Battery module, battery pack including the battery module, and vehicle

Abstract

A battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: battery cells having electrode leads extending to a predetermined length; a busbar frame having slots into which the electrode leads are inserted and guide portions configured to guide the electrode leads to entrances of the slots; and a busbar coupled to the busbar frame and connected to ends of the electrode leads inserted into the slots.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0178570 filed on December 19, 2022, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0045611 filed on April 6, 2023, and all the contents disclosed in the specifications and drawings of the applications are incorporated herein.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery module, a battery pack including the battery module, and a vehicle, and more particularly, to a battery module including rechargeable battery cells, a battery pack including the battery module, and a vehicle.

Background Art

[0003] Generally, a secondary battery refers to a battery that can be repeatedly charged and discharged, such as a lithium-ion battery, a lithium polymer battery, a nickel cadmium battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, a nickel zinc battery, etc. A battery cell corresponding to the most basic secondary battery provides an output voltage of about 2.5V to 4.2V. [[ID=IS]]

[0004] In recent years, as such secondary batteries are applied to devices that require a high output voltage and a large charge capacity, such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS), a battery module manufactured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series, parallel, or a mixed manner of series and parallel, and a battery pack manufactured by further connecting such manufactured battery modules in series, parallel, or a mixed manner of series and parallel are widely used.

[0005] Since the battery cells included in such a battery module or battery pack are densely arranged in a narrow space in an attempt to increase the energy density, it is necessary to precisely control the discharge direction of the high-temperature gas and flame generated in each battery cell.

[0006] However, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, in the prior art, when manufacturing a battery module, the electrode leads 111 and 112 of the battery cell 100 located behind the busbar frame 230 are passed through the slot H4 of the through-hole structure provided in the busbar frame 230 to the front side of the busbar frame 230, and then the ends of the electrode leads 111 and 112 are connected to the busbars 210 and 220 attached to the front of the busbar frame 230.

[0007] As a result, conventional technology has the problem that when thermal runaway occurs in a battery cell contained in a battery module, the high-temperature gas, flames, and particles emitted from the battery cell are discharged forward through slot H4 of the busbar frame 230, damaging the busbars and terminals located on the busbar frame, leading to fire or explosion of the battery module, or a chain reaction of thermal runaway in other battery cells and other battery modules located nearby. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2270266 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] The technical problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a battery module that facilitates the assembly of the battery module and suppresses damage to the busbars and terminals arranged on the busbar frame when the battery cells contained in the battery module experience thermal runaway, as well as a battery pack and a vehicle that include the battery module.

[0010] Furthermore, another technical problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a battery module, a battery pack including the battery module, and a vehicle that suppresses fire or explosion of the battery module, or chain reaction of thermal runaway of other battery cells and other battery modules located nearby, when a battery cell contained in the battery module experiences thermal runaway. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] A battery module according to one aspect of the present invention includes a battery cell having electrode leads extending for a predetermined length; a busbar frame having a slot into which the electrode leads are inserted and a guide portion configured to guide the electrode leads to the entrance of the slot; and a busbar coupled to the busbar frame and connected to the end of the electrode lead inserted into the slot, wherein the guide portion is configured to expand after the electrode lead is inserted into the slot to make close contact with the electrode lead or the edge portion of the battery cell supporting the electrode lead.

[0012] In one embodiment, the guide portion may include a guide structure made of an expandable material, the guide structure having a guide surface on its outer surface for guiding the electrode lead to the entrance of the slot and a filling space inside, and a filling material that fills the filling space and causes the guide structure to expand.

[0013] In one embodiment, the guide structure may include an inlet into which the filling material is injected, and which communicates with the filling space.

[0014] In one embodiment, the guide portion includes a plurality of guide structures, and the plurality of guide structures may include a first guide structure and a second guide structure located on opposite sides of each other with respect to the entrance of the slot.

[0015] In one embodiment, the first guide structure and the second guide structure may each be configured to expand with the filling material to adhere closely to the electrode lead inserted into the slot or to the edge portion of the battery cell supporting the electrode lead inserted into the slot.

[0016] In one embodiment, the battery module includes a plurality of battery cells, the first guide structure may include a first guide surface that guides the electrode leads of a first battery cell among the plurality of battery cells to the entrance of the slot, and the second guide structure may include a second guide surface that guides the electrode leads of a second battery cell among the plurality of battery cells to the entrance of the slot.

[0017] In one embodiment, the plurality of guide structures may further include a third guide structure located between the first guide structure and the second guide structure.

[0018] In one embodiment, the third guide structure may include a third guide surface that guides the electrode leads of the first battery cell to the entrance of the slot, and a fourth guide surface that guides the electrode leads of the second battery cell to the entrance of the slot.

[0019] In one embodiment, the filler material may include a substance in a gel state or a liquid state.

[0020] In one embodiment, the filler material may include at least one of silicone, silicone foam, polyurethane foam, and a blowing agent.

[0021] In one embodiment, the filling material may include a thermally expanding material that expands at a predetermined temperature.

[0022] In one embodiment, the filling material may include a fire extinguishing agent.

[0023] A battery pack according to another aspect of the present invention includes a battery module according to any one of the above-described embodiments.

[0024] A vehicle according to still another aspect of the present invention includes a battery module according to any one of the above-described embodiments.

Advantages of the Invention

[0025] According to one aspect of the present invention, the guide portion of the bus bar frame guides the electrode lead of the battery cell to the entrance of the slot of the bus bar frame. After the electrode lead is inserted into the slot, it expands and adheres to the electrode lead or the sealed edge portion of the battery cell that supports the electrode lead. By being configured in this way, not only is the manufacturing of the battery module facilitated, but also when thermal runaway of the battery cell occurs, gas discharge from the slot of the bus bar frame is blocked, damage to the bus bar or terminal arranged on the bus bar frame is suppressed, and cascading thermal runaway of other battery cells or other battery modules located in the vicinity can be suppressed.

[0026] In addition, the guide structure of the guide portion is made of a material having elasticity, has a filling space inside, and is further filled with a filling substance in a gel state or a liquid state. By this, a fire occurring in the battery module can be suppressed or extinguished, and an explosion of the battery module can be suppressed.

[0027] In addition, the support portion of the insulating cover on which the terminal of the battery module is placed is located in the through-hole of the end plate that exposes the terminal to the outside, and is configured to block contact between the terminal and the periphery of the through-hole. By this, when high-temperature gas or flames occur in the corresponding battery module or another battery module adjacent to the corresponding battery module, a phenomenon in which a short circuit occurs between the terminal and the end plate due to melting or collapse of the insulating structure can be suppressed.

[0028] Furthermore, by making the insulating cover from a material with high fire resistance, damage or collapse of the insulating cover due to high-temperature gases or flames can be suppressed or delayed, further improving the electrical safety of the battery module.

[0029] Furthermore, anyone with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs will obviously understand from the following description that various embodiments of the present invention can solve a variety of technical problems not described above. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0030] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module shown. [Figure 3] This figure shows a battery cell assembly of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of a battery cell to which the present invention can be applied. [Figure 5] Figure 3 is a front view showing the battery cell assembly. [Figure 6] This is a rear perspective view showing a busbar frame according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view along the line S1-S1' in Figure 6. [Figure 8] This figure shows the expanded state of the guide section, as indicated in Figure 7. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view showing a busbar frame in a modified form. [Figure 10] This figure shows a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] This diagram shows a vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0031] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings in order to clarify the solutions to the technical problems of the present invention. However, in the description of the present invention, if the description of related prior art would make the gist of the present invention unclear, such description will be omitted. Furthermore, the terms used in this specification are defined in consideration of the function of the present invention, and these may change depending on the intention or convention of the designer, manufacturer, etc. Therefore, the definitions of terms described later must be based on the content of the entire specification.

[0032] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a battery module 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the battery module 100 shown in Figure 1.

[0034] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a battery module 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a module frame 120 that houses a battery cell assembly 110, an insulating cover 130 having a support portion 132 that supports the terminals 118 of the battery module 100, and an end plate 140 that covers an opening 122 of the module frame 120 to which the insulating cover 130 is attached.

[0035] The module frame 120 has an opening 122 at at least one end of the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) of the battery module 100, and can accommodate a battery cell assembly 110 containing a plurality of battery cells in the internal space connected to the opening 122.

[0036] For example, the module frame 120 may have a tubular structure with openings at both ends in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction). Furthermore, the module frame 120 may be composed of a metal material having a high level of rigidity and heat resistance. Such a module frame 120 can be manufactured integrally through sheet metal fabrication and welding or injection molding processes.

[0037] In one embodiment, the module frame 120 may be composed of clad metal, which is made by joining dissimilar metals. That is, the module frame 120 may be composed of a multi-layered metal plate in which a second metal plate is joined to a first metal plate.

[0038] In this case, the first metal plate constituting the outer surface of the module frame 120 is made of a material with relatively higher thermal conductivity than the second metal plate constituting the inner surface of the module frame 120, and the second metal plate may be made of a material with higher heat resistance and fire resistance than the first metal plate. For example, the first metal plate may be made of a material containing aluminum (Al), and the second metal plate may be made of a material containing stainless steel. For reference, the melting point of aluminum is approximately 660°C, and the melting point of stainless steel is approximately 2750°C.

[0039] The insulating cover 130 has a support portion 132 on which terminals 118 electrically connected to the battery cells of the battery cell assembly 110 are placed and supported, and may be configured to temporarily cover the opening 122 of the module frame 120.

[0040] Therefore, the insulating cover 130 may include a guide hole H1 for guiding the terminal 118 to the support portion 132. The insulating cover 130 may also include a first connector hole H2 for exposing a connector that transmits electrical signals from the battery cells included in the battery cell assembly 110 to the outside.

[0041] As will be described later, the support portion 132 may include a mounting portion having a mounting surface on which the terminal 118 is placed, and a blocking portion extending from the mounting portion towards the peripheral edge of the through hole H3 provided in the end plate 140, thereby blocking contact between the peripheral edge of the through hole H3 and the terminal 118.

[0042] Such an insulating cover 130 may be made of a polymer synthetic resin having electrical insulating properties. In particular, the insulating cover 130 may be made of a material that has both electrical insulating properties and high fire resistance.

[0043] The end plate 140 may have a through hole H3 that exposes the support portion 132 of the insulating cover 130 to the outside, and may be configured to secondarily cover the opening 122 of the module frame 120 that is covered by the insulating cover 130. The end plate 140 may also include a second connector hole H4 provided at a position corresponding to the first connector hole H2 of the insulating cover 130, which exposes the connector to the outside.

[0044] Such an end plate 140 may be made of a metal material having a high level of rigidity and heat resistance.

[0045] Figure 3 shows a battery cell assembly 110 of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] As shown in Figure 3, the battery cell assembly 110 may include a plurality of battery cells 112, a busbar 114, and a busbar frame 200.

[0047] Multiple battery cells 112 can be densely arranged in the width direction (X-axis direction) of the battery module. Each battery cell 112 is a basic rechargeable secondary battery and can be implemented in a variety of forms.

[0048] As will be described later, the battery cell 112 can be implemented as a pouch-type secondary battery. In this case, the battery cell 112 can be manufactured by housing an electrode assembly and an electrolyte material inside a pouch-type case and sealing the case.

[0049] The electrode assembly of the battery cell 112 has a laminated structure in which the positive electrode and the negative electrode are stacked with a separator in between. The case of the battery cell 112 may consist of one or two pouch sheets.

[0050] Such a battery cell 112 may include electrode leads extending to the outside of the battery cell 112. One end of the electrode lead may be electrically connected to an electrode assembly housed inside the case, and the other end may extend outside the case and be connected to a busbar 114 coupled to a busbar frame 200.

[0051] As shown in Figure 3, multiple battery cells 112 can be stacked horizontally (X-axis direction) while each is erected vertically (Z-axis direction).

[0052] In other embodiments, each of the battery cells 112 may be represented as a cylindrical secondary battery or a prismatic secondary battery.

[0053] The busbar 114 may be configured to be electrically connected to the electrode leads of the battery cell 112 or the terminal 118. Therefore, the busbar 114 may be made of a conductive material such as metal.

[0054] The busbar frame 200 may be configured to support at least one busbar 114. Such a busbar frame 200 may be made of an electrically insulating material. As will be described later, the busbar frame 200 may be made of a material that has both electrical insulation and high fire resistance.

[0055] The battery cell assembly 110 may further include terminals 118 that are electrically connected to the battery cells via the busbar 114 to provide the output voltage of the battery module 100, and connectors 119 that transmit electrical signals relating to the battery cells. In this case, the terminals 118 and connectors 119 may be located on the busbar frame 116.

[0056] Figure 4 shows an example of a battery cell 112 applicable to the present invention.

[0057] As shown in Figure 4, the battery cell 112 may consist of a pouch-type secondary battery. In this case, the battery cell 112 may be equipped with electrode leads 112a. One end of the electrode lead 112a may be electrically connected to an electrode assembly housed inside the battery cell 112, and the other end may extend outside the battery cell 112.

[0058] The case of the battery cell 112 may be manufactured from a sheet of a metal material, including aluminum. In one embodiment, the case of the battery cell 112 may be manufactured from a single metal sheet. For example, the case may be manufactured by folding the metal sheet so that both ends of the sheet face each other, and then joining and sealing the overlapping edges of the ends.

[0059] In another embodiment, the case of the battery cell 112 may be manufactured from two metal sheets. For example, the case may be manufactured by overlapping two metal sheets facing each other and joining and sealing the edges of the two overlapping metal sheets.

[0060] The sealed edge portion 112b of the battery cell 112 may comprise a PP (polypropylene) layer, and such a PP layer may be sealed by heat fusion.

[0061] Such case sealing processes are difficult to perform uniformly due to various factors such as heating temperature and time, thickness, width, and quality of the PP layer. Therefore, it is difficult to control the direction of gas discharged through the sealed edge portion 112b of the battery cell 112.

[0062] On the other hand, the electrode lead 112a can extend outward through the sealed edge portion 112b of the overall outer edge of the battery cell 112 and be connected to the bus bar 114.

[0063] Figure 5 shows a front view of the battery cell assembly 110 shown in Figure 3.

[0064] As shown in Figure 5, the busbar frame 200 may be positioned in the internal space of the module frame 120 and further positioned between the multiple battery cells housed in the module frame 120 and the insulating cover 130 covering the opening of the module frame 120, and configured to support at least one busbar 114. In this case, each busbar 114 may be electrically connected to the electrode leads 112a of the battery cell 112 or to the terminals 118 of the battery module 100.

[0065] Terminals 118 that are electrically connected to the battery cells through the busbar 114, and connectors 119 that transmit electrical signals related to the battery cells may be located on the busbar frame 116.

[0066] Such a busbar frame 200 may be made of a material that has both electrical insulation and high fire resistance. For example, the busbar frame 200 may be made of a material containing one or more of the following: polyimide, aromatic polyamide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetheretherketone, fluororesin, and ceramics.

[0067] Because the busbar frame 200 is constructed from a material that has both insulating and highly fire-resistant properties, structural deformation of the busbar frame can be suppressed even if high-temperature gases or flames are generated inside the battery module. As a result, short circuits caused by contact between busbars can be suppressed.

[0068] Furthermore, the busbar frame 200 of the battery module 100 according to the present invention may be configured to block gas discharged to the electrode lead 112a side of the battery cell 112.

[0069] Figure 6 shows a rearward perspective view of a busbar frame 200 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] As shown in Figure 6, the busbar frame 200 includes a slot 210 into which the electrode leads 112a of the battery cell 112 are inserted, and a guide portion 220.

[0071] The guide portion 220 is configured to guide the electrode leads 112a of the battery cell 112 into the entrance of the slot 210 during the assembly of the battery module. The ends of the electrode leads 112a inserted into the slot 210 can be connected to a busbar 114 coupled to the front of the busbar frame 200.

[0072] In particular, the guide portion 220 may be configured to expand after the electrode lead 112a is inserted into the slot 210, and to adhere closely to the electrode lead 112a or the edge portion 112b of the battery cell 112 that supports the electrode lead 112a.

[0073] Therefore, the guide portion 220 may include a guide structure (222) and a filling material that is filled inside the guide structure 222.

[0074] The guide structure 222 is made of an elastic material such as rubber or polymer synthetic resin, and its outer surface is provided with a guide surface for guiding the electrode lead 112a to the entrance of the slot 210, and a filling space may be provided inside it.

[0075] In this case, the guide structure 222 may include an inlet 222b that communicates with the filling space, which serves as an inlet 222b into which the filling material is injected. After the injection of the filling material is complete, the inlet 222b may be sealed.

[0076] Furthermore, the guide portion 220 may include a plurality of the guide structures 222 described above. In this case, the plurality of guide structures may include a first guide structure and a second guide structure located on opposite sides of each other with respect to the entrance of the slot 210. That is, the entrance of the slot 210 may be located between the two guide structures.

[0077] The filling material is filled into the filling space of the guide structure 222 from the injection port 222b, causing the guide structure 222 to expand. In this case, the filling material may include a substance in a gel state or a liquid state.

[0078] In one embodiment, the filler material may be configured to expand as it fills the filling space of the guide structure 222, thereby expanding the guide structure 222 together with it. In this case, the filler material may include at least one of silicone, expandable silicone, silicone foam, polyurethane foam, and a blowing agent.

[0079] In other embodiments, the filler material may be configured to expand upon heat above a predetermined temperature after being filled into the filling space, thereby expanding together with the guide structure 222. In this case, the filler material may include a thermally expanding material that expands at a predetermined temperature. Such a thermally expanding material may include a variety of thermally expanding materials known at the time of filing of the present invention. For example, the thermally expanding material may include one or more of the following: PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane), polyvinyl acetate, polystyrene, butyl (meth)acrylate, hexyl (meth)acrylate, n-hexyl (meth)acrylate, isohexyl (meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate, isononyl (meth)acrylate, and urethane polymers.

[0080] Furthermore, the filling material may contain a fire extinguishing agent. For example, the fire extinguishing agent may be in liquid, gel, or powder form and may contain one or more of the following: sulfuric acid, potassium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, aluminum sulfate, water, halons, and halogen compounds. Powdered fire extinguishing agents provide cooling and fire extinguishing effects by decomposing through an endothermic reaction to produce CO2 gas. However, powdered fire extinguishing agents may leave solid residues. To suppress this, the fire extinguishing agent may contain a halon-based liquid fire extinguishing agent.

[0081] Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view along the line S1-S1' in Figure 6.

[0082] As shown in Figure 7, the guide portion 220 may be configured to guide the electrode lead 112a of the battery cell 112 to the entrance of the slot 210 when the electrode lead 112a of the busbar frame 200 is inserted into the slot 210.

[0083] Therefore, the guide portion 220 may include a plurality of guide structures 222. That is, the guide portion 220 may include a first guide structure G1 and a second guide structure G2 located on opposite sides of each other with respect to the entrance of the slot 210.

[0084] In this case, the first guide structure G1 may include a first guide surface F1 that guides the electrode lead 112a on one side of the slot 210, and the second guide structure G2 may include a second guide surface F2 that guides the electrode lead 112a on the other side of the slot 210.

[0085] The end of the electrode lead 112a inserted into the slot 210 can be connected to a busbar 114 coupled to the front surface of the busbar frame 200.

[0086] On the other hand, a filling space 222a may be provided inside the first guide structure G1 and the second guide structure G2, respectively. The filling material 224 described above may be filled into such a filling space 222a.

[0087] Furthermore, once the electrode leads 112a of the battery cell 112 are inserted into the slots 210 of the busbar frame 200 and connected to the busbar 114, the first guide structure G1 and the second guide structure G2 will expand due to the filling material 224 filling the filling space 222a, respectively, and will be able to closely adhere to the electrode leads 112a inserted into the slots 210 or the edge portion 112b of the battery cell 112 that supports the electrode leads 112a.

[0088] Figure 8 shows the expanded state of the guide portion 220 shown in Figure 7.

[0089] As shown in Figure 8, when the guide structures of the guide section 220 (first guide structure G1 and second guide structure G2) expand due to the filling material 224 and come into close contact with the electrode lead 112a inserted into the slot 210 or the edge portion 112b of the battery cell 112 supporting the electrode lead 112a, the gas transfer path through the slot 210 of the busbar frame 200 is blocked.

[0090] As a result, when thermal runaway occurs in battery cell 112, damage to the busbar 114 and terminal 118 located on the busbar frame 200 can be suppressed, and cascading thermal runaway in other battery cells and other battery modules located nearby can be suppressed or delayed.

[0091] Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the busbar frame 200' in its deformed form.

[0092] As shown in Figure 9, the busbar frame 200' may be configured such that multiple electrode leads 112a are inserted into a single slot 210.

[0093] In this case, the first guide structure G1 may include a first guide surface F1 that guides the electrode lead 112a of the first battery cell B1, one of the multiple battery cells 112 included in the battery module 100, to the entrance of the slot 210. The second guide structure G2 may also include a second guide surface F2 that guides the electrode lead of the second battery cell B2, one of the multiple battery cells 112, to the entrance of the slot 210.

[0094] In one embodiment, the busbar frame 200' may further include a third guide structure G3 located between the first guide structure G1 and the second guide structure G2.

[0095] In this case, the third guide structure G3 may include a third guide surface F3 that guides the electrode leads of the first battery cell B1 to the entrance of the slot 210, and a fourth guide surface F4 that guides the electrode leads of the second battery cell B2 to the entrance of the slot 210.

[0096] When the electrode leads of the first battery cell B1 and the electrode leads of the second battery cell B2 are inserted into the same slot 210 and connected to the busbar 114, the first guide structure G1, the second guide structure G2, and the third guide structure G3 will expand, respectively, and be able to make close contact with the electrode leads of the first battery cell B1, the electrode leads of the second battery cell B2, or the edges of the battery cells that support these electrode leads.

[0097] In other words, the first guide surface F1 of the first guide structure G1 and the third guide surface F3 of the third guide structure G3 can be in close contact with the electrode leads 112a of the first battery cell B1 or the edge portion of the first battery cell B1. Also, the second guide surface F2 of the second guide structure G2 and the fourth guide surface F4 of the third guide structure G3 can be in close contact with the electrode leads of the second battery cell B2 or the edge portion 112b of the second battery cell B2.

[0098] Figure 10 shows a battery pack 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0099] As shown in Figure 10, a battery pack 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a battery module 100 according to the various embodiments described above. The battery pack 10 may further include pack cases 12, 14 that house one or more of the battery modules 100.

[0100] The pack cases 12 and 14 may include a pack tray 12 having a storage space for accommodating multiple battery modules, and a pack lid 14 that covers the upper end opening of the pack tray 12.

[0101] Furthermore, the battery pack 10 may further include various electrical components (not shown) that control the charging and discharging operations of the battery module 100 housed in the pack cases 12 and 14, or the battery cells contained in the battery module 100, or monitor SOC (State of Charge), SOH (State of Health), etc. Such electrical components may be housed together with the battery module 100 in the pack cases 12 and 14.

[0102] Figure 11 shows Vehicle 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0103] As shown in Figure 11, a vehicle 2 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a battery module 100 according to the various embodiments described above. For example, the vehicle 2 may include a battery pack 10 that incorporates one or more of the battery modules 100. In this case, the battery module 100 or the battery pack 10 containing it can provide the electrical energy necessary for the various operations of the vehicle 2.

[0104] In this case, the vehicle 2 may further include an electric motor that drives the vehicle 2 using electrical energy supplied from a battery module 100 or a battery pack 10 including the same.

[0105] For reference, the battery module 100 according to the present invention can be applied to a variety of electrical devices and systems that use electrical energy, in addition to vehicles, and can also be applied to energy storage systems (ESS).

[0106] As described above, according to the present invention, the guide portion of the busbar frame is configured to guide the electrode leads of the battery cell to the entrance of the slot of the busbar frame, and after the electrode leads are inserted into the slot, expand to make close contact with the electrode leads or the sealed edge portion of the battery cell that supports the electrode leads. This not only facilitates the manufacture of battery modules, but also blocks gas discharge from the slot of the busbar frame when thermal runaway occurs in the battery cell, thereby suppressing damage to the busbars and terminals arranged in the busbar frame and preventing chain reactions of thermal runaway in other battery cells and other battery modules located nearby.

[0107] Furthermore, the guide structure of the guide portion is made of an expandable material, has a filling space inside, and the filling space is filled with a gel-like or liquid-like filling material, which can suppress or quell a fire that occurs in the battery module and prevent the battery module from exploding.

[0108] Furthermore, the support portion of the insulating cover on which the battery module terminals are mounted is located within the through-hole of the end plate that exposes the terminals to the outside, thereby blocking contact between the terminals and the periphery of the through-hole. This suppresses the phenomenon of short circuits occurring between the terminals and the end plate due to melting or collapse of the insulating structure when high-temperature gases or flames are generated in the battery module or other battery modules adjacent to it.

[0109] Furthermore, by making the insulating cover from a material with high fire resistance, damage or collapse of the insulating cover due to high-temperature gases or flames can be suppressed or delayed, further improving the electrical safety of the battery module.

[0110] Furthermore, it goes without saying that embodiments of the present invention can solve a variety of other technical problems not only in this technical field but also in related technical fields, beyond those described herein.

[0111] As described above, the present invention has been explained with reference to specific embodiments, but those skilled in the art will clearly understand that a variety of modifications can be realized within the technical scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be considered from an explanatory standpoint, not a restrictive one. That is, the true technical idea of ​​the present invention is shown in the claims, and all differences within the equivalent scope should be interpreted as being included in the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0112] 2 vehicles 10 Battery Packs 12, 14 pack case 12-pack case 12 pack trays 14-pack case 14 Pack Lids 100 Battery Modules 110 Battery Cell Assembly 112 battery cells 112a Electrode Lead 112b Edge 114 Bus Bar 116 Busbar Frame Terminal 118 119 Connector 120 Module Frames 122 Aperture 130 Insulating cover 132 Support part 140 End Plate 200 Busbar Frame 200' Busbar Frame 210 slots 220 Guide section 222 Guide Structure 222a Filling space 222b Inlet 224 Filling substance 230 Busbar Frame Al Aluminum B1 First battery cell B2 Second Battery Cell ESS Energy Storage System F1 First guide surface F2 Second guide surface F3 Third Guide Surface F4 Fourth guide surface G1 First Guide Structure G2 Second Guide Structure G3 Third Guide Structure gel H1 Guide hole H2 First connector hole H3 through hole H4 slot H4 2nd connector hole

Claims

1. A battery cell equipped with electrode leads, A busbar frame comprising a slot into which the electrode lead is inserted, and a guide portion configured to guide the electrode lead to the entrance of the slot, The busbar is coupled to the busbar frame and connected to the ends of the electrode leads inserted into the slots, The guide portion is positioned adjacent to the electrode lead inserted into the slot or the edge portion of the battery cell supporting the electrode lead inserted into the slot. The aforementioned guide section is A guide structure made of an expandable material and having a filling space inside, A filling material that fills the aforementioned filling space and causes the guide structure to expand, The battery module is configured such that the guide portion expands when the battery cell experiences thermal runaway and comes into close contact with the electrode lead inserted into the slot or the edge portion of the battery cell that supports the electrode lead inserted into the slot.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the guide structure is provided with a guide surface on its outer surface for guiding the electrode leads to the entrance of the slot.

3. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the guide structure includes an inlet into which the filling material is injected, and the inlet communicates with the filling space.

4. The guide portion includes a plurality of the guide structures, The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of guide structures include a first guide structure and a second guide structure located on opposite sides of each other with respect to the entrance of the slot.

5. The battery module according to claim 4, wherein the first guide structure and the second guide structure, when expanded by the filling material, adhere closely to the electrode lead inserted into the slot or to the edge portion of the battery cell supporting the electrode lead inserted into the slot.

6. The aforementioned battery includes multiple battery cells, The first guide structure includes a first guide surface that guides the electrode leads of a first battery cell among the plurality of battery cells to the entrance of the slot, The battery module according to claim 4, wherein the second guide structure includes a second guide surface that guides the electrode leads of a second battery cell among the plurality of battery cells to the entrance of the slot.

7. The battery module according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of guide structures further include a third guide structure located between the first guide structure and the second guide structure.

8. The battery module according to claim 7, wherein the third guide structure comprises a third guide surface that, together with the first guide surface of the first guide structure, guides the electrode leads of the first battery cell to the entrance of the slot, and a fourth guide surface that, together with the second guide surface of the second guide structure, guides the electrode leads of the second battery cell to the entrance of the slot.

9. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the filling material includes a substance in a gel state or a liquid state.

10. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the filler material comprises at least one of silicone, silicone foam, polyurethane foam, and a foaming agent.

11. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the filling material includes a thermally expanding material.

12. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the filling material includes a fire extinguishing agent.

13. A battery pack comprising a battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A vehicle comprising a battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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