KR102258817B1 - Battery module, battery pack comprising the battery module and vehicle comprising the battery pack - Google Patents

Abstract

A battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention is accommodated in a module case forming an exterior, the module case, and electrically connects a plurality of battery cells and electrode leads from which electrode leads protrude toward one side of the module case, and the module and a bus bar unit for bending electrode leads while seated on one side of the case.

Description

BATTERY MODULE, BATTERY PACK COMPRISING THE BATTERY MODULE AND VEHICLE COMPRISING THE BATTERY PACK

The present invention relates to a battery module, a battery pack comprising such a battery module and a vehicle comprising such a battery pack.

Secondary batteries that are easy to apply according to product groups and have electrical characteristics such as high energy density are not only portable devices, but also electric vehicles (EVs) or hybrid vehicles (HEVs) driven by an electric drive source. It is universally applied. These secondary batteries are attracting attention as a new energy source for improving eco-friendliness and energy efficiency in that not only the primary advantage of being able to dramatically reduce the use of fossil fuels, but also the fact that no by-products are generated from the use of energy.

The types of secondary batteries currently widely used include a lithium ion battery, a lithium polymer battery, a nickel cadmium battery, a nickel hydrogen battery, a nickel zinc battery, and the like. The unit secondary battery cell, that is, the operating voltage of the unit battery cell is about 2.5V to 4.6V. Accordingly, when a higher output voltage is required, a plurality of battery cells are connected in series to form a battery pack. In addition, a plurality of battery cells may be connected in parallel to form a battery pack according to the charge/discharge capacity required for the battery pack. Accordingly, the number of battery cells included in the battery pack may be variously set according to a required output voltage or charge/discharge capacity.

On the other hand, when configuring a battery pack by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series/parallel, a battery module including at least one battery cell is first configured, and other components are added using the at least one battery module to form a battery pack. The general way to configure

A conventional battery module, in general, includes a module case, a plurality of battery cells accommodated in the module case and protruding electrode leads in one direction, and a bus bar unit provided on one side of the module case and electrically connecting the electrode leads is composed Here, the bus bar unit includes a bus bar frame having lead slots through which electrode leads pass, and a sensing bus bar mounted on the bus bar frame and welded to electrode leads passing through the lead slots.

In a conventional battery module, a bending process of electrode leads passing through lead slots is performed before performing a welding process to improve weldability during such welding.

However, in the conventional bending process, since a separate process is performed on the upper side of the sensing bus bar after the sensing bus bar is mounted, there is a problem in that the assembly process time of the bus bar unit is increased.

In addition, in the conventional bending process, since the facing electrode leads are individually bent, there is a problem in that the welding quality also varies according to the bending accuracy deviation.

Therefore, there is a demand for a method for providing a battery module capable of reducing assembly time when assembling electrode leads of battery cells and a bus bar unit, a battery pack including the battery module, and a vehicle including the battery pack do.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module capable of reducing assembly time when assembling electrode leads of battery cells and a busbar unit, a battery pack including the battery module, and a vehicle including the battery pack will be.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a battery module capable of improving welding quality when assembling electrode leads of battery cells and a bus bar unit, a battery pack including the battery module, and a vehicle including the battery pack it is to do

In order to solve the above object, the present invention, as a battery module, the module case forming an exterior; a plurality of battery cells accommodated in the module case, electrode leads protruding toward one side of the module case; and a bus bar unit electrically connecting the electrode leads and bending the electrode leads while seated on one side of the module case.

The bus bar unit may include a bus bar frame covering one side of the module case and having lead slots through which the electrode leads pass; and a sensing bus bar that is seated on the bus bar frame and compresses and bends electrode leads passing through the lead slots when seated.

The sensing bus bar may include: a lead forming part disposed above the lead slots and compressing and bending electrode leads passing through the lead slots; a lead opening formed on one side of the lead forming part and passing through the electrode leads deformed by the lead forming part; and a lead welding part welded to the electrode leads of the battery cells facing each other through the lead opening.

The bus bar frame may include a frame body having the lead slots and disposed above the plurality of battery cells; and a forming rib that protrudes from the upper side of the frame body and compresses and bends the electrode leads together with the lead forming part.

The lead opening may allow the electrode leads to pass through in a direction perpendicular to a passage direction of the lead slots.

A bottom surface of the lead forming part and an upper surface of the forming rib may be formed to be round.

The plurality of battery cells may be provided as pouch-type secondary batteries.

And, the present invention, as a battery pack, at least one battery module according to the above-described embodiments; and a pack case for packaging the at least one battery module.

In addition, the present invention provides a vehicle comprising, as a vehicle, at least one battery pack according to the above-described embodiment.

According to various embodiments as described above, a battery module capable of reducing assembly time when assembling electrode leads of battery cells and a bus bar unit, a battery pack including the battery module, and a vehicle including the battery pack are provided. can provide

In addition, according to various embodiments as described above, a battery module capable of improving welding quality when assembling electrode leads of battery cells and a bus bar unit, a battery pack including the battery module, and a battery pack including the battery pack You can provide a car.

The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and serve to further understand the technical spirit of the present invention together with the detailed description of the present invention to be described later, so the present invention is described in such drawings should not be construed as being limited only to
1 is a view for explaining a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 to 5 are views for explaining the assembly of the bus bar unit of the battery module of FIG. 1 .
FIG. 6 is a view for explaining welding of electrode leads of battery cells of the battery module of FIG. 1 .
7 is a view for explaining a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention will become more apparent by describing preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are illustratively shown to aid understanding of the invention, and the present invention may be implemented with various modifications different from the embodiments described herein. In addition, in order to help the understanding of the invention, the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale, but dimensions of some components may be exaggerated.

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

Referring to FIG. 1 , the battery module 10 may include a module case 100 , a battery cell 200 , and a bus bar unit 300 .

The module case 100 forms the exterior of the battery module 10 and can accommodate a plurality of battery cells 200 to be described later. To this end, an accommodation space for accommodating a plurality of battery cells 200 to be described later may be provided in the module case 100 .

The battery cell 200 is a secondary battery, and may be provided as a pouch-type secondary battery. A plurality of such battery cells 200 may be provided, and the plurality of battery cells 200 may be electrically connected to each other.

The plurality of battery cells 200 may be accommodated in the module case 100 while being stacked side by side. One side of the module case 100 , specifically, electrode leads 250 , which will be described later, may protrude toward the upper side of the module case 100 from the plurality of battery cells 200 .

Hereinafter, the plurality of battery cells 200 will be described in more detail.

Each of the plurality of battery cells 200 may include an electrode assembly 210 , a battery case 230 , and an electrode lead 250 .

The electrode assembly 210 may include a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator. Since the electrode assembly 210 is well known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted below.

The battery case 230 may accommodate the electrode assembly 210 . To this end, an accommodation space for accommodating the electrode assembly 210 may be provided in the battery case 230 .

The electrode lead 250 may be provided as a positive electrode lead and a negative electrode lead, may be electrically connected to the electrode assembly 210 , and may protrude out of the battery case 230 . Specifically, the electrode lead 250 may protrude upward from the battery case 230 . In addition, the electrode lead 250 may be welded to the lead welding part 336 of the bus bar unit 300 to be described later together with the electrode lead 250 of the facing battery cell 200 .

The bus bar unit 300 is for electrically connecting the electrode leads 250 of the plurality of battery cells 200 , and is one side of the module case 100 , specifically, of the module case 100 . It may be provided on the upper side.

Specifically, the bus bar unit 300 may bend the electrode leads 250 while seated on one side of the module case 100 , specifically, on the upper side of the module case 100 . That is, in the present embodiment, while the bus bar unit 300 is seated, the electrode leads 250 may be bent together.

Hereinafter, the bus bar unit 300 will be described in more detail.

The bus bar unit 300 may include a bus bar frame 310 and a sensing bus bar 330 .

The bus bar frame 310 may be provided on one side of the module case 100 , that is, above the plurality of battery cells 200 while covering an upper side of the module case 100 .

The bus bar frame 310 may include a frame body 312 , a lead slot 314 , and a forming rib 316 .

The frame body 312 is disposed above the plurality of battery cells 200 and may be mounted on the module case 100 . Accordingly, the frame body 312 may cover the upper side of the plurality of battery cells 200 accommodated in the module case 100 .

The lead slot 314 is provided in the frame body 312 and may be provided in plurality. The plurality of lead slots 314 may allow the electrode leads 250 of the plurality of battery cells 200 to pass through the upper side of the frame body 312 .

The forming rib 316 protrudes from the upper surface of the frame body 312, and the electrode leads of the plurality of battery cells 200 together with a lead forming part 332 of a sensing bus bar 330 to be described later. 250) can be compressed and bent.

The upper surface of the forming rib 316 may have a shape corresponding to the lead forming portion 332 of the sensing bus bar 330 to be described later. For example, the shape of the upper surface of the forming rib 316 may be rounded for flexible bending of the electrode leads 250 .

The sensing bus bar 330 is for electrically connecting the electrode leads 250 , and is seated on the bus bar frame 310 , and the electrode leads passed through the lead slots 314 when seated. (250) can be bent by pressing.

The sensing bus bar 330 may include a lead forming part 332 , a lead opening 334 , and a lead welding part 336 .

The lead forming part 332 is disposed above the lead slots 314 , and electrode leads passing through the lead slots 314 when the frame body 312 of the sensing bus bar 330 is mounted. 250 can be compressed and bent.

A bottom surface of the lead forming part 332 may have a shape for flexible bending of the electrode leads 250 . For example, the bottom surface of the lead forming part 332 may be formed to be round.

The lead opening 334 is formed on one side of the lead forming part 332 , and may allow the electrode leads 250 deformed by the lead forming part 332 to pass therethrough. In this case, the lead opening 334 may allow the electrode leads 250 to pass through in a direction perpendicular to the passage direction of the lead slots 314 , that is, in a horizontal direction.

The lead welding part 336 is provided between the lead openings 334 and is welded to the electrode leads 250 of the battery cells 200 facing each other through the lead opening 334 (S, see FIG. 6 ). ) can be Such welding bonding may be performed through laser welding or the like.

Hereinafter, the assembly and welding process of the bus bar unit 300 will be described in more detail.

2 to 5 are views for explaining the assembly of the bus bar unit of the battery module of FIG. 1 , and FIG. 6 is a view for explaining welding of electrode leads of the battery cells of the battery module of FIG. 1 .

Referring to FIG. 2 , when assembling the bus bar unit 300 of the battery module 10 , an operator, etc., first, the bus bar unit 300 on the upper side of the battery cells 200 accommodated in the module case 100 . ) of the bus bar frame 310 may be mounted.

Specifically, the frame body 312 of the bus bar frame 310 may slide downward. During the sliding, the electrode leads 250 of the battery cells 200 may pass through the lead slots 312 and protrude upwards of the frame body 312 .

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5 , the operator or the like may then mount the sensing bus bar 330 of the bus bar unit 300 to the bus bar frame 310 while sliding it downward.

As the sensing bus bar 330 slides, the lead forming unit 332 may first bend the electrode leads 250 . The electrode leads 250 may pass through the lead opening 334 while being bent along a bottom surface of the lead forming part 332 as the lead forming part 332 slides downward.

Thereafter, the lead forming part 332 is configured to connect the electrode leads 250 of the battery cells 200 facing each other while compressing the electrode leads 250 together with the forming rib 316 to the lead welding part 336 . It can be placed on top of each other. Thereafter, when the mounting of the sensing bus bar 330 is completed, the lead forming part 332 and the forming rib 316 may be fixed while supporting the bent electrode leads 250 .

As such, in the present embodiment, when the sensing bus bar 330 of the bus bar unit 300 is mounted, the electrode leads 250 are bent together and disposed on the lead welding part 336 , so that the bending No additional process is required for

Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to shorten the assembly time when assembling the bus bar unit 300, thereby improving the assembly process efficiency.

In addition, in the present embodiment, since the bending of the electrode leads 250 is uniformly performed according to the mounting of the sensing bus bar 330 , the deviation in bending accuracy can be significantly reduced compared to when individual bending is performed.

Referring to FIG. 6 , the operator or the like finally welds (S) the electrode leads 250 arranged to overlap each other on the lead welding part 336 by laser welding, etc. The bus bar unit 300 may be electrically connected.

In the present embodiment, since the bending accuracy deviation of the electrode leads 250 is small, the welding quality deviation during the welding S may also be significantly reduced. Therefore, in this embodiment, the welding quality can also be significantly improved.

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

Referring to FIG. 7 , the battery pack 1 may include at least one battery module 10 according to the previous embodiment and a pack case 50 for packaging the at least one battery module 10 .

The battery pack 1 may be provided in the vehicle as a fuel source for the vehicle. By way of example, the battery pack 1 may be provided in an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, and any other manner in which the battery pack 1 may be used as a fuel source in the vehicle. In addition, of course, the battery pack 1 may be provided in other devices, instruments, and facilities, such as an energy storage system using a secondary battery, in addition to the vehicle.

As such, the device, apparatus, and equipment including the battery pack 1 and the battery pack 1 such as the vehicle according to the present embodiment include the battery module 10 described above, and the battery module described above. The battery pack 1 having all the advantages due to (10) and the device, apparatus, and equipment such as a vehicle having such a battery pack 1 can be implemented.

According to various embodiments of the present invention as described above, the battery module 10 capable of shortening the assembly time when the electrode leads 250 of the battery cells 200 and the bus bar unit 300 are assembled, such a battery It is possible to provide a battery pack 1 including a module 10 and a vehicle including such a battery pack 1 .

In addition, according to various embodiments as described above, the battery module 10 capable of improving welding quality when assembling the electrode leads 250 of the battery cells 200 and the bus bar unit 300 , such a battery module A battery pack 1 including (10) and a vehicle including such a battery pack (1) can be provided.

In the above, preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, but the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and it is common in the technical field to which the present invention pertains without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the claims. Various modifications may be made by those having the knowledge of, of course, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or perspective of the present invention.

1: battery pack
10: battery module
50: pack case
100: module case
200: battery cell
210: electrode assembly
230: battery case
250: electrode lead
300: bus bar unit
310: bus bar frame
312: frame body
314: lead slot
316: forming rib
330: sensing bus bar
332: lead forming unit
334: lead opening
336: lead weld

Claims (9)

In the battery module,
a module case forming an appearance;
a plurality of battery cells accommodated in the module case, electrode leads protruding toward one side of the module case; and
and a bus bar unit electrically connecting the electrode leads and bending the electrode leads while seated on one side of the module case.
The bus bar unit is
a bus bar frame covering one side of the module case and having lead slots through which the electrode leads pass; and
and a sensing bus bar seated on the bus bar frame and bending the electrode leads that have passed through the lead slots when seated.
The sensing bus bar,
a lead forming unit disposed above the lead slots and compressing and bending the electrode leads passing through the lead slots;
a lead opening formed on one side of the lead forming part and passing through the electrode leads deformed by the lead forming part; and
Including; a lead welding part that is welded to the electrode leads of the battery cells facing through the lead opening;
The bus bar frame,
a frame body having the lead slots and disposed above the plurality of battery cells; and
a forming rib protruding from the upper side of the frame body and compressing and bending the electrode leads together with the lead forming part;
The lead forming unit,
The battery module, characterized in that while pressing the electrode leads together with the forming rib, electrode leads of battery cells facing each other are overlapped on the lead welding part. delete delete delete According to claim 1,
The lead opening is
A battery module, characterized in that the electrode leads are passed in a direction perpendicular to the passage direction of the lead slots. According to claim 1,
The lower surface of the lead forming part and the upper surface of the forming rib are,
A battery module, characterized in that it is formed to be round. According to claim 1,
The plurality of battery cells,
A battery module, characterized in that it is provided as a pouch-type secondary battery. at least one battery module according to claim 1; and
A battery pack comprising a; pack case for packaging the at least one battery module. A vehicle comprising a; at least one battery pack according to claim 8.

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