Battery module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12206124-B2
Application number	US-202117538423-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2021
Priority date	Nov 30, 2020
Publication date	Jan 21, 2025
Grant date	Jan 21, 2025

Abstract

A battery module includes a plurality of battery sub-packing units including at least one battery cell and a case in which the at least one battery cell is accommodated, and a body frame unit surrounding upper portions and outermost side portions of the plurality of battery sub-packing units, where lower portions of the plurality of battery sub-packing units are directly exposed to the outside.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A battery module, comprising:
a plurality of battery sub-packing units stacking in a first direction and including at least one battery cell and a case in which the at least one battery cell is accommodated; and
a body frame unit comprising an upper frame surrounding upper surfaces, and side frames surrounding outermost side surfaces of the plurality of battery sub-packing units along the first direction, exposing at least a portion of lower surfaces of the plurality of battery sub-packing units to the outside,
wherein the side frames face each other in the first direction,
wherein each of the side frames includes a supporting member at a lower end thereof and bent at an angle, the supporting members are positioned to oppose the upper frame and to support a lower portion of a battery sub-packing units disposed on an outermost portion among the plurality of the battery sub-packing units, the supporting members do not support any battery sub-packing unit not disposed on the outermost portion,
wherein the supporting members are not connected to each other along the lower portion of the battery sub-packing units.

2. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the body frame unit includes:
an upper frame covering the upper surfaces of the plurality of battery sub-packing units; and
side frames extending from both ends of the upper frame, respectively, and bent to oppose each other so as to surround the outermost side surfaces of the plurality of battery sub-packing units.

3. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the body frame unit includes a busbar to which an electrode tab of the battery cell accommodated in each of the plurality of battery sub-packing units is connected.

4. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the body frame unit includes a barrier disposed between the battery sub-packing units adjacent to each other or between an upper portion of the battery sub-packing unit and the body frame unit, preventing flame transfer or heat transfer, and having an external surface applied with an adhesive.

5. The battery module of claim 1 ,
wherein the case includes:
front and rear end panels disposed on front and rear portions of the at least one battery cell, and configured to include a sub-vent hole formed in a lower end portion thereof for communicating with an exterior of the case and an interior of the case; and
a surrounding cover configured to surround at least a portion of an outer surface of the at least one battery cell along an edge of the front and rear end panels.

6. The battery module of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the front and rear end panels include a sub-guide pipe disposed on a periphery of the sub-vent hole, configured to communicate with the sub-vent hole, and having a shape extending outwardly.

7. The battery module of claim 5 , wherein the surrounding cover is made of the same metal material as the body frame unit.

8. The battery module of claim 7 , wherein the surrounding cover includes stainless steel or a metal having a melting point of 1000° C. or higher.

9. The battery module of claim 5 , wherein the surrounding cover includes:
an accommodation can having front and rear end portions to which the front and rear end panels are respectively coupled, and surrounding a lower surface portion and a side surface portion of the at least one battery cell directed in an outward direction; and
a pair of upper fastening portions extending from side wall portions of the accommodation can opposing each other, bent in a direction of the upper surface portion of the battery cell, and fastened to each other to surround the upper surface portion of the battery cell.

10. The battery module of claim 9 , wherein the pair of the upper fastening portions includes:
a first fastening portion extending from the side wall portion of one side of the accommodation can, having a hooking groove formed therein, and having a hook protruding inwardly of the hooking groove; and
a second fastening portion extending from the side wall portion of the other side of the accommodation can and having an accommodation groove into which the hook is inserted.

11. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the battery sub-packing unit includes an inner pad disposed in the case, the inner pad being in contact with at least a portion of the at least one battery cell accommodated in the case and configured to block an inflow of external oxygen by generating at least one of carbon dioxide and nitrogen during oxidation.

12. The battery module of claim 11 , wherein the inner pad includes a melamine material.

13. The battery module of claim 5 ,
wherein the body frame unit includes front and rear end frames covering front and rear surfaces of the plurality of battery sub-packing units, respectively, and
wherein at least one of the front and rear end frames include a body vent hole communicating with the sub-vent hole in a lower end portion thereof.

14. The battery module of claim 13 , wherein the front and rear end frames include a metal foam block inserted into the body vent hole to block the body vent hole and formed of a material meltable by heat of flames generated in the battery sub-packing unit.

15. A battery module, comprising:
a plurality of battery sub-packing units stacking in a first direction, each of the plurality of battery sub-packing unit including at least two battery cells accommodated within a case and separated from each other with an inner pad; and
a body frame unit completely covering upper surfaces and side surfaces of the plurality of the battery sub-packing units along the first direction, exposing at least a portion of lower surfaces of the plurality of battery sub-packing units to the outside,
wherein the outermost side surfaces of the body frame unit oppose each other in the first direction to contain the plurality of battery sub-packing units therebetween,
wherein each of the outermost side surfaces of the body frame unit includes a supporting member at a lower end thereof and bent at an angle, the supporting members are positioned to oppose the upper frame and to support a lower portion of a battery sub-packing units disposed on an outermost portion among the plurality of the battery sub-packing units, the supporting members do not support any battery sub-packing unit not disposed on the outermost portion,
wherein the supporting members are not connected to each other along the lower portion of the battery sub-packing units.

Assignees

• Sk Innovation Co Ltd
• Sk On Co Ltd

Inventors

• Choi Yang Kyu
• Jeon Hae Ryong
• Jeong Ha Chul
• Rhee Seo Roh

Classifications

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title

• H01M50/24 Primary

  adapted for protecting batteries from their environment, e.g. from corrosion (thermal insulation H01M10/658) · CPC title

• H01M50/293

  characterised by the material · CPC title

• H01M50/276

  Inorganic material · CPC title

• H01M10/658 Primary

  by thermal insulation or shielding · CPC title