Battery module end plate and battery module

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of batteries, and more specifically, to a battery module end plate and a battery module. The battery module end plate includes: a first metal layer; a second metal layer; and a thermal insulation layer; the two opposite sides of the thermal insulation layer are respectively used to connect with the first metal layer and the second metal layer; the thermal insulation layer is provided with a connection hole for a connector to pass through, and the extension direction of the connection hole is parallel to the plane where the thermal insulation layer is located. The extension direction of the connection hole located in the thermal insulation layer is parallel to the plane where the thermal insulation layer is located; avoid contact between the connector and the first metal layer and the second metal layer, and avoid the cold of the liquid cooling plate from being transferred to the first metal layer and the second metal layer through the connector; improve the thermal insulation performance of the end plate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of batteries, and in particular, to a battery module end plate and a battery module. Background Art

[0002] The battery module includes battery cells and end plates. The end plates are used to clamp multiple battery cells and are fixed to form a battery module using module pull plates. In addition to constraining the battery cells, the end plates also have an important function of insulating the battery cells located at the ends of the battery module. Therefore, the main function of this application is to improve the thermal insulation performance of the end plates on the battery cells. Summary of the invention

[0003] The purpose of the embodiments of the present application is to provide a battery module end plate and a battery module, which are intended to improve the thermal insulation performance of the existing battery module end plate.

[0004] A first aspect of the present application provides a battery module end plate, the battery module end plate comprising:

[0005] A first metal layer;

[0006] a second metal layer; and

[0007] The thermal insulation layer; the two opposite sides of the thermal insulation layer are respectively used to connect with the first metal layer and the second metal layer; the thermal insulation layer is provided with a connecting hole for the connecting member to pass through, and the extending direction of the connecting hole is parallel to the plane where the thermal insulation layer is located.

[0008] The extension direction of the connection hole located in the insulation layer is parallel to the plane where the insulation layer is located; the connection piece is prevented from contacting the first metal layer and the second metal layer, and the cold energy of the liquid cooling plate is prevented from being transferred to the first metal layer and the second metal layer through the connection piece; and the thermal insulation performance of the end plate is improved.

[0009] In some embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, at least one broken bridge is provided on a side of the first metal layer facing the thermal insulation layer;

[0010] At least one broken bridge is provided on a side of the second metal layer facing the heat insulation layer;

[0011] Two opposite sides of the heat insulation layer are provided with thermal break bridges for connecting with the first metal layer and the second metal layer.

[0012] In some embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the thermal insulation layer includes a main board and a connecting plate connected to each other, the connecting hole is arranged on the connecting plate, and after the thermal insulation layer is connected to the first metal layer and the second metal layer, one end of the connecting plate protrudes from the end portions of the first metal layer and the second metal layer along the extension direction of the connecting hole.

[0013] After the end plate is connected to the battery cell, the ends of the first metal layer and the second metal layer do not directly contact the liquid cooling plate, which can prevent the cold energy from being transferred to the end plate through the ends of the first metal layer and the second metal layer, thereby effectively improving the thermal insulation performance of the end plate.

[0014] In some embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, one end of the connecting plate protrudes from an end portion of the main board along an extension direction of the connecting hole.

[0015] In some embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the main board includes a plurality of thermal insulation strips arranged at intervals, and the connecting plate is connected to an end of the main board.

[0016] In some embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the connecting plate is connected to the thermal insulation strip located at the end.

[0017] In some embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the battery module end plate further includes a connecting member, and the connecting member can extend into the connecting hole.

[0018] In some embodiments of the first aspect of the present application, the first metal layer, the second metal layer and the thermal insulation layer are each independently manufactured by injection molding or extrusion molding.

[0019] The second aspect of the present application provides a battery module, the battery module comprising a battery cell, a module pull plate, a liquid cooling plate and the battery module end plate described in the first aspect of the present application, the battery module end plate abuts against the end surface of the battery cell, the module pull plate abuts against the side surface of the battery cell and is connected to the battery module end plate;

[0020] The battery module end plate is connected to the liquid cooling plate via a connector.

[0021] In some embodiments of the second aspect of the present application, the first metal layer abuts against an end surface of the battery core;

[0022] The module pull plate is connected to the second metal layer.

[0023] The battery module provided by the embodiment of the present application has the advantages of the battery module end plate described above. In addition, the module pull plate is connected to the second metal layer of the end plate away from the battery cell, which prevents the heat of the battery cell from being transferred to the module pull plate through the first metal layer, thereby improving the temperature consistency of each battery cell in the battery module and further improving the service life of the battery. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show certain embodiments of the present application and therefore should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For ordinary technicians in this field, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0025] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a battery module from a first viewing angle provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0026] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing the structure of a battery module from a second viewing angle provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0027] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of the end plate provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0028] Figure 4 Shows Figure 2 Enlarged view of middle part IV;

[0029] Figure 5 An exploded view of an end plate provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0030] Figure 6 A schematic structural diagram of the heat insulation layer provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0031] Icon: 100-battery module; 110-battery cell; 130-module pull plate; 200-end plate; 201-connector; 202-broken bridge; 210-first metal layer; 220-second metal layer; 230-insulation layer; 231-connection hole; 232-main board; 233-connection plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the technical solution in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present application described and shown in the drawings here can be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0033] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present application provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the present application for which protection is sought, but merely represents selected embodiments of the present application. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in the field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0034] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters denote similar items in the following drawings, and therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, further definition and explanation thereof is not required in subsequent drawings.

[0035] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "up", "down", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inside", "outside", etc. indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, or are the orientations or positional relationships in which the products of the application are conventionally placed when in use, or are the orientations or positional relationships conventionally understood by those skilled in the art. They are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0036] Furthermore, the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, etc. are merely used for distinguishing descriptions and are not to be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0037] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, it is also necessary to explain that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "set", "install", "connect", and "connect" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two components. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0038] Example

[0039] Figure 1 1 shows a schematic structural diagram of a battery module 100 provided in an embodiment of the present application from a first viewing angle. Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a second perspective view of a battery module 100 provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The battery module 100 includes a battery cell 110 , a liquid cooling plate (not shown in the figure), a module pull plate 130 and an end plate 200 .

[0040] A battery module 100 includes a plurality of battery cells 110, which are arranged in sequence; a battery module 100 includes two end plates 200, which are respectively in contact with the end surfaces of the battery cells 110 at both ends; Figure 1 The liquid cooling plate is located at the bottom of the multiple battery cells 110 and is connected to the bottom surfaces of the multiple battery cells 110 , and the two end plates 200 are both connected to the liquid cooling plate; the module pulling plate 130 is attached to the side surfaces of the battery cells 110 and is connected to the two end plates 200 .

[0041] Furthermore, in an embodiment of the present application, the end plate 200 is connected to the liquid cooling plate via a connector 201; illustratively, the connector 201 may be a bolt; it is understandable that in other embodiments of the present application, the end plate 200 may be connected to the liquid cooling plate via other connectors 201, such as a clip, etc.

[0042] In the embodiment of the present application, there is no restriction on the structure and shape of the liquid cooling plate and the module pull plate 130 , and accordingly, there is no restriction on the number of the battery cells 110 .

[0043] Figure 3 The schematic diagram of the structure of the end plate 200 provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown in FIG. Figure 3 In the present application, the end plate 200 includes a first metal layer 210, a second metal layer 220 and a thermal insulation layer 230. The first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220 are both connected to the thermal insulation layer 230, and the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220 are respectively located on opposite sides of the thermal insulation layer 230.

[0044] Please refer again Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the embodiment of the present application, the first metal layer 210 is bonded to the battery cell 110. It should be noted that in other embodiments of the present application, the second metal layer 220 may be bonded to the battery cell 110.

[0045] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the module pull plate 130 is in contact with the side of the end plate 200 away from the battery cell 110. For example, in the embodiment where the first metal layer 210 is bonded to the battery cell 110, the module pull plate 130 is bonded to the second metal layer 220; the module pull plate 130 is in contact with the side of the end plate 200 away from the battery cell 110, so as to prevent the heat of the battery cell 110 from being transferred to the module pull plate 130 through the first metal layer 210, thereby improving the temperature consistency of each battery cell 110 in the battery module 100 and further improving the service life of the battery. It is understandable that in the embodiment where the second metal layer 220 is bonded to the battery cell 110, the module pull plate 130 is bonded to the first metal layer 210, which also has the above-mentioned effect.

[0046] It should be noted that in other embodiments of the present application, the module pull plate 130 may be connected to the end of the end plate 200 .

[0047] The heat insulating layer 230 is provided with a connecting hole 231 , through which the connecting member 201 can pass; the connecting member 201 passes through the connecting hole 231 and is then connected to the liquid cooling plate.

[0048] The extending direction of the connection hole 231 is parallel to the plane where the heat insulation layer 230 is located. Figure 1When the end plate 200 is in contact with the battery cell 110 , the extending direction of the connection hole 231 is parallel to the contact plane between the battery cell 110 and the end plate 200 .

[0049] One of the functions of the end plate 200 is to keep the battery cells 110 at the end warm, ensuring that the battery cells 110 at the end are kept at the same temperature as the battery cells 110 in the middle. The end plate 200 needs to be connected to the liquid cooling plate, and it is necessary to avoid as much as possible the cold energy of the liquid cooling plate from being transferred to the end plate 200 through the connector 201 and the connecting hole 231 and then to the battery cells 110. Therefore, in the present application, the connecting hole 231 is parallel to the plane where the thermal insulation layer 230 is located. It is possible to avoid the connection between the connecting hole 231 and the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220, so as to avoid the cold energy from being transferred to the battery cells 110 through the first metal layer 210.

[0050] In the embodiment of the present application, the connection hole 231 is a threaded hole, which can be used in conjunction with a threaded member. It should be noted that in other embodiments of the present application, the connection hole 231 can be other shapes, such as a through hole, etc.

[0051] Figure 4 Shows Figure 2 The enlarged view of the middle part IV, Figure 5 An exploded view of the end plate 200 provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown. Figure 6 A schematic structural diagram of the heat insulation layer 230 provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0052] See also Figure 4-Figure 6 In this embodiment, the heat insulating layer 230 includes a main board 232 and a connecting board 233, and the main board 232 and the connecting board 233 are connected; the connecting hole 231 is located on the connecting board 233. After the heat insulating layer 230 is connected to the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220, one end of the connecting board 233 protrudes from the end of the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220 along the extending direction of the connecting hole 231. In other words, along the extending direction of the connecting hole 231, one end of the connecting board 233 protrudes from the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220.

[0053] In other words, the edge of one end of the connecting hole 231 protrudes from the ends of the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220. When the end plate 200 is connected to the liquid cooling plate, since one end of the connecting plate 233 protrudes from the ends of the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220, only the end of the connecting plate 233 is in contact with the liquid cooling plate, and the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220 are not in contact with the liquid cooling plate, and the main board 232 is also not in contact with the liquid cooling plate. This can prevent the coldness of the liquid cooling plate from being transferred to the battery cell 110 through the ends of the first metal layer 210, the second metal layer 220, and the main board 232. The thermal insulation performance of the end plate 200 is greatly improved.

[0054] In this embodiment, the material of the first metal layer 210 is aluminum alloy, the material of the second metal layer 220 is aluminum alloy, and the material of the thermal insulation layer 230 can be at least one of nylon-66, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, polypropylene, polyphenylene ether, etc.

[0055] Alternatively, in other embodiments of the present application, the material of the first metal layer 210 may be other metal materials or alloy materials; the material of the second metal layer 220 may also be other materials; and the material of the thermal insulation layer 230 may also be other thermal insulation materials.

[0056] In this embodiment, the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220 are both in the shape of thin plates, and their shapes are adapted to the ends of the battery core 110. The heat insulation layer 230 is located between the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220.

[0057] In the present application, the end plate 200 is connected to the liquid cooling plate via two connectors 201 . Accordingly, the thermal insulation layer 230 includes two connecting plates 233 . Each connecting plate 233 is provided with a connecting hole. In the present embodiment, the two connecting plates 233 are respectively located at opposite ends of the main board 232 .

[0058] It is understandable that in other embodiments of the present application, the end plate 200 may be provided with one, three or more connecting plates 233, and each connecting plate 233 is provided with a connecting hole. Accordingly, the positional relationship between the connecting plate 233 and the main board 232 is not limited to the two ends of the main board 232. For example, the connecting plate 233 may be located in the middle of the main board 232.

[0059] Further, in the embodiment of the present application, the end of the connecting plate 233 protrudes from the main board 232 along the extension direction of the connecting hole 231. In other words, after the end plate 200 is connected to the liquid cooling plate, the end of the connecting plate 233 contacts the liquid cooling plate, and the end of the main board 232 does not contact the liquid cooling plate, thereby preventing the cold energy of the liquid cooling plate from being transferred from the end of the main board 232 to the end plate 200 and then to the battery cell 110.

[0060] In the embodiment of the present application, the connecting plate 233 is not a whole plate, and the connecting plate 233 is formed by a plurality of heat-insulating strips arranged at intervals. In other words, the connecting plate 233 includes a plurality of heat-insulating strips, and the plurality of heat-insulating strips are arranged at intervals.

[0061] As described above, the heat insulation layer 230 is located between the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220 , and the connecting plate 233 includes a plurality of heat insulation strips, and the plurality of heat insulation strips are arranged between the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220 at intervals.

[0062] Please refer again Figure 3In this embodiment, at least one broken bridge 202 is provided on the side of the first metal layer 210 facing the thermal insulation layer 230; at least one broken bridge 202 is provided on the side of the second metal layer 220 facing the thermal insulation layer 230; and broken bridges 202 for connecting to the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220 are provided on both opposite sides of the thermal insulation layer 230.

[0063] In other words, the facing surfaces of the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220 are provided with the thermal break bridge 202 , the thermal insulation layer 230 is provided with the thermal break bridge 202 , and the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220 are connected to the thermal insulation layer 230 via the thermal break bridge 202 .

[0064] In the embodiment of the present application, the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220 are connected to the thermal insulation layer 230 via the thermal break bridge 202 , which is beneficial to improving the connection strength between the layers, increasing the degree of fit between the layers, and thereby increasing the thermal insulation performance of the end plate 200 .

[0065] As an example, in some embodiments of the present application, the first metal layer 210, the second metal layer 220 and the heat insulation layer 230 are each independently manufactured by injection molding or extrusion molding.

[0066] In other words, the first metal layer 210 can be manufactured by injection molding or extrusion molding; the second metal layer 220 can be manufactured by injection molding or extrusion molding; and the thermal insulation layer 230 can be manufactured by injection molding or extrusion molding.

[0067] Injection molding or extrusion molding can simplify the preparation process of the heat insulation layer 230, the first metal layer 210, and the second metal layer 220, and reduce the manufacturing cost. Injection molding or extrusion molding is conducive to quickly forming the thermal break bridge 202 and simplifying the preparation process.

[0068] In other embodiments of the present application, the first metal layer 210, the second metal layer 220 and the thermal insulation layer 230 may also be connected by other means, such as by bonding. Accordingly, in other embodiments of the present application, the first metal layer 210, the second metal layer 220 and the thermal insulation layer 230 may also be prepared by other means.

[0069] The end plate 200 provided in the embodiment of the present application has at least the following advantages:

[0070] The extension direction of the connection hole 231 located in the insulation layer 230 is parallel to the plane where the insulation layer 230 is located; avoid contact between the connecting piece 201 and the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220, and avoid the cold energy of the liquid cooling plate being transferred to the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220 through the connecting piece 201; improve the thermal insulation performance of the end plate 200.

[0071] Furthermore, one end of the connecting plate 233 where the connecting hole 231 is located protrudes from the ends of the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220. After the end plate 200 is connected to the battery cell 110, the ends of the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220 are not directly in contact with the liquid cooling plate, which can avoid the cold energy from being transferred to the end plate 200 through the ends of the first metal layer 210 and the second metal layer 220, thereby effectively improving the thermal insulation performance of the end plate 200.

[0072] The battery module 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application has the advantages of the above-mentioned end plate 200. In addition, the module pull plate 130 is connected to the metal layer (for example, the second metal layer 220) of the end plate 200 away from the battery cell 110, so as to prevent the heat of the battery cell 110 from being transferred to the module pull plate 130 through the first metal layer 210, thereby improving the temperature consistency of each battery cell 110 in the battery module 100 and further improving the service life of the battery.

[0073] The above description is only the preferred embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. For those skilled in the art, the present application may have various modifications and variations. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. made within the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A battery module end plate, characterized in that: The battery module end plate comprises: A first metal layer; a second metal layer; and Insulation layer; two opposite sides of the insulation layer are respectively used to connect with the first metal layer and the second metal layer; the insulation layer is provided with a connection hole for a connector to pass through, and the extension direction of the connection hole is parallel to the plane where the insulation layer is located; At least one broken bridge is provided on a side of the first metal layer facing the thermal insulation layer; At least one broken bridge is provided on a side of the second metal layer facing the heat insulation layer; The two opposite sides of the heat insulation layer are provided with a thermal break bridge for connecting with the first metal layer and the second metal layer; The thermal insulation layer includes a main board and a connecting plate connected to each other, and the connecting hole is arranged on the connecting plate. After the thermal insulation layer is connected to the first metal layer and the second metal layer, one end of the connecting plate protrudes from the end portions of the first metal layer and the second metal layer along the extension direction of the connecting hole.

2. The battery module end plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of the connecting plate protrudes from the end of the main board along the extending direction of the connecting hole.

3. The battery module end plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main board includes a plurality of thermal insulation strips arranged at intervals, and the connecting plate is connected to any one of the thermal insulation strips.

4. The battery module end plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting plate is connected to the end of the main board.

5. The battery module end plate according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The battery module end plate also includes a connecting piece, and the connecting piece can extend into the connecting hole.

6. The battery module end plate according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The first metal layer, the second metal layer and the heat insulation layer are each independently made by injection molding or extrusion molding.

7. A battery module, characterized in that: The battery module comprises a battery cell, a module pull plate, a liquid cooling plate and a battery module end plate according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the battery module end plate abuts against an end surface of the battery cell, and the module pull plate abuts against a side surface of the battery cell and is connected to the battery module end plate; The battery module end plate is connected to the liquid cooling plate via a connector.

8. The battery module according to claim 7, characterized in that: The first metal layer abuts against the end surface of the battery core; The module pull plate is connected to the second metal layer.

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