MIDDLE OR LARGE-SIZED BATTERY MODULE

• US 20110135994A1
• Filed: 01/07/2011
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yang, Heekook, Yoon, Jongmoon, Yang, Jae Hun
• Granted Patent: US 8,968,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/159
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/405 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/224 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/244 Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/51 Connection only in series
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/557 Plate-shaped terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/569 Constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements G01R31/364
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a middle- or large-sized battery module comprising: a battery cell stack including a plurality of battery cells or unit modules electrically connected with each other; a first module case constructed in a structure to entirely surround one side end of the battery cell stack and to partially surround the upper and lower ends of the battery cell stack; a second module case coupled with the first module case, the second module case being constructed in a structure to entirely surround the other side end of the battery cell stack and to partially surround the upper and lower ends of the battery cell stack; a sensing member mounted to the first module case or the second module case; and a battery management system (BMS) mounted to the first module case or the second module case.

Claims

1. A middle- or large-sized battery module comprising:

a battery cell stack including a plurality of battery cells or unit modules electrically connected with each other, the battery cells or unit modules being erected in the lateral direction;

a first module case constructed in a structure to entirely surround one side end of the battery cell stack and to partially surround the upper and lower ends of the battery cell stack, the first module case being provided at the front part thereof with external input and output terminals;

a second module case coupled with the first module case, the second module case being constructed in a structure to entirely surround the other side end of the battery cell stack and to partially surround the upper and lower ends of the battery cell stack, the second module case being provided at the front part thereof with bus bars for connecting electrode terminals of the battery cell stack to the external input and output terminals;

a sensing member mounted to the first module case or the second module case; and

a battery management system (BMS) mounted to the first module case or the second module case, while being connected to the sensing member, for monitoring and controlling the operation of the battery module.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the battery module comprises:

(a) a battery cell stack including a plurality of battery cells or unit modules connected in series with each other, the battery cells or unit modules being erected in the lateral direction;

(b) an upper case constructed in a structure to entirely surround one side end of the battery cell stack and to partially surround the upper and lower ends of the battery cell stack, the upper case being provided at the front part thereof with external input and output terminals;

(c) a lower case coupled with the first module case, the second module case being constructed in a structure to entirely surround the other side end of the battery cell stack and to partially surround the upper and lower ends of the battery cell stack, the lower case being provided at the front part thereof with bus bars for connecting electrode terminals of the battery cell stack to the external input and output terminals;

(d) a sensing member including sensing parts mounted in spaces defined on the front and rear parts of the lower case and a conduction part for interconnecting the sensing parts;

(e) a front cover mounted to the front part of the lower case for protecting connections between the electrode terminals of the battery cells and the bus bars from the outside, the front cover being made of an insulative material; and

(f) a battery management system (BMS) mounted to the rear part of the lower case, while being connected to the sensing member, for monitoring and controlling the operation of the battery module.

3. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein

the battery cell stack comprises a plurality of unit modules each including plate-shaped battery cells having electrode terminals formed at the upper and lower ends thereof, and

each unit module comprises two or more battery cells constructed in a stacked structure in which electrode terminals of the battery cells are connected in series with each other and the electrode terminal connections are bent such that the battery cells are stacked, and a pair of high-strength cell covers for surrounding the outer surfaces of the battery cells excluding the electrode terminals of the battery cells when the cell covers are coupled with each other.

4. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the upper and lower cases are provided in the insides thereof with pluralities of mounting grooves in which the edges of the battery cells or the unit modules are inserted.

5. The battery module according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the cell covers are provided at the outer surfaces adjacent to the upper and lower ends thereof with steps of a predetermined size for easily fixing the unit modules, and the cell covers are provided at the outer surfaces adjacent to the opposite sides thereof with steps of a predetermined size for easily fixing the unit modules, the mounting grooves of the upper and lower cases being constructed in a structure corresponding to the steps.

6. The battery module according to claim 3, wherein the lower case is provided at the insides of the front and rear parts thereof with pluralities of fixing grooves in which the electrode terminal connections are inserted.

7. The battery module according to claim 3, wherein the lower case is provided at the front part thereof with a pair of slits through which the outermost electrode terminals of the battery cell stack are inserted.

8. The battery module according to claim 7, wherein the outermost electrode terminals of the battery cell stack are inserted through the slits and then bent such that the outermost electrode terminals are connected to the bus bars located at the front part of the lower case.

9. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the upper end of each bus bar is formed in the shape of a depression such that the external input and output terminals provided at the front part of the upper case are inserted into the depressions of the bus bars when the upper and lower cases are coupled with each other.

10. The battery module according to claim 2, further comprising:

a conductive member mounted to at least one of the external input and output terminals for fixing the upper end of the front cover and assisting with the connection of a power cable necessary for electrical connection.

11. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the front cover is coupled to the lower case in an assembly coupling fashion.

12. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the front cover is provided with holes for fixing a power cable.

13. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the lower case is provided at the lower end of the front and/or rear part thereof with a coupling part which protrudes from the lower case and has a through-hole in the center thereof such that the lower case is fixed to an external device.

14. The battery module according to claim 13, wherein the coupling part formed at the lower end of the front or rear part of the lower case includes a pair of protruding coupling parts constructed such that one of the protruding coupling parts is higher by a height equivalent to the thickness of the other protruding coupling part than the other protruding coupling part.

15. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the lower case is provided at the rear part thereof with a protruding BMS receiving part in which the BMS is received.

16. The battery module according to claim 1, further comprising:

thermistors mounted to the battery cells or unit modules of the battery cell stack, the thermistors being connected to the BMS.

17. The battery module according to claim 15, wherein the BMS receiving part is provided with a thermistor connector and a communication connector.

18. A middle- or large-sized battery system manufactured using a battery module according to claim 1 as a unit body.

19. The battery system according to claim 18, wherein the battery system is used as a power source for electric vehicles or hybrid electric vehicles.