BATTERY PACK INCLUDING SPACER

• US 20170084892A1
• Filed: 05/12/2015
• Published: 03/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Yoonhee, Kim, Tae Hyuck, ROH, Tae Hwan, Lee, Jin Kyu, JUNG, Junhee
• Granted Patent: US 10,629,878 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/10 Primary casings; Jackets or wrappings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/105 Pouches or flexible bags
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/124 having a layered structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/24 adapted for protecting batteries from their environment, e.g. from corrosion thermal insulation H01M10/658
• 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: H01M 50/293 characterised by the material
• 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 battery pack configured to have a structure in which two or more battery modules, each of which includes a plurality of battery cells or unit modules which can be charged and discharged, are arranged such that the battery modules are mounted in a space defined between a pack housing and a base plate, the battery pack including the base plate on which the arranged battery modules are loaded, a sensing assembly mounted at upper ends of the battery modules for detecting voltage of the battery modules, a pair of tension bars mounted at the upper ends of the battery modules in a direction in which the battery modules are arranged for supporting the battery modules, a battery management system (BMS) mounted at an outside of an outermost one of the battery modules in a state in which the BMS is adjacent to the outermost one of the battery modules, the pack housing for surrounding the battery modules and the BMS, a lower end of the pack housing being coupled to the base plate, and a spacer disposed in a space defined between an inner surface of the pack housing and outer surfaces of the battery modules for restraining motion of upper end parts of the battery modules.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising:

a pack housing;

a base plate;

at least two battery modules arranged such that the battery modules are located in a space defined between the pack housing and the base plate, each battery module including a plurality of battery cells or unit modules which can be charged and discharged; and

a spacer disposed in a space defined between an inner surface of the pack housing and upper, outer surfaces of the battery modules to restrain motion of upper end parts of the battery modules.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein each of the battery cells is configured to have a structure in which an electrode assembly is mounted in a battery case made of a laminate sheet comprising a metal layer and a resin layer and an outer edge of the battery case is sealed.

3. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein each of the battery cells is mounted in a battery cartridge.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein each cartridge comprises at least a pair of plate-shaped frames to fix an outer edge of a corresponding battery cell in a state in which at least one of opposite main surfaces of the corresponding battery cells is exposed.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein each of the battery modules is configured to have a rectangular structure, and the battery modules are loaded on the base plate such that the battery modules laterally abut each other in a state in which the battery modules are erected such that electrode terminals face tops of the battery modules.

6. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein each of the battery modules is configured to have a structure in which a height of each of the battery modules is greater than a width of each of the battery modules in the erected state.

7. The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising:

a sensing assembly mounted at upper ends of the battery modules to detect voltage of the battery modules; and

a battery management system (BMS) mounted at an outside of an outermost one of the battery modules in a state in which the BMS is adjacent to the outermost one of the battery modules,

wherein the pack housing surrounds the battery modules and the BMS, and

wherein a lower end of the pack housing is coupled to the base plate.

8. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein a top of the spacer abuts an inner surface of the pack housing, and a bottom of the spacer abuts the sensing assembly, the tension bars, and exposed tops of the battery modules.

9. The battery pack according to claim 8, wherein the top of the spacer is formed in a shape corresponding to the inner surface of the pack housing, and the bottom of the spacer is formed in a shape corresponding to the sensing assembly, the tension bars, and the exposed tops of the battery modules.

10. The battery pack according to claim 8, wherein the spacer is configured to have a structure for surrounding opposite ends of the upper end parts of the battery modules.

11. The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising

a pair of tension bars mounted at the upper ends of the battery modules, the tension bars extending in a direction in which the battery modules are arranged to support the battery modules.

12. The battery pack according to claim 11, wherein the tension bars are provided with at least two through holes such that the tension bars are fastened to the battery modules through coupling between a bolt inserted through each of the through holes and a nut.

13. The battery pack according to claim 12, wherein the spacer is provided with depressions, each of which is formed in a shape corresponding to the bolt and the nut, and the bolts are received in the depressions to fix the spacer.

14. The battery pack according to claim 12, wherein the spacer is provided with fastening holes, each of which is formed in a shape corresponding to the bolt, and each bolt is sequentially inserted through a corresponding one the fastening holes and a corresponding one of the through holes and then coupled to the nut to fix the spacer.

15. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is made of polymer resin foam.

16. The battery pack according to claim 15, wherein the polymer resin foam contains closed pores.

17. The battery pack according to claim 15, wherein the polymer resin foam is expanded polypropylene (EPP).

18. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein each of the battery cells is a lithium secondary battery.

19. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the spacer restrains lateral motion of the upper end parts of the battery modules.

20. A device comprising a battery pack according to claim 1 as a power source.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the device is selected from a group consisting of a mobile phone, a portable computer, a smart phone, a tablet PC, a smart pad, a netbook computer, a light electronic vehicle (LEV), an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, and a power storage device.