Abstract:
A battery module and a vehicle including a battery module. A battery module includes: a housing including an inlet to pass air from an outside of the housing into an interior of the housing; at least one rechargeable battery housed in the interior of the housing; and an opening/closing member configured to control an opening state of the inlet according to a pressure of the air acting against the opening/closing member from the outside of the housing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/591,170, filed on Jan. 26, 2012 in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    Aspects of embodiments of the present invention relate to a battery module. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A rechargeable battery is a battery that can be recharged and discharged, unlike a primary battery that cannot be recharged. A low-capacity rechargeable battery is commonly used for small portable electronic devices, such as a mobile phone, a notebook computer, and a camcorder, and a large-capacity rechargeable battery may be used as a power supply for driving a motor of an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle. Recently, a high-output rechargeable battery using a non-aqueous electrolyte solution of high energy density has been developed. The high-output rechargeable battery is configured as a large-capacity battery module in which a plurality of rechargeable batteries are connected to each other in series so as to be used to drive a motor of a device requiring a large amount of power, such as an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or the like. The battery module is made up of several to tens of rechargeable batteries. Therefore, heat generated from each of the rechargeable batteries should be able to be easily emitted. When heat is not emitted, the internal temperature of the rechargeable battery increases, and, as a result, adverse reactions occur, thereby shortening the life span of the rechargeable battery. Further, when the temperature of the rechargeable battery is continuously increased, the rechargeable battery may combust or explode. The battery module includes a plurality of rechargeable batteries and a housing for receiving the rechargeable batteries and forming a shape, and a fan for cooling the rechargeable batteries is installed in the housing. However, when a cooling fan is installed, the volume of the battery module is increased, and power for driving the fan is consumed to deteriorate output of the battery module. The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    According to an aspect of embodiments of the present invention, a battery module has improved cooling efficiency. 
         [0007]    According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a battery module includes: a housing including an inlet to pass air from an outside of the housing into an interior of the housing; at least one rechargeable battery housed in the interior of the housing; and an opening/closing member configured to control an opening state of the inlet according to a pressure of the air acting against the opening/closing member from the outside of the housing. 
         [0008]    The opening/closing member may be movable relative to the inlet between a blocking position in which the opening/closing member closes the inlet and an open position in which the inlet is open. 
         [0009]    The opening/closing member may include a blocking plate rotatably coupled to the housing via a shaft portion and configured to cover the inlet. 
         [0010]    The battery module may further include a spring configured to force the opening/closing member toward the blocking position. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, the housing includes a protrusion adjacent the inlet, when in the blocking position, the opening/closing member abuts the protrusion to seal the inlet, and the protrusion maintains the opening/closing member at an inner side of the inlet that is opposite the outside of the housing. 
         [0012]    The housing may further include an outlet to discharge the air from the interior of the housing to the outside of the housing. The inlet may be an opening formed in a first wall of the housing, and the outlet may be an opening formed in a second wall of the housing opposite the first wall. The inlet may be formed at an upper portion of the first wall, and the outlet may be formed at a lower portion of the second wall. 
         [0013]    The battery module may further include a film covering the outlet, and the film may be configured to allow the air to pass therethrough from the interior of the housing to the outside of the housing and to block liquids from passing therethrough from the outside of the housing to the interior of the housing. The film may include a material selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a perfluoroalkoxy polymer (PFA), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), an ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) copolymer, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), or polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). 
         [0014]    The battery module may further include a film covering the inlet, and the film may be configured to allow the air to pass therethrough from the outside of the housing to the interior of the housing and to block liquids from passing therethrough from the outside of the housing to the interior of the housing. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, the housing includes a first guide member extending outward from the housing adjacent an upper side of the inlet, and a second guide member extending outward from the housing adjacent a lower side of the inlet, and the first guide member is spaced apart from the second guide member to pass the air therebetween toward the inlet. 
         [0016]    The first guide member may include a front portion extending downward in a curved arc shape and a pair of substantially planar side portions at opposite sides of the front portion. 
         [0017]    The second guide member may include a first portion proximate the inlet and having a first arc shape that is convex toward the first guide member, and a second portion distal from the inlet and having a second arc shape that is convex away from the first guide member. 
         [0018]    The housing may include an inflow pipe, and the inlet may be an opening at an outer end of the inflow pipe. The inflow pipe may have an opening formed through a lower wall thereof. 
         [0019]    According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle includes a battery module, the battery module including: a housing including an inlet to pass air from an outside of the housing into an interior of the housing; at least one rechargeable battery housed in the interior of the housing; and an opening/closing member configured to control an opening state of the inlet according to a pressure of the air acting against the opening/closing member from the outside of the housing, and the inlet faces a first direction, and the pressure is applied to the opening/closing member by the air when the vehicle is moved in the first direction. 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, the housing further includes an outlet to discharge the air from the interior of the housing to the outside of the housing, and the battery module further includes a film covering the outlet, the film configured to allow the air to pass therethrough from the interior of the housing to the outside of the housing and to block liquids from passing therethrough from the outside of the housing to the interior of the housing. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, the housing includes a first guide member extending outward from the housing adjacent an upper side of the inlet, and a second guide member extending outward from the housing adjacent a lower side of the inlet, and the first guide member is spaced apart from the second guide member to pass the air therebetween toward the inlet. 
         [0022]    The housing may include an inflow pipe, and the inlet may be an opening at an outer end of the inflow pipe. 
         [0023]    According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a battery module includes: a plurality of rechargeable batteries; a housing installing the rechargeable batteries and including an inlet; and an opening/closing member for controlling opening of the inlet according to wind pressure. The opening/closing member may be rotatably installed on the housing, and the opening/closing member may include a shaft member, and a blocking plate combined with the shaft member. An elastic member for applying torque may be installed on the opening/closing member. 
         [0024]    According to an aspect of embodiments of the present invention, the opening/closing member is opened by wind pressure such that the battery module can efficiently cool the rechargeable batteries without an additional air blower. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]    The accompanying drawings, together with the specification, illustrate some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain aspects and principles of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a battery module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional view of the battery module of  FIG. 1 , taken along the line II-II. 
           [0028]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an opening/closing member of the battery module of  FIG. 1 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of a battery module according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view of the battery module of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a battery module according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional view of the battery module of  FIG. 6 , taken along the line VII-VII. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0033]    The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown and described. However, as those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification. 
         [0034]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a battery module according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional view of the battery module of  FIG. 1 , taken along the line II-II of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a battery module  101  according to an embodiment of the present invention includes one or more rechargeable batteries  10  and a housing  20  in which the rechargeable batteries  10  are installed. 
         [0036]    The rechargeable batteries  10  are installed in the housing  20 , and the rechargeable batteries  10  according to one embodiment may be square or rectangular lithium ion rechargeable batteries. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, but, rather, is applicable to various types of batteries such as lithium polymer batteries or cylindrical batteries. 
         [0037]    The rechargeable battery  10  according to one embodiment includes a positive terminal  11 , a negative terminal  12 , and nuts  14  and  15  fastened to the positive terminal  11  and the negative terminal  12  and supporting a connecting member  13 . The rechargeable batteries  10  are coupled (e.g., in series) by the connecting member  13  and are installed in the housing  20 . 
         [0038]    The housing  20 , in one embodiment, is formed to have an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has an inlet  21  through which air is input and an outlet  23  through which air is output. The inlet  21  is formed at or near a front upper region (e.g., on a front wall) of the housing  20 , and the outlet  23  is formed at or near a rear lower region (e.g., on a rear wall) of the housing  20 . 
         [0039]    An opening/closing member  30  for controlling an opening state of the inlet  21  is installed to be rotatable in the inlet  21  with respect to the inlet  21 . 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , in one embodiment, the opening/closing member  30  includes a shaft member  33  and a blocking plate  31  combined with the shaft member  33 . The shaft member  33  may be formed to have a circular bar shape, and is fixedly installed in the housing  20  through a top part  31   a  of the blocking plate  31 . In one embodiment, a hole in which the shaft member  33  is inserted is formed in the top part  31   a  of the blocking plate  31  in a lengthwise direction of the blocking plate  31 . 
         [0041]    The blocking plate  31  may be formed to have a square shape and may be rotatably combined with the shaft member  33 . The blocking plate  31  is formed to block the inlet  21 , and, in one embodiment, a torsion spring  35  for applying a rotatable pressing force to the blocking plate  31  is formed on the shaft member  33 . In one embodiment, a torsion spring  35  is arranged on both ends of the shaft member  33  and pressurizes a bottom of the blocking plate  31  to face an external side of the housing  20 . Accordingly, the blocking plate  31  can be installed to close and seal the inlet  21  by the torsion spring  35 . 
         [0042]    A protrusion  21   a  that is protruded and contacts and supports the bottom of the blocking plate  31  is formed at the inlet  21 . The protrusion  21   a  is formed in a widthwise direction of the inlet  21 . The protrusion  21   a  prevents or substantially prevents the bottom of the blocking plate from moving outside the inlet  21 . 
         [0043]    The inlet  21  is exposed on an external side of a device (e.g., a vehicle) in which the battery module  101  is installed. In one embodiment, the battery module  101  is installed in an electric motorcycle or an electric bicycle, and the battery module  101  may be installed at a left bottom side of the driver&#39;s seat such that the inlet  21  is exposed to the outside. Also, when the battery module  101  is installed in a cell electric vehicle, a pipe for receiving external air may be installed to be connected to the inlet  21 . 
         [0044]    Further, the inlet  21  is installed for the device (e.g., a vehicle) in which the battery module  101  is installed to face the progressing direction. When the device moves, the wind pressure influences, or acts on, the blocking plate  31 , and the blocking plate  31  is rotated to open the inlet  21 , and cooling air is input into the housing  20  through the inlet  21 . 
         [0045]    The outlet  23 , in one embodiment, is formed at the rear lower region of the housing  20 , and an air-permeable film  40  is installed in the outlet  23 . The air-permeable film  40  may be made of a Teflon-based resin and particularly may be made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). In one embodiment, the air-permeable film may be made of a perfluoroalkoxy polymer (PFA), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), an ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) copolymer, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), or polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). 
         [0046]    Pores that are larger than the diameter of gas molecules and are smaller than the diameter of water particles are formed in the air-permeable film  40 . Accordingly, the gas molecules can pass through the air-permeable film  40  and the water particles cannot pass therethrough such that the gas inside the housing  20  can be discharged to the outside and liquids are prevented or substantially prevented from entering into the housing  20  from the outside. 
         [0047]    In one embodiment, the above-described air-permeable film  40  may be installed in the inlet  21 , and when it is installed in the inlet  21 , rainwater is prevented or substantially prevented from entering the inlet  21 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of a battery module according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 5  is a partial cross-sectional view of the battery module of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0049]    Referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 , a battery module  102  according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a housing  50  and one or more rechargeable batteries installed in the housing  50 . 
         [0050]    An inlet  51  and an outlet are formed in the housing  50 , and, in one embodiment, the inlet  51  is formed at or near a front upper region (e.g., on a front wall) of the housing  50 , and the outlet is formed at a rear lower region (e.g., on a rear wall) of the housing  50 . 
         [0051]    An opening/closing member  60  for controlling an opening state of the inlet  51  by wind pressure is installed at the inlet  51 , and, in one embodiment, the opening/closing member  60  includes a shaft member  63  and a blocking plate  61  combined with the shaft member  63 . In one embodiment, the blocking plate  61  is pressurized toward the inlet  51  by a torsion spring to close the inlet  51 . 
         [0052]    The battery module  102 , in one embodiment, may have an equivalent or similar structure as that of the battery module  101  described above except that guide members are installed at the inlet  51 . Therefore, further description of the same features and structures will not be provided. 
         [0053]    In one embodiment, a top guide member  52  is installed at the top of the inlet  51 , and a bottom guide member  53  is installed at the bottom of the inlet  51 . The top guide member  52  includes a front unit  52   a  that is protruded to the outside on the top of the inlet  51  and that is extended to the bottom, and a side unit  52   b  connecting a side end of the front unit  52   a  and an external wall of the housing  50 . 
         [0054]    The front unit  52   a,  in one embodiment, is formed to have a curved arc plate shape, and is protruded to the front side on the inlet  51  to reach the top of the inlet  51 . The side unit  52   b  may include a pair of side units  52   b  formed to have a planar plate shape and blocking portions between the side ends of the front unit  52   a  and the housing  50 . 
         [0055]    When the top guide member  52  is installed according to the present exemplary embodiment, moisture is prevented or substantially prevented from entering into the housing  50  from the outside through the inlet  51 . 
         [0056]    The bottom guide member  53 , in one embodiment, is formed to have a plate shape that is protruded to the front side at the bottom of the inlet  51 , and the bottom guide member  53  may be formed to have an arc shape that is smoothly curved downward from the inlet  51  and a front end protruded toward the front side. 
         [0057]    The bottom guide member  53  is spaced apart from the top guide member  52  such that a space is formed between the top guide member  52  and the bottom guide member  53 . The bottom guide member  53  controls or guides air to be input into the housing  50 , and the air guided by the bottom guide member  53  is input into the inlet  51  to cool the rechargeable batteries and is then discharged to the outside through the outlet. 
         [0058]    According to the above-described exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the top guide member  52  is installed to block inflow of moisture (e.g., rain) into the housing  50 , and the bottom guide member  53  guides the air to be supplied into the housing  50 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a battery module according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 7  is a partial cross-sectional view of the battery module of  FIG. 6 , taken along the line VII-VII of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , a battery module  103  according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a housing  70  and one or more rechargeable batteries  10  installed in the housing  70 . 
         [0061]    The housing  70 , in one embodiment, may be formed to have a generally cuboidal box shape having an inner space. An inlet  72  and an outlet  73  are formed in the housing  70 , and, in one embodiment, the inlet  72  is formed at or near a front upper region (e.g., on a front wall) of the housing  70  and the outlet  73  is formed at or near a rear lower region (e.g., on a rear wall) of the housing  70 . 
         [0062]    An opening/closing member  80  for controlling an opening state of the inlet  72  by wind pressure is installed at the inlet  72 , and the opening/closing member  80 , in one embodiment, includes a shaft member  83  and a blocking plate  81  combined with the shaft member  83 . In one embodiment, the blocking plate  81  is pressurized by a torsion spring to close the inlet  72 . 
         [0063]    An inflow pipe  71  that is protruded to the front side is formed at the front upper region of the housing  70 , and the inlet  72  is formed at the front end of the inflow pipe  71 . The opening/closing member  80  is installed to open and close the inlet  72  in the inflow pipe  71 . 
         [0064]    The battery module  103 , in one embodiment, may have an equivalent or similar structure as that of the battery module  101  described above except for a structure of the housing  70 . Therefore, further description of the same features and structures will not be provided. 
         [0065]    The inflow pipe  71 , in one embodiment, is configured as a quadrangular pipe and is protruded to the front side of the housing  70  at the front upper region of the housing  70 , thereby being connected to the inside of the housing  70 . According to one exemplary embodiment, the inflow pipe  71  has a quadrangular cross-section, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and, in other embodiments, the inflow pipe  71  can have various structures and configurations, such as a circular pipe. 
         [0066]    The inlet  72  is formed at the front end of the inflow pipe  71 , and the opening/closing member  80  is installed at the back of the inlet  72 . The opening/closing member  80 , in one embodiment, is installed in the inlet  72  in a rotatable manner to open the inlet  72  depending on the wind pressure. 
         [0067]    The opening/closing member  80 , in one embodiment, includes the shaft member  83  and the blocking plate  81  combined with the shaft member  83 . In one embodiment, the blocking plate  81  is pressurized into the inlet  72  by a torsion spring to close the inlet  72 . Therefore, the inlet  72  can be opened when wind pressure that is greater than the pressing force of the torsion spring acts on the blocking plate  81 . 
         [0068]    The inflow pipe  71 , in one embodiment, is installed to be exposed to the outside or to be connected to a pipe for receiving external air. 
         [0069]    In one embodiment, a hole  71   a  is formed at the bottom of the inflow pipe  71 , and the hole  71   a  functions as a passage for discharging moisture (e.g., rainwater) that enters into the inflow pipe  71 . 
         [0070]    The outlet  73  may be formed at the rear lower region of the housing  70 , and, in one embodiment, an air-permeable film  90  is installed in the outlet  73 . The air-permeable film  90  may be made of a Teflon-based resin, and particularly may be made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). In one embodiment, the air-permeable film  90  may be made of a perfluoroalkoxy polymer (PFA), fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP), an ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE) copolymer, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), or polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). 
         [0071]    Pores that are larger than the diameter of gas molecules and are smaller than the diameter of water particles are formed in the air-permeable film  90 . Accordingly, the gas molecules can pass through the air-permeable film  90 , and the water particles cannot pass through the air-permeable film  90 , such that the gas inside the housing  70  can be discharged to the outside and liquids are prevented or substantially prevented from entering into the housing  70  from the outside. In one embodiment, the air-permeable film  90  may be installed in the inlet  72 . 
         [0072]    When the inflow pipe  71  is formed according to the present exemplary embodiment, the opening/closing member  80  is driven in the inflow pipe  71  to prevent or substantially prevent interference with the rechargeable batteries  10 , and moisture (e.g., rainwater) that enters through the inflow pipe  71  can be easily discharged through the hole  71   a.    
         [0073]    While the present invention has been described in connection with certain exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.