Jig for manufacturing test piece and method for manufacturing test piece using same

Abstract

The present invention relates to: a jig for manufacturing a test piece for checking the shear force of a thermally conductive resin which is injected between a battery cell stack accommodated in a battery pack and a top plate added to cover the upper portion of the battery cell stack; and a method for manufacturing a test piece using same, wherein the jig comprises a jig body having an upper end portion arranged perpendicularly to the lengthwise direction of a test piece, and a first lower end portion and a second lower end portion which downwardly extend respectively from both ends of the upper end portion. The first end portion and the second end portion are spaced apart from each other by an interval greater than the width of the test piece of a pouch cell.

Description

Jig for making specimens and method for making specimens using the same

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 2023-0174940, filed December 5, 2023, and Korean Patent Application No. 2024-0176431, filed December 2, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a jig for producing a specimen and a method for producing a specimen using the same. Specifically, a battery pack containing a plurality of battery cells is injected with a thermally conductive resin to enhance the heat dissipation properties of the plurality of battery cells. The present invention relates to a jig for producing a specimen and a method for producing a specimen using the same, which can observe the shear force between a plurality of battery cells and a top plate that are bonded through the thermally conductive resin.

[0003]

[0004] Rechargeable secondary batteries are widely used as energy sources for wireless mobile devices. Furthermore, secondary batteries are also attracting attention as power sources for electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), which are being proposed as solutions to address air pollution caused by conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles that use fossil fuels.

[0005] While small mobile devices require a low operating voltage to operate a single device, medium- to large-sized devices, such as automobiles, require high-power, high-capacity energy sources. Therefore, medium- to large-sized battery modules and battery packs, which electrically connect multiple battery cells, are used.

[0006] The battery cells constituting the above-mentioned medium- to large-sized battery modules and battery packs may be composed of rechargeable secondary batteries. High-power / large-capacity secondary batteries generate significant heat during the charging and discharging process. If the heat generated during the charging and discharging process is not effectively dissipated, it can accelerate deterioration and, in some cases, even lead to fire or explosion.

[0007] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a typical battery pack.

[0008] Referring to FIG. 1, a typical battery pack includes a battery cell stack (20) in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked and accommodated in a battery pack housing (10), and a top plate (40) is added to the open upper surface of the battery pack housing (10). A thermally conductive resin (30) is placed in the space formed between the top plate (40) and the battery cell stack (20) to completely fill the space.

[0009] In this way, a method of removing heat from a battery cell stack (20) by filling a space between a battery cell stack (20) and a top plate (40) with a thermally conductive resin (30) has been used in the past, but it is necessary to determine the amount of thermally conductive resin (30) applied or to test the shear force of the battery cell stack (20) and the top plate (40) that are joined with the thermally conductive resin (30) interposed therebetween to set the type, amount applied, thickness, etc. of an appropriate thermally conductive resin.

[0010] However, there is no experimental method that can observe the shear force of the battery cell and the top plate when the battery cell and the thermally conductive resin are combined.

[0011] Accordingly, a method was used to manufacture a shear force test specimen by attaching a sample replacing the battery case and top plate of a battery cell with a thermally conductive resin, and to check the shear force using this.

[0012] However, since it is difficult to keep the amount of the thermally conductive resin applied constant, there is a problem in that it is difficult to control the application area and thickness of the thermally conductive resin.

[0013] Therefore, there is a need for a technology for a jig for manufacturing a specimen to manufacture a plurality of test specimens with a constant coating amount and thickness of thermally conductive resin, and a method for manufacturing specimens using the jig.

[0014]

[0015] The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and the purpose is to provide a jig for producing a specimen capable of producing a standardized specimen by uniformly forming the amount, area, and thickness of a thermally conductive resin applied, and a method for producing a specimen using the same.

[0016]

[0017] In order to achieve this purpose, a jig for producing a specimen according to the present invention is a jig for producing a specimen for checking the shear force of a thermally conductive resin injected between a battery cell stack accommodated in a battery pack and a top plate added to cover the upper portion of the battery cell stack, the jig including a jig body composed of an upper portion arranged to be perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of a test specimen, and a first lower portion and a second lower portion extending downward from each end of the upper portion, wherein the first lower portion and the second lower portion can be positioned at a distance wider than the width of the test specimen.

[0018] The thickness (D) of the above jig body can be 1 mm to 5 mm.

[0019] The above jig body may be formed as an integrated structure in which the upper part, the first lower part, and the second lower part are connected to each other.

[0020] The jig further includes a base jig on which the jig body is placed, and at least one of the upper part, the first lower part, and the second lower part can be fixed to the base jig.

[0021] At least one of the upper part, the first lower part and the second lower part may be rotatably fixed to the base jig using a rotating member at one end thereof.

[0022] The above base jig can indicate the position where the test piece is placed.

[0023] The above base jig may be equipped with a fixing member for fixing the test piece.

[0024] The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a specimen using the above-described specimen manufacturing jig, and specifically, the method may include a first step of fixing a test specimen, a second step of arranging the test specimen manufacturing jig so that the upper end is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the test specimen, a third step of adding a thermally conductive resin to the test specimen located between the first lower end and the second lower end, a fourth step of removing the thermally conductive resin applied to the upper surfaces of the upper end, the first lower end, and the second lower end among the thermally conductive resin added in the third step, a fifth step of attaching a metal plate to the thermally conductive resin of the fourth step, and a sixth step of removing the test specimen manufacturing jig.

[0025] The above first step may be a process of fixing the test piece with tape.

[0026] The third step may be to add a larger amount of thermally conductive resin than the space provided between the upper part, the first lower part, and the second lower part.

[0027] The above test piece is placed on a test piece position indicator portion indicated on a base jig, and the test piece can be fixed by a fixing member attached to the base jig.

[0028] Some of the jig bodies including the upper part, the first lower part, and the second lower part include a fixed part fixed to the base jig, and the jig bodies can rotate with the fixed part as a rotation axis.

[0029] The jig body may be rotated in a first direction so that the angle formed with the base body increases, and a test piece may be placed on the lower portion of the base jig, and the jig body may be rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction so that the angle formed with the base body becomes 0, and a test piece may be placed on the lower portion of the jig body.

[0030] The fifth step may include a process of pressing the metal plate and a process of drying the thermally conductive resin.

[0031]

[0032] The present invention can also be provided in a form in which various means for solving the above problem are combined.

[0033]

[0034] As described above, the jig for producing a specimen according to the present invention and the method for producing a specimen using the jig can produce a specimen having a constant amount, area, and thickness of thermally conductive resin applied.

[0035]

[0036] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a typical battery pack.

[0037] Figure 2 is a plan view of a jig for producing a specimen according to the first embodiment.

[0038] Figure 3 is a perspective view of Figure 2.

[0039] Figure 4 is a plan view of a jig for producing a specimen according to the second embodiment.

[0040] Figure 5 is a plan view of a jig for producing a specimen according to the third embodiment.

[0041] Figure 6 is a sequence of a method for manufacturing a specimen using a jig for manufacturing a specimen according to the present invention.

[0042]

[0043] Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail, so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. When describing the operating principles of the embodiments of the present invention in detail, detailed descriptions of known functions or components will be omitted if they are deemed to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention.

[0044] Parts with similar functions and actions are designated by the same drawing reference numerals throughout the drawings. Throughout the specification, when a part is said to be connected to another part, this includes not only direct connections but also indirect connections with other elements intervening. Furthermore, inclusion of a component does not exclude other components unless otherwise specifically stated, but rather implies the inclusion of additional components.

[0045] The description that concretizes or adds to the components may be applied to all inventions unless there is a special limitation, and is not limited to the description of a specific invention.

[0046] Throughout the description and claims of the invention herein, the singular includes the plural unless otherwise stated.

[0047] Throughout the description and claims of the present invention, the term "or" includes "and" unless otherwise stated. Therefore, "comprising A or B" means all three cases of including A, including B, or including A and B.

[0048] The present invention is described in detail with examples according to the drawings.

[0049] A jig for producing a specimen according to the present invention is for producing a specimen for confirming the shear force of battery cells constituting the battery cell stack and the thermally conductive resin when manufacturing a battery pack by accommodating a battery cell stack in a battery pack housing, combining a top plate to cover the upper surface of the battery pack housing, and injecting a thermally conductive resin between the battery cell stack and the top plate.

[0050] Specifically, the battery cell stack may be in a form in which a plurality of pouch-shaped battery cells are arranged in close contact, and the bottoms of the cup portions of the pouch-shaped battery cells are arranged in an upright form so that they are perpendicular to the bottom of the pack housing, and a thermally conductive resin is injected into the upper portion of the battery cell stack to cover the upper portion of the battery cell stack, and a top plate is arranged on the thermally conductive resin to seal the pack housing.

[0051] Fig. 2 is a plan view of a jig for producing a specimen according to the first embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of Fig. 2.

[0052] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the jig for producing a specimen according to the present invention includes a jig body (100) composed of an upper portion (110) arranged to be perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (Y) of a test piece (200), and a first lower portion (121) and a second lower portion (122) extending downward from each end of the upper portion (110).

[0053] That is, the jig body (100) is formed as an integrated structure in which the upper part (110), the first lower part (121), and the second lower part (122) are connected to each other, and can be configured in an approximate T-shape.

[0054] The specimen manufactured using the above jig for manufacturing the specimen is composed of each sample replacing a pouch-type battery cell, a plate, and a thermally conductive resin, and may be composed of a test piece composed of a laminate sheet as a sample of the pouch-type battery cell, a metal plate as a sample of the top plate, and a thermally conductive resin sample added for attachment of the test piece and the metal plate.

[0055] The specimen manufactured using the above jig for manufacturing the specimen is a test specimen for checking the shear force of the pouch-type battery cell when the top plate and the pouch-type battery cell are attached using a thermally conductive resin.

[0056] The test piece described in the present invention may be the same as the laminate sheet used as the battery case of a pouch-type battery cell. Accordingly, the test piece may include an outer resin layer, a metal layer, and an inner adhesive layer, and may further include an adhesive layer between the outer resin layer and the metal layer, and between the metal layer and the inner adhesive layer.

[0057] The specific configuration of the above laminate sheet can be applied without limitation to the known pouch-type battery case laminate sheet, so a description thereof is omitted in this specification.

[0058] The above thermally conductive resin may be the same as the thermally conductive resin added to the space between the battery cell stack and the top plate in the battery pack, and may be, for example, a polymer material such as epoxy, polyimide, and polystyrene, or may be a polymer composite material including metal particles such as Al, Ag, Cu, and Ni, ceramic particles such as AlN, Al2O3, BN, SiC, and BeO, and carbon-based fillers such as graphite, carbon nanotubes, carbon fibers, and graphene in the polymer material.

[0059] The above metal plate may use the same material as the above top plate, and may include, for example, aluminum.

[0060] In order to allow the addition of thermally conductive resin (300) to the entire surface of one end of the test piece (200), the test piece (200) must be configured to be visible between the first lower part (121) and the second lower part (122), and the gap (W2) between the first lower part (121) and the second lower part (122) is positioned so as to be wider than the width (W1) of the test piece.

[0061] Thermally conductive resin is added to the space formed on the inside of the upper part (110), the first lower part (121), and the second lower part (122), so that the thickness of the jig body (100) can be formed as much as the desired thickness of the thermally conductive resin.

[0062] For example, the thickness (D) of the jig body may be configured to be 1 mm to 5 mm, and if the thickness of the jig body is less than 1 mm, it may be difficult to secure sufficient adhesive strength between the specimen (200) and the thermally conductive resin (300), which may cause problems in producing the specimen, and if the thickness of the jig body is greater than 5 mm, the thermally conductive resin (300) may be produced too thick, which may cause problems in fixing the specimen with the thermally conductive resin added to the UTM gripper for tensile testing, which is not preferable.

[0063] In one specific example, in order to increase the reliability of the test results by performing a shear force measurement test using a plurality of test pieces under uniform conditions by making the area of ​​the thermally conductive resin attached to the test piece constant, the jig for producing a test piece according to the present invention can make the area of ​​the thermally conductive resin attached to the test piece uniform by making the location of the thermally conductive resin attached to the test piece constant. That is, the test piece can be configured to be positioned at a specific location in the lower part of the jig body.

[0064] Figure 4 is a plan view of a jig for producing a specimen according to the second embodiment.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 4, a jig for producing a specimen according to a second embodiment further includes a base jig (500) on which a jig body (100) is placed at the upper portion, and a part of the jig body (100) including an upper portion (110), a first lower portion (121), and a second lower portion (122) includes a fixing portion fixed to the base jig (500), such that at least one of the upper portion (110), the first lower portion (121), and the second lower portion (122) can be fixed to the base jig (500). Specifically, at least one of the upper portion (110), the first lower portion (121), and the second lower portion (122) can rotate with one end thereof as a rotation axis about the fixing portion. For example, the first end of the first lower part (121) and the second lower part (122) may be coupled to the upper part (110), and the second end not coupled to the upper part (110) may include a fixed part fixed to the base jig, and the fixed part may be configured as a rotating member (520) such as a hinge.

[0066] In this way, the jig body (100) can be fixed to the base jig (500) in a rotatably manner using the rotation member (520), so that the angle formed between the lower surface of the jig body (100) and the upper surface of the base jig (500) can be formed within a range of 0 to 180 degrees.

[0067] In Fig. 4, a rotation member (520) is added to one end of the first lower part (121) and the second lower part (122), so that the first lower part (121) and the second lower part (122) are fixed to the base jig (500).

[0068] The jig body (100) can be rotated in a first direction (d1) so that the angle it forms with the base body (500) increases, and the test piece (200) can be placed at the bottom of the base jig (500), and the jig body (100) can be rotated in a second direction (d2) opposite to the first direction (d1) so that the angle it forms with the base body (500) becomes 0, so that the test piece (200) can be positioned below the upper end (110) of the jig body (100).

[0069] Figure 5 is a plan view of a jig for producing a specimen according to the third embodiment.

[0070] Referring to FIG. 5, a base jig (500) is provided with a test piece position indicator (510) to indicate a position where the test piece (200) is placed, so that a thermally conductive resin can be added to a specific position on the outer surface of the test piece (200), and the test piece (200) can be placed on the test piece position indicator (510) indicated on the base jig (500). Accordingly, by adding a thermally conductive resin to a test piece placed at a specific position so as to have a specific area and thickness, a thermally conductive resin having a constant area and thickness can be added to a specific position on the outer surface of the test piece.

[0071] In addition, the base jig (500) can be equipped with a fixing member for fixing the test piece (200). For example, the test piece (200) can be fixed on the base jig via tape, or can be fixed using a fixing member such as the forceps (530) shown in FIG. 5.

[0072] In this way, by adding a thermally conductive resin while placing the test piece (200) on the test piece position indicator (510) indicated on the base jig (500), it is possible to manufacture all test pieces using the test piece manufacturing jig so that they have the same shape.

[0073] Figure 6 is a sequence of a method for manufacturing a specimen using a jig for manufacturing a specimen according to the present invention.

[0074] Referring to FIG. 6, a method for manufacturing a specimen according to the present invention includes a first step of fixing a specimen (200), a second step of arranging a specimen manufacturing jig so that the upper end (110) is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the specimen (200), a third step of adding a thermally conductive resin (300) to the specimen (200) located between the first lower end (121) and the second lower end (122), a fourth step of removing the thermally conductive resin (300) applied to the upper surfaces of the upper end (110), the first lower end (121), and the second lower end (122) among the thermally conductive resins (300) added in the third step, a fifth step of attaching a metal plate (400) to the thermally conductive resin (300) of the fourth step, and a sixth step of removing the specimen manufacturing jig.

[0075] The above first step may be a process of fixing the test piece (200) with tape (201). As shown in (a) of Fig. 6, the tape (201) may be attached to each of the upper and lower ends of the test piece (200), but before adding the thermally conductive resin (300), as shown in (b) of Fig. 6, the test piece (201) attached to the lower end, which is the location where the thermally conductive resin (300) is added, may be removed in advance.

[0076] In the third step, a larger amount of thermally conductive resin (300) than the space provided between the upper portion (110), the first lower portion (121), and the second lower portion (122) can be added so as to completely fill the space. Accordingly, in the fourth step, the remaining thermally conductive resin (300) remaining after filling the space and adhering to the upper surfaces of the upper portion (110), the first lower portion (121), and the second lower portion (122) is removed.

[0077] Meanwhile, in the jig for producing a specimen according to the first to third embodiments, the jig body (100) may be configured in a rectangular frame shape in which the lower end opposite the upper end connected to the upper end (110) at the first lower end (121) and the second lower end (122) is open, while the lower end is closed. In this case, the area on which the thermally conductive resin (300) is applied can be configured to be a constant area of ​​the space formed inside the rectangular frame.

[0078] The fifth step includes a process of pressing the metal plate and a process of drying the thermally conductive resin.

[0079] Since the present invention adds thermally conductive resin to the space formed inside the jig body, a thermally conductive resin of uniform thickness can be added even if there is a deviation in the force pressing the metal plate.

[0080]

[0081] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments, but this is for easier understanding of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0082]

[0083] <Example>

[0084] Specimens were manufactured to conduct shear force measurement tests according to the standard specification ASTM D1002.

[0085] A laminate sheet having a thickness of 2 mm and used as a pouch-type battery case was cut into 25.4 mm wide and 101.6 mm long to prepare a test piece, and a thermally conductive resin was applied to the test piece using a test piece manufacturing jig according to the present invention. The thermally conductive resin was applied to the test piece so that the test piece had a width of 25.4 mm, a length of 25.4 mm, and a thickness of 2 mm, and a metal plate was attached on the thermally conductive resin, and then cured at 25°C for 24 hours or more.

[0086] A metal plate is attached to the lower jig of the UTM, the test piece is fixed to the upper jig, and the force when the test piece is detached from the metal plate is measured while pulling in opposite directions.

[0087] The shear force was measured to be greater than 1.4 MPa.

[0088] In this way, when using the jig for producing a specimen according to the present invention, a thermally conductive resin can be added to the test specimen to have a uniform size and thickness, so that even without disassembling the battery pack, the shear force of the battery cell stack and the top plate can be tested to determine the type, application amount, and thickness of an appropriate thermally conductive resin.

[0089] In a battery pack in which a thermally conductive resin is filled on a battery cell stack accommodated in a battery pack housing and a top plate is added to seal the battery pack, in which the shear force between the battery cell stack and the top plate needs to be managed to be 1.4 MPa or more, when a specimen is manufactured using a specimen manufacturing jig as in the above embodiment and tested, accurate results can be obtained in a simple manner without having to disassemble the battery pack.

[0090]

[0091] Anyone with ordinary knowledge in the field to which the present invention pertains will be able to perform various applications and modifications within the scope of the present invention based on the above contents.

[0092] (Explanation of symbols)

[0093] 10: Battery pack housing

[0094] 20: Battery cell stack

[0095] 30, 300: Thermally conductive resin

[0096] 40: Top plate

[0097] 100: Jig body

[0098] 110: Top

[0099] 121: Lower part 1

[0100] 122: Second lower section

[0101] 200: Test piece

[0102] 201: Tape

[0103] 400: Metal plate

[0104] 500: Bass Jig

[0105] 510: Test piece position indicator

[0106] 520: Absence of rotation

[0107] 530: Forceps

[0108] D: Thickness of the jig body

[0109] W1: Width of the specimen

[0110] W2: Gap between the first lower part and the second lower part

Claims

1. In a jig for making a specimen for checking the shear force of a thermally conductive resin injected between a battery cell stack accommodated in a battery pack and a top plate added to cover the upper portion of the battery cell stack, The upper part is positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the test piece, and It includes a jig body composed of a first lower part and a second lower part extending downward from each end of the upper part, A jig for manufacturing a specimen, wherein the first lower part and the second lower part are positioned at a distance wider than the width of the test piece.

2. In paragraph 1, A jig for producing a specimen having a thickness of 1 mm to 5 mm of the jig body.

3. In the first paragraph, the jig body is a jig for producing a specimen formed as an integrated structure in which the upper part, the first lower part, and the second lower part are connected to each other.

4. In the first paragraph, a base jig on which the jig body is placed is further included, A jig for making a specimen, wherein at least one of the upper part, the first lower part and the second lower part is fixed to the base jig.

5. In paragraph 4, A jig for making a specimen, wherein at least one of the upper part, the first lower part and the second lower part is rotatably fixed to the base jig using a rotating member at one end thereof.

6. In paragraph 4, The above base jig is a jig for making specimens that indicates the position where the test specimen is placed.

7. In paragraph 4, The above base jig is a jig for making a specimen equipped with a fixing member for fixing the above test specimen.

8. A method for producing a specimen using a jig for producing a specimen according to any one of clauses 1 to 7, Step 1: Fixing the test piece; A second step of arranging a jig for making a specimen so that the upper part is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the test specimen; A third step of adding a thermally conductive resin to the test piece located between the first lower part and the second lower part; A fourth step of removing the thermally conductive resin added in the third step on the upper surfaces of the upper part, the first lower part, and the second lower part; A fifth step of attaching a metal plate to the thermally conductive resin of the fourth step; and Step 6: Removing the jig for making the above-mentioned sample; A method for making a psalm comprising:

9. In paragraph 8, The above first step is a method for making a specimen, which is a process of fixing the test specimen with tape.

10. In paragraph 8, A method for manufacturing a specimen, wherein the third step is to add a larger amount of thermally conductive resin than the space provided between the upper part, the first lower part, and the second lower part.

11. In paragraph 8, The above test specimen is placed on the test specimen position indicator portion indicated on the base jig, A method for manufacturing a specimen in which the above test specimen is fixed by a fixing member attached to the above base jig.

12. In paragraph 11, Some of the jig body including the upper part, the first lower part and the second lower part includes a fixing part fixed to the base jig, A method for manufacturing a specimen in which the above jig body rotates around the above fixed part as a rotation axis.

13. In paragraph 12, A method for manufacturing a specimen, wherein the jig body is rotated in a first direction so that the angle formed with the base body increases, and a test piece is placed on the lower part of the base jig, and the jig body is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction so that the angle formed with the base body becomes 0, and a test piece is placed under the upper part of the jig body.

14. In paragraph 8, The above fifth step is a method for producing a specimen including a process of pressing the metal plate and a process of drying the thermally conductive resin.

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