Distribution box and battery pack

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of batteries, in particular to a distribution box. The power distribution box comprises the shell, the electrical element for power distribution and the shell connector, and the shell connector is directly inserted into the gap reserved in the shell, so that a lap joint copper bar from a BDU to a battery pack shell is omitted, the wiring cost is reduced, the copper bar does not occupy the internal space of a battery pack frame any more, and the service life of the battery pack is prolonged. Therefore, the lightweight and miniaturized design of the battery pack is realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of batteries, in particular to a distribution box and a battery pack. Background Art

[0002] New energy vehicles are widely praised for their clean, environmentally friendly and low-cost advantages. The battery pack is the most important power source for new energy vehicles. It usually includes a shell and a battery module installed in the shell, a battery management system (Battery Management System, referred to as BMS) and a distribution box (Battery energy Distribution Unit, referred to as BDU). Among them, the battery module is used to provide power for the whole vehicle, the BDU is used to distribute electricity for the whole vehicle, and the BMS is used to monitor the battery module and manage the energy of the whole vehicle.

[0003] In the prior art, a fast-charge connector and a drive connector are provided on the battery pack frame, and communication copper bars are required to communicate with the electrical components for power distribution in the BDU. The prior art has the following problems: Since the fast-charge connector and the drive connector do not contact the BDU, a longer communication copper bar is required to achieve communication between the two. However, the longer communication copper bar occupies the internal space in the battery pack frame originally used to stack the battery modules, so that a large number of communication copper bars are stacked in the limited space inside the battery pack frame, which wastes the internal space of the battery pack, increases the difficulty of design, and increases the cost, which is not conducive to the lightweight and miniaturized design of the battery pack.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a power distribution box and a battery pack to solve the above problems. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of the utility model is to provide a distribution box and a battery pack, which can shorten the length of the communication copper bus, improve the space utilization of the battery pack, and facilitate the lightweight and miniaturized design of the battery pack.

[0006] In order to achieve the above objectives, the following technical solutions are provided:

[0007] In a first aspect, a power distribution box is provided for distributing power to a battery pack, wherein the battery pack includes a frame, and wherein the power distribution box includes:

[0008] The shell is installed in the frame, and the outer wall of the shell has a notch opening toward the outside of the frame;

[0009] An electrical component for power distribution is installed in the housing, and the electrical component for power distribution has an output conductive member extending into the notch;

[0010] The shell connector is installed outside the frame and has an input conductive piece extending into the notch and electrically connected to the output conductive piece.

[0011] As an alternative to the distribution box, an outer wall of the shell has a lap protrusion extending toward the shell connector, and the notch is provided on the lap protrusion.

[0012] As an alternative to a distribution box, the input conductors are located below the output conductors.

[0013] As an alternative to the distribution box, the shell connector also has an insulating support member, the insulating support member has a support portion received under the input conductive member, and the output conductive member and the input conductive member are fixed to the support portion by fasteners.

[0014] As an alternative to the distribution box, the shell has a first shell and a second shell, and the first shell and the second shell cooperate to form a first accommodating space for accommodating electrical components for power distribution and a gap for accommodating output conductive parts and input conductive parts.

[0015] As an alternative to the distribution box, the shell further has a first cover plate, which is detachably mounted on the second shell and is used to cover the output conductive member and the input conductive member in the gap.

[0016] As an alternative to the power distribution box, the power distribution box further includes battery terminals; the shell further includes a second cover plate, which is detachably mounted on the second shell and is used to cover the battery terminals.

[0017] As an alternative to the distribution box, the distribution box also includes a BMS that is communicatively connected to the electrical components for power distribution, and the shell also includes a third shell that is fixed to the second shell and cooperates with the second shell to form a second accommodating space for accommodating the BMS.

[0018] As an alternative to the distribution box, the number of shell connectors is at least two, and the outer wall of the shell has at least two independently arranged notches, and the notches are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the shell connectors.

[0019] In a second aspect, a battery pack is provided, comprising a frame and the above-mentioned distribution box, wherein a shell of the distribution box is installed in the frame, and a shell connector of the distribution box is installed outside the frame.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the utility model are:

[0021] The distribution box provided by the utility model is provided with a notch toward the frame body so that the shell connector can be accommodated in the notch, thereby shortening the extension length of the input conductive part and the output conductive part, thereby saving the stacking space originally used for stacking battery modules in the frame body, improving the space utilization of the battery pack, and realizing the miniaturization and lightweight design of the battery pack.

[0022] The battery pack provided by the utility model manages and distributes the energy of the battery modules by applying the above-mentioned power distribution box, thereby providing electric energy to electrical appliances. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the contents of the embodiments of the present invention and these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0024] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a battery pack provided by an embodiment of the utility model;

[0025] Figure 2 An exploded schematic diagram of a power distribution box provided in an embodiment of the utility model;

[0026] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the partial structure of a power distribution box provided in an embodiment of the utility model;

[0027] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of the housing connector and the second housing provided in an embodiment of the utility model in cooperation with each other;

[0028] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of a power distribution component provided in an embodiment of the utility model.

[0029] Reference numerals:

[0030] 100, frame;

[0031] 1. Shell; 10. Overlapping protrusion; 101. Notch; 11. First shell; 12. Second shell; 13. Third shell; 14. First cover plate; 15. Second cover plate;

[0032] 2. Electrical components for power distribution; 20. Output conductive parts; 201. Fast charging positive conductive parts; 202. Rear drive positive conductive parts; 203. Negative conductive parts; 21. Main positive relay; 22. Main negative relay; 23. Fast charging relay; 24. Pre-charging relay; 251. Battery positive terminal; 252. Battery negative terminal; 26. Current sensor; 27. Pre-charging resistor; 28. Main positive fuse; 29. ​​Anti-rotation terminal;

[0033] 3. Shell connector; 301. Input conductive member; 302. Insulating support member;

[0034] 31. Fast charging connector; 311. Positive pole of fast charging connector; 312. Negative pole of fast charging connector;

[0035] 32, rear drive connector; 321, rear drive connector positive pole; 322, rear drive connector negative pole;

[0036] 4. BMS;

[0037] 5. Signal interface; 51. Rear drive acquisition interface; 52. Rear drive communication interface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] In order to make the technical problems solved by the present invention, the technical solutions adopted and the technical effects achieved more clearly, the technical solutions of the present invention are further explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings and through specific implementation methods.

[0039] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "connected", "connected", and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0040] In the present utility model, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may include that the first and second features are in direct contact, or may include that the first and second features are not in direct contact but are in contact through another feature between them. Moreover, a first feature being "above", "above" and "above" a second feature includes that the first feature is directly above and obliquely above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature being "below", "below" and "below" a second feature includes that the first feature is directly below and obliquely below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0041] In the description of the present invention, the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right" and other directions or positional relationships are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of description and simplified operation, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation of the present invention. In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used to distinguish in the description and have no special meaning.

[0042] Figure 1 FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a battery pack provided by an embodiment of the present utility model. Figure 1As shown, the battery pack includes a frame 100, a distribution box (BDU for short) and a battery module (not shown) arranged inside the frame 100. The distribution box is used to distribute and manage the energy of the battery module to provide appropriate power for the electrical appliance. The housing 1 of the distribution box is installed in the frame 100, and the housing connector 3 of the distribution box is installed outside the frame 100. It can be understood that in this embodiment, the electrical appliance can be an electric vehicle, and the battery pack serves as a power source for the electric vehicle.

[0043] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an exploded view of a battery pack provided by an embodiment of the utility model is shown. Figure 3 FIG. 1 shows a partial structural diagram of a power distribution box provided by an embodiment of the utility model. Figure 2-Figure 3 Combined with Figure 1 As shown, the distribution box includes a housing 1, an electrical component 2 for power distribution, and a housing connector 3. The housing 1 and the housing connector 3 are respectively located inside and outside the frame 100. The electrical component 2 for power distribution is installed in the housing 1, and the electrical component 2 for power distribution has an output conductive member 20 arranged opposite to the housing connector 3. The housing connector 3 has an input conductive member 301 extending into the frame 100 and electrically connected to the output conductive member 20. The housing 1 has a lap protrusion 10 arranged opposite to the housing connector 3. The lap protrusion 10 faces the input conductive member 301 and has a portion for accommodating the conductive member 301. The notch 101 of the output conductive member 20 and the input conductive member 301, according to the above-mentioned electrical connection method of the output conductive member 20 and the input conductive member 301, can directly extend the input conductive member 301 of the shell connector 3 into the notch 101 preset in the distribution box, and realize electrical connection with the output conductive member 20 of the electrical component 2 for power distribution, thereby shortening the extension length of the input conductive member 301 and the output conductive member 20, thereby saving the stacking space originally used for stacking battery modules in the frame 100, improving the space utilization rate of the battery pack, and realizing the miniaturization and lightweight design of the battery pack.

[0044] It should be noted that in other embodiments, a notch 101 with an opening toward the shell connector 3 can be directly provided on the outer wall of the shell 1 without providing an overlapping protrusion 10, as long as the distance between the input conductive member 301 and the output conductive member 20 can be shortened. By directly providing the notch 101 with an opening toward the shell connector 3, the volume of the distribution box can be reduced, thereby saving materials required for the production of the distribution box shell.

[0045] Continue as Figure 3 Combination Figure 2As shown, the input conductive member 301 is located below the output conductive member 20, so that the input conductive member 301 can support the output conductive member 20 from below, thereby ensuring the stability of the output conductive member 20, and further ensuring the stability of the connection between the input conductive member 301 and the output conductive member 20. In addition, the input conductive member 301 is located below the output conductive member 20, which can also facilitate the installation of fasteners from above the input conductive member 301 to lock the input conductive member 301 and the output conductive member 20 to achieve electrical connection.

[0046] In some embodiments, the input conductive member 301 can also be located above the output conductive member 20, which can be specifically designed according to the structure of the housing 1, as long as it can facilitate the electrical connection between the input conductive member 301 and the output conductive member 20 and ensure the stability of the electrical connection between the two, and there is no limitation here. Figure 3 Combination Figure 2 As shown, the shell connector 3 also has an insulating support member 302, and the insulating support member 302 has a support portion that is received under the input conductive member 301, and the output conductive member 20 and the input conductive member 301 are fixed to the support portion by fasteners, so that the output conductive member 20 and the input conductive member 301 can be reliably electrically connected, thereby facilitating the management of the battery module of the distribution box to supply power to the electrical appliance. In addition, since the input conductive member 301 of the shell connector 3 generally includes a positive input conductive member 301 and a negative input conductive member 301, the insulating support member 302 also includes a blocking portion located between the positive input conductive member 301 and the negative input conductive member 301 to avoid direct electrical connection between the positive and negative electrodes.

[0047] Continue as Figure 3 Combination Figure 2 As shown, the shell 1 has a first shell 11 and a second shell 12, and the first shell 11 and the second shell 12 cooperate to form a first accommodating space for accommodating the electrical component 2 for power distribution and a notch 101 for accommodating the output conductive member 20 and the input conductive member 301, so that the electrical component 2 for power distribution can be insulated and isolated from the outside, preventing leakage of the distribution box and improving the safety of the distribution box.

[0048] Continue as Figure 3 Combination Figure 2As shown, the shell 1 also has a first cover plate 14, which is detachably mounted on the second shell 12 and is used to cover the output conductive member 20 and the input conductive member 301 in the notch 101. The output conductive member 20 and the input conductive member 301 are covered by the first cover plate 14 to prevent them from leaking and failing. At the same time, by disassembling the first cover plate 14, the fasteners can be quickly connected or disassembled to facilitate the replacement of the shell connector 3, and the first cover plate 14 is integrated with the second shell 12 to simplify the installation difficulty of the first cover body. The "detachable installation" is preferably in the form of a flip-up buckle to meet the requirements of the international protection grade (abbreviated as IPXXB).

[0049] Continue as Figure 3 Combination Figure 2 As shown, the distribution box also includes a BMS4 that is communicatively connected to the electrical component 2 for power distribution, and the shell 1 also includes a third shell 13. The third shell 13 is fixed on the second shell 12 and cooperates with the second shell 12 to form a second accommodating space for accommodating the BMS4. By arranging the BMS4 inside the shell 1, when the BMS4 is communicatively connected to the electrical component 2 for power distribution, a wiring harness can be arranged inside the shell 1 to realize the communication connection, and there is no need to use the connector and wiring harness in the traditional design for switching, so as to realize direct control and collection of the internal signals of the distribution box, thereby saving the internal space of the battery pack originally used for stacking battery modules, so that the battery pack can be miniaturized and lightweight.

[0050] like Figure 3 As shown, the number of shell connectors 3 is at least two, the overlapping protrusion 10 has at least two independently set notches 101, and the notches 101 are set one-to-one corresponding to the shell connectors 3, so that the shell connector 3 can be correctly connected to the distribution box, thereby preventing the shell connector 3 from being incorrectly connected to the electrical component 2 for distribution, causing a short circuit and damaging the distribution box.

[0051] Figure 4 A schematic structural diagram of the shell connector and the second shell provided in an embodiment of the utility model is shown, the shell 1 connector includes a fast charging connector 31 and a rear drive connector 32, the fast charging connector 31 includes a fast charging connector positive pole 311 and a fast charging connector negative pole 312, the rear drive connector 32 includes a rear drive connector positive pole 321 and a rear drive connector negative pole 322, the fast charging connector 31 and the rear drive connector 32 are accommodated in the notch 101 of the overlapping protrusion 10, so that it is not necessary to extend a copper busbar from the shell connector 3 through the space inside the frame 100 originally used for stacking battery modules and then electrically connect to the distribution electrical component 2 in the distribution box as in the prior art, but directly extend the shell connector 3 into the notch 101 preset in the distribution box, thereby saving the stacking space originally used for stacking battery modules in the frame 100, thereby realizing the miniaturization and lightweight design of the battery pack.

[0052] Figure 5 The structure diagram of the power distribution element provided by the embodiment of the utility model is shown as follows: Figure 5 Combination Figure 4 As shown, the output conductive member 20 includes a fast-charging positive conductive member 201, a rear-drive positive conductive member 202 and a negative conductive member 203, and the power distribution electrical component 2 includes a main positive relay 21, a main negative relay 22, a fast-charging relay 23, a pre-charging relay 24, a battery terminal, a current sensor 26, a pre-charging resistor 27, and a main positive fuse 28. The battery terminal includes a battery positive terminal 251 and a battery negative terminal 252. Among them, on the one hand, the negative pole of the main positive relay 21 is connected to the fast charging relay 23, and then the fast charging relay 23 uses the fast charging positive electrode conductor 201 to be electrically connected to the positive pole of the fast charging connector 31. On the other hand, the negative pole of the main positive relay 21 is electrically connected to the positive pole 321 of the rear drive connector by using the rear drive positive electrode conductor 202. At the same time, the positive pole of the main positive relay 21 is electrically connected to the positive pole of the battery module through the battery positive terminal 251. At the same time, the pre-charging relay 24 and the pre-charging resistor 27 are connected in series and then connected in parallel to the two ends of the main positive relay 21, thereby forming a positive pole loop. After the negative pole of the main negative relay 22 is connected to the current sensor 26, the negative battery terminal 252 of the current sensor 26 is connected to the negative pole of the battery module. The positive pole of the main negative relay 22 is electrically connected to the negative pole 312 of the fast charging connector by using the negative pole conductive member 203. At the same time, the positive pole of the main negative relay 22 is electrically connected to the negative pole 322 of the rear drive connector by using the negative pole conductive member 203 to form a negative pole loop. The negative pole 312 of the fast charging connector and the negative pole 322 of the rear drive connector are connected to a common negative pole. Through the positive pole loop and the negative pole loop, the battery module can provide electrical energy to the entire vehicle.

[0053] like Figure 5 As shown, the electrical component 2 for power distribution includes multiple electrical components, and the electrical components are electrically connected through a wiring harness with an anti-rotation terminal 29, so as to avoid the locking force generated by the locking terminal causing the terminal to rotate and cause the wiring harness to be pulled when the wiring harness is connected, thereby damaging the wiring harness.

[0054] Continue as Figure 3 As shown, the electrical component 2 for power distribution also includes a signal interface 5, which includes a rear-drive acquisition interface 51 and a rear-drive communication interface 52. Both the rear-drive acquisition interface 51 and the rear-drive communication interface 52 are connected to the BMS4 for communication so as to input a control signal to control the electrical component 2 for power distribution to manage the battery module to supply power to the electrical appliances.

[0055] like Figure 3 Combination Figure 2As shown, the housing 1 also includes a second cover plate 15, which is detachably mounted on the second housing 12 and is used to cover the battery terminals. The battery terminals are covered by the second cover plate 15 to prevent leakage and failure. At the same time, the second cover plate 15 is detachably connected to the battery terminals so that fasteners can be quickly connected or removed to facilitate replacement of the battery module. The second cover plate 15 is integrally mounted with the second housing 12 to simplify the difficulty of installing the second cover. The detachable installation is preferably in the form of a flip-up buckle to meet the requirements of the international protection grade (abbreviated as IPXXB).

[0056] Note that in the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "in other embodiments", etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the utility model. In this specification, the schematic representation of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner.

[0057] The above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and the technical principles used. Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments herein, and that various obvious changes, readjustments and substitutions can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, although the present invention is described in more detail through the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and may include more other equivalent embodiments without departing from the concept of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is determined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A power distribution box for distributing power to a battery pack, the battery pack comprising a frame (100), characterized in that: The power distribution box comprises: A shell (1) is installed in the frame (100), and an outer wall of the shell (1) has a notch (101) opening toward the outside of the frame (100); An electrical component (2) for power distribution, installed in the housing (1), the electrical component (2) for power distribution having an output conductive member (20) extending into the notch (101); A shell connector (3) is installed outside the frame (100), and the shell connector (3) has an input conductive member (301) extending into the notch (101) and electrically connected to the output conductive member (20).

2. The power distribution box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer wall of the shell (1) has a lap joint protrusion (10) extending towards the shell connector (3), and the notch (101) is arranged on the lap joint protrusion (10).

3. The power distribution box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The input conductive member (301) is located below the output conductive member (20).

4. The power distribution box according to claim 3, characterized in that: The housing connector (3) further comprises an insulating support member (302), wherein the insulating support member (302) comprises a support portion received below the input conductive member (301), and the output conductive member (20) and the input conductive member (301) are fixed to the support portion via fasteners.

5. The power distribution box according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing (1) comprises a first housing (11) and a second housing (12), wherein the first housing (11) and the second housing (12) cooperate to form a first accommodation space for accommodating the power distribution electrical component (2) and the notch (101) for accommodating the output conductive member (20) and the input conductive member (301).

6. The power distribution box according to claim 5, characterized in that: The housing (1) further comprises a first cover plate (14), the first cover plate (14) being detachably mounted on the second housing (12) and used for covering the output conductive member (20) and the input conductive member (301) in the notch (101).

7. The power distribution box according to claim 5, characterized in that: The power distribution box further comprises a battery connection terminal; the housing further comprises a second cover plate (15), the second cover plate (15) being detachably mounted on the second housing (12) and used for covering the battery connection terminal.

8. The power distribution box according to claim 5, characterized in that: The distribution box further comprises a BMS (4) which is communicatively connected to the electrical distribution component (2), and the housing (1) further comprises a third housing (13), wherein the third housing (13) is fixed to the second housing (12) and cooperates with the second housing (12) to form a second accommodation space for accommodating the BMS (4).

9. The power distribution box according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The number of the housing connectors (3) is at least two, the outer wall of the housing (1) is provided with at least two independently arranged notches (101), and the notches (101) are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence with the housing connectors (3).

10. A battery pack, characterized in that: It comprises a frame and a distribution box as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the shell (1) of the distribution box is installed in the frame (100), and the shell connector (3) of the distribution box is installed outside the frame (100).

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