CROSS-REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATION

This is the U.S. national phase application based on PCT Application No. PCT/KR2017/011411, filed Oct. 16, 2017, which is based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0001355, filed Jan. 4, 2017, the entire contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a battery pack including multiple secondary batteries and allowing a reduction in the number of components and an increase in cooling efficiency.

BACKGROUND ART

A rechargeable battery can be charged and discharged repeatedly, unlike a primary battery that cannot be recharged. Low-capacity rechargeable batteries can be used as a power supply for small electronic devices, such as cellular phones, notebook computers, and camcorders, while high-capacity rechargeable batteries can be used as a power supply for driving motors in hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, and the like.

For example, each unit of such a rechargeable battery is referred to a battery cell, which is generally configured as a cylindrical battery, a pouch type battery or a prismatic battery. As one of representative examples of the rechargeable battery, the cylindrical battery includes an electrode assembly performing charging and discharging operations, a case accommodating the electrode assembly, and a cap-up structure coupled to an opening of the case.

Meanwhile, the batter pack is configured to provide required voltages and currents by connecting multiple battery cells in series, in parallel or in series/in parallel. In particular, since a large-capacity battery pack employed to an automotive vehicle includes multiple battery cells connected to one another, a lot of assembling works are required and a cooling structure for ensuring safety is required.

Technical Problems to be Solved

The present invention provides a battery pack including multiple secondary batteries and allowing a reduction in the number of components and an increase in cooling efficiency.

Technical Solutions

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by providing a battery pack including multiple battery cells, each comprising a first electrode and a second electrode located opposite to the first electrode, first tabs coupled to the first electrodes, second tabs connected to the second electrodes of the battery cells and located so as to extend towards areas in which the first tabs are positioned, a cover which accommodates the battery cells, first tabs, and second tabs and from one side of which the first tabs and second tabs protrude, and bus bars electrically connected to the battery cells at the one side of the cover, from which the first tabs and second tabs protrude.

Here, each of the bus bars may connect the battery cells of at least two neighboring lines to one another in parallel by connecting the first tabs of the battery cells of one line to the first tabs of the battery cells of another line adjacent to the one line.

In addition, the bus bar may connect the battery cells of at least two neighboring lines to one another in series by electrically connecting the second tabs of the battery cells of at least two parallel-connected lines to the first tabs of the battery cells of a line adjacent to the two parallel-connected lines.

In addition, the bus bar may include a first cell connecting portion connecting the battery cells of a one line, a second cell connecting portion connecting the battery cells of another line adjacent to the one line, and a bridge portion connecting the first cell connecting portion and the second cell connecting portion.

In addition, the bus bar may include multiple bus bars, and the multiple bus bars are arranged such that at least one of the first cell connecting portion and the second cell connecting portion is engaged with another bus bar adjacent thereto.

In addition, the cover may include holes located in its one surface, the holes through which the first and second tabs of the battery cells protrude, and the bus bars may be coupled to the first and second tabs on one surface of the cover.

In addition, the other surface of the cover opposite to the first surface may be electrically disconnected from the battery cells to then be directly coupled to an external structure.

In addition, the bus bar may include multiple bus bars, and insulators may further be provided between each of the bus bars.

In addition, each of the battery cells may be configured as a cylindrical battery including a case and a cap-up located at an upper portion of the case, and the first tab may be coupled to the cap-up and the second tab may be coupled to the case.

In addition, the first and second tabs may be bent toward an upper portion of the cylindrical battery.

Advantageous Effects

As described above, the battery pack according to the present invention can reduce the number of components by providing a first tab coupled to a cap-up and a second tab coupled to a case so as to protrude while passing through the same surface of a first cover covering a battery cell configured as a cylindrical battery and electrically connecting the first tab and the second tab on the same surface of the first cover through a bus bar.

In addition, since a separate structure for electrical connection is not necessarily provided on a second cover opposite to the first cover, the coupling efficiency of a cooling device can be maximized.

