End cap assembly, battery, and battery pack

Abstract

The application provides an end cover assembly, a battery and a battery pack. The end cover assembly comprises: a cover plate, a mounting sink is formed on a side surface of the cover plate facing away from the inside of the battery, the size of the mounting sink along a first direction is greater than the size along a second direction, and a pressing flange surrounding the mounting sink is further arranged on the cover plate, the pressing flange comprises two first side edges opposite along the second direction and two second side edges opposite along the first direction; and a pole, at least part of the structure of the pole is arranged in the mounting sink, and the pole comprises a press-fitting part clamped between the mounting sink and the pressing flange. The thickness of the first side edge is d1, the thickness of the second side edge is d2, and d1 and d2 satisfy: 0.03≤(d1 / d2)-1≤0.95. The end cover assembly of the application is beneficial to improving the fixing and sealing effect of the pole on the cover plate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and more particularly to an end cap assembly, a battery, and a battery pack. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of new energy vehicles, the demand for fast charging of energy storage devices is also increasing. Currently, in order to achieve fast charging, the voltage of the battery pack is usually designed to be higher. This requires more batteries to be connected in series within the limited space of the battery pack, resulting in the battery thickness gradually becoming thinner. To meet the fast charging requirements, batteries have begun to use irregularly shaped terminals.

[0003] In related technologies, when fixing irregularly shaped terminals to a cover plate, irregularly shaped terminal holes are made in the cover plate, and a flange structure is set around the terminal holes to press and fix the terminal and sealing components. However, the long side structure of the flange structure is relatively weak, which can easily lead to unstable pressing, resulting in poor stability and poor sealing of the terminal, thus affecting the battery's electrical performance. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of the above problems, this application provides an end cap assembly, a battery and a battery pack. By controlling the thickness ratio between the first side and the second side of the pressing flange, the material distribution at each part of the pressing flange is uniform, so that the first side has sufficient pressing strength, thereby improving the installation stability of the terminal post.

[0005] This application provides an end cap assembly for a battery. The end cap assembly includes: a cover plate for encapsulating a space within the battery that accommodates a battery cell; a mounting platform is formed on a side surface of the cover plate facing away from the battery interior; the dimension of the mounting platform along a first direction is greater than its dimension along a second direction, the first direction being perpendicular to the second direction; a pressing flange surrounding the mounting platform on the cover plate; the pressing flange including two first sides opposite each other along the second direction and two second sides opposite each other along the first direction; and a terminal post, at least a small portion of which is disposed on the mounting platform; the terminal post including a press-fit portion clamped between the mounting platform and the pressing flange; wherein the thickness of the first side is d1, the thickness of the second side is d2, and d1 and d2 satisfy: 0.03≤(d1 / d2)-1≤0.95.

[0006] The end cap assembly of this application limits the ratio between the thickness d1 of the first side and the thickness d2 of the second side. A smaller (d1 / d2)-1 results in a closer thickness between the first and second sides, leading to a more uniform material distribution on the first side. This improves the structural strength of the first side, thereby enhancing its compressive strength against the insulating components and improving the sealing effect of the pole. Furthermore, the uniform texture of the first side reduces the amount of material cut off after the pressing and flanging process, allowing more material to be distributed to the mounting platform during processing. This results in a larger mating area between the mounting platform and the pole, improving the assembly stability of the pole. Attached Figure Description

[0007] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0008] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the end cap assembly according to an embodiment of this application;

[0009] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the end cap assembly according to an embodiment of this application;

[0010] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged structural diagram at point A;

[0011] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the cover plate that is pressed against the bent flange according to an embodiment of this application;

[0012] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Enlarged structural diagram at point B;

[0013] Figure 6 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of the cover plate according to an embodiment of this application;

[0014] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the cover plate according to an embodiment of this application;

[0015] Figure 8 for Figure 7 Enlarged structural diagram at point C;

[0016] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the battery structure according to an embodiment of this application.

[0017] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0018] 100. End cap assembly;

[0019] 110. Cover plate; 111. Mounting platform; 112. Mounting hole; 113. Pressing flange; 113a. First side; 113b. Second side; 1131. Bend;

[0020] 120. Electrode post; 121. Press-fit section; 121a. First surface; 121b. Second surface; 122. Post; 1221. First post section; 123. Electrode adapter;

[0021] 130. Insulating component; 131. First insulating element; 131a. First insulating section; 131b. Second insulating section; 131c. Transition connection section; 131d. Third insulating section; 132. Second insulating element; 132a. Fourth insulating section; 132b. Fifth insulating section;

[0022] 140. Outer coating; 141. Gap filling part;

[0023] 150. Insulating board;

[0024] 160. Shell. Detailed Implementation

[0025] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of the embodiments of this application more apparent and understandable, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0026] With the rapid development of new energy vehicles, the demand for fast charging of energy storage devices is also increasing. Currently, in order to achieve fast charging, the voltage of the battery pack is usually designed to be higher. This requires more batteries to be connected in series within the limited space of the battery pack, resulting in the battery thickness gradually becoming thinner. To meet the fast charging requirements, batteries have begun to use irregularly shaped terminals.

[0027] In traditional battery covers, when sealing and fixing irregularly shaped terminals, the mounting platform and flange structure (hereinafter referred to as the anti-flanging flange) are generally processed by stamping or riveting the structure around the terminal hole. The irregularly shaped terminal is fixed by bending and pressing the insulating components through the flange structure.

[0028] When the mounting platform and flange structure are manufactured by stamping or riveting, the thickness of the flange structure is not limited. Under the same processing force, due to the longer side of the mounting platform, the thickness of the long side (the first side in this application) and the short side (the second side) of the flange structure will be uneven. Especially on the long side of the flange structure, the structural strength may be insufficient. Or, when the processing force is too large, it may cause the long side of some flange structures to protrude too much, and excess material must be cut before assembly, resulting in waste of raw materials.

[0029] In some cases, insufficient structural strength of the long side of the flange structure may cause the flange structure to be pushed open by the reaction force of the electrode post and the surrounding insulating components, resulting in poor stability of the electrode post, misalignment, and poor sealing, thus affecting the battery's electrical performance.

[0030] For example, when a battery undergoes high-current charging and discharging, the contact area between the terminal and the mounting plate experiences periodic thermal expansion. The long side flange has lower strength and a smaller contact area with the terminal. If the flange undergoes plastic deformation under thermal stress, it can easily lead to localized peeling of the insulating coating at the edge of the pressing section, reducing the contact pressure between the bent section and the insulating pressing component. When the contact pressure drops to a critical value, electrolyte vapor will penetrate through the gaps to the contact surface between the terminal and the cover plate, forming an electrochemical corrosion layer on the metal surface, resulting in increased contact resistance.

[0031] This not only affects the installation stability of the terminals but also leads to uneven stress on the sealing components, causing seal failure. Especially during battery charging and discharging, the terminals are subjected to frequent thermal expansion and contraction stresses. This unstable fixing method will further exacerbate the deterioration of sealing performance, ultimately affecting the battery's electrical performance and lifespan.

[0032] The main related components are described below.

[0033] Terminals can be used to electrically connect electrode assemblies located inside the casing to external devices (such as adjacent batteries or other electrical equipment) located outside the casing. The battery can discharge to external devices through the cell output terminals (tabs) and the external device output terminals (terminals), and an external power source can charge the battery through the terminals and tabs. Terminals can be directly electrically connected to the cell tabs or electrically connected to the tabs through metal adapters. Terminals are made of metals including, but not limited to, copper, aluminum, aluminum alloys, and copper-aluminum alloys. A cover can be a component that seals the opening of the casing to isolate the internal environment of the battery cell from the external environment. Cover materials include, but are not limited to, copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloys, and aluminum-plastic film.

[0034] A cover plate is a component that closes the opening of the casing to isolate the internal environment of a battery cell from the external environment. Materials used for cover plates include, but are not limited to, copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, and aluminum-plastic film.

[0035] In view of this, this application provides an end cap assembly, a battery, and a battery pack, which, by controlling the thickness ratio between the first and second sides of the pressing flange, makes the material distribution uniform at all points of the pressing flange, so that the first side has sufficient pressing strength.

[0036] For ease of explanation and understanding, please refer to... Figure 1 In this paper, the first direction can be the X direction, the second direction can be the Y direction, and the thickness direction of the cover plate can be the Z direction.

[0037] refer to Figures 1 to 9 In one aspect, embodiments of this application provide an end cap assembly 100 that can be used in a battery, which may be a lithium-ion battery, a sodium-ion battery, or other types of batteries.

[0038] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 9 The battery may include a housing 160, an end cap assembly 100, and a battery cell. The housing 160 has a receiving cavity, and one end of the housing 160 has an opening. The end cap assembly 100 includes a cover plate 110 and a terminal post 120. The cover plate 110 covers the opening, and the battery cell is disposed within the receiving cavity.

[0039] Specifically, the battery can be a prismatic battery, with the opening located at one end along its length, or at one end along its height, or even at one end along its width. In this case, the cross-section of the housing 160 is square, and the cover plate 110 is also square. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the battery can be a cylindrical battery, with the opening located at one end of the housing 160 along its axial direction. Correspondingly, the cross-section of the housing 160 can be circular, and in this case, the cover plate 110 is also circular.

[0040] The housing 160 provides installation space for the battery cell through a receiving cavity, and the opening facilitates the assembly of the end cap assembly 100 with the housing 160. The cover plate 110 seals the opening to form a closed structure to isolate the external environment. The battery cell is located in the receiving cavity and the electrode is connected through the end cap assembly 100. The structural design of the end cap assembly 100 ensures the stability of the electrode post 120 and avoids sealing failure that may be caused by insufficient strength of the flange structure.

[0041] One end of the housing 160 is provided with an opening, and the cover plate 110 can be closed at the opening. The surface of the cover plate 110 facing away from the inside of the battery is recessed to form a mounting platform 111. The dimension of the mounting platform 111 along the first direction is larger than the dimension along the second direction. The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. In other words, the side of the mounting platform 111 extending along the first direction can be the long side of the mounting platform 111, and the side of the mounting platform 111 extending along the second direction can be the wide side of the mounting platform 111, that is, the short side.

[0042] refer to Figure 4 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 The cover plate 110 is also provided with a retaining flange 113 surrounding the mounting platform 111, the retaining flange 113 including a flange along the second direction ( Figure 1 The two first side edges 113a opposite each other in the Y direction (as shown) and along the first direction ( Figure 1 The two second sides 113b (shown in the X direction) are opposite each other. Correspondingly, the first side 113a can be the long side of the pressing flange 113, and the second side 113b can be the wide side of the pressing flange 113.

[0043] Understandably, the extension trajectory of the pressing flange 113 can match the circumferential contour of the recessed platform. To improve the fixing effect of the pole post 120, the surface of the recessed platform and the pole post 120 that mates can be designed to be large enough. Without affecting the structural strength of the cover plate 110, the recessed platform can be designed as an irregular structure, such as an elliptical or strip-shaped structure. The pole post 120 that mates with the recessed platform is a corresponding irregular structure. Therefore, part of the structure of the pressing flange 113 can be a non-linear structure. For example, the first side 113a can extend along an arc in the first direction, or the second side 113b can extend along an arc in the second direction. Of course, the first side 113a and the second side 113b can also extend along an arc at the same time, and the connection between the two can be smoothly transitioned.

[0044] refer to Figure 3At least a portion of the structure of the terminal post 120 can be disposed on the mounting platform 111. The terminal post 120 is electrically connected to the battery cell inside the battery casing 160. The terminal post 120 provides a current flow channel for the battery, enabling the battery to supply power to electrical devices. The terminal post 120 includes a pressing part 121, which is clamped between the mounting platform 111 and the pressing flange 113 to improve the installation stability of the terminal post 120. For example, a hole can be made in the mounting platform 111 at a position opposite to the terminal post 120, so that the terminal post 120 is opposite to and electrically connected to the electrode tab of the battery cell; or, a hole can be made in the cover plate 110 at a position on the side of the mounting platform 111, so that the electrode tab of the battery cell can be led out from the hole and then electrically connected to the terminal post 120; or, the electrode tab of the battery cell can be led out from one side of the cover plate 110 and then electrically connected to the terminal post 120. Of course, this application does not impose any restrictions on this, and the connection method between the battery cell and the terminal 120 can be reasonably set as needed.

[0045] The thickness of the first side 113a is d1, and the thickness of the second side 113b is d2. d1 and d2 satisfy the condition: 0.03 ≤ (d1 / d2)⁻¹ ≤ 0.95. For example, the value of (d1 / d2)⁻¹ can be 0.03, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, or 0.95. Of course, (d1 / d2)⁻¹ can also be other values, which designers can choose according to design requirements; this application does not impose any restrictions on this. The units for both d1 and d2 can be millimeters.

[0046] Understandably, the smaller (d1 / d2)-1 is, the closer d1 / d2 is to 1. In other words, the closer the thickness values ​​of the first side 113a and the second side 113b are, the more uniform the structure of the pressing flange 113 is. This is beneficial to improving the overall structural strength of the pressing flange 113, including the first side 113a, and thus improving the fixing and sealing effect on the pole post 120.

[0047] Because the thickness of the first side 113a and the second side 113b is designed, when processing to form the pressing flange 113 and the mounting base 111, the processing force can be adjusted so that the first side 113a and the second side 113b meet the requirements of the pressing insulation component 130 to seal and fix the pole post 120, while other materials are distributed on the mounting base 111, increasing the area of ​​the mounting base 111 that mates with the pole post 120, thereby improving the installation stability of the pole post 120.

[0048] The end cap assembly 100 of this application limits the ratio between the thickness d1 of the first side 113a and the thickness d2 of the second side 113b. The smaller (d1 / d2)-1 is, the closer the thicknesses of the first side 113a and the second side 113b are, resulting in a more uniform material distribution on the first side 113a. This improves the structural strength of the first side 113a, thereby enhancing its compressive strength against the insulating assembly 130 and improving the sealing effect of the pole post 120. Furthermore, the uniform texture of the first side 113a reduces the amount of material cut off after the pressing flange 113 is formed, allowing more material to be distributed to the mounting platform 111 during processing. This results in a larger mating area between the mounting platform 111 and the pole post 120, improving the assembly stability of the pole post 120.

[0049] In some embodiments, the mounting platform 111 has a mounting hole 112 that passes through the mounting platform 111, and the pole post 120 passes through the mounting hole 112. This facilitates the connection between the pole post 120 and the battery cell, and also increases the connection stability between the pole post 120 and the cover plate 110.

[0050] In some embodiments, the press-fit portion 121 is formed as a convex ring extending circumferentially along the terminal post 120, and the end cap assembly 100 may further include an insulating component 130. The insulating component 130 is disposed between the terminal post 120 and the cover plate 110, and the insulating component 130 wraps around the edge of the press-fit portion 121, thereby insulating the terminal post 120 from the cover plate 110, preventing the formation of a current loop on the cover plate 110 during battery use, which could lead to a short circuit in the battery and improve the safety of battery use.

[0051] The pressing flange 113 has a bent portion 1131 that presses against the insulating assembly 130 and is located on the side of the pressing portion 121 opposite to the mounting platform 111. In other words, referring to... Figure 1 Taking the opening of the mounting end cap assembly 100 on the upper side of the battery housing 160 as an example, the end cap assembly 100 covers the opening. The side of the press-fit part 121 facing the mounting platform 111 (the first surface 121a described below) is the inside of the battery, and the side of the press-fit part 121 away from the mounting platform 111 (the second surface 121b described below) is the outside of the battery. The bending part 1131 presses the portion of the insulating component 130 located on the outside of the battery against the press-fit part 121, providing good sealing performance for the installation of the terminal post 120.

[0052] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3In some embodiments, the pressing part 121 may include a first surface 121a and a second surface 121b, the first surface 121a facing the mounting platform 111 along the thickness direction of the cover plate 110, and the second surface 121b facing the bending part 1131 along the thickness direction of the cover plate 110.

[0053] The insulating assembly 130 may include a first insulating member 131, which may further include a first insulating section 131a, a second insulating section 131b, and a transition connection section 131c. The first insulating section 131a is disposed between the first surface 121a and the mounting platform 111. The first insulating section 131a provides electrical isolation between the first surface 121a and the mounting platform 111 to prevent current leakage, and also provides mechanical support for the press-fitting part 121.

[0054] The second insulating section 131b is sandwiched between the second surface 121b and the bend 1131, and provides electrical isolation between the second surface 121b and the bend 1131 to prevent current leakage.

[0055] The transition connection section 131c is located between the peripheral wall of the pressing part 121 and the pressing flange 113, and its two ends are connected to the first insulating section 131a and the second insulating section 131b respectively. The transition connection section 131c provides electrical isolation between the peripheral wall of the pressing part 121 and the pressing flange 113 to prevent current leakage. At the same time, the transition connection section 131c fills the gap between the peripheral wall of the pressing part 121 and the pressing flange 113, which helps to fix the pole post 120, avoids the lateral force (the force in the XY plane) from causing the pole post 120 to shake, and improves the stability of the pole post 120 installation.

[0056] By setting multiple insulating sections between different mating surfaces on the terminal post 120 and the cover plate 110, it is beneficial to ensure electrical isolation between the terminal post 120 and the cover plate 110, prevent battery short circuits, and improve battery safety during use. At the same time, the first insulating member 131 also provides mechanical support and limiting function for the terminal post 120, thereby improving the installation stability of the terminal post 120.

[0057] Optionally, the first insulating component 131 can be an adhesive injection component, or the first insulating component 131 can also be a rubber component, or the first insulating component 131 can also be a rubber sleeve, which is directly fitted onto the pole post 120, and the pole post 120 provides an insulating and sealing effect after being installed on the mounting platform 111.

[0058] Continue to refer to Figure 3According to some embodiments of this application, the pole post 120 may include a column 122, which is disposed through a mounting hole 112. The mounting hole 112 provides a positioning effect for the installation of the pole post 120. A pressing part 121 is disposed on the peripheral wall of the column 122, which provides mechanical support for the pole post 120, so that the pole post 120 can be stably positioned on the mounting platform 111.

[0059] The column 122 may include a first column portion 1221 located on the side of the press-fit portion 121 facing away from the inside of the battery, through which the battery is electrically connected to the power-consuming device for power supply.

[0060] The end faces of the first column portion 1221 and the bent portion 1131 are opposite to each other and spaced apart, so as to avoid direct contact between the first column portion 1221 and the bent portion 1131, which could cause a short circuit in the battery and improve the safety of battery use.

[0061] The first insulating member 131 also includes a third insulating section 131d, which is connected to the end of the second insulating section 131b away from the transition connection section 131c. The third insulating section 131d also covers the outer peripheral surface of the first pillar portion 1221. Thus, the third insulating section 131d provides comprehensive electrical isolation between the first pillar portion 1221 and the cover plate 110, which is beneficial to improving the safety performance of the battery.

[0062] Understandably, the first insulating section 131a, the transition connecting section 131c, the second insulating section 131b, and the third insulating section 131d can extend in a tortuous manner along the thickness direction (Z direction) of the cover plate 110. That is, the cross-sectional area of ​​the first insulating member 131 can be different at different points along the thickness direction of the cover plate 110, so that the first insulating member 131 can flexibly adapt to the shape and position changes of the pole post 120 while providing good support and sealing performance for the pole post 120, ensuring reliable performance under different conditions.

[0063] According to some embodiments of this application, one end of the first pillar portion 1221 facing away from the inside of the battery protrudes beyond the third insulating section 131d. In other words, a portion of the structure of the first pillar portion 1221 can protrude beyond the first insulating member 131. Thus, the portion of the first pillar portion 1221 protruding beyond the third insulating section 131d can be used to connect external circuits or other electrical components. This design provides a convenient interface, making electrical connections more direct and reliable. Furthermore, this design simplifies the battery manufacturing and assembly process. The protruding portion of the first pillar portion 1221 can serve as a reference for positioning or alignment, helping to more easily align and fix it to other structures during battery assembly.

[0064] According to some embodiments of this application, the insulating component 130 may further include a second insulating element 132. The second insulating element 132 may include a fourth insulating segment 132a and a fifth insulating segment 132b. The fourth insulating segment 132a is disposed between the first surface 121a of the pressing part 121 and the mounting platform 111. The fourth insulating segment 132a provides electrical isolation between the first surface 121a and the mounting platform 111 to prevent current leakage. At the same time, the fourth insulating segment 132a cooperates with the first insulating segment 131a to provide better mechanical support for the pressing part 121.

[0065] The fifth insulating section 132b is located between the inner wall of the mounting hole 112 and the outer wall of the terminal post 120. The fifth insulating section 132b provides electrical isolation between the inner wall of the mounting hole 112 and the outer wall of the terminal post 120, preventing current from leaking through the inner wall of the mounting hole 112 to the cover plate 110 and improving the safety of battery use.

[0066] Thus, through the first insulating section 131a, transition connection section 131c, second insulating section 131b, and third insulating section 131d of the first insulating member 131, and the fourth insulating section 132a and fifth insulating section 132b of the second insulating member 132, electrical isolation is achieved between the various surfaces of the terminal post 120 along the Z direction and the cover plate 110, preventing battery short circuits and improving battery safety. Simultaneously, by filling the gap between the terminal post 120 and the mounting platform 111 with the first insulating member 131 and the second insulating member 132, a good sealing and mechanical support effect is provided for the terminal post 120.

[0067] According to some embodiments of this application, the end cap assembly 100 may further include an outer adhesive 140, which covers at least a portion of the surfaces of the insulating component 130 and the bent portion 1131. Exemplarily, the outer adhesive 140 may cover the surface of the bent portion 1131 facing away from the mounting platform 111, and the outer adhesive 140 may also cover a portion of the insulating component 130 between the bent portion 1131 and the pole post 120.

[0068] Thus, by using the outer adhesive 140 as an additional insulating layer, the electrical isolation performance of the end cap assembly 100 is further improved, ensuring the safety of battery use. The outer adhesive 140 also provides a certain degree of physical protection, preventing external contaminants (such as dust and moisture) from entering the end cap assembly 100 and preventing electrolyte leakage from the battery. Simultaneously, the outer adhesive 140 can absorb and mitigate external shocks and vibrations, protecting the end cap assembly 100 from mechanical damage and helping to extend its service life. Furthermore, the outer adhesive 140 also helps to improve the appearance of the end cap assembly 100, enhancing the battery's aesthetics.

[0069] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3 According to some embodiments of this application, a sealing gap is formed between the third insulating section 131d and the end face of the bent portion 1131; the outer coating 140 also includes a gap-filling portion 141, which fills the sealing gap. By filling the sealing gap with the gap-filling portion 141 of the outer coating 140, the sealing performance of the end cap assembly 100 is significantly improved, which helps to prevent external contaminants (such as dust and moisture) from entering the interior of the end cap assembly 100 and prevents electrolyte leakage inside the battery. Furthermore, due to the sealing gap, the outer coating 140 and the insulating assembly 130 can expand and contract within a certain temperature range without affecting the sealing effect on the terminal post 120, which helps to maintain the long-term sealing integrity of the terminal post 120.

[0070] In some embodiments, the end cap assembly 100 may further include an electrode adapter 123, which is disposed on the side of the cover plate 110 facing the inside of the battery and connected to the terminal post 120. The electrode adapter 123 is used to connect the terminal post 120 and the battery cell.

[0071] Optionally, the electrode adapter 123 can be used to electrically connect one end to the output terminal (tab) of the battery cell and the other end to the output terminal (post 120) of the battery, so that the tab and the post 120 form a current conduction.

[0072] In some examples, the electrode adapter 123 includes a positive electrode adapter and a negative electrode adapter. The positive electrode adapter is used to electrically connect the positive output terminal of the cell to the positive output terminal of the battery. Multiple positive electrode tabs stacked together are welded to one end of the positive electrode adapter, and the other end of the positive electrode adapter is welded to the positive terminal of the terminal post 120. The negative electrode adapter is used to electrically connect the negative output terminal of the cell to the negative output terminal of the battery. Multiple negative electrode tabs stacked together are welded to one end of the negative electrode adapter, and the other end of the negative electrode adapter is welded to the negative terminal of the terminal post 120.

[0073] Optionally, the electrode adapter 123 can be an aluminum adapter, a copper adapter, or an alloy (e.g., steel) adapter, or other conductive materials. The specific material of the electrode adapter 123 can be selected according to the material of the battery's terminals 200 and tabs. Generally, the material of the electrode adapter needs to be the same as the material of the battery's tabs and terminals 120 to ensure welding quality.

[0074] Understandably, the electrode adapter 123 can serve as an electrical connection bridge between the terminal 120 and the battery cell inside the battery, for conducting charging or discharging current.

[0075] In a battery, the cell is the component where electrochemical reactions occur; it is the smallest unit in the battery capable of performing electrochemical reactions such as charging and discharging. Optionally, a cell typically includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator. For example, lithium-ion cells primarily function by the intercalation and deintercalation of lithium ions between the positive and negative electrodes; in a cylindrical cell, a three-layer thin-film structure is wound into a cylindrical electrode assembly, while in a cuboid cell, the thin-film structure is wound or stacked into an electrode assembly with a generally cuboid shape.

[0076] Specifically, in some situations, when the interface form of the electrode post 120 and the battery cell does not match, such as when the electrode post 120 is a circular cylindrical shape while the battery cell tab is a sheet shape, the shape can be converted using an adapter. In addition, the electrode adapter 123 can also be used to adjust the direction of the conductive path, such as changing the vertical conductivity of the electrode post 120 to horizontal conductivity to adapt to the internal layout of the battery.

[0077] refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 According to some embodiments of this application, the end cap assembly 100 may further include an insulating plate 150, which is disposed on the side of the cover plate 110 facing the inside of the battery to separate the cover plate 110 from the battery cell. The insulating plate 150 is used to achieve electrical isolation between the cover plate 110 and the battery cell, block leakage current between the battery cell and the metal cover plate 110, and ensure electrical safety. In addition, the insulating plate 150 can also delay the transmission of flame or high temperature to the cover plate 110 during thermal runaway of the battery cell, thereby improving the overall stability of the battery.

[0078] Optionally, an insulating plate may be disposed between the terminal 120 and the lower surface of the battery casing 160 to insulate the terminal 120 (electrode terminal) from the lower surface (or bottom surface) of the battery casing 160, and to insulate the battery cell from the cover plate 110, thereby reducing the risk of short circuit. The insulating plate may be made of plastic, rubber, or other insulating materials. Plastics may be polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), etc., and rubber may be fluororubber, nitrile rubber, or isobutyl rubber.

[0079] refer to Figure 4 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 In some embodiments, the distance 'a' between the inner and outer edges of the mounting platform 111 ranges from 1.4mm to 6mm. For example, the distance 'a' between the inner and outer edges of the mounting platform 111 can be 1.4mm, 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, or 6mm. Of course, 'a' can also be other values, which designers can select according to design requirements; this application does not impose any limitations on this.

[0080] Thus, by ensuring a suitable distance 'a' between the inner and outer edges of the mounting platform 111, we can prevent the value of 'a' from being too small, which would result in an insufficient supporting area between the mounting platform 111 and the terminal post 120, leading to poor support and fixation of the terminal post 120. On the other hand, we can also prevent the value of 'a' from being too large, which would reduce the cross-section of the mounting hole 112 and the cross-sectional area of ​​the terminal post 120 penetrating the mounting hole 112, thereby reducing the current carrying capacity of the terminal post 120 and potentially causing abnormal overheating of the battery when the power of the electrical equipment is high.

[0081] Furthermore, the range of the distance 'a' between the inner and outer edges of the mounting platform 111 is: 2mm ≤ a ≤ 4.8mm. For example, the distance 'a' between the inner and outer edges of the mounting platform 111 can be 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, or 4.8mm. Of course, 'a' can also be other values, which designers can select according to design requirements; this application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0082] By further limiting the width of the mounting platform 111, while ensuring the current-carrying capacity of the terminal post 120 and the sufficient support strength of the mounting platform 111, sufficient material is distributed to the pressure flange 113, so that both the first side 113a and the second side 113b of the pressure flange 113 have sufficient structural strength. This is beneficial for the terminal post 120 to have a good fixed support effect while maintaining good sealing performance of the battery.

[0083] refer to Figure 4 , Figure 7 and Figure 8 In some embodiments, the thickness d1 of the first side 113a is in the range of 0.7mm≤d1≤1.3mm. For example, the thickness d1 of the first side 113a can be 0.7mm, 0.8mm, 0.9mm, 1mm, 1.1mm, 1.2mm or 1.3mm. Of course, the thickness d1 of the first side 113a can also be other values. Designers can choose according to design requirements, and this application does not limit it.

[0084] This ensures that the thickness d1 of the first side 113a has a suitable size, which helps to ensure the pressing effect of the first side 113a on the insulating component 130, thereby ensuring the assembly and fixing effect and sealing effect of the pole post 120.

[0085] The thickness d2 of the second side 113b can be in the range of 0.5mm ≤ d2 ≤ 1.2mm. For example, the thickness d2 of the second side 113b can be 0.5mm, 0.6mm, 0.7mm, 0.8mm, 0.9mm, 1mm, 1.1mm or 1.2mm. Of course, the thickness d2 of the second side 113b can also be other values. Designers can choose according to design requirements, and this application does not limit it.

[0086] This ensures that the thickness d2 of the second side 113b has a suitable dimension, which helps to ensure the pressure effect of the second side 113b on the insulating component 130, thereby ensuring the assembly and fixing effect and sealing effect of the pole post 120.

[0087] refer to Figure 7 In some embodiments, the thickness t1 of the mounting platform 111 and the thickness d1 of the first side 113a satisfy the condition: 0.5 ≤ t1 / d1 ≤ 2.5. For example, t1 / d1 can be 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 or 2.5. Of course, t1 / d1 can also be other values, and designers can choose according to design requirements. This application does not limit this.

[0088] Thus, by limiting the relative thickness of the mounting base 111 and the first side 113a, the material is evenly distributed during the forming process of the mounting base 111 and the pressing flange 113, and both the mounting base 111 and the first side 113a have sufficient structural strength, thereby ensuring the assembly and fixing effect and sealing effect of the pole post 120.

[0089] Continue to refer to Figure 8 According to some embodiments of this application, the thickness t1 of the mounting platform 111 ranges from 0.7mm to 1.5mm. Exemplarily, the thickness t1 of the mounting platform 111 can be 0.7mm, 0.8mm, 0.9mm, 1mm, 1.1mm, 1.2mm, 1.3mm, 1.4mm, or 1.5mm. Of course, the thickness t1 of the mounting platform 111 can also be other values, which designers can select according to design requirements; this application does not impose any limitations on this.

[0090] This design ensures that the mounting recess 111 has an appropriate thickness. On one hand, it prevents the mounting recess 111 from being too thick, which would result in insufficient material distributed to the pressing flange 113, affecting the sealing performance of the pressing flange 113 on the insulating component 130. Conversely, excessive thickness of the mounting recess 111 also means less material distributed in the width direction, reducing the mating area between the mounting recess 111 and the pole post 120 and diminishing its supporting effect on the pole post 120. On the other hand, it prevents the mounting recess 111 from being too thin, which would reduce its structural strength and affect the installation stability of the pole post 120.

[0091] Secondly, embodiments of this application also provide a battery, which may be a lithium-ion battery, a sodium-ion battery, or other types of batteries.

[0092] The battery may include a housing 160, the aforementioned end cap assembly 100, and a battery cell. The housing 160 has a receiving cavity, and one end of the housing 160 has an opening. The cover plate 110 of the end cap assembly 100 covers the opening, and the battery cell is disposed within the receiving cavity.

[0093] The housing 160 provides installation space for the battery cell through a receiving cavity, and the opening facilitates the assembly of the end cap assembly 100 with the housing 160. The cover plate 110 seals the opening to form a closed structure to isolate the external environment. The battery cell is located in the receiving cavity and the electrode is connected through the end cap assembly 100. The structural design of the end cap assembly 100 ensures the stability of the electrode post 120 and avoids sealing failure that may be caused by insufficient strength of the flange structure.

[0094] The battery of this application, by controlling the thickness of the first side 113a and the second side 113b to be as relatively equal as possible, is conducive to improving the uniformity of the force on the pressing flange 113, improving the pressing stability of the pressing flange 113 on the insulating component 130, thereby improving the stability and sealing performance of the terminal post 120 during installation, and helping to extend the service life of the battery.

[0095] Thirdly, embodiments of this application also provide a battery pack, which may include the battery described above.

[0096] Specifically, the battery pack may include multiple batteries as described above, which are connected in series or in parallel to an external connector (such as a busbar) to form a battery pack with a larger capacity.

[0097] The battery pack of this application has a longer battery life due to the use of the aforementioned battery, and consequently, the battery pack's lifespan is extended.

[0098] The various embodiments or implementation methods described in this specification are presented in a progressive manner. Each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments, and the same or similar parts between the embodiments can be referred to each other.

[0099] It should be noted that the embodiments referred to in the specification, such as "one embodiment," "embodiment," "exemplary embodiment," and "some embodiments," may include specific features, structures, or characteristics, but not every embodiment necessarily includes that specific feature, structure, or characteristic. Furthermore, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Moreover, when a specific feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, implementing such a feature, structure, or characteristic in conjunction with other embodiments, whether explicitly described or not, is within the knowledge scope of those skilled in the art.

[0100] Generally speaking, terms should be understood at least in part by their use in context. For example, at least in part by context, the term "one or more" as used in the text can be used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic of the singular meaning, or a combination of features, structures, or characteristics of the plural meaning. Similarly, at least in part by context, terms such as "a" or "the" can also be understood to convey either singular or plural usage.

[0101] It should be readily understood that the terms “on,” “above,” and “on top of” in this disclosure should be interpreted in the broadest possible sense, such that “on” means not only “directly on something” but also “on something” with an intermediate feature or layer therebetween, and that “above” or “on top of” means not only “on top of something” but also “on top of something” without an intermediate feature or layer therebetween (i.e., directly on something).

[0102] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. An end cap assembly for a battery, characterized in that, include: A cover plate is used to encapsulate the space inside the battery where the battery cells are housed. A mounting platform is formed on one side surface of the cover plate facing away from the inside of the battery. The dimension of the mounting platform along a first direction is larger than that along a second direction. The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. The cover plate is also provided with a pressing flange surrounding the mounting platform. The pressing flange includes two first side edges opposite to each other along the second direction and two second side edges opposite to each other along the first direction. The electrode post, at least a portion of which is disposed on the mounting platform, includes a press-fitting part that is clamped between the mounting platform and the pressing flange; Wherein, the thickness of the first side is d1, the thickness of the second side is d2, and d1 and d2 satisfy: 0.03≤(d1 / d2)-1≤0.

95.

2. The end cap assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting platform has a through-hole, and the pole is inserted through the mounting hole.

3. The end cap assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The press-fit portion is formed as a convex ring extending circumferentially along the pole post, and the end cap assembly further includes: An insulating component is disposed between the pole and the cover plate. The insulating component wraps around the edge of the press-fit part. The pressing flange includes a bent portion that presses against the insulating component and is located on the side of the press-fit part opposite to the mounting platform.

4. The end cap assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The pressing part includes a first surface facing the mounting platform along the thickness direction of the cover plate and a second surface facing the curved part; The insulating component includes: The first insulating component includes: a first insulating section, a second insulating section, and a transition connecting section. The first insulating section is disposed between the first surface and the mounting platform. The second insulating section is sandwiched between the second surface and the bent portion. The transition connecting section is disposed between the peripheral wall of the pressing portion and the pressing flange, and its two ends are respectively connected to the first insulating section and the second insulating section.

5. The end cap assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The pole includes: A column body, the column body passing through the mounting hole, the press-fitting part being disposed on the peripheral wall of the column body, the column body including a first column body portion located on the side of the press-fitting part facing away from the inside of the battery, the first column body portion being opposite to and spaced from the end face of the curved part; The first insulating member further includes a third insulating segment, which is connected to the end of the second insulating segment away from the transition connection segment, and the third insulating segment also covers the outer peripheral surface of the first column portion.

6. The end cap assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, The end of the first column facing away from the inside of the battery protrudes from the third insulating section.

7. The end cap assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, The insulating component includes: The second insulating element includes a fourth insulating section and a fifth insulating section. The fourth insulating section is disposed between the first surface of the press-fitting part and the mounting platform, and the fifth insulating section is disposed between the inner wall of the mounting hole and the outer wall of the pole post.

8. The end cap assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, Also includes: An outer coating is provided, which covers at least a portion of the surfaces of the insulating component and the bent portion, respectively.

9. The end cap assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that, The third insulating section is spaced apart from the end face of the bent portion to form a sealing gap; The outer coating also includes a gap-filling portion, which fills the sealing gap.

10. The end cap assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: An electrode adapter is disposed on the side of the cover plate facing the inside of the battery and connected to the terminal post. The electrode adapter is used to connect the terminal post and the battery cell.

11. The end cap assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that, Also includes: An insulating plate is disposed on the side of the cover plate facing the inside of the battery to separate the cover plate from the battery cell.

12. The end cap assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The value range of the distance 'a' between the inner and outer edges of the mounting platform is: 1.4mm ≤ a ≤ 6mm.

13. The end cap assembly according to claim 12, characterized in that, The distance 'a' between the inner and outer edges of the mounting platform is in the range of 2mm ≤ a ≤ 4.8mm.

14. The end cap assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thickness d1 of the first side has a range of 0.7mm ≤ d1 ≤ 1.3mm; and / or, The thickness d2 of the second side has a range of 0.5mm ≤ d2 ≤ 1.2mm.

15. The end cap assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thickness t1 of the mounting platform and the thickness d1 of the first side satisfy: 0.5≤t1 / d1≤2.

5.

16. The end cap assembly according to claim 15, characterized in that, The thickness t1 of the mounting platform is in the range of 0.7mm≤t1≤1.5mm.

17. A battery, characterized in that, The end cap assembly according to any one of claims 1-16.

18. A battery pack, characterized in that, include: The battery of claim 17.

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