Battery module

{
  "publication_number": "US9337458B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Battery module",
  "abstract": "A battery module including a pair of end plates; a plurality of battery cells aligned between the pair of end plates in a direction; a top plate at an upper portion of the plurality of battery cells; a bottom plate at a lower portion of the plurality of battery cells; a housing accommodating the plurality of battery cells with the pair of end plates, the top plate, and the bottom plate, and at least one reinforcement member between battery cells of the plurality of battery cells, the at least one reinforcement member including at least one fixation unit.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A battery module comprising; a pair of end plates; a plurality of battery cells aligned between the pair of end plates in a direction; a top plate at an upper side of the plurality of battery cells; a bottom plate at a lower side of the plurality of battery cells opposite the upper side; a housing accommodating each of the plurality of battery cells, the pair of end plates, the top plate, and the bottom plate, the housing comprising a lower portion at a lower portion of the bottom plate, the bottom plate being between the plurality of battery cells and the lower portion of the housing; and at least one reinforcement member between battery cells of the plurality of battery cells, the at least one reinforcement member including at least one fixation unit, wherein the at least one reinforcement member and the lower portion of the housing are fixed through a first fixation member, the first fixation member passing through a through-hole of the bottom plate.",
    "2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fixation unit of the at least one reinforcement member is fixed to the housing.",
    "3. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reinforcement member is located at a middle part of the battery module.",
    "4. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reinforcement member includes a surface contacted with the battery cells and having a substantially same size as the battery cells, the at least one reinforcement member further including at least one insertion hole having a constant thickness and which is penetrated from an upper surface to a lower surface of the at least one reinforcement member.",
    "5. The battery module according to claim 4, wherein opposite side surfaces and a lower surface of the at least one reinforcement member extend to portions of lower surfaces and opposite side surfaces of the battery cells contacted with the at least one reinforcement member.",
    "6. The battery module according to claim 4, wherein the at least one fixation unit is located at a bottom part of the at least one insertion hole.",
    "7. The battery module according, to claim 1, wherein the bottom plate corresponding to the at least one fixation unit has the through-hole through which the first fixation member is penetrated.",
    "8. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the first fixation member includes a bolt or a stud.",
    "9. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the top plate includes a top base unit facing upper surfaces of the battery cells, and a top flange unit bent from a side surface of the top base unit toward side surfaces of the battery cells.",
    "10. The battery module according to claim 9, wherein, the at least one reinforcement member includes a projection unit on a side surface of the at least one reinforcement member contacted with the top flange unit.",
    "11. The battery module according to claim 10, wherein the top flange unit corresponding to the projection unit has a projection accommodation unit which accommodates the projection unit.",
    "12. The battery module according to claim 10, wherein the projection unit has a tapered shape toward the lower side of the plurality of battery cells.",
    "13. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the bottom plate includes a bottom base unit facing lower surfaces of the battery cells, and a bottom flange unit bent from a side surface of the bottom base unit toward side surfaces of the battery cells.",
    "14. The battery module according to claim 13, wherein the at least one reinforcement member includes a coupling groove formed on a side surface of the at least one reinforcement member contacted with the bottom flange unit.",
    "15. The battery module according to claim 14, wherein the bottom flange unit corresponding to the coupling groove has a coupling hole.",
    "16. The battery module according to claim 15, wherein the side surface of the at least one reinforcement member and the bottom flange unit are fixed at the coupling groove and the coupling hole by a second fixation member.",
    "17. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the battery module is adapted for use as a motor-driving power source for propelling an electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field\n\nAspects of embodiments of the present invention relate to a battery module.\n\n2. Description of the Related Art\n\nTypically, battery cells are used in mobile devices, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and the like as an energy source, such as electric power, and the battery cells may have a shape depending on the types of applied external devices.\n\nSmall mobile devices such as mobile phones can be operated for a predetermined time by output and capacity of single battery cell. However, in applications such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles which require more power, when high power driving is required for a long time, a high-capacity battery module is configured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in order to increase output and capacity. The battery module can increase the output voltage or the output current according to the number of battery cells included therein. In addition, a battery pack can be configured by electrically connecting a plurality of battery modules.\n\nTypically, when the number of the battery cells is greater, the length of the battery module is longer. In addition, when vibration or impact is applied to a conventional battery module, there are problems that the middle of the battery module is floated and the battery module may be damaged.\n\nAccording to an aspect of the present invention, a battery module is configured to prevent or substantially prevent drooping or sagging of the middle of the battery module by vibration or impact by inserting a reinforcement member into the battery module configured with a plurality of battery cells.",
  "cpc": [
    "H01M 50/262",
    "H01M 2/1016",
    "H01M 2/1077",
    "H01M 50/20",
    "H01M 50/209",
    "H01M 50/289",
    "H01M 50/572",
    "H01M 6/46",
    "Y02E 60/10"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "H01M 50/209",
    "H01M 50/262",
    "H01M 50/289"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Robert Bosch GmbH",
    "Samsung SDI Co Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Myung-Chul Kim"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2012-02-02",
  "publication_date": "2016-05-10",
  "grant_date": "2016-05-10",
  "priority_date": "2011-08-22",
  "application_number": "US-201213364777-A",
  "family_id": "46045916",
  "cited_by_count": 25,
  "citations": [
    "US3457119A",
    "JPS4967129U",
    "JPH1125947A",
    "KR20000016883U",
    "JP2001236937A",
    "KR20060085775A",
    "JP2006236826A",
    "US20080318119A1",
    "KR20070104692A",
    "JP2007299544A",
    "JP2008123846A",
    "CN101573809A",
    "US20100119931A1",
    "US9005796B2",
    "JP2008130374A",
    "WO2010067602A1",
    "US20110195284A1",
    "JP2010140695A",
    "JP2010211952A",
    "JP2010251019A",
    "JP2010272517A",
    "US20110104543A1",
    "US20110151311A1",
    "KR20110073221A",
    "CN102117930A",
    "US20110165451A1",
    "WO2012066875A1",
    "US20130330587A1",
    "US8722223B2"
  ]
}