Battery pack

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery pack. In an embodiment, the battery pack includes: a housing unit including a wall body surrounding a battery module; and a pipe unit including a pipe member provided so that a fluid flows inside the wall body, wherein the housing unit includes a pipe support member extending in a direction in which the pipe member extends and protruding from an inner surface of the wall body to support the pipe member.

Description

battery pack

[0001] [Cross-reference with related applications]

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean patent application 10-2024-0196176 filed December 24, 2024, and all contents disclosed in the literature of said Korean patent applications are incorporated herein as part of this specification.

[0003] [Technology Field]

[0004] The present invention relates to a battery pack, and more specifically, to a battery pack with improved space utilization and improved energy density.

[0005] Space is required for coolant to pass between the battery module and the pack frame, and a separate piping section may exist for this purpose. This structure requires additional space and a complex connection structure for connecting the coolant pipes between the battery module and the pack frame, which leads to a problem where the density of the battery cells is limited.

[0006] Therefore, there is an increasing need for a technical solution that integrates the cooling water piping within the pack frame to maximize battery cell density and efficiently secure the flow of cooling water. Consequently, there is a demand for inventions that can improve the space efficiency of battery modules and increase energy density.

[0007] The present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and the objective of the present invention is to provide a battery pack with improved space utilization and improved energy density.

[0008] The problems of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other unmentioned problems will be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains from the description below.

[0009] In one example, the battery pack includes a housing portion comprising a wall surrounding a battery module and a piping portion comprising a piping member configured to allow fluid to flow inside the wall, and the housing portion includes a piping support member that extends in the direction in which the piping member extends and protrudes from the inner surface of the wall to support the piping member.

[0010] In another example, the pipe support member may be in the shape of a plate.

[0011] In another example, the pipe support member may be provided to support the pipe member in a direction perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow.

[0012] In another example, the pipe support members are provided in multiple numbers, and adjacent pipe support members can support the pipe member in a direction perpendicular to each other.

[0013] In another example, the pipe support member can support the pipe member in four directions.

[0014] In another example, the above piping member may be provided in multiple numbers.

[0015] In another example, the piping section may further include a pipe connecting member that connects the plurality of pipe members.

[0016] In another example, the piping member may include a metal material.

[0017] In another example, the piping portion may further include an inner protruding member that is coupled to one end of the piping member and protrudes from the inner surface of the housing portion to the outside of the housing portion to allow the fluid to enter and exit the housing portion.

[0018] In another example, the piping portion may further include an outer protruding member that is coupled to the other end of the piping member and protrudes outward from the outer surface of the housing portion to allow the fluid to enter and exit the housing portion.

[0019] In another example, the battery pack may further include a tubular connector portion that is coupled with the inner protruding member and arranged to allow the fluid to flow into the battery module.

[0020] In another example, the connector portion may include a corrugated area provided to adjust the length of the tube shape.

[0021] In another example, the connector part may include a plastic material.

[0022] According to one aspect of the present invention, the space utilization of a battery pack can be improved.

[0023] According to one aspect of the present invention, the energy density of a battery pack can be improved.

[0024] According to one aspect of the present invention, the durability of the battery pack can be improved.

[0025] According to one aspect of the present invention, autonomous placement of battery modules within a battery pack may be possible.

[0026] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and unmentioned effects will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from this specification and the attached drawings.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a left side view of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 3 is a front view of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a diagram for understanding the flow of fluid inside a piping member according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a wall according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a connector portion according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail so that those skilled in the knowledge can easily implement them. However, the present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited or restricted by the following embodiments.

[0035] In order to clearly explain the present invention, detailed descriptions of related prior art that are irrelevant to the explanation or that may unnecessarily obscure the essence of the invention have been omitted. Furthermore, when assigning reference numerals to the components of each drawing in this specification, identical or similar reference numerals are assigned to identical or similar components throughout the entire specification.

[0036] Furthermore, terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the terms to best describe his invention.

[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a left side view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a drawing for understanding the flow of fluid inside a piping member according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a wall according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a connector part according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] In this embodiment, the battery pack (1) may include a housing portion (100) and a piping portion (200). As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the housing portion (100) may include a wall (110) surrounding the battery module (10). The piping portion (200) may include a piping member (210) provided to allow fluid to flow inside the wall (110). As illustrated in FIG. 5, fluid may flow inside the wall (110). The piping member (210) may be a cooling water pipe. The housing portion (100) may include a pipe support member (120). The pipe support member (120) may extend in the direction in which the pipe member (210) extends and protrude from the inner surface (B) of the wall (110) to support the pipe member (210). When the pipe support member (120) extends in the extension direction of the pipe member (210), it supports the pipe member (210) parallel to the flow of fluid compared to when it extends in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the pipe member (210) to support the pipe member (210), so that pressure may not be concentrated locally. Accordingly, the pipe member (210) can be stably supported.

[0039] In this embodiment, the pipe support member (120) may be in the shape of a plate.

[0040] In this embodiment, the pipe support member (120) may be provided to support the pipe member (210) in a direction perpendicular to the fluid flow direction (D1).

[0041] In this embodiment, the pipe support members (120) may be provided in multiple numbers. Adjacent pipe support members (120) may support the pipe member (210) in directions perpendicular to each other. The pipe support members (120) may support the pipe member (210) in four directions.

[0042] In this embodiment, the piping member (210) may be provided in multiple numbers. When the piping member (210) is provided in multiple numbers, one piping member (210) may act as an inlet and another piping member (210) may act as an outlet to form a U-turn flow.

[0043] In this embodiment, the piping section (200) may further include a pipe connecting member (220). The pipe connecting member (220) can connect a plurality of pipe members (210).

[0044] In this embodiment, the piping member (210) may include a metal material. When the piping member (210) includes a metal material, the rigidity may be reinforced compared to when the piping member (210) is plastic.

[0045] In this embodiment, the piping portion (200) may further include an inner protruding member (230). The inner protruding member (230) may be coupled with one end of the piping member (210) and protrude from the inner surface (A) of the housing portion (100) to the outside of the housing portion (100). The inner protruding member (230) may be provided to allow fluid to enter and exit the inside and outside of the housing portion (100).

[0046] To distinguish between the inner surface (A) and the inner surface (B), an explanation is provided. The inner surface (B) refers to the inner surface (B) of the wall (110), and the inner surface (A) refers to the inner surface (A) of the housing part (100). As shown in FIG. 6, the inner surface (B) refers to the surface located in the inner direction of the wall (110). The inner surface (A) refers to the surface facing the battery module (10) on the inner side of the housing part (100). Since the inner surface (A) of the housing part (100) is still a surface located in the outer direction of the wall (110), it does not correspond to the inner surface (B).

[0047] In this embodiment, the piping portion (200) may further include an outer protruding member (240). The outer protruding member (240) may be coupled with the other end of the piping member (210) and protrude to the outside of the housing portion (100) from the outer surface of the housing portion (100). The outer protruding member (240) may be provided to allow fluid to enter and exit the inside and outside of the housing portion (100).

[0048] In this embodiment, the piping section (200) may further include a connector section (300). The connector section (300) may be configured to allow fluid to flow into the battery module (10) by being coupled with an inner protruding member (230).

[0049] In this embodiment, the connector portion (300) may include a corrugated area (310). The corrugated area (310) may be provided so that the length of the tubular portion is adjustable. When the corrugated area (310) is provided so that the length of the tubular portion is adjustable, the connector portion (300) can still allow fluid to flow to the battery module (10) even if the position of the battery module (10) changes.

[0050] In this embodiment, the connector part (300) may include a plastic material.

[0051] Although the present invention has been described above by limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various implementations are possible within the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention and the equivalent scope of the claims described below by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs.

[0052] [Explanation of the symbol]

[0053] 1: Battery pack

[0054] 10: Battery module

[0055] 100: Housing section

[0056] 110: Wall

[0057] 120: Pipe support member

[0058] 200: Piping section

[0059] 210: Piping member

[0060] 220: Pipe connection member

[0061] 230: Inner protruding member

[0062] 240: Outer protruding member

[0063] 300: Connector section

[0064] 310: Wrinkle area

[0065] A: Inner surface

[0066] B: Inner surface

[0067] D1: Flow direction

Claims

1. A housing portion including a wall surrounding a battery module; and It includes a piping section comprising a piping member configured to allow fluid to flow inside the above wall, and The above housing part is, A battery pack comprising a pipe support member that extends in the direction in which the pipe member extends and protrudes from the inner surface of the wall to support the pipe member.

2. In Paragraph 1, The above pipe support member is, A battery pack in the shape of a plate.

3. In Paragraph 1, The above pipe support member is, A battery pack configured to support the above-mentioned piping member in a direction perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow.

4. In Paragraph 1, The above pipe support member is, It is equipped with multiple units, A battery pack in which adjacent pipe support members support the pipe member in a direction perpendicular to each other.

5. In Paragraph 4, The above pipe support member is, A battery pack that supports the above-mentioned piping member in four directions.

6. In Paragraph 1, The above piping member is, A battery pack provided in multiple units.

7. In Paragraph 6, The above piping section is, A battery pack further comprising a pipe connecting member connecting the plurality of pipe members.

8. In Paragraph 1, The above piping member is, A battery pack containing metal material.

9. In Paragraph 1, The above piping section is, A battery pack further comprising an inner protruding member coupled to one end of the above-mentioned pipe member and protruding from the inner surface of the housing part to the outside of the housing part so as to allow the fluid to enter and exit the inside and outside of the housing part.

10. In Paragraph 9, The above piping section is, A battery pack further comprising an outer protruding member that is coupled to the other end of the pipe member and protrudes from the outer surface of the housing part to the outside of the housing part, thereby allowing the fluid to enter and exit the inside and outside of the housing part.

11. In Paragraph 9, A battery pack further comprising a tubular connector portion formed to allow the fluid to flow into the battery module in combination with the inner protruding member.

12. In Paragraph 11, The above connector part is, A battery pack comprising a corrugated area configured to adjust the length of the above-mentioned tubular shape.

13. In Paragraph 11, The above connector part is, A battery pack containing plastic material.

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