Battery pack and device including same

Abstract

A battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a lower case and an upper case, and an annular gasket formed between the lower case and the upper case to seal the space between the lower case and the upper case, wherein the gasket includes a first sealing portion and a second sealing portion bonded to each other, the melting point of the second sealing portion being lower than the melting point of the first sealing portion.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0158412, filed December 2, 2019, and all contents disclosed in the documents of said Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery pack and a device including the same, and more particularly to a battery pack including a gasket and a device including the same. [Background technology]

[0003] Recently, with the technological development and increasing demand for mobile devices, the demand for rechargeable secondary batteries as an energy source is rapidly increasing. As a result, much research is being conducted on secondary batteries that can meet various demands.

[0004] Secondary batteries are also attracting attention as a power source for electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (Plug-In HEVs), etc., which have been presented as a solution to air pollution caused by existing gasoline and diesel vehicles that use fossil fuels.

[0005] As a result, electric vehicles (EVs) that can run on batteries alone and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) that use batteries in conjunction with existing engines have been developed, some of which have already been commercialized. Nickel-metal hydride batteries are mainly used as secondary batteries to power EVs and HEVs, but recently, active research has been conducted into the use of lithium secondary batteries, which have high energy density, high discharge voltage and output stability.

[0006] When the secondary battery is used as a power source for a vehicle, the secondary battery is used in the form of a battery pack including a number of battery modules or battery module assemblies. The vehicle battery pack has rubber gaskets disposed in upper and lower cases to seal the battery pack.

[0007] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional battery pack, Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of part A in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the direction in which gas is discharged from a conventional battery pack.

[0008] 1 to 3, a conventional battery pack is formed of an upper case 11 and a lower case 12, and a gasket 20 made of a rubber material is formed between the upper case 11 and the lower case 12 and fixed via a fastening part 30, and the inside of the battery pack is sealed via the gasket 20. The gasket 20 is uniformly formed of a rubber material along the periphery between the cases, and when a gasket made of such a material is uniformly formed around the cases, when a fire occurs inside the battery pack, gas due to the fire is discharged from all around the gasket as shown in FIG.

[0009] This is because when pressure exceeding the sealing force acts on the gasket 20, gas is discharged from all sides through the surface of the gasket 20 which is uniformly formed in the circumferential direction. However, since the vehicle battery pack is installed inside the vehicle, there is a problem that the vehicle and passengers may be put at risk if high-temperature gas is discharged in the direction of vehicle parts such as the fuel tank. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack and a device including the same that can set the direction in which gas is discharged in the event of ignition.

[0011] butThe problems to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the problems described above, and can be variously expanded within the scope of the technical ideas included in the present invention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] A battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a lower case, an upper case, and an annular gasket formed between the lower case and the upper case to seal the lower case and the upper case, the gasket including a first sealing portion and a second sealing portion bonded to each other, and a melting point of the second sealing portion is lower than a melting point of the first sealing portion.

[0013] The second sealing portion has protrusions at both ends thereof, and the first sealing portion has grooves at both ends thereof, and the protrusions are fitted into the grooves.

[0014] The width of the protrusion of the second sealing portion is greater than the width of the groove of the first sealing portion.

[0015] A bush may be formed at the center of the second sealing portion, and a fastening member may be inserted into the bush to fix the position of the second sealing portion.

[0016] By melting the second sealing portion, gas exhaust channels are formed on both sides of the bush, and gas inside the battery pack is exhausted to the outside through the gas exhaust channels.

[0017] The fastening members are formed of bolts and nuts.

[0018] The upper case and the lower case may be formed with fastening portions, and the fastening member may couple the bushing and the fastening portion.

[0019] The first sealing portion is made of EPDM rubber, and the second sealing portion is made of NR rubber.

[0020] The second sealing portion is formed in plurality.

[0021] The gasket is formed in a rectangular shape, and the second sealing portions are formed on one side of the gasket. Side are placed in the part.

[0022] The gasket is formed in a rectangular shape, and the second sealing portions are formed on one side of the gasket. Side A part and the one Side Other parts connected to Side are placed in the part.

[0023] In a device including a battery pack, the second sealing portion is formed on a portion of the gasket that faces the outside. Effect of the Invention

[0024] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the stability of the battery pack mounted on a device can be improved by allowing gas inside the battery pack to be discharged through a gas discharge channel formed by melting a second sealing portion formed in a direction in which no vehicle components are provided. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional battery pack. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the direction in which gas is discharged from a conventional battery pack. [Figure 4] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 5] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a gasket according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 6 is a diagram showing a second sealing portion formed in part B of FIG. 5. FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is an exploded view of the second sealing portion of FIG. 6. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a view showing a state in which a gas exhaust channel is formed according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 9 is a view of a gas exhaust channel according to an embodiment of the present invention, seen from a different angle than in FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a gas discharge position of a gasket according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 4 is a diagram showing a gas vent position of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 12] 13 is a view showing a second sealing portion according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 13] 13 is a view showing a second sealing portion according to still another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 14] 1 is a diagram showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention attached to a device D. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a semiconductor device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] In order to clearly explain the present invention, parts that are not necessary for the explanation will be omitted, and the same reference numerals will be used throughout the specification to refer to the same or similar components.

[0028] In addition, the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for convenience of explanation, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to the illustrated examples. In the drawings, thicknesses are enlarged to clearly show various layers and regions. In the drawings, thicknesses of some layers and regions are exaggerated for convenience of explanation.

[0029] Furthermore, throughout the specification, when a part "comprises" a certain element, this means that it can further include other elements, but not to the exclusion of other elements, unless specifically stated to the contrary.

[0030] Hereinafter, a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0031] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 5 is a view showing a gasket according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] 4 and 5, the battery pack according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a lower case 120 and an upper case 110 combined with a cell assembly therein. Inside the battery pack, different numbers of cell assemblies form a vertically stacked structure.

[0033] The gasket 200 is formed in an annular shape along the outer periphery of the lower case 120 and the upper case 110 to seal the gap between the cases. The gasket 200 is made of a rubber material.

[0034] The gasket 200 can be coupled to the case through a fastening portion 111 formed on the upper case 110 and a fastening portion 121 formed on the lower case 120. The fastening portions 111 formed on the upper case 110 are formed in a plurality of portions along the periphery where the upper case 110 contacts the lower case 120. Similarly, the fastening portions 121 formed on the lower case 120 are formed in a plurality of portions along the periphery where the lower case 120 contacts the upper case 110. The gasket 200 also has a plurality of fastening portions formed along the annular periphery. The fastening portions of the upper case 110, the fastening portions of the lower case 120, and the fastening portions of the gasket 200 are all formed at corresponding positions in the vertical direction, and the fastening portions are coupled to each other in the vertical direction via fastening members. The fastening members are formed of bolts and nuts.

[0035] Previously, all parts of the gasket were made of the same material and the gasket sealed around the upper and lower cases with the same sealing force. However, if an internal fire caused pressure to be generated that exceeded the sealing force of the gasket, gas would be discharged through all gasket surfaces in all 360 degrees, and when the battery pack was installed in a vehicle, there was a risk of hot gas being discharged in the direction of the fuel tank and vehicle components.

[0036] However, according to one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, gasket 200 includes a first sealing portion 210 and a second sealing portion 220 which are joined to each other, and when the temperature rises, second sealing portion 220 melts before first sealing portion 210, and gas inside the case is discharged to the outside through melted second sealing portion 220.

[0037] According to the present invention, the first sealing part 210 is made of EPDM rubber, and the second sealing part 220 is made of NR rubber. The maximum use temperature of EPDM rubber is 150 degrees, and the maximum use temperature of NR rubber is 90 degrees. Since NR rubber has a lower melting point than EPDM rubber, it can melt first when the temperature rises. Therefore, the second sealing part 220 melts before the first sealing part 210, and gas inside the battery pack can be discharged to the outside through the melted second sealing part.

[0038] Therefore, the second sealing part 220 according to an embodiment of the present invention can be installed in a position desired by the user, and since gas inside the battery pack can be discharged in the direction in which the installed second sealing part 220 is located, the position of the second sealing part 220 can be set in a direction in which vehicle parts and fuel tanks are not located, thereby preventing dangers that may occur due to the discharged gas.

[0039] Hereinafter, the second sealing part according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail.

[0040] Figure 6 is a view showing a second sealing part formed in part B of Figure 5. Figure 7 is a view showing an exploded view of the second sealing part of Figure 6. Figure 8 is a view showing a state in which a gas exhaust channel is formed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] 6 to 8, the second sealing part 220 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include protrusions 221 and 222 formed at both ends and a bush 223 formed in the center.

[0042] The protrusions 221 and 222 are formed to protrude in different directions from the center of both ends of the second sealing part 220. The protrusions 221 and 222 are fitted into the grooves 211 and 212 formed on both ends of the first sealing part 210, respectively.

[0043] 7, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the width W2 of the protrusions 221, 222 of the second sealing part 220 is formed wider than the width W1 of the grooves 211, 212 of the first sealing part 210. Since the width W2 of the protrusions 221, 222 is formed wider than the width W1 of the grooves 211, 212 in this manner, the first sealing part 210 and the second sealing part 220 can be firmly coupled to each other by fitting based on an overlapping structure.

[0044] The bush 223 is formed in the center of the second sealing part 220 and is formed to vertically correspond to one of the fastening parts 111 of the upper case 110 and one of the fastening parts 121 of the lower case 120, and the second sealing part 220 can be fixed in position by coupling the second sealing part 220 to the upper case 110 and the lower case 120 through the fastening member 300. More specifically, the second sealing part 220 can be disposed at a position desired by the user among the surrounding parts where the upper case 110 and the lower case 120 are connected, and the second sealing part 220 disposed at the desired position can be fixed between the upper case 110 and the lower case 120 through the bush 223.

[0045] The fastening member 300 may be coupled to the bushing 223 and the fastening portions 111 and 121 of the upper case 110 and the lower case 120 formed at positions corresponding thereto by penetrating the bushing 223. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the fastening member 300 is formed of a bolt and a nut, but is not limited thereto and the fastening member may be realized in various embodiments.

[0046] The gas exhaust direction according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

[0047] Fig. 8 is a view showing a state in which a gas exhaust channel is formed according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9 is a view showing the gas exhaust channel according to an embodiment of the present invention from a different angle than Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a view showing a gas exhaust position of a gasket according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 11 is a view showing a gas exhaust position of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] 8 to 11, gas exhaust channels 224, 225 according to an embodiment of the present invention are formed on both sides of a bush 223 of a second sealing part 220. As the temperature of the battery pack rises due to an ignition inside the battery pack, the second sealing part 220, which has a lower melting point, melts before the first sealing part 210, and as the second sealing part 220 melts, gas exhaust channels 224, 225 are formed on both sides of the bush 223. Gas inside the battery pack can be exhausted to the outside through the gas exhaust channels 224, 225.

[0049] Hereinafter, a second sealing portion formed in a plurality of portions according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0050] Fig. 12 is a view showing a second sealing part according to another embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 13 is a view showing a second sealing part according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 12, a plurality of second sealing portions 220 according to another embodiment of the present invention are formed, and the plurality of second sealing portions 220 are formed in one of the gaskets 200 having a rectangular shape. Side Referring to FIG. 13, according to another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of second sealing portions 220 are formed, and the plurality of second sealing portions 220 are disposed at one of the gaskets 200 formed in a rectangular shape. Side Part and said one Side Other parts connected Side are placed in each part.

[0052] Hereinafter, a state in which a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to a device D will be described.

[0053] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention attached to a device D.

[0054] 10 and 14, the second sealing part 220 of the battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention is formed on a part of the gasket 200 that faces the outside. Therefore, high-temperature gas is not discharged toward the components formed inside the device, but is discharged to the outside, thereby protecting the components installed in the device. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the device is formed in a vehicle, the battery pack is disposed at the rear of the vehicle, and the second sealing part 220 is also disposed toward the rear of the vehicle so as to face the outside, thereby discharging high-temperature gas to the external space, thereby protecting the components installed in the vehicle.

[0055] In addition, a device according to another embodiment of the present invention includes the above-mentioned battery pack as a power source. Such a device may be applied to transportation means such as electric bicycles, electric cars, and hybrid cars, but the present invention is not limited thereto and may be applied to various devices that can use a battery pack, which also fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0056] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention defined in the following claims also fall within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 110: Upper case 111: Fastening part 120: Lower case 121: Fastening part 200: Gasket 210: First sealing section 211, 212: Groove 220: Second sealing section 221, 222:Protrusion 223: Bush 224, 225: Gas exhaust channel 300: Fastening member

Claims

1. a lower case and an upper case; a ring-shaped gasket formed between the lower case and the upper case to seal the gap between the lower case and the upper case, the gasket includes a first sealing portion and a second sealing portion coupled to each other; The melting point of the second sealing portion is lower than the melting point of the first sealing portion, The second sealing portion has protrusions at both ends thereof, and the first sealing portion has grooves at both ends thereof, and the protrusions are tightly fitted into the grooves, A battery pack, wherein a width of the protrusion of the second sealing portion is wider than a width of the groove of the first sealing portion.

2. The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein a bush is formed at a center of the second sealing portion, and a fastening member is inserted into the bush to fix a position of the second sealing portion.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2 , wherein gas exhaust channels are formed on both sides of the bush by melting the second sealing portion, and gas inside the battery pack is exhausted to the outside through the gas exhaust channels.

4. The battery pack according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the fastening members are formed of bolts and nuts.

5. The battery pack according to claim 2 , wherein the upper case and the lower case are formed with fastening portions, and the fastening member connects the bush and the fastening portion.

6. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the first sealing portion is made of an EPDM-based rubber, and the second sealing portion is made of an NR-based rubber.

7. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the second sealing portions are formed.

8. The battery pack according to claim 7 , wherein the gasket is formed in a rectangular shape, and the second sealing portions are disposed on one side of the gasket.

9. The battery pack according to claim 7 , wherein the gasket is formed in a rectangular shape, and the second sealing portions are disposed on one side of the gasket and another side connected to the one side.

10. A device including the battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The second sealing portion is a device formed on a portion of the gasket that faces the outside.

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