Cooling member of improved cooling efficiency and battery module employed with the same

A cooling member mounted at a top and/or a bottom of a battery module configured to have a structure in which a plurality of unit modules, each of which comprises one or more battery cells, is arranged in a lateral direction or a battery pack configured to have a structure in which a plurality of battery modules is arranged in a lateral direction to remove heat generated from the battery cells during charge and discharge of the battery cells, the cooling member comprising:

• a thermal conduction member disposed at the top and/or the bottom of the battery module or the battery pack, the thermal conduction member comprising a stepped fastening plate having step portions of different lengths, coolant flow channels being formed at interfaces of the fastening plate;
• and
• a coolant conduit configured to have a hollow structure through which a coolant flows, the coolant conduit comprising a main conduit located at a front and/or a rear of the battery module or the battery pack and one or more branch conduits extending vertically in a state in which the branch conduits communicate with the main conduit such that the branch conduits communicate with the coolant flow channels of the thermal conduction member, wherein
• mounting grooves corresponding to an external shape of the branch conduits are formed in a relatively long step portion of the fastening plate at ends of the coolant flow channels of the thermal conduction member such that the branch conduits of the coolant conduit are connected to the coolant flow channels of the thermal conduction member,
• auxiliary plates for surrounding outer circumferences of the branch conduits in a state in which the branch conduits are mounted in the mounting grooves are mounted at the fastening plate, and
• the branch conduits are integrally connected to the main conduit.