Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to an battery module, and more particularly, to an battery module, which allows a battery cell stack to be mounted to a frame without deforming the frame.

As technology development and demand for a mobile device have increased, demand for a secondary battery as an energy source has rapidly increased. Conventionally, a nickel-cadmium battery or a hydrogen ion battery has been used as the secondary battery. However, a lithium secondary battery is recently widely used because charging and discharging is free due to rare memory effect in comparison with a nickel-based secondary battery, a self-discharge rate is very low, and an energy density is high.

The lithium secondary battery mainly uses a lithium oxide and a carbonaceous material as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, respectively. The lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, respectively coated with the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material, are arranged with a separator therebetween, and an outer member, that is a battery case, which seals and receives the electrode assembly together with an electrolyte solution.

The lithium secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator interposed therebetween and an electrolyte. Depending on which material is used for the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material, the lithium secondary battery is classified into a lithium ion battery (LIB) and a polymer lithium ion battery (PLIB). Generally, an electrode of the lithium secondary battery is prepared by applying the positive or negative electrode active material to a current collector made of aluminum or copper sheet, mesh, film, foil, or the like and then drying the same.

In a secondary battery, a battery cell stack may be mounted to a frames of various shapes. Here, if the frame has a U shape, it is not easy to mount the battery cell stack to the frame.

<FIG> are diagrams for illustrating a method of inserting a battery cell stack into a U-shaped frame.

Referring to <FIG>, an inner length L1 of the U-shaped frame <NUM> is identical or extremely similar to an entire length L2 of a battery cell stack <NUM>, and namely, there is substantially no clearance. Here, the battery cell stack <NUM> is inserted into the U-shaped frame <NUM> in a state where a side cover <NUM> of the frame <NUM> is deformed to spread outward by applying an external force to the side cover <NUM> of the U-shaped frame <NUM> outward. However, in this method, the U-shaped frame <NUM> may be permanently deformed, and the U-shaped frame <NUM> may be distorted.

Referring to <FIG>, since the inner length L1 of the U-shaped frame <NUM> is longer than the entire length L2 of the battery cell stack <NUM>, a predetermined space <NUM> is formed between the U-shaped frame <NUM> and the battery cell stack <NUM>. By doing so, the battery cell stack <NUM> may be easily mounted to the U-shaped frame <NUM>. However, due to the space <NUM> between the U-shaped frame <NUM> and the battery cell stack <NUM>, it is not easy to fix the battery cell stack <NUM> to the U-shaped frame <NUM>, and the space utilization of the battery module is low since the total volume of the battery module increases. <CIT> and <CIT> disclose a battery pack.

The present disclosure is designed to solve the problems of the related art, and therefore the present disclosure is directed to providing an battery module, which may allow a battery cell stack to be mounted to a frame without deforming or distorting the frame.

Also, the present disclosure is directed to providing an battery module, which may prevent the space utilization of the battery from deteriorating.

In addition, the present disclosure is directed to providing an battery module, which may allow the battery cell stack to be mounted to the frame without damaging the battery cell stack.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a battery module as defined in claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments are disclosed in claims <NUM> to <NUM>. Advantageous Effects.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, since the battery cell stack is mounted to the frame along a film, the battery cell stack may be mounted to the frame without deforming or distorting the frame.

Also, since no space is formed between the frame and the battery cell stack, it is possible to prevent the space utilization of the battery from deteriorating.

In addition, since the battery cell stack is inserted into the frame while sliding along the film, the battery cell stack may be mounted to the frame without being damaged.

In the drawings, the size of each element or a specific part of the element may be exaggerated, omitted, or schematically illustrated for convenience and clarity of a description. Thus, the size of each element does not entirely reflect the actual size of the element. A detailed description of well-known functions or elements associated with the present disclosure will be omitted if it unnecessarily obscures the subject matter of the present disclosure.

The term, 'combine' or 'connect' as used herein, may refer not only to a case where one member and another member are directly combined or directly connected but also a case where one member is indirectly combined with another member via a connecting member or is indirectly connected.

<FIG> is a schematic perspective view showing that a battery cell stack is separated from a frame, <FIG> is a schematic side view showing that a film is attached to the frame, and <FIG> is a schematic side view showing the apparatus for mounting a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In this specification, a battery cell stack <NUM> is mounted to a frame <NUM> to form a battery module. As shown in <FIG>, the frame <NUM> includes a base cover <NUM> and a pair of side covers <NUM> extending from both ends of the base cover <NUM>. For example, the frame <NUM> may be formed to have an approximate "U" shape. Here, the approximate "U" shape does not necessarily have to be the same as the "U" shape but includes all shapes similar to the "U" shape.

Referring to <FIG>, an apparatus <NUM> for mounting a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a support member <NUM>. Also, one side of the film <NUM> is attached to the frame <NUM>, and the other side of the film <NUM> is attached to the battery cell stack <NUM>.

The support member <NUM> supports the battery cell stack <NUM>. That is, referring to <FIG>, the battery cell stack <NUM> may be placed on and supported by an upper side of the support member <NUM>. Here, the battery cell stack <NUM> may be prepared by coupling a plurality of battery cells in various ways. For example, a plurality of battery cells may be attached to each other by a double-sided tape to form the battery cell stack <NUM>, and the battery cell stack <NUM> configured as above is placed on an upper side of the support member <NUM> based on <FIG>. The support member <NUM> may move close to the frame <NUM>. That is, the support member <NUM> may move toward the frame <NUM> in a state where the battery cell stack <NUM> is placed thereon, or the frame <NUM> may move toward the support member <NUM>. In this regard, a predetermined power source may be coupled to the support member <NUM> to move the support member <NUM> toward the frame <NUM>. Alternatively, the support member <NUM> may be fixed and the frame <NUM> may be moved to the support member <NUM>. However, for convenience of explanation, the following description will be based on the case where the support member <NUM> moves toward the frame <NUM>.

Meanwhile, referring to <FIG>, one sides of two films <NUM> are respectively attached to the pair of side covers <NUM> of the frame <NUM>. Here, the film <NUM> may be attached to the side cover <NUM> of the frame <NUM> in various ways. For example, the film <NUM> may be attached to the side cover <NUM> by using a double-sided tape. However, the method of attaching the film <NUM> is not limited thereto. Also, referring to <FIG>, the other side of the film <NUM> is attached to a side surface of the battery cell stack <NUM>.

As described above, the film <NUM> may be attached to the battery cell stack <NUM> in various ways and, for example, the film <NUM> may be attached to the battery cell stack <NUM> by using a double-sided tape. However, the method of attaching the film <NUM> is not limited thereto. That is, one side of the film <NUM> is attached to the side cover <NUM> of the frame <NUM>, and the other side of the film <NUM> is attached to the side surface of the battery cell stack <NUM>.

If the support member <NUM> moves toward the frame <NUM> in a state where the film <NUM> is respectively attached to the side cover <NUM> of the frame <NUM> and the battery cell stack <NUM>, for example if the support member <NUM> moves upward based on <FIG>, the film <NUM> is also moved into the frame <NUM>. In addition, the battery cell stack <NUM> may move along the film <NUM> to be mounted to the frame <NUM>. That is, since the battery cell stack <NUM> is smoothly inserted into the frame <NUM> while sliding along the film <NUM> having a low coefficient of friction, the battery cell stack <NUM> may be mounted to the frame <NUM> without being damaged.

Here, the film <NUM> may be provided as an insulation film <NUM>. As explained later, after the film <NUM> is inserted into the frame <NUM> together with the battery cell stack <NUM>, the film <NUM> remains in the frame <NUM> in contact with the battery cell stack <NUM> without being removed. In addition, since the film <NUM> is provided as the insulation film <NUM> and remains inside the frame <NUM>, it is not necessary to separately perform insulation coating on the side cover <NUM> of the frame <NUM>. Accordingly, the insulation coating process of the frame <NUM> is excluded, thereby shortening the overall process time and reducing the cost.

The pressing member <NUM> moves toward the support member <NUM> at a position spaced apart from the support member <NUM> to press a side surface of the battery cell stack <NUM> to which the other side of the film <NUM> is attached. That is, the pressing member <NUM> presses the side surface of the battery cell stack <NUM> so that the battery cell stack <NUM> is smoothly inserted into the frame <NUM>.

The pressing member <NUM> may include a movable rod <NUM>, a rotating roller <NUM> and a driving force transmission source <NUM>. The movable rod <NUM> contacts the side surface of the battery cell stack <NUM> and presses the battery cell stack <NUM> (see <FIG>). To this end, the movable rod <NUM> may have a height corresponding to the height of the battery cell stack <NUM> based on the direction in which the battery cell stack <NUM> is supported by the support member <NUM>. That is, the movable rod <NUM> may be provided to have a length equal to the height of the battery cell stack <NUM>, without being limited thereto. In addition, the movable rod <NUM> is provided to be movable toward the battery cell stack <NUM> at a position spaced apart from the battery cell stack <NUM>. At least one rotating roller <NUM> is provided to be coupled to the movable rod <NUM>. In addition, at the side surface of the battery cell stack <NUM>, the rotating roller <NUM> contacts the film <NUM> attached to the side surface of the battery cell stack <NUM>. In addition, if the support member <NUM> moves toward the frame <NUM> in a state where the film <NUM> and the battery cell stack <NUM> are pressed by the pressing member <NUM>, the battery cell stack <NUM> and the film <NUM> also move toward the frame <NUM>, and the rotating roller <NUM> is rotated in association with the movement of the film <NUM>. By doing so, the frictional force between the pressing member <NUM> and the film <NUM> may be relaxed. The driving force transmission source <NUM> is coupled to the movable rod <NUM> to transmit a driving force to the movable rod <NUM>. The movable rod <NUM> may be moved toward the battery cell stack <NUM> or away from the battery cell stack <NUM> by the driving force transmitted from the driving force transmission source <NUM>. Here, the driving force transmission source <NUM> may be provided in various ways and may include various motors or cylinders, for example.

The push member <NUM> may employ various jigs, mechanisms or devices that are adapted to push the frame <NUM> toward the support member <NUM> to provide a pressure to the frame <NUM>. The push member <NUM>, for example, contacts and presses the base cover <NUM> of the frame <NUM> (see <FIG>). That is, if the battery cell stack <NUM> placed on the support member <NUM> is moved to the frame <NUM> so that the battery cell stack <NUM> is inserted into the frame <NUM>, the push member <NUM> presses the frame <NUM> to fully mount the battery cell stack <NUM> to the frame <NUM>. For example, if the battery cell stack <NUM> moves toward the frame <NUM> in a state of being placed on the support member <NUM> so that the battery cell stack <NUM> is inserted into the frame <NUM>, the push member <NUM> pushes the base cover <NUM> of the frame <NUM> so that the battery cell stack <NUM> is fully mounted to the frame <NUM>.

A heat conduction member <NUM> may be coupled to the battery cell stack <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, for example, the heat conduction member <NUM> may be coupled to the upper side of the battery cell stack <NUM> based on <FIG>. If heat conduction member <NUM> is mounted to the battery cell stack <NUM>, the heat conduction member <NUM> may be interposed between the frame <NUM> and the battery cell stack <NUM>. That is, since there is no need to separately mount the heat conduction member <NUM>, the assembling work becomes easy and the assembling process is simplified. Here, the heat conduction member <NUM> may include various members capable of discharging the heat generated at the battery cell stack <NUM>, and includes various heat dissipating members.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams for illustrating a process of mounting the battery cell stack to the frame by the apparatus for mounting a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, a method for mounting a battery cell according an embodiment of to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the figures.

As described above, the frame <NUM> to which the battery cell stack <NUM> is mounted will be described as including a base cover <NUM> and a pair of side covers <NUM> respectively extending from both ends of the base cover <NUM>.

First, referring to <FIG>, one side of the film <NUM> is respectively attached to the pair of side covers <NUM> of the frame <NUM>. That is, two films <NUM> are attached to the pair of side covers <NUM>, respectively. Here, the film <NUM> may be attached in various ways, and for example, the film <NUM> may be attached to the side cover <NUM> by using a double-sided tape.

Next, referring to <FIG>, the battery cell stack <NUM> is placed on and supported by the upper side of the support member <NUM>. Here, the support member <NUM> is provided to be movable toward the frame <NUM>.

Next, referring to <FIG>, the other side of the film <NUM> attached to the frame <NUM> is attached to the battery cell stack <NUM>. Thus, one side of the film <NUM> is attached to the side cover <NUM> of the frame <NUM>, and the other side of the film <NUM> is attached to the battery cell stack <NUM>.

Next, referring to <FIG>, the movable rod <NUM> coupled to the driving force transmission source <NUM> of the pressing member <NUM> moves toward the support member <NUM> at a position spaced apart from the support member <NUM>, so that the rotating roller <NUM> of the pressing member <NUM> presses the side surface of the battery cell stack <NUM> to which the other side of the film <NUM> is attached. Since the pressing member <NUM> presses the side surface of the battery cell stack <NUM>, the battery cell stack <NUM> may be smoothly inserted into the frame <NUM>.

Next, referring to <FIG>, the support member <NUM> and the frame <NUM> move close to each other. That is, the support member <NUM> moves toward the frame <NUM>.

Next, referring to <FIG>, the battery cell stack <NUM> moves along the film <NUM> and is inserted into the frame <NUM>. Here, the push member <NUM> contacts the base cover <NUM> of the frame <NUM> and presses the frame <NUM> so that the battery cell stack <NUM> is fully mounted inside the frame <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the film <NUM> is interposed between the side cover <NUM> of the frame <NUM> and the battery cell stack <NUM> in a state of being attached to the side cover <NUM> of the frame <NUM> and the battery cell stack <NUM>, and the film <NUM> is not removed even after the battery cell stack <NUM> is mounted to the frame <NUM>. Here, since the film <NUM> may be provided as the insulation film <NUM>, it is not necessary to separately perform insulation coating or the like on the side cover <NUM> of the frame <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A battery module comprising:
a battery cell stack (<NUM>);
a frame (<NUM>) in which the battery cell stack (<NUM>) is disposed, said frame (<NUM>) including a base cover (<NUM>) and a pair of side covers (<NUM>) respectively extending from both ends of the base cover (<NUM>); and
a film (<NUM>) disposed between the battery cell stack (<NUM>) and the frame (<NUM>), wherein the film (<NUM>) has a first side attached to the frame (<NUM>), and a second side attached to the battery cell stack (<NUM>).