Battery pack

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery pack. More specifically, the battery pack of the present invention is a battery pack accommodating a battery module, and includes a pack case including a base plate supporting a lower portion of the battery module, a side wall coupled along an edge of the base plate, and a partition coupled to the base plate to partition a space in which the battery module is accommodated, an upper cover coupled to the pack case to cover the battery module accommodated in the pack case, and a reinforcing beam inserted into the side wall, the reinforcing beam being formed by arranging at least two or more columnar reinforcing members each having a plurality of protruding ribs adjacent to each other.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery pack, and the battery pack of the present invention is characterized in that the lateral strength of the battery pack is improved by using a reinforcing beam inserted into a side wall of a pack case having a hollow shape.

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0081453, filed July 1, 2022, and all contents disclosed in the documents of said Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0003] The operating voltage of a unit battery cell is approximately 2.5V to 4.2V. Therefore, if a higher output voltage is required, a battery pack may be configured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series. Alternatively, a battery pack may be configured by connecting a number 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 or charge / discharge capacity.

[0004] For example, when a battery pack is constructed by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series / parallel, a battery module made up of the plurality of battery cells is first constructed.

[0005] A conventional battery pack includes a pack case in which a battery module is housed, and an upper cover coupled to the pack case to cover the battery module housed in the pack case.

[0006] The pack case may have an internal space surrounded by side walls, and a plurality of battery modules are housed in separate areas defined by a plurality of partition walls.

[0007] FIG. 1 shows a pack case included in a conventional battery pack and battery modules housed in the pack case, in which a plurality of battery modules are housed and separated by a plurality of partition walls, and are surrounded and protected by side walls located at the outermost shell of the pack case.

[0008] Meanwhile, the battery pack can be protected from external impacts through the side walls, but recently, a stronger side wall structure has been required to minimize damage to the battery module.

[0009] However, changing the shape of the pack case each time to improve strength in response to various customer demands reduces the manufacturing efficiency of battery packs.

[0010] In addition, increasing the thickness to improve the strength of the sidewalls also poses the problem of reducing the energy efficiency of the battery.

[0011] Therefore, there is a need for a new method that can improve the lateral strength of the pack case while minimizing structural changes in response to various customer demands without reducing the energy efficiency of the battery. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0012] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0134165 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] Therefore, the present invention has an object to improve the lateral strength of the battery pack.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for selectively improving the strength of a specific portion of a battery pack.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a reinforcing structure that can be applied to battery packs of various structures.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to improve the strength of the battery pack while minimizing the decrease in energy efficiency.

[0017] 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 readily apparent 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]

[0018] According to the present invention, there is provided a battery pack for accommodating a battery module, the battery pack including: a pack case including a base plate for supporting a lower portion of the battery module, a side wall coupled along an edge of the base plate, and a partition wall coupled to the base plate to define a space in which the battery module is accommodated; an upper cover coupled to the pack case to cover the battery module accommodated in the pack case; and a reinforcing beam inserted into at least one of the side wall and the partition wall, wherein the reinforcing beam is formed by at least two or more columnar reinforcing members each having a plurality of protruding ribs formed thereon, arranged adjacent to each other.

[0019] At least one of the side wall and the partition wall may include a hollow structure therein, and the reinforcing beam may be inserted into the hollow structure.

[0020] The hollow structure may be formed to extend along the longitudinal direction of the pack case, and the reinforcing beam may be inserted into the hollow structure such that the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing beam is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the pack case.

[0021] The reinforcing beams may be inserted with their ends in contact with the inner surfaces of the hollow structure to support the hollow structure.

[0022] The reinforcing beam may be formed by a plurality of reinforcing members that are in contact with each other in only one direction.

[0023] The end of the reinforcing member may have a rounded shape.

[0024] The reinforcing member includes a first reinforcing portion having an arch-shaped cross section and a second reinforcing portion formed to have a shape symmetrical to the first reinforcing portion, and an end of the first reinforcing portion and an end of the second reinforcing portion adjacent to the end of the first reinforcing portion can form an arch-shaped support surface.

[0025] A distance between both ends of the first reinforcing portion may be longer than a distance between an end of the first reinforcing portion and an end of a second reinforcing portion adjacent to the end of the first reinforcing portion.

[0026] The reinforcing beam may be formed such that both ends of a first reinforcing portion of any one reinforcing member are in contact with both ends of a second reinforcing portion of the other reinforcing member.

[0027] The reinforcing beam may include a hollow extending along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing beam between the first reinforcing portion of any one reinforcing member and the second reinforcing portion of the other reinforcing member.

[0028] The reinforcing beam may further include arch-shaped auxiliary reinforcing members connected to both ends of the first reinforcing portion or the second reinforcing portion in the reinforcing member located at the outermost shell.

[0029] The reinforcing beam may include a hollow formed between the adjacent outermost reinforcing member and the auxiliary reinforcing member and extending along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing beam.

[0030] The reinforcing beam may include a hollow formed between the pair of adjacent reinforcing members and extending along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing beam.

[0031] The reinforcing beam may include at least one hollow formed therein and extending along the longitudinal direction of the reinforcing beam. [Effects of the Invention]

[0032] According to the present invention, the lateral strength of the battery pack can be improved while minimizing the decrease in energy efficiency.

[0033] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the strength of a specific portion of the battery pack can be selectively improved.

[0034] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the strength of battery packs with various structures can be improved by using a reinforcing structure having a specific pattern. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional battery pack. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a front view of the battery pack of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] This is an enlarged view of a portion of the side frame in Figure 3 above. [Figure 5] 1A and 1B are cross-sectional and perspective views of a reinforcing beam included in a battery pack according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] 1 shows a cross section of a reinforcing member and a cross section of a reinforcing beam. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are cross-sectional and perspective views of a reinforcing beam included in a battery pack according to a second embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are cross-sectional and perspective views of a reinforcing beam included in a battery pack according to a third embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are cross-sectional and perspective views of a reinforcing beam included in a battery pack according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 10]1 shows that various types of reinforcing beams are inserted into the side frame of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before that, the terms and words used in the specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted as meanings and concepts that are consistent with the technical idea of ​​the present invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concepts of the terms to best describe his own invention.

[0037] Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical idea of ​​the present invention, and that there may be various equivalents and modifications that can replace them at the time of this application.

[0038] Furthermore, in the description of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related publicly known structures or functions may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

[0039] The embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely explain the present invention to those skilled in the art, and therefore the shapes and sizes of components in the drawings may be exaggerated, omitted, or illustrated schematically for clearer explanation. Therefore, the sizes and proportions of each component do not completely reflect the actual sizes and proportions.

[0040] The present invention relates to a battery pack 1000, and the battery pack 1000 of the present invention is characterized in that the lateral strength of the battery pack 1000 is improved by using a reinforcing beam 300 inserted into the side wall 230 of the pack case having a hollow shape.

[0041] (First embodiment) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a battery pack 1000 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the battery pack 1000 of FIG.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 2, the battery pack 1000 of the present invention includes a pack case accommodating battery modules, an upper cover 100 coupled to the pack case to cover the upper part of the accommodated battery modules, and a reinforcing beam 300 inserted into the pack case to support the side of the pack case.

[0043] The pack case is composed of a base plate 210, a partition wall, and a side wall 230, as shown in FIGS.

[0044] The base plate 210 corresponds to the bottom of the pack case and serves to support the lower portion of the battery module housed in the pack case.

[0045] The partition wall is coupled to the base plate 210 to define a space on the base plate 210 in which the battery modules are accommodated.

[0046] More specifically, the partition walls include a main partition wall that crosses the center of the base plate 210 and divides the space of the pack case into two large parts, and a partition wall that divides the space formed by the main partition wall into two large parts in the longitudinal direction (d pack ) and is composed of auxiliary partition walls that are connected to the base plate 210 so as to separate it into a plurality of pieces.

[0047] The auxiliary partition wall has one end connected to the main partition wall, and the auxiliary partition walls connected to one side of the main partition wall are installed at predetermined intervals along the main partition wall.

[0048] The sidewalls 230 correspond to the side surfaces of the pack case and serve to protect and support the open sides of the battery modules accommodated in the pack case.

[0049] The side wall 230 includes a hollow structure therein and is coupled to the base plate 210 along its edge.

[0050] The hollow structure is pack ) and is formed by extension along the

[0051] More specifically, the side walls 230 are composed of side frames 233 that are connected to the base plate 210 on both sides of the pack case, a front frame 231 that is connected to the base plate 210 at the front of the pack case, and a rear frame 232 that is connected to the base plate 210 at the rear of the pack case.

[0052] The inner surface of the side frame 233 is connected to an end of each of the auxiliary partition walls connected to one side of the main partition wall facing the side frame 233 .

[0053] Both ends of the main bulkhead are coupled to the inner surfaces of the front frame 231 and the rear frame 232, respectively.

[0054] The upper cover 100 is a well-known technology, and therefore, detailed description thereof will be omitted in the present invention.

[0055] The reinforcing beam 300 is preferably inserted into the side wall 230 included in the pack case, more specifically, into the side frame 233 as shown in FIGS.

[0056] The reinforcing beam 300 is preferably inserted into the hollow structure of the side frame 233 to improve the lateral support force of the battery pack 1000.

[0057] The reinforcing beam 300 has a longitudinal direction (d beam ) and the longitudinal direction of the pack case (d pack ) is inserted into the hollow structure so that it is horizontal.

[0058] 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the side frame 233 of FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the side frame 233 may include a plurality of hollow structures therein, and the reinforcing beam 300 may be inserted into at least one of the plurality of hollow structures to increase the strength of the side frame 233. In this case, the reinforcing beam 300 may be selectively inserted into a portion of the hollow structure of the side frame 233 that requires reinforcement.

[0059] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view and a perspective view of a reinforcing beam 300 included in a battery pack 1000 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0060] The reinforcing beam 300 of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises at least two or more pillar-shaped reinforcing members 310 arranged in the thickness direction and in contact with each other.

[0061] That is, the reinforcing beam 300 is formed by a plurality of reinforcing members 310 that are in contact with each other in only one direction.

[0062] The reinforcing beam 300 included in the battery pack 1000 according to the first embodiment is formed by two reinforcing members 310 arranged side by side and adjacent to each other, as shown in Fig. 5. In this case, the reinforcing beam 300 may be formed by combining the two reinforcing members 310 or may be manufactured as an integrated unit.

[0063] FIG. 6 shows a cross section of a reinforcing member 310 and a cross section of a reinforcing beam 300.

[0064] 6(a), the reinforcing member 310 has a columnar shape with a plurality of protruding ribs 311. Preferably, the reinforcing member 310 includes four ribs 311 protruding diagonally from a side surface, and more preferably, the cross section of the reinforcing member 310 has an X-shape due to the ribs 311.

[0065] The reinforcing member 310 having the above-mentioned shape is beam) can better withstand a side impact transmitted along the longitudinal axis. In addition, the reinforcing beam 300 having a structure in which a plurality of reinforcing members 310 having the above-described structure are combined can improve not only lateral strength but also resistance to torsion.

[0066] In this case, it is preferable that the four ribs 311 constituting one reinforcing member 310 all have the same length.

[0067] Furthermore, it is preferable that the ends of the four ribs 311 protruding in the diagonal direction each have a rounded shape, and that the cross-sectional thickness increases toward the end.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 3, the reinforcing beam 300 is inserted such that each side end is in contact with the inner surface of the hollow structure, thereby supporting the hollow structure of the side frame 233.

[0069] The reinforcing member 310 includes a first reinforcing portion 310a having two arch-shaped ribs 311, and a second reinforcing portion 310b having two ribs 311 and formed symmetrically to the first reinforcing portion 310a. That is, the reinforcing member 310 includes the first reinforcing portion 310a and the second reinforcing portion 310b that are symmetrically adjacent to each other.

[0070] The rib 311 formed on one side of the first reinforcing portion 310a and the rib 311 of the second reinforcing portion 310b adjacent to the rib 311 of the first reinforcing portion 310a form an arch-shaped support surface.

[0071] The distance between both ends of the first reinforcing portion 310a or the second reinforcing portion 310b is longer than the distance between the end of the first reinforcing portion 310a and the end of the second reinforcing portion 310b adjacent to the end of the first reinforcing portion 310a. That is, as shown in Fig. 6(a), it is preferable that the horizontal length d1 of the reinforcing member 310 is longer than the vertical length d2. Due to this shape of the reinforcing member 310, the reinforcing beam 300 can better resist physical forces transmitted to the side.

[0072] FIG. 6(b) shows a cross section of a reinforcing beam 300 formed by joining two reinforcing members 310 together.

[0073] 6(b), the reinforcing beam 300 of the present invention is formed by connecting both ends of a first reinforcing portion 310a of one reinforcing member 310 to both ends of a second reinforcing portion 310b of another reinforcing member 310. The reinforcing beam 300 may be formed by connecting two reinforcing members 310 together, or may be manufactured in a shape in which two reinforcing members 310 are connected together.

[0074] The reinforcing beam 300 has a longitudinal direction (d beam ) along the length of the side frame 233. Due to the hollow structure described above, the reinforcing beam 300 of the present invention can minimize weight increase while improving the strength of the side frame 233. Therefore, a decrease in the energy efficiency of the battery pack 1000 can be prevented.

[0075] The reinforcing beam 300 of the present invention may include at least one or more hollows.

[0076] Hereinafter, the reinforcing beam 300 having a plurality of hollows will be described for each embodiment with reference to FIGS.

[0077] (Second embodiment) In the present invention, in order to insert the reinforcing beam 300 into hollow structures of various sizes included in the side frame 233, the number or size of the reinforcing members 310 can be adjusted according to the size or shape of the hollow structure, thereby making it possible to change the shape of the reinforcing beam 300.

[0078] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view and a perspective view of a reinforcing beam 300 included in a battery pack 1000 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0079] The reinforcing beam 300 according to the second embodiment is characterized in that three reinforcing members 310 are joined together in one direction.

[0080] With the above-described structure, the reinforcing beam 300 according to the second embodiment can further improve the lateral strength of the side frame 233 compared to the reinforcing beam 300 according to the first embodiment.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 7, the reinforcing beam 300 has two hollows formed along the direction in which the reinforcing members 310 are joined.

[0082] (Third embodiment) FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view and a perspective view of a reinforcing beam 300 included in a battery pack 1000 according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0083] The reinforcing beam 300 according to the third embodiment further includes an arch-shaped auxiliary reinforcing member 320 coupled to the reinforcing member 310 located at the outermost shell.

[0084] The auxiliary reinforcing member 320 is an auxiliary structure added to insert the reinforcing beam 300 into various shapes of hollow structures included in the side frame 233 .

[0085] As shown in FIG. 8, the reinforcing beam 300 according to the third embodiment has two reinforcing members 310 connected adjacently in one direction, and an arch-shaped auxiliary reinforcing member 320 connected to both ends of the first reinforcing portion 310a or the second reinforcing portion 310b of any one of the reinforcing members 310.

[0086] The auxiliary reinforcing member 320 preferably has the same shape as the first reinforcing portion 310 a or the second reinforcing portion 310 b included in the reinforcing member 310 .

[0087] Therefore, in the reinforcing beam 300 according to the third embodiment, a space is formed between any one of the reinforcing members 310 and the auxiliary reinforcing member 320 in the longitudinal direction (d beam ) and includes a hollow formed extending along the

[0088] (Fourth embodiment) FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view and a perspective view of a reinforcing beam 300 included in a battery pack 1000 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0089] The reinforcing beam 300 according to the fourth embodiment further includes an arch-shaped auxiliary reinforcing member 320 coupled to the reinforcing member 310 located at the outermost shell.

[0090] The auxiliary reinforcing member 320 is an auxiliary structure added to insert the reinforcing beam 300 into various shapes of hollow structures included in the side frame 233 .

[0091] As shown in FIG. 9, the reinforcing beam 300 according to the fourth embodiment has four reinforcing members 310 connected adjacently in one direction, and arch-shaped auxiliary reinforcing members 320 are connected to both ends of the first reinforcing portion 310a or the second reinforcing portion 310b of any one of the reinforcing members 310 located at the outermost shell.

[0092] The auxiliary reinforcing member 320 preferably has the same shape as the first reinforcing portion 310 a or the second reinforcing portion 310 b included in the reinforcing member 310 .

[0093] Therefore, in the reinforcing beam 300 according to the fourth embodiment, a gap is formed between any one of the reinforcing members 310 and the auxiliary reinforcing member 320 in the longitudinal direction (d beam ) and includes a hollow formed extending along the

[0094] The reinforcing beam 300 included in the battery pack 1000 of the present invention is not limited to the first to fourth embodiments, and various types of reinforcing beams 300 can be used by adjusting the amount of connection of multiple members as needed.

[0095] Figure 10 shows various types of reinforcing beams 300 inserted into the side frame 233 of the present invention. More specifically, Figure 10(a) shows a perspective view of the side frame 233 of the present invention, and Figure 10(b) shows a cross section of the side frame 233 of Figure 10(a).

[0096] Referring to FIG. 10, in order to insert the reinforcing beams 300 into the hollow structures of various sizes included in the side frame 233 of the present invention, the number or size of the reinforcing members 310 is adjusted according to the size or shape of the hollow structure of the side frame 233, and various reinforcing beams 300 are inserted.

[0097] That is, in order to insert the reinforcing beam 300 into hollow structures of various sizes included in the side frame 233, the present invention adjusts the number or size of the reinforcing members 310 according to the size or shape of the hollow structure, or combines auxiliary reinforcing members 320 to change the shape of the reinforcing beam 300.

[0098] The present invention has been described in more detail above with reference to the drawings and embodiments, etc. However, the configurations described in the drawings or embodiments in this specification are merely one embodiment of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention, so it should be understood that there may be various equivalents and modifications that can replace them at the time of filing this application. [Explanation of symbols]

[0099] 10: (Prior Art) Battery Module 20: (Prior Art) Pack Case vinegar 2 2: (Prior Art) Sidewall 1000: Battery pack 100: Top cover 210: Base plate 230: Side wall 231: Forward frame 232: Rear frame 233: Side frame 300: Reinforcement beam 310: Reinforcement member 310a: First reinforcing part 310b:Second reinforcement part 311: Rib 320: Auxiliary reinforcement member d1: Width d2: Vertical width d pack :Longitudinal direction of pack case d beam : Longitudinal direction of reinforcement beam

Claims

1. A battery pack that houses a battery module, a pack case including a base plate supporting a lower portion of the battery module, a side wall coupled along an edge of the base plate, and a partition wall coupled to the base plate to define a space in which the battery module is accommodated; a reinforcing beam inserted into the side wall; The reinforcing beam is formed by arranging at least two or more columnar reinforcing members each having a plurality of ribs formed thereon in a protruding manner and in contact with each other, The reinforcing member is a first reinforcing portion having an arch-shaped cross section; a second reinforcing portion formed to be symmetrical to the first reinforcing portion.

2. the sidewall includes a hollow structure therein; The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing beam is inserted into the hollow structure.

3. The hollow structure is formed to extend along the longitudinal direction of the pack case, The battery pack according to claim 2 , wherein the reinforcing beam is inserted into the hollow structure so that a longitudinal direction of the reinforcing beam and a longitudinal direction of the pack case are horizontal.

4. The battery pack according to claim 2 , wherein the reinforcing beams are inserted such that each side end thereof abuts on an inner surface of the hollow structure to support the hollow structure.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing beam is formed by a plurality of reinforcing members contacting each other in only one direction.

6. 2. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein a distance between both ends of the first reinforcing portion is longer than a distance between an end of the first reinforcing portion and an end of a second reinforcing portion adjacent to the end of the first reinforcing portion.

7. 2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing beam is formed by contacting both ends of a first reinforcing portion of any one of the reinforcing members with both ends of a second reinforcing portion of the other reinforcing member.

8. 7. The battery pack of claim 6, wherein the reinforcing beam includes a hollow formed extending along a longitudinal direction of the reinforcing beam between a first reinforcing portion of any one reinforcing member and a second reinforcing portion of the other reinforcing member.

9. The battery pack of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing beam further includes arch-shaped auxiliary reinforcing members coupled to both ends of the first reinforcing portion or the second reinforcing portion in the reinforcing member located at the outermost shell.

10. 10. The battery pack of claim 9, wherein the reinforcing beam includes a hollow extending along a longitudinal direction of the reinforcing beam between the adjacent outermost reinforcing member and the auxiliary reinforcing member.

11. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing beam includes a hollow extending along a longitudinal direction of the reinforcing beam between the pair of adjacent reinforcing members.

12. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing beam includes at least one hollow formed therein and extending along a longitudinal direction of the reinforcing beam.

Images