filling substance 230 Busbar Frame Al Aluminum B1 No. 1 battery cell B2 Second battery cell ESS Energy Storage System F1 First guide surface F2 Second guide surface F3 3rd guide surface F4 4th guide surface G1 First guide structure G2 Second guide structure G3 3rd guide structure Gel H1 Guide hole H2 1st connector hole H3 through hole H4 Slot H4 2nd connector hole

Claims

1. A battery cell including electrode leads extending a predetermined length; a bus bar frame including a slot into which the electrode lead is inserted and a guide portion configured to guide the electrode lead to an entrance of the slot; a bus bar coupled to the bus bar frame and connected to an end of the electrode lead inserted into the slot, the guide portion is configured to expand after the electrode lead is inserted into the slot, and to come into close contact with the electrode lead or an edge portion of the battery cell that supports the electrode lead.

2. The guide portion is a guide structure made of a stretchable material, the guide structure having an outer surface provided with a guide surface for guiding the electrode lead to an entrance of the slot and an internal space provided with a filling space; The battery module according to claim 1 , further comprising: a filling material filled in the filling space to expand the guide structure.

3. The battery module according to claim 2 , wherein the guide structure includes an inlet through which the filling material is injected, the inlet communicating with the filling space.

4. The guide portion includes a plurality of the guide structures, The battery module according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of guide structures include a first guide structure and a second guide structure positioned opposite each other with respect to an entrance of the slot.

5. 5. The battery module according to claim 4, wherein the first guide structure and the second guide structure are each configured to expand with the filling material to closely contact the electrode lead inserted into the slot or an edge portion of the battery cell supporting the electrode lead inserted into the slot.

6. A battery cell according to the present invention includes: the first guide structure includes a first guide surface that guides an electrode lead of a first battery cell among the plurality of battery cells to an entrance of the slot; The battery module according to claim 4 , wherein the second guide structure includes a second guide surface that guides an electrode lead of a second battery cell of the plurality of battery cells to an entrance of the slot.

7. The battery module of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of guide structures further includes a third guide structure located between the first guide structure and the second guide structure.

8. 8. The battery module of claim 7, wherein the third guide structure comprises: a third guide surface that guides the electrode lead of the first battery cell to an entrance of the slot; and a fourth guide surface that guides the electrode lead of the second battery cell to the entrance of the slot.

9. The battery module according to claim 2 , wherein the filling material comprises a material in a gel or liquid state.

10. 3. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the filling material comprises at least one of silicone, silicone foam, polyurethane foam, and a blowing agent.

11. The battery module according to claim 2 , wherein the filling material includes a thermal expansion material that expands at a predetermined temperature.

12. The battery module of claim 2 , wherein the filling material includes a fire extinguishing agent.

13. A battery pack comprising a battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A vehicle comprising a battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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