Detection device and battery production system

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a detection device and a battery production system. The detection device is used to detect the sealing performance of a splicing part of a shell of a battery monomer. The shell is provided with a communication hole in communication with the inside of the shell. The detection device comprises an inflation device, a containing device and a detection device. The containing device comprises a shell and a sealing structure. The shell comprises a first shell part and a second shell part which are detachably connected. The first shell part and the second shell part are used to enclose a sealing space. The sealing space is used to accommodate the shell. The shell is provided with a first communication port and a second communication port which are arranged at intervals. The inflation device can be sealingly connected to the communication hole through the first communication port and is in communication with the communication hole. The sealing structure is arranged in the sealing space and is used to seal part of the splicing part of the shell located in the sealing space. The detection device is connected to the second communication port and is in communication with the sealing space through the second communication port. The present application is beneficial to improve the accuracy of the sealing performance detection of the shell of the battery monomer and reduce the production cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and more specifically, to a testing device and a battery production system. Background Technology

[0002] Battery devices are widely used in electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, electric vehicles, electric cars, electric airplanes, electric ships, electric toy cars, electric toy ships, electric toy airplanes, and power tools, etc.

[0003] A battery device may include one or more battery cells. The quality of the battery cell casing has a significant impact on the quality of the battery cell. How to improve the efficiency and accuracy of quality inspection of the battery cell casing is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved in the battery production process. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above problems, this application provides a testing device and a battery production system to improve the testing efficiency and accuracy of the sealing performance of battery cell casings, thereby improving the efficiency of battery cell casing quality testing, increasing production efficiency, and reducing production costs.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a testing device for testing the sealing performance of the joints of a battery cell's casing. The casing has a communicating hole that connects to its interior. The testing device includes an inflation device, a housing, and a testing device. The housing includes a shell and a sealing structure. The shell includes a detachably connected first shell portion and a second shell portion, which together form a sealed space for accommodating the casing. The shell has a first communicating port and a second communicating port spaced apart. The inflation device can be sealed and connected to the communicating hole through the first communicating port. The sealing structure is disposed in the sealed space and is used to seal the joint of the casing located within the sealed space. The testing device is connected to the second communicating port and communicates with the sealed space through the second communicating port.

[0006] According to the testing equipment of this application, when performing a sealing test on the casing of a battery cell, a sealing structure is used to seal some of the joints of the casing. The joints that are not sealed by the sealing structure can be exposed in the sealed space of the casing. If the joints that are not sealed by the sealing structure are not properly sealed, these joints will be connected to the sealed space. In this way, when the gas filling device introduces gas into the casing through the connecting hole, gas leakage will occur at the joints that are not sealed by the sealing structure. This leaked gas enters the sealed space and enters the testing device through the second connecting port. Conversely, if the joints that are not sealed by the sealing structure are properly sealed, the gas filled into the casing will be sealed inside the casing. The detection device detects gas leaks into the sealed space, identifying leaks at joints not sealed by the sealing structure. When a leak is detected, its location can be pinpointed. Furthermore, the sealing structures within different housings can selectively seal different joints on the battery cell casing (e.g., end cap welds, positive electrode welds, negative electrode welds), allowing different housings to detect different joint locations. This improves the accuracy of joint detection, saves time spent reworking and inspecting leak areas, and provides more precise leak location for subsequent casing repair welding, thus increasing production efficiency and reducing production costs.

[0007] In some embodiments, the inflation device is configured to selectively communicate with one of a plurality of receiving devices. The detection device is configured to selectively communicate with one of the plurality of receiving devices.

[0008] In the above technical solution, through the above settings, multiple accommodating devices can be matched with one inflation device and one detection device, which greatly reduces the overall manufacturing cost of the detection equipment, reduces the space occupied by the equipment, and improves the utilization rate of the equipment.

[0009] In some embodiments, both the first and second connecting ports are located in the second shell portion, and both the inflation device and the detection device are located on the side of the second shell portion away from the first shell portion.

[0010] In some embodiments, the wall surface of the first shell portion facing the sealed space and the wall surface of the second shell portion facing the sealed space are configured as smooth surfaces.

[0011] In the above technical solution, by setting the first connecting port and the second connecting port in the same shell, it is beneficial to simplify the pipeline layout and improve the centralization of the inflation pipeline and the detection pipeline.

[0012] In some embodiments, the accommodating device further includes a support structure disposed within the sealed space. The support structure supports the housing and cooperates with the first housing portion and the second housing portion to communicate with the sealed space at the joint not sealed by the sealing structure.

[0013] In the above technical solution, the support structure provides support for the shell and also provides space for the sealing structure, allowing the shell to contact the sealing structure when placed on the support structure, thereby simplifying the sealing process at the joints within the shell that require sealing. Furthermore, the support structure can fill redundant gaps within the sealed space, reducing the possibility of external space entry or premature leakage of internally detected gas, ensuring the airtightness of the sealed space.

[0014] In some embodiments, the support structure includes a recess for accommodating a portion of the housing where a partial joint is provided. The number of sealing structures is configured as a plurality, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of sealing structures is disposed within the recess to seal at least a portion of the joint disposed within the recess; and / or, at least a portion of the plurality of sealing structures is disposed outside the recess to seal the joint disposed outside the recess.

[0015] In the above technical solution, the recess of the support structure is adapted to the part of the shell with a partial splice, which realizes the stable positioning of the shell, reduces the possibility of displacement or attitude deviation of the shell during the detection process, improves the sealing connection stability of the air inflation device and the shell connecting hole, reduces the detection error caused by shell displacement, and improves the reliability of the detection results. At the same time, the recess provides more space for the sealing components to be arranged, thereby improving the flexibility of the sealing component arrangement.

[0016] In some embodiments, the plurality of receiving devices include a first receiving member, a second communication port including a first sub-communication port, and a second housing portion of the first receiving member having the first sub-communication port. The plurality of sealing structures include a first sealing member disposed within a recess of the first receiving member. The first sealing member is used to seal a joint disposed within the recess and cooperates with the second housing portion to communicate with the sealing space at a joint located outside the recess.

[0017] In the above technical solution, the first sealing element is disposed in the recess of the first receiving element to seal the splice (i.e. the first splice) disposed in the recess, so as to isolate the first splice from the sealed space, so that the detection device can monitor the leakage of the second splice in the sealed space only through the first sub-connection port, reduce the interference of the leaked gas at the first splice with the detection results of the second splice, and greatly reduce the blindness and cost of subsequent repair welding.

[0018] In some embodiments, the second housing portion of the first receiving member includes a first wall portion and a second wall portion, the first wall portion being connected to the first housing portion via the second wall portion, and the first wall portion being disposed opposite to the support structure along a first direction. The first wall portion includes a first sub-wall portion and a second sub-wall portion, the second sub-wall portion being disposed on the side of the first sub-wall portion facing the support structure, and a first communication port being disposed through the first sub-wall portion and the second sub-wall portion. The first sub-communication port includes a first segment and a second segment that are connected, the first segment being disposed through the first sub-wall portion, and at least a portion of the second segment extending in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and communicating with the sealed space.

[0019] In the above technical solution, the directional extension design of the second segment allows the detection end of the detection path to be closer to the area where the second splice is located, enabling the detection device to capture the trace amount of gas leaking at the second splice more quickly, thereby improving the sensitivity and response speed of leak detection.

[0020] In some embodiments, the plurality of receiving devices include a second receiving member, a second communication port including a second sub-communication port, and a second housing portion of the second receiving member having the second sub-communication port. A support structure has a first channel for exposing a portion of the joint located within the recess. A sealing structure includes a second seal, the second sub-communication port being sealed and connected to the first channel via the second seal, the second seal being used to seal the joint located outside the recess.

[0021] In the above technical solution, the above settings enable directional and precise detection of the first splice joint, forming a complete splice joint detection system with the detection of the second splice joint of the first accommodating component. This system can accurately locate the specific position of the leaking splice joint, significantly reduce the blindness of subsequent repair welding, and improve the preparation yield of battery cells.

[0022] In some embodiments, the second housing portion of the second receiving member includes a third wall portion and a fourth wall portion connected together. The fourth wall portion forms a sidewall of a sealed space, and the third wall portion is disposed opposite to the support structure along a first direction. The fourth wall portion includes a third sub-wall portion and a fourth sub-wall portion. The third sub-wall portion is disposed around the periphery of the fourth sub-wall portion, and a second sub-connection is formed between the third sub-wall portion and the fourth sub-wall portion. The third sub-wall portion is sealed to the first housing portion, and the fourth sub-wall portion is disposed around the periphery of the recess. The fourth sub-wall portion is sealed to the support structure by a second sealing member.

[0023] In the above technical solution, by designing the fourth wall section as a single unit, the two functions of forming the side wall of the sealed space and constructing the second sub-connection port are integrated into the same component. This ensures the circumferential airtightness of the sealed space through the fourth sub-wall section, and forms an independent detection interface through the enclosure of the third and fourth sub-wall sections, thereby improving the targeting of the detection. At the same time, the second sealing element can seal the second joint, reducing the possibility that leaked gas at the second joint will affect the detection results.

[0024] In some embodiments, the support structure includes a support portion and a limiting portion, the support portion forming the bottom wall of the recess, the limiting portion forming the side wall of the recess, the first channel including a communicating third segment and a fourth segment, the third segment penetrating the support portion and used to expose a portion of the housing joint located within the recess, and the fourth segment being formed between at least one of the limiting portion and the support portion and the first housing portion. The sealing structure includes a third seal, the third seal being disposed on the side of the support portion opposite to the first housing portion, the third seal being used to seal another portion of the housing joint located within the recess.

[0025] In the above technical solution, the isolation effect of the third sealing element reduces the interference of the first sub-joint to the detection path, and the detection device can only capture the leakage signal at the second sub-joint, which greatly reduces the false judgment rate. At the same time, the third section of the first channel is directly attached to the second sub-joint, shortening the transmission path of the leaked gas. The directional transfer of the fourth section improves the flexibility of the detection path layout and its compatibility with the second sub-connection port, thereby improving the detection device's sensitivity and response speed in capturing trace amounts of leaked gas.

[0026] In some embodiments, the accommodating device further includes a support structure disposed within the sealed space, the support structure serving to support the housing. The support structure is made of non-porous plastic.

[0027] In the above technical solution, the dense molecular structure of non-porous plastic has no pores or capillary channels. It will not adsorb trace amounts of gas (such as helium) leaked during the detection process, nor will it allow external air or detection gas inside the shell to permeate through the material itself. This reduces the possibility of "false negatives" (leaked gas is adsorbed and the detection device does not capture it) or "false positives" (residual gas release interferes with the results) caused by gas adsorption / permeation, and greatly improves the accuracy and reliability of weld sealing determination.

[0028] Secondly, this application provides a battery production system, including testing equipment provided according to any embodiment of the first aspect.

[0029] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this application. In order to better understand the technical means of this application and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this application more obvious and understandable, the following are specific embodiments of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0030] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments of this application will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the drawings without creative effort.

[0031] Figure 1 This is an axial view of a battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the detection device provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the detection equipment provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the detection device provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0035] Figure 5 A side view schematic diagram of a battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0036] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a detection device provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0037] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the detection device provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0038] The reference numerals in the accompanying drawings for the specific embodiments are as follows:

[0039] 100. Battery cell; 110. Casing; 110a. End cap; 110b. Casing body; 120. Connecting hole; 130. Electrode terminal; F1. First splice; F11. First sub-splice; F12. Second sub-splice; F2. Second splice;

[0040] 10. Inflation device;

[0041] 20. Receiving device; 21. Housing; 211. First housing portion; 212. Second housing portion; 2121. First wall portion; 2121a. First sub-wall portion; 2121b. Second sub-wall portion; 2122. Second wall portion; 2123. Third wall portion; 2124. Fourth wall portion; 2124a. Third sub-wall portion; 2124b. Fourth sub-wall portion; 22. Sealing structure; 221. First seal; 222. Second seal; 223. Third seal; 2 24. Fourth sealing element; 23. First connecting port; 24. Second connecting port; 241. First sub-connecting port; 241a. First segment; 241b. Second segment; 242. Second sub-connecting port; 25. Support structure; 251. Recess; 252. Support part; 253. Limiting part; L. First channel; L1. Third segment; L2. Fourth segment; C1. First receiving element; C2. Second receiving element; C21. First sub-receiving element; C22. Second sub-receiving element;

[0042] 30. Detection device;

[0043] 41. First transfer item; 42. Second transfer item; 43. Third transfer item;

[0044] X, the first direction. Detailed Implementation

[0045] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0046] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains; the terminology used in the description of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application; the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, in the description, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. The terms "first," "second," etc., in the description, claims, or accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order or hierarchy.

[0047] In this application, the reference to "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments.

[0048] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "attachment" 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 direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0049] In this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, in this application, the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0050] In the embodiments of this application, the same reference numerals denote the same components, and for the sake of brevity, detailed descriptions of the same components are omitted in different embodiments. It should be understood that the thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of various components in the embodiments of this application shown in the accompanying drawings, as well as the overall thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of the integrated device, are merely illustrative and should not constitute any limitation on this application.

[0051] In this application, "multiple" means two or more (including two).

[0052] Currently, judging from market trends, the application of battery devices is becoming increasingly widespread. Battery devices are not only used in energy storage power systems such as hydropower, thermal power, wind power, and solar power plants, but also widely applied in electric vehicles such as electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and electric cars, as well as in military equipment and aerospace. With the continuous expansion of battery device applications, market demand is also constantly increasing.

[0053] A battery device typically includes individual battery cells, which in turn include a casing and an electrode assembly located within the casing. The casing can be formed by assembling multiple components, which can be connected by welding. The electrode assembly includes an electrode body and tabs connected to the electrode body. The tabs are connected to components on the casing (such as electrode terminals) via welding, resulting in various joints (such as welds) formed through different processes on the casing. In related technologies, inspection devices are often used to inspect multiple joints on the casing to accelerate inspection efficiency. However, when a joint fails to seal, all joints need to be repaired by welding, which not only reduces the efficiency of casing quality inspection but also increases production costs.

[0054] To address the aforementioned technical issues, this application provides a detection device. This device utilizes a sealing structure to seal certain joints within the housing, enabling the detection apparatus to detect the sealing performance of any unsealed joints. This allows for precise identification of the location and number of leaking joints, improving the accuracy of joint detection and saving time spent on rework inspections of leaking areas. It also provides more accurate location of leaking areas for subsequent housing repair welding processes, thereby increasing production efficiency and reducing production costs.

[0055] In this embodiment of the application, the battery cell can be a secondary battery, which refers to a battery cell that can be recharged to activate the active materials and continue to be used after the battery cell has been discharged.

[0056] The battery cell can be a lithium-ion battery, sodium-ion battery, sodium-lithium-ion battery, lithium metal battery, sodium metal battery, lithium-sulfur battery, magnesium-ion battery, nickel-metal hydride battery, nickel-cadmium battery, lead-acid battery, etc., and the embodiments of this application are not limited to this.

[0057] As an example, a battery cell can be a cylindrical battery cell, a prismatic battery cell, a pouch battery cell, or a battery cell of other shapes. Prismatic battery cells include prismatic battery cells, blade-shaped battery cells, and multi-prismatic batteries, such as hexagonal prismatic batteries.

[0058] A single battery cell includes a casing and electrode components.

[0059] The casing is a component used to form the internal environment of a battery cell. This internal environment can accommodate electrode components, electrolyte, and other components. Optionally, the casing can be, but is not limited to, made of metallic or non-metallic materials. For example, metallic materials can be copper, aluminum, or stainless steel; non-metallic materials can be polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyvinyl chloride.

[0060] For example, the casing can be made of steel, aluminum, plastic (such as polypropylene), composite metal (such as copper-aluminum composite casing), or aluminum-plastic film.

[0061] In some embodiments, the housing can be a sealed structure or a non-sealed structure. As an example, when the housing is a non-sealed structure, it serves to protect the electrode assembly, and a sealing bag is included between the housing and the electrode assembly to encapsulate the electrode assembly and electrolyte. Specifically, the sealing bag can be a bag-shaped insulating component or an aluminum-plastic film. When the housing is a sealed structure, it is used to encapsulate components such as the electrode assembly and electrolyte.

[0062] In some embodiments, the housing includes an end cap and a housing body, the housing body having a housing opening, and the end cap covering the housing opening. The housing body may have one or more housing openings. One or more end caps may also be provided.

[0063] The shape of the housing can be determined according to the specific shape of the electrode assembly. For example, if the electrode assembly is a cuboid structure, a cuboid housing can be selected; if the electrode assembly is a cylindrical structure, a cylindrical housing can be selected.

[0064] Electrode components are the parts in a battery cell where electrochemical reactions occur, and the casing may contain one or more electrode components.

[0065] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly can be cylindrical, flat, or polygonal, etc.

[0066] The electrode assembly can be a wound structure, a stacked structure, or a hybrid structure of wound and stacked.

[0067] The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator, with the separator positioned between the negative and positive electrodes. During the charging and discharging process of a single battery cell, active ions (such as lithium ions) repeatedly insert and extract between the positive and negative electrodes. The separator, positioned between the positive and negative electrodes, prevents short circuits between them while allowing active ions to pass through.

[0068] A single battery cell also includes electrode terminals.

[0069] The electrode terminals can be located on the housing. Optionally, the end cap can be provided with electrode terminals, or the housing body can be provided with electrode terminals, or both the end cap and the housing body can be provided with electrode terminals.

[0070] In some embodiments, the housing is provided with at least one electrode terminal, which is electrically connected to the tab of the electrode assembly. The electrode terminal can be directly connected to the tab or indirectly connected to the tab through a current collector.

[0071] Electrode terminals can be used to electrically connect to electrode assemblies for outputting or inputting electrical energy into individual battery cells. Electrode terminals can achieve electrical connection to electrode assemblies by connecting to tabs. Tabs electrically connected to electrode terminals can be either positive or negative tabs.

[0072] It is understood that the joint between two components needs to be fixed together by processes such as welding and riveting. The joint can be a weld or a riveting seam, and this application embodiment does not limit this. The testing equipment provided in this application embodiment can test the sealing performance of the joint connecting the end cap and the shell body (hereinafter referred to as the end cap weld for ease of description). The testing equipment provided in this application embodiment can also test the sealing performance of the joint connecting the electrode tab and the electrode terminal and / or the electrode terminal and the shell (hereinafter referred to as the positive electrode weld and the negative electrode weld for ease of description). Optionally, the connecting hole provided in the shell can be a liquid injection hole.

[0073] Figure 1 This is an axial side view of a battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a testing device provided in some embodiments of this application. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the detection equipment provided in some embodiments of this application. Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a detection device provided in some embodiments of this application. Figure 5 This is a side view schematic diagram of a battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application. Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a detection device provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0074] Please refer to the following: Figures 1 to 6According to some embodiments of this application, this application provides a testing device for testing the sealing performance of the joint of the housing 110 of a battery cell 100. The housing 110 is provided with a communicating hole 120 communicating with its own interior. The testing device includes an inflation device 10, a receiving device 20, and a testing device 30. The receiving device 20 includes a housing 21 and a sealing structure 22. The housing 21 includes a first housing portion 211 and a second housing portion 212 that are detachably connected. The first housing portion 211 and the second housing portion 212 are used to enclose and form a sealed space for accommodating the housing 110. The housing 21 is provided with a first communicating port 23 and a second communicating port 24 that are spaced apart. The inflation device 10 can be sealed and communicated with the communicating hole 120 through the first communicating port 23. The sealing structure 22 is disposed in the sealed space and is used to seal a portion of the joint of the housing 110 located in the sealed space. Multiple receiving devices 20 are provided, and at least one sealing structure 22 of one receiving device 20 is positioned differently from at least one sealing structure 22 of the other receiving device 20. The detection device 30 is connected to the second communication port 24 and communicates with the sealed space through the second communication port 24.

[0075] For example, the testing equipment is a device for testing the sealing performance of the joints on the housing 110 of the battery cell 100. The testing equipment may include three steps: sealing limitation, inflation and pressurization, and leakage detection.

[0076] For example, the casing 110 of the battery cell 100 to be tested is placed into the sealed space of the accommodating device 20. Simultaneously, the sealing structure 22 within the accommodating device 20 is used to selectively seal certain joints on the casing 110, leaving only the joints to be tested exposed within the sealed space, thus achieving partitioned isolation of the joints. The gas filling device 10, through the first connecting port 23 on the outer casing 21, is sealed to the connecting hole 120 of the casing 110 itself, and then fills the casing 110 with a certain amount of gas (such as helium) to create a stable high-pressure environment inside the casing 110. The detection device 30 is connected to the sealed space of the accommodating device 20 through the second connecting port 24. It can determine whether there is a leak at the joint of the casing 110 by detecting whether gas has entered the sealed space or by monitoring parameters such as gas concentration and pressure changes within the sealed space. If there is a sealing defect at the unsealed joint, the gas inside the housing 110 will leak from the defect into the sealed space. The detection device 30 will detect this change and thus determine that the seal at the corresponding joint has failed.

[0077] The inflation device 10 is a device for filling the casing 110 of the battery cell 100 with high-pressure detection gas (such as nitrogen or helium) and can control the inflation pressure and flow rate.

[0078] The housing 20 is used to fix the housing 110 of the battery cell 100 to be tested and to form a sealed testing environment. The housing 20 is an intermediate carrier connecting the inflation device 10 and the testing device 30.

[0079] The outer casing 21 is the external encapsulation structure of the housing device 20. The outer casing 21 includes a first shell portion 211 and a second shell portion 212, which can be fastened together to form a sealed space. The first shell portion 211 and the second shell portion 212 can be detachably connected by means of bolts, snap-fit ​​connections, etc. The sealed space is used to accommodate the housing 110 of the battery cell 100. The sealed space is isolated from the external environment to facilitate the detection device 30 to detect the sealed space.

[0080] The first connecting port 23 and the second connecting port 24 can both be located in the first housing portion 211, or both can be located in the second housing portion 212, or one of the first connecting port 23 and the other is located in the first housing portion 211 and the other in the second housing portion 212. It is understood that when both the inflation device and the detection device are connected to the same housing, there is no gas exchange between the first connecting port 23 and the second connecting port 24. The first connecting port 23 is used to inflate the housing 110, and the second connecting port 24 is used for detection by the detection device 30.

[0081] The inflation device 10 can be sealed and connected to the connecting hole 120 through the first connecting port 23. This means that the inflation pipe of the inflation device 10 extends into the first connecting port 23, and the inflation pipe is connected to the connecting hole 120 and fits without gap through the sealing ring, reducing the possibility of gas leakage causing the test results to be distorted.

[0082] The sealing structure 22 is disposed within the sealed space and is used to seal a portion of the joint of the housing 110 located within the sealed space. This means that the sealing structure 22 partially shields the joint, leaving only the target joint exposed within the sealed space. If the target joint leaks, gas from the housing 110 of the battery cell 100 will enter the sealed space. The detection device 30 can detect parameter changes to determine if there is a leak. Optionally, the detection device 30 can determine whether there is a leak at the joint by detecting gas parameters (such as pressure changes and gas concentration) within the sealed space.

[0083] Optionally, the number of sealing structures 22 may include multiple structures, and the number of sealing structures 22 may be less than the number of splicing points in the casing 110 of the battery cell 100. For example, if there are N splicing points in the casing 110 of the battery cell 100, the number of sealing structures 22 may be N-1. Each sealing structure 22 seals one splicing point.

[0084] According to the testing equipment of this application, when performing a sealing test on the casing 110 of the battery cell 100, the sealing structure 22 seals some of the joints of the casing 110. The joints not sealed by the sealing structure 22 can be exposed in the sealed space of the outer casing 21. If the joints not sealed by the sealing structure 22 are not properly sealed, these joints will communicate with the sealed space. In this way, after the gas filling device 10 introduces gas into the casing 110 through the connecting hole 120, gas leakage will occur at the joints not sealed by the sealing structure 22. This leaked gas enters the sealed space and enters the testing device 30 through the second connecting port 24. Conversely, if the joints not sealed by the sealing structure 22 are properly sealed, the gas filled into the casing will be sealed inside the casing. The detection device 30 can detect whether there is gas leakage into the sealed space, and can determine whether there is a leak at the joint that is not sealed by the sealing structure 22. When a leak occurs at the joint, it can determine the location of the leak, which improves the accuracy of joint detection and saves the time of rework and inspection of the leak area. It provides a more accurate location of the leak area for the subsequent welding process of the shell 110, which improves production efficiency and reduces production costs.

[0085] The sealing structure 22 is positioned corresponding to the joints of the housing 110. For example, the housing 110 has multiple joints, and each sealing structure 22 seals one of these joints. The sealing structure 22 is positioned corresponding to the joint that needs to be sealed. When the housing 110 is placed in the receiving device 20, the sealing structure 22 can abut against or cover the corresponding joint. It is understood that the two receiving devices 20 need to inspect different joints, and the two receiving devices 20 need to expose different joints to the sealing space. When the number of joints in the housing 110 is greater than two, at least one sealing structure 22 in the two receiving devices 20 will have the same position. Furthermore, the difference in the positions of the sealing structures 22 in the two receiving devices 20 is that for joints not sealed by the sealing structure in one receiving device (such as the first weld to be inspected), the other receiving device has a sealing structure corresponding to the first weld to be inspected. This sealing structure is used to seal the first weld to be inspected, so that the other receiving device can inspect other welds.

[0086] In these alternative embodiments, the sealing structure 22 within different accommodating devices 20 can selectively seal the splicing points (such as end cap welds, positive electrode welds, negative electrode welds, etc.) at different locations of the casing 110 of the battery cell 100, so that different accommodating devices 20 can detect splicing points at different locations, reducing the difficulty of arranging the sealing structure 22 within a single accommodating device 20, reducing the manufacturing cost of the accommodating device 20, and simultaneously achieving zonal detection of all splicing points of the casing 110 of the battery cell 100.

[0087] In some alternative embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 The inflation device 10 is configured to selectively connect to one of the multiple receiving devices 20. The detection device 30 is configured to selectively connect to one of the multiple receiving devices 20.

[0088] For example, when the first receiving device 20 tests the casing 110 of the battery cell 100, both the inflation device 10 and the testing device 30 are connected to the first receiving device 20. After the testing device 30 completes the test on the casing 110 of the battery cell 100 in the first receiving device 20, it transfers the casing 110 of the battery cell 100 in the first receiving device 20 to the second receiving device 20. At the same time, both the inflation device 10 and the testing device 30 are disconnected from the first receiving device 20 and are connected to the second receiving device 20. After the testing device 30 completes the test on the casing 110 of the battery cell 100 in the second receiving device 20, the above steps are repeated to test all joints in the battery cell 100.

[0089] Optionally, the inflation device 10 can be switched to connect with one of the multiple accommodating devices 20. This can be achieved by allowing the inflation pipe of the inflation device to be moved and connected to the connecting holes in different accommodating devices. For example, the inflation pipe of the inflation device can be connected to the connecting hole in the first accommodating device. After the shell in the first accommodating device has been tested, the inflation pipe is disconnected from the connecting hole in the first accommodating device and connected to the connecting hole in the second accommodating device. Alternatively, the inflation pipe of the inflation device can be multiple branches, each passing through the first connecting port of different accommodating devices. Each branch is equipped with a valve, and the connection between the inflation device and different accommodating devices is controlled by opening and closing the valves. It is understood that during shell testing, the inflation device and the testing device are connected to the first and second connecting ports of the same accommodating device, respectively.

[0090] In the above embodiments, through the above settings, multiple accommodating devices 20 can be matched with one inflation device 10 and detection device 30, which greatly reduces the overall manufacturing cost of the detection equipment, reduces the space occupied by the equipment, and improves the utilization rate of the equipment.

[0091] In some alternative embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 4 The first connecting port 23 and the second connecting port 24 are both located in the second shell 212, and the inflation device 10 and the detection device 30 are both located on the side of the second shell 212 away from the first shell 211.

[0092] For example, the testing equipment may also include a mounting platform, on which the inflation device 10, multiple receiving devices 20, and testing device 30 may all be mounted. The inflation lines of the inflation device 10 and the testing lines of the testing device 30 are both located on the side of the second housing 212 away from the mounting platform.

[0093] Optionally, the testing equipment may further include a transfer assembly. The transfer assembly includes a first transfer member 41, a second transfer member 42, and a third transfer member 43. The first transfer member 41 and the second housing portion 212 are spaced apart. The second transfer member 42 can transfer the first housing portion 211 of the accommodating device 20 and the housing 110 of the battery cell 100 located within the first housing portion 211 back and forth between the first transfer member 41 and the second housing portion 212. The first transfer member 41 removes the housing 110 of the battery cell 100 carried by the first housing portion 211 of the first accommodating device 20 and transfers it to the first housing portion 211 of the second accommodating device 20. The third transfer member 43 can move the first housing portion 211 and the housing 110 of the battery cell 100 located within the first housing portion 211 towards the second housing portion 212, so that the first housing portion 211 and the second housing portion 212 interlock to form a sealed space. The second transfer member 42 and the third transfer member 43 can be disposed on the side of the first shell 211 facing away from the second shell 212, so as to reduce the possibility of interference between the first shell 211 and the inflation pipeline (or detection pipeline) when the first shell 211 moves.

[0094] In these alternative embodiments, by setting the first connection port 23 and the second connection port 24 in the same housing and on the side close to the detection device 30 and the inflation device 10, it is beneficial to simplify the pipeline layout and improve the centralization of the inflation pipeline and the detection pipeline; when multiple housing devices 20 share a set of detection device 30 and a set of inflation device 10, the possibility of mutual interference between components is reduced, and the switching and connection of pipelines is more convenient.

[0095] In some alternative embodiments, the wall surface (i.e., inner wall surface) of the first shell portion 211 facing the sealed space and the wall surface (i.e., inner wall surface) of the second shell portion 212 facing the sealed space are provided as smooth surfaces.

[0096] A smooth surface refers to the surface of an object without obvious protrusions or depressions. Specifically, a smooth surface can refer to a surface with a surface roughness of less than or equal to 0.2 micrometers.

[0097] For example, the inner wall surfaces of the first shell portion 211 and the second shell portion 212 can be polished to form a smooth surface.

[0098] A smooth surface can reduce the amount of gas remaining in the sealed space, which can reduce the possibility of distortion in the test results when the container 20 is used repeatedly to test different battery cells 100, thus improving the accuracy of the test.

[0099] In some alternative embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The accommodating device 20 also includes a support structure 25, which is disposed within the sealed space. The support structure 25 is used to support the housing and cooperates with the first housing portion 211 and the second housing portion 212 to make the joint not sealed by the sealing structure 22 communicate with the sealed space.

[0100] Optionally, the support structure 25 may be disposed within the first shell portion 211, and the space between the support structure 25 and the second shell portion 212 may be used to place the shell 110; or, the support structure 25 may also be disposed within the second shell portion 212, and the space between the support structure 25 and the first shell portion 211 may be used to place the shell 110; or, the support structure 25 may be divided into two parts, with one part of the support structure 25 disposed within the first shell portion 211 and the other part of the support structure 25 disposed within the second shell portion 212, and the space between the two parts of the support structure 25 may be used to place the shell 110.

[0101] The support structure 25 can fill a portion of the sealed space. A sealing structure 22 can be arranged on the support structure 25. When the housing 110 is placed at a specific position on the support structure 25, the sealing structure 22 on the support structure 25 fits into a portion of the joint of the housing 110. The end of the housing 110 away from the support structure 25 can be exposed within the sealed space, so that the joint at the end of the housing 110 away from the support structure 25 can be detected by the detection device. Optionally, an air passage can also be provided on the support structure 25, exposing the joint, so that the joint between the support structure 25 and the support of the housing 110 can be detected.

[0102] Optionally, the outer surface of the support structure 25 is provided with a smooth surface, and it can be provided as a dense smooth surface to reduce the possibility of gas remaining on the support structure 25 and reduce the impact of the remaining gas on the accuracy of the airtightness test.

[0103] The support structure 25, in conjunction with the first shell portion 211 and the second shell portion 212, supports and positions the shell 110 so that it aligns with the first connecting port 23 and the second connecting port 24 in a specific position. The first shell portion 211 and the second shell portion 212 enclose a sealed space to reduce interference from external gas on the detection results. Simultaneously, the sealing structure 22 seals a portion of the joints on the shell 110, enabling detection of the joints not sealed by the sealing structure 22. The connection between the unsealed joints and the sealed space can be understood as the unsealed joints being exposed to the sealed space. If a leak occurs at the unsealed joint, gas inside the shell 110 can enter the sealed space from the leak, allowing the detection device to detect a seal failure at the joint, facilitating subsequent welding repair of the shell 110.

[0104] In these alternative embodiments, the support structure 25 can provide support for the housing 110. Simultaneously, the support structure 25 can also provide space for the sealing structure 22, allowing the housing 110 to contact the sealing structure 22 when placed on the support structure 25, thereby simplifying the sealing process at the joints requiring sealing within the housing 110. Furthermore, the support structure 25 can fill redundant gaps within the sealed space, reducing the possibility of external space entry or premature leakage of internally detected gas, ensuring the airtightness of the sealed space.

[0105] In some alternative embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The support structure 25 includes a recess 251 for accommodating a portion of the housing 110 where a partial joint is provided. The number of sealing structures 22 is configured to be multiple, wherein at least a portion of the sealing structures 22 is disposed within the recess 251 to seal at least a portion of the joint disposed within the recess 251; and / or, at least a portion of the sealing structures 22 is disposed outside the recess 251 to seal the joint disposed outside the recess 251.

[0106] For ease of understanding, this application embodiment takes the case where the housing 110 has a first splicing point F1 and a second splicing point F2 as an example for explanation. The first splicing point F1 and the second splicing point F2 are respectively located at both ends of the battery cell 100 along the first direction X, and the first direction X is parallel to the arrangement direction of the first housing portion 211 and the second housing portion 212.

[0107] For example, the first splice F1 and the second splice F2 are located at the two ends of the battery cell 100 along the first direction X, respectively. The first splice F1 and the second splice F2 can be two different types of splices on the housing 110 of the battery cell 100. For example, the first splice F1 is a negative electrode weld and the second splice F2 is a positive electrode weld.

[0108] The support structure 25 is an auxiliary support component located inside the housing 21 of the accommodating device 20, used to fix the housing 110 of the battery cell 100 and define the placement posture of the housing 110. The first housing portion 211 is recessed in a direction away from the second housing portion 212 to form a first recessed space, and the second housing portion 212 is recessed in a direction away from the first housing portion 211 to form a second recessed space. The support structure 25 can be located in the first recessed space. One end of the housing 110 with the second splice F2 is disposed in the sealed space, and the other end of the housing 110 with the first splice F1 is disposed in the recess 251.

[0109] The recess 251 is a groove structure formed by the recess of the support structure 25. Its shape is adapted to the end of the housing 110 and is used to position the housing 110. The recess 251 is a load-bearing and limiting structure of the housing 110, which accommodates the end of the housing 110 with the first splice F1, can fix the posture of the housing 110, and reduce the possibility of the housing 110 shifting during the detection process and affecting the detection accuracy.

[0110] Optionally, the number of F1s at the first splice may include one or more.

[0111] Optionally, the number of F2 at the second splice may include one or more.

[0112] In some examples, multiple sealing structures 22 are disposed within the recess 251 to seal one or more first joints F1 located within the recess 251, thereby allowing the second joints F2 outside the recess 251 to communicate with the sealed space. In other examples, a portion of the multiple sealing structures 22 are disposed within the recess 251 to seal one or more first joints F1 within the recess 251; another portion of the multiple sealing structures 22 are disposed within the recess 251 to seal one or more second joints F2 outside the recess 251. It is understood that one first joint F1 or one second joint F2 may not be sealed by the sealing structure 22, and the unsealed first joint F1 or second joint F2 may communicate with the sealed space. In other examples, multiple sealing structures 22 are provided outside the recess 251 to seal one or more second joints F2 outside the recess 251, so that the first joint F1 inside the recess 251 can connect to the second communication port 24 with the cooperation of other structures.

[0113] In this embodiment of the application, the recess 251 of the support structure 25 is adapted to the part of the housing 110 with a partial splice, thereby achieving stable positioning of the housing 110, reducing the possibility of displacement or attitude deviation of the housing 110 during the detection process, improving the sealing connection stability of the inflation device 10 and the communication hole 120 of the housing 110, reducing the detection error caused by the displacement of the housing 110, and improving the reliability of the detection results. At the same time, the recess provides more space for the sealing components to be arranged, thereby improving the flexibility of the arrangement of the sealing components.

[0114] In some alternative embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The plurality of accommodating devices 20 include a first accommodating member C1, a second connecting port 24 including a first sub-connecting port 241, and a second housing portion 212 of the first accommodating member C1 having the first sub-connecting port 241. The plurality of sealing structures 22 include a first sealing member 221, which is disposed within a recess 251 of the first accommodating member C1. The first sealing member 221 is used to seal the joint disposed within the recess 251 and cooperates with the second housing portion 212 to communicate the joint located outside the recess 251 with the sealing space.

[0115] The first sub-connection port 241 is a channel opened on the outer shell 21 of the first accommodating member C1 for connecting the detection device 30 and the sealed space, and is the interface for the detection device 30 to collect gas parameters in the sealed space.

[0116] Optionally, the first communication port 23 may be provided on the first housing portion 211 of the first receiving member C1.

[0117] The first sealing element 221 is disposed in the recess 251 of the first accommodating element C1 and is used to seal the splice (i.e. the first splice F1) disposed in the recess 251, so as to isolate the first splice F1 from the sealed space, so that the detection device 30 can monitor the leakage of the second splice F2 in the sealed space only through the first sub-connection port 241, reduce the interference of the leaked gas of the first splice F1 on the detection results of the second splice F2, and greatly reduce the blindness and cost of subsequent repair welding.

[0118] In some alternative embodiments, please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5The second housing portion 212 of the first accommodating member C1 includes a first wall portion 2121 and a second wall portion 2122. The first wall portion 2121 is connected to the first housing portion 211 via the second wall portion 2122. The first wall portion 2121 and the support structure 25 are disposed opposite each other along the first direction X. The first wall portion 2121 includes a first sub-wall portion 2121a and a second sub-wall portion 2121b. The second sub-wall portion 2121b is disposed on the side of the first sub-wall portion 2121a facing the support structure 25. A first connecting port 23 is disposed through the first sub-wall portion 2121a and the second sub-wall portion 2121b. The first sub-connecting port 241 includes a first segment 241a and a second segment 241b that are connected. The first segment 241a is disposed through the first sub-wall portion 2121a. At least a portion of the second segment 241b extends in a direction perpendicular to the first direction X and connects to the sealed space.

[0119] Optionally, the first wall portion 2121 and the second wall portion 2122 enclose and form a second recessed space. The first wall portion 2121 is disposed opposite to the support structure 25 along the first direction X. The second wall portion 2122 surrounds the periphery of the housing 110 of the battery cell 100. The second wall portion 2122 can be sealed and connected to the first housing portion 211 so that the first housing portion 211 and the second housing portion 212 are connected.

[0120] The first wall portion 2121 includes a first sub-wall portion 2121a and a second sub-wall portion 2121b. The first sub-wall portion 2121a and the second sub-wall portion 2121b are stacked, and the second sub-wall portion 2121b is located on the side of the first sub-wall portion 2121a facing the support structure 25. The second sub-wall portion 2121b protrudes towards the support structure 25. The first sub-connecting port 241 passes through the first sub-wall portion 2121a and the second sub-wall portion 2121b, that is, the inflation pipe of the inflation device 10 passes through the first sub-wall portion 2121a and the second sub-wall portion 2121b and connects with the connecting hole 120 of the housing 110.

[0121] The first sub-connection port 241 includes a first segment 241a and a second segment 241b that are connected. The first segment 241a is disposed through the first sub-wall portion 2121a. At least a portion of the second segment 241b extends in a direction perpendicular to the first direction X and connects to the sealed space. This means that the first sub-connection port 241 is divided into two segments. The first segment 241a is a straight segment that passes through the first sub-wall portion 2121a and is used to connect an external detection device 30. The second segment 241b is directionally changed. By extending perpendicular to the first direction X, the opening of the second segment 241b is brought closer to the second splice F2, thereby shortening the distance between the first sub-connection port 241 and the second splice F2.

[0122] Optionally, the second segment 241b may extend to the area near the second splice F2, that is, along the first direction X and in the same plane, the projection of the second splice F2 falls within the projection of the first opening.

[0123] Optionally, the sealing structure 22 further includes a fourth sealing element 224. The fourth sealing element 224 can be an annular sealing structure 22, which can fill the gap between the second section 241b and the housing 110, ensuring that the first sub-connection port 241 communicates only with the sealed space, reducing the possibility of gas leakage in the detection path affecting the detection accuracy. The fourth sealing element 224 is disposed between the second sub-wall portion 2121b and the housing 110. The fourth sealing element 224, the second sub-wall portion 2121b, and the housing 110 together form a sealed space where the second splice F2 is disposed, so that the first sub-connection port 241 communicates only with the sealed space where the second splice F2 is disposed.

[0124] The embodiment of this application, through the directional extension design of the second segment 241b, allows the detection end of the detection path to be closer to the area where the second splice F2 is located, enabling the detection device 30 to capture the trace amount of gas leaking from the second splice F2 more quickly, thereby improving the sensitivity and response speed of leak detection.

[0125] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the detection device provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0126] In some alternative embodiments, please refer to Figures 5 to 7 The plurality of receiving devices 20 include a second receiving member C2, a second connecting port 24 includes a second sub-connecting port 242, and the second housing portion 212 of the second receiving member C2 is provided with the second sub-connecting port 242. The support structure 25 is provided with a first channel L, which is used to expose a portion of the splice located within the recess 251. The sealing structure 22 includes a second sealing member 222, and the second sub-connecting port 242 is sealed and connected to the first channel L through the second sealing member 222. The second sealing member 222 is used to seal the splice located outside the recess 251.

[0127] The second sub-connection port 242 is a channel opened on the outer shell 21 of the second accommodating component C2 for connecting the detection device 30 with the sealed space, and is the interface for the detection device 30 to collect gas parameters in the sealed space.

[0128] Optionally, the second sub-connection port 242 may be disposed on the first shell portion 211 of the second accommodating member C2, and the second sub-connection port 242 may also be disposed on the second shell portion 212 of the second accommodating member C2.

[0129] The support structure 25 has at least a portion of a first channel L. Specifically, the support structure 25 has a through-type first channel L on one side facing the first splice F1 of the housing 110 of the battery cell 100. One end of the first channel L directly corresponds to the first splice F1 of the housing 110 (achieving complete exposure of the first splice F1), and the other end of the first channel L extends to the top wall (the side of the support structure 25 facing the second shell 212) or the side wall of the support structure 25. The second seal 222 is an annular sealing ring, which is fitted at the port of the second sub-connection port 242. When the first shell 211 of the second accommodating member C2 is engaged with the second shell 212, the second seal 222 is squeezed between the port of the second sub-connection port 242 and the channel interface of the side wall of the support structure 25 to form a sealed connection, so that the splice outside the recess 251 is blocked from the second sub-connection port 242.

[0130] The first channel L is a through channel opened on the support structure 25 (partial area can be formed by the support structure 25 and the outer shell 21). The first channel L completely exposes the first splice F1 of the battery cell 100 and the shell 110 to the detection path, providing space for the detection device 30 to capture the leaked gas at the first splice F1.

[0131] In this embodiment, the second accommodating member C2 cooperates with the inflation device 10 and the detection device 30 to realize the working process of the sealing test of the first splice F1 as follows: the battery cell 100 housing 110 that has completed the second splice F2 test is transferred into the second accommodating member C2, so that the end of the housing 110 with the first splice F1 is embedded in the recess 251 (or groove) of the support structure 25. The first splice F1 corresponds to the entrance of the first channel L. At the same time, the connecting hole 120 of the housing 110 is aligned with the second sub-connecting port 242. The first shell part 211 and the second shell part 212 of the second accommodating member C2 are driven to move towards each other and lock together. At this time, the second sealing member 222 is squeezed and deformed to complete the sealing connection between the second sub-connecting port 242 and the first channel L. At the same time, the support structure 25 and the outer shell 21 cooperate to form a sealed first channel L, and the first splice F1 is completely exposed in the first channel L. The inflation device 10 is sealed to the connecting hole 120 of the housing 110 via the second sub-connecting port 242, and injects a detection gas (such as helium or nitrogen) into the housing 110 to create a stable high-pressure environment inside the housing 110. The detection device 30 collects parameters such as gas concentration and pressure changes in the first channel L via the sealed passage between the second sub-connecting port 242 and the first channel L. If there is a sealing defect at the first joint F1, the high-pressure detection gas inside the housing 110 will leak from the defect to the first channel L. After the detection device 30 detects the abnormal change in the gas parameters, it can determine that the sealing at the first joint F1 has failed. If the parameters are normal, the sealing performance of the first joint F1 is deemed qualified. After the test is completed, the inflation device 10 stops inflation and releases the residual pressure inside the housing 110, driving the first shell part 211 and the second shell part 212 to separate, and removes the tested housing 110 from the second accommodating member C2, completing the test process for the first joint F1.

[0132] Through the above-described configuration, this application embodiment achieves directional and precise detection of the first splice F1, forming a complete splice detection system with the detection of the second splice F2 of the first accommodating component C1. This system can accurately locate the specific position of the leaking splice, significantly reducing the blindness of subsequent repair welding and improving the preparation yield of the battery cell 100.

[0133] In some alternative embodiments, please refer to Figures 5 to 7The second housing portion 212 of the second accommodating member C2 includes a third wall portion 2123 and a fourth wall portion 2124 connected to each other. The fourth wall portion 2124 forms a sidewall of the sealed space. The third wall portion 2123 is disposed opposite to the support structure 25 along the first direction X. The fourth wall portion 2124 includes a third sub-wall portion 2124a and a fourth sub-wall portion 2124b. The third sub-wall portion 2124a is disposed around the periphery of the fourth sub-wall portion 2124b. A second sub-connection port 242 is formed between the third sub-wall portion 2124a and the fourth sub-wall portion 2124b. The third sub-wall portion 2124a is sealed to the first housing portion 211. The fourth sub-wall portion 2124b is disposed around the periphery of the recess 251. The fourth sub-wall portion 2124b is sealed to the support structure 25 by a second sealing member 222.

[0134] Optionally, the third wall portion 2123 and the fourth wall portion 2124 enclose a second recessed space. The third wall portion 2123 is disposed opposite to the support structure 25 along the first direction X. The fourth wall portion 2124 surrounds the periphery of the housing 110 of the battery cell 100. The fourth wall portion 2124 can be sealed to the first housing portion 211 so that the first housing portion 211 and the second housing portion 212 are connected.

[0135] The fourth wall portion 2124 includes a third sub-wall portion 2124a and a fourth sub-wall portion 2124b. The third sub-wall portion 2124a is the outer wall of the fourth wall portion 2124, surrounding the fourth sub-wall portion 2124b. Its side away from the fourth sub-wall portion 2124b is sealed to the first shell portion 211, and its inner side cooperates with the fourth sub-wall portion 2124b to form a second sub-connection port 242. The fourth sub-wall portion 2124b is the inner wall of the fourth wall portion 2124, surrounding the recess 251 of the support structure 25. Its bottom end is sealed to the support structure 25 through a second sealing member 222, which can also limit the circumferential displacement of the shell 110 during the detection process.

[0136] Optionally, the third sub-wall portion 2124a and the fourth sub-wall portion 2124b are both connected to the third wall portion 2123.

[0137] This embodiment of the application integrates the two functions of sealing space sidewall forming and second sub-connection port 242 construction into the same component by designing the fourth wall portion 2124b as a separate part. The fourth sub-wall portion 2124b ensures the circumferential airtightness of the sealing space, and the enclosure of the third sub-wall portion 2124a and the fourth sub-wall portion 2124b forms an independent detection interface, which improves the targeting of the detection. At the same time, the second sealing element 222 can seal the second splice F2, reducing the possibility that gas leakage at the second splice F2 will affect the detection results.

[0138] In some alternative embodiments, please refer to Figures 5 to 7The support structure 25 includes a support portion 252 and a limiting portion 253. The support portion 252 forms the bottom wall of the recess 251, and the limiting portion 253 forms the side wall of the recess 251. The first channel L includes a third segment L1 and a fourth segment L2 that are connected. The third segment L1 passes through the support portion 252 and is used to expose a portion of the splice of the housing 110 located in the recess 251. At least one of the limiting portion 253 and the support portion 252 forms the fourth segment L2 with the first housing portion 211. The sealing structure 22 includes a third seal 223, which is disposed on the side of the support portion 252 facing away from the first housing portion 211. The third seal 223 is used to seal another portion of the splice of the housing 110 located in the recess 251.

[0139] The support structure 25 includes a support portion 252, which supports the housing 110 of the battery cell 100. The support portion 252 is a bottom wall recessed on the side of the support structure 25 facing the second housing portion 212. The side of the support portion 252 facing away from the first housing portion 211 is a sealing surface for accommodating a third seal 223. The support structure 25 also includes a limiting portion 253, which is connected to the edge of the support portion 252 and forms the sidewall of the recess 251. The limiting portion 253 can limit the circumferential displacement of the housing 110 of the battery cell 100 during the testing process, reducing the possibility of misalignment of the testing path caused by the displacement of the housing 110.

[0140] Optionally, the first splice F1 of the housing 110 includes a first sub-splice F11 and a second sub-splice F12. The first sub-splice F11 and the second sub-splice F12 are spaced apart. When the housing 110 is placed in the recess 251, both the first sub-splice F11 and the second sub-splice F12 are located within the recess 251. The third seal 223 can be used to seal one of the first sub-splice F11 and the second sub-splice F12, while the other splice is exposed to the first channel L.

[0141] For example, the first channel L is a detection path constructed between the support structure 25 and the first shell portion 211 to expose the second sub-joint F12. The first channel L is composed of a third segment L1 and a fourth segment L2 connected together. The first channel L is the channel through which the detection device 30 captures leaked gas at the second sub-joint F12. The third segment L1 may extend along the first direction X and penetrate the support portion 252, or the third segment L1 may also extend along a direction perpendicular to the first direction X and penetrate the support portion 252. When the third segment L1 extends along the first direction X and penetrates the support portion 252, the third segment L1 can extend from the side of the support portion 252 toward the recess 251 to the side of the support portion 252 toward the bottom wall of the first shell portion 211. The fourth segment L2 is composed of the gap between the support portion 252 and the bottom wall of the first shell portion 211, the gap between the support portion 252 and the side wall of the first shell portion 211, and the gap between the limiting portion 253 and the side wall of the first shell portion 211, so that the fourth segment L2 connects the third segment L1 and the second sub-connection port 242. Optionally, the fourth segment L2 can also be formed by the gap between the support portion 252 and the first shell portion 211.

[0142] The third seal 223 is a sealing element adapted to the shape of the first sub-joint F11, and can be a ring-shaped or sheet-shaped sealing gasket made of silicone or fluororubber. The third seal 223 is disposed on the side of the support 252 facing away from the first housing 211. The third seal 223 is used to seal and isolate the first sub-joint F11, so that the first sub-joint F11 is isolated from the detection passage.

[0143] Optionally, the first sub-joint F11 can be a negative electrode weld, and the second sub-joint F12 can be an end cap 110a weld.

[0144] Optionally, the first sub-joining point F11 can be located in the middle region of the end of the housing 110 of the battery cell 100 along the first direction X. For example, the end of the housing 110 of the battery cell 100 with the first joining point F1 is an end cap 110a, and an electrode terminal 130 is connected to the middle region of the end cap 110a. The connection between the end cap 110a and the electrode terminal 130 can form the first sub-joining point F11. The connection between the periphery of the end cap 110a and the housing body 110b can form the second sub-joining point F12.

[0145] Optionally, the positions of the first sub-joint F11 and the second sub-joint F12 on the housing 110 of the battery cell 100 can be interchanged, so that the second accommodating member C2 can include two types, one type of second accommodating member C2 is the first sub-accommodating member C21, and the other type of second accommodating member C2 is the second sub-accommodating member C22. The third sealing member 223 in the first sub-accommodating member C21 is used to seal the weld at the connection between the end cap 110a and the electrode terminal 130, and the third sealing member 223 in the second sub-accommodating member C22 is used to seal the weld at the connection between the periphery of the end cap 110a and the housing body 110b.

[0146] In these alternative embodiments, the isolation effect of the third seal 223 reduces the interference of the first sub-joint F11 on the detection path, and the detection device 30 can only capture the leakage signal of the second sub-joint F12, which greatly reduces the false judgment rate. At the same time, the third segment L1 of the first channel L is directly attached to the second sub-joint F12, shortening the transmission path of the leaked gas. The directional transition of the fourth segment L2 improves the layout flexibility of the detection path and its compatibility with the second sub-connection port 242, thereby improving the detection device 30's sensitivity and response speed in capturing trace amounts of leaked gas.

[0147] In some optional embodiments, the receiving device 20 further includes a support structure 25 disposed within the sealed space, the support structure 25 serving to support the housing. The support structure 25 is made of non-porous plastic.

[0148] In this embodiment, since the structure and function of the support structure 25 have already been described above, they will not be repeated here. The following is a detailed explanation of the material of the support structure 25, which is non-porous plastic:

[0149] Alternatively, the non-porous plastic can be polypropylene (PP), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyoxymethylene (POM), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polycarbonate (PC), and modified epoxy resin (thermosetting non-porous plastic).

[0150] The dense molecular structure of non-porous plastic has no pores or capillary channels, so it will not adsorb trace amounts of gas (such as helium) leaked during the detection process, nor will it allow external air or detection gas inside the housing 110 to permeate through the material itself. This reduces the possibility of "false negatives" (leaked gas is adsorbed and the detection device 30 does not capture it) or "false positives" (residual gas release interferes with the results) caused by gas adsorption / permeation, and greatly improves the accuracy and reliability of the sealing determination at the splice.

[0151] According to some embodiments of this application, this application provides a battery production system, including the testing equipment provided in any of the above embodiments.

[0152] Optionally, the battery production system may also include processing equipment for processing the casing of the battery cells. For example, the processing equipment may weld end caps and casing bodies to form a casing. And / or, the processing equipment may also weld electrode terminals to the casing to form positive electrode welds or negative electrode welds.

[0153] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this application. In order to better understand the technical means of this application and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this application more obvious and understandable, the following are specific embodiments of this application.

[0154] Please refer to the following: Figures 1 to 7 This application provides a testing device for testing the sealing performance of the joint of the housing 110 of a battery cell 100. The housing 110 has a communicating hole 120 that communicates with its interior. The testing device includes an inflation device 10, a receiving device 20, and a testing device 30. The receiving device 20 includes a housing 21 and a sealing structure 22. The housing 21 includes a first housing portion 211 and a second housing portion 212 that are detachably connected. The first housing portion 211 and the second housing portion 212 are used to enclose and form a sealed space for accommodating the housing 110. The housing 21 has a first communicating port 23 and a second communicating port 24 that are spaced apart. The inflation device 10 can be sealed and communicated with the communicating hole 120 through the first communicating port 23. The sealing structure 22 is disposed in the sealed space and is used to seal the joint of the housing 110 located in the sealed space. The testing device 30 is connected to the second communicating port 24 and communicates with the sealed space through the second communicating port 24.

[0155] Multiple receiving devices 20 are provided, and at least one sealing structure 22 of one receiving device 20 is located in a different position from at least one sealing structure 22 of the other receiving device 20. The inflation device 10 is configured to selectively communicate with one of the multiple receiving devices 20, and the detection device 30 is configured to selectively communicate with one of the multiple receiving devices 20. The first communication port 23 and the second communication port 24 are both provided in the second shell portion 212.

[0156] The receiving device 20 further includes a support structure 25 disposed within the sealed space. The support structure 25 supports the housing 110 and cooperates with the first housing portion 211 and the second housing portion 212 to communicate the joint not sealed by the sealing structure 22 with the sealed space. The support structure 25 includes a recess 251 for accommodating the portion of the housing 110 where a partial joint is provided. The number of sealing structures 22 is set to a plurality, wherein at least some of the plurality of sealing structures 22 are disposed within the recess 251 to seal at least a portion of the joint provided within the recess 251; and / or, at least some of the plurality of sealing structures 22 are disposed outside the recess 251 to seal the joint provided outside the recess 251.

[0157] Multiple receiving devices 20 include a first receiving member C1, a second connecting port 24 including a first sub-connecting port 241, and a second housing portion 212 of the first receiving member C1 having the first sub-connecting port 241. Multiple sealing structures 22 include a first sealing member 221, which is disposed within a recess 251 of the first receiving member C1. The first sealing member 221 is used to seal the joint disposed within the recess 251 and cooperates with the second housing portion 212 to communicate the joint located outside the recess 251 with the sealing space.

[0158] The second housing portion 212 of the first receiving member C1 includes a first wall portion 2121 and a second wall portion 2122. The first wall portion 2121 is connected to the first housing portion 211 via the second wall portion 2122. The first wall portion 2121 and the support structure 25 are disposed opposite each other along the first direction X. The first wall portion 2121 includes a first sub-wall portion 2121a and a second sub-wall portion 2121b. The second sub-wall portion 2121b is disposed on the side of the first sub-wall portion 2121a facing the support structure 25. A first connecting port 23 is disposed through the first sub-wall portion 2121a and the second sub-wall portion 2121b. The first sub-connecting port 241 includes a first segment 241a and a second segment 241b that are connected. The first segment 241a is disposed through the first sub-wall portion 2121a. At least a portion of the second segment 241b extends in a direction perpendicular to the first direction X and connects to the sealed space.

[0159] Multiple receiving devices 20 include a second receiving member C2, a second connecting port 24 includes a second sub-connecting port 242, and the second housing portion 212 of the second receiving member C2 is provided with the second sub-connecting port 242. A support structure 25 is provided with a first channel L, which exposes a portion of the joint located within the recess 251. A sealing structure 22 includes a second sealing member 222, which seals and connects the second sub-connecting port 242 to the first channel L, and seals the joint located outside the recess 251.

[0160] The second housing portion 212 of the second accommodating member C2 includes a third wall portion 2123 and a fourth wall portion 2124 connected to each other. The fourth wall portion 2124 forms a sidewall of the sealed space. The third wall portion 2123 is disposed opposite to the support structure 25 along the first direction X. The fourth wall portion 2124 includes a third sub-wall portion 2124a and a fourth sub-wall portion 2124b. The third sub-wall portion 2124a is disposed around the periphery of the fourth sub-wall portion 2124b. A second sub-connection port 242 is formed between the third sub-wall portion 2124a and the fourth sub-wall portion 2124b. The third sub-wall portion 2124a is sealed to the first housing portion 211. The fourth sub-wall portion 2124b is disposed around the periphery of the recess 251. The fourth sub-wall portion 2124b is sealed to the support structure 25 by a second sealing member 222.

[0161] The first splicing point F1 includes a first sub-splicing point F11 and a second sub-splicing point F12 spaced apart. The support structure 25 includes a support portion 252 and a limiting portion 253. The support portion 252 forms the bottom wall of the recess 251, and the limiting portion 253 forms the side wall of the recess 251. The first channel L includes a third segment L1 and a fourth segment L2 that are connected. The third segment L1 penetrates the support portion 252 and is used to expose a portion of the splicing point of the housing 110 located within the recess 251. At least one of the limiting portion 253 and the support portion 252 forms the fourth segment L2 between itself and the first housing portion 211. The sealing structure 22 includes a third seal 223, which is disposed on the side of the support portion 252 facing away from the first housing portion 211. The third seal 223 is used to seal another portion of the splicing point of the housing 110 located within the recess 251. The support structure 25 is made of non-porous plastic.

[0162] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other.

[0163] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. However, these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. An inspection apparatus for inspecting a seal of a joint of a case of a battery cell, the case being provided with a communication hole communicating with an inside thereof, characterized by comprising: a first inspection unit configured to inspect a seal of a joint of the case by using a first inspection method; and a second inspection unit configured to inspect a seal of a joint of the case by using a second inspection method different from the first inspection method. The detection equipment includes: Inflation device; A receiving device includes a housing and a sealing structure. The housing includes a detachably connected first housing portion and a second housing portion, which enclose a sealed space for accommodating the housing. The housing has a first connecting port and a second connecting port spaced apart. An inflation device can be sealed and connected to the connecting port through the first connecting port. The sealing structure is disposed in the sealed space and is used to seal the joint of the housing portion located in the sealed space. Multiple receiving devices are provided, and at least one sealing structure of one of any two receiving devices is positioned differently from at least one sealing structure of the other receiving device. The detection device is connected to the second communication port and communicates with the sealed space through the second communication port.

2. The detection device of claim 1, wherein, The inflation device is configured to selectively connect to one of the plurality of the receiving devices, and the detection device is configured to selectively connect to one of the plurality of the receiving devices.

3. The detection device of claim 1, wherein, Both the first and second connecting ports are located in the second shell portion, and both the inflation device and the detection device are located on the side of the second shell portion away from the first shell portion.

4. The detection device of claim 1, wherein, The wall surfaces of the first shell portion facing the sealed space and the second shell portion facing the sealed space are configured as smooth surfaces.

5. The detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The accommodating device further includes a support structure disposed within the sealed space. The support structure supports the housing and cooperates with the first housing portion and the second housing portion to communicate with the sealed space at the joint not sealed by the sealing structure.

6. The detection device of claim 5, wherein, The support structure includes a recess for accommodating portions of the housing where partial joints are located; the sealing structure comprises multiple components. Wherein, at least a portion of the plurality of sealing structures are disposed within the recess to seal at least a portion of the joint disposed within the recess; and / or At least a portion of the plurality of sealing structures are disposed outside the recess for sealing the joint disposed outside the recess.

7. The detection device of claim 6, wherein, The plurality of accommodating devices include a first accommodating member, the second communication port includes a first sub-communication port, and the second housing portion of the first accommodating member is provided with the first sub-communication port; The plurality of sealing structures include a first sealing member disposed within the recess of the first receiving member. The first sealing member is used to seal the splice disposed within the recess and cooperates with the second shell portion to communicate the splice located outside the recess with the sealing space.

8. The detection device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The second housing portion of the first receiving member includes a first wall portion and a second wall portion, the first wall portion being connected to the first housing portion through the second wall portion, and the first wall portion being disposed opposite to the support structure along a first direction; The first wall portion includes a first sub-wall portion and a second sub-wall portion, the second sub-wall portion is disposed on the side of the first sub-wall portion facing the support structure, and the first communication port is disposed through the first sub-wall portion and the second sub-wall portion; The first sub-connection port includes a first segment and a second segment that are connected. The first segment extends through the first sub-wall portion, and at least a portion of the second segment extends in a direction perpendicular to the first direction and connects to the sealed space.

9. The detection device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The plurality of accommodating devices include a second accommodating member, the second communication port including a second sub-communication port, the second housing portion of the second accommodating member having the second sub-communication port; the support structure having a first channel for exposing a portion of the splice located within the recess; The sealing structure includes a second sealing element, the second sub-connection port and the first channel are sealed and connected through the second sealing element, and the second sealing element is used to seal the splice located outside the recess.

10. The detection device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The second housing portion of the second accommodating member includes a third wall portion and a fourth wall portion connected to each other, the fourth wall portion forming a sidewall of the sealed space, and the third wall portion being disposed opposite to the support structure along a first direction; The fourth wall portion includes a third sub-wall portion and a fourth sub-wall portion. The third sub-wall portion is disposed around the periphery of the fourth sub-wall portion. A second sub-connection is formed between the third sub-wall portion and the fourth sub-wall portion. The third sub-wall portion is sealed to the first shell portion. The fourth sub-wall portion is disposed around the periphery of the recess. The fourth sub-wall portion is sealed to the support structure by a second sealing member.

11. The detection device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The support structure includes a support portion and a limiting portion. The support portion forms the bottom wall of the recess, and the limiting portion forms the side wall of the recess. The first channel includes a third segment and a fourth segment that are connected. The third segment penetrates the support portion and is used to expose a part of the shell splice located in the recess. At least one of the limiting portion and the support portion forms a fourth segment with the first shell portion. The sealing structure includes a third sealing element, which is disposed on the side of the support portion facing away from the first housing portion. The third sealing element is used to seal another part of the housing portion splice located in the recess.

12. The detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The accommodating device further includes a support structure disposed within the sealed space, the support structure being used to support the housing; The supporting structure is made of non-porous plastic.

13. A battery production system, characterized in that, Includes the testing equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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