Battery casing deformation repair system and method

Abstract

This invention provides a battery casing deformation repair system, comprising: a feeding device, a shaping device, an annealing device, and a control device. The feeding device conveys the casing to the working position. The shaping device shapes the casing and then transfers the shaped casing out of the shaping device. The annealing device cools the shaped casing to remove internal stress. The control device controls the casing to be conveyed from the working position to the shaping device via the feeding device for shaping, and then to the annealing device for annealing, until the deformation repair is completed. This invention also provides a battery casing deformation repair method. This invention is used to repair deformation of battery casings by heating the battery casing, applying mechanical pressure for repair, and then performing low-temperature annealing to eliminate the internal stress caused by the mechanical repair, improve the crystal structure at the deformation site, and enhance strength and toughness.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of battery manufacturing technology, and in particular to a battery casing deformation repair system and method. Background Technology

[0002] The assembly process of square lithium-ion blade batteries includes ultrasonic welding, film coating, casing, and laser welding of the tabs and top cover. Finally, laser sealing welding is performed on the casing and cover plate to complete the assembly of the single lithium battery cell. For square aluminum-cased blade cells, laser peripheral welding (sealing welding) of the top cover is crucial. Due to industry development, the thickness of the aluminum casing for the cells is gradually being reduced from 0.6mm to thinner thicknesses, with 0.35mm and 0.3mm thicknesses becoming the primary choice for blade cells. Aluminum has a low density (ρ = 2.7g / cm³), approximately one-third that of iron, and a low melting point (660℃). Aluminum has a face-centered cubic structure, thus possessing high plasticity (δ: 32-40%, ψ: 70-90%), making it easy to process and manufacture into various profiles and sheets, and exhibiting good corrosion resistance. However, most aluminum casings are made of 3003 series aluminum alloy, which is relatively soft. Even slight pressure, impact, or stress can easily cause dents, bulges, or deformations in the casing, which are difficult to repair manually. Furthermore, deformation creates internal stress within the material. Without eliminating this internal stress, directly repairing the thin aluminum casing mechanically cannot fully restore the material's internal crystal structure, reducing its strength and toughness, thus preventing complete casing restoration. These factors cause battery casings to become defective before battery manufacturing, increasing production costs and resulting in waste. Casing deformation not only increases production costs, but some deformed casings exceeding tolerances cannot be fully detected before use and end up in subsequent battery production processes, leading to battery scrap.

[0003] For casing deformation, professional measuring tools can be used to measure the standard dimensions of the casing and compare it with a standard battery model (i.e., a model whose dimensions are exactly the same as the design without error) to measure the amount of casing deformation. If the casing deformation is ≤2.5mm / m, it is considered a slight deformation and can be used normally. If the casing deformation exceeds this amount, it is classified according to the deformation situation and manually processed, and then reshaped using a device.

[0004] Currently, battery manufacturers are unable to directly repair deformed casings, forcing them to be scrapped. For a battery assembly line with a daily production capacity of 12,000 pieces, if the number of deformed casings exceeds 1-2% per day, it will result in significant cost waste, representing a major loss for battery assembly production. Furthermore, current shaping equipment on the market can only perform simple shaping and cannot provide comprehensive repair. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art described above, the purpose of this invention is to provide a battery casing deformation repair system to solve the problem that battery casing deformation cannot be repaired in the prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above and other related objectives, the present invention provides a battery casing deformation repair system, the repair system comprising:

[0007] A feeding device is used to transport the housing to the working position;

[0008] A shaping device that shapes the housing and then outputs the shaped housing from the shaping device;

[0009] An annealing apparatus is used to cool the shaped shell to remove internal stress;

[0010] A control device is used to automatically control the process of conveying the housing to the shaping device via the feeding device for shaping, and then to the annealing device for annealing, until the deformation repair is completed.

[0011] The feeding device includes:

[0012] The mounting base is L-shaped, with a hole in the first part and a base in the second part.

[0013] An inner shaping pressure plate is used to fit the housing and support the inner wall of the housing; there are at least two inner shaping pressure plates.

[0014] The tension cylinder is used to provide pressure to the inner forming plate during the shaping of the housing. There are at least two tension cylinders, which are symmetrically installed at one end of the inner forming plate. One end of the inner forming plate passes through the hole of the mounting base and is installed on both sides of the hole through the tension cylinder.

[0015] A mobile servo motor pushes the mounting base to send the housing into the shaping device for repair;

[0016] A servo module, wherein the mobile servo motor pushes the housing and transmits the material to the shaping device via the servo module;

[0017] Rotate the mounting base to fix the mounting base on the servo module;

[0018] A rotary motor is mounted on the servo module via the rotary mounting base and is used to control the rotation of the rotary mounting base;

[0019] During loading, the rotary motor rotates the mounting base to the loading position, and the housing is fitted onto the inner shaping plate. The rotary motor rotates the rotary mounting base to reset the inner shaping plate to the working position. The moving servo motor pushes the housing to be transferred to the shaping device through the servo module.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the feeding device includes:

[0021] The upper and lower movable cylinder is used to install the mounting base on the rotary mounting base. When shaping the housing, the position of the inner shaping pressure plate is controlled to adjust the upper and lower positions of the housing.

[0022] A limiting plate is installed on both sides of the hole in the mounting base to limit the working range of the inner shaping pressure plate and prevent the housing from being overstretched.

[0023] In one embodiment of the present invention, the shaping device includes:

[0024] A preheating and pressurizing device, which heats and repairs the housing;

[0025] A tunnel furnace is used to maintain the repaired shell at a certain temperature so that the internal structure at the deformed area can be reconstructed.

[0026] In one embodiment of the present invention, the preheating and pressurizing device includes:

[0027] An outer shaping plate is used to repair the outer surface of the housing. A heating tube is installed inside the outer shaping plate, and the heating tube is used to preheat the outer shaping plate.

[0028] A pressurizing cylinder applies pressure to the outer shaping plate to press and repair the housing.

[0029] In one embodiment of the present invention, the preheating and pressurizing device includes a temperature sensor installed inside the outer shaping pressure plate for measuring and monitoring the heating temperature.

[0030] In one embodiment of the present invention, the tunnel furnace includes:

[0031] A heat-insulating outer shell, wherein a thermostatic tube is installed inside the heat-insulating outer shell to maintain a constant temperature of the tunnel furnace;

[0032] The transmission device delivers the shaped shell to the annealing device;

[0033] A speed-regulating motor drives the conveying device to move.

[0034] In one embodiment of the present invention, the annealing apparatus includes:

[0035] An annealing chamber, wherein a quartz heating tube is provided on the side wall of the annealing chamber, and the quartz heating tube enables the annealing chamber to maintain a set temperature for a set time;

[0036] The unloading servo module moves the cooled housing to the unloading position.

[0037] In one embodiment of the present invention, the control device includes a control console and a controller. The control console is used to select the heating temperature, shaping time, annealing temperature and annealing time according to process requirements. The controller is used for automatic control of the shell deformation repair.

[0038] The present invention also provides a method for repairing battery casing deformation, the method using the battery casing deformation repair system described in any of the above claims, comprising the following steps:

[0039] In the feeding step, rotate the feeding device to the waiting position to fit the housing onto the feeding device, and then rotate it to the working position.

[0040] In the shaping step, the shell is conveyed to the shaping device. After preheating, the shell is placed between the inner shaping plate and the outer shaping plate of the shaping device. Through mechanical pressure, the inner shaping plate cooperates with the outer shaping plate to squeeze the deformed shell to flatten the deformed area.

[0041] After the annealing process, the shell is transferred into an annealing apparatus for gradual cooling to remove internal stress.

[0042] As described above, the battery casing deformation repair system of the present invention has the following beneficial effects: The preheating and pressurizing device, heated by an electric heating tube, serves as a pretreatment device for pressurizing and repairing aluminum casings. This device can automatically heat, automatically control the temperature, and implement an over-temperature alarm function. The aluminum casing deformation repair process allows for selection of heating temperature, shaping time, annealing temperature, and annealing time according to requirements, achieving linkage between the set temperature and time. Attached Figure Description

[0043] Figure 1 The example shown is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a battery casing deformation repair system according to the present invention.

[0044] Figure 2 The example shown is a perspective view of a battery casing deformation repair system of the present invention after the casing has been installed.

[0045] Figure 3 An exemplary three-dimensional schematic diagram of the feeding device of the present invention is shown.

[0046] Figure 4 An exemplary three-dimensional schematic diagram of the preheating and pressurizing device of the present invention is shown.

[0047] Figure 5 An exemplary three-dimensional schematic diagram of the tunnel furnace of the present invention is shown.

[0048] Figure 6 An exemplary three-dimensional schematic diagram of the annealing chamber of the present invention is shown.

[0049] Figure 7 The diagram shows the battery casing before and after repair in the battery casing deformation repair system of the present invention.

[0050] Figure 8 An exemplary control logic diagram of a battery casing deformation repair system according to the present invention is shown.

[0051] Component designation explanation

[0052] 1. Feeding device; 2. Shaping device; 3. Annealing device; 4. Housing; 5. Workbench; 6. Mounting base; 61. First part; 63. Hole; 62. Second part; 7. Inner shaping plate; 71. First inner shaping plate; 72. Second inner shaping plate; 8. Stretching cylinder; 9. Moving servo motor; 10. Servo module; 11. Rotating mounting base; 12. Rotating motor; 13. Up and down moving cylinder; 14. Limiting plate; 15. Frame; 16. Heating tube; 17. Outer shaping plate; 171. First outer shaping plate; 172. Second outer shaping plate; 173. Third shaping plate; 18. Pressurizing cylinder; 181. Second pressurizing cylinder; 182. Temperature sensor; 20. Guide rail; 21. Heat insulation housing; 22. Guide wheel; 23. Speed ​​regulating motor; 24. Transmission chain; 25. Sprocket; 26. Roller; 27. Constant temperature tube; 28. Annealing box; 29. ​​Unloading servo module; 30. Quartz heating tube. Detailed Implementation

[0053] The following specific examples illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. The present invention can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the following embodiments and features can be combined with each other. It should also be understood that the terminology used in the embodiments of the present invention is for describing specific implementation schemes and not for limiting the scope of protection of the present invention. Test methods in the following embodiments that do not specify specific conditions are generally performed under conventional conditions or according to the conditions recommended by the respective manufacturers.

[0054] Please see Figures 1 to 8It should be understood that the structures, proportions, sizes, etc., illustrated in the accompanying drawings are merely for illustrative purposes to aid those skilled in the art and to facilitate understanding. They are not intended to limit the scope of the invention and therefore have no substantial technical significance. Any modifications to the structure, changes in proportions, or adjustments to size, without affecting the effectiveness or purpose of the invention, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed herein. Furthermore, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "middle," and "one" used in this specification are merely for clarity and not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Changes or adjustments to their relative relationships, without substantially altering the technical content, should also be considered within the scope of the invention.

[0055] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 This invention provides a battery casing deformation repair system, comprising: a feeding device 1, a shaping device 2, an annealing device 3, and a control device (not shown). The feeding device 1 is used to convey a casing 4 (e.g., an aluminum casing). The feeding device 1 is rotated to a waiting position to place the casing 4 onto the inner shaping plate 7 of the feeding device 1, and then rotated to a working position. The shaping device shapes the casing and then transfers the shaped casing out of the shaping device. The annealing device is used to cool the shaped casing to remove internal stress; the casing is conveyed from the working position to the shaping device via the feeding device for shaping, and then to the annealing device for annealing. The feeding device 1 can be rotatably fixed to a worktable 5. The control device is used for automatic control of the casing being conveyed from the feeding device to the shaping device for shaping, and then to the annealing device for annealing, until the deformation repair is completed. The control device includes a control console and a controller. The control console is used to select the heating temperature, shaping time, annealing temperature, and annealing time according to process requirements. Controllers, such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), are used for the automatic control of the entire housing deformation repair process.

[0056] Figure 2This is a perspective view of a battery casing deformation repair system. The figure shows the feeding direction of the aluminum casing from the feeding device 1, shaping device 2, to the annealing device 3. The casing 4 is fitted onto the inner shaping plate 7 of the feeding device 1 and is conveyed to the outer shaping plate 17 of the shaping device 2 via the servo module 10. The outer shaping plate 17 is equipped with a heating tube 16 to preheat the casing 4. Then, the inner and outer shaping plates cooperate to clamp the casing 4 in the middle for pressure shaping. After shaping, the moving servo motor 9 sends the casing 4 into the tunnel furnace for heat preservation. The tunnel furnace is equipped with a thermostatic tube 27 to maintain the internal temperature. The tunnel furnace is also equipped with a transmission device and guide wheels 22 for conveying the casing 4. The annealing box 28 is moved to the tunnel furnace via the unloading servo module 29, which can convey the casing 4 from the tunnel furnace into the annealing box 28. The annealing box 28 is equipped with a quartz heating tube 30 to provide a suitable temperature for heating and holding for a certain period of time before cooling.

[0057] Figure 3 Combination Figure 1 The figure shows the feeding device 1 in its reset state. Rotating the mounting base 11 can drive the inner shaping plate 7 to follow the... Figure 1 Rotate in the direction of the middle arrow. During loading, the rotary motor 12 rotates the inner shaping plate 7 to the loading position, which can be any convenient loading position for the inner shaping plate 7 other than its reset state. The housing 4 is fitted onto the inner shaping plate 7, and the rotary motor 12 rotates the rotating mounting base 11 to reset the inner shaping plate 7. The moving servo motor 9 pushes the mounting base through the servo module 10 to send the housing 4 into the shaping device 2 for repair. The overall structure of the loading device 1 can be fixed by the servo module 10 and fixed to the workbench or other work area.

[0058] Specifically, the feeding device includes a mounting base 6, an inner shaping pressure plate 7, a stretching cylinder 8, a moving servo motor 9, a servo module 10, a rotating mounting base 11, a rotating motor 12, an up-and-down moving cylinder 13, and a limiting plate 14. The mounting base 6 is L-shaped, with its first part 61 having a hole 63 and its second part 62 forming a base. The inner shaping pressure plate 7 is used to fit the housing 4 and support the inner wall of the housing 4; there are at least two inner shaping pressure plates 7. During the shaping of the housing 4, the stretching cylinder 8 provides pressure to the inner shaping pressure plate 7; there are at least two stretching cylinders 8, symmetrically installed at one end of the inner shaping pressure plate 7. One end of the inner shaping pressure plate 7 passes through the hole 63 of the mounting base 6 and is mounted on both sides of the hole 63 via the stretching cylinder 8. The moving servo motor 9 pushes the mounting base 6, sending the housing 4 into the shaping device 2 for repair. The rotating mounting base 11 fixes the mounting base 6 onto the servo module 10. A rotary motor 12 is mounted on a servo module 10 via a rotary mounting base 11, used to control the rotation of the rotary mounting base 11. A vertically movable cylinder 13 mounts the mounting base 6 onto the rotary mounting base 11. During the shaping of the housing 4, the vertically movable cylinder 13 controls the movement of the inner shaping pressure plate 7 to adjust the upper and lower positions of the housing 4. Limiting plates 14 are installed on both sides of the holes 63 in the mounting base 6 to limit the working range of the inner shaping pressure plate 7, preventing excessive stretching of the housing 4.

[0059] Please refer to the following. Figure 4 The preheating and pressurizing device includes an outer shaping plate 17, a pressurizing cylinder 18, and a frame 15, used for repairing the outer surface of the housing 4. The outer shaping plate 17 is fixed to the frame 15 by the pressurizing cylinder 18. A heating tube 16 is installed inside the outer shaping plate 17 for preheating the outer shaping plate 17. As a preferred embodiment, the outer shaping plate 17 includes a movable first shaping plate 171, a second shaping plate 172, and a third shaping plate 173 fixed to the frame 15. The pressurizing cylinder includes a first pressurizing cylinder 181 and a second pressurizing cylinder 182. A heating tube 16 is installed inside the first outer shaping plate 171 for preheating the shaping plate, and the number of heating tubes is ≥4. As a specific embodiment, the heating tube 16 is an electric heating tube with a surface load of 1 to 1.5 W / cm². 2 Six sensors are selected here to improve heating efficiency, with an operating temperature of 200–350°C. The first outer shaping platen 171 is also equipped with temperature sensors 19 for measuring and monitoring the heating temperature. In one embodiment, a temperature sensor with a range of -30–400°C, a measurement accuracy of ±3°C, and a response time ≤200m is selected. The number of temperature sensors 19 is ≥4, but can be installed as needed.

[0060] The first pressurizing cylinder 181 applies pressure to the first outer shaping plate 171, and the second pressurizing cylinder 182 applies pressure to the second outer shaping plate 172, so as to press and repair the housing 4.

[0061] As a specific embodiment, Figure 5 This is a perspective view of the tunnel furnace of the present invention. The tunnel furnace includes a heat-insulating shell 21, a transmission device, and a speed-regulating motor 23. The heat-insulating shell 21 is used to prevent dust from entering, protect the equipment, and prevent workers from being burned by touching it. A thermostatic tube is installed inside the heat-insulating shell 21 to maintain a constant temperature in the tunnel furnace. The speed-regulating motor 23 drives the conveying device to move, and the transmission device sends the shaped shell 4 to the annealing device. Specifically, the transmission device includes a transmission chain 24, a sprocket 25, and a roller 26 for pulling the sprocket 25 to move. The sprocket 25 is connected to the roller 26 to drive the roller 26 to work, and the roller 26 sends the shaped shell 4 to the annealing chamber 28. Preferably, a guide rail 20 is installed at the bottom of the tunnel furnace. The guide rail 20 is fixed to the bottom of the tunnel furnace by a column (not shown). A guide wheel 22 is provided on the guide rail 20 to guide the forward movement of the shell 4.

[0062] As a specific embodiment, Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the annealing apparatus of the present invention is shown. The annealing apparatus includes an annealing chamber 28 and a feeding servo module 29. The annealing chamber 28 is used to store the shaped shell and then cool it to room temperature. The annealing chamber 28 has an opening on the side facing the tunnel furnace, and a thermostatic tube 27, which can be a quartz thermostatic tube, is provided on its side wall to maintain the set temperature of the annealing chamber 28 according to the set time of the control device. The feeding servo module 29 can move the annealing chamber 28 to the tunnel furnace to move the cooled shell 4 into the annealing chamber 28.

[0063] Figure 7 The image shows the state of the housing between the inner shaping plate 7 and the outer shaping plate 17, from before to after shaping, with arrows indicating the direction of pressure. During shaping, the housing 4 to be shaped is placed on the first inner shaping plate 71 and the second inner shaping plate 72, and then fed to the first outer shaping plate 171 and the second outer shaping plate 172, so that the housing 4 is clamped between the inner shaping plate 7 and the outer shaping plate 17, and is then subjected to a preheating and pressurizing device (see...). Figure 4 Preheating is performed inside the shell. The first inner shaping plate 71 and the second inner shaping plate 72 provide an outward supporting force to the shell 4 in the direction of the first outer shaping plate 171 and the second outer shaping plate 172, respectively. After applying pressure to the aluminum shell 4 in the direction of the first outer shaping plate 171 and the second outer shaping plate 172 and maintaining this pressure for a period of time, the shell 4 can be shaped and flattened. It should be noted that the shapes and sizes of the inner shaping plate 7 and the outer shaping plate 17 correspond, allowing the shell 4 to be sandwiched in between. The installation position and size of the inner shaping plate 7 and the outer shaping plate 17 can be adjusted to suit the needs of different shells.

[0064] Please see Figure 8 , Figure 8 This is a control logic diagram of a specific embodiment of a battery casing deformation repair system. The system features automatic heating, automatic temperature control, and over-temperature alarm functions. The control console and the equipment PLC are control devices; the equipment PLC acts as the controller for automatic control of the repair process. Heating temperature and time can be set on the control console, and in case of abnormal conditions such as over-temperature, the control console can issue alarms via indicator lights and a display. During the control process, the control console interacts with the equipment PLC, setting system parameters and acquiring various real-time status data. The equipment PLC controls the heating control circuit and the tunnel furnace, and simultaneously obtains temperature data feedback from temperature sensors for each component, achieving automatic control. The heating control circuit further controls the heating tubes of the shaping device and the annealing chamber 28, feeding the data back to the equipment PLC. In summary, under the control of the equipment PLC, the aluminum casing to be repaired passes through the shaping device, tunnel furnace, and annealing chamber 28, completing the deformation repair.

[0065] Empirical formulas for setting heating temperature, time, and power:

[0066] P≥C*(m+M)*(T1-T0)*K*t-1

[0067] m=ρ1*2*(U+V)*W*H

[0068] M = ρ²A B (2C + V)

[0069] Casing width U, mm

[0070] Casing height V, mm

[0071] Shell length W, mm

[0072] Shell thickness H, mm

[0073] Heating time t, s

[0074] Material density ρ1, kg / m 3

[0075] Platen density ρ2, kg / m³ 3

[0076] Pressure plate length A, mm

[0077] Platen width B, mm

[0078] Platen thickness C, mm

[0079] Specific heat capacity C, J / kg·℃

[0080] Initial temperature T0, ℃

[0081] Set temperature T1, ℃

[0082] Equipment power supply P, W

[0083] Empirical coefficient k

[0084] 1. Heating temperature can be set from 200 to 350℃, with an alarm temperature of 380℃;

[0085] When reshaping and repairing aluminum shells, the optimal heating temperature is 300–350℃.

[0086] 2. The dimensions of the shaping plate are designed according to the length, width, and height of the battery:

[0087] For the aluminum casing of the blade battery, the forming plate is selected as follows: length x width x height, i.e., (A*B*C) = 600 x 122 x 20 (unit: mm);

[0088] 3. The empirical coefficient K is selected from 1.5 to 2;

[0089] 4. Power supply selection for the shaping device, tunnel furnace, and annealing chamber 28: P power supply ≥ 10KW, heating time can be set from 3 to 20 minutes, and annealing chamber 28 holding time can be set from 20 to 720 minutes;

[0090] Considering the material properties of aluminum, the annealing temperature was selected as 180℃ and the time as 30min;

[0091] 5. Based on the elastic modulus E / Gpa of the aluminum shell material being approximately 70Gpa and the Poisson's ratio being approximately 0.3, for an aluminum shell with a thickness of 0.35mm, the pressure F ≤ 35N or the pressure P ≤ 0.35Mpa during pressure shaping.

[0092] A method for repairing battery casing deformation, using the aforementioned battery casing deformation repair system, includes the following steps:

[0093] In the feeding step, the feeding device is rotated to fit the shell onto the feeding device. After rotating to the working position, the shell is conveyed to the shaping device.

[0094] In the shaping step, after the shell is preheated in the shaping device, the shell is placed between the inner shaping plate and the outer shaping plate. Through mechanical pressure, the inner shaping plate and the outer shaping plate squeeze the deformed shell to flatten the deformed area.

[0095] After the annealing process, the shell is transferred into an annealing apparatus for gradual cooling to remove internal stress.

[0096] In a specific embodiment, when the system starts, the rotary motor 12 rotates the inner shaping plate 7 to the waiting position. The shell 4 is manually placed onto the first inner shaping plate 71 and the second inner shaping plate 72, and the control device initiates the repair program. The rotary motor 12 rotates the first inner shaping plate 71 and the second inner shaping plate 72 to the working position. The moving servo motor 9 drives the servo module 10 to send the shell 4 to the preheating and pressurizing device, maintaining its position. Simultaneously, the heating tube 16 is energized for heating, and the temperature sensor 19 monitors the heating temperature, maintaining it at 300℃~350℃. The stretching cylinder 8 applies pressure outwards, while the pressurizing cylinder 18 pushes the first outer shaping plate 171 and the second outer shaping plate 172, applying pressure to the shell 4 and holding it for 3~5 minutes (the heat preservation helps recrystallize the internal structure of the aluminum shell, reducing residual stress), thus completing the shaping process.

[0097] After the shaping is completed, the moving servo motor 9 sends the aluminum shell 4 into the heat preservation tunnel furnace. The quartz thermostat tube 27 keeps the temperature of the tunnel furnace at 100-200℃. The speed regulating motor 23 drives the transmission chain 24 to drive the transmission roller 26 through the sprocket 25, sending the aluminum shell 4 into the annealing box 28.

[0098] The unloading servo module 29 moves the annealing chamber 28 to the heat-preserving tunnel furnace to receive the material. The quartz heating tube 16 heats the chamber to approximately 100℃~200℃ and maintains this temperature for 20~60 minutes, then stops heating. The aluminum shell 4 cools to room temperature in the annealing chamber 28 along with the chamber itself. The unloading servo module then moves to the unloading position and removes the repaired aluminum shell 4. This setup is because after the surface of the aluminum shell 4 is repaired, there may still be minor cracks or slight deformation inside, making it very thin. Annealing allows the small gaps between the metals to recrystallize.

[0099] It should be noted that the preheating and pressurizing device can be adjusted depending on whether the aluminum shell 4 is placed horizontally or vertically (i.e., the large surface of the shell 4 can be located on the side or top), and the depth of the shell 4 entering the preheating and pressurizing device. The width of the shell 4 can be adjusted to suit the needs of the shell 4 by adjusting the stroke of the stretching cylinder 8, and the height of the inner shaping pressure plate 7 can be adjusted by adjusting the stroke of the upper and lower movable cylinder 13, so that the height of the aluminum shell 4 can match the height of the inner and outer shaping pressure plates. The upper and lower movable cylinder 13 can also assist in adjusting the amount of pressure applied to both sides of the shell 4. The various components of the repair system in the repair process are not limited to the form, direction, position, pressure magnitude, or action described in the embodiments of the specification. Among them, the preheating and pressurizing device can achieve equivalent heating and shaping by changing its size, configuration, position, and pressurization method.

[0100] In summary, this invention, in order to release the internal stress of the deformed aluminum shell and restore its pre-deformation material strength, employs a heating process with mechanical structure to repair the shell, followed by annealing to relieve stress and restore the shell's strength and toughness. This also releases the internal stress generated during the repair process. For the aluminum shell repair process, this invention also provides a preheating and pressurizing device to increase the temperature during repair. Heating to a certain level releases the internal stress in the aluminum shell, and then the mechanical structure applies pressure to reshape the deformed shell. After heat treatment, slow cooling eliminates internal stress and prevents further deformation. Therefore, this invention effectively overcomes the various shortcomings of existing technologies and has high industrial applicability.

[0101] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention. Any person skilled in the art can modify or alter the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or alterations made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and technical concept disclosed in the present invention should still be covered by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A battery casing deformation repair system, characterized in that, The repair system includes: A feeding device is used to transport the housing to the working position; A shaping device that shapes the housing and then outputs the shaped housing from the shaping device; An annealing apparatus is used to cool the shaped shell to remove internal stress; A control device is used to automatically control the shell to be automatically transported from the feeding device to the shaping device for shaping, and then to the annealing device for annealing, until the deformation repair is completed. The feeding device includes: The mounting base is L-shaped, with a hole in the first part and a base in the second part. An inner shaping pressure plate is used to support the inner wall of the housing, and there are at least two inner shaping pressure plates; The tension cylinder is used to provide pressure to the inner forming plate during the shaping of the housing. There are at least two tension cylinders, which are symmetrically installed at one end of the inner forming plate. One end of the inner forming plate passes through the hole of the mounting base and is installed on both sides of the hole through the tension cylinder. A mobile servo motor pushes the mounting base to send the housing into the shaping device for repair; A servo module, wherein the mobile servo motor pushes the housing and transmits the material to the shaping device via the servo module; A rotating mounting bracket is used to mount the servo module. A rotary motor is mounted on the servo module via the rotary mounting base and is used to control the rotation of the rotary mounting base; The feeding device also includes an up-and-down movable cylinder, which is used to mount the mounting base on the rotary mounting base. When shaping the housing, the up-and-down movable cylinder controls the movement of the inner shaping pressure plate to adjust the upper and lower positions of the housing. During feeding, the rotary motor rotates the rotary mounting base to the feeding position, causing the inner shaping pressure plate to rotate to the feeding position, and the housing is fitted onto the inner shaping pressure plate. The rotary motor rotates the rotary mounting base to reset the inner shaping pressure plate to the working position, and the movable servo motor pushes the housing to be conveyed to the shaping device through the servo module. The shaping device includes: A preheating and pressurizing device, which heats and repairs the housing; A tunnel furnace is used to maintain the repaired shell at a certain temperature so that the internal structure at the deformed area can be reconstructed. The preheating and pressurizing device includes: An outer shaping plate is used to repair the outer surface of the housing. A heating tube is installed inside the outer shaping plate, and the heating tube is used to preheat the outer shaping plate. A pressurizing cylinder applies pressure to the outer shaping plate to press and repair the housing.

2. The battery casing deformation repair system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The feeding device further includes: A limiting plate is installed on both sides of the hole in the mounting base to limit the working range of the inner shaping pressure plate and prevent the housing from being overstretched.

3. The battery casing deformation repair system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The preheating and pressurizing device also includes a temperature sensor installed inside the outer shaping plate for measuring and monitoring the heating temperature.

4. The battery casing deformation repair system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tunnel furnace includes: A heat-insulating outer shell, wherein a thermostatic tube is installed inside the heat-insulating outer shell to maintain a constant temperature of the tunnel furnace; The transmission device delivers the shaped shell to the annealing device; A speed-regulating motor drives the conveying device to move.

5. The battery casing deformation repair system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The annealing apparatus includes: An annealing chamber, wherein a quartz heating tube is provided on the side wall of the annealing chamber, and the quartz heating tube enables the annealing chamber to maintain a set temperature for a set time; The unloading servo module moves the cooled housing to the unloading position.

6. The battery casing deformation repair system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control device includes a control console and a controller. The control console is used to select the heating temperature, shaping time, annealing temperature and annealing time according to process requirements. The controller is used for automatic control of the shell deformation repair.

7. A method for repairing battery casing deformation, characterized in that, The method uses the battery casing deformation repair system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and includes the following steps: In the feeding step, rotate the feeding device to the waiting position to fit the housing onto the feeding device, and then rotate it to the working position. In the shaping step, the shell is conveyed to the shaping device. After preheating, the shell is placed between the inner shaping plate and the outer shaping plate. Through mechanical pressure, the inner shaping plate cooperates with the outer shaping plate to squeeze the deformed shell to flatten the deformed area. After the annealing process, the shell is transferred into an annealing apparatus for gradual cooling to remove internal stress.

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