A connecting structure, a series-connected battery cell, a battery, a battery pack, and a power-using device

Abstract

The application provides a connecting structure, a series connection battery cell, a battery, a battery pack and a power utilization device, and relates to the technical field of batteries. The connecting structure comprises two cover plate bodies, the two cover plate bodies are oppositely arranged, and the two cover plate bodies are respectively used for corresponding connection with the housings of two battery cells; two adapter pieces, the two adapter pieces are respectively located on the side of the two cover plate bodies facing the housings, and the adapter pieces are used for connection with the tabs of the corresponding battery cells; a conductive piece, the conductive piece penetrates through the cover plate body and is connected with the adapter pieces to conduct the two adapter pieces; and a sealing piece, the sealing piece is located between the conductive piece and the cover plate body. The conductive piece has a limiting part, the limiting part is located on the side of the cover plate body away from the adapter piece, and the limiting part and the cover plate body jointly clamp the sealing piece, so that the assembly is convenient and the liquid leakage at the connection of the two battery cells can be prevented.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a connection structure, a series-connected cell, a battery, a battery pack, and an electrical device. Background Technology

[0002] More and more applications require the use of high-voltage battery packs for power supply, such as the power batteries in electric vehicles. Within a battery pack, directly connecting individual cells in series via connectors to form a battery assembly to increase voltage is a complex process.

[0003] In response, there is also a method of directly connecting two bare cells in series. However, directly connecting bare cells in series can easily lead to electrolyte leakage at the connection point. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides a connection structure, a series-connected battery cell, a battery, a battery pack, and an electrical device to solve the problem that electrolyte leakage easily occurs at the connection point when two bare battery cells are directly connected in series.

[0005] On the one hand, this application provides a connection structure for connecting two battery cells, the connection structure including:

[0006] Two cover plate bodies are arranged opposite to each other, and the two cover plate bodies are respectively used to connect to the housings of the two battery cells.

[0007] Two adapters are located on the side of the two cover plates facing the housing, and the adapters are used to connect to the tabs of the corresponding battery cells;

[0008] A conductive element that penetrates the cover plate body and is connected to the adapter to conduct electricity between the two adapters;

[0009] A sealing element, wherein the sealing element is located between the conductive element and the cover plate body;

[0010] The conductive element has a limiting portion located on the side of the cover plate body away from the adapter, and the limiting portion is configured to clamp the sealing element together with the cover plate body.

[0011] In some possible implementations, the cover plate body is provided with a first connecting hole;

[0012] The sealing element includes a main body and an overlapping portion connected to each other. The main body is located inside the first connecting hole, and the overlapping portion is located on the side of the first connecting hole away from the adapter. The limiting portion is configured to clamp the overlapping portion together with the cover plate body.

[0013] In some possible implementations, at least two conductive elements are arranged side by side along the extension direction of the cover plate body, and the at least two conductive elements are respectively used to conduct different areas of the two adapters.

[0014] In some possible implementations, a first insulating element is also included, which is located between the two cover plate bodies.

[0015] In some possible implementations, the first insulating member is provided with a second connecting hole, and the limiting portion is at least partially located within the second connecting hole.

[0016] In some possible implementations, the cover plate body has a first positioning portion on the side opposite to the adapter, and the first insulating member has a second positioning portion. The first positioning portion cooperates with the second positioning portion to limit the relative position between the first insulating member and the cover plate body.

[0017] In some possible implementations, one of the first positioning portion and the second positioning portion is a first groove, and the other is a first protrusion that protrudes toward the first groove.

[0018] In some possible implementations, a second insulating element is also included, which is located between the cover plate body and the adapter. A limiting groove is provided on the side of the second insulating element adjacent to the adapter, and the adapter is at least partially engaged in the limiting groove.

[0019] In some possible implementations, a third positioning part is provided in the limiting groove, and a fourth positioning part is provided on the adapter. The third positioning part and the fourth positioning part are engaged to keep the adapter in contact with the second insulating part.

[0020] In some possible implementations, one of the third positioning part and the fourth positioning part is a slot, and the other is a hook that engages with the slot.

[0021] In some possible implementations, the second insulating member has a second groove on the side adjacent to the cover plate body;

[0022] The cover plate body is provided with a second protrusion that mates with the second groove.

[0023] In some possible implementations, the conductive element includes a first column and a second column connected to each other, the first column and the second column respectively penetrating through the two cover plate bodies;

[0024] The limiting part includes a first annular protrusion located at the end of the first column and a second annular protrusion located at the end of the second column.

[0025] In some possible implementations, one of the first column and the second column is an aluminum alloy column, and the other is a copper column.

[0026] In some possible implementations, both the first column and the second column are aluminum alloy columns.

[0027] In some possible implementations, the first column and the second column are integrally formed.

[0028] Secondly, this application provides a series-connected battery cell, comprising: a connection structure as described in any one of the first aspects and at least two battery cells, wherein the connection structure is used to connect two adjacent battery cells in series.

[0029] Thirdly, this application provides a battery comprising the series-connected cells described in the second aspect.

[0030] Fourthly, this application provides a battery pack, including the series-connected cells described in the second aspect or the battery described in the third aspect.

[0031] Fifthly, this application provides an electrical device, including an electrical appliance and a battery as described in the third aspect or a battery pack as described in the fourth aspect, wherein the battery or the battery pack is used to supply power to the electrical appliance.

[0032] The connection structure, series-connected battery cell, battery, battery pack, and electrical equipment provided in this application utilize two cover plate bodies, two adapters, a conductive component, and a sealing component. The two cover plate bodies are respectively connected to the housings of two battery cells. The two adapters are respectively connected to the tabs of the two battery cells. The conductive component is connected to the adapters and conducts electricity between them, thus connecting the two battery cells in series. The sealing component is located between the conductive component and the cover plate body, and is pressed against the cover plate body by the limiting part of the conductive component. This seals the gap between the conductive component and the cover plate body, preventing electrolyte leakage and ensuring the two battery cells are independent, thus improving the safety of using series-connected battery cells. Furthermore, the conductive component only needs to be connected to the adapters to effectively limit its movement. The placement of components such as the cover plate, seals, and adapters facilitates quick and easy assembly. The connecting structure directly connects two cells in series, allowing for adjustment of the number of cells connected in series as needed. This simplifies the internal structure of the battery pack by reducing or eliminating intermediate crossbeams and longitudinal beams, effectively improving space utilization and increasing the volumetric energy density of the battery pack. Furthermore, the connecting structure allows for the direct disassembly of excessively long cells into two or more individual cells, which can then be connected in series to increase cell length. This effectively reduces the impedance at both ends of a single cell and the temperature of the tabs during fast charging, improving fast charging performance. Moreover, the length of each individual cell can be shortened after being split into individual cells, helping to reduce production difficulty and costs. Attached Figure Description

[0033] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the connection structure provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0035] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the connection structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 3 An exploded view of the connection structure provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0037] Figure 4 A perspective view of a series-connected battery cell provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 5 A front view of a series-connected battery cell provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0039] Figure 6 A partial cross-sectional view of a series-connected battery cell provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0040] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the battery pack provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0041] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0042] 100-Connecting structure, 110-Cover plate body, 111-First connecting hole, 112-First positioning part, 113-Second protrusion, 120-Adapter, 121-Fourth positioning part, 130-Conductive component, 131-First column, 132-Second column, 133-Limiting part, 140-Sealing component, 141-Overlapping part, 142-Main body part, 150-First insulating component, 151-Second positioning part, 152-Second connecting hole, 160-Second insulating component, 161-Limiting groove, 162-Second groove, 163-Third positioning part, 200-Housing shell, 300-Outer shell.

[0043] The accompanying drawings have illustrated specific embodiments of this application, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the concept in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of this application to those skilled in the art through reference to specific embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0044] 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.

[0045] Currently, power batteries are generally manufactured by fully charging individual cells and then arranging them sequentially inside the battery pack casing. Finally, the individual cells are connected in series using connecting tabs. This means that the manufacturing process requires first fabricating individual cells, then assembling them into a battery pack. The assembly process itself requires additional connecting components to connect the individual cells in series, making the manufacturing process complex and costly. Furthermore, crossbeams are needed inside the battery pack casing to protect and reinforce two or more rows of individual cells, requiring additional space for these crossbeams, which reduces the utilization rate of the battery pack.

[0046] As mentioned in the background section, in order to simplify the structure, two bare cells can be connected in series. However, when bare cells are connected in series, electrolyte is prone to leakage at the connection point. Furthermore, if one cell experiences thermal runaway or other problems, the remaining cells are also more susceptible to interference, which seriously affects the safety and stability of use.

[0047] In response, this application provides a connection structure for connecting two battery cells in series. The conductive element presses the sealing element onto the cover plate body, and the sealing element seals the gap between the conductive element and the cover plate body, preventing the electrolyte inside the battery cell from leaking out from the gap between the conductive element and the cover plate body, thereby effectively improving the safety and stability of the connected battery cells.

[0048] It should be noted that the connection structure of this application embodiment can be applied to most common battery cells, such as lithium-ion battery cells or sodium-ion battery cells, and this application embodiment does not limit them.

[0049] The technical solution of this application and how the technical solution of this application solves the above-mentioned technical problems are described in detail below with specific embodiments. These specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be described again in some embodiments. The embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0050] This application provides a connection structure 100, please refer to... Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, it is used to connect two battery cells. The battery cell includes a housing 200, a tab disposed in the housing 200, a current collector, a positive electrode material, a negative electrode material, an electrolyte, and a separator, etc., so that the battery cell can achieve normal charging and discharging.

[0051] For example, the battery cell has a positive electrode and a negative electrode, which can be disposed at both ends of the housing 200. One end of the housing 200 has a terminal post and an explosion-proof valve, while the connection structure 100 is located at the other end of the housing 200. One of the positive electrode and the negative electrode is connected to the terminal post, and the other is connected to the connection structure 100.

[0052] It should be noted that the positive and negative tabs of the battery cell can also be located in other positions, as long as one of them is connected to the connection structure 100.

[0053] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 6 As shown, the connection structure 100 includes a cover plate body 110, an adapter 120, a conductive element 130, and a sealing element 140. Two cover plate bodies 110 and two adapters 120 are provided. The two cover plate bodies 110 are arranged opposite each other. One cover plate body 110 is connected to the housing 200 of one battery cell, and the other is connected to the housing 200 of another battery cell. The two adapters 120 are located on the side of the cover plate body 110 closest to the housing 200. One adapter 120 is connected to the tab of one battery cell, and the other is connected to the tab of another battery cell. Typically, one adapter 120 is connected to the positive tab, and the other adapter 120 is connected to the negative tab. Thus, when the conductive element 130 connects the two adapters 120, the two battery cells can be connected in series. Both the adapter 120 and the conductive element 130 are made of conductive metal materials, such as copper, aluminum, or alloys. Meanwhile, the conductive element 130 passes through the two cover plate bodies 110 and is connected to the two adapters 120 respectively. The sealing element 140 is arranged around the outside of the conductive element 130 and is located between the cover plate body 110 and the conductive element 130. Correspondingly, the conductive element 130 has a limiting part 133, which is located on the side of the cover plate body 110 away from the adapter 120. The limiting part 133 contacts the sealing element 140, and the limiting part 133 and the cover plate body 110 together clamp the sealing element 140, so that the sealing element 140 effectively seals the gap between the cover plate body 110 and the conductive element 130.

[0054] For a single cover plate body 110, the conductive element 130 is at least partially located outside both ends of the cover plate body 110 in the thickness direction. The conductive element 130 is connected to the adapter 120 at one end by welding or other means. The limiting part 133 is located on the side of the cover plate body 110 away from the adapter 120. The limiting part 133 squeezes the sealing element 140 and presses the sealing element 140 tightly onto the cover plate body 110. Thus, through the connection between the conductive element 130 and the adapter 120, and the setting of the limiting part 133, the relative positions between the cover plate body 110, the sealing element 140, the adapter 120 and the conductive element 130 are directly limited, realizing the rapid assembly between the connection structure 100 and the battery cell. The conductive element 130 can directly connect the two adapters 120, so it is extremely convenient to connect the two battery cells in series.

[0055] Specifically, for a single battery cell, it's equivalent to directly replacing a cover plate assembly at the end of the casing 200 with the connecting structure 100. This replaces the traditional step of assembling the cover plate assembly with the step of adding the connecting structure 100 in series, enabling rapid series connection of battery cells without adding too many steps. Moreover, no additional components are needed when connecting battery cells in series, thus saving space.

[0056] Meanwhile, after the sealing ring is pressed between the cover plate body 110 and the conductive component 130, it can effectively seal the gap between the cover plate body 110 and the conductive component 130, preventing leakage at this location and effectively improving the stability and safety of use.

[0057] Meanwhile, after connecting the battery cells in series through the connection structure 100, such as Figure 7 As shown, the series-connected cells can be directly placed into the outer shell 300 of the battery pack and arranged directly. At this time, the size of the accommodating cavity inside the outer shell 300 of the battery pack for storing batteries can be pre-designed to match the length of the series-connected cells. In this case, there is no need to add extra intermediate crossbeams and intermediate longitudinal beams, which not only simplifies the structure of the battery pack, but also makes full use of the space and improves the volumetric energy density of the battery pack.

[0058] In some embodiments of this application, the conductive element 130 includes a first column 131 and a second column 132 connected to each other. The first column 131 and the second column 132 pass through the two cover plate bodies 110 respectively, and after passing through the cover plate bodies 110, they are connected to the corresponding adapter 120. Of course, the shape of the first column 131 and the second column 132 can be adjusted according to the actual situation, for example, they can be cylindrical.

[0059] The limiting part 133 includes a first annular protrusion located at the end of the first column 131 and a second annular protrusion located at the end of the second column 132. The first annular protrusion and the second annular protrusion are arranged around the periphery of the first column 131 and the second column 132. The shape of the first annular protrusion and the second annular protrusion can be designed according to the actual situation, as long as they protrude from the surface of the first column 131 and the second column 132 and can press the corresponding sealing element 140 between the first column 131 and the corresponding cover plate body 110, and between the second column 132 and the corresponding cover plate body 110.

[0060] The first column 131 and the second column 132 can be integrally formed or set separately, and then electrically connected by welding or other methods.

[0061] For example, for lithium-ion batteries, one of the first pillar 131 and the second pillar 132 can be an aluminum alloy pillar and the other can be a copper pillar.

[0062] For example, for sodium-ion batteries, the first column 131 and the second column 132 can both be aluminum alloy columns. In this case, the first column 131 and the second column 132 can be welded together at adjacent ends, or the first column 131 and the second column 132 can be directly integrally formed.

[0063] In some embodiments of this application, a first connecting hole 111 is provided on the cover plate body 110. Taking the first column 131 and the second column 132 as examples where both are cylindrical, the first connecting hole 111 can be set to be circular.

[0064] The seal 140 includes a main body 142 and an overlapping part 141 connected to each other. The main body 142 is located inside the first connecting hole 111. The size of the overlapping part 141 is larger than the size of the first connecting hole 111. The overlapping part 141 is located on the side of the first connecting hole 111 away from the adapter 120. The limiting part 133 presses the overlapping part 141 against the side of the cover plate main body 110 away from the adapter 120, thereby effectively limiting the position of the seal 140.

[0065] It should be noted that the sealing element 140 can be a ring-shaped sealing ring made of rubber material, synthetic polymer, etc., which is directly sleeved on the first column 131 or the second column 132. When the conductive element 130 is inserted into the first connecting hole 111, the main body 142 is also inserted into the first connecting hole 111 accordingly, until the limiting part 133 presses the overlapping part 141 onto the cover plate main body 110. At this time, the conductive element 130 and the adapter 120 are welded together to realize the assembly between the conductive element 130, the sealing ring, the cover plate main body 110 and the adapter 120. The whole process only requires welding the adapter 120 and the conductive element 130, and the operation is extremely simple.

[0066] The sealing element 140 can also be a combined structure, as long as it can seal the gap between the conductive element 130 and the hole wall of the first connecting hole 111.

[0067] In practical applications, the cover plate body 110 is usually made of metal to provide better protection. In this case, a first insulating element 150 is usually provided between the two cover plate bodies 110 for insulation.

[0068] Specifically, the first insulating component 150 can be a component made of common insulating materials such as plastic. During assembly, the first insulating component 150 can be pressed between the two cover plate bodies 110, and the position of the first insulating component 150 can be directly restricted by the compression of the cover plate bodies 110, without the need for other structures to limit its position, thus effectively improving the convenience of assembling the connecting structure 100.

[0069] It should be noted that the first insulating component 150 can be composed of multiple separate parts or a whole. Its structure can be adjusted according to the structure of the cover plate body 110. For example, when the first insulating component 150 is a complete component, if the cover plate body 110 is rectangular, the first insulating component 150 can also be set as a rectangle. In this case, the length and width of the first insulating component 150 can be equal to or slightly smaller than the length and width of the cover plate body 110, as long as it can isolate the two cover plate bodies 110 and prevent the two cover plate bodies 110 from being electrically connected.

[0070] Furthermore, in order to improve the insulation effect of the conductive component 130, a second connecting hole 152 can be provided on the first insulating component 150. The conductive component 130 passes through the second connecting hole 152, and the limiting part 133 is at least partially located in the second connecting hole 152. Thus, the limiting part 133 can be protected by the first insulating component 150 to prevent conductive connection between the limiting part 133 and the cover plate body 110.

[0071] Furthermore, the cover plate body 110 has a first positioning part 112 on the side opposite to the adapter 120, and the first insulating member 150 has a second positioning part 151. The first positioning part 112 and the second positioning part 151 cooperate to limit the relative position between the first insulating member 150 and the cover plate body 110.

[0072] The first insulating member 150 is mainly restricted in position by the compression of the two cover plate bodies 110, which is prone to rotation or displacement. However, by adding the first positioning part 112 and the second positioning part 151, the position of the first insulating member 150 in the length and width directions of the cover plate body 110 can be restricted by the cooperation of the first positioning part 112 and the second positioning part 151.

[0073] For example, when the length and width of the first insulating member 150 are the same as the length and width of the cover plate body 110, the second positioning part 151 can be multiple limiting posts extending to different sides of the cover plate body 110, and the first positioning part 112 is the side of the cover plate body 110 used to fit with the limiting posts, thereby limiting the relative position between the first insulating member 150 and the cover plate body 110 by the limiting posts.

[0074] For example, one of the first positioning part 112 and the second positioning part 151 is a first groove, and the other is a first protrusion that protrudes toward the first groove.

[0075] For example, the first positioning part 112 is a first groove recessed on the cover plate body 110 toward the adapter 120, and the second positioning part 151 is a first protrusion protruding toward the cover plate body 110. During assembly, the first protrusion is directly inserted into the first groove. At this time, the first connecting hole 111 is connected to the first groove. The overlapping part 141 of the sealing member 140 can be pressed by the limiting part 133 to the bottom of the first groove. The cover plate body 110 squeezes the first insulating member 150, which can limit the position of the first insulating member 150 in the thickness direction. The first protrusion is inserted into the first groove, which can limit the position of the first insulating member 150 in the length and width directions.

[0076] Correspondingly, the first protrusion is located outside the second connecting hole 152 and does not affect the passage of the limiting part 133 or the seal 140.

[0077] In some embodiments of this application, the connection structure 100 further includes a second insulating member 160, which is located between the cover plate body 110 and the adapter 120. It is used to separate the adapter 120 from the cover plate body 110, avoid electrical connection between the cover plate body 110 and the adapter 120, and reduce the risk of short circuit. Of course, the second insulating member 160 is provided with a third connecting hole for the conductive member 130 to pass through. The first connecting hole 111, the second connecting hole 152, and the third connecting hole are usually coaxially arranged.

[0078] Wherein, a limiting groove 161 is provided on the side adjacent to the second insulating member 160 and the adapter 120. The adapter 120 is at least partially locked in the limiting groove 161. The position of the adapter 120 can be restricted by the limiting groove 161, so that the area where the adapter 120 is connected to the conductive member 130 is exactly opposite to the conductive member 130, thereby improving the convenience of connection.

[0079] The limiting groove 161 can be adapted to the shape of the adapter 120, so that the adapter 120 is fully embedded in the limiting groove 161, which can both position and improve the limiting effect. Of course, protrusions can also be added to the adapter 120, and the shape of the limiting groove 161 can be adapted to the protrusions. By inserting the protrusions into the limiting groove 161, the relative positions of the adapter 120 and the second insulating member 160 in the length and width directions can be limited.

[0080] For example, the adapter 120 is provided with a fourth connection hole. The end of the conductive element 130 is inserted into the fourth connection hole, riveted to the adapter 120, and then welded to improve the connection strength between the two. At this time, due to the presence of the limiting groove 161, the position of the adapter 120 can be quickly restricted, so that the fourth connection hole can be adapted to the position of the conductive element 130.

[0081] Furthermore, a second groove 162 may be provided on the second insulating member 160, and a second protrusion 113 that cooperates with the second groove 162 may be provided on the cover plate body 110.

[0082] During assembly, the second protrusion 113 is inserted into the second groove 162, which can position the second insulating component 160 and the cover plate body 110, so that the third connecting hole is aligned with the first connecting hole 111. Subsequently, the first groove can also position the adapter 120, so that the fourth connecting hole is aligned with the third connecting hole, thereby enabling the rapid assembly of the conductive component 130.

[0083] It should be noted that the adapter 120 can be a sheet structure made of common conductive metal material, and the shape of the adapter 120 and the shape of the second insulating member 160 can be adapted to the shape of the cover plate body 110. For example, when the cover plate body 110 is rectangular, both the second insulating member 160 and the adapter 120 can be set as rectangles.

[0084] In some embodiments of this application, a third positioning part 163 is provided in the limiting groove 161, and a fourth positioning part 121 is provided on the adapter 120. The third positioning part 163 and the fourth positioning part 121 are engaged to keep the adapter 120 in contact with the second insulating member 160.

[0085] Specifically, during assembly, although the limiting groove 161 can limit the position of the adapter 120 relative to the second insulating member 160 in the length and width directions, it cannot limit the position of the adapter 120 relative to the second insulating member 160 in the thickness direction. However, by adding the third positioning part 163 and the fourth positioning part 121, the position of the adapter 120 relative to the insulating member in the thickness direction can be limited through the snap-fit ​​cooperation of the third positioning part 163 and the fourth positioning part 121, which further improves the convenience of assembly. At the same time, during use, it also helps to reduce the stress on the connection point between the conductive member 130 and the adapter 120, and improves the connection effect between the two.

[0086] For example, one of the third positioning part 163 and the fourth positioning part 121 is a slot, and the other is a hook that engages with the slot.

[0087] Taking the adapter 120 being fully embedded in the limiting groove 161 as an example, at this time, a slot can be provided at each end of the adapter 120, and a corresponding hook can be provided on the second insulating member 160. The hook passes through the slot and engages with the slot wall, so that the adapter 120 cannot be separated from the second insulating member 160.

[0088] For example, the slot can be an arc-shaped slot, and two hooks can be provided, both of which are also arc-shaped. After the two hooks pass through the arc-shaped slot, they overlap on the wall of the arc-shaped slot on the side away from the second insulating component 160, which can save space and improve the limiting effect.

[0089] Of course, in order to avoid the hook taking up extra space, connecting parts with a thickness less than that of the middle region can be provided at both ends of the adapter 120. The connecting part has a height difference between the side away from the second insulating member 160 and the middle region, so that when the hook is locked on the connecting part, it will not extend to the outside of the middle region.

[0090] It should be noted that the third positioning part 163 and the third positioning part 163 can also be other components that can lock the adapter 120 and the second insulating part 160. This embodiment is only used as an example for illustration.

[0091] In some embodiments of this application, in order to prevent the cover body 110 from rotating or shifting, the connection structure 100 may include at least two conductive elements 130, and the at least two conductive elements 130 may be arranged side by side along the length direction of the cover body 110.

[0092] For example, when two conductive elements 130 are provided, the two conductive elements 130 are respectively located near both ends of the cover plate body 110, or a line is drawn from the center of the two conductive elements 130 to divide the cover plate body 110 into three equal sections, thereby using the two conductive elements 130 to assist in limiting the position. Of course, both conductive elements 130 are connected to the adapters 120 located on opposite sides of the two cover plate bodies 110, and different areas of the two adapters 120 are connected to conduct electricity, so as to connect the two cells in series. In addition, providing two conductive elements 130 can also improve the overcurrent effect.

[0093] It should be noted that more conductive components 130 can be provided, and the specific number can be adjusted according to the size of the two connected battery cells and the fixing requirements.

[0094] In some embodiments of this application, in order to improve the connection effect, limiting components such as hooks can be added to the second insulating member 160 to engage with the internal structure of the battery cell, improve the connection strength, and limit the position between the cover plate body 110 and the battery cell housing 200, so as to facilitate positioning.

[0095] For example, the hook can be engaged with the corresponding slot or other structure on the battery cell casing 300, or with the support structure inside the battery cell.

[0096] Please see Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, this application embodiment also provides a series battery cell, including the connection structure 100 in the above embodiment and at least two battery cells, each battery cell including a housing 200 and a tab.

[0097] The battery cells are arranged sequentially, and adjacent battery cells are connected by a connection structure 100, so that the battery cells can meet certain length or voltage requirements.

[0098] For example, for a single battery cell with a length exceeding 1000mm, it can be divided into two or more cells and then connected in series through a connecting structure 100. This can shorten the length of a single cell and the length of the corresponding casing 200, reducing processing difficulty and cost. At the same time, after the cell length is shortened, the temperature difference between the two ends and the middle of the cell will not be too large. Furthermore, a heat dissipation component can be added at the point where the two cells are connected in series to assist in heat dissipation, making the temperature distribution of the cell more uniform. This helps to reduce the impedance at both ends of the cell and the temperature of the tabs during fast charging, thereby improving the fast charging performance of the cell.

[0099] For example, for a battery pack composed of multiple cells with a length of less than 700 mm, one or more connecting structures 100 cells can be used to form a battery with a length of double or more, thereby effectively improving assembly efficiency and increasing the energy density of the battery pack when assembling the battery pack.

[0100] This application also provides a battery, including the series-connected cells in the above embodiments. Using the series-connected cells can reduce the manufacturing difficulty of the battery and increase the manufacturing speed.

[0101] Please see Figure 7 As shown in the embodiments of this application, a battery pack is also provided, including the series-connected cells or batteries in the above embodiments.

[0102] Of course, the battery pack also includes conventional structures such as the outer casing 300. The outer casing 300 has a accommodating cavity. Taking the use of series cells as an example, the length of the accommodating cavity is adapted to the length of the series cells, while the width is the sum of the thicknesses of the series cells to be used. At this time, multiple series cells can be stacked one by one in the accommodating cavity to form a battery pack, without the need to set up intermediate crossbeams and intermediate longitudinal beams, or additional connecting pieces to connect the cells in series. This not only greatly improves the assembly efficiency of the battery pack, but also effectively improves the volumetric energy density of the battery pack.

[0103] This application also provides an electrical device, including an electrical device and a battery or battery pack as described in the above embodiments, wherein the battery or battery pack is used to supply power to the electrical device.

[0104] It should be noted that electrical equipment includes, but is not limited to, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, drones, home appliances, medical equipment, industrial equipment, energy storage equipment, and aerospace equipment, as long as they can be powered by batteries or battery packs.

[0105] Other embodiments of this application will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the utility models disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this application that follow the general principles of this application and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of this application are indicated by the following claims.

[0106] It should be understood that this application is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this application is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A connection structure for connecting two battery cells, characterized in that, The connection structure (100) includes: Two cover plate bodies (110) are arranged opposite to each other, and the two cover plate bodies (110) are respectively used to connect with the housings (200) of the two battery cells; Two adapters (120) are located on the two cover plate bodies (110) and the side facing the housing (200), respectively, and the adapters (120) are used to connect to the tabs of the corresponding battery cells; A conductive element (130) penetrates the cover plate body (110) and is connected to the adapter (120) to conduct electricity between the two adapters (120); A sealing element (140) is located between the conductive element (130) and the cover plate body (110); The conductive element (130) has a limiting portion (133) located on the side of the cover plate body (110) away from the adapter (120), and the limiting portion (133) is configured to clamp the sealing element (140) together with the cover plate body (110).

2. The connection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cover plate body (110) is provided with a first connecting hole (111); The sealing element (140) includes a main body (142) and an overlapping part (141) connected to each other. The main body (142) is located inside the first connecting hole (111), and the overlapping part (141) is located on the side of the first connecting hole (111) away from the adapter (120). The limiting part (133) is configured to clamp the overlapping part (141) together with the cover plate body (110).

3. The connection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least two conductive elements (130) are arranged side by side along the extension direction of the cover plate body (110), and the at least two conductive elements (130) are respectively used to conduct different areas of the two adapters (120).

4. The connection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a first insulating element (150) located between the two cover plate bodies (110).

5. The connection structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first insulating member (150) is provided with a second connecting hole (152), and the limiting part (133) is at least partially located in the second connecting hole (152).

6. The connection structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The cover plate body (110) has a first positioning part (112) on the side opposite to the adapter (120), and the first insulating member (150) has a second positioning part (151). The first positioning part (112) cooperates with the second positioning part (151) to limit the relative position between the first insulating member (150) and the cover plate body (110).

7. The connection structure according to claim 6, characterized in that, One of the first positioning part (112) and the second positioning part (151) is a first groove, and the other is a first protrusion that protrudes toward the first groove.

8. The connection structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a second insulating member (160), which is located between the cover plate body (110) and the adapter (120). A limiting groove (161) is provided on the side of the second insulating member (160) adjacent to the adapter (120), and the adapter (120) is at least partially engaged in the limiting groove (161).

9. The connection structure according to claim 8, characterized in that, A third positioning part (163) is provided in the limiting groove (161), and a fourth positioning part (121) is provided on the adapter (120). The third positioning part (163) and the fourth positioning part (121) are engaged to keep the adapter (120) in contact with the second insulating member (160).

10. The connection structure according to claim 9, characterized in that, One of the third positioning part (163) and the fourth positioning part (121) is a slot, and the other is a hook that engages with the slot.

11. The connection structure according to claim 8, characterized in that, The second insulating member (160) is provided with a second groove (162) on the side adjacent to the cover plate body (110); The cover plate body (110) is provided with a second protrusion (113) that cooperates with the second groove (162).

12. The connection structure according to any one of claims 1-11, characterized in that, The conductive element (130) includes a first column (131) and a second column (132) connected to each other, and the first column (131) and the second column (132) respectively penetrate through the two cover plate bodies (110); The limiting part (133) includes a first annular protrusion located at the end of the first column (131) and a second annular protrusion located at the end of the second column (132).

13. The connection structure according to claim 12, characterized in that, Of the first column (131) and the second column (132), one is an aluminum alloy column and the other is a copper column.

14. The connection structure according to claim 12, characterized in that, Both the first column (131) and the second column (132) are aluminum alloy columns.

15. The connection structure according to claim 14, characterized in that, The first column (131) and the second column (132) are integrally formed.

16. A series-connected battery cell, characterized in that, It includes the connection structure (100) according to any one of claims 1-15 and at least two battery cells, the connection structure (100) being used to connect two adjacent battery cells in series.

17. A battery, characterized in that, Includes the series-connected battery cell as described in claim 16.

18. A battery pack, characterized in that, Includes the series-connected cell of claim 16 or the battery of claim 17.

19. An electrical appliance, characterized in that, It includes an electrical device and the battery of claim 17 or the battery pack of claim 18, the battery or the battery pack being used to supply power to the electrical device.

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