Battery cutoff unit and secondary battery pack including same
The battery cutoff unit addresses fire suppression challenges by using a housing with temperature-controlled extinguishing agents and refractory silicone to manage fires within battery packs, ensuring continuous fire suppression and stability.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2025549898
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-01-25
- Filing Date
- 2024-03-05
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-25
AI Technical Summary
Conventional battery cutoff units struggle to suppress and delay the spread of fires within battery packs, leading to thermal runaway and loss of functionality.
A battery cutoff unit with a housing containing fire extinguishing agents and a temperature-controlled release mechanism, using refractory silicone to allow controlled discharge of extinguishing liquids at high temperatures, preventing external release below a preset temperature and enabling continuous fire suppression.
The unit effectively delays and suppresses fires within battery packs, maintaining stability and functionality by preventing thermal runaway and ensuring the extinguishing agents are released only when needed.
Smart Images

Figure 2026506748000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2023-0035481, 10-2023-0153043, and 10-2024-0011464, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on March 17, 2023, November 7, 2023, and January 25, 2024, respectively, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
[0002] The present invention relates to a battery cutoff unit, and more particularly to a battery cutoff unit used in a battery module or battery pack including a secondary battery that can be charged and discharged. [Background technology]
[0003] In recent years, with rising energy prices due to the depletion of fossil fuels and growing concerns about environmental pollution, the demand for environmentally friendly alternative energy sources has become an essential factor for future life. Accordingly, research into various power generation technologies, such as solar, wind, and tidal power, has been ongoing, and there has also been great interest in power storage devices, such as batteries, to more efficiently use the electrical energy produced in this way.
[0004] Furthermore, with the increasing technological development and demand for battery-based electronic mobile devices and electric vehicles, the demand for batteries as an energy source is rapidly increasing, and a great deal of research is being conducted into batteries that can meet the resulting diverse demands.
[0005] Batteries that store electrical energy can generally be divided into primary batteries and secondary batteries. Primary batteries are disposable, consumable batteries, while secondary batteries are rechargeable batteries manufactured using materials that allow repeated oxidation and reduction processes between electric current and materials. That is, when a reduction reaction occurs in a material due to electric current, the power source is charged, and when an oxidation reaction occurs in the material, the power source is discharged. Electricity is generated through repeated charge-discharge cycles.
[0006] Secondary batteries may be classified into cylindrical cells, pouch cells, prismatic cells, etc., depending on their shape. Among them, a pouch cell may include an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, etc. are stacked inside a pouch.
[0007] Meanwhile, a battery module may be formed by housing a plurality of the above-described secondary batteries inside a frame. A plurality of battery modules may form a battery pack. In this case, the battery module or the battery pack may include a battery disconnect unit (BDU). For example, in a battery pack, the battery disconnect unit is disposed between a power conversion device and a battery module, and can cut off power to the battery module when the current exceeds a set range or in other similar situations. The battery disconnect unit can improve the stability of the battery pack. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a battery cutoff unit that can continuously weaken a fire for a certain period of time when a fire occurs in a battery. [Means for solving the problem]
[0009] The battery cutoff unit according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a housing configured to accommodate electrical components therein, and a fire extinguishing device disposed inside the main body of the housing. material and at least one cavity formed to accommodate the extinguishing agent contained in the cavity. material However, the air may be prevented from being released to the outside of the housing at temperatures below a preset temperature, and may be released to the outside at temperatures above the preset temperature.
[0010] The housing includes the fire extinguishing materialThe housing further includes a passage extending from the cavity where the extinguishing agent is disposed to the outside, and the housing further includes a passage extending from the cavity to the outside where the extinguishing agent is disposed. material The device may further include a cover disposed in the passage so as to prevent the external release of the gas.
[0011] The cover is configured to turn off the fire extinguishing device when the temperature is above the preset temperature. material A flow path may be formed therein so that the fluid passes through the passage.
[0012] The cover may comprise a refractory silicone.
[0013] The refractory silicone expands in volume and hardens at a temperature equal to or higher than the preset temperature, forming gaps inside the silicone. The refractory silicone then flows through the flow passages formed along the gaps. material may be provided through the passage.
[0014] The housing may further include a first housing and a second housing coupled to the first housing and configured to house the electrical components.
[0015] Fire extinguishing material may include a first extinguishing liquid disposed in a first cavity formed within the first housing and a second extinguishing liquid disposed in a second cavity formed within the second housing.
[0016] The first housing includes the first fire extinguishing material A first passage may be formed in the second housing, extending from the first cavity in which the second extinguishing liquid is disposed to the outside, and a second passage may be formed in the second housing, which is a channel extending from the second cavity in which the second extinguishing liquid is disposed to the outside.
[0017] The first passage may extend from the first cavity in which the first extinguishing liquid is disposed toward the electrical component, and the second passage may extend from the second cavity in which the second extinguishing liquid is disposed in a direction away from the electrical component.
[0018] The first housing may include a first cover disposed in the first passage to prevent the first extinguishing liquid from being discharged to the outside below the preset temperature, and the second housing may include a second cover disposed in the second passage to prevent the second extinguishing liquid from being discharged to the outside below the preset temperature.
[0019] The second passage may include a lower passage extending in one direction from one side of the second cavity in which the second extinguishing liquid is disposed, and a side passage extending in another direction from the other side of the second cavity in which the second extinguishing liquid is disposed.
[0020] The second housing may include a lower cover disposed in the lower passage and a side cover disposed in the side passage.
[0021] The housing may be made of any one selected from aluminum, stainless steel, and alloys.
[0022] The electrical components may include one or more relays configured to open or close an electrical circuit connected to the battery module.
[0023] The electrical components may further include bus bars connecting the relays to each other.
[0024] The preset temperature may be 300°C or more and 400°C or less.
[0025] A battery cutoff unit according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an electrical component and a housing configured to accommodate the electrical component, the housing having a fire extinguishing material A cavity is formed in which the extinguishing agent is accommodated, and a gap is formed inside when the temperature exceeds a preset temperature, and the extinguishing agent is supplied through a flow path formed along the gap. material The housing may include a cover adapted to move from the cavity toward the exterior of the housing.
[0026] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a secondary battery pack including the battery cutoff unit may be provided. [Effects of the Invention]
[0027] The battery cutoff unit according to the present invention includes a housing configured to accommodate electrical components therein, and a fire extinguishing device disposed inside the housing body. material at least one cavity formed to receive a fire extinguishing agent contained in said cavity; material However, the discharge to the outside of the housing may be prevented below a preset temperature, and may be discharged to the outside at a temperature equal to or higher than the preset temperature.
[0028] This will extinguish the fire inside the battery disconnect unit. material can be released to the outside to delay thermal runaway.
[0029] In addition, it is possible to prevent or delay the spread of a fire inside the battery pack to the outside.
[0030] In addition, the fire can be extinguished continuously for a certain period of time. material can be supplied.
[0031] It also delays the melting and disappearance of the battery cutoff unit case.
[0032] This can prevent the battery cutoff unit from losing its function due to a fire.
[0033] It is also possible to secure time for the safety device inside the battery pack to operate.
[0034] This improves the stability of the battery pack.
[0035] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned examples, and more diverse effects are included in the present specification. [Brief explanation of the drawings]
[0036] [Figure 1] 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating a battery cutoff unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a battery pack including a battery cutoff unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an assembled battery cutoff unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line AA' in FIG. 1; [Figure 4] 4 is an enlarged view of B in FIG. 3, schematically illustrating how the fire-extinguishing liquid is discharged. FIG. [Figure 5] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an assembled battery cutoff unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line A-A' in FIG. 1;
[0037] In some of the accompanying drawings, corresponding components are given the same reference numerals. Those skilled in the art will understand that the drawings illustrate elements simply and clearly and are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, to facilitate understanding of the various embodiments, the dimensions of some elements shown in the drawings may be exaggerated compared to other elements. Furthermore, elements of the known art that are useful or essential in commercially viable embodiments may not be depicted in order to avoid obscuring the spirit of the various embodiments of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038]
[0023] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily understand the present invention. However, the present invention may be embodied in various different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the following embodiments.
[0039] In order to clearly explain the present invention, detailed descriptions of parts that are not relevant to the explanation or of related known technologies that may obscure the gist of the present invention will be omitted, and when adding reference numbers to components in each drawing in this specification, the same or similar reference numbers will be used for the same or similar components throughout the specification.
[0040] Furthermore, the terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted in a way that is limited to their ordinary and dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted in a way that is consistent with the technical idea of the present invention, in accordance with the principle that the inventor himself / herself can appropriately define the concept of a term in order to explain the invention in the best possible way.
[0041] As used in this specification, the terms "about," "approximately," and "substantially" are used to mean a range of a numerical value or degree or a range close to it, taking into consideration inherent manufacturing and material tolerances, and are used to prevent an infringer from unfairly using the disclosure content in which precise or absolute numerical values provided to aid in the understanding of the present invention are mentioned.
[0042] Typically, secondary batteries, also known as rechargeable batteries, are configured with a battery cell, module, battery pack, wire, battery disconnect unit (BDU), battery management system (BMS), and busbar. In this configuration, if a problem occurs in a specific cell inside the battery pack, the specific cell may generate a lot of heat, which may then be transferred to surrounding cells, eventually resulting in a fire. A fire in such a cell can lead to a fire in the module.
[0043] The battery disconnect unit (BDU) is usually located near the module, and the case of the battery disconnect unit is made of aluminum or plastic, for example. Furthermore, the electrical components and bus bars inside the battery disconnect unit, such as relays, are usually fixed to the case of the battery disconnect unit. Therefore, if the case structure of the battery disconnect unit is destroyed by fire, an electrical short circuit occurs between the surrounding pack structure. In this situation, an electrical closed circuit is formed inside the pack structure, accelerating thermal runaway within the pack structure. When this thermal runaway occurs, the temperature rises to a high temperature, for example, 1,200°C, and materials such as aluminum and plastic cannot support the structure of the battery disconnect unit.
[0044] Conventional battery cutoff units have the problem of difficulty in suppressing a fire and delaying its spread when a fire occurs. This problem also creates an additional problem of the battery cutoff unit being unable to smoothly demonstrate its internal insulation performance.
[0045] Therefore, the battery cutoff unit according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured to prevent or delay the spread of a fire inside the battery pack, thereby maintaining the performance of the battery pack and improving its stability.
[0046] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, various embodiments of the battery cutoff unit of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0047] Example 1 FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery cutoff unit 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a battery pack P including the battery cutoff unit 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0048] The battery cutoff unit 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may include a housing 100 and an electrical component 500 .
[0049] Referring to FIG. 1, the battery cutoff unit 10 includes a housing 100 configured to accommodate an electrical component 500 therein. That is, the electrical component 500 may be disposed to be accommodated within the housing 100. According to one embodiment, the housing 100 of the battery cutoff unit 10 includes a first housing 110 and a second housing 120, and the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 are coupled to each other to accommodate the electrical component 500. Here, the battery cutoff unit 10 may refer to a component that cuts off the power supply to the battery pack P for safety purposes, as shown in FIG. 2, when a current exceeding a predetermined range is generated. Furthermore, the electrical component 500 may refer to a collection of components for activating the battery cutoff unit 10. For example, to cut off the power supply to the battery pack P (see FIG. 2), the electrical component 500 may cut off a connection between a battery module M including a plurality of secondary batteries and a power conversion device.
[0050] 2, the battery cutoff unit 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may be disposed inside the battery pack P. For example, the battery cutoff unit 10 may be disposed at one end or both ends inside the battery pack P. Also, one or more battery modules M may be disposed inside the battery cutoff unit 10 inside the battery pack P. Furthermore, a connector (not shown) that can connect the battery pack P to the outside may be disposed near the battery cutoff unit 10.
[0051] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the battery cutoff unit 10 in an assembled state according to the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line A-A' in Figure 1. That is, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the battery cutoff unit 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line A-A' in Figure 1.
[0052] As an example of a configuration for preventing the spread of a fire, the housing 100 of the battery cutoff unit 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may include a cavity 200 capable of accommodating the fire-extinguishing liquid 300. For example, the cavity 200 may have a shape formed inside the main body of each of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 of the housing 100, i.e., a portion constituting the housing, and the fire-extinguishing liquid 300 may be disposed in the cavity 200 formed inside each of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120. In this case, the fire-extinguishing liquid 300 may include a substance that exhibits a fire-suppressing effect and may be fluid.
[0053] The fire-extinguishing liquid 300 disposed in each of the internal cavities 200 of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 of the housing 100 may be discharged to the outside of the housing 100 when the temperature reaches or exceeds a predetermined temperature. Here, the predetermined temperature may refer to a temperature at which the function of the battery cutoff unit 10 may be lost due to a fire. Therefore, when the temperature of the battery cutoff unit 10 reaches the predetermined temperature, the fire-extinguishing liquid 300 is discharged to the outside of the housing 100 to achieve a fire-extinguishing effect. For example, the predetermined temperature may be approximately 300°C to 400°C. According to one embodiment, the predetermined temperature may be a specific temperature between 300°C and 400°C.
[0054] In the battery cutoff unit 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the fire extinguishing liquid 300 is disposed in the internal cavity 200 of the housing 100 consisting of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120, so that the unit can maintain the same function normally and perform a fire extinguishing function in the event of a fire, thereby improving safety.
[0055] The housing 100 of the battery cutoff unit 10, i.e., the first and second housings 110 and 120, may be made of a material with a high melting point so that it will not be destroyed by heat in the event of a fire. For example, the housing 100 may be made of metal. In one embodiment, the housing 100 may be made of aluminum (Al), stainless steel (STS), an alloy containing multiple metals, or the like. The housing 100 may be made of aluminum (Al) in consideration of manufacturing processes such as formability.
[0056] According to the first embodiment of the present invention, the housing 100, which is formed of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120, may further include a cover 400. In this regard, a passage, which is a channel through which the extinguishing liquid 300 can move to the outside of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120, may be further formed inside each of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 of the housing 100. According to one embodiment, the passage of the housing 100 may be formed in a cylindrical shape extending from the cavity 200, in which the extinguishing liquid 300 is disposed, to the outside of the cavity 200. Meanwhile, the cover 400 of the housing 100 may be disposed in the passage of the extinguishing liquid 300 to prevent the extinguishing liquid 300 from being discharged to the outside below a predetermined temperature. According to one embodiment, the cover 400 of the housing 100 may be formed as an inlet through which the extinguishing liquid 300 is injected into the cavity 200. That is, the extinguishing liquid 300 can be contained inside the cavity 200 of the housing 100 by the cover 400 when the temperature is below a predetermined temperature, and the extinguishing liquid 300 can be discharged from the cavity 200 to the outside through a passage when the temperature is above the predetermined temperature.
[0057] As mentioned above, the preset temperature may be a specific temperature between 300°C and 400°C.
[0058] The cover 400 may have a cross section substantially the same as the cross section of the passage so as to prevent the discharge of the fire-extinguishing liquid 300 when the temperature is below a predetermined temperature. However, the length of the cover 400 may be shorter than the length of the passage, or the cover 400 may contact the outer surface of the housing 100 along the passage.
[0059] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of B in FIG. 3, which schematically illustrates how the fire-extinguishing liquid 300 is discharged from the cavity 200. As shown in FIG.
[0060] The cover 400 of the housing 100, which is formed of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120, may have a flow path formed therein so that the extinguishing liquid 300 moves when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature. That is, when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, the extinguishing liquid 300 is discharged to the outside of the housing 100 through the flow path formed inside the cover 400, thereby delaying or preventing the spread of a fire.
[0061] As an example of a configuration for forming a flow path at a temperature equal to or higher than a preset temperature, the cover 400 of the first housing 110 and the second housing 120 may include silicone, and for example, the cover 400 may be made of refractory silicone.
[0062] Refractory silicone may be fire-resistant and may be ceramized at or above a predetermined temperature. Here, "fire-resistant" may mean the property of being resistant to fire, and "ceramized" may mean the state of being hardened by heat. That is, the cover 400 is made of refractory silicone and can be ceramized while resisting fire. Therefore, refractory silicone can be ceramized at or above a specific temperature of 300°C to 400°C.
[0063] 4, refractory silicone is ceramized and expands above a predetermined temperature, forming gaps inside, and the extinguishing liquid 300 can pass through the channels formed along these gaps. For example, as the cover 400 hardens due to ceramization, the interior cracks, allowing the extinguishing liquid 300 to flow through the cracks. That is, the cracked gaps in the cover 400 serve as channels through which the extinguishing liquid 300 moves from the cavity 200 to the outside of the housing 100. The channels, or channels for the extinguishing liquid 300, connect the cavity 200 containing the extinguishing liquid 300 to the outside of the housing 100, so the extinguishing liquid 300 can be discharged to the outside of the housing 100 through the channels.
[0064] The housing 100 of the battery cutoff unit 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a cover 400 made of a material that can be ceramicized at a preset temperature or higher, so that the fire-extinguishing liquid 300 can be selectively used when necessary. In addition, the fire-extinguishing liquid 300 can be continuously discharged for a certain period of time, so that the spread of a fire can be efficiently delayed or prevented.
[0065] 1 and 3, according to an embodiment, the first housing 110 may be disposed on an upper portion of the electrical component 500, and the second housing 120 may be disposed on a lower portion of the electrical component 500.
[0066] Accordingly, the extinguishing liquid 300 may include a first extinguishing liquid 310 disposed in a cavity 200 formed inside the first housing 110 and a second extinguishing liquid 320 disposed in a cavity 200 formed inside the second housing 120. For example, the first extinguishing liquid 310 and the second extinguishing liquid 320 may be disposed in a plurality of cavities 200 inside the first housing 110 and the second housing 120, respectively.
[0067] The first housing 110 may have a first passage formed as a channel extending from the cavity 200 in which the first extinguishing liquid 310 is disposed to the outside, and the second housing 120 may have a second passage formed as a channel extending from the cavity in which the second extinguishing liquid 320 is disposed to the outside. The first housing 110 may include a first cover 410 disposed in the first passage, and the second housing 120 may include a second cover 420 disposed in the second passage. That is, the first cover 410 may prevent the first extinguishing liquid 310 from being discharged outside the first housing 110 below a predetermined temperature, and the second cover 420 may prevent the second extinguishing liquid 320 from being discharged outside the second housing 120 below a predetermined temperature.
[0068] The battery cutoff unit 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a plurality of fire-extinguishing liquids 300 arranged on both sides of the electrical component 500, so that the fire-extinguishing liquid 300 can be released over a wider area in the event of a fire.
[0069] Meanwhile, the first passage formed in the first housing 110 and the second passage formed in the second housing may have a shape extending toward the electrical component 500. Therefore, when the fire-extinguishing liquid 300 passes through the passage via the flow path formed by the gap in the cover 400, it can be discharged to the position where the electrical component 500 is disposed. Since the passage is formed extending toward the electrical component 500, the fire-extinguishing liquid 300 can efficiently prevent the electrical component 500 from being unable to perform its function due to a fire.
[0070] The electrical component 500 of the battery cutoff unit 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may include a relay 510 and a busbar 520. The relay 510 has a function of opening and closing an electrical circuit connected to the battery module M. Furthermore, when the electrical component 500 includes a plurality of relays 510, the busbar 520 can electrically connect the plurality of relays 510 to each other.
[0071] Example 2 Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of an assembled battery cutoff unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention, taken along a line A-A' in the same position and direction as in Figure 1. That is, Figure 5 is a cross-section of a battery cutoff unit 10' according to the second embodiment of the present invention, taken along the same position and direction as in Figure 1.
[0072] Hereinafter, a description of the same components as those of the battery cutoff unit 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be omitted, and differences will be mainly described. In this regard, the battery cutoff unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention may have a different passage shape from that of the first embodiment. Specifically, the passage according to the second embodiment may have a different extension direction and a different position from that of the first embodiment.
[0073] The housing 100' according to the second embodiment of the present invention may include a first housing 110' and a second housing 120'. The first housing 110' may include a first extinguishing liquid 310' disposed in a cavity 210' formed therein and a first cover 410' disposed in a first passage formed by extending from the cavity 210' to the outside. The second housing 120' may include a second extinguishing liquid 320' disposed in a cavity 220' formed therein and a second cover 420' disposed in a second passage formed by extending from the cavity 220' to the outside.
[0074] In this case, the first and second passages may extend in different directions. Referring to Fig. 5, the first passage may extend from the cavity 210' in which the first extinguishing liquid 310' is disposed toward the electrical component 500, and the second passage may extend from the cavity 220' in which the second extinguishing liquid 320' is disposed in a direction away from the electrical component 500. Therefore, in the event of a fire, the first and second extinguishing liquids 310' and 320' may be discharged to different positions.
[0075] In the battery cutoff unit 10' according to the second embodiment of the present invention, when exposed to a temperature higher than a preset temperature due to a fire, the first fire-extinguishing liquid 310' can prevent the electrical components 500 inside the battery cutoff unit 10' from being destroyed by the fire. In addition, the second fire-extinguishing liquid 320' can delay or prevent the fire from spreading outside the battery cutoff unit 10'. Therefore, the second fire-extinguishing liquid 320' can delay thermal runaway inside the battery pack P. Here, the preset temperature may be a specific temperature between approximately 300°C and 400°C.
[0076] As an example of a configuration for delivering the second fire-extinguishing liquid 320' over a wide area, the second passage according to the second embodiment of the present invention may include a lower passage and a side passage.
[0077] Referring to FIG. 5, the lower passage may be formed by extending in one direction from one side of the internal cavity 220' of the second housing 120' in which the second extinguishing liquid 320' is disposed. Here, "one side" may refer to the lower part of the internal cavity 220', and "one direction" may refer to the downward direction of the second housing 120'. Therefore, the lower passage may be formed to extend toward the lower part of the second housing 120'. The side passage may be formed by extending in the other direction from the other side of the internal cavity 220' of the second housing 120' in which the second extinguishing liquid 320' is disposed. Here, "the other side" may refer to the side of the internal cavity 220', and "the other direction" may refer to the direction toward the side of the second housing 120'. Therefore, the side passage may be formed by extending toward the side of the second housing 120'.
[0078] In this regard, the second housing 120′ according to the second embodiment of the present invention may include a lower cover 421 and a side cover 422. In this case, the lower cover 421 may be disposed in the lower passage, and the side cover 422 may be disposed in the side passage.
[0079] The lower cover 421 and the side cover 422 can each prevent the second fire-extinguishing liquid 320' from being discharged outside the second housing 120' below a predetermined temperature. Furthermore, the lower cover 421 and the side cover 422 can each allow the second fire-extinguishing liquid 320' to be discharged outside the second housing 120' through a flow path formed along a gap formed inside the lower cover 421 and the side cover 422 when the temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. The method of discharging the second fire-extinguishing liquid 320' to the outside of the second housing 120' through a flow path formed along a gap formed inside the lower cover 421 and the side cover 422 is the same as that described in the first embodiment of the present invention, and therefore will not be described further.
[0080] The second housing 120' according to the second embodiment of the present invention can efficiently prevent the spread of fire outside the battery cutoff unit by discharging the second fire-extinguishing liquid 320' in more various directions.
[0081] Meanwhile, the battery cutoff unit 10 according to various embodiments of the present invention may be assembled with other types of battery packs or battery modules in addition to the battery packs of the types described in the present invention.
[0082] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to limited examples and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereby, and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention and the equivalent scope of the claims set forth below. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the content described in the detailed description of the specification, but should be determined by the scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]
[0083] P Battery pack M Battery Module 10 Battery disconnect unit 100, 100' housing 110, 110' 1st housing 120, 120' Second housing 200 Fire Extinguishing Liquid Cavity 300, 300' Fire extinguishing liquid 310, 310' 1st fire extinguishing liquid 320, 320' 2nd fire extinguishing liquid 400, 400' cover 410, 410' 1st cover 420, 420' 2nd cover 421 Lower cover 422 Side cover 500 Electrical Parts 510 Relay 520 Busbar
Claims
1. a housing configured to accommodate electrical components therein; the housing body includes at least one cavity formed therein for containing a fire-extinguishing liquid; A battery cut-off unit configured to prevent the fire-extinguishing liquid contained in the cavity from being discharged to the outside of the housing when the temperature is below a predetermined temperature, and to discharge the fire-extinguishing liquid to the outside of the housing when the temperature is above the predetermined temperature.
2. The housing further has a passage, which is a channel extending from the cavity in which the fire-extinguishing liquid is disposed to the outside, The housing includes:
2. The battery cutoff unit according to claim 1, further comprising a cover disposed in the passage to prevent the fire-extinguishing liquid from being discharged outside when the temperature is below the preset temperature.
3. The cover is 3. The battery cutoff unit according to claim 2, further comprising an internal flow path for allowing the fire-extinguishing liquid to pass through the passage when the temperature is equal to or higher than the preset temperature.
4. The cover is 3. The battery disconnect unit of claim 2, comprising refractory silicone.
5. The refractory silicon is When the temperature exceeds the preset temperature, the volume expands and hardens, forming gaps inside.
5. The battery disconnecting unit of claim 4, wherein the fire-extinguishing liquid is provided to pass through the passage via a flow path formed along the gap.
6. The housing includes: A first housing; The battery disconnecting unit according to claim 2 , further comprising: a second housing coupled to the first housing and configured to house the electrical component.
7. The fire-extinguishing liquid is a first fire-extinguishing liquid disposed in a first cavity formed within the first housing; 7. The battery disconnect unit of claim 6, further comprising: a second fire-extinguishing liquid disposed in a second cavity formed within the second housing.
8. The first housing has a first passage, which is a channel extending from the first cavity in which the first fire-extinguishing liquid is disposed to the outside, 8. The battery cutoff unit according to claim 7, wherein the second housing has a second passage formed therein, the second passage being a channel extending from the second cavity, in which the second fire-extinguishing liquid is disposed, to the outside.
9. The first passage is the first extinguishing liquid is disposed in the first cavity, and the first extinguishing liquid extends from the first cavity toward the electrical component; The second passage is 9. The battery disconnecting unit according to claim 8, wherein the second extinguishing liquid extends from the second cavity in a direction away from the electrical component.
10. The first housing includes: a first cover disposed in the first passage to prevent the first fire-extinguishing liquid from being discharged to the outside when the temperature is below the predetermined temperature; The second housing includes:
9. The battery cutoff unit according to claim 8, further comprising a second cover disposed in the second passage to prevent the second fire-extinguishing liquid from being discharged to the outside when the temperature is below the preset temperature.
11. The second passage is a lower passage extending in one direction from one side of the second cavity in which the second extinguishing liquid is disposed; 9. The battery cutoff unit according to claim 8, further comprising: a side passage extending in another direction from the other side of the second cavity in which the second fire-extinguishing liquid is disposed.
12. The second housing includes: a lower cover disposed in the lower passage; a side cover disposed in the side passage.
13. The housing includes:
2. The battery cutoff unit of claim 1, which is made of any one selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, and alloys.
14. The electrical component is 10. The battery disconnect unit of claim 1, comprising one or more relays configured to open or close an electrical circuit coupled to the battery module.
15. The electrical component is 15. The battery disconnect unit of claim 14, further comprising a bus bar connecting the relays together.
16. The preset temperature is 2. The battery disconnecting unit of claim 1, wherein the temperature is 300°C or higher and 400°C or lower.
17. Electrical components and a housing configured to accommodate the electrical components; The housing includes: A cavity is formed therein to contain a fire extinguishing liquid, A battery cutoff unit including a cover that forms a gap therein when the temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, and that is configured so that the fire-extinguishing liquid moves from the cavity to the outside of the housing through a flow path formed along the gap.
18. A secondary battery pack comprising the battery cutoff unit according to any one of claims 1 to 17.
Citation Information
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