Power battery and vehicle

Abstract

This application discloses a power battery and a vehicle. The power battery includes a frame, a battery pack, a top cover, a bottom cover, and a circuit assembly. The frame has a battery compartment and a control compartment. The battery pack is located in the battery compartment, and the circuit assembly is located in the control compartment and electrically connected to the battery pack. The top cover is connected to the frame and covers the upper openings of the battery compartment and the control compartment. The top cover has cooling channels and exchanges heat with the battery pack. The bottom cover is connected to the frame and covers at least the lower opening of the control compartment. The circuit assembly is connected to the frame, with its access surface facing the bottom cover. When maintenance personnel remove the bottom cover, the access surface of the circuit assembly is directly exposed, enabling in-situ maintenance on the vehicle, making maintenance operations more convenient and faster.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of power battery technology, and in particular relates to a power battery and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of vehicles, electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular among users. As the core of new energy vehicles, the power battery determines the overall charging and discharging performance of the vehicle.

[0003] Power batteries are typically installed under the vehicle chassis. In related technologies, battery maintenance requires removing the entire battery from the vehicle body, which is inconvenient. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application aims to address at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this application proposes a power battery and a vehicle, which allows for in-situ maintenance by simply removing the underbody protection plate during power battery repair.

[0005] In a first aspect of this application, a power battery is provided, comprising:

[0006] The frame includes a battery compartment and a control compartment;

[0007] The battery assembly is located in the battery compartment;

[0008] A top cover plate is connected to the frame and covers the upper openings of the battery compartment and the control compartment; the top cover plate is provided with cooling channels, and the top cover plate exchanges heat with the battery assembly;

[0009] A bottom protective plate, connected to the frame, and at least covering the lower opening of the control cabin;

[0010] A circuit assembly is located in the control compartment and is electrically connected to the battery assembly; the circuit assembly is connected to the frame, and the access surface of the circuit assembly faces the bottom protective plate.

[0011] In some embodiments, the frame includes a frame and a mounting beam located in the control compartment and connected to the frame; the circuit assembly is mounted upside down on the mounting beam.

[0012] In some embodiments, the bottom guard plate is detachably connected to the frame by fasteners; a seal is provided between the bottom guard plate and the frame.

[0013] In some embodiments, the frame further includes a cell support plate connected to the frame and covering the lower opening of the battery compartment; the battery assembly is disposed on the cell support plate.

[0014] In some embodiments, the frame further includes a crossbeam located within the cavity of the frame to divide the cavity of the frame into the battery compartment and the control compartment; the cell support plate is welded and fixed to both the frame and the crossbeam.

[0015] In some embodiments, the circuit assembly includes a battery management system and a high-voltage distribution box; the battery management system and the high-voltage distribution box are arranged side by side.

[0016] In some embodiments, the circuit assembly further includes a power conversion device disposed below the battery management system.

[0017] In some embodiments, the battery management system includes a main board and one or more slave boards electrically connected to the main board; the main board is located above the power conversion device; and the slave boards are located below the high-voltage distribution box.

[0018] In some embodiments, the top cover includes a flat plate and a flow channel plate, the flow channel plate having grooves; the flat plate is sealed to the flow channel plate to close the grooves, forming the cooling flow channel; the flat plate exchanges heat with the battery assembly.

[0019] In some embodiments, the power battery further includes a heat insulation component that covers the upper surface of the upper cover plate.

[0020] In a second aspect of this application, a vehicle is provided, including a vehicle body and a power battery as described in the first aspect, wherein the power battery is connected to the vehicle body with its cover facing the vehicle body.

[0021] A power battery according to one or more embodiments of this application includes a frame, a battery pack, a top cover, a bottom cover, and a circuit assembly. The frame has a battery compartment and a control compartment. The battery pack is located in the battery compartment, and the circuit assembly is located in the control compartment and electrically connected to the battery pack. The top cover is connected to the frame and covers the upper openings of the battery compartment and the control compartment. The top cover has cooling channels and functions as a liquid cooling plate, exchanging heat with the battery pack to regulate its temperature. The bottom cover is connected to the frame and at least covers the lower opening of the control compartment. The circuit assembly is connected to the frame, with its access surface facing the bottom cover. The power battery provided in this application is equivalent to placing the liquid cooling plate on top, so the liquid cooling plate does not affect the access surface of the circuit assembly. When maintenance personnel remove the bottom cover, the access surface of the circuit assembly is directly exposed. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove the entire power battery from the vehicle body. Only the bottom protection plate needs to be removed to inspect the circuit components. After the inspection is completed, the bottom protection plate of the power battery can be installed, thus realizing on-site inspection on the vehicle, making the inspection operation more convenient and faster. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 An exploded view of a power battery from a first-person perspective is shown in one or more embodiments of this application.

[0024] Figure 2 An exploded view of the power battery in one or more embodiments of this application is shown from a second perspective.

[0025] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the power battery structure after the bottom protective plate is removed, according to one or more embodiments of this application, is shown.

[0026] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of the power battery frame is shown in one or more embodiments of this application.

[0027] Figure 5 Schematic diagrams of the power battery structure are shown in some other embodiments of this application.

[0028] Figure 6 It shows Figure 5 An exploded view of the power battery.

[0029] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 100-Power battery; 110-Frame; 110a-Battery compartment; 110b-Control compartment; 111-Frame; 112-Mounting beam; 113-Crossbeam; 114-Cell support plate; 120-Battery assembly; 130-Top cover plate; 131-Flow channel plate; 140-Bottom cover plate; 150-Circuit assembly; 151-High voltage distribution box; 152-Battery management system; 1521-Main board; 1522-Slave board; 153-Power conversion device; 160-Insulation component. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To enable those skilled in the art to more clearly understand this application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0031] Furthermore, reference numerals and / or reference letters may be repeated in different examples in this application. Such repetition is for simplification and clarity purposes and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or settings discussed. In addition, this application provides examples of various specific processes and materials; however, those skilled in the art will recognize the application of other processes and / or the use of other materials.

[0032] In related technologies, the power battery of new energy vehicles typically consists of a lower housing, a top cover, and internal electrical components (such as a high-voltage distribution box and a battery management system). In these technologies, the top cover of the power battery is removable, forming a sealed space with the lower housing, and the electrical components are fixed inside the lower housing. When a vehicle experiences a short circuit or other malfunction requiring repair, the entire power battery must be removed from the vehicle body, and then the top cover must be removed to access the electrical components. This process is complex, time-consuming, increases repair costs, and affects after-sales efficiency. Furthermore, due to the separate design of the top cover and liquid cooling plate in these technologies, the top cover and liquid cooling plate, as two independent components, occupy internal space within the power battery and increase the overall weight of the power battery.

[0033] Therefore, this application proposes a power battery and a vehicle that optimizes the arrangement of various components of the power battery, so that only the bottom guard plate needs to be removed during power battery maintenance, enabling in-situ maintenance.

[0034] The specific technical solutions of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale. Similar or identical reference numerals may be used to designate the same or similar parts in different drawings. The use of similar or identical reference numerals in different drawings does not mean that all drawings including similar or identical reference numerals constitute a single or the same embodiment. The accompanying drawings illustrate the various embodiments discussed in this application in a generalized manner, by way of example and not limitation.

[0035] The first aspect of this application provides a power battery; please refer to [link / reference]. Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 The exploded view and structural schematic diagram of the power battery in different embodiments are shown respectively. The power battery 100 includes a frame 110, a battery pack 120, a top cover plate 130, a bottom protective plate 140, and a circuit assembly 150. The frame 110 is provided with a battery compartment 110a and a control compartment 110b. The battery pack 120 is disposed in the battery compartment 110a, and the circuit assembly 150 is disposed in the control compartment 110b. The circuit assembly 150 is electrically connected to the battery pack 120.

[0036] The top cover 130 is connected to the frame 110, covering the upper openings of the battery compartment 110a and the control compartment 110b. The top cover 130 is sealed to the frame 110, and can be connected via FDS, screws, rivets, welding, or other methods. A sealing strip can be provided between the top cover 130 and the frame 110 to seal the gap between them. In other embodiments, sealant can also be applied to the connection between the top cover and the frame 110 to achieve a seal.

[0037] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 6 The upper cover plate 130 is provided with cooling channels, and the upper cover plate 130 functions as a liquid cooling plate. The upper cover plate 130 exchanges heat with the battery assembly 120 to regulate the temperature of the battery assembly 120. In some embodiments, the liquid cooling plate in the related art can be directly used as the upper cover plate 130; in other embodiments, the structure of the upper cover plate 130 can be improved by setting the upper cover plate 130 as a hollow structure, with the internal cavity serving as a cooling channel.

[0038] The bottom protective plate 140 is connected to the frame 110, and the bottom protective plate 140 at least covers the lower opening of the control compartment 110b. The battery compartment 110a of the frame 110 can be a slot structure, in which the circuit assembly 150 is placed directly. The control compartment 110b of the frame 110 is a vertically continuous area, with the upper opening of the control compartment 110b closed by the upper cover plate 130 and the lower opening closed by the bottom protective plate 140.

[0039] The circuit assembly 150 is connected to the frame 110 and is installed in the control compartment 110b from bottom to top. During installation, the frame 110 can be placed upside down, with the circuit assembly 150 placed in the control compartment 110b from top to bottom and connected to the frame 110. When the frame 110 is placed upright (with the power battery 100 installed in the vehicle in its upright position), the circuit assembly 150 is in an inverted state, with the access surface of the circuit assembly 150 facing the underbody protection plate 140. Figure 3 As shown.

[0040] According to one or more embodiments of the present application, the power battery 100, by placing the liquid cooling plate on the top, does not affect the maintenance of the circuit assembly 150. When maintenance personnel remove the bottom protective plate 140, the maintenance surface of the circuit assembly 150 is directly exposed, such as... Figure 3As shown. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove the entire power battery 100 from the vehicle body. Only the bottom cover 140 needs to be removed to inspect the circuit assembly 150. After the inspection is completed, the bottom cover 140 of the power battery 100 can be installed, thus realizing on-site inspection and maintenance on the vehicle, making the inspection and maintenance operation more convenient and faster. In addition, the upper cover 130 of the power battery 100 integrates a cooling function, saving internal space of the power battery 100 and reducing the number of internal components and the overall weight of the power battery 100.

[0041] Please see Figure 4 In some embodiments, the frame 110 includes a side frame 111 and a mounting beam 112, the mounting beam 112 being located in the control compartment 110b and connected to the side frame 111; the circuit assembly 150 is mounted upside down on the mounting beam 112. Where the circuit assembly 150 includes multiple electrical components, at least the electrical components with the highest maintenance frequency should be mounted on the mounting beam 112.

[0042] In some embodiments, the circuit assembly 150 includes at least a high-voltage distribution box 151. The high-voltage distribution box 151 can control the connection between the battery assembly 120 and an external charging circuit or electrical equipment, and control the power supply to and from the power battery 100. The high-voltage distribution box 151 contains electrical components such as fuses, temperature sensors, and relays. Maintenance of the high-voltage distribution box 151 may include replacing fuses, relays, and the high-voltage distribution box 151 itself. In some embodiments, to facilitate maintenance of the electrical components inside the high-voltage distribution box 151, the top cover and bottom shell of the high-voltage distribution box 151 are connected by snap-fit ​​connections. The high-voltage distribution box 151 can be the power battery 100 high-voltage distribution box 151 disclosed in CN117320396A, the specific structure of which will not be described in detail here.

[0043] When the power battery 100 is under maintenance, the bottom cover plate 140 needs to be removed. The bottom cover plate 140 is detachably connected to the frame 110. In some embodiments, the bottom cover plate 140 is detachably connected to the frame 111 by fasteners, and a seal is provided between the bottom cover plate 140 and the frame 111 to seal the gap between them. The seal can be a sealing strip or sealant.

[0044] Please see Figure 2In some embodiments, the frame 110 further includes a cell support plate 114, which is connected to the frame 111 and covers the lower opening of the battery compartment 110a; the battery assembly 120 is disposed on the cell support plate 114. That is, both the battery compartment 110a and the control compartment 110b are vertically continuous areas. The upper openings of both the battery compartment 110a and the control compartment 110b are closed by the upper cover plate 130, the lower opening of the control compartment 110b is closed by the bottom protective plate 140, and the lower opening of the battery compartment 110a is closed by the cell support plate 114. The battery assembly 120 can be glued to the cell support plate 114. By providing the cell support plate 114 to support the battery assembly 120, only the control compartment 110b can be opened after the bottom protective plate 140 is removed, while the battery compartment 110a remains sealed. In some embodiments, the bottom of the bottom protective plate 140 is provided with reinforcing ribs or reinforcing plates to improve the structural strength and impact resistance of the battery compartment 110a.

[0045] In some embodiments, the battery compartment 110a and the control compartment 110b may be slot-shaped cavities inside the frame 110. See also... Figure 4 In other embodiments, the frame 110 further includes a crossbeam 113, and the frame 111 is a rectangular or polygonal frame structure, including side crossbeams and side longitudinal beams. The outer side of the side longitudinal beams is provided with a mounting portion for connection to the vehicle body. The crossbeam 113 is located within the inner cavity of the frame 111, dividing the inner cavity of the frame 111 into a battery compartment 110a and a control compartment 110b. If the frame 110 also includes a cell support plate 114, the cell support plate 114 can be welded and fixed to both the frame 111 and the crossbeam 113, thereby achieving a sealed connection.

[0046] The circuit assembly 150 can be connected to the mounting beam 112 via screws. The number and location of the mounting beams 112 are determined based on the number and installation location of the electrical components included in the circuit assembly 150. See also... Figure 6 In some embodiments, the circuit assembly 150 includes a battery management system 152 (BMS) and a high-voltage distribution box 151 (BDU). The battery management system 152 and the high-voltage distribution box 151 are arranged side by side in the control compartment 110b. There are two or more mounting beams 112, and the battery management system 152 and the high-voltage distribution box 151 are each supported and fixed in the control compartment 110b by one or more mounting beams 112.

[0047] In some embodiments, circuit assembly 150 further includes a power conversion device 153 (DC-DC for short), which may be stacked with battery management system 152 and / or high-voltage distribution box 151. See also... Figure 6In some embodiments, the power conversion device 153 is disposed below the battery management system 152. The battery management system 152 includes a main board 1521 and one or more slave boards 1522, which are electrically connected to the main board 1521. In some embodiments, the main board 1521 is located above the power conversion device 153, and the slave boards 1522 are located below the high-voltage distribution box 151. The main board 1521 is mounted above the mounting beam 112 that fixes the power conversion device 153, and the power conversion device 153 is mounted below the mounting beam 112. Because the power conversion device 153 obstructs the main board 1521, making it difficult to disassemble, the power conversion device 153 can provide a certain degree of protection for the main board 1521.

[0048] In other embodiments, the main board 1521 can be positioned above the high-voltage distribution box 151, and the slave board 1522 can be positioned below the power conversion device 153. By arranging the main board 1521 and slave board 1522 of the battery management system 152 in different positions, the overall height of the battery management system 152 is reduced, facilitating the integration of the DC-DC converter. Furthermore, the high-voltage distribution box 151 being positioned above facilitates heat exchange between the copper busbars of the high-voltage distribution box 151 and the upper cover plate 130, reducing the internal temperature of the high-voltage distribution box 151 during operation.

[0049] Please see Figure 6 In some embodiments, the top cover 130 includes a flat plate (which is not visible) and a channel plate 131, the channel plate 131 having grooves. The flat plate and the channel plate 131 are sealed together to close the grooves, forming a cooling channel. During installation, the flat plate faces the battery assembly 120 and the channel plate 131 faces the vehicle body. The surface of the flat plate is flat, allowing for sufficient heat exchange with the battery assembly 120. In some embodiments, thermally conductive adhesive can also be applied to the flat plate and the battery assembly 120 to prevent air between them from affecting the heat exchange effect, thereby effectively carrying away the heat generated by the cells of the battery assembly 120 through the top cover 130.

[0050] Please see Figure 5 and Figure 6 In some embodiments, the power battery 100 further includes a heat insulation component 160, which covers the upper surface of the upper cover plate 130. The heat insulation component 160 may be heat-insulating foam, which is adhered and fixed to the upper surface of the upper cover plate 130 to reduce heat exchange between the upper cover plate 130 and the external environment. In some embodiments, the upper surface of the heat insulation component 160 is provided with a protective layer, which may be a wear-resistant material, such as aluminum foil or rubber sheet. The protective layer protects both the heat insulation component 160 and the upper cover plate 130.

[0051] Other undescribed structures of the power battery 100 can be found in the publicly available information of related technologies, and will not be elaborated here.

[0052] A second aspect of this application provides a vehicle including a vehicle body and a power battery 100 as described in the first aspect. The power battery 100 is connected to the vehicle body with its cover facing the vehicle body. The underbody protection plate 140 of the power battery 100 faces the ground. Based on the fact that the vehicle is equipped with the aforementioned power battery 100, the vehicle can be a pure electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, or a range-extended hybrid electric vehicle; this application does not impose any limitations.

[0053] When the circuit assembly 150 needs to be inspected, the vehicle is lifted. After removing the underbody protection plate 140 of the power battery 100, the circuit assembly 150 is directly exposed under the vehicle chassis. To inspect the high-voltage distribution box 151, the top cover of the high-voltage distribution box 151 is removed, exposing the relays, fuses, and other electrical components of the high-voltage distribution box 151 directly under the vehicle chassis, allowing for the replacement of fuses and relays. After the inspection is completed, the top cover and underbody protection plate 140 of the high-voltage distribution box 151 are installed in sequence, enabling in-situ inspection and reducing inspection time and after-sales costs.

[0054] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature being directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0055] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", and "counterclockwise" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application 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 application.

[0056] It should be noted that all directional indications in the embodiments of this application are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.

[0057] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0058] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "first" and "second" in this application is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, features defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more features. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0059] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "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 this application. 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 more embodiments or examples. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification.

[0060] Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only if they are based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed in this application.

[0061] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of this application, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A power battery, characterized in that, include: The frame includes a battery compartment and a control compartment; The battery assembly is located in the battery compartment; A top cover plate is connected to the frame and covers the upper openings of the battery compartment and the control compartment; the top cover plate is provided with cooling channels, and the top cover plate exchanges heat with the battery assembly; A bottom protective plate, connected to the frame, and at least covering the lower opening of the control cabin; A circuit assembly is located in the control compartment and is electrically connected to the battery assembly; the circuit assembly is connected to the frame, and the access surface of the circuit assembly faces the bottom protective plate.

2. The power battery according to claim 1, characterized in that, The frame includes a side frame and a mounting beam, the mounting beam being located in the control compartment and connected to the side frame; the circuit assembly is mounted upside down on the mounting beam.

3. The power battery according to claim 2, characterized in that, The bottom guard plate is detachably connected to the frame by fasteners; a sealing element is provided between the bottom guard plate and the frame.

4. The power battery according to claim 2, characterized in that, The frame also includes a cell support plate, which is connected to the frame and covers the lower opening of the battery compartment; the battery assembly is disposed on the cell support plate.

5. The power battery according to claim 4, characterized in that, The frame also includes a crossbeam located in the inner cavity of the frame to divide the inner cavity of the frame into the battery compartment and the control compartment; the cell support plate is welded and fixed to both the frame and the crossbeam.

6. The power battery according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The circuit assembly includes a battery management system and a high-voltage distribution box; the battery management system and the high-voltage distribution box are arranged side by side.

7. The power battery according to claim 6, characterized in that, The circuit assembly also includes a power conversion device, which is disposed below the battery management system; The battery management system includes a main board and one or more slave boards, the slave boards being electrically connected to the main board; the main board is located above the power conversion device; the slave boards are located below the high-voltage distribution box.

8. The power battery according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The top cover plate includes a flat plate and a flow channel plate, the flow channel plate having grooves; the flat plate and the flow channel plate are sealed together to close the grooves, forming the cooling flow channel; the flat plate exchanges heat with the battery assembly.

9. The power battery according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The power battery also includes a heat insulation component, which covers the upper surface of the upper cover plate.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that: The device includes a vehicle body and a power battery as described in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the power battery is connected to the vehicle body with its cover facing the vehicle body.

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