Battery module, and battery pack and vehicle including the same

Abstract

The present disclosure is designed to solve the problems of the related art, and therefore the present disclosure is directed to providing a battery module, and a battery pack and a vehicle including the battery module, which may more conveniently separate a desired battery cell when at least some battery cells among battery cells stacked and fixed to each other need to be replaced.SOLUTION: A battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of battery cells stacked on each other, and a plurality of adhesive members disposed between the plurality of battery cells and configured to be removable by a user's operation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0143743, filed on November 11, 2019, and the entire contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of that application are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0003] Secondary batteries, which have high applicability to various products and 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), which are powered by electrical sources. These secondary batteries are attracting attention as a new energy source because they not only have the primary advantage of dramatically reducing the use of fossil fuels, but also because they are environmentally friendly and improve energy efficiency by producing no by-products associated with energy use.

[0004] 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 2.5V to 4.5V. Therefore, if a higher output voltage is required, a battery pack is constructed by connecting multiple battery cells in series. Alternatively, a battery pack can 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 can be variously set depending on the required output voltage or charge / discharge capacity.

[0005] In addition, when a battery pack is constructed by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series and parallel, a common method is to first construct a battery module including at least one battery cell, and then use this at least one battery module to add other components to construct a battery pack.

[0006] In the case of a conventional battery module, a plurality of battery cells are stacked on one another so as to be electrically connected, and adhesive or the like is applied to opposing surfaces of the battery cells to secure them together more stably.

[0007] However, in the case of a conventional battery module, when some of the battery cells need to be replaced due to defects or discharge of some of the battery cells, there is a problem in that it is difficult to separate the battery cells that are fixed to each other.

[0008] In the case of a conventional battery module, in order to separate the battery cells, adhesives applied to the opposing surfaces of the battery cells must be removed, but this removal process generally requires the use of removers containing hazardous substances and takes a long time.

[0009] Furthermore, in the case of a conventional battery module, there is a risk that the battery cells may be damaged during such removal work, and there is also a problem that residue may be left between the battery cells during removal.

[0010] Therefore, when it becomes necessary to replace at least some of the battery cells that are stacked and fixed together, there is a demand for a battery module that allows the desired battery cells to be separated more easily, as well as a battery pack and a vehicle that include the same. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a battery module that allows desired battery cells to be separated more easily when it is necessary to replace at least some of the battery cells that are stacked and fixed to one another, and a battery pack and automobile including the same.

[0012] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a battery module comprising: a plurality of battery cells stacked on one another; and a plurality of adhesive members disposed between the plurality of battery cells and removable by a user operation.

[0014] The plurality of adhesive members may be provided at both longitudinal ends of the plurality of battery cells.

[0015] The plurality of battery cells include a battery case including an electrode assembly, a case body that houses the electrode assembly, and a case terrace portion that extends from the case body along the longitudinal direction of the battery cells, and a pair of electrode leads that protrude from the case terrace portion of the battery case and are electrically connected to the electrode assembly, and portions of the plurality of adhesive members may be arranged at both ends of the case body in the longitudinal direction of the plurality of battery cells.

[0016] The remaining portions of the plurality of adhesive members may be disposed in spaces between case terraces of the plurality of battery cells.

[0017] The adhesive members can be removed by a user to the outside of the case body in the longitudinal direction of the battery cells.

[0018] The adhesive members can be slid along the longitudinal direction of the battery cells by a user's operation and removed to the outside of the case body.

[0019] The plurality of adhesive members may include adhesive portions arranged at both ends of the case body in the longitudinal direction of the plurality of battery cells, and operating portions extending from the adhesive portions and arranged between the case terrace portions.

[0020] The adhesive may be provided as double-sided tape.

[0021] The present invention also provides a battery pack, comprising at least one battery module according to the above-described embodiments, and a pack case packaging the at least one battery module.

[0022] The present invention also provides a vehicle, characterized in that it includes at least one battery pack according to the above-described embodiments. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] According to the various embodiments described above, when it is necessary to replace at least some of the battery cells stacked and fixed to one another, it is possible to provide a battery module that can more easily separate desired battery cells, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle.

[0024] In addition, through the various embodiments described above, it is possible to provide a battery module, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle, which can easily change the position of battery cells that are stacked and fixed to each other or realign the entire battery cells.

[0025] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to further understand the technical concept of the present invention, so the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to the matters described in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the main part of the battery module of FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is a diagram illustrating an adhesive member of the battery module of FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating adhesive members according to another embodiment of the battery module of FIG. 2. [Figure 5] 2 is a diagram for explaining how the adhesive member of the battery module of FIG. 1 is removed. FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is a diagram for explaining how the adhesive member of the battery module of FIG. 1 is removed. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 8] 1 is a diagram illustrating a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described herein are illustrative in order to facilitate understanding of the invention, and it should be understood that the present invention can be practiced in various forms different from the embodiments described herein. In addition, in order to facilitate understanding of the invention, the accompanying drawings may be drawn not to scale but with some components exaggerated.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the main part of the battery module of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an adhesive member of the battery module of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an adhesive member according to another embodiment of the battery module of FIG. 2.

[0029] 1 to 4, a battery module 10 may include a battery cell 100 and an adhesive member 300.

[0030] The battery cell 100 is a secondary battery and may be provided as a pouch-type secondary battery, a prismatic secondary battery, or a cylindrical secondary battery. Hereinafter, in this embodiment, the battery cell 100 will be described as being provided as a pouch-type secondary battery.

[0031] A plurality of battery cells 100 may be provided.

[0032] A plurality of battery cells 100 may be stacked so as to be electrically connectable to each other. Here, the plurality of battery cells 100 may be more stably stacked by being adhered to each other by adhesive members 300, which will be described later, for more stable fixation between the battery cells 100. The plurality of battery cells 100 may be housed in a structure such as a module case (not shown) that constitutes the battery module 10.

[0033] Each of the plurality of battery cells 100 may include an electrode assembly 110 , a battery case 130 , and an electrode lead 150 .

[0034] The electrode assembly 110 may be composed of a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, a separator, etc. The electrode assembly 110 is well known, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0035] The battery case 130 accommodates the electrode assembly 110 and can accommodate a pair of electrode leads 150 (described later) so that they at least partially protrude outside the battery case 130 .

[0036] Such a battery case 130 may include a case body 132 and a case terrace 136 .

[0037] The case body 132 may accommodate the electrode assembly 110. To this end, the case body 132 may be provided with an accommodating space capable of accommodating the electrode assembly 110.

[0038] The case terraces 136 may extend from both side ends of the case body 132 and extend from the case body 132 along the longitudinal direction of the battery cell 100.

[0039] Such case terrace portions 136 may have a height that is lower than that of the case main body 132 in the stacking direction of the battery cells 100. This allows a predetermined space to be provided between the case terrace portions 136 in the stacking direction when the battery cells 100 are stacked.

[0040] The electrode leads 150 may be provided in pairs.

[0041] A pair of electrode leads 150 are electrically connected to the electrode assembly 110 and can protrude from the case terrace portion 136 of the battery case 130 .

[0042] The adhesive member 300 is disposed between the plurality of battery cells 100 and adheres to the plurality of battery cells 100 when the plurality of battery cells 100 are stacked, thereby enabling the plurality of battery cells 100 to be fixed more stably.

[0043] A plurality of such adhesive members 300 may be provided.

[0044] The plurality of adhesive members 300 may improve insulation between the plurality of battery cells 100 and temperature deviation between the plurality of battery cells 100 .

[0045] The adhesive members 300 may be disposed between the battery cells 100, respectively, and may be provided so as to be removable from the battery cells 100 by a user's operation.

[0046] The plurality of adhesive members 300 may be provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the plurality of battery cells 100. Specifically, some 310 of the plurality of adhesive members 300 may be arranged at both ends of the case body 132 in the longitudinal direction of the plurality of battery cells 100, and the remaining portions 330 of the plurality of adhesive members 300 may be arranged in spaces between the case terrace portions 136 of the plurality of battery cells 100.

[0047] The plurality of adhesive members 300 may be provided so as to be detachable to the outside of the case body 132 in the longitudinal direction of the plurality of battery cells 100 by a user's operation. Specifically, the plurality of adhesive members 300 may be slid along the longitudinal direction of the plurality of battery cells 100 by a user's operation and removed to the outside of the case body 132.

[0048] Hereinafter, the adhesive members 300 according to this embodiment will be described in more detail.

[0049] Each of the plurality of adhesive members 300 may include an adhesive portion 310 and an operating portion 330 .

[0050] The adhesive parts 310 may be disposed at both ends of the case body 132 of the battery case 130 in the longitudinal direction of the plurality of battery cells 100. In addition, the adhesive parts 310 may be disposed at both ends of the case body 132 along the width direction of the plurality of battery cells 100, spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.

[0051] The adhesive portion 310 may be provided as a double-sided tape. When stacking a plurality of battery cells 100, the adhesive portion 310 may be attached to the case body 132 of the battery case 130 of the battery cell 100 that faces in the stacking direction. In this embodiment, since the adhesive portion 310 is provided as a double-sided tape, phenomena such as non-transfer and solidification do not occur.

[0052] The adhesive portion 310 may be provided in a generally triangular shape that is inclined toward the center of the case body 132 of the battery case 130 of the battery cell 100. This makes it easier to remove the adhesive member 300 from the case body 132 when removing the adhesive member 300.

[0053] The operating portion 330 extends from the adhesive portion 310 and can be disposed in the space between the case terrace portions 136 of the battery cases 130 of the plurality of battery cells 100 in the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells 100. This makes it easier for the user to operate the adhesive member 300 when removing the adhesive member 300.

[0054] 4, the adhesive members 350 may be provided one at each end of the battery case 130 of the battery cell 100. The adhesive members 350 may include adhesive portions 351 that are attached to both ends of the case body 132 of the battery case 130 and that are detached from the case body 132 by a user's operation, and an operating portion 353 that extends from the adhesive portions 351 and is operable by a user.

[0055] 5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining how the adhesive member of the battery module of FIG. 1 is removed.

[0056] 5 and 6, in the case of the battery module 10, during manufacturing or use, at least one of the battery cells 100 may become defective or discharged, etc. As a result, it may be necessary to replace the defective or discharged battery cell 100.

[0057] In this embodiment, a user such as a worker can more easily release the fixed state between the battery cell 100 to be replaced and the remaining battery cells 100 by operating the adhesive member 300 of the battery cell 100 that needs to be replaced among the battery cells 100 of the battery module 10.

[0058] Specifically, the user can more easily remove the adhesive member 300 from the battery cell 100 that needs to be replaced by pulling and removing the operating portion 330 of the adhesive member 300 attached to the battery cell 100 that needs to be replaced.

[0059] That is, in this embodiment, the user or the like can more easily remove the adhesive member 300 from the battery cell 100 by simply operating the operating portion 330 on the adhesive member 300 .

[0060] As a result, in this embodiment, when replacing some of the battery cells 100 among the battery cells being manufactured or in use, the work of separating the battery cells 100 for replacement is significantly simplified and the work time can be significantly reduced.

[0061] Furthermore, since the adhesive portion 310 of the adhesive member 300 contacts only the edges at both ends of the case body 132 of the battery case 130 of the battery cell 100, the risk of residue being generated between the battery cells 100 when removed is significantly reduced.

[0062] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when removing the adhesive member 300, there is no need to use a separate remover to remove the adhesive applied to the battery cell 100, and the risk of damage to the battery cell 100 can be minimized.

[0063] As a result, the battery module 10 according to this embodiment can improve both the efficiency of the assembly process in manufacturing the battery module 10 and the efficiency of the maintenance of the battery module 10 due to the adhesive member 300.

[0064] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0065] 7 and 8, the battery pack 1 may include at least one battery module 10 according to the above-described embodiments and a pack case 50 that packages the at least one battery module 10.

[0066] Such a battery pack 1 may be provided in a vehicle V as a fuel source for the vehicle V. For example, the battery pack 1 may be provided in an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or any other type of vehicle V that can use the battery pack 1 as a fuel source.

[0067] Furthermore, it goes without saying that the battery pack 1 can also be installed in other devices, appliances, and equipment such as an energy storage system that uses a secondary battery, in addition to the automobile V.

[0068] As such, the battery pack 1 according to this embodiment and devices, instruments, and equipment including the battery pack 1, such as an automobile V, include the battery module 10 described above, and therefore it is possible to embody devices, instruments, and equipment, such as the battery pack 1 and an automobile V including the same, which have all the advantages of the battery module 10 described above.

[0069] According to the various embodiments described above, when it is necessary to replace at least some of the battery cells 100 stacked and fixed to each other, it is possible to provide a battery module 10 that can more easily separate the desired battery cells 100, a battery pack 1 including the same, and an automobile V.

[0070] Furthermore, through the various embodiments described above, it is possible to provide a battery module 10, a battery pack 1 including the same, and a vehicle V, which can easily change the position of the battery cells 100 that are stacked and fixed to each other, or easily rearrange the entire battery cells 100.

[0071] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the specific preferred embodiments described above, and that various modifications can be made by those skilled 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 perspectives of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 1 battery pack 10 Battery Module 50 pack case 100 battery cells 110 Electrode assembly 130 Battery Case 132 Case body 136 Case Terrace Section 150 electrode leads 300 adhesive material 310 Adhesive part 330 Operation section 350 Adhesive Materials 353 Operation section

Claims

1. A battery module, a plurality of battery cells stacked on top of one another; a plurality of adhesive members disposed between the plurality of battery cells, the adhesive members being removable by a user's operation.

2. The plurality of adhesive members include: The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of battery cells are provided at both longitudinal ends thereof.

3. The plurality of battery cells an electrode assembly; a battery case including a case body that houses the electrode assembly and a case terrace portion that extends from the case body along a longitudinal direction of the battery cell; a pair of electrode leads protruding from a case terrace portion of the battery case and electrically connected to the electrode assembly, A portion of the plurality of adhesive members The battery module according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of battery cells are disposed at both ends of the case body in the longitudinal direction.

4. The remaining portion of the plurality of adhesive members The battery module according to claim 3 , wherein the battery cell is disposed in a space between the case terrace portions of the plurality of battery cells.

5. The plurality of adhesive members include: The battery module according to claim 3, wherein the battery cells can be removed from the case body in the longitudinal direction by the user's operation.

6. The plurality of adhesive members include: The battery module according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of battery cells are slid along a longitudinal direction of the battery cells by the user's operation to be removed to the outside of the case body.

7. The plurality of adhesive members include: adhesive portions disposed at both ends of the case body in the longitudinal direction of the plurality of battery cells; 7. The battery module according to claim 3, further comprising: an operating portion extending from the adhesive portion and disposed between the case terrace portions.

8. The battery module according to claim 7 , wherein the adhesive portion is provided as a double-sided tape.

9. At least one battery module according to claim 1; a pack case that packages at least one of the battery modules.

10. A motor vehicle comprising at least one battery pack according to claim 9.

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