Fastening devices and battery packs including fastening devices

Abstract

A fastening device according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a head portion, a threaded portion provided to be fastened to the head portion, and an elastic member that elastically connects the head portion and the threaded portion in an internal housing space defined when the head portion and the threaded portion are fastened together.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0088453, filed on July 7, 2023, and all the contents disclosed in the document of the Korean Patent Application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a fastening device and a battery pack including the fastening device.

Background Art

[0003] Research and development on power generation based on environmentally friendly energy sources have been conducted to solve the problem of environmental pollution and the problem of energy sources due to the depletion of oil resources. In particular, research on secondary batteries has been actively carried out, and research has been conducted on various aspects such as materials, structures, processes, and stability of secondary batteries.

[0004] A plurality of secondary batteries can be installed and managed in modules or packs and are subjected to repeated charging and discharging processes. To improve the energy density, the voltage applied to the secondary batteries is increasing. As a result, the internal pressure of the battery module or battery pack may increase due to ignition or gas generation, and it is necessary to achieve stability through appropriate control.

[0005] According to the conventional technology, there may be a problem with the structural stability due to the lack of a safety device against ignition or gas generation.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a fastening device capable of improving structural stability and a battery pack including the fastening device.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] A fastening device according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a head portion, a threaded portion provided to be fastened to the head portion, and an elastic member that elastically connects the head portion and the threaded portion in an internal housing space defined when the head portion and the threaded portion are fastened together.

[0008] A battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a housing frame provided for housing batteries, a cover lead coupled to the housing frame and covering the open upper part of the housing frame, and a fastening device for connecting the housing frame and the cover lead, wherein the fastening device includes a head portion coupled to the cover lead, a threaded portion fastened to the head portion and fixed to the housing frame, and an elastic member that elastically connects the head portion and the threaded portion in an internal housing space defined when the head portion and the threaded portion are fastened together. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fastening structure can be adaptively deformed in response to internal pressure.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, structural stability can be improved in the event of internal ignition or the generation of high-temperature gases. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a plan view showing the structure of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a side cross-sectional view showing the structure of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing a fastening device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is an exploded perspective view showing a fastening device according to one embodiment of the present invention, viewed from one direction. [Figure 5] This is an exploded perspective view showing a fastening device according to one embodiment of the present invention, viewed from another direction. [Figure 6]This is a partially enlarged view showing the locking groove and projection of a fastening device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a side view showing how a fastening device is separated from a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a side view showing how a fastening device according to one embodiment of the present invention is separated. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that they can be easily implemented by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. However, the present invention can be realized in a variety of different forms and is not limited or restricted by the embodiments described below.

[0013] For the purpose of clearly describing the present invention, detailed descriptions of relevant prior art that are irrelevant to the description or that could obscure the gist of the invention have been omitted. In this specification, when assigning reference numerals to components in the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals are used throughout the specification for components that are the same or similar.

[0014] Furthermore, the terms and words used in this specification and in the claims should not be interpreted in a manner limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but rather should be interpreted in a manner consistent with the technical idea of ​​the present invention, in accordance with the principle that inventors may define the concepts of terms as appropriate to best describe their invention.

[0015] Figure 1 is a plan view showing the structure of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing the structure of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] The battery pack 1 may include a housing frame 2. The housing frame 2 can house a secondary battery inside. The housing frame 2 may form at least a portion of the outside of the battery pack 1.

[0017] The battery pack 1 can include a cover lead 3. The cover lead 3 can form the outside of the upper part of the battery pack 1.

[0018] The cover lead 3 can be coupled to the housing frame 2 so as to cover the open upper part of the housing frame 2.

[0019] The battery pack 1 can include a fastening device 10. The fastening device 10 can couple the housing frame 2 and the cover lead 3. For example, a part of the fastening device 10 can be coupled to the cover lead 3, and another part can be coupled to the housing frame 2.

[0020] The battery pack 1 can include a housing portion 4. The housing portion 4 can be provided to house a secondary battery. The housing portion 4 can be defined by the housing frame 2 and the cover lead 3.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a fastening device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the fastening device according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from one direction, and FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing the fastening device according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from another direction.

[0022] The fastening device 10 can include a head portion 100.

[0023] The fastening device 10 can include a screw portion 200. The screw portion 200 can be provided to be fastened to the head portion 100.

[0024] The fastening device 10 can include an elastic member 300. The elastic member 300 can elastically connect the head portion 100 and the screw portion 200. The elastic member 300 can be disposed in an internal accommodation space defined when the head portion 100 and the screw portion 200 are fastened.

[0025] A first groove 110 can be formed in the head portion 100. The first groove 110 can be provided so that one end 310 of the elastic member 300 is inserted into it.

[0026] A second groove 210 can be formed in the threaded portion 200. The other end 320 of the elastic member 300 can be inserted into the second groove 210.

[0027] Specifically, for example, when the head portion 100 and the threaded portion 200 are fastened together in the vertical direction, the first groove portion 110 can be formed by recessing in the head portion 100 so that one end portion 310 of the elastic member 300 is inserted along the vertical direction. The second groove portion 210 can be formed by recessing in the threaded portion 200 so that the other end portion 320 of the elastic member 300 is inserted along the vertical direction.

[0028] The housing space of the elastic member 300 can be an internal space defined when the head portion 100 and the threaded portion 200 are fastened together. For example, the housing space can be a space defined by the inner surfaces of the first groove portion 110 and the second groove portion 210. The inner surfaces can include the bottom surfaces (e.g., 111, 211) and inner surfaces of the first groove portion 110 and the second groove portion 210.

[0029] The elastic member 300 can be fixed to the bottom surface. For example, one end 310 can be fixed to the bottom surface 111 of the first groove 110, and the other end 320 can be fixed to the bottom surface 211 of the second groove 210. However, it is not limited to this, and the elastic member 300 can also be provided to be fixed to other positions on the inner surfaces of the first groove 110 and the second groove 210.

[0030] The threaded portion 200 may include a main body portion 220. Threads 221 may be formed on the main body portion 220.

[0031] The threaded portion 200 may include a projection 230. The projection 230 may protrude from the main body portion 220. For example, the projection 230 may protrude from the main body portion 220 so as to be inserted into the first groove portion 110. Here, the second groove portion 210 may be formed by recessing from the projection portion 230.

[0032] The fastening device 10 described above allows the structure of the battery pack 1 to deform adaptively in response to the internal pressure.

[0033] Figure 6 is a partially enlarged view showing the locking groove and projection of a fastening device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] A locking groove 112 can be formed in the first groove 110. For example, the locking groove 112 can be recessed into the inner surface of the first groove 110.

[0035] The projection 230 may include a protrusion 231. For example, the protrusion 231 may project from the outer surface of the projection 230 so as to be locked into the locking groove 112.

[0036] The projection 231 can be detachably locked from the locking groove 112. For example, if a pressure greater than a predetermined amount is applied in a direction that separates the head portion 100 and the threaded portion 200, the projection 231 can be detached from the locking groove 112.

[0037] The projection 231 can be locked in the locking groove 112 so as to restrict its rotation. For example, when the head portion 100 and the threaded portion 200 are fastened in the vertical coupling direction, the projection 231 can be locked in the locking groove 112 so as to restrict its movement in the rotation direction with respect to the vertical coupling direction as the axis of rotation.

[0038] Figure 7 is a side view showing how a fastening device is separated from a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 8 is a side view showing how a fastening device is separated according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] The elastic member 300 can stretch under certain conditions. For example, if a pressure greater than a certain amount is applied in a direction that separates the head portion 100 and the threaded portion 200, the elastic member 300 can stretch due to the pressure. Here, the housing frame 2 and the cover lead 3 can be separated as the elastic member 300 stretches.

[0040] As described above, when the housing frame 2 and cover lead 3 separate due to the internal conditions of the housing 4 (e.g., ignition, gas generation), the pressure in the housing 4 can be easily relieved. This improves the structural stability of the battery pack 1 in the event of internal ignition or the generation of high-temperature gas.

[0041] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various implementations are possible by persons with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, within the equivalent scope of the technical concept of the present invention and the claims described below. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1 Battery pack 2. Storage Frame 3 Cover Lead 4. Storage area 10 Fastening devices 100 Head section 110 First groove 111 Bottom 112 Section Groove 200 threaded section 210 Second groove 211 Bottom 220 Main body 221 threads 230 Protrusion 231 Protrusion 300 Elastic member 310 One end 320 Other end

Claims

1. The head section, A threaded portion provided to be fastened to the head portion, A fastening device including an elastic member that elastically connects the head portion and the threaded portion in an internal housing space defined when the head portion and the threaded portion are fastened together.

2. The head portion includes: A first groove is formed into which one end of the elastic member is inserted. The aforementioned threaded portion includes: The fastening device according to claim 1, wherein a second groove is formed into which the other end of the elastic member is inserted.

3. The elastic member is The aforementioned end is fixed to the bottom surface of the first groove, The fastening device according to claim 2, wherein the other end is fixed to the bottom surface of the second groove.

4. The aforementioned threaded portion is The main body has a screw thread formed on it, It includes a protruding portion that protrudes from the main body portion so as to be inserted into the first groove portion, The second groove portion is, The fastening device according to claim 2 or 3, which is formed by recession from the aforementioned protruding portion.

5. The first groove portion is, A locking groove is formed by recessing into the inner surface of the first groove. The aforementioned protrusion is The fastening device according to claim 4, further comprising a projection that protrudes from the outer surface of the projection so as to be engaged with the locking groove.

6. The aforementioned projection is The fastening device according to claim 5, wherein it can be detached from the locking groove when a pressure greater than a predetermined amount is applied in a direction that separates the head portion and the threaded portion.

7. The head portion and the threaded portion are fastened together in the vertical direction. The aforementioned projection is The fastening device according to claim 5, which is locked in the locking groove such that movement is restricted in the rotational direction with respect to the coupling direction as the axis of rotation.

8. The aforementioned accommodation space is The fastening device according to claim 2 or 3, defined by the inner surfaces of the first groove and the second groove.

9. The aforementioned inner surface is The fastening device according to claim 8, including a bottom surface and an inner surface.

10. A housing frame provided for housing the battery, A cover lead is connected to the aforementioned housing frame and covers the open upper part of the housing frame, Includes a fastening device that connects the housing frame and the cover lead, The fastening device is The head portion that connects to the cover lead, A screw portion fastened to the head portion and fixed to the housing frame, A battery pack including an elastic member that elastically connects the head portion and the screw portion in an internal housing space defined when the head portion and the screw portion are fastened together.

11. The head portion has a first groove formed therein. The first groove is provided such that one end of the elastic member is inserted into the first groove and the other end is fixed to the bottom surface of the first groove. A second groove is formed in the threaded portion. The battery pack according to claim 10, wherein the second groove is provided such that the other end of the elastic member is inserted into the second groove and the other end is fixed to the bottom surface of the second groove.

12. The battery pack according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the elastic member stretches when a pressure greater than a predetermined amount is applied in a direction that separates the head portion and the screw portion.

13. The housing frame and the cover lead are, The battery pack according to claim 12, wherein the elastic members separate as they stretch.

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