KR101256063B1 - Battery module - Google Patents

Abstract

The battery module according to the present invention is disposed between the unit cells disposed in a plurality of rows and the unit cells positioned in different rows and connected to each other with the bent parts supporting the unit cells so as to efficiently cool the unit cells. And includes a diaphragm for fixing the unit cells.

Battery module, diaphragm, bend, connecting member

Description

Battery module {BATTERY MODULE}

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery assembly of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a perspective view illustrating a battery module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

3A to 3C are cross-sectional views illustrating diaphragms according to a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a battery module configured by connecting a plurality of unit cells, and more particularly, to a battery module having an improved structure for fixing unit cells.

A rechargeable battery is a battery that can be charged and discharged unlike a non-rechargeable primary battery. The low-capacity secondary battery composed of one cell is mainly used for portable small electronic devices such as mobile phones, notebook computers, and camcorders. A large capacity secondary battery in which a plurality of cells are connected in a pack form is widely used as a motor driving power source for a hybrid electric vehicle.

Such secondary batteries are manufactured in various shapes, and typical shapes include cylindrical and rectangular shapes.

In addition, the secondary battery is connected in series so as to be used for driving a motor of the hybrid electric vehicle, which requires a large power, thereby forming a large capacity battery module.

The battery module usually consists of a plurality of secondary batteries (hereinafter, referred to as "unit cells" for convenience of description throughout the specification).

Each unit cell includes an electrode group in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are positioned with a separator interposed therebetween, a case having a space in which the electrode group is embedded, and an electrode coupled to the case to be sealed and electrically connected to the electrode group. A cap assembly with terminals.

Each unit cell is usually arranged at regular intervals in the housing and connects the terminals of each unit cell to form a battery module.

The battery module has a structure in which a plurality of unit cells are fastened into one module for stability.

However, the battery module must be able to easily dissipate the heat generated in each unit cell by configuring a single battery module by connecting several to many dozen unit cells. The heat dissipation characteristics of the battery module are so important as to influence the performance of not only the unit cell but also the device itself employing the battery module.

If the heat is not properly discharged, a temperature deviation occurs between the unit cells, the battery module is unable to output the power required to drive the motor to the desired degree. In addition, when the temperature inside the battery rises due to the heat generated in the unit cell, an abnormal reaction occurs inside the unit cell, thereby degrading the charge and discharge performance of the unit cell.

In particular, when the battery module is applied as a large-capacity secondary battery for driving a motor for an electric vacuum cleaner, an electric scooter, or an automobile (electric vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle), the unit battery is charged and discharged with a large current, so that the unit battery is used according to the use state. Since the internal temperature rises to a considerable level, it is required to smoothly discharge the heat generated from this unit cell.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to meet the above-described needs, and an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module capable of efficiently cooling unit cells by improving a structure of a support for supporting unit cells.

In order to achieve the above object, a battery module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is disposed between unit cells disposed in a plurality of rows and the unit cells positioned in different rows with a bent portion supporting the unit cells, and Is connected to include a diaphragm for fixing the unit cells.

The battery module may further include a connection member connected to the diaphragms to fix the diaphragms and the unit cells.

The connecting member may be installed at the edge of the diaphragm.

A flat support may be formed at the edge of the diaphragm.

A hole may be formed in the support part, and the connection member may be fitted into the hole.

The bent portion may be continuously formed in a wave form.

The bent portion may be made of any one selected from triangular, rectangular, and arc shape.

The diaphragm may be arranged in a structure in which neighboring diaphragms are symmetrical.

The unit cell may have a cylindrical shape.

Adjacent unit cells may be alternately disposed with the diaphragm interposed therebetween.

The unit cells constituting the battery string may be installed in a structure spaced apart by a predetermined distance by the diaphragm.

The battery module may further include a housing in which the inlet and the outlet of the cooling medium are formed and the battery rows are accommodated.

The cooling medium may be distributed between the diaphragms.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a battery assembly of a battery module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a battery module configured by including the battery assembly of FIG. 1 in a housing.

Referring to the drawing the one battery module 200 includes a plurality of columns according to the embodiment (15 _1, 15 _2, ..., 15 ₉₎ unit cells (11) and columns (15 _1, 15 are arranged in ₂ ,..., 15 ₉ formed between the unit cells 11 and the diaphragms 20 and the edges of the diaphragms 20 having the bent portion 21 fixing the unit cells 11. The battery assembly 100 includes a connection member 30 fitted into the hole 23a to fix the diaphragms 20.

In the present embodiment, a structure in which the unit cell 11 has a cylindrical shape will be described as an example. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the cylindrical unit cell 11, but may be applied to unit cells having various shapes such as rectangular unit cells.

The unit cells arranged in one column of the plurality of rows 15 ₁ , 15 ₂ ,..., 15 ₉ are spaced at random intervals. In this embodiment, four or five unit cells 11 are one. Although illustrated as forming a row of the number thereof is not particularly limited.

Plate 20, each column (15 _1, 15 _2, ..., 15 ₉₎ is disposed between the flat extending from the bent portion 21 disposed on both edges of the plurality of the bend 21 and the curved portion 21 And a support 23.

One curved portion 21 is formed of a convex portion 21a and a concave portion 21b, and the convex portion 21a and the concave portion 21b are alternately arranged to form the plurality of curved portions 21 described above. . In the present embodiment, the convex portion 21a and the concave portion 21b are formed such that a cross section cut in the width direction (the X direction shown in FIG. 1) of the diaphragm 20 is formed in an arc shape. As a result, when the plurality of bent portions 21 are viewed from the width direction X side, a wavy wave is formed.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the plate 20 is formed in the above-described shape having a predetermined thickness, so that the opposite surface of the convex portion 21a forms a concave portion, and the opposite surface of the concave portion 21b forms a convex portion.

Such a bent portion is only one example for forming the diaphragm of the present invention, and the structure of the bent portion in the present invention is not limited to the above. When the diaphragms 20 are arranged between the rows 15 ₁ , 15 ₂ ,..., 15 ₉ of the unit cells 11, the convex portions 21a and the convex portions 21a of the different diaphragms 20 are different from each other. The recessed part 21b and the recessed part 21b are mutually arrange | positioned.

As a result, a space having an arbitrary size is formed between the recessed portion 21b and the recessed portion 21b of the diaphragm 20, and the unit cell 11 is disposed in the space.

Furthermore, when the battery assembly 100 is substantially formed as the convex portions 21a and the concave portions 21b which form the bent portions 21 in one diaphragm 20 are alternately arranged, one diaphragm ( The unit cells 11 positioned with the gaps 20 therebetween are alternately arranged along the width direction X of the diaphragm 20.

At this time, the convex portion 21a of each of the diaphragm 20 and the portion facing the convex portion 21a is formed a space of a certain size, which forms a passage for the cooling medium flow to be described later.

The diaphragm 20 may set amplitudes of the convex portion 21a and the concave portion 21b so as to secure a space for seating the unit cell 11 described above and a space for distribution of the cooling medium.

On the other hand, the support 23 is formed in a flat plate structure at both edges of the diaphragm 20, the support 23 is formed with a hole (23a) into which the connecting member 30 is inserted.

The connecting member 30 forms a head portion 32 having an area larger than that of the hole 23a at one end thereof, and a rod portion 31 having a threaded portion 34 formed at the other end thereof. And a nut 35 screwed to the threaded portion 34 of 31.

In the present embodiment, two holes 23a are formed in the support part 23 and four in one diaphragm 20, and the rod part 31 of the connection member 30 is shown in FIG. 1. The diaphragm is inserted by the tightening force of the nut 35 which is inserted into the hole 23a of the diaphragm 20 in a state where the unit cell 11 is disposed between the diaphragms 20 and then fastened to the screw machining portion 34. The unit cell 11 can of course be fixed. Of course, at this time, the head 32 of the connecting member 30 is supported in close contact with the support 23 of the diaphragm 20 disposed on the outermost side, the nut 35 is the other outer diaphragm 20 It is in close contact with the supporting portion 23 having the support.

The battery assembly 100 formed as described above is built in the housing 40 having any shape as shown in FIG. 2 to constitute one battery module 200.

Referring to FIG. 2, the battery module according to the present embodiment includes a battery assembly 100 shown in FIG. 1 and a housing in which the battery assembly 100 is built.

In this embodiment, the battery assemblies 100 are arranged in a pair in the housing 40.

The housing 40 is provided with an oil inlet 41 through which a cooling medium for cooling the unit cells 11 flows in and a discharge port 43 through which the cooling medium is discharged.

The cooling medium according to the present embodiment may be made of air, water, or the like.

The inlet 41 is formed at the center of the housing 40, and the outlet 43 is formed at both edges of the housing 40 opposite the inlet 41.

And the battery assembly 100 is disposed in the housing 40 in a structure spaced apart so as to leave a space of a predetermined size therebetween is formed in the center of the housing 40 is a passage for the distribution of the cooling medium. Furthermore, the battery assembly 100 is disposed in the housing 40 such that passages for distribution of the cooling medium may be formed at both edges of the housing 40.

In the battery module 200, the cooling medium introduced into the housing 40 through the inlet 41 of the housing 40 flows through a passage disposed in the center of the housing 40, between the diaphragms 20. Passing through the cooling medium flow path 38 is then discharged to the outside of the housing 40 through the discharge port 43 of the housing 40. In this process, the cooling medium not only cools the unit cells 11 in direct contact with the unit cells 11, but also cools the diaphragm 20 heated by the unit cell 11 and indirectly by the diaphragm 20. The unit cells 11 are cooled.

As described above, the battery module 200 of the present embodiment supports the unit cells 11 by the diaphragm 20 having the bent portion 21, and allows the cooling medium to flow between the unit cells 11, thereby providing the unit cells 11. ) Can be cooled efficiently.

3A to 3C are cutaway views of diaphragms according to a modification of one embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings described above, as shown in FIG. 3A, the bent portion 51a formed in the diaphragm 51 may have a structure having a triangular cross section, and the bent portion as in the diaphragm 52 illustrated in FIG. 3B. 52a may have a structure having a rectangular cross section. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 3C, the bent portion 53a formed in the diaphragm 53 may have a structure having a trapezoidal cross section. However, the structure of the partition 51, 52, 53 is only an example of the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto.

The battery module of the present invention is a device for operating by using a motor such as a HEV (hybrid electric vehicle), an EV (electric vehicle), a cordless cleaner, an electric bicycle, an electric scooter, and the like for driving energy of the motor of the device. Can be used as a circle.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Of course.

Thus, according to the present invention, the unit cells are supported by the diaphragm to fix a large number of unit cells in a simple structure.

In addition, since the unit cells are separated by a predetermined interval and the cooling medium is distributed between the unit cells, the unit cells can be efficiently cooled.

Claims (14)

Unit cells arranged in a plurality of rows; And A diaphragm disposed between the unit cells positioned in different rows with a bent part supporting the unit cells and connected to each other to fix the unit cells; / RTI > Flat edges are formed at both edges of the diaphragms, A hole is formed in the support part, and the connection member is fitted into the hole, The connection member is a battery module for fixing the partitions and the unit cells through a plurality of partitions. The method according to claim 1, The connecting member is formed on one end of the battery module including a head having a larger area than the area of the hole, the other end portion is formed with a screw threaded portion and a screw threaded to the threaded portion of the rod. delete delete delete The method according to claim 1, The bent part is continuously connected to the battery module made of a waveform. The method according to claim 1, The bent portion of the battery module consisting of any one selected from triangular, square, arc. The method according to claim 1, The diaphragm is disposed in a structure in which neighboring diaphragms are symmetrical to each other. The method according to claim 1, The unit cell is a battery module made of a cylindrical shape. The method according to claim 1, Neighboring unit cells with the diaphragm interposed therebetween arranged alternately. The method according to claim 1, The unit cells are installed in a structure spaced apart by a predetermined distance by the diaphragm. Unit cells arranged in a plurality of rows, with the bent portion for supporting the unit cells are disposed between the unit cells located in a different row, the diaphragm and the diaphragm fixing the unit cells while being connected to each other Battery assemblies including a connecting member to; And A housing in which an inlet and an outlet of a cooling medium are formed and the battery assembly is accommodated; / RTI > The battery assemblies are arranged in a spaced apart structure with a passage for cooling medium distribution formed in the center of the housing, The battery assemblies are arranged such that passages for distribution of the cooling medium can be formed at both edges of the housing, The inlet is formed in the central portion of the housing, the outlet is a battery module formed on both edges of the housing facing the inlet. 13. The method of claim 12, And the cooling medium is distributed between the diaphragms. The method according to claim 1, The battery module is a battery module for driving a motor.

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