Protection piece, liquid cooling plate assembly and battery pack

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of batteries, in particular to a protection piece, a liquid cooling plate assembly and a battery pack. The protection piece comprises a first protection structure and a second protection structure, the first protection structure is provided with a first accommodating cavity, and the first accommodating cavity is used for accommodating at least part of pipe joints of the liquid cooling plate; the second protection structure and the first protection structure are arranged in the first direction and fixedly connected, the second protection structure is provided with a second containing cavity and an opening, the second containing cavity is used for containing at least part of the base of the liquid cooling plate, and the opening communicates with the first containing cavity and the second containing cavity. The protection piece can replace the pipe joint and the base to receive mechanical impact, so that the base and the pipe joint can be prevented from being deformed and even fractured due to mechanical impact. Therefore, the mechanical shock resistance of the battery pack can be improved, and the liquid cooling heat dissipation reliability of the battery pack can be ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a protective component, a liquid cooling plate assembly, and a battery pack. Background Technology

[0002] The casing of existing battery packs is generally composed of a liquid cooling plate. The liquid cooling plate has a pipe connector and a base. The base is used to connect the pipe connector to the main body of the liquid cooling plate, and the pipe connector is used to connect to the refrigerant pipe. During operation, liquid refrigerant can flow from the pipe connector into the main body of the liquid cooling plate for heat exchange, or flow from inside the liquid cooling plate through the base and pipe connector to the outside of the liquid cooling plate.

[0003] To facilitate the connection and installation of refrigerant piping, the base and pipe fittings are positioned relatively prominently on the battery pack. This means that the pipe fittings and base are susceptible to mechanical impacts such as collisions with external objects. Existing pipe fittings and bases are typically made of relatively soft metals such as aluminum, which have good thermal conductivity. Under mechanical impact, the base and pipe fittings are prone to deformation or even breakage. This reduces the battery pack's ability to withstand mechanical impacts and also affects the reliability of its liquid cooling system. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the aforementioned issues, embodiments of this application provide a protective component, a liquid cooling plate assembly, and a battery pack.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a protective element having a first orientation, comprising:

[0006] A first protective structure having a first receiving cavity for receiving at least a portion of the pipe joint of the liquid cooling plate;

[0007] The second protective structure is arranged and fixedly connected to the first protective structure along the first direction. The second protective structure has a second receiving cavity and an opening. The second receiving cavity is used to receive at least a portion of the base of the liquid cooling plate. The opening connects the first receiving cavity and the second receiving cavity.

[0008] Optionally, the protective element has a second direction that intersects with the first direction;

[0009] The first protective structure includes a first protective wall and a second protective wall. Along the second direction, there are two first protective walls that are spaced apart from each other, and the second protective wall is connected between the two first protective walls. The first protective wall and the second protective wall form the first receiving cavity.

[0010] Optionally, the second protective structure includes a third protective wall, a fourth protective wall, and a fifth protective wall; the third protective wall is fixedly connected to the first protective structure, the opening is located at the third protective wall, and the fourth and fifth protective walls are located on the side of the third protective wall facing away from the first protective structure along the first direction;

[0011] Along the second direction, there are two fourth protective walls that are spaced apart, and a fifth protective wall is connected between the two fourth protective walls; the fourth protective walls and the fifth protective wall form the second receiving cavity.

[0012] Optionally, the protective member has a third direction, which intersects the first direction and the second direction respectively, and the third direction is not coplanar with the first direction and the second direction;

[0013] Along the third direction, the fourth protective wall has a first end and a second end; and the distance between the two first ends is greater than the distance between the two second ends, and the fifth protective wall is connected between the two second ends.

[0014] Optionally, along the second direction, the distance between the first ends is L1, 80mm≤L1≤200mm; the distance between the second ends is L2, 45mm≤L2≤90mm.

[0015] Optionally, the protective element includes a connecting structure;

[0016] The connecting structure is fixedly connected to the first protective structure and / or the second protective structure, and the connecting structure is used to install the protective component.

[0017] Optionally, two connection structures are provided, and one connection structure is provided on each side of the first protective structure along the second direction.

[0018] Optionally, the first protective structure and / or the second protective structure are structures formed by bending a plate, and the thickness of the plate bent into the first protective structure and / or the second protective structure is δ, 1.5mm≤δ≤3mm.

[0019] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a liquid cooling plate assembly, the liquid cooling plate assembly including a liquid cooling plate and a protective member as described above;

[0020] The liquid cooling plate has a pipe joint and a base, the base and the pipe joint being arranged along the first direction; at least a portion of the pipe joint is located within the first receiving cavity of the protective member, and at least a portion of the base is located within the second receiving cavity of the protective member.

[0021] Optionally, along the first direction, the axial dimension of the pipe joint is greater than the vertical dimension of the first protective structure.

[0022] Optionally, the pipe joint is spaced apart from the first protective structure, and the distance between the pipe joint and the first protective structure is D, where 8mm≤D≤30mm.

[0023] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a battery pack, the battery pack including any of the protective components described in the first aspect, or including any of the liquid cooling plate assemblies described in the second aspect.

[0024] In some implementations of this application, the protective component includes a first protective structure and a second protective structure. The first protective structure has a first accommodating cavity that can accommodate at least a portion of the pipe joint of the liquid cooling plate. The second protective structure has a second accommodating cavity that can accommodate at least a portion of the base of the liquid cooling plate. The opening of the second protective structure connects the first and second accommodating cavities to prevent interference between the connector and the liquid cooling plate. The protective component can replace the pipe joint and base in receiving mechanical impacts, thus preventing the base and pipe joint from deforming or even breaking due to mechanical impacts. This improves the battery pack's ability to withstand mechanical impacts and also helps ensure the reliability of the battery pack's liquid cooling heat dissipation. Attached Figure Description

[0025] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of this application will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0026] Figure 1 These are isometric views of the protective element in some embodiments of this application;

[0027] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Top view of the central protective component along the negative Z-axis;

[0028] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Front view of the central protective component along the negative Y direction;

[0029] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Rear view of the central protective component along the positive Y direction;

[0030] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 Side view of the central protective component along the positive X direction;

[0031] Figure 6 These are isometric views of the battery pack in some embodiments of this application;

[0032] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A magnified view of part A of the battery pack;

[0033] Figure 8 yes Figure 6 A partial enlarged view of part A of the battery pack (without protective components);

[0034] Figure 9 yes Figure 6 Top view of the battery pack along the negative Z direction;

[0035] Figure 10 yes Figure 9 A magnified view of part B of the battery pack;

[0036] Figure 11 yes Figure 6 A bottom view of the battery pack along the positive Z-axis;

[0037] Figure 12 yes Figure 11 A magnified view of part C of the battery pack;

[0038] Reference numerals: 1. Protective component; 11. First protective structure; 111. First receiving cavity; 112. First protective wall; 113. Second protective wall; 12. Second protective structure; 121. Second receiving cavity; 122. Opening; 123. Third protective wall; 124. Fourth protective wall; 1241. First end; 1242. Second end; 125. Fifth protective wall; 13. Connecting structure; 2. Liquid cooling plate; 21. Pipe joint; 22. Base; Z - First direction; X - Second direction; Y - Third direction. Detailed Implementation

[0039] The embodiments of this utility model will now be described in detail. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this utility model, and should not be construed as limiting this utility model. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments in this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0040] To ensure effective heat dissipation of the battery cells within the battery pack, the bottom of the existing battery pack casing is typically constructed using a liquid cooling plate. The portion of the liquid cooling plate with flow channels is the main body of the liquid cooling plate, which contains channels for the flow of refrigerant. The liquid cooling plate is connected to liquid cooling pipes, allowing liquid refrigerants such as water and ethylene glycol to flow into or out of the channels of the liquid cooling plate.

[0041] To facilitate the connection between the liquid cooling plate and the liquid cooling pipes, the side of the main body typically has a protruding portion that serves as a base for mounting pipe fittings. The thickness direction of the base is parallel to the thickness direction of the main body, and the interior of the base has a cavity communicating with the internal flow channels of the main body. Pipe fittings are installed on the base using methods such as welding, bonding, or threaded connections, with the axial direction of the fitting parallel to the thickness directions of both the main body and the base. The liquid cooling pipes are connected to the fittings, and the fittings communicate with the internal cavity of the base. During operation, liquid refrigerants such as water and ethylene glycol can flow through the fittings and base into the flow channels of the main body for heat exchange with the battery pack cells; or flow from the flow channels of the main body through the base and fittings to the outside of the liquid cooling plate.

[0042] To facilitate connection with liquid cooling pipes, the base and pipe connectors are positioned relatively prominently on the battery pack. This means that the pipe connectors and base are susceptible to mechanical impacts such as collisions with external objects. Existing pipe connectors and bases are typically made of relatively soft metals such as aluminum, which have good thermal conductivity. Under mechanical impact, the base and pipe connectors are prone to deformation or even breakage. This reduces the battery pack's ability to withstand mechanical impacts and also affects the reliability of the battery pack's liquid cooling system.

[0043] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a protective component 1, a liquid cooling plate assembly, and a battery pack.

[0044] refer to Figure 1 In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a protective component 1. The protective component 1 has a first direction Z, which can be determined based on the relative position of the base 22 and the pipe connector 21 in the liquid cooling plate 2. For example, when the base 22 and the pipe connector 21 are arranged along the direction of gravity, the first direction Z is parallel to the direction of gravity. When the base 22 and the pipe connector 21 are arranged along a horizontal direction, the first direction Z is parallel to that horizontal direction.

[0045] refer to Figure 2 The protective element 1 includes a first protective structure 11 and a second protective structure 12. The first protective structure 11 is the main structure that protects the pipe joint 21. The first protective structure 11 has a first receiving cavity 111, within which at least a portion of the pipe joint 21 is located. In other words, all or part of the pipe joint 21 is located within the first receiving cavity 111 to be protected by the first protective structure 11.

[0046] refer to Figure 3The second protective structure 12 is the main structure that protects the base 22. The second protective structure 12 and the first protective structure 11 are arranged along the first direction Z, so that the relative positional relationship between the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 is consistent with the relative positional relationship between the base 22 and the pipe connector 21. The first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 are fixedly connected by welding, bonding, or by integral molding. The second protective structure 12 has a second receiving cavity 121, and at least a portion of the base 22 is located within the second receiving cavity 121. In other words, all or part of the base 22 is located within the second receiving cavity 121 to be protected by the second protective structure 12. The second protective structure 12 also has an opening 122 through which the pipe connector 21 passes and connects to the base 22 to prevent interference between the protective element 1 and the pipe connector 21 and the base 22.

[0047] During the transportation and use of the battery pack, the connector 21 and base 22 may be subjected to mechanical impacts from external structures. For example, during battery pack transportation, the connector 21 and base 22 may be bumped by external obstacles. Since the connector 21 is located within the first receiving cavity 111 of the protective component 1, and the base 22 is located within the second receiving cavity 121 of the protective component 1, the protective component 1 can absorb the mechanical impact in place of the connector 21 and base 22. In other words, when the battery pack is subjected to mechanical impacts from external structures, the external structures will first come into contact with the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 to prevent the connector 21 and base 22 from directly bearing the mechanical impact. This can prevent the base 22 and connector 21 from deforming or even breaking due to mechanical impact, thereby preventing the liquid cooling capacity of the battery pack from being affected. Therefore, this can improve the battery pack's ability to withstand mechanical impacts and also help ensure the reliability of the battery pack's liquid cooling heat dissipation.

[0048] refer to Figure 6 Part A shown Figure 7 Specifically, in some embodiments of this application, the pipe connector 21 is a cylindrical structure with internal channels for refrigerant to flow in or out. (See reference...) Figure 8 The base 22 is a rectangular plate structure with an internal cavity that communicates with the flow channels inside the main body of the liquid cooling plate 2. The pipe connector 21 is fixedly connected to the base 22 by welding or threaded connection, and the channel inside the pipe connector 21 communicates with the cavity inside the base 22. The base 22 and the pipe connector 21 are arranged along the first direction Z, and the thickness direction of the base 22 and the axial direction of the pipe connector 21 are in the same direction as the first direction Z.

[0049] Correspondingly, the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 of the protective component 1 are also arranged along the first direction Z. The first protective structure 11 surrounds a portion of the pipe joint 21, or surrounds the entire pipe joint 21, so that at least a portion of the pipe joint 21 is located within the first receiving cavity 111 enclosed by the first protective structure 11. Specifically, the first protective structure 11 can be a cylindrical structure, the inner cavity of which is the first receiving cavity 111. The cylindrical wall surrounds the pipe joint 21 to achieve impact protection for the pipe joint 21. Alternatively, the first protective structure 11 can be a bent sheet structure, bent to form the first receiving cavity 111. Along the first direction Z, the cross-sectional projection of the first direction Z is specifically U-shaped or C-shaped, which surrounds a portion of the pipe joint 21 to achieve impact protection for the pipe joint 21. The second protective structure 12 can specifically be a shell structure, which is fixedly connected to the first protective structure 11 by welding, bonding, or other methods. The second protective structure 12 is installed on the outside of the base 22 to provide impact protection for the base 22.

[0050] refer to Figure 2 In some embodiments of this application, optionally, the protective member 1 has a second direction X, which intersects with the first direction Z. Specifically, the first direction Z and the second direction X can be two intersecting directions, that is, the included angle between the first direction Z and the second direction X is an acute angle or an obtuse angle. Preferably, the first direction Z and the second direction X are two mutually orthogonal directions, that is, the included angle between the first direction Z and the second direction X is a right angle.

[0051] The first protective structure 11 includes a first protective wall 112 and a second protective wall 113. In some embodiments of this application, the first protective wall 112 and the second protective wall 113 can be solid plate structures, or they can be a mesh structure woven from at least one of metal wires, metal rods, and metal strips. The specific shapes of the first protective wall 112 and the second protective wall 113 can be determined according to actual needs, and will not be elaborated here. Along the second direction X, there are two first protective walls 112 arranged at intervals, and the second protective wall 113 is connected between the two first protective walls 112. The first protective walls 112 and the second protective wall 113 form a first receiving cavity 111. This means that during installation, the pipe connector 21 can be inserted into the first receiving cavity 111 from the side of the second protective wall 113 that is not connected to the first protective wall 112. This facilitates installation and improves the ease of disassembly and assembly of the protective component 1. In addition, the first protective structure 11 adopts the above-mentioned three-sided protective structure, which can reduce the material cost of the first protective structure 11 while meeting the protection requirements, and at the same time facilitates the lightweight design of the protective component 1.

[0052] refer to Figure 3Specifically, in some embodiments of this application, the first protective wall 112 is a straight plate-like structure, and the second protective wall 113 is a bent plate-like structure, with the cross-sectional shape of the second protective wall 113 along the first direction Z being C-shaped or U-shaped. The second protective wall 113 is disposed on the same side of the two first protective walls 112 to form a first protective structure 11 with a U-shaped cross-sectional shape along the first direction Z. During installation, the pipe connector 21 can be inserted into the first receiving cavity 111 from the side of the first protective wall 112 facing away from the second protective wall 113. In some embodiments of this application, the first protective wall 112 and the second protective wall 113 can also both be straight plate-like structures, with the second protective wall 113 disposed on the same side of the two first protective walls 112 to form a square-shaped first protective structure 11. The included angle between the first protective wall 112 and the second protective wall 113 can be an acute angle or an obtuse angle; preferably, the included angle between the first protective wall 112 and the second protective wall 113 is a right angle. Alternatively, the first protective wall 112 and the second protective wall 113 can both be bent plate-like structures to form an irregularly shaped first protective structure 11.

[0053] In some embodiments of this application, the second protective structure 12 optionally includes a third protective wall 123, a fourth protective wall 124, and a fifth protective wall 125. The third protective wall 123 can be a solid plate structure or a mesh structure woven from at least one of metal wires, metal rods, or metal strips. The shape and size of the third protective wall 123 can be determined according to actual needs. Typically, along the first direction Z, the projection of the third protective wall 123 needs to cover the projection of the portion of the base 22 that needs protection, or the projection of the third protective wall 123 can cover the entire projection of the base 22. The third protective wall 123 is fixedly connected to the first protective structure 11 on one side along the first direction Z. Specifically, the two can be connected by adhesive, welding, fastener connection, or by integral molding. The opening 122 is located at the third protective wall 123, and can be a through hole or a notch formed in the third protective wall 123.

[0054] The fourth protective wall 124 and the fifth protective wall 125 can also be a solid plate structure, or a mesh structure woven from at least one of metal wires, metal rods, and metal strips. The fourth protective wall 124 and the fifth protective wall 125 are located on the side of the third protective wall 123 facing away from the first protective structure 11 along the first direction Z. The fourth protective wall 124 and the fifth protective wall 125 can be connected to the third protective wall 123 by means of bonding, welding, fastener connection, or integral molding for a fixed connection. Along the second direction X, there are two fourth protective walls 124 spaced apart, and the fifth protective wall 125 is connected between the two fourth protective walls 124 to form a second receiving cavity 121 for accommodating the base 22. When the base 22 is placed in the second receiving cavity 121, the third protective wall 123 provides protection for the base 22 in the first direction Z, while the fourth protective walls 124 and the fifth protective wall 125 provide protection for the base 22 in other directions. During installation, the base 22 can be inserted into the second receiving cavity 121 from the side of the fourth protective wall 124 that is not connected to the fifth protective wall 125. This improves the ease of installation and removal of the protective component 1, reduces the material cost of the second protective structure 12 while meeting protection requirements, and facilitates the lightweight design of the protective component 1.

[0055] refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments of this application, optionally, the protective member 1 has a third direction Y, which intersects with the first direction Z and the second direction X respectively, but is not coplanar. Specifically, the third direction Y and the first direction Z, and the third direction Y and the second direction X can be generally intersecting, that is, the angles between the third direction Y and the first direction Z, and the third direction Y and the second direction X are acute or obtuse angles. Preferably, the first direction Z, the second direction X, and the third direction Y are orthogonal to each other. That is, the angles between the third direction Y and the first direction Z, and the third direction Y and the second direction X are right angles. Along the third direction Y, the fourth protective wall 124 has a first end 1241 and a second end 1242; and the distance between the two first ends 1241 is greater than the distance between the two second ends 1242. In other words, the fourth protective wall 124 is arranged at an angle relative to the third direction Y. The first ends 1241 of the two fourth protective walls 124 are relatively close in the second direction X, and the second ends 1242 of the two fourth protective walls 124 are relatively far apart in the second direction X. The fifth protective wall 125 is connected between the two second ends 1242.

[0056] The base 22 is a structure extending from the side of the main body of the liquid cooling plate 2. To avoid stress concentration at the junction of the side of the base 22 and the side of the main body, there is generally a rounded corner between the side of the base 22 and the side of the main body. If the two fourth protective walls 124 are arranged parallel to each other, the fourth protective walls 124 may interfere with the rounded corner of the base 22 when the protective component 1 is installed. This will affect the volume of the portion of the base 22 that can be inserted into the second receiving cavity 121, and thus affect the protective capability of the second protective structure 12 for the base 22. If the two fourth protective walls 124 are kept parallel to each other and the distance between the two fourth protective walls 124 along the second direction X is increased, the volume of the second protective structure 12 will increase, which in turn will increase the volume of the protective component 1 and increase the material cost. Therefore, making the distance between the first ends 1241 of the two fourth protective walls 124 greater than the distance between the second ends 1242 allows the second protective structure 12 to fit closer to the shape of the base 22, thereby allowing the base 22 to be inserted into the second receiving cavity 121 of the second protective structure 12 as much as possible. This not only improves the protective capability of the second protective structure 12 to the base 22, but also reduces the volume of the second protective structure 12, which in turn helps to reduce the volume and material cost of the protective component 1.

[0057] refer to Figure 2 In some embodiments of this application, optionally, the distance between the two first ends 1241 along the second direction X is L1. The distance L1 between the two first ends 1241 is not less than 80mm and not more than 200mm. For example, the distance between the two first ends 1241 can be 80mm, 90mm, 100mm, 110mm, 120mm, 130mm, 140mm, 150mm, 160mm, 170mm, 180mm, 190mm, 200mm, etc. The distance between the two second ends 1242 is L2. The distance L2 between the two second ends 1242 is not less than 45mm and not more than 90mm. For example, the distance between the two second ends 1242 can be 45mm, 50mm, 55mm, 60mm, 65mm, 70mm, 75mm, 80mm, 85mm, 90mm, etc. When the distance between the two first ends 1241 is less than 80mm, or the distance L2 between the two second ends 1242 is less than 45mm, it will affect the spacing of the second receiving cavity 121 at the first ends 1241. This will affect the volume of the portion of the base 22 that can extend into the second receiving cavity 121, and thus affect the protective capability of the second protective structure 12 for the base 22. When the distance between the two first ends 1241 is greater than 200mm, or the distance L2 between the two second ends 1242 is greater than 90mm, it will cause the volume of the second protective structure 12 to increase unnecessarily, which in turn will cause the volume of the protective component 1 to increase unnecessarily, and generate additional material costs.

[0058] Optionally, the protective element 1 further includes a connecting structure 13. The connecting structure 13 is fixedly connected to at least one of the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 for mounting the protective element 1. Specifically, in some embodiments of this application, the connecting structure 13 may be a flange or a snap-fit, etc. (See reference...) Figure 4 The connecting structure 13 can be fixedly connected to the first protective structure 11; see reference. Figure 5 The connecting structure 13 can also be fixedly connected to the second protective structure 12, or simultaneously fixedly connected to both the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12. The connecting structure 13 can be fixedly connected to the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 by welding, bonding, or integral molding. The connecting structure 13 can be connected to the remaining parts of the battery pack housing, or even the main body of the liquid cooling plate 2, to prevent the protective component 1 from separating from the pipe connector 21 and the base 22, thereby ensuring the reliability and continuity of the protective effect of the protective component 1.

[0059] refer to Figure 6 Part A shown Figure 6 In some embodiments of this application, optionally, two connecting structures 13 are provided, with one connecting structure 13 on each side of the first protective structure 11 along the second direction X. This increases the number of mounting points for the protective component 1, which is beneficial to improving the stability of the installation of the protective component 1. Under mechanical impact, this ensures that the protective component 1 will not detach from the liquid cooling plate 2, thus ensuring the reliability of the protective effect of the protective component 1. Specifically, in some embodiments of this application, the connecting structure 13 is two solid plate-shaped structures along the third direction Y, and its cross-sectional shape can be rectangular, semi-circular, triangular, or even irregular. The solid plate-shaped structures have through holes for fasteners to form flange structures. The connecting structure 13 can be fixedly connected to the first protective structure 11, or fixedly connected to the second protective structure 12, or even fixedly connected to both the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 simultaneously. During installation, the connecting structure 13 can be connected to the rest of the battery pack housing or even the main body of the liquid cooling plate 2 using screws or other fasteners to prevent the protective component 1 from separating from the pipe joint 21 and the base 22. In some embodiments of this application, the connection structure 13 may also be a snap-fit ​​structure. The connection structure 13 is fixedly snapped with the rest of the battery pack housing or even the main body of the liquid cooling plate 2 to fix the protective component 1.

[0060] refer to Figure 9 Part B shown Figure 10In some embodiments of this application, optionally, the first protective structure 11 is a structure formed by bending a sheet metal, or the second protective structure 12 is a structure formed by bending a sheet metal, or both the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 are structures formed by bending sheet metal. Specifically, in some embodiments of this application, the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 can each be formed by bending a sheet metal, and then the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 can be connected by welding. Alternatively, the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 can be a structure formed by integral stamping. Alternatively, one of the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 can be a structure formed by welding sheet metal, and the other can be a structure formed by bending a sheet metal.

[0061] Compared to the molding method where the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 are formed by fixing multiple components together, this method can improve the structural strength of the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12, and also simplify the processing technology of the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12, thereby reducing the processing cost of the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12. The thickness of the plate forming the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 is δ, which is not less than 1.5mm and not more than 3mm. Specifically, the thickness δ of the plate forming the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 can be 1.5mm, 1.75mm, 2mm, 2.25mm, 2.5mm, 2.75mm, 3mm, etc. When the thickness δ of the plate forming the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 is less than 1.5mm, the strength of the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 will be too low, making the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 extremely easy to deform under impact, thereby affecting the protective capability of the protective component 1. If the thickness δ of the plates forming the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 is greater than 3mm, it will result in excessive wall thickness of the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12, thereby increasing the material cost and weight of the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12, which is not conducive to the lightweight design and cost control of the protective component 1.

[0062] Specifically, in some embodiments of this application, the first protective wall 112, the second protective wall 113, and the connecting structures 13 on both sides of the first protective structure 11 are integral structures formed by bending metal strips, with the width direction of the metal strips parallel to the first direction Z. The first protective wall 112 is arranged at intervals along the second direction X, and the second protective wall 113 is bent to form a U-shaped or C-shaped structure along the first direction Z. The connecting structure 13 and the first protective wall 112 are bent at right angles. The second protective structure 12 is a structure formed by bending another plate, wherein the third protective wall 123 is a metal plate whose projection along the thickness direction is an isosceles trapezoid, and the thickness direction of the metal plate is parallel to the first direction Z. The fourth protective wall 124 is a bent edge formed by bending the third protective wall 123 at the edges corresponding to the two hypotenuses of the isosceles trapezoid, and the fourth protective wall 124 and the third protective wall 123 are bent at right angles. The fifth protective wall 125 is a bent edge formed by bending the third protective wall 123 at the edge of the shorter side of the isosceles trapezoid, and the fifth protective wall 125 and the third protective wall 123 are also bent at a right angle. A gap may be left between the end of the fifth protective wall 125 and the end of the fourth protective wall 124, or they may be connected by welding. In this case, in the first protective structure 11, the first protective wall 112 has an entrance on the side facing away from the second protective wall 113 along the third direction Y; in the second protective structure 12, the fourth protective wall 124 also has an entrance on the side facing away from the fifth protective wall 125 along the third direction Y. To facilitate the installation of the pipe connector 21 and the base 22, an opening 122 may be provided on the third protective wall 123, extending to the side of the third protective wall 123 facing away from the fifth protective wall 125 along the third direction Y. During installation, the pipe connector 21 can be inserted into the first receiving cavity 111 from the side of the first protective wall 112 facing away from the second protective wall 113, and the base 22 can be inserted into the second receiving cavity 121 from the side of the fourth protective wall 124 facing away from the fifth protective wall 125.

[0063] refer to Figure 9 Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a liquid cooling plate assembly, which includes a liquid cooling plate 2 and a protective member 1 as described above. The liquid cooling plate 2 is a structure used to contact the battery cells inside the battery pack to achieve heat dissipation of the battery cells. The liquid cooling plate 2 has a pipe connector 21 and a base 22, and the base 22 and the pipe connector 21 are arranged and communicate with each other along a first direction Z. After the protective member 1 is installed in place, at least a portion of the pipe connector 21 is located in the first receiving cavity 111 of the protective member 1, and at least a portion of the base 22 is located in the second receiving cavity 121 of the protective member 1.

[0064] Specifically, the protective component 1 has a first direction Z, which can be determined according to the relative position of the base 22 and the pipe joint 21 in the liquid cooling plate 2. For example, when the base 22 and the pipe joint 21 are arranged along the direction of gravity, the first direction Z is parallel to the direction of gravity. When the base 22 and the pipe joint 21 are arranged along a horizontal direction, the first direction Z is parallel to that horizontal direction.

[0065] refer to Figure 10 The protective component 1 includes a first protective structure 11, a second protective structure 12, and a connecting structure 13. The first protective structure 11 is the main structure that protects the pipe joint 21. The first protective structure 11 has a first receiving cavity 111, within which at least a portion of the pipe joint 21 is located. In other words, all or part of the pipe joint 21 is located within the first receiving cavity 111 to be protected by the first protective structure 11.

[0066] The second protective structure 12 is the main structure that protects the base 22. The second protective structure 12 and the first protective structure 11 are arranged along the first direction Z, so that the relative positional relationship between the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 is consistent with the relative positional relationship between the base 22 and the pipe connector 21. The first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 are fixedly connected by welding, bonding, or by integral molding. The second protective structure 12 has a second receiving cavity 121, and at least a portion of the base 22 is located within the second receiving cavity 121. In other words, all or part of the base 22 is located within the second receiving cavity 121 to be protected by the second protective structure 12. The second protective structure 12 also has an opening 122 through which the pipe connector 21 passes and connects to the base 22 to prevent interference between the protective element 1 and the pipe connector 21 and the base 22.

[0067] During the transportation and use of the battery pack, the connector 21 and base 22 may be subjected to mechanical impacts from external structures. For example, during battery pack transportation, the connector 21 and base 22 may be bumped by external obstacles. Since the connector 21 is located within the first receiving cavity 111 of the protective component 1, and the base 22 is located within the second receiving cavity 121 of the protective component 1, the protective component 1 can absorb the mechanical impact in place of the connector 21 and base 22. In other words, when subjected to mechanical impact from external structures, the external structures will first come into contact with the first protective structure 11 and the second protective structure 12 to prevent the connector 21 and base 22 from directly bearing the mechanical impact. This can prevent the base 22 and connector 21 from deforming or even breaking due to mechanical impact, thereby preventing the liquid cooling capacity of the battery pack from being affected. Therefore, using the above-mentioned liquid cooling plate assembly can improve the battery pack's ability to withstand mechanical impact and also help ensure the reliability of the battery pack's liquid cooling heat dissipation.

[0068] In some embodiments of this application, optionally, the axial dimension of the pipe connector 21 along the first direction Z is greater than the vertical dimension of the first protective structure 11. The axial dimension of the pipe connector 21 is the distance from the end of the pipe connector 21 facing away from the base 22 along the first direction Z to the side of the base 22 facing the pipe connector 21 along the first direction Z. The vertical dimension of the first protective structure 11 is the distance from the end of the first protective structure 11 facing away from the second protective structure 12 along the first direction Z to the end face of the second protective structure 12 facing the first protective structure 11 along the first direction Z. The fact that the axial dimension of the pipe connector 21 is greater than the vertical dimension of the first protective structure 11 means that a portion of the pipe connector 21 is exposed outside the first protective structure 11 along the first direction Z. This facilitates the connection of the pipe connector 21 to an external cooling pipe. At the same time, since the portion of the pipe connector 21 exposed outside the first protective structure 11 along the first direction Z can be embedded inside the cooling pipe, this will not affect the protective effect of the pipe connector 21. Preferably, in some embodiments of this application, the difference between the axial dimension of the pipe joint 21 and the vertical dimension of the first protective structure 11 is a mm, that is, along the first direction Z, the axial dimension of the pipe joint 21 is greater than the vertical dimension a mm of the first protective structure 11. The difference a is greater than or equal to 20 mm and less than or equal to 40 mm, specifically it can be 20 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, 35 mm, 40 mm, etc.

[0069] refer to Figure 9 Part B shown in the figure Figure 10 In some embodiments of this application, optionally, the pipe connector 21 and the first protective structure 11 are spaced apart, with the distance between them being D. The distance D is greater than or equal to 8mm and less than or equal to 30mm, specifically 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 16mm, 18mm, 20mm, 22mm, 24mm, 26mm, 28mm, 30mm, etc. A distance D less than 8mm would result in an excessively small gap between the pipe connector 21 and the first protective structure 11, potentially obstructing the connection between the pipe connector 21 and the cooling pipe. Simultaneously, when the first protective structure 11 deforms due to mechanical impact, the deformation of the first protective structure 11 can easily act on the pipe connector 21, leading to damage to the pipe connector 21. A distance D greater than 30mm would result in an excessively large size for the first protective structure 11, affecting the material cost of the first protective structure 11, and potentially causing difficulties in the installation of the battery pack.

[0070] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a battery pack, which includes any of the protective components 1 described in the first aspect, or any of the liquid cooling plate assemblies described in the second aspect.

[0071] refer to Figure 11 Part C shown Figure 12Specifically, in some embodiments of this application, the thickness direction of the liquid cooling plate 2 in the battery pack is set along the first direction Z. The liquid cooling plate 2 has two bases 22, which are located on the same side of the main body of the liquid cooling plate 2 along the third direction Y. Each base 22 is provided with a pipe joint 21, one of which is used to introduce water, ethylene glycol, or other refrigerant into the liquid cooling plate 2, and the other is used to allow the refrigerant to flow out of the liquid cooling plate 2. The battery pack has an upper casing, which, together with the liquid cooling plate 2, forms a cell cavity for accommodating the battery cells. To facilitate the connection between the upper casing and the liquid cooling plate 2, the liquid cooling plate 2 may also include a connecting part. The connecting part can be a square steel pipe with pre-embedded rivet nuts, or a steel plate with threaded holes. The connecting part is welded to the side of the liquid cooling plate 2 facing the upper casing along the first direction Z, so as to be connected to the upper casing by fasteners such as screws and bolts. Protective components 1 are provided at both bases 22 and the pipe joints 21. When installing the protective component 1, the connecting structure 13 of the protective component 1 can be connected to the connecting part of the liquid cooling plate 2 or to the upper housing. After the protective component 1 is installed in place, the pipe joint 21 is located in the first receiving cavity 111 of the protective component 1, and the base 22 is located in the second receiving cavity 121 of the protective component 1.

[0072] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs; the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit this application.

[0073] The terms "first" and "second" in the specification and claims of this application may explicitly or implicitly include one or at least two of the features. In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise stated, "at least two" means two or more. Furthermore, in the specification and claims, "and / or" indicates at least one of the connected objects, and the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following objects are in an "or" relationship.

[0074] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "left", "right", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0075] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0076] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or at least two embodiments or examples.

[0077] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A protector characterized by, The protection member has a first direction (Z), comprising: A first protection structure (11) has a first accommodating cavity (111) for accommodating at least part of a pipe joint (21) of a liquid cooling plate (2); A second protection structure (12) is arranged and fixedly connected with the first protection structure (11) along the first direction (Z), and has a second accommodating cavity (121) for accommodating at least part of a base (22) of the liquid cooling plate (2) and an opening (122) communicating the first accommodating cavity (111) and the second accommodating cavity (121).

2. The guard of claim 1, wherein The protection member has a second direction (X) intersecting the first direction (Z); The first protection structure (11) comprises a first protection wall (112) and a second protection wall (113), and along the second direction (X), the first protection wall (112) is arranged with two first protection walls (112) and is arranged oppositely, and the second protection wall (113) is connected between the two first protection walls (112); the first protection wall (112), the second protection wall (113) enclose the first accommodating cavity (111).

3. A guard according to claim 2, characterised in that The second protection structure (12) comprises a third protection wall (123), a fourth protection wall (124) and a fifth protection wall (125); the third protection wall (123) is fixedly connected with the first protection structure (11), the opening (122) is located at the third protection wall (123), and the fourth protection wall (124) and the fifth protection wall (125) are located on a side of the third protection wall (123) away from the first protection structure (11) along the first direction (Z); Along the second direction (X), the fourth protection wall (124) is arranged with two fourth protection walls (124) and is arranged oppositely, and the fifth protection wall (125) is connected between the two fourth protection walls (124); the fourth protection wall (124), the fifth protection wall (125) enclose the second accommodating cavity (121).

4. A guard according to claim 3, characterised in that The protection member has a third direction (Y), which intersects the first direction (Z) and the second direction (X) respectively, and the third direction (Y) is not coplanar with the first direction (Z) and the second direction (X); Along the third direction (Y), the fourth protection wall (124) has a first end (1241) and a second end (1242); and the distance between the two first ends (1241) is greater than the distance between the two second ends (1242), and the fifth protection wall (125) is connected between the two second ends (1242).

5. A guard according to claim 4, characterised in that Along the second direction (X), the distance between the first ends (1241) is L1, and 80mm≤L1≤200mm; the distance between the second ends (1242) is L2, and 45mm≤L2≤90mm.

6. The guard of claim 2, wherein The protection member comprises a connecting structure (13); The connecting structure (13) is fixedly connected with the first protection structure (11) and / or the second protection structure (12), and is used for mounting the protector.

7. A guard according to claim 6, characterised in that The connecting structure (13) is provided in two, and one connecting structure (13) is provided on each side of the first protection structure (11) along the second direction (X).

8. A guard according to any one of claims 1-7, characterised in that The first protection structure (11) and / or the second protection structure (12) is a structure formed by bending a plate, and the thickness of the plate bent into the first protection structure (11) and / or the second protection structure (12) is δ, 1.5mm≤δ≤3mm.

9. A liquid cold plate assembly, comprising: The liquid cooling plate assembly comprises a liquid cooling plate (2) and the protector (1) according to any one of claims 1-8. The liquid cooling plate (2) has a pipe joint (21) and a base (22), and the base (22) is arranged along the first direction (Z) with the pipe joint (21); at least part of the pipe joint (21) is located in the first accommodating cavity (111) of the protector (1), and at least part of the base (22) is located in the second accommodating cavity (121) of the protector (1).

10. The liquid cold plate assembly of claim 9, wherein, Along the first direction (Z), the axial dimension of the pipe joint (21) is greater than the vertical dimension of the first protection structure (11).

11. The liquid cold plate assembly of claim 9, wherein, The pipe joint (21) is arranged at a distance from the first protection structure (11), and the distance between the pipe joint (21) and the first protection structure (11) is D, 8mm≤D≤30mm.

12. A battery pack, characterized by, The battery pack comprises the protector (1) according to any one of claims 1-8, or the liquid cooling plate assembly according to any one of claims 9-11.

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