Patent Description:
In recent years, secondary batteries have been commonly used for not only portable devices but also electric vehicles (EVs) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) driven by electrical driving sources or energy storage systems (ESSs). Types of the secondary batteries include lithium ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, nickel hydrogen batteries, and nickel zinc batteries. An operation voltage of a unit secondary battery cell, that is, a unit battery cell is often approximately <NUM> V to <NUM> V.

Accordingly, when a higher output voltage is required, multiple battery cells are connected in series to each other to constitute a battery pack. Furthermore, the battery cells are connected in parallel to each other to constitute a battery pack according to a charging/discharging capacity required for the battery pack. Accordingly, the number of the battery cells included in the battery pack may be variously set according to an output voltage or a charging/discharging capacity.

When a battery pack is constituted by connecting multiple secondary battery cells in series/in parallel to each other, a predetermined number of secondary battery cells may constitute one battery module and one or more battery modules and other components are assembled to constitute the battery pack. Here, the secondary battery cells that constitute the battery module or the battery pack are general.

Meanwhile, heat is generated whiled the secondary battery repeats charging and discharging. Because the secondary batteries are concentrated in a narrow space of the battery module, temperature may significantly rise during an operation of the battery module. When a temperature of the battery module rises to more than a preset temperature, the performance of the battery module may be degraded, and there is a danger of the battery module being exploded or ignited in severe cases.

Accordingly, it is very important to secure a cooling means in constituting the battery module. Schemes for cooling a battery module may include two schemes of an air cooling scheme and a water cooling scheme. The air-cooling schemes are more widely used than water cooling schemes due to problems of a short circuit or waterproofing problems. However, in many cases, the air cooling type battery module has low energy density per unit volume due to the unit cells for securing air passages and the intervals between the unit cells. Additionally, when an impact or vibration is applied to the battery module, the unit cells are adhered to each other, and may be blocked while foreign substances may be introduced into the narrow passage decreasing structure stability.

<CIT> discloses a battery pack for a hybrid vehicle. The battery pack includes a bearing plate and a harness. The bearing plate is disposed above the battery cells and the harness is borne by the bearing plate. The battery cells are arrayed and mounted in the housing. The housing is covered by a upper cover to form the battery pack that is closed to the outside.

According to the present invention, a battery module is set forth in claim <NUM>.

In one general aspect, here is provided a battery module including a battery assembly, in which multiple batteries are stacked, and a bus bar housing assembly that surrounds an upper side of the battery assembly. The bus bar housing assembly may include a temperature sensing part including a temperature sensor that has a first fixing hole and measures temperature, and a voltage sensing part including a pressure sensor that has a second fixing hole and measures pressure. The battery module also included a bus bar coupled to the temperature sensing part and the voltage sensing part, and a bus bar housing, coupled to the bus bar, surrounding an upper surface of the battery assembly, and extending downwards from opposite ends in leftward and rightward directions to surround a side surface of the battery assembly.

The bus bar may include a bus bar body having a plate shape, a plurality of side end bending parts bent downwards from one end of the bus bar body in one of the leftward and rightward directions, and a connecting protrusion part, the temperature sensing part and the voltage sensing part being adhered to the connecting protrusion part, protruding inward from an opposite end of the bus bar body.

The bus bar housing may include a bus bar housing body, the bus bar coupled thereto, surrounding an upper surface of the battery assembly. The bus bar housing may also include bending parts accommodating part disposed at opposite ends of the bus bar housing body in the leftward and rightward directions, and in which the plurality of side end bending part is accommodated, and a hook part protruding upwards while being bent from a central portion of the bus bar housing body toward an end thereof in one of the leftward and rightward directions, and adhered to an upper surface and a side surface of the bus bar body.

The bus bar housing may further include a fixing boss protruding upwards from the bus bar housing body, which may be configured to be coupled to the first fixing hole of the temperature sensing part and the second fixing hole of the voltage sensing part, and a plurality of gas discharge holes provided in a central area in the one of the leftward and rightward directions on an upper side of the bus bar housing body to discharge a gas discharged from the battery assembly and formed in at least one of forward and rearward directions.

The voltage sensing part and the bus bar housing may be joined to each other through laser welding.

the bus bar housing may further include a partition wall protruding upwards from an end of the bus bar housing body.

The battery module further includes a pair of side plate assemblies, located at opposite ends of the battery assembly in forward and rearward directions, which are configured to press the battery assembly, and a band member that surrounds the pair of side plate assemblies and the battery assembly to fasten the battery assembly and the side plate assemblies.

The band member may include an upper band member configured to surround and fasten the battery assembly, the pair of side plate assemblies, and the bus bar housing assembly.

The side plate assemblies may include an outer member including an outer member body extending in the leftward and rightward directions, and a bending area, in which opposite ends of the outer member body in the forward and rearward directions are bent inwards in the forward and rearward directions. The outer member may include a first protruding area protruding outwards in an upper area of the outer member body, and a second protruding area spaced apart from the first protruding area downwards and protruding outwards. The bus bar housing may further include a housing flange protruding outwards from side surfaces of the bus bar housing in the leftward and rightward directions. The upper band member may surround an area of the outer member, disposed between the first protruding area and the second protruding area, and an area of a side surface of the bus bar housing, disposed on an upper side of the housing flange.

The upper band member may contact the housing flange.

The battery module may further include an upper cover coupled to an upper side of the bus bar housing assembly.

The bus bar housing assembly may include a bus bar housing formed on side surfaces of the bus bar housing body in the leftward and rightward directions and having a coupling recess having an inwardly recessed shape. The upper cover may include a cover body defining a body of the upper cover, and including an upper surface area and a side surface area extending downwards from an end of the upper surface area. The battery module may further include a cover hook formed on side surfaces of the cover body in the leftward and rightward directions, and protruding inwards in the leftward and rightward directions to be inserted into and coupled to the coupling recess.

The temperature sensing part may be coupled to an upper side of the bus bar body, and the voltage sensing part may be coupled to a lower side of the bus bar body.

A material of the band member may be a metal or a polymer resin.

Advantages and features of the present disclosure and methods of achieving the advantages and features will be clear with reference to embodiments described in detail below together with the accompanying drawings. The present invention is defined only by the scope of the appended claims. Meanwhile, the terms used in the present specification are for explaining the embodiments, not for limiting the present disclosure.

Spatially relative terms such as "above," "upper," "below," and "lower" may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element's relationship to another element as shown in the figures. Such spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, an element described as being "above" or "upper" relative to another element will then be "below" or "lower" relative to the other element. Thus, the term "above" encompasses both the above and below orientations depending on the spatial orientation of the device. The device may also be oriented in other ways (for example, rotated <NUM> degrees or at other orientations), and the spatially relative terms used herein are to be interpreted accordingly.

Due to manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, variations of the shapes shown in the drawings may occur. Thus, the examples described herein are not limited to the specific shapes shown in the drawings, but include changes in shape that occur during manufacturing.

<FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a battery module according to the present disclosure. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the battery module according to the present disclosure. <FIG> is a view illustrating a side plate assembly according to the present disclosure. <FIG> is a view illustrating an outer member and an outer bushing of the side plate member according to the present disclosure. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the side plate assembly according to the present disclosure. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of the battery assembly and a lower guide bracket according to the present disclosure. <FIG> is a view illustrating a state, in which the lower guide bracket, the side plate assembly, and a band member are coupled to the battery assembly according to the present disclosure. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a bus bar housing assembly according to the present disclosure. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view illustrating the bus bar housing assembly according to the present disclosure. <FIG> is a partially enlarged detailed view of a coupling structure of a bus bar and a bus bar housing according to the present disclosure. <FIG> are cross-sectional views illustrating portion A-A, portion B-B, and portion C-C of <FIG>. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating an upper cover according to the present disclosure. <FIG> is a view illustrating a state, in which a lower side of the battery module contacts a cooling passage according to the present disclosure.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a battery module according to the present disclosure may include a battery assembly <NUM>, a side plate assembly <NUM>, a bus bar housing assembly <NUM>, an upper cover <NUM>, and a band member <NUM>.

A plurality of batteries may be stacked in the battery assembly <NUM>. For example, the battery assembly <NUM> of the present disclosure may be used for an electric vehicle, but the batter assembly <NUM> may be used with no limitation. Furthermore, the batteries provided in the battery assembly <NUM> may be angular batteries, but may be cylindrical batteries or pouch type batteries with no limitation.

Referring to <FIG>, a pair of side plate assemblies <NUM> may be provided to be located at front and rear ends of the battery assembly <NUM>. In more detail, the side plate assemblies <NUM> may be adhered to the battery assembly <NUM> to press the battery assembly <NUM> in a forward/rearward direction. Accordingly, according to the present disclosure, the batteries provided in the battery assembly <NUM> may be restrained from being swollen.

The side plate assembly <NUM> may include an outer member <NUM>, an inner member <NUM>, and an outer bushing <NUM>.

The outer member <NUM> may include an outer member body <NUM> that extends in the leftward/rightward direction (for example, in leftward and rightward directions with respect to an axis (not shown) of the outer member, such as a sagittal axis), and a bending area <NUM>, in which left and right ends of the outer member body <NUM> are bent inwards in the forward/rearward direction (for example, in forward and rearward directions with respect to the axis of the outer member).

The outer member <NUM> may include a first protruding area <NUM>, a second protruding area <NUM>, and a third protruding area <NUM>. The first protruding area <NUM> may be provided in an upper area of the outer member body <NUM>, and may protrude outwards in the forward/rearward direction. The second protruding area <NUM> may be spaced apart downwards from the first protruding area <NUM> and may protrude outwards in the forward/rearward direction. The third protruding area <NUM> may be spaced apart downwards from the second protruding area <NUM> and may protrude outwards in the forward/rearward direction.

A hole 30a may be formed in the bending area <NUM> of the outer member <NUM>, a hole 30b may be formed in the outer bushing <NUM>, and the outer member <NUM> and the outer bushing <NUM> may be welded and coupled to each other through the hole formed in the outer member <NUM> and the hole 30b formed in the outer bushing <NUM>. Meanwhile, the outer member <NUM> may be manufactured through pressing, and may be manufactured of polymer resin-based plastic.

The inner member <NUM> may be located on an inner side of the outer member <NUM> in the forward/rearward direction, and may be adhered to the battery assembly <NUM>.

The inner member <NUM> may include an inner member body <NUM>, an insert nut <NUM>, an assembly boss <NUM>, and an inner member reinforcing rib <NUM>.

The insert nut <NUM> may be electrically connected to the battery assembly <NUM>, and may be inserted into the inner member body <NUM>. In detail, a positive electrode <NUM> and a negative electrode <NUM> of the bus bar <NUM> may electrically connect the battery assembly <NUM> to a power demand site (for example, a motor) through an insert nut <NUM>.

The assembly boss <NUM> may be formed on left and right side surfaces of the inner member body <NUM> in correspondence to the assembly hole <NUM> to be coupled to the assembly hole <NUM> formed in the outer bushing <NUM>.

The inner member reinforcing rib <NUM> may be provided in an interior of the inner member body <NUM>. In detail, the inner member reinforcing rib <NUM> may be formed in an interior of the inner member body <NUM> to have a honeycomb shape to protect the battery assembly <NUM> from an external impact or to absorb an impact to the battery assembly <NUM> due to a change in thicknesses of cells due to repeated charging and discharging of the battery. However, the shape of the inner member reinforcing rib <NUM> is not limited to the honeycomb shape.

The outer bushing <NUM> may be provided at left and right ends of the inner member <NUM>, and may be fixed to the bending area <NUM> of the outer member <NUM>. It has been described above that the outer bushing <NUM> and the outer member <NUM> may be fixed to each other through welding in the hole 30a formed in the outer member <NUM> and the hole 30b formed in the outer bushing <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the outer bushing <NUM> may include the assembly hole <NUM> such that the inner member <NUM> is inserted into an inner portion thereof.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the bus bar housing assembly <NUM> may surround an upper side of the battery assembly <NUM>.

In more detail, the bus bar housing assembly <NUM> may include a temperature sensing part <NUM>, a voltage sensing part <NUM>, the bus bar, a bus bar housing <NUM>, and a connector <NUM>.

The temperature sensing part <NUM> may include a temperature sensor that measures temperature, and a first fixing hole <NUM> may be formed at a portion thereof. The temperature sensing part <NUM> may be a configuration for measuring temperatures of the battery assembly <NUM> and a periphery thereof. That is, it may be identified whether the batteries of the battery assembly <NUM> are abnormal through the batteries or the peripheral temperature detected through the temperature sensing part <NUM>.

The voltage sensing part <NUM> may include a pressure sensor that measures pressure, and a second fixing hole <NUM> may be formed at a portion thereof. In detail, a change in the volumes of the batteries in the battery assembly <NUM> may be detected through the voltage sensor of the voltage sensing part <NUM>. That is, it may be detected in advance whether the batteries that constitute the battery assembly <NUM> are discharged or abnormal together with the above-described temperature sensing part <NUM>, by detecting a deformation or a distortion degree of the battery assembly <NUM> according to a change in the volume of the battery assembly <NUM> through the voltage sensing part <NUM>.

In detail, the temperature sensing part <NUM> and the voltage sensing part <NUM> may include a printed circuit board (PCB). For example, the printed circuit board provided in the temperature sensing part <NUM> and the voltage sensing part <NUM> may be a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB).

The voltage sensing part <NUM> and the bus bar housing <NUM> may be joined to each other through laser welding. In detail, according to the laser welding, energy density is high, a metal of a high melting point may be welded, welding heat input is very low, a range of directions of heat is narrow, and a heat source is a beam of light, and thus welding may be made in any environment through a transparent material. However, the welding scheme is not limited to the laser welding.

The bus bar <NUM> may be coupled to the temperature sensing part <NUM> and the voltage sensing part <NUM>. The bus bar <NUM> may include a bus bar body <NUM>, a side end bending part <NUM>, and a connecting protrusion part <NUM>. The temperature sensing part <NUM> may be coupled to an upper side of the bus bar body <NUM>, and the voltage sensing part <NUM> may be coupled to a lower side of the bus bar body <NUM>. Furthermore, in contrast, the voltage sensing part <NUM> may be coupled to the upper side of the bus bar body <NUM>, and the temperature sensing part <NUM> may be coupled to the lower side of the bus bar body <NUM>.

The bus bar body <NUM> may have a plate shape. A plurality of side end bending parts <NUM> may have a shape that is bent downwards from left and right ends of the bus bar body <NUM>. As will be described above, the bus bar <NUM> may be fixed to the bus bar housing <NUM> through the side end bending parts <NUM>. The connecting protrusion part <NUM> may protrude inwards in the leftward/rightward direction from left and right ends of the bus bar body <NUM>. The temperature sensing part <NUM> and the voltage sensing part <NUM> may be adhered to the connecting protrusion part <NUM>. Accordingly, signals for the temperature and the pressure detected by the temperature sensing part <NUM> and the voltage sensing part <NUM> may be transmitted to the bus bar <NUM>.

The bus bar <NUM> may be coupled to the bus bar housing <NUM>, and the bus bar housing <NUM> may extend downwards from the left and right ends while surrounding the upper surface of the battery assembly <NUM>, and may surround a side surface of the battery assembly <NUM>.

The bus bar housing <NUM> may include a bus bar housing body <NUM>-<NUM>, a bending part accommodating part <NUM>, and a hook part <NUM>. The bus bar <NUM> may be coupled to the bus bar housing body <NUM>-<NUM>, and the bus bar housing body <NUM>-<NUM> may surround an upper surface of the battery assembly <NUM>. The bending part accommodating part <NUM> may be formed at left and right ends of the bus bar housing body <NUM>-<NUM>, and the side end bending part <NUM> may be accommodated therein. In more detail, a hole or a recess, into which the side end bending part <NUM> is inserted, may be formed in the bending part accommodating part <NUM>. The hook part <NUM> may protrude upwards from a central portion of the bus bar housing body <NUM>-<NUM> toward left and right ends while being bent, and may be adhered to an upper surface and a side surface of the bus bar body <NUM>. That is, the hook part <NUM> may be a configuration of fixing the bus bar body <NUM>.

That is, the bus bar <NUM> may be coupled to the bus bar housing <NUM> while the side end bending part <NUM> formed in the bus bar body <NUM> may be stably accommodated in the bending part accommodating part <NUM> formed in the bus bar housing <NUM> at the corresponding shape and location. Furthermore, the upper surface of the bus bar body <NUM> may be adhered and supported through the hook part <NUM> formed at an upper portion of the bus bar housing <NUM> whereby separation of the bus bar <NUM> may be prevented and may be stably fixed to the bus bar housing <NUM>.

The bus bar housing <NUM> may further include a fixing boss <NUM>, a gas discharge hole <NUM>, a partition wall <NUM>, and a housing flange <NUM>. The fixing boss <NUM> may protrude upwards from the bus bar housing body <NUM>-<NUM> to be coupled to the temperature sensing part <NUM> and the first fixing hole <NUM> and the second fixing hole <NUM> of the voltage sensing part <NUM>.

A plurality of gas discharge holes <NUM> may be provided at a central area in the left and right direction on an upper side of the bus bar housing body <NUM>-<NUM> to discharge the gas discharged from the battery assembly <NUM>, and may be formed along the forward/rearward direction. In detail, the gas discharge hole <NUM> may prevent discharging due to overheating of the battery assembly <NUM> by promptly discharging the heat emitted due to use of the battery assembly <NUM> to an outside whereby a lift span of the battery may be extended and ignition may be prevented. In more detail, a plurality of gas discharge holes <NUM> may be provided along a direction, in which the batteries provided in the battery assembly <NUM> are stacked.

The partition wall <NUM> may protrude upwards from the left and right ends of the bus bar housing body <NUM>-<NUM>. Furthermore, the housing flange <NUM> may protrude outwards from the left and right side surfaces thereof. In detail, the partition wall <NUM> is a configuration for protecting the temperature sensing part <NUM>, the voltage sensing part <NUM>, and the bus bar <NUM> from an outside, and may protrude upwards from the left and right ends of the bus bar housing body <NUM>-<NUM> at a preset height.

The bus bar housing <NUM> may include a coupling recess <NUM> that is formed on left and right side surfaces of the bus bar housing assembly <NUM> and has an inwardly recessed shape. In detail, the bus bar housing assembly <NUM> may be fixed to the upper cover <NUM> through coupling of the bus bar housing <NUM> including the coupling recess <NUM> that is formed on the left and right side surfaces of the bus bar housing assembly <NUM> and has the inwardly recessed shape and the upper cover <NUM> including the cover hook <NUM> that is formed on the left and right side surfaces of the cover body <NUM>, which will be described below and protrudes inwards in the leftward/rightward direction to be inserted into and coupled to the coupling recess <NUM>. Accordingly, because the bus bar housing assembly <NUM> may be protected from an outside, an unnecessary electrical connection between the battery assembly <NUM> and an external configuration may be prevented.

Meanwhile, the connector <NUM> may pass through a through-recess <NUM> and may be fixed to the bus bar housing <NUM>. In detail, the connector <NUM> may be a configuration for delivering signal values measured by the temperature sensing part <NUM> and the voltage sensing part <NUM> to an outside.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the upper cover <NUM> may be coupled to an upper side of the bus bar hosing assembly <NUM>. As described above, the upper cover may be a configuration for protecting the bus bar housing assembly <NUM> from an outside.

The upper cover <NUM> may include a cover body <NUM>, a reinforcing rib <NUM>, and a through recess <NUM>. The cover body <NUM> may define a body of the upper cover <NUM>, and may include an upper surface area and a side surface area that extends downwards from an end of the upper surface area. In detail, the cover body <NUM> may be coupled while the upper surface area of the cover body <NUM> surrounds an upper side of the bus bar housing assembly <NUM> and the side surface area thereof surrounds the side surface area of the bus bar housing assembly <NUM> including the partition wall <NUM> of the bus bar housing assembly <NUM>.

The reinforcing rib <NUM> may include a first reinforcing rib <NUM> that protrudes downwards from the upper surface area of the cover body <NUM> and extends in the forward/rearward direction, and a second reinforcing rib <NUM> that extend in a direction that crosses the forward/rearward direction. In detail, the reinforcing rib <NUM> may prevent deformation of the battery assembly <NUM> by reinforcing the battery assembly <NUM> in the forward/rearward direction and the crossing direction thereof through the first reinforcing rib <NUM> that is formed on an inner side of the cover <NUM> while crossing it to reinforce the cover body <NUM> in the forward/rearward direction, and the second reinforcing rib <NUM> that reinforces the cover body <NUM> in the direction that crosses the first reinforcing rib <NUM>.

The through recess <NUM> may be formed in the upper surface area of the cover body <NUM> and may have an upwardly recessed shape. As described above, the connector <NUM> may pass through the through recess <NUM> to be fixed to the bus bar housing <NUM> to various signals, such as a voltage and a temperature of the battery assembly <NUM>, to an outside.

The upper cover <NUM> may further include a cover hook <NUM>, a positive engraved part <NUM>, and a negative engraved part <NUM>. The cover hook <NUM> may be formed on the left and right side surfaces of the cover body <NUM> and may protrude inwards in the leftward/rightward direction to be inserted into and coupled to the coupling recess <NUM> formed in the bus bar housing <NUM>. The positive electrode engraved part <NUM> may be formed in an area that faces the positive terminal <NUM> of the bus bar housing assembly <NUM> and a plus (+) shape may be engraved. The negative electrode engraved part <NUM> may be formed in an area that faces the negative terminal <NUM> of the bus bar housing assembly <NUM> and a minus (-) shape may be engraved. The positive engraved part <NUM> and the negative engraved <NUM>, which have described above, may be configurations for easily recognizing polarities of the terminals from an outside by the user.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the battery module <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a lower guide bracket <NUM>.

A pair of lower guide bracket <NUM> may be coupled while lower ends of the battery assembly <NUM> in the leftward/rightward direction are seated on an inside thereof.

The lower guide bracket <NUM> may include a first area <NUM>, a second area <NUM>, and a third area <NUM>. The first area <NUM> may be adhered to a side surface of the battery assembly <NUM>. The second area <NUM> may be bent from the first area <NUM> to be adhered to a lower surface of the battery assembly <NUM>. The third area <NUM> may protrude from the upper and lower ends of the area <NUM> on an outside in the leftward/rightward direction.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the band member <NUM> may be configured to surround the pair of side plate assemblies <NUM> and the battery assembly <NUM> to fasten the battery assembly <NUM> and the side plate assemblies <NUM>.

The band member <NUM> may include an upper band member <NUM> and a lower band member <NUM>.

The upper band member <NUM> may be configured to surround the battery assembly <NUM>, the pair of side plate assemblies <NUM>, and the bus bar housing assembly <NUM> to fasten the battery assembly <NUM>, the pair of side plate assemblies <NUM>, and the bus bar housing assembly <NUM>.

The upper band member <NUM> may be configured to surround an area of the outer member <NUM>, which is formed between the first protruding area <NUM> and the second protruding area <NUM> and an area of a side surface of the bus bar housing <NUM>, which is formed at an upper portion of the housing flange <NUM>. The upper band member <NUM> may be configured to contact the housing flange <NUM>.

A material of the band member <NUM> may be a metal or a polymer resin. In detail, the band member <NUM> may be manufactured of a light metal, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, which has durability and elasticity, or a polymer resin that has durability and an excellent elasticity. The kinds of the polymer resin include a phenol resin, a polyurethane resin, a polyimide resin, an acryl resin, an urea/melanin resin, and a silicon resin.

The lower band member <NUM> may be configured to surround the battery assembly <NUM>, the pair of side plate assemblies <NUM>, and the lower guide bracket <NUM> to fasten the battery assembly <NUM>, the pair of side plate assemblies <NUM>, and the lower guide bracket <NUM>.

The lower band member <NUM> may be configured to surround an area of the outer member <NUM>, which is formed between the second protruding area <NUM> and the third protruding area <NUM>, and an area of the first area <NUM> of the lower guide bracket <NUM>, which is located between the pair of third areas <NUM>.

As described above, according to the present disclosure, the configurations of the battery module <NUM> may be firmly fixed by fastening the side surface of the battery assembly <NUM> in upper and lower areas of the battery module <NUM> by using the upper band member <NUM> and the lower band member <NUM>. Accordingly, the battery assembly <NUM> may be fastened while not using a separate subsidiary member, such as a case or a housing, in which a battery assembly <NUM> is accommodated whereby manufacturing performance is excellent and manufacturing time and costs may be reduced.

Furthermore, because a portion of the battery assembly <NUM>, to which the band member <NUM> according to the present invention is always exposed to an outside, heat of the battery assembly <NUM> may be advantageously emitted whereby deformation or distortion of the battery due to heat may be prevented, and because a fire or an explosion due to emission of heat of the battery may be prevented, a life span of the battery may be extended by enhancing the durability of the battery as well.

In more detail, according to the present disclosure, because a lower area of the battery assembly <NUM> provided in the battery module <NUM> may directly contact a refrigerant that flows through the cooling passage <NUM>, the heat emitted from the battery assembly may be cooled promptly and effectively.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a first example, in which the band member is coupled, according to the present disclosure. <FIG> is a view illustrating a second example, in which a band member is coupled, according to the present disclosure.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in the battery module <NUM> according to the present disclosure, a hole may be formed at one end in a lengthwise direction, in which the band member <NUM> extends, and an opposite end thereof in the lengthwise direction may be inserted and coupled to the hole. Alternatively, as illustrated in <FIG>, in the battery module <NUM> according to the present disclosure, an opposite end of the band member <NUM> may have a bent or rolled shape. In detail, the hole is formed at the end in the lengthwise direction, in which the band member <NUM> extends, and the opposite end thereof in the lengthwise direction is inserted into and coupled to the hole, and opposite ends of the band member <NUM> may be coupled to each other to be finished as the opposite end passes the hole at the one end and the opposite end is bent or rolled. Then, when the opposite end of the band member <NUM> is bent, it may be bent only once or two times or more to be coupled.

Furthermore, in the battery module <NUM> according to the present disclosure, opposite ends in a lengthwise direction, in which the band member <NUM> extends, may be attached to each other and may have bent or rolled shapes. In detail, the opposite ends of the band member <NUM> in the lengthwise direction, in which the band member <NUM> extends, are bent or rolled while being adhered to each other, and in this case, the adhered opposite ends may be finished while being bent or rolled to be coupled. Then, when the opposite end of the band member <NUM> is bent, it may be bent only once or two times or more to be coupled.

According to the present disclosure, a design may be standardized through enhancement of cooling performance and enhancement of a degree of freedom of disposition of a cooling layout by employing a scheme of directly cooling a lower end of the battery assembly.

Furthermore, a weight, costs, and a volume of the battery assembly may be reduced and an energy density per weight may be enhanced by directly cooling the lower end of the battery assembly while not applying an additional heat exchange member such as a heat plate.

Furthermore, the battery module may be standardized through securement of a degree of freedom of series or parallel stack of the batteries accommodated in the battery module and expansion of the shape of the battery assembly may be secured.

Furthermore, the battery assembly may be stably fixed and the weight and costs of the battery assembly may be reduced while swelling is prevented, through application of the band member.

Furthermore, schemes of some parts may be changed from extrusion of aluminum to pressing, or a light weight and an excellent insulation performance may be secured through application of plastic.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure do not list all available combinations but are for describing a representative aspect of the present disclosure, and descriptions of various embodiments may be applied independently or may be applied through a combination of two or more.

An aspect of the present disclosure provides a battery module, in which a cooling performance may be enhanced and a degree of freedom of disposition of a cooling layout may be enhanced by directly cooling battery cells through a lower end of the battery module.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a battery module, in which battery cells may be directly cooled while not adding a separate heat exchange device to cool heat generated in a battery.

Claim 1:
A battery module (<NUM>) comprising:
a battery assembly (<NUM>), in which a plurality of batteries are stacked; and
a bus bar housing assembly (<NUM>) configured to surround an upper side of the battery assembly (<NUM>),
characterized in that the bus bar housing assembly (<NUM>) includes:
a temperature sensing part (<NUM>) including a temperature sensor, a first fixing hole formed therein, the temperature sensor being configured to measure temperature;
a voltage sensing part (<NUM>) including a voltage sensor and a pressure sensor, a second fixing hole (<NUM>) formed therein, the pressure sensor being configured to measure pressure;
a bus bar (<NUM>) coupled to the temperature sensing part (<NUM>) and the voltage sensing part (<NUM>);
a bus bar housing (<NUM>), coupled to the bus bar (<NUM>), surrounding an upper surface of the battery assembly (<NUM>), and extending downwards from opposite ends in leftward and rightward directions to surround a side surface of the battery assembly (<NUM>);
a pair of side plate assemblies (<NUM>), located at opposite ends of the battery assembly (<NUM>) in forward and rearward directions, configured to press the battery assembly (<NUM>); and
a band member (<NUM>) configured to surround the pair of side plate assemblies (<NUM>) and the battery assembly (<NUM>) to fasten the battery assembly (<NUM>) and the side plate assemblies (<NUM>).