U.S. patent application number 14/747568 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-31 for battery cell assembly and battery module for detecting swelling phenomenon thereof.
The applicant listed for this patent is SK Innovation Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Seung Hoon JU, Won Wook KIM, Dong Hun LIM.
Application Number | 20150380778 14/747568 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53488265 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150380778 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Won Wook ; et
al. |
December 31, 2015 |
BATTERY CELL ASSEMBLY AND BATTERY MODULE FOR DETECTING SWELLING
PHENOMENON THEREOF
Abstract
A battery cell assembly includes a battery cell, a cartridge
surrounding an edge of the battery cell and having insertion holes
on opposite sides thereof, and a strap section disposed across one
surface of the battery cell and having an elongated body part,
fastening parts on opposite ends of the elongated body part, and a
press pin protruding vertically from the elongated body part. A
battery module capable of detecting swelling includes the plurality
of battery cell assemblies.
Inventors: |
KIM; Won Wook; (Seoul,
KR) ; LIM; Dong Hun; (Gyeonggi-do, KR) ; JU;
Seung Hoon; (Daejeon, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SK Innovation Co., Ltd. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
53488265 |
Appl. No.: |
14/747568 |
Filed: |
June 23, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
429/61 ;
429/90 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01M 2200/20 20130101;
H01M 10/425 20130101; H01M 10/48 20130101; Y02E 60/10 20130101;
H01M 2/1016 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01M 10/48 20060101
H01M010/48 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 25, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0078337 |
Claims
1. A battery cell assembly comprising: a battery cell; a cartridge
surrounding an edge of the battery cell and having insertion holes
on opposite sides thereof; and a strap section disposed across one
surface of the battery cell and having an elongated body part,
fastening parts on opposite ends of the elongated body part and a
press pin protruding vertically from the elongated body part.
2. The battery cell assembly according to claim 1, wherein the
press pin has a socket part and a ball part, which are coupled to
the elongated both part in a snap-fit manner.
3. The battery cell assembly according to claim 2, wherein the
socket part has a recess in a lower surface thereof, and the ball
part has a protrusion to be inserted into the recess of the socket
part.
4. The battery cell assembly according to claim 1, wherein the
elongated body part has a through hole at a middle portion
thereof.
5. The battery cell assembly according to claim 1, wherein the
press pin is positioned at a middle portion of the elongated body
part.
6. The battery cell assembly according to claim 1, wherein the
fastening part includes a first body portion having a
downwardly-protruding wedge on a lower end thereof, and a second
body portion fastening the first body portion to the elongated body
part.
7. The battery cell assembly according to claim 1, wherein the
elongated body part is made of an expandable and contractible
material.
8. The battery cell assembly according to claim 7, wherein the
elongated body part is made of rubber.
9. A battery module capable of detecting swelling comprising: a
plurality of battery cell assemblies stacked in an
electrically-connected manner, wherein each battery cell assembly
includes a battery cell and a cartridge surrounding the battery
cell; a strap section disposed across one surface of the battery
cell and having an elongated body part, fastening parts on opposite
ends of the elongated body part, and a press pin protruding
vertically from the elongated body part; an upper cover arranged on
one outermost battery cell assembly among the plurality of battery
cell assemblies, and having a guide tube guiding the movement of
the press pin; a lower cover arranged on an opposite outermost
battery cell assembly among the plurality of battery cell
assemblies; and an overcharge protector disposed on an upper
surface of the upper cover.
10. The battery module according to claim 9, wherein the guide tube
vertically protrudes from the upper cover to the overcharge
protector.
11. The battery module according to claim 9, wherein the upper
cover has a through hole, through which the guide tube is
disposed.
12. The battery module according to claim 9, wherein the upper
cover includes a seat for supporting and holding the overcharge
protector.
13. The battery module according to claim 12, wherein the guide
tube further include a seal on an inner circumference to shield the
interior of the battery module.
14. The battery module according to claim 13, wherein the seal is
formed from an elastic membrane material.
15. The battery module according to claim 9, wherein the plurality
of battery cell assemblies, the upper cover, and the lower cover
are fastened together by means of a fastening member.
16. The battery module according to claim 9, wherein the press pin
is disposed under the guide tube.
17. The battery module according to claim 9, wherein the strap
section is disposed on in outermost battery cell assembly.
18. The battery module according to claim 9, wherein the cartridge
has insertion holes on opposite sides thereof.
19. The battery module according to claim 9, wherein the through
hole and the guide tube of the upper cover, and the press pin are
aligned in a line.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2014-0078337, filed on Jun. 25, 2014 entitled
"BATTERY CELL ASSEMBLY AND BATTERY MODULE FOR DETECTING SWELLING
PHENOMENON THEREOF", which is hereby incorporated by reference in
its entirety into this application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention generally relates to a battery
assembly and a battery module for detecting a swelling phenomenon
thereof.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] As well known in the art, secondary batteries are batteries
that are capable of repeatedly performing charge/discharge so they
are applicable as power sources for electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid
electric vehicles (HEVs), or the like.
[0006] EVs or the like requiring high-power large-capacity
batteries generally employ medium-large size battery modules. Such
medium-large size battery modules include an angled or pouch cell
that has high integration and low weight relative to capacity.
[0007] Such a medium-large size battery module is composed of a
plurality of battery cell units comprising, for example, a
pouch-type cell unit that has low weight, low possibility of
leakage of an electrolyte, and relatively-low manufacturing
cost.
[0008] The pouch-type cell unit has an electrolyte injected in a
cell thereof, so that, if the cell is overcharged, a swelling
phenomenon occurs in the cell so that internal voltage increases
and the electrolyte is decomposed due to overheating, which causes
a combustible gas to be generated in the cell and results in
swelling of the pouch itself. Further, a separator membrane between
an anode and a cathode may be fused so that the anode and cathode
are short-circuited causing a fire. Thus, it impossible to ensure
the stability of a pouch-type cell based on the conventional
art.
[0009] To cope with this matter, a safety device for a secondary
battery, which is disclosed in Patent Document 1, is provided with
a switching device that is capable of preventing the swelling
phenomenon that may cause explosion and/or combustion of the
secondary battery from an increase in internal pressure of the
battery under the circumstances of overcharge, short-circuit, and
heat exposure. The switching device of Patent Document 1 includes a
first secondary battery unit having a switch part on one side, and
a second secondary battery unit having an operation-inducing part
on the side opposite the switch part. When a swelling phenomenon
occurs in the first and second secondary battery units, the switch
part and the operation-inducing part come into contact so as to
break a circuit, securing the stability of the secondary battery
units.
[0010] However, the safety device of Patent Document 1 can break a
circuit only when the switch part and the operation-inducing part
an brought into reliable contact with each other. In a normal
state, the safety device of Patent Document 1 should provide a
predetermined distance between the secondary battery units in order
to prevent the switch part and the operation-inducing part from
coming into contact with each other.
DOCUMENT OF RELATED ART
[0011] (Patent Document 1) Korean Patent Application Publication
No. 10-2009-0047240
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in
mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and the
present invention is intended to propose a battery module that is
capable of cutting of electric current supplied to battery cell
units of a battery cell assembly by turning on an overcharge
protector when the battery cell assembly is swelled over a
predetermined level.
[0013] In order to achieve the above object, according to one
aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery cell
assembly including: a battery cell, a cartridge surrounding an edge
of the battery cell and having insertion holes on opposite sides
thereof, and a strap section disposed across one surface of the
battery cell and having an elongated body part, fastening parts on
opposite ends of the elongated body part, and a press pin
protruding vertically from the elongated body part.
[0014] The press pin may have a socket part and a ball part, which
are coupled to the elongated body part in a snap-fit manner or
other coupling manners.
[0015] The socket part may have a recess in a lower surface
thereof, and the ball part may have a protrusion to be inserted
into the recess of the socket part.
[0016] The elongated body part of the strap section may have a
through hole at a middle portion thereof, through which the
protrusion of the ball part is to pass.
[0017] The press pin may be positioned at a middle portion of the
elongated body part.
[0018] The fastening part of the strap section may include a first
body portion having a downwardly-protruding wedge on a lower end
thereof, and a second body portion fastening the first body portion
to the elongated body part.
[0019] The elongated body part of the strap section may be made of
an expandable and contractible material so as to be easily
displaceable in response to swelling of the battery cell.
[0020] The elongated body part may be made of rubber capable of
restorable to its original state.
[0021] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a battery module capable of detecting swelling
including: a plurality of battery cell assemblies stacked in an
electrically-connected manner, wherein each battery cell assembly
includes a battery cell and a cartridge surrounding the battery
cell; a strap section disposed across one surface of the battery
cell and having an elongated body part, fastening parts on opposite
ends of the elongated body part and a press pin protruding
vertically from the elongated body part an upper cover arranged on
one outermost battery cell assembly among the plurality of battery
cell assemblies, and having a guide tube guiding the movement of
the press pin; a lower cover arranged on an opposite outermost
battery cell assembly among the plurality of battery cell
assemblies; and an overcharge protector disposed on an upper
surface of the upper cover.
[0022] The guide tube may vertically protrude upwards from the
upper cover to the overcharge protector.
[0023] The upper cover may have a through hole, through which the
guide tube is disposed.
[0024] The upper cover may further include a seat for supporting
and holding the overcharge protector.
[0025] The guide tube may further include a seal on an inner
circumference to shield the interior of the battery module.
[0026] The seal may be formed from an elastic membrane material
that is not affected by the pressing of the press pin.
[0027] The plurality of battery cell assemblies, the upper cover,
and the lower cover may be fastened together by means of a
fastening member. Here, the fastening member may be a long
bolt.
[0028] The press pin is disposed under the guide tube.
Specifically, the press pin, the guide tube, and the through hole
of the upper cover may be aligned in a line.
[0029] The upper cover may have a through hole, through which the
guide tube is disposed.
[0030] The strap section may be disposed on one surface of an
outermost battery cell assembly.
[0031] The cartridge may have insertion holes on opposite sides
thereof. The fastening part of the strap section is fixedly
inserted into the insertion hole.
[0032] Features and advantages of the present invention will be
further apparent to those skilled in the art when reading the
following description in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
[0033] It will be understood that terms used herein, such as those
defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as
having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of
the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be
interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly
so defined herein.
[0034] As set forth in the foregoing description, the present
invention provides a battery module capable of immediately cutting
off the current flowing through a circuit when a battery cell is
overcharged and/or is swelled over a predetermined level, thereby
improving the reliability of a battery cell assembly.
[0035] Since the battery module does not have a separate device
between the battery cell assemblies, the battery module may be made
thinner and lighter by closely stacking a plurality of battery cell
assemblies.
[0036] Further, according to the present invention, a press pin
provided on the battery cell assembly on the outermost side
(uppermost and/or lowermost side, leftmost and/or rightmost side)
may be securely guided onto an overcharge protector along with
swelling of the battery cell.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] The above and other objects, features and other advantages
of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the
following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0038] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a battery module
for a secondary battery according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0039] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module
shown in FIG. 1.
[0040] FIG. 3 is a top-side perspective view of battery cell
assemblies of the battery module of FIG. 1.
[0041] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a strap
section.
[0042] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of a part indicated by a
circle shown in FIG. 1.
[0043] FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the art indicated by
the circle of FIG. 1, showing an overcharge protector being
operated along with swelling of a battery cell assembly.
[0044] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a battery module
for a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0045] Hereinbelow, a description will be made in detail of a
battery module capable of detecting swelling of a battery cell
assembly according to the present invention with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0046] The advantages and features of the present invention, and a
method for implementing the same will be apparent to those skilled
in the art through the following embodiments and the accompanying
drawings. In designating the elements of respective drawings with
reference signs, like reference symbols refer to like elements
throughout the description. Further, it is to be noted that, when
the functions of conventional elements and the detailed description
of elements related with the present invention may make the gist of
the present invention unclear, a detailed description of those
elements will be omitted.
[0047] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a battery module 1 according to
a preferred embodiment of the present invention is designed to
immediately cut off a circuit current when detecting an overcharge
or abnormal swelling in a battery cell 110 installed in a cartridge
120 of a battery cell assembly 100.
[0048] The battery module 1 includes a plurality of battery cell
assemblies 100, an upper cover 200 that covers an upper surface of
an uppermost battery cell assembly 100 among the battery cell
assemblies, a lower cover 300 that covers a lower surface of a
lowermost battery cell assembly 100 among the battery cell
assemblies, and a fastening member 400 that fixedly fastens the
upper cover 200, the lower cover 300, and the battery cell
assemblies between the upper and lower covers.
[0049] The battery cell assemblies 100 are stacked parallel with
the lower cover 300 and are electrically connected together.
[0050] The fastening member 400 connects and fastens the upper
cover 200, the cartridge 110 surrounding the edge of the battery
cell assembly 100, and the lower cover 300 together, through holes
240, 140 and 340 of the upper cover, the cartridge, and the lower
cover. Selectively, the fastening member 400 may be a long
bolt.
[0051] The battery module 1 includes a front cover 610 for
protecting a front portion of the stacked battery cell assemblies
100 and a rear cover 620 for protecting a rear portion of the
stacked battery cell assemblies 100. A sensor unit 500 is disposed
at the front portion of the stacked battery cell assemblies and is
protected by the front cover. The sensor unit 500 is electrically
connected with an overcharge protector (a connection, e.g. an
electric wire, is omitted) so as to control charge and discharge of
the battery cell 110. When overcharge or overdischarge occurs in
the battery cell 110, the sensor unit detects it and cuts off a
circuit, thereby extending a lifecycle of the battery module 1 and
preventing explosion or combustion of the battery. Further, the
sensor unit 500 may detect residual capacitance, temperature, or
the like of the battery module 1 in real time.
[0052] The battery module 1 is provided with an overcharge
protector 800 on the upper cover 200. The overcharge protector 800
may switch on or off via contact with a press pin 730 (FIG. 3).
[0053] The overcharge protector 200 is installed onto the upper
surface of the upper cover 200 by mean of a fastening seat 210. The
overcharge protector 800 may be connected with the fastening seat
210 in a screw-fastening manner or other fastening manners without
limitation thereto.
[0054] The upper cover 200 is provided with a guide tube 230 on the
upper surface. The guide tube 230 protrudes vertically from the
upper surface of the upper cover 200, and the press pin 730 of a
strap section 700 is reciprocated therethrough (see FIG. 5A).
Selectively, the guide tube 230 is provided with a seal 231 on an
inner circumference thereof in order to prevent the interior of the
battery module 1 from being exposed to the outside through the
guide tube 230. The seal 231 (FIG. 5A) may be composed of
expandable and/or contractible elastic membrane.
[0055] Preferably, the guide tube 230 is installed around a through
hole (not shown) of the upper cover 200 between the press pin 730
of the strap section 700 and the overcharge protector 800. That is,
the press pin 730 of the strap section 700 installed to the battery
cell assembly 100 disposed under the upper cover 200 is positioned
under the guide tube 230. This ensures contact of the press pin 730
with a switch 810 of the overcharge protector.
[0056] FIG. 3 is a top-side perspective view of battery cell
assemblies of the battery module of FIG. 1.
[0057] As shown, the battery cell assembly 100 includes the
cartridge 120 and the battery cell 110 housed in the cartridge 120.
The cartridge 120 is provided with corner holes 140.
[0058] The cartridge 120 is also provided with opposite side
insertion holes 130. Preferably, the insertion holes 130 are
provided at the middle portions of the opposite sides thereof.
[0059] The strap section 700 is installed to the cartridge 120 of
the battery cell 110 of an uppermost (or lowermost) battery cell
assembly. The strap section 700 is configured to displace upwards
(or downwards) in response to swelling of the battery cell 100,
which may occur due to an abnormal operation of the battery cell,
resulting in a contact with the overcharge protector, thereby
controlling a circuit.
[0060] The strap section 700 includes an elongated body part 710
extending across a surface of the battery cell 100, fastening parts
720 on opposite ends of the elongated body part 710, and the press
pin 730 protruded from the elongated body ort 710. The fastening
parts 720 are fastened into the insertion holes 130 on opposite
sides of the cartridge 120.
[0061] Preferably, the press pin 730 protrudes vertically from a
middle portion of the upper surface of the elongated body part
710.
[0062] The elongated body part 710 of the strap section 700 may be
made of a material, such as an elastic material, rubber or the
like, that is capable of being bent in response to swelling of the
battery cell 110 and being restorable to an original shape.
[0063] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view oldie strap section
700 disposed across the cartridge 120 of the battery cell assembly
100.
[0064] As described before, the strap section 700 includes the
elongated body part 710, fastening parts 720 on opposite ends of
the elongated body part 710, and the press pin 730 protruding from
the upper surface of the elongated body pin 710.
[0065] Specifically, the press pin 730 has a socket part 731 and a
ball part 732, which are coupled in a snap-fit manner. The socket
part 731 is an upper side part of the press pin 730 that is
positioned at a middle portion of the upper surface of the
elongated body part 710. The ball part 732 is a lower side part of
the press pin 730 that is positioned at a middle portion of the
lower surface of the elongated body part 710. Particularly, the
ball part 732 has a protrusion 732a that is fixedly inserted into a
recess 731a (see FIG. 5A) formed in the lower surface of the socket
part 731 through a through hole 710a at the middle portion of the
elongated body part 710. However, the present invention is not
limited thereto, but the press pin 730 may be coupled at the
elongated body part 710 by means of a variety of coupling methods
other than the snap-fit coupling method.
[0066] As described above, the fastening parts 720 are disposed on
opposite ends of the elongated body part 710 and are inserted into
the insertion holes 130 (see FIG. 3). That is the fastening parts
720 help coupling between the strap section 700 and the cartridge
120.
[0067] The fastening part 720 consists of a first body portion 721
and a second body portion 722, wherein the first body portion 721
has a downwardly-protruding wedge 723 on a lower end side thereof.
The wedge 723 may be fixedly inserted into the insertion hole 130
of the cartridge 120. Since the wedge 723 consists of a two-part
end, the wedge may be detachably inserted into the insertion hole
130.
[0068] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of a part indicated by a
circle shown in FIG. 1.
[0069] FIG. 5A shows the batty cell 110 that is charged or
discharged in a normal state. In the figure, the battery cell 110
is not swelled, so the press pin 730 of the strap section 700 is
located under the guide tube 230 of the upper cover 200 in a
non-contact state with respect to the switch 810 of the overcharge
protector 800, maintaining a switch-off state. This restricts the
overcharge protector 800 from being operated, allowing an easy
charge/discharge of the battery cell 110 of the battery module.
Particularly, according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a through hole (not shown) of the upper cover 200, the
guide tube 230, and the press pin 730 are aligned in a line.
[0070] As described before, the guide tube 230 has the seal 231
therein in order to shield the interior of the battery module.
[0071] FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the part indicated by
the circle of FIG. 1, showing an overcharge protector being
operated along with swelling of a battery cell.
[0072] As shown in the drawing, it can be known that the battery
cell 110 has swelled. When the surface of the battery cell 110
expands as shown, the strap section 700 disposed on the surface of
the battery cell 110 is vertically displaced. As a result, the
guide pin 730 is moved up along the guide tube 230 and comes into
contact with the switch 810 of the overcharge protector 800,
maintaining a switch-on state. This enables the overcharge
protector 800 to be operated, temporarily cutting off a circuit
electrically connected to the battery cell 110. Further, in this
process, the press pin is moved up and activates the overcharge
protector 800 without breaking the seal 231 of the guide tube 230.
Thus, the seal 231 may still shield the interior of the battery
module from the external environment. Further, since the press pin
730 has an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the
guide tube 230, the press pin may be smoothly reciprocated.
[0073] Of course, when the battery cell 110 returns to its normal
state as shown in FIG. 5A, the press pin 730 is moved back so as to
make the switch 810 of deactivating the overcharge protector
800.
[0074] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a battery module
for a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the
present invention, wherein covers are removed in order to check the
interior of the battery module. The battery module 1 of FIG. 6 has
a similar structure to that of the battery module 1 of FIG. 2,
except an arranging manner of the battery cell assemblies 100.
Thus, a description for similar or identical components will be
omitted for clear understanding of the present invention.
[0075] In the battery module 1', battery cell assemblies 100 are
arranged in parallel in a direction perpendicular to the lower
cover 300, i.e. a vertical direction. That is, in the battery
module 1', a strap section 700 is instilled on an outermost battery
cell assembly, i.e. a leftmost battery cell assembly or a rightmost
battery cell assembly opposite thereto. The strap section 700
serves to control a circuit by being displaced in the horizontal
direction in response to swelling of the battery cell 110 of the
battery cell assembly 100 and coming into contact with an
overcharge protector (not shown).
[0076] Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has
been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art
will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
[0077] Such modifications, additions and substitutions belong to
the scope of the present invention, and the present invention is
only defined by the scope of claims.
* * * * *