Battery packs and devices containing them

Abstract

The present invention includes a battery pack and a device including the same. A battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a pack case that houses a plurality of battery modules and includes a first plate covering one side of the plurality of battery modules and a second plate covering another side of the plurality of battery modules, wherein a first gasket is positioned along an edge of the first plate and a second gasket is positioned along an edge of the second plate, and the first gasket and the second gasket are positioned overlapping in an area where one edges of the first plate and the second plate meet.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery pack and a device including the same, and more particularly to a battery pack with improved waterproof and vibration-proof performance and a device including the same. [Cross-citation with related applications(s)] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0163385 dated November 24, 2021, and all contents disclosed in the documents of that Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0002] Due to technological development and increasing demand for mobile devices, the demand for secondary batteries as an energy source is rapidly increasing. As a result, much research is being conducted on secondary batteries that can meet various requirements.

[0003] 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 proposed as a solution to air pollution caused by existing gasoline and diesel vehicles that use fossil fuels.

[0004] As a result, electric vehicles (EVs) that can run on batteries alone and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) that use batteries in combination with existing engines have been developed, and some of these have been commercialized. Nickel-metal hydride secondary 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 stable output.

[0005] When such a 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 a rubber gasket disposed at the joint between the cases to seal the battery pack.

[0006] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional battery pack, and Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a cross section of the battery pack shown in Fig. 1, where the plates are joined together.

[0007] 1 and 2, a conventional battery pack 10 includes a first side plate 13 and a second side plate 14 that form one side of a pack case. The first side plate 13 and the second side plate 14 each include a gasket 20. Specifically, a first gasket 21 may be located along the edge of the first side plate 13, and a second gasket 22 may be located along the edge of the second side plate 14.

[0008] The gasket 20 may be made of rubber. The first gasket 21 and the second gasket 22 made of rubber may overlap at one edge where the first side plate 13 and the second side plate 14 overlap. In this case, a gap may be formed between the first gasket 21 and the second gasket 22, which may allow moisture or dust to enter the battery pack 10 from the outside, resulting in a problem of not meeting the required waterproof rating. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a battery pack with improved assembly efficiency and waterproof performance, and a device including the same.

[0010] However, the problems to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above problems, and can be variously expanded within the scope of the technical ideas included in the present invention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] A battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of battery modules, a pack case that houses the plurality of battery modules and includes a first plate that covers one side of the plurality of battery modules and a second plate that covers another side of the plurality of battery modules, wherein a first gasket is positioned along an edge of the first plate, a second gasket is positioned along an edge of the second plate, and the first gasket and the second gasket are positioned overlapping in an area where one edge of the first plate and the second plate meet.

[0012] The first gasket and the second gasket may have different elastic hardnesses.

[0013] The first gasket may have a greater elastic hardness than the second gasket.

[0014] The degree of shape change of the first gasket may be smaller than the degree of shape change of the second gasket.

[0015] The first gasket may be fitted into a first groove that is dug to a certain depth along the edge of the first plate.

[0016] The shape of the first gasket may correspond to the shape of the edge of the first plate.

[0017] The shape of the first gasket may correspond to the shape of the first groove of the first plate.

[0018] The first gasket may be made of an elastic material.

[0019] The first gasket may be made of rubber.

[0020] The second gasket may be provided in a second groove dug to a certain depth along the edge of the second plate.

[0021] The second gasket may be formed by being applied to the second groove and then cured.

[0022] The second gasket may correspond to the shape of the second groove.

[0023] The second gasket may be made of resin.

[0024] The second gasket may be made of a CIPG (Cured In Place Gasket) material.

[0025] A device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention includes the battery pack described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] According to one embodiment of the present invention, gaskets made of different materials are stacked to form a double sealing structure, thereby improving waterproofing and vibration-proofing performance.

[0027] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional battery pack. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the plates that make up the battery pack of FIG. 1, where the plates are joined together. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a first gasket located on one surface of the battery pack case. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second gasket located on one surface of the battery pack case. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the plates that make up the battery pack of FIG. 4 joined together. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the battery pack of FIG. 7, showing the plates joined together. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0030] In order to clearly describe the present invention, parts that are not relevant to the description will be omitted, and the same reference numerals will be used throughout the specification to refer to the same or similar components.

[0031] Furthermore, the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for the convenience of explanation, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to those shown in the drawings. Thicknesses are exaggerated in the drawings to clearly show various layers and regions. In the drawings, the thicknesses of some layers and regions are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation.

[0032] Furthermore, when a layer, film, region, plate, or other part is said to be "on" or "above" another part, this includes not only the case where it is "directly above" the other part, but also the case where there is another part in between. Conversely, when a part is said to be "directly above" another part, it means that there is no other part in between. Furthermore, being "on" or "above" a reference part means being located above or below the reference part, and does not necessarily mean being located "on" or "above" in the opposite direction of gravity.

[0033] Furthermore, throughout the specification, when a part "comprises" a certain element, this does not mean that other elements are excluded, and that other elements may also be included, unless otherwise specified to the contrary.

[0034] Furthermore, throughout the specification, "on a plane" means when the subject part is viewed from above, and "on a cross section" means when the subject part is cut vertically and viewed from the side.

[0035] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] 3 and 4, a battery pack 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a pack case that houses a plurality of battery modules 100. The pack case may include a lower plate 1100 to which the plurality of battery modules 100 are attached, an upper plate 1200 that covers the top surfaces (z-axis direction) of the plurality of battery modules 100, a first side plate 1300 that covers both side surfaces (y-axis direction and -y-axis direction) of the plurality of battery modules 100, and a second side plate 1400 that covers the front and rear surfaces of the plurality of battery modules 100.

[0037] The battery pack 1000 according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a first gasket 2000 attached to a first side plate 1300 provided to cover one side of the plurality of battery modules 100, and may also include a second gasket 3000 attached to a second side plate 1400 provided to cover the other side of the plurality of battery modules 100.

[0038] The battery module 100 may include a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked in a predetermined direction, and a module frame. The module frame may include an upper frame and a lower frame, and the battery cell stack may be attached between the upper frame and the lower frame to form the battery module 100. However, the module frame is not limited to the above, and may be a monoframe made of a metal plate material with top, bottom, and both side surfaces integrated together.

[0039] Here, the battery cells are not particularly limited in type, and may be pouch-type secondary batteries or prismatic secondary batteries, but are preferably pouch-type secondary batteries.

[0040] A heat sink may be provided on the lower plate 1100, and at least one battery module 100 may be attached to the heat sink. The size of the heat sink may correspond to the size of the battery module 100, or may be larger than the size of the battery module 100.

[0041] The upper plate 1200 may be a plate configured to cover the upper portions of the plurality of battery modules 100. The upper plate 1200 may have a size corresponding to the size of the lower plate 1100.

[0042] The first side plate 1300 may be a plate that covers both sides of the plurality of battery modules 100. Opposing edges of the first side plate 1300 correspond to edges of the lower plate 1100 and the upper plate 1200, respectively, and may be fastened together using fastening members or by welding or other methods.

[0043] The first side plate (first plate) 1300 includes a first groove 1310 to which the first gasket 2000 is attached. The first groove 1310 may be an area dug to a certain depth along the edge of the first side plate 1300. The first groove 1310 may be an area dug to a certain depth along the edge of the first side plate 1300 that faces the plurality of battery modules 100. The first gasket 2000 may be located in the first groove 1310.

[0044] The first gasket 2000 is a component additionally positioned on the first side plate 1300, and when the first side plate 1300 is combined with other components that make up the battery pack 1000, it can improve the sealing performance and the waterproof and vibration-proof performance of the battery pack 1000.

[0045] The second side plate (second plate) 1400 may be a plate that covers the front and rear surfaces of the plurality of battery modules 100. The upper edge of the second side plate 1400 corresponds to one edge of the upper plate 1200, the lower edge of the second side plate 1400 corresponds to one edge of the lower plate 1100, and the edges on both sides of the second side plate 1400 correspond to one edge of the two first side plates 1300, respectively, and may be fastened together using fastening members or joined together by welding or other methods.

[0046] The second side plate 1400 may include a second groove 1410 in which the second gasket 3000 is attached. The second groove 1410 may be an area dug to a certain depth along the edge of the second side plate 1400. The second gasket 3000 may be provided in the second groove 1410 of the second side plate 1400.

[0047] The second gasket 3000 is a component additionally positioned on the second side plate 1400, and when the second side plate 1400 is combined with other components that make up the battery pack 1000, it can improve the sealing performance and improve the waterproof and vibration-proof performance of the battery pack 1000.

[0048] When the first side plate 1300 and the second side plate 1400 are joined together, one edge of the first side plate 1300 comes into contact with one edge of the second side plate 1400. In this case, the first gasket 2000 and the second gasket 3000 may be positioned so as to come into contact with and overlap each other.

[0049] In this drawing, the first gasket 2000 is shown as being mounted in the first groove 1310 of the first side plate 1300, however this is by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting, as the first gasket 2000 may be mounted in grooves in the bottom plate 1100, top plate 1200, and / or second side plate 1400.

[0050] In this drawing, the second gasket 3000 is shown as being provided in the second groove portion 1410 of the second side plate 1400, but this is just one example and is not intended to be limiting, as the second gasket 3000 may be provided along the edges of the lower plate 1100, the upper plate 1200, and / or the first side plate 1300.

[0051] The lower plate 1100, the upper plate 1200, the first side plate 1300, and the second side plate 1400 may be made of a rigid material, thereby protecting the battery modules 100 and the electrical components connected thereto from external physical impacts.

[0052] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a first gasket located on one surface of the battery pack case.

[0053] 5, a first side plate 1300, which is one element constituting the battery pack case, includes a first groove 1310, and a first gasket 2000 is attached to the first groove 1310. The first gasket 2000 improves the sealing performance of the battery pack and prevents moisture, dust, etc. from entering the battery pack from the outside.

[0054] The first gasket 2000 may be provided along the edge of the first side plate 1300. The first gasket 2000 may be provided in a first groove 1310 dug to a certain depth along the edge of the first side plate 1300. The first gasket 2000 may be fitted into the first groove 1310.

[0055] The shape of the first gasket 2000 may correspond to the edge shape of the first side plate 1300. The shape of the first gasket 2000 may correspond to the shape of the first groove 1310 of the first side plate 1300. The width of the first gasket 2000 may be smaller than or equal to the width of the first groove 1310. The height of the first gasket 2000 may be greater than or equal to the height of the first groove 1310.

[0056] The first gasket 2000 may be made of an elastic material. For example, the first gasket 2000 may be made of rubber. Therefore, when pressure is applied to the first gasket 2000, the shape of the first gasket 2000 can be deformed in response to the applied pressure. For example, when pressure is applied to the first gasket 2000, the shape of the first gasket 2000 attached to the first groove 1310 can be changed so that no empty space is generated in the first groove 1310. Therefore, it is possible to prevent moisture, dust, etc. from entering the battery pack from the outside, and improve the waterproof performance and vibration-proof performance of the battery pack.

[0057] In this drawing, the first gasket 2000 is shown as being attached to one side of the first side plate 1300, but this is only one example and is not limited to this, and the first gasket 2000 may be located on any side that constitutes the battery pack case.

[0058] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second gasket located on one surface of the battery pack case.

[0059] 6, a second gasket 3000 is attached along the edge of a second side plate 1400, which is one element constituting the battery pack case. The second gasket 3000 improves the sealing performance of the battery pack and prevents moisture, dust, etc. from entering the battery pack from the outside.

[0060] The second gasket 3000 may be provided along the edge of the second side plate 1400. The second gasket 3000 may be provided in a second groove 1410 dug to a certain depth along the edge of the second side plate 1400. The second gasket 3000 may be of a dispensing type, and may be formed by being applied along the second groove 1410 of the second side plate 1400 and then cured.

[0061] The shape of the second gasket 3000 may correspond to the edge shape of the second side plate 1400. The width of the second gasket 3000 may be smaller than the thickness of the second side plate 1400 or may correspond to the thickness of the second side plate 1400. The width of the second gasket 3000 may be smaller than the width of the groove in the second side plate 1400 or may correspond to the width of the groove in the second side plate 1400. The height of the second gasket 3000 may correspond to the height of the groove in the second side plate 1400.

[0062] The second gasket 3000 may be made of resin. For example, the second gasket 3000 may be made of a resin or the like. For example, the second gasket 3000 may be made of a CIPG (Cured In Place Gasket) material. The CIPG material may be a substance that hardens into a solid state like rubber when applied as a liquid material and then hardens. The CIPG material has high elastic recovery, so when pressure is applied to the second gasket 3000, it can change shape in response to the applied pressure. Therefore, when the second side plate 1400 is combined with other components of the battery pack, the shape of the second gasket 3000 changes to fill gaps between the components of the battery pack, preventing moisture, dust, and the like from entering the battery pack from the outside, thereby improving the waterproof and vibration-proof performance of the battery pack.

[0063] Also, although the second gasket is shown in this drawing as being provided along the edge of the second side plate 1400, this is merely one example and is not limited to this, and the second gasket may be located on any surface that constitutes the battery pack case.

[0064] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the respective plates that make up the battery pack of Fig. 4 being joined together. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic cross section of the respective plates that make up the battery pack of Fig. 7 being joined together.

[0065] 7 and 8, one edge of the first side plate 1300 and one edge of the second side plate 1400 constituting the battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention may be positioned in contact with each other. In this case, the first gasket 2000 provided along the first groove 1310 of the first side plate 1300 and the second gasket 3000 provided along the second groove 1410 of the second side plate 1400 may be positioned in contact with each other.

[0066] The first gasket 2000 may have a greater elastic hardness than the second gasket 3000. Therefore, when the first side plate 1300 and the second side plate 1400 are joined together, pressure is applied to the first gasket 2000 and the second gasket 3000, respectively. In this case, the degree of shape deformation of the second gasket 3000 may be greater than that of the first gasket 2000. That is, the first gasket 2000 and the second gasket 3000 may be engaged and joined together without assembly tolerances. Therefore, unlike conventional battery packs (see FIGS. 1 and 2), there are no assembly tolerances compared to when a battery pack is constructed by contacting first gaskets made of an elastic material such as rubber, and the possibility of moisture or dust entering the battery pack from the outside is reduced. In other words, the waterproof and vibration-proof performance of the battery pack can be improved without being affected by the assembly conditions.

[0067] This drawing specifically describes only the waterproof structure at one overlapping edge when the first side plate 1300 and the second side plate 1400 are joined, but this is only one example and can also be applied to a three-sided joining structure of each plate that makes up the battery pack.

[0068] The battery pack described above can be applied to various devices, including transportation means such as electric bicycles, electric cars, and hybrid cars, but the present invention is not limited thereto and can be applied to various devices using battery modules and battery packs including the same, which also fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0069] 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]

[0070] 1000: Battery pack 1100: Lower plate 1200: Upper plate 1300: First side plate (first plate) 1400: Second side plate (second plate) 2000: First gasket 3000: Second gasket

Claims

1. a plurality of battery modules; a pack case that houses the plurality of battery modules and includes a first plate that covers one side of the plurality of battery modules and a second plate that covers another side of the plurality of battery modules; Including, a first gasket located along an edge of the first plate; a second gasket located along the edge of the second plate; the first gasket and the second gasket are positioned to overlap in a region where one edge of the first plate and one edge of the second plate contact each other; The battery pack, wherein the first gasket and the second gasket are made of different materials.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the first gasket and the second gasket have different elastic hardnesses.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2 , wherein the first gasket has a greater elastic hardness than the second gasket.

4. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the degree of shape change of the first gasket is smaller than the degree of shape change of the second gasket.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the first gasket is fitted into a first groove that is dug to a certain depth along an edge of the first plate.

6. The battery pack according to claim 5 , wherein a shape of the first gasket corresponds to a shape of an edge of the first plate.

7. The battery pack according to claim 5 , wherein a shape of the first gasket corresponds to a shape of the first groove of the first plate.

8. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the first gasket is made of an elastic material.

9. The battery pack according to claim 8 , wherein the first gasket is made of rubber.

10. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the second gasket is provided in a second groove that is dug to a certain depth along an edge of the second plate.

11. The battery pack according to claim 10 , wherein the second gasket is formed by being applied to the second groove and then cured.

12. The battery pack according to claim 10 , wherein the second gasket corresponds to a shape of the second groove portion.

13. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the second gasket is made of resin.

14. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the second gasket is made of a CIPG (Cured In Place Gasket) material.

15. A device comprising the battery pack of claim 1.

Images