Supporting device and power battery pack

Abstract

The invention provides a supporting device and a power battery pack. The supporting device is arranged in the power battery pack and used for supporting electrical components, the supporting device comprises a long supporting body, and the supporting body comprises at least one first supporting part arranged on the periphery of the supporting body. The at least one first supporting part is configured to enable a preset gap to exist between the first supporting part and the fixing piece when the fixing piece is used for fixing the supporting device and the electrical component, so that the tolerance between the first supporting part and the fixing piece is absorbed, and deformation of the supporting body is avoided. The supporting device in the power battery pack is improved, and the preset gap exists between the first supporting part and the fixing piece to absorb the tolerance between the first supporting part and the fixing piece, so that the situation that the supporting body is deformed due to the too thin thickness during installation is avoided, the weight of the supporting device is reduced, and the manufacturing cost is reduced; a user can conveniently install, and the production efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicles, and more particularly to the field of power battery systems for new energy vehicles. More specifically, it relates to a support device and a power battery pack using the support device. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing popularity of new energy vehicles, higher and higher requirements are being placed on battery pack technology, a key technology for these vehicles. A power battery pack typically includes a housing, multiple battery modules housed within the housing, and various electrical components. These electrical components are used to connect the multiple battery modules, measure battery parameters such as temperature, voltage, and current, and manage battery charge and temperature. Currently, these electrical components are mounted on top of the battery modules using support devices. In other words, a support device is installed on top of the battery modules to support the electrical components, protecting them from external vibrations and impacts, and improving the stability of the power battery pack.

[0003] However, in order to reduce the overall weight and manufacturing cost of the power battery pack, the support device is usually set as a plate with a thickness of about 1mm. Due to the thinness of the support device, it may deform during the installation of electrical components, resulting in low installation efficiency. Increasing the thickness of the support device to improve deformation would increase the overall weight and manufacturing cost of the power battery pack. Therefore, the current support device still needs improvement. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to solve the problems existing in the prior art and provide a support device that, in a cost-effective and reliable manner, prevents deformation of the support device during the installation of electrical components and improves the installation efficiency of the support device.

[0005] Therefore, according to one aspect of the present invention, a support device is provided, the support device being disposed within a power battery pack and used to support electrical components, the support device comprising an elongated support body, the support body including at least one first support portion disposed at the periphery of the support body, wherein at least one first support portion is configured such that when the support device is fixed to the electrical components using a fastener, a predetermined gap exists between the first support portion and the fastener to absorb the tolerance between the first support portion and the fastener and to prevent deformation of the support body.

[0006] Based on the above-described technical concept, the present invention may further include any one or more of the following optional forms.

[0007] In some alternative forms, the first support portion includes a through portion extending through the support body.

[0008] In some alternative forms, the cross-sectional structure of the through portion is any one of circular, elliptical, or waist-shaped.

[0009] In some alternative forms, the cross-sectional dimension of the through portion is 0.5 mm to 1 mm larger than the corresponding cross-sectional dimension of the fastener, and the preset gap is in the range of 0.025 mm to 0.5 mm.

[0010] In some alternative forms, the support body includes a plurality of first support portions, which are respectively arranged at a plurality of corners of the support body.

[0011] In some alternative forms, a preset distance is provided between the surface of the first support portion and the surface of the support body, the preset distance being in the range of 0 mm to 10 mm.

[0012] In some alternative forms, the support body includes a second support portion disposed approximately in the middle of the support body along the longitudinal direction of the support body, and a plurality of third support portions disposed on both sides of the second support portion along the longitudinal direction of the support body.

[0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, a power battery pack is also provided, the power battery pack including a housing, a plurality of battery modules housed in the housing, and a plurality of the above-described support devices, wherein each of the support devices is detachably disposed on the top of each of the battery modules to support electrical components.

[0014] In some alternative forms, the electrical components include at least one of a copper busbar, a battery management unit, and a plurality of cell monitoring units.

[0015] In some alternative forms, the support body includes a second support portion disposed approximately in the middle of the support body along the longitudinal direction of the support body, and a plurality of third support portions disposed on both sides of the second support portion along the longitudinal direction of the support body, wherein the copper busbar is arranged above the first support portion, and / or the battery management unit is arranged above the second support portion, and / or each of the battery cell monitoring units is arranged above each of the third support portions.

[0016] This invention improves the support device inside the power battery pack by creating a preset gap between the first support part located around the periphery of the support body and the fixing member. This absorbs the tolerance between the first support part and the fixing member, avoids deformation of the support body due to excessive thickness during fixing, reduces the weight of the support device, lowers manufacturing costs, facilitates user installation, and improves production efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will be better understood through the following detailed description of alternative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals identify the same or similar parts, wherein:

[0018] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a battery module and a support device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0019] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the support device in the middle;

[0020] Figure 3 It shows Figure 2 Top view of the support device in the middle;

[0021] Figure 4 It shows Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the supporting device, copper busbars, and fasteners; and

[0022] Figure 5 It shows Figure 4 An enlarged view of part A in the image. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The implementation and use of the embodiments are discussed in detail below. However, it should be understood that the specific embodiments discussed are merely illustrative of particular ways of implementing and using the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. In the description, the structural positions of the various components, such as upper, lower, top, bottom, etc., are not absolute but relative. These directional descriptions are appropriate when the various components are arranged as shown in the figures, but they change accordingly when the positions of the various components in the figures change.

[0024] In this document, unless otherwise explicitly stated and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "fixation," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal connection of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this document according to the specific circumstances.

[0025] In this article, "horizontal" refers to the direction with a relatively small size, also known as the width direction; "vertical" refers to the direction with a relatively large size, also known as the length direction; and "vertical" refers to the direction that is roughly perpendicular to the ground.

[0026] In this article, "vehicle" refers to a new energy vehicle that uses a power battery pack as its operating power and / or driving power, including but not limited to pure electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, or range-extended electric vehicles.

[0027] Typically, a vehicle battery pack comprises multiple battery modules, a battery pack housing, and electrical components. The electrical components are mounted on top of the battery modules via a support device. To reduce the overall weight and manufacturing cost of the battery pack, the support device is usually a plate-like structure approximately 1 mm thick. The inventors discovered that this thinness can cause deformation of the support device when mounting the electrical components, potentially leading to contact between the support device and the battery modules below, which could cause electrical short circuits or cell damage. Furthermore, installation requires a longer time for workers to install the electrical components, reducing production efficiency. Increasing the thickness of the support device, on the other hand, increases the overall weight and manufacturing cost of the battery pack. Therefore, the present invention aims to improve deformation by optimizing the structure of the support device itself without increasing its thickness, while maintaining lightweight design and support strength.

[0028] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a power battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a battery pack housing (not shown), the battery pack housing including a shell and a top cover attached to the shell, and a plurality of battery modules 100 may be arranged side by side in the shell, for example, along the width direction of the battery modules 100. Figure 1 An exemplary battery module 100 is shown, comprising multiple battery cells (not shown) to power a vehicle. A support device 200 is provided on top of the battery module 100, which is detachable from the top of the battery module 100. The support device 200 supports electrical components, which in this embodiment include a copper busbar 300, a battery management unit (not shown), and at least one cell monitoring unit (not shown). The copper busbar 300 connects multiple battery modules 100 together. The cell monitoring unit (CMU) measures parameters such as battery voltage, current, and temperature, and then transmits the measured data to the battery management unit (BMU). The BMU evaluates the data transmitted by the CMU; if the data is abnormal, it protects the battery by issuing a request to reduce the current or cutting off the charging / discharging path to prevent the battery from exceeding its permissible operating conditions. It also manages the battery's charge and temperature. The BMU and CMU together constitute the battery management system (BMS).

[0029] The support device 200 includes a support body 210, which is formed as an elongated plate. In some embodiments, the thickness of the plate may be, for example, 1 mm. The support body 210 includes a second support portion 211 and a plurality of third support portions 212. The second support portion 211 is used to support the BMU, that is, the BMU is arranged above the second support portion 211, and the third support portions 212 are used to support the CMU, that is, the CMU is arranged above the third support portion 212. Figure 1 The figure exemplarily illustrates four third support portions 212 disposed on the support body 210. The third support portions 212 are generally U-shaped to support and hold the CMU, preventing movement of the CMU during vehicle operation. It is understood that the number and shape of the third support portions 212 vary depending on different needs and are not limited to those shown in the figure. Figure 1 As shown, the second support portion 211 is approximately located in the middle of the support body 210 along the longitudinal direction D1, and four third support portions 212 are distributed on both sides of the second support portion 211 along the longitudinal direction D1. This reduces the wiring length within the power battery pack, improves the response speed of the control system, and lowers manufacturing costs. It is understood that the components arranged on the support device 200 are not limited to this; for example, cooling components, heat insulation materials, wiring harnesses, etc., can also be arranged, and this is not limited here.

[0030] The support device 200 also includes a retaining part 220, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the retaining part 220 extends downward from both ends of the support body 210 in the lateral direction D2 to the bottom of the battery pack housing, and bends in the lateral direction D2 toward the direction away from the battery module 100 to provide mounting holes 221. In this way, the support device 200 can keep the battery module 100 stable through the retaining part 220, and can be fixed to the battery pack housing through the mounting holes 221, thereby improving the overall stability of the power battery pack.

[0031] like Figure 2As shown, the support body 210 advantageously further includes at least one first support portion 213, which is disposed around the periphery of the support body 210, particularly at one corner of the support body 210. The first support portion 213 can be used to support the copper busbar 300. In the case of multiple first support portions 213, the multiple first support portions 213 are respectively disposed at multiple corners of the support body 210. It is understood that the number and distribution of the first support portions 213 vary depending on different needs and are not limited to those shown in the figure. For example, the first support portions 213 can be disposed as needed at the longitudinal or transverse edges of the support body 210. In this embodiment, disposing of the first support portions 213 at the corners of the support body 210 facilitates installation and positioning, prevents the copper busbar 300 from interfering with other electrical components, reduces electrical faults within the power battery pack, and ensures electrical safety.

[0032] from Figure 2 As can be seen, the first support portion 213 used to support the copper busbar 300 has a small area, and the battery module is located directly below it. Therefore, when the copper busbar 300 is installed on the first support portion 213 using the fastener 400, the support body 210 may deform, causing it to contact the battery module 100 below, which is inconvenient for workers to install. In some embodiments, the fastener 400 may be, for example, a clip or bolt. This invention improves the structure of the first support portion 213 so that when the fastener 400 is installed into the first support portion 213, there is a preset gap between the first support portion 213 and the fastener 400 to absorb the tolerance between them, prevent deformation of the support body 210, facilitate the insertion of the fastener 400 into the first support portion 213, reduce installation time, and improve production efficiency.

[0033] Combination Figures 3 to 5 As shown, the following will describe in detail using a snap-fit ​​fastener 400 as an example. The first support portion 213 includes a through portion 214 that passes through the support body 210. As described above, electrical components are mounted on top of multiple battery modules 100 via the support device 200. That is, in the assembled state of the battery module 100 and the support device 200, the support device 200 is located approximately vertically D3 on top of the battery module 100. Figure 4 As shown, the through portion 214 penetrates the support body 210 in the vertical direction D3. The fastener 400 includes a first part 410 and a second part 420. The first part 410 is snapped onto the copper busbar 300, and the second part 420 is threaded onto the through portion 214 to fix the copper busbar 300 to the first support portion 213. Figure 3In this design, the cross-section of the through portion 214 is circular. However, it is understood that the cross-sectional shape of the through portion 214 is not limited to this. For example, the cross-section of the through portion 214 can also be elliptical, waist-shaped, etc. When the cross-section of the through portion 214 is waist-shaped, the waist-shaped through portion 214 can extend along the longitudinal direction D1 or the transverse direction D2 of the support body 210 to absorb the tolerance of the support body 210 in the longitudinal direction D1 or the transverse direction D2, and can absorb the vibration or impact of the support body 210 in the longitudinal direction D1 or the transverse direction D2.

[0034] In some embodiments, the preset gap between the first support portion 213 and the fastener 400 can be in the range of 0.025 mm to 0.5 mm, that is, the cross-sectional dimension of the through portion 214 can be 0.5 mm to 1 mm larger than the cross-sectional dimension of the fastener 400. It is understood that the preset gap and / or the difference in cross-sectional dimension between the through portion 214 and the fastener 400 is not limited to this and can be changed as needed.

[0035] Reference Figure 5 A preset distance is provided between the surface of the first support portion 213 and the surface of the support body 210. In some embodiments, this preset distance can be in the range of 0 mm to 10 mm, for example, 5 mm. Wherein, when the preset distance is 0 mm, the surface of the first support portion 213 is flush with the surface of the support body 210. Particularly advantageously, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the first support portion 213 can protrude from the surface of the support body 210 by a certain distance, for example, 5mm, so that the copper busbar 300 can be parallel to the support body 210 after installation. It is understood that the preset distance is not limited to this and can be changed as needed.

[0036] It should be understood here that the embodiments shown in the figures only illustrate the optional shapes, sizes and arrangements of the power battery pack and support device according to the present invention. However, they are only illustrative and not limiting. Other shapes, sizes and arrangements may be adopted without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0037] The technical content and features of the present invention have been disclosed above. However, it is understood that those skilled in the art can make various changes and improvements to the disclosed concepts under the inventive concept of the present invention, all of which fall within the protection scope of the present invention. The description of the above embodiments is illustrative rather than restrictive, and the protection scope of the present invention is determined by the claims.

Claims

1. A support device (200) disposed within a power battery pack and used to support electrical components, characterized in that, The support device (200) includes an elongated support body (210), the support body (210) including at least one first support portion (213) disposed on the periphery of the support body (210). At least one of the first support portions (213) is configured such that when the support device (200) is fixed to the electrical component using a fastener (400), there is a preset gap between the first support portion (213) and the fastener (400) to absorb the tolerance between the first support portion (213) and the fastener (400) and to prevent the support body (210) from deforming.

2. The support device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first support portion (213) includes a through portion (214) that extends through the support body (210).

3. The support device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cross-sectional structure of the through section (214) can be any one of a circle, an ellipse, or a waist shape.

4. The support device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cross-sectional dimension of the through portion (214) is 0.5 mm to 1 mm larger than the corresponding cross-sectional dimension of the fastener (400), and the preset gap is in the range of 0.025 mm to 0.5 mm.

5. The support device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The support body (210) includes a plurality of first support portions (213), which are respectively arranged at a plurality of corners of the support body (210).

6. The support device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, A preset distance is provided between the surface of the first support part (213) and the surface of the support body (210), and the preset distance is in the range of 0mm to 10mm.

7. The support device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The support body (210) includes a second support portion (211) disposed approximately in the middle of the support body (210) along the longitudinal direction (D1) of the support body (210), and a plurality of third support portions (212) disposed on both sides of the second support portion (211) along the longitudinal direction (D1) of the support body (210).

8. A power battery pack, characterized in that, The power battery pack includes a housing, a plurality of battery modules (100) housed within the housing, and a plurality of support devices according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each of the support devices (200) is detachably disposed on top of each of the battery modules (100) to support electrical components.

9. The power battery pack according to claim 8, characterized in that, The electrical components include at least one of a copper busbar (300), a battery management unit, and a plurality of cell monitoring units.

10. The power battery pack according to claim 9, characterized in that, The support body (210) includes a second support portion (211) disposed approximately in the middle of the support body (210) along the longitudinal direction (D1), and a plurality of third support portions (212) disposed on both sides of the second support portion (211) along the longitudinal direction (D1) of the support body (210). The copper busbar (300) is arranged above the first support (213), and / or the battery management unit is arranged above the second support (211), and / or each of the cell monitoring units is arranged above each of the third support (212).

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