Battery module with improved cell barrier between unit cells

• US 20070037051A1
• Filed: 08/08/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Jeon, Yoon-Cheol, Byun, Sang-Won, Lee, Gun-Goo, Kim, Tae-Yong
• Granted Patent: US 7,981,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/151
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6551 Surfaces specially adapted for heat dissipation or radiation, e.g. fins or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6562 with free flow by convection only
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/103 prismatic or rectangular H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/264 for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/291 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/42 Grouping of primary cells into batteries H01M6/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making

Abstract

A battery module, including a plurality of unit cells and a cell barrier interposed between the unit cells, is provided. The cell barrier includes a body member and a fixing part disposed on the edge of the body member and connected to an adjacent cell barrier while housing a unit cell.

Claims

1. A battery module comprising:

a plurality of unit cells; and

a plurality of cell barriers, each cell barrier being adjacent to a respective unit cell,

wherein each cell barrier includes;

a body member, and

a fixing part disposed on at least one edge of the body member, the fixing part being connectable to a corresponding fixing part on an adjacent cell barrier, the body member and the at least one fixing part mounting the respective unit cell between the body member and the at least one fixing part.

2. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the fixing part comprises:

a fixing protrusion protruding from the body member; and

a fixing groove recessed in the body member,

wherein the fixing protrusion is press-fittable into a corresponding fixing groove formed in the adjacent body member.

3. The battery module of claim 2, wherein the fixing groove has a shape corresponding to a shape of the fixing protrusion.

4. The battery module of claim 2, wherein the fixing protrusion includes a support leg for seating the respective unit cell.

5. The battery module of claim 2, wherein the fixing protrusion is formed in one or more corners of the body member.

6. The battery module of claim 5, wherein a corresponding fixing groove is formed in a same corner as a fixing protrusion.

7. The battery module of claim 6, wherein the fixing protrusion and the fixing groove of an adjacent cell barrier interlock.

8. The battery module of claim 2, wherein the cell barrier further comprises at least one bending element formed by bending an edge of the body member.

9. The battery module of claim 8, wherein the at least one bending element is formed on opposing edges of the body member, and a fixing protrusion is formed in each bending element.

10. The battery module of claim 9, wherein the fixing protrusion is formed in both ends of the bending element.

11. The battery module of claim 8, wherein the bending element is adapted to tightly contact a side of the respective unit cell being absent external terminals.

12. The battery module of claim 11, wherein the cell barrier further comprises a supporting part protruding from an edge of the body member adjacent an edge having a fixing protrusion, the supporting part being adapted to tightly contact an adjacent unit cell.

13. The battery module of claim 12, wherein the supporting part and the bending element are perpendicular to each other.

14. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the body member of the cell barrier includes an opening through which a coolant flows.

15. The battery module of claim 14, wherein the opening is formed along a width direction of the body member.

16. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the unit cells have a prismatic shape.

17. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the body member is a plate.

18. A battery module comprising:

a plurality of unit cells; and

a plurality of cell barriers, each cell barrier being adjacent to a respective unit cell,

wherein each cell barrier includes;

a body member having an opening through which a coolant can flow; and

a bending element formed by bending at least one edge of the body member.

19. The battery module of claim 18, wherein the opening extends from the bending element at one end of the body member to an other end of the body member distal from the one end.

20. The battery module of claim 18, wherein a bending element is formed on opposing edges of the body member.

21. The battery module of claim 20, wherein the bending element tightly contacts opposing sides of the respective unit cell being absent external terminals.

22. The battery module of claim 20, wherein the opening extends from the bending element at one end of the body member to a bending element at an other end of the body member.

23. The battery module of claim 20, wherein the body member has a support leg extending between opposing edges of the body member to support the respective unit cell.

24. The battery module of claim 18, wherein the opening penetrates the body member.

25. The battery module of claim 24, wherein the opening has a rectangular shape.

26. The battery module of claim 18, wherein the opening is formed in a groove.

27. A method of interconnecting cell barriers located between unit cells of a battery module, comprising:

forming each cell barrier to include a body member;

forming a fixing protrusion protruding from the body member, the fixing protrusion being located on at least one edge of the body member;

recessing a fixing groove in the body member, the fixing protrusion being press-fittable into a corresponding fixing groove formed a body member of an adjacent cell barrier; and

interlocking the fixing protrusion and the corresponding fixing groove of the adjacent cell barrier.