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 having at least one battery cell first, and then configure a battery pack by using at least one battery module and adding other components.

If conventional battery module or battery pack is used for a long time, the battery cells are inflated to gradually increase the internal pressing force. Accordingly, the battery cells or the cover frame for accommodating the battery cells are damaged.

Thus, it is required to search for a battery module, which may prevent the cover frame or the battery cells from being damaged when the battery cells are inflated, a battery pack including the battery module, and a vehicle including the battery pack.

The present disclosure is directed to providing a battery module, which may prevent a cover frame from being damaged when battery cells are inflated, a battery pack including the battery module, and a vehicle including the battery pack.

Moreover, the present disclosure is also directed to providing a battery module, which may prevent battery cells frame from being damaged when the battery cells are inflated, 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 as defined in the appended set of claims, comprising: a battery cell assembly having a plurality of battery cells stacked on each other; a pair of end plates provided at both sides of the battery cell assembly; and a cover frame coupled to the pair of end plates to cover the battery cell assembly, the cover frame being deformed along an inflating direction of the plurality of battery cells when the plurality of battery cells are inflated.

The inflating direction of the plurality of battery cells is a direction toward both sides of the battery cell assembly, and the cover frame has an elastic deforming portion that is elastically deformed in the direction toward both sides of the battery cell assembly when the plurality of battery cells are inflated.

The elastic deforming portion may be formed with a predetermined length along a longitudinal direction of the battery cell assembly and be provided in plural such that the plurality of elastic deforming portions are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the direction toward both sides of the battery cell assembly.

In a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of elastic deforming portions may be formed to be convexly protrude out of the cover frame and be concavely formed at an inner side of the cover frame.

In that embodiment when the plurality of battery cells are inflated, the plurality of elastic deforming portions may be elastically deformed to become flat along the direction toward both sides of the cover frame.

In the battery module as defined in the appended set of claims, the elastic deforming portion has a groove shape with a predetermined size and is provided in plural such that the plurality of elastic deforming portions are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along a longitudinal direction of the battery cell assembly.

The plurality of elastic deforming portions include a center groove formed at a center of the cover frame to be formed convex along a front and rear direction of the cover frame; a front edge groove spaced apart from the center groove and provided at a front edge of the cover frame; a plurality of front grooves disposed between the front edge groove and the center groove, spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the front and rear direction of the cover frame, and formed convex toward a front side of the cover frame; a plurality of rear grooves disposed to face the plurality of front grooves with the center groove being interposed therebetween, the plurality of rear grooves being formed convex toward a rear side of the cover frame; and a rear edge groove spaced apart from the plurality of rear grooves and provided at a rear edge of the cover frame.

When the plurality of battery cells are inflated, the center groove, the front edge groove, the plurality of front grooves, the plurality of rear grooves and the rear edge groove may be elastically deformed to become flat along the direction toward both sides of the cover frame. wherein the center groove may be convexly formed along the front and rear directions of the cover frame.

In addition, the present disclosure 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.

According to various embodiments as above, it is possible to provide a battery module, which may prevent a cover frame from being damaged when battery cells are inflated, a battery pack including the battery module, and a vehicle including the battery pack.

Moreover, according to various embodiments as above, it is possible to provide a battery module, which may prevent battery cells frame from being damaged when the battery cells are inflated, 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 not falling within the subject-matter of the appended set of claims, <FIG> is a cross-sectioned view showing the battery module of <FIG>, and <FIG> is a diagram for illustrating the deformation of a cover frame when battery cells of the battery module of <FIG> are inflated.

Referring to <FIG>, the battery module <NUM> may include a battery cell assembly <NUM>, an end plate <NUM>, and a cover frame <NUM>.

The battery cell assembly <NUM> may have a plurality of battery cells <NUM>. The plurality of battery cells <NUM> may be secondary batteries, particularly pouch-type secondary batteries. The plurality of battery cells <NUM> may be stacked on each other and electrically connected to each other.

The end plate <NUM> may be provided in a pair and may be provided at both sides of the battery cell assembly <NUM>. The pair of end plates <NUM> may support both sides of the battery cell assembly <NUM>.

The cover frame <NUM> may be coupled to the pair of end plates <NUM> to cover the battery cell assembly <NUM>. The cover frame <NUM> may cover at least an upper side and a lower side of the pair of end plates <NUM>.

When the plurality of battery cells <NUM> are inflated, the cover frame <NUM> may be deformed along the inflating direction of the plurality of battery cells <NUM>. Here, the inflating direction of the plurality of battery cells <NUM> may be a direction toward both sides of the battery cell assembly <NUM>, namely toward the pair of end plates <NUM>.

The cover frame <NUM> may have an elastic deforming portion <NUM> for the elastic deformation.

When the plurality of battery cells <NUM> are inflated, the elastic deforming portion <NUM> may elastically deformed in the direction toward both sides of the battery cell assembly <NUM> to extend the cover frame <NUM> in the direction toward both sides of the battery cell assembly <NUM>.

The elastic deforming portion <NUM> may be formed with a predetermined length along the longitudinal direction of the battery cell assembly <NUM>, namely in the front and rear directions of the battery module <NUM>, and may be provided in plural such that the plurality of elastic deforming portions <NUM> are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the direction toward both sides of the battery cell assembly <NUM>.

The plurality of elastic deforming portions <NUM> may be formed to convexly protrude out of the cover frame <NUM> and may be concavely formed at an inner side of the cover frame <NUM>, respectively.

When the plurality of battery cells <NUM> are inflated, the plurality of elastic deforming portions <NUM> may be elastically deformed to become flat along the direction toward both sides of the cover frame <NUM>. When the plurality of battery cells <NUM> are inflated, the plurality of elastic deforming portions <NUM> may be elastically deformed to extend the cover frame <NUM> to a predetermined length in the inflating direction, thereby guiding deformation of the cover frame <NUM>.

Accordingly, in this embodiment, it is possible to effectively prevent the inner pressing force of the battery module <NUM> from increasing beyond a predetermined magnitude by means of the elastic deforming portion <NUM> when the plurality of battery cells <NUM> are inflated.

Thus, in this embodiment, when the plurality of battery cells <NUM> are inflated, the elastic deforming portion <NUM> may prevent the pressing force of the battery module <NUM> from increasing beyond a predetermined magnitude, thereby significantly reducing the risk of damage of the battery cells <NUM> or the cover frame <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram for illustrating a battery module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure falling within the subject-matter of the appended set of claims, <FIG> is a diagram for illustrating a cover frame of the battery module of <FIG>, and <FIG> is a diagram for illustrating the deformation of the cover frame when battery cells of the battery module of <FIG> are inflated.

Since the battery module <NUM> according to this embodiment is similar to the battery module <NUM> of the former embodiment, the features identical or similar to those of the former embodiment will not described in detail, and features different from the former embodiment will be described in detail.

Referring to <FIG>, the battery module <NUM> may include a battery cell assembly <NUM>, an end plate <NUM> and a cover frame <NUM>.

The battery cell assembly <NUM> and the end plate <NUM> are substantially identical or similar to those of the former embodiment and thus will be described in detail.

The cover frame <NUM> has an elastic deforming portion <NUM>.

The elastic deforming portion <NUM> has a groove shape with a predetermined size and is provided in plural such that the plurality of deforming portions <NUM> are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the longitudinal direction of the battery cell assembly <NUM>.

The elastic deforming portion <NUM> has a center groove <NUM>, a front edge groove <NUM>, a front groove <NUM>, a rear groove <NUM>, and a rear edge groove <NUM>.

The grooves <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are represented as through-holes in <FIG> for the sole purpose to better visualize the arrangement of the grooves of the cover frame <NUM> in relation to the other elements of the battery module, in particular the battery cell assembly <NUM>.

The center groove <NUM> is formed at the center of the cover frame <NUM>. The center groove <NUM> is convexly formed along the front and rear directions of the cover frame <NUM>.

The front edge groove <NUM> is spaced apart from the center groove <NUM> at the front side of the cover frame <NUM>. The front edge groove <NUM> is provided at the front edge of the cover frame <NUM>.

The front groove <NUM> is provided in plural and disposed between the front edge groove <NUM> and the center groove <NUM>. The front grooves <NUM> are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the front and rear direction of the cover frame <NUM> and be formed convex toward a front side of the cover frame <NUM>.

The rear groove <NUM> is provided in plural, and the plurality of rear grooves <NUM> are disposed to face the plurality of front grooves <NUM> with the center groove <NUM> being interposed therebetween. The rear groove <NUM> are formed convex toward a rear side of the cover frame <NUM>.

The rear edge groove <NUM> is spaced apart from the plurality of rear grooves <NUM>. The rear edge groove <NUM> is provided at a rear edge of the cover frame <NUM>.

When the plurality of battery cells <NUM> are inflated, the center groove <NUM>, the front edge groove <NUM>, the plurality of front grooves <NUM>, the plurality of rear grooves <NUM>, and the rear edge groove <NUM> may be elastically deformed to become flat along the direction toward both sides of the cover frame <NUM>.

Accordingly, when the plurality of battery cells <NUM> are inflated, the elastic deforming portion <NUM> may extend the cover frame <NUM> by a predetermined length in the inflating direction to guide deformation of the cover frame <NUM>.

As described above, the elastic deforming portion <NUM> may be formed with a plurality of straps with a bent groove shape capable of elastically extending the cover frame <NUM>, instead of the shape of the former embodiment.

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

The battery pack <NUM> may include at least one battery module <NUM> of the former embodiments, or may include both the battery modules <NUM>, <NUM> of the former embodiments.

The battery pack <NUM> may be provided to a vehicle V as a fuel source of the vehicle V. As an example, the battery pack <NUM> may be provided to a vehicle V such as an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, and various other-type vehicles 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 a vehicle V, which have the battery pack <NUM>, include the battery module <NUM>, <NUM> as described above, and thus it is possible to implement a battery pack <NUM> having all the advantages of the battery module <NUM>, <NUM> described above, or devices, instruments, facilities or the like such as a vehicle V, which have the battery pack <NUM>.

According to various embodiments as above, it is possible to provide the battery module <NUM>, <NUM>, which may prevent the cover frame <NUM>, <NUM> from being damaged when the battery cells <NUM> are inflated, the battery pack <NUM> including the battery module <NUM>, <NUM>, and the vehicle V including the battery pack <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A battery module (<NUM>), comprising:
a battery cell assembly (<NUM>) having a plurality of battery cells (<NUM>) stacked on each other;
a pair of end plates (<NUM>) provided at both sides of the battery cell assembly (<NUM>); and
a cover frame (<NUM>) coupled to the pair of end plates (<NUM>) to cover the battery cell assembly (<NUM>), the cover frame (<NUM>) being deformed along an inflating direction of the plurality of battery cells (<NUM>) when the plurality of battery cells (<NUM>) are inflated,
wherein the inflating direction of the plurality of battery cells (<NUM>) is a direction toward both sides of the battery cell assembly (<NUM>),
wherein the cover frame (<NUM>) has an elastic deforming portion (<NUM>) that is elastically deformed in the direction toward both sides of the battery cell assembly (<NUM>) when the plurality of battery cells (<NUM>) are inflated,
wherein the elastic deforming portion (<NUM>) has a groove shape with a predetermined size and is provided in plural such that the plurality of elastic deforming portions (<NUM>) are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along a longitudinal direction of the battery cell assembly (<NUM>), and
wherein the plurality of elastic deforming portions (<NUM>) include:
a center groove (<NUM>) formed at a center of the cover frame (<NUM>) to be formed convex along a front and rear direction of the cover frame (<NUM>);
a front edge groove (<NUM>) spaced apart from the center groove (<NUM>) and provided at a front edge of the cover frame (<NUM>);
a plurality of front grooves (<NUM>) disposed between the front edge groove (<NUM>) and the center groove (<NUM>), spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the front and rear direction of the cover frame (<NUM>), and formed convex toward a front side of the cover frame (<NUM>);
a plurality of rear grooves (<NUM>) disposed to face the plurality of front grooves (<NUM>) with the center groove (<NUM>) being interposed therebetween, the plurality of rear grooves (<NUM>) being formed convex toward a rear side of the cover frame (<NUM>); and
a rear edge groove (<NUM>) spaced apart from the plurality of rear grooves (<NUM>) and provided at a rear edge of the cover frame (<NUM>).