BATTERY MODULE

• US 20120189902A1
• Filed: 07/26/2011
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: KIM, Myung-Chul
• Granted Patent: US 9,196,880 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/159
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0481 Compression means other than compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/291 characterised by their shape
• 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

Abstract

A battery module including a plurality of battery cells, the battery cells being stacked along a first direction, wherein the battery cells are alternately offset in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction.

Claims

1. A battery module, comprising:

a plurality of battery cells, the battery cells being stacked along a first direction,

wherein the battery cells are alternately offset in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction.

2. The battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

each battery cell includes an electrode terminal, the electrode terminal of one of the battery cells being electrically connected to the electrode terminal of an adjacent battery cell with a bus bar, and

the bus bar extends at an angle relative to the first direction.

3. The battery module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the angle is about 30 to about 60 degrees.

4. The battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the battery cells are alternately offset in a zig-zag configuration along the first direction.

5. The battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein each battery cell includes a plurality of electrode terminals, the electrode terminals of the plurality of battery cells being alternately offset relative to one another in the second direction.

6. The battery module as claimed in claim 5, wherein the electrode terminals are alternately offset in a zig-zag configuration along the first direction.

7. The battery module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alternately offset battery cells define regularly spaced open regions between alternate battery cells.

8. The battery module as claimed in claim 7, further comprising at least one spacer, wherein the at least one spacer is disposed in one of the open regions between the battery cells.

9. The battery module as claimed in claim 8, wherein a size and shape of the at least one spacer corresponds to a size and shape of the open regions between the battery cells.

10. A battery module, comprising:

a plurality of battery cells, the battery cells being stacked along a first direction to define regularly spaced open regions between alternate battery cells, a battery module housing accommodating the battery cells, the battery module housing including;

end plates, and

a connecting member connecting the end plates, the connecting member including a side bracket and a bottom bracket,

wherein the battery cells are alternately offset in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction.

11. The battery module as claimed in claim 10, further comprising at least one spacer, wherein the at least one spacer is disposed in one of the open regions between the battery cells.

12. The battery module housing as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

the connecting member includes a pair of facing side brackets at respective sides of the end plates, and

the battery module includes a plurality of spacers on both side brackets in an alternating array, the spacers on one of the side brackets being staggered in the first direction relative to the spacers on another of the side brackets.

13. The battery module as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one spacer is integrally formed with the side bracket.

14. The battery module as claimed in claim 11, wherein the connecting member is integrally formed with the end plates.

15. The battery module as claimed in claim 14, wherein the at least one spacer is integrally formed with the connecting member.

16. The battery module as claimed in claim 11, wherein a size and shape of the at least one spacer corresponds to a size and shape of the open regions between the battery cells.

17. The battery module as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

each battery cell includes an electrode terminal, the electrode terminal of one of the battery cells being electrically connected to the electrode terminal of an adjacent battery cell with a bus bar, and

the bus bar extends at an angle relative to the first direction.

18. The battery module as claimed in claim 17, wherein the angle is about 30 to about 60 degrees.

19. The battery module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the battery cells are alternately offset in a zig-zag configuration along the first direction.

20. The battery module as claimed in claim 10, wherein each battery cell includes a plurality of electrode terminals, the electrode terminals of the plurality of battery cells being alternately offset relative to one another in the second direction.