Search

EP-4311003-B1 - BATTERY MODULE AND BATTERY PACK INCLUDING THE SAME

EP4311003B1EP 4311003 B1EP4311003 B1EP 4311003B1EP-4311003-B1

Inventors

  • LEE, JUNG HOON
  • KIM, Dooseung
  • YANG, JAEHUN
  • KIM, SEHO
  • PARK, JEONG GI

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20220905

Claims (11)

  1. A battery module (10) comprising: a battery cell stack (14) comprising a plurality of battery cells (12, 12a, 12b) arranged and stacked in a first direction (x); a module housing (16) configured to accommodate the battery cell stack (14); and a deformation prevention structure (20) disposed between the module housing (16) and an outermost peripheral battery cell (12a, 12b) among the plurality of battery cells (12, 12a, 12b), wherein the module housing (16) comprises a housing plate (160) adjacent to the outermost peripheral battery cell (12a, 12b), and wherein the deformation prevention structure (20) comprises: a pressing plate (200) fixed to the housing plate (160) and supported on the battery cell stack (14); at least one flat spring (40) disposed between the pressing plate (200) and the housing plate (160); and at least one protruding portion (50) supported on the pressing plate (200) and protruding from an outer surface of the housing plate (160) characterized in that the at least one flat spring (40) is a plurality of flat springs (40), the plurality of flat springs (40) is disposed at intervals in a longitudinal direction (y) of the housing plate (160), and the at least one protruding portion (50) is disposed between the plurality of flat springs (40).
  2. The battery module (10) of claim 1, wherein: the housing plate (160) comprises: a cover main body (160a) elongated in a longitudinal direction (y) of the outermost peripheral battery cell (12a, 12b); and strut parts (160b) disposed at opposite ends of the cover main body (160a), and wherein the pressing plate (200) comprises: a pressing main body (160a, 200a, 220a) elongated in the longitudinal direction (y) of the outermost peripheral battery cell (12a, 12b) at an interval from the cover main body (160a) and supported on the outermost peripheral battery cell (12a, 12b); and fixing parts (200b) disposed at opposite ends of the pressing main body (160a, 200a, 220a) and fixed to the strut parts (160b) of the housing plate (160).
  3. The battery module (10) of claim 1, wherein: a rib (160c) having at least one accommodation portion (1600c) is provided on a surface of the housing plate (160) that faces the pressing plate (200), and the at least one protruding portion (50) is configured as a steel ball accommodated in the at least one accommodation portion (1600c) and partially protruding through an opening formed through the housing plate (160).
  4. The battery module (10) of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: a width of each of adjacent ones of the flat springs (40) in the longitudinal direction (y) of the housing plate (160), which are disposed at two opposite ends of the housing plate (160) among the plurality of flat springs (40), is larger than a width of each of remaining ones of the flat springs (40) in the longitudinal direction (y) of the housing plate (160).
  5. The battery module (10) of claim 4, wherein: each of the plurality of flat springs (40) comprises a plurality of crest portions (40a, 40c) and a trough portion (40b) disposed between the plurality of crest portions (40a, 40c), the plurality of crest portions (40a, 40c) is supported on the housing plate (160), and the trough portion (40b) is supported on the pressing plate (200).
  6. The battery module (10) of claim 3, wherein: the at least one protruding portion (50) is a plurality of protruding portions (50), and the plurality of protruding portions (50) is disposed in a longitudinal direction (y) of the rib (160c).
  7. The battery module (10) of claim 3, wherein: a support member (60) is disposed between the pressing plate (200) and a lateral surface of the rib (160c) facing the pressing plate (200) and connects the steel ball to the pressing plate (200).
  8. The battery module (10) of claim 7, wherein: the support member (60) comprises a rubber pad.
  9. The battery module (10) of claim 1, wherein: a gap prevention member is disposed between the outermost peripheral battery cell (12a, 12b) and the pressing plate (200).
  10. A battery pack comprising the battery module (10) of any one of claims 1 to 9.
  11. The battery pack of claim 10, wherein: the battery pack comprises a carrier frame configured to accommodate the battery module (10), the carrier frame comprises a beam member (70) adjacent to the housing plate (160), and a distance between the beam member (70) and the at least one protruding portion (50) is less than a distance between the beam member (70) and the housing plate (160).

Description

[Technical Field] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0136427 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on October 14, 2021. The present invention relates to a battery module, and more particularly, to a battery module having a battery cell stack accommodated in a module housing. In addition, the present invention relates to a battery pack including the battery module. [Background Art] As the development of technologies and demands for mobile devices are increased, there is a rapidly increasing demand for rechargeable batteries as energy sources. The rechargeable battery is used as an energy source for a power device such as an electric bicycle, an electric vehicle, and a hybrid electric vehicle as well as a mobile device such as a mobile phone, a digital camera, a notebook computer, and a wearable device. One or two or more secondary batteries are used for one small-scale mobile device, whereas a secondary battery having a high output and a high capacity is required for a middle-scale or large-scale device such as an electric vehicle. To this end, a plurality of battery cells may be electrically connected to constitute a single module. Alternatively, a plurality of modules may be electrically connected to constitute a pack, and the pack may be applied to a product. For example, the battery module may be configured by surrounding and fixing a stack, which has a plurality of battery cells aligned in one direction, with members that constitute a module housing. In this case, the members, which constitute the module housing, each need to have a rigid structure to prevent the module housing, i.e., the battery module from being deformed in shape by swelling of the battery cell. EP 4 266 468 A1 relates to a battery module housing a battery cell stack in a module housing. EP 3 893 319 A1 relates to a battery module with a swelling gauge capable of intuitionally observing a swelling amount of battery cells and a battery pack including the same. [Disclosure] [Technical Problem] The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a battery module and a battery pack including the same, which are capable of minimizing a displacement deviation between parts of a battery cell caused by swelling of the battery cell. However, the object to be achieved by the embodiments of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned object but may be variously expanded without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. [Technical Solution] A battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a battery cell stack including a plurality of battery cells arranged and stacked in a first direction; a module housing configured to accommodate the battery cell stack; and a deformation prevention structure disposed between the module housing and an outermost peripheral battery cell among the plurality of battery cells. The module housing may include a housing plate adjacent to the outermost peripheral battery cell. The deformation prevention structure may include: a pressing plate fixed to the housing plate and supported on the battery cell stack; at least one flat spring disposed between the pressing plate and the housing plate; and at least one protruding portion supported on the pressing plate and protruding from an outer surface of the housing plate. The housing plate may include: a cover main body elongated in a longitudinal direction of the outermost peripheral battery cell; and strut parts disposed at two opposite ends of the cover main body, and the pressing plate may include: a pressing main body elongated in the longitudinal direction of the outermost peripheral battery cell at an interval from the cover main body and supported on the outermost peripheral battery cell; and fixing parts disposed at two opposite ends of the pressing main body and fixed to the strut parts of the housing plate. A rib having at least one accommodation portion may be provided on a surface of the housing plate that faces the pressing plate, and the at least one protruding portion may be configured as a steel ball accommodated in the at least one accommodation portion and partially protruding through an opening formed through the housing plate. The at least one flat spring is realized by a plurality of flat springs, wherein the plurality of flat springs are disposed at intervals in a longitudinal direction of the housing plate, and the at least one protruding portion is disposed between the plurality of flat springs. A width of each of adjacent ones of the flat springs in the longitudinal direction of the housing plate, which are disposed at two opposite ends of the housing plate among the plurality of flat springs, may be larger than a width of each of remaining ones of the flat springs in the longitudinal direction of the housing plate. Each of the plurality of flat springs may include a pl