Adhesive-free insulating sheet fixing structure and battery module

Abstract

This disclosure provides a glue-free insulating sheet fixing structure, which includes a support assembly and an insulation acquisition assembly. The insulation acquisition assembly consists of an insulator assembly and an acquisition plate. The acquisition plate has multiple fixing through holes. The insulator assembly includes a glue-free insulating sheet and multiple bent fixing members. One end of the bent fixing member is connected to the glue-free insulating sheet, and the other end passes through the fixing through hole. The support assembly includes a first and a second cell support, both of which have fixing member receiving grooves to accommodate the bent fixing members. When the battery module is working, this glue-free insulating sheet can effectively isolate current and provide good insulation protection, while avoiding problems such as water absorption, corrosion, hardening, aging and delamination that may occur with traditional adhesive backing, thus improving the reliability of the battery module. In addition, the assembly process of the glue-free insulating sheet fixing structure is more convenient and efficient, requiring no additional pasting operations, thereby saving assembly time and production costs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the technical field of battery modules, and in particular to a glue-free insulating sheet fixing structure and a battery module. Background Technology

[0002] In an era where carbon neutrality has become a shared mission for humanity, accelerating the transformation of energy structures and improving the energy experience have become common pursuits for all industries and individuals. Portable electronic devices and new energy products have an increasingly urgent need for efficient and safe energy storage solutions. As the core unit of energy storage, the insulation protection technology of battery modules directly affects product performance and user safety.

[0003] One common method of insulation protection is to use adhesive-backed insulating sheets or fiberboards, which are directly attached to the surface to be protected to achieve insulation. However, this adhesive method has some drawbacks. The adhesive itself has water-absorbing properties, which may affect the insulation performance in humid environments. Additionally, the adhesive may be corrosive, damaging the materials it contacts. Furthermore, over long-term use, the adhesive may harden, age, or delaminate, affecting the stability and reliability of the insulation protection. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this disclosure is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a glue-free insulating sheet fixing structure and battery module that can improve the reliability and assembly efficiency of the battery module.

[0005] The purpose of this disclosure is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0006] A glue-free insulating sheet fixing structure includes a support assembly and an insulation acquisition assembly. The insulation acquisition assembly includes an insulator assembly and an acquisition plate. The acquisition plate has multiple fixing through holes. The insulator assembly includes a glue-free insulating sheet and multiple bending fixing members. The first end of each bending fixing member is connected to the glue-free insulating sheet, and the second end of each bending fixing member passes through one of the fixing through holes, so that a portion of the bending fixing member is engaged within the fixing through hole.

[0007] The bracket assembly includes a first battery cell bracket and a second battery cell bracket. The first battery cell bracket and the second battery cell bracket are respectively provided with a plurality of fixing member receiving slots. The second end of each of the bending fixing members is respectively received in one of the fixing member receiving slots. The bracket assembly also includes a plurality of fasteners. The first battery cell bracket and the second battery cell bracket are respectively connected to at least one fastener. Each of the fasteners is snapped onto the acquisition board.

[0008] In one embodiment, the insulator assembly includes a plurality of limiting members, one end of each limiting member being connected to the glue-free insulating sheet, and the other end of each limiting member having a concave limiting groove, each concave limiting groove being adapted to the fastener.

[0009] In one embodiment, each of the fastener receiving slots is disposed between any two adjacent fasteners.

[0010] In one embodiment, the fixing through hole is an oblong through hole.

[0011] In one embodiment, the width of the fixing through hole is less than or equal to the width of the fixing member receiving groove, and the width of the bent fixing member is less than or equal to the width of the fixing through hole.

[0012] In one embodiment, the first cell support has a first connection receiving groove, the second cell support has a second connection receiving groove, the first connection receiving groove and the second connection receiving groove are symmetrically arranged, the acquisition board has a connection through hole, the insulator assembly further includes a connection fixing member, the first end of the connection fixing member is connected to the glue-free insulating sheet, the second end of the connection fixing member passes through the connection through hole, a portion of the second end of the connection fixing member is received in the first connection receiving groove, and the other portion of the second end of the connection fixing member is received in the second connection receiving groove.

[0013] In one embodiment, the widths of both the first and second connecting grooves are smaller than the width of the connecting through hole, and the width of the connecting fastener is less than or equal to the width of the connecting through hole.

[0014] In one embodiment, the fastener has a snap-fit ​​groove, and the edge of the acquisition plate snaps into the snap-fit ​​groove.

[0015] In one embodiment, the acquisition plate has an acquisition slot located at the geometric center of the acquisition plate.

[0016] This application also provides a battery module, including the glue-free insulating sheet fixing structure described in any embodiment.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, this disclosure has at least the following advantages:

[0018] The aforementioned adhesive-free insulating sheet fixing structure effectively isolates current during battery module operation, providing excellent insulation protection. It also avoids problems associated with traditional adhesive backing, such as water absorption, corrosion, hardening, aging, and delamination, thus improving the reliability of the battery module. Furthermore, the assembly process of the adhesive-free insulating sheet fixing structure is more convenient and efficient, requiring no additional pasting operations, thereby saving assembly time and production costs. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly described below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this disclosure and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a glue-free insulating sheet fixing structure according to an embodiment;

[0021] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A partial exploded view of the glue-free insulating sheet fixing structure shown;

[0022] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Another exploded view of the glue-free insulating sheet fixing structure shown;

[0023] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional view of the adhesive-free insulating sheet fixing structure shown;

[0024] Figure 5 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the insulation acquisition component.

[0025] Figure 6 for Figure 1 A partially enlarged view of the glue-free insulating sheet fixing structure shown. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To facilitate understanding of this disclosure, a more complete description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure. However, this disclosure can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of the disclosure.

[0027] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it can be directly attached to the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is referred to as being "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0028] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this disclosure. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0029] To better understand the technical solutions and beneficial effects of this disclosure, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with specific embodiments:

[0030] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, an embodiment of the adhesive-free insulating sheet fixing structure 10 of this disclosure includes a bracket assembly 100 and an insulation acquisition assembly 200. The insulation acquisition assembly 200 includes an insulator assembly 210 and an acquisition plate 220. The acquisition plate 220 has a plurality of fixing through holes 2201. The insulator assembly 210 includes an adhesive-free insulating sheet 211 and a plurality of bending fixing members 212. The first end of each bending fixing member 212 is connected to the adhesive-free insulating sheet 211, and the second end of each bending fixing member 212 passes through a fixing through hole 2201, so that a portion of the bending fixing member 212 is engaged in the fixing through hole 2201.

[0031] The bracket assembly 100 includes a first battery cell bracket 110 and a second battery cell bracket 120. The first battery cell bracket 110 and the second battery cell bracket 120 are respectively provided with a plurality of fixing member receiving slots 1001. The second end of each bent fixing member 212 is respectively received in a corresponding fixing member receiving slot 1001. The bracket assembly 100 also includes a plurality of fasteners 130. The first battery cell bracket 110 and the second battery cell bracket 120 are respectively connected to at least one fastener 130. Each fastener 130 is fastened to the acquisition board 220.

[0032] In this embodiment, during the assembly of the glue-free insulating sheet fixing structure 10, the acquisition plate 220 is first fixed to the first battery cell bracket 110 and the second battery cell bracket 120 by the snap fastener 130, so that the acquisition plate 220 is stably installed on the bracket assembly 100. Since the first end of the bending fixing member 212 is connected to the glue-free insulating sheet 211, the second ends of each bending fixing member 212 are then passed through the corresponding fixing through holes 2201 on the acquisition plate 220 in sequence. After the bending fixing member 212 passes through the fixing through hole 2201, since the fixing member receiving groove 1001 has been opened on the first battery cell bracket 110 and the second battery cell bracket 120, the insulator assembly 210 is pushed further so that the second end of the bending fixing member 212 can be accurately received in the corresponding fixing member receiving groove 1001. During this process, when the bent fixing member 212 passes through the fixing through hole 2201, it is constrained by the acquisition plate 220 and undergoes a certain deformation. When the bent fixing member 212 enters the fixing member receiving groove 1001, the rebound force generated by its deformation allows the bent fixing member 212 to be tightly engaged within the fixing member receiving groove 1001. This eliminates the need for adhesive backing on the glue-free insulating sheet 211; stable installation and fixation are achieved solely through the structural cooperation between the bent fixing member 212, the fixing through hole 2201 of the acquisition plate 220, and the fixing member receiving groove 1001 of the bracket assembly 100. During battery module operation, the glue-free insulating sheet 211 effectively isolates current, providing excellent insulation protection and ensuring the safe operation of the battery module. Furthermore, this glue-free fixing method avoids problems such as water absorption, corrosion, hardening, and aging delamination that can occur with traditional adhesive backing. It is also more convenient and efficient during assembly, requiring no additional pasting operations or the use of screws or other fixing parts, thus saving assembly time and material costs.

[0033] The aforementioned adhesive-free insulating sheet fixing structure 10 effectively isolates current during battery module operation, providing excellent insulation protection. It also avoids problems such as water absorption, corrosion, hardening, aging, and delamination that can occur with traditional adhesive backing, thus improving the reliability of the battery module. Furthermore, the assembly process of the adhesive-free insulating sheet fixing structure 10 is more convenient and efficient, requiring no additional pasting operations, thereby saving assembly time and production costs.

[0034] In another embodiment, the bending fastener 212 and the adhesive-free insulating sheet 211 are made of the same material, both being insulating materials, thus both providing insulation protection. Since neither the bending fastener 212 nor the adhesive-free insulating sheet 211 is conductive, they form a reliable insulating barrier inside the battery module, effectively isolating abnormal current flow and significantly reducing the safety risks caused by leakage or short circuits, providing a solid guarantee for the safe and stable operation of the battery module.

[0035] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, in one embodiment, the insulator assembly 210 includes multiple limiting members 213. One end of each limiting member 213 is connected to the adhesive-free insulating sheet 211, and the other end of each limiting member 213 has a concave limiting groove 2101. Each concave limiting groove 2101 is adapted to the snap-fit ​​member 130. In this embodiment, when the adhesive-free insulating sheet fixing structure 10 is assembled, while the snap-fit ​​member 130 is snapping into the acquisition plate 220, part of its structure is embedded in the concave limiting groove 2101 of the limiting member 213. The shape and size of the concave limiting groove 2101 match the snap-fit ​​member 130, allowing the snap-fit ​​member 130 to accurately enter the groove, thereby achieving precise positioning of the insulator assembly 210, ensuring that the adhesive-free insulating sheet 211 is installed in the battery module accurately, and avoiding a decrease in insulation performance due to installation deviation. After the buckle 130 is embedded in the concave limiting groove 2101, it forms an interlocking structure, which restricts the movement of the insulator assembly 210 relative to the bracket assembly 100 in the horizontal and vertical directions. This further enhances the stability of the connection between the glue-free insulating sheet 211 and the acquisition board 220 and the bracket assembly 100, making the entire glue-free insulating sheet fixing structure 10 more reliable during the operation of the battery module.

[0036] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, in one embodiment, each fastener receiving groove 1001 is respectively disposed between any two adjacent snap fasteners 130. In this embodiment, since the fastener receiving groove 1001 is located between adjacent snap fasteners 130, during the assembly process, the operator can quickly locate the fastener receiving groove 1001 by the position of the snap fasteners 130, and then accurately place the glue-free insulating sheet 211, so that the bent fastener 212 can smoothly pass through the fixing through hole 2201 and enter the fastener receiving groove 1001. At the same time, the clear layout relationship also effectively avoids assembly errors caused by incorrect installation position, and improves the accuracy of assembly.

[0037] like Figure 5 As shown, in one embodiment, the fixing through hole 2201 is an oblong through hole. In this embodiment, during actual assembly, due to factors such as machining accuracy and assembly errors, the position of the bent fastener 212 and the fixing through hole 2201 may deviate slightly. Because the fixing through hole 2201 is designed as an oblong through hole, its long axis direction provides greater tolerance for possible deviations of the bent fastener 212. Even if the position of the bent fastener 212 is slightly offset, it can still pass smoothly through the oblong through hole, avoiding assembly difficulties or assembly failures caused by positional deviations, thereby improving assembly efficiency.

[0038] like Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, in one embodiment, the width of the fixing through hole 2201 is less than or equal to the width of the fixing member receiving groove 1001, and the width of the bent fixing member 212 is less than or equal to the width of the fixing through hole 2201. In this embodiment, the width of the fixing through hole 2201 is less than or equal to the width of the fixing member receiving groove 1001, and the width of the bent fixing member 212 is less than or equal to the width of the fixing through hole 2201. This ensures that the bent fixing member 212 can be completely accommodated within the fixing member receiving groove 1001 after passing through the fixing through hole 2201, avoiding structural interference caused by length mismatch. When the width of the bent fixing member 212 is less than or equal to the fixing through hole 2201, the operator can visually confirm whether the fixing member has completely passed through the acquisition plate 220, thereby forming an effective assembly feedback mechanism.

[0039] like Figures 3 to 5 As shown, in one embodiment, the first cell support 110 has a first connection receiving groove 1002, and the second cell support 120 has a second connection receiving groove 1003. The first connection receiving groove 1002 and the second connection receiving groove 1003 are symmetrically arranged. The acquisition plate 220 has a connection through hole 2202. The insulator assembly 210 also includes a connection fixing member 214. The first end of the connection fixing member 214 is connected to the glue-free insulating sheet 211, and the second end of the connection fixing member 214 passes through the connection through hole 2202. A portion of the second end of the connection fixing member 214 is received in the first connection receiving groove 1002, and the other portion of the second end of the connection fixing member 214 is received in the second connection receiving groove 1003. In this embodiment, during the operation of the battery module, since the second end of the connection fixing member 214 is simultaneously embedded in two receiving grooves, a structure similar to "clamping" is formed, which further enhances the stability of the connection, reduces the vertical shaking of the glue-free insulating sheet 211, and improves the reliability of the entire fixing structure. When the battery module is subjected to external force, the connecting fastener 214 will bear a certain stress. By receiving the second end of the connecting fastener 214 into the first connecting receiving groove 1002 and the second connecting receiving groove 1003 respectively, the stress can be evenly distributed to the two receiving grooves and the first cell support 110 and the second cell support 120 connected thereto, thereby improving the structural stability of the glue-free insulating sheet fixing structure 10.

[0040] In another embodiment, the connecting fastener 214 and the adhesive-free insulating sheet 211 are made of the same material, both being insulating materials, thus both providing insulation protection. Since neither the connecting fastener 214 nor the adhesive-free insulating sheet 211 is conductive, they form a reliable insulating barrier inside the battery module, effectively isolating abnormal current flow and significantly reducing the safety risks caused by leakage or short circuits, providing a solid guarantee for the safe and stable operation of the battery module.

[0041] like Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, in one embodiment, the widths of both the first connecting receiving groove 1002 and the second connecting receiving groove 1003 are smaller than the width of the connecting through hole 2202, and the width of the connecting fastener 214 is smaller than or equal to the width of the connecting through hole 2202. In this embodiment, during actual assembly, because the width of the connecting fastener 214 is smaller than or equal to the connecting through hole 2202, the operator can easily pass the second end of the connecting fastener 214 through the connecting through hole 2202 without overly precise alignment, thus reducing assembly difficulty. Furthermore, the smaller widths of the first connecting receiving groove 1002 and the second connecting receiving groove 1003 provide greater operational space for adjusting the position of the connecting fastener 214 after it passes through the connecting through hole 2202. Even if the connecting fastener 214 is slightly misaligned when passing through the connecting through hole 2202, the operator has enough room to fine-tune it so that its second end can be smoothly partially received in the first connecting receiving groove 1002 and the other part received in the second connecting receiving groove 1003, effectively avoiding the assembly difficulties caused by positional deviation, thereby improving the assembly efficiency of the glue-free insulating sheet fixing structure 10.

[0042] like Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, in one embodiment, the latching member 130 has a latching groove 1301, and the edge of the acquisition plate 220 is latched into the latching groove 1301. In this embodiment, during the assembly of the glue-free insulating sheet fixing structure 10, the operator only needs to align the edge of the acquisition plate 220 with the latching groove 1301 and latch it in to accurately complete the initial positioning of the acquisition plate 220 and the latching member 130, avoiding subsequent assembly difficulties caused by positional deviations, thereby improving the accuracy and efficiency of the assembly of the glue-free insulating sheet fixing structure 10. On the other hand, the edge of the acquisition plate 220 is latched into the latching groove 1301, forming a tight latching structure, which can effectively prevent the acquisition plate 220 from moving in the horizontal and vertical directions, ensuring that the acquisition plate 220 maintains a stable position during the operation of the battery module, thereby ensuring the stability and reliability of the internal structure of the battery module.

[0043] like Figure 5As shown, in one embodiment, the acquisition board 220 has an acquisition slot 2203, which is located at the geometric center of the acquisition board 220. In this embodiment, when the battery module is working, it generates heat. The acquisition slot 2203, located at the geometric center, can guide air to form more effective convection around the acquisition board 220. Air can circulate more smoothly through the acquisition slot 2203 and carry away the heat generated by the acquisition board 220 and the surrounding cells, reducing the overall temperature of the battery module and improving the working efficiency and stability of the battery module. Furthermore, when the acquisition slot 2203 is located at the center, the acquisition lines extending from the periphery of the slot can more evenly cover the entire battery module, ensuring that the voltage signals acquired from each cell can more accurately reflect the overall state of the battery pack, avoiding inaccurate signal acquisition in some areas due to uneven distribution of acquisition points, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of the entire battery module parameter acquisition.

[0044] This application also provides a battery module, including a glue-free insulating sheet fixing structure 10 according to any embodiment. In this embodiment, during the assembly process of the glue-free insulating sheet fixing structure 10, the acquisition plate 220 is first snapped and fixed to the first cell bracket 110 and the second cell bracket 120 by the snap fastener 130, so that the acquisition plate 220 is stably installed on the bracket assembly 100. Since the first end of the bending fixing member 212 is connected to the glue-free insulating sheet 211, the second ends of each bending fixing member 212 are then passed through the corresponding fixing through holes 2201 on the acquisition plate 220 in sequence. After the bending fixing member 212 passes through the fixing through hole 2201, since the fixing member receiving groove 1001 has been opened on the first cell bracket 110 and the second cell bracket 120, the insulator assembly 210 is pushed further, so that the second end of the bending fixing member 212 can be accurately received in the corresponding fixing member receiving groove 1001. During this process, when the bent fixing member 212 passes through the fixing through hole 2201, it is constrained by the acquisition plate 220 and undergoes a certain deformation. When the bent fixing member 212 enters the fixing member receiving groove 1001, the rebound force generated by its deformation allows the bent fixing member 212 to be tightly engaged within the fixing member receiving groove 1001. This eliminates the need for adhesive backing on the glue-free insulating sheet 211; stable installation and fixation are achieved solely through the structural cooperation between the bent fixing member 212, the fixing through hole 2201 of the acquisition plate 220, and the fixing member receiving groove 1001 of the bracket assembly 100. During battery module operation, the glue-free insulating sheet 211 effectively isolates current, providing excellent insulation protection and ensuring the safe operation of the battery module. Furthermore, this glue-free fixing method avoids problems such as water absorption, corrosion, hardening, and aging delamination that can occur with traditional adhesive backing. It is also more convenient and efficient during assembly, requiring no additional pasting operations or the use of screws or other fixing parts, thus saving assembly time and material costs.

[0045] Compared with the prior art, this disclosure has at least the following advantages:

[0046] The aforementioned adhesive-free insulating sheet fixing structure 10 effectively isolates current during battery module operation, providing excellent insulation protection. It also avoids problems such as water absorption, corrosion, hardening, aging, and delamination that can occur with traditional adhesive backing, thus improving the reliability of the battery module. Furthermore, the assembly process of the adhesive-free insulating sheet fixing structure 10 is more convenient and efficient, requiring no additional pasting operations, thereby saving assembly time and production costs.

[0047] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of this disclosure, and while the descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosed patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this disclosure, and these all fall within the protection scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A glue-free insulating sheet fixing structure, characterized in that, The system includes a support assembly and an insulation acquisition assembly. The insulation acquisition assembly includes an insulator assembly and an acquisition plate. The acquisition plate has multiple fixing through holes. The insulator assembly includes a glue-free insulating sheet and multiple bending fixing members. The first end of each bending fixing member is connected to the glue-free insulating sheet, and the second end of each bending fixing member passes through one of the fixing through holes, so that a portion of the bending fixing member is engaged within the fixing through hole. The bracket assembly includes a first battery cell bracket and a second battery cell bracket. The first battery cell bracket and the second battery cell bracket are respectively provided with a plurality of fixing member receiving slots. The second end of each of the bending fixing members is respectively received in one of the fixing member receiving slots. The bracket assembly also includes a plurality of fasteners. The first battery cell bracket and the second battery cell bracket are respectively connected to at least one fastener. Each of the fasteners is snapped onto the acquisition board.

2. The fixing structure for the masticless insulating sheet according to claim 1, characterized by The insulator assembly includes multiple limiting members, one end of each limiting member is connected to the glue-free insulating sheet, and the other end of each limiting member has a concave limiting groove, each concave limiting groove being adapted to the fastener.

3. The fixing structure for the adhesiveless insulation sheet according to claim 1, wherein Each of the aforementioned fastener receiving slots is respectively disposed between any two adjacent fasteners.

4. The fixing structure for the adhesiveless insulation sheet according to claim 1, wherein The fixed through hole is an oblong through hole.

5. The fixing structure for the adhesiveless insulation sheet according to claim 4, wherein The width of the fixing through hole is less than or equal to the width of the fixing member receiving groove, and the width of the bent fixing member is less than or equal to the width of the fixing through hole.

6. The fixing structure for the adhesiveless insulation sheet according to claim 1, wherein The first cell support has a first connection receiving groove, and the second cell support has a second connection receiving groove. The first connection receiving groove and the second connection receiving groove are symmetrically arranged. The acquisition board has a connection through hole. The insulator assembly also includes a connection fixing member. The first end of the connection fixing member is connected to the glue-free insulating sheet, and the second end of the connection fixing member passes through the connection through hole. A portion of the second end of the connection fixing member is received in the first connection receiving groove, and the other portion of the second end of the connection fixing member is received in the second connection receiving groove.

7. The fixing structure for the masticless insulating sheet according to claim 6, characterized by The widths of both the first and second connecting grooves are smaller than the width of the connecting through hole, and the width of the connecting fastener is less than or equal to the width of the connecting through hole.

8. The fixing structure for the adhesiveless insulation sheet according to claim 1, wherein The fastener has a snap-fit ​​groove, and the edge of the acquisition plate snaps into the snap-fit ​​groove.

9. The fixing structure for the adhesiveless insulation sheet according to claim 1, wherein The acquisition plate has an acquisition slot, which is located at the geometric center of the acquisition plate.

10. A battery module, characterized by Includes the glue-free insulating sheet fixing structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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