Cold plate joint structure, battery pack and electric equipment

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of power batteries, and provides a cold plate joint structure, a battery pack and electric equipment, the cold plate joint structure comprises a cold plate body and a second plug connector, the cold plate body is provided with a first plug connector, the first plug connector is internally provided with a first hollow channel, and the first hollow channel is communicated with an internal flow channel of the cold plate body; the second plug connector is internally provided with a second hollow channel, and the second plug connector is connected with the first plug connector in a plug-in manner, so that the second hollow channel is communicated with the first hollow channel; a first sealing mechanism is arranged between the second plug connector and the first plug connector, and the second plug connector is provided with a second sealing mechanism used for achieving sealing between the second plug connector and an external component. According to the scheme, through the mode that the second plug connector is connected with the first plug connector in an inserted mode, the space limitation borne by the cold plate connector structure during installation can be reduced conveniently, and the application flexibility is effectively improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of power battery technology, and more specifically, to a cold plate joint structure, a battery pack, and an electrical device. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the direct cooling connector and cold plate are usually manufactured as a single piece, used to connect the internal flow channels of the cold plate with the external system. However, because the direct cooling connector is a one-piece machined component, its horizontal length is relatively long. If the distance between the cell expansion beam and the battery box frame is close, there will be insufficient assembly space between the cold plate and the box frame. In this case, it is usually necessary to cut off part of the cell expansion beam to make way. In addition, the direct cooling connector and the battery box frame are fully welded to ensure the sealing reliability of the battery pack.

[0003] The aforementioned structural design presents the following problems: The direct-cooling connector occupies a significant amount of space. To ensure assembly, without reducing the space available for cell placement, a portion of the cell expansion beam needs to be removed to secure the connection between the cold plate and the battery housing. This design weakens the cell expansion beam, affecting the overall structural strength of the battery pack, and may even lead to serious consequences due to cell expansion during the end-of-life (EOL) stage. Furthermore, if the cell expansion beam is not partially removed, the distance between it and the battery housing frame needs to be increased to ensure assembly. If the overall length of the battery pack cannot be increased, this design reduces the cell placement area, impacting the battery pack's integration and capacity distribution. Utility Model Content

[0004] In order to overcome at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, the purpose of this application is to provide a cold plate joint structure, a battery pack, and an electrical device.

[0005] The technical means adopted in this application to solve the above-mentioned technical problems are:

[0006] On one hand, this application provides a cold-plate joint structure, including:

[0007] The cold plate body has a first connector, a first hollow channel inside the first connector, and the first hollow channel is connected to the internal flow channel of the cold plate body.

[0008] The second connector has a second hollow channel inside. The second connector is plugged into and connected to the first connector so that the second hollow channel communicates with the first hollow channel. A first sealing mechanism is provided between the second connector and the first connector. The second connector is provided with a second sealing mechanism for sealing with external components.

[0009] In this application, the second connector can be used to connect with the first connector to connect the first hollow channel and the second hollow channel, thereby realizing the connection between the internal flow channel of the cold plate body and the outside. Compared with the traditional direct cooling plug, the method of connecting the second connector with the first connector can reduce the space restriction of the cold plate joint structure during installation and effectively improve the application flexibility.

[0010] In some embodiments, the second connector extends at least partially into the first connector; or, the first connector extends at least partially into the second connector.

[0011] The first sealing mechanism is disposed between the mating circumferential surfaces of the first connector and the second connector.

[0012] In this application, the connection method between the first connector and the second connector can be selected according to actual application requirements.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first sealing mechanism includes a plurality of sealing rings and a sealing groove disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the second connector, wherein the sealing rings are fitted inside the sealing groove.

[0014] Alternatively, the first sealing mechanism may include a plurality of sealing rings and a sealing groove disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the first connector, wherein the sealing rings are fitted inside the sealing groove.

[0015] In this application, the cooperation between the sealing ring and the sealing groove facilitates dynamic sealing between the first connector and the second connector after insertion.

[0016] In some embodiments, one end of the first hollow channel is connected to the cold plate body, and the other end is provided with a female end docking section, which is connected to the first hollow channel, and the diameter of the female end docking section is greater than the diameter of the first hollow channel.

[0017] The second connector is provided with a male end docking section and a first transition section in sequence. The first sealing mechanism is disposed between the male end docking section and the female end docking section. The diameter of the first transition section is greater than that of the male end docking section but smaller than that of the female end docking section. The first transition section extends at least partially into the female end docking section.

[0018] In this application, the first transition section can be set to improve the stability of the first sealing mechanism during application.

[0019] In some embodiments, the diameter of the first hollow channel is the same as the diameter of the second hollow channel.

[0020] In this application, by designing the diameter and width of the first hollow channel and the second hollow channel, the flow rate of the refrigerant can be easily controlled.

[0021] In addition, this application provides a battery pack having a cold plate connector structure as described above.

[0022] In this application, by applying the cold plate joint structure described above within the battery pack, the design difficulty of the frame structure within the battery pack can be easily reduced.

[0023] In some embodiments, the battery pack further includes a cell expansion beam and a battery housing, the first connector is disposed between the cell expansion beam and the battery housing, and one end of the first hollow channel is disposed toward the battery housing;

[0024] The second connector is installed on the battery housing, and the second sealing mechanism is disposed between the second connector and the battery housing.

[0025] In this application, the second sealing mechanism facilitates the sealed installation between the second connector and the battery housing.

[0026] In some embodiments, the second connector is provided with a connecting flange, which is installed on the outer side of the battery box.

[0027] The second sealing mechanism includes a sealing gasket sandwiched between the connecting flange and the battery housing.

[0028] In this application, the connecting flange facilitates the installation and fixation of the second connector on the battery box. It also allows for the compression of the sealing gasket during the installation and fixation of the second connector, thereby achieving a sealed connection.

[0029] In some embodiments, the second connector is provided with a second transition section, which passes through the battery housing.

[0030] Along the installation direction of the second connector, there is an overlap between the second transition section and the inner side surface of the battery box.

[0031] In this application, the second transition section can serve as a limit when the second connector is installed.

[0032] Furthermore, this application embodiment provides an electrical device that has a battery pack as described above installed inside.

[0033] In this application, by applying the battery pack described above to the electrical equipment, the electrical equipment can have higher stability in application compared to the battery pack using a direct cooling plug in the conventional technology. Attached Figure Description

[0034] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments of this application will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this application and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the cold plate joint structure as an example of this application.

[0036] Marker explanation:

[0037] 1-Cold plate body;

[0038] 2-First connector, 21-First hollow channel, 22-Female end connection section;

[0039] 3-Second connector, 31-Second hollow channel, 32-Male end mating section, 33-First transition section, 34-Second transition section, 35-Connecting flange;

[0040] 4-Battery housing, 41-Outer side, 42-Inner side;

[0041] 5-Sealing ring, 51-Sealing groove;

[0042] 6-Cell expansion beam; 7-Sealing gasket. Detailed Implementation

[0043] To better understand the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention, the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention; the described embodiments are merely some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0044] It should be noted that, 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 invention pertains. The terminology used herein in the description of the invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. Similar reference numerals and letters denote similar items in the following figures; therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it need not be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0045] Furthermore, in the description of this application, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used only for distinguishing descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or requiring or implying any actual relationship or order between entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0046] like Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment provides a cold plate joint structure, including:

[0047] The cold plate body 1 is provided with a first connector 2, and a first hollow channel 21 is provided inside the first connector 2. The first hollow channel 21 is connected to the internal flow channel of the cold plate body 1.

[0048] The second connector 3 has a second hollow channel 31 inside. The second connector 3 is plugged into and connected to the first connector 2 so that the second hollow channel 31 communicates with the first hollow channel 21. A first sealing mechanism is provided between the second connector 3 and the first connector 2. The second connector 3 is provided with a second sealing mechanism for sealing with external components.

[0049] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, the first plug-in 2 is arranged in an "L" shape, and one end of the first plug-in 2 is fixedly connected to the cold plate body 1. For example, it can be connected by welding to ensure the installation stability of the first plug-in 2 on the cold plate body 1, as well as the sealing between the first hollow channel 21 and the internal flow channel of the cold plate body 1 after communication.

[0050] In some embodiments, the second connector 3 is used for installation with an external component, and after the second connector 3 is installed with the external component, a sealed connection is formed between the second sealing mechanism and the external component. The second connector 3 and the first connector 2 are connected by a plug-in joint, and the sealed connection between them is maintained by the first sealing mechanism.

[0051] Compared to the conventional method of setting a direct cooling plug on the cold plate body 1, this embodiment only requires setting the first connector 2 on the cold plate body 1, and then connecting the first hollow channel 21 and the second hollow channel 31 through the plug-in connection between the second connector 3 and the first connector 2, thereby realizing the communication between the internal flow channel of the cold plate body 1 and the outside. This structural form avoids the need for the direct cooling plug to maintain a connection with the battery box 4 during application, allowing the first connector 2 to be designed to be shorter in the horizontal direction. In this case, only the plug-in connection and sealing requirements between the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 need to be met. Therefore, the space constraints on the cold plate connector structure during installation can be reduced, and application flexibility can be effectively improved.

[0052] As one application example, the second connector 3 extends at least partially into the first connector 2; or, the first connector 2 extends at least partially into the second connector 3.

[0053] The first sealing mechanism is disposed between the mating circumferential surfaces of the first plug-in 2 and the second plug-in 3.

[0054] In some embodiments, reference Figure 1 As shown, one end of the second connector 3 extends into the first connector 2, and the first sealing mechanism is located between the outer peripheral surface of the second connector 3 and the inner peripheral surface of the first connector 2.

[0055] In some embodiments, one end of the first connector 2 extends into the second connector 3, and the first sealing mechanism is disposed between the outer peripheral surface of the first connector 2 and the inner peripheral surface of the second connector 3.

[0056] In the above application example, the connection method between the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 can be selected according to the actual application requirements.

[0057] As one application example, the first sealing mechanism includes a plurality of sealing rings 5 ​​and a sealing groove 51 disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the second plug-in 3, wherein the sealing rings 5 ​​are fitted inside the sealing groove 51.

[0058] Alternatively, the first sealing mechanism may include a plurality of sealing rings 5 ​​and a sealing groove 51 disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the first plug-in 2, wherein the sealing rings 5 ​​are fitted inside the sealing groove 51.

[0059] In some embodiments, the number of sealing rings 5 ​​is in a one-to-one correspondence with the number of sealing grooves 51.

[0060] In some embodiments, at least two sealing rings 5 ​​are provided.

[0061] In some embodiments, the sealing grooves 51 are spaced apart on the outer peripheral surface of the second connector 3, the sealing ring 5 is partially embedded in the sealing grooves 51, and the portion of the sealing ring 5 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the second connector 3 is in sealing contact with the inner peripheral surface of the first connector 2.

[0062] In some embodiments, the sealing grooves 51 are spaced apart on the outer peripheral surface of the first connector 2, the sealing ring 5 is partially embedded in the sealing grooves 51, and the portion of the sealing ring 5 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the first connector 2 is in sealing contact with the inner peripheral surface of the second connector 3.

[0063] The installation and cooperation between the sealing ring 5 and the sealing groove 51 can improve the stability of the sealing ring 5 during installation and application, and at the same time facilitate the dynamic sealing between the first plug-in 2 and the second plug-in 3 after plug-in connection.

[0064] As one application example, one end of the first hollow channel 21 is connected to the cold plate body 1, and the other end is provided with a female end docking section 22. The female end docking section 22 is connected to the first hollow channel 21, and the diameter of the female end docking section 22 is greater than the diameter of the first hollow channel 21.

[0065] The second connector 3 is provided with a male end docking section 32 and a first transition section 33 in sequence. The first sealing mechanism is disposed between the male end docking section 32 and the female end docking section 22. The diameter of the first transition section 33 is greater than the diameter of the male end docking section 32 but smaller than the diameter of the female end docking section 22. The first transition section 33 extends at least partially into the female end docking section 22.

[0066] In some embodiments, the first hollow channel 21 and the female end docking section 22 are coaxially arranged.

[0067] In some embodiments, the second hollow channel 31 is coaxially arranged with the male end docking section 32 and the first transition section 33.

[0068] In some embodiments, the length of the female end docking section 22 is greater than the length of the male end docking section 32, so that after the second plug-in 3 is plugged into the first plug-in 2, it can have a certain displacement margin in its axial direction.

[0069] The female end docking section 22 and the male end docking section 32 facilitate the setting of the first sealing mechanism and ensure that the first plug-in 2 and the second plug-in 3 maintain a sealed connection after insertion. The first transition section 33 can be used to form a radial limit with the female end docking section 22, thereby making the relative gap between the male end docking section 32 and the female end docking section 22 more stable and improving the stability of the first sealing mechanism during application.

[0070] As one application example, the diameter of the first hollow channel 21 is the same as the diameter of the second hollow channel 31.

[0071] By designing the diameter and width of the first hollow channel 21 and the second hollow channel 31, it is easier to control the refrigerant flow rate.

[0072] In addition, this embodiment also provides a battery pack in which a cold plate joint structure as described above is provided.

[0073] By applying the cold plate joint structure described above within the battery pack, the design difficulty of the frame structure within the battery pack can be easily reduced.

[0074] As one application example, the battery pack also includes a cell expansion beam 6 and a battery housing 4, the first connector 2 is disposed between the cell expansion beam 6 and the battery housing 4, and one end of the first hollow channel 21 is disposed towards the battery housing 4;

[0075] The second connector 3 is installed on the battery housing 4, and the second sealing mechanism is disposed between the second connector 3 and the battery housing 4.

[0076] In some embodiments, the battery housing 4 is a hollow profile structure, including an outer side 41 and an inner side 42. The second connector 3 passes through the outer side 41 and the inner side 42 of the battery housing 4 in sequence and is then connected to the first connector 2.

[0077] The second sealing mechanism facilitates the sealed installation of the second connector 3 and the battery housing 4. Inside the battery housing 4, the first sealing mechanism enables a sealed connection between the second connector 3 and the first connector 2. Outside the battery housing 4, the second sealing mechanism enables a sealed connection between the second connector 3 and the battery housing 4.

[0078] As one application example, the second connector 3 is provided with a connecting flange 35, which is installed on the outer side 41 of the battery box 4.

[0079] The second sealing mechanism includes a sealing gasket 7, which is sandwiched between the connecting flange 35 and the battery box 4.

[0080] In some embodiments, the sealing gasket 7 is arranged in a ring shape, and the mounting holes of the connecting flange 35 fall within the coverage area of ​​the sealing gasket 7.

[0081] The connection flange 35 facilitates the installation and fixation of the second connector 3 on the battery box 4. It also allows for the compression of the sealing gasket 7 during the installation and fixation of the second connector 3, thereby achieving a sealing connection.

[0082] As one application example, the second connector 3 is provided with a second transition section 34, which passes through the battery box 4.

[0083] Along the installation direction of the second connector 3, there is an overlap between the second transition section 34 and the inner side surface of the battery box 4.

[0084] In some embodiments, the diameter of the second transition section 34 is greater than that of the first transition section 33, and the second transition section 34 passes through the outer side 41 of the battery box 4, while the first transition section 33 passes through the inner side 42 of the battery box 4.

[0085] The second transition section 34 is provided so that when the second connector 3 is installed, the second transition section 34 and the inner side surface 42 of the battery box 4 make a top-abutting contact to limit the movement.

[0086] In addition, this embodiment also provides an electrical device in which a battery pack as described above is installed.

[0087] In some embodiments, the electrical equipment is a passenger vehicle or industrial vehicle that uses a battery pack.

[0088] By applying the battery pack described above to the electrical equipment, compared to the battery pack using a direct cooling plug in the traditional technology, the method of connecting the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 can effectively reduce the damage to the connection between the direct cooling plug and the cold plate that may be caused by vibration or other factors during the use of the electrical equipment. This makes the operation of the thermal management system more stable and the electrical equipment more stable in application.

[0089] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should also be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A cold plate joint structure, characterized by, include: The cold plate body has a first connector, a first hollow channel inside the first connector, and the first hollow channel is connected to the internal flow channel of the cold plate body. The second connector has a second hollow channel inside. The second connector is plugged into and connected to the first connector so that the second hollow channel communicates with the first hollow channel. A first sealing mechanism is provided between the second connector and the first connector. The second connector is provided with a second sealing mechanism for sealing with external components.

2. The cold plate joint structure of claim 1, wherein, The second connector extends at least partially into the first connector; or, the first connector extends at least partially into the second connector. The first sealing mechanism is disposed between the mating circumferential surfaces of the first connector and the second connector.

3. The cold plate joint structure of claim 2, wherein, The first sealing mechanism includes a plurality of sealing rings and a sealing groove disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the second plug-in, wherein the sealing rings are fitted inside the sealing groove; Alternatively, the first sealing mechanism may include a plurality of sealing rings and a sealing groove disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the first connector, wherein the sealing rings are fitted inside the sealing groove.

4. The cold plate joint structure according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, One end of the first hollow channel is connected to the cold plate body, and the other end is provided with a female end docking section. The female end docking section is connected to the first hollow channel, and the diameter of the female end docking section is greater than the diameter of the first hollow channel. The second connector is provided with a male end docking section and a first transition section in sequence. The first sealing mechanism is disposed between the male end docking section and the female end docking section. The diameter of the first transition section is greater than the diameter of the male end docking section but smaller than the diameter of the female end docking section. The first transition section extends at least partially into the female end docking section.

5. The cold plate joint structure of claim 4, wherein, The diameter of the first hollow channel is the same as the diameter of the second hollow channel.

6. A battery pack, characterized by, It is provided with a cold plate joint structure as described in any one of claims 1-5.

7. The battery pack of claim 6, wherein, The battery pack also includes a cell expansion beam and a battery housing, the first connector is disposed between the cell expansion beam and the battery housing, and one end of the first hollow channel is disposed towards the battery housing; The second connector is installed on the battery housing, and the second sealing mechanism is disposed between the second connector and the battery housing.

8. The battery pack of claim 7, wherein, The second connector is provided with a connecting flange, which is installed on the outer side of the battery box. The second sealing mechanism includes a sealing gasket sandwiched between the connecting flange and the battery housing.

9. The battery pack of claim 7 or 8, wherein, The second connector is provided with a second transition section, which passes through the battery box body; Along the installation direction of the second connector, there is an overlap between the second transition section and the inner side surface of the battery box.

10. An electric device, characterized by It contains a battery pack as described in any one of claims 6-9.

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