Battery module having an improved unit battery assembly coupling structure

• US 20070052390A1
• Filed: 09/01/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Kim, Tae-Yong, Lim, Hong-Sup
• Granted Patent: US 7,858,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/116
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/20 using propulsion power generated by humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0468 Compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators
• 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 10/6561 Gases
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6567 Liquids
• 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 50/289 characterised by spacing elements or positioning means within frames, racks or packs spacing elements inside cells other than separators, membranes or diaphragms H01M50/471
• 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: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A battery module is provided. The battery module includes a battery body having a plurality of unit cells arranged in series and having a respective barrier disposed between adjacent unit cells. End plates are disposed on opposite outermost sides of the battery body. A fixing unit fixes together the end plates and the battery body by enclosing an outer circumference of an assembly of the end plates and the battery body.

Claims

1. A battery module comprising:

a battery body having a plurality of unit cells arranged in series and including a respective barrier disposed between adjacent unit cells;

end plates disposed on opposite outermost sides of the battery body; and

a fixing unit for fixing together the end plates and the battery body, the fixing unit being adapted to enclose an outer circumference of an assembly of the end plates and the battery body.

2. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the fixing unit includes a band having a width greater than a thickness, the band being adapted to enclose the outer circumference of an assembly of the end plates and the battery body.

3. The battery module of claim 1, further comprising a coupling unit for connecting opposite ends of the fixing unit.

4. The battery module of claim 3, wherein the coupling unit includes:

a right-handed screw and a left-handed screw respectively installed on the opposite ends of the fixing unit, and

a turnbuckle screw-coupled to the right-handed screw and to the left-handed screw.

5. The battery module of claim 4, wherein:

the coupling unit further includes connecting members respectively installed on the opposite ends of the fixing unit, and

the right-handed screw and the left-handed screw are installed on outer surfaces of the connecting members to face each other.

6. The battery module of claim 3, wherein the coupling unit includes:

a female member and a male member respectively installed on the opposite ends of the fixing unit, the female member and the male member being engageable with each other, and

a pin insertable in holes penetrating the female member and the male member to couple the female member and the male member to each other.

7. The battery module of claim 6, wherein:

the coupling unit further includes connecting members respectively installed on the opposite ends of the coupling unit, and

the female member and the male member are installed on outer surfaces of the connecting members.

8. The battery module of claim 3, wherein the coupling unit includes interlocking members disposed on the opposite ends of the fixing unit, the interlocking members being interlockable with each other.

9. The battery module of claim 3, wherein at least one of the end plates is provided with a groove for receiving the coupling unit.

10. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the end plates are provided with a fixing unit receiving groove in which the fixing unit is partly received.

11. The battery module of claim 10, wherein a thickness of the end plate increases gradually from end plate outer side ends to an end plate inner central portion.

12. The battery module of claim 1, wherein each of the end plates has an outer surface that is arc-shaped rounded in a direction where the fixing unit surrounds the assembly.

13. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the battery is adapted to drive a motor.

14. A battery module comprising:

a battery body having a plurality of unit cells arranged in series and including a respective barrier disposed between adjacent unit cells; and

a fixing unit surrounding the battery body and adapted to fix together the battery body.

15. The battery module of claim 14, wherein the fixing unit includes a band having a width greater than a thickness, the band being adapted to enclose the outer circumference of the battery body.

16. The battery module of claim 14, further comprising a coupling unit for connecting opposite ends of the fixing unit.

17. The battery module of claim 16, wherein the coupling unit includes:

a right-handed screw and a left-handed screw respectively installed on the opposite ends of the fixing unit, and

a turnbuckle screw-coupled to the right-handed screw and to the left-handed screw.

18. The battery module of claim 16, wherein the coupling unit includes:

a female member and a male member respectively installed on the opposite ends of the fixing unit, the female member and the male member being engageable with each other, and

a pin insertable in holes penetrating the female member and the male member to couple the female member and the male member to each other.

19. The battery module of claim 16, wherein the coupling unit includes interlocking members disposed on the opposite ends of the fixing unit, the interlocking members being interlockable with each other.

20. The battery module of claim 14, wherein the battery module is adapted to drive a motor.

21. A method of coupling together as a battery module a battery body having a plurality of unit cells arranged in series and including a respective barrier disposed between adjacent unit cells, the method comprising:

disposing end plates on opposite outermost sides of the battery body; and

providing a fixing unit adapted to enclose and fix together an outer circumference of an assembly of the end plates and the battery body.

22. A method of coupling together as a battery module a battery body having a plurality of unit cells arranged in series and including a respective barrier disposed between adjacent unit cells, the method comprising providing a fixing unit adapted to enclose and fix together an outer circumference of the battery body.