Rechargeable battery module, rechargeable battery pack containing it

Abstract

The present invention relates to a secondary battery module, a secondary battery pack including the same, and a secondary battery module inspection device for inspecting the same, and more particularly to a secondary battery module including a plurality of secondary batteries, a secondary battery pack including the same, and a secondary battery module inspection device for inspecting the same. The present invention provides a secondary battery module including a plurality of secondary batteries arranged in parallel, and a plurality of buffer pads arranged adjacent to the secondary batteries along an arrangement direction of the plurality of secondary batteries, the plurality of buffer pads being provided to have different thicknesses from each other and being selectively inserted according to the thickness of the adjacent secondary batteries.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0043661 filed on April 7, 2022 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0041306 filed on March 29, 2023, and all the contents disclosed in the documents of the Korean patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a secondary battery module, a secondary battery pack including the same, and a secondary battery module inspection device for inspecting the same, and more particularly, to a secondary battery module including a plurality of secondary batteries, a secondary battery pack including the same, and a secondary battery module inspection device for inspecting the same.

Background Art

[0003] Recently, secondary batteries have attracted attention as a power source for electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), etc., which are proposed as solutions to problems such as air pollution in existing gasoline vehicles and diesel vehicles that use fossil fuels.

[0004] One, two, or three secondary batteries are used in small mobile devices, while battery modules in which a number of secondary battery cells are electrically connected or battery packs in which a plurality of battery modules are electrically connected to each other are used in medium and large-sized devices such as electric vehicles due to the need for high output and large capacity.

[0005] For example, a battery module can consist of a secondary battery assembly, which is a collection of secondary batteries; busbars (or metal plates) for connecting the secondary batteries in series and / or parallel; a sensing assembly for voltage and temperature sensing; electrical components for charge and discharge control; and a module housing to house these components. Currently, one of the most popular secondary batteries among those commercially available is the lithium-ion battery, which can be classified into can-type and pouch-type based on the form of its casing. Among these, pouch-type secondary batteries are often used in medium to large battery modules due to their advantages of high energy density and ease of stacking.

[0006] However, pouch-type rechargeable batteries, which generally have an electrode assembly enclosed in an aluminum laminate sheet, have the advantage of high energy density relative to their small size and weight, but the disadvantage of weak mechanical rigidity. In particular, during repeated charge and discharge processes, the electrodes of pouch-type rechargeable batteries can thicken, and side reactions can cause the internal electrolyte to decompose and generate gas. This phenomenon, where the pouch-type rechargeable battery swells up due to electrode expansion and / or the generated gas, is called the "swelling phenomenon." For reference, the swelling phenomenon is largely caused by factors related to electrode expansion during charging and discharging.

[0007] When swelling occurs severely in such pouch-type secondary batteries, it can not only degrade the performance of the secondary battery module but also alter the external shape of the module housing, potentially negatively impacting the structural stability of the secondary battery module. Therefore, as one technique to prevent swelling, a method is applied in which buffer pads are stacked between the secondary batteries or between the secondary batteries and the housing to distribute the expansion force and compensate for the increase in the thickness of the secondary batteries.

[0008] Specifically, the cushioning pad is made of a foam material having a predetermined thickness, and is positioned in contact with one side of the secondary battery, absorbing the expansion force of the secondary battery and compressing to prevent shock between the secondary batteries.

[0009] However, conventional technology had a problem in that the cushioning pads applied to secondary battery modules all had a uniform thickness, without considering the thickness of the secondary battery, and therefore could not flexibly respond to the swelling of the secondary battery. In particular, when a thick secondary battery was applied to the secondary battery module, even when the cushioning pad was compressed to its maximum extent, there was insufficient internal space in the module, which caused damage to the module mechanism.

[0010] Therefore, there is a need to develop technologies to solve the problems mentioned above. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0011] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the object of the present invention is to provide a secondary battery module to which pads of various thicknesses can be applied that can flexibly accommodate the swelling of the secondary battery. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The present invention includes a plurality of secondary batteries arranged in parallel, and a plurality of cushioning pads arranged adjacent to the secondary batteries along the direction of arrangement of the plurality of secondary batteries, wherein the plurality of cushioning pads are provided to have different thicknesses from each other and are selectively inserted according to the thickness of adjacent secondary batteries.

[0013] Some of the multiple cushioning pads may have a different thickness from the rest of the cushioning pads.

[0014] Some of the aforementioned secondary batteries may have a different thickness from the remaining secondary batteries.

[0015] The cushioning pads can be selectively arranged according to their thickness, corresponding to the thickness of adjacent secondary batteries.

[0016] The buffer pads are located between the multiple secondary batteries, and the buffer pads can be selectively arranged according to their thickness by comparing the sum of the thicknesses of adjacent secondary batteries with a preset value.

[0017] The multiple cushioning pads may include at least one first cushioning pad having a first thickness and at least one second cushioning pad having a second thickness that is thinner than the first thickness.

[0018] If the thickness of a secondary battery is relatively thicker than other secondary batteries, the second buffer pad can be positioned adjacent to the secondary battery that is relatively thicker than other secondary batteries, and if the thickness of a secondary battery is relatively thinner than other secondary batteries, the first buffer pad can be positioned adjacent to the secondary battery that is relatively thinner than other secondary batteries.

[0019] The first thickness may be 1 mm to 2 mm.

[0020] The second thickness may be 0.1 mm to 1 mm.

[0021] The material of the cushioning pad may be any one of the following: polyurethane (PU), silicone, aerogel, polyurethane + mica composite material, silicone + mica composite material, or aerogel + mica composite material.

[0022] The aforementioned multiple cushioning pads may have different colors depending on their thickness.

[0023] On the other hand, the secondary battery module according to the present invention further includes a housing in which a housing space is formed inside, and the plurality of secondary batteries and the plurality of cushioning pads can be housed in the housing space.

[0024] Furthermore, the secondary battery module according to the present invention may further include a cooling plate provided between the plurality of secondary batteries within the housing space for cooling the heat emitted from the secondary batteries.

[0025] On the one hand, the present invention is a secondary battery pack including a secondary battery module in which a plurality of them are stacked, where the secondary battery module includes a plurality of secondary batteries arranged in parallel, and a plurality of buffer pads arranged adjacent to the secondary batteries along the arrangement direction of the plurality of secondary batteries, and the plurality of buffer pads are provided so as to have different thicknesses from each other and are selectively inserted according to the thicknesses of the adjacent secondary batteries.

[0026] Some of the plurality of buffer pads can have a different thickness from the remaining buffer pads.

[0027] In addition, the present invention includes a plurality of secondary batteries arranged in parallel, and a plurality of buffer pads inserted adjacent to the secondary batteries along the arrangement direction of the plurality of secondary batteries, and the plurality of buffer pads are provided so as to have different elasticities from each other and can be selectively inserted according to the thicknesses of the adjacent secondary batteries.

[0028] Some of the plurality of buffer pads can have a different elasticity from the remaining buffer pads.

[0029] Some of the plurality of secondary batteries can have a different thickness from the remaining secondary batteries.

[0030] The buffer pads can be selectively arranged according to the elasticity with respect to the thicknesses of the adjacent secondary batteries.

[0031] The buffer pads are located between the plurality of secondary batteries, and the buffer pads compare the sum of the thicknesses of the adjacent secondary batteries with a preset value and can be selectively arranged according to the elasticity.

[0032] The plurality of buffer pads can include at least one first buffer pad having a first elasticity and at least one second buffer pad having a second elasticity smaller than the first elasticity.

[0033] If the thickness of a secondary battery is relatively thicker than other secondary batteries, the second buffer pad can be positioned adjacent to the secondary battery that is relatively thicker than other secondary batteries, and if the thickness of a secondary battery is relatively thinner than other secondary batteries, the first buffer pad can be positioned adjacent to the secondary battery that is relatively thinner than other secondary batteries.

[0034] Multiple cushioning pads can have different colors depending on their degree of elasticity. [Effects of the Invention]

[0035] This invention provides a secondary battery module with cushioning pads of varying thicknesses, which allows for flexible compensation of space when the secondary battery expands due to swelling, while also preventing damage to the module mechanism.

[0036] Furthermore, the present invention provides the effect of quickly and accurately detecting assembly defects when cushioning pads of different thicknesses are incorrectly assembled in a secondary battery module, by setting the cushioning pads to different hues according to their thickness and enabling detection by distinguishing them by thickness using a color sensor. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0037] [Figure 1] This is a front view showing a typical pouch-type rechargeable battery. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-section in the XY plane of a secondary battery module according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the secondary battery module in the YZ plane. [Figure 4] This is a conceptual diagram showing how the secondary battery module inspection device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention inspects a secondary battery module. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0038] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, so that they can be easily implemented by a person with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. However, the present invention can be embodied in a variety of different forms and is not limited to or restricted by the following embodiments.

[0039] To clearly explain the present invention, detailed descriptions of related prior art that are irrelevant to the description or that may unnecessarily obscure the essence of the invention are omitted. In this specification, when assigning reference numerals to components in the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals are used for components that are the same or similar throughout the specification.

[0040] Furthermore, the terms and words used in this specification and the claims should not be interpreted in a manner limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but rather should be interpreted in a manner and concept consistent with the technical idea of ​​the present invention, based on the principle that inventors may appropriately define the concepts of terms in order to explain their invention as the best possible method.

[0041] Secondary battery module

[0042] The present invention includes a plurality of secondary batteries 200 arranged in parallel, and a plurality of cushioning pads 300 arranged adjacent to the secondary batteries 200 along the direction of arrangement of the plurality of secondary batteries 200, wherein the plurality of cushioning pads 300 may be provided with different thicknesses from each other, and the plurality of cushioning pads 300 are selectively inserted according to the thickness of adjacent secondary batteries.

[0043] A secondary battery module 10 can be provided in which some of the multiple cushioning pads 300 have a different thickness from the remaining cushioning pads 300.

[0044] In other words, in the present invention, the multiple cushioning pads 300 are provided in three or more different types with different thicknesses, and depending on the thickness of the secondary battery, a cushioning pad of the appropriate thickness is selectively inserted (or arranged), or the multiple cushioning pads 300 are provided in such a way that they consist of two types of pads with different thicknesses, and a cushioning pad of the appropriate thickness is inserted depending on the thickness of the secondary battery.

[0045] First, as shown in Figure 1, the secondary battery 200 has a configuration that includes an electrode assembly 210 and a battery case 220 that houses the electrode assembly 210, and various configurations are possible.

[0046] Here, the electrode assembly 210 may be configured in which positive and negative electrodes and separators are arranged alternately. Specifically, the electrode assembly 210 may have a structure in which positive electrode current collector / positive electrode active material layer / separator / negative electrode active material layer / negative electrode current collector are stacked in that order, and one side of the separator's positive electrode active material layer faces the other side of the negative electrode active material layer. Note that in Figure 1, the electrode assembly 210 is housed inside the battery case 220 and is indicated by a dotted line.

[0047] Furthermore, the battery case 220 is configured to include a storage section 221 in which the electrode assembly 210 is housed, and a frame section 222 that extends along the frame of the storage section 221, allowing for a variety of configurations.

[0048] Here, the storage section 221 is a region on the battery case 220 that is recessed and formed to have an empty space so that the electrode assembly 210 can be stored there, and an electrolyte solution and the like can be stored together with the electrode assembly 210.

[0049] Furthermore, the frame portion 222 may be an area formed on the battery case 220 that extends along the frame of the storage portion 221. Such a frame portion 222 may have a sealed structure to prevent the electrode assembly 210 housed in the storage portion 221 from being exposed to external moisture and air and being damaged.

[0050] One or more electrode leads 230 can be formed to protrude from the aforementioned battery case 220. For example, as shown in Figure 1, a pair of electrode leads 230 can protrude from both ends of the battery case 220. Such electrode leads 230 can serve to electrically connect the secondary battery 200 to another secondary battery 200 or an external electrical device by having one end electrically connected to the electrode assembly 210 and the other end protruding to the outside of the battery case 220.

[0051] On the other hand, the multiple secondary batteries 200 provided in a single secondary battery module 10 may be arranged to have the same thickness as each other, or they may be arranged to have different thicknesses as each other.

[0052] For example, some of the multiple secondary batteries 200 may have a first thickness (T1) as shown in Figure 2, and the remaining parts of the multiple secondary batteries 200 may have a second thickness (T2) that is thicker than the first thickness (T1) (T1 <T2)。

[0053] Here, the first thickness (T1) and the second thickness (T2) can be understood as the width of the secondary battery in the Y direction, with reference to Figure 2. The first thickness (T1) and the second thickness (T2) can be set in various ways; for example, the first thickness (T1) may be set to 8 mm to 8.2 mm, preferably 8.09 mm. The second thickness (T2) may be set to 8.2 mm to 8.5 mm, preferably 8.41 mm.

[0054] On the other hand, multiple secondary batteries 200 can be provided in the secondary battery module 10. In this case, as shown in Figure 2, multiple secondary batteries 200 can be arranged in parallel in a sequential manner along one direction (the Y direction with respect to Figure 2).

[0055] At this time, in order to prevent the secondary batteries 200 from being damaged by swelling or external impact, at least one cushioning pad 300 can be arranged between the secondary batteries 200.

[0056] Specifically, as shown in Figure 2, the buffer pad 300 can be positioned adjacent to the secondary batteries 200 along the arrangement direction of the multiple secondary batteries 200 (the Y direction with respect to Figure 2). In this case, the buffer pad 300 can be positioned between the secondary batteries 200 or between the secondary batteries 200 and the housing 100 described later.

[0057] Such cushioning pads 300 can be provided in a variety of thicknesses. Specifically, the cushioning pads 300 can be provided in a variety of thicknesses between 0.1 mm and 2 mm.

[0058] On the other hand, multiple cushioning pads 300 can be provided in a single secondary battery module 10 with different thicknesses. In this case, the cushioning pads 300 can be selectively arranged in different thicknesses corresponding to the thickness of adjacent secondary batteries 200 so that they occupy a certain space to fix the position of adjacent secondary batteries 200, while also flexibly compensating for the space when swelling of the secondary batteries 200 occurs, thereby preventing damage to the module.

[0059] For example, the multiple cushioning pads 300 may include at least one first cushioning pad 300a having a first thickness (t1) and at least one second cushioning pad 300b having a second thickness (t2) that is thinner than the first thickness (t1).

[0060] Here, the first thickness (t1) and the second thickness (t2) can be set in various ways. For example, the first thickness (t1) can be 1 mm to 2 mm, and the second thickness (t2) can be 0.1 mm to 1 mm.

[0061] Specifically, in a single secondary battery module 10, the first buffer pad 300a and the second buffer pad 300b can be selectively arranged according to the thickness of adjacent secondary batteries 200. More specifically, if the thickness of one secondary battery 200 is relatively thicker than that of other secondary batteries 200, the second buffer pad 300b can be arranged so as to be adjacent to the secondary battery 200 that is relatively thicker than the other secondary batteries 200.

[0062] Furthermore, if the thickness of one secondary battery 200 is relatively thinner than that of the other secondary batteries 200, the first buffer pad 300a can be positioned adjacent to the secondary battery 200 that is relatively thinner than the other secondary batteries 200.

[0063] Furthermore, when one cushioning pad 300 is placed between two secondary batteries 200, the cushioning pad 300 may be selectively placed according to its thickness by comparing the sum of the thicknesses of adjacent secondary batteries 200 with a preset value.

[0064] For example, when a preset value is 16.82 mm, if the sum of the thicknesses of adjacent secondary batteries 200 is greater than 16.82 mm, a relatively thin second buffer pad 300b can be placed between the secondary batteries 200, and if the sum of the thicknesses of the secondary batteries 200 is less than 16.82 mm, a relatively thick first buffer pad 300a can be placed between the secondary batteries 200.

[0065] Such a cushioning pad 300 can be made of a variety of materials. For example, the cushioning pad 300 can be made of polyurethane (PU), which has excellent vibration absorption and compression rebound properties. In addition, the material of the cushioning pad can be made by including one of the following: polyurethane (PU), silicone, aerogel, polyurethane + mica composite material, silicone + mica composite material, or aerogel + mica composite material.

[0066] Alternatively, the multiple cushioning pads 300 may be provided with different colors according to their thickness. In this case, the cushioning pads 300 can be detected according to their thickness by the color sensor of the secondary battery module inspection device 1000, which will be described later. A detailed explanation of this will be given later.

[0067] On the other hand, the secondary battery module 10 according to the present invention may further include a housing 100 in which a storage space is formed inside.

[0068] Here, the housing 100 can have any structure as long as it has a structure that accommodates the plurality of secondary batteries 200 and the plurality of cushioning pads 300 in the accommodation space.

[0069] For example, as shown in Figure 2, when a plurality of secondary batteries 200 are stacked in one direction to form a stack of secondary batteries 200, the housing 100 may include a pair of end plates 110 located on the front or rear surface of the secondary batteries 200 located on the outermost part of the stack of secondary batteries 200, a pair of bolt portions 120 extending along the arrangement direction of the plurality of secondary batteries 200 and connecting the pair of end plates 110 to each other, and a body plate 130 connected to the ends of the end plates 110 and forming the housing space together with the end plates 110.

[0070] Here, the end plate 110, the bolt portion 120, and the body plate 130 can have a variety of shapes. For example, the body plate 130 can have a "square" shape with a hollow interior.

[0071] When the housing 100 described above is provided, the cushioning pad 300 can be interposed between the laminate of the end plate 110 and the secondary battery 200. In this case, the cushioning pad 300 can not only provide spatial compensation to mitigate swelling, but can also serve to electrically insulate the secondary battery 200 from the end plate 110.

[0072] On the other hand, the secondary battery module 10 according to the present invention may further include a cooling plate 400 provided between the plurality of secondary batteries 200 within the housing space to cool the heat emitted from the secondary batteries 200. Such a cooling plate 400 is a plate-shaped member having thermal conductivity, and a refrigerant channel is formed inside it, or it is directly or indirectly connected to a cooling device in which a refrigerant channel is formed, so as to be able to cool the heat emitted from the secondary batteries 200.

[0073] Therefore, the secondary battery 200, the first buffer pad 300a, the second buffer pad 300b, and the cooling plate 400 can be arranged alternately within the housing space of the housing 100. In this case, although the secondary battery 200, the first buffer pad 300a, the second buffer pad 300b, and the cooling plate 400 are not shown around the area indicated by the waveform in Figures 2 and 3, this is an omission for the sake of representation in the drawings, and it can be understood that the secondary battery 200, the first buffer pad 300a, the second buffer pad 300b, and the cooling plate 400 are arranged continuously within the internal housing space of the housing 100.

[0074] Furthermore, the secondary battery module 10 according to the present invention may be further provided with a cartridge (not shown) that houses at least one secondary battery 200. In this case, the secondary battery 200 can be housed in the cartridge and arranged in one direction within the internal housing space of the housing 100. Such a cartridge may have a structure that includes a hollow inside capable of housing the secondary battery 200 and a frame surrounding the edges of the frame 222 in order to house the secondary battery 200 and protect the frame 222 of the secondary battery 200 from damage.

[0075] On the other hand, the present invention can be carried out in yet other forms.

[0076] The present invention includes a plurality of secondary batteries 200 arranged in parallel, and a plurality of cushioning pads 300 arranged adjacent to the secondary batteries 200 along the direction of arrangement of the plurality of secondary batteries 200, wherein the plurality of cushioning pads 300 may be provided to have different elasticities from each other. The plurality of cushioning pads 300 are selectively inserted according to the thickness of adjacent secondary batteries.

[0077] A secondary battery module 10 can be provided in which some of the multiple cushioning pads 300 have a different elasticity from the remaining cushioning pads 300.

[0078] In other words, in the present invention, the multiple cushioning pads 300 are provided in three or more different types, each with a different degree of elasticity, and depending on the thickness of the secondary battery, a cushioning pad with an appropriate degree of elasticity is selectively inserted (or arranged), or the multiple cushioning pads 300 are provided in such a way that they consist of two types of pads with different degrees of elasticity, and a cushioning pad with an appropriate degree of elasticity is inserted depending on the thickness of the secondary battery.

[0079] Here, elasticity is a term that describes the amount of elastic deformation relative to a unit stress. A high degree of elasticity means that the amount of elastic deformation is small relative to a unit stress, and a low degree of elasticity may mean that the amount of elastic deformation is large relative to a unit stress. In other words, a material with high elasticity may be relatively harder, and a material with low elasticity may be relatively brittle.

[0080] Multiple secondary batteries 200 provided in a single secondary battery module 10 may be provided with the same thickness as each other, or they may be provided with different thicknesses as each other. Here, multiple secondary batteries 200 can be provided in the secondary battery module 10.

[0081] At this time, in order to prevent the secondary batteries 200 from being damaged by swelling or external impact, at least one cushioning pad 300 can be arranged between the secondary batteries 200.

[0082] Specifically, the buffer pad 300 can be positioned adjacent to the secondary batteries 200 along the direction of arrangement of the multiple secondary batteries 200. In this case, the buffer pad 300 can be positioned between the secondary batteries 200 or between the secondary batteries 200 and the housing 100 described later.

[0083] Such cushioning pads 300 can be provided with a variety of elasticities.

[0084] Multiple cushioning pads 300 may be provided in a single secondary battery module 10 with different elasticities. In this case, the cushioning pads 300 can be selectively arranged according to their elasticity, corresponding to the thickness of adjacent secondary batteries 200, so that they occupy a certain space to fix the position of adjacent secondary batteries 200, while flexibly compensating for the space when swelling of the secondary batteries 200 occurs, thereby preventing damage to the module.

[0085] For example, the multiple cushioning pads 300 may include at least one first cushioning pad having a first elasticity and at least one second cushioning pad having a second elasticity weaker than the first elasticity. Here, the thicknesses of the multiple cushioning pads may be the same or different from one another. Here, the first and second elasticities can be set in a variety of ways.

[0086] Specifically, in a single secondary battery module 10, the first buffer pad and the second buffer pad can be selectively arranged according to the thickness of adjacent secondary batteries 200. More specifically, if the thickness of one secondary battery 200 is relatively thicker than that of other secondary batteries 200, the second buffer pad can be arranged so as to be adjacent to the secondary battery 200 that is relatively thicker than the other secondary batteries 200.

[0087] Furthermore, if the thickness of one secondary battery 200 is relatively thinner than that of the other secondary batteries 200, the first buffer pad can be positioned adjacent to the secondary battery 200 that is relatively thinner than the other secondary batteries 200.

[0088] Furthermore, when one cushioning pad 300 is placed between two secondary batteries 200, the cushioning pad 300 may be selectively placed according to its elasticity by comparing the sum of the thicknesses of adjacent secondary batteries 200 with a preset value.

[0089] For example, when a preset value is 16.82 mm, if the sum of the thicknesses of adjacent secondary batteries 200 is greater than 16.82 mm, a second cushioning pad with low elasticity can be placed between the secondary batteries 200, and if the sum of the thicknesses of the secondary batteries 200 is less than 16.82 mm, a first cushioning pad with relatively high elasticity can be placed between the secondary batteries 200.

[0090] Such cushioning pads 300 can be made of a variety of materials. For example, they can be manufactured containing one of the following: polyurethane (PU), silicone, aerogel, polyurethane + mica composite material, silicone + mica composite material, or aerogel + mica composite material.

[0091] On the other hand, the multiple cushioning pads 300 may be provided with different colors according to their degree of elasticity.

[0092] On the other hand, the secondary battery module 10 according to the present invention may further include a housing 100 in which a storage space is formed inside.

[0093] Here, the housing 100 can have any structure as long as it has a structure that accommodates the plurality of secondary batteries 200 and the plurality of cushioning pads 300 in the accommodation space.

[0094] For example, when a plurality of secondary batteries 200 are stacked in one direction to form a stack of secondary batteries 200, the housing 100 may include a pair of end plates 110 located on the front or rear surface of the secondary batteries 200 located on the outermost part of the stack of secondary batteries 200, a pair of bolt portions 120 extending along the arrangement direction of the plurality of secondary batteries 200 and connecting the pair of end plates 110 to each other, and a body plate 130 connected to the ends of the end plates 110 and forming the housing space together with the end plates 110.

[0095] When the housing 100 described above is provided, the cushioning pad 300 can be interposed between the laminate of the end plate 110 and the secondary battery 200. In this case, the cushioning pad 300 can not only provide spatial compensation to mitigate swelling, but can also serve to electrically insulate the secondary battery 200 from the end plate 110.

[0096] On the other hand, the secondary battery module 10 according to the present invention may further include a cooling plate 400 provided between the plurality of secondary batteries 200 within the housing space to cool the heat emitted from the secondary batteries 200. Such a cooling plate 400 is a plate-shaped member having thermal conductivity, and a refrigerant channel is formed inside it, or it is directly or indirectly connected to a cooling device in which a refrigerant channel is formed to cool the heat emitted from the secondary batteries 200.

[0097] Therefore, the secondary battery 200, the first buffer pad, the second buffer pad, and the cooling plate 400 can be arranged alternately within the housing space of the housing 100.

[0098] Furthermore, the secondary battery module 10 according to the present invention may be further provided with a cartridge (not shown) that houses at least one secondary battery 200. In this case, the secondary battery 200 can be housed in the cartridge and arranged in one direction within the internal housing space of the housing 100. Such a cartridge may have a structure that houses the secondary battery 200 and includes a hollow inside that can house the secondary battery 200, and a frame that surrounds the edges of the frame 222, in order to protect the frame 222 of the secondary battery 200 from damage.

[0099] rechargeable battery pack

[0100] The present invention relates to a pack of secondary batteries 200 including a secondary battery module 10 in which a plurality of secondary batteries are stacked and arranged, wherein the secondary battery module 10 includes a plurality of secondary batteries 200 arranged in parallel, and a plurality of cushioning pads 300 arranged adjacent to the secondary batteries 200 along the arrangement direction of the plurality of secondary batteries 200, and the plurality of cushioning pads 300 may be provided to have different thicknesses from each other, and may be selectively inserted according to the thickness of adjacent secondary batteries.

[0101] Furthermore, a secondary battery pack can be provided in which some of the multiple cushioning pads 300 have a different thickness from the remaining cushioning pads 300.

[0102] The secondary battery pack may include a Battery Management System (BMS), a cooling system, a control system, and the like, along with a plurality of secondary battery modules 10. Here, a detailed description of the secondary battery modules 10 can be based on the content described above.

[0103] Inspection device for secondary battery modules

[0104] On the other hand, the present invention provides a secondary battery module inspection device 1000 for inspecting a secondary battery module 10 which includes a plurality of secondary batteries 200 arranged in parallel and a plurality of buffer pads 300 arranged adjacent to the secondary batteries 200. Here, some of the plurality of secondary batteries 200 may be provided to have a different thickness from the remaining secondary batteries 200.

[0105] Specifically, the secondary battery module inspection device 1000 includes a main body 1100 and an inspection unit 1200 for inspecting whether there are any assembly defects in the cushioning pads 300. Some of the plurality of cushioning pads 300 have different thicknesses and colors from the remaining cushioning pads 300, and the inspection unit 1200 can detect the color of the cushioning pads 300 and, based on the detected information, can inspect whether there are any assembly defects in the cushioning pads 300.

[0106] Here, the main body 1100 may be configured to directly or indirectly support the detection unit 1210, which will be described later, so that the detection unit 1210 is positioned to face the secondary battery module 10.

[0107] The inspection unit 1200 is configured to detect the color of the cushioning pad 300 and to inspect whether there are any assembly defects in the cushioning pad 300 based on the detected information, and various configurations are possible.

[0108] Specifically, the inspection unit 1200 may include a detection unit 1210 that detects the color of the cushioning pad 300 and the thickness data of the secondary battery 200, and a determination unit 1220 that determines whether or not there is an assembly defect in the cushioning pad 300 based on the color of the cushioning pad 300 and the thickness data of the secondary battery 200.

[0109] Specifically, the detection unit 1210 is configured to detect the color of the cushioning pad 300 and the thickness data of the secondary battery 200, and various configurations are possible.

[0110] In this case, the detection unit 1210 may include a color sensor, which is one of the optical sensors, to detect the color of the cushioning pad 300, and may include a laser displacement sensor, etc., to detect the thickness data of the secondary battery 200. In this case, if a barcode containing thickness data is displayed on the surface of the secondary battery 200, the detection unit 1210 may include a barcode reader that can indirectly derive the thickness data.

[0111] On the other hand, the discrimination unit 1220 is configured to determine whether or not there is an assembly defect in the cushioning pad 300 based on the color of the cushioning pad 300 and the thickness data of the secondary battery 200, and various configurations are possible.

[0112] Specifically, the discrimination unit 1220 can determine whether the cushioning pad 300 is positioned appropriately based on the color value of the cushioning pad 300 and the thickness data of the secondary battery 200 received from the detection unit 1210.

[0113] For example, the discrimination unit 1220 can compare the sum of the thicknesses of two secondary batteries 200 placed adjacent to one cushioning pad 300 with a preset value, check the color of the cushioning pad 300, and determine whether a cushioning pad 300 of the appropriate thickness is placed between the secondary batteries 200.

[0114] To explain in more detail by referring to the above description, when the preset value is 16.82 mm, if the sum of the thicknesses of adjacent secondary batteries 200 is greater than 16.82 mm, the relatively thinner second buffer pad 300b should be applied between the secondary batteries 200. In this case, if the color information received from the detection unit 1210 is the same as the color information of the second buffer pad 300b, the discrimination unit 1220 can determine that the secondary battery module 10 is a good product. If the color information received from the detection unit 1210 is different from the color information of the second buffer pad 300b (i.e., if it is the color information of the first buffer pad 300a), the discrimination unit 1220 can determine that the secondary battery module 10 is poorly assembled. The information determined by the discrimination unit 1220 can then be transmitted to the user via wired / wireless connection.

[0115] On the other hand, it goes without saying that the secondary battery module inspection device 1000 described above can be used not only to inspect for assembly defects in secondary battery modules 10 after the cushioning pads 300 have been assembled, but also to be used in manufacturing equipment for secondary battery modules 10 before the cushioning pads 300 are assembled.

[0116] In other words, the secondary battery module inspection device 1000 is also used to detect the thickness of the secondary battery 200 and the cushioning pad 300 using a detection unit 1210, and to assemble an appropriate cushioning pad 300 between the secondary battery 200 by comparing it with a preset thickness value.

[0117] Although the present invention has been described above, even with limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various implementations are possible by persons with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, within the equivalent scope of the technical concept of the present invention and the claims described below. [Explanation of symbols]

[0118] 10: Secondary battery module 100: Housing 110: End plate 120: Bolt section 130: Body Plate 200: Secondary battery 210: Electrode assembly 220: Battery case 221: Storage section 222: Frame 230: Electrode Lead 300: Cushioning pad 300a: First cushioning pad 300b: Second cushioning pad 400: Cooling plate 1000: Secondary battery module inspection device 1100: Main unit 1200: Inspection Department 1210: Detection unit 1220:Discrimination part T1: First thickness T2: Second thickness t1: First thickness t2: Second thickness

Claims

1. A secondary battery in which multiple units are arranged in parallel, The set includes a plurality of buffer pads inserted adjacent to the secondary batteries along the arrangement direction of the plurality of secondary batteries, The aforementioned multiple cushioning pads are They are provided to have different thicknesses from each other, They are selectively inserted according to the thickness of adjacent secondary batteries. Some of the aforementioned cushioning pads have a different thickness from the remaining cushioning pads. Some of the aforementioned secondary batteries have a different thickness from the remaining secondary batteries. The cushioning pads are selectively arranged in different thicknesses corresponding to the thickness of adjacent secondary batteries. A secondary battery module characterized in that the plurality of cushioning pads have different colors according to their thickness.

2. The cushioning pad is located between the plurality of secondary batteries, The secondary battery module according to claim 1, wherein the buffer pads are selectively arranged according to their thickness by comparing the sum of the thicknesses of adjacent secondary batteries with a preset value.

3. Multiple cushioning pads, A first cushioning pad having a first thickness, A secondary battery module according to claim 1, comprising at least one second cushioning pad having a second thickness that is thinner than the first thickness.

4. If the thickness of the aforementioned secondary battery is relatively thicker than that of other secondary batteries, the second buffer pad is positioned adjacent to the secondary battery that is relatively thicker than the other secondary batteries. The secondary battery module according to claim 3, wherein, if the thickness of the secondary battery is relatively thinner than that of other secondary batteries, the first buffer pad is arranged to be adjacent to the secondary battery that is relatively thinner than the other secondary batteries.

5. The secondary battery module according to claim 3, wherein the first thickness is 1 mm to 2 mm.

6. The secondary battery module according to claim 3, wherein the second thickness is 0.1 mm to 1 mm.

7. The secondary battery module according to claim 1, wherein the material of the cushioning pad includes one of the following: polyurethane (PU), silicone, aerogel, polyurethane + mica composite material, silicone + mica composite material, or aerogel + mica composite material.

8. It further includes a housing in which an internal storage space is formed, The secondary battery module according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of secondary batteries and the plurality of cushioning pads are housed in the housing space.

9. The secondary battery module according to claim 8, further comprising a cooling plate provided between the plurality of secondary batteries within the housing space for cooling the heat emitted from the secondary batteries.

10. A secondary battery pack including a secondary battery module in which multiple units are stacked and arranged, The aforementioned secondary battery module is A secondary battery in which multiple units are arranged in parallel, The set includes a plurality of buffer pads arranged adjacent to the secondary batteries along the arrangement direction of the plurality of secondary batteries, The aforementioned multiple cushioning pads are They are provided to have different thicknesses from each other, They are selectively inserted according to the thickness of adjacent secondary batteries. Some of the aforementioned cushioning pads have a different thickness from the remaining cushioning pads. Some of the aforementioned secondary batteries have a different thickness from the remaining secondary batteries. The cushioning pads are selectively arranged in different thicknesses corresponding to the thickness of adjacent secondary batteries. A secondary battery pack characterized in that the plurality of cushioning pads have different colors according to their thickness.

11. A secondary battery in which multiple units are arranged in parallel, The set includes a plurality of buffer pads inserted adjacent to the secondary batteries along the arrangement direction of the plurality of secondary batteries, The aforementioned multiple cushioning pads are It is provided with three or more different types, each having a different degree of elasticity. They are selectively arranged according to their elasticity, corresponding to the thickness of adjacent secondary batteries. A secondary battery module characterized in that the plurality of cushioning pads have different colors according to their elasticity.

12. The secondary battery module according to claim 11, wherein some of the plurality of cushioning pads have a different elasticity from the remaining cushioning pads.

13. The secondary battery module according to claim 11, wherein some of the plurality of secondary batteries have a different thickness from the remaining secondary batteries.

14. The cushioning pad is located between the plurality of secondary batteries, The secondary battery module according to claim 13, wherein the cushioning pads are selectively arranged according to their elasticity by comparing the sum of the thicknesses of adjacent secondary batteries with a preset value.

15. Multiple cushioning pads, A first cushioning pad having a first degree of elasticity, The secondary battery module according to claim 11, comprising at least one second cushioning pad having a second elasticity smaller than the first elasticity.

16. If the thickness of the aforementioned secondary battery is relatively thicker than that of other secondary batteries, the second buffer pad is positioned adjacent to the secondary battery that is relatively thicker than the other secondary batteries. The secondary battery module according to claim 15, wherein, if the thickness of the secondary battery is relatively thinner than that of other secondary batteries, the first buffer pad is arranged to be adjacent to the secondary battery that is relatively thinner than the other secondary batteries.

Images