Battery cell group extraction tool and power battery pack

Abstract

The invention provides a battery cell group extraction tool and a power battery pack, the battery cell group extraction tool comprises a base and an electromagnetic adsorption module, the base comprises a hoisting part, the electromagnetic adsorption module is connected to the base, the electromagnetic adsorption module is electrified to adsorb a battery cell, and the hoisting part is used for hoisting the battery cell group. And the electromagnetic adsorption module is powered off to release the battery cell. When the battery cell extraction tool is used for extracting the battery cell group, end plates and side plates do not need to be arranged at the two ends and the two sides of the battery cell group respectively, a holding tool opening space does not need to be reserved in a lower box body of the power battery pack, and waiting for curing of a structural adhesive is not needed, so that the weight and the cost of the power battery pack can be reduced; and the energy density, the volume utilization rate, the assembly efficiency and the production takt of the power battery pack are improved. And moreover, the battery cell can be released after being powered off after falling to the target position, so that the problem that the battery cell is damaged when falling freely due to the fact that the battery cell is still a certain distance away from the target position when the battery cell is released is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of power battery pack manufacturing technology, and in particular to a cell extraction tooling and a power battery pack. Background Technology

[0002] In the production process of power battery packs, extraction fixtures are used to extract the battery cell packs and place them into the lower housing. After placement, the extraction fixtures are removed from the lower housing. Currently, to achieve extraction of the battery cell packs, end plates are installed at both ends and side plates on both sides. Holes or flanges are provided on the end plates or side plates. The battery cell packs are extracted by friction generated when a lifting rod contacts the holes or by a lifting device holding the flanges.

[0003] The above extraction method has the following drawbacks: The end plates and side plates of the cell assembly increase the weight and cost of the power battery pack, reduce its energy density, and the assembly of the end plates and side plates significantly impacts the assembly efficiency of the production line. After the cell assembly is placed into the lower housing, the clamp needs to release the cell assembly, which occupies part of the lower housing's volume, reducing the battery pack's volume utilization. To prevent cells from falling out during extraction, structural adhesive needs to be filled between the end plates and side plates and the cell assembly, as well as between cells within the cell assembly. Extraction only occurs after the structural adhesive has cured to a certain strength, significantly affecting the production line's cycle time.

[0004] Therefore, how to avoid some or all of the above-mentioned drawbacks is a technical problem that needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application provides a battery cell extraction tooling, which includes a base and an electromagnetic adsorption module. The base includes a lifting part, and the electromagnetic adsorption module is connected to the base. The battery cell is adsorbed by energizing the electromagnetic adsorption module, and the battery cell is released by de-energizing the electromagnetic adsorption module.

[0006] One embodiment of the battery cell assembly extraction fixture includes a base comprising a substrate and fasteners. The substrate has through holes, and the fasteners are inserted into the through holes. An electromagnetic adsorption module is connected to the lower part of the substrate via the fasteners. The fasteners can move up and down in the through holes. When the fasteners move upward to their limit position, the electromagnetic adsorption module abuts against the lower surface of the substrate. When the fasteners move downward to their limit position, the head of the fastener abuts against the upper surface of the substrate.

[0007] One embodiment of the battery cell assembly extraction fixture includes a substrate comprising an upper rigid plate and a lower rubber plate, a base comprising a frame, and the upper rigid plate, the lower rubber plate, and the lifting part all connected to the frame.

[0008] In one embodiment of the battery cell extraction fixture, the lower end of the electromagnetic adsorption module is provided with a groove for accommodating the positive electrode of the adsorbed battery cell, the depth of the groove is greater than the height of the positive electrode of the adsorbed battery cell, and the inner diameter of the groove is greater than the outer diameter of the positive electrode of the adsorbed battery cell.

[0009] In one embodiment of the battery cell extraction fixture, the lower end of the electromagnetic adsorption module is provided with a receiving portion for accommodating the negative electrode of the adsorbed battery cell. The receiving portion surrounds the groove, and a rubber ring is installed in the groove to isolate the positive and negative electrodes of the adsorbed battery cell.

[0010] One embodiment of the battery cell extraction tooling includes an electromagnetic adsorption module comprising a first electromagnetic part and a second electromagnetic part. The first electromagnetic part includes an annular wall part, an end wall part, and a core column part. The upper end of the annular wall part is closed by the end wall part, the core column part is located inside the annular wall part, the upper end of the core column part is connected to the end wall part, and the lower end of the annular wall part is an open end. The second electromagnetic part is assembled at the lower end of the core column part, the groove is provided at the lower end of the second electromagnetic part, and the receiving part is formed between the second electromagnetic part and the annular wall part.

[0011] One embodiment of the battery cell extraction fixture includes a baffle connected to the base, the lower end of the baffle extending below the base, and the side of the baffle facing the battery cell to be extracted having a mating surface that mates with the outer surface of the battery cell to be extracted.

[0012] One embodiment of the battery cell extraction fixture includes a positioning pin connected to the base, the lower end of the positioning pin extending below the base, and the positioning pin being used to engage with a positioning hole on the lower housing of the power battery pack.

[0013] One embodiment of the battery cell extraction fixture includes an anti-drop component, which includes a stop and a connecting part. The connecting part is rotatably connected to the base. When the connecting part is rotatably rotated downward relative to the base to its limit position, the stop is located below the adsorbed battery cell. When the connecting part is rotatably rotated upward relative to the base to its limit position, the stop is removed from below the adsorbed battery cell.

[0014] In addition, this application also provides a power battery pack, which includes a cell assembly and a lower housing. The cell assembly is extracted and placed into the lower housing by a cell assembly extraction tool described in any of the above claims. The cell assembly has no end plates at both ends and no side plates on both sides.

[0015] When using the aforementioned cell extraction fixture to extract cell assemblies, it is unnecessary to install end plates and side plates at both ends and sides of the cell assembly, nor is it necessary to reserve space for the gripper to open within the lower casing of the power battery pack. Furthermore, it eliminates the need to wait for the structural adhesive to cure. Therefore, it reduces the weight and cost of the power battery pack, while improving its energy density, volume utilization, assembly efficiency, and production cycle time. Moreover, the power can be cut off and the cell released only after it has fallen to the target position, avoiding the problem of damage to the cell during free fall when it is still some distance from the target position. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the cell assembly extraction fixture provided in this application in the state where the anti-drop component is flipped downwards to its limit position;

[0017] Figure 2 Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing the anti-drop component flipped upwards to its limit position;

[0018] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Sectional view along axis AA;

[0019] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a fastener and an electromagnetic adsorption module that are interconnected in the figure, in which the electromagnetic adsorption module adsorbs the battery cell.

[0020] The annotations in the attached figures are explained as follows: 1. Base, 11. Lifting part, 12. Base plate, 121. Upper rigid plate, 122. Lower rubber plate, 13. Fastener, 14. Frame, 141. Longitudinal beam, 142. Cross beam, 15. Gasket. 2 Electromagnetic adsorption module, 21 First electromagnetic part, 211 Annular wall part, 212 End wall part, 213 Core column part, 22 Second electromagnetic part, A Groove, B Receiving part, C Rubber ring, 23 Connecting wire harness; 3 baffles; 4 positioning pins; 5 Anti-fall component, 51 Stop part, 52 Connecting part. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solution of this application, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0022] This application provides a battery cell assembly extraction tool, which can be used to extract battery cell assemblies and place them into the lower housing of a power battery pack, or to extract battery cell assemblies from the lower housing of a power battery pack and place them outside the lower housing of the power battery pack.

[0023] like Figure 1and Figure 3 As shown, the battery cell extraction fixture provided in this application includes a base 1 and an electromagnetic adsorption module 2.

[0024] The base 1 includes a lifting section 11. More specifically, the lifting section 11 can be a lifting ring. The lifting section 11 can be connected to an electric servo lifting mechanism and, in conjunction with a gantry crane, realize the overall lifting and translation of the battery cell assembly extraction fixture.

[0025] The electromagnetic adsorption module 2 is connected to the base 1. It adsorbs battery cells by energizing the module and releases them by de-energizing it. More specifically, the number of electromagnetic adsorption modules 2 can be flexibly set as needed. For example, the number of modules 2 can be the same as the number of battery cells in the battery cell group to be extracted, with each module 2 adsorbing one battery cell, allowing the entire battery cell group to be extracted at once. Alternatively, only one module 2 can be used, extracting only one cell from the battery cell group at a time.

[0026] When using the aforementioned cell extraction fixture to extract cell assemblies, it is unnecessary to install end plates and side plates at both ends and sides of the cell assembly, nor is it necessary to reserve space for the gripper to open within the lower casing of the power battery pack. Furthermore, it eliminates the need to wait for the structural adhesive to cure. Therefore, it reduces the weight and cost of the power battery pack, while improving its energy density, volume utilization, assembly efficiency, and production cycle time. Moreover, the power can be cut off and the cell released only after it has fallen to the target position, avoiding the problem of damage to the cell during free fall when it is still some distance from the target position.

[0027] In one specific embodiment, such as Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the base 1 includes a substrate 12 and a fastener 13. The substrate 12 has a through hole, and the fastener 13 is inserted into the through hole. The electromagnetic adsorption module 2 is connected to the lower part of the substrate 12 via the fastener 13. The diameter of the through hole is slightly larger than the diameter of the rod of the fastener 13 (preferably 1mm-2mm larger), allowing the fastener 13 to move up and down within the through hole. When the fastener 13 moves upward to its limit position, the electromagnetic adsorption module 2 abuts against the lower surface of the substrate 12, preventing the fastener 13 from moving further upward. When the fastener 13 moves downward to its limit position, the head of the fastener 13 abuts against the upper surface of the substrate 12, preventing the fastener 13 from moving further downward. With this design, when there is a height difference between the cells in the battery pack, the electromagnetic adsorption module 2 corresponding to each cell can be adaptively raised and lowered to ensure that each electromagnetic adsorption module 2 can adsorb the corresponding cell.

[0028] More specifically, the fastener 13 can be a bolt. A washer 15 is provided between the bolt head and the upper surface of the base plate 12 (see...). Figure 3This is to prevent the bolts from loosening and damaging the substrate 12. The bolts are threadedly connected to the electromagnetic adsorption module 2 to facilitate the disassembly, assembly, and replacement of the electromagnetic adsorption module 2. Of course, the fastener 13 is not limited to bolts; for example, it can also be a pin, etc.

[0029] More specifically, when multiple fasteners 13 are provided, it is preferable that all fasteners 13 are of equal height.

[0030] In one specific embodiment, such as Figure 3 As shown, the substrate 12 includes an upper rigid plate 121 and a lower rubber plate 122. The upper rigid plate 121 provides sufficient strength and rigidity to ensure the reliability of the connection between the electromagnetic adsorption module 2 and the substrate 12. The lower rubber plate 122 serves to provide electrical isolation and protect the electromagnetic adsorption module 2. More specifically, the upper rigid plate 121 can be made of aluminum to ensure that the self-weight of the cell assembly extraction tool is relatively small, and the lower rubber plate 122 can be made of wear-resistant rubber.

[0031] In one specific embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the base 1 also includes a frame 14, to which the upper rigid plate 121, the lower rubber plate 122, and the lifting part 11 are all connected. The frame 14 can improve the overall strength of the base 1 and ensure the reliability of the extraction process.

[0032] More specifically, the frame 14 may include longitudinal beams 141 (two longitudinal beams 141 are shown in the figure, but not limited to two) and transverse beams 142 (three transverse beams 142 are shown in the figure, but not limited to three). The longitudinal beams 141 and transverse beams 142 are connected by mortise and tenon joints to ensure reliable connection. The base plate 12 is fixed to the underside of the longitudinal beams 141 and transverse beams 142 by bolts around its perimeter for easy assembly. Each transverse beam 142 is provided with a lifting part 11 to ensure reliable lifting. Of course, the structural form of the frame 14, the connection method between the base plate 12 and the frame 14, and the connection method between the lifting part 11 and the frame 14 can all be flexibly designed according to actual needs.

[0033] In one specific embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the battery cell extraction fixture includes a baffle 3, which is connected to the base 1. The lower end of the baffle 3 extends below the base 1. The side of the baffle 3 facing the battery cell to be adsorbed has a mating surface that mates with the outer surface of the battery cell to be adsorbed. For example, when the battery cell to be adsorbed is a cylindrical battery cell, the mating surface is a cylindrical surface.

[0034] More specifically, a baffle 3 can be connected below each of the two longitudinal beams 141 (a baffle 3 is connected below each of the left and right longitudinal beams 141 in the figure).

[0035] In one specific embodiment, such as Figure 1As shown, the cell assembly extraction fixture includes positioning pins 4, which are connected to the base 1. The lower end of the positioning pins 4 extends below the base 1 and is used to engage with positioning holes on the lower housing of the power battery pack. More specifically, a set of positioning pins 4 can be connected below the frontmost crossbeam 142 and the rearmost crossbeam 142. During the process of placing the cell into the lower housing, the positioning pins 4 engage with the positioning holes on the lower housing of the power battery pack, ensuring that the cell moves vertically without easily tilting or hitting the side wall of the lower housing and causing damage.

[0036] In one specific embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the battery cell extraction fixture includes an anti-drop component 5. The anti-drop component 5 includes a stop portion 51 and a connecting portion 52, the connecting portion 52 being rotatably connected to the base 1. When the connecting portion 52 is rotatably rotated downwards relative to the base 1 to its limit position, the stop portion 51 is located below the adsorbed battery cell. Figure 1 (As shown in the image). When the connecting part 52 is flipped upward relative to the base 1 to its limit position, the stop part 51 moves away from below the attracted battery cell (as shown in the image). Figure 3 (as shown in the image). After the battery cell extraction tool picks up the battery cell assembly and raises it to a certain height, the connecting part 52 can be flipped downwards to its limit position, so that the stop part 51 is located below the base 1. This can prevent the battery cell from falling to the ground during the movement. After the battery cell extraction tool moves the battery cell assembly to above the target position, the connecting part 52 can be flipped upwards to its limit position, so that all electromagnetic adsorption modules 2 are exposed, to prevent the stop part 51 from affecting the lowering of the battery cell to the target position.

[0037] More specifically, a set of anti-fall components 5 can be connected to each of the two longitudinal beams 141 of the base 1, and the two sets of anti-fall components 5 can be symmetrical about the longitudinal centerline of the base 1.

[0038] More specifically, the stop part 51 can be a longitudinally extending stop plate, and the connecting part 52 can be multiple C-shaped frames arranged longitudinally at intervals. The base plate of the C-shaped frame is supported below the stop plate and connected to the stop plate by bolts. The top plate of the C-shaped frame is located above the longitudinal beam 141 and is connected to the longitudinal beam 141 by hinges to achieve a flip-up connection. Of course, the structural form of the stop part 51 and the connecting part 52 is not limited to this and can be flexibly designed according to actual needs.

[0039] More specifically, the anti-fall component can be flipped up or down by a cylinder driven by a solenoid valve.

[0040] In one specific embodiment, such as Figure 4As shown, the lower end of the electromagnetic adsorption module 2 has a groove A for accommodating the positive electrode of the adsorbed battery cell. The depth of groove A is greater than the height of the positive electrode of the adsorbed battery cell (preferably 2mm-3mm greater), and the inner diameter of groove A is greater than the outer diameter of the positive electrode of the adsorbed battery cell. This prevents the positive electrode of the adsorbed battery cell from touching the electromagnetic adsorption module 2 and causing the base 1 to become charged.

[0041] In one specific embodiment, such as Figure 4 As shown, the lower end of the electromagnetic adsorption module 2 is provided with a receiving portion B for accommodating the negative electrode of the adsorbed battery cell, and the receiving portion B surrounds the groove A. A rubber ring C is installed inside the groove A to isolate the positive and negative electrodes of the adsorbed battery cell. This prevents the positive and negative electrodes of the adsorbed battery cell from conducting through the electromagnetic adsorption module 2 and causing a short circuit. More specifically, the inner diameter of the rubber ring C is larger than the outer diameter of the positive electrode of the adsorbed battery cell (preferably 2mm-3mm larger).

[0042] In one specific embodiment, the electromagnetic adsorption module 2 includes a first electromagnetic part 21 and a second electromagnetic part 22. The first electromagnetic part 21 includes an annular wall part 211, an end wall part 212, and a core part 213. The upper end of the annular wall part 211 is closed by the end wall part 212. The core part 213 is located inside the annular wall part 211, and the upper end of the core part 213 is connected to the end wall part 212. The lower end of the annular wall part 211 is an open end. The second electromagnetic part 22 is assembled at the lower end of the core part 213. A groove A is provided at the lower end of the second electromagnetic part 22, and a receiving part B is formed between the second electromagnetic part 22 and the annular wall part 211. More specifically, a connection hole can be provided on the annular wall part 211, and a connecting wire harness 23 is led out from the connection hole to connect to a power source. The second electromagnetic part 22 and the core part 213 can be assembled together with screws.

[0043] In addition, this application also provides a power battery pack.

[0044] The power battery pack provided in this application includes a cell assembly and a lower housing. Each cell of the cell assembly is extracted and placed into the lower housing by the cell assembly extraction tool described in any of the above embodiments. The cell assembly has no end plates at both ends and no side plates on both sides.

[0045] The following uses an illustrated embodiment as an example to illustrate the process of using a battery cell extraction tool to extract a battery cell assembly and place it into the lower housing:

[0046] Power on the electromagnetic adsorption module 2 of the battery cell assembly extraction fixture, so that the battery cell assembly extraction fixture moves above the battery cell assembly and then descends until the electromagnetic adsorption module 2 adsorbs the battery cell assembly.

[0047] Then, the battery cell extraction fixture lifts the battery cell assembly and moves it upwards and upwards to the lower housing. When the battery cell extraction fixture lifts the battery cell assembly to a certain height, the anti-fall component 5 flips downwards until the stop part 51 of the anti-fall component 5 is below the adsorbed battery cell. When the battery cell extraction fixture moves the battery cell assembly to the upper part of the lower housing, the anti-fall component 5 flips upwards until the stop part 51 of the anti-fall component 5 leaves the underside of the adsorbed battery cell.

[0048] Then, the battery cell assembly extraction fixture lowers the battery cell assembly. When it reaches a certain height, the positioning pin 4 is inserted into the positioning hole of the lower housing (if the positioning pin 4 and the positioning hole are not aligned, the positioning pin 4 cannot be inserted into the positioning hole of the lower housing. At this time, the position of the battery cell assembly needs to be adjusted until the positioning pin 4 is aligned with the positioning hole). Under the guiding action of the positioning pin 4 and the positioning hole, the battery cell assembly is placed into the lower housing in the vertical direction.

[0049] Then, de-energize the electromagnetic adsorption module 2 of the battery cell extraction fixture and remove the battery cell extraction fixture from the lower housing.

[0050] The above examples illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The descriptions of the embodiments are merely for the purpose of helping to understand the methods and core ideas of this application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications to this application without departing from its principles, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A tooling for extracting battery cell packs, characterized in that, The battery cell extraction tooling includes a base (1) and an electromagnetic adsorption module (2). The base (1) includes a lifting part (11). The electromagnetic adsorption module (2) is connected to the base (1). The battery cell is adsorbed by energizing the electromagnetic adsorption module (2), and the battery cell is released by de-energizing the electromagnetic adsorption module (2).

2. The cell assembly extraction fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The base (1) includes a substrate (12) and a fastener (13). The substrate (12) has a through hole, and the fastener (13) is inserted into the through hole. The electromagnetic adsorption module (2) is connected to the lower part of the substrate (12) through the fastener (13). The fastener (13) can move up and down in the through hole. When the fastener (13) moves upward to the limit position, the electromagnetic adsorption module (2) abuts against the lower surface of the substrate (12). When the fastener (13) moves downward to the limit position, the head of the fastener (13) abuts against the upper surface of the substrate (12).

3. The cell assembly extraction fixture according to claim 2, characterized in that, The substrate (12) includes an upper rigid plate (121) and a lower rubber plate (122). The base (1) includes a frame (14). The upper rigid plate (121), the lower rubber plate (122) and the hoisting part (11) are all connected to the frame (14).

4. The cell assembly extraction fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lower end of the electromagnetic adsorption module (2) is provided with a groove (A) for accommodating the positive electrode of the adsorbed battery cell. The depth of the groove (A) is greater than the height of the positive electrode of the adsorbed battery cell, and the inner diameter of the groove (A) is greater than the outer diameter of the positive electrode of the adsorbed battery cell.

5. The cell assembly extraction fixture according to claim 4, characterized in that, The lower end of the electromagnetic adsorption module (2) is provided with a receiving part (B) for accommodating the negative electrode of the adsorbed battery cell. The receiving part (B) surrounds the groove (A). A rubber ring (C) is installed in the groove (A) to isolate the positive and negative electrodes of the adsorbed battery cell.

6. The cell assembly extraction fixture according to claim 5, characterized in that, The electromagnetic adsorption module (2) includes a first electromagnetic part (21) and a second electromagnetic part (22). The first electromagnetic part (21) includes an annular wall part (211), an end wall part (212) and a core part (213). The upper end of the annular wall part (211) is closed by the end wall part (212). The core part (213) is located inside the annular wall part (211). The upper end of the core part (213) is connected to the end wall part (212). The lower end of the annular wall part (211) is an open end. The second electromagnetic part (22) is assembled at the lower end of the core part (213). The groove (A) is provided at the lower end of the second electromagnetic part (22). The receiving part (B) is formed between the second electromagnetic part (22) and the annular wall part (211).

7. The cell assembly extraction fixture according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The battery cell extraction tooling includes a baffle (3), which is connected to the base (1). The lower end of the baffle (3) extends below the base (1), and the baffle (3) has a mating surface on the side facing the battery cell to be adsorbed, which mates with the outer surface of the battery cell to be adsorbed.

8. The cell assembly extraction fixture according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The battery cell extraction tooling includes a positioning pin (4), which is connected to the base (1). The lower end of the positioning pin (4) extends below the base (1) and is used to cooperate with the positioning hole on the lower housing of the power battery pack.

9. The cell assembly extraction fixture according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The battery cell extraction fixture includes an anti-drop component (5), which includes a stop (51) and a connecting part (52). The connecting part (52) is rotatably connected to the base (1). When the connecting part (52) is rotated downward relative to the base (1) to the limit position, the stop (51) is located below the adsorbed battery cell. When the connecting part (52) is rotated upward relative to the base (1) to the limit position, the stop (51) is away from below the adsorbed battery cell.

10. A power battery pack, characterized in that, The power battery pack includes a cell assembly and a lower housing. The cell assembly is extracted and placed into the lower housing by the cell assembly extraction tool according to any one of claims 1-9. The cell assembly has no end plates at both ends and no side plates on both sides.

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