Battery pack and vehicle including same

Abstract

A battery pack, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises: a plurality of battery cells; a pack case that accommodates the plurality of battery cells and has a discharge hole for discharging gas generated therein to the outside; a first protective cover that covers a first region, which is a partial region of the discharge hole; and a second protective cover that is installed at a position closer to the discharge hole than the first protective cover, covers a second region, which is another partial region of the discharge hole, and has a cover region overlapping the first protective cover.

Description

Battery pack and vehicle including same

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery pack and the like, and more specifically, to a battery pack and the like whose safety is further enhanced through structural improvements that suppress external discharge of ignition factors.

[0002] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0021861, filed on February 15, 2024, and all contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of the said application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] As the demand for portable electronic devices such as laptops, video cameras, and mobile phones that use electricity as a power source rapidly increases, and as mobile robots, electric bicycles, electric carts, and electric vehicles become more widely commercialized, research into high-performance secondary batteries capable of repeated charging and discharging is actively being conducted.

[0004] Commercialized secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. Among these, lithium secondary batteries have the advantage of being able to charge and discharge freely and have a very low self-discharge rate because they have almost no memory effect compared to nickel-based secondary batteries. In addition, they have the characteristics of high energy density and high operating voltage, so they are being studied more intensively than other types of secondary batteries and are being applied more widely in actual products.

[0005] Recently, secondary batteries are widely used not only in small devices such as portable electronic devices, but also in medium and large devices such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS).

[0006] In this case, battery modules, in which multiple electrically connected secondary batteries are housed together within a module case, are primarily used. Furthermore, when high power or large capacity is required, battery packs, in which multiple such battery modules are electrically connected, are sometimes used. Recently, cell-to-pack (CTP) battery packs, in which multiple battery cells are housed directly within a pack housing, rather than modularized, are also being manufactured.

[0007] Secondary batteries with these advantages are being used in various forms, but due to the characteristics of secondary batteries, swelling, rush current application, overheating due to Joule heating, or thermal runaway due to decomposition reaction of the electrolyte may occur.

[0008] In addition, if an event such as a short circuit or excessive temperature rise between secondary batteries occurs, a large amount of venting gas may be generated, and if it worsens, high-temperature particles including pieces of electrode plates, pieces of active material, or aluminum particles may leak out in the form of sparks, as well as flames, making it even more important to ensure the safety of the battery pack.

[0009] In the case of medium and large-sized battery packs applied to vehicles such as electric vehicles that users ride, a large number of battery cells and battery modules are densely mounted to increase output and capacity, which can cause large-scale fires and even human casualties. Therefore, it can be said that there is a great need to more strongly suppress and control thermal events that may occur in battery modules or battery packs from the initial stage.

[0010] In the case of conventional battery packs, a structure is applied to discharge high-temperature gases generated internally through a venting part provided in the pack case in the event of an abnormal situation, but during this process, high-temperature particles may leak out in the form of sparks, etc.

[0011] In this way, if an ignition factor such as a spark leaks out of the pack case together with gas, there is a high possibility that a flame or fire will occur outside the battery pack due to various ignition environments such as a reaction with oxygen outside the battery pack. If a fire occurs outside the battery pack, the fire may spread to other adjacent battery packs or devices equipped with the battery pack, which may cause fatal and serious safety problems.

[0012] Therefore, there is a great need for technology to effectively suppress the occurrence or spread of flames or fire outside the battery pack by preventing sparks or flames from being discharged outside the battery pack through the venting portion.

[0013] The present invention was created to solve the problems described above against the background described above, and aims to provide a battery pack or the like with enhanced safety by applying an improved structure that effectively suppresses the external leakage of ignition factors such as high-temperature particles, sparks, etc.

[0014] 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.

[0015] According to one aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a battery pack may include: a pack case that accommodates the plurality of battery cells and has a discharge hole for discharging gas generated inside to the outside; a first protective cover that covers a first area, which is a part of the discharge hole; and a second protective cover that is installed at a position closer to the discharge hole than the first protective cover and covers a second area, which is another part of the discharge hole, and has a cover area that overlaps with the first protective cover.

[0016] Here, the pack case of the present invention may include a base frame on which the plurality of battery cells are mounted; and a side frame having the discharge hole, and in this case, the first and second protective covers of the present invention may be configured to face the side frame.

[0017] In addition, it is preferable that the second protective cover of the present invention be installed spaced apart from the first protective cover, and the first or second protective cover may include a connecting portion that physically connects the first and second protective covers so that the first and second protective covers are spaced apart from each other.

[0018] According to an embodiment, at least one of the first and second protective covers of the present invention may be formed in a mesh shape with a porous structure formed therein.

[0019] Specifically, the first region of the present invention may be an upper region of the discharge hole, and the second region may be a lower region of the discharge hole.

[0020] Preferably, the lower part of the first protective cover may be positioned higher than the lower part of the discharge hole, and the upper part of the second protective cover may be positioned lower than the upper part of the discharge hole.

[0021] Furthermore, the first protective cover of the present invention may be configured to be connected to the upper frame of the pack case, and the second protective cover of the present invention may be configured to be connected to the base frame of the pack case.

[0022] In addition, the first protective cover of the present invention may include a first protrusion having a shape protruding outward, and the second protective cover may include a second protrusion having a shape protruding outward.

[0023] Specifically, the first protrusion may have an upwardly inclined shape, and in this case, it is preferable that the second protrusion has a downwardly inclined shape.

[0024] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a battery pack may further include a module case having an internal space in which the plurality of battery cells are accommodated, and a venting hole formed at an upper portion thereof to communicate with the internal space.

[0025] According to one aspect of the present invention, the safety and reliability of a battery pack can be ensured by effectively discharging venting gas and the like to the outside, while preventing ignition factors such as sparks from being discharged to the outside of the pack case.

[0026] In addition, in the case of the present invention, the venting gas generated internally is effectively discharged to the outside, and the venting gas, etc. can be weakened by inducing the movement path to be bent, and the straightness thereof can be broken, so that various problems caused by the rapid discharge of the venting gas, etc. can be solved.

[0027] In particular, according to one aspect of the present invention, the mesh structure formed in the protective cover effectively induces internal gas to leak out to the outside, and at the same time, physical blocking of ignition factors such as high-temperature particles, sparks, etc., as well as restraint or inclusion, can be effectively implemented, thereby effectively reducing and suppressing particles such as sparks from leaking out to the outside.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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 more effectively understand the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to the matters described in these drawings.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall appearance of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the internal configuration of the battery pack illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the battery pack illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the path and direction in which gas, etc. is discharged from inside a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 5 is a drawing showing the overall appearance of a protective cover according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are drawings explaining the relationship between the first protective cover, the second protective cover, and the discharge hole according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 8 is a drawing explaining the main functions of a protective cover according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are drawings explaining the structure of the first and second protective covers according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 11 is a drawing illustrating a protective cover according to one embodiment of the present invention implemented in a mesh form.

[0039] Figure 12 is a drawing showing an example of a protective cover equipped with a protrusion.

[0040] Figure 13 is a drawing showing an example of the shape of the protective cover of the present invention.

[0041] Figure 14 is a drawing showing an example of the mutual arrangement relationship between the first protective cover and the second protective cover.

[0042] FIG. 15 is a schematic drawing of a vehicle including a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] 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 conforms to the technical spirit of the present invention.

[0044] Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are only 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.

[0045] In addition, when describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description is omitted.

[0046] Throughout the specification, whenever a part is said to "include" a component, this does not mean that it excludes other components, but rather that it may include other components, unless otherwise stated.

[0047] Additionally, throughout the specification, when a part is said to be "connected" to another part, this includes not only cases where it is "directly connected" but also cases where it is "indirectly connected" with other elements in between.

[0048]

[0049] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall appearance of a battery pack (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the internal configuration of the battery pack (1000) shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged drawing of a part of the battery pack (1000) shown in FIG. 1.

[0050] As illustrated in the drawing, a battery pack (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention may be configured to include a battery cell (100) and a pack case (200).

[0051] A plurality of battery cells (100) may include an electrode assembly, a cell case that accommodates the electrode assembly, and electrode leads that are connected to the electrode assembly and extend outward from the cell case to function as electrode terminals. It goes without saying that the plurality of battery cells (100) may be electrically connected to each other through one or more combinations of series or parallel.

[0052] The above battery cell (100) may be a pouch-type secondary battery. The cell case of such a pouch-type secondary battery may be configured in the form of a pouch in which a metal layer made of aluminum is interposed between polymer layers.

[0053] The above plurality of battery cells (100) can be arranged in a vertical direction (Z-axis direction) and in a front-back direction (Y-axis direction) as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0054] 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 construct the battery pack (1000) of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a pouch-type secondary battery having a high energy density and easy stacking is used as the target, 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).

[0055] The above plurality of battery cells (100) can be modularized into one or more battery modules (10) as illustrated in FIG. 2, and the battery modules (10) can be provided in multiple units inside the pack case (200).

[0056] That is, the battery pack (1000) according to the present invention may include a plurality of battery modules (10), and a plurality of battery cells (100) included in the battery pack (1000) may be divided and included in a plurality of battery modules (10).

[0057] The battery module (10) may include a module case (11) configured to accommodate at least some of a plurality of battery cells (100) in its internal space, and may include a busbar assembly and / or module terminal electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells (100) accommodated therein.

[0058] In addition, the battery module (10) may include a venting hole (H). The venting hole (H) induces gases generated from battery cells (100) housed inside the module case (11) to be discharged to the outside of the module case (11).

[0059] When a venting hole (H) is provided at the upper portion of the module case (11) as illustrated in FIG. 2, venting gas and / or sparks, etc. can be induced to be discharged to the upper portion of the battery module (10) (see FIG. 4).

[0060] The pack case (200) is a configuration that provides the basic skeletal structure of the battery pack (1000), and the battery cell (100) is accommodated in its internal space.

[0061] A pack case (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention may be configured to include a base frame (210), a side frame (220), and an upper frame (230). The upper frame (230), also referred to as a pack lid, may be configured to be coupled to the base frame (210) and the side frame (220) at the upper portion (based on the Z-axis) so as to cover the upper portions of a plurality of battery cells (100).

[0062] The upper frame (230) protects components stored inside, such as battery cells (100), and prevents venting gases and / or sparks generated from the battery cells (100) from being discharged to the outside of the pack case (200), particularly to the upper part.

[0063] In particular, the upper frame (230) can implement a type of directional venting, such as by linking with the venting hole (H) of the battery module (10) described above, to guide the venting gas and sparks generated inside toward the venting device (300), as shown in FIG. 4.

[0064] At least one of the base frame (210), side frame (220), and upper frame (230) may be formed in a plate shape, and may be formed in the shape of a polyhedron (e.g., a rectangular parallelepiped) having a certain thickness or more.

[0065] Depending on the embodiment, at least a portion of the side frame (220) and the base frame (210) may be configured as an integrated form, and the connection between adjacent frames may be achieved by various methods such as bolt fastening, laser welding, or ultrasonic welding.

[0066] At least one of the base frame (210), side frame (220), and upper frame (230) may have an inner surface made of clad metal or may have a flame-retardant material such as GFRP attached to the inner surface.

[0067] At least one of the frames (210, 220, 230) constituting the pack case (200) may be made of a metal material such as SUS (stainless steel) with high strength, or a plastic material such as ABS resin (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer) with high heat resistance, temperature resistance, and impact resistance, in order to effectively implement physical protection of internal components, and may be made of different materials for each part depending on the embodiment.

[0068] According to an embodiment, the pack case (200) may further include a cross beam (240) having a bulkhead shape extending in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) or transverse direction (X-axis direction) as illustrated in the drawing. In this case, a battery module (10) may be accommodated in each of the compartment spaces formed by the cross beam (240) or the like.

[0069] This compartment space functions as a kind of independent chamber or compartment, and not only physically protects individual battery modules (10), but also primarily prevents thermal events occurring in a battery module (10) from spreading or transferring to other adjacent battery modules (10).

[0070] It is also desirable that the cross beam (240) forming the compartment space be made of a material with high heat resistance and physical rigidity, like each frame constituting the pack case (200).

[0071] The above cross beam (240) may be installed so as to be spaced apart from the upper frame (230) by a predetermined distance. That is, the entirety or a portion of the upper portion (based on the Z-axis direction) of the cross beam (240) may be configured so as to not contact the lower surface of the upper frame (230) but to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance.

[0072] According to this implementation configuration, as shown in FIG. 4, a space for movement of gas, etc. can be provided between the cross beam (240) and the pack lid (upper frame) (230), so that gas, etc. generated inside can be more effectively guided toward the venting device (300) or the exhaust hole (221) through the rising behavior due to high temperature, the pressure difference inside and outside the pack case (200), the behavioral characteristics of the fluid flowing along the surface, the physical reflection path, etc.

[0073] When a flame is discharged together with venting gas, a guider or venting rib of a bent shape, or a bent member for changing direction, etc., not shown in the drawing, may be provided on the upper frame (230) to break down the strong straightness, which is the behavioral characteristic of the flame, and thereby weaken the flame.

[0074] The battery pack (1000) of the present invention may include a venting part that discharges gases generated internally to the outside.

[0075] According to the embodiment, the venting portion may be implemented as a discharge hole (221) that penetrates the pack case (200), preferably the side frame (220) of the pack case (200), so that the inside and outside of the pack case (200) are connected.

[0076] The above venting part may be implemented as a venting device (300) configured to open due to the pressure generated inside the pack case (200) and to discharge the venting gas to the outside of the pack case (200) when the internal pressure increases due to the generated venting gas. The venting device (300) may be installed in a form mounted on the discharge hole (221).

[0077] For example, the venting device (300) is configured to keep the inlet closed by the elastic restoring force of the elastic body in normal times to prevent external foreign substances, moisture, etc. from entering the inside of the pack case (200), and the inlet may be configured to open when an internal pressure exceeding a reference threshold set by the elastic restoring force is generated.

[0078] The present invention is not limited by the specific type or form of the venting device (300), and it goes without saying that various venting devices (300) known at the time of filing of the present invention can be employed to construct the battery pack (1000) of the present invention.

[0079] The protective cover (500A, 500B) of the present invention is configured to cover the discharge hole (221) or the venting device (300) mounted on the discharge hole (221), so that the venting gas generated inside is effectively discharged to the outside of the pack case (200), but the external discharge of debris, particles, sparks, etc. (hereinafter referred to as 'sparks, etc.') that may accompany the venting gas is suppressed or minimized.

[0080] Hereinafter, the specific contents and functions of the protective cover (500A, 500B) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, etc.

[0081] It is self-evident that the axes depicted in the drawings, terms referring to the axes, and terms indicating directions such as upper, lower, front, rear, vertical, etc., described based on the axes are only intended to present relative standards for describing embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to specify any direction or position on an absolute basis, and may of course vary relatively depending on the position of the target object, the position of the observer, the view direction, etc.

[0082] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described by defining the Z-axis as a reference for the up-down or vertical direction as previously described, and from a corresponding viewpoint, embodiments of the present invention will be described by defining the Y-axis as a reference for the front or rear, and the X-axis as a reference for the left or right.

[0083]

[0084] FIG. 5 is a drawing showing the overall appearance of a protective cover (500A, 500B) according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 6 and 7 are drawings explaining the relationship between the first protective cover (500A), the second protective cover (500B) and the discharge hole (221) according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a drawing explaining the main functions of the protective cover (500A, 500B) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0085] As described above, the protective cover (500A, 500B) of the present invention is configured to cover the discharge hole (221) or the venting device (300) mounted on the discharge hole (221), and specifically includes a first protective cover (500A) and a second protective cover (500B) as shown in FIG. 5 and the like.

[0086] The first protective cover (500A) and the second protective cover (500B) are each configured to cover a portion of the discharge hole (221), and as illustrated in the drawing, the second protective cover (500B) is configured to have a cover area (S, see FIG. 7, etc.) that overlaps the area covered by the first protective cover (500A).

[0087] Hereinafter, the area of ​​the discharge hole (221) covered by the first protective cover (500A) is referred to as the 'first area', and the area of ​​the discharge hole (221) covered by the second protective cover (500B) is referred to as the 'second area'. As illustrated in the drawing, the second area is a part of the discharge hole (221) that is not identical to the first area and partially includes an area common to the first area (hereinafter referred to as the 'overlapping area').

[0088] As described above, when the venting device (300) is mounted on the discharge hole (221), the first area covered by the first protective cover (500A) and the second area covered by the second protective cover (500B) may each be a portion of the venting device (300).

[0089] The protective cover (500A, 500B) of the present invention basically performs the function of physically blocking sparks and the like so that they are not discharged or leaked to the outside through the discharge hole (221) or the venting device (300) mounted on the discharge hole (221).

[0090] The protective cover (500A, 500B) of the present invention is preferably made of or configured to include a material (e.g., mica) having low thermal conductivity and excellent heat resistance and / or fire resistance so as to effectively block high-temperature sparks and the like, and to minimize the influence of sparks and the like. Depending on the embodiment, the protective cover (500A, 500B) may of course be made of a metal material having rigidity and heat resistance.

[0091] The protective cover (500A, 500B) of the present invention can be installed so as to face the side frame (220) when the discharge hole (221) is provided in the side frame (220) of the pack case (200).

[0092] It is preferable that the second protective cover (500B) be installed further back than the first protective cover (500A) based on the path of gas generated internally toward the discharge hole (221). In other words, based on the discharge hole (221), it is preferable that the second protective cover (500B) be installed closer to the discharge hole (221) than the first protective cover (500A).

[0093] In addition, the second protective cover (500B) of the present invention is preferably installed at a position closer to the discharge hole (221) than the first protective cover (500A), but is not in contact with the first protective cover (500A) as illustrated in the drawing, but is preferably installed at a position (D, see FIG. 8) physically spaced from the first protective cover (500A).

[0094] In this way, when the first and second protective covers (500A, 500B) are physically separated (D) and have individual areas covered by each and overlapping areas (S) commonly covered by all of them, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the exhaust path (venting path) (F) through which gas, sparks, etc. are exhausted can be induced to become an overall bent or curved path (e.g., a zigzag-shaped path).

[0095] In this way, when the exhaust gas discharge path (F) is induced to have a bent shape, etc., the straightness of the venting gas can be disrupted, and as the discharge path is expanded or extended, the width in which sparks, etc. are physically blocked or included also expands, so the phenomenon in which an ignition factor, such as a spark, is accompanied by the venting gas and escapes through the discharge hole (221) can be significantly suppressed.

[0096] If the first protective cover (500A) and the second protective cover (500B) cover different areas such as the discharge hole (221), but are configured to have a common overlapping area (S) and are installed spaced apart from each other, the technical idea of ​​the present invention described above can be implemented, so the first and second protective covers (500A, 500B) can be formed in various shapes or structures, including the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13, and can have various positions or arrangement relationships, including the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14.

[0097] In addition, when a venting device (300) is mounted in the discharge hole (221) and a nozzle or the like protruding into the pack case (200) is provided in the center portion of the venting device (300), the first protective cover (500A) or / and the second protective cover (500B) may avoid the nozzle or the like or may have a mounting space (540A, 540B) formed in an arch or reverse arch shape to be mounted on the nozzle or the like.

[0098] Gases generated from the battery cell (100) or battery module (10) have a characteristic of rising on their own because they are at a high temperature, and as described with reference to FIG. 4, a venting space is formed in the upper part of the battery pack (1000) by the structure of the venting hole (H) of the battery module (10), the upper frame (230) of the pack case (200), the cross beam (240), etc., so the venting gas and sparks move in the direction toward the discharge hole (221) from the upper part of the battery pack (1000).

[0099] Therefore, when the first protective cover (500A) covering a part of the discharge hole (221) is configured to cover the upper part of the discharge hole (221), the possibility of collision with sparks, etc. can be more effectively increased, so that external discharge of sparks, etc. can be more reliably suppressed.

[0100] In contrast, since the venting gas is a gaseous fluid, it has a behavior of avoiding the first protective cover (500A) due to internal pressure and can be smoothly discharged to the outside through the discharge hole (221), etc.

[0101] To this end, it is preferable that the first area covered by the first protective cover (500A) of the present invention be configured to be the upper area of ​​the discharge hole (221), and correspondingly, the second area covered by the second protective cover (500B) be configured to be the lower area of ​​the discharge hole (221).

[0102] Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 7, it is preferable that the lower part of the first protective cover (500A) be positioned at a higher position (△h1) than the lower part of the discharge hole (221), and that the upper part of the second protective cover (500B) be positioned at a lower position (△h2) than the upper part of the discharge hole (221).

[0103] In addition, it is preferable that the lower end of the first protective cover (500A) be configured to extend downward (based on the Z-axis) to a position lower than the center position of the discharge hole (221) so that an overlapping area (S) can be formed between the first area of ​​the first protective cover (500A) and the second area of ​​the second protective cover (500B), and that the upper end of the second protective cover (500B) be configured to extend to a position higher than the center position of the discharge hole (221).

[0104] The drawing illustrates a dual form of the protective cover (500A, 500B) consisting of the first protective cover (500A) and the second protective cover (500B), but of course, there can be three or more protective covers if the discharge path (F) is induced to have a bent shape, etc., and sparks, etc. can be physically blocked.

[0105]

[0106] FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are drawings explaining the structure of the first and second protective covers (500A, 500B) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0107] As illustrated in the drawing, the first protective cover (500A) of the present invention may be specifically configured to include a first body portion (510A), a first coupling portion (520A), and a first connection portion (530A), and the second protective cover (500B) may be configured to include a second body portion (510B), a second coupling portion (520B), and a second connection portion (530B).

[0108] The first body part (510A) of the first protective cover (500A) is configured to face the discharge hole (221) and cover the first area of ​​the discharge hole (221), and as illustrated in the drawing, it may be formed in a plate shape erected in a vertical direction (Z-axis direction) and provided to face the side frame (220).

[0109] The first connecting portion (520A) of the first protective cover (500A) may be configured to be connected to the first body portion (510A) or to extend horizontally (XY plane) from the first body portion (510A), and is connected to the lower surface of the upper frame (230) by a method such as bolt fastening, welding, or adhesion.

[0110] According to the above configuration of the present invention, the first protective cover (500A) can be more easily combined with the pack case (200), thereby not only increasing the efficiency of the assembly process and space utilization, but also more stably implementing blocking of sparks, etc., coming in from the top.

[0111] According to an embodiment, the first protective cover (500A) may further include a first connecting portion (530A). As illustrated in the drawing, the first connecting portion (530A) may have a shape extending from at least one of the left and right ends of the first body portion (510A) toward the side frame (220), and may be coupled to the side frame (220) by a method such as bonding, bolting, or welding.

[0112] As described above, the first protective cover (500A) has a structure in which the upper and side portions are bent in opposite directions, and these are physically supported by the upper frame (230) and the side frame (220), respectively, so that it can have structural rigidity and can block external emissions such as sparks from multiple directions.

[0113] The second body part (510B) of the second protective cover (500B) is configured to face the discharge hole (221) and cover the second area (lower area) of the discharge hole (221), and may be formed in a plate shape that is erected in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) like the first body part (510A) and may be provided to face the side frame (220).

[0114] The second connecting portion (520B) of the second protective cover (500B) may be configured to be connected to the second body portion (510B) or to extend horizontally (XY plane) from the second body portion (510B), and may be connected to the base frame (210) by a method such as bolt fastening, welding, or adhesion.

[0115] In this way, when the second protective cover (500B) is physically connected to the base frame (210) through the second connecting portion (520B), not only can the blocking of sparks, etc. flowing in from the bottom be implemented more stably, but also, as described with reference to FIG. 8, the exhaust path (F) of the venting gas can be induced to have a zigzag shape, etc.

[0116] According to an embodiment, the second protective cover (500B) may further include a second connecting portion (530B). As illustrated in the drawing, the second connecting portion (530B) may have a shape extending from at least one of the left and right ends of the second body portion (510B) toward the side frame (220), and may be coupled to the side frame (220) by a method such as bonding, bolting, or welding.

[0117] As illustrated in FIG. 9, the second protective cover (500B) may be configured to be partially inserted inwardly into the first protective cover (500A) so that an overlapping area (S) can be formed between the first area of ​​the first protective cover (500A) and the second area of ​​the second protective cover (500B).

[0118] When the embodiment is implemented so that the first connection portion (530A) of the first protective cover (500A) and the second connection portion (530B) of the second protective cover (500B) are both connected to or joined to the side frame (220), it is preferable that the width (based on the Y-axis) of the second connection portion (530B) be configured to be smaller than the width of the first connection portion (530A) so that the second protective cover (500B) can be inserted into the interior of the first protective cover (500A). In a corresponding viewpoint, the left-right length (based on the X-axis) of the second body portion (510B) may be configured to be smaller than the left-right length of the first body portion (510A).

[0119] In this case, the gap (D) between the first protective cover (500A) and the second protective cover (500B), specifically the gap (D) between the first body part (510A) and the second body part (510B), can be variably set by the relationship between the width (based on the Y-axis) of the first connecting part (530A) and the width (based on the Y-axis) of the second connecting part (530B).

[0120] According to an embodiment, the second protective cover (500B) of the present invention may be implemented in a plate shape as illustrated in Fig. 10. In this case, it goes without saying that the second protective cover (500B) should be positioned lower overall than the first protective cover (500A) so that an overlapping area (S) can be formed between the first protective cover (500A) and the second protective cover (500B).

[0121] According to the embodiment of the present invention, the gap (D) between the first protective cover (500A) and the second protective cover (500B) as well as the overlapping area (S) between the first protective cover (500A) and the second protective cover (500B) can be effectively implemented, and at the same time, the protective covers (500A, 500B) can be implemented with a simpler structure.

[0122] According to the embodiment of the present invention, not only can the first protective cover (500A) and the second protective cover (500B) be manufactured as a single, unified object, but also the protective cover (500A, 500B) of the present invention can be installed in the battery pack (1000) only by the process of connecting the first connecting portion (520A) of the first protective cover (500A), which functions as a type of flange, to the upper frame (230) of the pack case (200), so that the efficiency of the assembly process can be further improved.

[0123] When the structure of the protective cover (500A, 500B) is implemented by this implementation configuration, the distance (D) between the first protective cover (500A) and the second protective cover (500B) can be variably determined by the width (based on the Y-axis) of the first connecting portion (530A).

[0124] In addition, the overlapping area (S) between the first area of ​​the first protective cover (500A) and the second area of ​​the second protective cover (500B) can be variably determined by the relative arrangement height (based on the Z-axis) of the second protective cover (500B) or / and the vertical extension length of the second protective cover (500B).

[0125] It goes without saying that, depending on the embodiment, unlike the form illustrated in the drawing, the second connecting portion (530B) may be configured to be provided on the second protective cover (500B) instead of all or part of the first connecting portion (530A) of the first protective cover (500A).

[0126]

[0127] FIG. 11 is a drawing illustrating a protective cover (500A, 500B) according to one embodiment of the present invention implemented in a mesh form, and FIG. 12 is a drawing illustrating an example of a protective cover (500A, 500B) having a protrusion.

[0128] As illustrated in Fig. 11, at least one of the first protective cover (500A) and the second protective cover (500B) of the present invention may be formed in a mesh form with a porous structure. The mesh structure may be formed only in the first body portion (510A) of the first protective cover (500A), but may also be formed in the first connecting portion (530A) depending on the embodiment. The second protective cover (500B) is also similar to this.

[0129] In this way, when the protective cover (500A, 500B) is formed in a mesh form, not only can the discharge efficiency of venting gas, etc. that must be discharged to the outside be improved, but also the function of screening particles (ejected matter), such as sparks, can be simultaneously performed through physical contact by a number of holes.

[0130] Even if the mesh structure formed on the surface of the protective cover (500A, 500B) is blocked by particles such as sparks, the protective cover (500A, 500B) can function as a resistor that physically blocks or prevents the emission of sparks, etc., as described above.

[0131] The first protective cover (500A) of the present invention may include a first protrusion (50A) as illustrated in FIG. 12, depending on the embodiment.

[0132] The first protrusion (50A) may be configured to protrude in a direction away from the side frame (220) in the first body portion (510A), i.e., in an inward direction (-Y-axis direction) of the pack case (200), and preferably, as illustrated in the drawing, may be configured to have an upwardly inclined shape. In addition, the first protrusion (50A) may be provided in multiple pieces and may be arranged vertically on the first body portion (510A) based on the vertical direction.

[0133] As previously described with reference to FIG. 4, the gas generated internally flows from the top toward the first protective cover (500A) of the present invention, and after the gas physically collides with the first protective cover (500A), it moves downward.

[0134] Therefore, when the first protrusion (50A) is formed in an upwardly inclined shape as described above, it is possible to provide a blocking direction that runs counter to the direction of movement, thereby more effectively weakening the force of strong straight-line sparks or flames, and further increasing the efficiency of collecting or capturing sparks, etc.

[0135] As previously explained, after passing through the first protective cover (500A), the gas or the like moves upward again by the second protective cover (500B). Therefore, as illustrated in the drawing, if the second protrusion (50B) provided on the second protective cover (500B) is configured to have a shape inclined downward, more effective physical blocking can be provided for sparks or the like moving upward.

[0136]

[0137] The battery pack (1000) according to the present invention may further include a battery management system (not shown). The battery management system (BMS) is mounted in the internal space of the pack case (200) and may be configured to control overall charging / discharging operations or data transmission / reception operations of the battery cell (100) or battery module (10).

[0138] In addition, the battery pack (1000) according to the present invention may further include a battery disconnect unit. The battery disconnect unit (BDU) may be configured to control the electrical connection of battery cells to manage the power capacity and function of the battery pack (1000). To this end, the battery disconnect unit may include a power relay, a current sensor, a fuse, and the like. The battery disconnect unit is also provided as a pack unit rather than a module unit, and various disconnect units known at the time of filing of the present invention may be employed.

[0139] In addition, the battery pack (1000) according to the present invention may further include various battery pack components known at the time of filing of the present invention. For example, it may further include an MSD (Manual Service Disconnector) that allows a worker to manually disconnect the service plug to cut off power.

[0140] FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle including a battery pack (1000) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0141] Referring to FIG. 15, a vehicle (3) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include one or more battery packs (1000) according to the embodiments described above. The vehicle (3) according to the present invention may be, for example, an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The vehicle (3) includes a four-wheel vehicle and a two-wheel vehicle. The vehicle (3) may operate by receiving power from a battery pack (1000) or a battery module (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0142]

[0143] 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 are possible within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention and the equivalent scope of the patent claims to be described below by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains.

[0144] The drawings attached for the purpose of explaining the present invention and illustrating embodiments thereof may be illustrated in a somewhat exaggerated form to emphasize or highlight the technical contents of the present invention. However, it should be interpreted that it is obvious that various modified application examples may be possible at the level of a person skilled in the art in consideration of the contents described above and matters illustrated in the drawings.

[0145] In addition, it is self-evident that expressions such as first, second, upper, lower, or top and bottom in the description of the present invention are merely instrumental conceptual terms used to relatively distinguish each component (element) from each other, and are not terms used to indicate a specific order, priority, etc., or terms used to physically distinguish each component (element) on an absolute basis.

Claims

1. Multiple battery cells; A pack case that accommodates the above plurality of battery cells and has a discharge hole for discharging gas generated inside to the outside; A first protective cover covering a first area, which is a part of the above discharge hole; and A battery pack characterized in that it includes a second protective cover that is installed at a position closer to the discharge hole than the first protective cover and covers a second area, which is another part of the discharge hole, and has a cover area that overlaps with the first protective cover.

2. In paragraph 1, The above pack case is, A base frame on which the plurality of battery cells are mounted; and Including a side frame provided with the above discharge hole, A battery pack characterized in that the first and second protective covers are configured to face the side frame.

3. In paragraph 1, A battery pack characterized in that the second protective cover is installed spaced apart from the first protective cover.

4. In paragraph 3, The above first or second protective cover, A battery pack characterized by including a connecting portion that physically connects the first and second protective covers so that the first and second protective covers are spaced apart from each other.

5. In paragraph 1, A battery pack characterized in that at least one of the first and second protective covers is formed in a mesh shape with a porous structure.

6. In paragraph 1, The above first region is the upper region of the discharge hole, A battery pack, characterized in that the second region is a lower region of the discharge hole.

7. In paragraph 6, The lower part of the above first protective cover is positioned higher than the lower part of the discharge hole, A battery pack characterized in that the upper part of the second protective cover is positioned lower than the upper part of the discharge hole.

8. In paragraph 1, A battery pack characterized in that the first protective cover is connected to the upper frame of the pack case.

9. In paragraph 1, A battery pack characterized in that the second protective cover is connected to the base frame of the pack case.

10. In paragraph 1, The above first protective cover, A battery pack characterized by including a first protrusion having a shape protruding outward.

11. In paragraph 10, The above second protective cover, A battery pack characterized by including a second protrusion having a shape protruding outward.

12. In paragraph 11, The above first protrusion has an upwardly inclined shape, A battery pack characterized in that the second protrusion has a shape that is inclined downward.

13. In paragraph 1, A battery pack characterized in that it further includes a module case having an internal space in which the plurality of battery cells are accommodated and a venting hole formed at the upper portion thereof in communication with the internal space.

14. A vehicle comprising a battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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