Battery pack for electric vehicle and electric vehicle comprising same

Abstract

The application discloses a battery pack for an electric vehicle and an electric vehicle comprising the same, which is installed on a body longitudinal beam of the electric vehicle, and is characterized in that the battery pack comprises: a box body, the box body comprises at least two box units, and a battery module for external charging and discharging is arranged in each box unit; and a horizontally arranged lock shaft, which is arranged above two adjacent box units and corresponds to the position of a locking mechanism on the body longitudinal beam. The battery pack for the electric vehicle can reduce the gravity center of the electric vehicle, improve the stability of the electric vehicle in driving, fully utilize the height space below the body longitudinal beam, and enable the battery replacement equipment to replace the battery from the bottom of the electric vehicle, so that the construction cost, time and difficulty of the battery replacement station are reduced, the requirement for the construction site is lowered, and the efficiency of the battery replacement is improved.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese patent applications 2021116067637 and CN2021116067815, filed on December 26, 2021, and Chinese patent application 2021114443838, filed on November 30, 2021. The full text of the aforementioned Chinese patent applications is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This invention relates to the field of vehicle battery swapping technology, and in particular to a battery pack for electric vehicles and an electric vehicle containing the same. Background Technology

[0003] In recent years, new energy vehicles have developed rapidly. Electric vehicles, which rely on batteries as their driving energy, have the advantages of zero emissions and low noise. As the market share and usage frequency of electric vehicles are increasing, electric commercial vehicles, such as electric heavy-duty trucks and electric light-duty trucks, are gradually appearing in their respective application scenarios. At the same time, battery swapping stations for replacing battery packs of electric trucks have been built.

[0004] In existing technologies, the battery packs are heavy, resulting in a thick overall thickness. Furthermore, they are positioned above the longitudinal beams of the electric vehicle, which leads to a high center of gravity and poor stability during driving. If the battery pack needs to be replaced, the battery swapping station requires a large area and lifting equipment to hoist the battery pack to the swapping position, making battery swapping difficult and increasing the construction cost of the battery swapping station. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, which is that the battery pack is set above the longitudinal beam of the vehicle body, resulting in a high center of gravity of the electric vehicle and poor stability during driving. At the same time, the battery swapping station has a large site and hoisting equipment, making battery swapping difficult and costly to build. The present invention provides a battery pack for electric vehicles and an electric vehicle containing the battery pack.

[0006] The present invention solves the above-mentioned technical problems through the following technical solution:

[0007] A battery pack for an electric vehicle, mounted on the longitudinal beam of the electric vehicle body, characterized in that the battery pack comprises:

[0008] The housing includes at least two housing units, each housing unit containing a battery module for external charging and discharging;

[0009] A horizontally positioned locking shaft is located above two adjacent housing units and at a position corresponding to the locking mechanism on the vehicle body longitudinal beam.

[0010] This electric vehicle battery pack is mounted under the longitudinal beams of the vehicle body via a locking axle, which lowers the center of gravity of the electric vehicle, improving its stability. The battery pack also doesn't occupy much space behind the driver, enhancing the driving experience, and the area above the longitudinal beams can be used to carry more cargo. Furthermore, because the battery pack can be installed under the longitudinal beams and is relatively thin, the height space under the beams can be fully utilized. This allows the battery swapping equipment to be installed from the bottom of the electric vehicle, eliminating the need for sunken spaces, pits, or lifting the electric vehicle to create sufficient height space for the swapping equipment. This reduces the construction cost, time, and difficulty of the battery swapping station, lowers the site requirements, and improves swapping efficiency.

[0011] Preferably, the housing is provided with a mounting plate, and one end of the locking shaft is connected to the mounting plate.

[0012] Preferably, both ends of the locking shaft are connected to the mounting plate.

[0013] With the above-described structure, both ends of the locking shaft are fixed, so the locking shaft can transmit the force it receives to the mounting plates on both sides, making the force on the locking shaft more even and the connection between the locking shaft and the locking mechanism more secure.

[0014] Preferably, the mounting plate is at least partially disposed between two adjacent housing units.

[0015] The above-described structural arrangement avoids occupying the upper space of the housing units by placing the mounting plate between the two housing units. At the same time, with at least part of the mounting plate placed between the two housing units, it can connect the two housing units simultaneously. This allows the force exerted by the locking shaft when locking to be applied to both housing units at the same time, resulting in more dispersed force and avoiding stress concentration.

[0016] Preferably, the mounting plate extends along the length of the vehicle body longitudinal beam.

[0017] The above structural design, by using a mounting plate to connect the locking shaft, makes the connection between the locking shaft and the housing more reliable.

[0018] Preferably, there are multiple locking shafts, which are sequentially distributed along the length of the vehicle body longitudinal beam on the end face of the mounting plate near the locking mechanism.

[0019] With the above-mentioned structural design, multiple locking shafts are distributed on the mounting plate, which can achieve connection through multi-point contact when the battery pack of the electric vehicle is connected to the longitudinal beam of the vehicle body. This distributes the force on the locking shaft evenly on the mounting plate, thereby further preventing the connection between the locking shaft and the mounting plate from breaking due to excessive force and improving the locking reliability of the battery pack relative to the electric vehicle.

[0020] Preferably, the battery pack for electric vehicles further includes a guide block, which is elastically disposed on the end face of the mounting plate near the longitudinal beam of the vehicle body, and the guide block has a clamping surface for abutting against the side of the longitudinal beam of the vehicle body.

[0021] With the above structural design, after the battery pack for electric vehicles is installed on the longitudinal beam of the vehicle body, the positioning capability of the battery pack relative to the vehicle body bracket can be improved, and the shaking of the battery pack when it is locked on the electric vehicle can be avoided.

[0022] Preferably, the guide block has an inclined guide surface at the end away from the housing, and the guide surface gradually approaches the mounting plate from bottom to top along the height direction of the battery pack for electric vehicles.

[0023] With the above-mentioned structural configuration, during the process of installing the battery pack on the vehicle's longitudinal beams, the longitudinal beams are adjusted in the horizontal direction under the guidance of the guide surface, thereby enabling the locking shaft and locking mechanism to be positioned more precisely.

[0024] Preferably, the locking shaft and the guide block are spaced apart in the horizontal direction on the mounting plate.

[0025] With the above structural design, the spacing between the locking shaft and the guide block can prevent interference between the locking mechanism and the guide block during the locking process.

[0026] Preferably, each of the housing units includes:

[0027] The housing body has a cell receiving slot for placing the battery module.

[0028] A housing cover plate, which is detachably connected to the opening of the cell receiving slot of the housing body and closes the opening.

[0029] The above structural design, while meeting the requirement of the housing to accommodate the battery module, does not affect the setting of the locking shaft when the housing cover is set on the top of the housing. At the same time, the housing cover facilitates the installation and removal of the battery module in the cell receiving slot.

[0030] Preferably, there is a gap between adjacent housing units, and the housing further includes:

[0031] A gap connection structure is provided, in which adjacent housing units are connected by the gap connection structure, and the gap connection structure is respectively connected to the housing body of the adjacent housing units;

[0032] The mounting plate is disposed on the gap connection structure.

[0033] The above structural design, by creating a gap between adjacent housing units through a gap connection structure and connecting the mounting plate to the gap connection structure, allows the force on the locking shaft to be transmitted sequentially through the mounting plate and the gap connection structure to the adjacent housing units, resulting in a more even distribution of the force on the battery pack for electric vehicles.

[0034] The inclusion of reinforcing beams allows the locking shaft to be more securely connected to the housing via the reinforcing beams, while the gap connection structure can connect adjacent housing units into one unit.

[0035] Preferably, the battery pack for electric vehicles further includes a reinforcing beam, the first end of which extends above the housing and is connected to the mounting plate, and the second end of which is connected to the gap connection structure.

[0036] The above structural design makes full use of the space within the gap by placing the reinforcing beam, avoiding the reduction in the area inside the housing for accommodating the battery module. At the same time, the reinforcing beam can improve the connection strength between the locking shaft and the gap connection structure, preventing structural damage to the electric vehicle battery pack due to excessive stress at the locking shaft.

[0037] Preferably, the gap connection structure includes an upper plate and a lower plate, the two ends of the lower plate being connected to the bottom of the body of the adjacent box unit, and the two ends of the upper plate being connected to the top of the body of the adjacent box unit.

[0038] The second end of the reinforcing beam passes through the upper plate and connects to the lower plate.

[0039] The above-mentioned structural design, by setting the upper and lower plates to limit the horizontal direction of the reinforcing beam, aims to improve the structural strength of the reinforcing beam and thus enhance the stability of the connection between the battery pack of the electric vehicle and the longitudinal beam of the vehicle body.

[0040] Preferably, the upper end of the mounting plate has a first extension that wraps around the first end of the reinforcing beam;

[0041] And / or,

[0042] The mounting plate has a second extension at its lower end, which abuts against the upper plate.

[0043] The above-mentioned structural configuration, by wrapping the first end of the reinforcing beam with the first extension, makes the connection between the mounting plate and the reinforcing beam more secure, while the second extension abutting against the first end can further enhance the connection strength between the mounting plate and the reinforcing beam.

[0044] Preferably, the lower plate includes a first side plate, a top plate, and a second side plate connected in sequence. The lower plate is connected to the box body of the corresponding box unit through the first side plate and the second side plate. The second end of the reinforcing beam is connected to the top plate.

[0045] Vertical ribs are provided on the end face of the top plate.

[0046] The above structural design strengthens the top slab by adding vertical ribs.

[0047] Preferably, there are multiple reinforcing beams, which are arranged along the length of the vehicle body longitudinal beams.

[0048] The above structural design, by setting multiple reinforcing beams, increases the number of connection points between the reinforcing beams and the mounting plate, allowing the force on the mounting plate to be transmitted more evenly to the adjacent box units, thus making the force on the battery pack for electric vehicles more uniform.

[0049] Preferably, the housing unit further includes a sealing element, which is arranged around the opening of the cell receiving slot and sandwiched between the housing body and the housing cover.

[0050] The above structural design improves the sealing effect inside the housing unit, preventing external environmental factors from affecting the normal operation of the battery module inside the housing unit.

[0051] Preferably, the sealing element is a foamed silicone pad.

[0052] With the above-described structure, the foamed silicone pad has excellent electrical properties and chemical stability, is water-resistant, and can provide a good sealing effect when used in this application.

[0053] Preferably, the surface of the housing cover has a reinforcing structure.

[0054] The above-mentioned structural design can improve the structural strength of the cover plate and prevent deformation when installed on the box body, which would lead to poor sealing performance.

[0055] Preferably, the reinforcing structure includes a protrusion on the box cover plate that protrudes in a direction away from the box body and a reinforcing rib, the protrusion forming a reinforcing groove with an opening facing the box body, and the reinforcing rib being provided in the reinforcing groove.

[0056] The above structural design improves the structural strength of the box cover and prevents dents and deformations during long-term use.

[0057] Preferably, the reinforcing groove extends along the length of the vehicle body longitudinal beam;

[0058] There are multiple reinforcing ribs, and the multiple reinforcing ribs are arranged in the reinforcing groove along the length direction of the vehicle body longitudinal beam.

[0059] Preferably, the battery pack for electric vehicles further includes a second electrical connector for mating with a first electrical connector on the vehicle body longitudinal beam, the second electrical connector being disposed on the housing at a position corresponding to the first electrical connector, and the second electrical connector being electrically connected to the battery module.

[0060] In the above-described structure, each battery module is electrically connected to the second electrical connector via a cable, thereby connecting to the first electrical connector that requires external power supply, thus improving operational safety.

[0061] Preferably, the housing further includes:

[0062] The cable conduit connects the cell receiving slots of adjacent enclosure units.

[0063] The above structural design allows the cables of battery modules in different enclosure units to be gathered in the same enclosure unit through the cable conduit, which facilitates cable routing and avoids cable exposure.

[0064] Preferably, the cable conduit is located close to the second electrical connector.

[0065] By adopting the above structural design, the cable routing length can be reduced, thereby reducing the cable purchase cost.

[0066] Preferably, the battery pack for electric vehicles further includes a side reinforcement structure, which surrounds the outside of the housing and is connected to the outer surface of each housing body.

[0067] The above structural design, through the addition of a side reinforcement structure, further strengthens the connection between the various housing bodies.

[0068] Preferably, the side reinforcement structure is provided with weight reduction holes.

[0069] The above structural design reduces the weight of the side reinforcement structure, thereby further reducing the manufacturing cost of battery packs for electric vehicles.

[0070] Preferably, the battery pack for electric vehicles further includes a bottom reinforcing structure, which is fixed to the inner bottom surface of the housing body, and both ends of the bottom reinforcing structure extend to the inner wall of the housing body.

[0071] By setting a bottom reinforcement structure, the bottom strength of the box body is enhanced, preventing the bottom of the box body from deforming due to the weight of the battery module.

[0072] Preferably, there are multiple bottom reinforcing structures, which are arranged in parallel and spaced apart within the housing body, and the battery module is simultaneously supported and disposed on the multiple bottom reinforcing structures.

[0073] The battery module is supported by a bottom reinforcement structure located at the bottom of the box body, which facilitates the distribution of the battery module's weight within the box body and ensures even stress distribution.

[0074] Preferably, along the width direction of the vehicle body longitudinal beam, there are multiple locking shafts divided into two groups, the two groups of locking shafts are symmetrically distributed on the housing, the housing includes three housing units, the three housing units are spaced apart, and two of the housing units are located outside the two groups of symmetrically arranged locking shafts, and the other housing unit is located between the two groups of symmetrically arranged locking shafts.

[0075] By providing two sets of symmetrically arranged locking shafts on the upper surface of the housing, the locking shafts lock with the locking mechanism on the longitudinal beam of the electric vehicle from different directions, further improving the locking effect.

[0076] An electric vehicle includes a body longitudinal beam and an electric vehicle battery pack as described above. The body longitudinal beam is provided with a locking mechanism, and the electric vehicle battery pack is detachably connected to the body longitudinal beam through the locking shaft and the locking mechanism.

[0077] This electric vehicle features a battery pack mounted under the longitudinal beams of the vehicle body via a locking axle. This lowers the center of gravity, improving the stability of the electric truck. The battery pack also doesn't occupy much space behind the driver, enhancing the driver's experience. The area above the longitudinal beams can be used to carry more cargo. Furthermore, because the battery pack can be installed under the longitudinal beams, and because electric vehicles use thinner battery packs, the height space under the beams can be fully utilized. This allows the battery swapping equipment to be installed from the bottom of the electric vehicle, eliminating the need for sunken spaces, pits, or lifting the vehicle to create sufficient height space for the swapping equipment. This reduces the construction cost, time, and difficulty of the battery swapping station, lowers the site requirements, and improves swapping efficiency.

[0078] Preferably, the electric vehicle further includes a body support, the locking mechanism is disposed on the body support, and the body support is disposed on the body longitudinal beam.

[0079] The battery pack is connected to the body brackets on the longitudinal beams of the electric vehicle, which results in higher connection reliability and reduces the need to modify the longitudinal beams.

[0080] Preferably, the height of the connection point between the locking mechanism and the locking shaft is higher than the height of the lower end of the vehicle body bracket or the vehicle body longitudinal beam.

[0081] The above structural design increases the height of the battery pack mounted on the vehicle's longitudinal beams, freeing up more vertical space for the battery swapping equipment.

[0082] Preferably, the battery pack for electric vehicles has multiple locking shafts, which are symmetrically distributed on the housing and the free ends of the locking shafts are arranged opposite each other. The locking mechanism is located on the opposite side of the vehicle body bracket.

[0083] Alternatively, the battery pack for electric vehicles may have multiple locking shafts, which are symmetrically distributed on the housing and have their free ends facing away from each other. The locking mechanism is located on the opposite side of the vehicle body bracket.

[0084] The above-mentioned structural design achieves locking from different directions through locking shafts and locking mechanisms, thereby improving the reliability and stability of the battery pack mounted on the vehicle body bracket.

[0085] The positive and progressive effects of this invention are as follows:

[0086] The battery pack and the electric vehicle containing it are mounted under the longitudinal beams of the vehicle body via a locking axle. This lowers the center of gravity of the electric vehicle, improving the stability of the electric truck. The battery pack also doesn't occupy much space behind the driver, enhancing the driver's experience. More cargo can be carried above the longitudinal beams. Furthermore, because the battery pack can be installed under the longitudinal beams, and the battery pack for electric vehicles is relatively thin, the height space under the longitudinal beams can be fully utilized. This allows the battery swapping equipment to be installed from the bottom of the electric vehicle, eliminating the need for sunken spaces or pits for the swapping equipment to enter and exit, or for lifting the electric vehicle to create sufficient height space for the swapping equipment. This reduces the construction cost, time, and difficulty of the battery swapping station, lowers the site requirements, and improves the efficiency of battery swapping. Attached Figure Description

[0087] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the chassis structure of an electric vehicle according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0088] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a partial chassis structure of an electric vehicle according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0089] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the battery pack structure according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0090] Figure 4 This is a partial structural diagram of the battery pack according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0091] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the battery pack structure according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, wherein the casing cover is hidden.

[0092] Figure 6 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the connection between the box body and the box cover plate in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0093] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the box cover plate of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0094] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the battery modules in the battery pack according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0095] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view (a) of the battery pack according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0096] Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional view (II) of the battery pack according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0097] Figure 11 for Figure 10 A magnified view of part C in the middle.

[0098] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the mounting plate according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0099] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the upper plate of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0100] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the lower plate of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0101] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom structure of the battery pack according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0102] Figure 16 for Figure 15 A magnified view of part D in the middle.

[0103] Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection direction of the locking shaft and the locking mechanism in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0104] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0105] Electric Vehicles 100

[0106] Battery pack 10

[0107] Box 1

[0108] Box Unit 11

[0109] 111 housing body, 1111 cell receiving slot, 1112 slot opening

[0110] Box cover 112, protrusion 1121, reinforcing rib 1122

[0111] Seal 113

[0112] Cable conduit 114

[0113] Side reinforcement structure 115

[0114] Bottom reinforcement structure 116

[0115] Gap connection structure 2

[0116] Upper board 21

[0117] Lower plate 22

[0118] First side panel 221, top panel 222, second side panel 223

[0119] Vertical reinforcement 23

[0120] Locking shaft 3

[0121] Mounting plate 4

[0122] First extension 41

[0123] Second extension 42

[0124] Guide block 5, clamping surface 51, guide surface 52

[0125] Second electrical connector 6

[0126] Strengthening beam 7

[0127] 20 longitudinal beams for vehicle body

[0128] Body bracket 30

[0129] Locking mechanism 40

[0130] First electrical connector 50

[0131] Battery Module 60

[0132] A along the length of the vehicle body longitudinal beam

[0133] B in the width direction of the vehicle body longitudinal beam Detailed Implementation

[0134] The present invention will be further illustrated by way of embodiments below, but the present invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiments described herein.

[0135] This invention provides an electric vehicle 100, the chassis of which has the following structure: Figure 1As shown, the electric vehicle 100 has two parallel longitudinal beams 20 arranged in the front-to-back direction to connect the main components of the electric vehicle 100, such as the suspension and wheels. The battery pack for the electric vehicle is also installed below these two longitudinal beams 20, thereby lowering the center of gravity of the electric vehicle and making the electric vehicle drive more smoothly. In this embodiment, the electric vehicle is a heavy-duty truck or a light-duty truck. Of course, the electric vehicle can also be a passenger car, which will not be elaborated here.

[0136] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, vehicle body brackets 30 are simultaneously connected to the two longitudinal beams 20 of the electric vehicle 100. The vehicle body brackets 30 are frame structures welded from sheet metal. Each locking mechanism 40 is disposed on the vehicle body bracket 30 and is used to lock with the locking shaft 3 on the battery pack 10, so that the battery pack 10 can be connected or disconnected from the vehicle body bracket 30 to achieve the purpose of battery replacement. The locking mechanisms 40 are arranged in two rows on the vehicle body bracket 30, corresponding to the two longitudinal beams 20 respectively. Furthermore, these locking mechanisms 40 are arranged sequentially along the length direction A of the longitudinal beams to improve the reliability and stability of the connection between the battery pack 10 and the vehicle body bracket 30 through multi-point connection.

[0137] Among them, from Figure 2 As can be seen, the locking mechanism 40 is specifically located on the end face of the body bracket 30 away from the longitudinal beam 20 and higher than the lower end of the body bracket 30. This allows the height of the connection point of the locking mechanism relative to the locking shaft to be higher than the height of the lower end of the body bracket 30, thereby maximizing the height of the battery pack 10 installed on the electric vehicle 100. The battery pack 10 is located below the body bracket 30 so that the battery swapping equipment (not shown in the figure) can be installed from below and lock or unlock the battery pack 10 relative to the locking mechanism 40 of the body bracket 30, enabling the battery pack 10 to be picked up, placed, and transferred. This allows full utilization of the height space under the longitudinal beam of the body, enabling the battery swapping equipment to swap batteries from the bottom of the electric vehicle.

[0138] Furthermore, multiple locking mechanisms 40 are evenly distributed on the side of the vehicle frame 30, and there are also multiple corresponding locking shafts 3, with each corresponding to the other. From Figure 3As can be seen from the diagram, in this embodiment, the locking shafts 3 located on the battery pack 10 are symmetrically distributed on the housing, and the free ends of the locking shafts 3 on both sides are arranged opposite to each other, that is, the free ends extend in opposite directions to cooperate with the locking mechanism 40 arranged on the opposite side of the vehicle body bracket 30. Of course, in other embodiments, the free ends of the symmetrically distributed locking shafts 3 can also be arranged opposite to each other, so that the corresponding locking mechanism 40 is arranged on the opposite side of the vehicle body bracket 30. By increasing the number of locking shafts 3 and locking mechanisms 40, the reliability and stability of the connection between the battery pack 10 and the vehicle body bracket 30 are improved.

[0139] At the same time, such as Figure 2 As shown, a first electrical connector 50 is provided at the end of the vehicle body bracket 30 for docking with the second electrical connector 6 on the side of the battery pack 10, so as to realize the electrical connection between the battery pack 10 and the battery pack 10 when the battery pack 10 is installed on the vehicle body bracket 30, and meet the need to supply power to the electric vehicle 100.

[0140] The specific structure of battery pack 10 is as follows: Figure 4 As shown, the device includes a housing 1 and horizontally arranged locking shafts 3. The housing 1 comprises three housing units 11, with two gaps between them. Each housing unit 11 houses a battery module 60 for external charging and discharging. Along the width direction B of the vehicle body longitudinal beam, there are multiple locking shafts 31 arranged in two groups. The two groups of locking shafts 31 are symmetrically distributed on the housing 1. Specifically, the multiple locking shafts 3 in each group are arranged in two rows above the gaps at corresponding positions and are positioned at the corresponding positions of the locking mechanism 40 on the vehicle body bracket 30.

[0141] Specifically, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, each housing unit 11 includes a housing body 111, a housing cover 112, and a sealing element 113. The upper part of the housing body 111 is open, forming a cell receiving slot 1111 inside. A battery module 60 is placed in the cell receiving slot 1111. The housing cover 112 covers the opening 1112 of the cell receiving slot 1111, covering and sealing the entire opening 1112. The sealing element 113 is placed between the housing body 111 and the housing cover 112 to achieve a seal for the cell receiving slot 1111.

[0142] In this embodiment, the sealing element 113 is a foamed silicone gasket. The foamed silicone gasket has excellent electrical properties and chemical stability, is water resistant, and can achieve a good sealing effect when used in the case of enclosing the box 1.

[0143] In addition, such as Figure 6As shown, in this embodiment, the box cover plate 112 is connected to the box body 111 by bolts to achieve a detachable connection. The bolts also penetrate the seal 113, so that the reaction force generated by the seal 113 during the tightening process can act on the bolts, providing clamping force for bolt fixing, improving the reliability of the sealing connection, and preventing the bolts from loosening during long-term use.

[0144] In addition, the battery pack 10 also includes two mounting plates 4 and two gap connection structures 2 located within the two gaps mentioned above. Adjacent housing units 11 are connected by the gap connection structures 2, and the gap connection structures 2 are respectively connected to the housing body 111 of the adjacent housing units 11.

[0145] Two mounting plates 4 are set on the housing 1 through the gap connection structure 2. Specifically, the two mounting plates 4 are set between adjacent housing units 11 along the length direction A of the vehicle body longitudinal beam. Specifically, the mounting plates 4 are located above the gap between adjacent housing units 11, that is, there is a mounting plate 4 above each gap. One end of multiple locking shafts 3 is arranged sequentially along the length direction A of the vehicle body longitudinal beam on the end face of the mounting plate 4 near the locking mechanism 40.

[0146] Specifically, the gap connection structure 2 in this embodiment includes an upper plate 21 and a lower plate 22. The left and right ends of the lower plate 22 are respectively connected to the bottom of the box body 111 of the adjacent box unit 11, while the two ends of the upper plate 21 are respectively connected to the top of the box body 111 of the adjacent box unit 11. This gap connection structure 2, through the upper plate 21 and the lower plate 22, provides horizontal restraint for the reinforcing beam 7.

[0147] like Figure 9 As shown, the battery pack 10 also includes a reinforcing beam 7 for reinforcing the connection between the mounting plate 4 and the gap connection structure 2. The reinforcing beam 7 is positioned in the battery pack 10 as follows: Figure 10 As shown, the upper end of the reinforcing beam 7 extends to the top of the housing 1 and connects to the mounting plate 4. The lower end of the reinforcing beam 7 passes through the upper plate 21 and lower plate 22 of the gap connection structure 2 in sequence, and is welded to the upper plate 21 and lower plate 22 respectively. By setting the reinforcing beam 7 to connect the mounting plate 4 and the gap connection structure 2, the force exerted by the locking shaft 3 when locking is transmitted to the housing units on both sides in sequence through the mounting plate, the reinforcing beam, and the gap connection structure 2, further dispersing the force and avoiding stress concentration.

[0148] like Figure 11 and Figure 12As shown, a first extension 41 is provided at the upper end of the mounting plate 4, which wraps around the upper end of the reinforcing beam 7. A second extension 42, which extends horizontally, is also provided at the lower end of the mounting plate 4, and abuts against the upper plate 21. By connecting the upper end of the mounting plate 4 to the reinforcing beam 7 and the upper plate 21 of the gap connection structure 2, respectively, the connection stability of the mounting plate 4 itself is improved.

[0149] like Figure 10 As shown, there are five reinforcing beams 7 located in the gap. These reinforcing beams 7 are evenly arranged along the length direction A of the vehicle body longitudinal beam and are connected to the mounting plate 4 and the gap connection structure 2 respectively to strengthen the connection strength between the mounting plate and the adjacent box unit 11.

[0150] In other specific embodiments, the multiple reinforcing beams 7 may not be evenly arranged along the length direction A of the vehicle body longitudinal beam, or may be set according to the actual situation, which will not be elaborated here.

[0151] like Figure 13 As shown, the surface of the upper plate 21 is provided with five through mounting holes 21a for the reinforcing beam 7 to pass through and to be positioned against the side wall of the reinforcing beam 7.

[0152] like Figure 14 As shown, the lower plate 22 includes a first side plate 221, a top plate 222, and a second side plate 223 connected in sequence. The first side plate 221, the top plate 222, and the second side plate 223 are all straight plates and form a U-shaped structure with the opening facing downwards. The lower plate 22 is connected to the box body 111 of the corresponding box unit 11 through the first side plate 221 and the second side plate 223. Furthermore, the lower end of the reinforcing beam 7 passes through five mounting holes 22a on the top plate 222 to achieve positioning connection between the two.

[0153] from Figure 15 and Figure 16 As can be seen, vertical ribs 23 are provided on the lower end surface of the top plate 222 to strengthen the lower plate 22 at the top plate 222.

[0154] Additionally, a guide block 5 is provided on the end face 4a of the mounting plate 4 near the longitudinal beam 20 of the vehicle body (i.e., the end face where the locking shaft 3 is located). The guide block 5 is elastically connected to the end face 4a of the mounting plate 4. The surface of the guide block 5 facing away from the end face 4a is a clamping surface 51, which is used to abut against the side of the vehicle body bracket 30 to achieve positioning along the width direction B of the longitudinal beam of the vehicle body. By providing the guide block 5, after the electric vehicle battery pack is installed on the vehicle body bracket 30, the positioning capability of the electric vehicle battery pack relative to the vehicle body bracket 30 of the electric vehicle 100 can be improved, and shaking is avoided when the electric vehicle battery pack is locked on the electric vehicle 100.

[0155] And, as Figure 4 As shown, on the side of the guide block 5 away from the end face 4a of the mounting plate 4, there is an inclined guide surface 52 located above the clamping surface 51. The guide surface 52 moves from bottom to top along the height direction of the battery pack 10, and gradually approaches the mounting plate 4, so as to realize the horizontal guiding and positioning of the vehicle longitudinal beam 20 and the vehicle bracket 30 through the guide surface 52.

[0156] from Figure 4 As can be seen, the locking shaft 3 and the guide block 5 installed on the mounting plate 4 are spaced apart in the horizontal direction. By spaced apart, the guide block 5 can avoid interfering with the locking mechanism 40.

[0157] In addition, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the housing 1 also includes a side reinforcing structure 115, which surrounds the entire outer side of the housing 1 and is connected to the outer surface of each housing body 111 by welding. By providing the side reinforcing structure 115, the connection between the housing bodies 111 is further strengthened, resulting in better structural integrity of the housing 1. Simultaneously, since the side reinforcing structure 115 is only for reinforcement and does not function to accommodate the battery module 60, weight-reduction holes can be formed on the surface of the side reinforcing structure 115 to reduce its weight, achieving weight reduction and lightweighting.

[0158] The battery pack 10 also includes a second electrical connector 6 disposed on the side of the housing 1. The second electrical connector 6 is electrically connected to the first electrical connector 50 of the vehicle body bracket 30. In this embodiment, the second electrical connector 6 is disposed on the side reinforcing structure 115 at a position corresponding to the first electrical connector 50, and is electrically connected to the battery modules in each housing unit 11.

[0159] In addition, such as Figure 5 As shown, each cell receiving slot 1111 of the housing unit 11 is also provided with a bottom reinforcing structure 116. These bottom reinforcing structures 116 are fixed to the inner bottom surface of the housing body 111, and are located close to the inner wall of the housing body 111, with both ends fixed to the inner wall of the housing body 111. This bottom reinforcing structure 116 strengthens the bottom of the housing body 111, preventing the bottom of the housing body 111 from deforming due to the weight of the battery module 60. The distribution of the bottom reinforcing structures 116 within the cell receiving slot 1111 is as follows: Figure 5 As shown, these bottom reinforcing structures 116 are arranged in parallel at intervals within the housing body 111, such as... Figure 8As shown, each battery module 60 disposed in the cell receiving slot 1111 is simultaneously supported and fixed on these bottom reinforcing structures 116, so that the bottom of the housing body 111 supports the battery module 60 through these bottom reinforcing structures 116, so that the weight of the battery module 60 is distributed in the housing body 111 and the force is evenly distributed.

[0160] like Figure 5 As shown, the housing 1 also includes a cable conduit 114. The cable conduit 114 is located in the gap between two adjacent housing units 11 and is positioned near the second electrical connector 6. It extends horizontally through the side walls of the housing bodies 111 of the two housing units 11, allowing the cell receiving slots 1111 of the housing units 11 to communicate with each other via the cable conduit 114. This structural arrangement allows the cables of the battery modules 60 in different housing units 11 to be gathered in the same housing unit 11 via the cable conduit 114, facilitating cable routing.

[0161] Furthermore, such as Figure 7 As shown, in order to enhance the structural strength of the enclosure cover 112 and prevent deformation during installation on the enclosure body 111, which would lead to poor sealing, a reinforcing structure is provided on the surface of the enclosure cover 112. Specifically, the reinforcing structure includes a protrusion 1121 protruding from the enclosure cover 112 in a direction away from the enclosure body 111 (see...). Figure 5 The reinforcing rib 1122 and the protrusion 1121 form a reinforcing groove 1121a with the opening facing the box body 111. The reinforcing rib 1122 is disposed in the reinforcing groove. In this embodiment, the reinforcing rib 1122 is a strip structure with an arc cross section, thereby improving the structural strength of the box cover 112 and avoiding dent deformation during long-term use.

[0162] like Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the reinforcing groove 1121a located on the surface of the box cover plate 112 extends along the length direction A of the vehicle body longitudinal beam, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 1122 are provided in a single reinforcing groove 1121a. These reinforcing ribs 1122 are also distributed in the reinforcing groove 1121a along the length direction A of the vehicle body longitudinal beam.

[0163] Example 2

[0164] This embodiment also provides a battery pack 10, whose structure is largely the same as that of the battery pack 10 provided in Embodiment 1, except that, as Figure 17 As shown, in this embodiment, there are two mounting plates 4 corresponding to the same set of locking shafts 3, both of which are set above the corresponding gap. The two mounting plates 4 are arranged parallel to each other, and the two ends of the locking shaft 3 are respectively connected to the mounting plates 4.

[0165] The locking mechanism 40 has a horizontally penetrating inverted L-shaped through slot, which allows the locking mechanism 40 to enter the area between the two mounting plates 4 from top to bottom, so that the locking shaft 3 is locked in the through slot of the locking mechanism 40 to achieve locking. This structural arrangement makes the connection between the locking shaft 3 and the locking mechanism 40 more firm and stable.

[0166] In other specific embodiments, the vehicle body bracket 30 may not be provided. Instead, the locking mechanism 40 may be directly provided on the side of the vehicle body longitudinal beam 20. When the battery pack is connected to the vehicle body longitudinal beam 20, the battery pack is located below the vehicle body longitudinal beam 20, and the height of the connection point between the locking mechanism and the locking shaft is higher than the lower end of the vehicle body longitudinal beam 20. The clamping surface 51 of the guide block 5 is used to clamp the side of the vehicle body longitudinal beam, which will not be described in detail here.

[0167] In other specific methods, the locking mechanism and the locking shaft can also be locked using a T-type locking method or a threaded locking method. The following is a brief introduction to these two methods.

[0168] First type: T-type locking method

[0169] The locking mechanism includes a locking seat with a first opening extending vertically. The first opening has a first threaded portion, which is an internal thread. The locking engagement mechanism includes a mounting base and an unlocking rod. The mounting base has a second opening extending vertically. The unlocking rod is vertically positioned within the second opening. The unlocking rod can move vertically relative to the mounting base and has a second threaded portion that engages with the first threaded portion. The second threaded portion can mesh with the first threaded portion, thereby realizing the locking and unlocking of the locking mechanism and the locking engagement mechanism.

[0170] The second method: threaded locking

[0171] The locking mechanism includes a locking seat with a first opening extending vertically. A limiting part is provided in the first opening. The first opening is a square hole and the limiting part is formed above the first opening. The locking engagement mechanism includes an unlocking rod with a stop at its upper end. The stop includes a locking rod extending horizontally. The locking rod is a columnar body and is horizontally set on top of the unlocking rod. The locking rod and the unlocking rod together form a T-shaped structure.

[0172] When the locking rod is at the first angle, it can pass through the first opening and enter the limiting part of the locking seat. When the locking rod rotates to the second angle, it can be restricted within the limiting part, thereby fixing the locking mechanism and the locking engagement mechanism relatively.

[0173] In the above embodiments, the height space under the vehicle body longitudinal beam 20 is fully utilized. When the battery swapping equipment disassembles the battery pack 10, the unloaded equipment can directly enter the space under the battery pack 10 without interfering with the bottom of the electric vehicle 100. When the battery swapping equipment installs the battery pack 10, the equipment carrying the battery pack 10 can also directly enter the space under the vehicle body longitudinal beam 20 for battery swapping without interfering with the bottom of the electric vehicle 100. Throughout the process, there is no need to lift the vehicle body, nor is it necessary to set up a sunken space or dig a pit for the battery swapping equipment to enter and exit, thus reducing the construction cost, time, and difficulty of the battery swapping station, reducing the requirements for the construction site, and improving the efficiency of battery swapping.

[0174] While specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, those skilled in the art should understand that these are merely illustrative examples, and the scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. Those skilled in the art can make various changes or modifications to these embodiments without departing from the principles and essence of the present invention, but all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A battery pack for an electric vehicle, mounted on the longitudinal beams of the electric vehicle body, characterized in that, The battery pack for electric vehicles includes: The housing includes at least two housing units, each housing unit containing a battery module for external charging and discharging; A horizontally arranged locking shaft is located above two adjacent housing units and at a position corresponding to the locking mechanism on the vehicle body longitudinal beam. The housing is provided with a mounting plate, and one end of the locking shaft is connected to the mounting plate. There is a gap between adjacent housing units, and the housing further includes a gap connection structure, through which adjacent housing units are connected, and the gap connection structure is respectively connected to the housing body of the adjacent housing units; the mounting plate is disposed on the gap connection structure.

2. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Both ends of the locking shaft are connected to the mounting plate.

3. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting plate is at least partially located between two adjacent enclosure units.

4. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The mounting plate extends along the length of the vehicle body longitudinal beam.

5. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The locking shafts are multiple and are distributed sequentially along the length of the vehicle body longitudinal beam on the end face of the mounting plate near the locking mechanism.

6. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The battery pack for electric vehicles also includes a guide block, which is elastically disposed on the end face of the mounting plate near the longitudinal beam of the vehicle body. The guide block has a clamping surface for abutting against the side of the longitudinal beam of the vehicle body.

7. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The guide block has an inclined guide surface at one end away from the housing, and the guide surface gradually approaches the mounting plate from bottom to top along the height direction of the electric vehicle battery pack.

8. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The locking shaft and guide block are spaced apart horizontally on the mounting plate.

9. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 4, characterized in that, Each of the aforementioned housing units includes: The housing body has a cell receiving slot for placing the battery module. A housing cover plate, which is detachably connected to the opening of the cell receiving slot of the housing body and closes the opening.

10. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The battery pack for electric vehicles also includes a reinforcing beam, the first end of which extends to the top of the housing and is connected to the mounting plate, and the second end of which is connected to the gap connection structure.

11. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The gap connection structure includes an upper plate and a lower plate. The two ends of the lower plate are respectively connected to the bottom of the box body of the adjacent box unit, and the two ends of the upper plate are respectively connected to the top of the box body of the adjacent box unit. The second end of the reinforcing beam passes through the upper plate and connects to the lower plate.

12. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The upper end of the mounting plate has a first extension, which wraps around the first end of the reinforcing beam; And / or, The mounting plate has a second extension at its lower end, which abuts against the upper plate.

13. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The lower plate includes a first side plate, a top plate, and a second side plate connected in sequence. The lower plate is connected to the box body of the corresponding box unit through the first side plate and the second side plate. The second end of the reinforcing beam is connected to the top plate. Vertical ribs are provided on the end face of the top plate.

14. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The reinforcing beam consists of multiple beams, which are arranged along the length of the vehicle's longitudinal beams.

15. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The housing unit also includes a sealing element, which is arranged around the opening of the cell receiving slot and sandwiched between the housing body and the housing cover.

16. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 15, characterized in that, The sealing element is a foamed silicone pad.

17. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The surface of the box cover has a reinforced structure.

18. The battery pack for electric vehicles as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that, The reinforcing structure includes a protrusion on the box cover plate that protrudes away from the box body and a reinforcing rib. The protrusion forms a reinforcing groove with an opening facing the box body, and the reinforcing rib is provided in the reinforcing groove.

19. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 18, characterized in that, The reinforcing groove extends along the length of the vehicle's longitudinal beam; There are multiple reinforcing ribs, and the multiple reinforcing ribs are arranged in the reinforcing groove along the length direction of the vehicle body longitudinal beam.

20. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The battery pack for electric vehicles further includes a second electrical connector for mating with a first electrical connector on the vehicle body longitudinal beam. The second electrical connector is disposed on the housing at a position corresponding to the first electrical connector, and the second electrical connector is electrically connected to the battery module.

21. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 20, characterized in that, The enclosure also includes: The cable conduit connects the cell receiving slots of adjacent enclosure units.

22. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 21, characterized in that, The cable conduit is located near the second electrical connector.

23. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in any one of claims 9-22, characterized in that, The battery pack for electric vehicles also includes a side reinforcement structure, which surrounds the outside of the housing and is connected to the outer surface of each housing body.

24. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 23, characterized in that, The side reinforcement structure is provided with weight reduction holes.

25. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in any one of claims 9-22, characterized in that, The battery pack for electric vehicles also includes a bottom reinforcing structure, which is fixed to the inner bottom surface of the housing body, and both ends of the bottom reinforcing structure extend to the inner wall of the housing body.

26. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in claim 25, characterized in that, The bottom reinforcement structure is multiple, and the multiple bottom reinforcement structures are arranged in parallel and spaced apart in the housing body. The battery module is simultaneously supported and disposed on the multiple bottom reinforcement structures.

27. The battery pack for electric vehicles as described in any one of claims 9-22, characterized in that, Along the width direction of the vehicle body longitudinal beam, there are multiple locking shafts divided into two groups. The two groups of locking shafts are symmetrically distributed on the housing. The housing includes three housing units, which are spaced apart. Two of the housing units are located outside the two symmetrically arranged locking shafts, and the other housing unit is located between the two symmetrically arranged locking shafts.

28. An electric vehicle, characterized in that, The device includes a vehicle body longitudinal beam and an electric vehicle battery pack as described in any one of claims 1-27. The vehicle body longitudinal beam is provided with a locking mechanism, and the electric vehicle battery pack is detachably connected to the vehicle body longitudinal beam through the locking shaft and the locking mechanism.

29. The electric vehicle as claimed in claim 28, characterized in that, The electric vehicle also includes a body frame, the locking mechanism is disposed on the body frame, and the body frame is disposed on the body longitudinal beam.

30. The electric vehicle as claimed in claim 29, characterized in that, The height of the connection point between the locking mechanism and the locking shaft is higher than the height of the lower end of the vehicle body bracket or the vehicle body longitudinal beam.

31. The electric vehicle as described in claim 29, characterized in that, The battery pack for electric vehicles has multiple locking shafts, which are symmetrically distributed on the housing and have their free ends facing each other. The locking mechanism is located on the opposite side of the vehicle body bracket. Alternatively, the battery pack for electric vehicles may have multiple locking shafts, which are symmetrically distributed on the housing and have their free ends facing away from each other. The locking mechanism is located on the opposite side of the vehicle body bracket.

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