Battery cell interconnection structure in battery module

Abstract

The utility model discloses a battery cell interconnection structure in a battery module. The structure comprises a supporting frame and a plurality of battery cells, the supporting frame is composed of an upper supporting part and a supporting frame, and a containing space is formed and used for containing the battery cells. The battery cells are arranged in at least one row, the tabs are arranged in a staggered manner, and the tabs of the adjacent battery cells are staggered in position and different in polarity. The tabs can be welded with the conducting strips in parallel in an attached mode through bending, and the conducting strips are made of copper, aluminum or alloy thereof and can be connected in a laser welding mode, a resistance welding mode, an ultrasonic welding mode or a screw locking mode. The structure has the advantages of being high in welding stability, excellent in heat dissipation performance, suitable for various battery cell thicknesses, simple and convenient to assemble and the like, can effectively improve the reliability, mechanical strength and safety of the battery module, and is suitable for various battery application scenes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to a battery module, and more particularly to a structure for interconnecting battery cells within a battery module. Background Technology

[0002] In existing technologies, batteries with symmetrical tabs are typically electrically connected to the battery cell's tab terminals using ultrasonic welding or laser welding. However, this design has the following drawbacks:

[0003] 1. Due to the symmetrical structure of the tabs, overlap is likely to occur between the tabs, and the bottom welding material is mostly thin, resulting in a narrow range of effective welding parameters and poor welding stability.

[0004] 2. The symmetrical tab structure means that the thin welding material at the bottom can withstand less mechanical strength than the thicker material, thus affecting the overall reliability of the structure after welding.

[0005] 3. During laser welding, the symmetrical structure of the electrode tabs prevents the thin material at the bottom from dissipating heat effectively, causing welding heat to accumulate and further reducing welding quality.

[0006] 4. When a battery cell is too thin, the available welding area is reduced during the welding process, making it difficult for the fixture to flatten the tabs, thus affecting the welding effect. Simultaneously, the close spacing between tabs of different polarities increases assembly difficulty and requires a higher battery cell thickness; only cells of a certain thickness can ensure welding stability and effectiveness.

[0007] The aforementioned defects show that the existing symmetrical tab structure has significant limitations in terms of welding reliability, heat dissipation performance and assembly adaptability, and urgently needs improvement. Utility Model Content

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the existing battery module cell connection structure and provide a structure with staggered cell tabs, which can effectively improve welding stability, reduce cell module thickness and improve heat dissipation performance.

[0009] This utility model provides a battery module internal cell interconnection structure, comprising: a support frame and multiple battery cells. The support frame includes an upper support portion and a support frame, the upper support portion being connected to the open end of the support frame to form an accommodating space. The multiple battery cells are accommodated within the accommodating space and arranged in at least one row of cell arrangement groups, wherein the tabs of the battery cells in each cell arrangement group are arranged in an alternating manner.

[0010] In each row of the battery cell group, the tabs of the preceding and following cells are staggered and have opposite polarities.

[0011] In this configuration, adjacent battery cells overlap on the same side, forming an alternating position between the positive electrode tab of the preceding battery cell and the negative electrode tab of the following battery cell, and an alternating position between the negative electrode tab of the preceding battery cell and the positive electrode tab of the following battery cell.

[0012] The upper support portion is provided with a conductive sheet between the tabs of opposite polarities of the adjacent cells in each row of the cell group, and each conductive sheet is connected to the tabs of opposite polarities of the corresponding adjacent cells.

[0013] In this configuration, the tabs of the adjacent battery cells with opposite polarities are bent at 90 degrees and bonded parallel to the conductive sheet.

[0014] Each of the conductive sheets is connected to the opposite polarity tabs of the corresponding adjacent battery cells, by means of laser welding, resistance welding, ultrasonic welding or screw fastening.

[0015] The conductive sheet is made of copper, aluminum, or their alloys.

[0016] In this arrangement, the adjacent battery cell groups are connected together by a busbar between the last adjacent tabs of opposite polarity.

[0017] The beneficial effect of this design lies in the support frame, which creates a storage space that allows multiple battery cells to be arranged in an orderly manner and stably installed within the module. This structure not only provides reliable support but also effectively prevents displacement and damage to the cells during transportation or use. Furthermore, the staggered arrangement of the cell tabs reduces mutual interference between them, improves welding stability, and thus enhances the reliability and lifespan of the battery module. Simultaneously, this structure simplifies the cell assembly process and improves production efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram excluding the upper support section.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the battery cell arrangement.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a 3D schematic diagram of a single battery cell.

[0022] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of two battery cells overlapping on the same side.

[0023] Figure 6 for Figure 4 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of three battery cells overlapping on the same side and connected to conductive sheets.

[0024] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1-Support frame; 10-Upper support; 12-Support frame; 2-Battery cell; 20-Electrode tab; 3-Battery cell arrangement group; 4-Conductive sheet; 5-Busbar. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The embodiments of this application will be further explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals represent the same or similar components in the drawings and specification. In the drawings, shapes and thicknesses may be exaggerated for simplicity and convenience. It is understood that components not specifically shown in the drawings or described in the specification are forms known to those skilled in the art. Those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications based on the content of this application.

[0026] like Figures 1-6 As shown, this utility model provides a battery module interconnection structure for battery cells 2, comprising: a support frame 1 and multiple battery cells 2. The support frame 1 includes an upper support portion 10 and a support frame 12. The upper support portion 10 is connected to the open end of the support frame 12, forming an accommodating space. The multiple battery cells 2 are accommodated within the accommodating space and arranged into at least one battery cell arrangement group 3. The tabs 20 of the battery cells 2 in each battery cell arrangement group 3 are arranged in an alternating manner. This design improves the stability and structural strength of the battery cell 2 connection.

[0027] In this invention, when the plurality of cells 2 in each cell arrangement group 3 are arranged, the positions of the tabs 20 of adjacent cells 2 are staggered and their polarities are opposite. This design, through the staggered arrangement of the tabs 20, achieves effective connection between adjacent cells 2, reduces the risk of short circuits, and improves welding stability.

[0028] Within the battery module, adjacent battery cells 2 are stacked on the same side. Each battery cell 2 has two tabs 20, a positive tab and a negative tab. The positive tab of one battery cell 2 is staggered with the negative tab of the next battery cell 2, and vice versa. This design allows for an orderly staggered arrangement of the tabs 20, further optimizing the space utilization of the battery cells 2 and improving the compactness and safety of the module structure.

[0029] In this invention, the upper support portion 10 is provided with a conductive sheet 4 between the opposite polarity tabs 20 of each row of adjacent front and rear battery cells 2. The conductive sheet 4 is respectively connected to the opposite polarity tabs 20 of the corresponding adjacent front and rear battery cells 2. Through this structure, a reliable conductive connection between the battery cells 2 is achieved, and the structural stress problems caused by direct welding are avoided.

[0030] According to the above technical solution, the opposite polarity tabs 20 of the adjacent front and rear battery cells 2 can be bent 90 degrees and welded parallel to the conductive sheet 4. This design further increases the contact area between the tabs 20 and the conductive sheet 4, increases the welding strength, and ensures a tight connection between the battery cells 2, thereby improving the welding effect.

[0031] In this invention, the connection between the tab 20 and the conductive sheet 4 can be achieved by laser welding, resistance welding, ultrasonic welding, or screw fastening. The choice of multiple welding methods enhances design flexibility and adaptability, meeting diverse manufacturing needs and improving welding quality.

[0032] The conductive sheet 4 is made of copper, aluminum, or their alloys. By using these highly conductive materials, the mechanical strength and thermal conductivity of the conductive sheet 4 are significantly improved. Simultaneously, the optimized material design enhances the absorption of heat during the welding process by the conductive sheet 4, reducing the risk of heat accumulation within the module.

[0033] In this invention, a busbar 5 is provided between the opposite polarity tabs 20 of the last cell 2 in the adjacent cell arrangement group 3, and the busbar 5 electrically connects the opposite polarity tabs 20 together. The busbar 5 can be made of materials with excellent conductivity, such as copper, aluminum, or their alloys, to ensure low resistance and high conductivity efficiency. To achieve a stable connection, the busbar 5 can be connected to the tabs 20 in various ways, including laser welding, resistance welding, ultrasonic welding, or screw fastening. In addition, the structural design of the busbar 5 can be optimized according to the application requirements of the battery module, such as increasing the thickness to improve mechanical strength or improving the shape to adapt to the spatial layout of the module.

[0034] In summary, this utility model, through the staggered arrangement of the tabs 20, reduces spatial interference between the tabs 20, avoids the welding instability caused by tab overlap in traditional symmetrical tab designs, and improves the reliability and stability of welding. This invention uses the conductive sheet 4 to connect the opposite polarity tabs of adjacent cells 2, and selects high-strength materials such as copper, aluminum, or their alloys as the conductive sheet 4, effectively enhancing the mechanical structural strength of the module and improving the pressure resistance of the battery module during use. The optimized material design of the conductive sheet 4 provides excellent thermal conductivity, absorbing the heat generated during welding and preventing deformation or damage to the support structure due to heat accumulation, ensuring the long-term stability of the module. The staggered arrangement of the tabs 20 reduces the thickness requirements of the cells 2, allowing even thin cells to be stably overlapped and connected to the module, expanding the application range of the battery module and improving the flexibility of product design.

[0035] The staggered arrangement of the tabs 20 and the use of the conductive sheet 4 allow for reasonable control of the spacing between the battery cells 2, improving the utilization rate of the internal space of the module and further increasing the energy density of the battery module. This design supports multiple welding methods (such as laser welding, resistance welding, ultrasonic welding, or screw fastening), offering high manufacturing flexibility and adaptability to different process requirements. Simultaneously, the bending design of the tabs 20 increases the welding contact area between the tabs 20 and the conductive sheet 4, resulting in more stable welding and simpler assembly. The design of opposite polarities for the tabs 20 of adjacent battery cells 2 further reduces the risk of short circuits and enhances the safety of the module.

[0036] Furthermore, the staggered arrangement of the tabs 20 reduces safety hazards caused by the tabs being too close together. Through improved thermal management and welding stability, the battery module can better withstand thermal and mechanical stresses during multiple charge-discharge cycles, extending the product's lifespan. By placing the busbar 5 between the opposite polarity tabs 20 of the last cell 2, not only can the overall circuit be effectively closed, but the electrical stability within the module can also be improved, reducing resistance loss and thus enhancing the overall performance of the battery module. Simultaneously, the design of the busbar 5 also considers heat dissipation performance, preventing heat accumulation due to current transmission and ensuring safe operation of the module under high load conditions.

[0037] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of this application. Therefore, all equivalent variations and modifications made in accordance with the shape, structure, features and spirit described in the claims of this application should be included within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A battery module internal cell interconnection structure, characterized in that, include: The support frame includes an upper support portion and a support frame, wherein the upper support portion is connected to the open end of the support frame to form an accommodating space. Multiple battery cells are housed in the accommodating space, and the multiple battery cells are arranged in the accommodating space in at least one row of cell groups, with the tabs of the multiple battery cells arranged alternately.

2. The battery module cell interconnection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, In each row of the battery cell group, the tabs of the preceding and following cells are staggered and have opposite polarities.

3. The battery module cell interconnection structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The adjacent battery cells overlap on the same side, so that the positive electrode tab of the previous battery cell and the negative electrode tab of the next battery cell are staggered, and the negative electrode tab of the previous battery cell and the positive electrode tab of the next battery cell are staggered.

4. The battery module cell interconnection structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The upper support portion is provided with a conductive sheet between the tabs of opposite polarities of the adjacent cells in each row of the cell group, and each conductive sheet is connected to the tab of opposite polarity of the corresponding adjacent cells.

5. The battery module cell interconnection structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The tabs of the adjacent battery cells with opposite polarities are bent at 90 degrees and attached parallel to the conductive sheet.

6. The battery module cell interconnection structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, Each conductive sheet is connected to a tab of opposite polarity on the corresponding front and rear adjacent cells by laser welding, resistance welding, ultrasonic welding or screw fastening.

7. The battery module cell interconnection structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The conductive sheet is made of copper, aluminum, or their alloys.

8. The battery module cell interconnection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adjacent battery cell groups are connected together by a busbar between the last adjacent tabs of opposite polarity.

Images