Battery module and battery pack

Abstract

The invention provides a battery module and a battery pack, the battery module comprises a filling beam serving as a supporting structure, the filling beam further comprises a filling beam body and a notch, and the filling beam body is arranged in a gap in a first direction of a battery cell in the battery module and intersects with a liquid cooling plate arranged in a gap in a second direction of the battery cell; the notch is formed in the filling beam body, and the filling beam body avoids the intersected liquid cooling plates through the space of the notch. The notches in the filling beam body can be formed in one side to form a sawtooth shape or formed in the middle to form a grid shape or a frame structure. According to the invention, the filling beam made of a non-metallic material is matched with the notch structure, the side surface of the filling beam body is coated with the structural adhesive to be respectively bonded with the side surfaces of the adjacent battery cells, and the formed notch is utilized to avoid the mounting space of a liquid cooling plate in the battery module, so that the battery module forms a whole; the problem of limitation when a traditional T-shaped beam scheme is adopted to adapt to a large-area liquid cooling technology of a high-energy-density battery module is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of battery pack structures, and particularly to a battery module and a battery pack. Background Art

[0002] In the design of existing battery modules, the fixing of the cell shoulders usually adopts the method of combining a metal T-beam with insulating paper. This traditional solution has many limitations, especially when adapting to the large-surface liquid cooling technology of high-energy density modules, the contradictions become prominent.

[0003] The metal T-beam needs to be subjected to secondary machining (such as cutting, drilling, etc.) after extrusion molding, resulting in complex process flows, extended processing cycles, and additional material losses. In large-scale production, the superposition of multiple processes significantly increases the manufacturing cost, and it is difficult to meet the requirements of the new energy vehicle industry for lightweight - the heavier metal components increase the overall weight of the module and affect the improvement space of energy density.

[0004] With the popularization of high-rate charge and discharge scenarios, the side liquid cooling plate technology has become the mainstream due to its advantages of expanded heat exchange area and fast heat response speed. However, the three-dimensional structure of the traditional T-beam will cause spatial interference with the liquid cooling plate arranged on the side of the cell. Specifically, the liquid cooling plate needs to be embedded in the cell gap to achieve double-sided cooling, the transverse support of the T-beam may occupy the flow channel layout space, the contact area between the metal beam body and the liquid cooling plate is prone to form a heat bridge, destroying the temperature uniformity of the module, and the redundant fixing structure reduces the module integration, hindering the compact packaging design.

[0005] When the module adopts the large-surface liquid cooling scheme, the contact area between the liquid cooling plate and the cell is increased several times compared with the bottom cooling scheme, but the physical barrier of the T-beam will weaken the continuity of the heat transfer path. Local hot spots may be formed in the interference area, affecting the thermal runaway suppression effect and even increasing the risk of abnormal heat conduction between cells.

[0006] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the above background art section is only used to strengthen the understanding of the background of the present invention and does not constitute any limitation to the present invention. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art, the present invention provides a battery module and a battery pack. By adopting a filling beam made of non-metallic material and a structure with serrated notches, structural adhesives are brushed on the sides of the filling beam body to bond with the sides of adjacent cells respectively, and the installation space of the liquid cooling plate inside the battery module is avoided by using the opened notches, so that the battery module forms an integral body to solve the limitation problems when adapting the large-surface liquid cooling technology of high-energy density battery modules with the traditional T-beam solution.

[0008] The present invention provides a battery module, which includes a filling beam as a support structure. The filling beam further includes a filling beam body and notches. The filling beam body is installed in the gap of the battery module in the first direction of the battery cells and intersects with a liquid cooling plate installed in the gap of the battery cells in the second direction. The notches are formed on the filling beam body, and the space of the notches on the filling beam body is used to avoid the intersecting liquid cooling plate.

[0009] In an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of notches are formed on one side of the filling beam body to form a serrated shape.

[0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of notches are formed in the middle of the filling beam body to form a grid shape.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, a single notch is formed in the middle of the filling beam body to form a frame structure.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of filling beam bodies are respectively installed in all the gaps of the battery cells in the first direction.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the thickness dimension of the filling beam body is smaller than the gap dimension of the battery cells in the first direction.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, the two side surfaces of the filling beam body and the side surfaces of the battery cells in the first direction are bonded by structural adhesive.

[0015] In an embodiment of the present invention, the filling beam body is made of non-metallic material.

[0016] In an embodiment of the present invention, the height dimension of the liquid cooling plate passing through the gap of the battery cells in the first direction is smaller than the height dimension of the liquid cooling plate in the gap of the battery cells in the second direction.

[0017] The present invention further provides a battery pack, which includes the above-mentioned battery module.

[0018] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: By adopting the structure of a filling beam made of non-metallic material and cooperating with serrated notches, structural adhesive is brushed on the side surfaces of the filling beam body and bonded to the side surfaces between adjacent battery cells respectively. The installation space of the liquid cooling plate inside the battery module is avoided by using the formed notches, so that the battery module forms a whole and the strength of the module is improved. At the same time, the filling beam body plays a role of scale limitation in the stacking process of the battery cells in the battery module, ensuring that the battery cells of the battery module are assembled at the set positions, simplifying the use of tooling fixtures in the assembly process, and meeting the assembly requirements of the battery module.

[0019] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are only exemplary and explanatory, and cannot limit the present invention. Description of the Drawings

[0020] The accompanying drawings here are incorporated into the specification and form a part of this specification, showing embodiments in accordance with the present invention, and are used together with the specification to explain the principles of the present invention. Obviously, the accompanying drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts. In the drawings:

[0021] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the split structure of the filling beam body and the battery module in the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the filling beam body in the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 It is an enlarged schematic diagram of the partial structure of the filling beam body in the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the filling beam body assembled to the liquid cooling plate in the present invention;

[0025] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the filling beam body assembled to the battery module in the present invention.

[0026] In the figure: 100, battery module; 10, filling beam body; 11, notch; 20, battery cell; 30, liquid cooling plate. Detailed implementation manners

[0027] The following uses specific specific examples to illustrate the implementation manners 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 implementation manners. The 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, without conflict, the following embodiments and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other. It should also be understood that the terms used in the embodiments of the present invention are for the purpose of describing specific specific implementation manners, rather than for limiting the protection scope of the present invention.

[0028] Please refer to Figures 1 to 5It should be noted that the structures, proportions, sizes, etc. shown in the drawings of this specification are only used to cooperate with the content disclosed in the specification for those skilled in this technology to understand and read, and are not used to limit the conditions for the implementation of the present invention. Therefore, they do not have substantial technical significance. Any modification of the structure, change in the proportional relationship, or adjustment of the size, without affecting the efficacy that the present invention can produce and the purpose that can be achieved, should still fall within the scope covered by the technical content disclosed in the present invention. At the same time, the terms such as the positions and quantitative relationships cited in this specification are only for the convenience of clear narration and are not used to limit the scope of the present invention that can be implemented. The change or adjustment of their relative relationships, without substantial change in the technical content, should also be regarded as the scope that the present invention can implement.

[0029] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 , the present invention provides a battery module, including a filling beam as a support structure. The filling beam further includes a filling beam body 10 and a notch 11. The filling beam body 10 is installed in the gap of the battery module 100 in the first direction of the battery cells 20 and intersects with a liquid cooling plate 30 installed in the gap of the battery cells 20 in the second direction; the notch 11 is opened on the filling beam body 10, and the filling beam body 10 avoids the intersecting liquid cooling plate 30 through the space of the notch 11.

[0030] Specifically, in the embodiment of the present invention, by setting the notch 11 on the filling beam body 10 and making the opening size of the notch 11 match the size of the liquid cooling plate 30, and at the same time, a safety gap can be reserved at the edge of the notch 11 to avoid the interference between the structures in the battery module 100, and various structural forms of the liquid cooling plate 30 arranged on the large surface of the battery cells 20 can be compatible. By using the notch 11 opened on the filling beam body 10, the corresponding part of the liquid cooling plate 30 is embedded inside the filling beam body 10 and intersects with the structure of the liquid cooling plate 30, forming a cross structure in the gap of the battery cells 20 of the battery module 100, increasing the structural strength of the battery module 100.

[0031] Furthermore, the design of the filling beam body 10 not only considers structural strength and stability but also takes into account the need for lightweighting. By using lightweight materials such as high-strength aluminum alloy or carbon fiber composite materials, the overall weight of the battery module 100 is reduced, and the energy density is increased. At the same time, the structure of the filling beam body 10 is optimized by methods such as topology optimization. On the premise of ensuring its load-bearing capacity, the amount of material used is minimized as much as possible to achieve the lightweighting goal. It also reduces the number of components and connection points through an integrated design with the structure of the battery module 100, reduces manufacturing complexity and cost, realizes compact packaging, improves the overall integration of the battery module 100, and facilitates the efficient production and assembly of the battery module 100. At the same time, the structure of the filling beam body 10 can be verified by simulation analysis and experiments during the design process to ensure that the filling beam body 10 has sufficient strength and stability under complex working conditions such as vibration and impact, and ensure the safe operation of the battery module 100.

[0032] More specifically, the filling beam body 10 can adopt an injection molding method to replace the secondary processing of traditional metal T-shaped beams, thereby optimizing the processing and assembly processes, reducing costs, and at the same time realizing the lightweighting of the filling beam body 10. At the same time, as the support structure of the battery module 100, the filling beam body 10 makes full use of the gaps between the battery cells 20 for installation, further improving the space utilization rate of the battery module 100.

[0033] In this way, through the arranged filling beam body 10 and the notches 11 opened thereon, the space interference with the liquid cooling plate 30 is avoided while meeting the support performance requirements of the battery module 100, and through the integrated structure of the filling beam body 10 and the battery module 100, the high reliability and low-cost manufacturing of the filling beam structure are satisfied, and it is adapted to the lightweighting, grouping rate, and thermal management requirements of the battery module 100.

[0034] Please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 , in an embodiment, a plurality of notches 11 are opened on one side of the filling beam body 10 to form a serrated shape. A plurality of notches 11 are opened in the middle of the filling beam body 10 to form a grid shape. A single notch 11 is opened in the middle of the filling beam body 10 to form a frame structure.

[0035] Specifically, in the embodiment of the present invention, the notches 11 opened on the filling beam body 10 are used to avoid the intersecting liquid cooling plate 30 in the space of the battery module 100 and prevent structural interference between the two. On this basis, the specific position and shape of the notches 11 can be selected according to requirements, such as in the appendix Figure 2As shown in the figure in the upper-middle part, when a number of notches 11 are opened on one side of the filling beam body 10, a serrated structure will be formed. This structure has significant convenience during the assembly process. Specifically, during assembly, only need to orient the side with notches 11 towards the corresponding part of the liquid cooling plate 30, and then directly snap-fit to complete the assembly positioning. This snap-fit method is not only simple to operate, but also can quickly and accurately match the filling beam body 10 with the liquid cooling plate 30, improving the assembly efficiency and reducing the assembly difficulty and time.

[0036] Similarly, as shown in the Figure 2 figure in the middle part, if a number of notches 11 are opened in the middle of the filling beam body 10, a grid-like structure will be formed. This structure performs excellently in enhancing the strength of the filling beam body 10 itself and its installation strength with the liquid cooling plate 30. Since the notches 11 correspond to the intersecting parts of the liquid cooling plate 30, the parts surrounding the upper and lower sides of the liquid cooling plate 30 are continuous in the length direction of the entire filling beam body 10 structure. Compared with the structure where the notches 11 are opened on one side of the filling beam body 10, this continuous surrounding structure significantly improves the strength of the filling beam body 10, enabling it to better withstand forces and external impacts, and ensuring the stability and reliability of the battery module 100 under various working conditions.

[0037] On this basis, as shown in the Figure 2 figure in the lower-middle part, by connecting the notches 11 opened on the filling beam body 10 corresponding to the intersecting parts of the liquid cooling plate 30, an integral single notch 11 can be formed, thereby making the filling beam body 10 form a frame structure. This structure further optimizes the material distribution of the filling beam body 10 while meeting the requirement of a continuous structure on the upper and lower sides of the intersecting parts of the liquid cooling plate 30, reducing unnecessary material usage. This not only reduces the structural size of the filling beam body 10, but also significantly reduces its weight, contributing to improving the energy density of the battery module 100 and meeting the lightweight requirement.

[0038] It should be noted that on the filling beam body 10 with notches 11, the filling beam body 10 on the periphery of the notches 11 can be snap-fitted or lapped with the intersecting parts of the liquid cooling plate 30, and combined with adding structural adhesives and other methods to ensure its structural strength in the battery module 100. For example, in the structure of the filling beam body 10 with a single notch 11, if there is too large a span on the upper and lower sides, the insufficient strength can be overcome by connecting with the structure of the intersecting liquid cooling plate 30. This connection method can not only enhance the bonding force between the filling beam body 10 and the liquid cooling plate 30, but also further improve the stability and safety of the entire battery module 100.

[0039] More specifically, please refer to Figure 3As shown, it shows the partial structure of the intersection part of the notch 11 on the filling beam body 10 and the liquid cooling plate 30. The upper, middle and lower three-line schematic diagrams respectively show the schematic diagrams of the intersection part of the notch 11 and the liquid cooling plate 30 in the serrated filling beam body 10, the grid-shaped filling beam body 10, and the frame-structured filling beam body 10. In the schematic diagram of the first column on the left, the intersecting part of the liquid cooling plate 30 in the notch 11 is a complete single structure. In this case, the shape and size of the notch 11 match the complete single structure of the liquid cooling plate 30, ensuring effective avoidance of the liquid cooling plate 30 in the space of the battery module 100 and preventing structural interference. In the schematic diagram of the second column, the intersecting part of the liquid cooling plate 30 in the notch 11 is a split structure. For the intersecting part of the split liquid cooling plate 30, refer to the single schematic diagram in the third column on the right. In the grid-shaped filling beam body 10, multiple notches 11 can be set to match the intersecting parts of the split liquid cooling plate 30 respectively. This enables each notch 11 to accurately correspond to the split structure of the liquid cooling plate 30, ensuring good cooperation between the liquid cooling plate 30 and the filling beam body 10 under complex layouts.

[0040] In this way, through the diversified design of the notch 11, the filling beam body 10 can flexibly adapt to liquid cooling plates 30 with different shapes and structures, meeting the assembly requirements of the battery module 100 under different functional structures. Whether it is the complete single structure or the split structure of the liquid cooling plate 30, the notch 11 on the filling beam body 10 can achieve effective space avoidance and structural matching through reasonable layout and shape design, ensuring the overall performance and reliability of the battery module 100. Utilizing the flexibility and adaptability of the structural design provides expandability for the optimization of the battery module 100.

[0041] That is to say, when the notch 11 is formed in a serrated shape on one side of the filling beam body 10, it has significant convenience during the assembly process. Since the notch 11 is located on the same side of the filling beam body 10, the assembler only needs to directly face the corresponding part of the liquid cooling plate 30 with the notch 11 side, and then perform the clamping operation to complete the assembly positioning. This clamping method is not only simple to operate, but also can quickly and accurately match the filling beam body 10 with the liquid cooling plate 30, greatly improving the production efficiency and reducing the assembly difficulty and time cost. In addition, the serrated notch design enables the filling beam body 10 to closely fit the liquid cooling plate 30 after clamping, ensuring a stable connection between the two and providing reliable support for the overall structure of the battery module 100.

[0042] For the structure where the notch 11 is opened in the middle of the filling beam body 10 to form a grid-like structure, a step-by-step assembly method can be adopted. First, the liquid cooling plate 30 structure is inserted into the notch 11 to form an intermediate structure. In this process, the liquid cooling plate 30 and the notch 11 of the filling beam body 10 cooperate with each other to ensure an accurate match between the two. Then, this intermediate structure is assembled into the battery module 100 as a whole. This assembly method can not only ensure a tight connection between the liquid cooling plate 30 and the filling beam body 10, but also improve the flexibility and integrity of the assembly. By forming the intermediate structure first, the difficulty of complex assembly operations inside the battery module 100 can be reduced, and the assembly accuracy and efficiency can be improved. At the same time, the grid-like notch design enables the filling beam body 10 to have a larger support area in the middle region, which can better bear the weight of the battery cells and external impacts, enhancing the structural stability of the battery module 100.

[0043] When the notch 11 is opened in the middle of the filling beam body 10 to form a frame structure, considering that the number of liquid cooling plates 30 may be much larger than that of the filling beam body 10, in order to further optimize the assembly efficiency, the filling beam body 10 can be split into upper and lower halves. Then, these two parts are respectively assembled to the upper and lower sides of the liquid cooling plate 30 part, and finally a whole structure is formed by closing and bonding or welding. The same method of split assembly can also be used for the grid-like filling beam body 10 structure. This can simplify the assembly process, especially when the number of liquid cooling plates 30 is large, and avoid complex assembly operations in a narrow space. Secondly, by assembling the upper and lower halves separately, the fitting clearance between the filling beam body 10 and the liquid cooling plate 30 can be more accurately controlled, improving the assembly accuracy and quality. Finally, the method of closing and bonding or welding can ensure the integrity and structural strength of the filling beam body 10 after assembly, enabling it to effectively play a supporting and fixing role and ensuring the stable operation of the battery module 100 under various working conditions.

[0044] In this way, according to different notch 11 designs and assembly requirements, appropriate assembly methods can be selected to improve the production efficiency and assembly quality of the battery module 100. These assembly strategies not only consider the structural matching and space avoidance between the filling beam body 10 and the liquid cooling plate 30, but also fully take into account the operational convenience and efficiency improvement in actual production, providing strong support for the optimized design and manufacturing of the battery module 100.

[0045] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2, in one embodiment, a plurality of filling beam bodies 10 are respectively installed in all the gaps of the battery cells 20 in the first direction. The filling beam bodies 10 are made of non-metallic materials. Specifically, non-metallic materials usually have good insulation performance, which can effectively prevent short circuits between the battery cells 20 and improve the safety of the battery module 100. Secondly, non-metallic materials are relatively light in weight, which helps to reduce the overall weight of the battery module 100, thereby improving the energy density of the battery. Moreover, non-metallic materials often have good corrosion resistance and chemical stability, and can resist the erosion of chemical substances such as electrolyte during the use of the battery module 100, extending the service life of the battery module 100.

[0046] During the assembly process, the non-metallic characteristics of the filling beam bodies 10 make them more flexible in cooperation with the battery cells 20 and other components. This reduces the assembly difficulty and time. At the same time, non-metallic materials have good flexibility and processability, and can be precisely customized and adjusted according to the specific shape and size of the gaps between the battery cells 20, ensuring a good fit between the filling beam bodies 10 and the battery cells 20, and further enhancing the structural stability and assembly accuracy of the battery module 100. In addition, the non-metallic materials of the filling beam bodies 10 also have certain advantages in thermal management. Non-metallic materials usually have a low thermal conductivity, which can play a role in heat insulation to a certain extent, helping to maintain the uniformity of the internal temperature of the battery module 100 and prevent local overheating, thereby improving the thermal safety and performance stability of the battery module 100.

[0047] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 5 , in one embodiment, the thickness dimension of the filling beam body 10 is smaller than the gap dimension of the battery cell 20 in the first direction. Both side surfaces of the filling beam body 10 and the side surfaces of the battery cell 20 in the first direction are bonded by structural adhesive.

[0048] Specifically, in the embodiment of the present invention, by setting the thickness dimension of the filling beam body 10 in the gap between the battery cells 20, a certain distance is left between the filling beam body 10 and the assembled battery cells 20, facilitating the sequential arrangement and direct assembly of the battery cell monomers into the space formed by the intersection of the filling beam body 10 and the liquid cooling plate 30. Then, connection and fixation are achieved by coating structural adhesive in the gap, and close contact can be achieved by coating thermal conductive material between the large surfaces of the liquid cooling plate 30 and the battery cell monomers.

[0049] Furthermore, a structural adhesive is used to bond between the filling beam body 10 and the battery cell 20, replacing traditional mechanical connection methods such as bolts, rivets, or welding, to achieve reliable bonding and fixation between the structures of the battery cell 20 and the filling beam body 10. It can be used to bear long-term dynamic / static loads, ensuring that the battery cell 20 remains stable under complex working conditions such as vibration and impact, and avoiding displacement or loosening caused by mechanical connection failure. At the same time, the structural adhesive can also improve the vibration and impact resistance of the battery module 100. Between the structures of the battery cell 20 and the filling beam body 10, the flexible toughness of the structural adhesive can be used to absorb part of the mechanical stress and reduce the impact of vibration and shock on the battery cell 20. In cell-to-pack (CTP) and other module-less battery designs, the use of metal structural components such as module frames and cross-longitudinal beams can be reduced by the filling beam body 10 made of structural adhesive and non-metallic materials, reducing the overall weight of the battery pack, thereby improving the energy density and driving range of the battery module 100.

[0050] Please refer to Figure 4 , in one embodiment, the height dimension of the liquid cooling plate 30 passing through the gap in the first direction of the battery cell 20 is smaller than the height dimension of the gap in the second direction of the battery cell 20. The size of the notch 11 is larger than the size of the part of the liquid cooling plate 30 where they intersect.

[0051] Specifically, without significantly modifying the structure of the battery module 100, the available space in the battery module 100 is limited. By restricting the size of the connection structure between the cooling surfaces of the liquid cooling plate 30 in contact with the large surfaces of the battery cell 20, that is, the connection structure between the cooling surfaces of the liquid cooling plate 30 is located in the gap in the first direction of the battery cell 20, the height dimension of its connection structure is reduced, serving as the accommodation space for the filling beam body 10 arranged in the gap in the first direction of the battery cell 20. And in cooperation with the notch 11 opened on the filling beam body 10, it avoids interference with the connection structure between the cooling surfaces of the liquid cooling plate 30, so that the assembled filling beam body 10 does not affect the original arrangement of the battery cells 20 and the liquid cooling plates 30 in the battery module 100.

[0052] That is to say, making the layout of the liquid cooling plate 30 in the gap in the first direction of the battery cell 20 more compact can effectively utilize the space, while reducing the occupation of the space in the gap in the second direction of the battery cell 20, providing more flexibility for the installation and layout of other components. The difference in the height dimensions of the liquid cooling plate 30 in the gaps in different directions helps to optimize the internal space distribution of the battery module 100 and improve the overall integration and compactness. The larger size of the notch 11 not only provides enough space for avoidance but also allows a certain margin during assembly to ensure the precise fit between the liquid cooling plate 30 and the filling beam body 10. Considering the operational convenience and precision requirements in actual assembly, it helps to improve production efficiency and assembly quality.

[0053] Please refer to Figure 5, the present invention also provides a battery pack, including the battery module of any of the above embodiments.

[0054] Specifically, the filling beam body 10 can serve as a longitudinal beam or a cross beam in the support structure of the battery module 100. Generally, the filling beam body 10 is determined according to the number of rows and columns in which the battery cells 20 are assembled in the battery module 100, so that the filling beam body 10 is arranged in the gap between each row or each column of battery cells 20, and is bonded with the structural adhesive provided between the filling beam body 10 and the side surface of the battery cell 20, thereby improving the assembly connection strength of the battery cells 20 in the battery module 100. Alternatively, on the premise of meeting the assembly connection strength requirements for the battery cells 20, a filling beam body 10 can be arranged between every two rows or two columns of battery cells 20, so as to further reduce the distance between the battery cells 20 between every two rows or two columns and improve the grouping rate of the battery module 100.

[0055] More specifically, the above-mentioned support structure is included in the battery module 100. A plurality of filling beams are provided in the support structure, which can meet the performance requirements for the connection and fixation of the battery cell monomers without occupying the assembly space of the liquid cooling plate 30 and the battery cells 20 in the battery module 100, and increase the structural strength and grouping rate of the battery module 100.

[0056] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present invention, the filling beam structure is arranged in the battery module 100, and then the battery module 100 is assembled to form a battery pack. For a cell-to-pack (CTP) battery pack, it directly integrates the battery cells 30 into the battery pack, eliminating the module structure in the traditional battery pack. In this battery pack structure, the battery pack is directly integrated by the battery cells 20: the battery cells 20 are directly arranged and combined into a battery pack without assembling the battery cells 20 into a battery module 100 and then integrating it into the battery pack. That is to say, for the cell-to-pack battery pack structure, the filling beam structure in the battery module 100 can be equivalently understood as the filling beam structure directly arranged in the battery pack.

[0057] In one embodiment, the present invention also provides an assembly method for a battery module, including installing the large-surface liquid cooling plate 30 into the envelope frame of the battery module 100 and located on the gap in the second direction of the battery cells 20 to be installed in the battery module 100; clamping the filling beam through the notch 11 of the filling beam with the corresponding part of the liquid cooling plate 30, and making the filling beam located on the gap in the first direction of the battery cells 20 to be installed in the battery module 100; respectively brushing structural adhesives on the filling beam and the liquid cooling plate 30, and arranging the battery cells 20 in sequence into the installation space formed by the liquid cooling plate 30 and the filling beam to complete the assembly of the battery pack.

[0058] Specifically, in the embodiments of the present invention, before assembling the battery module 100, lines can be engraved on the surface of the filling beam body 10 as positioning marks, replacing the traditional tooling fixture as a scale during the process of assembling the single battery cell 20 into the battery module 100. Similarly, only the filling beam body 10 can be arranged in the gap in the first direction of the battery cell 20 as a limit in the second direction of the single battery cell 20, so that it can cooperate with the liquid cooling plate 30 arranged in the second direction of the battery cell 20 to play a limiting role in the first direction of the single battery cell 20, and also play a role of scale limitation.

[0059] Similarly, during the assembly process of the filling beam structure, the battery module 100 or the battery pack both act as a housing framework for the filling beam structure, the battery cell unit, and the liquid cooling plate 30 structure. Therefore, for a module-less battery pack, the assembly process of its filling beam structure can be understood by equivalently replacing the battery module 100 with the battery pack.

[0060] More specifically, by embedding the large surface of the liquid cooling plate 30 into the framework of the battery module 100 and determining its accurate position, then applying materials such as thermal conductive silicone on the large surface of the liquid cooling plate 30 and the contact edge with the framework to enhance the thermal conductivity of the liquid cooling plate 30. Then, the filling beam body 10 made of non-metallic material is clamped at the connection part between the large surfaces of the liquid cooling plate 30. Next, a dispensing machine can be used to evenly coat structural adhesive along the contact surface between the filling beam body 10 and the side of the battery cell 20. After curing, the connection strength requirement between the filling beam body 10 and the battery cell 20 is met to ensure the bonding reliability.

[0061] In summary, a filling beam, a support structure of a battery module, a battery module, and an assembly method provided by the present invention, by adopting a filling beam made of non-metallic material and a structure with serrated notches, brush structural adhesive on the side surfaces of the filling beam body to bond with the side surfaces of adjacent battery cells respectively, and use the opened notches to avoid the installation space of the liquid cooling plate inside the battery module, making the battery module form a whole and improving the module strength. At the same time, the filling beam body plays a role of scale limitation in the stacking process of the battery cells in the battery module, ensuring that the battery cells in the battery module are assembled at the set positions, simplifying the use of tooling fixtures in the assembly process, and meeting the assembly requirements of the battery module.

[0062] The above embodiments are only illustrative of the principles and effects of the present invention, and are not used to limit the present invention. Any person familiar with this technology can modify or change the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or changes completed by those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field without departing from the spirit and technical idea disclosed by the present invention should still be covered by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A battery module, comprising a filler beam as a support structure, characterized in that: The filling beam also includes: A filling beam body (10), the filling beam body (10) being installed in a gap between the battery cells (20) in a first direction in the battery module (100) and intersecting with a liquid cooling plate (30) installed in a gap between the battery cells (20) in a second direction; A notch (11) is provided on the filling beam body (10), and the filling beam body (10) avoids the intersecting liquid cooling plate (30) through the space of the notch (11).

2. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of notches (11) are opened on one side of the filling beam body (10) to form a sawtooth shape.

3. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of notches (11) are opened in the middle of the filling beam body (10) to form a grid shape.

4. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that: A single notch (11) is opened in the middle of the filling beam body (10) to form a frame structure.

5. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: A plurality of the filling beam bodies (10) are respectively installed in all gaps of the battery core (20) in the first direction.

6. The battery module according to claim 5, characterized in that: The thickness dimension of the filling beam body (10) is smaller than the gap dimension of the battery core (20) in the first direction.

7. The battery module according to claim 5, characterized in that: The two side surfaces of the filling beam body (10) and the side surfaces of the battery core (20) in the first direction are bonded by means of structural adhesive.

8. The battery module according to claim 5, characterized in that: The filling beam body (10) is made of non-metallic material.

9. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The height dimension of the liquid cooling plate (30) passing through the gap in the first direction of the battery core (20) is smaller than the height dimension of the gap in the second direction of the battery core (20).

10. A battery pack, characterized in that: Comprising the battery module as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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