Fireproof busbars and battery packs equipped with them
The cap-integrated refractory busbar with a ceramicized silicone coating and protective layer addresses the insulation and assembly challenges of conventional busbars, ensuring thermal and electrical safety and ease of connection in battery packs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-03-08
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-19
AI Technical Summary
Conventional busbars in battery packs fail to provide adequate thermal and electrical insulation at high temperatures, leading to potential short circuits and flame propagation due to the melting of conventional insulation materials, and their assembly is complicated and prone to separation under fire conditions.
A cap-integrated refractory busbar with a refractory silicone coating that ceramicizes at high temperatures, providing thermal and electrical insulation, and a protective layer to maintain shape and dimensions, along with a through-hole design for easy fastening, simplifying assembly and enhancing connection strength.
The refractory busbar maintains insulation and airtightness at high temperatures, prevents short circuits, and simplifies assembly by integrating the cap and main body, while minimizing damage and ensuring easy connection to other electrical components.
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a refractory bus bar and a battery pack including the same.
[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to a cap-integrated refractory bus bar that includes a cap portion and a main body covering portion integrally connected to the cap portion, and a refractory silicone coating that ceramicizes at high temperatures and a protective layer that wraps the coating, and can maintain insulation and airtightness characteristics even at high temperatures where ignition occurs inside the battery pack, and a battery pack including the same.
[0003] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0037684 filed on March 23, 2023, and all the contents disclosed in the literature of the Korean patent application are included as part of this specification.
Background Art
[0004] A battery pack applied to an electric vehicle or the like has a structure in which a number of battery modules including a plurality of secondary batteries are connected in series or in parallel to obtain high output. The secondary battery can be repeatedly charged and discharged by an electrochemical reaction between components including a positive electrode and a negative electrode current collector, a separator, an active material, an electrolyte, and the like.
[0005] A bus bar is used to electrically connect the battery modules. The bus bar is used to electrically connect the terminal portions of adjacent battery modules or to connect the battery module to an external electrical device.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an assembled structure of a conventional bus bar and a cap.
[0007] As shown in the figure, a conventional busbar 10 consists of a busbar conductor portion 11 and a covering layer 12 that encloses the busbar conductor portion. The busbar conductor portion is, for example, a conductor portion of high-purity copper such as C1100 or a metal conductor portion such as aluminum. The covering layer is made of a material such as ordinary silicone rubber or epoxy. Conventionally, a cap 20 was attached to the covering layer 12 of the busbar 10 using abrasion-resistant tape 30 or the like. The cap is formed separately so that it can be freely opened and closed when fastening members are fastened to the fastening holes 11a at both ends of the busbar 10 to connect the busbar 10 to other electrical connections.
[0008] Incidentally, the above-mentioned cap is made of soft rubber, which has the problem of poor insulation and being vulnerable to impact. Also, the work of connecting the bus bar 10 and the cap 20 with tape is complicated and unproductive. Furthermore, the above-mentioned abrasion-resistant tape 30 has poor fire resistance, so if it melts at high temperatures, the bus bar 10 and the cap 20 may not be fixed together and could separate.
[0009] In particular, when the conventional busbars described above are used to electrically connect components inside the battery pack, if a flame occurs inside the battery pack, the temperature of the flame is extremely high (500-800°C, or even over 800°C, and in severe cases over 1000°C). This causes not only the rubber cap but also the silicone rubber and epoxy coating layers to melt completely, exposing the busbar conductors to the outside. When this happens, the exposed busbar conductors come into electrical contact with other metal parts inside the pack, causing a short circuit, and the heat generated by the short circuit further spreads the flames.
[0010] To prevent thermal propagation, busbars using mica sheets, glass fibers, or heat-resistant silicone (rubber) as the coating layer can be considered.
[0011] However, under the intense heat generation conditions described above, the materials exemplified above cannot adequately prevent heat diffusion. For example, ordinary heat-resistant silicone rubber has a heat resistance temperature of only 125-300°C and cannot effectively deal with ignition conditions inside a battery pack. Furthermore, mica sheets and glass fiber coatings do not possess sufficient fire resistance.
[0012] Thus, modern battery packs are required to be designed in a way that prevents flames from leaking outside the pack in the event of ignition.
[0013] Furthermore, the battery pack needs to be designed in a way that allows the busbar conductors to be thermally and electrically insulated from the surrounding area, even at high temperatures when a flame is generated.
[0014] Based on the above, it can be said that there is a need for the development of a technology that can improve insulation strength and ease of assembly while maintaining electrical insulation properties by providing fire resistance at high temperatures. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]
[0015] [Patent Document 1] Korean Published Patent Publication No. 2022-0001228 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]
[0016] The present invention provides a fire-resistant busbar that can maintain thermal and electrical insulation for as long as possible, even when a flame occurs inside a battery pack.
[0017] Furthermore, the present invention aims to provide a cap-integrated fire-resistant busbar in which not only the main covering portion of the busbar conductor portion but also the cap portion that covers both ends of the busbar conductor portion are integrated.
[0018] Furthermore, the present invention provides a fire-resistant busbar having a through-hole in the cap portion through which a fastening member can pass.
[0019] The present invention also provides a battery pack including the above refractory bus bar.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0020] The refractory bus bar of the present invention for solving the above problems includes a bus bar conductor part, a cap part covering both ends of the bus bar conductor part, and a main body covering part covering the main body of the bus bar conductor part between both ends and integrally connected to the cap part, and includes a refractory silicone coating covering the bus bar conductor part by ceramization at high temperature and supporting it, and a protective layer covering the refractory silicone coating. The cap part is provided with a through hole extending from the upper surface to the surface contacting the bus bar conductor part.
[0021] The refractory silicone coating can be ceramized at a temperature of 500 to 1700°C.
[0022] The refractory silicone coating can be ceramized by sintering a silicone resin containing a silicone compound represented by the following Chemical Formula 1 and a metal oxide containing silicon oxide.
[0023] [Chemical Formula 1] [Chemical]
[0024] In the above Chemical Formula 1, m and n are each an integer of 10 to 30.
[0025] The silicone resin and the metal oxide can be contained in a weight ratio of 1:0.5 to 1.5.
[0026] The metal oxide containing silicon oxide may include one or more of pure silicon dioxide, silica, quartz, silica stone, tridymite, and keatite.
[0027] The protective layer described above may be a glass fiber layer or a mica layer.
[0028] The through-hole may have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the head portion of the fastening member that is inserted into the through-hole and coupled to the busbar conductor portion.
[0029] The through-hole may include a first hole having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the head portion of the fastening member that passes through the through-hole and is connected to the busbar conductor portion, and a second hole having a diameter larger than the diameter of the head portion of the fastening member.
[0030] The area around the through-hole in the cap portion may be provided with an incision slit connected to the through-hole.
[0031] The cap portion comprises a first cover portion that covers the upper surfaces of both ends and has the through-holes inside, and a first extension cover portion that extends downward from the first cover portion to cover the sides of both ends. The main body covering portion may comprise a second cover portion that covers the upper surface of the main body and a second extension cover portion that extends downward from the second cover portion to cover the sides of the main body.
[0032] The above-mentioned fire-resistant busbar may be a high-voltage busbar that electrically connects the high-voltage terminals of multiple battery modules.
[0033] The refractory silicone coating can be applied to the busbar conductor by insert injection molding, in which refractory silicone is injected into a mold into which the busbar conductor is inserted.
[0034] In another aspect of the present invention, the battery pack includes a plurality of battery modules, fire-resistant busbars electrically connecting the battery modules, and a pack housing that accommodates the battery modules.
[0035] The pack housing further includes a partition wall installed between the battery modules, the ends of the busbar conductor portion of the fire-resistant busbar are electrically coupled to the terminal portions of the battery modules located on both sides of the partition wall, and the cap portion of the fire-resistant busbar can cover the coupling portion between the ends and the terminal portions.
[0036] The above-mentioned bulkhead is provided with a busbar installation through-hole or busbar installation groove, and the fire-resistant busbar can be installed in the busbar installation through-hole or busbar installation groove. [Effects of the Invention]
[0037] The fire-resistant busbar of the present invention is equipped with a fire-resistant silicone coating that is ceramicized to support the busbar conductor portion, instead of a coating layer that is inflammable when a flame occurs inside the pack, thus maintaining insulation and airtightness even at high temperatures.
[0038] Furthermore, the fire-resistant busbar of the present invention has a main covering portion of the busbar conductor and a cap portion that covers both ends of the busbar conductor integrally molded, which not only simplifies the manufacture of the busbar and cap but also significantly improves the connection strength between the busbar and the cap.
[0039] Furthermore, the cap portion can also be made of fire-resistant silicone, which can further enhance the insulation and fire-resistant airtightness of the cap portion.
[0040] Furthermore, by providing a through-hole in the cap portion through which a fastening member can pass, damage to the fire-resistant busbar that may occur when fastening one fire-resistant busbar to another busbar is minimized, and such a fire-resistant busbar can be easily fastened to another busbar or electrical connection.
[0041] Furthermore, the fire-resistant busbar of the present invention includes a protective layer that covers the fire-resistant silicone coating, and the protective layer temporarily acts as a fire-resistant wall while preventing the fire-resistant silicone coating from being directly exposed to flames, thereby maintaining the overall shape and dimensions. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0042] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing the conventional busbar and cap assembly structure. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of a fire-resistant busbar according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a fire-resistant busbar according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view in the width direction of a fire-resistant busbar according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a plan view of a fire-resistant busbar according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a photograph of the glass fiber layer included in the fire-resistant busbar of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a side cross-sectional view of a fire-resistant busbar according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view of a fire-resistant busbar according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] This is a plan view of a fire-resistant busbar according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] This is a schematic diagram showing an example of a battery pack structure in which the fire-resistant busbar of the present invention is installed. [Figure 11] This is a perspective view showing the process of installing the fire-resistant busbar of the present invention into a battery pack. [Figure 12] This is a side cross-sectional view showing the fire-resistant busbar of the present invention installed on a battery pack. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0043] The details of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings and various embodiments. The embodiments described below are illustrative to aid in understanding the present invention, and the attached drawings are not shown to actual scale to aid in understanding the invention, and the dimensions of some components may be exaggerated.
[0044] The present invention is subject to various modifications and may take many forms; therefore, specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the text. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to any particular disclosure, but rather should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, or substitutions that fall within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.
[0045] [Fireproof bus bar]
[0046] The fire-resistant busbar of the present invention includes a busbar conductor, a fire-resistant silicone coating that protects the busbar conductor, and a protective layer that covers such fire-resistant silicone coating.
[0047] The busbar conductor portion described above may be an ordinary metal conductor portion. That is, it may be made of a tough pitch copper material with a purity of 99.9% or more, such as C1100, or it may be manufactured from aluminum. In other words, the busbar conductor portion of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is made of a metal material that can function as a busbar conductor for connecting electrical components. Both ends of the busbar conductor portion described above are electrically connected to the corresponding electrical connection portion.
[0048] The above-mentioned refractory silicone coating is ceramicized at high temperatures to support the busbar conductor portion. The above-mentioned refractory silicone coating can be ceramicized at temperatures of 500 to 1700°C. The refractory silicone constituting the refractory silicone coating of the present invention is distinguished from heat-resistant silicone, which has a heat resistance temperature of less than 300°C, in that its refractory temperature is 500°C or higher. Heat-resistant silicone is a silicone resin or rubber composition that has flexibility and pliability due to the properties of silicone, but it is a material that will not burn or will turn to ash at high temperatures of 500°C or higher. Therefore, there are limitations to its application in preventing short circuits or heat transfer in battery packs under heat transfer conditions.
[0049] The above-mentioned fire-resistant silicone coating has "fire-resistant" properties, which are ceramicized at high temperatures of 500°C or higher, so it can maintain its insulating and airtight properties within the battery pack even when flames are generated.
[0050] Thus, the fire-resistant busbar according to the present invention can achieve high fire resistance performance by incorporating fire-resistant silicone inside, along with structural improvements.
[0051] The above-mentioned refractory silicone is a composition mainly composed of silicone resin and metal oxide, and at room temperature, it possesses flexibility and pliability due to the properties of silicone. It also has a predetermined elastic force and exhibits high impact resistance and insulation properties, and when exposed to high temperatures, the sintering of the silicone resin and metal oxide can form a silicone sintered body with a complex ceramic structure.
[0052] Specifically, the silicone resin contained in refractory silicone generates silica in powder form when burned at high temperatures. This generated silica reacts with the metal oxide in the refractory silicone, forming a "eutectic mixture" at the edges of the metal oxide. This bridging action between the silica and the metal oxide causes it to harden at the ignition temperature, and upon cooling, it forms a condensed ceramic product. Such a ceramic body prevents short circuits or disconnections between conductors due to damage to the refractory silicone coating, even when subjected to external mechanical shock or moisture penetration during a fire, allowing the busbar itself to perform its electrical function.
[0053] For this purpose, the fire-resistant silicone according to the present invention comprises a silicone resin and a metal oxide.
[0054] The above-mentioned silicone resin is not particularly limited as long as it is a resin containing silicon (Si) in its molecule, but it may preferably include a silicone compound represented by the following chemical formula 1 (hereinafter referred to as "silicone compound of chemical formula 1"):
[0055] [Chemical formula 1] [ka]
[0056] In the above chemical formula 1, m and n are integers between 10 and 30.
[0057] The silicone compound of chemical formula 1 contains methylsiloxane repeating units, each containing vinyl groups both internally and at its ends. These vinyl groups are present not only at the ends of the silicone compound of chemical formula 1 but also internally within the repeating units, and play a role in increasing the degree of polymerization of the silicone resin when exposed to high temperatures. As a result, it is possible to achieve superior fire resistance compared to silicone compounds that do not contain vinyl groups.
[0058] Furthermore, the weight-average molecular weight of the silicone compound of chemical formula 1 can be adjusted to a specific range. The silicone compound of chemical formula 1 is a compound that forms the base of the silicone resin, and depending on the weight-average molecular weight of the silicone compound of chemical formula 1, it can affect the physical properties of the refractory silicone at room temperature and high temperature. For example, if the weight-average molecular weight of the silicone compound of chemical formula 1 is excessively high, the viscosity of the silicone resin may increase and the reactivity during high-temperature sintering may decrease. If the weight-average molecular weight is significantly low, the room-temperature elasticity and flexibility of the silicone resin may decrease, reducing the ease of manufacturing refractory busbars, while there is a limit to the impact resistance and other properties. Therefore, the silicone compound of chemical formula 1 according to the present invention may have a weight-average molecular weight adjusted to 1,000 to 9,000 g / mol, specifically 3,000 to 8,000 g / mol, or 5,000 to 7,000 g / mol.
[0059] Furthermore, the above-mentioned metal oxide is a composition containing silicon oxide, which acts as a crystal nucleus when exposed to high temperatures and can play a role in forming a high-density ceramic body together with the above-mentioned silicone resin.
[0060] Such metal oxides may include one or more of silicon dioxide, silica, quartz, silica, tridymite, and keatite. Because these metal oxides include minerals such as quartz, which contains silicon dioxide (SiO2) as its main component, along with pure silicon dioxide (SiO2), they are not only economically efficient but also possess high melting points (high refractory properties) and high sintering degrees, exhibiting excellent electrical insulation performance. In particular, silicon dioxide, silica, and quartz improve various properties during the sintering process, inducing easy melting and molding of refractory silicone and reducing defects that may occur in ceramic bodies.
[0061] Furthermore, the metal oxide may have a crystalline structure that increases fire resistance, insulation, and mechanical strength when sintered with the silicone resin. Such metal oxides are in powder form and are not particularly limited, but may have a size of 200 μm or less, specifically, for example, 0.1 μm to 200 μm or 0.1 μm to 100 μm.
[0062] Furthermore, the above-mentioned silicone resin may further contain a silicone compound represented by the following chemical formula 2 (hereinafter referred to as the "silicone compound of chemical formula 2"), and the silicone compound of chemical formula 2, together with the silicone compound of chemical formula 1, participates in the sintering of metal oxides at high temperatures to form a silicone sintered body:
[0063] [Chemical formula 2] [ka]
[0064] In the chemical formula 2 above, p is an integer between 10 and 30.
[0065] The silicone compound of chemical formula 2 described above enhances the flexibility of refractory silicone at room temperature, while also inducing the termination of the sintering of the silicone resin through dehydration condensation with the silicone compound of chemical formula 1 during sintering, thereby terminating the ceramic body formation reaction.
[0066] For this reason, the silicone compound of chemical formula 2 described above may be used in amounts of less than 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of refractory silicone, specifically in amounts of 0.5 to 9 parts by weight, 1 to 6 parts by weight, or 2 to 5 parts by weight.
[0067] Furthermore, refractory silicone may contain a certain ratio of silicone resin and metal oxide to achieve high elasticity at room temperature and rapid ceramic formation when exposed to high temperatures.
[0068] Specifically, the weight ratio of silicone resin to metal oxide in the above-mentioned refractory silicone may be 1:0.5 to 1.5, and more specifically, 1:0.8 to 1.2. If the weight ratio of metal oxide is low, less than 0.5, it is difficult to have a ceramic structure with a high-density crystalline structure at high temperatures, resulting in problems in achieving sufficient refractory properties and mechanical strength. On the other hand, if the weight ratio of metal oxide exceeds 1.5, the flexibility of the refractory silicone at room temperature is reduced, and there is a limit to how well it can be handled.
[0069] As one example, the refractory silicone of the present invention may contain 35-50% by weight of a silicone compound of chemical formula 1, 16-32% by weight of quartz, 10-27% by weight of silicon dioxide, and 1-6% by weight of a second silicone compound of chemical formula 2, and may optionally further contain a predetermined solvent to improve processability during manufacturing.
[0070] As described above, the refractory silicone of the present invention hardens and becomes ceramic at temperatures of 500°C or higher through sintering of the silicone resin and metal oxide. Furthermore, it can be ceramicized up to 1700°C, and theoretically, partial ceramicization can be maintained even at temperatures above 1700°C. However, above 1700°C, the ceramicization maintenance time shortens, and it may not be able to maintain the required refractory performance within the battery pack.
[0071] The above-mentioned refractory silicone, before being ceramicized, possesses rubber-like properties such as flexibility, elasticity, and suppleness, as described above. Therefore, it is easy to injection mold the refractory silicone coating as described later, or to coat it onto the busbar conductor.
[0072] Since the above-mentioned fire-resistant silicone coating is flexible before ceramicization, it can flexibly follow the deformation of the busbar conductor portion. Therefore, when installing the fire-resistant busbar of the present invention in a battery pack, even if there are some assembly tolerances, they can be easily accommodated, thus improving ease of assembly. For example, when a battery module is fastened to a battery pack by bolting, if the busbar conductor portion connected to the battery module flows or twists slightly, the above-mentioned fire-resistant silicone coating can absorb such flow or twisting. Also, even if the battery pack vibrates due to vibrations of the electric vehicle, the above-mentioned fire-resistant silicone coating can naturally absorb those vibrations.
[0073] In particular, the fire-resistant busbar of the present invention is characterized in that the fire-resistant silicone coating includes not only a main body coating that covers the main body of the busbar conductor, but also cap portions that cover both ends of the busbar conductor. Since the cap portions are integrally connected to the main body coating, there is no need to connect the cap portions to the busbar or the coating that encloses the busbar body with separate tape, as in the conventional method. Therefore, the connection strength between the cap portions and the main body coating is greatly improved. Furthermore, since the fire-resistant busbar can be manufactured by integrally molding the cap portions and the main body coating, the manufacturing process is simplified. Moreover, since the cap portions are also made of fire-resistant silicone, and the cap portions are ceramicized at high temperatures, protecting both the busbar conductor and its electrical connection, the insulation performance and airtightness characteristics are further enhanced.
[0074] On the other hand, when the above-mentioned refractory silicone is ceramicized at high temperatures, thermal and electrical insulation is maintained, but its mechanical strength is somewhat weakened, and there is a risk of it cracking due to external force. In this invention, in order to structurally improve the rigidity of such a refractory silicone coating, a protective layer is provided to cover the refractory silicone coating.
[0075] The protective layer described above covers the outside of the fire-resistant silicone coating and protects it from direct exposure to flames. In other words, the protective layer primarily acts as a fire-resistant wall. Furthermore, when the fire-resistant silicone coating is ceramicized, the protective layer encases the ceramicized coating, allowing it to maintain its overall shape and dimensions.
[0076] As a protective layer, for example, materials such as glass fiber or mica that possess both insulating and heat-resistant properties can be used. For instance, glass fiber tape or mica tape can be wrapped around the outside of the fire-resistant silicone coating to prevent it from being exposed to the outside. However, the protective layer is not limited to these, and it is also possible to construct the protective layer from other materials that have excellent insulating or heat-resistant properties.
[0077] The specific form of the fire-resistant busbar will be described in detail in the following embodiment.
[0078] (First Embodiment) Figure 2 is a perspective view of a fire-resistant busbar according to one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a fire-resistant busbar according to one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view in the width direction of a fire-resistant busbar according to one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 is a plan view of a fire-resistant busbar according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 6 is a photograph of the glass fiber layer included in the fire-resistant busbar of the present invention.
[0079] In the following drawings, "X direction" may refer to the longitudinal direction of the fire-resistant busbar 100, "Y direction" may refer to the width direction of the fire-resistant busbar 100, and "Z direction" may refer to the height direction of the fire-resistant busbar 100.
[0080] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the fire-resistant busbar 100 includes a busbar conductor portion 110 and a protective covering that protects the busbar conductor portion 110 from contaminants (dust, dust, etc.) or flames.
[0081] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the busbar conductor portion 110 is located on the innermost side of the fire-resistant busbar 100. Both ends 111 of the busbar conductor portion 110 are provided with fastening holes 111a for connecting with corresponding electrical connections (for example, busbar conductor portions 110 of other fire-resistant busbars, or terminal portions 210, 220 of a battery module) using fastening members B.
[0082] The protective covering includes caps C located at both ends 111 of the busbar conductor portion 110 and a central covering portion P disposed on the main body 112 of the busbar conductor portion between the two ends 111. The caps C are integrally connected to the central covering portion P. Such a protective covering may consist of at least a fire-resistant silicone covering 120 that covers the upper surface of the busbar conductor portion 110 and a protective layer 130 that covers the fire-resistant silicone covering 120.
[0083] The above-mentioned fire-resistant silicone coating 120 includes a cap portion 121 that covers both ends 111 of the busbar conductor portion 110, and a main body coating portion 122 that covers the main body 112 of the busbar conductor portion between the two ends.
[0084] The cap portion 121 alone may constitute the cap C of the protective covering. Alternatively, the cap protective layer 131 of the protective layer, described later, may cover the cap portion 121 to constitute the cap C of the protective covering. The central covering portion P may also consist only of the main body covering portion 122, or the main body protective layer 132 of the protective layer, described later, may cover the main body covering portion 122 to constitute the central covering portion P of the protective covering.
[0085] The cap portion 121 is provided with a through hole H that extends from its upper surface to the surface in contact with the busbar conductor portion 110.
[0086] Such through-holes H are positioned to correspond to the fastening holes 110a of the busbar conductor portion 110. Therefore, when fastening the fire-resistant busbar 100 to the electrical connection of other electrical devices, it is not necessary to fold the cap portion 121 or cap C to expose the fastening hole 110a in order to install the fastening member B into the fastening hole 110a. That is, the fastening member B can be installed in the fastening hole 110a by inserting the fastening member B into the through-hole H and advancing the fastening member B along the through-hole H. At this time, the fastening member B can penetrate the fastening hole 110a and protrude from the back surface of the busbar conductor portion 110, thereby connecting to the electrical connection of other electrical devices. In this way, the through-holes H allow for easy connection of the fire-resistant busbar 100 to other electrical connections. Furthermore, since there is no need to perform additional deformation (e.g., folding) of the cap portion 121 or cap C to expose the fastening hole 110a, damage to the fire-resistant busbar 100 can be minimized when connecting to other electrical connections. Furthermore, the above additional deformation can prevent the formation of fold lines or other defects at the interface between the cap C and the central covering portion P. Therefore, the structural rigidity of the fire-resistant busbar can be improved.
[0087] The fastening member B can be joined to the through-hole H by forced fitting. For this purpose, the through-hole H may have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the head portion BH of the fastening member B that is inserted into the through-hole H and joined to the busbar conductor portion 110.
[0088] The fire-resistant busbar 100 can be transported with the fastening member B inserted into the through-hole H. In this case, the height Z length of the through-hole H may be the same as or longer than the height Z length of the fastening member B, so that the fastening member B does not protrude and become exposed to the outside of the fire-resistant busbar 100. In this way, since the fastening member B is located inside the through-hole H, when the fastening member B passes through the fastening hole 111a of the fire-resistant busbar 100 and connects to the corresponding electrical connection part (for example, the busbar conductor part 110 of another fire-resistant busbar, or the terminal parts 210, 220 of a battery module), the exposed end of the fastening member B can be accommodated in the through-hole H. This protects the fastening member B from the cap part 121 and prevents short circuits due to contact with other external parts. The fastening member B may be a normal bolt used to connect busbars.
[0089] The cap portion 121 may comprise a first cover portion 121a that has the through hole H and covers the upper surfaces of both ends 111 of the busbar conductor portion, and a first extended cover portion 121b that extends downward from the first cover portion 121a and covers the sides of both ends 111. In this way, the cap portion 121 can cover the upper and side surfaces of both ends 111 and protect both ends 111 of the busbar conductor portion from contaminants or flames. The lower surface of the busbar conductor portion 110 may be exposed to contact with other electrical connections.
[0090] As shown in Figure 3, the main body covering portion 122 can be extended in the longitudinal direction X of the busbar conductor portion between the cap portions 121.
[0091] The main body covering portion 122 may have a shape that corresponds to the shape of the main body 112 of the busbar conductor portion.
[0092] As shown in Figure 4, the main body covering portion 122 may comprise a second cover portion 122a that covers the upper surface of the main body 112, and a second extension cover portion 122b that extends downward from the second cover portion 122a to cover the side surface of the main body. The main body covering portion 122 may also comprise a third cover portion 122c that covers the lower surface of the main body 112 and is connected to the second extension cover portion 122b. In this way, the main body covering portion 122 can protect the main body 112 of the busbar conductor from foreign substances or flames by wrapping around the main body 112 and covering the main body 112 as a whole.
[0093] The cap portion 121 and the main body coating portion 122 of the refractory silicone coating 120 are molded together. For example, the refractory silicone coating 120 can be molded by injecting refractory silicone into a mold (not shown) having the shapes of the cap portion 121 and the main body coating portion 122 of the refractory silicone coating 120. As described above, the refractory silicone may be, for example, a mixture of silicone resin and a metal oxide, and may be in the form of a fluid coating liquid or slurry contained in a predetermined solvent. The refractory silicone coating liquid or slurry can be injected into a mold to mold the refractory silicone coating 120 separately from the busbar conductor portion 110. After a predetermined drying and curing process, the mold can be removed to obtain the refractory silicone coating 120 according to the present invention.
[0094] In this case, by fitting the busbar conductor portion 110 longitudinally into the main body covering portion 122 of the molded fire-resistant silicone coating 120, the main body covering portion 122 can be made to enclose the main body of the busbar conductor portion 110. At this time, the cap portion 121 of the molded fire-resistant silicone coating 120 is located on both ends 111 of the busbar conductor portion 110 and covers both ends.
[0095] As described above, the refractory silicone coating 120 can be molded separately from the busbar conductor portion 110 and then bonded to the busbar conductor portion 110. However, the molding of the refractory silicone coating 120 and the coating of the busbar conductor portion 110 can be performed simultaneously using a so-called insert injection molding method. The latter method can further simplify the manufacturing process and thus improve productivity.
[0096] Specifically, a busbar conductor portion 110 is inserted into a mold (not shown) for insert injection molding, in which the shape of the refractory silicone coating is provided on the edge of the busbar conductor portion. In this case, the refractory silicone is filled into the mold while enclosing the busbar conductor portion 110, forming a refractory silicone coating 120 with the shape described above. After a predetermined drying and curing process, the mold is removed to obtain a refractory silicone coating 120 with the busbar conductor portion 110 embedded inside, as shown in Figure 3.
[0097] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a protective layer 130 is provided on the fire-resistant silicone coating 120. For example, the fire-resistant busbar 100 of the present invention can be obtained by wrapping a protective layer 130 tape, such as a glass fiber tape or mica tape, around the fire-resistant silicone coating 120. In the drawings of this specification, the protective layer 130 that is exposed to the outside is shown in a grid-like mesh pattern.
[0098] The protective layer 130 includes a cap protective layer 131 that covers the cap portion 121 and a body protective layer 132 that covers the body covering portion 122.
[0099] The protective layer 130 may conform to the form of the fire-resistant silicone coating 120. For example, the cap protective layer 131 may comprise a first protective layer 131a that covers the outer surface of the first cover portion 121a and a first side protective layer 131b that covers the outer surface of the first extension cover portion 121b. The main body protective layer 132 may also cover the entire outer surface of the main body covering portion 122 so that the main body covering portion 122 is not exposed to the outside.
[0100] As shown in Figure 3, the first protective layer 131a can cover only the periphery of the through-hole H, thus maintaining the through-hole H in an open state. In this case, materials consumed during the manufacture of the protective layer 130 can be saved, and the overall weight of the fire-resistant busbar 100 can be reduced. Furthermore, once the fire-resistant busbar 100 is installed in place, the connection work between the fire-resistant busbar 100 and other electrical connections can be easily performed through the open through-hole H.
[0101] For the protective layer 130, for example, a material such as glass fiber or mica that combines insulating and heat-resistant properties can be used. That is, a glass fiber tape or mica tape can be wrapped around the outside of the fire-resistant silicone coating so that the fire-resistant silicone coating is not exposed to the outside. Figure 6 shows a photograph of the glass fiber layer.
[0102] Glass fibers are inorganic fibrous materials mainly composed of silicates. Such glass fibers can be formed into a glass fiber fabric by twisting and winding glass fiber strands to create yarn, which is then woven (see Figure 6(a)), or into a nonwoven fabric (see Figure 6(b)). By applying a predetermined adhesive to such a glass fiber fabric or nonwoven fabric and attaching it to the aforementioned fire-resistant silicone coating 120, the fire-resistant busbar 100 of the present invention can be produced. Glass fibers have the advantage of being non-flammable and having high electrical insulation properties.
[0103] Mica is a silicate mineral with a layered structure, usually in the form of hexagonal plate-like crystals, and is used as an electrical insulator and heat insulating material. Mica has superior fire resistance compared to the glass fibers mentioned above. Therefore, mica is more preferable as a protective layer for the fire-resistant silicone coating layer. However, the protective layer is not limited to mica, and it is also possible to construct the protective layer with other materials that have excellent insulating or heat-resistant properties.
[0104] For example, a protective layer 130 can be formed by wrapping a tape of the protective layer 130, which has been processed into a tape form, around the fire-resistant silicone coating. However, the method of forming the protective layer 130 is not limited to this. For example, the protective layer 130 can be formed on the coating by coating, application, spraying, or various other known methods.
[0105] (Second Embodiment) Figure 7 is a side cross-sectional view of a fire-resistant busbar according to another embodiment of the present invention, Figure 8 is a perspective view of a fire-resistant busbar according to another embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 9 is a plan view of a fire-resistant busbar according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[0106] The fire-resistant busbar 100' of this embodiment differs from the fire-resistant busbar 100 of the first embodiment in that the through-holes H include a first hole H1 and a second hole H2, which have different diameters. Other configurations that overlap with the fire-resistant busbar 100 of the first embodiment can be applied identically to this embodiment, so a detailed explanation is omitted.
[0107] The first hole H1 described above is positioned to correspond to the fastening hole 110a of the busbar conductor portion 110, similar to the through hole H in the first embodiment. Therefore, the fastening member B can be positioned in its installation location simply by inserting it into the first hole H1. Furthermore, the first hole H1 may have a smaller diameter than the head portion BH of the fastening member so that it is forcibly fitted with the fastening member B. In this case, the fastening member B can be transported while fitted into the first hole H1.
[0108] The height Z length of the first hole H1 described above may be longer than the height Z length of the head portion BH of the fastening member.
[0109] The second hole H2 described above is connected to the first hole H1 and may be located below the first hole H1. Such a second hole H2 has a diameter larger than the diameter of the head portion BH of the fastening member. That is, as shown in Figures 7 to 9, the second hole H2 has a diameter larger than the diameter of the first hole H1. Therefore, when the head portion BH of the fastening member passes through the first hole H1, the resistance due to forced fitting between the head portion BH of the fastening member and the inner wall of the first hole H1 disappears. In this way, when the head portion BH of the fastening member enters the second hole H2, the resistance applied to the fastening member B is minimized, so the fastening torque of the fastening member B can be controlled to be constant. That is, by providing a second hole H2 with a larger diameter than the first hole H1, the fastening quality of each component can be maintained uniformly. In addition, the amount of material consumed in the manufacture of the fire-resistant busbar 100' can be reduced as the space occupied by the second hole H2 increases, and the mass of the fire-resistant busbar 100' can be reduced.
[0110] The overall height Z length of the first hole H1 and the second hole H2 may correspond to or be longer than the height Z length of the fastening member B. Therefore, when the fire-resistant busbar 100' is transported with the head portion BH of the fastening member fitted into the first hole H1, the fastening member B is not exposed to the outside of the fire-resistant busbar 100'. In this case, the respective height Z lengths of the first hole H1 and the second hole H2 can be suitably selected considering the length of the head portion BH of the fastening member, the overall length of the fastening member B, the mass of the fire-resistant busbar 100', and so on.
[0111] As shown in Figure 9, the area around the through-hole of the cap portion 121 may be provided with an incision slit S that connects to the through-hole. Therefore, when the fastening member B is fitted into the first hole H1 or through-hole H, the incision slit S opens, and the area around the through-hole of the cap portion 121 can be easily elastically deformed. This allows the fastening member B to be easily inserted into the first hole H1 or through-hole H, and reduces the structural resistance around the through-hole that may occur during fastening, thereby minimizing damage to the area around the through-hole of the cap portion 121 and the head portion BH of the fastening member.
[0112] [Battery Pack]
[0113] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a battery pack structure in which the fire-resistant busbar of the present invention is installed; Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the process of installing the fire-resistant busbar of the present invention on a battery pack; and Figure 12 is a side cross-sectional view showing the state in which the fire-resistant busbar of the present invention is installed on a battery pack.
[0114] The fire-resistant busbars 100 and 100' of the present invention, as described above, include a fire-resistant silicone coating 120 that is ceramicized at high temperatures, and a protective layer 130 that encloses the fire-resistant silicone coating and maintains its shape. Therefore, when applied to a battery pack in which internal ignition may occur, the safety of the battery pack can be greatly improved.
[0115] The fire-resistant busbars 100, 100' described above can be used, for example, to electrically connect multiple battery modules 200 housed within a battery pack. In this case, the fire-resistant busbars can electrically connect the terminals 210, 220 of adjacent battery modules. Alternatively, the fire-resistant busbars can be used to connect battery modules to external electrical devices.
[0116] In particular, the high-voltage terminals 210 and 220 of the battery module generate relatively high heat due to the high current. As a result, when a flame occurs inside the pack, a high amount of heat may be concentrated at these high-voltage terminals. Therefore, the fire-resistant busbars 100 and 100' of the present invention are suitable for use as high-voltage busbars that electrically connect the high-voltage terminals of multiple battery modules.
[0117] The battery pack 1000 of the present invention may include a plurality of battery modules 200, fire-resistant busbars 100, 100' that electrically connect the battery modules, and a pack housing 400 that houses the battery modules.
[0118] Referring to Figure 10, it is shown that multiple battery modules 200 are housed in a pack housing 400. Each battery module 200 comprises a cell stack (not shown) in which multiple battery cells are stacked, and cell leads (or terminals) of different polarities are derived from each battery cell in the cell stack. In this case, the type of battery cell is not particularly limited. That is, the battery module may house prismatic, cylindrical, or pouch-type battery cells.
[0119] The cell leads described above are electrically connected to or to busbars such as terminal busbars and interbusbars. To electrically connect the above-mentioned multiple battery modules, the fire-resistant busbars 100, 100' according to the present invention may be applied.
[0120] On the other hand, Figure 10 discloses a conventional battery module 200 in which the module housing completely encloses the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the battery cell stack. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the fire-resistant busbar can also be applied to a battery module having a module housing with a moduleless structure configured such that at least one of the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the cell stack is open, or to a battery cell block in which all of the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the cell stack are open. In this way, a so-called cell-to-pack battery pack can be constructed by installing cell blocks or battery modules in which all or part of the module housing is omitted into a battery pack. The fire-resistant busbars 100, 100' of the present invention can be used for electrical connection of cell blocks or moduleless battery modules installed in such a cell-to-pack battery pack.
[0121] The pack housing may further include a bulkhead 300 installed between the battery modules. The bulkhead 300 may extend in the longitudinal or lateral direction of the pack housing and be installed on the bottom plate of the pack housing. By installing the bulkhead 300 in this way, the structural rigidity of the pack housing can be improved. For this purpose, the bulkhead 300 may be made of a metallic material.
[0122] The height of the bulkhead 300 may be lower than the height of the battery module 200. More specifically, the height of the bulkhead 300 may be lower than the height at which the terminals 210 and 220 of the battery module 200 are located. In this case, the fire-resistant busbar 100 connected to the terminals 210 and 220 of the adjacent battery module is either placed on the upper surface of the bulkhead 300 or spaced apart from its upper surface. In this way, when the height of the bulkhead 300 is lower than the height of the battery module 200, the connection work can be made more convenient when electrically connecting both ends of the busbar conductor portion of the fire-resistant busbar to the terminals of the battery modules located on both sides of the bulkhead 300.
[0123] Alternatively, as shown in Figures 10 to 12, the height of the partition wall 300 may be set to correspond to or be higher than the height of the battery module. In this case, adjacent battery modules 200 can be isolated. Therefore, even if a fire occurs in a particular battery module 200, the propagation of flames toward adjacent battery modules 200 can be delayed or prevented.
[0124] The bulkhead 300 may be provided with a busbar installation through-hole 310 or a busbar installation groove 320. Figure 10 shows the bulkhead 300 provided with a busbar installation through-hole 310, and Figure 11 shows the bulkhead 300 provided with a busbar installation groove 320. In terms of flame prevention and airtightness, the bulkhead provided with the busbar installation through-hole 310 as shown in Figure 10 is advantageous. The busbar installation groove 320 in Figure 11 is open at the top, which is advantageous for busbar installation and electrical connection work of the busbars.
[0125] The fire-resistant busbars 100 and 100' can be installed in the busbar installation through-holes 310 or busbar installation grooves 320. At this time, both ends 111 of the busbar conductor portion provided on the fire-resistant busbar are electrically coupled to the terminal portions 210 and 220 of the battery modules 200 located on both sides of the partition wall 300.
[0126] Figures 11 and 12 show how the fire-resistant busbar 100 electrically connects the battery modules 200 within the battery pack 1000. A partition wall 300 is located between adjacent battery modules 200. The partition wall 300 may be provided with a busbar installation groove 320. The cap-integrated fire-resistant busbar 100 of the present invention is placed on the busbar installation groove 320. The shape of the fire-resistant busbar 100 is formed to correspond to the shape of the busbar installation groove 320. Therefore, the fire-resistant busbar 100 of the present invention can be airtightly attached to the partition wall 300. This further airtightly isolates adjacent battery modules 200 and more effectively prevents flame propagation between the battery modules 200.
[0127] The cap C, which is integrally provided with the fire-resistant busbar 100, covers the joints between the two ends 111 and the terminals 210 and 220. Therefore, there is no need to connect the cap to the busbar separately as in the conventional method, and the installation of the fire-resistant busbar and the connection of the cap can be performed simultaneously. In addition, the connection of the fire-resistant busbar 100 and the terminals 210 and 220 can be easily performed through the through-hole H of the cap C.
[0128] On the other hand, if a flame occurs inside the battery pack 1000, the fire-resistant busbar 100 of the present invention undergoes simultaneous ceramicization of the main body covering portion 122 and the cap portion 121 surrounding the busbar conductor portion 110, forming a dense sintered body. That is, unlike conventional heat-resistant silicones that become inflamed or turn to ash at high temperatures of 500°C or higher, it is ceramicized and maintains its shape. As a result, the fire-resistant silicone covering 120 stably supports the busbar conductor portion 110 even when a flame occurs. Furthermore, the protective layer 130 prevents the fire-resistant silicone covering 120 from coming into direct contact with the flame, preventing deformation of the fire-resistant silicone and further enhancing its insulation and fire resistance.
[0129] [Example of experiment]
[0130] (Experimental Example 1)
[0131] A refractory silicone consisting of 50 parts by weight of the silicone compound of chemical formula 1, 20 parts by weight of quartz, and 30 parts by weight of pure silicon dioxide is applied to a thickness of 0.5 to 3 mm. 2 A predetermined thickness coating was applied to the portion of the copper busbar conductor, excluding both ends, that had a predetermined cross-sectional area selected from a range of cross-sectional areas. The fire-resistant silicone coated busbar of Example 1 was manufactured by winding SWECO's 0.18 mm thick glass fiber tape (product name: AGT6WO) twice onto the above fire-resistant silicone coated busbar.
[0132] The fire-resistant silicone-coated busbar of Example 2 was manufactured by wrapping SWECO's 0.18 mm thick mica tape (product name: SA765) twice around the above fire-resistant silicone-coated busbar.
[0133] The length of the busbar conductor and the exposed length of both ends were made the same as in Examples 1 and 2, and a glass fiber tape of AGT6WO was wrapped around the center of the busbar conductor to produce the busbar of Comparative Example 1. The coating thickness of the wrapped glass fiber tape was made approximately the same as the coating thickness of Example 1.
[0134] For Comparative Example 2, the SA765 mica tape was wrapped once around the center of the busbar conductor, and the glass fiber tape of Comparative Example 1 was wrapped once on top of it. The length of the busbar conductor and the exposed length of both ends were the same as in Examples 1 and 2 and Comparative Example 1.
[0135] To test the insulation properties (insulation maintenance performance) in the event of a fire, copper wire was wound around the covering portion (coating portion, tape winding portion) of the busbars of Example 1 to Comparative Example 2 with the same number of turns. One end of the copper wire on the outermost layer of the covering portion was connected to the negative terminal of a voltage withstand tester, and one end of the busbar conductor portion was connected to the positive terminal of the voltage withstand tester. With a voltage of 1000V applied to the busbars using the voltage withstand tester, the entire surface of the busbars was uniformly heated with a large torch with a flame temperature of 1100-1150°C.
[0136] The insulation failure time at which the insulation state is destroyed, i.e., a short circuit occurs, under the voltage and heating temperature conditions described above was measured, and the measurement results are shown in Table 1 below.
[0137] [Table 1]
[0138] As shown in Table 1 above, the busbar equipped with the fire-resistant silicone coating and protective layer according to the present invention had the longest insulation failure time, showing a significant difference in insulation failure time compared to Comparative Examples 1 and 2. Therefore, it can be seen that the insulation properties of the fire-resistant busbar of the present invention equipped with the fire-resistant silicone coating and protective layer described above are excellent. In particular, Example 2, in which mica tape was used as the protective layer, showed superior insulation performance compared to the example in which glass fiber tape was used as the protective layer.
[0139] (Experimental Example 2)
[0140] Fire-resistant silicones with compositions shown in Table 2 below were prepared by varying the weight ratio of the silicone compound of chemical formula 1 above to that of the metal oxide.
[0141] The fire-resistant silicones of Examples 1-1 to 1-5 were coated to a predetermined thickness on the copper busbar conductor under the same conditions as in Experimental Example 1. After wrapping with AGT6WO glass fiber tape, copper wire was wrapped on the busbar coating layer under the same conditions as in Experimental Example 1 and connected to a voltage withstand tester.
[0142] Furthermore, the insulation failure time was measured by heating with a large torch under the same conditions as in Experimental Example 1 while voltage was applied, and the measurement results are shown in Table 2 below.
[0143] [Table 2]
[0144] In Examples 1-1 to 1-5 above, the weight ratios of the silicone compound to the metal oxide were 1:1, 1:0.5, 1:1.5, 1:0.4, and 1:1.6. All examples had significantly longer insulation fail times compared to Comparative Examples 1 and 2 above. However, in Example 1-4, where the weight ratio was less than 0.5, the insulation fail time was somewhat shorter, which is judged to be due to insufficient metal oxide, resulting in a slight lack of formation of a ceramic structure with a high-density crystalline structure at high temperatures. Also, in Example 1-5, where the weight ratio was 1.6, the insulation fail time was sufficiently long, but the excess metal oxide reduced the flexibility of the refractory silicone at room temperature, making it difficult to cover the busbar conductor.
[0145] The present invention has been described in more detail above with reference to the drawings and embodiments. However, the configurations described in the drawings or embodiments described herein are merely one embodiment of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical concept of the present invention. Therefore, there may be various equivalents and modifications that can substitute for them at the time of filing. [Explanation of symbols]
[0146] 100, 100': Fireproof busbar P: Central covering C: Cap 110: Busbar conductor section 111: Both ends 120: Fire-resistant silicone coating 121: Cap part H: Through hole 122: Main body covering 130: Protective layer 131: Cap protective layer 132: Main body protective layer B: Fastening member 200: Battery Module 210, 220: Terminal section 300: Bulkhead 310: Busbar installation through-hole 320: Busbar mounting groove 400: Pack Housing 1000: Battery Pack
Claims
1. Busbar conductor section, A silicone coating that supports the busbar conductor by forming a ceramic body from a silicone resin containing a silicone compound and a metal oxide containing silicon oxide, and includes a cap portion that covers both ends of the busbar conductor portion and a body covering portion that covers the body of the busbar conductor portion between the two ends and is integrally connected with the cap portion, and a silicone coating that supports the busbar conductor portion by sintering a silicone resin containing a silicone compound and a metal oxide containing silicon oxide, and Includes a protective layer covering the aforementioned silicone coating, A fire-resistant busbar, wherein the cap portion is provided with a through hole extending from the upper surface to the surface in contact with the busbar conductor portion.
2. The fire-resistant bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the silicone coating forms a ceramic body at a temperature of 500 to 1700°C.
3. The silicone compound is the fire-resistant bus bar according to claim 1, represented by the following chemical formula 1: [Chemical formula 1] 【Chemistry 1】 In the above chemical formula 1, m and n are integers between 10 and 30.
4. The fire-resistant bus bar according to claim 3, wherein the silicone resin and the metal oxide are contained in a weight ratio of 1:0.5 to 1.
5.
5. The fire-resistant bus bar according to claim 3, wherein the silicon dioxide-containing metal oxide comprises one or more of pure silicon dioxide, silica, quartz, silica, tridymite, and keatite.
6. The fire-resistant bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the protective layer is a glass fiber layer or a mica layer.
7. The fire-resistant busbar according to claim 1, wherein the through-hole has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the head portion of the fastening member that is inserted into the through-hole and coupled to the busbar conductor portion.
8. The aforementioned through hole is A first hole having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the head portion of the fastening member that passes through the through hole and is connected to the busbar conductor portion, A fire-resistant bus bar according to claim 1, further comprising a second hole having a diameter larger than the diameter of the head portion of the fastening member.
9. The fire-resistant bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the area around the through-hole of the cap portion is provided with a cutting slit connected to the through-hole.
10. The cap portion comprises a first cover portion that has the through hole inside and covers the upper surfaces of both ends, and a first extension cover portion that extends downward from the first cover portion so as to cover the sides of both ends. The fire-resistant bus bar according to claim 1, wherein the main body covering portion comprises a second cover portion that covers the upper surface of the main body and a second extension cover portion that extends downward from the second cover portion so as to cover the side surface of the main body.
11. The fire-resistant busbar according to claim 1, wherein the fire-resistant busbar is a high-voltage busbar that electrically connects the high-voltage terminals of a plurality of battery modules.
12. The fire-resistant busbar according to claim 1, wherein the silicone coating is applied to the busbar conductor by insert injection molding, in which silicone is injected into a mold into which the busbar conductor is inserted.
13. Multiple battery modules, A fire-resistant busbar according to any one of claims 1 to 12 for electrically connecting the battery modules, and A battery pack including a pack housing for housing the aforementioned battery module.
14. The pack housing further includes a partition wall installed between the battery modules, Both ends of the busbar conductor portion of the fire-resistant busbar are electrically connected to the terminal portions of the battery modules located on both sides of the partition wall. The battery pack according to claim 13, wherein the cap portion of the fire-resistant busbar covers the joint portion between the two ends and the terminal portion.
15. The aforementioned partition wall is provided with a busbar installation through-hole or busbar installation groove. The battery pack according to claim 14, wherein the fire-resistant busbar is installed in the busbar installation through-hole or busbar installation groove.