Battery module, battery pack including same, and automobile

Abstract

The present invention may provide a battery module including: a plurality of battery cells stacked on one another, each having a storage portion and a sealing portion; a module case that stores the plurality of battery cells in an internal space; a bus bar assembly that is located on a side of a terrace portion on which an electrode lead is located in the sealing portion of the battery cell and is electrically connected to the electrode lead; and a pressure member that is coupled to the bus bar assembly and configured to pressurize the terrace portion when an internal pressure of the battery cell increases.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery module, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0151093 filed on November 3, 2023, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0104118 filed on August 5, 2024, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0152848 filed on October 31, 2024, and the contents disclosed in the specifications and drawings of those applications are incorporated herein in their entirety. [Background technology]

[0003] Secondary batteries, which have high applicability to various products and electrical properties such as high energy density, are widely used not only in portable devices but also in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) that are driven by electrical sources.

[0004] Such secondary batteries are attracting attention as a new energy source that not only has the primary advantage of dramatically reducing the use of fossil fuels, but also is environmentally friendly because they do not produce any by-products associated with energy use and can improve energy efficiency.

[0005] 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. When a high output voltage is required, a battery module or a battery pack may be configured by connecting multiple battery cells in series. To increase the charge / discharge capacity, a battery module or a battery pack may be configured by connecting multiple battery cells in parallel. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in a battery module or a battery pack can be varied depending on the required output voltage or charge / discharge capacity.

[0006] However, because battery cells undergo chemical reactions during charging and discharging, their performance may deteriorate if they are used in an environment that is higher than the appropriate temperature, and if heat is not controlled to the appropriate temperature, there is a risk of unexpected fire or explosion. Furthermore, because battery modules are constructed with these battery cells collectively housed inside a module frame, if a thermal vent occurs in one battery cell, the emitted high-temperature gas and flames can spread to adjacent battery cells, causing a chain reaction of battery cell explosions, which is extremely dangerous.

[0007] In particular, when a battery module includes multiple battery cells, high-temperature gases, flames, sparks, etc. generated during thermal runaway in a specific battery cell are likely to be ejected toward the front and rear of the battery cell where the electrode leads of the battery module are located, which can cause thermal damage to components located on both ends of the battery module, such as end plates and components adjacent to the bus bar frame, and can lead to structural collapse.

[0008] Furthermore, a flame emitted to the outside through the end plate may cause heat transfer to adjacent battery modules. In particular, if a flame generated in a specific battery module spreads to the end plate of another battery module, the possibility of heat transfer or chain fires between modules may increase. This may cause a thermal runaway condition to spread throughout the entire battery pack containing multiple battery modules.

[0009] Therefore, there is a need to develop a structure that can prevent the emission of high-temperature gases or flames from a battery cell when a thermal event occurs in any one of the battery cells, or that can appropriately control the emission direction to delay thermal runaway between battery cells or battery modules. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The present invention aims to provide a battery module with improved safety and reliability by effectively preventing heat transfer between battery cells or battery modules by appropriately controlling the venting direction of high-temperature gases or flames generated in battery cells when an abnormality occurs in the battery module.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack including a battery module with an improved structure and a vehicle including the battery pack.

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

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention may provide a battery module including: a plurality of battery cells each having a storage portion and a sealing portion and stacked on one another; a module case that stores the plurality of battery cells in an internal space; a bus bar assembly that is located on a side of a terrace portion on which an electrode lead is located in the sealing portion of the battery cell and is electrically connected to the electrode lead; and a pressing member that is coupled to the bus bar assembly and configured to pressurize the terrace portion when an internal pressure of the battery cell increases.

[0014] The pressing member may be configured to be inserted into spaces between at least some of the battery cells.

[0015] The busbar assembly may include a busbar terminal and a busbar frame, the pressure member may be located inside the busbar frame, and the busbar terminal may be located outside the busbar frame.

[0016] The pressure member and the bus bar assembly may be configured to be housed in the module case in a coupled state.

[0017] Adjacent pressure members may be configured to apply pressure to the terrace portions of the battery cells from both sides.

[0018] The pressure member may be configured to apply inward pressure to the housing of the battery cell.

[0019] The horizontal length of the pressing member may be equal to or greater than the distance between the bus bar assembly and the battery cell.

[0020] The pressure member may be configured to change shape depending on the receiving portion of the battery cell during assembly.

[0021] The shape of the pressing member may be formed to match the shape of the space between the bus bar assembly and the battery cell.

[0022] The pressure member may include an elastic body.

[0023] The pressure member may comprise two or more different materials.

[0024] The pressure member may include two or more materials having different strengths.

[0025] The pressure member may comprise a thermally insulating or heat resistant material.

[0026] The pressure member may be disposed so as to be surrounded by the bus bar assembly, the storage portion, and the sealing portion.

[0027] The pressure member may have a vertical height greater than a vertical height of the battery cell.

[0028] The vertical height of the pressing member may be greater than the distance between the upper and lower plates of the module case, and the pressing member may be configured to be pressed vertically by the upper and lower plates.

[0029] The present invention also provides a battery pack including the battery according to the present invention.

[0030] The present invention also provides a motor vehicle including a battery pack according to the present invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0031] According to one aspect of the present invention, when an abnormal situation such as thermal runaway occurs in a battery cell, it is possible to prevent or suppress the emission of vent gas, flame, etc. toward the terrace portion. In particular, in the internal space of a battery module, a relatively large space may exist on the terrace portion side of the battery cell. However, according to the above aspect, since vent gas, flame, etc. are not emitted toward the terrace portion side from a battery cell in which a thermal event has occurred, it is possible to suppress or block the propagation of thermal runaway caused by vent gas, flame, etc. to other battery cells through the space on the terrace portion side.

[0032] In particular, according to one embodiment of the present invention, even if the internal pressure of the battery cell increases, the pressure member prevents the welded (sealed) portion of the sealing portion from opening, thereby preventing the sealing portion from being unsealed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the discharge of high-temperature gas or flames to components arranged adjacent to the terrace portion, particularly electrical components arranged on the outer side in that direction, such as bus bar assemblies and module terminals. This prevents damage to various components arranged in that direction and also prevents unintended interruption of electrical connections between battery cells or battery modules.

[0033] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, directional venting, which discharges vent gases and the like in a desired direction, can be more easily implemented. For example, according to one embodiment of the present invention, gases and flames can be discharged upward from a battery cell or a battery module. In this case, the safety and reliability of a battery module including a plurality of battery cells can be further improved.

[0034] According to another aspect of the present invention, the pressure member is configured to be coupled to the bus bar assembly, which facilitates assembly of the pressure member and simplifies the manufacturing process.

[0035] Furthermore, according to yet another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent other battery modules from being thermally damaged by high-temperature gases or flames generated in a specific battery module. In particular, according to this aspect of the present invention, the propagation of thermal runaway between modules is effectively prevented or delayed.

[0036] Therefore, in this case, it is possible to prevent or delay a thermal event, such as a fire or explosion, caused by a thermal runaway phenomenon in a battery pack including a plurality of battery modules or in a device to which the battery pack is attached.

[0037] In particular, in the case of electric vehicles, by suppressing or delaying the propagation of thermal runaway between battery cells or battery modules, it is possible to ensure sufficient time for passengers to escape and for the vehicle to operate.

[0038] In addition, the present invention has various other effects, which will be explained in each embodiment, and explanations of effects that can be easily inferred by those skilled in the art will be omitted.

[0039] 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 concept of the present invention, so the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to the matters described in the drawings.

[0040] 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 concept of the present invention, so the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to the matters described in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0041] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a partial configuration of the battery module of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a battery cell included in a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4a] 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a bus bar assembly and a pressing member of a battery module are coupled together according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4b] 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a bus bar assembly and a pressing member of a battery module are coupled together according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 5A to 5C are cross-sectional views illustrating a process in which a bus bar assembly and a pressing member of a battery module are coupled to a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 10 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a bus bar assembly and a pressing member are coupled to a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 7a] 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a bus bar assembly and a pressing member are coupled to a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 7b]10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a bus bar assembly and a pressing member are coupled to a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 8] 10 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a bus bar assembly and a pressing member are coupled to a battery cell at the front of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 9] 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a bus bar assembly and a pressing member are coupled to a battery cell at the front of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 10] 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a bus bar assembly and a pressing member are coupled to a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 11] 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a bus bar assembly, a pressing member, and a battery cell are coupled together according to another embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 12] 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a bus bar assembly, a pressing member, and a battery cell are coupled together according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a partial configuration of a battery module including a pressing member according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a partial configuration of a battery module including a pressing member according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of a battery module according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a battery pack including a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20]1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle including a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, 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 having meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical ideas of the present invention, in accordance with the principle that the inventors themselves can appropriately define the concepts of terms in order to best explain the invention.

[0043] Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiment of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical idea of ​​the present invention, and that there may be various equivalents and modifications that can be substituted for them at the time of this application.

[0044] The present invention includes various embodiments, and redundant descriptions of configurations that are substantially the same as or similar to the embodiments will be omitted, and the following description will focus on differences from the previously described embodiments.

[0045] In order to facilitate understanding of the invention, the accompanying drawings may be drawn not to scale but with some components exaggerated, and the same reference numerals may be used for the same components in different embodiments.

[0046] Terms such as "first" and "second" are used to describe various components, but these terms do not limit the components. These terms are used to distinguish only one component from another, and unless otherwise specified, the first component may be the second component.

[0047] Furthermore, throughout the specification, unless otherwise specified, each element may be singular or plural.

[0048] When any structure is placed "on top (or bottom)" of a component or "above (or below)" a component, it may mean that the structure is placed directly on the top (or bottom) surface of the component, but also that other structures may be interposed between the component and any structure placed above (or below) the component.

[0049] Furthermore, when a component is described as being "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that the components may be directly coupled or connected to each other, but that other components may be "intervening" between the components, or that each component may be "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" by other components.

[0050] As used herein, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "comprise" or "include" are not necessarily interpreted as including multiple components or multiple steps described in the specification, and some components or steps may not be included, or additional components or steps may be further included.

[0051] Throughout the specification, "A and / or B" can mean "A," "B," or "A and B," unless otherwise specified.

[0052] Meanwhile, in this specification, unless otherwise specified, the X-axis direction in which multiple battery cells 100 are stacked will be described as the left-right direction, the Y-axis direction, which is the horizontal direction perpendicular to the cell stacking direction, will be described as the front-rear direction, and the Z-axis direction, which is perpendicular to the XY plane, will be described as the up-down direction (vertical direction). Furthermore, in the case of a pouch-type cell, the Y-axis direction may be referred to as the longitudinal direction of the cell. Furthermore, the left-right direction, front-rear direction, and up-down direction may also be referred to as the first direction, second direction, and third direction, respectively.

[0053] Although terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are used in this specification, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that these terms indicate relative positions and are used only for convenience of explanation, and may vary depending on the position of the object in question, the position of the observer, etc.

[0054] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the battery module 10 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a battery cell 100 included in the battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4a is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a bus bar assembly and a pressing member of the battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention are coupled together. FIG. 4b is a top cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a bus bar assembly and a pressing member of the battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention are coupled together. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a process in which the bus bar assembly and the pressing member of the battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention are coupled to a battery cell.

[0055] 1 to 5, a battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a battery cell 100, a module case 200, a bus bar assembly 300, and a pressing member 400.

[0056] The battery cell 100 may include an electrode assembly, a cell case 110 that houses the electrode assembly, and an electrode lead 120 that connects to the electrode assembly and is pulled out to the outside of the cell case 110 to function as an electrode terminal.

[0057] The battery cell 100 may be a pouch-type secondary battery. Such a pouch-type secondary battery may have a cell case 110 in the form of a pouch in which a metal layer made of aluminum material is sandwiched between polymer layers.

[0058] Specifically, referring to FIG. 3 , the battery cell 100 may include a receiving portion R and a sealing portion S. Here, the receiving portion R may refer to a portion in which an electrode assembly and an electrolyte are accommodated. For example, the cell casing 110 may have two pouches, e.g., a left pouch and a right pouch, with the receiving portion R located at the center thereof, and the periphery of the receiving portion R may be sealed. In this case, the receiving portion R of at least some of the two pouches may have a recessed surface facing the electrode assembly, thereby providing an internal space, into which the electrode assembly may be attached. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , the cell casing 110 has a double-cup shape in which the receiving portion R is formed on both sides thereof, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this shape of the cell casing 110. For example, the battery cell 100 may have a single-cup shape in which the receiving portion R is formed on only one side of the cell casing 110.

[0059] The sealing portion S can be said to be a portion where the periphery of the storage portion R is heat-sealed in a form that surrounds the periphery of the storage portion R. That is, the sealing portion S can be provided by sealing the outer edge of the storage portion R. In particular, the battery cell 100 can be said to have four sides (edges) centered around the storage portion R. In this case, all four sides may be sealed, or only three sides may be sealed. In this case, a cell with four sealed sides is referred to as a four-sided sealed cell, and a cell with three sealed sides is referred to as a three-sided sealed cell. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , the battery cell 100 can be configured in an upright state, with the front, rear, and top ends of the left and right pouches sealed, and the bottom ends of the left and right pouches unsealed and folded in a connected state. In this case, the battery cell 100 can be said to be sealed on three sides.

[0060] Each battery cell 100 may include an electrode lead 120. The electrode lead 120 includes a positive electrode lead and a negative electrode lead, and the positive electrode lead and the negative electrode lead may be provided to protrude from the same side (edge) or different sides of the battery cell 100. In this case, when the positive electrode lead and the negative electrode lead are located on the same side, it is called a unidirectional cell, and when the positive electrode lead and the negative electrode lead are located on different sides, particularly opposite sides, it is called a bidirectional cell.

[0061] The electrode lead 120 may be configured to be drawn out to the front and / or rear of the sealing portion S of the battery cell 100. In this case, the sealing portion S from which the electrode lead 120 is drawn out may be defined as a terrace portion T.

[0062] A battery module may include a plurality of battery cells 100. The plurality of battery cells 100 may be stacked on one another in at least one direction. For example, the plurality of battery cells 100 may be arranged side by side in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) while standing upright in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). In particular, in the case of a three-sided sealed cell, each battery cell 100 may be arranged to stand with the side that does not include the sealing portion S facing downward. In this case, the sealing portion S of each battery cell 100 may face the front-rear direction (Y-axis direction) and upward (+Z-axis direction), and the storage portion R may face the left-right direction (X-axis direction).

[0063] Meanwhile, the present invention is not limited by the specific type or shape of the battery cell 100, and various battery cells 100 known at the time of filing of the present invention may be used to realize the cell assembly of the present invention. In this embodiment, as shown in the drawings, a pouch-type secondary battery that has high energy density and is easy to stack is targeted, but it goes without saying that cylindrical or prismatic secondary batteries can also be used as the battery cell 100.

[0064] 1 and 2, the module case 200 may be configured to house a plurality of battery cells 100 in an internal space. That is, the module case 200 may have a space formed therein, and may house a plurality of battery cells 100 in the internal space. For example, the module case 200 may include an upper plate, a lower plate, a left plate, a right plate, a front plate, and a rear plate to define the internal space. The plurality of battery cells 100 may be positioned in the defined internal space. Here, the module case 200 may include a metal and / or plastic material.

[0065] Furthermore, at least some of the plates constituting the modular case 200 may be integrally formed. For example, referring to FIG. 2 , the modular case 200 may be formed as a monoframe in which an upper plate, a lower plate, a left plate, and a right plate are integrated with each other. In this case, the front and rear of the monoframe are open, and the front and rear plates may be coupled to the front and rear openings of the monoframe as end frames to seal the interior space of the monoframe. In another example, the modular case 200 may be formed as a U-shaped frame in which the lower plate, the left plate, and the right plate are integrated with each other. In this case, the upper plate, the front plate, and the rear plate may be coupled to the top, front end, and rear end of the U-shaped frame. Various fastening methods, such as welding or bolting, may be used to connect the components of the modular case 200. However, the present invention is not limited to a specific material, shape, or joining method of the modular case 200.

[0066] According to one embodiment, although not shown, at least one of the plates constituting the modular case 200, for example, the upper plate, may include at least one vent area through which vent gas discharged from the battery cells 100 is discharged. For example, the vent area may be one of a vent hole or a preliminary break line. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a vent area may be provided in the upper plate of the modular case 200 to induce upward directional venting of the battery module 10.

[0067] The busbar assembly 300 may be configured to be electrically connected to the electrode leads 120. The busbar assembly 300 may be configured to allow the electrode leads 120 of a plurality of battery cells 100 to be connected to one another. More specifically, the busbar assembly 300 may be configured to support the electrode leads 120, facilitate interconnection of the electrode leads 120, and enable sensing of voltage and the like from the electrode leads 120.

[0068] The busbar assembly 300 may be located on the side of the terrace portion T where the electrode lead 120 is located in the sealing portion S of the battery cell 100. For example, the busbar assembly 300 may be disposed adjacent to the terrace portion T where the electrode lead 120 is located in the sealing portion facing the front surface (the surface facing the -Y axis direction) of the battery cell 100.

[0069] Referring to FIG. 4a, the pressing member 400 may extend in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) along the terrace portion T. Here, the terrace portion T may refer to a sealing portion S extending vertically from the front and / or rear of the battery cell 100. To prevent vent gas from venting from the terrace portion T, the pressing member 400 may extend in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) along the shape of the terrace portion T and be configured to pressurize the entire length of the terrace portion T. For example, the vertical length of the pressing member 400 may be substantially the same as or longer than the vertical length of the terrace portion T. That is, the pressing member may continuously pressurize the entire terrace portion T from the bottom end to the top end, thereby preventing the entire terrace portion T from opening or bursting.

[0070] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, venting of the terrace portion T, such as vent gas and flame, can be completely blocked, and the terrace portion T can be more reliably prevented from bursting due to the pressure of the vent gas and flame.

[0071] A plurality of pressure members 400 may be configured. The plurality of pressure members 400 may be spaced apart at regular intervals along the stacking direction of the battery cells 100. In this case, as shown by B in FIG. 5 , the terrace portions T of the battery cells 100 may be located between the spaced apart pressure members 400. In other words, the electrode leads 120 of the battery cells 100 may be disposed between the spaced apart pressure members 400.

[0072] The pressing member 400 may be disposed outside the battery cell 100 and configured to pressurize at least a portion of the battery cell 100. Furthermore, as shown in the portion indicated by B in FIG. 5 , the pressing member 400 may be configured to pressurize the sealing portion S of the battery cell 100, in particular the terrace portion T. The pressing member 400 may be disposed in a space in the interior of the module case 200 where the terrace portion T is disposed. For example, the pressing member 400 may be disposed at the front (e.g., in the −Y-axis direction) of the module case 200 where the bus bar assembly 300 is disposed. Referring to FIG. 3 , the pressing member 400 may be provided in the entire front sealing portion S of the battery cell 100. For example, the pressure member 400 may be located between a terrace portion T (which may be defined as a "first terrace portion") of a battery cell 100 (which may be defined as a "first battery cell") and a terrace portion T (which may be defined as a "second terrace portion") of a battery cell 100 (which may be defined as a "second battery cell") arranged alongside the first battery cell.

[0073] The pressure member 400 may be arranged so as to be surrounded by the bus bar assembly 300, the storage portion R, and the sealing portion S.

[0074] The pressing member 400 may be configured to pressurize the terrace portion T when the internal pressure of the battery cell 100 increases. In particular, the pressing member 400 may be configured to pressurize the terrace portion T so that the welded state of the terrace portion T is not damaged or separated when the internal pressure of the battery cell 100 increases. That is, the pressing member 400 may pressurize the entire terrace portion T or a part of the terrace portion T in addition to pressing the electrode lead 120, thereby preventing the terrace portion T from opening.

[0075] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the pressing member 400 coupled to the bus bar assembly 300 is assembled to engage with the battery cell 100, which makes it easy to assemble and detach the pressing member 400 and strengthens the positional fixing force.

[0076] According to an embodiment, the pressing member 400 may be configured to be inserted into spaces between at least some of the battery cells 100. Here, the spaces between the battery cells 100 may refer to spaces between the terrace portions T of the battery cells 100 arranged side by side. In other words, the pressing member 400 may be disposed between the bus bar assembly 300 and the battery cells 100. The bus bar assembly 300 and the pressing member 400 may be configured to be inserted between the battery cells 100 in the rear direction (+Y-axis direction).

[0077] According to the embodiment of the present invention, the pressing member 400 may be configured to suppress opening or separation of the terrace portion T. In particular, the sealing portion S (e.g., the terrace portion T) of the battery cell 100 is a welded portion and has lower resistance to high temperatures, pressure, fire, etc. than the storage portion R of the battery cell 100. However, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the terrace portion T of the battery cell 100 is protected by the pressing member 400, so that it is possible to prevent or prevent the influence of vent gases, fire, etc. discharged from other battery cells 100. Therefore, in this case, it is possible to effectively prevent the propagation of thermal runaway between the battery cells 100 inside the battery module 10.

[0078] The busbar assembly 300 may include a busbar terminal 310 and a busbar frame 320, as shown in FIG.

[0079] The bus bar terminal 310 may be configured to electrically connect two or more electrode leads 120 together, or to be connected to one or more electrode leads 120 to transmit sensing information to a control unit such as a BMS (battery management system).

[0080] The busbar frame 320 may be made of an electrically insulating material, for example, a plastic material. The busbar frame 320 may be configured to mount the busbar terminals 310. Slits 321 may be formed in the busbar frame 320. The busbar terminals 310 may be attached to the outer side of the busbar frame 320, for example, on the front side (-Y-axis direction). In this case, the electrode leads 120 may contact the busbar terminals 310 located on the outer side through the slits 321 of the busbar frame 320. In particular, the electrode leads 120 may be coupled and fixed to the busbar terminals 310 singly or in a stack of two or more. In this case, the electrode leads 120 and the busbar terminals 310 may be coupled and fixed by laser welding, ultrasonic welding, or various other fastening methods may be used.

[0081] In this case, the pressing member 400 may be located inside the bus bar frame 320, and the bus bar terminal 310 may be located outside the bus bar frame 320. In other words, the pressing member 400 and the bus bar terminal 310 may be arranged in opposite directions across the bus bar frame 320. In this case, the electrode lead 120 may come into contact with the bus bar terminal 310 located outside through the slit 321 of the bus bar frame 320.

[0082] Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a busbar assembly and a pressure member according to an embodiment of the present invention are coupled to a battery cell. Fig. 7a is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a busbar assembly and a pressure member according to an embodiment of the present invention are coupled to a battery cell. Fig. 7b is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a busbar assembly and a pressure member according to an embodiment of the present invention are coupled to a battery cell.

[0083] According to one embodiment, the pressure member 400 and the bus bar assembly 300 may be configured to be housed in a module case while being coupled to each other. That is, the pressure member 400 may be directly coupled to the bus bar assembly 300. Specifically, the pressure member 400 may be coupled to the bus bar frame 320.

[0084] The pressure member 400 may contact the inner surface of the bus bar frame 320. Referring to FIG. 4b, the pressure member 400 may be adhered to the inner surface of the bus bar frame 320. In this case, an adhesive (not shown) may be further provided between the pressure member 400 and the bus bar frame 320. The adhesive may include, for example, adhesive tape. As another example, a fastening groove may be formed in the bus bar frame 320, and a fastening protrusion configured to be inserted into the fastening groove may be formed on one side of the pressure member 400. Conversely, a fastening protrusion may be formed in the bus bar frame 320, and a fastening groove configured to be inserted into the fastening protrusion may be formed on one side of the pressure member 400. However, the method of coupling and fixing the pressure member 400 to the bus bar assembly 300 is not limited to the above embodiment and may be variously modified.

[0085] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the assembly of the battery module 10 is improved. More specifically, the pressing member 400 is configured to be assembled simultaneously with the bus bar assembly 300 while being coupled to the bus bar frame 320, thereby facilitating assembly and reducing the assembly time. Furthermore, according to this embodiment, errors in assembling and positioning the pressing member 400 to the battery cell 100 are minimized.

[0086] According to one embodiment, when a plurality of pressure members 400 are included, the slits 321 formed in the bus bar frame 320 may be disposed between adjacent pressure members 400. That is, the pressure members 400 may be attached to one side of the bus bar frame 320 where the slits 321 are not formed. Therefore, the electrode leads 120 and / or the terrace portions T configured to pass through the slits 321 may be disposed between adjacent pressure members 400.

[0087] According to one embodiment, the pressing members 400 may extend from the inner surface of the bus bar frame 320 toward the inside of the battery module 10. For example, referring to the embodiment of Fig. 7a, the pressing members 400 may be arranged to protrude from the inner surface of the bus bar frame 320 in the longitudinal direction (+Y-axis direction), and each pressing member 400 may be configured to face the storage portion R of the opposing battery cell 100.

[0088] The pressing member 400 may be arranged to face at least a portion of the surface of the battery cell 100. In particular, the pressing member 400 may be arranged to face the sealing portion S side of the battery cell 100. Furthermore, the pressing member 400 may be arranged to face a terrace portion T of the sealing portion S of the battery cell 100 where the electrode lead 120 is located. The pressing member 400 may be arranged to face at least one surface of the terrace portion T from both side surfaces (e.g., left side surface, right side surface) of the terrace portion T. In other words, the pressing member 400 may fill the space around the space where the terrace portion T is arranged inside the module case 200.

[0089] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, when an abnormal situation such as thermal runaway occurs in the battery cell 100 and the internal pressure increases, venting to the terrace portion T side can be prevented or suppressed.

[0090] In particular, the space in which the terrace portion T is disposed inside the module case 200 may have more empty space than other parts of the battery cell 100, particularly the space in which the storage portion R is located. Therefore, vent gas and flames emitted from the battery cell 100 may be more likely to concentrate therein. As a result, the terrace portion T may be more susceptible to thermal chain reactions than other parts of the battery cell 100. However, in the embodiment of the present invention, even if the internal pressure of the battery cell 100 increases, the terrace portion T is configured to be pressurized by the pressing member 400, so that venting to the terrace portion T can be suppressed or blocked.

[0091] Therefore, according to the above embodiment, it is possible to reduce the transfer of thermal damage from an event-occurring battery cell 100 to an adjacent battery cell 100, thereby suppressing heat transfer between the battery cells 100 and preventing or delaying a thermal runaway phenomenon in the battery module 10. Therefore, according to the above aspect of the present invention, the safety and reliability of the battery module 10 are improved.

[0092] In particular, the pressure member 400 may be provided only on the front terrace T side, and the pressure member 400 may not be provided on the rear terrace T side. Alternatively, the pressure member 400 may be provided entirely on the front terrace T side, and the pressure member 400 may be provided only partially on the rear terrace T side.

[0093] In this case, directional venting (e.g., rear venting) can be implemented toward the rear of the battery module 10. According to this embodiment of the present invention, a directional venting structure that guides venting in a desired direction can be easily implemented by appropriately arranging the pressurizing member 400. Furthermore, in front of the battery module 10, other battery modules 10 may be disposed, or electrical connection structures for connecting to other battery modules 10, such as module terminals or bus bars between modules, may be present. However, when forward venting is blocked or suppressed as in the above embodiment, it is possible to prevent or reduce the propagation of high-temperature gases or flames to other battery modules or electrical connection structures.

[0094] According to one embodiment, adjacent pressing members 400 may be configured to press the terrace portions T of the battery cells 100 from both sides.

[0095] 5 to 7a, the pressure member 400 may include a first pressure member 400a and a second pressure member 400b. The first pressure member 400a may be disposed to face a second surface (e.g., the second surface 112 in FIG. 3) of the terrace portion T. The second pressure member 400b may be disposed to face a first surface (e.g., the first surface 111 in FIG. 3) opposite the second surface 112 of the terrace portion T. Here, the first surface 111 of the terrace portion T may be a surface facing leftward (e.g., the −X-axis direction), and the second surface 112 may be a surface facing rightward (e.g., the +X-axis direction).

[0096] That is, the first pressure member 400a and the second pressure member 400b may be located on both sides of the terrace portion T. For example, referring to Fig. 5, the first pressure member 400a located on the left side of the terrace portion T may press the terrace portion T toward the right, and the second pressure member 400b located on the right side of the terrace portion T may press the terrace portion T toward the left.

[0097] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, pressure is applied from both sides of the terrace portion T, thereby preventing the terrace portion T from opening in both directions or moving in one direction. That is, when pressure is applied from both sides of the terrace portion T in this manner, the terrace portion T is reliably compressed, thereby further improving the sealing performance of the terrace portion T.

[0098] The shapes of the pressure members 400 may be substantially identical. That is, the pressure members 400 may have substantially the same size and shape regardless of their positions, spatial configurations, or dimensions. However, the first pressure member 400a and the second pressure member 400b may be symmetrical with respect to the Y-axis. According to the above embodiment of the present invention, mass production or fabrication of the pressure members 400 is simplified and facilitated.

[0099] 7a, the pressing member 400 may include a front surface 401 facing the bus bar frame 320 and in contact with the bus bar frame 320, a rear surface 402 facing the battery cell 100, and side surfaces 403 and 404 extending in the longitudinal direction and connecting the front surface 401 and the rear surface 402. In this case, the front surface 401 may include the front surface 401a of the first pressing member 400a and the front surface 401b of the second pressing member 400b in FIG. 7a. The rear surface 402 may include the rear surface 402a of the first pressing member 400a and the rear surface 402b of the second pressing member 400b in FIG. 7a. The side surfaces 403 and 404 may include the side surfaces 403a and 404a of the first pressing member 400a and the side surfaces 403b and 404b of the second pressing member 400b in FIG. 7a.

[0100] In this case, at least one surface of the pressure member 400 may include an inclined surface 405. At least a portion of the side surfaces 403, 404 of the pressure member 400 may be provided as the inclined surface 405 inclined at a certain angle. Specifically, of the side surfaces 403, 404 of the pressure member 400, the side surface 403 facing the terrace portion T to be pressed may include the inclined surface 405. For example, the first pressure member 400a may have a left side surface 403a (the surface facing the −X-axis direction) facing the terrace portion T including a first inclined surface 405a inclined at a specified angle. For example, the second pressure member 400b may have a right side surface 403b (the surface facing the +X-axis direction) facing the terrace portion T including a second inclined surface 405b inclined at a specified angle. The inclined surfaces 405a, 405b of the first pressure member 400a and the second pressure member 400b may be arranged to face each other across the terrace portion T to be pressed. The shapes of the first pressure member 400a and the second pressure member 400b may be symmetrical with respect to the terrace portion T.

[0101] The inclined surface 405 may be disposed so as to be inclined inward as it progresses rearward relative to the side surface 403. Therefore, the first inclined surface 405a and the second inclined surface 405b may be formed so that the separation distance between the first pressure member 400a and the second pressure member 400b increases as it progresses toward the rear surface (+Y-axis direction).

[0102] 7a, according to one embodiment, the maximum thickness H1 of the pressure member 400 in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) may be shorter than a first separation distance G1, which is half the length of the storage portion R of the battery cell 100 in the left-right direction (X-axis direction). Therefore, the size of the rear surface of the pressure member 400 may be smaller than the size of the front surface of the pressure member 400. The thickness H2 of the rear surface of the pressure member 400 facing the battery cell 100 in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) may be shorter than the thickness H1 of the front surface 401 of the pressure member 400 in the left-right direction (X-axis direction).

[0103] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, when the pressing member 400 is assembled with the battery cells 100, the size of the rear surface of the pressing member 400 is relatively small, which facilitates insertion and / or assembly when the pressing member 400 is inserted between the battery cells 100. That is, the terrace portion T of the battery cell 100 can be easily inserted between the first pressing member 400a and the second pressing member 400b. However, as long as the size of the rear surface of the pressing member 400 is smaller than the size of the front surface, the method and form thereof are not limited to the above embodiment and may be variously modified in design.

[0104] 7b, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the first pressure member 400a and the second pressure member 400b in FIG. 7a may be integrally formed. That is, the pressure member 400 arranged to face the first surface (e.g., the first surface 111 in FIG. 7b) of the terrace portion T (which may be defined as the “first terrace portion”) of the battery cell 100 (which may be defined as the “first battery cell”) and the pressure member 400 arranged to face the second surface (e.g., the second surface 112 in FIG. 7b) of the terrace portion T (which may be defined as the “second terrace portion”) of the battery cell 100 (which may be defined as the “second battery cell”) arranged alongside the first battery cell may have substantially the same configuration. In other words, the pressure member 400 may be positioned so as to be in close contact between the terrace portion T (which may be defined as the "first terrace portion") of the battery cell 100 (which may be defined as the "first battery cell") and the terrace portion T (which may be defined as the "second terrace portion") of the battery cell 100 (which may be defined as the "second battery cell") arranged alongside the first battery cell.

[0105] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the same function can be achieved even if two pressing members 400 are not disposed between the first terrace portion T and the second terrace portion T, which may facilitate design and assembly. Figure 8 is a perspective view illustrating how a bus bar assembly and a pressing member are coupled to a battery cell at the front of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating how a bus bar assembly and a pressing member are coupled to a battery cell at the front of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0106] According to one embodiment, the battery module 10 according to the present invention may further include a barrier member 500. The barrier member 500 may be interposed between adjacent battery cells 100 or between the battery cell 100 and the module case 200. For example, the barrier member 500 may be in the form of a vertically standing plate. That is, when the battery cells 100 are stacked in at least one direction, the barrier member 500 may be interposed between the stacked battery cells 100. For example, referring to the configuration of FIG. 8 , when a plurality of battery cells 100 are stacked in the X-axis direction, the barrier member 500 may be interposed between adjacent battery cells 100. One or more barrier members 500 may be provided in one battery module 10. In particular, when three or more battery cells 100 are included, a plurality of barrier members 500 may be provided, one for each battery cell 100.

[0107] The barrier member 500 may be configured to suppress the transmission of heat, flame, pressure, impact, etc. between the battery cells 100. For example, the barrier member 500 may be configured as a thermal barrier to block the transmission of heat or flame between the battery cells 100. Alternatively, the barrier member 500 may be a compression pad configured to absorb pressure or shape deformation due to swelling between the battery cells 100. The barrier member 500 according to the present invention may employ various components interposed between the battery cells 100 in a conventional battery module or battery pack (e.g., the battery pack 1 of FIG. 15).

[0108] In particular, the barrier member 500 may be interposed between the storage portions R of adjacent battery cells 100. That is, as described above, each battery cell 100 has a storage portion R in the center, and the barrier member 500 may be interposed between the storage portions R of the battery cells 100 and disposed so as to face the storage portion R of the adjacent battery cell 100.

[0109] 9 , according to one embodiment, the barrier member 500 may extend so as to protrude from between the storage portions R of the adjacent battery cells 100 on at least one side to between the sealing portions S, particularly the terrace portions T, of the adjacent battery cells 100. For example, the barrier member 500 may be configured to protrude and extend toward the terrace portion T side of the sealing portion S of the battery cell 100 where the electrode lead 120 is located.

[0110] Meanwhile, the barrier member 500 may be configured such that at least one side end thereof contacts the bus bar assembly 300. For example, referring to Figures 8 and 9, the front surface of the barrier member 500 may directly contact the inner (rear) surface of the bus bar assembly 300. In particular, the barrier member 500 may contact the inner surface of the bus bar frame 320 provided in the bus bar assembly 300.

[0111] The above-described embodiment of the present invention can further improve the safety of the battery module 10. More specifically, when high-temperature vent gas or flames are emitted from a battery cell 100, the effects on other surrounding battery cells 100 can be effectively blocked. In particular, the sealing portion S of the battery cell 100 is a welding portion, and may have lower durability against high temperatures, pressure, flames, etc. than the storage portion R of the battery cell 100.

[0112] However, according to the above aspect of the present invention, the sealing portion S of the battery cell 100 is protected by the protruding extension portion of the barrier member 500, and therefore, it is possible to prevent or prevent the influence of vent gas or flames discharged from other battery cells 100. Therefore, in this case, it is possible to effectively prevent the propagation of thermal runaway between battery cells 100 inside the battery module 10.

[0113] According to one embodiment, the pressure member 400 may be disposed so as to face one surface of the barrier member 500. For example, at least a portion of the side surface of the pressure member 400 may face one surface of the barrier member 500.

[0114] 9 , according to the embodiment of the present invention, the barrier member 500 may support the pressure member 400 so that the pressure member 400 can press the terrace portion T. One surface of the pressure member 400 (e.g., the side surface 404) may be in contact with the barrier member 500.

[0115] According to one embodiment, the pressure member 400 may be attached to the barrier member 500. The battery module 10 may further include an adhesive member (not shown) disposed between the pressure member 400 and the barrier member 500. That is, the pressure member 400 may be adhesively fixed to the barrier member 500. Alternatively, the pressure member 400 may be fixed to the barrier member 500 using various other fastening methods.

[0116] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the pressure member 400 is attached to the barrier member 500, so that the fixing force of the pressure member 400 can be further improved.

[0117] According to one embodiment, referring to FIG. 9, the maximum thickness H1 of the pressure member 400 in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) may be shorter than the second separation distance G2 between the terrace portion T of the battery cell 100 and the barrier member 500.

[0118] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, when the pressing member 400 is assembled with the battery cell 100, the rear surface of the pressing member 400 is inserted between the battery cell 100 and the barrier member 500, and therefore insertion and / or assembly is easy because the size of the rear surface is relatively small. That is, the terrace portion T of the battery cell 100 is easily inserted between the first pressing member 400a and the second pressing member 400b. However, as long as the size of the rear surface of the pressing member 400 is smaller than the size of the front surface, the method and form thereof are not limited to the above embodiment and may be variously modified in design.

[0119] 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a bus bar assembly and a pressing member are coupled to a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present invention. For convenience of explanation, the state of one pressing member 400a before compression is shown by dotted lines in FIG.

[0120] 10 , the pressing member 400 may be configured to pressurize the receiving portion R of the battery cell 100 inward. In this case, the pressure may be a pressure caused by contact between the receiving portion R and the pressing member 400. At the same time, the receiving portion R of the battery cell 100 may be configured to pressurize the pressing member 400 outward. That is, when the shape of the pressing member 400 is changed due to the combination of the pressing member 400 and the battery cell 100, the pressing member 400 and the receiving portion R may exchange pressure with each other.

[0121] According to the embodiment of the present invention, the pressure member 400 can be configured to be pressed in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) and to extend in the thickness direction (X-axis direction).

[0122] 10 , the width (length in the Y-axis direction) of the pressing member 400 before pressing (before assembling the battery cells) may be equal to or greater than the distance between the busbar assembly 300 and the battery cell 100. The width (length in the Y-axis direction) of the pressing member 400 may be equal to or greater than the distance between the busbar assembly 300 and the battery cell 100. Specifically, the maximum width (length in the Y-axis direction) of the pressing member 400 is a first width W1. When the busbar assembly 300, the pressing member 400, and the battery cell 100 are combined, the distance between the inner surface of the busbar frame 320 and the receiving portion R of the battery cell 100 may be a second length W2 that is shorter than the first width W1.

[0123] The pressing member 400 may be configured to change shape depending on the receiving portion R of the battery cell 100 during assembly. In other words, when the bus bar assembly 300, the pressing member 400, and the battery cell 100 of the battery module 10 are assembled, the pressing member 400 may be compressed, and its width may decrease according to the distance between the bus bar frame 320 and the receiving portion R of the battery cell 100. That is, the first width W1 of the pressing member 400 may be changed to a second length W2.

[0124] Furthermore, the thickness (length in the X-axis direction) of the pressing member 400 may increase while the width of the pressing member 400 decreases. For example, referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 , the third thickness H3, which is the thickness of the rear surface of the pressing member 400 when the battery cells are assembled, may be greater than the second thickness H2, which is the thickness of the pressing member 400 before compression. In this case, the third thickness H3 may be substantially equal to the second separation distance G2 between the barrier member 500 and the terrace portion T. In this manner, as the pressing member 400 and the battery cells 100 are assembled together, the width of the pressing member 400 may decrease while the thickness of the pressing member 400 increases, thereby pressing the terrace portion T.

[0125] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the ease of assembly and safety of the battery module 10 can be further improved. In particular, before the pressurizing member 400 is assembled, the height of the pressurizing member 400 is shorter than the first separation distance G1 and the second separation distance G2, which facilitates assembly. After the pressurizing member 400 is assembled, the height of the pressurizing member 400 increases by the first separation distance G1 and the second separation distance G2, thereby pressurizing the terrace portion T and blocking ventilation of vent gas, flame, etc. from the terrace portion T. In addition, it is possible to prevent the terrace portion T of other battery cells 100 from exploding due to the pressure of the vent gas, flame, etc.

[0126] According to one embodiment, the pressure member 400 may include an elastic material. That is, the pressure member 400 may be formed from a material that has the property of being deformed when an external force is applied, but returning to its original shape when the force is removed. The pressure member 400 may include, for example, rubber, polyurethane, silicone, etc. For example, the entire pressure member 400 may include an elastic material, or only a portion of the pressure member 400 may include an elastic material.

[0127] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the pressing member 400 is disposed between the battery cell 100 and the bus bar assembly 300, and its shape can be changed according to the shape and size of the space therebetween. Therefore, it is not necessary to manufacture the pressing member 400 in a shape corresponding to each space, and it can be produced in bulk, which simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces the manufacturing time.

[0128] Furthermore, according to one embodiment, the pressure member 400 may include a heat insulating or heat resistant material. For example, the pressure member may be made of or include a heat insulating or heat resistant material. For example, the pressure member 400 may include at least one of materials with strong heat insulating and / or heat resistant (including fire resistant) properties, such as plastic, rubber, silicone, aerogel, metal, and glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP). For example, the pressure member 400 may include a metal material that has rigidity and heat resistance to physically or chemically prevent the terrace portion T from bursting.

[0129] According to this embodiment, even when high-temperature vent gas or flames are ejected from the battery cell, the pressing member can stably maintain its structural rigidity.

[0130] The above-described embodiment of the present invention makes it possible to more stably ensure the heat or flame blocking performance of the terrace portion T. More specifically, the above-described embodiment makes it possible to effectively block the transfer of vent gas, flame, and the like in the space surrounding the terrace portion T to other nearby battery cells 100 by using the pressure member 400 having heat insulating or heat resistant properties.

[0131] However, the material of the pressure member 400 is not limited by the above embodiment, and is not particularly limited as long as it contains a substance whose shape can be changed, such as an elastic body, or exhibits predetermined heat insulating or heat resistant properties.

[0132] Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a busbar assembly, a pressure member, and a battery cell are coupled together according to another embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a busbar assembly, a pressure member, and a battery cell are coupled together according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0133] The pressure member 400 may be configured to face and / or contact the bus bar assembly 300 not only when directly coupled and / or fixed to the bus bar assembly 300 but also when not coupled thereto.

[0134] The shape of the pressing member 400 may be formed to match the shape of the space between the bus bar assembly 300 and the battery cell. The shape of the pressing member 400 may be formed to substantially correspond to the shape of the space between the bus bar assembly 300 and the battery cell 100. The shape of the pressing member 400 may be formed to substantially match the shape of the space between the bus bar frame 320, the battery cell 100, and / or the barrier member 500.

[0135] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the pressure member 400 substantially fills the space formed in the terrace portion T, which is the front surface of the battery cell 100, so that if thermal runaway or the like occurs in the battery cell 100, venting to the terrace portion T side can be prevented or suppressed.

[0136] 12 , at least a portion of the pressing member may be inserted into the bus bar frame, as shown by the portion C. The pressing member 400 may be divided into a first portion 406 configured to be inserted into the bus bar frame 320 and a second portion 407 that is not inserted into the bus bar frame 320. For example, the first portion 406 may be located between the terrace portion T of the battery cell and the bus bar frame 320. For example, the second portion 407 may be located between the barrier member 500 and the terrace portion T.

[0137] According to an embodiment, the bus bar frame 320 may include a main body portion 322 extending in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) and a protrusion portion 323 extending inward (+Y-axis direction) from the main body portion 322. The protrusion portion 323 may be formed adjacent to a slit 321 formed in the main body portion 322. The protrusion portion 323 may include a third inclined surface 324 inclined at a predetermined angle on at least a portion of a side surface on which the slit 321 is formed. Specifically, the third inclined surface 324 may be formed on a side surface on which the slit 321 is formed and configured to face the terrace portion T. The third inclined surface 324 may be inclined in a direction away from the terrace portion T as it extends rearward. This facilitates the terrace portion T and / or the electrode lead 120 of the battery cell 100 to pass through the slit 321 along the third inclined surface 324. However, the protrusion portion 323 may be omitted as shown in FIG. 9 , and the shape of the bus bar frame 320 may be variously designed.

[0138] The first portion 406 may include a fourth inclined surface 408 corresponding to the third inclined surface 324. In this case, the inclination angle of the fourth inclined surface 408 may be different from the inclination angle of the third inclined surface 324. In addition, a third separation distance G3 between the third inclined surface 324 and the terrace portion T may be shorter than a fourth height H4 between the fourth inclined surface 408 and the side surface.

[0139] 12 , when the first portion 406 is inserted between the protrusion 323 of the busbar frame 320 and the terrace portion T, the shape of the first portion 406 may be deformed. Specifically, the fourth height H4 between the fourth inclined surface 408 and the side surface may be reduced to a sixth height H6. The sixth height H6 may be shorter than the fourth height H4 and substantially equal to the third separation distance G3 between the third inclined surface 324 and the terrace portion T. In this way, the first portion 406 may be configured to press the terrace portion T between the terrace portion T and the protrusion 323 of the busbar frame 320.

[0140] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the pressurizing member 400 is assembled to pressurize the terrace portion T, thereby blocking venting of vent gas, flames, etc. to the terrace portion T and preventing the terrace portion T from bursting due to the pressure of the vent gas, flames, etc.

[0141] The second portion 407 may have a shape corresponding to the space between the terrace portion T, the storage portion R of the battery cell 100, and the barrier member 500. One surface of the second portion 407 may contact the terrace portion T, and another surface may contact the storage portion R. Furthermore, yet another surface may contact the barrier member 500. For example, the second portion 407 may have a rectangular shape.

[0142] Fig. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery module 10 including a pressing member 400 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery module 10 including a pressing member 400 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0143] According to one embodiment, the pressure member 400 may include two or more materials and may be constructed from multiple layers.

[0144] The pressure member 400 may include a first pressure layer 410 including a first material and a second pressure layer 420 including a second material different from the first material. The first pressure layer 410 may be disposed to face the terrace portion T, and the second pressure layer 420 may be disposed to face the barrier member 500.

[0145] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, by using different materials for different layers of the pressure member 400, the pressure member 400 can have the function of supporting the adjacent terrace portions T as well as the function of absorbing swelling of the battery cell 100 when it occurs.

[0146] According to one embodiment, the pressure member 400 may include two or more materials having different strengths. For example, the first material and the second material may have different strengths. Here, the term "strength" may be used interchangeably with "hardness," "strength," "firmness," "elasticity," etc. For example, the first material and the second material may have different elastic forces. In this case, the first material of the first pressure layer 410 facing the terrace portion T may have a lower hardness than the second material of the second pressure layer 420.

[0147] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the first pressure layer 410 facing the terrace portion T is made of a material having a relatively lower hardness than the second pressure layer 420, and when a swelling phenomenon occurs in which the battery cell 100 expands above a certain level, the first pressure layer 410 is compressed to absorb or tolerate the swelling of the battery cell 100 to some extent. However, since the second pressure layer 420 has a higher hardness than the first pressure layer 410, it can limit the swelling of the battery cell 100. Therefore, when a thermal event occurs in the battery cell 100, the terrace portion T of the battery cell 100 can be prevented from completely opening or being released.

[0148] According to another embodiment, referring to FIG. 14 , the pressure member 400 may further include a third pressure layer 430 including a third material different from the second material. For example, the first pressure layer 410 and the third pressure layer 430 may be disposed to face the adjacent terrace portion T or the barrier member 500, respectively. For example, the third material may have a different hardness from the second material. For example, the third material may have a different elastic force from the second material. For example, the first material and the third material may be different materials or may be substantially the same material. According to one embodiment, the first pressure layer 410 and the third pressure layer 430 may have a relatively lower hardness than the second pressure layer 420.

[0149] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the swelling phenomenon in which the battery cell 100 expands above a certain level is tolerated, and when a thermal event occurs in the battery cell 100, the terrace portion T of the battery cell 100 can be prevented from opening.

[0150] Fig. 15 is a side cross-sectional view of a battery module 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 16 is a side cross-sectional view of a battery module 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 17 is a side cross-sectional view of a battery module 10 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0151] 15 , the vertical height D1 of the pressing member 400 may be greater than the vertical height D2 of the battery cell 100. According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, by vertically pressing the entire surface of the battery cell 100, it is possible to reliably prevent any part of the terrace portion T from bursting.

[0152] 16 , the vertical height D1 of the pressing member 400 may be lower than the vertical height D2 of the battery cell 100. According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, pressure is applied intensively to the center of the terrace portion T of the battery cell 100, which is more likely to burst, thereby making it possible to prevent the terrace portion T from bursting in a concentrated manner.

[0153] 17, the vertical height D1 of the pressing member 400 may be greater than the distance L between the upper and lower plates of the module case 200. That is, the pressing member 400 may be pressed vertically by the upper and lower plates of the module case 200. As a result, the vertical height of the pressing member 400 may decrease from the height D1 of the pressing member before pressing to the height D3 of the pressing member 400 after pressing. According to this embodiment of the present invention, the position of the pressing member 400 is reliably fixed by being pressed by the upper and lower plates of the module case 200, and it does not shake due to external impact. Therefore, even if an external impact or thermal runaway occurs, the position of the pressing member 400 does not change, and the terrace portion T can be pressed.

[0154] FIG. 18 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a battery pack 1 including a battery module 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0155] 18, a battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include one or more battery modules 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention as described above. The battery pack 1 according to the present invention may further include various components in addition to the battery module 10 according to the present invention. For example, the battery pack 1 according to the present invention may further include components of a battery pack 1 that are known at the time of filing of the present invention, such as a BMS (Battery Management System), bus bars, relays, current sensors, etc.

[0156] Furthermore, the battery pack 1 according to the present invention may further include a pack case 11, as indicated by PC in Fig. 18. Such a pack case 11 may provide a space for accommodating the battery modules 10 according to the present invention. In particular, when the battery pack 1 includes a plurality of battery modules 10, the pack case 11 may be partitioned into spaces for separately accommodating the plurality of battery modules 10 by cross beams or the like.

[0157] FIG. 19 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a battery pack 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0158] 19, a battery pack 1 according to the present invention includes a battery module 10 according to the present invention, but does not include a separate pack case, and the module case 200 of the battery module may be configured to function as the pack case. In this case, battery pack components such as a BMS, bus bars, and relays may be included inside the module case 200. This type of battery pack 1 is also called a cell-to-pack (CTP) type because the battery cells 100 are directly housed in the pack case. Recently, development of such CTP-type battery packs 1 has been active, and the present invention can also be applied to such CTP-type battery packs 1.

[0159] FIG. 20 is a schematic perspective view of an automobile V including a battery pack 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0160] 20, an automobile V according to an embodiment of the present invention may include one or more battery packs 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention or battery modules 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The automobile V according to the present invention may be, for example, an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The automobile V includes four-wheeled vehicles and two-wheeled vehicles. The automobile V may operate by receiving power from the battery packs 1 or battery modules 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0161] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is of course possible for a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains to make various modifications and variations within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention and the equivalent scope of the claims.

Claims

1. a plurality of battery cells stacked on one another, each battery cell having a housing portion and a sealing portion; a module case that houses the plurality of battery cells in an internal space; a bus bar assembly located on a side of a terrace portion on which an electrode lead is located in the sealing portion of the battery cell, and electrically connected to the electrode lead; a pressure member coupled to the bus bar assembly and configured to pressurize the terrace portion when an internal pressure of the battery cell increases, The pressure member is configured to guide venting to the terrace portion or the sealing portion where the pressure member is not disposed.

2. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing member is configured to be inserted into spaces between at least some of the battery cells.

3. The busbar assembly includes a busbar terminal and a busbar frame, the pressing member is located inside the bus bar frame, The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the bus bar terminals are located outside the bus bar frame.

4. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing member and the bus bar assembly are housed in the module case in a coupled state.

5. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein adjacent pressure members are configured to pressurize the terrace portions of the battery cells from both sides.

6. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing member is configured to press the receiving portion of the battery cell inward.

7. The battery module according to claim 6, wherein the horizontal length of the pressing member is equal to or greater than a distance between the bus bar assembly and the battery cell.

8. The battery module according to claim 6, wherein the pressing member is configured to change shape depending on the receiving portion of the battery cell when assembled.

9. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the shape of the pressing member is formed to match the shape of a space between the bus bar assembly and the battery cell.

10. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure member comprises an elastic material.

11. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure member includes two or more different materials.

12. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure member includes two or more materials having different strengths.

13. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure member comprises a heat insulating or heat resistant material.

14. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing member is disposed to be surrounded by the bus bar assembly, the receiving portion, and the sealing portion.

15. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein a vertical height of the pressing member is greater than a vertical height of the battery cell.

16. The vertical height of the pressing member is greater than the distance between the upper and lower plates of the module case, The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure member is configured to be pressed in a vertical direction by the upper plate and the lower plate.

17. A battery pack comprising the battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. A motor vehicle comprising a battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

19. a plurality of battery cells stacked on one another, each battery cell having a housing portion and a sealing portion; a module case that houses the plurality of battery cells in an internal space; a bus bar assembly located on a side of a terrace portion on which an electrode lead is located in the sealing portion of the battery cell, and electrically connected to the electrode lead; a pressure member coupled to the bus bar assembly and configured to pressurize the terrace portion when an internal pressure of the battery cell increases, a horizontal length of the pressing member being longer than a distance between the bus bar assembly and the battery cell when the pressing member and the battery cell are not coupled together.

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