Top cooling type battery pack

1 . A battery pack comprising: a plurality of battery modules; a pack case having a pack tray and a pack cover, the pack tray configured to support a lower portion of the battery modules, the pack cover including an upper wall configured to contact and cover a top surface of the battery modules, the pack cover including side walls extending from the upper wall configured to cover side surfaces of the battery modules the pack case configured to receive and secure the battery modules therein, each battery module being disposed within and fully encased by a module case; and a heatsink disposed on an outer surface of the upper wall of the pack cover such that the pack case separates the heatsink from the plurality of battery modules, wherein the pack cover includes a terminal connection unit, the terminal connection unit being integrated into the pack cover to contact an inner surface of the upper wall, the terminal connection unit configured to electrically connect electrode terminals of the battery modules, each battery module including a top plate configured to contact the inner surface of the upper wall of the pack cover, and wherein the battery modules are electrically connected and mechanically fixed by the terminal connection unit.

2 . The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the heatsink is integral with the upper wall of the pack cover.

3 . The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the heatsink is configured to be mounted to an external structure.

4 . The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein an electrode terminal of any one battery module of the plurality of battery modules and an electrode terminal of another battery module adjacent of the plurality of battery modules thereto make contact with the terminal connection unit in a first and a second directions, respectively, to be electrically connected when the battery modules are covered by the pack cover.

5 . The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of battery modules includes battery cells, each battery module including rectangular plate shaped electrode terminals protruding on one side of the module case.

6 . The battery pack according to claim 5 , wherein the module case includes a terminal support, the terminal support protruding on one side of the module case to support a lower portion of the electrode terminals, the terminal support having a hole extending therethrough.

7 . The battery pack according to claim 6 , wherein the pack cover further includes a mounting nut provided at the inner surface of the upper wall, each battery module being fixed to the pack cover by a mounting bolt inserted through the hole and secured to the mounting nut.

8 . The battery pack according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of the mounting bolt and the mounting nut is made of an insulating material.

9 . The battery pack according to claim 7 , wherein the terminal connection unit includes:

an inter-bus bar configured to contact the electrode terminals and having a fastening hole to receive the mounting bolt; and

a bracket member configured to support the inter-bus bar, the bracket member fixedly coupled to the inner surface of upper wall of the pack cover.

10 . The battery pack according to claim 9 , wherein the bracket member is shape-fitted with the mounting nut and attached to the inner surface of the upper wall of the pack cover.

11 . The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of battery modules are arranged in two rows such that electrode terminals thereof are disposed to face each other.

12 . A vehicle, comprising the battery pack according to claim 1 .

13 . A battery pack comprising:

a plurality of battery modules;

a pack case having a pack tray and a pack cover, the pack tray configured to support a lower portion of the battery modules, the pack cover including an upper wall configured to contact and cover a top surface of the battery modules, the pack cover including side walls extending from the upper wall configured to cover side surfaces of the battery modules, the pack case configured to receive and secure the battery modules therein, each battery module being disposed within and fully encased by a module case; and

a heatsink disposed on an external surface of the upper wall of the pack cover,

wherein the pack cover includes a terminal connection unit, the terminal connection unit being integrated into the pack cover to connect an inner surface of the upper wall, the terminal connection unit configured to electrically connect electrode terminals of the battery modules, each battery module including a top plate configured to contact the inner surface of the upper wall of the pack cover, and

wherein the battery modules are electrically connected and mechanically fixed by the terminal connection unit.