Battery module and battery pack including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11677115-B2
Application number	US-201816622143-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 12, 2018
Priority date	Dec 20, 2017
Publication date	Jun 13, 2023
Grant date	Jun 13, 2023

Abstract

A battery module, which includes at least one battery cell and a module case for packaging the at least one battery cell, wherein the module case includes: a top cover configured to cover an upper side of the at least one battery cell; and a side plate configured to cover all of opposing side surfaces of the top cover and opposing side surfaces of the at least one battery cell and configured to be coupled to the top cover by fitting.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A battery module, which includes at least one battery cell and a module case for packaging the at least one battery cell,
wherein the module case includes:
a top cover configured to cover an upper side of the at least one battery cell, the top cover having opposing side surfaces, wherein a plurality of side-facing fitting ribs is formed at each of the opposing side surfaces of the top cover; and
a side plate configured to cover all of the opposing side surfaces of the top cover, all of the plurality of side-facing fitting ribs formed at each of the opposing side surfaces of the top cover, and opposing side surfaces of the at least one battery cell, and configured to be coupled to the top cover by fitting,
wherein the plurality of side-facing fitting ribs formed at each of the opposing side surfaces of the top cover is configured to be fitted with the side plate when the top cover is coupled to the side plate,
wherein on each of the opposing side surfaces of the top cover, adjacent fitting ribs of the plurality of fitting ribs are disposed to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance to form a predetermined gap between the adjacent fitting ribs,
wherein the predetermined gap is exposed to an outside of the module case from a viewpoint extending from the top cover toward the side plate when the top cover is coupled to the side plate with the plurality of side-facing fitting ribs fitted with and covered by the side plate so that the plurality of fitting ribs and the predetermined gap are visible for observation.

2. The battery module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the top cover and the side plate are welded to each other after being fitted.

3. The battery module according to claim 2 ,
wherein the plurality of fitting ribs are melted and deformed due to the welding to fill the predetermined gap.

4. The battery module according to claim 1 ,
wherein at least one anti-deformation rib is formed at a lower surface of the top cover to prevent the side plate from being deformed when the at least one battery cell swells.

5. The battery module according to claim 4 ,
wherein at least one anti-deformation rib insert groove is formed in the side plate so that the at least one anti-deformation rib is inserted therein when the top cover is coupled to the side plate.

6. The battery module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the top cover is made of a plastic composite material, and
wherein the side plate is made of a metal material.

7. The battery module according to claim 6 ,
wherein the plastic composite material is Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic.

8. The battery module according to claim 6 ,
wherein the metal material is aluminum.

9. A battery pack, comprising:
at least one battery module defined in claim 1 ; and
a pack case configured to package the at least one battery module.

Assignees

• Lg Chemical Ltd
• Lg Energy Solution Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Kyung-Mo
• Mun Jeong-O
• Chi Ho-June
• Park Jin-Yong
• Lee Jung-Hoon

Classifications

• H01M50/22 Primary

  of the casings or racks · CPC title

• H01M50/276

  Inorganic material · CPC title

• H01M50/224

  Metals · CPC title

• H01M50/15

  for prismatic or rectangular cells (H01M50/153 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M50/1535 Primary

  adapted for specific cells, e.g. electrochemical cells operating at high temperature · CPC title