KR20150137840A - Unit battery module and Battery module having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A unit cell module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a battery cell including a battery body and a pair of electrode terminals protruding from the battery body, a pair of electrode terminals facing each other to receive at least two battery cells, A cell assembly including an intermediate support member formed to divide an internal space defined by the frame portion from an upper portion to a lower portion and a terminal coupling portion extended to be exposed to an upper end of the intermediate support member, And an inner connection bus bar which is coupled to the electrode terminal so as to be electrically connected to the inner connection bus bar.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a unit battery module and a battery module including the unit battery module,

The present invention relates to a unit battery module and a battery module including the unit battery module.

Generally, a secondary battery is a battery which can be repeatedly used through a discharge process of converting chemical energy into electrical energy and a charging process in the reverse direction. Examples of the secondary battery include a nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery, a nickel- A lithium-metal battery, a lithium-ion (Ni-Ion) battery, and a lithium-ion polymer battery (hereinafter referred to as "LIPB ").

The secondary battery is composed of an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte, and a separator, and stores and generates electricity using voltage difference between different anode and cathode materials. Here, the discharge is to move electrons from a cathode having a high voltage to a cathode having a low voltage (generating electricity as much as the voltage difference of the anode), and charging means transferring the electrons again from the anode to the cathode where the anode material receives electrons and lithium ions And returned to the original metal oxide. That is, when the secondary battery is charged, the charge current flows as the metal atoms move from the anode to the cathode through the separator, and when discharged, the metal atoms move from the cathode to the anode and the discharge current flows.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Recently, secondary batteries have attracted attention as energy sources that are widely used in IT products, automobiles, and energy storage. In the field of IT products, secondary batteries can be used continuously for a long time, are required to be reduced in size and weight, and in the automobile field, they are required to have high output, durability, and stability for eliminating the risk of explosion. In the energy storage field, surplus power produced by wind power, solar power generation, and the like is stored. As it is used in a fixed type, a secondary battery of a more relaxed condition can be applied.

Such a secondary battery can be used by constructing a battery pack through continuous electrical connection in series or parallel between unit battery modules constituting the battery module, as disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 2006-0028058. At this time, at least two or more battery cells are welded at the same time according to the specification of the battery module to form an electrical connection.

KR 2006-0028058 A

One embodiment of the present invention minimizes the number of welded battery cells included in the unit battery module to secure its electrical reliability and mechanical rigidity,

Specification according to various product specifications can be realized more easily through electrical connection of unified unit cell module, simplification and common use of parts can be achieved, diversification of welding method by electric connection of battery cell and reliability of welding The present invention provides a unit cell module and a battery module including the unit cell module, which can prevent defects of various devices to which the battery module is applied and exhibit the performance of the product more effectively.

A unit cell module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a battery cell including a battery body and a pair of electrode terminals protruding from the battery body, a pair of electrode terminals facing each other to receive at least two battery cells, A cell assembly including an intermediate support member formed to divide an internal space defined by the frame portion from an upper portion to a lower portion and a terminal coupling portion extended to be exposed to an upper end of the intermediate support member, And an inner connection bus bar which is coupled to the electrode terminal so as to be electrically connected to the inner connection bus bar.

In addition, the battery cells may be respectively accommodated in the both sides of the intermediate support member, and two or less battery cells may be accommodated in the both side directions.

The electrode terminals of the battery cells accommodated in the one direction are electrically coupled to one side of the internal connection bus bar and the electrode terminals of the battery cells accommodated in the other direction are electrically coupled to the other side of the internal connection bus bar. have.

The inner connecting bus bar is formed by extending from both sides of the upper end of the terminal connecting portion in the connecting direction, and both sides of the inner connecting bus bar are bent downward. One side and the other side of the inner connecting bus bar, And may be formed to be electrically connected to the electrode terminals of the battery cell, respectively.

The electrode terminals of the plurality of battery cells may have a first tab portion and a second tab portion each having an anode and a cathode, and the first tab portion of the electrode terminal accommodated in one direction of the intermediate support member may be connected to the inner bus bar And the second tab portion of the electrode terminal accommodated in the other side of the intermediate support member may be electrically connected to the other side of the inner connection bus bar.

Further, the terminal connecting portion may further include a protrusion for supporting and connecting the inner connecting bus bar so that a space is formed between the inner connecting bus bar and the inner side portion.

The battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the unit cell module of claim 4 is electrically connected to at least two unit cell modules, And an inner bus bar formed to be electrically connected to the upper surface of the bus bar.

The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description based on the accompanying drawings.

Prior to that, terms and words used in the present specification and claims should not be construed in a conventional and dictionary sense, and the inventor may properly define the concept of the term in order to best explain its invention It should be construed as meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention.

According to the present invention, the reliability of the electrical coupling between the electrode terminal of the battery cell constituting the unit cell module and the internal bus bar can be secured.

In addition, by constructing a common module having a maximum number of wafers of three electrode terminals and a bus bar of a battery cell constituting the unit battery module, it is possible to implement a battery module which can be applied to specifications more effectively. have.

In addition, since the laser welding can be used for electrical welding between the electrode terminal of the battery cell and the inner bus bar, the productivity of the product can be improved by improving the working speed and the lead time.

In addition, the protrusion of the terminal coupling portion for coupling the internal bus bar coupled with the electrode terminal of the battery cell accommodated in the cell assembly is formed to minimize the damage of the cell case when welding the internal bus bar and the terminal coupling portion, thereby improving the durability of the product There is an effect that can be made.

In addition, since the inner bus bar for electrical connection between the unit cell modules is formed on the upper surface of the inner bus bar by bending both sides of the inner bus bar formed in the cell assembly, And the reliability of the electrical connection can be effectively ensured.

In addition, since the unit battery module according to the embodiment of the present invention is sequentially electrically connected and the bus bar for coupling with the external terminal is formed on the outermost side, an effective battery pack can be realized through the shared unit module have.

1 is a perspective view of a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present invention;
2 is an exploded perspective view of a unit battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a sectional view of a unit battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention;
5 is a sectional view of a unit cell module according to another embodiment of the present invention; And
6 is a cross-sectional view of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The objectives, specific advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. It should be noted that, in the present specification, the reference numerals are added to the constituent elements of the drawings, and the same constituent elements are assigned the same number as much as possible even if they are displayed on different drawings. Also, the terms "one side,"" first, ""first,"" second, "and the like are used to distinguish one element from another, no. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the following description of the present invention, detailed description of related arts which may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention will be omitted.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery cell according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the unit battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of the battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

A unit cell module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a battery cell 10 including a battery body 11 and a pair of electrode terminals 12 protruding from the battery body 11, An intermediate support member 22 formed so as to divide an internal space formed by the frame portion 21 from the upper portion to the lower portion, A cell assembly 20 including a terminal connection portion extending to be exposed to the upper end of the support member 22 and an internal connection bus bar coupled to the terminal connection portion and electrically connected to the electrode terminal 12, The electrode terminal 12 electrically connected to one side of the internal connection bus bar is formed to be two or less.

The battery cell 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may be a rechargeable secondary battery using a lithium secondary battery or a nickel-hydrogen secondary battery, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It is apparent that a variety of secondary batteries can be selectively applied to those skilled in the art. At least one of the battery cells 10 is stacked to form a unit cell module 1. In order to achieve a compact battery module 100 formed by stacking the unit cell modules 1, The length of the secondary battery can be reduced. For example, an electrode assembly is embedded in a case of a laminate sheet including a resin layer and a metal layer, and a first tab portion 12a and a second tab portion 12b constituting the electrode terminal 12 are protruded And in particular, a structure in which an electrode assembly is embedded in a pouch-shaped case of an aluminum lynate sheet can be formed.

Here, the electrode assembly includes an anode, a cathode, and a separator, and a separator is formed between the anode and the cathode. A winding type in a jelly-roll type, a stack type / a stack folding type, or the like according to a method of combining an anode, a cathode, and a separator. Hereinafter, the detailed description corresponds to a known technology in the prior art and will not be described here.

1, the battery cell 10 includes an electrode body including an electrode assembly and a first tab portion 12a and a second tab portion 12b, which are electrode terminals 12 protrudingly extended from the electrode body. . The first tab portion 12a and the second tab portion 12b are formed on the same side of the battery body 11. The first tab portion 12a and the second tab portion 12b may be respectively formed on one end and the other end of the battery body 11, And the second tab portion 12b may be formed. The structure and the type of the electrode terminal 12 are not limited to a specific structure.

The cell assembly 20 is formed by housing the battery cell 10 therein. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the cell assembly 20 accommodates four or less battery cells 10, And two or less battery cells 10 are accommodated in the spaces on both sides of the intermediate support member 22 for partitioning the inner space of the assembly 20. The reliability of the electrical coupling of the electrode terminal 12 of the battery cell 10 can be more effectively controlled through the standardized unit cell module in which four or fewer battery cells 10 are accommodated in one cell assembly 20 In addition, the structure of the battery module 100 can be effectively implemented by using the unit cell module 1 that is also shared with the specifications of the various battery modules 100.

The cell assembly 20 is formed between a pair of frame portions 21 and opposing frame portions 21a and 21b formed so as to face each other in opposite directions to receive the battery cell 10, The intermediate support member 22 and the terminal engagement portion 23 extending from the upper end of the intermediate support member 22, respectively. Here, the direction from the upper portion to the lower portion, which is defined by the intermediate support member 22, is defined with reference to the upper and lower directions with reference to the unit battery module 1 shown in FIG.

The unit cell module 1 may include a pair of frame portions 21 accommodating the battery cells 10 in an inner space and fixing and supporting the battery cells 10 accommodated in both directions. As shown in FIG. 2, the frame unit 21 may include a first frame 21a and a second frame 21b covering the front and rear surfaces. The first frame 21a and the second frame 21b may be welded to each other to fix the battery cells 10, and various welding methods such as laser welding may be applied as the welding method .

The intermediate support member 22 is electrically connected to the electrode terminals 12 of the battery cells 10 accommodated in the cell assembly 20 via the internal connection bus bar 31, 10, respectively. That is, the partitioning method of the intermediate support member 22 can be freely divided symmetrically or asymmetrically depending on the number and shape of the battery cells 10 accommodated therein. In an embodiment of the present invention, up to four battery cells 10 are accommodated, and two or less battery cells 10 are respectively accommodated in both directions within the cell assembly 20, So as to minimize the number of connections between the electrode terminal 12 of the battery cell 10 and the inner connection bus bar.

The terminal connecting portion 23 can be formed at the upper end of the intermediate supporting member 22. [ The terminal connecting portion 23 is an insert for connecting the internal connecting bus bar 31 electrically coupled to the electrode terminal 12 of the battery cell 10 accommodated in the internal space of the cell assembly 20, May be formed so as to correspond to the material of the assembly 20, but it is preferable to be formed of an insulating material. The terminal coupling portion 23 may be formed to correspond to the shape of the internal connecting bus bar 31 to which an internal connecting bus bar 31 described later is coupled. In one embodiment of the present invention, the shape of the terminal coupling portion 23 can be determined so that the internal connecting bus bar 31 is in the inverted "U" shape, as shown in FIG. 2, have. A top surface 31a to which the inner bus bar 32 can be connected and a side surface 31b and an other side surface 31c to which the electrode terminals of the battery cell 10 can be connected on both sides, respectively.

The internal connection bus bar 31 may be provided for electrically connecting the electrode terminals 12 of the battery cell 10 housed inside the cell assembly 20 electrically or in series as shown in FIG. The internal connection bus bar 31 may be coupled to the terminal coupling portion 23 protruding from the upper end of the cell assembly 20. The internal connection bus bar 31 may be connected to the first tab portion 12a as the electrode terminal 12 of the battery cell 10, And may correspond to the tab portion 12b.

3, the internal bus bar 31 is formed to correspond to the electrode terminal 12 of the unit cell module 1, and when at least two unit cell modules 1 are electrically coupled to each other, And an internal bus bar 32 for electrically connecting the internal bus bars 31 may be further provided. When the plurality of unit cell modules 1 are combined to constitute the battery module 100, the positive (+) and negative (-) electrode terminals 12 formed on the outermost unit cell module 1 The battery module 100 including the unit battery module 1 can be applied to an external device by further including an external module terminal (not shown).

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a unit cell module according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another unit cell module according to another embodiment of the present invention, Fig.

As described above, the unit cell module 1 is configured to accommodate four or less battery cells 10, and the electrode terminal 12 of the battery cell 10 and the internal connection bus bar 31 The number of welded parts such as the first tab part 12a or the second tab part 12b of the electrode terminal 12 and the internal connection bus bar 31 to be connected are defined as the number of welded parts) Can be formed to be three or less. If the number of welds exceeds 3, the welding method is limited. For example, if the number of welds exceeds 3, resistance welding or ultrasonic welding should be used for the reliability of welding. Resulting in a delay in the operation speed. In addition, there is a problem that it is difficult to secure the reliability of the electrical connection between the welded structures due to the weakness of the durability due to a large number of welds after welding. Particularly, when a large number of welds are to be welded, the performance of the battery cell 10 due to an impact or damage to the battery cell 10 or the damage or breakage of the battery cell 10 is generated, ) May adversely affect the performance of the battery module 100 or the device.

5 and 6, the battery cell 10 accommodated in the inner space of the cell assembly 20 is supported by the intermediate support member 22 Two batteries may be inserted into both sides of the battery pack, or three battery cells 10 may be housed on one side and one on the other side. Therefore, when two battery cells 10 are accommodated in the maximum one side direction, as shown in Fig. 6, the number of welds to be welded to the electrode terminal 12 and the internal connecting bus bar 31 in one direction is two And one side 31b or the other side 31c of the inner connecting bus bar 31 (one sheet), so that a total of three sheets of Welded joints are formed.

The unit cell module 1 can be realized with a maximum of three welds in the unit cell module 1 so that it is possible to use laser welding instead of resistance welding or ultrasonic welding, have. Further, since the number of the welded joints is less than 3, the damage and deformation of the battery cell 10 can be prevented during the operation, and the protection of the battery cell 10 and the electrical connection between the battery cells 10 or between the unit cell modules 1 The reliability of the coupling can be ensured. In addition, the mechanical rigidity and the electrical stability of the unit cell module 1, which have been caused by a large number of welds, can be prevented at the same time, so that the unit cell module 1 and the battery module 100 including the same And the driving performance can be improved more effectively.

4 to 6, the internal connection bus bar 31 is formed in the shape of "∩", which is a reverse "U" shape, and has electrode terminals 12 ) Can be combined. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the shape of the inverted " U "shape shown here may be modified in any other specific form formed on both sides so that the electrode terminals are each electrically connected, to be.

The electrode terminal 12 of the battery cell 10 which is partitioned by the intermediate support member 22 and accommodated in one direction is engaged in the bent side surface 31b of the internal connection bus bar 31, The electrode terminal 12 of the battery cell 10 accommodated in the other direction can be coupled to the bent side surface 31c of the battery cell 10 by the intermediate support member 22. In this manner and structure, You can implement the number of copies.

6, the electrical connection between the unit cell modules 1 may be formed through the inner bus bar 32 on the upper end surface 31a of the inner connecting bus bar 31 (see FIG. 3) ). Also in this case, the inner bus bar 32 is coupled to the upper surface of the inner connecting bus bar 31, so that the welding configuration can be realized by two-piece welding.

As a result, in the embodiment of the present invention, the number of welds required on the battery module 100 implemented through the plurality of unit battery modules 1 may be less than three.

Therefore, it is possible to connect the internal connecting bus bar 31 of the unit cell module 1 through the internal bus bar 32 and finally to the external terminals of the outermost electrode terminals 12, have.

4 to 6, when welding is performed between the electrode terminal 12 and the inner connecting bus bar 31 or between the inner connecting bus bar 31 and the inner bus bar 32, At least one welding line 40 may be formed according to the specifications of the module 100. The welding line 40 is formed by welding along the line in the horizontal direction parallel to the up-and-down direction at the time of welding. The welding line 40 may be formed continuously or intermittently and may be suitably formed in accordance with the area of the electrode terminal 12 and the inner bus bar 32, The above-described welding line 40 can be formed. The number and shape of the welding lines 40 may be variously applied. For example, it is apparent that various modifications may be made to improve the welding strength, such as a wavy pattern or a thick band shape.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be construed as limiting the present invention. It is obvious that the modification or improvement is possible.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

1: unit battery module 10: battery cell
11: Battery body 12: Electrode terminal
12a: first tab portion 12b: second tab portion
20: cell assembly 21: frame part
21a: first frame 21b: second frame
22: intermediate support member 23: terminal coupling portion
23a: protrusion 31: internal connection bus bar
32: inner bus bar 40: welding line
100: Battery module

Claims (7)

A battery cell including a battery body and a pair of electrode terminals protruding from the battery body;
An intermediate support member formed to divide the internal space defined by the frame portion from the upper portion to the lower portion, and an intermediate support member extending to be exposed to the upper end of the intermediate support member, A cell assembly including a terminal connection portion
And an inner connecting bus bar coupled to the terminal connecting portion and electrically coupled to the electrode terminal,
Wherein the electrode terminal is electrically connected to one side of the internal bus bar.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the battery cells are accommodated in both side directions of the intermediate support member, and two or less battery cells are accommodated in the both side directions.
The method of claim 2,
The electrode terminals of the battery cells accommodated in the one direction are electrically coupled to one side of the internal connection bus bar and the electrode terminals of the battery cells accommodated in the other direction are electrically coupled to the other side of the internal connection bus bar, .
The method of claim 3,
Wherein the inner connection bus bar is formed by bending both sides of the inner connection bus bar from both sides of the top surface in the coupling direction of the terminal connection portion, The unit cell module being electrically connected to the electrode terminal of the cell.
The method of claim 4,
The electrode terminals of the plurality of battery cells are formed with first tab portions and second tab portions each having an anode and a cathode,
The first tab portion of the electrode terminal received in one direction of the intermediate support member is electrically connected to one side of the internal connection bus bar,
And the second tab portion of the electrode terminal accommodated in the other side of the intermediate support member is electrically connected to the other side of the internal connection bus bar.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the terminal connecting part further comprises a protrusion for supporting and connecting the inner connecting bus bar so that a space is formed between the inner connecting bus bar and the inner side part.
The unit cell module according to claim 4, wherein the unit cell module is electrically connected to the upper end surface of the inner connection bus bar for electrical connection between the inner connection bus bars of the plurality of unit cell modules so as to electrically connect at least two unit cell modules to each other. And further comprising an internal bus bar formed therein.

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