Battery module having novel structure

• US 9,608,244 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2012
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Shin, Yong Shik, Yoon, Jong Moon, Yang, JaeHun, Lee, Jin Kyu, Lee, BumHyun, Kang, DalMo
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilliam, Barbara
• Assistant Examiner(s): Arciero, Adam A
• Application Number:
  US13/656,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20130045403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,621 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 10/486 for measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/625 Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/656 characterised by the type of heat-exchange fluid
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/105 Pouches or flexible bags
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• 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 50/51 Connection only in series
• 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

Disclosed herein is a battery module including (a) a battery cell stack including two or more battery cells or unit modules electrically connected to each other in a state in which the battery cells or unit modules are vertically stacked, (b) a first housing to cover the entirety of the end of one side of the battery cell stack and portions of the top and bottom of the battery cell stack and (c) a second housing to cover the entirety of the end of the other side of the battery cell stack and the remainder of the top and bottom of the battery cell stack, wherein the first housing and the second housing are provided with coupling holes formed to couple the first housing and the second housing to each other, the coupling holes being horizontal coupling holes, through which coupling members can be inserted in the lateral direction.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising two or more battery modules, in which each of the battery modules comprises:

(a) a battery cell stack comprising two or more battery cells or unit modules electrically connected to each other in a state in which the battery cells or unit modules are vertically stacked;

(b) a first housing to cover the entirety of the end of one side of the battery cell stack and portions of the top and bottom of the battery cell stack;

(c) a second housing to cover the entirety of the end of the other side of the battery cell stack and the remainder of the top and bottom of the battery cell stack; and

(d) a coolant inlet formed at one side of the battery module and a coolant outlet formed at another side of the battery module opposite of the coolant inlet, whereby a coolant passes through spaces defined between the battery cells or the unit modules of the battery cell stack, wherein

the first housing and the second housing are provided with coupling holes formed to couple the first housing and the second housing to each other, the coupling holes being horizontal coupling holes, through which coupling members can be inserted in the lateral direction,

the first housing or the second housing is provided with a pair of external input and output terminals, the external input and output terminals being fouried at the first housing or the second housing in structure protruding parallel to a stacking direction of the battery cell stack,

the first housing and/or the second housing is provided with coupling holes formed to install the battery module in a predetermined space or on a predetermined device, the coupling holes being vertical coupling holes, through which coupling members can be inserted from above,

each of the battery cells is a plate-shaped battery cell having electrode terminals formed at the upper end and the lower end thereof, respectively, each plate-shaped battery cell having a first major surface opposite a second major surface and a plurality of minor surfaces extending between the first major surface and the second major surface,

the top of the battery cell stack being defined by the first major surface of one of the battery cells and the bottom of the battery cell stack being defined by the second major surface of another one of the battery cells,

the battery modules of the battery pack are arranged in the lateral direction and in the rearward direction,

at least two adjacent battery modules are separated by a space, whereby the coolant passes through the space between the at least two adjacent battery modules, and

external input and output terminals of the battery modules are electrically connected to each other via cables.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal coupling holes are formed at positions of the first housing and the second housing corresponding to the front and rear of the battery module, respectively.

3. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein

the battery cell stack comprises two or more unit modules, each of which comprises plate-shaped battery cells, each of which has electrode terminals formed at the upper end and the lower end thereof, respectively, and

each of the unit modules comprises two or more battery cells in which electrode terminals are connected in series and in parallel to each other and a pair of high-strength cell covers coupled to each other so as to cover the entirety of the outside of the battery cells excluding the electrode terminals of the battery cells.

4. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the battery cell stack is configured to have a structure in which the battery cells are connected in series and in parallel to each other.

5. The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein the parallel connection is a structure in which the electrode terminals of the battery cells are directly connected to each other, and the series connection is a structure in which the electrode terminals of the battery cells are connected to each other via bus bars.

6. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein bus bars for external input and output terminal connection, which are configured to be connected to the external input and output terminals, are provided at the electrode terminals of the outermost battery cells of the battery cell stack.

7. The battery pack according to claim 6, wherein each of the bus bars for external input and output terminal connection comprises an electrode terminal connection part electrically connected to a corresponding one of the outermost electrode terminals of the battery cell stack and an input and output terminal connection part connected to a corresponding one of the external input and output terminals of the first housing or the second housing, each of the input and output terminal connection parts extending from a corresponding one of the electrode terminal connection parts in the lateral direction.

8. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein each of the input and output terminal connection parts is formed in an inwardly depressed structure, and each of the external input and output terminals is fitted in the depression of a corresponding one of the input and output terminal connection parts, thereby achieving electrical connection between the bus bars for external input and output terminal connection and the external input and output terminals.

9. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein

the external input and output terminals comprise a first external input and output terminal mounted at the upper part of one side of the second housing, and a second external input and output terminal mounted at the lower part of the other side of the second housing, and

the bus bars for external input and output terminal connection comprise a first bus bar connected to the electrode terminal of the battery cell located at the upper end of the battery cell stack so that the first bus bar can be connected to the first external input and output terminal, and a second bus bar connected to the electrode terminal of the battery cell located at the lower end of the battery cell stack so that the second bus bar can be connected to the second external input and output terminal.

10. The battery pack according to claim 9, wherein the second bus bar has a greater length than the first bus bar.

11. The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising a sensing member which comprises sensors in mounted spaces defined at the front and rear of the second housing and a conduction part to connect the sensors to each other.

12. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of mounting grooves, into which the edges of the battery cells or the unit modules will be inserted, are formed at the inside of each of the first and second housings.

13. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein each of the battery modules comprises a voltage sensing member and a temperature sensor for each of the battery modules.

14. The battery pack according to claim 13, wherein the voltage sensing members and the temperature sensor for each of the battery modules are connected to a battery management system (BMS) via a wiring harness.

15. The battery pack according to claim 14, wherein the battery pack is a power source for electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.