Top cover, top cover assembly and battery

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of liquid injection, and discloses a top cover, a top cover assembly and a battery, the top cover comprises a cover plate main body, the cover plate main body is provided with an upward through liquid injection hole, the liquid injection hole is used for injecting preset liquid and is used for accommodating a sealing element, the cover plate main body is provided with a limiting groove below the liquid injection hole, and the limiting groove is used for limiting the liquid injection hole. The limiting groove is upwards communicated with the liquid injection hole and used for bearing the sealing piece falling downwards from the liquid injection hole, a liquid separation hole is further formed in the cover plate body, and the first end of the liquid separation hole is communicated with the liquid injection hole; the second end, away from the first end, of the liquid separation hole downwards penetrates through the cover plate body so that the preset liquid flowing in from the liquid injection hole can flow out downwards. According to the scheme, the secondary liquid injection function of the battery can be realized, so that the service life of the battery can be greatly prolonged, and environmental pollution and resource waste caused by battery scrapping are reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of liquid injection, in particular to a top cover, a top cover assembly and a battery. Background Art

[0002] Most current square aluminum-shell batteries have an injection hole on their top cover. During the production and use of the battery, electrolyte needs to be added to the interior of the battery shell through this injection hole. Since the electrolyte is corrosive, it can cause unnecessary harm to the human body. Therefore, the injection hole needs to be sealed after the injection is completed to prevent the internal electrolyte from leaking out. The injection hole on the existing battery can only be injected once, that is, the injection hole cannot be injected a second time after it is completely sealed. As the charge and discharge process progresses, the electrolyte inside the battery will be lost, which will cause a decline in battery performance. At this time, the battery needs to be injected a second time to replenish the electrolyte inside the battery, thereby improving the performance of the lithium-ion battery and extending the battery life. Utility Model Content

[0003] The utility model provides a top cover, a top cover assembly and a battery, which mainly solve the technical problem of how to realize secondary liquid filling of the battery.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0005] A top cover includes a cover body, wherein the cover body is provided with an injection hole extending upward, the injection hole is used for injecting a preset liquid and for accommodating a sealing member, the cover body is provided with a limiting groove below the injection hole, the limiting groove is upwardly connected to the injection hole and is used to receive the sealing member falling downward from the injection hole, the cover body is also provided with a liquid separation hole, the first end of the liquid separation hole is connected to the liquid injection hole, and the second end of the liquid separation hole away from the first end downwardly extends through the cover body so that the preset liquid in the injection hole can flow out downward.

[0006] In one of the technical solutions, the top cover also includes a flexible block, which includes a connected fixing portion and a flexible sealing portion. The fixing portion is fixed on the cover plate body, and the flexible sealing portion extends into the liquid injection hole and is located above the limiting groove. The flexible sealing portion is used to clamp the outer periphery of the seal in a ring shape.

[0007] In one of the technical solutions, the sealing member is a sphere having a spherical outer surface, the sealing member is interference fit with the liquid injection hole, and the flexible sealing portion is used to clamp the outer periphery of the spherical surface in an annular shape.

[0008] In one technical solution, the first end of the liquid separation hole is arranged between the liquid injection hole and the limiting groove, and the fixing portion in the flexible block is fixed to the top wall of the liquid separation hole in the first end.

[0009] In one technical solution, the liquid separation hole first extends from the first end toward the outside of the liquid injection hole and obliquely downward, and then extends downward to the second end.

[0010] In one of the technical solutions, the cover plate body is provided with a plurality of liquid separation holes on the periphery of the limiting groove, or the cover plate body is provided with a liquid separation hole annularly surrounding the limiting groove on the periphery of the limiting groove.

[0011] In one of the technical solutions, a support pad is provided at the bottom of the limiting groove.

[0012] In one of the technical solutions, a drainage hole is provided at the bottom of the limiting groove and passes downward through the cover plate body.

[0013] The present application also provides a top cover assembly, comprising a sealing member and the above-mentioned top cover, wherein at least a portion of the sealing member is used to be received in the liquid injection hole to seal the liquid injection hole.

[0014] The present application also provides a battery, comprising a housing, a battery cell, and the above-mentioned top cover assembly, wherein the housing is provided with an opening, the battery cell is received in the housing through the opening, the cover body seals the opening, and a tab is extended from the battery cell;

[0015] The top cover assembly further includes an explosion-proof valve and a pole both connected to the cover plate body, and the pole is connected to the pole lug.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the top cover provided by the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0017] Taking the battery as an example, during the first filling, the external filling system injects the electrolyte from the filling hole on the top cover. The electrolyte will flow down into the interior of the shell after passing through the liquid separation hole. After the filling is completed, the filling hole is blocked with a sealant (such as a steel ball) to seal the filling hole and prevent the internal electrolyte from leaking out.

[0018] When the battery needs secondary filling, first use a tool to hammer the seal in the filling hole into the limit groove below to open the filling hole again. At this time, electrolyte can be injected into the filling hole again. The injected electrolyte also flows downward along the separation hole into the interior of the shell. After the secondary filling is completed, a new seal is needed to re-block the filling hole to seal the filling hole again. At this time, the secondary filling of the battery is completed.

[0019] As can be seen from the above two paragraphs, this solution can realize the function of secondary battery filling, thereby greatly extending the service life of the battery and reducing environmental pollution and resource waste caused by battery scrapping. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0021] Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of a battery provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0022] Figure 2 A schematic structural diagram of a top cover assembly provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0023] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of AA after one injection;

[0024] Figure 4 for Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of AA before the second injection;

[0025] Figure 5 for Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of AA after secondary injection.

[0026] Reference numerals:

[0027] 1. Housing; 11. Opening; 2. Cell; 21. Tab; 3. Top cover assembly;

[0028] 31. Top cover; 311. Cover plate body; 3111. Liquid injection hole; 3112. Limiting groove; 3113. Liquid separation hole; 31131. First end; 31132. Second end; 3114. Liquid drainage hole; 312. Flexible block; 3121. Fixing portion; 3122. Flexible sealing portion; 313. Support pad;

[0029] 32. Seal; 321. Spherical surface; 33. Pole; 34. Explosion-proof valve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In order to make the technical problems, technical solutions and beneficial effects to be solved by this application more clearly understood, this application is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0031] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being “fixed on” or “disposed on” another element, it may be directly on the other element or indirectly on the other element. When an element is referred to as being “connected to” another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or indirectly connected to the other element.

[0032] It should be understood that the terms, "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on this application.

[0033] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of the technical features being referred to. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. Throughout the description of this application, "plurality" means two or more, unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0034] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clear, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0035] See also Figure 1 An embodiment of the utility model provides a battery, which includes a shell 1, a battery cell 2 and a top cover assembly 3, wherein an opening 11 is provided on the shell 1, and the battery cell 2 is loaded into the shell 1 through the opening 11. The top cover assembly 3 is used to seal the opening 11 to prevent the electrolyte inside the battery from leaking outward from the opening 11. A tab 21 is led out from the battery cell 2, and the tab 21 is connected to the top cover assembly 3 to lead out the positive or negative electrode of the battery cell 2.

[0036] Please also refer to Figures 1 to 3The top cover assembly 3 specifically includes a top cover 31, a seal 32, a pole 33, and an explosion-proof valve 34. The top cover 31 mainly includes a cover body 311, which is used to seal the above-mentioned opening 11. The pole 33 and the explosion-proof valve 34 are both fixed to the cover body 311. The pole 33 is used to connect with the above-mentioned pole lug 21. When the battery experiences thermal runaway, the explosion-proof valve 34 can rupture in time to allow the gas inside the battery to escape to the outside, thereby reducing the risk of battery explosion. Specifically, an upward-through injection hole 3111 is provided on the cover body 311, and external electrolyte can be injected into the battery through the injection hole 3111. At least a portion of the seal 32 is accommodated in the injection hole 3111, so that the seal 32 can be used to seal the injection hole 3111. More specifically, the cover body 311 is provided with a limiting groove 3112 below the injection hole 3111, and the limiting groove 3112 is connected with the injection hole 3111 upward so that the limiting groove 3112 can be used to receive the seal 32 that falls downward from the injection hole 3111. The cover body 311 is also provided with a liquid separation hole 3113, and the first end 31131 of the liquid separation hole 3113 is connected with the injection hole 3111, and the second end 31132 of the liquid separation hole 3113 away from the first end 31131 downwardly penetrates the cover body 311 so that the electrolyte flowing into the injection hole 3111 can flow downward into the interior of the battery.

[0037] During the first injection, the external injection system injects the electrolyte from the injection hole 3111 on the top cover 31, and the electrolyte flows downward into the interior of the housing 1 after passing through the liquid separation hole 3113. Figure 3 As shown, a sealing member 32 (such as a steel ball) is used to block the injection hole 3111 to seal the injection hole 3111 and prevent the internal electrolyte from leaking out.

[0038] When the battery needs to be filled with liquid for the second time, first use a tool to hammer the seal 32 located in the filling hole 3111 into the limiting groove 3112 below. Figure 4 As shown, the injection hole 3111 is opened again, and the electrolyte can be injected into the injection hole 3111 again. The injected electrolyte also flows downward along the liquid separation hole 3113 into the interior of the housing 1. After the second injection is completed, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 As shown, a new sealing member 32 is needed to re-block the injection hole 3111 to seal the injection hole 3111 again. At this time, the secondary injection of the battery is completed.

[0039] Please also refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4The bottom of the limiting groove 3112 is provided with a drainage hole 3114 that penetrates downward through the cover plate body 311. During a single injection process, a portion of the external electrolyte flows downward into the interior of the shell 1 through the liquid separation hole 3113, and another portion of the external electrolyte flows downward into the interior of the shell 1 through this drainage hole 3114. It can be seen that by providing this drainage hole 3114, the efficiency of the electrolyte flowing into the interior of the shell 1 can be improved to meet the requirements of the battery for efficient injection. In addition, after the completion of a single injection, the electrolyte in the limiting groove 3112 can be discharged downward into the interior of the shell 1 through this drainage hole 3114, so that there is no electrolyte in the limiting groove 3112, so that in the subsequent secondary injection process, the limiting groove 3112 can accommodate the seal 32 hammered in downward, thereby further improving the reliability of the secondary injection.

[0040] Preferably, the seal 32 is a steel ball with a spherical surface 321. The steel ball has a spherical structure and has the advantage of low cost. In addition, the seal 32 is preferably an interference fit with the injection hole 3111. On the one hand, the seal 32 will not fall off easily, ensuring that the seal 32 can be firmly fixed in the injection hole 3111. On the other hand, the seal 32 also realizes the function of sealing the injection hole 3111 by the seal 32, preventing the internal electrolyte from leaking out. Further preferably, when the seal 32 is hammered into the limit groove 3112, the seal 32 also has an interference fit with the limit groove 3112. At this time, the problem of the seal 32 located in the limit groove 3112 shaking can be avoided. At this time, the seal 32 located in the limit groove 3112 will block the drainage hole 3114. During the secondary injection process, the external electrolyte will only flow downward from the liquid separation hole 3113 into the interior of the housing 1, and no longer flow downward from the drainage hole 3114 into the interior of the housing 1.

[0041] Please also refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4The top cover 31 also includes a flexible block 312 of a plastic part. The flexible block 312 is fixedly provided with a fixing portion 3121 and a flexible sealing portion 3122. The fixing portion 3121 is fixed on the cover body 311. The flexible sealing portion 3122 extends into the injection hole 3111 and is located above the limiting groove 3112. The flexible sealing portion 3122 has a certain elasticity. The flexible sealing portion 3122 can be deformed relative to the fixing portion 3121. The flexible sealing portion 3122 seals the gap between the seal 32 and the hole wall of the injection hole 3111 by annularly clamping the outer periphery of the seal 32, so that the seal 32 can reliably seal the injection hole 3111. Preferably, the outer surface of the seal 32 has a spherical surface 321, and the flexible sealing portion 3122 seals the gap between the seal 32 and the hole wall of the injection hole 3111 by annularly clamping the outer periphery of the spherical surface 321. By designing the seal 32 and the flexible sealing portion 3122 to be in spherical contact, the reliability of the seal 32 in sealing the injection hole 3111 can be improved.

[0042] Please refer to the Figure 3 and Figure 4 The first end 31131 of the liquid separation hole 3113 is arranged between the liquid injection hole 3111 and the limiting groove 3112. The fixing portion 3121 in the flexible block 312 is fixed to the top wall of the liquid separation hole 3113 in the first end 31131. With such a design, when the sealing member 32 is hammered downward, the flexible sealing portion 3122 will deform downward and be accommodated in the first end 31131 of the liquid separation hole 3113. Therefore, when a downward hammer force is applied to the sealing member 32, the sealing member 32 can more easily fall into the limiting groove 3112 below. In other words, with such a design, the liquid separation hole 3113 not only plays the role of allowing the electrolyte to flow downward into the interior of the housing 1, but also has the function of accommodating the downwardly deformed flexible sealing portion 3122.

[0043] See also Figure 3 The liquid separation hole 3113 extends from the first end 31131 to the outside of the liquid injection hole 3111 and extends downward in an inclined manner, and then extends downward to the second end 31132, allowing the electrolyte to flow downward into the housing 1. In addition, the cover body 311 is provided with multiple liquid separation holes 3113 on the periphery of the limiting groove 3112, or the cover body 311 is provided with a liquid separation hole 3113 annularly surrounding the limiting groove 3112 on the periphery of the limiting groove 3112. Through such a design, the flow space of the electrolyte can be increased, thereby improving the efficiency of the electrolyte flowing downward into the housing 1, thereby meeting the battery's requirement for efficient liquid injection.

[0044] Please also refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4The top cover 31 also includes a support pad 313 arranged at the bottom of the limiting groove 3112. The support pad 313 has a certain elasticity. The support pad 313 is preferably a rubber pad. When the seal 32 is hammered downward into the limiting groove 3112, the support pad 313 can play a buffering role, avoiding the problem that the bottom of the limiting groove 3112 is deformed downward and injures the battery cell 2 below due to excessive force applied by the operator, thereby improving the reliability of the secondary liquid injection process.

[0045] In summary, this solution can reliably realize the function of secondary battery filling, thereby greatly extending the service life of the battery and reducing environmental pollution and resource waste caused by battery scrapping.

[0046] In other embodiments, when the top cover assembly 3 is not used in the battery field, the top cover assembly 3 may only include the top cover 31 and the seal 32 but not the pole 33 and the explosion-proof valve 34. At this time, the top cover assembly 3 can also be used to realize the function of secondary liquid injection into the interior of the preset product.

[0047] The above is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and only specifically describes the technical principles of the present invention. These descriptions are intended only to explain the principles of the present invention and should not be construed in any way as limiting the scope of protection of the present invention. Based on the explanations herein, any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention, as well as other specific embodiments of the present invention that can be imagined by those skilled in the art without inventive effort, shall be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A top cover, characterized in that: The invention comprises a cover plate body (311), wherein the cover plate body (311) is provided with an upwardly penetrating liquid injection hole (3111), wherein the liquid injection hole (3111) is used for injecting a preset liquid and for accommodating a sealing member (32), and wherein the cover plate body (311) is provided with a limiting groove (3112) below the liquid injection hole (3111), wherein the limiting groove (3112) is upwardly communicated with the liquid injection hole (3111) and is used for receiving liquid from the liquid injection hole (3111) to the sealing member (32). The sealing member (32) falls down, and a liquid separation hole (3113) is further provided on the cover plate body (311), wherein a first end (31131) of the liquid separation hole (3113) is communicated with the liquid injection hole (3111), and a second end (31132) of the liquid separation hole (3113) away from the first end (31131) passes through the cover plate body (311) downwardly so that the preset liquid flowing in from the liquid injection hole (3111) can flow out downwardly.

2. The top cover according to claim 1, wherein: The top cover further comprises a flexible block (312), the flexible block (312) comprising a connected fixing portion (3121) and a flexible sealing portion (3122), the fixing portion (3121) being fixed to the cover plate body (311), the flexible sealing portion (3122) extending into the injection hole (3111) and being located above the limiting groove (3112), the flexible sealing portion (3122) being used to clamp the outer periphery of the sealing member (32) in a ring shape.

3. The top cover according to claim 2, wherein: The sealing member (32) is a sphere having a spherical surface (321) on its outer surface. The sealing member (32) is interference-fitted with the liquid injection hole (3111), and the flexible sealing portion (3122) is used to clamp the outer periphery of the spherical surface (321) in an annular shape.

4. The top cover according to claim 2, wherein: The first end (31131) of the liquid separation hole (3113) is arranged between the liquid injection hole (3111) and the limiting groove (3112), and the fixing portion (3121) in the flexible block (312) is fixed to the top wall of the liquid separation hole (3113) in the first end (31131).

5. The top cover according to claim 4, wherein: The liquid separation hole (3113) extends from the first end (31131) first to the outside away from the liquid injection hole (3111) and obliquely downwards, and then extends downwards to the second end (31132).

6. The top cover according to claim 4, wherein: The cover plate body (311) is provided with a plurality of the liquid separation holes (3113) on the periphery of the limiting groove (3112), or the cover plate body (311) is provided with one liquid separation hole (3113) annularly surrounding the limiting groove (3112) on the periphery of the limiting groove (3112).

7. The top cover according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The top cover further comprises a support pad (313) arranged at the bottom of the limiting groove (3112).

8. The top cover according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The bottom of the limiting groove (3112) is provided with a drainage hole (3114) that passes downward through the cover plate body (311).

9. A top cover assembly, characterized in that: It comprises a sealing member (32) and the top cover (31) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein at least a portion of the sealing member (32) is used to be accommodated in the liquid injection hole (3111) to seal the liquid injection hole (3111).

10. A battery, characterized in that: The invention comprises a shell (1), a battery cell (2) and a top cover assembly (3) according to claim 9, wherein the shell (1) is provided with an opening (11), the battery cell (2) is received in the shell (1) through the opening (11), the cover plate body (311) seals the opening (11), and a tab (21) is extended from the battery cell (2); The top cover assembly (3) further includes an explosion-proof valve (34) and a pole (33) both connected to the cover plate body (311), and the pole (33) is connected to the pole lug (21).

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