Battery box and battery pack

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of battery box and battery pack, belong to battery technical field, comprising: box, installation cavity is provided in it, at least one side inner side wall of installation cavity is provided with connecting surface;Butt joint part, it is set in installation cavity, and butt joint part includes butt joint plane, butt joint plane is used to with the expansion surface of the battery cell being set in box butt joint, butt joint plane can be linearly moved relative to connecting surface;Elastic part, it is set between butt joint part and connecting surface, for connecting butt joint part and connecting surface.Advantages are that butt joint part can be linearly moved relative to connecting surface, and elastic part is set between butt joint part and connecting surface, by the compression and resilience of elastic part, provide necessary expansion space for battery cell, to avoid the pressure increase caused by battery cell volume change, protect the integrity of battery cell structure.Elastic part can provide appropriate buffer force when battery cell expands, so that the mechanical stress that battery cell endures in life cycle is maintained in a suitable range.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of battery technology, and in particular relates to a battery box and battery pack. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing global demand for clean energy, battery technology, especially lithium-ion battery technology, is being used more and more widely in electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and other portable devices. However, the reliability and lifespan of battery packs have become one of the key factors restricting their further development. During charging and discharging, battery cells undergo volume expansion due to changes in material volume caused by internal electrochemical reactions. If not properly managed, this volume change can negatively impact battery performance and lifespan.

[0003] Traditional battery designs typically employ modular cell pre-tightening, with foam or other cushioning materials added between the cells to absorb expansion. However, these cushioning materials occupy space, reducing the effective volume available for placing more cells and thus lowering the battery pack's energy density. While foam can alleviate the pressure caused by cell expansion to some extent, its compressible properties make it difficult to ensure uniform pressure distribution across the entire cell surface. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to address the aforementioned problems in existing technologies by proposing a battery box that reduces unnecessary structural components and maximizes the usable space within the battery pack.

[0005] The objective of this utility model can be achieved through the following technical solution: a battery box, comprising:

[0006] The housing has an internal mounting cavity, and a connecting surface is provided on at least one inner wall of the mounting cavity;

[0007] An abutment portion is disposed within the mounting cavity, and the abutment portion includes an abutment plane, the abutment plane being used to abut against the expansion surface of the battery cell disposed within the housing, and the abutment plane being capable of linear movement relative to the connection surface;

[0008] An elastic portion is disposed between the abutting portion and the connecting surface for connecting the abutting portion and the connecting surface.

[0009] In the aforementioned battery box, two elastic portions are respectively provided at both ends of the abutment portion, and the two elastic portions are arranged perpendicular to the length extension direction of the abutment portion.

[0010] In one of the battery boxes described above, a guide post is fixedly provided on the side of the abutting part that is away from the abutting plane, and a guide hole is provided on the connecting surface. The guide post extends into the guide hole and can slide linearly relative to the guide hole.

[0011] In the aforementioned battery box, a box beam is fixedly installed inside the mounting cavity, and a gap exists between the box beam and the inner wall of the mounting cavity to form an active space. The guide post extends into the active space through the guide hole, and the connecting surface is disposed on the box beam.

[0012] In one of the battery boxes described above, a sliding sleeve is fixedly installed inside the guide hole, and the guide post extends into the sliding sleeve and can slide linearly relative to the sliding sleeve.

[0013] In one of the battery boxes described above, the insertion end of the guide post is fixedly provided with an anti-detachment part, which can abut against the box beam to prevent the guide post from detaching from the box beam.

[0014] In the aforementioned battery box, the box beam is provided with a pin hole, the abutment part is fixedly provided with an installation part, the installation part is provided with a connection hole, and the box beam is detachably provided with a positioning pin. The positioning pin can pass through the pin hole and the connection hole to realize the fixed connection between the box beam and the abutment part.

[0015] In one of the aforementioned battery boxes, the box beam is provided with a plug-in hole, and the mounting part can extend into the plug-in hole and slide relative to the plug-in hole.

[0016] In one of the battery cases described above, along the length extension direction of the abutment portion, the length of the abutment surface is not shorter than the length of the expansion surface used to abut the battery cell against the abutment surface.

[0017] A battery pack comprising the aforementioned battery case.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0019] (1) The abutment part can move linearly relative to the connecting surface, and an elastic part is provided between the abutment part and the connecting surface. Through the compression and rebound of the elastic part, the necessary expansion space is provided for the battery cell, thereby avoiding the increase in pressure caused by changes in the battery cell volume and protecting the integrity of the battery cell structure. Moreover, the elastic part can provide appropriate buffering force when the battery cell expands, so that the mechanical stress borne by the battery cell throughout its entire life cycle remains within a suitable range.

[0020] (2) Compared to the traditional design that uses foam to absorb cell expansion, this solution eliminates the use of foam and instead adopts a more compact and efficient design of the contact and elastic parts to accommodate cell expansion. This not only saves space but also allows more cells to be placed in a box of the same size, thereby increasing the energy density of the battery pack.

[0021] (3) By reasonably designing the pre-tightening force provided by the elastic part, the battery cells can be kept in good contact while avoiding damage caused by excessive compression, thus enhancing the safety and reliability of battery use. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the battery box;

[0023] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure at point A in the middle;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of the abutment part;

[0025] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Another perspective illustration;

[0026] Figure 5 This is a structural schematic diagram of a box girder;

[0027] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram showing the position of the contact part defined by inserting a positioning pin into the pin hole.

[0028] In the diagram, 100 is the box body; 101 is the mounting cavity; 102 is the connecting surface; 103 is the abutment part; 104 is the abutment plane; 105 is the elastic part; 200 is the guide post; 201 is the anti-detachment part; 202 is the sliding sleeve; 203 is the guide hole; 204 is the positioning pin; 300 is the box girder; 301 is the movement space; 302 is the pin hole; 303 is the insertion hole; 400 is the mounting part; and 401 is the connecting hole. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The following are specific embodiments of the present invention, which are described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0030] It should be noted that all directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in this utility model embodiment are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicator will also change accordingly.

[0031] like Figures 1-5 As shown, a battery box includes:

[0032] The housing 100 has an installation cavity 101 inside, and a connecting surface 102 is provided on at least one inner side wall of the installation cavity 101.

[0033] The abutment part 103 is disposed in the mounting cavity 101. The abutment part 103 includes an abutment plane 104, which is used to abut against the expansion surface of the battery cell in the housing 100. The abutment plane 104 can move linearly relative to the connecting surface 102.

[0034] The elastic part 105 is disposed between the abutting part 103 and the connecting surface 102.

[0035] It should be noted that the battery box typically contains one or more rows of cells, each row comprising multiple cells arranged linearly, with the expansion surfaces of adjacent cells in a row abutting each other. The abutting plane 104 abuts against the expansion surfaces of the two outermost cells in the corresponding row or against the expansion surface of one of the outermost cells.

[0036] The expansion surface of a battery cell refers to the surface that undergoes a significant increase in size during the charge and discharge cycle due to the volume change caused by the lithium ion insertion / extraction of the internal materials (such as the positive and negative electrode active materials). It generally refers to the two large surfaces of the battery cell (i.e., the wide planes perpendicular to the electrode stacking direction).

[0037] In this embodiment, the abutment portion 103 is capable of linear movement relative to the connecting surface 102, and an elastic portion 105 is provided between the abutment portion 103 and the connecting surface 102. Through the compression and rebound of the elastic portion 105, the necessary expansion space is provided for the battery cell, thereby avoiding the increase in pressure caused by changes in the battery cell volume and protecting the integrity of the battery cell structure. Moreover, the elastic portion 105 can provide appropriate buffering force when the battery cell expands, so that the mechanical stress borne by the battery cell throughout its entire life cycle remains within a suitable range.

[0038] The contact part 103 can be made of metal materials such as aluminum alloy or stainless steel, which has good mechanical strength and can effectively transmit pre-tightening force; while the housing 100 can be made of aluminum alloy, which has a density of about 1 / 3 that of steel, significantly reducing the weight of the battery pack; in addition, it also has good thermal conductivity and good machinability, which helps the battery system to dissipate heat, and supports a variety of processes such as extrusion, stamping, casting, and welding.

[0039] Compared to traditional designs that use foam to absorb cell expansion, this solution eliminates the use of foam and instead employs a more compact and efficient design with a contact part 103 and an elastic part 105 to accommodate cell expansion. This not only saves space but also allows more cells to be placed within a single-sized housing 100, thereby increasing the energy density of the battery pack.

[0040] By rationally designing the pre-tightening force provided by the elastic part 105, good contact of the battery cell can be ensured while avoiding damage caused by excessive compression, thereby enhancing the safety and reliability of battery use.

[0041] like Figure 1 As shown in one specific embodiment, an abutment portion 103 is provided only on one inner sidewall. Along the cell arrangement direction, the two outermost cells abut against the inner sidewall of the mounting cavity 101 and the abutment plane 104, respectively. This simplifies the overall structural design of the battery box, reduces the number of components, and thus lowers manufacturing costs and complexity. When a cell expands, the cell closer to the abutment portion 103 will press against the abutment plane 104, thereby compressing the elastic portion 105. This also provides the necessary expansion space for the cell, ensuring that the cell receives appropriate preload throughout its lifespan.

[0042] Preferably, two elastic portions 105 are provided at each end of the abutment portion 103, and the two elastic portions 105 are arranged perpendicular to the length extension direction of the abutment portion 103. This arrangement ensures that the abutment portion 103 remains stable when facing the expansion pressure from the battery cell, and is not prone to tilting or shifting.

[0043] Specifically, a guide post 200 is fixedly installed on the side of the abutment portion 103 opposite to the abutment plane 104, and a guide hole 203 is provided on the connecting surface 102. The guide post 200 extends into the guide hole 203 and can slide linearly relative to the guide hole 203. The cooperation between the guide post 200 and the guide hole 203 ensures that the abutment portion 103 moves stably and linearly along a predetermined path. This prevents the abutment portion 103 from shifting or tilting during the expansion or contraction of the battery cell, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of its operation.

[0044] It is worth mentioning that the elastic part 105 is a spring sleeved on the guide post 200. The guide post 200 not only guides the abutment part 103 to slide linearly, but also serves as the mounting reference axis for the spring, effectively preventing the spring from deflecting during compression and rebound. The two ends of the spring abut against the abutment part 103 and the connecting surface 103, respectively. When the spring is in a compressed and energy-storing state, it can continuously apply a constant thrust to the abutment part 103, ensuring that the abutment surface 104 always remains in contact with the side of the battery cell. When the battery cell expands during charging and discharging, the battery cell pushes the abutment part 103 to move along the guide post 200 toward the box beam 300, further compressing the spring and absorbing the expansion displacement. When the battery cell contracts, the spring releases its stored energy, pushing the abutment part 103 back to its original position, continuing to maintain the contact pressure on the battery cell.

[0045] Preferably, a sliding sleeve 202 is fixedly disposed inside the guide hole 203, and the guide post 200 extends into the sliding sleeve 202 and can slide linearly relative to the sliding sleeve 202. The sliding sleeve 202 serves as the sliding interface for the guide post 200, which can significantly reduce the frictional force generated when the guide post 200 is in direct contact with the guide hole 203, reduce wear and tear between the guide post 200 and the guide hole 203, and extend the service life of the component.

[0046] Further defined, a box beam 300 is fixedly installed inside the mounting cavity 101, and there is a gap between the box beam 300 and the inner wall of the mounting cavity 101 to form an active space 301. The guide column 200 extends into the active space 301 through the guide hole 203, and the connecting surface 102 is set on the box beam 300.

[0047] In the battery pack structure, the box beam (also known as the crossbeam, reinforcing beam, or structural beam) is a key load-bearing and supporting component inside the battery box. It is mainly used to enhance the structural rigidity, bending and torsional resistance of the box, and to serve as the foundation for the installation and connection of other functional components (such as the abutment part, guide structure, elastic element, etc.).

[0048] The box girder 300 can be made of aluminum alloy or high-strength steel, and the connecting surface 102 is the side of the box girder 300 that extends along its length.

[0049] In this embodiment, one end of the guide post 200 is connected to the abutment portion 103, and the other end extends through the guide hole 203 into the movable space 301 formed between the box girder 300 and the inner wall of the mounting cavity 101, allowing it to slide freely within this space. When the battery cell expands, it pushes the abutment portion 103, causing the abutment portion 103 to drive the guide post 200 to slide linearly relative to the guide hole 203. During this process, the free sliding of the guide post 200 within the movable space 301 provides it with the necessary range of motion to accommodate the expansion of the battery cell, thereby avoiding excessive pressure on the battery cell and protecting it from damage.

[0050] Preferably, the insertion end of the guide post 200 is fixedly provided with an anti-detachment part 201, which can abut against the box girder 300 to prevent the guide post 200 from detaching from the box girder 300. The anti-detachment part 201 (such as a retaining ring, step, or retaining ring) is provided at the insertion end of the guide post 200, and its outer diameter is larger than the diameter of the guide hole or contacts the end face of the box girder to form a physical stop and prevent it from being completely pulled out.

[0051] By limiting the maximum travel of the guide post 200, the anti-detachment part 201 helps maintain a tight connection between the components inside the battery box, reducing the possibility of functional failure due to loose or misaligned components.

[0052] Specifically, the anti-detachment part 201 includes a retaining ring, which is detachably fixed at the end of the guide post 200. After the guide post 200 passes through the guide hole 203, the retaining ring is fixed on the guide post 200, simplifying the installation process and allowing fine-tuning of the components to ensure optimal position and function.

[0053] like Figure 1 , Figure 6 As shown, further defined, the box girder 300 is provided with a pin hole 302, the abutment part 103 is fixedly provided with an installation part 400, the installation part 400 is provided with a connection hole 401, and the box girder 300 is detachably provided with a positioning pin 204, which can pass through the pin hole 302 and the connection hole 401 to realize the fixed connection between the box girder 300 and the abutment part 103.

[0054] When the battery cell is installed in the enclosure, a specific tooling operation is used to fix the position of the abutment part 103 inside the enclosure, aligning the connection hole 401 with the pin hole 302 and inserting the positioning pin 204, ensuring sufficient space to accommodate the battery cell and simplifying the battery cell installation process. After the battery cell is installed, the positioning pin 204 is removed, and the elasticity of the elastic part 105 pushes the abutment part 103 to press the battery cell, thereby providing appropriate preload force.

[0055] Meanwhile, the design of the locating pin 204 allows for quick disassembly and reinstallation, facilitating subsequent maintenance and repair. If cell replacement or internal inspection is required, the operation can be completed simply by inserting and removing the locating pin 204.

[0056] Preferably, the box girder 300 is provided with a plug hole 303, and the mounting part 400 can extend into the plug hole 303 and slide relative to the plug hole 303.

[0057] The insertion hole 303 provides a guide channel for the mounting part 400, allowing it to slide smoothly in a predetermined direction during compression or rebound, avoiding deviation or jamming. Before the battery cell is installed, the tooling pulls the abutment part 103 (driving the mounting part 400) to slide within the insertion hole 303, thereby moving the connecting hole 401 to align it with the pin hole 302 on the box girder 300. This allows the positioning pin 204 to be smoothly inserted, achieving temporary fixation.

[0058] When the elastic part 105 (such as a compression spring) is compressed to its limit position, if there is no additional space, the mounting part 400 may directly collide rigidly with the box girder 300, resulting in stress concentration, structural damage, or failure of the elastic element. The insertion hole 303 provides a sliding stroke margin for the mounting part 400, which is equivalent to providing a "safety buffer zone".

[0059] Specifically, along the length extension direction of the abutment portion 103, the length of the abutment portion 103 is not shorter than the length of the expansion surface of the battery cell used to abut against the abutment portion 103.

[0060] In this embodiment, the length of the contact portion 103 is at least equal to or greater than the length of the cell expansion surface, which means that there is a larger contact area, which helps to distribute pressure more evenly. This ensures that uniform pressure is provided throughout the entire length of the cell, avoiding cell damage caused by excessive local pressure, such as deformation or internal material delamination.

[0061] A battery pack comprising the aforementioned battery case.

[0062] It should be noted that in this utility model, the use of terms such as "first," "second," and "a" is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. In the description of this utility model, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly defined. The terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two elements or the interaction between two elements, unless otherwise explicitly defined. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0063] Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments of this utility model can be combined with each other, but only if they are based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

[0064] The specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative examples illustrating the spirit of this utility model. Those skilled in the art to which this utility model pertains may make various modifications or additions to the described specific embodiments or use similar methods to substitute them, without departing from the spirit of this utility model or exceeding the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A battery box characterized by, include: The housing has an internal mounting cavity, and a connecting surface is provided on at least one inner wall of the mounting cavity; An abutment portion is disposed within the mounting cavity, and the abutment portion includes an abutment plane, the abutment plane being used to abut against the expansion surface of the battery cell disposed within the housing, and the abutment plane being capable of linear movement relative to the connection surface; An elastic portion is disposed between the abutting portion and the connecting surface for connecting the abutting portion and the connecting surface.

2. The battery box of claim 1, wherein, Two elastic portions are provided at each end of the abutment portion, and the two elastic portions are arranged perpendicular to the length extension direction of the abutment portion.

3. A battery box according to claim 1, characterized in that, A guide post is fixedly provided on the side of the abutting part that is away from the abutting plane. A guide hole is provided on the connecting surface. The guide post extends into the guide hole and can slide linearly relative to the guide hole.

4. A battery box according to claim 3, characterized in that, A box girder is fixedly installed inside the mounting cavity. There is a gap between the box girder and the inner wall of the mounting cavity to form an active space. The guide post extends into the active space through the guide hole. The connecting surface is set on the box girder.

5. A battery box according to claim 4, characterized in that, A sliding sleeve is fixedly installed inside the guide hole, and the guide post extends into the sliding sleeve and can slide linearly relative to the sliding sleeve.

6. A battery box according to claim 4, characterized in that, The insertion end of the guide post is fixedly provided with an anti-detachment part, which can abut against the box girder to prevent the guide post from detaching from the box girder.

7. A battery box according to claim 4, characterized in that, The box girder is provided with a pin hole, the abutment part is fixedly provided with an installation part, the installation part is provided with a connection hole, and the box girder is detachably provided with a positioning pin. The positioning pin can pass through the pin hole and the connection hole to realize the fixed connection between the box girder and the abutment part.

8. A battery box according to claim 7, characterized in that, The box girder is provided with a plug hole, and the mounting part can extend into the plug hole and slide relative to the plug hole.

9. A battery box according to claim 1, characterized in that, Along the length extension direction of the abutment portion, the length of the abutment plane is not shorter than the length of the expansion surface of the battery cell used to abut against the abutment plane.

10. A battery pack, characterized in that, Includes the battery box as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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