An electrical connector and a battery module

Abstract

The application discloses an electric connecting piece and a battery module. The electric connecting piece comprises a first connecting sheet, a second connecting sheet and a connecting conductor. The first connecting sheet is used for electrically connecting to a first target body. The second connecting sheet is used for electrically connecting to a second target body. The connecting conductor has a first connecting end connected to the first connecting sheet and a second connecting end connected to the second connecting sheet. The first connecting end is detachably connected to the first connecting sheet. The second connecting end is detachably connected to the second connecting sheet. Therefore, during the dismounting and mounting maintenance, the connection between the first connecting sheet and the first target body does not need to be damaged, the connection between the second connecting sheet and the second target body does not need to be damaged, and only the corresponding detachable connection structure on the electric connecting piece needs to be dismounted and mounted, so that the operation is more convenient.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electrical connection technology, and more specifically, to an electrical connector and a battery module. Background Technology

[0002] Battery modules typically consist of multiple battery cells, which are electrically connected via electrical connectors (also known as battery terminals). However, most existing electrical connectors are welded to the terminals of the battery cells. This connection method makes disassembly and maintenance of the electrical connectors very inconvenient. In addition to the inconvenience of disassembly and maintenance of electrical connectors between battery cells, similar problems exist with electrical connectors between other similar objects.

[0003] In conclusion, how to solve the problem of inconvenient disassembly and maintenance of electrical connectors has become a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of this, this application provides an electrical connector and a battery module to solve the problem of inconvenient disassembly and maintenance of electrical connectors.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides the following technical solution:

[0006] An electrical connector, comprising:

[0007] The first connecting piece is used for electrical connection to the first target body;

[0008] The second connecting piece is used for electrical connection to the second target body;

[0009] A connecting conductor having a first connecting end connected to the first connecting piece and a second connecting end connected to the second connecting piece;

[0010] Wherein, the first connecting end and the first connecting piece are detachably connected; and / or, the second connecting end and the second connecting piece are detachably connected.

[0011] In some embodiments of this application, the first connecting end is fitted into the first connecting piece and locked in place by a first fastener; the second connecting end is fitted into the second connecting piece and locked in place by a second fastener.

[0012] In some embodiments of this application, the end face of the first connecting piece has a first fitting groove, and the first connecting end is fitted into the first fitting groove; the end face of the second connecting piece has a second fitting groove, and the second connecting end is fitted into the second fitting groove.

[0013] In some embodiments of this application, the first connecting piece has a first fixing hole that penetrates at least one side wall of the first fitting groove, the portion of the first connecting end that fits into the first fitting groove has a second fixing hole, and the first fastener passes through the first fixing hole and the second fixing hole and is locked to the first connecting piece.

[0014] And / or, the second connecting piece has a third fixing hole that penetrates at least one side of the groove wall of the second fitting groove, the portion of the second connecting end that fits into the second fitting groove has a fourth fixing hole, and the second fastener passes through the third fixing hole and the fourth fixing hole and is locked to the second connecting piece.

[0015] In some embodiments of this application, the first connecting piece has a first positioning hole that penetrates one side wall of the first fitting groove, and the first fastener is threadedly engaged with the first positioning hole and presses the portion of the first connecting end fitted into the first fitting groove against the first connecting piece.

[0016] And / or, the second connecting piece has a second positioning hole, the second positioning hole penetrates one side of the groove wall of the second fitting groove, the second fastener is threadedly engaged with the second positioning hole and presses the portion of the second connecting end that is fitted into the second fitting groove against the second connecting piece.

[0017] In some embodiments of this application, the connecting conductor further includes a flexible main body portion, with the first connecting end and the second connecting end respectively connected to both ends of the flexible main body portion.

[0018] In some embodiments of this application, the outer surface of the flexible main body has an insulating layer.

[0019] In some embodiments of this application, the insulating layer is a flexible insulating sleeve wrapped around the outer side of the flexible main body; or, the insulating layer is a surface treatment layer formed on the outer side of the flexible main body.

[0020] In some embodiments of this application, the connecting conductor is a flexible conductor.

[0021] To address the inconvenience of disassembling and maintaining electrical connectors, the electrical connector provided in this application includes a first connecting piece, a second connecting piece, and a connecting conductor. In practical applications, the first connecting piece is connected to a first target body, and the second connecting piece is connected to a second target body. The connecting conductor has a first connecting end connected to the first connecting piece and a second connecting end connected to the second connecting piece. Since the first connecting end is detachably connected to the first connecting piece, and / or the second connecting end is detachably connected to the second connecting piece, it is not necessary to damage the connection between the first connecting piece and the first target body, nor is it necessary to damage the connection between the second connecting piece and the second target body during disassembly and maintenance. Only the corresponding detachable connection structures need to be disassembled and reassembled, making the operation more convenient and ensuring the structural integrity of the first and second target bodies after disassembly.

[0022] On the other hand, this application also provides a battery module including multiple battery cells. Two battery cells are electrically connected by an electrical connector as described in any of the above-described solutions. A first connecting piece is used to connect a first terminal, and a second connecting piece is used to connect a second terminal. The connecting conductor maintains a preset slack. Since the aforementioned electrical connector has the above-described technical effects, the battery module with this electrical connector should also have corresponding technical effects, which will not be elaborated here. In addition, since the connecting conductor maintains a preset slack, when the battery module is running, the preset slack can release the stress between the terminal and the electrical connector on the battery cell. This can alleviate or even eliminate the residual stress from the welding between the electrical connector and the terminal, and the deformation tension from the expansion and contraction of the battery module during charging and discharging, on the terminal of the battery cell. This can reduce or even avoid the occurrence of battery structure damage such as terminal detachment caused by stress concentration.

[0023] In some embodiments of this application, the first connecting piece and the first pole post are an integral structure;

[0024] And / or, the second connecting piece and the second pole post are an integral structure.

[0025] In some embodiments of this application, the top surface of the first pole post has a first positioning portion, and the first connecting piece has a second positioning portion adapted to the first positioning portion;

[0026] And / or, the top surface of the second pole post has a third positioning portion, and the second connecting piece has a fourth positioning portion adapted to the third positioning portion.

[0027] In some embodiments of this application, the connecting conductor is in a bent state.

[0028] In some embodiments of this application, the connecting conductor is bent toward the top shell wall of the battery cell and has a preset safety gap with the top shell wall of the battery cell.

[0029] The technical features mentioned above, those to be mentioned below, and those shown individually in the accompanying drawings can be combined arbitrarily, provided that the combined technical features are not contradictory. All feasible combinations of features are the technical content explicitly described herein. Any one of the multiple sub-features contained in the same statement can be applied independently, without necessarily being applied together with other sub-features. Attached Figure Description

[0030] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0031] Figure 1 This is an isometric structural diagram of the battery module provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 2 A top view of the battery module provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a side view of the battery module provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0034] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the first cross-sectional structure of the electrical connector provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0035] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the first split structure of the electrical connector provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0036] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the second cross-sectional structure of the electrical connector provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0037] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the second split structure of the electrical connector provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0038] in, Figures 1-7 middle:

[0039] 1-Electrical connectors;

[0040] 11-First connecting piece;

[0041] 110 - First fitting groove;

[0042] 111 - First fixing hole;

[0043] 112 - First positioning hole;

[0044] 12-Second connecting piece;

[0045] 120 - Second fitting groove;

[0046] 121 - Third fixing hole;

[0047] 122 - Second positioning hole;

[0048] 13-Connecting conductors;

[0049] 130 - Flexible main body;

[0050] 131 - First connection end;

[0051] 1311 - Second fixing hole;

[0052] 132 - Second connection terminal;

[0053] 1321 - Fourth fixing hole;

[0054] 14-First fastener;

[0055] 15 - Second fastener;

[0056] 16- Flexible insulating sleeve;

[0057] 2-Battery cell;

[0058] 21-First pole;

[0059] 22-Second pole;

[0060] 3-Battery module. Detailed Implementation

[0061] The core of this application is to provide an electrical connector and a battery module to solve the problem of inconvenient disassembly and maintenance of electrical connectors.

[0062] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0063] With the continuous development of battery technology, battery modules are being used more and more widely, and are commonly found in electronic products, electric vehicles, energy storage, and other fields. A battery module generally consists of multiple battery cells, which are electrically connected to each other via electrical connectors (also known as battery terminals). However, existing electrical connectors are mostly rigid structures, and are often welded to the terminals of the battery cells. This structural form and connection method makes disassembly and maintenance of the electrical connectors very inconvenient. In addition to the inconvenience of disassembly and maintenance of electrical connectors between battery cells, similar problems exist with electrical connectors between other similar objects.

[0064] Based on this, one aspect of the embodiments of this application provides an electrical connector to solve the problem that the structure and connection method of the electrical connector are inconvenient to disassemble and assemble.

[0065] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the electrical connector 1 provided in this application specifically includes a first connecting piece 11, a second connecting piece 12, and a connecting conductor 13.

[0066] Specifically, refer to Figure 3 Combination Figure 4 The first connecting piece 11 is electrically connected to the first target body, the second connecting piece 12 is electrically connected to the second target body, and the connecting conductor 13 has a first connecting end 131 and a second connecting end 132, wherein the first connecting end 131 is connected to the first connecting piece 11 and the second connecting end 132 is connected to the second connecting piece 12. Those skilled in the art should understand that the connection here is not only a mechanical connection, but also an electrical connection.

[0067] Additionally, refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The first connecting end 131 and the first connecting piece 11 can be designed to be detachably connected, and the second connecting end 132 and the second connecting piece 12 can also be designed to be detachably connected. In specific applications, it is possible to choose to design only the first connecting end 131 and the first connecting piece 11 to be detachably connected, or only the second connecting end 132 and the second connecting piece 12 to be detachably connected, or the first connecting end 131 and the first connecting piece 11 to be detachably connected, while the second connecting end 132 and the second connecting piece 12 are also designed to be detachably connected. No specific limitation is made here.

[0068] In practical applications, by connecting the first connecting piece 11 to the first target body and the second connecting piece 12 to the second target body, the connecting conductor 13 has a first connecting end 131 connected to the first connecting piece 11 and a second connecting end 132 connected to the second connecting piece 12. Since the first connecting end 131 is detachably connected to the first connecting piece 11 and / or the second connecting end 132 is detachably connected to the second connecting piece 12, during disassembly and maintenance, it is not necessary to damage the connection between the first connecting piece 11 and the first target body, nor is it necessary to damage the connection between the second connecting piece 12 and the second target body. Only the corresponding detachable connection structures need to be disassembled and assembled, making the operation more convenient and ensuring the structural integrity of the first and second target bodies after disassembly.

[0069] For example, refer to Figure 3 The aforementioned electrical connector 1 can be specifically applied to the connection between two battery cells 2 in a battery module to solve the problem of inconvenient disassembly and assembly due to the structural form and connection method of the electrical connector. In this application scenario, the first target body and the second target body can be the terminals on two different battery cells 2, respectively. To facilitate the distinction between the terminals on the two different battery cells 2, the terminal on one battery cell 2 is defined as the first terminal 21, and the terminal on the other battery cell 2 is defined as the second terminal 22. At this time, the first target body and the second target body are specifically the first terminal 21 and the second terminal 22, respectively.

[0070] Specifically, the two different battery cells 2 can be two adjacent battery cells 2, such as the first battery cell and the second battery cell 2. The first terminal 21 is designed on the first battery cell, and the second terminal 22 is designed on the second battery cell. When the first battery cell and the second battery cell need to be connected in series, one of the corresponding first terminal 21 and second terminal 22 is the positive terminal, and the other is the negative terminal. Of course, these two different battery cells 2 can also be two non-adjacent battery cells 2, such as those with other battery cells 2 between them. As long as they are two different battery cells 2 in the battery module 3, they can be electrically connected through the electrical connector 1.

[0071] In this application scenario, the electrical connector 1 connects the first connecting piece 11 to the first terminal 21 and the second connecting piece 12 to the second terminal 22. Since the first connecting end 131 and the first connecting piece 11 are detachably connected, and / or the second connecting end 132 and the second connecting piece 12 are detachably connected, it is not necessary to damage the terminal connection structure on the battery cell 2 during disassembly and maintenance. Only the corresponding detachable connection structure needs to be disassembled and reassembled, making the operation more convenient.

[0072] Furthermore, in battery module 3, electrical connectors 1 (such as aluminum strips) are typically fixed to the electrodes by welding. The weld penetration and width determine the weld's strength, and both welded components are generally hard, similar metal materials (different materials will result in a weak weld). When a battery within battery module 3 malfunctions and needs to be disassembled for individual analysis, electrical connectors 1 are usually pulled out with pliers, followed by the removal of the battery cell 2. This process is time-consuming and laborious, and carries the risk of pulling out the battery terminals as well, affecting failure analysis. Therefore, the current connection method between the terminals and electrical connectors 1 on battery cell 2 still presents a problem affecting the failure analysis of battery cell 2.

[0073] When the electrical connector 1 provided in this application is used to connect the two battery cells 2 in the battery module 3, the electrical connector 1 does not need to damage the terminal connection structure on the battery cell 2 during disassembly and maintenance. Only the corresponding detachable connection structure needs to be disassembled and reassembled. Therefore, the structural integrity of the battery cell 2 after disassembly is guaranteed, and the efficiency and accuracy of failure analysis are improved.

[0074] Of course, those skilled in the art should understand that the above-mentioned electrical connector 1 is applied to the connection between two battery cells 2 in the battery module, which is only an example of the embodiment of this application. In actual application, it can also be applied to the electrical connection between other targets similar to battery cells, and can also have similar technical effects. No specific limitation is made here.

[0075] In some specific implementation plans, refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the detachable connection between the first connecting end 131 and the first connecting piece 11 can be achieved by the first connecting end 131 being fitted into the first connecting piece 11 and locked in place by the first fastener 14. This combination of fitting and fastener locking makes assembly and disassembly more convenient, and the structure is simpler and easier to manufacture.

[0076] For example, the end face of the first connecting piece 11 has a first fitting groove 110, or in other words, the end face of the first connecting piece 11 is designed with a first fitting groove 110. The first fitting groove 110 corresponds to the fitting position of the first connecting end 131, and the first connecting end 131 can be embedded in the first fitting groove 110. At this time, the locking connection structure of the first fastener 14 can specifically be that the first connecting piece 11 has (or is designed with) a first fixing hole 111, and the part of the first connecting end 131 that fits into the first fitting groove 110 has (or is designed with) a second fixing hole 1311. The first fastener 14 passes through the first fixing hole 111 and the second fixing hole 1311 and is locked to the first connecting piece 11. The locking method can be direct thread engagement with the first connecting piece 11, or it can be locked by a lock nut.

[0077] The first fixing hole 111 penetrates at least one side of the groove wall of the first fitting groove 110. For example, the first fixing hole 111 is provided on both sides of the groove wall of the first fitting groove 110. The first fixing hole 111 on one side of the groove wall penetrates the groove wall it is in, while the first fixing hole 111 on the other side of the groove wall does not penetrate the groove wall it is in (i.e., a blind hole). Another example is that the first fixing hole 111 is provided on both sides of the groove wall of the first fitting groove 110 and penetrates the groove wall it is in. Yet another example is that the first fixing hole 111 is provided on one side of the groove wall of the first fitting groove 110 and the first fixing hole 111 is not provided on the other side of the groove wall.

[0078] Another example is, see reference. Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the first connecting piece 11 has (or is designed with) a first positioning hole 112, which penetrates one side wall of the first fitting groove 110. The first fastener 14 is threadedly engaged with the first positioning hole and can press the portion of the first connecting end 131 that is fitted into the first connecting piece 11 onto the first connecting piece 11. That is, at this time, the first fastener 14 acts as a clamping screw, pressing the portion of the first connecting end 131 that is fitted into the first fitting groove 110 onto the first connecting piece 11. In practical applications, the configuration can be selected according to requirements.

[0079] It is understandable that the aforementioned combination of the first connecting end 131 and the first connecting piece 11 being fitted together and the first fastener 14 being locked together is merely an example of the detachable connection between the first connecting end 131 and the first connecting piece 11 in this application embodiment. In actual application, it can also be designed into other detachable connection structures, such as the first connecting end 131 overlapping the first connecting piece 11 and being pressed against the first connecting piece 11 by a pressure plate, or being fixed by a clamping member or a tightening member. No specific limitation is made here.

[0080] In some other specific implementation schemes, refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the detachable connection between the second connecting end 132 and the second connecting piece 12 can be achieved by the second connecting end 132 being fitted into the second connecting piece 12 and locked in place by the second fastener 15. This combination of fitting and fastener locking makes assembly and disassembly more convenient, and the structure is simpler and easier to manufacture.

[0081] For example, the end face of the second connecting piece 12 has a second fitting groove 120, or in other words, the end face of the second connecting piece 12 is designed with a second fitting groove 120. The second fitting groove 120 corresponds to the fitting position of the second connecting end 132, and the second connecting end 132 can be embedded in the second fitting groove 120. At this time, the locking connection structure of the second fastener 15 can specifically be that the second connecting piece 12 has (or is designed with) a third fixing hole 121, and the part of the second connecting end 132 that fits into the second connecting piece 12 has (or is designed with) a fourth fixing hole 1321. The second fastener 15 passes through the third fixing hole 121 and the fourth fixing hole 1321 and is locked to the second connecting piece 12. The locking method can be direct thread engagement with the second connecting piece 12, or it can be locked by a lock nut.

[0082] The third fixing hole 121 penetrates at least one side of the groove wall of the second fitting groove 120. For example, the third fixing hole 121 is provided on both sides of the groove wall of the second fitting groove 120. The third fixing hole 121 on one side of the groove wall penetrates the groove wall it is in, while the third fixing hole 121 on the other side of the groove wall does not penetrate the groove wall it is in (i.e., a blind hole). Another example is that the third fixing hole 121 is provided on both sides of the groove wall of the second fitting groove 120 and penetrates the groove wall it is in. Yet another example is that the third fixing hole 121 is provided on one side of the groove wall of the second fitting groove 120 and does not have a third fixing hole 121 on the other side of the groove wall.

[0083] Another example is, see reference. Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the second connecting piece 12 has (or is designed with) a second positioning hole 122, which penetrates one side wall of the second fitting groove 120. The second fastener 15 is threaded into the second positioning hole 122 and can press the portion of the second connecting end 132 that is fitted into the second fitting groove 120 onto the second connecting piece 12. That is, at this time, the second fastener 15 acts as a clamping screw to press the portion of the second connecting end 132 that is fitted into the second fitting groove 120 onto the second connecting piece 12. In practical applications, the configuration can be selected according to requirements.

[0084] It is understandable that the aforementioned combination of the second connecting end 132 and the second connecting piece 12 being fitted together and the second fastener 15 being locked together is merely an example of the detachable connection between the second connecting end 132 and the second connecting piece 12 in this application embodiment. In actual application, it can also be designed into other detachable connection structures, such as the second connecting end 132 overlapping the second connecting piece 12 and being pressed against the second connecting piece 12 by a pressure plate, or being fixed by a clamping member or a tightening member. No specific limitation is made here.

[0085] In addition, the applicant also considered that during actual operation, there may be relative displacement between the first target body and the second target body, which would affect the connection stability between the first connecting piece 11 and the first target body, and between the second connecting piece 12 and the second target body.

[0086] Taking the application of electrical connector 1 in battery module 3 as an example, as battery module 3 is charged and discharged, it will continuously expand and contract. Due to the residual welding stress between electrical connector 1 and the terminal of battery cell 2, the stress cannot be effectively released. In addition, the battery module 3 will undergo changes in expansion force during charging and discharging. The deformation and displacement of battery cell 2 and the pulling force of expansion force ultimately act on the point where electrical connector 1 and the terminal of battery cell 2 are connected. This is called expansion pull force. If electrical connector 1 is designed as a rigid structure, the terminal of adjacent battery cell 2 will always maintain a fixed absolute distance. However, the distance below battery cell 2 will continuously change slightly. This causes the two forces (residual welding stress and expansion pull force) to jointly affect the integrity of the battery structure. In practical applications, when the two forces are large enough, they will exceed the pull force of the terminal of battery cell 2, causing the terminal on battery cell 2 to fall off, resulting in electrical circuit disconnection, electrolyte leakage, or even arcing and sparking, leading to adverse situations such as battery thermal runaway.

[0087] Therefore, referring to Figure 1 Combination Figure 3 The electrical connector 1 provided in this application is designed with a connecting conductor 13 comprising a flexible main body 130, with a first connecting end 131 and a second connecting end 132 respectively connected to the two ends of the flexible main body 130. The flexible main body 130 not only needs to have good conductivity but also good flexibility; for example, under gravity, the connecting conductor 13 can naturally sag and deform. Therefore, when the first connecting piece 11 is connected to the first terminal 21 and the second connecting piece 12 is connected to the second terminal 22, the flexible main body 130 of the connecting conductor 13 can maintain a preset relaxation amount. Then, when the battery module 3 is running, this preset relaxation amount can release the stress between the terminal on the battery cell 2 and the electrical connector 1, thereby alleviating or even eliminating the residual stress from the welding between the electrical connector 1 and the terminal, and the influence of the deformation tension from the expansion and contraction of the battery module 3 during charging and discharging on the terminal on the battery cell 2. This satisfies the stress release requirements between the first connecting piece 11 and the first terminal 21, and between the second connecting piece 12 and the second terminal 22. Reduce or even avoid the risk of pole detachment caused by stress concentration.

[0088] Specifically, the first connecting end 131 and the second connecting end 132 can be designed as an integral structure with the flexible main body 130, that is, the connecting conductor 13 is an integral structure, such as an integrally formed conductor structure, or the connecting conductor 13 is designed as a flexible conductor.

[0089] For example, the connecting conductor 13 can be constructed as a multi-stranded cable, and its shape can be, but is not limited to, a strip. Of course, other structural forms of the connecting conductor can also be designed. For instance, the connecting conductor 13 can be constructed as a flexible thin-film conductor, which can be made using granular or powdered superconducting materials. Specifically, the powdered superconducting material can be formed into a flexible thin-film conductor through processes such as calendering and coating. The granules or powders can specifically include, but are not limited to, graphene.

[0090] It is understandable that the first connecting end 131 and the second connecting end 132 can also be designed as a separate fixed connection with the flexible main body 130. In this case, it is only necessary to ensure that the flexible main body 130 has the requirements of conductivity and flexibility. The first connecting end 131 and the second connecting end 132 are not limited to having flexible characteristics and can be rigid structures.

[0091] In some specific implementation plans, refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The outer surface of the flexible main body 130 has an insulating layer. The outer surface of the flexible main body 130 refers to the surface excluding the two ends (which are respectively connected to the first connecting end 131 and the second connecting end 132). By designing this insulating layer, it can provide insulation and protection for the connecting conductor 13. Of course, in addition to insulation properties, the insulating layer can also have properties such as heat insulation, extrusion resistance, and corrosion resistance. In practical applications, the configuration can be selected according to actual needs. The specific material, function, and formation process of the insulating layer can be selected according to actual needs, and no specific limitation is made here. For example, excellent new polymer materials can be selected.

[0092] For example, the aforementioned insulating layer can be specifically designed as a flexible insulating sleeve 16 wrapped around the outer side of the flexible main body 130. In addition to having insulating properties, the flexible insulating sleeve 16 also has a certain degree of flexibility. The specific means by which the flexible insulating sleeve 16 is wrapped around the outer side of the flexible main body 130 connecting the conductor 13 is not specifically limited, but is related to the specific material. For example, when the flexible insulating sleeve 16 is a heat shrink tube, it can be wrapped around the outer side of the flexible main body 130 by heat shrinking with a hot air blower.

[0093] When the insulation layer is designed as a flexible insulating sleeve 16, in addition to wrapping the flexible main body 130 of the connecting conductor 13, one end of the flexible insulating sleeve 16 can be connected to the first connecting piece 11, and the other end of the flexible insulating sleeve 16 can be connected to the second connecting piece 12. By designing the above-mentioned structural form, the protective effect of the flexible insulating sleeve 16 can be improved.

[0094] The end of the flexible insulating sleeve 16 can be tightened onto the corresponding connecting piece through heat shrinking, or it can be sealed by bonding, or it can be fixed to the corresponding connecting piece by clamping. In practical applications, the appropriate connection method can be selected according to actual needs, and no specific limitation is made here.

[0095] Another example is that the insulating layer can also be designed as a surface treatment layer formed on the outer surface of the flexible main body 130. The outer surface of the flexible main body 130 has been explained in detail above and will not be repeated here. The surface treatment layer can be formed on the outer surface of the flexible main body 130 by processes such as spraying, plating, and deposition.

[0096] On the other hand, this application also provides a battery module 3, which includes a plurality of battery cells 2. Two battery cells 2 are electrically connected by an electrical connector 1 as described in any of the preceding embodiments. A first connecting piece 11 is used to connect a first terminal 21, a second connecting piece 12 is used to connect a second terminal 22, and a connecting conductor 13 maintains a preset slack. The first terminal 21 and the second terminal 22 are terminals on two different battery cells 2 on the battery module 3, respectively. Since the aforementioned electrical connector 1 has the above-mentioned technical effects, the battery module 3 with this electrical connector 1 should also have corresponding technical effects, which will not be elaborated further here.

[0097] In addition, since the first connecting piece 11 is connected to the first terminal 21 and the second connecting piece 12 is connected to the second terminal 22, the connecting conductor 13 maintains a preset slack amount. When the battery module 3 is running, the preset slack amount can release the stress between the terminal on the battery cell 2 and the electrical connector 1, thereby alleviating or even eliminating the residual stress of welding between the electrical connector 1 and the terminal, and the deformation tension of the battery module 3 during charging and discharging expansion and contraction on the terminal on the battery cell 2. This can reduce or even avoid the occurrence of battery structure damage such as terminal detachment caused by stress concentration.

[0098] In other specific implementations, the first connecting piece 11 and the first pole post 21 can also be designed as an integral structure, that is, the first connecting piece 11 can be integrated onto the first pole post 21. This design eliminates the need for connection operations between the first connecting piece 11 and the first pole post 21; for example, if they are connected by welding, the welding operation can be omitted. Similarly, the second connecting piece 12 and the second pole post 22 can also be designed as an integral structure, that is, the second connecting piece 12 can be integrated onto the second pole post 22. This design eliminates the need for connection operations between the second connecting piece 12 and the second pole post 22; for example, if they are connected by welding, the welding operation can be omitted.

[0099] It is understandable that the design of the first connecting piece 11 and the first pole post 21 as an integral structure, and the design of the second connecting piece 12 and the second pole post 22 as an integral structure, are merely examples of embodiments of this application. In actual applications, a separate fixed connection structure can be selected according to actual needs.

[0100] For example, the first connecting piece 11 and the first pole post 21 are configured to be fixedly connected separately. For instance, the connection between the first connecting piece 11 and the first pole post 21 can be a welding connection or a connection through fasteners.

[0101] Furthermore, in order to make the operation and positioning more convenient when the two are fixedly connected, the top surface of the first pole post 21 may have (or be designed with) a first positioning part, and the side of the first connecting piece 11 that is used to cooperate with the top surface of the first pole post 21 may have (or be designed with) a second positioning part that is adapted to the first positioning part. By cooperating with the first positioning part and the second positioning part for positioning, the convenience of fixing the two is greatly improved.

[0102] For example, the second connecting piece 12 and the second pole post 22 are configured to be fixedly connected separately. For instance, the connection between the second connecting piece 12 and the second pole post 22 can be a welding connection or a connection through fasteners.

[0103] Furthermore, to facilitate positioning during the fixed connection, the top surface of the second pole post 22 may have (or be designed with) a third positioning part, and the side of the second connecting piece 12 that mates with the top surface of the second pole post 22 may have (or be designed with) a fourth positioning part that matches the third positioning part. Positioning through the cooperation of the third and fourth positioning parts greatly improves the ease of fixing the two components.

[0104] In some more specific implementations, the specific way to maintain a preset relaxation amount of the connecting conductor 13 can be to design the connecting conductor 13 as a flexible conductor as a whole, or to design at least a portion of the middle region of the connecting conductor 13 as a flexible structure (for example, the connecting conductor 13 described above includes a flexible main body 130, which has a certain degree of flexibility). Here, the flexible structure refers to having a certain degree of variability to meet the adaptive adjustment of the spacing between the first connecting end 131 and the second connecting end 132 of the connecting conductor 13 and release residual stress.

[0105] For example, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3 Specifically, the connecting conductor 13 can be in a bent state. For example, when the battery module 3 is placed vertically, the electrical connector 1 is connected to the terminals on the top shell walls of the two battery cells 2. In this case, under the action of gravity, the connecting conductor 13 bends downwards towards the top shell wall of the battery cell 2 in its middle region. Alternatively, when the battery module 3 is placed horizontally, that is, when the top shell walls of the battery cells 2 are arranged horizontally, and the electrical connector 1 is connected to the terminals on the top shell walls of the two battery cells 2, the middle region of the connecting conductor 13 can be bent towards the top shell wall of the battery cell 2 or towards the side away from the top shell wall of the battery cell 2.

[0106] In a further implementation plan, refer to Figure 3 As shown, the aforementioned preset slack amount typically needs to meet the following conditions: when the connecting conductor 13 bends towards the top shell wall of the battery cell 2, there needs to be a preset safety gap between it and the top shell wall of the battery cell 2; that is, when the connecting conductor 13 droops, there needs to be a preset safety gap between it and the top shell wall of the battery cell 2. By designing this preset safety gap, the connecting conductor 13 can be prevented from touching the top shell wall of the battery cell, thereby reducing the potential risk of arcing.

[0107] It is worth mentioning that the battery module provided in this application may be, but is not limited to, a lithium battery module.

[0108] It should be noted that the various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on the differences from other embodiments. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other.

[0109] As indicated in this application and claims, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the words "a," "an," "a," and / or "the" are not specifically singular and may include the plural. Generally, the terms "comprising" and "including" only indicate the inclusion of expressly identified steps and elements, which do not constitute an exclusive list, and the method or apparatus may also include other steps or elements. An element defined by the phrase "comprising an..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, product, or apparatus that includes the element.

[0110] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise stated, " / " means "or", for example, A / B can mean A or B; "and / or" in this document 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, and B existing alone. Furthermore, in the description of the embodiments of this application, "multiple" refers to two or more.

[0111] It should also be noted that in the description of the embodiments of this application, the terms "first" and "second" are used only for the purpose of distinguishing descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, nor should they be construed as indicating or implying order.

[0112] This document uses specific examples to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The descriptions of the embodiments above are only for the purpose of helping to understand the core ideas of this application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make several improvements and modifications to this application without departing from the principles of this application, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the protection scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, characterized in that, include: The first connecting piece (11) is used for electrical connection to the first target body; The second connecting piece (12) is used for electrical connection to the second target body; The connecting conductor (13) has a first connecting end (131) connected to the first connecting piece (11) and a second connecting end (132) connected to the second connecting piece (12). Wherein, the first connecting end (131) and the first connecting piece (11) are detachably connected; and / or, the second connecting end (132) and the second connecting piece (12) are detachably connected.

2. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The first connecting end (131) is fitted into the first connecting piece (11) and locked in place by the first fastener (14); the second connecting end (132) is fitted into the second connecting piece (12) and locked in place by the second fastener (15).

3. The electrical connector as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first connecting piece (11) has a first fitting groove (110) on its end side, and the first connecting end (131) is fitted into the first fitting groove (110); the second connecting piece (12) has a second fitting groove (120) on its end side, and the second connecting end (132) is fitted into the second fitting groove (120).

4. The electrical connector as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The first connecting piece (11) has a first fixing hole (111), the first fixing hole (111) penetrates at least one side of the groove wall of the first fitting groove (110), the portion of the first connecting end (131) that fits into the first fitting groove (110) has a second fixing hole (1311), and the first fastener (14) passes through the first fixing hole (111) and the second fixing hole (1311) and is locked to the first connecting piece (11). And / or, the second connecting piece (12) has a third fixing hole (121) that penetrates at least one side of the groove wall of the second fitting groove (120), the portion of the second connecting end (132) that fits into the second fitting groove (120) has a fourth fixing hole (1321), and the second fastener (15) passes through the third fixing hole (121) and the fourth fixing hole (1321) and is locked to the second connecting piece (12).

5. The electrical connector as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The first connecting piece (11) has a first positioning hole (112), which penetrates one side of the groove wall of the first fitting groove (110). The first fastener (14) is threadedly engaged with the first positioning hole (112) and presses the portion of the first connecting end (131) that is fitted into the first fitting groove (110) against the first connecting piece (11). And / or, the second connecting piece (12) has a second positioning hole (122) that penetrates one side of the groove wall of the second fitting groove (120), and the second fastener (15) is threadedly engaged with the second positioning hole (122) and presses the portion of the second connecting end (132) that is fitted into the second fitting groove (120) against the second connecting piece (12).

6. The electrical connector as described in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The connecting conductor (13) also includes a flexible main body (130), with the first connecting end (131) and the second connecting end (132) respectively connected to the two ends of the flexible main body (130).

7. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that, The outer surface of the flexible main body (130) has an insulating layer.

8. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that, The insulating layer is a flexible insulating sleeve (16) wrapped around the outer side of the flexible main body (130); or, the insulating layer is a surface treatment layer formed on the outer side of the flexible main body (130).

9. The electrical connector as described in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The connecting conductor (13) is a flexible conductor.

10. A battery module comprising a plurality of battery cells (2), characterized in that, Two battery cells (2) are electrically connected by an electrical connector (1) as described in any one of claims 1-9, wherein the first connecting piece (11) is used to connect the first terminal (21), the second connecting piece (12) is used to connect the second terminal (22), and the connecting conductor (13) maintains a preset slack. The first electrode post (21) and the second electrode post (22) are electrode posts on two different battery cells (2), respectively.

11. The battery module as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The first connecting piece (11) and the first pole post (21) are an integral structure; And / or, the second connecting piece (12) and the second pole post (22) are an integral structure.

12. The battery module as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The top surface of the first pole post (21) has a first positioning part, and the first connecting piece (11) has a second positioning part that is adapted to the first positioning part; And / or, the top surface of the second pole post (22) has a third positioning portion, and the second connecting piece (12) has a fourth positioning portion adapted to the third positioning portion.

13. The battery module according to any one of claims 10-12, characterized in that, The connecting conductor (13) is in a bent state.

14. The battery module as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The connecting conductor (13) bends toward the top shell wall of the battery cell (2) and has a preset safety gap with the top shell wall of the battery cell (2).

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