An aluminum alloy battery pack for new energy vehicles

Abstract

The present invention discloses an aluminum alloy battery pack for new energy vehicles, which solves the problems that the distance between battery modules of the existing aluminum alloy battery pack changes and the copper busbar may be stretched and extruded, which may cause the copper busbar to break or the battery module to become loose, thus affecting the use of the battery pack. The present invention includes an upper housing, a lower housing, and a plurality of battery modules located between the upper housing and the lower housing. The battery modules are connected by conductive copper busbars. A screw passes through the conductive copper busbar and is connected to the upper end of the battery module. The upper housing is provided with a vertical downward connecting pipe, the connecting pipe is provided with internal threads and is connected to the screw. The upper housing is provided with a heat dissipation pipe, and the upper housing is in contact with the copper busbar. The present invention has the advantages of stable distance between battery modules and good overall heat dissipation performance of the battery modules.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of battery packs, and particularly to an aluminum alloy battery pack for new energy vehicles. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of new energy vehicles, the battery pack, as one of the core components, has also received much attention. A battery pack generally includes an outer casing and battery modules, and generally, copper bars with good electrical conductivity are used to connect between two groups of battery modules. However, as the battery discharges, the temperature of the battery modules will change, causing the distance between the battery modules to change. In this way, the conductive copper bars will be stretched or squeezed, resulting in metal fatigue or even fracture of the conductive copper bars. In addition, during the operation of the vehicle, the battery modules are in a vibrating state, and the distance will also change to a certain extent. On the other hand, the copper bars themselves will have temperature changes due to the temperature changes of the battery modules, resulting in changes in toughness, so that the stretching or contraction of the copper bars themselves will loosen the connection between the battery modules, having an adverse effect on the stable operation of the overall battery modules.

[0003] Based on the above technical problems, the main current technical means are as follows: First, enhance the heat dissipation of the entire battery module; Second, change the structure or material of the conductive copper bar. However, the above technical solutions still cannot effectively solve the problems of the change in the distance between the battery modules and the stretching and squeezing of the copper bars. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is that the change in the distance between the battery modules of the existing aluminum alloy battery pack and the stretching and squeezing of the copper bars may cause the copper bars to break or the battery modules to become loose, thereby affecting the use of the battery pack.

[0005] The present invention provides an aluminum alloy battery pack for new energy vehicles to solve the above problems.

[0006] The present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0007] An aluminum alloy battery pack for new energy vehicles includes an upper housing, a lower housing, and a plurality of battery modules located between the upper housing and the lower housing. The battery modules are connected by conductive copper bars. A screw passes through the conductive copper bar and is connected to the upper end of the battery module. The upper housing is provided with a vertically downward connecting pipe, and the connecting pipe is provided with internal threads and is connected to the screw.

[0008] The design principle of the present invention is: Threadedly connect the upper housing with the screw connecting the conductive copper bar and the battery module, so that the upper housing and the battery module are integrated. When the distance between the battery modules changes due to temperature changes or vibrations, the connection point between the upper housing and the screw is fixed and will not change due to the change in the distance between the battery modules, thus playing a good limiting role on the distance between the battery modules.

[0009] The present invention preferably relates to an aluminum alloy battery pack for new energy vehicles. The upper housing is provided with a stepped through-hole that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom in the vertical direction. The small-diameter end of the stepped through-hole is provided with an internal thread. The connecting pipe is threadedly connected to the stepped through-hole and the connecting pipe is an insulating pipe. The connecting pipe is first threadedly and tightly connected to the upper housing and then extends downward to be threadedly and tightly connected to the screw rod. Fastening the upper housing and the battery module into a whole is beneficial to limiting the distance between the battery modules.

[0010] Further, the connecting pipe is a hollow insulating bolt.

[0011] The present invention preferably relates to an aluminum alloy battery pack for new energy vehicles. An insulating pipe body with an internal thread is arranged in the connecting pipe, and the insulating pipe body is threadedly connected to the screw rod.

[0012] Further, the connecting pipe and the upper housing are integrally formed. The insulating pipe body is inserted or threadedly connected to the connecting pipe. The firm connection between the insulating pipe body and the connecting pipe helps to ensure the integrity of the upper housing and the battery module.

[0013] The present invention preferably relates to an aluminum alloy battery pack for new energy vehicles. The conductive copper bar includes connecting parts at both ends and a bent part in the middle. The screw rod connects the battery module and the connecting part.

[0014] The present invention preferably relates to an aluminum alloy battery pack for new energy vehicles. The upper housing located above the conductive copper bar is provided with a second concave part. An insulating and heat-conducting layer is arranged on the surface of the conductive copper bar. The second concave part is in contact with the insulating and heat-conducting layer, which can increase the heat dissipation of the conductive copper bar and prevent it from deforming due to temperature changes.

[0015] The present invention preferably relates to an aluminum alloy battery pack for new energy vehicles. The upper housing is provided with a heat dissipation pipe.

[0016] Further, the heat dissipation pipe is embedded in the upper housing. This embedding method can increase the contact area between the heat dissipation pipe and the upper housing, enhancing heat dissipation. Due to the heat dissipation of the heat dissipation pipe and the heat dissipation of the upper housing itself, the temperature change of the upper housing is not significant and no deformation will occur. Thus, it can further ensure that the distance between different connecting pipes of the upper housing remains unchanged and ensure the limiting effect on the battery modules.

[0017] The present invention preferably relates to an aluminum alloy battery pack for new energy vehicles. The bent part includes a protruding part and a concave part arranged at intervals. The conductive copper bar with this structure has good tensile and compressive properties.

[0018] Further, the heat dissipation pipe includes a straight pipe part and a bent part. The bent part is in contact with the second concave part, and the second concave part is in contact with the concave part of the conductive copper bar.

[0019] This can enable the heat dissipation tube and the conductive copper bar to have a larger contact area, resulting in better heat dissipation effect. The conductive copper bar has good thermal conductivity. When the heat generated by the battery module is transferred to the conductive copper bar, the conductive copper bar can quickly transfer it to the heat dissipation tube, preventing the deformation of the conductive copper bar due to the change of its own temperature. On the other hand, since the change in the diameter of the heat dissipation tube will cause the change in the flow rate of the heat dissipation medium, at the bending part, due to the increase in diameter, the flow rate becomes slower, and at the concave part, due to more heat exchange and higher temperature, while the temperature of the medium in the upper part is lower, the hot medium flows upward, thus sufficient heat exchange occurs. And at the junction, the change in flow rate is likely to cause turbulence, making the cold and hot media fully mixed and accelerating the heat exchange, thereby accelerating the heat conduction of the copper bar and preventing the copper bar from being deformed by force.

[0020] The present invention preferably relates to an aluminum alloy battery pack for new energy vehicles. A battery protection frame is arranged below the battery module, so that the lower part of the battery module can be limited in the battery protection frame to prevent the battery module from loosening.

[0021] The present invention preferably relates to an aluminum alloy battery pack for new energy vehicles. A second heat dissipation tube is embedded in the battery protection frame, and the second heat dissipation tube is communicated with the heat dissipation tube. Arranging the second heat dissipation tube at the bottom of the battery protection frame can further quickly dissipate the heat generated by the operation of the battery module. The embedded method can prevent the battery module from shaking caused by the unevenness of the bottom of the battery protection frame.

[0022] The present invention preferably relates to an aluminum alloy battery pack for new energy vehicles. The second heat dissipation tubes are multiple and arranged in parallel. Multiple heat dissipation tubes dissipate heat simultaneously, and the heat dissipation area is large.

[0023] Furthermore, the materials used for the upper shell and the lower shell are aluminum alloy. Aluminum alloy has good heat dissipation performance and is light in weight, which is beneficial to reducing the weight of the entire battery pack.

[0024] Furthermore, a conductive gasket is arranged between the screw rod and the top surface of the battery module in the connecting pipe. The conductive gasket is a copper sheet.

[0025] The present invention has the following advantages and beneficial effects:

[0026] 1. The present invention sets a connecting pipe at the lower end of the upper shell, which is threadedly connected to the screw rod connecting the conductive copper bar and the battery module, making the shell and the battery module integrated. And the distance between different connecting pipes is fixed. The distance between different battery modules is limited by the shell, effectively preventing the problem of the change in the distance between battery modules caused by the temperature change or vibration of the battery module, resulting in the fracture of the copper bar or the loosening of the battery module.

[0027] 2. The upper housing of the present invention is provided with heat dissipation tubes, which can enable the upper housing to dissipate heat quickly with little temperature change, fully ensuring that the distances between different connecting tubes are fixed.

[0028] 3. The conductive copper busbar of the present invention is provided with a concave portion, and the heat dissipation tube is provided with a bent portion matching the concave portion, so that the heat dissipation tube can contact the conductive copper busbar, increasing the heat dissipation of the conductive copper busbar and preventing the deformation caused by the temperature change of the copper busbar itself, which may lead to the instability of the entire battery module structure.

[0029] 4. The second heat dissipation tube is provided at the bottom of the battery protection frame of the present invention, which can achieve the overall heat dissipation of the battery module up and down, reduce the temperature change of the battery module, and extend the service life of the battery module and the conductive copper busbar. Description of the Drawings

[0030] The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the present invention, form a part of this application, and do not constitute a limitation to the embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings:

[0031] Figure 1 It is a schematic top view of the connection between the battery module and the copper busbar of the present invention

[0032] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 3 It is a schematic structural diagram of Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 4 It is a schematic structural diagram of the upper housing of Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 5 It is a bottom view of the battery protection frame of the present invention.

[0036] Marks in the drawings and corresponding component names:

[0037] 1 - Upper housing, 100 - Step through hole, 2 - Lower housing, 3 - Battery module, 4 - Conductive copper busbar, 40 - Front row conductive copper busbar, 41 - Rear row conductive copper busbar, 5 - Connecting tube, 50 - Insulating tube body, 6 - Screw, 7 - Heat dissipation tube, 70 - Bent portion, 71 - Vertical heat dissipation tube, 8 - Second heat dissipation tube, 9 - Battery protection frame, 10 - Heat dissipation medium supply device. Detailed Embodiments

[0038] To make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention clearer and more understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the embodiments and the drawings. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions thereof of the present invention are only used to explain the present invention and do not limit the present invention.

[0039] Embodiment 1

[0040] As Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown, an aluminum alloy battery pack for new energy vehicles includes an upper housing 1, a lower housing 2, and a plurality of battery modules 3 located between the upper housing 1 and the lower housing 2. The battery modules 3 are connected by conductive copper bars 4. A screw 6 passes through the conductive copper bar 4 and is connected to the upper end of the battery module 3. The upper housing 1 is provided with a connecting pipe 5 extending vertically downward. The connecting pipe 5 is provided with internal threads and is connected to the screw 6.

[0041] The upper housing 1 is threadedly connected to the screw 6 connecting the conductive copper bar 4 and the battery module 3, so that the upper housing 1 and the battery module 3 are integrated. When the distance between the battery modules 3 changes due to temperature changes or vibrations, the connection point between the upper housing 1 and the screw 6 is fixed and will not change due to the change in the distance of the battery modules 3, thereby playing a good limiting role in the distance between the battery modules 3.

[0042] Both sides of the upper housing 1 and the lower housing 2 are provided with connecting ears, and bolts are used to connect the upper housing 1 and the lower housing 2 through the connecting ears.

[0043] The upper housing 1 is provided with a stepped through hole 100 that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom in the vertical direction. The small-diameter end of the stepped through hole 100 is provided with internal threads. The connecting pipe 5 is threadedly connected to the stepped through hole 100. The connecting pipe 5 is first threadedly and tightly connected to the upper housing 1 and then extends downward to be threadedly and tightly connected to the screw 6. Fastening the upper housing 1 and the battery module 3 into a whole is beneficial to playing a limiting role in the distance between the battery modules 3.

[0044] The connecting pipe 5 is integrally insulated.

[0045] The upper housing 1 is provided with a heat dissipation pipe 7. The heat dissipation pipe 7 is embedded in the upper housing 1. The embedding method can increase the contact area between the heat dissipation pipe 7 and the upper housing 1 and enhance heat dissipation. Due to the heat dissipation effect of the heat dissipation pipe 7 and the heat dissipation effect of the upper housing 1 itself, the temperature change of the upper housing 1 is not large and no deformation will occur, thereby further ensuring that the distance between different connecting pipes 5 of the upper housing 1 remains unchanged and ensuring the limiting effect on the distance between the battery modules 3.

[0046] The heat dissipation pipe 7 includes a straight pipe portion and a bent portion 70.

[0047] The upper housing 1 located above the conductive copper bar 4 is provided with a second concave portion. An insulating and heat-conducting layer is provided on the surface of the conductive copper bar 4. The second concave portion is in contact with the insulating and heat-conducting layer on the surface of the conductive copper bar 4. The heat dissipation tube 7 is bent downward at the second concave portion to form a bent portion 70 and is in contact with the second concave portion, so that the heat dissipation effect is better. The conductive copper bar 4 has good heat conductivity. When the heat generated by the battery module 3 is transferred to the conductive copper bar 4, the conductive copper bar 4 can quickly transfer the heat to the upper housing and the heat dissipation tube 7, preventing the conductive copper bar 4 from deforming due to its own temperature change. On the other hand, since the change in the diameter of the heat dissipation tube 7 will cause a change in the flow rate of the heat dissipation medium, at the bent portion, due to the increase in diameter, the flow rate becomes slower. In the concave portion, due to more heat exchange, the temperature is high, while the temperature of the medium in the upper part is low. The high-temperature medium moves upward and the low-temperature medium moves downward, so sufficient heat exchange occurs. And at the junction, the change in flow rate easily causes turbulence, making the cold and hot media fully mixed and accelerating the heat exchange, thereby accelerating the heat conduction of the copper bar and preventing the copper bar from being deformed by force.

[0048] A battery protection frame 9 is provided below the battery module 3, so that the lower part of the battery module 3 can be limited in the battery protection frame 9 to prevent the battery module 3 from loosening.

[0049] Embodiment 2

[0050] As Figure 1 、 2 and Figure 5 shown, the difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that a second heat dissipation tube 8 is embedded in the battery protection frame 9. The second heat dissipation tube 8 is connected to the heat dissipation tube 7 through a vertical heat dissipation tube 71. By providing the second heat dissipation tube 8 at the bottom of the battery protection frame 9, the heat generated by the operation of the battery module 3 can be further quickly dissipated. The embedded method can prevent the battery module 3 from shaking caused by the uneven bottom of the battery protection frame 9.

[0051] The second heat dissipation tube 8 passes through the lower housing 2 and is embedded in the battery protection frame 9.

[0052] The second heat dissipation tubes 8 are multiple and are arranged in parallel. Multiple heat dissipation tubes 7 dissipate heat simultaneously, and the heat dissipation area is large.

[0053] The heat dissipation tubes 7 and the second heat dissipation tubes 8 are connected to a heat dissipation medium supply device 10. The heat dissipation medium supply device 10 inputs a heat dissipation medium into the heat dissipation tube 7, and the high-temperature heat dissipation medium of the second heat dissipation tube 8 returns to the heat dissipation medium supply device 10 for cooling. This is the prior art and will not be elaborated here.

[0054] The heat dissipation medium is water or air.

[0055] The materials used for the upper housing 1 and the lower housing 2 are aluminum alloy. Aluminum alloy has good heat dissipation performance and is light in weight, which is beneficial to reducing the weight of the entire battery pack.

[0056] A conductive copper sheet is provided between the screw rod 6 and the top surface of the battery module 3 and the connecting pipe 5.

[0057] Embodiment 3

[0058] As Figure 3 shown, the difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 2 is that the conductive copper busbar 4 includes connecting parts at both ends and a bent part in the middle, and the screw rod 6 connects the battery module 3 and the connecting part.

[0059] The bent part includes a convex part and a concave part arranged at intervals. The conductive copper busbar 4 with such a structure has good tensile and compressive properties.

[0060] The upper housing 1 is provided with a second concave part matching the concave part.

[0061] An insulating and heat-conducting layer is provided on the surface of the conductive copper busbar 4, and the bent part 70 is in contact with the second concave part.

[0062] Embodiment 4

[0063] As Figure 4 shown, the difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 3 is that the connecting pipe 5 and the upper housing 1 are integrally formed. An insulating pipe body 50 with internal threads is arranged in the connecting pipe 5, and the insulating pipe body 50 is threadedly connected with the screw rod 6. The insulating pipe body 50 is inserted or threadedly connected with the connecting pipe 5, and the insulating pipe body 50 is tightly connected with the connecting pipe 5, which helps to ensure the integrity of the upper housing 1 and the battery module 3.

[0064] In the above embodiments, the battery module 3 is in six groups, and the front row conductive copper busbar 40 and the rear row conductive copper busbar 41 are used to realize the connection between the battery modules 3.

[0065] In the present invention, the terms "upper", "lower", "middle", "bottom", "vertical", "perpendicular", "top", etc. are all based on the orientation shown in the drawings.

[0066] The above-described specific embodiments further elaborate on the purpose, technical solutions, and beneficial effects of the present invention. It should be understood that the above are only specific embodiments of the present invention and are not used to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present invention shall be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An aluminum alloy battery pack for new energy vehicles, comprising an upper housing (1), a lower housing (2), and a plurality of battery modules (3) located between the upper housing (1) and the lower housing (2). The battery modules (3) are connected by conductive copper bars (4). A screw (6) passes through the conductive copper bar (4) and is connected to the upper end of the battery module (3). Characterized in that, The upper housing (1) is provided with a connecting pipe (5) extending vertically downward. The connecting pipe (5) is provided with internal threads and is connected to the screw (6). The conductive copper bar (4) includes connecting parts at both ends and a bent part in the middle. The screw (6) connects the battery module (3) and the connecting part. The bent part includes an upper convex part and a lower concave part arranged at intervals. The upper housing (1) located above the conductive copper bar (4) is provided with a second lower concave part. The surface of the conductive copper bar (4) is provided with an insulating and heat-conducting layer. The second lower concave part is in contact with the insulating and heat-conducting layer. The upper housing (1) is provided with a heat dissipation pipe (7). The heat dissipation pipe (7) includes a straight pipe part and a bent part (70). The bent part (70) is in contact with the second lower concave part.

2. An aluminum alloy battery pack for new energy vehicles according to claim 1, Characterized in that, The upper housing (1) is provided with a stepped through hole (100) that is larger at the top and smaller at the bottom in the vertical direction. The small-diameter end of the stepped through hole (100) is provided with internal threads. The connecting pipe (5) is threadedly connected to the stepped through hole (100) and the connecting pipe (5) is an insulating pipe.

3. An aluminum alloy battery pack for new energy vehicles according to claim 1, Characterized in that, The connecting pipe (5) is integrally formed with the upper housing (1), and an insulating pipe body (50) with internal threads is arranged in the connecting pipe (5). The insulating pipe body (50) is threadedly connected to the screw (6).

4. An aluminum alloy battery pack for new energy vehicles according to any one of claims 1-3, Characterized in that, A battery protection frame (9) is arranged below the battery module (3).

5. An aluminum alloy battery pack for new energy vehicles according to claim 4, Characterized in that, A second heat dissipation pipe (8) is embedded in the battery protection frame (9). The second heat dissipation pipe (8) is communicated with the heat dissipation pipe (7).

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