A soft package battery clamp

Abstract

This utility model relates to the field of battery clamping technology, specifically a clamping device for soft-pack batteries. The device includes a soft-pack battery and a housing. A clamping mechanism is provided on the housing, comprising: a flexible pressure applying unit fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing for applying clamping pressure to the soft-pack battery; a hydraulic press, the flexible pressure applying unit and the hydraulic press being interconnected via hydraulic lines to provide adjustable pressure; a pressure sensor mounted on the flexible pressure applying unit; and a control center electrically connected to both the hydraulic press and the pressure sensor mounted on the flexible pressure applying unit. This utility model, by incorporating a clamping mechanism and utilizing a closed-loop feedback system formed by the pressure sensor and control center, can automatically adjust the hydraulic press output according to preset parameters, achieving constant pressure clamping of the soft-pack battery. This effectively avoids the problem of uneven pressure caused by manual operation in traditional clamps, improving the performance consistency and reliability of the battery during testing or formation processes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of battery clamping technology, specifically a soft-pack battery clamp. Background Technology

[0002] Soft-pack lithium batteries have a series of advantages such as light weight, good safety performance, and flexible design.

[0003] Traditional battery clamps typically consist of a base plate, top plate, and other components that support and hold the battery. They can only apply pressure and heat to the upper and lower surfaces of the battery. This uneven pressure application is detrimental to battery fabrication and testing, ultimately affecting battery performance. For semi-solid-state batteries (including fully polymeric and sulfurized batteries) during the formation or testing phases, which utilize oxide solid-state electrolytes, polymer solid-state electrolytes, and sulfide solid-state electrolyte systems, the battery pressure needs to be varied at each stage to ensure optimal battery performance. However, changing the pressure requires manual disassembly and reassembly of the clamps, which is inefficient. Polymer pouch batteries have more specific requirements during electrolyte curing, formation, and cycle testing, which existing clamps cannot meet.

[0004] In view of this, we propose a pouch battery clamp. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a pouch battery clamp that solves the problem that existing clamps have simple structures and single pressurization methods, which cannot meet the complex requirements of dynamic temperature and pressure adjustment at different stages of polymer pouch batteries and solid-state batteries, thus affecting the preparation efficiency and battery performance.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution:

[0007] A pouch battery clamp includes a pouch battery and a housing. A clamping mechanism is provided on the housing. The clamping mechanism includes: a flexible pressure applying unit fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing for applying clamping pressure to the pouch battery; a hydraulic press, the flexible pressure applying unit and the hydraulic press being interconnected via hydraulic lines to provide adjustable pressure; a pressure sensor disposed on the flexible pressure applying unit; and a control center electrically connected to both the hydraulic press and the pressure sensor disposed on the flexible pressure applying unit.

[0008] Preferably, a heater is provided on the inner wall of the flexible pressure application unit, and a temperature control sensor is provided on the heater, the temperature control sensor being signal-connected to the control center.

[0009] Preferably, the heater is a flexible heating diaphragm, and the side of the housing is provided with an electrode tab opening, and the electrode tab opening is provided with an electrode tab protection structure.

[0010] Preferably, the hydraulic press is an electric hydraulic pump, and the control center is equipped with a graphical user interface.

[0011] Preferably, the flexible pressure application unit is made of a flexible high-temperature resistant electrical insulating material, and the pressure sensor is a flexible thin-film pressure sensor.

[0012] Preferably, the temperature control sensor is a thermocouple or a thermistor, used to monitor the temperature distribution within the flexible pressure application unit in real time.

[0013] Preferably, the control center is equipped with a processor, a memory, and a signal acquisition module for realizing multi-parameter dynamic control.

[0014] By employing the above technical solution, this utility model provides a soft-pack battery clamp. It possesses at least the following beneficial effects:

[0015] 1. This utility model, by setting up a clamping mechanism and using a pressure sensor to form a closed-loop feedback system with the control center, can automatically adjust the hydraulic press output according to preset parameters to achieve constant pressure clamping of soft-pack batteries. This effectively avoids the problem of uneven pressure caused by manual operation of traditional clamps, and helps to improve the performance consistency and reliability of batteries during testing or formation processes.

[0016] 2. By setting up a clamping mechanism and integrating a flexible heater and temperature control sensor in the flexible pressure application unit, this fixture can not only achieve constant temperature heating, but also automatically adjust the heating temperature at different stages. It is suitable for various application scenarios such as electrolyte solidification, formation, and cyclic testing, which improves the functionality and adaptability of the fixture and reduces workstation changes and labor costs. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention, form part of this application:

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the flexible pressure application unit in this utility model;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the heater in this utility model;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electrode tab opening in this utility model.

[0022] In the diagram: 1. Soft-pack battery; 2. Housing; 3. Clamping mechanism; 31. Flexible pressure application unit; 32. Hydraulic press; 33. Control center; 34. Pressure sensor; 35. Heater; 36. Temperature control sensor; 37. Tab opening. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0024] Please see Figure 1 - Figure 4 As shown, this utility model provides a technical solution: a soft-pack battery clamp, including a soft-pack battery 1 and a housing 2. A clamping mechanism 3 is provided on the housing 2. The clamping mechanism 3 includes: a flexible pressure applying unit 31, which is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing 2 and is used to apply clamping pressure to the soft-pack battery 1; a hydraulic press 32, which is interconnected with the flexible pressure applying unit 31 via hydraulic lines to provide adjustable pressure; a pressure sensor 34, which is disposed on the flexible pressure applying unit 31; and a control center 33, which is electrically connected to the hydraulic press 32 and the pressure sensor 34 disposed on the flexible pressure applying unit 31, for regulating the working state of the hydraulic press 32 and acquiring real-time data. The pressure information fed back by the pressure sensor 34 guides the soft-pack battery 1 to be placed inside the flexible pressure application unit 31. The control center 33 starts the system and controls the hydraulic press 32 to inject hydraulic oil or hydraulic fluid into the flexible pressure application unit 31. The flexible pressure application unit 31 expands and applies uniform pressure to the soft-pack battery 1 to achieve clamping and fixation. The pressure sensor 34 detects the clamping pressure applied by the flexible pressure application unit 31 to the soft-pack battery 1 in real time and feeds the signal back to the control center 33. The control center 33 adjusts the output of the hydraulic press 32 according to the preset program or the real-time pressure signal to keep the pressure within the target range. After the process is completed, the control center 33 controls the hydraulic press 32 to release the pressure, the flexible pressure application unit 31 retracts, and the operator removes the soft-pack battery 1.

[0025] A high-efficiency heater 35 is installed on the inner wall of the flexible pressure application unit 31. The surface of the heater 35 is further equipped with a precise temperature control sensor 36. The temperature control sensor 36 transmits data in real time to the control center 33 via a stable signal connection, ensuring accurate temperature control. The heater 35 employs advanced flexible heating diaphragm technology. This diaphragm not only has good flexibility but also achieves a reliable electrical connection with the control center 33, ensuring the stability and safety of the heating process. A tab opening 37 is specially designed on the side of the housing 2. Its main function is to effectively avoid the tabs of the soft-pack battery 1, preventing unnecessary interference during operation. A tab protection structure is also carefully provided on the tab opening 37, designed to prevent the battery tabs from... Damage is prevented when subjected to external pressure, thus extending battery life. Furthermore, an elastic silicone gasket is added to the tab opening 37 to effectively prevent damage to the tab during compression. The hydraulic press 32 employs high-efficiency electric hydraulic pump technology, and its pressure output value can be precisely controlled through programming to meet the needs of different working conditions. The control center 33 is equipped with an intuitive graphical user interface, allowing operators to easily set clamping pressure, heating temperature, and test sequence, greatly improving operational efficiency and user experience. The flexible pressure application unit 31 is made of flexible, high-temperature resistant electrical insulating material, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) composite rubber or silicone, with PTFE composite rubber being particularly favored for its excellent high-temperature resistance. The pressure sensor 34 utilizes advanced flexible thin-film pressure sensor technology, enabling accurate monitoring of pressure changes. The temperature control sensor 36 uses a high-sensitivity thermocouple or thermistor to monitor the temperature distribution inside the flexible pressure application unit 31 in real time, ensuring the accuracy of temperature control. The control center 33 integrates a high-performance processor, a large-capacity memory, and an efficient signal acquisition module. These modules work together to achieve dynamic control of multiple parameters, ensuring the stable operation and efficient operation of the entire system.

[0026] The specific workflow of this utility model's soft-pack battery clamp is as follows: First, the operator accurately places the soft-pack battery 1 into the clamping space inside the housing 2, ensuring that the main body of the soft-pack battery 1 is within the area covered and stressed by the flexible pressure application unit 31. Simultaneously, the battery's tabs are properly extended through the tab openings 37 on the housing 2 to avoid squeezing or damaging the tabs during clamping. Then, the control center 33 issues a system start command according to the pre-set clamping program or a command manually input by the operator, activating the hydraulic press 32 to enter working condition. The hydraulic press 32 begins operation, uniformly injecting hydraulic oil or hydraulic fluid at a predetermined pressure into the flexible pressure application unit 31 through connected hydraulic lines. The flexible pressure application unit 31 expands in a controlled manner under the influence of the liquid filling. The flexible pressure application unit 31 adopts a flexible structure, capable of adapting to subtle changes in the outline of the soft-pack battery 1 during expansion, ensuring uniform clamping pressure applied to the entire outer surface of the soft-pack battery 1, avoiding localized overpressure or clamping dead zones. This uniform and adjustable clamping process not only securely fixes the battery but also provides a certain degree of cushioning, preventing the pouch battery 1 from being impacted or deformed during clamping, thus ensuring the normal operation of subsequent processes such as heating, testing, liquid injection, and packaging. During the clamping process, a flexible thin-film pressure sensor 34, located on the surface of the flexible pressure application unit 31, monitors the current expansion state of the flexible pressure application unit 31 and the actual clamping pressure applied to the pouch battery 1 in real time, transmitting this pressure value to the control center 33 in the form of an electrical signal. The control center 33 analyzes and processes the received pressure data in real time. If it finds that the current pressure has not reached the preset clamping threshold, the control center 33 will automatically adjust the output parameters of the hydraulic press 32, continuing to inject hydraulic oil into the flexible pressure application unit 31 until the clamping pressure stabilizes within the target setting range.

[0027] Through the above process, the clamping system can achieve high-precision and high-consistency clamping and fixing of the soft-pack battery 1 while ensuring controllable pressure and smooth operation, providing a solid guarantee for the stability of subsequent processes and the yield of battery products.

[0028] When the heating function is activated, the clamping system not only mechanically clamps the pouch battery 1 but also simultaneously completes the temperature control process, thereby meeting the specific temperature environment requirements of the pouch battery 1 during testing, packaging, and curing processes. At this time, the heater 35, located on the inner wall of the flexible pressure application unit 31, starts working. The heater 35 is a flexible heating diaphragm structure that fits tightly against the inner surface of the flexible pressure application unit 31 and is evenly distributed throughout the clamping area. Multiple thermocouples are evenly arranged within the flexible pressure application unit 31 to ensure the uniformity and stability of the heating process. When the system begins to heat up, the control center 33 first issues a start command to the heater 35 according to the preset heating program or manually set temperature parameters. The heater 35 quickly enters the working state and begins to release heat. The heat is transferred through the inner wall of the flexible pressure application unit 31 to the surface of the clamped pouch battery 1, ensuring that the battery gradually heats up while clamped, with a stable heating process and no localized overheating. To achieve precise temperature control, the temperature control sensor 36, pre-set within the flexible pressure application unit 31, starts working simultaneously. The temperature control sensor 36 is preferably a thermocouple or a thermistor, which can monitor the temperature changes inside the flexible pressure application unit 31 in real time and feed the collected temperature signal back to the control center 33 in real time. The control center 33 is equipped with a processor and a signal acquisition module, which can perform high-speed acquisition and dynamic comparison of temperature signals. Under the closed-loop control logic of the control center 33, the system will automatically compare the current temperature value with the set target value. If there is a temperature difference, the control center 33 will precisely adjust the output power of the heater 35 through PWM modulation or constant current drive, so that the temperature slowly approaches and stabilizes within the set value. This closed-loop temperature control system has a high response speed and control accuracy, which can effectively prevent temperature overshoot or lag, and ensure that the heating process is safe, stable and meets the process standards. After the clamping heating test or curing process is completed, the control center 33 issues a pressure relief control signal according to the program setting or operation command, and controls the hydraulic press 32 to perform reverse pressure relief operation. The hydraulic press 32 draws hydraulic oil or fluid from the flexible pressure application unit 31 back to the reservoir or pressure relief channel via hydraulic lines. The flexible pressure application unit 31 then rapidly retracts, returning to its initial unexpanded state. This rapid retraction of the flexible pressure application unit 31 completely releases the clamping force on the pouch battery 1, and the entire clamp returns to a standby state ready for reloading. At this point, the operator can safely remove the pouch battery 1 directly from the casing 2 without external prying or mechanical assistance. The entire process is safe and efficient, minimizing risks such as damage to the battery casing, twisting of the tabs, or functional impairment, thus completing an efficient, intelligent, and stable clamping and heat treatment process.

[0029] Furthermore, to enhance the reliability and accuracy of the system, the control center 33 can also be connected to a host computer communication interface to realize remote data monitoring and cloud synchronous storage functions, which facilitates the tracking of product process history.

[0030] To ensure the safety of equipment operation, the control center 33 is equipped with a pressure alarm module and a temperature over-limit protection program. When the pressure or temperature exceeds the set range, the system will automatically stop operation and trigger an audible and visual alarm. The judgment logic is as follows: when the pressure fed back by the pressure sensor 34 exceeds the preset maximum allowable pressure and the duration exceeds the allowable over-limit tolerance time (e.g., 2 seconds), the following actions are triggered through the control signal: automatically cut off the pressurization output of the hydraulic pump 32 and start depressurization to reduce the internal pressure of the flexible pressure application unit 31 to a safe range.

[0031] The flexible heating film adopts a structure in which metal conductive wires are embedded in a silicone composite layer. While maintaining flexibility, it has excellent thermal conductivity and electrical insulation properties, ensuring both the temperature rise rate and the safety and reliability of the use process.

[0032] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

[0033] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A soft-pack battery clamp comprising a housing (2) that accommodates a soft-pack battery (1), characterized by: The housing (2) is provided with a clamping mechanism (3), the clamping mechanism (3) includes: A flexible pressure application unit (31) is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the housing (2) and is used to apply clamping pressure to the soft-pack battery (1). The hydraulic press (32) is connected to the flexible pressure application unit (31) via hydraulic lines to provide adjustable pressure; A pressure sensor (34) is disposed on a flexible pressure application unit (31); The control center (33) is electrically connected to the hydraulic press (32) and the pressure sensor (34) located on the flexible pressure application unit (31).

2. The pouch battery gripper of claim 1, wherein: A heater (35) is provided on the inner wall of the flexible pressure application unit (31), and a temperature control sensor (36) is provided on the heater (35). The temperature control sensor (36) is connected to the control center (33) via signal.

3. The pouch battery gripper of claim 2, wherein: The flexible pressure application unit (31) is provided on both sides of the housing (2).

4. The pouch battery gripper of claim 2, wherein: The heater (35) adopts a U-shaped design to avoid the tabs.

5. The pouch battery gripper of claim 2, wherein: The heater (35) is open at both ends and can be used to insert a soft-pack battery (1).

6. The pouch battery gripper of claim 2, wherein: The heater (35) is a flexible heating diaphragm. The side of the housing (2) is provided with an electrode opening (37). The housing (2) is provided with an opening to avoid the temperature control sensor (36) when it is electrically connected to the control center (33). An electrode protection structure is provided on the electrode opening (37).

7. The pouch battery gripper of claim 1, wherein: The hydraulic press (32) is an electric hydraulic pump, and the control center (33) is equipped with a graphical user interface.

8. The pouch battery gripper of claim 1, wherein: The flexible pressure application unit (31) is made of flexible high-temperature resistant electrical insulation material, and the pressure sensor (34) is a flexible thin-film pressure sensor (34).

9. The pouch battery gripper of claim 2, wherein: The temperature control sensor (36) is a thermocouple or a thermistor, used to monitor the temperature distribution inside the flexible pressure application unit (31) in real time.

10. The pouch battery gripper of claim 1, wherein: The control center (33) is equipped with a processor, a memory and a signal acquisition module, which are used to realize multi-parameter dynamic control.

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