End plate and battery module

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of batteries, and discloses an end plate and a battery module, which are used for buffering acting force applied to the end plate by single batteries. The end plate is applied to the battery module and comprises an end plate body and an energy absorption assembly, the energy absorption assembly comprises a baffle and a buffer plate. The baffle is fixedly arranged on the end plate body and is provided with a contact surface which is used for being in contact with a battery monomer in the battery module; the buffer plate is located between the end plate body and the baffle. The buffer plate comprises a first bending part and a second bending part; the first bending part is connected with the baffle and is provided with a first free end, and the second bending part is connected with the baffle and is provided with a second free end; the first free end and the second free end are used for abutting against the end plate body, so that the buffer plate buffers the acting force of the baffle moving towards the end plate body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of batteries, and particularly to an end plate and a battery module. Background Art

[0002] During the use of traditional battery modules, the expansion force exerted by battery cells on the end plate can cause the end plate to deform and displace, easily causing destructive damage to the end plate and battery cells, posing a safety hazard, and affecting the normal use of the battery module. Summary of the Utility Model

[0003] This application discloses an end plate and a battery module for buffering the force exerted by battery cells towards the end plate.

[0004] To achieve the above object, this application provides the following technical solutions:

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of this application provides an end plate applied to a battery module, including: an end plate body and an energy absorption component;

[0006] The energy absorption component includes a baffle and a buffer plate; the baffle is fixedly arranged on the end plate body, and the baffle has a contact surface for contacting the battery cells inside the battery module; the buffer plate is located between the end plate body and the baffle; the buffer plate includes a first bending part and a second bending part; the first bending part is connected to the baffle and has a first free end, and the second bending part is connected to the baffle and has a second free end;

[0007] The first free end and the second free end are used to abut against the end plate body, so that the buffer plate buffers the force exerted by the baffle moving towards the end plate body.

[0008] The end plate provided by the embodiment of the present application includes an end plate body and an energy absorption component. The energy absorption component includes a baffle and a buffer plate. When the end plate is applied to a battery module, the energy absorption component is located on the side of the end plate body facing the inside of the battery module. The surface of the baffle facing away from the buffer plate, that is, the contact surface, contacts the battery cell inside the battery module. When the battery cell heats up and expands, it will squeeze the baffle, that is, apply a force towards the end plate body to the baffle. At this time, the buffer plate located between the end plate body and the baffle can buffer this force. Specifically, the buffer plate has two bending parts, namely a first bending part and a second bending part. The buffer plate can buffer the force of the baffle moving towards the end plate body through the deformation of the two bending parts. The first bending part has a first free end, and the first free end contacts but is not connected to the end cover body, so that the first bending part has a large deformation range. The second bending part has a second free end, and the second free end contacts but is not connected to the end cover body, so that the second bending part has a large deformation range. The first bending part and the second bending part enable the buffer plate to buffer the force applied by the battery cell to the baffle through its own deformation.

[0009] The end plate provided by the embodiment of the present application realizes the buffering function through a simple structure, reduces the expansion force transmitted to the end plate body, and avoids damage to the end plate.

[0010] In some embodiments, the end plate body has opposite first and second surfaces, and the second surface is recessed towards the first surface to form an open groove; the baffle is fixedly arranged on the end plate body and closes the opening on the side of the open groove facing the second surface;

[0011] And the contact surface and the second surface are located in the same plane.

[0012] In some embodiments, the end plate body is provided with a limiting groove communicating with the open groove on the bottom wall of the open groove, for accommodating the first free end and / or the second free end to limit the maximum deformation amount of the first bending part and / or the second bending part;

[0013] Both the first bending part and the second bending part have obtuse angles with openings facing the first surface, and the first free end and the second free end are located in the same limiting groove.

[0014] In some embodiments, the buffer plate includes a first sub-plate, a connecting plate and a second sub-plate. The connecting plate is connected to the baffle. One end of the first sub-plate is connected to the connecting plate to form the first bending part, and the other end is the first free end; one end of the second sub-plate is connected to the connecting plate to form the second bending part, and the other end is the second free end; and both the first sub-plate and the second sub-plate are inclined relative to the contact surface.

[0015] In some embodiments, the connecting plate is arranged parallel to the baffle plate, and the first sub-plate and the second sub-plate are symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the connecting plate.

[0016] In some embodiments, the buffer plate further includes a third sub-plate and a fourth sub-plate, and the third sub-plate, the connecting plate, the fourth sub-plate and the baffle plate are sequentially connected to form an annular cavity structure.

[0017] In some embodiments, the energy absorption component further includes a support column, the support column is located in the cavity structure, one end is connected to the connecting plate, and the other end is connected to the baffle plate.

[0018] In some embodiments, the baffle plate, the buffer plate and the support column are of an integral structure.

[0019] In some embodiments, the elastic modulus of the energy absorption component is less than the elastic modulus of the end plate body.

[0020] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a battery module, including a base and a first end plate, a second end plate and a plurality of battery cells fixed on the base; along the length direction of the battery module, the plurality of battery cells are located between the first end plate and the second end plate, and the first end plate and / or the second end plate is the end plate as described in any one of the first aspect. Description of the Drawings

[0021] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of an end plate provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0022] Figure 2 It is a schematic side view of an end plate provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0023] Figure 3 It is a schematic side view of the end plate body of an end plate provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0024] Figure 4 It is a schematic side view of the energy absorption component of an end plate provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 5 It is a schematic structural diagram of a battery module provided by an embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Icons: 100 - end plate; 200 - base; 300 - battery cell; 110 - end plate body; 120 - energy absorption component; 210 - bottom plate; 220 - convex structure; 111 - fixing plate; 112 - reinforcing rib; 121 - baffle; 122 - buffer plate; 123 - support column; W1 - first bending part; W2 - second bending part; Z1 - first free end; Z2 - second free end; 1100 - first surface; 1101 - second surface; 1102 - open slot; 1103 - limit slot; 1104 - abutting surface; 1210 - contact surface; 1221 - first sub - plate; 1222 - connecting plate; 1223 - second sub - plate; 1224 - third sub - plate; 1225 - fourth sub - plate; 100a - first end plate; 100b - second end plate. Detailed implementation manners

[0027] First, introduce the application scenario of this application: A battery module is an integral unit composed of several battery cells combined in series or parallel, and is a basic component of a battery pack. A battery cell is the basic element of a battery module, including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, an electrolyte, etc. During the use of a traditional battery module, the battery cells will heat up and expand, and then exert an expansion force on the end plate, which will cause the end plate to deform and displace. The displacement of the end plate will squeeze adjacent components, easily causing destructive damage to the end plate and the battery cells, posing a safety hazard and affecting the normal use of the battery module.

[0028] Based on the above application scenario, the embodiments of this application provide an end plate and a battery module, which are used to buffer the force exerted by the battery cell due to heat expansion towards the end plate, and improve the problem of destructive damage to the end plate and the battery cell caused by the heat expansion of the battery cell during the operation of the battery module.

[0029] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of this application. Among them, in the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise specified, " / " means "or". For example, A / B can represent A or B; "and / or" in the text is only a description of the association relationship of the associated objects, indicating that there can be three relationships. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, in the description of the embodiments of this application, "a plurality of" means two or more than two.

[0030] Hereinafter, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as implying or suggesting relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of such features. In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless otherwise specified, the meaning of "a plurality" is two or more.

[0031] In a first aspect, as Figures 1 to 4 shown, an end plate 100 provided by an embodiment of the present application is applied to a battery module and includes: an end plate body 110 and an energy absorption component 120;

[0032] The energy absorption component 120 includes a baffle 121 and a buffer plate 122; the baffle 121 is fixedly provided on the end plate body 110, and the baffle 121 has a contact surface 1210, which is a flat surface for contacting the battery cells inside the battery module; the buffer plate 122 is located between the end plate body 110 and the baffle 121; the buffer plate 122 includes a first bending portion W1 and a second bending portion W2; the first bending portion W1 is connected to the baffle 121 and has a first free end Z1, and the second bending portion W2 is connected to the baffle 121 and has a second free end Z2;

[0033] The first free end Z1 and the second free end Z2 are used to abut against the end plate body 110 so that the buffer plate 122 buffers the acting force of the baffle 121 moving towards the end plate body 110.

[0034] The end plate 100 provided by the embodiment of the present application includes an end plate body 110 and an energy absorption component 120, and the energy absorption component 120 includes a baffle 121 and a buffer plate 122. When the end plate 100 is applied to a battery module, the energy absorption component 120 is located on the side of the end plate body 110 facing the inside of the battery module. The surface of the baffle 121 facing away from the buffer plate 122, that is, the contact surface 1210, contacts the battery cells inside the battery module. When the battery cells heat up and expand, they will squeeze the baffle 121, that is, apply a force towards the end plate body 110 to the baffle 121. At this time, the buffer plate 122 located between the end plate body 110 and the baffle 121 can buffer this force. Specifically, there are two bending portions in the buffer plate 122, namely the first bending portion W1 and the second bending portion W2. The buffer plate 122 can buffer the acting force of the baffle 121 moving towards the end plate body 110 through the deformation of the two bending portions. The first bending portion W1 has a first free end Z1, and the first free end Z1 contacts but is not connected to the end cover body, so that the first bending portion W1 has a larger deformation range. The second bending portion W2 has a second free end Z2, and the second free end Z2 contacts but is not connected to the end cover body, so that the second bending portion W2 has a larger deformation range. The first bending portion W1 and the second bending portion W2 enable the buffer plate 122 to buffer the acting force applied by the battery cells to the baffle 121 through its own deformation.

[0035] The end plate 100 provided by the embodiment of the present application realizes a buffering effect through a simple structure, reduces the expansion force transmitted to the end plate body 110, and avoids damaging the end plate 100.

[0036] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural view of the end cover from the top side perspective. Figure 3 It is a schematic structural view of the end cover body from the top side perspective; in some embodiments, as Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown, along the thickness direction of the end plate 100, the end plate body 110 has opposite first surface 1100 and second surface 1101, and the second surface 1101 is recessed towards the first surface 1100 to form an open slot 1102; the open slot 1102 has a top opening, a bottom opening, and an opening towards the second surface 1101; the baffle 121 is fixedly arranged on the end plate body 110 and closes the opening on the side of the open slot 1102 towards the second surface 1101; and the contact surface 1210 and the second surface 1101 are located in the same plane.

[0037] In a possible implementation manner, the baffle 121 is welded to the end cover body, and the contact surface 1210 and the second surface 1101 are spliced to form a plane for contacting the battery cell. One end of the buffer plate 122 away from the baffle 121 has a first bending portion W1 and a second bending portion W2. One side of the first bending portion W1 away from the baffle 121 has a first free end Z1, and one side of the second bending portion W2 away from the baffle 121 has a second free end Z2. The side of the end plate body 110 facing the buffer plate 122 has an abutting surface 1104. Exemplarily, the abutting surface 1104 can be the bottom wall of the open slot 1102, and the abutting surface 1104 is parallel to the contact surface 1210. The first free end Z1 and the second free end Z2 can slide relative to the abutting surface 1104. When the baffle 121 is squeezed, the baffle 121 squeezes the buffer plate 122, and the first bending portion W1 and the second bending portion W2 of the buffer plate 122 abut against the abutting surface 1104. As the squeezing force increases, the first bending portion W1 and the second bending portion W2 undergo elastic deformation. Since the first free end Z1 of the first bending portion W1 can slide relative to the abutting surface 1104, and the second free end Z2 of the second bending portion W2 can slide relative to the abutting surface 1104, the first bending portion W1 and the second bending portion W2 can generate a large amount of elastic deformation, absorb a greater squeezing force, and avoid displacement and deformation of the end plate body 110.

[0038] It should be noted that a fixing plate 111 for fixing the end plate 100 is provided in the lower middle portion of the first surface 1100 of the end cap body, and is used to connect and fix with the base 200 of the battery module. The fixing plate 111 has a fixing hole that penetrates along the height direction of the end plate 100. In order to improve the strength of the fixing plate 111, a reinforcing rib 112 is also provided on the fixing plate 111, and the reinforcing rib 112 is connected to the first surface 1100, such as Figure 1 shown.

[0039] It is understandable that in order to make the buffer plate 122 bear force evenly, the first bend portion W1 and the second bend portion W2 are symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the baffle 121, such as the first bend portion W1 and the second bend portion W2 are symmetrically connected to the surface of the baffle 121 facing away from the contact surface 1210.

[0040] In some embodiments, in order to prevent the first bending portion W1 and the second bending portion W2 from deforming too much, the end plate body 110 is provided with a limiting groove 1103 connected to the open groove 1102 on the bottom wall of the open groove 1102, for accommodating the first free end Z1 and / or the second free end Z2 to limit the maximum deformation of the first bending portion W1 and / or the second bending portion W2; the first bending portion W1 and the second bending portion W2 both have an obtuse angle opening toward the first surface 1100, and the first free end Z1 and the second free end Z2 are located in the same limiting groove 1103.

[0041] like Figure 2 As shown, when the first bend W1 and the second bend W2 are subjected to pressure from the baffle 121, the first bend W1 and the second bend W2 both have obtuse angles opening toward the first surface 1100. The angle of the obtuse angle of the first bend W1 increases, and the first free end Z1 slides upward. The angle of the obtuse angle of the second bend W2 increases, and the second free end Z2 slides downward. As the pressure from the baffle 121 increases, the obtuse angles of the first bend W1 and the second bend W2 both increase. If there is no limit, the obtuse angles of the first bend W1 and the second bend W2 will tend to 180°, and then the baffle 121 will pull the end plate body 110 to deform. To avoid the above situation, the first free end Z1 and the second free end Z2 slide on the bottom wall of the limiting groove 1103, the limit position of the first free end Z1 sliding upward is the connection between the bottom wall of the limiting groove 1103 and one side wall, and the limit position of the second free end Z2 sliding downward is the connection between the bottom wall of the limiting groove 1103 and the other side wall.

[0042] One possible way to achieve this is as follows: Figure 2As shown, the angle between the side wall and the bottom wall of the limit groove 1103 is an acute angle, that is, the limit groove 1103 is a dovetail groove. During the upward sliding of the first free end Z1, it will be blocked by the corresponding side wall, further limiting the upper limit position of the upward sliding of the first free end Z1. Similarly, during the downward sliding of the second free end Z2, it will be blocked by the side wall, further limiting the lower limit position of the downward sliding of the second free end Z2.

[0043] Of course, the limit groove 1103 can also be in other forms, as long as it can achieve the limit of the extreme positions of the first free end Z1 and the second free end Z2.

[0044] In some embodiments, as Figure 4 shown, and in combination with Figure 2 , the buffer plate 122 includes a first sub-plate 1221, a connecting plate 1222, and a second sub-plate 1223. The connecting plate 1222 is connected to the baffle 121. One end of the first sub-plate 1221 is connected to the connecting plate 1222 to form a first bending portion W1, and the other end is the first free end Z1; one end of the second sub-plate 1223 is connected to the connecting plate 1222 to form a second bending portion W2, and the other end is the second free end Z2; and both the first sub-plate 1221 and the second sub-plate 1223 are inclined with respect to the contact surface 1210. In combination with Figure 3 , the first sub-plate 1221 and the second sub-plate 1223 are symmetrically inclined with respect to the abutting surface 1104. It should be noted that the symmetrically inclined setting can be understood as that the angle formed by the first sub-plate 1221 and the abutting surface 1104 and the angle formed by the second sub-plate 1223 and the abutting surface 1104 have opposite openings and equal angles.

[0045] In some embodiments, as Figure 4 shown, the connecting plate 1222 is arranged parallel to the baffle 121, and the first sub-plate 1221 and the second sub-plate 1223 are symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the connecting plate 1222, such as the left and right sides of the connecting plate 1222.

[0046] In some embodiments, the buffer plate 122 further includes a third sub-plate 1224 and a fourth sub-plate 1225. The third sub-plate 1224, the connecting plate 1222, the fourth sub-plate 1225, and the baffle 121 are sequentially connected to form an annular cavity structure.

[0047] As Figure 4As shown, the connecting plate 1222 is connected to the baffle 121 through the third sub-plate 1224 and the fourth sub-plate 1225. The third sub-plate 1224 and the fourth sub-plate 1225 are symmetrically arranged on the opposite sides of the connecting plate 1222, such as the left and right sides of the connecting plate 1222. Exemplarily, the buffer plate 122 is in an X-shaped structure. The third sub-plate 1224, the connecting plate 1222, the fourth sub-plate 1225 and the baffle 121 are sequentially connected to form a trapezoidal cavity structure. That is to say, all four corners of the trapezoid can deform, further improving the buffering effect.

[0048] In some embodiments, to ensure the structural strength of the energy absorption component 120, the energy absorption component 120 further includes a support column 123. The support column 123 is located inside the cavity structure, connected to the connecting plate 1222 at one end and connected to the baffle 121 at the other end.

[0049] To ensure uniform force, the support column 123 is located in the middle of the trapezoidal cavity structure. The support column 123 can be one or multiple. When there are multiple support columns 123, the multiple support columns 123 are symmetrically and spaced along the axis of symmetry of the trapezoid.

[0050] In some embodiments, the baffle 121, the buffer plate 122 and the support column 123 are of an integral structure.

[0051] The energy absorption component 120 can be integrally formed of the same material, which is convenient for manufacturing and also facilitates the installation and connection of the energy absorption component 120 to the end cover body.

[0052] In some embodiments, the elastic modulus of the energy absorption component 120 is less than that of the end plate body 110. Exemplarily, the energy absorption component 120 is integrally formed of a steel material with an elastic modulus between 140 GPa and 180 GPa. For example, the elastic modulus can specifically be 140 GPa, 145 GPa, 150 GPa, 155 GPa, 160 GPa, 165 GPa, 170 GPa, 175 GPa, 180 GPa, etc.

[0053] In a second aspect, the embodiments of the present application further provide a battery module, as Figure 5 shown, including a base 200 and a first end plate 100a, a second end plate 100b and a plurality of battery cells 300 fixedly arranged on the base 200; along the length direction of the battery module, the plurality of battery cells 300 are located between the first end plate 100a and the second end plate 100b, and the first end plate 100a and / or the second end plate 100b is any one of the end plates 100 in the first aspect embodiments.

[0054] In a possible implementation manner, as Figure 5As shown, the base 200 includes a bottom plate 210 and a protruding structure 220 protruding from the bottom plate 210. The protruding structure 220 is used to be relatively fixed to the fixing plate 111 of the end plate 100.

[0055] The embodiment of the present application aims to solve the problem that the battery module causes destructive damage to the end plate and the battery cells due to the heat expansion of the battery cells during operation. An energy absorption component is installed at the end plate to reduce the expansion force transmitted to the end plate, avoid damage to the end plate and the battery cells, and ensure that the external dimensions of the battery module are not affected, avoid squeezing adjacent components, and improve the safety of the battery module during operation.

[0056] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the embodiments of the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Thus, if these modifications and variations of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present application and their equivalent technologies, the present application also intends to include these changes and modifications.

Claims

1. An end plate, applied to a battery module, characterized in that: include: End plate body and energy absorbing assembly; The energy absorption assembly includes a baffle and a buffer plate; the baffle is fixed to the end plate body, and the baffle has a contact surface for contacting the battery cells inside the battery module; the buffer plate is located between the end plate body and the baffle; the buffer plate includes a first bending portion and a second bending portion; the first bending portion is connected to the baffle and has a first free end, and the second bending portion is connected to the baffle and has a second free end; The first free end and the second free end are used to abut against the end plate body, so that the buffer plate buffers the force acting on the baffle plate to move toward the end plate body.

2. The end plate according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end plate body has a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, the second surface is recessed toward the first surface to form an open groove; the baffle is fixed to the end plate body and closes the open groove opening toward the second surface; And the contact surface and the second surface are located in the same plane.

3. The end plate according to claim 2, characterized in that: The end plate body is provided with a limiting groove on the bottom wall of the open groove, which is communicated with the open groove and is used to accommodate the first free end and / or the second free end to limit the maximum deformation of the first bending portion and / or the second bending portion; The first bending portion and the second bending portion both have an obtuse angle with an opening facing the first surface, and the first free end and the second free end are located in the same limiting groove.

4. The end plate according to claim 3, characterized in that: The buffer plate includes a first sub-plate, a connecting plate and a second sub-plate, the connecting plate is connected to the baffle, one end of the first sub-plate is connected to the connecting plate to form the first bending portion, and the other end is the first free end; one end of the second sub-plate is connected to the connecting plate to form the second bending portion, and the other end is the second free end; and the first sub-plate and the second sub-plate are both inclined relative to the contact surface.

5. The end plate according to claim 4, characterized in that: The connecting plate is arranged in parallel with the baffle, and the first sub-plate and the second sub-plate are symmetrically arranged on two opposite sides of the connecting plate.

6. The end plate according to claim 4, characterized in that: The buffer plate further includes a third sub-plate and a fourth sub-plate, and the third sub-plate, the connecting plate, the fourth sub-plate and the baffle are sequentially connected to form an annular cavity structure.

7. The end plate according to claim 6, characterized in that: The energy absorbing assembly further comprises a support column, which is located in the cavity structure, one end of which is connected to the connecting plate, and the other end of which is connected to the baffle.

8. The end plate according to claim 7, characterized in that: The baffle plate, the buffer plate and the support column are an integrated structure.

9. The end plate according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: The elastic modulus of the energy absorbing component is smaller than the elastic modulus of the end plate body.

10. A battery module, characterized in that: It comprises a base and a first end plate, a second end plate and a plurality of battery cells fixed to the base; along the length direction of the battery module, the plurality of battery cells are located between the first end plate and the second end plate, and the first end plate and / or the second end plate are the end plates as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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