BATTERY MODULE HAVING IMPROVED STRUCTURE FOR FIXING END PLATE AND METHOD OF FIXING THE SAME

• US 20110151312A1
• Filed: 07/13/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Kim, Tae-Yong
• Granted Patent: US 9,425,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/156
• 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 10/0481 Compression means other than compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/46 of flat cells
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making

Abstract

A battery module includes a battery unit having a plurality of batteries; a pair of end plates, one of the end plates installed at either end of the battery unit; and a fixing band that encircles the end plates and the battery unit, wherein the fixing band is made from a material that expands when heated and contracts when cooled.

Claims

1. A battery module comprising:

a battery unit comprising a plurality of batteries;

a pair of end plates, one of the end plates installed at either end of the battery unit; and

a fixing band that encircles the end plates and the battery unit, wherein the fixing band comprises a material that expands when heated and contracts when cooled.

2. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the fixing band comprises a fastener for connecting ends of the fixing band together to form a closed-loop.

3. The battery module of claim 2, wherein the fastener is a weld.

4. The battery module of claim 2, wherein the fastener comprises male threaded parts being threaded in opposite directions and a turnbuckle combined with the male threaded parts, wherein the fastener is between ends of the fixing band.

5. The battery module of claim 2, wherein the fastener comprises a tongue and a groove that fit to each other and a pin that is inserted through openings in the tongue and groove, wherein the fastener is between ends of the fixing band.

6. The battery module of claim 2, wherein the fastener comprises a clip at each end of the fixing band, wherein the clips are slidingly engaged.

7. The battery module of claim 1, wherein an outwardly facing surface of the end plates is formed in an arc protruding away from the battery unit.

8. The battery module of claim 7, wherein the end plate has an accommodation groove in which the fixing band is accommodated.

9. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the fixing band comprises a material such that a length of the fixing band can be lengthened by heating so that the length of the fixing band is longer than a circumference of an assembly of the battery unit and the end plates and such that the length of the fixing band can be shortened by cooling such that the fixing band contacts each of the end plates.

10. The battery module of claim 1, wherein the fixing band comprises aluminum-coated steel or galvanized steel.

11. A method of assembling a battery module comprising a plurality of batteries and a pair of end plates, one of the end plates installed at either end of the battery unit, the method comprising:

thermally extending a length of a fixing band so that the length of the fixing band is longer than a circumference of an assembly of the battery unit and the end plates;

installing the fixing band around the assembly; and

cooling the fixing band to shorten the length of the fixing band such that the fixing band contacts each of the end plates.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the fixing band is thermally expanded by high-frequency heating.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the fixing band is cooled by natural cooling or forced ventilation cooling.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising attaching ends of the fixing band together to form a closed loop.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the ends of the fixing band are attached by welding.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the ends of the fixing bands include male threaded parts being threaded in opposite directions and a turnbuckle and wherein the ends of the fixing band are attached by threading the turnbuckle onto the male threaded parts.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein a first end of the ends has a tongue with an opening extending therethrough and a second end of the ends has a groove with an opening extending therethrough, wherein the ends are attached by inserting the tongue into the groove portion and inserting a pin into the openings in the tongue and the groove.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the ends of the fixing band each include a clip and wherein the ends are attached to each other by sliding the clip from a first end of the ends into the clip of a second end of the ends.