Water pipe assembly for battery pack, battery pack and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a water pipe assembly for a battery pack, the battery pack and a vehicle. The water pipe assembly comprises a main water inlet pipe and a main water outlet pipe, wherein the main water inlet pipe and the main water outlet pipe are arranged on the same end part of a liquid cooling plate of the battery pack side by side; the main water inlet pipe is provided with a main water inlet formed in the circumferential side wall of the main water inlet pipe, and / or the main water outlet pipe is provided with a main water outlet formed in the circumferential side wall of the main water outlet pipe. The water pipe assembly is beneficial to optimizing the path of the cooling liquid in the water pipe assembly, so that the path of the cooling liquid in the water pipe assembly is shorter. In addition, the water pipe assembly can also greatly shorten the flowing path of the cooling liquid between the main water inlet / main water outlet and the water inlet / outlet port of the battery pack, and is beneficial to improving the circulating efficiency of the cooling liquid.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of batteries, and in particular to a water pipe assembly for a battery pack, a battery pack and a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Power batteries are the main power source for new energy vehicles. In order to increase the driving range, the vehicle needs to arrange as many battery cells as possible in a certain space. During the operation of the vehicle, a large amount of heat will be generated in the battery pack, and accumulate in a relatively small space over time. Since the battery cells in the battery pack are densely arranged, this makes it relatively more difficult to dissipate heat from the battery pack to a certain extent, exacerbating the accumulation of heat between the battery cells, resulting in a decrease in the charging and discharging efficiency of the battery pack, affecting the power of the battery pack; in severe cases, it will also cause thermal runaway, affecting the safety and life of the system.

[0003] In order to effectively avoid the above situation, liquid cooling is usually used to cool the battery cell in the prior art. Figure 1 It is a battery pack in the prior art. Figure 1 As shown, by arranging the liquid cooling plate 103 between the densely packed cells in the battery pack 100, the coolant can flow in the liquid cooling plate 103 and exchange heat with the cells, thereby obtaining a good cooling effect. In order to realize the circulation of the coolant in the liquid cooling plate 103, a water inlet pipe 101 and a water outlet pipe 102 connected to the liquid cooling plate 103 are usually provided at the end of the liquid cooling plate 103. The water inlet at one end of the water inlet pipe 101 and the water outlet at one end of the water outlet pipe 102 are connected to the water inlet and outlet ports 105 of the battery pack through the connecting pipe 104. The water inlet and outlet ports 105 are usually arranged at the approximate middle position of one end of the battery pack 100, and are connected to the heat exchange system of the whole vehicle, so that the heat exchange system provides low-temperature coolant to the battery pack 100 through the water inlet and outlet ports 105 of the battery pack, thereby cooling the battery pack 100.

[0004] However, the arrangement of the water inlet pipe 101 and the water outlet pipe 102 in the prior art often requires a very long connecting pipe 104 to be arranged in the battery pack 100 in order to connect the water inlet pipe 101 and the water outlet pipe 102 to the water inlet and outlet ports 105 of the battery pack. The excessively long connecting pipe 104 not only occupies a large space in the battery pack 100, but also increases the flow path of the coolant, affecting the efficiency of the coolant circulation, and further affecting the cooling efficiency of the battery pack.

[0005] Therefore, this field needs a new technical solution to solve the above problems. Summary of the invention

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, that is, to solve the technical problem that the arrangement of the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe in the battery pack in the prior art is unreasonable and affects the cooling efficiency, the present invention provides a water pipe assembly for the battery pack. The water pipe assembly includes a main water inlet pipe and a main water outlet pipe, and the main water inlet pipe and the main water outlet pipe are arranged side by side on the same end of the liquid cooling plate of the battery pack; the main water inlet pipe has a main water inlet provided on its circumferential side wall, and / or the main water outlet pipe has a main water outlet provided on its circumferential side wall.

[0007] The water pipe assembly for the battery pack of the present invention includes a main water inlet pipe and a main water outlet pipe. The main water inlet pipe can provide coolant to the liquid cooling plate of the battery pack to cool the battery cells, and the main water outlet pipe can discharge the coolant in the liquid cooling plate, thereby realizing the circulation of the coolant. The main water inlet pipe and the main water outlet pipe are arranged side by side on the same end of the liquid cooling plate, and the main water inlet is formed on the circumferential side wall of the main water inlet pipe, and / or the main water outlet is formed on the circumferential side wall of the main water outlet pipe. It should be pointed out that the main water inlet and the main water outlet are connected to the water inlet and outlet ports of the battery pack through connecting pipes. The water inlet and outlet ports of the battery pack are arranged at approximately the middle position of one end of the battery pack, and the end of the liquid cooling plate provided with the water pipe assembly is close to the water inlet and outlet ports of the battery pack. By arranging the main water inlet and the main water outlet side by side on the same end of the liquid cooling plate, the path of the coolant flowing in the liquid cooling plate forms a U shape, which can not only increase the flow rate of the coolant in the liquid cooling plate, but also help to ensure the uniformity of the temperature in the liquid cooling plate, thereby improving the cooling efficiency. Furthermore, the water pipe assembly of the present invention can make the main water inlet and / or the main water outlet closer to the water inlet and outlet ports of the battery pack by setting the main water inlet on the circumferential side wall of the main water inlet pipe and the main water outlet on the circumferential side wall of the main water outlet pipe. Compared with the prior art in which the main water inlet and the main water outlet are set at both ends of the water pipe assembly, the above-mentioned arrangement is conducive to optimizing the path of the coolant in the water pipe assembly, making the path of the coolant in the water pipe assembly shorter. In addition, the above-mentioned arrangement can also greatly shorten the path of the coolant flowing between the main water inlet and / or the main water outlet and the water inlet and outlet ports of the battery pack, thereby optimizing the arrangement of this part of the connecting pipeline in the battery pack, thereby improving the efficiency of the coolant circulation.

[0008] In the preferred technical solution of the water pipe assembly for the battery pack, the main water inlet pipe and / or the main water outlet pipe includes a corrugated pipe portion. Through the above arrangement, the corrugated pipe portion can effectively absorb the axial tolerance generated during installation, reduce the installation force during assembly, thereby facilitating installation and improving the installation efficiency of the main water inlet pipe and / or the main water outlet pipe.

[0009] In the preferred technical solution of the water pipe assembly for the battery pack, the bellows portion includes a straight tube bellows portion. Through the above arrangement, the bellows portion can effectively absorb the axial tolerance generated during installation, thereby facilitating installation.

[0010] In the preferred technical solution of the water pipe assembly for the battery pack, the bellows portion includes a curved bellows portion, and the curved bellows portion includes a first straight pipe section, a second straight pipe section intersecting the first straight pipe section, and a curved section located between the first straight pipe section and the second straight pipe section, and the curved section is a bellows structure. Through the above arrangement, the curved bellows portion can absorb a larger axial tolerance, further ensuring efficient installation.

[0011] In the preferred technical solution of the water pipe assembly for the battery pack, the angle between the first straight pipe section and the second straight pipe section is 140° to 170°. Through the above arrangement, the bellows section can absorb a larger axial tolerance to reduce the installation force during assembly. In addition, the above arrangement also makes the bellows section highly adaptable, which is convenient for technicians to select according to actual assembly requirements.

[0012] In the preferred technical solution of the water pipe assembly for the battery pack, a plurality of circumferential interfaces are provided on the circumferential side walls of the main water inlet pipe and / or the main water outlet pipe, and each of the circumferential interfaces is connected to the corresponding cold plate interface of the liquid cooling plate. Through the above arrangement, the main water inlet pipe and / or the main water outlet pipe can be integrally installed to one end of the liquid cooling plate, and connected to the cold plate interface on the liquid cooling plate through the plurality of circumferential interfaces thereon, which is not only simple to connect and easy to install, but also can improve the structural stability of the main water inlet pipe and / or the main water outlet pipe.

[0013] In the preferred technical solution of the water pipe assembly for the battery pack, the angle between the central axis of the main water inlet and the central axis of the adjacent circumferential interface is less than 180°. Through the above arrangement, it is possible to prevent the coolant flowing into the main water inlet pipe from the main water inlet from directly rushing to the liquid cooling plate opposite to the main water inlet, thereby avoiding the problem of excessive coolant flow in the liquid cooling plate, ensuring balanced distribution of coolant in each liquid cooling plate, and further ensuring uniform cooling of the battery pack by each liquid cooling plate.

[0014] In the preferred technical solution of the water pipe assembly for the battery pack, the central axis of the main water inlet coincides with the central axis of the adjacent circumferential interface, and the caliber of the adjacent circumferential interface is smaller than the caliber of the other circumferential interfaces. The above arrangement can avoid the problem of excessive coolant flow in the liquid cooling plate opposite to the main water inlet, thereby ensuring balanced distribution of coolant in each liquid cooling plate, and further ensuring uniform cooling of the battery pack by each liquid cooling plate.

[0015] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, that is, to solve the technical problem that the arrangement of the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe in the battery pack in the prior art is unreasonable and affects the cooling efficiency, the present invention provides a battery pack. The battery pack includes a water pipe assembly for a battery pack according to any of the above items. The arrangement of the water pipe assembly in the battery pack of the present invention can improve the efficiency of the coolant circulation in the battery pack, thereby improving the efficiency of the coolant in cooling the battery pack.

[0016] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, that is, to solve the technical problem that the arrangement of the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe in the battery pack in the prior art is unreasonable and affects the cooling efficiency, the present invention provides a vehicle. The vehicle includes the vehicle described above. The battery pack of the vehicle of the present invention has a high cooling efficiency, which is conducive to ensuring that the vehicle has a high performance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery pack in the prior art;

[0019] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a first embodiment of a battery pack of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a water pipe assembly for a battery pack of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a water inlet pipe in an embodiment of a water pipe assembly for a battery pack of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a four-way joint in an embodiment of a water pipe assembly for a battery pack of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a three-way joint in an embodiment of a water pipe assembly for a battery pack of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a two-way joint in an embodiment of a water pipe assembly for a battery pack of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the structure of the second embodiment of the battery pack of the present invention.

[0026] List of reference numerals:

[0027] 100. Battery pack in the prior art; 101. Water inlet pipe; 102. Water outlet pipe; 103. Liquid cooling plate; 104. Connecting pipeline; 105. Water inlet and outlet ports of the battery pack;

[0028] 1. Battery pack; 10. Water pipe assembly; 11. Main water inlet; 111. Main water inlet; 12. Main water outlet; 121. Main water outlet; 13. Bellows; 131. First straight segment; 132. Second straight segment; 133. Curved segment; 134. Radial protrusion; 14. Water distribution pipe; 15. Circumferential interface; 16. Cross-connector; 16a. First connection part of the cross-connector; 16b. Second connection part of the cross-connector; 16c. The third connection part of the head; 16d, the fourth connection part of the four-way joint; 17, the three-way joint; 17a, the first connection part of the three-way joint; 17b, the second connection part of the three-way joint; 17c, the third connection part of the three-way joint; 18, the two-way joint; 18a, the first connection part of the two-way joint; 18b, the second connection part of the two-way joint; 19, the hook structure; 20, the liquid cooling plate; 21, the cold plate joint; 211, the cold plate interface; 212, the inverted structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that these embodiments are only used to explain the technical principles of the present invention and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention.

[0030] It should be noted that in the description of the present invention, the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inner", "outer" and the like indicating directions or positional relationships are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings, which are only for the convenience of description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second", "third" and "fourth" are used for descriptive purposes only, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0031] In addition, it should be noted that in the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "disposed" and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a direct connection, an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or the internal communication of two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0032] In order to solve the technical problem that the arrangement of the water inlet pipe and the water outlet pipe in the battery pack in the prior art is unreasonable and affects the cooling efficiency, the present invention provides a water pipe assembly 10. The water pipe assembly 10 includes a main water inlet pipe 11 and a main water outlet pipe 12, and the main water inlet pipe 11 and the main water outlet pipe 12 are arranged side by side on the same end of the liquid cooling plate 20 of the battery pack 1; the main water inlet pipe 11 has a main water inlet 111 arranged on its circumferential side wall, and / or the main water outlet pipe 12 has a main water outlet 121 arranged on its circumferential side wall.

[0033] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a first embodiment of a battery pack of the present invention; Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a water pipe assembly for a battery pack of the present invention; Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a water inlet pipe in an embodiment of a water pipe assembly for a battery pack of the present invention; Figure 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a two-way joint in an embodiment of a water pipe assembly for a battery pack of the present invention; Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a three-way joint in an embodiment of a water pipe assembly for a battery pack of the present invention; Figure 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a four-way joint in an embodiment of a water pipe assembly for a battery pack of the present invention; Figure 8 yes Figure 3 The enlarged view of the structure at A in the figure. It can be understood that Figure 2 The outer shell, battery module, electrical system and other structures of the battery pack 1 are omitted, and only the water pipe assembly 10 and the liquid cooling plate 20 in the battery pack 1 are shown.

[0034] In one or more embodiments, the present invention relates to a vehicle (not shown in the figure). In one or more embodiments, the vehicle of the present invention is a pure electric vehicle. Alternatively, the vehicle may also be a hybrid vehicle or other suitable vehicle. The vehicle has a battery pack 1, and the battery pack 1 includes but is not limited to a plurality of battery cells (not shown in the figure), a water pipe assembly 10 and a liquid cooling plate 20. The water pipe assembly 10 can input coolant into the liquid cooling plate 20 to cool the battery cells in the battery pack 1.

[0035] like Figure 2As shown, the liquid cooling plate 20 is arranged between the multiple battery cells in the battery pack, and the cooling liquid from the water pipe assembly 10 flows through the liquid cooling plate 20 to exchange heat with the battery cells, thereby playing a role in cooling the battery cells. In one or more embodiments, the battery cells in the battery pack 1 are cylindrical batteries, and the liquid cooling plate 20 is a serpentine plate to better fit the side walls of the cylindrical batteries. In an alternative embodiment, the battery cells in the battery pack 1 can also be square batteries, and the liquid cooling plate 20 is a straight plate type, as long as it can be ensured that the liquid cooling plate 20 can deliver cooling liquid to it through the water pipe assembly 10 to cool the battery pack. Alternatively, the battery cells in the battery pack 1 can also be any other suitable batteries. It is understandable that the battery pack 1 has a water inlet and outlet port (not shown in the figure). The water inlet and outlet port is arranged at a substantially middle position at one end of the battery pack 1, and the water pipe assembly 10 is arranged near the end of the battery pack 1. The water pipe assembly 10 can be connected to the water inlet and outlet ports through connecting pipes (not shown in the figure), and is connected to the heat exchange system of the entire vehicle (not shown in the figure) through the water inlet and outlet ports, so that the heat exchange system provides low-temperature coolant to the water pipe assembly 10 and receives high-temperature coolant from the water pipe assembly 10.

[0036] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 In one or more embodiments, the liquid cooling plate 20 has a cold plate joint 21. The cold plate joint 21 is disposed on one end of the liquid cooling plate 20 and includes two cold plate interfaces 211 arranged in parallel. Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the orientation shown, the cold plate interface 211 located at the upper part of the liquid cold plate 20 is arranged toward the circumferential side wall of the main water inlet pipe 11 in the water pipe assembly 10, and is connected to the main water inlet pipe 11. The cold plate interface 211 located at the lower part of the liquid cold plate 20 is arranged toward the circumferential side wall of the main water outlet pipe 12 in the water pipe assembly 10, and is connected to the main water outlet pipe 11.

[0037] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the water pipe assembly 10 includes a main water inlet pipe 11 and a main water outlet pipe 12. The main water inlet pipe 11 and the main water outlet pipe 12 are arranged side by side on the same end of the liquid cooling plate 20. The main water inlet pipe 11 is connected to the cold plate connector 21 on each liquid cooling plate 20. The main water outlet pipe 12 is connected to the cold plate connector 21 on each liquid cooling plate 20. Through the above arrangement, the path of the coolant in the liquid cooling plate 20 is a U-shaped path, which is conducive to increasing the flow rate of the coolant in the liquid cooling plate 20 and ensuring uniform temperature in the liquid cooling plate 20, thereby ensuring efficient cooling of the liquid cooling plate 20.

[0038] like Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, in one or more embodiments, the main water inlet pipe 11 is wavy in shape as a whole. A plurality of circumferential interfaces 15 are provided on the axial side wall of the main water inlet pipe 11, and each circumferential interface 15 is connected to a cold plate interface 211 on a cold plate joint 21 of an adjacent liquid cooling plate 20.

[0039] Continue to see Figure 2 and Figure 3 In one or more embodiments, the main water inlet pipe 11 includes a plurality of water distribution pipes 14 connected in sequence. The water distribution pipe 14 is made of nylon material. The plurality of water distribution pipes 14 are axially connected through a water pipe joint (not marked in the figure) to form the main water inlet pipe 11. The main water inlet pipe 11 is integrally fixed to the cold plate joint 21 at one end of the liquid cooling plate 20 so that the circumferential interface 15 of the main water inlet pipe 11 is connected to the corresponding cold plate joint 211. In one or more embodiments, the circumferential interface 15 is formed on the water pipe joint, and the water pipe joint with the circumferential interface 15 is connected to the cold plate joint 21. In an alternative embodiment, the circumferential interface 15 can also be formed on the circumferential side wall of the water distribution pipe 14, as long as the main water inlet pipe 11 can be connected to the cold plate joint 211. Alternatively, the main water inlet pipe 11 can also be an integrally formed pipe, as long as a plurality of circumferential interfaces 15 are provided on the axial side wall of the main water inlet pipe 11 to connect with the cold plate joint 211.

[0040] Continue to see Figure 2 and Figure 3 The main water inlet pipe 11 has a main water inlet 111. The main water inlet 111 is formed on the circumferential side wall of the main water inlet pipe 11. In one or more embodiments, the main water inlet 111 is formed on the water pipe joint. In an alternative embodiment, the main water inlet 111 can also be set on the water distribution pipe 14.

[0041] like Figures 2 to 4 As shown, in one or more embodiments, a corrugated tube portion 13 is formed on each water branch pipe 14 in the main water inlet pipe 11. In an alternative embodiment, the corrugated tube portion 13 may be formed on only a portion of the water branch pipes 14 in the main water inlet pipe 11. Alternatively, the water branch pipes 14 in the main water inlet pipe 11 may not have the corrugated tube portion 13, that is, the main water inlet pipe 11 may also be an ordinary water pipe.

[0042] Continue to see Figure 2 and Figure 4In one or more embodiments, the bellows section 13 in the main water inlet pipe 11 is a curved bellows section. The curved bellows section includes a first straight pipe section 131, a second straight pipe section 132 and a curved pipe section 133. The first straight pipe section 131 and the second straight pipe section 132 intersect, and the angle α thereof is 150°. In an alternative embodiment, the angle α of the first straight pipe section 131 and the second straight pipe section 132 can also be any other suitable value between 140° and 170°. The curved section 133 is located between the first straight pipe section 131 and the second straight pipe section 132, and the curved section 133 is a bellows structure. The curved section 133 has a radial protrusion 134. In one or more embodiments, the number of radial protrusions 134 (i.e., the number of corrugations) on each curved section 133 is 5. In an alternative embodiment, 6, 7 or any other suitable number of radial protrusions 134 may be provided on the curved section 133, which may be provided according to actual design requirements. It is understandable that the greater the distance between two adjacent liquid cooling plates 20, the longer the length of the water distribution pipe 142, and the greater the number of radial protrusions 134 that can be provided thereon. In addition, when the distance between two adjacent liquid cooling plates 20 is constant, the smaller the angle α between the first straight pipe section 131 and the second straight pipe section 132, the greater the number of radial protrusions 134 provided on the curved section 133. The greater the number of radial protrusions 134 on the water distribution pipe 14, the greater the axial tolerance that the water distribution pipe 14 can absorb, and the easier it is to install the water distribution pipe 14. In one or more embodiments, the same curved pipe type corrugated pipe portion 13 is formed on each water distribution pipe 14 in the main water inlet pipe 11. The above-mentioned arrangement is conducive to saving the mold opening cost of the water distribution pipe 14, thereby reducing the production cost of the water pipe assembly 10. In an alternative embodiment, the bellows 13 in the main water inlet pipe 11 may also be straight-tube bellows. The straight-tube bellows 13 are provided with 3 to 5 radial protrusions 134. Alternatively, the bellows 13 in the main water inlet pipe 11 may include both straight-tube bellows and curved-tube bellows, which can be flexibly selected according to actual design requirements.

[0043] like Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, each water branch pipe 14 in the main water inlet pipe 11 is connected to each other through a water pipe joint (not marked in the figure), and is connected to the liquid cooling plate 20 through the water pipe joint. In one or more embodiments, the water pipe joint includes a two-way joint 18, a three-way joint 17, and a four-way joint 16. The water pipe joints at both ends of the main water inlet pipe 11 use a two-way joint 18 to connect the outermost water branch pipe 14 to the cold plate joint 21 of the outermost liquid cooling plate 20. The water pipe joint located in the middle section of the main water inlet pipe 11 uses a three-way joint 17 to connect two adjacent water branch pipes 14 axially and connect to the cold plate joint 21 of the liquid cooling plate 20. One of the multiple water pipe joints located in the middle section of the main water inlet pipe 11 uses a four-way joint 16 so that the main water inlet 111 can be formed on the water pipe joint.

[0044] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 7 As shown, in one or more embodiments, the two-way joint 18 includes a first connection portion 18a and a second connection portion 18b. A first interface (not marked in the figure) is formed on the first connection portion 18a of the two-way joint 18. The first connection portion 18a can be inserted into one end of the corresponding water distribution pipe 14, and the first interface of the two-way joint 18 is connected to the water distribution pipe 14. A second interface (not marked in the figure) is formed on the second connection portion 18b of the two-way joint 18. The second interface is the circumferential interface 15 of the main water inlet pipe 11. The second connection portion 18b can be inserted into the cold plate interface 211 on the cold plate joint 21 of the corresponding liquid cold plate 20, and the circumferential interface 15 of the main water inlet pipe 11 is connected to the cold plate interface 211. It can be understood that the first interface and the second interface of the two-way joint 18 are interconnected. In one or more embodiments, a sealing ring (not marked in the figure) is provided on the first connection portion 15a of the two-way joint 15, so as to ensure good sealing performance between the two-way joint 18 and the water distribution pipe 14. A sealing ring is provided on the second connection portion 18b of the two-way joint 18 to ensure good sealing performance between the main water inlet pipe 11 and the liquid cooling plate 20. In alternative embodiments, the two-way joint 15 can also form a sealed connection with the cold plate joint 21 and the water distribution pipe 14 through any other suitable structure (such as an internal snap-on structure). In one or more embodiments, a snap-on structure 19 is further provided on the outer side of the second connection portion 18b of the two-way joint 18 to engage with the undercut structure 212 on the cold plate joint 21 to further ensure the reliable connection between the main water inlet pipe 11 and the liquid cooling plate 20. In alternative embodiments, the provision of the hook structure 19 on the two-way joint 18 can also be eliminated.

[0045] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 6As shown, in one or more embodiments, the three-way joint 17 includes a first connection portion 17a, a second connection portion 17b and a third connection portion 17c. A first interface (not marked in the figure) is formed on the first connection portion 17a of the three-way joint 17. A second interface (not marked in the figure) is formed on the second connection portion 17b of the three-way joint 17. The first connection portion 17a and the second connection portion 17b can be respectively inserted into one end of the corresponding water distribution pipe 14, and the first interface and the second interface of the three-way joint 17 are respectively connected to the corresponding water distribution pipe 14. A third interface (not marked in the figure) is formed on the third connection portion 17c of the three-way joint 17. The third interface is the circumferential interface 15 of the main water inlet pipe 11. The third connection portion 17c can be inserted into the cold plate interface 211 on the cold plate joint 21 of the corresponding liquid cold plate 20, and the circumferential interface 15 of the main water inlet pipe 11 is connected to the cold plate interface 211. It can be understood that the first interface, the second interface and the third interface of the three-way joint 17 are connected to each other. In one or more embodiments, a sealing ring (not marked in the figure) is provided on the first connection part 17a and the second connection part 17b of the three-way joint 17, so as to ensure good sealing performance between the three-way joint 17 and the corresponding water distribution pipe 14. A sealing ring is provided on the third connection part 14c of the three-way joint 17, so as to ensure good sealing performance between the main water inlet pipe 11 and the liquid cooling plate 20. In an alternative embodiment, the three-way joint 17 can also form a sealed connection with the cold plate joint 21 and the water distribution pipe 14 through any other suitable structure. In one or more embodiments, a snap structure 19 is also provided on the outer side of the third connection part 17c of the three-way joint 17, which is used to snap with the inverted structure 212 on the cold plate joint 21, so as to further ensure the reliable connection between the main water inlet pipe 11 and the liquid cooling plate 20. In an alternative embodiment, the setting of the hook structure 19 on the three-way joint 17 can also be cancelled.

[0046] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 5As shown, in one or more embodiments, the four-way joint 16 includes a first connection portion 16a, a second connection portion 16b, a third connection portion 16c and a fourth connection portion 16d. A first interface (not marked in the figure) is formed on the first connection portion 16a of the four-way joint 16. A second interface (not marked in the figure) is formed on the second connection portion 16b of the four-way joint 16. The first connection portion 16a and the second connection portion 16b can be respectively inserted into one end of the corresponding water distribution pipe 14, and the first interface and the second interface of the four-way joint 16 are connected to the corresponding water distribution pipe 14. A third interface is formed on the third connection portion 16c of the four-way joint 16. The third interface is the circumferential interface 15 of the main water inlet pipe 11. The third connection portion 16c can be inserted into the cold plate interface 211 on the cold plate joint 21 of the corresponding liquid cold plate 20, and the circumferential interface 15 of the main water inlet pipe 11 is connected to the cold plate interface 211. A fourth interface is formed on the fourth connection portion 16d of the four-way joint 16. The fourth interface is the total water inlet 111 of the total water inlet pipe 11. It should be noted that in one or more embodiments, the angle between the central axis of the fourth interface (i.e., the total water inlet 111) and the central axis of the third interface (i.e., the circumferential interface 15) is less than 180°, so as to avoid the coolant flowing into the total water inlet pipe 11 from the total water inlet 111 directly rushing into the liquid cooling plate 20 connected to the circumferential interface 15, thereby avoiding the problem of excessive coolant flow in the liquid cooling plate 20. In an alternative embodiment, the central axis of the fourth interface (i.e., the total water inlet 111) can also be made to coincide with the central axis of the third interface (i.e., the circumferential interface 15), as long as the caliber of the cold plate interface 211 connected to the circumferential interface 15 is smaller than the caliber of other cold plate interfaces 211, thereby avoiding excessive coolant flow in the corresponding liquid cooling plate 20. The fourth connecting portion 16d can be inserted into the connecting pipeline and connected to the water inlet and outlet ports of the battery pack 1 through the connecting pipeline. It is understandable that the first interface, the second interface, the third interface and the fourth interface of the four-way joint 16 are interconnected. In one or more embodiments, a sealing ring (not marked in the figure) is provided on the first connection part 16a and the second connection part 16b of the four-way joint 16, so as to ensure good sealing performance between the four-way joint 16 and the corresponding water distribution pipe 14. A sealing ring is provided on the third connection part 16c of the four-way joint 16, so as to ensure good sealing performance between the main water inlet pipe 11 and the liquid cooling plate 20. A sealing ring is provided on the fourth connection part 16d of the four-way joint 16, so as to ensure good sealing performance between the main water inlet pipe 11 and the connecting pipeline. In an alternative embodiment, the four-way joint 16 can also form a sealed connection with the cold plate joint 21 and the water distribution pipe 14 through any other suitable structure. In one or more embodiments, a buckle structure 19 is also provided on the outer side of the third connection part 16c of the four-way joint 16, which is used to engage with the undercut structure 212 on the cold plate joint 21, so as to further ensure the reliable connection between the main water inlet pipe 11 and the liquid cooling plate 20.In an alternative embodiment, the hook structure 19 on the four-way joint 16 may also be eliminated.

[0047] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the water pipe assembly 10 has a main water outlet pipe 12. In one or more embodiments, the main water outlet pipe 12 is wavy as a whole and includes a plurality of branch water pipes 14 connected in sequence. A corrugated pipe portion 13 is formed on each branch water pipe 14 in the main water outlet pipe 12. In an alternative embodiment, the corrugated pipe portion 13 may also be formed on only a portion of the branch water pipes 122 in the main water outlet pipe 12. The specific structure of the corrugated pipe portion 13 has been described in detail when introducing the main water inlet pipe, and will not be repeated here. In one or more embodiments, the same curved pipe type corrugated pipe portion 13 is formed on each branch water pipe 14 in the main water outlet pipe 12. The above-mentioned arrangement is conducive to saving mold opening costs, thereby reducing the production cost of the water pipe assembly 10. In an alternative embodiment, a straight pipe type corrugated pipe portion and a curved pipe type corrugated pipe portion can be provided in the main water outlet pipe 12 at the same time, and can be flexibly selected according to the distance between two adjacent liquid cooling plates 20.

[0048] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, each branch water pipe 122 in the main water outlet pipe 12 is connected to each other through a water pipe joint, and the main water outlet pipe 12 is connected to the liquid cooling plate 20 through a water pipe joint. In one or more embodiments, the water pipe joint includes a two-way joint 18, a three-way joint 17, and a four-way joint 16. The water pipe joints at both ends of the main water outlet pipe 12 use a two-way joint 18 to connect the outermost branch water pipe 14 with the cold plate joint 21 of the outermost liquid cooling plate 20. The water pipe joint located in the middle section of the main water outlet pipe 12 uses a three-way joint 17 to connect two adjacent branch water pipes 14 axially and connect with the cold plate interface 211 on the cold plate joint 21. One of the multiple water pipe joints located in the middle section of the main water outlet pipe 12 uses a four-way joint 16 so that the main water outlet 121 can be formed on the water pipe joint. It should be pointed out that the specific structure and connection method of the water pipe joint in the main water outlet pipe 12 are the same as those in the main water inlet pipe 11, except that there are no special requirements between the main water outlet 121 formed on the four-way joint 16 and the circumferential interface 15 formed thereon.

[0049] like Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the main water inlet 111 of the main water inlet pipe 11 is arranged at the middle left position of the water pipe assembly 10, and the main water outlet 121 of the main water outlet pipe 12 is arranged at the middle right position of the water pipe assembly 10. In one or more embodiments, the main water inlet pipe 11 has 12 water pipe joints, and the main water inlet 111 is formed on the fourth water pipe joint from the left of the main water inlet pipe 11. In an alternative embodiment, the main water inlet 111 can also be formed on the third or fifth water pipe joint from the left on the main water inlet pipe 11. Alternatively, the main water inlet 111 can also be formed on any other suitable water pipe joint in the main water inlet pipe 11. In one or more embodiments, the main water outlet pipe 121 has 12 water pipe joints, and the main water outlet 121 is formed on the fourth water pipe joint from the right of the main water outlet pipe 11. In an alternative embodiment, the main water outlet 121 can also be formed on the third or fifth water pipe joint from the right on the main water outlet pipe 12. Alternatively, the main water outlet 121 may also be formed on any other suitable water pipe joint in the main water outlet pipe 12. In an alternative embodiment, any other suitable number of water pipe joints may also be provided in the main water inlet pipe 11, and a corresponding number of water pipe joints may be provided in the main water outlet pipe 12. The main water inlet 111 may be provided on any suitable water pipe joint in the main water inlet pipe 11, and the main water outlet 121 may be provided on any suitable water pipe joint in the main water outlet pipe 12, as long as the main water inlet 111 and the main water outlet 121 are relatively close to the middle section of the water pipe assembly 10, so as to shorten the path distance between the main water inlet 111 and the main water outlet 121 and the water inlet and outlet ports of the battery pack 1. The above-mentioned arrangement is not only conducive to optimizing the path of the coolant in the water pipe assembly, but also can optimize the pipeline arrangement between the water pipe assembly 10 and the water inlet and outlet ports of the battery pack 1, thereby improving the efficiency of the coolant circulation, which is conducive to ensuring the high performance of the battery pack 1.

[0050] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the structure of the second embodiment of the battery pack of the present invention. Figure 8As shown, in one or more embodiments, the cold plate joint 21 of the liquid cold plate 20 has two cold plate interfaces 211 arranged in parallel and extending through its thickness. Each branch water pipe 14 in the main water inlet pipe 11 is arranged between two adjacent liquid cold plates 20, and the axial interfaces (not marked in the figure) at both ends of the branch water inlet pipe 113 are connected to the cold plate interface 211 on the corresponding cold plate joint 21. Each branch water pipe 14 in the main water outlet pipe 12 is arranged between two adjacent liquid cold plates 20, and the axial interfaces at both ends of the branch water pipe 14 are connected to the cold plate interface 211 on the corresponding cold plate joint 21. It can be understood that the structure of the branch water pipe 14 in the second embodiment of the battery pack is the same as that in the first embodiment of the battery pack, and will not be repeated here. In one or more embodiments, the main water inlet 111 can be arranged on the circumferential side wall of a branch water pipe 14 in the main water inlet pipe 11, and is located at the middle left position of the water pipe assembly 10. The main water outlet 121 is arranged on the circumferential side wall of a water branch pipe 14 in the main water outlet pipe 12, and is located at the middle right position of the water pipe assembly 10. In an alternative embodiment, the main water inlet 111 and the main water outlet 121 can also be arranged on the cold plate joint 21, and are connected to the circumferential side walls of the main water inlet pipe 11 and the main water outlet pipe 12 respectively. Alternatively, the main water inlet 111 can also be arranged at any suitable position on the circumferential side wall of the main water inlet pipe 11, and the main water outlet 121 can also be arranged at any suitable position on the circumferential side wall of the main water outlet pipe 12, as long as the path of the coolant can be optimized to improve the cooling efficiency.

[0051] So far, the technical solutions of the present invention have been described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it is easy for those skilled in the art to understand that the protection scope of the present invention is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principle of the present invention, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after these changes or substitutions will fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A water pipe assembly for a battery pack, characterized in that: The water pipe assembly includes a main water inlet pipe and a main water outlet pipe, and the main water inlet pipe and the main water outlet pipe are arranged side by side on the same end of the liquid cooling plate of the battery pack; The main water inlet pipe has a main water inlet arranged on its circumferential side wall, and / or the main water outlet pipe has a main water outlet arranged on its circumferential side wall.

2. The water pipe assembly for a battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The main water inlet pipe and / or the main water outlet pipe comprises a corrugated pipe portion.

3. The water pipe assembly for a battery pack according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bellows portion includes a straight-tube type bellows portion.

4. The water pipe assembly for a battery pack according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bellows portion includes a curved bellows portion, and the curved bellows portion includes a first straight pipe section, a second straight pipe section intersecting the first straight pipe section, and a curved section located between the first straight pipe section and the second straight pipe section, and the curved section is a bellows structure.

5. The water pipe assembly for a battery pack according to claim 4, characterized in that: The included angle between the first straight pipe section and the second straight pipe section is 140° to 170°.

6. The water pipe assembly for a battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of circumferential interfaces are provided on the circumferential side walls of the main water inlet pipe and / or the main water outlet pipe, and each of the circumferential interfaces is connected to a corresponding cold plate interface of the liquid cooling plate.

7. The water pipe assembly for a battery pack according to claim 6, characterized in that: The angle between the central axis of the total water inlet and the central axis of the adjacent circumferential interface is less than 180°.

8. The water pipe assembly for a battery pack according to claim 6, characterized in that: The central axis of the total water inlet coincides with the central axis of the adjacent circumferential interface, and the caliber of the adjacent circumferential interface is smaller than the caliber of the other circumferential interfaces.

9. A battery pack, characterized in that: The battery pack includes a water pipe assembly for a battery pack according to any one of claims 1-8.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that: The vehicle includes the battery pack according to claim 9.

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