Battery module and battery assembly comprising the same

• US 9,564,663 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2013
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Roh, TaeHwan, Kim, SeongTae, Lee, Jin Kyu, Choi, JunSeok, Kim, TaeHyuck, Kang, DalMo
• Primary Examiner(s): Stagg, Miriam
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haske, Wojciech
• Application Number:
  US14/092,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20140087221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6556 Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange closed pipes H01M10/6552
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/264 for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/51 Connection only in series
• 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

A battery module including a unit cell assembly including two or more battery cells or unit modules; a left case coupled to a left side of the assembly, the left case provided at a left outer side thereof with a first fastening groove extending parallel to a longitudinal direction of the battery module such that a sensing assembly is fastened into the first groove, the left case being provided at opposite ends thereof with second fastening grooves formed parallel to a height direction of the battery; and a right case coupled to a right side of the assembly, an external input and output terminal oriented to a front of the battery, the right case provided at a right inner side thereof with a plurality of fixing grooves formed parallel to a longitudinal direction of the assembly such that the assembly is fastened and fixed into the fixing grooves is provided.

Claims

1. A battery module comprising:

(a) a unit cell assembly comprising two or more battery cells or unit modules connected to each other in parallel or in series;

(b) a left case coupled to a left side of the unit cell assembly, the left case being provided at a left outer side thereof with a first fastening groove extending parallel to a longitudinal direction of the battery module such that a sensing assembly is fastened into the first fastening groove, the left case being provided at opposite ends thereof with second fastening grooves formed parallel to a height direction of the battery module such that the sensing assembly is coupled into the second fastening grooves; and

(c) a right case coupled to a right side of the unit cell assembly, an external input and output terminal being oriented to a front of the battery module, the right case being provided at a right inner side thereof with a plurality of fixing grooves formed parallel to a longitudinal direction of the unit cell assembly such that the unit cell assembly is fastened and fixed into the fixing grooves,

wherein the left case is provided at a front and a rear thereof with fastening holes for coupling adjacent battery modules formed in a lateral direction of said battery module,

wherein the right case is provided at a front and a rear thereof with fastening holes for coupling adjacent battery modules formed in a lateral direction of said battery module,

wherein the left case is provided at opposite ends thereof with insertion holes, through which one end of a sensing circuit unit electrically connected to the sensing assembly is coupled to the left case, and

wherein the sensing circuit unit transmits sensed voltage to a controller.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the left case is provided at a left side thereof and the right case is provided at a right side thereof with a plurality of through holes, through which a coolant is introduced into the unit cell assembly to cool the unit cell assembly and is then discharged from the battery module.

3. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the left case is further provided at a left side and opposite ends thereof with protective covers to protect the sensing assembly from external impact.

4. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the right case is provided at a rear thereof, which is opposite to the front of the battery module at which the input and output terminal is formed, with a plate-shaped fixing part, to which a connector constituting the sensing circuit unit is mounted and fixed parallel to a ground or a horizontal plane.

5. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the battery cells and the unit modules are arranged parallel to a ground or a horizontal plane in a longitudinal direction and/or a height direction.

6. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the sensing assembly is a member, to detect voltage of the battery cells or the unit modules constituting the battery module, configured to have a structure comprising:

(a) a pair of insulative support parts, each of which is configured in a hexahedral structure having a plurality of fastening parts formed in a shape corresponding to an electrical connection region between the two or more battery cells or unit modules such that the fastening parts are mounted to the electrical connection region in a male to female fastening fashion at the front of the battery module, at which the input and output terminal is formed, and a rear of the battery module, which is opposite to the front of the battery module;

(b) a linear connection part, having one end electrically connected to the electrical connection region and the other end electrically connected to the sensing circuit unit, to electrically connect the fastening parts to each other; and

(c) a conductive sensing part, having one end electrically connected to the connection part and the other end connected to the electrical connection region in a state in which the other end of the conductive sensing part is coupled in the fastening parts.

7. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein each of the unit modules comprises two or more plate-shaped battery cells electrically connected to each other, each of the battery cells having electrode terminals formed at upper and lower ends thereof, respectively, the battery cells being electrically connected to each other in series or in parallel, and cell covers coupled to each other to cover outsides of the battery cells excluding electrode terminals.

8. The battery module according to claim 7, wherein the cell covers comprise an upper cover and a lower cover, which are fastened to each other, the upper cover and the lower cover being provided at surfaces thereof with two or more protrusions formed parallel to the height direction of the battery module.

9. The battery module according to claim 8, wherein the protrusions define a flow channel, along which a coolant flow between the stacked unit modules.