Battery cell holder, battery cell and battery pack

Abstract

This application belongs to the field of battery technology, specifically relating to a cell support, a cell, and a battery pack. The disclosed cell support includes: a frame and a support member. The frame includes a first groove and a second groove; the support member is disposed on the outer sidewall of the frame; one end of the support member is connected to the outer sidewall of the frame in the width direction of the frame; when the cell support is installed in the cell housing, the other end of the support member abuts against the inner sidewall of the housing; a base plate is provided at the bottom end of the first groove, and a slit is provided between the base plate and the frame side plate in the width direction of the frame, allowing at least a portion of the tabs to pass through. The cell support of this application can be stably installed inside the cell housing, preventing damage to the tabs from movement when the cell shakes; and during charging and discharging, it effectively prevents the plastic parts on the cover from being subjected to lateral pressure generated by the expansion of the tabs, thus preventing the sides of the plastic parts from turning outwards and damaging the cell.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of battery technology, specifically relating to a cell support, a cell, and a battery pack. Background Technology

[0002] Based on their shape, battery cells can be divided into prismatic cells, cylindrical cells, and blade cells, among others. Prismatic cells have advantages such as high energy density and high stability. Currently, prismatic cells can be further divided into those with positive and negative terminals on the same side and those with positive and negative terminals on both sides, depending on the direction of their tabs. Cells with positive and negative terminals on opposite sides, based on their assembly method, typically require the tabs to be folded and positioned, and protected, to prevent damage, compared to the traditional method of having positive and negative terminals on the same side.

[0003] Currently, for square battery cells with positive and negative terminals on opposite sides, a bracket is installed between the lower plastic component and the electrode assembly to protect or position the tabs or tab clusters. However, the bracket's dimensions are usually consistent with the lower plastic component, resulting in a certain gap between the bracket and the battery cell housing. Furthermore, the bracket cannot be securely installed in the battery cell housing, and in the event of shaking, the bracket can damage the tabs and the battery cell housing. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of the above-mentioned technical problems, the purpose of this application is to at least partially solve one of the technical problems in the related art. To this end, this application provides a cell bracket, a cell, and a battery pack, which can be stably installed in the cell housing to prevent the bracket from moving and damaging the tabs when the cell shakes; and during the charging and discharging process, it effectively prevents the plastic parts on the cover plate from being subjected to lateral pressure generated by the expansion of the tabs, which would cause the sides of the plastic parts to flip outward and damage the cell.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this application is implemented as follows:

[0006] According to a first aspect of this application, this application provides a battery cell support, comprising:

[0007] The frame includes a first groove and a second groove;

[0008] Support members are provided on the outer sidewall of the frame;

[0009] In the width direction of the frame, one end of the support member is connected to the outer sidewall of the frame; when the cell support is installed in the cell housing, the other end of the support member abuts against the inner sidewall of the housing.

[0010] A base plate is provided at the bottom end of the first groove, and a slit is provided between the base plate and the side plate of the frame in the width direction of the frame to allow at least part of the electrode tab to pass through.

[0011] In one alternative embodiment, at least one support member is provided on each side of the frame in the width direction, and the support member is provided on the outer side wall of the frame.

[0012] In one optional implementation, in the width direction of the frame, the end of the support member away from the frame is provided with a first chamfer;

[0013] In the thickness direction of the frame, the first chamfer is located at the end of the support member near the cover plate.

[0014] In one alternative implementation, a second chamfer is provided at the end of the support member away from the frame in the width direction of the frame;

[0015] In the thickness direction of the frame, the second chamfer is located at the end of the support member away from the cover plate.

[0016] In one optional implementation, the thickness of the support member in the thickness direction of the frame is T, wherein T satisfies: T≥1mm.

[0017] In one alternative embodiment, the support members spaced apart on the two side walls of the frame in the thickness direction are at the same horizontal height; and the height of the support members is greater than the height of the base plate, which is used to place at least a portion of the electrode tabs.

[0018] According to a second aspect of this application, this application also provides a battery cell, including: the battery cell support described in any embodiment of the first aspect of this application.

[0019] In one alternative implementation, the battery cell further includes: a housing, a cover plate, and an electrode assembly;

[0020] The cover plate is disposed at one end of the housing, the cell support and the electrode assembly are respectively disposed in the housing, and the cell support is located between the cover plate and the electrode assembly.

[0021] In one optional implementation, the cover plate is provided with an electrode post and an explosion-proof valve;

[0022] The pole post is located on the first groove, the explosion-proof valve is located on the second groove, and the tabs on the pole assembly at least partially pass through the first groove and are connected to the pole post.

[0023] According to a third aspect of this application, this application also provides a battery pack, including: a cell support as described in any embodiment of the first aspect of this application, and / or, a cell as described in any embodiment of the second aspect of this application.

[0024] The cell support, cell, and battery pack provided in this application have at least the following beneficial effects:

[0025] The battery cell support provided in this application includes a support member on the frame, wherein the frame includes a first groove and a second groove; the support member is disposed on the outer side wall of the frame; one end of the support member is connected to the outer side wall of the frame in the width direction of the frame; when the battery cell support is installed in the housing of the battery cell, the other end of the support member abuts against the inner side wall of the housing; a base plate is provided at the bottom end of the first groove, and a slit is provided between the base plate and the side plate of the frame in the width direction of the frame to allow at least a portion of the electrode tab to pass through. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0027] Figure 1 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the battery cell support provided in this application;

[0028] Figure 2 The diagram shown is a top view of the battery cell support structure provided in this application;

[0029] Figure 3 The diagram shown is a bottom view of the battery cell support structure provided in this application;

[0030] Figure 4 The figure shown is a side plan view of the battery cell support provided in this application;

[0031] Figure 5 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of the battery cell cover plate provided in this application;

[0032] Figure 6 The diagram shown is a bottom view of the battery cell cover plate provided in this application.

[0033] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0034] 100—Cell support;

[0035] 110—Frame; 120—First groove; 130—Second groove; 140—Supporting component; 150—Base plate; 160—Through hole;

[0036] 200—Cover plate; 210—Pole post; 220—Explosion-proof valve.

[0037] The accompanying drawings illustrate specific embodiments of this application, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the concept in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of this application to those skilled in the art through reference to particular embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0038] The technical solution of this application and how the technical solution of this application solves the above-mentioned technical problems are described in detail below with specific embodiments. These specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described again in some embodiments. The embodiments of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] All reagents, instruments, or materials used in this application are commercially available.

[0040] For square battery cells with positive and negative terminals on opposite sides, a bracket is installed between the lower plastic component and the electrode assembly to protect or position the tabs or tab clusters. The width of the installed bracket is consistent with the lower plastic component on the cover plate, and there is a certain gap between the bracket and the casing. During the charging and discharging process of the battery cell, the lateral pressure from the tabs on the lower plastic component will cause the lower plastic component to fold outward, thus failing to protect the tabs inside the lower plastic component. Especially when the bracket is located on the negative side, it will increase the contact airflow between the tabs and the casing, creating an external short circuit and causing a safety hazard.

[0041] In view of the technical problems existing in the prior art, this application provides a cell bracket, a cell, and a battery pack, which can be stably installed in the cell housing to prevent the bracket from moving and damaging the tabs when the cell shakes; and during the charging and discharging process, it effectively prevents the plastic parts on the cover from being subjected to lateral pressure generated by the expansion of the tabs, which would cause the sides of the plastic parts to flip outward and damage the cell.

[0042] The specific technical solution of this application is as follows:

[0043] In some embodiments of this application, a battery cell support is provided, comprising: a frame 110 and a support member 140. The frame 110 includes a first groove 120 and a second groove 130. The support member 140 is disposed on the outer sidewall of the frame 110. In the width direction of the frame 110, one end of the support member 140 is connected to the outer sidewall of the frame 110. When the battery cell support is installed in the housing of the battery cell, the other end of the support member 140 abuts against the inner sidewall of the housing.

[0044] refer to Figure 1The battery cell support is made of insulating materials, such as polymers or ceramics. Specifically, the frame 110 in the battery cell support can be made of materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polycarbonate, or rubber. The frame 110 can be rectangular or circular to fit the battery cell housing. The frame 110 can be installed inside the housing and can fit snugly against the electrode assembly inside the housing. The support member 140 is disposed on the outer sidewall of the frame 110. The support member 140 can be any shape, such as cuboid, cube, or sphere, and is made of insulating material. In some preferred embodiments, the support member 140 can be shaped as a cuboid and is regularly or irregularly disposed on the two outer sidewalls of the frame 110 along the length direction of the frame 110. After the cell bracket is installed into the housing, one end of the support member 140 abuts against the inner side wall of the housing. That is, after the cell bracket is placed into the housing, the support member 140 is located between the side wall of the frame 110 and the side wall of the housing. The support member 140 can securely install the cells in the housing and can be suspended between the electrode assembly and the plastic parts in the housing. Even when the cells shake, the cell bracket can be securely installed inside the housing.

[0045] refer to Figure 2 One end of the support member 140 and the outer sidewall of the frame 110 can be fixedly connected by adhesive or integral molding, or detachably connected by snap-fit ​​or pin. In a preferred embodiment, the support member 140 and the frame 110 can be integrally molded. The support member 140 can be arranged in any way on the outer sidewall of the frame 110. When the frame 110 is located in the housing, the tab can also pass through the first groove 120 in the frame 110 and connect to the electrode post on the cover plate. The first groove 120 has sufficient space to prevent the plastic part on the cover plate from being subjected to lateral pressure caused by the expansion of the tab during charging and discharging, thereby avoiding the phenomenon of the side of the plastic part turning outward.

[0046] In some embodiments, a base plate 150 is provided at the bottom end of the first groove 120, and a slit is provided between the base plate 150 and the side plate of the frame 110 in the width direction of the frame 110 to allow at least part of the electrode tab to pass through.

[0047] refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4The base plate 150 at the bottom of the first groove 120 is mainly used to place a part of the tab. Since the electrode assembly has multiple tabs or a cluster of tabs, and since the tabs have a certain length, when the tab passes through the first groove 120, that is, when the tab passes through the slit formed between the base plate 150 and the side plate of the frame 110, a part of the tab connects to the electrode post. A portion of the tab may be placed within the space formed by the first groove 120 and the base plate 150, thus effectively preventing the tab from expanding during charging and discharging, and avoiding the lateral pressure that would cause the plastic part to flip outwards, damaging the battery cell. In a preferred embodiment, the second groove 130 is provided with a through hole 160. When the bracket is installed inside the housing, the second groove 130 is located below the explosion-proof valve. This ensures that the battery cell still has good safety performance after the bracket is installed. When the explosion-proof valve is opened, it communicates with the inside of the battery cell through the through hole 160.

[0048] This application provides a battery cell support, comprising: a frame 110 and a support member 140. The frame 110 includes a first groove 120 and a second groove 130. The support member 140 is disposed on the outer sidewall of the frame 110. In the width direction of the frame 110, one end of the support member 140 is connected to the outer sidewall of the frame 110. When the battery cell support is installed in the battery cell housing, the other end of the support member 140 abuts against the inner sidewall of the housing. A base plate 150 is provided at the bottom end of the first groove 120. In the width direction of the frame 110, a slit is provided between the base plate 150 and the side plate of the frame 110 to allow at least a portion of the tab to pass through. The battery cell support of this application can be stably installed in the battery cell housing, preventing the support from shifting and damaging the tab when the battery cell shakes. Furthermore, during the charging and discharging process of the tab, it effectively prevents the plastic parts on the cover plate from being subjected to lateral pressure generated by the expansion of the tab, which could cause the sides of the plastic parts to flip outward and damage the battery cell.

[0049] In some embodiments, at least one support member 140 is provided on each side of the frame 110 in the width direction, and the support member 140 is provided on the outer side wall of the frame 110.

[0050] refer to Figure 2To ensure a more stable installation of the support member 140 within the cell housing, multiple support members 140 can be provided along the width of the frame 110, spaced apart on the outer side walls of both sides of the frame 110. That is, multiple support members 140 are respectively provided on the outer side walls of the frame 110 along its length. This provides greater stability when the cell support is installed within the housing, preventing easy movement that could damage the tabs and the cell. It is understood that one support member 140 can be provided on each of the outer side walls of the frame 110. When the support member 140 has a certain length, it also provides greater stability when the cell support is installed within the housing. Therefore, this application does not impose a specific limitation on the number of support members 140.

[0051] In some embodiments, in the width direction of the frame 110, the support member 140 is provided with a first chamfer at the end away from the frame 110; in the thickness direction of the frame 110, the first chamfer is located at the end of the support member 140 near the cover plate.

[0052] refer to Figure 4 In the width direction of the frame 110, one end of the support member 140 is connected to the outer wall of the frame 110, and the other end can abut against the inner wall of the housing. Since the battery cell bracket needs to be removed or inserted into the housing when assembling or replacing battery cell components, in order to avoid the support member 140 scratching or causing scratches on the inner wall of the housing, thus affecting the safety performance of the battery cell, the end of the support member 140 that abuts against the inner wall of the battery cell housing is set as a chamfer. That is, in the width direction of the frame 110, the end of the support member 140 that contacts the inner wall of the housing is provided with a first chamfer. The first chamfer is located at the end of the support member 140 near the cover plate. The first chamfer can prevent the inner wall of the housing from being scratched when the battery cell bracket is inserted into the housing. Of course, those skilled in the art will understand that the angle of the first chamfer is not particularly limited in this embodiment. As long as the above-mentioned technical effect can be achieved, it is within the protection scope of this application.

[0053] In some embodiments, in the width direction of the frame 110, the support member 140 is provided with a second chamfer at the end away from the frame 110; in the thickness direction of the frame 110, the second chamfer is located at the end of the support member 140 away from the cover plate.

[0054] refer to Figure 4It is understood that, similarly, in the width direction of the frame 110, a second chamfer is also provided at the end of the support member 140 that contacts the inner sidewall of the housing. The second chamfer is located at the end of the support member 140 away from the cover plate. The main purpose of the second chamfer is to prevent the burrs formed due to the right angle when the battery cell bracket is pulled out of the mold during production. Of course, those skilled in the art will understand that the angle of the second chamfer is not particularly limited in this embodiment. As long as the above technical effect can be achieved, it is within the protection scope of this application.

[0055] In some embodiments, the thickness of the support member 140 in the thickness direction of the frame 110 is T, where T satisfies: T≥1mm.

[0056] refer to Figure 4 In the thickness direction of the frame 110, the thickness T of the support member 140 can be 1mm, 1.01mm, 1.1mm, 1.5mm, 2mm, or 3mm or more. By limiting the thickness of the support member 140, the bracket can be stably installed in the housing. If the thickness T is too small, the support member 140 will be too thin and easily bend, thus causing instability of the bracket. At the same time, since the support member 140 abuts against the inner wall of the housing, there is a certain friction between the support member 140 and the inner wall of the housing. If the thickness of the support member 140 is too thin, the friction will be too small, and the support member 140 will be prone to shifting, damaging the battery cells. If it is too thick, the friction between the support member 140 and the inner wall of the housing will be too large, making the installation and disassembly of the bracket difficult, wasting raw materials, and increasing costs.

[0057] In some embodiments, in the thickness direction of the frame 110, the support members 140, which are spaced apart on the two side walls of the frame 110, are at the same horizontal height; and the height of the support member 140 is greater than the height of the base plate 150, which is used to place at least a portion of the electrode tab.

[0058] refer to Figure 2 Multiple support members 140 are spaced apart on the outer side walls of the frame 110. In the thickness direction of the frame 110, the support members 140 are at the same horizontal height, allowing the bracket to be stably installed inside the housing. Because the support members 140 are at the same horizontal height and are clamped by the side walls of the housing, the clamping force of the support members 140 is on the same horizontal plane, resulting in a greater force on the frame 110 and thus a more stable installation inside the housing. Since a portion of the electrode tab may be placed on the base plate 150, generating a certain amount of gravity, if the height of the base plate 150 is higher than the height of the support members 140 in the thickness direction of the frame 110, the frame 110 will shake excessively under the influence of gravity when the battery cell shakes, causing the bracket to shift and potentially damaging the battery cell.

[0059] In some embodiments of this application, a battery cell is also provided, including the battery cell support in any of the above embodiments of this application.

[0060] In some embodiments, the cell further includes: a housing, a cover plate, and an electrode assembly; the cover plate is disposed at one end of the housing, the cell support and the electrode assembly are respectively disposed in the housing, and the cell support is located between the cover plate and the electrode assembly.

[0061] The electrode assembly includes, but is not limited to, positive electrode plates, negative electrode plates, separators, and electrolytes, as well as a cell casing. The positive or negative electrode plates can be copper foil, aluminum foil, or stainless steel foil, respectively. The positive electrode plate also includes active materials such as lithium iron phosphate or ternary materials, and the negative electrode plate includes negative active materials such as graphite or silicon-based materials. The separator includes, but is not limited to, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or polyethylene. The cell casing can be made of aluminum foil, copper foil, or stainless steel, and the cell support from any of the above embodiments is installed within the casing.

[0062] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 The cover plate includes, but is not limited to, plastic parts, poles, seals and aluminum plates. The housing contains an electrode assembly. The bracket is installed in the housing and is located between the cover plate and the electrode assembly. The bracket can be attached to the cover plate and the electrode assembly or the cover plate and the electrode assembly respectively, or the bracket can be suspended between the cover plate and the electrode assembly.

[0063] In some embodiments, the cover plate is provided with a pole post 210 and an explosion-proof valve 220; the pole post 210 is located on the first groove 120, the explosion-proof valve 220 is located on the second groove 130, and the electrode tabs on the electrode assembly pass through the first groove 120 at least partially and are connected to the pole post 210.

[0064] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 The electrode post 210 on the cover plate is a conductor made of metal. The electrode post 210 is located at the upper end of the first groove 120. The electrode tabs on the electrode group can be connected to the electrode post 210 after passing through the first groove 120 to realize the charging and discharging of the battery cell. The explosion-proof valve is located on the second groove 130. When the battery cell is heated, the explosion-proof valve 220 is opened and communicates with the inside of the battery cell, so that the battery cell has a certain safety performance.

[0065] In some embodiments of this application, a battery pack is also provided, including: the cell support in any of the above embodiments of this application.

[0066] In some embodiments, the battery cell in any of the above embodiments of this application.

[0067] The battery pack includes a cell module composed of cells from any of the above embodiments, and may also include a battery pack housing, busbars, end plates or electrical components; it may also include high and low voltage swapping plugs, etc.

[0068] The endpoints and any values ​​of the ranges disclosed herein are not limited to the precise ranges or values, and these ranges or values ​​should be understood to include values ​​close to these ranges or values. For numerical ranges, the endpoint values ​​of the various ranges, the endpoint values ​​of the various ranges or individual point values, and individual point values ​​can be combined with each other to obtain one or more new numerical ranges, which should be considered as specifically disclosed herein.

[0069] Unless otherwise specified, all embodiments and optional embodiments of this application can be combined to form new technical solutions.

[0070] Unless otherwise specified, all technical features and optional technical features of this application may be combined to form new technical solutions.

[0071] Unless otherwise specified, all steps in this application may be performed sequentially or randomly, preferably sequentially. For example, the method includes steps (a) and (b), indicating that the method may include steps (a) and (b) performed sequentially, or it may include steps (b) and (a) performed sequentially. For example, the mention that the method may also include step (c) indicates that step (c) may be added to the method in any order. For example, the method may include steps (a), (b), and (c), or it may include steps (a), (c), and (b), or it may include steps (c), (a), and (b), etc.

[0072] Unless otherwise specified, the terms "comprising" and "including" as used in this application can be open-ended or closed-ended. For example, "comprising" and "including" can mean that other components not listed may also be included, or that only the listed components may be included.

[0073] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have their own emphasis. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments. The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as the combination of these technical features does not contradict each other, it should be considered within the scope of this specification.

[0074] It should be noted that the terms "and / or" or " / " used herein are merely descriptions of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. The singular forms "a," "the," and "the" used in the embodiments of this application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0075] In the detailed description and claims, a list of items connected by the terms "at least one of," "at least one of," "at least one of," or other similar terms may mean any combination of the listed items. For example, if items A and B are listed, then the phrase "at least one of A and B" means only A; only B; or A and B. In another example, if items A, B, and C are listed, then the phrase "at least one of A, B, and C" means only A; or only B; only C; A and B (excluding C); A and C (excluding B); B and C (excluding A); or all of A, B, and C. Item A may contain a single element or multiple elements. Item B may contain a single element or multiple elements. Item C may contain a single element or multiple elements.

[0076] Other embodiments of this application will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the application disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this application that follow the general principles of this application and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of this application are indicated by the following claims.

[0077] It should be understood that this application is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this application is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A battery cell support, characterized in that, include: The frame (110) includes a first groove (120) and a second groove (130); A support member (140) is provided on the outer sidewall of the frame (110); In the width direction of the frame (110), one end of the support member (140) is connected to the outer sidewall of the frame (110); when the cell support is installed in the cell housing, the other end of the support member (140) abuts against the inner sidewall of the housing. The bottom end of the first groove (120) is provided with a base plate (150), and in the width direction of the frame (110), a slit is provided between the base plate (150) and the side plate of the frame (110) to allow at least part of the electrode tab to pass through.

2. The cell support according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the width direction of the frame (110), at least one support member (140) is provided on each side of the frame (110), and the support member (140) is provided on the outer side wall of the frame (110).

3. The cell support according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, In the width direction of the frame (110), the support member (140) has a first chamfer at the end away from the frame (110); In the thickness direction of the frame (110), the first chamfer is located at the end of the support (140) near the cover plate.

4. The cell support according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, In the width direction of the frame (110), the support member (140) is also provided with a second chamfer at the end away from the frame (110); In the thickness direction of the frame (110), the second chamfer is located at the end of the support (140) away from the cover plate.

5. The cell support according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, In the thickness direction of the frame (110), the thickness of the support member (140) is T, and T satisfies: T≥1mm.

6. The cell support according to claim 2, characterized in that, In the thickness direction of the frame (110), the support members (140) spaced apart on the side walls of the frame (110) are at the same horizontal height; and the height of the support members (140) is greater than the height of the base plate (150), the base plate (150) is used to place at least part of the electrode tabs.

7. A battery cell, characterized in that, include: The cell support as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The battery cell according to claim 7, characterized in that, Also includes: Housing, cover plate, and electrode assembly; The cover plate is disposed at one end of the housing, the cell support and the electrode assembly are respectively disposed in the housing, and the cell support is located between the cover plate and the electrode assembly.

9. The battery cell according to claim 7, characterized in that, The cover plate is provided with a pole post (210) and an explosion-proof valve (220); The pole post (210) is located on the first groove (120), the explosion-proof valve (220) is located on the second groove (130), and the tabs on the pole assembly pass through the first groove (120) at least partially and are connected to the pole post (210).

10. A battery pack, characterized in that, include: The cell support as described in any one of claims 1 to 8; And / or the battery cell as described in claim 9.

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