Secondary Battery Module

Abstract

To provide a secondary battery module in which, when a plurality of core packs are included, the space for fixing adjacent bus bars is minimized.SOLUTION: A secondary battery module includes a first core pack and a second core pack. Each of the first core pack and the second core pack includes a first holder and a second holder that accommodate a plurality of battery cells apart from each other in a first direction and a second direction (Y) intersecting with the first direction and that are coupled together in a third direction intersecting with the second direction, a plurality of tabs electrically connecting the battery cells along the first direction and disposed apart from each other in the second direction (Y), and a plurality of bus bars connecting the tabs to a battery management system (BMS). The first core pack has a rib protruding toward the second core pack and the rib pushes the bus bar of the second core pack.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a secondary battery module, and more particularly to a secondary battery module having a plurality of core packs in which tabs that electrically connect a plurality of battery cells to each other and bus bars that connect the tabs to a battery management system are arranged adjacent to each other. [Background technology]

[0002] Unlike primary batteries, rechargeable batteries are batteries that can be repeatedly charged and discharged. Small-capacity secondary batteries are used in small, portable electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, and camcorders. Large-capacity and high-density secondary batteries are used as power sources for driving motors in hybrid and electric vehicles and for energy storage.

[0003] A secondary battery may be used as a secondary battery module including a plurality of battery cells connected in series and / or parallel to require a relatively high energy density and to drive, for example, a motor of a hybrid vehicle. For example, a secondary battery module is formed by connecting electrode terminals of a plurality of battery cells provided in a number corresponding to a desired amount of power to realize a relatively high-power secondary battery module (e.g., an electric vehicle).

[0004] For example, a secondary battery module includes a plurality of core packs, each of which includes a plurality of battery cells connected in series and / or parallel, and is housed in a case. When the voltage and current required for consumer use are high, the secondary battery module must be highly durable against external impacts.

[0005] When a secondary battery module is formed by arranging multiple core packs adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction due to a large capacity, a partition wall is formed in the shape of a bus bar to separate each core pack and the bus bar is fixed in the partition wall with a bolt or a screw to prevent separation of the bus bar. However, there are cases where the space between the core packs is narrow and it is not possible to use a bolt or a screw. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a secondary battery module that minimizes the space required for fixing adjacent bus bars when multiple core packs are included.

[0007] An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a secondary battery module that minimizes the space between adjacent bus bars of adjacent core packs while firmly spacing and fixing the bus bars to ensure electrical stability.

[0008] Another object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a secondary battery module in which the overlapping portions of the tabs and bus bars that connect the battery cells to each other in the core pack are firmly fixed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A secondary battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a first core pack and a second core pack, each of which includes a first holder and a second holder that accommodate a plurality of battery cells spaced apart in a first direction and a second direction (Y) that intersects the first direction and are coupled to each other in a third direction that intersects the second direction, a plurality of tabs that electrically connect the battery cells along the first direction and are spaced apart in the second direction (Y), and a plurality of bus bars that connect the tabs to a battery management system (BMS), and the first core pack has ribs that protrude toward the second core pack, and the ribs can press the bus bars of the second core pack.

[0010] Among the tabs, the plate-shaped tab member used in the first core pack connects the battery cells to each other, and the bent tab member used in the second core pack may include an inner flat portion connected to the battery cells, and an inner side surface portion bent relative to the inner flat portion and disposed on a side surface of the second holder.

[0011] The bus bar includes a first bus bar member and a second bus bar member, and the second bus bar member used in the first core pack includes a flat portion separated from the plate-type tab member and a side portion connected to the flat portion and disposed on a side of the second holder, and the first bus bar member used in the second core pack includes an outer flat portion facing the inner flat portion of the bent tab member, and an outer side portion bent relative to the outer flat portion and connected to the inner side portion.

[0012] The rib can press the outer surface portion of the first bus bar member of the second core pack.

[0013] The ribs are provided in pairs on the second holder of the first core pack, on both sides in the width direction of the second bus bar member, and can press the outer surface portion of the first bus bar member in pairs.

[0014] The second bus bar member may include a vertical portion extending from a side surface thereof in a direction in which the first holder and the second holder of the first core pack are coupled, and a horizontal portion connected to the vertical portion.

[0015] The ribs may be provided in pairs on the second holder of the first core pack, and may be provided on both sides in the width direction of the vertical portion of the second bus bar member to hold the vertical portion.

[0016] The side surface portion of the second bus bar member may be greater than the sum of the heights of the first holder and the second holder of the first core pack, and the outer side surface portion of the first bus bar member may be located higher than the bottom end of the second holder of the first core pack.

[0017] The first busbar member may extend along a side surface of the second holder of the second core pack at the outer surface portion.

[0018] The ribs can support the stacked outer surface portion and inner surface portion in pairs.

[0019] Each of the first core pack and the second core pack includes a first line connecting a plurality of battery cells in parallel, a second line connecting another plurality of battery cells in parallel and in series, and a third line connecting yet another plurality of battery cells in parallel and in series, and the first line, the second line, and the third line may be connected in series and connected to the battery management system.

[0020] The second bus bar member of the first core pack and the first bus bar member of the second core pack that are adjacent to each other may have polarities different from each other. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] In one embodiment of the secondary battery module, a first core pack includes ribs protruding toward a second core pack, and the ribs press against the bus bars of the second core pack, thereby minimizing the space required to fasten adjacent bus bars. In another embodiment, the ribs of the first core pack press against the bus bars of the second core pack, thereby ensuring firm spacing between the bus bars and ensuring electrical stability.

[0022] In one embodiment, the first tab member used in the second core pack includes an inner flat portion and an inner side surface portion, and the first bus bar member used in the second core pack includes an outer flat portion connected to the inner flat portion and an outer side surface portion connected to the inner side surface portion, and the rib presses against the outer side surface portion of the first bus bar member of the second core pack, thereby firmly fixing the overlapping portion of the tab and the bus bar. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a secondary battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is an exploded perspective view of a first core pack and a battery management system used in the secondary battery module of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the series and parallel relationships of the battery cells in FIG. [Figure 5] 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a first core pack, a first tab member, and a first bus bar member in FIG. 1 are joined together. FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is a plan view of a first bus bar member of a first core pack and a second bus bar member of a second core pack of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Hereinafter, 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 implement the present invention. However, the present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In the drawings, parts unnecessary for the explanation are omitted in order to clearly explain the present invention, and the same reference numerals are used throughout the specification to refer to the same or similar components.

[0025] 1 is a perspective view of a secondary battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, the secondary battery module of the embodiment includes a first core pack 100 and a second core pack 200. The first core pack 100 and the second core pack 200 are housed in a case 300 so as to be adjacent to each other in a second direction (y-axis direction) to form a secondary battery module (see FIG. 4).

[0026] Each of the first core pack 100 and the second core pack 200 includes a first holder 10, a second holder 20, a plurality of tabs 30 (31, 32, 33), and a plurality of bus bars 40 (41, 42). As an example, the first holder 10 forms a bottom holder in the core pack, the second holder 20 forms a top holder, and the tabs 30 may be formed of a nickel tab containing a nickel material.

[0027] The first holder 10 and the second holder 20 form a honeycomb structure inside to accommodate a plurality of battery cells 50 spaced apart in a first direction (x-axis direction) and a second direction (y-axis direction) intersecting the first direction, and are connected to each other in a third direction (z-axis direction) intersecting the second direction.

[0028] For example, the first holder 10 and the second holder 20 are connected by a snap fit structure between a protruding member 11 provided on the outside of the first holder 10 and a connecting member 12 provided on the outside of the second holder 20 corresponding to the protruding member 11.

[0029] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a first core pack and a battery management system used in the secondary battery module of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the series and parallel relationships of the battery cells in Fig. 1.

[0030] 1 to 4, the tabs 30 that connect the battery cells 50 in series and in parallel include a first tab member 31, a second tab member 32, and a third tab member 33. That is, the first tab member 31, the second tab member 32, and the third tab member 33 electrically connect the battery cells 50 in series and in parallel along a first direction (x-axis direction) and are spaced apart in a second direction (y-axis direction).

[0031] The first tab member 31, the second tab member 32, and the third tab member 33 are arranged side by side on the second holder 20 along the second direction, and are arranged side by side under the first holder 10 along the opposite direction to the second direction in a symmetrical structure, thereby electrically connecting the battery cells 50 in parallel and in series.

[0032] For convenience, the description will be based on the structure on the second holder 20. The first tab member 31 electrically connects some of the multiple battery cells 50 in parallel and in series along the first direction. The second tab member 32 electrically connects some of the multiple battery cells 50 in parallel and in series along the first direction. The third tab member 33 electrically connects the remaining battery cells 50 in parallel and in series along the first direction.

[0033] Each of the first core pack 100 and the second core pack 200 includes a first line (L1) connecting in parallel some of the total battery cells 50, a second line (L2) connecting in parallel and in series other battery cells 50, and a third line (L3) connecting in parallel and in series still other battery cells 50. The first line (L1) is defined by a first tab member 31, the second line (L2) is defined by a second tab member 32, and the third line (L3) is defined by a third tab member 33.

[0034] The first line (L1) to the third line (L3), that is, the first tab member 31 to the third tab member 33, are connected in series and are connected to a battery management system (BMS) through the first and second bus bar members 41 and .

[0035] The first core pack 100 and the second core pack 200 are arranged so that the second bus bar member 42 of the first core pack 100 and the first bus bar member 41 of the second core pack 200, which are adjacent to each other, have different polarities. Therefore, the second bus bar member 42 and the first bus bar member 41, which are adjacent to each other in the y-axis direction, need to be kept electrically separated.

[0036] The first tab member 31 disposed at the outermost portion in the second direction of the first and second holders 10 and 20 may be formed of a bent tab member, and the second tab member 32 and the third tab member 33 disposed on the inner side may be formed of plate-type tab members that connect the battery cells 50 to each other.

[0037] The first tab member 31 of the bent tab member includes an inner flat surface portion 311 that is connected to the battery cell 50, and an inner side surface portion 312 that is bent relative to the inner flat surface portion 311 and disposed on the side surface of the first and second holders 10, 20.

[0038] The bus bar 40 includes a first bus bar member 41 and a second bus bar member 42. The first and second core packs 100, 200 all include first and second bus bar members 41, 42. Referring to Fig. 3, in the case of adjacent first and second core packs 100, 200, the first bus bar member 41 used in the second core pack 200 is connected on one side to the first tab member 31, which is a bent tab member, on the second holder 20, and on the other side to a battery management system (BMS).

[0039] The first busbar member 41 includes an outer flat surface 411 and an outer side surface 412. The outer flat surface 411 faces the inner flat surface 311 of the bent tab member, and the outer side surface 412 is bent relative to the outer flat surface 411 and connected to the inner side surface 312. The outer flat surface 411 of the first busbar member 41 is connected to a battery management system (BMS).

[0040] The second busbar member 42 used in the first core pack 100 is connected to the first tab member 31 below the first holder 10 on one side, extends above the second holder 20, and is connected to the battery management system (BMS) on the other side.

[0041] The second bus bar member 42 includes a flat portion 421 and a side portion 422. The flat portion 421 is spaced apart from the plate-shaped tab member, and the side portion 422 is bent and connected to the flat portion 421 and disposed on the side of the second and first holders 20 and 10. The flat portion 421 of the second bus bar member 42 is connected to a battery management system (BMS).

[0042] Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a coupled state of the first core pack, first tab member, and first bus bar member of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the first bus bar member of the first core pack and the second bus bar member of the second core pack of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

[0043] 3 to 7, the first core pack 100 has ribs 21 protruding toward the second core pack 200, and the ribs 21 press against the bus bars 40 of the second core pack 200. The ribs 21 press against the outer surface portions 412 of the first bus bar members 41 of the second core pack 200.

[0044] For example, the ribs 21 are provided in pairs on the second holder 20 of the first core pack 100, on both sides of the second bus bar member 42 in the width direction, and in pairs press the outer surface portion 412 of the first bus bar member 41. Referring to FIG. 1, the outer surface portion 412 is formed long in the first direction (x-axis direction) outside the second holder 20 and the inner surface portion 312.

[0045] Therefore, the paired ribs 21 firmly press the outer surface portion 412 of the first bus bar member 41, thereby minimizing the space (S) required for fixing the adjacent first and second bus bar members 41 and 42. In other words, the first and second bus bar members 41 and 42 are firmly spaced apart, ensuring electrical stability.

[0046] Because the rib 21 presses against the outer surface portion 412 of the first busbar member 41 of the second core pack 200, the overlapping portion between the inner surface portion 312 of the first tab member 31 and the outer surface portion 412 of the first busbar member 41 can be firmly fixed.

[0047] More specifically, the second bus bar member 42 includes a vertical portion 423 extending from the side portion 422 in the direction in which the first holder 10 and the second holder 20 of the first core pack 100 are joined, and a horizontal portion 424 connected to the vertical portion 423. The horizontal portion 424 absorbs vibrations and external shocks, thereby stabilizing the electrical connection structure of the second bus bar member 42.

[0048] The ribs 21 are provided in pairs on the second holder 20 of the first core pack 100 and are provided on both sides in the width direction of the vertical portion 423 of the second bus bar member 42 to hold the vertical portion 423. The vertical portion 423 may have a coupling groove to which the ribs 21 are coupled by an interference fit (see FIG. 7). Therefore, the vertical portion 423 can be firmly maintained in contact with the side surface of the second holder 20.

[0049] The side surface portion 422 of the second busbar member 42 is greater than the combined height (H) of the first holder 10 and the second holder 20 of the first core pack 100. The outer side surface portion 412 of the first busbar member 41 is smaller than the height of the second holder 20 of the first core pack 100. In other words, the lower end of the outer side surface portion 412 is positioned higher than the lowermost end of the second holder 20 of the first core pack 100. The outer side surface portion 412 of the first busbar member 41 extends along the side surface of the second holder 20 of the second core pack 200. Therefore, the outer side surface portion 412 is pressed by the rib 21 and can be supported by the second holder 20 of the second core pack 200.

[0050] The rib 21 supports the stacked outer surface portion 412 and inner surface portion 312 in pairs, thereby enabling the outer surface portion 412 and inner surface portion 312 to be firmly supported on the second holder 20 of the second core pack 200.

[0051] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, the description of the invention, and the accompanying drawings, and it is natural that these also fall within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 10: First holder 11: Protruding part 12: Connecting member 20: Second Holder 21: Rib 30: Tab 31: First tab member 32: Second tab member 33: Third tab member 40: Busbar 41: First bus bar member 42: Second bus bar member 50: Battery cell 100: First Core Pack 200: 2nd Core Pack 311: Inner plane part 312:Inner side part 411:Outer plane part 412:Outer surface part 421: Flat part 422: Side part 423:Vertical part 424:Horizontal part BMS: Battery Management System H: Total height S: Space

Claims

1. a first core pack and a second core pack; Each of the first core pack and the second core pack includes: a first holder and a second holder that accommodate a plurality of battery cells spaced apart in a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction and are coupled to each other in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions; a plurality of tabs that electrically connect the battery cells along the first direction and are spaced apart in the second direction; a plurality of bus bars connecting the tabs to a battery management system (BMS); The first core pack comprises: a rib protruding toward the second core pack; the tab includes a folded tab member used in the second core pack, the bent tab member includes an inner flat portion connected to the battery cell and an inner side surface portion bent relative to the inner flat portion and disposed on a side surface of the second holder, the bus bar includes a first bus bar member used in the second core pack, the first bus bar member includes an outer flat surface portion facing the inner flat surface portion of the bent tab member, and an outer surface portion bent relative to the outer flat surface portion and connected to the inner surface portion, the rib presses the outer surface portion of the first bus bar member of the second core pack. Secondary battery module.

2. The tab further includes a plate-shaped tab member used in the first core pack, The plate-shaped tab members connect the battery cells to each other. The secondary battery module according to claim 1 .

3. The bus bar further includes a second bus bar member used in the first core pack, The second bus bar member is The secondary battery module of claim 2 , comprising: a flat portion spaced apart from the plate-shaped tab member; and a side portion connected to the flat portion and disposed on a side of the second holder.

4. The rib is 4. The secondary battery module of claim 3, wherein the first core pack includes a pair of second holders, the pair of second holders being provided on both sides of the second bus bar member in a width direction thereof, and the pair of second holders being provided on both sides of the second bus bar member in a width direction thereof, and pressing the outer surface portion of the first bus bar member.

5. 4. The secondary battery module of claim 3, wherein the second bus bar member includes a vertical portion extending from the side surface in a coupling direction between the first holder and the second holder of the first core pack, and a horizontal portion connected to the vertical portion.

6. The rib is The secondary battery module according to claim 5 , wherein the second holder of the first core pack includes a pair of the first bus bar members, the pair of the second bus bar members being provided on both sides in a width direction of the vertical portion of the second bus bar member to hold the vertical portion.

7. the side surface portion of the second bus bar member is larger than the total height of the first holder and the second holder of the first core pack, The secondary battery module according to claim 5 , wherein the outer surface portion of the first bus bar member is positioned higher than a lowermost end of the second holder of the first core pack.

8. The secondary battery module of claim 6 , wherein the outer surface portion of the first bus bar member extends along a side surface of the second holder of the second core pack.

9. The secondary battery module according to claim 8 , wherein the ribs support the stacked outer side surface portion and the stacked inner side surface portion in pairs.

10. Each of the first core pack and the second core pack has: a first line connecting a plurality of battery cells in parallel, a second line connecting another plurality of battery cells in parallel and in series, and a third line connecting yet another plurality of battery cells in parallel and in series, The first line, the second line, and the third line are The secondary battery modules according to claim 1 , wherein the secondary battery modules are connected in series to the battery management system.

11. The second bus bar member of the first core pack and the first bus bar member of the second core pack that are adjacent to each other are The secondary battery module according to claim 3 , wherein the secondary battery module has polarities different from each other.

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