Battery tray assembly and battery module

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of batteries, and particularly discloses a battery tray assembly and a battery module, the battery tray assembly comprising a plastic support and a tray, the plastic support comprising a frame and a plurality of fixing rings which are connected to each other, the fixing rings being provided with limiting protrusions which are attached to the outer side walls of the battery cells, the limiting protrusions and the fixing rings being capable of positioning the battery cells, the assembly precision being high, the plastic support being installed in the tray, the tray being provided with through avoiding holes at positions corresponding to the fixing rings, the tray ensuring that the battery tray assembly has sufficient strength, the plastic support ensuring that the insulation performance between the battery cells and the battery tray assembly is good, short circuit is not prone to occur, and the safety performance is good, and the limiting protrusions ensure that the battery cells are accurately positioned. The application provides a battery module which comprises a plurality of battery cells and the above-mentioned battery tray assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of battery technology, and more particularly to a battery tray assembly and a battery module. Background Technology

[0002] The tray structure of existing battery modules generally uses plastic or metal brackets. Among them, plastic brackets have poor strength, and during the use of battery modules, the cells are prone to deformation due to heat generation, resulting in poor cell fixation. In addition, the dimensional accuracy of plastic brackets is not high during manufacturing, leading to poor precision during cell assembly. Using materials with higher strength and manufacturing precision increases costs. For example, although metal brackets have good strength, their insulation performance is poor, requiring the addition of insulating films or sprayed insulating layers, which makes the manufacturing process cumbersome and costly.

[0003] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a battery tray assembly and battery module to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a battery tray assembly and battery module, which have high mechanical strength and good insulation performance, and the battery cells are accurately positioned and assembled with high precision.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] On one hand, the present invention provides a battery tray assembly for fixing a plurality of battery cells, the battery tray assembly comprising:

[0007] A plastic bracket includes interconnected frame edges and several fixed rings. Adjacent fixed rings are interconnected, and a limiting protrusion is provided at the connection between adjacent fixed rings. The limiting protrusion includes an arc surface, which fits against the outer wall of the battery cell. The bottom of the battery cell is connected to the upper end face of the fixed ring.

[0008] The tray has a plastic support inside it, and the tray has a through clearance hole corresponding to the position of the fixing ring.

[0009] Optionally, the battery tray assembly includes structural adhesive that securely connects the plastic support, the tray, and the battery cell.

[0010] Optionally, the limiting protrusion has a trapezoidal structure, and a V-shaped groove is provided on the side end face of the limiting protrusion that is not in contact with the battery cell.

[0011] Optionally, the fixing ring extends outward toward the tray with a first annular sidewall and a second annular sidewall. The first annular sidewall is connected to the outer ring of the fixing ring, and the second annular sidewall is connected to the inner ring of the fixing ring. An annular glue storage groove is formed between the first annular sidewall, the second annular sidewall, and the fixing ring.

[0012] Optionally, the diameter of the clearance hole is larger than the diameter of the inner ring of the fixing ring, and the diameter of the clearance hole is smaller than the diameter of the outer ring of the fixing ring. The height of the first annular sidewall is smaller than the height of the second annular sidewall. The end of the first annular sidewall abuts against the upper end face of the tray. The end of the second annular sidewall passes through the clearance hole. The end of the second annular sidewall is bent to form an annular flange. The annular flange abuts against the lower end face of the tray.

[0013] Optionally, the first annular sidewall is provided with a glue inlet, which is located at the end of the first annular sidewall and is connected to the annular glue storage tank.

[0014] Optionally, the lower end face of the tray is provided with reinforcing ribs, which are arranged around the clearance hole.

[0015] Optionally, the tray includes a bottom plate and side plates that are connected to each other, and the clearance hole is provided on the bottom plate.

[0016] Optionally, the upper end of the side plate extends outward to form a flange, and the upper end surface of the flange is provided with a mounting portion.

[0017] Optionally, a limiting block is provided on the outer wall of the side plate.

[0018] On the other hand, the present invention provides a battery module including a plurality of battery cells and a battery tray assembly of any of the above-described embodiments, wherein the plurality of battery cells are fixed within the battery tray assembly.

[0019] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0020] This invention provides a battery tray assembly, comprising a plastic support and a tray. The plastic support includes interconnected frame edges and several fixing rings. Limiting protrusions are provided at the connections between adjacent fixing rings. These limiting protrusions, together with the fixing rings, secure the battery cell. The side of the limiting protrusion that contacts the battery cell is curved, conforming to the outer wall of the battery cell. The plastic support is installed inside the tray. Through-holes corresponding to the positions of the fixing rings are provided on the tray. The plastic support, tray, and battery cell are fixedly connected using structural adhesive. By combining the plastic support and the tray, the tray ensures sufficient strength for the battery tray assembly. The plastic support ensures good insulation between the battery cell and the battery tray assembly, reducing the risk of short circuits and providing good safety. Furthermore, the limiting protrusions ensure accurate positioning of the battery cell and high assembly precision.

[0021] The present invention provides a battery module comprising a plurality of battery cells and the aforementioned battery tray assembly. The plurality of battery cells are fixed within the battery tray assembly. The battery tray assembly has high strength, which prevents the battery cells from deforming due to heat generation. Furthermore, the battery tray assembly has good insulation performance, making it less prone to short circuits. The battery cells are accurately positioned during assembly, resulting in high assembly precision. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the battery tray assembly provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the plastic bracket provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the plastic bracket provided in an embodiment of the present invention from another perspective;

[0026] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A magnified view of a section at point B in the middle;

[0027] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the assembled battery tray assembly provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A magnified view of a section at point C;

[0029] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the assembled battery tray assembly provided in an embodiment of the present invention from another perspective.

[0030] Figure 9 for Figure 8A magnified view of a section at point D.

[0031] In the picture:

[0032] 100. Plastic bracket; 110. Frame; 120. Fixing ring; 130. Limiting protrusion; 1301. Arc surface; 1302. V-groove; 140. First annular sidewall; 1401. Glue inlet; 150. Second annular sidewall; 160. Annular glue storage tank;

[0033] 200, Pallet; 201, Clearance hole; 210, Base plate; 220, Side plate; 221, Limiting block; 230, Flange; 231, Mounting part; 240, Reinforcing rib;

[0034] 300. Structural adhesive. Detailed Implementation

[0035] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0036] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. The terms "first position" and "second position" refer to two different positions. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the first feature in relation to the second feature includes the first feature directly above and diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "under," and "below" the first feature in relation to the second feature includes the first feature directly below and diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0037] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0038] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0039] like Figures 1-3 As shown, this embodiment provides a battery tray assembly, which includes a plastic bracket 100 and a tray 200. The plastic bracket 100 is installed inside the tray 200, and the plastic bracket 100, the tray 200, and the battery cell are fixedly connected by structural adhesive 300. The plastic bracket 100 includes interconnected frame 110 and a plurality of fixing rings 120. The fixing rings 120 are arranged in an array along a first direction and a second direction. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the first direction is the length direction of the frame 110, and the second direction is the width direction of the frame 110. Adjacent fixing rings 120 are interconnected, and a limiting protrusion 130 is provided at the connection between adjacent fixing rings 120. The limiting protrusion 130 includes an arc surface 1301, which fits against the outer wall of the battery cell. The bottom of the battery cell is connected to the upper end face of the fixing ring 120. Each limiting protrusion 130 includes two arc surfaces 1301, which are arranged opposite to each other and respectively fit against the sidewalls of two adjacent battery cells.

[0040] For example, in this embodiment, two adjacent rows of fixed rings 120 arranged along the first direction are staggered to form a triangular structure between three adjacent fixed rings 120. Each fixed ring 120 is connected to six adjacent fixed rings 120. Six limiting protrusions 130 are provided at the connection between a fixed ring 120 and the six adjacent fixed rings 120. The six limiting protrusions 130 and the fixed rings 120 jointly position a battery cell. The limiting protrusions 130 can clamp the side wall of the battery cell. The bottom of the battery cell abuts against the upper end face of the fixed ring 120. Thus, the limiting protrusions 130 and the fixed rings 120 play a role in positioning and pre-fixing the battery cell, ensuring accurate installation of the battery cell and facilitating the automated placement of the battery cell.

[0041] In some embodiments, the frame 110 and the fixing ring 120 can be integrally injection molded. The frame 110 and the fixing ring 120 are made of plastic or other materials with good insulation properties, while the tray 200 is made of metal. Since the bottom of the battery cell abuts against the fixing ring 120, the battery cell and the tray 200 will not directly contact each other, resulting in good insulation performance and preventing short circuits, thus ensuring high safety. In addition, generally, the bottom of the battery cell is provided with a pressure relief structure, and the tray 200 has a through-hole 201 corresponding to the position of the fixing ring 120. The through-hole 201 at the bottom of the fixing ring 120 and the tray 200 can avoid the pressure relief structure. When the pressure inside the battery cell is too high, the pressure relief structure can be broken open, and the contents can flow out of the battery module through the fixing ring 120 and the through-hole 201, preventing an explosion and further ensuring user safety.

[0042] Optionally, in some embodiments, the tray 200 may be made of stainless steel, thereby ensuring that the tray 200 has high mechanical strength, can provide good support for the plastic bracket 100, and is not easily deformed. More preferably, in some embodiments, the tray 200 may be integrally injection molded from aluminum. On the one hand, the tray 200 manufactured by injection molding has high precision, and the positioning of the clearance holes 201 on the tray 200 is accurate. On the other hand, aluminum also has high mechanical strength, which can provide good support for the plastic bracket 100.

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the plastic bracket 100, tray 200, and battery cells can be fixedly connected by structural adhesive 300. Specifically, during assembly, the plastic bracket 100 is installed inside the tray 200, and the fixing rings 120 are aligned with the clearance holes 201. Then, structural adhesive 300 is filled into the tray 200, allowing it to flow into the triangular structure formed by the three adjacent fixing rings 120 to fix the three adjacent battery cells. Since each triangular structure is filled with structural adhesive 300, the structural adhesive 300 can fix all battery cells to the plastic tray. The triangular structure helps to shorten the bonding path of the structural adhesive 300, increasing the fixing strength of the battery cells. The structural adhesive 300 also flows into the gap between the plastic bracket 100 and the tray 200, thereby fixing the plastic bracket 100 and the tray 200 together.

[0044] As an optional technical solution, the limiting protrusion 130 has a trapezoidal structure, and a V-groove 1302 is provided on the side end face of the limiting protrusion 130 that is not attached to the battery cell. By setting the limiting protrusion 130 to a trapezoidal structure, the bonding area at the top of the limiting protrusion 130 can be increased without changing the bottom limiting size of the limiting protrusion 130, thereby improving the strength of the battery cell assembly, resulting in a good fixing effect. Furthermore, the trapezoidal structure of the limiting protrusion 130 makes it easier to eject from the mold during the demolding process of injection molding, and the product has a good appearance. The V-groove 1302 serves two purposes. First, it extends the longest flow path of the structural adhesive 300, ensuring it completely fills the gaps between the battery cells and increasing the bonding area between the adhesive 300 and the limiting protrusion 130, thus improving the fixing strength. Second, it extends the length of the sidewall surface of the limiting protrusion 130 along its thickness direction, i.e., the side length at the apex of the triangle formed by the three fixing rings 120. The creepage distance between the two battery cells fixed by two adjacent fixing rings 120 is the width of the two fixing rings 120 along their radial direction plus the side length at the apex of the triangle, thereby increasing the creepage distance between adjacent battery cells and ensuring electrical safety. In addition, the V-groove 1302 also increases the creepage distance between the battery cells fixed by the fixing rings 120 and the tray 200 along the height direction of the limiting protrusion 130, ensuring electrical safety between the battery cells and the tray 200.

[0045] See Figure 4 and Figure 5 The fixing ring 120 extends outward toward the tray 200 with a first annular sidewall 140 and a second annular sidewall 150. The first annular sidewall 140 is connected to the outer ring of the fixing ring 120, and the second annular sidewall 150 is connected to the inner ring of the fixing ring 120. An annular glue storage groove 160 is formed between the first annular sidewall 140, the second annular sidewall 150 and the fixing ring 120. The structural adhesive 300 can penetrate into the annular glue storage groove 160, thereby fixing the plastic bracket 100 and the tray 200.

[0046] Furthermore, the diameter of the clearance hole 201 is larger than the diameter of the inner ring of the fixing ring 120, and the diameter of the clearance hole 201 is smaller than the diameter of the outer ring of the fixing ring 120. The height of the first annular sidewall 140 is smaller than the height of the second annular sidewall 150. After the plastic bracket 100 is installed in the tray 200, the end of the first annular sidewall 140 abuts against the upper end face of the tray 200, and the end of the second annular sidewall 150 passes through the clearance hole 201. Due to the setting of the annular glue storage groove 160, more structural glue 300 can be accommodated between the plastic bracket 100 and the tray 200, making the fixation of the plastic bracket 100 and the tray 200 more secure. Furthermore, in order to further increase the fixing strength between the plastic bracket 100 and the tray 200, the end of the second annular sidewall 150 can be bent by hot riveting. After the end of the second annular sidewall 150 is bent, an annular flange is formed. The annular flange can wrap around the clearance hole 201 of the tray 200 and abut against the lower end face of the tray 200.

[0047] See Figure 6 and Figure 7 An adhesive inlet 1401 is provided on the upper part of the first annular sidewall 140. The adhesive inlet 1401 is located at the end of the first annular sidewall 140 and communicates with the annular adhesive storage tank 160, thereby facilitating the entry of structural adhesive 300 into the annular adhesive storage tank 160. For example, multiple adhesive inlets 1401 can be provided, and the multiple adhesive inlets 1401 are evenly distributed around the circumference of the first annular sidewall 140. The adhesive inlets 1401 can be located at the triangular structure formed by three adjacent fixed rings 120. The adhesive inlets 1401 are located on the side of the triangular structure, ensuring that the structural adhesive 300 can fill the gap between the tray 200 and the plastic support 100, thereby improving the overall strength of the battery tray assembly.

[0048] Furthermore, the tray 200 includes a base plate 210 and a side plate 220 connected to each other. A clearance hole 201 is provided on the base plate 210. The base plate 210 and the side plate 220 together form an accommodating chamber. A plastic bracket 100 is installed within the accommodating chamber. The upper end of the side plate 220 extends outward to form a flange 230, and the upper end face of the flange 230 is provided with a mounting portion 231. The mounting portion 231 can be configured as a lifting threaded hole, thereby facilitating the transfer or assembly process of the battery tray assembly.

[0049] See Figure 8 and Figure 9The lower end face of the tray 200 is provided with a reinforcing rib 240, which surrounds the clearance hole 201 and can avoid the annular flange formed at the end of the second annular sidewall 150, thus avoiding interference and poor fixing effect. In some embodiments, the reinforcing rib 240 can be set as a wave shape. By setting the reinforcing rib 240 as a wave shape, the mechanical strength of the tray 200 can be strengthened, and the heat transfer area can be increased. When the battery cell experiences thermal runaway, the reinforcing rib 240 can absorb more heat from the high-temperature gas ejected by the battery cell and conduct the heat generated by the high-temperature gas.

[0050] Preferably, the reinforcing rib 240 can also be integrally injection molded with the tray 200, which reduces the processing steps of the tray 200, simplifies the manufacturing process, and provides a high connection strength between the reinforcing rib 240 and the tray 200.

[0051] In some embodiments, a limiting block 221 protrudes from the outer wall of the side plate 220 of the tray 200. The limiting block 221 facilitates the positioning of the battery tray assembly, thereby ensuring high assembly accuracy of the battery tray assembly.

[0052] The present invention also provides a battery module, which includes a plurality of battery cells and the aforementioned battery tray assembly. The plurality of battery cells are fixed inside the battery tray assembly. The battery tray assembly has high strength, which avoids deformation caused by heat generation of the battery cells. Furthermore, the battery tray assembly has good insulation performance, making it less prone to short circuits. The battery cells are accurately positioned during assembly, resulting in high assembly precision.

[0053] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make other variations or modifications based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively describe all embodiments here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A battery tray assembly for securing a plurality of battery cells, characterized in that, include: A plastic bracket (100) includes interconnected frame (110) and a plurality of fixed rings (120). Adjacent fixed rings (120) are interconnected, and a limiting protrusion (130) is provided at the connection between adjacent fixed rings (120). The limiting protrusion (130) includes an arc surface (1301), which is in contact with the outer wall of the battery cell. The bottom of the battery cell is connected to the upper end face of the fixed ring (120). The tray (200) has a plastic bracket (100) inside it, and the tray (200) has a through clearance hole (201) corresponding to the position of the fixing ring (120). The fixing ring (120) extends outward toward the tray (200) with a first annular sidewall (140) and a second annular sidewall (150). The first annular sidewall (140) is connected to the outer ring of the fixing ring (120), and the second annular sidewall (150) is connected to the inner ring of the fixing ring (120). An annular glue storage groove (160) is formed between the first annular sidewall (140), the second annular sidewall (150), and the fixing ring (120). The diameter of the clearance hole (201) is larger than the diameter of the inner ring of the fixing ring (120), and the diameter of the clearance hole (201) is smaller than the diameter of the outer ring of the fixing ring (120). The height of the first annular sidewall (140) is smaller than the height of the second annular sidewall (150). The end of the first annular sidewall (140) abuts against the upper end face of the tray (200). The end of the second annular sidewall (150) passes through the clearance hole (201). The end of the second annular sidewall (150) is bent to form an annular flange. The annular flange abuts against the lower end face of the tray (200).

2. The battery tray assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The battery tray assembly includes structural adhesive (300) that securely connects the plastic support (100), the tray (200), and the battery cell.

3. The battery tray assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting protrusion (130) has a trapezoidal structure, and a V-groove (1302) is provided on the side end face of the limiting protrusion (130) that is not in contact with the battery cell.

4. The battery tray assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first annular sidewall (140) is provided with a glue inlet (1401), which is located at the end of the first annular sidewall (140) and is connected to the annular glue storage tank (160).

5. The battery tray assembly according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The lower end face of the tray (200) is provided with a reinforcing rib (240), which surrounds the clearance hole (201).

6. The battery tray assembly according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The tray (200) includes a bottom plate (210) and a side plate (220) connected to each other, and the clearance hole (201) is provided on the bottom plate (210).

7. The battery tray assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The upper end of the side plate (220) extends outward to form a flange (230), and the upper end surface of the flange (230) is provided with a mounting part (231).

8. The battery tray assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, A limiting block (221) is protruding on the outer wall of the side plate (220).

9. A battery module, characterized in that, It includes a plurality of battery cells and a tray assembly of the battery according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the plurality of battery cells are fixed within the tray assembly of the battery.

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