Battery module and battery pack

Abstract

The utility model discloses a battery module and a battery pack. The battery module comprises a plurality of partition plates, a plurality of battery cells and a first fixing part, the multiple partition plates are arranged in the thickness direction of the partition plates and comprise the first partition plate and the second partition plate. Any one of the battery cells is arranged between the two adjacent partition plates and is connected with the two adjacent partition plates. The first fixing piece is provided with a first end part and a second end part, the first end part is connected with the first partition plate, the second end part is connected with the second partition plate, and an included angle between the direction of a connecting line between the first end part and the second end part and the thickness direction is an acute angle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and more particularly to a battery module and a battery pack. Background Technology

[0002] In traditional battery modules, multiple cells are stacked along their thickness direction. During actual operation, each cell expands. The cells not only expand along the thickness direction, but also tilt to the thickness direction. For this tilted expansion (i.e., tilted to the thickness direction), the battery module has difficulty suppressing it, thus affecting its service life. Utility Model Content

[0003] One object of this application is to provide a battery module that aims to suppress the expansion of the battery cells in the battery module along the thickness direction.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides a solution: a battery module including multiple separators, multiple battery cells, and a first fixing member. The multiple separators are arranged along their thickness direction, and the multiple separators include a first separator and a second separator. Any one of the battery cells is disposed between two adjacent separators and connected to the two adjacent separators. The first fixing member has a first end and a second end; the first end connects to the first separator, and the second end connects to the second separator; the angle between the direction of the line connecting the first end and the second end and the thickness direction is an acute angle.

[0005] Optionally, the plurality of separators further includes a third separator; the battery module further includes a second fixing member and a third fixing member, the second fixing member having a third end and a fourth end, the third end being connected to the first end, the fourth end being connected to the third separator, the third fixing member having a fifth end and a sixth end, the fifth end being connected to the second end, the sixth end being connected to the fourth end, and the first fixing member, the second fixing member and the third fixing member being interconnected to form a triangle.

[0006] Optionally, there may be multiple first fasteners, second fasteners, and third fasteners, forming multiple triangles.

[0007] Optionally, the battery module includes a plurality of first separators, a plurality of second separators, and a plurality of first fasteners; along the thickness direction, the first separators and second separators are arranged alternately in sequence, and the plurality of first fasteners are arranged in a manner; the first end of any one of the first fasteners is connected to a first separator, and the second end is connected to a second separator.

[0008] Optionally, any two of the first fasteners are parallel to each other.

[0009] Optionally, the battery module further includes a fastening assembly, which is fixedly connected to two partitions located on both sides along the thickness direction to limit the expansion of the battery module along the thickness direction.

[0010] Optionally, the plurality of separators further includes a fourth separator located on the side of the second separator opposite to the first separator; the battery module further includes a fourth fixing member, one end of which is connected to the first end or the second end, and the other end of which is connected to the fourth separator; the extension direction of the fourth fixing member is approximately parallel to the thickness direction.

[0011] Optionally, the battery module includes two first fixing members and two fourth fixing members, the two first fixing members are arranged along the thickness direction, the two fourth fixing members are arranged along the height direction of the battery module, the two first fixing members and the two fourth fixing members form a parallelogram, and the height direction is perpendicular to the thickness direction; one fourth fixing member is connected to the first end of one first fixing member, and the other fourth fixing member is connected to the second end of the other first fixing member.

[0012] Optionally, all partitions between the first partition and the fourth partition are connected to the fourth fastener.

[0013] This application also provides a solution: a battery pack, the battery pack comprising the battery module described in any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0014] The beneficial effects of this application are as follows:

[0015] In this battery module, multiple separators and multiple battery cells are arranged alternately in sequence, so that each battery cell is clamped and restrained by two separators, which helps to suppress the expansion of the battery cell and extend its service life. Furthermore, a first fixing member diagonally connects the first and second separators. When the battery cell between the first and second separators expands diagonally upwards, the diagonally positioned first fixing member can counteract the diagonal expansion force of the battery cell by connecting the first and second separators, thereby suppressing the diagonal expansion of the battery cell and further extending its service life. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of the battery module provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0018] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The explosive head shown is an explosive head with the following structure;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the battery module provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the battery module provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the battery module provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0022] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the battery module provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0023] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the battery module provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0024] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the battery module provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0025] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the battery pack provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0026] Reference numerals in the attached figures: Battery pack 100, Battery module 10, Cell 11, Main body 111, Cell 11 housing 1111, Electrode terminal 112, Separator 12, First separator 121, Second separator 122, Third separator 123, Fourth separator 124, First fixing member 13, First end 131, Second end 132, Second fixing member 14, Third end 141, Fourth end 142, Third fixing member 15, Fifth end 151, Sixth end 152, Fourth fixing member 16, Thickness direction X, Width direction Y, Height direction Z. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0028] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this application provides a battery module 10, which includes a plurality of battery cells 11 stacked along its thickness direction X. In one embodiment, the plurality of battery cells 11 are electrically connected in parallel. In another embodiment, the plurality of battery cells 11 are electrically connected in series. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of battery cells 11 are electrically connected in a combination of parallel and series connections.

[0029] In one embodiment, the battery module 10 further includes a plurality of separators 12, which are arranged along their thickness direction X. The thickness direction X of the separators 12 is parallel to the thickness direction X of the battery cell 11. For ease of description, the thickness direction X of the separators 12 and the thickness direction X of the battery cell 11 are referred to as the thickness direction X.

[0030] In some embodiments, any one of the battery cells 11 is disposed between two adjacent separators 12 along the thickness direction X, and the two adjacent separators 12 are connected. This arrangement ensures that the separators 12 and battery cells 11 are alternately connected in the thickness direction X. When any of the battery cells 11 expands, the multiple separators 12 can provide binding force to the different battery cells 11, thereby suppressing the expansion of the battery cells 11 and extending their service life.

[0031] In one embodiment, the battery cell 11 includes a main body 111 and electrode terminals 112. The main body 111 includes a battery cell housing and an electrode assembly (not shown). The electrode assembly is disposed within the battery cell housing. A portion of the electrode terminals 112 is connected to the electrode assembly and extends out of the main body 111. The main body 111 is connected to an adjacent separator 12. When the battery cell 11 expands, the dimension of the main body 111 changes along its thickness direction X. At this time, there is an interactive compressive force between the main body 111 and the separator 12.

[0032] The applicant discovered that the individual cells 11 in the battery module 10 not only expand along the thickness direction X, but also expand obliquely. Using conventional separators 12 to clamp and restrain the cells 11 is difficult to suppress this oblique expansion. Therefore, after long-term research, the applicant provides a restraint method that can counteract the oblique expansion force of the cells 11.

[0033] like Figure 3 As shown, in one embodiment, the plurality of separators 12 include a first separator 121 and a second separator 122. The battery module 10 also includes a first fixing member 13, which is obliquely arranged and connects the first separator 121 and the second separator 122, forming a structure that fixes the first separator 121 and the second separator 122 obliquely. When the cell 11 between the first separator 121 and the second separator 122 expands laterally and obliquely, the first separator 121 and the second separator 122 can counteract the lateral expansion force, thereby suppressing the lateral expansion, and the first fixing member 13 can counteract the oblique expansion force, thereby suppressing the oblique expansion, which is beneficial to extending the service life of the cell 11.

[0034] Specifically, the first fixing member 13 has a first end 131 and a second end 132. The first end 131 is connected to the first partition 121, and the second end 132 is connected to the second partition 122. The angle between the direction of the line connecting the first end 131 and the second end 132 and the thickness direction X is an acute angle.

[0035] In one embodiment, the angle between the direction of the line connecting the first end 131 and the second end 132 and the thickness direction X is defined as α, where 30° ≤ α ≤ 60°. This angle range is beneficial for the first fixing member 13 to better counteract the oblique expansion force and suppress the oblique expansion of the battery cell 11.

[0036] In one embodiment, the included angle α is any one of 30°, 35°, 40°, 45°, 50°, 55° and 60°. This included angle value is beneficial for the first fixing member 13 to better counteract the oblique expansion force and suppress the oblique expansion of the battery cell 11.

[0037] In one embodiment, the first partition 121 and the second partition 122 are arranged adjacent to each other. In another embodiment, another partition 12 is provided between the first partition 121 and the second partition 122.

[0038] In one embodiment, along the height direction Z of the battery module 10, the first end 131 and the second end 132 are located close to both ends of the battery module 10, that is, the first end 131 and the second end 132 are located on both sides of the centerline of the battery module 10. This helps the first fixing member 13 to better counteract the oblique expansion force and suppress the oblique expansion of the cell 11. The height direction Z is perpendicular to the thickness direction X of the separator 12 and the cell 11.

[0039] like Figure 4 As shown, in one embodiment, the plurality of partitions 12 further includes a third partition 123, which is located on the side of the second partition 122 opposite to the first partition 121.

[0040] The battery module 10 also includes a second fixing member 14 and a third fixing member 15. The second fixing member 14 has a third end 141 and a fourth end 142. The third end 141 is connected to the first end 131, and the fourth end 142 is connected to the third separator 123. The third fixing member 15 has a fifth end 151 and a sixth end 152. The fifth end 151 is connected to the second end 132, and the sixth end 152 is connected to the fourth end 142. The first fixing member 13, the second fixing member 14, and the third fixing member 15 are interconnected to form a triangle. The three vertices of this triangular structure are respectively connected to different separators 12, forming a stable structure. This helps to counteract the oblique expansion force generated by the multiple cells 11 between the first separator 121, the second separator 122, and the third separator 123, and suppresses the oblique expansion of the cells 11.

[0041] In one embodiment, there are multiple first fixing members 13, second fixing members 14, and third fixing members 15, forming multiple triangles. These multiple triangular structures cooperate with each other to counteract the oblique expansion force of each cell 11 in the battery module 10, thereby suppressing the oblique expansion of the multiple cells 11 and improving the service life of the battery module 10.

[0042] In one embodiment, the number of the first fixing member 13, the second fixing member 14, and the third fixing member 15 is one each. The first partition 121 connected to the first end 131 and the third partition 123 connected to the fourth fixing part are located on opposite sides of the battery module 10 along the thickness direction X. This large triangular structure not only suppresses the oblique expansion of the multiple battery cells 11 but also suppresses the lateral expansion of the multiple battery cells 11, thereby improving the service life of the battery module 10.

[0043] like Figure 5 As shown, in one embodiment, the battery module 10 includes multiple first separators 121, multiple second separators 122, and multiple first fasteners 13. Along the thickness direction X, the first separators 121 and second separators 122 are arranged alternately, and the multiple first fasteners 13 are arranged in a specific configuration. Specifically, the first end 131 of any first fastener 13 is connected to a first separator 121, and the second end 132 is connected to a second separator 122. In this embodiment, the oblique connection of adjacent separators 12 by multiple first fasteners 13 helps to more accurately counteract the oblique expansion force generated by each battery cell 11, suppressing the oblique expansion of each battery cell 11 and improving its service life.

[0044] In one embodiment, the battery module 10 further includes a fastening assembly (not shown), which is fixedly connected to two partitions 12 located on both sides along the thickness direction X, for limiting the expansion of the battery module 10 along the thickness direction X. The fastening assembly cooperates with a plurality of first fasteners 13 to suppress the lateral and oblique expansion of each cell 11 in the battery module 10, which is beneficial to improving the service life of each cell 11 and thus the service life of the battery module 10.

[0045] In one embodiment, the fastening assembly includes straps arranged along the thickness direction X and surrounding each cell 11 in the battery module 10 to suppress the expansion of each cell 11 in the lateral direction.

[0046] In one embodiment, the fastening assembly includes a first screw and a first bolt. The first screw is arranged laterally and passes through the two outermost partitions 12 of the battery module 10. The first bolt is connected to the first screw to limit the movement of the two outermost partitions 12, thereby suppressing the expansion of the battery module 10 in the lateral direction.

[0047] In one embodiment, the fastening assembly includes a plurality of second screws. A portion of the second screws penetrates one of the outermost partitions 12 of the battery module 10 along the height direction Z or width direction Y of the cell 11 and is fixedly connected to the outer housing. Another portion of the second screws penetrates another partition 12 of the outermost partition 10 along the height direction Z or width direction Y of the cell 11 and is fixedly connected to the outer housing, thus fixing the position between the two outermost partitions 12 and suppressing the lateral expansion of the battery module 10. When the battery module 10 is assembled within the battery pack 100, the outer housing serves as the encapsulation housing of the battery pack 100. The width direction Y is perpendicular to the thickness direction X and the height direction Z.

[0048] In other embodiments, the fastening component may also be other equivalent alternative fastening structures, which will not be described in detail in this application.

[0049] In one embodiment, any two first fixing members 13 are parallel to each other, making all the first fixing members 13 parallel to each other. This is beneficial because the shapes and structures of each separator 12 and each first fixing member 13 are the same, thereby reducing the types of accessories in the battery module 10 and helping to reduce the manufacturing cost of the battery module 10. Here, any two first fixing members 13 being parallel to each other means that the included angle between the extension directions of the two first fixing members 13 is within the range of ±5°.

[0050] like Figure 6 As shown, in one embodiment, the plurality of partitions 12 further includes a fourth partition 124, which is located on the side of the second partition 122 opposite to the first partition 121.

[0051] The battery module 10 also includes a fourth fixing member 16. One end of the fourth fixing member 16 is connected to the first end 131 or the second end 132, and the other end of the fourth fixing member 16 is connected to the fourth separator 124. Furthermore, the extension direction of the fourth fixing member 16 is approximately parallel to the thickness direction X. By providing the oblique first fixing member 13 and the approximately transverse fourth fixing member 16, the fourth fixing member 16 can be used to suppress the transverse expansion of each cell 11 between the first separator 121 and the fourth separator 124, and the first fixing member 13 can be used to suppress the oblique expansion of each cell 11 between the first separator 121 and the fourth separator 124, thereby improving the service life of each cell 11 between the first separator 121 and the fourth separator 124.

[0052] like Figure 7 As shown, in one embodiment, the battery module 10 includes two first fixing members 13 and two fourth fixing members 16. The two first fixing members 13 are arranged along the thickness direction X, and the two fourth fixing members 16 are arranged along the height direction Z of the battery module 10, forming a parallelogram. Furthermore, one fourth fixing member 16 is connected to the first end 131 of one first fixing member 13, and the other fourth fixing member 16 is connected to the second end 132 of the other first fixing member 13. This parallelogram structure, approximately formed by splicing two triangular structures, is beneficial for simultaneously suppressing the lateral and oblique expansion of multiple battery cells 11, simplifying the structure of the battery module 10.

[0053] In one embodiment, the battery module 10 includes a plurality of parallelogram structures as described in the preceding embodiments.

[0054] like Figure 8 As shown, in one embodiment, all partitions 12 between the first partition 121 and the fourth partition 124 are connected to the fourth fixing member 16. By connecting multiple partitions 12 through the fourth fixing member 16 arranged laterally, it is beneficial to form a limiting fixation between the multiple partitions 12, thereby suppressing the expansion of the multiple battery cells 11 and improving the service life of the multiple battery cells 11.

[0055] In one embodiment, a plurality of partitions 12 (not shown) are connected between the first end 131 and the second end 132 of the first fixing member 13, which facilitates the formation of limiting fixation between the plurality of partitions 12, thereby suppressing the expansion of the plurality of battery cells 11 and improving the service life of the plurality of battery cells 11.

[0056] It should be noted that the connection between the fastener and the partition 12 described in any of the foregoing embodiments can be a fixed connection or a rotatable connection.

[0057] like Figure 9As shown, embodiments of this application also provide a battery pack 100, which includes the battery module 10 of any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0058] In summary, in the battery module 10 of this application, multiple separators 12 and multiple battery cells 11 are alternately arranged in sequence, so that each battery cell 11 is clamped and bound by two separators 12, which helps to suppress the expansion of the battery cell 11 and extend its service life. Furthermore, the first separator 121 and the second separator 122 are connected obliquely by a first fixing member 13. When the battery cell 11 between the first separator 121 and the second separator 122 expands obliquely upwards, the obliquely arranged first fixing member 13 can counteract the oblique upward expansion force of the battery cell 11 by connecting the first separator 121 and the second separator 122, thereby suppressing the oblique upward expansion of the battery cell 11 and further extending its service life.

[0059] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of this application are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0060] It should also be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on the other component or may be connected to an intermediary component. When a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or indirectly connected to the other component through an intermediary component.

[0061] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "first" and "second" in this application is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only on the basis of being achievable by those skilled in the art. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, such a combination of technical solutions should be considered non-existent and not within the scope of protection claimed in this application.

[0062] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and does not limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the content of this application's specification and drawings under the concept of this application, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A battery module, characterized in that, include: A plurality of partitions are arranged along their thickness direction, the plurality of partitions including a first partition and a second partition; Multiple battery cells, wherein any one of the battery cells is disposed between two adjacent partitions and connected to the two adjacent partitions; A first fixing member has a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the first partition, the second end being connected to the second partition, and the angle between the direction of the line connecting the first end and the second end and the thickness direction is an acute angle.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of partitions also includes a third partition; The battery module also includes: The second fastener has a third end and a fourth end, the third end being connected to the first end and the fourth end being connected to the third partition. A third fastener has a fifth end and a sixth end, the fifth end being connected to the second end and the sixth end being connected to the fourth end; The first fixing member, the second fixing member, and the third fixing member are interconnected to form a triangle.

3. The battery module according to claim 2, characterized in that, There are multiple first fixing members, second fixing members, and third fixing members, forming multiple triangles.

4. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The battery module includes multiple first separators, multiple second separators, and multiple first fasteners; Along the thickness direction, the first partition and the second partition are arranged alternately in sequence, and a plurality of the first fixing members are arranged in a row; Each of the first fasteners has its first end connected to a first partition plate and its second end connected to a second partition plate.

5. The battery module according to claim 4, characterized in that, Any two of the first fixing members are parallel to each other.

6. The battery module according to claim 4, characterized in that, The battery module also includes a fastening assembly, which is fixedly connected to two partitions located on both sides along the thickness direction to limit the expansion of the battery module along the thickness direction.

7. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of partitions also includes a fourth partition, which is located on the side of the second partition away from the first partition; The battery module further includes a fourth fixing member, one end of which is connected to the first end or the second end, and the other end of which is connected to the fourth partition. The extension direction of the fourth fastener is approximately parallel to the thickness direction.

8. The battery module according to claim 7, characterized in that, The battery module includes two first fixing members and two fourth fixing members. The two first fixing members are arranged along the thickness direction, and the two fourth fixing members are arranged along the height direction of the battery module. The two first fixing members and the two fourth fixing members form a parallelogram, and the height direction is perpendicular to the thickness direction. One of the fourth fasteners is connected to the first end of one of the first fasteners, and the other of the fourth fasteners is connected to the second end of the other of the first fasteners.

9. The battery module according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that, All partitions between the first partition and the fourth partition are connected to the fourth fastener.

10. A battery pack, characterized in that, The battery pack includes the battery module as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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