Batteries and electrical devices

Abstract

An embodiment of the present application provides a battery and an electrical device, wherein the battery includes a housing, a battery pack, and a limiting member. The battery pack is disposed in the housing, and the battery pack includes two or more battery cells arranged along a first direction. The battery cells include a first side wall and a second side wall that are connected. The first side wall is the wall with the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cell, and the second side walls of two adjacent battery cells are arranged relative to each other along the first direction. The limiting member is fixedly connected to the housing and abuts against the first side wall of the battery cell. The limiting member is used to limit the deformation of the battery cell in a second direction, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first side wall. The embodiment of the present application can simplify the preparation process, reduce costs, and achieve a lightweight design while meeting the requirements of limiting fixation and resisting expansion force.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of batteries, and more particularly, to a battery and an electrical device. Background Art

[0002] Energy conservation and emission reduction are key to the sustainable development of the automotive industry. Electric vehicles, due to their energy-saving and environmentally friendly advantages, have become an important component of the sustainable development of the automotive industry. For electric vehicles, battery technology is a key factor in their development.

[0003] In existing battery manufacturing processes, end plates are usually set up and battery cells are fastened through connectors. Reinforcement structures are often provided on the end plates to resist the expansion force of the battery cells. However, this arrangement has many parts, is complicated to manufacture, and increases weight and manufacturing costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present application provides a battery and an electrical device, which can simplify the manufacturing process, reduce costs and achieve a lightweight design while meeting the requirements of limiting fixation and resisting expansion force.

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a battery comprising a housing, a battery pack, and a limiting member. The battery pack is disposed within the housing, and includes two or more battery cells arranged along a first direction. The battery cells include a first side wall and a second side wall connected to each other. The first side wall is the wall with the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cells, and the second side walls of two adjacent battery cells are arranged opposite each other along the first direction. The limiting member is fixedly connected to the housing and abuts against the first side wall of the battery cell. The limiting member is used to limit deformation of the battery cell in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first side wall.

[0006] In the embodiment of the present application, a retaining member is provided, fixedly connected to the housing and abutting against the first side wall of the battery cell, thereby securing the battery cell in position. Simultaneously, the retaining member can limit deformation of the battery cell in the second direction, thereby buffering expansion of the battery cell and ensuring battery safety. Furthermore, this arrangement eliminates the need for end plates or other connectors, improving installation efficiency and accuracy, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process, reducing manufacturing costs and the overall weight of the battery, and achieving a lightweight design. Furthermore, because the first side wall is the largest wall of all the outer walls of the battery cell, the retaining member can better secure the battery cell in position and resist expansion deformation. Furthermore, the provision of the retaining member can enhance the overall structural strength of the battery, thereby better ensuring battery safety.

[0007] In some embodiments, in the height direction of the box, the height dimension of the limiter is H, the height dimension of the battery cell is h, and 2 / 3≤H / h≤11 / 10.

[0008] When H / h is too large, it wastes internal battery space and reduces energy density. When H / h is too small, it fails to meet the structural strength requirements. The battery cell expands, causing the shell to crack, and even fire and explosion accidents may occur. By setting H / h between 2 / 3 and 11 / 10, including both extremes, it can meet the structural strength requirements and resist expansion, while saving space, improving space utilization, and increasing the battery's energy density.

[0009] In some embodiments, in the height direction of the box, the height dimension of the limiter is H, the height dimension of the battery cell is h, and 0.9≤H / h≤1.

[0010] Setting H / h between 0.9 and 1, including the two end values ​​of 0.9 and 1, is conducive to better meeting the structural strength requirements and resisting expansion effects, improving safety and reliability, and helping to better improve the energy density of the battery.

[0011] In some embodiments, the limiting member includes a limiting beam extending along a first direction, the limiting beam being connected to the box body at both ends in the first direction, and the limiting beam pressing against and connecting to the first side wall of the battery cell.

[0012] By setting it up in this way, the limiting member is set in the form of a limiting beam, which is conducive to saving its layout space, allowing the box to accommodate more battery cells, improving the space utilization rate of the box, and the limiting beam is connected to the box, which can improve the overall structural strength of the box, improve the ability to resist the expansion of battery cells, and ensure safety performance.

[0013] In some embodiments, a plurality of cavities penetrating along the first direction are provided in the limiting beam.

[0014] This arrangement facilitates compression of the space within the cavity in the second direction, enabling the limiting beam to limit deformation of the battery cell, buffering and absorbing the expansion force of the battery cell, thereby ensuring the safety of the battery cell. Furthermore, the cavity arrangement reduces the weight of the limiting beam, lowering costs and achieving a lightweight design, while also increasing the overall energy density of the battery.

[0015] In some embodiments, there are two limiting beams, the two limiting beams are spaced apart in the second direction, and the battery pack is clamped between the two limiting beams.

[0016] By setting it in this way, the limiting beam can better meet the requirements of limiting fixation and resisting expansion, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery.

[0017] In some embodiments, there are more than two battery groups, which are arranged along the second direction. A partition is provided between two adjacent battery groups, and the partition is connected to the first side wall of each battery cell in the two adjacent battery groups.

[0018] By setting it up in this way, the partition can be used as a structural member of the box. By providing a partition between two adjacent battery packs and connecting the partition to the first side wall of each battery cell, the partition can better achieve at least one of the functions of improving structural strength and resisting expansion force.

[0019] In some embodiments, the partition is bonded and fixed to the first side wall of each battery cell in two adjacent battery packs.

[0020] This arrangement improves the strength and stability of the connection between the separator and the battery cells, thereby ensuring battery safety and reliability. Furthermore, by bonding the separator to the battery cells, the separator and the battery pack can be bonded together before being installed in the box. This facilitates battery assembly and allows for a more compact arrangement of adjacent battery packs, improving box space utilization.

[0021] In some embodiments, the partition is used to adjust the temperature of the battery cell, and a medium flow channel is provided in the partition.

[0022] Through the above arrangement, the partition can not only perform thermal management on the battery cells, but also serve as a structural component of the box to improve the overall structural strength of the battery, thereby eliminating the horizontal and vertical beams set inside the box, achieving high integration, reducing costs, improving box space utilization, and realizing a lightweight design.

[0023] In some embodiments, the battery further includes a connecting channel, an inlet pipe, and an outlet pipe. Along the second direction, the medium flow channels of two adjacent partitions are connected through the connecting channel, and the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are connected to the medium flow channel of the same partition.

[0024] By setting it up in this way, each partition can meet the demand for heat exchange medium through only one inlet pipe and one outlet pipe, reducing the space occupancy rate, and simplifying the inlet and outlet pipe structures, which is convenient for assembly and replacement, and can be applied to the heat exchange medium supply of different numbers of partitions, thereby improving flexibility and versatility.

[0025] In some embodiments, a through hole is provided on the box body, and the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe extend out of the box body through the through hole respectively.

[0026] By setting it up in this way, the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe can extend to the outside of the box through the through hole, that is, the external heat exchange medium can enter the box through the inlet pipe and flow out of the box through the outlet pipe, which is conducive to the acquisition and discharge of the heat exchange medium, and at the same time can reduce the risk of leakage of the heat exchange medium in the box, thereby ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery.

[0027] In some embodiments, the box body includes a top cover, a bottom cover and a containing frame, the bottom cover and the top cover are relatively arranged at both ends of the containing frame in the height direction of the box body, and the limiting members are respectively connected to the containing frame and at least one of the top cover and the bottom cover.

[0028] The top cover, bottom cover, and housing frame together form a box housing the battery cells, ensuring tight sealing and facilitating fabrication and assembly. The stoppers are connected to the housing frame and at least one of the top and bottom covers, enhancing structural strength and allowing the overall battery structure to be customized to meet specific needs, improving versatility.

[0029] In some embodiments, the box body further includes a connecting seat, which is arranged to protrude from the accommodating frame along a first direction, and is used to install the battery on an electrical device.

[0030] The connection base is provided to facilitate the connection and fixation of the battery as a whole in the electrical device to which it is applied, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery.

[0031] In some embodiments, the battery further includes a busbar and an output member base, the busbar is electrically connected to the battery cell, and the output member base is disposed on the limiting member and is used to support the busbar.

[0032] By setting it up in this way, the busbar is electrically connected to the battery cell, and the output base forms an output interface to connect to an external electrical device, which facilitates the installation and fixation of the busbar, avoids contact short circuits, and ensures the safety performance of the battery.

[0033] In some embodiments, a receiving groove is provided on the limiting member, and the output member base at least partially extends into the receiving groove.

[0034] By setting it up in this way, the accommodating groove can limit the output component base to prevent it from displacement and causing safety problems for the battery. At the same time, it can also play a positioning role, facilitating the installation of the output component base and improving production efficiency.

[0035] In some embodiments, along the height direction of the box body, the battery cell is formed with an electrode terminal at one end close to the bottom cover, and the surface of the battery cell facing away from the electrode terminal is connected to the top cover.

[0036] This arrangement allows the battery cells to be placed upside down when assembled into an electrical device (such as a vehicle), with the electrode terminals facing downward and the surface of the battery cells facing away from the electrode terminals connected to the top cover. This improves the height utilization of the box and ensures the personal safety of the driver. Furthermore, the above arrangement allows the battery cells, which have been clamped and connected together, to be placed upside down into the box. Because the electrode terminals of the battery cells are located at the end away from the top cover, interference with the electrode terminals by the clamp can be avoided, preventing them from failing or even being damaged, thereby ensuring the safety of the battery. Furthermore, placing the battery cells upside down within the box improves assembly efficiency and is simple to operate.

[0037] In some embodiments, the battery further includes a buffer member disposed between the electrode terminal and the bottom cover along a height direction.

[0038] By providing a buffer, when the battery as a whole encounters bumps or vibrations, the buffer can provide cushioning to the electrode terminals of the battery cells, preventing them from scratching the bottom and causing damage to structures such as the pressure relief mechanism, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery.

[0039] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an electrical device, comprising a battery according to any of the aforementioned embodiments, wherein the battery is used to provide electrical energy so that the electrical device can operate normally. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the drawings without creative work.

[0041] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a vehicle provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0042] Figure 2 An exploded diagram of a battery provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0043] Figure 3 A schematic structural diagram of a battery cell in a battery provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of an explosion of a battery cell in a battery provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0045] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of a limiting beam in a battery provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0046] Figure 6A partial top view of a battery provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0047] Figure 7 A schematic structural diagram of a separator in a battery provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0048] Figure 8 for Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of the partition along a first direction is shown;

[0049] In the drawings, the drawings are not drawn to scale.

[0050] In the attached figure:

[0051] 1000-Vehicle; 100-Battery; 200-Controller; 300-Motor;

[0052] 10-box; 10a-opening; 10b-through hole; 11-bottom cover; 12-accommodation frame; 13-connection seat;

[0053] 20 - battery pack; 21 - battery cell; 211 - first side wall; 212 - second side wall; 201 - end cap assembly; 201a - electrode terminal; 202 - housing; 203 - electrode assembly; 203a - positive electrode tab; 203b - negative electrode tab; 30 - top cover;

[0054] 40-limiting member; 41-limiting beam; 40a-cavity; 40b-accommodating groove;

[0055] 50 - partition 50a - medium flow channel; 51b - top wall; 51c - bottom wall; 51d - side wall; 511 - support assembly; 5111 - first support member; 5112 - second support member;

[0056] 61-connecting channel; 62-inlet pipe; 63-outlet pipe;

[0057] 71- busbar; 72- output base;

[0058] X-first direction; Y-second direction; Z-height direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] The following embodiments of the technical solution of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present application and are therefore only examples and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application.

[0060] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the technical terms or scientific terms used in the embodiments of the present application should have the common meanings understood by technicians in the field to which the embodiments of the present application belong.

[0061] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the technical terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc. indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of 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. Therefore, they should not be understood as limiting the embodiments of the present application.

[0062] In addition, the technical terms "first," "second," etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the technical features indicated. In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the meaning of "plurality" is more than two, unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0063] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, technical terms such as "installed," "connected," "connected," and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integration; mechanical connections or electrical connections; direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and internal connections between two components or interactions between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present application based on specific circumstances.

[0064] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, a first feature being "above," "above," and "above" a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. A first feature being "below," "below," and "below" a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is at a lower level than the second feature.

[0065] Currently, market developments indicate that power batteries are becoming increasingly widely used. They are not only used in energy storage systems such as hydropower, thermal, wind, and solar power plants, but are also widely used in electric vehicles like electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and electric vehicles, as well as in military equipment and aerospace. As power battery applications continue to expand, market demand is also growing.

[0066] The applicant noted that existing batteries contain numerous battery cells, which are typically assembled into battery packs before being assembled. A battery pack consists of multiple stacked battery cells, typically with end plates at each end. These end plates are connected by connectors to secure the battery cells. Furthermore, to prevent damage to the end plates caused by expansion of the battery cells during charging and discharging, numerous reinforcement structures are often incorporated to enhance their structural strength. However, this approach requires a large number of components, resulting in complex manufacturing and increased weight and manufacturing costs, which in turn increases the manufacturing cost of the battery.

[0067] In order to simplify the manufacturing process, reduce costs and achieve lightweight design while meeting the requirements of limiting fixation and resisting expansion force, the applicant has found that the structure and layout of the battery can be improved.

[0068] Based on the above considerations, in order to achieve the problems of simplifying the manufacturing process, reducing costs and lightweight design while satisfying the requirements of limiting fixation and resisting expansion force, the applicant has designed a battery after in-depth research, including a case, a battery pack and a limiter. The battery pack is arranged in the case, and the battery pack includes two or more battery cells arranged along a first direction. The battery cells include a first side wall and a second side wall that are connected to each other. The first side wall is the wall with the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cells, and the second side walls of two adjacent battery cells are arranged opposite to each other along the first direction. The limiter is fixedly connected to the case and abuts against the first side wall of the battery cell. The limiter is used to limit the deformation of the battery cell in a second direction. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction and the first side wall.

[0069] In such a battery, the battery pack is arranged in a box to meet the sealing requirements. The battery pack includes two or more battery cells arranged along a first direction, and the second side walls of two adjacent battery cells are arranged relative to each other. A limiter is fixedly connected to the box, and the limiter abuts against the first side wall of the battery cell to limit the deformation of the battery cell in the second direction, which is beneficial to buffer the expansion of the battery cell and ensure the safety performance of the battery. At the same time, it can provide a pressing force to the battery pack to achieve the function of limiting and fixing, ensuring that the battery has good quality. In addition, the limiter is fixedly connected to the box and abuts against the battery cell, which can also reduce connectors, etc., which is beneficial to improve installation efficiency and installation accuracy, thereby simplifying the preparation process, reducing production costs and the overall weight of the battery, and achieving a lightweight design. In addition, through this arrangement, the limiter can also serve as a structural member of the box to meet the structural strength requirements and has a high degree of integration.

[0070] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are applicable to electrical devices using batteries.

[0071] Electrical devices may include vehicles, mobile phones, portable devices, laptop computers, ships, spacecraft, electric toys, and electric tools, etc. Vehicles may include fuel vehicles, gas vehicles, or new energy vehicles. New energy vehicles may include pure electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, or extended-range vehicles, etc. 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. Electric tools include metal cutting electric tools, grinding electric tools, assembly electric tools, and railway electric tools, such as electric drills, electric grinders, electric wrenches, electric screwdrivers, electric hammers, impact drills, concrete vibrators, and electric planers, etc. The embodiments of the present application do not impose any special restrictions on the above-mentioned electrical devices.

[0072] It should be understood that the technical solutions described in the embodiments of the present application are not limited to the above-described electrical devices, but can also be applied to all electrical devices using batteries. However, for the sake of simplicity, the following embodiments are described using electric vehicles as an example.

[0073] See also Figure 1 , Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a vehicle 1000 provided for some embodiments of the present application. The vehicle 1000 may be a fuel vehicle, a gas vehicle or a new energy vehicle. The new energy vehicle may be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle or an extended-range vehicle, etc. A battery 100 is provided inside the vehicle 1000. The battery 100 may be provided at the bottom, head or tail of the vehicle 1000. The battery 100 may be used to power the vehicle 1000. For example, the battery 100 may serve as an operating power source for the vehicle 1000. The vehicle 1000 may further include a controller 200 and a motor 300. The controller 200 is used to control the battery 10 to power the motor 300, for example, for starting, navigating and operating power requirements of the vehicle 1000 during driving.

[0074] In some embodiments of the present application, the battery 100 can serve not only as an operating power source for the vehicle 1000, but also as a driving power source for the vehicle 1000, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1000.

[0075] See also Figures 2 to 4The embodiment of the present application provides a battery 100, comprising a housing 10, a battery pack 20, and a limiting member 40. The battery pack 20 is disposed within the housing 10, and includes two or more battery cells 21 distributed along a first direction X. The battery cells 21 include a first side wall 211 and a second side wall 212 connected to each other. The first side wall 211 is the wall with the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cells 21, and the second side walls 212 of two adjacent battery cells 21 are arranged opposite each other along the first direction X. The limiting member 40 is fixedly connected to the housing 10 and abuts against the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21. The limiting member 40 is used to limit the deformation of the battery cell 21 in a second direction Y, where the second direction Y is perpendicular to the first side wall 211.

[0076] The housing 10 may be a simple three-dimensional structure such as a single rectangular parallelepiped or cylindrical structure, or a complex three-dimensional structure composed of simple three-dimensional structures such as rectangular parallelepiped or cylindrical structures, and the present embodiment is not limited thereto. The housing 10 may be made of an alloy material such as an aluminum alloy or an iron alloy, or a polymer material such as polycarbonate or polyisocyanurate foam, or a composite material such as glass fiber and epoxy resin, and the present embodiment is not limited thereto.

[0077] The box body 10 is used to accommodate the battery cells 21. The box body 10 can have various structures as long as the sealing requirements are met.

[0078] In the battery 100, there can be one or more battery cells 21. If there are multiple battery cells 21, the multiple battery cells 21 can be connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection. Hybrid connection refers to a combination of series and parallel connections within the multiple battery cells 21. The multiple battery cells 21 can be directly connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection, and then the entire battery pack 20 can be housed within the housing 10. Alternatively, multiple battery cells 21 can be first connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection to form a battery pack 20, and then the multiple battery packs 20 can be connected in series, in parallel, or in a hybrid connection to form a single unit and housed within the housing 10.

[0079] In the present application, the battery cell 21 may include a lithium-ion battery cell 21, a sodium-ion battery cell 21, or a magnesium-ion battery cell 21, etc., and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this. The battery cell 21 may be flat, rectangular, or in other shapes, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this. The battery cell 21 is generally divided into three types according to the packaging method: cylindrical battery cells 21, square battery cells 21, and soft-pack battery cells 21, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this. However, for the sake of simplicity, the following embodiments are all described using the square battery cell 21 as an example.

[0080] See also Figure 4The battery cell 21 refers to the smallest unit that constitutes the battery 100 . The battery cell 21 includes an end cap assembly 201 , a shell 202 and an electrode assembly 203 .

[0081] The end cap assembly 201 refers to a component that covers the opening of the shell 202 to isolate the internal environment of the battery cell 21 from the external environment. Without limitation, the shape of the end cap assembly 201 can be adapted to the shape of the shell 202 to match the shell 202. Optionally, the end cap 201 can be made of a material with a certain hardness and strength (such as aluminum alloy), so that the end cap assembly 201 is not easily deformed when squeezed or collided, so that the battery cell 21 can have a higher structural strength and improved safety performance. Functional components such as electrode terminals 201a can be provided on the end cap assembly 201. The electrode terminal 201a can be used to electrically connect to the electrode assembly 203 for outputting or inputting electrical energy of the battery cell 21. In some embodiments, the end cap assembly 201 can also be provided with a pressure relief mechanism for releasing internal pressure when the internal pressure or temperature of the battery cell 21 reaches a threshold. The end cap assembly 201 can be made of a variety of materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, and plastic, and this is not particularly limited in the present embodiment. In some embodiments, an insulating member can be disposed inside the end cap assembly 201 to isolate the electrical connection components within the housing 202 from the end cap assembly 201, thereby reducing the risk of short circuits. Exemplary materials include plastic, rubber, and the like.

[0082] The shell 202 is a component used to cooperate with the end cap assembly 201 to form the internal environment of the battery cell 21, wherein the formed internal environment can be used to accommodate the electrode assembly 203, the electrolyte (not shown in the figure) and other components. The shell 202 and the end cap assembly 201 can be independent components. An opening can be set on the shell 202, and the internal environment of the battery cell 21 is formed by covering the opening with the end cap assembly 201. Without limitation, the end cap assembly 201 and the shell 202 can also be integrated. Specifically, the end cap assembly 201 and the shell 202 can form a common connection surface before other components are put into the shell. When the interior of the shell 202 needs to be encapsulated, the end cap assembly 201 is covered with the shell 202. The shell 202 can be of various shapes and sizes, such as a rectangular parallelepiped. Specifically, the shape of the shell 202 can be determined according to the specific shape and size of the electrode assembly 203. The shell 202 can be made of various materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc., and the embodiment of the present application does not impose any special restrictions on this.

[0083] The electrode assembly 203 is a component in the battery cell 21 where electrochemical reactions occur. One or more electrode assemblies 203 may be contained in the housing 202. The electrode assembly 203 is mainly formed by winding or stacking positive and negative electrode sheets, and a separator is usually provided between the positive and negative electrode sheets. The parts of the positive and negative electrode sheets with active materials constitute the main body of the electrode assembly 203, and the parts of the positive and negative electrode sheets without active materials each constitute a tab. The positive electrode tab 203a and the negative electrode tab 203b may be located together at one end of the main body or respectively at both ends of the main body. During the charge and discharge process of the battery 100, the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material react with the electrolyte, and the tabs are connected to the electrode terminals 201a to form a current loop.

[0084] Please continue reading Figures 2 to 4 The battery pack 20 provided in the embodiment of the present application includes two or more battery cells 21 arranged along a first direction X. The battery cells 21 include a first side wall 211 and a second side wall 212 connected to each other. The first side wall 211 is the wall with the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cell 21. The second side walls 212 of two adjacent battery cells 21 are arranged opposite each other along the first direction X. The limiter 40 is fixedly connected to the housing 10 and abuts against the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21. The limiter 40 is used to limit the deformation of the battery cell 21 in the second direction Y.

[0085] In the embodiment of the present application, the second direction Y is perpendicular to the first side wall 211, which can be understood as the second direction Y is also perpendicular to the first direction X. Optionally, the first direction X can be the length direction of the box body 10, and accordingly, the second direction Y is the width direction of the box body 10. Of course, the first direction X can also be the width direction of the box body 10, and accordingly, the second direction Y is the length direction of the box body 10.

[0086] Optionally, the number of the limiting members 40 may be one or two, or more.

[0087] The limiting member 40 is fixedly connected to the box body 10 and abuts against the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21, which can limit the deformation of the battery cell 21 in the second direction Y. When the battery cell 21 expands during charging and discharging, it can buffer the battery cell 21 and provide a force in the opposite direction of the expansion force, which is beneficial to improving the operating safety of the battery cell 21, thereby ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery 100. At the same time, it can provide a clamping force to the battery pack 20 to achieve the function of limiting and fixing, thereby ensuring that the battery 100 has good quality.

[0088] Moreover, by setting it up in this way, the end plates and connectors can be reduced, which is beneficial to improving the installation efficiency and installation accuracy, thereby simplifying the preparation process, reducing the production cost and the overall weight of the battery 100, and achieving a lightweight design.

[0089] In addition, the limiter 40 can also serve as a structural member of the box body 10 to meet the structural strength requirements, with high integration, and make the limiter 40 and the battery cell 21 fit more closely together, which is conducive to improving the compactness and improving the space utilization of the box body 10.

[0090] By setting the first side wall 211 as the wall with the largest outer wall area among all the battery cells 21, the limiting member 40 can better limit and fix the battery cells 21, resist expansion deformation, and improve structural strength, thereby better ensuring the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0091] Exemplarily, two limit members 40 can be provided, and the two limit members 40 are respectively fixedly connected between the box body 10 and the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21 and abut against the first side wall 211, which can not only realize the limiting fixation of the battery cell 21 and resist the expansion force, but also avoid the battery cell 21 from contacting the box body 10, and prevent electrical connection or thermal runaway. At the same time, the limit members 40 can also provide support and protection for the battery cell 21, and improve the structural strength.

[0092] Optionally, the stopper 40 and the box body 10 may be an integrally formed structure, formed by bending, stamping, etc. Of course, the stopper 40 and the box body 10 may also be provided separately and then fixedly connected as a whole by welding, bonding, etc.

[0093] The battery 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application is provided with a retaining member 40, which is fixedly connected to the housing 10 and abuts against the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21 to secure the battery cell 21 in position. Furthermore, the retaining member 40 limits the deformation of the battery cell 21 in the second direction Y, thereby resisting expansion of the battery cell 21. Furthermore, this arrangement eliminates the need for end plates and connectors for connecting the battery cell 21, improving installation efficiency and accuracy. This simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces production costs and the overall weight of the battery 100, and achieves a lightweight design. Furthermore, the retaining member 40 serves as a structural member of the housing 10, supporting the battery cell 21 and improving structural strength. Furthermore, because the first side wall 211 has the largest area of ​​all the outer walls of the battery cell 21, the retaining member 40 can better secure the battery cell 21 in position, resist expansion deformation, and enhance structural strength, thereby better ensuring the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0094] The battery 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application adopts the above-described structural form. During molding, the second side walls 212 of each battery cell 21 of the same battery pack 20 can first be arranged relative to each other to form a battery pack 20 including two or more battery cells 21 arranged along the first direction X. Then, the battery pack 20 is clamped with a tool and placed between the limiters 40 spaced apart along the second direction Y within the box 10. The tool is removed, and each battery cell 21 in the battery pack 20 rebounds and presses against the limiter 40, so that the limiter 40 abuts against the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21, sealing the box 10 to complete the production of the battery 100. Through this molding method, the space utilization of the box 10 can be improved, a lightweight design can be achieved, and the production is simple, molding is facilitated, and costs can be reduced while meeting the requirements of limiting fixation and resisting expansion deformation.

[0095] See also Figures 2 to 5 In some embodiments, in the height direction Z of the box body 10 , the height dimension of the limiter 40 is H, and the height dimension of the battery cell 21 is h, wherein 2 / 3≤H / h≤11 / 10.

[0096] Optionally, the ratio of the height dimension H of the limiting member 40 to the height dimension h of the battery cell 21 can be any value between 2 / 3 and 11 / 10, including the two extreme values ​​of 2 / 3 and 11 / 10.

[0097] Please refer to the table below, which shows the test results when H / h is in the range of 2 / 3 to 11 / 10:

[0098]

[0099] For example, as can be seen from the second to fifth test data in the table, when the height dimension H of the limiter 40 and the height dimension h of the battery cell 21 are set within the range of 2 / 3 ≤ H / h ≤ 11 / 10, the test results show that the limiter 40 is intact and the battery cell 21 does not suffer any safety issues. Furthermore, the contact area between the limiter 40 and the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21 can be increased, allowing the limiter 40 to better limit the deformation of the battery cell 21 in the second direction Y, thereby enhancing its limiting and supporting effects on the battery cell 21 and its ability to resist expansion and deformation, thereby improving the safety and reliability of the battery 100.

[0100] For example, as can be seen from the fourth and fifth test data in the table, setting the height dimension H of the limiter 40 to be greater than or equal to the height dimension h of the battery cell 21, that is, 1≤H / h≤11 / 10, the test results show that the limiter 40 is not damaged and the battery cell 21 does not pose a safety issue. Furthermore, this configuration not only improves the position limiting and support functions of the battery cell 21, as well as its ability to resist expansion and deformation, but also protects the battery cell 21 through the limiter 40, preventing external forces generated by collisions, vibrations, or other operating conditions from directly acting on the battery cell 21. This allows the structural strength of the battery cell 21 and the limiter 40 to be mutually reinforced, thereby improving the structural strength of the battery 100.

[0101] If H / h is set to be greater than 11 / 10, the internal space of the housing 10 will be wasted, thereby reducing the energy density of the battery 100.

[0102] If H / h is set to less than 2 / 3, as can be seen from the first test data in the table, the test result is that the limit member 40 cracks and a safety problem occurs in the battery cell 21. In other words, this setting will cause the contact area between the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21 and the limit member 40 to be too small, which cannot meet the structural strength. The limit member 40 cannot effectively resist the expansion of the battery cell 21, which may cause safety accidents such as fire and explosion.

[0103] Therefore, based on simulation calculations, H / h is set between 2 / 3 and 11 / 10, including the two end values ​​of 2 / 3 and 11 / 10, which can not only meet the structural strength requirements and the expansion resistance effect, but also save space and improve space utilization.

[0104] In some embodiments, in the height direction Z of the box body 10 , the height dimension of the limiting member 40 is H, and the height dimension of the battery cell 21 is h, wherein 0.9≤H / h≤1.

[0105] Based on the test results in the above table, H / h is set between 0.9 and 1, which is conducive to better meeting the structural strength requirements and resisting the expansion effect, improving safety and reliability, and better improving the energy density of the battery 100.

[0106] In some embodiments, the limiting member 40 includes a limiting beam 41, which extends along the first direction X. The limiting beam 41 is connected to the box body 10 at both ends in the first direction X. The limiting beam 41 presses against the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21 and is connected to the first side wall 211.

[0107] The limiting member 40 is provided in the form of a limiting beam 41 , which helps to reduce the space required for arranging the limiting beam 41 , so that the box body 10 can accommodate more battery cells 21 and improve the utilization rate of the internal space of the box body 10 .

[0108] Furthermore, the limiting beam 41 is connected to the box body 10 , which can improve the overall structural strength of the box body 10 , enhance the ability to resist the expansion of the battery cell 21 , and ensure safety performance.

[0109] The connection between the limiting beam 41 and the first side wall 211 can be that the limiting beam 41 is directly fitted to the first side wall 211, or that the limiting beam 41 is connected to the first side wall 211 by adhesives, fasteners (such as bolts), welding, etc., or there can be other components between the limiting beam 41 and the first side wall 211 (such as the partition 50 below), and the limiting beam 41 is pressed against the first side wall 211 through other components and is indirectly connected to the first side wall 211.

[0110] For example, the cross-sectional areas of all portions of the limiting beam 41 in the first direction X are the same, which facilitates production and saves space within the box 10. Furthermore, each portion of the limiting beam 41 is closely aligned with the first side wall 211 of each battery cell 21, thereby enhancing support and protection and improving space utilization within the box 10.

[0111] In some embodiments, a plurality of cavities 40 a passing through along the first direction X are provided in the limiting beam 41 .

[0112] Optionally, the plurality of cavities 40a may be arranged to be distributed at intervals in the second direction Y, and of course, may also be arranged to be distributed at intervals in the height direction Z.

[0113] Optionally, in the height direction Z, the plurality of cavities 40a may be arranged in one row, or alternatively, in multiple rows.

[0114] Exemplarily, multiple cavities 40a are arranged to be spaced apart and arranged in a row in the height direction Z to reduce the extension length of the limiting beam 41 in the second direction Y, so that there is more space in the box body 10 to accommodate more battery cells 21, which is beneficial to improving the energy density of the battery 100.

[0115] By providing a plurality of cavities 40a extending through the first direction X in the limiting beam 41, when the battery cell 21 expands during charging and discharging, the space in the cavity 40a is advantageously compressed in the second direction Y so that the limiting beam 41 can limit the deformation of the battery cell 21, buffer and absorb the expansion force of the battery cell 21, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery cell 21.

[0116] Furthermore, the provision of the cavity 40 a can also reduce the weight of the limiting beam 41 and reduce costs, thereby achieving a lightweight design, while also being able to improve the overall energy density of the battery 100 .

[0117] In some embodiments, there are two position-limiting beams 41 , which are spaced apart in the second direction Y, and the battery pack 20 is clamped between the two position-limiting beams 41 .

[0118] Exemplarily, the number of the limiting beams 41 is set to two and they are arranged at intervals in the second direction Y. The battery pack 20 is clamped between the two limiting beams 41, that is, the limiting beam 41 is located between the battery pack 20 and the inner wall of the box body 10. The limiting beam 41 is connected to the first side wall 211 of the battery cell 21 and is set against the first side wall 211. The two limiting beams 41 can be used to limit the deformation of the battery cell 21 in the second direction Y of the box body 10, respectively, which can better meet the requirements of limiting fixation and resisting expansion, and better ensure the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0119] Please continue reading Figures 2 to 5 In some embodiments, the number of battery packs 20 is more than two, and the more than two battery packs 20 are arranged along the second direction Y. A partition 50 is provided between two adjacent battery packs 20, and the partition 50 is connected to the first side wall 211 of each battery cell 21 in the two adjacent battery packs 20.

[0120] Optionally, the number of battery packs 20 is two, and of course, it can also be set to multiple.

[0121] Similarly, the number of separators 50 can be set to one. When the number of battery packs 20 is set to two, one separator 50 is sandwiched between the two battery packs 20. Of course, the number of separators 50 can also be set to multiple. When the number of battery packs 20 is set to multiple, one separator 50 is sandwiched between each two adjacent battery packs 20.

[0122] Optionally, more than two battery packs 20 are arranged along the second direction Y, and each battery pack 20 includes more than two battery cells 21 distributed along the first direction X of the box 10. The partition 50 can prevent the battery cells 21 of two adjacent battery packs 20 in the second direction Y from directly contacting each other, thereby avoiding problems such as short circuits.

[0123] Optionally, the partition 50 is connected to the first side wall 211 of each battery cell 21 in two adjacent battery packs 20 , and can serve as a structural member of the box body 10 to support the battery cell 21 and improve the structural strength.

[0124] Optionally, the separator 50 may also be used to resist the expansion force of the battery cell 21 connected thereto, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery 100 .

[0125] Optionally, the separator 50 may also be used to perform thermal management on the battery cells 21 connected thereto, to ensure that the battery cells 21 are within a suitable temperature range, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery 100 .

[0126] By clamping and connecting the partition 50 between two adjacent battery packs 20 , the partition 50 can better achieve at least one of the functions of improving structural strength and resisting expansion force.

[0127] Optionally, the ratio of the height dimension of the partition 50 in the height direction Z to the height dimension h of the battery cell 21 can be set between 2 / 3 and 11 / 10, including the two end values ​​of 2 / 3 and 11 / 10, which can not only meet the structural strength and anti-expansion effects, but also save space and improve space utilization.

[0128] In some embodiments, the partition 50 is bonded and fixed to the first side wall 211 of each battery cell 21 in two adjacent battery packs 20 .

[0129] This arrangement provides a more secure and stable connection between the separator 50 and each battery cell 21, thereby ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery 100. Furthermore, by bonding the separator 50 and each battery cell 21, the separator 50 and each battery cell 21 of the battery pack 20 can be integrally bonded together before being installed as a whole within the housing 10. This facilitates the assembly of the battery 100 and allows for a more compact arrangement of adjacent battery packs 20, thereby improving the space utilization efficiency of the housing 10.

[0130] In addition, the use of bonding helps reduce consumables and overall weight, thereby achieving a lightweight design for the battery 100. Furthermore, it can simplify the manufacturing process and improve production efficiency and assembly efficiency.

[0131] Optionally, a connecting adhesive layer may be provided between the partition 50 and the first side wall 211 to bond and fix the partition 50 to each battery cell 21 .

[0132] Optionally, the connecting adhesive layer may include a heat-conducting structural adhesive, which not only has a good bonding effect but also has thermal conductivity, aging resistance, fatigue resistance, and corrosion resistance. This can improve the connection strength between the battery cell 21 and the separator 50, and facilitate faster heat transfer between the battery cell 21 and the separator 50. Of course, the connecting adhesive layer also includes double-sided tape, etc.

[0133] In some embodiments, the partition 50 is used to adjust the temperature of the battery cell 21 , and a medium flow channel 50 a is provided in the partition 50 .

[0134] Optionally, the partition 50 can be set as a heat exchange plate, which is clamped between two adjacent battery groups 20 and connected to the first side wall 211. Through this setting, the temperature of the battery cell 21 it contacts can be adjusted to meet the thermal management requirements of the battery cell 21. At the same time, since the first side wall 211 is the wall with the largest area among all the outer walls of the battery cell 21, the contact area between the heat exchange plate and the battery cell 21 can be increased, which is beneficial to improving the thermal management efficiency of the battery cell 21.

[0135] Each battery cell 21 may have two first side walls 211 , that is, the two first side walls 211 of each battery cell 21 are respectively connected to the partition 50 , so as to better improve the thermal management efficiency and ensure the temperature stability of the battery cell 21 .

[0136] Thermal management should be understood as the heat between the separator and the battery cell 21 can be transferred between the two. For example, the separator 50 is in direct contact with the battery cell 21 to achieve contact heat exchange, or a heat-conducting structure (such as thermally conductive glue) is set between the separator 50 and the battery cell 21 for heat exchange. Specifically, the separator dissipates heat and cools or heats the battery cell 21, controls the temperature of the battery cell 21 within an appropriate range, and improves the service life and safety performance of the battery cell 21. In addition, when a battery cell 21 has thermal runaway, the heat generated by the thermal runaway battery cell 21 will be taken away by the separator in contact with it, thereby reducing the temperature of the thermal runaway battery cell 21 and avoiding thermal runaway problems in adjacent battery cells 21, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery cell 21.

[0137] Optionally, a partition 50 is sandwiched between two adjacent battery packs 20. It can be understood that one partition 50 can act on two battery packs 20 and exchange heat with them, and one battery pack 20 can exchange heat with two partitions 50, which is beneficial to improving thermal management efficiency and improving the safety and reliability of the battery cell 21.

[0138] A medium flow channel 50 a is provided in the partition 50 , so that a heat exchange medium (such as water, air, phase change material, etc.) can flow through the medium flow channel 50 a to exchange heat with the battery cell 21 , thereby completing thermal management of the battery cell 21 .

[0139] Through the above-mentioned arrangement, the partition 50 can also serve as a structural member of the box body 10 to improve the overall structural strength of the battery 100, thereby eliminating the horizontal and vertical beams set inside the box body 10, achieving high integration, reducing costs, improving the space utilization of the box body 10, and realizing a lightweight design. In addition, since the area of ​​the first side wall 211 is larger than the area of ​​the second side wall 212, the partition 50 can better exchange heat with the battery cell 21, thereby improving the thermal management efficiency. In addition, by clamping the partition 50 between two adjacent battery packs 20, it can also avoid damage or even leakage of the partition 50 under working conditions such as collision and vibration, which is beneficial to improving the service life and safety and reliability of the partition 50, thereby improving the thermal management efficiency of the battery cell 21 and further ensuring the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0140] See also Figures 2 to 6 In some embodiments, the battery 100 further includes a connecting channel 61, an inlet pipe 62, and an outlet pipe 63. Along the second direction Y, the medium flow channels 50a of two adjacent partitions 50 are connected through the connecting channel 61, and the inlet pipe 62 and the outlet pipe 63 are connected to the medium flow channels 50a of the same partition 50.

[0141] Optionally, the connecting channel 61 , the inlet pipe 62 and the outlet pipe 63 may be arranged on the same side of the partition 50 extending along the first direction X. Of course, they may also be arranged on both sides of the partition 50 extending along the first direction X.

[0142] Optionally, the extending direction of the inlet pipe 62 and the extending direction of the outlet pipe 63 may be the same or different.

[0143] Optionally, a connecting channel 61 is provided on both sides of a partition 50 extending along the first direction X. The connecting channels 61 on both sides of each partition 50 are connected in sequence and respectively connected to the inlet pipe 62 and the outlet pipe 63, which is convenient for assembly and replacement and has greater flexibility.

[0144] Furthermore, the coupled channels 61 , the inlet pipes 62 and the outlet pipes 63 can be arbitrarily matched to be applicable to various numbers of partitions 50 , thereby improving flexibility and versatility.

[0145] Optionally, connecting pieces may be provided on both sides of the partition 50 extending along the first direction X to connect with the connecting channel 61 to improve the connection strength.

[0146] By setting it up in this way, the medium flow channel 50a of each partition 50 can meet the demand for heat exchange medium through only one inlet pipe 62 and one outlet pipe 63, reducing the space occupancy rate, and simplifying the structure of the inlet pipe 62 and the outlet pipe 63, which is convenient for assembly and replacement, and can be applied to the heat exchange medium supply of different numbers of partitions 50, thereby improving flexibility and versatility.

[0147] In some embodiments, a through hole 10 b is provided on the box body 10 , and the inlet pipe 62 and the outlet pipe 63 extend out of the box body 10 through the through hole 10 b respectively.

[0148] By setting it up in this way, one end of the inlet pipe 62 and the outlet pipe 63 are extended to the outside of the box body 10. The inlet pipe 62 can be connected to an external device that provides a heat exchange medium, which is conducive to obtaining the heat exchange medium and transporting it to the partition 50. The outlet pipe 63 can be connected to an external device that stores the heat exchange medium to discharge the heat exchange medium that exchanges heat with the battery cell 21, which is conducive to obtaining and discharging the heat exchange medium, and at the same time can reduce the risk of leakage of the heat exchange medium in the box body 10, thereby ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery 100.

[0149] Optionally, the device for externally providing the heat exchange medium and the device for storing the heat exchange medium may be configured as the same device, or alternatively, they may be two separate devices.

[0150] See also Figures 6 to 8 In some embodiments, the separator 50 includes a top wall 51b, a bottom wall 51c, and a side wall 51d connected to the top and bottom walls 51b and 51c, arranged opposite each other along the second direction Y. The top, bottom, and side walls 51b, 51c, and 51d together form a medium flow channel 50a, which is in communication with the inlet pipe 62 and the outlet pipe 63. Under a predetermined pressure, at least portions of the top and bottom walls 51b, 51c can move toward each other along the second direction Y to absorb the expansion force of the battery cell 21.

[0151] The top wall 51b, the bottom wall 51c and the side wall 51d enclose a medium flow channel 50a, and the medium flow channel 50a is connected to the inlet pipe 62 and the outlet pipe 63, so that the heat exchange medium can enter the medium flow channel 50a through the inlet pipe 62 to exchange heat with the battery cell 21. After the heat exchange, the heat exchange medium is transferred from the medium flow channel 50a to the outlet pipe 63 to flow out, thereby completing the thermal management of the battery cell 21.

[0152] Under a predetermined pressure, at least a portion of the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c can move toward each other along the second direction Y. This means that when the battery cell 21 expands during operation and the force exerted on the separator 50 exceeds the predetermined pressure, the separator 50 can deform to absorb the expansion force of the battery cell 21. This means that the cross-sectional area of ​​the separator 50 in the second direction X decreases, thereby improving the safety of the battery 100. At the same time, the separator 50 can always maintain a more compact connection with the battery cell 21, thereby improving the connection strength.

[0153] In some embodiments, the partition 50 includes a support assembly 511, which is arranged in the medium flow channel 510a. Along the height direction Z of the box body 10, the support assembly 511 includes a plurality of spaced-apart first support members 5111, and the first support members 5111 are respectively connected to the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c. The first support members 5111 are arranged at an angle and the angle between them and one of the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c is less than 90°.

[0154] The first support members 5111 are distributed at intervals along the height direction Z. Optionally, the interval sizes between two adjacent first support members 5111 may be the same or different.

[0155] Optionally, the number of first support members 5111 included in the support assembly 511 can be set according to the size of the partition 50. The support assembly 511 is disposed in the medium flow channel 510a and is used to support the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c to ensure support requirements for the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c.

[0156] The first support member 5111 is connected to the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c respectively. It can be understood that when the partition 50 is deformed to absorb the expansion force of the battery cell 21, the first support member 5111 can be deformed to adapt to the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c to move closer to each other at least partially along the second direction X.

[0157] By tilting the first support member 5111 and setting the angle between it and the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c to be less than 90°, the bending property of the first support member 5111 can be improved, and it can be better deformed to meet the requirement of the partition 50 to absorb the expansion force, avoiding the risk of a small deformation space and easy breakage and failure due to a flat shape.

[0158] Exemplarily, the angle between the first support member 5111 and one of the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c is set within a range of 30° to 60°, which is conducive to better meeting the support requirements while deforming and not being easy to break.

[0159] Optionally, the inclination directions of two adjacent first support members 5111 may be the same, or may be different.

[0160] Optionally, the material of the first support member 5111 can be made of a reinforcing rib structure, which can achieve a lightweight design of the separator 50 while ensuring the supporting function, thereby achieving a lightweight design of the entire battery 100.

[0161] Optionally, the first support member 5111 is connected to the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c and extends along the first direction Y to increase the connection area between the first support member 5111 and the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, thereby improving the support strength.

[0162] In some embodiments, the first support member 5111 is a plate-shaped structure.

[0163] By providing the first support member 5111 as a flat plate structure, the first support member 5111 can be better deformed to meet the requirement of the separator 50 to absorb the expansion force of the battery cell 21 .

[0164] Moreover, it is beneficial to production and processing and improves production efficiency.

[0165] In some embodiments, along the height direction Z of the box body 10, the support assembly 511 also includes a plurality of spaced-apart second support members 5112, and the extension dimension of the second support members 5112 in the second direction X is smaller than the distance between the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, and the second support member 5112 is connected to at least one of the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c.

[0166] Optionally, the second support member 5112 may be provided on the top wall 51 b or the bottom wall 51 c. Exemplarily, both the top wall 51 b and the bottom wall 51 c are provided with the second support member 5112 .

[0167] Illustratively, a second support member 5112 is provided between two adjacent first support members 5111 in the height direction Z. Optionally, one of the two adjacent second support members 5112 is provided on the top wall 51b and the other is provided on the bottom wall 51c, to ensure that the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c are evenly stressed and do not bear too much weight.

[0168] By providing a second support member 5112 and setting its extension dimension in the second direction X to be smaller than the distance between the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, it can not only work together with the first support member 5111 to achieve a better support effect, but also control the deformation range of the partition 50. When the second support member 5112 on one of the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c contacts the other, the deformation of the partition 50 can be further limited, thereby avoiding blockage of the medium flow channel 510a, ensuring the effectiveness of the medium flow channel 510a, and thus ensuring the effectiveness of the partition 50.

[0169] In some embodiments, the second support member 5112 is in the shape of a polygonal column.

[0170] By setting the second support member 5112 as a polygonal column so that the second support member 5112 has a sufficient cross-sectional area, when the partition 50 absorbs the expansion force of the battery cell 21 and deforms to the point where the second support member 5112 set on the top wall 51b or the bottom wall 51c contacts the other wall, the second support member 5112 can have a sufficient contact area to better improve the supporting capacity, avoid damage or even failure of the second support member 5112 causing contact between the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c, thereby ensuring the effectiveness of the partition 50.

[0171] Optionally, the second support member 5112 is vertically arranged to the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c to better ensure its support effect on the partition 50 and ensure that the medium flow channel 510a will not be blocked.

[0172] In some embodiments, second support members 5112 are disposed on both the top wall 51 b and the bottom wall 51 c , and along the height direction Z of the box body 10 , the first support members 5111 and the second support members 5112 are alternately distributed.

[0173] The first support members 5111 and the second support members 5112 are alternately distributed. Optionally, two adjacent second support members 5112 can be alternately arranged on the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c. Of course, the positions of the second support members 5112 can also be arranged according to a certain arrangement pattern.

[0174] Illustratively, in the height direction Z, one of the two adjacent second support members 5112 is arranged on the top wall 51b, and the other is arranged on the bottom wall 51c, to ensure that the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c are evenly stressed and do not bear too much weight.

[0175] By setting it in this way, the uniformity of the support effect on the top wall 51b and the bottom wall 51c of the partition 50 can be guaranteed, and each part of the medium flow channel along the first direction Y will not be blocked, which can well ensure the effectiveness of the medium flow channel 510a.

[0176] Please continue reading Figures 2 to 6 In some embodiments, the box body 10 includes a top cover 30, a bottom cover 11 and a containing frame 12. The bottom cover 11 and the top cover 30 are relatively arranged at the two ends of the containing frame 12 in the height direction Z of the box body 10, and the limiting member 40 is respectively connected to the containing frame 12 and at least one of the top cover 30 and the bottom cover 11.

[0177] The top cover 30 , the bottom cover 11 and the receiving frame 12 together form a box body for receiving the battery cells 21 to ensure the sealing requirements.

[0178] Optionally, the receiving frame 12 may have an opening 10a. Optionally, the receiving frame 12 may have an opening 10a on one side, that is, the receiving frame 12 may be integrally formed with one of the top cover 30 and the bottom cover 11, and the other may close the opening 10a and be connected to the receiving frame 12 to enclose and form the box body 10, thereby sealing and protecting the battery pack 20. Of course, the receiving frame 12 may also have openings 10a on both sides, and the top cover 30 and the bottom cover 11 may be used to respectively close the two openings 10a, connect them to the receiving frame 12, and enclose and form the box body 10, thereby sealing and protecting the battery pack 20.

[0179] In order to improve the sealing performance after the receiving frame 12 is connected to the top cover 30 and the bottom cover 11 , a sealing member such as a sealant or a sealing ring may be provided between the box body 10 and the top cover 30 or the bottom cover 11 .

[0180] Optionally, the top cover 30 , the bottom cover 11 and the box body 10 may be connected by bolts, flow drill screws (FDS), bonding, welding and the like, which is not limited in the present application.

[0181] Optionally, the top cover 30 or the bottom cover 11 can be made of a material with a certain high hardness and high strength (such as aluminum alloy), which is not easy to deform and has higher structural strength to improve safety performance.

[0182] Optionally, the bottom cover 11 and the receiving frame 12 may be an integrally formed structure. Of course, the bottom cover 11 and the receiving frame 12 may also be provided separately and then connected into one by welding, bonding, or the like.

[0183] For example, the bottom cover 11 and the receiving frame 12 are detachably connected, which can reduce costs and facilitate replacement of the bottom cover 11 or the receiving frame 12 when problems such as damage occur.

[0184] Optionally, the bottom cover 11 and the receiving frame 12 may be made of the same material, or of course, different materials.

[0185] Optionally, the limit member 40 is spaced apart from the bottom cover 11 or the top cover 30. Optionally, at least a portion of the bottom cover 11 or the top cover 30 can be recessed away from the battery cell 21 in the height direction Z to form a recess. There is a gap between the recess and the limit member 40. When collision, vibration or other working conditions occur, this gap can provide a buffering effect, which is conducive to better support and protection of the limit member 40 and the battery cell 21, so as to improve safety and reliability.

[0186] Optionally, the limiting member 40 is respectively connected to the containing frame 12 and at least one of the top cover 30 and the bottom cover 11. During assembly, the battery cell 21, the limiting member 40 and the containing frame 12 can be connected first, and then the top cover 30 or the bottom cover 11 can be covered to form a box body 10 with a sealed space.

[0187] In some embodiments, the box body 10 further includes a connecting seat 13 , which is arranged to protrude from the receiving frame 12 along the first direction X.

[0188] By providing the connection seat 13, the battery 100 as a whole is facilitated to be connected and fixed in the device in which it is used, such as being fixed to the chassis of the vehicle 1000, thereby improving the connection stability and making the connection more secure. At the same time, it avoids safety risks of the battery 100 caused by connection failure, thereby ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery 100.

[0189] Optionally, the connecting seat 13 is provided to protrude from one side of the accommodating frame 12 along the first direction X. Of course, both sides of the accommodating frame 12 along the first direction X are provided with protruding connecting seats 13 .

[0190] In some embodiments, the battery cell 21 further includes a busbar 71 , which is used to electrically connect two adjacent battery cells 21 .

[0191] Optionally, the number of the busbars 71 can be set to one, two, or more.

[0192] Two adjacent battery cells 21 can be electrically connected through a busbar 71. Optionally, the busbar 71 can be connected to the electrode terminals 201a on adjacent battery cells 21 to achieve series, parallel or mixed connection of multiple battery cells 21 in the same battery pack 20 or in two adjacent battery packs 20.

[0193] Optionally, the battery pack 21 located at the outermost side along the first direction X is provided with two electrode terminals 201 a serving as output ends, and the busbar 71 electrically connected to the two output ends is also referred to as an output member.

[0194] In some embodiments, the battery 100 further includes an output member base 72, which is disposed on the limiting member 40 and is used to support the busbar 71 as the output member. Optionally, the output member base 72 includes an insulating material.

[0195] Optionally, the number of output components can be set to two, and the two output components are electrically connected to the two output ends respectively and are arranged on the same side of the second direction Y to form a power supply path together with other busbars 71. By setting it in this way, it is possible to avoid using large-sized output components that span the battery pack 20, which is beneficial to improving the compactness and energy density of the battery cell 21.

[0196] Optionally, the shape of the output member may be a bent plate, or other shapes, which is not limited in this application.

[0197] In some embodiments, the two output terminals are respectively disposed on two battery cells 21 located at the ends of the first direction X in the outermost battery pack 20 .

[0198] This arrangement helps ensure that the two output components are arranged on the same side of the second direction Y, so that the two output components and the two output ends form an output interface for connection with an external electrical device.

[0199] Optionally, the output member base 72 is provided on the limiting member 40 and is used to support the busbar 71 as the output member, so as to facilitate the installation and fixation of the busbar 71 and avoid contact short circuit, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0200] In some embodiments, a receiving groove 40 b is provided on the limiting member 40 , and the output member base 72 at least partially extends into the receiving groove 40 b .

[0201] Optionally, the number of the receiving grooves 40b can be one, two, or more. Optionally, the shape of the receiving groove 40b can be set to match the shape of the output member base 72, and the receiving groove 40b can be just enough to fit into the output member base 72 to limit its position and prevent displacement.

[0202] The receiving groove 40b can limit the output member base 72 to prevent displacement and thus safety problems of the battery 100. At the same time, it can also play a positioning role to facilitate the installation of the output member base 72 and improve manufacturing efficiency.

[0203] Optionally, the number of the receiving slots 40 b and the output member bases 72 may correspond one to one, or may be arranged in a multiple-to-one manner, that is, multiple output member bases 72 may be arranged in the same receiving slot 40 b.

[0204] For example, the limiting member 40 is provided with two or more receiving grooves 40b, and the two or more receiving grooves 40b are arranged at intervals.

[0205] Optionally, the receiving groove 40b can be formed by stamping, that is, the receiving groove 40b can be quickly formed on the limiting member 40, the process is simple, and at the same time, it can save materials and facilitate the realization of lightweight design.

[0206] Please continue reading Figures 2 to 4 In some embodiments, along the height direction Z of the box body 10 , the battery cell 21 has an electrode terminal 201 a formed at one end close to the bottom cover 11 , and the surface of the battery cell facing away from the electrode terminal 201 a is connected to the top cover 30 .

[0207] By setting it up in this way, it can be understood that the battery cell 21 is placed upside down in the box body 10, so that when the battery cell 21 is assembled on an electrical device (such as a vehicle 1000), it can be placed upside down, so that the electrode terminal 201a of the battery cell 21 faces downward, and the surface of the battery cell 21 away from the electrode terminal 201a is connected to the top cover 30, which can improve the utilization rate of the box body 10 in the height direction and ensure the personal safety of the driver.

[0208] Furthermore, the above arrangement allows the clamp to clamp and insert the connected battery cells 21 into the opening 10a of the housing 10. Because the end cap assembly 201 of the battery cells 21 is located at the end away from the opening 10a, interference with the end cap assembly 201 by the clamp can be avoided, preventing failure or even damage to the end cap assembly 201, thereby ensuring the safety of the battery 100. Furthermore, placing the battery cells 21 upside down in the housing 10 improves assembly efficiency and simplifies operation.

[0209] In some embodiments, the battery 100 further includes a buffer disposed between the electrode terminal 201 a and the bottom cover 11 along the height direction Z.

[0210] By providing a buffer, when the battery 100 as a whole encounters bumps or vibrations, the buffer can provide cushioning to the electrode terminal 201a of the battery cell 21, avoiding scratching with the bottom cover 11 and causing damage to the pressure relief mechanism and other structures, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery 100.

[0211] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides an electrical device, comprising the battery 100 in any of the aforementioned embodiments, wherein the battery 100 is used to provide electrical energy so that the electrical device can operate normally.

[0212] It should be noted that the electrical device provided in the embodiment of the present application has the beneficial effects of the battery 100 in any of the aforementioned embodiments. Please refer to the aforementioned description of the beneficial effects of the battery 100 for details, and the embodiment of the present application will not be repeated.

[0213] It should be noted that, unless there is any conflict, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other.

[0214] 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 comprising: Box; a battery pack disposed within the housing, the battery pack comprising two or more battery cells arranged along a first direction, the battery cells comprising a housing and an electrode assembly disposed within the housing, the battery cells comprising a first side wall and a second side wall connected to each other, the first side wall being the wall with the largest area among all outer walls of the battery cells, and the second side walls of two adjacent battery cells being disposed opposite each other along the first direction; A limiting member is fixedly connected to the box body and abuts against the first side wall of the battery cell, and the limiting member is used to limit the deformation of the battery cell in a second direction, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first side wall.

2. The battery according to claim 1, wherein In the height direction of the box body, the height dimension of the limiter is H, and the height dimension of the battery cell is h, wherein 2 / 3≤H / h≤11 / 10.

3. The battery according to claim 1, wherein In the height direction of the box body, the height dimension of the limiter is H, and the height dimension of the battery cell is h, wherein 0.9≤H / h≤1.

4. The battery according to claim 3, wherein The limiting member includes a limiting beam extending along the first direction. Both ends of the limiting beam in the first direction are connected to the box body. The limiting beam presses against and is connected to the first side wall of the battery cell.

5. The battery according to claim 4, wherein A plurality of cavities penetrating along the first direction are provided in the limiting beam.

6. The battery according to claim 4, wherein There are two position-limiting beams, which are spaced apart in the second direction, and the battery pack is clamped between the two position-limiting beams.

7. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein There are more than two battery groups, which are arranged along the second direction. A partition is provided between two adjacent battery groups, and the partition is connected to the first side wall of each battery cell in the two adjacent battery groups.

8. The battery according to claim 7, wherein The partition is bonded and fixed to the first side wall of each of the battery cells in two adjacent battery packs.

9. The battery according to claim 7, wherein The partition is used to adjust the temperature of the battery cell, and a medium flow channel is provided in the partition.

10. The battery according to claim 9, wherein The battery further includes a connecting channel, an inlet pipe, and an outlet pipe. Along the second direction, the medium flow channels of two adjacent partitions are connected through the connecting channel. The inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are connected to the medium flow channel of the same partition.

11. The battery according to claim 10, wherein The box body is provided with a through hole, and the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe extend out of the box body through the through holes respectively.

12. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein The box body includes a top cover, a bottom cover and a receiving frame. The bottom cover and the top cover are relatively arranged at two ends of the receiving frame in the height direction of the box body. The limiting members are respectively connected to the receiving frame and at least one of the top cover and the bottom cover.

13. The battery according to claim 12, wherein The box body further includes a connecting seat, which is arranged to protrude from the accommodating frame along the first direction and is used to install the battery on an electrical device.

14. The battery according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein The battery further includes a current collector and an output member base. The current collector is electrically connected to the battery cell. The output member base is disposed on the limiting member and is used to support the current collector.

15. The battery according to claim 14, wherein The limiting member is provided with an accommodating groove, and the output member base at least partially extends into the accommodating groove.

16. The battery according to claim 12, wherein Along the height direction of the box body, the battery cell is formed with an electrode terminal at one end close to the bottom cover, and the surface of the battery cell facing away from the electrode terminal is connected to the top cover.

17. The battery according to claim 16, wherein The battery further includes a buffer member disposed between the electrode terminal and the bottom cover along the height direction.

18. An electrical device comprising the battery according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the battery is used to provide electrical energy.

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