# US 12,002,980 B2 · Battery pack including a frame > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,002,980 B2 - Document ID: US12002980B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/201,271 - Filed: 2021-03-15 - Published: 2021-10-07 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-01 - Assignees: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Seonung Choi; Jaelim Ryu; Hoomin Lee; Hanho Kim; Jonghyun Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12002980B2 ## CPC - H01M 50/209: adapted for prismatic or rectangular cells (H01M50/216 takes precedence) - H01M 50/244: Secondary casings; Racks; Suspension devices; Carrying devices; Holders characterised by their mounting method - H01M 50/249: specially adapted for aircraft or vehicles, e.g. cars or trains (constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles B60L50/64) - H01M 50/271: Lids or covers for the racks or secondary casings - H01M 50/289: characterised by spacing elements or positioning means within frames, racks or packs (spacing elements inside cells other than separators, membranes or diaphragms H01M50/471) - H01M 50/291: characterised by their shape - H01M 50/293: characterised by the material - H01M 50/502: Interconnectors for connecting terminals of adjacent batteries; Interconnectors for connecting cells outside a battery casing - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A battery pack including a plurality of battery cells arranged in a first direction; and a first frame and a second frame each extending in the first direction with the plurality of battery cells therebetween, the first frame and the second frame surrounding outer surfaces of the plurality of battery cells and being fitted into each other in a second direction that intersects with the first direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A battery pack, comprising: a plurality of battery cells arranged in a first direction; and a first frame and a second frame each extending in the first direction with the plurality of battery cells therebetween, the first frame and the second frame surrounding outer surfaces of the plurality of battery cells and being fitted into each other in a second direction that intersects with the first direction, each of the first and second frames including a side portion extending in the first direction; and a first end portion and a second end portion each extending in the second direction that intersects with the first direction from a front end and a rear end of the side portion in the first direction, and surrounding a front and a rear of the plurality of battery cells; a first coupling block configured to couple the first end portions of the first and second frames to each other and extending across the first end portions of the first and second frames that are fitted and engaged with each other; and a second coupling block configured to couple the second end portions of the first and second frames to each other and extending across the second end portions of the first and second frames that are fitted and engaged with each other, wherein: the first end portion and the second end portion each include a hollow cavity portion therein, at least a portion of the first coupling block and the second coupling block is fitted into the cavity portions of the first end portion and the second end portion, and the first end portion and the second end portion each further include: double plates facing each other in the first direction with the cavity portion therebetween, and protrusions extending in the second direction and recesses recessed in the second direction alternately stacked in a third direction of the double plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The battery pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the first end portions of the first and second frames have complementary shapes such that the first end portions are fitted into and engaged with each other, and the second end portions of the first and second frames have complementary shapes such that the second end portions are fitted into and engaged with each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The battery pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the first end portion and the second end portion of the first and second frames each include finger portions and a base portion, the finger portions have complementary comb shapes and are fitted into each other, and the base portion connects the finger portions to each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The battery pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first end portion and the second end portion of each of the first and second frames include protrusions extending in the second direction and recesses recessed in the second direction, the protrusions and recesses being alternately stacked in a third direction that intersects with the first direction and the second direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The battery pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the first coupling block is assembled in a third direction onto the first end portions of the first and second frames that are fitted and engaged with each other in the second direction, the third direction intersecting with the second direction, and the second coupling block is assembled in the third direction onto the second end portions of the first and second frames that are fitted and engaged with each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The battery pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first coupling block and the second coupling block each include: a middle block inserted into the cavity portion; and a cover plate spaced apart from the middle block with an assembly groove between the cover plate and the middle block. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The battery pack as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the first end portion and the second end portion is fitted into the assembly groove. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The battery pack as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cover plate includes a pair of an inner cover plate and an outer cover plate over two opposite sides of the middle block, the inner cover plate and the outer cover plate being spaced apart from each other with the assembly groove therebetween. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The battery pack as claimed in claim 8, wherein: the first end portion and the second end portion each include double plates facing each other in the first direction with the hollow cavity portion therebetween, and the double plates are each fitted into one assembly groove between the inner cover plate and the middle block, and another assembly groove between the outer cover plate and the middle block. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The battery pack as claimed in claim 9, wherein the double plates of the first end portion and the second end portion, the inner and outer cover plates, and the middle block overlap one another to constitute a total of a five-layered overlapping structure at front and rear positions of the plurality of battery cells. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The battery pack as claimed in claim 8, wherein: the inner cover plate is between the first end portion and the plurality of battery cells and between the second end portion and the plurality of battery cells, and the outer cover plate is on an outer surface of the first end portion and an outer surface of the second end portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The battery pack as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first coupling block and the second coupling block each include an electrically insulating resin material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The battery pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side portion includes a plurality of lines of reinforcing ribs having concave or convex shapes and extending side by side in the first direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The battery pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the plurality of battery cells each include: a terminal surface, a bottom surface, a main surface, and a lateral surface, the terminal surface includes at least one electrode terminal, the bottom surface is opposite to the terminal surface, the main surface connects the terminal surface to the bottom surface and has a first area, and the lateral surface connects the terminal surface to the bottom surface and has a second area, the second area being smaller than the first area. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The battery pack as claimed in claim 14, wherein the side portion supports the terminal surface and the bottom surface of the plurality of battery cells and includes a first protrusion piece and a second protrusion piece each protruding from a main body of the side portion that covers lateral surfaces of the plurality of battery cells to the terminal surface and the bottom surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The battery pack as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a bus bar holder on the terminal surface of the plurality of battery cells and configured to guide an assembling position of a bus bar connected to the electrode terminal of the plurality of battery cells. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The battery pack as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first protrusion piece is on a rim of the bus bar holder. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The battery pack as claimed in claim 15, wherein the second protrusion piece is on the bottom surface of the plurality of battery cells. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The battery pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein a coupling hole is at an edge position where the side portion meets the first end portion and at an edge position where the side portion meets the second end portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The battery pack as claimed in claim 19, wherein the coupling hole includes a hollow cavity. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The battery pack as claimed in claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the coupling hole is exposed between the side portion and the first end portion and between the side portion and the second end portion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The battery pack as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a spacer assembly between adjacent battery cells in the first direction, the spacer assembly including spacers having a rim shape surrounding an opening at a central position. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The battery pack as claimed in claim 22, wherein: the spacers of the spacer assembly are arranged in the first direction, and each of the spacers is connected to an adjacent spacer in the spacer assembly, the spacers being connected with a plurality of connectors that connect the adjacent spacers at alternating positions of one side and another side opposite to each other in the second direction, and extending in the first direction.