Battery box capable of inhibiting expansion force of battery cell and battery pack

Abstract

The utility model discloses a battery box body and battery package can restrain the battery box body of electric core expansion force, include: box body structure is enclosed by front panel, two side frames, back baffle, integrated liquid cooling board and sealing cover board and is formed, forms the closed space for installing the bearing electric core module, a plurality of module end boards, parallelly arranged in the box body structure, and the interval of two adjacent module end boards is 300mm-1000mm, in the closed space, the area between the module end board close to back baffle and back baffle is the top tight cavity, strengthens the top tight mechanism, installs in the top tight cavity, and the top tight mechanism includes the right reinforcing crossbeam of same size, middle reinforcing crossbeam and left reinforcing crossbeam, one end of middle reinforcing crossbeam is connected with the middle part of back baffle, and the other end is connected with the middle part of the module end board close to back baffle, and right reinforcing crossbeam and left reinforcing crossbeam are symmetrically installed in the both sides of middle reinforcing crossbeam.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a battery box and battery pack that can suppress the expansion force of battery cells, and belongs to the field of battery pack technology. Background Technology

[0002] In current power battery pack designs, cell fixation and expansion force suppression primarily rely on conventional extruded aluminum profile module end plates. As market demands for battery system cycle life increase, the expansion force of cells at the end of their lifespan grows exponentially, particularly pronounced in high-capacity cell scenarios. The peak expansion force of some individual cells can reach over 70 kN. The existing end plate structure's strength is insufficient to meet these constraints, necessitating optimization and upgrades to ensure safe and stable operation throughout the product's entire lifecycle. Simultaneously, market requirements for cost control and delivery efficiency are becoming increasingly stringent. Developing highly adaptable and rapidly deployable solutions without compromising performance has become crucial for meeting diverse needs.

[0003] The existing technology has the following limitations: 1. Insufficient Expansion Force Suppression: Due to the limited internal space of the battery pack, the module end plates are generally long and thin, with an aspect ratio often exceeding 30 times. This results in insufficient overall rigidity and load-bearing strength, making it difficult to withstand the extremely large expansion force at the end of the cell's lifespan. This problem is even more pronounced in blade cell modules. The positive and negative tabs of the blade cell are located on opposite sides, preventing the module end plate sidewalls from being integrally welded to the side frame of the casing. This weakens the effectiveness of expansion force restraint and creates potential structural safety hazards.

[0004] II. Poor Adaptability to Low Cost and Rapid Delivery: When customers raise new power requirements on existing vehicle platforms or within similar installation boundaries, the existing model requires a complete redesign of the entire process, which cannot respond quickly and significantly extends the delivery cycle. Redevelopment requires significant investment in molds, tooling, etc., and frequent redevelopment under diversified demands can easily lead to resource waste and is detrimental to cost control. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the problems existing in the prior art, this utility model provides a battery box and battery pack that can suppress the expansion force of the battery cells, thereby solving the problems of insufficient suppression of expansion force of existing module end plates and high cost of adapting to multiple battery capacities.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model employs a battery housing capable of suppressing cell expansion force, comprising: The enclosure structure consists of a front panel, two side frames, a rear baffle, an integrated liquid cooling plate, and a sealing cover, forming a closed space for installing and carrying battery cell modules. Multiple module end plates are arranged in parallel within the housing structure, with a spacing of 300mm-1000mm between two adjacent module end plates; within the enclosed space formed by the housing structure, the area between the module end plate near the rear baffle and the rear baffle is a clamping cavity. A reinforcing clamping mechanism is installed inside the clamping cavity. The reinforcing clamping mechanism includes a right reinforcing crossbeam, a middle reinforcing crossbeam, and a left reinforcing crossbeam of the same size. One end of the middle reinforcing crossbeam is connected to the middle of the rear baffle, and the other end is connected to the middle of the module end plate near the rear baffle. The right reinforcing crossbeam and the left reinforcing crossbeam are symmetrically installed on both sides of the middle reinforcing crossbeam.

[0007] As an improvement, the module end plate includes a first module end plate, a second module end plate, a third module end plate and a fourth module end plate arranged sequentially from back to front. Each module end plate has the same structure and is fitted to the inner wall of the box structure.

[0008] As an improvement, the front panel, two side frames, and rear baffle are arranged to form a box frame. The integrated liquid cooling plate is installed at the bottom of the box frame and has liquid cooling channels inside. The sealing cover is placed on the top of the box frame and together with the box frame, they form the enclosed space.

[0009] As an improvement, the top of the front panel, side frame, and rear panel are all provided with sealing grooves and mounting holes. The sealing grooves are used to embed sealing foam, and the mounting holes are used to connect with the sealing cover plate. The front panel is also provided with mounting holes for assembling electrical connectors and explosion-proof vent valves.

[0010] As an improvement, the sealing groove has a U-shaped cross-section, the thickness of the sealing foam is greater than the depth of the sealing groove, and the sealing foam and the sealing cover plate are interference-fitted to achieve a seal.

[0011] As an improvement, the integrated liquid cooling plate is fixedly connected to the bottom of the side frame and the rear baffle by bolts, and the upper surface of the integrated liquid cooling plate is fitted to the bottom of the battery cell module.

[0012] As an improvement, the right reinforcing beam, the middle reinforcing beam, and the left reinforcing beam are all vertically fixedly connected to the module end plate near the rear baffle.

[0013] A second aspect of this utility model also provides a battery pack, including the aforementioned battery housing capable of suppressing cell expansion force, wherein multiple sets of cell modules are installed inside the battery housing.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the battery case of this utility model, which can suppress the expansion force of the battery cells, has the following beneficial effects: 1. Precisely suppresses cell expansion and improves structural stability. Through the layout of right, middle, and left reinforcing beams within the clamping cavity, the middle reinforcing beam directly supports the rear baffle and the middle of the module end plate, while the side beams provide auxiliary support corresponding to the cell tab positions. This forms a reinforced structure with a central clamping mechanism and side anti-displacement measures, effectively dispersing the expansion force generated during cell charging and discharging. This prevents module end plate deformation and loosening of the housing structure, solving problems such as sealing failure and component interference caused by expansion force in traditional battery housings, and ensuring the structural stability of the battery housing throughout its entire lifecycle.

[0015] 2. Adapts to diverse power requirements, reducing development costs. The independent design of the clamping cavity enables the battery box to flexibly adapt to high / low power requirements. Without modifying the main structure of the box, the use of different power specifications can be met simply by assembling the cell module in the clamping cavity or retaining the reinforced clamping mechanism. There is no need to design separate boxes for products with different power requirements, which greatly reduces the cost of mold development and structural verification, and improves product versatility and market adaptability.

[0016] 3. Compact and reasonable structure, efficient assembly and heat dissipation. The module end plates are arranged in parallel with a spacing controlled between 300mm and 1000mm, which ensures sufficient installation space for the battery cell modules while avoiding structural redundancy caused by excessive spacing. The integrated liquid cooling plate is attached to the bottom of the battery cell module to achieve efficient heat dissipation. At the same time, the connection between the tightening mechanism and the housing and module end plates is simple and clear, and the assembly process does not require complicated procedures. It takes into account structural strength, heat dissipation performance and assembly convenience, which meets the needs of industrial production. Attached Figure Description

[0017] 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 only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the battery box of this utility model (the sealing cover is not shown). Figure 2 This is a layout diagram of the low-power platform cell module of this utility model; Figure 3 for Figure 2 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle; Figure 4 This is a layout diagram of the high-capacity platform cell module of this utility model; In the diagram: 1. Front panel, 2. Side frame, 3. Rear baffle, 4. Reinforced clamping mechanism, 4-1. Right reinforcing crossbeam, 4-2. Middle reinforcing crossbeam, 4-3. Left reinforcing crossbeam, 5. Integrated liquid cooling plate, 6. First module end plate, 7. Second module end plate, 8. Third module end plate, 9. Fourth module end plate, 10. Cell module, 11. Cell tab. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of this application will be described in detail below through specific embodiments. It should be understood that the embodiments of this application and the specific features in the embodiments are detailed descriptions of the technical solutions of this application, rather than limitations on the technical solutions of this application. In the absence of conflict, the embodiments of this application and the technical features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0020] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "front", "rear", "left", "right", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only used to facilitate the description of this utility model and to simplify the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0021] like Figures 1-4 As shown, a battery box that can suppress cell expansion force achieves the technical advantages of expansion suppression, flexible adaptation and safety and efficiency through modular structure design and force layout. Specifically, it includes a box structure, module end plate and a reinforcing clamping mechanism 4. The enclosure structure is composed of a front panel 1, two side frames 2, a rear baffle 3, an integrated liquid cooling plate 5, and a sealing cover, forming a closed space for installing and supporting the battery cell module 10. This enclosure design ensures installation stability and achieves structural support and efficient heat dissipation through the integrated liquid cooling plate 5, avoiding the heat dissipation shortcomings of traditional separate designs. Multiple module end plates are arranged in parallel within the housing structure, with a spacing of 300 mm to 1000 mm between adjacent module end plates. This parallel and uniform arrangement of the module end plates ensures sufficient installation space for the battery cell module 10 and provides a uniform support surface for dispersing expansion forces. In the enclosed space, the module end plate near the rear baffle 3 forms a clamping cavity with the rear baffle 3. The independent design of the clamping cavity provides flexible space for multiple power adapters, allowing different power requirements to be met without modifying the main structure. Different power requirements can be met by assembling and switching within the cavity, reducing product development and adaptation costs. The reinforcing clamping mechanism 4 is assembled in the clamping cavity. The reinforcing clamping mechanism 4 includes a right reinforcing crossbeam 4-1, a middle reinforcing crossbeam 4-2, and a left reinforcing crossbeam 4-3 of the same size. During assembly, the three reinforcing crossbeams are first positioned and assembled with the box structure to ensure the relative position of each crossbeam and the matching accuracy with the rear baffle and module end plate. Then, they are fixed and formed by splicing welding to ensure the overall structural rigidity and connection stability of the reinforcing clamping mechanism 4. One end of the central reinforcing beam 4-2 is connected to the middle of the rear baffle 3, and the other end is connected to the middle of the module end plate near the rear baffle 3, forming a central main support structure that can directly offset the core force generated by the expansion of the battery cell. The right reinforcing beam 4-1 and the left reinforcing beam 4-3 are symmetrically fixed on both sides of the central reinforcing beam 4-2, and their positions are precisely corresponding to the battery cell tabs 11. This forms auxiliary supports on both sides to suppress the force displacement of the module end plate, and can also accurately avoid the tab area to avoid mechanical interference and electrical safety risks. Ultimately, this achieves a synergistic effect of central clamping to offset the expansion force, anti-deviation on both sides to ensure structural stability, and safe avoidance to avoid risks, significantly improving the structural reliability and safety of the battery box throughout its entire life cycle.

[0022] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, the module end plate includes a first module end plate 6, a second module end plate 7, a third module end plate 8, and a fourth module end plate 9 arranged sequentially from back to front. Each module end plate has the same structure and is fitted to the inner wall of the box structure. This ensures the assembly stability of the module end plate and the box structure, and further enhances the dispersion and conduction effect of the cell expansion force through the fitting.

[0023] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, the front panel 1, the two side frames 2, and the rear baffle 3 form a rigid box frame, providing stable support for the overall structure; the integrated liquid cooling plate 5 is fixedly assembled at the bottom of the box frame, and has a continuous liquid cooling channel inside, which serves both structural load-bearing and heat dissipation functions; the sealing cover is correspondingly covered on the top of the box frame, and together with the box frame and the integrated liquid cooling plate 5, they form a sealed closed space, which not only ensures the installation protection requirements of the battery cell module 10, but also improves the heat dissipation efficiency in conjunction with the liquid cooling channel.

[0024] In some embodiments, the top of the front panel 1, the two side frames 2, and the rear baffle 3 are all provided with sealing grooves and spaced mounting holes along their length direction; wherein, the sealing groove is used to embed sealing foam to achieve a sealing fit with the sealing cover plate, and the mounting holes are fixedly connected to the sealing cover plate by bolts to ensure assembly stability; at the same time, the front panel 1 is also provided with mounting holes adapted for the installation of electrical connectors and explosion-proof vent valves, and the size of the mounting holes matches the outer contour of the corresponding components to ensure assembly accuracy and safety of use.

[0025] In some embodiments, the cross-section of the sealing groove is U-shaped, and its width and depth are adapted to the installation requirements of the sealing foam. The thickness of the sealing foam is greater than the depth of the sealing groove. After assembly, the sealing foam and the sealing cover plate form a tight interference fit. The elastic deformation of the foam fills the assembly gap, achieving all-round sealing protection, effectively preventing water vapor, dust and other impurities from entering the enclosed space, and ensuring the stability of the battery cell module's operating environment.

[0026] In some embodiments, the integrated liquid cooling plate 5 is detachably and fixedly connected to the bottom of the two side frames 2 and the rear baffle 3 by bolts arranged at intervals along the edge, which is convenient to assemble and the connection is stable; the upper surface of the integrated liquid cooling plate 5 is flattened and fully fitted to the bottom of the cell module 10 to maximize the contact area to improve the heat conduction efficiency, ensure that the heat generated by the cell during operation is quickly conducted to the liquid cooling channel, achieve efficient heat dissipation, and ensure the temperature stability of the cell module.

[0027] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the right reinforcing crossbeam 4-1, the middle reinforcing crossbeam 4-2, and the left reinforcing crossbeam 4-3 are all fixedly connected to the module end plate near the rear baffle 3 in a perpendicular state. The three are welded together to form a stable connection structure, ensuring efficient force transmission between the crossbeams and the module end plate, and precisely offsetting the horizontal force generated by cell expansion through their vertical layout. This further enhances the deformation resistance of the module end plate and ensures the structural stability of the battery box. Correspondingly, the right reinforcing crossbeam 4-1, the middle reinforcing crossbeam 4-2, and the left reinforcing crossbeam 4-3 are also fixedly connected to the rear baffle 3 in a perpendicular state.

[0028] Furthermore, in a second aspect, this utility model also provides a battery pack, including a battery housing that can suppress cell expansion force as described in any of the above embodiments. Multiple sets of cell modules 10 are adaptedly assembled inside the battery housing. Each set of cell modules 10 is arranged sequentially along the length direction of the housing structure, and the end of each set of cell modules 10 is tightly fitted with the corresponding module end plate. The tab area of ​​the cell module 10 corresponds to the position of the right reinforcing crossbeam 4-1 and the left reinforcing crossbeam 4-3 of the reinforcing clamping mechanism 4. This battery pack, by integrating the aforementioned battery housing, also possesses the structural advantages of central main clamping, side anti-displacement, and safe interference avoidance. On the one hand, with the coordinated support of the reinforced clamping mechanism 4 and the module end plate, the expansion force generated during the charging and discharging of each group of cells can be efficiently dispersed and offset, preventing displacement of the cell module 10, deformation of the overall battery pack structure, and sealing failure, significantly improving the structural stability and long-term reliability of the battery pack. On the other hand, relying on the independent design of the clamping cavity of the battery housing and the modular layout of the module end plate, there is no need to reconstruct the overall framework of the battery pack. By simply adjusting the number of cell modules 10 assembled (including selective assembly of the clamping cavity), it can flexibly adapt to different high and low power requirements, greatly reducing the development cost and cycle of multi-specification battery packs. At the same time, this battery pack takes into account both efficient heat dissipation (the heat conduction advantage of the integrated liquid cooling plate 5) and safety protection (sealed structure, tab avoidance design), making it suitable for various application scenarios such as new energy passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and distributed energy storage power stations, and possessing broad market application value.

[0029] In some embodiments, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, the clamping cavity adopts a selective assembly design to achieve modular adaptation to different power requirements. The specific assembly method is as follows: When high power usage is required, the battery cell module 10 is directly fitted into the clamping cavity. The end of the battery cell module 10 is closely fitted with the module end plate near the rear baffle 3 (which can also be removed as needed) and the rear baffle 3, forming a complete power supply unit in collaboration with other battery cell modules 10 in the box, and achieving high power output through capacity expansion. When only low-power usage is required, the tightening cavity maintains the reinforced tightening mechanism 4, and the two ends of the middle reinforcing beam 4-2 of the reinforced tightening mechanism 4 form a surface contact tight tightening fit with the middle of the rear baffle 3 and the middle of the module end plate near the rear baffle 3, respectively. The right reinforcing beam 4-1 and the left reinforcing beam 4-3 are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the middle reinforcing beam 4-2, and their arrangement corresponds to the battery cell tab area. This not only enhances the overall anti-deformation rigidity, but also precisely avoids interference with the battery cell tab 11. Together with the tightening effect of the middle reinforcing beam 4-2, a collaborative anti-expansion structure is formed with the core tightening in the middle and the auxiliary support on both sides, which continuously counteracts the horizontal force generated by the expansion of the battery cell and ensures the stability of the module end plate and the box structure.

[0030] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that although some embodiments described herein include certain features found in other embodiments but not others, combinations of features from different embodiments are also within the scope of protection of this invention and form different embodiments. For example, in the embodiments described above, those skilled in the art can use them in combination based on known technical solutions and the technical problems to be solved by this application.

Claims

1. A battery casing capable of suppressing cell expansion force, characterized in that, include: The enclosure structure consists of a front panel, two side frames, a rear baffle, an integrated liquid cooling plate, and a sealing cover, forming a closed space for installing and carrying battery cell modules. Multiple module end plates are arranged in parallel within the housing structure, with a spacing of 300 mm to 1000 mm between two adjacent module end plates; within the enclosed space formed by the housing structure, the area between the module end plate near the rear baffle and the rear baffle is a clamping cavity. A reinforcing clamping mechanism is installed inside the clamping cavity. The reinforcing clamping mechanism includes a right reinforcing crossbeam, a middle reinforcing crossbeam, and a left reinforcing crossbeam of the same size. One end of the middle reinforcing crossbeam is connected to the middle of the rear baffle, and the other end is connected to the middle of the module end plate near the rear baffle. The right reinforcing crossbeam and the left reinforcing crossbeam are symmetrically installed on both sides of the middle reinforcing crossbeam.

2. A battery case capable of suppressing cell expansion force according to claim 1, characterized in that, The module end plates include a first module end plate, a second module end plate, a third module end plate, and a fourth module end plate arranged sequentially from back to front. Each module end plate has the same structure and is fitted to the inner wall of the box structure.

3. A battery case capable of suppressing cell expansion force according to claim 1, characterized in that, The front panel, two side frames, and rear baffle form a box frame. The integrated liquid cooling plate is installed at the bottom of the box frame and has liquid cooling channels inside. The sealing cover is placed on the top of the box frame and together with the box frame, forms the enclosed space.

4. A battery case capable of suppressing cell expansion force according to claim 3, characterized in that, The front panel, side frame, and rear panel are all provided with sealing grooves and mounting holes at the top. The sealing grooves are used to embed sealing foam, and the mounting holes are used to connect with the sealing cover plate. The front panel is also provided with mounting holes for assembling electrical connectors and explosion-proof vent valves.

5. A battery case capable of suppressing cell expansion force according to claim 4, characterized in that, The sealing groove has a U-shaped cross-section, the thickness of the sealing foam is greater than the depth of the sealing groove, and the sealing foam and the sealing cover plate are interference-fitted to achieve a seal.

6. A battery case capable of suppressing cell expansion force according to claim 3, characterized in that, The integrated liquid cooling plate is fixedly connected to the bottom of the side frame and the rear baffle by bolts, and the upper surface of the integrated liquid cooling plate is fitted to the bottom of the battery cell module.

7. A battery case capable of suppressing cell expansion force according to claim 1, characterized in that, The right reinforcing crossbeam, the middle reinforcing crossbeam, and the left reinforcing crossbeam are all vertically fixed to the module end plate near the rear baffle.

8. A battery pack, characterized in that, The battery housing includes the battery housing capable of suppressing cell expansion force as described in any one of claims 1-7, wherein multiple sets of cell modules are installed inside the battery housing.

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