Battery cell restraining device

Abstract

The utility model provides a battery cell restraining device which comprises a supporting assembly, the supporting assembly comprises at least two supporting frames arranged at intervals in the first direction, each supporting frame comprises at least one supporting side wall in the first direction, and the interval gap between the opposite supporting side walls of every two adjacent supporting frames forms a containing space used for containing a battery cell; the pressurizing body is connected to the supporting frame and has an expansion state and a contraction state; and when the pressurizing body is in an expansion state, the pressurizing body protrudes out of at least one supporting side wall of the supporting frame and is propped against the battery cell in the accommodating space. According to the battery cell restraining device provided by the invention, the supporting side wall is not in contact with the battery cell, but is in contact with the battery cell through the pressurizing body in the expanded state. Due to the fact that the pressurizing body is of the telescopic flexible structure, when the flexible pressurizing body makes contact with the battery cell, the battery cell shell is not prone to being damaged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of battery cell processing equipment, and in particular to a battery cell restraint device. Background Art

[0002] In order to improve problems such as black spots and wrinkles on the charging interface of lithium-ion batteries, a pressurizing device is used to apply a preset restraining force to the lithium-ion batteries during the charging process.

[0003] In the related art, the pressurizing device uses a clamping plate to contact the lithium-ion battery cell and generate a restraining force on the lithium-ion battery cell through the clamping plate when the lithium-ion battery cell is charged. Usually, the clamping plate is a rigid plate-like structure. When the lithium-ion battery cell is placed in the pressurizing device, taken out of the pressurizing device, or when the clamping plate squeezes the lithium-ion battery cell, the rigid clamping plate directly contacts the battery cell shell, which can easily cause damage to the battery cell shell. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of this, the purpose of the present application is to provide a battery cell restraint device to at least partially solve the problem that the battery cell shell is easily damaged due to direct contact between the rigid clamping plate and the battery cell shell.

[0005] Based on the above-mentioned purpose, the present application provides a battery cell restraint device, including: a support assembly, including at least two support frames arranged at intervals along a first direction, each of the support frames including at least one support side wall along the first direction, and the interval gap between the opposing support side walls of two adjacent support frames forms a storage space for accommodating the battery cell; the first direction is parallel to the thickness direction of the battery cell in the storage space; a pressurizing body, connected to the support frame, the pressurizing body having an expanded state and a contracted state; when the pressurizing body is in the expanded state, the pressurizing body protrudes from at least one support side wall of the support frame and abuts against the battery cell in the storage space.

[0006] Optionally, the support assembly further includes a positioning frame, at least a portion of each of the pressurizing bodies is located between the positioning frame and the support side wall, and the pressurizing body is connected to the support frame via the positioning frame.

[0007] Optionally, the pressurized body includes an inflation bag and a positioning portion arranged around the edge of the inflation bag; the positioning frame includes a frame portion corresponding to the positioning portion, and a hollow portion corresponding to the inflation bag; the positioning portion is located between the support frame and the frame portion, and the positioning frame is connected to the support frame by a fastener passing through the frame portion and the positioning portion; when the pressurized body is in the expanded state, the inflation bag passes through the positioning frame through the hollow portion and abuts against the battery cell.

[0008] Optionally, the pressurizing body is located on the surface of the supporting side wall; when the pressurizing body is in the expanded state, the side of the expansion and contraction bag away from the battery cell abuts against the supporting side wall.

[0009] Optionally, the support frame includes two supporting side walls, the support frame is provided with a pressurized through hole passing through the two supporting side walls, and the pressurized body is passed through the pressurized through hole; the support frame is provided with battery cells on both sides along the first direction respectively; when the pressurized body is in the expanded state, the expansion and contraction bag simultaneously protrudes out of the two supporting side walls and abuts against the battery cells.

[0010] Optionally, the pressurized body further includes a protective layer, which covers at least a portion of the outer surface of the inflation bag.

[0011] Optionally, the protective layer includes a protective area and a connecting area located at at least one side edge of the protective area; the protective layer of the protective area corresponds to the expansion bag, the protective layer of the connecting area is connected to the positioning portion, and there is an expansion space between the protective layer of the protective area and the expansion bag for accommodating the expansion bag in an expanded state.

[0012] Optionally, the interior of the expansion and shrinkage bag is provided with an expansion and shrinkage bag inner cavity for accommodating fluid, and the expansion and shrinkage bag is also provided with a fluid guide tube connected to the expansion and shrinkage bag inner cavity; the battery cell restraint device includes a fluid bus, and the fluid bus is provided with a main channel, a main interface, multiple branch channels and multiple branch interfaces; the multiple branch channels are connected to the main channel; the main interface is connected to the main channel, and the main interface is used to connect to a fluid source; the branch interface corresponds to the branch channel one by one, and the branch interface connects the corresponding branch channel and the corresponding fluid guide tube.

[0013] Optionally, the fluid bus is provided with a pressure detection device for detecting the fluid pressure in the main flow channel.

[0014] Optionally, the bottom of the support frame is provided with a first supporting portion protruding from the supporting side wall along the first direction, and the first supporting portions of adjacent support frames abut against each other; and / or, the bottom of the positioning frame is provided with a second supporting portion protruding from the side wall along the first direction, and the second supporting portions of adjacent positioning frames abut against each other.

[0015] Optionally, the battery cell restraint device includes two end plate assemblies spaced apart along a first direction, the support assembly is disposed between the two end plate assemblies, and the support assembly abuts against the end plate assemblies; at least one connecting rod is disposed between the two end plate assemblies, and each of the connecting rods passes through the support assembly and is respectively connected to the two end plate assemblies.

[0016] From the above, it can be seen that the supporting side wall of the battery cell restraint device provided by the present application does not contact the battery cell, but contacts the battery cell through the pressurized body in an expanded state. Since the pressurized body is a retractable flexible structure, the flexible pressurized body is not easy to cause damage to the battery cell shell when it contacts the battery cell. The flexible pressurized body can conform to the surface shape of the battery cell when it expands. Even if the thickness of the battery cell is inconsistent, the pressurized body can achieve a better fit with the surface of the battery cell, so that the force on the battery cell is more uniform, and the performance consistency after formation and charging is also higher.

[0017] Since in the battery cell restraint device of the present application, the position of the support frame is fixed, and the extrusion pressure applied to the battery cell is controlled by controlling the expansion degree of the pressurized body, it is possible to eliminate the need to set a driving structure in the battery cell restraint device to drive the support frame to move, which helps to reduce the preparation cost and maintenance difficulty of the battery cell restraint device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the present application or related technologies, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or related technical descriptions are briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0019] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a battery cell restraint device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a top view schematic diagram of a battery cell restraint device according to an embodiment of the present application after the battery cell is placed therein;

[0021] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A magnified schematic diagram of part A;

[0022] Figure 4 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a pressurizing body and a supporting frame of a battery cell restraint device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0023] Figure 5 It is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a pressurizing body, a positioning frame and a supporting frame of a battery cell restraint device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0024] Figure 6 It is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of a first structure of a battery cell restraint device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 7 It is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of a second structure of the battery cell restraint device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 8It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the pressurized body of the battery cell restraint device of the embodiment of the present application in an expanded state;

[0027] Fig. 9 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the pressurized body of the battery cell restraint device of the embodiment of the present application in a contracted state;

[0028] Fig.10 A schematic cross-sectional view of a fluid guide tube of a battery cell restraint device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0029] Fig.11 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the expansion and contraction bag of the battery cell restraint device of the embodiment of the present application before being connected to the fluid guide tube;

[0030] Fig.12 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the expansion and shrinkage bag of the battery cell restraint device of the embodiment of the present application, in which an expansion and shrinkage bag opening is opened before being connected to the fluid guide tube;

[0031] Fig.13 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the expansion and contraction bag of the battery cell restraint device of the embodiment of the present application after being connected to the fluid guide tube;

[0032] Fig.14 It is a cutaway perspective schematic diagram of a fluid bus of a battery cell restraint device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] Fig.15 It is a cutaway perspective schematic diagram of a battery cell restraint device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] Fig.16 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a support frame of a battery cell restraint device according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] Fig.17 It is a side view schematic diagram of the support frame of the battery cell restraint device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0036] Description of reference numerals:

[0037] 100, support assembly; 10, accommodating space; 20, support frame; 201, support side wall; 202, pressurized through hole; 203, first support portion; 2031, avoidance through hole; 30, positioning frame; 301, frame portion; 302, hollow portion; 303, second support portion; 40, end plate assembly; 401, end plate body; 402, handle; 50, connecting rod;

[0038] 200, pressurized body; 210, expansion bag; 2101, expansion bag inner cavity; 2102, fluid guide tube; 21021, mushroom head; 2103, expansion bag opening; 220, positioning part; 230, protective layer; 2301, connection area; 2302, protection area; 240, expansion space;

[0039] 300, battery cell;

[0040] 400, fluid bus; 410, main channel; 420, main interface; 430, branch channel; 440, branch interface; 450, pressure detection device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present application more clearly understood, the present application is further described in detail below in combination with specific embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0042] It should be noted that the relative arrangement of the components, the numerical expressions and numerical values ​​set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present application unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0043] At the same time, it should be understood that for the convenience of description, the sizes of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn according to the actual proportional relationship.

[0044] The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the present application, its application, or uses.

[0045] It should be noted that, unless otherwise defined, the technical terms or scientific terms used in the embodiments of the present application should be the usual meanings understood by people with ordinary skills in the field to which the present application belongs. The "first", "second" and similar words used in the embodiments of the present application do not represent any order, quantity or importance, but are only used to distinguish different components. "Including" or "comprising" and similar words mean that the elements or objects appearing in front of the word cover the elements or objects listed after the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. "Connect" or "connected" and similar words are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. "Up", "down", "left", "right" and the like are only used to indicate relative positional relationships. When the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0046] In the related art, the pressurizing device can be divided into a fixed-distance pressurizing device and a fixed-pressure pressurizing device.

[0047] For the fixed-spacing pressurizing device, the spacing distance between two adjacent splints (hereinafter referred to as the gap size) will be designed according to the thickness of the lithium-ion battery cell, and the lithium-ion battery cell will be placed in the gap between two adjacent splints before charging. When the lithium-ion battery cell expands during the charging process, the positions of the splints on both sides are fixed, so they can produce a restraining force on the lithium-ion battery cell. However, since the gap size is close to the thickness size of the lithium-ion battery cell, when the thickness consistency of the lithium-ion battery cell is poor, the thickness size of some parts of the lithium-ion battery cell may exceed the gap size, making it difficult to smoothly place it in the gap. At the same time, when the thickness of the lithium-ion battery cell is inconsistent, there will be a situation where some parts of the lithium-ion battery cell have already contacted the splint while some parts have not yet contacted the splint, resulting in inconsistent force on the lithium-ion battery cell and poor performance consistency.

[0048] For the constant pressure pressurizing device, a pressure sensor is arranged between the splint and the lithium-ion battery cell, and a driving device capable of driving the splints to move toward each other is arranged (for example, a screw rod, the screw rod is rotated manually or driven by a servo motor, and a nut capable of driving the splints to move is threadedly connected to the screw rod). After the lithium-ion battery cell is placed between two adjacent splints, the driving device drives the splints to move toward each other to squeeze the lithium-ion battery cell. When the pressure generated by the splint on the lithium-ion battery cell detected by the pressure sensor reaches a preset threshold, the splint stops moving and continues to apply squeezing force to the lithium-ion battery cell. However, on the one hand, since the driving device and multiple pressure sensors are arranged in the constant pressure pressurizing device, the device cost is relatively high; on the other hand, after the lithium-ion battery cell expands, there is a certain hysteresis in adjusting the position of the splint by the driving device. It is possible that during the formation and charging process, the pressure on the lithium-ion battery cell exceeds the preset threshold due to the untimely movement of the splint, which can easily cause damage to the battery cell shell.

[0049] In view of this, if Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 The battery cell restraint device provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown in a three-dimensional schematic diagram when the battery cell 300 is not installed. The battery cell restraint device includes: a support assembly 100, including at least two Figure 1 The support frames 20 are arranged at intervals (in the X direction), each support frame 20 includes at least one support side wall 201 along the first direction, and the interval gap between the opposing support side walls 201 of two adjacent support frames 20 forms a accommodating space 10 for accommodating the battery cell 300.

[0050] like Figure 2 As shown, Figure 2The schematic diagram of the top view of the cell restraint device after the cell 300 is loaded is shown. The first direction is parallel to the thickness direction of the cell 300 in the accommodation space 10; the pressurized body 200 is connected to the support frame 20, and the pressurized body 200 has an expanded state and a contracted state; when the pressurized body 200 is in the expanded state, the pressurized body 200 protrudes from at least one supporting side wall 201 of the support frame 20 and abuts against the cell 300 in the accommodation space 10.

[0051] Exemplarily, along the first direction, the support frame 20 located at the head end or the tail end has a support side wall 201, and the support frame 20 located in the middle has two support side walls 201 arranged opposite to each other.

[0052] Exemplarily, the pressurizing body 200 may be connected to a panel of the supporting side wall 201 ; or, may be embedded in the supporting frame 20 , and an opening for the pressurizing body 200 to protrude is provided on the supporting side wall 201 .

[0053] For example, if the pressurized body 200 is connected to the support frame 20 located in the middle, when the pressurized body 200 is in an expanded state, it can protrude from the supporting side wall 201 on one side of the support frame 20 and abut against the battery cell 300 located on that side; it can also protrude from the supporting side walls 201 on both sides of the support frame 20 at the same time and abut against the two battery cells 300 located on both sides at the same time.

[0054] For example, the pressurized body 200 can be placed in an expanded state by injecting fluid (such as air or liquid) into the interior of the pressurized body 200 , and can be switched to a contracted state by withdrawing the fluid from the interior of the pressurized body 200 .

[0055] Exemplarily, the support frame 20 is a rigid structural member.

[0056] Exemplarily, the battery cell 300 includes two first side surfaces that are opposite to each other, and the area of ​​the first side surfaces is greater than the area of ​​the other side surfaces of the battery cell 300. The pressurizing body 200 contacts the first side surfaces of the battery cell 300 in the expanded state.

[0057] like Figure 1 When the battery cell 300 to be charged is not placed in the accommodation space 10 , the pressurizing body 200 is in a contracted state, and the space in the accommodation space 10 is large, which is convenient for placing the battery cell 300 to be charged between the two supporting side walls 201 .

[0058] like Figure 2 After the battery cell 300 to be charged is placed in the accommodation space 10, the pressurizing body 200 is switched to an expanded state, and the pressurizing body 200 in the expanded state protrudes out of the supporting side wall 201 and abuts against the battery cell 300 in the accommodation space 10. Figure 3 As shown, Figure 3 Shown Figure 2The enlarged schematic diagram of the A part in the figure. Since the support frame 20 is fixed in position and the size of the accommodating space 10 is fixed, the expansion degree of the pressurizing body 200 is proportional to the extrusion force it applies to the battery cell 300. In other words, the extrusion force applied to the battery cell 300 can be controlled by controlling the expansion degree of the pressurizing body 200.

[0059] When the battery cell 300 is fully charged, the pressurizing body 200 can be switched back to the contracted state to facilitate taking the battery cell 300 out of the accommodating space 10 .

[0060] It should also be noted that the pressurizing body 200 is a retractable flexible structure so as to have a switchable contraction state and expansion state. When the flexible pressurizing body 200 expands, its surface shape can conform to the surface shape of the battery cell 300, so that the expanded pressurizing body 200 can achieve good fit with the entire area of ​​the first side surface of the battery cell 300, such as Figure 3 Accordingly, the force on the battery cell 300 can be made more uniform, so that the battery cell 300 can achieve higher consistency during the formation and charging process.

[0061] In the battery cell restraint device of this embodiment, the supporting side wall 201 does not contact the battery cell 300, but contacts the battery cell 300 through the pressurized body 200 in an expanded state. Since the pressurized body 200 is a retractable flexible structure, the flexible pressurized body 200 is not easy to cause damage to the battery cell shell when in contact with the battery cell 300. The flexible pressurized body 200 can conform to the surface shape of the battery cell 300 when expanded. Even if the thickness of the battery cell 300 is inconsistent, the pressurized body 200 can achieve a good fit with the surface of the battery cell 300, so that the force on the battery cell 300 is more uniform, and the performance consistency after formation and charging is also higher.

[0062] Since in the battery cell restraint device of the present embodiment, the position of the support frame 20 is fixed, and the squeezing force applied to the battery cell 300 is controlled by controlling the expansion degree of the pressurizing body 200, it is possible to eliminate the need to provide a driving structure in the battery cell restraint device to drive the support frame 20 to move, which helps to reduce the preparation cost and maintenance difficulty of the battery cell restraint device.

[0063] like Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the support assembly 100 further includes a positioning frame 30 , at least a portion of each pressurizing body 200 is located between the positioning frame 30 and the supporting side wall 201 , and the pressurizing body 200 is connected to the support frame 20 via the positioning frame 30 .

[0064] Exemplarily, the positioning frame 30 and the support frame 20 may be connected by means of snap-fitting, plug-in, bonding, welding or fasteners such as screws.

[0065] Exemplarily, the positioning frame 30 can be an annular frame structure connected end to end along the edge of the pressurizing body 200; or, the positioning frame 30 can be a bent strip frame structure that is continuous along at least two side edges of the pressurizing body 200; or, the positioning frame 30 can be an intermittent strip frame structure arranged on the opposite side edges of the pressurizing body 200.

[0066] Exemplarily, the position of the pressurizing body 200 close to the edge is located between the positioning frame 30 and the supporting side wall 201 .

[0067] Exemplarily, the positioning frame 30 is connected to the supporting side wall 201 .

[0068] After the positioning frame 30 is connected to the support frame 20, it can cooperate with the supporting side wall 201 to clamp and fix the pressurized body 200, so that the position of the pressurized body 200 is fixed relative to the supporting side wall 201, avoiding slippage of the pressurized body 200 during expansion or the removal and placement of the battery cell 300, ensuring that the pressurized body 200 can achieve good fitting contact with the entire area of ​​the first side surface of the battery cell 300, and ensuring that the battery cell 300 is evenly stressed during charging.

[0069] like Figure 4 As shown, Figure 4 The figure shows a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the connection between the pressurized body 200 and the support frame 20. The pressurized body 200 includes an expansion bag 210 and a positioning portion 220 arranged around the edge of the expansion bag 210. Figure 5 As shown, Figure 5 The figure shows a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the connection between the positioning frame 30, the pressurizing body 200 and the support frame 20. The positioning frame 30 includes a frame portion 301 corresponding to the positioning portion 220 and a hollow portion 302 corresponding to the expansion and contraction bag 210; the positioning portion 220 is located between the support frame 20 and the frame portion 301, and the positioning frame 30 is connected to the support frame 20 by fasteners passing through the frame portion 301 and the positioning portion 220. Figure 5 When the pressurized body 200 is in an expanded state, the expansion and contraction bag 210 passes through the positioning frame 30 through the hollow portion 302 and abuts against the battery cell 300 .

[0070] For example, the fasteners may be screws, bolts, rivets, etc. The fasteners may pass through the frame portion 301 and the positioning portion 220 through through holes provided on the frame portion 301 and the positioning portion 220 .

[0071] The frame portion 301 of the positioning frame 30 corresponds to the positioning portion 220 of the pressurized body 200, that is, the frame portion 301 is also arranged around the edge of the expansion and contraction bag 210. In this embodiment, the frame portion 301 can prevent the pressurized body 200 from moving in the height direction (such as Figure 5 Z direction) and width direction (such as Figure 5The positioning frame 30 is provided with a hollow portion 302 corresponding to the expansion and contraction bag 210 of the pressurized body 200. When the pressurized body 200 is in an expanded state, the expansion and contraction bag 210 can pass through the hollow portion 302 and extend into the accommodation space 10, and abut against the first side surface of the battery cell 300 in the accommodation space 10, so as to apply a squeezing force to the battery cell 300.

[0072] like Figure 6 As shown, Figure 6 The cross-sectional schematic diagram of the battery cell restraint device when the pressurizing body 200 is connected to the supporting side wall 201 is shown. In some embodiments, the pressurizing body 200 is located on the surface of the supporting side wall 201; when the pressurizing body 200 is in an expanded state, the side of the expansion and contraction bag 210 away from the battery cell 300 abuts against the supporting side wall 201.

[0073] In this embodiment, the supporting side wall 201 has a complete surface covering the pressurized body 200, and the pressurized body 200 is located on the surface of the supporting side wall 201. When the pressurized body 200 is in an expanded state, one side of the expansion and contraction bag 210 abuts against the supporting side wall 201, and the other side abuts against the first side surface of the battery cell 300. In combination with the above content, it can be seen that the position of the rigid support frame 20 is fixed, so the surface of the supporting side wall 201 can support the expansion and contraction bag 210, so that the pressurized body 200 in an expanded state exerts a squeezing force on the battery cell 300 under the support of the supporting side wall 201.

[0074] In addition, since the supporting side wall 201 can provide supporting force, even if the pressurized body 200 located on one side of the battery cell 300 malfunctions and cannot switch to the expanded state, the supporting side wall 201 on this side can still provide supporting force to the battery cell 300. By adjusting the expansion degree of the pressurized body 200 on the other side of the battery cell 300, the extrusion force that meets the process requirements can still be applied to the battery cell 300.

[0075] like Figure 7 As shown, Figure 7 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of a battery cell restraint device is shown in which a pressurizing body 200 is at least partially embedded in a support frame 20 and can extend from opposite sides of the support frame 20. In some embodiments, the support frame 20 includes two support side walls 201, the support frame 20 is provided with a pressurizing through hole 202 penetrating the two support side walls 201, and the pressurizing body 200 is penetrated through the pressurizing through hole 202; the support frame 20 is provided with battery cells 300 on both sides along the first direction; when the pressurizing body 200 is in an expanded state, the expansion and contraction bag 210 simultaneously protrudes from the two support side walls 201 and abuts against the battery cells 300.

[0076] When the pressurized body 200 is in a contracted state, the expansion and shrinkage bag 210 can be located in the pressurized through hole 202. When the pressurized body 200 is in an expanded state, the expansion and shrinkage bag 210 can extend out of the two support side walls 201 located on opposite sides of the support frame 20 through the openings at both ends of the pressurized through hole 202, and the extended portion of each side of the expansion and shrinkage bag 210 abuts against the first surface of the battery cell 300 on the same side, that is, the expansion and shrinkage bag 210 can simultaneously apply a squeezing force to the two battery cells 300 located on both sides of the support frame 20.

[0077] In this embodiment, since the same pressurizing body 200 can apply a squeezing force to two battery cells 300 , the number of pressurizing bodies 200 provided in the battery cell restraint device can be reduced, which helps to further reduce the manufacturing cost of the battery cell restraint device.

[0078] like Figure 8 As shown, Figure 8 The cross-sectional schematic diagram of the pressurized body 200 in the expanded state is shown. In some embodiments, the pressurized body 200 further includes a protective layer 230 , which covers at least a portion of the outer surface of the expansion and contraction bag 210 .

[0079] Exemplarily, the material of the expansion and contraction bag 210 may be a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (also known as thermoplastic polyurethane rubber, hereinafter referred to as TPU) material.

[0080] Exemplarily, the inflation bag 210 can withstand a pressure greater than or equal to 0.5 MPa.

[0081] Exemplarily, the protective layer 230 may include a fabric layer (eg, cloth) and a TPU layer disposed on at least one side of the fabric layer. The protective layer 230 has the functions of being resistant to electrolyte and friction.

[0082] Exemplarily, the protective layer 230 may be fixed to the expansion and contraction bag 210 by a heat sealing process or an adhesive process.

[0083] If the expansion and shrink bag 210 is in direct contact with the battery cell 300, the expansion and shrink bag 210 will scratch the battery cell 300 during its expansion process. In general, the single layer thickness of the expansion and shrink bag 210 is relatively thin (to ensure that the expansion and shrink bag 210 has good expansion and contraction performance). Scratching may cause damage to the expansion and shrink bag 210, causing the expansion and shrink bag 210 to burst during expansion. In order to avoid the above situation, a protective layer 230 is provided on the outer surface of the expansion and shrink bag 210. When the expansion and shrink bag 210 expands, the protective layer 230 replaces the expansion and shrink bag 210 to contact the battery cell 300, which can protect the expansion and shrink bag 210 and help to increase the service life of the battery cell restraint device.

[0084] like Fig. 9 As shown, Fig. 9A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the pressurized body 200 in a contracted state is shown. In some embodiments, the protective layer 230 includes a protective area 2302 and a connecting area 2301 located at at least one side edge of the protective area 2302; the protective layer 230 in the protective area 2302 corresponds to the expansion bag 210, the protective layer 230 in the connecting area 2301 is connected to the positioning portion 220, and an expansion space 240 for accommodating the expansion bag 210 in an expanded state is provided between the protective layer 230 in the protective area 2302 and the expansion bag 210.

[0085] Exemplarily, the connection area 2301 of the protection layer 230 is connected to the positioning portion 220 by a heat sealing process.

[0086] Exemplarily, the protective layer 230 completely covers the surface of the expansion and contraction bag 210 and the positioning portion 220 .

[0087] like Fig. 9 When the inflatable bag 210 shrinks, the inflatable bag 210 is separated from the protective layer 230 of the protective area 2302. Figure 8 When the expansion bag 210 expands, the expansion bag 210 fills the expansion space 240 to apply a squeezing force to the battery cell 300 through the protective layer 230 .

[0088] In order to make the protective layer 230 have a higher friction resistance, the protective layer 230 may have a poor expansion performance. In order to prevent the protective layer 230 with poor expansion performance from hindering the expansion of the expansion bag 210, in this embodiment, the protective layer 230 in the protection area 2302 can be separated from the expansion bag 210. Under this structure, as long as the expansion space 240 can accommodate the expansion bag 210 that has expanded to the maximum extent, the protective layer 230 can avoid restricting the expansion bag 210.

[0089] At the same time, since the protective layer 230 is also made of flexible material, when the battery cell 300 is placed in the accommodating space 10 (the expansion and shrinkage bag 210 shrinks at this time), the squeezing of the protective layer 230 by the battery cell 300 can cause the protective layer 230 to bend and deform into the expansion space 240. Therefore, the protective layer 230 does not hinder the process of placing the battery cell 300 into the accommodating space 10.

[0090] like Figure 8 In some embodiments, the interior of the inflation bag 210 is provided with an inflation bag inner cavity 2101 for accommodating fluid, and the inflation bag 210 is also provided with a fluid guide tube 2102 connected to the inflation bag inner cavity 2101.

[0091] Exemplarily, the inflation bag 210 may be an air bag.

[0092] For example, Fig.10 As shown, Fig.10The schematic cross-sectional view of the end portion of the fluid guide tube 2102 is shown. The end portion of the fluid guide tube 2102 is provided with a mushroom head 21021, which includes a layer structure provided around the circumference of the fluid guide tube 2102, and the layer structure is integrally connected with the end portion of the fluid guide tube 2102.

[0093] The expansion bag 210 is a thin bag-shaped structure, and the weight of the expansion bag 210 is relatively light when no fluid is filled in the expansion bag inner cavity 2101. Compared with the solid splint in the aforementioned related art, the present embodiment uses the pressurizing body 200 including the expansion bag 210 to apply the squeezing force to the battery cell 300, which can greatly reduce the overall weight and preparation cost of the battery cell restraint device.

[0094] The connection method between the fluid guide tube 2102 and the expansion and contraction bag 210 is further described below.

[0095] like Fig.11 As shown, Fig.11 The cross-sectional schematic diagram of the inflatable bag 210 without connecting the fluid guide tube 2102 is shown. Exemplarily, the inflatable bag 210 may include two stacked TPU material layers, which are sealed and connected along the periphery of the edges of the two TPU material layers. The sealed connection portion of the two TPU material layers forms the positioning portion 220, and the portion surrounded by the positioning portion 220 forms the inflatable bag 210. Then, an inflatable bag opening 2103 for connecting the fluid guide tube 2102 is provided on the inflatable bag 210, as shown in FIG. Fig.12 As shown, Fig.12 The cross-sectional view of the expansion bag 210 provided with the expansion bag opening 2103 is shown. The expansion bag opening 2103 connects the expansion bag inner cavity 2101 with the outside. Fig.13 As shown, Fig.13 The cross-sectional schematic diagram of the expansion and contraction bag 210 connected with the fluid guide tube 2102 is shown. The mushroom head 21021 of the fluid guide tube 2102 is located in the expansion and contraction bag inner cavity 2101, and the mushroom head 21021 can be connected to the expansion and contraction bag 210 by heat melting, and the expansion and contraction bag opening 2103 is sealed by the mushroom head 21021. The fluid guide tube 2102 extends out of the expansion and contraction bag 210 through the expansion and contraction bag opening 2103, and the fluid guide tube 2102 is connected to the expansion and contraction bag inner cavity 2101.

[0096] For example, before forming the expansion bag 210 , an expansion bag opening 2103 may be provided on one of the two TPU material layers and connected to the fluid guide tube 2102 . Afterwards, the two TPU material layers are sealed and connected to form the expansion bag 210 .

[0097] like Fig.14 As shown, Fig.14The cross-sectional schematic diagram of the fluid bus 400 is shown. The battery cell restraint device includes a fluid bus 400, and the fluid bus 400 is provided with a main channel 410, a main interface 420, a plurality of branch channels 430 and a plurality of branch interfaces 440; the plurality of branch channels 430 are connected to the main channel 410; the main interface 420 is connected to the main channel 410, and the main interface 420 is used to connect to a fluid source; the branch interfaces 440 correspond to the branch channels 430 one by one, and the branch interfaces 440 are connected to the corresponding branch channels 430 and the corresponding fluid guide tube 2102, as shown in FIG. Fig.15 , Fig.15 A cutaway perspective schematic diagram of the cell restraint device is shown.

[0098] Exemplarily, the fluid source is a device capable of providing pressurized fluid (such as air with a certain pressure or liquid with a certain pressure) to the fluid bus 400 and capable of extracting fluid from the fluid bus 400 , such as a self-priming pump.

[0099] For example, the main interface 420 may be connected to a fluid source via a pipeline.

[0100] When the pressurized body 200 switches from the contracted state to the expanded state, the fluid source injects fluid into the main channel 410 through the main interface 420, and the fluid enters each branch channel 430 at a substantially equal flow rate, and flows out of the fluid bus 400 through the branch interface 440. The fluid flowing out of the fluid bus 400 enters the corresponding expansion bag inner cavity 2101 through the fluid guide tube 2102 connected to the branch interface 440. As the fluid in the expansion bag inner cavity 2101 continues to increase, the expansion bag 210 gradually expands and becomes larger, and the pressurized body 200 is in the expanded state.

[0101] Similarly, when the pressurized body 200 switches from the expanded state to the contracted state, the fluid source generates vacuum suction on the main channel 410 through the main interface 420. Under the action of the vacuum suction, the fluid in each expansion and contraction bag cavity 2101 passes through the fluid guide tube 2102, the branch interface 440 and the branch channel 430 in sequence at a substantially same flow rate and converges into the main channel 410, and flows to the fluid source through the main interface 420. As the fluid in the expansion and contraction bag cavity 2101 continues to decrease, the expansion and contraction bag 210 gradually contracts, and the pressurized body 200 is in a contracted state.

[0102] In combination with the above content, it can be seen that since the expansion and contraction bag inner cavity 2101 of each pressurized body 200 is connected to the main channel 410 of the fluid bus 400, the fluid pressure in each expansion and contraction bag inner cavity 2101 is roughly the same, that is, the squeezing force applied by each pressurized body 200 in the battery cell restraint device to the battery cell 300 is roughly the same, which helps to improve the consistency of the formation and charging of multiple battery cells 300 in the battery cell restraint device.

[0103] like Fig.14In some embodiments, the fluid bus 400 is provided with a pressure detection device 450 for detecting the fluid pressure in the main channel 410 .

[0104] Exemplarily, the pressure detection device 450 may be a pressure gauge or a pressure sensor.

[0105] Exemplarily, when the pressure detection device 450 is a pressure gauge, it may be connected to the main flow channel 410 through a pipeline.

[0106] Exemplarily, the pressure detection device 450 may be connected to a host computer to send the detected pressure data to the host computer.

[0107] In combination with the foregoing, it can be known that the main channel 410 is connected to the expansion and contraction bag inner cavity 2101 of each pressurized body 200, so the fluid pressure value in the main channel 410 is the pressure value of each expansion and contraction bag inner cavity 2101, that is, the pressure value of the extrusion force applied by the pressurized body 200 to the battery cell 300. The extrusion force applied by the pressurized body 200 to the battery cell 300 can be monitored in real time by the pressure detection device 450. When the battery cell 300 is formed and charged, the pole piece of the battery cell 300 expands, causing the battery cell 300 to squeeze the pressurized body 200, and the pressure value in the expansion and contraction bag inner cavity 2101 will increase, exceeding the preset threshold. After receiving the feedback, the pressure gauge can display the pressure data in the main channel 410 at this time to the operator, or send the pressure data to the host computer. The operator or the host computer reduces the fluid pressure supplied to the fluid bus 400 according to the pressure data, so that the fluid in the inner cavity 2101 of the expansion and contraction bag is discharged to the fluid bus 400, and the pressure value in the inner cavity 2101 of the expansion and contraction bag is reduced to a preset threshold value, ensuring that the extrusion force exerted on the battery cell 300 during the formation and charging process is constant, thereby further improving the thickness consistency and charging pressure consistency of the battery cell 300.

[0108] like Fig.16 As shown, Fig.16 2 shows a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the support frame 20. In some embodiments, the bottom of the support frame 20 is provided with a first direction (such as Fig.16 The first supporting portions 203 of the side walls 201 protrude outwardly (in the X direction). The first supporting portions 203 of the adjacent supporting frames 20 abut against each other. Figure 3 .

[0109] For example, Fig.16 The first supporting portion 203 is provided with a through hole 2031 for the fluid guide tube 2102 to pass through.

[0110] The first supporting portion 203 is used to support the positioning frame 30 and / or the battery cell 300, so as to ensure that the battery cell 300 placed in the accommodating space 10 and the expansion and contraction bag 210 of the pressurized body 200 maintain a preset relative position, which helps to ensure that the expansion and contraction bag 210 can cover the first side surface of the battery cell 300. At the same time, the first supporting portions 203 of adjacent support frames 20 abut along the first direction, so that the facing supporting side walls 201 of the adjacent support frames 20 can maintain a preset distance, providing a reliable supporting force for the pressurized body 200.

[0111] like Figure 5 In some embodiments, the bottom of the positioning frame 30 is provided with a first direction (such as Figure 5 The second supporting portions 303 of the adjacent positioning frames 30 abut against each other, such as Figure 3 .

[0112] Illustratively, the first supporting portion 203 may support the second supporting portion 303 .

[0113] The second supporting portion 303 is used to support the battery cell 300 to ensure that the battery cell 300 placed in the accommodation space 10 and the expansion and contraction bag 210 of the pressurized body 200 maintain a preset relative position, which helps to ensure that the expansion and contraction bag 210 can cover the first side surface of the battery cell 300. The second supporting portions 303 of adjacent positioning frames 30 abut along the first direction, which can maintain a preset distance between adjacent positioning frames 30, that is, the interior of the accommodation space 10 maintains a preset size, which is convenient for taking and placing the battery cell 300.

[0114] like Figure 2 In some embodiments, the cell restraint device includes a first direction (such as Figure 2 The two end plate assemblies 40 are spaced apart from each other (in the X direction in FIG. 1 ), and the support assembly 100 is disposed between the two end plate assemblies 40, and the support assembly 100 abuts against the end plate assemblies 40. Figure 4 At least one connecting rod 50 is disposed between the two end plate assemblies 40 , and each connecting rod 50 passes through the support assembly 100 and is respectively connected to the two end plate assemblies 40 .

[0115] For example, Figure 2 The end plate assembly 40 includes an end plate body 401 and a handle 402 connected to the end plate body 401 .

[0116] Exemplarily, the end plate body 401 is provided with a clearance hole for the pressure detection device 450 to extend out, such as Figure 1 .

[0117] Exemplarily, the support frame 20 is further provided with a plurality of through holes, which are used to reduce the overall weight of the support frame 20 on the one hand, and to form air channels on the other hand, so as to dissipate heat when the battery cells 300 are charged.

[0118] Exemplarily, the connection between the connecting rod 50 and the end plate body 401 of the end plate assembly 40 can be achieved by snapping, plugging, welding, bonding or fasteners such as screws.

[0119] Exemplarily, a plurality of connecting rods 50 are disposed around the supporting side wall 201 .

[0120] The two end plate assemblies 40 are fixed in relative position by a connecting rod 50 , so that the two end plate assemblies 40 can support the multiple support frames 20 therebetween, thereby ensuring that the distance between adjacent support frames 20 is fixed.

[0121] like Fig.17 As shown, Fig.17 A side view of the support frame 20 is shown. In some embodiments, along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction (e.g. Fig.17 Each support frame 20 is connected to two pressurizing bodies 200, and the two pressurizing bodies 200 are arranged along the vertical center line of the support frame 20 (such as Fig.17 The dotted lines in the figure are set symmetrically.

[0122] Exemplarily, the supporting side walls 201 on the supporting frame 20 correspond one-to-one to the pressurizing body 200 connected to the supporting frame 20 .

[0123] In combination with the above content, it can be known that when the pressurizing body 200 is in an expanded state, the expansion degree of each pressurizing body 200 is the same. The two pressurizing bodies 200 are symmetrically arranged along the center line of the support frame 20, so that the forces exerted by the two pressurizing bodies 200 on the support frame 20 can be symmetrical, avoiding the difference in the forces exerted by the two pressurizing bodies 200 on the support frame 20, which causes the support frame 20 to be subjected to a pulling force.

[0124] It should be noted that the above describes some embodiments of the present application. Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions or steps recorded in the claims can be performed in an order different from that in the above embodiments and still achieve the desired results. In addition, the processes depicted in the accompanying drawings do not necessarily require the specific order or continuous order shown to achieve the desired results. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing are also possible or may be advantageous.

[0125] The various embodiments in the present application are described in a progressive manner, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referenced to each other.

[0126] The description of the present application is given for the purpose of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present application to the disclosed form. Many modifications and variations are obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiments are selected and described in order to better illustrate the principles and practical applications of the present application, and to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the present application and thus design various embodiments with various modifications suitable for specific purposes.

[0127] Those skilled in the art should understand that the discussion of any of the above embodiments is merely illustrative and is not intended to imply that the scope of the present application (including the claims) is limited to these examples. In line with the concept of the present application, the technical features in the above embodiments or different embodiments may be combined, the steps may be implemented in any order, and there are many other variations of the different aspects of the embodiments of the present application as described above, which are not provided in detail for the sake of simplicity.

[0128] Although the present application has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, many alternatives, modifications and variations of these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description.

[0129] The embodiments of the present application are intended to cover all such substitutions, modifications and variations that fall within the broad scope of the appended claims. Therefore, any omissions, modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the embodiments of the present application should be included in the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A battery cell restraint device, characterized in that: include: A support assembly, comprising at least two support frames arranged at intervals along a first direction, each of the support frames comprising at least one support side wall along the first direction, and a gap between the opposing support side walls of two adjacent support frames forms a storage space for accommodating a battery cell; the first direction is parallel to a thickness direction of the battery cell in the storage space; A pressurized body is connected to the support frame, and the pressurized body has an expanded state and a contracted state; when the pressurized body is in the expanded state, the pressurized body protrudes from at least one supporting side wall of the support frame and abuts against the battery cell in the accommodating space.

2. The battery cell restraint device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The support assembly further includes a positioning frame, at least a portion of each of the pressurizing bodies is located between the positioning frame and the support side wall, and the pressurizing body is connected to the support frame through the positioning frame.

3. The battery cell restraint device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The pressurizing body includes an expansion and contraction bag, and a positioning portion arranged around the edge of the expansion and contraction bag; the positioning frame includes a frame portion corresponding to the positioning portion, and a hollow portion corresponding to the expansion and contraction bag; the positioning portion is located between the support frame and the frame portion, and the positioning frame is connected to the support frame by a fastener passing through the frame portion and the positioning portion; When the pressurizing body is in the expanded state, the expansion and contraction bag passes through the hollow portion through the positioning frame and abuts against the battery cell.

4. The battery cell restraint device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The pressurizing body is located on the surface of the supporting side wall; when the pressurizing body is in the expanded state, the side of the expansion and contraction bag away from the battery core abuts against the supporting side wall.

5. The battery cell restraint device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The support frame comprises two support side walls, the support frame is provided with a pressurizing through hole penetrating the two support side walls, and the pressurizing body is provided through the pressurizing through hole; the support frame is provided with battery cells on both sides along the first direction respectively; When the pressurizing body is in the expanded state, the expansion and contraction bag simultaneously protrudes out of the two supporting side walls and abuts against the battery core.

6. The battery cell restraint device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The pressurized body further includes a protective layer, which covers at least a portion of the outer surface of the inflation bag.

7. The battery cell restraint device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The protective layer includes a protective area and a connecting area located at at least one side edge of the protective area; the protective layer of the protective area corresponds to the expansion bag, the protective layer of the connecting area is connected to the positioning portion, and there is an expansion space between the protective layer of the protective area and the expansion bag for accommodating the expansion bag in an expanded state.

8. The battery cell restraint device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The expansion bag is provided with an expansion bag inner cavity for accommodating fluid, and the expansion bag is also provided with a fluid guide pipe connected to the expansion bag inner cavity; The battery cell restraint device comprises a fluid bus, wherein the fluid bus is provided with a main flow channel, a main interface, a plurality of branch flow channels and a plurality of branch interfaces; The multiple branch channels are connected to the main channel; the main interface is connected to the main channel, and the main interface is used to connect to a fluid source; the branch interfaces correspond to the branch channels one by one, and the branch interfaces are connected to the corresponding branch channels and the corresponding fluid guide tubes.

9. The battery cell restraint device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The fluid bus is provided with a pressure detection device for detecting the fluid pressure in the main flow channel.

10. The battery cell restraint device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bottom of the support frame is provided with a first supporting portion protruding from the supporting side wall along the first direction, and the first supporting portions of adjacent support frames abut against each other; and / or, The bottom of the positioning frame is provided with a second supporting portion protruding from the side wall along the first direction, and the second supporting portions of adjacent positioning frames abut against each other.

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