Battery cell, battery module, battery pack, and vehicle

Abstract

The application provides a battery cell, a battery module, a battery pack and a vehicle. The battery cell comprises at least two battery monomers and a protection piece. The at least two battery monomers are arranged in sequence along a first direction. The protection piece comprises a first protection plate and at least one second protection plate. The first protection plate is used to be connected with a box cover of the battery pack. The at least one second protection plate is arranged on one side of the first protection plate and connected with the first protection plate. The at least one second protection plate is inserted between two adjacent battery monomers and arranged in abutment with the adjacent side surfaces of the two battery monomers. The size of the first protection plate in the first direction is equal to the size of the at least two battery monomers in the first direction. The application can improve the bearing capacity of the battery pack, prevent the battery pack from being deformed by being stepped on and prevent the deformation of the battery pack caused by the impact of falling objects.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of energy storage technology, and in particular to a battery cell, battery module, battery pack, and vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] As electric vehicles become increasingly integrated, some research institutions have made valuable explorations into battery pack structures, and new, highly reliable box-type structures are constantly being developed. OEMs are continuously launching solutions that integrate battery packs directly into the vehicle body structure to increase the space and comfort of the passenger compartment.

[0003] However, the aforementioned battery packs have limited load-bearing capacity and are easily deformed by being stepped on, which reduces the safety of the battery packs. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of the above problems, embodiments of this application provide a battery cell, a battery module, a battery pack, and a vehicle, which can improve the load-bearing capacity of the battery pack, prevent the battery pack from being deformed by being stepped on, and prevent the battery pack from being deformed by the impact of falling objects.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the embodiments of this application provide the following technical solutions:

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a battery cell, comprising:

[0007] At least two individual battery cells, wherein the at least two individual battery cells are arranged sequentially along a first direction;

[0008] The protective component includes a first protective plate and at least one second protective plate. The first protective plate is used to connect with the cover of the battery pack. The at least one second protective plate is disposed on one side of the first protective plate and connected to the first protective plate. The at least one second protective plate is inserted between two adjacent battery cells and is fitted to the adjacent sides of the two battery cells. The dimension of the first protective plate in the first direction is equal to the dimension of the at least two battery cells in the first direction.

[0009] In one possible implementation, the at least two individual cells are connected in series via electrode plates; the second protective plate is provided with through holes for the electrode plates to pass through.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the vertical distance between the surface of the electrode facing the first protective plate and the first protective plate is 0.5 mm to 5 mm.

[0011] In one possible implementation, the electrode includes a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment integrally formed and arranged sequentially, the second segment passing through the through hole, and the second segment protruding from the first segment and the third segment in a direction away from the first protective plate.

[0012] In one possible implementation, the first protective plate and the at least one second protective plate are integrally formed by injection molding.

[0013] In one possible implementation, in the first direction, the second protective plate is connected to the adjacent battery cell via an adhesive layer.

[0014] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a battery module including a plurality of battery cells as described in the first aspect, wherein the battery cells are arranged sequentially along a first direction.

[0015] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a battery pack, including a housing, a cover, and the battery module described in the second aspect. The battery module is disposed in the housing, and the cover is connected to the housing and seals the housing.

[0016] The protective component of the battery module is connected to the box cover.

[0017] In one possible implementation, the first protective plate is connected to the lid via a buffer layer.

[0018] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a vehicle including the battery pack described in the third aspect; at least a portion of the cover of the battery pack constitutes the floor of the vehicle.

[0019] In the battery cell, battery module, battery pack, and vehicle provided in this application embodiment, each battery cell includes a protective component. A first protective plate covers the top of the battery cell, and a second protective plate is inserted between adjacent battery cells. When the battery pack is subjected to a top load, the force is directly transmitted through the first protective plate to the second protective plate that is attached to the side of the battery cell, rather than directly to the top of the battery cell. This improves the top protection of the battery cell, thereby preventing the battery module from being stepped on and deformed, and thus preventing the battery pack from being stepped on and deformed, as well as preventing the battery pack from being deformed by the impact of falling objects.

[0020] In addition, the second protective plate located between any adjacent battery cells can replace the separator in related technologies, allowing the battery pack to accommodate more battery cells in the same volume, thus significantly improving the energy density of the battery pack.

[0021] In addition to the technical problems solved by the embodiments of this application, the technical features constituting the technical solutions, and the beneficial effects brought about by the technical features of these technical solutions described above, other technical problems that can be solved by the battery cells, battery modules, battery packs, and vehicles provided by the embodiments of this application, other technical features included in the technical solutions, and the beneficial effects brought about by these technical features will be further explained in detail in the specific implementation methods. Attached Figure Description

[0022] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery cell provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0024] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the protective component provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0025] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0026] 1000: Battery cell;

[0027] 100: Single cell; 110: Terminal;

[0028] 200: Protective components;

[0029] 210: First protective plate; 220: Second protective plate; 221: Through hole;

[0030] 300: Extreme film;

[0031] 400: Adhesive layer;

[0032] 500: Buffer layer. Detailed Implementation

[0033] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0034] As described in the background section, the battery packs in the related technologies have limited load-bearing capacity and are easily deformed by being stepped on. The inventors have found that the reason for this problem is that the top surface of the battery pack constitutes at least part of the vehicle floor, and the top surface of the battery pack has poor load-bearing capacity, so it is easily deformed by being stepped on.

[0035] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides a battery cell, battery module, battery pack, and vehicle in which each battery cell includes a protective component. A first protective plate covers the top of the battery cell, and a second protective plate is inserted between adjacent battery cells. When the battery pack is subjected to a top load, the force is directly transmitted through the first protective plate to the second protective plate, which is attached to the side of the battery cell, rather than directly to the top of the battery cell. This improves the top protection of the battery cell, thereby preventing the battery module from being stepped on and deformed, and thus preventing the battery pack from being stepped on and deformed by the impact of falling objects.

[0036] In addition, the second protective plate located between any adjacent battery cells can replace the separator in related technologies, allowing the battery pack to accommodate more battery cells in the same volume, thus significantly improving the energy density of the battery pack.

[0037] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of the embodiments of this application more apparent and understandable, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0038] This application provides a vehicle, for example: the vehicle can be a new energy vehicle, and the new energy vehicle can be a pure electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, or a range-extended electric vehicle, etc.

[0039] The vehicle includes a battery pack and an electrical device, wherein the battery pack is electrically connected to the electrical device to provide power to it. In the embodiments of this application, the electrical device can be either the vehicle's drive mechanism or its control system. It should be understood that the battery pack is typically mounted to the vehicle's frame such that at least a portion of the battery pack's cover constitutes part of the vehicle's floor. That is, a portion of the cover forms the vehicle's floor, or the entire cover forms the vehicle's floor. This simplifies the vehicle's structure and reduces its manufacturing cost.

[0040] In some embodiments, the battery pack includes a housing (not shown) and a cover (not shown). The housing provides a carrier for mounting the battery modules; for example, the housing has a structure with a top opening. The cover is detachably connected to the housing to seal the top opening of the housing, thereby forming a sealed structure for the battery pack. This prevents leakage of electrolyte from the battery or intrusion of external foreign objects, reducing the risk of short circuits and corrosion. Furthermore, it prevents external impurities or dust from entering the housing, improving the safety of the battery pack.

[0041] The battery pack also includes battery modules (not shown in the figure), which are housed inside the casing. The protective component 200 of the battery module is connected to the casing cover, or in other words, the first protective plate 210 of the protective component 200 is connected to the casing cover, thereby providing support for the casing cover by the protective component 200, thus preventing the casing cover from being deformed by being stepped on or from being deformed by being impacted by falling objects.

[0042] In some embodiments, the battery module includes a plurality of battery cells 1000, which are arranged sequentially along a first direction. Each battery cell 1000 includes at least two individual battery cells 100 and a protective element 200.

[0043] Please refer to Figure 1 At least two individual battery cells 100 are arranged along a first direction. It should be noted that the number of "at least two" individual battery cells 100 can be two, three, four, or even more. In one example, there are two "at least two" individual battery cells 100 arranged along the first direction. In another example, there are four "at least two" individual battery cells 100 arranged along the first direction. For example, the shape of the individual battery cell 100 is rectangular, and the first direction can be the width direction of the individual battery cell 100. That is, the first direction is... Figure 1 In the X direction.

[0044] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The protective component 200 includes a first protective plate 210 and at least one second protective plate 220. The first protective plate 210 is used to connect to the cover of the battery pack and to support the cover of the battery pack.

[0045] At least one second protective plate 220 is disposed on the side of the first protective plate 210 away from the box cover and is connected to the first protective plate 210. It should be noted that the at least one second protective plate 220 and the first protective plate 210 can be separate structures or integrally formed.

[0046] In some embodiments, the first protective plate 210 and at least one second protective plate 220 are integrally formed by injection molding. In this way, integral molding avoids the weak points that may be generated by traditional welding or bolting connections, giving the protective component 200 higher mechanical strength and impact resistance, making it particularly suitable for harsh environments such as vibration and impact.

[0047] The first protective plate 210 and at least one second protective plate 220 can also be separate structures, with at least one second protective plate 220 fixedly connected to the first protective plate 210 by welding. This allows for flexible adjustment of the thickness of the first protective plate 210 and the two second protective plates 220, increasing the design flexibility of the protective assembly 200.

[0048] It should be noted that the number of second protective plates 220 can be freely set according to the number of battery cells 100. For example, the difference between the number of battery cells 100 and the number of second protective plates 220 is equal to 1. That is, if there are two battery cells 100, there is one second protective plate 220. If there are three battery cells 100, there are two second protective plates 220.

[0049] In this embodiment, the first protective plate 210 of the protective member 200 covers the top of at least two battery cells 100 (or all of the battery cells 100), and the second protective plate 220 is inserted between adjacent battery cells 100. When the battery pack is subjected to a top load, the force is directly transmitted through the first protective plate 210 to the second protective plate 220 which is attached to the side of the battery cell 100, rather than directly to the top of the battery cell 100. This improves the top protection of the battery cell 1000, thereby preventing the battery module from being stepped on and deformed, thus preventing the battery pack from being stepped on and deformed, as well as preventing the battery pack from being deformed by the impact of falling objects.

[0050] It should also be noted that the dimensions of the first protective plate 210 in the first direction and the dimensions of at least two battery cells 100 in the first direction can be chosen in various ways. For example, the dimension of the first protective plate 210 in the first direction is equal to the dimension of at least two battery cells 100 in the first direction. Alternatively, the dimension of the first protective plate 210 in the first direction is equal to the dimension of all battery cells 100 in the first direction, so that the first protective plate 210 can completely cover the top surface of all battery cells 100. On the one hand, this improves the protective capability of the protective component 200, minimizing the risk of the battery cell 1000 being deformed by being stepped on. On the other hand, the first protective plate 210 can also serve as a heat conduction path, evenly transferring the heat from multiple battery cells to the outside of the battery pack, improving the thermal uniformity of the battery cell 1000.

[0051] Furthermore, the second protective plate 220 located between any adjacent battery cells 100 can replace the separator in related technologies, allowing the battery pack to accommodate more battery cells in the same volume, thus significantly improving the energy density of the battery pack.

[0052] It should also be noted that the thicknesses of the first protective plate 210 and the second protective plate 220 can be equal or unequal, depending on the specific application scenario of the battery unit 1000. For example, the thickness of the first protective plate 210 is greater than the thickness of the second protective plate 220. This improves the load-bearing capacity of the protective component 200 without excessively increasing the size of the battery unit 1000 in the first direction.

[0053] In some embodiments, at least two individual battery cells 100 can also be connected in series via electrode 300. In other words, in two adjacent individual battery cells 100, the electrode 300 connects the terminals 110 of the two individual battery cells 100, so that the two individual battery cells 100 are connected in series. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the terminal 110 may include a positive terminal and a negative terminal. The electrode 300 can be made of a highly conductive metal (such as copper or aluminum) or a plating material, and the electrode 300 is fixedly connected to the terminal 110 by laser welding to ensure that the electrode 300 and the terminal 110 have low contact resistance.

[0054] To facilitate the insertion of the electrode 300 through the second protective plate 220, in this embodiment, the second protective plate 220 is provided with a through hole 221 for the electrode 300 to pass through. The shape of the through hole 221 matches the shape of the electrode 300 to prevent interference between the electrode 300 and the inner wall of the through hole 221.

[0055] In some embodiments, the vertical distance between the surface of the electrode 300 facing the first protective plate 210 and the first protective plate 210 is 0.5mm to 5mm. This avoids the vertical distance between the electrode 300 and the first protective plate 210 being too small, preventing the electrode 300 from directly contacting the first protective plate due to vibration or expansion, thus preventing short circuits between metals. At the same time, it also avoids the vertical distance between the electrode 300 and the first protective plate 210 being too large, reducing the risk of loosening of internal connectors due to excessive distance, or reducing the height of the battery cell 1000 in the direction perpendicular to the first protective plate 210, thereby increasing the energy density of the battery pack.

[0056] In one possible implementation, the electrode 300 includes a first segment 310, a second segment 320, and a third segment 330 integrally formed and arranged sequentially. The second segment 320 has a through hole 221, and the second segment 320 protrudes from the first segment 310 and the third segment 330 in a direction away from the first protective plate 210. In other words, the portion of the electrode 300 with the through hole 221 protrudes in a direction away from the first protective plate 210, so that the vertical distance between the second segment 320 and the first protective plate 210 is greater than the vertical distance between the first segment 310 and the first protective plate 210.

[0057] Since the first segment 310 and the third segment 330 need to be connected to the electrode post 110 of the battery cell 100, this would reduce the vertical distance between the first segment 310 and the third segment 330 and the first protective plate 210, respectively. This embodiment improves upon this by modifying the shape of the second segment 320, making it protrude from the first segment 310 and the third segment 330 in a direction away from the first protective plate 210, thereby increasing the vertical distance between the second segment 320 and the first protective plate 210. This allows for adjustment of the electric field distribution between the electrode 300 and the first protective plate 210, avoiding electric field concentration or distortion caused by uneven spacing, and making the electric field more uniform and stable.

[0058] In one possible implementation, in the first direction, the second protective plate 220 is connected to the adjacent battery cell 100 via an adhesive layer 400. Alternatively, in the first direction, in two adjacent battery cells 100, one side of the second protective plate 220 is bonded to the side of one of the battery cells 100, and the other side of the second protective plate 220 is bonded to the side of the other battery cell 100. This allows the adhesive layer 400 to securely connect the second protective plate 220 to the two battery cells 100, improving the structural strength of the battery cell 1000. Furthermore, the adhesive layer 400 provides a certain degree of absorption and buffering. When the battery cell 1000 is subjected to a top load, the force is directly transmitted to the second protective plate 220. The adhesive layer 400 on the second protective plate 220 can then absorb part of the force, preventing it from being directly transmitted to the top of the battery cell 1000, thus improving top protection and preventing the battery cell 1000 from being deformed by being stepped on.

[0059] It should be noted that the thickness of the adhesive layer 400 can be freely set according to the operating conditions of the battery cell 1000.

[0060] In one possible implementation, the first protective panel 210 is connected to the lid via a buffer layer 500. In other words, a buffer layer 500 is provided on the side of the first protective panel 210 opposite to the second protective panel 220, and the buffer layer 500 can be cushioning foam. The cushioning foam can be bonded to the top surface of the first protective panel 210 using adhesive.

[0061] The cushioning foam effectively absorbs external impact energy (such as drops and collisions), reducing the mechanical stress transmitted to the first protective plate 210 and the internal battery module, thus lowering the risk of damage to the battery module. In addition, the elastic properties of the cushioning foam can suppress vibration transmission, reducing abnormal noises and resonance of the battery unit 1000 during operation (such as vehicle driving), improving user experience and equipment lifespan.

[0062] It should be noted that the relative positional relationship between the buffer layer 500 and the first protective plate 210 can be chosen in several ways. For example, the area of ​​the buffer layer 500 may be less than or equal to the area of ​​the first protective plate 210. In one example, the area of ​​the buffer layer 500 is equal to the area of ​​the first protective plate 210. When the buffer layer 500 and the first protective plate 210 are combined, a full-plane seal can be achieved, enhancing dust and water resistance, thereby improving the safety of the battery cell 1000.

[0063] In another example, the area of ​​the buffer layer 500 is smaller than that of the first protective plate 210. This reduces the amount of material used in the buffer layer 500, lowering weight and cost while still meeting the protection requirements of critical areas. Furthermore, it allows for the reservation of space in non-critical areas, where the first protective plate 210 can be further connected to the cover via welding, thus improving the stability of the protective assembly 200.

[0064] The various embodiments or implementation methods described in this specification are presented in a progressive manner. Each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments, and the same or similar parts between the embodiments can be referred to each other.

[0065] It should be noted that the terms "one embodiment," "embodiment," "exemplary embodiment," "some embodiments," etc., mentioned in the specification indicate that the described embodiment may include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes that specific feature, structure, or characteristic. Furthermore, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Moreover, when a specific feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, implementing such a feature, structure, or characteristic in conjunction with other embodiments, whether explicitly described or not, is within the knowledge scope of those skilled in the art.

[0066] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0067] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms “comprising” and “having” as used herein, and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units that are expressly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not expressly listed or that are inherent to such process, method, product, or apparatus.

[0068] Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the connection within two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated.

[0069] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A battery cell, characterized by, include: At least two individual battery cells, wherein the at least two individual battery cells are arranged sequentially along a first direction; The protective component includes a first protective plate and at least one second protective plate. The first protective plate is used to connect with the cover of the battery pack. The at least one second protective plate is disposed on one side of the first protective plate and connected to the first protective plate. The at least one second protective plate is inserted between two adjacent battery cells and is fitted to the adjacent sides of the two battery cells. The dimension of the first protective plate in the first direction is equal to the dimension of the at least two battery cells in the first direction.

2. The battery cell of claim 1, wherein, The at least two individual battery cells are connected in series via electrode plates; the second protective plate is provided with through holes for the electrode plates to pass through.

3. The battery cell of claim 2, wherein, The vertical distance between the surface of the electrode facing the first protective plate and the first protective plate is 0.5mm to 5mm.

4. The battery cell of claim 3, wherein, The electrode includes a first section, a second section, and a third section that are integrally formed and arranged in sequence. The second section passes through the through hole and protrudes from the first section and the third section in a direction away from the first protective plate.

5. The battery cell of any one of claims 1-4, wherein, The first protective plate and the at least one second protective plate are integrally formed by injection molding.

6. The battery cell of any one of claims 1-4, wherein, In the first direction, the second protective plate is connected to the adjacent battery cell via an adhesive layer.

7. A battery module, characterized by It includes a plurality of battery cells as described in any one of claims 1-6, wherein the battery cells are arranged sequentially along a first direction.

8. A battery pack, characterized by, The device includes a housing, a lid, and the battery module as described in claim 7, wherein the battery module is disposed within the housing, and the lid is connected to and seals the housing. The protective component of the battery module is connected to the box cover.

9. The battery pack of claim 8, wherein, The first protective plate is connected to the box lid via a buffer layer.

10. A vehicle characterized by comprising: Includes the battery pack of claim 9; at least a portion of the battery pack's cover forms the floor of the vehicle.

Images