KR102284340B1 - Battery pack - Google Patents

Abstract

A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of battery modules having a terminal part on one surface, one end of which is seated on one of the battery module terminal parts and the other end is seated on the terminal part of the other battery module, so that the two terminal parts are It may include a bus bar electrically connecting the bus bar, and a fixing part for pressing the bus bar to closely contact the bus bar and the terminal part.

Description

battery pack {BATTERY PACK}

The present invention relates to a battery pack.

Recently, a high-output battery pack using a non-aqueous electrolyte having a high energy density has been developed. Such a high-output battery pack is implemented with a large capacity by connecting a plurality of battery modules in series or parallel to be used for driving a motor of a device requiring high power, for example, an electric vehicle.

On the other hand, a bus bar is used as a member for connecting a plurality of battery modules. In the case of a conventional bus bar, it is common to bind through bolt/nut fastening or through welding fastening in order to prevent separation from the terminal part.

However, in the case of bolt/nut fastening, there is a problem in that the fastening nut is loosened by vibration or the work loss is frequently generated due to the detachment of the fastening nut during the work process. In the case of welding, it is difficult to determine whether welding is normally performed, and there are problems in that it is difficult to separate and replace a defective battery module.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a battery pack capable of robustly and easily connecting a bus bar.

However, the object of the present invention is not limited thereto, and even if not explicitly mentioned, the object or effect that can be grasped from the solutions or embodiments of the problems described below will be included therein.

A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a plurality of battery modules having terminals on one surface; a bus bar having one end seated on one battery module terminal unit and the other end seated on a terminal unit of another battery module to electrically connect the two terminal units; and a fixing part that presses the bus bar to closely contact the bus bar and the terminal part.

In this embodiment, the fixing part may include a lever coupling part disposed around the terminal part and a pressing lever rotatably coupled to the lever coupling part.

In the present embodiment, the pressing lever may include a cam part having both ends coupled to the lever coupling part and a center formed in a cam structure to press the bus bar, and a lever part vertically protruding from the center of the cam part.

In this embodiment, the lever coupling portion is formed in an open ring shape, and the pressing lever may be coupled to the lever coupling portion through the open portion.

In this embodiment, a locking groove is formed at an end of the lever part, and the battery module may include a locking protrusion coupled to the locking groove to suppress rotation of the pressing lever.

In this embodiment, the inner space may further include a cover for accommodating the bus bar and the fixing part and coupled to the battery module.

In the present embodiment, the cover may have a plurality of frames that block the pressure lever from being separated from the lever coupling part and formed on the inner wall.

In this embodiment, the cover has a locking protrusion protruding from the inner surface of the sidewall, the battery module has a coupling protrusion accommodated inside the cover, and the locking protrusion can be engaged and coupled with the coupling protrusion. there is.

In this embodiment, the cover has a support protrusion protruding from the inner surface of the upper surface, and the coupling protrusion is disposed between the support protrusion and the locking protrusion and movement may be restricted by the support protrusion.

In this embodiment, the battery module may include a plurality of guide blocks defining the position of the cover.

In addition, the battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of battery modules having a terminal part, a bus bar electrically connecting the two battery modules to each other, and a cam coupled to the battery module so as to be rotatable and formed on one side. It may include a pressing lever for fixing the bus bar to the battery module.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, bus bar coupling between battery modules is easily possible without a separate tool, and there is an advantage in that it is stable against vibration or shock.

1 is a perspective view schematically showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating the battery module shown in FIG. 1 ;
3 is an enlarged perspective view of one battery module shown in FIG. 1;
Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing the fixing unit shown in Figure 1;
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along II of Fig. 1;
6 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.
7 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 6 ;
Figure 8 is a bottom perspective view of the cover shown in Figure 6;
Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along II-II of Fig. 6;

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiment of the present invention may be modified in various other forms, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

Further, the embodiments of the present invention are provided in order to more completely explain the present invention to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the shapes and sizes of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clearer description, and elements indicated by the same reference numerals in the drawings are the same elements. In this specification, terms such as 'top', 'top', 'top', 'bottom', 'bottom', 'bottom', 'side' are based on the drawings, and in fact, elements or components are arranged It may vary depending on the direction you are going.

1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a plurality of battery modules 10 and a bus bar 20 .

The plurality of battery modules 10a and 10b may each have a substantially hexahedral shape, and may be arranged in a continuous structure along one direction. Each battery module 10 may include a secondary battery such as a lithium secondary battery or a nickel-hydrogen secondary battery capable of charging and discharging.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing the battery module shown in FIG. 1 , and FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one battery module shown in FIG. 1 .

2 and 3 , each battery module 10 includes a plurality of sub-modules 11 , a connector 12 electrically connecting the plurality of sub-modules 11 , and a plurality of sub-modules 11 . and a case 13 covering the connector 12 .

Each of the submodules 11 includes a plurality of battery cells (not shown), and the electrode tabs 11a of each battery cell may have a structure in which they protrude to the outside. The battery cell may be, for example, a pouched type secondary battery.

The connectors 12 are respectively disposed at both ends of the stacked plurality of submodules 11 to electrically connect the electrode tabs 11a of each submodule 11 .

The case 13 defines the external appearance of the battery module 10 , and may cover and protect the plurality of sub-modules 11 and the connector 12 . The case 13 may include an upper case 13a and a pair of side panels 13b.

Each battery module 10 may have a terminal part 15 on one surface. The terminal unit 15 is, for example, exposed to the upper surface of the battery module 10 . In the present embodiment, the terminal unit 15 is exemplified as having a quadrangular pole-shaped structure, but is not limited thereto.

The terminal unit 15 is connected to the connector 12 accommodated in the case 13 , and a part of the terminal unit 15 is exposed to the outside through the case 13 . In this case, the portion exposed to the outside is electrically connected to the bus bar 20 to be described later.

The terminal unit 15 may include a positive terminal 15a and a negative terminal 15b. The positive terminal 15a and the negative terminal 15b are spaced apart from each other.

In addition, the battery pack 1 according to the present embodiment includes a bus bar 20 and a fixing part 50 to electrically connect the adjacently disposed battery modules 10 to each other.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating the fixing part shown in FIG. 1 , and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 1 .

4 and 5 , the bus bar 20 is provided to connect the terminal part 15 of the battery module 10a with the terminal part 15 of another neighboring battery module 10b. For example, the bus bar 20 contacts the negative terminal 15b of the battery module 10b and the positive terminal 15a of another adjacent battery module 10a to interconnect the terminals 15a and 15b. Connect.

Electrical connection between the battery modules 10 through the bus bar 20 may be connected in series as well as in parallel. In this embodiment, the plurality of battery modules 10 are exemplified as being connected in series, but is not limited thereto.

The bus bar 20 according to the present embodiment may be formed of a substantially rectangular metal plate. In addition, since the negative terminal 15b and the positive terminal 15a of the two battery modules 10b and 10a are connected as described above of the bus bar 20, the negative terminal 15b and the positive terminal 15a It is formed with a length corresponding to the separation distance.

In addition, the width may be equal to or narrower than that of the negative terminal 15b or the positive terminal 15a.

Meanwhile, the case 13 of the battery modules 10 may include a block 38 for limiting the longitudinal movement of the bus bar 20 when the bus bar 20 is seated on the terminal unit 15 . .

The fixing part 50 is provided to closely contact the bus bar 20 with the terminal part 15 . To this end, the fixing part 50 includes a pressing lever 40 and a lever coupling part 30 .

The pressing lever 40 is disposed on the bus bar 20 and is rotatably coupled to a lever coupling part 30 to be described later.

The pressing lever 40 includes a cam portion 45 and a lever portion 42 .

Both ends of the cam part 45 are coupled to the lever coupling part 30 and the center is formed in a cam structure with one side protruding. In addition, the lever part 42 extends vertically in the outer diameter direction from the center portion of the cam part 45 , and a locking groove 43 is formed at the end thereof.

The lever coupling part 30 is disposed adjacent to the terminal part 15 and disposed on both sides of each terminal part 15 , respectively.

Both ends of the cam part 45 are coupled to the lever coupling part 30 , respectively. The lever coupling part 30 supports the pressing lever 40 in a rotatable state so that the pressing lever 40 can be rotated for a cam operation. To this end, the lever coupling part 30 is formed in a partially open ring shape. Accordingly, the pressing lever 40 is coupled to and separated from the lever coupling part 30 through the open part.

In this embodiment, the open portion of the lever coupling portion 30 is disposed to face the outside of the battery module (10). However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is also possible to form the battery module 10 toward the inside.

In addition, in this embodiment, the lever coupling part 30 is integrally formed with the case 13 of the battery module 10 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is also possible to be separately manufactured and then coupled to the case 13 .

The fixing part 50 configured in this way presses the bus bar 20 by the rotation of the pressing lever 40 . That is, when the lever part 42 is completely rotated, the cam part 45 maximally presses the bus bar 20 toward the terminal part 15 through the protruding part, and thus the bus bar 20 is connected to the terminal part 15 . ) and is firmly in contact with

On the other hand, when the pressing lever 40 presses the bus bar 20 to the maximum, there is a possibility that the pressing lever 40 returns to its original position due to the repulsive force. Therefore, in order to prevent this, the battery module 10 according to the present embodiment is provided with a locking protrusion 34 .

The locking protrusions 34 are spaced apart from the terminal part 15 by a predetermined distance, and their ends are formed in a hook shape and inserted into the locking grooves 43 of the maximally rotated pressing lever 40 .

When the locking projection 34 is inserted into the locking groove 43, the pressing lever 40 cannot return to its original position because the movement is fixed by the locking projection 34, and the locking projection 34 is inserted into the locking groove 43. It can return to its original position only by separating it from the Accordingly, it is possible to prevent unwanted rotation of the pressing lever 40 .

Next, a connection and coupling method of the battery module using the fixing part according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 .

First, the plurality of battery modules 10a and 10b are brought into close contact as much as possible, and then the bus bar 20 is seated on the terminal portions 15a and 15b.

Then, the pressing lever 40 is coupled to the lever coupling part 30 . The pressing lever 40 may be coupled to the lever coupling part 30 through an open portion of the lever coupling part 30 .

Then, as shown in FIG. 5 , the pressing lever 40 is rotated to the maximum to press the bus bar 20 . At this time, the hook of the locking protrusion 34 is inserted into the locking groove 43 formed in the pressing lever 40 .

Accordingly, the coupling of the bus bar 20 is completed, and the positive terminal 15a and the negative terminal 15b are electrically connected to each other by the bus bar 20 .

In addition, the bus bar 20 is fixed in motion by the pressing force of the pressing lever 40 and is firmly in contact with the terminals 15a and 15b.

The battery pack according to the present embodiment configured as described above can easily combine bus bars between battery modules without a separate tool.

In the conventional case using bolts and nuts, there are cases in which the nuts are loosened due to vibration or shock, but in the battery pack according to this embodiment, the pressure lever does not easily release even when vibrations or shocks are applied. Compared to that, it has the advantage of being stable against vibration or shock.

In addition, in the conventional case, a bonding liquid is applied to the nut to prevent loosening. However, in the case of using the pressure lever as in the present invention, this process can be omitted, so that the assembly process of the battery pack is simplified and productivity is improved accordingly.

Also, in the battery module according to the present embodiment, the battery modules can be easily separated by releasing the pressure lever and removing the bus bar. Therefore, it is very easy to separate and replace the battery module compared to the conventional battery pack using bolts or welding.

Meanwhile, the battery module according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible.

6 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 6 . Also, FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the cover shown in FIG. 6 , and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along II-II of FIG. 6 .

6 to 9 , the battery pack 1 according to the present embodiment further includes a cover 70 that protects the bus bar 20 and the fixing part 50 from external environments.

The cover 70 has an accommodating space therein, accommodates the fixing part 50 and the bus bar 20 in the accommodating space, and is coupled to the battery module 10 .

Accordingly, the cover 70 is simultaneously coupled to the two battery modules 10a and 10b.

A coupling protrusion 32 coupled to the cover 70 is provided on the battery module 10 so that the cover 70 and the battery module 10 can be firmly coupled. In addition, the cover 70 is provided with a locking protrusion 76 engaged with the engaging projection 32 .

The coupling protrusion 32 is accommodated inside the cover 70 , and has a ring protruding from the end toward the side wall of the cover 70 .

In addition, the locking protrusion 76 is formed to protrude from the inner surface of the side wall of the cover 70 toward the coupling protrusion 32 to engage with the coupling protrusion 32 . Accordingly, the locking protrusion 76 is engaged with the coupling protrusion 32 , and the cover 70 is firmly fixedly coupled to the case 13 .

On the other hand, the cover 70 should be easily separated from the battery module 10 if necessary. To this end, in the cover 70 according to the present embodiment, the sidewall 70a (first sidewall) of the cover 70 on which the locking protrusion 76 is formed is configured to be rotatable.

In the present embodiment, the first sidewall 70a is entirely cut out and only a portion is connected to the other sidewalls. Therefore, when the upper end of the first sidewall 70a is pressed (FIG. 9A), the first sidewall 70a rotates with a portion connected to the other sidewall as a rotation axis. Accordingly, since the locking protrusion 76 formed at the lower end of the first sidewall 70a is separated from the locking protrusion 34 ( FIG. 9B ), the cover 70 can be separated from the case 13 .

In addition, the cover 70 may have a plurality of frames 72 and support protrusions 74 formed therein.

The frame 72 is formed to protrude from the inner surface of the side wall of the cover 70, and is formed to be elongated in the vertical direction along the side wall.

The frame 72 is provided to prevent the cam part 45 from being separated from the lever coupling part 30 . To this end, the frame 72 is disposed on both sides of the end of the cam portion 45 protruding to the outside of the lever coupling portion 30, respectively. More specifically, the end of the cam part 45 is disposed between the two frames 72 , and as long as the cover 70 is coupled to the case, the cam part 45 is not separated from the lever coupling part 30 .

The support protrusion 74 is formed to protrude from the inner surface of the upper surface of the cover 70 , and when the cover 70 is coupled to the case 13 , the engaging protrusion 32 and the locking protrusion 34 of the case 13 . placed between At this time, the support protrusion 74 is inserted in the form of filling the space between the locking protrusion 34 and the engaging protrusion 32 . Due to this, the coupling protrusion 32 of the case 13 is disposed between the support protrusion 74 and the locking protrusion 76 .

With such a coupling structure, the movement of the coupling protrusion 32 and the locking protrusion 34 is limited by the support protrusion 74 . Therefore, as long as the cover 70 is coupled to the case 13 , the locking protrusion 34 or the coupling protrusion 32 is not easily separated from the locking groove 43 or the locking protrusion 76 .

Meanwhile, a plurality of guide blocks 36 may be formed in the case 13 .

The guide block 36 fixes the movement of the cover 70 and guides the coupling position of the cover 70 so that the cover 70 is firmly coupled to the case 13 .

That is, the guide block 36 is accommodated in the interior of the cover 70 or disposed outside the cover 70 when the cover 70 is coupled to the case 13 , so that the inner surface or the outer surface of the cover 70 . In contact with and defines the position of the cover (70).

The battery pack according to the present embodiment configured as described above may protect the fixing part from the outside through the cover. In addition, since the movement of the pressing lever or the locking protrusion can be restricted by using the cover, the connection between the battery modules can be more stably maintained.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and variations are possible within the scope without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention described in the claims. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

1: battery pack
10: battery module
20: bus bar
30: lever coupling part
40: pressure lever
50: fixed part
70: cover

Claims (11)

A plurality of battery modules having a terminal portion on one surface;
a bus bar having one end seated on an upper surface of one of the battery module terminals, and the other end seated on an upper surface of the other battery module's terminal unit, making surface contact with the two terminal units, and electrically connecting the two terminal units; and
a fixing unit for pressing the bus bar toward the terminal unit to closely contact the bus bar with the terminal unit;
including,
The fixing part,
a lever coupling part provided in the battery module and disposed around the terminal part; and
a pressing lever rotatably coupled to the lever coupling part;
A battery pack containing
delete According to claim 1, wherein the pressure lever,
a cam part having both ends coupled to the lever coupling part and having a center formed in a cam structure to press the bus bar; and
a lever part vertically protruding from the center of the cam part;
A battery pack containing
4. The method of claim 3,
The lever coupling part is formed in an open ring shape, and the pressing lever is coupled to the lever coupling part through the open part.
4. The method of claim 3,
A locking groove is formed at the end of the lever part,
The battery module includes a locking protrusion coupled to the locking groove to suppress rotation of the pressing lever.
According to claim 1,
The battery pack further comprising a cover accommodating the bus bar and the fixing part in an internal space and coupled to the battery module.
The method of claim 6, wherein the cover,
A battery pack having a plurality of frames formed on an inner wall to block the pressure lever from being separated from the lever coupling part.
7. The method of claim 6,
The cover has a locking protrusion protruding from the inner surface of the side wall,
The battery module has a coupling protrusion accommodated inside the cover,
The locking jaw is engaged with the coupling protrusion and is coupled to the battery pack.
The method of claim 8, wherein the cover
It has a support protrusion protruding from the inner surface of the upper surface,
The coupling protrusion is disposed between the support protrusion and the locking protrusion, and the movement of the battery pack is limited by the support protrusion.
The method of claim 6, wherein the battery module,
A battery pack having a plurality of guide blocks defining a position of the cover.
delete

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