Battery, electrical device, method and apparatus for preparing battery

Abstract

The present application discloses a battery, an electrical device, and a method and apparatus for preparing the battery. The battery includes a plurality of battery cells arranged along a first direction, each of the battery cells being provided with electrode terminals on two end faces along the first direction; a busbar component for connecting the two electrode terminals to achieve electrical connection between the two battery cells; wherein the busbar component is provided with a flexible bending portion for adjusting the relative positions of the two electrode terminals, and the maximum width of the flexible bending portion along the first direction is greater than the distance between the two electrode terminals. By providing the flexible bending portion in the busbar component, the flexible bending portion can be bent in a variety of forms to meet the requirements of electrical connection between the two battery cells in a variety of relative positions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of batteries, and in particular to a battery, an electrical device, and a method and apparatus for preparing a battery. Background Art

[0002] A chemical battery, electrochemical cell, electrochemical cell, or electrochemical cell refers to a device that converts the chemical energy of the active materials at the positive and negative electrodes into electrical energy through a redox reaction. Unlike conventional redox reactions, the oxidation and reduction reactions occur separately, with oxidation occurring at the negative electrode and reduction at the positive electrode. Electrons are gained and lost through external circuits, thus generating an electric current. This is the essential characteristic of all batteries. After years of research and development, chemical batteries have evolved into a diverse range of devices with widespread applications, from devices as large as a building to devices as small as millimeters. The development of modern electronic technology places high demands on chemical batteries. Every breakthrough in chemical battery technology has brought about revolutionary developments in electronic devices. Many electrochemical scientists around the world are focusing their research and development on chemical batteries as power sources for electric vehicles.

[0003] As a type of chemical battery, lithium-ion batteries have the advantages of small size, high energy density, high power density, many cycles and long storage time. They have been widely used in some electronic devices, electric vehicles, electric toys and electric equipment. For example, lithium-ion batteries are currently widely used in mobile phones, laptops, electric bicycles, electric cars, electric airplanes, electric boats, electric toy cars, electric toy boats, electric toy airplanes and electric tools, etc.

[0004] With the continuous development of lithium-ion battery technology, higher requirements are placed on the performance of lithium-ion batteries. It is hoped that lithium-ion batteries can take into account multiple design factors at the same time. Among them, the electrical connection structure between battery cells is usually connected by welding with a relatively rigid busbar component. After the battery cells are welded, the relative positions between the battery cells cannot be adjusted and cannot adapt to the internal installation space requirements of different vehicles. This brings difficulties to vehicle assembly and reduces production efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application proposes a battery, an electrical device, a method for preparing a battery, and an apparatus to achieve adjustable relative positions between battery cells.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present application, there is provided a battery comprising:

[0007] A plurality of battery cells arranged along a first direction, wherein each of the battery cells is provided with electrode terminals on two end surfaces along the first direction;

[0008] a busbar component, used to connect the two electrode terminals to achieve electrical connection between the two battery cells;

[0009] The busbar component is provided with a flexible bending portion, and the flexible bending portion is used to adjust the relative positions of the two electrode terminals. The maximum width of the flexible bending portion along the first direction is greater than the distance between the two electrode terminals.

[0010] By setting a flexible bending portion in the confluence component, the flexible bending portion has low rigidity and reserved deformation margin, and can be bent in various forms to meet the electrical connection between the two battery cells in various relative positions. The distance and angle between the two battery cells can be adjusted through the flexible bending portion, which can quickly adapt to the internal installation space requirements of different vehicles, increase the number of battery cells in the battery, and improve the capacity of the battery installed in the vehicle.

[0011] In some embodiments, a maximum width of the flexible bending portion along the first direction is smaller than a distance between adjacent end surfaces of two battery cells.

[0012] Because the end faces of some battery cells are conductive, if the flexible bend comes into contact with the end face of a battery cell, this contact is unstable and easily generates contact resistance, which affects the conductivity between the battery cells. By limiting the maximum width of the flexible bend, contact between the flexible bend and the end face of the battery cell is avoided, thereby preventing contact resistance and ensuring conductivity between the battery cells.

[0013] In some embodiments, the busbar component is configured to be bent via the flexible bending portion to enable the two electrode terminals to be arranged opposite to each other along the first direction.

[0014] In order to facilitate the welding of the busbar component, the battery cells can first be arranged in a manner parallel to the axes, and the welding surfaces of the electrode terminals can be regarded as being located on the same plane. At this time, it is easy to weld the busbar component to the electrode terminals of the two battery cells. After the welding is completed, the two battery cells are folded in half until the two electrode terminals are arranged relative to each other along the first direction, so that the battery cells are arranged relative to each other in the first direction. During the folding process, the busbar component will bend through the flexible bending portion.

[0015] In some embodiments, the flexible bending portion protrudes from a gap between the two electrode terminals along a second direction, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

[0016] If the flexible curved portion is placed in the gap between the two electrode terminals, it will also form unstable contact with the electrode terminals, which can easily generate contact resistance and affect the conductivity between the battery cells. By limiting the protrusion direction of the flexible curved portion, contact between the flexible curved portion and the electrode terminals is avoided, thus avoiding contact resistance and ensuring the conductivity between the battery cells.

[0017] In some embodiments, the flexible bending portion does not protrude beyond the outer circumference of the battery cell along the second direction.

[0018] Because multiple battery cells are arranged in the battery, the multiple battery cells are in close contact along the second direction. If the flexible bending portion protrudes from the outer periphery of the battery cell, it will extend into between other battery cells, resulting in incorrect circuit connection, and in severe cases, the battery cell will be damaged. By limiting the flexible bending portion within the outer periphery of the battery cell, the generation of incorrect circuit connection is avoided.

[0019] In some embodiments, the confluence component comprises:

[0020] a first connecting portion, configured to be fixedly connected to the electrode terminal of one of the two battery cells;

[0021] a second connecting portion, configured to be fixedly connected to the electrode terminal of the other of the two battery cells;

[0022] The flexible bending portion is used to connect the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion.

[0023] By configuring the busbar component into three parts, each of which is provided with different functions, it is convenient to design and manufacture the busbar component, and it is also convenient to fix the busbar component to the battery cell.

[0024] In some embodiments, the flexible bending portion includes a plurality of stacked conductor sheets, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion include conductor plates respectively, and both ends of the conductor sheet are fixedly connected to the conductor plates respectively.

[0025] Because the busbar must be made of a conductive material, the conductor sheet must first have conductive properties. Furthermore, due to its thinness and low rigidity, it is relatively easy to bend, and the flexible curved portion is easily bent. However, the connection structure between the busbar and the electrode terminal must maintain a certain degree of rigidity, otherwise it will easily lead to an unstable connection. The conductor plate is thicker and more rigid, so the use of the conductor plate meets the requirement of a fixed connection between the busbar and the electrode terminal.

[0026] In some embodiments, the ratio of the thickness of the conductor sheet to the thickness of the conductor plate is 1 / 25-1 / 5.

[0027] The thinner the conductor sheet, the lower its rigidity, and the easier it is to bend when assembled into a flexible curved section. The appropriate thickness of the conductor sheet can be selected based on the design requirements. The thickness of the conductor plate can also be selected based on the flow performance of the converging component to achieve the required flow area.

[0028] In some embodiments, the busbar component includes multiple layers of stacked conductor sheets, and the conductor sheets of predetermined lengths at both ends of the busbar component are tightly fitted to form the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion respectively, and the conductor sheets in the middle of the busbar component are tightly fitted to form the flexible bending portion.

[0029] The busbar component can also be made entirely of conductor sheets. The tight fit of the conductor sheets can meet both the bending requirements of the flexible bending portion and the fixed connection requirements of the busbar component and the electrode terminals, which makes it more convenient to manufacture the busbar component.

[0030] In some embodiments, the flexible bend comprises:

[0031] an arc-shaped portion located in the middle of the flexible curved portion;

[0032] a first guiding portion, configured to connect the arc-shaped portion and the first connecting portion;

[0033] a second guiding portion, configured to connect the arc-shaped portion and the second connecting portion;

[0034] The first guide portion and the second guide portion are used to respectively guide the first connection portion and the second connection portion to bend when the flexible bending portion is bent.

[0035] Because the flexible bending portion has a bending process, its shape after bending may change. In order to maintain the uniform shape of the flexible bending portion and the shape of the confluence component, guide parts can be set at both ends of the flexible bending portion to guide the bending process. After bending, the shapes of the flexible bending portion and the confluence component are uniform, ensuring that the structure of the battery meets the design requirements and improving the quality of the battery.

[0036] In some embodiments, the first guide portion is arc-shaped, and the radius of the first guide portion is not greater than the radius of the arc-shaped portion; and / or

[0037] The second guide portion is arc-shaped, and a radius of the second guide portion is not greater than a radius of the arc-shaped portion.

[0038] By designing the guide portion as an arc, creating a natural transition with the curved portion, the guiding effect is improved. Since the guide portion's primary function is to guide bending, its radius can be designed to be smaller. The deformation of the flexible bending portion is primarily carried out through the curved portion, so the radius of the curved portion can be designed to be larger. Of course, the guide portion also participates in the deformation process of the flexible bending portion, assisting in the deformation.

[0039] In some embodiments, the flexible bending portion is provided with a notch, and the flexible bending portion is configured to bend through the notch.

[0040] The notches can be provided on either side of the top of the flexible bend. By reducing the width of the flexible bend, the rigidity of the flexible bend at the notches is further reduced, making it easier for the flexible bend to bend at the notches. The notches on either side of the flexible bend can also serve as fuses, which can be blown in the event of an overcurrent in the current collector, disconnecting the first and second connectors and improving battery safety.

[0041] In some embodiments, the curvature of the flexible bending portion is adjustable, and the flexible bending portion is configured to adjust the relative positions of the two electrode terminals by adjusting the curvature.

[0042] When the relative position between two adjacent battery cells changes, the curvature of the flexible bending portion adapts accordingly to meet the electrical connection between the two battery cells in a variety of relative positions. After multiple battery cells are connected, they do not have to be arranged on the same plane, but can also be arranged on two intersecting planes, quickly adapting to the internal installation space requirements of different vehicles.

[0043] In some embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the flexible bend is circular, rectangular, or elliptical with an opening.

[0044] The flexible curved portion can have different cross-sectional shapes based on design requirements. These cross-sectional shapes all meet the functional requirements of the flexible curved portion, differing in their ability to deform. Rectangular shapes have the greatest deformation margin, followed by elliptical shapes, and finally circular shapes. Converging components with flexible curved portions of different shapes can be installed between battery cells at different locations, allowing the flexible curved portion to have different shapes at different locations within the battery.

[0045] According to a second aspect of the present application, an electrical device is provided, which includes the battery described in the first aspect above, and the battery is used to provide electrical energy for the device.

[0046] According to a third aspect of the present application, there is provided a method for preparing a battery, comprising:

[0047] Providing a plurality of battery cells arranged along a first direction, wherein each of the battery cells is provided with electrode terminals on two end surfaces along the first direction;

[0048] providing a busbar component, the busbar component being used to connect the two electrode terminals to achieve electrical connection between the two battery cells;

[0049] The busbar component is provided with a flexible bending portion, and the flexible bending portion is used to adjust the relative positions of the two electrode terminals. The maximum width of the flexible bending portion along the first direction is greater than the distance between the two electrode terminals.

[0050] According to a fourth aspect of the present application, there is provided an apparatus for preparing a battery, comprising:

[0051] A battery cell preparation module, used for preparing a plurality of battery cells, each of which is provided with electrode terminals on two end surfaces along a first direction;

[0052] a busbar component preparation module, used for preparing a busbar component, wherein the busbar component is used for connecting the two electrode terminals to achieve electrical connection between the two battery cells;

[0053] An assembly module, used for fixedly connecting the busbar component to the two electrode terminals;

[0054] The busbar component is provided with a flexible bending portion, and the flexible bending portion is used to adjust the relative positions of the two electrode terminals. The maximum width of the flexible bending portion along the first direction is greater than the distance between the two electrode terminals. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] The drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the present application and constitute a part of the present application. The illustrative embodiments of the present application and their descriptions are used to explain the present application and do not constitute an improper limitation on the present application. In the drawings:

[0056] Figure 1 shows a perspective schematic diagram of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0057] Figure 2 shows a front schematic view of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0058] Figure 3 Shown Figure 2 A partial enlarged view of the battery shown in;

[0059] Figure 4 shows a front schematic view of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0060] Figure 5shows a schematic top view of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0061] Figure 6 shows a front schematic view of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0062] Figure 7 shows a front schematic view of a battery according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0063] Figure 8 shows a three-dimensional schematic diagram of batteries being electrically connected according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0064] Figure 9 shows a schematic front view of a battery when it is electrically connected according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0065] Figure 10 shows a right side schematic diagram of a battery being electrically connected according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0066] Figure 11 A schematic diagram showing an open state of a battery after electrical connection according to some embodiments of the present application is shown;

[0067] Figure 12 shows a left side schematic diagram of a busbar component according to some embodiments of the present application;

[0068] Figure 13 Shown Figure 12 A partial enlarged view of the conduit component shown in FIG.

[0069] Figure 14 A schematic front view of a busbar component according to some embodiments of the present application is shown;

[0070] Figure 15 A schematic front view of a busbar component according to some embodiments of the present application is shown;

[0071] Figure 16 Shown are schematic structural diagrams of some embodiments of vehicles using the battery of the present application;

[0072] Figure 17 A schematic flow chart of a method for preparing a battery according to some embodiments of the present application is shown;

[0073] Figure 18 A schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for preparing a battery according to some embodiments of the present application is shown.

[0074] Explanation of the accompanying drawings: 1. Vehicle; 10. Battery; 30. Controller; 40. Motor; 2. Battery cell; 201. First battery cell; 202. Second battery cell; 3. Busbar; 301. First connecting portion; 302. Second connecting portion; 303. Flexible bending portion; 3031. Arc portion; 3032. First guide portion; 3033. Second guide portion; 304. Notch; 4. Electrode terminal; 401. First electrode terminal; 402. Second electrode terminal; 5. Equipment for preparing batteries; 501. Battery cell preparation module; 502. Busbar preparation module; 503. Assembly module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0075] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application more clear, the following will be combined with the accompanying drawings showing multiple embodiments of this application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application. It should be understood that the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments described in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without expending creative work will fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0076] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meanings as commonly understood by one skilled in the art to which this application belongs. The terms used in this application and in the specification are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit this application. The terms "including," "comprising," "having," "having," "containing," and "containing" in the specification, claims, and accompanying figures of this application are open-ended terms. Thus, "including," "comprising," and "having" refer, for example, to a method or apparatus having one or more steps or elements, but are not limited to having only those one or more elements. The terms "first," "second," and "first" in the specification, claims, and accompanying figures of this application are used to distinguish between different objects, not to describe a specific order or priority. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed to indicate or imply relative importance or to implicitly specify the number of the technical features indicated. Thus, a feature designated "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. Throughout this application, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more.

[0077] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "lateral", "length", "width", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and 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.

[0078] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "connected," and "attached" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they may refer to direct connections, indirect connections through an intermediate medium, or internal connections between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this application based on specific circumstances.

[0079] References to "embodiments" in this application mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor does it constitute an independent or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive of other embodiments. It is understood, both explicitly and implicitly, by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described in this application may be combined with other embodiments.

[0080] As mentioned above, it should be emphasized that when the term "include / comprises" is used in this specification, it is used to clearly indicate the presence of the features, integers, steps or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups of features, integers, steps, components. As used in this application, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" also include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0081] The terms "a" and "an" used in this specification may mean one, but may also have the same meaning as "at least one" or "one or more." The term "about" generally means plus or minus 10%, or more specifically, plus or minus 5%, of the referenced value. The term "or" used in the claims means "and / or" unless it is expressly stated that it refers only to alternatives.

[0082] The term "and / or" in this application simply describes an association between related objects, indicating that three possible relationships exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character " / " in this application generally indicates that the related objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0083] Batteries mentioned in this field can be categorized as either primary batteries or rechargeable batteries, depending on whether they are rechargeable. Primary batteries are commonly known as "disposable" batteries or primary batteries because once they are depleted, they cannot be recharged and must be discarded. Rechargeable batteries are also known as secondary batteries, secondary batteries, or storage batteries. Rechargeable batteries are manufactured using different materials and processes than primary batteries. Their advantage is that they can be reused multiple times after charging, and their output current capacity is higher than that of most primary batteries. Currently, common rechargeable battery types include lead-acid batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries offer advantages such as light weight, high capacity (1.5 to 2 times that of nickel-metal hydride batteries of the same weight), no memory effect, and a very low self-discharge rate. Consequently, despite their relatively high price, they are widely used. Lithium-ion batteries are also used in pure electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. While the lithium-ion batteries used for these applications have a slightly lower capacity, they offer higher output and charging current, and some have a longer lifespan, albeit at a higher cost.

[0084] The battery described in the embodiments of the present application refers to a rechargeable battery. The concept of the present application will be described below mainly using lithium-ion batteries as an example. It should be understood that any other appropriate type of rechargeable battery is applicable. The battery mentioned in the embodiments of the present application refers to a single physical module that includes one or more battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. For example, the battery mentioned in the present application may include a battery module or a battery pack. A battery cell includes a positive electrode sheet, a negative electrode sheet, an electrolyte and a separator, and is the basic structural unit that constitutes a battery module and a battery pack. Battery cells are generally divided into three types according to the packaging method: cylindrical battery cells, square battery cells and soft-pack battery cells.

[0085] Lithium-ion battery cells mainly rely on the movement of lithium ions between the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet to work. Lithium-ion battery cells use an embedded lithium compound as an electrode material. The main common positive electrode materials currently used for lithium-ion batteries are: lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), lithium manganese oxide (LiMn2O4), lithium nickel oxide (LiNiO2) and lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4). A separator is provided between the positive electrode sheet and the negative electrode sheet to form a thin film structure having three layers of material. The thin film structure is generally made into an electrode assembly of the desired shape by winding or stacking. For example, the thin film structure of the three layers of material in the cylindrical battery cell is wound into a cylindrical electrode assembly, while the thin film structure in the square battery cell is wound or stacked into an electrode assembly having a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0086] Multiple battery cells can be connected in series and / or in parallel via electrode terminals for use in various applications. In some high-power applications such as electric vehicles, the application of batteries includes three levels: battery cells, battery modules and battery packs. The battery module is formed by electrically connecting a certain number of battery cells together and placing them in a frame in order to protect the battery cells from external impact, heat, vibration, etc. The battery pack is the final state of the battery system installed in the electric vehicle. Most of the current battery packs are made by assembling various control and protection systems such as battery management systems (BMS) and thermal management components on one or more battery modules. With the development of technology, the battery module level can be omitted, that is, the battery pack is directly formed from battery cells. This improvement has improved the weight energy density and volume energy density of the battery system while significantly reducing the number of components. The batteries mentioned in this application include battery modules or battery packs.

[0087] In order to address the problem that existing battery cells are usually connected by welding with a high-rigidity busbar component, the relative position of the battery cells cannot be adjusted, and it is difficult to fully utilize the internal space of the vehicle to set up the batteries, this application provides a flexible bending portion in the busbar component, and the flexible bending portion can be bent in various forms, so that the busbar component has a deformation function. The two battery cells welded with the busbar component can adjust the distance and angle, and can quickly adapt to the internal installation space requirements of different vehicles, facilitate vehicle assembly, and improve vehicle production efficiency.

[0088] In order to better understand this application, Figures 1 to 18 The embodiments of the present application are described in detail.

[0089] like Figure 1 、 Figure 2 、 Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a battery 10 according to an embodiment of the present application, comprising:

[0090] A plurality of battery cells 2 arranged along a first direction X, wherein each battery cell 2 is provided with electrode terminals 4 on two end surfaces along the first direction X;

[0091] A busbar component 3 is used to connect two electrode terminals 4 to achieve electrical connection between two battery cells 2;

[0092] The current collecting component 3 is provided with a flexible bending portion 303 , which is used to adjust the relative positions of the two electrode terminals 4 . The maximum width of the flexible bending portion 303 along the first direction X is greater than the distance between the two electrode terminals 4 .

[0093] In this embodiment, the first direction X is the axial direction of the battery cell 2 after it is fixed in the battery 10 , or is the length direction of the battery cell 2 after it is fixed in the battery 10 .

[0094] The battery cell 2 may be in a prismatic, cylindrical, etc. The electrode terminal 4 may be in a rectangular parallelepiped, cubic, cylindrical, etc. The busbar component 3 in this embodiment is suitable for electrode terminals 4 of these different shapes.

[0095] Figure 1 、 Figure 2 In the example, two rows of battery cells 2 are used, namely the first battery cell 201 and the second battery cell 202, and the two end surfaces along the first direction X are respectively provided with the first electrode terminal 401 and the second electrode terminal 402. The two battery cells 2 have various relative positions. Figure 2 、 Figure 3 The first battery cell 201 and the second battery cell 202 can be regarded as being in the same axis direction. Figure 4 The first battery cell 201 and the second battery cell 202 can be regarded as having an obtuse angle of less than 180 degrees between their axes in the XZ plane. Figure 5 The first battery cell 201 and the second battery cell 202 can be considered to have an obtuse angle less than 180 degrees between their axes in the XY plane. In actual use, the relative positions between the battery cells 2 are not limited to the above three types, and various types of relative positions can appear.

[0096] like Figure 3 As shown in the figure, the maximum width of the flexible bending portion 303 is A, where A is the maximum dimension of the outer contour of the flexible bending portion 303 along the first direction X. The distance between the first electrode terminal 401 and the second electrode terminal 402 is B, where B is the gap distance between the end faces of the two along the first direction X. In this embodiment, A is greater than B, so that the flexible bending portion 303 reserves a larger deformation margin.

[0097] By setting a flexible bending portion 303 in the confluence component 3, the flexible bending portion 303 has low rigidity and reserves a large deformation margin, and can be bent in various forms to meet the electrical connection between the two battery cells 2 in various relative positions. The distance and angle between the two battery cells 2 can be adjusted by the flexible bending portion 303, quickly adapting to the internal installation space requirements of different vehicles, increasing the number of battery cells 2 set in the battery 10, and improving the capacity of the battery 10 installed in the vehicle.

[0098] In some embodiments, the maximum width of the flexible bending portion 303 along the first direction X is smaller than the distance between adjacent end surfaces of two battery cells 2 .

[0099] like Figure 3 As shown, the maximum width of the flexible bending portion 303 is A, where A is the maximum dimension of the outer contour of the flexible bending portion 303 along the first direction X. The distance between the adjacent end faces of the first battery cell 201 and the second battery cell 202 is C, where C is the gap distance between the end faces of the two along the first direction X. In this embodiment, A is smaller than C, so that the flexible bending portion 303 does not contact the end face of the battery cell 2.

[0100] Because the end faces of some types of battery cells 2 are conductive, if the flexible curved portion 303 comes into contact with the end face of the battery cell 2, this contact is unstable and easily generates contact resistance, which affects the conductivity between the battery cells 2. By limiting the maximum width of the flexible curved portion 303, contact between the flexible curved portion 303 and the end face of the battery cell 2 is avoided, thereby preventing contact resistance and ensuring the conductivity between the battery cells 2.

[0101] In some embodiments, the flexible bending portion 303 protrudes from the gap between the two electrode terminals 4 along the second direction Z, and the second direction Z is perpendicular to the first direction X.

[0102] like Figure 3 As shown, the second direction Z can be regarded as perpendicular to the axial direction or length direction of the first battery cell 201 and the second battery cell 202 , and the flexible bending portion 303 protrudes from the gap between the first electrode terminal 401 and the second electrode terminal 402 along the second direction Z.

[0103] If the flexible curved portion 303 is positioned within the gap between the two electrode terminals 4, it will also come into unstable contact with the electrode terminals 4, easily generating contact resistance and affecting the electrical conductivity between the battery cells 2. By limiting the protruding direction of the flexible curved portion 303, contact between the flexible curved portion 303 and the electrode terminals 4 is avoided, thereby preventing contact resistance and ensuring electrical conductivity between the battery cells 2.

[0104] In some embodiments, the flexible bending portion 303 does not protrude beyond the outer periphery of the battery cell 2 along the second direction Z.

[0105] like Figure 3 As shown, the flexible bending portion 303 does not protrude beyond the periphery of the first battery cell 201 and the second battery cell 202 along the second direction Z, and the top of the flexible bending portion 303 along the second direction Z can be flush with the periphery of the first battery cell 201 and the second battery cell 202, or lower than the periphery of the first battery cell 201 and the second battery cell 202.

[0106] Because multiple battery cells 2 are arranged in the battery 10, the multiple battery cells 2 are in close contact along the second direction Z. If the flexible bending portion 303 protrudes from the outer periphery of the battery cell 2, it will extend into between other battery cells 2, resulting in an erroneous circuit connection, and in severe cases, the battery cell 2 will be damaged. By limiting the flexible bending portion 303 within the outer periphery of the battery cell 2, the generation of erroneous circuit connections is effectively avoided.

[0107] In some embodiments, the confluence component 3 includes:

[0108] The first connecting portion 301 is used for fixedly connecting to the electrode terminal 4 of one of the two battery cells 2;

[0109] The second connecting portion 302 is used for fixedly connecting to the electrode terminal 4 of the other of the two battery cells 2;

[0110] The flexible bending portion 303 is used to connect the first connection portion 301 and the second connection portion 302 .

[0111] like Figure 3 As shown, the first connecting portion 301 is fixedly connected to the first electrode terminal 401 of the first battery cell 201, and the second connecting portion 302 is fixedly connected to the second electrode terminal 402 of the second battery cell 202; the connection method can be welding, such as laser welding, ultrasonic welding, or other applicable welding methods.

[0112] By configuring the busbar component 3 into three parts, which are configured with different functions, it is convenient to design and manufacture the busbar component 3, and it is also convenient to fix the busbar component 3 to the battery cell 2.

[0113] Positioning holes extending along the thickness direction of the first connecting portion 301 and the second connecting portion 302 may be respectively provided on the first connecting portion 301 and the second connecting portion 302 corresponding to the welding positions. The positioning holes may be through holes for guiding the welding equipment to position the welding positions during welding.

[0114] In some embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the flexible bend 303 is circular, rectangular, or oval with an opening.

[0115] like Figure 3 As shown, the cross-sectional shape of the flexible bending portion 303 is a circle with an opening. Figure 6 As shown, the cross-sectional shape of the flexible bending portion 303 is a rectangle with an opening. Figure 7 As shown, the cross-sectional shape of the flexible curved portion 303 is an ellipse with an opening. These shapes can be provided when the flexible curved portion 303 is manufactured, or can be achieved through subsequent bending.

[0116] It should be noted that in Figure 3 In the embodiment, the maximum width A of the flexible bending portion 303 is the outer diameter of the flexible bending portion 303 along the first direction X. Figure 6 In the embodiment, the maximum width of the flexible bending portion 303 is A, which is the rectangular length of the flexible bending portion 303 along the first direction X. Figure 7 In the figure, the maximum width of the flexible bending portion 303 is A, which is the outer diameter of the elliptical major axis of the flexible bending portion 303 along the first direction X.

[0117] The flexible curved portion 303 can have various cross-sectional shapes based on design requirements. These cross-sectional shapes all meet the functional requirements of the flexible curved portion 303, differing in their ability to allow for different deformation margins. A rectangular shape has the greatest deformation margin, followed by an elliptical shape, and then a circular shape. A current converging component 3 with a flexible curved portion 303 of varying shapes can be positioned between battery cells 2 at different locations, allowing the flexible curved portion 303 to have different shapes at different locations within the battery 10.

[0118] In some embodiments, the busbar component 3 is configured to be bent via the flexible bending portion 303 so that the two electrode terminals 4 are arranged opposite to each other along the first direction X.

[0119] like Figure 8 、 Figure 9 、 Figure 10 、 Figure 11 As shown, in order to facilitate welding of the busbar component 3, the battery cells 2 can first be arranged in a parallel manner with their axes, and the welding surfaces of the electrode terminals 4 can be considered to be located on the same plane, as shown in FIG. Figure 8 In the YZ plane, it is easy to weld the busbar component 3 to the electrode terminals 4 of the two battery cells 2. After the welding is completed, the two battery cells 2 are folded in half until the two electrode terminals 4 are arranged relative to each other along the first direction X, so that the battery cells 2 are arranged relative to each other in the first direction X. During the folding process, the busbar component 3 will bend via the flexible bending portion 303.

[0120] In some embodiments, the flexible bending portion 303 includes a plurality of stacked conductor sheets, the first connecting portion 301 and the second connecting portion 302 each include a conductor plate, and both ends of the conductor sheet are fixedly connected to the conductor plate.

[0121] like Figure 12 、 Figure 13 As shown, because the busbar assembly 3 must be made of a conductive material, such as aluminum or copper, the conductor sheet can be made of aluminum or copper. First, they have good conductivity. Moreover, due to their thinness and low rigidity, they are relatively easy to bend. The flexible curved portion 303 is easily bent. However, the connection structure between the busbar assembly 3 and the electrode terminal 4 must maintain a certain degree of rigidity, otherwise the connection may be unstable. The conductor plate, which is thicker and more rigid, meets the requirement for a fixed connection between the busbar assembly 3 and the electrode terminal 4. The conductor plate can be made of aluminum or copper.

[0122] In some embodiments, the ratio of the thickness of the conductor sheet to the thickness of the conductor plate is 1 / 25-1 / 5.

[0123] The thinner the conductor sheet, the lower its rigidity, making the flexible curved portion 303 more easily bendable. A conductor sheet of appropriate thickness can be selected based on design requirements. The thickness of the conductor sheet can be selected based on the flow performance of the current collecting component 3 to achieve the required flow area. The conductor sheet can be 1-2 mm thick, and the flexible curved portion 303 can include 2-25 layers of conductor sheets. For example, if the conductor sheet is 2 mm thick and the flexible curved portion 303 includes 20 layers of conductor sheets, then each layer of conductor sheet is 0.1 mm thick.

[0124] In some embodiments, the busbar component 3 includes multiple layers of stacked conductor sheets. Conductor sheets of predetermined lengths at both ends of the busbar component 3 fit tightly together to form a first connecting portion 301 and a second connecting portion 302 , respectively. Conductor sheets in the middle of the busbar component 3 fit tightly together to form a flexible bending portion 303 .

[0125] The busbar assembly 3 can also be entirely made of conductive sheets. The tight fit of the conductive sheets can both meet the bending requirements of the flexible curved portion 303 and the fixed connection requirements between the busbar assembly 3 and the electrode terminals 4, making it more convenient to manufacture the busbar assembly 3. The conductive sheets of predetermined length at both ends of the busbar assembly 3 can be tightly fitted together by welding, preventing them from easily separating during use and maintaining a tight fit. The conductive sheet in the middle of the busbar assembly 3 does not need to be welded; it can simply be left in a naturally tight fit.

[0126] In some embodiments, the flexible bend 303 comprises:

[0127] The arc portion 3031 is located in the middle of the flexible curved portion 303;

[0128] A first guiding portion 3032 is used to connect the arc portion 3031 and the first connecting portion 301;

[0129] The second guide portion 3033 is used to connect the arc portion 3031 and the second connecting portion 302;

[0130] The first guiding portion 3032 and the second guiding portion 3033 are used to respectively guide the first connecting portion 301 and the second connecting portion 302 to bend when the flexible bending portion 303 is bent.

[0131] like Figure 14 As shown, since the flexible bending portion 303 has a bending process, the shape after bending may change. In order to maintain the uniform shape of the flexible bending portion 303 and the uniform shape of the confluence component 3, guide portions can be provided at both ends of the flexible bending portion 303. The bending process is guided by the guide portions. After bending, the shape of the flexible bending portion 303 is uniform, and the shape of the confluence component 3 is uniform, thereby ensuring that the structure of the battery 10 meets the design requirements and improving the quality of the battery 10.

[0132] In some embodiments, the first guide portion 3032 is arc-shaped, and the radius of the first guide portion 3032 is not greater than the radius of the arc-shaped portion 3031; and / or

[0133] The second guiding portion 3033 is arc-shaped, and the radius of the second guiding portion 3033 is not greater than the radius of the arc-shaped portion 3031 .

[0134] like Figure 14 As shown, by designing the guide portion to be curved, creating a natural transition with the curved portion 3031, a better guiding effect is achieved. Since the guide portion's primary function is to guide the bending of the curved portion 3031, its radius can be designed to be relatively small. The deformation of the flexible curved portion 303 is primarily carried out through the curved portion 3031, so the radius of the curved portion 3031 can be designed to be relatively large. Of course, the guide portion also participates in the deformation process of the flexible curved portion 303, assisting in the deformation.

[0135] In some embodiments, the flexible bending portion 303 is provided with a notch 304 , and the flexible bending portion 303 is configured to bend via the notch 304 .

[0136] like Figure 15 As shown, the notches 304 can be provided on both sides of the top of the flexible curved portion 303. By reducing the width of the flexible curved portion 303, the rigidity of the flexible curved portion 303 at the notches 304 is further reduced, making it easier for the flexible curved portion 303 to bend at the notches 304. The notches 304 on both sides of the flexible curved portion 303 can also serve as fuses, which are used to fuse when an overcurrent occurs in the current converging component 3, thereby disconnecting the first connecting portion 301 and the second connecting portion 302, thereby improving the safety performance of the battery 10.

[0137] In some embodiments, the curvature of the flexible curved portion 303 is adjustable. In this embodiment, curvature is used to characterize the degree of curvature of the flexible curved portion 303, specifically the degree of curvature in the first direction X. The ratio of the chord height of the bent flexible curved portion 303 to its length is the curvature of the flexible curved portion 303. Specifically, as the opening of the flexible curved portion 303 gradually increases, the curvature decreases, and as the opening of the flexible curved portion 303 gradually decreases, the curvature increases. The flexible curved portion 303 is configured to adjust the relative positions of the two electrode terminals 4 by adjusting its curvature.

[0138] When the relative position between two adjacent battery cells 2 changes, the curvature of the flexible bending portion 303 changes adaptively to meet the electrical connection between the two battery cells 2 in a variety of relative positions. After multiple battery cells 2 are connected, they do not have to be set on the same plane, but can be set on two intersecting planes. For example, if the installation base inside the vehicle has a slope, the battery cells 2 can quickly adapt to the internal installation space requirements of different vehicles.

[0139] During vehicle use, vibrations are inevitably generated. These vibrations are transmitted to the battery cells 2, generating stress on the current collector 3. To address this, the flexible curved portion 303 is designed to elastically deform. When the battery cells 2 vibrate, the flexible curved portion 303 absorbs the vibrations and does not break under stress, thus preventing cracking caused by prolonged stress during use. The elastic deformation of the flexible curved portion 303 is achieved through its shape and material. When vibration occurs, the flexible curved portion 303 can undergo adaptive elastic deformation, and its shape does not undergo irreversible changes after the vibration ends.

[0140] According to a second aspect of an embodiment of the present application, an electrical device is provided, which includes the battery 10 described in the first aspect above, and the battery 10 is used to provide electrical energy for the device.

[0141] It can be understood that the battery 10 described in the embodiment of the present application is suitable for various devices using the battery 10, such as mobile phones, portable devices, laptops, electric vehicles, electric vehicles, ships, spacecraft, electric toys and electric tools, etc. For example, spacecraft include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles and spacecraft, etc. Electric toys include fixed or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys and electric airplane toys, etc. Power tools include metal cutting power tools, grinding power tools, assembly power tools and railway power tools, such as electric drills, electric grinders, electric wrenches, electric screwdrivers, electric hammers, impact drills, concrete vibrators and electric planers.

[0142] The battery 10 described in the embodiments of the present application is not limited to the devices described above, but can also be applied to all devices using the battery 10. However, for the sake of simplicity, the following embodiments are described using electric vehicles as an example.

[0143] For example, Figure 16 As shown in FIG, a simplified schematic diagram of a vehicle 1 of this embodiment. The vehicle 1 can be a fuel vehicle, a gas vehicle or a new energy vehicle. The new energy vehicle can be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or an extended range vehicle. Figure 16 As shown, a battery 10 can be provided inside the vehicle 1, for example, the battery 10 can be provided at the bottom, front or rear of the vehicle 1. The battery 10 can be used to power the vehicle 1, for example, the battery 10 can serve as an operating power source for the vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 can also include a controller 30 and a motor 40. The controller 30 is used to control the power supply from the battery 10 to the motor 40, for example, to meet the working power requirements of the vehicle 1 during startup, navigation and driving. In another embodiment of the present application, the battery 10 can not only serve as an operating power source for the vehicle 1, but also as a driving power source for the vehicle 1, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1.

[0144] like Figure 16 As shown, the installation base inside the vehicle 1 can be sloped. Since the convergence component 3 has a deformation function, it can quickly adapt to the installation base with a slope, which facilitates the assembly of the vehicle 1, improves the production efficiency of the vehicle 1, and at the same time increases the capacity of the battery 10 carried by the vehicle 1.

[0145] According to a third aspect of the embodiments of the present application, a method for preparing a battery is provided, such as Figure 17 Shown, including:

[0146] Step S1: providing a plurality of battery cells 2 arranged along a first direction X, wherein each battery cell 2 is provided with electrode terminals 4 on two end surfaces along the first direction X;

[0147] Step S2: providing a busbar component 3, the busbar component 3 is used to connect two electrode terminals 4 to achieve electrical connection between two battery cells 2;

[0148] The current collecting component 3 is provided with a flexible bending portion 303 , which is used to adjust the relative positions of the two electrode terminals 4 . The maximum width of the flexible bending portion 303 along the first direction X is greater than the distance between the two electrode terminals 4 .

[0149] For parts not described in detail in this embodiment, please refer to the aforementioned embodiments.

[0150] According to a fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present application, a device 5 for preparing a battery is provided, such as Figure 18 Shown, including:

[0151] A battery cell preparation module 501 is used to prepare a plurality of battery cells 2 , each of which is provided with electrode terminals 4 on two end surfaces along a first direction X;

[0152] A busbar component preparation module 502 is used to prepare a busbar component 3 , which is used to connect two electrode terminals 4 to achieve electrical connection between two battery cells 2 ;

[0153] An assembly module 503 is used to securely connect the busbar component 3 to the two electrode terminals 4;

[0154] The current collecting component 3 is provided with a flexible bending portion 303 , which is used to adjust the relative positions of the two electrode terminals 4 . The maximum width of the flexible bending portion 303 along the first direction X is greater than the distance between the two electrode terminals 4 .

[0155] For parts not described in detail in this embodiment, please refer to the aforementioned embodiments.

[0156] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A battery, characterized in that: include: A plurality of battery cells (2) arranged along a first direction (X), each of the battery cells (2) being provided with electrode terminals (4) on two end surfaces along the first direction (X); A busbar component (3) for connecting the two electrode terminals (4) to achieve electrical connection between the two battery cells (2); The busbar component (3) is provided with a flexible bending portion (303), the flexible bending portion (303) being used to adjust the relative position of the two electrode terminals (4), and the maximum width of the flexible bending portion (303) along the first direction (X) is greater than the distance between the two electrode terminals (4); the busbar component (3) is configured to bend via the flexible bending portion (303) to achieve relative arrangement of the two electrode terminals (4) along the first direction (X).

2. The battery according to claim 1, characterized in that The maximum width of the flexible bending portion (303) along the first direction (X) is smaller than the distance between the adjacent end faces of two battery cells (2).

3. The battery according to claim 1, characterized in that The flexible bending portion (303) protrudes from the gap between the two electrode terminals (4) along a second direction (Z), and the second direction (Z) is perpendicular to the first direction (X).

4. The battery according to claim 3, characterized in that The flexible curved portion (303) does not protrude beyond the periphery of the battery cell (2) along the second direction (Z).

5. The battery according to claim 1, characterized in that The confluence component (3) comprises: A first connecting portion (301) is used for fixedly connecting to the electrode terminal (4) of one of the two battery cells (2); A second connecting portion (302) is used for fixedly connecting to the electrode terminal (4) of the other of the two battery cells (2); The flexible bending portion (303) is used to connect the first connecting portion (301) and the second connecting portion (302).

6. The battery according to claim 5, characterized in that The flexible bending portion (303) comprises a plurality of stacked conductor sheets, the first connecting portion (301) and the second connecting portion (302) respectively comprise conductor plates, and both ends of the conductor sheets are respectively fixedly connected to the conductor plates.

7. The battery according to claim 6, characterized in that The ratio of the thickness of the conductor sheet to the thickness of the conductor plate is 1 / 25-1 / 5.

8. The battery according to claim 5, characterized in that The busbar component (3) comprises a plurality of conductor sheets stacked in layers, wherein the conductor sheets of predetermined length at both ends of the busbar component (3) are tightly fitted to form the first connecting portion (301) and the second connecting portion (302), respectively, and the conductor sheets in the middle of the busbar component (3) are tightly fitted to form the flexible bending portion (303).

9. The battery according to claim 5, characterized in that The flexible curved portion (303) comprises: an arc-shaped portion (3031) located in the middle of the flexible curved portion (303); a first guiding portion (3032), used for connecting the arc-shaped portion (3031) and the first connecting portion (301); A second guiding portion (3033) is used to connect the arc-shaped portion (3031) and the second connecting portion (302); The first guiding portion (3032) and the second guiding portion (3033) are used to respectively guide the first connecting portion (301) and the second connecting portion (302) to bend when the flexible bending portion (303) is bent.

10. The battery according to claim 9, characterized in that The first guiding portion (3032) is arc-shaped, and the radius of the first guiding portion (3032) is not greater than the radius of the arc-shaped portion (3031); and / or The second guide portion (3033) is arc-shaped, and the radius of the second guide portion (3033) is not greater than the radius of the arc-shaped portion (3031).

11. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The flexible bending portion (303) is provided with a notch (304), and the flexible bending portion is configured to bend via the notch (304).

12. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The curvature of the flexible curved portion (303) is adjustable, and the flexible curved portion (303) is configured to adjust the relative positions of the two electrode terminals (4) by adjusting the curvature.

13. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The cross-sectional shape of the flexible curved portion (303) is circular, rectangular or elliptical with an opening.

14. An electrical device, characterized in that: The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 13 is used to provide electrical energy.

15. A method for preparing a battery, characterized in that: include: Providing a plurality of battery cells (2) arranged along a first direction (X), wherein each of the battery cells (2) is provided with electrode terminals (4) on two end surfaces along the first direction (X); Providing a busbar component (3), the busbar component (3) being used to connect the two electrode terminals (4) to achieve electrical connection between the two battery cells (2); The busbar component (3) is provided with a flexible bending portion (303), the flexible bending portion (303) being used to adjust the relative position of the two electrode terminals (4), and the maximum width of the flexible bending portion (303) along the first direction (X) is greater than the distance between the two electrode terminals (4); the busbar component (3) is configured to bend via the flexible bending portion (303) to achieve relative arrangement of the two electrode terminals (4) along the first direction (X).

16. A device for preparing a battery, characterized in that: include: A battery cell preparation module (501) is used to prepare a plurality of battery cells (2), each of the battery cells (2) being provided with electrode terminals (4) on two end faces along a first direction (X); A busbar component preparation module (502) for preparing a busbar component (3), wherein the busbar component (3) is used to connect the two electrode terminals (4) to achieve electrical connection between the two battery cells (2); An assembly module (503) for fixedly connecting the current collecting component (3) and the two electrode terminals (4); The busbar component (3) is provided with a flexible bending portion (303), the flexible bending portion (303) being used to adjust the relative position of the two electrode terminals (4), and the maximum width of the flexible bending portion (303) along the first direction (X) is greater than the distance between the two electrode terminals (4); the busbar component (3) is configured to bend via the flexible bending portion (303) to achieve relative arrangement of the two electrode terminals (4) along the first direction (X).

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