Battery pack capable of discharging gases in pouch type battery cell

• US 9,806,311 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2014
• Issued: 10/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Chung, Seung Hyun, Chung, Geun Chang
• Primary Examiner(s): GILLIAM, BARBARA LEE
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zemui, Nathanael
• Application Number:
  US14/556,680
• Publication Number:
  US 20150086817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2200/20 Pressure-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/211 adapted for pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/291 characterised by their shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/3425 in the form of rupturable membranes or weakened parts, e.g. pierced with the aid of a sharp member
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery pack capable of discharging gases in a pouch type battery cell when a gas pressure inside the pouch type battery cell is increased over a reference pressure, the battery pack including: a plurality of pouch type battery cells; a case comprising partitions suppressing the pouch type battery cells from expanding in a thickness direction thereof, wherein the pouch type battery cells are respectively held in spaces defined by the partitions; and a punching unit installed on the case to pierce a portion of surfaces of the pouch type battery cells, which is not supported by the partition, and having pin members of which number is equal to that of the pouch type battery cells.

Claims

1. A battery pack, comprising:

a plurality of pouch type battery cells;

a case comprising partitions suppressing the pouch type battery cells from expanding in a thickness direction thereof, wherein the pouch type battery cells are respectively held in spaces defined by the partitions;

a punching unit installed on the case to pierce a portion of surfaces of the pouch type battery cells, which is not supported by the partition, and having pin members of which number is equal to that of the pouch type battery cells, the pin members being installed on the case so that a distance between each pin member and a surface of the pouch type battery cells is adjustable;

an adjusting lever configured to simultaneously adjust a position of each of the pin members;

wherein the adjusting lever is rotatably installed on the case, the screw thread is formed on an end portion of the adjusting lever, a bore is formed at the center of the pin member, a female screw is formed in the bore, and the screw thread is inserted into the female screw, and

wherein each pin member has a key on a surface thereof and the case has a key groove at a position corresponding the key.

2. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the pouch type batter cell comprises a protruding part at a surface thereof to protrude toward a region where the pin member is installed.

3. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the case has a space which allows the plurality of pouch type battery cells to expand in a width direction thereof.

4. A battery pack comprising:

a plurality of pouch type battery cells;

a case comprising partitions suppressing the pouch type battery cells from expanding in a thickness direction thereof, wherein the pouch type battery cells are respectively held in spaces defined by the partitions; and

a punching unit installed on the case to pierce a portion of surfaces of the pouch type battery cells, which is not supported by the partition, and having pin members of which number is equal to that of the pouch type battery cells,

wherein the pin members are installed on the case so that a distance between each pin member and a surface of the pouch type battery cells is adjustable,

wherein the battery pack comprises an adjusting lever configured to simultaneously adjust positions of the pin members,

a first gear interlocked with each of the pin members to convert a rotational movement to a linear movement in a longitudinal direction of the pin member; and

an adjusting shaft having a plurality of second gears engaged with a plurality of first gears, and rotating along with rotation of the adjusting lever.