Connecting bracket and electric connection structure of axially stacked cylindrical battery cell modules

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of cylindrical battery cell modules, in particular to a connecting bracket and an electric connection structure for axially stacking cylindrical battery cell modules, and aims to solve the problems that in the prior art, an upper layer of battery cells and a lower layer of battery cells are connected in series by virtue of springs, the contact area is unstable, and efficient charging and discharging cannot be ensured due to too thin springs. Comprising cylindrical battery cells, a connecting support and a pressure relief channel plate, the cylindrical battery cells are divided into upper-layer cylindrical battery cells and lower-layer cylindrical battery cells, the connecting support is located between the upper-layer cylindrical battery cells and the lower-layer cylindrical battery cells, four rows of mounting holes are formed in the connecting support, and circular rings are arranged in the mounting holes; the upper-layer cylindrical battery cell and the lower-layer cylindrical battery cell are arranged in the mounting holes, the connecting support is provided with a pressure relief groove, the pressure relief groove is formed in the center of the four rows of mounting holes, pressure relief holes are formed in the side edges of the mounting holes, the pressure relief holes of the middle two rows of mounting holes are communicated with the pressure relief groove, and the pressure relief channel plate is mounted on the pressure relief groove. And the pressure relief channel plate is provided with a groove corresponding to the pressure relief hole.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of cylindrical battery cell modules, specifically a connecting bracket and electrical connection structure for axially stacked cylindrical battery cell modules. Background Technology

[0002] In the axial stacking scheme of cylindrical battery modules, since the upper and lower layers of cells cannot be welded together and are connected in series by springs, there are problems such as unstable contact area between the cell and spring connection structure and the springs in the upper and lower connection parts being too thin to guarantee the high-efficiency charging and discharging requirements of the cells.

[0003] Unstable contact area leads to uneven current distribution between cells, accelerating battery aging. Physical contact relying on springs is prone to wear under vibration and impact conditions, causing increased local internal resistance. Furthermore, the springs undergo plastic deformation after prolonged compression, failing to maintain their initial preload. The small cross-sectional area of ​​the springs results in insufficient current-carrying capacity of the electrical connection structure. The explosion-proof pressure relief valve at the bottom of the upper cell is physically blocked by the connecting bracket, preventing the rapid release of high-temperature gas during thermal runaway, potentially triggering a module-level deflagration. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a connecting bracket and electrical connection structure for axially stacked cylindrical battery cell modules to solve one of the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0005] A connecting bracket and electrical connection structure for an axially stacked cylindrical battery cell module includes cylindrical batteries, a connecting bracket, and a pressure relief channel plate. The cylindrical batteries are divided into upper cylindrical batteries and lower cylindrical batteries. The connecting bracket is located between the upper and lower cylindrical batteries. The connecting bracket has four rows of mounting holes, each with a ring inside. The upper and lower cylindrical batteries are disposed within the mounting holes. The connecting bracket has a pressure relief groove located in the center of the four rows of mounting holes. Pressure relief holes are provided on the sides of the mounting holes, with the pressure relief holes in the middle two rows of mounting holes communicating with the pressure relief groove. The pressure relief channel plate is mounted on the pressure relief groove and has grooves corresponding to the pressure relief holes.

[0006] Furthermore, the pressure relief groove and the pressure relief channel plate are corrugated.

[0007] Furthermore, there are two connecting brackets and pressure relief channel plates, and the bottom of the lower cylindrical cell is provided with a connecting bracket.

[0008] Furthermore, it also includes an electrical connection portion, which is disposed in a mounting hole on the connecting bracket between the upper cylindrical cell and the lower cylindrical cell.

[0009] Furthermore, the electrical connection portion includes an electrical connection metal sheet located between the upper cylindrical cell and the ring. The electrical connection metal sheet is petal-shaped and includes a through hole, a base plate, and a contact plate. The contact plate has a wavy cross-section, and a connection portion is provided between the base plate and the contact plate.

[0010] Furthermore, the electrical connection portion also includes annular metal foam material, circular metal foam material, and an insulating gasket. The annular metal foam material is connected to the contact piece, the circular metal foam material is located on the outer side of the substrate, and the insulating gasket is located on the inner side of the substrate.

[0011] Furthermore, the electrical connection portion also includes a cell insulating sheet, which is annular and located between the annulus and the lower cylindrical cell.

[0012] Furthermore, the open-cell ratio of the annular metal foam material and the circular metal foam material is above 90%.

[0013] Furthermore, the connecting bracket and the pressure relief channel plate are provided with fixing holes.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: 1. The electrical connection part of the connecting bracket is changed to a corrugated electrical connection metal sheet with pressure relief holes, which ensures the current carrying capacity of the electrical connection part while ensuring the pre-tightening force, and can provide overcurrent protection and pressure relief channel. 2. Conductive metal foam material is installed on the upper and lower parts of the electrical connection metal sheet to ensure a stable contact area between the cylindrical cell and the electrical connection part, thereby ensuring uniform current distribution between the cylindrical cells and preventing accelerated aging of the cylindrical cells. 3. The connecting bracket has pressure relief holes and pressure relief grooves. When combined with the pressure relief channel plate, it ensures that the upper cylindrical cells can be effectively depressurized in the event of thermal runaway without affecting other cylindrical cells. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the usage state of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the disassembled parts of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the connecting bracket.

[0019] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram from another perspective of the connecting bracket.

[0020] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a pressure relief channel plate.

[0021] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of an electrically connected metal sheet.

[0022] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the electrical connection part.

[0023] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view of the present invention.

[0024] Reference numerals: 1. Connecting bracket; 2. Pressure relief channel plate; 3. Upper cylindrical cell; 4. Lower cylindrical cell; 5. Mounting hole; 6. Ring; 7. Pressure relief groove; 8. Pressure relief hole; 9. Groove; 10. Electrical connection metal sheet; 11. Through hole; 12. Base plate; 13. Contact piece; 14. Connecting part; 15. Annular metal foam material; 16. Circular metal foam material; 17. Insulating gasket; 18. Cell insulating sheet; 19. Fixing perforation; 20. Upper bracket; 21. Current-carrying plate; 22. Connecting bolt. Detailed Implementation

[0025] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined with "first," "second," etc., may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature.

[0026] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0027] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0028] A connecting bracket and electrical connection structure for an axially stacked cylindrical battery cell module includes cylindrical battery cells, a connecting bracket 1, and a pressure relief channel plate 2. The cylindrical battery cells are divided into upper cylindrical battery cells 3 and lower cylindrical battery cells 4. The connecting bracket 1 is located between the upper cylindrical battery cells 3 and the lower cylindrical battery cells 4. The connecting bracket 1 has four rows of mounting holes 5, and a ring 6 is provided in each mounting hole 5. The upper cylindrical battery cells 3 and the lower cylindrical battery cells 4 are located in the mounting holes 5. The connecting bracket 1 has a pressure relief groove 7, which is located in the center of the four rows of mounting holes 5. Pressure relief holes 8 are provided on the sides of the mounting holes 5, wherein the pressure relief holes 8 of the middle two rows of mounting holes 5 are connected to the pressure relief groove 7. The pressure relief channel plate 2 is installed on the pressure relief groove 7 and has grooves 9 corresponding to the pressure relief holes 8. The pressure relief groove 7 and the pressure relief channel plate 2 are wavy. The connecting bracket 1 is provided at the bottom of the lower cylindrical battery cells 4.

[0029] When the cylindrical battery cell overheats, it will release pressure through the explosion-proof pressure relief valve at the bottom. At this time, the gas discharged from the two outermost rows of cylindrical battery cells will be directly discharged through the pressure relief hole 8 on the side of the mounting hole 5. The gas discharged from the two central rows of cylindrical battery cells will be discharged into the pressure relief channel plate 2 through the pressure relief hole 8 on the side of the mounting hole 5 and then discharged through the pressure relief channel plate 2. This ensures that the cylindrical battery cell can be effectively depressurized in the event of thermal runaway without affecting other battery cells.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, an electrical connection portion is also included. The electrical connection portion is disposed in the mounting hole 5 on the connecting bracket 1 between the upper cylindrical cell 3 and the lower cylindrical cell 4. The electrical connection portion includes an electrical connection metal sheet 10, which is located between the upper cylindrical cell 3 and the ring 6. The electrical connection metal sheet 10 is petal-shaped and includes a through hole 11, a base plate 12, and a contact plate 13. The contact plate 13 has a wavy cross-section, and a connecting portion 14 is provided between the base plate 12 and the contact plate 13.

[0031] Contact piece 13 contacts the bottom of the upper cylindrical cell 3, and bottom piece 12 contacts the lower cylindrical cell 4 through ring 6, so that the upper cylindrical cell 3 and the lower cylindrical cell 4 are connected in series. The wavy cross-section of contact piece 13 helps to tightly adhere to the upper cylindrical cell 3 and the lower cylindrical cell 4. Through hole 11 helps to release gas. By reasonably setting the material of the connection part 14, it can provide protection and fuse when the cylindrical cell is overcurrent. It can ensure the current carrying capacity of the electrical connection part while ensuring the pre-tightening force, and can provide overcurrent protection and pressure relief channel.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the electrical connection portion further includes an annular metal foam material 15, a circular metal foam material 16, and an insulating gasket 17. The annular metal foam material 15 is connected to the contact piece 13, the circular metal foam material 16 is located on the outside of the base plate 12, and the insulating gasket 17 is located on the inside of the base plate 12.

[0033] The upper and lower parts of the electrical connection metal sheet 10 are fitted with annular metal foam material 15 and circular metal foam material 16 to ensure a stable contact area between the cylindrical battery cell and the electrical connection part, thereby ensuring uniform current distribution between the cylindrical battery cells and preventing accelerated aging of the cylindrical battery cells. The insulating gasket 17 can prevent the upper cylindrical battery cell 3 and the lower cylindrical battery cell 4 from directly contacting each other when the connection part 14 is melted and protected.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the electrical connection portion further includes a cell insulating sheet 18. The cell insulating sheet 18 is annular and located between the ring 6 and the lower cylindrical cell 4. The cell insulating sheet 18 can prevent the bottom plate 12 from simultaneously contacting the pole and the outer shell of the lower cylindrical cell 4 when the cell vibrates, thus preventing a short circuit.

[0035] As a preferred embodiment, the open area ratio of the annular metal foam material 15 and the circular metal foam material 16 is above 90%, which can eliminate the height tolerance of the cylindrical battery cell. By adjusting the thickness of the annular metal foam material 15 and the circular metal foam material 16, the height of each cylindrical battery cell can be kept consistent.

[0036] When using this invention, the upper bracket 20 with the current-carrying plate 21 is installed above the upper cylindrical cell 3, so that the current-carrying plate 21 is connected to the upper cylindrical cell 10. The connecting bolt 22 is used to fix it through the fixing holes 19 on the connecting bracket 1 and the pressure relief channel plate 2. The upper bracket 20, the current-carrying plate 21 and the connecting bolt 22 are all prior art.

[0037] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claimed invention.

Claims

1. A connecting bracket and electrical connection structure for an axially stacked cylindrical battery cell module, characterized in that: The device includes cylindrical battery cells, a connecting bracket, and a pressure relief channel plate. The cylindrical battery cells are divided into upper cylindrical battery cells and lower cylindrical battery cells. The connecting bracket is located between the upper and lower cylindrical battery cells. The connecting bracket has four rows of mounting holes, and each mounting hole contains a circular ring. The upper and lower cylindrical battery cells are disposed within the mounting holes. The connecting bracket has a pressure relief groove located in the center of the four rows of mounting holes. Pressure relief holes are provided on the sides of the mounting holes, with the pressure relief holes in the middle two rows of mounting holes communicating with the pressure relief groove. The pressure relief channel plate is mounted on the pressure relief groove and has grooves corresponding to the pressure relief holes.

2. The connecting bracket and electrical connection structure for an axially stacked cylindrical battery cell module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressure relief groove and pressure relief channel plate are corrugated.

3. The connecting bracket and electrical connection structure for an axially stacked cylindrical battery cell module according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are two connecting brackets and pressure relief channel plates, and the bottom of the lower cylindrical cell is provided with a connecting bracket.

4. The connecting bracket and electrical connection structure for an axially stacked cylindrical battery cell module according to claim 3, characterized in that: It also includes an electrical connection part, which is disposed in the mounting hole on the connecting bracket between the upper cylindrical cell and the lower cylindrical cell.

5. The connecting bracket and electrical connection structure for an axially stacked cylindrical battery cell module according to claim 4, characterized in that: The electrical connection portion includes an electrical connection metal sheet located between the upper cylindrical cell and the ring. The electrical connection metal sheet is petal-shaped and includes a through hole, a base plate, and a contact plate. The contact plate has a wavy cross-section, and a connection portion is provided between the base plate and the contact plate.

6. The connecting bracket and electrical connection structure for an axially stacked cylindrical battery cell module according to claim 5, characterized in that: The electrical connection portion further includes annular metal foam material, circular metal foam material, and insulating gasket. The annular metal foam material is connected to the contact piece, the circular metal foam material is located on the outside of the substrate, and the insulating gasket is located on the inside of the substrate.

7. The connecting bracket and electrical connection structure for an axially stacked cylindrical battery cell module according to claim 6, characterized in that: The electrical connection portion also includes a cell insulating sheet, which is annular and located between the annulus and the lower cylindrical cell.

8. The connecting bracket and electrical connection structure for an axially stacked cylindrical battery cell module according to claim 6, characterized in that: The open-cell ratio of the annular and circular metal foam materials is above 90%.

9. The connecting bracket and electrical connection structure for an axially stacked cylindrical battery cell module according to claim 3, characterized in that: The connecting bracket and the pressure relief channel plate are provided with fixing holes.

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