KR20060060800A - Secondary battery module - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention can visually check the fastening pressure of the fastening plate for fixing the unit cell, and even when a long time use to maintain the physical pressure of the fastening plate, a plurality of unit cells are arranged at intervals and connected in series or in parallel A fastening plate placed on an outer side of the unit cell positioned at the outermost side of the unit cells, a connection bar connected between the fastening plates to tighten the fastening plate, a nut fastened to the connection bar, and between the fastening plate and the unit battery. It provides a secondary battery module including at least one elastic member interposed.

Fastening plate, unit cell, leaf spring, elastic part, check groove

Description

Secondary Battery Module {SECONDARY BATTERY MODULE}

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

2 is a perspective view of some components of a rechargeable battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 and 4 are schematic cross-sectional views illustrating a fastening state of a rechargeable battery module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a secondary battery, and more particularly to a high output large capacity battery module.

Recently, a high output secondary battery using a non-aqueous electrolyte of high energy density has been developed, and a plurality of high output secondary batteries can be connected in series (or parallel) to be used in a device requiring a large power, such as an electric vehicle. The secondary battery assembly is configured.

As described above, a single high capacity secondary battery assembly (hereinafter referred to as a battery module for convenience of description throughout) is made of a combination of a plurality of high output secondary batteries (hereinafter referred to as unit cells for convenience of description throughout) connected in series. Each of the unit cells includes an electrode assembly having a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate interposed therebetween, a case having a space in which the electrode assembly is embedded, a cap assembly coupled to the case and sealing the cap assembly, and the cap assembly. It includes a positive and negative terminals protruding outward and electrically connected to the current collector of the positive and negative electrodes provided in the electrode assembly.

In addition, the terminals of the plurality of unit cells are connected in series or in parallel to each other in order to electrically connect each unit cell to form a large capacity secondary battery module.

In general, in order to connect the terminals of the unit cell, a screw thread is formed on the terminal to be processed into a bolt shape, and the connector is fixed by fastening a nut having a female thread to the bolt-shaped terminal.

Here, the battery module has to fix each of the stacked unit cells as one to several dozens are stacked, for this purpose, a separate fastening plate is placed on the outermost side of the stacked unit cells, and the bolts between the fastening plates By tightening and tightening with a nut, each unit cell located between two fastening plates can be fixed as one.

However, the above-described battery module fastening structure is unable to confirm the desired fastening pressure when assembling the fastening plate, and thus tightens the fastening plate by applying an arbitrary force to each worker. Accordingly, there is a high possibility that a bad assembly of the fastening plate may occur. Is too tight and damages the unit cell or fastening plate located inside.

In addition, even when the fastening plate is assembled at the correct pressure, as the time passes, the fastening plate is bent or the fastening force is weakened by the vibration transmitted from the outside, resulting in a loosening between the two fastening plates. The reliability of the battery module is lost.

In particular, when the secondary battery module is applied as a high-capacity battery module for driving an electric cleaner or an electric scooter or a motor vehicle (electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle), due to the influence of the external environment of the application device, This problem is further increased because vibration may be continuously applied to the secondary battery module.

That is, as the battery module continuously shakes, flows, and changes in temperature continue, the fastening plate holding the unit battery is loosened, which causes problems such as a decrease in output or durability of the battery module.

Therefore, the present invention is to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention to visually check the fastening pressure of the fastening plate for fixing the unit cell by secondary to be able to optimize the fastening force of the fastening plate to the unit cell In providing a battery module.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a secondary battery module capable of maintaining the stamina pressure of the fastening plate even when used for a long time.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a fastening plate which is in contact with the outermost side of the stacked unit cells, a connecting bar and nut fastened between the fastening plates to apply a fastening pressure to the unit battery, the fastening plate and the outermost unit It includes an elastic member interposed between the battery.

The elastic member is preferably made of a leaf spring.

The leaf spring has a structure in which the central portion is elastically curved to form an elastic portion, and both side ends and the elastic portions are in contact with the side of the fastening plate and the unit cell, respectively.

In this case, the leaf spring is applicable to both the center portion and the front end of the center portion and the front end is a certain distance irrespective of the curved form of the center portion of the structural surface that can add an elastic force.

In addition, the leaf spring may further include a check means to check the fastening pressure when assembling the fastening plate.

The confirmation means includes a confirmation groove formed in the center portion of the elastic portion of the leaf spring and in contact with the side of the fastening plate as the elastic portion is pressed by the fastening pressure when the fastening plate is pressed.

Accordingly, it is possible to visually know the fastening pressure of the fastening plate by checking whether or not the end of the check groove formed in the elastic part is in contact with the fastening plate according to the pressing force of the fastening plate.

Here, the leaf spring is installed between at least one fastening plate and the unit cell, preferably two are arranged at intervals.

In addition, the leaf spring may be disposed in the longitudinal direction or the width direction with respect to the unit cell.

In addition, a partition wall may be further installed between the leaf spring and the unit cell so that the leaf spring is in contact with the partition wall and the fastening plate.

The secondary battery may be used as an energy source for driving a motor of the device in a device operated by using a motor such as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), an electric vehicle (EV), a wireless cleaner, an electric bicycle, an electric scooter, and the like. Can

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

According to the above-described drawings, the secondary battery module 10 includes a plurality of unit cells 11 stacked with the partition wall 20 interposed therebetween, and fastening plates 30 placed on the outermost sides of the stacked unit cells 11. The unit cell 11 is fixed by being fastened through the connecting bar 41 and the nut 42.

Here, the partition wall 20 is installed between the unit cell 11 and the fastening plate 30 positioned at the outermost side of the battery module 10 in the same manner as between the unit cells 11.

Each of the stacked unit cells 11 has a positive electrode terminal 14 of the unit cell 11 adjacent to the positive electrode terminal 14 and the negative electrode terminal 15 protruding above the cap assembly 13 of the unit cell 11. 14) and the connector 16 is connected between the threaded cathode terminal 15 and the anode terminal 14 via nuts 17 and 18 in a state in which they are arranged alternately with the cathode terminal 15. The structure is connected in series with each other.

The fastening plate 30 is a plate structure having a size that can cover the entire surface of the unit cell 11, the projections formed with a through-hole 44 to pass through the connecting bar 41 at both side ends facing each other ( 43 has a structure formed at intervals.

Accordingly, the connecting bar 41 is inserted through the through hole 44, and the nut 42 is fastened to a male screw formed at the tip of the connecting bar 41 from the outside of the protrusion 43 of the fastening plate 30. By tightening, the unit cells 11 stacked can be fixed by pressing fastening plates 30 on both sides.

Herein, the battery module 10 according to the present embodiment checks the fastening pressure of the fastening plate 30 between the fastening plate 30 and the partition wall 20 located at the outermost side of the stacked unit cells 11. The leaf spring 50 is made to be further interposed.

In the present embodiment, the leaf spring 50 has a length corresponding to the height of the unit cell 11, and the fastening plate 30 is based on when the terminal of the unit cell 11 is placed upward. It is disposed in the vertical direction between the partition wall 20.

In addition, two leaf springs 50 are provided so as to be placed at a position corresponding to the connection bar 41 fastened to the fastening plate 30 so that the fastening pressure in each connection bar 41 can be adjusted. do.

Of course, with respect to the installation structure of the leaf spring 50, various structures in addition to the present embodiment can be applied. For example, the leaf spring 50 may be disposed horizontally between the unit cell 11 and the fastening place, and all such deformable examples will also belong to the true spirit of the present invention.

On the other hand, the structure of the leaf spring 50 is well illustrated in Figure 2, according to the above drawing the leaf spring 50 is made of a plate having an elastic force, the central portion is elastically curved to the elastic portion ( 51 and both side ends and the elastic portion 51 are in contact with the side of the fastening plate 30 and the partition wall 20, respectively, the center portion of the elastic portion 51 is bent in a curved opposite direction to the fastening plate 30 As the elastic portion 51 is pressed between the bottom wall and the partition wall 20, a confirmation groove 52 in contact with the side of the fastening plate 30 is further formed.

Accordingly, when the elastic part 51 is formed as if two convex peaks are connected to each other, the operator has to check whether the end of the check groove 52 formed in the valley shape between the two peaks is in contact with the fastening plate 30. By making it easy to visually check that the fastening plate 30 can be tightened to an appropriate pressure.

Here, the distance between the end of the check groove 52 and the front end of the elastic portion 51 may be appropriately selected according to the elastic strength and the required fastening pressure according to the material of the leaf spring 50, the first leaf spring 50 If there is a gap so that the fastening plate 30 and the check groove 52 does not contact each other in the state that is not applied to the external force) is not particularly limited in the value of the gap.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the leaf spring 50 is placed so that the elastic portion 51 faces the partition wall 20 so that both side ends of the leaf spring 50 contact the fastening plate 30 and the elastic portion 51 is separated. Although the structure is in contact with the wall 20, it can also be arranged in the opposite direction, of course.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

In the secondary battery module 10, a plurality of unit cells 11 are arranged with the partition wall 20 interposed therebetween, and the partition wall 20 and the leaf spring 50 according to the present embodiment are located outside the unit cell 11 positioned at both ends. ) Is placed and the fastening plate 30 is in contact with the outside.

When the connecting bars 41 are inserted through the through holes 44 of the protrusions 43 formed on the upper and lower portions of the fastening plate 30, the fastening plates disposed on both sides of the stacked unit cells 11 may be provided. The coupling plate 30 is connected by the connection bar 41 while the connection bar 41 penetrates the through hole 44 of the protrusion 43 of the 30.

In this state, the nut 42 is fastened by tightening the nut 42 at the tip of the connection bar 41 that emerges from the through hole 44 so that the stacked unit cells 11 can be fixed by one module 10. .

At this time, in the process of fixing the fastening plate 30 by tightening the nut 42, the operator visually checks the position of the check groove 52 formed in the leaf spring 50 to determine the fastening pressure of the fastening plate 30 You can match it properly.

That is, as the operator tightens the nut 42, the fastening plates 30 disposed on both sides of the unit cells 11 are tightened inward to pressurize the unit cells 11.

As the fastening plate 30 is tightened in this way, the plate spring 50 located between the fastening plate 30 and the outermost partition wall 20 is pressed and an elastic part formed at the center of the plate spring 50. 51 is elastically bent.

Therefore, the confirmation groove 52 formed in the elastic portion 51 gradually moves toward the fastening plate 30 to be in contact with the inner surface of the fastening plate 30.

The contact between the confirmation groove 52 and the inner surface of the fastening plate 30 can be easily confirmed by the operator through the gap between the fastening plate 30 and the unit cell 11, the confirmation groove 52 By stopping the tightening operation of the nut 42 when contacting the fastening plate 30, it is possible to apply a suitable fastening pressure to the appropriate unit cell (11).

That is, as the nut 42 is tightened, the leaf spring 50 is pressed by the fastening plate 30 to press the elastic part 51 which is curved outwardly from the leaf spring 50, and the external force In the non-applied state, the confirmation groove 52 formed in the elastic part 51 and the fastening plate 30 are maintained at a predetermined interval, but as described above, the external force caused by the fastening plate 30 is not elastic. When the elastic part 51 is pressed, the confirmation groove 52 formed in the elastic part 51 is gradually pushed toward the fastening plate 30.

Therefore, when the fastening plate 30 is continuously tightened, the confirmation groove 52 is in contact with the inner surface of the fastening plate 30 at any moment.

At this time, in the state where the fastening pressure of the fastening plate 30 is most appropriate, the worker visually checks the position of the check groove 52 without undergoing a separate fastening pressure checking operation. (30) can be assembled.

On the other hand, the elastic portion 51 of the leaf spring 50 is continuously applied to the elastic force between the partition wall 20 and the fastening plate 30 and accordingly the fastening plate according to the long time use of the battery module 10 When the strength of the 30 is reduced or the fastening force is weakened by the elastic force of the leaf spring 50, the fastening plate 30 can maintain the fastening force as it is.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the claims and the detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings. Naturally, it belongs to

As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the fastening pressure applied to the unit battery when the battery module is assembled can be easily confirmed, and thus the battery module can be assembled under optimum conditions.

In addition, the fastening force of the battery module can be improved and kept constant, and the fastening force can be prevented from being lowered due to vibration of the battery module itself or vibration from an external shock.

Accordingly, the durability of the battery module can be improved and the reliability of the battery module can be improved.

Claims (12)

A plurality of unit cells arranged at intervals and connected in series or in parallel; A fastening plate placed on an outer side of the unit cell positioned at the outermost side of the unit cell; A connection bar connected between the fastening plates to tighten the fastening plate, and a nut fastened to the connection bar; At least one elastic member interposed between the fastening plate and the unit cell Secondary battery module comprising a. The secondary battery module of claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a leaf spring. The secondary battery module of claim 2, wherein the leaf spring has a central portion curved along a longitudinal direction to form an elastic portion, and both side ends and the elastic portion contact the fastening plate and the side surface of the unit battery, respectively. The secondary battery module of claim 1, wherein a partition wall is disposed between the elastic member and the unit battery. The secondary battery module of claim 2, wherein the leaf spring is disposed perpendicular to the unit cell. The secondary battery module of claim 2, wherein the leaf spring is disposed in the horizontal direction in the unit cell. The secondary battery module of claim 2, wherein the leaf spring is disposed at a position corresponding to a connection bar installation position of the unit battery. The secondary battery module of claim 2, wherein the leaf spring includes a check means to check a fastening pressure when assembling the fastening plate. The secondary battery module of claim 8, wherein the checking means includes a checking groove bent in a direction opposite to a curved direction of the elastic portion at a central portion of the elastic portion of the leaf spring. The secondary battery module of claim 3, wherein the leaf spring is disposed such that the elastic portion faces the unit battery. The secondary battery module of claim 3, wherein the leaf spring is disposed such that the elastic portion faces the fastening plate. The secondary battery module of claim 1, wherein the secondary battery module is for driving a motor.

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