Battery module, and battery pack and vehicle including same

Abstract

The present invention may provide a battery module comprising: a plurality of battery cells each having an accommodation portion and a sealing portion and stacked on one another; a module case that accommodates the plurality of battery cells in an inner space; and a pressing member disposed to face at least one surface of terrace portions of the sealing portions of the battery cells, and configured to press the terrace portions when internal pressures inside the battery cells increase, the terrace portions being where electrode leads are located.

Description

Battery modules, battery packs containing the same, and vehicles

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

[0002] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0151099, filed on November 3, 2023, and all contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of the said application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0104119, filed on August 5, 2024, and all contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of the said application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0004] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0152849, filed on October 31, 2024, and all contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of the said application are incorporated by reference into this application.

[0005]

[0006] Secondary batteries, which have high applicability according to product group and electrical characteristics such as high energy density, are widely used in portable devices as well as electric vehicles (EVs) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) driven by electrical power sources.

[0007] These secondary batteries are attracting attention as a new energy source for environmental friendliness and energy efficiency, not only because they have the primary advantage of drastically reducing the use of fossil fuels, but also because they produce no byproducts from energy use.

[0008] Commonly used secondary batteries today include lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and nickel-zinc batteries. When high output voltage is required, multiple battery cells are connected in series to form a battery module or battery pack. Furthermore, to increase charge / discharge capacity, multiple battery cells are connected in parallel to form a battery module or pack. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in a battery module or pack can vary depending on the required output voltage or charge / discharge capacity.

[0009] Meanwhile, since battery cells undergo chemical reactions during charging and discharging, their performance can deteriorate if used in environments above optimal temperatures. Furthermore, if thermal control fails to maintain optimal temperatures, there is a constant risk of unexpected fire or explosion. Furthermore, battery modules are structured to house these cells tightly within the module frame. Therefore, if a thermal event occurs in a single battery cell, the resulting high-temperature gases and flames can spread to adjacent cells, potentially triggering a chain reaction of battery cell explosions, making them extremely dangerous.

[0010] In particular, when a battery module contains multiple battery cells, the high-temperature gases, flames, sparks, etc. generated during a thermal runaway in a specific battery cell are highly likely to erupt toward the front and rear of the battery cells where the electrode leads of the battery module are located. This can cause thermal damage to components located at both ends of the battery module, such as end plates or adjacent components of the busbar frame, and may even lead to structural collapse.

[0011] Additionally, heat can spread to adjacent battery modules due to flames, etc., emitted externally through the end plates. Specifically, if flames originating from a specific battery module spread to the end plates of other battery modules, the risk of heat spread between modules or a chain reaction of fires can increase. This can lead to thermal runaway conditions spreading throughout the entire battery pack, which includes multiple battery modules.

[0012] Therefore, there is a need to develop a structure that can prevent the discharge of high-temperature gases or flames from a battery cell when a thermal event occurs in any one battery cell or appropriately control the direction of discharge to delay thermal runaway between battery cells or battery modules.

[0013]

[0014] Accordingly, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a battery module with improved safety and reliability by appropriately controlling the venting direction of high-temperature gas or flames generated in a battery cell in an abnormal situation of the battery module, thereby effectively preventing heat transmission between battery cells or battery modules.

[0015] Another technical object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack including a battery module of an improved structure, and a vehicle including the battery pack.

[0016] The technical problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the problems described above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention described below.

[0017]

[0018] In order to solve the above problem, the present invention can provide a battery module including a plurality of battery cells, each having a storage portion and a sealing portion and stacked on each other, a module case that stores the plurality of battery cells in an internal space, and a pressing member that is arranged to face at least one surface of a terrace portion where an electrode lead is located among the sealing portions of the battery cells, and is configured to pressurize the terrace portion when the internal pressure inside the battery cell increases.

[0019] The above pressing member may include a first pressing member arranged to face the first side of the terrace portion and a second pressing member arranged to face the second side of the terrace portion facing in the opposite direction to the first side.

[0020] The first pressure member and the second pressure member may be configured to be mutually connectable.

[0021] At least one of the first pressing member or the second pressing member may include a fastening portion extending toward each other.

[0022] The above-mentioned fastening member may include a hinge fastening member in which one end is hinge-rotatably connected to the first pressure member and the other end is connected to the second pressure member.

[0023] The first pressure member and the second pressure member may be formed integrally.

[0024] The above pressurizing member may include a hole configured to allow the terrace portion to pass therethrough.

[0025] The above pressing member is composed of a plurality of pieces, and at least two of the plurality of pressing members can be formed integrally.

[0026] The battery module further includes a barrier member disposed between adjacent battery cells, wherein the pressure member can be attached to the barrier member.

[0027] The pressurizing member may be positioned between the terrace portion of the battery cell and the barrier member.

[0028] The above-mentioned pressing member is in contact with at least one surface of the terrace portion and can pressurize the terrace portion.

[0029] The plurality of battery cells are stacked in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction while standing in the first direction, and the pressing member can extend in the first direction along the terrace portion.

[0030] The above pressurized member may include an insulating or heat-resistant material.

[0031] The above pressurizing member may have a composite layer containing different materials.

[0032] The device may further include a busbar assembly positioned between the plurality of battery cells and the module case, wherein the pressing member may be arranged to be surrounded by the busbar assembly, the receiving portion, and the sealing portion.

[0033] The busbar assembly may include a module busbar electrically connected to the electrode lead and a busbar housing configured to allow the module busbar to be seated and fixed, and at least one surface of the pressing member may be arranged to face an inner surface of the busbar housing. A front-rear length of the pressing member may be longer than a front-rear length of the terrace portion. A vertical height of the pressing member may be higher than a vertical height of the battery cell. The vertical height of the pressing member may be formed higher than a separation distance between an upper plate and a lower plate of the module case, and the pressing member may be configured to be vertically pressed by the upper plate and the lower plate.

[0034] In addition, the present invention provides a battery pack including a battery according to the present invention.

[0035] And, the present invention provides an automobile including a battery pack according to the present invention.

[0036]

[0037] According to one aspect of the present invention, when an abnormal situation such as thermal runaway occurs in a battery cell, the discharge of venting gas or flames toward the terrace portion can be prevented or suppressed. In particular, the terrace portion of a battery cell may have a relatively wide space within the internal space of a battery module. However, according to the above aspect, since venting gas or flames are not discharged from a battery cell in which a thermal event has occurred toward the terrace portion, the propagation of thermal runaway caused by venting gas or flames to other battery cells through the space near the terrace portion can be suppressed or blocked.

[0038] In particular, according to one embodiment of the present invention, even if the internal pressure of the battery cell increases, the phenomenon of the fusion (sealing) portion of the sealing portion being separated by the pressurizing member is prevented, thereby preventing the sealing of the sealing portion from being broken. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent high-temperature gases or flames from being discharged to electrical components such as busbar assemblies or module terminals positioned adjacent to the terrace portion, particularly on the outside in the relevant direction. Therefore, damage to various components positioned in the relevant direction can be prevented, and furthermore, unintentional interruption of the electrical connection between battery cells or battery modules can be prevented.

[0039] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, directional venting, which discharges venting gases and the like in a desired direction, can be more easily implemented. For example, according to one embodiment of the present invention, gases or flames can be discharged toward the upper portion of a battery cell or battery module. In this case, the safety and reliability of a battery module comprising multiple battery cells can be further improved.

[0040] Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent other battery modules from being thermally damaged by high-temperature gases or flames generated from a specific battery module. In particular, according to this aspect of the present invention, the propagation of thermal runaway between modules can be effectively prevented or delayed.

[0041] Accordingly, in this case, events such as fire or explosion due to thermal runaway of a battery pack including multiple battery modules or a device equipped with them can be prevented or delayed.

[0042] In particular, for electric vehicles, by inhibiting or delaying the propagation of thermal runaway between battery cells or battery modules, sufficient time can be secured for occupants to escape or drive.

[0043] In addition, the present invention may have various other effects, which will be described in each embodiment configuration, or an explanation of effects that can be easily inferred by a person skilled in the art will be omitted.

[0044]

[0045] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with the detailed description of the invention described below, serve to further understand the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to matters described in such drawings.

[0046] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing some of the components of the battery module of Fig. 1 in isolation.

[0048] FIG. 3A is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a battery cell and a pressure member included in a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] FIG. 3b is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a battery cell and a pressure member included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] FIG. 4a is an enlarged perspective view of a terrace portion of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] FIG. 4b is a side view showing a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a portion of a configuration of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a part of the configuration of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] FIG. 7a is an enlarged view of portion A2 of FIG. 6 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] FIG. 7b is an enlarged view of portion A2 of FIG. 6 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a portion of a configuration of a battery module including a barrier member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a portion of a configuration of a battery module including a barrier member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a part of the configuration of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] Fig. 11 is a side view showing a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0060] Figure 12 is a side view showing a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] Figure 13a is a perspective view showing a pressurizing member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] FIG. 13b is a side view schematically illustrating a portion of a configuration of a battery module including a pressurizing member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] FIG. 14a is a perspective view showing a pressurizing member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0064] FIG. 14b is a side view schematically illustrating a portion of a configuration of a battery module including a pressurizing member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0065] Figure 15 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a pressure member according to another embodiment of the present invention is assembled into a battery cell.

[0066] FIG. 16a is a perspective view showing a pressurizing member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0067] FIG. 16b is a side view schematically illustrating a configuration of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0068] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a portion of a configuration of a battery module including a pressurizing member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a portion of a configuration of a battery module including a pressurizing member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0070] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional side view of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0071] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional side view of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional side view of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] FIG. 22 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a battery pack including a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0074] FIG. 23 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0075] FIG. 24 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle including a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0076]

[0077] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, it should be noted that the terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be construed as limited to their conventional or dictionary meanings. Based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concepts of terms to best explain his or her invention, they should be interpreted in a way that aligns with the technical spirit of the present invention.

[0078] Accordingly, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention. Therefore, it should be understood that there may be various equivalents and modified examples that can replace them at the time of filing this application.

[0079] Furthermore, the present invention includes various embodiments. For each embodiment, redundant descriptions of substantially identical or similar components will be omitted, and the differences will be described.

[0080] Additionally, to facilitate understanding of the invention, the attached drawings are not drawn to scale and some components may have exaggerated dimensions. Furthermore, identical components may be assigned the same reference numbers in different embodiments.

[0081] Although terms like "first" and "second" are used to describe various components, these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used merely to distinguish one component from another, and unless otherwise specified, a "first" component may also be a "second" component.

[0082] Throughout the specification, unless otherwise specifically stated, each element may be singular or plural.

[0083] Hereinafter, the phrase "any configuration is placed on (or below)" a component or "on (or below)" a component may mean that any configuration is placed in contact with the upper surface (or lower surface) of said component, and that other configurations may be interposed between said component and any configuration placed on (or below) said component.

[0084] Additionally, when it is described that a component is "connected," "coupled," or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that the components may be directly connected or connected to one another, but that other components may also be "interposed" between the components, or that each component may be "connected," "coupled," or "connected" through another component.

[0085] As used herein, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this application, terms such as "consisting of" or "comprising" should not necessarily be construed to include all of the components or steps described in the specification, and should be construed to mean that some of the components or steps may not be included, or that additional components or steps may be included.

[0086] Throughout the specification, when we refer to "A and / or B", this means A, B, or A and B, unless otherwise stated, and when we refer to "C to D", this means C or more and D or less, unless otherwise stated.

[0087] Meanwhile, in this specification, unless otherwise specified, the X-axis direction in which a plurality of battery cells (100) are stacked is referred to as the left-right direction, the Y-axis direction, which is a horizontal direction orthogonal to the cell stacking direction, is referred to as the front-back direction, and the Z-axis direction orthogonal to the XY plane is referred to as the up-down direction (vertical direction). Furthermore, in the case of pouch-type cells, the Y-axis direction may also be referred to as the length direction of the cell. In addition, the left-right direction, the front-back direction, and the up-down direction may also be expressed as the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction, respectively.

[0088] Meanwhile, in this specification, terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back may be used, but these terms are only for convenience of explanation, and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that these terms may vary depending on the position, arrangement, rotation, and position of the object being targeted, or the position of the observer.

[0089] In addition, this specification includes several embodiments, and a detailed description of parts to which the description of other embodiments can be applied identically or similarly is omitted, and the description focuses on the parts that are different from each embodiment.

[0090] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a battery module (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a portion of the configuration of the battery module (10) of FIG. 1 in isolation. FIG. 3a is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a battery cell (100) and a pressure member (300) included in a battery module (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3b is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a battery cell (100) and a pressure member (300) included in a battery module (10) according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4a is an enlarged perspective view of a terrace portion (T) of a battery module (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4b is a side view schematically showing a battery module (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a portion of the configuration of a battery module (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention. For example, Fig. 5 can be said to represent an example of a cross-sectional configuration for line A1-A1' of Fig. 1.

[0091] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a battery module (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a battery cell (100), a module case (200), and a pressure member (300).

[0092] A battery cell (100) may include an electrode assembly, a cell case (110) that accommodates the electrode assembly, and an electrode lead (120) that is connected to the electrode assembly and extends outward from the cell case (110) to function as an electrode terminal.

[0093] The battery cell (100) may be a pouch-type secondary battery. Such a pouch-type secondary battery may have a cell case (110) configured in a pouch shape in which a metal layer made of aluminum is interposed between polymer layers.

[0094] Specifically, referring to FIG. 3A, the cell case (110) may have a storage portion (R) and a sealing portion (S). Here, the storage portion (R) may indicate a portion where the electrode assembly and the electrolyte are stored. For example, the cell case (110) may have the storage portions (R) positioned in the central portions of two pouches, for example, a left pouch and a right pouch, and the edge portions of the storage portions (R) may be sealed. At this time, the storage portions (R) of at least some of the two pouches may have an internal space formed in a concave shape on a surface facing the electrode assembly, and the electrode assembly may be mounted in this internal space. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3A, the storage portions (R) are illustrated as having a double cup shape formed on both sides of the cell case (110), but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this shape of the cell case (110). For example, the battery cell (100) may be configured in a single cup shape in which the storage portion (R) is formed only on one side of the cell case (110).

[0095] The sealing portion (S) can be said to be a portion where the edge around the storage portion (R) is heat-sealed, surrounding the periphery of the storage portion (R). That is, the sealing portion (S) can be provided by sealing the outer periphery of the storage portion (R). In particular, the battery cell (100) can be said to have four sides (corners) centered on the storage portion (R). At this time, all four sides can be configured in a sealed form, or only three sides can be configured in a sealed form. At this time, a cell with four sides sealed can be called a four-sided sealing cell, and a cell with three sides sealed can be called a three-sided sealing cell. For example, in the exemplary configuration illustrated in FIG. 3A, the battery cell (100) is configured in an upright form, and the front, rear, and top of the left pouch and the right pouch are sealed, and the bottoms of the left pouch and the right pouch are not sealed and can be configured in a folded form while being connected to each other. In this case, the battery cell (100) can be said to be sealed on three sides.

[0096] Each battery cell (100) may be provided with an electrode lead (120). The electrode lead (120) includes a positive lead and a negative lead, and the positive lead and the negative lead may be provided to protrude on the same side (corner) or different sides of the battery cell (100). In this case, if the positive lead and the negative lead are located on the same side, it is called a unidirectional cell, and if the positive lead and the negative lead are located on different sides, particularly on opposite sides, it may be called a bidirectional cell.

[0097] The electrode lead (120) may be configured to be extended to the front and / or rear side of the sealing portion (S) of the battery cell (100). At this time, the sealing portion (S) from which the electrode lead (120) is extended may be defined as a terrace portion (T).

[0098] A plurality of battery cells (100) may be included in a battery module. In addition, these plurality of battery cells (100) may be mutually stacked in at least one direction. For example, the plurality of battery cells (100) may be arranged in a vertical direction (Z-axis direction) and in a parallel manner in the left-right direction (X-axis direction). In particular, in the case of a three-sided sealing cell, each battery cell (100) may be provided in a standing state with the side that does not include the sealing portion (S) facing downward. At this time, each battery cell (100) may have the sealing portion (S) facing forward-backward (Y-axis direction) and upward (+Z-axis direction), and the receiving portion (R) facing left-right (X-axis direction).

[0099] Meanwhile, the present invention is not limited by the specific type or shape of the battery cell (100), and various battery cells (100) known at the time of filing of the present invention may be employed to implement the cell assembly of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a pouch-type secondary battery having a high energy density and easy stacking is targeted as shown in the drawing, but it is of course possible for a cylindrical or square secondary battery to be applied as the battery cell (100).

[0100] The module case (200), with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, may be configured to accommodate a plurality of battery cells (100) within its internal space. That is, the module case (200) has an empty space formed within its internal space, and a plurality of battery cells (100) may be accommodated within this internal space. For example, the module case (200) may have an upper plate, a lower plate, a left plate, a right plate, a front plate, and a rear plate to limit its internal space. In addition, a plurality of battery cells (100) may be positioned within this limited internal space. Here, the module case (200) may include a metal and / or plastic material.

[0101] In addition, at least some of the plates constituting the module case (200) may be configured in an integrated form. For example, referring to FIG. 2, the module case (200) may be configured in a monoframe form in which the upper plate, lower plate, left plate, and right plate are integrated with each other. In this case, the front and rear of the monoframe may have an open form, and the front and rear plates may be connected to the front and rear openings of the monoframe as end frames to seal the internal space of the monoframe. As another example, the module case (200) may be configured in a U-frame form in which the lower plate, left plate, and right plate are integrated with each other. In this case, the upper plate, front plate, and rear plates may be connected to the upper, front, and rear ends of the U-frame. Meanwhile, various fastening methods, such as welding or bolting, may be used when connecting each component of the module case (200). However, the present invention is not limited by a specific material, shape, or connecting method of the module case (200).

[0102] In one embodiment, although not shown in the drawing, at least one of the plates constituting the module case (200), such as the upper plate, may include at least one venting area through which venting gas discharged from the battery cell (100) is discharged. For example, the venting area may be a venting hole or a preliminary break line. In one embodiment of the present invention, the upper plate of the module case (200) may have a venting area to induce directional venting of the battery module (10) upward.

[0103] The pressing member (300) may be arranged on the outside of the battery cell (100) and configured to pressurize at least a portion of the battery cell (100). Furthermore, the pressing member (300) may be configured to pressurize a sealing portion of the battery cell, particularly a terrace portion (T). In other words, the pressing member (300) may be configured to suppress the terrace portion (T) from spreading or separating. In particular, the pressing member (300) may be configured to pressurize the terrace portion (T) so that the fusion state of the terrace portion (T) is not damaged or separated when the internal pressure inside the battery cell (100) increases.

[0104] The pressure member (300) may be disposed in a space where the terrace portion (T) is disposed inside the module case (200), for example, at the front (e.g., in the -Y-axis direction) and / or the rear (e.g., in the +Y-axis direction) within the module case (200). Referring to FIG. 3A, the pressure member (300) may be provided in both the front-side sealing portion (S) and the rear-side sealing portion (S) of the battery cell (100).

[0105] Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 3b, the pressure member (300) may be positioned only in front of the battery cell (100) or only in the rear. In particular, the pressure member (300) may be positioned only in front of the battery cell (100).

[0106] The pressing member (300) may be arranged to face at least a portion of the surface of the battery cell (100). In particular, the pressing member (300) may be arranged to face the sealing portion (S) side of the battery cell (100). Furthermore, the pressing member may be arranged adjacent to the terrace portion (T) where the electrode lead is positioned among the sealing portions (S) of the battery cell (100). The pressing member (300) may be arranged to face at least one side of the terrace portion (T) from the outside of the terrace portion (T). In other words, the pressing member (300) may fill an empty space surrounding the space where the terrace portion (T) is positioned inside the module case (200). For example, the pressurizing member (300) may be positioned between a terrace portion (T) (which may be defined as a 'first terrace portion') of a battery cell (100) (which may be defined as a 'first battery cell') and a terrace portion (T) (which may be defined as a 'second terrace portion') of a battery cell (100) (which may be defined as a 'second battery cell') arranged parallel to the first battery cell.

[0107] The pressurizing member (300) can be arranged to be surrounded by the busbar assembly (500), the receiving portion (R), and the sealing portion (S).

[0108] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, when an abnormal situation such as thermal runaway occurs in the battery cell (100) and the internal pressure increases, venting toward the terrace portion (T) can be prevented or suppressed.

[0109] In particular, the space where the terrace portion (T) is positioned inside the module case (200) may have a relatively large amount of empty space compared to other parts of the battery cell (100), particularly the space where the storage portion (R) is positioned. Therefore, venting gas or flames emitted from the battery cell (100) may easily become concentrated.

[0110] Accordingly, in the battery cell (100), the terrace portion (T) can be said to be more vulnerable to thermal chain reaction than other portions. However, in the case of the above-described embodiment according to the present invention, even if the internal pressure of the battery cell (100) increases, the terrace portion (T) is configured to be pressurized by the pressurizing member (300), thereby suppressing or blocking venting from occurring toward the terrace portion (T).

[0111] Accordingly, according to the above-described implementation configuration, the transfer of thermal damage from a battery cell (100) where an event has occurred to adjacent battery cells (100) can be reduced, thereby suppressing heat propagation between battery cells (100) and preventing or delaying a thermal runaway phenomenon of the battery module (10). Therefore, according to the above-described aspect of the present invention, the safety and reliability of the battery module (10) can be improved.

[0112] In particular, as illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 3a, when both the front and rear terrace portions (T) of the battery cell (100) are pressed by the pressing member (300), venting can be induced in a direction other than the front and rear of the battery module (10). For example, in this case, it can be more suitably applied to top venting that induces venting in the upper direction of the battery module (10). In addition, as illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 3b, when the pressing member (300) is provided only on the front terrace portion (T) and the terrace portion (T) arranged on the rear side is not pressed by the pressing member (300), directional venting toward the rear (e.g., rear venting) can be induced. Therefore, according to this embodiment of the present invention, a directional venting structure that induces venting in a desired direction can be easily implemented through appropriate arrangement of the pressing member (300). Furthermore, another battery module (10) may be placed on the front side of the battery module (10) or an electrical connection configuration, such as a module terminal or a bus bar between modules, may be present for connection to another battery module (10). However, when the front side venting is blocked or suppressed as in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to prevent or reduce high-temperature gas or flames from reaching another battery module (10) or the electrical connection configuration.

[0113] The pressing member (300) may be configured in multiple pieces. The multiple pressing members (300) may be arranged at regular intervals along the stacking direction of the battery cells (100). The shapes of the multiple pressing members (300) may be substantially the same. That is, the multiple pressing members (300) may have substantially the same size and shape regardless of the position at which they are arranged or the shape or specifications of the space. According to the above embodiment of the present invention, mass production or manufacturing of the pressing member (300) may be simplified and easy.

[0114] The pressing member (300) may include a first pressing member (310) and a second pressing member (320). The first pressing member (310) may be arranged to face the first surface (111) of the terrace portion (T). The second pressing member (320) may be arranged to face the second surface (112) of the terrace portion (T) facing the opposite direction to the first surface (111). Here, the first surface (111) of the terrace portion (T) may be a surface facing the left direction (e.g., the -X-axis direction), and the second surface (112) may be a surface facing the right direction (e.g., the +X-axis direction).

[0115] That is, the first pressing member (310) and the second pressing member (320) may be positioned on both sides of the terrace portion (T). In this embodiment, the pressing member (300) may be configured to press the terrace portion (T) on both sides of the terrace portion (T). For example, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4b, the first pressing member (310) positioned on the left side of the terrace portion (T) may press the terrace portion (T) in the right direction, and the second pressing member (320) positioned on the right side of the terrace portion (T) may press the terrace portion (T) in the left direction.

[0116] In the above embodiment, the shapes of the first pressure member (310) and the second pressure member (320) may be substantially the same.

[0117] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, by applying pressure from both sides of the terrace portion (T), the terrace portion (T) can be prevented from spreading to both sides or moving in one direction. That is, when the terrace portion (T) is pressed from both sides in this way, the pressure on the terrace portion (T) is reliably applied, thereby further improving the sealing performance of the terrace portion (T).

[0118] According to one embodiment, the pressurizing member (300) may be formed to extend vertically (Z-axis direction) along the terrace portion (T). Here, the terrace portion (T) may refer to a sealing portion (S) extending vertically at the front and / or rear of the battery cell (100). In order to prevent venting gas from venting from the terrace portion (T), the pressurizing member (300) may be configured to extend vertically along the shape of the terrace portion (T) and pressurize the entire terrace portion (T). For example, the vertical length of the pressurizing member (300) may be substantially the same as or longer than the vertical length of the terrace portion (T). That is, the pressurizing member may continuously pressurize the entire terrace portion (T) from the bottom to the top, thereby preventing the entire terrace portion (T) from being opened or ruptured.

[0119] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to completely block venting of venting gas or flames from the terrace portion (T) and more reliably prevent rupture of the terrace portion (T) due to pressure from venting gas or flames. For example, in the embodiment of Fig. 3b, it is possible to more reliably block venting toward the front (-Y-axis direction) of the battery cell.

[0120] According to one embodiment, the pressing member (300) may include an insulating or heat-resistant material. For example, the pressing member (300) may include at least one material having strong insulating and / or heat-resistant (including fire-resistant) performance, such as plastic, rubber, silicone, aerogel, metal, and GFRP (glass fiber reinforced plastic). In addition, the pressing member may include a soft material to prevent damage to the battery cell when in contact with the battery cell and to increase adhesion. In addition, the pressing member (300) may include a metal material having rigidity and heat resistance to physically or chemically prevent rupture of the terrace portion (T). However, the material of the pressing member (300) is not limited by the above embodiment, and there is no particular limitation on the material as long as it can exhibit a predetermined insulating or heat-resistant performance.

[0121] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the heat or flame blocking performance of the terrace portion (T) can be more stably secured. More specifically, according to the above-described embodiment, through the pressurizing member (300) including the heat insulating or heat resistant performance, the movement of venting gas or flames in the space around the terrace portion (T) to other battery cells (100) in the vicinity can be effectively blocked.

[0122] In particular, the sealing portion (S) (e.g., the terrace portion (T)) of the battery cell (100) is a fused portion and may have weaker durability against high temperature, pressure, flame, etc. compared to the receiving portion (R) of the battery cell (100). However, according to the above embodiment of the present invention, since the terrace portion (T) of the battery cell (100) is protected by the pressing member (300), it is possible to prevent or prevent it from being affected by venting gas or flame, etc. discharged from other battery cells (100). Therefore, in this case, it is possible to effectively prevent thermal runaway propagation between battery cells (100) within the battery module (10). In addition, even when high-temperature venting gas or flame, etc. are emitted, including heat resistance performance, structural rigidity can be maintained and the function of pressing the terrace portion (T) can not be lost. The specific structure and shape of the pressing member (300) will be described in detail below.

[0123] The battery module according to the present invention may further include a busbar assembly (500), as illustrated in FIG. 2. The busbar assembly (500) may be configured to enable electrode leads (120) of a plurality of battery cells (100) to be connected to each other. More specifically, the busbar assembly (500) may be configured to support the electrode leads (120), facilitate interconnection of the electrode leads (120), and enable sensing of voltage, etc., from the electrode leads (120). In particular, the busbar assembly (500), as illustrated in FIG. 2, may include a module busbar (510) and a busbar housing (520).

[0124] Here, the module bus bar (510) can be configured to electrically connect two or more electrode leads (120) or to be connected to one or more electrode leads (120) to transmit sensing information to a control unit such as a battery management system (BMS).

[0125] And, the busbar housing (520) may be composed of an electrically insulating material, such as a plastic material. And, the busbar housing (520) may be configured so that the module busbar (510) is seated and fixed therein. At this time, at least one surface of the pressure member (300) may be arranged to face the inner surface of the busbar housing (520). Furthermore, the busbar housing (520) may have a slit formed therein. And, the module busbar (510) may be attached to the outer side of the busbar housing (520), such as the front side. In this case, the electrode lead (120) may penetrate the slit of the busbar housing (520) and come into contact with the module busbar (510) located on the outer side. In particular, the electrode lead (120) may be fixedly coupled to the module busbar (510) alone or in a state where two or more are stacked. At this time, the method of fixing the connection between the electrode lead (120) and the module bus bar (510) may be a method such as laser welding or ultrasonic welding, but various other fastening methods may also be applied.

[0126] According to one embodiment of the present invention, by means of the pressure member (300), the phenomenon of the fusion (sealing) portion of the sealing portion (S) (e.g., the terrace portion (T)) being opened due to the internal pressure of the battery cell (100) is prevented, thereby minimizing the release of the sealing of the sealing portion (S) (e.g., the terrace portion (T)). Accordingly, damage to the busbar assembly (500) arranged on the outside of the sealing portion (S) (e.g., the terrace portion (T)) and various components included therein can also be prevented.

[0127] Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a portion of a battery module (10) according to another embodiment of the present invention. For example, Fig. 6 can be said to show an example of a cross-sectional configuration along line A1-A1' of Fig. 1. Fig. 7a is an enlarged view of portion A2 of Fig. 6 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7b is an enlarged view of portion A2 of Fig. 6 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The embodiments of Figs. 6 to 7b can be partially combined with the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 5.

[0128] According to one embodiment, the battery module (10) according to the present invention may further include a barrier member (400). The barrier member (400) may be interposed between adjacent battery cells (100) or between the battery cells (100) and the module case (200). For example, the barrier member (400) may have a plate shape that is vertically aligned. That is, in a state where the battery cells (100) are stacked in at least one direction, the barrier member (400) may be interposed between the stacks of the battery cells (100). For example, referring to the configuration of FIG. 6, in a state where a plurality of battery cells (100) are stacked in the X-axis direction, the barrier member (400) may be inserted between adjacent battery cells (100). One or more barrier members (400) may be provided in one battery module (10). In particular, when three or more battery cells (100) are included, a plurality of barrier members (400) may be provided and interposed between each battery cell (100).

[0129] The barrier member (400) may be configured to suppress the transmission of heat, flame, pressure, impact, etc. between the battery cells (100). For example, the barrier member (400) may be configured as a thermal barrier to block the transmission of heat or flame between the battery cells (100). Alternatively, the barrier member (400) may be configured as a compression pad to absorb pressure or shape change due to swelling between the battery cells (100). The barrier member (400) according to the present invention may employ various components interposed between the battery cells (100) in a conventional battery module (10) or battery pack (e.g., the battery pack (1) of FIG. 19).

[0130] In particular, the barrier member (400) may be interposed between the receiving portions (R) of adjacent battery cells (100). That is, as described above, each battery cell (100) may have a receiving portion (R) present in the central portion, and the barrier member (400) may be interposed between the receiving portions (R) of the battery cells (100) and may be positioned to face the receiving portions (R) of the adjacent battery cells (100).

[0131] According to one embodiment, the barrier member (400) may extend so as to protrude from between the housing portions (R) of adjacent battery cells (100) on at least one side to the sealing portions (S) of the adjacent battery cells (100), particularly between the terrace portions (T). For example, referring to FIG. 7, in this case, the barrier member (400) may include a first portion (401) interposed between the housing portions (R) of the battery cells (100), and a second portion (402) extending from the first portion (401) and extending between the sealing portions (S). For example, the second portion (402) may be configured to protrude and extend toward the terrace portions (T) where the electrode leads (120) are positioned among the sealing portions (S) of the battery cells (100). For example, the second portion (402) may be configured to vertically contact the busbar housing (520). According to one embodiment, the pressure member (300) may be positioned between the terrace portion (T) of the battery cell (100) and the barrier member (400).

[0132] Meanwhile, the barrier member (400) may be configured such that at least one end thereof is in contact with the busbar assembly (500). For example, referring to FIG. 7A, the front end of the barrier member (400) may be in direct contact with the inner (rear) surface of the busbar assembly (500) located at the front side of the plurality of battery cells (100). In particular, the barrier member (400) may be in contact with the inner surface of the busbar housing (520) provided in the busbar assembly (500).

[0133] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the safety of the battery module (10) can be further improved. More specifically, when high-temperature venting gas or flames are emitted from the battery cell (100), the venting gas or flames can be effectively prevented from affecting other battery cells (100) in the vicinity. In particular, the sealing portion (S) of the battery cell (100) is a fused portion, and thus may have weaker durability against high temperatures, pressures, flames, etc. compared to the receiving portion (R) of the battery cell (100).

[0134] However, according to the above aspect of the present invention, since the sealing portion (S) of the battery cell (100) is protected by the protruding and extended second portion (402) of the barrier member (400), it is possible to prevent or prevent it from being affected by venting gas or flames discharged from other battery cells (100). Accordingly, in this case, thermal runaway propagation between battery cells (100) within the battery module (10) can be effectively prevented.

[0135] According to one embodiment, with reference to FIG. 7A, the front-back length (L1) of the pressing member (300) may be shorter than the front-back length (L2) of the terrace portion (T). The pressing member (300) may be configured to pressurize the center of the terrace portion (T) in the front-back direction (Y-axis direction). The center of the pressing member (300) in the front-back direction (Y-axis direction) may substantially coincide with the center of the terrace portion (T) in the front-back direction (Y-axis direction). According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the pressing member (300) may be configured to intensively pressurize the fusion (sealing) portion of the sealing portion (S) (e.g., the terrace portion (T)).

[0136] According to another embodiment, with reference to FIG. 7b, the front-back length (L1) of the pressing member (300) may be longer than the front-back length (L2) of the terrace portion (T). The pressing member (300) may be configured to pressurize the terrace portion (T) and the electrode lead (120). According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the pressing member (300) may pressurize not only the fusion (sealing) portion of the sealing portion (S) (e.g., the terrace portion (T)) but also the electrode lead (120) to fix the position of the electrode lead (120), and may protect the electrode lead (120) from being broken or impacted by venting gas or flame. However, the size of the pressing member (300) is not limited by the above embodiment, and may be designed in various ways.

[0137] According to one embodiment, the pressure member (300) may be attached to one surface of the barrier member (400). For example, the pressure member (300) may be attached on the second portion (402) of the barrier member (400). According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the pressure member (300) may be attached to the barrier member (400), so that the fixing force of the pressure member (300) may be further improved. According to one embodiment, the battery module (10) according to the present invention may further include an adhesive member (403) disposed between the pressure member (300) and the barrier member (400). That is, the pressure member (300) may be adhesively fixed to the barrier member (400). In addition, the pressure member (300) may be fixed to the barrier member using various other fastening methods.

[0138] The barrier member (400) may include a left side (e.g., one side facing the -X-axis direction) and a right side (e.g., one side facing the +X-axis direction). At this time, one pressure member (300) may be attached to the left side of the barrier member (400), and another pressure member (300) may be attached to the right side. That is, the barrier member (400) may have pressure members (300) attached to both sides.

[0139] Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a portion of a configuration of a battery module (10) including a barrier member (400) according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a portion of a configuration of a battery module (10) including a barrier member (400) according to another embodiment of the present invention. The embodiments of Figs. 8 and 9 can be partially combined with the preceding embodiments, for example, the embodiments of Figs. 6 and 7b.

[0140] The barrier member (400) may further include a coupling portion (410). The coupling portion (410) may be configured to allow the pressure member (300) to be coupled and / or inserted. In particular, the coupling portion (410) may be configured to fix the position of the pressure member (300) and support the pressure member (300).

[0141] The connecting portion (410) may be formed on at least one surface of the barrier member (400). For example, the connecting portion (410) may be formed on both the left and right surfaces of the barrier member (400).

[0142] First, referring to the embodiment of FIG. 8, the connecting portion (410) (capital and small letters in the drawing must match. The same applies hereinafter) may be provided with at least one protrusion shape.

[0143] Moreover, the barrier member (400) may have a plurality of connecting portions (410p1, 410p2) spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the longitudinal direction. And, the pressing member (300) may be positioned between the plurality of connecting portions (410p1, 410p2). For example, the connecting portion (410) may include a front protrusion (410p2) and a rear protrusion (410p1) formed at positions corresponding to the front and / or rear of the pressing member (300). In this case, the pressing member (300) may be inserted between the front protrusion (410p2) and the rear protrusion (410p1) to be fixed in position. In particular, the connecting portion (410) may be positioned and / or shaped such that the pressing member (300) can be fitted therein.

[0144] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the pressure member (300) can be fixed to the barrier member (400) without a separate fastening member such as an adhesive, thereby facilitating bonding and / or assembly.

[0145] Next, referring to the embodiment of FIG. 9, the connecting portion (410) may have at least one curved portion (curved part). In particular, the barrier member (400) may be formed in a shape that extends long in the front-back direction, and the connecting portion (410) may have a shape in which a portion thereof is bent in the left direction (-X-axis direction) and / or the right direction (+X-axis direction).

[0146] Moreover, the barrier member (400) may have a plurality of connecting portions (410f1, 410f2) arranged along the longitudinal direction. For example, the connecting portion (411) may have a form that extends along the front-back direction, is first bent to the left (-X-axis direction), and then is bent to the right (+X-axis direction). As a more specific example, the connecting portion (410) may include a front curved portion (410f2) and a rear curved portion (410f1) formed at positions corresponding to the front and / or rear of the pressure member (300). The pressure member (300) may be inserted between the front curved portion (410f2) and the rear curved portion (410f1) to be fixed in position. In other words, the second pressure member (320) is positioned on the left side of the barrier member (400) and can be inserted between the portions bent in the left direction (-X-axis direction) among the front curved portion (410f2) and the rear curved portion (410f1) so that the position can be fixed. The first pressure member (310) is positioned on the right side of the barrier member (400) and can be inserted between the portions bent in the right direction (+X-axis direction) among the front curved portion (410f2) and the rear curved portion (410f1) so that the position can be fixed.

[0147] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, a curved portion can be manufactured by applying pressure to one plate, making it easy to manufacture a barrier member (400), and the pressure member (300) can be fixed to the barrier member (400) without a separate fastening member such as an adhesive, making it easy to combine and / or assemble.

[0148] Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a portion of a battery module (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment of Fig. 10 can be partially combined with several previous embodiments, such as the embodiments of Figs. 8 and 9.

[0149] The pressing member (300) may be configured to contact at least one surface of the terrace portion (T). The pressing member (300) may be in close contact with at least one surface of the terrace portion (T). In this case, the pressing member (300) may be configured to pressurize and / or compress the terrace portion (T) from the beginning. That is, even when no thermal event occurs in the battery cell (100), the pressing member (300) may always be configured to contact the terrace portion (T) and compress the terrace portion (T) to a pressure of a certain level or higher. For example, as indicated by C1 in FIG. 10, the pressing member (300) may be attached to at least one surface of the terrace portion (T). For example, before the pressure member (300) is interposed between the barrier member (400) and the terrace portion (T), the length (W1) of the pressure member (300) in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) may be substantially equal to or longer than the length (W2) between the barrier member (400) and the terrace portion (T).

[0150] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, even in a normal state, the pressurizing member (300) pressurizes the terrace portion (T), so that the terrace portion (T) can be pressurized from the initial stage when thermal runaway occurs. Therefore, by more reliably preventing the terrace portion (T) from being separated, it is possible to fundamentally block venting gas, etc. from escaping through the terrace portion (T). In addition, even in a normal state where thermal runaway does not occur, the terrace portion (T) is pressurized, so that the position of the terrace portion (T) of each battery cell (100) can be more stably fixed, and further, movement of the battery cell (100) can be prevented.

[0151] Fig. 11 is a side view showing a battery module (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 12 is a side view showing a battery module (10) according to another embodiment of the present invention. The embodiments of Figs. 11 and 12 can be partially combined with several previous embodiments, such as the embodiment of Fig. 10.

[0152] According to one embodiment, the first pressure member (310) and the second pressure member (320) may be configured to be mutually connectable. For example, the ends of the first pressure member (310) and the second pressure member (320) may be connected to each other. In particular, the upper and lower ends of the first pressure member (310) and the second pressure member (320) may be connected to each other and fixed.

[0153] According to this implementation configuration, the mutual positions of the first pressing member (310) and the second pressing member (320) are fixed, so that the coupling and assembling properties between the battery cell (100) and the pressing member (300) can be improved. In addition, in this case, the width between the first pressing member (310) and the second pressing member (320) can be maintained constant.

[0154] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the first pressing member (310) and the second pressing member (320) are combined so that the terrace portion (T) disposed between the first pressing member (310) and the second pressing member (320) is not separated or opened by the first pressing member (310) and the second pressing member (320). Specifically, it is possible to effectively prevent or delay the rupture of the terrace portion (T) by venting gas or flames through the terrace portion (T), which is a relatively vulnerable area.

[0155] According to one embodiment, at least one of the first pressing member (310) or the second pressing member (320) may include a fastening portion (301, 302). The fastening portions of these unit pressing members (310, 320) may be configured to extend toward each other, thereby bringing the distance therebetween closer together.

[0156] The first pressing member (310) may include a first fastening portion (301). The first fastening portion (301) may extend toward the second pressing member (320). In this case, the second pressing member (320) may be coupled with the first fastening portion (301) of the first pressing member (310).

[0157] Additionally, the second pressing member (320) may include a second fastening portion (302). The second fastening portion (302) may extend toward the first pressing member (310). In this case, the first pressing member (310) may be coupled with the second fastening portion (302) of the second pressing member (320).

[0158] More specifically, referring to FIG. 11, the first pressing member (310) and the second pressing member (320) may be arranged on the left and right with respect to the terrace portion (T) of the battery cell (100). At this time, the first pressing member (310) may be arranged on the left side of the terrace portion (T) and may include a first fastening portion (301) at an end thereof. This first fastening portion (301) may extend from the end of the first pressing member (310) in a direction toward the second pressing member (320), that is, in the right direction (e.g., the +X-axis direction of FIG. 11). In addition, the second pressing member (320) may be arranged on the right side of the terrace portion (T) and may include a second fastening portion (302) at an end thereof. The second fastening portion (302) may be configured to extend in a leftward direction (e.g., the -X-axis direction of FIG. 11) toward the first pressing member (310) and be coupled with the first fastening portion (301). That is, by being configured such that the first fastening portion (301) and the second fastening portion (302) are mutually coupled, coupling between the first pressing member (310) and the second pressing member (320) may be realized.

[0159] At this time, the second fastening portion (302) may include a protrusion (3021) protruding toward the first fastening portion (301), and the first fastening portion (301) may include a concave portion (3011) corresponding to the protrusion (3021) and configured to be coupled with the protrusion (3021). According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the first pressing member (310) and the second pressing member (320) may be mutually detachable depending on the coupling of the fastening portions. However, the coupling method of the first pressing member (310) and the second pressing member (320) is not limited by the above-described embodiment and may be designed in various ways.

[0160] For example, referring to FIG. 11, the first fastening portion (301) and / or the second fastening portion (302) may be positioned in the upper direction (e.g., in the +Z-axis direction of FIG. 11) of the first pressing member (310) and / or the second pressing member (320).

[0161] According to the above embodiment of the present invention, the fastening portions (301, 302) arranged in the upper direction are configured to surround at least a portion of the sealing portion (S) protruding in the upper direction, thereby protecting the sealing portion (S). In addition, by arranging the fastening portions (301, 302) in the direction of the protruding sealing portion (S), space utilization can be increased.

[0162] However, the location of the fastening member is not limited by the above embodiment, and may be provided on at least one of the upper side, lower side, left side, and right side of the first pressing member (310) or the second pressing member (320).

[0163] Referring to Fig. 12, the fastening member may further include a hinge fastening member (303). The hinge fastening member (303) may be configured such that the first pressure member (310) and the second pressure member (320) can pivotally hinge with respect to each other. For example, the hinge fastening member (303) may have one end, such as indicated by C2 in Fig. 12, hingedly coupled to the first pressure member (310) so as to be hinge-rotatably coupled. In addition, the other end (e.g., the right end in Fig. 12) of the hinge fastening member (303) may be coupled to the second pressure member (320).

[0164] In particular, the hinge fastening portion (303) may extend its left portion toward the first pressure member (310) while its right portion is fixedly connected to the second pressure member (320). In addition, the left end of the extended portion of the hinge fastening portion (303) may be provided with a hinge axis (A) and may be hinge-rotatably connected to the first pressure member (310). For example, the hinge fastening portion (303) may be connected to the lower surface of the second pressure member (320), extend from the lower surface of the second pressure member (320) toward the lower surface of the first pressure member (310), and the end of the extended portion may be hinge-rotatably connected to the lower surface of the first pressure member (310). In this case, the first pressure member (310) and the second pressure member (320) are connected through a hinge fastening portion (303), and the second pressure member (320) can be configured to be fixed in a state in which the second pressure member (320) is arranged parallel to the first pressure member (310) by rotating the hinge.

[0165] For example, the first pressing member (310) and the second pressing member (320) may be configured such that a hinge fastening portion (303) is coupled to the lower side thereof, and the first fastening portion (301) and / or the second fastening portion (302) are coupled to the upper side thereof, the first pressing member (310) and / or the second pressing member (320). In this case, the first pressing member (310) and the second pressing member (320) may be connected through the hinge fastening portion (303), and the first fastening portion (301) and / or the second fastening portion (302) may be configured such that the second pressing member (320) may be fixed in a state in which the hinge rotates and is arranged parallel to the first pressing member (310).

[0166] In this case, since the first pressure member (310) and the second pressure member (320) are connected through the hinge fastening portion (303), assembly is relatively easy, and storage can be easy even when the assembly is disassembled.

[0167] However, the fastening portion is not limited to the above embodiment or shape, and may be designed to have various shapes, such as a protruding shape, a concave phenomenon, a hook shape, or a case where a hole is formed.

[0168] Fig. 13a is a perspective view showing a pressing member (330) according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 13b is a front view schematically showing a part of a battery module (10) including a pressing member (330) according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 14a is a perspective view showing a pressing member (330) according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 14b is a side view schematically showing a part of a battery module (10) including a pressing member (330) according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a pressing member (330) according to another embodiment of the present invention is assembled into a battery cell.

[0169] Referring to FIGS. 13A to 15, the first pressure member (310) and the second pressure member (320) may be formed integrally. In this case, the battery module (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention may be said to include an integral pressure member (330). The embodiments of FIGS. 13A to 15 may be partially combined with the preceding embodiments, for example, the embodiments of FIGS. 11 and 12.

[0170] In this embodiment, the first pressure member (310) and the second pressure member (320) may be formed as an integral part from the time of manufacturing, rather than being joined in a separate state. The integral pressure member (330) may be configured to cover the front or rear surface of the battery cell (100).

[0171] According to one embodiment, the integrated pressure member (330) may be formed with a recessed portion (331) configured to allow the terrace portion (T) to penetrate therethrough. This recessed portion (331) may be a portion where the first pressure member (310) and the second pressure member (320) are not connected to each other. For example, referring to the portion indicated as C3 in FIG. 13b, the first pressure member (310) and the second pressure member (320) may be configured in an integrated form with their lower ends connected to each other. At this time, the portion where the first pressure member (310) and the second pressure member (320) are not connected to each other may be the recessed portion (331). That is, the recessed portion (331) may be a portion spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance between the first pressure member (310) and the second pressure member (320) that are arranged in the left-right direction. Moreover, in the embodiment configuration of FIG. 13b, the recessed portion (331) may be a portion cut from the upper end of the central portion of the integral pressure member (330) in a downward direction by a predetermined distance. In this case, the integral pressure member (330) may be formed similarly to a 'U'-shaped plate.

[0172] Additionally, for example, although not shown in the drawing, the recessed portion (331) may be a portion cut from the lower end of the central portion of the integral pressure member (330) in an upward direction by a predetermined distance. In this case, the integral pressure member (330) may be formed similarly to an 'n' shaped plate.

[0173] According to one embodiment, referring to FIG. 14a, a hole (332) configured to allow a terrace portion (T) to pass through may be formed in the integrated pressure member (330). The hole (332) may be surrounded by the integrated pressure member (330) on the upper, lower, left, and right sides. For example, referring to the portion indicated as C4 in FIG. 14b, the first pressure member (310) and the second pressure member (320) may be configured in an integrated form in which the upper and lower ends are connected to each other. In this case, the central portion where the first pressure member (310) and the second pressure member (320) are not connected to each other may be the hole (332).

[0174] In this case, the fixing force between the pressure member (330) and the battery cell (100) is further strengthened, and the terrace portion (T) can be more effectively prevented from shaking upward or downward. In addition, the position of the battery cell (100) can be more easily fixed.

[0175] Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 15, the integrated pressurizing member (330) can be coupled to the battery cell (100) by having the terrace portion (T) penetrate and fit into the slit-shaped recess portion (331) or hole (332). According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the rigidity of the integrated pressurizing member (330) can be further improved, and the fixing force between the integrated pressurizing member and the battery cell can be strengthened. In addition, the manufacturing and assembly of the battery module can be simplified, and the terrace portion (T) can be more reliably prevented from spreading when the battery cell experiences thermal runaway.

[0176] Fig. 16a is a perspective view illustrating a pressurizing member according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 16b is a side view schematically illustrating a portion of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0177] Referring to FIGS. 16A and 16B , the pressing member may be configured in multiple pieces, and at least two of the multiple pressing members may be formed integrally. In this case, the battery module (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention may be said to include a combined pressing member (340). The embodiment of FIGS. 16A and 16B may be partially combined with the embodiments of FIGS. 13 to 15 .

[0178] That is, according to one embodiment, the battery module (10) may be formed integrally with a plurality of adjacent pressure members (300) that are coupled with a plurality of adjacent battery cells (100). In this embodiment, the plurality of adjacent pressure members may not be coupled in a separate state, but may be formed integrally from the time of manufacture. The combined pressure member (340) may be configured to cover the front or rear of the battery cell (100).

[0179] For example, referring to FIG. 16B, the battery module (10) may include a first battery cell (101), a second battery cell (102), and a third battery cell (103) arranged side by side. At this time, the combined pressure member (340) may be configured to entirely cover the first battery cell (101), the second battery cell (102), and the third battery cell (103). That is, the pressure member coupled to the first battery cell (101), the pressure member coupled to the second battery cell (102), and the pressure member coupled to the third battery cell (103) may be formed as a single plate. In this case, it can be said that a single combined pressure member is configured to pressurize both the left and right sides of each of the terrace portions of a plurality of battery cells.

[0180] In the above implementation configuration, the length in the width direction (X-axis direction) (since the Z-axis direction is longer in the drawing, it is somewhat awkward to call the X-axis direction the length direction) of the combined pressure member (340) may be lengthened in accordance with the number of battery cells (100) covered. For example, referring to FIG. 16a, the combined pressure member (340) may be provided with a plurality of holes (or recessed portions) (341a, 341b, 341c) configured to cover a plurality of battery cells (100).

[0181] The combined pressurizing member (340) configured to cover a plurality of battery cells (100) in this way is easy to assemble and detach, can be relatively strong, and can have a strengthened fixing force.

[0182] Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a portion of a configuration of a battery module (10) including a pressurizing member according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 18 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a portion of a configuration of a battery module (10) including a pressurizing member according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0183] Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, the pressurizing member may include a composite layer comprising different materials. In this case, the battery module (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention may be referred to as a multilayer pressurizing member (350). In this case, the battery module (10) may be said to include a multilayer pressurizing member (350).

[0184] The multilayer pressurizing member (350) may be composed of a plurality of layers. The multilayer pressurizing member (350) may include a first pressurizing layer (351) including a first material, and a second pressurizing layer (352) including a second material different from the first material. The first pressurizing layer (351) may be arranged to face the terrace portion (T), and the second pressurizing layer (352) may be arranged to face the barrier member (400). For example, the first material and the second material may have different hardnesses. For example, the first material and the second material may have different elasticity. In this case, the first material of the first pressurizing layer (351) facing the terrace portion (T) may have a lower hardness than the second material of the second pressurizing layer (352).

[0185] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the first pressing layer (351) facing the terrace portion (T) is made of a material having a relatively lower hardness than the second pressing layer (352), so that when a swelling phenomenon occurs in which the battery cell (100) expands to a certain level or more, the first pressing layer (351) is compressed to absorb or allow the swelling of the battery cell (100) to some extent. However, since the second pressing layer (352) has a higher hardness than the first pressing layer (351), the swelling of the battery cell (100) can be limited. Therefore, when a thermal event occurs in the battery cell (100), the terrace portion (T) of the battery cell (100) can be prevented from being completely spread apart or opened.

[0186] In another embodiment, referring to FIG. 18, the pressing member (300) may further include a third pressing layer (353) comprising a third material different from the second material. For example, the first pressing layer (351) and the third pressing layer (353) may be arranged to face adjacent terrace portions (T) or barrier members (400), respectively. For example, the third material may have a hardness different from that of the second material. For example, the third material may have an elasticity different from that of the second material. For example, the first material and the third material may be different materials, or may be substantially the same materials. In one embodiment, the first pressing layer (351) and the third pressing layer (353) may have relatively lower hardness than the second pressing layer (352).

[0187] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the first pressing layer (351) and the third pressing layer (353) constituting the outer surface are made of a material having a relatively lower hardness than the second pressing layer (352) located in the middle, thereby allowing a swelling phenomenon in which the battery cell (100) expands to a certain level or more, while preventing the terrace portion (T) of the battery cell (100) from opening when a thermal event of the battery cell (100) occurs.

[0188] Fig. 19 is a side cross-sectional view of a battery module (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 20 is a side cross-sectional view of a battery module (10) according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 21 is a side cross-sectional view of a battery module (10) according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0189] According to one embodiment, with reference to FIG. 19, the vertical height (H1) of the pressing member (300) may be higher than the vertical height (H2) of the battery cell (100). According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the battery cell (100) is pressed on all sides in the vertical direction, so that even if any part of the terrace portion (T) is ruptured, it can be reliably prevented.

[0190] According to another embodiment, with reference to FIG. 20, the vertical height (H1) of the pressing member (300) may be lower than the vertical height (H2) of the battery cell (100). According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the central portion of the terrace portion (T) of the battery cell (100) with a high possibility of rupture can be intensively pressed to intensively prevent rupture of the terrace portion (T).

[0191] According to another embodiment, with reference to FIG. 21, the vertical height (H1) of the pressing member (300) may be formed higher than the distance (g) between the upper and lower plates of the module case (200). That is, the pressing member (300) may be vertically pressed by the upper and lower plates of the module case (200). The vertical height of the pressing member (300) may be reduced from the height (H1) before being pressed to the height (H3) after being pressed. The height (H3) of the pressing member (300) after being pressed may be substantially the same as the distance (g) between the upper and lower plates of the module case (200). According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the position of the pressing member (300) may be clearly fixed by being pressed by the upper and lower plates of the module case (200), and may not be shaken by an external impact. Therefore, even if an external shock or thermal runaway occurs, the position of the pressurizing member (300) does not change, and the terrace portion (T) can be pressurized.

[0192] FIG. 22 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a battery pack (1) including a battery module (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0193] Referring to FIG. 22, a battery pack (1) according to an embodiment of the present invention may include one or more battery modules (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention as described above. In addition, the battery pack (1) according to the present invention may further include various other components in addition to the battery module (10) according to the present invention. For example, the battery pack (1) according to the present invention may further include components of the battery pack (1) known at the time of filing of the present invention, such as a BMS (Battery Management System), a bus bar, a relay, a current sensor, etc.

[0194] In addition, the battery pack (1) according to the present invention may further include a pack case (11), as indicated by PC in FIG. 22. This pack case (11) may provide a space in which a battery module (10) according to the present invention can be stored. In particular, when the battery pack (1) includes a plurality of battery modules (10), the pack case (11) may be partitioned into a space for storing the plurality of battery modules (10) in a divided manner using a cross beam or the like.

[0195] Figure 23 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0196] Referring to FIG. 23, a battery pack (10) according to the present invention may include a battery module (10) according to the present invention, but may not include a separate pack case, and may be configured such that the module case (200) of the battery module functions as the pack case. In this case, components of the battery pack, such as a BMS, a bus bar, and a relay, may be included inside the module case (200). A battery pack of this type is also called a cell-to-pack (CTP) because the battery cells (100) are directly stored in the pack case. Recently, development of a battery pack (1) of this CTP type has also been active, and the present invention can also be applied to a battery pack (1) of this CTP type.

[0197] FIG. 24 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle (V) including a battery pack (1) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0198] Referring to FIG. 24, a vehicle (V) according to an embodiment of the present invention may include one or more battery packs (1) according to an embodiment of the present invention or battery modules (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle (V) according to the present invention may be, for example, an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The vehicle (V) includes a four-wheeled vehicle and a two-wheeled vehicle. The vehicle (V) may operate by receiving power from a battery pack (1) or a battery module (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0199] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is obvious that various modifications and variations can be made within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention and the equivalent scope of the claims to be described below by a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.

Claims

1. Multiple battery cells, each having a storage compartment and a sealing compartment, are stacked on each other; A module case that houses the plurality of battery cells in an internal space; and A battery module comprising a pressing member arranged to face at least one side of a terrace portion where an electrode lead is located among the sealing portions of the battery cell, and configured to pressurize the terrace portion when the internal pressure inside the battery cell increases.

2. In paragraph 1, The above pressing member is a first pressing member arranged to face the first surface of the terrace portion; and A battery module characterized by comprising a second pressure member arranged to face a second surface facing the opposite direction to the first surface of the terrace portion.

3. In paragraph 2, A battery module characterized in that the first pressure member and the second pressure member are configured to be mutually connectable.

4. In paragraph 3, A battery module, characterized in that at least one of the first pressing member or the second pressing member includes a fastening portion extending toward each other.

5. In paragraph 4, A battery module characterized in that the above-mentioned fastening member includes a hinge fastening member, one end of which is hinge-rotatably connected to the first pressure member, and the other end of which is connected to the second pressure member.

6. In paragraph 2, A battery module characterized in that the first pressure member and the second pressure member are formed integrally.

7. In paragraph 6, A battery module characterized in that the pressurizing member includes a hole configured to allow the terrace portion to penetrate therethrough.

8. In paragraph 6, A battery module characterized in that the above-mentioned pressing member is composed of a plurality of members, and at least two of the plurality of pressing members are formed integrally.

9. In paragraph 1, further comprising a barrier member disposed between adjacent battery cells; A battery module characterized in that the pressurizing member is attached to the barrier member.

10. In paragraph 9, A battery module characterized in that the pressurizing member is located between the terrace portion of the battery cell and the barrier member.

11. In paragraph 1, A battery module characterized in that the pressurizing member is configured to contact at least one surface of the terrace portion and pressurize the terrace portion.

12. In paragraph 1, The above plurality of battery cells are stacked in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction while standing in the first direction, A battery module characterized in that the pressurizing member extends in the first direction along the terrace portion.

13. In paragraph 1, A battery module characterized in that the above pressurizing member includes an insulating or heat-resistant material.

14. In paragraph 1, A battery module characterized in that the above-mentioned pressurizing member has a composite layer containing different materials.

15. In paragraph 1, Further comprising a busbar assembly positioned between the plurality of battery cells and the module case; A battery module characterized in that the pressurizing member is arranged to be surrounded by the busbar assembly, the receiving portion, and the sealing portion.

16. In paragraph 15, The above busbar assembly includes a module busbar electrically connected to the electrode lead and a busbar housing configured to allow the module busbar to be seated and fixed, A battery module characterized in that at least one surface of the pressurizing member is arranged to face the inner surface of the busbar housing.

17. In paragraph 1, A battery module characterized in that the front-back direction length of the above-mentioned pressing member is longer than the front-back direction length of the above-mentioned terrace portion.

18. In paragraph 1, A battery module characterized in that the vertical height of the pressurizing member is higher than the vertical height of the battery cell.

19. In paragraph 1, The vertical height of the above-mentioned pressing member is formed higher than the distance between the upper and lower plates of the module case, A battery module characterized in that the above-mentioned pressing member is configured to be pressed in a vertical direction by the upper plate and the lower plate.

20. A battery pack comprising a battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

21. A vehicle comprising a battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

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