Liquid cooling assembly, battery module, battery pack and vehicle

Abstract

The utility model relates to the field of power batteries, and discloses a liquid cooling assembly, a battery module, a battery pack and a vehicle, the liquid cooling assembly comprises a liquid cooling piece, a current collector and a buckle body, the current collector is provided with at least one butt joint port, and the buckle body is sleeved at the end part of the liquid cooling piece in a sealing manner; the buckle body can be inserted into the current collector from the butt joint port and is in buckle connection with the current collector, sealing is formed between the buckle body and the current collector, and compared with the mode that connection and sealing are conducted in a gluing mode, the buckle body is additionally arranged, the sealing performance is guaranteed, and meanwhile the connection strength is obviously improved through the buckle connection structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of power batteries, and specifically relates to a liquid cooling assembly, a battery module, a battery pack and a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Lithium batteries are currently the most commonly used power batteries in new energy vehicles. When new energy vehicles are running, lithium batteries provide power. During this process, they generate a large amount of heat. If this heat cannot be dissipated, the high temperature caused by the accumulated heat can burn the lithium battery, or at least shorten its service life.

[0003] Existing lithium batteries generally use liquid cooling plates to remove the heat generated by the lithium batteries to ensure that the lithium batteries are at their ideal operating temperature. However, existing liquid cooling plates have the following defects:

[0004] When the liquid cooling plate and the current collector are connected and sealed by gluing, it is difficult to ensure that the glue in the entire sealing area is well filled. In addition, the bonding strength between the glue and the liquid cooling plate and the current collector, the coolant resistance, the bonding strength after aging, the glue mixing state, the surface treatment method of the bonded surface, etc. all need to be controlled. Problems in any link may cause the sealing of the connection position to fail. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of the present utility model is to provide a liquid cooling assembly, a battery module, a battery pack and a vehicle, aiming to solve at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the first aspect of the present invention provides a liquid cooling assembly, wherein the liquid cooling assembly comprises:

[0007] Liquid cooling components;

[0008] a current collector, wherein at least one docking port is formed on the current collector;

[0009] The buckle body and the buckle body sealing sleeve are arranged at the end of the liquid cooling component. The buckle body can be inserted into the collector from the docking interface and connected with the collector to form a seal between the buckle body and the collector.

[0010] In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid cooling assembly further comprises a sealing member disposed in the collecting cavity of the collector, and the end surface of the buckle body presses the sealing member end-to-end against the collector;

[0011] The collector includes a collector body and a water nozzle. The collector body forms a collector cavity. The water nozzle is arranged on a side of the collector body away from the docking port and communicates with the collector cavity. The sealing member is arranged around the water nozzle.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present invention, a first snap-fit ​​structure is provided on the collecting cavity formed by the collector, and a second snap-fit ​​structure is provided on the snap-fit ​​body, and the number of the first snap-fit ​​structure and the second snap-fit ​​structure are both multiple, and the multiple first snap-fit ​​structures are provided on the peripheral wall of the collecting cavity and can be snapped in one-to-one with the multiple second snap-fit ​​structures.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present invention, the second snap-fit ​​structure is configured as a boss portion protruding from the outside of the snap-fit ​​body, and the first snap-fit ​​structure is configured as a snap-fit ​​hole, and the boss portion can extend into the snap-fit ​​hole for snap-fit ​​connection.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present invention, the side of the boss portion facing away from the buckle body is obliquely extended upward from the outer side of the buckle body in the direction of escaping from the buckle hole;

[0015] The inclination angle A of the side of the boss portion facing away from the buckle body is set to be less than or equal to 60°; and / or the height L2 of the boss portion is set to be within the range of 0.1 mm to 2 mm;

[0016] The connection distance L1 between the liquid cooling element and the buckle body is set to be greater than or equal to 2 mm.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present invention, the snap body includes a snap main body and an end limiting portion. The snap main body is formed with a socket hole for the end of the liquid cooling component to pass through. The end limiting portion is located at the end of the snap main body and extends radially from the periphery of the socket hole. The end limiting portion abuts against the end of the liquid cooling component.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present invention, a sealing groove for accommodating the sealing member is formed on the inner wall of the manifold cavity opposite to the docking port;

[0019] And / or, the compression ratio of the sealing member is set to 10% to 40%, and the filling rate is set to 40% to 110%.

[0020] In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid cooling element is configured as an integrally formed composite material element.

[0021] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a second aspect of the present invention provides a battery module, wherein the battery module includes the liquid cooling assembly according to the above-mentioned method.

[0022] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the third aspect of the present invention provides a battery pack, wherein the battery pack includes the battery module according to the above-mentioned method.

[0023] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, a fourth aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes the battery pack described above.

[0024] Through the above technical solutions, the liquid cooling assembly, battery module, battery pack, and vehicle provided by the embodiments of the present invention have the following beneficial effects:

[0025] A snap body is sealed at the end of the liquid cooling component. The snap body can be inserted into the docking interface of the current collector and snapped together with the current collector, and a seal is formed between the snap body and the current collector. This ensures that the current collector can be snap-connected to the snap body while ensuring the sealing performance, which significantly improves the connection strength. At the same time, there is no need to consider the coolant resistance of the adhesive layer and the aging of the adhesive layer.

[0026] Other features and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail in the subsequent detailed description of the embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The accompanying drawings are used to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the present invention and constitute part of the specification. Together with the following specific embodiments, they are used to explain the embodiments of the present invention, but do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without inventive work. In the drawings:

[0028] Figure 1 This is a disassembled schematic diagram of a liquid cooling assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of one embodiment of the cold plate body;

[0030] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Dimensional diagram of the cold plate body in FIG;

[0031] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of another embodiment of the cold plate body;

[0032] Figure 5 for Figure 1 A structural diagram of a current collector from one perspective;

[0033] Figure 6 for Figure 1 A schematic structural diagram of the current collector from another perspective;

[0034] Figure 7 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the current collector;

[0035] Figure 8 This is a disassembled schematic diagram of a liquid cooling assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 9 for Figure 8 A disassembled schematic diagram of the first current collector from one perspective;

[0037] Figure 10 for Figure 8 A disassembly diagram of the first current collector from another perspective;

[0038] Figure 11 for Figure 8 A disassembled schematic diagram of the second current collector from one perspective;

[0039] Figure 12 for Figure 8 A disassembly diagram of the second current collector from another perspective;

[0040] Figure 13 This is a disassembled schematic diagram of a liquid cooling assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 14 for Figure 13 Assembly diagram of the liquid cooling components in FIG;

[0042] Figure 15 for Figure 13 A structural diagram of a current collector from one perspective;

[0043] Figure 16 for Figure 13 A schematic structural diagram of the current collector from another perspective;

[0044] Figure 17 for Figure 13 Schematic diagram of the structural solution of the buckle body;

[0045] Figure 18 for Figure 13 Schematic cross-sectional view of the buckle body in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] The following is a detailed description of the specific embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to illustrate and explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0047] The liquid cooling assembly, battery module, battery pack and vehicle according to the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0048] The present invention provides a liquid cooling assembly, which aims to solve the problem that a liquid cooling plate can only be fixedly installed at one position of the battery cell and cools the position, and the installation position cannot be flexibly set. The liquid cooling assembly includes at least one liquid cooling part and a collector, and at least one docking port is formed on the collector. The docking port can be used for sealing and plugging the liquid cooling part, and each liquid cooling part is sealed and plugged into the corresponding docking port on the collector.

[0049] When using the above-mentioned liquid cooling assembly, since the docking port formed on the collector can be used for sealed plugging of the liquid cooling parts, and the number of docking ports on the collector is not limited to one, it can be set according to actual needs, so that the number of liquid cooling parts in the liquid cooling assembly can be flexibly set, and the size of the liquid cooling surface of the liquid cooling assembly can be flexibly adjusted, so that the liquid cooling assembly can be flexibly installed in different positions of the battery cell as needed.

[0050] Optionally, a water nozzle is further provided on the collector.

[0051] In some embodiments, there is one liquid cooling element and two current collectors. A current collector is provided at each end of the liquid cooling element. Each current collector has a docking port and a water nozzle. The two ends of the liquid cooling element are sealed and plugged into the corresponding plug-in ports of the current collector. The water nozzle of one current collector is used for water inlet, and the water nozzle of the other current collector is used for water outlet.

[0052] In other embodiments of the present invention, there are multiple liquid cooling parts, and the multiple liquid cooling parts are arranged in sequence along the first direction; there are multiple collectors, and a collector is provided at both ends of each liquid cooling part, and one collector corresponds to at least one liquid cooling part.

[0053] Optionally, a water nozzle is further provided on the collector.

[0054] In some embodiments, the number of liquid cooling parts is two or more, and the two or more liquid cooling parts are arranged in sequence along the first direction. The number of collectors is two, and each liquid cooling part shares a collector at both ends. Each collector has a docking port and a water nozzle corresponding to the number of liquid cooling parts. The two ends of the liquid cooling part are respectively sealed and plugged into the plug ports of the collectors corresponding to their positions. The water nozzle of one collector is used for water inlet, and the water nozzle of the other collector is used for water outlet.

[0055] In other embodiments, there are two or more liquid-cooling elements, which are spaced apart in sequence along a first direction. The two or more liquid-cooling elements are divided into at least two groups, each group including at least one liquid-cooling element. When a group contains multiple liquid-cooling elements, the multiple liquid-cooling elements are adjacent to each other. There are multiple current collectors, and each group of liquid-cooling elements shares a current collector at each end. Each current collector has a docking port and a water spout corresponding to the number of liquid-cooling elements in the group. The ends of the liquid-cooling elements are sealed and plugged into the corresponding plug ports of the current collector. The water spout of one current collector is used for water inlet, and the water spout of the other current collector is used for water outlet.

[0056] Optionally, the collector is further provided with two water nozzles, or is not provided with a water nozzle.

[0057] In some embodiments, there are two or more liquid cooling elements, which are spaced apart in sequence along a first direction and divided into two groups. The first group includes at least one liquid cooling element, which is located in the middle of the plurality of liquid cooling elements. The second group includes at least two liquid cooling elements, an even number. The at least two liquid cooling elements in the second group are symmetrically arranged on either side of the first group of liquid cooling elements. Each liquid cooling element shares a common manifold at each end. The manifold at one end has no water nozzle, while the manifold at the other end has two water nozzles, one for water inlet and one for water outlet.

[0058] In an embodiment of the present invention, a bar is connected above the pole of the battery cell, and the liquid cooling part of the liquid cooling assembly can be attached to the top of the bar, the bottom of the battery cell, or any side of the battery cell to cool the battery cell.

[0059] Specifically, the liquid cooling assembly can be placed at the position of the bar, the bottom of the battery cell, the side of the battery cell, and the large surface of the battery cell to cool and heat the battery cell. The following will be explained by taking a group of battery cell modules as an example. A group of battery cell modules includes multiple columns of battery cells. When the liquid cooling assembly is placed on the bar, there are two forms of arrangement: horizontally or vertically. When the liquid cooling assembly is placed at the bottom of the battery cell, the number of liquid cooling assemblies can be one, two or more. One liquid cooling assembly covers the bottom of all battery cells, and two liquid cooling assemblies are respectively set for the bottom of the battery cells in the left and right columns. Multiple liquid cooling assemblies are set one-to-one with multiple battery cells. When the liquid cooling assembly is placed on the side of the battery cell, the liquid cooling assembly can be set between two adjacent columns of battery cells, and the outermost battery cell side of the battery cell module can also be provided with a liquid cooling assembly. When the liquid cooling assembly is placed on the large surface of the battery cell, a liquid cooling assembly can be set corresponding to each large surface of the battery cell, or the battery cells in multiple columns with large surfaces of the battery cells in the same plane can share a liquid cooling assembly.

[0060] Optionally, the liquid cooling component may be a liquid cooling round tube, a liquid cooling flat tube, or a liquid cooling plate, and is not limited here.

[0061] The following description will take a battery cell module as an example. A battery cell module includes multiple columns of battery cell groups, and each column of battery cell group includes multiple battery cells.

[0062] The above-mentioned liquid cooling assembly can be configured with different numbers of liquid cooling parts, different numbers of current collectors, and different ways of connecting the liquid cooling parts and current collectors, so that the liquid cooling parts of the liquid cooling assembly are located at different positions of the battery cells in the battery cell module, for example:

[0063] When the liquid-cooling element is a liquid-cooling round tube or liquid-cooling flat tube, one liquid-cooling element is attached to a group of bars arranged in the row or horizontal direction by extending in the row direction or the horizontal direction. When the liquid-cooling element is a liquid-cooling round tube or liquid-cooling flat tube, at least one liquid-cooling element is attached to the bottom surface or side surface of each battery cell arranged in the row direction by extending in the row direction, or at least one liquid-cooling element is attached to the bottom surface or side surface of a battery cell group arranged in the row direction by extending in the row direction. When the liquid-cooling element is a liquid-cooling plate, one liquid-cooling element is attached to the bottom surface of each battery cell in the entire battery cell module. When the liquid-cooling element is a liquid-cooling plate, one liquid-cooling element is attached to the bottom surface or side surface of each battery cell arranged in the row direction by extending in the row direction, or one liquid-cooling element is attached to the bottom surface or side surface of a battery cell group arranged in the row direction by extending in the row direction.

[0064] In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid cooling component 100 has a receiving cavity, in which at least one rib 120 is provided. The ribs 120 extend along the length direction of the liquid cooling component 100 , and at least one rib 120 divides the receiving cavity into at least two flow channels 130 . The flow channels 130 are used to circulate the cooling medium, and the ribs 120 are used to increase the strength of the liquid cooling component 100 .

[0065] During the charging and discharging process, the battery cells will gradually expand. If the liquid cooling plate is located between two battery cells, the expanded battery cells will squeeze the liquid cooling plate. The support ribs in the liquid cooling plate are generally arranged perpendicular to the planar inner wall of the liquid cooling plate, resulting in the liquid cooling plate's ability to absorb the battery cell expansion force being limited, making it prone to deformation and damage.

[0066] To avoid this phenomenon, the ribs in the liquid cooling plate can be tilted at an angle to any inner surface of the flat liquid cooling tube. During charging and discharging, the battery cells gradually expand. If the liquid cooling plate is located between two battery cells, the expanding cells will squeeze the liquid cooling plate. However, the ribs in the liquid cooling plate are tilted at an angle to any inner surface of the flat liquid cooling tube. This allows the liquid cooling element to effectively absorb the expansion force of the battery cells, preventing deformation and damage.

[0067] In some embodiments, as Figures 1 to 3As shown, the liquid cooling element 100 is a flat liquid cooling tube. Ribs 120 are connected to the two planar inner walls of the tube and are arranged at an angle to either planar inner wall of the tube. The arrangement of the ribs enhances the ability of the liquid cooling element 100 to absorb the expansion force of the battery cells when they are squeezed and expanded. Furthermore, the deformation of the liquid cooling element 100 can be restored after the external force disappears, preventing deformation and damage. This ensures effective heat dissipation of the battery pack and extends its service life.

[0068] In other embodiments, Figure 4 As shown, the ribs 120 are arranged perpendicular to any plane inner wall of the liquid-cooled flat tube. When the liquid-cooled flat tube is used in a position where it will not be subject to expansion, extrusion or external force impact, the process difficulty of the liquid-cooled flat tube can also be reduced, thereby reducing the cost of the liquid-cooled component.

[0069] In some embodiments of the present invention, there are multiple ribs 120, spaced apart along the width of the planar inner wall of the liquid-cooling flat tube. The ribs 120 are arranged parallel to each other in their extension direction, thereby dividing the receiving cavity into multiple flow channels 130. By increasing the number of ribs 120, the ability to absorb the expansion force of the battery cell can be further enhanced.

[0070] In some embodiments of the present invention, multiple ribs 120 are arranged on the planar inner wall of the liquid-cooled flat tube at the same inclination angle, thereby ensuring the balance of the flow capacity of multiple flow channels 130. Specifically, the planar inner wall of the liquid-cooled flat tube can be used to fit the battery cell and be set as the subsequent flat plate segment 111. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this. The inclination angles of the multiple ribs 120 can be set to different. When the inclination angles of two adjacent ribs 120 are different and are set to be inclined toward the same side, the lengths of the ribs 120 can be different, so that there are multiple levels of impact resistance. When the inclination angles of two adjacent ribs 120 are different and are set to be inclined in opposite directions, it is beneficial to enhance the flow capacity of the formed flow channel 130.

[0071] In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid cooling element 100 includes a cooling flat tube portion 110 and ribs 120. The cooling flat tube portion 110 circumferentially encloses a receiving cavity and has two parallel flat plate segments 111. The ribs 120 extend along the length of the receiving cavity and connect the two flat plate segments 111. The arrangement of the flat plate segments 111 facilitates the bonding of the liquid cooling element 100 to the battery cell. Specifically, the flat plate segments 111 can form the planar inner wall of the aforementioned liquid cooling flat tube.

[0072] The metal liquid cooling plate needs to be sprayed with 0.7mm insulating paint, which is expensive and may still cause the risk of insulation failure in the event of thermal runaway. In addition, if the metal liquid cooling plate is made of a harder material such as 6-series aluminum, most of the energy will be directly transferred to the pole when the bottom ball hits, causing damage to the battery cell pole. If the metal liquid cooling plate is made of a softer material such as 3-series aluminum, it will deform greatly after being subjected to force and cannot be restored, which will affect the thermal management performance.

[0073] To avoid this phenomenon, the liquid cooling element can be made of a one-piece composite material, eliminating the need for additional insulating paint. This not only reduces the cost of the liquid cooling component but also avoids the risk of insulation failure in the event of thermal runaway. Furthermore, due to the properties of the composite material, it absorbs most of the energy from a bottom ball strike, preventing it from being directly transferred to the battery terminals and thus damaging them. Even if significant deformation after being subjected to force is not possible, this does not affect thermal management performance.

[0074] In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid cooling element 100 is constructed as an integrally molded composite material. When the liquid cooling assembly is mounted on the bar, the composite material's insulating properties eliminate the risk of insulation failure at high temperatures compared to metal components. Specifically, when the liquid cooling element 100 is positioned above the explosion-proof valve of a battery cell, if thermal runaway occurs, the composite material can be burned through by the hot material ejected from the explosion-proof valve. This allows the coolant within the containment chamber to be ejected to flush the explosion-proof valve of the battery cell, thereby suppressing heat spread. Specifically, the composite material can be made of plastic.

[0075] In some embodiments of the present invention, when the liquid cooling component 100 is set on the side of the battery cell or the ground of the battery cell, the liquid cooling component may be expanded, squeezed or impacted. The liquid cooling component 100 can be set as an integrally molded composite material component and include a cooling flat tube portion 110 and at least one rib 120. The cooling flat tube portion 110 is circumferentially enclosed to form a accommodating cavity and has two flat plate segments 111 arranged relatively parallel. At least one rib 120 connects the two flat plate segments 111 to separate the accommodating cavity to form at least two flow channels 130. The rib 120 is arranged on the flat plate segment 111 at an inclined angle. Because the liquid cooling element 100 in the liquid cooling assembly is configured as an integrally formed composite material component, and the ribs 120 are arranged at an inclined angle on the flat plate section 111 of the liquid cooling element 100, the arrangement of the composite material component and the inclined ribs can enhance the liquid cooling element 100's ability to absorb the expansion force of the battery cells when the battery cells expand and squeeze. Moreover, the deformation of the liquid cooling element 100 can be restored after the external force disappears, thereby avoiding deformation and damage, thereby ensuring the heat dissipation effect of the battery pack and extending the service life. Furthermore, if the liquid cooling element 100 is constructed of a composite material, when the liquid cooling assembly is mounted on the plate, the composite material's insulating properties eliminate the risk of high-temperature insulation failure of the liquid cooling plate compared to metal liquid cooling elements 100. Specifically, if the liquid cooling element 100 is positioned above the explosion-proof valve of a battery cell, in the event of thermal runaway, the composite liquid cooling element 100 can be burned through by the high-temperature material ejected from the explosion-proof valve, allowing the coolant within the containment cavity to be ejected, thereby spraying the explosion-proof valve of the battery cell and suppressing heat spread. Furthermore, the number of ribs 120 can be multiple, for example, 5 to 7. The ribs 120 are spaced apart along the width of the containment cavity to divide the containment cavity into multiple flow channels 130. The ribs 120 are arranged on the flat plate segment 111 at the same inclination angle.

[0076] It can be understood that the length direction of the accommodating cavity refers to the direction from the water inlet end to the water outlet end of the accommodating cavity, and the width direction of the accommodating cavity refers to the extension direction of the opening of the water inlet end or the water outlet end.

[0077] In some embodiments of the present invention, the angle θ of the rib 120 is set to be no less than 30°. Specifically, the angle θ of the rib 120 is set to 35° to 55°. Limiting the angle of the rib 120 to this range can enhance the ability to absorb the expansion force of the battery cells while ensuring the flow capacity of the flow channel 130. Preferably, the angle θ of the rib 120 on the flat plate segment 111 can be set to 35°, 42°, 45°, 48°, and 55°. When the angle θ is set to 35°, the rib 120 can have a stronger ability to absorb the expansion force of the battery cells. When the angle θ is set to 55°, the flow capacity can be higher. When the angle θ is set to 45°, the balance between the two capacities can be ensured.

[0078] In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid cooling element 100 is configured as a thermoplastic component. Thermoplastic materials have better elongation at break than thermoset materials, further enhancing their ability to absorb battery cell expansion forces. Specifically, PA12, PPA, PPS, PPO, and other thermoplastic materials suitable for one-piece extrusion molding can be used. There are no specific length requirements for one-piece extrusion molding using thermoplastic materials, and the aforementioned manufacturing process for the liquid cooling element 100 is particularly suitable for longer liquid cooling elements 100. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this. The liquid cooling element 100 can also be configured as a thermoset component, specifically HCMC, suitable for one-piece injection molding. Liquid cooling elements 100 made of thermoset materials have better thermal conductivity, so when higher cooling performance is required for the battery, a thermoset liquid cooling element 100 can be selected to enhance cooling efficiency.

[0079] In some embodiments of the present invention, the thermal conductivity of the liquid cooling element 100 is set to greater than 0.2 W / m / K. This limits the thermal conductivity of the liquid cooling element 100 and ensures its thermal performance. Specifically, the thermal conductivity of the liquid cooling element 100 can be set between 0.2 W / m / K and 30 W / m / K. By further limiting the upper limit, production can be ensured within reasonable production process requirements. Furthermore, the elongation at break of the liquid cooling element 100 can be set to greater than 0.2%, and more specifically, between 30% and 180%. This limit ensures that the liquid cooling element 100 can absorb the expansion force of the battery cells and prevent the liquid cooling element 100 from breaking during air pressure testing.

[0080] In some embodiments of the present invention, the thermal conductivity of the liquid cooling element 100 is set to 0.6W / m / K to 0.8W / m / K, and the elongation at break of the liquid cooling element 100 is set to 40% to 60%. During the material selection process, it was discovered that the thermal conductivity and elongation at break of the liquid cooling element 100 are inversely proportional: a higher elongation at break corresponds to a lower thermal conductivity. Through persistent deduction and analysis, the inventors determined that a liquid cooling element 100 within the aforementioned range can both ensure excellent thermal conductivity and meet the requirements for absorbing battery cell expansion forces.

[0081] Specifically, the liquid cooling element 100 has a thermal conductivity of 0.2 W / m / K and an elongation at break of 160%, providing strong deformation absorption and resisting breakage. A thermal conductivity of 10 W / m / K and an elongation at break of 0.2% provide excellent cooling and heating performance. A thermal conductivity of 0.73 W / m / K and an elongation at break of 46% ensure both heating and cooling performance and the ability to absorb deformation. More specifically, the liquid cooling element 100 can be made of PPO with a thermal conductivity of 0.73 W / m / K and an elongation at break of 46%.

[0082] In some embodiments of the present invention, the distance L3 between two flat plate segments 111 is set to be no less than 1 mm, and the thickness L2 of the flat plate segments 111 is set to be no less than 0.3 mm; and / or the distance L1 between two adjacent ribs 120 is set to be no less than 1 mm, and the thickness of the ribs 120 is set to be no less than 0.3 mm. These parameter limits facilitate the extrusion production of the liquid cooling element 100 while also ensuring that the cavity size of the flow channel 130 is compatible with the plate thickness of the liquid cooling element 100.

[0083] Specifically, 1mm≤L1≤10mm, when L1=1mm, the liquid-cooling component 100 is inflated with 205KPa, the plate surface bulges less, and the risk of detachment from the connection position with the counterpart (such as the battery cell used for cooling or heating by the liquid-cooling component 100) is smaller; when L1=10mm, the liquid-cooling component 100 is inflated with 205KPa, the extrusion die strength becomes greater, and processing will be easier; when L1=3 or 5mm, the deformation of the liquid-cooling component 100 during inflation can be controlled while taking into account ease of processing.

[0084] When 0.3mm≤L2≤5mm and L1=0.3mm, the wall thickness is small, the weight is light, the thermal resistance is small, and the thermal conductivity is excellent; when L2=5mm, the wall thickness is large, and when the liquid cooling component 100 is inflated with 205kPa, the plate surface bulges less, and the risk of detachment from the connection position of the counterpart is small; when L2=0.5 or 1mm, the weight, thermal resistance, and bulge of the cold plate when inflated can be taken into account.

[0085] When 1mm≤L3≤10mm and L3=1mm, the space occupied in the battery pack is smaller; when L3=10mm, the strength of the extrusion die becomes greater and processing will be easier; when L3=3mm or 5mm, the space occupied in the battery pack can be controlled while taking into account easy processing.

[0086] In some embodiments of the present invention, the corners formed by the inner wall of the flow channel 130 are rounded. The addition of the rounded corners can avoid stress concentration at the corners, disperse the stress, and avoid the occurrence of cracking. Specifically, the radius of the rounded corners is set to be greater than 0.1mm, and can be 0.2mm, 0.5mm, etc. Specifically, the cross-section of the flow channel 130 can be triangular or quadrilateral. In particular, when two adjacent ribs 120 are provided at the same inclination angle on the side wall of the liquid cooling part 100 for bonding with the battery cell, the cross-section of the flow channel 130 between the two adjacent ribs 120 can be parallelogram-shaped.

[0087] Please see again Figure 2 In some embodiments of the present invention, the cooling flat tube portion 110 further includes a first curved plate segment 112 and a second curved plate segment 113. One flat plate segment 111, the first curved plate segment 112, another flat plate segment 111, and the second curved plate segment 113 are sequentially connected end-to-end to circumferentially enclose a receiving cavity. The first curved plate segment 112 and the second curved plate segment 113 are both configured as outwardly bulging curved plates. Specifically, the two flat plate segments 111, the first curved plate segment 112, and the second curved plate segment 113 are configured to have the same thickness.

[0088] See also Figure 1 as well as Figures 5 to 7 In some embodiments of the present invention, the manifold 200 of the liquid cooling assembly forms a manifold cavity 215 with a docking port 211. The docking port 211 is formed on an external connection portion 216 of the manifold 200. The external connection portion 216 is recessed along the periphery of the docking port 211 to form a limiting step 212. The limiting step 212 can abut against the liquid cooling element 100 inserted through the docking port 211. The docking port 211 facilitates the connection between the liquid cooling element 100 and the manifold 200. The addition of the limiting step 212 can also limit the insertion position of the liquid cooling element 100, thereby ensuring communication between the flow channel 130 and the manifold cavity 215.

[0089] In some embodiments of the present invention, the depth of the limiting step 212 is set to be no less than 2 mm to ensure the connection strength between the liquid-cooling element 100 and the current collector 200; and / or the height of the limiting step 212 is set to be no less than 0.1 mm and no greater than the plate thickness of the liquid-cooling element 100 to ensure that it can both provide a limiting effect and improve the smoothness of the coolant flow channel. If the height of the limiting step 212 is too small, it will not provide a good limiting effect. However, if the height exceeds the plate thickness of the liquid-cooling element 100, it will affect the overall flow resistance. Specifically, if 0.1 mm ≤ the height of the limiting step 212 ≤ the plate thickness, the limiting step height = 0.1 mm, the current collector 200 uses less material and is light in weight. If the height of the limiting step 212 is equal to the plate thickness, the processing accuracy is easily guaranteed and the limiting effect is better. If the height of the limiting step 212 is between 0.1 mm and the plate thickness, the material consumption and weight can be controlled while also balancing processing accuracy and limiting effect.

[0090] In some embodiments of the present invention, the current collector 200 is formed with a heat-melting layer at the stop step 212, which connects to the liquid-cooling element 100. The addition of the heat-melting layer can help ensure the strength of the connection. Furthermore, the liquid-cooling element 100 and the current collector 200 can be welded using heat-melting methods, such as laser welding or ultrasonic welding. Of course, they can also be connected by gluing or snap-fitting.

[0091] In some embodiments of the present invention, the collector 200 is further provided with a chamfer 213 on the docking interface 211. Specifically, the collecting flat tube portion 210 of the collector 200 is provided with a chamfer 213 on the docking interface 211. The addition of the chamfer 213 structure facilitates the guidance of the assembly between the liquid cooling component 100 and the collector 200. It is recommended that the chamfer 213 be set to not less than 0.1 mm. If the chamfer 213 is too small, it will not serve the purpose of assembly guidance.

[0092] In some embodiments of the present invention, the manifold 200 includes a manifold flat tube portion 210 and a nozzle 220. The manifold flat tube portion 210 forms a manifold cavity 215 having a docking port 211. The nozzle 220 is disposed outside the manifold flat tube portion 210 and communicates with the manifold cavity 215. The configuration of the manifold flat tube portion 210 facilitates plug-in sealing with the cooling flat tube portion 110.

[0093] Specifically, in some embodiments of the present invention, the manifold 200 includes a manifold flat tube portion 210 and a nozzle 220. The manifold flat tube portion 210 forms a manifold cavity 215 having a docking port 211. The nozzle 220 is disposed on the outside of the manifold flat tube portion 210 and communicates with the manifold cavity 215. The inner wall of the manifold cavity 215 is recessed around the periphery of the docking port 211 to form a limiting step 212. The limiting step 212 can abut against the cooling flat tube portion 110 inserted through the docking port 211. The provision of the docking port 211 facilitates the connection between the cooling flat tube portion 110 and the manifold flat tube portion 210. The addition of the limiting step 212 can limit the insertion position of the cooling flat tube portion 110, thereby ensuring communication between the flow channel 130 within the cooling flat tube portion 110 and the manifold cavity 215.

[0094] In some embodiments of the present invention, the collector 200 is configured as an integral injection-molded part, that is, the water nozzle 220 and the collector flat tube portion 210 are integrally formed and do not require assembly connection. The water inlet and outlet directions of the water nozzle 220 can be flexibly designed according to needs, and the angle with the surface of the collector 200 can be 45° / 135°, 0° / 180°, etc. in addition to the traditional 90°.

[0095] like Figure 6 As shown, in some embodiments of the present invention, a weight-reducing groove 214 is provided on at least a portion of the outer circumference of the manifold 200. For example, the weight-reducing groove 214 may be provided on the side of the manifold 200 facing away from the faucet 220, or on the entire circumference except for the connection point to the faucet 220, to achieve product weight reduction. The depth of the weight-reducing groove 214 is recommended to be no greater than 0.8 times the wall thickness of the manifold 200 to prevent the manifold 200 from becoming too weak.

[0096] The collectors at the same end of multiple liquid cooling plates are generally set separately, and there is no connection support between the separately set collectors, which makes them prone to bending and deformation during transportation.

[0097] In order to avoid the above phenomenon, the collector is formed with docking ports that are the same number as the multiple liquid cooling parts, and the first ends of the multiple liquid cooling parts can be plugged into the multiple docking ports of the collector one by one, which significantly improves the rigidity of the liquid cooling component and avoids bending and deformation during transportation.

[0098] like Figures 8 to 12 As shown, in some embodiments of the present invention, there are multiple liquid cooling parts 300, and the multiple liquid cooling parts 300 are arranged in sequence along the first direction; the first collector 410 is formed with multiple first docking interfaces in sequence along the first direction, and the multiple first docking interfaces can provide one-to-one corresponding sealing connection for the first ends of the multiple liquid cooling parts 300.

[0099] When using the above-mentioned liquid cooling assembly, since the first collector 410 is formed with the same number of first docking interfaces as the liquid cooling parts 300, and the first ends of multiple liquid cooling parts 300 can be plugged into the multiple first docking interfaces of the first collector 410 one by one, compared with setting the collector at each end of the liquid cooling part 300 as at least two split collectors, the rigidity of the liquid cooling assembly in the present invention is improved, avoiding bending and deformation during transportation.

[0100] In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid cooling assembly further includes a second current collector 420 having a plurality of second docking ports formed therein at intervals along the second direction. These second docking ports allow for sealed, one-to-one connection of the second ends of the plurality of liquid cooling elements 300. The addition of the second current collector 420 allows the second ends of the plurality of liquid cooling elements 300 to be connected to the plurality of second docking ports of the second current collector 420 in a one-to-one, connection manner.

[0101] In some embodiments of the present invention, there are multiple liquid cooling elements 300, spaced apart in sequence along a first direction. Two current collectors are provided, namely a first current collector 410 and a second current collector 420. Each end of the multiple liquid cooling elements 300 is provided with a current collector, and each current collector forms a docking port for sealingly connecting the multiple liquid cooling elements 300. This further enhances the rigidity of the liquid cooling assembly in the present invention compared to a system in which at least two separate current collectors are provided at each end of the liquid cooling element 300.

[0102] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first collector 410 and / or the second collector 420 are both formed with a collecting cavity 430 extending along the first direction, and multiple first docking interfaces are all arranged to communicate with the collecting cavity 430 of the first collector 410, and multiple second docking interfaces are all arranged to communicate with the collecting cavity 430 of the second collector 420, so that the collecting cavity 430 of the first collector 410, the collector of the second collector 420 and the accommodating cavities of multiple liquid cooling parts 300 are all arranged to be connected to improve the flow rate of the cooling liquid.

[0103] In some embodiments of the present invention, the portion where the first manifold 410 and / or the second manifold 420 connects to the liquid-cooling element is formed with a protruding docking extension 433. The docking extension 433 has a docking hole that communicates with the manifold. The end of the docking hole, away from the manifold, forms a corresponding docking port. The end of the liquid-cooling element 300 extends from the docking port into the docking hole for insertion. The addition of the docking extension 433 provides sufficient space for insertion of the liquid-cooling element 300, thereby enhancing its insertion strength. Furthermore, the end of the liquid-cooling element 300 does not need to be inserted into the manifold, thereby preventing the end of the liquid-cooling element 300 from obstructing the flow of liquid within the manifold 430, ensuring sufficient space for liquid flow.

[0104] Specifically, the number of the docking extensions 433 on the first collector 410 and / or the second collector 420 can be multiple, and the multiple docking extensions 433 are protruded in sequence along the first direction of the first collector 410 and / or the second collector 420, and the multiple docking extensions 433 are all formed with docking holes that communicate with the corresponding collecting cavities 430, and the outer ends of the docking holes are set as corresponding docking interfaces, and the end of the liquid cooling part 300 extends from the docking interface into the docking hole for insertion.

[0105] In some embodiments of the present invention, the inner wall of the manifold 430 is recessed around the periphery of the first or second docking port to form a limiting step 434. This limiting step 434 can abut against the end of the liquid-cooling element 300 inserted through the corresponding docking port. The addition of the limiting step 434 limits the insertion position of the liquid-cooling element 300, ensuring communication between the receiving cavity of the liquid-cooling element 300 and the manifold 430. Specifically, the limiting step 434 is formed on the inner wall of the docking hole.

[0106] In some embodiments of the present invention, the depth of the limiting step 434 is set to be no less than 2 mm to ensure the connection strength between the liquid-cooling element 300 and the current collector; and / or the height of the limiting step 434 is set to be no less than 0.1 mm and no greater than the plate thickness of the liquid-cooling element 300 to ensure that it not only provides a limiting effect but also improves the smoothness of the coolant flow channel. If the height of the limiting step 434 is too small, it will not provide a good limiting effect. However, if the height exceeds the plate thickness of the liquid-cooling element 300, it will affect the overall flow resistance. Specifically, if the height of the limiting step 434 is 0.1 mm or less than the plate thickness, the limiting step height = 0.1 mm, resulting in a low material consumption and light weight of the current collector; if the height of the limiting step 434 is equal to the plate thickness, machining accuracy is easily ensured and the limiting effect is better; if the height of the limiting step 434 is between 0.1 mm and the plate thickness, the material consumption and weight can be controlled while also balancing machining accuracy and limiting effect.

[0107] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first collector 410 and / or the second collector 420 both include an injection molding main body 431 and a sealing cover plate portion 432. The injection molding main body 431 is configured to be integrally injection molded and forms a collecting cavity 430 and a corresponding docking port. An injection molding process port communicating with the collecting cavity 430 is also formed on the injection molding main body 431. The sealing cover plate portion 432 is used to seal the injection molding process port and be connected to the injection molding main body 431. That is, the first collector 410 and the second collector 420 first adopt a separate production process, and the injection molding main body 431 has a collecting cavity 430 and a docking port through an integrated injection molding process, and in order to facilitate mold design and demolding of the injection molding cavity, the injection molding main body 431 can also be designed with an injection molding process port that communicates with the collecting cavity 430. Of course, in order to seal the injection molding process port later, it is necessary to produce a sealing cover plate part 432 separately. The sealing cover plate part 432 can also be set to be made through the injection molding process, and then the sealing cover plate part 432 is covered on the injection molding process port, and the injection molding main body 431 and the sealing cover plate part 432 can be connected by a hot melt welding process to form a first hot melt layer, thereby ensuring the reliability of the connection between the two. Hot melt welding can be achieved by, for example, laser welding, ultrasonic welding, etc. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this. The injection-molded main body 431 and the sealing cover plate 432 can also be bonded with an adhesive layer, and the first collector 410 and the second collector 420 are not limited to the injection molding process, but can also be CNC (Computer Numerical Control, CNC milling machine) process.

[0108] Specifically, the docking port is formed on the inner side of the injection molding main body 431. It should be noted that the inner and outer sides in the present invention are defined based on the liquid cooling component 300. The side facing the liquid cooling component 300 is defined as the inner side, and the side facing away from the liquid cooling component 300 is defined as the outer side, and the injection molding process port is formed on the injection molding main body 431 on the side adjacent to the docking port.

[0109] More specifically, the first current collector 410 and the second current collector 420 can be suitable for plastic parts used in injection molding processes, especially thermoplastic parts, such as PA12, PPA, PPS, PPO, etc. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and the first current collector 410 and the second current collector 420 can also be set as thermosetting parts.

[0110] In some embodiments of the present invention, an inner ring portion 436 is formed on the side of the sealing cover plate portion 432 facing the injection molding body portion 431. The inner ring portion 436 extends into the injection molding process port and is arranged to fit the inner wall of the injection molding process port. Therefore, before the sealing cover plate portion 432 and the injection molding body portion 431 are heat-melt welded, the sealing cover plate portion 432 can be pre-positioned by the inner ring portion 436 to ensure the subsequent connection effect. Specifically, the injection molding process port can be square, and the sealing cover plate portion 432 and the inner ring portion 436 are designed to match the square shape. The portion of the sealing cover plate portion 432 located outside the inner ring portion 436 can be heat-melt welded to the periphery of the injection molding process port.

[0111] In some embodiments of the present invention, the number of the embedded ring portions 436 on the sealing cover portion 432 is set to at least two, and the at least two embedded ring portions 436 are arranged in sequence along the length direction (that is, the first direction) of the sealing cover portion 432 to resist deformation and improve the strength of the sealing cover portion 432.

[0112] In some embodiments of the present invention, the light absorptivity of the injection molded body 431 is set to be no less than 95%, and the light transmittance of the sealing cover plate 432 is set to be no less than 20%. In laser welding, to achieve double-layer welding, the upper layer needs to be light-transmissive and the lower layer needs to be light-absorbing. By limiting the light absorptivity of the injection molded body 431 and the light transmittance of the sealing cover plate 432, the weld strength can be ensured.

[0113] Furthermore, at room temperature, the liquid cooling component was connected to the pressure system, filled with coolant, and all air was exhausted. Pressure was first applied at a rate of 1.2 MPa / min to 4 bar and maintained for 1 minute. Then, pressure was applied at a rate of 0.075 to 0.175 MPa / s until a part of the liquid cooling component showed signs of leakage, explosion, or other failure. Pressurization was then stopped. The specific test results are shown in the following table:

[0114]

[0115]

[0116] In some embodiments of the present invention, the injection molded body 431 is also integrally molded with a liquid inlet nozzle 411, a liquid outlet nozzle 412, and a positioning pin 440. Integrating the nozzle and positioning pin 440 into the injection molded body 431 not only eliminates assembly steps but also enhances the sealing of the nozzle and the positioning accuracy of the positioning pin 440. Specifically, the injection molded main body 431 of the first collector 410 is integrally formed with a liquid inlet nozzle 411, a liquid outlet nozzle 412 and a positioning pin 440, and the injection molded main body 431 of the second collector 420 is integrally formed with a positioning pin 440. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this, and it can also be set as the injection molded main body 431 of the first collector 410 is integrally formed with a liquid inlet nozzle 411 and a positioning pin 440, and the injection molded main body 431 of the second collector 420 is integrally formed with a liquid outlet nozzle 412 and a positioning pin 440, and at the same time, the battery box is provided with a positioning hole for the positioning pin 440 to pass through.

[0117] In some embodiments of the present invention, when the liquid inlet nozzle 411 and the liquid outlet nozzle 412 are both provided on the first manifold 410, there are two types of manifold cavities 430 on the first manifold 410. The two manifold cavities 430 on the first manifold 410 can be specifically an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold, and the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold are sequentially spaced along the first direction of the first manifold 410, and the liquid inlet nozzle 411 and the liquid outlet nozzle 412 are respectively connected to the inlet manifold and the outlet manifold in a one-to-one correspondence. The liquid inlet manifold and the outlet manifold on the first manifold 410 are both provided correspondingly. There is at least one first docking interface so that the liquid inlet manifold and the liquid outlet manifold are both docked with at least one liquid cooling component 300, and each manifold 430 on the second manifold 420 is correspondingly provided with at least two second docking interfaces so that each manifold 430 of the second manifold 420 is docked with at least two liquid cooling components 300, and among the at least two liquid cooling components 300 docked with each manifold 430 of the second manifold 420, there is at least one liquid cooling component 300 that is arranged corresponding to the liquid inlet manifold, and at least one liquid cooling component 300 is arranged corresponding to the liquid outlet manifold.

[0118] Specifically, the number of collecting chambers 430 on the first collector 410 can be three, and the three collecting chambers 430 on the first collector 410 are arranged in sequence along the first direction of the first collector 410, and the two collecting chambers 430 on both sides belong to one of the liquid inlet collecting chamber and the liquid outlet collecting chamber, while the middle collecting chamber 430 belongs to the other of the liquid inlet collecting chamber and the liquid outlet collecting chamber. The number of liquid cooling parts 300 is four, of which two liquid cooling parts 300 are respectively arranged in one-to-one correspondence with the two collecting chambers 430 on both sides, and the other two liquid cooling parts 300 are both arranged corresponding to the middle collecting chamber 430; the number of collecting chambers 430 on the second collector 420 can be two, and the two collecting chambers 430 on the second collector 420 are arranged in sequence along the first direction of the second collector 420, and each collecting chamber 430 on the second collector 420 can be provided for two liquid cooling parts 300 to be set accordingly.

[0119] In some embodiments of the present invention, a liquid inlet manifold and a liquid outlet manifold are provided on the first manifold 410, and a weight reduction cavity is provided between the liquid inlet manifold and the liquid outlet manifold to achieve the purpose of reducing product weight.

[0120] In some embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of reinforcing ribs are provided inside the weight-reducing cavity. The addition of the reinforcing ribs can improve the strength and resist deformation.

[0121] In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid cooling element 300 can be integrally extruded and circumferentially enclosed to form a receiving cavity. Specifically, the liquid cooling element 300 is preferably a thermoplastic component manufactured through an integral extrusion process, using a thermoplastic material such as PA12, PPA, PPS, or PPO. Alternatively, the liquid cooling element 300 can be integrally injection molded using a thermoset material such as HCMC.

[0122] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first current collector 410, the second current collector 420, and the liquid cooling element 300 are all made of plastic. A second heat-seal layer is formed between the first end of the liquid cooling element 300 and the solid portion of the first current collector 410 forming the first docking interface, and a third heat-seal layer is formed between the second end of the liquid cooling element 300 and the solid portion of the second current collector 420 forming the second docking interface. In other words, after the two ends of the liquid cooling element 300 are respectively plugged into the first docking interface and the second docking interface, they can also be connected by heat-seal welding to further ensure the stability and strength of the connection. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this. The liquid cooling element 300 and the first current collector 410, as well as the liquid cooling element 300 and the second current collector 420, can also be connected by gluing or snap-fitting.

[0123] In some embodiments of the present invention, there are two manufacturing schemes for the liquid cooling assembly.

[0124] Manufacturing plan one: The injection molding main body 431 of the first collector 410 and the second collector 420 is preferably a thermoplastic material suitable for injection molding process, such as PA12, PPA, PPS, PPO, etc., and the material absorbance is required to be ≥95%. It is manufactured by injection molding or CNC process. The injection molding main body 431 includes a liquid inlet nozzle 411, a liquid outlet nozzle 412, a positioning pin 440, a docking extension 433, a collecting cavity 430, a docking interface and an injection molding process port; the material transmittance of the sealing cover plate part 432 is required to be ≥20%, and it is also manufactured by injection molding or CNC process; then the sealing cover plate part 432 and the injection molding main body part 431 are welded by hot melt method, such as laser welding, ultrasonic welding, etc. or connected by gluing; the liquid cooling part 300 is made of thermoplastic composite material through integral extrusion; the end of the liquid cooling part 300 is inserted into the docking interface and welded to the injection molding main body part 431 by hot melt welding. Manufacturing solution 2: The liquid cooling component 300 is first manufactured by extrusion or injection molding, and then the cold plate is connected to the injection molding body 431 of the first collector 410 and the second collector 420 by injection molding, and finally the sealing cover part 432 and the injection molding body 431 are welded by hot melt.

[0125] like Figures 13 to 18 As shown, in some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid cooling assembly further includes a snap body 600, which docks with the end of the liquid cooling component 500, and the docking port of the collector 700 allows the snap body 600 to be sealedly inserted and snapped in.

[0126] When the above-mentioned liquid cooling assembly is used, since the end of the liquid cooling part 500 is docked with the snap body 600, and the docking interface of the manifold 711 can be sealed and inserted into the snap body 600, so that after the snap body 600 is sealed and inserted into the manifold 711, the collector 700 can be snap-connected with the snap body 600. When glue is often used to bond the liquid cooling part 500 and the collector 700, it is difficult to ensure that the glue is well filled in the entire sealing area when glue is used for bonding. The state of the liquid cooling component is prone to partial incomplete filling. On the other hand, the liquid cooling component is used to cool the battery cells. It is in a high temperature environment and is also subjected to the erosion of the coolant, resulting in poor adhesive strength and prone to sealing failure. The present invention adds a clip body 600. The clip body 600 is sealed and mounted on the end of the liquid cooling component 500. It can also extend into the docking port of the collector 700 to form an extrusion seal with the collector 700 and engage with it, significantly improving the connection strength. At the same time, there is no need to consider the coolant resistance of the adhesive layer and the aging of the adhesive layer.

[0127] In some embodiments of the present invention, the manifold 700 forms a manifold having a docking port. A first snap-fit ​​structure is provided on the peripheral wall of the manifold 711, which snaps into contact with the snap-fit ​​body 600. The snap-fit ​​body 600 is sleeved onto the outer side of the end portion of the liquid-cooling element 500 and is formed with a second snap-fit ​​structure that snaps into contact with the first snap-fit ​​structure. The snap-fit ​​body 600 is configured to be sleeved onto the outer side of the liquid-cooling element 500, and the manifold 700 is sleeved onto the outer side of the snap-fit ​​body 600. This nested connection from inside to outside allows the snap-fit ​​body 600 to be tightened onto the end portion of the liquid-cooling element 500, providing radial sealing performance, thereby improving sealing performance. Furthermore, since the end portion of the liquid-cooling element 500 is located at the innermost portion of the nesting, the manifold 700 can provide a connection support to it via the snap-fit ​​body 600, thereby improving connection strength.

[0128] Specifically, there are multiple first and second snap-fit ​​structures, each of which is spaced apart along the circumference of the snap-fit ​​body 600. The multiple first snap-fit ​​structures correspond one-to-one with the multiple second snap-fit ​​structures on the circumferential wall of the manifold 711. This means that the snap-fit ​​body and the manifold can be snap-fitted at multiple points, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the snap-fit ​​connection.

[0129] In some embodiments of the present invention, the second snap-fit ​​structure is configured as a boss portion 610 protruding from the outside of the snap-fit ​​body 600, and the first snap-fit ​​structure is configured as a snap-fit ​​hole 712, wherein the boss portion 610 can be inserted into the snap-fit ​​hole 712 for snap-fit ​​connection. Choosing to arrange the boss portion 610 on the outside of the snap-fit ​​body 600 can, on the one hand, facilitate the production of the snap-fit ​​body 600, because if the boss portion 610 is arranged on the inside of the collector 700, it is difficult to produce and manufacture. On the other hand, it can facilitate assembly, because if the boss portion 610 is arranged on the inside of the collector 700, it is difficult to push the snap-fit ​​body 600 into the collector 700, and it is also not conducive to observing whether it is assembled in place. Specifically, the snap-fit ​​hole 712 can be arranged as a through hole to facilitate observation of whether it is snap-fitted in place. Of course, the present invention is not limited to this. The second snap structure is set as a snap hole 712 opened on the snap body 600, and the snap hole 712 can be set as a blind hole. The first snap structure is also set as a boss portion 610 protruding from the inner wall of the manifold 711.

[0130] In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid cooling assembly further includes a seal 800, which is positioned between the outer end of the clip body 600 and the inner wall of the manifold 711. The addition of the seal 800 ensures a tight seal between the outer end of the clip body 600 and the manifold 711. It should be noted that the outer end of the clip body 600 is defined relative to the liquid cooling element 500; the end facing outward from the liquid cooling element 500 is defined as the outer end. That is, end face sealing is adopted between the snap body 600 and the collecting cavity 711 of the collector 700, and the snap body 600 can well press the seal 800 axially through the snap action between the snap body 600 and the collector 700. Compared with the radial seal in which the seal 800 is sleeved on the outside of the snap body 600, on the one hand, it is difficult to grasp the dimensional accuracy of the radial seal. If the thickness of the seal 800 is too large, it will affect the assembly, and if the thickness is too small, the seal will easily fail. On the other hand, during assembly, the seal 800 and the snap structure are both on the outside of the snap body 600, which is not convenient for assembly.

[0131] In addition, the snap-fit ​​structure set as the boss portion 610 itself can also become a seal 800. For example, the snap-fit ​​body 600 is set as a part with sealing performance, and the second snap-fit ​​structure on the snap-fit ​​body 600 is set as the boss portion 610 protruding on the outside, and the boss portion 610 is arranged in a circle along the circumference of the snap-fit ​​body 600. Correspondingly, the snap-fit ​​holes 712 formed on the peripheral wall of the collecting cavity 711 as the first snap-fit ​​structure can also be arranged in a circle. Then, when the boss portion 610 is snapped into the snap-fit ​​hole 712, not only the snap-fit ​​connection can be achieved, but also the entire circle sealing of the snap-fit ​​connection by the boss portion 610 can be achieved. At this time, the snap-fit ​​holes 712 on the peripheral wall of the collecting cavity 711 can be set as blind holes.

[0132] In some embodiments of the present invention, a sealing groove 713 for accommodating the seal 800 is formed on the inner wall of the manifold 711, which is arranged opposite to the outer end of the snap body 600. The addition of the sealing groove 713 can facilitate pre-positioning of the seal 800 to ensure the stability of the seal 800 during the subsequent docking and assembly of the snap body 600 and the manifold 700. Furthermore, a groove plate portion 714 can be formed on the inner wall of the manifold 711, which is arranged opposite to the outer end of the snap body 600. The groove plate portion 714 is spaced relative to the peripheral wall of the manifold 711 formed with the first snap structure to form the sealing groove 713. That is, when the seal 800 is placed in the sealing groove 713, the peripheral wall of the manifold 711 formed with the first snap structure can stop the seal 800 on the outside, and the groove plate portion 714 can stop the seal 800 on the inside.

[0133] In some embodiments of the present invention, the compression ratio of the seal 800 is set to 10% to 40%, and the filling rate range is set to 40% to 110%. If the compression ratio and filling rate are too small, the seal may fail. If the compression ratio and filling rate are too large, the material will be in a strong compression state for a long time, which will cause the material properties to decay too quickly and cause the seal to fail. Therefore, by limiting the two within an appropriate range, while ensuring excellent sealing performance, it can also play a role in improving the service life. Furthermore, at room temperature, by introducing 205KPa±5KPa of air pressure into the liquid cooling component, stabilizing the pressure for 120s, and testing for 60s, the leakage rate is less than 0.5cc / min or the helium leakage is less than 1*10-6Pa*m3 / s. The specific test results are shown in the following table.

[0134]

[0135] In some embodiments of the present invention, the material of the sealing member 800 is set to EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer). Of course, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the sealing member 800 may be made of other suitable materials.

[0136] In some embodiments of the present invention, the manifold 700 includes a manifold body 710 and a nozzle 720. The manifold body 710 forms a manifold cavity 711 having a docking port, and the nozzle 720 is disposed on the side of the manifold body 710 facing away from the docking port, so that the direction of liquid flow in the nozzle 720 is aligned with the direction of liquid flow in the liquid cooling unit 500 to ensure smooth liquid flow. Furthermore, the manifold body 710 includes a circumferential enclosing plate and an end-to-end sealing plate. The circumferential enclosing plate is circumferentially enclosed and forms the manifold cavity 711. One end of the circumferential enclosing plate is open to form the docking port, and the other end of the circumferential enclosing plate is closed by connecting to the end-to-end sealing plate. The seal 800 can be placed between the outer end of the clip body 600 and the inner side of the end-to-end sealing plate. The nozzle 720 is disposed on the outer side of the end-to-end sealing plate.

[0137] In some embodiments of the present invention, the outer side of the boss portion 610 is arranged to be inclined upward along the direction in which the snap hole 712 snaps into the boss portion 610, so that when the snap body 600 and the manifold 700 are relatively moved and docked, the peripheral wall of the manifold 711 gradually expands until the snap hole 712 snaps into the boss portion 610, thereby providing the boss portion 610 with a guiding function and ensuring the stability of the snap. Specifically, the cross-section of the boss portion 610 can be set to be triangular, with one side of the triangle being set on the snap body 600 and the other side being set to be inclined upward from the snap body 600 in the direction in which the snap hole 712 snaps into the boss portion 610.

[0138] In some embodiments of the present invention, the outer inclination angle A of the boss portion 610 is set to be no greater than 60°. A larger angle may easily lead to difficulty in assembly with the current collector 700. Furthermore, the height L2 of the boss portion 610 is generally within the range of 0.1 mm to 2 mm. If L2 is too small, the boss portion 610 may not fit tightly with the snap hole 712, while if L2 is too large, assembly with the current collector 700 may be difficult.

[0139] In some embodiments of the present invention, the snap body 600 includes a snap body 620 and an end-limiting portion 630. The snap body 620 is formed with a socket hole for the end of the liquid cooling component 500 to pass through, and a second snap structure is provided on the snap body 620, which can be a boss portion 610 protruding from the outside of the snap body 620. The end-limiting portion 630 is located at the outer end of the snap body 620 and extends radially from the periphery of the socket hole to abut against the axial end of the liquid cooling component 500, thereby realizing end-to-end positioning of the socket and further improving the connection strength. Specifically, the thickness L3 of the end limit portion 630 is recommended to be ≥0.1mm. Too small a thickness will result in insufficient strength of the end limit portion 630. At the same time, the size of the first guide fillet R on the snap body 600 is recommended to be ≥0.1mm, and the size of the second guide fillet 715 on the collector 700 is also recommended to be ≥0.1mm. If the size is too small, it will not play a guiding role.

[0140] In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid cooling element 500 is configured as a metal or plastic component, the clip body 600 is configured as a plastic component, and the liquid cooling element 500 and the clip body 600 are configured as an injection molding connection, thereby enhancing the connection strength. Specifically, the liquid cooling element 500 can be made of metal, such as 3-series or 6-series aluminum alloy, and manufactured by extrusion, or it can be made of plastic materials, such as PPA, PPS, etc., and manufactured by an extrusion process. The clip body 600 can be made of plastic materials, such as PPA, PPS, etc., and glass fiber can also be added to the material to enhance the structural strength. However, the glass fiber content is set to no more than 45%. Exceeding 45% will cause the clip body 600 to be too hard and reduce its toughness, which can easily cause the clip body 600 to break, which is not conducive to the assembly of the clip structure. The clip body 600 can be manufactured using processes such as integrated injection molding and 3D printing. In addition, the connection method between the liquid cooling element 500 and the clip body 600 is preferably injection molding, and optional processes such as gluing or welding can be used.

[0141] In some embodiments of the present invention, an injection-molded connection layer may be formed between the liquid-cooling element 500 and the clip body 620 of the clip body 600, and the thickness L1 of the clip body 620 is set to be no less than 2 mm. A too short distance can result in a weak connection. Therefore, limiting the thickness of the clip body 620 can ensure connection strength. Specifically, when designing and testing the clip body thickness L1, the following data was obtained: when L1 = 2 mm, the pull-off force between the liquid-cooling element 500 and the clip body 600 at room temperature was 300 N, which is sufficient for daily use; when L1 = 4 mm, the pull-off force between the liquid-cooling element 500 and the clip body 600 at room temperature was 600 N; and when L1 = 6 mm, the pull-off force between the liquid-cooling element 500 and the clip body 600 at room temperature was 900 N.

[0142] In some embodiments of the present invention, the current collector 700 is configured as a metal or plastic component. Specifically, the current collector 700 can be made of metal, such as 3-series or 6-series aluminum alloys, and manufactured through CNC and casting processes. Alternatively, it can be made of a plastic material, such as PPA or PPS. Glass fiber can also be added to the material to enhance structural strength. However, the glass fiber content is set to no more than 70%. Exceeding 70% will result in poor material fluidity and difficulty in processing. The current collector 700 is manufactured using processes such as one-piece injection molding and 3D printing.

[0143] A first aspect of the present invention provides a liquid cooling assembly, wherein the liquid cooling assembly comprises:

[0144] a current collector, wherein at least one docking port is formed on the current collector;

[0145] At least one liquid cooling component, each liquid cooling component is sealed and plugged with a corresponding docking port on the collector.

[0146] In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid cooling element has a receiving cavity, in which at least one rib is provided. The ribs extend along the length direction of the liquid cooling element, and the at least one rib divides the receiving cavity into at least two flow channels.

[0147] In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid cooling element is a liquid cooling flat tube, the ribs are respectively connected to two planar inner walls of the liquid cooling flat tube, and any planar inner wall of the liquid cooling flat tube is inclined at an angle.

[0148] In some embodiments of the present invention, there are multiple ribs, and the multiple ribs are arranged at intervals along the width direction of the plane inner wall, and the multiple ribs are arranged in parallel in the extension direction thereof.

[0149] In some embodiments of the present invention, the angle is 35° to 55°.

[0150] In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid cooling element is configured as an integrally formed composite material component;

[0151] and / or, the thermal conductivity of the liquid cooling element is set to be greater than 0.2 w / m / k;

[0152] And / or, the elongation at break of the liquid cooling element is set to 30% to 180%.

[0153] In some embodiments of the present invention, the collector has a collecting cavity, which is connected to the docking port. The inner wall of the collecting cavity forms a limiting step at the periphery of the docking port, and the limiting step abuts against the liquid cooling part inserted from the docking port.

[0154] In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid cooling assembly includes

[0155] A plurality of liquid cooling components are sequentially spaced apart along a first direction;

[0156] The current collector is formed with a plurality of docking ports spaced in sequence along the first direction, and the plurality of docking ports can be sealed and plugged in one by one with the first ends of the plurality of liquid cooling components.

[0157] In some embodiments of the present invention, there are multiple liquid cooling parts, and the multiple liquid cooling parts are arranged in sequence along the first direction; there are multiple collectors, and a collector is provided at both ends of each liquid cooling part, and one collector corresponds to at least one liquid cooling part.

[0158] In some embodiments of the present invention, a docking extension is formed at the connection portion between the collector and the liquid cooling plate. The docking extension has a docking hole, which is connected to the collecting cavity. The end of the docking hole away from the collecting cavity is formed as a docking port.

[0159] In some embodiments of the present invention, a weight-reducing groove is provided on at least a portion of the outer circumference of the current collector.

[0160] In some embodiments of the present invention, the manifold includes a liquid inlet manifold and a liquid outlet manifold, and a weight reduction cavity is provided between the liquid inlet manifold and the liquid outlet manifold.

[0161] In some embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of reinforcing ribs are provided inside the weight-reducing cavity.

[0162] In some embodiments of the present invention, the collector includes an injection molded main body and a sealing cover plate portion. The injection molded main body is configured to be integrally injection molded to form a collecting cavity and a docking port, and an injection molding process hole communicating with the collecting cavity is also formed on the injection molded main body. The sealing cover plate portion is sealed and connected to the injection molded main body, and the positive projection of the sealing cover plate portion close to the side of the injection molded main body covers the injection molding process hole.

[0163] In some embodiments of the present invention, the light absorption rate of the injection-molded main body is set to be no less than 80%, and the light transmittance of the sealing cover plate is set to be no less than 15%.

[0164] In some embodiments of the present invention, the light transmittance of the sealing cover portion is not less than 20%, and the light absorption rate of the injection-molded main body portion is not less than 95%.

[0165] In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid cooling assembly further comprises a snap body, which is sealingly sleeved on the end of the liquid cooling component, and the snap body can be sealedly inserted and snapped into the docking port of the collector.

[0166] In some embodiments of the present invention, a collecting cavity is formed at the docking interface of the collector, a first snap-fitting structure is provided on the peripheral wall of the collecting cavity, a second snap-fitting structure is provided on the snap-fitting body, and the first snap-fitting structure is snap-fitted with the second snap-fitting structure.

[0167] In some embodiments of the present invention, the second snap-fit ​​structure is configured as a boss portion protruding from the outside of the snap-fit ​​body, and the first snap-fit ​​structure is configured as a snap-fit ​​hole, and the boss portion can extend into the snap-fit ​​hole for snap-fit ​​connection.

[0168] In some embodiments of the present invention, the liquid cooling assembly further includes a seal, which is placed between the outer end of the buckle body and the inner wall of the manifold.

[0169] In some embodiments of the present invention, the compression ratio of the sealing member is set to 10% to 40%, and the filling rate range is set to 40% to 110%.

[0170] In some embodiments of the present invention, the snap body includes a snap main body and an end limiting portion. The snap main body is formed with a socket hole for the end of the liquid cooling component to pass through. The end limiting portion is located at the outer end of the snap main body and extends radially from the periphery of the socket hole to abut against the axial end of the liquid cooling component.

[0171] In addition, the present invention further provides a battery module, wherein the battery module includes the liquid cooling assembly described above. Since the battery module adopts all the technical solutions of the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be detailed here.

[0172] In addition, the present invention also provides a battery pack, wherein the battery pack includes the battery module according to the above. Since the battery pack adopts all the technical solutions of the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be described in detail here.

[0173] In addition, the present invention further provides a vehicle, wherein the vehicle includes the battery pack described above. Since the vehicle adopts all the technical solutions of the above embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be described in detail here.

[0174] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that 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 technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature specified as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In the description of this utility model, "plurality" means at least two, for example, two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0175] In this utility model, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms "installed," "connected," "connect," "fixed," etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection, electrical connection, or communication; direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; internal communication between two elements or interaction between two elements, unless otherwise specified. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in this utility model can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0176] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and combine different embodiments or examples described in this specification and features of different embodiments or examples without contradiction.

[0177] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it can be understood that the above embodiments are illustrative and cannot be understood as limitations on the present invention. Ordinary technicians in this field can change, modify, replace and modify the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A liquid cooling component, characterized in that: The liquid cooling assembly comprises: Liquid cooling components; a current collector, wherein at least one docking port is formed on the current collector; A snap body, wherein the snap body sealing sleeve is arranged at the end of the liquid cooling component, and the snap body can be inserted into the collector from the docking port and snap-connected with the collector, so that a seal is formed between the snap body and the collector.

2. The liquid cooling assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The liquid cooling assembly further includes a seal placed in the current collecting cavity of the current collector, and the end surface of the buckle body presses the seal end-to-end against the current collector; The collector includes a collector body and a water nozzle, the collector body forms the collector cavity, the water nozzle is arranged on a side of the collector body away from the docking port and communicates with the collector cavity, and the sealing member is arranged around the water nozzle.

3. The liquid cooling assembly according to claim 1, wherein: A first snap-fit ​​structure is provided on the collecting cavity formed by the collector, and a second snap-fit ​​structure is provided on the snap-fit ​​body. There are multiple first snap-fit ​​structures and multiple second snap-fit ​​structures. Multiple first snap-fit ​​structures are provided on the peripheral wall of the collecting cavity and can be snapped in one-to-one with multiple second snap-fit ​​structures.

4. The liquid cooling assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that The second buckle structure is configured as a boss portion protruding from the outer side of the buckle body, and the first buckle structure is configured as a buckle hole, wherein the boss portion can extend into the buckle hole for buckle connection.

5. The liquid cooling assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that The side of the boss portion facing away from the buckle body is obliquely extended upward from the outer side of the buckle body in the direction of escaping from the buckle hole; The inclination angle A of the side of the boss portion facing away from the buckle body is set to be less than or equal to 60°; and / or the height L2 of the boss portion is set to be within the range of 0.1 mm to 2 mm; The connection distance L1 between the liquid cooling element and the buckle body is set to be greater than or equal to 2 mm.

6. The liquid cooling assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The clip body includes a clip main body and an end limit portion, the clip main body is formed with a socket hole for the end of the liquid cooling component to pass through, the end limit portion is located at the end of the clip main body and radially extends from the periphery of the socket hole, and the end limit portion abuts against the end of the liquid cooling component.

7. The liquid cooling assembly according to claim 2, wherein: A sealing groove for accommodating the sealing member is formed on the inner wall of the manifold cavity which is arranged opposite to the docking port; And / or, the compression ratio of the sealing member is set to 10% to 40%, and the filling rate is set to 40% to 110%.

8. The liquid cooling assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The liquid cooling component is configured as an integrally formed composite material component.

9. A battery module, characterized in that: The battery module includes the liquid cooling assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A battery pack, characterized in that: The battery pack includes the battery module according to claim 9.

11. A vehicle, characterized in that: The vehicle includes the battery pack according to claim 10 .

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