Battery pack and automobile including same

Abstract

A battery pack and a vehicle including the same are disclosed. The battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of pouch-type battery cells, a pack case that houses the plurality of pouch-type battery cells in an internal space and has a heat sink, and a cell cover that at least partially encloses and supports at least some of the pouch-type battery cells in the internal space of the pack case, and the heat sink is configured to press the cell cover.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0110372 filed on August 31, 2022, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0110373 filed on August 31, 2022, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0067251 filed on May 24, 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 pack and a vehicle including the same, and more particularly to a battery pack manufactured by a cell-to-pack method and a vehicle including the same. [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 output voltage of a battery cell, which is the basic unit of these secondary batteries, is about 2.5V to 4.2V.

[0004] In recent years, as 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), a battery pack manufactured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series or parallel to form a battery module and then connecting the thus-constructed battery modules again in series or parallel has been widely used.

[0005] However, in the conventional technology, battery packs are manufactured by accommodating battery cells in a box-shaped metal case to form battery modules, and then accommodating these battery modules in a battery pack case, which increases the weight and volume of the entire battery pack and reduces the energy density of the battery pack. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a battery pack and an automobile including the same, which can reduce the overall weight and volume of the battery pack and increase the energy density of the battery pack.

[0007] In addition, a technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a battery pack and a vehicle including the same, which can simplify an assembly process by making it easy to handle and install battery cells in a manufacturing process of a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells, and can reduce manufacturing costs by simplifying and reducing the weight of structures required for installing the battery cells while preventing damage to the battery cells.

[0008] Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack and an automobile including the same, which can improve at least one of the bonding property, fixation property, and thermal conductivity of the battery cells to the pack case. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, a battery pack can be provided that includes a plurality of pouch-type battery cells, a pack case that houses the plurality of pouch-type battery cells in an internal space and has a heat sink, and a cell cover that at least partially encases and supports at least some of the plurality of pouch-type battery cells in the internal space of the pack case, wherein the heat sink is configured to press the cell cover.

[0010] In one embodiment, the battery pack may include a support rib protruding from the heat sink to contact the cell cover.

[0011] In one embodiment, the support rib may be configured to support the cell cover placed on the heat sink by pressing the cell cover from the outside to the inside.

[0012] In one embodiment, the support ribs may be configured to mutually contact lower ends of sides of the cell cover.

[0013] In one embodiment, the support rib may include a locking protrusion, and a locking groove engageable with the locking protrusion may be formed on a side surface of the cell cover.

[0014] In one embodiment, the support rib may be removably mounted to the heat sink.

[0015] In one embodiment, the support rib may be formed to be wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, and the side of the cell cover may be formed to have a lower end bent outwardly so as to be in contact with the support rib that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom.

[0016] In one embodiment, the support rib may be formed to be wide at the bottom and narrow at the top, and the side of the cell cover may be formed to have a lower end bent inwardly so as to be in contact with the support rib that is wide at the bottom and narrow at the top.

[0017] In one embodiment, the battery pack includes a recess recessed into the inner side of the heat sink, and the cell cover may be inserted into the recess and pressed by both side walls of the recess.

[0018] In one embodiment, the recess may be filled with a thermal resin.

[0019] In one embodiment, both side walls of the recess may be configured to support the cell cover by pressing it from the outside to the inside.

[0020] In one embodiment, a first inclined portion may be formed on at least one of both side walls of the recess, and a second inclined portion may be formed on the cell cover so as to correspond to the first inclined portion.

[0021] In one embodiment, the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion may be formed at a portion where the side wall and the cell cover contact each other.

[0022] In one embodiment, the second inclined portion may be inclined outwardly from top to bottom.

[0023] In one embodiment, the second inclined portion may be inclined outwardly from bottom to top.

[0024] Meanwhile, according to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle including the battery pack can be provided. Effect of the Invention

[0025] The embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that the weight and volume of the entire battery pack can be reduced and the energy density of the battery pack can be increased.

[0026] In addition, in a manufacturing process of a battery pack including a plurality of battery cells, the battery cells can be easily handled and installed, simplifying the assembly process, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced by simplifying and reducing the weight of the structure required for installing the battery cells while preventing damage to the battery cells.

[0027] Furthermore, there is an effect that at least one of the bondability, fixation, and thermal conductivity of the battery cell to the pack case can be improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a battery cell enclosed in a cell cover in a battery pack according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cell cover and the battery cell in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery pack according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of area A in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows a modified embodiment of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 6 shows a modified embodiment of FIG. 5. [Figure 8] FIG. 6 shows a modified embodiment of FIG. 5. [Figure 9] FIG. 6 shows a modified embodiment of FIG. 5. [Figure 10] 4A to 4C are diagrams illustrating the application positions and structure of support ribs of a heat sink in a battery pack according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery pack according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of region B in FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 shows a modified embodiment of FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 14 shows a modified embodiment of FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a vehicle including a battery pack according to each embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The terms and words used in this specification and claims are not to be construed as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but are to be construed as having meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical ideas of the present invention in accordance with the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concepts of terms himself in order to best describe the invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiment described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiment of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical ideas of the present invention, and therefore there may be various equivalents and modifications that can be substituted therefor at the time of this application.

[0030] In the drawings, the size of each component or a specific part constituting each component is somewhat exaggerated, omitted, or illustrated in a schematic manner for ease of explanation and clarity. Therefore, the size of each component does not entirely reflect the actual size. If a detailed description of related publicly known functions or configurations is deemed to be likely to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

[0031] The terms "coupled" or "connected" as used in this specification include not only cases where one member is directly coupled or connected to another member, but also cases where one member is indirectly coupled or connected to another member via a coupling member.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a battery cell enclosed in a cell cover in the battery pack according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a separated perspective view of the cell cover and the battery cell in FIG. 2.

[0033] As described above, a battery pack is generally constructed by accommodating battery cells in a box-shaped metal case and accommodating the battery modules in a pack case of a battery pack, but this increases the weight and volume of the entire battery pack and reduces the energy density of the battery pack.

[0034] In order to solve such a problem, the battery pack 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to remove the module case of the battery module and directly accommodate the battery cells 100 in the pack case 200 of the battery pack 10.

[0035] As a result, the battery cells 100 can be further accommodated in the space occupied by the module case of the battery module and the like in the battery pack 10, which has the effect of increasing space efficiency and improving the battery capacity. That is, the present invention may have a configuration that does not include a module case of the battery module.

[0036] However, embodiments using a module case are not completely excluded, and if necessary, the module case provided for the battery module may be configured to accommodate the pouch-type battery cell 100 of each embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Meanwhile, the battery pack 10 according to the present embodiment may further include a control module configured to control charging and discharging of the pouch-type battery cell 100. Referring to FIG 1, such a control module may include a Battery Management System (BMS) 500 and a battery cutoff unit 600, and may be housed inside the pack case 200 together with the battery cell 100 and the cell cover 300.

[0038] That is, a battery module including the pouch-type battery cell 100 to which the cell cover 300 according to each embodiment of the present invention is combined also falls within the scope of the present invention.

[0039] Further, in this specification, even when simply referring to a battery cell 100, the battery cell 100 refers to a pouch-type battery cell 100.

[0040] 1 to 3, a battery pack 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a pouch-type battery cell 100, a pack case 200, and a cell cover 300. The pouch-type battery cell 100 includes a pouch-type battery cell 100, a pack case 200, and a cell cover 300.

[0041] The battery cell 100 may include an electrode assembly, an electrolyte, and a pouch exterior material. That is, the battery cell 100 corresponds to a basic unit of charging and discharging, and may be manufactured by housing an electrode assembly and an electrolyte material in a soft metal case and sealing the metal case. In this case, the electrode assembly may be manufactured by interposing a separator between a positive electrode and a negative electrode.

[0042] In addition, electrode leads 110 (see FIG. 3) electrically connected to the electrode assembly may be provided at the front and rear ends of the battery cell 100. Such a battery cell 100 may be configured in a pouch shape. A plurality of such pouch-type battery cells 100 may be included in the battery pack 10. A plurality of such pouch-type battery cells 100 may be stacked in at least one direction.

[0043] 1 , the pack case 200 has an empty space formed therein, and such an empty space can accommodate a plurality of pouch-type battery cells 100. In particular, in the present invention, the pouch-type battery cells 100 can be directly placed on the pack case 200.

[0044] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery pack according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of area A in FIG.

[0045] 4 and 5, the pack case 200 may include a heat sink 240. The heat sink 240 may be integrally formed with the pack case 200 itself, or a separate heat sink 240 may be coupled to the pack case 200. The following description will focus on the case where the heat sink 240 is integrally formed with the pack case 200 itself, but is not limited thereto.

[0046] Here, the heat sink 240 refers to a member that absorbs and dissipates heat from another object through direct or indirect thermal contact. The heat sink 240 may be configured in various ways, for example, the heat sink 240 may be provided in a shape in which a flow path 211 through which cooling water can flow is formed inside the lower frame 210. This can reduce the weight of the entire pack housing and simplify the components. However, this is merely one embodiment, and the structure of the heat sink 240 is not limited thereto, and may be more diverse.

[0047] Meanwhile, a thermal interface material (TIM) may be interposed between the pack case 200 and the pouch-type battery cell 100, between the pack case 200 and the cell cover 300, or between the pouch-type battery cell 100 and the cell cover 300. The thermal interface material is a material for improving the thermal conduction performance of each component between different components.

[0048] Here, as the heat conductive material, a thermal resin 270 can be used, and a thermal pad can also be used as necessary. This can further improve the cooling performance of the battery pack 10.

[0049] Here, the heat sink 240 is configured to press against the cell cover 300. This will be described in detail later.

[0050] 1 and 2, the pack case 200 may include a lower frame 210, a side frame 220, and an upper cover 230. The pack case 200 may be made of a plastic or metal material. Alternatively, the pack case 200 may adopt various exterior materials of the battery pack 10 known at the time of filing of the present invention. The pack case 200 may be formed in a box shape.

[0051] A plurality of battery cells 100 are mounted on the lower frame 210. The heat sink 240 may be formed on the lower frame 210 (see FIG. 4 ). The side frame 220 extends upward from an end of the lower frame 210. The upper cover 230 is coupled to the side frame 220 and covers the side frame 220 and the lower frame 210.

[0052] 2 and 3, the cell cover 300 may be provided to at least partially enclose at least some of the pouch-type battery cells 100 among the plurality of pouch-type battery cells 100. That is, the cell cover 300 may be formed in a shape that partially encloses the pouch-type battery cell 100 such that at least one side of the pouch-type battery cell 100 enclosed by the cell cover 300 is exposed to the outside.

[0053] The cell cover 300 may be configured to support the pouch-type battery cell 100 in an upright state. In general, it is not easy to stack the pouch-type battery cells 100 in an upright state.

[0054] However, in a battery pack 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the cell cover 300 may be configured to encapsulate one or more pouch-type battery cells 100 while maintaining the encapsulated pouch-type battery cells 100 in an upright, i.e., upright, state.

[0055] Also, the cell cover 300 may be integrally formed. In this case, the cell cover 300 may be formed by bending a metal plate having a plate-like structure. That is, the cell cover 300 may be formed in a shape in which one plate is bent.

[0056] The cell cover 300 may be made of a material including stainless steel (SUS), which is easy to process, highly corrosion-resistant, and has excellent mechanical strength and rigidity. However, the cell cover 300 is not limited thereto, and may be made of various materials other than SUS in order to ensure rigidity. In particular, the cell cover 300 may be made of a metal material. For example, the cell cover 300 may be made of a chromium (CR)-based metal material. In the case of such a metal material, the stacked state of the battery cells 100 can be more stably maintained and the battery cells 100 can be more safely protected from external impact. In addition, as exemplified above, when the cell cover 300 is made of a steel material such as SUS, since it has a high melting point, it can maintain a stable structure as a whole even if a flame occurs from the battery cell 100. In particular, since the steel material has a higher melting point than the aluminum material, it can maintain a stable shape without being melted by the flame ejected from the battery cell 100. Therefore, it is possible to excellently ensure the effect of preventing or delaying the flame propagation between the battery cells 100, the effect of controlling the vent, and the like.

[0057] The cell cover 300 may include an insulating coating layer (not shown) on the inside. The insulating coating layer (not shown) may be formed by coating, applying or attaching any one of insulating materials such as silicone resin, polyamide and rubber. According to the configuration of the insulating coating layer of the cell cover 300 according to the present embodiment, the insulating coating effect can be maximized with a minimum amount of coating. In addition, by applying the insulating coating layer (not shown) to the inner surface of the cell cover 300, the insulation between the battery cell 100 and the cell cover 300 can be improved.

[0058] Furthermore, the cell cover 300 may be configured such that at least one side of the enclosed pouch-type battery cell 100 is exposed toward the bottom surface of the battery pack 10. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. In this case, the lower portion of the pouch-type battery cell 100 may directly contact the lower frame 210 of the pack case 200, and heat emitted from each pouch-type battery cell 100 is directly transferred to the pack case 200, thereby improving the cooling performance of the battery cell 100. Here, due to the above-mentioned structure, i.e., the structure in which the pouch-type battery cell 100 directly contacts the lower frame 210 of the pack case 200, sufficient cooling performance can be expected without providing a separate cooling structure between the pouch-type battery cell 100 and the pack case 200. However, in the embodiment of the present invention, since the heat sink 240 is formed on the lower frame 210 of the pack case 200, it is possible to further improve the cooling performance of the battery cell 100.

[0059] Referring to FIG. 1 , a cell cover 300 configured to encase at least some of the pouch-type battery cells 100 among the plurality of pouch-type battery cells 100 can be housed in the internal space of the pack case 200.

[0060] The cell cover 300 may be configured to encase various numbers of pouch-type battery cells 100 together. For example, one cell cover 300 may be configured to encase one pouch-type battery cell 100. Or, one cell cover 300 may be configured to encase two pouch-type battery cells 100 together. Or, one cell cover 300 may be configured to encase three or more pouch-type battery cells 100 together.

[0061] 2 and 3, the cell cover 300 may include a first cover portion 310, a second cover portion 320, and a third cover portion 330.

[0062] The first cover portion 310 may be configured to cover one side surface of at least one battery cell 100 among the plurality of battery cells 100. The first cover portion 310 may be formed in a shape extending downward from one end of the third cover portion 330. For example, based on FIG. 2, the first cover portion 310 may be formed in a shape extending long downward from the right end of the third cover portion 330. Also, the first cover portion 310 may be configured to encase a wide surface of the battery cell 100 housed therein.

[0063] The second cover portion 320 may be configured to cover the other side of at least one battery cell 100 among the plurality of battery cells 100. The second cover portion 320 may be positioned so as to be horizontally spaced apart from the first cover portion 310. The second cover portion 320 may also be formed in a shape extending downward from the other end of the third cover portion 330. For example, based on FIG. 2, the second cover portion 320 may be formed in a shape extending downward from the left end of the third cover portion 330. Furthermore, the second cover portion 320 may be configured to encase a wide surface of the battery cell 100 housed therein.

[0064] The third cover part 330 connects the first cover part 310 and the second cover part 320 and covers an upper end part of at least one battery cell 100 .

[0065] At least some of the pouch-type battery cells 100 among the plurality of pouch-type battery cells 100 may be adhesively fixed to the inner surfaces of the first cover part 310 and the second cover part 320. The adhesive member may have thermal conductivity. By such adhesion, the cell cover 300 is firmly bonded to the battery cell 100, and may be useful for discharging heat generated from the battery cell 100 to the outside of the battery cell 100.

[0066] An internal space may be defined by the first cover part 310, the second cover part 320, and the third cover part 330 of the cell cover 300. Then, one or more battery cells 100 may be housed in the internal space of the cell cover 300 defined in this manner.

[0067] The cell cover 300 may be formed in an "n" shape, a "u" shape, or a "d" shape surrounding three sides of at least one battery cell 100. Referring to FIG. 1, the cell cover 300 may be configured such that a plurality of battery cells 100 are stacked horizontally in a vertically standing state.

[0068] For example, referring to Fig. 1, each cell cover 300 is formed in a shape that encloses one or more battery cells 100, and the multiple battery cells 100 each surrounded by the cell covers 300 may be stacked on top of each other in the Y-axis direction of Fig. 1. In this case, the cell cover 300 may stably maintain a configuration in which the multiple battery cells 100 are stacked in parallel in the Y-axis direction with each being upright.

[0069] In addition, since the cell cover 300 can surround three sides of at least one battery cell 100, it is possible to easily arrange the bus bar and the terminals of each unit on the side not covered by each cell cover 300. It can also be said that the battery cell 100 such as the pouch-type battery cell 100 is formed as a substantially hexahedron. In addition, the electrode leads 110, i.e., the negative electrode lead and the positive electrode lead, can be formed on two of the six sides. In addition, the cell cover 300 is provided so as to cover at least a part of three of the remaining four sides of the six-sided battery cell 100, excluding the two sides on which the electrode leads 110 are formed.

[0070] 2 and 3 , the bus bar frame 120 may be coupled to the cell cover 300. It may be configured to support a bus bar electrically connected to the electrode lead 110 of at least one battery cell 100 covered by the cell cover 300. In this case, the bus bar frame 120 may include a terminal electrically connected to the bus bar.

[0071] 4 and 5, the heat sink 240 may be formed with a support rib 250. Here, in one embodiment, the support rib 250 may be protruded from the heat sink 240, and the support rib 250 may contact the cell cover 300 to press the cell cover 300, for example, the first cover part 310 and the second cover part 320. Here, the support rib 250 may protrude from an upper surface of the heat sink 240.

[0072] The support rib 250 may be configured to press inwardly from the outside to support the cell cover 300 placed on the heat sink 240. For example, the support rib 250 may be configured to come into contact with a lower end of a side surface of the cell cover 300 and press the lower end of the side surface.

[0073] In an embodiment according to the present invention, the pouch-type battery cell 100 can be accommodated inside the cell cover 300 in a state in which it is compressed by the first cover portion 310 and the second cover portion 320 of the cell cover 300 .

[0074] The cell cover 300 may accommodate one or more of various numbers of pouch-type battery cells 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, three pouch-type battery cells 100 may be accommodated in the cell cover 300, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In this case, the distance between the first cover part 310 and the second cover part 320 corresponds to the total thickness of the three pouch-type battery cells 100, and a slight elastic force acts to compress the three pouch-type battery cells 100. However, when the cell cover 300 is manufactured, due to an assembly tolerance, for example, the distance between the first cover part 310 and the second cover part 320 of the cell cover 300 may be larger than a predetermined distance, or the lower end of the first cover part 310 and the lower end of the second cover part 320 may be in a state of being further spread outward. In such a case, the pouch-type battery cell 100 may not be accommodated in a compressed state inside the cell cover 300, and the assembling, fixing, stability, etc. may be significantly reduced.

[0075] 4 and 5, when the heat sink 240 is formed with the support rib 250, the first cover part 310 or the second cover part 320 of the cell cover 300 may be supported by the support rib 250 so as not to spread outward. Therefore, when manufacturing the cell cover 300, the spreading phenomenon of the cell cover 300 due to assembly tolerances can be prevented, and the spreading phenomenon of the cell cover 300 due to swelling of the battery cell 100 occurring during charging and discharging can also be prevented.

[0076] Furthermore, the lower end of the first cover part 310 or the lower end of the second cover part 320 and the support rib 250 are configured to be in contact with each other, thereby enabling heat exchange. Here, the support rib 250 may be made integral with the heat sink 240 or may be made to be directly connected to the heat sink 240, thereby maintaining a low temperature. The support rib 250 is in close contact with the first cover part 310 or the second cover part 320 of the cell cover 300, thereby improving cooling efficiency.

[0077] Meanwhile, a compression pad 400 may be disposed in the space above the support rib 250 of the heat sink 240. That is, a space is formed between one cell cover and another adjacent cell cover 300 by the support rib 250, and the compression pad 400 may be disposed in this space.

[0078] Here, when an external impact or vibration occurs, the compression pad 400 blocks the external impact or vibration from being transmitted to the battery cell 100 through the cell cover 300, prevents damage caused by mutual friction, and also has the effect of absorbing the expansion pressure when the battery cell 100 swells.

[0079] 6 to 9 are diagrams showing modified embodiments of FIG.

[0080] Referring to FIG. 6, the support rib 250 of the heat sink 240 has a locking protrusion 251, and a locking groove 340 that can engage with the locking protrusion 251 may be formed on a side of the cell cover 300, for example, on a side of the first cover part 310 or a side of the second cover part 320.

[0081] For example, the locking protrusion 251 may be protruded from the support rib 250 in a direction toward the first cover part 310 or the second cover part 320, and the locking groove 340 may be recessed in the first cover part 310 or the second cover part 320 to engage with the locking protrusion 251. In another modified embodiment, a locking protrusion (not shown) may be formed on the first cover part 310 or the second cover part 320, and a locking groove (not shown) may be formed on the support rib 250 of the heat sink 240. As such, the locking protrusion 251 and the locking groove 340 are formed on the support rib 250 and the cell cover 300, respectively, so that the connection between the cell cover 300 and the heat sink 240 may be more tightly and stably performed.

[0082] 7, the support rib 250 may be configured to be detachable from the heat sink 240. In some cases, only some of the multiple cell covers 300 may require the support rib 250, and the support rib 250 may be removed at positions where the support rib 250 is not required, thereby allowing the support rib 250 to be selectively detached.

[0083] Therefore, for example, the support rib 250 may include a base portion 252 and a support portion 253. The base portion 252 may be coupled to the heat sink 240 in various ways, for example, via a fastening member such as a bolt. However, the fastening member is not limited to a bolt, and the fastening method is not limited to a fastening member. The support portion 253 is provided to protrude from the base portion 252 and support the cell cover 300.

[0084] 8, the support rib 250 is formed to be wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, and the side of the cell cover 300 may be formed to be bent outward at the bottom end so as to come into contact with the support rib 250. This not only supports the first cover part 310 and the second cover part 320 of the cell cover 300 so as not to spread out to both sides, but also limits the movement in the up and down directions, thereby improving the coupling and fixation of the cell unit to the heat sink 240.

[0085] 9, the support rib 250 is formed to be wide at the bottom and narrow at the top, and the side of the cell cover 300 may be formed to be bent inward at the bottom end so as to come into contact with the wide at the bottom and narrow at the top support rib 250. As a result, the first cover part 310 and the second cover part 320 of the cell cover 300 may be supported so as not to spread out to both sides, and when the cell cover 300 is placed on the heat sink 240, the process is easier than in other embodiments.

[0086] FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the application position and structure of the support ribs of the heat sink in the battery pack according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0087] The support rib 250 of the heat sink 240 may be configured to support the entire lower end of the first cover part 310 or the second cover part 320 of the cell cover 300, or may be configured to support only a part of the cell cover 300 along the longitudinal direction of the cell cover 300 on the heat sink 240, as shown in FIG. 10. For example, in order to support one cell cover 300, at least one support rib 250 may be formed on the first cover part 310 side and at least one support rib 250 may be formed on the second cover part 320 side. In FIG. 10, six support ribs 250 are formed, but the number of support ribs 250 is not limited thereto, and may be two, four, eight, or more.

[0088] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery pack according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of region B in FIG. 12.

[0089] The second embodiment of the present invention is structurally different from the first embodiment in that a recess 260 is formed in a heat sink 240 instead of a support rib 250. However, the contents common to the description of the first embodiment are substituted by the description of the first embodiment. Furthermore, the parts of the description of the second embodiment that are applicable to the first embodiment can be applied to the first embodiment.

[0090] 11 to 13, the heat sink 240 provided in the battery pack 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a recess 260. Here, the recess 260 may be formed to be recessed inward of the heat sink 240. Also, the recess 260 may be provided to have an area corresponding to a lower area of ​​the cell cover 300. Also, the cell cover 300 may be inserted into the recess 260 and pressed by both side walls 261a, 261b of the recess 260. The reason and necessity for pressing the cell cover 300 will not be described above.

[0091] 12 and 13 , the recess 260 may be filled with a thermal resin 270. If the thermal resin 270 is filled in the recess 260, when the battery cell 100 enclosed with the cell cover 300 is placed on the lower frame 210, the lower portion of the battery cell 100 may come into contact with the thermal resin 270.

[0092] In this manner, when the cell unit is placed in the recess 260 with the thermal resin 270 filled inside the recess 260, a larger amount of the thermal resin 270 can flow into the inside of the cell cover 300, thereby increasing the contact area between the battery cell 100 and the thermal resin 270.

[0093] Here, both side walls 261a, 261b of the recess 260 may be configured to support the cell cover 300 by pressing it from the outside to the inside. For example, the lower end of the side surface of the cell cover 300, i.e., the lower end of the first cover portion 310 may be configured to contact the right side wall 261a of the side wall 261 of the recess 260 based on FIG. 13, and the lower end of the second cover portion 320 may be configured to contact the left side wall 261b of the side wall 261 of the recess 260 based on FIG. 13. At this time, the right side wall 261a of the recess 260 supports the first cover portion 310 by pressing it from the right (outside) to the left (inside), and the left side wall 261b of the recess 260 supports the second cover portion 320 by pressing it from the left (outside) to the right (inside).

[0094] In this way, the first cover part 310 and the second cover part 320 of the cell cover 300 are pressed by the side wall 261 of the recess 260 provided in the heat sink 240, so that the first cover part 310 and the second cover part 320 can be supported without spreading outward. Therefore, when manufacturing the cell cover 300, it is possible to prevent the cell cover 300 from spreading due to assembly tolerances, and it is also possible to prevent the cell cover 300 from spreading due to swelling of the battery cell 100 that occurs during charging and discharging.

[0095] Meanwhile, the lower end of the first cover part 310 or the lower end of the second cover part 320 and both side walls 261a, 261b of the recess 260 are configured to be in contact with each other, respectively, thereby enabling heat exchange. Here, both side walls 261a, 261b of the recess 260 may be made integral with the heat sink 240 or may be made to be directly connected to the heat sink 240, thereby maintaining a low temperature. The both side walls 261a, 261b of the recess 260 are in close contact with the first cover part 310 or the second cover part 320 of the cell cover 300, thereby improving the cooling efficiency. That is, the heat of the battery cell 100 is transferred to the cell cover 300 and then quickly transferred from the cell cover 300 to the heat sink 240, thereby further increasing the cooling efficiency.

[0096] 14 and 15 are diagrams showing modified embodiments of FIG. 13. In FIG.

[0097] 14 and 15, a first inclined portion 262 may be formed on at least one of both side walls 261a, 261b of the recess 260 so as to increase the contact area between the side wall 261 of the recess 260 and the first cover portion 310 or the second cover portion 320 of the cell cover 300, and a second inclined portion 350 corresponding to the first inclined portion 262 may be formed on the first cover portion 310 or the second cover portion 320 of the cell cover 300.

[0098] For example, the first inclined portion 262 and the second inclined portion 350 may be formed at the portions where both side walls 261a, 261b of the recess 260 contact the first cover portion 310 or the second cover portion 320 of the cell cover 300, respectively.

[0099] 14, the second inclined portion 350 may be inclined outwardly from top to bottom. For example, the angle θ1 between the second inclined portion 350 and the bottom surface of the first cover portion 310 or the second cover portion 320 may be an acute angle. Here, the angle θ1 may be 30° to 60°, but is not limited thereto.

[0100] The lower end of the first cover part 310 or the lower end of the second cover part 320 of the cell cover 300 may be bent to correspond to each of the side walls 261a, 261b of the recess 260, or may be formed so that its thickness gradually increases from top to bottom to fit the shape of each of the side walls 261a, 261b of the recess 260, as shown in FIG. 14.

[0101] Referring to FIG. 14 , when the cell cover 300 encasing the battery cell 100 is placed in the recess 260, there is a possibility that the lower end of the cell cover 300 may interfere with the upper end of the recess 260. Therefore, the lower end of the first cover portion 310 of the cell cover 300 is first inserted diagonally into the right side wall 261a of the recess 260, and the lower end of the second cover portion 320 of the cell cover 300 is bent inward with slight force and inserted into the left side wall 261b of the recess 260.

[0102] Alternatively, the cell cover 300 may be coupled to the recess 260 by pressing it in the longitudinal direction, not in the vertical direction. That is, first, one longitudinal end of the lower end of the cell cover 300 may be engaged with one of the side walls 261a, 261b of the recess 260, and then the lower end of the cell cover 300 may be moved in the longitudinal direction of the recess 260 to couple the entire lower end of the cell cover 300 to the side walls 261a, 261b of the recess 260. That is, the lower end of the cell cover 300 may be coupled to the recess 260 so that it is inserted into the recess 260 along the rail. In this case, the coupling and fixing force is reliably strong, and the contact area between the lower end of the cell cover 300 and the side wall 261 of the recess 260 is also larger, so that the fixation and cooling efficiency can be improved compared to the embodiment of FIG. 13.

[0103] 15, the second inclined portion 350 may be inclined outward from the bottom to the top. For example, the angle θ2 between the second inclined portion 350 and the bottom surface of the first cover portion 310 or the second cover portion 320 may be an obtuse angle. Here, the angle θ2 may be 120° to 150°, but is not limited thereto.

[0104] Here, the lower end of the first cover part 310 or the lower end of the second cover part 320 of the cell cover 300 may be bent to correspond to each of the side walls 261a, 261b of the recess 260, or may be formed so that its thickness gradually increases from bottom to top to fit the shapes of each of the side walls 261a, 261b of the recess 260, as shown in Figure 15.

[0105] 15, the contact area between the lower end of the cell cover 300 and the side wall 261 of the recess 260 may be larger than that of the embodiment of FIG. 13, which may increase cooling efficiency and facilitate the process of coupling the cell cover 300 to the heat sink 240. That is, the second inclined portion 350 of the cell cover 300 according to the modified embodiment of FIG. 15 may slide along the first inclined portion 262 of the side wall 261 of the recess 260 and be placed in the recess 260, which has the effect of facilitating the process.

[0106] As described above, the battery pack 10 according to the embodiments of the present invention can accommodate the pouch-type battery cells 100 in the pack case 200 with high spatial efficiency, and can simplify the assembly process with a higher energy density than the conventional battery pack 10. In addition, the connection, fixation, and thermal conductivity of the cell cover 300 enclosing the battery cells 100 to the pack case 200 can be improved.

[0107] FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining a vehicle including a battery pack according to each embodiment of the present invention.

[0108] An automobile 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include one or more of the battery packs 10 according to the above-described embodiments. Here, the automobile 20 includes various automobiles 20 that are configured to use electricity, such as an electric automobile or a hybrid automobile.

[0109] In this specification, when terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and rear are used, it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art of the present invention that these terms are used merely for convenience of explanation and may vary depending on the position of the object in question, the position of the observer, etc.

[0110] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the limited embodiments and drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention and the scope of the claims by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs. Therefore, the above-disclosed embodiments should be considered from an explanatory perspective, not a restrictive one. The true scope of the technical spirit of the present invention is set forth in the claims, and all differences within the scope of the equivalents thereto should be interpreted as being included in the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0111] The present invention relates to a battery pack and an automobile including the same, and is particularly applicable to the secondary battery-related industry. [Explanation of symbols]

[0112] 10 Battery Pack 20. Automobiles 100 Battery Cells 110 Electrode Lead 120 Busbar Frame 200 pack case 210 Lower Frame 211 Flow Path 220 Side Frame 230 Top cover 240 Heatsink 250 Support Rib 251 Locking protrusion 252 Base 253 Support part 260 Recess 261 Side wall 261a Right side wall 261b Left side wall 262 First Slope 270 Thermal Resin 300 Cell Cover 310 First cover part 320 Second cover part 330 Third cover part 340 Locking groove 350 Second Slope 400 Compression Pad 500 Battery Management System 600 Battery Disconnect Unit

Claims

1. A plurality of pouch-type battery cells; a pack case that houses the plurality of pouch-type battery cells in an internal space and has a heat sink; a cell cover that at least partially encloses and supports at least some of the pouch-type battery cells in an internal space of the pack case; and Including, The heat sink is configured to press against the cell cover.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1 , further comprising a support rib protruding from the heat sink so as to contact the cell cover.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2 , wherein the support rib is configured to support the cell cover placed on the heat sink by pressing the cell cover from the outside to the inside.

4. The battery pack according to claim 2 , wherein the support ribs are configured to come into mutual contact with lower ends of the sides of the cell covers.

5. The battery pack according to claim 2 , wherein the support rib includes a locking protrusion, and a locking groove engageable with the locking protrusion is formed on a side surface of the cell cover.

6. The battery pack according to claim 2 , wherein the support rib is detachably provided on the heat sink.

7. 3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the support rib is formed to be wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, and the side surface of the cell cover is formed to be in a shape in which a lower end portion is bent outward so as to be in contact with the support rib that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom.

8. 3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the support rib is formed in a wide bottom and narrow top shape, and the side surface of the cell cover is formed in a shape in which a lower end portion is bent inward so as to be in contact with the support rib that is wide at the bottom and narrow at the top.

9. The heat sink includes a recess formed on an inner side thereof, The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the cell cover is inserted into the recess and pressed by both side walls of the recess.

10. The battery pack according to claim 9 , wherein the recess is filled with a thermal resin.

11. The battery pack according to claim 9 , wherein both side walls of the recess are configured to support the cell cover by pressing the cell cover inward from the outside.

12. A first inclined portion is formed on at least one of both side walls of the recess, The battery pack according to claim 9 , wherein the cell cover is formed with a second inclined portion corresponding to the first inclined portion.

13. The battery pack according to claim 12 , wherein the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion are formed in a portion where a side wall of the recess and the cell cover contact each other.

14. The battery pack according to claim 12 , wherein the second inclined portion is inclined outwardly from top to bottom.

15. The battery pack according to claim 12 , wherein the second inclined portion is inclined outwardly from bottom to top.

16. A motor vehicle comprising a battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

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