KR101541364B1 - Battery Module of Improved Assembly Property - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery module including at least two battery cells, comprising a first case and a second case which are mutually fastened together with the battery cells being embedded therein, a first case and a second case each having a shape corresponding to an outer surface of the battery cells, The battery cell connecting bus bars mounted inside the battery cell compartment for electrical connection of the battery cells and the first and second cases formed on one side of the first case and the second case respectively And external input / output terminals electrically connected to the bus bar.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery module having improved assemblability,

The present invention relates to a battery module having improved assemblability, and more particularly, to a battery module including at least two battery cells, wherein the battery module includes a first case and a second case, At least two battery cell receivers formed in the first case and the second case in a shape corresponding to an outer surface of the cells, bus cells for connecting battery cells, which are mounted inside the battery cell compartment for electrical connection of the battery cells, And external input / output terminals formed on one side of the first case and the second case, respectively, and electrically connected to the bus bar.

As technology development and demand for mobile devices are increasing, the demand for secondary batteries as energy sources is rapidly increasing. Among such secondary batteries, many studies have been made on lithium secondary batteries having high energy density and discharge voltage, Widely used.

Such a secondary battery may be used in the form of a single battery, or in the form of a battery module in which a plurality of unit cells are electrically connected, depending on the type of external equipment to which the secondary battery is to be used. For example, a small device such as a cell phone can be operated for a predetermined time with a single battery output and capacity, while in the case of a notebook computer, a small-sized PC, etc., a plurality of cylindrical batteries can be connected in parallel and in series It is necessary to use a battery module connected by a method.

Such a conventional battery module has been manufactured by assembling the cylindrical batteries in a module form and then welding the bus bars to the portions for electrical connection.

However, such a process has a problem in that, after the cylindrical batteries are mounted on the case, the bus bar is contacted and welded for electrical connection, thereby increasing the number of process steps.

Further, since the conventional battery module is connected to a bus of the same size as a bus bar of a thin thickness used between a plurality of cylindrical batteries, structural safety is lowered due to vibration and impact, and short- Fatigue caused the breakage of bus bars.

Therefore, there is a high need for a technique capable of fundamentally solving such problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and the technical problems required from the past.

Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide a battery module in which the process of manufacturing a battery module is simplified, and safety that can withstand vibration, shock, and overcurrent flows is improved.

In order to achieve the above object, a battery module according to the present invention includes:

A battery module including at least two battery cells, wherein a first case and a second case are coupled to each other with the battery cells embedded therein, the first and second cases being formed in the first case and the second case in a shape corresponding to an outer surface of the battery cells A plurality of battery cells are formed on one side of the first case and the second case, respectively, and the plurality of battery cells are formed on one side of the first case and the second case, And external input / output terminals electrically connected to the bus bar.

The present invention has a technical feature in that, when battery cells are built in a case for constituting a battery module, the battery cells are electrically connected at the same time. Specifically, bus bars for connecting battery cells are formed inside the battery cell receivers.

Therefore, since the battery module according to the present invention does not perform the process of inserting the battery cells into the battery cell compartment to form the battery module, and then contacting the bus bars for connecting the battery cells to the battery cells separately, Can be simplified.

Further, by using a bus bar for module connection that is thicker than the bus bar for battery cell connection, it is possible to provide a battery module with improved safety that can withstand vibration, shock, and overcurrent.

The bus bars and the external input / output terminals may be integrally attached to the first case and the second case by insert injection molding, respectively.

The bus bars and the external input / output terminals are fastened to the first case at the interface at which the first case and the second case come into contact with each other, and fastening grooves are formed in the second case, It is possible to facilitate the fastening operation. It is also possible to have a structure in which a fastener is protruded at the upper end of the first case, a fastening groove is formed at the lower end, a fastening groove is formed at the upper end of the second case, to be.

Specifically, the fastener may have a hook structure, and the fastening groove may have a groove structure corresponding to the hook structure. However, if the fastening structure facilitates fastening of the first case and the second case, It is not.

A first battery cell receiving portion corresponding to a part of the outer surface shape of the battery cell is formed in the first case so that one battery cell is mounted on one battery cell receiving portion in the process of mutual engagement of the first case and the second case And a second battery cell receiving portion corresponding to the remaining outer shape of the battery cell may be formed in the second case.

In addition, the first battery case accommodating portion corresponding to the outer shape of one battery cell is formed in the first case so that two battery cells are connected to one battery cell accommodating portion in a serial manner, The second battery cell receiving portion corresponding to the outer shape of the other one of the battery cells may be formed.

Likewise, the first battery cell housing part and the second battery cell housing part may be formed corresponding to the outer shape of the plurality of battery cells so that at least three battery cells are connected in series in one battery cell housing part Of course.

And openings through which the bus bars are exposed may be respectively formed at the ends of the first case and the second case. The battery cells are embedded in the battery cell compartment and at the same time can make an electrical connection in contact with the bus bar, but there is a risk of short circuit due to vibration and impact. Therefore, the battery cell and the bus bar are welded through the opening, and the connection between the battery cell and the bus bar is secured, whereby the risk of short circuit due to vibration and shock can be reduced.

The bus bars may be mounted in more than one number in one case to connect the battery cells in series.

In addition, the bus bars may be mounted in one case so as to connect the battery cells in parallel.

Likewise, the bus bars may be mounted in more than one number in one case to connect the battery cells in series and in parallel.

The present invention also provides a battery pack including at least two battery modules.

The external input / output terminals of the battery modules constituting the battery pack may be electrically connected to each other by a module connecting bus bar.

The thickness of the module connecting bus bar may be greater than the thickness of the bus bar for connecting the battery cell. Therefore, it can withstand vibration, impact, and overcurrent.

The battery cell may be a cylindrical battery cell or a lithium secondary battery having a large energy storage amount per volume.

In consideration of structural stability and the like, the battery pack is required to have a long lifetime and excellent durability. The battery pack can be used for a mobile phone, a portable computer, a smart phone, a smart pad, a netbook, a LEV (Light Electronic Vehicle), an electric vehicle, Hybrid electric vehicles, and electric power storage devices.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a device including the battery pack as a power source, wherein the device is a mobile phone, a portable computer, a smart phone, a smart pad, a netbook, a LEV (light electronic vehicle), an electric vehicle, , A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or a power storage device.

The structure and manufacturing method of such a device are well known in the art, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the battery cells are housed in the battery cell compartment to form the battery module, the battery cells naturally come into contact with the bus bars to establish an electrical connection. Therefore, there is an advantage that the entire process can be simplified by disposing a separate process of contacting the bus bar with the battery cells.

Further, by using a bus bar for module connection that is thicker than the bus bar for connecting the battery cell, there is an advantage that a battery module with improved safety that can withstand vibration, shock, and overcurrent can be provided.

1 is a perspective view of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a perspective view of a first case according to one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a side view of Figure 2;
4 is a perspective view of a battery module in a state before being fastened according to one embodiment of the present invention;
5 is a horizontal sectional view of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention;
6 is a horizontal sectional view of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention;
7 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited by the scope of the present invention.

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

1, the battery cell 400 includes a first case 100 and a second case 200. The first case 100 and the second case 200 have external input / output terminals 30 And openings 230 are formed on the side surfaces thereof.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first case 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a battery module before being fastened Respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, a first battery cell housing part 110 capable of housing a part of the battery cells 10 is formed in the first case 100, And a bus bar 120 for a battery cell is formed on the inner side of the battery cells 110.

Similarly, a second battery cell housing part (not shown) capable of housing the remaining part of the battery cells 10 is formed inside the second case 200, and a second battery cell housing part (not shown) A bus bar 220 for a battery cell is formed.

Two fastening holes 130 are formed at the upper end of the interface where the first case 100 contacts the second case 200 and two fastening holes 140 are formed at the lower end thereof. Two fastening grooves (not shown) and fastening holes (not shown) having a shape corresponding to fastening holes 130 and fastening holes 140 of the first case 100 are formed in the first case 100, Respectively, at the upper and lower ends of the interface. Due to such a fastening structure, the first case 100 and the second case 200 can be fastened easily.

The first case 100 and the second case 200 are coupled in the direction of the arrow in a state of housing the battery cells 10 in the first battery cell compartments 110 to form one battery module 400 . The first case 100 and the second case 200 are fastened together and the battery cells 10 are in contact with and electrically connected to the bus bars 120 and 220. Accordingly, since the process of connecting the battery cells 10 to the bus bars 120 and 220 is not required, the entire process can be simplified.

5 is a horizontal sectional view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5, the battery cells 10 are connected in series by bus bars 122, 123, 221 and 222, and the outermost battery cells 10 are connected by bus bars 121 and 223 And are connected to the external input / output terminals 130 and 230, respectively. In such a serial connection structure, the external input / output terminal 230 of the second battery case 200 may be formed in a direction opposite to the external input / output terminal 130 of the first battery case 100.

6 is a horizontal sectional view of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention;

6, the battery cells 10 are connected in parallel by bus bars 120 and 220 and the bus bars 120 and 220 are connected to the external input / output terminals 130 and 230, respectively.

Although FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate serial and parallel connections, it is also possible to use a combination of serial and parallel connections.

7 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, the battery pack 500 includes two battery modules 400 stacked one above the other. The battery modules 400 connect the module connecting bus bar 600 to the external input / output terminal 300 to provide an electrical connection.

The thickness of the module connecting bus bar 600 may be greater than the thickness of the bus bar (not shown) for connecting the battery cells. Therefore, it can withstand vibration, impact, and overcurrent.

It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (15)

A battery module comprising at least two battery cells,
A first case and a second case each having a rectangular shape, the case having the battery cells embedded therein;
Two or more battery cell receivers formed in the first case and the second case in a shape corresponding to an outer surface of the battery cells;
A battery cell connection bus bar mounted inside the battery cell compartment for electrical connection of the battery cells; And
External input / output terminals formed on one side of the first case and the second case, respectively, and electrically connected to the bus bar;
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Wherein the bus bars and the external input / output terminals are integrally mounted to the first case and the second case by insert injection molding, respectively. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the battery cell is a cylindrical battery cell. delete The battery module according to claim 1, wherein a fastener is protruded from the first case at an interface between the first case and the second case, and a fastening groove is formed in the second case. The battery module according to claim 4, wherein the fastener has a hook structure, and the fastening groove has a groove structure corresponding to the hook. 2. The battery pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the battery cells is mounted on one of the battery cell compartments in the process of fastening the first case and the second case to each other, And a second battery cell housing portion corresponding to the remaining outer shape of the battery cell is formed in the second housing. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein openings are formed at ends of the first case and the second case, respectively, through which the bus bars are exposed. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the bus bars are mounted in two or more in one case so as to connect the battery cells in series. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein one of the bus bars is mounted in one case so as to connect the battery cells in parallel. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the battery cell is a lithium secondary battery. A battery pack comprising at least two battery modules according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 4 to 10. The battery pack according to claim 11, wherein the external input / output terminals of the battery modules are electrically connected to each other by a bus bar for module connection. 13. The battery pack according to claim 12, wherein the thickness of the module connecting bus bar is larger than the thickness of the bus bar for connecting the battery cell. A device as claimed in claim 13 comprising a battery pack as a power source. 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the device is selected from a cell phone, a portable computer, a smart phone, a smart pad, a netbook, a LEV (Light Electronic Vehicle), an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, ≪ / RTI >

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