KR101797688B1 - Battery Module Capable of Switching Electrical Connection of Battery Packs - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery pack comprising at least two battery packs; And at least one connecting member having a structure in which the battery packs are mutually mechanically connected and can be pivotally rotated, wherein an anode connection portion and a cathode connection portion are provided on an outer surface of the battery pack, The positive electrode connecting portions and the negative electrode connecting portions of the battery packs are electrically connected in series or parallel to each other when the outer surfaces of the battery packs face each other.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery module capable of changing an electrical connection state between battery packs,

The present invention relates to a battery module capable of changing an electrical connection state of battery packs.

As information technology (IT) technology has developed remarkably, various portable information and communication devices have been spreading, so that the 21st century is being developed into a "ubiquitous society" capable of providing high quality information services regardless of time and place.

As a development base for such a ubiquitous society, a lithium secondary battery occupies an important position. Specifically, the rechargeable lithium secondary battery is widely used as an energy source for wireless mobile devices, and is proposed as a solution for air pollution of existing gasoline vehicles and diesel vehicles using fossil fuels And also as an energy source for electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and the like.

As described above, as the devices to which the lithium secondary battery is applied are diversified, the lithium secondary battery has been diversified to provide an appropriate output and capacity for the applied device. In addition, miniaturization is strongly demanded.

Meanwhile, in order for the battery module to provide the output and capacity required by a predetermined device or device, a plurality of battery cells must be electrically connected in series or parallel manner to form a battery module. As the capacity of the battery module increases, It should be easy and stable.

Particularly, when a battery module is constructed using a plurality of battery cells, a large number of members are generally required for mechanical fastening and electrical connection thereof such as a bus bar or a power connection cable, and a cooling structure is also required. The process of assembling is very complicated.

Moreover, it is not easy to extend the battery module or change the electrical connection method for the desired output characteristics and life characteristics, and addition or change of many components is required for such a battery module, so that the manufacturing cost is high, The manufacturing is not easy due to the complexity of the structure.

Therefore, there is a great need for a battery module that can easily change the expansion or electrical connection of the battery module.

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.

The inventors of the present application have conducted intensive research and various experiments, and as a result, have succeeded in connecting a plurality of battery packs through one or more connecting members having a structure in which battery packs are mutually mechanically connected and pivotable The present invention has been accomplished on the basis of confirming that expansion or electrical connection of the battery module can be easily changed.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery module comprising: at least two battery packs; And

At least one connecting member having a structure in which the battery packs are mutually mechanically connected and pivotable;

And,

The positive electrode connection portion and the negative electrode connection portion are provided on the outer surface of the battery pack. When the battery packs pivot about the connection member and the outer surfaces of the battery packs face each other, the positive electrode connection portions and the negative electrode connection portions of the battery packs are electrically In parallel or in series.

The battery module having such a structure can be electrically connected if the outer surfaces of the battery packs face each other without any additional member such as a bus bar or a fastening bar for electrically interconnecting the battery packs. High, and overall compact structure.

Further, when the outer surfaces of the battery pack face each other, that is, the electrode connections of the outer surfaces of the battery packs are in contact with each other, electrical connection can be achieved so that it is easy to add an additional battery pack to the battery module, Can be easily achieved.

Furthermore, an advantage of the battery module of the present invention is that the battery module can be changed from an electrical connection state, that is, from serial to parallel connection, or from parallel to serial connection, by pivoting the battery packs and switching their facing directions, It is possible.

For example, if the electrical connections in a state in which the outer surfaces of the battery packs face each other are serial connections, the battery packs are rotated around the connecting member in the opposite direction so that the other outer surfaces face each other, Can be made by a parallel connection.

To this end, the battery module of the present invention may have a structure in which positive electrode connection portions and negative electrode connection portions are formed on outer surfaces of the battery packs facing each other.

Specifically, the battery pack has a first surface, which is a top surface with respect to a ground surface;

A second surface which is a lower surface facing the first surface; And a third surface positioned between the first surface and the second surface and extending from an end of the first surface to an end of the second surface, wherein the first surface, the second surface, The anode connection portion and the cathode connection portion may be formed in parallel on the second surface and the connection member may be mounted on the third surface.

That is, the battery pack can achieve electrical connection in series or in parallel by configuring various positions of the positive electrode connection portion and the negative electrode connection portion on each of the outer surfaces ('first surface' and 'second surface').

In one example, the positive electrode connection portion and the negative electrode connection portion may be located side by side in the central portion in each of the first and second surfaces.

Such a structure may be a structure in which each of the positive electrode connection portions and the negative electrode connection portions are electrically connected to each other in series or in parallel when the first surfaces of the battery packs face each other. Here, when the battery packs pivot in opposite directions with respect to the facing direction of the first surfaces, and the second surfaces of the battery packs face each other, a connection structure opposite to the connection structure in which the first surfaces face each other, that is, If one face is in series, the opposite faces of the second face are connected in parallel, and conversely, if the first faces are parallel to each other, the face of the second face may be connected in series.

That is, the battery module of the present invention can achieve a serial or parallel connection structure according to the facing state of the first surface and the second surface in the battery pack having the first surface and the second surface which are mutually facing surfaces, It should be noted that the battery pack can be easily changed from a face-to-face state of the first faces to a face-to-face state of the second faces, or vice versa, by the pivotal rotation by the connecting member.

Alternatively, the positive electrode connection portion and the negative electrode connection portion may be arranged side by side on the third surface on which the connecting member is mounted.

Such a structure may be such that when the battery packs are arranged side by side, the third faces of the battery packs face each other, and the respective anode connection portions and the cathode connection portions are electrically connected to each other in series or in parallel.

The positive electrode connection portion and the negative electrode connection portion are arranged on the first surface side along the end portion of the first surface adjacent to the third surface on which the connecting member is mounted and are arranged along the opposite end portions of the first surface, And the other anode connection portion and the cathode connection portion are located side by side.

Here, the anode connection portion and the cathode connection portion may be located on the second surface as well as the structure located on the first surface.

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 Such a structure is a structure in which each of the positive electrode connection portions and the negative electrode connection portions are electrically connected to form a series or parallel structure when the first or second surfaces of the battery packs face each other, As shown in FIG.

As described above, the battery module according to the present invention has a structure in which the positive electrode connecting portion and the negative electrode connecting portion formed on the outer surfaces (first surface, second surface) of the battery pack are connected when the outer surfaces face each other And each battery pack is pivotally rotated by the connecting member to change the facing state of the outer surface to achieve a serial or parallel connection structure.

The battery pack includes n (n ? 2) battery packs and may be sequentially arranged from the first battery pack to the nth battery pack.

Here, in a state in which the n number of battery packs arranged are not pivotally rotated, a first surface of each of the battery packs forms an upper surface of the battery module, and each second surface forms a lower surface of the battery module. In this state, the battery packs are pivotally rotated so that the first surface or the second surface can be switched to a structure in which they face each other.

Specifically, in a state in which the n number of battery packs are rotated in the pivot direction, the pivot rotation of the first battery pack and the odd-numbered battery packs out of the n battery packs, It can rotate in the direction opposite to the rotation direction.

That is, the battery packs are rotated in a zigzag manner, and the outer surfaces of the battery packs face each other. The first surface of each battery pack may be rotated so that the first surface faces the second surface.

Specifically, when the n battery packs pivot, the first surface of the first battery pack faces the first surface of the second battery pack, and the second surface of the second battery pack faces the third surface of the third battery pack. The first surface of the third battery pack faces the first surface of the fourth battery pack, and when n is 5 or more, the surface of the third battery pack facing the second surface of the third battery pack faces the second surface of the third battery pack, So that the battery packs are pivotally rotated.

The second surface of the first battery pack faces the second surface of the second battery pack and the first surface of the second battery pack faces the third surface of the third battery pack when the n battery packs pivot, And the second surface of the third battery pack faces the second surface of the fourth battery pack, and when n is greater than or equal to 5, the second surface of the third battery pack faces the first surface of the battery pack, And the battery packs are pivotally rotated so as to face each other with a face-to-face structure.

Here, among the n battery packs, a cathode connection portion is formed on the second surface of the first battery pack and the odd-numbered battery pack, at a position corresponding to the anode connection portion of the first surface, The positive electrode connection portion may be formed at a position corresponding to the negative electrode connection portion.

Further, among the n battery packs, the positive electrode connection portion is formed on the second surface of the battery pack arranged at an even-numbered position and at a position corresponding to the positive electrode connection portion of the first surface, A cathode connection portion may be formed.

That is, the battery pack arranged in the odd-numbered positions including the first battery pack has the anode connection portion and the anode connection portion in the order of the first surface and the cathode connection portion and the anode connection portion in the order of the first surface, Respectively. On the other hand, when viewed from the same plane, the battery packs arranged at the even-numbered positions have the same formation positions of the positive electrode connection portion and the negative electrode connection portion between the first surface and the second surface.

Therefore, as described above, the structure in which the pivot rotation of the battery packs is completed is a case where the first surface of the odd-numbered battery pack faces the first surface of the even-numbered battery pack and the second surface of the odd- The electrical connection state when the second face of the battery pack faces can be the same. That is, if the facing surfaces of the first surfaces are in series, the second surfaces are in series when facing, and conversely, if the facing surfaces of the first surfaces are in series, they can be in series when facing the second surfaces.

In one specific example related thereto, when the first battery pack is pivotally rotated about the connecting member so that the first surface of the first battery pack faces the first surface of the second battery pack, The connection portion and the positive electrode connection portion of the second battery pack are connected and the negative electrode connection portion of the first battery pack and the negative electrode connection portion of the second battery pack are connected to form a parallel electrical connection, When the second face of the second battery pack faces the second face of the third battery pack, the positive electrode connecting portion of the second battery pack and the positive electrode connecting portion of the third battery pack are connected, and the negative electrode connecting portion of the second battery pack, The battery packs are pivotally rotated by the connection structure from the third battery pack to the nth battery pack to make a parallel connection structure when n is 4 or more .

Here, in the structure in which the pivot rotation of the battery packs is completed, when the pivot rotation is reversed, the parallel connection state can be switched to the series connection state as described above.

Specifically, when the first battery pack pivots about the connecting member and the second surface of the first battery pack faces the second surface of the second battery pack, the positive electrode connection portion of the first battery pack, The negative electrode connection portion of the first battery pack is connected to the positive electrode connection portion of the second battery pack and the second battery pack is pivotally rotated about the connection member, When the first surface faces the first surface of the third battery pack, the positive electrode connection portion of the second battery pack and the negative electrode connection portion of the third battery pack are connected, and the negative electrode connection portion of the second battery pack and the positive electrode connection portion And when n is 4 or more, the battery packs are pivotally rotated by the connection structure from the third battery pack to the nth battery pack, so that a series connection structure can be formed.

As described above, in the battery module according to the present invention, a plurality of battery packs are coupled to each other in a pivotable structure, and the electrical connection state ('serial or parallel') can be switched according to the pivot rotation direction, The battery module can be used in an electrically connected state suitable for the situation in consideration of the output, capacity, and life characteristics.

Here, the connecting member capable of pivotal rotation may be, for example, a member made of a hinge structure, and more specifically, a hinge portion; And a connecting portion for mechanically connecting the hinge portion and the battery pack. Such a hinge is configured such that the connection portion can rotate 360 degrees about the hinge portion, and the battery pack can also be rotated 360 degrees.

The connecting member may also be made of a flexible and flexible material. Specifically, the connecting member may be a porous structure made of a polymer resin, or a porous structure made of a natural rubber or a synthetic rubber, but is not limited thereto.

Meanwhile, in one specific example, the battery pack has a structure in which two or more battery cells are housed in an exterior member, and a cathode terminal and an anode terminal of the battery cells are directly exposed to the exterior member, It may be a structure in which two or more openings are formed so that the connecting member and the cathode connecting member are exposed to the outside.

Specifically, a structure in which an electrode terminal of a battery cell extends through an opening in a state where the electrode terminal of the battery cell extends in the inside of the exterior member, or a connection member that is exposed to the outside through an opening is connected to an electrode terminal of the battery cell May be a structure.

Therefore, in the battery pack of the present invention, the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal, or the positive electrode connection member and the negative electrode connection member are exposed to the outside in a state of protruding upward through the opening, and the exposed portion constitutes the positive electrode connection portion and the negative electrode connection portion can do.

The material of the exterior member is not particularly limited and may be made of an electrically insulating material so as not to interfere with the electrical connection between the positive electrode connection portion and the negative electrode connection portion when the battery pack faces each other. .

The structure of the battery cell may be, for example, a prismatic battery cell or a cylindrical battery cell in which an electrode assembly is embedded in a metal can with an electrolyte, or a pouch type battery in which an electrode assembly is embedded in a pouch case of a laminate sheet together with an electrolyte Cell.

Such a battery cell is not particularly limited in its kind but may be, for example, a lithium secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery or a lithium ion polymer battery having advantages such as high energy density, discharge voltage, and output stability.

Generally, a lithium secondary battery is composed of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, and a non-aqueous electrolyte containing a lithium salt.

The positive electrode is prepared, for example, by coating a mixture of a positive electrode active material, a conductive material and a binder on a positive electrode current collector, and then drying the mixture. Optionally, a filler may be further added to the mixture.

The cathode active material may be a layered compound such as lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO ₂ ), lithium nickel oxide (LiNiO ₂ ), or a compound substituted with one or more transition metals; Lithium manganese oxides such as Li _{1 + x} Mn _{2 -x} O ₄ (where x is 0 to 0.33), LiMnO ₃ , LiMn ₂ O ₃ , LiMnO ₂ and the like; Lithium copper oxide (Li ₂ CuO ₂ ); Vanadium oxides such as LiV ₃ O ₈ , LiFe ₃ O ₄ , V ₂ O ₅ and Cu ₂ V ₂ O ₇ ; A Ni-site type lithium nickel oxide expressed by the formula LiNi _1-x M _x O ₂ (where M = Co, Mn, Al, Cu, Fe, Mg, B or Ga and x = 0.01 to 0.3); Formula _{LiMn 2-x M x O 2} ( where, M = Co, Ni, Fe , Cr, and Zn, or Ta, x = 0.01 ~ 0.1 Im) or Li ₂ Mn ₃ MO ₈ (where, M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, or Zn); LiMn ₂ O _{4 in} which a part of Li in the formula is substituted with an alkaline earth metal ion; Disulfide compounds; Fe ₂ (MoO ₄ ) ₃ , and the like. However, the present invention is not limited to these.

The conductive material is usually added in an amount of 1 to 30% by weight based on the total weight of the mixture including the cathode active material. Such a conductive material is not particularly limited as long as it has electrical conductivity without causing chemical changes in the battery, for example, graphite such as natural graphite or artificial graphite; Carbon black such as carbon black, acetylene black, ketjen black, channel black, furnace black, lamp black, and summer black; Conductive fibers such as carbon fiber and metal fiber; Metal powders such as carbon fluoride, aluminum, and nickel powder; Conductive whiskey such as zinc oxide and potassium titanate; Conductive metal oxides such as titanium oxide; Conductive materials such as polyphenylene derivatives and the like can be used.

The binder is a component which assists in bonding of the active material and the conductive material and bonding to the current collector, and is usually added in an amount of 1 to 30% by weight based on the total weight of the mixture containing the cathode active material. Examples of such binders include polyvinylidene fluoride, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), starch, hydroxypropylcellulose, regenerated cellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, tetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene , Polypropylene, ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM), sulfonated EPDM, styrene butylene rubber, fluorine rubber, various copolymers and the like.

The filler is optionally used as a component for suppressing the expansion of the anode, and is not particularly limited as long as it is a fibrous material without causing a chemical change in the battery. Examples of the filler include olefin polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene; Fibrous materials such as glass fibers and carbon fibers are used.

The negative electrode is manufactured by applying and drying a negative electrode active material on a negative electrode collector, and if necessary, the above-described components may be selectively included.

Examples of the negative electrode active material include carbon such as non-graphitized carbon and graphite carbon; _{Li x Fe 2 O 3 (0≤x≤1} ), Li x WO 2 (0≤x≤1), Sn x Me 1-x Me 'y O z (Me: Mn, Fe, Pb, Ge; Me' : Metal complex oxides such as Al, B, P, Si, Group 1, Group 2, Group 3 elements of the periodic table, Halogen, 0 < x < Lithium metal; Lithium alloy; Silicon-based alloys; Tin alloy; _{SnO, SnO 2, PbO, PbO} 2, Pb 2 O 3, Pb 3 O 4, Sb 2 O 3, Sb 2 O 4, Sb 2 O 5, GeO, GeO 2, Bi 2 O 3, Bi 2 O 4, and Bi ₂ O ₅ ; Conductive polymers such as polyacetylene; Li-Co-Ni-based materials and the like can be used.

The separation membrane and the separation film are interposed between the anode and the cathode, and an insulating thin film having high ion permeability and mechanical strength is used. The pore diameter of the separator is generally 0.01 to 10 mu m, and the thickness is generally 5 to 130 mu m. Such separation membranes include, for example, olefinic polymers such as polypropylene, which are chemically resistant and hydrophobic; A sheet or nonwoven fabric made of glass fiber, polyethylene or the like is used. When a solid electrolyte such as a polymer is used as an electrolyte, the solid electrolyte may also serve as a separation membrane.

Further, in one specific example, in order to improve the safety of the battery, the separation membrane and / or the separation film may be an organic / inorganic composite porous SRS (Safety-Reinforcing Separators) separation membrane.

The SRS separator is manufactured by using inorganic particles and a binder polymer on the polyolefin-based separator substrate as an active layer component. In addition to the pore structure contained in the separator substrate itself, the SRS separator is formed by interstitial volume between inorganic particles And has a uniform pore structure.

The use of such an organic / inorganic composite porous separator has the advantage of suppressing an increase in thickness of the cell due to swelling at the time of chemical conversion compared with the case of using a conventional separator, When a gelable polymer is used when liquid electrolyte is impregnated, it can also be used as an electrolyte.

In addition, the organic / inorganic composite porous separator can exhibit excellent adhesion characteristics by controlling the contents of the inorganic particles and the binder polymer in the separator, so that the cell assembly process can be easily performed.

The inorganic particles are not particularly limited as long as they are electrochemically stable. That is, the inorganic particles usable in the present invention are not particularly limited as long as the oxidation and / or reduction reaction does not occur in the operating voltage range of the applied battery (for example, 0 to 5 V based on Li / Li +). Particularly, when inorganic particles having an ion-transporting ability are used, the ion conductivity in the electrochemical device can be increased and the performance can be improved. Therefore, it is preferable that the ionic conductivity is as high as possible. In addition, when the inorganic particles have a high density, it is difficult to disperse the particles at the time of coating, and there is a problem of an increase in weight during the production of the battery. In the case of an inorganic substance having a high dielectric constant, dissociation of an electrolyte salt, for example, a lithium salt, in the liquid electrolyte also contributes to increase ionic conductivity of the electrolyte.

The nonaqueous electrolyte solution containing a lithium salt is composed of a polar organic electrolyte and a lithium salt. As the electrolytic solution, a non-aqueous liquid electrolytic solution, an organic solid electrolyte, an inorganic solid electrolyte and the like are used.

Examples of the nonaqueous liquid electrolytic solution include N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, butylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, gamma -Butyrolactone, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, tetrahydroxyfuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, dimethylsulfoxide, 1,3-dioxolane, formamide, dimethylformamide, dioxolane , Acetonitrile, nitromethane, methyl formate, methyl acetate, triester phosphate, trimethoxymethane, dioxolane derivatives, sulfolane, methylsulfolane, 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone, propylene carbonate Nonionic organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran derivatives, ethers, methyl pyrophosphate, ethyl propionate and the like can be used.

Examples of the organic solid electrolyte include a polymer electrolyte such as a polyethylene derivative, a polyethylene oxide derivative, a polypropylene oxide derivative, a phosphate ester polymer, an agitation lysine, a polyester sulfide, a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyvinylidene fluoride, Polymers containing ionic dissociation groups, and the like can be used.

Examples of the inorganic solid electrolyte include Li ₃ N, LiI, Li ₅ NI ₂ , Li ₃ N-LiI-LiOH, LiSiO ₄ , LiSiO ₄ -LiI-LiOH, Li ₂ SiS ₃ , Li ₄ SiO ₄ , Nitrides, halides and sulfates of Li such as Li ₄ SiO ₄ -LiI-LiOH and Li ₃ PO ₄ -Li ₂ S-SiS ₂ can be used.

The lithium salt is a material that is readily soluble in the non-aqueous electrolyte, for example, LiCl, LiBr, LiI, LiClO 4, LiBF 4, LiB 10 Cl 10, LiPF 6, LiCF 3 SO 3, LiCF 3 CO 2, LiAsF _{6, LiSbF 6, LiAlCl 4,} CH 3 SO 3 Li, CF 3 SO 3 Li, (CF 3 SO 2) 2 NLi, chloroborane lithium, lower aliphatic carboxylic acid lithium, lithium tetraphenyl borate and imide have.

For the purpose of improving the charge-discharge characteristics and the flame retardancy, the non-aqueous liquid electrolyte may contain, for example, pyridine, triethylphosphite, triethanolamine, cyclic ether, ethylenediamine, glyme, N, N-substituted imidazolidine, ethylene glycol dialkyl ether, ammonium salt, pyrrole, 2-methoxyethanol, aluminum trichloride, etc. are added It is possible. In some cases, a halogen-containing solvent such as carbon tetrachloride or ethylene trifluoride may be further added to impart nonflammability, or a carbon dioxide gas may be further added to improve high-temperature storage characteristics.

The invention also provides a device comprising one or more of the battery modules, wherein the device is any one selected from the group consisting of an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, But are not limited to these.

Since the devices are well known in the art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.

As described above, the battery module according to the present invention can be electrically connected when the outer surfaces of the battery packs face each other without any additional member such as a bus bar or a fastening bar for electrically interconnecting the battery packs, It can be constructed with a very simple assembly structure and a compact structure.

Further, when the outer surfaces of the battery pack face each other, that is, the electrode connections of the outer surfaces of the battery packs are in contact with each other, electrical connection can be achieved so that it is easy to add an additional battery pack to the battery module, Can be easily achieved.

Furthermore, an advantage of the battery module of the present invention is that it can be changed from an electrical connection state, that is, from serial to parallel connection, or from parallel to serial connection, by pivoting the battery packs, .

1 is a schematic view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is a schematic view of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a schematic view showing a structure in which battery packs are arranged in a side direction in a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention;
4 is a schematic view showing a facing surface of the battery module shown in Fig. 3;
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the battery module of FIGS. 3 and 4 as viewed from above; FIG.
6 is a schematic view showing a structure in which battery packs are pivotally rotated;
7 is a schematic diagram of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention;
8 is a schematic view of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a structure in which the battery packs of FIG. 8 are pivotally rotated.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings according to embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

1 is a schematic view of a battery pack constituting a battery module according to the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, the battery pack 10 is composed of an exterior member 12 and battery cells 14.

The battery pack 10 has a structure in which the battery cells 14 are accommodated in the casing member 12. The battery pack 10 also includes a first surface 11, a second surface (not shown), and a third surface 13 which are outer surfaces.

The battery cells 14 are formed in a cylindrical structure, and they are electrically connected in parallel by the connecting members 16 and 17. The positive electrode connection member 16 includes an extension portion 16a extending from the positive electrode of the battery cells 14 to a position corresponding to a substantial center of the first surface 11 of the battery pack 10, The negative electrode connection member 17 includes an extended portion 17a extending from the negative electrode to a position corresponding to a substantial center of the first surface of the battery pack 10. [

The positive electrode connection member 16 further includes an extending portion 16b extending from the positive electrode of the battery cells 14 to a position corresponding to substantially the center of the third surface 13 of the battery pack 10 Similarly, the cathode connection member 17 includes an extended portion 17b extending from the cathode to a position corresponding to the substantial center of the third surface 13 of the battery pack 10. [

Although not shown in the drawings, the positive electrode connecting portion and the negative electrode connecting portion are arranged side by side on the second surface opposite to the first surface 11, with the same structure as the first surface 11. [

The openings 18, 19, 18a and 18b are formed on the first surface 11, the second surface (not shown) and the third surface so that the anode connection member 16 and the cathode connection member 17 are exposed to the outside. And the connection members 16, 17, 16b, and 17b exposed to the outside through the openings 18, 19, 18a, and 18b form the positive electrode connection portion and the negative electrode connection portion of the battery pack 10, respectively.

That is, in the battery pack 10 of the present invention, the positive electrode connection portion and the negative electrode connection portion are located side by side at the center of the first surface 11.

2, a battery pack having a structure in which pouch-shaped battery cells are housed in an exterior member is shown.

Referring to FIG. 2, the battery pack 20 is configured such that the pouch-shaped battery cells 24a and 24b are housed in the casing member 21 in a state where they are electrically connected in parallel.

The positive electrode terminals 26 are connected to each other at one end of the battery cells 24a and 24b and the positive electrode terminals 26 are connected to the positive electrode terminals 26, Extends to a position corresponding to the approximate center of the outer surface of the battery pack 20.

Likewise, at one end of each of the battery cells 24a and 24b, the negative electrode terminals 28 protrude and are connected to each other. The negative electrode terminals 28 are connected to the negative electrode connection member 29, The negative electrode connection member 29 extends to a position corresponding to the approximate center of the outer surface of the battery pack 20.

The battery pack 20 includes a first surface 31, a second surface (not shown), and a third surface 33. Openings 22 and 23 are formed on the first surface 31 so that the anode connection member 27 and the cathode connection member 29 can be exposed to the outside. Exposure to the outside through the openings 22 and 23 The connection members 27 and 29 form the positive electrode connection portion 22 and the negative electrode connection portion 23 of the battery pack 20. That is, in the battery pack 20 of the present invention, the positive electrode connection portion 22 and the negative electrode connection portion 23 are disposed side by side at the center of the first surface 31.

Although not shown in the drawings, the positive electrode connection portion and the negative electrode connection portion are arranged side by side on the second surface opposite to the first surface 31, with the same structure as the first surface 31. [

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FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a structure in which battery packs are arranged side by side in a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a battery module shown in FIG. 3, And FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the battery module of FIGS. 3 and 4 as viewed from above.

Referring to these drawings, the battery module 100 has a structure in which the battery packs 102, 104, 106, and 108 are connected to each other by connecting members 110, 111, and 112 capable of pivoting.

Specifically, the connecting members 110 are attached to the third surfaces 102c and 104c of the first battery pack 102 and the second battery pack 104, and the second battery pack 104 and the third battery pack 104 The connecting members 111 are mounted on the third surfaces 104c and 106c of the first battery pack 106 and the third surfaces 106c and 108c of the third battery pack 106 and the fourth battery pack 108 are connected to the connecting members 111, (Not shown).

The battery module 100 is sequentially arranged up to the first battery pack 102, the second battery pack 104, the third battery pack 106 and the fourth battery pack 108. The battery packs 102, The first surfaces 102a, 104a, 106a and 108a of the battery modules 104, 106 and 108 form the upper surface of the battery module 100 and the respective second surfaces 102b, 104b, 100 are formed.

The positive electrode connection portion 120 and the negative electrode connection portion 122 are formed in order at substantially the center of the first surface 102a of the first battery pack 102. The negative electrode connection portion 136 is formed substantially at the center of the second surface 102b. And an anode connection portion 138 are formed in this order.

An anode connection portion 124 and an anode connection portion 126 are formed in order at a substantially central portion of the first surface 104a of the second battery pack 104. An anode connection portion 140 is formed substantially at the center of the second surface 104b, And an anode connection portion 142 are formed in this order.

An anode connection portion 128 and an anode connection portion 130 are formed in order at a substantially central portion of the first surface 106a of the third battery pack 106. An anode connection portion 144 is formed substantially at the center of the second surface 106b, And a cathode connection portion 146 are formed in this order.

The positive electrode connection portion 132 and the negative electrode connection portion 134 are formed in order at the substantially central portion of the first surface 108a of the fourth battery pack 108. The positive electrode connection portion 148 is formed substantially at the center of the second surface 108b, And a cathode connection part 150 are formed in this order.

The first battery pack 102 pivots about the connecting member 110 in the direction of the first surface 104a of the second battery pack 104. [ The second battery pack 104 pivots about the connecting member 111 in the direction of the second surface 106b of the third battery pack 106. [ The third battery pack 106 pivots about the connecting member 112 in the direction of the first surface 108a of the fourth battery pack 108. [

6, the first surface 102a of the first battery pack 102 faces the first surface 104a of the second battery pack 104, and the first surface 102a of the first battery pack 102 Is connected to the positive electrode connection portion 126 of the second battery pack 104 and the negative electrode connection portion 122 of the first battery pack 102 is connected to the negative electrode connection portion 120 of the second battery pack 104 124, and the first battery pack 102 and the second battery pack 104 are connected in parallel with each other.

The second surface 104b of the second battery pack 104 faces the second surface 106b of the third battery pack 106 and the anode connection portion 142 of the second battery pack 104 The negative electrode connection portion 140 of the second battery pack 104 is connected to the negative electrode connection portion 146 of the third battery pack 106 and the second electrode connection portion 140 of the second battery pack 104 is connected to the positive electrode connection portion 144 of the third battery pack 106, The battery pack 104 and the third battery pack 106 are connected in parallel with each other.

Similarly, the first surface 106a of the third battery pack 106 faces the first surface 108a of the fourth battery pack 108, and the positive electrode connection portion 130 of the third battery pack 106 The negative electrode connection portion 128 of the third battery pack 106 is connected to the negative electrode connection portion 134 of the fourth battery pack 108 and the third connection portion 128 of the third battery pack 106 is connected to the positive electrode connection portion 132 of the fourth battery pack 108, The battery pack 106 and the fourth battery pack 108 are connected in parallel with each other.

A schematic view of the battery module in which the battery packs are pivotally rotated is shown in Fig.

7, the battery module 100 includes a first battery pack 102, a second battery pack 104, a third battery pack 106, and a fourth battery pack 108 connected by a connecting member And are stacked so as to face each other. Here, the battery module 100 is connected in parallel from the first battery pack 102 to the fourth battery pack 108, and the second surface 102b of the first battery pack 102 is connected to the battery module 100 And the second surface 108b of the fourth battery pack 108 becomes the lower surface of the battery module 100. [ Therefore, the positive electrode connection portion and the negative electrode connection portion are formed in parallel on the top and bottom surfaces of the battery module 100, respectively, and electrical connection can be established in series or in parallel with another battery module through the positive electrode connection portion and the negative electrode connection portion.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a battery module in which battery packs pivot in different directions, and FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a pivotally rotated battery module.

Referring to FIG. 8, the first battery pack 102 pivots about the connecting member 110 in the direction of the second surface 104b of the second battery pack 104. The second battery pack 104 pivots about the connecting member 111 in the direction of the first surface 106a of the third battery pack 106. [ The third battery pack 106 pivots about the connecting member 112 in the direction of the second surface 108b of the fourth battery pack 108. [

As a result, the second surface 102b of the first battery pack 102 faces the second surface 104b of the second battery pack 104, and the first surface of the first battery pack 102 The anode connection portion 138 of the first battery pack 102 is connected to the anode connection portion 140 of the second battery pack 104 and the anode connection portion 136 of the first battery pack 102 is connected to the anode connection portion 142, and the first battery pack 102 and the second battery pack 104 are connected to each other in series.

The first surface 104a of the second battery pack 104 faces the first surface 106a of the third battery pack 106 and the anode connection portion 126 of the second battery pack 104 The negative electrode connection portion 124 of the second battery pack 104 is connected to the positive electrode connection portion 130 of the third battery pack 106 and the second positive electrode connection portion 124 of the second battery pack 104 is connected to the negative electrode connection portion 128 of the third battery pack 106, The battery pack 104 and the third battery pack 106 are connected to each other in series.

Likewise, the second surface 106b of the third battery pack 106 faces the second surface 108b of the fourth battery pack 108, and the anode connection portion 144 of the third battery pack 106 The negative electrode connection portion 146 of the third battery pack 106 is connected to the positive electrode connection portion 148 of the fourth battery pack 108 and the third positive electrode connection portion 146 of the third battery pack 106 is connected to the negative electrode connection portion 150 of the fourth battery pack 108, The battery pack 106 and the fourth battery pack 108 are connected in series.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims (22)

Two or more battery packs; And
At least one connecting member having a structure in which the battery packs are mutually mechanically connected and pivotable;
And,
The positive electrode connection portion and the negative electrode connection portion are provided on the outer surface of the battery pack. When the battery packs pivot about the connection member and the outer surfaces of the battery packs face each other, the positive electrode connection portions and the negative electrode connection portions of the battery packs are electrically In parallel or in series,
The battery pack includes: a first surface, which is a top surface with respect to the ground;
A second surface which is a lower surface facing the first surface; And
An outer peripheral surface of the battery pack, a third surface located between the first surface and the second surface and extending from an end of the first surface to an end of the second surface; / RTI >
Wherein an anode connection portion and a cathode connection portion are formed in each of central portions of the first and second surfaces, respectively, and a connection member is mounted on the third surface,
Wherein the battery pack includes n (n ? 2) battery packs and is sequentially arranged from the first battery pack to the nth battery pack,
The first surface of each of the battery packs forms an upper surface of the battery packs and the second surface of each of the battery packs forms a lower surface of the battery packs,
Among the n battery packs, a cathode connection portion is formed on a second surface of the first battery pack and a battery pack arranged at an odd-numbered position, the cathode connection portion being located at a position corresponding to the anode connection portion of the first surface, And an anode connection portion is formed at a position corresponding to the anode connection portion,
Among the n battery packs, a positive electrode connection portion is formed on the second surface of the battery pack arranged at an even-numbered position and at a position corresponding to the positive electrode connection portion on the first surface, And a negative electrode connection portion is formed in the battery module. delete delete delete delete delete delete The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein, in a state in which the n number of battery packs are pivotally rotated, pivotal rotation of the first battery pack and the odd-numbered battery pack, among the n battery packs, And the battery pack rotates in a direction opposite to the pivot rotation direction of the pack. 9. The battery pack according to claim 8, wherein when the n battery packs are pivoted, the first surface of the first battery pack faces the first surface of the second battery pack, and the second surface of the second battery pack And the first surface of the third battery pack faces the first surface of the fourth battery pack. When n is greater than or equal to 5, the fourth surface of the third battery pack faces the second surface of the third battery pack, And the battery packs are pivotally rotated so as to face the n-th battery pack in the face-to-face structure. 9. The battery pack according to claim 8, wherein when the n battery packs are pivotally rotated, the second surface of the first battery pack faces the second surface of the second battery pack, and the first surface of the second battery pack faces the third surface of the third battery pack. And the second surface of the third battery pack faces the second surface of the fourth battery pack. When n is greater than or equal to 5, the fourth battery pack faces the first surface of the battery pack, And the battery packs are pivotally rotated so as to face the battery pack in the face-to-face structure. delete delete The battery pack according to claim 9, wherein when the first battery pack faces the first surface of the second battery pack such that the first battery pack pivots about the connecting member, and the first surface of the first battery pack faces the first surface of the second battery pack, The positive electrode connecting portion of the second battery pack is connected and the negative electrode connecting portion of the first battery pack and the negative electrode connecting portion of the second battery pack are connected to form a parallel electrical connection between the first battery pack and the second battery pack, When the second surface of the second battery pack faces the second surface of the third battery pack, the positive electrode connecting portion of the second battery pack and the positive electrode connecting portion of the third battery pack are connected to each other, The negative electrode connection portion of the second battery pack and the negative electrode connection portion of the third battery pack are connected to form a parallel electrical connection between the second battery pack and the third battery pack, and when n is 4 or more, The battery packs are pivotally rotated Wherein the battery module has a parallel connection structure. The battery pack according to claim 10, wherein when the first battery pack pivots about the connecting member so that the second surface of the first battery pack faces the second surface of the second battery pack, The negative electrode connection portion of the second battery pack is connected and the negative electrode connection portion of the first battery pack and the positive electrode connection portion of the second battery pack are connected to each other to make mutual series electrical connection between the first battery pack and the second battery pack, When the first surface of the second battery pack faces the first surface of the third battery pack, the anode connection portion of the second battery pack and the cathode connection portion of the third battery pack are connected to each other, The second battery pack and the third battery pack are connected in series to each other by a cathode connection portion of the second battery pack and an anode connection portion of the third battery pack. When n is 4 or more, The battery packs are pivotally rotated W electrically connected to the battery module in series, characterized in that forming the structure. 2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the battery pack has a structure in which two or more battery cells are housed in a case member, and the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal of the battery cells are directly exposed to the battery case, And at least two openings are formed so that the cathode connection member can be exposed to the outside. The positive electrode connector according to claim 15, wherein the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal, or the positive electrode connection member and the negative electrode connection member are exposed to the outside while projecting upward through the opening, and the exposed portion constitutes the positive electrode connection portion and the negative electrode connection portion . 16. The battery module according to claim 15, wherein the exterior member is made of an electrically insulating polymer material. 16. The battery pack of claim 15, wherein the battery cell comprises: a prismatic battery cell or a cylindrical battery cell in which an electrode assembly is embedded in a metal can together with an electrolyte; or a pouch case of a laminate sheet in which an electrode assembly is built- . ≪ / RTI > The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member has a hinge structure. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member is made of a flexible material. A device comprising at least one battery module according to claim 1. 22. The device of claim 21, wherein the device is any one selected from the group consisting of an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or a power storage device.

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