Grid structure and lead-acid battery containing same

Abstract

This utility model belongs to the field of battery technology, specifically relating to a grid structure and a lead-acid battery containing the same. The grid structure includes a frame body, lugs connected to the frame body, and vertical and horizontal ribs arranged crisscrossingly inside the frame body. The frame body also has two adjacent horizontal reinforcing ribs inside, dividing the frame body into an upper region, a middle region, and a lower region. The middle region has several staggered ribs, which are connected to the vertical ribs in the upper and lower regions, respectively, with the connection points located on the horizontal reinforcing ribs. This utility model optimizes the grid structure design, reducing the grid height, increasing the number of radial rib structures and vertical ribs (ribs connecting the lugs), and thickening the ribs near the lugs on the grid to improve the grid's conductive cross-sectional area and corrosion resistance. Simultaneously, it increases the number of vertical ribs at the bottom of the grid, improving the charging acceptance capacity of the lower plates and alleviating the tendency for sulfation at the bottom of the plates during battery use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of lead-acid battery technology, specifically relating to grid structure and lead-acid battery containing the same. Background Technology

[0002] EFB start-stop lead-acid batteries are a type of reinforced, vented-flow lead-acid battery, a type of flooded maintenance-free lead-acid battery for starting. They fall between AGM batteries and ordinary maintenance-free batteries, boasting twice the cycle life of ordinary maintenance-free batteries, although slightly lower than AGM batteries. Their charge acceptance and low-temperature performance are also superior to ordinary maintenance-free batteries. The manufacturing process for EFB batteries is largely the same as that for ordinary starting maintenance-free lead-acid batteries, employing various plate production processes such as punching, continuous casting and rolling, wire mesh forming, and gravity casting. There are no specific requirements for edge-framed plates. EFB batteries are suitable for high-temperature environments (engine compartments).

[0003] This type of lead-acid battery meets the following requirements: First, it satisfies the power needs of the start-stop system, which automatically shuts off the engine when starting the vehicle or temporarily stopping during driving (such as waiting at a red light). When the vehicle needs to continue moving, the system automatically restarts the engine, requiring power to supply the starter motor. The battery must be capable of high-current discharge. Because the start-stop system frequently restarts the engine, the battery must support frequent high-current discharge. When a hybrid system powers the wheels, the battery needs to provide energy support. Second, it must meet the needs of in-vehicle electrical equipment such as audio and lighting. When the on-board charger charges the battery, it must have strong charging acceptance performance.

[0004] However, in actual use, most EFB batteries on the market experience difficulties starting up and poor charging acceptance after about 1-2 years. The main problems are corrosion of the positive plate grid, softening of active materials, and sulfation of the negative plate. While manufacturers in the industry are constantly conducting process research and improvement, most manufacturers have improved the battery life by improving the grid structure design and the quality of active materials. The effect has been improved to some extent, but the problem of poor battery cost-effectiveness still exists and cannot meet the user's expected lifespan requirements. Utility Model Content

[0005] This invention focuses on improving the grid structure as the main direction, and conducts research on the process structure to improve the battery's charge acceptance performance and battery life, thereby solving the aforementioned problems.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a plate grid structure is provided, including a frame body, plate ears connected to the frame body, and vertical and horizontal ribs arranged in a crisscross pattern inside the frame body; the frame body is also provided with two adjacent horizontal reinforcing ribs, which divide the interior of the frame body into an upper region, a middle region, and a lower region. The middle region is provided with a plurality of staggered ribs, which are respectively connected to the vertical ribs located in the upper region and the lower region, and the connection points are located on the horizontal reinforcing ribs.

[0007] This invention increases the number of vertical ribs, especially those in the upper and lower regions. Staggered ribs are provided in the middle region to connect the vertical ribs in the upper and lower regions respectively. At the same time, the vertical ribs of this invention adopt a radial or zigzag design instead of a straight line from the upper frame to the lower frame. This is to improve current conduction efficiency, adapt to the needs of high current discharge, and improve the battery's charging acceptance capability.

[0008] In some implementations, the frame body is formed by an upper frame, a lower frame, and two side frames, and the lugs are connected to the upper frame and extend upward.

[0009] In some embodiments, the vertical ribs include a first vertical rib, a second vertical rib, a third vertical rib, and a fourth vertical rib; the first vertical rib is connected to the upper frame and passes through the middle area, extending downward to the side frame or the lower frame; the second vertical rib is located in the upper area, connected to the upper frame and extending downward to the side frame, a horizontal rib, or a horizontal reinforcing rib closer to the upper frame; the third vertical rib is connected to a horizontal reinforcing rib closer to the upper frame and passes through the middle area, extending downward; the fourth vertical rib is connected to a horizontal reinforcing rib farther from the upper frame and extends downward to the side frame, a horizontal rib, or the lower frame.

[0010] In some embodiments, the staggered rib is connected to the second and fourth vertical ribs that are close to each other, and the staggered rib is connected to the second and fourth vertical ribs by a broken line.

[0011] In some implementations, the vertical ribs corresponding to the lugs have the largest thickness, while the vertical ribs connecting to the lower frame have the smallest thickness at the connection point. The main purpose of this structural design is to optimize current distribution and improve battery performance. Specifically, the current density is higher near the lugs, so thicker vertical ribs are needed to provide better conductivity and load-bearing capacity, thereby reducing voltage drop and improving current transmission efficiency. Conversely, the current density is lower near the lower frame, so thinner vertical ribs can be used. This satisfies current transmission requirements while saving material and helps reduce active material shedding, thus extending battery life.

[0012] In some embodiments, the transverse stiffeners are arranged parallel to the transverse ribs, and the transverse ribs are arranged at equal intervals.

[0013] In some implementations, the junctions between the top and bottom borders and the side borders are all rounded. In some implementations, the vertical ribs are provided in at least five different sizes. The diagonal distances of sizes 1 to 5 are 1.6mm, 1.5mm, 1.4mm, 1.3mm, and 1.2mm, respectively, and the distance between opposite sides is 1.2mm. The narrowest side lengths of sizes 1 to 5 are 0.7mm, 0.6mm, 0.5mm, 0.4mm, and 0.3mm, respectively. The main purpose of designing vertical ribs of different sizes is to optimize current distribution, improve battery performance, and extend battery life.

[0014] Specifically, regarding current density and conductivity, the redox reaction of the active material is more concentrated near the lugs, resulting in a higher current density. To ensure good current flow and reduce resistance, the vertical ribs near the lugs need to be thicker to provide a larger conductive cross-sectional area, thereby reducing voltage drop. Regarding corrosion protection, due to the higher current density near the lugs, the active material releases corrosive substances such as sulfuric acid during operation, which easily corrodes the vertical ribs. Therefore, thicker ribs have stronger corrosion resistance. Regarding material utilization, the current density is lower and the redox reaction of the active material is less in areas far from the lugs, so thinner ribs can be used to save material. Considering structural optimization, adjusting the thickness of the vertical ribs can optimize the overall grid structure, reduce local voltage drop, and reduce the width of the bottom frame ribs and the two vertical frame ribs to save lead consumption.

[0015] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a lead-acid battery is provided, which includes the aforementioned grid structure and can be used as an EFB start-stop lead-acid battery.

[0016] In some embodiments, the lead-acid battery further includes terminals, a welding groove connected to the terminals, electrode plates containing the aforementioned grid structure, and lugs of the grid connected to the welding groove.

[0017] Considering that increasing the number of vertical ribs would increase costs, in order to avoid increasing costs, this utility model reduces the width of the bottom and side frames of the grid from the conventional design of 2.0-2.5mm to 1.5mm, while also reducing the number of horizontal ribs.

[0018] This invention optimizes the grid structure by reducing the grid height, increasing the number of radial ribs and vertical ribs (ribs connecting the plate ears), and thickening the ribs near the plate ears to improve the grid's conductive cross-sectional area and corrosion resistance. At the same time, it increases the number of vertical ribs at the bottom of the grid to improve the charging acceptance capacity of the lower part of the plate and alleviate the easy sulfation phenomenon at the bottom of the plate during battery use. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a plate grid structure.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram showing the distribution of vertical reinforcing bars of different specifications.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the cross-sections and dimensions of vertical reinforcing bars of different specifications.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a storage battery.

[0023] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Schematic diagram of section AA.

[0024] Figure 6 for Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the BB cross section.

[0025] In the diagram, 100 represents the main frame, 110 the top frame, 120 the bottom frame, and 130 the side frames; 200 represents the lugs, 300 the vertical ribs, 310 the first vertical rib, 320 the second vertical rib, 330 the third vertical rib, 340 the fourth vertical rib, and 350 the staggered ribs; 400 represents the horizontal ribs, 500 the horizontal reinforcing ribs, and 510 the middle area. 10 is a terminal, 20 is a welding groove, 30 is a electrode plate, and 40 is a partition plate. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. It is worth noting that the following embodiments are only for better explaining the content of the present invention and do not limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Process steps not disclosed in the embodiments are prior art. Unless otherwise specified, all raw materials are commercially available.

[0027] The number of vertical ribs at the bottom of the electrode plate has increased from the usual 12 to the current 19, and the grid structure is as follows: Figure 1 As shown, the specific structure is as follows: The grating includes a frame body 100 formed by an upper frame 110, a lower frame 120, and two side frames 130. The upper frame 110 has upwardly extending lugs 200. The upper frame 110 is thicker than the lower frame 120, with the upper frame 110 being approximately 2.5 mm thick and the lower frame 120 being approximately 1.5 mm thick. The connection between the two side frames 130 and the upper frame 110 is a rounded chamfer with an inner diameter of 4 mm and an outer diameter of 6 mm. The connection between the two side frames 130 and the lower frame 120 is also a rounded chamfer with an inner diameter of 4.5 mm and an outer diameter of 6 mm.

[0028] The frame body 100 has crisscrossing vertical ribs 300 and horizontal ribs 400, as well as two adjacent horizontal reinforcing ribs 500. The horizontal reinforcing ribs 500 are parallel to the horizontal ribs 400. The horizontal reinforcing rib 500 closer to the upper frame 110, together with the upper frame 110 and the two side frames 130, forms the upper region. The horizontal reinforcing rib 500 closer to the lower frame 120, together with the lower frame 120 and the two side frames 130, forms the lower region. The two horizontal reinforcing ribs 500 and the two side frames 130 form the middle region 510. The vertical rib 300 includes a first vertical rib 310, a second vertical rib 320, a third vertical rib 330, and a fourth vertical rib 340. The first vertical rib 310 is connected to the upper frame 110 and passes through the middle area 510, extending downward to the side frame 130 or the lower frame 120. The second vertical rib 320 is located in the upper area, connected to the upper frame 110 and extending downward to the side frame 130, the horizontal rib 400, or the horizontal reinforcing rib 500 which is close to the upper frame 110. The third vertical rib 330 is connected to the horizontal reinforcing rib 500 which is close to the upper frame 110 and passes through the middle area, extending downward to the side frame 130 or the lower frame 120. The fourth vertical rib 340 is located in the lower area, connected to the horizontal reinforcing rib 500 which is far from the upper frame 110 and extending downward to the side frame 130, the horizontal rib 100, or the lower frame 120.

[0029] In addition, such as Figure 3 As shown, the vertical ribs 300 have five thickness specifications, and the relevant dimensions are shown in Table 1. The distribution of vertical ribs of different specifications is as follows. Figure 2 As shown, the vertical ribs corresponding to the lugs 200 have the largest thickness and are of specification 1. All vertical ribs of specification 1 are the second vertical ribs 320 located in the upper area. The section where they extend downward and connect with the horizontal reinforcing ribs 500 uses vertical ribs of specification 3. The vertical ribs connecting with the lower frame 120 have the smallest thickness at the connection section and are of specification 5. Their diagonal distance is about 1.2mm, the distance between opposite sides is about 1.2mm, and the narrowest side length is about 0.3mm. The vertical ribs connecting with the horizontal reinforcing ribs 500 that are far from the upper frame 110 all use vertical ribs of specification 4 at the connection section.

[0030] Table 1. Dimensions and Specifications of Vertical Reinforcing Bars

[0031] The horizontal ribs 400 are equidistant and parallel within the frame body 100, with the distance between each adjacent horizontal rib 400 being approximately 7.1 mm; the distance between the horizontal rib 400 near the upper frame 110 and the upper frame 110 is approximately 8.8 mm, and the distance between the horizontal rib 400 near the lower frame 120 and the lower frame 120 is approximately 8.1 mm.

[0032] The horizontal reinforcing rib 500 is located in the middle of the frame body 100, which can be understood as a horizontal rib in the middle of the frame body. The middle area 510 is provided with several staggered ribs 350 that are respectively connected to the two horizontal reinforcing ribs 500. The staggered ribs 350 are tilted to the right or left. The staggered ribs 350 connect the second vertical rib 320 and the fourth vertical rib 340 that are close to each other. The staggered ribs 350 and the second vertical rib 320 and the fourth vertical rib 340 are designed as broken lines and are not on the same straight line.

[0033] In addition, the positive electrode grid alloy is made of lead, calcium, tin, and silver. Calcium in the composition mainly serves to improve the hydrogen evolution overpotential, grid strength, and corrosion resistance; its content is 0.06%-0.085%. Tin improves the passivation film performance and increases deep cycle performance; its content is 0.5%-1.2%. The addition of silver improves the alloy's electrical and thermal conductivity, resulting in better high-current discharge performance. Silver also refines the grain size, improves oxidation resistance, and enhances alloy strength; its content is 0.03%-0.065%. The balance is lead.

[0034] Based on the above-mentioned grid structure, this utility model also provides a battery structure, the structure of which is as follows: Figure 4-6 As shown, the battery's electrode group uses a low-profile, multi-plate assembly. The height of the plate from the top to the bottom edge is 95mm, with numerous vertical ribs—19 in both the upper and lower parts. Using this plate design to assemble 15 individual electrode groups results in good starting performance and a high CCA value, compensating for the poor starting performance caused by low lead-acid content in the lead paste. This structural design significantly improves various battery performance aspects, particularly the cycle life. Specifically: The battery includes terminals 10, a welding groove (or busbar) 20 connected to the terminals 10, plates 30 divided into positive and negative plates, and a separator 40 placed between the positive and negative plates to prevent short circuits. The positive and negative plates are obtained by coating the above-mentioned grid structure with positive or negative lead paste. Meanwhile, the welding groove 20 is a conductive strip cast from lead alloy, which connects the lugs 200 of the same polarity plates to form a plate group.

[0035] The above descriptions are merely some specific embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the inventive concept of this utility model, and all such modifications and improvements fall within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A grid structure, characterized in that It includes a frame body, lugs connected to the frame body, and vertical and horizontal ribs arranged crisscrossing inside the frame body; The frame body is also provided with two adjacent horizontal reinforcing ribs. The two horizontal reinforcing ribs divide the frame body into an upper region, a middle region, and a lower region. The middle region is provided with several staggered ribs. The staggered ribs are connected to the vertical ribs located in the upper region and the lower region, respectively, and the connection points are located on the horizontal reinforcing ribs.

2. The grid structure of claim 1, wherein, The main body of the frame is formed by an upper frame, a lower frame, and two side frames, and the lugs are connected to the upper frame and extend upward.

3. The grid structure of claim 2, wherein, The vertical ribs corresponding to the lugs have the greatest thickness, while the vertical ribs connected to the lower frame have the smallest thickness at the connecting section.

4. The grid structure of claim 2, wherein, The vertical ribs include a first vertical rib, a second vertical rib, a third vertical rib, and a fourth vertical rib. The first vertical rib is connected to the upper frame and extends through the middle area and downwards. The second vertical rib is located in the upper area, connected to the upper frame, and extends downwards. The third vertical rib is connected to a horizontal reinforcing rib closer to the upper frame, extends through the middle area, and extends downwards. The fourth vertical rib is located in the lower area, connected to a horizontal reinforcing rib farther from the upper frame, and extends downwards.

5. The grid structure of claim 4, wherein, The misaligned rib is connected to the second vertical rib and the fourth vertical rib, which are close to each other, and the misaligned rib is connected to the second vertical rib and the fourth vertical rib by a broken line.

6. The grid structure according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that The transverse reinforcing ribs are arranged parallel to the transverse ribs, and the transverse ribs are arranged at equal intervals.

7. The grid structure of claim 2, wherein, The top border, the bottom border, and the side border are all designed with rounded chamfers at their joints.

8. The grid structure of claim 1, wherein, The vertical ribs are provided in at least 5 sizes, with diagonal distances of 1.6mm, 1.5mm, 1.4mm, 1.3mm and 1.2mm for sizes 1 to 5, and side distances of 1.2mm for all sizes. The narrowest side lengths of sizes 1 to 5 are 0.7mm, 0.6mm, 0.5mm, 0.4mm and 0.3mm, respectively.

9. A lead-acid battery characterised in that, It includes the plate grid structure as described in any one of claims 1-8.

10. A lead-acid battery according to claim 9, characterised in that, It also includes terminals, a welding groove connected to the terminals, and an electrode plate containing the grid structure according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the plate lugs of the grid structure are connected to the welding groove.

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