Battery module

Abstract

Provided is a battery module. The battery module includes: a first cooling pipe; a second cooling pipe connected to the first cooling pipe and arranged on a different plane than the first cooling pipe; and a branch unit connecting the first cooling pipe and second cooling pipe, wherein the branch unit includes: a lower connection pipe connected to the first cooling pipe; an upper connection pipe connected to the second cooling pipe; and a connection member into which one of the lower connection pipe and the upper connection pipe is inserted and which is inserted into the other one of the lower connection pipe and the upper connection pipe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A battery module comprising:
 a first cooling pipe;   a second cooling pipe connected to the first cooling pipe and arranged on a different plane than the first cooling pipe; and   a branch unit connecting the first cooling pipe and the second cooling pipe,   wherein the branch unit comprises:   a lower connection pipe connected to the first cooling pipe and comprising a lower connection unit;   an upper connection pipe connected to the second cooling pipe and comprising an upper connection unit; and   a connection member into which one selected from the group consisting of the lower connection pipe and the upper connection pipe is inserted and which is inserted into the other one selected from the group consisting of the lower connection pipe and the upper connection pipe, the connection member being between the lower connection unit and the upper connection unit and contacting the lower connection unit and the upper connection unit,   wherein the lower connection unit of the lower connection pipe connected to the upper connection pipe is inclined along a lengthwise direction of the lower connection pipe, and the upper connection unit of the upper connection pipe connected to the lower connection pipe is inclined along a lengthwise direction of the upper connection pipe, and   wherein the lower connection unit or the upper connection unit is forcibly fitted into the connection member and is shaped so that a corresponding one selected from the group consisting of the lower connection pipe and the upper connection pipe has:   an inner surface comprising an inner surface portion exposed to an outside of the corresponding one selected from the group consisting of the lower connection pipe and the upper connection pipe; and   an outer surface opposite to the inner surface and comprising an outer surface portion, opposite to the inner surface portion, that faces the corresponding one selected from the group consisting of the lower connection pipe and the upper connection pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein the lower connection unit is inclined to be away from an outer surface of the lower connection pipe away from the first cooling pipe, and the upper connection unit is inclined to correspond to the lower connection unit. 
     
     
         3 . The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein one selected from the group consisting of the lower connection unit and the upper connection unit is arranged inside the other one selected from the group consisting of the lower connection unit and the upper connection unit. 
     
     
         4 . The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein the upper connection unit is forcibly fitted into the connection member. 
     
     
         5 . The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein the connection member comprises:
 a sealing unit arranged between the lower connection unit and the upper connection unit; and   a body unit extending from the sealing unit and inserted into one selected from the group consisting of the lower connection pipe and the upper connection pipe.   
     
     
         6 . The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein the connection member comprises:
 a core member; and   a shell member arranged to cover an outer surface of the core member.   
     
     
         7 . The battery module of  claim 6 , wherein the core member and the shell member are different in hardness from each other. 
     
     
         8 . The battery module of  claim 1 , wherein the lower connection unit is bent to extend from the lower connection pipe, and the upper connection unit is bent from an outer surface of the upper connection pipe toward the second cooling pipe. 
     
     
         9 . The battery module of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower branch block arranged between the first cooling pipe and the lower connection pipe. 
     
     
         10 . The battery module of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper branch block arranged between the second cooling pipe and the upper connection pipe. 
     
     
         11 . The battery module of  claim 1 , further comprising a first cooling plate where the first cooling pipe is arranged. 
     
     
         12 . The battery module of  claim 1 , further comprising a second cooling plate where the second cooling pipe is arranged. 
     
     
         13 . A battery module comprising:
 a first cooling pipe arranged on a first plane and comprising an input end and an output end;   a second cooling pipe connected to the first cooling pipe and arranged on a second plane different from the first plane;   a branch unit connecting the first cooling pipe and the second cooling pipe and comprising:   a lower connection pipe connected to the first cooling pipe and comprising a lower connection unit,   an upper connection pipe connected to the second cooling pipe and comprising an upper connection unit, and   a connection member into which one selected from the group consisting of the lower connection pipe and the upper connection pipe is inserted and which is inserted into the other one selected from the group consisting of the lower connection pipe and the upper connection pipe, the connection member being between the lower connection unit and the upper connection unit and contacting the lower connection unit and the upper connection unit;   an external connection pipe; and   at least one lower branch block in the first plane and to connect the external connection pipe, the input end of the first cooling pipe, the output end of the first cooling pipe, and the lower connection pipe,   wherein each of the lower connection unit of the lower connection pipe connected to the upper connection pipe and the upper connection unit of the upper connection pipe connected to the lower connection pipe is inclined, and   wherein the lower connection unit or the upper connection unit is fitted into the connection member and is shaped so that a corresponding one selected from the group consisting of the lower connection pipe and the upper connection pipe has:   an inner surface comprising an inner surface portion exposed to an outside of the corresponding one selected from the group consisting of the lower connection pipe and the upper connection pipe; and   an outer surface opposite to the inner surface and comprising an outer surface portion, opposite to the inner surface portion, that faces the corresponding one selected from the group consisting of the lower connection pipe and the upper connection pipe.   
     
     
         14 . The battery module of  claim 13 , wherein the lower connection unit and the upper connection unit are fixed to the lower connection pipe and the upper connection pipe, respectively. 
     
     
         15 . The battery module of  claim 13 , wherein a diameter of an inner surface of the lower connection unit increases along a lengthwise direction of the lower connection unit. 
     
     
         16 . The battery module of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the lower connection unit is forcibly fitted into the connection member and bends towards the first cooling pipe, or   the upper connection unit is forcibly fitted into the connection member and bends towards the second cooling pipe.   
     
     
         17 . The battery module of  claim 13 , wherein the lower connection unit or the upper connection unit that is forcibly fitted into the connection member is compressed by the forcible fit. 
     
     
         18 . The battery module of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one lower branch block comprises a first lower branch block and a second lower branch block arranged in the first plane,
 wherein the first lower branch block is to connect the external connection pipe, the input end of the first cooling pipe, and the lower connection pipe, and   wherein the second lower branch block is to connect the output end of the first cooling pipe.