Busbar and battery module

Abstract

The application belongs to the technical field of batteries, and discloses a busbar and a battery module. The busbar comprises a busbar body and an insulating layer. The busbar body comprises a first conductive part, a connecting part and a second conductive part connected in sequence, the first conductive part and the second conductive part are configured to be electrically connected with electrodes of a battery cell, the connecting part has a connecting large surface and a connecting side surface, and the connecting large surface and the connecting side surface are alternately connected in sequence along the circumference of the connecting part; and the insulating layer is sequentially wrapped on a part of one connecting large surface, a connecting side surface and a part of another connecting large surface of the connecting part. The busbar can simplify the processing procedure and effectively reduce the manufacturing cost under the premise of meeting the insulation requirement of the busbar.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a bus and a battery module. Background Technology

[0002] The busbar of a power battery is the core component for high current transmission and electrical connection in the battery system. Its insulation layer design directly affects heat dissipation, safety, cost and space adaptability, and is the key to ensuring the reliable operation of the battery system.

[0003] Currently, the mainstream insulation methods include heat shrink tubing, extruded PA12, and epoxy powder coating. However, heat shrink tubing requires segmented splicing at the right-angle bend of the busbar, which can easily lead to insulation withstand voltage problems. It also requires heating during assembly, and the ends need to be trimmed to expose the overlap area. Extruded PA12 is limited by bending fixtures, and the material is prone to deformation defects due to stretching during bending; the ends also require trimming. Epoxy powder coating is only suitable for rigid or hardened flexible busbars, and the overlap area needs to be masked before coating, adding an extra processing step, and the cost of the insulation material is relatively high. The above three insulation methods have drawbacks such as poor structural adaptability, numerous processing steps, insufficient insulation reliability, and high manufacturing costs.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a bus and battery module to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to one aspect of this application, a busbar is provided that simplifies the processing steps and effectively reduces manufacturing costs while meeting the busbar insulation requirements.

[0006] To achieve this objective, the following technical solution is adopted in this application: Buses, including: The bus body includes a first conductive part, a connecting part, and a second conductive part connected in sequence. The first conductive part and the second conductive part are configured to be electrically connected to the electrodes of the battery cell. The connecting part has a large connecting surface and a side connecting surface, which are alternately connected in sequence along the circumference of the connecting part. An insulating layer sequentially covers a portion of one of the connecting surfaces, the connecting side surface, and a portion of the other connecting surface of the connecting portion.

[0007] In some embodiments of this application, the cross-sectional shape of the insulating layer in the thickness direction of the connection is C-shaped; And / or, the insulating layer is an integral structure.

[0008] In some embodiments of this application, the insulating layer includes a first insulating fixing layer, a connecting layer, and a second insulating fixing layer connected in sequence. The first insulating fixing layer is attached to one of the connecting large surfaces, the connecting layer is attached to the connecting side surface, and the second insulating fixing layer is attached to the other connecting large surface. The busbar also includes an insulating riveting component. A first connecting hole is provided through the connecting portion, a second connecting hole is provided correspondingly in the first insulating fixing layer, and a third connecting hole is provided correspondingly in the second insulating fixing layer. The insulating riveting component is sequentially inserted through and connected to the second connecting hole, the first connecting hole, and the third connecting hole.

[0009] In some embodiments of this application, the distance between the center of the second connecting hole and the edge of the first insulating fixing layer on the side away from the connecting layer is not less than 8 mm; And / or, the distance between the center of the third connecting hole and the edge of the second insulating fixing layer away from the connecting layer is not less than 8 mm.

[0010] In some embodiments of this application, in a direction perpendicular to the connecting surface, the projection of the end of the insulating riveting protruding from the first insulating fixing layer onto the first insulating fixing layer falls into the first insulating fixing layer, and the projection of the end of the insulating riveting protruding from the second insulating fixing layer onto the second insulating fixing layer falls into the second insulating fixing layer (23).

[0011] In some embodiments of this application, the connecting portion has a bent structure in the thickness direction, and the insulating riveting member is respectively provided at both ends of the bent structure.

[0012] In some embodiments of this application, the busbar further includes a fixing member that circumferentially covers the connection portion and the insulating layer.

[0013] In some embodiments of this application, multiple fasteners are provided, and the multiple fasteners are spaced apart along the length direction of the connecting portion; And / or, in the length direction of the connection, the covering length of the fastener is 10mm-15mm.

[0014] In some embodiments of this application, an adhesive layer is provided on the side of the insulating layer facing the busbar body, and the insulating layer is connected to the connecting portion through the adhesive layer.

[0015] In some embodiments of this application, the projections of the insulating layer onto the two connecting surfaces at least partially overlap in a direction perpendicular to the connecting surfaces.

[0016] According to another aspect of this application, a battery module is provided, the battery module including a plurality of battery cells and at least one bus as described in any of the preceding claims, wherein a first conductive portion of the bus body is electrically connected to a first electrode of one of the battery cells, and a second conductive portion of the bus body is electrically connected to a second electrode of another of the battery cells.

[0017] The beneficial effects of this application are: The bus provided in this application has a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion of the bus body electrically connected to the electrodes of the battery cells, thereby enabling multiple battery cells to be connected in series or in parallel. The connecting portion has a connecting large surface and a connecting side surface, which are alternately connected sequentially along the circumference of the connecting portion. An insulating layer sequentially covers a portion of one connecting large surface, a connecting side surface, and a portion of another connecting large surface. By providing an insulating layer, the side of the bus body requiring insulation can be insulated without covering the entire connecting portion, effectively simplifying the processing steps and reducing assembly difficulty while meeting the bus insulation requirements. Furthermore, covering only a portion of the connecting portion helps save insulating material, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments of this application will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the content of the embodiments of this application and these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the bus structure provided in Embodiment 1 of this application; Figure 2 This is a top view of the bus provided in Embodiment 1 of this application; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the busbar at the fixing member provided in Embodiment 1 of this application; Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the busbar at the insulating riveting part provided in Embodiment 1 of this application; Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the bus structure provided in Embodiment 2 of this application.

[0020] In the picture: 1. Bus body; 11. First conductive part; 12. Connecting part; 121. Connecting surface; 122. Connecting side; 123. First connecting hole; 13. Second conductive part; 2. Insulating layer; 21. First insulating fixing layer; 211. Second connecting hole; 22. Connecting layer; 23. Second insulating fixing layer; 231. Third connecting hole; 3. Insulating riveted components; 4. Fasteners. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The technical solution of this application will be further described below through specific embodiments. Those skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments described are merely to help understand this application and should not be regarded as specific limitations on this application.

[0022] In this application, technical features or solutions described using open-ended terms such as "comprising" do not exclude additional non-conflicting elements beyond those listed unless otherwise specified. They are considered to disclose both closed-ended features or solutions consisting solely of the listed elements and open-ended features or solutions that may include additional non-conflicting elements beyond those listed. For example, if A includes a1, a2, and a3, unless otherwise specified, it means that A may consist only of a1, a2, and a3, or it may include other non-conflicting elements based on a1, a2, and a3. This corresponds to the disclosure of technical solutions such as "A consists of a1, a2, and a3" and "A not only includes a1, a2, and a3, but may also include other non-conflicting elements."

[0023] This embodiment provides a bus that can electrically connect multiple battery cells to form a battery cell group. For example... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the busbar includes a busbar body 1 and an insulating layer 2.

[0024] The bus body 1 includes a first conductive part 11, a connecting part 12, and a second conductive part 13 connected in sequence. The first conductive part 11 and the second conductive part 13 are configured to be electrically connected to the electrodes of the battery cell. The connecting part 12 has a connecting large surface 121 and a connecting side surface 122, which are alternately connected in sequence along the circumference of the connecting part 12. An insulating layer 2 is sequentially covered on a portion of one connecting large surface 121, a portion of the connecting side surface 122, and a portion of the other connecting large surface 121 of the connecting part 12. The bus is electrically connected to the electrodes of the battery cell through the first conductive part 11 and the second conductive part 13, thereby enabling multiple battery cells to be connected in series or in parallel. By providing the insulating layer 2, the side of the bus body 1 that needs insulation can be insulated without covering the entire connecting part 12, effectively simplifying the processing steps and reducing assembly difficulty while meeting the insulation requirements of the bus. At the same time, covering only part of the surface of the connecting part 12 also helps to save insulating materials, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0025] In this embodiment, the first conductive part 11 is electrically connected to the first electrode of one battery cell, and the second conductive part 13 is electrically connected to the second electrode of another battery cell. The first electrode is the positive electrode, and the second electrode is the negative electrode. In other embodiments, the first electrode is the negative electrode, and the second electrode is the positive electrode; the specific configuration can be determined according to actual needs.

[0026] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 The busbar body 1 is a planar plate structure, specifically a straight planar plate structure. This plate structure significantly reduces the weight of the busbar, resulting in a lighter overall weight of the assembled battery module. It also minimizes the space occupied by the busbar within the battery system, which is beneficial for improving the energy density of the battery module. In this embodiment, the busbar body 1 is a one-piece structure, manufactured through processes such as stamping. The material of the busbar body 1 can be copper (alloy), aluminum (alloy), nickel, or other conductive materials. Of course, in other embodiments, the busbar body 1 can also be a plate structure bent in the width or thickness direction, depending on the shape of the battery cells connected to the busbar.

[0027] Continue to refer to Figures 3-5 The insulating layer 2 has a C-shaped cross-section in the thickness direction of the connecting portion 12. The insulating layer 2 includes a first insulating fixing layer 21, a connecting layer 22, and a second insulating fixing layer 23 connected sequentially. The first insulating fixing layer 21 is attached to one connecting surface 121, the connecting layer 22 is attached to the connecting side surface 122, and the second insulating fixing layer 23 is attached to the other connecting surface 121. This arrangement enables "single-sided insulation" of the side of the busbar connecting portion 12 that requires insulation, ensuring that the connecting side surface 122 and the two connected surfaces 121 on the side requiring insulation are covered with the insulating layer 2, thus meeting the insulation requirements of the busbar.

[0028] In some embodiments, in the direction perpendicular to the connecting surfaces 121, the projections of the insulating layer 2 on the two connecting surfaces 121 at least partially overlap. That is, the first insulating fixing layer 21 and the second insulating fixing layer 23 at least partially overlap in the direction perpendicular to the connecting surfaces 121. It is understood that the upper and lower connecting surfaces 121 of the busbar body 1 are usually of the same shape. Therefore, when the insulating layer 2 is used for covering, it is assumed to be symmetrically covered on the upper and lower connecting surfaces 121 of the connecting portion 12, that is, the projections of the first insulating fixing layer 21 and the second insulating fixing layer 23 overlap. Of course, depending on the requirements of electrical safety, the covering surface on the upper and lower sides can also be increased. In this case, the first insulating fixing layer 21 and the second insulating fixing layer 23 are asymmetrically arranged, and the projections of the first insulating fixing layer 21 and the second insulating fixing layer 23 partially overlap.

[0029] In some embodiments, the insulating layer 2 is a one-piece structure. In this embodiment, the insulating layer 2 is extruded. The material of the insulating layer 2 includes, but is not limited to, thermoplastic elastomers, silicone rubber, polyolefins, and other flame-retardant, heat-resistant, and insulating elastic materials that can be extruded in a mold.

[0030] In some embodiments, an adhesive layer (not shown) is provided on the side of the insulating layer 2 facing the busbar body 1. This adhesive layer may be an adhesive applied to the inside of the insulating layer 2, and the insulating layer 2 is initially fixed to the connecting surface 121 and connecting side surface 122 of the connecting portion 12 through this adhesive layer.

[0031] like Figures 1-5 As shown, the bus also includes an insulating riveting component 3. (Refer to...) Figure 5 The connecting part 12 has a first connecting hole 123, the first insulating fixing layer 21 has a corresponding second connecting hole 211, and the second insulating fixing layer 23 has a corresponding third connecting hole 231. The insulating riveting component 3 passes through and connects the second connecting hole 211, the first connecting hole 123, and the third connecting hole 231 in sequence. In this embodiment, the insulating riveting component 3 is a nylon rivet. Nylon rivets are fasteners made of nylon material, also known as plastic rivets, and have advantages such as insulation, corrosion resistance, and lightweight. The first connecting hole 123 is formed by stamping on the connecting part 12. After the insulating layer 2 is first glued and fixed to the connecting part 12, the nylon rivet is used to fix the insulating layer 2 and the connecting part 12, further improving the reliability of the connection between the two.

[0032] In some embodiments, multiple insulating riveting members 3 are provided, and the multiple insulating riveting members 3 are spaced apart along the length direction of the connecting portion 12. By providing multiple insulating riveting members 3, the connection reliability between the insulating layer 2 and the connecting portion 12 and the uniformity of stress on the insulating layer 2 are improved. By adaptively adjusting the distance between two adjacent insulating riveting members 3, the insulating layer 2 between two adjacent insulating riveting members 3 can be prevented from warping, thus ensuring the insulation effect.

[0033] In some embodiments, the distance between the center of the second connecting hole 211 and the edge of the first insulating fixing layer 21 on the side away from the connecting layer 22 is not less than 8 mm. This arrangement satisfies the electrical safety requirements of the large connecting surface 121 covered by the first insulating fixing layer 21. Furthermore, it also meets the process requirements for stamping and opening, avoiding problems such as poor appearance. Correspondingly, the distance between the center of the third connecting hole 231 and the edge of the second insulating fixing layer 23 on the side away from the connecting layer 22 is not less than 8 mm to meet the electrical safety requirements of the large connecting surface 121 covered by the second insulating fixing layer 23.

[0034] In some embodiments, in a direction perpendicular to the connecting surface 121, the projection of one end of the insulating riveting member 3 protruding from the first insulating fixing layer 21 onto the first insulating fixing layer 21 falls within the first insulating fixing layer 21, and the projection of one end of the insulating riveting member 3 protruding from the second insulating fixing layer 23 onto the second insulating fixing layer 23 falls within the second insulating fixing layer 23. Both ends of the insulating riveting member 3 cover the surface of the insulating layer 2 and do not directly contact the connecting surface 121. This arrangement can further improve the connection reliability and insulation safety among the insulating riveting member 3, the insulating layer 2, and the connecting portion 12.

[0035] In some embodiments, continue to refer to Figures 1-4 The busbar also includes a fixing member 4, which circumferentially covers the connecting portion 12 and the insulating layer 2. By providing the fixing member 4, the problem of localized lifting of the insulating layer 2 can be solved, ensuring a good fit between the insulating layer 2 and the connecting portion 12. In this embodiment, the fixing member 4 can be selected as a cloth-based adhesive tape. Cloth-based adhesive tape has greater adhesive strength and higher bonding reliability.

[0036] In some embodiments, multiple fasteners 4 are provided, and the multiple fasteners 4 are spaced apart along the length direction of the connecting portion 12. The multiple fasteners 4 can fix the insulating layer 2 at each position where it is raised, ensuring that the insulating layer 2 is tightly attached to the connecting portion 12, thereby effectively improving the connection reliability between the insulating layer 2 and the connecting portion 12, and helping to ensure the insulation safety of the insulating layer 2.

[0037] In some embodiments, the covering length of the fastener 4 in the longitudinal direction of the connecting portion 12 is 10mm-15mm. This configuration ensures, on the one hand, the reliable connection between the insulating layer 2 and the connecting portion 12 and prevents partial warping of the insulating layer 2; on the other hand, it ensures sufficient heat dissipation space between the connecting portion 12 and the insulating layer 2, guaranteeing the heat dissipation effect of the busbar. Exemplarily, the covering length of the fastener 4 can be selected as any value or range of 10mm, 11mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, or 15mm.

[0038] Example 2 This embodiment provides a bus that is basically the same as the bus provided in Embodiment 1, such as... Figure 6 As shown, the difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that in this embodiment, the connecting part 12 has a bent structure in the thickness direction, and insulating riveting parts 3 are respectively provided at both ends of the bent structure.

[0039] Because some battery cell models have a certain height difference between the two electrodes, a bending structure is formed in the thickness direction of the connecting portion 12 to create a height difference between the first conductive portion 11 and the second conductive portion 13, in order to match the structure of the battery cell. The first conductive portion 11 and a portion of the connecting portion 12 are in the same plane, and the second conductive portion 13 and another portion of the connecting portion 12 are in the same plane, facilitating the connection between the bus body 1 and the battery cell. It should be noted that the bending in the thickness direction must meet the bending process requirements of at least one times the material thickness, and the edges must be burr-free. The bus body 1 in this embodiment has a simple structure, is easy to process, and is easy to connect to the battery cell.

[0040] By setting insulating rivets 3 at both ends of the bent structure, the tightness of the insulation layer 2 at the bent structure and the reliability of the connection can be ensured, thereby ensuring the safety of the busbar during use.

[0041] In this embodiment, the height of the first conductive part 11 is lower than the height of the second conductive part 13. Simultaneously, a transition portion bent along the width direction of the busbar body 1 is provided between the second conductive part 13 and the connecting part 12. After multiple busbars are assembled with multiple battery cells to form a battery module, the distance between the transition portion and another busbar is large enough to meet electrical clearance and creepage distance requirements; therefore, there is no need to add an insulating layer 2 to the transition portion. This arrangement also helps to save insulating materials and reduce manufacturing costs.

[0042] Example 3 This embodiment provides a battery module, which includes multiple battery cells and at least one bus provided in Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2.

[0043] In this embodiment, the first conductive part 11 of the busbar body 1 is electrically connected to the first electrode of one battery cell, and the second conductive part 13 of the busbar body 1 is electrically connected to the second electrode of another battery cell. This configuration allows multiple battery cells to be connected in series or parallel through the busbar body 1, thereby forming a cell group within a battery module for charging or discharging. In this embodiment, the first electrode is the positive electrode and the second electrode is the negative electrode. In other embodiments, the first electrode is the negative electrode and the second electrode is the positive electrode, which can be configured according to actual needs.

[0044] The above description is only a specific embodiment of this application, but the protection scope of this application is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art should understand that any changes or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application fall within the protection and disclosure scope of this application.

Claims

1. A busbar, characterized in that, include: The bus body (1) includes a first conductive part (11), a connecting part (12), and a second conductive part (13) connected in sequence. The first conductive part (11) and the second conductive part (13) are configured to be electrically connected to the electrodes of the battery cell. The connecting part (12) has a connecting large surface (121) and a connecting side surface (122). The connecting large surface (121) and the connecting side surface (122) are connected alternately in sequence along the circumference of the connecting part (12). An insulating layer (2) sequentially covers a portion of one of the connecting surfaces (121), the connecting side surface (122), and a portion of the other connecting surface (121) of the connecting portion (12).

2. The busbar according to claim 1, characterized in that, The insulating layer (2) has a C-shaped cross-section in the thickness direction of the connecting part (12); And / or, the insulating layer (2) is an integral structure.

3. The busbar according to claim 2, characterized in that, The insulating layer (2) includes a first insulating fixing layer (21), a connecting layer (22), and a second insulating fixing layer (23) connected in sequence. The first insulating fixing layer (21) is attached to one of the connecting surfaces (121), the connecting layer (22) is attached to the connecting side surface (122), and the second insulating fixing layer (23) is attached to the other connecting surface (121). The busbar also includes an insulating riveting component (3). A first connecting hole (123) is provided through the connecting part (12). A second connecting hole (211) is provided correspondingly on the first insulating fixing layer (21). A third connecting hole (231) is provided correspondingly on the second insulating fixing layer (23). The insulating riveting component (3) is sequentially inserted through and connected to the second connecting hole (211), the first connecting hole (123), and the third connecting hole (231).

4. The busbar according to claim 3, characterized in that, The distance between the center of the second connecting hole (211) and the edge of the first insulating fixing layer (21) on the side away from the connecting layer (22) is not less than 8 mm; And / or, the distance between the center of the third connecting hole (231) and the edge of the second insulating fixing layer (23) on the side away from the connecting layer (22) is not less than 8 mm.

5. The busbar according to claim 3, characterized in that, In the direction perpendicular to the connecting surface (121), the projection of the end of the insulating riveting member (3) protruding from the first insulating fixing layer (21) onto the first insulating fixing layer (21) falls into the first insulating fixing layer (21), and the projection of the end of the insulating riveting member (3) protruding from the second insulating fixing layer (23) onto the second insulating fixing layer (23) falls into the second insulating fixing layer (23).

6. The busbar according to claim 3, characterized in that, The connecting part (12) has a bending structure in the thickness direction, and the two ends of the bending structure are respectively provided with the insulating riveting parts (3).

7. The busbar according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The busbar also includes a fixing member (4), which covers the connection part (12) and the insulating layer (2) in the circumferential direction.

8. The busbar according to claim 7, characterized in that, Multiple fasteners (4) are provided, and the multiple fasteners (4) are spaced apart along the length direction of the connecting part (12); And / or, in the length direction of the connecting part (12), the covering length of the fastener (4) is 10mm-15mm.

9. The busbar according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, An adhesive layer is provided on the side of the insulating layer (2) facing the busbar body (1), and the insulating layer (2) is connected to the connecting part (12) through the adhesive layer.

10. The busbar according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, In a direction perpendicular to the connecting surface (121), the projections of the insulating layer (2) onto the two connecting surfaces (121) at least partially overlap.

11. A battery module, characterized in that, It includes multiple battery cells and at least one bus as described in any one of claims 1-10, wherein a first conductive portion (11) of the bus body (1) is electrically connected to a first electrode of one of the battery cells, and a second conductive portion (13) of the bus body (1) is electrically connected to a second electrode of another of the battery cells.

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