Battery module, battery pack, and vehicle including same
Disclosed are a battery module with improved stability against fire or explosion, and a battery pack and a vehicle including the same. The battery module may include a plurality of battery cells, each having electrode terminals respectively formed at an upper portion and a lower portion thereof; a module case configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells and having a plurality of exposure holes configured to expose the upper portion or the lower portion of the battery cell; and a screen member located at any one or more of an upper portion and a lower portion of the module case and having a plate shape, the screen member being configured to have a ventilation hole with a smaller size than the exposure hole.
1 . A battery module, comprising:
a plurality of battery cells, each having electrode terminals respectively formed at an upper portion and a lower portion thereof;
a module case configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells and having a plurality of exposure holes, each of the plurality of exposure holes configured to expose the upper portion or the lower portion of a corresponding battery cell of the plurality of battery cells;
a screen member located at any one or more of an upper portion and a lower portion of the module case and having a plate shape, the screen member being configured to have a ventilation hole with a size smaller than a size of a corresponding exposure hole of the plurality of exposure holes; and
a connection plate interposed between the screen member and the module case,
wherein the connection plate includes:
a body portion having a plate shape extending in a horizontal direction;
a connection portion extending from the body portion to contact a corresponding electrode terminal;
a connection hole formed by an opening in the body portion; and
an extension portion protrusively extending in the horizontal direction from an outer circumference of the connection hole toward the connection portion,
wherein the extension portion extends from the body portion in the horizontal direction so that the extension portion is located at a same level as the body portion in a vertical direction, and
wherein:
a plurality of ventilation holes are provided in a region of the screen member;
the plurality of ventilation holes include the ventilation hole;
the plurality of ventilation holes face only one exposure hole among the plurality of exposure holes; and
each of the plurality of ventilation holes includes an inclined inner surface to allow gas to pass while blocking passing of fragments of an electrode assembly.
2 . The battery module according to claim 1 ,
wherein two or more ventilation holes are provided in a region of the screen member that faces two or more exposure holes of the plurality of exposure holes.
3 . A battery pack, comprising the battery module according to claim 2 .
4 . A vehicle, comprising the battery module according to claim 2 .
5 . The battery module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the ventilation hole is configured to have a diameter gradually decreasing in an outward direction.
6 . A battery pack, comprising the battery module according to claim 5 .
7 . A vehicle, comprising the battery module according to claim 5 .
8 . The battery module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the ventilation hole is shaped so that the screen member is perforated in a zigzag form.
9 . A battery pack, comprising the battery module according to claim 8 .
10 . A vehicle, comprising the battery module according to claim 8 .
11 . The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein:
the connection plate has electric conductivity; and
the connection portion is located in the opening of the body portion.
12 . A battery pack, comprising the battery module according to claim 11 .
13 . A vehicle, comprising the battery module according to claim 11 .
14 . The battery module according to claim 1 ,
wherein the module case includes a plurality of cover portions configured to protrude toward the connection plate from outer circumferences of the plurality of exposure holes, respectively, a cover portion of the plurality of cover portions having a hollow and being shaped to have an open top end.
15 . The battery module according to claim 14 ,
wherein the cover portion of the plurality of cover portions includes a bending part bent at the open top end to extend in the horizontal direction toward a middle of a respective exposure hole among the plurality of exposure holes.
16 . A battery pack, comprising the battery module according to claim 1 .
17 . A vehicle, comprising the battery module according to claim 1 .
18 . The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the connection portion extends from the body portion and does not extend from the extension portion.