Patent Description:
Meanwhile, when a plurality of battery cells are connected in series or in parallel to configure a battery pack, it is common to configure a battery module including at least one battery cell first, and then configure a battery pack by using at least one battery module and adding other components.

In the case of a conventional battery module, it is important to apply a pressing force within a certain range to the battery cell in order to improve performance such as the lifespan of the battery cell. In addition, it is important to control the expansion of the battery cell, namely cell swelling.

Accordingly, it is demanded to find a way to provide a battery module, which may improve the performance of the battery cell and effectively control cell swelling, a battery pack including the battery module, and a vehicle including the battery pack. <CIT> discloses a stacked battery module with a base plate and an upper plate connected by elastic straps, such that the distance between the plates can change according to cell swelling. <CIT> discloses a stacked battery module comprising a cage with a pressing pulley unit having pulleys, straps and a spring such that the cage is elastically deformable according to cell swelling.

The present disclosure is directed to providing a battery module, which may improve the performance of a battery cell and effectively control cell swelling, a battery pack including the battery module, and a vehicle including the battery pack.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a battery module, comprising: a battery cell assembly including at least one battery cell; a base plate configured to support a lower side of the battery cell assembly; and a pressing pulley unit elastically connected to the base plate and configured to cover an upper side of the battery cell assembly, the pressing pulley unit being elastically deformable in a vertical direction of the battery cell assembly according to cell swelling of the battery cell assembly.

The pressing pulley unit includes a pressing plate disposed at an upper side of the battery cell assembly and configured to be movable along the vertical direction; a pair of pulley units connected to the pressing plate and disposed at both sides of the battery cell assembly; and a pair of elastic straps connected to the pair of pulley units and fixed to the base plate.

Each of the pair of pulley units may include a pulley body connected to the elastic strap; a pulley shaft provided through the pulley body; and a connection member configured to connect the pulley shaft and the pressing plate.

The pair of pulley units may include at least one elastic spring provided to the pulley shaft and disposed between the pulley body and the connection member.

The elastic spring may be provided as a pair, and the pair of elastic springs may be disposed to face each other with the pulley body being interposed therebetween.

The pair of pulley units may include a first pulley unit disposed at one side of the battery cell assembly; and a second pulley unit spaced apart from the first pulley unit and disposed at the other side of the battery cell assembly.

The pair of elastic straps may include a first elastic strap connected to the first pulley unit; and a second elastic strap spaced apart from the first elastic strap and connected to the second pulley unit.

The battery cell may be provided in plural, and the plurality of battery cells may be stacked on each other in a height direction of the battery cell assembly.

In addition, the present disclosure further provides a battery pack, comprising: at least one battery module according to the above embodiments; and a pack case configured to package the at least one battery module.

Moreover, the present disclosure further provides a vehicle, comprising at least one battery pack according to the above embodiments.

According to various embodiments as described above, it is possible to provide a battery module, which may improve the performance of a battery cell and effectively control cell swelling, a battery pack including the battery module, and a vehicle including the battery pack.

<FIG> is a diagram for illustrating a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, <FIG> is a sectional view, taken along the line A-A' of <FIG>, <FIG> is an enlarged view showing a main part of <FIG>, <FIG> is a sectional view, taken along the line B-B' of <FIG>, and <FIG> is an enlarged view showing a main part of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the battery module <NUM> includes a battery cell assembly <NUM>, a base plate <NUM>, and a pressing pulley unit <NUM>.

The battery cell assembly <NUM> includes at least one battery cell <NUM> or a plurality of battery cells <NUM>. Hereinafter, in this embodiment, it will be described that a plurality of battery cells <NUM> are provided.

The plurality of battery cells <NUM> may be stacked on each other in a height direction of the battery cell assembly <NUM>. The plurality of battery cells <NUM> are secondary batteries, and may be provided as a pouch-type secondary battery, a prismatic secondary battery, or a cylindrical secondary battery. Hereinafter, in this embodiment, the battery cell <NUM> will be described as a pouch-type secondary battery.

The base plate <NUM> supports a lower side of the battery cell assembly <NUM>. The base plate <NUM> may have a shape and size capable of supporting the lower side of the battery cell assembly <NUM>.

The pressing pulley unit <NUM> is elastically connected to the base plate <NUM>, cover an upper side of the battery cell assembly <NUM>, and is elastically deformed in the vertical direction of the battery cell assembly <NUM> according to cell swelling of the battery cell assembly <NUM>.

The pressing pulley unit <NUM> includes a pressing plate <NUM>, a pair of pulley units <NUM>, <NUM>, and a pair of elastic straps <NUM>, <NUM>.

The pressing plate <NUM> is disposed at an upper side of the battery cell assembly <NUM>. The pressing plate <NUM> may have a shape and size capable of covering the upper side of the battery cell assembly <NUM>. The pressing plate <NUM> may be provided to be elastically movable along the vertical direction of the battery cell assembly <NUM>.

The pair of pulley units <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to the pressing plate <NUM> and disposed at both sides of the battery cell assembly <NUM>.

The pair of pulley units <NUM>, <NUM> may include a first pulley unit <NUM> and a second pulley unit <NUM>.

The first pulley unit <NUM> may be disposed at one side of the battery cell assembly <NUM>.

The first pulley unit <NUM> may include a pulley body <NUM>, a pulley shaft <NUM>, a connection member <NUM> and an elastic spring <NUM>.

The pulley body <NUM> may be connected to an elastic strap <NUM>, explained later. Specifically, the pulley body <NUM> may be connected to be engaged with a strap guide <NUM> of the first elastic strap <NUM>, explained later.

More specifically, the pulley body <NUM> has a shape corresponding to the shape of the strap guide <NUM> of the first elastic strap <NUM>, explained later, and may be provided in a downwardly inclined shape toward the center of the pulley shaft <NUM>, explained later.

The pulley shaft <NUM> is formed in a predetermined length and may be provided through the pulley body <NUM>.

The connection member <NUM> may connect the pulley shaft <NUM> and the pressing plate <NUM>. The connection member <NUM> may be connected to both ends of the pulley shaft <NUM> and fixed to the pressing plate <NUM>.

The elastic spring <NUM> is provided to the pulley shaft <NUM> and may be disposed between the pulley body <NUM> and the connection member <NUM>. The elastic spring <NUM> may be provided as a pair. The pair of elastic springs <NUM> may be disposed to face each other with the pulley body <NUM> being interposed therebetween.

The second pulley unit <NUM> is spaced apart from the first pulley unit <NUM> and may be disposed at the other side of the battery cell assembly <NUM>.

The second pulley unit <NUM> may include a pulley body <NUM>, a pulley shaft <NUM>, a connection member <NUM>, and an elastic spring <NUM>.

The pulley body <NUM> may be connected to an elastic strap <NUM>, explained later. Specifically, the pulley body <NUM> may be connected to be engaged with a strap guide <NUM> of the second elastic strap <NUM>, explained later.

More specifically, the pulley body <NUM> has a shape corresponding to the shape of the strap guide <NUM> of the second elastic strap <NUM>, explained later, and may be provided in a downwardly inclined shape toward the center of the pulley shaft <NUM>, explained later.

The pair of elastic straps <NUM>, <NUM> are connected to the pair of pulley units <NUM>, <NUM>, and are fixed to the base plate <NUM>.

The pair of elastic straps <NUM>, <NUM> may include a first elastic strap <NUM> and a second elastic strap <NUM>.

The first elastic strap <NUM> may be elastically connected to the first pulley unit <NUM>.

The first elastic strap <NUM> may include a strap band <NUM> and a strap guide <NUM>.

The strap band <NUM> is made of an elastic material in a predetermined length and may be fixedly mounted <NUM> to the base plate <NUM>. For example, the strap band <NUM> may be made of a metal material having a predetermined elasticity. The present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the strap band <NUM> may also be made of materials having a predetermined elasticity other than the metal material, for example, a rubber material.

The strap guide <NUM> is provided to the strap band <NUM>, and at least one strap guide <NUM> or a plurality of strap guides <NUM> may be provided. The strap guide <NUM> may be made of a metal material.

The strap guide <NUM> may be connected to the pair of pulley units <NUM>, <NUM>. Specifically, the strap guide <NUM> may be connected to be engaged with the pulley body <NUM> of the first pulley unit <NUM>.

Here, the strap guide <NUM> may be formed to have a cross section inclined downward. Due to the inclined shape of the strap guide <NUM>, the elastic sliding of the pulley body <NUM> of the first pulley unit <NUM> in the horizontal direction may be performed more conveniently when the pressing pulley unit <NUM> controls cell swelling.

The second elastic strap <NUM> is spaced apart from the first elastic strap <NUM> and may be elastically connected to the second pulley unit <NUM>.

The second elastic strap <NUM> may include a strap band <NUM> and a strap guide <NUM>.

The strap band <NUM> is made of an elastic material in a predetermined length and may be fixedly mounted to the base plate <NUM>. For example, the strap band <NUM> may be made of a metal material having a predetermined elasticity. The present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the strap band <NUM> may also be made of materials having a predetermined elasticity other than the metal material, for example, a rubber material.

The strap guide <NUM> may be connected to the pair of pulley units <NUM>, <NUM>. Specifically, the strap guide <NUM> may be connected to be engaged with the pulley body <NUM> of the second pulley unit <NUM>.

Here, the strap guide <NUM> may be formed to have a cross section inclined downward. Due to the inclined shape of the strap guide <NUM>, the elastic sliding of the pulley body <NUM> of the second pulley unit <NUM> in the horizontal direction may be performed more conveniently when the pressing pulley unit <NUM> controls the cell swelling.

Hereinafter, the operation of the pressing pulley unit <NUM> according to this embodiment when cell swelling occurs in the battery module <NUM> will be described in detail.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams for illustrating an operation of a pressing pulley unit of the battery module of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, cell swelling may occur in the battery module <NUM> due to expansion or the like of the battery cells <NUM> of the battery cell assembly <NUM>.

When the cell swelling occurs, by raising the pressing plate <NUM>, the pressing pulley unit <NUM> may effectively prevent the pressure applied to the battery cells <NUM> from excessively increasing.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, when the pressing plate <NUM> is raised according to the cell swelling, the pulley body <NUM> of the first pulley unit <NUM> of the pressing pulley unit <NUM> may slide in the horizontal direction toward the facing connection member <NUM>.

At this time, the pulley body <NUM> may slide along the engaged inclined cross-section of the strap guide <NUM> connected to the strap band <NUM> of the first elastic strap <NUM>. Accordingly, problems such as interference that may occur when the pulley body <NUM> slides may be minimized.

Moreover, the pair of elastic springs <NUM> of the first pulley unit <NUM> may guide the sliding of the pulley body <NUM> while being compressed according to the sliding of the pulley body <NUM> to buffer the cell swelling force at least partially.

Meanwhile, although not shown, when the cell swelling occurs, the second pulley unit <NUM> may also operate with the same mechanism as the first pulley unit <NUM>.

As such, the pressing pulley unit <NUM> according to this embodiment may maintain the pressure level at a certain level by changing the height regulating the battery cells <NUM> according to elasticity, using the force generated by the battery cells <NUM> of the battery cell assembly <NUM> in itself as an actuating force.

Maintaining the feature of maintaining a constant pressure level through the pressing pulley unit <NUM> may be applied not only to cell swelling of the battery cells <NUM> of the battery cell assembly <NUM>, but also to providing a predetermined pressing force for improving the lifespan performance of the battery cells <NUM>. That is, the pressing pulley unit <NUM> may prevent the performance of the battery cells <NUM> from deteriorating while maintaining the performance of the battery cells <NUM> by providing a constant pressing force toward the battery cells <NUM> even before the cell swelling occurs.

<FIG> is a diagram for illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a diagram for illustrating a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a battery pack <NUM> may include at least one battery module <NUM> and a pack case <NUM> for packaging the at least one battery module <NUM> according to the former embodiment.

The battery pack <NUM> may be provided to a vehicle V as a fuel source of the vehicle. As an example, the battery pack <NUM> may be provided to an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, and various other-type vehicles V capable of using the battery pack <NUM> as a fuel source.

In addition, the battery pack <NUM> may be provided in other devices, instruments or facilities such as an energy storage system using a secondary battery, in addition to the vehicle V.

As described above, the battery pack <NUM> of this embodiment and devices, instruments or facilities such as the vehicle, which have the battery pack <NUM>, include the battery module <NUM> as described above, and thus it is possible to implement a battery pack <NUM> having all the advantages of the battery module <NUM> described above, or devices, instruments, facilities or the like such as the vehicle V, which have the battery pack <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A battery module (<NUM>), comprising:
a battery cell assembly (<NUM>) including at least one battery cell (<NUM>);
a base plate (<NUM>) configured to support a lower side of the battery cell assembly; and
a pressing pulley unit (<NUM>) elastically connected to the base plate and configured to cover an upper side of the battery cell assembly, the pressing pulley unit being elastically deformable in a vertical direction of the battery cell assembly according to cell swelling of the battery cell assembly;
wherein the pressing pulley unit includes:
a pressing plate (<NUM>) disposed at an upper side of the battery cell assembly and configured to be movable along the vertical direction;
a pair of pulley units (<NUM>, <NUM>) connected to the pressing plate and disposed at both sides of the battery cell assembly; and
a pair of elastic straps (<NUM>, <NUM>) connected to the pair of pulley units and fixed to the base plate.