Battery module, battery pack including same, and automobile

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery module including: a plurality of battery cells each having an electrode lead disposed therein; a bus bar frame located on a side of the plurality of battery cells where the electrode leads are disposed, the bus bar frame having lead slots formed therein through which the electrode leads of the plurality of battery cells are inserted; and a frame cover located outside the bus bar frame and configured to cover at least a portion of the lead slots.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery module, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle, and more particularly to a battery module capable of effectively delaying thermal runaway.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0087075, filed on July 5, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety in the specification and drawings thereof. [Background technology]

[0003] Secondary batteries, which have high applicability across a range of 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) that are powered by electrical sources. These secondary batteries not only have the temporary advantage of dramatically reducing the use of fossil fuels, but also have the advantage of producing no by-products associated with energy use, and are therefore attracting attention as a new energy source that is environmentally friendly and improves energy efficiency.

[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. When a high output voltage is required, a battery module or a battery pack may be configured by connecting multiple battery cells in series. To increase the charge / discharge capacity, a battery module or a battery pack may be configured by connecting multiple battery cells in parallel. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in the battery module or battery pack may be varied depending on the required output voltage and / or charge / discharge capacity.

[0005] However, because battery cells undergo chemical reactions during charging and discharging, their performance may deteriorate if they are used in environments that are higher than their optimum temperature. Failure to control the heat at an appropriate temperature could result in unexpected fires or explosions. Furthermore, battery modules house these battery cells in a concentrated manner inside a module case. Therefore, if a thermal event occurs in one battery cell, the emitted high-temperature gases and flames could spread to adjacent battery cells, potentially causing a chain reaction of battery cell explosions, creating a significant risk.

[0006] In particular, when a battery module includes multiple battery cells, high-temperature gases, flames, sparks, etc., generated when a thermal runaway occurs in a specific battery cell are likely to be ejected toward the front, rear, and / or top of the battery cell where the electrode leads of the battery module are located, which may cause thermal damage to components located on both ends of the battery module, such as end plates and adjacent components of the bus bar frame, and may lead to structural collapse.

[0007] Furthermore, there is a risk that heat may be transmitted to adjacent battery modules due to flames or other fires emitted to the outside through the end plates. In particular, if a flame or other fire emitted from a specific battery module spreads to the end plates of other battery modules, the possibility of heat transmission between battery modules and a chain reaction of fires may increase. This may lead to a thermal runaway condition spreading throughout the entire battery pack containing multiple battery modules.

[0008] Therefore, efforts must be made to develop mechanisms that can delay thermal runaway by preventing or appropriately controlling the emission of high-temperature gases and flames from the battery cells when a thermal event occurs in any one of the battery cells. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a battery module with improved safety and reliability by appropriately controlling high-temperature gases and flames generated in a battery cell when an abnormality occurs in the battery cell, thereby effectively preventing heat propagation between battery cells or battery modules.

[0010] However, the technical problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention given below. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a battery module including: a plurality of battery cells each having an electrode lead disposed therein; a bus bar frame located on a side of the plurality of battery cells where the electrode leads are disposed, the bus bar frame having lead slots formed therein and configured to receive the electrode leads of the plurality of battery cells; and a frame cover located outside the bus bar frame and configured to cover at least a portion of the lead slots.

[0012] The frame cover may be configured to include an elastic material and may be in intimate contact with the bus bar frame.

[0013] The battery module according to the present invention may further include a crimping cover that crimps and fixes the frame cover to the bus bar frame.

[0014] The battery module according to the present invention may further include a first bus bar disposed between the crimp cover and the bus bar frame and electrically connected to the electrode lead.

[0015] The frame cover includes a lead exposure hole formed by perforating at least one surface, and the first bus bar is arranged to be inserted into the lead exposure hole and can be electrically connected to the electrode lead through the lead exposure hole.

[0016] The first bus bar may be configured to shield the lead exposure hole.

[0017] The first bus bar may be configured to pass through the lead exposure hole and press against the electrode lead.

[0018] At least a portion of the electrode lead may pass through the lead slot and be crimped between the bus bar frame and the first bus bar.

[0019] The lead exposure hole may be configured so that the lead slot is not exposed to the outside.

[0020] The crimp cover may be bolted to the busbar frame.

[0021] The bus bar frame may include a second bus bar disposed inside the electrode lead, and the crimp cover may be coupled to the first bus bar and the second bus bar.

[0022] The plurality of battery cells may be stacked in one direction, and the battery module according to the present invention may further include a plurality of blocking members disposed between at least one of the battery cells along the one direction.

[0023] The bus bar frame may have through holes formed therein so that at least some of the blocking members pass therethrough.

[0024] The blocking member may include a protrusion inserted into the through hole and protruding from the bus bar frame toward the frame cover, and the protrusion may be arranged to divide an outer space of the bus bar frame into multiple sections.

[0025] The bus bar frame may include a plurality of partition surfaces separated by the through holes, and the frame cover may include a plurality of cover plates individually provided to correspond to the plurality of partition surfaces.

[0026] The present invention also provides a battery pack including the battery module according to the present invention.

[0027] The present invention also provides a vehicle comprising a battery module according to the present invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0028] According to one aspect of the present invention, when an abnormality occurs in a battery cell, high-temperature gas or flame generated in the battery cell can be prevented from being discharged into the lead slot, thereby preventing adjacent battery cells from being thermally damaged. In particular, according to this aspect of the present invention, it is possible to effectively prevent or delay the propagation of thermal runaway between battery cells.

[0029] Therefore, in this case, the safety and reliability of the battery module including a plurality of battery cells can be guaranteed.

[0030] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent other battery modules from being thermally damaged by high-temperature gases, flames, etc. generated in a specific battery module. In particular, according to this aspect of the present invention, it is possible to effectively prevent or delay the propagation of thermal runaway between battery modules.

[0031] Therefore, in this case, it is possible to prevent or delay events such as fires and explosions caused by thermal runaway in a battery pack including a plurality of battery modules or in a device to which the battery pack is attached.

[0032] In particular, in the case of electric vehicles, by suppressing or delaying the propagation of thermal runaway between battery cells or battery modules, it is possible to ensure that there is sufficient time for passengers to escape and for the electric vehicle to be able to operate.

[0033] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, a process of welding electrode leads to each other can be omitted when manufacturing a battery module, thereby reducing costs and time and improving productivity.

[0034] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, the size or shape of the battery module can be freely changed during manufacturing, which improves assembly efficiency and makes the process easier.

[0035] In addition to these, the present invention can have various other effects, which will be explained in the sections for each embodiment, and explanations of effects that can be easily inferred by those skilled in the art will be omitted.

[0036] 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]

[0037] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view of main components of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a bus bar frame according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 4 shows a detailed configuration of a bus bar frame according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 10 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a front view of a bus bar frame according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack including a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 10] 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

[0038] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment 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 inventor can appropriately define the concepts of terms himself in order to best describe the invention.

[0039] Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely 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.

[0040] The present invention includes a wide variety of embodiments, and the following description will focus on the differences and omit redundant explanations of configurations that are substantially the same or similar to each other.

[0041] Meanwhile, although directional terms such as up, down, left, right, front, and rear are used in this specification, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art of the present invention that these terms are used merely for ease of explanation and may differ depending on the position of the object in question, the position of the observer, etc.

[0042] For example, in an embodiment of the present invention, the illustrated X-axis direction may refer to the left-right direction, the Y-axis direction may refer to the front-back direction that is 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) that is perpendicular to both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

[0043] Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of main components of the battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a bus bar frame according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4 shows a detailed configuration of the bus bar frame according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] 1 to 5, a battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a battery cell 110, a bus bar frame 300, and a frame cover 400.

[0045] Referring mainly to FIGS. 3 to 5, the battery cell 110 may be included in plural.

[0046] The plurality of battery cells 110 may each be provided with an electrode lead 112. Specifically, the plurality of battery cells 110 may include an electrode assembly, a cell case 111 that houses the electrode assembly, and an electrode lead 112 that is connected to the electrode assembly and drawn out to the outside of the cell case 111 to function as an electrode terminal.

[0047] The electrode leads 112 may be provided in pairs, and the pair of electrode leads 112 may be drawn out from both ends of the battery cell 110, i.e., in the longitudinal direction (±Y direction). In this case, the pair of electrode leads 112 may be a positive electrode lead and a negative electrode lead. If necessary, the battery cell 110 may have a shape in which the two electrode leads 112 are located only at one end in the Y-axis direction, for example, at the end in the +Y-axis direction.

[0048] The battery cell 110 may be a pouch-type secondary battery, in which a cell case 111 is configured in the shape of a pouch with a metal layer of aluminum material sandwiched between polymer layers.

[0049] 2, the pouch-type battery cells 110 may be arranged so that they are arranged side by side in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) while standing upright in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). In this case, the sealed portion of each battery cell 110 may face the front-rear direction (Y-axis direction) and the up-down direction (Z-axis direction), and the storage portion may face the left-right direction (X-axis direction).

[0050] Meanwhile, the present invention is not limited in any way by the specific type or shape of the battery cell 110, and a wide variety of battery cells 110 known at the time of filing of the present invention can be used to configure the cell assembly of the present invention. In this embodiment, as shown in the drawing, a pouch-type secondary battery that has high energy density and is easy to stack is targeted, but it goes without saying that cylindrical or prismatic secondary batteries can also be used as the battery cell 110.

[0051] 2, the bus bar frame 300 may be provided in a plate shape to cover both ends of the battery cell 110, or the front (-Y direction) or rear (+Y direction) of the battery cell 110. Such a bus bar frame 300 may be made of an electrically insulating material such as plastic and may be injection molded.

[0052] In this case, the bus bar frame 300 may include lead slots 310. The lead slots 310 may be arranged to allow at least a portion of the electrode leads 112 of the plurality of battery cells 110 to be inserted therethrough. The lead slots 310 may be arranged to allow the plurality of electrode leads 112 to be inserted therethrough in the +Y-axis or −Y-axis direction (front-rear direction). To this end, the lead slots 310 may be located on the side where the electrode leads 112 of the plurality of battery cells 110 are arranged, and a plurality of lead slots 310 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the stacking direction (X direction) of the battery cells 110. In this case, the plurality of electrode leads 112 inserted through the lead slots 310 may be arranged to be bent and stacked on each other. This stacked structure allows the plurality of battery cells 110 whose electrode leads 112 are in contact with each other to be electrically connected to each other. The stacked electrode leads 112 may be arranged between the bus bar frame 300 and a frame cover 400 (described later) and be crimped to each other.

[0053] The battery module 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a frame cover 400. The frame cover 400 may be configured to cover at least a portion of the lead slot 310, as shown transparently in FIG. 3 . Furthermore, the frame cover 400 may be arranged to shield the entire outer surface, or so-called front portion, of the lead slot 310. Alternatively, the frame cover 400 may be arranged to shield only a portion of the surface of the lead slot 310.

[0054] In this case, the frame cover 400 may be located outside the bus bar frame 300. For example, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the frame cover 400 may be located on the front side of the bus bar frame 300 located in the front. Alternatively, the frame cover 400 may be located on the rear side of the bus bar frame 300 located in the rear.

[0055] Furthermore, the frame cover 400 may be coupled to face the bus bar frame 300. In short, the frame cover 400 may be provided to cover the front and rear surfaces of the battery cells 110 where the electrode leads 112 are located.

[0056] The frame cover 400 may be made of a material that has low thermal conductivity and excellent heat resistance. For example, the frame cover 400 may be made of a pad of silicone or aerogel material. Alternatively, the frame cover 400 may be made of a flame-retardant mica material.

[0057] According to this embodiment, when a thermal event occurs in one of the battery cells 110 and high-temperature gas or flame is generated, the gas or flame can be prevented from flowing in or out through the lead slot 310. This prevents adjacent battery cells 110 from being thermally damaged, suppresses heat transfer between the battery cells, and delays thermal runaway of the battery module. Therefore, according to this aspect of the present invention, the safety and reliability of the battery module 10 can be ensured.

[0058] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, gases, flames, etc. emitted from the battery cells 110 are prevented from passing through the lead slots 310 and being discharged to the outside, thereby preventing or delaying thermal runaway between the battery modules 10.

[0059] 1 and 2, the module case 200 may be configured to have an internal space formed therein and to accommodate battery cells 110 in the internal space. The module case 200 of the present embodiment may include a case body 210 and end plates 220 disposed on the front and rear surfaces of the case body 210.

[0060] The case body 210 may be configured as a rectangular tube having an open end O at both longitudinal ends and a hollow structure. For example, the case body 210 may be configured as a tube having an upper surface, a lower surface, a left side surface, and a right side surface, with openings formed at the front and rear ends.

[0061] Alternatively, the modular case 200 may be formed in a variety of other shapes. For example, the case body 210 may be configured with a left side panel, a right side panel, and a bottom panel integrated together. In this case, the integrated case portion may be called a U-frame. The U-frame may be configured in a tubular shape with a top plate welded to the top surface. Alternatively, the modular case 200 may include a box-shaped lower case with a left side panel, a right side panel, a front panel, and a back panel integrated together, and an upper cover that closes the open end of the upper part of the lower case.

[0062] The case body 210 may be configured to allow the battery cell 110 to be inserted into the case body 210 in one direction. For example, the battery cell 110 may be inserted into the case body 210 in the width direction (Y-axis direction). That is, the case body 210 may be configured to allow the battery cell 110 to be inserted into the case body 210 by sliding or interference fit. Due to the interference fit, there may be little gaps between the upper and lower surfaces of the case body 210 and the upper and lower ends of the battery cell 110, and there may also be little gaps between both side surfaces of the case body 210 and both sides of the battery cell 110.

[0063] Such a case body 210 can be made from a metal material that is rigid and heat-resistant in order to physically and chemically protect the housed battery cells 110 .

[0064] Meanwhile, although not shown, vent holes may be formed in the case body 210 to allow directional ventilation in one direction. For example, a number of vent holes may be formed in the lower surface of the case body, and directional ventilation of the battery module 10 downward may be performed through the vent holes.

[0065] The end plate 220 may be provided to be coupled to the open end O of the case body 210 so that the electrode leads 112 of the battery cells 110 and the portions connected to fix the electrode leads 112 to the second bus bars 320 on the bus bar frame 300 are not exposed to the outside. Meanwhile, although not shown for ease of explanation, the end plate 220 may be made of, for example, an insulating material on the inside and a metal material on the outside. In addition, the end plate 220 may be partially provided with holes or slits to expose components that require exposure to the outside, such as the positive and negative terminals or connectors of the battery module 10.

[0066] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of portion A in FIG.

[0067] 5 to 7, a small gap may be generated between the bus bar frame 300 and the frame cover 400 due to the stacked electrode leads 112. A battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a crimp cover 500.

[0068] The crimp cover 500 may be configured to crimp the frame cover 400 to the bus bar frame 300. Furthermore, the crimp cover 500 may be configured to be disposed on the outside of the frame cover 400 and to cover and press the outer surface of the frame cover 400. For example, the crimp cover 500 may be disposed on the front side, i.e., the outside of the frame cover 400, and to press the front surface of the frame cover 400.

[0069] The crimp cover 500 may be configured to secure the crimped state between the frame cover 400 and the bus bar frame 300. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the crimp cover 500 may be fixed to the bus bar frame 300 by fastening members 700. The crimp cover 500 may be made of a flame-retardant material while ensuring structural rigidity. For example, the crimp cover 500 may be made of a rigid material with a high melting point, such as stainless steel (SUS), that has been subjected to an insulating treatment, or may be made of a steel material with fire resistance and insulating properties.

[0070] According to this embodiment, the crimp cover 500 closes the gap between the bus bar frame 300 and the frame cover 400, allowing the frame cover 400 to come into close contact with the bus bar frame 300. This more effectively blocks the escape of flames and the like through the lead slots 310. For example, referring to FIG. 6 , when a thermal event occurs in a specific battery cell 110, there is a risk that a flame or the like may erupt forward (in the −Y-axis direction). During this process, the frame cover 400, which is crimped and fixed to the bus bar frame 300 by the crimp cover 500, can firmly seal the lead slots 310 of the bus bar frame 300. This prevents a flame or the like from traveling forward or backward through the bus bar frame 300, thereby more effectively blocking the propagation of heat between battery cells or between battery modules due to the escape of flames.

[0071] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the frame cover 400 presses the electrode leads 112 through the crimping cover 500, so that the folded and stacked electrode leads 112 can be crimped together. Therefore, in this case, even if the electrode leads 112 are not separately welded together, they can be fixed to each other.

[0072] As described above, the crimp cover 500 allows the frame cover 400 to come into close contact with the bus bar frame 300. In Figures 5 to 7, the frame cover 400 and the bus bar frame 300 are exaggerated as if a gap were formed between them to some extent, but in reality, there is almost no gap between the frame cover 400 and the bus bar frame 300, and they can be arranged to come into close contact with each other.

[0073] The frame cover 400 may be configured to include an elastic material. For example, the frame cover 400 may include a material such as silicone or aerogel, or may be made solely of such materials. If the frame cover 400 is made solely of an elastic material, it is uniformly compressed when crimped by the crimp cover 500, thereby further improving adhesion to the bus bar frame 300. In addition, this may more securely seal the gap between the bus bar frame 300 and the frame cover 400, thereby more securely preventing gas or flame from escaping into the lead slot. In particular, electrode leads may be protruding from the outer surface of the bus bar frame 300. In this case, if the frame cover 400 includes an elastic material, the crimping state may be maintained uniformly despite the partial protrusion of the outer surface.

[0074] Referring primarily to FIGS. 4 to 6, a battery module according to the present invention may further include a first bus bar 600.

[0075] The first bus bar 600 may be electrically connected to the electrode leads 112. Through such electrical connection, the first bus bar 600 may be configured to transmit status information about the battery cells 110 to an external component. For example, the first bus bar 600 may be configured to transmit voltage information about the battery cells 110 to an external control device such as a battery management system (BMS).

[0076] The first bus bar 600 may be made of an electrically conductive material for transmitting and receiving electrical signals, such as copper or aluminum.

[0077] First bus bar 600 may be configured in a shape that ensures a sufficient contact area with electrode lead 112. For example, first bus bar 600 may be provided so that its inner surface is flat, and may be formed in a shape that extends elongatedly in the vertical direction.

[0078] Furthermore, the first bus bar 600 may be disposed between the crimp cover 500 and the bus bar frame 300. In this case, the first bus bar 600 may be attached to the inner surface of the crimp cover 500. The first bus bar 600 may be fixed by a fastening member 700 so that this attached state can be maintained. In this embodiment, the first bus bar 600 may be configured to press the bus bar frame 300 or the bent electrode lead 112 by the crimp cover 500. That is, when the crimp cover 500 presses the bus bar frame 300 or the electrode lead 112 from the outside, the first bus bar 600 located inside the crimp cover 500 may come into contact with the electrode lead 112.

[0079] According to the above-described embodiment, a contact component between the electrode lead 112 and the first bus bar 600 can be provided as a crimping component of the crimp cover 500. In this case, when a plurality of electrode leads 112 in contact with the first bus bar 600 are stacked on top of each other, the first bus bar 600 can further tightly contact the plurality of electrode leads 112. This can make the electrical connection between the electrode leads 112 even more stable.

[0080] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the bent electrode lead 112 and the first bus bar 600 can be electrically connected by maintaining contact with each other without additional welding, thereby reducing costs and time and improving productivity in manufacturing the battery module.

[0081] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the first bus bar 600 may be positioned outside the bent electrode lead 112. In this case, interference from the frame cover 400 or the crimp cover 500 is minimized, making it possible to easily realize a connection configuration for the first bus bar 600 for transmitting sensing information to the outside. For example, components for connecting the first bus bar 600 to the module connector in the internal space of the module case can be provided with a simple structure.

[0082] In another embodiment of the present invention, the crimp cover 500 may be disposed to simultaneously cover the frame cover 400 and the first bus bar 600. In this case, when a direct flame or the like is ejected onto the front and rear surfaces of the battery cells 110 through the bus bar frame 300, the frame cover 400 made of a flame-retardant material can effectively support the bus bar frame 300 and withstand the internal pressure. In addition, in this case, the flame can be prevented from escaping toward the front and rear surfaces of the battery cells 110.

[0083] 4, the frame cover 400 may include a lead exposure hole H. The lead exposure hole H may be formed by perforating at least one surface of the frame cover 400. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the lead exposure hole H may be formed by perforating in the front-to-rear direction of the frame cover 400.

[0084] A plurality of the lead exposure holes H may be provided. In this case, the plurality of lead exposure holes H may be arranged in a shape spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the plurality of lead exposure holes H may be arranged in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) of the frame cover 400.

[0085] The lead exposure hole H may be configured to directly connect the electrode lead 112 and the first bus bar 600 to each other. In particular, the first bus bar 600 may be attached to the inner side of the crimp cover 500, and the electrode lead 112 may be located outside the bus bar frame 300, with the frame cover 400 interposed between the crimp cover 500 and the bus bar frame 300. In this case, the lead exposure hole H may be formed in the frame cover 400, so that the first bus bar 600 can be in direct contact with the electrode lead 112. That is, the lead exposure hole H may be disposed to expose the electrode lead 112 and allow the first bus bar 600 to be connected thereto. Specifically, the first bus bar 600 may be configured so that at least a portion thereof is inserted into the lead exposure hole H. This allows the first bus bar 600 to be more easily electrically connected to the electrode lead 112 via the lead exposure hole H.

[0086] The lead exposure hole H may be configured so as not to expose the lead slot 310 to the outside. That is, the lead exposure hole H may be configured so as to expose the electrode lead 112 to the outside, for example, to the front side, but not to expose other parts other than the electrode lead 112, particularly the lead slot 310, to the outside. For this reason, the lead exposure hole H may be disposed between adjacent lead slots 310 among the plurality of lead slots 310.

[0087] 4 and 5, the lead exposure hole H may be disposed between a plurality of lead slots 310 that are disposed apart from one another in the left-right direction (X-axis direction). In this case, the lead slots 310 are shielded by the frame cover 400 to prevent flames and the like from being discharged to the outside, and the first bus bar 600 can be connected to the electrode lead 112 via the lead exposure hole H.

[0088] The first bus bar 600 may be configured to cover the lead exposure hole H. That is, the lead exposure hole H may be formed by drilling in the front-rear direction in a shape that allows components located inside the frame cover 400 to be exposed to the outside. However, by inserting the first bus bar 600 into the lead exposure hole H, the lead exposure hole H can be completely sealed. That is, when the first bus bar 600 is coupled, the space located inside the frame cover 400 cannot be exposed to the outside through the lead exposure hole H.

[0089] In this case, the first bus bar 600 may have a shape and size that at least a portion of the first bus bar 600 corresponds to the shape of the lead exposure hole H. According to one embodiment, the area and shape of the first bus bar 600 may be the same as or similar to the area and shape of the lead exposure hole H. For example, the first bus bar 600 and the lead exposure hole H may have rectangular shapes with the same size and shape when viewed from the front side.

[0090] According to this embodiment, the first bus bar 600 can be disposed in a shape that fits into the lead exposure hole H. Therefore, the first bus bar 600 covers the lead exposure hole H, thereby preventing or minimizing the escape or inflow of flames or the like through the lead exposure hole H.

[0091] 6 and 7, the first bus bar 600 may be configured to pass through the lead exposure hole H and protrude inward. The first bus bar 600 may be configured to press the electrode lead 112 when inserted through the lead exposure hole H. That is, the first bus bar 600 may be configured not only to contact the electrode lead 112 but also to apply pressure to the electrode lead 112 in an inward direction (the +Y-axis direction in FIG. 7). In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the thickness of the first bus bar 600 may be approximately the same as the thickness of the frame cover 400 in order to press the electrode lead 112.

[0092] This configuration ensures or improves the fixing force between the stacked electrode leads 112 or between the electrode leads 112 and the first bus bar 600, even without separate welding. In this case, the gap between the bus bar frame 300 and the frame cover 400 can be minimized. Ultimately, in this configuration, the frame cover 400 tightly covers the lead slots 310, more effectively preventing flames and the like from escaping through the lead slots 310.

[0093] Furthermore, at least some of the electrode leads 112 may pass through the lead slots 310 and be crimped between the bus bar frame 300 and the first bus bar 600. As described above, the electrode leads 112 may be arranged in a plurality of pieces by being arranged in the plurality of battery cells 110, and at least some of the electrode leads 112 may be inserted through the lead slots 310 and then bent and stacked on one another. The stacked electrode leads 112 may be crimped to one another by the first bus bar 600 due to the inward pressing force of the crimp cover 500. In particular, the stacked electrode leads 112 and the first bus bar 600 may be fixed by maintaining contact with one another without additional welding.

[0094] Therefore, in this case, costs and time can be reduced and productivity can be improved when manufacturing the battery module, and further, safety can be improved when using the battery module in this embodiment.

[0095] 3 to 6, the crimp cover 500 may be fastened to the bus bar frame 300. In other words, the battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a fastening member 700 capable of fixing the crimp cover 500 to the bus bar frame 300.

[0096] An example of fastening member 700 is a bolt. In this case, a fastening hole for inserting the bolt may be formed in the component to which the bolt is fastened. For example, fastening holes may be formed in crimp cover 500, first bus bar 600, and / or bus bar frame 300, allowing a bolt as fastening member 700 to be inserted and fastened.

[0097] According to this embodiment of the present invention, there is no need to perform a separate welding process to connect the crimp cover 500 and the bus bar frame 300. This makes the process easier to perform, and reduces costs and time.

[0098] Meanwhile, referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, the bus bar frame 300 may include a second bus bar 320.

[0099] The second bus bar 320 may be located inside the electrode lead 112. For example, the electrode lead 112 may be bent at the front side of the battery module 10, and the second bus bar 320 may be located at the rear side. The second bus bar 320 may be provided between a plurality of lead slots 310. The second bus bar 320 may be configured to be in direct contact with the electrode lead 112 that passes through the lead slot 310.

[0100] The second bus bar 320 may be located inside the electrode lead 112, and the first bus bar 600 may be located outside the electrode lead 112. In other words, the electrode lead 112 may be interposed between the first bus bar 600 and the second bus bar 320. The electrode lead 112 may then be crimped by the first bus bar 600 and the second bus bar 320.

[0101] The crimp cover 500 may be coupled to the first bus bar 600 and the second bus bar 320. For example, the crimp cover 500 may be fastened to the first bus bar 600 and the second bus bar 320 by bolts. The crimp cover 500 may crimp the first bus bar 600 to the second bus bar 320. That is, the first bus bar 600 and the second bus bar 320 may be disposed between the bus bar frame 300 and the crimp cover 500 and closely fixed to each other.

[0102] According to this embodiment, the first bus bar 600 and the second bus bar 320 can be maintained in contact with each other by the electrode lead 112 and the crimp cover 500. Therefore, the coupled state between the first bus bar 600 or the second bus bar 320 and the electrode lead 112 can be stably maintained. In particular, since the second bus bar 320 supports the electrode lead 112 inside the electrode lead 112, the tight contact state between the electrode lead 112 and the first bus bar 600 can be maintained more stably. Furthermore, with this embodiment, there is no need to weld various components together, which facilitates the manufacturing process of the battery module 10.

[0103] The second bus bar 320 may be made of a metal material. The second bus bar 320 may also include an electrically conductive material. For example, the second bus bar 320 may be made of a material such as copper or aluminum. In this case, the second bus bar 320 may be configured to be electrically connected to at least some of the electrode leads 112.

[0104] This allows the electrode lead 112 to be disposed between the first bus bar 600 and the second bus bar 320 and to be individually and electrically connected to the first bus bar 600 and the second bus bar 320. According to this embodiment, the contact area between the electrode lead 112 and the first bus bar 600 and the contact area between the electrode lead 112 and the second bus bar 320 can be increased, thereby ensuring the stability of the electrical connection or physical contact between the bus bars and the electrode lead 112.

[0105] 2, as described above, the plurality of battery cells 110 may be stacked in one direction. For example, referring mainly to FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the battery cells 110 may be stacked in a shape in which they are arranged in a horizontal direction, for example, a left-right direction (X-axis direction), with each battery cell 110 standing upright in a vertical direction (Z-axis direction).

[0106] In such an embodiment, the battery module according to the present invention may further include a blocking member 120.

[0107] The blocking member 120 may be disposed between the battery cells 110. In particular, a plurality of blocking members 120 may be included in one battery module 10. In this case, the plurality of blocking members 120 may be arranged at predetermined distances in one direction, i.e., along the stacking direction (X-axis direction) of the battery cells 110. The plurality of blocking members 120 may also be disposed at regular intervals between at least one battery cell 110 (e.g., for one or more battery cells 110). For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , when the battery cells 110 are arranged as pouch-type battery cells, the blocking member 120 may be in face-to-face contact with both plate surfaces of at least some of the pouch-type battery cells 110. In this embodiment, a plurality of blocking members 120 may be provided in a shape such that the blocking members 120 are disposed for at least two or more battery cells 110.

[0108] The blocking member 120 may be in the form of a compressive pad and made of a material having excellent heat resistance and / or fire resistance, such as silicone, aerogel, mica, etc. Since the blocking member 120 is a compressive pad, it compresses the battery cell 110 when a swelling phenomenon occurs, in which the battery cell swells, and thus can contribute to the structural rigidity of the battery cell 110.

[0109] Furthermore, when a fire occurs inside the battery module 10, the blocking member 120, which has excellent heat resistance and / or fire resistance, can function as a thermal barrier that blocks hot air, such as a flame generated in the ignited battery cell 110, from progressing in the stacking direction of the battery cells 110. This minimizes the propagation of heat to adjacent battery cells 110. The blocking member 120 can block not only heat but also high-temperature gas, flame, and discharge generated in the battery cells 110. Therefore, the blocking member 120 can partition or separate the battery cells 110 and prevent the flame from spreading between the battery cells 110.

[0110] FIG. 8 is a front view of a bus bar frame according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0111] 4 and 8, the bus bar frame may have through holes 330 formed therein so that at least some of the blocking members 120 may pass through.

[0112] A plurality of through holes 330 may be provided at predetermined positions on bus bar frame 300 corresponding to blocking member 120. Through holes 330 may be configured to receive the ends of blocking member 120. For example, through holes 330 may be provided in a shape and size corresponding to the ends of blocking member 120.

[0113] 2 , the bus bar frames 300 may be provided on both ends of the blocking member 120. For example, the bus bar frames 300 may be disposed on the front and rear sides of the battery cell 110. In this case, the front and rear ends of the blocking member 120 may be inserted into the through-holes 330 of the front bus bar frame 300 and the through-holes 330 of the rear bus bar frame 300, respectively.

[0114] According to the above embodiment, the bonding strength between the blocking member 120 and the bus bar frame 300 can be improved. In this case, the battery cells 110 can be stably accommodated in the internal space between the blocking member 120 and the bus bar frame 300. Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the internal space between the blocking member 120 and the bus bar frame 300 is more securely partitioned, and the blocking member 120 can more effectively block the propagation of heat or flames between the battery cells 110.

[0115] The area and length of the through-hole 330 may be arranged to correspond to the protrusion 121. In this case, it is possible to prevent flames from being emitted through the through-hole 330.

[0116] Furthermore, the blocking member 120 may include a protrusion 121 .

[0117] The protrusions 121 may be configured to be inserted into the through holes 330 and protrude outward when the blocking member 120 is coupled to the bus bar frame 300. In particular, the protrusions 121 may be disposed to pass through the through holes 330 and protrude outward from the bus bar frame 300, in particular, toward the frame cover 400. That is, the protrusions 121 may be provided to be exposed from one surface of the bus bar frame 300.

[0118] In this embodiment, the protrusions 121 may be configured to divide the outer space of the bus bar frame 300 into a plurality of unit spaces, as shown in Fig. 8. For example, four protrusions 121 may penetrate and protrude forward from the front side of the front bus bar frame 300, dividing the space in front of the bus bar frame 300 into five unit spaces.

[0119] Furthermore, the protrusions 121 may be provided to separate the frame cover 400 and the crimp cover 500 into a plurality of sections. The protrusions 121 may be provided to protrude further outward than the frame cover 400 and the crimp cover 500. That is, the protrusions 121 may be provided to extend to the outside of the frame cover 400 and the crimp cover 500. In this case, the protrusions 121 may be provided to penetrate the frame cover 400 and the crimp cover 500 which are integrally formed with each other, or, as will be described later, the frame cover 400 and the crimp cover 500 may be provided as a plurality of plates and the protrusions 121 may be provided to penetrate between them. The protrusions 121 may also separate the electrode leads 112, the first bus bar 600, or the second bus bar 320 from each other.

[0120] 5, the structure of the protrusion 121 allows adjacent battery cells 110 to be firmly partitioned and separated from each other. Therefore, it is possible to more firmly prevent flames and the like from jumping over the protrusion 121 and spraying onto the adjacent battery cells 110.

[0121] Furthermore, in this case, it is possible to suppress the propagation of heat, flames, and the like in the horizontal direction (for example, left and right direction) in the space outside the bus bar frame 300. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to more effectively suppress or delay the propagation of thermal runaway between the battery cells 110 inside the battery module 10. In another embodiment, the protrusions 121 can physically separate and partition the bent electrode leads 112. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the electrode leads 112 from coming into contact with each other and causing a short circuit when an impact is applied to the battery module 10.

[0122] 4, 5, and 8, the bus bar frame 300 may include a partition 350 that protrudes from one surface and is arranged to separate the electrode lead 112, the first bus bar 600, or the second bus bar 320. The partition 350 protrudes from the bus bar frame 300 by a length corresponding to the protrusion 121 and may function as the protrusion 121. Furthermore, the partition structure of the bus bar frame 300 may also serve to support the terminals.

[0123] The bus bar frame 300 may include a plurality of partition surfaces 340 separated by the through holes 330. In other words, the plurality of partition surfaces 340 may be separated by the protrusions 121. For example, referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 , five partition surfaces 340 are formed on the bus bar frame 300 by two protrusions 121 provided on the blocking member 120 and two partition walls 350 provided on the bus bar frame 300. Here, for structural stability, it is preferable that the plurality of partition surfaces 340 be integrally arranged. In this case, one or more electrode leads 112, first bus bars 600, and second bus bars 320 may be arranged on each partition surface 340.

[0124] 8, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the frame cover 400 may include a plurality of cover plates 410 individually provided to correspond to the plurality of partition surfaces 340. Also, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the protrusion 121 may be disposed to penetrate the frame cover 400 and the crimp cover 500 which are integrally formed.

[0125] In this case, the frame cover 400 may include cover plates 410 in a number corresponding to the number of partition surfaces 340 formed on the bus bar frame 300. For example, referring to FIG. 5 , if five partition surfaces 410 are formed on the bus bar frame 300, five cover plates 410 may be provided in a shape corresponding to each partition surface 340 one-to-one and positioned in front of the corresponding partition surface 340.

[0126] At this time, the protrusion 121 may be disposed to penetrate between the plurality of cover plates 410. In this case, interference between the frame cover 400 and the blocking member 120 can be avoided.

[0127] As a result, when a thermal event occurs in a specific battery cell 110, the cover plate 410 corresponding to that battery cell 110 can perform a local flame-blocking function. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the flame does not adversely affect the spaces between the other separated cover plates 410. Furthermore, because the frame cover 400 is separated into multiple plates and arranged, the number or shape of the plates can be freely changed depending on the shape or size of the front surface of the bus bar frame 300 and the number of protrusions 121 of the blocking member 120. Therefore, the assembly and productivity of the battery module 10 can be improved.

[0128] In addition, the crimp cover 500 may include a plurality of crimp plates 510 that are individually provided to correspond to the plurality of cover plates 410 .

[0129] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack including a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0130] 9, a battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include one or more battery modules 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention as described above. The battery pack 1 according to the present invention may further include a battery management system (BMS) for collectively controlling the charging and discharging of the one or more battery modules, a current sensor, a fuse, etc., and a pack case 2 for accommodating the above-mentioned components.

[0131] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0132] 10, an automobile 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include one or more battery packs 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention or battery modules 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 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 operates by receiving power from the battery packs 1 or battery modules 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0133] Although the present invention has been described above using limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto in any way, and it goes without saying that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications and variations within the technical spirit of the present invention and the equivalent scope of the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0134] 1 battery pack 2-pack case 3. Automobiles 10 Battery Module 110 battery cells 111 Cell Case 112 Electrode Lead 120 Blocking member 121 Protrusion 200 Module Case 210 Case body 220 End Plate 300 Busbar Frame 310 lead slots 320 Second busbar 330 Through hole 340 Partition surface 350 Bulkhead 400 frame cover 410 Cover Plate 500 Crimp Cover 510 Crimping Plate 600 First busbar 700 Fastening members

Claims

1. a plurality of battery cells each having an electrode lead disposed thereon; a bus bar frame having lead slots formed therein, the lead slots being positioned on a side where the electrode leads of the battery cells are disposed, and configured to allow the electrode leads of the battery cells to be inserted therethrough; a frame cover positioned outside the bus bar frame and configured to cover at least a portion of the lead slot; Including a battery module.

2. The battery module according to claim 1 , further comprising a crimp cover that crimps and fixes the frame cover to the bus bar frame.

3. The battery module according to claim 2 , wherein the frame cover is configured to include an elastic material and is in close contact with the bus bar frame.

4. The battery module according to claim 2 , further comprising a first bus bar disposed between the crimp cover and the bus bar frame and electrically connected to the electrode lead.

5. the frame cover includes a lead exposure hole formed by perforating at least one surface thereof; The battery module according to claim 4 , wherein the first bus bar is disposed to be inserted into the lead exposure hole and is electrically connected to the electrode lead through the lead exposure hole.

6. The battery module according to claim 5 , wherein the first bus bar is configured to cover the lead exposure hole.

7. The battery module according to claim 5 , wherein the first bus bar is configured to pass through the lead exposure hole and press against the electrode lead.

8. 8. The battery module according to claim 7, wherein at least some of the electrode leads pass through the lead slots and are crimped between the bus bar frame and the first bus bar.

9. The battery module according to claim 5 , wherein the lead exposure holes are configured so that the lead slots are not exposed to the outside.

10. The battery module according to claim 2 , wherein the crimp cover is bolted to the bus bar frame.

11. the bus bar frame includes a second bus bar disposed inside the electrode lead; The battery module according to claim 4 , wherein the crimp cover is coupled to the first bus bar and the second bus bar.

12. The plurality of battery cells are stacked and arranged in one direction, The battery module according to claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of blocking members disposed between at least one of the battery cells along one direction.

13. The battery module according to claim 12 , wherein the bus bar frame has through holes formed therein so that at least some of the plurality of blocking members pass through the through holes.

14. the blocking member includes a protrusion inserted into the through hole and protruding from the bus bar frame toward the frame cover, The battery module according to claim 13 , wherein the protrusions are arranged to divide an outer space of the bus bar frame into a plurality of sections.

15. the bus bar frame includes a plurality of partition surfaces separated by the through holes, The battery module according to claim 13 , wherein the frame cover includes a plurality of cover plates individually provided to correspond to the plurality of partition surfaces.

16. A battery pack comprising the battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

17. A motor vehicle comprising a battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

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