Cartridge-type battery pack

• US 7,597,996 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Namgoong, John E., Ro, Jong Yul
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruthkosky; Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): APICELLA, KARIE O
• Application Number:
  US10/965,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20050100783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,818 Days
• Field of Search: 429/159, 429/120, 429/176
• US Class Current: 429/159
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0565 Polymeric materials, e.g. gel-type or solid-type
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/503 characterised by the shape of the interconnectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/51 Connection only in series
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/40 Printed batteries , e.g. thin film batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/46 of flat cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5044 Cells or batteries structurally combined with cell condition indicating means
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed is a cartridge-type lithium ion polymer battery pack including: at least two lithium ion polymer batteries in which adjacent electrode tabs are connected to each other so as to form a predetermined series circuit with a desired instrument; and an upper plate and a lower plate disposed at the top and the bottom of the whole lithium ion polymer batteries, respectively, and coupled to each other so that each lithium ion polymer battery is partially covered with them. Multiple layers of the battery packs are laminated and fixed with ease so as to conform to the electric power requirement for a desired instrument.

Claims

1. A cartridge-type battery pack comprising:

at least two batteries in which corresponding electrode tabs are connected to each other so as to connect with a desired instrument, and

an upper plate and a lower plate disposed at top and bottom of the whole batteries, respectively, and coupled to each other so that each battery is partially covered with them;

wherein each of the upper plate and the lower plate is provided with cross members disposed along the length of each plate, the cross members being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the direction of width, so that the batteries in each battery pack are partially exposed to the exterior for cooling, and at least a part of the cross members have through-holes at end edges thereof and at least two battery packs can be integrally fixed by bolts and nuts via the through-holes.

2. The cartridge-type battery pack according to claim 1, wherein one of the upper plate and the lower plate has a plurality of protrusions for engagement at predetermined intervals and the other has a plurality of holes for engagement corresponding to the protrusions.

3. The cartridge-type battery pack according to claim 1, wherein a printed circuit board (PCB) having a predetermined length is disposed between the upper plate and the lower plate, and the PCB is provided with wires each corresponding to a positive (+) pole and a negative (−

) pole, each wire being connected to the corresponding electrode tab of each battery, so that voltage and temperature of the battery can be measured.

4. The cartridge-type battery pack according to claim 1, wherein two outer electrode tabs of two outermost batteries among the batteries are connected to outer electrode tabs of the outermost batteries disposed at both sides of another adjacent battery pack so as to form a series circuit with the batteries in the adjacent battery pack, such connection being made by two corresponding conductive pieces, one having an upwardly bent outer end portion and the other having a downwardly bent outer end portion.

5. The cartridge-type battery pack according to claim 1, wherein each cross member is at least partially protruded out from the surface of the battery to which it is faced, so that the batteries in each battery pack can be cooled smoothly by the air.

6. The cartridge-type battery pack according to claim 1, wherein two outer electrode tabs of two outermost batteries among the batteries are partially insert molded at both outermost ends in any one of the upper plate and the lower plate so as to form a series circuit with the batteries of another adjacent battery pack, the two outer electrode tabs being connected to the outer electrode tabs of the outermost batteries disposed at both sides of another adjacent battery pack by means of conductive insert members partially exposed to the exterior and metal members interconnecting the outer exposed portions of the conductive insert members.

7. The cartridge-type battery pack according to claim 6, wherein each conductive insert member includes an inner portion to be connected to the outer electrode tab of the corresponding battery when they are assembled, a fixing portion formed integrally with the inner portion and filled in with molten resin during insert molding, and a protrusion extending out from the fixing portion and connected to the metal member.

8. The cartridge-type battery pack according to claim 7, wherein the fixing portion of each conductive insert member has at least one fill-in hole in which molten resin is filled during insert molding.

9. The cartridge-type battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the electrode tabs of inner batteries among the batteries are connected to the corresponding electrode tabs of adjacent batteries by means of conductive pieces.

10. The cartridge-type battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the battery is a lithium ion polymer battery.