Battery case and battery pack

Abstract

Provided in the present application are a battery case and a battery pack. The battery case comprises an outer frame, a cross beam and an adapter portion, wherein the outer frame is of a circumferentially closed structure; two ends of the cross beam are respectively connected to two opposite inner walls of the outer frame; the cross beam divides the interior of the outer frame into a module compartment and an electrical compartment, and the cross beam has a through hole; and the adapter portion passes through and seals the through hole, two ends of the adapter portion are respectively located in the module compartment and the electrical compartment, and the adapter portion is configured to electrically connect a battery module in the module compartment to an electrical structure in the electrical compartment.

Description

Battery box and battery pack

[0001] The present application claims priority to the Chinese patent application No. 202422243892X filed on September 12, 2024 with the China Patent Office, the whole content of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to the technical field of battery pack, in particular to a battery box and a battery pack. BACKGROUND

[0003] The battery pack is provided with a battery module, a battery management system (BMS), a battery distribution unit (BDU) and other structures. The conventional battery pack does not separate and isolate these structures for the purpose of cost reduction and simplification of production process. When the battery module is in thermal runaway, the flame and combustible material ejected therefrom can easily damage the electrical structures such as BMS and BDU, and even cause more serious short circuit fire. TECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0004] In order to improve safety, some battery packs separate the module compartment and the electrical compartment, wherein the module compartment mainly installs the battery module, and the electrical compartment mainly installs the electrical structure to separate the battery module and the electrical structure. In order to realize the electrical connection between the battery module and the electrical structure, a recess is provided in these schemes to communicate the module compartment and the electrical compartment, and the conductive bar and the wire harness pass through the recess. However, the recess position is not well sealed, resulting in that the module compartment and the electrical compartment are not completely isolated, and the flame and combustible material ejected when the battery module is in thermal runaway can still enter the electrical compartment through the recess, and there is still a safety hazard. TECHNICAL SOLUTION

[0005] In a first aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a battery box, comprising: an outer frame, a cross beam and an adapter, the outer frame is a circumferentially closed structure, two ends of the cross beam are connected to two opposite inner walls of the outer frame respectively, the cross beam separates a module compartment and an electrical compartment in the outer frame, the cross beam has a through hole, the adapter passes through and seals the through hole, two ends of the adapter are located in the module compartment and the electrical compartment respectively, and the adapter is configured to electrically connect the battery module in the module compartment and the electrical structure in the electrical compartment.

[0006] In a second aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a battery pack, comprising a battery module, an electrical structure and the above-mentioned battery box, the battery module is installed in the module compartment of the battery box, the electrical structure is installed in the electrical compartment of the battery box, and the battery module and the electrical structure are electrically connected through the adapter of the battery box; wherein the module compartment is filled with foaming glue. ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

[0007] The beneficial effects of the present application: in the scheme, the battery module in the module compartment and the electrical structure in the electrical compartment are electrically connected through the through hole and the adapter part, and the adapter part passes through and seals the through hole, which realizes the plugging of the through hole and avoids the leakage at the through hole position, so as to realize the complete isolation of the module compartment and the electrical compartment, and avoid the flame and combustible material ejected by the thermal runaway of the battery cell entering the electrical compartment through the through hole position and damaging the electrical structure in the electrical compartment. Therefore, the scheme realizes the complete isolation of the module compartment and the electrical compartment, and improves the safety of the battery pack. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a battery box according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0009] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the battery box at the adapter part position according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0010] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the adapter part in the battery box according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0011] FIG. 4 shows another schematic diagram of the adapter part in the battery box according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0012] FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0013] FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of a partial structure in the battery pack according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0014] FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of the battery pack in FIG. 5 without the first cover body and the second cover body according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0015] Among them, the above drawings include the following reference signs:

[0016] 10, outer frame; 11, module compartment; 12, electrical compartment; 13, front beam; 14, rear beam; 15, side beam;

[0017] 20, cross beam; 21, through hole;

[0018] 30, adapter part; 31, adapter support; 311, adapter column; 312, adapter seat; 313, avoidance groove; 32, annular sealing element; 33, conductive row; 34, wiring terminal; 35, insulation protection cover;

[0019] 41, first cover body; 42, second cover body;

[0020] 51, first sealing gasket; 52, second sealing gasket;

[0021] 60, explosion-proof valve;

[0022] 71, battery module; 72, electrical structure; 73, foaming glue.

[0023] Embodiments of the present application

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the embodiments of the present application provide a battery box, comprising: an outer frame 10, a cross beam 20 and an adapter 30, the outer frame 10 is a circumferentially closed structure, the two ends of the cross beam 20 are connected with the two opposite inner walls of the outer frame 10 respectively, the cross beam 20 separates a module compartment 11 and an electrical compartment 12 in the outer frame 10, the cross beam 20 has a through hole 21, the adapter 30 passes through and seals the through hole 21, and the two ends of the adapter 30 are located in the module compartment 11 and the electrical compartment 12 respectively, and the adapter 30 is arranged to electrically connect the battery module 71 in the module compartment 11 and the electrical structure 72 in the electrical compartment 12.

[0025] In this scheme, the module compartment 11 and the electrical compartment 12 are separated by the cross beam 20 in the cavity surrounded by the outer frame 10, and the through hole 21 and the adapter 30 are arranged to electrically connect the battery module 71 in the module compartment 11 and the electrical structure 72 in the electrical compartment 12. Since the adapter 30 passes through the through hole 21 and seals the through hole 21, the through hole 21 is sealed, and the position of the through hole 21 is prevented from leaking, thereby realizing the complete isolation of the module compartment 11 and the electrical compartment 12, and preventing the flame and combustible material ejected by the thermal runaway of the battery cell from entering the electrical compartment 12 through the position of the through hole 21 to damage the electrical structure 72 in the electrical compartment 12. Therefore, this scheme realizes the complete isolation of the module compartment 11 and the electrical compartment 12, and improves the safety of the battery pack.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, the adapter 30 comprises an adapter bracket 31 and a ring-shaped sealing element 32, the adapter bracket 31 comprises an adapter column 311 and an adapter seat 312 connected with each other, the adapter column 311 passes through the through hole 21, the radial section of the adapter column 311 matches the radial section of the through hole 21, and the adapter seat 312 abuts against the cross beam 20; wherein the ring-shaped sealing element 32 is located between the adapter seat 312 and the cross beam 20, or the ring-shaped sealing element 32 is located between the inner wall of the through hole 21 and the outer wall of the adapter column 311.

[0027] The adapter column 311 passes through the through hole 21 to be arranged to electrically connect the battery module 71 in the module compartment 11 and the electrical structure 72 in the electrical compartment 12. By arranging the adapter seat 312, the adapter column 311 can be limited, and the through hole 21 can be sealed. Moreover, by arranging the ring-shaped sealing element 32, leakage can be avoided at the assembly gap position, thereby improving and ensuring the sealing performance of the through hole 21, and realizing the complete isolation of the module compartment 11 and the electrical compartment 12.

[0028] Specifically, the adapter seat 312 or the cross beam 20 has an annular sealing groove around the opening of the through hole 21, and the annular sealing member 32 is located in the annular sealing groove. The annular sealing groove is provided to facilitate the positioning and installation of the annular sealing member 32, and the annular sealing member 32 achieves the circumferential sealing of the through hole 21.

[0029] In an embodiment, the adapter seat 312 is connected to the cross beam 20 by a plurality of fasteners distributed along the circumference of the annular sealing member 32. Through the plurality of fasteners, reliable fixation of the adapter bracket 31 and the cross beam 20 is achieved. Moreover, in the case where the annular sealing member 32 is located between the adapter seat 312 and the cross beam 20, the connection by the plurality of fasteners also enables the clamping of the annular sealing member 32, ensuring the reliability of the sealing.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the adapter part 30 includes an adapter bracket 31, a conductive strip 33, a conductive wire harness, and two terminal connectors 34, the adapter bracket 31 passes through the through hole 21, the adapter bracket 31 is an integral injection molding structure, the conductive strip 33, the conductive wire harness, and the two terminal connectors 34 are arranged in the adapter bracket 31, two ends of the conductive strip 33 are exposed to the module compartment 11 and the electrical compartment 12 respectively, the two terminal connectors 34 are located in the module compartment 11 and the electrical compartment 12 respectively, and the two terminal connectors 34 are connected by the conductive wire harness.

[0031] The adapter bracket 31 is provided as an integral injection molding structure, which achieves the fixation of the conductive strip 33, the conductive wire harness, and the two terminal connectors 34, and can also serve as insulation. A plurality of weight-reducing holes are provided on the adapter bracket 31.

[0032] The conductive strip 33 can be a copper strip or an aluminum strip. One end of the conductive strip 33 is connected to the busbar of the battery module 71, and the other end of the conductive strip 33 is connected to the BDU located in the electrical compartment 12. One terminal connector 34 is connected to the wire harness of the battery module 71 through a plug, and the other terminal connector 34 is connected to the wire harness of the BDU and the BMS in the electrical compartment 12 through a plug.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, the adapter part 30 further includes a metal threaded sleeve and an insulating protective cover 35, the metal threaded sleeve is injection molded in the adapter bracket 31, the end of the conductive strip 33 has an opening, and the metal threaded sleeve corresponds to the opening of the end of the conductive strip 33; the end of the conductive strip 33 is located in the avoiding groove 313 at the end of the adapter bracket 31, and the insulating protective cover 35 detachably covers the opening of the avoiding groove 313.

[0034] The metal threaded sleeve is provided to be threadedly connected with the fastener passing through the opening of the conductive strip 33, so as to achieve the fastening connection of the conductive strip 33 and other structures. The insulating protective cover 35 covers the opening of the avoiding groove 313, which can serve as insulation and protection for the end of the conductive strip 33 and the corresponding connected structures.

[0035] Specifically, the electrical structure 72 and a wiring harness are arranged in the electrical bin 12, one end of the wiring harness is connected with the electrical structure 72, and the other end of the wiring harness extends into the avoiding groove 313 and is fixedly connected with the end of the conductive strip 33 in the avoiding groove 313 through a fastener. A gap is provided between one side of the insulating protective cover 35 and the inner wall of the avoiding groove 313, and the gap is used for passing the wiring harness.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, the cross beam 20 has two through holes 21 arranged at intervals, and the adapter 30 is two, and the two adapters 30 and the two through holes 21 are arranged one by one. In this way, the battery module 71 in the module bin 11 can be connected with the electrical structure 72 in the electrical bin 12 at different positions.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 5, the battery box further includes a first cover 41, a second cover 42 and a third cover. The outer frame 10 has opposite first and second sides, the first cover 41 and the second cover 42 are located on the first side, and the third cover is located on the second side. The first cover 41 is sealingly connected with the outer frame 10 and the cross beam 20 to cover the opening of the module bin 11 on the first side. The second cover 42 is sealingly connected with the outer frame 10 and the cross beam 20 to cover the opening of the electrical bin 12 on the first side. The third cover is sealingly connected with the outer frame 10 to cover the openings of the module bin 11 and the electrical bin 12 on the second side.

[0038] The first side of the outer frame 10 is the maintenance side of the battery box. By arranging the first cover 41 and the second cover 42 on the first side respectively, different covers can be individually disassembled and different positions can be individually maintained without affecting each other. For example, the second cover 42 can be individually disassembled to maintain the electrical structure 72 in the electrical bin 12. In addition, the first cover 41 and the second cover 42 are sealingly connected with the cross beam 20 and the outer frame 10, so as to ensure the mutual spacing of the module bin 11 and the electrical bin 12.

[0039] In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the battery box further includes a first sealing gasket 51, a second sealing gasket 52 and a third sealing gasket. The first sealing gasket 51 is arranged between the periphery of the first cover 41 and the outer frame 10 and the cross beam 20. The second sealing gasket 52 is arranged between the periphery of the second cover 42 and the outer frame 10 and the cross beam 20. The third sealing gasket is arranged between the periphery of the third cover and the outer frame 10. By arranging the sealing gaskets at the connecting positions of the first cover 41, the second cover 42 and the third cover, the reliable sealing of the module bin 11 and the electrical bin 12 is ensured.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, the outer frame 10 is a rectangular structure, the outer frame 10 includes a front beam 13, a rear beam 14 and two side beams 15, the front beam 13 and the rear beam 14 are oppositely arranged, the two side beams 15 are oppositely arranged, and the two ends of the cross beam 20 are connected with the two side beams 15 respectively; the front beam 13 has a first pressure relief channel, the side beam 15 has a second pressure relief channel, the rear beam 14 has a third pressure relief channel, the rear beam 14 is provided with an explosion-proof valve 60, and the front beam 13 has a pressure relief port; wherein the module compartment 11, the pressure relief port, the first pressure relief channel, the second pressure relief channel, the third pressure relief channel and the explosion-proof valve 60 are sequentially communicated.

[0041] Through the above arrangement, when the module compartment 11 is on fire or thermal runaway, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas and dust generated can enter the first pressure relief channel from the pressure relief port, and then pass through the second pressure relief channel and the third pressure relief channel after turning and changing the path, and then be discharged to the outside from the explosion-proof valve 60. Through the above arrangement, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas and dust can be discharged, and the conduction of energy can be slowed down, avoiding the high-temperature and high-pressure gas and dust being directly sprayed from the explosion-proof valve 60 to cause greater loss.

[0042] In the battery pack, after the battery module 71 is installed into the module compartment 11, the structure in the module compartment 11 is compact, in order to facilitate the discharge of high-temperature and high-pressure gas and dust, a special channel is arranged in the module compartment 11 and communicated with the pressure relief port, and the high-temperature and high-pressure gas and dust generated by the battery module 71 are transported to the pressure relief port through the channel.

[0043] In some embodiments, the front beam 13, the rear beam 14, the side beam 15 and the cross beam can all be made of aluminum alloy extruded profiles, so as to realize lightweight while ensuring structural strength.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, the application also provides a battery pack, which comprises a battery module 71, an electrical structure 72 and the above-mentioned battery box, the battery module 71 is installed in the module compartment 11 of the battery box, the electrical structure 72 is installed in the electrical compartment 12 of the battery box, and the battery module 71 and the electrical structure 72 are electrically connected through the adapter 30 of the battery box; wherein the module compartment 11 is filled with foaming glue 73.

[0045] In this scheme, since the adapter 30 penetrates through the through hole 21 and seals the through hole 21, the through hole 21 is blocked, the position of the through hole 21 is prevented from leaking, and the module compartment 11 and the electrical compartment 12 are completely isolated, so that the flame and combustible material sprayed out when the battery cell is thermal runaway do not enter the electrical compartment 12 through the position of the through hole 21 to damage the electrical structure 72 in the electrical compartment 12. Therefore, this scheme realizes the complete isolation of the module compartment 11 and the electrical compartment 12, and improves the safety of the battery pack. Moreover, the module compartment 11 is filled with foaming glue 73, which can fix and seal the battery module 71.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising: The outer frame (10) is a circumferentially closed structure, two ends of the crossbeam (20) are connected with two opposite inner walls of the outer frame (10) respectively, the crossbeam (20) is spaced from the outer frame (10) to form a module compartment (11) and an electrical compartment (12), the crossbeam (20) has a through hole (21), the adapter (30) passes through and seals the through hole (21), two ends of the adapter (30) are located in the module compartment (11) and the electrical compartment (12) respectively, and the adapter (30) is configured to electrically connect a battery module (71) in the module compartment (11) and an electrical structure (72) in the electrical compartment (12).

2. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein, The adapter (30) comprises an adapter support (31) and a ring-shaped sealing element (32), the adapter support (31) comprises an adapter column (311) and an adapter seat (312) connected with each other, the adapter column (311) passes through the through hole (21), a radial section of the adapter column (311) matches a radial section of the through hole (21), and the adapter seat (312) abuts against the crossbeam (20); wherein the ring-shaped sealing element (32) is located between the adapter seat (312) and the crossbeam (20), or the ring-shaped sealing element (32) is located between an inner wall of the through hole (21) and an outer wall of the adapter column (311).

3. The battery pack of claim 2, wherein, The adapter seat (312) or the crossbeam (20) has a ring-shaped sealing groove surrounding an opening of the through hole (21), and the ring-shaped sealing element (32) is located in the ring-shaped sealing groove.

4. The battery pack of claim 3, wherein, The adapter seat (312) is connected with the crossbeam (20) through a plurality of fasteners, and the plurality of fasteners are distributed along a circumference of the ring-shaped sealing element (32).

5. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein, The adapter (30) comprises an adapter support (31), a conductive strip (33), a conductive wire harness and two wire terminals (34), the adapter support (31) passes through the through hole (21), the adapter support (31) is an integral injection molding structure, the conductive strip (33), the conductive wire harness and the two wire terminals (34) are arranged in the adapter support (31), two ends of the conductive strip (33) are exposed to the module compartment (11) and the electrical compartment (12) respectively, the two wire terminals (34) are located in the module compartment (11) and the electrical compartment (12) respectively, and the two wire terminals (34) are connected through the conductive wire harness.

6. The battery pack of claim 5, wherein, The adapter (30) further comprises a metal threaded sleeve and an insulating protective cover (35), the metal threaded sleeve is injection molded in the adapter support (31), an end of the conductive strip (33) has an opening, and the metal threaded sleeve corresponds to the opening of the end of the conductive strip (33); the end of the conductive strip (33) is located in a avoiding groove (313) at an end of the adapter support (31), and the insulating protective cover (35) detachably covers an opening of the avoiding groove (313).

7. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein, The crossbeam (20) has two through holes (21) arranged at intervals, and the adapter (30) is two, and the two adapters (30) and the two through holes (21) are arranged one by one.

8. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein, The battery box further comprises a first cover (41), a second cover (42) and a third cover, the outer frame (10) has opposite first and second sides, the first cover (41) and the second cover (42) are located on the first side, and the third cover is located on the second side, the first cover (41) is in sealing connection with the outer frame (10) and the crossbeam (20) to cover the opening of the module compartment (11) on the first side, the second cover (42) is in sealing connection with the outer frame (10) and the crossbeam (20) to cover the opening of the electrical compartment (12) on the first side, and the third cover is in sealing connection with the outer frame (10) to cover the openings of the module compartment (11) and the electrical compartment (12) on the second side.

9. The battery pack of claim 8, wherein, The battery box further comprises a first sealing gasket (51), a second sealing gasket (52) and a third sealing gasket, the first sealing gasket (51) is arranged between the periphery of the first cover (41) and the outer frame (10) and the crossbeam (20), the second sealing gasket (52) is arranged between the periphery of the second cover (42) and the outer frame (10) and the crossbeam (20), and the third sealing gasket is arranged between the periphery of the third cover and the outer frame (10).

10. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein, The outer frame (10) is a rectangular structure, the outer frame (10) comprises a front beam (13), a rear beam (14) and two side beams (15), the front beam (13) and the rear beam (14) are arranged opposite to each other, the two side beams (15) are arranged opposite to each other, and the two ends of the crossbeam (20) are connected with the two side beams (15) respectively; the front beam (13) has a first pressure relief channel, the side beam (15) has a second pressure relief channel, the rear beam (14) has a third pressure relief channel, and the rear beam (14) is provided with an explosion-proof valve (60), and the front beam (13) has a pressure relief port; wherein, the module compartment (11), the pressure relief port, the first pressure relief channel, the second pressure relief channel, the third pressure relief channel and the explosion-proof valve (60) are sequentially communicated.

11. A battery pack comprising a battery module (71), an electrical structure (72) and the battery box of any one of claims 1 to 10, the battery module (71) being installed in the module compartment (11) of the battery box, the electrical structure (72) being installed in the electrical compartment (12) of the battery box, the battery module (71) and the electrical structure (72) being electrically connected through the adapter (30) of the battery box; wherein, The module compartment (11) is filled with foaming glue (73).

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