Connecting components, boxes, battery packs and vehicles

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of batteries, and provides a connecting member, a box, a battery pack, and a vehicle. The connecting member includes a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion, wherein the first connecting portion is connected to the cross beam, and the second connecting portion is connected to the side beam. The connecting member serves as an intermediate connecting member between the cross beam and the side beam, and the connecting member is connected to the cross beam and the side beam respectively through the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, so that the cross beam and the side beam of different materials can be stably connected.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of batteries, and in particular to a connecting member, a box, a battery pack and a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] The side beams and cross beams are important components of the battery lower box. When the vehicle is side-colliding or impacted, the energy will be transferred to the cross beams through the side beams. The cross beams support the side beams to prevent the side beams from being concave and squeezing the battery cells.

[0003] Crossbeams are typically made of aluminum alloy, allowing for easy processing and forming of connections to other components, such as threaded holes. To reduce costs, side beams are typically made of rolled steel. However, the crossbeam and side beams are made of dissimilar materials, making effective connection between these materials a challenge. Utility Model Content

[0004] The present application provides a connecting member, a box, a battery pack and a vehicle, wherein side beams and cross beams made of different materials can be effectively connected through the connecting member.

[0005] On the one hand, the present application provides a connecting member suitable for the crossbeam and side beam of a battery pack, the connecting member including a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion, the first connecting portion being connected to the crossbeam, and the second connecting portion being connected to the side beam.

[0006] In some embodiments, the first connecting portion has a cavity, the crossbeam is inserted into the cavity, and the sidewall of the cavity is connected to the crossbeam.

[0007] In some embodiments, the second connecting portion has a lug plate, and the lug plate is connected to the side beam.

[0008] In some embodiments, the orthographic projection area of ​​the second connecting portion on the side beam is larger than the orthographic projection area of ​​the cross beam on the side beam.

[0009] In some embodiments, a plurality of ribs are provided between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, and two ends of each rib are connected to the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion respectively;

[0010] Two adjacent rib plates form a buffer cavity.

[0011] In some embodiments, the plurality of ribs are spaced apart along a first direction, and the first direction is an extension direction of the edge beam;

[0012] The multiple ribs include at least one middle plate and two outer plates, the middle plate extends along the second direction, and the two outer plates are inclined relative to the second direction. The second direction is the extension direction of the beam, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

[0013] In some embodiments, if the first connection portion and the cross beam are made of the same material, welding is used for connection; if the materials are different, fasteners are used for connection; if the second connection portion and the side beam are made of the same material, welding is used for connection; if the materials are different, fasteners are used for connection.

[0014] On the other hand, the present application provides a box body, including side beams, cross beams and the above-mentioned connecting members, wherein the cross beams are perpendicular to the side beams, and the cross beams are connected to the side beams through the connecting members.

[0015] On the other hand, the present application provides a battery pack including the above-mentioned battery box.

[0016] On the other hand, the present application provides a vehicle comprising the above-mentioned battery pack, wherein the battery pack is used to provide electrical energy.

[0017] The embodiments of the present application provide a connecting member, a box, a battery pack, and a vehicle, wherein the connecting member serves as an intermediate connecting piece between the crossbeam and the side beam, and the connecting member is connected to the crossbeam and the side beam respectively through a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion, so that the crossbeam and the side beam of different materials can be firmly connected. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, a brief introduction will be given below to the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the box provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0020] Figure 2 A schematic structural diagram of a connecting member provided in the first embodiment of the present application;

[0021] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Top view of

[0022] Figure 4 for Figure 2 Exploded diagram;

[0023] Figure 5 An exploded view of the structure of a connecting member provided in another embodiment of the present application;

[0024] Figure 6 A schematic structural diagram of a connecting component provided in another embodiment of the present application.

[0025] Description of Figure Numbers:

[0026] 1. Connecting member; 11. First connecting portion; 12. Second connecting portion; 2. Side beam; 3. Cross beam; 4. Ear plate;

[0027] 5. Rib plate; 51. Middle plate; 52. Outer plate;

[0028] 6. Cavity; 61. Wall panel; 7. Waterproof rivet nut; 8. Bolt;

[0029] X, first direction; Y, second direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In order to more clearly understand the above-mentioned objectives, features and advantages of the present disclosure, the scheme of the present disclosure will be further described below. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present disclosure and the features therein can be combined with each other in the absence of conflict.

[0031] In the following description, many specific details are set forth to facilitate a full understanding of the present disclosure, but the present disclosure may also be implemented in other ways different from those described herein; it is obvious that the embodiments in the specification are only part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, rather than all of the embodiments.

[0032] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, an embodiment of the present application provides a connecting member 1 suitable for use with a cross beam 3 and a side beam 2 of a battery pack. The connecting member 1 includes a first connecting portion 11 and a second connecting portion 12. The first connecting portion 11 is connected to the cross beam 3, and the second connecting portion 12 is connected to the side beam 2. The first connecting portion 11 and the second connecting portion 12 can be an integrally formed structure.

[0033] The side beams 2 and cross beams 3 are important components of the battery lower box. The cross beam 3 is usually made of aluminum alloy profiles to facilitate processing and forming structures for connection with other components, such as threaded holes. In order to reduce costs, the side beam 2 is usually made of rolled steel profiles. The cross beam 3 and the side beam 2 are made of different materials, and the cross beam 3 and the side beam 2 are connected by a connecting member 1. Of course, the cross beam 3 and the side beam 2 can also be made of other different materials. For the sake of ease of description, this application is described as the cross beam 3 using aluminum alloy profiles and the side beam 2 using rolled steel profiles.

[0034] like Figures 2 to 4 As shown, in the first embodiment of the present application, the connecting member 1 is made of aluminum alloy, the first connecting portion 11 is welded to the cross beam 3, and the second connecting portion 12 is connected to the side beam 2 via fasteners.

[0035] Furthermore, the first connecting portion 11 has a cavity 6, the crossbeam 3 is inserted into the cavity 6, and the side wall of the cavity 6 is welded to the crossbeam 3. Figure 2As shown, the side walls of the cavity 6 include wall panels arranged opposite to each other along the second direction Y and end walls connected to the end surfaces of the beams 3 .

[0036] Considering the gravity of the beam 3 in the vertical direction and the pressure it bears from other components, a receiving wall is provided at the lower part of the cavity 6 in the vertical direction, and the receiving wall supports the beam 3 .

[0037] The first connection portion 11 is welded to the crossbeam 3 through the side walls (wall panels, end walls and receiving walls) of the cavity 6 , and the connection strength is high.

[0038] like Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the second connecting portion 12 has a lug plate 4, through which a fastener is inserted into the side rail 2 to connect the second connecting portion 12 to the side rail 2. The lug plate 4 is thinner than the rest of the second connecting portion 12, and when the fastener is connected to the lug plate 4, its impact on the arrangement space of the battery cells in the battery box is reduced.

[0039] In a specific implementation, the waterproof rivet nut 7 is embedded and installed on the side beam 2, and the bolt 8 passes through the ear plate 4 and is inserted into the waterproof rivet nut 7 to be connected thereto.

[0040] The connection between the crossbeam and the side beam is a stress concentration point. To improve the connection strength between the crossbeam and the side beam, the orthographic projection area of ​​the second connecting portion 12 on the side beam 2 is larger than the orthographic projection area of ​​the crossbeam on the side beam 2. Crossbeam 3 is connected to the side beam 2 via connecting member 1. The orthographic projection area of ​​the second connecting portion 12 on the side beam 2 is larger than the orthographic projection area of ​​the first connecting portion 11 on the side beam 2. This increases the connection area between crossbeam 3 and side beam 2, thereby improving the connection strength between crossbeam 3 and side beam 2. When side beam 2 is subjected to external forces, crossbeam 3 provides better support for side beam 2, thereby enhancing the battery box's ability to protect the internal battery components.

[0041] Further, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, multiple ribs 5 are provided between the first connecting portion 11 and the second connecting portion 12. Each rib 5 has two ends connected to the first connecting portion 11 and the second connecting portion 12, respectively. Two adjacent ribs 5 form a buffer cavity. The buffer cavity absorbs energy from collisions on the side beam 2, reducing the risk of deformation of the cross beam 3.

[0042] For example, Figure 3 As shown, the plurality of ribs 5 are spaced apart along a first direction X, which is the extension direction of the side beam 2. The plurality of ribs 5 include at least one middle plate 51 and two outer plates 52. The middle plate 51 extends along a second direction Y, and the two outer plates 52 are inclined relative to the second direction Y. The second direction Y is the extension direction of the cross beam 3 and is arranged to intersect the first direction X at right angles.

[0043] The middle plate 51 extends along the second direction Y to better support the side beams 2. Multiple middle plates 51 are spaced apart along the first direction X to evenly distribute force across the crossbeam 3. The two outer plates 52 are connected to the sides of the crossbeam 3 via the wall panels 61. These outer plates 52 transfer some of the external force acting on the side beams 2 to the sides of the crossbeam 3, reducing the force on the front (end) face of the crossbeam 3 and minimizing the risk of bending or even cracking the crossbeam 3.

[0044] like Figures 5 and 6 As shown, in the second embodiment of the present application, the connecting member 1 is made of high-strength steel, the first connecting portion 11 is connected to the cross beam 3 by a fastener, and the second connecting portion 12 is welded to the side beam 2.

[0045] refer to Figure 5 In the specific implementation, the connecting member 1 is formed by stamping high-strength steel to form a first connecting portion 11 with a cavity 6 and a second connecting portion 12 with a lug 4. The beam 3 is generally a cubic column, and the lug 4 can be as follows Figure 5 Two steel sheets in the cavity, one end of each steel sheet is connected to an edge of the cavity 6. Of course, the ear plate 4 can also be set to a larger number of steel sheets, and the specific number can be determined according to the area of ​​the side beam 2 that can be used for welding the steel sheets.

[0046] The cavity 6 of the first connecting portion 11 can have four wall panels 61, with each pair of opposing wall panels 61 connected to the crossbeam 3 via fasteners. This improves the strength and stability of the connection between the first connecting portion 11 and the crossbeam 3. If the side beam 2 has sufficient area for welding steel sheets, steel sheets can also be installed on the other edges of the cavity 6, each of which is welded to the side beam 2.

[0047] The cavity 6 of the first connecting portion 11 may have three wall panels 61, the crossbeam 3 is inserted into the cavity 6, the sidewall of the cavity 6 contacts the crossbeam 3, and the fastener passes through two wall panels 61 arranged opposite each other along the first direction X. The fastener passes through the two wall panels 61 and the crossbeam 3. For example, the fastener may be a blind rivet.

[0048] Furthermore, the welded connection surface between the lug 4 of the second connecting portion 12 and the side beam 2 is larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the cross beam 3. The cross beam 3 is connected to the side beam 2 via the connecting member 1, thereby increasing the connection area between the cross beam 3 and the side beam 2. When the side beam 2 is subjected to external forces, the cross beam 3 provides better support for the side beam 2, thereby enhancing the battery box's ability to protect the internal battery components.

[0049] The above embodiments provide two kinds of connecting members 1. When in use, the connecting member 1 made of aluminum alloy provided in the first embodiment is connected to the side beam 2 at a position similar to the connection member 1 of FIG. Figure 3The bolt 8 on the second connecting portion 12 will occupy the layout space of the battery cell. The thickness of the bolt 8 and the thickness of the ear plate 4 will generally reach about 10 mm, resulting in a very small distance between the head of the bolt 8 and the battery cell. In order to prevent the battery cell from being squeezed and damaged by the head of the bolt 8, the battery cell can avoid this area when it is arranged. The disadvantage is that the layout space of the battery cell will be reduced.

[0050] The high-strength steel connecting member 1, lug plate 4, and wall plate 61 provided in the second embodiment are made of high-strength steel thin plates with a wall thickness between 1.2mm and 1.5mm. When the side beam 2 is subjected to a severe collision, the connection between the connecting member 1 and the cross beam 3 and side beam 2 is prone to failure. The connection strength and reliability of the connecting member 1 to the cross beam 3 and side beam 2 are relatively weaker than those in the first embodiment. However, the connection between the connecting member 1 and the cross beam 3 and side beam 2 does not occupy the space for the battery cell arrangement. After the lug plate 4 is welded to the side beam 2, the height of the lug plate 4 protruding from the side beam 2 generally does not exceed 2mm, so the battery cells do not need to be avoided.

[0051] When selecting between the two implementations of the connecting member 1 , the use scenario and requirements of the electrical device (eg, a vehicle) should be specifically considered.

[0052] The connecting member 1 provided in an embodiment of the present application is connected to the crossbeam 3 and the side beam 2 via a first connecting portion 11 and a second connecting portion 12, respectively. When the connecting member 1 and the crossbeam 3 are made of the same material, the first connecting portion 11 is welded to the crossbeam 3, and the second connecting portion 12 is connected to the side beam 2 via a fastener. When the connecting member 1 and the side beam 2 are made of the same material, the second connecting portion 12 is welded to the side beam 2, and the first connecting portion 11 is connected to the crossbeam 3 via a fastener. This allows the crossbeam 3 and side beam 2 made of different materials to be effectively connected.

[0053] In another embodiment of the present application, a battery box is provided, comprising the aforementioned connecting member 1, side beams 2, and cross beams 3. The side beams 2 and cross beams 3 are connected by the connecting member 1. The side beams 2 and cross beams 3, which are made of different materials, are connected by the connecting member 1, which satisfies the requirements of facilitating the processing of threaded holes for connecting the cross beams 3 made of aluminum alloy profiles for connection with other components, while also allowing the side beams 3 to be made of rolled steel profiles, thereby reducing the cost of the battery box.

[0054] In another embodiment of the present application, a battery pack is provided, comprising the battery case described above. When the connecting member 1 provided in the first embodiment is used, the connection strength between the crossbeam 3 and the side beams 2 is high, thereby enhancing the battery pack's impact resistance. When the connecting member 1 provided in the second embodiment is used, the connection between the connecting member 1 and the crossbeam 3 and side beams 2 does not occupy the space available for battery cell placement, resulting in a higher energy density for the battery pack.

[0055] In yet another embodiment of the present application, a vehicle is provided, comprising the aforementioned battery pack, which is configured to provide electrical energy. The connection member 1 can be selected based on the specific purpose and scenario of the vehicle. The connection member 1 is applicable to a variety of vehicle types, providing more options for various vehicle applications.

[0056] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the term "comprises" or any other variant thereof is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or device that includes a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or device. In the absence of further restrictions, the elements defined by the sentence "comprise a..." do not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or device that includes the elements.

[0057] It should also be noted that although the present application has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, various modifications may be made thereto and components may be replaced with equivalents without departing from the scope of the present application. In particular, the various technical features described in the various embodiments may be combined in any manner as long as there are no structural conflicts. The present application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions within the scope of the claims.

[0058] The above description is only a specific embodiment of the present application. Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, modules and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments, and will not be repeated here. It should be understood that the scope of protection of the present application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily think of various equivalent modifications or replacements within the technical scope disclosed in the present application, and these modifications or replacements should be included in the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A connecting member, characterized in that: Applicable to the cross beam and side beam of the battery pack box, the connecting member includes a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion, the first connecting portion is connected to the cross beam, and the second connecting portion is connected to the side beam; The first connecting portion has a cavity, the crossbeam is inserted into the cavity, and the side wall of the cavity is connected to the crossbeam.

2. The connecting member according to claim 1, characterized in that The second connecting portion has a lug plate, and the lug plate is connected to the side beam.

3. The connecting member according to claim 2, characterized in that: The orthographic projection area of ​​the second connecting portion on the side beam is greater than the orthographic projection area of ​​the cross beam on the side beam.

4. The connecting member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: If the first connection portion and the cross beam are made of the same material, welding is used for connection; if the materials are different, fasteners are used for connection; if the second connection portion and the side beam are made of the same material, welding is used for connection; if the materials are different, fasteners are used for connection.

5. A connecting member, characterized in that: Applicable to the cross beam and side beam of the battery pack box, the connecting member includes a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion, the first connecting portion is connected to the cross beam, and the second connecting portion is connected to the side beam; A plurality of ribs are provided between the first connection portion and the second connection portion, and two ends of each rib are respectively connected to the first connection portion and the second connection portion; Two adjacent rib plates form a buffer cavity.

6. The connecting member according to claim 5, characterized in that The first connecting portion has a cavity, the crossbeam is inserted into the cavity, and the side wall of the cavity is connected to the crossbeam.

7. The connecting member according to claim 5, characterized in that The second connecting portion has a lug plate, and the lug plate is connected to the side beam.

8. The connecting member according to claim 7, characterized in that The orthographic projection area of ​​the second connecting portion on the side beam is greater than the orthographic projection area of ​​the cross beam on the side beam.

9. The connecting member according to claim 5, characterized in that: A plurality of the ribs are arranged at intervals along a first direction, and the first direction is an extension direction of the side beam; The multiple ribs include at least one middle plate and two outer plates, the middle plate extends along a second direction, and the two outer plates are inclined relative to the second direction. The second direction is the extension direction of the beam, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

10. The connecting member according to any one of claims 5 to 9, characterized in that: If the first connection portion and the cross beam are made of the same material, welding is used for connection; if the materials are different, fasteners are used for connection; if the second connection portion and the side beam are made of the same material, welding is used for connection; if the materials are different, fasteners are used for connection.

11. A box, characterized in that: It comprises a side beam, a cross beam and a connecting member as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the cross beam is perpendicular to the side beam, and the cross beam and the side beam are connected by the connecting member.

12. A battery pack, characterized in that: Comprising the box body as claimed in claim 11.

13. A vehicle, characterized in that: The battery pack according to claim 12 is used to provide electrical energy.

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