A battery testing system and a cell testing system

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of battery testing system and battery cell testing system. Including platform and the force distributor being arranged above platform. Force distributor includes flat plate and multiple force distribution pieces being arranged above flat plate. The system further includes the arm being arranged above force distributor and the rod passing through and being perpendicular to arm, and rod is in contact with force distributor. In this system, the gravity of counterweight acts on one end of arm, so that the gravity of counterweight generates constant pressure on flat plate by rod and multiple force distribution pieces. In addition, the pressure applied on flat plate is proportional to gravity, and proportional to the position of rod passing through arm.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to cell testing, and in particular to a battery testing system and a cell testing system. Background Technology

[0002] Mechanical testing of battery cells, such as lithium-ion cells, is a delicate process involving careful monitoring of changes in cell volume and pressure during charge-discharge cycles. These cycles are critical periods of significant physical change within the cell, often referred to as "swelling" and "breathing." These terms describe the expansion and contraction of the cell as it interacts with applied (or withdrawn) electrical energy during testing. A challenge of this testing is that these physical changes are influenced by numerous variables, leading to a widening of the error range in data analysis. When the error range becomes excessively large, the inherent variability in the test conditions introduces a degree of uncertainty, making the data less reliable in practical applications.

[0003] To mitigate the challenges of variable control, several testing methods have been developed involving physically securing the battery cell between two metal plates in a fixture. These plates are tightened to specific torque settings using specialized hardware to restrict cell displacement during the expansion and breathing phases. By doing so, researchers aim to isolate and measure the stress the cell experiences during charging and discharging. However, in many testing applications, as the cell expands, the fixture's constraints affect the cell's volume, leading to pressure fluctuations during charging and discharging. Furthermore, because the volume constraint is not constant, mechanical testing results include variations in displacement and pressure, adding another layer of difficulty to the analysis. The causal conjugate relationship between displacement and pressure (or stress) presents a significant challenge in analyzing these combined results to characterize mechanical behavior and investigate the impact of mechanical constraints on the cell's electrochemical performance. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a battery testing system that provides constant pressure to the battery cell under test, so as to facilitate the measurement of the battery cell's performance during charge and discharge cycles.

[0005] The present invention solves the existing technical problems by adopting the following technical solution: A battery testing system, the system comprising: Platform, the platform having a surface for placing (receiving) the battery cell to be tested; An arm disposed above the platform, the arm having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end; A rod passing between the first end and the second end of the arm; and A counterweight connected to the second end of the arm; The force generated by the counterweight is transmitted from the arm to the battery cell through the rod.

[0006] Furthermore, it also includes: A force distributor is disposed below the arm and the rod, wherein the force distributor contacts the lower end of the rod, and the force is transmitted from the rod to the cell through the force distributor.

[0007] Furthermore, it also includes a frame, the arm being connected to the frame via a joint located at the first end of the arm.

[0008] Furthermore, it also includes a linear ball bearing connected to the frame and disposed between the arm and the force distributor, wherein the rod passes through the linear ball bearing in a vertical direction.

[0009] Furthermore, the length ratio of the first end and the second end of the arm is between 10 and 15.

[0010] Furthermore, the rod is connected to the arm via a U-shaped rod end, which is connected to the upper end of the rod.

[0011] Furthermore, it also includes a stop rail disposed on the surface of the platform, wherein the stop rail is used to fix the battery cell to the platform.

[0012] Furthermore, the force distributor includes a plate and a plurality of force distribution plates disposed above the plate, wherein the plurality of force distribution plates are used to evenly distribute the force applied by the rod onto the plate.

[0013] Furthermore, the rod is aligned at a right angle to the plate along its longitudinal axis.

[0014] Furthermore, the angle between the rod and the plate along its longitudinal axis is less than 90 degrees.

[0015] Furthermore, it also includes a pin-to-pin contact mechanism disposed between the lower end of the rod and the force distributor, wherein the pin-to-pin contact mechanism includes an upper pin that passes horizontally through the rod and a lower pin fixed to the force distributor, wherein the upper pin is perpendicular to the lower pin.

[0016] Furthermore, the lower end of the rod includes an open space through which the lower pin passes, wherein the upper pin and the lower pin are in direct contact during operation.

[0017] Furthermore, the rod is capable of adjusting its position about a first axis extending along the upper pin, and the force distributor is capable of rotating about a second axis extending along the lower pin.

[0018] Furthermore, it includes two parallel lever arms and a bolt; the bolt passes through the two lever arms at the second end of the arm, wherein the counterweight is carried by the bolt.

[0019] This utility model also provides a battery cell testing system, including: The platform is the size and shape of which is suitable for receiving the battery cells to be tested; An arm positioned above the platform; and A rod passes through and is perpendicular to the arm, wherein gravity from the counterweight acts on one end of the arm, and gravity produces a constant pressure on the rod, wherein the pressure produced is proportional to gravity and also proportional to the position where the rod passes through the arm.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: The battery testing system provided by this invention utilizes the lever principle. By adjusting the lever arm length ratio, the counterweight (gravity) can be amplified and kept constant through the lever mechanism. During cell charge-discharge cycle testing, regardless of whether the cell is expanding or contracting, the gravitational pressure applied to the cell remains constant, without relying on expensive electromechanical testing equipment. This battery testing system provides a cost-effective and multifunctional device for applying constant pressure to the cell under various conditions and measuring the cell's performance during charge-discharge cycles, enabling a better understanding of how external constant pressure affects battery performance. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The accompanying drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments only and should not be considered as limiting the scope. The elements and features shown in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but are intended to clearly illustrate the principles of the exemplary embodiments. Furthermore, certain dimensions or positions may be exaggerated to help visually convey these principles. In the drawings, the same reference numerals used in different embodiments denote similar or corresponding, but not necessarily identical, elements.

[0022] Figure 1 The diagram illustrates lever configurations according to various embodiments of the present invention, which amplify constant gravity.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of the constant pressure maintenance system configured according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3The connection between the linear rod and the force distributor in a constant pressure maintaining system according to various embodiments of the present invention is shown.

[0025] Figure 4 A perspective view of a pin-to-pin contact mechanism between a linear rod and a force distributor according to various embodiments of the present invention is shown.

[0026] Figure 5 An exemplary force distribution plate of a force distributor in a constant pressure maintaining system according to various embodiments of the present invention is shown.

[0027] Figure 6 The calibration curves of the counterweights applied to the constant pressure maintenance system using a weighing sensor are shown according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 7 The curves of the forces applied to the mechanical testing of the battery cell by the conventional metal plate clamp and the constant voltage maintenance system according to various embodiments of the present invention are shown respectively.

[0029] Figure 8 This is a flowchart of a method for applying constant pressure to a battery cell under test according to various embodiments of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0030] This invention relates to cell testing, and more particularly to a battery testing system and a cell testing system. As previously described, the mechanical properties of energy storage devices (such as lithium-ion cells) throughout the cycle testing process exhibit a complex interaction between displacement and pressure changes. When a cell undergoes charge-discharge cycles during testing, displacement of the cell (e.g., physical expansion and contraction) and changes in internal pressure occur simultaneously. This causal relationship presents a significant challenge when attempting to correlate cell performance with external mechanical constraints, as it is difficult to isolate the influence of each variable. To overcome this challenge, an ideal approach is to control the cell displacement or the pressure applied to it as a constant variable during mechanical testing. By keeping one of these parameters in a steady state, the impact of mechanical constraints on cell performance can be assessed more accurately. This controlled setup can more clearly reveal how external forces affect battery operating efficiency and lifespan, thereby contributing to the development of more robust and reliable energy storage devices capable of withstanding various mechanical stresses throughout their lifespan.

[0031] Furthermore, the use of commercially available electromechanical universal test machines faces significant challenges in the field of testing battery cells under varying mechanical conditions. These complex commercial machines are designed to simulate the diverse mechanical stresses experienced by battery cells to ensure their durability and performance under different conditions. However, the practical feasibility of using these machines is limited by at least two main factors. First, the substantial time investment required for cyclic testing can be a hindrance, as each test consumes a considerable amount of the equipment's time. This is particularly problematic when the test equipment is valuable and in high demand, leading to scheduling conflicts and reduced availability. Second, the sheer number of test cases required to thoroughly investigate the effects of various mechanical conditions further exacerbates this issue. The need to run numerous tests to cover all potential scenarios means that the testing process can become extremely time-consuming and inefficient. Therefore, while using these traditional electromechanical test machines provides a precise and controlled testing environment, it may not be the most practical approach for a wide range of battery cell testing projects that require systematic exploration of numerous variables.

[0032] To address the aforementioned problems and challenges, this invention introduces a constant pressure maintaining device configured to provide a constant pressure to the battery cell under test. The principle of this constant pressure maintaining device is that the gravitational force applied to the battery cell remains constant regardless of whether the cell is expanding or contracting. To achieve constant gravitational pressure, a certain amount of counterweight can be placed above the battery cell. However, to address the safety concerns associated with placing heavy counterweights and to minimize fixture size, this invention applies the lever principle. Through the lever arm length ratio, gravity (i.e., the applied force) can be amplified and kept constant through the lever mechanism. In a specific example, for a battery cell with a surface area of ​​0.02 square meters and a pressure requirement of 100 kPa, directly using counterweight would require approximately 200 kg. In contrast, for testing using the device configured in this invention, only 25 kg of counterweight is needed with a 1:8 lever configuration. Furthermore, in some embodiments of this invention, a four-bar linkage can be employed to ensure that the applied force is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the battery cell under test.

[0033] Figure 1 A lever configuration system 100 according to various embodiments of the present invention is shown, which is designed to amplify a constant gravitational force F by utilizing the configuration of lever arms 102. g In one specific embodiment, for example, when the ratio of lever arms 102 is set to a=1 and b=7, the resulting force F is amplified to the original gravity F. gEight times. This is achieved through the mechanical advantage provided by the lengths a and b of the lever arms. In some other examples, the ratio of the lever arms 102 can be between 10 and 15. System 100 employs a four-bar linkage to ensure that the amplified force F remains perpendicular to the test sample below, thus maintaining the directionality and efficiency of force transmission. In this example, the components of system 100 include lever arm 102 and a bar 104 perpendicular to lever arm 102. Connector 106 connects lever arm 102 and bar 104 to form a rigid structure. Furthermore, a fulcrum 108 exists in system 100, which serves as the fulcrum at one end of lever arm 102. The other end of lever arm 102 is subjected to a constant gravity F. g The location. For example... Figure 1 As shown, this design not only ensures that the amplified force F is equal to the gravitational force F g The amplified force F is proportional to and remains constant, providing a reliable and predictable output for the system's target application. Generally, the amplified force F can be calculated using the formula F=(a+b) / a×F. g The amplified force F is calculated using +F'. Here, the amplified force F is also related to the additional gravitational force F' generated by the weight of rod 104 and lever arm 102.

[0034] This invention employs a novel method to maintain a constant external pressure during cell cycle testing without relying on expensive electromechanical testing equipment. Specifically, this method is expected to provide a better understanding of how constant external pressure affects battery performance by ensuring constant pressure conditions. In particular, this method involves measuring the cell's displacement when an external force is applied and relating it to stress and strain within the cell using Hooke's law of continuous media. For example, Hooke's law of continuous media describes stress (… σ The relationship between () and strain (ε) is as follows:

[0035] in C It is the elastic tensor. The equation can be simplified; when an external force (F) is applied, the displacement (δ) of the battery cell can be calculated as:

[0036] Where L is the battery thickness, E is Young's modulus, and A represents the cell area.

[0037] The method of this invention also considers the effect of applied force on electrochemical processes, such as lithium-ion flux in the solid phase, which is controlled by a coupled equation involving hydrostatic pressure and partial molar volume. For example, lithium-ion flux in the solid phase ( J ) can be represented as:

[0038] in, R It is the gas constant. T It is temperature. In this equation, the subscript... s Indicates the solid phase, while D s and c s These represent the diffusivity of the solid phase and the lithium-ion concentration, respectively. In this example, σ h It is hydrostatic stress, calculated using stress analysis.

[0039] Ω is the partial molar volume, representing the volume change rate of the active particles during lithium ion insertion or extraction.

[0040] This electrochemical-mechanical process is highly nonlinear, making the decoupling of mechanics and electrochemistry extremely difficult. During charging and discharging, the battery cell expands or contracts, causing changes in its thickness. When mechanical constraints are applied to limit this expansion, a reaction force is generated, resulting in pressure within the battery. Therefore, measurements of battery pressure or displacement are a result of the combined effect of mechanical constraints and the resulting reactions. This hybrid data can be used to characterize, for example, elastic tensors. C Determining the mechanical properties becomes very difficult because there are more than two unknowns in the equations, for example:

[0041] However, this method of keeping the stress at a known constant value allows the mechanical properties of the battery cell, such as the elastic tensor, to be characterized by solving the above set of equations using mixed data of battery pressure and displacement.

[0042] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of a battery testing system 200 configured according to various embodiments of the present invention. Specifically, the system 200 applies a constant pressure to the battery cell 230 during testing (e.g., charge-discharge cycles). As shown, the system 200 includes a platform 201, a backstop guide 202, a flat plate 203, one or more force distribution sheets 204, a linear rod 205, a linear ball bearing 206, and a lever arm 207. These components of the system 200 are interconnected and fixed by a frame 208, which represents the remaining components constituting the entire body. Furthermore, the system 200 includes a clevis rod end 209 for connecting the lever arm 207 to the linear rod 205.

[0043] In this example, platform 201 is a base used to support cell 230 during testing. Platform 201 can be made of, for example, phenolic linen, a non-conductive and heat-resistant material. In other examples, platform 201 can be made of plastic materials, glass, ceramic materials, rubber, composite materials, or combinations thereof. Figure 2 As shown, the stop rail 202 can be a rectangular piece of phenolic linen fabric attached to the platform 201, used as a reference for aligning the battery cell 230 with the center of the system 200. In this example, the system 200 includes a force distributor 240, which includes a force distribution plate 204 and a plate 203. The plate 203 can be an aluminum plate coated with non-conductive tape, its dimensions and thickness matching the weight and size of the battery cell 230. In other examples, the plate 203 can be made of a material selected from aluminum, steel, titanium, copper, magnesium, fiberglass, plastic, ceramic, composite materials, or combinations thereof. Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, the plate 203 is positioned to contact the top surface of the cell 230 and transmit pressure from the lever arm 207 to the cell 230.

[0044] like Figure 2 As shown, the force distribution piece 204 includes a plurality of force distribution components fixed to the plate 203, which extend vertically or substantially vertically from the plate 203. The force distribution piece 204 can be made of, for example, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), a plastic material with high strength and durability. In this specific embodiment, the force distribution piece 204 extends from the center of the plate 203 to its four edge points. These edge points are distributed substantially evenly along the edges of the plate 203, so the force distributor 240 can be configured to distribute pressure uniformly (or almost uniformly) across the entire surface of the cell 230. In this example, the system 200 also includes a pin-to-pin point contact mechanism 220 disposed between the linear rod 205 and the force distributor 240, which allows the plate 203 to move freely up and down and tilt along certain axes. In this specific embodiment, the plate 203 is circular, and each force distribution piece 204 is pentagonal. In some other embodiments, the force distributor 240 may have... Figure 2 Various designs are shown. Specifically, the force distributor 240 and its plate 203 and force distribution plates 204 may include different features and / or have different configurations. For example, the plate 203 may be rectangular or square, and each force distribution plate 204 may be trapezoidal. A more detailed description of the force distributor 240 is provided in this utility model. Figures 3 to 5 middle.

[0045] In the system 200 configured according to this invention, the linear rod 205 may be a long metal rod that passes through the center of the linear ball bearing 206 and is connected at the bottom to the force distributor 240 (e.g., force distribution plate 204) and at the top to the lever arm 207. In this specific embodiment, the linear ball bearing 206 may be a cylindrical device containing ball bearings and operatively fixed to the frame 208. Furthermore, the linear ball bearing 206 is configured to allow the linear rod 205 to slide smoothly and with minimal friction along the vertical axis. In this example, the lever arm 207 may be two parallel metal rods. Furthermore, the lever arm 207 may be connected to the linear rod 205 and the frame 208 via a U-shaped rod end 209 and a bolt 211, respectively. As shown, the bolt 211 may pass through the first end of the lever arm 207, acting as a connector to connect the lever arm 207 to the frame 208. In the illustrated embodiment, the U-shaped rod end 209 may be a U-shaped connector to allow the lever arm 207 to swing and adjust according to the movement of the linear rod 205. The lever arm 207 also has a bolt 210 at its second end for suspending a counterweight (not shown) that provides the force applied to the cell 230. Figure 2 As shown, the first end of the lever arm 207 is opposite to the second end. However, in other embodiments, the linear rod 205, the linear ball bearing 206, the lever arm 207, and / or the U-shaped rod end 209 may include different features and / or have different configurations.

[0046] In this invention, the frame 208 can be a rectangular structure made of hollow steel tubing, used to support the linear ball bearing 206 and the lever arm 207. The frame 208 also defines the height and width of the system 200 and can be modified as needed to accommodate test cells 230 of different sizes and weights. Specifically, the system 200 can be designed to have a force amplification factor (e.g., an 8x factor), meaning that the pressure applied to the cell 230 is eight times the counterweight attached to the bolt 210. However, by changing the length and angle of the lever arm 207 and the position of the linear rod 205 relative to the lever arm 207, the system 200 can be adjusted to have different force amplification factors. Furthermore, the force applied to the cell 230 is also related to the weight of the force distributor 240 (including the force distribution plate 204 and the flat plate 203). In other embodiments, the frame 208 may include different features and / or have different configurations.

[0047] In this invention, system 200 is configured to apply a constant force to cell 230 via linear rod 205 and force distributor 240 below. Similar to... Figure 1The force amplification described herein allows the force or counterweight applied to bolt 210 to be amplified and transmitted to plate 203 of force distributor 240, thereby compressing cell 230. In this example, the force or counterweight applied to bolt 210 is constant during cell testing and can be increased depending on the configuration of system 200. Linear rod 205 can be arranged along a vertical axis and aligned perpendicularly to plate 203. Furthermore, by tilting plate 203 along the respective axes and moving it vertically to form a firm contact between plate 203 and the top surface of cell 230, the amplified force can be applied uniformly (or almost uniformly) to cell 230. Here, a firm contact can be achieved by contacting the entire front surface of cell 230 with plate 203. In another example, a firm contact can be formed by contacting the entire bottom surface of plate 203 with cell 230 under test. In other embodiments, system 200 may include different features and / or different configurations to form a contact between force distributor 240 and cell 230.

[0048] As previously described, the battery testing system 200 aims to provide a cost-effective and versatile device for applying constant pressure to the battery cell 230 under various conditions and measuring the performance of the battery cell 230 during charge-discharge cycles. Specifically, the system 200 may include non-conductive and heat-resistant materials that are expected to prevent electrical and thermal hazards and reduce friction and uneven pressure distribution to ensure accuracy and reliability during operation. For example, in some embodiments, the system 200 is capable of remaining undeformed at temperatures up to 140 degrees Celsius.

[0049] Figure 3 Enlarged views of the force distributor 340 and linear rod 305 according to various embodiments of the present invention are shown to illustrate this. Figure 2 The connection between linear rod 305 and force distributor 340. Here, linear rod 305 and force distributor 340 can perform [operations related to]... Figure 2The linear rod 205 and force distributor 240 shown in the figure function similarly. Specifically, in this particular embodiment, the force distributor 340 includes a rectangular plate 316 and four force distribution plates 314. As shown, each force distribution plate 314 is trapezoidal. In this example, the force distributor 340 also has a top 312, which includes four sidewalls. The upper edge of each force distribution plate 314 is connected to the lower edge of the corresponding sidewall of the top 312, and the lower edge is connected to a corresponding portion of the rectangular plate 316. In this example, an upper pin 304 passes through the lower part of the linear rod 305, and a lower pin 302 passes through the top 312 of the force distributor 340. As shown, the respective sidewalls of the force distributor 340 are connected to the plate 316 via corresponding inclined force distribution plates 314. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower pin 302 passes through a pair of parallel aligned sidewalls of the top 312. Furthermore, the upper pin 304 and the lower pin 302 are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to each other, forming a right angle.

[0050] In this invention, the linear rod 305 is not fixed to the force distributor 340. Instead, a pin-to-pin contact mechanism is formed between the upper pin 304 and the lower pin 302. During operation of the system 200, the upper pin 304 can be securely mounted on the lower pin 302 due to the amplified force applied to the lever arm 207 and the gravity generated by the mass of the linear rod 205. In this example, as... Figure 3 As shown in the enlarged view in the upper right corner, the linear rod 305 has an open arcuate space at its bottom end, allowing it to tilt about the longitudinal axis 320 of the upper pin 304. Furthermore, the force distributor 340, including the top 312, force distribution plate 314, and plate 316, can tilt about the longitudinal axis 310 of the lower pin 302. This free tilting of the linear rod 305 and force distributor 340, achieved through the pin-to-pin contact mechanism 220, is expected to allow the plate 316 to contact the battery cell 230 being tested (e.g., ...). Figure 2 (As shown) Maintain a firm contact.

[0051] Figure 4 This is a partial transparent perspective view of the pin-to-pin contact mechanism 220 between the linear rod 305 and the force distributor 340 according to various embodiments of the present invention. As shown, the lower pin 302 is at least partially positioned within an open arcuate space at the bottom end of the linear rod 305, thereby allowing the linear rod 305 to be secured above the lower pin 302. In this example, the open arcuate space of the linear rod 305 has an arc point 402 that is parallel to or higher than the low-point surface of the upper pin 304. During operation, this configuration is expected to ensure a secure pin-to-pin contact between the upper pin 304 and the lower pin 302. In some other embodiments, and when the system 200 is not in operation, the upper pin 304 and the lower pin 302 can be separated from each other.

[0052] Figure 5 Various embodiments of the present utility model are shown. Figure 2 A side view of an exemplary force distribution piece 204 of the force distributor 240 in the system 200. In this example, the force distribution piece 204 is truncated pyramidal in shape, with a pair of horizontal lines arranged in parallel and a pair of vertical lines arranged in parallel. Additionally, the force distribution piece 204 includes a slanted line connecting the upper horizontal line and the lower vertical line. For example, the length of the pair of horizontal lines can be between 25.4 mm and 500 mm. In one specific embodiment, the upper horizontal line is approximately 38.1 mm and the lower horizontal line is approximately 120 mm. Furthermore, the length of the pair of vertical lines can be between 5 mm and 100 mm. In one specific embodiment, the higher vertical line is approximately 60 mm and the lower vertical line is approximately 10 mm. In this example, the lower horizontal line can be placed on the front surface of the plate 203. Furthermore, multiple force distribution pieces 204 can be placed above the plate 203 to ensure that a uniformly distributed amplified force is transmitted to the cell 230.

[0053] Figure 6 A calibration curve is shown, obtained using commercial software (e.g., Loadstar LoadVUE® Pro (LV-1000) software) and a push-button load cell with a capacity of 1000 kg ± 0.5 kg. This curve compares the load applied to a constant pressure maintenance system (e.g., Figure 2 The system described in section 200) uses a counterweight on the lever arm to correlate with the actual force applied to the cell under test. This curve helps to ensure the accuracy of the constant pressure maintenance system by correlating the applied counterweight with the measured force, thereby verifying the system's performance in maintaining a constant pressure.

[0054] Figure 7 Force curves obtained from mechanical testing of a Microvast 53.5Ah lithium-ion pouch cell are presented, comparing the performance of a conventional metal plate clamp with a constant voltage maintenance system. Testing was conducted at room temperature using an Arvin 5V150A tester, cycling the cell at a rate of 1C1D. Force measurements were captured using the same Loadstar LoadVUE® Pro (LV-1000) software and a push-button load cell with a capacity of 1000 kg ± 0.5 kg. These curves demonstrate the effectiveness of the constant voltage maintenance system compared to standard industry clamps, which typically consist of a cell clamped between two metal plates secured by bolts, washers, and nuts.

[0055] Figure 8 This is a flowchart of a method 800 for applying a constant pressure to a battery cell under test according to various embodiments of the present invention. Starting at step 802, method 800 includes calculating the force to be applied to one end of a lever arm of the testing apparatus. In a specific example, refer to... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The counterweight can be calculated based on the gravity required to be applied to bolt 210. The calculation may also take into account the weight of the force distributor placed above cell 230.

[0056] In step 804, method 800 includes setting the position of the linear rod through the lever arm of the testing device. In a specific example, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The linear lever 205 can be adjusted horizontally along the longitudinal axis of the lever arm 207 to achieve the target force amplification factor.

[0057] In step 806, method 800 includes placing one or more battery cells on the platform of the testing apparatus. In a specific example, refer to... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The battery cell 230 can be placed on top of the platform 201 and fixed by adjusting the position of the stop rail 202.

[0058] In step 808, method 800 includes adjusting the linear lever to transfer force to the surface of one or more cells. In a specific example, refer to... Figures 1 to 4 The linear rod 205 can be adjusted along the vertical axis via the linear ball bearing 206 to form a strong contact between the upper pin 304 and the lower pin 302. This pin-to-pin contact helps to form a strong contact between the force distributor 240 and the cell 230.

[0059] Finally, in step 810, method 800 includes applying a force on the lever arm to generate a constant pressure on one or more battery cells. In a specific example, refer to... Figure 1 and Figure 2 A counterweight can be applied to the bolt 210, thereby generating an amplified force on the linear rod 205, which is further applied to the cell 230 through a force distributor placed on the cell.

[0060] In some embodiments, method 800 further includes attaching a counterweight to one end of a lever arm of the testing apparatus, and the constant pressure being proportional to the gravity generated by the counterweight. For example, as Figure 2 As shown, a counterweight (not shown) can be connected to a bolt 210 at one end of the lever arm 207.

[0061] In some embodiments, method 800 further includes adjusting the amount of counterweight connected to the lever arm based on at least partially monitored pressure on one or more battery cells. For example, refer again... Figure 2 The amount of counterweight connected to bolt 210 can be adjusted to generate different forces F. g This adjustment corresponds to the difference between the monitored pressure on cell 230 and the expected value.

[0062] In some embodiments, method 800 further includes adjusting the plate of the force distributor so that the plate firmly contacts the surface of one or more cells being tested, such that the linear rod is aligned perpendicularly to the plate along its longitudinal axis. For example, see reference... Figures 2 to 4 The pin-to-pin contact between the linear rod 205 and the force distributor 240 can be adjusted to form a firm contact between the plate 203 and the cell 230 being tested.

[0063] The foregoing describes specific details of several embodiments of applying constant pressure to battery cells during testing, along with related systems and methods. Those skilled in the art will recognize that suitable stages of the methods described herein can be performed at the battery level or system level. The description of this invention is for illustrative and descriptive purposes and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. Embodiments have been chosen and described to best explain the principles and practical application of this invention, enabling those skilled in the art to understand that various modifications can be made to the various embodiments of this invention to suit specific intended uses.

[0064] The functions described herein can be implemented by hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. Other examples and implementations are within the scope of this invention and the appended claims. Features implementing the functions can also be physically distributed in different locations, including different parts of the functions, and can be executed in different physical locations.

[0065] In this document, when “or” is used in the claims to enumerate items (e.g., a list of items introduced by phrases such as “at least one” or “one or more”), it indicates an inclusive list. For example, a list of at least one A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Furthermore, as used herein, “based on” should not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions. For example, an exemplary step described as “based on condition A” may be based on conditions A and B without departing from the scope of this invention. In other words, as used herein, “based on” should be understood in the same manner as “at least partially based on”.

[0066] It should be emphasized that many variations and modifications can be made to the above examples, and their elements should be understood as elements in other acceptable examples. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of this utility model and protected by the following claims. Other aspects, features, and advantages of this utility model will become apparent from the detailed description and drawings. It should also be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are examples and not limitations on the scope of this utility model. In this specification and claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly specifies otherwise. Furthermore, in this specification and claims, the term “or” means “and / or” unless the context clearly specifies otherwise. Additionally, in this specification, “a portion” refers to a part or all (i.e., the entire portion) of a given item (e.g., data) unless the context clearly specifies otherwise.

Claims

1. A battery testing system, characterized in that, The system includes: Platform, the platform having a surface for placing the battery cell to be tested; An arm disposed above the platform, the arm having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end; A rod passing between the first end and the second end of the arm; and A counterweight connected to the second end of the arm; The force generated by the counterweight is transmitted from the arm to the battery cell through the rod.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A force distributor is disposed below the arm and the rod, wherein the force distributor contacts the lower end of the rod, and the force is transmitted from the rod to the cell through the force distributor.

3. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a frame, and the arm is connected to the frame via a joint located at the first end of the arm.

4. The system according to claim 3, characterized in that, It also includes a linear ball bearing connected to the frame and disposed between the arm and the force distributor, wherein the rod passes through the linear ball bearing in a vertical direction.

5. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The length ratio of the first end to the second end of the arm is between 10 and 15.

6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rod is connected to the arm via a U-shaped rod end, which is connected to the upper end of the rod.

7. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a stop rail disposed on the surface of the platform, wherein the stop rail is used to fix the battery cell to the platform.

8. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The force distributor includes a plate and a plurality of force distribution plates disposed above the plate, wherein the plurality of force distribution plates are used to evenly distribute the force applied by the rod onto the plate.

9. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The rod is aligned at a right angle to the plate along its longitudinal axis.

10. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that, The angle between the rod and the plate along its longitudinal axis is less than 90 degrees.

11. The system according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a pin-to-pin contact mechanism disposed between the lower end of the rod and the force distributor, wherein the pin-to-pin contact mechanism includes an upper pin that passes horizontally through the rod and a lower pin fixed to the force distributor, wherein the upper pin is perpendicular to the lower pin.

12. The system according to claim 11, characterized in that, The lower end of the rod includes an open space through which the lower pin passes, wherein the upper pin and the lower pin are in direct contact during operation.

13. The system according to claim 11, characterized in that, The rod is capable of adjusting its position about a first axis extending along the upper pin, and the force distributor is capable of rotating about a second axis extending along the lower pin.

14. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that, It includes two parallel lever arms and a bolt; the bolt passes through the two lever arms at the second end of the arm, wherein the counterweight is carried by the bolt.

15. A cell testing system, characterized in that, include: The platform is the right size and shape to hold the battery cells to be tested; An arm positioned above the platform; as well as A rod passes through and is perpendicular to the arm, wherein gravity from the counterweight acts on one end of the arm, and gravity produces a constant pressure on the rod, wherein the pressure produced is proportional to gravity and also proportional to the position where the rod passes through the arm.

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