A battery assembly and assembly process thereof
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202310255085.7
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-03-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-09-15
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-03-16
AI Technical Summary
[0007]The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: By adopting a separate electrical connection side plate and electrical connector, and movably assembling the electrical connector on the electrical connection side plate, the electrode of the battery cell can be plugged into and removed in the insertion and removal channel. When a single battery cell fails or has a problem and needs to be replaced or repaired, the single battery cell can be pulled out, reducing maintenance costs and improving maintenance efficiency. Moreover, it solves the problem of poor assembly caused by battery cell size deviation during battery cell assembly, reduces the risk of battery cell damage, and absorbs the tolerances existing in battery cell assembly.
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Figure CN116365174B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of new energy battery technology, specifically to a battery module and its assembly process. Background Technology
[0002] The new energy industry is booming, and battery systems are receiving much attention. Currently, individual battery cells cannot meet energy demands. Therefore, the final product is an assembly (pack) composed of battery cells. In the production of high-energy-density battery packs, ease of installation, safety, and ease of maintenance have become crucial. The ability to promptly repair or even replace damaged cells, while controlling repair costs, is also included in our product evaluation. During the cell assembly process, cell dimensional tolerances affect the consistency of the pack, and pre-tightening forces are required in the battery pack to improve cell cycle performance.
[0003] In existing technologies, most battery cells are connected by welding the terminals to electrical connectors to form an electrical connection path. To absorb battery cell preload and dimensional tolerances, thinner battery cell tabs are generally chosen to be welded onto the metal busbar portion of the non-metallic support. This allows the tabs to bend slightly when preload is applied, enabling appropriate movement.
[0004] In existing technologies, battery cell connections are made using welding. When a single cell malfunctions and needs replacement, the welded portion must be repaired, resulting in high repair costs or potential damage to other cells during the process. In some cases, individual cell repair is impossible, requiring replacement of the entire cell assembly, which is also costly. Regarding cell dimensional tolerances and preload application, differences in cell dimensions can cause the tabs to overlap during assembly, posing a short-circuit risk. During preload application, because the cell tabs are fixed, the cells move closer together, causing slight displacement and tensile stress on the tabs, potentially damaging the cells. Summary of the Invention
[0005] In order to solve one or more technical problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides a battery component and its assembly process.
[0006] The technical solution of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is as follows: A battery assembly includes a housing, a battery cell, an electrical connection side plate, and an electrical connector. The electrical connection side plate is installed on the inner side wall of the housing. The electrical connector is movably assembled on the electrical connection side plate with multiple degrees of freedom. The electrical connector is provided with a plug-in channel. The battery cell is pluggable and detachable in the housing, and the terminal of the battery cell is plugged into the pluggable channel.
[0007] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: By adopting a separate electrical connection side plate and electrical connector, and movably assembling the electrical connector on the electrical connection side plate, the electrode of the battery cell can be plugged into and removed in the insertion and removal channel. When a single battery cell fails or has a problem and needs to be replaced or repaired, the single battery cell can be pulled out, reducing maintenance costs and improving maintenance efficiency. Moreover, it solves the problem of poor assembly caused by battery cell size deviation during battery cell assembly, reduces the risk of battery cell damage, and absorbs the tolerances existing in battery cell assembly.
[0008] Based on the above technical solution, the present invention can be further improved as follows.
[0009] Furthermore, the electrical connection side plate is provided with an assembly interlayer, and the electrical connection side plate has a through hole communicating with the assembly interlayer; the electrical connector includes a limiting piece and a plug-in piece, the limiting piece is movably assembled in the assembly interlayer with multiple degrees of freedom, the plug-in piece is fixed on the limiting piece and is provided through the through hole, and the plug-in piece is provided with the plug-in channel.
[0010] The advantages of adopting the above-mentioned further solution are: by setting an assembly interlayer and through holes, it is convenient to limit the limiting piece in the assembly interlayer and move it in the assembly interlayer. Then, the plug-in component is used to connect and engage with the battery cell terminal, which facilitates assembly and makes the assembly structure compact and reliable.
[0011] Furthermore, the side of the limiting piece elastically abuts or gap-fits with the side wall of the assembly interlayer, a gap is reserved between the first peripheral edge of the limiting piece and the corresponding peripheral side wall of the assembly interlayer, the second peripheral edge of the limiting piece elastically abuts with the corresponding peripheral side wall of the assembly interlayer, and the second peripheral edge is located on the side of the axial insertion end of the insertion channel.
[0012] The beneficial effect of adopting the above-mentioned further solution is that the setting of the buffer gap is conducive to the movement of the limiting piece within the assembly interlayer.
[0013] Furthermore, the limiting piece is provided with a bending support structure, and the folded edge of the bending support structure elastically abuts or gap-fits with the side wall of the assembly interlayer;
[0014] The peripheral sidewall of the assembly interlayer is also provided with an elastic pad, and the second peripheral edge of the limiting piece abuts against the elastic pad.
[0015] Furthermore, the insertion channel has an axial opening, the axial insertion start end of the insertion channel is a large end, the axial insertion end of the insertion channel is a small end, and the electrode of the battery cell is inserted axially from the large end of the insertion channel.
[0016] The beneficial effect of adopting the above-mentioned further solution is that the conical structure facilitates the insertion and positioning of the battery cell terminals.
[0017] Furthermore, it also includes a pipe limiting part, multiple liquid cooling plates, an inlet liquid cooling pipe, and an outlet liquid cooling pipe. The pipe limiting part is installed on the bottom plate or top plate of the housing. The inlet and outlet of the multiple liquid cooling plates are respectively connected to the inlet liquid cooling pipe and the outlet liquid cooling pipe. The inlet liquid cooling pipe and the outlet liquid cooling pipe are respectively pluggable and limited within the corresponding pipe limiting part. A pluggable interval for accommodating a battery cell is reserved between two adjacent liquid cooling plates. The battery cell is disposed within the pluggable interval.
[0018] The beneficial effect of adopting the above-mentioned further solution is that by setting the inlet and outlet liquid cooling pipes, which can be plugged in and installed in the pipe limiting part, assembly is convenient.
[0019] Furthermore, the electrical connection side plate is also provided with a mounting channel, the extension direction of which is the same as the extension direction of the plug-in channel; a mounting block is provided on the side of the liquid cooling plate, the mounting block being adapted to be inserted into the mounting channel.
[0020] The advantage of adopting the above-mentioned further solution is that the liquid cooling plate can be hung on the electrical connection side plate, which facilitates assembly.
[0021] Furthermore, the pipe limiting part is provided with a pipe groove arranged perpendicular to the liquid cooling plate, the groove opening of the pipe groove is arranged facing the insertion and removal channel, and the groove wall of the pipe groove is provided with a clearance notch for accommodating the corner position of the battery cell.
[0022] The beneficial effects of adopting the above-mentioned further solutions are: the setting of the avoidance gap can not only avoid the corner of the battery cell, but also play a certain limiting role in the corner of the battery cell, making the assembly structure of the battery cell more stable.
[0023] Furthermore, the liquid cooling plate is a flexible liquid cooling plate.
[0024] The advantage of adopting the above-mentioned further solution is that the pre-tightening force between the liquid cooling plate and the battery cell can be adjusted as needed by changing the water pressure inside the liquid cooling plate.
[0025] Furthermore, the bottom plate of the housing is provided with multiple rows of through holes, each row of through holes including at least one through hole, and a spring piece is connected to the bottom plate at each through hole. The spring piece is arranged corresponding to the through hole and protrudes from one side of the bottom plate.
[0026] The advantages of adopting the above-mentioned further solution are as follows: By setting multiple rows of through holes on the base plate and placing a spring tab at each through hole, when the battery cell is placed on the base plate, the elasticity of the spring tab can provide a certain amount of elastic adjustment space for the height of the battery cell, facilitating the adjustment of the height difference between different battery cells and absorbing the tolerance between battery cells. Moreover, the spring tab protruding from the base plate also leaves a certain gap between the battery cell and the base plate, improving the heat dissipation capacity of the entire battery pack. Unlike glue or pads that restrict the movement of battery cells, the spring tab structure does not restrict the movement of battery cells, and the battery cells can be easily removed if replacement or repair is required in the future.
[0027] Furthermore, the base plate is formed with the through holes and spring sheets using a stamping process.
[0028] The beneficial effects of adopting the above-mentioned further solution are: the stamping process is simple and fast in forming through holes and springs, and the formed springs have a consistent structure, which can provide effective and stable structural support for each battery cell.
[0029] Furthermore, the housing is also equipped with a pressure plate, and the top pressure plate is pressed against the top edge of the battery cell.
[0030] An assembly process for the battery assembly includes the following steps:
[0031] S1, assemble the pipe limiting part onto the bottom or top plate of the enclosure; fix the electrical connection side plate to the inner wall of the enclosure; or...
[0032] S1', Fix the electrical connection side plate to the inner wall of the enclosure; Assemble the pipe limiting part on the bottom plate or top plate of the enclosure;
[0033] S2, assemble liquid cooling plates and battery cells inside the enclosure; install the inlet and outlet liquid cooling pipes connected to the multiple liquid cooling plates within the pipe limiting section, and insert the battery cells within the insertion / removal interval between two adjacent liquid cooling plates, so that the battery cell terminals are inserted into the insertion / removal channels of the electrical connectors; or,
[0034] S2', assemble liquid cooling plates and battery cells inside the housing; insert battery cells into the plug-in channels of electrical connectors, with a pre-reserved plug-in gap between adjacent battery cells; insert multiple liquid cooling plates into their respective plug-in gaps, and install the inlet and outlet liquid cooling pipes connected to the multiple liquid cooling plates into the pipe limiting parts.
[0035] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: The assembly process of this invention uses a plug-in method for cell assembly and liquid cooling system connection, allowing for replacement of faulty cells through physical disassembly. Compared to welding, this method allows for the reuse of related parts. Furthermore, the electrical connection side plate can absorb cell dimensional tolerances, reducing the risk of terminal tearing under stress and minimizing the risk of cell damage. Attached Figure Description
[0036] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional exploded view of the battery assembly of the present invention;
[0037] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the battery cell insertion and removal component of the present invention. Figure 1 ;
[0038] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged structural diagram of section A in the middle;
[0039] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the battery cell insertion and removal component of the present invention. Figure 2 ;
[0040] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Enlarged structural diagram of section B in the middle;
[0041] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the battery cell insertion and removal component of the present invention. Figure 3 ;
[0042] Figure 7 for Figure 6 Enlarged structural diagram of section C;
[0043] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the multiple liquid cooling plates of the present invention;
[0044] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the liquid cooling plate and the battery cell in this invention. Figure 1 ;
[0045] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the liquid cooling plate and the battery cell in this invention. Figure 2 ;
[0046] Figure 11 This is a three-dimensional exploded view of the electrical connection side plate and electrical connector of the present invention.
[0047] Figure 12 for Figure 11 Enlarged structural diagram of section D in the middle;
[0048] Figure 13 This is a side view of the structure of the electrical connection side plate and the electrical connector of the present invention.
[0049] Figure 14 This is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the electrical connector of the present invention;
[0050] Figure 15 This is a partial structural diagram of the housing of the present invention;
[0051] Figure 16 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the pipe limiting part installed inside the box according to the present invention;
[0052] Figure 17 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention with the connecting side plate installed on the side plate of the box body;
[0053] Figure 18 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention with a sampling plate mounted on the electrical connection side plate;
[0054] Figure 19 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the liquid cooling plate installed inside the housing according to the present invention;
[0055] Figure 20 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the partition plate of the present invention;
[0056] Figure 21 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the battery cell installation method of the present invention;
[0057] Figure 22 A three-dimensional structural diagram of the mounting plate of the present invention;
[0058] Figure 23 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the top plate and end plate of the present invention.
[0059] Figure 24 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the battery module of the present invention;
[0060] Figure 25 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom plate structure of the box body of the present invention. Figure 1 ;
[0061] Figure 26 for Figure 25 Enlarged structural diagram of section A in the middle;
[0062] Figure 27 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the battery cell and the base plate of the present invention. Figure 1 ;
[0063] Figure 28 for Figure 27 Enlarged structural diagram of section B in the middle;
[0064] Figure 29 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom plate structure of the box body of the present invention. Figure 2 ;
[0065] Figure 30 for Figure 29 Enlarged structural diagram of section C;
[0066] Figure 31 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the battery cell and the base plate of the present invention. Figure 2 ;
[0067] Figure 32 for Figure 31 Enlarged structural diagram of section D in the middle;
[0068] Figure 33 This is a three-dimensional exploded structural diagram of the box body of the present invention.
[0069] The attached diagram lists the components represented by each number as follows:
[0070] 100. Base plate; 101. Side plate; 102. Top plate; 103. Partition; 104. Electrical connection side plate; 105. Assembly interlayer; 106. First through hole; 107. Limiting piece; 108. Insert / pull-out part; 109. Buffer gap; 110. Elastic pad; 111. Large end; 112. Small end; 113. Hanging channel; 114. Pressure plate; 115. Guide post; 116. End plate; 117. Plastic part base plate; 118. Plastic part cover plate; 119. Bending support structure; 120. Clearance opening; 121. Pressing edge;
[0071] 200. Battery cell; 201. Terminal post; 202. Corner position;
[0072] 300. Pipe limiting part; 301. Liquid cooling plate; 302. Inlet liquid cooling pipe; 303. Outlet liquid cooling pipe; 305. Hanging block; 306. Pipe groove; 307. Avoidance gap;
[0073] 400. Sampling plate;
[0074] 11. Second through hole; 12. Spring piece; 13. Free end; 14. Arc-shaped structure; 15. A row of through holes; 16. Planar structure; 31. Non-polar side. Detailed Implementation
[0075] The principles and features of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The examples given are only for explaining the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
[0076] like Figures 1 to 33 As shown, a battery assembly according to this embodiment includes a housing, a battery cell 200, an electrical connection side plate 104, and an electrical connector. The electrical connection side plate 104 is mounted on the inner side wall of the housing, and the electrical connector is movably assembled on the electrical connection side plate 104 with multiple degrees of freedom. The electrical connector is provided with a plug-in channel. The battery cell 200 is pluggably disposed in the housing, and the terminal post 201 of the battery cell 200 is inserted into the pluggable channel.
[0077] In this embodiment, the electrical connection side plate 104 can be made of any insulating material with a certain toughness and strength.
[0078] The electrical connector is movably mounted on the electrical connection side plate 104 with multiple degrees of freedom. Specifically, the electrical connector can be confined to the electrical connection side plate 104, but can also move within a certain range. Figure 1 Taking the six degrees of freedom indicated by the XYZ coordinate axes as an example (each coordinate axis has two degrees of freedom), the electrical connector can be moved relative to the electrical connection side plate 104 in any two or more degrees of freedom directions.
[0079] like Figures 11-14 As shown, the electrical connection side plate 104 in this embodiment is provided with an assembly interlayer 105. A first through hole 106 communicating with the assembly interlayer 105 is provided on the electrical connection side plate 104. The electrical connector includes a limiting piece 107 and a plug-in piece 108. The limiting piece 107 is movably assembled within the assembly interlayer 105 with multiple degrees of freedom and has a clearance fit with the inner wall of the assembly interlayer 105 (this clearance is very small, ensuring that the limiting piece 107 can move without significantly pulling the battery cell terminal). The plug-in piece 108 is fixed to the limiting piece 107 and passes through the first through hole 106. The plug-in piece 108 has the plug-in channel. By providing the assembly interlayer and the first through hole, the limiting piece can be conveniently positioned within the assembly interlayer and can move within it. Then, the plug-in piece is used to connect and engage with the battery cell terminal, facilitating assembly and resulting in a compact and reliable assembly structure.
[0080] Specifically, in this embodiment, the limiting piece 107 can be a flexible strip, and the insertion / removal piece 108 can be a rigid strip. That is, the structural strength of the insertion / removal piece 108 is stronger than that of the limiting piece 107, and the toughness of the limiting piece 107 is stronger than that of the insertion / removal piece. This facilitates the insertion and removal of the battery cell terminal within the insertion / removal channel of the insertion / removal piece, and the clearance fit of the limiting piece 107 within the assembly interlayer 105. Furthermore, in this embodiment... Figure 11 The document provides a single-parallel-multiple-series connection method, which can also be designed as a multi-parallel-multiple-series connection method as needed. Moreover, the shape and connection method of the battery cell terminals and the insertion / removal channels of the plug-in components in this embodiment can be arbitrary. For example, the battery cell terminals can be square, cylindrical, or elliptical cylindrical shapes.
[0081] like Figure 11 and Figure 13As shown, in this embodiment, the side of the limiting piece 107 elastically abuts against the side wall of the assembly interlayer 105. A buffer gap 109 is reserved between the first peripheral edge of the limiting piece 107 and the corresponding peripheral side wall of the assembly interlayer 105. The second peripheral edge of the limiting piece 107 elastically abuts against the corresponding peripheral side wall of the assembly interlayer 105. The second peripheral edge is located on the side of the axial insertion / extraction end of the insertion / extraction channel. The buffer gap facilitates the movement of the limiting piece within the assembly interlayer, solves the problem of assembly defects that may be caused by cell size deviations during cell assembly, reduces the risk of cell damage, and absorbs the tolerances present in cell assembly.
[0082] like Figure 14 As shown, the limiting piece 107 in this embodiment is provided with a bending support structure 119. The folded edge of the bending support structure 119 elastically abuts or gap fits with the side wall of the assembly interlayer 105 (this gap is very small, which can ensure that the limiting piece 107 can move without pulling the battery cell terminal on a large scale).
[0083] like Figure 12 and Figure 13 As shown, the peripheral sidewall of the assembly interlayer 105 in this embodiment is also provided with an elastic pad 110, and the second peripheral edge of the limiting piece 107 abuts against the elastic pad 110.
[0084] like Figures 2-7 As shown, the insertion / removal channel in this embodiment has an axial opening. The axial insertion / removal start end of the insertion / removal channel is the large end 111, and the axial insertion / removal end end of the insertion / removal channel is the small end 112. The electrode 201 of the battery cell 200 is inserted axially from the large end 111 of the insertion / removal channel. The tapered structure facilitates the insertion and positioning of the battery cell electrode.
[0085] like Figure 8 , Figure 16 , Figure 17 , Figure 18 , Figure 19 As shown, the battery assembly in this embodiment also includes a pipe limiting part 300, multiple liquid cooling plates 301, an inlet liquid cooling pipe 302, and an outlet liquid cooling pipe 303. The pipe limiting part 300 is installed on the bottom plate 100 or top plate 102 of the housing. The inlets and outlets of the multiple liquid cooling plates 301 are respectively connected to the inlet liquid cooling pipe 302 and the outlet liquid cooling pipe 303. The inlet liquid cooling pipe 302 and the outlet liquid cooling pipe 303 are respectively pluggably limited within the corresponding pipe limiting part 300. A pluggable interval for accommodating a battery cell 200 is reserved between two adjacent liquid cooling plates 301, and the battery cell 200 is disposed within the pluggable interval. By providing inlet and outlet liquid cooling pipes, which are pluggably disposed within the pipe limiting part, assembly is facilitated.
[0086] like Figures 8-11 As shown, the electrical connection side plate 104 in this embodiment is also provided with a mounting channel 113, the extension direction of which is the same as the extension direction of the plug-in channel; a mounting block 305 is provided on the side of the liquid cooling plate 301, the mounting block 305 being adapted to be inserted into the mounting channel 113. The liquid cooling plate can be mounted on the electrical connection side plate for easy assembly.
[0087] The electrical connection side plate 104 in this embodiment can be integrally molded or a separate structure. This embodiment provides a preferred structural form, wherein the electrical connection side plate 104 includes a plastic base plate 117 and a plastic cover plate 118, as shown below. Figures 11-13 As shown, a protrusion is formed in the middle of the plastic base plate 117, and a recess is formed in the middle of the plastic cover plate 118. When the plastic base plate 117 and the plastic cover plate 118 are joined together, the protrusion is inserted into the recess with a gap, which is the assembly interlayer 105. Then, the limiting piece 107 of the electrical connector is fitted with a gap and limited in the assembly interlayer 105. The recess of the plastic base plate 118 also has multiple first through holes 106 for the insertion and removal of the connector. Then, a hollow insertion post is provided on the side of the plastic cover plate 118 away from the plastic base plate 117. The hanging channel 113 is formed in the hollow insertion post and is located above the first through holes 106. Then, an elastic pad 110 is provided at the bottom of the recess. The limiting piece 107 abuts against the elastic pad 110, and the upper end of the limiting piece 107 and the top of the recess have a buffer gap 109 reserved. The battery cell is inserted from top to bottom along the Y-axis. The fit tolerance between the battery cell's terminal and the insertion / removal channel may cause a height difference between the upper and lower parts of the battery cell group. However, the spring 12 on the bottom plate of the housing, the elastic pad 110 on the plastic cover, and the buffer gap of the assembly interlayer 105 can all absorb the height tolerance. When the battery cell is pressed down to make the terminal and the insertion channel fit tightly, the spring sheet on the base plate and the elastic pad 110 on the plastic cover plate will be deformed by the force. After the downward pressure is removed, the two can rebound to a certain extent without affecting the tight connection between the battery cell terminal and the electrical connector. The limiting piece can move appropriately in the XYZ direction within the assembly interlayer. When there is a dimensional deviation in the position of the battery cell terminal on both sides, the electrical connector can absorb the tolerance by moving in the XYZ direction. When the liquid cooling plate expands and squeezes the battery cell, it provides a pre-tightening force for the battery cell assembly and can also better fit the battery cell to dissipate heat during operation. The pre-tightening force causes the battery cell to shift left and right in the direction perpendicular to the large surface area, which can be absorbed by the compression deformation of the bending support structure in the electrical connector.
[0088] like Figures 17-19As shown, the pipe limiting part 300 in this embodiment is provided with a pipe groove 306 arranged perpendicular to the liquid cooling plate 301. The groove opening of the pipe groove 306 faces the insertion and removal channel, and the groove wall of the pipe groove 306 is provided with a clearance notch 307 for accommodating the corner position 202 of the battery cell 200. The clearance notch not only avoids the corner position of the battery cell, but also plays a certain limiting role in the corner position of the battery cell, making the assembly structure of the battery cell more stable.
[0089] A preferred embodiment of this solution is as follows: Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, the liquid cooling plate 301 in this embodiment is a flexible liquid cooling plate. When the liquid cooling medium is filled in, the flexible liquid cooling plate expands, allowing the large surface of the liquid cooling plate to better adhere to the surface of the battery cell. This applies a pre-tightening force to the battery cell while improving cooling efficiency.
[0090] To further increase the adjustability of the cell height, such as Figures 25-33 As shown, the bottom plate 100 of the housing in this embodiment is also provided with multiple rows of second through holes 11. Each row of second through holes 11 includes at least one second through hole 11. A spring piece 12 is connected to the bottom plate 100 at each second through hole 11. The spring piece 12 is arranged corresponding to the second through hole 11 and protrudes from one side of the bottom plate 100. By providing multiple rows of second through holes on the bottom plate and a spring piece at each second through hole, when the battery cell is placed on the bottom plate, the elastic force of the spring piece can provide a certain elastic adjustment space for the height of the battery cell, which facilitates the adjustment of the height difference between different battery cells and absorbs the tolerance between battery cells. Moreover, the spring piece protruding from the bottom plate also leaves a certain gap between the battery cell and the bottom plate, which improves the heat dissipation capacity of the entire battery pack. Unlike glue or pads that restrict the movement of the battery cell, the spring piece structure does not restrict the movement of the battery cell. If the battery cell needs to be replaced or repaired later, it can be easily removed.
[0091] Specifically, each row of through holes 11 may contain only one through hole 11 or multiple through holes 11, and the number of through holes 11 in each row may be the same or different. Generally, in order to provide the same stable support for each battery cell, the number of through holes 11 in each row can be the same. The base plate 100 can be a flat plate structure or a U-shaped structure, and the through holes 11 are disposed on the bottom wall of the flat plate structure or the U-shaped structure.
[0092] In this embodiment, the spring piece 12 is welded, bonded, fixedly connected via a connector, or integrally connected to the base plate 100. The spring piece can be connected to the base plate in any fixing method.
[0093] like Figure 25As shown, in one optional embodiment, the spring piece 12 is connected to the inner wall of the corresponding through hole 11. By setting the spring piece on the inner wall of the area where the through hole 11 is located, the spring piece can be welded to the inner wall of the through hole or integrally connected to the inner wall of the through hole, without occupying the space on one side of the base plate, and the structural design is more reasonable.
[0094] In a preferred embodiment, a spring piece 12 is integrally connected to the inner wall of each through hole 11. The integral connection of the spring piece to the inner wall of the through hole, similar to a door opening structure, reduces additional processes; the through hole and spring piece can be directly formed by cutting or stamping.
[0095] like Figure 25 and Figure 26 As shown, the spring piece 12 has a structure that curves inward toward the base plate 100, and its shape can be arbitrary. By curving the middle of the spring piece toward one side of the base plate, the battery cell can be supported on the spring piece, which makes the contact between the spring piece and the battery cell more stable. When the spring piece is compressed, the through hole can provide a certain pressure-bearing space for the spring piece.
[0096] like Figure 26 As shown, preferably, the portion of the spring piece 12 near its free end 13 is an arc-shaped structure 14 or a planar structure 16. The arc-shaped structure 14 can be a circular arc, an elliptical arc, or other irregular arc structures. An arc-shaped structure 14 provides better elastic support. A planar structure provides better support for the battery cell. The spring piece 12 can be made of any elastic material, such as metal, rigid plastic, a combination of metal and plastic, a combination of metal and rubber, or a combination of plastic and rubber.
[0097] like Figure 25 As shown, a further embodiment of this solution involves staggering the arrangement of adjacent rows of through holes 11. This avoids excessive stress concentration on the base plate, and the staggered arrangement of the through holes also ensures that the spring contacts in each row of through holes can support the battery cell. Specifically, adjacent rows of through holes 11 can be staggered by every other through hole 11 (i.e., one through hole 11 corresponds exactly to the interval between two through holes 11 in an adjacent row), or by every two through holes 11, thus making the distribution of through holes 11 on the base plate more uniform.
[0098] like Figure 25 and Figure 26As shown, preferably, the shape of the spring piece 12 is adapted to the shape of the through hole 11. Since the spring piece 12 and the through hole 11 can be formed by cutting or stamping, the size and shape of the spring piece 12 should generally be comparable to the size and shape of the through hole 11. For other requirements (such as heat dissipation), the size of the spring piece 12 can also be set to be smaller, so that when the spring piece is subjected to excessive pressure, it can be pressed into the through hole for accommodation.
[0099] In a preferred embodiment, the base plate 100 is formed using a stamping process to create the through holes 11 and spring pieces 12. Using stamping to form the through holes and spring pieces is a simple and fast process, and the formed spring pieces have a consistent structure, providing effective and stable structural support for each battery cell. Stamping is a forming process that uses a press and dies to apply external force to sheet metal, strip, tube, and profile materials, causing plastic deformation or separation to obtain workpieces (stamped parts) of the desired shape and size.
[0100] like Figure 29 As shown, the housing in this embodiment includes a top plate 102, a bottom plate 100, an end plate 116, and a side plate 101, as follows: Figure 25 and Figure 29 As shown, in this embodiment, the top plate 102, bottom plate 100, end plate 116, and side plate 101 can be detachably connected. Alternatively, the bottom plate 100 and the two side plates 101 can be integrated into a single structure, by bending a single plate to form the bottom plate 100, left side plate, and right side plate. Then, a partition plate 103 and an end plate 116 are fixed to the bottom plate 100, left side plate, and right side plate, leaving a gap between the partition plate 103 and the end plate 116 for assembling electrical components. The top plate 102 is then installed after the entire battery pack is assembled. Due to the use of spring clips at the bottom or top of the housing, the spring clip structure at the bottom of the housing can provide an effect equivalent to glue / soft rubber pads with a small contact area.
[0101] like Figure 27 and Figure 28 As shown, the battery cell 200 is installed inside the housing. The non-terminal side 31 of the peripheral wall of the battery cell 200 corresponds to a row of through holes 15 and abuts against the spring piece 12 at the row of through holes 15. The terminal side of the battery cell 200 can be arranged opposite to the non-terminal side 31, or it can be arranged adjacent to the non-terminal side 31. Figure 28 A schematic diagram is given of the non-terminal side 31 of the battery cell 200 abutting against the spring 12. It can be that one battery cell 200 in the entire battery pack abuts against the spring 12, or all battery cells 200 abut against the spring 12.
[0102] Furthermore, the opening direction of the spring 12 relative to the arrangement direction of the battery cell 200 can be any angle. Figure 29 and Figure 32The opening direction of the spring 12 is perpendicular to the large surface of the battery cell 200, except for... Figure 15 and Figure 32 The opening direction of the shrapnel 12 ( Figure 32 Besides the direction indicated by the middle arrow A, the opening direction of the spring piece 12 can be set parallel to the large surface of the battery cell 200, or it can be deflected at any angle, all of which can satisfy the elastic support function for the battery cell. Moreover, the opening directions of all spring pieces 12 can be the same or different, without affecting the elastic support effect for the battery cell. For ease of stamping, the opening direction of the spring pieces 12 is generally set to the same direction, i.e. Figure 1 All the openings of the spring pieces 12 are oriented in the same direction.
[0103] like Figure 22 and Figure 23 As shown, the housing in this embodiment is further provided with a pressure plate 114, which is pressed against the top edge of the battery cell 200. The pressure plate 114 has pressing edges 121 on both sides, which can be used to wrap around the top part of the side of the battery cell. The pressing edges 121 are also provided with clearance openings 120 to avoid the process protrusions of the battery cell.
[0104] This embodiment employs a separate electrical connection side plate and electrical connector, with the electrical connector movably mounted on the side plate with a clearance fit. This allows the battery cell terminals to be pluggably positioned within the pluggable channel. When a single battery cell fails or malfunctions and needs replacement, it can be pulled out individually, reducing maintenance costs and improving maintenance efficiency. Furthermore, it solves the problem of assembly defects caused by dimensional deviations in the battery cells during assembly, reducing the risk of battery cell damage and absorbing tolerances inherent in battery cell assembly. This embodiment uses a physically pluggable method for connecting battery cells in groups. During connection, appropriate force is applied to press the battery cell to ensure a stable connection. Replacement is also performed using a physical disassembly method. Compared to welding, this method allows for the reuse of relevant parts. Moreover, the electrical connection assembly has six degrees of freedom to absorb dimensional tolerances in the battery cells. The electrical connector uses a combination of hard and soft components, providing the strength required for the battery cell terminal connection and buffering the force on the terminals when the battery cell preload is applied, reducing the risk of terminal tearing and battery cell damage.
[0105] This embodiment also provides an assembly process for the battery assembly, such as... Figures 15-24 As shown, it includes the following steps:
[0106] S1, assemble the pipe limiting part 300 onto the bottom plate 100 or top plate 102 of the enclosure; fix the electrical connection side plate 104 onto the inner wall of the enclosure; or
[0107] S1', Fix the electrical connection side plate 104 to the inner side wall of the box; Assemble the pipe limiting part 300 on the bottom plate 100 or top plate 102 of the box;
[0108] S2, assemble liquid cooling plates 301 and battery cells 200 inside the housing; install the inlet liquid cooling pipes 302 and outlet liquid cooling pipes 303 connected to the multiple liquid cooling plates 301 in the pipe limiting part 300 respectively; insert the battery cell 200 in the insertion and removal interval between two adjacent liquid cooling plates 301, so that the terminal 201 of the battery cell 200 is inserted into the insertion and removal channel of the electrical connector (at this time, when the liquid cooling plates 301 are not filled with water, they are in a flat state, the gap between the liquid cooling plates 301 is large, and the battery cell is not tightly attached to the liquid cooling plate after being put in; when the liquid cooling plates are filled with water, the liquid cooling plates 301 expand and tightly attach to the battery cell, and the battery cell is squeezed due to the front and rear limiting of the battery cell and the housing); after all the liquid cooling plates are installed, install the partition 103. The partition 103 is installed on one side of the battery cell arrangement direction. The function of the partition 103 is to limit the excessive expansion of the battery cell and the liquid cooling system, and to play a limiting role. At the same time, the partition can also be used to suspend electrical components such as BMU. or,
[0109] S2', assemble liquid cooling plate 301 and battery cell 200 inside the box; insert battery cell 200 into the plug-in channel of electrical connector, with a liquid cooling plate plug-in gap reserved between adjacent battery cells 200, insert multiple liquid cooling plates 301 into the corresponding liquid cooling plate plug-in gaps respectively, and install the inlet liquid cooling pipe 302 and outlet liquid cooling pipe 303 connected to the multiple liquid cooling plates 301 into the pipe limiting part 300 respectively.
[0110] After the battery cells and liquid cooling plates are assembled, the pressure plates are installed. The purpose of the pressure plates is to fix the battery cells and to provide protection, reducing misalignment caused by vibration during PACK transportation. Finally, the top plate and end plates are installed.
[0111] When installing the electrical connection side panel, the side panel of the enclosure is equipped with guide posts 115. The electrical connection side panel can be pre-drilled and hung on the guide posts 115, and then secured with bolts. After the electrical connection side panel is installed, a sampling plate 400 is installed on it. The sampling plate 400 can be used to collect the voltage of the electrical connectors and the operating temperature of the battery cells, enabling timely detection and alarm issuance in case of abnormalities during operation.
[0112] In this embodiment, the assembly sequence of the pipe limiting part and the electrical connection side plate can be arbitrary without causing interference. The assembly sequence of the battery cell and the liquid cooling plate can also be arbitrary. A preferred solution in this embodiment is to use step S2, that is, to assemble the liquid cooling plate first, and then assemble the battery cell. Since the liquid cooling plate and the liquid cooling pipe are connected together to form a whole, it is easier to implement the process by first installing it into the housing, and then inserting the battery cell between the two liquid cooling plates.
[0113] In this embodiment, the assembly process, cell assembly, and liquid cooling system connections all employ a plug-in / plug-out method. If a cell malfunctions, it can be replaced through physical disassembly. Compared to welding, this method allows for the reuse of related parts. Furthermore, the electrical connection side plate can absorb cell dimensional tolerances, reducing the risk of terminal tearing under stress and minimizing the risk of cell damage.
[0114] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "axial", "circumferential", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.
[0115] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.
[0116] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.
[0117] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.
[0118] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.
[0119] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A battery assembly, comprising: The device includes a housing, a battery cell (200), an electrical connection side plate (104), and an electrical connector. The electrical connection side plate (104) is installed on the inner side wall of the housing. The electrical connector is movably assembled on the electrical connection side plate (104) with multiple degrees of freedom. The electrical connector is provided with a plug-in channel. The battery cell (200) is pluggable and detachable inside the housing. The terminal (201) of the battery cell (200) is inserted into the plug-in channel. The electrical connection side plate (104) is provided with an assembly interlayer (105), and the electrical connection side plate (104) is provided with a first through hole (106) communicating with the assembly interlayer (105); the electrical connector includes a limiting piece (107) and a plug-in piece (108), the limiting piece (107) is movably assembled in the assembly interlayer (105) with multiple degrees of freedom, the plug-in piece (108) is fixed on the limiting piece (107) and is provided through the first through hole (106), and the plug-in piece (108) is provided with the plug-in channel; the side of the limiting piece (107) is elastically abutted or clearance-fitted with the interlayer sidewall of the assembly interlayer (105).
2. The battery assembly of claim 1, wherein, A buffer gap (109) is reserved between the first peripheral edge of the limiting piece (107) and the peripheral wall of the corresponding assembly interlayer (105). The second peripheral edge of the limiting piece (107) elastically abuts against the peripheral wall of the corresponding assembly interlayer (105). The second peripheral edge is located on the side of the axial insertion end of the insertion channel.
3. The battery assembly of claim 2, wherein, The limiting piece (107) is provided with a bending support structure (119), and the folded edge of the bending support structure (119) elastically abuts or gap fits with the side wall of the assembly interlayer (105). The peripheral sidewall of the assembly interlayer (105) is also provided with an elastic pad (110), and the second peripheral edge of the limiting piece (107) abuts against the elastic pad (110).
4. The battery assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The insertion channel has an axial opening. The axial insertion start end of the insertion channel is the large end (111), and the axial insertion end end of the insertion channel is the small end (112). The electrode (201) of the battery cell (200) is inserted axially from the large end (111) of the insertion channel.
5. The battery assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, It also includes a pipe limiting part (300), multiple liquid cooling plates (301), an inlet liquid cooling pipe (302), and an outlet liquid cooling pipe (303). The pipe limiting part (300) is installed on the bottom plate (100) or top plate (102) of the box. The inlet and outlet of the multiple liquid cooling plates (301) are respectively connected to the inlet liquid cooling pipe (302) and the outlet liquid cooling pipe (303). The inlet liquid cooling pipe (302) and the outlet liquid cooling pipe (303) are respectively pluggable and limited in the corresponding pipe limiting part (300). A pluggable interval for accommodating the battery cell (200) is reserved between two adjacent liquid cooling plates (301). The battery cell (200) is set in the pluggable interval.
6. The battery assembly of claim 5, wherein, The electrical connection side plate (104) is also provided with a mounting channel (113), the extension direction of the mounting channel (113) is the same as the extension direction of the plug-in channel; the side of the liquid cooling plate (301) is provided with a mounting block (305), the mounting block (305) is inserted into the mounting channel (113).
7. The battery assembly of claim 5, wherein, The pipe limiting part (300) is provided with a pipe groove (306) arranged perpendicular to the liquid cooling plate (301). The opening of the pipe groove (306) is arranged facing the insertion and removal channel. The groove wall of the pipe groove (306) is provided with a clearance notch (307) for accommodating the corner position (202) of the battery cell (200).
8. The battery assembly of claim 5, wherein, The liquid cooling plate (301) is a flexible liquid cooling plate.
9. The battery assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The bottom plate (100) of the box is also provided with multiple rows of second through holes (11), each row of second through holes (11) includes at least one second through hole (11), and a spring piece (12) is connected to the bottom plate (100) at each second through hole (11). The spring piece (12) is arranged corresponding to the second through hole (11), and the spring piece (12) protrudes from one side of the bottom plate (100).
10. The battery assembly of claim 9, wherein, The base plate (100) is formed by stamping to create the second through hole (11) and the spring piece (12).
11. The battery assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The housing is also provided with a pressure plate (114), which is pressed against the top edge of the battery cell (200).
12. A process for assembling the battery assembly of any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1, assemble the pipe limiting part (300) onto the bottom plate (100) or top plate (102) of the enclosure; fix the electrical connection side plate (104) onto the inner wall of the enclosure; or, S1', fix the electrical connection side plate (104) on the inner side wall of the box; assemble the pipe limiting part (300) on the bottom plate (100) or top plate (102) of the box; S2, assemble liquid cooling plates (301) and battery cells (200) inside the housing; install the inlet liquid cooling pipes (302) and outlet liquid cooling pipes (303) connecting multiple liquid cooling plates (301) into the pipe limiting part (300) respectively, insert the battery cell (200) into the insertion / removal interval between two adjacent liquid cooling plates (301), so that the terminal (201) of the battery cell (200) is inserted into the insertion / removal channel of the electrical connector; or, S2', assemble liquid cooling plates (301) and battery cells (200) inside the housing; insert battery cells (200) into the plug-in channel of the electrical connector, leave a liquid cooling plate plug-in gap between adjacent battery cells (200), insert multiple liquid cooling plates (301) into the corresponding liquid cooling plate plug-in gaps respectively, and install the inlet liquid cooling pipe (302) and outlet liquid cooling pipe (303) connected to the multiple liquid cooling plates (301) into the pipe limiting part (300) respectively.
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