Battery pack

Abstract

A battery pack according to one aspect of the present invention includes a side cover, a front cover coupled to the side cover in a direction crossing the side cover, a top cover coupled to an upper portion of the side cover and the front cover, a first sealing member disposed along a first region that is a coupling region of the side cover and the front cover, and a second sealing member disposed along a second region that is a coupling region of the side cover and the front cover and the top cover. The first sealing member can extend along a boundary between the side cover and the front cover in a contact region that contacts the second sealing member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0097611, filed on August 4, 2022, and all contents disclosed in the literature of the Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery pack including a sealing member.

Background Art

[0003] In response to environmental pollution and depletion of oil resources, research and development on power production based on environmentally friendly energy sources are being conducted. In particular, research on secondary batteries is actively underway, and research is being conducted in various aspects such as materials, structures, processes, and systems of secondary batteries.

[0004] Secondary batteries are assembled in modules and packs, and their stability is managed by a battery management system (BMS). In addition to voltage management by the BMS of secondary batteries, structural stability is important, and a detailed design of a sealing structure for waterproofing of modules or packs is also required.

[0005] According to the prior art, when forming a pack while joining three sides, it was difficult to design waterproofing due to the structure of the three-side joining portion itself. Also, even if a sealing member was provided at the three-side joining portion, the sealing at the region where the three sides contact was fragile, and there was a risk of moisture penetration.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a battery pack including a sealing member that can improve sealing when joining three sides.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, a battery pack includes a side cover, a front cover coupled to the side cover in a direction crossing the side cover, a top cover coupled to an upper portion of the side cover and the front cover, a first sealing member disposed along a first region which is a coupling region of the side cover and the front cover, and a second sealing member disposed along a second region which is a coupling region of the side cover and the front cover and the top cover. The first sealing member can extend along a boundary between the side cover and the front cover in a contact region where the first sealing member contacts the second sealing member.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the sealing effect of the battery pack can be increased.

[0009] According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, by increasing the sealing effect, penetration of moisture or foreign matter into the battery pack can be suppressed, and stability can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can easily implement it. However, the present invention can be realized in various different forms and is not limited or restricted by the following embodiments.

[0012] In order to clearly explain the present invention, detailed descriptions of parts not related to the explanation or related known technologies that may obscure the gist of the present invention are omitted. When attaching reference numerals to the components of each drawing in this specification, the same or similar reference numerals are given to the same or similar components throughout the specification.

[0013] Also, the terms and words used in this specification and the claims should not be construed as being limited to their general or dictionary meanings. The inventors should interpret them in accordance with the meaning and concept that conform to the technical idea of the present invention in accordance with the principle that they can appropriately define the concept of the terms in order to explain their invention in the best way.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, the battery pack 1 can form an internal space (for example, the internal space 2 in FIG. 3) that can accommodate a battery (or a battery module) therein. The internal space can be wrapped by a cover for separation from the outside.

[0016] The battery pack 1 can be in a form where the side cover 10, the front cover 20, and the top cover 30 are joined on three sides. For example, the side cover 10 can form both side surfaces of the battery pack 1, and the front cover 20 can form the front and rear surfaces (or other side surfaces other than the two side surfaces). As a specific example, the front cover 20 can be joined to the side cover 10 in a direction (for example, the vertical direction) crossing the side cover 10. The top cover 30 can be joined to the upper parts of the side cover 10 and the front cover 20.

[0017] The side cover 10, the front cover 20, and the top cover 30 can be joined on three sides to form a rectangular parallelepiped shape. For example, the side cover 10 can form the first surface and the second surface that face each other among the side surfaces of the rectangular parallelepiped. The front cover 20 can form the third surface and the fourth surface that face each other across the first surface and the second surface among the side surfaces of the rectangular parallelepiped. The top cover 30 can be joined to the upper parts of the side cover 10 and the front cover 20 in a direction (or the vertical direction) crossing the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth surface. In other words, the top cover 30 can form the upper surface of the battery pack 1.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 2, the battery pack 1 can include sealing members (for example, the first sealing member 40, the second sealing member 50). For example, the first sealing member 40 can be disposed between the side cover 10 and the front cover 20. The first sealing member 40 can perform sealing so that external moisture and the like do not flow into the internal space (for example, the internal space 2) between the side cover 10 and the front cover 20. The second sealing member 50 can be disposed between the side cover 10 and the front cover 20 and the top cover 30. The second sealing member 50 can perform sealing so that external moisture and the like do not flow into the internal space (for example, the internal space 2) between the side cover 10 and the front cover 20 and the top cover 30.

[0019] The first sealing member 40 and the second sealing member 50 may have a difference in hardness. For example, the hardness of the first sealing member 40 can be lower than the hardness of the second sealing member 50. As a specific example, the first sealing member 40 can be formed of ethylene propylene rubber, and the second sealing member 50 can be formed of polyurethane rubber having a lower hardness than the ethylene propylene rubber. The rubbers described above are merely illustrative and are not limited thereto. As described above, when the first sealing member 40 and the second sealing member 50 have a difference in hardness, when the first sealing member 40 and the second sealing member 50 overlap, the formation of an empty space is suppressed, and sealing can be performed more effectively. Also, when the hardness of the first sealing member 40 is higher than the hardness of the second sealing member 50, a similar effect may be obtained.

[0020] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a partially enlarged state of the battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The above description can be applied identically or similarly hereinafter.

[0021] The first sealing member 40 can be disposed in the first region 110. For example, the region where the side cover 10 and the front cover 20 are joined can be defined as the first region 110. The first sealing member 40 can be disposed along the first region 110.

[0022] The first sealing member 40 can extend toward the internal space 2. For example, the side cover 10, the front cover 20, and the top cover 30 can define an internal space 2 capable of accommodating a battery. The first sealing member 40 is disposed between the side cover 10 and the front cover 20, and at least a part thereof can extend toward the internal space 2. At least a part of the first sealing member 40 can be the portion of the first sealing member 40 on the side of the top cover 30. When at least a part of the first sealing member 40 extends toward the internal space 2, at least a part of the first sealing member 40 can be limited to the extending range of the path through which moisture penetrates.

[0023] The first sealing member 40 can be mounted in the first mounting groove 210. For example, the first mounting groove 210 can be a groove provided in at least one of the side cover 10 and the front cover 20 so that the first sealing member 40 can be mounted. In other words, the first mounting groove 210 may be formed in either the side cover 10 or the front cover 20, or may be formed in both the side cover 10 and the front cover 20. Also, for example, the first mounting groove 210 can have a form corresponding to the form of the first sealing member 40.

[0024] The second sealing member 50 can be arranged in the second region 120. For example, the region where the side cover 10 and the front cover 20 are joined to the top cover 30 can be defined as the second region 120. The second sealing member 50 can be arranged along the second region 120. The second region 120 can be a region corresponding to the periphery of the top cover 30.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the arrangement relationship between the first sealing member 40 and the second sealing member 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the form of the first sealing member 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The above description can be applied identically or similarly hereinafter.

[0026] The first sealing member 40 and the second sealing member 50 can include an overlapping region. For example, when viewed from above, the first sealing member 40 and the second sealing member 50 can form a contact region 300 which is an overlapping region.

[0027] The first sealing member 40 can be in contact with the second sealing member 50. When the first sealing member 40 and the second sealing member 50 are in contact, the movement of moisture and the like can be suppressed, and the sealing effect can be increased. Further, if the contact area 300 between the first sealing member 40 and the second sealing member 50 is large, the movement of moisture and the like is further suppressed, and the sealing effect can also be increased to a certain extent.

[0028] The first sealing member 40 can extend along the boundary between the side cover 10 and the front cover 20. For example, the first sealing member 40 can include a portion extending along the boundary between the side cover 10 and the front cover 20 from the contact area 300 in contact with the second sealing member 50.

[0029] The second sealing member 50 can include an extension portion 51. For example, when viewed from above, the extension portion 51 can be in a form that extends to cover the first sealing member 40. The extension portion 51 can cover the entire first sealing member 40 or a part thereof when viewed from above. The area where the extension portion 51 covers the first sealing member 40 when viewed from above can correspond to the contact area 300.

[0030] The first sealing member 40 can include portions with different cross-sectional areas. For example, the first sealing member 40 can include a first portion 41 having a first cross-sectional area and a second portion 42 having a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area. Specifically, the first portion 41 is formed on the side of the contact area 300 in contact with the second sealing member 50 and can have the first cross-sectional area. The second portion 42 extends from the first portion 41 toward the side opposite to the side where the second sealing member 50 is present and can have a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area. As described above, in the area where the side cover 10, the front cover 20, and the top cover 30 are in contact, by expanding the cross-sectional area of the first portion 41, the sealing effect on the three-sided joint portion can be increased.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the form of the second sealing member 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The above description can be applied equally or similarly hereinafter.

[0032] The second sealing member 50 can include an extension portion 51. For example, the second sealing member 50 can be formed along the peripheral region of the top cover 30, and an extension portion 51 for increasing the contact area with the first sealing member 40 can be formed in the corner region of the second sealing member 50. The form of the extension portion 51 is not particularly limited.

[0033] The second sealing member 50 can be mounted in the second mounting groove 220 of the top cover 30. For example, the top cover 30 can be provided with a second mounting groove 220 for mounting the second sealing member 50. Further, the second mounting groove 220 can have a form corresponding to the form of the second sealing member 50.

[0034] FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the arrangement relationship between the first sealing member 40a and the second sealing member 50a according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the form of the first sealing member 40a according to another embodiment of the present invention. The above description can be applied equally or similarly hereinafter.

[0035] The first sealing member 40a can further extend along the second sealing member 50a. For example, the first sealing member 40a can include a portion that further extends in a direction crossing the boundary between the side cover 10a and the front cover 20a in the contact region 300a where it contacts the second sealing member 50a. In this case, the extending portion can further extend along the second sealing member 50a for increasing the contact area.

[0036] The first sealing member 40a can include a first portion 41a and a second portion 42a. For example, among the first sealing members 40a, the portion that contacts the second sealing member 50a can be defined as the first portion 41a, and the portion that extends to the side opposite to the side where the second sealing member 50a is present can be defined as the second portion 42a. The first portion 41a can have the same shape as an "L". As described above, in the region where the side cover 10, the front cover 20, and the top cover 30 are in contact, the first portion 41a further extends in the direction crossing the boundary, so that along with the increase of the contact region 300a, the movement path of moisture and the like can be further blocked, and the sealing effect on the three-sided joint portion can be maximized.

[0037] As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various implementations are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention and the equivalent scope of the claims described below by those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0038] 1 Battery pack 2 Internal space 10, 10a Side cover 20, 20a Front cover 30 Top cover 40, 40a First sealing member 41, 41a First portion 42, 42a Second portion 50, 50a Second sealing member 51, 51a Extension portion 110 First region 120 Second region 210 First mounting groove 220 Second mounting groove 300, 300a Contact region

Claims

1. A side cover, a front cover coupled to the side cover in a direction crossing the side cover, a top cover coupled to the upper portions of the side cover and the front cover, a first sealing member disposed along a first region which is a coupling region of the side cover and the front cover, a second sealing member disposed along a second region which is a coupling region of the side cover and the front cover and the top cover, comprising, wherein the first sealing member extends along a boundary between the side cover and the front cover in a contact region contacting the second sealing member, a battery pack.

2. The first sealing member, in a contact region contacting the second sealing member, crosses a boundary between the side cover and the front cover and further extends along the second sealing member, the battery pack according to claim 1.

3. The second sealing member, when viewed from above, includes an extended portion extended to cover the first sealing member, the battery pack according to claim 1.

4. The side cover, the front cover, and the top cover define an internal space capable of accommodating a battery, wherein the first sealing member extends toward the internal space, the battery pack according to claim 1.

5. The first sealing member, a first portion formed on a side of a contact region contacting the second sealing member and having a first cross-sectional area, a second portion extending from the first portion toward an opposite side of a side where the second sealing member exists and having a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area, comprising, the battery pack according to claim 1.

6. When viewed from above, the first sealing member and the second sealing member include an overlapping region, the battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. At least one of the side cover and the front cover, is provided to mount the first sealing member and includes a first mounting groove having a form corresponding to a form of the first sealing member, the battery pack according to claim 1.

8. The top cover, is provided to mount the second sealing member and includes a second mounting groove having a form corresponding to a form of the second sealing member, the battery pack according to claim 1.

9. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the hardness of the first sealing member is lower than the hardness of the second sealing member.

10. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein there is a difference in hardness between the first sealing member and the second sealing member.

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