Battery module end plates

Abstract

The present invention relates to battery module end plates and, particularly, to battery module end plates which couple to the two ends of a hollow battery case. The battery module end plates according to the present invention, which couple to both sides of a hollow rectangular battery case, each comprise: a first plate which is made of a synthetic resin material having insulation properties and is formed by injection; a second plate which is made of a metal material and bent by a press, is coupled to the front of the first plate, and is welded to both sides of the battery case; and bushing members, each of which has an insertion hole formed therein in the vertical direction, and which are fixedly coupled, by welding, to either side of the second plate.

Description

Endplate for battery module

[0001] The present invention relates to an end plate for a battery module, and more particularly, to an end plate for a battery module that is joined to both ends of a hollow battery case.

[0002] Recently, due to the development of alternative energy sources to address air pollution and energy depletion caused by the use of fossil fuels, demand for secondary batteries that can store generated electric energy is increasing.

[0003] Secondary batteries that can be recharged are used in everyday life, such as in mobile devices, electric vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles.

[0004] Secondary batteries, which are used as an energy source for various electronic devices that are indispensable in modern society, are seeing an increase in the capacity required due to the increase in the use and complexity of mobile devices and the development of electric vehicles.

[0005] To meet user demands, small devices are equipped with multiple battery cells, but automobiles and the like use battery modules that electrically connect multiple battery cells, or battery packs equipped with multiple such battery modules.

[0006] In general, a battery module is composed of a case, battery cells arranged inside the case, and end plates connected to both ends of the case.

[0007] The above end plate is made of metal or synthetic resin material.

[0008] Recently, end plates with a structure in which synthetic resin and metal are mutually bonded are also being developed.

[0009] The end plate is equipped with a bushing member for inserting a separate device, jig, etc., but there was also a problem that this bushing member was separated or moved due to external force.

[0010] The present invention is intended to solve the problem, and its purpose is to provide an end plate for a battery module that can prevent the bushing member from being separated or moved by an external force by firmly fixing and connecting the bushing member to the end plate.

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, the end plate for a battery module of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a first plate made of an insulating synthetic resin material and formed by injection molding, a second plate made of a metal material and formed by bending by pressing, and joined to the front of the first plate and welded to both sides of the battery case; and a bushing member having a fitting hole formed therein in a vertical direction and fixedly joined to both sides of the second plate by welding.

[0012] The above bushing member is fixedly connected to the second plate while being arranged vertically between both sides of the first plate and both sides of the second plate, and a mounting portion on which the bushing member is arranged is formed concavely in the opposite direction of the second plate on both sides of the first plate, and a side cover portion that covers the bushing member arranged on the mounting portion is formed by bending on both sides of the second plate.

[0013] A fixing projection is formed protrudingly on one surface of the bushing member facing the second plate, and a fixing hole into which the fixing projection is inserted is formed in the second plate, and the fixing projection is fixed by welding to the second plate while being inserted into the fixing hole.

[0014] The above-mentioned fixed protrusion and fixed hole are formed long in the vertical direction.

[0015] The above bushing member has a cross-section of a surface that is to be seated on the mounting portion formed into a polygon, and the mounting portion is formed into a polygon corresponding to the surface of the mounting portion, and the surface of the polygonal bushing member is inserted into the polygonal mounting portion, thereby preventing rotation when an external force is applied to rotate the bushing member in a horizontal direction.

[0016] The above bushing member is welded to both sides of the front surface of the second plate in the opposite direction to the direction in which the first plate is arranged, and protrudes toward the front surface of the second plate.

[0017] A fixing projection is formed protrudingly on one surface of the bushing member facing the second plate, and a fixing hole into which the fixing projection is inserted is formed in the second plate. The fixing projection is fixed by welding to the second plate while being inserted into the fixing hole, and the fixing projection and the fixing hole are formed long in the vertical direction.

[0018] According to the end plate for the battery module of the present invention as described above, the following effects are provided.

[0019] Since the present invention welds the bushing member to the second plate made of metal, the bushing member can be firmly bonded to prevent the bushing member from being separated by external force.

[0020] In addition, since the connecting portion of the other surface of the bushing member and the mounting portion is formed in a polygonal shape, the bushing member can be more firmly prevented from being easily rotated by an external force that attempts to rotate the bushing member in a horizontal direction.

[0021] In addition, it can increase the convenience of assembly and manufacturing of end plates.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an end plate for a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of an end plate for a battery module according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3 is a plan view of an end plate for a battery module according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 is a perspective view of an end plate for a battery module according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] First embodiment

[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an end plate for a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an end plate for a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of an end plate for a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] The end plate for the battery module of the present invention is coupled to both sides of a hollow rectangular battery case, and comprises a first plate (10), a second plate (20), and a bushing member (30), as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0029] The above first plate (10) is made of a synthetic resin material having insulating properties and is formed by injection molding.

[0030] The above second plate (20) is made of metal and is formed by bending using a press.

[0031] The above second plate (20) is coupled to the front of the above first plate (10).

[0032] That is, one side of the first plate (10) is placed facing each other on both sides of the battery case, and one side of the second plate (20) is placed on the other side of the first plate (10), so that the second plate (20) is combined in a state where it is placed in front of the first plate (10).

[0033] The joining method and joining structure of the first plate (10) and the second plate (20) can be formed in various ways and structures, such as a hook structure, heat fusion, and TOX-clinching.

[0034] The second plate (20) coupled to the first plate (10) is fixedly coupled to both sides of the battery case by welding.

[0035] The above bushing member (30) has a fitting hole (31) formed in the upper and lower direction inside, and is fixedly connected to both sides of the second plate (20) by welding.

[0036] A separate tool, jig, etc. is installed in the above fitting hole (31) to support the battery case.

[0037] In this embodiment, the bushing member (30) is fixedly connected to the second plate (20) while being arranged vertically between both sides of the first plate (10) and both sides of the second plate (20).

[0038] On both sides of the first plate (10), a mounting portion (11) on which the bushing member (30) is placed is formed by being recessed in the opposite direction of the second plate (20).

[0039] On both sides of the second plate (20), a side cover part (21) is formed by bending to cover the bushing member (30) placed on the mounting part (11).

[0040] A fixing projection (32) is formed protruding on one surface of the bushing member (30) facing the second plate (20).

[0041] And, a fixing hole (22) into which the fixing projection (32) is inserted is formed in the second plate (20).

[0042] In a state where the above fixing protrusion (32) is inserted into the above fixing hole (22), the above fixing protrusion (32) is fixed by welding to the second plate (20).

[0043] At this time, the fixing projection (32) and the fixing hole (22) are formed to be long in the vertical direction, so that the bushing member (30) can be more firmly fixed and prevented from moving when the fixing projection (32) is inserted into the fixing hole (22).

[0044] The above bushing member (30) is configured so that the cross-section of the other surface that is mounted on the mounting portion (11) is formed in a polygonal shape.

[0045] The above-mentioned mounting portion (11) is formed in a polygonal shape corresponding to the other surface of the above-mentioned mounting portion (11).

[0046] The other side of the above bushing member (30) formed in a polygonal shape is inserted and placed in the above mounting portion (11) formed in a polygonal shape.

[0047] By this structure, when an external force is applied to rotate the bushing member (30) in a horizontal direction, the bushing member (30) can be prevented from easily rotating.

[0048] In the present embodiment as described above, since the bushing member (30) is welded to the second plate (20) made of metal, the bushing member (30) can be firmly joined to prevent the bushing member (30) from being separated by external force.

[0049] In addition, since the connecting portion of the other surface of the bushing member (30) and the mounting portion (11) is formed in a polygonal shape, the bushing member (30) can be more firmly prevented from being easily rotated by an external force that attempts to rotate the bushing member (30) in a horizontal direction.

[0050]

[0051] Second embodiment

[0052] Figure 4 is a perspective view of an end plate for a battery module according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] In the second embodiment, the bushing member (30) is mounted at a different position than in the first embodiment.

[0054] In Fig. 4, only the second plate (20) and the bushing member (30) are shown, and the first plate (10) is omitted.

[0055] The above bushing member (30) is welded to both sides of the front surface of the second plate (20) in the opposite direction to the direction in which the first plate (10) is arranged.

[0056] As a result, the bushing member (30) protrudes toward the front side of the second plate (20).

[0057] The structure and method of welding the above bushing member (30) to the second plate (20) can apply the structure of the fixing projection (32) and the fixing hole (22) described in the first embodiment.

[0058] As described above, since the bushing member (30) is welded to both sides of the front surface of the second plate (20) rather than between the first plate (10) and the second plate (20), the overall thickness of the first plate (10) and the second plate (20) can be made thin, and the structure of the first plate (10) and the second plate (20) can be formed simply, making manufacturing easy.

[0059] In addition, since the bushing member (30) in which the fitting hole (31) is formed is formed to protrude forward of the second plate (20), when inserting a tool, jig, etc. into the fitting hole (31), it can be easily mounted while minimizing interference with other parts.

[0060] Since other details are similar to those of the first embodiment, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0061]

[0062] The end plate for the battery module of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented by making various modifications within the scope permitted by the technical concept of the present invention.

[0063] The present invention can be applied to an end plate for a battery module and thus has industrial applicability.

Claims

1. In an end plate for a battery module that is joined to both sides of a hollow rectangular battery case, A first plate made of a synthetic resin material having insulating properties and formed by injection; A second plate made of metal, formed by bending through a press, joined to the front of the first plate, and welded to both sides of the battery case; An end plate for a battery module, characterized in that it comprises a bushing member having a vertical insertion hole formed inside and fixedly connected by welding to both sides of the second plate.

2. In claim 1, The above bushing member is fixedly connected to the second plate while being arranged lengthwise in the vertical direction between both sides of the first plate and both sides of the second plate. On both sides of the first plate, a mounting portion on which the bushing member is placed is formed concavely in the opposite direction of the second plate, An end plate for a battery module, characterized in that a side cover portion that covers the bushing member arranged on the mounting portion is formed by bending on both sides of the second plate.

3. In claim 2, A fixing projection is formed protruding on one surface of the bushing member facing the second plate, A fixing hole into which the fixing projection is inserted is formed in the second plate, An end plate for a battery module, characterized in that the fixing protrusion is fixed by welding to the second plate while the fixing protrusion is inserted into the fixing hole.

4. In claim 3, An end plate for a battery module, characterized in that the above-mentioned fixing protrusion and fixing hole are formed long in the vertical direction.

5. In claim 3, The above bushing member has a polygonal cross-section on the surface that is seated on the above mounting portion. The above-mentioned fixing portion is formed in a polygonal shape corresponding to the other surface of the above-mentioned fixing portion, An end plate for a battery module, characterized in that the other surface of the polygonal bushing member is inserted into the polygonal mounting portion, thereby preventing rotation when an external force is applied to rotate the bushing member in a horizontal direction.

6. In claim 1, An end plate for a battery module, characterized in that the bushing member is welded to both sides of the front surface of the second plate in a direction opposite to the direction in which the first plate is arranged and protrudes toward the front surface of the second plate.

7. In claim 6, A fixing projection is formed protruding on one surface of the bushing member facing the second plate, A fixing hole into which the fixing projection is inserted is formed in the second plate, With the above fixing projection inserted into the above fixing hole, the above fixing projection is fixed by welding to the second plate, An end plate for a battery module, characterized in that the above-mentioned fixing protrusion and fixing hole are formed long in the vertical direction.

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