A battery module

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of battery module, including module frame, the reinforcing structure of several electric cores being arranged in module frame, electric core includes the shell of at least one end being provided with opening, the cover plate of encapsulating the opening, and electrode assembly being arranged in the shell, at least one side of shell is formed with weld joint;Reinforcing structure is arranged between module frame and the weld joint of at least one electric core, and at least part is abutted to weld joint by module frame, reinforcing structure can efficiently disperse and transmit to module frame at the expansion stress of weld joint;Reinforcing structure is formed by that hollow window is opened in weld joint corresponding area through insulating cladding layer and setting connecting layer in window, or thickening area is formed in weld joint area through insulating cladding layer, while structural adhesive covers thickening area formation, solve the weld joint structure damage and blue film puncture failure problem caused by steel shell electric core expansion stress, improve the structural stability and security of battery.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] In battery modules, the rational design of the battery cell casing structure and insulation coating process is fundamental to ensuring battery production efficiency and safety performance. If the synergy between the casing structure and coating process is not effectively addressed, it will lead to reduced battery cell production yield and safety hazards such as protection failure during charge-discharge cycles. Optimizing the synergy between the casing structure and coating process has become a pressing technical problem that needs to be solved to improve the reliability of battery systems. Utility Model Content

[0003] This utility model provides a battery module to solve technical problems such as weld structure damage caused by battery expansion stress concentration, failure of the outer insulating blue film of the shell to puncture, and poor safety of the battery module.

[0004] This utility model provides a battery module, including a module frame, a plurality of battery cells disposed within the module frame, and a reinforcing structure;

[0005] The battery cell includes a housing with an opening at at least one end, a cover plate encapsulating the opening, and an electrode assembly disposed in the housing, wherein at least one side of the housing has a weld seam.

[0006] A reinforcing structure is disposed between the module frame and the weld of at least one of the battery cells, and at least partially abuts against the weld through the module frame.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, an insulating covering layer is further included, the insulating covering layer covering the outer surface of the housing, and the insulating covering layer having a hollow window corresponding to the first surface, the first surface being the surface where the weld is located;

[0008] The cutout window is configured to expose the weld, and the connecting layer covers the cutout window and contacts the first surface to form the reinforcing structure.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, on the first surface, the dimension of the hollow window in the extension direction of the weld is the window height H1, and the dimension of the shell in the extension direction of the weld is the shell height H2. The ratio of the window height H1 to the shell height H2 is 0.6 to 0.98.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the orthographic projection area of ​​the hollow window on the first surface is the window area S1, the surface area of ​​the first surface is the side surface area S2, and the ratio of the window area S1 to the side surface area S2 is 0.5 to 0.96.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the orthographic projection area of ​​the weld on the first surface is the weld area S3, and the ratio of the window area S1 to the weld area S3 is 4 to 10.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the maximum dimension of the connecting layer in the first direction is the connecting layer thickness t1, and the maximum dimension of the insulating covering layer in the first direction is the film thickness t2. The connecting layer thickness t1 and the film thickness t2 satisfy the relationship: t2≤t1≤4t2;

[0013] Wherein, the first direction is the direction perpendicular to the first surface.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, an insulating covering layer is further included, the insulating covering layer covering the outer surface of the shell, and the insulating covering layer having a thickened area corresponding to the first surface to form the reinforcing structure, the first surface being the surface where the weld is located, and the thickened area at least covering the weld.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, the thickened area is formed by overlapping at least two layers of the insulating covering layer, and / or the thickened area is formed by partially thickening one layer of the insulating covering layer.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, on the first surface, the thickened area extends along the extension direction of the weld, and the lateral dimension of the thickened area in the direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the weld is the thickening width W, which is set to 20mm to 50mm.

[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, the reinforcing structure further includes a connecting layer, which at least covers the thickened area.

[0018] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: The battery module proposed in this utility model has a reinforcing structure between the weld seam of the shell and the module frame. The reinforcing structure abuts against the weld seam through the module frame, forming a stress buffer interface when the cell expands. This efficiently disperses and evenly transmits the expansion stress to the module frame, significantly reducing the risk of deformation in the weld seam area and avoiding plastic deformation or cracking caused by repeated stress. At the same time, this reinforcing structure also eliminates the safety hazard of the deformed weld seam piercing the blue film. The battery module of this utility model fundamentally solves the technical problem of weld seam structural integrity and insulation safety under cell expansion conditions by optimizing the shell structure and coating process. This significantly improves the mechanical reliability of the battery module under cycle conditions and achieves a substantial improvement in battery safety performance. Attached Figure Description

[0019] 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. It is obvious that the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without any inventive effort.

[0020] In the attached diagram:

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery provided in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] The attached figures are labeled as follows:

[0024] 100. Shell; 110. Weld; 120. First surface;

[0025] 200. Insulating coating layer; 210. Hollowed-out window; 220. Thickened area. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The following specific examples illustrate the implementation of this utility model. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of this utility model from the content disclosed in this specification. This utility model can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments. Various details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of this utility model. In the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0027] It should be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are only schematic representations of the basic concept of the present invention. The drawings only show the components related to the present invention and are not drawn according to the actual number, shape and size of the components. In actual implementation, the form, quantity and proportion of each component can be arbitrarily changed, and the layout of the components may also be more complex.

[0028] In the following description, numerous details are explored to provide a more thorough explanation of embodiments of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other embodiments, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form rather than in detail to avoid obscuring embodiments of the present invention.

[0029] In lithium-ion battery modules, steel-cased batteries are formed through stamping, bending, and welding processes. The side welds of the casing, due to structural discontinuities, create mechanical weak points. The outer surface of the casing is typically covered with an insulating blue film. During module assembly, the battery cells are usually fixed within the module by applying structural adhesive to the sides. When the cells expand during charging and discharging, the blue film's covering structure restricts casing deformation, preventing the expansion stress from being effectively transmitted or dispersed to rigid support structures such as the module's side or bottom plates. This causes stress concentration in the weld area on the small surface of the casing. Consequently, during casing expansion, the weld itself is weak and prone to deformation damage due to repeated stress concentration. Furthermore, the expanding weld can press against the blue film, posing a risk of puncturing the outer insulating blue film and causing safety hazards, thus affecting the safety of the battery system. Therefore, this invention proposes a battery module that optimizes the battery casing structure and covering process, solving the problems of weld structure damage and insulating blue film puncture failure caused by battery expansion stress, effectively improving the safety of the battery system.

[0030] The technical solution of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0031] Please see Figures 1 to 2 This invention provides a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprising a module frame, a plurality of battery cells disposed within the module frame, and a reinforcing structure. Each battery cell includes a housing 100 with an opening at at least one end, a cover plate encapsulating the housing 100, and an electrode assembly disposed within the housing 100. At least one side of the housing 100 has a weld 110. The reinforcing structure is disposed between the module frame and the weld 110 of at least one battery cell, and at least partially abuts against the weld 110 through the module frame. The reinforcing structure between the module frame and the weld 110 disperses the stress transmitted to the weld 110 during battery expansion, forming a stress buffer interface during cell expansion. This disperses locally concentrated stress to the rigid base plate or side plate of the module frame, reducing the impact of cell expansion on the weld 110 and preventing plastic deformation and cracking of the weld 110. Furthermore, it avoids the risk of puncture of the external insulation layer by the deformed portion of the weld 110.

[0032] Please see Figures 1 to 2In one optional embodiment of this utility model, the module frame includes a base plate and side plates. The battery cells are arranged horizontally within the module frame. In this case, the first surface 120 of the housing 100 is opposite to the base plate, and the weld 110 is parallel to the base plate. A reinforcing structure abuts between the base plate and the weld 110, which can transfer the deformation stress generated by the expansion of the battery cells to the base plate for dissipation, effectively preventing the weld 110 from impacting the base plate and preventing stress concentration from causing the housing 100 to crack. In another embodiment, the battery cells are arranged vertically within the module frame. In this case, the first surface 120 of the housing 100 is opposite to the side plates, and the weld 110 is parallel to the side plates. A reinforcing structure abuts between the side plates and the weld 110, covering the stress concentration area along the extension direction of the weld 110. The lateral extrusion force generated by the expansion is transferred to the side plates for dissipation through the reinforcing structure, achieving stable control of the spacing between adjacent battery cells and absorption of the deformation of the weld 110, avoiding structural damage to the weld 110, and eliminating the risk of extrusion between battery cells. Understandably, the layout of the battery cells in the module frame is unrestricted. By using reinforced structures, the concentrated stress of the weld 110 can be efficiently transferred to the rigid structure of the module frame, thus avoiding damage to the weld 110.

[0033] Please see Figures 1 to 2 In an optional embodiment of this utility model, the shell 100 is made of 304 stainless steel with a thickness of 0.1mm to 0.5mm. After being formed by stamping and bending, the shell 100 is welded at the joint on the first surface 120 to form a weld 110. The high strength of 304 stainless steel enables an ultra-thin shell design, increasing battery energy density, and its high-temperature resistance also effectively improves battery safety. However, thin-walled structures are more susceptible to expansion stress. By setting a reinforcing structure between the module frame and the cell to compensate for the structural weakening in the weld area, the thin-walled shell can maintain good anti-expansion performance even with a smaller thickness, improving battery safety and reliability.

[0034] Please see Figure 1In an optional embodiment of this utility model, an insulating covering layer 200 is provided on the outer surface of the housing 100, which covers the outer surface of the housing 100. The insulating covering layer 200 can be, for example, a blue film, or other covering materials with insulating and flexible properties. The insulating covering layer 200 has a hollow window 210 corresponding to the first surface 120, which is the surface where the weld 110 is located. The hollow window 210 is configured to expose the weld 110. A connecting layer covers the hollow window 210 and contacts the first surface 120 to form a reinforcing structure. The connecting layer can be, for example, structural adhesive or hot melt adhesive, etc., for fixing the connecting module frame and the battery cell. This window design allows the structural adhesive to directly contact the steel shell surface and weld 110, eliminating the obstruction of stress transmission by the blue film. During module assembly, the structural adhesive forms a bond with the first surface 120 of the steel shell inside the window. The expansion stress can be transferred to the module frame through the shear deformation of the adhesive layer, achieving efficient stress dispersion and reducing the risk of deformation in the weld area. At the same time, the adhesive layer covers the weld 110 to form a physical protective layer, preventing the weld 110 from pressing against the blue film and causing puncture and insulation failure.

[0035] Please see Figure 1 In an optional embodiment of this utility model, since the part of the hollow window 210, namely the weld 110, is fixed to the module side plate or bottom plate by structural adhesive (i.e., the connecting layer), the principle is to suppress the influence of cell expansion on the weld 110 by the structural adhesive; therefore, when designing the size and structure of the hollow window 210, it is necessary to maximize the contact area between the structural adhesive and the weld 110 while ensuring the connection strength between the shell 100 and the module frame.

[0036] Please see Figure 1 In an optional embodiment of this utility model, on the first surface 120, the dimension of the perforated window 210 in the extension direction of the weld 110 is the window height H1, and the dimension of the housing 100 in the extension direction of the weld 110 is the housing height H2. The ratio of the window height H1 to the housing height H2 is 0.6 to 0.98. The portion of the perforated window 210 is the part where the housing 100 and the module frame are fixed by structural adhesive. The weld 110 is located in this area, and a sufficiently long piece of structural adhesive can suppress the damage to the weld 110 caused by the expansion of the battery cell. Specifically, the structural adhesive covers the area of ​​the perforated window 210. The shape and size of the contact surface between the structural adhesive and the shell 100 will affect the stress dispersion effect. If the window height H1 is too small, the contact length between the structural adhesive and the shell 100 will be insufficient, the stress dispersion efficiency will be reduced, and uniform and effective stress transmission and dispersion cannot be achieved. Stress concentration cracks are likely to occur at the edge of the weld 110. If the window height H1 is too large, the window boundary will be too close to the end of the shell 100. The insufficient flange area during film coating will easily cause the blue film to lift. By controlling the ratio of the window height H1 to the shell height H2, a balance is achieved between stress transmission and process reliability.

[0037] Please see Figure 1 In an optional embodiment of this utility model, the projected area of ​​the perforated window 210 on the first surface 120 is the window area S1, and the surface area of ​​the first surface 120 is the side surface area S2. The ratio of the window area S1 to the side surface area S2 is 0.5 to 0.96. It is understood that the window area S1 affects the bonding area. If the window area S1 is too small, the bonding area is too small and cannot effectively suppress the deformation of the weld 110; if the window area S1 is too large, it will weaken the insulation protection function of the blue film. By controlling the ratio of the window area S1 to the side surface area S2, the area of ​​the perforated window 210 can be increased as much as possible while maintaining insulation safety, thereby maximizing the stress transmission interface and effectively suppressing the deformation of the weld 110.

[0038] Please see Figure 1 In an optional embodiment of this utility model, on the first surface 120, the dimension of the perforated window 210 along the direction perpendicular to the extension of the weld 110 is the window width, and the ratio of the window height H1 to the window width is set to 7.5 to 40. This range setting achieves a balance between optimized stress distribution and structural reliability. The shear force of the adhesive layer is evenly distributed along the length of the weld 110, avoiding stress concentration at the corners. Simultaneously, the moderate elastic deformation of the adhesive layer in the width direction can effectively absorb the uneven expansion of the weld 110, achieving a synergistic improvement in stress transmission efficiency and deformation buffering capacity.

[0039] Please see Figure 1 In an optional embodiment of this utility model, the projected area of ​​the weld 110 on the first surface 120 is the weld area S3. The ratio of the window area S1 to the weld area S3 is 4 to 10, which is the weld coverage ratio. Through reasonable design, sufficient coverage of the adhesive layer is ensured, effectively dispersing the stress of the weld 110 while avoiding excessive consumption of insulation space. Furthermore, on the first surface 120, the flange distance at the bottom of the insulating covering layer 200 is set to 10mm to 20mm. The weld coverage ratio and flange distance are designed in tandem to ensure sufficient film tension, preventing the insulating covering layer 200 from lifting while also not encroaching on the window area, thus achieving stress transmission while ensuring structural stability.

[0040] Please see Figure 1In an optional embodiment of this utility model, the maximum dimension of the connecting layer in the first direction is the connecting layer thickness t1, and the maximum dimension of the insulating covering layer 200 in the first direction is the film thickness t2. The connecting layer thickness t1 and the film thickness t2 satisfy the relationship: t2≤t1≤4t2; wherein, the first direction is the direction perpendicular to the first surface 120. By designing the connecting layer thickness t1 to match the insulating covering layer 200, the deformation coordination is ensured, and the adhesive layer has sufficient thickness to accommodate shear deformation. This allows the expansion stress at the weld 110 to be effectively transferred to the module frame through the plastic deformation of the adhesive layer, preventing stress concentration from damaging the weld 110 structure. At the same time, the expansion volume of the adhesive layer is controlled to prevent excessive encroachment on the module assembly space.

[0041] Please see Figure 1 In an optional embodiment of this utility model, during the wrapping process, the insulating coating layer 200 is first covered on the side of the housing 100, so that the hollow window 210 area is positioned on the first surface 120 to fully expose the weld 110. The stress transmission path is accurately ensured by precisely aligning the window area with the weld 110. After the coating layer is formed by the side wrapping process, the bottom is flipped upward to form the coating layer and seal it at the end. The flipped area overlaps to form three layers of blue film, which together with the side coating constrain the window boundary and prevent the blue film from lifting. When the battery cell is installed into the module, it is fixed with structural adhesive. Structural adhesive is applied to the first surface 120 with the weld 110 to completely cover the weld 110 and the window area, forming a stress transmission path from the housing 100 to the adhesive layer and then to the module frame. The expansion force is efficiently transmitted to the rigid structure of the module through the shear deformation of the adhesive layer, effectively eliminating the structural influence of the expansion force on the weld 110.

[0042] Understandably, the folding method of the blue film during the side wrapping process is unrestricted. For example, it can be folded upwards along the bottom R-corner to cover the larger side of the shell 100, then folded to cover the smaller side (first side 120), and finally pressed together. Alternatively, it can be folded upwards along the bottom R-corner to cover the smaller side of the shell 100 (first side 120), then folded to cover the larger side, and finally pressed together. Both folding paths form a three-layer overlapping structure at the bottom R-corner, consisting of a large wrapping layer, a small wrapping layer, and a bottom extension layer, providing edge restraint and preventing the blue film from curling up.

[0043] Please see Figure 2In another embodiment of this utility model, an insulating covering layer 200 covers the outer surface of the housing 100. The insulating covering layer 200 can be, for example, a blue film or other covering material with insulating and flexible properties. The insulating covering layer 200 has a thickened area 220 corresponding to the first surface 120 to form a reinforcing structure. The first surface 120 is the surface where the weld 110 is located. The thickened area 220 at least covers the weld 110. The thickened area 220 improves the puncture resistance by increasing the local thickness of the blue film and allows the deformed part of the weld 110 to be buffered and absorbed by the thickened material. During module assembly, it is fixed by structural adhesive. At the same time, the structural adhesive covers the thickened area 220 to form a composite protective layer, achieving synergistic reinforcement of mechanical strength and adhesive fixation.

[0044] Please see Figure 2 In one optional embodiment of this invention, the thickened region 220 is formed by overlapping at least two insulating coating layers 200 and / or by locally thickening a single insulating coating layer 200. Specifically, for example, the thickened region 220 can be an overlapping structure, with multiple layers making the local thickness at least 2-3 times that of the conventional region, significantly improving the puncture resistance per unit area; the micro-gaps between the overlapping interfaces can also accommodate minor deformations, delaying stress accumulation. In other embodiments, the thickened region 220 can also be a locally thickened material structure, for example, achieved through a process to locally thicken the material, thereby improving puncture resistance and preventing insulation failure caused by blue film puncture.

[0045] Please see Figure 2 In an optional embodiment of this utility model, on the first surface 120, the thickened area 220 extends along the extension direction of the weld 110. The lateral dimension of the thickened area 220 in the direction perpendicular to the extension of the weld 110 is the thickening width W. The thickening width W is set to 20mm to 50mm, which can effectively cover the stress-affected area of ​​the weld 110, avoid insufficient coverage of the thickened area 220 due to insufficient width, and prevent the weld 110 from expanding beyond the protection range. The expansion effect can cause the blue film to lift up, etc. At the same time, the thickening width is controlled to not be too large, reducing material costs.

[0046] Please see Figure 2 In an optional embodiment of this utility model, the thickness of the blue film can be selected from 0.11mm to 0.15mm. If the blue film is too thin, it may result in insufficient basic protection, while if it is too thick, it will affect the utilization rate of the module space. This thickness design ensures that the total thickness of the overlapping area can effectively avoid puncture while maintaining the insulation performance.

[0047] Please see Figure 2In an optional embodiment of this utility model, the reinforcing structure further includes a connecting layer, such as structural adhesive, which covers at least the thickened area 220 during module assembly. The structural adhesive covering the thickened area 220, in conjunction with the overlapping blue film layer, forms a protective layer. The expansion force of the weld 110 is transferred to the module frame through the shear stress of the adhesive layer, preventing stress concentration from causing structural damage to the weld 110.

[0048] Please see Figure 2 In an optional embodiment of this utility model, during the coating process, the area where the weld 110 is located on the first surface 120 is preset as a thickened area 220. The coating method is not limited. Similar to the aforementioned embodiment, after the side coating, the blue film overlaps on the first surface 120 to form a thickened area 220 with two layers. The superimposed structure forms a thickened buffer layer, eliminating the risk of puncture and allowing the top pressure of the expansion weld 110 to be absorbed and dispersed layer by layer. The area of ​​the overlapping thickened area 220 is large enough to effectively reduce the impact of cell expansion on the lifting of the blue film. After the side coating is completed, the bottom upward folding operation is performed to form an end seal and compression. The folded area overlaps to form three layers of blue film. The bottom folding and the side overlap are pressed together to ensure that the edge of the thickened area 220 does not lift or peel off when the cell expands. When the cell is installed into the module, the structural adhesive completely covers the thickened area 220, forming a stress transfer from the blue film to the adhesive layer and then to the module frame. The expansion force is efficiently transferred to the rigid structure of the module through the adhesive layer, effectively eliminating the structural impact of the expansion force on the weld 110.

[0049] In summary, the battery module of this utility model, by reinforcing the structure between the module frame and the weld 110 and abutting against the weld area of ​​the housing 100, achieves efficient transmission and dispersion of expansion stress to the module frame, fundamentally avoiding weld damage and insulation failure. Through the coordinated design of the height ratio, area ratio, and weld coverage ratio of the hollow window 210 and the housing 100, the optimal stress distribution at the interface between the structural adhesive and the housing is achieved. Combined with the design of the flange distance to prevent warping, this constructs a system from the weld 110 to the adhesive layer and then... The stress dispersion path of the module frame is achieved by designing the thickened area 220 of the blue film and controlling the overlap width to prevent the blue film from puncturing and to buffer and absorb the expansion force of the weld 110. In conjunction with the full coverage of the thickened area 220 of the structural adhesive, a stress dispersion path is established from the blue film to the adhesive layer and then to the module frame. The structural design of the battery casing 100 systematically solves the problem of weld structure damage and blue film puncture failure caused by expansion stress concentration in the steel casing cell, effectively avoiding weld cracking and insulation layer damage, and improving the structural stability and safety of the battery.

[0050] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of this utility model and are not intended to limit the scope of this utility model. Any person skilled in the art can modify or alter the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of this utility model. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or alterations made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and technical concept disclosed in this utility model should still be covered by the claims of this utility model.

[0051] Throughout this description, numerous specific details, such as examples of components and / or methods, are provided to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without one or more of these specific details or by other devices, systems, components, methods, parts, materials, components, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations have not been specifically shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of the present invention.

[0052] Throughout this specification, references to "an embodiment," "an embodiment," or "a specific embodiment" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention, but not necessarily in all embodiments. Therefore, the various representations of the phrases "in one embodiment," "in an embodiment," or "in a specific embodiment" in different places throughout the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, a particular feature, structure, or characteristic of any specific embodiment of the present invention can be combined with one or more other embodiments in any suitable manner. It should be understood that other variations and modifications of the embodiments of the present invention described and illustrated herein may be based on the teachings herein and will be considered part of the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0053] It should also be understood that one or more of the elements shown in the figures may be implemented in a more separate or more integrated manner, or may even be removed because they are inoperable in certain circumstances or provided because they may be useful for a particular application.

[0054] Furthermore, unless otherwise expressly stated, any arrows in the accompanying drawings should be considered illustrative only and not limiting. Additionally, unless otherwise stated, the term "or" as used herein is generally intended to mean "and / or". Where a term is anticipated to provide a separation or combination capability that is unclear, a combination of components or steps will also be considered as indicated.

[0055] As used herein and throughout the claims below, unless otherwise specified, “a” and “the” include the plural references. Similarly, as used herein and throughout the claims below, unless otherwise specified, “in” means “in” and “on”.

[0056] The above description of the embodiments shown in this utility model (including the content set forth in the abstract of the specification) is not intended to be an exhaustive enumeration or to limit the utility model to the precise forms disclosed herein. Although specific embodiments and examples of the utility model have been described herein for illustrative purposes only, various equivalent modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the utility model, as will be recognized and understood by those skilled in the art. As indicated, these modifications can be made to the utility model in accordance with the above description of the embodiments described herein, and such modifications will be within the spirit and scope of the utility model.

[0057] This document has generally described the systems and methods in detail to aid in understanding the present invention. Furthermore, various specific details have been set forth to provide a general understanding of embodiments of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments of the present invention can be practiced without one or more specific details, or using other devices, systems, accessories, methods, components, materials, parts, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, and / or operations have not been specifically shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of the present invention.

[0058] Therefore, although the present invention has been described herein with reference to specific embodiments thereof, freedom of modification, various changes and substitutions are also within the scope of the above disclosure, and it should be understood that in some cases, certain features of the present invention may be adopted without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention and without corresponding use of other features. Thus, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular environment or material to the essential scope and spirit of the present invention. The present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms used in the following claims and / or the specific embodiments disclosed as the best mode of carrying out the present invention, but the present invention will include any and all embodiments and equivalents falling within the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the present invention will be determined only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A battery module, characterized in that, It includes a module frame, several battery cells disposed within the module frame, and a reinforcing structure; The battery cell includes a housing with an opening at at least one end, a cover plate encapsulating the opening, and an electrode assembly disposed in the housing, wherein at least one side of the housing has a weld seam. A reinforcing structure is disposed between the module frame and the weld of at least one of the battery cells, and at least partially abuts against the weld through the module frame.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes an insulating covering layer, which covers the outer surface of the housing, and the insulating covering layer has a perforated window corresponding to the first surface, which is the surface where the weld is located; The cutout window is configured to expose the weld, and the connecting layer covers the cutout window and contacts the first surface to form the reinforcing structure.

3. The battery module according to claim 2, characterized in that, On the first surface, the dimension of the perforated window in the extension direction of the weld is the window height H1, and the dimension of the shell in the extension direction of the weld is the shell height H2. The ratio of the window height H1 to the shell height H2 is 0.6 to 0.

98.

4. The battery module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The projected area of ​​the hollowed-out window on the first surface is the window area S1, the surface area of ​​the first surface is the side surface area S2, and the ratio of the window area S1 to the side surface area S2 is 0.5 to 0.

96.

5. The battery module according to claim 4, characterized in that, The orthographic projection area of ​​the weld on the first surface is the weld area S3, and the ratio of the window area S1 to the weld area S3 is 4 to 10.

6. The battery module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The maximum dimension of the connecting layer in the first direction is the connecting layer thickness t1, and the maximum dimension of the insulating covering layer in the first direction is the film thickness t2. The connecting layer thickness t1 and the film thickness t2 satisfy the relationship: t2≤t1≤4t2; Wherein, the first direction is the direction perpendicular to the first surface.

7. The battery module according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes an insulating covering layer that covers the outer surface of the housing, and the insulating covering layer has a thickened area corresponding to a first surface to form the reinforcing structure, the first surface being the surface where the weld is located, and the thickened area at least covers the weld.

8. The battery module according to claim 7, characterized in that, The thickened area is formed by the overlap of at least two layers of the insulating covering layer, and / or the thickened area is formed by the partial thickening of one layer of the insulating covering layer.

9. The battery module according to claim 7, characterized in that, On the first surface, the thickened area extends along the extension direction of the weld, and the lateral dimension of the thickened area in the direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the weld is the thickening width W, which is set to 20mm to 50mm.

10. The battery module according to claim 7, characterized in that, The reinforcing structure further includes a connecting layer that at least covers the thickened area.

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