Battery pack and automobile including same

Abstract

A battery pack according to the present invention may include: a plurality of battery modules; a pack tray having an open-topped pack tray with an internal space capable of accommodating the plurality of battery modules; and a beam frame disposed between adjacent battery modules and partitioning the internal space; a pack cover covering the upper part of the pack tray; and a flame-blocking unit connected to the beam frame and disposed at a lower part of the pack cover so as to cover the corresponding battery module and block flames ejected from the battery module.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery pack, and more particularly to a battery pack and a vehicle including the same that can suppress the propagation of heat to other adjacent battery modules and the spread of flames to the outside of the battery pack when a specific battery module catches fire.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0109366, filed on August 21, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety in the specification and drawings thereof. [Background technology]

[0003] Recently, secondary batteries have been applied to a wide variety of devices. For example, secondary batteries are widely used as energy sources for wireless mobile devices or wearable devices, which are small, multi-functional products, and are also used in electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, which are presented as alternatives to existing gasoline and diesel vehicles.

[0004] Generally, the operating voltage of each commercially available secondary battery is approximately 2.5 V to 4.5 V. Therefore, in the case of electric vehicles and power storage devices that require large capacity and high output, a battery module in which a plurality of secondary batteries are connected in series and / or parallel, and a battery pack in which the battery modules are connected in series and / or parallel, are configured and used as an energy source.

[0005] As secondary batteries are used as large-capacity, high-output energy sources, ensuring the safety of battery modules and battery packs has become an important issue.

[0006] Because secondary batteries essentially use an electrochemical reaction mechanism as their driving principle, they are susceptible to a variety of potential chemical explosions, including strong external shocks, short circuits between electrodes, and electrolyte leakage. For example, when an overcurrent flows through a secondary battery, the battery's internal temperature rises rapidly. This rapid temperature increase can trigger a decomposition reaction of the electrolyte, resulting in the generation of gas. In such cases, an increase in pressure inside the battery case can cause swelling, a type of swelling phenomenon. If this swelling becomes severe, there is concern that the secondary battery may catch fire or explode.

[0007] Meanwhile, a conventional battery pack accommodates a battery module 1 inside a pack case 2, as shown in Fig. 1, and includes a gas exhaust port (not shown) on at least one wall of the pack case. If a specific battery module inside the battery pack ignites and generates gas, the gas can be discharged to the outside through the gas exhaust port, preventing a sudden increase in the internal pressure of the battery pack.

[0008] However, in conventional battery packs, when gas is discharged to the outside through the gas exhaust port, there is a risk that flames and high-temperature particles may also be discharged to the outside. In particular, if the flame escapes to the outside of the pack case, there is a risk that the battery pack and surrounding structures or objects adjacent to it may ignite. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, when the flame moves toward the gas exhaust port, it may spread to adjacent battery modules, causing a chain reaction and rapid fire among the battery modules. As a result, there is a risk that heat and pressure may suddenly increase inside the battery pack, causing the pack case to collapse or melt, and the flame may spread even more rapidly to the outside of the battery pack.

[0009] Therefore, when a thermal event occurs in a specific battery module, a solution is required that can prevent heat from being transmitted between battery modules and flames from leaking out of the battery pack. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The present invention was created in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a battery pack that can prevent heat propagation between battery modules as much as possible and slow the rate of breakdown of the battery pack when a thermal event occurs in a specific battery module.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack that can minimize the spread of flames to the outside of the battery pack when a thermal event occurs.

[0012] 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]

[0013] According to the present invention, a battery pack can be provided that includes: a plurality of battery modules; a pack tray that is open at the top and has an internal space capable of accommodating the plurality of battery modules; and a beam frame that is disposed between adjacent battery modules and separates the internal space; a pack cover that covers the upper part of the pack tray; and a flame-blocking unit that is connected to the beam frame and is disposed at the lower part of the pack cover so as to cover the corresponding battery module and block flames ejected from the battery module.

[0014] The flame-shielding units may be coupled to the beam frames so as to be liftable by gas ejected from the corresponding battery modules.

[0015] The flame-shielding unit may include a flame-shielding cover that covers one of the battery modules arranged between the two beam frames, and at least one support member that is fixed to the beam frame and supports the flame-shielding cover at a predetermined height.

[0016] The support member may include a fixed bracket having a tension plate fixed to the upper end of the beam frame and extending vertically, and a retaining plate extending horizontally from the upper end of the tension plate and having a through hole; a support rod extending downward from the flame-shielding cover, passing through the through hole, and having a head at its lower end formed with a larger diameter than the through hole; and a compression spring fitted into the support rod between the head of the support rod and the retaining plate.

[0017] The tension plates include a first tension plate and a second tension plate arranged at a predetermined interval and extending in the vertical direction so as to be aligned with each other, and the anti-slip plate can have one end connected to the first tension plate and the other end connected to the second tension plate.

[0018] The flame-shielding cover may include at least one gas vent hole.

[0019] The fire-shielding cover may further include a heat insulating material attached to an upper surface of the fire-shielding cover.

[0020] The flame-shielding cover may include at least one gas vent hole, and the insulating material may include a notch disposed in an area corresponding to the gas vent hole and configured to rupture under a predetermined pressure.

[0021] The flame-shielding cover may include an upper shielding plate that covers the top of the battery module, a first side shielding plate that is bent downward from one edge of the upper shielding plate and extends to a position lower than the upper end of the beam frame located on the left side of the battery module, and a second side shielding plate that is bent downward from the other edge of the upper shielding plate and extends to a position lower than the upper end of the beam frame located on the right side of the battery module.

[0022] The upper shielding plate has a protruding portion that protrudes further outward than one of the two beam frames, based on one of the battery modules, and a recessed portion that recesses further inward than the other beam frame, and the protruding portion of any one of the flame-shielding covers is arranged to fit into the recessed portion of the other one of the flame-shielding covers, so that each of the battery modules can be covered separately by each of the flame-shielding covers.

[0023] The first side blocking plate can be bent downward from the edge of the protruding portion of one edge portion of the upper blocking plate, and the second side blocking plate can be bent downward from the edge of the other edge portion of the upper blocking plate excluding the indentation portion.

[0024] The battery pack may include a gas flow path between an upper portion of the flame-blocking unit and a lower portion of the pack cover.

[0025] The flame-shielding cover may be made of a metal material.

[0026] The insulating material may be made from mica or silicone material.

[0027] According to another aspect of the present invention, there may be provided a vehicle including the battery pack described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0028] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a battery pack that can prevent heat propagation between battery modules as much as possible when a thermal event occurs in a specific battery module, thereby slowing the rate of breakdown of the battery pack.

[0029] Furthermore, according to the present invention, when a thermal event occurs, the spread of flames to the outside of the battery pack can be suppressed or delayed as much as possible.

[0030] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains from this specification and the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0031] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to the prior art; [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating the main components of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the flame-shielding unit in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram illustrating a portion of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing a flame-shielding cover and a support member according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 6 is a view showing the support member in FIG. 5 from another angle. FIG. [Figure 7] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of a battery pack when a flame-shielding unit according to an embodiment of the present invention is lifted. [Figure 9] 10 is a view showing a portion of a battery pack to which a flame-blocking unit according to another embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which flame-blocking units are applied to all battery modules separately. [Figure 11] 1 illustrates a vehicle including a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] 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 this specification and claims should not be construed as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be construed as 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 / herself in order to best describe the invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiment described in this specification and the configuration shown in the drawings are merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical ideas of the present invention, and therefore, various equivalent and modified embodiments may be available as of the time of filing this application.

[0033] Furthermore, in describing the present invention, if it is recognized that a specific description of known technology related to the present invention may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

[0034] The embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely explain the present invention to those skilled in the art, and therefore the shapes and sizes of the components in the drawings may be slightly exaggerated, omitted, or shown in a schematic manner for clearer explanation. Therefore, the sizes and proportions of the components do not entirely reflect the actual sizes and proportions.

[0035] 2 to 4, a battery pack 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of battery modules 100, a pack case 200, and a flame-blocking unit 300.

[0036] The battery module 100 may include a plurality of battery cells and a module case that houses the battery cells (not shown for clarity). The battery cell refers to a secondary battery including an electrode assembly, an electrolyte, and a battery case. The battery cell may be any type of secondary battery, such as a pouch-type, cylindrical, or prismatic secondary battery. The module case may be made of a metal material, such as steel, or a non-metallic material with high rigidity to protect the battery cells from external impacts. The module case houses the battery cells and may have a module vent hole on at least one side. In the case of the battery module 100, gases and the like can be discharged to the outside of the module case through the module vent hole in the event of an internal fire.

[0037] The battery modules 100 may be mounted in the pack case 200 and electrically connected to each other by an inter-bus bar (not shown) or a cable.

[0038] The pack case 200 may have an internal space capable of accommodating the plurality of battery modules 100 and may be provided to protect the battery modules 100 from external impacts.

[0039] 2, the pack case 200 may be composed of a pack tray 210 and a pack cover 220. The pack tray 210 may have an internal space capable of accommodating a plurality of battery modules 100 and may be formed in a box shape with an open top. The pack cover 220 may be formed in a generally plate-like shape having an area sufficient to cover at least the top of the pack tray 210.

[0040] Specifically, the pack tray 210 includes a base plate portion 211 that supports the battery module 100 below the battery module 100, and a wall portion 212 that forms a wall around the outer edge of the base plate portion 211. The internal space of the pack tray 210 is defined by the base plate portion 211 and the wall portion 212. In addition, the pack tray 210 includes a plurality of beam frames 215 that partition the internal space.

[0041] The pack tray 210 may be configured such that the beam frame 215 is located between two adjacent battery modules 100 when the battery modules 100 are placed on the base plate portion 211 of the pack tray 210. In other words, one battery module 100 may be disposed in the space between two beam frames 215.

[0042] 2, the pack tray 210 according to this embodiment may include a center beam 216 extending in a horizontal direction (Y direction) inside the pack tray 210 and dividing the internal space of the pack tray 210. A beam frame 215 may extend in a vertical direction (X direction) inside the pack tray 210, with one end connected to the center beam 216 and the other end connected to the wall portion 212. The beam frames 215 may be arranged at predetermined intervals along the horizontal direction (Y direction) inside the pack tray 210. The pack tray 210 has a partitioned space surrounded by the wall portion 212, the center beam 216, and the beam frame 215. Battery modules 100 may be accommodated one by one in each of the spaces thus partitioned.

[0043] The pack tray 210 may also include at least one gas outlet 214 in the wall portion 212. In this embodiment, the pack tray 210 includes the gas outlet 214 in the wall portion 212 extending in the vertical direction (X direction). For example, the gas outlet 214 may be provided in at least one of the wall portion 212 positioned in the +Y direction and the wall portion 212 positioned in the -Y direction in FIG. 2 . In this case, when vent gas is generated in the battery module 100, the vent gas moves in the horizontal direction (Y direction) along the gas flow path VS inside the pack case 200 and can be discharged to the outside of the pack case 200 through the gas outlet 214. Here, the gas flow path VS refers to an empty space formed between the upper part of the battery module 100 and the lower part of the pack cover 220 within the internal space of the pack case 200. When the pack tray 210 and the pack cover 220 are combined, the left and right spaces may be blocked off relative to the center beam 216. In this case, for example, vent gas generated in the battery module 100 accommodated in the space to the left of the center beam 216 can move horizontally (Y direction), but its movement in the vertical direction (X direction) may be restricted by the center beam 216.

[0044] The pack cover 220 may be provided as a cover type that covers the top of all the battery modules 100. The pack cover 220 may be connected to the pack tray 210, for example, by bolting. The edge of the pack cover 220 may be placed on the edge of the upper end of the wall portion 212 of the pack tray 210 and bolted. Although not shown, a sealing gasket may be placed on the upper end of the wall portion 212 of the pack tray 210, and the edge of the pack cover 220 may be placed on top of it to improve sealing.

[0045] The pack cover 220 may be configured to be bolted to the center beam 216 of the pack tray 210. The bolting between the pack cover 220 and the center beam 216 may be omitted in some cases.

[0046] Furthermore, the pack cover 220 may be configured not to come into contact with the upper end of the beam frame 215 or the upper surface of the battery module 100 in order to ensure the above-described gas flow path VS inside the pack case 200. For example, the upper end of the wall portion 212 may be higher than the upper end of the beam frame 215 or the upper surface of the battery module 100, and the edge of the pack cover 220 may be placed on the upper end of the wall portion 212, so that the pack cover 220 does not come into contact with the upper end of the beam frame 215 or the upper surface of the battery module 100.

[0047] In this embodiment, the pack cover 220 has a plate-like shape, but the pack cover 220 may also be configured in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with an open bottom. In this case, the pack cover 220 can be more reliably prevented from contacting the upper end of the beam frame 215 or the upper surface of the battery module 100.

[0048] For example, when a fire occurs in a specific battery module 100 inside the pack case 200, the flame-blocking unit 300 serves to block the flame from spreading to the battery modules 100 adjacent to the specific battery module 100.

[0049] 2 to 4, the flame-blocking unit 300 may be connected to the beam frame 215 and configured to cover the corresponding battery module 100 at the bottom of the pack cover 220, thereby blocking flames erupting from the battery module 100.

[0050] Specifically, the flame-shielding unit 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a flame-shielding cover 310 that covers one of the battery modules 100 arranged between two of the beam frames 215, and at least one support member 320 that is fixed to the beam frame 215 and supports the flame-shielding cover 310 at a predetermined height.

[0051] 3 and 4, the flame-shielding cover 310 includes an upper blocking plate 312 that covers the upper part of the battery module 100, a first side blocking plate 313 that is bent downward from one edge of the upper blocking plate 312 and extends to a position lower than the upper end of the beam frame 215 located on the left side of the battery module 100, and a second side blocking plate 314 that is bent downward from the other edge of the upper blocking plate 312 and extends to a position lower than the upper end of the beam frame 215 located on the right side of the battery module 100.

[0052] The flame-shielding cover 310 may be made of a metal material having excellent heat resistance and rigidity so as not to be distorted even at high temperatures. The flame-shielding cover 310 also has at least one gas vent hole 311 in the upper blocking plate 312.

[0053] According to this configuration of the fire-blocking cover 310, the upper part of the beam frame 215 on the left side of the battery module 100, the upper part of the battery module 100, and the upper part of the beam frame 215 on the right side of the battery module 100 are integrally surrounded by the fire-blocking cover 310. As a result, if a fire occurs in a battery module 100 covered by the fire-blocking cover 310, the fire is blocked by the fire-blocking cover 310 and does not spread to adjacent battery modules 100. This significantly reduces thermal damage to adjacent battery modules 100. Meanwhile, even if a fire occurs in a battery module 100 not covered by the fire-blocking cover 310 in FIG. 4, the adjacent battery module 100 covered by the fire-blocking cover 310 can be protected from the fire. As will be described later, all of the battery modules 100 housed in the pack case 200 may be individually covered with the flame-blocking cover 310, or, as disclosed in this embodiment, the battery modules 100 may be covered alternately along one direction (Y direction) with the flame-blocking cover 310 to reduce the weight of the battery pack 10 and simplify assembly.

[0054] Referring mainly to Figures 3 and 5 to 6, the support member 320 includes a support rod 321, a compression spring 322, and a fixing bracket 323, and at least one support member 320 may be disposed at the upper end of the left beam frame 215 and the upper end of the right beam frame 215 relative to the battery module 100.

[0055] The fixing bracket 323 may include a tension plate 324 fixed to the upper end of the beam frame 215 and extending in the height direction, and a retaining plate 325 extending horizontally from the upper end of the tension plate 324 and having a through hole 325a. Here, the tension plate 324 may be fixed to the upper end of the beam frame 215 by a method such as welding, adhesive bonding, or engagement.

[0056] The tension plates 324 include a first tension plate 324a and a second tension plate 324b that are arranged at a predetermined interval and extend in the height direction so as to be parallel to each other, and the retaining plate 325 may have one end connected to the first tension plate 324a and the other end connected to the second tension plate 324b. Unlike this embodiment, one or three or more tension plates 324 may be provided.

[0057] The support rod 321 extends downward from the flame-shielding cover 310, passes through the through-hole 325a, and penetrates the retaining plate 325. That is, the upper end of the support rod 321 is connected to the upper blocking plate, passes through the through-hole 325a, and extends to the bottom of the retaining plate 325. The support rod 321 has a head 321a at its lower end, the head 321a having a diameter larger than the through-hole 325a. The support rod 321 may be fixed at its upper end to the flame-shielding cover 310. For example, the upper end of the support rod 321 and the flame-shielding cover 310 may be screwed, welded, or glued together. As another example, the flame-shielding cover 310 and the support rod 321 may be integrally formed. In this case, after the support rod 321 without the head 321 a is inserted into the through-hole 325 a of the fixing bracket 323 , the head 321 a can be attached to the lower end of the support rod 321 .

[0058] The support rods 321 allow the flame-shielding cover 310 to be supported at a height corresponding to the length of the support rods 321 from the beam frame 215. Here, the upper blocking plate of the flame-shielding cover 310 is positioned at a height higher than the upper surface of the battery module 100 and lower than the pack cover 220 due to the support rods 321. The heads 321a of the support rods 321 simply contact the beam frame 215. That is, the support rods 321 are not fixed to the upper end of the beam frame 215. Therefore, when upward pressure is applied from the bottom of the flame-shielding cover 310, the flame-shielding cover 310 can move upward. For example, if a battery module 100 covered by the flame-shielding cover 310 catches fire and generates a large amount of gas, the heads 321a of the support rods 321 are detached from the beam frame 215 due to the pressure of the gas, allowing the flame-shielding cover 310 to move upward. However, since the head 321a of the support rod 321 is arranged so as not to pass through the through-hole 325a of the retaining plate 325, the lifting of the flame-blocking cover 310 can be limited within a certain range.

[0059] The compression spring 322 is a component that is compressed when the flame-shielding cover 310 is lifted to prevent the flame-shielding cover 310 from rising suddenly, and can be fitted into the support rod 321 between the head 321a of the support rod 321 and the anti-slip plate 325.

[0060] If the compression spring 322 were not present, when the gas pressure were very strong, the head 321a of the support rod 321 would collide strongly with the retaining plate 325 and be damaged. As a result, the flame-shielding cover 310 would be completely detached from the beam frame 215, making it impossible to prevent the flame of the battery module 100 from spreading to the surrounding area.

[0061] However, in this embodiment, the compression spring 322 is compressed in the space between the head 321a of the support rod 321 and the retaining plate 325, thereby slowing down the rising speed of the flame-shielding cover 310 and preventing partial damage to the head 321a of the support rod 321. Furthermore, when the amount of gas generated in the battery module 100 decreases, the elastic restoring force of the compression spring 322 allows the flame-shielding cover 310 to return to its original position.

[0062] 3 and 4 , the fire-blocking cover 310 according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a heat insulating material 330 attached to an upper surface of the fire-blocking cover 310. The heat insulating material 330 may serve to block the inflow of gas that is expelled onto the fire-blocking cover 310 and reflected by the pack cover 220. The heat insulating material 330 may also serve to prevent damage from heat energy caused by flames or gases generated in other battery modules 100.

[0063] The heat insulating material 330 is made of mica or silicone material, and is preferably provided in the form of a pad having an area corresponding to the upper blocking plate 312 of the fire-blocking cover 310 .

[0064] The heat insulating material 330 may include a slit 331 configured to rupture under a predetermined pressure. The slit 331 may be provided in an area corresponding to the upper and lower portions of the gas vent hole 311 of the flame-shielding cover 310. When a fire occurs in the battery module 100, the slit 331 of the heat insulating material 330 ruptures and splits open due to the gas pressure, allowing the gas to be discharged to the top of the flame-shielding cover 310. The slit 331 may be configured to rupture in a slit shape. In this case, it is more difficult for flames to escape to the outside through the slit 331 than for gases to do so.

[0065] Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, an example of the operation of the flame-blocking unit 300 when a fire occurs in a specific battery module 100 will be briefly described as follows.

[0066] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the battery pack 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the battery pack 10 when the flame-shielding unit 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention is lifted.

[0067] The flame-blocking cover 310 of this embodiment can be supported by a support member 320 coupled to the beam frame 215 and positioned at a predetermined height, as shown in Fig. 7. The flame-blocking cover 310 encloses the outside of the left beam frame 215, the upper side of the battery module 100, and the outside of the right beam frame 215 in Fig. 7. In addition, in the battery pack 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the pack cover 220 is positioned higher than the flame-blocking cover 310, and gas flow paths VS are provided below the pack cover 220 and above the flame-blocking unit 300.

[0068] In the battery pack 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, if a thermal event occurs in a specific battery module 100, the flame of the specific battery module 100 can be blocked by the flame-blocking cover 310, as shown in Fig. 8. Therefore, the flame of the specific battery module 100 can be trapped without moving to other adjacent battery modules 100 or the gas flow path VS. In this case, vent gas can flow into the gas flow path VS through the gas vent hole 311 of the flame-blocking cover 310 and the notch 331 of the thermal insulating material 330. For reference, the gas vent hole 311 of the flame-blocking cover 310 can be disposed at a position corresponding to the upper and lower positions of the module vent hole 101 disposed in the battery module 100.

[0069] Meanwhile, the fire-shielding cover 310 according to this embodiment is designed to be liftable by gas, which can be said to prevent the fire-shielding cover 310 from being damaged by a sudden increase in internal pressure. More specifically, if the fire-shielding cover 310 were attached to the beam frame 215 in a manner that prevented it from being lifted, there would be a high concern that the fire-shielding cover 310 would be damaged due to its inability to withstand the pressure when a large amount of gas was emitted from the battery module 100. However, as described above, the fire-shielding cover 310 according to this embodiment is attached to the beam frame 215 in a manner that allows it to be lifted. Therefore, when a large amount of gas is emitted from the specific battery module, the fire-shielding cover 310 is lifted, thereby expanding the space between the upper surface of the battery module 100 and the fire-shielding cover 310. This can mitigate the increase in pressure due to the gas. Furthermore, the compression spring 322 buffers the pressure acting on the fire-shielding cover 310, thereby preventing damage to the fire-shielding cover 310.

[0070] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a portion of a battery pack 10 to which a flame-blocking unit 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which the flame-blocking unit 300 is applied separately to each of the battery modules 100 in FIG. 9.

[0071] Next, a battery pack 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention will be briefly described with reference to FIGS.

[0072] The same component numbers as those in the previously described embodiment indicate the same components, and redundant explanations of the same components will be omitted, with the focus being on the differences from the previously described embodiment.

[0073] A battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention, when compared with the battery pack 10 according to the above-described embodiment, may be configured such that all of the battery modules 100 housed in the pack case 200 are each individually covered by a flame-blocking unit.

[0074] To this end, the upper shielding plate of the fire-shielding cover 410 according to another embodiment of the present invention may have a protrusion 411 that protrudes further outward than one of the two beam frames 215 of one battery module 100, and a recessed portion 412 that recesses further inward than the other beam frame 215. For example, as shown in Fig. 9, the protrusion 411 may be provided at the center of one edge line of the upper shielding plate, and the recessed portion 412 may be provided at the center of the other edge line of the upper shielding plate. And, a flame-shielding cover 410 according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises a first side shielding plate bent downward from the edge of the protrusion 411 of one edge portion of the upper shielding plate and extending to a position even lower than the upper end of the beam frame 215, and a second side shielding plate bent downward from the other edge portion of the upper shielding plate excluding the recessed portion 412 and extending to a position even lower than the upper end of the beam frame 215.

[0075] The support member 320 may be disposed on the upper end of the left beam frame 215 to support the protrusion 411, and on the upper end of the right beam frame 215 to support both peripheral edges of the other edge line of the upper shielding plate. In addition, the protrusion 411 of one of the flame-shielding covers 410 may be configured to fit into the recess 412 of the other one of the flame-shielding covers 410.

[0076] 10, the recessed portion 412 of the fire-blocking cover 410 covering the battery module 100 located on the left side of the beam frame 215 and the protruding portion 411 of the fire-blocking cover 410 covering the battery module 100 located on the right side of the beam frame 215 can be fitted together. A」 , " B」 , " C」By disposing the support members 320 in the areas marked with this symbol, each battery module 100 can be covered separately by each fire-blocking cover 410.

[0077] Next, an embodiment of the automobile according to the present invention will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

[0078] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a schematic view of a vehicle including a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0079] 11, a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention may include the above-described battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, an electronic control unit (ECU) 20, an inverter 30, and a motor 40. Preferably, the vehicle may be an electric vehicle.

[0080] The battery pack 10 can be used as an electric energy source that provides driving force to a motor 40 to drive a vehicle. The battery pack 10 can be charged and discharged by an inverter 30 in accordance with the driving of the motor 40 and / or an internal combustion engine (not shown). The battery pack 10 can be charged by a regenerative charging device coupled to a brake. The battery pack 10 can be electrically connected to the motor 40 of the vehicle via the inverter 30.

[0081] The ECU 20 is an electromagnetic control device that controls the state of the vehicle. For example, it determines torque information based on information such as accelerator, brake, and speed, and controls the output of the motor 40 to match the torque information. The ECU 20 also sends a control signal to the inverter 30 so that the battery pack 10 can be charged or discharged based on status information such as the state of charge (SOC), state of health (SOH), and state of health (SOH) of the battery pack 10 received from the BMS. The inverter 30 charges or discharges the battery pack 10 based on the control signal from the ECU 20. The motor 40 uses the electrical energy of the battery pack 10 to drive the vehicle based on control information (e.g., torque information) received from the ECU 20.

[0082] As described above, the battery pack 10 prevents flames from spreading outside the pack case when a thermal event occurs in the battery module. Therefore, even if an internal fire occurs in the battery pack 10 while the vehicle is running, the time it takes for the fire to spread outside the battery pack 10 can be minimized.

[0083] Although the present invention has been described above using limited embodiments and drawings, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited thereby and that those skilled in the art can implement the present invention by making various modifications and variations within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention and the equivalent scope of the appended claims.

[0084] Furthermore, although directional terms such as up, down, left, and right 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. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 1 Battery Module 2-pack case 10 Battery Pack 30 inverter 40 motor 100 Battery Module 101 Module vent hole 200 pack case 210 Pack Tray 211 Base plate 212 Wall part 214 Gas outlet 215 Beam Frame 216 Center Beam 220 Pack Cover 300 flame-blocking unit 310 Flame-shielding cover 311 Gas vent hole 312 Upper barrier 313 First side barrier 314 Second Side Baffle 320 Support member 321 Support Rod 321a Head 322 Compression Spring 323 Fixing Bracket 324 Tension board 324a First tension board 324b Second tension board 325 retaining plate 325a through hole 330 Insulation 331 Notch 410 Flame-shielding cover 411 Protrusion 412 Bay

Claims

1. a plurality of battery modules; a pack tray having an open top, the pack tray including an internal space capable of accommodating the plurality of battery modules, and a beam frame disposed between adjacent battery modules and partitioning the internal space; a pack cover that covers an upper portion of the pack tray; a flame-shielding unit connected to the beam frame and provided below the pack cover so as to cover the corresponding battery module and block flames ejected from the battery module; Including the battery pack.

2. The flame-shielding unit is 2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the battery pack is coupled to the beam frame so as to be lifted by gas ejected from the corresponding battery module.

3. The flame-shielding unit is a fire-shielding cover covering one of the battery modules disposed between the two beam frames; At least one support member fixed to the beam frame and supporting the flame-shielding cover at a predetermined height; 10. The battery pack of claim 1, comprising:

4. The support member is A fixed bracket including a tension plate fixed to the upper end of the beam frame and extending in the height direction, and a retaining plate extending horizontally from the upper end of the tension plate and having a through hole; a support rod extending downward from the flame-shielding cover, passing through the through hole, and having a head at a lower end thereof formed with a diameter larger than that of the through hole; a compression spring fitted to the support rod between the head of the support rod and the retaining plate; 4. The battery pack of claim 3, comprising:

5. The tension plates include a first tension plate and a second tension plate that are arranged at a predetermined interval and extend in the height direction so as to be aligned with each other, The battery pack according to claim 4 , wherein one end of the retaining plate is connected to the first tension plate and the other end is connected to the second tension plate.

6. The battery pack according to claim 3 , wherein the flame-shielding cover includes at least one gas vent hole.

7. The flame-shielding cover is The battery pack according to claim 3 , further comprising a heat insulating material attached to an upper surface of the flame-blocking cover.

8. The flame-shielding cover has at least one gas vent hole, 8. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein the insulating material includes a notch disposed in an area corresponding to the gas vent hole and configured to rupture under a predetermined pressure.

9. The flame-shielding cover is an upper blocking plate covering an upper portion of the battery module; a first side isolation plate bent downward from one edge of the upper isolation plate to extend to a position lower than an upper end of the beam frame located on the left side of the battery module; a second side isolation plate bent downward from the other edge of the upper isolation plate and extending to a position lower than an upper end of the beam frame located on the right side of the battery module; 4. The battery pack of claim 3, comprising:

10. the upper blocking plate includes a protruding portion that protrudes outward from one of the two beam frames relative to one of the battery modules, and a recessed portion that recesses inward from the other beam frame relative to the other battery module, 10. The battery pack according to claim 9, wherein a protrusion of any one of the flame-shielding covers is configured to fit into a recess of another of the flame-shielding covers, and each of the battery modules is configured to be separately covered by each of the flame-shielding covers.

11. 11. The battery pack of claim 10, wherein the first side blocking plate is bent downward from an edge portion of the protruding portion of one edge portion of the upper blocking plate, and the second side blocking plate is bent downward from an edge portion of the other edge portion of the upper blocking plate excluding the recessed portion.

12. The battery pack according to claim 1 , further comprising a gas flow path between an upper portion of the flame-blocking unit and a lower portion of the pack cover.

13. The battery pack according to claim 3 , wherein the flame-shielding cover is made of a metal material.

14. 8. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein the insulating material is made of mica or silicone material.

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

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