Expandable support-free large cylindrical battery overall parallel module structure

Abstract

The application relates to the field of battery structures, in particular to a whole parallel module structure of an expandable large cylindrical battery without a support, which comprises an outer shell, battery cells and a metal plate, a plurality of the battery cells are arrayed in the inner cavity of the outer shell, a conductive fixing plate is arranged between every two adjacent rows of the battery cells, the conductive fixing plate is in contact with the battery cell outer shell, the metal plate is integrated into the outer shell, the metal plate is connected with the negative electrode of the battery cell and is mutually insulated from the outer shell, the outer shell is provided with a positive electrode post, and the metal plate is provided with a negative electrode post. The whole parallel module structure of the expandable large cylindrical battery without the support can realize the whole parallel connection of the module without welding a current-carrying sheet and can be expanded.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of battery structure, and more particularly to an integral parallel module structure for an expandable, supportless large cylindrical battery. Background Technology

[0002] In the overall parallel structure of a large cylindrical battery PACK module, since the cylindrical surface of the cell is not easy to fix, it is usually necessary to add upper and lower supports, as shown in the invention patent with publication number CN109037514A entitled "A Cylindrical Cell Battery Module". The addition of upper and lower supports will occupy the axial space in the module structure, resulting in a decrease in energy density.

[0003] At the same time, the high current load of the parallel cells in the module requires thicker current-carrying plates. Thicker current-carrying plates not only increase the difficulty of welding, but also cannot be replaced individually or expanded into a module if one of the cells has a problem.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to improve the existing battery module structure. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides an integral parallel module structure for expandable supportless large cylindrical batteries.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this invention discloses an scalable, bracketless, large cylindrical battery integral parallel module structure, comprising:

[0007] shell;

[0008] A battery cell, wherein multiple battery cell arrays are distributed in the inner cavity of the outer shell, and a conductive fixing plate is respectively provided between two adjacent rows of battery cells, the conductive fixing plate being in contact with the outer surface of the battery cell;

[0009] A metal plate, which is integrated into the housing, is connected to the negative electrode of the battery cell and is insulated from the housing;

[0010] The outer casing serves as the positive electrode of the battery module and is provided with a positive electrode post, while the metal plate serves as the negative electrode of the battery module and is provided with a negative electrode post.

[0011] Preferably, the outer shell includes a box body and a box cover, the box cover is fastened to the box body to form a sealed inner cavity, and the box body and the box cover are fixed by a first fastener; the metal plate is attached to one side of the box cover, and an insulating plate is provided between the box cover and the metal plate.

[0012] Preferably, the conductive fixing plate is a corrugated spring steel metal sheet.

[0013] Preferably, the outer casing has an expandable structure.

[0014] Preferably, the cover includes a first base plate, at least one first expansion plate and a second base plate, wherein the first base plate, the first expansion plate and the second base plate are inserted end to end in sequence, and a second fastener passes through the first base plate, the first expansion plate and the second base plate in sequence to fix them.

[0015] Preferably, increasing the number of the first expansion plates can increase the size of the box cover in the first direction.

[0016] Preferably, the housing includes a third base plate, at least one second expansion plate and a fourth base plate, wherein the third base plate, the second expansion plate and the fourth base plate are interlocked, and a third fastener passes through the third base plate, the second expansion plate and the fourth base plate in sequence to fix them.

[0017] Preferably, the third substrate includes a first panel, a second panel, and a third panel arranged perpendicularly to each other, with the second panel positioned at both ends of the first and third panels; the second extension plate includes a fourth panel and a fifth panel, with the fifth panel positioned at both ends of the fourth panel and perpendicular to it; the fourth substrate includes a sixth panel and a seventh panel, with the seventh panel positioned at both ends of the sixth panel and perpendicular to it; the fifth panel is inserted into the second panel; a slot is provided on one side of the second and fifth panels, the seventh panel is inserted into the slot, and the sixth and third panels are parallel to each other.

[0018] Preferably, increasing the number of the second expansion plates can increase the size of the box in the first direction.

[0019] Preferably, it also includes a metal foam board, which is attached to the side wall of the inner cavity of the outer shell.

[0020] The present invention has the following technical effects:

[0021] 1. Compared with existing battery packs, this device adds a conductive fixing plate and a metal foam plate in the inner cavity of the outer shell, and a metal plate in the box cover. The guide fixing plate and the metal foam plate connect the positive poles of all the cells together without welding. The conductive fixing plate and the metal foam plate are also electrically connected to the outer shell. The metal plate connects the negative poles of all the cells together. Based on this, all the cells are connected in parallel: (1) the bracket structure for fixing the cells is eliminated, saving space and improving the energy density of the module; (2) the cells can be replaced individually, which is convenient for subsequent maintenance; (3) the large-volume outer shell and metal plate greatly improve the current carrying capacity.

[0022] 2. The conductive fixing plate is corrugated, which has a certain vibration absorption capacity and improves the overall vibration resistance of the module.

[0023] 3. The outer casing has an expandable structure, which can be adapted to the number of battery cells to change its size and capacity, and facilitates subsequent replacement and maintenance. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the third substrate;

[0025] Figure 2 A structural schematic diagram of the second expansion board from a first-person perspective;

[0026] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the second extension plate from a second perspective;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the fourth substrate.

[0028] Figure 5 Exploded view of the box body and metal foam board structure;

[0029] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the box body and metal foam board structure;

[0030] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first substrate from a first-view perspective;

[0031] Figure 8 A structural schematic diagram of the first expansion board from a first-person perspective;

[0032] Figure 9 A structural schematic diagram of the first expansion board from a second perspective;

[0033] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the second substrate from a first-view perspective;

[0034] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the second substrate from a second perspective.

[0035] Figure 12 Here is an exploded view of the box lid structure;

[0036] Figure 13 This is a structural schematic diagram of the box lid from a first-person perspective;

[0037] Figure 14 This is a structural schematic diagram of the box lid from a second perspective;

[0038] Figure 15 Exploded view of the enclosure, cover, and battery cell connections;

[0039] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between the lid and the body of the box according to the present invention;

[0040] Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention.

[0041] 100. Outer casing; 200. Battery cell; 300. Conductive fixing plate; 400. Metal plate; 500. Slot; 600. Metal foam board;

[0042] 101. Positive terminal; 102. Box cover; 103. Box body; 104. First fastener; 105. Insulating plate;

[0043] 1021, First substrate; 1022, First expansion plate; 1023, Second substrate; 1024, Second fastener;

[0044] 1031, Third substrate; 1032, Second expansion plate; 1033, Fourth substrate; 1034, Third fastener;

[0045] 1031a, First panel; 1031b, Second panel; 1031c, Third panel; 1032a, Fourth panel; 1032b, Fifth panel; 1033a, Sixth panel; 1033b, Seventh panel;

[0046] 401. Negative terminal post. Detailed Implementation

[0047] The principles and features of the present invention are described below with reference to embodiments; the examples given are only for explaining the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0048] For ease of description, the first direction is defined as the X direction in the attached figure.

[0049] An expandable, bracketless, large cylindrical battery integral parallel module structure includes a shell 100, a battery cell 200, a conductive fixing plate 300, a metal plate 400, and a metal foaming plate 600.

[0050] The outer casing 100 is made of conductive material and includes a box body 103 and a cover 102 that can be separated or fixed to each other. The box body 103 has an inner cavity for accommodating the battery cells 200 and has an opening on one side. The cover 102 is fastened to the box body 103 to close the inner cavity. A first fastener 104 (axial fixing bolt) passes through the cover 102 in sequence and is screwed to the box body 103 for fixation. The size of the outer casing 100 can be expanded according to the number of battery cells 200. Specifically, the cover 102 includes a first base plate 1021, a first expansion plate 1022, and a second base plate 1023. The first base plate 1021, the first expansion plate 1022, and the second base plate 1023 are sequentially inserted end to end and fixed to each other. The larger the size of the cover 102 in the first direction, the better. The first substrate 1021 has a groove at its tail end in the first direction. The first extension plate 1022 has a protrusion and a groove at its head and tail ends in the first direction, respectively. The second substrate 1023 has a protrusion at its head end in the first direction. The protrusion and groove cooperate to allow the first substrate 1021, the first extension plate 1022, and the second substrate 1023 to be interlocked. The protrusion and groove can be of any shape; for example, in this embodiment, both the protrusion and groove are dovetail-shaped. The second fastener 1024 (axial fixing bolt) passes through the second substrate 1023 and the first extension plate 1022 in sequence and is screwed to the first substrate 1021 for fixation. Based on the above structure, the more first extension plates 1022 there are, the larger the size of the cover 102 in the first direction, and the more battery cells it can accommodate. The housing 103 includes a third base plate 1031, a second expansion plate 1032, and a fourth base plate 1033. The third base plate 1031, the second expansion plate 1032, and the fourth base plate 1033 are interlocked and fixed together by a third fastener 1034 (axial fixing bolt). The third base plate 1031 includes a first panel 1031a, a second panel 1031b, and a third panel 1031c arranged perpendicularly to each other. The first panel 1031a serves as part of the bottom plate of the inner cavity of the housing 100, and the second panel 1031b and the third panel 1031c serve as part of the sidewalls of the inner cavity of the housing 100. The second panel 1031b consists of two pieces, positioned at both ends of the first panel 1031a and the third panel 1031c. The second expansion plate 1032 includes a fourth panel 1032a and a fifth panel 1032b. The fifth panel 1032b is positioned at both ends of the fourth panel 1032a and is perpendicular to the fourth panel 1032a. The fourth panel 1032a serves as part of the bottom plate of the inner cavity of the outer casing 100, and the fifth panel 1032b serves as part of the side wall of the inner cavity of the outer casing 100. The fourth substrate 1033 includes a sixth panel 1033a and a seventh panel 1033b. The seventh panel 1033b is positioned at both ends of the sixth panel 1033a and is perpendicular to the sixth panel 1033a. The sixth panel 1033a serves as part of the inner cavity of the outer casing 100. Slots 500 are provided on the outer surfaces of the second panel 1031b and the fifth panel 1032b.During assembly, the seventh panel 1033b is inserted into the slot 500, the first panel 1031a and the fourth panel 1032a, which are part of the bottom plate of the inner cavity of the outer casing 100, are inserted into each other, and the second panel 1031b and the fifth panel 1032b, which are part of the side wall of the inner cavity of the outer casing 100, are inserted into each other. Insertion structures are provided on the mating surfaces of the first panel 1031a and the fourth panel 1032a, and on the mating surfaces of the second panel 1031b and the fifth panel 1032b, respectively. Exemplarily, these insertion structures can be rectangular or circular slots and protrusions. Based on the above structure, the more second expansion plates 1032 there are, the larger the size of the housing 103 in the first direction, and the more battery cells 200 it can accommodate.

[0051] The metal foam plate 600 is attached to the side wall of the inner cavity of the outer shell 100. The side of the metal foam plate 600 facing the battery cell 200 can be a flat surface or a groove structure that matches the cylindrical surface of the battery cell 200. The battery cell 200 is cylindrical, and multiple battery cells 200 are arrayed in the inner cavity of the outer shell 100. In this embodiment, the battery cells 200 are arranged in four rows. A conductive fixing plate 300 is provided between two adjacent rows of battery cells 200. The conductive fixing plate 300 is a corrugated spring steel metal sheet. This shape of the conductive fixing plate 300 can match the cylindrical surface of the battery cell 200, thereby fixing the battery cell 200. The outer shell of the battery cell 200 is the positive electrode. The conductive fixing plate 300 electrically connects the positive electrodes of all battery cells 200 together and forms an electrical connection with the outer shell 100 through the metal foam plate 600. A positive electrode post 101 is provided on the outer shell 100.

[0052] The metal plate 400 is integrated onto the housing 100; specifically, the metal plate 400 is disposed on the inner surface of the cover 102. The metal plate 400 forms an electrical connection with the negative terminals of all the battery cells 200, and the metal plate 400 has a negative terminal 401 extending out of the cover 102. To prevent the positive and negative terminals of the battery cells 200 from connecting, an insulating plate 105 is provided between the metal plate 400 and the cover 102. It should be noted that since the cover 102 is an expandable structure formed by a first substrate 1021, a first expansion plate 1022, and a second substrate 1023, the metal plate 400 and the insulating plate 105 should be connected to the first substrate 1021, the first expansion plate 1022, and the second substrate 1023, respectively. When the first substrate 1021, the first expansion plate 1022, and the second substrate 1023 are interlocked, the metal plate 400 attached thereto has a stable electrical connection structure. When the housing 103 and the cover 102 are fastened together, the metal plate 400 and the negative terminal of the battery cell 200 are electrically connected.

[0053] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An integral parallel module structure for an expandable, bracketless large cylindrical battery, characterized in that, include: The outer casing (100) is made of conductive material and includes a housing (103) and a cover (102). The cover (102) includes a first substrate (1021), at least one first expansion plate (1022), and a second substrate (1023). The first substrate (1021), the first expansion plate (1022), and the second substrate (1023) are sequentially inserted end to end. A second fastener (1024) passes through the first substrate (1021), the first expansion plate (1022), and the second substrate in sequence. (1023) Fix it; the housing (103) includes a third base plate (1031), at least one second expansion plate (1032) and a fourth base plate (1033), the third base plate (1031), the second expansion plate (1032) and the fourth base plate (1033) are interlocked, and a third fastener (1034) passes through the third base plate (1031), the second expansion plate (1032) and the fourth base plate (1033) in sequence to fix it; the third base plate (1031) includes a first panel (103) arranged perpendicularly to each other. 1a) A second panel (1031b) and a third panel (1031c), wherein the second panel (1031b) is disposed at both ends of the first panel (1031a) and the third panel (1031c); the second extension plate (1032) includes a fourth panel (1032a) and a fifth panel (1032b), wherein the fifth panel (1032b) is disposed at both ends of the fourth panel (1032a) and is perpendicular to the fourth panel (1032a); the fourth substrate (1033) includes a sixth panel (1033a) and a seventh panel (1033c). The seventh panel (1033b) is positioned at both ends of the sixth panel (1033a) and is perpendicular to the sixth panel (1033a); the fifth panel (1032b) is inserted into the second panel (1031b); a slot (500) is provided on one side of the second panel (1031b) and the fifth panel (1032b), the seventh panel (1033b) is inserted into the slot (500), and the sixth panel (1033a) is parallel to the third panel (1031c); A battery cell (200) is arranged in an array in the inner cavity of the outer shell (100). A conductive fixing plate (300) is provided between two adjacent rows of battery cells (200), and the conductive fixing plate (300) is electrically connected to the outer surface of the battery cell (200). A metal plate (400) is integrated into a housing (100), the metal plate (400) is connected to the negative terminal of a battery cell (200) and is insulated from the housing (100); The outer casing (100) serves as the positive electrode of the battery module and is provided with a positive electrode post (101), while the metal plate (400) serves as the negative electrode of the battery module and is provided with a negative electrode post (401).

2. The overall parallel module structure of the expandable bracketless large cylindrical battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lid (102) is fastened to the body (103) to form a sealed inner cavity, and the body (103) and the lid (102) are fixed by the first fastener (104); the metal plate (400) is attached to one side of the lid (102), and an insulating plate (105) is provided between the lid (102) and the metal plate (400).

3. The overall parallel module structure of the expandable bracketless large cylindrical battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conductive fixing plate (300) is a corrugated spring steel metal sheet.

4. The overall parallel module structure of the expandable bracketless large cylindrical battery according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outer shell (100) has an expandable structure.

5. The integral parallel module mechanism for an expandable, bracketless large cylindrical battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, Increasing the number of the first expansion plates (1022) can increase the size of the box cover (102) in the first direction.

6. The overall parallel module structure of the expandable bracketless large cylindrical battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, Increasing the number of the second expansion plates (1032) can increase the size of the box (103) in the first direction.

7. The integral parallel module structure of the expandable bracketless large cylindrical battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a metal foam board (600) that is attached to the sidewall of the inner cavity of the outer shell (100).

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