Battery pack and automobile including same

Abstract

A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a plurality of battery cells, a pack case configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells and having a vent portion configured to exhaust gas generated from the battery cells to the outside, and a protective cover configured to cover at least a portion of the vent portion.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery pack and a vehicle including the same.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0056233, filed on April 28, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety in the specification and drawings thereof.

[0003] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0086025, filed on July 3, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety in the specification and drawings thereof. [Background technology]

[0004] Secondary batteries, which are easily applicable to various products and have electrical properties such as high energy density, are widely used not only in portable devices but also in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) that are powered by electrical sources. These secondary batteries have the primary advantage of dramatically reducing the use of fossil fuels, as well as the advantage of not producing any by-products associated with energy use, and are therefore attracting attention as a new energy source that is environmentally friendly and improves energy efficiency.

[0005] Currently widely used types of secondary batteries include lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and nickel-zinc batteries. The operating voltage of such unit secondary battery cells, i.e., unit battery cells, is approximately 2.5 V to 4.5 V. Therefore, if a higher output voltage is required, a battery pack may be constructed by connecting multiple battery cells in series. Alternatively, a battery pack may be constructed by connecting multiple battery cells in parallel depending on the required charge / discharge capacity of the battery pack. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in the battery pack may be variously set depending on the required output voltage or charge / discharge capacity.

[0006] Meanwhile, when configuring a battery pack by connecting multiple battery cells in series / parallel, it is common to first configure a battery module including at least one battery cell, and then use this at least one battery module to configure a battery pack or battery rack by adding other components. Alternatively, recently, cell-to-pack battery packs have also been manufactured in which multiple battery cells are directly housed in a pack housing without being modularized.

[0007] When a thermal event such as thermal runaway occurs inside a battery pack, gas may be emitted from the battery cells inside, and this gas may contain flames. In addition, when gas is emitted from a battery cell, fragments of the electrode plates and active materials inside the battery cell may be heated to a high temperature and emitted to the outside, and these high-temperature particles may appear as sparks.

[0008] In conventional battery packs, if an abnormality occurs in a specific battery cell or battery module, high-temperature gas is often released through a vent provided in the pack case to escape outside the pack case. If a spark is exposed to the outside of the pack case along with the gas, it may react with oxygen outside the battery pack, causing a flame or fire outside the battery pack. Furthermore, if a flame or fire occurs outside a specific battery pack, it may spread to other adjacent battery packs or the equipment in which the battery pack is installed, potentially exacerbating the problem.

[0009] Therefore, there is a need for technology that prevents sparks, flames, etc. from being exposed to the outside of the battery pack through the vent and suppresses the occurrence and spread of flames and fires outside the battery pack. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a battery pack and a vehicle including the same that can ensure safety and reliability when an abnormality occurs in a battery cell or a battery module.

[0011] However, the problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to those described above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention described below. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to solve the above problem, a battery pack according to one aspect of the present invention may include a plurality of battery cells, a pack case configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells and having a vent portion configured to exhaust gas generated from the battery cells to the outside, and a protective cover configured to cover at least a portion of the vent portion.

[0013] The protective cover may be provided between the plurality of battery cells and the vent portion.

[0014] The protective cover is configured to cover an upper end of the vent portion and can block sparks emitted from the battery cell.

[0015] The battery pack according to an aspect of the present invention may further include a module case that accommodates the plurality of battery cells in an internal space and has a vent hole formed on an upper side thereof that communicates with the internal space.

[0016] The pack case may include a base frame on which the plurality of battery cells are mounted, and a side frame extending upward from the base frame and having the vent portion, and the protective cover may be configured to face the side frame in which the vent portion is formed.

[0017] The pack case may further include pack leads coupled to upper portions of the side frames and configured to cover upper portions of the plurality of battery cells, and the protective cover may be coupled to the pack leads.

[0018] The protective cover may include a main cover provided to face the vent portion, and a lead coupling portion extending from the main cover to be bent toward the pack lead and coupled to the pack lead.

[0019] The protective cover may further include side covers configured to be folded from both sides of the main cover toward the side frames.

[0020] The side cover may be provided so that an end portion thereof contacts the side frame.

[0021] The protective cover may further include a support portion bent so that an end of the side cover is supported by the side frame.

[0022] The protective cover may further include a lower bent portion configured to be bent from a lower end of the main cover toward the base frame.

[0023] The protective cover may further include a protrusion provided such that at least a portion of the main cover protrudes in a direction away from the side frame.

[0024] The protective cover may further include inner folding portions configured to be folded from both sides of the main cover in a direction away from the side frames.

[0025] Also, a motor vehicle according to the present invention may include a battery pack according to the present invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent sparks generated when an abnormality occurs in a battery cell from being exposed to the outside of the pack case, thereby ensuring safety and reliability.

[0027] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, the generation of flames outside the battery pack can be suppressed, thereby effectively ensuring the thermal propagation prevention performance of the pack unit.

[0028] This makes it possible to prevent or delay events such as fires and explosions that accompany thermal runaway in battery packs containing multiple battery modules and in devices equipped with such battery packs.

[0029] In particular, in electric vehicles, limiting or delaying the propagation of thermal runaway between battery cells or modules can provide sufficient time for occupants to escape and for the vehicle to continue driving.

[0030] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, vent gas generated when an abnormality occurs in a battery cell can be smoothly discharged to the outside of the pack case.

[0031] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, if an abnormality occurs in a specific battery cell or battery module in a battery pack, high-temperature gases generated from that battery cell can be quickly discharged to the outside of the pack case, thereby preventing other battery cells and battery modules from being damaged by heat and preventing further chain fires.

[0032] In addition to these, the present invention can have various other effects, which will be explained in the respective embodiments, and explanations of effects that can be easily inferred by those skilled in the art will be omitted.

[0033] The drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and serve to further understand the technical concepts of the present invention as well as the content of the invention, and therefore the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to only the matters depicted in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram illustrating the direction of spark discharge within a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, for example, Figure 4 may be a cross-sectional view taken along line II' of Figure 1. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a front view of a protective cover included in a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6]1 is a bottom perspective view of a pack lead provided with a protective cover in a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 7] 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 8] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a protective cover included in a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 9 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from above, taken along line II-II' in FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from above, for example, as taken along line II-II' in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 11 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to still another embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from above, for example, as taken along line II-II' in FIG. [Figure 14] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle including a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, the terms and words used in the specification and claims should not be construed as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be construed as having meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical ideas of the present invention, in accordance with the principle that the inventors themselves can appropriately define the concepts of terms in order to best describe the invention.

[0036] Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical idea of the present invention, and that there may be various equivalent and modified embodiments that can be substituted for them at the time of this application.

[0037] The present invention includes various embodiments, and the following description will focus on differences between the embodiments, omitting redundant explanations of substantially identical or similar configurations.

[0038] Meanwhile, in the present invention, terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back may be used, but these terms are used for the convenience of explanation, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that these terms may differ depending on the position of the object in question, the position of the observer, etc.

[0039] For example, in an embodiment of the present invention, the X-axis direction shown in the drawings may refer to the left-right direction, the Y-axis direction may refer to the front-back direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction on a horizontal plane (XY plane), and the Z-axis direction may refer to the up-down direction (vertical direction) perpendicular to both the X-axis and Y-axis directions.

[0040] FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] 1 to 3, a battery pack 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a battery cell 100, a pack case 200, and a protective cover 300.

[0042] 2, there may be a plurality of battery cells 100. Although not shown, the plurality of battery cells 100 may include an electrode assembly, a cell case that houses the electrode assembly, and an electrode lead that is connected to the electrode assembly and extends to the outside of the cell case to function as an electrode terminal. In this case, the plurality of battery cells 100 may be electrically connected to each other.

[0043] The battery cell 100 may be a pouch-type secondary battery, and the cell case of such a pouch-type secondary battery may be configured as a pouch having a metal layer made of aluminum interposed between polymer layers.

[0044] The plurality of battery cells 100 may be arranged side by side in the front-rear direction (Y-axis direction) while standing upright in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), as shown in Fig. 2. In this case, the seal portion of each battery cell 100 may face the left-right direction (X-axis direction) and the up-down direction (Z-axis direction), and the storage portion may face the front-rear direction (Y-axis direction).

[0045] Meanwhile, the present invention is not limited to a specific type or shape of the battery cell 100, and various battery cells 100 known at the time of filing of the present invention may be adopted to configure the battery pack 1 of the present invention. In this embodiment, as shown in the drawings, a pouch-type secondary battery that has high energy density and is easy to stack is targeted, but it goes without saying that a cylindrical or prismatic secondary battery can also be used as the battery cell 100.

[0046] The pack case 200 may be configured to accommodate a plurality of battery cells 100. That is, the pack case 200 may provide an accommodation space for accommodating a plurality of battery cells 100. In order to safely protect the battery cells 100 accommodated therein, the pack case 200 may be made of or include a material that can ensure mechanical rigidity, such as a metal such as steel or stainless steel (SUS: Steel Use Stainless) or a plastic.

[0047] In addition, the pack case 200 may include a vent portion V. The vent portion V may be configured to exhaust gas generated from the battery cells 100 housed therein to the outside of the pack case 200. The vent portion V may be provided in the form of a hole penetrating between the inside and outside of the pack case 200.

[0048] Alternatively, the vent portion V can be configured to be attachable to a hole in the pack case 200 and can take the form of a vent device that is activated when vent gas is generated inside the pack case 200.

[0049] For example, the vent portion V may be provided with a vent valve or may be realized as such a vent valve. In this case, a mounting hole may be formed in the side frame 220, and the vent portion V may be configured to be attachable to the mounting hole. If the vent portion V is provided with a vent valve or is realized in the form of such a vent valve, the vent valve may be configured to open when the internal pressure of the pack case 200 increases, thereby discharging vent gas to the outside of the pack case 200.

[0050] Meanwhile, the battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a protective cover 300. The protective cover 300 may be configured to cover at least a portion of the vent portion V. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the protective cover 300 may be configured to completely prevent sparks from passing through the protective cover 300.

[0051] The protective cover 300 may be made of a material having low thermal conductivity and excellent heat and / or fire resistance. For example, the protective cover 300 may be made of a flame-retardant mica material. Alternatively, the protective cover 300 may be made of a metal material having rigidity and heat resistance.

[0052] Sparks, flames, and the like that tend to travel in a straight line may be emitted from the battery cells 100, collide with the internal structure of the pack case 200, and move toward the vent portion V. However, according to the above embodiment of the present invention, the protective cover 300 can block the sparks from being emitted to the outside of the pack case 200. This can prevent the sparks from reacting with oxygen outside the pack case 200 and causing a flame. Therefore, according to the above aspect of the present invention, the safety and reliability of the battery pack 1 can be ensured.

[0053] Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the protective cover 300 may be configured to cover a portion of the vent portion V, as shown in FIG. 3 and other figures. That is, the protective cover 300 is located inside the vent portion V and covers the inside of the vent portion V, but may have a structure in which the protective cover 300 covers only a portion of the vent portion V rather than the entire vent portion V. In this case, the protective cover 300 can block sparks generated in the battery cell 100 and simultaneously smoothly discharge vent gas to the exposed portion of the vent portion V. As a result, when an abnormality occurs in the battery cell 100, the vent gas can be quickly discharged to the outside of the pack case 200 through the vent portion V, preventing an increase in internal pressure within the pack case 200 and preventing further chain fires of other battery cells 100.

[0054] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the direction of spark discharge inside a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, Fig. 4 may be a cross-sectional view taken along line II' in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a front view of a protective cover included in a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] 4 and 5, the protective cover 300 may be provided between the plurality of battery cells 100 and the vent portion V. That is, the protective cover 300 may be provided inside the pack case 200, particularly inside the vent portion V. Specifically, vent gas and / or sparks generated from the battery cells 100 may move to the vent portion V. That is, a vent path through which vent gas and / or sparks flow may be formed between the plurality of battery cells 100 and the vent portion. In this case, the protective cover 300 may be provided to cross the vent path. In other words, the protective cover 300 may be provided to cross the vent path and configured to suppress the movement of sparks, etc.

[0056] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the sparks ejected from the battery cell 100 are blocked before they reach the vent portion V of the pack case 200, thereby preventing the sparks from being discharged to the outside and more effectively suppressing the occurrence of flames outside the pack case 200.

[0057] In particular, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the protective cover 300 may be configured to cover the upper end of the vent portion V, as shown in FIG.

[0058] Specifically, vent gas and sparks discharged from the battery cells 100 may be in a high-temperature state and have a strong tendency to travel upward. Therefore, if the protective cover 300 is configured to cover the upper end of the vent portion V as in the above embodiment, sparks that tend to travel in a straight line will inevitably hit the protective cover 300, making it possible to more reliably suppress discharge of sparks to the outside. At the same time, vent gas can be smoothly discharged to the outside of the pack case 200 through the lower part of the vent portion V that is exposed and not covered by the protective cover 300 due to internal pressure.

[0059] Furthermore, the high-temperature vent gas may move along the inner upper surface of pack case 200 toward vent portion V and be discharged to the outside. At this time, if protective cover 300 covers the upper end of vent portion V as in the above embodiment, the flow direction of the vent gas may be bent by protective cover 300 before being discharged from vent portion V. During this process, protective cover 300 can prevent sparks and the like directed toward vent portion V from being discharged to the outside together with the vent gas.

[0060] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, when high-temperature gas or the like is discharged to the outside of the pack case 200 in a situation such as thermal runaway, the discharged gas can be prevented from heading upward. In particular, when passengers are located above the battery pack 1, such as in an electric vehicle, the safety of the passengers can be further improved by suppressing the upward discharge of gas, flames, etc. That is, according to the embodiment of the present invention, directional venting is performed below the battery pack 1, thereby improving the safety of users and the like located above the passengers and the like.

[0061] 2, the plurality of battery cells 100 may be modularized into one or more battery modules 10. That is, the battery pack 1 according to the present invention may include one or more battery modules 10. The plurality of battery cells 100 may be included as components of one or more battery modules 10. In this case, the plurality of battery cells 100 included in the battery module 10 may be electrically connected to each other.

[0062] Furthermore, a plurality of the battery modules 10 may be provided inside the pack case 200. That is, the battery pack 1 according to the present invention includes a plurality of battery modules 10, and the plurality of battery cells 100 included in the battery pack 1 may be divided and included in the plurality of battery modules 10.

[0063] In particular, the battery pack 1 according to the present invention may include a module case 11. The module case 11 may have an empty space formed therein and may be configured to accommodate at least a portion of the plurality of battery cells 100 in the interior space. In particular, the module case 11 is included in each battery module 10, and may serve as a boundary that groups the plurality of battery cells 100 into a plurality of battery modules 10 and physically defines the interior space of each battery module 10.

[0064] Although not shown in the drawings, the battery module 10 may also include a bus bar assembly and / or a module terminal electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells 100 housed therein.

[0065] The battery module 10 may include a vent hole H. The vent hole H may be configured to allow gas generated from the battery cells 100 housed inside the module case 11 to be discharged to the outside of the module case 11.

[0066] Specifically, the vent hole H may be provided in the module case 11 to enable directional venting in a specific direction. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the vent hole H may be provided in the upper part of the module case 11. According to this embodiment, vent gas and / or sparks may be guided to be discharged from the upper side of the battery module.

[0067] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, vent gas, sparks, and the like can be guided to the upper side of pack case 200, as shown by the dotted arrows in Fig. 4. Therefore, when vent gas, sparks, and the like move along the upper inner surface of pack case 200 toward vent portion V, the flow can be more reliably blocked by protective cover 300 that covers the upper end portion of vent portion V. Therefore, the discharge of sparks to the outside of pack case 200 can be more effectively suppressed.

[0068] Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 2, a pack case 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a base frame 210 and a side frame 220.

[0069] The base frame 210 may form the lower surface of the pack case 200 and may be formed in a rectangular plate shape. The base frame 210 may be configured so that a plurality of battery cells 100 are placed on an upper surface. Furthermore, the base frame 210 may have a flat upper surface, and may be provided so that a plurality of battery cells 100 or a module case 11 are stably placed thereon.

[0070] The side frames 220 may extend upward from each corner of the base frame 210. The side frames 220 may include a plurality of unit walls and may be configured to surround a plurality of battery cells 100 or battery modules 10. More specifically, the side frames 220 may form the side surfaces of the pack case 200, including a rear wall located at the +Y direction end of the base frame 210, a right wall located at the +X direction end, a front wall located at the -Y direction end, and a left wall located at the -X direction end.

[0071] The vent portion V may be provided on a side surface of the pack case 200, i.e., on the side frame 220. In this case, the protective cover 300 may be positioned on the side frame 220 side and provided to cover at least a portion of the vent portion V.

[0072] A plurality of the vent portions V and a plurality of the protective covers 300 may be provided. In particular, the vent portions V may be located in at least some of the unit wall portions of the side frame 220. The vent portions V may be formed separately in two or more unit wall portions, or two or more vent portions V may be formed in one unit wall portion. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of the vent portions V may be provided in each of the front wall portion and the rear wall portion.

[0073] In this case, a corresponding protective cover 300 may be provided for each vent portion V. For example, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2 , four vent portions V may be formed in each of the front wall and the rear wall, and a separate protective cover 300 may be provided for each vent portion V, so that a total of eight protective covers 300 may be included in the battery pack. The multiple vent portions V and protective covers 300 may be provided symmetrically with respect to the center of the side frame 220.

[0074] Meanwhile, the number and positions of the vent portions V and protective covers 300 described based on the embodiment in Fig. 2 are merely examples, and it goes without saying that various other numbers and positions can be used. For example, in Fig. 2, the vent portions V and protective covers 300 are provided on the X-axis direction extension walls of the side frame 220, i.e., the front wall and the rear wall, but they may also be provided on the Y-axis direction extension walls, i.e., the left wall and the right wall. Furthermore, according to the above embodiment of the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in a battery cell 100, high-temperature gas and the like can be discharged in both directions of the pack case 200, making it easier to more quickly discharge the gas to the outside of the pack case 200.

[0075] The protective cover 300 may be configured to face the side frame 220 in which the vent portion V is formed. At this time, at least a portion of the protective cover 300 may be configured to be spaced apart from the side frame 220 by a predetermined distance. According to the configuration of the above embodiment of the present invention, the vent gas moves through the gap between the protective cover 300 and the side frame 220 and can be smoothly discharged to the outside through the exposed portion of the vent portion V that is not covered by the protective cover 300.

[0076] The protective cover 300 may be formed in a plate shape. Since the protective cover 300 is formed in a plate shape, the protective cover 300 may be configured to face the vent portion V or the side frame 220 in parallel. According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the protective cover 300 can more easily cover a portion of the vent portion V. Furthermore, according to the above embodiment of the present invention, the battery pack 1 can be easily assembled, thereby saving time and cost. Furthermore, by reducing the volume and weight of the protective cover 300, the energy density of the battery pack 1 can be improved.

[0077] Fig. 6 is a bottom perspective view of a pack lead provided with a protective cover in a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 is a view showing a protective cover included in a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0078] 1, 6, and 7, the battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a pack lead 230. The pack lead 230 may be configured to cover an upper portion of the plurality of battery cells 100. To this end, the pack lead 230 may be configured to be coupled to an upper portion of the side frame 220 to form an upper surface of the pack case 200. The pack lead 230 protects components housed therein, such as the battery cells 100, and may prevent vent gas and / or sparks discharged from the battery cells 100 from being discharged to the outside of the pack case 200, particularly to the upper portion. In particular, the pack lead 230 may guide vent gas and sparks from the internal space of the pack case 200 toward the vent portion V.

[0079] 2 and 4, the pack case 200 may further include a cross beam 240. The cross beam 240 may be configured to separate the plurality of battery cells 100 or the battery modules 10. The cross beam 240 may be provided between the plurality of battery cells 100 and the side frame 220 in which the vent portion V is provided. For example, the cross beam 240 may be formed in the shape of a partition wall extending elongated in the left-right direction and may be interposed between the battery modules 10 adjacently arranged in the front-rear direction. The cross beam 240 may also be formed in the shape of a partition wall extending elongated in the front-rear direction and may be interposed between the battery modules 10 adjacently arranged in the front-rear direction.

[0080] In addition, the cross beam 240 may be provided at a predetermined distance from the pack lead 230. That is, the cross beam 240 may be configured such that at least a portion of the upper end does not contact the lower surface of the pack lead 230 and is spaced a predetermined distance apart.

[0081] According to this embodiment, heat or flames can be prevented from being directly directed between the cell assemblies or battery modules 10 whose accommodation spaces are separated by the cross beam 240. Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the separation space between the cross beam 240 and the pack lead 230 can further encourage gases, sparks, etc. generated from the battery cells 100 to move upward from the internal space of the pack case. For example, as shown by the dotted arrow in FIG. 4 , gases, sparks, etc. can move into the separation space between the cross beam 240 and the pack lead 230 and be reflected by the pack lead 230, or flow along the lower surface of the pack lead 230 toward the vent portion V and reach the protective cover 300 that covers the upper end of the vent portion V. According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the protective cover 300 can more reliably block sparks emitted from the battery cells 100.

[0082] 6 and 7, the protective cover 300 may be coupled to the pack lead 230. In particular, the protective cover 300 may be formed in a shape that is coupled to the lower surface of the pack lead 230. In this case, the protective cover 300 may be fixed to the pack lead 230 by being bolted. Alternatively, the protective cover 300 may be manufactured integrally with the pack lead 230.

[0083] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the protective cover 300 is pre-coupled to the pack lead 230, so that when the pack lead 230 is coupled to the side frame 220, the protective cover 300 can be automatically attached to the vent portion V side of the side frame 220. Therefore, a separate process of coupling the protective cover 300 to the side frame 220 can be omitted. Therefore, time and cost can be reduced in manufacturing the battery pack 1, and productivity can be improved.

[0084] 7 and 8, a detailed structure of the protective cover 300 will be described with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from above. For example, FIG. 9 may be a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II' in FIG. 1.

[0085] The protective cover 300 may include a main cover 310 and a lead coupling portion 320 .

[0086] The main cover 310 may be installed to face the vent portion V. The main cover 310 may be configured to cover at least a portion of the vent portion V. The main cover 310 may be formed in a vertically standing plate shape and may be installed to face the side frame 220 in parallel.

[0087] The lead coupling part 320 may be configured to extend from the main cover 310. Specifically, the lead coupling part 320 may be configured to be bent and extend horizontally from the upper end of the main cover 310 so as to be in face-to-face contact with the pack lead 230. That is, the lead coupling part 320 may be configured to form a right angle with the main cover 310. In this case, the lead coupling part 320 may be formed in a plate shape and coupled to the pack lead 230. For example, the lead coupling part 320 may be bolted to the pack lead 230.

[0088] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, a simple structure can be used to connect and fix the protective cover 300 and the pack lead 230. In this case, the battery pack can be easily assembled, the amount of internal space occupied by the protective cover 300 is minimized, and the effect of blocking sparks and the like from the vent V can be more reliably achieved.

[0089] 7 to 9, the protective cover 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a side cover 330. The side cover 330 may be configured to extend from at least one side of the main cover 310. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the side cover 330 may extend from both sides of the main cover 310 in a bent manner toward the side frame 220. For example, the side cover 330 may be formed in a shape bent leftward (negative X-axis direction) from both ends of the main cover 310 in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction). The side cover 330 may be configured to block the side of the vent portion V.

[0090] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the protective cover 300 can block not only sparks directed toward the front of the vent portion V but also sparks directed toward the side, thereby more effectively blocking sparks from being discharged to the outside of the pack case 200. Furthermore, according to the above embodiment of the present invention, sparks that are not blocked by the protective cover 300 can be prevented from re-entering the inside of the pack case 200. For example, sparks that have flowed downward from the main cover 310 can be prevented from re-entering the side.

[0091] 9, the side cover 330 may be provided such that its end contacts the side frame 220. That is, the distance between the main cover 310 and the inner surface of the side frame 220 may be configured to be equal to the length of the side cover 330 extending from the main cover 310.

[0092] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to reliably prevent sparks from being emitted from the gap between the main cover 310 and the side frame 220. Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the protective cover 300 can be reliably supported on the side frame 220 by the side cover 330, thereby ensuring the rigidity of the pack case 200 when an impact occurs. Furthermore, it is possible to maintain the separation distance between the main cover 310 and the inner surface of the side frame 220. Furthermore, in this case, it is possible to keep the angle between the main cover 310 and the side frame 220 constant without deformation. Therefore, vent gas is smoothly discharged to the outside of the pack case 200 through the vent portion V, and the protective cover 300's effect of blocking sparks and the like can be reliably ensured.

[0093] 7 and 9, a step A may be formed between the vent V and the inner surface of the side frame 220. That is, at least a portion of the vent V may be recessed inward from the inner surface of the side frame 220.

[0094] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, a space through which vent gas flows can be formed by ensuring a separation distance between main cover 310 and side frame 220 and / or vent portion V at the upper end of vent portion V. Furthermore, in this case, vent gas can also be discharged from the portion of vent portion V that is covered by protective cover 300. Therefore, even if vent gas is trapped in the space between protective cover 300 and vent portion V, the vent gas can be smoothly discharged from vent portion V through the separated space.

[0095] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from above, taken along line II-II' in FIG.

[0096] 10, the protective cover 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention may further include a support portion 340. The support portion 340 may be formed by bending an end portion of the side cover 330. The support portion 340 may be provided to be supported by the side frame 220. That is, a plurality of support portions 340 may be provided by bending each of the side covers 330 provided on both sides of the main cover 310.

[0097] For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 10, a support portion 340 may be provided at the front end of the front side frame 220 and at the rear end of the rear side frame 220, respectively.

[0098] In particular, the support portion 340 may be in surface contact with the inner surface of the side frame 220. Therefore, the support portion 340 may have an outer surface parallel to the inner surface of the side frame 220. For example, the support portion 340 may have a plate shape that stands vertically parallel to the XZ plane, and may be in contact with the inner surface of the left or right side frame 220.

[0099] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the protective cover 300 can be more reliably supported by the side frame 220. Therefore, deformation such as warping due to external vibrations or impacts or internal sparks or gas pressure does not occur, and the shape, position, etc. of the protective cover 300 can be stably maintained.

[0100] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0101] Referring to FIG. 11, the protective cover 300 may further include a lower bent portion 350 .

[0102] The lower bent portion 350 may be configured to be bent at a predetermined angle inward from the lower end of the main cover 310. Furthermore, the lower bent portion 350 may be configured to be bent inward (in the -Y-axis direction of FIG. 12) so as to approach the base frame 210. Here, it can be said that the lower bent portion 350 is formed in an oblique shape. In other words, it can be said that the lower bent portion 350 is configured to form an obtuse angle with the main cover 310.

[0103] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, sparks that strike the main cover 310 and are reflected downward can be guided toward the inside of the pack case 200. This more reliably prevents the sparks from heading back toward the vent V, and more effectively prevents the sparks from escaping from the pack case 200 to the outside.

[0104] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0105] As shown in FIG. 12, the protective cover 300 may further include a protrusion P.

[0106] The protrusion P may be configured to protrude from at least a portion of the main cover 310. The protrusion P may be configured to protrude from the inner surface of the main cover 310 in a direction away from the side frame 220, i.e., toward the inside of the pack case 200. For example, with reference to the embodiment in Fig. 12, the protrusion P may have a shape that protrudes inward (in the -Y axis direction) from the inner surface of the main cover.

[0107] Furthermore, the protrusion P may be provided obliquely from the inner surface of the main cover 310 toward the pack lead 230. That is, the protrusion P may be provided to form an acute angle with the main cover 310. For example, at least a portion of the protrusion P may be configured to protrude inward from the inner surface of the main cover 310 and point upward as it progresses toward the inner end. The length by which the protrusion P protrudes from the main cover 310 may be varied in various ways.

[0108] Furthermore, a plurality of the protrusions P may be provided. The plurality of protrusions P may be arranged so as to be spaced apart from one another along the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). Alternatively, the plurality of protrusions P may be arranged so as to be spaced apart from one another along the horizontal direction (X-axis direction).

[0109] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, sparks, flames, and the like emitted from the battery cells 100 can be reflected by the protrusions P, which further suppresses the flow of sparks, flames, and the like that tend to travel in a straight line. Furthermore, in this case, particles such as sparks may be collected in grooves formed between the protrusions P. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent sparks, flames, and the like from being emitted to the outside of the pack case 200.

[0110] 13 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from above. For example, FIG. 13 may be a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II' in FIG.

[0111] Referring to FIG. 13, the protective cover 300 may further include an inner bent portion 360 .

[0112] The inner bent portion 360 may be provided to extend from at least one side of the main cover 310. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the inner bent portion 360 may extend from both sides of the main cover 310 in a direction away from the side frame 220, i.e., be bent toward the inside of the pack case 200. The inner bent portion 360 may be configured to prevent sparks from moving toward the side of the vent portion V. Furthermore, the inner bent portion 360 may be configured to direct sparks, etc., moving toward the outside of the pack case 200 toward the vent portion V toward the inside of the pack case 200. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 13 , the inner bent portion 360 may bend or redirect the flow direction so that sparks moving toward the vent portion V in the +Y-axis direction move in the opposite direction, the −Y-axis direction.

[0113] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the protective cover 300 can more effectively prevent sparks, flames, and the like from being discharged to the outside of the pack case 200 by diverting the flow direction of sparks from the inside of the pack case 200 toward the vent portion V inward. Furthermore, according to the above embodiment of the present invention, the side portion of the protective cover 300 is spaced from the side frame 220, so that vent gas can be discharged through this space. Therefore, vent gas can be smoothly discharged through the vent portion V while blocking sparks, flames, and the like.

[0114] FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle including a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0115] 14, an automobile 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include one or more battery packs 1 according to the above-described embodiments. The automobile 3 according to the present invention may be, for example, an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The automobile 3 includes four-wheeled vehicles and two-wheeled vehicles. The automobile 3 may be operated by receiving power from the battery pack 1 or battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0116] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the claims, and such modifications should not be understood individually from the technical ideas and prospects of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0117] 1 battery pack 3. Automobiles 10 Battery Module 11 Module case 100 battery cells 200 pack case 210 base frame 220 Side Frame 230 pack lead 240 Cross Beam 300 Protective Cover 310 Main cover 320 Lead joint 330 side cover 340 Support part 350 Lower end bent part 360 Inner bend A Step H vent hole P protrusion V vent

Claims

1. a plurality of battery cells; a pack case configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells and having a vent portion configured to exhaust gas generated from the battery cells to the outside; a protective cover configured to cover at least a portion of the vent portion; Including the battery pack.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the protective cover is provided between the plurality of battery cells and the vent portion.

3. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the protective cover is configured to cover an upper end of the vent portion and to block sparks discharged from the battery cell.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3 , further comprising a module case that houses the plurality of battery cells in an internal space and has a vent hole formed on an upper side thereof that communicates with the internal space.

5. The pack case is a base frame on which the plurality of battery cells are mounted; a side frame extending upward from the base frame and provided with the vent portion; Including, The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the protective cover is configured to face the side frame in which the vent portion is formed.

6. The pack case is a pack lead coupled to an upper portion of the side frame and configured to cover an upper portion of the plurality of battery cells; The battery pack according to claim 5 , wherein the protective cover is coupled to the pack leads.

7. The protective cover is a main cover provided to face the vent portion; a lead coupling portion that extends from the main cover toward the pack lead and is coupled to the pack lead; 7. The battery pack of claim 6, comprising:

8. The protective cover is The battery pack according to claim 7 , further comprising side covers configured to be folded from both sides of the main cover toward the side frames.

9. The battery pack according to claim 8 , wherein the side cover is provided so that an end thereof contacts the side frame.

10. The protective cover is The battery pack according to claim 9 , further comprising a support portion bent so that an end of the side cover is supported by the side frame.

11. The protective cover is The battery pack according to claim 8 , further comprising a lower bent portion configured to be bent from a lower end of the main cover toward the base frame.

12. The protective cover is The battery pack according to claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the main cover further includes a protrusion provided to protrude in a direction away from the side frame.

13. The protective cover is The battery pack according to claim 7 , further comprising inner bending portions configured to be bent from both sides of the main cover in a direction away from the side frames.

14. A motor vehicle comprising a battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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