Patent Description:
The present invention relates to a secondary battery cell module and an assembling method thereof.

The use of a secondary battery which may be semi-permanently used by recharging it is being gradually extended to power sources of vehicles as well as a power supply of a portable electronic device. In the case of the portable electronic device, a secondary battery made of a single cell is used, and in the case of the secondary battery used as a power source of vehicles, a battery pack in which a plurality of battery cells are mounted in a module to realize high capacity, and a plurality of modules are disposed according to a predetermined arrangement, is configured.

Depending on shapes of battery cells, there are various methods for mounting a plurality of battery cells in a single module, and in the case of a bar-type battery cell such as with a cylindrical shape, a bar-type battery cell is disposed between an upper frame and a lower frame, and the upper frame and the lower frame are fixed by fastening the same. In this case, the assembling of upper/lower frames and a battery cell is performed in order of arranging battery cells on a lower frame, putting an upper frame on them, and fastening the upper/lower frames. However, a plurality of cells must be simultaneously assembled, so assembling defects may be generated by assembling tolerance of respective cells, and to compensate for this, an additional process such as a process for fixing cells on the lower frame by use of an adhesive is performed, thereby increasing time and cost of the assembling process. A jig for assembling a secondary battery cell module is disclosed in <CIT>.

The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a method for assembling a secondary battery cell module for assembling a plurality of battery cells and upper/lower frames without using an additional process such as fixation of cells using an adhesive, and a secondary battery cell module assembled by the method.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for assembling a secondary battery cell module by using an assembling jig including a plurality of guide rods disposed on a jig plate, including: mounting a lower frame on the jig plate while the guide rods are inserted into a plurality of arranging through-holes of the lower frame; disposing a plurality of battery cells on the lower frame; mounting an upper frame on the battery cells while the guide rods are inserted into a plurality of arranging through-holes of the upper frame; fastening the upper frame and the lower frame; and separating the assembling jig from the upper frame and the lower frame.

The method for assembling a secondary battery cell module may further include mounting a bottom plate on the jig plate while the guide rods are inserted into a plurality of holes in the bottom plate before the mounting of the lower frame on the jig plate, and the separating of the assembling jig from the upper frame and the lower frame may be performed by separating the bottom plate from the jig plate.

An arranging through-hole of the lower frame and an arranging through-hole of the upper frame may be disposed at mutually corresponding positions, respective numbers of arranging through-holes of the lower frame and arranging through-holes of the upper frame may be greater than a number of the guide rods of the assembling jig, and the battery cell has a cylindrical shape.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a secondary battery cell module including: a lower frame including a plurality of triangular columns, a plurality of connectors for connecting three adjacent triangular columns, and a support protruding from the connectors; an upper frame including a plurality of triangular columns, a plurality of connectors for connecting three adjacent triangular columns, and a support protruding from the connectors; and a plurality of battery cells interposed between the lower frame and the upper frame, wherein arranging through-holes are formed in at least two of a plurality of connectors of the lower frame and at least two of a plurality of connectors of the upper frame, and an arranging through-hole of the lower frame and the arranging through-hole of the upper frame are disposed at mutually corresponding positions.

A plurality of respective connectors of the lower frame and a plurality of respective connectors of the upper frame may have an arranging through-hole.

Three auxiliary walls respectively connected to an edge of the triangular column are further formed on a plurality of connectors of the lower frame and a plurality of connectors of the upper frame, the arranging through-hole is disposed at a center portion in which the auxiliary wall of the connector is not be provided, respective triangular columns of the lower frame and the upper frame may include three circular arc-shaped wall sides and a rectangular side for connecting therebetween, and the battery cell may have a cylindrical shape.

A secondary battery pack is configured by receiving a secondary battery cell module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a lower case and covering the same with an upper case.

When the method for assembling a secondary battery cell module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is used, the battery cell modules may be accurately arranged on the lower frame, and the upper frame may be accurately disposed on the arranged battery cell modules to thereby prevent assembling defects.

Further, the process for assembling a secondary battery cell module may be simplified by omitting the additional process such as fixation of cells using an adhesive, and the assembling time and cost may be reduced.

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. 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.

In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc., are exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being "on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of a secondary battery cell module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, the secondary battery cell module <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a lower frame <NUM>, an upper frame <NUM>, and a plurality of battery cells <NUM> interposed therebetween. The battery cell <NUM> is formed to have a long bar shape, and the present exemplary embodiment exemplifies a cylindrical battery cell <NUM>. Positive and negative access terminals <NUM> and <NUM> are installed in the upper frame <NUM>, and a plurality of upper fasteners <NUM> are formed thereon. A lower fastener <NUM> for combination with the upper fastener <NUM> is formed on the lower frame <NUM>. The lower fastener <NUM> and the upper fastener <NUM> fasten the lower frame <NUM> and the upper frame <NUM> to fix the same through female and male combination.

A configuration of the upper and lower frames <NUM> and <NUM> of the secondary battery cell module <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of an enlarged portion of an upper frame or a lower frame of a secondary battery cell module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> shows a top plan view of an enlarged portion of an upper frame or a lower frame of a secondary battery cell module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the upper frame <NUM> or the lower frame <NUM> of the secondary battery cell module includes a cell region <NUM> for receiving a cylindrical battery cell <NUM>. The cell region <NUM> is formed by a plurality of triangular columns <NUM> formed near the same, a connector <NUM> for connecting three adjacent triangular columns <NUM>, a plurality of auxiliary walls <NUM> formed on the connector <NUM> and connected to one edge of the triangular column <NUM>, and a support <NUM> protruding toward the cell region <NUM> from the connector <NUM>. Each the cell region <NUM> is surrounded by three triangular columns <NUM> and three connectors <NUM> connecting them, and three supports <NUM> protruding from the three connectors <NUM> prevent the battery cell <NUM> from leaving the cell region <NUM>. A wall side corresponding to three sides of the triangular column <NUM> has a circular arc-shaped curve, and a portion corresponding to an apex is a rectangular side. Three auxiliary walls <NUM> are disposed on each connector <NUM>, a portion in which no auxiliary wall <NUM> is provided is provided on a center of the connector <NUM>, and an arranging through-hole <NUM> is formed on the portion. The arranging through-hole <NUM> represents a hole for allowing a guide rod to pass therethrough, wherein the guide rod is used to accurately arrange the upper and lower frames <NUM> and <NUM> and a plurality of battery cells <NUM> during a process for arranging the battery cells <NUM> on the lower frame <NUM> and putting the upper frame <NUM> thereon to assemble the same.

<FIG> and <FIG> exemplify a case in which the arranging through-hole <NUM> is formed in each connector <NUM>, and the same may be formed in part of the connector <NUM>. The arranging through-holes <NUM> may be uniformly distributed on the whole upper and lower frames <NUM> and <NUM> according to a predetermined rule, and when the arranging through-hole <NUM> is formed at a predetermined position of the lower frame <NUM>, an arranging through-hole <NUM> is also formed at a corresponding position at the upper frame <NUM>. That is, the disposing positions of the arranging through-holes <NUM> are the same on the upper frame <NUM> and the lower frame <NUM>.

A method for assembling a secondary battery cell module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of an assembling jig used in a method for assembling a secondary battery cell module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> show perspective views for sequentially showing a process for assembling a secondary battery cell module according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, the assembling jig <NUM> is configured with a jig plate <NUM> and a plurality of guide rods <NUM> disposed thereon at predetermined intervals.

As shown in <FIG>, a bottom plate <NUM> is provided on the jig plate <NUM> of the assembling jig <NUM>. A plurality of holes (not shown) corresponding to the respective guide rods <NUM> are formed in the bottom plate <NUM>, so the bottom plate <NUM> is provided on the jig plate <NUM> as the guide rod <NUM> passes through the same. The number of holes formed in the bottom plate <NUM> may be equal to or greater than the number of guide rods <NUM>. The bottom plate <NUM> may be formed with an elastic material such as a rubber so that it may function to absorb an impact between the assembling jig <NUM> and the lower frame <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the lower frame <NUM> is disposed on the bottom plate <NUM>. In this instance, the guide rod <NUM> passes through the arranging through-hole <NUM> of the lower frame <NUM> described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG> to protrude upward, and the lower frame <NUM> is provided on the bottom plate <NUM>. In this instance, the number of arranging through-holes <NUM> may be equal to or greater than the number of guide rods <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a plurality of battery cells <NUM> are disposed on the lower frame <NUM>. The battery cell <NUM> is received in the cell region <NUM> of the lower frame <NUM> described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, and its downward movement is limited by the support <NUM> described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. In this instance, the guide rod <NUM> protrudes over the battery cell <NUM> passing through a space between the battery cells <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the upper frame <NUM> is mounted on a plurality of battery cells <NUM>, and the upper fastener <NUM> and the lower fastener <NUM> described with reference to <FIG> are combined to each other to thus fix the upper frame <NUM> and the lower frame <NUM>. In this instance, the guide rod <NUM> passes through the arranging through-hole <NUM> of the upper frame <NUM> and protrudes upward, one battery cell <NUM> is received in the cell region <NUM> of the upper frame <NUM>, and the movement in the upward direction by the battery cell <NUM> is limited by the support <NUM>. The number of arranging through-holes <NUM> may be equal to or greater than the number of guide rods <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the assembling jig <NUM> is separated by lifting the bottom plate <NUM> together with the assembled secondary battery cell module <NUM>.

When the bottom plate <NUM> is separated, the secondary battery cell module as shown in <FIG> is obtained.

The secondary battery pack is manufactured by receiving the assembled secondary battery cell module in the upper/lower cases.

<FIG> shows an exploded perspective view of a process for receiving a secondary battery cell module in an upper/lower case and manufacturing a secondary battery pack according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> shows a perspective view of a secondary battery pack manufactured by receiving a secondary battery cell module in an upper/lower case according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The secondary battery pack shown in <FIG> is manufactured, as shown in <FIG>, by receiving the assembled secondary battery cell module <NUM> in a lower case <NUM> and covering the same with an upper case <NUM>. In this instance, the two access terminals <NUM> and <NUM> may be exposed through an opening of the upper case.

When the secondary battery cell module is assembled according to the above-described method, the battery cell modules may be accurately arranged on the lower frame, and the upper frame may be accurately disposed on the arranged battery cell modules thereby preventing assembling defects. Further, by omitting additional process such as fixation of cells by use of an adhesive, the process for assembling a secondary battery cell module is simplified, thereby reducing the assembling time and cost.

Claim 1:
A method for assembling a secondary battery cell module (<NUM>), comprising:
using an assembling jig (<NUM>) including a plurality of guide rods (<NUM>) disposed on a jig plate (<NUM>);
mounting a lower frame (<NUM>) on the jig plate (<NUM>) while the guide rods (<NUM>) are inserted into a plurality of arranging through-holes (<NUM>) of the lower frame (<NUM>);
disposing a plurality of battery cells (<NUM>) on the lower frame (<NUM>);
mounting an upper frame (<NUM>) on the battery cells while (<NUM>) the guide rods (<NUM>) are inserted into a plurality of arranging through-holes (<NUM>) of the upper frame (<NUM>);
fastening the upper frame (<NUM>) and the lower frame (<NUM>); and
separating the assembling jig (<NUM>) from the upper frame (<NUM>) and the lower frame (<NUM>).