CARTRIDGE FOR MIDDLE OR LARGE-SIZED BATTERY PACK

• US 20070124980A1
• Filed: 12/01/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yang, Jae
• Granted Patent: US 7,947,389 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/75.30
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/249 specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/264 for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/271 Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/507 comprising an arrangement of two or more busbars within a container structure, e.g. busbar modules
• 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: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a battery cartridge for middle- or large-sized battery packs, which has one or more unit cells mounted therein. The battery cartridge is generally constructed in a plate-shaped structure for easy stacking, and connecting members for electrical connection between cartridges are constructed in a coupling structure in which the connecting members are coupled with each other during the stacking of the cartridges. When a plurality of cartridges are stacked one on another so as to construct a middle- or large-sized battery pack, the mechanical coupling between the cartridges is accomplished, and, at the same time, the electrical connection between the cartridges is also accomplished, whereby the assembly of the cartridges is easily accomplished, and the risk of short circuits is prevented during the assembly or the use of the cartridges. Furthermore, a middle- or large-sized battery pack manufactured using the battery cartridge according to the present invention has a stable compact structure. Consequently, the middle- or large-sized battery pack is preferably used as a power source for electric vehicles or hybrid electric vehicles.

Claims

1. A battery cartridge for middle- or large-sized battery packs, which has one or more unit cells mounted therein, wherein

the battery cartridge is generally constructed in a plate-shaped structure for easy stacking, and connecting members for electrical connection between cartridges are constructed in a coupling structure in which the connecting members are coupled with each other during the stacking of the cartridges.

2. The battery cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge includes a pair of rectangular frame members for fixing the edges of the unit cells when the rectangular frame members are coupled with each other, one or more plate-shaped unit cells are mounted between the frame members while the unit cells are arranged in the lateral direction, and bus bars for connecting electrode terminals of the unit cells are attached to an upper end frame of the battery cartridge.

3. The battery cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the connecting members include a socket type connecting member and a plug type connecting member.

4. The battery cartridge according to claim 3, wherein

the socket type connecting member is constructed in a structure in which a connection part, which is connected to an electrode terminal of the corresponding unit cell, protrudes from one side of a member body having a hollow part, and

the plug type connecting member is constructed in a structure in which a connection part, which is connected to an electrode terminal of the corresponding unit cell, protrudes from one side of a member body having a protrusion part that is coupled with the hollow part.

5. The battery cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the connecting members are integrally formed with the cartridge or assembled with the cartridge.

6. The battery cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the cartridge includes a pair of rectangular frame members which are coupled with each other, and the connecting members are assembled with the frame members such that the member bodies of the connecting members are fixedly mounted between the frame members, and the protrusion part or the hollow part is exposed to the outside.

7. The battery cartridge according to claim 2, wherein frame members are provided at either side thereof with at least one coupling protrusion, in which a through-hole is formed such that a rod-shaped coupling member can be inserted through the through-hole so as to increase the coupling force between the cartridge and other cartridges.

8. The battery cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the unit cells are lithium secondary batteries.

9. The battery cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the unit cells are pouch-shaped batteries.

10. A battery module having a plurality of battery cartridges according to claim 1 stacked one on another such that the mechanical coupling and the electrical connection between the battery cartridges are accomplished through the use of coupling type connecting members, wherein

a cover plate, which has a shape corresponding to the cartridges, is mounted to the top of the uppermost one of the stacked battery cartridges, a base plate, which has a shape corresponding to the cartridges, is mounted to the bottom of the lowermost one of the stacked battery cartridges, and the cover plate and the base plate having a coupling groove or a coupling protrusion that can be coupled with the protrusion part or the hollow part of the connecting members and also having external input and output terminals that are electrically connected with the coupling groove and the coupling protrusion.

11. The battery module according to claim 10, wherein each of the cartridges is provided at one side of the upper end thereof with a socket type connecting member and at one side of the lower end thereof with a plug type connecting member.

12. A middle- or large-sized battery pack including one or more battery modules according claim 10.

13. The battery pack according to claim 12, wherein the battery pack is used as a power source for electric vehicles or hybrid electric vehicles.