Waterproof housing, waterproof power supply and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

The present invention discloses a waterproof housing, a waterproof power supply, and a manufacturing method thereof. The waterproof housing includes a main housing made of thermally conductive plastic, the main housing including a housing with an open end and a cover body adapted to the open end of the housing; the cover body and the open end of the housing are provided with mutually matching concave-convex structures; the cover body is fitted onto the open end of the housing via the concave-convex structure and is fixedly connected to the open end of the housing by vibration friction welding, forming a closed main housing with the housing. In the present invention, the main housing of the waterproof housing is made of thermally conductive plastic, thereby having a heat dissipation function and improving the heat dissipation capacity of the waterproof battery; the housing and the cover body of the waterproof housing are sealed and connected as one body by vibration friction welding, and the weld has excellent strength, airtightness, and impact resistance, thereby improving the waterproof effect. The process is simple and easy to operate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of power supplies, and in particular to a waterproof housing, a waterproof power supply and a manufacturing method thereof. Background Art

[0002] With the advancement of technology and the deepening of underwater exploration, underwater equipment is becoming increasingly common. Waterproof power supplies are finding applications in a wide range of industries, including diving entertainment, underwater salvage, aquaculture, and national defense. Existing waterproof power supply casings are typically made of plastic, which offers a simple and low-cost production process. Injection molding also allows for the easy formation of complex structures.

[0003] However, most plastics have poor thermal conductivity, resulting in poor heat dissipation in waterproof power supplies. Combining the current production process of waterproof power supplies with the actual application results of the products, it can be concluded that the current waterproof power supplies have the following problems:

[0004] 1. Poor heat dissipation. The battery pack of a waterproof power bank is sealed in a plastic shell. For many batteries that discharge at a high rate, a large amount of heat will be generated during the discharge process. However, the thermal conductivity of the plastic shell is poor, and the heat is concentrated inside the shell and difficult to dissipate, causing damage to the battery and even posing a safety hazard.

[0005] 2. Poor waterproofing. Battery packs have high requirements for ambient temperature. Many plastic hot-melt welding processes can cause the battery pack inside the shell to heat up and damage it. Therefore, it's difficult to achieve a completely airtight connection between the upper and lower shells, resulting in poor waterproofing.

[0006] 3. Complex production processes. As mentioned in point 2, the environmental limitations of battery packs make many plastic hot-melt welding processes unsuitable for waterproof power supply enclosures. Therefore, current waterproof power supply enclosures rely primarily on sealing with glue. However, this process requires strict glue quantity control, placing high demands on employees, and the sealant needs to be specifically selected for each plastic material, making product consistency difficult to guarantee. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a waterproof housing with heat dissipation function for a waterproof power supply, a waterproof power supply with such a housing and a manufacturing method thereof, in view of the defects of the above-mentioned prior art.

[0008] The present invention solves the technical problem by adopting the following technical solution: providing a waterproof housing for a waterproof power supply, the waterproof housing comprising a main housing made of thermally conductive plastic, the main housing comprising a housing with one end open and a cover adapted to the open end of the housing;

[0009] The cover body and the open end of the shell are provided with mutually matching concave and convex structures; the cover body is matched with the open end of the shell through the concave and convex structure, and is fixedly connected to the open end of the shell by vibration friction welding, forming a closed main shell with the shell.

[0010] Preferably, the thermally conductive plastic comprises a resin matrix, a thermal conductive agent, a flame retardant and a reinforcing agent.

[0011] Preferably, the resin matrix includes at least one of PA, PC and ABS; the thermal conductor includes at least one of AlN, SiC, Al2O3, MgO and ZnO; and the reinforcing agent includes glass fiber.

[0012] Preferably, the concave-convex structure includes an annular groove provided on the mating end surface of the cover body facing the housing and extending along the circumference of the cover body, and an annular protrusion provided on the end surface of the open end of the housing corresponding to the annular groove;

[0013] The annular protrusion is fitted into the annular groove and connected to the annular groove through vibration friction welding, so that the cover is sealed and connected to the housing.

[0014] Preferably, two annular glue positions spaced apart from each other and extending circumferentially along the cover body are provided on the mating end surface of the cover body facing the shell, and the interval between the two annular glue positions forms the annular groove.

[0015] Preferably, after the annular protrusion is connected to the bottom surface of the annular groove, a gap is left between the annular glue portion located on the outer side of the cover and the end surface of the shell opening;

[0016] The height H1 of the annular protrusion is greater than the depth H2 of the annular groove, and H1, H2 and the width H3 of the gap satisfy H1=H2+H3+0.2 mm.

[0017] Preferably, the cover body is provided with reinforcing rib structures distributed at intervals along its circumference.

[0018] Preferably, the waterproof housing further comprises a support plate arranged in the open end of the housing; and / or,

[0019] The waterproof housing further comprises two output terminals which are embedded in the outer surface of the housing and are spaced apart from each other.

[0020] The present invention also provides a waterproof power supply, comprising the waterproof housing described in any one of the above items, a battery pack disposed in a shell of the waterproof housing, and thermally conductive silica gel that seals the battery pack in the waterproof housing.

[0021] Preferably, the support plate of the waterproof housing covers the battery pack and is located between the battery pack and the cover;

[0022] The positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet of the battery pack are electrically connected to the positive terminal and the negative terminal on the waterproof shell respectively.

[0023] The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a waterproof power supply, comprising the following steps:

[0024] S1. Place the battery pack into the housing through the open end of the housing, and electrically connect the positive and negative electrodes of the battery pack to the two output terminals on the housing respectively;

[0025] S2. Pour thermal conductive silica gel into the housing, and seal the battery pack in the housing after the thermal conductive silica gel is cured;

[0026] S3. Install the housing and cover containing the battery pack into the lower mold and upper mold of the vibration friction machine respectively;

[0027] S4. Start the vibration friction machine, fit the cover onto the open end of the shell and perform vibration friction welding to obtain a waterproof power supply.

[0028] Preferably, in step S2, after the thermally conductive silicone is cured, a support plate is placed in the open end of the shell, and glue is applied between the outer periphery of the support plate and the inner wall of the shell, and the support plate is fixed in the shell.

[0029] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: the main shell of the waterproof shell is made of thermally conductive plastic, thus having a heat dissipation function, thereby improving the heat dissipation capacity of the waterproof battery; the shell and the cover of the waterproof shell are sealed and connected as one by vibration friction welding, and the welding point has good strength, airtightness and impact resistance, thereby improving the waterproof effect, and the process is simple and easy to operate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, in which:

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of a waterproof power supply according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 1 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a waterproof power supply according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the inner surface structure of the middle cover;

[0034] Figure 4 is a schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of a waterproof power supply according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the enlarged structure of part A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] In order to have a clearer understanding of the technical features, purposes and effects of the present invention, specific embodiments of the present invention are now described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0037] like Figure 1-3 As shown, a waterproof power supply according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a waterproof housing, a battery pack 50 disposed in the waterproof housing, and a thermally conductive silica gel 60 that seals the battery pack 50 in the waterproof housing.

[0038] The waterproof housing may include a shell 10, a cover 20, a support plate 30 and two output terminals 40. One end of the shell 10 is open, and the battery pack 50 is placed therein through the open end of the shell 10. The cover 20 is fitted on the open end of the shell 10 to close the open end of the shell 10, forming a closed main shell with the shell 10. The support plate 30 is arranged in the open end of the shell 10, and is located between the battery pack 50 and the cover 20 in the shell 10. The two output terminals 40 are respectively a positive output terminal and a negative output terminal, which are electrically connected to the positive and negative plates of the battery pack 50, respectively. The two output terminals 40 are embedded in the outer surface of the shell 10 and are spaced apart. The two are insulated and not connected, and are used for external connection to a host, etc., so that the battery pack 50 is connected to the host through the output terminals 40.

[0039] The outer shape of the cover 20 corresponds to the shape of the open end of the housing 10, so that the two can cooperate to form a single main housing. The main housing is made of a thermally conductive plastic, which provides heat dissipation. The thermal conductivity of this thermally conductive plastic should be between 1.0 and 10 W / mK, preferably between 2.0 and 5.0 W / mK, depending on factors such as the battery pack structure, discharge rate, and main housing thickness.

[0040] The thermally conductive plastic comprises the following materials: a resin matrix, a thermal conductive agent, a flame retardant, and a reinforcing agent. Optionally, the resin matrix comprises at least one of PA, PC, and ABS; the thermal conductive agent comprises at least one of AlN, SiC, Al2O3, MgO, and ZnO; and the reinforcing agent comprises glass fiber.

[0041] To improve the sealing between the cover 20 and the housing 10, the cover 20 and the housing 10 are provided with mating concave and convex structures. The cover 20 fits over the housing 10's open end via the concave and convex structures and is fixedly connected to the open end of the housing 10 by vibration friction welding, forming a closed main housing.

[0042] In this embodiment, the concave-convex structure includes an annular groove 21 provided on the mating end surface of the cover 20 facing the housing 10, and an annular protrusion 11 provided on the end surface of the housing 10 at the open end, corresponding to the annular groove 21. The annular groove 21 extends along the circumference of the cover 20 on the mating end surface. When the cover 20 is placed on the housing 10, the annular groove 21 is aligned with the annular protrusion 11, and the annular protrusion 11 is fitted into the annular groove 21, achieving a snap fit between the cover 20 and the housing 10. The annular protrusion 11 and the annular groove 21 are then welded together through vibration friction welding, achieving a sealed connection between the cover 20 and the housing 10.

[0043] Specifically, if Figure 3 As shown, the mating end surface of the cover 20 facing the housing 10 is provided with two annular adhesive spots 22 spaced apart from each other and extending circumferentially along the cover 20. One of the two annular adhesive spots 22 is positioned within the inner circle of the other. The gap between the two annular adhesive spots 22 forms an annular groove 21. The arrangement of the annular adhesive spots 22 and the annular protrusion 11 can be similar to the arrangement of the female and male stoppers, respectively.

[0044] like Figure 4 、 5 As shown, in some selected embodiments, the depth H2 of the annular groove 21 is 1.2 mm to 3 mm, the height H1 of the annular protrusion 11 is 2 mm to 4 mm, and the thickness can be 2.0 mm to 3.5 mm; the thickness of the annular protrusion 11 is less than the depth of the annular groove 21. When the annular protrusion 11 is fitted into the annular groove 21, a gap is left between the two opposite surfaces of the annular protrusion 11 and the inner wall surface opposite to the annular groove 21, and the gap can be 0.6 mm to 2 mm.

[0045] After the annular protrusion 11 meets the bottom surface of the annular groove 21, a gap 12 is left between the outer annular adhesive portion 22 of the cover 20 and the open end surface of the housing 10. The width H3 of the gap 12 can be 0.8mm to 1.5mm. The height H1 of the annular protrusion 11 is greater than the depth H2 of the annular groove 21. The relationship between H1, H2, and H3 satisfies H1 = H2 + H3 + 0.2mm.

[0046] Furthermore, the cover 20 is provided with reinforcing rib structures 23 spaced apart along its circumference, for increasing the strength of the cover 20 and preventing deformation during vibration friction welding. Figure 3 As shown in FIG, the cover body 20 includes a cover plate 201 and a side plate 202 connected to the periphery of the cover plate 201, and a reinforcing rib structure 23 is fixed at the connection between the cover plate and the side plate. The reinforcing rib structure 23 can be Figure 3 The triangular plate in the figure can of course be of other shapes. The annular groove 21 and the annular glue position 22 are both arranged on the end surface of the side plate 202 facing the housing 10.

[0047] The support plate 30 is disposed within the open end of the housing 10, adjacent to the cover 20, to support the housing 10 and prevent deformation during vibration friction welding. Within the open end of the housing 10, the outer periphery of the support plate 30 is tightly fitted against the inner wall of the housing 10, or the support plate 30 is secured within the housing 10 using a sealant.

[0048] The support plate 30 can be a high-strength heat-conducting plastic plate, a steel plate, an aluminum alloy plate, etc. The heat-conducting plastic plate can further be an epoxy plate, a PC plate, etc.

[0049] The two output terminals 40 are insulated from each other on the outer surface of the housing 10. Each output terminal 40 can be a spring structure, which can be stably plugged into a connection terminal of a host device or the like through elastic force to achieve electrical connection.

[0050] Corresponding to the two output terminals 40 , the housing 10 may be provided with two spaced apart slots 13 , with one output terminal 40 embedded in one slot 13 .

[0051] The battery pack 50 is mainly accommodated in the space of the housing 10 below the support plate 30 , and thermally conductive silica gel 60 is poured into the space to seal the battery pack 50 .

[0052] refer to Figure 1-5 The manufacturing method of a waterproof power supply according to an embodiment of the present invention may include the following steps:

[0053] S1. Place the battery pack 50 into the housing 10 from the open end. The side of the battery pack 50 with the positive electrode sheet 61 and the negative electrode sheet 62 faces the side of the housing with the output terminals 40. Electrically connect the positive and negative electrode sheets of the battery pack 50 to the two output terminals 40 on the housing 10, respectively.

[0054] The connection between the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet and the two output terminals 40 can be achieved by plugging or by fitting.

[0055] S2 . Pour thermal conductive silicone 60 into the housing 10 . After the thermal conductive silicone 60 is cured, the battery pack 50 is sealed in the housing 10 .

[0056] The thermal conductivity of the injected thermally conductive silica gel 60 is 1.0 to 5.0 W / mK, preferably 1.5 to 3.0 W / mK.

[0057] After the thermally conductive silicone 60 is cured, the support plate 30 is placed in the open end of the housing 10 , and glue is applied between the outer periphery of the support plate 30 and the inner wall of the housing 10 to fix the support plate 30 in the housing 10 .

[0058] After the support plate 30 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the shell 10 , the battery pack 50 is sealed in the space inside the shell 10 below the support plate 30 .

[0059] S3. Install the housing 10 and the cover 20 containing the battery pack 50 into the lower mold and the upper mold of the vibration friction machine respectively.

[0060] S4. Start the vibration friction machine, fit the cover 20 onto the open end of the housing 10 and perform vibration friction welding, so that the cover 20 is sealed on the housing 10 to obtain a waterproof power supply.

[0061] When the cover 20 is fitted onto the open end of the housing 10 , the annular groove 21 on the cover 20 is aligned and fitted with the annular protrusion 11 on the open end of the housing 10 .

[0062] The waterproof power supply of the present invention was tested for air tightness, and the results were as follows:

[0063] Under the condition of initial pressure of 1.0MPa and maintaining it for 30min, the air pressure drops to 0; according to the water pressure calculation formula P=ρgh, it can be calculated that the waterproof power supply can be safely used in water at a depth of 100M.

[0064] The waterproof power supply was dropped from a height of 1m 6 times and then subjected to an airtightness test. The air pressure dropped to 0, indicating that the welds welded by vibration friction welding have good strength and impact resistance.

[0065] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structures or equivalent process changes made using the contents of the present invention's description and drawings, or directly or indirectly applied to other related technical fields, are also included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A waterproof housing for a waterproof power supply, characterized in that: The waterproof housing includes a main shell made of thermally conductive plastic, the main shell including a shell with an open end and a cover adapted to the open end of the shell; the opening of the shell is used for the battery pack to be placed therein; The cover and the open end of the shell are provided with mutually matching concave and convex structures; the cover is matched with the open end of the shell through the concave and convex structure, and is fixedly connected to the open end of the shell by vibration friction welding, forming a closed main shell with the shell; The concave-convex structure includes an annular groove provided on the mating end surface of the cover body facing the housing and extending along the circumferential direction of the cover body, and an annular protrusion provided on the end surface of the open end of the housing corresponding to the annular groove; the annular protrusion is fitted in the annular groove and connected to the annular groove by vibration friction welding, so that the cover body is sealed and connected to the housing; The mating end surface of the cover body facing the shell is provided with two annular adhesive positions spaced apart from each other and extending circumferentially along the cover body, with the gap between the two annular adhesive positions forming the annular groove; when the annular protrusion is fitted into the annular groove, a gap is left between the two opposing surfaces of the annular protrusion and the opposing inner wall surfaces of the annular groove; after the annular protrusion contacts the bottom surface of the annular groove, a gap is left between the annular adhesive position located on the outer side of the cover body and the end surface of the shell opening; the height H1 of the annular protrusion is greater than the depth H2 of the annular groove, and H1, H2 and the width H3 of the gap satisfy H1=H2+H3+0.2mm; The thermal conductive plastic includes a resin matrix, a thermal conductive agent, a flame retardant, and a reinforcing agent; the resin matrix includes at least one of PA, PC, and ABS; the thermal conductive agent includes at least one of AlN, SiC, Al2O3, MgO, and ZnO; and the reinforcing agent includes glass fiber. The waterproof housing further comprises a support plate disposed in the open end of the housing, the support plate being close to the cover in the open end of the housing and being used to support the housing to prevent the housing from being deformed during vibration friction welding; The waterproof housing also includes two output terminals embedded in the outer surface of the shell and separated from each other. The two output terminals are insulated from each other on the outer surface of the shell. Each output terminal is a spring structure, which is stably plugged into the connection terminal of the host through elastic force to achieve electrical connection.

2. The waterproof housing according to claim 1, wherein: The cover body is provided with a reinforcing rib structure distributed at intervals along its circumference.

3. A waterproof power supply, characterized in that: The invention comprises the waterproof housing according to any one of claims 1 to 2, a battery pack arranged in a shell of the waterproof housing, and thermally conductive silica gel for sealing the battery pack in the waterproof housing.

4. The waterproof power supply according to claim 3, characterized in that: The support plate of the waterproof housing covers the battery pack and is located between the battery pack and the cover; The positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet of the battery pack are electrically connected to the positive terminal and the negative terminal on the waterproof shell respectively.

5. A method for manufacturing a waterproof power supply according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1. Place the battery pack into the housing through the open end of the housing, and electrically connect the positive and negative electrodes of the battery pack to the two output terminals on the housing respectively; S2. Pour thermal conductive silica gel into the housing, and seal the battery pack in the housing after the thermal conductive silica gel is cured; S3. Install the housing and cover containing the battery pack into the lower mold and upper mold of the vibration friction machine respectively; S4. Start the vibration friction machine, fit the cover onto the open end of the shell and perform vibration friction welding to obtain a waterproof power supply.

6. The method for manufacturing a waterproof power supply according to claim 5, characterized in that: In step S2, after the thermally conductive silicone is cured, a support plate is placed in the open end of the shell, and glue is applied between the outer periphery of the support plate and the inner wall of the shell to fix the support plate in the shell.

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