KR20240007470A - Apparatus for checking insulation of secondary battery - Google Patents

Abstract

The secondary battery insulation test device according to the present invention is a secondary battery insulation test device that performs an insulation test of a pouch-type secondary battery including an electrode assembly and a pouch surrounding the electrode assembly, and includes an electrode terminal connected to an electrode of the electrode assembly. It includes an electrode probe in contact with the pouch, a probe for testing by contacting the aluminum layer of the pouch, and a test body connected to the electrode probe and the probe to determine the insulation of the secondary battery through information measured by the probe. The probe includes a first probe located on one side of the secondary battery based on the thickness direction of the secondary battery, and a second probe located on the other side of the secondary battery, and the first probe and the second probe are connected to the secondary battery. It approaches the secondary battery from one side and the other side of the battery and contacts the aluminum layer of the pouch.

Description

Secondary battery insulation inspection device {APPARATUS FOR CHECKING INSULATION OF SECONDARY BATTERY}

The present invention relates to a secondary battery insulation inspection device. When inspecting the insulation of a pouch-type secondary battery, the shape characteristics of the outer peripheral surface of the pouch can be sufficiently reflected, thereby increasing the reliability of electrical contact. Secondary battery insulation testing can significantly reduce the rate of false defects, minimize damage and deformation of the pouch exterior that may occur during the inspection process, and based on this, maintain the stable condition of the pouch-type secondary battery. It's about devices.

In recent years, the price of energy sources has risen due to the depletion of fossil fuels, and interest in environmental pollution has increased, and the demand for eco-friendly alternative energy sources has become an essential factor for future life. Accordingly, research continues on various power production technologies such as solar power, wind power, and tidal power, and there is also great interest in power storage devices such as batteries to use the electric energy produced in this way more efficiently.

Moreover, as technology development and demand for electronic mobile devices and electric vehicles using batteries increase, the demand for batteries as an energy source is rapidly increasing, and accordingly, much research is being conducted on batteries that can meet various needs. there is.

Secondary batteries are receiving a lot of attention as an energy source in a variety of products such as mobile devices and electric vehicles. These secondary batteries are an excellent energy resource that can replace the use of existing products using fossil fuels, and are attracting attention as an eco-friendly energy source because they do not generate by-products due to energy use.

Among them, a pouch-type secondary battery refers to a battery cell in which an electrode assembly is provided inside, and a polymer exterior material corresponding to a pouch surrounds the electrode assembly. Here, the pouch, which is the exterior material, has an aluminum layer as the center and a non-stretched polypropylene (CPP: Casted PolyPropylene) or polypropylene (PP: PolyPropylene) layer formed on the inner side, which is the adhesive surface, and a polyethylene terephthalate (PET: PolyEthylene Terephthalate) layer on the outer side. ) It can be formed in a form coated with an insulating material such as resin or nylon resin.

If the internal structure of the pouch-type secondary battery is damaged or damaged due to external physical shock, etc., and the insulation of the pouch-type secondary battery is destroyed, the battery cell will not be able to maintain the normal voltage and may display an abnormal voltage, and the internal battery cell may show an abnormal voltage. This may cause expansion or explosion.

These problems can be fatal to users and equipment because they can cause simple explosions or serial explosions. Therefore, it may be necessary to thoroughly inspect the insulation of the pouch secondary battery and operate it so that defective products can be eliminated at the source. .

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional inspection device for inspecting the insulation of a pouch-type secondary battery.

Referring to FIG. 1, looking at a conventional method of testing the insulation of such a pouch battery cell, as shown in FIG. 1, an electrode probe 11 is brought into contact with the electrode 1 of the pouch-type secondary battery 10, A method of testing insulation was mainly used by contacting the probe 12 with the aluminum layer of the pouch 2 at the end of the pouch 2 and measuring the resistance between the probes 11 and 12 in contact. Here, the test body 20 was able to determine whether the insulation of the pouch-type secondary battery 10 was defective or normal through information such as resistance measured by the contacted probes 11 and 12.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a probe making poor contact with the end of a pouch.

Referring to FIG. 2, in a conventional insulation inspection device, the probe 11 must contact the end of the pouch 2 and reliably contact the aluminum layer of the pouch 2, but the probe 11 and the pouch 2 Due to poor contact between the aluminum layers, many caustic defects occurred.

This is due to the shape characteristics of the outer peripheral surface of the pouch (2). As shown in Figure 2, when the shape of the end of the pouch (2) is not properly spread in the longitudinal direction but is wrinkled or lifted, the pouch (2) The problem occurred because the end did not properly contact the metering probe (11).

The present invention was developed to solve the above problems. The object of the present invention is to sufficiently reflect the shape characteristics of the outer peripheral surface of the pouch when inspecting the insulation of a pouch-type secondary battery, thereby increasing the reliability of electrical contact. It is possible to significantly reduce the rate of errors or false defects in insulation inspection, minimize damage and deformation of the pouch exterior that may occur during the inspection process, and based on this, ensure the stable condition of the pouch-type secondary battery. The goal is to provide a secondary battery insulation inspection device that can be maintained.

The secondary battery insulation test device according to the present invention is a secondary battery insulation test device that performs an insulation test of a pouch-type secondary battery including an electrode assembly and a pouch surrounding the electrode assembly, and includes an electrode terminal connected to an electrode of the electrode assembly. It includes an electrode probe in contact with the pouch, a probe for testing by contacting the aluminum layer of the pouch, and a test body connected to the electrode probe and the probe to determine the insulation of the secondary battery through information measured by the probe. The probe includes a first probe located on one side of the secondary battery based on the thickness direction of the secondary battery, and a second probe located on the other side of the secondary battery, and the first probe and the second probe are connected to the secondary battery. It approaches the secondary battery from one side and the other side of the battery and contacts the aluminum layer of the pouch.

The first probe and the second probe may contact the aluminum layer at the end of the pouch.

The electrode terminal includes a first electrode terminal and a second electrode terminal extending in opposite directions to each other, the electrode probe is in contact with the first electrode terminal, and the first probe and the second probe are in contact with the second electrode terminal. Based on the direction, the aluminum layer can be contacted at the end of the pouch.

The first probe and the second probe may be positioned spaced apart from the second electrode terminal based on a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the second electrode terminal extends.

The first metering probe and the second metering probe may each be provided as a pair.

A pair of first probes may be provided to the left and right with respect to the second electrode terminal, and the second probe may be provided to correspond to the first probe.

The first metering probe includes a conductive pad containing a conductive material and having flexible properties; And it may include a cylinder part connected to the conductive pad and moving the conductive pad.

The second metering probe may include a conductive pad that includes a conductive material and has flexible properties.

The conductive pad of the first probe and the conductive pad of the second probe may be in close contact with each other and contact the aluminum layer of the pouch.

The first probe further includes a spring connected to the conductive pad, and the spring can absorb shock applied to the conductive pad.

The information measured by the probe may be one or more of resistance, voltage, or current.

The secondary battery insulation inspection device according to the present invention can sufficiently reflect the shape characteristics of the outer peripheral surface of the pouch when inspecting the insulation of a pouch-type secondary battery, thereby increasing the reliability of electrical contact, and based on this, errors or false positives in the insulation inspection can be eliminated. The ratio can be significantly reduced, and damage and deformation of the pouch external shape that can be caused during the inspection process can be minimized, and based on this, the stable condition of the pouch-type secondary battery can be maintained.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional inspection device for inspecting the insulation of a pouch-type secondary battery.
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a probe making poor contact with the end of a pouch.
Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a state before the first probe is lowered in the secondary battery insulation inspection device according to Example 1 of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the first probe descends and contacts the aluminum layer of the pouch in the secondary battery insulation inspection device according to Example 1 of the present invention.
Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the first probe is raised back to its original position in the secondary battery insulation inspection device according to Example 1 of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state just before the probe contacts the aluminum layer of the pouch in the secondary battery insulation inspection device according to Example 1 of the present invention.
Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a secondary battery insulation inspection device according to Example 2 of the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. However, the present invention may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited or restricted by the following examples.

In order to clearly explain the present invention, detailed descriptions of parts unrelated to the description or related known technologies that may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention have been omitted, and reference signs are added to components in each drawing in this specification. In this regard, identical or similar reference signs are used to designate identical or similar components throughout the specification.

In addition, terms or words used in this specification and patent claims should not be construed as limited to their usual or dictionary meanings, and the inventor appropriately defines the concept of terms in order to explain his or her invention in the best way. It must be interpreted with meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention based on the principle that it can be done.

Example 1

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a state before the first probe is lowered in the secondary battery insulation inspection device according to Example 1 of the present invention. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the first probe descends and contacts the aluminum layer of the pouch in the secondary battery insulation inspection device according to Example 1 of the present invention. Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the first probe is raised back to its original position in the secondary battery insulation inspection device according to Example 1 of the present invention. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state just before the probe contacts the aluminum layer of the pouch in the secondary battery insulation inspection device according to Example 1 of the present invention.

3 to 6, the secondary battery insulation inspection device 100 according to Example 1 of the present invention is used to inspect the insulation of a pouch-type secondary battery 10 including an electrode assembly and a pouch 2 surrounding the electrode assembly. It relates to a secondary battery insulation inspection device 100 that performs. The secondary battery insulation inspection device 100 according to Example 1 of the present invention may include an electrode probe 110, a metering probe 120, and a test main body (see FIG. 1).

The electrode probe 110 may be a probe that contacts an electrode terminal connected to an electrode of an electrode assembly. Referring to FIG. 3, the electrode terminal may include a first electrode terminal 31 and a second electrode terminal 32 extending in opposite directions. Specifically, the electrode terminal includes a first electrode terminal 31 extending toward the rear (R) of the secondary battery 10 and a second electrode terminal 32 extending toward the front (F) of the secondary battery 10. It can be included. The first electrode terminal 31 may be an anode and the second electrode terminal 32 may be a cathode, but this is not limited to this, and conversely, the first electrode terminal 31 may be a cathode and the second electrode terminal 32 may be an anode. there is. In Embodiment 1 of the present invention, the electrode probe 110 may be connected to the first electrode terminal 31.

The metering probe 120 may be a probe that tests by contacting the aluminum layer of the pouch 2. In the secondary battery insulation inspection device 100 according to Example 1 of the present invention, the inspection probe 120 may include a first inspection probe 121 and a second inspection probe 122. The first probe 121 may be a probe located on one side of the secondary battery 10 based on the thickness direction (T) of the secondary battery 10. The second probe 122 may be a probe located on the other side of the secondary battery 10 based on the thickness direction of the secondary battery 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first probe 121 may be located on the upper side of the secondary battery 10, and the second probe 122 may be located on the lower side of the secondary battery 10. The first probe 121 and the second probe 122 may approach the secondary battery 10 from one side and the other side of the secondary battery 10 and contact the aluminum layer of the pouch 2. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, the first probe 121 and the second probe 122 approach the secondary battery 10 from the upper and lower sides of the secondary battery 10 and touch the aluminum layer of the pouch 2. can be contacted.

The first probe 121 and the second probe 122 may contact the aluminum layer at the end of the pouch 2. More specifically, referring to FIG. 3, the first probe 121 and the second probe 122 have an aluminum layer at the end of the pouch 2 based on the direction in which the second electrode terminal 32 extends. can be contacted. Additionally, the first probe 121 and the second probe 122 may come into close contact with the aluminum layer at the end of the pouch 2 as they come into close contact with the end of the pouch 2 from above and below. In Figure 4, the first probe 121 and the second probe 122 are shown in close contact with the end of the pouch 2 from above and below and are in contact with the aluminum layer.

The pouch (2), which is an exterior material surrounding the electrode assembly, is formed with an aluminum layer as the center, a non-stretched polypropylene (CPP: Casted PolyPropylene) or polypropylene (PP: PolyPropylene) layer is formed on the inner side, which is the adhesive surface, and a polyethylene terephthalate is formed on the outer side. It may be formed in a form coated with an insulating material such as phthalate (PET: PolyEthylene Terephthalate) resin or nylon resin. The first probe 121 and the second probe 122 may be configured to contact the inner aluminum layer of the pouch 2. The first probe 121 and the second probe 122 may be exposed to the outside at the end of the pouch 2 and contact the aluminum layer.

The inspection main body (see reference numeral 20 in FIG. 1) may be connected to the electrode probe 110 and the metering probe 120 and may be configured to determine the insulation of the secondary battery 10 through information measured by the probes. Here, the information measured by the probe may be one or more of resistance, voltage, or current. However, since insulation is usually represented by insulation resistance, it may be desirable to measure the resistance value. The information value measured by the probe can be compared with a reference value to determine the insulation of the secondary battery 10. A method of determining insulation may be used by storing reference value data for resistance, current, or voltage that can determine insulation in advance in a database, receiving measured values, and comparing them with the reference value data.

For example, if the pouch-type secondary battery 10 to be inspected is a good product, the resistance of the pouch battery cell ideally has an infinite value, so the reference value for resistance to determine insulation is a fairly large value of hundreds of megaohms or more. can be set. If information about current or voltage is used, a method of setting the current value or voltage value that can represent insulation as the reference value may be used.

As reviewed above, the secondary battery insulation inspection device 100 according to Example 1 of the present invention approaches the pouch 2 from one side (or upper side) and the other side (or lower side) based on the thickness direction of the pouch 2. As the first probe 121 and the second probe 122 are in contact with the aluminum layer of the pouch 2, the pouch 2 can be probed even when the shape of the end is not properly straightened in the longitudinal direction but is crumpled or lifted. The probe 120 can reliably contact the aluminum layer of the pouch 2. Figure 6 shows the principle by which the metering probe of the present invention can reliably contact the aluminum layer.

In other words, the secondary battery insulation inspection device 100 according to Example 1 of the present invention can sufficiently reflect the shape characteristics of the outer peripheral surface of the pouch 2 during insulation inspection, thereby increasing the reliability of electrical contact and performing insulation inspection based on this. The rate of errors or caustic defects can be significantly reduced.

And, referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, in the secondary battery insulation inspection device 100 according to Example 1 of the present invention, the first probe 121 is connected to the conductive pad 121-1 and the cylinder portion 121-2. ) may include. The conductive pad 121-1 may be in the form of a pad containing a conductive material and having flexible properties. The cylinder portion 121-2 may be connected to the conductive pad 121-1 and serve to move the conductive pad 121-1.

Here, the cylinder used in the cylinder unit 121-2 may be a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder, for example. When the working fluid moves in one direction, the cylinder unit 121-2 can move the energizing pad 121-1 downward toward the pouch 2 (moving from the position in Figure 3 to the position in Figure 4). And, when the working fluid moves in the other direction, which is opposite to the one direction, the conductive pad 121-1 can move upward and away from the pouch 2 (moving from the position in Figure 4 to the position in Figure 5).

The second probe 122 may include a conductive pad 122-1, where the conductive pad 122-1 may have the same configuration as that of the first probe 121. That is, the conductive pad 122-1 of the second metering probe may also include a conductive material and have flexible properties. The position of the conductive pad 122-1 of the second metering probe may be fixed. Or, depending on the case, it may be configured to move in a direction facing the first metering probe 121.

Here, the conductive pad may be silicone or rubber containing conductive material. This can be advantageous for voltage inspection on unstable surfaces, etc., because it has flexibility compared to the pin-type probe type. In the secondary battery insulation inspection device 100 according to Example 1 of the present invention, the conductive pad 121-1 of the first probe and the conductive pad 122-1 of the second probe are in close contact with each other in the vertical direction. It may contact the aluminum layer of the pouch 2 (see Figure 4).

Through this, it is possible to achieve close contact and reliable contact, and because flexible materials are used, damage and deformation of the outer shape of the pouch (2) that may occur during the inspection process can be minimized. Also, based on this, the stable state of the pouch-type secondary battery 10 can be maintained.

In addition, referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the secondary battery insulation inspection device 100 according to Example 1 of the present invention is provided with a first probe 121 and a second probe 122 in a pair. You can. The first metering probes 121 may be provided in pairs so as to be located on the left and right sides with respect to the second electrode terminal 32 . And the second probe 122 may be provided to correspond to the first probe 121 . When provided as a pair like this, the reliability of the contact between the metering probe 120 and the aluminum layer of the pouch 2 can be further improved.

In this case, the first probe 121 and the second probe 122 connect the second electrode terminal 32 based on the direction (W) perpendicular to the direction (F) in which the second electrode terminal 32 extends. ) can be located in a location spaced apart from the In this way, when the first probe 121 and the second probe 122 are positioned away from the second electrode terminal 32, electricity is passed between the second electrode terminal 32 and the probe 120. This can be reliably prevented.

Example 2

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a secondary battery insulation inspection device according to Example 2 of the present invention.

Embodiment 2 of the present invention differs from Embodiment 1 in that the first probe further includes a spring for shock absorption.

Contents in common with Example 1 will be omitted as much as possible and Example 2 will be described focusing on the differences. In other words, it is obvious that if content not explained in Example 2 is necessary, it can be supplemented through the content of Example 1.

Referring to FIG. 7, in the secondary battery insulation inspection device 200 according to Example 2 of the present invention, the first probe 221 may include an energizing pad 221-1 and a cylinder portion 221-2. You can. The conductive pad 221-1 of the first metering probe may be in the form of a pad containing a conductive material and having flexible properties. The cylinder portion 221-2 may be connected to the conductive pad 221-1 and serve to move the conductive pad 221-1 in the vertical direction. Here, the cylinder used in the cylinder unit 221-2 may be, for example, a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder.

In addition, in the secondary battery insulation inspection device 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the first probe 221 may further include a spring 221-3 connected to the conductive pad 221-1. Referring to FIG. 7 , for example, the spring 221-3 may be located inside the cylinder of the cylinder portion 221-2. Specifically, it may be located between the end of the rod part 221-a within the cylinder and the bottom surface of the cylinder housing 221-b. Accordingly, the spring 221-3 can absorb the shock applied to the energizing pad 221-1.

That is, when the working fluid in the cylinder moves in one direction, the cylinder unit 221-2 can move the energizing pad 221-1 downward toward the pouch 2. Accordingly, the conductive pad 221-1 of the first probe 221 may contact the upper surface of the end of the pouch 2. In this case, if the conductive pad 222-1 of the second probe is fixed, a certain degree of impact may occur the moment the conductive pad 221-1 of the first probe probe contacts the pouch 2. In the secondary battery insulation inspection device 200 according to Example 2 of the present invention, the spring 221-3 included in the first probe 221 may play a role in alleviating such shock.

Although the present invention has been described above with limited examples and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the technical idea of the present invention and the following description will be provided by those skilled in the art in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. Various implementations are possible within the scope of equivalency of the patent claims.

2: Pouch
10: Secondary battery
31: first electrode terminal
32: second electrode terminal
100, 200: Secondary battery insulation inspection device
110: electrode probe
120: meter reading probe
121, 221: first metering probe
121-1: Current-carrying pad of the first metering probe
121-2: Cylinder part
122, 222: second meter reading probe
122-1: Current-carrying pad of the second metering probe
221-1: Electric pad
221-2: Cylinder part
221-a: Load unit
221-b: Cylinder housing
221-3: Spring
222-1: Current-carrying pad of the second metering probe

Claims (11)

In the secondary battery insulation test device for performing an insulation test of a pouch-type secondary battery including an electrode assembly and a pouch surrounding the electrode assembly,
an electrode probe in contact with an electrode terminal connected to an electrode of the electrode assembly;
a probe for testing by contacting the aluminum layer of the pouch; and
A test body unit connected to the electrode probe and the probe probe to determine insulation of the secondary battery through information measured by the probe,
The metering probe is based on the thickness direction of the secondary battery,
a first probe located on one side of the secondary battery; and
It includes a second metering probe located on the other side of the secondary battery,
The first probe and the second probe approach the secondary battery from one side and the other side of the secondary battery and contact the aluminum layer of the pouch. In claim 1,
A secondary battery insulation inspection device, wherein the first probe and the second probe contact the aluminum layer at an end of the pouch. In claim 2,
The electrode terminal includes a first electrode terminal and a second electrode terminal extending in opposite directions,
The electrode probe contacts the first electrode terminal,
The first probe and the second probe probe are in contact with the aluminum layer at the end of the pouch based on the direction in which the second electrode terminal extends. In claim 3,
A secondary battery insulation inspection device, wherein the first probe and the second probe are spaced apart from the second electrode terminal based on a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the second electrode terminal extends. In claim 4,
A secondary battery insulation inspection device, characterized in that the first probe and the second probe are each provided as a pair. In claim 5,
The first metering probe is,
A pair is provided to the left and right with respect to the second electrode terminal,
The second metering probe is,
A secondary battery insulation inspection device, characterized in that it is provided to correspond to the first metering probe. In claim 1,
The first metering probe is,
An electrically conductive pad containing a conductive material and having flexible properties; and
A secondary battery insulation inspection device comprising a cylinder portion connected to the conductive pad and moving the conductive pad. In claim 7,
The second metering probe is,
A secondary battery insulation inspection device comprising a conductive pad containing a conductive material and having flexible properties. In claim 8,
A secondary battery insulation inspection device, wherein the conductive pad of the first probe and the conductive pad of the second probe are in close contact with each other and contact the aluminum layer of the pouch. In claim 7,
The first metering probe further includes a spring connected to the energizing pad,
The spring is a secondary battery insulation inspection device characterized in that it absorbs shock applied to the conductive pad. In claim 1,
A secondary battery insulation inspection device, characterized in that the information measured by the probe is one or more of resistance, voltage, or current.

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