Battery module

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery module and comprises: a tube; a positioning component that is rotatably disposed in the tube, includes at least one positioning portion, and rotates between a positioning state and a releasing state relative to the tube; and at least one battery assembly that is disposed inside the tube and has a grooved portion. When the positioning component is in the positioning state, the positioning portion is positioned inside the groove portion and prevents the battery assembly from moving along the axial direction of the tube. When the positioning element is in the releasing state, the at least one positioning portion escapes from the groove portion.

Description

battery module

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery module, and more particularly, to a battery module that encloses a battery assembly using a tube. This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0172722, filed December 1, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Electric bicycles typically feature a battery module to provide power and drive the bicycle. The battery module is composed of multiple stacked battery assemblies, each encased in a tube. To prevent the battery assembly from unexpectedly shifting along the tube's axis, adhesives are typically used to secure the battery assembly. However, this complicates the battery module assembly process and makes rework difficult.

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a battery module capable of stably fixing a battery assembly in a simple manner.

[0004] A battery module according to the present invention comprises a tube, a positioning component rotatably disposed within the tube, the positioning component having at least one positioning portion and rotatable between a positioning state and a releasing state with respect to the tube, and at least one battery assembly disposed within the tube and having a groove, wherein when the positioning component is in a fixed state, the at least one positioning portion is positioned within the groove to prevent the at least one battery assembly from moving along the axial direction of the tube.

[0005] In one embodiment of the present invention, when the positioning element is in the released state, the at least one positioning portion leaves the home portion.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, the home portion has two facing inner walls, and when the positioning element is in the fixed state, the at least one positioning portion is positioned between the two inner walls to stop the two inner walls in the axial direction.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one battery assembly includes a plurality of battery assemblies, the battery assemblies are sequentially stacked along the axial direction, and the at least one positioning portion includes a plurality of positioning portions, the positioning portions being arranged to be spaced apart from each other along the axial direction and each corresponding to the groove portion of the battery assembly.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the positioning element includes a rotating shaft portion, the rotating shaft portion rotates relative to the tube along a rotational axis line parallel to the axial direction, and the at least one positioning portion is connected to the rotating shaft portion.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the positioning element further includes a connecting portion, wherein the connecting portion extends from the rotational axis portion in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis line and is connected to the at least one positioning portion.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the tube has a pivot groove, and the rotational axis portion pivots with the pivot groove along the rotational axis.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the pivot groove has two stopping surfaces, and the two stopping surfaces limit the rotational angle range of the positioning element.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the rotary shaft portion has an operating portion at an end in the axial direction, and the operating portion receives a force to cause the rotary shaft portion to rotate along the rotation axis.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one positioning portion has an arc surface, and when the positioning element is in the fixed state, the arc surface faces the groove portion.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the material of the positioning element is metal.

[0015] As described above, the battery module according to the present invention additionally installs a positioning element for positioning the battery assembly within the tube. The user can prevent the battery assembly from moving along the axial direction of the tube by simply rotating the positioning element. Therefore, the battery module according to the present invention can stably secure the battery assembly in a simple manner.

[0016] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the battery module according to Figure 1.

[0018] Figures 3a and 3b are examples of the positioning element of Figure 2 in a released state and a fixed state on a battery assembly, respectively.

[0019] FIGS. 4A and 4B are plan views of the positioning element and battery assembly according to FIGS. 3A and 3B, respectively.

[0020] FIGS. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views taken along line II of the battery module corresponding to FIGS. 4A and 4B, respectively.

[0021] Figure 6 is a three-dimensional view of the frame according to Figure 3a.

[0022] Fig. 7 is a front view of the positioning element according to Fig. 2.

[0023] Figures 8a and 8b are exemplary diagrams of the assembly sequence of the battery module according to Figure 1.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the battery module according to FIG. 1. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a battery module (100) according to the present embodiment includes a tube (110), a positioning element (120), a plurality of battery assemblies (130), and two covers (140, 150). The positioning element (120) is rotatably arranged within the tube (110) and has a plurality of positioning portions (122). The battery assemblies (130) are arranged within the tube (110) and are sequentially stacked along the axial direction (A1) of the tube (110), and each battery assembly (130) has a groove (130a). The positioning portions (122) of the positioning element (120) are arranged spaced apart from each other along the axial direction (A1) of the tube (110) and correspond to the groove portions (130a) of the battery assembly (130). Two covers (140, 150) are respectively arranged at opposite ends of the tube (110) to cover the battery assembly (130).

[0025] FIGS. 3A and 3B are exemplary views of the positioning element of FIG. 2 in a released state and a fixed state on the battery assembly, respectively. FIGS. 4A and 4B are plan views of the positioning element and the battery assembly of FIGS. 3A and 3B, respectively. FIGS. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views taken along line II of the battery module corresponding to FIGS. 4A and 4B, respectively. The positioning element (120) of the present embodiment rotates between a released state as in FIGS. 3A, 4A, and 5A and a fixed state as in FIGS. 3B, 4B, and 5B with respect to the tube (110). When the positioning element (120) is in the fixed state, each positioning portion (122) is positioned within the corresponding groove portion (130a) to prevent the battery assembly (130) from moving along the axial direction (A1) of the tube (110). When the positioning element (120) is in the released state, each positioning portion (122) leaves the corresponding groove portion (130a) to release the battery assembly (130).

[0026] As described above, in the battery module (100) according to the present embodiment, a positioning element (120) for positioning the battery assembly (130) is additionally installed within the tube (110). The user can prevent the battery assembly (130) from moving along the axial direction (A1) of the tube (110) through the positioning unit (122) only by rotating the positioning element (120). Therefore, the battery module (100) according to the present embodiment can stably fix the battery assembly (130) in a simple manner.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, in the present embodiment, each battery assembly (130) includes a frame (132) and a plurality of battery units (134). The battery units (134) are arranged within the frame (132), and the grooves (130a) are formed on the outer surface of the frame (132). In other embodiments, the battery assembly (130) may be a battery assembly of other forms, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0028] Fig. 6 is a three-dimensional view of the frame according to Fig. 3a. Referring to Fig. 6, the groove (130a) according to the present embodiment has two inner walls (W) facing each other. When the positioning element (120) is in the fixed state, the positioning element (122) is located between the two inner walls (W) and stops the two inner walls (W) in the axial direction (A1) of the tube (110), thereby preventing the battery assembly (130) from moving along the axial direction (A1) of the tube (110) as described above.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 3A and 5A, specifically, the tube (110) according to the present embodiment has a pivot groove (110a). The positioning element (120) includes a rotational shaft portion (124) and a connecting portion (126). The rotational shaft portion (124) pivots on the pivot groove (110a) along a rotational axis (A2) parallel to the axial direction (A1) to rotate with respect to the tube (110) along the rotational axis (A2), and the connecting portion (126) extends from the rotational shaft portion (124) in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis (A2) and is connected to the positioning portion (122). That is, the positioning portion (122) is connected to the rotational shaft portion (124) through the connecting portion (126).

[0030] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b, the pivot groove (110a) according to the present embodiment has two stopping surfaces (S1, S2), and the two stopping surfaces (S1, S2) stop the connecting portion (126) to limit the rotational angle range of the positioning element (120). When the positioning element (120) is in the released state, as shown in FIG. 5a, the connecting portion (126) is stopped by the stopping surface (S1), and when the positioning element (120) is in a fixed state, as shown in FIG. 5b, the connecting portion (126) is stopped by the stopping surface (S2). Specifically, the rotational angle range of the positioning element (120) is limited to, for example, 90 degrees by the two stopping surfaces (S1, S2), but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0031] In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b, the positioning unit (122) has an arc surface (1221), and when the positioning element (120) is in the fixed state, the arc surface (1221) of the positioning unit (122) faces the groove (130a) of the battery assembly (130). That is, the arc surface (1221) faces the outside of the positioning element (120). When the positioning element (120) rotates, the arc surface (1221) acts as a guide to allow the positioning element (120) to rotate smoothly.

[0032] Fig. 7 is a front view of the positioning element according to Fig. 2. Referring to Fig. 7, the rotation shaft portion (124) according to the present embodiment has an operating portion (1241) at an end in the axial direction (A1), and the operating portion (1241) receives a force to cause the rotation shaft portion (124) to rotate along the rotation axis line (A2) (shown in Fig. 2). Specifically, the operating portion (1241) may be a straight slot and may be operated with a straight tool (such as a straight screw driver), but the present invention is not limited thereto. The material of the positioning element (120) according to the present embodiment is, for example, metal, and has good structural strength to stably position the battery assembly (130). In other embodiments, the positioning element (120) may be made of other materials, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0033] FIGS. 8A and 8B are exemplary diagrams showing the assembly sequence of the battery module according to FIG. 1. Hereinafter, a method for assembling a battery module (100) according to the present embodiment will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 8A, a tube (110) connected to a cover (140) along the direction D1 is sequentially installed on a stacked battery assembly (130). Next, after the battery assembly (130) is completely positioned within the tube (110), as shown in FIG. 8B, a positioning element (120) is inserted into the tube (110) along the direction D2. Next, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the positioning element (120) is rotated from the released state to the fixed state, and subsequently, as shown in FIG. 1, a cover (150) is connected to the tube (110) to complete the assembly of the battery module (100).

[0034] As described above, in the battery module according to the present invention, a positioning element is additionally installed within the tube for positioning the battery assembly. The user can prevent the battery assembly from moving along the tube's axial direction by simply rotating the positioning element. Therefore, the battery module according to the present invention can stably secure the battery assembly in a simple manner.

[0035] [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 100: Battery module

[0037] 110: Tube

[0038] 110a: Pivot Groove

[0039] 120: Positioning element

[0040] 122: Positioning Department

[0041] 1221: Arc surface

[0042] 124: Rotating shaft

[0043] 1241: Control panel

[0044] 126: Connector

[0045] 130: Battery assembly

[0046] 130a: Home

[0047] 132: Frame

[0048] 134: Battery unit

[0049] 140, 150: Cover

[0050] A1: Axial

[0051] A2: Axis of rotation

[0052] D1, D2: Direction

[0053] S1, S2: Stopping surface

[0054] W: Inner wall

Claims

1. Tube and, A positioning element rotatably arranged within the tube, having at least one positioning portion, and configured to rotate between a fixed state and a released state with respect to the tube, and At least one battery assembly disposed within the tube and having a home portion, When the above positioning element is fixed, the at least one positioning portion is positioned within the groove portion to prevent the at least one battery assembly from moving along the axial direction of the tube. A battery module characterized in that when the positioning element is in the released state, the at least one positioning portion leaves the home portion.

2. In paragraph 1, A battery module characterized in that the home portion has two facing inner walls, and when the positioning element is in the fixed state, the at least one positioning portion is located between the two inner walls to stop the two inner walls in the axial direction.

3. In paragraph 1, A battery module, characterized in that the at least one battery assembly includes a plurality of battery assemblies, the battery assemblies are sequentially stacked along the axial direction, and the at least one positioning portion includes a plurality of positioning portions, the positioning portions are arranged to be spaced apart from each other along the axial direction and each corresponds to the groove portion of the battery assembly.

4. In paragraph 1, A battery module, characterized in that the positioning element includes a rotating shaft portion, the rotating shaft portion rotates relative to the tube along a rotating axis line parallel to the axial direction, and the at least one positioning portion is connected to the rotating shaft portion.

5. In paragraph 4, A battery module characterized in that the positioning element further includes a connecting portion, the connecting portion extending from the rotating shaft portion in a direction perpendicular to the rotating axis line and connected to the at least one positioning portion.

6. In paragraph 4, A battery module, characterized in that the tube has a pivot groove, and the rotating shaft portion pivots with the pivot groove along the rotating axis line.

7. In paragraph 6, A battery module, characterized in that the pivot groove has two stopping surfaces, the two stopping surfaces limiting the rotational angle range of the positioning element.

8. In paragraph 4, A battery module characterized in that the above-mentioned rotating shaft part has an operating part at an end in the axial direction, and the operating part receives a force to cause the above-mentioned rotating shaft part to rotate along the above-mentioned rotating axis line.

9. In paragraph 1, A battery module, characterized in that at least one positioning portion has an arc surface, and when the positioning element is in the fixed state, the arc surface faces the groove portion.

10. In paragraph 1, A battery module, characterized in that the material of the above positioning element is metal.

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