Battery cell assembly, battery module, battery pack and power utilization device
By combining a dumbbell-shaped shell with a fixed structural component, the problem of damage during cell expansion was solved, thus improving the stability and safety of the cell assembly.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202520240373.X
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-02-14
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-13
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-02-14
AI Technical Summary
While existing technologies can suppress cell expansion, the metal casing restricts the expansion phenomenon of the cell. However, in cell compositions where the cell expands, the existing technology is prone to damaging the cell.
The dumbbell-shaped housing design, combined with fixed structural components and elastic components, provides expansion space and cushioning to avoid damage to the battery cells.
It effectively suppresses cell expansion, avoids cell damage, and improves the structural stability and safety of cell assemblies.
Smart Images
Figure CN223797456U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a battery cell assembly, battery module, battery pack and power device. Background Technology
[0002] Battery modules typically consist of one or more battery cells. During the charging process, cell expansion is a common phenomenon. This not only affects the structural stability of the battery module but can also adversely impact cell performance and lifespan. To suppress cell expansion during charging, current common practices include using a metal casing that matches the cell's shape as its outer shell to limit expansion, or wrapping and binding the cell with a material of sufficient tensile strength to restrict expansion.
[0003] However, using a metal casing to restrict cell expansion can reduce cell assembly efficiency, while using other materials for winding and binding can easily damage the cells.
[0004] Therefore, the problem that this disclosure aims to solve is: how to suppress cell expansion while avoiding damage to the cell. Utility Model Content
[0005] In view of the above problems, this disclosure provides a cell assembly, a battery module, a battery pack, and an electrical device.
[0006] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, a battery cell assembly is provided, comprising: a battery cell having two side planes opposite each other along a first direction and two main planes opposite each other along a second direction; a housing sleeved on the outside of the battery cell, including two recessed plates opposite each other along the second direction, two side plates opposite each other along the first direction, and a connecting plate connecting the two recessed plates and the two side plates, wherein the inner surface of the recessed plates contacts the main planes; the height of the side plates along the second direction is greater than the height of the recessed plates along the second direction, such that the maximum height of the housing along the second direction is limited by the side plates; and a fixing structure disposed around the outside of the housing for pressing and holding the battery cell via the housing.
[0007] In the technical solution of this embodiment, the housing is designed in a dumbbell shape. Specifically, the portion of the housing opposite to the main plane of the battery cell is recessed inward to contact the main surface of the battery cell, forming two opposing recessed plates. Therefore, the battery cell can expand to a certain extent at the two main planes, at which point the shape of the housing changes from dumbbell to approximately rectangular. This design allows for reasonable expansion space for the battery cell, preventing damage due to housing constraints. The fixing structure is wound around the outside of the housing to press and hold the battery cell via the housing. This limits excessive expansion of the battery cell in the second direction and allows the housing to press the battery cell firmly, ensuring the structural stability of the battery cell assembly.
[0008] In some embodiments, when the recessed plate bulges outward due to cell expansion, the height of the side plate ensures that the maximum height of the housing along the second direction remains constant. Therefore, there is a certain height difference between the height of the side plate and the height of the recessed plate, thereby ensuring that the maximum height of the housing along the second direction remains constant. The purpose of this design is to ensure that the overall dimensions of the cell assembly do not change due to cell expansion. Therefore, when the cell assembly is installed in the mounting housing or multiple cell assemblies are arranged in a row, the cell assembly will not be squeezed against the mounting housing or other cell assemblies, and no installation gap is required.
[0009] In some embodiments, there is a gap between the housing and the two side planes along a first direction, the gap being used to buffer the expansion of the battery cell along the first direction during charging.
[0010] In some embodiments, the cell assembly further includes a first elastic member disposed between the recessed plate and the corresponding main plane for further limiting the expansion of the cell.
[0011] In some embodiments, the cell assembly further includes a second elastic member having a main body portion covering a side plate and a corner portion covering at least a portion of a connecting plate, wherein the corner portion is used to alleviate stress concentration at the connection between the side plate and the connecting plate when the cell expands.
[0012] In some embodiments, the fixing structure includes a wire or strip that is tensioned and wound around the outside of the housing to press the housing together.
[0013] In some embodiments, the recessed plate is bonded to the two main planes by double-sided adhesive.
[0014] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a battery module is provided, including a housing and at least one cell assembly as described in the above embodiments. Such a battery module can provide the advantages described above regarding the cell assembly, which will not be repeated for the sake of brevity.
[0015] According to a third aspect of this disclosure, a battery pack is provided, including the battery module of the above embodiments. Such a battery pack can provide the advantages described above regarding the cell assembly, which will not be repeated for the sake of brevity.
[0016] According to a fourth aspect of this disclosure, an electrical device is provided, including the battery pack described in the above embodiments, the battery pack being used to provide electrical energy. Such an electrical device can provide the advantages described above regarding the battery cell assembly, which will not be repeated for the sake of brevity.
[0017] It should be understood that the above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this disclosure. In order to better understand the technical means of this disclosure and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and in order to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this disclosure more obvious and understandable, specific embodiments of this disclosure are given below. Attached Figure Description
[0018] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. It should be noted that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and the dimensions of some features may be exaggerated for clarity. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same parts. In the drawings:
[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a battery cell assembly according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;
[0020] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a cell assembly according to other embodiments of this disclosure is shown.
[0021] 1. Battery cell assembly
[0022] 10 battery cells
[0023] 11a, 11b Main Plane
[0024] 12a, 12b Lateral planes
[0025] 20. Housing
[0026] 21. Concave plate
[0027] 22 Side panels
[0028] 23 Connecting plate
[0029] 30 Fixed structural components
[0030] 40 First elastic element
[0031] 50 Second elastic element
[0032] 51 Main Body
[0033] 52 Corner section
[0034] J1, J2 gap Detailed Implementation
[0035] The embodiments of the technical solutions disclosed herein will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical solutions disclosed herein and are therefore intended to limit the scope of protection of this disclosure.
[0036] 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 disclosure belongs; the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this disclosure; the terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, in the specification, claims and foregoing description of the drawings of this disclosure are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.
[0037] In the description of the embodiments of this disclosure, technical terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number, specific order, or primary or secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of this disclosure, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly defined.
[0038] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this disclosure. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.
[0039] In the description of the embodiments of this disclosure, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.
[0040] In the description of the embodiments of this disclosure, the term "multiple" refers to two or more (including two), similarly, "multiple groups" refers to two or more (including two groups), and "multiple pieces" refers to two or more (including two pieces).
[0041] In the description of the embodiments of this disclosure, the technical terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of this disclosure and simplifying the description, and are not intended to 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 the embodiments of this disclosure.
[0042] In the description of the embodiments of this disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, technical terms such as "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; 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; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this disclosure according to the specific circumstances.
[0043] Existing battery cell structures typically include a housing space that matches the cell's shape, such as a socket, slot, or a shell formed by multiple side / end plates, to secure the cell and provide support and protection. This method of limiting cell expansion by compressing the cell poses a risk, potentially leading to cell breakage or even explosion. In other cell structures, materials with a certain tensile strength are used to wrap and bind the cell to limit its expansion; however, the high-strength wires or strips used for wrapping can easily damage the cell, especially at corners, potentially damaging the internal electrodes.
[0044] This disclosure relates to a cell assembly that can suppress cell expansion while avoiding damage to the cell. The cell assembly disclosed in this disclosure can be used in batteries.
[0045] Reference Figure 1 , Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a battery cell assembly 1 according to some embodiments of this application is shown. The battery cell assembly 1 includes a battery cell 10, a housing 20, and a fixing structure 30. The battery cell 10 has two side planes 12a and 12b opposite each other in a first direction and two main planes 11a and 11b opposite each other in a second direction. The housing 20 is sleeved on the outside of the battery cell 10 and includes two recessed plates 21 opposite each other in the second direction, two side plates 22 opposite each other in the first direction, and a connecting plate 23 connecting the two recessed plates 21 and the two side plates 22. The inner surface of the recessed plates 21 contacts the main planes 11a and 11b. The height of the side plates 22 in the second direction is greater than the height of the recessed plates 21 in the second direction, so that the maximum height of the housing 20 in the second direction is defined by the side plates 22. The fixing structure 30 is disposed around the outside of the housing 20 for pressing and holding the battery cell 10 via the housing 20.
[0046] In embodiments of this disclosure, the battery cell is approximately cubic in shape, having two opposing main planes, two side planes, and two end faces. Specifically, the main planes and side planes are two surfaces of the battery cell with relatively large surface areas, and the end faces are the surfaces of the battery cell used for external electrical connections, wherein one of the two end faces has an electrode.
[0047] exist Figure 1In the illustrated embodiment, main planes 11a and 11b are the upper and lower surfaces of the battery cell 10, the first direction is the length direction of the battery cell 10, and the second direction is the height direction of the battery cell 10. During the charging process of the battery cell 20, the main planes 11a and 11b have a large expansion range. The portion of the housing 10 opposite to the main planes 11a and 11b has two recessed plates 21 that are recessed towards the battery cell 10. In addition, the housing 20 also includes two side plates 22 opposite to the side planes 12a and 12b. The height of the side plates 22 is higher than the height of the recessed plates 21, and they are connected to the recessed plates 21 through connecting plates 23, thereby forming a dumbbell-shaped protective structure. The fixing structure 30 is wrapped around the outside of the housing. It can press the side plates 22 to hold the battery cell 10. At the same time, the fixing structure 30 does not contact the recessed plates 21 during the winding process. That is to say, the fixing structure 30, the recessed plates 21, and the connecting plates 23 form two vertically opposite buffer spaces. Therefore, the cell 10 can be allowed to expand to a certain extent, while the excessive expansion of the cell 10 can be limited.
[0048] The "normal expansion" mentioned above refers to the normal expansion phenomenon that occurs during the use of the battery cell, and will not cause damage or other adverse effects to the battery cell. It should be understood that restricting the battery cell through external structures during expansion may lead to excessive localized internal pressure, causing internal damage, surface breakage, or even explosion. The embodiments of this disclosure, by providing a dumbbell-shaped housing and expansion space, offer the following advantages over prior art battery cell assemblies: providing reasonable expansion for the battery cell and reducing pressure on the battery cell.
[0049] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the length of the recessed plate 21 is greater than the length of the battery cell 10, so as to ensure that when the battery cell 10 expands, the middle part of the recessed plate 21 will bend and deform along with the expansion of the battery cell, but since the two sides of the recessed plate 21 are long enough, they will not squeeze or damage the battery cell 10.
[0050] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the housing 20 can be a thin-walled metal housing. Due to the smaller housing thickness, the housing 20 can deform accordingly when the cell 10 expands. The manufacturing process for a thin-walled metal housing is simple and cost-effective. Furthermore, the housing 20 can also be made by winding high-strength wire or tape. This design helps to reduce the weight of the cell assembly 1 and enhance the structural strength of the housing 20.
[0051] Continue to refer to Figure 1When the recessed plate 21 bulges outward due to the expansion of the battery cell 10, the height of the side plate 22 ensures that the maximum height of the housing 20 along the second direction remains unchanged. Therefore, there is a certain height difference between the height of the side plate 22 and the height of the recessed plate 21. This height difference is related to the expansion height of the battery cell 10 and the material of the housing 20, which ensures that the maximum height of the housing 20 along the second direction remains unchanged. The purpose of this design is that when the battery cell 10 expands, the housing 20 changes from a dumbbell shape to an approximately rectangular shape, and the height dimension of the housing 20 does not change due to the expansion of the battery cell 10. Therefore, when the battery cell assembly 1 is installed into the mounting housing or multiple battery cell assemblies 1 are arranged, the battery cell assembly 1 will not squeeze against the mounting housing or other battery cell assemblies 1, and there is no need to reserve an installation gap.
[0052] Continue to refer to Figure 1 The housing has gaps J1 and J2 along a first direction between itself and the two side planes 12a and 12b. These gaps buffer the expansion of the battery cell 10 along the first direction during charging. While the expansion of the battery cell 10 is greatest in the second direction, it also expands in the first direction. Furthermore, as the battery cell 10 expands along the second direction, the recessed plate 21 is pushed upwards while the side plate 22 is compressed inwards. Therefore, if the side plate is placed tightly against the side planes 12a and 12b, it will compress the battery cell 10. The gaps J1 and J2 in the first direction prevent the side plate 22 from compressing the side planes 12a and 12b. In embodiments of this disclosure, gap J1 may be equal to gap J2. In such a design, the battery cell 10 is centrally located within the housing 20. In some embodiments of this disclosure, gap J1 may not be equal to gap J2, thus accommodating different shapes, expansion ranges, or surface materials of the battery cell 10.
[0053] Continue to refer to Figure 1 The fixing structure 30 includes wires or strips that are tightly wound around the outside of the housing to compress the housing 20. Such winding can be applied to housings 20 of different sizes or shapes.
[0054] It should be understood that tensioned winding refers to providing a predetermined tension force to the fixing structure 30, which is made of filaments or tape, and maintaining the tension of the fixing structure 30 for a predetermined period of time after winding. In some embodiments, the predetermined period may be, for example, the service life specified by the battery cell manufacturer. By tensioning the fixing structure 30 around the outside of the housing 20, the volume can be reduced, making the structure of the battery cell assembly 1 more compact and increasing the energy density of the battery cell assembly 1. On the other hand, the fixing structure 30 can maintain a certain shear strength and stiffness, which is beneficial for protecting the internal structure of the battery cell assembly 1. For example, the fixing structure 30, which is made of filaments or tape, can be composed of carbon fiber filaments or glass fiber. Carbon fiber or glass fiber materials have the characteristics of high tensile strength, light weight, high temperature resistance, and wear resistance, which allows for the application of greater tension force during winding, significantly improving the structural strength and stability of the battery cell assembly 1 without significantly increasing the overall weight.
[0055] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the fixing structure 30 is coated with an adhesive before being wrapped around the outside of the housing 20, so as to maintain tension of the fixing structure 30 after the adhesive has cured.
[0056] It should be understood that the adhesive used to apply the fixing structure 30 is a curable adhesive. The adhesive used is a fluid with a certain degree of fluidity before curing and forms a rigid structure after curing. After application, the adhesive wets the fixing structure 30 and covers all parts of the fixing structure 30. Through this application method, the adhesive, after curing, bonds tightly to the fixing structure 30, forming an inseparable integral structure similar to a "hardened shell." This integral structure thus possesses shear resistance and deformation resistance, which helps protect the internal structure of the battery cell assembly 1 from damage by the external environment and limits excessive expansion of the battery cell 10.
[0057] Continue to refer to Figure 1 The recessed plate 21 is bonded to the two main planes 11a and 11b using double-sided adhesive. In some embodiments of this disclosure, the battery cell 10 can be bonded to the recessed plate 21 by other suitable adhesive methods. In some embodiments of this disclosure, the recessed plate 21 may have a high-resistance surface area on the side facing the battery cell 10 to limit the movement of the battery cell 10 through friction.
[0058] Please refer to the following. Figure 2 , Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of the cell assembly 1 according to other embodiments of this application is shown. Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the cell assembly 1 further includes a first elastic member 40 disposed between the recessed plate 21 and the corresponding main planes 11a, 11b, for further limiting the expansion of the cell 10.
[0059] and Figure 1 Compared to the illustrated embodiments, in Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the first elastic element 40 is positioned at the expansion space, providing better cushioning. The first elastic element 40 is a material with a certain deformation capacity; in other words, it is compressible and resilient. During charging, when the battery cell 10 expands, the first elastic element 40 can be compressed by the battery cell 10 to offset the volume change caused by the expansion. After charging, when the volume of the battery cell 10 returns to its original state, the first elastic element 40 rebounds in accordance with the volume reduction of the battery cell 10. In this design, the first elastic element 40 is always positioned between the fixed structure 30 and the recessed plate 21, and also provides support for the fixed structure 30. Furthermore, the first elastic element 40 can be made of a thermally conductive material to optimize heat dissipation of the battery cell 10.
[0060] Continue to refer to Figure 2 The battery cell assembly 1 further includes a second elastic member 50, having a main body 51 covering the side plate 22 and a corner portion 52 covering at least a portion of the connecting plate 23. The corner portion 52 is used to alleviate stress concentration at the connection between the side plate 22 and the connecting plate 23 when the battery cell 10 expands. In this embodiment, when the housing 20 deforms due to the expansion of the battery cell 10, it will compress the outerly wound fixed structure 30 in a first direction. By providing the second elastic member 50 covering the side plate 22, the compression of the fixed structure 30 by the housing 20 in a second direction can be alleviated. Furthermore, for the battery cell assembly 1 of this embodiment, since the housing 20 is dumbbell-shaped, the connection between the side plate 22 and the connecting plate 23 becomes a stress concentration point when the battery cell 10 expands. This can lead to a shortened fatigue life of the housing 20 and may even cause the housing 20 to crack. Therefore, providing a corner portion 52 covering a portion of the connecting plate 23 can alleviate the stress concentration at this connection and improve the structural life of the housing 20. Furthermore, the material selection for the second elastic element 50 follows the same approach as that for the first elastic element 40, and will not be elaborated further for the sake of brevity.
[0061] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the battery module includes a housing and at least one cell assembly as described in the above embodiments. The housing supports and secures the cell assembly 1 and provides encapsulation for the cell assembly 1. In some embodiments, multiple cell assemblies 1 may be arranged in the housing in parallel or in series. The number and connection method of the cell assemblies 1 can be configured according to desired voltage, current, or other output parameters.
[0062] In some embodiments of this disclosure, the battery pack includes the battery modules described in the above embodiments. Multiple battery modules can be integrated within the battery pack to provide greater energy storage capacity and output power. For example, the battery pack may also include a battery management system (BMS), a cooling system, a housing, and connectors to monitor the normal operation of the battery modules and provide the desired energy output. It should be understood that the battery pack is a highly integrated battery system capable of providing or storing electrical energy as needed. In other embodiments of this disclosure, the battery pack may be configured with connectors, switches, or other electrical components for external electrical connections as required.
[0063] In some embodiments of this disclosure, an electrical device is provided, including the battery pack described above, which provides electrical power. The electrical device may be, for example, a car, a large work platform, a portable digital product, or other electronic equipment.
[0064] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this disclosure, and not to limit them. Although this disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure, and they should all be covered within the scope of the claims and specification of this disclosure. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the various embodiments can be combined in any way. This disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. An electric cell assembly comprising: an electric cell having two side planes opposite along a first direction and two main planes opposite along a second direction; a housing sheathed on an outer side of the electric cell, comprising two recessed plates opposite along the second direction, two side plates opposite along the first direction, and a connecting plate connecting the two recessed plates and the two side plates, wherein, inner surfaces of the recessed plates are in contact with the main planes; heights of the side plates along the second direction are greater than heights of the recessed plates along the second direction, such that a maximum height of the housing along the second direction is defined by the side plates; and a fixing structure arranged around an outer side of the housing for pressing and holding the electric cell via the housing. The heights of the side plates ensure that the maximum height of the housing along the second direction remains unchanged when the recessed plates bulge outward due to expansion of the electric cell.
2. The cell assembly of claim 1, wherein, The housing has a gap along the first direction between the two side planes, which is used to buffer expansion of the electric cell along the first direction during charging.
3. The cell assembly of claim 1, wherein, The electric cell assembly further comprises:
4. The cell assembly of claim 1, wherein, a first elastic member arranged between the recessed plates and the corresponding main planes, for further limiting expansion of the electric cell. The electric cell assembly further comprises:
5. The cell assembly of claim 1, wherein, a second elastic member having a main body part covering the side plates and a corner covering part covering at least a part of the connecting plate, wherein the corner covering part is used to alleviate stress concentration at the connection between the side plates and the connecting plate when the electric cell expands. The fixing structure comprises a wire or a belt, which is tightly wound around the outer side of the housing to press the housing.
6. The cell assembly of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The recessed plates and the two main planes are attached by double-sided adhesive tape.
7. The cell assembly of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, 8. A battery module comprising a box and at least one electric cell assembly according to any one of claims 1-7.
9. A battery pack comprising the battery module according to claim 8.
10. An electric device comprising the battery pack according to claim 9, which is used to provide electric energy.