A battery module

Abstract

The application discloses a battery module, which comprises battery cells, battery cell separators, end plates, side plates, electrical isolation plates, connecting pieces, wire harnesses and upper covers. The battery cell separators are arranged between adjacent battery cells. The battery cells and the battery cell separators are fixed into small assemblies through UV glue. A plurality of small assemblies are stacked. End plates are arranged at both ends of the small assembly stacking direction. Side plates are arranged at both sides of the small assembly stacking direction. The end plates are welded with the side plates. The battery cells are connected in series or parallel through the connecting pieces to form the battery module. The application solves the problem of large thickness tolerance of the battery cells and the battery cell separators by controlling the thickness of the UV glue, guarantees the accuracy requirement of the module length after grouping, and the battery cell separators adopt a material that can transmit ultraviolet light. The UV glue can be quickly cured through ultraviolet lamp irradiation, and the production efficiency is improved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of energy storage, in particular to a battery module. BACKGROUND

[0002] The battery module is the "heart" of the electric vehicle. The battery module is the core part of the new energy transportation tool such as the pure electric vehicle and the hybrid electric vehicle to provide power energy. The main function of the battery module is to protect the battery cell and output power energy, and the structural design of the battery module is a very key link to protect the safety of the battery cell.

[0003] The prior art generally provides a back-shaped rubber ring between the battery cells, and the length of the module is controlled by the compressibility of the back-shaped rubber ring through the clamping force applied to the two end plates. This assembly method has two main problems: 1. The compression amount of each back-shaped rubber ring in the module is uncontrollable. The thickness tolerance of the battery cell at different positions in the manufacturing process is large due to the current manufacturing level of the battery cell industry. The tolerance is absorbed by the compressibility of the back-shaped rubber ring, but the pressure and compression amount of the back-shaped rubber ring in the module assembly process are uncontrollable, which can cause the length accuracy of the module to be very poor after assembly. 2. The performance of the back-shaped rubber ring changes greatly under high and low temperature conditions. The back-shaped rubber ring will become soft under high temperature conditions, which may cause the battery cells to contact each other and cause adverse consequences. SUMMARY

[0004] In view of the deficiencies of the prior art, the present application provides a battery module to solve the problem of large thickness tolerance of the battery cell and the battery cell separator.

[0005] In order to achieve the above purpose, the embodiments of the present application provide a battery module, which comprises a battery cell, a battery cell separator and UV glue. The battery cell and the battery cell separator are fixed by the UV glue to form a separate small assembly. A plurality of small assemblies are stacked along the thickness direction of the battery cell to form the battery cell main body of the battery module.

[0006] Further, the shape of the battery cell separator includes an I-shaped, a back-shaped, a positive U-shaped, a negative U-shaped, a two-vertical-bar-shaped, a two-horizontal-bar-shaped and a four-point-shaped.

[0007] Further, the battery cell separator is made of plastic material that can transmit ultraviolet light.

[0008] Further, the battery cell separator main body has a first surface and a second surface. The battery cell separator main body first surface is provided with a UV glue coating area and a glue overflow groove.

[0009] Further, the UV glue coating area is arranged on the first surface in the following manner: four corners, a back-shaped ring, two horizontal bars, two vertical bars, a positive U-shaped, a negative U-shaped and a combination thereof.

[0010] Further, the glue overflow groove surrounds the UV glue coating area.

[0011] Further, the second surface of the cell separator body is provided with a reference surface boss.

[0012] Further, the UV glue coating area corresponds to the reference surface boss.

[0013] Further, the reference surface boss is in the shape of a rectangle, C, W, O, Y, circle or triangle.

[0014] Further, the edges of the cell separators in adjacent small assemblies do not contact.

[0015] Further, the cell separators in adjacent small assemblies leave a cell expansion area at the central position of the cell.

[0016] Further, the bonding thickness of the UV glue can be adjusted.

[0017] In the battery module provided in the present application, the manufacturing tolerance of the cell and the cell separator can be controlled by controlling the bonding thickness of the UV glue, solving the problem of large thickness tolerance of the cell and the cell separator. The cell expansion space is left at the central position of the cell in adjacent small assemblies, which can reserve space for cell expansion and ensure the safety of the module. The second surface of the cell separator body is provided with a reference surface boss, which can be quickly positioned during the stacking of the small assemblies, improving production efficiency and manufacturing precision. In addition, the edges of the cell separators in adjacent small assemblies do not contact, which will not transmit force, avoiding deformation of the cell separator and affecting the safety of the module. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 It is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the battery module.

[0019] Figure 2 It is a side view of the cell separator of the first embodiment of the battery module.

[0020] Figure 3 It is a schematic view of one side of the first surface of the small assembly of the first embodiment of the battery module.

[0021] Figure 4 It is a schematic view of one side of the second surface of the small assembly of the first embodiment of the battery module.

[0022] Figure 5 It is an exploded view of the second embodiment of the battery module.

[0023] Figure 6Schematic diagram of the cell separator for the second embodiment of a battery module.

[0024] Figure 7 , Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the third embodiment of the cell separator for a battery module.

[0025] Figure 9 , Figure 10 Schematic diagram of the fourth embodiment of the cell separator for a battery module.

[0026] Figure 11 Schematic diagram of the fifth embodiment of the cell separator for a battery module.

[0027] Among them, 1 is a wire harness, 2 is an upper cover, 3 is a connecting piece, 4 is an electrical isolation board, 5 is a side plate, 6 is a cell separator, 61 is a side opening, 62 is a UV glue coating area, 63 is an overflow glue groove, 64 is a reference surface boss, 65 is an expansion area, 66 is a first surface, 67 is a second surface, 68 is a first separator, 69 is a second separator, 681 is the cell separator of the first embodiment, 682 is the cell separator of the second embodiment, 683 is the cell separator of the third embodiment, 685 is the cell separator of the fourth embodiment, 687 is the cell separator of the fifth embodiment, 7 is UV glue, 8 is a cell, 81 is a cell terminal, and 9 is an end plate. Specific embodiments

[0028] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0029] It should be understood that if there are terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", etc. indicating directions or positions, they are all descriptions made according to the directions or positions of the accompanying drawings for the convenience of those skilled in the art to understand the technical solutions of the present technology, and do not limit the present invention to be designed only in a specific direction or position.

[0030] As Figures 1 to 11 shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a battery module, including a cell 8, a cell separator 6, and UV glue 7. The cell 8 and the cell separator 6 are fixed by the UV glue 7 to form a separate sub-component, and a plurality of the sub-components are stacked along the thickness direction of the cell 8 to form the cell body of the battery module.

[0031] Furthermore, the shapes of the cell separator 6 include an I-shape, a square shape, a positive U-shape, an inverted U-shape, two vertical strip shapes, two horizontal strip shapes, and a four-point shape.

[0032] Further, the cell isolation piece 6 is made of plastic material which is permeable to ultraviolet light.

[0033] Further, the cell isolation piece 6 has a first surface 66 and a second surface 67, and the first surface 66 of the cell isolation piece 6 is provided with a UV glue coating area 62 and a glue overflow groove 63.

[0034] Further, the UV glue coating area 62 is arranged on the first surface 66 in the following manners: four corners, a figure-eight, two horizontal strips, two vertical strips, a normal U shape, an inverted U shape, and a combination of the above.

[0035] Further, the glue overflow groove 63 surrounds the UV glue coating area 62.

[0036] Further, the second surface 67 of the cell isolation piece 6 is provided with a reference surface boss 64.

[0037] Further, the UV glue coating area 62 corresponds to the reference surface boss 64.

[0038] Further, the reference surface boss 64 has a rectangular, C-shaped, W-shaped, O-shaped, Y-shaped, circular, or triangular shape.

[0039] Further, the edges of the cell isolation piece 6 in adjacent small assemblies do not contact each other.

[0040] Further, the cell isolation piece 6 in adjacent small assemblies is provided with a cell expansion area 65 at the central position of the cell 8.

[0041] Further, the bonding thickness of the UV glue 7 can be adjusted.

[0042] The following will specifically introduce several embodiments of the cell isolation piece:

[0043] As a first embodiment of the present application, as shown in Figure 1 , a battery module is composed of the first embodiment cell isolation piece 681, and the first embodiment cell isolation piece 681 is made of PC material, as shown in Figures 2-4 , and has a rectangular overall shape. The cell isolation piece 6 is provided with an oval side opening 61 at the central position of the side edge, and the main body of the cell isolation piece 6 is completely hollowed out at the position corresponding to the side opening 61 to form an expansion area 65. The battery module side plate 5 is provided with a ventilation opening at the position corresponding to the side opening 61 of the cell isolation piece 6. After the battery module is assembled, cooling gas can pass through the battery module through the ventilation opening on the battery module side plate 5, directly contact the cell 8, and cool the cell 8.

[0044] The expansion region 65 runs across the cell separator 6, and its width is the same as the height of the side opening 61. It can reserve expansion space for the cell 8. When the cell 8 expands due to heat during operation, the cell 8 will deform along its own thickness direction. The expansion region 65 can reserve enough space for this deformation and reduce the impact of the deformation of the cell 8 on the entire battery module.

[0045] Four UV adhesive coating areas 62 and an overflow groove 63 are respectively provided at the four vertices on one side of the cell separator 6. The UV adhesive coating area 62 is rectangular. A reference surface boss 64 is provided at the corresponding position on the other side of the cell separator 6. When assembling the battery module, the overflow groove 63 can accommodate excess UV adhesive 7 to prevent the UV adhesive 7 from overflowing and affecting the battery module's performance. The reference surface boss 64 can further compress the part of the cell 8 that contacts the UV adhesive 7, enhancing the bonding stability between the cell 8 and the cell separator 6.

[0046] Positioning devices are provided at both ends of the top of the cell separator 6, which can provide positioning assistance for two adjacent cell separators 6 during battery module assembly. A venting channel mounting position is provided at the top of the cell separator 6 corresponding to the explosion-proof valve of the cell 8. After all cells 8 and cell separators 6 are assembled, the venting channel is installed in the venting channel mounting position to collect the gas sprayed from the explosion-proof valve of the cell 8, prevent electrolyte from splashing everywhere, and further improve the safety of the entire battery module.

[0047] As another embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 5 As shown, a battery module is assembled using the cell separator 682 of the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the cell separator 682 of the second embodiment can be replaced by the cell separator 683 of the third embodiment, the cell separator 685 of the fourth embodiment, or the cell separator 687 of the fifth embodiment, depending on the situation. The cell separators of each embodiment will be further described below.

[0048] like Figure 5 As shown, in the second embodiment, the cell separator 682 is generally in the form of a rectangular frame structure. The center of the cell separator 682 is an expansion area 65, which provides space for the expansion of the cell 8. When the cell 8 expands due to heat during operation, the cell 8 will deform along its own thickness direction. The expansion area 65 can provide enough space for this deformation, reducing the impact of the deformation of the cell 8 on the entire battery module.

[0049] Two UV adhesive coating areas 62 and an overflow groove 63 are respectively provided on the two wide sides of the cell separator 6. The UV adhesive coating area 62 is rectangular. On the other side of the cell separator 6, a reference surface boss 64 is provided at the position corresponding to the UV adhesive coating area 62. During battery module assembly, the overflow groove 63 can accommodate excess UV adhesive 7 to prevent the UV adhesive 7 from overflowing and affecting the battery module's performance. The reference surface boss 64 can further compress the part of the cell 8 that contacts the UV adhesive 7, enhancing the bonding stability between the cell 8 and the cell separator 6.

[0050] like Figure 7 , Figure 8 As shown, in the third embodiment, the cell separator 683 is formed into a "U" shaped frame structure. The opening of the cell separator 6 is the expansion area 65, which provides space for the expansion of the cell 8. When the cell 8 expands due to heat during operation, the cell 8 will deform along its own thickness direction. The expansion area 65 can provide enough space for this deformation, reducing the impact of the deformation of the cell 8 on the entire battery module.

[0051] Two UV adhesive coating areas 62 and an overflow groove 63 are respectively provided on the two sides of the cell separator 6. The UV adhesive coating area 62 is rectangular. A reference surface boss 64 is provided on the other side of the cell separator 6 at the position corresponding to the UV adhesive coating area 62. During battery module assembly, the overflow groove 63 can accommodate excess UV adhesive 7 to prevent the UV adhesive 7 from overflowing and affecting the battery module's performance. The reference surface boss 64 can further compress the part of the cell 8 that contacts the UV adhesive 7, enhancing the bonding stability between the cell 8 and the cell separator 6.

[0052] It should be noted that, Figure 7 The cell isolation component 6 shown is a U-shaped frame with the opening facing upwards. Figure 8 The cell separator 6 shown is a U-shaped frame with the opening facing downwards. The two have the same structure, only the opening direction is different. Similarly, the opening of the U-shaped frame can also face the left or the right.

[0053] like Figure 9 , Figure 10 As shown, the cell separator 685 in the fourth embodiment consists of two parts: a first separator 68 and a second separator 69. The space between the first separator 68 and the second separator 69 is an expansion region 65, which provides space for the expansion of the cell 8. When the cell 8 expands due to heat during operation, the cell 8 will deform along its own thickness direction. The expansion region 65 can provide enough space for this deformation, reducing the impact of the deformation of the cell 8 on the entire battery module.

[0054] One layout scheme is as follows Figure 9As shown, the first separator 68 and the second separator 69 have the same height and are bonded to the two sides of the cell 8 respectively. Each separator is provided with a UV adhesive coating area 62 and an overflow groove 63. The UV adhesive coating area 62 is rectangular. On the other side of the cell separator 6, at a position corresponding to the UV adhesive coating area 62, a reference surface boss 64 is provided. During battery module assembly, the overflow groove 63 can accommodate excess UV adhesive 7 to prevent the UV adhesive 7 from overflowing and affecting the battery module's performance. The reference surface boss 64 can further compress the part of the cell 8 that contacts the UV adhesive 7, enhancing the bonding stability between the cell 8 and the cell separator 6.

[0055] Another layout scheme is as follows Figure 10 As shown, the first separator 68 and the second separator 69 are of the same length and are bonded to the two long sides of the cell 8 respectively. Each separator is provided with a UV adhesive coating area 62 and an overflow groove 63. The UV adhesive coating area 62 is rectangular. On the other side of the cell separator 6, at a position corresponding to the UV adhesive coating area 62, a reference surface boss 64 is provided. During battery module assembly, the overflow groove 63 can accommodate excess UV adhesive 7 to prevent the UV adhesive 7 from overflowing and affecting the battery module's performance. The reference surface boss 64 can further compress the part of the cell 8 that contacts the UV adhesive 7, enhancing the bonding stability between the cell 8 and the cell separator 6.

[0056] like Figure 11 As shown, the cell separator 687 in the fifth embodiment consists of four small components, with an expansion area 65 between the four small components, which provides space for the expansion of the cell 8. When the cell 8 expands due to heat during operation, the cell 8 will deform along its own thickness direction. The expansion area 65 can provide enough space for this deformation, reducing the impact of the cell 8 deformation on the entire battery module.

[0057] The small components 610 are respectively attached to the four vertices of the battery cell 8. Each small component 610 is provided with a UV adhesive coating area 62 and an overflow groove 63. The UV adhesive coating area 62 is rectangular. On the other side of the battery cell separator 6, at the position corresponding to the UV adhesive coating area 62, a reference surface boss 64 is provided. During battery module assembly, the overflow groove 63 can accommodate excess UV adhesive 7 to prevent the UV adhesive 7 from overflowing and affecting the battery module's performance. The reference surface boss 64 can further compress the part of the battery cell 8 that contacts the UV adhesive 7, enhancing the bonding stability between the battery cell 8 and the battery cell separator 6.

[0058] The above description represents the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications without departing from the principles of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1.A battery module, comprising a cell, a cell separator and a UV glue, characterized in that, the cell and the cell separator are fixed by the UV glue to form a single subassembly, and a plurality of the subassemblies are stacked along the thickness direction of the cell to form a cell body of the battery module; the cell separator comprises: a main body having an expansion area; a side edge connected to the main body, the side edge having a side edge opening in communication with the expansion area; a reference surface boss arranged between the main body and the cell and connected to the main body and the cell, respectively; the main body of the cell separator has a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of the main body of the cell separator is provided with a UV glue coating area and a glue overflow groove, the glue overflow groove surrounds the UV glue coating area, and the second surface of the main body of the cell separator is provided with the reference surface boss, the UV glue coating area corresponding to the reference surface boss. 2.The battery module of claim 1, characterized in that, the shape of the cell separator comprises an I-shaped, a U-shaped, a positive U-shaped, a negative U-shaped, a two-vertical-bar-shaped, a two-horizontal-bar-shaped, a four-point-shaped. 3.The battery module of claim 2, characterized in that, the cell separator is made of a plastic material that can transmit ultraviolet light. 4.The battery module of claim 2, characterized in that, the UV glue coating area is arranged on the first surface in the following ways: four corners, a coil, two horizontal bars, two vertical bars, a positive U-shaped or a negative U-shaped. 5.The battery module of claim 2, characterized in that, the reference surface boss is in the shape of a rectangle, a C-shaped, a W-shaped, an O-shaped, a Y-shaped, a circle or a triangle. 6.The battery module of claim 1, characterized in that, the edges of the cell separators of adjacent subassemblies do not contact each other. 7.The battery module of claim 1, characterized in that, the cell separators of adjacent subassemblies reserve the expansion area at the central position of the cell. 8.The battery module of claim 1, characterized in that, the bonding thickness of the UV glue is adjustable.

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