Battery module, battery pack including said battery module, and automobile

Abstract

The present invention discloses a battery module including a side plate capable of satisfying rigidity required for controlling swelling of battery cells and fixing the module at a side of the battery module. A battery module according to one aspect of the invention includes a cell assembly including a plurality of battery cells, a module tray configured to support the cell assembly, and a pair of side plates configured to cover one side and the other side of the cell assembly, respectively, and at least one of the pair of side plates includes a first sub-plate having a first flange portion protruding outward, and a second sub-plate having a second flange portion protruding outward and disposed to overlap the first flange portion, overlapping and coupled to the first sub-plate.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery module, a battery pack including the battery module, and a vehicle, and more particularly to a battery module including a side plate having a flange portion for connecting the battery module to a side of the battery module, and a battery pack and a vehicle including the battery module.This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0065674 filed on May 27, 2022, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0064703 filed on May 26, 2022, and the contents disclosed in the specifications and drawings of these applications are incorporated herein in their entirety. [Background technology]

[0002] Secondary batteries, which are easily applicable to various products and have 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), which are powered by electric sources. These secondary batteries have the main advantage of dramatically reducing the use of fossil fuels, as well as the advantage of not producing any by-products from energy use, and are therefore attracting attention as a new energy source that is environmentally friendly and improves energy efficiency.

[0003] 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 unit secondary battery cells, i.e., unit battery cells, is approximately 2.5V to 4.5V. Therefore, if a higher output voltage is required, a battery pack may be configured by connecting multiple battery cells in series. Alternatively, a battery pack may be configured by connecting multiple battery cells in parallel depending on the required charge / discharge capacity of the battery pack. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in the battery pack may be variously set depending on the required output voltage or charge / discharge capacity.

[0004] Meanwhile, when configuring a battery pack by connecting multiple battery cells in series / parallel, a common method is to first configure a battery module including at least one battery cell, and then use this at least one battery module to configure the battery pack by adding other components. Among these, side plates that cover the sides of the battery cells have the most complex shape among the other components and must necessarily satisfy the required rigidity because they play roles such as controlling swelling of the battery cells and fixing the module. Therefore, it is preferable to configure a battery module including side plates that are easier to manufacture and can satisfy the required rigidity. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module including side plates that are easy to manufacture and can easily satisfy the required rigidity.

[0006] Other objects and advantages of the present invention can be understood from the following description and will become more apparent from the embodiments of the present invention. Also, it will be easily understood that the objects and advantages of the present invention can be realized by the means and combinations thereof as claimed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, one aspect of the present invention provides a battery module comprising a cell assembly including a plurality of battery cells, a module tray configured to support the cell assembly, and a pair of side plates configured to cover one side and the other side of the cell assembly, at least one of the pair of side plates comprising a first sub-plate having a first flange portion protruding outward, and a second sub-plate having a second flange portion protruding outward and positioned to overlap the first flange portion, and overlapping and coupled to the first sub-plate.

[0008] At least one of the pair of side plates further includes at least one third sub-plate that overlaps and is coupled to the first sub-plate and the second sub-plate, and has a third flange portion that is arranged to overlap the first flange portion and the second flange portion.

[0009] In at least one of the pair of side plates, the first sub-plate and the second sub-plate are joined to each other by laser welding.

[0010] The second sub-plate is positioned outward of the first sub-plate, and the first flange portion passes through the second sub-plate and overlaps with the second flange portion.

[0011] The second flange portion has a shape formed by cutting out a part of the second sub-plate and bending the part in a direction toward the outside of the second sub-plate.

[0012] The first flange portion passes through the second sub-plate through an opening formed by cutting and bending the second sub-plate, and is disposed so as to overlap the second flange portion.

[0013] The first flange portion has a shape formed by cutting out a part of the first sub-plate and bending the part in a direction toward the outside of the first sub-plate.

[0014] The first flange portion and the second flange portion may be bent in opposite directions.

[0015] The battery module includes a band member coupled to the pair of side plates.

[0016] The band member is disposed on an upper portion of the battery module.

[0017] At least one of the two ends of the band member is interposed between the first sub-plate and the second sub-plate.

[0018] A battery pack according to the present invention includes a battery module according to the present invention.

[0019] A motor vehicle according to the invention comprises a battery module according to the invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to ensure greater rigidity to effectively secure the cell assembly cover and modules compared to a single-piece side plate, thereby enabling effective cell swelling control and module fixation.

[0021] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is no need to attach a separate member corresponding to the flange portion for fixing the battery module to the side plate, and the flange portion has a shape formed by cutting and bending a portion of the side plate. Therefore, in a secondary battery where energy density is important, the weight of the flange portion member can be reduced, thereby increasing energy density, and a separate joining process for the flange portion member can be omitted. Since it is only necessary to produce a sub-plate having the same shape, manufacturing is simplified and production efficiency can be improved.

[0022] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, when a single folded portion is folded, it may be vulnerable to stress in the folding direction and in the opposite direction, but when the portion is joined, the vulnerable states to such stress can be compensated for by each other.

[0023] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, the band member can cover the cell assembly without using a separate module cover.

[0024] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, by interposing the band member between the sub-plates, a more stable connection can be achieved compared to when the band member is simply interposed on the outside of the side plates.

[0025] Furthermore, various other additional effects can be achieved by various embodiments of the present invention. These various effects of the present invention will be described in detail in each embodiment, or the description of effects that can be easily understood by those skilled in the art will be omitted.

[0026] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to further understand the technical concepts of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to only the matters described in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1]1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 10 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a side plate according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 10 illustrates an exemplary morphology change state of a side plate according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 10 illustrates an exemplary morphology change state of a subplate according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 10 illustrates an exemplary configuration change of a side plate according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 10 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a battery module according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 1 shows a band member included in the battery module of the present invention. [Figure 9] 10 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a battery module according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 10 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a battery module according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 1 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] 1 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a vehicle including a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] The present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described herein are illustrative for the purpose of understanding the invention, and it should be understood that the present invention can be implemented in various ways different from the embodiments described herein. In addition, the accompanying drawings may not be drawn to actual scale, and the dimensions of some components may be exaggerated for the purpose of understanding the invention.

[0029] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and various modifications may be made by a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the invention pertains without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the claims, and such modifications should not be understood separately from the technical ideas and perspectives of the present invention.

[0030] Fig. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating a state in which the components of the battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention are separated.

[0031] 1 and 2, a battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cell assembly 100, a module tray 200, and a pair of side plates 300.

[0032] Specifically, the cell assembly 100 may include one or more battery cells. Here, each battery cell may refer to a secondary battery. The secondary battery may include an electrode assembly, an electrolyte, and a battery case. However, other types of secondary batteries, such as cylindrical batteries and prismatic batteries, may also be employed in the cell assembly 100 of the present invention. The cell assembly 100 may be combined with a bus bar frame assembly including, for example, bus bars and a bus bar frame that secures the bus bars, and each battery cell included in the cell assembly 100 may be electrically connected by the bus bars.

[0033] The module tray 200 may be configured to support the cell assemblies 100. The module tray 200 is preferably made of a material that can absorb shock so that the stored cell assemblies 100 are not damaged during transportation.

[0034] The pair of side plates 300 may be configured to cover one side and the other side (extension direction of the X-axis) of the cell assembly 100, respectively. At least one of the pair of side plates 300 includes a first sub-plate 300a and a second sub-plate 300b. The second sub-plate 300b overlaps and is coupled to the first sub-plate 300a. The first sub-plate 300a includes a first flange portion 310a protruding outward, i.e., in a direction opposite to the direction toward the cell assembly 100. The second sub-plate 300b includes a second flange portion 310b protruding outward, i.e., in a direction opposite to the direction toward the cell assembly 100. The second flange portion 310b is positioned to overlap the first flange portion 310a.

[0035] The side plate 300 may be coupled to the module tray 200 approximately perpendicularly to cover the cell assembly 100. The first flange portion 310a protruding outward from the side plate 300 positioned approximately perpendicular to the module tray 200 and the second flange portion 310b overlapping the first flange portion 310a can be used to secure the battery module 10. The side plate 300 including the first sub-plate 300a and the second sub-plate 300b may have greater rigidity than a side plate 300 formed of a single member. Therefore, applying this side plate 300 structure not only improves the rigidity of the battery module 10 itself but also effectively controls swelling of the battery cells. Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, the overlapping structure of the first flange portion 310a and the second flange portion 310b can improve the rigidity of the module flange 310 (see FIG. 12 ). Therefore, when the battery module 10 is secured to a structure such as a pack tray, the rigidity of the securing portion can be ensured.

[0036] The module flange 310 of the side plate 300 may be configured to protrude in the direction away from the cell assembly 100 (in the X-axis direction) at a height 0.5l, half the height of the cell assembly 100 (or the height of the side plate 300) l, or at a height lower than half the height 0.5l.

[0037] 1 and 2, the battery module 10 may include a front cover 210 and a rear cover 220 for covering both sides of the cell assembly 100 in the longitudinal direction (extension direction of the Y axis). The front cover 210 may cover the front of the cell assembly 100 (positive direction of the Y axis), and the rear cover 220 may cover the rear of the cell assembly 100 (negative direction of the Y axis). The front cover 210 and the rear cover 220 may be coupled to the module tray 200 approximately perpendicularly to cover the cell assembly 100. The front cover 210 and the rear cover 220 may also be coupled to the side plate 300 to cover the cell assembly 100. Meanwhile, the front cover 210 and / or the rear cover 220 may be formed integrally with the module tray 200.

[0038] Meanwhile, the battery module 10 may further include a TIM (Thermal Interface Material) layer between the cell assembly 100 and the module tray 200, and / or between the cell assembly 100 and the front cover 210, and / or between the cell assembly 100 and the rear cover 220. Such a TIM layer may include various thermally conductive materials such as metal, polymer, or ceramic, and the TIM layer may be made of a gel type or a phase change material.

[0039] In this case, the module tray 200 and / or the front cover 210 and / or the rear cover 220 are made of a thermally conductive material and can serve as a heat sink for the battery module 10.

[0040] In particular, the module tray 200, the front cover 210, and / or the rear cover 220 may have a plurality of through-holes A arranged in a grid pattern. In this case, the plurality of through-holes A may be filled with a thermal interface material (TIM) inside the through-hole. Such a TIM may include various thermally conductive materials such as metal, polymer, or ceramic, and may be made of a gel type or a phase change material.

[0041] In this way, by applying the module tray 200 having a lattice structure, and / or the front cover 210, and / or the rear cover 220 to the battery module 10, the battery module 10 and the battery pack 20 including the battery module 10 can be made lighter.

[0042] The first flange portion 310a and the second flange portion 310b may have flange holes H for fastening with fastening members such as pins, bolts, etc. In Fig. 1, the flange holes H are shown as circular, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to such a shape and number of the flange holes H.

[0043] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a side plate 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 3 , at least one of the pair of side plates 300 may further include at least one third sub-plate 300c in addition to the first sub-plate 300a and the second sub-plate 300b. The third sub-plate 300c may be coupled to and overlap the first sub-plate 300a and the second sub-plate 300b. The third sub-plate 300c may include a third flange portion 310c arranged to overlap the first flange portion 310a and the second flange portion 310b. The at least one third sub-plate 300c may be interposed between the first sub-plate 300a and the second sub-plate 300b to constitute the side plate 300. When multiple third sub-plates 300c are provided, the multiple third flange portions 310c may be arranged to overlap each other and also to overlap the first flange portion 310a and the second flange portion 310b.

[0045] According to this configuration of the present invention, if the rigidity of the side plate 300 required in the design of the battery module 10 is insufficient due to the rigidity provided by the combination of the first sub-plate 300a and the second sub-plate 300b, a customized side plate 300 can be easily manufactured by adding the number of third sub-plates 300c according to the required rigidity.

[0046] At least one of the pair of side plates 300 may have the first sub-plate 300a and the second sub-plate 300b joined to each other by laser welding. In the present invention, various joining methods, such as laser welding, bolting, ultrasonic welding, etc., may be used to join components. In this case, the joining can more effectively control swelling of the battery cells and ensure greater rigidity for fixing the module, compared to when no separate joining is performed. The first flange portion 310a and the second flange portion 310b may also be joined by laser welding, etc. In this case, the rigidity of the flange portions can be further improved compared to when no separate joining is performed.

[0047] Meanwhile, when at least one of the pair of side plates 300 further includes at least one third sub-plate 300c in addition to the first and second sub-plates 300a, 300b, all of the sub-plates 300a, 300b, 300c may be joined to one another by laser welding, etc. Similarly, all of the flange portions 310a, 310b, 310c may also be joined to one another by laser welding, etc.

[0048] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary change in configuration of a side plate 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] 4, the second sub-plate 300b may be positioned outward of the first sub-plate 300a, in which case the first flange portion 310a may pass through the second sub-plate 300b and overlap with the second flange portion 310b. For example, the first flange portion 310a of the first sub-plate 300a may pass through an opening O formed in the second sub-plate 300b and seat on and overlap the second flange portion 310b. However, the present invention is not limited to the shapes of the flange portions 310a, 310b and the opening O shown in FIG.

[0050] FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary configuration of sub-plates 300a, 300b according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] 4 and 5, the second flange portion 310b may have a shape formed by cutting a portion of the second sub-plate 300b and bending the portion toward the outside of the second sub-plate 300b. The first flange portion 310a may be disposed to pass through the second sub-plate 300b through an opening O formed by cutting and bending the second sub-plate 300b and overlap the second flange portion 310b. The first flange portion 310a may have a shape formed by cutting a portion of the first sub-plate 300a and bending the portion toward the outside of the first sub-plate 300a. For example, as shown in FIG. 5(a), portions of the sub-plates 300a and 300b may be cut out along the shapes of the flange portions 310a and 310b by laser processing or press processing, and then the flange portions 310a and 310b may be formed by bending the portions as shown in FIG. 5(b). Next, the first and second sub-plates 300a and 300b can be joined together after the first flange portion 310a of the first sub-plate 300a passes through the opening O formed by cutting and bending the second sub-plate 300b and overlaps the second flange portion 310b, as shown in FIG. 4(a). In this case, to ensure smooth joining of the first and second sub-plates 300a and 300b and accurate overlapping of the first and second flange portions 310a and 310b, the length of the cutout in the height direction (extension direction of the Z-axis) for forming the first flange portion 310a can be longer than the length of the cutout in the height direction (extension direction of the Z-axis) for forming the second flange portion 310b by approximately the thickness of the second sub-plate 300b. In this case, the flange holes H formed in the first and second flange portions 310a and 310b can be accurately overlapped. However, the present invention is not limited to such an incision and folding method.

[0052] According to this configuration of the present invention, there is no need to attach a separate member corresponding to the flange portions 310a, 310b for fixing the battery module 10 to the side plate 300. This makes it easier to manufacture the battery module, and improves production efficiency.

[0053] Figure 6 is a diagram showing an exemplary change in the shape of a side plate 300 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown in Figure 6 differs from the embodiments shown in Figures 4 and 5 in that the first flange portion 310a and the second flange portion 310b are bent in opposite directions, but other details are substantially the same. Therefore, in the following description, differences will be mainly described, and redundant description will be omitted.

[0054] 6, the bending direction of the first flange portion 310a and the bending direction of the second flange portion 310b may be opposite to each other. For example, referring to FIG. 6(a), a portion of the first sub-plate 300a may be cut open and then bent upward to form the first flange portion 310a. Similarly, a portion of the second sub-plate 300b may be cut open and then bent downward to form the second flange portion 310b. The first flange portion 310a may pass through the second sub-plate 300b and overlap with the second flange portion 310b, as shown in FIG. 6(b). However, the present invention is not limited to this cutting and bending method.

[0055] A member bent in one direction may be easily deformed because it is weak against a force acting in the opposite direction to the bending direction. Therefore, as described above, first flange portion 310a and second flange portion 310b, which are formed by bending in opposite directions, can be overlapped to complement each other.

[0056] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a battery module 10 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] 7, the battery module 10 may include a band member 400 coupled to a pair of side plates 300. In this case, the band member 400 may cover the cell assemblies 100 without using a separate module cover. For example, the band member 400 may be disposed on the top of the battery module 10.

[0058] The band member 400 may be configured to support a pair of side plates 300, with one end thereof being in close contact with the side plate 300 covering one side of the cell assembly 100 and the other end being in close contact with the side plate 300 covering the other side of the cell assembly 100. For this purpose, the battery module 10 may include one or more band members 400.

[0059] The band member 400 may be made of a metal material having elasticity and rigidity.

[0060] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a band member included in the battery module of the present invention.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 8, the band member may include a support portion 410 and a pressure portion 420 .

[0062] The support portion 410 can be configured to extend with a predetermined width and have a length corresponding to the distance between the pair of side plates.

[0063] The pressure members 420 may extend from both longitudinal ends of the support member 410 and be configured to be in close contact with the corresponding side plates of the pair of side plates. In this case, the pressure members 420 may be coupled to the corresponding side plates in various ways. For example, the pressure members 420 may be coupled to the corresponding side plates by a snap-fit ​​method, by using a separate fastening member, or by welding, adhesive, etc.

[0064] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a battery module according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0065] 9, the pressure member 420 may be interposed between the first sub-plate 300a and the second sub-plate 300b. For example, the pressure member 420 on one side of the band member 400 may be positioned and coupled between the first sub-plate 300a and the second sub-plate 300b of the side plate 300 covering one side of the cell assembly 100, and the pressure member 420 on the other side may be positioned and coupled between the first sub-plate 300a and the second sub-plate 300b of the side plate 300 covering the other side of the cell assembly 100. However, the arrangement and coupling method of the band member 400 and the side plate 300 are not limited to this.

[0066] The battery module 10 may further include an insulating sheet (not shown) interposed between the cell assemblies 100 and the band member 400. In another embodiment, the battery module 10 may further include a buffer pad (not shown) interposed between the cell assemblies 100 and the band member 400 to prevent damage to the cell assemblies 100 due to contact with the band member 400.

[0067] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a battery module according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 10, the band member 400 may include a coupling portion 430 .

[0069] The coupling portion 430 extends from the pressure member 420, but may be configured to extend toward the module flange 310 of the corresponding side plate 300 to which the pressure member 420 is closely attached, and to couple to the fixing portion 520 of the pack tray 500, which will be described later, together with the module flange 310. According to this configuration of the present invention, the band member 400 is interposed between the first sub-plate 300a and the second sub-plate 300b, thereby enabling a more stable coupling than if the band member 400 were simply interposed on the outside of the side plate 300.

[0070] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0071] Referring to FIG. 11, the battery pack may include a pack tray 500 on which the battery module 10 is seated.

[0072] The pack tray 500 can be made of a metal material, a carbon material, a polymer synthetic resin, or a combination of two or more of these materials that have the rigidity to receive the load of the battery modules 10 and support the battery modules 10 .

[0073] The pack tray 500 may include a seating portion 510 and a fixing portion 520 .

[0074] The mounting part 510 may be configured to have a mounting surface on which the battery module 10 is mounted. The mounting part 510 may be made of a thermally conductive metal material containing Al.

[0075] The fixing parts 520 may protrude at a predetermined height from the upper surface of the pack tray 500. The fixing parts 520 may protrude at a predetermined height from both sides of a mounting surface on which the battery modules 10 are mounted, and may be configured to have a step with the mounting surface. The fixing parts 520 may protrude at a height lower than the height of the battery modules 10 mounted on the mounting surface. The fixing parts 520 may protrude at a height lower than half the height of the battery modules 10 mounted on the mounting surface. The fixing parts 520 may be made of a metal material containing Al.

[0076] The fixing part 520 may be configured in the shape of a rectangular beam or a rectangular pipe having a certain width and thickness and may be coupled to the mounting part 510. The fixing part 520 may have a hollow tube structure.

[0077] The seating portion 510 and the fixing portion 520 of the pack tray 500 may be integrally formed. The pack tray 500 is integrally manufactured by applying a casting, sheet metal, or press process to a plastic material, and may be manufactured so that the relatively concave seating portion 510 and the relatively convex fixing portion 520 are alternately and repeatedly formed in one direction on the bottom surface of the pack tray 500.

[0078] The fixing part 520 can fix the battery module 10 by being coupled to the module flanges 310 protruding from the side plates 300 on both sides of the battery module 10 mounted on the mounting surface of the mounting part 510 .

[0079] The fixing parts 520 are coupled to the battery module 10 on both sides of the battery module 10 to fix the battery module 10, so that even if an impact is applied to the battery pack 20, the impact can be absorbed and the battery module 10 arranged inside the battery pack 20 can be protected.

[0080] The extra space secured above the fixing part 520 can prevent the battery modules 10 from colliding with each other even if structural deformation occurs in the battery pack 20, and can minimize damage to the battery cells constituting each battery module 10.

[0081] The electric unit 600 may include various electric components that control the charge / discharge operation of the battery modules accommodated in the pack tray 500 or monitor the SOC (State Of Charge) and SOH (State Of Health) of each battery module or the battery cells constituting each battery module, and may be accommodated and fixed in the pack tray 500 together with the battery modules.

[0082] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an exemplary configuration of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0083] Referring to FIG. 12 , the battery pack may include a pack tray 500 on which the battery modules 10 are mounted. The pack tray 500 may have a fixing portion 520 protruding to a predetermined height on an upper surface thereof. The battery module 10 may be coupled to the fixing portion 520 via a module flange 310 formed by overlapping a first flange portion 310a and a second flange portion 310b. The module flange 310 and the fixing portion 520 may be coupled to each other via a fastening member such as a pin or a bolt in a flange hole H. The module flanges 310 of the side plates 300 on both sides of the battery module 10 may be different in number and position, so that the module flanges 310 of one side of the side plate 300 may be disposed between the module flanges 310 of the other side plate 300. In this case, the energy density of a secondary battery, for which energy density is important, may be increased by improving space efficiency.

[0084] 10, a battery pack 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include one or more of the above-described battery modules 10 according to the present invention. In addition to the battery module 10, the battery pack 20 according to the present invention may further include various other components, such as a BMS, bus bars, a pack case, a relay, a current sensor, and other battery pack components known at the time of filing of the present invention.

[0085] FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically illustrating a vehicle including a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0086] 13, an automobile 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include one or more battery modules 10 according to the present invention. Furthermore, the automobile 30 according to the present invention may further include various other components included in the automobile 30, in addition to the battery module 10 and the battery pack 20. For example, the automobile 30 according to the present invention may further include a vehicle body, a motor, a control device such as an ECU (electronic control unit), etc., in addition to the battery module according to the present invention.

[0087] While the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, focusing on preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many obvious modifications can be made from such description without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be interpreted by the appended claims, which are intended to include all such modifications. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 10 Battery Module 20 Battery Pack 30 Automobiles 100 Cell Assembly 200 module tray 210 Front cover 220 rear cover A Through hole 300 Side Plate 300a First subplate 300b Second subplate 300c 3rd subplate 310 module flange 310a First flange portion 310b second flange portion 310c Third flange 400 Band material 410 Support part 420 Pressure section 430 Joint 500 pack tray 510 Landing Section 520 Fixed part 600 Electric Unit H flange hole O opening

Claims

1. a cell assembly including a plurality of battery cells; a module tray configured to support the cell assembly; a pair of side plates configured to cover one side and the other side of the cell assembly, respectively; At least one of the pair of side plates is a first subplate including a first flange portion protruding outward; a second sub-plate overlapping and coupled to the first sub-plate, the second sub-plate having a second flange portion formed by cutting a portion of the second sub-plate and bending the second sub-plate in a direction toward an outside of the second sub-plate, the first flange portion passes through the second sub-plate through an opening formed by cutting and bending the second sub-plate, and is positioned so as to overlap the second flange portion.

2. At least one of the pair of side plates is 2. The battery module of claim 1, further comprising at least one third sub-plate overlapping and coupled to the first and second sub-plates and including a third flange portion disposed to overlap the first and second flange portions.

3. In at least one of the pair of side plates, The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the first sub-plate and the second sub-plate are joined to each other by laser welding.

4. the second sub-plate is located outside the first sub-plate, The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the first flange portion passes through the second sub-plate and overlaps with the second flange portion.

5. The battery module according to claim 4 , wherein the second flange portion has a shape formed by cutting a portion of the second sub-plate and bending the portion toward an outer side of the second sub-plate.

6. The first flange portion is The battery module according to claim 5 , wherein the second flange portion passes through the second sub-plate through an opening formed by cutting and bending the second sub-plate, and is disposed to overlap the second flange portion.

7. The first flange portion is The battery module according to claim 5 , wherein a portion of the first sub-plate is cut and bent in a direction toward an outer side of the first sub-plate.

8. The battery module according to claim 7, wherein the first flange portion and the second flange portion are bent in opposite directions.

9. The battery module includes: The battery module according to claim 1 , further comprising a band member coupled to the pair of side plates.

10. The band member is The battery module according to claim 9, wherein the battery module is disposed on an upper portion of the battery module.

11. At least one of the two end portions of the band member is The battery module according to claim 10, wherein the first sub-plate and the second sub-plate are interposed therebetween.

12. A battery pack comprising at least one battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The battery pack The battery pack according to claim 12, further comprising a pack tray on which the battery modules are mounted.

14. On the top surface of the pack tray, A mounting beam is provided that projects at a predetermined height, The battery pack according to claim 13, wherein the battery module is coupled to the mount beam by a module flange formed by overlapping the first flange portion and the second flange portion.

15. 13. A motor vehicle comprising at least one battery pack according to claim 12.

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