Battery pack and automobile including same

Abstract

A battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a battery module including battery cells, a case tray supporting the battery module, a case cover coupled to the case tray to cover the battery module, a seal gasket disposed between the case tray and the case cover to prevent penetration of moisture or foreign matter into the battery module, and a reinforcing unit provided on the case cover to be disposed near the seal gasket and configured to prevent twisting of the case cover when the case tray and the case cover are coupled to each other.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery pack and an automobile including the same, and more particularly to a battery pack having improved sealing performance of a seal gasket and an automobile including the same.

[0002] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0174141 filed on December 7, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety in the specification and drawings. [Background technology]

[0003] Secondary batteries, which have high applicability to various products and electrical properties such as high energy density, are widely used not only in portable devices but also in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) that are driven by electric drive sources. These secondary batteries have not only the temporary advantage of dramatically reducing the use of fossil fuels, but also the advantage of not producing any by-products associated with energy use, and are therefore attracting attention as a new energy source that is environmentally friendly and improves energy efficiency.

[0004] Currently widely used types of secondary batteries include lithium ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, nickel metal hydride batteries, and nickel zinc batteries. The operating voltage of such a unit secondary battery cell, i.e., a unit battery cell, is about 2.5V to 4.5V. Therefore, when a higher output voltage is required, a battery pack may be configured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series. In addition, a battery pack may be configured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in parallel depending on the charge / discharge capacity required for the battery pack. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in the battery pack may be variously set depending on the required output voltage and / or charge / discharge capacity.

[0005] Meanwhile, when constructing a battery pack by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series and / or in parallel, a typical method is to first construct a battery module including at least one battery cell, and then use this at least one battery module to add other components to construct a battery pack or a battery rack.

[0006] A conventional battery pack generally includes at least one battery module including at least one battery cell, a case tray that houses the at least one battery module, and a case cover, and a seal gasket is installed between the case cover and the case tray to seal the battery pack.

[0007] In order to ensure sealing performance in a battery pack, a large surface pressure must be generated from the seal gasket. To obtain such a large surface pressure, however, the case cover and case tray must be firmly fixed together without twisting when the seal gasket is installed.

[0008] However, in the case of conventional battery packs, when the case cover and the case tray are fastened with bolts, the case cover often twists near the position where the seal gasket is located, making it difficult to ensure surface pressure at the seal gasket, resulting in a problem of reduced sealing performance.

[0009] Therefore, it is desirable to find a solution that can provide a battery pack and an automobile including the same that can improve the sealing performance of the seal gasket by preventing twisting of the case cover near the mounting position of the seal gasket when the case cover and the case tray are fixed together. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack and an automobile including the same, which can prevent twisting of a case cover and improve the sealing performance of a seal gasket.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack and an automobile including the same that can effectively protect a battery module inside a case cover by preventing direct penetration of moisture, foreign matter, direct sunlight, etc. into the inside of the case cover.

[0012] However, the technical problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to the problems described above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention described below. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a battery pack comprising: at least one battery module including at least one battery cell; a case tray supporting the at least one battery module; a case cover coupled to the case tray to cover the at least one battery module; a seal gasket disposed between the case tray and the case cover to prevent penetration of moisture or foreign matter into the at least one battery module; and a reinforcing unit provided on the case cover to be disposed near the seal gasket and configured to prevent twisting of the case cover when the case tray and the case cover are coupled to each other.

[0014] In addition, preferably, the case tray and the case cover are connected to each other via a fastening unit, the fastening unit penetrates the seal gasket when the case tray and the case cover are connected, and the reinforcing unit is arranged opposite each other with the fastening unit in between.

[0015] Further, preferably, the reinforcing units are disposed opposite each other with the seal gasket interposed therebetween.

[0016] Furthermore, preferably, the reinforcing unit may have a thickness corresponding to a thickness of the sealing gasket.

[0017] Furthermore, preferably, the reinforcing unit includes a first reinforcing plate arranged on the inner surface of the case cover and a second reinforcing plate arranged on the inner surface of the case cover so as to be spaced a predetermined distance from the first reinforcing plate, and the sealing gasket can be arranged between the first reinforcing plate and the second reinforcing plate.

[0018] Furthermore, preferably, the sealing gasket may include a gasket band that is arranged between the first reinforcing plate and the second reinforcing plate when the case tray and the case cover are joined, and a plurality of fastening portions formed on the gasket band and through which fastening units for joining the case tray and the case cover pass.

[0019] Furthermore, preferably, the plurality of fastening portions can be formed so as to protrude further than the gasket band in the width direction of the gasket band.

[0020] Furthermore, preferably, the second reinforcing plate may be provided with a plurality of recesses for preventing interference with the plurality of fastening portions.

[0021] Furthermore, preferably, the plurality of recesses are arranged below the plurality of fastening portions and can be arranged to face the plurality of fastening portions at a predetermined distance.

[0022] Furthermore, preferably, a reinforcing patch extending so as to be curved at a predetermined angle may be provided on one end of the second reinforcing plate.

[0023] In addition, preferably, the reinforcing patch is formed on a lower end of the second reinforcing plate, and at least a portion of the reinforcing patch is exposed to the outside of the case cover.

[0024] The present invention also provides a vehicle including at least one battery pack according to the above-described embodiment. Effect of the Invention

[0025] According to the various embodiments as described above, it is possible to provide a battery pack and a vehicle including the same that can prevent twisting of the case cover and improve the sealing performance of the seal gasket.

[0026] In addition, according to the various embodiments as described above, it is possible to provide a battery pack and an automobile including the same that can effectively protect the battery module inside the case cover by preventing direct penetration of moisture, foreign matter, direct sunlight, etc. into the inside of the case cover.

[0027] In addition to the above, various other effects can be achieved by various embodiments of the present invention. Such various effects of the present invention will be explained in the section of each embodiment, and explanations of effects that can be easily understood by those skilled in the art will be omitted.

[0028] The drawings attached to this specification are intended to illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and serve to facilitate a further understanding of the technical ideas of the present invention as well as the content of the invention, and therefore the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to only the matters depicted in the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery pack of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a case cover of the battery pack of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 4 is a diagram for explaining a reinforcing unit attached to the inner surface of the case cover of FIG. 3. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the reinforcing unit of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 3 is a diagram for explaining a seal gasket of the battery pack in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the main portion of the seal gasket of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 4 is a diagram for explaining how a seal gasket is attached to the case cover of FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 8. [Figure 10] 3 is a diagram for explaining the connection between the case tray and the case cover of the battery pack in FIG. 2. [Figure 11] 5 is a cross-sectional view of a second reinforcing plate of the reinforcing unit of FIG. 4. [Figure 12] 11A and 11B are views illustrating a second reinforcing plate according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 12 is a diagram for explaining a structure for preventing direct penetration of moisture or foreign matter using a reinforcing patch of the second reinforcing plate in FIG. 11. FIG. [Figure 14] 1 is a diagram for explaining an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, the terms and words used in the present specification and claims are not to be construed as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but are to be construed as having meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical ideas of the present invention, in accordance with the principle that the inventors themselves can appropriately define the concepts of terms in order to best describe the invention.

[0031] Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiment described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiment of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical idea of ​​the present invention, and therefore there may be various equivalents and modifications that can be substituted therefor at the time of this application.

[0032] Meanwhile, in this specification, directional terms such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are used, but these terms are used merely for ease of explanation, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art of the present invention that they may vary depending on the position of the object in question, the position of the observer, etc.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery pack of FIG.

[0034] 1 and 2, a battery pack 10 may include a battery module 100, a case tray 200, a case cover 300, a seal gasket 400, and a reinforcement unit 500.

[0035] The battery module 100 may be arranged in a plurality of at least one battery cells 150. The battery module 100 may include at least one battery cell 150. Hereinafter, in this embodiment, the battery module 100 will be described only as including the plurality of battery cells 150.

[0036] The battery cells 150 are secondary batteries and may be arranged as pouch-type secondary batteries, square-type secondary batteries, or cylindrical-type secondary batteries. Hereinafter, this embodiment will be described with the battery cells 150 being limited to being arranged as pouch-type secondary batteries.

[0037] The case tray 200 can support the at least one battery module 100. The case tray 200 can be mounted on a machine or mechanism that uses the battery pack 10 as an energy source.

[0038] For example, the case tray 200 may be mounted on an automobile 1 (see FIG. 14) such as an electric vehicle. A plurality of tray fastening holes 205 for coupling with a case cover 300, which will be described later, may be provided on the periphery of the case tray 200.

[0039] The case cover 300 may be combined with the case tray 200 to cover the at least one battery module 100. A plurality of cover fastening holes 305 for coupling with the case tray 200 may be provided on a periphery of the case cover 300.

[0040] The sealing gasket 400 is for sealing the battery pack 10 and may be disposed between the case tray 200 and the case cover 300 to prevent the penetration of moisture or foreign matter into the at least one battery module 100.

[0041] The reinforcing unit 500 may be provided on the case cover 300 so as to be disposed near the seal gasket 400. Specifically, the reinforcing unit 500 may be provided near the peripheral portion of the inner surface of the case cover 300 and disposed near the seal gasket 400 on the inner surface of the case cover 300.

[0042] The reinforcing unit 500 may be configured to prevent twisting of the case cover 300 when the case tray 200 and the case cover 300 are joined together. When the case tray 200 and the case cover 300 are joined together, in the vicinity of the case cover 300 where the seal gasket 400 is disposed, there is a possibility that the case cover 300 may be twisted by the seal gasket 400.

[0043] In this embodiment, the reinforcing unit 500, which is positioned near the sealing gasket 400, can effectively prevent the case cover 300 from being twisted by the sealing gasket 400 when the case tray 200 and the case cover 300 are joined together.

[0044] Specifically, the case tray 200 and the case cover 300 may be coupled to each other via a fastening unit 600 (see FIG. 10). The fastening unit 600 may penetrate the seal gasket 400 when the case tray 200 and the case cover 300 are coupled to each other. Here, the reinforcing units 500 may be disposed opposite each other with the fastening unit 600 interposed therebetween.

[0045] In this embodiment, the reinforcing units 500 are positioned opposite each other across a fastening unit 600 (see FIG. 10) that penetrates the sealing gasket 400 when the case tray 200 and the case cover 300 are joined, thereby effectively preventing twisting of the case cover 300 in the vicinity of the location of the sealing gasket 400 when pressed by, for example, bolting the fastening unit 600 (see FIG. 10).

[0046] The reinforcing units 500 may be disposed facing each other on the inside of the case cover 300 with the seal gasket 400 therebetween. This makes it possible to effectively prevent the seal gasket 400 from being displaced when pressed due to fastening of the fastening unit 600 (see FIG. 10).

[0047] The reinforcing unit 500 according to this embodiment will be described in more detail below.

[0048] 3 is a perspective view of a case cover of the battery pack of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a reinforcing unit attached to the inner surface of the case cover of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the reinforcing unit of FIG. 4.

[0049] 3 to 5 and the above-described FIGS. 1 and 2, the reinforcing unit 500 may have a thickness (in the Y-axis direction) corresponding to the thickness of the sealing gasket 400 (in the Y-axis direction).

[0050] Specifically, the reinforcement unit 500 may be provided with a thickness that is not thicker than the thickness (Y-axis direction) of the seal gasket 400 so as to minimize the occurrence of empty space inside the battery pack 10 due to the thickness (Y-axis direction) of the reinforcement unit 500.

[0051] The reinforcing units 500 may be provided in pairs and disposed on both sides (Y-axis direction) of the inner surface of the case cover 300. Each of the reinforcing units 500 may include a first reinforcing plate 510 and a second reinforcing plate 530.

[0052] The first reinforcing plate 510 may be disposed on an inner surface of the case cover 300. Specifically, the first reinforcing plate 510 may be provided in the form of an elongated plate having a predetermined length.

[0053] The first reinforcing plate 510 may be attached to the inner surface of the case cover 300 at the bottom of the inner surface of the case cover 300 along the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the case cover 300 .

[0054] The first reinforcing plate 510 may have fixing portions 517 formed on both ends in a longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) for coupling with the case cover 300. A bolt fastening member for coupling the first reinforcing plate 510 and the case cover 300 may pass through the fixing portions 517 or may be fastened through the fixing portions 517.

[0055] The second reinforcing plate 530 may be disposed on the inner surface of the case cover 300 so as to be spaced a predetermined distance from the first reinforcing plate 510. Specifically, the second reinforcing plate 530 may be provided in the form of an elongated plate having a predetermined length, similar to the first reinforcing plate 510, and may be disposed to have a length longer than that of the first reinforcing plate 510.

[0056] The second reinforcing plate 530 may be attached to the inner surface of the case cover 300 at the bottom of the inner surface of the case cover 300 along the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the case cover 300 .

[0057] Specifically, the second reinforcing plate 530 may be disposed below the case cover 300 (in the -Z-axis direction) so as to be spaced a predetermined distance from the first reinforcing plate 510 in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) of the case cover 300.

[0058] The seal gasket 400 may be disposed between the first reinforcing plate 510 and the second reinforcing plate 530. In addition, the plurality of fastening holes 305 of the case cover 300 may be disposed between the first reinforcing plate 510 and the second reinforcing plate 530.

[0059] As described above, the first reinforcing plate 510 and the second reinforcing plate 530 are disposed between the multiple fastening holes 305 and the seal gasket 400 covering the multiple fastening holes 305 at the peripheral portion of the bottom of the inner surface of the case cover 300, and can reinforce the rigidity near the peripheral portion of the bottom of the inner surface of the case cover 300 along the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the case cover 300.

[0060] The seal gasket 400 disposed between the first reinforcing plate 510 and the second reinforcing plate 530 will be described in more detail below.

[0061] 6 is a diagram for explaining the seal gasket of the battery pack in FIG. 2, FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the main part of the seal gasket in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining how the seal gasket is attached to the case cover in FIG. 3, and FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the main part in FIG. 8.

[0062] 6 to 9 and the above-mentioned FIGS. 1 to 5, the seal gasket 400 may include a gasket band 410 and a plurality of fastening portions 430. As shown in FIG.

[0063] The gasket band 410 may be disposed between the first reinforcing plate 510 and the second reinforcing plate 530 when the case tray 200 and the case cover 300 are combined.

[0064] The gasket band 410 may be formed to correspond to the shape of the periphery of the case tray 200 and the periphery of the case cover 300. The gasket band 410 may have a predetermined length and may be made of a rubber material.

[0065] The plurality of fastening portions 430 are formed on the gasket band 410, and a fastening unit 600 for coupling the case tray 200 and the case cover 300 may pass through them.

[0066] The multiple fastening portions 430 may be arranged at positions corresponding to the multiple case fastening holes 305 of the case cover 300 so as to guide fastening using the fastening unit 600 when the case cover 300 of the sealing gasket 400 is attached.

[0067] The plurality of fastening portions 430 may be formed to protrude further than the gasket band 410 in the width direction of the gasket band 410 so that the fastening of the fastening unit 600 can be more easily conducted.

[0068] The second reinforcing plate 530 may be provided with a plurality of recesses 535 for preventing interference with the plurality of fastening portions 430. The plurality of recesses 535 may be formed on an upper side (+Z-axis direction) of the second reinforcing plate 530 and may be integrally formed with the second reinforcing plate 530.

[0069] When the seal gasket 400 is disposed, the plurality of recesses 535 may be disposed below (in the -Z axis direction) the plurality of fastening portions 430 of the seal gasket 400. The plurality of recesses 535 may be disposed to face the plurality of fastening portions 430 at a predetermined distance.

[0070] Meanwhile, the seal gasket 400 may include an elastic bead 450 , a position guider 470 and a guide bead 490 .

[0071] The elastic bead 450 is for further improving the sealing performance of the seal gasket 400, and may be formed on the outer circumferential surface of the gasket band 410. The elastic bead 450 may be elastically deformed while being pressed by the case tray 200 and the case cover 300 when the case tray 200 and the case cover 300 are combined.

[0072] The elastic bead 450 may include a band bead 452 and a fastening bead 456 .

[0073] The band bead 452 may be formed on an outer circumferential surface of the gasket band 410. The band bead 452 may be formed in an elongated shape along the longitudinal direction of the gasket band 410.

[0074] The fastening beads 456 may be provided in a plurality. The fastening beads 456 may be formed on outer circumferential surfaces of the fastening portions 430. The fastening beads 456 may have shapes corresponding to the shapes of the fastening portions 430.

[0075] The position guider 470 may guide the installation of the seal gasket 400 in a fixed position when the seal gasket 400 is installed. The position guider 470 may be disposed between the plurality of fastening portions 430 and may protrude from the gasket band 410 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the gasket band 410 by a predetermined length.

[0076] The position guider 470 may have a protrusion length at least equal to that of the fastening portions 430. The protrusion length of the position guider 470 may be a protrusion length that is preset for positioning the seal gasket 400 at a fixed position. The preset protrusion length may be at least equal to that of the fastening portions 430.

[0077] The position guider 470 may be positioned away from the band bead 452 so as not to interfere with the band bead 452 .

[0078] The position guiders 470 may be deployed in multiples.

[0079] The plurality of position guiders 470 may be disposed at least one between the plurality of fastening portions 430. The plurality of position guiders 470 may be disposed at a predetermined distance from each other along the longitudinal direction of the gasket band 410.

[0080] Through the multiple position guiders 470, manufacturers can easily visually check the positions of the multiple position guiders 470 when placing the seal gasket 400 between the case tray 200 and the case cover 300, and quickly determine whether the multiple position guiders 470 are placed in the correct position.

[0081] The guide bead 490 may be provided on the gasket band 410 and may be provided at a position close to the position guider 470. The guide bead 490 may be provided in a generally circular shape.

[0082] The guide bead 490, together with the elastic bead 450, can further improve the sealing performance of the seal gasket 400. The guide bead 490, together with the elastic bead 450, can be elastically deformed while being pressed by the case tray 200 and the case cover 300 when the case tray 200 and the case cover 300 are coupled to each other.

[0083] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the connection between the case tray and the case cover of the battery pack in FIG.

[0084] Referring to FIG. 10, during the manufacturing process of the battery pack 10, manufacturers may place the battery module 100 (see FIG. 2) on the case tray 200, and then couple the case tray 200 and the case cover 300 to each other via a fastening unit 600.

[0085] Here, in order to seal the battery pack 10, the manufacturers may place the seal gasket 400 on the peripheral portion of the case tray 200 and the peripheral portion of the case cover 300, and fasten the case cover 300, the seal gasket 400, and the case tray 200 together through the fastening unit 600.

[0086] A plurality of such fastening units 600 may be provided. Each of the plurality of fastening units 600 may include a fastening boss 610 and a fastening nut 630.

[0087] The fastening boss 610 may be disposed in a cylindrical shape having a screw thread therein. The fastening boss 610 may penetrate the tray fastening hole 205 of the case tray 200 at the inside of the case tray 200 or may cover the tray fastening hole 205.

[0088] The fastening nut 630 is screwed with the fastening boss 610 and may penetrate into the cover fastening hole 305 of the case cover 300 at the outside of the case cover 300 or may cover the cover fastening hole 305 .

[0089] In this embodiment, the fastening boss 610 may pass through the tray fastening hole 205 of the case tray 200, the fastening portion 430 of the sealing gasket 400, and the cover fastening hole 305 of the case cover 300 in this order, and then be bolted to the fastening nut 630.

[0090] On the other hand, the arrangement positions of the fastening boss 610 and the fastening nut 630 of the fastening unit 600 are not limited to this in any way, and it goes without saying that as long as the fastening boss 610 and the fastening nut 630 are located in a position where they can be connected to each other, the fastening boss 610 can be arranged so as to cover the cover fastening hole 305 of the case cover 300 on the outside of the case cover 300, and the fastening nut 630 can be arranged so as to cover the tray fastening hole 205 of the case tray 200 on the inside of the case tray 200.

[0091] In addition, the fastening unit 600 may be provided as a fastening bolt and a fastening nut bolted to the fastening bolt, in addition to the fastening boss 610 and the fastening nut 630 coupled to the fastening boss 610.

[0092] The positions of the fastening bolts and fastening nuts may also be reversed as long as they are capable of guiding the connection between the case tray 200 and the case cover 300 .

[0093] When the fastening unit 600 is used for the bolt fastening, the pressing force associated with the bolt fastening may cause twisting in the peripheral portion of the case cover 300 where the sealing gasket 400 is positioned, particularly in the peripheral portion of the bottom of the case cover 300.

[0094] In this embodiment, the first reinforcing plate 510 and the second reinforcing plate 530 of the reinforcing unit 500 are arranged on the upper and lower sides of the peripheral portion of the bottom of the case cover 300, sandwiching the sealing gasket 400, thereby effectively preventing twisting that may occur in the peripheral portion of the bottom of the case cover 300 during the bolt tightening connection.

[0095] Therefore, in this embodiment, the case cover 300 and the case tray 200 can be joined at the position where the seal gasket 400 is arranged without twisting the case cover 300, and the surface pressure of the seal gasket 400 can be maximized.

[0096] As a result, in this embodiment, the surface pressure of the seal gasket 400 can be further increased by using the reinforcing unit 500, and the sealing performance of the battery pack 10 can be effectively improved.

[0097] 11 is a cross-sectional view of a second reinforcing plate of the reinforcing unit of FIG.

[0098] 11, a reinforcing patch 550 extending to be curved at a predetermined angle may be provided on one end of the second reinforcing plate 530. The reinforcing patch 550 is integrally formed with the second reinforcing plate 530, and increases the overall moment of inertia of the case cover 300 during the bolt fastening, thereby more firmly preventing twisting of the peripheral portion of the bottom of the case cover 300.

[0099] FIG. 12 is a view for explaining a second reinforcing plate according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0100] Since the second reinforcing plate 531 in this embodiment is substantially similar to the second reinforcing plate 530 in the above-described embodiment, redundant explanations of configurations that are substantially the same or similar to those in the above-described embodiment will be omitted, and the following description will focus on the differences from the above-described embodiment.

[0101] 12, the reinforcing patch 555 of the second reinforcing plate 531 may have a hemming shape and be folded so that an end portion faces upward (+Z-axis direction). Such a reinforcing patch 555 may further increase the overall moment of inertia value of the case cover 300.

[0102] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a structure for preventing direct penetration of moisture or foreign matter using a reinforcing patch of the second reinforcing plate of FIG.

[0103] Referring to FIG. 13 , the reinforcing patch 550 may be formed on a lower end of the second reinforcing plate 530 and at least a portion of the reinforcing patch 550 may be exposed to the outside of the lower end of the case cover 300 .

[0104] The reinforcement patch 550 is disposed between the case cover 300 and the case tray 200 on the outer side of the case cover 300, and can prevent direct penetration of moisture, foreign matter, direct sunlight, etc. into the battery module 100 disposed inside the case tray 200.

[0105] In addition, the reinforcing patch 550 can prevent the direct penetration of moisture, foreign matter, direct light, and the like into the sealing gasket 400 (see FIG. 2) in addition to the battery module 100.

[0106] Therefore, the reinforcing patch 550 can effectively prevent the battery module 100 and the sealing gasket 400 from being damaged by moisture, foreign matter, direct sunlight, and the like.

[0107] Needless to say, even if the reinforcing patch 555 (see FIG. 12) of the above-mentioned embodiment is used, it is possible to prevent the direct penetration of moisture, foreign matter, direct sunlight, etc. into the battery module 100 and the sealing gasket 400.

[0108] Meanwhile, although not shown, the battery module 100 may further include a bus bar assembly for sensing voltages of the plurality of battery cells 150. The bus bar assembly may be electrically connected to the battery cells 150 and may be electrically connected to electrical components such as a battery management system (BMS) to be described later.

[0109] The bus bar assembly is electrically connected to the electrode leads of the battery cell 150 and may be disposed on both sides of the battery cell 150 in the front-rear direction or on the top-bottom direction of the battery cell 150 .

[0110] The battery pack 10 may further include a BMS for controlling and managing the battery module 100, a heat sink for cooling the battery module 100, and various other electrical components constituting the battery pack 10, although not shown.

[0111] The heat sink may be provided at the bottom or side of the battery module 100, and may be provided as an air-cooled or water-cooled type heat sink connected to an external cooling device for cooling the battery pack 10. The heat sink may be provided with a cooling passage therein through which a cooling fluid flows.

[0112] In addition, the battery pack 10 may be provided with components such as a service plug for managing the battery pack 10, and the service plug may be provided such that at least a portion of it is exposed to the outside of the case tray 200 or the case cover 300 to facilitate subsequent management by a user, etc.

[0113] FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0114] 14, the battery pack 10 is a fuel source for the vehicle, and may be installed in at least one or more of the vehicle 1. For example, the battery pack 10 may be installed in the vehicle 1 in an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or in any other manner that allows the battery pack 10 to be used as a fuel source.

[0115] Also, it goes without saying that the battery pack 10 can be installed in other devices, mechanisms, and equipment, such as an energy storage system using a secondary battery, in addition to the automobile 1. In particular, the energy storage system can be an energy storage system used for industrial purposes, or a residential (building) energy storage system used to store energy in a house, building, or the like.

[0116] As such, the battery pack 10 according to this embodiment and devices, mechanisms, and equipment equipped with the battery pack 10, such as the automobile 1, include the battery pack 10 described above, and therefore it is possible to realize devices, mechanisms, and equipment, such as the automobile V, that have all of the advantages of the battery pack 10 described above.

[0117] According to the various embodiments as described above, it is possible to provide a battery pack 10 and an automobile 1 including the battery pack 10, which are capable of preventing twisting of the case cover 300 and improving the sealing performance of the seal gasket 400.

[0118] In addition, by using the various embodiments as described above, it is possible to provide a battery pack and an automobile including the same that can effectively protect the battery module 100 inside the case cover 300 by preventing direct penetration of moisture, foreign matter, direct sunlight, etc. into the inside of the case cover 300.

[0119] Although the present invention has been described above using limited embodiments and drawings, the technical concept of the present invention is in no way limited thereto, and it goes without saying that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications and variations within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention and the equivalent scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0120] 1. Automobiles 10 Battery Pack 100 Battery Module 150 Battery Cells 200 case tray 205 Tray fastening hole 300 Case Cover 305 Fastening hole 400 Seal Gasket 410 Gasket band 430 Fastening Part 450 Elastic Bead 452 Band Bead 456 Fastening Bead 470 Position Guider 490 Guide Bead 500 Reinforcement Units 510 First Reinforcement Plate 517 Fixed part 530 Second Reinforcement Plate 531 Second Reinforcement Plate 535 Depression 550 Reinforcement Patch 555 Reinforcement Patch 600 Fastening Units 610 Fastening boss 630 Fastening nut V Automobile

Claims

1. at least one battery module including at least one battery cell; a case tray supporting the at least one battery module; a case cover coupled to the case tray to cover the at least one battery module; a seal gasket disposed between the case tray and the case cover to prevent the penetration of moisture or foreign matter into the at least one battery module; a reinforcing unit provided on the case cover so as to be disposed near the seal gasket and configured to prevent twisting of the case cover when the case tray and the case cover are coupled together; A battery pack comprising: The reinforcing units are disposed opposite each other with the seal gasket in between, a second reinforcing plate arranged on the inner surface of the case cover so as to be spaced a predetermined distance from the first reinforcing plate, and the sealing gasket is disposed between the first reinforcing plate and the second reinforcing plate.

2. The case tray and the case cover are coupled to each other via a fastening unit, the fastening unit penetrates the seal gasket when the case tray and the case cover are coupled together, The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing units are disposed opposite each other with the fastening unit therebetween.

3. The reinforcing unit includes:

10. The battery pack of claim 1, having a thickness corresponding to a thickness of the sealing gasket.

4. The seal gasket is a gasket band disposed between the first reinforcing plate and the second reinforcing plate when the case tray and the case cover are joined together; a plurality of fastening portions formed on the gasket band, through which fastening units for coupling the case tray and the case cover pass; 10. The battery pack of claim 1 , comprising:

5. The plurality of fastening portions include The battery pack according to claim 4 , wherein the gasket band is formed to protrude further than the gasket band in a width direction.

6. The second reinforcing plate has: The battery pack of claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of recesses for preventing interference with the plurality of fasteners.

7. The plurality of recesses include: The battery pack according to claim 6 , wherein the battery pack is disposed below the plurality of fastening portions and opposed to the plurality of fastening portions at a predetermined distance.

8. At one end of the second reinforcing plate, 6. The battery pack of claim 5, wherein the reinforcing patch is provided to extend so as to be curved at a predetermined angle.

9. The reinforcing patch is The battery pack according to claim 8 , wherein the second reinforcing plate is formed at a lower end thereof, and at least a portion of the second reinforcing plate is exposed to the outside of the case cover.

10. A motor vehicle comprising at least one battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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