BATTERY UNIT AND BATTERY MODULE USING THE SAME

• US 20140302380A1
• Filed: 10/08/2013
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Samsung SDI Company Limited
• Inventors: SONG, Jang-Hyun
• Granted Patent: US 9,461,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/158
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0431 Cells with wound or folded electrodes H01M10/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/147 Lids or covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/15 for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/153 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/176 for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/181 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/188 the sealing members being arranged between the lid and terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/209 adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/216 takes precedence
• 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: H01M 50/516 by welding, soldering or brazing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/522 Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/528 Fixed electrical connections, i.e. not intended for disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/55 on the same side of the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/553 Terminals adapted for prismatic, pouch or rectangular cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/562 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/566 by welding, soldering or brazing
• 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 unit and a battery module including a plurality of battery units. A battery unit includes: a case accommodating an electrode assembly and having an opening; a cap plate covering the opening and having a terminal insertion portion penetrating the cap plate; a terminal member extending into the case through the terminal insertion portion to electrically expose the electrode assembly outside of the case; and a fixing member in the terminal insertion portion and fixing the terminal member to the cap plate, the fixing member being formed by an insert injection molding method in which a plastic resin is injected in the terminal insertion portion in a state in which the terminal member is inserted in the terminal insertion portion, the fixing member including a recessed portion that is recessed from an upper surface of the fixing member.

Claims

1. A battery unit comprising:

a case accommodating an electrode assembly and having an opening;

a cap plate covering the opening and having a terminal insertion portion penetrating the cap plate;

a terminal member extending into the case through the terminal insertion portion to electrically expose the electrode assembly outside of the case; and

a fixing member in the terminal insertion portion and fixing the terminal member to the cap plate, the fixing member being formed by an insert injection molding method in which a plastic resin is injected in the terminal insertion portion in a state in which the terminal member is inserted in the terminal insertion portion,

wherein the fixing member comprises a recessed portion that is recessed from an upper surface of the fixing member.

2. The battery unit of claim 1, wherein the fixing member comprises a lower wall and a side wall extending upward from the lower wall and coupled to an edge of the terminal insertion portion.

3. The battery unit of claim 2, wherein the side wall extends upward above an upper surface of the cap plate.

4. The battery unit of claim 2, wherein the fixing member further comprises an extended portion extending outward from the side wall over an edge of the terminal insertion portion and supported on an upper surface of the cap plate.

5. The battery unit of claim 1, wherein the terminal member comprises:

a current collector portion electrically connected to the electrode assembly;

a terminal portion exposed outside of the cap plate; and

a connection portion connecting the current collector portion and the terminal portion.

6. The battery unit of claim 5, wherein the terminal portion is spaced apart from an upper surface of the cap plate.

7. The battery unit of claim 6, wherein the terminal portion extends in a direction along a major side of the cap plate, the connection portion comprises a first bending portion extending downward from the terminal portion and a second bending portion extending in the major side direction from the first bending portion, and the current collector portion is extends downward from an edge of the second bending portion in a direction along a minor side of the cap plate.

8. The battery unit of claim 7, wherein the second bending portion is partially buried in the fixing member.

9. The battery unit of claim 7, wherein the second bending portion is entirely buried in the fixing member.

10. The battery unit of claim 6, wherein the fixing member comprises:

a first fixing portion filling the terminal insertion portion and comprising the recessed portion; and

a second fixing portion filling a gap between the terminal portion and the upper surface of the cap plate.

11. The battery unit of claim 1, wherein the terminal member comprises a positive terminal member and a negative terminal member, and the positive terminal member and the negative terminal member comprise dissimilar metals.

12. The battery unit of claim 11, wherein the positive terminal member comprises aluminum (Al), and the negative terminal member comprises copper (Cu).

13. The battery unit of claim 11, wherein the terminal member further comprises a welding layer on an upper surface of one of the positive terminal member or the negative terminal member and comprising a same metal as that of the other one of the positive terminal member or the negative terminal member.

14. A battery module comprising:

a plurality of the battery units of claim 1; and

a bus bar connecting terminal portions of the terminal members of neighboring battery units of the plurality of battery units.

15. The battery module of claim 14, wherein the fixing member comprises a lower wall and a side wall extending upward from the lower wall and coupled to an edge of the terminal insertion portion.

16. The battery module of claim 15, wherein the side wall extends upward above an upper surface of the cap plate.

17. The battery module of claim 15, wherein the fixing member further comprises an extended portion extending outward from the side wall over an edge of the terminal insertion portion and supported on an upper surface of the cap plate.