BATTERY CELL HOLDER

• US 20130202934A1
• Filed: 11/01/2012
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: Bae, Sang-Hoon
• Granted Patent: US 9,331,316 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/99
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/213 adapted for cells having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/209, H01M50/216 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/262 with fastening means, e.g. locks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/291 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A battery cell holder is disclosed. In one embodiment, the holder includes first and second outer frames respectively positioned at first and second sides of a plurality of battery cells arranged substantially parallel with each other, wherein the first and second sides are opposing each other, and wherein the outer frames comprise first and second outer fastening members, respectively. The cell holder may further include at least one inner frame disposed between the outer frames, wherein the at least one inner frame comprises a first inner frame adjacent to the first outer frame, wherein the first inner frame has first and second inner fastening members which are respectively formed at opposing sides thereof and have corresponding shapes with respect to each other. The first inner fastening member may be connected to the first outer fastening member.

Claims

1. A battery cell holder comprising:

first and second outer frames respectively positioned at first and second sides of a plurality of battery cells arranged substantially parallel with each other, wherein the first and second sides are opposing each other, and wherein the outer frames comprise first and second outer fastening members, respectively; and

at least one inner frame disposed between the outer frames, wherein the at least one inner frame comprises a first inner frame adjacent to the first outer frame, wherein the first inner frame has first and second inner fastening members which are respectively formed at opposing sides thereof and have corresponding shapes with respect to each other, and wherein the first inner fastening member is connected to the first outer fastening member.

2. The cell holder according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the first outer fastening member is substantially identical to that of the second inner fastening member.

3. The cell holder according to claim 1, wherein one of the first inner fastening member and the first outer fastening member is a latching groove, and wherein the other fastening member is a hook that is inserted and fastened to the latching groove.

4. The cell holder according to claim 1, wherein the at least one inner frame further comprises a second inner frame adjacent to the second outer frame, wherein the second inner frame has first and second inner fastening members which are respectively formed at opposing sides thereof and have corresponding shapes with respect to each other, and wherein the second inner fastening member of the second inner frame is connected to the second outer fastening member.

5. The cell holder according to claim 4, wherein one of the second inner fastening member and the second outer fastening member is a latching groove, and wherein the other fastening member is a hook that is inserted and fastened to the latching groove.

6. The cell holder according to claim 1, wherein each of the battery cells has a cylindrical or prismatic shape.

7. The cell holder according to claim 1, further comprising:

an additional outer frame; and

a first connecting rod formed on at least one side of each of the outer frames and coupled to the additional outer frame.

8. The cell holder according to claim 7, wherein the additional outer frame has a first connection rod, and wherein the outer frame has a first connection groove into which the first connection rod is inserted.

9. The cell holder according to claim 8, further comprising:

an additional inner frame; and

a second connection rod formed on at least one side of the inner frame and coupled to the additional inner frame.

10. The cell holder according to claim 1, wherein the inner frame further comprises a mounting part in which battery cells in at least one column are positioned.

11. The cell holder according to claim 10, wherein the mounting part is configured to substantially completely surround at least a portion of the battery cells.

12. The cell holder according to claim 1, wherein the inner and outer frames are configured to receive and hold the battery cells.

13. The cell holder according to claim 1, wherein the battery cells are arranged in M rows and N columns, and wherein the inner and outer frames are configured to receive and hold K battery cells to satisfy the equation of M×

N=K.

14. A battery cell holder comprising:

first and second outer frames spaced apart and comprising first and second outer fastening members, respectively; and

a plurality of inner frames disposed between the outer frames, wherein the inner frames comprise a first inner frame adjacent to the first outer frame, wherein the first inner frame has first and second inner fastening members which are respectively formed at opposing sides thereof and have corresponding shapes with respect to each other, and wherein the first inner fastening member is connected to the first outer fastening member,

wherein the inner and outer frames are configured to receive and hold a plurality of battery cells.

15. The cell holder according to claim 14, wherein the shape of the first outer fastening member is substantially identical to that of the second inner fastening member.

16. The cell holder according to claim 14, wherein one of the first inner fastening member and the first outer fastening member is a latching groove, and wherein the other fastening member is a hook that is inserted and fastened to the latching groove.

17. The cell holder according to claim 14, wherein the inner frames further comprise a second inner frame adjacent to the second outer frame, wherein the second inner frame has first and second inner fastening members which are respectively formed at opposing sides thereof and have corresponding shapes with respect to each other, wherein the second inner fastening member of the second inner frame is connected to the second outer fastening member.

18. The cell holder according to claim 17, wherein the inner frames further comprise at least one third inner frame interposed between and connected to the first and second inner frames.

19. A battery cell system comprising:

a plurality of battery cells arranged in substantially parallel with each other;

first and second outer frames respectively positioned at first and second sides of the battery cells, wherein the first and second sides are opposing each other, and wherein the outer frames have first and second outer fastening members, respectively; and

at least one inner frame disposed between the outer frames, wherein the at least one inner frame comprises a first inner frame adjacent to the first outer frame, wherein the first inner frame has first and second inner fastening members which are respectively formed at opposing sides thereof and have corresponding shapes with respect to each other, and wherein the first inner fastening member is connected to the first outer fastening member,

wherein the inner and outer frames are configured to receive and hold the battery cells.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein one of the first inner fastening member and the first outer fastening member is a latching groove, and wherein the other fastening member is a hook that is inserted and fastened to the latching groove.