Patent Description:
A secondary battery is a battery which may be charged and discharged unlike a primary battery which is unable to be charged, and may be applied not only to a portable device, but also to an electric vehicle (EV), a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) or the like, driven by an electric driving source. Types of secondary batteries currently widely used may include a lithium ion battery, a lithium polymer battery, a nickel cadmium battery, a nickel hydrogen battery, a nickel zinc battery and the like. An operation voltage of a unit cell of the secondary battery, that is, a unit cell of the battery, may be about <NUM> V to <NUM> V. Therefore, when a higher output voltage is required, the plurality of battery cells may be connected in series to each other to form a battery pack. In addition, the plurality of battery cells may be connected to each other in parallel to form the battery pack, based on a charge/discharge capacity required for the battery pack. Accordingly, the number of battery cells included in the battery pack may be variously set based on the required output voltage or charge/discharge capacity. Document <CIT> discloses a battery pack, comprising: a battery module comprising multiple battery units arranged in an array; a battery pack case comprising cross beams and longitudinal beams defining multiple module accommodation spaces, thermal insulation layers being provided at the cross beam and the longitudinal beam close to an accessory accommodation space, the accessory accommodation space accommodating a battery management system and a high-voltage electrical equipment box; and a lower cover thermal insulation layer provided at a side of the battery pack case away from the battery module. The projection of the lower cover thermal insulation layer on a plane in which the battery module is located covers at least the outermost battery units at four sides of the battery module. The battery pack has a thermally insulated case structure, thereby enhancing thermal insulation performance while reducing thermal insulation costs. Thermal insulation processing is performed at regions of the case housing battery modules more likely to be affected by the ambient temperature, thereby minimizing the use of a thermal insulation material. Document <CIT> discloses A secondary battery pack which includes: a secondary battery module having a plurality of battery cells and a plurality of cooling fins; a first structure formed in a first (one) side cover shape which is mounted on one side of the secondary battery module and includes a cooling channel and a bracket mounted in a vehicle to be fixed thereto; and a second structure which is formed in a second side cover shape mounted on the other side of the secondary battery module and includes a printed circuit board. Document <CIT> discloses a bus bar for electrically connecting electrode leads of unit modules or battery cells (unit cells) in a battery module through a coupling method employing laser welding. Each of the electrode leads and the bus bar has a plate-shaped structure and a protrusion projecting toward the electrode leads is formed on the bus bar at a portion thereof, which is to be welded to the electrode leads through laser irradiation, to allow the portion of the bus bar, which is to be welded to the electrode leads, to be brought into close contact with the electrode leads.

Various electronic components such as various battery modules, a battery management system (BMS) and a power relay assembly (PRA) may be positioned in the battery pack, and these electronic components may be connected to each other by electronic wiring. For example, the electronic components may be connected to each other by the electronic wiring such as a wiring harness or a bus bar, which may transmit electric power or an electrical signal.

Meanwhile, a general battery pack may include a low voltage (LV) harness having a large number of wires in order to obtain information on a plurality of battery modules included in the battery pack. However, the LV harness may have a complicated shape and may occupy a relatively large amount of space. In addition, when an event such as a cell ignition occurs in the battery pack, the LV harness in a complicated arrangement may act as a factor which may aggravate the event, such as blocking a gas flow path.

An aspect of the present disclosure may provide a battery pack having efficient internal space by effectively arranging electronic wiring such as a wiring harness and a bus bar therein. Another aspect of the present disclosure may provide a battery pack which may prevent electronic wiring therein from aggravating thermal runaway or heat propagation in the pack.

According to the present disclosure, a battery pack includes: a pack housing having an internal space; at least one cell stack body accommodated in the internal space of the pack housing; at least one electronic component accommodated in the internal space of the pack housing; a connecting member electrically connected to at least one of the at least one cell stack body and the at least one electronic component; and a partition wall partitioning the internal space and accommodating at least a portion of the connecting member.

The partition wall includes a void therein, and the connecting member may be accommodated in the void. The connecting member includes a first connecting member connected to the at least one electronic component, a second connecting member connected to at least one cell stack body and at least one electronic component, and a third connecting member connected to at least one cell stack body and at least one electronic component. The partition wall includes a void accomodating a first connecting member, and a recess accomodating a second connecting member and a third connecting member. The partition wall includes an upper surface, a side surface extended from each of two ends of the upper surface, and a recessed surface inward from the side surface (1132a) defining a portion of the recess.

The partition wall may include a lower frame and an upper frame, coupled to the lower frame, and the void may be formed between the lower frame and the upper frame.

The partition wall includes the recess in a side surface.

The connecting member may include a conductive member and an insulating member surrounding the conductive member.

The connecting member may be a bus bar connected to an input/output port of the at least one cell stack body.

The at least one electronic component may be a battery management system (BMS), and the connecting member may be a low voltage (LV) harness connected to the battery management system.

The partition wall includes a void besides the recess, and the void and the recess may be spatially separated from each other.

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:.

In this specification, an X-direction, a Y-direction and a Z-direction may indicate a direction parallel to an X axis, a direction parallel to a Y axis, and a direction parallel to a Z axis, each illustrated in the drawings. In addition, unless otherwise described, the X-direction may be a concept including both a +X axis direction and a -X axis direction, which may be equally applied to the Y-direction and the Z-direction.

In this specification, a case in which two directions (or axes) are parallel to or perpendicular to each other may also include a case in which the two directions (or axes) are substantially parallel or substantially parallel to each other. For example, a case in which the first axis and the second axis are perpendicular to each other may indicate a case in which the first axis and the second axis form an angle of <NUM> degrees or an angle close to <NUM> degrees.

<FIG> illustrates a battery pack <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to <FIG>, the battery pack <NUM> in an exemplary embodiment may include a pack housing <NUM> and a plurality of cell stack bodies <NUM> accommodated in the pack housing <NUM>. The pack housing <NUM> may include a lower plate <NUM>, a side plate <NUM> disposed on an edge of the lower plate <NUM>, a partition wall <NUM> partitioning a space surrounded by the side plate <NUM> and an upper plate <NUM> disposed on the cell stack bodies <NUM>. The upper plate <NUM> and/or the lower plate <NUM> may function as a cooling plate. The lower plate <NUM> and/or the upper plate <NUM> may be in direct or indirect contact with the cell stack bodies <NUM> to dissipate heat generated in the cell stack bodies <NUM>. For example, at least one of the lower plate <NUM> and the upper plate <NUM> may include a flow path through which a refrigerant flows.

An internal space of the pack housing <NUM> may be divided into several compartments by the partition wall <NUM>, and at least one cell stack body <NUM> may be disposed in each compartment. <FIG> illustrates that one cell stack body <NUM> is disposed in one compartment, which is only an example, and two or more cell stack bodies <NUM> may be disposed therein. In addition, <FIG> illustrates that four electronic components <NUM> are disposed in the pack housing <NUM>, which is only an example, and the number or positions of the electronic components <NUM> in another exemplary embodiment may differ from those in the described exemplary embodiment.

At least one electronic component <NUM> is disposed in the pack housing <NUM>. In the present disclosure, the electronic component <NUM> may include a battery management system (BMS), a power relay assembly (PRA), a electric power management device, a battery charge/discharge device, and an input port of the battery pack <NUM>, an output port of the battery pack <NUM>, a device for sensing a battery state (e.g. voltage, lifespan, temperature, pressure or the like), a device for battery safety, a electric power cut-off system, a device for slow or fast charging, etc. Even a device not explicitly mentioned in the present disclosure may be included in the electronic component <NUM> of the present disclosure as long as the device is an electronic device disposed in the battery pack <NUM>.

The battery pack <NUM> may include a connecting member <NUM> electrically connecting two or more of the cell stack bodies <NUM> or the electronic components <NUM> to each other. For example, the cell stack body <NUM> may be electrically connected to another cell stack body <NUM> in the battery pack <NUM> by the connecting member <NUM>. For another example, the electronic component <NUM> may be electrically connected to another electronic component <NUM> in the battery pack <NUM> by the connecting member <NUM>. For yet another example, the cell stack body <NUM> may be electrically connected to the electronic component <NUM> in the battery pack <NUM> by the connecting member <NUM>.

The connecting member <NUM> may electrically connect at least two different components in the battery pack <NUM> to each other. For example, the connecting member <NUM> may be a wiring harness or a bus bar.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the connecting member <NUM> may be an electronic wiring for high voltage or an electronic wiring for low voltage.

For example, a high current may flow between the cell stack bodies <NUM>, and the connecting member <NUM> connecting the cell stack bodies <NUM> to each other may thus be the electronic wiring for high voltage. For another example, when the electronic component <NUM> is a component for charging the battery pack <NUM>, the connecting member <NUM> connected to the corresponding electronic component <NUM> may be the electronic wiring for high voltage. Meanwhile, the connecting member <NUM> electrically connecting the battery management system (BMS) and the cell stack body <NUM> to each other may be the electronic wiring for low voltage.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the connecting member <NUM> may be a bus bar connected to the input/output port (or port block) of the cell stack body <NUM>.

For example, the connecting member <NUM> may be a low voltage (LV) harness connected to the battery management system (BMS).

<FIG> illustrates the component in the battery pack <NUM> and the connecting member connected to the components. Referring to <FIG>, the connecting member <NUM> may electrically connect the electronic component <NUM> and the cell stack body <NUM> to each other, or electrically connect the electronic components <NUM> to each other or the cell stack bodies <NUM> to each other.

<FIG> illustrates, as an example of the connecting member <NUM>, a first connecting member <NUM> connecting a first electronic component <NUM> and a third electronic component <NUM> to each other, a second connecting member <NUM> connecting the first electronic component <NUM> and the cell stack body <NUM> to each other, a third connecting member <NUM> connecting a second electronic component <NUM> and the cell stack body <NUM> to each other, a fourth connecting member <NUM> connecting the cell stack bodies <NUM> to each other, and a fifth connecting member <NUM> connecting the third electronic component <NUM> and the cell stack body <NUM> to each other.

The first to fifth connecting members <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> are only examples for convenience of description, and an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the battery pack <NUM> may include another type connecting member or an additional connecting member different from the first to fifth connecting members <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>.

In an exemplary embodiment, the pack housing <NUM> may include the partition wall <NUM> and <NUM> , partitioning the internal space of the pack housing <NUM>. The pack housing <NUM> may include a first partition wall <NUM> passing through the internal space in the X-direction. Also, the pack housing <NUM> may include a second partition wall <NUM> passing through the internal space in the Z-direction. The partition walls <NUM> and <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> are only examples, and an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

In an exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of the connecting member <NUM> may be accommodated in the partition wall <NUM> or <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment, the partition wall <NUM> or <NUM> may include an accommodation portion accommodating the connecting member <NUM>. For example, the accommodation portion may be an internal space of the partition wall <NUM> or <NUM>. For another example, the accommodation portion may be a recess formed in a side surface of the partition wall <NUM> or <NUM>.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the connecting member <NUM> may be accommodated in the partition wall <NUM> or <NUM>, and an internal space of the battery pack <NUM> may thus be efficiently utilized.

A conventional battery pack may have insufficient internal space, and a connecting member such as the wiring harness or a bus bar for high voltage may thus be positioned in a space between a partition wall and an upper plate.

However, in the battery pack <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, at least a portion of the connecting member <NUM> may be accommodated in the partition wall <NUM> or <NUM>, and the partition wall <NUM> or <NUM> may be extended relatively close to the upper plate <NUM> from the lower plate <NUM>. When the partition wall <NUM> or <NUM> is extended relatively close to the upper plate <NUM> from the lower plate <NUM>, it is possible to suppress propagation of flame, gas or heat between spaces partitioned by the partition wall <NUM> or <NUM>, which may delay or prevent thermal runaway of the battery pack <NUM>.

Meanwhile, a general battery pack may include a plurality of battery modules, and the LV harness having a large number of wires in order to obtain information on the plurality of modules may have a complicated shape and occupy a relatively large amount of space. In addition, when an event such as a cell ignition occurs in the battery pack, the LV harness in a complicated arrangement may act as a factor which may aggravate the event, such as blocking a gas flow path.

On the other hand, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the LV harness may be accommodated in the partition wall <NUM> or <NUM>, thereby preventing the above problem.

<FIG> illustrates the connecting member <NUM> accommodated in the partition wall <NUM> in an exemplary embodiment. <FIG> illustrates an example of a cross section of the first partition wall <NUM> taken along line I-I' in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the first connecting member <NUM> may be accommodated in the first partition wall <NUM>. In detail, the first partition wall <NUM> may include a void <NUM> therein, and the first connecting member <NUM> may be accommodated in the void <NUM>. For example, the first partition wall <NUM> may have a shape of a hollow square beam, and the first connecting member <NUM> may be disposed in the square beam.

Referring to <FIG> together, the first connecting member <NUM> may be extended in the first partition wall <NUM> in a length direction (i.e., X-direction) of the first partition wall <NUM>, and let out from each of one and the other ends of the first partition wall <NUM> to be connected to the electronic component <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates that the first connecting member <NUM> connects the first electronic component <NUM> and the third electronic component <NUM> to each other, which is only an example. In another exemplary embodiment, one end of the first connecting member <NUM> may be connected to the first electronic component <NUM>, and the other end of the first connecting member <NUM> may be connected to the cell stack body <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a method of assembling the connecting member <NUM> in the partition wall <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the first partition wall <NUM> may include a lower frame <NUM> and an upper frame 1130U. In a state where the first connecting member <NUM> is disposed in the lower frame <NUM>, the upper frame 1130U may be coupled to the lower frame <NUM>, and the first connecting member <NUM> may thus be accommodated in the first partition wall <NUM>. For example, the lower frame <NUM> and the upper frame 1130U may be welded to each other or coupled to each other by using mechanical fastening means such as bolt-nut coupling.

<FIG> illustrates the connecting member accommodated in the recess of the partition wall <FIG> illustrates another example of a cross section of the first partition wall <NUM> taken along line I-I' in <FIG>. Referring to <FIG>, the first partition wall <NUM> in an exemplary embodiment may include a recess <NUM> accommodating the first connecting member <NUM>. For example, the first partition wall <NUM> includes a side surface 1132a extended from each of two ends of an upper surface 1130a to the lower plate <NUM>, and a recessed surface 1132b inward from the side surface 1132a may be defined as a portion of the recess <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> each illustrate that the connecting member <NUM> is accommodated in each of two side surfaces of the partition wall <NUM> according to an exemplary embodiment. <FIG> schematically illustrates the first partition wall <NUM>, the second connecting member <NUM>, and the third connecting member <NUM>, based on a cross section taken along line II-II' of the battery pack <NUM> in <FIG>.

In an exemplary embodiment, the second connecting member <NUM> and the third connecting member <NUM> are accommodated in the first partition wall <NUM>. The first partition wall <NUM> includes a side surface 1133a extended from each of two ends of the upper surface 1130a to the lower plate <NUM>, and a recessed surface 1133b inward from the side surface 1133a to form a recess <NUM>. The recess <NUM> may have a depth corresponding to a thickness of the connecting member <NUM>. For example, when the connecting member <NUM> is accommodated in the first partition wall <NUM>, an outer surface of the connecting member <NUM> may coincide with or approximately coincide with the side surface 1133a of the first partition wall <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the connecting member <NUM> may include a conductive member <NUM> and an insulating member <NUM> surrounding at least a portion of the conductive member <NUM> to insulate the first partition wall <NUM> and the conductive member <NUM> from each other. The connecting member <NUM> may be mounted in the first partition wall <NUM> by using an adhesive member <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> together, the second connecting member <NUM> and the third connecting member <NUM> may be connected to the electronic component <NUM> and the cell stack body <NUM>, which is only an example. The second connecting member <NUM> or the third connecting member <NUM> may connect the electronic components <NUM> to each other or the cell stack bodies <NUM> to each other.

<FIG> illustrates the connecting member <NUM> accommodated in the partition wall <NUM> in an exemplary embodiment. <FIG> illustrates an example of a cross section of the first partition wall <NUM> taken along line II-II' in <FIG>.

In an exemplary embodiment, the partition wall may include the accommodation portions respectively accommodating two or more connecting members. The respective accommodation portions may be spatially separated from each other.

For example, referring to <FIG>, the first partition wall <NUM> includes the void <NUM> therein and the recess <NUM> formed in the side surface. The first connecting member <NUM> are accommodated in the void <NUM> in the first partition wall, and the second connecting member <NUM> and the third connecting member <NUM> are accommodated in the recesses <NUM>. In addition, the void <NUM> and the recess <NUM> are spatially separated from each other.

Meanwhile, <FIG> illustrate that the recess <NUM> accommodating the connecting member <NUM> is disposed in each of the two side surfaces of the first partition wall <NUM>, which is only an example. In another exemplary embodiment, the recess <NUM> may be disposed only in one side surface of the first partition wall <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate the connecting member <NUM> accommodated in the first partition wall <NUM>, which is for convenience of description, and a structure included in the pack housing <NUM> in addition to the first partition wall <NUM> may accommodate the connecting member <NUM>.

In an exemplary embodiment, the connecting member <NUM> may also be partially accommodated in the second partition wall <NUM> or the side frame <NUM>. That is, the second partition wall <NUM> or the side frame <NUM> may include an accommodation portion accommodating at least a portion of the connecting member <NUM>. The accommodation portion may be a void formed in the second partition wall or the side frame or a recess formed in an outer side surface thereof.

Referring to <FIG>, a portion of the fourth connecting member <NUM> may be accommodated in the second partition wall <NUM>, and a portion of the fifth connecting member <NUM> may be accommodated in the side frame <NUM>. That is, the fourth connecting member <NUM> and the second partition wall <NUM> may each be disposed in a shape similar to that of <FIG>, <FIG> or <FIG>, based on a cross section taken along line III-III' of <FIG>. In addition, the fifth connecting member <NUM> and the side frame <NUM> may each have a shape similar to that of <FIG>, <FIG> or <FIG>, based on a cross section taken along line IV-IV' of <FIG>.

Claim 1:
A battery pack (<NUM>) comprising:
a pack housing (<NUM>) having an internal space;
at least one cell stack body (<NUM>) accommodated in the internal space of the pack housing (<NUM>);
at least one electronic component (<NUM>) accommodated in the internal space of the pack housing (<NUM>);
a connecting member (<NUM>) electrically connected to at least one of the at least one cell stack body (<NUM>) and the at least one electronic component (<NUM>); and
a partition wall (<NUM>) partitioning the internal space and accommodating at least a portion of the connecting member (<NUM>),
wherein the connecting member (<NUM>) includes a first connecting member (<NUM>) connected to the at least one electronic component (<NUM>), a second connecting member (<NUM>) connected to at least one cell stack body (<NUM>) and at least one electronic component (<NUM>), and a third connecting member (<NUM>) connected to at least one cell stack body (<NUM>) and at least one electronic component (<NUM>),
wherein the partition wall (<NUM>) includes a void (<NUM>) accomodating a first connecting member (<NUM>), and a recess (<NUM>) accomodating a second connecting member (<NUM>) and a third connecting member (<NUM>), and the partition wall (<NUM>) includes an upper surface (1130a), a side surface (1132a) extended from each of two ends of the upper surface(1130a), and a recessed surface (1132b) inward from the side surface (1132a) defining a portion of the recess (<NUM>).