Detection device for detecting battery cell in static state
By designing a multifunctional battery cell detection device, using conductive materials and spring mechanisms to ensure stable contact between the electrode ear and the battery cell, and data acquisition is carried out through central electronic devices and temperature sensors, the battery cell detection device in the current technology is solved in a static state. The problems of unstable contact and insufficient safety in the state realize simultaneous detection and safety monitoring of multiple battery cells.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202410944829.0
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-07-12
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-15
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-14
AI Technical Summary
The existing battery cell detection device is difficult to detect the internal resistance and surface temperature of multiple battery cells simultaneously in a stationary state, and there are problems of unstable contact and insufficient safety during the detection process.
A multifunctional detection device is designed, including multiple cell slots and electrode ear receivers, contact blocks and spring mechanisms made of conductive materials ensure stable contact between the electrode ear and the battery cell, and through central electronics and temperature The sensors perform data acquisition and monitoring while being built with rugged materials for safety.
It realizes the internal resistance and surface temperature detection of multiple cells while the battery cell is stationary, ensuring the accuracy and safety of the detection data, and avoiding the risk of explosion or fire of the battery cell.
Smart Images
Figure CN119310454A_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Related application data
[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 526,726, filed on July 14, 2023, entitled “Testing Apparatuses for TestingBattery Cells in Rest Status,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention generally relates to the field of detecting battery cells. In particular, the present invention relates to a detection device for detecting a battery cell in a rest state. background
[0005] Battery cells (such as soft-pack cells) should be tested and monitored in a static state (also called a storage state and a warehouse state), where no charging and discharging occurs, to determine the behavior of each cell. One type of static state detection is an internal resistance detection, in which an electrical detection pin or clip contacts the corresponding corresponding electrode tabs of the positive and negative electrode tabs of the battery cell, the measurement data is collected, and then the detection pin or detection clip is removed from the electrode tab. Typically, the detection is performed on one cell at a time. Another type of static state detection is a surface temperature detection, in which a thermocouple is thermally coupled to a detection point on the cell using a thermally conductive gel, and the measurement data is collected and displayed on a multi-channel temperature acquisition device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] For the purpose of illustration, the accompanying drawings show several aspects of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it should be understood that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings, in which:
[0008] Figure 1A is an isometric end view of an example battery cell inspection device made in accordance with the present disclosure showing the side wall closest to the viewer removed to reveal the internal structure;
[0009] Figure 1B yes Figure 1A An isometric top view of an example detection device;
[0010] Figure 1C yes Figure 1A and Figure 1B A top-down view of an example detection device showing a portion of an electrical contact for receiving an electrode lug of a battery cell;
[0011] Figure 1D yes Figures 1A to 1Ca reduced scale isometric view of an example detection device of FIG. 1 showing an example of how a temperature sensor may be applied to a battery cell included in the battery cell detection device;
[0012] Figure 1E(1) is Figures 1A to 1D An enlarged isometric view of a tab receiver of a detection device;
[0013] FIG. 1E( 2 ) is an isometric view of the tab receiver of FIG. 1E( 1 ) showing the housing removed;
[0014] Figure 1E(3) is Figures 1A to 1D An enlarged view of an end of a cell slot of an example detection device of FIG. 1 , showing an electrical contact block of a tab receiver in an extended position when a cell is not present in the cell slot;
[0015] FIG. 1E(4) is an isometric view of the end of the cell slot shown in FIG. 1E(3) showing the contact block in a recessed position under the influence of the cell in the cell slot;
[0016] Figure 2A is a side view of an example pouch-type battery cell that can be inspected in the battery cell inspection apparatus of the present disclosure; and
[0017] Figure 2B yes Figure 2A An enlarged end view of an example pouch-type battery cell. Detailed Description
[0019] The entire content of the claims is incorporated into this Detailed Description section as if originally presented herein.
[0020] In some aspects, the present disclosure relates to battery cells (hereinafter referred to as "cells") designed and configured to detect any suitable electrochemistry (such as, but not limited to, lithium (Li)-metal electrochemistry and lithium-ion electrochemistry, etc.), such as soft-pack cells, including cells using liquid electrolytes, gel electrolytes, or solid electrolytes, or any combination or sub-combination thereof. In some embodiments, the detection device is configured to detect at least one cell using at least one type of detection (such as internal resistance detection or surface temperature detection, or both internal resistance detection and surface temperature detection, etc.), and in many cases detect more than one cell. Typically, the detection device of the present disclosure is designed and configured to perform detection (e.g., data collection) when each cell is in a static state, that is, when the cell is not being charged or discharged.
[0021] Figure 1A to Figure 1E (4)An example detection device 100 manufactured in accordance with the present disclosure is shown. In this example, the detection device 100 includes a plurality of cell slots, here six cell slots 104, for receiving and detecting a corresponding plurality of cells 108, here six cells 108 (not all cells are labeled). More or fewer cell slots 104 may be provided depending on specific design requirements. It should also be noted that the cells 108 shown are merely examples, and other cells may vary in one or more ways, such as but not limited to being longer or shorter, thicker or thinner, wider or narrower, or having different electrode ear configurations, etc., and any combination or sub-combination thereof.
[0022] Figure 2A and Figure 2B Shows Figures 1A to 1D The cell 108 of the embodiment of the present invention may be an example cell type. In this example, the cell 108 is a pouch cell having the general configuration shown, with the positive and negative electrode tabs 200 located at opposite ends of a stack region 204. As will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the stack region 204 is a portion of the cell 108 that includes one or more of each of a plurality of different layers (e.g., an anode, a separator, a cathode, and other possible layers) and one or more electrolytes (e.g., such as a liquid, a gel, a solid, or any suitable combination thereof) that provide the electrochemical energy storage capability of the cell 108. Figure 2A and Figure 2B A width axis WA is also shown and is referred to below in describing the operation of the detection device. In this example, the width axis WA extends parallel to the width of the cell 108 , and the length of the cell 108 extends along an axis perpendicular to the width axis WA and extends between the two tabs 200 .
[0023] refer to Figure 1A to Figure 1E (4) , each cell slot 104 includes at least one cell receiver, here three cell receivers 112, which slidably receive a corresponding one of the battery cells 108 and hold the battery cells fixed during detection. In this example, each battery cell receiver 112 has a guide area 116 and a retaining area 120, wherein the battery cell guide area has one or more inclined surfaces that guide the battery cell 108 to engage with the retaining area. The retaining area 120 can be designed to frictionally engage the side of the battery cell 108 so that there is almost no gap between the battery cell and the retaining area of the battery cell receiver 112. In some embodiments, each inclined surface of the battery cell guide area 116 forms an angle from about 10° to about 45° relative to the vertical direction, but other angles can be used. In the example shown, each side of the battery cell guide area 116 forms an angle of about 30° relative to the vertical direction.
[0024] In this example, each battery cell slot 104 includes a tab receiver 124 located at each end of the battery cell slot. Each tab receiver 124 is designed and configured to make electrical contact with a corresponding electrode tab 200 (hereinafter referred to as a "tab") on the battery cell 108 when the battery cell is fully inserted into the battery cell slot 104. Note that Figure 1A Shows the closest Figure 1A A tab receiver 124 is provided at the end of each cell slot 104 of the viewer. Similar tab receivers 124 are located in a mirror-image orientation at the opposite end of each cell slot 104. With specific reference to FIG. 1E (1), in the example shown, each tab receiver 124 includes a contact block 128, a base 132, and a housing 136. The contact block 128 can be made of a conductive material, such as copper, aluminum, etc., and each of the base 132 and the housing 136 can be made of a dielectric material, such as any suitable plastic. As shown in FIG. 1E (2), the contact block 128 is engaged by one or more springs (here two springs 140) that bias the contact block to an extended position having an extended distance E measured from the top of the housing 136 to the upper surface of the contact block 128, as shown in FIG. 1E (3). The contact block 128 includes a flange 144 that is biased by a spring 140 to contact the underside of an upper wall of the housing 136 when the contact block 128 is in its extended position. In the example shown, the extension distance E is approximately 3 mm, but it may be larger or smaller depending on the design. In this example, the weight of the cell 108 within the associated cell slot 104 causes the tab 200 on the cell 108 to compress the spring 140 under the contact block 128, so that the contact block is pushed downwardly into a recessed position having a recessed distance D measured from the top of the housing 136 to the upper surface of the contact block, as shown in FIG. 1E(4). FIG. 1E(1) also shows a wire 148 extending from below the tab receiver 124. The wire 148 electrically connects the contact block 128 to an electronic device, such as the central electronic device 152 described below.
[0025] In other embodiments, the tab receiver 124 may include a tab slot (not shown) for slidingly receiving the bottom portion of the tab at the bottom edge of the corresponding tab 200. At least some portions of the tab receiver 124 that contact the tab 200 are made of one or more conductive materials, such as metal, so that electricity can flow between these portions and the tab, for example, during internal resistance detection. In some embodiments, the tab slot can be eliminated, with only the bottom edge of the tab 200 engaging the tab receiver 124 and the contact block 128.
[0026] As described above, each tab receiver 124 may include a biasing device, such as a coil spring, a leaf spring, a foam pad, a rubber band, etc., which biases the tab receiver upward to a position above its position when the corresponding battery cell 108 is fully inserted into the associated battery cell slot 104. In this way, physical contact between the tab 200 and the tab receiver 124 can be ensured because the action of fully inserting the battery cell 108 into the battery cell slot 104 will oppose the biasing device, resulting in the tab receiver remaining in forced engagement with the tab when the battery cell is fully inserted into the battery cell slot. In some embodiments, the biasing force of each tab receiver 124 can be designed and selected so that the tab receiver moves only under the influence of the weight of the battery cell 108. In some embodiments, the biasing force of each tab receiver 124 can be designed and selected so that the tab receiver moves only when the battery cell 108 is pushed into full engagement with the battery cell slot 104. In the latter case, once the battery cell 108 is fully inserted, friction between the battery cell 108 and the retention area 120 of the battery receiver 112 may prevent the biasing device from moving.
[0027] exist Figures 1A to 1D In the example shown, the detection device 100 includes central electronics 152 mounted on a mounting block 156 in electrical communication with electrical contacts and any sensors located on the detection device 100, such as Figure 1D The temperature sensor 160 is shown. The central electronics 152 may include, among other things, data collection electronics / software, detection control electronics / software, one or more communication ports (e.g., wireless communication ports (radio (e.g., Infrared, etc.) and / or wired communication ports (e.g., USB, RS232, etc.), as well as any communication software required for communication, etc. In this example, each temperature sensor 160 can be any suitable type of temperature sensor, such as but not limited to a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor and a thermocouple, etc. In this example, three temperature sensors 160 are shown as being applied to a surface of one of the six cells 108 in the detection device 100 using, for example, thermal adhesive. Sensor wires 164 connect each of the three temperature sensors 160 to the central electronics 152. Note that more or less than three temperature sensors 160 may be used on any cell face of any one or more cells 108 in the detection device 100.
[0028] In some embodiments, some or all of the walls 168 (inner and outer walls) may be made of one or more materials that are strong enough to remain intact in the event of an explosion and / or fire in any of the detection cells 108. Examples of suitable materials include, but are not limited to, any of a variety of metals, quartz, marble, and glass, etc. Although not shown, the detection device 100 may include at least one cover that encloses all of the cell slots 104 to fully control any explosion and / or fire that may occur in any of the cell slots.
[0029] Note that although Figures 1A to 1D An example detection device is depicted having a vertical insertion axis IA ( Figure 1A ), but in other embodiments, particularly embodiments in which the cell 108 is held in place by a friction fit (e.g., a friction fit with the holding area 120 of each cell receiver 112 provided or a friction fit between each electrode lug 200 and the lug slot, or a combination of these two friction fits), the insertion axis IA may be horizontal. When the insertion axis IA is horizontal, the cell slot 104 may have its longitudinal axis oriented vertically or horizontally. Of course, the insertion axis IA may not be oriented purely vertically or horizontally.
[0030] Various modifications and additions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The features of each of the various embodiments described above may be appropriately combined with the features of the other described embodiments so as to provide a variety of feature combinations in associated new embodiments. In addition, although the foregoing describes a plurality of separate embodiments, the contents described herein are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. In addition, although the specific methods herein may be illustrated and / or described as being performed in a particular order, it is within the technical scope of the art that the sequencing is highly variable to implement aspects of the present disclosure. Therefore, this specification is intended to be made by way of example only and does not otherwise limit the scope of the present invention.
[0031] Exemplary embodiments have been disclosed above and shown in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes, omissions and additions may be made to the embodiments specifically disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A device for detecting a battery cell, the battery cell comprising a stacking region having a first side and a second side spaced apart from each other along a width axis, a first end and a second end spaced apart from each other in a direction perpendicular to the width axis, a positive electrode lug protruding away from the stacking region at the first end, and a negative electrode lug protruding away from the stacking region at the second end, the device comprising: a cell slot for receiving the battery cell along an insertion axis in a direction parallel to a width axis of the battery cell; Positive electrical contact; as well as Negative electrical contact; Wherein, the positive electrical contact and the negative electrical contact are positioned and configured so that when the battery cell is inserted into the battery cell slot along the width axis of the battery cell, the positive electrode ear is in physical contact with the positive electrical contact through the side of the positive electrode ear, and the negative electrode ear is in physical contact with the negative electrical contact through the side of the negative electrode ear.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein: The cell well also includes at least one receiver that slidingly receives the battery cell and holds the battery cell during testing.
3. The device according to claim 2, wherein: The at least one cell receiver comprises a holding area and a guide area for guiding the battery cell into the holding area.
4. The device according to claim 3, wherein: The guide area comprises at least one inclined surface which is designed and configured to guide the battery cell along the insertion axis when the battery cell is inserted into the cell slot.
5. The device according to claim 3, wherein: The retaining area is designed and configured to retain the battery cell by friction.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein: Each of the positive electrical contact and the negative electrical contact is biased in a direction parallel to the insertion axis by a biasing mechanism such that as the battery cell is inserted into the cell well, continued insertion of the battery cell compresses the biasing mechanism.
7. The device according to claim 6, wherein: The biasing mechanism includes at least one spring.
8. The device according to claim 6, wherein: The biasing mechanism remains compressed by the weight of the battery cells.
9. The device according to claim 6, wherein: The biasing mechanism is held compressed by a friction fit of the battery cell with a lateral guide designed and configured to guide the battery cell along the insertion axis as the battery cell is inserted into the cell well.
10. The device according to claim 6, wherein: The biasing mechanism is held compressed by friction engagement of the battery cell with a clamp of the positive and negative electrical contacts.
11. The device according to claim 1, wherein: Each of the positive electrical contact and the negative electrical contact includes a tab receiver.
12. The device according to claim 11, wherein Each electrode tab receiver has a electrode tab slot for receiving a lower portion of a corresponding one of the electrode tabs.
13. The device according to claim 12, wherein: Each tab slot provides a friction fit between the tab receiver and the corresponding one of the electrode tabs.
14. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature probe for measuring a temperature of the stacking region of the battery cells.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising central electronics for collecting data from the battery cells, wherein: Each of the positive electrical contact and the negative electrical contact is in operative communication with the central electronics.
16. The device according to claim 15, wherein: The central electronics include a radio for transmitting the collected data to an external device.
17. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising a plurality of battery cell slots, wherein: Each battery cell includes each of the positive and negative electrical contacts.
18. The device according to claim 17, wherein: The plurality of battery cell slots are arranged side by side, and adjacent battery cell slots among the battery cell slots are separated by fireproof walls.
19. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising central electronics that collects data from the battery cells, wherein: Each of the positive electrical contacts and the negative electrical contacts of the plurality of battery cells are in operative communication with the central electronics.
20. The device according to claim 19, wherein The central electronics include a radio for transmitting the collected data to an external device.
21. The device according to claim 17, wherein: Each of the cell wells includes a temperature probe for measuring a temperature of the stacking region of the battery cells contained in the cell well, wherein each of the temperature probes is in operative communication with the central electronics.