Battery pack

Abstract

A battery module includes a first end plate and a second end plate, each of the end plates including at least one flange; a plurality of battery units arranged along a first direction between the end plates; a first guide plate on a first side of the plurality of battery units, extending in the first direction and coupled to the flanges of the first and second end plates; and a second guide plate on a second side of the plurality of battery units opposite the first side, extending in the first direction and coupled to the flanges of the first and second end plates.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A battery pack comprising a plurality of battery modules, each of the plurality of battery modules comprising:
 a first end plate and a second end plate, each of the end plates comprising at least one flange;   a plurality of battery units arranged along a first direction between the end plates;   a first guide plate on a first side of the plurality of battery units, extending in the first direction and coupled to the flanges of the first and second end plates; and   a second guide plate on a second side of the plurality of battery units opposite the first side, extending in the first direction and coupled to the flanges of the first and second end plates.   
     
     
         2 . The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of battery modules are adjacent one another in at least one of the second direction or a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions. 
     
     
         3 . The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of battery modules further comprises:
 a first reinforcement plate on a third side of the plurality of battery units, extending in the first direction and coupled to the first and second end plates; and   a second reinforcement plate on a fourth side of the plurality of battery units opposite to the third side, extending in the first direction and coupled to the first and second end plates.   
     
     
         4 . The battery pack of  claim 3 , wherein when the battery modules are adjacent one another in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, the first reinforcement plate of one of the battery modules and the second reinforcement plate of another one of the battery modules form a gas discharge opening. 
     
     
         5 . The battery pack of  claim 3 , wherein the first reinforcement plate comprises a first base plate on the third side of the plurality of battery units and first bent portions on each side of the first base plate extending away from the plurality of battery units, and
 wherein the second reinforcement plate comprises a second base plate on the fourth side of the plurality of battery units and second bent portions on each side of the second base plate extending away from the plurality of battery units.   
     
     
         6 . The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein each of the end plates further comprises a base plate adjacent to the plurality of battery units, wherein the at least one flange comprises:
 first and second flanges extending respectively from the first and second sides of the base plate away from the plurality of battery units;   a third flange extending from a third side of the base plate away from the plurality of battery units; and   a fourth flange extending from a fourth side of the base plate away from the plurality of battery units, the fourth side being opposite to the third side.   
     
     
         7 . The battery pack of  claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one flange of one of the end plates of one of the battery modules contacts at least a portion of the at least one flange of one of the end plates of an adjacent one of the battery modules in at least one of the second direction or a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions. 
     
     
         8 . The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein each of the end plates has openings, and wherein the first end plates of adjacent ones of the battery modules are attached to each other with fasteners through respective ones of the openings and the second end plates of adjacent ones of the battery modules are attached to each other with fasteners through respective ones of the openings. 
     
     
         9 . The battery pack of  claim 1 , wherein the flanges of the first end plates of adjacent ones of the battery modules are welded together and the flanges of the second end plates of adjacent ones of the battery modules are welded together.